scholarly journals Structural basis for ligand binding modes of CTP synthase

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (30) ◽  
pp. e2026621118
Author(s):  
Xian Zhou ◽  
Chen-Jun Guo ◽  
Chia-Chun Chang ◽  
Jiale Zhong ◽  
Huan-Huan Hu ◽  
...  

Cytidine triphosphate synthase (CTPS), which comprises an ammonia ligase domain and a glutamine amidotransferase domain, catalyzes the final step of de novo CTP biosynthesis. The activity of CTPS is regulated by the binding of four nucleotides and glutamine. While glutamine serves as an ammonia donor for the ATP-dependent conversion of UTP to CTP, the fourth nucleotide GTP acts as an allosteric activator. Models have been proposed to explain the mechanisms of action at the active site of the ammonia ligase domain and the conformational changes derived by GTP binding. However, actual GTP/ATP/UTP binding modes and relevant conformational changes have not been revealed fully. Here, we report the discovery of binding modes of four nucleotides and a glutamine analog 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine in Drosophila CTPS by cryo–electron microscopy with near-atomic resolution. Interactions between GTP and surrounding residues indicate that GTP acts to coordinate reactions at both domains by directly blocking ammonia leakage and stabilizing the ammonia tunnel. Additionally, we observe the ATP-dependent UTP phosphorylation intermediate and determine interacting residues at the ammonia ligase. A noncanonical CTP binding at the ATP binding site suggests another layer of feedback inhibition. Our findings not only delineate the structure of CTPS in the presence of all substrates but also complete our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of the allosteric regulation and CTP synthesis.

2007 ◽  
Vol 282 (49) ◽  
pp. 35733-35740 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yutaka Mizuno ◽  
Greg B. G. Moorhead ◽  
Kenneth K.-S. Ng

PII is a highly conserved regulatory protein found in organisms across the three domains of life. In cyanobacteria and plants, PII relieves the feedback inhibition of the rate-limiting step in arginine biosynthesis catalyzed by N-acetylglutamate kinase (NAGK). To understand the molecular structural basis of enzyme regulation by PII, we have determined a 2.5-Å resolution crystal structure of a complex formed between two homotrimers of PII and a single hexamer of NAGK from Arabidopsis thaliana bound to the metabolites N-acetylglutamate, ADP, ATP, and arginine. In PII, the T-loop and Trp22 at the start of the α1-helix, which are both adjacent to the ATP-binding site of PII, contact two β-strands as well as the ends of two central helices (αE and αG) in NAGK, the opposing ends of which form major portions of the ATP and N-acetylglutamate substrate-binding sites. The binding of Mg2+·ATP to PII stabilizes a conformation of the T-loop that favors interactions with both open and closed conformations of NAGK. Interactions between PII and NAGK appear to limit the degree of opening and closing of the active-site cleft in opposition to a domain-separating inhibitory effect exerted by arginine, thus explaining the stimulatory effect of PII on the kinetics of arginine-inhibited NAGK.


Author(s):  
Amy M. McGough ◽  
Robert Josephs

The remarkable deformability of the erythrocyte derives in large part from the elastic properties of spectrin, the major component of the membrane skeleton. It is generally accepted that spectrin's elasticity arises from marked conformational changes which include variations in its overall length (1). In this work the structure of spectrin in partially expanded membrane skeletons was studied by electron microscopy to determine the molecular basis for spectrin's elastic properties. Spectrin molecules were analysed with respect to three features: length, conformation, and quaternary structure. The results of these studies lead to a model of how spectrin mediates the elastic deformation of the erythrocyte.Membrane skeletons were isolated from erythrocyte membrane ghosts, negatively stained, and examined by transmission electron microscopy (2). Particle lengths and end-to-end distances were measured from enlarged prints using the computer program MACMEASURE. Spectrin conformation (straightness) was assessed by calculating the particles’ correlation length by iterative approximation (3). Digitised spectrin images were correlation averaged or Fourier filtered to improve their signal-to-noise ratios. Three-dimensional reconstructions were performed using a suite of programs which were based on the filtered back-projection algorithm and executed on a cluster of Microvax 3200 workstations (4).


2019 ◽  
Vol 476 (21) ◽  
pp. 3227-3240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shanshan Wang ◽  
Yanxiang Zhao ◽  
Long Yi ◽  
Minghe Shen ◽  
Chao Wang ◽  
...  

