The role for an invariant aspartic acid in hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferases is examined using saturation mutagenesis, functional analysis, and X-ray crystallography

The role of an invariant aspartic acid (Asp137) in hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferases (HPRTs) was examined by site-directed and saturation mutagenesis, functional analysis, and X-ray crystallography using the HPRT from Trypanosoma cruzi. Alanine substitution (D137A) resulted in a 30-fold decrease of k(cat), suggesting that Asp137 participates in catalysis. Saturation mutagenesis was used to generate a library of mutant HPRTs with random substitutions at position 137, and active enzymes were identified by complementation of a bacterial purine auxotroph. Functional analyses of the mutants, including determination of steady-state kinetic parameters and pH-rate dependence, indicate that glutamic acid or glutamine can replace the wild-type aspartate. However, the catalytic efficiency and pH-rate profile for the structural isosteric mutant, D137N, were similar to the D137A mutant. Crystal structures of four of the mutant enzymes were determined in ternary complex with substrate ligands. Structures of the D137E and D137Q mutants reveal potential hydrogen bonds, utilizing several bound water molecules in addition to protein atoms, that position these side chains within hydrogen bond distance of the bound purine analogue, similar in position to the aspartate in the wild-type structure. The crystal structure of the D137N mutant demonstrates that the Asn137 side chain does not form interactions with the purine substrate but instead forms novel interactions that cause the side chain to adopt a nonfunctional rotamer. The results from these structural and functional analyses demonstrate that HPRTs do not require a general base at position 137 for catalysis. Instead, hydrogen bonding sufficiently stabilizes the developing partial positive charge at the N7-atom of the purine substrate in the transition-state to promote catalysis.     

Functional roles for amino acids in active site loop II of a hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase

A flexible loop of amino acids (loop II) closes over the active site of hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) as the enzyme approaches the transition state [Biochemistry 37 (1998) 17120]. Formerly, the deletion of much of loop II from the HPRT of Trypanosoma cruzi resulted in a 2-3 order of magnitude reduction in k(cat) values with relatively modest changes in the Michaelis constants for substrates [Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1537 (2001) 63-70]. However, the contributions of individual loop II residues to catalysis remained poorly understood or have been disputed. Herein, saturation mutagenesis was used to generate relatively random sets of mutations in the 12 residues of active site loop II in the HPRT from T. cruzi and steady-state kinetics was used to investigate reactions catalyzed by the mutants. The results of analyses of 18 different mutations in an evolutionarily invariant Ser-Tyr dipeptide are consistent with interactions, between main chain nitrogen atoms of these residues and the O1A atom of phosphoribosylpyrophosphate (PRPP) or pyrophosphate (PPi), being essential for efficient enzyme chemistry. The results of analyses of 55 mutations in the nine other amino acids in loop II are inconsistent with these residues participating directly in enzyme chemistry, but are consistent with several of their side chains influencing loop flexibility and folding, as well as the efficiency for nucleotide formation relative to pyrophosphorolysis.     

Saturation mutagenesis, complement selection, and steady-state kinetic studies illuminate the roles of invariant residues in active site loop I of the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase from Trypanosoma cruzi

Hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferases (HPRTs) are potential drug targets in the treatment of diseases caused by parasites. Also, defects in the human HPRT can result in gouty arthritis or Lesch-Nyhan syndrome. Active site loop I of HPRTs has been implicated in interactions between enzyme subunits that can influence the relative efficiencies of forward and reverse reactions, but the functional roles for invariant loop I residues (analogous with human Leu67 and Gly69) are poorly understood. Herein, saturation mutagenesis, complement selection, and steady-state kinetics were used to investigate the functional roles for Leu67 and Gly69. Seventy clones from a library of mutants were sequenced and more than 30 different mutations, or combinations of mutations, were identified. Several recombinant HPRTs with mutations at positions 67 and/or 69 supported the growth of a bacterial auxotroph on selective media, but only two of the mutants (L67M and G69S) could be recovered in the soluble fraction from bacteria induced to over-express the enzyme. The results of steady-state kinetic studies for L67M are consistent with the side chain of this residue participating in hydrophobic interactions between dimer subunits that are important for the proper positioning of main chain atoms that influence enzyme chemistry and the binding of PRPP, PPi, and hypoxanthine. The results for mutations at position 69 are consistent with only hydrogen or a small polar side chain being tolerated at this site. Kinetic studies of G69S suggest that side chains of residues at position 69 that project into the active site likely interfere with the binding of PRPP and PPi, as well as the positioning of a metal ion that indirectly influences the binding of purine bases and purine moieties of nucleotide substrates.     

