1
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Sangsuwan W, Taweesablamlert A, Boonkerd A, Isarangkool Na Ayutthaya C, Yoo S, Javid B, Faikhruea K, Vilaivan T, Aonbangkhen C, Chuawong P. A quest for novel antimicrobial targets: Inhibition of Asp-tRNA Asn/Glu-tRNA Gln amidotransferase (GatCAB) by synthetic analogs of aminoacyl-adenosine in vitro and live bacteria. Bioorg Chem 2024; 150:107530. [PMID: 38852310 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
The Asp-tRNAAsn/Glu-tRNAGln amidotransferase (GatCAB) has been proposed as a novel antibacterial drug target due to its indispensability in prominent human pathogens. While several inhibitors with in vitro activity have been identified, none have been demonstrated to have potent activity against live bacteria. In this work, seven non-hydrolyzable transition state mimics of GatCAB were synthesized and tested as the transamidase inhibitors against GatCAB from the human pathogen Helicobacter pylori. Notably, the methyl sulfone analog of glutamyl-adenosine significantly reduced GatCAB's transamination rate. Additionally, four lipid-conjugates of these mimics displayed antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, likely due to enhanced cell permeability. Inhibitory activity against GatCAB in live bacteria was confirmed using a sensitive gain-of-function dual luciferase reporter in Mycobacterium bovis-BCG. Only the lipid-conjugated methyl sulfone analog exhibited a significant increase in mistranslation rate, highlighting its cell permeability and inhibitory potential. This study provides insights for developing urgently needed novel antibacterial agents amidst emerging antimicrobial drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Withsakorn Sangsuwan
- Department of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Special Research Unit for Advanced Magnetic Resonance (AMR), Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Amata Taweesablamlert
- Department of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Special Research Unit for Advanced Magnetic Resonance (AMR), Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Anon Boonkerd
- Department of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Special Research Unit for Advanced Magnetic Resonance (AMR), Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Chawarat Isarangkool Na Ayutthaya
- Department of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Special Research Unit for Advanced Magnetic Resonance (AMR), Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Sion Yoo
- Division of Experimental Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Babak Javid
- Division of Experimental Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kriangsak Faikhruea
- Organic Synthesis Research Unit (OSRU), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Tirayut Vilaivan
- Organic Synthesis Research Unit (OSRU), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Chanat Aonbangkhen
- Center of Excellence in Natural Products Chemistry (CENP), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330 Thailand; Center of Excellence on Petrochemical and Materials Technology, Chulalongkorn University, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Pitak Chuawong
- Department of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Special Research Unit for Advanced Magnetic Resonance (AMR), Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
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2
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Lewis AM, Fallon T, Dittemore GA, Sheppard K. Evolution and variation in amide aminoacyl-tRNA synthesis. IUBMB Life 2024. [PMID: 38391119 DOI: 10.1002/iub.2811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
The amide proteogenic amino acids, asparagine and glutamine, are two of the twenty amino acids used in translation by all known life. The aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases for asparagine and glutamine, asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase and glutaminyl tRNA synthetase, evolved after the split in the last universal common ancestor of modern organisms. Before that split, life used two-step indirect pathways to synthesize asparagine and glutamine on their cognate tRNAs to form the aminoacyl-tRNA used in translation. These two-step pathways were retained throughout much of the bacterial and archaeal domains of life and eukaryotic organelles. The indirect routes use non-discriminating aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (non-discriminating aspartyl-tRNA synthetase and non-discriminating glutamyl-tRNA synthetase) to misaminoacylate the tRNA. The misaminoacylated tRNA formed is then transamidated into the amide aminoacyl-tRNA used in protein synthesis by tRNA-dependent amidotransferases (GatCAB and GatDE). The enzymes and tRNAs involved assemble into complexes known as transamidosomes to help maintain translational fidelity. These pathways have evolved to meet the varied cellular needs across a diverse set of organisms, leading to significant variation. In certain bacteria, the indirect pathways may provide a means to adapt to cellular stress by reducing the fidelity of protein synthesis. The retention of these indirect pathways versus acquisition of asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase and glutaminyl tRNA synthetase in lineages likely involves a complex interplay of the competing uses of glutamine and asparagine beyond translation, energetic costs, co-evolution between enzymes and tRNA, and involvement in stress response that await further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander M Lewis
- Chemistry Department, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York, USA
| | - Trevor Fallon
- Chemistry Department, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York, USA
| | | | - Kelly Sheppard
- Chemistry Department, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York, USA
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3
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Lyu Z, Wilson C, Ling J. Translational Fidelity during Bacterial Stresses and Host Interactions. Pathogens 2023; 12:383. [PMID: 36986305 PMCID: PMC10057733 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12030383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Translational fidelity refers to accuracy during protein synthesis and is maintained in all three domains of life. Translational errors occur at base levels during normal conditions and may rise due to mutations or stress conditions. In this article, we review our current understanding of how translational fidelity is perturbed by various environmental stresses that bacterial pathogens encounter during host interactions. We discuss how oxidative stress, metabolic stresses, and antibiotics affect various types of translational errors and the resulting effects on stress adaption and fitness. We also discuss the roles of translational fidelity during pathogen-host interactions and the underlying mechanisms. Many of the studies covered in this review will be based on work with Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli, but other bacterial pathogens will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jiqiang Ling
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, The University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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4
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Koper K, Han SW, Pastor DC, Yoshikuni Y, Maeda HA. Evolutionary Origin and Functional Diversification of Aminotransferases. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102122. [PMID: 35697072 PMCID: PMC9309667 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Aminotransferases (ATs) are pyridoxal 5′-phosphate–dependent enzymes that catalyze the transamination reactions between amino acid donor and keto acid acceptor substrates. Modern AT enzymes constitute ∼2% of all classified enzymatic activities, play central roles in nitrogen metabolism, and generate multitude of primary and secondary metabolites. ATs likely diverged into four distinct AT classes before the appearance of the last universal common ancestor and further expanded to a large and diverse enzyme family. Although the AT family underwent an extensive functional specialization, many AT enzymes retained considerable substrate promiscuity and multifunctionality because of their inherent mechanistic, structural, and functional constraints. This review summarizes the evolutionary history, diverse metabolic roles, reaction mechanisms, and structure–function relationships of the AT family enzymes, with a special emphasis on their substrate promiscuity and multifunctionality. Comprehensive characterization of AT substrate specificity is still needed to reveal their true metabolic functions in interconnecting various branches of the nitrogen metabolic network in different organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaan Koper
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Sang-Woo Han
- The US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | | | - Yasuo Yoshikuni
- The US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Global Center for Food, Land, and Water Resources, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido 060-8589, Japan
| | - Hiroshi A Maeda
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
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5
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Genomics-Based Reconstruction and Predictive Profiling of Amino Acid Biosynthesis in the Human Gut Microbiome. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10040740. [PMID: 35456791 PMCID: PMC9026213 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10040740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The human gut microbiota (HGM) have an impact on host health and disease. Amino acids are building blocks of proteins and peptides, also serving as precursors of many essential metabolites including nucleotides, cofactors, etc. Many HGM community members are unable to synthesize some amino acids (auxotrophs), while other members possess complete biosynthetic pathways for these nutrients (prototrophs). Metabolite exchange between auxotrophs and prototrophs affects microbial community structure. Previous studies of amino acid biosynthetic phenotypes were limited to model species or narrow taxonomic groups of bacteria. We analyzed over 2800 genomes representing 823 cultured HGM species with the aim to reconstruct biosynthetic pathways for proteinogenic amino acids. The genome context analysis of incomplete pathway variants allowed us to identify new potential enzyme variants in amino acid biosynthetic pathways. We further classified the studied organisms with respect to their pathway variants and inferred their prototrophic vs. auxotrophic phenotypes. A cross-species comparison was applied to assess the extent of conservation of the assigned phenotypes at distinct taxonomic levels. The obtained reference collection of binary metabolic phenotypes was used for predictive metabolic profiling of HGM samples from several large metagenomic datasets. The established approach for metabolic phenotype profiling will be useful for prediction of overall metabolic properties, interactions, and responses of HGM microbiomes as a function of dietary variations, dysbiosis and other perturbations.
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6
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Abstract
Most bacteria employ a two-step indirect tRNA aminoacylation pathway for the synthesis of aminoacylated tRNAGln and tRNAAsn. The heterotrimeric enzyme GatCAB performs a critical amidotransferase reaction in the second step of this pathway. We have previously demonstrated in mycobacteria that this two-step pathway is error prone and translational errors contribute to adaptive phenotypes such as antibiotic tolerance. Furthermore, we identified clinical isolates of the globally important pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis with partial loss-of-function mutations in gatA, and demonstrated that these mutations result in high, specific rates of translational error and increased rifampin tolerance. However, the mechanisms by which these clinically derived mutations in gatA impact GatCAB function were unknown. Here, we describe biochemical and biophysical characterization of M. tuberculosis GatCAB, containing either wild-type gatA or one of two gatA mutants from clinical strains. We show that these mutations have minimal impact on enzymatic activity of GatCAB; however, they result in destabilization of the GatCAB complex as well as that of the ternary asparaginyl-transamidosome. Stabilizing complex formation with the solute trehalose increases specific translational fidelity of not only the mutant strains but also of wild-type mycobacteria. Therefore, our data suggest that alteration of GatCAB stability may be a mechanism for modulation of translational fidelity. IMPORTANCE Most bacteria use a two-step indirect pathway to aminoacylate tRNAGln and tRNAAsn, despite the fact that the indirect pathway consumes more energy and is error prone. We have previously shown that the higher protein synthesis errors from this indirect pathway in mycobacteria allow adaptation to hostile environments such as antibiotic treatment through generation of novel alternate proteins not coded by the genome. However, the precise mechanisms of how translational fidelity is tuned were not known. Here, we biochemically and biophysically characterize the critical enzyme of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis indirect pathway, GatCAB, as well as two mutant enzymes previously identified from clinical isolates that were associated with increased mistranslation. We show that the mutants dysregulate the pathway via destabilizing the enzyme complex. Importantly, increasing stability improves translational fidelity in both wild-type and mutant bacteria, demonstrating a mechanism by which mycobacteria may tune mistranslation rates.