Trehalose-6-phosphate (T6P) synthase (Tps1) catalyzes the formation of T6P from UDP-glucose (UDPG) (or GDPG, etc.) and glucose-6-phosphate (G6P), and structural basis of this process has not been well studied. MoTps1 (Magnaporthe oryzae Tps1) plays a critical role in carbon and nitrogen metabolism, but its structural information is unknown. Here we present the crystal structures of MoTps1 apo, binary (with UDPG) and ternary (with UDPG/G6P or UDP/T6P) complexes. MoTps1 consists of two modified Rossmann-fold domains and a catalytic center in-between. Unlike Escherichia coli OtsA (EcOtsA, the Tps1 of E. coli), MoTps1 exists as a mixture of monomer, dimer, and oligomer in solution. Inter-chain salt bridges, which are not fully conserved in EcOtsA, play primary roles in MoTps1 oligomerization. Binding of UDPG by MoTps1 C-terminal domain modifies the substrate pocket of MoTps1. In the MoTps1 ternary complex structure, UDP and T6P, the products of UDPG and G6P, are detected, and substantial conformational rearrangements of N-terminal domain, including structural reshuffling (β3–β4 loop to α0 helix) and movement of a ‘shift region' towards the catalytic centre, are observed. These conformational changes render MoTps1 to a ‘closed' state compared with its ‘open' state in apo or UDPG complex structures. By solving the EcOtsA apo structure, we confirmed that similar ligand binding induced conformational changes also exist in EcOtsA, although no structural reshuffling involved. Based on our research and previous studies, we present a model for the catalytic process of Tps1. Our research provides novel information on MoTps1, Tps1 family, and structure-based antifungal drug design.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (23) ◽  
pp. eabg1483
Author(s):  
Tianlei Wen ◽  
Ziyu Wang ◽  
Xiaozhe Chen ◽  
Yue Ren ◽  
Xuhang Lu ◽  
...  

Calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) is a class C G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR) that plays an important role in calcium homeostasis and parathyroid hormone secretion. Here, we present multiple cryo–electron microscopy structures of full-length CaSR in distinct ligand-bound states. Ligands (Ca2+ and l-tryptophan) bind to the extracellular domain of CaSR and induce large-scale conformational changes, leading to the closure of two heptahelical transmembrane domains (7TMDs) for activation. The positive modulator (evocalcet) and the negative allosteric modulator (NPS-2143) occupy the similar binding pocket in 7TMD. The binding of NPS-2143 causes a considerable rearrangement of two 7TMDs, forming an inactivated TM6/TM6 interface. Moreover, a total of 305 disease-causing missense mutations of CaSR have been mapped to the structure in the active state, creating hotspot maps of five clinical endocrine disorders. Our results provide a structural framework for understanding the activation, allosteric modulation mechanism, and disease therapy for class C GPCRs.


Blood ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 102 (4) ◽  
pp. 1155-1159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian-Ping Xiong ◽  
Thilo Stehle ◽  
Simon L. Goodman ◽  
M. Amin Arnaout

Abstract Integrins are cell adhesion receptors that communicate biochemical and mechanical signals in a bidirectional manner across the plasma membrane and thus influence most cellular functions. Intracellular signals switch integrins into a ligand-competent state as a result of elicited conformational changes in the integrin ectodomain. Binding of extracellular ligands induces, in turn, structural changes that convey distinct signals to the cell interior. The structural basis of this bidirectional signaling has been the focus of intensive study for the past 3 decades. In this perspective, we develop a new hypothesis for integrin activation based on recent crystallographic, electron microscopic, and biochemical studies.


2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Reyaz ur Rasool ◽  
Bilal Rah ◽  
Hina Amin ◽  
Debasis Nayak ◽  
Souneek Chakraborty ◽  
...  

Abstract The eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) is considered as a key survival protein involved in cell cycle progression, transformation and apoptosis resistance. Herein, we demonstrate that medicinal plant derivative 3-AWA (from Withaferin A) suppressed the proliferation and metastasis of CaP cells through abrogation of eIF4E activation and expression via c-FLIP dependent mechanism. This translational attenuation prevents the de novo synthesis of major players of metastatic cascades viz. c-FLIP, c-Myc and cyclin D1. Moreover, the suppression of c-FLIP due to inhibition of translation initiation complex by 3-AWA enhanced FAS trafficking, BID and caspase 8 cleavage. Further ectopically restored c-Myc and GFP-HRas mediated activation of eIF4E was reduced by 3-AWA in transformed NIH3T3 cells. Detailed underlying mechanisms revealed that 3-AWA inhibited Ras-Mnk and PI3-AKT-mTOR, two major pathways through which eIF4E converges upon eIF4F hub. In addition to in vitro studies, we confirmed that 3-AWA efficiently suppressed tumor growth and metastasis in different mouse models. Given that 3-AWA inhibits c-FLIP through abrogation of translation initiation by co-targeting mTOR and Mnk-eIF4E, it (3-AWA) can be exploited as a lead pharmacophore for promising anti-cancer therapeutic development.


2014 ◽  
Vol 545 ◽  
pp. 22-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin C. Oliver ◽  
Ravidra Gudihal ◽  
John W. Burgner ◽  
Anthony M. Pedley ◽  
Alexander T. Zwierko ◽  
...  

