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BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... May 2024In a continuing effort to understand reaction mechanisms of terpene synthases catalyzing initial anti-Markovnikov cyclization reactions, we solved the X-ray crystal...
In a continuing effort to understand reaction mechanisms of terpene synthases catalyzing initial anti-Markovnikov cyclization reactions, we solved the X-ray crystal structure of (+)-caryolan-1-ol synthase (CS) from , with and without an inactive analog of the FPP substrate, 2-fluorofarnesyl diphosphate (2FFPP), bound in the active site of the enzyme. The CS-2FFPP complex was solved to 2.65 Å resolution and showed the ligand in a linear, elongated orientation, incapable of undergoing the initial cyclization event to form a bond between carbons C1 and C11. Intriguingly, the apo CS structure (2.2 Å) also had electron density in the active site, in this case density that was well fit with a curled-up tetraethylene glycol molecule presumably recruited from the crystallization medium. The density was also well fit by a molecule of farnesene suggesting that the structure may mimic an intermediate along the reaction coordinate. The curled-up conformation of tetraethylene glycol was accompanied by dramatic rotamer shifts among active-site residues. Most notably, W56 was observed to undergo a 90° rotation between the 2FFPP complex and apo-enzyme structures, suggesting that it contributes to steric interactions that help curl the tetraethylene glycol molecule in the active site, and by extension perhaps also a derivative of the FPP substrate in the normal course of the cyclization reaction. In support of this proposal, the CS W56L variant lost the ability to cyclize the FPP substrate and produced only the linear terpene products farnesol and α- and β-farnesene.
PubMed: 38746203
DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.04.592530 -
International Journal of Molecular... Mar 2024Enzymes reliant on pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), the metabolically active form of vitamin B, hold significant importance in both biology and medicine. They facilitate... (Review)
Review
Enzymes reliant on pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), the metabolically active form of vitamin B, hold significant importance in both biology and medicine. They facilitate various biochemical reactions, particularly in amino acid and neurotransmitter metabolisms. Vitamin B is absorbed by organisms in its non-phosphorylated form and phosphorylated within cells via pyridoxal kinase (PLK) and pyridox-(am)-ine 5'-phosphate oxidase (PNPOx). The flavin mononucleotide-dependent PNPOx enzyme converts pyridoxine 5'-phosphate and pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate into PLP. PNPOx is vital for both biosynthesis and salvage pathways in organisms producing B vitamers. However, for those depending on vitamin B as a nutrient, PNPOx participates only in the salvage pathway. Transferring the PLP produced via PNPOx to client apo-enzymes is indispensable for their catalytic function, proper folding and targeting of specific organelles. PNPOx activity deficiencies due to inborn errors lead to severe neurological pathologies, particularly neonatal epileptic encephalopathy. PNPOx maintains PLP homeostasis through highly regulated mechanisms, including structural alterations throughout the catalytic cycle and allosteric PLP binding, influencing substrate transformation at the active site. Elucidation at the molecular level of the mechanisms underlying PNPOx activity deficiencies is a requirement to develop personalized approaches to treat related disorders. Finally, despite shared features, the few PNPOx enzymes molecularly and functionally studied show species-specific regulatory properties that open the possibility of targeting it in pathogenic organisms.
Topics: Humans; Infant, Newborn; Oxidoreductases; Phosphates; Pyridoxaminephosphate Oxidase; Pyridoxal Phosphate; Vitamin B 6; Pyridoxine; Metabolic Diseases; Vitamins
PubMed: 38542149
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25063174 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2024Monkeypox or mpox virus (mpox) is a double-stranded DNA virus that poses a significant threat to global public health security. The F3 protein, encoded by mpox, is an...
BACKGROUND
Monkeypox or mpox virus (mpox) is a double-stranded DNA virus that poses a significant threat to global public health security. The F3 protein, encoded by mpox, is an apoenzyme believed to possess a double-stranded RNA-binding domain (dsRBD). However, limited research has been conducted on its function. In this study, we present data on the transcriptomics and proteomics of F3L-transfected HEK293T cells, aiming to enhance our comprehension of F3L.
