Extraordinary rates of transition metal ion-mediated ribozyme catalysis

In pre-steady-state, fast-quench kinetic analysis, the tertiary-stabilized hammerhead ribozyme "RzB" cleaves its substrate RNA with maximal measured k (obs) values of approximately 3000 min(-1) in 1 mM Mn(2+) and approximately 780 min(-1) in 1 mM Mg(2+) at 37 degrees C (pH 7.4). Apparent pKa for the catalytic general base is approximately 7.8-8.5, independent of the corresponding metal hydrate pKa, suggesting potential involvement of a nucleobase as general base as suggested previously from nucleobase substitution studies. The pH-rate profile is bell-shaped for Cd(2+), for which the general catalytic acid has a pKa of 7.3 +/- 0.1. Simulations of the pH-rate relation suggest a pKa for the general catalytic acid to be approximately 9.5 in Mn(2+) and >9.5 in Mg(2+). The acid pKa's follow the trend in the pKa of the hydrated metal ions but are displaced by approximately 1-2 pH units in the presence of Cd(2+) and Mn(2+). One possible explanation for this trend is direct metal ion coordination with a nucleobase, which then acts as general acid.     

Identification of phosphates involved in catalysis by the ribozyme RNase P RNA.

The RNA subunit of ribonuclease P (RNase P RNA) is a catalytic RNA that cleaves precursor tRNAs to generate mature tRNA 5' ends. Little is known concerning the identity and arrangement of functional groups that constitute the active site of this ribozyme. We have used an RNase P RNA-substrate conjugate that undergoes rapid, accurate, and efficient self-cleavage in vitro to probe, by phosphorothioate modification-interference, functional groups required for catalysis. We identify four phosphate oxygens where substitution by sulfur significantly reduces the catalytic rate (50-200-fold). Interference at one site was partially rescued in the presence of manganese, suggesting a direct involvement in binding divalent metal ion cofactors required for catalysis. All sites are located in conserved sequence and secondary structure, and positioned adjacent to the substrate phosphate in a tertiary structure model of the ribozyme-substrate complex. The spatial arrangement of phosphorothioate-sensitive sites in RNase P RNA was found to resemble the distribution of analogous positions in the secondary and potential tertiary structures of other large catalytic RNAs.     

Involvement of a divalent cation in the binding of fructose 6-phosphate to Trypanosoma cruzi phosphofructokinase: kinetic and magnetic resonance studies

When Mg2+ ions were replaced by Mn2+ in the assay of Trypanosoma (Schizotrypanum) cruzi phosphofructokinase (ATP:D-fructose-6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.11) the Km for D-fructose 6-phosphate (F6P) was reduced threefold while the corresponding constant for ATP was essentially unaffected. A detailed kinetic investigation showed that the apparent Km for F6P decreased monotonically with increasing free Mn2+ concentrations, from a limiting value of 5.7 mM in its absence to a limiting value of 1.1 mM in the presence of saturating concentrations of the ion; the Vmax of the enzyme was, on the other hand, not affected by the concentration of Mn2+. Conversely, it was shown that the apparent Km for Mn2+ at fixed MnATP concentrations decreased with increasing F6P concentrations, from a limiting value of 30 microM in the absence of the sugar phosphate to 9 microM at saturating concentrations of the substrate, while the apparent Vmax increased monotonically from zero to its limiting value. Both electron paramagnetic resonance and water proton longitudinal relaxation studies showed binding of one Mn2+ ion per 18,000 Da catalytic subunit of enzyme in the absence of F6P, with a dissociation constant of 57 +/- 4 microM, comparable to the apparent Km for the ion in the absence of F6P. The presence of saturating level of F6P decreases the value of the dissociation constant of Mn2+ to a limiting value of 7.9 microM in agreement with the results of the kinetic analysis. The substrate F6P decreases the enhancement of the water proton longitudinal relaxation rate in a saturable fashion, suggesting displacement of water molecules coordinated to the enzyme-bound Mn2+ ion by the sugar phosphate. Computer fitting of the several dissociation constants and relaxation enhancements for binary and ternary complexes gives a value of 7.9 mM for the dissociation constant of the enzyme-F6P complex in the absence of Mn2+ and 1.1 mM in the presence of saturating concentrations of the ion, in excellent agreement with the respective Km values of F6P extrapolated to zero and saturating Mn2+, respectively. Studies of the frequency dependence of the water proton longitudinal relaxation rate enhancements in the presence of both binary (enzyme-Mn2+) and ternary (enzyme-Mn2(+)-F6P) complexes, are most simply explained by assuming two exchangeable water molecules in the coordination sphere of the enzyme-bound Mn2+ in the binary complex, while in the ternary complex the data are consistent with the displacement of one of the water molecule from the coordination sphere with no significant alteration of the correlation time. Overall, the kinetic and binding data are consistent with the formation of an enzyme-metal-F6P bridge complex at the active site of T. cruzi phosphofructokinase, a coordination scheme which is unique among the phosphofructokinases.     

