In Solution Identification of the Lysine-Cysteine Redox Switch with a NOS Bridge in Transaldolase by Sulfur K-Edge X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy

A novel covalent post-translational modification (lysine-NOS-cysteine) was discovered in proteins, initially in the enzyme transaldolase of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NgTAL) [Nature 2021, 593, 460-464], acting as a redox switch. The identification of this novel linkage in solution was unprecedented until now. We present detection of the NOS redox switch in solution using sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The oxidized NgTAL spectrum shows a distinct shoulder on the low-energy side of the rising edge, corresponding to a dipole-allowed transition from the sulfur 1s core to the unoccupied σ* orbital of the S-O group in the NOS bridge. This feature is absent in the XAS spectrum of reduced NgTAL, where Lys-NOS-Cys is absent. Our experimental and calculated XAS data support the presence of a NOS bridge in solution, thus potentially facilitating future studies on enzyme activity regulation mediated by the NOS redox switches, drug discovery, biocatalytic applications, and protein design.

Multiple redox switches of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease in vitro provide opportunities for drug design

Besides vaccines, the development of antiviral drugs targeting SARS-CoV-2 is critical for preventing future COVID outbreaks. The SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro), a cysteine protease with essential functions in viral replication, has been validated as an effective drug target. Here, we show that Mpro is subject to redox regulation in vitro and reversibly switches between the enzymatically active dimer and the functionally dormant monomer through redox modifications of cysteine residues. These include a disulfide-dithiol switch between the catalytic cysteine C145 and cysteine C117, and generation of an allosteric cysteine-lysine-cysteine SONOS bridge that is required for structural stability under oxidative stress conditions, such as those exerted by the innate immune system. We identify homo- and heterobifunctional reagents that mimic the redox switching and inhibit Mpro activity. The discovered redox switches are conserved in main proteases from other coronaviruses, e.g. MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV, indicating their potential as common druggable sites.

Dynamic Protonation States Underlie Carbene Formation in ThDP-Dependent Enzymes: A Theoretical Study

The activation mechanism of thiamine diphosphate (ThDP) in enzymes has long been the subject of intense research and controversial discussion. Particularly contentious is the formation of a carbene intermediate, the first one observed in an enzyme. For the formation of the carbene to take place, both intramolecular and intermolecular proton transfer pathways have been proposed. However, the physiologically relevant pH of ThDP-dependent enzymes around neutrality does not seem to be suitable for the formation of such reactive chemical species. Herein, we investigate the general mechanism of activation of the ThDP cofactor in human transketolase (TKT), by means of electronic structure methods. We show that in the case of the human TKT, the carbene species is accessible through a pKa shift induced by the electrostatics of a neighboring histidine residue (H110), whose protonation state change modulates the pKa of ThDP and suppresses the latter by more than 6 pH units. Our findings highlight that ThDP enzymes activate the cofactor beyond simple geometric constraints and the canonical glutamate. Such observations in nature can pave the way for the design of biomimetic carbene catalysts and the engineering of tailored enzymatic carbenes.

Mechanisms of Cysteine-Lysine Covalent Linkage-The Role of Reactive Oxygen Species and Competition with Disulfide Bonds

Recently, a new naturally occurring covalent linkage was characterised, involving a cysteine and a lysine, bridged through an oxygen atom. The latter was dubbed as the NOS bond, reflecting the individual atoms involved in this uncommon bond which finds little parallel in lab chemistry. It is found to form under oxidising conditions and is reversible upon addition of reducing agents. Further studies have identified the bond in crystal structures across a variety of systems and organisms, potentially playing an important role in regulation, cellular defense and replication. Not only that, double NOS bonds have been identified and even found to be competitive in relation to the formation of disulfide bonds. This raises several questions about how this exotic bond comes to be, what are the intermediates involved in its formation and how it competes with other pathways of sulfide oxidation. With this objective in mind, we revisited our first proposed mechanism for the reaction with model electronic structure calculations, adding information about the reactivity with alternative reactive oxygen species and other potential competing products of oxidation. We present a network with more than 30 reactions which provides one of the most encompassing pictures for cysteine oxidation pathways to date.

