Molecular characterization of the non-biotin-containing subunit of 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase

Structural insight into synergistic activation of human 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase

The enzymes 3-methylcrotonyl-coenzyme A (CoA) carboxylase (MCC), pyruvate carboxylase and propionyl-CoA carboxylase belong to the biotin-dependent carboxylase family located in mitochondria. They participate in various metabolic pathways in human such as amino acid metabolism and tricarboxylic acid cycle. Many human diseases are caused by mutations in those enzymes but their structures have not been fully resolved so far. Here we report an optimized purification strategy to obtain high-resolution structures of intact human endogenous MCC, propionyl-CoA carboxylase and pyruvate carboxylase in different conformational states. We also determine the structures of MCC bound to different substrates. Analysis of MCC structures in different states reveals the mechanism of the substrate-induced, multi-element synergistic activation of MCC. These results provide important insights into the catalytic mechanism of the biotin-dependent carboxylase family and are of great value for the development of new drugs for the treatment of related diseases.

Role of biotin carboxyl carrier protein subunit 2 (BCCP2) in resistance to multiple stresses in Arabidopsis thaliana

Abiotic stresses, including drought, salinity, and temperature extremes, are serious constraints to plant growth and agricultural development. These stresses that plants face in nature are often multiple and complex. Biotin carboxyl carrier protein subunit 2 (BCCP2) is one of the two subunits of biotin carboxyl carrier protein, which is a functional subunit of acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase, primarily studied for its role in fatty acid synthesis. In this study, we identified the expression pattern of AtBCCP2 under various stress conditions, including 4 mM NaHCO₃, 2 mM Na₂CO₃, 150 mM NaCl, 300 mM D-mannitol, 100 μM ABA, 5 mM H₂O₂, 4 °C, and 37 °C. It was determined that AtBCCP2 is positively regulated by NaHCO₃, Na₂CO₃, NaCl, and ABA, but negatively regulated by D-mannitol. Phenotypic experiment confirmed that the AtBCCP2 transgenic overexpression plants exhibited increased resistance to NaHCO₃, Na₂CO₃, NaCl, and ABA stresses, but more sensitive to drought stress simulated by D-mannitol. In contrast, mutant plants showed the opposite phenotypes. Additionally, AtBCCP2 transgenic overexpression plants demonstrated stronger antioxidant activity and lower MDA content under stresses such as NaHCO₃, Na₂CO₃, NaCl, and ABA, in contrast to the mutant plants. In response to D-mannitol simulated drought stress, AtBCCP2 transgenic overexpression plants showed lower antioxidant activity and higher MDA content, while mutant plants exhibited the opposite trend. In conclusion, this study provides a theoretical basis for understanding the role of AtBCCP2 in response to multiple stresses and contributes a new gene to the pool of those involved in abiotic stress responses.

The Effects of Carbon Source and Growth Temperature on the Fatty Acid Profiles of Thermobifida fusca

The aerobic, thermophilic Actinobacterium, Thermobifida fusca has been proposed as an organism to be used for the efficient conversion of plant biomass to fatty acid-derived precursors of biofuels or biorenewable chemicals. Despite the potential of T. fusca to catabolize plant biomass, there is remarkably little data available concerning the natural ability of this organism to produce fatty acids. Therefore, we determined the fatty acids that T. fusca produces when it is grown on different carbon sources (i.e., glucose, cellobiose, cellulose and avicel) and at two different growth temperatures, namely at the optimal growth temperature of 50°C and at a suboptimal temperature of 37°C. These analyses establish that T. fusca produces a combination of linear and branched chain fatty acids (BCFAs), including iso-, anteiso-, and 10-methyl BCFAs that range between 14- and 18-carbons in length. Although different carbon sources and growth temperatures both quantitatively and qualitatively affect the fatty acid profiles produced by T. fusca, growth temperature is the greater modifier of these traits. Additionally, genome scanning enabled the identification of many of the fatty acid biosynthetic genes encoded by T. fusca.

