Nucleotide binding affinities of the intact proton-translocating transhydrogenase from Escherichia coli

Evolution-assisted engineering of E. coli enables growth on formic acid at ambient CO2 via the Serine Threonine Cycle

Atmospheric CO2 poses a major threat to life on Earth by causing global warming and climate change. On the other hand, it can be considered as a resource that is scalable enough to establish a circular carbon economy. Accordingly, technologies to capture and convert CO2 into reduced one-carbon (C1) compounds (e.g. formic acid) are developing and improving fast. Driven by the idea of creating sustainable bioproduction platforms, natural and synthetic C1-utilization pathways are engineered into industrially relevant microbes. The realization of synthetic C1-assimilation cycles in living organisms is a promising but challenging endeavour. Here, we engineer the Serine Threonine Cycle, a synthetic C1-assimilation cycle in Escherichia coli to achieve growth on formic acid. Our stepwise engineering approach in tailored selection strains combined with adaptive laboratory evolution experiments enabled formatotrophic growth of the organism. Whole genome sequencing and reverse engineering allowed us to determine the key mutations linked to pathway activity. The Serine Threonine Cycle strains created in this work use formic acid as sole carbon and energy source and can grow at ambient CO2 cultivation conditions. This work sets an example for the engineering of complex C1-assimilation cycles in heterotrophic microbes.

Engineering a synthetic energy-efficient formaldehyde assimilation cycle in Escherichia coli

One-carbon (C1) substrates, such as methanol or formate, are attractive feedstocks for circular bioeconomy. These substrates are typically converted into formaldehyde, serving as the entry point into metabolism. Here, we design an erythrulose monophosphate (EuMP) cycle for formaldehyde assimilation, leveraging a promiscuous dihydroxyacetone phosphate dependent aldolase as key enzyme. In silico modeling reveals that the cycle is highly energy-efficient, holding the potential for high bioproduct yields. Dissecting the EuMP into four modules, we use a stepwise strategy to demonstrate in vivo feasibility of the modules in E. coli sensor strains with sarcosine as formaldehyde source. From adaptive laboratory evolution for module integration, we identify key mutations enabling the accommodation of the EuMP reactions with endogenous metabolism. Overall, our study demonstrates the proof-of-concept for a highly efficient, new-to-nature formaldehyde assimilation pathway, opening a way for the development of a methylotrophic platform for a C1-fueled bioeconomy in the future.

Engineering a new-to-nature cascade for phosphate-dependent formate to formaldehyde conversion in vitro and in vivo

Formate can be envisioned at the core of a carbon-neutral bioeconomy, where it is produced from CO₂ by (electro-)chemical means and converted into value-added products by enzymatic cascades or engineered microbes. A key step in expanding synthetic formate assimilation is its thermodynamically challenging reduction to formaldehyde. Here, we develop a two-enzyme route in which formate is activated to formyl phosphate and subsequently reduced to formaldehyde. Exploiting the promiscuity of acetate kinase and N-acetyl-γ-glutamyl phosphate reductase, we demonstrate this phosphate (P_i)-based route in vitro and in vivo. We further engineer a formyl phosphate reductase variant with improved formyl phosphate conversion in vivo by suppressing cross-talk with native metabolism and interface the P_i route with a recently developed formaldehyde assimilation pathway to enable C2 compound formation from formate as the sole carbon source in Escherichia coli. The P_i route therefore offers a potent tool in expanding the landscape of synthetic formate assimilation.

Ligand binding and conformational dynamics of the E. coli nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase revealed by hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry

Nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenases are integral membrane proteins that utilizes the proton motive force to reduce NADP⁺ to NADPH while converting NADH to NAD⁺. Atomic structures of various transhydrogenases in different ligand-bound states have become available, and it is clear that the molecular mechanism involves major conformational changes. Here we utilized hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) to map ligand binding sites and analyzed the structural dynamics of E. coli transhydrogenase. We found different allosteric effects on the protein depending on the bound ligand (NAD⁺, NADH, NADP⁺, NADPH). The binding of either NADP⁺ or NADPH to domain III had pronounced effects on the transmembrane helices comprising the proton-conducting channel in domain II. We also made use of cyclic ion mobility separation mass spectrometry (cyclic IMS-MS) to maximize coverage and sensitivity in the transmembrane domain, showing for the first time that this technique can be used for HDX-MS studies. Using cyclic IMS-MS, we increased sequence coverage from 68 % to 73 % in the transmembrane segments. Taken together, our results provide important new insights into the transhydrogenase reaction cycle and demonstrate the benefit of this new technique for HDX-MS to study ligand binding and conformational dynamics in membrane proteins.