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7
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Zhao L, Rathnayake UM, Dewage SW, Wood WN, Veltri AJ, Cisneros GA, Hendrickson TL. Characterization of tunnel mutants reveals a catalytic step in ammonia delivery by an aminoacyl-tRNA amidotransferase. FEBS Lett 2016; 590:3122-32. [DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.12347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Revised: 07/27/2016] [Accepted: 07/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Liangjun Zhao
- Department of Chemistry; Wayne State University; Detroit MI USA
| | | | | | - Whitney N. Wood
- Department of Chemistry; Wayne State University; Detroit MI USA
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8
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Pham VH, Maaroufi H, Levesque RC, Lapointe J. Cyclic peptides identified by phage display are competitive inhibitors of the tRNA-dependent amidotransferase of Helicobacter pylori. Peptides 2016; 79:8-15. [PMID: 26976271 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2016.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2015] [Revised: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 03/08/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In Helicobacter pylori, the heterotrimeric tRNA-dependent amidotransferase (GatCAB) is essential for protein biosynthesis because it catalyzes the conversion of misacylated Glu-tRNA(Gln) and Asp-tRNA(Asn) into Gln-tRNA(Gln) and Asn-tRNA(Asn), respectively. In this study, we used a phage library to identify peptide inhibitors of GatCAB. A library displaying loop-constrained heptapeptides was used to screen for phages binding to the purified GatCAB. To optimize the probability of obtaining competitive inhibitors of GatCAB with respect to its substrate Glu-tRNA(Gln), we used that purified substrate in the biopanning process of the phage-display technique to elute phages bound to GatCAB at the third round of the biopanning process. Among the eluted phages, we identified several that encode cyclic peptides rich in Trp and Pro that inhibit H. pylori GatCAB in vitro. Peptides P10 and P9 were shown to be competitive inhibitors of GatCAB with respect to its substrate Glu-tRNA(Gln), with Ki values of 126 and 392μM, respectively. The docking models revealed that the Trp residues of these peptides form π-π stacking interactions with Tyr81 of the synthetase active site, as does the 3'-terminal A76 of tRNA, supporting their competitive behavior with respect to Glu-tRNA(Gln) in the transamidation reaction. These peptides can be used as scaffolds in the search for novel antibiotics against the pathogenic bacteria that require GatCAB for Gln-tRNA(Gln) and/or Asn-tRNA(Asn) formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Van Hau Pham
- Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bio-informatique, Faculté des Sciences et de Génie, Université Laval, Québec G1V 0A6, Canada; Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec G1V 0A6, Canada; The Quebec Network for Research on Protein Function, Structure, and Engineering (PROTEO), Québec G1V 0A6, Canada.
| | - Halim Maaroufi
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Roger C Levesque
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec G1V 0A6, Canada; Département de Biologie Médicale, Faculté de Médicine, Université Laval, Québec G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Jacques Lapointe
- Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bio-informatique, Faculté des Sciences et de Génie, Université Laval, Québec G1V 0A6, Canada; Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec G1V 0A6, Canada; The Quebec Network for Research on Protein Function, Structure, and Engineering (PROTEO), Québec G1V 0A6, Canada.
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9
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Nair N, Raff H, Islam MT, Feen M, Garofalo DM, Sheppard K. The Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus halodurans Aspartyl-tRNA Synthetases Retain Recognition of tRNA(Asn). J Mol Biol 2016; 428:618-630. [PMID: 26804570 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2016.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2015] [Revised: 01/13/2016] [Accepted: 01/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Synthesis of asparaginyl-tRNA (Asn-tRNA(Asn)) in bacteria can be formed either by directly ligating Asn to tRNA(Asn) using an asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase (AsnRS) or by synthesizing Asn on the tRNA. In the latter two-step indirect pathway, a non-discriminating aspartyl-tRNA synthetase (ND-AspRS) attaches Asp to tRNA(Asn) and the amidotransferase GatCAB transamidates the Asp to Asn on the tRNA. GatCAB can be similarly used for Gln-tRNA(Gln) formation. Most bacteria are predicted to use only one route for Asn-tRNA(Asn) formation. Given that Bacillus halodurans and Bacillus subtilis encode AsnRS for Asn-tRNA(Asn) formation and Asn synthetases to synthesize Asn and GatCAB for Gln-tRNA(Gln) synthesis, their AspRS enzymes were thought to be specific for tRNA(Asp). However, we demonstrate that the AspRSs are non-discriminating and can be used with GatCAB to synthesize Asn. The results explain why B. subtilis with its Asn synthetase genes knocked out is still an Asn prototroph. Our phylogenetic analysis suggests that this may be common among Firmicutes and 30% of all bacteria. In addition, the phylogeny revealed that discrimination toward tRNA(Asp) by AspRS has evolved independently multiple times. The retention of the indirect pathway in B. subtilis and B. halodurans likely reflects the ancient link between Asn biosynthesis and its use in translation that enabled Asn to be added to the genetic code.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilendra Nair
- Chemistry Department, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, USA
| | - Hannah Raff
- Chemistry Department, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, USA
| | | | - Melanie Feen
- Chemistry Department, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, USA
| | - Denise M Garofalo
- Chemistry Department, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, USA
| | - Kelly Sheppard
- Chemistry Department, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, USA.
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10
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Mailu BM, Li L, Arthur J, Nelson TM, Ramasamy G, Fritz-Wolf K, Becker K, Gardner MJ. Plasmodium Apicoplast Gln-tRNAGln Biosynthesis Utilizes a Unique GatAB Amidotransferase Essential for Erythrocytic Stage Parasites. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:29629-41. [PMID: 26318454 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.655100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum apicoplast indirect aminoacylation pathway utilizes a non-discriminating glutamyl-tRNA synthetase to synthesize Glu-tRNA(Gln) and a glutaminyl-tRNA amidotransferase to convert Glu-tRNA(Gln) to Gln-tRNA(Gln). Here, we show that Plasmodium falciparum and other apicomplexans possess a unique heterodimeric glutamyl-tRNA amidotransferase consisting of GatA and GatB subunits (GatAB). We localized the P. falciparum GatA and GatB subunits to the apicoplast in blood stage parasites and demonstrated that recombinant GatAB converts Glu-tRNA(Gln) to Gln-tRNA(Gln) in vitro. We demonstrate that the apicoplast GatAB-catalyzed reaction is essential to the parasite blood stages because we could not delete the Plasmodium berghei gene encoding GatA in blood stage parasites in vivo. A phylogenetic analysis placed the split between Plasmodium GatB, archaeal GatE, and bacterial GatB prior to the phylogenetic divide between bacteria and archaea. Moreover, Plasmodium GatA also appears to have emerged prior to the bacterial-archaeal phylogenetic divide. Thus, although GatAB is found in Plasmodium, it emerged prior to the phylogenetic separation of archaea and bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boniface M Mailu
- From the Center for Infectious Disease Research, Seattle, Washington 98109
| | - Ling Li
- From the Center for Infectious Disease Research, Seattle, Washington 98109
| | - Jen Arthur
- From the Center for Infectious Disease Research, Seattle, Washington 98109
| | - Todd M Nelson
- From the Center for Infectious Disease Research, Seattle, Washington 98109
| | - Gowthaman Ramasamy
- From the Center for Infectious Disease Research, Seattle, Washington 98109
| | - Karin Fritz-Wolf
- the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Interdisciplinary Research Center, Justus Liebig University, Giessen 35392 Germany, and the Max-Planck Institute for Medical Research, Jahnstrasse 29, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Katja Becker
- the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Interdisciplinary Research Center, Justus Liebig University, Giessen 35392 Germany, and
| | - Malcolm J Gardner
- From the Center for Infectious Disease Research, Seattle, Washington 98109, the Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195,
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11
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Hu Y, Guerrero E, Keniry M, Manrrique J, Bullard JM. Identification of Chemical Compounds That Inhibit the Function of Glutamyl-tRNA Synthetase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 20:1160-70. [PMID: 26116192 DOI: 10.1177/1087057115591120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2015] [Accepted: 05/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa glutamyl-tRNA synthetase (GluRS) was overexpressed in Escherichia coli. Sequence analysis indicated that P. aeruginosa GluRS is a discriminating GluRS and, similar to other GluRS proteins, requires the presence of tRNA(Glu) to produce a glutamyl-AMP intermediate. Kinetic parameters for interaction with tRNA were determined and the k(cat) and KM were 0.8 s(-1) and 0.68 µM, respectively, resulting in a k(cat)/KM of 1.18 s(-1) µM(-1). A robust aminoacylation-based scintillation proximity assay (SPA) assay was developed and 800 natural products and 890 synthetic compounds were screened for inhibitory activity against P. aeruginosa GluRS. Fourteen compounds with inhibitory activity were identified. IC50s were in the low micromolar range. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined for each of the compounds against a panel of pathogenic bacteria. Two compounds, BT_03F04 and BT_04B09, inhibited GluRS with IC50s of 21.9 and 24.9 µM, respectively, and both exhibited promising MICs against Gram-positive bacteria. Time-kill studies indicated that one compound was bactericidal and one was bacteriostatic against Gram-positive bacteria. BT_03F04 was found to be noncompetitive with both ATP and glutamic acid, and BT_04B09 was competitive with glutamic acid but noncompetitive with ATP. The compounds were not observed to be toxic to mammalian cells in MTT assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanmei Hu
