Relationship between interferon-gamma, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, and tryptophan catabolism

Interferons have been shown to be potential anti-cancer agents and to inhibit tumor cell growth in culture. The in vivo mechanism of the anti-proliferative effect may be direct or indirect through the immune system; however, in vitro a primary mechanism of cytotoxicity is through the depletion of tryptophan. In particular, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) induces an enzyme of tryptophan catabolism, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), which is responsible for conversion of tryptophan and other indole derivatives to kynurenine. The inhibitory effect of interferon on many intracellular parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii and Chlamydia trachomatis is by the same mechanism. Elevated kynurenine levels have been found in humans in a number of diseases and after interferon treatment, and the enzyme is induced in rodents after administration of interferon inducers, or influenza virus. IDO induction also occurs in vivo during rejection of allogeneic tumors, indicating a possible role for this enzyme in the tumor rejection process. The gene for IDO has been cloned and shown to be differentially regulated by IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma. IDO induction has been correlated with induction of GTP-cyclohydrolase, the key enzyme in pteridine biosynthesis. A direct role for IDO in pteridine synthesis has not been shown, and this parallel induction may reflect coordinate regulation of genes induced by IFN-gamma. A possible role for IDO in O2-radical scavenging and in inflammation is discussed.     

Characterization of TioF, a tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase involved in 3-hydroxyquinaldic acid formation during thiocoraline biosynthesis

Thiocoraline is a thiodepsipeptide antitumor agent that belongs to the family of bisintercalator natural products that bind duplex DNA through their two planar intercalating moieties. In thiocoraline, the 3-hydroxyquinaldic acid (3HQA) chromophores required for intercalation are derived from L-Trp. We have expressed the Micromonospora sp. ML1 tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase(TDO) TioF, purified it from E. coli, and confirmed its role in the irreversible oxidation of L-Trp to N-formylkynurenine, the proposed first step during 3HQA biosynthesis. We have established that TioF is a catalyst with broader specificity than other TDOs, but that is less promiscuous than indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenases. TioF was found to display activity with various L-Trp analogs (serotonin, D-Trp, and indole). The TioF reaction products generated during this study will be used as substrates for subsequent analysis of the other enzymes involved in 3HQA biosynthesis.     

Crystal structure of Drosophila melanogaster tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase reveals insights into substrate recognition and catalytic mechanism

Tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) catalyzes the oxidative cleavage of the indole ring of l-tryptophan to N-formylkynurenine in the kynurenine pathway, and is considered as a drug target for cancer immunotherapy. Here, we report the first crystal structure of a eukaryotic TDO from Drosophila melanogaster (DmTDO) in complex with heme at 2.7 Å resolution. DmTDO consists of an N-terminal segment, a large domain and a small domain, and assumes a tetrameric architecture. Compared with prokaryotic TDOs, DmTDO contains two major insertion sequences: one forms part of the heme-binding site and the other forms a large portion of the small domain. The small domain which is unique to eukaryotic TDOs, interacts with the active site of an adjacent monomer and plays a role in the catalysis. Molecular modeling and dynamics simulation of DmTDO-heme-Trp suggest that like prokaryotic TDOs, DmTDO adopts an induced-fit mechanism to bind l-Trp; in particular, two conserved but flexible loops undergo conformational changes, converting the active site from an open conformation to a closed conformation. The functional roles of the key residues involved in recognition and binding of the heme and the substrate are verified by mutagenesis and kinetic studies. In addition, a modeling study of DmTDO in complex with the competitive inhibitor LM10 provides useful information for further inhibitor design. These findings reveal insights into the substrate recognition and the catalysis of DmTDO and possibly other eukaryotic TDOs and shed lights on the development of effective anti-TDO inhibitors.     

Crystal structure and mechanism of human L-arginine:glycine amidinotransferase: a mitochondrial enzyme involved in creatine biosynthesis.