Alternative IMP binding in feedback inhibition of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase from Thermoanaerobacter tengcongensis

Crystal structures of Thermoanaerobacter tengcongensis hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT) apoenzyme and the enzyme-inosine monophosphate (IMP) complex have been determined to 2.5A and 2.2A resolution, respectively. The active form of the enzyme was identified as a tetramer in solution and the K(i) value of IMP was measured to be 45 microM for alpha-D-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate (PRPP). Conformation of the flexible loop in T.tengcongensis HGPRT, which is involved in substrate PRPP binding, is different from that observed in phosphoribosyltransferases (PRTs). It contains a 3-10 helix, and a unique double serine repeat. This loop is ordered even in the apoenzyme and assumes a half-closed conformation. The primary magnesium ion is directly coordinated by side-chains of Glu101 and Asp102, and water molecules in the apoenzyme, suggesting a possible prerequisite role for substrate PRPP binding. Most interestingly, an alternative IMP binding mode is found in the structure of T.tengcongensis HGPRT-IMP complex. The 5'-phosphate of IMP occupies the PPi position usually seen in PRT-PRPP complexes. This new observation is consistent with the lower K(i) value of IMP and may suggest a mechanism involving multiple modes of interactions between IMP and T.tengcongensis HGPRT in product release and feedback inhibition. The structure of T.tengcongensis HGPRT is compared with those of mesophilic HPRTs, and several possible features contributing to its thermostability are elucidated. Overall, T.tengcongensis HGPRT appears to be more diverged from other PRTs.     

Solution structure of the catalytic domain of gammadelta resolvase. Implications for the mechanism of catalysis

The site-specific DNA recombinase, gammadelta resolvase, from Escherichia coli catalyzes recombination of res site-containing plasmid DNA to two catenated circular DNA products. The catalytic domain (residues 1-105), lacking a C-terminal dimerization interface, has been constructed and the NMR solution structure of the monomer determined. The RMSD of the NMR conformers for residues 2-92 excluding residues 37-45 and 64-73 is 0.41 A for backbone atoms and 0.88 A for all heavy atoms. The NMR solution structure of the monomeric catalytic domain (residues 1-105) was found to be formed by a four-stranded parallel beta-sheet surrounded by three helices. The catalytic domain (residues 1-105), deficient in the C-terminal dimerization domain, was monomeric at high salt concentration, but displayed unexpected dimerization at lower ionic strength. The unique solution dimerization interface at low ionic strength was mapped by NMR. With respect to previous crystal structures of the dimeric catalytic domain (residues 1-140), differences in the average conformation of active-site residues were found at loop 1 containing the catalytic S10 nucleophile, the beta1 strand containing R8, and at loop 3 containing D67, R68 and R71, which are required for catalysis. The active-site loops display high-frequency and conformational backbone dynamics and are less well defined than the secondary structures. In the solution structure, the D67 side-chain is proximal to the S10 side-chain making the D67 carboxylate group a candidate for activation of S10 through general base catalysis. Four conserved Arg residues can function in the activation of the phosphodiester for nucleophilic attack by the S10 hydroxyl group. A mechanism for covalent catalysis by this class of recombinases is proposed that may be related to dimer interface dissociation.     

Studies on active site mutants of P. falciparum adenylosuccinate synthetase: Insights into enzyme catalysis and activation

