Purification and properties of D-glucosaminate dehydratase from Agrobacterium radiobacter

Salmonella utilizes D-glucosaminate via a mannose family phosphotransferase system permease and associated enzymes

Salmonella enterica is a globally significant bacterial food-borne pathogen that utilizes a variety of carbon sources. We report here that Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) uses d-glucosaminate (2-amino-2-deoxy-d-gluconic acid) as a carbon and nitrogen source via a previously uncharacterized mannose family phosphotransferase system (PTS) permease, and we designate the genes encoding the permease dgaABCD (d-glucosaminate PTS permease components EIIA, EIIB, EIIC, and EIID). Two other genes in the dga operon (dgaE and dgaF) were required for wild-type growth of S. Typhimurium with d-glucosaminate. Transcription of dgaABCDEF was dependent on RpoN (σ(54)) and an RpoN-dependent activator gene we designate dgaR. Introduction of a plasmid bearing dgaABCDEF under the control of the lac promoter into Escherichia coli strains DH5α, BL21, and JM101 allowed these strains to grow on minimal medium containing d-glucosaminate as the sole carbon and nitrogen source. Biochemical and genetic data support a catabolic pathway in which d-glucosaminate, as it is transported across the cell membrane, is phosphorylated at the C-6 position by DgaABCD. DgaE converts the resulting d-glucosaminate-6-phosphate to 2-keto-3-deoxygluconate 6-phosphate (KDGP), which is subsequently cleaved by the aldolase DgaF to form glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate and pyruvate. DgaF catalyzes the same reaction as that catalyzed by Eda, a KDGP aldolase in the Entner-Doudoroff pathway, and the two enzymes can substitute for each other in their respective pathways. Examination of the Integrated Microbial Genomes database revealed that orthologs of the dga genes are largely restricted to certain enteric bacteria and a few species in the phylum Firmicutes.

The D-glucosaminate dehydratase alpha-subunit from Pseudomonas fluorescens exhibits thioredoxin reductase activity

The complete amino acid sequence of the D-glucosaminate dehydratase (GADH) alpha-subunit from Pseudomonas fluorescens was determined by PCR using genomic DNA from P. fluorescens as a template. The alpha-subunit comprises 320 amino acids and has a molecular mass of about 33.9 kDa. The primary structure of the alpha-subunit demonstrates a high similarity to the structures of thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) from many prokaryotes, especially Pseudomonas aeruginosa (identity 85%, positive 91%), Vibrio cholerae (identity 73%, positive 85%), and Escherichia coli (identity 71%, positive 83%). The purified glucosaminate dehydratase alpha(2)-enzyme exhibited NADPH-dependent TrxR activity, while TrxR from E. coli showed pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP)-dependent GADH activity. The TrxR from E. coli suggests that there are three cofactor binding sites, FAD, NADPH, and PLP in the enzyme and that TrxR catalyzes the FAD- and NADPH-dependent oxidation-reduction reaction and the PLP-dependent alpha,beta-elimination reaction.

Stereochemistry of an alpha, beta-elimination reaction by D-glucosaminate dehydratase

The proton NMR analysis of D-glucosaminate dehydratase reaction in D2O revealed the incorporation of a deuterium atom at C-3 carbon of the product, 2-keto-3-deoxy-D-gluconate. Based on the chemical shift of C-3 proton of the product and the coupling constant characteristic for the C-3 and C-4 axial-axial coupling in the 2C5 pyranose conformation, the deuterium is in the pro-S position. Thus, the dehydration of D-glucosaminate by the enzyme proceeds in a retention mode at C-3 carbon. Kinetic parameters show that the rate-determining step is the abstraction of alpha-proton from the substrate.