Activation of methyltetrahydrofolate by cobalamin-independent methionine synthase

Cobalamin-independent methionine synthase (MetE) catalyzes the final step of de novo methionine synthesis using the triglutamate derivative of methyltetrahydrofolate (CH(3)-H(4)PteGlu(3)) as methyl donor and homocysteine (Hcy) as methyl acceptor. This reaction is challenging because at physiological pH the Hcy thiol is not a strong nucleophile and CH(3)-H(4)PteGlu(3) provides a very poor leaving group. Our laboratory has previously established that Hcy is ligated to a tightly bound zinc ion in the MetE active site. This interaction activates Hcy by lowering its pK(a), such that the thiolate is stabilized at neutral pH. The remaining chemical challenge is the activation of CH(3)-H(4)PteGlu(3). Protonation of N5 of CH(3)-H(4)PteGlu(3) would produce a better leaving group, but occurs with a pK(a) of 5 in solution. We have taken advantage of the sensitivity of the CH(3)-H(4)PteGlu(3) absorption spectrum to probe its protonation state when bound to MetE. Comparison of free and MetE-bound CH(3)-H(4)PteGlu(3) absorbance spectra indicated that the N5 is not protonated in the binary complex. Rapid reaction studies have revealed changes in CH(3)-H(4)PteGlu(3) absorbance that are consistent with protonation at N5. These absorbance changes show saturable dependence on both Hcy and CH(3)-H(4)PteGlu(3), indicating that protonation of CH(3)-H(4)PteGlu(3) occurs upon formation of the ternary complex and prior to methyl transfer. Furthermore, the tetrahydrofolate (H(4)PteGlu(3)) product appears to remain bound to MetE, and in the presence of excess Hcy a MetE.H(4)PteGlu(3).Hcy mixed ternary complex forms, in which H(4)PteGlu(3) is protonated.     

Crystal structures of cobalamin-independent methionine synthase (MetE) from Streptococcus mutans: a dynamic zinc-inversion model

Cobalamin-independent methionine synthase (MetE) catalyzes the direct transfer of a methyl group from methyltetrahydrofolate to l-homocysteine to form methionine. Previous studies have shown that the MetE active site coordinates a zinc atom, which is thought to act as a Lewis acid and plays a role in the activation of thiol. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure studies and mutagenesis experiments identified the zinc-binding site in MetE from Escherichia coli. Further structural investigations of MetE from Thermotoga maritima lead to the proposition of two models: “induced fit” and “dynamic equilibrium”, to account for the catalytic mechanisms of MetE. Here, we present crystal structures of oxidized and zinc-replete MetE from Streptococcus mutans at the physiological pH. The structures reveal that zinc is mobile in the active center and has the possibility to invert even in the absence of homocysteine. These structures provide evidence for the dynamic equilibrium model.     

Characterization of the zinc sites in cobalamin-independent and cobalamin-dependent methionine synthase using zinc and selenium X-ray absorption spectroscopy

X-ray absorption spectroscopy has been used to investigate binding of selenohomocysteine to cobalamin-independent (MetE) and cobalamin-dependent (MetH) methionine synthase enzymes of Escherichia coli. We have shown previously [Peariso et al. (1998) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 120, 8410-8416] that the Zn sites in both enzymes show an increase in the number of sulfur ligands when homocysteine binds. The present data provide direct evidence that this change is due to coordination of the substrate to the Zn. Addition of L-selenohomocysteine to either MetE or the N-terminal fragment of MetH, MetH(2-649), causes changes in the zinc X-ray absorption near-edge structure that are remarkably similar to those observed following the addition of L-homocysteine. Zinc EXAFS spectra show that the addition of L-selenohomocysteine changes the coordination environment of the zinc in MetE from 2S + 2(N/O) to 2S + 1(N/O) + 1Se and in MetH(2-649) from 3S + 1(N/O) to 3S + 1Se. The Zn-S, Zn-Se, and Se-S bond distances determined from the zinc and selenium EXAFS data indicate that the zinc sites in substrate-bound MetE and MetH(2-649) both have an approximately tetrahedral geometry. The selenium edge energy for selenohomocysteine shifts to higher energy when binding to either methionine synthase enzyme, suggesting that there is a slight decrease in the effective charge of the selenium. Increases in the Zn-Cys bond distances upon selenohomocysteine binding together with identical magnitudes of the shifts to higher energy in the Se XANES spectra of MetE and MetH(2-649) suggest that the Lewis acidity of the Zn sites in these enzymes appears the same to the substrate and is electronically buffered by the Zn-Cys interaction.     