Biotinylated subunit of 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase encoding gene (AtMCCA) participating in Arabidopsis resistance to carbonate Stress by transcriptome analysis

Soil salinization is a major factor impacting modern agricultural production, and alkaline soils contain large amounts of NaHCO₃. Therefore, understanding plant tolerance to high levels of NaHCO₃ is essential. In this study, a transcriptome analysis of shoot and root tissues of wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana was conducted at 0, 4, 12, 24 and 48 h after exposure to a 3 mM NaHCO₃ stress. We focused on differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in roots identified in the early stages (4 h and 12 h) of the NaHCO₃ stress response that were enriched in GO term, carboxylic acid metabolic process, and utilize HCO₃^-. Six genes were identified that exhibited similar expression patterns in both the RNA-seq and qRT-PCR data. We also characterized the phenotypic response of AtMCCA-overexpressing plants to carbonate stress, and found that the ability of AtMCCA-overexpressing plants to tolerate carbonate stress was enhanced by the addition of biotin to the growth medium.

Genetic dissection of methylcrotonyl CoA carboxylase indicates a complex role for mitochondrial leucine catabolism during seed development and germination

3-methylcrotonyl CoA carboxylase (MCCase) is a nuclear-encoded, mitochondrial-localized biotin-containing enzyme. The reaction catalyzed by this enzyme is required for leucine (Leu) catabolism, and it may also play a role in the catabolism of isoprenoids and the mevalonate shunt. In Arabidopsis, two MCCase subunits (the biotinylated MCCA subunit and the non-biotinylated MCCB subunit) are each encoded by single genes (At1g03090 and At4g34030, respectively). A reverse genetic approach was used to assess the physiological role of MCCase in plants. We recovered and characterized T-DNA and transposon-tagged knockout alleles of the MCCA and MCCB genes. Metabolite profiling studies indicate that mutations in either MCCA or MCCB block mitochondrial Leu catabolism, as inferred from the increased accumulation of Leu. Under light deprivation conditions, the hyper-accumulation of Leu, 3-methylcrotonyl CoA and isovaleryl CoA indicates that mitochondrial and peroxisomal Leu catabolism pathways are independently regulated. This biochemical block in mitochondrial Leu catabolism is associated with an impaired reproductive growth phenotype, which includes aberrant flower and silique development and decreased seed germination. The decreased seed germination phenotype is only observed for homozygous mutant seeds collected from a parent plant that is itself homozygous, but not from a parent plant that is heterozygous. These characterizations may shed light on the role of catabolic processes in growth and development, an area of plant biology that is poorly understood.

Reverse-genetic analysis of the two biotin-containing subunit genes of the heteromeric acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase in Arabidopsis indicates a unidirectional functional redundancy

The heteromeric acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase catalyzes the first and committed reaction of de novo fatty acid biosynthesis in plastids. This enzyme is composed of four subunits: biotin carboxyl-carrier protein (BCCP), biotin carboxylase, α-carboxyltransferase, and β-carboxyltransferase. With the exception of BCCP, single-copy genes encode these subunits in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Reverse-genetic approaches were used to individually investigate the physiological significance of the two paralogous BCCP-coding genes, CAC1A (At5g16390, codes for BCCP1) and CAC1B (At5g15530, codes for BCCP2). Transfer DNA insertional alleles that completely eliminate the accumulation of BCCP2 have no perceptible effect on plant growth, development, and fatty acid accumulation. In contrast, transfer DNA insertional null allele of the CAC1A gene is embryo lethal and deleteriously affects pollen development and germination. During seed development the effect of the cac1a null allele first becomes apparent at 3-d after flowering, when the synchronous development of the endosperm and embryo is disrupted. Characterization of CAC1A antisense plants showed that reducing BCCP1 accumulation to 35% of wild-type levels, decreases fatty acid accumulation and severely affects normal vegetative plant growth. Detailed expression analysis by a suite of approaches including in situ RNA hybridization, promoter:reporter transgene expression, and quantitative western blotting reveal that the expression of CAC1B is limited to a subset of the CAC1A-expressing tissues, and CAC1B expression levels are only about one-fifth of CAC1A expression levels. Therefore, a likely explanation for the observed unidirectional redundancy between these two paralogous genes is that whereas the BCCP1 protein can compensate for the lack of BCCP2, the absence of BCCP1 cannot be tolerated as BCCP2 levels are not sufficient to support heteromeric acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase activity at a level that is required for normal growth and development.

Articulation of three core metabolic processes in Arabidopsis: fatty acid biosynthesis, leucine catabolism and starch metabolism

BACKGROUND

Elucidating metabolic network structures and functions in multicellular organisms is an emerging goal of functional genomics. We describe the co-expression network of three core metabolic processes in the genetic model plant Arabidopsis thaliana: fatty acid biosynthesis, starch metabolism and amino acid (leucine) catabolism.

