Binding of substrate analogs to hen egg-white lysozyme with an ester linkage between Glu 35 and Trp 108.

The interactions of the substrate analogs beta-methyl-GlcNAc, (GlcNAc)2, and (GlcNAc)3 with hen egg-white lysozyme [EC 3.2.1.17] in which an ester linkage had been formed between Glu 35 and Trp 108 (108 ester lysozyme), were studied by the circular dichroic and fluorescence techniques, and were compared with those for intact lysozyme. The binding constants of beta-methyl-GlcNAc and (GlcNAc)2 to 108 ester lysozyme were essentially the same as those for intact lysozyme in the pH range of 1 to 5. Above pH 5, the binding constants of these saccharides to 108 ester lysozyme did not change with pH, while the binding constants to intact lysozyme decreased. This indicates that Glu 35 (pK 6.0 in intact lysozyme) participates in the binding of these saccharides. The extent and direction of the pK shifts of Asp 52 (pK 3.5), Asp 48 (pK 4.4), and Asp 66 (pK 1.3) observed when beta-methyl-GlcNAc is bound to 108 ester lysozyme were the same as those for intact lysozyme. The participation of Asp 101 and Asp 66 in the binding of (GlcNAc)2 to 108 ester lysozyme was also the same as that for intact lysozyme. These findings indicate that the conformations of subsites B and C are not changed by the formation of the ester linkage. On the other hand, the binding constants of (GlcNAc)3 to 108 ester lysozyme were higher than those for intact lysozyme at all pH values studied. This result is interpreted in terms of an increase in the affinity for a GlcNAc residue of subsite D, which is situated near the esterified Glu 35.     

State of binding subsites in Asp 101-modified lysozymes

The environments of the binding subsites in Asp 101-modified lysozyme, in which glucosamine or ethanolamine is covalently bound to the carboxyl group of Asp 101, were investigated by chemical modification and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Trp 62 in each of the native and the modified lysozymes was nitrophenylsulfenylated. The yield of the nitrophenylsulfenylated derivative from the lysozyme modified with glucosamine at Asp 101 (GlcN-lysozyme) was considerably lower than those from native lysozyme and from the lysozyme modified with ethanolamine at Asp 101 (EtN-lysozyme). These results suggest that Trp 62 in GlcN-lysozyme is less susceptible to nitrophenylsulfenylation. Kinetic analyses of the [Trp 62 and Asp 101]-doubly modified lysozymes indicated that the nitrophenylsulfenylation of Trp 62 in the native lysozyme, EtN-lysozyme, or GlcN-lysozyme decreased the sugar residue affinity at subsite C while increasing the binding free energy change by 2.7 kcal/mol, 1.5 kcal/mol, or 0.1 kcal/mol, respectively. Although the profile of tryptophan indole NH resonances in the 1H-NMR spectrum for EtN-lysozyme was not different from that for the native lysozyme, the indole NH resonance of Trp 62 in GlcN-lysozyme was apparently perturbed in comparison with that of native lysozyme. These results suggest that the environment of subsite C in GlcN-lysozyme is considerably different from those in native lysozyme and EtN-lysozyme. The glucosamine residue attached to Asp 101 may contact the sugar residue binding site of the lysozyme, affecting the environment of subsite C.     

Site-specific 13C-labeling of Trp 62 in hen egg-white lysozyme: preparation and 13C-NMR titration of [delta 1-13C]Trp 62-lysozyme.

