New Determinants in the Catalytic Mechanism of Nucleoside Hydrolases from the Structures of Two Isozymes from Sulfolobus solfataricus

The purine- and pyrimidine-specific nucleoside hydrolases (NHs) from the archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus participate in the fundamental pathway of nucleotide catabolism and function to maintain adequate levels of free nitrogenous bases for cellular function. The two highly homologous isozymes display distinct specificities toward nucleoside substrates, and both lack the amino acids employed for activation of the leaving group in the hydrolytic reaction by the NHs characterized thus far. We determined the high-resolution crystal structures of the purine- and pyrimidine-specific NHs from S. solfataricus to reveal that both enzymes belong to NH structural homology group I, despite the different substrate specificities. A Na(+) ion is bound at the active site of the pyrimidine-specific NH instead of the prototypical Ca(2+), delineating a role of the metals in the catalytic mechanism of NHs in the substrate binding rather than nucleophile activation. A conserved His residue, which regulates product release in other homologous NHs, provides crucial interactions for leaving group activation in the archaeal isozymes. Modeling of the enzyme-substrate interactions suggests that steric exclusion and catalytic selection underlie the orthogonal base specificity of the two isozymes.     

Crystal structure to 1.7 a of the Escherichia coli pyrimidine nucleoside hydrolase YeiK, a novel candidate for cancer gene therapy

Enzymes with nucleoside hydrolase (NH) activity are crucial for salvaging nucleic acid components in purine auxotrophic protozoan parasites, but are also present in prokaryotes and higher eukaryotes. Here we analyze the distribution of genes encoding for putative NH proteins and characterize the yeiK gene product from Escherichia coli as a pyrimidine-specific NH. The crystal structure of YeiK to 1.7 A defines the structural basis for its substrate specificity and identifies residues involved in the catalytic mechanism that differ from both nonspecific and purine-specific NHs. Large differences in the tetrameric quaternary structure compared to nonspecific protozoan NHs are brought forth by minor differences in the interacting surfaces. The first structural and functional characterization of a nonparasitic, pyrimidine nucleoside-specific NH suggests a possible role for these enzymes in the metabolism of tRNA nucleosides. The high catalytic efficiency of YeiK toward 5-fluorouridine could be exploited for suicide gene therapy in cancer treatment.     

Structural basis for substrate specificity in group I nucleoside hydrolases

Enzymes with nucleoside hydrolase activity (NHs) belonging to homology group I either are markedly specific for pyrimidine nucleoside substrates or hydrolyze with comparable efficiencies the N-glycosidic bond in all common nucleosides. The biochemical and structural basis for these differences in substrate specificity is still unknown. Here we characterize the binding interactions between the slowly hydrolyzed substrate inosine and the Escherichia coli pyrimidine-specific NH YeiK using cryotrapping and X-ray crystallography. Guided by the structural features of the Michaelis complex, we show the synergic effect of two specific point mutations in YeiK that increase the catalytic efficiency toward purine nucleosides to values comparable to those of natural nonspecific NHs. We demonstrate that the integrity of an active-site catalytic triad comprised of two hydroxylated amino acids and one histidine residue is a requirement for the highly efficient hydrolysis of inosine by group I NHs. Instead, cleavage of the YeiK-preferred substrate uridine is not affected by mutations at the same locations, suggesting a different fine chemical mechanism for the hydrolysis of the two nucleoside substrates. Our study provides for the first time direct evidence that distinct subsets of amino acid residues are involved in the hydrolysis of purine or pyrimidine nucleosides in group I NHs.     

