Crystal structures of the psychrophilic alpha-amylase from Alteromonas haloplanctis in its native form and complexed with an inhibitor.

Alteromonas haloplanctis is a bacterium that flourishes in Antarctic sea-water and it is considered as an extreme psychrophile. We have determined the crystal structures of the alpha-amylase (AHA) secreted by this bacterium, in its native state to 2.0 angstroms resolution as well as in complex with Tris to 1.85 angstroms resolution. The structure of AHA, which is the first experimentally determined three-dimensional structure of a psychrophilic enzyme, resembles those of other known alpha-amylases of various origins with a surprisingly greatest similarity to mammalian alpha-amylases. AHA contains a chloride ion which activates the hydrolytic cleavage of substrate alpha-1,4-glycosidic bonds. The chloride binding site is situated approximately 5 angstroms from the active site which is characterized by a triad of acid residues (Asp 174, Glu 200, Asp 264). These are all involved in firm binding of the Tris moiety. A reaction mechanism for substrate hydrolysis is proposed on the basis of the Tris inhibitor binding and the chloride activation. A trio of residues (Ser 303, His 337, Glu 19) having a striking spatial resemblance with serine-protease like catalytic triads was found approximately 22 angstroms from the active site. We found that this triad is equally present in other chloride dependent alpha-amylases, and suggest that it could be responsible for autoproteolytic events observed in solution for this cold adapted alpha-amylase.     

His23β and Glu455β of the Pseudomonas sp. 130 Glutaryl-7-Amino Cephalosporanic Acid Acylase Are Crucially Important for Efficient Autoproteolysis and Enzymatic Catalysis

Glutaryl-7-amino cephalosporanic acid acylase is a member of the N-terminal nucleophilic hydrolase family of enzymes. The crystal structure of the acylase reveals there is a Ser-His-Glu motif composed of Ser1beta, His23beta, and Glu455beta near the active site. This mimics the catalytic triad of Ser-His-Asp in serine proteases. Experiments prove that maturation of this enzyme involves autoproteolysis. It has been shown that Ser1beta is the catalytic residue for the autoproteolysis and catalytic reaction. Our works on site-directed mutagenesis followed by the characterization of mutant enzymes demonstrated that His23beta is essential for autoproteolysis whereas Glu455beta is responsible for the efficiency of the process. Neither His23beta nor Glu455beta is essential for the acylase activity, although they affect the catalytic efficiency.     

NMR evidence for a short, strong hydrogen bond at the active site of a cholinesterase

Cholinesterases (ChE), use a Glu-His-Ser catalytic triad to enhance the nucleophilicity of the catalytic serine. It has been shown that serine proteases, which employ an Asp-His-Ser catalytic triad for optimal catalytic efficiency, decrease the hydrogen bonding distance between the Asp-His pair to form a short, strong hydrogen bond (SSHB) upon binding mechanism-based inhibitors, which form tetrahedral Ser-adducts, analogous to the tetrahedral intermediates in catalysis, or at low pH when the histidine is protonated [Cassidy, C. S., Lin, J., Frey, P. A. (1997) Biochemistry 36, 4576-4584]. Two types of mechanism-based inhibitors were bound to pure equine butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), a 364 kDa homotetramer, and the complexes were studied by (1)H NMR at 600 MHz and 25-37 degrees C. The downfield region of the (1)H NMR spectrum of free BChE at pH 7.5 showed a broad, weak, deshielded resonance with a chemical shift, delta = 16.1 ppm, ascribed to a small amount of the histidine-protonated form. Upon addition of a 3-fold excess of diethyl 4-nitrophenyl phosphate (paraoxon) and subsequent dealkylation, the broad 16.1 ppm resonance increased in intensity 4.7-fold, and yielded a D/H fractionation factor phi = 0.72+/-0.10 consistent with a SSHB between Glu and His of the catalytic triad. From an empirical correlation of delta with hydrogen-bond length in small crystalline compounds, the length of this SSBH is 2.64+/-0.04 A, in agreement with the length of 2.62+/-0.02 A independently obtained from phi. The addition of a 3-fold excess of m-(N,N, N-trimethylammonio)trifluoroacetophenone to BChE yielded no signal at 16.1 ppm, and a 640 Hz broad, highly deshielded proton resonance with a chemical shift delta = 18.1 ppm and a D/H fractionation factor phi = 0.63+/-0.10, also consistent with a SSHB. The length of this SSHB is calculated to be 2.62+/-0.04 A from delta and 2.59+/-0.03 A from phi. These NMR-derived distances agree with those found in the X-ray structures of the homologous acetylcholinesterase complexed with the same mechanism-based inhibitors, 2.60+/-0.22 and 2.66+/-0.28 A. However, the order of magnitude greater precision of the NMR-derived distances establish the presence of SSHBs. We suggest that ChEs achieve their remarkable catalytic power in ester hydrolysis, in part, due to the formation of a SSHB between Glu and His of the catalytic triad.     

