Human Cytidine Deaminase: Understanding the Catalytic Mechanism

Abstract

In the absence of an experimentally elucidated three-dimensional structure of the human CDA, we built an homology model of this enzyme starting from the crystal structure of its E. coli homologous. Furthermore, we docked in the active site alternatively the substrate, the intermediate or the product. By means of molecular dynamics simulations, we determined the topology of the active site, identifying the amino acids involved in the catalytic mechanism, and outlining the central role played by E67.     

CYP2E1 active site residues in substrate recognition sequence 5 identified by photoaffinity labeling and homology modeling

Despite its biological importance, our knowledge of active site structure and relevance of critical amino acids in CYP2E1 catalytic processes remain limited. In this study, we identified CYP2E1 active site residues using photoaffinity labeling with 7-azido-4-methylcoumarin (AzMC) coupled with a CYP2E1 homology model. In the absence of light, AzMC was an effective competitor against substrate p-nitrophenol oxidation by CYP2E1. Photoactivation of AzMC led to a concentration-dependent loss in CYP2E1 activity and structural integrity resulting from the modification of both heme and protein. The photo-labeling reaction degraded heme and produced a possible heme adduct. Probe incorporation into the protein occurred at multiple sites within substrate recognition sequence 5 (SRS-5). Based on a CYP2E1 homology model, we hypothesize AzMC labels SRS-5 residues, Leu363, Val364, and Leu368, in the active site. In addition, we propose a series of phenylalanines, especially Phe106, mediate contacts with the coumarin.     

Inhibitor binding to active and inactive CDK2: the crystal structure of CDK2-cyclin A/indirubin-5-sulphonate

BACKGROUND: Cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) is an important target for structure-based design of antitumor agents. Monomeric CDK2 is inactive. Activation requires rearrangements to key structural elements of the enzyme's active site, which accompany cyclin binding and phosphorylation. To assess the validity of using monomeric CDK2 as a model for the active kinase in structure-based drug design, we have solved the structure of the inhibitor indirubin-5-sulphonate (E226) complexed with phospho-CDK2-cyclin A and compared it with the structure of E226 bound to inactive, monomeric CDK2. RESULTS: Activation of monomeric CDK2 leads to a rotation of its N-terminal domain relative to the C-terminal lobe. The accompanying change in position of E226 follows that of the N-terminal domain, and its interactions with residues forming part of the adenine binding pocket are conserved. The environment of the ATP-ribose site, not explored by E226, is significantly different in the binary complex compared to the monomeric complex due to movement of the glycine loop. Conformational changes also result in subtle differences in hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions between E226's sulphonate and CDK2's phosphate binding site. Affinities calculated by LUDI for the interaction of E226 with active or inactive CDK2 differ by a factor of approximately ten. CONCLUSIONS: The accuracy of monomeric CDK2 as an inhibitor design template is restricted to the adenine binding site. The general flexibility observed for the glycine loop and subtle changes to the phosphate binding site suggest a need to study interactions between inhibitors and active CDK2 in structure-based drug design programs.     

Crystal structure of lactaldehyde dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli and inferences regarding substrate and cofactor specificity

Aldehyde dehydrogenases catalyze the oxidation of aldehyde substrates to the corresponding carboxylic acids. Lactaldehyde dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli (aldA gene product, P25553) is an NAD(+)-dependent enzyme implicated in the metabolism of l-fucose and l-rhamnose. During the heterologous expression and purification of taxadiene synthase from the Pacific yew, lactaldehyde dehydrogenase from E. coli was identified as a minor (相似文献   

Induced fit movements and metal cofactor selectivity of class II aldolases: structure of Thermus aquaticus fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase

Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) aldolase is an essential glycolytic enzyme that reversibly cleaves its ketohexose substrate into triose phosphates. Here we report the crystal structure of a metallo-dependent or class II FBP aldolase from an extreme thermophile, Thermus aquaticus (Taq). The quaternary structure reveals a tetramer composed of two dimers related by a 2-fold axis. Taq FBP aldolase subunits exhibit two distinct conformational states corresponding to loop regions that are in either open or closed position with respect to the active site. Loop closure remodels the disposition of chelating active site histidine residues. In subunits corresponding to the open conformation, the metal cofactor, Co(2+), is sequestered in the active site, whereas for subunits in the closed conformation, the metal cation exchanges between two mutually exclusive binding loci, corresponding to a site at the active site surface and an interior site vicinal to the metal-binding site in the open conformation. Cofactor site exchange is mediated by rotations of the chelating histidine side chains that are coupled to the prior conformational change of loop closure. Sulfate anions are consistent with the location of the phosphate-binding sites of the FBP substrate and determine not only the previously unknown second phosphate-binding site but also provide a mechanism that regulates loop closure during catalysis. Modeling of FBP substrate into the active site is consistent with binding by the acyclic keto form, a minor solution species, and with the metal cofactor mediating keto bond polarization. The Taq FBP aldolase structure suggests a structural basis for different metal cofactor specificity than in Escherichia coli FBP aldolase structures, and we discuss its potential role during catalysis. Comparison with the E. coli structure also indicates a structural basis for thermostability by Taq FBP aldolase.     

Visualizing active-site dynamics in single crystals of HePTP: opening of the WPD loop involves coordinated movement of the E loop

Phosphotyrosine hydrolysis by protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) involves substrate binding by the PTP loop and closure over the active site by the WPD loop. The E loop, located immediately adjacent to the PTP and WPD loops, is conserved among human PTPs in both sequence and structure, yet the role of this loop in substrate binding and catalysis is comparatively unexplored. Hematopoietic PTP (HePTP) is a member of the kinase interaction motif (KIM) PTP family. Compared to other PTPs, KIM-PTPs have E loops that are unique in both sequence and structure. In order to understand the role of the E loop in the transition between the closed state and the open state of HePTP, we identified a novel crystal form of HePTP that allowed the closed-state-to-open-state transition to be observed within a single crystal form. These structures, which include the first structure of the HePTP open state, show that the WPD loop adopts an ‘atypically open’ conformation and, importantly, that ligands can be exchanged at the active site, which is critical for HePTP inhibitor development. These structures also show that tetrahedral oxyanions bind at a novel secondary site and function to coordinate the PTP, WPD, and E loops. Finally, using both structural and kinetic data, we reveal a novel role for E-loop residue Lys182 in enhancing HePTP catalytic activity through its interaction with Asp236 of the WPD loop, providing the first evidence for the coordinated dynamics of the WPD and E loops in the catalytic cycle, which, as we show, is relevant to multiple PTP families.     

Crystal structures of substrate free and complex forms of reactivated BphC, an extradiol type ring-cleavage dioxygenase

BphC derived from Pseudomonas sp. strain KKS102, an extradiol type catecholic dioxygenase, is a non-heam iron-containing enzyme, playing an important role in the degradation of biphenyl/PCB (Poly Chlorinated Biphenyls) in the microbe. Although we had earlier solved the crystal structure of KKS102 BphC, it was the inactive form with Fe(III) in the active site. In order to determine the active form structure, BphC was re-activated by anaerobic incubation with Fe(II) and ascorbate, and crystallized anaerobically. The crystal structures of activated BphC and its substrate complex (E x S complex) were determined at 2.0 A resolution under cryogenic condition. In addition, crystal structures of unactivated BphC in substrate free and complex forms were also re-determined. Comparison of activated and unactivated E x S complexes reveals that the orientation of the bound substrate in the active site is significantly different between the two. The structural comparison of the substrate free and complex forms of activated BphC show certain small conformational shifts around the active site upon substrate binding. As a result of the conformational shifts, His194, which has been suggested as the catalytic base, takes part in a weak hydrogen bond with hydroxyl group of the substrate.     