Structural and biochemical characterization of the nucleoside hydrolase from C. elegans reveals the role of two active site cysteine residues in catalysis

Nucleoside hydrolases (NHs) catalyze the hydrolysis of the N‐glycoside bond in ribonucleosides and are found in all three domains of life. Although in parasitic protozoa a role in purine salvage has been well established, their precise function in bacteria and higher eukaryotes is still largely unknown. NHs have been classified into three homology groups based on the conservation of active site residues. While many structures are available of representatives of group I and II, structural information for group III NHs is lacking. Here, we report the first crystal structure of a purine‐specific nucleoside hydrolase belonging to homology group III from the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (CeNH) to 1.65Å resolution. In contrast to dimeric purine‐specific NHs from group II, CeNH is a homotetramer. A cysteine residue that characterizes group III NHs (Cys253) structurally aligns with the catalytic histidine and tryptophan residues of group I and group II enzymes, respectively. Moreover, a second cysteine (Cys42) points into the active site of CeNH. Substrate docking shows that both cysteine residues are appropriately positioned to interact with the purine ring. Site‐directed mutagenesis and kinetic analysis proposes a catalytic role for both cysteines residues, with Cys253 playing the most prominent role in leaving group activation.     

Biochemical characterization of the chondroitinase B active site

Chondroitinase B from Flavobacterium heparinum is the only known lyase that cleaves the glycosaminoglycan, dermatan sulfate (DS), as its sole substrate. A recent co-crystal structure of chondroitinase B with a disaccharide product of DS depolymerization has provided some insight into the location of the active site and suggested potential roles of some active site residues in substrate binding and catalysis. However, this co-crystal structure was not representative of the actual enzyme-substrate complex, because the disaccharide product did not have the right length or the chemical structure of the minimal substrate (tetrasaccharide) involved in catalysis. Therefore, only a limited picture of the functional role of active site residues in DS depolymerization was presented in previous structural studies. In this study, by docking a DS tetrasaccharide into the proposed active site of the enzyme, we have identified novel roles of specific active site amino acids in the catalytic function of chondroitinase B. Our conformational analysis also revealed a unique, symmetrical arrangement of active site amino acids that may impinge on the catalytic mechanism of action of chondroitinase B. The catalytic residues Lys-250, Arg-271, His-272, and Glu-333 along with the substrate binding residues Arg-363 and Arg-364 were mutated using site-directed mutagenesis, and the kinetics and product profile of each mutant were compared with recombinant chondroitinase B. Mutating Lys-250 to alanine resulted in inactivation of the enzyme, potentially attributable to the role of the residue in stabilizing the carbanion intermediate formed during enzymatic catalysis. The His-272 and Glu-333 mutants showed diminished enzymatic activity that could be indicative of a possible role for one or both residues in the abstraction of the C-5 proton from the galactosamine. In addition, the Arg-364 mutant had an altered product profile after exhaustive digestion of DS, suggesting a role for this residue in defining the substrate specificity of chondroitinase B.     

The crystal structure of spermidine synthase with a multisubstrate adduct inhibitor.

Polyamines are essential in all branches of life. Spermidine synthase (putrescine aminopropyltransferase, PAPT) catalyzes the biosynthesis of spermidine, a ubiquitous polyamine. The crystal structure of the PAPT from Thermotoga maritima (TmPAPT) has been solved to 1.5 A resolution in the presence and absence of AdoDATO (S-adenosyl-1,8-diamino-3-thiooctane), a compound containing both substrate and product moieties. This, the first structure of an aminopropyltransferase, reveals deep cavities for binding substrate and cofactor, and a loop that envelops the active site. The AdoDATO binding site is lined with residues conserved in PAPT enzymes from bacteria to humans, suggesting a universal catalytic mechanism. Other conserved residues act sterically to provide a structural basis for polyamine specificity. The enzyme is tetrameric; each monomer consists of a C-terminal domain with a Rossmann-like fold and an N-terminal beta-stranded domain. The tetramer is assembled using a novel barrel-type oligomerization motif.     

Inhibition of thermolysin and human alpha-thrombin by cobalt(III) Schiff base complexes.

Cobalt(III) Schiff base complexes have been shown to inhibit the replication of the ocular herpes virus. It is well known that these complexes have a high affinity for nitrogenous donors such as histidine residues, and it is possible that they bind to (and inhibit) an enzyme that is crucial to viral replication. In model studies, we have found that [Co(acacen)(NH3)2]+ is an effective irreversible inhibitor of thermolysin at millimolar concentrations; it also inhibits human alpha-thrombin. Axial ligand exchange with an active-site histidine is the proposed mechanism of inhibition. The activity of thermolysin and thrombin can be protected by binding a reversible inhibitor to the active site before addition of the cobalt(III) complex.     