Short, strong hydrogen bonds at the active site of human acetylcholinesterase: proton NMR studies

Cholinesterases use a Glu-His-Ser catalytic triad to enhance the nucleophilicity of the catalytic serine. We have previously shown by proton NMR that horse serum butyryl cholinesterase, like serine proteases, forms a short, strong hydrogen bond (SSHB) between the Glu-His pair upon binding mechanism-based inhibitors, which form tetrahedral adducts, analogous to the tetrahedral intermediates in catalysis [Viragh, C., et al. (2000) Biochemistry 39, 16200-16205]. We now extend these studies to human acetylcholinesterase, a 136 kDa homodimer. The free enzyme at pH 7.5 shows a proton resonance at 14.4 ppm assigned to an imidazole NH of the active-site histidine, but no deshielded proton resonances between 15 and 21 ppm. Addition of a 3-fold excess of the mechanism-based inhibitor m-(N,N,N-trimethylammonio)trifluoroacetophenone (TMTFA) induced the complete loss of the 14.4 ppm signal and the appearance of a broad, deshielded resonance of equal intensity with a chemical shift delta of 17.8 ppm and a D/H fractionation factor phi of 0.76 +/- 0.10, consistent with a SSHB between Glu and His of the catalytic triad. From an empirical correlation of delta with hydrogen bond lengths in small crystalline compounds, the length of this SSHB is 2.62 +/- 0.02 A, in agreement with the length of 2.63 +/- 0.03 A, independently obtained from phi. Upon addition of a 3-fold excess of the mechanism-based inhibitor 4-nitrophenyl diethyl phosphate (paraoxon) to the free enzyme at pH 7.5, and subsequent deethylation, two deshielded resonances of unequal intensity appeared at 16.6 and 15.5 ppm, consistent with SSHBs with lengths of 2.63 +/- 0.02 and 2.65 +/- 0.02 A, respectively, suggesting conformational heterogeneity of the active-site histidine as a hydrogen bond donor to either Glu-327 of the catalytic triad or to Glu-199, also in the active site. Conformational heterogeneity was confirmed with the methylphosphonate ester anion adduct of the active-site serine, which showed two deshielded resonances of equal intensity at 16.5 and 15.8 ppm with phi values of 0.47 +/- 0.10 and 0.49 +/- 0.10 corresponding to average hydrogen bond lengths of 2.59 +/- 0.04 and 2.61 +/- 0.04 A, respectively. Similarly, lowering the pH of the free enzyme to 5.1 to protonate the active-site histidine (pK(a) = 6.0 +/- 0.4) resulted in the appearance of two deshielded resonances, at 17.7 and 16.4 ppm, consistent with SSHBs with lengths of 2.62 +/- 0.02 and 2.63 +/- 0.02 A, respectively. The NMR-derived distances agree with those found in the X-ray structures of the homologous acetylcholinesterase from Torpedo californica complexed with TMTFA (2.66 +/- 0.28 A) and sarin (2.53 +/- 0.26 A) and at low pH (2.52 +/- 0.25 A). However, the order of magnitude greater precision of the NMR-derived distances establishes the presence of SSHBs at the active site of acetylcholinesterase, and detect conformational heterogeneity of the active-site histidine. We suggest that the high catalytic power of cholinesterases results in part from the formation of a SSHB between Glu and His of the catalytic triad.     

