Application of the small-angle x-ray scattering technique for the study of two-step equilibrium enzyme-substrate interactions

The small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) technique is used for the investigation of two-stage equilibrium macromolecular interactions of the enzyme-substrate type in solution. Experimental procedures and methods of analyzing the data obtained from SAXS have been elaborated. The algorithm for the data analysis allows one to determine the stoichiometric, equilibrium, and structural parameters of the enzyme-substrate complexes obtained. The thermodynamic characteristics for the formation of complexes of double-stranded oligonucleotide with Eco dam methyltransferase (MTase) have been determined and demonstrate a high cooperativity of MTase binding when the ternary complex containing the dimeric enzyme is formed. The structural parameters (R_g, R_c, semiaxes) have been determined for free enzyme and polynucleotides and of enzyme-substrate complexes, indicating structural rearrangements of the enzyme in the interaction with substrates. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

DNA-(N4-Cytosine)-Methyltransferase from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens: Kinetic and Substrate-binding Properties

Interaction of DNA-(N4-cytosine)-methyltransferase from the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (BamHI MTase, 49 kDa) with a 20-mer duplex containing a palindromic recognition site GGATCC was studied by methods of steady-state and pre-steady-state kinetics of the methyl group transfer, gel retardation, and crosslinking of the enzyme subunits with glutaraldehyde. In steady-state conditions, BamHI MTase displays a simple kinetic behavior toward the 20-mer substrate. A linear dependence was observed for the reaction rate on the enzyme concentration and a Michaelis dependence of the reaction rate on the concentration of both substrates: S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM), the methyl group donor, and DNA, the methyl group acceptor. In independent experiments, the concentration of the 20-mer duplex or SAM was changed, the enzyme concentration being substantially lower than the concentrations of substrates. The k _cat values determined in these conditions are in good agreement with one another and approximately equal to 0.05 s^–1. The K _M values for the duplex and SAM are 0.35 and 1.6 M, respectively. An analysis of single turnover kinetics (at limiting concentration of the 20-mer duplex) revealed the following characteristics of the BamHI MTase-dependent methylation of DNA. The value of rate constant of the DNA methylation step at the enzyme saturating concentration is on average 0.085 s^–1, which is only 1.6 times higher than the value determined in steady-state conditions. Only one of two target cytidine residues was methylated in a single turnover of the enzyme, which coincides with the earlier data on EcoRI MTase. Regardless of the order of enzyme preincubation with SAM and DNA, both curves for the single turnover methylation are comparable. These results are consistent with the model of the random order of the productive ternary enzyme–substrate complex formation. In contrast to the relatively simple kinetic behavior of BamHI MTase in the steady-state reaction are the data on the enzyme binding with DNA. In gel retardation experiments, there was no stoichiometrically simple complex with the oligonucleotide duplex even at low enzyme concentrations. The molecular mass of the complexes was so high that they did not enter 12% PAG. In experiments on crosslinking of the BamHI MTase subunits, it was shown that the enzyme in a free state exists as a dimer. Introduction of substoichiometric amounts of DNA into the reaction mixture results in pronounced multimerization of the enzyme. However, addition of SAM in saturating concentration at an excess of the oligonucleotide duplex over BamHI MTase converts most of the enzyme into a monomeric state.     

Bacteriophage T4Dam DNA-(adenine-N(6))-methyltransferase. Comparison of pre-steady state and single turnover methylation of 40-mer duplexes containing two (un)modified target sites

We analyzed pre-steady state and single turnover kinetics of bacteriophage T4Dam DNA-(adenine-N(6))-methyltransferase-mediated methyl group transfer from S-adenosyl-l-methionine (AdoMet) to 40-mer duplexes containing native recognition sites (5'-GATC/5'-GATC) or some modified variant(s). The results extend a model from studies with single-site 20-mer duplexes. Under pre-steady state conditions, monomeric T4Dam methyltransferase-AdoMet complexes were capable of rapid methylation of adenine residues in 40-mer duplexes containing two sites. During processive movement of T4Dam to the next site, the rate-limiting step was the exchange of the product S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine (AdoHcy) for AdoMet without T4Dam dissociating from the duplex. Consequently, instead of a single exponential rate dependence, complex methylation curves were obtained with at least two pre-steady state steps. With 40-mer duplexes containing a single target site, the kinetics were simpler, fitting a single exponential followed by a linear steady state phase. Single turnover methylation of 40-mer duplexes also proceeded in two stages. First, two dimeric T4Dam-AdoMet molecules bound, and each catalyzed a two-step methylation. Instead of processive movement of T4Dam, a conformational adaptation occurred. We propose that following methyl transfer to one strand, dimeric (T4Dam-AdoMet)-(T4Dam-AdoHcy) was capable of rapidly reorienting itself and catalyzing methyl transfer to the target adenine on the complementary, unmethylated strand. This second stage methyl transfer occurred at a rate about 25-fold slower than in the first step; it was rate-limited by Dam-AdoHcy dissociation or its clearance from the methylated complementary strand. Under single turnover conditions, there was complete methylation of all target adenine residues with each of the two-site 40-mer duplexes.     

