Bacterial metabolism of 3-chloroacrylic acid

Resolution of the uncertainty in the kinetic mechanism for the trans-3-Chloroacrylic acid dehalogenase-catalyzed reaction

trans- and cis-3-Chloroacrylic acid dehalogenase (CaaD and cis-CaaD, respectively) catalyze the hydrolytic dehalogenation of their respective isomers and represent key steps in the bacterial conversion of 1,3-dichloropropene to acetaldehyde. In prior work, a kinetic mechanism for the CaaD-catalyzed reaction could not be unequivocally determined because (1) the order of product release could not be determined and (2) the fluorescence factor for the enzyme species, E*PQ (where P = bromide and Q = malonate semialdehyde, the two products of the reaction) could not be assigned. The ambiguities in the model have now been resolved by stopped-flow experiments following the reaction using an active site fluorescent probe, αY60W-CaaD and 3-bromopropiolate, previously shown to be a mechanism-based inhibitor of CaaD, coupled with the rate of bromide release in the course of CaaD inactivation. A global fit of the combined datasets provides a complete minimal model for the reaction of αY60W-CaaD and 3-bromoacrylate. In addition, the global fit produces kinetic constants for CaaD inactivation by 3-bromopropiolate and implicates the acyl bromide as the inactivating species. Finally, a comparison of the model with that for cis-CaaD shows that for both enzymes turnover is limited by product release and not chemistry.

Reactions of Cg10062, a cis-3-Chloroacrylic Acid Dehalogenase Homologue, with Acetylene and Allene Substrates: Evidence for a Hydration-Dependent Decarboxylation

Cg10062 is a cis-3-chloroacrylic acid dehalogenase (cis-CaaD) homologue from Corynebacterium glutamicum with an unknown function and an uninformative genomic context. It shares 53% pairwise sequence similarity with cis-CaaD including the six active site amino acids (Pro-1, His-28, Arg-70, Arg-73, Tyr-103, and Glu-114) that are critical for cis-CaaD activity. However, Cg10062 is a poor cis-CaaD: it lacks catalytic efficiency and isomer specificity. Two acetylene compounds (propiolate and 2-butynoate) and an allene compound, 2,3-butadienoate, were investigated as potential substrates. Cg10062 functions as a hydratase/decarboxylase using propiolate as well as the cis-3-chloro- and 3-bromoacrylates, generating mixtures of malonate semialdehyde and acetaldehyde. The two activities occur sequentially at the active site using the initial substrate. With 2,3-butadienoate and 2-butynoate, Cg10062 functions as a hydratase and converts both to acetoacetate. Mutations of the proposed water-activating residues (E114Q, E114D, and Y103F) have a range of consequences from a reduction in wild type activity to a switch of activities (i.e., hydratase into a hydratase/decarboxylase or vice versa). The intermediates for the hydration and decarboxylation products can be trapped as covalent adducts to Pro-1 when NaCNBH3 is incubated with the E114D mutant and 2,3-butadienoate or 2-butynoate, and the Y103F mutant and 2-butynoate. Three mechanisms are presented to explain these findings. One mechanism involves the direct attack of water on the substrate, whereas the other two mechanisms use covalent catalysis in which a covalent bond forms between Pro-1 and the hydration product or the substrate. The strengths and weaknesses of the mechanisms and the implications for Cg10062 function are discussed.

Identification and characterization of new family members in the tautomerase superfamily: analysis and implications

Tautomerase superfamily members are characterized by a β-α-β building block and a catalytic amino terminal proline. 4-Oxalocrotonate tautomerase (4-OT) and malonate semialdehyde decarboxylase (MSAD) are the title enzymes of two of the five known families in the superfamily. Two recent developments in these families indicate that there might be more metabolic diversity in the tautomerase superfamily than previously thought. 4-OT homologues have been identified in three biosynthetic pathways, whereas all previously characterized 4-OTs are found in catabolic pathways. In the MSAD family, homologues have been characterized that lack decarboxylase activity, but have a modest hydratase activity using 2-oxo-3-pentynoate. This observation stands in contrast to the first characterized MSAD, which is a proficient decarboxylase and a less efficient hydratase. The hydratase activity was thought to be a vestigial and promiscuous activity. However, this recent discovery suggests that the hydratase activity might reflect a new activity in the MSAD family for an unknown substrate. These discoveries open up new avenues of research in the tautomerase superfamily.