The indole C-2(delta 1) carbon of Trp 62 in hen egg-white lysozyme was selectively labeled with 13C through a series of reactions involving N'-formylkynurenine 62-lysozyme with K13CN, NaBH4-reduction, and acid-catalyzed dehydration. [delta 1-13C]Trp 62-lysozyme in which Trp 62 is labeled with 90% 13C has the same chemical and enzymatic properties as the native protein. The reverted lysozyme gave a single 13C-NMR signal at 125 ppm. pH-titration of the 13C signal indicated a transition at pH 3.9 for the free enzyme. In the presence of (GlcNAc)3, the resonance signals were shifted 0.5-1 ppm upfield, and the transitions in the titration curve were observed at pH 3.9 and 6.5. Asp 52 and Glu 35 were assigned to the groups with pKas of 3.9 and 6.5, respectively. In [2-13C]AHT 62-lysozyme, which has 3-(2-amino-3-hydroxy-3H-[2-13C]indol-3-yl)alanine (AHT) at position 62, AHT 62 behaved quite differently from Trp 62 on pH-titration of the 13C-label. These results suggest that a conformational change around Trp 62 is induced upon ionization of the catalytic residue and that the structural flexibility of the side chain of this aromatic residue in the substrate binding site is closely related to the function of lysozyme.     

Enzymatic properties of rhea lysozyme

Rhea lysozyme was analyzed for its enzymatic properties both lytic and oligomer activities to reveal the structural and functional relationships of goose type lysozyme. Rhea lysozyme had the highest lytic activity at pH 6, followed by ostrich and goose at pH 5.5-6, whereas the optimum of cassowary was at pH 5. pH profile was correlated to the net charge of each molecule surface. On the other hand, the pH optimum for oligomer substrate was found to be pH 4, indicating the mechanism of rhea catalysis as a general acid. The time-course of the reaction was studied using beta-1,4-linked oligosaccharide of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) with a polymerization degree of n ((GlcNAc)n) (n=4, 5, and 6) as the substrate. This enzyme hydrolyzed (GlcNAc)6 in an endo-splitting manner, which produced (GlcNAc)3+(GlcNAc)3 predominating over that to (GlcNAc)2+ (GlcNAc)4. This indicates that the lysozyme hydrolyzed preferentially the third glycosidic linkage from the nonreducing end. Theoretical analysis has shown the highest rate constant value at 1.5 s-1 with (GlcNAc)6. This confirmed six substrate binding subsites as goose lysozyme (Honda, Y., and Fukamizo, T., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1388, 53-65 (1998)). The different binding free energy values for subsites B, C, F, and G from goose lysozyme might responsible for the amino acid substitutions, Asn122Ser and Phe123Met, located at the subsite B.     

The binding of monosaccharide inhibitors to hen egg-white lysozyme by proton magnetic resonance at 270 MHz and analysis by ring-current calculations.

Studies of the binding of the four sugars alpha- and beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) and its alpha- and beta-methyl glycosides to hen egg-white lysozyme (EC 3.2.1.17) by means of high-resolution 1H n.m.r. at 270 MHz are reported. The details of the binding analyses are described in an Appendix. The results show that the sugars bind independently to more than one site in lysozyme. The apparent fully bound chemical shifts to the inhibitor proton signals show that, although the major binding modes are generally similar for the four sugars, the binding of alpha GlcNAc is distinct from that of alpha MeGlcNAc and beta MeClcNAc. The binding of beta GlcNAc is intermediate in character between these two modes. The observed shift changes of the inhibitor signals are correlated with the crystal structures of lysozyme-inhibitor complexes by the use of Johnson-Bovey ring-current calculations. Together with consideration of the chemical-shift anisotropy of the GlcNAc amide group, these suggest that GlcNAc-binding sites in solution are in subsites C and E. The calculations show also that the indole rings of Trp-62 and Trp-63 rotate towards subsite C on the binding of GlcNAc, whereas Trp-108 moves away slightly. These findings indicate a difference between the solution and tetragonal crystal forms of lysozyme-GlcNAc and lysozymes-beta MeGlcNAc complexes. In the crystal structure, binding of acetamido monosaccharides is only observed in subsite C, and binding in subsite E is prevented by crystal packing.     

Participation of the catalytic carboxyls, Asp 52 and Glu 35, and Asp 101 in the binding of substrate analogues to hen lysozyme.