Protein-metabolite interactomics of carbohydrate metabolism reveal regulation of lactate dehydrogenase

Metabolic networks are interconnected and influence diverse cellular processes. The protein-metabolite interactions that mediate these networks are frequently low affinity and challenging to systematically discover. We developed mass spectrometry integrated with equilibrium dialysis for the discovery of allostery systematically (MIDAS) to identify such interactions. Analysis of 33 enzymes from human carbohydrate metabolism identified 830 protein-metabolite interactions, including known regulators, substrates, and products as well as previously unreported interactions. We functionally validated a subset of interactions, including the isoform-specific inhibition of lactate dehydrogenase by long-chain acyl-coenzyme A. Cell treatment with fatty acids caused a loss of pyruvate-lactate interconversion dependent on lactate dehydrogenase isoform expression. These protein-metabolite interactions may contribute to the dynamic, tissue-specific metabolic flexibility that enables growth and survival in an ever-changing nutrient environment.

Frontiers in the enzymology of thiamin diphosphate-dependent enzymes

Enzymes that use thiamin diphosphate (ThDP), the biologically active derivative of vitamin B1, as a cofactor play important roles in cellular metabolism in all domains of life. The analysis of ThDP enzymes in the past decades have provided a general framework for our understanding of enzyme catalysis of this protein family. In this review, we will discuss recent advances in the field that include the observation of "unusual" reactions and reaction intermediates that highlight the chemical versatility of the thiamin cofactor. Further topics cover the structural basis of cooperativity of ThDP enzymes, novel insights into the mechanism and structure of selected enzymes, and the discovery of "superassemblies" as reported, for example, acetohydroxy acid synthase. Finally, we summarize recent findings in the structural organisation and mode of action of 2-keto acid dehydrogenase multienzyme complexes and discuss future directions of this exciting research field.

19F Electron-Nuclear Double Resonance Reveals Interaction between Redox-Active Tyrosines across the α/β Interface of E. coli Ribonucleotide Reductase

Ribonucleotide reductases (RNRs) catalyze the reduction of ribonucleotides to deoxyribonucleotides, thereby playing a key role in DNA replication and repair. Escherichia coli class Ia RNR is an α₂β₂ enzyme complex that uses a reversible multistep radical transfer (RT) over 32 Å across its two subunits, α and β, to initiate, using its metallo-cofactor in β₂, nucleotide reduction in α₂. Each step is proposed to involve a distinct proton-coupled electron-transfer (PCET) process. An unresolved step is the RT involving Y₃₅₆(β) and Y₇₃₁(α) across the α/β interface. Using 2,3,5-F₃Y₁₂₂-β₂ with 3,5-F₂Y₇₃₁-α₂, GDP (substrate) and TTP (allosteric effector), a Y₃₅₆^• intermediate was trapped and its identity was verified by 263 GHz electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and 34 GHz pulse electron–electron double resonance spectroscopies. 94 GHz ¹⁹F electron-nuclear double resonance spectroscopy allowed measuring the interspin distances between Y₃₅₆^• and the ¹⁹F nuclei of 3,5-F₂Y₇₃₁ in this RNR mutant. Similar experiments with the double mutant E₅₂Q/F₃Y₁₂₂-β₂ were carried out for comparison to the recently published cryo-EM structure of a holo RNR complex. For both mutant combinations, the distance measurements reveal two conformations of 3,5-F₂Y₇₃₁. Remarkably, one conformation is consistent with 3,5-F₂Y₇₃₁ within the H-bond distance to Y₃₅₆^•, whereas the second one is consistent with the conformation observed in the cryo-EM structure. The observations unexpectedly suggest the possibility of a colinear PCET, in which electron and proton are transferred from the same donor to the same acceptor between Y₃₅₆ and Y₇₃₁. The results highlight the important role of state-of-the-art EPR spectroscopy to decipher this mechanism.