A mutational analysis of active site residues in trans-3-chloroacrylic acid dehalogenase

trans-3-Chloroacrylic acid dehalogenase (CaaD) catalyzes the hydrolytic dehalogenation of trans-3-haloacrylates to yield malonate semialdehyde by a mechanism utilizing βPro-1, αArg-8, αArg-11, and αGlu-52. These residues are implicated in a promiscuous hydratase activity where 2-oxo-3-pentynoate is processed to acetopyruvate. The roles of three nearby residues (βAsn-39, αPhe-39, and αPhe-50) are unexplored. Mutants were constructed at these positions (βN39A, αF39A, αF39T, αF50A and αF50Y) and kinetic parameters determined along with those of the αR8K and αR11K mutants. Analysis indicates that αArg-8, αArg-11, and βAsn-39 are critical for dehalogenase activity whereas αArg-11 and αPhe-50 are critical for hydratase activity. Docking studies suggest structural bases for these observations.

Kinetic, mutational, and structural analysis of malonate semialdehyde decarboxylase from Coryneform bacterium strain FG41: mechanistic implications for the decarboxylase and hydratase activities

Malonate semialdehyde decarboxylase from Pseudomonas pavonaceae 170 (designated Pp MSAD) is in a bacterial catabolic pathway for the nematicide 1,3-dichloropropene. MSAD has two known activities: it catalyzes the metal ion-independent decarboxylation of malonate semialdehyde to produce acetaldehyde and carbon dioxide and a low-level hydration of 2-oxo-3-pentynoate to yield acetopyruvate. The latter activity is not known to be biologically relevant. Previous studies identified Pro-1, Asp-37, and a pair of arginines (Arg-73 and Arg-75) as critical residues in these activities. In terms of pairwise sequence, MSAD from Coryneform bacterium strain FG41 (designated FG41 MSAD) is 38% identical with the Pseudomonas enzyme, including Pro-1 and Asp-37. However, Gln-73 replaces Arg-73, and the second arginine is shifted to Arg-76 by the insertion of a glycine. To determine how these changes relate to the activities of FG41 MSAD, the gene was cloned and the enzyme expressed and characterized. The enzyme has a comparable decarboxylase activity but a significantly reduced hydratase activity. Mutagenesis along with crystal structures of the native enzyme (2.0 Å resolution) and the enzyme modified by a 3-oxopropanoate moiety (resulting from the incubation of the enzyme and 3-bromopropiolate) (2.2 Å resolution) provided a structural basis. The roles of Pro-1 and Asp-37 are likely the same as those proposed for Pp MSAD. However, the side chains of Thr-72, Gln-73, and Tyr-123 replace those of Arg-73 and Arg-75 in the mechanism and play a role in binding and catalysis. The structures also show that Arg-76 is likely too distant to play a direct role in the mechanism. FG41 MSAD is the second functionally annotated homologue in the MSAD family of the tautomerase superfamily and could represent a new subfamily.

A mutational analysis of the active site loop residues in cis-3-Chloroacrylic acid dehalogenase

cis-3-Chloroacrylic acid dehalogenase (cis-CaaD) from Pseudomonas pavonaceae 170 and a homologue from Corynebacterium glutamicum designated Cg10062 are 34% identical in sequence (54% similar). The former catalyzes a key step in a bacterial catabolic pathway for the nematocide 1,3-dichloropropene, whereas the latter has no known biological activity. Although Cg10062 has the six active site residues (Pro-1, His-28, Arg-70, Arg-73, Tyr-103, and Glu-114) that are critical for cis-CaaD activity, it shows only a low level cis-CaaD activity and lacks the specificity of cis-CaaD: Cg10062 processes both isomers of 3-chloroacrylate with a preference for the cis isomer. The basis for these differences is unknown, but a comparison of the crystal structures of the enzymes covalently modified by an adduct resulting from their incubation with the same inhibitor offers a possible explanation. A six-residue active site loop in cis-CaaD shows a conformation strikingly different from that observed in Cg10062: the loop closes down on the active site of cis-CaaD, but not on that of Cg10062. To examine what this loop might contribute to cis-CaaD catalysis and specificity, the residues were changed individually to those found in Cg10062. Subsequent kinetic and mechanistic analysis suggests that the T34A mutant of cis-CaaD is more Cg10062-like. The mutant enzyme shows a 4-fold increase in Km (using cis-3-bromoacrylate), but not to the degree observed for Cg10062 (687-fold). The mutation also causes a 4-fold decrease in the burst rate (compared to that of wild-type cis-CaaD), whereas Cg10062 shows no burst rate. More telling is the reaction of the T34A mutant of cis-CaaD with the alternate substrate, 2,3-butadienoate. In the presence of NaBH4 and the allene, cis-CaaD is completely inactivated after one turnover because of the covalent modification of Pro-1. The same experiment with Cg10062 does not result in the covalent modification of Pro-1. The different outcomes are attributed to covalent catalysis (using Pro-1) followed by hydrolysis of the enamine or imine tautomer in cis-CaaD versus direct hydration of the allene to yield acetoacetate in the case of Cg10062. The T34A mutant shows partial inactivation, requiring five turnovers of the substrate per monomer, which suggests that the direct hydration route is favored 80% of the time. However, the mutation does not alter the stereochemistry at C-2 of [2-D]acetoacetate when the reaction is conducted in D2O. Both cis-CaaD and the T34 mutant generate (2R)-[2-D]acetoacetate, whereas Cg10062 generates mostly the 2S isomer. The combined observations are consistent with a role for the loop region in cis-CaaD specificity and catalysis, but the precise role remains to be determined.