L-arginine:glycine amidinotransferase (AT) catalyses the committed step in creatine biosynthesis by formation of guanidinoacetic acid, the immediate precursor of creatine. We have determined the crystal structure of the recombinant human enzyme by multiple isomorphous replacement at 1.9 A resolution. A telluromethionine derivative was used in sequence assignment. The structure of AT reveals a new fold with 5-fold pseudosymmetry of circularly arranged betabeta alphabeta-modules. These enclose the active site compartment, which is accessible only through a narrow channel. The overall structure resembles a basket with handles that are formed from insertions into the betabeta alphabeta-modules. Binding of L-ornithine, a product inhibitor, reveals a marked induced-fit mechanism, with a loop at the active site entrance changing its conformation accompanied by a shift of an alpha-helix by -4 A. Binding of the arginine educt to the inactive mutant C407A shows a similar mode of binding. A reaction mechanism with a catalytic triad Cys-His-Asp is proposed on the basis of substrate and product bound states.     

Crystal structure of the NAD biosynthetic enzyme quinolinate synthase

A gene encoding a quinolinate synthase has been identified in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus horikoshii via genome sequencing. The gene was overexpressed in Escherichia coli, and the crystal structure of the produced enzyme was determined to 2.0 A resolution in the presence of malate, a substrate analogue. The overall structure exhibits a unique triangular architecture composed of a 3-fold repeat of three-layer (alphabetaalpha) sandwich folding. Although some aspects of the fold homologous to the each domain have been observed previously, the overall structure of quinolinate synthase shows no similarity to any known protein structure. The three analogous domains are related to a pseudo-3-fold symmetry. The active site is located at the interface of the three domains and is centered on the pseudo-3-fold axis. The malate molecule is tightly held near the bottom of the active site cavity. The model of the catalytic state during the first condensation step of the quinolinate synthase reaction indicates that the elimination of inorganic phosphate from dihydroxyacetone phosphate may precede the condensation reaction.     

The role of serine 167 in human indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase: a comparison with tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase

The initial step in the l-kynurenine pathway is oxidation of l-tryptophan to N-formylkynurenine and is catalyzed by one of two heme enzymes, tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) or indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). Here, we address the role of the conserved active site Ser167 residue in human IDO (S167A and S167H variants), which is replaced with a histidine in other mammalian and bacterial TDO enzymes. Our kinetic and spectroscopic data for S167A indicate that this residue is not essential for O 2 or substrate binding, and we propose that hydrogen bond stabilization of the catalytic ferrous-oxy complex involves active site water molecules in IDO. The data for S167H show that the ferrous-oxy complex is dramatically destabilized in this variant, which is similar to the behavior observed in human TDO [Basran et al. (2008) Biochemistry 47, 4752-4760], and that this destabilization essentially destroys catalytic activity. New kinetic data for the wild-type enzyme also identify the ternary [enzyme-O 2-substrate] complex. The data reveal significant differences between the IDO and TDO enzymes, and the implications of these results are discussed in terms of our current understanding of IDO and TDO catalysis.     

Crystal structure of the hydroxyquinol 1,2-dioxygenase from Nocardioides simplex 3E, a key enzyme involved in polychlorinated aromatics biodegradation

Hydroxyquinol 1,2-dioxygenase (1,2-HQD) catalyzes the ring cleavage of hydroxyquinol (1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene), a central intermediate in the degradation of aromatic compounds including a variety of particularly recalcitrant polychloro- and nitroaromatic pollutants. We report here the primary sequence determination and the analysis of the crystal structure of the 1,2-HQD from Nocardioides simplex 3E solved at 1.75 A resolution using the multiple wavelength anomalous dispersion of the two catalytic irons (1 Fe/293 amino acids). The catalytic Fe(III) coordination polyhedron composed by the side chains of Tyr164, Tyr197, His221, and His223 resembles that of the other known intradiol-cleaving dioxygenases, but several of the tertiary structure features are notably different. One of the most distinctive characteristics of the present structure is the extensive openings and consequent exposure to solvent of the upper part of the catalytic cavity arranged to favor the binding of hydroxyquinols but not catechols. A co-crystallized benzoate-like molecule is also found bound to the metal center forming a distinctive hydrogen bond network as observed previously also in 4-chlorocatechol 1,2-dioxygenase from Rhodococcus opacus 1CP. This is the first structure of an intradiol dioxygenase specialized in hydroxyquinol ring cleavage to be investigated in detail.     