The structure of the 1L-myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase-NAD+-2-deoxy-D-glucitol 6-(E)-vinylhomophosphonate complex demands a revision of the enzyme mechanism

1l-myo-inositol 1-phosphate (MIP) synthase catalyzes the conversion of d-glucose 6-phosphate to 1l-myo-inositol 1-phosphate, the first and rate-limiting step in the biosynthesis of all inositol-containing compounds. It involves an oxidation, enolization, intramolecular aldol cyclization, and reduction. Here we present the structure of MIP synthase in complex with NAD(+) and a high-affinity inhibitor, 2-deoxy-d-glucitol 6-(E)-vinylhomophosphonate. This structure reveals interactions between the enzyme active site residues and the inhibitor that are significantly different from that proposed for 2-deoxy-d-glucitol 6-phosphate in the previously published structure of MIP synthase-NAD(+)-2-deoxy-d-glucitol 6-phosphate. There are several other conformational changes in NAD(+) and the enzyme active site as well. Based on the new structural data, we propose a new and completely different mechanism for MIP synthase.     

Iterative database searches demonstrate that glycoside hydrolase families 27, 31, 36 and 66 share a common evolutionary origin with family 13

A catalytic sequence motif PDX10-30(E/D)XK is found in many restriction enzymes. On the basis of sequence similarities and mapping of the conserved residues to the crystal structure of NgoMIV we suggest that residues D160, K182, R186, R188 and E195 contribute to the catalytic/DNA binding site of the Ecl18kI restriction endonuclease. Mutational analysis confirms the functional significance of the conserved residues of Ecl18kI. Therefore, we conclude that the active site motif 159VDX21KX12E of Ecl18kI differs from the canonical PDX10-30(E/D)XK motif characteristic for most of the restriction enzymes. Moreover, we propose that two subfamilies of endonucleases Ecl18kI/PspGI/EcoRII and Cfr10I/Bse634I/NgoMIV, specific, respectively, for CCNGG/CCWGG and RCCGGY/GCCGGC sites, share conserved active site architecture and DNA binding elements.     

Structural basis for a change in substrate specificity: crystal structure of S113E isocitrate dehydrogenase in a complex with isopropylmalate, Mg2+, and NADP

Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of isocitrate and has negligible activity toward other (R)-malate-type substrates. The S113E mutant of IDH significantly improves its ability to utilize isopropylmalate as a substrate and switches the substrate specificity (k(cat)/K(M)) from isocitrate to isopropylmalate. To understand the structural basis for this switch in substrate specificity, we have determined the crystal structure of IDH S113E in a complex with isopropylmalate, NADP, and Mg(2+) to 2.0 A resolution. On the basis of a comparison with previously determined structures, we identify distinct changes caused by the amino acid substitution and by the binding of substrates. The S113E complex exhibits alterations in global and active site conformations compared with other IDH structures that include loop and helix conformational changes near the active site. In addition, the angle of the hinge that relates the two domains was altered in this structure, which suggests that the S113E substitution and the binding of substrates act together to promote catalysis of isopropylmalate. Ligand binding results in reorientation of the active site helix that contains residues 113 through 116. E113 exhibits new interactions, including van der Waals contacts with the isopropyl group of isopropylmalate and a hydrogen bond with N115, which in turn forms a hydrogen bond with NADP. In addition, the loop and helix regions that bind NADP are altered, as is the loop that connects the NADP binding region to the active site helix, changing the relationship between substrates and enzyme. In combination, these interactions appear to provide the basis for the switch in substrate specificity.     

Crystal structure of anticoagulant thrombin variant E217K provides insights into thrombin allostery

Thrombin is the ultimate protease of the blood clotting cascade and plays a major role in its own regulation. The ability of thrombin to exhibit both pro- and anti-coagulant properties has spawned efforts to turn thrombin into an anticoagulant for therapeutic purposes. This quest culminated in the identification of the E217K variant through scanning and saturation mutagenesis. The antithrombotic properties of E217K thrombin are derived from its inability to convert fibrinogen to a fibrin clot while maintaining its thrombomodulin-dependent ability to activate the anticoagulant protein C pathway. Here we describe the 2.5-A crystal structure of human E217K thrombin, which displays a dramatic restructuring of the geometry of the active site. Of particular interest is the repositioning of Glu-192, which hydrogen bonds to the catalytic Ser-195 and which results in the complete occlusion of the active site and the destruction of the oxyanion hole. Substrate binding pockets are further blocked by residues previously implicated in thrombin allostery. We have concluded that the E217K mutation causes the allosteric inactivation of thrombin by destabilizing the Na(+) binding site and that the structure thus may represent the Na(+)-free, catalytically inert "slow" form.     