The interactions of the substrate analogues, GlcNAc, beta-methyl GlcNAc, (GlcNAc)2, and (GlcNAc)3, with turkey egg-white lysozyme [ED 3.2.1.17], in which the Asp 101 of hen lysozyme is replaced by Gly, were studied at various pH values by measuring changes in the circular dichroic (CD) band at 295 nm. Results were compared with those for hen egg-white lysozyme. The modes of binding of these substrate analogues to turkey lysozyme were very similar to those hen lysozyme except for the participation of Asp 101 in hen lysozyme. The ionization constants of the catalytic carboxyls, Glu 35 and Asp 52, in the turkey lysozyme-(GlcNAc)3 complex were determined by measuring the pH dependence of the CD band at 304 nm, which originates from Trp 108 near the catalytic carboxyls. The ionization behavior of the catalytic carboxyls of turkey lysozyme in the presence and absence of (GlcNAc)3 was essentially the same as that for hen lysozyme. The pH dependence of the binding constant of (GlcNAc)3 to hen lysozyme was compared with that to turkey lysozyme between pH 2 and 8. The pH dependence of the binding constant for (GlcNAc)3 to turkey lysozyme could be interpreted entirely in terms of perturbation of catalytic carboxyls. In the case of hen lysozyme, it was interpreted in terms of perturbation of the catalytic carboxyls and Asp 101 in the substrate-binding site. The pK values of Asp 101 in hen lysozyme and the hen lysozyme-(GLcNAc)3 complex were 4.5 and 3.4, respectively. The binding constants of (GlcNAc)3 to lysozyme molecules with different microscopic protonation forms, with respect to the catalytic carboxyls, were estimated. The binding constant of lysozyme, in which Asp 52 and Glu 35 are deprotonated, to (GlcNAc)3 was the smallest. The other three species had similar binding constant to (GlcNAc)3.     

The simultaneous binding of lanthanide and N-acetylglucosamine inhibitors to hen egg-white lysozyme in solution by 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance.

Lanthanide ions and the N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) sugars are able to bind simultaneously to hen egg-white lysozyme (EC 3.2.1.17). The present study characterizes the properties of the ternary complexes with lysozyme, which involve up to seven paramagnetic lanthanides and two diamagnetic lanthanides, together with alpha GlcNAc, beta GlcNAc, alpha MeGlcNAc and beta MeGlcNAc. pH titrations and binding titrations of the GlcNAc sugars with lysozyme-La(III) complexes show that the GlcNAc sugars bind to at least two independent sites and that one of them competes with La(III) for binding to lysozyme. Given the known binding site of lanthanides at Asp-52 and Glu-35, the competitive binding site of GlcNAc is identified as subsite E. A simple analysis of the paramagnetic-lanthanide-induced shifts shows that the GlcNAc sugar binds in subsite C, in accordance with crystallographic results [Perkins, Johnson, Machin & Phillips (1979) Biochem. J. 181, 21-36]. This finding was refined by several computer analyses of the lanthanide-induced shifts of 17 proton and carbon resonances of beta MeGlcNAc. Good fits were obtained for all the signals, except for two that were affected by exchange broadening phenomena. No distinction could be made between a fit for a two-position model of Ln(III) binding with axial symmetry to lysozyme, according to the crystallographic result, or a one-position model with axial symmetry where the Ln(III) is positioned mid-way between Asp-52 and Glu-35. Although this work establishes the feasibility of lanthanide shift reagents for study of protein-ligand complexes, further work is required to establish the manner in which lanthanides bind to lysozyme in solution.     

1H-NMR study on the structure of lysozyme from guinea hen egg white.