Contributions of tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase to the conversion of d-tryptophan to nicotinamide analyzed by using tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase-knockout mice

We investigated the contribution percentage of tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) to the conversion of d-tryptophan to nicotinamide in TDO-knockout mice. The calculated percentage conversions indicated that TDO and IDO oxidized 70 and 30%, respectively, of the dietary l-tryptophan. These results indicate that both TDO and IDO biosynthesize nicotinamide from d-tryptophan and l-tryptophan in mice.     

Crystal structure of Escherichia coli PdxA,an enzyme involved in the pyridoxal phosphate biosynthesis pathway

Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate is an essential cofactor for many enzymes responsible for the metabolic conversions of amino acids. Two pathways for its de novo synthesis are known. The pathway utilized by Escherichia coli consists of six enzymatic steps catalyzed by six different enzymes. The fourth step is catalyzed by 4-hydroxythreonine-4-phosphate dehydrogenase (PdxA, E.C. 1.1.1.262), which converts 4-hydroxy-l-threonine phosphate (HTP) to 3-amino-2-oxopropyl phosphate. This divalent metal ion-dependent enzyme has a strict requirement for the phosphate ester form of the substrate HTP, but can utilize either NADP+ or NAD+ as redox cofactor. We report the crystal structure of E. coli PdxA and its complex with HTP and Zn2+. The protein forms tightly bound dimers. Each monomer has an alpha/beta/alpha-fold and can be divided into two subdomains. The active site is located at the dimer interface, within a cleft between the two subdomains and involves residues from both monomers. A Zn2+ ion is bound within each active site, coordinated by three conserved histidine residues from both monomers. In addition two conserved amino acids, Asp247 and Asp267, play a role in maintaining integrity of the active site. The substrate is anchored to the enzyme by the interactions of its phospho group and by coordination of the amino and hydroxyl groups by the Zn2+ ion. PdxA is structurally similar to, but limited in sequence similarity with isocitrate dehydrogenase and isopropylmalate dehydrogenase. These structural similarities and the comparison with a NADP-bound isocitrate dehydrogenase suggest that the cofactor binding mode of PdxA is very similar to that of the other two enzymes and that PdxA catalyzes a stepwise oxidative decarboxylation of the substrate HTP.     

Comparative effects of oxygen on indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase and tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase of the kynurenine pathway

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) reacts with either oxygen or superoxide and tryptophan (trp) or other indoleamines while tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) reacts with oxygen and is specific for trp. These enzymes catalyze the rate-limiting step in the kynurenine (KYN) pathway from trp to quinolinic acid (QA) with TDO in kidney and liver and IDO in many tissues, including brain where it is low but inducible. QA, which does not cross the blood-brain barrier, is an excitotoxin found in the CNS during various pathologies and is associated with convulsions. We proposed that HBO-induced convulsions result from increased flux through the KYN pathway via oxygen stimulation of IDO. To test this, TDO and IDO of liver and brain, respectively, of Sprague Dawley rats were assayed with oxygen from 0 to 6.2 atm HBO. TDO activity was appreciable at even 30 microM oxygen and rose steeply to a maximum at 40 microM. Conversely, IDO had almost no detectable activity at or below 100 microM oxygen and maximum activity was not reached until about 1150 microM. (Plasma contains about 215 microM oxygen and capillaries about 20 microM oxygen when rats breathe air.) KYN was 60% higher in brains of HBO-convulsed rats compared to rats breathing air. While the oxygen concentration inside cells of rats breathing air or HBO is not known precisely, it is clear that the rate-limiting, IDO-catalyzed step in the brain KYN pathway (but not liver TDO) can be greatly accelerated in rats breathing HBO.     