Lysines and cysteines: partners in stress?

Modifications of cysteine residues in redox-sensitive proteins are key to redox signaling and stress response in all organisms. A novel type of redox switch was recently discovered that comprises lysine and cysteine residues covalently linked by an nitrogen-oxygen-sulfur (NOS) bridge. Here, we discuss chemical and biological implications of this discovery.

N-hydroxypipecolic acid-induced transcription requires the salicylic acid signaling pathway at basal SA levels

Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is a plant immune response established in uninfected leaves after colonization of local leaves with biotrophic or hemibiotrophic pathogens. The amino acid-derived metabolite N-hydroxypipecolic acid (NHP) travels from infected to systemic leaves, where it activates salicylic acid (SA) biosynthesis through the isochorismate pathway. The resulting increased SA levels are essential for induction of a large set of SAR marker genes and full SAR establishment. In this study, we show that pharmacological treatment of Arabidopsis thaliana with NHP induces a subset of SAR-related genes even in the SA induction-deficient2 (sid2/isochorismate synthase1) mutant, which is devoid of NHP-induced SA. NHP-mediated induction is abolished in sid2-1 NahG plants, in which basal SA levels are degraded. The SA receptor NON-EXPRESSOR OF PATHOGENESIS-RELATED GENES1 (NPR1) and its interacting TGACG SEQUENCE-SPECIFIC BINDING PROTEIN (TGA) transcription factors are required for the NHP-mediated induction of SAR genes at resting SA levels. Isothermal titration analysis determined a KD of 7.9 ± 0.5 µM for the SA/NPR1 complex, suggesting that basal levels of SA would not bind to NPR1 unless yet unknown potentially NHP-induced processes increase the affinity. Moreover, the nucleocytoplasmic protein PHYTOALEXIN DEFICIENT4 is required for a slight NHP-mediated increase in NPR1 protein levels and NHP-induced expression of SAR-related genes. Our experiments have unraveled that NHP requires basal SA and components of the SA signaling pathway to induce SAR genes. Still, the mechanism of NHP perception remains enigmatic.

Bucky Ball Is a Novel Zebrafish Vasa ATPase Activator

Many multicellular organisms specify germ cells during early embryogenesis by the inheritance of ribonucleoprotein (RNP) granules known as germplasm. However, the role of complex interactions of RNP granules during germ cell specification remains elusive. This study characterizes the interaction of RNP granules, Buc, and zebrafish Vasa (zfVasa) during germ cell specification. We identify a novel zfVasa-binding motif (Buc-VBM) in Buc and a Buc-binding motif (zfVasa-BBM) in zfVasa. Moreover, we show that Buc and zfVasa directly bind in vitro and that this interaction is independent of the RNA. Our circular dichroism spectroscopy data reveal that the intrinsically disordered Buc-VBM peptide forms alpha-helices in the presence of the solvent trifluoroethanol. Intriguingly, we further demonstrate that Buc-VBM enhances zfVasa ATPase activity, thereby annotating the first biochemical function of Buc as a zfVasa ATPase activator. Collectively, these results propose a model in which the activity of zfVasa is a central regulator of primordial germ cell (PGC) formation and is tightly controlled by the germplasm organizer Buc.

Crossing the Border: From Keto- to Imine Reduction in Short-Chain Dehydrogenases/Reductases

The family of NAD(P)H-dependent short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDRs) comprises numerous biocatalysts capable of C=O or C=C reduction. The highly homologous noroxomaritidine reductase (NR) from Narcissus sp. aff. pseudonarcissus and Zt_SDR from Zephyranthes treatiae, however, are SDRs with an extended imine substrate scope. Comparison with a similar SDR from Asparagus officinalis (Ao_SDR) exhibiting keto-reducing activity, yet negligible imine-reducing capability, and mining the Short-Chain Dehydrogenase/Reductase Engineering Database indicated that NR and Zt_SDR possess a unique active-site composition among SDRs. Adapting the active site of Ao_SDR accordingly improved its imine-reducing capability. By applying the same strategy, an unrelated SDR from Methylobacterium sp. 77 (M77_SDR) with distinct keto-reducing activity was engineered into a promiscuous enzyme with imine-reducing activity, thereby confirming that the ability to reduce imines can be rationally introduced into members of the "classical" SDR enzyme family. Thus, members of the SDR family could be a promising starting point for protein approaches to generate new imine-reducing enzymes.