- Chemistry Department, The University of Texas-Pan American, Edinburg, TX, USA
| | - Edgar Guerrero
- Chemistry Department, The University of Texas-Pan American, Edinburg, TX, USA
| | - Megan Keniry
- Biology Department, The University of Texas-Pan American, Edinburg, TX, USA
| | - Joel Manrrique
- Chemistry Department, The University of Texas-Pan American, Edinburg, TX, USA
| | - James M Bullard
- Chemistry Department, The University of Texas-Pan American, Edinburg, TX, USA
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12
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Dewage SW, Cisneros GA. Computational analysis of ammonia transfer along two intramolecular tunnels in Staphylococcus aureus glutamine-dependent amidotransferase (GatCAB). J Phys Chem B 2015; 119:3669-77. [PMID: 25654336 DOI: 10.1021/jp5123568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Most bacteria and all archaea misacylate the tRNAs corresponding to Asn and Gln with Asp and Glu (Asp-tRNA(Asn) and Glu-tRNA(Gln)).The GatCAB enzyme of most bacteria converts misacylated Glu-tRNA(Gln) to Gln-tRNA(Gln) in order to enable the incorporation of glutamine during protein synthesis. The conversion process involves the intramolecular transfer of ammonia between two spatially separated active sites. This study presents a computational analysis of the two putative intramolecular tunnels that have been suggested to describe the ammonia transfer between the two active sites. Molecular dynamics simulations have been performed for wild-type GatCAB of S. aureus and its mutants: T175(A)V, K88(B)R, E125(B)D, and E125(B)Q. The two tunnels have been analyzed in terms of free energy of ammonia transfer along them. The probability of occurrence of each type of tunnel and the variation of the probability for wild-type GatCAB and its mutants is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajeewa Walimuni Dewage
- Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University , 5101 Cass Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48202, United States
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13
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Structure of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa transamidosome reveals unique aspects of bacterial tRNA-dependent asparagine biosynthesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 112:382-7. [PMID: 25548166 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1423314112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Many prokaryotes lack a tRNA synthetase to attach asparagine to its cognate tRNA(Asn), and instead synthesize asparagine from tRNA(Asn)-bound aspartate. This conversion involves two enzymes: a nondiscriminating aspartyl-tRNA synthetase (ND-AspRS) that forms Asp-tRNA(Asn), and a heterotrimeric amidotransferase GatCAB that amidates Asp-tRNA(Asn) to form Asn-tRNA(Asn) for use in protein synthesis. ND-AspRS, GatCAB, and tRNA(Asn) may assemble in an ∼400-kDa complex, known as the Asn-transamidosome, which couples the two steps of asparagine biosynthesis in space and time to yield Asn-tRNA(Asn). We report the 3.7-Å resolution crystal structure of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Asn-transamidosome, which represents the most common machinery for asparagine biosynthesis in bacteria. We show that, in contrast to a previously described archaeal-type transamidosome, a bacteria-specific GAD domain of ND-AspRS provokes a principally new architecture of the complex. Both tRNA(Asn) molecules in the transamidosome simultaneously serve as substrates and scaffolds for the complex assembly. This architecture rationalizes an elevated dynamic and a greater turnover of ND-AspRS within bacterial-type transamidosomes, and possibly may explain a different evolutionary pathway of GatCAB in organisms with bacterial-type vs. archaeal-type Asn-transamidosomes. Importantly, because the two-step pathway for Asn-tRNA(Asn) formation evolutionarily preceded the direct attachment of Asn to tRNA(Asn), our structure also may reflect the mechanism by which asparagine was initially added to the genetic code.
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14
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Abstract
Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are central players in the protein translation machinery and as such are prominent targets for a large number of natural and synthetic antibiotics. This review focuses on the role of tRNAs in bacterial antibiosis. We will discuss examples of antibiotics that target multiple stages in tRNA biology from tRNA biogenesis and modification, mature tRNAs, aminoacylation of tRNA as well as prevention of proper tRNA function by small molecules binding to the ribosome. Finally, the role of deacylated tRNAs in the bacterial “stringent response” mechanism that can lead to bacteria displaying antibiotic persistence phenotypes will be discussed.
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15
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Alperstein A, Ulrich B, Garofalo DM, Dreisbach R, Raff H, Sheppard K. The predatory bacterium Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus aspartyl-tRNA synthetase recognizes tRNAAsn as a substrate. PLoS One 2014; 9:e110842. [PMID: 25338061 PMCID: PMC4206432 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0110842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2014] [Accepted: 09/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The predatory bacterium Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus preys on other Gram-negative bacteria and was predicted to be an asparagine auxotroph. However, despite encoding asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase and glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase, B. bacteriovorus also contains the amidotransferase GatCAB. Deinococcus radiodurans, and Thermus thermophilus also encode both of these aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases with GatCAB. Both also code for a second aspartyl-tRNA synthetase and use the additional aspartyl-tRNA synthetase with GatCAB to synthesize asparagine on tRNAAsn. Unlike those two bacteria, B. bacteriovorus encodes only one aspartyl-tRNA synthetase. Here we demonstrate the lone B. bacteriovorus aspartyl-tRNA synthetase catalyzes aspartyl-tRNAAsn formation that GatCAB can then amidate to asparaginyl-tRNAAsn. This non-discriminating aspartyl-tRNA synthetase with GatCAB thus provides B. bacteriovorus a second route for Asn-tRNAAsn formation with the asparagine synthesized in a tRNA-dependent manner. Thus, in contrast to a previous prediction, B. bacteriovorus codes for a biosynthetic route for asparagine. Analysis of bacterial genomes suggests a significant number of other bacteria may also code for both routes for Asn-tRNAAsn synthesis with only a limited number encoding a second aspartyl-tRNA synthetase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel Alperstein
- Chemistry Department, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York, United States of America
| | - Brittany Ulrich
- Chemistry Department, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York, United States of America
| | - Denise M. Garofalo
- Chemistry Department, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York, United States of America
| | - Ruth Dreisbach
- Chemistry Department, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York, United States of America
| | - Hannah Raff
- Chemistry Department, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York, United States of America
| | - Kelly Sheppard
- Chemistry Department, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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16
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Abstract
The gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori possesses a highly active urease to support acid tolerance. Urea hydrolysis occurs inside the cytoplasm, resulting in the production of NH3 that is immediately protonated to form NH4 (+). This ammonium must be metabolized or effluxed because its presence within the cell is counterproductive to the goal of raising pH while maintaining a viable proton motive force (PMF). Two compatible hypotheses for mitigating intracellular ammonium toxicity include (i) the exit of protonated ammonium outward via the UreI permease, which was shown to facilitate diffusion of both urea and ammonium, and/or (ii) the assimilation of this ammonium, which is supported by evidence that H. pylori assimilates urea nitrogen into its amino acid pools. We investigated the second hypothesis by constructing strains with altered expression of the ammonium-assimilating enzymes glutamine synthetase (GS) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) and the ammonium-evolving periplasmic enzymes glutaminase (Ggt) and asparaginase (AsnB). H. pylori strains expressing elevated levels of either GS or GDH are more acid tolerant than the wild type, exhibit enhanced ammonium production, and are able to alkalize the medium faster than the wild type. Strains lacking the genes for either Ggt or AsnB are acid sensitive, have 8-fold-lower urea-dependent ammonium production, and are more acid sensitive than the parent. Additionally, we found that purified H. pylori GS produces glutamine in the presence of Mg(2+) at a rate similar to that of unadenylated Escherichia coli GS. These data reveal that all four enzymes contribute to whole-cell acid resistance in H. pylori and are likely important for assimilation and/or efflux of urea-derived ammonium.