RESULTS

These co-expression networks form modules populated by genes coding for enzymes that represent the reactions generally considered to define each pathway. However, the modules also incorporate a wider set of genes that encode transporters, cofactor biosynthetic enzymes, precursor-producing enzymes, and regulatory molecules. We tested experimentally the hypothesis that one of the genes tightly co-expressed with starch metabolism module, a putative kinase AtPERK10, will have a role in this process. Indeed, knockout lines of AtPERK10 have an altered starch accumulation. In addition, the co-expression data define a novel hierarchical transcript-level structure associated with catabolism, in which genes performing smaller, more specific tasks appear to be recruited into higher-order modules with a broader catabolic function.

CONCLUSION

Each of these core metabolic pathways is structured as a module of co-expressed transcripts that co-accumulate over a wide range of environmental and genetic perturbations and developmental stages, and represent an expanded set of macromolecules associated with the common task of supporting the functionality of each metabolic pathway. As experimentally demonstrated, co-expression analysis can provide a rich approach towards understanding gene function.

Mitochondrial complexes in Trypanosoma brucei: a novel complex and a unique oxidoreductase complex

African trypanosomes, early diverged eukaryotes and the agents of sleeping sickness, have several basic cellular processes that are remarkably divergent from those in their mammalian hosts. They have large mitochondria and switch between oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis as the major pathways for energy generation during their life cycle. We report here the identification and characterization of several multiprotein mitochondrial complexes from procyclic form Trypanosoma brucei. These were identified and purified using a panel of monoclonal antibodies that were generated against a submitochondrial protein fraction and using tandem affinity purification (TAP) tag affinity chromatography and localized within the cells by immunofluorescence. Protein composition analyses by mass spectrometry revealed substantial divergence of oxidoreductase complex from that of other organisms and identified a novel complex that may have a function associated with nucleic acids. The relationship to divergent physiological processes in these pathogens is discussed.

AFLP and DNA sequence variation in an Andean domesticate, pepino (Solanum muricatum, Solanaceae): implications for evolution and domestication

The pepino (Solanum muricatum) is a vegetatively propagated, domesticated native of the Andes, where it grows with wild relatives. We used AFLPs and a 1-kb sequence of the 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase gene to study variation of 27 accessions of S. muricatum and 35 collections of 10 species of wild relatives (Solanum section Basarthrum). A total of 298 AFLP fragments and 29 DNA sequence haplotypes were detected. Cluster and principal coordinate analyses and other genetic parameters estimated from both types of markers, show that S. muricatum is closely related to the species from one of the series (Caripensia) of section Basarthrum and that >90% of the variation of the cultigen is also represented in that series. Pepino is highly diverse, either because it is not monophyletic or it has been subjected to regular introgression with wild species, or both. Although a continuous distribution of the genetic variation occurred within the cultivated species, three genetic clusters were recognized. Cluster 1 is mostly centered in Ecuador, cluster 2 in Ecuador and Peru, and cluster 3 in Colombia and Ecuador. Cluster 3 also includes all modern cultivars studied. These results and other evidence suggest that northern Ecuador/southern Colombia is the main center of pepino diversity and the center of origin. The high genetic variation of this cultigen indicates that domestication does not always produce a genetic bottleneck.

Proteomic complex detection using sedimentation

Protein-protein interactions are important in many cellular processes, but there are still relatively few methods to screen for novel protein complexes. Here we present a quantitative proteomics technique called ProCoDeS (Proteomic Complex Detection using Sedimentation) for profiling the sedimentation of a large number of proteins through a rate zonal centrifugation gradient. Proteins in a putative complex can be identified since they sediment faster than predicted from their monomer molecular weight. Using solubilized mitochondrial membrane proteins from Arabidopsis thaliana, the relative protein abundance in fractions of a rate zonal gradient was measured with the isotopic labeling reagent ICAT and electrospray mass spectrometry. Subunits of the same protein complex had very similar gradient distribution profiles, demonstrating the reproducibility of the quantitation method. The approximate size of the unknown complex can be inferred from its sedimentation rate relative to known protein complexes. ProCoDeS will be of use in screening extracts of tissues, cells, or organelle fractions to identify specific proteins in stable complexes that can be characterized by subsequent targeted techniques such as affinity tagging.