An attempt to reconstruct the lifestyle of confuciusornithids (Aves,Confuciusornithiformes)

The lifestyle of some representatives of the family Confuciusornithidae is reconstructed based on the analysis of osteological data, horn structures, and taphonomy. Confuciusornithids, which resemble extant Phaethon in general appearance, fed on fish, catching them from the surface layer of freshwater lakes. They rested and probably nested in trees growing near the basin. When moving in the tree canopy, they used the second digit of the wing, free from an alula and equipped with a well-developed claw. Unable to take off from the ground, they used the fourth digit of the forearm, which was free from feathers, for climbing tree trunks. A pair of elongated caudal feathers (rectrices) were probably used to attract mates.     

Effect ofS-adenosyl-L-methionine and its analogues on site-specific binding of DNA-(adenine-N 6)-methyltransferase of T4 phage with the oligonucleotide substrate

Using fluorescence of 2-aminopurine-substituted oligonucleotide duplexes, “flipping” of the target base in the process of interaction of T4 DNA-(adenine-N ⁶)-methyltransferase (EC 2.1.1.72) with the substrate double-stranded DNA was revealed. It was shown thatS-adenosyl-L-methionine, the methyl group donor, induces the reorientation of the enzyme relative to the unsymmetrically modified recognition site.     

Functional analysis of BamHI DNA cytosine-N4 methyltransferase

We show that the kinetic mechanism of the DNA (cytosine-N(4)-)-methyltransferase M.BamHI, which modifies the underlined cytosine (GGATCC), differs from cytosine C(5) methyltransferases, and is similar to that observed with adenine N(6) methyltransferases. This suggests that the obligate order of ternary complex assembly and disassembly depends on the type of methylation reaction. In contrast, the single-turnover rate of catalysis for M.BamHI (0.10s(-1)) is closer to the DNA (cytosine-C(5)-)-methyltransferases (0.14s(-1)) than the DNA (adenine-N(6)-)-methyltransferases (>200s(-1)). The nucleotide flipping transition dominates the single-turnover constant for adenine N(6) methyltransferases, and, since the disruption of the guanine-cytosine base-pair is essential for both types of cytosine DNA methyltransferases, this transition may be a common, rate-limiting step for methylation for these two enzyme subclasses. The similar overall rate of catalysis by M.BamHI and other DNA methyltransferases is consistent with a common rate-limiting catalytic step of product dissociation. Our analyses of M.BamHI provide functional insights into the relationship between the three different classes of DNA methyltransferases that complement both prior structural and evolutionary insights.     

The Kinetic Mechanism of Phage T4 DNA-[N6-Adenine]-Methyltransferase

Kinetic analysis of methyl group transfer from S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) to the GATC recognition site catalyzed by the phage T4 DNA-[N6-adenine]-methyltransferase (MTase) [EC 2.1.1.72] showed that the reverse reaction is at least 500 times slower than the direct one. The overall pattern of product inhibition corresponds to an ordered steady-state mechanism following the sequence SAMDNAmetDNASAH (S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine). Pronounced inhibition was observed at high concentrations of the 20-meric substrate duplex, which may be attributed to formation of a dead-end complex MTase–SAH–DNA. In contrast, high SAM concentrations proportionally accelerated the reaction. Thus, the reaction may include a stage whereby the binding of SAM and the release of SAH are united into one concerted event. Computer fitting of alternative kinetic schemes to the aggregate of experimental data revealed that the most plausible mechanism involves isomerization of the enzyme.     

Symmetry elements in DNA structure important for recognition/methylation by DNA [amino]-methyltransferases

The phage T4Dam and EcoDam DNA-[adenine-N6] methyltransferases (MTases) methylate GATC palindromic sequences, while the BamHI DNA-[cytosine-N4] MTase methylates the GGATCC palindrome (which contains GATC) at the internal cytosine residue. We compared the ability of these enzymes to interact productively with defective duplexes in which individual elements were deleted on one chain. A sharp decrease in k_cat was observed for all three enzymes if a particular element of structural symmetry was disrupted. For the BamHI MTase, integrity of the ATCC was critical, while an intact GAT sequence was necessary for the activity of T4Dam, and an intact GA was necessary for EcoDam. Theoretical alignment of the region of best contacts between the protein and DNA showed that in the case of a palindromic interaction site, a zone covering the 5′-symmetric residues is located in the major groove versus a zone of contact covering the 3′-symmetric residues in the minor groove. Our data fit a simple rule of thumb that the most important contacts are aligned around the methylation target base: if the target base is in the 5′ half of the palindrome, the interaction between the enzyme and the DNA occurs mainly in the major groove; if it is in the 3′ half, the interaction occurs mainly in the minor groove.