Relationships of Cysteine and Lysine residues with the substrate binding site of the mitochondrial ornithine/citrulline carrier: an inhibition kinetic approach combined with the analysis of the homology structural model

To gain insights in the relationships of specific amino acid residues with the active site of the mitochondrial ornithine/citrulline carrier, we studied the effect of specific protein modifying reagents on the transport catalysed by the carrier reconstituted into liposomes. It was found that, besides the sulfhydryl reagents NEM, MTSEA, p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, diamide also the lysine reagents PLP, DIDS, SITS, the carboxyl reagents WRK, EDC and the arginine reagent methylglyoxal inhibited the carrier. NEM, MTSEA and PLP inhibited the ornithine/citrulline carrier with a completely competitive type of mechanism. A 1:1 interaction of NEM with the carrier molecule has been demonstrated. The results are in agreement with the localization of one sulfhydryl and at least one amino group in the substrate binding site. On the basis of the interferences between SH reagents and PLP in the transport inhibition, it has been deduced that the distance between the SH and the NH(2) residues of the active site should be comparable to the distance between the gamma-NH(2) and COOH residues of the ornithine molecule. The structural model of the ornithine/citrulline carrier has been obtained by homology modelling using as template the ADP/ATP carrier structure. The combined analysis of the experimental data and the structural model allows to deduce that Cys-132 is located in the substrate binding site, flanked by at least one Lys residue.     

Identification of two residues essential for the stringent substrate specificity and active site stability of the prokaryotic l-arginine:glycine amidinotransferase CyrA

A novel prokaryotic l-arginine:glycine amidinotransferase (CyrA; EC2.1.4.1) is involved in the biosynthesis of the polyketide-derived cytotoxin cylindrospermopsin in the cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii AWT250, and was previously characterized with regard to kinetic mechanism and substrate specificity [Muenchhoff J et al. (2010) FEBS J277, 3844-3860]. In order to elucidate the structure-function-stability relationship of this enzyme, two residues in its active site were replaced with the residues that occur in the human l-arginine:glycine amidinotransferase (h-AGAT) at the corresponding positions (F245N and S247M), and a double variant carrying both substitutions was also created. In h-AGAT, both of these residues are critical for the function of this enzyme with regard to substrate binding, ligand-induced structural changes, and stability of the active site. In this study, we demonstrated that both single residue replacements resulted in a dramatic broadening of substrate specificity, but did not affect the kinetic mechanism. Experiments with substrate analogues indicate that donor substrates require a carboxylate group for binding. Evidence from initial velocity studies suggests that CyrA undergoes ligand-induced structural changes that involve Phe245. Stability parameters (T(opt) and T(max) ) of the CyrA variants differed from those of wild-type CyrA. Structural flexibilities of the wild type and all three variants were comparable on the basis of dynamic fluorescence quenching, indicating that changes in T(opt) are most likely attributable to localized effects within the active site. Overall, the results indicated that these two residues are essential for both stringent substrate specificity and the active site stability and flexibility of this unique cyanobacterial enzyme.     

Open–closed conformational change revealed by the crystal structures of 3-keto-l-gulonate 6-phosphate decarboxylase from Streptococcus mutans

The 3-keto-l-gulonate 6-phosphate decarboxylase (KGPDC) catalyses the decarboxylation of 3-keto-l-gulonate 6-phosphate to l-xylulose in the presence of magnesium ions. The enzyme is involved in l-ascorbate metabolism and plays an essential role in the pathway of glucuronate interconversion. Crystal structures of Streptococcus mutans KGPDC were determined in the absence and presence of the product analog d-ribulose 5-phosphate. We have observed an 8 Å αB-helix movement and other structural rearrangements around the active site between the apo-structures and product analog bound structure. These drastic conformational changes upon ligand binding are the first observation of this kind for the KGPDC family. The flexibilities of both the α-helix lid and the side chains of Arg144 and Arg197 are associated with substrate binding and product releasing. The open–closed conformational changes of the active site, through the movements of the α-helix lid and the arginine residues are important for substrate binding and catalysis.     