The atu and liu clusters are involved in the catabolic pathways for acyclic monoterpenes and leucine in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Evidence suggests that the Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 gnyRDBHAL cluster, which is involved in acyclic isoprenoid degradation (A. L. Díaz-Pérez, N. A. Zavala-Hernández, C. Cervantes, and J. Campos-García, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 70:5102-5110, 2004), corresponds to the liuRABCDE cluster (B. Hoschle, V. Gnau, and D. Jendrossek, Microbiology 151:3649-3656, 2005). A liu (leucine and isovalerate utilization) homolog cluster was found in the PAO1 genome and is related to the catabolism of acyclic monoterpenes of the citronellol family (AMTC); it was named the atu cluster (acyclic terpene utilization), consisting of the atuCDEF genes and lacking the hydroxymethyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A (CoA) lyase (HMG-CoA lyase) homolog. Mutagenesis of the atu and liu clusters showed that both are involved in AMTC and leucine catabolism by encoding the enzymes related to the geranyl-CoA and the 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA pathways, respectively. Intermediary metabolites of the acyclic monoterpene pathway, citronellic and geranic acids, were accumulated, and leucine degradation rates were affected in both atuF and liuD mutants. The alpha subunit of geranyl-CoA carboxylase and the alpha subunit of 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase (alpha-MCCase), encoded by the atuF and liuD genes, respectively, were both induced by citronellol, whereas only the alpha-MCCase subunit was induced by leucine. Both citronellol and leucine also induced a LacZ transcriptional fusion at the liuB gene. The liuE gene encodes a probable hydroxy-acyl-CoA lyase (probably HMG-CoA lyase), an enzyme with bifunctional activity that is essential for both AMTC and leucine degradation. P. aeruginosa PAO1 products encoded by the liuABCD cluster showed a higher sequence similarity (77.2 to 79.5%) with the probable products of liu clusters from several Pseudomonas species than with the atuCDEF cluster from PAO1 (41.5%). Phylogenetic studies suggest that the atu cluster from P. aeruginosa could be the result of horizontal transfer from Alphaproteobacteria. Our results suggest that the atu and liu clusters are bifunctional operons involved in both the AMTC and leucine catabolic pathways.

The mitochondrial branched-chain aminotransferase (AtBCAT-1) is capable to initiate degradation of leucine, isoleucine and valine in almost all tissues in Arabidopsis thaliana

Plants are capable to de novo synthesize the essential amino acids leucine, isoleucine and valine. Studies in recent years, however, also revealed that plants have the potential to degrade leucine or may be all of the branched-chain amino acids. One of the enzymes participating in both biosynthesis and degradation is the branched-chain aminotransferase, which is in Arabidopsis thaliana encoded by a small gene family with six transcribed members. We have now studied the steady state mRNA levels by quantitative RT-PCR and promoter activities of these genes with promoter::glucuronidase reporter gene constructs in transgenic plants. The gene encoding the mitochondrial isoenzyme (Atbcat-1) is expressed in all tissues with predominant transcription in seedlings and leaves. Surprisingly the plastid located proteins (AtBCAT-2, -3 and -5) are expressed at rather low levels with only Atbcat-3 transcribed in all tissues. The most likely cytoplasmic-located AtBCAT-4 and AtBCAT-6 are mainly expressed in tissues associated with transport function and in meristematic tissues, respectively. A detailed characterization of the enzyme activity and substrate specificity of the mitochondrial AtBCAT-1 enzyme revealed the potential of this enzyme to initiate degradation of all branched-chain amino acids. In addition alpha-aminobutyrate and alpha-ketobutyrate as well as methionine and alpha-ketomethylthiobutyrate are identified as substrates. This suggests that AtBCAT-1 and potentially other members of this protein family may influence methionine levels and may play an important role in the metabolism of the nonprotein amino acid alpha-aminobutyrate. The consequences of these substrate specificities for bioplastic production and methionine homeostasis are discussed.