Awakening a latent carbon fixation cycle in Escherichia coli

Carbon fixation is one of the most important biochemical processes. Most natural carbon fixation pathways are thought to have emerged from enzymes that originally performed other metabolic tasks. Can we recreate the emergence of a carbon fixation pathway in a heterotrophic host by recruiting only endogenous enzymes? In this study, we address this question by systematically analyzing possible carbon fixation pathways composed only of Escherichia coli native enzymes. We identify the GED (Gnd-Entner-Doudoroff) cycle as the simplest pathway that can operate with high thermodynamic driving force. This autocatalytic route is based on reductive carboxylation of ribulose 5-phosphate (Ru5P) by 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (Gnd), followed by reactions of the Entner-Doudoroff pathway, gluconeogenesis, and the pentose phosphate pathway. We demonstrate the in vivo feasibility of this new-to-nature pathway by constructing E. coli gene deletion strains whose growth on pentose sugars depends on the GED shunt, a linear variant of the GED cycle which does not require the regeneration of Ru5P. Several metabolic adaptations, most importantly the increased production of NADPH, assist in establishing sufficiently high flux to sustain this growth. Our study exemplifies a trajectory for the emergence of carbon fixation in a heterotrophic organism and demonstrates a synthetic pathway of biotechnological interest.

An "energy-auxotroph" Escherichia coli provides an in vivo platform for assessing NADH regeneration systems

An efficient in vivo regeneration of the primary cellular resources NADH and ATP is vital for optimizing the production of value-added chemicals and enabling the activity of synthetic pathways. Currently, such regeneration routes are tested and characterized mainly in vitro before being introduced into the cell. However, in vitro measurements could be misleading as they do not reflect enzyme activity under physiological conditions. Here, we construct an in vivo platform to test and compare NADH regeneration systems. By deleting dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase in Escherichia coli, we abolish the activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase and 2-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase. When cultivated on acetate, the resulting strain is auxotrophic to NADH and ATP: acetate can be assimilated via the glyoxylate shunt but cannot be oxidized to provide the cell with reducing power and energy. This strain can, therefore, serve to select for and test different NADH regeneration routes. We exemplify this by comparing several NAD-dependent formate dehydrogenases and methanol dehydrogenases. We identify the most efficient enzyme variants under in vivo conditions and pinpoint optimal feedstock concentrations that maximize NADH biosynthesis while avoiding cellular toxicity. Our strain thus provides a useful platform for comparing and optimizing enzymatic systems for cofactor regeneration under physiological conditions.

An optimized methanol assimilation pathway relying on promiscuous formaldehyde-condensing aldolases in E. coli

Engineering biotechnological microorganisms to use methanol as a feedstock for bioproduction is a major goal for the synthetic metabolism community. Here, we aim to redesign the natural serine cycle for implementation in E. coli. We propose the homoserine cycle, relying on two promiscuous formaldehyde aldolase reactions, as a superior pathway design. The homoserine cycle is expected to outperform the serine cycle and its variants with respect to biomass yield, thermodynamic favorability, and integration with host endogenous metabolism. Even as compared to the RuMP cycle, the most efficient naturally occurring methanol assimilation route, the homoserine cycle is expected to support higher yields of a wide array of products. We test the in vivo feasibility of the homoserine cycle by constructing several E. coli gene deletion strains whose growth is coupled to the activity of different pathway segments. Using this approach, we demonstrate that all required promiscuous enzymes are active enough to enable growth of the auxotrophic strains. Our findings thus identify a novel metabolic solution that opens the way to an optimized methylotrophic platform.

Structure and mechanism of mitochondrial proton-translocating transhydrogenase

Proton-translocating transhydrogenase (also known as nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (NNT)) is found in the plasma membranes of bacteria and the inner mitochondrial membranes of eukaryotes. NNT catalyses the transfer of a hydride between NADH and NADP⁺, coupled to the translocation of one proton across the membrane. Its main physiological function is the generation of NADPH, which is a substrate in anabolic reactions and a regulator of oxidative status; however, NNT may also fine-tune the Krebs cycle^1,2. NNT deficiency causes familial glucocorticoid deficiency in humans and metabolic abnormalities in mice, similar to those observed in type II diabetes^3,4. The catalytic mechanism of NNT has been proposed to involve a rotation of around 180° of the entire NADP(H)-binding domain that alternately participates in hydride transfer and proton-channel gating. However, owing to the lack of high-resolution structures of intact NNT, the details of this process remain unclear^5,6. Here we present the cryo-electron microscopy structure of intact mammalian NNT in different conformational states. We show how the NADP(H)-binding domain opens the proton channel to the opposite sides of the membrane, and we provide structures of these two states. We also describe the catalytically important interfaces and linkers between the membrane and the soluble domains and their roles in nucleotide exchange. These structures enable us to propose a revised mechanism for a coupling process in NNT that is consistent with a large body of previous biochemical work. Our results are relevant to the development of currently unavailable NNT inhibitors, which may have therapeutic potential in ischaemia reperfusion injury, metabolic syndrome and some cancers^7-9.