Adenylosuccinate synthetase catalyzes a reversible reaction utilizing IMP, GTP and aspartate in the presence of Mg²⁺ to form adenylosuccinate, GDP and inorganic phosphate. Comparison of similarly liganded complexes of Plasmodium falciparum, mouse and Escherichia coli AdSS reveals H-bonding interactions involving nonconserved catalytic loop residues (Asn429, Lys62 and Thr307) that are unique to the parasite enzyme. Site-directed mutagenesis has been used to examine the role of these interactions in catalysis and structural organization of P. falciparum adenylosuccinate synthetase (PfAdSS). Mutation of Asn429 to Val, Lys62 to Leu and Thr307 to Val resulted in an increase in K_m values for IMP, GTP and aspartate, respectively along with a 5 fold drop in the k_cat value for N429V mutant suggesting the role of these residues in ligand binding and/or catalysis. We have earlier shown that the glycolytic intermediate, fructose 1,6 bisphosphate, which is an inhibitor of mammalian AdSS is an activator of the parasite enzyme. Enzyme kinetics along with molecular docking suggests a mechanism for activation wherein F16BP seems to be binding to the Asp loop and inducing a conformation that facilitates aspartate binding to the enzyme active site. Like in other AdSS, a conserved arginine residue (Arg155) is involved in dimer crosstalk and interacts with IMP in the active site of the symmetry related subunit of PfAdSS. We also report on the biochemical characterization of the arginine mutants (R155L, R155K and R155A) which suggests that unlike in E. coli AdSS, Arg155 in PfAdSS influences both ligand binding and catalysis.     

Effects on general acid catalysis from mutations of the invariant tryptophan and arginine residues in the protein tyrosine phosphatase from Yersinia

General acid catalysis in protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) is accomplished by a conserved Asp residue, which is brought into position for catalysis by movement of a flexible loop that occurs upon binding of substrate. With the PTPase from Yersinia, we have examined the effect on general acid catalysis caused by mutations to two conserved residues that are integral to this conformation change. Residue Trp354 is at a hinge of the loop, and Arg409 forms hydrogen bonding and ionic interactions with the phosphoryl group of substrates. Trp354 was mutated to Phe and to Ala, and residue Arg409 was mutated to Lys and to Ala. The four mutant enzymes were studied using steady state kinetics and heavy-atom isotope effects with the substrate p-nitrophenyl phosphate. The data indicate that mutation of the hinge residue Trp354 to Ala completely disables general acid catalysis. In the Phe mutant, general acid catalysis is partially effective, but the proton is only partially transferred in the transition state, in contrast to the native enzyme where proton transfer to the leaving group is virtually complete. Mutation of Arg409 to Lys has a minimal effect on the K(m), while this parameter is increased 30-fold in the Ala mutant. The k(cat) values for R409K and for R409A are about 4 orders of magnitude lower than that for the native enzyme. General acid catalysis is rendered inoperative by the Lys mutation, but partial proton transfer during catalysis still occurs in the Ala mutant. Structural explanations for the differential effects of these mutations on movement of the flexible loop that enables general acid catalysis are presented.     

The Role for Glutamic Acid at Position 196 in Human Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) as Investigated Using Site-Directed Mutagenesis

The crystal structure of human HPRT reveals the involvement of E196 side chain at the A-B dimer interface. Interference by valine substitution at this position (E196V), as identified in patients with Lesch-Nyhan disease, nearly abolishes enzymatic activity. Kinetic analysis of the active mutants (E196A, E196D, E196Q, and E196R) suggests that interaction between K68 and E196 side chains contributes to stabilization of cis-configuration during the catalytic cycle. The study also provides further insight into the role of A-B dimer interactions relating to K68 in the regulation of cis-trans isomerization that potentially governs the rate-limiting steps in the HPRT reaction.     

Crystal structures of free,IMP-, and GMP-bound Escherichia coli hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase

Crystal structures have been determined for free Escherichia coli hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) (2.9 A resolution) and for the enzyme in complex with the reaction products, inosine 5'-monophosphate (IMP) and guanosine 5'-monophosphate (GMP) (2.8 A resolution). Of the known 6-oxopurine phosphoribosyltransferase (PRTase) structures, E. coli HPRT is most similar in structure to that of Tritrichomonas foetus HGXPRT, with a rmsd for 150 Calpha atoms of 1.0 A. Comparison of the free and product bound structures shows that the side chain of Phe156 and the polypeptide backbone in this vicinity move to bind IMP or GMP. A nonproline cis peptide bond, also found in some other 6-oxopurine PRTases, is observed between Leu46 and Arg47 in both the free and complexed structures. For catalysis to occur, the 6-oxopurine PRTases have a requirement for divalent metal ion, usually Mg(2+) in vivo. In the free structure, a Mg(2+) is coordinated to the side chains of Glu103 and Asp104. This interaction may be important for stabilization of the enzyme before catalysis. E. coli HPRT is unique among the known 6-oxopurine PRTases in that it exhibits a marked preference for hypoxanthine as substrate over both xanthine and guanine. The structures suggest that its substrate specificity is due to the modes of binding of the bases. In E. coli HPRT, the carbonyl oxygen of Asp163 would likely form a hydrogen bond with the 2-exocyclic nitrogen of guanine (in the HPRT-guanine-PRib-PP-Mg(2+) complex). However, hypoxanthine does not have a 2-exocyclic atom and the HPRT-IMP structure suggests that hypoxanthine is likely to occupy a different position in the purine-binding pocket.     