Isolation and identification of 3-methylcrotonyl coenzyme A carboxylase cDNAs and pyruvate carboxylase, and their expression in red seabream (Pagrus major) organs

We determined complementary DNA sequences of biotin-containing (MCCC1) and non-biotin-containing (MCCC2) subunits of 3-methylcrotonyl coenzyme A carboxylase (MCCase) and pyruvate carboxylase (PCase) using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction of RNA extracted from seabream skeletal muscle and liver. We determined the complete coding sequences of MCCC1 and PC and a partial coding sequence of the major part of MCCC2. Molecular sizes of MCCC1, MCCC2, and PC were 4300, 2400, and 6500 nucleotides, respectively, according to Northern blot analysis. The length of MCCC1 from cDNA sequencing was 4249 nucleotides, indicating the full-length messenger RNA sequence was obtained. Northern blot analyses showed that PC was expressed in muscle, heart, liver, and ovary, but not in spleen. MCCC1 and MCCC2 were expressed at high levels in muscle and ovary, but only trace levels in heart, spleen, and liver. MCCase appears to be particularly important in muscle and ovary, which are active in protein metabolism, while PCase is important in organs active in glycolysis, such as liver.

Fungal Metabolic Model for 3-Methylcrotonyl-CoA Carboxylase Deficiency

Aspergillus nidulans is able to use Leu as the sole carbon source through a metabolic pathway leading to acetyl-CoA and acetoacetate that is homologous to that used by humans. mccA and mccB, the genes encoding the subunits of 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase, are clustered with ivdA encoding isovaleryl-CoA dehydrogenase, a third gene of the Leu catabolic pathway, on the left arm of chromosome III. Their transcription is induced by Leu and other hydrophobic amino acids and repressed by glucose. Phenotypically indistinguishable DeltamccA, DeltamccB, and DeltamccA DeltamccB mutations prevent growth on Leu but not on lactose or other amino acids, formally demonstrating in vivo the specific involvement of 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase in Leu catabolism. Growth of mcc mutants on lactose plus Leu is impaired, indicating that Leu metabolite(s) accumulation resulting from the metabolic block is toxic. Human patients carrying loss-of-function mutations in the genes encoding the subunits of 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase suffer from methylcrotonylglycinuria. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of culture supernatants revealed that fungal Deltamcc strains accumulate 3-hydroxyisovaleric acid, one of the diagnostic compounds in the urine of these patients, illustrating the remarkably similar consequences of equivalent genetic errors of metabolism in fungi and humans. We use our fungal model(s) for methylcrotonylglycinuria to show accumulation of 3-hydroxyisovalerate on transfer of 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase-deficient strains to the isoprenoid precursors acetate, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarate, or mevalonate. This represents the first reported genetic evidence for the existence of a metabolic link involving 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase between isoprenoid biosynthesis and Leu catabolism, providing additional support to the mevalonate shunt proposed previously (Edmond, J., and Popják, G. (1974) J. Biol. Chem. 249, 66-71).

Plant biotin-containing carboxylases

Biotin-containing proteins are found in all forms of life, and they catalyze carboxylation, decarboxylation, or transcarboxylation reactions that are central to metabolism. In plants, five biotin-containing proteins have been characterized. Of these, four are catalysts, namely the two structurally distinct acetyl-CoA carboxylases (heteromeric and homomeric), 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase and geranoyl-CoA carboxylase. In addition, plants contain a noncatalytic biotin protein that accumulates in seeds and is thought to play a role in storing biotin. Acetyl-CoA carboxylases generate two pools of malonyl-CoA, one in plastids that is the precursor for de novo fatty acid biosynthesis and the other in the cytosol that is the precursor for fatty acid elongation and a large number of secondary metabolites. 3-Methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase catalyzes a reaction in the mitochondrial pathway for leucine catabolism. The exact metabolic function of geranoyl-CoA carboxylase is as yet unknown, but it may be involved in isoprenoid metabolism. This minireview summarizes the recent developments in our understanding of the structure, regulation, and metabolic functions of these proteins in plants.

The role of biotin in regulating 3-methylcrotonyl-coenzyme a carboxylase expression in Arabidopsis

As a catalytic cofactor, biotin has a critical role in the enzymological mechanism of a number of enzymes that are essential in both catabolic and anabolic metabolic processes. In this study we demonstrate that biotin has additional non-catalytic functions in regulating gene expression in plants, which are biotin autotrophic organisms. Biotin controls expression of the biotin-containing enzyme, methylcrotonyl-coenzyme A (CoA) carboxylase by modulating the transcriptional, translational and/or posttranslational regulation of the expression of this enzyme. The bio1 mutant of Arabidopsis, which is blocked in the de novo biosynthesis of biotin, was used to experimentally alter the biotin status of this organism. In response to the bio1-associated depletion of biotin, the normally biotinylated A-subunit of methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase (MCCase) accumulates in its inactive apo-form, and both MCCase subunits hyperaccumulate. This hyperaccumulation occurs because the translation of each subunit mRNA is enhanced and/or because the each protein subunit becomes more stable. In addition, biotin affects the accumulation of distinct charge isoforms of MCCase. In contrast, in response to metabolic signals arising from the alteration in the carbon status of the organism, biotin modulates the transcription of the MCCase genes. These experiments reveal that in addition to its catalytic role as an enzyme cofactor, biotin has multiple roles in regulating gene expression.