The structure of lysozyme from guinea hen egg white (GEWL), which differs from hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) by ten amino acid substitutions, was investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. GEWL and HEWL were very similar to each other in their tertiary structure as judged from the profile of 1H-NMR spectra, pH titration, and an N-acetylglucosamine trisaccharide [(GlcNAc)3 binding experiment. However, we have noticed several characteristics which distinguish GEWL from HEWL. The signal of Trp 108 indole N1H of GEWL was shifted upfield by about 0.3 ppm when compared with that of HEWL, and its hydrogen exchange was faster than that of HEWL. The pKa values of Glu 35 estimated from the pH titration curve of Trp 108 indole N1H were different between GEWL and HEWL. From a careful examination of spectral changes caused by (GlcNAc)3 binding, the changes in the chemical shift values of Trp 28 C5H and Asn 59 alpha CH of GEWL were found to be slightly larger than those of HEWL. Ile 55 of HEWL is replaced by valine in GEWL. Such a replacement may affect the neighboring hydrogen bonding between the main chain C = O of Leu 56 and Trp 108 indole N1H, resulting in a change in the microenvironment of the substrate-binding site near Trp 108.     

Role of the loop structure of the catalytic domain in rice class I chitinase

In the three-dimensional structure of a rice class I chitinase (OsChia1b) determined recently, a loop structure (loop II) is located at the end of the substrate-binding cleft, and is thus suggested to be involved in substrate binding. In order to test this assumption, deletion of the loop II region from the catalytic domain of OsChia1b and replacement of Trp159 in loop II with Ala were carried out. The loop II deletion and the W159A mutation increased hydrolytic activity not only towards (GlcNAc)6 but also towards polysaccharide substrates. Similar results were obtained for kcat/Km values determined for substrate reduced-(GlcNAc)5. The two mutations shifted the splitting positions in (GlcNAc)6 to the reducing end side, but the shift was less intensive in the Trp mutant. Theoretical analysis of the reaction time course indicated that sugar residue affinity at the +3 subsite was reduced from -2 kcal/mol to +0.5 kcal/mol by loop II deletion. Reduced affinity at the +3 subsite might enhance the release of product fragments, resulting in higher turnover and higher enzymatic activities. Thus, we concluded that loop II is involved in sugar residue binding at the +3 subsite, but that Trp159 itself appears to contribute only partly to sugar residue interaction at the subsite.     

1H-NMR study on the chitotrisaccharide binding to hen egg white lysozyme.

Interaction between hen egg white lysozyme and chitotrisaccharide was investigated by 1H-NMR spectroscopy using partially acetylated chitotrisaccharides and chemically modified lysozyme. Monoacetyl (GlcN-GlcN-GlcNAc), diacetyl (GlcN-GlcNAc-GlcNAc), or triacetyl chitotrisaccharide [(GlcNAc)3] was added to the lysozyme solution, and the changes in the 1H-NMR signals of the lysozyme were analyzed. Although many of the resonances were affected by addition of the saccharide, the most remarkable effect was seen on the signal of Trp28 C5H which is in a hydrophobic box adjacent to the saccharide-binding site. The signal shifted upfield by 0.2 ppm upon (GlcNAc)3 binding, whereas the chemical shift change of the signal resulting from binding of GlcN-GlcNAc-GlcNAc or GlcN-GlcN-GlcNAc was smaller than that resulting from (GlcNAc)3 binding. When the Asp101-modified lysozyme was used instead of the native lysozyme, the chemical shift change of the Trp28 C5H signal resulting from (GlcNAc)3 binding was also smaller than that for the native lysozyme. The chemical shift change of the signal reflects the conformational change of the hydrophobic box region which should synchronize with the movement of the binding site resulting from the saccharide binding. Therefore, the conformational change resulting from the saccharide binding might be reduced when the sugar residues located at binding subsites A and B of the lysozyme are deacetylated, as well as when Asp101 interacting with the sugar residues at the same subsites is modified.     

Binding of N-acetyl-chitotriose to human lysozyme.