Crystal Structure of a Mammalian CTP: Phosphocholine Cytidylyltransferase Catalytic Domain Reveals Novel Active Site Residues within a Highly Conserved Nucleotidyltransferase Fold

CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (CCT) is the key regulatory enzyme in the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine, the most abundant phospholipid in eukaryotic cell membranes. The CCT-catalyzed transfer of a cytidylyl group from CTP to phosphocholine to form CDP-choline is regulated by a membrane lipid-dependent mechanism imparted by its C-terminal membrane binding domain. We present the first analysis of a crystal structure of a eukaryotic CCT. A deletion construct of rat CCTα spanning residues 1–236 (CCT236) lacks the regulatory domain and as a result displays constitutive activity. The 2.2-Å structure reveals a CCT236 homodimer in complex with the reaction product, CDP-choline. Each chain is composed of a complete catalytic domain with an intimately associated N-terminal extension, which together with the catalytic domain contributes to the dimer interface. Although the CCT236 structure reveals elements involved in binding cytidine that are conserved with other members of the cytidylyltransferase superfamily, it also features nonconserved active site residues, His-168 and Tyr-173, that make key interactions with the β-phosphate of CDP-choline. Mutagenesis and kinetic analyses confirmed their role in phosphocholine binding and catalysis. These results demonstrate structural and mechanistic differences in a broadly conserved protein fold across the cytidylyltransferase family. Comparison of the CCT236 structure with those of other nucleotidyltransferases provides evidence for substrate-induced active site loop movements and a disorder-to-order transition of a loop element in the catalytic mechanism.     

Crystal structure of inulosucrase from Lactobacillus: insights into the substrate specificity and product specificity of GH68 fructansucrases

Fructansucrases (FSs) catalyze a transfructosylation reaction with sucrose as substrate to produce fructo-oligosaccharides and fructan polymers that contain either β-2,1 glycosidic linkages (inulin) or β-2,6 linkages (levan). Levan-synthesizing FSs (levansucrases) have been most extensively investigated, while detailed information on inulosucrases is limited. Importantly, the molecular basis of the different product specificities of levansucrases and inulosucrases is poorly understood.We have elucidated the three-dimensional structure of a truncated active bacterial GH68 inulosucrase, InuJ of Lactobacillus johnsonii NCC533 (residues 145-708), in its apo form, with a bound substrate (sucrose), and with a transfructosylation product. The sucrose binding pocket and the sucrose binding mode are virtually identical with those of GH68 levansucrases, confirming that both enzyme types use the same fully conserved structural framework for the binding and cleavage of the donor substrate sucrose in the active site. The binding mode of the first transfructosylation product 1-kestose (Fru-β(2-1)-Fru-α(2-1)-Glc, where Fru = fructose and Glc = glucose) in subsites − 1 to + 2 shows for the first time how inulin-type fructo-oligosaccharide bind in GH68 FS and how an inulin-type linkage can be formed. Surprisingly, observed interactions with the sugar in subsites + 1 and + 2 are provided by residues that are also present in levansucrases. The binding mode of 1-kestose and the presence of a more distant sucrose binding site suggest that residues beyond the + 2 subsite, in particular residues from the nonconserved 1B-1C loop, determine product linkage type specificity in GH68 FSs.     

Structural and spectroscopic studies shed light on the mechanism of oxalate oxidase

Oxalate oxidase (EC 1.2.3.4) catalyzes the conversion of oxalate and dioxygen to hydrogen peroxide and carbon dioxide. In this study, glycolate was used as a structural analogue of oxalate to investigate substrate binding in the crystalline enzyme. The observed monodentate binding of glycolate to the active site manganese ion of oxalate oxidase is consistent with a mechanism involving C-C bond cleavage driven by superoxide anion attack on a monodentate coordinated substrate. In this mechanism, the metal serves two functions: to organize the substrates (oxalate and dioxygen) and to transiently reduce dioxygen. The observed structure further implies important roles for specific active site residues (two asparagines and one glutamine) in correctly orientating the substrates and reaction intermediates for catalysis. Combined spectroscopic, biochemical, and structural analyses of mutants confirms the importance of the asparagine residues in organizing a functional active site complex.     