Ternary complex structure of human HGPRTase, PRPP, Mg2+, and the inhibitor HPP reveals the involvement of the flexible loop in substrate binding.

Site-directed mutagenesis was used to replace Lys68 of the human hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRTase) with alanine to exploit this less reactive form of the enzyme to gain additional insights into the structure activity relationship of HGPRTase. Although this substitution resulted in only a minimal (one- to threefold) increase in the Km values for binding pyrophosphate or phosphoribosylpyrophosphate, the catalytic efficiencies (k(cat)/Km) of the forward and reverse reactions were more severely reduced (6- to 30-fold), and the mutant enzyme showed positive cooperativity in binding of alpha-D-5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate (PRPP) and nucleotide. The K68A form of the human HGPRTase was cocrystallized with 7-hydroxy [4,3-d] pyrazolo pyrimidine (HPP) and Mg PRPP, and the refined structure reported. The PRPP molecule built into the [(Fo - Fc)phi(calc)] electron density shows atomic interactions between the Mg PRPP and enzyme residues in the pyrophosphate binding domain as well as in a long flexible loop (residues Leu101 to Gly111) that closes over the active site. Loop closure reveals the functional roles for the conserved SY dipeptide of the loop as well as the molecular basis for one form of gouty arthritis (S103R). In addition, the closed loop conformation provides structural information relevant to the mechanism of catalysis in human HGPRTase.     

The role for glutamic acid at position 196 in human hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) as investigated using site-directed mutagenesis

The crystal structure of human HPRT reveals the involvement of E196 side chain at the A-B dimer interface. Interference by valine substitution at this position (E196V), as identified in patients with Lesch-Nyhan disease, nearly abolishes enzymatic activity. Kinetic analysis of the active mutants (E196A, E196D, E196Q, and E196R) suggests that interaction between K68 and E196 side chains contributes to stabilization of cis-configuration during the catalytic cycle. The study also provides further insight into the role of A-B dimer interactions relating to K68 in the regulation of cis-trans isomerization that potentially governs the rate-limiting steps in the HPRT reaction.     

NMR structures of two variants of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) reveal unexpected influence of mutations on protein structure and stability

Here we determined NMR solution structures of two mutants of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) to reveal structural reasons of their decreased thermodynamic stability. A point mutation, A16V, in the solvent-exposed loop destabilizes the protein by 20 degrees C, in contrast to marginal destabilization observed for G, S, R, L or W mutants. In the second mutant introduction of eight alanine residues at proteinase-contacting sites (residues 11, 13, 17, 18, 19, 34, 37 and 39) provides a protein that denatures at a temperature about 30 degrees C higher than expected from additive behavior of individual mutations. In order to efficiently determine structures of these variants, we applied a procedure that allows us to share data between regions unaffected by mutation(s). NOAH/DYANA and CNS programs were used for a rapid assignment of NOESY cross-peaks, structure calculations and refinement. The solution structure of the A16V mutant reveals no conformational change within the molecule, but shows close contacts between V16, I18 and G36/G37. Thus, the observed 4.3kcal/mol decrease of stability results from a strained local conformation of these residues caused by introduction of a beta-branched Val side-chain. Contrary to the A16V mutation, introduction of eight alanine residues produces significant conformational changes, manifested in over a 9A shift of the Y35 side-chain. This structural rearrangement provides about 6kcal/mol non-additive stabilization energy, compared to the mutant in which G37 and R39 are not mutated to alanine residues.     