Investigating a catalytic mechanism of hyperthermophilic L-threonine dehydrogenase from Pyrococcus horikoshii

Based on our first structural data of L-threonine dehydrogenase (TDH) of Pyrococcus horikoshii (PhTDH), we examined its catalytic mechanism. The structural analysis indicated that a catalytic zinc atom at the active centre of PhTDH is coordinated by four residues (Cys42, His67, Glu68 and Glu152) with low affinity. These residues are highly conserved in alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs) and TDHs. Several PhTDH mutants were prepared with respect to Glu152 and other residues, relating to the proton relay system that is substantially a rate-limiting step in ADH. It was found that the E152D mutant showed 3-fold higher turnover rate and reduced affinities toward L-threonine and NAD(+), compared to wild-type PhTDH. The kinetic analysis of Glu152 mutants indicated that the carboxyl group of Glu152 is important for expressing the catalytic activity. The results obtained from pH dependency of kinetic parameters suggested that Glu152 to Asp substitution causes the enhancement of deprotonation of His47 or ionization of zinc-bound water and threonine in the enzyme-NAD(+) complex. Furthermore, it was predicted that the access of threonine substrate to the enzyme-NAD(+) complex induces a large conformational change in the active domain of PhTDH. From these results, we propose here that the proton relay system works as a catalytic mechanism of PhTDH.     

Reassessing the type I dehydroquinate dehydratase catalytic triad: Kinetic and structural studies of Glu86 mutants

Dehydroquinate dehydratase (DHQD) catalyzes the third reaction in the biosynthetic shikimate pathway. Type I DHQDs are members of the greater aldolase superfamily, a group of enzymes that contain an active site lysine that forms a Schiff base intermediate. Three residues (Glu86, His143, and Lys170 in the Salmonella enterica DHQD) have previously been proposed to form a triad vital for catalysis. While the roles of Lys170 and His143 are well defined—Lys170 forms the Schiff base with the substrate and His143 shuttles protons in multiple steps in the reaction—the role of Glu86 remains poorly characterized. To probe Glu86′s role, Glu86 mutants were generated and subjected to biochemical and structural study. The studies presented here demonstrate that mutant enzymes retain catalytic proficiency, calling into question the previously attributed role of Glu86 in catalysis and suggesting that His143 and Lys170 function as a catalytic dyad. Structures of the Glu86Ala (E86A) mutant in complex with covalently bound reaction intermediate reveal a conformational change of the His143 side chain. This indicates a predominant steric role for Glu86, to maintain the His143 side chain in position consistent with catalysis. The structures also explain why the E86A mutant is optimally active at more acidic conditions than the wild‐type enzyme. In addition, a complex with the reaction product reveals a novel, likely nonproductive, binding mode that suggests a mechanism of competitive product inhibition and a potential strategy for the design of therapeutics.     

Unconventional serine proteases: variations on the catalytic Ser/His/Asp triad configuration

Serine proteases comprise nearly one-third of all known proteases identified to date and play crucial roles in a wide variety of cellular as well as extracellular functions, including the process of blood clotting, protein digestion, cell signaling, inflammation, and protein processing. Their hallmark is that they contain the so-called "classical" catalytic Ser/His/Asp triad. Although the classical serine proteases are the most widespread in nature, there exist a variety of "nonclassical" serine proteases where variations to the catalytic triad are observed. Such variations include the triads Ser/His/Glu, Ser/His/His, and Ser/Glu/Asp, and include the dyads Ser/Lys and Ser/His. Other variations are seen with certain serine and threonine peptidases of the Ntn hydrolase superfamily that carry out catalysis with a single active site residue. This work discusses the structure and function of these novel serine proteases and threonine proteases and how their catalytic machinery differs from the prototypic serine protease class.     