The interaction of N-acetyl-chitotriose ((GlcNAc)3) with human lysozyme [EC 3.2.1.17] was studied at various pH values by measuring changes in the circular dichroic (CD) band at 294 or 255 nm and the data were compared with the results for hen and turkey lysozymes reported previously (Kuramitsu et al. (1974) J. Biochem.76, 671-683; Kuramitsu et al. (1975) J. Biochem. 77, 291-301). The pH dependence of the binding constant of (GlcNAc)3 to human lysozyme was different from those for hen and turkey lysozymes. The catalytic carboxyls of human lysozyme, Asp 52 and Glu 35, were not perturbed on binding of (GlcNAc)3. This is consistent with the previous findings that the macroscopic pK values of Asp 52 and Glu 35 of human lysozyme are 3.4 and 6.8 at 0.1 ionic strength and 25 degrees and were unchanged on complexing with (GlcNAc)3. An ionizable group with pK 4.5, which participates in the binding of (GlcNAc)3 to hen lysozyme and was assigned as Asp 101, did not participate in the binding of the saccharide to human lysozyme. Between pH 9 and 11, the binding constants of (GlcNAc)3 to hen lysozyme remained unchanged, whereas perturbation of an ionizable group with pK 10.5 to 10.0 was observed for human lysozyme. This group may be Tyr 62 in the active-site cleft. The binding constants of (GlcNAc)3 to human lysozyme molecules having different microscopic protonation forms, with respect to the catalytic carboxyls, were estimated using the binding constants obtained in the present experiments and the microscopic ionization constants of the catalytic carboxyls obtained previously. All four species of human lysozyme had similar binding constants to (GlcNAc)3. This result is different from those for hen and turkey lysozymes.     

Effect of chemical modifications of tryptophan residues on the folding of reduced hen egg-white lysozyme

The effects of chemical modifications of Trp62 and Trp108 on the folding of hen egg-white lysozyme from the reduced form were investigated by means of the sulfhydryl-disulfide interchange reaction at pH 8 and 40 degrees C. The folding of reduced lysozyme was monitored by following the recovery of the original activity. Under the conditions employed, the apparent first-order rate constant for the folding of reduced lysozyme was not changed by the modifications of both Trp62 and Trp108 and the folding was completed within 30 min. However, the extent of the correct folding was changed by the modification of Trp62 but not by that of Trp108. Native and oxindolealanine108 lysozymes recovered 80 and 81% of their original activities after 30-min refolding, respectively, but Trp62-modified lysozymes recovered their activities to a lesser extent than native and oxindolealanine108 lysozymes. The recovered activities of Trp62-modified lysozymes after 30-min refolding were 63% for oxindolealanine62 lysozyme, 65% for delta 1-carboxamidomethylthiotryptophan62 lysozyme, and 52% for delta 1-carboxymethylthiotryptophan62 lysozyme. These results suggest that Trp62 is important for preventing the misfolding of reduced lysozyme, but that neither Trp62 nor Trp108 is involved in the rate-determining step (the slowest step) in the folding pathway. A decrease in the hydrophobic nature of Trp62 seems to increase the misfolding and thus to decrease the extent of the correct folding of reduced lysozyme. A mechanism for the involvement of Trp62 in the folding pathway of reduced lysozyme is proposed.     

A structural requirement in the subsite F of lysozyme. The role of arginine 115 in human lysozyme revealed by site-directed mutagenesis

Arginine 115 in the subsite F of human lysozyme (peptidoglycan N-acetylmuramoylhydrolase, EC 3.2.1.17) was replaced with lysine, histidine, glutamine or glutamine acid by site-directed mutagenesis. The conversions which conserve positive charge, Arg115 to Lys or His (at acidic pH), have little affected on either the kinetic parameters for Micrococcus lysodeikticus cells or the activity against glycol chitin, nor on the cleavage patterns of hexa(N-acetylglucosamine) [(GlcNAc)6] and penta(N-acetylglucosamine) [(GlcNAc)5]. On the other hand, the conversions which cause loss of the positive charge, Arg115 to His (neutral and alkaline pH), Gln or Glu, not only reduced the activity against glycol chitin but also changed the cleavage patterns for (GlcNAc)6 and (GlcNAc)5. These results suggest that Arg115 is structurally required not for the specific hydrogen bonding interaction with a sugar residue but for the positively charged character in the construction of subsite F in human lysozyme.     

