Atomic resolution structures of native copper nitrite reductase from Alcaligenes xylosoxidans and the active site mutant Asp92Glu

We provide the first atomic resolution (<1.20 A) structure of a copper protein, nitrite reductase, and of a mutant of the catalytically important Asp92 residue (D92E). The atomic resolution where carbon-carbon bonds of the peptide become clearly resolved, remains a key goal of structural analysis. Despite much effort and technological progress, still very few structures are known at such resolution. For example, in the Protein Data Bank (PDB) there are some 200 structures of copper proteins but the highest resolution structure is that of amicyanin, a small (12 kDa) protein, which has been resolved to 1.30 A. Here, we present the structures of wild-type copper nitrite reductase (wtNiR) from Alcaligenes xylosoxidans (36.5 kDa monomer), the "half-apo" recombinant native protein and the D92E mutant at 1.04, 1.15 and 1.12A resolutions, respectively. These structures provide the basis from which to build a detailed mechanism of this important enzyme.     

Structural similarities and differences in Staphylococcus aureus exfoliative toxins A and B as revealed by their crystal structures

Staphylococcal aureus epidermolytic toxins (ETs) A and B are responsible for the induction of staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome, a disease of neonates and young children. The clinical features of this syndrome vary from localized blisters to severe exfoliation affecting most of the body surface. Comparison of the crystal structures of two subtypes of ETs-rETA (at 2.0 A resolution), rETB (at 2.8 A resolution), and an active site variant of rETA, Ser195Ala at 2.0 A resolution has demonstrated that their overall topology resembles that of a "trypsin-like" serine protease, but with significant differences at the N- and C-termini and loop regions. The details of the catalytic site in both ET structures are very similar to those in glutamate-specific serine proteases, suggesting a common catalytic mechanism. However, the "oxyanion hole," which is part of the catalytic sites of glutamate specific serine proteases, is in the closed or inactive conformation for rETA, yet in the open or active conformation for rETB. The ETs contain a unique amphipathic helix at the N-terminus, and it appears to be involved in optimizing the conformation of the catalytic site residues. Determination of the structure of the rETA catalytic site variant, Ser195Ala, showed no significant perturbation at the active site, establishing that the loss of biological and esterolytic activity can be attributed solely to disruption of the catalytic serine residue. Finally, the crystal structure of ETs, together with biochemical data and mutagenesis studies, strongly confirms the classification of these molecules as "serine proteases" rather than "superantigens."     

High resolution scanning electron microscopy of plant chromosomes

A preparation technique for high resolution field emission scanning electron microscopy of plant chromosomes is described. The technique was optimized to use standard squash preparations of mitotic and meiotic chromosomes from root tips of barley, wheat, and rye. After light microscopic observation and documentation, the same object can be investigated with a 100-fold higher resolution using a field emission scanning electron microscope. Tilting of the specimens provides a three-dimensional insight into chromosomal structures at different stages of condensation and decondensation. With this technique it was possible to document for the first time at high resolution structures such as the centromeric region, the spindle apparatus and the spindle fibre attachment region. The smallest unit of the DNA packed that can be resolved is a beads on a string-like structure of the nucleofilament (10–15 nm fibre).by D. Schweizer     

Resolution-by-proxy: a simple measure for assessing and comparing the overall quality of NMR protein structures

In protein X-ray crystallography, resolution is often used as a good indicator of structural quality. Diffraction resolution of protein crystals correlates well with the number of X-ray observables that are used in structure generation and, therefore, with protein coordinate errors. In protein NMR, there is no parameter identical to X-ray resolution. Instead, resolution is often used as a synonym of NMR model quality. Resolution of NMR structures is often deduced from ensemble precision, torsion angle normality and number of distance restraints per residue. The lack of common techniques to assess the resolution of X-ray and NMR structures complicates the comparison of structures solved by these two methods. This problem is sometimes approached by calculating "equivalent resolution" from structure quality metrics. However, existing protocols do not offer a comprehensive assessment of protein structure as they calculate equivalent resolution from a relatively small number (<5) of protein parameters. Here, we report a development of a protocol that calculates equivalent resolution from 25 measurable protein features. This new method offers better performance (correlation coefficient of 0.92, mean absolute error of 0.28 ?) than existing predictors of equivalent resolution. Because the method uses coordinate data as a proxy for X-ray diffraction data, we call this measure "Resolution-by-Proxy" or ResProx. We demonstrate that ResProx can be used to identify under-restrained, poorly refined or inaccurate NMR structures, and can discover structural defects that the other equivalent resolution methods cannot detect. The ResProx web server is available at http://www.resprox.ca.     