Identification of an active site ligand for a group I ribozyme catalytic metal ion

The transition state of the group I intron self-splicing reaction is stabilized by three metal ions. The functional groups within the intron substrates (guanosine and an oligoribonucleotide mimic of the 5'-exon) that coordinate these metal ions have been systematically defined through a series of metal ion specificity switch experiments. In contrast, the catalytic metal ligands within the ribozyme active site are unknown. In an effort to identify them, stereospecific (R(P) or S(P)) single-site phosphorothioate substitutions were introduced at five phosphates predicted to be in the vicinity of the catalytic center (A207, C208, A304, U305, and A306) within the Tetrahymena intron. Of the 10 ribozymes that were studied, four phosphorothioate substitutions (A207 S(P), C208 S(P), A306 R(P), and A306 S(P)) exhibited a significant reduction in the cleavage rate. Only the effect of the C208 S(P) phosphorothioate substitution could be significantly rescued by the addition of a thiophilic metal ion, either Mn(2+) or Zn(2+), when tested with an all-oxy substrate. The effect was not rescued with Cd(2+). To determine if one of the catalytic metal ions is coordinated to the C208 pro-S(P) oxygen, the phosphorothioate-substituted ribozymes were also assayed using oligonucleotide substrates with a 3'-phosphorothiolate or an S(P) phosphorothioate substitution at the scissile phosphate. This resulted in a second metal specificity switch, in that Mn(2+) or Zn(2+) no longer rescued the C208 S(P) ribozyme, but Cd(2+) provided efficient rescue in the context of either sulfur-containing substrate. The 3'-oxygen and the pro-S(P) oxygen of the scissile phosphate are both known to coordinate the same metal ion, M(A), which stabilizes the negative charge on the leaving group 3'-oxygen in the transition state. Taken together, these data suggest that metal M(A) is coordinated to the C208 pro-S(P) phosphate oxygen, which constitutes the first functional link between a specific catalytic metal ion and a particular functional group within the group I ribozyme active site.     

Complete identification of nonbridging phosphate oxygens involved in hammerhead cleavage.

Phosphorothioate interference analysis is suited for the rapid identification of structurally and functionally important phosphate groups. Previous interference studies, however, have been limited to the analysis of pro-Rp phosphate oxygens. We employed solid-phase oligonucleotide synthesis and modification interference analysis to investigate either of the nonbridging phosphate oxygens within the hammerhead ribozyme. Two novel sites of Sp phosphorothioate interference were identified at positions A6 and U16.1. The results from interference experiments were confirmed by single phosphorothioate substitutions at sites of interest. Metal rescue experiments revealed that direct metal ion coordination occurs in the functional ribozyme only at the site of cleavage and at the pro-Rp oxygen of position Ag. The new approach may be generally useful in rapidly evaluating the functional importance of phosphate groups in nucleic acids.     