Lysozyme-catalyzed reaction in continuous flow system

The lysozyme-catalyzed reaction of chitooligosaccharide was carried out in a continuous flow system in which the solution of substrate, chitooligosaccharide [(GlcNAc)n], flowed into the lysozyme solution in an ultrafiltration apparatus and the products were filtered off. The filtrate was continuously collected in test tubes with the aid of a fraction collector. The product distribution in each fraction was analyzed by high performance gel filtration. Using (GlcNAc)5 as the substrate, the concentrations of products, (GlcNAc)1----4, increased gradually and came to the steady state when the volume of the outflow amounted to sixfold of the inside volume. Before reaching the steady state, the product distribution was quite different from that observed in the closed reaction system, in which the reaction species are not exchangeable through the boundary of the system. The outflows of (GlcNAc)3-5 were delayed in comparison with those of GlcNAc and (GlcNAc)2. The delay period increased with the decrease in substrate concentration, and was shortened by using the [Asp 101 or Trp 62]-modified lysozyme instead of the native lysozyme. These results suggest that the delay in the (GlcNAc)3-5 outflows is caused by the nonproductive binding of the oligosaccharide to the lysozyme molecule. The profile of the flow reaction yields information not only on the catalytic efficiency but also on the substrate binding efficiency of the lysozyme.     

Redesign of the substrate-binding site of hen egg white lysozyme based on the molecular evolution of C-type lysozymes.

On the basis of the molecular evolution of hen egg white, human, and turkey lysozymes, three replacements (Trp62 with Tyr, Asn37 with Gly, and Asp101 with Gly) were introduced into the active-site cleft of hen egg white lysozyme by site-directed mutagenesis. The replacement of Trp62 with Tyr led to enhanced bacteriolytic activity at pH 6.2 and a lower binding constant for chitotriose. The fluorescence spectral properties of this mutant hen egg white lysozyme were found to be similar to those of human lysozyme, which contains Tyr at position 62. The replacement of Asn37 with Gly had little effect on the enzymatic activity and binding constant for chitotriose. However, the combination of Asn37----Gly (N37G) replacement with Asp101----Gly (D101G) and Trp62----Tyr (W62Y) conversions enhanced bacteriolytic activity much more than each single mutation and restored hydrolytic activity toward glycol chitin. Consequently, the mutant lysozyme containing triple replacements (N37G, W62Y, and D101G) showed about 3-fold higher bacteriolytic activity than the wild-type hen lysozyme at pH 6.2, which is close to the optimum pH of the wild-type enzyme.     

Structure and binding properties of hen lysozyme modified at tryptophan 62

The structure of a derivative of hen egg-white lysozyme (EC 3.2.1.17) modified by N-bromosuccinimide at Trp62 has been studied by both ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. It was shown that this modification, changing the tryptophan residue to an oxindolealanine² residue, only causes minor structural changes at the site of the modification, and that the overall structure of the native enzyme is maintained in the derivative. Both diastereomers of the oxindolealanine-62 lysozyme were observed by the two methods employed, in accordance with previous observations (Norton & Allerhand, 1976). The pK values of the catalytically important carboxyl groups of Glu35 and Asp52 were identical in the native enzyme and its derivative. However, the modified enzyme is virtually inactive in the hydrolysis of the cell-wall mucopolysaccharide of Micrococcus lysodeikticus. The binding of N-acetylglucosamine oligosaccharides to both native lysozyme and Ox-62 lysozyme was studied by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, observing the perturbations on the lysozyme ¹H n.m.r. resonances, and differences in the perturbations of the two systems demonstrated that binding of (GlcNAc)₃ in particular was not identical in the two systems. The structure of Ox-62 lysozyme-(GlcNAc)₃ was studied by X-ray crystallography and it was shown that only two GlcNAc residues make contact with the enzyme, binding the reducing end residue in a similar mode as the α-anomeric form of GlcNAc binds to the native enzyme (Blake et al., 1967a). On the basis of the results obtained by X-ray crystallography and ¹H n.m.r. spectroscopy, the lack of enzymatic activity of the Ox-62 lysozyme arises from the obstruction by the oxindolealanine residue of sub-site B of the active site, preventing productive binding of the substrate.     