Anatomy of the E2 ligase fold: implications for enzymology and evolution of ubiquitin/Ub-like protein conjugation

The configuration of the active site of E2 ligases, central enzymes in the ubiquitin/ubiquitin-like protein (Ub/Ubl) conjugation systems, has long puzzled researchers. Taking advantage of the wealth of newly available structures and sequences of E2s from diverse organisms, we performed a large-scale comparative analysis of these proteins. As a result we identified a previously under-appreciated diversity in the active site of these enzymes, in particular, the spatial location of the catalytic cysteine and a constellation of associated conserved residues that potentially contributes to catalysis. We observed structural innovations of differing magnitudes occurring in various families across the E2 fold that might correlate in part with differences in target interaction. A key finding was the independent emergence on multiple occasions of a polar residue, often a histidine, in the vicinity of the catalytic cysteine in different E2 families. We propose that these convergently emerging polar residues have a common function, such as in the stabilization of oxyanion holes during Ub/Ubl transfer and spatial localization of the Ub/Ubl tails in the active site. Thus, the E2 ligases represent a rare example in enzyme evolution of high structural diversity of the active site and position of the catalytic residue despite all characterized members catalyzing a similar reaction. Our studies also indicated certain evolutionarily conserved features in all active members of the E2 superfamily that stabilize the unusual flap-like structure in the fold. These features are likely to form a critical mechanical element of the fold required for catalysis. The results presented here could aid in new experiments to understand E2 catalysis.     

Mutational and crystallographic analyses of the active site residues of the Bacillus circulans xylanase.

Using site-directed mutagenesis we have investigated the catalytic residues in a xylanase from Bacillus circulans. Analysis of the mutants E78D and E172D indicated that mutations in these conserved residues do not grossly alter the structure of the enzyme and that these residues participate in the catalytic mechanism. We have now determined the crystal structure of an enzyme-substrate complex to 108 A resolution using a catalytically incompetent mutant (E172C). In addition to the catalytic residues, Glu 78 and Glu 172, we have identified 2 tyrosine residues, Tyr 69 and Tyr 80, which likely function in substrate binding, and an arginine residue, Arg 112, which plays an important role in the active site of this enzyme. On the basis of our work we would propose that Glu 78 is the nucleophile and that Glu 172 is the acid-base catalyst in the reaction.     

Phosphorylation of serine 264 impedes active site accessibility in the E1 component of the human pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex

At the junction of glycolysis and the Krebs cycle in cellular metabolism, the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex (PDHc) catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate to acetyl-CoA. In mammals, PDHc is tightly regulated by phosphorylation-dephosphorylation of three serine residues in the thiamin-dependent pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1) component. In vivo, inactivation of human PDHc correlates mostly with phosphorylation of serine 264, which is located at the entrance of the substrate channel leading to the active site of E1. Despite intense investigations, the molecular mechanism of this inactivation has remained enigmatic. Here, a detailed analysis of microscopic steps of catalysis in human wild-type PDHc-E1 and pseudophosphorylation variant Ser264Glu elucidates how phosphorylation of Ser264 affects catalysis. Whereas the intrinsic reactivity of the active site in catalysis of pyruvate decarboxylation remains nearly unaltered, the preceding binding of substrate to the enzyme's active site via the substrate channel and the subsequent reductive acetylation of the E2 component are severely slowed in the phosphorylation variant. The structure of pseudophosphorylation variant Ser264Glu determined by X-ray crystallography reveals no differences in the three-dimensional architecture of the phosphorylation loop or of the active site, when compared to those of the wild-type enzyme. However, the channel leading to the active site is partially obstructed by the side chain of residue 264 in the variant. By analogy, a similar obstruction of the substrate channel can be anticipated to result from a phosphorylation of Ser264. The kinetic and thermodynamic results in conjunction with the structure of Ser264Glu suggest that phosphorylation blocks access to the active site by imposing a steric and electrostatic barrier for substrate binding and active site coupling with the E2 component. As a Ser264Gln variant, which carries no charge at position 264, is also selectively deficient in pyruvate binding and reductive acetylation of E2, we conclude that mostly steric effects account for inhibition of PDHc by phosphorylation.     