Poliovirus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (3Dpol): pre-steady-state kinetic analysis of ribonucleotide incorporation in the presence of Mn2+

The use of Mn(2+) as the divalent cation cofactor in polymerase-catalyzed reactions instead of Mg(2+) often diminishes the stringency of substrate selection and incorporation fidelity. We have solved the complete kinetic mechanism for single nucleotide incorporation catalyzed by the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase from poliovirus (3D(pol)) in the presence of Mn(2+). The steps employed during a single cycle of nucleotide incorporation are identical to those employed in the presence of Mg(2+) and include a conformational-change step after nucleotide binding to achieve catalytic competence of the polymerase-primer/template-nucleotide complex. In the presence of Mn(2+), the conformational-change step is the primary determinant of enzyme specificity, phosphoryl transfer appears as the sole rate-limiting step for nucleotide incorporation, and the rate of phosphoryl transfer is the same for all nucleotides: correct and incorrect. Because phosphoryl transfer is the rate-limiting step in the presence of Mn(2+), it was possible to determine that the maximal phosphorothioate effect in this system is in the range of 8-11. This information permitted further interrogation of the nucleotide-selection process in the presence of Mg(2+), highlighting the capacity of this cation to permit the enzyme to use the phosphoryl-transfer step for nucleotide selection. The inability of Mn(2+) to support a reduction in the efficiency of phosphoryl transfer when incorrect substrates are employed is the primary explanation for the loss of fidelity observed in the presence of this cofactor. We propose that the conformational change involves reorientation of the triphosphate moiety of the bound nucleotide into a conformation that permits binding of the second metal ion required for catalysis. In the presence of Mg(2+), this conformation requires interactions with the enzyme that permit a reduction in catalytic efficiency to occur during an attempt to incorporate an incorrect nucleotide. Adventitious interactions in the cofactor-binding site with bound Mn(2+) may diminish fidelity by compensating for interaction losses used to modulate catalytic efficiency when incorrect nucleotides are bound in the presence of Mg(2+).     

Metal-phosphate interactions in the hammerhead ribozyme observed by 31P NMR and phosphorothioate substitutions

The hammerhead ribozyme is a catalytic RNA that requires divalent metal cations for activity under moderate ionic strength. Two important sites that are proposed to bind metal ions in the hammerhead ribozyme are the A9/G10.1 site, located at the junction between stem II and the conserved core, and the scissile phosphate (P1.1). (31)P NMR spectroscopy in conjunction with phosphorothioate substitutions is used in this study to investigate these putative metal sites. The (31)P NMR feature of a phosphorothioate appears in a unique spectral window and can be monitored for changes upon addition of metals. Addition of 1-2 equiv of Cd(2+) to the hammerhead with an A9-S(Rp) or A9-S(S)(Rp) substitution results in a 2-3 ppm upfield shift of the (31)P NMR resonance. In contrast, the P1.1-S(Rp) and P1.1-S(Sp) (31)P NMR features shift slightly and in opposite directions, with a total change in delta of 相似文献   

Theoretical investigation of the enzymatic phosphoryl transfer of β-phosphoglucomutase: revisiting both steps of the catalytic cycle