Mechanism of lysozyme catalysis: role of ground-state strain in subsite D in hen egg-white and human lysozymes.

The association constants for the binding of various saccharides to hen egg-white lysozyme and human lysozyme have been measured by fluorescence titration. Among these are the oligosaccharides GlcNAc-beta(1 leads to 4)-MurNAc-beta(1 leads to 4)-GlcNAc-beta(1 leads to 4)-GlcNAc, GlcNAc-beta(1 leads to 4)-MurNAc-beta(1 leads to 4)-GlcNAc-beta(1 leads to 4)-N-acetyl-D-xylosamine, and GlcNAc-beta(1 leads to 4-GlcNAc-beta(1 leads to 4)-MurNAc, prepared here for the first time. The binding constants for saccharides which must have N-acetylmuramic acid, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, or N-acetyl-D-xylosamine bound in subsite D indicate that there is no strain involved in the binding of N-acetyl-D-glycosamine in this site, and that the lactyl group of N-acetylmuramic acid (rather than the hydroxymethyl group) is responsible for the apparent strain previously reported for binding at this subsite. For hen egg-white lysozyme, the dependence of saccharide binding on pH or on a saturating concentration of Gd(III) suggests that the conformation of several of the complexes are different from one another and from that proposed for a productive complex. This is supported by fluorescence difference spectra of the various hen egg-white lysozyme-saccharide complexes. Human lysozyme binds most saccharides studied more weakly than the hen egg-white enzyme, but binds GlcNAc-beta(1 leads to 4)-MurNAc-beta(1leads to 4)-GlcNAc-beta(1 leads to 4)-MurNAc more strongly. It is suggested that subsite C of the human enzyme is "looser" than the equivalent site in the hen egg enzyme, so that the rearrangement of a saccharide in this subsite in response to introduction of an N-acetylmuramic acid residue into subsite D destabilizes the saccharide complexes of human lysozyme less than it does the corresponding hen egg-white lysozyme complexes. This difference and the differences in the fluorescence difference spectra of hen egg-white lysozyme and human lysozyme are ascribed mainly to the replacement of Trp-62 in hen egg-white lysozyme by Tyr-63 in the human enzyme. The implications of our findings for the assumption of superposition and additivity of energies of binding in individual subsites, and for the estimation of the role of strain in lysozyme catalysis, are discussed.     

Dissection of the functional role of structural elements of tyrosine-63 in the catalytic action of human lysozyme.

The functional role of tyrosine-63 in the catalytic action of human lysozyme (EC 3.2.1.17) has been probed by site-directed mutagenesis. In order to identify the role of Tyr63 in the interaction with substrate, both the three-dimensional structures and the enzymatic functions of the mutants, in which Tyr63 was converted to phenylalanine, tryptophan, leucine, or alanine, have been characterized in comparison with those of the wild-type enzyme. X-ray crystallographical analysis of the mutant enzyme at not less than 1.77-A resolution indicated no remarkable change in tertiary structure except the side chain of 63rd residue. The conversion of Tyr63 to Phe or Trp did not change the enzymatic properties against the noncharged substrate (or substrate analogs) largely, while the conversion to Leu or Ala markedly reduced the catalytic activity to a few percent of wild-type enzyme. Kinetic analysis using p-nitrophenyl penta-N-acetyl-beta-(1----4)-chitopentaoside (PNP-(GlcNAc)5) as a substrate revealed that the reduction of activity should mainly be attributed to the reduction of affinity between enzyme and substrate. The apparent contribution of the phenolic hydroxyl group and the phenol group in the side chain of Tyr63 was estimated to 0.4 +/- 0.4 and 2.5 +/- 0.8 kcal mol-1, respectively. The result suggested that the direct contact between the planar side-chain group of Tyr63 and the sugar residue at subsite B is a major determinant of binding specificity toward a electrostatically neutral substrate in the catalytic action of human lysozyme.     