Contribution of active site residues to the activity and thermal stability of ribonuclease Sa

We have used site-specific mutagenesis to study the contribution of Glu 74 and the active site residues Gln 38, Glu 41, Glu 54, Arg 65, and His 85 to the catalytic activity and thermal stability of ribonuclease Sa. The activity of Gln38Ala is lowered by one order of magnitude, which confirms the involvement of this residue in substrate binding. In contrast, Glu41Lys had no effect on the ribonuclease Sa activity. This is surprising, because the hydrogen bond between the guanosine N1 atom and the side chain of Glu 41 is thought to be important for the guanine specificity in related ribonucleases. The activities of Glu54Gln and Arg65Ala are both lowered about 1000-fold, and His85Gln is totally inactive, confirming the importance of these residues to the catalytic function of ribonuclease Sa. In Glu74Lys, k(cat) is reduced sixfold despite the fact that Glu 74 is over 15 A from the active site. The pH dependence of k(cat)/K(M) is very similar for Glu74Lys and wild-type RNase Sa, suggesting that this is not due to a change in the pK values of the groups involved in catalysis. Compared to wild-type RNase Sa, the stabilities of Gln38Ala and Glu74Lys are increased, the stabilities of Glu41Lys, Glu54Gln, and Arg65Ala are decreased and the stability of His85Gln is unchanged. Thus, the active site residues in the ribonuclease Sa make different contributions to the stability.     

A catalytic diad involved in substrate-assisted catalysis: NMR study of hydrogen bonding and dynamics at the active site of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C

Phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase Cs (PI-PLCs, EC 3.1.4.10) are ubiquitous enzymes that cleave phosphatidylinositol or phosphorylated derivatives, generating second messengers in eukaryotic cells. A catalytic diad at the active site of Bacillus cereus PI-PLC composed of aspartate-274 and histidine-32 was postulated from the crystal structure to form a catalytic triad with the 2-OH group of the substrate [Heinz, D. W., et al. (1995) EMBO J. 14, 3855-3863]. This catalytic diad has been observed directly by proton NMR. The single low-field line in the 1H NMR spectrum is assigned by site-directed mutagenesis: The peak is present in the wild type but absent in the mutants H32A and D274A, and arises from the histidine Hdelta1 forming the Asp274-His32 hydrogen bond. This hydrogen is solvent-accessible, and exchanges slowly with H2O on the NMR time scale. The position of the low-field peak shifts from 16.3 to 13.8 ppm as the pH is varied from 4 to 9, reflecting a pKa of 8.0 at 6 degrees C, which is identified with the pKa of His32. The Hdelta1 signal is modulated by rapid exchange of the Hepsilon2 with the solvent. Estimates of the exchange rate as a function of pH and protection factors are derived from a line shape analysis. The NMR behavior is remarkably similar to that of the serine proteases. The postulated function of the Asp274-His32 diad is to hydrogen-bond with the 2-OH of phosphatidylinositol (PI) substrate to form a catalytic triad analogous to Asp-His-Ser of serine proteases. This is an example of substrate-assisted catalysis where the substrate provides the catalytic nucleophile of the triad. This hydrogen bond becomes shorter as the imidazole is protonated, suggesting it is stronger in the transition state, contributing further to the catalytic efficiency. The hydrogen bond fits the NMR criteria for a short, strong hydrogen bond, i.e., a highly deshielded proton resonance, bond length of 2.64 +/- 0.04 A at pH 6 measured by NMR, a D/H fractionation factor significantly lower than 1.0, and a protection factor > or = 100.     