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17
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Mladenova SR, Stein KR, Bartlett L, Sheppard K. Relaxed tRNA specificity of theStaphylococcus aureusaspartyl-tRNA synthetase enables RNA-dependent asparagine biosynthesis. FEBS Lett 2014; 588:1808-12. [DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2014.03.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2014] [Revised: 03/17/2014] [Accepted: 03/18/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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18
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Mailu BM, Ramasamay G, Mudeppa DG, Li L, Lindner SE, Peterson MJ, DeRocher AE, Kappe SHI, Rathod PK, Gardner MJ. A nondiscriminating glutamyl-tRNA synthetase in the plasmodium apicoplast: the first enzyme in an indirect aminoacylation pathway. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:32539-32552. [PMID: 24072705 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.507467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum and related organisms possess a relict plastid known as the apicoplast. Apicoplast protein synthesis is a validated drug target in malaria because antibiotics that inhibit translation in prokaryotes also inhibit apicoplast protein synthesis and are sometimes used for malaria prophylaxis or treatment. We identified components of an indirect aminoacylation pathway for Gln-tRNA(Gln) biosynthesis in Plasmodium that we hypothesized would be essential for apicoplast protein synthesis. Here, we report our characterization of the first enzyme in this pathway, the apicoplast glutamyl-tRNA synthetase (GluRS). We expressed the recombinant P. falciparum enzyme in Escherichia coli, showed that it is nondiscriminating because it glutamylates both apicoplast tRNA(Glu) and tRNA(Gln), determined its kinetic parameters, and demonstrated its inhibition by a known bacterial GluRS inhibitor. We also localized the Plasmodium berghei ortholog to the apicoplast in blood stage parasites but could not delete the PbGluRS gene. These data show that Gln-tRNA(Gln) biosynthesis in the Plasmodium apicoplast proceeds via an essential indirect aminoacylation pathway that is reminiscent of bacteria and plastids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boniface M Mailu
- From the Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98109
| | | | - Devaraja G Mudeppa
- the Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195-1700
| | - Ling Li
- From the Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98109
| | - Scott E Lindner
- From the Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98109
| | - Megan J Peterson
- From the Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98109
| | - Amy E DeRocher
- From the Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98109
| | - Stefan H I Kappe
- From the Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98109,; the Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195
| | - Pradipsinh K Rathod
- the Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195-1700; the Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195
| | - Malcolm J Gardner
- From the Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98109,; the Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195.
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19
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Saad NY, Stamatopoulou V, Brayé M, Drainas D, Stathopoulos C, Becker HD. Two-codon T-box riboswitch binding two tRNAs. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2013; 110:12756-61. [PMID: 23858450 PMCID: PMC3732954 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1304307110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
T-box riboswitches control transcription of downstream genes through the tRNA-binding formation of terminator or antiterminator structures. Previously reported T-boxes were described as single-specificity riboswitches that can bind specific tRNA anticodons through codon-anticodon interactions with the nucleotide triplet of their specifier loop (SL). However, the possibility that T-boxes might exhibit specificity beyond a single tRNA had been overlooked. In Clostridium acetobutylicum, the T-box that regulates the operon for the essential tRNA-dependent transamidation pathway harbors a SL with two potential overlapping codon positions for tRNA(Asn) and tRNA(Glu). To test its specificity, we performed extensive mutagenic, biochemical, and chemical probing analyses. Surprisingly, both tRNAs can efficiently bind the SL in vitro and in vivo. The dual specificity of the T-box is allowed by a single base shift on the SL from one overlapping codon to the next. This feature allows the riboswitch to sense two tRNAs and balance the biosynthesis of two amino acids. Detailed genomic comparisons support our observations and suggest that "flexible" T-box riboswitches are widespread among bacteria, and, moreover, their specificity is dictated by the metabolic interconnection of the pathways under control. Taken together, our results support the notion of a genome-dependent codon ambiguity of the SLs. Furthermore, the existence of two overlapping codons imposes a unique example of tRNA-dependent regulation at the transcriptional level.
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MESH Headings
- Anticodon/chemistry
- Anticodon/genetics
- Anticodon/metabolism
- Asparagine/biosynthesis
- Asparagine/genetics
- Clostridium acetobutylicum/chemistry
- Clostridium acetobutylicum/genetics
- Clostridium acetobutylicum/metabolism
- Glutamic Acid/biosynthesis
- Glutamic Acid/genetics
- RNA, Bacterial/chemistry
- RNA, Bacterial/genetics
- RNA, Bacterial/metabolism
- RNA, Transfer, Asn/chemistry
- RNA, Transfer, Asn/genetics
- RNA, Transfer, Asn/metabolism
- RNA, Transfer, Glu/chemistry
- RNA, Transfer, Glu/genetics
- RNA, Transfer, Glu/metabolism
- Riboswitch/physiology
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Affiliation(s)
- Nizar Y. Saad
- Unité Mixte de Recherche 7156 Génétique Moléculaire, Génomique, Microbiologie, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, 67084 Strasbourg, France
- Unité Propre de Recherche Architecture et Réactivité de l’ARN, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Université de Strasbourg, F-67084 Strasbourg, France; and
| | | | - Mélanie Brayé
- Unité Propre de Recherche Architecture et Réactivité de l’ARN, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Université de Strasbourg, F-67084 Strasbourg, France; and
| | - Denis Drainas
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
| | | | - Hubert Dominique Becker
- Unité Mixte de Recherche 7156 Génétique Moléculaire, Génomique, Microbiologie, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, 67084 Strasbourg, France
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20
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Fuengfuloy P, Chuawong P, Suebka S, Wattana-amorn P, Williams C, Crump MP, Songsiriritthigul C. Overproduction of the N-terminal anticodon-binding domain of the non-discriminating aspartyl-tRNA synthetase from Helicobacter pylori for crystallization and NMR measurements. Protein Expr Purif 2013; 89:25-32. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2013.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2012] [Revised: 02/06/2013] [Accepted: 02/13/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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21
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22
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Silva GN, Fatma S, Floyd AM, Fischer F, Chuawong P, Cruz AN, Simari RM, Joshi N, Kern D, Hendrickson TL. A tRNA-independent mechanism for transamidosome assembly promotes aminoacyl-tRNA transamidation. J Biol Chem 2012; 288:3816-22. [PMID: 23258533 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.441394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Many bacteria lack genes encoding asparaginyl- and/or glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase and consequently rely on an indirect path for the synthesis of both Asn-tRNA(Asn) and Gln-tRNA(Gln). In some bacteria such as Thermus thermophilus, efficient delivery of misacylated tRNA to the downstream amidotransferase (AdT) is ensured by formation of a stable, tRNA-dependent macromolecular complex called the Asn-transamidosome. This complex enables direct delivery of Asp-tRNA(Asn) from the non-discriminating aspartyl-tRNA synthetase to AdT, where it is converted into Asn-tRNA(Asn). Previous characterization of the analogous Helicobacter pylori Asn-transamidosome revealed that it is dynamic and cannot be stably isolated, suggesting the possibility of an alternative mechanism to facilitate assembly of a stable complex. We have identified a novel protein partner called Hp0100 as a component of a stable, tRNA-independent H. pylori Asn-transamidosome; this complex contains a non-discriminating aspartyl-tRNA synthetase, AdT, and Hp0100 but does not require tRNA(Asn) for assembly. Hp0100 also enhances the capacity of AdT to convert Asp-tRNA(Asn) into Asn-tRNA(Asn) by ∼35-fold. Our results demonstrate that bacteria have adopted multiple divergent methods for transamidosome assembly and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gayathri N Silva
- Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48230, USA
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23
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Akochy PM, Lapointe J, Roy PH. Natural insertion of the bro-1 β-lactamase gene into the gatCAB operon affects Moraxella catarrhalis aspartyl-tRNAAsn amidotransferase activity. Microbiology (Reading) 2012; 158:2363-2371. [DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.060095-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Marie Akochy
- Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie, CHUQ Pavillon CHUL, 2705 boul. Laurier, RC-709, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
- Institut Pasteur de Côte d’Ivoire, 01 BP 490 Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
- Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bio-informatique, Université Laval, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Jacques Lapointe
- Institut de biologie intégrative et des systèmes (IBIS), Pavillon Charles-Eugène-Marchand, G1V 0A6, Canada
- Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bio-informatique, Université Laval, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Paul H. Roy
- Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie, CHUQ Pavillon CHUL, 2705 boul. Laurier, RC-709, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
- Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bio-informatique, Université Laval, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
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24