Evidence for a tumoral immune resistance mechanism based on tryptophan degradation by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase

T lymphocytes undergo proliferation arrest when exposed to tryptophan shortage, which can be provoked by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), an enzyme that is expressed in placenta and catalyzes tryptophan degradation. Here we show that most human tumors constitutively express IDO. We also observed that expression of IDO by immunogenic mouse tumor cells prevents their rejection by preimmunized mice. This effect is accompanied by a lack of accumulation of specific T cells at the tumor site and can be partly reverted by systemic treatment of mice with an inhibitor of IDO, in the absence of noticeable toxicity. These results suggest that the efficacy of therapeutic vaccination of cancer patients might be improved by concomitant administration of an IDO inhibitor.     

Crystal structure of 5-aminolevulinate synthase, the first enzyme of heme biosynthesis, and its link to XLSA in humans

5-Aminolevulinate synthase (ALAS) is the first and rate-limiting enzyme of heme biosynthesis in humans, animals, other non-plant eukaryotes, and alpha-proteobacteria. It catalyzes the synthesis of 5-aminolevulinic acid, the first common precursor of all tetrapyrroles, from glycine and succinyl-coenzyme A (sCoA) in a pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP)-dependent manner. X-linked sideroblastic anemias (XLSAs), a group of severe disorders in humans characterized by inadequate formation of heme in erythroblast mitochondria, are caused by mutations in the gene for erythroid eALAS, one of two human genes for ALAS. We present the first crystal structure of homodimeric ALAS from Rhodobacter capsulatus (ALAS(Rc)) binding its cofactor PLP. We, furthermore, present structures of ALAS(Rc) in complex with the substrates glycine or sCoA. The sequence identity of ALAS from R. capsulatus and human eALAS is 49%. XLSA-causing mutations may thus be mapped, revealing the molecular basis of XLSA in humans. Mutations are found to obstruct substrate binding, disrupt the dimer interface, or hamper the correct folding. The structure of ALAS completes the structural analysis of enzymes in heme biosynthesis.     

Crystal structure of the copper-containing quercetin 2,3-dioxygenase from Aspergillus japonicus

Quercetin 2,3-dioxygenase is a copper-containing enzyme that catalyzes the insertion of molecular oxygen into polyphenolic flavonols. Dioxygenation catalyzed by iron-containing enzymes has been studied extensively, but dioxygenases employing other metal cofactors are poorly understood. We determined the crystal structure of quercetin 2,3-dioxygenase at 1.6 A resolution. The enzyme forms homodimers, which are stabilized by an N-linked heptasaccharide at the dimer interface. The mononuclear type 2 copper center displays two distinct geometries: a distorted tetrahedral coordination, formed by His66, His68, His112, and a water molecule, and a distorted trigonal bipyramidal environment, which additionally comprises Glu73. Manual docking of the substrate quercetin into the active site showed that the different geometries of the copper site might be of catalytic importance.     

Synthesis of novel tryptanthrin derivatives as dual inhibitors of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 and tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) and tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) are promising drug development targets due to their implications in pathologies such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. The search for IDO1 inhibitor has been intensely pursued but there is a paucity of potent TDO and IDO1/TDO dual inhibitors. Natural product tryptanthrin has been confirmed to bear IDO1 and/or TDO inhibitory activities. Herein, twelve novel tryptanthrin derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for the IDO1 and TDO inhibitory potency. All of the compounds were found to be IDO1/TDO dual inhibitors, in particular, compound 9a and 9b bore IDO1 inhibitory activity similar to that of INCB024360, and compound 5a and 9b had remarkable TDO inhibitory activity superior to that of the well-known TDO inhibitor LM10. This work enriches the collection of IDO1/TDO dual inhibitors and provides chemical molecules for potential development into drugs.     