Crystal structure of human rhinovirus serotype 1A (HRV1A)

The structure of human rhinovirus 1A (HRV1A) has been determined to 3.2 A resolution using phase refinement and extension by symmetry averaging starting with phases at 5 A resolution calculated from the known human rhinovirus 14 (HRV14) structure. The polypeptide backbone structures of HRV1A and HRV14 are similar, but the exposed surfaces are rather different. Differential charge distribution of amino acid residues in the "canyon", the putative receptor binding site, provides a possible explanation for the difference in minor versus major receptor group specificities, represented by HRV1A and HRV14, respectively. The hydrophobic pocket in VP1, into which antiviral compounds bind, is in an "open" conformation similar to that observed in drug-bound HRV14. Drug binding in HRV1A does not induce extensive conformational changes, in contrast to the case of HRV14.     

Structure of bovine mitochondrial F(1)-ATPase with nucleotide bound to all three catalytic sites: implications for the mechanism of rotary catalysis

The crystal structure of a novel aluminium fluoride inhibited form of bovine mitochondrial F(1)-ATPase has been determined at 2 A resolution. In contrast to all previously determined structures of the bovine enzyme, all three catalytic sites are occupied by nucleotide. The subunit that did not bind nucleotide in previous structures binds ADP and sulfate (mimicking phosphate), and adopts a "half-closed" conformation. This structure probably represents the posthydrolysis, pre-product release step on the catalytic pathway. A catalytic scheme for hydrolysis (and synthesis) at physiological rates and a mechanism for the ATP-driven rotation of the gamma subunit are proposed based on the crystal structures of the bovine enzyme.     

Halophilic adaptation: novel solvent protein interactions observed in the 2.9 and 2.6 A resolution structures of the wild type and a mutant of malate dehydrogenase from Haloarcula marismortui

Previous biophysical studies of tetrameric malate dehydrogenase from the halophilic archaeon Haloarcula marismortui (Hm MalDH) have revealed the importance of protein-solvent interactions for its adaptation to molar salt conditions that strongly affect protein solubility, stability, and activity, in general. The structures of the E267R stability mutant of apo (-NADH) Hm MalDH determined to 2.6 A resolution and of apo (-NADH) wild type Hm MalDH determined to 2.9 A resolution, presented here, highlight a variety of novel protein-solvent features involved in halophilic adaptation. The tetramer appears to be stabilized by ordered water molecule networks and intersubunit complex salt bridges "locked" in by bound solvent chloride and sodium ions. The E267R mutation points into a central ordered water cavity, disrupting protein-solvent interactions. The analysis of the crystal structures showed that halophilic adaptation is not aimed uniquely at "protecting" the enzyme from the extreme salt conditions, as may have been expected, but, on the contrary, consists of mechanisms that harness the high ionic concentration in the environment.     

p-Cresol methylhydroxylase: alteration of the structure of the flavoprotein subunit upon its binding to the cytochrome subunit

The structures of two forms of a recombinant flavoprotein have been determined at high resolution and compared. These proteins are (1) the flavocytochrome c p-cresol methylhydroxylase (rPCMH, 1.85 A resolution) and (2) the cytochrome-free flavoprotein subunit of rPCMH (PchF, 1.30 A resolution). A significant conformational difference is observed in a protein segment that is in contact with the re face of the isoalloxazine ring of FAD when the structure of PchF is compared to the subunit in the intact flavocytochrome. This structural change is important for optimum catalytic function of the flavoprotein, which has been shown to be dependent on the presence of the cytochrome subunit. This change results in different protein-flavin and apparently different protein-substrate interactions that have a "tuning effect" on the electronic and redox properties of bound p-cresol and the covalently bound FAD. The conformational change in the segment in the cofactor-binding site is induced by a small rearrangement in the flavoprotein-cytochrome interface region of the flavoprotein.     