Synergistic, random sequential binding of substrates in cobalamin-independent methionine synthase

Cobalamin-independent methionine synthase (MetE) catalyzes the transfer of the N5-methyl group of methyltetrahydrofolate (CH(3)-H(4)folate) to the sulfur of homocysteine (Hcy) to form methionine and tetrahydrofolate (H(4)folate) as products. This reaction is thought to involve a direct methyl transfer from one substrate to the other, requiring the two substrates to interact in a ternary complex. The crystal structure of a MetE.CH(3)-H(4)folate binary complex shows that the methyl group is pointing away from the Hcy binding site and is quite distant from the position where the sulfur of Hcy would be, raising the possibility that this binary complex is nonproductive. The CH(3)-H(4)folate must either rearrange or dissociate before methyl transfer can occur. Therefore, determining the order of substrate binding is of interest. We have used kinetic and equilibrium measurements in addition to isotope trapping experiments to elucidate the kinetic pathway of substrate binding in MetE. These studies demonstrate that both substrate binary complexes are chemically and kinetically competent for methyl transfer and suggest that the conformation observed in the crystal structure is indeed on-pathway. Additionally, the substrates are shown to bind synergistically, with each substrate binding 30-fold more tightly in the presence of the other. Methyl transfer has been determined to be slow compared to ternary complex formation and dissociation. Simulations indicate that nearly all of the enzyme is present as the ternary complex under physiological conditions.     

Identification of the zinc ligands in cobalamin-independent methionine synthase (MetE) from Escherichia coli

Cobalamin-independent methionine synthase (MetE) from Escherichia coli catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group from methyltetrahydrofolate to homocysteine to form tetrahydrofolate and methionine. It contains 1 equiv of zinc that is essential for its catalytic activity. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure analysis of the zinc-binding site has suggested tetrahedral coordination with two sulfur (cysteine) and one nitrogen or oxygen ligands provided by the enzyme and an exchangeable oxygen or nitrogen ligand that is replaced by the homocysteine thiol group in the enzyme-substrate complex [González, J. C., Peariso, K., Penner-Hahn, J. E., and Matthews, R. G. (1996) Biochemistry 35, 12228-34]. Sequence alignment of MetE homologues shows that His641, Cys643, and Cys726 are the only conserved residues. We report here the construction, expression, and purification of the His641Gln, Cys643Ser, and Cys726Ser mutants of MetE. Each mutant displays significantly impaired activity and contains less than 1 equiv of zinc upon purification. Furthermore, each mutant binds zinc with lower binding affinity (K(a) approximately 10(14) M(-)(1)) compared to the wild-type enzyme (K(a) > 10(16) M(-)(1)). All the MetE mutants are able to bind homocysteine. X-ray absorption spectroscopy analysis of the zinc-binding sites in the mutants indicates that the four-coordinate zinc site is preserved but that the ligand sets are changed. Our results demonstrate that Cys643 and Cys726 are two of the zinc ligands in MetE from E. coli and suggest that His641 is a third endogenous ligand. The effects of the mutations on the specific activities of the mutant proteins suggest that zinc and homocysteine binding alone are not sufficient for activity; the chemical nature of the ligands is also a determining factor for catalytic activity in agreement with model studies of the alkylation of zinc-thiolate complexes.     

Protonation state of methyltetrahydrofolate in a binary complex with cobalamin-dependent methionine synthase