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Fischer F, Huot JL, Lorber B, Diss G, Hendrickson TL, Becker HD, Lapointe J, Kern D. The asparagine-transamidosome from Helicobacter pylori: a dual-kinetic mode in non-discriminating aspartyl-tRNA synthetase safeguards the genetic code. Nucleic Acids Res 2012; 40:4965-76. [PMID: 22362756 PMCID: PMC3367201 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gks167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori catalyzes Asn-tRNA(Asn) formation by use of the indirect pathway that involves charging of Asp onto tRNA(Asn) by a non-discriminating aspartyl-tRNA synthetase (ND-AspRS), followed by conversion of the mischarged Asp into Asn by the GatCAB amidotransferase. We show that the partners of asparaginylation assemble into a dynamic Asn-transamidosome, which uses a different strategy than the Gln-transamidosome to prevent the release of the mischarged aminoacyl-tRNA intermediate. The complex is described by gel-filtration, dynamic light scattering and kinetic measurements. Two strategies for asparaginylation are shown: (i) tRNA(Asn) binds GatCAB first, allowing aminoacylation and immediate transamidation once ND-AspRS joins the complex; (ii) tRNA(Asn) is bound by ND-AspRS which releases the Asp-tRNA(Asn) product much slower than the cognate Asp-tRNA(Asp); this kinetic peculiarity allows GatCAB to bind and transamidate Asp-tRNA(Asn) before its release by the ND-AspRS. These results are discussed in the context of the interrelation between the Asn and Gln-transamidosomes which use the same GatCAB in H. pylori, and shed light on a kinetic mechanism that ensures faithful codon reassignment for Asn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Fischer
- Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, UPR 9002 du CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, Université de Strasbourg, 15 rue René Descartes, 67084 Strasbourg Cedex, France
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25
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Kang J, Kuroyanagi S, Akisada T, Hagiwara Y, Tateno M. Unidirectional Mechanistic Valved Mechanisms for Ammonia Transport in GatCAB. J Chem Theory Comput 2012; 8:649-60. [PMID: 26596613 DOI: 10.1021/ct200387u] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Glutamine amidotransferase CAB (GatCAB), a crucial enzyme involved in translational fidelity, catalyzes three reactions: (i) the glutaminase reaction to yield ammonia (NH3 or NH4(+)) from glutamine, (ii) the phosphorylation of Glu-tRNA(Gln), and (iii) the transamidase reaction to convert the phosphorylated Glu-tRNA(Gln) to Gln-tRNA(Gln). In the crystal structure of GatCAB, the two catalytic centers are far apart, and the presence of a hydrophilic channel to transport the molecules produced by the reaction (i) was proposed. We investigated the transport mechanisms of GatCAB by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and free energy (PMF) calculations. In the MD simulations (in total ∼1.1 μs), the entrance of the previously proposed channel is closed, as observed in the crystal structure. Instead, a novel hydrophobic channel has been identified in this study: Since the newly identified entrance opened and closed repeatedly in the MD simulations, it may act as a gate. The calculated free energy difference revealed the significant preference of the newly identified gate/channel for NH3 transport (∼10(4)-fold). In contrast, with respect to NH4(+), the free energy barriers are significantly increased for both channels due to tight hydrogen-bonding with hydrophilic residues, which hinders efficient transport. The opening of the newly identified gate is modulated by Phe206, which acts as a "valve". For the backward flow of NH3, our PMF calculation revealed that the opening of the gate is hindered by Ala207, which acts as a mechanistic "stopper" against the motion of the "valve" (Phe206). This is the first report to elucidate the detailed mechanisms of unidirectional mechanistic valved transport inside proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyoung Kang
- Graduate School of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba , Tennodai 1-1-1, Tsukuba Science City, Ibaraki 305-8571, Japan
| | - Shigehide Kuroyanagi
- Graduate School of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba , Tennodai 1-1-1, Tsukuba Science City, Ibaraki 305-8571, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Akisada
- Graduate School of Life Science, University of Hyogo , 3-2-1 Kouto, Kamigori-cho, Ako-gun, Hyogo 678-1297, Japan
| | - Yohsuke Hagiwara
- Graduate School of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba , Tennodai 1-1-1, Tsukuba Science City, Ibaraki 305-8571, Japan
| | - Masaru Tateno
- Graduate School of Life Science, University of Hyogo , 3-2-1 Kouto, Kamigori-cho, Ako-gun, Hyogo 678-1297, Japan
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26
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Zhao L, Dewage SW, Bell MJ, Chang KM, Fatma S, Joshi N, Silva G, Cisneros GA, Hendrickson TL. The kinase activity of the Helicobacter pylori Asp-tRNA(Asn)/Glu-tRNA(Gln) amidotransferase is sensitive to distal mutations in its putative ammonia tunnel. Biochemistry 2012; 51:273-85. [PMID: 22229412 DOI: 10.1021/bi201143x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The Helicobacter pylori (Hp) Asp-tRNA(Asn)/Glu-tRNA(Gln) amidotransferase (AdT) plays important roles in indirect aminoacylation and translational fidelity. AdT has two active sites, in two separate subunits. Kinetic studies have suggested that interdomain communication occurs between these subunits; however, this mechanism is not well understood. To explore domain-domain communication in AdT, we adapted an assay and optimized it to kinetically characterize the kinase activity of Hp AdT. This assay was applied to the analysis of a series of point mutations at conserved positions throughout the putative AdT ammonia tunnel that connects the two active sites. Several mutations that caused significant decreases in AdT's kinase activity (reduced by 55-75%) were identified. Mutations at Thr149 (37 Å distal to the GatB kinase active site) and Lys89 (located at the interface of GatA and GatB) were detrimental to AdT's kinase activity, suggesting that these mutations have disrupted interdomain communication between the two active sites. Models of wild-type AdT, a valine mutation at Thr149, and an arginine mutation at Lys89 were subjected to molecular dynamics simulations. A comparison of wild-type, T149V, and K89R AdT simulation results unmasks 59 common residues that are likely involved in connecting the two active sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangjun Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, United States
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27
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Vondenhoff GHM, Van Aerschot A. Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase inhibitors as potential antibiotics. Eur J Med Chem 2011; 46:5227-36. [PMID: 21968372 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2011.08.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2011] [Revised: 08/12/2011] [Accepted: 08/15/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Increasing resistance to antibiotics is a major problem worldwide and provides the stimulus for development of new bacterial inhibitors with preferably different modes of action. In search for new leads, several new bacterial targets are being exploited beside the use of traditional screening methods. Hereto, inhibition of bacterial protein synthesis is a long-standing validated target. Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) play an indispensable role in protein synthesis and their structures proved quite conserved in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. However, some divergence has occurred allowing the development of selective aaRS inhibitors. Following an outline on the action mechanism of aaRSs, an overview will be given of already existing aaRS inhibitors, which are largely based on mimics of the aminoacyl-adenylates, the natural reaction intermediates. This is followed by a discussion on more recent developments in the field and the bioavailability problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaston H M Vondenhoff
- Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Minderbroedersstraat 10, BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium
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28
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Blaise M, Fréchin M, Oliéric V, Charron C, Sauter C, Lorber B, Roy H, Kern D. Crystal structure of the archaeal asparagine synthetase: interrelation with aspartyl-tRNA and asparaginyl-tRNA synthetases. J Mol Biol 2011; 412:437-52. [PMID: 21820443 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2011.07.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2011] [Revised: 07/19/2011] [Accepted: 07/21/2011] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Asparagine synthetase A (AsnA) catalyzes asparagine synthesis using aspartate, ATP, and ammonia as substrates. Asparagine is formed in two steps: the β-carboxylate group of aspartate is first activated by ATP to form an aminoacyl-AMP before its amidation by a nucleophilic attack with an ammonium ion. Interestingly, this mechanism of amino acid activation resembles that used by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, which first activate the α-carboxylate group of the amino acid to form also an aminoacyl-AMP before they transfer the activated amino acid onto the cognate tRNA. In a previous investigation, we have shown that the open reading frame of Pyrococcus abyssi annotated as asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase (AsnRS) 2 is, in fact, an archaeal asparagine synthetase A (AS-AR) that evolved from an ancestral aspartyl-tRNA synthetase (AspRS). We present here the crystal structure of this AS-AR. The fold of this protein is similar to that of bacterial AsnA and resembles the catalytic cores of AspRS and AsnRS. The high-resolution structures of AS-AR associated with its substrates and end-products help to understand the reaction mechanism of asparagine formation and release. A comparison of the catalytic core of AS-AR with those of archaeal AspRS and AsnRS and with that of bacterial AsnA reveals a strong conservation. This study uncovers how the active site of the ancestral AspRS rearranged throughout evolution to transform an enzyme activating the α-carboxylate group into an enzyme that is able to activate the β-carboxylate group of aspartate, which can react with ammonia instead of tRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mickaël Blaise
- Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, UPR 9002, 15 rue René Descartes, 67084 Strasbourg Cedex, France.
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29
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Salt-tolerant and thermostable glutaminases of cryptococcus species form a new glutaminase family. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2011; 75:1317-24. [PMID: 21737926 DOI: 10.1271/bbb.110092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Genes encoding salt-tolerant and thermostable glutaminases were isolated from Cryptococcus species. The glutaminase gene, CngahA, from C. nodaensis NISL-3771 was 2,052 bp in length and encoded a 684-amino acid protein. The gene, CagahA, from C. albidus ATCC20293 was 2,100 bp in length and encoded a 700-amino acid protein. These glutaminases showed 44% identity. By searches on public databases, we found that these glutaminases are not similar to any other characterized glutaminases, but are similar to certain hypothetical proteins. On searching the conserved domain with the basic local alignment search tool (BLAST), it was found that they have the amidase domain and are members of the amidase signature superfamily. They were expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and their activity was detected on the cell surface. This study revealed that they are a new type of glutaminase with the amidase signature sequence, and that they form a new glutaminase family.