A pre-steady state kinetic analysis of the αY60W mutant of trans-3-chloroacrylic acid dehalogenase: implications for the mechanism of the wild-type enzyme

The bacterial degradation of the nematicide 1,3-dichloropropene, an isomeric mixture, requires the action of trans- and cis-3-chloroacrylic acid dehalogenase (CaaD and cis-CaaD, respectively). Both enzymes are tautomerase superfamily members and share a core catalytic mechanism for the hydrolytic dehalogenation of the respective isomer of 3-haloacrylate. The observation that cis-CaaD requires two additional residues raises the question of how CaaD conducts a comparable reaction with fewer catalytic residues. As part of an effort to determine the basis for the apparently simpler CaaD-catalyzed reaction, the kinetic mechanism was determined by stopped-flow and chemical-quench techniques using a fluorescent mutant form of the enzyme, αY60W-CaaD, and trans-3-bromoacrylate as the substrate. The data from these experiments as well as bromide inhibition studies are best accommodated by a six-step model that provides individual rate constants for substrate binding, chemistry, and a proposed conformational change occurring after chemistry followed by release of malonate semialdehyde and bromide. The conformational change and product release rates are comparable, and together they limit the rate of turnover. The kinetic analysis and modeling studies validate the αY60W-CaaD mutant as an accurate reporter of active site events during the course of the enzyme-catalyzed reaction. The kinetic mechanism for the αY60W-CaaD-catalyzed reaction is comparable to that obtained for the cis-CaaD-catalyzed reaction. The kinetic model and the validated αY60W-CaaD mutant set the stage for an analysis of active site mutants to explore the contributions of individual catalytic residues and the basis for the simplicity of the reaction.

Reaction of cis-3-chloroacrylic acid dehalogenase with an allene substrate, 2,3-butadienoate: hydration via an enamine

cis-3-Chloroacrylic acid dehalogenase (cis-CaaD) catalyzes the hydrolytic dehalogenation of cis-3-haloacrylates to yield malonate semialdehyde. The enzyme processes other substrates including an allene (2,3-butadienoate) to produce acetoacetate. In the course of a stereochemical analysis of the cis-CaaD-catalyzed reaction using this allene, the enzyme was unexpectedly inactivated in the presence of NaBH(4) by the reduction of a covalent enzyme-substrate bond. Covalent modification was surprising because the accumulated evidence for cis-CaaD dehalogenation favored a mechanism involving direct substrate hydration mediated by Pro-1. However, the results of subsequent mechanistic, pre-steady state and full progress kinetic experiments are consistent with a mechanism in which an enamine forms between Pro-1 and the allene. Hydrolysis of the enamine or an imine tautomer produces acetoacetate. Reduction of the imine species is likely responsible for the observed enzyme inactivation. This is the first reported observation of a tautomerase superfamily member functioning by covalent catalysis. The results may suggest that some fraction of the cis-CaaD-catalyzed dehalogenation of cis-3-haloacrylates also proceeds by covalent catalysis.

Growth of bacteria on 3-nitropropionic acid as a sole source of carbon, nitrogen, and energy

3-Nitropropionic acid (3NPA) is a widespread nitroaliphatic toxin found in a variety of legumes and fungi. Several enzymes have been reported that can transform the compound, but none led to the mineralization of 3NPA. We report here the isolation of bacteria that grow on 3NPA and its anion, propionate-3-nitronate (P3N), as the sole source of carbon, nitrogen, and energy. Experiments with resting cells, cell extracts, and purified enzymes indicate that the pathway involves conversion of 3NPA to P3N, which upon denitration yields malonic semialdehyde, nitrate, nitrite, and traces of H(2)O(2). Malonic semialdehyde is decarboxylated to acetyl coenzyme A. The gene that encodes the enzyme responsible for the denitration of P3N was cloned and expressed, and the enzyme was purified. Stoichiometry of the reaction indicates that the enzyme is a monooxygenase. The gene sequence is related to a large group of genes annotated as 2-nitropropane dioxygenases, but the P3N monooxygenase and closely related enzymes form a cluster within COG2070 that differs from previously characterized 2-nitropropane dioxygenases by their substrate specificities and reaction products. The results suggest that the P3N monooxygenases enable bacteria to exploit 3NPA in natural habitats as a growth substrate.