Crossing the Border: From Keto- to Imine Reduction in Short-Chain Dehydrogenases/Reductases

The family of NAD(P)H-dependent short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDRs) comprises numerous biocatalysts capable of C=O or C=C reduction. The highly homologous noroxomaritidine reductase (NR) from Narcissus sp. aff. pseudonarcissus and Zt_SDR from Zephyranthes treatiae, however, are SDRs with an extended imine substrate scope. Comparison with a similar SDR from Asparagus officinalis (Ao_SDR) exhibiting keto-reducing activity, yet negligible imine-reducing capability, and mining the Short-Chain Dehydrogenase/Reductase Engineering Database indicated that NR and Zt_SDR possess a unique active-site composition among SDRs. Adapting the active site of Ao_SDR accordingly improved its imine-reducing capability. By applying the same strategy, an unrelated SDR from Methylobacterium sp. 77 (M77_SDR) with distinct keto-reducing activity was engineered into a promiscuous enzyme with imine-reducing activity, thereby confirming that the ability to reduce imines can be rationally introduced into members of the "classical" SDR enzyme family. Thus, members of the SDR family could be a promising starting point for protein approaches to generate new imine-reducing enzymes.

Hydrazides Are Potent Transition-State Analogues for Glutaminyl Cyclase Implicated in the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease

Amyloidogenic plaques are hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and typically consist of high percentages of modified Aβ peptides bearing N-terminally cyclized glutamate residues. The human zinc(II) enzyme glutaminyl cyclase (QC) was shown in vivo to catalyze the cyclization of N-terminal glutamates of Aβ peptides in a pathophysiological side reaction establishing QC as a druggable target for therapeutic treatment of AD. Here, we report crystallographic snapshots of human QC catalysis acting on the neurohormone neurotensin that delineate the stereochemical course of catalysis and suggest that hydrazides could mimic the transition state of peptide cyclization and deamidation. This hypothesis is validated by a sparse-matrix inhibitor screening campaign that identifies hydrazides as the most potent metal-binding group compared to classic Zn binders. The structural basis of hydrazide inhibition is illuminated by X-ray structure analysis of human QC in complex with a hydrazide-bearing peptide inhibitor and reveals a pentacoordinated Zn complex. Our findings inform novel strategies in the design of potent and highly selective QC inhibitors by employing hydrazides as the metal-binding warhead.

Low-barrier hydrogen bonds in enzyme cooperativity

The underlying molecular mechanisms of cooperativity and allosteric regulation are well understood for many proteins, with haemoglobin and aspartate transcarbamoylase serving as prototypical examples^1,2. The binding of effectors typically causes a structural transition of the protein that is propagated through signalling pathways to remote sites and involves marked changes on the tertiary and sometimes even the quaternary level^1-5. However, the origin of these signals and the molecular mechanism of long-range signalling at an atomic level remain unclear^5-8. The different spatial scales and timescales in signalling pathways render experimental observation challenging; in particular, the positions and movement of mobile protons cannot be visualized by current methods of structural analysis. Here we report the experimental observation of fluctuating low-barrier hydrogen bonds as switching elements in cooperativity pathways of multimeric enzymes. We have observed these low-barrier hydrogen bonds in ultra-high-resolution X-ray crystallographic structures of two multimeric enzymes, and have validated their assignment using computational calculations. Catalytic events at the active sites switch between low-barrier hydrogen bonds and ordinary hydrogen bonds in a circuit that consists of acidic side chains and water molecules, transmitting a signal through the collective repositioning of protons by behaving as an atomistic Newton's cradle. The resulting communication synchronizes catalysis in the oligomer. Our studies provide several lines of evidence and a working model for not only the existence of low-barrier hydrogen bonds in proteins, but also a connection to enzyme cooperativity. This finding suggests new principles of drug and enzyme design, in which sequences of residues can be purposefully included to enable long-range communication and thus the regulation of engineered biomolecules.