N5-Methyltetrahydrofolate (CH(3)-H(4)folate) donates a methyl group to the cob(I)alamin cofactor in the reaction catalyzed by cobalamin-dependent methionine synthase (MetH, EC 2.1.1.3). Nucleophilic displacement of a methyl group attached to a tertiary amine is a reaction without an obvious precedent in bioorganic chemistry. Activation of CH(3)-H(4)folate by protonation prior to transfer of the methyl group has been the favored mechanism. Protonation at N5 would lead to formation of an aminium cation, and quaternary amines such as 5,5-dimethyltetrahydropterin have been shown to transfer methyl groups to cob(I)alamin. Because CH(3)-H(4)folate is an enamine, protonation could occur either at N5 to form an aminium cation or on a conjugated carbon with formation of an iminium cation. We used (13)C distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer (DEPT) NMR spectroscopy to infer that CH(3)-H(4)folate in aqueous solution protonates at N5, not on carbon. CH(3)-H(4)folate must eventually protonate at N5 to form the product H(4)folate; however, this protonation could occur either upon formation of the binary enzyme-CH(3)-H(4)folate complex or later in the reaction mechanism. Protonation at N5 is accompanied by substantial changes in the visible absorbance spectrum of CH(3)-H(4)folate. We have measured the spectral changes associated with binding of CH(3)-H(4)folate to a catalytically competent fragment of MetH over the pH range from 5.5 to 8.5. These studies indicate that CH(3)-H(4)folate is bound in the unprotonated form throughout this pH range and that protonated CH(3)-H(4)folate does not bind to the enzyme. Our observations are rationalized by sequence homologies between the folate-binding region of MetH and dihydropteroate synthase, which suggest that the pterin ring is bound in the hydrophobic core of an alpha(8)beta(8) barrel in both enzymes. The results from these studies are difficult to reconcile with an S(N)2 mechanism for methyl transfer and suggest that the presence of the cobalamin cofactor is important for CH(3)-H(4)folate activation. We propose that protonation of N5 occurs after carbon-nitrogen bond cleavage, and we invoke a mechanism involving oxidative addition of Co(1+) to the N5-methyl bond to rationalize our results.     

Purification and properties of cobalamin-independent methionine synthase from Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In this study, we investigated methionine synthase from Candida albicans (CaMET 6p) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ScMET 6p). We describe the cloning of CaMet 6 and ScMet 6, and the expression of both the enzymes in S. cerevisiae. CaMET 6p is able to complement the disruption of met 6 in S. cerevisiae. Following the purification of ScMET 6p and CaMET 6p, kinetic assays were performed to determine substrate specificity. The Michaelis constants for ScMET 6p with CH(3)-H(4)PteGlu(2), CH(3)-H(4)PteGlu(3), CH(3)-H(4)PteGlu(4), and l-homocysteine are 108, 84, 95, and 13 microM, respectively. The Michaelis constants for CaMET 6p with CH(3)-H(4)PteGlu(2), CH(3)-H(4)PteGlu(3), CH(3)-H(4)PteGlu(4), and l-homocysteine are 113, 129, 120, and 14 microM, respectively. Neither enzyme showed activity with CH(3)-H(4)PteGlu(1) as a substrate. We conclude that ScMET 6p and CaMET 6p require a minimum of two glutamates on the methyltetrahydrofolate substrate, similar to the bacterial metE homologs. The cloning, purification, and characterization of these enzymes lay the groundwork for inhibitor-design studies on the cobalamin-independent fungal methionine synthases.     

Oxidative stress inactivates cobalamin-independent methionine synthase (MetE) in Escherichia coli

In nature, Escherichia coli are exposed to harsh and non-ideal growth environments—nutrients may be limiting, and cells are often challenged by oxidative stress. For E. coli cells confronting these realities, there appears to be a link between oxidative stress, methionine availability, and the enzyme that catalyzes the final step of methionine biosynthesis, cobalamin-independent methionine synthase (MetE). We found that E. coli cells subjected to transient oxidative stress during growth in minimal medium develop a methionine auxotrophy, which can be traced to an effect on MetE. Further experiments demonstrated that the purified enzyme is inactivated by oxidized glutathione (GSSG) at a rate that correlates with protein oxidation. The unique site of oxidation was identified by selectively cleaving N-terminally to each reduced cysteine and analyzing the results by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Stoichiometric glutathionylation of MetE by GSSG occurs at cysteine 645, which is strategically located at the entrance to the active site. Direct evidence of MetE oxidation in vivo was obtained from thiol-trapping experiments in two different E. coli strains that contain highly oxidizing cytoplasmic environments. Moreover, MetE is completely oxidized in wild-type E. coli treated with the thiol-oxidizing agent diamide; reduced enzyme reappears just prior to the cells resuming normal growth. We argue that for E. coli experiencing oxidizing conditions in minimal medium, MetE is readily inactivated, resulting in cellular methionine limitation. Glutathionylation of the protein provides a strategy to modulate in vivo activity of the enzyme while protecting the active site from further damage, in an easily reversible manner. While glutathionylation of proteins is a fairly common mode of redox regulation in eukaryotes, very few proteins in E. coli are known to be modified in this manner. Our results are complementary to the independent findings of Leichert and Jakob presented in the accompanying paper (Leichert and Jakob 2004), which provide evidence that MetE is one of the proteins in E. coli most susceptible to oxidation. In eukaryotes, glutathionylation of key proteins involved in protein synthesis leads to inhibition of translation. Our studies suggest a simpler mechanism is employed by E. coli to achieve the same effect.     