Pre-steady-state kinetic analysis of cis-3-chloroacrylic acid dehalogenase: analysis and implications

Isomer-specific 3-chloroacrylic acid dehalogenases catalyze the hydrolytic dehalogenation of the cis- and trans-isomers of 3-chloroacrylate to yield malonate semialdehyde. These reactions represent key steps in the degradation of the nematocide, 1,3-dichloropropene. The kinetic mechanism of cis-3-chloroacrylic acid dehalogenase (cis-CaaD) has now been examined using stopped-flow and chemical-quench techniques. Stopped-flow analysis of the reaction, following the fluorescence of an active site tryptophan, is consistent with a minimal three-step model involving substrate binding, chemistry, and product release. Chemical-quench experiments show burst kinetics, indicating that product release is at least partially rate limiting. Global fitting of all of the kinetic results by simulation is best accommodated by a four-step mechanism. In the final kinetic model, the enzyme binds substrate with an immediate isomerization to an alternate fluorescent form and chemistry occurs, followed by the ordered release of two products, with the release of the first product as the rate-limiting step. Bromide ion is a competitive inhibitor of the reaction indicating that it binds to the free enzyme rather than to the enzyme with one product still bound. This observation suggests that malonate semialdehyde is the first product released by the enzyme (rate limiting), followed by halide. A comparison of the unliganded cis-CaaD crystal structure with that of an inactivated cis-CaaD where the prolyl nitrogen of Pro-1 is covalently attached to (R)-2-hydroxypropanoate provides a possible explanation for the isomerization step. The structure of the covalently modified enzyme shows that a seven-residue loop comprised of residues 32-38 is closed down on the active site cavity where the backbone amides of two residues (Phe-37 and Leu-38) interact with the carboxylate group of the adduct. In the unliganded form, the same loop points away from the active site cavity. Similarly, substrate binding may cause this loop to close down on the active site and sequester the reaction from the external environment.

The chemical versatility of the beta-alpha-beta fold: catalytic promiscuity and divergent evolution in the tautomerase superfamily

Tautomerase superfamily members have an amino-terminal proline and a beta-alpha-beta fold, and include 4-oxalocrotonate tautomerase (4-OT), 5-(carboxymethyl)-2-hydroxymuconate isomerase (CHMI), trans- and cis-3-chloroacrylic acid dehalogenase (CaaD and cis-CaaD, respectively), malonate semialdehyde decarboxylase (MSAD), and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), which exhibits a phenylpyruvate tautomerase (PPT) activity. Pro-1 is a base (4-OT, CHMI, the PPT activity of MIF) or an acid (CaaD, cis-CaaD, MSAD). Components of the catalytic machinery have been identified and mechanistic hypotheses formulated. Characterization of new homologues shows that these mechanisms are incomplete. 4-OT, CaaD, cis-CaaD, and MSAD also have promiscuous activities with a hydratase activity in CaaD, cis-CaaD, and MSAD, PPT activity in CaaD and cis-CaaD, and CaaD and cis-CaaD activities in 4-OT. The shared promiscuous activities provide evidence for divergent evolution from a common ancestor, give hints about mechanistic relationships, and implicate catalytic promiscuity in the emergence of new enzymes.

Characterization of Cg10062 from Corynebacterium glutamicum: implications for the evolution of cis-3-chloroacrylic acid dehalogenase activity in the tautomerase superfamily

A 149-amino acid protein designated Cg10062 is encoded by a gene from Corynebacterium glutamicum. The physiological function of Cg10062 is unknown, and the gene encoding this protein has no obvious genomic context. Sequence analysis links Cg10062 to the cis-3-chloroacrylic acid dehalogenase (cis-CaaD) family, one of the five known families of the tautomerase superfamily. The characterized tautomerase superfamily members have two distinctive characteristics: a β−α−β structure motif and a catalytic amino-terminal proline. Pro-1 is present in the Cg10062 amino acid sequence along with His-28, Arg-70, Arg-73, Tyr-103, and Glu-114, all of which have been implicated as critical residues for cis-CaaD activity. The gene for Cg10062 has been cloned and the protein overproduced, purified, and subjected to kinetic and mechanistic characterization. Like cis-CaaD, Cg10062 functions as a hydratase: it converts 2-oxo-3-pentynoate to acetopyruvate and processes 3-bromopropiolate to a species that inactivates the enzyme by acylation of Pro-1. Kinetic and ¹H NMR spectroscopic studies also show that Cg10062 processes both isomers of 3-chloroacrylic acid at low levels with a clear preference for the cis isomer. Pro-1 is critical for the dehalogenase and hydratase activities because the P1A mutant no longer catalyzes either reaction. The presence of the six key catalytic residues and the hydratase activity coupled with the absence of an efficient cis-CaaD activity and the lack of isomer specificity implicate factors beyond this core set of residues in cis-CaaD catalysis and specificity. This work sets the stage for in-depth mechanistic and structural studies of Cg10062, which could identify the additional features necessary for a fully active and highly specific cis-CaaD. Such results will also shed light on how cis-CaaD emerged in the tautomerase superfamily because Cg10062 could be characteristic of an intermediate along the evolutionary pathway for this dehalogenase.

