scholarly journals Structure of the E. coli agmatinase, SPEB

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. e0248991
Author(s):  
Iva Chitrakar ◽  
Syed Fardin Ahmed ◽  
Andrew T. Torelli ◽  
Jarrod B. French

Agmatine amidinohydrolase, or agmatinase, catalyzes the conversion of agmatine to putrescine and urea. This enzyme is found broadly across kingdoms of life and plays a critical role in polyamine biosynthesis and the regulation of agmatine concentrations. Here we describe the high-resolution X-ray crystal structure of the E. coli agmatinase, SPEB. The data showed a relatively high degree of pseudomerohedral twinning, was ultimately indexed in the P31 space group and led to a final model with eighteen chains, corresponding to three full hexamers in the asymmetric unit. There was a solvent content of 38.5% and refined R/Rfree values of 0.166/0.216. The protein has the conserved fold characteristic of the agmatine ureohydrolase family and displayed a high degree of structural similarity among individual protomers. Two distinct peaks of electron density were observed in the active site of most of the eighteen chains of SPEB. As the activity of this protein is known to be dependent upon manganese and the fold is similar to other dinuclear metallohydrolases, these peaks were modeled as manganese ions. The orientation of the conserved active site residues, in particular those amino acids that participate in binding the metal ions and a pair of acidic residues (D153 and E274 in SPEB) that play a role in catalysis, are similar to other agmatinase and arginase enzymes and is consistent with a hydrolytic mechanism that proceeds via a metal-activated hydroxide ion.

Author(s):  
Mohammad Afsar ◽  
Ankita Shukla ◽  
Nelam Kumar ◽  
Ravishankar Ramachandran

NAD+-dependent DNA ligase (LigA) is the principal bacterial ligase and catalyses a multistep ligation reaction. The adenylation (AdD) domain at the N-terminus consists of subdomains 1a and 1b, where subdomain 1a is unique to LigA. Small-angle X-ray scattering and X-ray diffraction studies were used to probe changes in the relative spatial dispositions of the two subdomains during the adenylation reaction. Structural analyses of the inter-subdomain interactions of the AdD domain suggest that salt bridges formed by Glu22, Glu26 and Glu87 of subdomain 1a with Arg144, Arg315 and His240 of subdomain 1b play an important role in stabilizing the intermediate conformations of the two subdomains. E22A, E26A and E87A mutations reduce the in vitro activity by 89%, 64% and 39%, respectively, on a nicked DNA substrate, while they show no activity loss on a pre-adenylated DNA substrate, thus suggesting that the salt bridges are important in the initial steps of the ligation reaction. Furthermore, the E22A, E26A and E87A mutants exhibited extremely delayed growth in complementation assays involving the Escherichia coli GR501 strain, which harbours its own temperature-sensitive LigA. The H236A and H236Y mutants, which involve the residue that stacks against the adenine moiety of AMP, severely impact the activity and the ability to complement the growth-defective E. coli GR501 strain. Analysis of the K123A and K123R mutations in the active site rationalizes their total loss of activity and inability to rescue the growth-defective E. coli GR501 strain.


2020 ◽  
pp. jbc.RA120.016738
Author(s):  
Bin Li ◽  
Xiaoyi Deng ◽  
Sok Ho Kim ◽  
Leann Buhrow ◽  
Diana R. Tomchick ◽  
...  

