Key interactions with deazariboflavin cofactor for light-driven energy transfer in Xenopus (6–4) photolyase

Photolyases are flavoenzymes responsible for light-driven repair of carcinogenic crosslinks formed in DNA by UV exposure. They possess two non-covalently bound chromophores: flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) as a catalytic center and an auxiliary antenna chromophore that harvests photons and transfers solar energy to the catalytic center. Although the energy transfer reaction has been characterized by time-resolved spectroscopy, it is strikingly important to understand how well natural biological systems organize the chromophores for the efficient energy transfer. Here, we comprehensively characterized the binding of 8-hydroxy-7,8-didemethyl-5-deazariboflavin (8-HDF) to Xenopus (6–4) photolyase. In silico simulations indicated that a hydrophobic amino acid residue located at the entrance of the binding site dominates translocation of a loop upon binding of 8-HDF, and a mutation of this residue caused dysfunction of the efficient energy transfer in the DNA repair reaction. Mutational analyses of the protein combined with modification of the chromophore suggested that Coulombic interactions between positively charged residues in the protein and the phenoxide moiety in 8-HDF play a key role in accommodation of 8-HDF in the proper direction. This study provides a clear evidence that Xenopus (6–4) photolyase can utilize 8-HDF as the light-harvesting chromophore. The obtained new insights into binding of the natural antenna molecule will be helpful for the development of artificial light-harvesting chromophores and future characterization of the energy transfer in (6–4) photolyase by spectroscopic studies.

Identification of a Polar Region in Transmembrane Domain 6 That Regulates the Function of the G Protein-Coupled α-Factor Receptor

ABSTRACT The α-factor pheromone receptor (Ste2p) of the yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiae belongs to the family of G protein-coupled receptors that contain seven transmembrane domains (TMDs). Because polar residues can influence receptor structure by forming intramolecular contacts between TMDs, we tested the role of the five polar amino acids in TMD6 of the α-factor receptor by mutating these residues to nonpolar leucine. Interestingly, a subset of these mutants showed increased affinity for ligand and constitutive receptor activity. The mutation of the most polar residue, Q253L, resulted in 25-fold increased affinity and a 5-fold-higher basal level of signaling that was equal to about 19% of the α-factor induced maximum signal. Mutation of the adjacent residue, S254L, caused weaker constitutive activity and a 5-fold increase in affinity. Comparison of nine different mutations affecting Ser254 showed that an S254F mutation caused higher constitutive activity, suggesting that a large hydrophobic amino acid residue at position 254 alters transmembrane helix packing. Thus, these studies indicate that Gln253 and Ser254 are likely to be involved in intramolecular interactions with other TMDs. Furthermore, Gln253 and Ser254 fall on one side of the transmembrane helix that is on the opposite side from residues that do not cause constitutive activity when mutated. These results suggest that Gln253and Ser254 face inward toward the other TMDs and thus provide the first experimental evidence to suggest the orientation of a TMD in this receptor. Consistent with this, we identified two residues in TMD7 (Ser288 and Ser292) that are potential contact residues for Gln253 because mutations affecting these residues also cause constitutive activity. Altogether, these results identify a new domain of the α-factor receptor that regulates its ability to enter the activated conformation.

The metabolism of neuropeptides. Hydrolysis of peptides by the phosphoramidon-insensitive rat kidney enzyme ‘endopeptidase-2’ and by rat microvillar membranes

Endopeptidase-2, the second endopeptidase in rat kidney brush border [Kenny & Ingram (1987) Biochem. J. 245, 515-524] has been further characterized in regard to its specificity and its contribution to the hydrolysis of peptides by microvillar membrane preparations. The peptide products were identified, after incubating luliberin, substance P, bradykinin and angiotensins I, II and III with the purified enzyme. The bonds hydrolysed were those involving a hydrophobic amino acid residue, but this residue could be located at either the P1 or P1′ site. Luliberin was hydrolysed faster than other peptides tested, followed by substance P and bradykinin. Human alpha-atrial natriuretic peptide and the angiotensins were only slowly attacked. Oxytocin and [Arg8]vasopressin were not hydrolysed. No peptide fragments were detected on prolonged incubation with insulin, cytochrome c, ovalbumin and serum albumin. In comparison with pig endopeptidase-24.11 the rates for the susceptible peptides were, with the exception of luliberin, much lower for endopeptidase-2. Indeed, for bradykinin and substance P the ratio kcat./Km was two orders of magnitude lower. Since both endopeptidases are present in rat kidney microvilli, an assessment was made of the relative contributions to the hydrolysis of luliberin, bradykinin and substance P. Only for the first named was endopeptidase-2 the dominant enzyme; for bradykinin it made an equal, and for substance P a minor, contribution.