Membrane-protein interactions contribute to efficient 27-hydroxylation of cholesterol by mitochondrial cytochrome P450 27A1

Mitochondrial cytochrome P450 27A1 (P450 27A1) catalyzes 27-hydroxylation of cholesterol, the first step in the alternative bile acid biosynthetic pathway. Although several crystal structures of P450s are known, no structural information is available for the mammalian, membrane-bound enzymes involved in the removal of cholesterol from the body. We prepared a three-dimensional model of P450 27A1 based on the structure of P450 BM-3. Conservative and non-conservative mutations were introduced at hydrophobic and positively charged residues in the putative F-G loop and the adjacent helix G (positions 219-237). Subcellular distribution of the mutant P450s expressed in Escherichia coli was used as a measure of membrane-protein interactions. Conservative substitutions of residues located on the surface, according to our model, L219V, L219I, Y220F, F223Y, L224I, R229K, V231L, F234Y, K236R, and R237K, weakened the association of the mutant P450s with the membrane and led to the appearance of up to 21% of P450 27A1 in the bacterial cytosol. It is likely that the mutated side chains are involved in binding to membrane phospholipids. Substitutions in the F-G loop did not significantly affect the K(m) value for cholesterol hydroxylation. However, non-conservative mutants, L219N, Y220A, Y220S, F223A, K226R, and R229A, had significantly impaired catalytic properties, indicating strict requirements for the size and polarity of the side chains at these positions for the catalysis. The results provide insight into the membrane topology of mitochondrial P450s and indicate the importance of membrane-protein interactions in the efficiency of reactions catalyzed by P450 27A1.     

High tolerance to mutations in a Chlamydia trachomatis peptide deformylase loop

AIM: To determine if and how a loop region in the peptide deformylase (PDF) of Chlamydia trachomatis regulates enzyme function.METHODS: Molecular dynamics simulation was used to study a structural model of the chlamydial PDF (cPDF) and predict the temperature factor per residue for the protein backbone atoms. Site-directed mutagenesis was performed to construct cPDF variants. Catalytic properties of the resulting variants were determined by an enzyme assay using formyl-Met-Ala-Ser as a substrate.RESULTS: In silico analysis predicted a significant increase in atomic motion in the DGELV sequence (residues 68-72) of a loop region in a cPDF mutant, which is resistant to PDF inhibitors due to two amino acid substitutions near the active site, as compared to wild-type cPDF. The D68R and D68R/E70R cPDF variants demonstrated significantly increased catalytic efficiency. The E70R mutant showed only slightly decreased efficiency. Although deletion of residues 68-72 resulted in a nearly threefold loss in substrate binding, this deficiency was compensated for by increased catalytic efficiency.CONCLUSION: Movement of the DGELV loop region is involved in a rate-limiting conformational change of the enzyme during catalysis. However, there is no stringent sequence requirement for this region for cPDF enzyme activity.     

Is the critical role of loop 3 of Escherichia coli 6-hydroxymethyl-7,8-dihydropterin pyrophosphokinase in catalysis due to loop-3 residues arginine-84 and tryptophan-89? Site-directed mutagenesis, biochemical, and crystallographic studies

Deletion mutagenesis, biochemical, and X-ray crystallographic studies have shown that loop 3 of Escherichia coli 6-hydroxymethyl-7,8-dihydropterin pyrophosphokinase (HPPK) is required for the assembly of the active center, plays an important role in the stabilization of the ternary complex of HPPK with MgATP and 6-hydroxymethyl-7,8-dihydropterin (HP), and is essential for catalysis. Whether the critical functional importance of loop 3 is due to the interactions between residues R84 and W89 and the two substrates has been addressed by site-directed mutagenesis, biochemical, and X-ray crystallographic studies. Substitution of R84 with alanine causes little changes in the dissociation constants and kinetic constants of the HPPK-catalyzed reaction, indicating that R84 is not important for either substrate binding or catalysis. Substitution of W89 with alanine increases the K(d) for the binding of MgATP by a factor of 3, whereas the K(d) for HP increases by a factor of 6, which is due to the increase in the dissociation rate constant. The W89A mutation decreases the rate constant for the chemical step of the forward reaction by a factor of 15 and the rate constant for the chemical step of the reverse reaction by a factor of 25. The biochemical results of the W89A mutation indicate that W89 contributes somewhat to the binding of HP and more significantly to the chemical step. The crystal structures of W89A show that W89A has different conformations in loops 2 and 3, but the critical catalytic residues are positioned for catalysis. When these results are taken together, they suggest that the critical functional importance of loop 3 is not due to the interactions of the R84 guanidinium group or the W89 indole ring with the substrates.     