The siderophore rhizoferrin (N1,N4-dicitrylputrescine) is produced in fungi and bacteria to scavenge iron. Putrescine-producing bacterium Ralstonia pickettii synthesizes rhizoferrin and encodes a single nonribosomal peptide synthetase-independent siderophore (NIS) synthetase. From biosynthetic logic, we hypothesized that this single enzyme is sufficient for rhizoferrin biosynthesis. We confirmed this by expression of R. pickettii NIS synthetase in E. coli, resulting in rhizoferrin production. This was further confirmed in vitro using the recombinant NIS synthetase, synthesizing rhizoferrin from putrescine and citrate. Heterologous expression of homologous lbtA from Legionella pneumophila, required for rhizoferrin biosynthesis in that species, produced siderophore activity in E. coli. Rhizoferrin is also synthesized by Francisella tularensis and F. novicida, but unlike R. pickettii or L. pneumophila, Francisella species lack putrescine biosynthetic pathways due to genomic decay. Francisella encodes a NIS synthetase FslA/FigA and an ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) homologue FslC/FigC, required for rhizoferrin biosynthesis. ODC produces putrescine from ornithine but we show here in vitro that FigA synthesizes N-citrylornithine, and FigC is an N-citrylornithine decarboxylase that together synthesize rhizoferrin without using putrescine. We co-expressed F. novicida figA and figC in E. coli, and produced rhizoferrin. A 2.1Å X-ray crystal structure of the FigC N-citrylornithine decarboxylase reveals how the larger substrate is accommodated and how active site residues have changed to recognize N-citrylornithine. FigC belongs to a new subfamily of alanine racemase-fold PLP-dependent decarboxylases that are not involved in polyamine biosynthesis. These data reveal a natural product biosynthetic workaround that evolved to bypass a missing precursor and re-establish it in the final structure.


Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (13) ◽  
pp. 2418
Author(s):  
Zuo-Peng Zhang ◽  
Ze-Fa Yin ◽  
Jia-Yue Li ◽  
Zhi-Peng Wang ◽  
Qian-Jie Wu ◽  
...  

To find novel human carbonic anhydrase (hCA) inhibitors, we synthesized thirteen compounds by combining thiazolidinone with benzenesulfonamide. The result of the X-ray single-crystal diffraction experiment confirmed the configuration of this class of compounds. The enzyme inhibition assays against hCA II and IX showed desirable potency profiles, as effective as the positive controls. The docking studies revealed that compounds (2) and (7) efficiently bound in the active site cavity of hCA IX by forming sufficient interactions with active site residues. The fragment of thiazolidinone played an important role in the binding of the molecules to the active site.


Author(s):  
Taichi Mizobuchi ◽  
Risako Nonaka ◽  
Motoki Yoshimura ◽  
Katsumasa Abe ◽  
Shouji Takahashi ◽  
...  

Aspartate racemase (AspR) is a pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzyme that is responsible for D-aspartate biosynthesis in vivo. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report an X-ray crystal structure of a PLP-dependent AspR, which was resolved at 1.90 Å resolution. The AspR derived from the bivalve mollusc Scapharca broughtonii (SbAspR) is a type II PLP-dependent enzyme that is similar to serine racemase (SR) in that SbAspR catalyzes both racemization and dehydration. Structural comparison of SbAspR and SR shows a similar arrangement of the active-site residues and nucleotide-binding site, but a different orientation of the metal-binding site. Superposition of the structures of SbAspR and of rat SR bound to the inhibitor malonate reveals that Arg140 recognizes the β-carboxyl group of the substrate aspartate in SbAspR. It is hypothesized that the aromatic proline interaction between the domains, which favours the closed form of SbAspR, influences the arrangement of Arg140 at the active site.


2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (a1) ◽  
pp. C437-C437
Author(s):  
Aruna Bitra ◽  
Ruchi Anand