2008 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-53
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Rakic ◽  
Petar Mitrasinovic

The present study characterizes using molecular dynamics simulations the behavior of the GAA (1186-1188) hairpin triloops with their closing c-g base pairs in large ribonucleoligand complexes (PDB IDs: 1njn, 1nwy, 1jzx). The relative energies of the motifs in the complexes with respect to that in the reference structure (unbound form of rRNA; PDB ID: 1njp) display the trends that agree with those of the conformational parameters reported in a previous study1 utilizing the de novo pseudotorsional (?,?) approach. The RNA regions around the actual RNA-ligand contacts, which experience the most substantial conformational changes upon formation of the complexes were identified. The thermodynamic parameters, based on a two-state conformational model of RNA sequences containing 15, 21 and 27 nucleotides in the immediate vicinity of the particular binding sites, were evaluated. From a more structural standpoint, the strain of a triloop, being far from the specific contacts and interacting primarily with other parts of the ribosome, was established as a structural feature which conforms to the trend of the average values of the thermodynamic variables corresponding to the three motifs defined by the 15-, 21- and 27-nucleotide sequences. From a more functional standpoint, RNA-ligand recognition is suggested to be presumably dictated by the types of ligands in the complexes.


1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 4416-4421
Author(s):  
W S Grayburn ◽  
E U Selker

5S rRNA genes of Neurospora crassa are generally dispersed in the genome and are unmethylated. The xi-eta region of Oak Ridge strains represents an informative exception. Most of the cytosines in this region, which consists of a diverged tandem duplication of a 0.8-kilobase-pair segment including a 5S rRNA gene, appear to be methylated (E. U. Selker and J. N. Stevens, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82:8114-8118, 1985). Previous work demonstrated that the xi-eta region functions as a portable signal for de novo DNA methylation (E. U. Selker and J. N. Stevens, Mol. Cell. Biol. 7:1032-1038, 1987; E. U. Selker, B. C. Jensen, and G. A. Richardson, Science 238:48-53, 1987). To identify the structural basis of this property, we have isolated and characterized an unmethylated allele of the xi-eta region from N. crassa Abbott 4. The Abbott 4 allele includes a single 5S rRNA gene, theta, which is different from all previously identified Neurospora 5S rRNA genes. Sequence analysis suggests that the xi-eta region arose from the theta region by duplication of a 794-base-pair segment followed by 267 G.C to A.T mutations in the duplicated DNA. The distribution of these mutations is not random. We propose that the RIP process of N. crassa (E. U. Selker, E. B. Cambareri, B. C. Jensen, and K. R. Haack, Cell 51:741-752, 1987; E. U. Selker, and P. W. Garrett, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:6870-6874, 1988; E. B. Cambareri, B. C. Jensen, E. Schabtach, and E. U. Selker, Science 244:1571-1575, 1989) is responsible for the numerous transition mutations and DNA methylation in the xi-eta region. A long homopurine-homopyrimidine stretch immediately following the duplicated segment is 9 base pairs longer in the Oak Ridge allele than in the Abbott 4 allele. Triplex DNA, known to occur in homopurine-homopyrimidine sequences, may have mediated the tandem duplication.


1992 ◽  
Vol 263 (2) ◽  
pp. R348-R352 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Aebi ◽  
B. H. Lauterburg

There is a growing interest in the therapeutic use of sulfhydryls. To assess the effect of glutathione (GSH) and cysteine on the cellular thiol status, thiols were administered intravenously to rats in doses ranging from 1.67 to 8.35 mmol/kg with and without pretreatment with 4 mmol/kg buthionine-[S,R]-sulfoximine (BSO), an inhibitor of GSH synthesis. One hour after administration of 1.67 mmol/kg GSH, the concentration of GSH rose from 5.2 +/- 1.0 to 8.4 +/- 0.9 mumol/g and from 2.5 +/- 0.5 to 3.7 +/- 0.7 mumol/g in liver and kidneys, respectively. After 8.35 mmol/kg, hepatic GSH did not increase further, but renal GSH rose to 6.7 +/- 1.8 mumol/g. Infusion of cysteine increased hepatic GSH to the same extent as intravenous GSH, but renal GSH did not increase after 1.67 mmol/kg and even significantly decreased to 0.6 +/- 0.2 mumol/g after 8.35 mmol/kg. In the presence of BSO, GSH resulted in a significant increase in renal but not hepatic GSH, suggesting that the kidneys take up intact GSH and indicating that the increment in hepatic GSH was due to de novo synthesis. The present data show that hepatic GSH can be markedly increased in vivo by increasing the supply of cysteine. Measurements of hepatic cysteine indicate that up to a concentration of approximately 0.5 mumol/g cysteine is a key determinant of hepatic GSH, such that the physiological steady-state concentration of GSH in the liver appears to be mainly determined by the availability of cysteine. At higher concentrations GSH does not increase further, possibly due to feedback inhibition of GSH synthesis or increased efflux.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


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