Enzyme catalyzed phosphate transfer is a part of almost all metabolic processes. Such reactions are of central importance for the energy balance in all organisms and play important roles in cellular control at all levels. Mutases transfer a phosphoryl group while nucleases cleave the phosphodiester linkages between two nucleotides. The subject of our present study is the Lactococcus lactis β-phosphoglucomutase (β-PGM), which effectively catalyzes the interconversion of β-D-glucose-1-phosphate (β-G1P) to β-D-glucose-6-phosphate (β-G6P) and vice versa via stabile intermediate β-D-glucose-1,6-(bis)phosphate (β-G1,6diP) in the presence of Mg(2+). In this paper we revisited the reaction mechanism of the phosphoryl transfer starting from the bisphosphate β-G1,6diP in both directions (toward β-G1P and β-G6P) combining docking techniques and QM/MM theoretical method at the DFT/PBE0 level of theory. In addition we performed NEB (nudged elastic band) and free energy calculations to optimize the path and to identify the transition states and the energies involved in the catalytic cycle. Our calculations reveal that both steps proceed via dissociative pentacoordinated phosphorane, which is not a stabile intermediate but rather a transition state. In addition to the Mg(2+) ion, Ser114 and Lys145 also play important roles in stabilizing the large negative charge on the phosphate through strong coordination with the phosphate oxygens and guiding the phosphate group throughout the catalytic process. The calculated energy barrier of the reaction for the β-G1P to β-G1,6diP step is only slightly higher than for the β-G1,6diP to β-G6P step (16.10 kcal mol(-1) versus 15.10 kcal mol(-1)) and is in excellent agreement with experimental findings (14.65 kcal mol(-1)).     

Thiophilic metal ion rescue of phosphorothioate interference within the Tetrahymena ribozyme P4-P6 domain

Divalent metal ions are essential for the folding and catalytic activities of many RNAs. A commonly employed biochemical technique to identify metal-binding sites in RNA is the rescue of Rp alpha-phosphorothioate (PS) interference by the addition of soft divalent metal ions. To access the ability of such experiments to accurately identify metal-ion coordinations within a complex RNA fold, we report metal-rescue results from the Tetrahymena group I intron P4-P6 domain, where the location and coordination of five divalent metal ions have been determined by X-ray crystallography [J.H. Cate et al., Nat Struct Biol, 1997, 4:553]. We used a native gel mobility-shift to assay for P4-P6 folding in the presence of various divalent metal ions, and found that even moderate concentrations of Mn2+ (> or =0.5 mM) can rescue PS interference at sites that do not coordinate metal ions within the P4-P6 crystal structure. To control for such effects, 2'-deoxynucleotide interference was used to titrate the Mn2+ concentration to a level that produces metal-ion-specific rescue (0.3 mM). This concentration of Mn2+ specifically rescued four of the six metal-dependent phosphorothioate effects within the RNA domain, including PS interference resulting from outer-sphere coordination to the metals. Both sites that were not specifically rescued make inner-sphere metal-ion coordinations. Cd2+ and Zn2+ afforded rescue at a smaller subset of the six metal-specific PS sites, though again phosphates making outer-sphere coordinations to metal ions were rescued preferentially. These data on P4-P6 domain folding reinforce the need for caution when interpreting metal-rescue experiments.     

Characterization of the protein kinase activity of TRPM7/ChaK1, a protein kinase fused to the transient receptor potential ion channel

Channel-kinase TRPM7/ChaK1 is a member of a recently discovered family of protein kinases called alpha-kinases that display no sequence homology to conventional protein kinases. It is an unusual bifunctional protein that contains an alpha-kinase domain fused to an ion channel. The TRPM7/ChaK1 channel has been characterized using electrophysiological techniques, and recent evidence suggests that it may play a key role in the regulation of magnesium homeostasis. However, little is known about its protein kinase activity. To characterize the kinase activity of TRPM7/ChaK1, we expressed the kinase catalytic domain in bacteria. ChaK1-cat is able to undergo autophosphorylation and to phosphorylate myelin basic protein and histone H3 on serine and threonine residues. The kinase is specific for ATP and cannot use GTP as a substrate. ChaK1-cat is insensitive to staurosporine (up to 0.1 mM) but can be inhibited by rottlerin. Because the kinase domain is physically linked to an ion channel, we investigated the effect of ions on ChaK1-cat activity. The kinase requires Mg(2+) (optimum at 4-10 mM) or Mn(2+) (optimum at 3-5 mM), with activity in the presence of Mn(2+) being 2 orders of magnitude higher than in the presence of Mg(2+). Zn(2+) and Co(2+) inhibited ChaK1-cat kinase activity. Ca(2+) at concentrations up to 1 mM did not affect kinase activity. Considering intracellular ion concentrations, our results suggest that, among divalent metal ions, only Mg(2+) can directly modulate TRPM7/ChaK1 kinase activity in vivo.     