Structural and Functional Analyses of the Human PDH Complex Suggest a "Division-of-Labor" Mechanism by Local E1 and E3 Clusters

The pseudo-atomic structural model of human pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHc) core composed of full-length E2 and E3BP components, calculated from our cryoelectron microscopy-derived density maps at 6-Å resolution, is similar to those of prokaryotic E2 structures. The spatial organization of human PDHc components as evidenced by negative-staining electron microscopy and native mass spectrometry is not homogeneous, and entails the unanticipated formation of local clusters of E1:E2 and E3BP:E3 complexes. Such uneven, clustered organization translates into specific duties for E1-E2 clusters (oxidative decarboxylation and acetyl transfer) and E3BP-E3 clusters (regeneration of reduced lipoamide) corresponding to half-reactions of the PDHc catalytic cycle. The addition of substrate coenzyme A modulates the conformational landscape of PDHc, in particular of the lipoyl domains, extending the postulated multiple random coupling mechanism. The conformational and associated chemical landscapes of PDHc are thus not determined entirely stochastically, but are restrained and channeled through an asymmetric architecture and further modulated by substrate binding.

Theoretical Studies of the Electronic Absorption Spectra of Thiamin Diphosphate in Pyruvate Decarboxylase

Electronic absorption spectra are oftentimes used to identify reaction intermediates or substrates/products in enzymatic systems, as long as absorption bands can be unequivocally assigned to the species being studied. The latter task is far from trivial given the transient nature of some states and the complexity of the surrounding environment around the active site. To identify unique spectral fingerprints, controlled experiments with model compounds have been used in the past, but even these can sometimes be unreliable. Circular dichroism (CD) and ultraviolet-visible spectra have been tools of choice in the study of the rich chemistry of thiamin diphosphate-dependent enzymes. In this study, we focus on the Zymomonas mobilis pyruvate decarboxylase, and mutant analogues thereof, as a prototypical representative of the thiamin diphosphate (ThDP) enzyme superfamily. Through the use of electronic structure methods, we analyze the nature of electronic excitations in the cofactor. We find that all the determining CD bands around the 280-340 nm spectral range correspond to charge-transfer excitations between the pyrimidine and thiazolium rings of ThDP, which, most likely, is a general property of related ThDP-dependent enzymes. While we can confirm the assignments of previously proposed bands to chemical states, our calculations further suggest that a hitherto unassigned band of enzyme-bound ThDP reports on the ionization state of the canonical glutamate that is required for cofactor activation. This finding expands the spectroscopic "library" of chemical states of ThDP enzymes, permitting a simultaneous assignment of both the cofactor ThDP and the activating glutamate. We anticipate this finding to be helpful for mechanistic analyses of related ThDP enzymes.

PtdInsP2 and PtdSer cooperate to trap synaptotagmin-1 to the plasma membrane in the presence of calcium

The Ca²⁺-sensor synaptotagmin-1 that triggers neuronal exocytosis binds to negatively charged membrane lipids (mainly phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) and phosphoinositides (PtdIns)) but the molecular details of this process are not fully understood. Using quantitative thermodynamic, kinetic and structural methods, we show that synaptotagmin-1 (from Rattus norvegicus and expressed in Escherichia coli) binds to PtdIns(4,5)P₂ via a polybasic lysine patch in the C2B domain, which may promote the priming or docking of synaptic vesicles. Ca²⁺ neutralizes the negative charges of the Ca²⁺-binding sites, resulting in the penetration of synaptotagmin-1 into the membrane, via binding of PtdSer, and an increase in the affinity of the polybasic lysine patch to phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P₂). These Ca²⁺-induced events decrease the dissociation rate of synaptotagmin-1 membrane binding while the association rate remains unchanged. We conclude that both membrane penetration and the increased residence time of synaptotagmin-1 at the plasma membrane are crucial for triggering exocytotic membrane fusion.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.15886.001

The human nervous system contains billions of neurons that communicate with each other across junctions called synapses. When a neuron is activated, the levels of calcium ions inside the cell rise. This causes molecules called neurotransmitters to be released from the neuron at a synapse to make contact with the second neuron. The neurotransmitters are stored inside cells within compartments known as synaptic vesicles and are released when these vesicles fuse with the membrane surrounding the cell.