Interactions of colicin A domains with phospholipid monolayers and liposomes: relevance to the mechanism of action

The colicin A polypeptide chain (592 amino acid residues) contains three domains which are linearly organized and participate in the sequential steps involved in colicin action. We have compared the penetrating ability in phospholipid monolayers and the ability to promote vesicle fusion at acidic pH of colicin A and of protein derivatives containing various combinations of its domains. The NH2-terminal domain (171 amino acid residues), required for translocation across the outer membrane, has little affinity for dilauroylphosphatidylglycerol (DLPG) monolayers at all pHs tested. The central domain has a pH-dependent affinity, although lower than that of the entire colicin A. The COOH-terminal domain contains a high-affinity lipid binding site, but in addition an electrostatic interaction is required as a first step in the process of penetration into negatively charged DLPG films. In contrast to the constructs containing the ionophoric domain, the NH2-terminal domain alone has no fusogenic activity for liposomes. These results are discussed with regard to the mechanism of entry and action of colicin A in sensitive cells. Our results suggest the existence of a pH-dependent interaction between the receptor binding domain (amino acid residues 172-388) and the pore-forming domain of colicin A (amino acid residues 389-592).     

The 1.3 A crystal structure of the flavoprotein YqjM reveals a novel class of Old Yellow Enzymes

Here we report the crystal structure of YqjM, a homolog of Old Yellow Enzyme (OYE) that is involved in the oxidative stress response of Bacillus subtilis. In addition to the oxidized and reduced enzyme form, the structures of complexes with p-hydroxybenzaldehyde and p-nitrophenol, respectively, were solved. As for other OYE family members, YqjM folds into a (alpha/beta)8-barrel and has one molecule of flavin mononucleotide bound non-covalently at the COOH termini of the beta-sheet. Most of the interactions that control the electronic properties of the flavin mononucleotide cofactor are conserved within the OYE family. However, in contrast to all members of the OYE family characterized to date, YqjM exhibits several unique structural features. For example, the enzyme exists as a homotetramer that is assembled as a dimer of catalytically dependent dimers. Moreover, the protein displays a shared active site architecture where an arginine finger (Arg336) at the COOH terminus of one monomer extends into the active site of the adjacent monomer and is directly involved in substrate recognition. Another remarkable difference in the binding of the ligand in YqjM is represented by the contribution of the NH2-terminal Tyr28 instead of a COOH-terminal tyrosine in OYE and its homologs. The structural information led to a specific data base search from which a new class of OYE oxidoreductases was identified that exhibits a strict conservation of active site residues, which are critical for this subfamily, most notably Cys26, Tyr28, Lys109, and Arg336. Therefore, YqjM is the first representative of a new bacterial subfamily of OYE homologs.     

The first structure of UDP-glucose dehydrogenase reveals the catalytic residues necessary for the two-fold oxidation

Bacterial UDP-glucose dehydrogenase (UDPGlcDH) is essential for formation of the antiphagocytic capsule that protects many virulent bacteria such as Streptococcus pyogenes andStreptococcus pneumoniae type 3 from the host's immune system. We have determined the X-ray structures of both native and Cys260Ser UDPGlcDH from S. pyogenes (74% similarity to S. pneumoniae) in ternary complexes with UDP-xylose/NAD(+) and UDP-glucuronic acid/NAD(H), respectively. The 402 residue homodimeric UDPGlcDH is composed of an N-terminal NAD(+) dinucleotide binding domain and a C-terminal UDP-sugar binding domain connected by a long (48 A) central alpha-helix. The first 290 residues of UDPGlcDH share structural homology with 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, including conservation of an active site lysine and asparagine that are implicated in the enzyme mechanism. Also proposed to participate in the catalytic mechanism are a threonine and a glutamate that hydrogen bond to a conserved active site water molecule suitably positioned for general acid/base catalysis.     