Investigations of Sso7d catalytic residues by NMR titration shifts and electrostatic calculations

Sso7d is a small basic protein consisting of 62 amino acids isolated from the thermoacidophilic archeobacterium Sulfolobus solfataricus. The protein is endowed with DNA binding properties, RNase activity, and the capability of rescuing aggregated proteins in the presence of ATP. In this study, the electrostatic properties of Sso7d are investigated by using the Poisson-Boltzmann calculation of the surface potential distribution and following by NMR spectroscopy the proton chemical shift pH titration of acidic residues. Although the details of the catalytic mechanism still have to be defined, the results from NMR experiments confirm the possible involvement of Glu35 as the proton acceptor in the catalytic reaction, as seen by its abnormally high pK(a) value. Poisson-Boltzmann calculations and NMR titration shifts suggest the presence of a possible hydrogen bond between Glu35 and Tyr33, with a consequent rather rigid arrangement at these positions. Comparison with RNase T1 suggests that Tyr7 may be a good candidate for acting as a proton donor in the active site of Sso7d as shown by its low phenolic pK(a) of approximately 9.3. Titration experiments performed with the UpA, a RNA dinucleotide model, showed that the protein residues affected by the interaction are mainly located in a different region with respect to the surface affected by DNA recognition, in good agreement with the surface potential distribution found with electrostatic calculations.     

Mutation analysis of carbamoyl phosphate synthetase: Does the structurally conserved glutamine amidotransferase triad act as a functional dyad?

Evolutionarily conserved triad glutamine amidotransferase (GAT) domains catalyze the cleavage of glutamine to yield ammonia and sequester the ammonia in a tunnel until delivery to a variety of acceptor substrates in synthetase domains of variable structure. Whereas a conserved hydrolytic triad (Cys/His/Glu) is observed in the solved GAT structures, the specificity pocket for glutamine is not apparent, presumably because its formation is dependent on the conformational change that couples acceptor availability to a greatly increased rate of glutamine cleavage. In Escherichia coli carbamoyl phosphate synthetase (eCPS), one of the best characterized triad GAT members, the Cys269 and His353 triad residues are essential for glutamine hydrolysis, whereas Glu355 is not critical for eCPS activity. To further define the glutamine-binding pocket and possibly identify an alternative member of the catalytic triad that is situated for this role in the coupled conformation, we have analyzed mutations at Gln310, Asn311, Asp334, and Gln351, four conserved, but not yet analyzed residues that might potentially function as the third triad member. Alanine substitution of Gln351, Asn311, and Gln310 yielded respective K(m) increases of 145, 27, and 15, suggesting that Gln351 plays a key role in glutamine binding in the coupled conformation, and that Asn311 and Gln310 make less significant contributions. None of the mutant k (cat) values varied significantly from those for wild-type eCPS. Combined with previously reported data on other conserved eCPS residues, these results strongly suggest that Cys269 and His353 function as a catalytic dyad in the GAT site of eCPS.     

Crystallographic and kinetic investigations on the mechanism of 6-pyruvoyl tetrahydropterin synthase

The enzyme 6-pyruvoyl tetrahydropterin synthase (PTPS) catalyses the second step in the de novo biosynthesis of tetrahydrobiopterin, the conversion of dihydroneopterin triphosphate to 6-pyruvoyl tetrahydropterin. The Zn and Mg-dependent reaction includes a triphosphate elimination, a stereospecific reduction of the N5-C6 double bond and the oxidation of both side-chain hydroxyl groups. The crystal structure of the inactive mutant Cys42Ala of PTPS in complex with its natural substrate dihydroneopterinetriphosphate was determined at 1.9 A resolution. Additionally, the uncomplexed enzyme was refined to 2.0 A resolution. The active site of PTPS consists of the pterin-anchoring Glu A107 neighboured by two catalytic motifs: a Zn(II) binding site and an intersubunit catalytic triad formed by Cys A42, Asp B88 and His B89. In the free enzyme the Zn(II) is in tetravalent co-ordination with three histidine ligands and a water molecule. In the complex the water is replaced by the two substrate side-chain hydroxyl groups yielding a penta-co-ordinated Zn(II) ion. The Zn(II) ion plays a crucial role in catalysis. It activates the protons of the substrate, stabilizes the intermediates and disfavours the breaking of the C1'C2' bond in the pyruvoyl side-chain. Cys A42 is activated by His B89 and Asp B88 for proton abstraction from the two different substrate side-chain atoms C1', and C2'. Replacing Ala A42 in the mutant structure by the wild-type Cys by modelling shows that the C1' and C2' substrate side-chain protons are at equal distances to Cys A42 Sgamma. The basicity of Cys A42 may be increased by a catalytic triad His B89 and Asp B88. The active site of PTPS seems to be optimised to carry out proton abstractions from two different side-chain C1' and C2' atoms, with no obvious preference for one of them. Kinetic studies with dihydroneopterin monophosphate reveal that the triphosphate moiety of the substrate is necessary for enzyme specifity.     