Phenylpyruvate tautomerase activity of trans-3-chloroacrylic acid dehalogenase: evidence for an enol intermediate in the dehalogenase reaction?

The enzymatic conversion of cis- or trans-3-chloroacrylic acid to malonate semialdehyde is a key step in the bacterial degradation of the nematocide 1,3-dichloropropene. Two mechanisms have been proposed for the isomer-specific hydrolytic dehalogenases, cis- and trans-3-chloroacrylic acid dehalogenase (cis-CaaD and CaaD, respectively), responsible for this step. In one mechanism, the enol isomer of malonate semialdehyde is produced by the alpha,beta-elimination of HCl from an initial halohydrin species. Phenylenolpyruvate has now been found to be a substrate for CaaD with a kcat/Km value that approaches the one determined for the CaaD reaction using trans-3-chloroacrylate. Moreover, the reaction is stereoselective, generating the 3S isomer of [3-2H]phenylpyruvate in a 1.8:1 ratio in 2H2O. These two observations and a kinetic analysis of active site mutants of CaaD suggest that the active site of CaaD is responsible for the phenylpyruvate tautomerase (PPT) activity. The activity is a striking example of catalytic promiscuity and could reflect the presence of an enol intermediate in CaaD-mediated dehalogenation of trans-3-chloroacrylate. CaaD and cis-CaaD represent different families in the tautomerase superfamily, a group of structurally homologous proteins characterized by a core beta-alpha-beta building block and a catalytic Pro-1. The eukaryotic immunoregulatory protein known as macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), also a tautomerase superfamily member, exhibits a PPT activity, but the biological relevance is unknown. In addition to the mechanistic implications, these results establish a functional link between CaaD and the superfamily tautomerases, highlight the catalytic and binding promiscuity of the beta-alpha-beta scaffold, and suggest that the PPT activity of MIF could reflect a partial reaction in an unknown MIF-catalyzed reaction.

Evolution of enzymatic activity in the tautomerase superfamily: mechanistic and structural studies of the 1,3-dichloropropene catabolic enzymes

The use of the soil fumigant Telone II, which contains a mixture of cis- and trans-1,3-dichloropropene, to control plant-parasitic nematodes is a common agricultural practice for maximizing yields of various crops. The effectiveness of Telone II is limited by the rapid turnover of the dichloropropenes in the soil due to the presence of bacterial catabolic pathways, which may be of recent origin. The characterization of three enzymes in these pathways, trans-3-chloroacrylic acid dehalogenase (CaaD), cis-3-chloroacrylic acid dehalogenase (cis-CaaD), and malonate semialdehyde decarboxylase (MSAD), has uncovered intriguing catalytic mechanisms as well as a fascinating evolutionary lineage for these proteins. Sequence comparisons and mutagenesis studies revealed that all three enzymes belong to the tautomerase superfamily. Tautomerase superfamily members with known structures are characterized by a beta-alpha-beta structural fold. Moreover, they have a conserved N-terminal proline, which plays an important catalytic role. Mechanistic, NMR, and pH rate studies of the two dehalogenases, coupled with a crystal structure of CaaD inactivated by 3-bromopropiolate, indicate that they use a general acid/base mechanism to catalyze the conversion of their respective isomer of 3-chloroacrylate to malonate semialdehyde. The reaction is initiated by the conjugate addition of water to the C-2, C-3 double bond and is followed by the loss of HCl. MSAD processes malonate semialdehyde to acetaldehyde, and is the first identified decarboxylase in the tautomerase superfamily. The catalytic mechanism is not well defined but the N-terminal proline plays a prominent role and may function as a general acid catalyst, similar to its role in CaaD and cis-CaaD. These are the first structural and mechanistic details for tautomerase superfamily members that catalyze either a hydration or a decarboxylation reaction, rather than a tautomerization reaction, in which Pro-1 serves as a general acid catalyst rather than as a general base catalyst. The available information on the 1,3-dichloropropene catabolic enzymes allows speculation on the possible evolutionary origins of their activities.