Structure-based analysis of the metal-dependent mechanism of H-N-H endonucleases

Controversy surrounds the metal-dependent mechanism of H-N-H endonucleases, enzymes involved in a variety of biological functions, including intron homing and DNA repair. To address this issue we determined the crystal structures for complexes of the H-N-H motif containing bacterial toxin colicin E9 with Zn(2+), Zn(2+).DNA, and Mg(2+).DNA. The structures show that the rigid V-shaped architecture of the active site does not undergo any major conformational changes on binding to the minor groove of DNA and that the same interactions are made to the nucleic acid regardless of which metal ion is bound to the enzyme. The scissile phosphate contacts the single metal ion of the motif through distortion of the DNA brought about by the insertion of the Arg-96-Glu-100 salt bridge into the minor groove and a network of contacts to the DNA phosphate backbone that straddle the metal site. The Mg(2+)-bound structure reveals an unusual coordination scheme involving two H-N-H histidine residues, His-102 and His-127. The mechanism of DNA cleavage is likely related to that of other single metal ion-dependent endonucleases, such as I-PpoI and Vvn, although in these enzymes the single alkaline earth metal ion is coordinated by oxygen-bearing amino acids. The structures also provide a rationale as to why H-N-H endonucleases are inactive in the presence of Zn(2+) but active with other transition metal ions such as Ni(2+). This is because of coordination of the Zn(2+) ion through a third histidine, His-131. "Active" transition metal ions are those that bind more weakly to the H-N-H motif because of the disengagement of His-131, which we suggest allows a water molecule to complete the catalytic cycle.     

X-ray Structures of Magnesium and Manganese Complexes with the N-Terminal Domain of Calmodulin: Insights into the Mechanism and Specificity of Metal Ion Binding to an EF-Hand

Calmodulin (CaM), a member of the EF-hand superfamily, regulates many aspects of cell function by responding specifically to micromolar concentrations of Ca(2+) in the presence of an ～1000-fold higher concentration of cellular Mg(2+). To explain the structural basis of metal ion binding specificity, we have determined the X-ray structures of the N-terminal domain of calmodulin (N-CaM) in complexes with Mg(2+), Mn(2+), and Zn(2+). In contrast to Ca(2+), which induces domain opening in CaM, octahedrally coordinated Mg(2+) and Mn(2+) stabilize the closed-domain, apo-like conformation, while tetrahedrally coordinated Zn(2+) ions bind at the protein surface and do not compete with Ca(2+). The relative positions of bound Mg(2+) and Mn(2+) within the EF-hand loops are similar to those of Ca(2+); however, the Glu side chain at position 12 of the loop, whose bidentate interaction with Ca(2+) is critical for domain opening, does not bind directly to either Mn(2+) or Mg(2+), and the vacant ligand position is occupied by a water molecule. We conclude that this critical interaction is prevented by specific stereochemical constraints imposed on the ligands by the EF-hand β-scaffold. The structures suggest that Mg(2+) contributes to the switching off of calmodulin activity and possibly other EF-hand proteins at the resting levels of Ca(2+). The Mg(2+)-bound N-CaM structure also provides a unique view of a transiently bound hydrated metal ion and suggests a role for the hydration water in the metal-induced conformational change.     