Biotin in metabolism and its relationship to human disease

Biotin, a water-soluble vitamin, is used as cofactor of enzymes involved in carboxylation reactions. In humans, there are five biotin-dependent carboxylases: propionyl-CoA carboxylase; methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase; pyruvate carboxylase, and two forms of acetyl-CoA carboxylase. These enzymes catalyze key reactions in gluconeogenesis, fatty acid metabolism, and amino acid catabolism; thus, biotin plays an essential role in maintaining metabolic homeostasis. In recent years, biotin has been associated with several diseases in humans. Some are related to enzyme deficiencies involved in biotin metabolism. However, not all biotin-responsive disorders can be explained based on the classical role of the vitamin in cell metabolism. Several groups have suggested that biotin may be involved in regulating transcription or protein expression of different proteins. Biotinylation of histones and triggering of transduction signaling cascades have been suggested as underlying mechanisms behind these non-classical biotin-deficiency manifestation in humans.

Metabolic and environmental regulation of 3-methylcrotonyl-coenzyme A carboxylase expression in Arabidopsis

3-Methylcrotonyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (MCCase) is a nuclear-encoded, mitochondrial biotin-containing enzyme composed of two types of subunits: the biotinylated MCC-A subunit (encoded by the gene At1g03090) and the non-biotinylated MCC-B subunit (encoded by the gene At4g34030). The major metabolic role of MCCase is in the mitochondrial catabolism of leucine, and it also might function in the catabolism of isoprenoids and the mevalonate shunt. In the work presented herein, the single-copy gene encoding the Arabidopsis MCC-A subunit was isolated and characterized. It contains 15 exons separated by 14 introns. We examined the expression of the single-copy MCC-A and MCC-B genes in Arabidopsis by monitoring the accumulation of the two protein and mRNA products. In addition, the expression of these two genes was studied in transgenic plants containing the 1.1- and 1.0-kb 5' upstream sequences of the two MCCase subunit genes, respectively, fused to the beta-glucuronidase gene. Light deprivation induces MCCase expression, which is suppressed by exogenous carbohydrates, especially sucrose. Several lines of evidence indicate that the suppressor of MCCase expression is synthesized in illuminated photosynthetic organs, and can be translocated to other organs to regulate MCCase expression. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the suppressor of MCCase expression is a carbohydrate, perhaps sucrose or a carbohydrate metabolite. We conclude that MCCase expression is primarily controlled at the level of gene transcription and regulated by a complex interplay between environmental and metabolic signals. The observed expression patterns may indicate that one of the physiological roles of MCCase is to maintain the carbon status of the organism, possibly via the catabolism of leucine.

Pathways of straight and branched chain fatty acid catabolism in higher plants

Significant advances in our knowledge of fatty acid breakdown in plants have been made since the subject was last comprehensively reviewed in the early 1990s. Many of the genes encoding the enzymes of peroxisomal beta-oxidation of straight chain fatty acids have now been identified. Biochemical genetic approaches in the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana, have been particularly useful not only in the identification and functional characterisation of genes involved in fatty acid beta-oxidation but also in establishing the role of beta-oxidation at different stages in plant development. Advances in our understanding of branched chain amino acid catabolism have provided convincing evidence that mitochondria play an important role in this process. This work is discussed in the context of the long running debate on the sub-cellular localisation of fatty acid beta-oxidation in plants. A significant aspect of this review is that it provides the opportunity to present a comprehensive analysis of the complete Arabidopsis genome sequence for each of the different gene families that are known to be involved in beta-, alpha-, and omega-oxidation of fatty acids in plants. Inevitably, this increase in information, as well as providing many answers also raises many new intriguing questions, particularly as regards the regulation and physiological role of fatty acid catabolism throughout the higher plant life cycle.

chy1, an Arabidopsis mutant with impaired beta-oxidation, is defective in a peroxisomal beta-hydroxyisobutyryl-CoA hydrolase

