Further insight into the mechanism of stereoselective proton abstraction by bacterial copper amine oxidase

During the catalytic reaction of copper amine oxidase, one of the two prochiral hydrogen atoms at the C1 position of substrate amine is stereoselectively abstracted by a conserved Asp residue serving as a general base. Using stereospecifically deuterium-labeled enantiomers of 2-phenylethylamine, we previously showed that the pro-S alpha-proton is abstracted by the enzyme from Arthrobacter globiformis (AGAO) [Uchida, M., et al. (2003) Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. 67, 2664-2667]. More recently, we have also demonstrated that the pro-S selectivity of alpha-proton abstraction is fully retained even in the reaction of a mutant AGAO lacking the catalytic base [Chiu, Y.-C., et al. (2006) Biochemistry 45, 4105-4120]. On the basis of these findings, we have proposed that the stereoselectivity of alpha-proton abstraction is primarily determined by the conformation of the Schiff base intermediate formed between the substrate and the topa quinone cofactor (TPQ), stabilized by the binding of the distal part of the substrate to a hydrophobic pocket of the enzyme. In this conformation, the pro-S hydrogen atom to be abstracted is nearly perpendicular to the plane of the Schiff base-TPQ conjugate system, achieving the maximum overlap of sigma- and pi-orbitals. To further elucidate the stereochemical details, we have synthesized stereospecifically deuterium-labeled enantiomers of ethylamine, a very poor substrate for AGAO, in addition to those structurally related to the preferred substrate, 2-phenylethylamine. In marked contrast to the nearly complete pro-S selectivity of alpha-proton abstraction for most substrates that have been examined, the stereoselectivity for ethylamine decreased significantly to as little as 88%. The crystal structure of AGAO soaked with ethylamine showed very poor electron densities for the substrate Schiff base intermediate, showing that its conformation is not defined uniquely. Thus, the stereoselectivity of alpha-proton abstraction during the copper amine oxidase reaction is closely associated with the conformational flexibility of the substrate Schiff base intermediate.     

Studies on the active site of pig plasma amine oxidase.

Amine oxidase from pig plasma (PPAO) has two bound Cu2+ ions and at least one pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) moiety as cofactors. It is shown that recovery of activity by copper-depleted PPAO is linear with respect to added Cu2+ ions. Recovery of e.s.r. and optical spectral characteristics of active-site copper parallel the recovery of catalytic activity. These results are consistent with both Cu2+ ions contributing to catalysis. Further e.s.r. studies indicate that the two copper sites in PPAO, unlike those in amine oxidases from other sources, are chemically distinct. These comparative studies establish that non-identity of the Cu2+ ions in PPAO is not a requirement for amine oxidase activity. It is shown through the use of a new assay procedure that there are two molecules of PQQ bound per molecule of protein in PPAO; only the more reactive of these PQQ moieties is required for activity.     

Purification of bovine plasma amine oxidase

A new method for the purification of bovine plasma amine oxidase is described. The enzyme is purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation and by affinity chromatography performed with AH-Sepharose 4B and concanavalin A-Sepharose. Three activity peaks were separated, all showing similar properties. Specific activity is the highest described for this enzyme. The enzyme appears to contain 2 copper atoms and 1 carbonyl group/molecule.     

Effect of phosphate ion on the activity of bovine plasma amine oxidase.

The system bovine plasma amine oxidase-polyamine-phosphate ion was investigated by activity measurements and 31P NMR spectroscopy. Lineweaver-Burk plots showed that phosphate ion, under physiological conditions, is an apparent competitive inhibitor of bovine plasma amine oxidase. While NMR measurements of the T1 of 31P do not suggest the binding of phosphate to/or near the paramagnetic Cu(II) sites of bovine plasma amine oxidase, the chemical shift dependence of 31P on spermidine concentration indicates the formation of a spermidine-phosphate complex. The value of the dissociation constant of this complex was found 18.5 +/- 1.4 mM, at pH 7.2, by NMR, in good agreement with the value 17.0 +/- 0.8 mM calculated from activity measurements, assuming the enzyme activity is proportional to the free amine concentration, under second order conditions. Our data suggest that the decrease of the free spermidine, due to the binding of phosphate ion, is responsible of the observed inhibition of bovine plasma amine oxidase.     

A substrate-cofactor free radical intermediate in the reaction mechanism of copper amine oxidase.

Reduction of copper amine oxidase with substrate led to the appearance of a free radical which can be detected in anaerobiosis by ESR and optical spectroscopy. The origin of this radical was examined through studies of the semiquinones of 6-hydroxydopamine, an analogue of the recently identified cofactor 6-hydroxydopa. The ESR spectrum of the 6-hydroxydopamine radical was too narrow to account for the enzyme radical signal; however, after spontaneous reaction with primary amines the hyperfine splittings and spectral width obtained by modulation broadening became very similar to those observed for the oxidase radical species. This effect was ascribed to covalent binding of a nitrogen atom directly to the aromatic ring structure, suggesting that the amine oxidase radical is an amino-6-hydroxydopa semiquinone. Identical ESR spectra were obtained using the amines putrescine, cadaverine, p-[(dimethylamino)methyl]benzylamine, and ethylenediamine; these oxidase substrates gave identical enzyme radical spectra as well. The interaction between cofactor and substrate was proved unambiguously by the technique of isotopic labeling: addition of [15N2]ethylenediamine instead of the normal 14N-labeled compound changed the ESR spectra of both the enzyme radical and its 6-hydroxydopamine counterpart. The results were confirmed by optical spectroscopy measurements; 6-hydroxydopamine and oxidized 6-hydroxydopamine gave spectra identical to those of reduced and oxidized amine oxidase, respectively. The 6-hydroxydopamine radical showed a sharp peak at 440 nm; upon addition of amines the maximum shifted to 460 nm, as found for the enzyme. It is proposed that copper amine oxidase represents the first example of a mixed substrate-cofactor radical within the family of tyrosine radical enzymes.     

Nanosecond spectroscopy of a dimeric enzyme: plasma amine oxidase.

The fluorescence dye 1-anilino-naphthalene-8-sulphonic acid (ANS) was used as a probe of non-polar binding sites in the enzyme plasma amine oxidase. Steady fluorescence measurements indicate that ANS binds to a single binding site of the dimeric enzyme with a dissociation constant of 5 microns. This binding site is different from the catalytic binding site. Nanosecond emission anisotropy measurements were performed on the ANS-enzyme in an effort to detect independent rotation of the subunits in the native enzyme. The observed rotational correlation time (phi = 105 ns) corresponds to the rotation of a rigid dimeric macromolecule. A rotational correlation time of 120 ns was obtained with the enzyme labelled with pyrenebutyric acid. It is concluded that the dimeric enzyme does not exhibit any modes of flexibility due to independent rotation of the subunits in the nanosecond range.     

The organic cofactor in plasma amine oxidase: evidence for pyrroloquinoline quinone and against pyridoxal phosphate.

Plasma amine oxidases (EC 1.4.3.6) are classified as containing the organic cofactor pyridoxal phosphate. Biochemical and bioassays on the pig plasma amine oxidase fail to reveal the presence of pyridoxal phosphate and 31P n.m.r. evidence is also inconsistent with pyridoxal phosphate in the enzyme. Resonance Raman spectral studies on phenylhydrazone derivatives of the pig and bovine plasma enzymes have been carried out and comparisons made with the corresponding derivatives of pyridoxal phosphate and pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ). The resonance Raman evidence indicates that the cofactor in both plasma amine oxidases is PQQ or a closely related species and not pyridoxal phosphate. The results substantiate earlier reports concerning the identity of the organic cofactor.