Helix P4 is a divalent metal ion binding site in the conserved core of the ribonuclease P ribozyme

The ribonuclease P ribozyme (RNase P RNA), like other large ribozymes, requires magnesium ions for folding and catalytic function; however, specific sites of metal ion coordination in RNase P RNA are not well defined. To identify and characterize individual nucleotide functional groups in the RNase P ribozyme that participate in catalytic function, we employed self-cleaving ribozyme-substrate conjugates that facilitate measurement of the effects of individual functional group modifications. The self-cleavage rates and pH dependence of two different ribozyme-substrate conjugates were determined and found to be similar to the single turnover kinetics of the native ribozyme. Using site-specific phosphorothioate substitutions, we provide evidence for metal ion coordination at the pro-Rp phosphate oxygen of A67, in the highly conserved helix P4, that was previously suggested by modification-interference experiments. In addition, we detect a new metal ion coordination site at the pro-Sp phosphate oxygen of A67. These findings, in combination with the proximity of A67 to the pre-tRNA cleavage site, support the conclusion that an important role of helix P4 in the RNase P ribozyme is to position divalent metal ions that are required for catalysis.     

Determination of metal ion binding sites within the hairpin ribozyme domains by NMR

Cations play an important role in RNA folding and stabilization. The hairpin ribozyme is a small catalytic RNA consisting of two domains, A and B, which interact in the transition state in an ion-dependent fashion. Here we describe the interaction of mono-, di-, and trivalent cations with the domains of the ribozyme, as studied by homo- and heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy. Paramagnetic line broadening, chemical shift mapping, and intermolecular NOEs indicate that the B domain contains four to five metal binding sites, which bind Mn(2+), Mg(2+), and Co(NH(3))(6)(3+). There is no significant structural change in the B domain upon the addition of Co(NH(3))(6)(3+) or Mg(2+). No specific monovalent ion binding sites exist on the B domain, as determined by (15)NH(4)(+) binding studies. In contrast to the B domain, there are no observable metal ion interactions within the internal loop of the A domain. Model structure calculations of Mn(2+) interactions at two sites within the B domain indicate that the binding sites comprise major groove pockets lined with functional groups oriented so that multiple hydrogen bonds can be formed between the RNA and Mn(H(2)O)(6)(2+) or Co(NH(3))(6)(3+). Site 1 is very similar in geometry to a site within the P4-P6 domain of the Tetrahymena group I intron, while site 2 is unique among known ion binding sites. The site 2 ion interacts with a catalytically essential nucleotide and bridges two phosphates. Due to its location and geometry, this ion may play an important role in the docking of the A and B domains.     

Multiple zinc binding sites in retinal rod cGMP phosphodiesterase, PDE6alpha beta

The photoreceptor cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDE6) plays a key role in vertebrate vision, but its enzymatic mechanism and the roles of metal ion co-factors have yet to be determined. We have determined the amount of endogenous Zn(2+) in rod PDE6 and established a requirement for tightly bound Zn(2+) in catalysis. Purified PDE6 contained 3-4-g atoms of zinc/mole, consistent with an initial content of two tightly bound Zn(2+)/catalytic subunit. PDE with only tightly bound Zn(2+) and no free metal ions was inactive, but activity was fully restored by Mg(2+), Mn(2+), Co(2+), or Zn(2+). Mn(2+), Co(2+), and Zn(2+) also induced aggregation and inactivation at higher concentrations and longer times. Removal of 93% of the tightly bound Zn(2+) by treatment with dipicolinic acid and EDTA at pH 6.0 resulted in almost complete loss of activity in the presence of Mg(2+). This activity loss was blocked almost completely by Zn(2+), less potently by Co(2+) and almost not at all by Mg(2+), Mn(2+), or Cu(2+). The lost activity was restored by the addition of Zn(2+), but Co(2+) restored only 13% as much activity, and other metals even less. Thus tightly bound Zn(2+) is required for catalysis but could also play a role in stabilizing the structure of PDE6, whereas distinct sites where Zn(2+) is rapidly exchanged are likely occupied by Mg(2+) under physiological conditions.     

Effect of substitution inert metal complexes on calcineurin.