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30
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Ingvarsson H, Unge T. Flexibility and communication within the structure of the Mycobacterium smegmatis methionyl-tRNA synthetase. FEBS J 2010; 277:3947-62. [PMID: 20796028 DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2010.07784.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Two structures of monomeric methionyl-tRNA synthetase, from Mycobacterium smegmatis, in complex with the ligands methionine/adenosine and methionine, were analyzed by X-ray crystallography at 2.3 Å and at 2.8 Å, respectively. The structures demonstrated the flexibility of the multidomain enzyme. A new conformation of the structure was identified in which the connective peptide domain bound more closely to the catalytic domain than described previously. The KMSKS(301-305) loop in our structures was in an open and inactive conformation that differed from previous structures by a rotation of the loop of about 90° around hinges located at Asn297 and Val310. The binding of adenosine to the methionyl-tRNA synthetase methionine complex caused a shift in the KMSKS domain that brought it closer to the catalytic domain. The potential use of the adenosine-binding site for inhibitor binding was evaluated and a potential binding site for a specific allosteric inhibitor was identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrik Ingvarsson
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Rampias T, Sheppard K, Söll D. The archaeal transamidosome for RNA-dependent glutamine biosynthesis. Nucleic Acids Res 2010; 38:5774-83. [PMID: 20457752 PMCID: PMC2943598 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkq336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Archaea make glutaminyl-tRNA (Gln-tRNAGln) in a two-step process; a non-discriminating glutamyl-tRNA synthetase (ND-GluRS) forms Glu-tRNAGln, while the heterodimeric amidotransferase GatDE converts this mischarged tRNA to Gln-tRNAGln. Many prokaryotes synthesize asparaginyl-tRNA (Asn-tRNAAsn) in a similar manner using a non-discriminating aspartyl-tRNA synthetase (ND-AspRS) and the heterotrimeric amidotransferase GatCAB. The transamidosome, a complex of tRNA synthetase, amidotransferase and tRNA, was first described for the latter system in Thermus thermophilus [Bailly, M., Blaise, M., Lorber, B., Becker, H.D. and Kern, D. (2007) The transamidosome: a dynamic ribonucleoprotein particle dedicated to prokaryotic tRNA-dependent asparagine biosynthesis. Mol. Cell, 28, 228–239.]. Here, we show a similar complex for Gln-tRNAGln formation in Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus that allows the mischarged Glu-tRNAGln made by the tRNA synthetase to be channeled to the amidotransferase. The association of archaeal ND-GluRS with GatDE (KD = 100 ± 22 nM) sequesters the tRNA synthetase for Gln-tRNAGln formation, with GatDE reducing the affinity of ND-GluRS for tRNAGlu by at least 13-fold. Unlike the T. thermophilus transamidosome, the archaeal complex does not require tRNA for its formation, is not stable through product (Gln-tRNAGln) formation, and has no major effect on the kinetics of tRNAGln glutamylation nor transamidation. The differences between the two transamidosomes may be a consequence of the fact that ND-GluRS is a class I aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase, while ND-AspRS belongs to the class II family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodoros Rampias
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry and Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
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Coupled amino acid deamidase-transport systems essential for Helicobacter pylori colonization. Infect Immun 2010; 78:2782-92. [PMID: 20368342 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00149-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In addition to their classical roles as carbon or nitrogen sources, amino acids can be used for bacterial virulence, colonization, or stress resistance. We found that original deamidase-transport systems impact colonization by Helicobacter pylori, a human pathogen associated with gastric pathologies, including adenocarcinoma. We demonstrated that l-asparaginase (Hp-AnsB) and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (Hp-gammaGT) are highly active periplasmic deamidases in H. pylori, producing ammonia and aspartate or glutamate from asparagine and glutamine, respectively. Hp-GltS was identified as a sole and specialized transporter for glutamate, while aspartate was exclusively imported by Hp-DcuA. Uptake of Gln and Asn strictly relies on indirect pathways following prior periplasmic deamidation into Glu and Asp. Hence, in H. pylori, the coupled action of periplasmic deamidases with their respective transporters enables the acquisition of Glu and Asp from Gln and Asn, respectively. These systems were active at neutral rather than acidic pH, suggesting their function near the host epithelial cells. We showed that Hp-DcuA, the fourth component of these novel deamidase-transport systems, was as crucial as Hp-gammaGT, Hp-AnsB, and Hp-GltS for animal model colonization. In conclusion, the pH-regulated coupled amino acid deamidase-uptake system represents an original optimized system that is essential for in vivo colonization of the stomach environment by H. pylori. We propose a model in which these two nonredundant systems participate in H. pylori virulence by depleting gastric or immune cells from protective amino acids such as Gln and producing toxic ammonia close to the host cells.
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Nakamura A, Sheppard K, Yamane J, Yao M, Söll D, Tanaka I. Two distinct regions in Staphylococcus aureus GatCAB guarantee accurate tRNA recognition. Nucleic Acids Res 2010; 38:672-82. [PMID: 19906721 PMCID: PMC2811023 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkp955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In many prokaryotes the biosynthesis of the amide aminoacyl-tRNAs, Gln-tRNA(Gln) and Asn-tRNA(Asn), proceeds by an indirect route in which mischarged Glu-tRNA(Gln) or Asp-tRNA(Asn) is amidated to the correct aminoacyl-tRNA catalyzed by a tRNA-dependent amidotransferase (AdT). Two types of AdTs exist: bacteria, archaea and organelles possess heterotrimeric GatCAB, while heterodimeric GatDE occurs exclusively in archaea. Bacterial GatCAB and GatDE recognize the first base pair of the acceptor stem and the D-loop of their tRNA substrates, while archaeal GatCAB recognizes the tertiary core of the tRNA, but not the first base pair. Here, we present the crystal structure of the full-length Staphylococcus aureus GatCAB. Its GatB tail domain possesses a conserved Lys rich motif that is situated close to the variable loop in a GatCAB:tRNA(Gln) docking model. This motif is also conserved in the tail domain of archaeal GatCAB, suggesting this basic region may recognize the tRNA variable loop to discriminate Asp-tRNA(Asn) from Asp-tRNA(Asp) in archaea. Furthermore, we identified a 3(10) turn in GatB that permits the bacterial GatCAB to distinguish a U1-A72 base pair from a G1-C72 pair; the absence of this element in archaeal GatCAB enables the latter enzyme to recognize aminoacyl-tRNAs with G1-C72 base pairs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akiyoshi Nakamura
- Division of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan, Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8114, USA, Faculty of Advanced Life Science, Hokkaido University, kita-10, nishi-8, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0810, Japan and Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8114, USA
| | - Kelly Sheppard
- Division of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan, Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8114, USA, Faculty of Advanced Life Science, Hokkaido University, kita-10, nishi-8, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0810, Japan and Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8114, USA
| | - Junji Yamane
- Division of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan, Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8114, USA, Faculty of Advanced Life Science, Hokkaido University, kita-10, nishi-8, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0810, Japan and Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8114, USA
| | - Min Yao
- Division of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan, Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8114, USA, Faculty of Advanced Life Science, Hokkaido University, kita-10, nishi-8, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0810, Japan and Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8114, USA
| | - Dieter Söll
- Division of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan, Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8114, USA, Faculty of Advanced Life Science, Hokkaido University, kita-10, nishi-8, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0810, Japan and Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8114, USA
| | - Isao Tanaka
- Division of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan, Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8114, USA, Faculty of Advanced Life Science, Hokkaido University, kita-10, nishi-8, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0810, Japan and Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8114, USA,*To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel/Fax: +81 11 706 3221;
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Bhatt TK, Kapil C, Khan S, Jairajpuri MA, Sharma V, Santoni D, Silvestrini F, Pizzi E, Sharma A. A genomic glimpse of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. BMC Genomics 2009; 10:644. [PMID: 20042123 PMCID: PMC2813244 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-10-644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2009] [Accepted: 12/31/2009] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Plasmodium parasites are causative agents of malaria which affects >500 million people and claims ~2 million lives annually. The completion of Plasmodium genome sequencing and availability of PlasmoDB database has provided a platform for systematic study of parasite genome. Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) are pivotal enzymes for protein translation and other vital cellular processes. We report an extensive analysis of the Plasmodium falciparum genome to identify and classify aaRSs in this organism. Results Using various computational and bioinformatics tools, we have identified 37 aaRSs in P. falciparum. Our key observations are: (i) fraction of proteome dedicated to aaRSs in P. falciparum is very high compared to many other organisms; (ii) 23 out of 37 Pf-aaRS sequences contain signal peptides possibly directing them to different cellular organelles; (iii) expression profiles of Pf-aaRSs vary considerably at various life cycle stages of the parasite; (iv) several PfaaRSs posses very unusual domain architectures; (v) phylogenetic analyses reveal evolutionary relatedness of several parasite aaRSs to bacterial and plants aaRSs; (vi) three dimensional structural modelling has provided insights which could be exploited in inhibitor discovery against parasite aaRSs. Conclusion We have identified 37 Pf-aaRSs based on our bioinformatics analysis. Our data reveal several unique attributes in this protein family. We have annotated all 37 Pf-aaRSs based on predicted localization, phylogenetics, domain architectures and their overall protein expression profiles. The sets of distinct features elaborated in this work will provide a platform for experimental dissection of this family of enzymes, possibly for the discovery of novel drugs against malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarun Kumar Bhatt
- Structural and Computational Biology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India.
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Duckworth MJ, Okoli AS, Mendz GL. Novel Helicobacter pylori therapeutic targets: the unusual suspects. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2009; 7:835-67. [PMID: 19735225 DOI: 10.1586/eri.09.61] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the current status of the discovery and development of anti-Helicobacter therapies requires an overview of the searches for therapeutic targets performed to date. A summary is given of the very substantial body of work conducted in the quest to find Helicobacter pylori genes that could be suitable candidates for therapeutic intervention. The products of most of these genes perform metabolic functions, and others have roles in growth, cell motility and colonization. The genes identified as potential targets have been organized into three categories according to their degree of characterization. A short description and evaluation is provided of the main candidates in each category. Investigations of potential therapeutic targets have generated a wealth of information about the physiology and genetics of H. pylori, and its interactions with the host, but have yielded little by way of new therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan J Duckworth
- School of Medicine, Sydney, The University of Notre Dame Australia, 160 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia.