The Arabidopsis chy1 mutant is resistant to indole-3-butyric acid, a naturally occurring form of the plant hormone auxin. Because the mutant also has defects in peroxisomal beta-oxidation, this resistance presumably results from a reduced conversion of indole-3-butyric acid to indole-3-acetic acid. We have cloned CHY1, which appears to encode a peroxisomal protein 43% identical to a mammalian valine catabolic enzyme that hydrolyzes beta-hydroxyisobutyryl-CoA. We demonstrated that a human beta-hydroxyisobutyryl-CoA hydrolase functionally complements chy1 when redirected from the mitochondria to the peroxisomes. We expressed CHY1 as a glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion protein and demonstrated that purified GST-CHY1 hydrolyzes beta-hydroxyisobutyryl-CoA. Mutagenesis studies showed that a glutamate that is catalytically essential in homologous enoyl-CoA hydratases was also essential in CHY1. Mutating a residue that is differentially conserved between hydrolases and hydratases established that this position is relevant to the catalytic distinction between the enzyme classes. It is likely that CHY1 acts in peroxisomal valine catabolism and that accumulation of a toxic intermediate, methacrylyl-CoA, causes the altered beta-oxidation phenotypes of the chy1 mutant. Our results support the hypothesis that the energy-intensive sequence unique to valine catabolism, where an intermediate CoA ester is hydrolyzed and a new CoA ester is formed two steps later, avoids methacrylyl-CoA accumulation.

The mitochondrial isovaleryl-coenzyme a dehydrogenase of arabidopsis oxidizes intermediates of leucine and valine catabolism

We recently identified a cDNA encoding a putative isovaleryl-coenzyme A (CoA) dehydrogenase in Arabidopsis (AtIVD). In animals, this homotetrameric enzyme is located in mitochondria and catalyzes the conversion of isovaleryl-CoA to 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA as an intermediate step in the leucine (Leu) catabolic pathway. Expression of AtIVD:smGFP4 fusion proteins in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) protoplasts and biochemical studies now demonstrate the in vivo import of the plant isovaleryl-CoA dehydrogenase (IVD) into mitochondria and the enzyme in the matrix of these organelles. Two-dimensional separation of mitochondrial proteins by blue native and SDS-PAGE and size determination of the native and overexpressed proteins suggest homodimers to be the dominant form of the plant IVD. Northern-blot hybridization and studies in transgenic Arabidopsis plants expressing Ativd promoter:gus constructs reveal strong expression of this gene in seedlings and young plants grown in the absence of sucrose, whereas promoter activity in almost all tissues is strongly inhibited by exogeneously added sucrose. Substrate specificity tests with AtIVD expressed in Escherichia coli indicate a strong preference toward isovaleryl-CoA but surprisingly also show considerable activity with isobutyryl-CoA. This strongly indicates a commitment of the enzyme in Leu catabolism, but the activity observed with isobutyryl-CoA also suggests a parallel involvement of the enzyme in the dehydrogenation of intermediates of the valine degradation pathway. Such a dual activity has not been observed with the animal IVD and may suggest a novel connection of the Leu and valine catabolism in plants.

Sodium ion-translocating decarboxylases

The review is concerned with three Na(+)-dependent biotin-containing decarboxylases, which catalyse the substitution of CO(2) by H(+) with retention of configuration (DeltaG degrees '=-30 kJ/mol): oxaloacetate decarboxylase from enterobacteria, methylmalonyl-CoA decarboxylase from Veillonella parvula and Propiogenium modestum, and glutaconyl-CoA decarboxylase from Acidaminococcus fermentans. The enzymes represent complexes of four functional domains or subunits, a carboxytransferase, a mobile alanine- and proline-rich biotin carrier, a 9-11 membrane-spanning helix-containing Na(+)-dependent carboxybiotin decarboxylase and a membrane anchor. In the first catalytic step the carboxyl group of the substrate is converted to a kinetically activated carboxylate in N-carboxybiotin. After swing-over to the decarboxylase, an electrochemical Na(+) gradient is generated; the free energy of the decarboxylation is used to translocate 1-2 Na(+) from the inside to the outside, whereas the proton comes from the outside. At high [Na(+)], however, the decarboxylases appear to catalyse a mere Na(+)/Na(+) exchange. This finding has implications for the life of P. modestum in sea water, which relies on the synthesis of ATP via Delta(mu)Na(+) generated by decarboxylation. In many sequenced genomes from Bacteria and Archaea homologues of the carboxybiotin decarboxylase from A. fermentans with up to 80% sequence identity have been detected.