Structural similarities and evolutionary relationships in chloride-dependent alpha-amylases

The alpha-amylase sequences contained in databanks were screened for the presence of amino acid residues Arg195, Asn298 and Arg/Lys337 forming the chloride-binding site of several specialized alpha-amylases allosterically activated by this anion. This search provides 38 alpha-amylases potentially binding a chloride ion. All belong to animals, including mammals, birds, insects, acari, nematodes, molluscs, crustaceans and are also found in three extremophilic Gram-negative bacteria. An evolutionary distance tree based on complete amino acid sequences was constructed, revealing four distinct clusters of species. On the basis of multiple sequence alignment and homology modeling, invariable structural elements were defined, corresponding to the active site, the substrate binding site, the accessory binding sites, the Ca(2+) and Cl(-) binding sites, a protease-like catalytic triad and disulfide bonds. The sequence variations within functional elements allowed engineering strategies to be proposed, aimed at identifying and modifying the specificity, activity and stability of chloride-dependent alpha-amylases.     

Key role of conserved histidines in recombinant mouse beta-carotene 15,15'-monooxygenase-1 activity

Alignment of sequences of vertebrate beta-carotene 15,15'-monooxygenase-1 (BCMO1) and related oxygenases revealed four perfectly conserved histidines and five acidic residues (His172, His237, His308, His514, Asp52, Glu140, Glu314, Glu405, and Glu457 in mouse BCMO1). Because BCMO1 activity is iron-dependent, we propose that these residues participate in iron coordination and therefore are essential for catalytic activity. To test this hypothesis, we produced mutant forms of mouse BCMO1 by replacing the conserved histidines and acidic residues as well as four histidines and one glutamate non-conserved in the overall family with alanines by site-directed mutagenesis. Our in vitro and in vivo data showed that mutation of any of the four conserved histidines and Glu405 caused total loss of activity. However, mutations of non-conserved histidines or any of the other conserved acidic residues produced impaired although enzymatically active proteins, with a decrease in activity mostly due to changes in V(max). The iron bound to protein was determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Bound iron was much lower in preparations of inactive mutants than in the wild-type protein. Therefore, the conserved histidines and Glu405 are absolutely required for the catalytic mechanism of BCMO1. Because the mutant proteins are impaired in iron binding, these residues are concluded to coordinate iron required for catalytic activity. These data are discussed in the context of the predicted structure for the related eubacterial apocarotenal oxygenase.     

Structural and Biochemical Characterization of an Active Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase Possessing a Non-canonical Cys-His-Glu Catalytic Triad