Crystal structures of a new class of allosteric effectors complexed to tryptophan synthase.

Tryptophan synthase is a bifunctional alpha(2)beta(2) complex catalyzing the last two steps of l-tryptophan biosynthesis. The natural substrates of the alpha-subunit indole- 3-glycerolphosphate and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate, and the substrate analogs indole-3-propanolphosphate and dl-alpha-glycerol-3-phosphate are allosteric effectors of the beta-subunit activity. It has been shown recently, that the indole-3-acetyl amino acids indole-3-acetylglycine and indole-3-acetyl-l-aspartic acid are both alpha-subunit inhibitors and beta-subunit allosteric effectors, whereas indole-3-acetyl-l-valine is only an alpha-subunit inhibitor (Marabotti, A., Cozzini, P., and Mozzarelli, A. (2000) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1476, 287-299). The crystal structures of tryptophan synthase complexed with indole-3-acetylglycine and indole-3-acetyl-l-aspartic acid show that both ligands bind to the active site such that the carboxylate moiety is positioned similarly as the phosphate group of the natural substrates. As a consequence, the residues of the alpha-active site that interact with the ligands are the same as observed in the indole 3-glycerolphosphate-enzyme complex. Ligand binding leads to closure of loop alphaL6 of the alpha-subunit, a key structural element of intersubunit communication. This is in keeping with the allosteric role played by these compounds. The structure of the enzyme complex with indole-3-acetyl-l-valine is quite different. Due to the hydrophobic lateral chain, this molecule adopts a new orientation in the alpha-active site. In this case, closure of loop alphaL6 is no longer observed, in agreement with its functioning only as an inhibitor of the alpha-subunit reaction.     

Reductive elimination pathway for homocysteine to methionine conversion in cobalamin-dependent methionine synthase

Density functional theory has been applied to investigate the methyl transfer from methylcobalamin (MeCbl) cofactor to homocysteine (Hcy) as catalyzed by methionine synthase (MetH). Specifically, the S_N2 and the reductive elimination pathways have been probed as the possible mechanistic pathways for the methyl transfer reaction. The calculations indicate that the activation barrier for the reductive elimination reaction (24.4 kcal mol⁻¹) is almost four times higher than that for the S_N2 reaction (7.3 kcal mol⁻¹). This high energy demand of the reductive elimination pathway is rooted in the structural distortion of the corrin ring that is induced en route to the formation of the triangular transition state. Furthermore, the reductive elimination reaction demands the syn accommodation of the methyl group and the substrate over the upper face of the corrin ring, which also accounts for the high energy demand of the reaction. Consequently, the reductive elimination pathway for MetH-catalyzed methyl transfer from MeCbl to Hcy cannot be considered as one of the possible mechanistic routes.     

Crystal structures of methionine adenosyltransferase complexed with substrates and products reveal the methionine-ATP recognition and give insights into the catalytic mechanism

Methionine adenosyltransferases (MATs) are a family of enzymes in charge of synthesising S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), the most important methyl donor present in living organisms. These enzymes use methionine and ATP as reaction substrates, which react in a S(N)2 fashion where the sulphur atom from methionine attacks C5' from ATP while triphosphate chain is cleaved. A MAT liver specific isoenzyme has been detected, which exists in two distinct oligomeric forms, a dimer (MAT III) and a tetramer (MAT I). Our previously reported crystal structure of MAT I complexed with an inhibitor led to the identification of the methionine-binding site. We present here the results obtained from the complex of MAT I with a competitive inhibitor of methionine, (2S,4S)-amino-4,5-epoxypentanoic acid (AEP), which presents the same features at the methionine binding site reported before. We have also analysed several complexes of this enzyme with methionine and ATP and analogues of them, in order to characterise the interaction that is produced between both substrates. The crystal structures of the complexes reveal how the substrates recognise each other at the active site of the enzyme, and suggest a putative binding site for the product SAM. The residues involved in the interactions of substrates and products with MAT have been identified, and the results agree with all the previous data concerning mutagenesis experiments and crystallographic work. Moreover, all the information provided from the analysis of the complexes has allowed us to postulate a catalytic mechanism for this family of enzymes. In particular, we propose a key role for Lys182 in the correct positioning of the substrates, and Asp135(*), in stabilising the sulphonium group formed in the product (SAM).     