A kinetic, spectroscopic, and redox study of human tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase

The family of heme dioxygenases, as exemplified by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase and tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase, catalyzes the oxidative cleavage of L-tryptophan to N-formylkynurenine. Here, we describe a bacterial expression system for human tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (rhTDO) together with spectroscopic, kinetic, and redox analyses. We find unexpected differences between human tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase and human indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase [Chauhan et al. (2008) Biochemistry 47, 4761-4769 ]. Thus, in contrast to indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, the catalytic ferrous-oxy complex of rhTDO is not observed, nor does the enzyme discriminate against substrate binding to the ferric derivative. In addition, we show that the rhTDO is also catalytically active in the ferric form. These new findings illustrate that significant mechanistic differences exist across the heme dioxygenase family, and the data are discussed within this broader framework.     

Crystal structure of MshB from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a deacetylase involved in mycothiol biosynthesis

All living species require protection against the damaging effects of the reactive oxygen species that are a natural by-product of aerobic life. In most organisms, glutathione is a critical component of these defences, maintaining a reducing environment inside cells. Some bacteria, however, including pathogenic mycobacteria, use an alternative low molecular mass thiol compound called mycothiol (MSH) for this purpose. Enzymes that synthesize MSH are attractive candidates for the design of novel anti-TB drugs because of the importance of MSH for mycobacterial life and the absence of such enzymes in humans. We have determined the three-dimensional structure of MshB (Rv1170), a metal-dependent deacetylase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis that catalyses the second step in MSH biosynthesis. The structure, determined at 1.9A resolution by X-ray crystallography (R=19.0%, R(free)=21.4%), reveals an alpha/beta fold in which helices pack against a seven-stranded mostly parallel beta-sheet. Large loops emanating from the C termini of the beta-strands enclose a deep cavity, which is the location of the putative active site. At the bottom of this cavity is a metal-binding site associated with a sequence motif AHPDDE that is invariant in all homologues. An adventitiously bound beta-octylglucoside molecule, used in crystallization, enables us to model the binding of the true substrate and propose a metal-dependent mechanistic model for deacetylation. Sequence comparisons indicate that MshB is representative of a wider family of enzymes that act on substituted N-acetylglucosamine residues, including a deacetylase involved in the biosynthesis of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchors in eukaryotes.     

Crystal structure of a bifunctional transformylase and cyclohydrolase enzyme in purine biosynthesis

ATIC, the product of the purH gene, is a 64 kDa bifunctional enzyme that possesses the final two activities in de novo purine biosynthesis, AICAR transformylase and IMP cyclohydrolase. The crystal structure of avian ATIC has been determined to 1.75 A resolution by the MAD method using a Se-methionine modified enzyme. ATIC forms an intertwined dimer with an extensive interface of approximately 5,000 A(2) per monomer. Each monomer is composed of two novel, separate functional domains. The N-terminal domain (up to residue 199) is responsible for the IMPCH activity, whereas the AICAR Tfase activity resides in the C-terminal domain (200-593). The active sites of the IMPCH and AICAR Tfase domains are approximately 50 A apart, with no structural evidence of a tunnel connecting the two active sites. The crystal structure of ATIC provides a framework to probe both catalytic mechanisms and to design specific inhibitors for use in cancer chemotherapy and inflammation.     

Crystal structure of chalcone synthase,a key enzyme for isoflavonoid biosynthesis in soybean

Isoflavonoid is one of the groups of flavonoids that play pivotal roles in the survival of land plants. Chalcone synthase (CHS), the first enzyme of the isoflavonoid biosynthetic pathway, catalyzes the formation of a common isoflavonoid precursor. We have previously reported that an isozyme of soybean CHS (termed GmCHS1) is a key component of the isoflavonoid metabolon, a protein complex to enhance efficiency of isoflavonoid production. Here, we determined the crystal structure of GmCHS1 as a first step of understanding the metabolon structure, as well as to better understand the catalytic mechanism of GmCHS1.