Dissecting structural and electrostatic interactions of charged groups in alpha-sarcin. An NMR study of some mutants involving the catalytic residues

The cytotoxic ribonuclease alpha-sarcin is the best characterized member of the ribotoxin family. Ribotoxins share a common structural core, catalytic residues, and active site topology with members of the broader family of nontoxic microbial extracellular RNases. They are, however, much more specific in their biological action. To shed light on the highly specific alpha-sarcin activity, we have evaluated the structural and electrostatic interactions of its charged groups, by combining the structural and pK(a) characterization by NMR of several variants with theoretical calculations based on the Tanford-Kirkwood and Poisson-Boltzmann models. The NMR data reveal that the global conformation of wild-type alpha-sarcin is preserved in the H50Q, E96Q, H137Q, and H50/137Q variants, and that His137 is involved in an H-bond that is crucial in maintaining the active site structure and in reinforcing the stability of the enzyme. The loss of this H-bond in the H137Q and H50/137Q variants modifies the local structure of the active site. The pK(a) values of active site groups H50, E96, and H137 in the four variants have been determined by two-dimensional NMR. The catalytic dyad of E96 and H137 is not sensitive to charge replacements, since their pK(a) values vary less than +/-0.3 pH unit with respect to those of the wild type. On the contrary, the pK(a) of His50 undergoes drastic changes when compared to its value in the intact protein. These amount to an increase of 0.5 pH unit or a decrease of 1.1 pH units depending on whether a positive or negative charge is substituted at the active site. The main determinants of the pK(a) values of most of the charged groups in alpha-sarcin have been established by considering the NMR results in conjunction with those derived from theoretical pK(a) calculations. With regard to the active site residues, the H50 pK(a) is chiefly influenced by electrostatic interactions with E96 and H137, whereas the effect of the low dielectric constant and the interaction with R121 appear to be the main determinants of the altered pK(a) value of E96 and H137. Charge-charge interactions and an increased level of burial perturb the pK(a) values of the active site residues of alpha-sarcin, which can account for its reduced ribonucleolytic activity and its high specificity.     

Crystallographic and kinetic evidence of allostery in a trypsin-like protease

Protein allostery is based on the existence of multiple conformations in equilibrium linked to distinct functional properties. Although evidence of allosteric transitions is relatively easy to identify by functional studies, structural detection of a pre-existing equilibrium between alternative conformations remains challenging even for textbook examples of allosteric proteins. Kinetic studies show that the trypsin-like protease thrombin exists in equilibrium between two conformations where the active site is either collapsed (E*) or accessible to substrate (E). However, structural demonstration that the two conformations exist in the same enzyme construct free of ligands has remained elusive. Here we report the crystal structure of the thrombin mutant N143P in the E form, which complements the recently reported structure in the E* form, and both the E and E* forms of the thrombin mutant Y225P. The side chain of W215 moves 10.9 ? between the two forms, causing a displacement of 6.6 ? of the entire 215-217 segment into the active site that in turn opens or closes access to the primary specificity pocket. Rapid kinetic measurements of p-aminobenzamidine binding to the active site confirm the existence of the E*-E equilibrium in solution for wild-type and the mutants N143P and Y225P. These findings provide unequivocal proof of the allosteric nature of thrombin and lend strong support to the recent proposal that the E*-E equilibrium is a key property of the trypsin fold.     

A thiamin-bound, pre-decarboxylation reaction intermediate analogue in the pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 subunit induces large scale disorder-to-order transformations in the enzyme and reveals novel structural features in the covalently bound adduct