The role of lysine 55 in determining the specificity of the purine repressor for its operators through minor groove interactions.

The interaction of the dimeric Escherichia coli purine repressor (PurR) with its cognate sequences leads to a 45 degrees to 50 degrees kink at a central CpG base step towards the major groove, as dyad-related leucine side-chains interdigitate between these bases from the minor groove. The resulting broadening of the minor groove increases the accessibility of the six central base-pairs towards minor groove interactions with residues from PurR. It has been shown that lysine 55 of PurR makes a direct contact with the adenine base (Ade8) directly 5' to the central CpG base-pair step in the high-affinity purF operator sequence. We have investigated the importance of this interaction in the specificity and affinity of wild-type PurR (WT) for its operators and we have studied a mutant of PurR in which Lys55 is replaced with alanine (K55A). Complexes of WT and K55A with duplex DNA containing pur operator sequences varied at position 8 were investigated crystallographically, and binding studies were performed using fluorescence anisotropy. The structures of the protein-DNA complexes reveal a relatively unperturbed global conformation regardless of the identity of the base-pair at position 8 or residue 55. In all structures the combination of higher resolution and a palindromic purF operator site allowed several new PurR.DNA interactions to be observed, including contacts by Thr15, Thr16 and His20. The side-chain of Lys55 makes productive, though varying, interactions with the adenine, thymine or cytosine base at position 8 that result in equilibrium dissociation constants of 2.6 nM, 10 nM and 35 nM, respectively. However, the bulk of the lysine side-chain apparently blocks high-affinity binding of operators with guanine at position 8 (Kd620 nM). Also, the high-affinity binding conformation appears blocked, as crystals of WT bound to DNA with guanine at position 8 could not be grown. In complexes containing K55A, the alanine side-chain is too far removed to engage in van der Waals interactions with the operator, and, with the loss of the general electrostatic interaction between the phosphate backbone and the ammonium group of lysine, K55A binds each operator weakly. However, the mutation leads to a swap of specificity of PurR for the base at position 8, with K55A exhibiting a twofold preference for guanine over adenine. In addition to defining the role of Lys55 in PurR minor groove binding, these studies provide structural insight into the minor groove binding specificities of other LacI/GalR family members that have either alanine (e.g. LacI, GalR, CcpA) or a basic residue (e.g. RafR, ScrR, RbtR) at the comparable position.     

Structural insight into the unique substrate binding mechanism and flavin redox state of UDP-galactopyranose mutase from Aspergillus fumigatus

UDP-galactopyranose mutase (UGM) is a flavin-containing enzyme that catalyzes the reversible conversion of UDP-galactopyranose (UDP-Galp) to UDP-galactofuranose (UDP-Galf). As in prokaryotic UGMs, the flavin needs to be reduced for the enzyme to be active. Here we present the first eukaryotic UGM structures from Aspergillus fumigatus (AfUGM). The structures are of UGM alone, with the substrate UDP-Galp and with the inhibitor UDP. Additionally, we report the structures of AfUGM bound to substrate with oxidized and reduced flavin. These structures provide insight into substrate recognition and structural changes observed upon substrate binding involving the mobile loops and the critical arginine residues Arg-182 and Arg-327. Comparison with prokaryotic UGM reveals that despite low sequence identity with known prokaryotic UGMs the overall fold is largely conserved. Structural differences between prokaryotic UGM and AfUGM result from inserts in AfUGM. A notable difference from prokaryotic UGMs is that AfUGM contains a third flexible loop (loop III) above the si-face of the isoalloxazine ring that changes position depending on the redox state of the flavin cofactor. This loop flipping has not been observed in prokaryotic UGMs. In addition we have determined the crystals structures and steady-state kinetic constants of the reaction catalyzed by mutants R182K, R327K, R182A, and R327A. These results support our hypothesis that Arg-182 and Arg-327 play important roles in stabilizing the position of the diphosphates of the nucleotide sugar and help to facilitate the positioning of the galactose moiety for catalysis.     