METHODS
The gene expression profiles of pCAGGS-HA-F3L transfected HEK293T cells were analyzed using RNA-seq. Proteomics was used to identify and study proteins that interact with F3L. Real-time PCR was used to detect mRNA levels of several differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in HEK293T cells (or Vero cells) after the expression of F3 protein.
RESULTS
A total of 14,822 genes were obtained in cells by RNA-Seq and 1,672 DEGs were identified, including 1,156 up-regulated genes and 516 down-regulated genes. A total of 27 cellular proteins interacting with F3 proteins were identified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and 19 cellular proteins with large differences in abundance ratios were considered to be candidate cellular proteins. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses showed that the DEGs were significantly enriched in immune-related pathways, including type I interferon signaling pathway, response to virus, RIG-I-like receptor signaling pathway, NOD-like receptor signaling pathway, etc. Moreover, some selected DEGs were further confirmed by real-time PCR and the results were consistent with the transcriptome data. Proteomics data show that cellular proteins interacting with F3 proteins are mainly related to RNA splicing and protein translation.
CONCLUSIONS
Our analysis of transcriptomic and proteomic data showed that (1) F3L up-regulates the transcript levels of key genes in the innate immune signaling pathway, such as , and elicits a broad spectrum of antiviral immune responses in the host. F3L also increases the expression of the FOS and JNK genes while decreasing the expression of TNFR2, these factors may ultimately induce apoptosis. (2) F3 protein interacts with host proteins involved in RNA splicing and protein translation, such as SNRNP70, POLR2H, HNRNPA1, DDX17, etc. The findings of this study shed light on the function of the F3 protein.
Topics: Animals; Chlorocebus aethiops; Humans; Transcriptome; Monkeypox virus; Vero Cells; Chromatography, Liquid; HEK293 Cells; Mpox (monkeypox); Proteomics; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Gene Expression Profiling; Ribonucleoprotein, U1 Small Nuclear
PubMed: 38415010
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1354410 -
Proceedings of the National Academy of... Jan 2024The emergence of an RNA replicase capable of self-replication is considered an important stage in the origin of life. RNA polymerase ribozymes (PR) - including a variant...
The emergence of an RNA replicase capable of self-replication is considered an important stage in the origin of life. RNA polymerase ribozymes (PR) - including a variant that uses trinucleotide triphosphates (triplets) as substrates - have been created by in vitro evolution and are the closest functional analogues of the replicase, but the structural basis for their function is poorly understood. Here we use single-particle cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and high-throughput mutation analysis to obtain the structure of a triplet polymerase ribozyme (TPR) apoenzyme and map its functional landscape. The cryo-EM structure at 5-Å resolution reveals the TPR as an RNA heterodimer comprising a catalytic subunit and a noncatalytic, auxiliary subunit, resembling the shape of a left hand with thumb and fingers at a 70° angle. The two subunits are connected by two distinct kissing-loop (KL) interactions that are essential for polymerase function. Our combined structural and functional data suggest a model for templated RNA synthesis by the TPR holoenzyme, whereby heterodimer formation and KL interactions preorganize the TPR for optimal primer-template duplex binding, triplet substrate discrimination, and templated RNA synthesis. These results provide a better understanding of TPR structure and function and should aid the engineering of more efficient PRs.
Topics: RNA, Catalytic; Cryoelectron Microscopy; RNA; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases; RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase
PubMed: 38207080
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2313332121 -
Nature Communications Oct 2023Cobalamin-dependent methionine synthase (MS) is a key enzyme in methionine and folate one-carbon metabolism. MS is a large multi-domain protein capable of binding and...
Cobalamin-dependent methionine synthase (MS) is a key enzyme in methionine and folate one-carbon metabolism. MS is a large multi-domain protein capable of binding and activating three substrates: homocysteine, folate, and S-adenosylmethionine for methylation. Achieving three chemically distinct methylations necessitates significant domain rearrangements to facilitate substrate access to the cobalamin cofactor at the right time. The distinct conformations required for each reaction have eluded structural characterization as its inherently dynamic nature renders structural studies difficult. Here, we use a thermophilic MS homolog (tMS) as a functional MS model. Its exceptional stability enabled characterization of MS in the absence of cobalamin, marking the only studies of a cobalamin-binding protein in its apoenzyme state. More importantly, we report the high-resolution full-length MS structure, ending a multi-decade quest. We also capture cobalamin loading in crystallo, providing structural insights into holoenzyme formation. Our work paves the way for unraveling how MS orchestrates large-scale domain rearrangements crucial for achieving challenging chemistries.