The crystal structure of the E1 component from the Escherichia coli pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex (PDHc) has been determined with phosphonolactylthiamin diphosphate (PLThDP) in its active site. PLThDP serves as a structural and electrostatic analogue of the natural intermediate alpha-lactylthiamin diphosphate (LThDP), in which the carboxylate from the natural substrate pyruvate is replaced by a phosphonate group. This represents the first example of an experimentally determined, three-dimensional structure of a thiamin diphosphate (ThDP)-dependent enzyme containing a covalently bound, pre-decarboxylation reaction intermediate analogue and should serve as a model for the corresponding intermediates in other ThDP-dependent decarboxylases. Regarding the PDHc-specific reaction, the presence of PLThDP induces large scale conformational changes in the enzyme. In conjunction with the E1-PLThDP and E1-ThDP structures, analysis of a H407A E1-PLThDP variant structure shows that an interaction between His-407 and PLThDP is essential for stabilization of two loop regions in the active site that are otherwise disordered in the absence of intermediate analogue. This ordering completes formation of the active site and creates a new ordered surface likely involved in interactions with the lipoyl domains of E2s within the PDHc complex. The tetrahedral intermediate analogue is tightly held in the active site through direct hydrogen bonds to residues His-407, Tyr-599, and His-640 and reveals a new, enzyme-induced, strain-related feature that appears to aid in the decarboxylation process. This feature is almost certainly present in all ThDP-dependent decarboxylases; thus its inclusion in our understanding of general thiamin catalysis is important.     

Computer modeling of cytochrome P450 2E1 three-dimensional structure

A computer model of human cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) three-dimensional structure and active site was constructed based on homology with crystallographic coordinates of CYP2C5 and CYP2C9. A high degree of secondary structure homology for human, mouse, rat and rabbit CYP2E1 was demonstrated. The location of heme and the supporting alpha-helices was established. CYP2E1, CYP2C5 and CYP2C9 active sites are distinguished by pocket size and their amino acid residues composition. Key amino acid residues forming the active site channel and substrate-binding cavity are presented. Active site surface area and volume for CYP2E1, CYP2C5 and CYP2C9 were calculated.     

Investigation by MD simulation of the key residues related to substrate-binding and heme-release in human ferrochelatase

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of three models based on the crystal structure of the E343K variant of human ferrochelatase were performed in this study. The “open” and “closed” conformations of the enzyme obtained by simulations are in agreement with the corresponding crystal structures. The snapshots and the structure analysis indicate that alterations of the hydrogen bonds and the positions of E347 and E351 lead to a conformational change in the π-helix. The hydrogen bonded form of residue R164 could be regarded as a signal indicating alteration of the active site conformation. When R164 forms a hydrogen bond with D95, the active site is closed, and when a hydrogen bond is formed with E171, the active site is open. Interestingly, the protoporphyrin with Fe²⁺ is observed to move noticeably out of the enzyme while the protoporphyrin lacking Fe²⁺ remains almost fixed. Alterations of the hydrogen bonds between the propionate of the heme and R115, K118 and S303 trigger movement of the heme out of the active site. Residues E347 and E351, which are located on the π-helix and form an acidic path leading to a salt bridge interaction with the propionate of the heme, accelerate the release process.     

Structural Basis of Substrate Selectivity of E. coli Prolidase

Prolidases, metalloproteases that catalyze the cleavage of Xaa-Pro dipeptides, are conserved enzymes found in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. In humans, prolidase is crucial for the recycling of collagen. To further characterize the essential elements of this enzyme, we utilized the Escherichia coli prolidase, PepQ, which shares striking similarity with eukaryotic prolidases. Through structural and bioinformatic insights, we have extended previous characterizations of the prolidase active site, uncovering a key component for substrate specificity. Here we report the structure of E. coli PepQ, solved at 2.0 Å resolution. The structure shows an antiparallel, dimeric protein, with each subunit containing N-terminal and C-terminal domains. The C-terminal domain is formed by the pita-bread fold typical for this family of metalloproteases, with two Mg(II) ions coordinated by five amino-acid ligands. Comparison of the E. coli PepQ structure and sequence with homologous structures and sequences from a diversity of organisms reveals distinctions between prolidases from Gram-positive eubacteria and archaea, and those from Gram-negative eubacteria, including the presence of loop regions in the E. coli protein that are conserved in eukaryotes. One such loop contains a completely conserved arginine near the catalytic site. This conserved arginine is predicted by docking simulations to interact with the C-terminus of the substrate dipeptide. Kinetic analysis using both a charge-neutralized substrate and a charge-reversed variant of PepQ support this conclusion, and allow for the designation of a new role for this key region of the enzyme active site.