Guanine deaminases (GDs) are important enzymes involved in both purine metabolism and nucleotide anabolism pathways. Here we present the molecular and catalytic mechanism of NE0047 and use the information obtained to engineer specific enzyme activities. NE0047 from Nitrosomonas europaea was found to be a high fidelity guanine deaminase (catalytic efficiency of 1.2 × 105 M–1 s–1). However; it exhibited secondary activity towards the structurally non-analogous triazine based compound ammeline. The X-ray structure of NE0047 in the presence of the substrate analogue 8-azaguanine help establish that the enzyme exists as a biological dimer and both the proper closure of the C-terminal loop and cross talk via the dimeric interface is crucial for conferring catalytic activity. It was further ascertained that the highly conserved active site residues Glu79 and Glu143 facilitate the deamination reaction by serving as proton shuttles. Moreover, to understand the structural basis of dual substrate specificity, X-ray structures of NE0047 in complex with a series of nucleobase analogs, nucleosides and substrate ammeline were determined. The crystal structures demonstrated that any substitutions in the parent substrates results in the rearrangement of the ligand in a catalytically unfavorable orientation and also impede the closure of catalytically important loop, thereby abrogating activity. However, ammeline was able to adopt a catalytically favorable orientation which, also allowed for proper loop closure. Based on the above knowledge of the crystal structures and the catalytic mechanism, the active site was subsequently engineered to fine-tune NE0047 activity. The mutated versions of the enzyme were designed so that they can function either exclusively as a GD or serve as specific ammeline deaminases. For example, mutations in the active site E143D and N66A confer the enzyme to be an unambiguous GD with no secondary activity towards ammeline. On the other hand, the N66Q mutant of NE0047 only deaminates ammeline. Additionally, a series of crystal structures of the mutant versions were solved that shed light on the structural basis of this differential selectivity.


2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. 2430-2439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise J. Gourlay ◽  
Silvia Sommaruga ◽  
Marco Nardini ◽  
Paola Sperandeo ◽  
Gianni Dehò ◽  
...  

2001 ◽  
Vol 360 (3) ◽  
pp. 657-665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong-Sun LEE ◽  
Young-Dong CHO

The cDNA encoding ornithine decarboxylase (ODC; EC 4.1.1.17), a key enzyme in putrescine and polyamine biosynthesis, has been cloned from Nicotiana glutinosa (GenBank® AF 323910), and was expressed in Escherichia coli. The amino acid sequence of N. glutinosa ODC showed 90% identity with Datura stramonium ODC, and 44% identity with human ODC. N. glutinosa ODC did not possess the PEST sequence [a sequence rich in proline (P), glutamic acid (E), serine (S) and threonine (T) residues] found in mammalian ODCs, which are thought to be involved in rapid degradation of the protein. The purified ODC was a homodimeric protein, having a native Mr of 92000. Kinetic studies of ODC showed that N. glutinosa ODC decarboxylated both l-ornithine and l-lysine with Km values of 562μM and 1592μM at different optimal pH values of 8.0 and 6.8 respectively. ODC activity was completely and irreversibly inhibited by α-difluoromethylornithine (Ki 1.15μM), showing a competitive inhibition pattern. Site-directed mutagenesis was performed on ODC to introduce mutations at conserved lysine (Lys95) and cysteine (Cys96, Cys338 and Cys377) residues, chosen by examination of the conserved sequence, which were proven by chemical modification to be involved in enzymic activity. Except for Cys96, each mutation caused a substantial loss in enzyme activity. Most notably, Lys95 increased the Km for l-ornithine by 16-fold and for l-lysine by 3-fold, with 100-fold and 2.8-fold decreases in the kcat for ODC and lysine decarboxylase (LDC) activity respectively. The Cys377 → Ala mutant possessed a kcat that was lowered by 23-fold, and the Km value was decreased by 1.4-fold for l-ornithine. The three-dimensional model of ODC protein constructed on the basis of the crystal structure of Trypanosoma brucei, mouse and human ODCs localized the four residues in the active-site cleft. This is the first work carried out on active-site residues of plant ODC, where ODC and LDC activities occur in the same catalytic site.


2000 ◽  
Vol 347 (3) ◽  
pp. 865-873 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia NTARIMA ◽  
Wim NERINCKX ◽  
Klaus KLARSKOV ◽  
Bart DEVREESE ◽  
Mahalingeshwara K. BHAT ◽  
...  