The role of lysine 532 in the catalytic mechanism of human topoisomerase I

Based on co-crystal structures of human topoisomerase I with bound DNA, Lys(532) makes a minor groove contact with the strongly preferred thymidine residue at the site of covalent attachment (-1 position). Replacement of Lys(532) with either arginine or alanine has essentially no effect on the sequence preference of the enzyme, indicating that this interaction is not required for the preference for a T at the -1 position. Although both the cleavage and religation activities of the K532R mutant enzyme are reduced, cleavage is reduced to a greater extent than religation. The reverse is true for the K532A mutant enzyme with religation so impaired that the nicked intermediate accumulates during plasmid relaxation assays. Consistent with the shift in the cleavage religation equilibrium toward cleavage for the K532A mutant enzyme, expression of the mutant enzyme in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is cytotoxic, and thus this mutant enzyme mimics the effects of the anticancer drug camptothecin. Cleavage assays with the mutant enzymes using an oligonucleotide containing a 5'-bridging phosphorothiolate indicate that Lys(532) functions as a general acid during cleavage to protonate the leaving 5'-oxygen. It is possible that the contact with the -1 base is important during catalysis to provide positional rigidity to the active site. The corresponding residues in the vaccinia virus topoisomerase and the tyrosine recombinases may have similar critical roles in catalysis.     

The FG loop of a heme-based gas sensor enzyme, Ec DOS, functions in heme binding, autoxidation and catalysis

Ec DOS is a heme-based gas sensor enzyme that catalyzes conversion from cyclic-di-GMP to linear-di-GMP in response to gas molecules, such as oxygen, CO and NO. Ec DOS contains an N-terminal heme-binding PAS domain and C-terminal phosphodiesterase domain. Based on crystal structures of the isolated heme-binding domain, it is suggested that the FG loop is involved in intra-molecular signal transduction to the catalytic domain. We generated nine full-length proteins mutated at ionic and non-ionic polar residues between positions 83 and 96 corresponding to the F-helix and FG loop, and examined the heme binding properties, autoxidation rates, and catalytic activities of mutant proteins. N84A and R85A mutant proteins displayed lower heme binding affinities, consistent with the finding that Asn84 interacts with propionate of protoporphyrin IX, and Arg85 with Asp40 on the heme proximal side. Autoxidation rates (0.058-0.54 min⁻¹) of R91A, S96A and K89A/R91A/E93A mutant proteins were significantly higher than that (0.0053 min⁻¹) of wild-type protein, suggesting that these residues in the FG loop form heme distal architecture conferring stability to the Fe(II)-O₂ complex. Catalytic activities of N84A and R85A mutant proteins with low heme affinity were significantly higher than those of wild-type protein in the absence of gas molecules. Accordingly, we propose that loss of heme binding enhances basal catalysis without the gas molecule, consistent with previous reports on heme inhibition of Ec DOS catalysis.     

An extensive interaction interface between thrombin and factor V is required for factor V activation

The interaction interface between human thrombin and human factor V (FV), necessary for complex formation and cleavage to generate factor Va, was investigated using a site-directed mutagenesis strategy. Fifty-three recombinant thrombins, with a total of 78 solvent-exposed basic and polar residues substituted with alanine, were used in a two-stage clotting assay with human FV. Seventeen mutants with less than 50% of wild-type (WT) thrombin FV activation were identified and mapped to anion-binding exosite I (ABE-I), anion-binding exosite II (ABE-II), the Leu(45)-Asn(57) insertion loop, and the Na(+) binding loop of thrombin. Three ABE-I mutants (R68A, R70A, and Y71A) and the ABE-II mutant R98A had less than 30% of WT activity. The thrombin Na(+) binding loop mutants, E229A and R233A, and the Leu(45)-Asn(57) insertion loop mutant, W50A, had a major effect on FV activation with 5, 15, and 29% of WT activity, respectively. The K52A mutant, which maps to the S' specificity pocket, had 29% of WT activity. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of cleavage reactions using the thrombin ABE mutants R68A, Y71A, and R98A, the Na(+) binding loop mutant E229A, and the Leu(45)-Asn(57) insertion loop mutant W50A showed a requirement for both ABEs and the Na(+)-bound form of thrombin for efficient cleavage at the FV residue Arg(709). Several basic residues in both ABEs have moderate decreases in FV activation (40-60% of WT activity), indicating a role for the positive electrostatic fields generated by both ABEs in enhancing complex formation with complementary negative electrostatic fields generated by FV. The data show that thrombin activation of FV requires an extensive interaction interface with thrombin. Both ABE-I and ABE-II and the S' subsite are required for optimal cleavage, and the Na(+)-bound form of thrombin is important for its procoagulant activity.