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Wu J, Bu W, Sheppard K, Kitabatake M, Kwon ST, Söll D, Smith JL. Insights into tRNA-dependent amidotransferase evolution and catalysis from the structure of the Aquifex aeolicus enzyme. J Mol Biol 2009; 391:703-16. [PMID: 19520089 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2009.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2009] [Revised: 04/16/2009] [Accepted: 06/04/2009] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Many bacteria form Gln-tRNA(Gln) and Asn-tRNA(Asn) by conversion of the misacylated Glu-tRNA(Gln) and Asp-tRNA(Asn) species catalyzed by the GatCAB amidotransferase in the presence of ATP and an amide donor (glutamine or asparagine). Here, we report the crystal structures of GatCAB from the hyperthermophilic bacterium Aquifex aeolicus, complexed with glutamine, asparagine, aspartate, ADP, or ATP. In contrast to the Staphylococcus aureus GatCAB, the A. aeolicus enzyme formed acyl-enzyme intermediates with either glutamine or asparagine, in line with the equally facile use by the amidotransferase of these amino acids as amide donors in the transamidation reaction. A water-filled ammonia channel is open throughout the length of the A. aeolicus GatCAB from the GatA active site to the synthetase catalytic pocket in the B-subunit. A non-catalytic Zn(2+) site in the A. aeolicus GatB stabilizes subunit contacts and the ammonia channel. Judged from sequence conservation in the known GatCAB sequences, the Zn(2+) binding motif was likely present in the primordial GatB/E, but became lost in certain lineages (e.g., S. aureus GatB). Two divalent metal binding sites, one permanent and the other transient, are present in the catalytic pocket of the A. aeolicus GatB. The two sites enable GatCAB to first phosphorylate the misacylated tRNA substrate and then amidate the activated intermediate to form the cognate products, Gln-tRNA(Gln) or Asn-tRNA(Asn).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wu
- Life Sciences Institute, Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 48109, USA
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Cathopoulis TJT, Chuawong P, Hendrickson TL. Conserved discrimination against misacylated tRNAs by two mesophilic elongation factor Tu orthologs. Biochemistry 2008; 47:7610-6. [PMID: 18627126 DOI: 10.1021/bi800369q] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) binds and loads elongating aminoacyl-tRNAs (aa-tRNAs) onto the ribosome for protein biosynthesis. Many bacteria biosynthesize Gln-tRNA (Gln) and Asn-tRNA (Asn) by an indirect, two-step pathway that relies on the misacylated tRNAs Glu-tRNA (Gln) and Asp-tRNA (Asn) as intermediates. Previous thermodynamic and experimental analyses have demonstrated that Thermus thermophilus EF-Tu does not bind Asp-tRNA (Asn) and predicted a similar discriminatory response against Glu-tRNA (Gln) [Asahara, H., and Uhlenbeck, O. (2005) Biochemistry 46, 6194-6200; Roy, H., et al. (2007) Nucleic Acids Res. 35, 3420-3430]. By discriminating against these misacylated tRNAS, EF-Tu plays a direct role in preventing misincorporation of aspartate and glutamate into proteins at asparagine and glutamine codons. Here we report the characterization of two different mesophilic EF-Tu orthologs, one from Escherichia coli, a bacterium that does not utilize either Glu-tRNA (Gln) or Asp-tRNA (Asn), and the second from Helicobacter pylori, an organism in which both misacylated tRNAs are essential. Both EF-Tu orthologs discriminate against these misacylated tRNAs, confirming the prediction that Glu-tRNA (Gln), like Asp-tRNA (Asn), will not form a complex with EF-Tu. These results also demonstrate that the capacity of EF-Tu to discriminate against both of these aminoacyl-tRNAs is conserved even in bacteria like E. coli that do not generate either misacylated tRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terry J T Cathopoulis
- Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA
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38
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Abstract
The accurate formation of cognate aminoacyl-transfer RNAs (aa-tRNAs) is essential for the fidelity of translation. Most amino acids are esterified onto their cognate tRNA isoacceptors directly by aa-tRNA synthetases. However, in the case of four amino acids (Gln, Asn, Cys and Sec), aminoacyl-tRNAs are made through indirect pathways in many organisms across all three domains of life. The process begins with the charging of noncognate amino acids to tRNAs by a specialized synthetase in the case of Cys-tRNA(Cys) formation or by synthetases with relaxed specificity, such as the non-discriminating glutamyl-tRNA, non-discriminating aspartyl-tRNA and seryl-tRNA synthetases. The resulting misacylated tRNAs are then converted to cognate pairs through transformation of the amino acids on the tRNA, which is catalyzed by a group of tRNA-dependent modifying enzymes, such as tRNA-dependent amidotransferases, Sep-tRNA:Cys-tRNA synthase, O-phosphoseryl-tRNA kinase and Sep-tRNA:Sec-tRNA synthase. The majority of these indirect pathways are widely spread in all domains of life and thought to be part of the evolutionary process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Yuan
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8114, USA
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39
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Bailly M, Blaise M, Roy H, Deniziak M, Lorber B, Birck C, Becker HD, Kern D. tRNA-dependent asparagine formation in prokaryotes: characterization, isolation and structural and functional analysis of a ribonucleoprotein particle generating Asn-tRNA(Asn). Methods 2008; 44:146-63. [PMID: 18241796 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2007.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2007] [Revised: 11/23/2007] [Accepted: 11/29/2007] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In some living organisms the 20 aa-tRNA species participating in protein synthesis are not charged by a complete set of 20 aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. In prokaryotes, the deficiency of asparaginyl- and/or glutaminyl-tRNA synthetases is compensated by another aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase of relaxed specificity that mischarges the orphan tRNA and by an enzyme that converts the amino acid into that homologous to the tRNA. In Thermus thermophilus Asn-tRNA(Asn) is formed indirectly via a two-step pathway whereby tRNA(Asn) is mischarged with Asp that will subsequently be amidated into Asn by an amidotransferase. The non-discriminating aspartyl-tRNA synthetase, the trimeric GatCAB tRNA-dependent amidotransferase and the tRNA(Asn) promoting this pathway assemble into a ribonucleoprotein particle termed transamidosome. This article deals with the methods and techniques employed to clone the genes encoding the enzymes and the tRNA involved in this pathway, to express them in Escherichia coli, to isolate them on a large scale, and to transcribe and produce mg quantities of pure tRNA(Asn)in vitro. The approaches designed especially for this system include (i) clustering of the ORFs encoding the subunits of the heterotrimeric GatCAB that are sprinkled in the genome into an artificial operon, and (ii) the self-cleavage of the tRNA(Asn) transcript starting with U in 5' position through fusion with a hammerhead ribozyme. Further, the crystallization of the free enzymes is described and the characterization of their assembly with tRNA(Asn) into a ribonucleoprotein particle, as well as the investigation of the catalytic mechanism of Asn-tRNA(Asn) formation by the complex are reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Bailly
- UPR 9002 Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire du CNRS, 15 Rue René Descartes and Université Louis Pasteur, F-67084 Strasbourg Cedex, France
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Dual-targeted tRNA-dependent amidotransferase ensures both mitochondrial and chloroplastic Gln-tRNAGln synthesis in plants. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2008; 105:6481-5. [PMID: 18441100 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0712299105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNAs are generally formed by direct attachment of an amino acid to tRNAs by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, but Gln-tRNA is an exception to this rule. Gln-tRNA(Gln) is formed by this direct pathway in the eukaryotic cytosol and in protists or fungi mitochondria but is formed by an indirect transamidation pathway in most of bacteria, archaea, and chloroplasts. We show here that the formation of Gln-tRNA(Gln) is also achieved by the indirect pathway in plant mitochondria. The mitochondrial-encoded tRNA(Gln), which is the only tRNA(Gln) present in mitochondria, is first charged with glutamate by a nondiscriminating GluRS, then is converted into Gln-tRNA(Gln) by a tRNA-dependent amidotransferase (AdT). The three subunits GatA, GatB, and GatC are imported into mitochondria and assemble into a functional GatCAB AdT. Moreover, the mitochondrial pathway of Gln-tRNA(Gln) formation is shared with chloroplasts as both the GluRS, and the three AdT subunits are dual-imported into mitochondria and chloroplasts.