Proteins called SNAREs regulate the membrane fusion process. These proteins assemble into bundles that help to drive vesicle and cell membranes together. Another protein called synaptotagmin-1 sticks out from the vesicle membrane and senses the levels of calcium ions in the cell to trigger membrane fusion at the right time. Synaptotagmin-1 has two regions that can bind to calcium ions, known as the C2 domains. When calcium ion levels rise, these domains insert into the cell membrane by binding to two fat molecules in the membrane called phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdInsP₂). Synaptotagmin-1 also interacts with the SNARE proteins, but it is not known whether synaptotagmin-1 triggers fusion by binding directly to SNAREs, or by the way it inserts into the cell membrane.

Pérez-Lara et al. used several biophysical methods to investigate how synaptotagmin-1 binds to PtdSer and PtdInsP₂. The experiments show that these molecules bind to different regions of synaptotagmin-1 and work together to attach the protein to the cell membrane and insert the C2 domains. Calcium ions increase the affinity of synaptotagmin-1 binding to the cell membrane by making it harder for synaptotagmin-1 to separate from the membrane, rather than by increasing its ability to bind to it. Further experiments show that synaptotagmin-1 prefers to bind to membranes that contain PtdInsP2 over binding to the SNARE proteins.

Together, the findings of Pérez-Lara et al. suggest that calcium ions may trigger the release of neurotransmitters by trapping synaptotagmin-1 at the cell membrane rather than by directly affecting how it interacts with SNARE proteins. Further work will be needed to establish exactly how the SNARE proteins, PtdInsP2 and synaptotagmin-1 interact.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.15886.002

Structural Analysis of an Evolved Transketolase Reveals Divergent Binding Modes

The S385Y/D469T/R520Q variant of E. coli transketolase was evolved previously with three successive smart libraries, each guided by different structural, bioinformatical or computational methods. Substrate-walking progressively shifted the target acceptor substrate from phosphorylated aldehydes, towards a non-phosphorylated polar aldehyde, a non-polar aliphatic aldehyde, and finally a non-polar aromatic aldehyde. Kinetic evaluations on three benzaldehyde derivatives, suggested that their active-site binding was differentially sensitive to the S385Y mutation. Docking into mutants generated in silico from the wild-type crystal structure was not wholly satisfactory, as errors accumulated with successive mutations, and hampered further smart-library designs. Here we report the crystal structure of the S385Y/D469T/R520Q variant, and molecular docking of three substrates. This now supports our original hypothesis that directed-evolution had generated an evolutionary intermediate with divergent binding modes for the three aromatic aldehydes tested. The new active site contained two binding pockets supporting π-π stacking interactions, sterically separated by the D469T mutation. While 3-formylbenzoic acid (3-FBA) preferred one pocket, and 4-FBA the other, the less well-accepted substrate 3-hydroxybenzaldehyde (3-HBA) was caught in limbo with equal preference for the two pockets. This work highlights the value of obtaining crystal structures of evolved enzyme variants, for continued and reliable use of smart library strategies.