Diversity of nitrile hydratase and amidase enzyme genes in Rhodococcus erythropolis recovered from geographically distinct habitats

A molecular screening approach was developed in order to amplify the genomic region that codes for the alpha- and beta-subunits of the nitrile hydratase (NHase) enzyme in rhodococci. Specific PCR primers were designed for the NHase genes from a collection of nitrile-degrading actinomycetes, but amplification was successful only with strains identified as Rhodococcus erythropolis. A hydratase PCR product was also obtained from R. erythropolis DSM 43066(T), which did not grow on nitriles. Southern hybridization of other members of the nitrile-degrading bacterial collection resulted in no positive signals other than those for the R. erythropolis strains used as positive controls. PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism-single-strand conformational polymorphism (PRS) analysis of the hydratases in the R. erythropolis strains revealed unique patterns that mostly correlated with distinct geographical sites of origin. Representative NHases were sequenced, and they exhibited more than 92.4% similarity to previously described NHases. The phylogenetic analysis and deduced amino acid sequences suggested that the novel R. erythropolis enzymes belonged to the iron-type NHase family. Some different residues in the translated sequences were located near the residues involved in the stabilization of the NHase active site, suggesting that the substitutions could be responsible for the different enzyme activities and substrate specificities observed previously in this group of actinomycetes. A similar molecular screening analysis of the amidase gene was performed, and a correlation between the PRS patterns and the geographical origins identical to the correlation found for the NHase gene was obtained, suggesting that there was coevolution of the two enzymes in R. erythropolis. Our findings indicate that the NHase and amidase genes present in geographically distinct R. erythropolis strains are not globally mixed.

The 4-oxalocrotonate tautomerase family of enzymes: how nature makes new enzymes using a beta-alpha-beta structural motif

4-Oxalocrotonate tautomerase (4-OT) catalyzes the isomerization of beta,gamma-unsaturated enones to their alpha,beta-isomers. The enzyme is part of a plasmid-encoded pathway, which enables bacteria harboring the plasmid to use various aromatic hydrocarbons as their sole sources of carbon and energy. Among isomerases and enzymes in general, 4-OT is unusual for two reasons: it has one of the smallest known monomer sizes (62 amino acids) and the amino-terminal proline functions as the catalytic base. In addition to Pro-1, three other residues (Arg-11, Arg-39, and Phe-50) have been identified as critical catalytic residues by kinetic analysis, site-directed mutagenesis, chemical synthesis, NMR, and crystallographic studies. Arginine-39 functions as the general acid catalyst (assisted by an ordered water molecule) in the reaction while Arg-11 plays a role in substrate binding and facilitates catalysis by acting as an electron sink. Finally, the hydrophobic nature of the active site, which lowers the pK(a) of Pro-1 to approximately 6.4 and provides a favorable environment for catalysis, is largely maintained by Phe-50. 4-OT is also the title enzyme of the 4-OT family of enzymes. The chromosomal homologues in this family are composed of monomers ranging in size from 61 to 79 amino acids, which code a beta-alpha-beta structural motif. The homologues all retain Pro-1 and generally have an aromatic or hydrophobic amino acid at the Phe-50 position. Characterization of representative members has uncovered mechanistic and structural diversity. A new activity, a trans-3-chloroacrylic acid dehalogenase, has been identified in addition to the previously known tautomerase and isomerase activities. Two new structures have also been found, along with the 4-OT hexamer. The dehalogenase functions as a heterohexamer while the Escherichia coli homologue, designated YdcE, functions as a dimer. Moreover, both 4-OT and the Bacillus subtilis homologue, designated YwhB, exhibit low-level dehalogenase activity. Amplification of this activity could have produced the full-fledged dehalogenase. The sum of these observations indicates that Nature uses the beta-alpha-beta structural motif as a building block in a variety of manners to create new enzymes.

Effect of temperature, organic amendment rate and moisture content on the degradation of 1,3-dichloropropene in soil

1,3-Dichloropropene (1,3-D), which consists of two isomers, (Z)- and (E)-1,3-D, is considered to be a viable alternative to methyl bromide, but atmospheric emission of 1,3-D is often associated with deterioration of air quality. To minimize environmental impacts of 1,3-D, emission control strategies are in need of investigation. One approach to reduce 1,3-D emissions is to accelerate its degradation by incorporating organic amendments into the soil surface. In this study, we investigated the ability of four organic amendments to enhance the rate of degradation of (Z)- and (E)-1,3-D in a sandy loam soil. Degradation of (Z)- and (E)-1,3-D was well described by first-order kinetics, and rates of degradation for the two isomers were similar. Composted steer manure (SM) was the most reactive of the organic amendments tested. The half-life of both the (Z)- and (E)-isomers in unamended soil at 20 degrees C was 6.3 days; those in 5% SM-amended soil were 1.8 and 1.9 days, respectively. At 40 degrees C, the half-life of both isomers in 5% SM-amended soil was 0.5 day. Activation energy values for amended soil at 2, 5 and 10% SM were 56.5, 53.4 and 64.5 kJ mol-1, respectively. At 20 degrees C, the contribution of degradation from biological mechanisms was largest in soil amended with SM, but chemical mechanisms still accounted for more than 58% of the (Z)- and (E)-1,3-D degradation. The effect of temperature and amendment rate upon degradation should be considered when describing the fate and transport of 1,3-D isomers in soil. Use of organic soil amendments appears to be a promising method to enhance fumigant degradation and reduce volatile emissions.