Human biotin-containing subunit of 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase gene (MCCA): cDNA sequence, genomic organization, localization to chromosomal band 3q27, and expression

3-Methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase (MCCase; EC 6.4.1.4) is a mitochondrial biotin enzyme and plays an essential role in the catabolism of leucine and isovalerate in animals, bacterial species, and plants. MCCase consists of two subunits, those that are biotin-containing and non-biotin-containing. The genes responsible for these subunits have been isolated in soybean, Arabidopsis thaliana, and tomatoes, but not in mammals. In humans, MCCase deficiency has been thought to be a rare metabolic disease, but the number of patients with MCCase deficiency appears to be increasing with a wide range of clinical presentations, some that result in a lethal condition and others that are asymptomatic. In this report, we have isolated and carried out chromosomal mapping of the gene for the biotin-containing subunit (A subunit) of the human MCCase gene, MCCA. The cDNA predicts an open reading frame coding for a 725-amino-acid protein with mitochondrial signal peptide, biotin carboxylase, and biotin-carrier domains. The gene is composed of at least 19 exons and covers more than 70 kb of sequence on band q27 of chromosome 3. MCCA was abundantly expressed in mitochondria-rich organs, such as the heart, skeletal muscles, kidney, and liver. In exon 13, we observed a His/Pro polymorphism at codon 464 (an A to C transition at nucleotide position 1391 in the cDNA sequence). Then, we determined the DNA sequences of the 5' untranslated region and entire coding regions in two patients with MCCase deficiency, but no sequence substitution was detected, suggesting that the gene mutations might be in the non-biotin-containing subunit (B subunit) gene, MCCB, in these patients.

The molecular basis of human 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase deficiency

Isolated biotin-resistant 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase (MCC) deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder of leucine catabolism that appears to be the most frequent organic aciduria detected in tandem mass spectrometry-based neonatal screening programs. The phenotype is variable, ranging from neonatal onset with severe neurological involvement to asymptomatic adults. MCC is a heteromeric mitochondrial enzyme composed of biotin-containing alpha subunits and smaller beta subunits. Here, we report cloning of MCCA and MCCB cDNAs and the organization of their structural genes. We show that a series of 14 MCC-deficient probands defines two complementation groups, CG1 and 2, resulting from mutations in MCCB and MCCA, respectively. We identify five MCCA and nine MCCB mutant alleles and show that missense mutations in each result in loss of function.

The molecular basis of 3-methylcrotonylglycinuria, a disorder of leucine catabolism

3-Methylcrotonylglycinuria is an inborn error of leucine catabolism and has a recessive pattern of inheritance that results from the deficiency of 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase (MCC). The introduction of tandem mass spectrometry in newborn screening has revealed an unexpectedly high incidence of this disorder, which, in certain areas, appears to be the most frequent organic aciduria. MCC, an heteromeric enzyme consisting of alpha (biotin-containing) and beta subunits, is the only one of the four biotin-dependent carboxylases known in humans that has genes that have not yet been characterized, precluding molecular studies of this disease. Here we report the characterization, at the genomic level and at the cDNA level, of both the MCCA gene and the MCCB gene, encoding the MCC alpha and MCC beta subunits, respectively. The 19-exon MCCA gene maps to 3q25-27 and encodes a 725-residue protein with a biotin attachment site; the 17-exon MCCB gene maps to 5q12-q13 and encodes a 563-residue polypeptide. We show that disease-causing mutations can be classified into two complementation groups, denoted "CGA" and "CGB." We detected two MCCA missense mutations in CGA patients, one of which leads to absence of biotinylated MCC alpha. Two MCCB missense mutations and one splicing defect mutation leading to early MCC beta truncation were found in CGB patients. A fourth MCCB mutation also leading to early MCC beta truncation was found in two nonclassified patients. A fungal model carrying an mccA null allele has been constructed and was used to demonstrate, in vivo, the involvement of MCC in leucine catabolism. These results establish that 3-methylcrotonylglycinuria results from loss-of-function mutations in the genes encoding the alpha and beta subunits of MCC and complete the genetic characterization of the four human biotin-dependent carboxylases.