Crystal structures of chloroperoxidase with its bound substrates and complexed with formate, acetate, and nitrate

Chloroperoxidase (CPO) is a heme-thiolate enzyme that catalyzes hydrogen peroxide-dependent halogenation reactions. Structural data on substrate binding have not been available so far. CPO was therefore crystallized in the presence of iodide or bromide. One halide binding site was identified at the surface near a narrow channel that connects the surface with the heme. Two other halide binding sites were identified within and at the other end of this channel. Together, these sites suggest a pathway for access of halide anions to the active site. The structure of CPO complexed with its natural substrate cyclopentanedione was determined at a resolution of 1.8 A. This is the first example of a CPO structure with a bound organic substrate. In addition, structures of CPO bound with nitrate, acetate, and formate and of a ternary complex with dimethylsulfoxide (Me2SO) and cyanide were determined. These structures have implications for the mechanism of compound I formation. Before binding to the heme, the incoming hydrogen peroxide first interacts with Glu-183. The deprotonated Glu-183 abstracts a proton from hydrogen peroxide. The hydroperoxo-anion then binds at the heme, yielding compound 0. Glu-183 protonates the distal oxygen of compound 0, water is released, and compound I is formed.     

Crystal structures of phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase complexed with phenylalanine and a phenylalanyl-adenylate analogue

The crystal structures of Thermus thermophilus phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase (PheRS) complexed with phenylalanine and phenylalaninyl-adenylate (PheOH-AMP), the synthetic analogue of phenylalanyl-adenylate, have been determined at 2.7A and 2.5A resolution, respectively. Both Phe and PheOH-AMP are engulfed in the active site cleft of the catalytic alpha-subunit of PheRS, and neither makes contact with the PheRS beta-subunit. The conformations and binding of Phe are almost identical in both complexes. The recognition of Phe by PheRS is achieved through a mixture of multiple van der Waals interactions and hydrogen bonds. The side-chain of the Phe substrate is sandwiched between the hydrophobic side-chains of Phealpha258 and Phealpha260 on one side, and the main-chain atoms of the two adjacent beta-strands on the other. The side-chains of Valalpha261 and Alaalpha314 form the back wall of the amino acid binding pocket. In addition, PheRS residues (Trpalpha149, Seralpha180, Hisalpha178, Argalpha204, Glnalpha218, and Glualpha220) form a total of seven hydrogen bonds with the main-chain atoms of Phe. The conformation of PheOH-AMP and the network of interactions of its AMP moiety with PheRS are reminiscent of the other class II synthetases. The structural similarity between PheRS and histidyl-tRNA synthetase extends to the amino acid binding site, which is normally unique for each enzyme. The complex structures suggest that the PheRS beta-subunit may affect the first step of the reaction (formation of phenylalanyl-adenylate) through the metal-mediated conserved alpha/beta-subunit interface. The modeling of tyrosine in the active site of PheRS revealed no apparent close contacts between tyrosine and the PheRS residues. This result implies that the proofreading mechanism against activated tyrosine, rather than direct recognition, may play the major role in the PheRS specificity.     

Crystal structures of rat catechol-O-methyltransferase complexed with coumarine-based inhibitor

In human, catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT: E.C. 2.1.1.6) is responsible for metabolism of catechol neurotransmitter and xenobiotics. The main clinical interest in COMT results from the possibility of using COMT inhibitors as adjuncts in the therapy of Parkinson’s disease (PD) with l-DOPA. COMT is therefore a target for inhibitor development aiming at PD treatment and has been submitted to extensive structure-based drug design. Recently reported inhibitors have nitrocatechol structure that may inhibit oxidative phosphorylation and uncouple mitochondrial energy production. This work reports the first crystallographic study of Rat COMT complexed with non-nitrocatechol inhibitor. Analysis of the structural differences among the previously reported inhibitor complexes, coumarine-based inhibitor (4-phenyl-7, 8-dihydroxycoumarine: 4PCM) bound structure provides the explanation for inhibitor binding and can be used for future inhibitor design.     