trans-3-Chloroacrylic acid dehalogenase from Pseudomonas pavonaceae 170 shares structural and mechanistic similarities with 4-oxalocrotonate tautomerase

The genes (caaD1 and caaD2) encoding the trans-3-chloroacrylic acid dehalogenase (CaaD) of the 1,3-dichloropropene-utilizing bacterium Pseudomonas pavonaceae 170 were cloned and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas sp. strain GJ1. CaaD is a protein of 50 kDa that is composed of alpha-subunits of 75 amino acid residues and beta-subunits of 70 residues. It catalyzes the hydrolytic cleavage of the beta-vinylic carbon-chlorine bond in trans-3-chloroacrylic acid with a turnover number of 6.4 s(-1). On the basis of sequence similarity, oligomeric structure, and subunit size, CaaD appears to be related to 4-oxalocrotonate tautomerase (4-OT). This tautomerase consists of six identical subunits of 62 amino acid residues and catalyzes the isomerization of 2-oxo-4-hexene-1,6-dioate, via hydroxymuconate, to yield 2-oxo-3-hexene-1,6-dioate. In view of the oligomeric architecture of 4-OT, a trimer of homodimers, CaaD is postulated to be a hexameric protein that functions as a trimer of alpha beta-dimers. The sequence conservation between CaaD and 4-OT and site-directed mutagenesis experiments suggested that Pro-1 of the beta-subunit and Arg-11 of the alpha-subunit are active-site residues in CaaD. Pro-1 could act as the proton acceptor/donor, and Arg-11 is probably involved in carboxylate binding. Based on these findings, a novel dehalogenation mechanism is proposed for the CaaD-catalyzed reaction which does not involve the formation of a covalent enzyme-substrate intermediate.

Degradation of 1,3-dichloropropene by pseudomonas cichorii 170

The gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas cichorii 170, isolated from soil that was repeatedly treated with the nematocide 1, 3-dichloropropene, could utilize low concentrations of 1, 3-dichloropropene as a sole carbon and energy source. Strain 170 was also able to grow on 3-chloroallyl alcohol, 3-chloroacrylic acid, and several 1-halo-n-alkanes. This organism produced at least three different dehalogenases: a hydrolytic haloalkane dehalogenase specific for haloalkanes and two 3-chloroacrylic acid dehalogenases, one specific for cis-3-chloroacrylic acid and the other specific for trans-3-chloroacrylic acid. The haloalkane dehalogenase and the trans-3-chloroacrylic acid dehalogenase were expressed constitutively, whereas the cis-3-chloroacrylic acid dehalogenase was inducible. The presence of these enzymes indicates that 1, 3-dichloropropene is hydrolyzed to 3-chloroallyl alcohol, which is oxidized in two steps to 3-chloroacrylic acid. The latter compound is then dehalogenated, probably forming malonic acid semialdehyde. The haloalkane dehalogenase gene, which is involved in the conversion of 1,3-dichloropropene to 3-chloroallyl alcohol, was cloned and sequenced, and this gene turned out to be identical to the previously studied dhaA gene of the gram-positive bacterium Rhodococcus rhodochrous NCIMB13064. Mutants resistant to the suicide substrate 1,2-dibromoethane lacked haloalkane dehalogenase activity and therefore could not utilize haloalkanes for growth. PCR analysis showed that these mutants had lost at least part of the dhaA gene.

Mannitol, a novel bacterial compatible solute in Pseudomonas putida S12

The aim of this study was to identify the compatible solutes accumulated by Pseudomonas putida S12 subjected to osmotic stress. In response to reduced water activity, P. putida S12 accumulated Nalpha-acetylglutaminylglutamine amide (NAGGN) simultaneously with a novel compatible solute identified as mannitol (using 13C- and 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance, liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography methods) to maximum concentrations of 74 and 258 micromol g (dry weight) of cells(-1), respectively. The intracellular amounts of each solute varied with both the type and amount of osmolyte applied to induce osmotic stress in the medium. Both solutes were synthesized de novo. Addition of betaine to the medium resulted in accumulation of this compound and depletion of both NAGGN and mannitol. Mannitol and NAGGN were accumulated when sucrose instead of salts was used to reduce the medium water activity. Furthermore, both compatible solutes were accumulated when glucose was substituted by other carbon sources. However, the intracellular quantities of mannitol decreased when fructose, succinate, or lactate were applied as a carbon source. Mannitol was also raised to high intracellular concentrations by other salt-stressed Pseudomonas putida strains. This is the first study demonstrating a principal role for the de novo-synthesized polyol mannitol in osmoadaptation of a heterotrophic eubacterium.