A series of Ω-epoxyalkyl glycosides of D-xylopyranose, xylobiose and xylotriose were tested as potential active-site-directed inhibitors of xylanases from glycoside hydrolase families 10 and 11. Whereas family-10 enzymes (Thermoascus aurantiacus Xyn and Clostridium thermocellum Xyn Z) are resistant to electrophilic attack of active-site carboxyl residues, glycoside hydrolases of family 11 (Thermomyces lanuginosus Xyn and Trichoderma reesei Xyn II) are irreversibly inhibited. The apparent inactivation and association constants (ki, 1/Ki) are one order of magnitude higher for the xylobiose and xylotriose derivatives. The effects of the aglycone chain length can clearly be described. Xylobiose and n-alkyl β-D-xylopyranosides are competitive ligands and provide protection against inactivation. MS measurements showed 1:1 stoichiometries in most labelling experiments. Electrospray ionization MS/MS analysis revealed the nucleophile Glu86 as the modified residue in the T. lanuginosus xylanase when 2,3-epoxypropyl β-D-xylopyranoside was used, whereas the acid/base catalyst Glu178 was modified by the 3,4-epoxybutyl derivative. The active-site residues Glu86 and Glu177 in T. reesei Xyn II are similarly modified, confirming earlier X-ray crystallographic data [Havukainen, Törrönen, Laitinen and Rouvinen (1996) Biochemistry 35, 9617-9624]. The inability of the Ω-epoxyalkyl xylo(oligo)saccharide derivatives to inactivate family-10 enzymes is discussed in terms of different ligand-subsite interactions.


2010 ◽  
Vol 66 (5) ◽  
pp. 549-557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alina Castell ◽  
Christian Mille ◽  
Torsten Unge

The branched-chain aminotransferase (BCAT) ofMycobacterium tuberculosishas been characterized as being essential to the survival of the bacterium. The enzyme is pyridoxal 5′-phosphate-dependent and belongs to the aminotransferase IIIa subfamily, to which the human BCATs also belong. The overall sequence similarity is high within the subfamily and the sequence identity among the active-site residues is high. In order to identify structurally unique features ofM. tuberculosisBCAT, X-ray structural and functional analyses of the closely related BCAT fromM. smegmatiswere carried out. The crystal structures include the apo form at 2.2 Å resolution and a 1.9 Å structure of the holo form cocrystallized with the inhibitorO-benzylhydroxylamine (Obe). The analyses highlighted the active-site residues Tyr209 and Gly243 as being structurally unique characteristics of the mycobacterial BCATs relative to the human BCATs. The inhibitory activities of Obe and ammonium sulfate were verified in an inhibition assay. Modelling of the inhibitor Obe in the substrate pocket indicated potential for the design of a mycobacterial-specific inhibitor.


1982 ◽  
Vol 208 (2) ◽  
pp. 435-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
A J Bitonti ◽  
P P McCann ◽  
A Sjoerdsma

Bacterial growth was measurably slowed by a combination of drugs which inhibit polyamine-biosynthetic enzymes. Addition of DL-alpha-monofluoromethylornithine, which was shown to inactivate irreversibly ornithine decarboxylase extracted from Escherichia coli (Ki = 0.36 mM) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Ki = 0.30 mM), DL-alpha-difluoromethylarginine and dicyclohexylammonium sulphate to cultures of E. coli or P. aeruginosa resulted in a 40 and 70% increase in generation times (decreased growth rates) respectively, which was completely reversed by the addition of 0.1 mM-putrescine plus 0.1 mM-spermidine to the medium. Decreased intracellular polyamine concentrations correlated with increased generation times; putrescine concentration was decreased by 70% in E. coli and 80% in P. aeruginosa, while spermidine concentration was decreased by 50% in E. coli and 95% in P. aeruginosa. Subsequent investigation of the inactivation of the ornithine decarboxylase by monofluoromethylornithine indicated that it was active-site directed, as the normal substrate ornithine slowed the rate of inhibition. Specific interference with polyamine biosynthesis may be a viable approach to control of some bacterial infections.


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