ProteoPlex: stability optimization of macromolecular complexes by sparse-matrix screening of chemical space

Molecular machines or macromolecular complexes are supramolecular assemblies of biomolecules with a variety of functions. Structure determination of these complexes in a purified state is often tedious owing to their compositional complexity and the associated relative structural instability. To improve the stability of macromolecular complexes in vitro, we present a generic method that optimizes the stability, homogeneity and solubility of macromolecular complexes by sparse-matrix screening of their thermal unfolding behavior in the presence of various buffers and small molecules. The method includes the automated analysis of thermal unfolding curves based on a biophysical unfolding model for complexes. We found that under stabilizing conditions, even large multicomponent complexes reveal an almost ideal two-state unfolding behavior. We envisage an improved biochemical understanding of purified macromolecules as well as a substantial boost in successful macromolecular complex structure determination by both X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy.

Converting Transaldolase into Aldolase through Swapping of the Multifunctional Acid-Base Catalyst: Common and Divergent Catalytic Principles in F6P Aldolase and Transaldolase

Transaldolase (TAL) and fructose-6-phosphate aldolase (FSA) both belong to the class I aldolase family and share a high degree of structural similarity and sequence identity. The molecular basis of the different reaction specificities (transferase vs aldolase) has remained enigmatic. A notable difference between the active sites is the presence of either a TAL-specific Glu (Gln in FSA) or a FSA-specific Tyr (Phe in TAL). Both residues seem to have analoguous multifunctional catalytic roles but are positioned at different faces of the substrate locale. We have engineered a TAL double variant (Glu to Gln and Phe to Tyr) with an active site resembling that of FSA. This variant indeed exhibits aldolase activity as its main activity with a catalytic efficiency even larger than that of authentic FSA, while TAL activity is greatly impaired. Structural analysis of this variant in complex with the dihydroxyacetone Schiff base formed upon substrate cleavage identifies the introduced Tyr (genuine in FSA) to catalyze protonation of the central carbanion-enamine intermediate as a key determinant of the aldolase reaction. Our studies pinpoint that the Glu in TAL and the Tyr in FSA, although located at different positions at the active site, similarly act as bona fide acid-base catalysts in numerous catalytic steps, including substrate binding, dehydration of the carbinolamine, and substrate cleavage. We propose that the different spatial positions of the multifunctional Glu in TAL and of the corresponding multifunctional Tyr in FSA relative to the substrate locale are critically controlling reaction specificity through either unfavorable (TAL) or favorable (FSA) geometry of proton transfer onto the common carbanion-enamine intermediate. The presence of both potential acid-base residues, Glu and Tyr, in the active site of TAL has deleterious effects on substrate binding and cleavage, most likely resulting from a differently organized H-bonding network. Large-scale motions of the protein associated with opening and closing of the active site that seem to bear relevance for catalysis are observed as covalent intermediates are exclusively observed in the "closed" conformation of the active site. Pre-steady-state kinetics are used to monitor catalytic processes and structural transitions and to refine the kinetic framework of TAL catalysis.

Identification, characterization, and structure analysis of the cyclic di-AMP-binding PII-like signal transduction protein DarA

The cyclic dimeric AMP nucleotide c-di-AMP is an essential second messenger in Bacillus subtilis. We have identified the protein DarA as one of the prominent c-di-AMP receptors in B. subtilis. Crystal structure analysis shows that DarA is highly homologous to PII signal transducer proteins. In contrast to PII proteins, the functionally important B- and T-loops are swapped with respect to their size. DarA is a homotrimer that binds three molecules of c-di-AMP, each in a pocket located between two subunits. We demonstrate that DarA is capable to bind c-di-AMP and with lower affinity cyclic GMP-AMP (3'3'-cGAMP) but not c-di-GMP or 2'3'-cGAMP. Consistently the crystal structure shows that within the ligand-binding pocket only one adenine is highly specifically recognized, whereas the pocket for the other adenine appears to be promiscuous. Comparison with a homologous ligand-free DarA structure reveals that c-di-AMP binding is accompanied by conformational changes of both the fold and the position of the B-loop in DarA.