An unusual orientation for Tyr75 in the active site of the aspartic proteinase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The structures of the native Saccharomyces cerevisiae proteinase A have been solved by molecular replacement in the monoclinic and trigonal crystal forms and refined at 2.6-2.7A resolution. These structures agree overall with those of other uninhibited aspartic proteinases. However, an unusual orientation for the side chain of Tyr75, a conserved residue on the flexible "flap" that covers the active site and is important for the activity of these enzymes, was found in the trigonal crystals. A similar conformation of Tyr75 occupying the S1 substrate-binding pocket was previously reported only for chymosin (where it was interpreted as representing a "self-inhibited" state of the enzyme), but for no other aspartic proteinases. Since this orientation of Tyr75 has now been seen in the structures of two members of the family of aspartic proteinases, it might indicate that the placement of that residue in the S1 substrate-binding pocket might have some functional significance, analogous to what was seen for self-inhibited structures of serine proteinases.     

"Open" structures of MurD: domain movements and structural similarities with folylpolyglutamate synthetase

UDP-N-acetylmuramoyl-l-alanine:d-glutamate (MurD) ligase catalyses the addition of d-glutamate to the nucleotide precursor UDP-N-acetylmuramoyl-l-alanine (UMA). The crystal structures of Escherichia coli in the substrate-free form and MurD complexed with UMA have been determined at 2.4 A and 1.88 A resolution, respectively. The MurD structure comprises three domains each of a topology reminiscent of nucleotide-binding folds. In the two structures the C-terminal domain undergoes a large rigid-body rotation away from the N-terminal and central domains. These two "open" structures were compared with the four published "closed" structures of MurD. In addition the comparison reveals which regions are affected by the binding of UMA, ATP and d-Glu. Also we compare and discuss two structurally characterized enzymes which belong to the same ligase superfamily: MurD and folylpolyglutamate synthetase (FGS). The analysis allows the identification of key residues involved in the reaction mechanism of FGS. The determination of the two "open" conformation structures represents a new step towards the complete elucidation of the enzymatic mechanism of the MurD ligase.     

2.8 A crystal structures of recombinant fibrinogen fragment D with and without two peptide ligands: GHRP binding to the "b" site disrupts its nearby calcium-binding site

We report two crystal structures, each at a resolution of 2.8 A, of recombinant human fibrinogen fragment D (rfD) in the absence and presence of peptide ligands. The bound ligands, Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro-amide and Gly-His-Arg-Pro-amide, mimic the interactions of the thrombin exposed polymerization sites, "A" and "B", respectively. This report is the first to describe the structure of fragment D in the presence of both peptide ligands. The structures reveal that recombinant fibrinogen is nearly identical to the plasma protein but with minor changes, like the addition of a proximal fucose to the carbohydrate linked to residue betaGln364, and slightly different relative positions of the beta- and gamma-modules. Of major interest in our structures is that a previously identified calcium site in plasma fibrinogen is absent when Gly-His-Arg-Pro-amide is bound. The peptide-dependent loss of this calcium site may have significant biological implications that are further discussed. These structures provide a foundation for the detailed structural analysis of variant recombinant fibrinogens that were used to identify critical functional residues within fragment D.     

The receptor binding protein P2 of PRD1, a virus targeting antibiotic-resistant bacteria,has a novel fold suggesting multiple functions

Bacteriophage PRD1 is unusual, with an internal lipid membrane, but has striking resemblances to adenovirus that include receptor binding spikes. The PRD1 vertex complex contains P2, a 590 residue monomer that binds to receptors on antibiotic-resistant strains of E. coli and so is the functional counterpart to adenovirus fiber. P2 structures from two crystal forms, at 2.2 and 2.4 A resolution, reveal an elongated club-shaped molecule with a novel beta propeller "head" showing pseudo-6-fold symmetry. An extended loop with another novel fold forms a long "tail" containing a protruding proline-rich "fin." The head and fin structures are well suited to recognition and attachment, and the tail is likely to trigger the processes of vertex disassembly, membrane tube formation, and subsequent DNA injection.     