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Balg C, Huot JL, Lapointe J, Chênevert R. Inhibition of Helicobacter pylori Aminoacyl-tRNA Amidotransferase by Puromycin Analogues. J Am Chem Soc 2008; 130:3264-5. [DOI: 10.1021/ja7100714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Christian Balg
- Département de Chimie and Département de Biochimie et de Microbiologie, Centre de Recherche sur la Fonction, la Structure et l'Ingénierie des Protéines (CREFSIP), Faculté des Sciences et de Génie, Université Laval, Québec, Canada, G1K 7P4
| | - Jonathan L. Huot
- Département de Chimie and Département de Biochimie et de Microbiologie, Centre de Recherche sur la Fonction, la Structure et l'Ingénierie des Protéines (CREFSIP), Faculté des Sciences et de Génie, Université Laval, Québec, Canada, G1K 7P4
| | - Jacques Lapointe
- Département de Chimie and Département de Biochimie et de Microbiologie, Centre de Recherche sur la Fonction, la Structure et l'Ingénierie des Protéines (CREFSIP), Faculté des Sciences et de Génie, Université Laval, Québec, Canada, G1K 7P4
| | - Robert Chênevert
- Département de Chimie and Département de Biochimie et de Microbiologie, Centre de Recherche sur la Fonction, la Structure et l'Ingénierie des Protéines (CREFSIP), Faculté des Sciences et de Génie, Université Laval, Québec, Canada, G1K 7P4
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Sheppard K, Yuan J, Hohn MJ, Jester B, Devine KM, Söll D. From one amino acid to another: tRNA-dependent amino acid biosynthesis. Nucleic Acids Res 2008; 36:1813-25. [PMID: 18252769 PMCID: PMC2330236 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkn015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNAs (aa-tRNAs) are the essential substrates for translation. Most aa-tRNAs are formed by direct aminoacylation of tRNA catalyzed by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. However, a smaller number of aa-tRNAs (Asn-tRNA, Gln-tRNA, Cys-tRNA and Sec-tRNA) are made by synthesizing the amino acid on the tRNA by first attaching a non-cognate amino acid to the tRNA, which is then converted to the cognate one catalyzed by tRNA-dependent modifying enzymes. Asn-tRNA or Gln-tRNA formation in most prokaryotes requires amidation of Asp-tRNA or Glu-tRNA by amidotransferases that couple an amidase or an asparaginase to liberate ammonia with a tRNA-dependent kinase. Both archaeal and eukaryotic Sec-tRNA biosynthesis and Cys-tRNA synthesis in methanogens require O-phosophoseryl-tRNA formation. For tRNA-dependent Cys biosynthesis, O-phosphoseryl-tRNA synthetase directly attaches the amino acid to the tRNA which is then converted to Cys by Sep-tRNA: Cys-tRNA synthase. In Sec-tRNA synthesis, O-phosphoseryl-tRNA kinase phosphorylates Ser-tRNA to form the intermediate which is then modified to Sec-tRNA by Sep-tRNA:Sec-tRNA synthase. Complex formation between enzymes in the same pathway may protect the fidelity of protein synthesis. How these tRNA-dependent amino acid biosynthetic routes are integrated into overall metabolism may explain why they are still retained in so many organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Sheppard
- Department of Molecular Biophysics, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8114, USA
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43
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Sheppard K, Akochy PM, Söll D. Assays for transfer RNA-dependent amino acid biosynthesis. Methods 2008; 44:139-45. [PMID: 18241795 PMCID: PMC2266967 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2007.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2007] [Accepted: 06/25/2007] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Selenocysteinyl-tRNA(Sec), cysteinyl-tRNA(Cys), glutaminyl-tRNA(Gln), and asparaginyl-tRNA(Asn) in many organisms are formed in an indirect pathway in which a non-cognate amino acid is first attached to the tRNA. This non-cognate amino acid is then converted to the cognate amino acid by a tRNA-dependent modifying enzyme. The in vitro characterization of these modifying enzymes is challenging due to the fact the substrate, aminoacyl-tRNA, is labile and requires a prior enzymatic step to be synthesized. The need to separate product aa-tRNA from unreacted substrate is typically a labor- and time-intensive task; this adds another impediment in the investigation of these enzymes. Here, we review four different approaches for studying these tRNA-dependent amino acid modifications. In addition, we describe in detail a [32P]/nuclease P1 assay for glutaminyl-tRNA(Gln) and asparaginyl-tRNA(Asn) formation which is sensitive, enables monitoring of the aminoacyl state of the tRNA, and is less time consuming than some of the other techniques. This [32P]/nuclease P1 method should be adaptable to studying tRNA-dependent selenocysteine and cysteine synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Sheppard
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8114, USA
| | - Pierre-Marie Akochy
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8114, USA
| | - Dieter Söll
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8114, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8114, USA
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Sheppard K, Sherrer RL, Söll D. Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus tRNA Gln confines the amidotransferase GatCAB to asparaginyl-tRNA Asn formation. J Mol Biol 2008; 377:845-53. [PMID: 18291416 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2008.01.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2007] [Revised: 01/15/2008] [Accepted: 01/16/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Many prokaryotes form the amide aminoacyl-tRNAs glutaminyl-tRNA and asparaginyl-tRNA by tRNA-dependent amidation of the mischarged tRNA species, glutamyl-tRNA(Gln) or aspartyl-tRNA(Asn). Archaea employ two such amidotransferases, GatCAB and GatDE, while bacteria possess only one, GatCAB. The Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus GatDE is slightly more efficient using Asn as an amide donor than Gln (k(cat)/K(M) of 5.4 s(-1)/mM and 1.2 s(-1)/mM, respectively). Unlike the bacterial GatCAB enzymes studied to date, the M. thermautotrophicus GatCAB uses Asn almost as well as Gln as an amide donor (k(cat)/K(M) of 5.7 s(-1)/mM and 16.7 s(-1)/mM, respectively). In contrast to the initial characterization of the M. thermautotrophicus GatCAB as being able to form Asn-tRNA(Asn) and Gln-tRNA(Gln), our data demonstrate that while the enzyme is able to transamidate Asp-tRNA(Asn) (k(cat)/K(M) of 125 s(-1)/mM) it is unable to transamidate M. thermautotrophicus Glu-tRNA(Gln). However, M. thermautotrophicus GatCAB is capable of transamidating Glu-tRNA(Gln) from H. pylori or B. subtilis, and M. thermautotrophicus Glu-tRNA(Asn). Thus, M. thermautotrophicus encodes two amidotransferases, each with its own activity, GatDE for Gln-tRNA and GatCAB for Asn-tRNA synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Sheppard
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8114, USA
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Sheppard K, Söll D. On the evolution of the tRNA-dependent amidotransferases, GatCAB and GatDE. J Mol Biol 2008; 377:831-44. [PMID: 18279892 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2008.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2007] [Revised: 12/21/2007] [Accepted: 01/02/2008] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase and asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase evolved from glutamyl-tRNA synthetase and aspartyl-tRNA synthetase, respectively, after the split in the last universal communal ancestor (LUCA). Glutaminyl-tRNA(Gln) and asparaginyl-tRNA(Asn) were likely formed in LUCA by amidation of the mischarged species, glutamyl-tRNA(Gln) and aspartyl-tRNA(Asn), by tRNA-dependent amidotransferases, as is still the case in most bacteria and all known archaea. The amidotransferase GatCAB is found in both domains of life, while the heterodimeric amidotransferase GatDE is found only in Archaea. The GatB and GatE subunits belong to a unique protein family that includes Pet112 that is encoded in the nuclear genomes of numerous eukaryotes. GatE was thought to have evolved from GatB after the emergence of the modern lines of decent. Our phylogenetic analysis though places the split between GatE and GatB, prior to the phylogenetic divide between Bacteria and Archaea, and Pet112 to be of mitochondrial origin. In addition, GatD appears to have emerged prior to the bacterial-archaeal phylogenetic divide. Thus, while GatDE is an archaeal signature protein, it likely was present in LUCA together with GatCAB. Archaea retained both amidotransferases, while Bacteria emerged with only GatCAB. The presence of GatDE has favored a unique archaeal tRNA(Gln) that may be preventing the acquisition of glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase in Archaea. Archaeal GatCAB, on the other hand, has not favored a distinct tRNA(Asn), suggesting that tRNA(Asn) recognition is not a major barrier to the retention of asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase in many Archaea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Sheppard
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8114, USA
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Sherrer RL, O'Donoghue P, Söll D. Characterization and evolutionary history of an archaeal kinase involved in selenocysteinyl-tRNA formation. Nucleic Acids Res 2008; 36:1247-59. [PMID: 18174226 PMCID: PMC2275090 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkm1134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Selenocysteine (Sec)-decoding archaea and eukaryotes employ a unique route of Sec-tRNASec synthesis in which O-phosphoseryl-tRNASec kinase (PSTK) phosphorylates Ser-tRNASec to produce the O-phosphoseryl-tRNASec (Sep-tRNASec) substrate that Sep-tRNA:Sec-tRNA synthase (SepSecS) converts to Sec-tRNASec. This study presents a biochemical characterization of Methanocaldococcus jannaschii PSTK, including kinetics of Sep-tRNASec formation (Km for Ser-tRNASec of 40 nM and ATP of 2.6 mM). PSTK binds both Ser-tRNASec and tRNASec with high affinity (Kd values of 53 nM and 39 nM, respectively). The ATPase activity of PSTK may be activated via an induced fit mechanism in which binding of tRNASec specifically stimulates hydrolysis. Albeit with lower activity than ATP, PSTK utilizes GTP, CTP, UTP and dATP as phosphate-donors. Homology with related kinases allowed prediction of the ATPase active site, comprised of phosphate-binding loop (P-loop), Walker B and RxxxR motifs. Gly14, Lys17, Ser18, Asp41, Arg116 and Arg120 mutations resulted in enzymes with decreased activity highlighting the importance of these conserved motifs in PSTK catalysis both in vivo and in vitro. Phylogenetic analysis of PSTK in the context of its ‘DxTN’ kinase family shows that PSTK co-evolved precisely with SepSecS and indicates the presence of a previously unidentified PSTK in Plasmodium species.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Lynn Sherrer
- Department of Molecular Biophysics, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8114, USA
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