Crystal structures of ferrous horse heart myoglobin complexed with nitric oxide and nitrosoethane

The interactions of nitric oxide (NO) and organic nitroso compounds with heme proteins are biologically important, and adduct formation between NO-containing compounds and myoglobin (Mb) have served as prototypical systems for studies of these interactions. We have prepared crystals of horse heart (hh) MbNO from nitrosylation of aqua-metMb crystals, and we have determined the crystal structure of hh MbNO at a resolution of 1.9 A. The Fe-N-O angle of 147 degrees in hh MbNO is larger than the corresponding 112 degrees angle previously determined from the crystal structure of sperm whale MbNO (Brucker et al., Proteins 1998;30:352-356) but is similar to the 150 degrees angle determined from a MS XAFS study of a frozen solution of hh MbNO (Rich et al., J Am Chem Soc 1998;120:10827-10836). The Fe-N(O) bond length of 2.0 A (this work) is longer than the 1.75 A distance determined from the XAFS study and suggests distal pocket influences on FeNO geometry. The nitrosyl N atom is located 3.0 A from the imidazole N(epsilon) atom of the distal His64 residue, suggesting electrostatic stabilization of the FeNO moiety by His64. The crystal structure of the nitrosoethane adduct of ferrous hh Mb was determined at a resolution of 1.7 A. The nitroso O atom of the EtNO ligand is located 2.7 A from the imidazole N(epsilon) atom of His64, suggesting a hydrogen bond interaction between these groups. To the best of our knowledge, the crystal structure of hh Mb(EtNO) is the first such determination of a nitrosoalkane adduct of a heme protein.     

Crystal structures of recombinant human dihydrofolate reductase complexed with folate and 5-deazafolate

The 2.3-A crystal structure of recombinant human dihydrofolate reductase (EC 1.5.1.3, DHFR) has been solved as a binary complex with folate (a poor substrate at neutral pH) and also as a binary complex with an inhibitor, 5-deazafolate. The inhibitor appears to be protonated at N8 on binding, whereas folate is not. Rotation of the peptide plane joining I7 and V8 from its position in the folate complex permits hydrogen bonding of 5-deazafolate's protonated N8 to the backbone carbonyl of I7, thus contributing to the enzyme's greater affinity for 5-deazafolate than for folate. In this respect it is likely that bound 5-deazafolate furnishes a model for 7,8-dihydrofolate binding and, in addition, resembles the transition state for folate reduction. A hypothetical transition-state model for folate reduction, generated by superposition of the DHFR binary complexes human.5-deazafolate and chicken liver.NADPH, reveals a 1-A overlap of the binding sites for folate's pteridine ring and the dihydronicotinamide ring of NADPH. It is proposed that this binding-site overlap accelerates the reduction of both folate and 7,8-dihydrofolate by simultaneously binding substrate and cofactor with a sub van der Waals separation that is optimal for hydride transfer.     

Crystal structures of human serum albumin complexed with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids.

The primary ligands of human serum albumin (HSA), an abundant plasma protein, are non-esterified fatty acids. In vivo, the majority of fatty acids associated with the protein are unsaturated. We present here the first high-resolution crystal structures of HSA complexed with two important unsaturated fatty acids, the monounsaturated oleic acid (C18:1) and the polyunsaturated arachidonic acid (C20:4). Both compounds are observed to occupy the seven binding sites distributed across the protein that are also bound by medium and long-chain saturated fatty acids. Although C18:1 fatty acid binds each site on HSA in a conformation almost identical with that of the corresponding saturated compound (C18:0), the presence of multiple cis double bonds in C20:4 induces distinct binding configurations at some sites. The observed restriction on binding configurations plausibly accounts for differences in the pattern of binding affinities for the primary sites between polyunsaturated fatty acids and their saturated or monounsaturated counterparts.     

Crystal structures of the catalytic domain of phosphodiesterase 4B complexed with AMP, 8-Br-AMP, and rolipram

Phosphodiesterase catalyzes the hydrolysis of the intracellular second messenger 3',5'-cyclic AMP (cAMP) into the corresponding 5'-nucleotide. Phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4), the major cAMP-specific PDE in inflammatory and immune cells, is an attractive target for the treatment of asthma and COPD. We have determined crystal structures of the catalytic domain of PDE4B complexed with AMP (2.0 A), 8-Br-AMP (2.13 A) and the potent inhibitor rolipram (2.0 A). All the ligands bind in the same hydrophobic pocket and can interact directly with the active site metal ions. The identity of these metal ions was examined using X-ray anomalous difference data. The structure of the AMP complex confirms the location of the catalytic site and allowed us to speculate about the detailed mechanism of catalysis. The high-resolution structures provided the experimental insight into the nucleotide selectivity of phosphodiesterase. 8-Br-AMP binds in the syn conformation to the enzyme and demonstrates an alternative nucleotide-binding mode. Rolipram occupies much of the AMP-binding site and forms two hydrogen bonds with Gln443 similar to the nucleotides.