A core-weighted fitting method for docking atomic structures into low-resolution maps: application to cryo-electron microscopy

Cryo-electron microscopy of "single particles" is a powerful method to analyze structures of large macromolecular assemblies that are not amenable to investigation by traditional X-ray crystallographic methods. A key step in these studies is to obtain atomic interpretations of multiprotein complexes by fitting atomic structures of individual components into maps obtained from electron microscopic data. Here, we report the use of a "core-weighting" method, combined with a grid-threading Monte Carlo (GTMC) approach for this purpose. The "core" of an individual structure is defined to represent the part where the density distribution is least likely to be altered by other components that comprise the macromolecular assembly of interest. The performance of the method has been evaluated by its ability to determine the correct fit of (i) the alpha-chain of the T-cell receptor variable domain into a simulated map of the alphabeta complex at resolutions between 5 and 40 A, and (ii) the E2 catalytic domain of the pyruvate dehydrogenase into an experimentally determined map, at 14 A resolution, of the icosahedral complex formed by 60 copies of this enzyme. Using the X-ray structures of the two test cases as references, we demonstrate that, in contrast to more traditional methods, the combination of the core-weighting method and the grid-threading Monte Carlo approach can identify the correct fit reliably and rapidly from the low-resolution maps that are typical of structures determined with the use of single-particle electron microscopy.     

Asymmetric resolution of a parvovirus palindrome in vitro.

Cell extracts from murine A9 or human HeLa cells containing wild-type copies the NS1 polypeptide of minute virus of mice (MVM), produced from a recombinant vaccinia virus, can support the resolution of viral 3' termini from palindromic junction fragments of dimeric, replicative-form MVM DNA. Resolution resulted in the generation of two new viral termini, one associated with each arm of the junction palindrome. Telomeres were created in two configurations, "extended" forms, which were covalently associated with NS1 molecules, and smaller "turn-around" forms in which a single arm of the palindrome terminated at the axis of dyad symmetry in a covalent bond which cross-linked the two strands. The in vitro resolution reaction was asymmetric, generating predominantly extended-form termini from one arm of the palindrome but predominantly turn-around forms from the other. This asymmetry was independent of the type of cell used to prepare the in vitro extract or the orientation of the palindrome in the plasmid and was obtained for all cloned junction sequences of 156 bp or more. Two modified forms of the duplex junction fragment, which appeared to be intermediates in the resolution process since they were nicked, covalently linked to NS1, and associated with newly synthesized DNA, were identified. The structures of these intermediates suggest that resolution is initiated by preferential nicking at one of the two candidate resolution sites. The asymmetric nature of this resolution reaction is discussed in terms of current models of MVM DNA replication.     

Three-dimensional structure of deoxycholate-treated purple membrane at 6 Å resolution and molecular averaging of three crystal forms of bacteriorhodopsin

The three-dimensional structure of the deoxycholate-treated form of purple membrane has been determined to a resolution of about 6 Å. Using low temperature electron diffraction data, room temperature electron microscope images and improved methods of data analysis, higher resolution has been reached than was obtained using native membranes of the same size. Statistical analysis of the data shows that the new map is considerably better than earlier maps. The map indicates the probable sites for the lipid molecules that remain in the deoxycholate-treated membranes; some of these sites differ from those suggested by the projection map of Glaeser et al. (1985). Comparison of the bacteriorhodopsin structures now determined independently from three crystal forms shows that the monomer structure is independent of the detailed contacts with lipid molecules. The average of the three structures gives a picture with very little noise showing seven similar rod-like features which are clearly best interpreted as -helices; there is no indication that part of the structure is -sheet as suggested by Jap et al. (1983). Phases from the averaged structure at 6 Å resolution will enable better refinement of the parameters that will be required in the analysis of higher resolution images from tilted specimens needed to extend the projection map at 3.5 Å resolution (Henderson et al. 1986) to produce a three-dimensional atomic resolution map.     

Crystal structures of an NAD kinase from Archaeoglobus fulgidus in complex with ATP, NAD, or NADP

NAD kinase is a ubiquitous enzyme that catalyzes the phosphorylation of NAD to NADP using ATP or inorganic polyphosphate (poly(P)) as phosphate donor, and is regarded as the only enzyme responsible for the synthesis of NADP. We present here the crystal structures of an NAD kinase from the archaeal organism Archaeoglobus fulgidus in complex with its phosphate donor ATP at 1.7 A resolution, with its substrate NAD at 3.05 A resolution, and with the product NADP in two different crystal forms at 2.45 A and 2.0 A resolution, respectively. In the ATP bound structure, the AMP portion of the ATP molecule is found to use the same binding site as the nicotinamide ribose portion of NAD/NADP in the NAD/NADP bound structures. A magnesium ion is found to be coordinated to the phosphate tail of ATP as well as to a pyrophosphate group. The conserved GGDG loop forms hydrogen bonds with the pyrophosphate group in the ATP-bound structure and the 2' phosphate group of the NADP in the NADP-bound structures. A possible phosphate transfer mechanism is proposed on the basis of the structures presented.     