Topics: 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate-Homocysteine S-Methyltransferase; Methionine; S-Adenosylmethionine; Folic Acid; Vitamin B 12
PubMed: 37821448
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42037-4 -
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... Sep 2023Allosteric cooperativity between ATP and substrates is a prominent characteristic of the cAMP-dependent catalytic (C) subunit of protein kinase A (PKA). Not only this...
Allosteric cooperativity between ATP and substrates is a prominent characteristic of the cAMP-dependent catalytic (C) subunit of protein kinase A (PKA). Not only this long-range synergistic action is involved in substrate recognition and fidelity, but it is likely to regulate PKA association with regulatory subunits and other binding partners. To date, a complete understanding of the molecular determinants for this intramolecular mechanism is still lacking. Here, we used an integrated NMR-restrained molecular dynamics simulations and a Markov Model to characterize the free energy landscape and conformational transitions of the catalytic subunit of protein kinase A (PKA-C). We found that the apo-enzyme populates a broad free energy basin featuring a conformational ensemble of the active state of PKA-C (ground state) and other basins with lower populations (excited states). The first excited state corresponds to a previously characterized inactive state of PKA-C with the αC helix swinging outward. The second excited state displays a disrupted hydrophobic packing around the regulatory (R) spine, with a flipped configuration of the F100 and F102 residues at the tip of the αC-β4 loop. To experimentally validate the second excited state, we mutated F100 into alanine and used NMR spectroscopy to characterize the binding thermodynamics and structural response of ATP and a prototypical peptide substrate. While the activity of PKA-C toward a prototypical peptide substrate is unaltered and the enzyme retains its affinity for ATP and substrate, this mutation rearranges the αC-β4 loop conformation interrupting the allosteric coupling between nucleotide and substrate. The highly conserved αC-β4 loop emerges as a pivotal element able to modulate the synergistic binding between nucleotide and substrate and may affect PKA signalosome. These results may explain how insertion mutations within this motif affect drug sensitivity in other homologous kinases.
PubMed: 37745542
DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.12.557419 -
The Journal of Biological Chemistry Sep 2023The ESKAPE bacteria are the six highly virulent and antibiotic-resistant pathogens that require the most urgent attention for the development of novel antibiotics....
The ESKAPE bacteria are the six highly virulent and antibiotic-resistant pathogens that require the most urgent attention for the development of novel antibiotics. Detailed knowledge of target proteins specific to bacteria is essential to develop novel treatment options. The methylerythritol-phosphate (MEP) pathway, which is absent in humans, represents a potentially valuable target for the development of novel antibiotics. Within the MEP pathway, the enzyme 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase (DXPS) catalyzes a crucial, rate-limiting first step and a branch point in the biosynthesis of the vitamins B1 and B6. We report the high-resolution crystal structures of DXPS from the important ESKAPE pathogens Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae in both the co-factor-bound and the apo forms. We demonstrate that the absence of the cofactor thiamine diphosphate results in conformational changes that lead to disordered loops close to the active site that might be important for the design of potent DXPS inhibitors. Collectively, our results provide important structural details that aid in the assessment of DXPS as a potential target in the ongoing efforts to combat antibiotic resistance.
Topics: Humans; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Transferases; Protein Conformation; Coenzymes; Vitamin B 6; Thiamine; Apoenzymes; Thiamine Pyrophosphate; Catalytic Domain; Drug Resistance, Bacterial
PubMed: 37567475
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105152 -
Acta Crystallographica. Section D,... Aug 2023Candida auris has emerged as a global health problem with a dramatic spread by nosocomial transmission and a high mortality rate. Antifungal therapy for C. auris...