Proton-Translocating Nicotinamide Nucleotide Transhydrogenase: A Structural Perspective

Nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (TH) is an enzyme complex in animal mitochondria and bacteria that utilizes the electrochemical proton gradient across membranes to drive the production of NADPH. The enzyme plays an important role in maintaining the redox balance of cells with implications in aging and a number of human diseases. TH exists as a homodimer with each protomer containing a proton-translocating transmembrane domain and two soluble nucleotide binding domains that mediate hydride transfer between NAD(H) and NADP(H). The three-domain architecture of TH is conserved across species but polypeptide composition differs substantially. The complex domain coupling mechanism of TH is not fully understood despite extensive biochemical and structural characterizations. Herein the progress is reviewed, focusing mainly on structural findings from 3D crystallization of isolated soluble domains and more recently of the transmembrane domain and the holo-enzyme from Thermus thermophilus. A structural perspective and impeding challenges in further elucidating the mechanism of TH are discussed.

Structural biology. Division of labor in transhydrogenase by alternating proton translocation and hydride transfer

NADPH/NADP(+) (the reduced form of NADP(+)/nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate) homeostasis is critical for countering oxidative stress in cells. Nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (TH), a membrane enzyme present in both bacteria and mitochondria, couples the proton motive force to the generation of NADPH. We present the 2.8 Å crystal structure of the transmembrane proton channel domain of TH from Thermus thermophilus and the 6.9 Å crystal structure of the entire enzyme (holo-TH). The membrane domain crystallized as a symmetric dimer, with each protomer containing a putative proton channel. The holo-TH is a highly asymmetric dimer with the NADP(H)-binding domain (dIII) in two different orientations. This unusual arrangement suggests a catalytic mechanism in which the two copies of dIII alternatively function in proton translocation and hydride transfer.

Isothermal titration calorimetry of membrane proteins - progress and challenges

Integral membrane proteins, including G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) and ion channels, mediate diverse biological functions that are crucial to all aspects of life. The knowledge of the molecular mechanisms, and in particular, the thermodynamic basis of the binding interactions of the extracellular ligands and intracellular effector proteins is essential to understand the workings of these remarkable nanomachines. In this review, we describe how isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) can be effectively used to gain valuable insights into the thermodynamic signatures (enthalpy, entropy, affinity, and stoichiometry), which would be most useful for drug discovery studies, considering that more than 30% of the current drugs target membrane proteins. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Structural and biophysical characterisation of membrane protein-ligand binding.

A review of the binding-change mechanism for proton-translocating transhydrogenase

Proton-translocating transhydrogenase is found in the inner membranes of animal mitochondria, and in the cytoplasmic membranes of many bacteria. It catalyses hydride transfer from NADH to NADP(+) coupled to inward proton translocation. Evidence is reviewed suggesting the enzyme operates by a "binding-change" mechanism. Experiments with Escherichia coli transhydrogenase indicate the enzyme is driven between "open" and "occluded" states by protonation and deprotonation reactions associated with proton translocation. In the open states NADP(+)/NADPH can rapidly associate with, or dissociate from, the enzyme, and hydride transfer is prevented. In the occluded states bound NADP(+)/NADPH cannot dissociate, and hydride transfer is allowed. Crystal structures of a complex of the nucleotide-binding components of Rhodospirillum rubrum transhydrogenase show how hydride transfer is enabled and disabled at appropriate steps in catalysis, and how release of NADP(+)/NADPH is restricted in the occluded state. Thermodynamic and kinetic studies indicate that the equilibrium constant for hydride transfer on the enzyme is elevated as a consequence of the tight binding of NADPH relative to NADP(+). The protonation site in the translocation pathway must face the outside if NADP(+) is bound, the inside if NADPH is bound. Chemical shift changes detected by NMR may show where alterations in protein conformation resulting from NADP(+) reduction are initiated. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: 17th European Bioenergetics Conference (EBEC 2012).

Inhibition of proton-transfer steps in transhydrogenase by transition metal ions

Transhydrogenase couples proton translocation across a bacterial or mitochondrial membrane to the redox reaction between NAD(H) and NADP(H). Purified intact transhydrogenase from Escherichia coli was prepared, and its His tag removed. The forward and reverse transhydrogenation reactions catalysed by the enzyme were inhibited by certain metal ions but a "cyclic reaction" was stimulated. Of metal ions tested they were effective in the order Pb(2+)>Cu(2+)>Zn(2+)=Cd(2+)>Ni(2+)>Co(2+). The results suggest that the metal ions affect transhydrogenase by binding to a site in the proton-transfer pathway. Attenuated total-reflectance Fourier-transform infrared difference spectroscopy indicated the involvement of His and Asp/Glu residues in the Zn(2+)-binding site(s). A mutant in which betaHis91 in the membrane-spanning domain of transhydrogenase was replaced by Lys had enzyme activities resembling those of wild-type enzyme treated with Zn(2+). Effects of the metal ion on the mutant were much diminished but still evident. Signals in Zn(2+)-induced FTIR difference spectra of the betaHis91Lys mutant were also attributable to changes in His and Asp/Glu residues but were much smaller than those in wild-type spectra. The results support the view that betaHis91 and nearby Asp or Glu residues participate in the proton-transfer pathway of transhydrogenase.