Biodegradation of chlorinated aliphatic compounds

During the past year, the range of environmentally relevant chlorinated aliphatic compounds known to serve as growth substrates for pure cultures of bacteria has been extended and novel reactions for the aerobic co-metabolic transformation of chloroaliphatics have been reported. The biochemistry of chloroaliphatics degradation in the new aerobic isolates is still unexplored, but progress has been made in understanding some of the anaerobic dehalogenation reactions.

Bacterial dehalogenases: biochemistry, genetics, and biotechnological applications

This review is a survey of bacterial dehalogenases that catalyze the cleavage of halogen substituents from haloaromatics, haloalkanes, haloalcohols, and haloalkanoic acids. Concerning the enzymatic cleavage of the carbon-halogen bond, seven mechanisms of dehalogenation are known, namely, reductive, oxygenolytic, hydrolytic, and thiolytic dehalogenation; intramolecular nucleophilic displacement; dehydrohalogenation; and hydration. Spontaneous dehalogenation reactions may occur as a result of chemical decomposition of unstable primary products of an unassociated enzyme reaction, and fortuitous dehalogenation can result from the action of broad-specificity enzymes converting halogenated analogs of their natural substrate. Reductive dehalogenation either is catalyzed by a specific dehalogenase or may be mediated by free or enzyme-bound transition metal cofactors (porphyrins, corrins). Desulfomonile tiedjei DCB-1 couples energy conservation to a reductive dechlorination reaction. The biochemistry and genetics of oxygenolytic and hydrolytic haloaromatic dehalogenases are discussed. Concerning the haloalkanes, oxygenases, glutathione S-transferases, halidohydrolases, and dehydrohalogenases are involved in the dehalogenation of different haloalkane compounds. The epoxide-forming halohydrin hydrogen halide lyases form a distinct class of dehalogenases. The dehalogenation of alpha-halosubstituted alkanoic acids is catalyzed by halidohydrolases, which, according to their substrate and inhibitor specificity and mode of product formation, are placed into distinct mechanistic groups. beta-Halosubstituted alkanoic acids are dehalogenated by halidohydrolases acting on the coenzyme A ester of the beta-haloalkanoic acid. Microbial systems offer a versatile potential for biotechnological applications. Because of their enantiomer selectivity, some dehalogenases are used as industrial biocatalysts for the synthesis of chiral compounds. The application of dehalogenases or bacterial strains in environmental protection technologies is discussed in detail.

Degradation of halogenated aliphatic compounds: the role of adaptation

A limited number of halogenated aliphatic compounds can serve as a growth substrate for aerobic microorganisms. Such cultures have (specifically) developed a variety of enzyme systems to degrade these compounds. Dehalogenations are of critical importance. Various heavily chlorinated compounds are not easily biodegraded, although there are no obvious biochemical or thermodynamic reasons why microorganisms should not be able to grow with any halogenated compound. The very diversity of catabolic enzymes present in cultures that degrade halogenated aliphatics and the occurrence of molecular mechanisms for genetic adaptation serve as good starting points for the evolution of catabolic pathways for compounds that are currently still resistant to biodegradation.

Degradation of 2-chloroallylalcohol by a Pseudomonas sp

Three Pseudomonas strains capable of utilizing 2-chloroallylalcohol (2-chloropropenol) as the sole carbon source for growth were isolated from soil. The fastest growth was observed with strain JD2, with a generation time of 3.6 h. Degradation of 2-chloroallylalcohol was accompanied by complete dehalogenation. Chloroallylalcohols that did not support growth were dechlorinated by resting cells; the dechlorination level was highest if an alpha-chlorine substituent was present. Crude extracts of strain JD2 contained inducible alcohol dehydrogenase activity that oxidized mono- and dichloroallylalcohols but not trichloroallylalcohol. The enzyme used phenazine methosulfate as an artificial electron acceptor. Further oxidation yielded 2-chloroacrylic acid. The organism also produced hydrolytic dehalogenases converting 2-chloroacetic acid and 2-chloropropionic acid.

Aerobic vinyl chloride metabolism in Mycobacterium aurum L1

Mycobacterium aurum L1, capable of growth on vinyl chloride as a sole carbon and energy source, was previously isolated from soil contaminated with vinyl chloride (S. Hartmans et al., Biotechnol. Lett. 7:383-388, 1985). The initial step in vinyl chloride metabolism in strain L1 is catalyzed by alkene monooxygenase, transforming vinyl chloride into the reactive epoxide chlorooxirane. The enzyme responsible for chlorooxirane degradation appeared to be very unstable and thus hampered the characterization of the second step in vinyl chloride metabolism. Dichloroethenes are also oxidized by vinyl chloride-grown cells of strain L1, but they are not utilized as growth substrates. Three additional bacterial strains which utilize vinyl chloride as a sole carbon and energy source were isolated from environments with no known vinyl chloride contamination. The three new isolates were similar to strain L1 and were also identified as Mycobacterium aurum.