Expression of a synthetic gene coding for ostrich egg-white lysozyme in Pichia pastoris and its enzymatic activity

To investigate the structure-function relationships of goose-type lysozyme, a gene coding for ostrich egg-white lysozyme (OEL) was designed based on the published amino acid sequence and constructed by assembling 32 chemically synthesized oligonucleotides. To obtain the recombinant OEL (rOEL), the synthetic gene was fused to the alpha-factor signal peptide in the expression vector pPIC9K and expressed in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris. The secreted protein from the transformed yeast was found to be processed at three different sites, including the correct site. The correctly processed rOEL was purified to homogeneity and shown to be indistinguishable from the authentic form in terms of circular dichroism (CD) spectrum and enzyme activity. Furthermore, the time-course of the reaction catalyzed by OEL was studied using (GlcNAc)(n) (n = 5 and 6) as the substrate and compared to that of goose egg-white lysozyme (GEL) [Honda and Fukamizo (1998) BIOCHIM: Biophys. Acta 1388, 53-65]. OEL hydrolyzed (GlcNAc)(6) in an endo-splitting manner producing mainly (GlcNAc)(2), (GlcNAc)(3), and (GlcNAc)(4), and cleavage to (GlcNAc)(3) + (GlcNAc)(3) predominated over that to (GlcNAc)(2) + (GlcNAc)(4). This indicates that OEL hydrolyzes preferentially the third glycosidic linkage from the nonreducing end of (GlcNAc)(6) as in the case of GEL. The cleavage pattern seen for (GlcNAc)(5) was similar to that seen for (GlcNAc)(6). Theoretical analysis of the reaction time-course for OEL revealed that the binding free energy values for subsites B, E, and G were different between OEL and GEL, although these lysozymes were estimated to have the same type of subsite structure.     

Some studies on catalysis by lysozyme

The preparation of some aryl β-glycosides of β-1, 4-linked oligosaccharides of (GlcNAc)_n, n = 2, 3, 4, is described. These compounds were tested as substrates for lysozyme from hens' egg white. The best of them, (GlcNAc)₄-3,4-DNP, had a value of k_cat/K_m which was about one-nintieth that for the hydrolysis of (GlcNAc)₆. The pH dependence of k_cat and k_cat/K_m for the hydrolysis of (GlcNAc)₄-3,4-DNP was similar to that for (GlcNAc)₆. (GlcNAc)₄-3,4-DNP was also a substrate for human lysozyme and lysozyme from ducks' egg white (II and III). An impure sample of (GlcNAc)₂F was prepared and this was hydrolyzed much more rapidly than (GlcNAc)₂-2,4-DNP by lysozyme. Compounds of type (GlcNAc)_n−1(XylNAc)Ar, where n = 2, 3, 4, were prepared and found not to be substrates for lysozyme. In the presence of (GlcNAc)₄ or (GlcNAc)₅, lysozyme-induced hydrolyses of (GlcNAc)-3,4-DNP and (Glc)-3,4-DNP were observed but not of (XylNAc)-3,4-DNP, (6-deoxy-GlcNAc)-3,4-DNP, (6-F-GlcNAc)-3,4-DNP, and (6-Cl-GlcNAc)-3,4-DNP. The significance of these results is discussed.