Structure of a recombinant calmodulin from Drosophila melanogaster refined at 2.2-A resolution

The crystal structure of calmodulin (Mr 16,700, 148 residues) from Drosophila melanogaster as expressed in a bacterial system has been determined and refined at 2.2-A resolution. Starting with the structure of mammalian calmodulin, we produced an extensively refitted and refined model with a conventional crystallographic R value of 0.197 for the 5,239 reflections (F greater than or equal to 2 sigma (F)) within the 10.0-2.2-A resolution range. The model includes 1,164 protein atoms, 4 calcium ions, and 78 water molecules and has root mean square deviations from standard values of 0.018 A for bond lengths and 0.043 A for angle distances. The overall structure is similar to mammalian calmodulin, with a seven-turn central helix connecting the two calcium-binding domains. The "dumb-bell" shaped molecule contains seven alpha-helices and four "EF hand" calcium-binding sites. Although the amino acid sequences of mammalian and Drosophila calmodulins differ by only three conservative amino acid changes, the refined model reveals a number of significant differences between the two structures. Superimposition of the structures yields a root mean square deviation of 1.22 A for the 1,120 equivalent atoms. The calcium-binding domains have a root mean square deviation of 0.85 A for the 353 equivalent atoms. There are also differences in the amino terminus, the bend of the central alpha-helix, and the orientations of some of the side chains.     

Crystal structures of reversible ketone-Based inhibitors of the cysteine protease cruzain

The crystal structures of two hydroxymethyl ketone inhibitors complexed to the cysteine protease cruzain have been determined at 1.1 and 1.2 A resolution, respectively. These high resolution crystal structures provide the first structures of non-covalent inhibitors bound to cruzain. A series of compounds were prepared and tested based upon the structures providing further insight into the key binding interactions.     

Structure of tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase refined at 2.3 A resolution. Interaction of the enzyme with the tyrosyl adenylate intermediate

The crystal structure of tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (EC 6.1.1.1) from Bacillus stearothermophilus has been refined to a crystallographic R-factor of 22.6% at 2.3 A resolution using a restrained least-squares procedure. In the final model the root-mean-square deviation from ideality for bond distances is 0.018 A and for angle distances is 0.044 A. Each monomer consists of three domains: an alpha/beta domain (residues 1 to 220) containing a six-stranded beta-sheet, an alpha-helical domain (248 to 318) containing five helices, and a disordered C-terminal domain (319 to 418) for which the electron density is very weak and where it has not been possible to trace the polypeptide chain. Complexes of the enzyme with the catalytic intermediate tyrosyl adenylate and the inhibitor tyrosinyl adenylate have also been refined to R-factors of 23.9% at 2.8 A resolution and 21.0% at 2.7 A resolution, respectively. Formation of the complexes results in some crystal cracking, but there is no significant difference in the conformation of the polypeptide chain of the three structures described here. The relative orientation of the alpha/beta and alpha-helical domains is similar to that previously observed for the "A" subunit of a deletion mutant lacking the C-terminal domain. Differences between these structures are confined to surface loops that are involved in crystal packing. Tyrosyl adenylate and tyrosinyl adenylate bind in similar conformations within a deep cleft in the alpha/beta domain. The tyrosine moiety is in the equivalent position to that occupied by tyrosine in crystals of the truncated mutant and makes similar strong polar interactions with the enzyme. The alpha-phosphate group interacts with the main-chain nitrogen of Asp38. The two hydroxyl groups of the ribose form strong interactions with the protein. The 2'-hydroxyl group interacts with the carboxylate of Asp194 and the main-chain nitrogen of Gly192 while the 3'-hydroxyl interacts with a tightly bound water molecule (Wat326). The adenine moiety appears to make no significant polar interactions with the protein. The results of site-directed mutagenesis studies are examined in the light of these refined structures.