Candida auris has emerged as a global health problem with a dramatic spread by nosocomial transmission and a high mortality rate. Antifungal therapy for C. auris infections is currently limited due to widespread resistance to fluconazole and amphotericin B and increasing resistance to the front-line drug echinocandin. Therefore, new treatments are urgently required to combat this pathogen. Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) has been validated as a potential drug target for Candida species, although no structure of the C. auris enzyme (CauDHFR) has been reported. Here, crystal structures of CauDHFR are reported as an apoenzyme, as a holoenzyme and in two ternary complexes with pyrimethamine and cycloguanil, which are common antifolates, at near-atomic resolution. Preliminary biochemical and biophysical assays and antifungal susceptibility testing with a variety of classical antifolates were also performed, highlighting the enzyme-inhibition rates and the inhibition of yeast growth. These structural and functional data might provide the basis for a novel drug-discovery campaign against this global threat.
Topics: Humans; Antifungal Agents; Candida auris; Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase; Folic Acid Antagonists; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Candidiasis, Invasive; Saccharomyces cerevisiae
PubMed: 37428844
DOI: 10.1107/S2059798323004709 -
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy Jul 2023KPC-2 is one of the most relevant serine-carbapenemases among the carbapenem-resistant We previously isolated from the environmental species Chromobacterium...
KPC-2 is one of the most relevant serine-carbapenemases among the carbapenem-resistant We previously isolated from the environmental species Chromobacterium haemolyticum a class A CRH-1 β-lactamase displaying 69% amino acid sequence identity with KPC-2. The objective of this study was to analyze the kinetic behavior and crystallographic structure of this β-lactamase. Our results showed that CRH-1 can hydrolyze penicillins, cephalosporins (except ceftazidime), and carbapenems with similar efficacy compared to KPC-2. Inhibition kinetics showed that CRH-1 is not well inhibited by clavulanic acid, in contrast to efficient inhibition by avibactam (AVI). The high-resolution crystal of the apoenzyme showed that CRH-1 has a similar folding compared to other class A β-lactamases. The CRH-1/AVI complex showed that AVI adopts a chair conformation, stabilized by hydrogen bonds to Ser70, Ser237, Asn132, and Thr235. Our findings highlight the biochemical and structural similarities of CRH-1 and KPC-2 and the potential clinical impact of this carbapenemase in the event of recruitment by pathogenic bacterial species.
Topics: Escherichia coli; Bacterial Proteins; beta-Lactamases; Ceftazidime; Carbapenems; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Azabicyclo Compounds; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Drug Combinations
PubMed: 37272821
DOI: 10.1128/aac.00061-23 -
The Journal of Biological Chemistry May 2023CTX-M β-lactamases are a widespread source of resistance to β-lactam antibiotics in Gram-negative bacteria. These enzymes readily hydrolyze penicillins and...
CTX-M β-lactamases are a widespread source of resistance to β-lactam antibiotics in Gram-negative bacteria. These enzymes readily hydrolyze penicillins and cephalosporins, including oxyimino-cephalosporins such as cefotaxime. To investigate the preference of CTX-M enzymes for cephalosporins, we examined eleven active-site residues in the CTX-M-14 β-lactamase model system by alanine mutagenesis to assess the contribution of the residues to catalysis and specificity for the hydrolysis of the penicillin, ampicillin, and the cephalosporins cephalothin and cefotaxime. Key active site residues for class A β-lactamases, including Lys73, Ser130, Asn132, Lys234, Thr216, and Thr235, contribute significantly to substrate binding and catalysis of penicillin and cephalosporin substrates in that alanine substitutions decrease both k and k/K. A second group of residues, including Asn104, Tyr105, Asn106, Thr215, and Thr216, contribute only to substrate binding, with the substitutions decreasing only k/K. Importantly, calculating the average effect of a substitution across the 11 active-site residues shows that the most significant impact is on cefotaxime hydrolysis while ampicillin hydrolysis is least affected, suggesting the active site is highly optimized for cefotaxime catalysis. Furthermore, we determined X-ray crystal structures for the apo-enzymes of the mutants N106A, S130A, N132A, N170A, T215A, and T235A. Surprisingly, in the structures of some mutants, particularly N106A and T235A, the changes in structure propagate from the site of substitution to other regions of the active site, suggesting that the impact of substitutions is due to more widespread changes in structure and illustrating the interconnected nature of the active site.
Topics: Ampicillin; beta-Lactamases; Catalysis; Catalytic Domain; Cefotaxime; Cephalosporins; Drug Resistance; Escherichia coli; Mutagenesis; Penicillins; beta-Lactams; Models, Molecular; Protein Structure, Tertiary
PubMed: 36963495
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104630