Structural basis for interaction of O-acetylserine sulfhydrylase and serine acetyltransferase in the Arabidopsis cysteine synthase complex

In plants, association of O-acetylserine sulfhydrylase (OASS) and Ser acetyltransferase (SAT) into the Cys synthase complex plays a regulatory role in sulfur assimilation and Cys biosynthesis. We determined the crystal structure of Arabidopsis thaliana OASS (At-OASS) bound with a peptide corresponding to the C-terminal 10 residues of Arabidopsis SAT (C10 peptide) at 2.9-A resolution. Hydrogen bonding interactions with key active site residues (Thr-74, Ser-75, and Gln-147) lock the C10 peptide in the binding site. C10 peptide binding blocks access to OASS catalytic residues, explaining how complex formation downregulates OASS activity. Comparison with bacterial OASS suggests that structural plasticity in the active site allows binding of SAT C termini with dissimilar sequences at structurally similar OASS active sites. Calorimetric analysis of the effect of active site mutations (T74S, S75A, S75T, and Q147A) demonstrates that these residues are important for C10 peptide binding and that changes at these positions disrupt communication between active sites in the homodimeric enzyme. We also demonstrate that the C-terminal Ile of the C10 peptide is required for molecular recognition by At-OASS. These results provide new insights into the molecular mechanism underlying formation of the Cys synthase complex and provide a structural basis for the biochemical regulation of Cys biosynthesis in plants.     

Insights into the mechanism of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase from site-directed mutagenesis targeting the active site loop and redox cofactor coordination

In mammals, the pyrimidines uracil and thymine are metabolised by a three-step reductive degradation pathway. Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) catalyses its first and rate-limiting step, reducing uracil and thymine to the corresponding 5,6-dihydropyrimidines in an NADPH-dependent reaction. The enzyme is an adjunct target in cancer therapy since it rapidly breaks down the anti-cancer drug 5-fluorouracil and related compounds. Five residues located in functionally important regions were targeted in mutational studies to investigate their role in the catalytic mechanism of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase from pig. Pyrimidine binding to this enzyme is accompanied by active site loop closure that positions a catalytically crucial cysteine (C671) residue. Kinetic characterization of corresponding enzyme mutants revealed that the deprotonation of the loop residue H673 is required for active site closure, while S670 is important for substrate recognition. Investigations on selected residues involved in binding of the redox cofactors revealed that the first FeS cluster, with unusual coordination, cannot be reduced and displays no activity when Q156 is mutated to glutamate, and that R235 is crucial for FAD binding.     

Protein engineering of xylose (glucose) isomerase from Actinoplanes missouriensis. 2. Site-directed mutagenesis of the xylose binding site.

Site-directed mutagenesis in the active site of xylose isomerase derived from Actinoplanes missouriensis is used to investigate the structural and functional role of specific residues. The mutagenesis work together with the crystallographic studies presented in detail in two accompanying papers adds significantly to the understanding of the catalytic mechanism of this enzyme. Changes caused by introduced mutations emphasize the correlation between substrate specificity and cation preference. Mutations in both His 220 and His 54 mainly affect the catalytic rate constant, with catalysis being severely reduced but not abolished, suggesting that both histidines are important, but not essential, for catalysis. Our results thus challenge the hypothesis that His 54 acts as an obligatory catalytic base for ring opening; this residue appears instead to be implicated in governing the anomeric specificity. With none of the active site histidines acting as a catalytic base, the role of the cations in catalyzing proton transfer is confirmed. In addition, Lys 183 appears to play a crucial part in the isomerization step, by assisting the proton shuttle. Other residues also are important but to a lesser extent. The conserved Lys 294 is indirectly involved in binding the activating cations. Among the active site aromatic residues, the tryptophans (16 and 137) play a role in maintaining the general architecture of the substrate binding site while the role of Phe 26 seems to be purely structural.