Arylamine N-acetyltransferases (NATs), a class of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes, catalyze the acetylation of aromatic amine compounds through a strictly conserved Cys-His-Asp catalytic triad. Each residue is essential for catalysis in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic NATs. Indeed, in (HUMAN)NAT2 variants, mutation of the Asp residue to Asn, Gln, or Glu dramatically impairs enzyme activity. However, a putative atypical NAT harboring a catalytic triad Glu residue was recently identified in Bacillus cereus ((BACCR)NAT3) but has not yet been characterized. We report here the crystal structure and functional characterization of this atypical NAT. The overall fold of (BACCR)NAT3 and the geometry of its Cys-His-Glu catalytic triad are similar to those present in functional NATs. Importantly, the enzyme was found to be active and to acetylate prototypic arylamine NAT substrates. In contrast to (HUMAN) NAT2, the presence of a Glu or Asp in the triad of (BACCR)NAT3 did not significantly affect enzyme structure or function. Computational analysis identified differences in residue packing and steric constraints in the active site of (BACCR)NAT3 that allow it to accommodate a Cys-His-Glu triad. These findings overturn the conventional view, demonstrating that the catalytic triad of this family of acetyltransferases is plastic. Moreover, they highlight the need for further study of the evolutionary history of NATs and the functional significance of the predominant Cys-His-Asp triad in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic forms.     

Probing the catalytically essential residues of the alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase from Thermobacillus xylanilyticus

The alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase D3 from Thermobacillus xylanilyticus is an arabinoxylan-debranching enzyme which belongs to family 51 of the glycosyl hydrolase classification. Previous studies have indicated that members of this family are retaining enzymes and may form part of the 4/7 superfamily of glycosyl hydrolases. To investigate the active site of alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase D3, we have used sequence alignment, site-directed mutagenesis and kinetic analyses. Likewise, we have shown that Glu(28), Glu(176) and Glu(298) are important for catalytic activity. Kinetic data obtained for the mutant Glu(176)-->Gln, combined with the results of chemical rescue using the mutant Glu(176)-->Ala, have shown that Glu(176) is the acid-base residue. Moreover, NMR analysis of the arabinosyl-azide adduct, which was produced by chemical rescue of the mutant Glu(176)-->Ala, indicated that alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase D3 hydrolyses glycosidic bonds with retention of the anomeric configuration. The results of similar chemical rescue studies using other mutant enzymes suggest that Glu(298) might be the catalytic nucleophile and that Glu(28) is a third member of a catalytic triad which may be responsible for modulating the ionization state of the acid-base and implicated in substrate fixation. Overall, these findings support the hypothesis that alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase D3 belongs to the 4/7 superfamily and provide the first experimental evidence concerning the catalytic apparatus of a family 51 arabinofuranosidase.     

Comparative site-directed mutagenesis in the catalytic amino acid triad in calicivirus proteases

Calicivirus proteases cleave the viral precursor polyprotein encoded by open reading frame 1 (ORF1) into multiple intermediate and mature proteins. These proteases have conserved histidine (His), glutamic acid (Glu) or aspartic acid (Asp), and cysteine (Cys) residues that are thought to act as a catalytic triad (i.e. general base, acid and nucleophile, respectively). However, is the triad critical for processing the polyprotein? In the present study, we examined these amino acids in viruses representing the four major genera of Caliciviridae: Norwalk virus (NoV), Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV), Sapporo virus (SaV) and Feline calicivirus (FCV). Using single amino‐acid substitutions, we found that an acidic amino acid (Glu or Asp), as well as the His and Cys in the putative catalytic triad, cannot be replaced by Ala for normal processing activity of the ORF1 polyprotein in vitro. Similarly, normal activity is not retained if the nucleophile Cys is replaced with Ser. These results showed the calicivirus protease is a Cys protease and the catalytic triad formation is important for protease activity. Our study is the first to directly compare the proteases of the four representative calicivirus genera. Interestingly, we found that RHDV and SaV proteases critically need the acidic residues during catalysis, whereas proteolytic cleavage occurs normally at several cleavage sites in the ORF1 polyprotein without a functional acid residue in the NoV and FCV proteases. Thus, the substrate recognition mechanism may be different between the SaV and RHDV proteases and the NoV and FCV proteases.     

Two conformational states of Glu242 and pKas in bovine cytochrome c oxidase.

Cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) is the terminal enzyme in the respiratory electron transport chain of aerobic organisms. It catalyses the reduction of atmospheric oxygen to water, and couples this reaction to proton pumping across the membrane; this process generates the electrochemical gradient that subsequently drives the synthesis of ATP. The molecular details of the mechanism by which electron transfer is coupled to proton pumping in CcO is poorly understood. Recent calculations from our group indicate that His291, a ligand of the Cu(B) center of the enzyme, may play the role of the pumping element. In this paper we describe calculations in which a DFT/continuum electrostatic method is used to explore the coupling of the conformational changes of Glu242 residue, the main proton donor of both chemical and pump protons, to its pKa, and the pKa of His291, a putative proton loading site of our pumping model. The computations are done for several redox states of metal centers, different protonation states of Glu242 and His291, and two well-defined conformations of the Glu242 side chain. Thus, in addition to equilibrium redox/protonation states of the catalytic cycle, we also examine the transient and intermediate states. Different dielectric models are employed to investigate the robustness of the results, and their viability in the light of the proposed proton pumping mechanism of CcO. The main results are in agreement with the experimental measurements and support the proposed pumping mechanism. Additionally, the present calculations indicate a possibility of gating through conformational changes of Glu242; namely, in the pumping step, we find that Glu242 needs to be reprotonated before His291 can eject a proton to the P-site of membrane. As a result, the reprotonation of Glu can control proton release from the proton loading site.     

Atomic resolution crystal structures and quantum chemistry meet to reveal subtleties of hydroxynitrile lyase catalysis

Hydroxynitrile lyases are versatile enzymes that enantiospecifically cope with cyanohydrins, important intermediates in the production of various agrochemicals or pharmaceuticals. We determined four atomic resolution crystal structures of hydroxynitrile lyase from Hevea brasiliensis: one native and three complexes with acetone, isopropyl alcohol, and thiocyanate. We observed distinct distance changes among the active site residues related to proton shifts upon substrate binding. The combined use of crystallography and ab initio quantum chemical calculations allowed the determination of the protonation states in the enzyme active site. We show that His(235) of the catalytic triad must be protonated in order for catalysis to proceed, and we could reproduce the cyanohydrin synthesis in ab initio calculations. We also found evidence for the considerable pK(a) shifts that had been hypothesized earlier. We envision that this knowledge can be used to enhance the catalytic properties and the stability of the enzyme for industrial production of enantiomerically pure cyanohydrins.     

Unusual catalytic triad of Escherichia coli outer membrane phospholipase A

Escherichia coli outer membrane phospholipase A (OMPLA) is an integral membrane enzyme. OMPLA is active as a homodimer and requires calcium as a cofactor. The crystal structures of the monomeric and the inhibited dimeric enzymes were recently determined [Snijder, H. J., et al. (1999) Nature 401, 717-721] and revealed that OMPLA monomers are folded into a 12-stranded antiparallel beta-barrel. The active site consists of previously identified essential residues Ser144 and His142 in an arrangement resembling the corresponding residues of a serine hydrolase catalytic triad. However, instead of an Asp or Glu that normally is present in the triad of serine hydrolases, a neutral asparagine (Asn156) was found in OMPLA. In this paper, the importance of the catalytic Asn156 is addressed by site-directed mutagenesis studies. All variants were purified at a 30 mg scale, and were shown to be properly folded using SDS-PAGE and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Using chemical cross-linking, it was shown that all variants were not affected in their calcium-dependent dimerization properties. The Asn156Asp variant exhibited a 2-fold lower activity than wild-type OMPLA at neutral pH. Interestingly, the activity of the variant is 1 order of magnitude higher than that of the wild type at pH >10. Modest residual activities (5 and 2.5%, respectively) were obtained for the Asn156Ala and Asn156Gln mutants, showing that the active site of OMPLA is more tolerant toward replacements of this third residue of the catalytic triad than other serine hydrolases, and that the serine and histidine residues are minimally required for catalysis. In the X-ray structure of dimeric OMPLA, the cofactor calcium is coordinating the putative oxyanion via two water molecules. We propose that this may lessen the importance for the asparagine in the catalytic triad of OMPLA.