As a substitute for M(H2O)2+6, Co(NH3)3+6 was found to activate calcineurin with para-nitrophenyl phosphate as substrate. Kinetics for calcineurin catalyzed hydrolysis of para-nitrophenyl phosphate at pH 7.0 with Mn2+, Mg2+, Co2+, and Co(NH3)3+6 were compared. Although kcat and Km were different with the metals, values of kcat/Km were nearly identical for Mn2+ and Mg2+, but lower for Co2+ and Co(NH3)3+6. The concentration of each metal providing half-maximal activation, designated Kact, was evaluated as 15.9 mM for Co(NH3)3+6, compared to Kact = 0.17 mM for Mn2+ and Co2+ and 6.3 mM for Mg2+, respectively. Comparing kcat/Kcat showed that Co(NH3)3+6 was a 170-fold poorer activator of calcineurin than was Mn2+, but only 1.5-fold poorer than Mg2+. Activation by Co(NH3)3+6 indicated that activation of calcineurin by exogenous metal ions can proceed via an outer coordination sphere reaction mechanism with no requirement for the direct coordination of substrate by metal. Because Co(NH3)3+6 was found to support calcineurin activity, the related compound [Co-(ethylenediamine)3]3+ (or Co(en)3+3) was tested as a possible activator. Co(en)3+3 did not support calcineurin activity but did inhibit calcineurin. Co(en)3+3 showed competitive inhibition kinetics with either Mn2+ or pNPP as the varied ligand and the other at a fixed, subsaturating concentration. Inorganic phosphate was used as a known competitive inhibitor to pNPP (B. L. Martin and D. J. Graves, J. Biol. Chem. 261, 14545-14550, 1986) and showed uncompetitive inhibition with Mn2+ as the varied ligand. These patterns are consistent with the mechanism of ligand binding to calcineurin being ordered with metal preceding substrate. Prior formation of a metal-substrate complex was not required for association with calcineurin.     

Coordination of divalent metal ions in the active site of poly(A)-specific ribonuclease

Poly(A)-specific ribonuclease (PARN) is a highly poly(A)-specific 3'-exoribonuclease that efficiently degrades mRNA poly(A) tails. PARN belongs to the DEDD family of nucleases, and four conserved residues are essential for PARN activity, i.e. Asp-28, Glu-30, Asp-292, and Asp-382. Here we have investigated how catalytically important divalent metal ions are coordinated in the active site of PARN. Each of the conserved amino acid residues was substituted with cysteines, and it was found that all four mutants were inactive in the presence of Mg2+. However, in the presence of Mn2+, Zn2+, Co2+, or Cd2+, PARN activity was rescued from the PARN(D28C), PARN(D292C), and PARN(D382C) variants, suggesting that these three amino acids interact with catalytically essential metal ions. It was found that the shortest sufficient substrate for PARN activity was adenosine trinucleotide (A3) in the presence of Mg2+ or Cd2+. Interestingly, adenosine dinucleotide (A) was efficiently hydrolyzed in the presence of Mn2+, Zn2+, or Co2+, suggesting that the substrate length requirement for PARN can be modulated by the identity of the divalent metal ion. Finally, introduction of phosphorothioate modifications into the A substrate demonstrated that the scissile bond non-bridging phosphate oxygen in the pro-R position plays an important role during cleavage, most likely by coordinating a catalytically important divalent metal ion. Based on our data we discuss binding and coordination of divalent metal ions in the active site of PARN.     

Effect of the Met344His mutation on the conformational dynamics of bovine beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase: crystal structure of the Met344His mutant in complex with chitobiose

Beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase (beta4Gal-T1) in the presence of manganese ion transfers galactose from UDP-galactose (UDP-Gal) to N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) that is either free or linked to an oligosaccharide. Crystallographic studies on bovine beta4Gal-T1 have shown that the primary metal binding site is located in the hinge region of a long flexible loop, which upon Mn(2+) and UDP-Gal binding changes from an open to a closed conformation. This conformational change creates an oligosaccharide binding site in the enzyme. Neither UDP nor UDP analogues efficiently induce these conformational changes in the wild-type enzyme, thereby restricting the structural analysis of the acceptor binding site. The binding of Mn(2+) involves an uncommon coordination to the Sdelta atom of Met344; when it is mutated to His, the mutant M344H, in the presence of Mn(2+) and UDP-hexanolamine, readily changes to a closed conformation, facilitating the structural analysis of the enzyme bound with an oligosaccharide acceptor. Although the mutant M344H loses 98% of its Mn(2+)-dependent activity, it exhibits 25% of its activity in the presence of Mg(2+). The crystal structures of M344H-Gal-T1 in complex with either UDP-Gal.Mn(2+) or UDP-Gal.Mg(2+), determined at 2.3 A resolution, show that the mutant enzyme in these complexes is in a closed conformation, and the coordination stereochemistry of Mg(2+) is quite similar to that of Mn(2+). Although either Mn(2+) or Mg(2+), together with UDP-Gal, binds and changes the conformation of the M344H mutant to the closed one, it is the Mg(2+) complex that engages efficiently in catalyses. Thus, this property enabled us to crystallize the M344H mutant for the first time with the acceptor substrate chitobiose in the presence of UDP-hexanolamine and Mn(2+). The crystal structure determined at 2.3 A resolution reveals that the GlcNAc residue at the nonreducing end of chitobiose makes extensive hydrophobic interactions with the highly conserved Tyr286 residue.     

Solution conformation of various uridine diphosphoglucose salts as probed by NMR spectroscopy

The solution conformations of uridine diphosphoglucose (UDP-Glc) under a variety of conditions (solvent, ionic strength, various mono- and divalent cations) have been studied by NMR spectroscopy (1H, 13C, 31P, and 25Mg). In the case of divalent cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Mn2+) the phosphate oxygens are the preferred coordination sites and analysis of the 25Mg linewidths of solutions with various [Mg2+]/[UDP-Glc] ratios, indicates that the 1:1 Mg2+ UDP-Glc complex is the major species. From 13C relaxation data and hydrodynamic theory, it has been demonstrated that under all conditions UDP-Glc adopts a fairly extended overall shape and that magnesium ions lead to a significant increase in the average length of the UDP-Glc molecule as compared to monovalent cations. Thus, one of the roles of the metal ion in enzymic reactions involving nucleotide sugars may be to preorganize the nucleotide sugar.     

DNA gyrase requires DNA for effective two-site coordination of divalent metal ions: further insight into the mechanism of enzyme action

The catalytic properties of DNA gyrase, an A 2B 2 complex, are modulated by the presence of divalent metal ions. Using circular dichroism, protein melting experiments and enzyme activity assays, we investigated the correlation between the A 2B 2 conformation, the nature of the metal ion cofactor and the enzyme activity in the presence and absence of DNA substrate. At room temperature, DNA gyrase structure is not appreciably affected by Ca (2+) or Mg (2+) but is modified by Mn (2+). In addition, metal ions strongly affect the enzyme's thermal transitions, rendering the A 2B 2 structure more flexible. Using the B subunit, we were able to identify two distinct complexes with manganese ions. The first one exhibits a 1:1 stoichiometry and is not affected by the presence of DNA. The second complex is associated with a large protein structural modification that can be remarkably modulated by addition of the DNA substrate. This behavior is conserved in the reconstituted protein. Studies with two GyrB mutants indicate that Mn (2+) interference with the TOPRIM region modulates gyrase supercoiling activity. In particular, considering the need for two divalent metal ions for an efficient catalytic cleavage of the phosphodiester bond, our data suggest that residue D500 participates in the first complexation event (DNA-independent), whereas residue D498 is involved mainly in the second process. In conclusion, a combination of the ion features (ionic size, electronegativity, coordination sphere) operating at the level of the catalytic region and of the ion-driven modifications in overall enzyme structure and flexibility contribute to the mechanism of gyrase activity. An effectual role for DNA recruiting the second catalytic metal ion is envisaged.