Marvels of enzyme catalysis at true atomic resolution: distortions, bond elongations, hidden flips, protonation states and atom identities

Although general principles of enzyme catalysis are fairly well understood nowadays, many important details of how exactly the substrate is bound and processed in an enzyme remain often invisible and as such elusive. In fortunate cases, structural analysis of enzymes can be accomplished at true atomic resolution thus making possible to shed light on otherwise concealed fine-structural traits of bound substrates, intermediates, cofactors and protein groups. We highlight recent structural studies of enzymes using ultrahigh-resolution X-ray protein crystallography showcasing its enormous potential as a tool in the elucidation of enzymatic mechanisms and in unveiling fundamental principles of enzyme catalysis. We discuss the observation of seemingly hyper-reactive, physically distorted cofactors and intermediates with elongated scissile substrate bonds, the detection of 'hidden' conformational and chemical equilibria and the analysis of protonation states with surprising findings. In delicate cases, atomic resolution is required to unambiguously disclose the identity of atoms as demonstrated for the metal cluster in nitrogenase. In addition to the pivotal structural findings and the implications for our understanding of enzyme catalysis, we further provide a practical framework for resolution enhancement through optimized data acquisition and processing.

Sweet siblings with different faces: the mechanisms of FBP and F6P aldolase, transaldolase, transketolase and phosphoketolase revisited in light of recent structural data

Nature has evolved different strategies for the reversible cleavage of ketose phosphosugars as essential metabolic reactions in all domains of life. Prominent examples are the Schiff-base forming class I FBP and F6P aldolase as well as transaldolase, which all exploit an active center lysine to reversibly cleave the C3-C4 bond of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate or fructose-6-phosphate to give two 3-carbon products (aldolase), or to shuttle 3-carbon units between various phosphosugars (transaldolase). In contrast, transketolase and phosphoketolase make use of the bioorganic cofactor thiamin diphosphate to cleave the preceding C2-C3 bond of ketose phosphates. While transketolase catalyzes the reversible transfer of 2-carbon ketol fragments in a reaction analogous to that of transaldolase, phosphoketolase forms acetyl phosphate as final product in a reaction that comprises ketol cleavage, dehydration and phosphorolysis. In this review, common and divergent catalytic principles of these enzymes will be discussed, mostly, but not exclusively, on the basis of crystallographic snapshots of catalysis. These studies in combination with mutagenesis and kinetic analysis not only delineated the stereochemical course of substrate binding and processing, but also identified key catalytic players acting at the various stages of the reaction. The structural basis for the different chemical fates and lifetimes of the central enamine intermediates in all five enzymes will be particularly discussed, in addition to the mechanisms of substrate cleavage, dehydration and ring-opening reactions of cyclic substrates. The observation of covalent enzymatic intermediates in hyperreactive conformations such as Schiff-bases with twisted double-bond linkages in transaldolase and physically distorted substrate-thiamin conjugates with elongated substrate bonds to be cleaved in transketolase, which probably epitomize a canonical feature of enzyme catalysis, will be also highlighted.

Control of the diadenylate cyclase CdaS in Bacillus subtilis: an autoinhibitory domain limits cyclic di-AMP production

The Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis encodes three diadenylate cyclases that synthesize the essential signaling nucleotide cyclic di-AMP. The activities of the vegetative enzymes DisA and CdaA are controlled by protein-protein interactions with their conserved partner proteins. Here, we have analyzed the regulation of the unique sporulation-specific diadenylate cyclase CdaS. Very low expression of CdaS as the single diadenylate cyclase resulted in the appearance of spontaneous suppressor mutations. Several of these mutations in the cdaS gene affected the N-terminal domain of CdaS. The corresponding CdaS mutant proteins exhibited a significantly increased enzymatic activity. The N-terminal domain of CdaS consists of two α-helices and is attached to the C-terminal catalytically active diadenylate cyclase (DAC) domain. Deletion of the first or both helices resulted also in strongly increased activity indicating that the N-terminal domain serves to limit the enzyme activity of the DAC domain. The structure of YojJ, a protein highly similar to CdaS, indicates that the protein forms hexamers that are incompatible with enzymatic activity of the DAC domains. In contrast, the mutations and the deletions of the N-terminal domain result in conformational changes that lead to highly increased enzymatic activity. Although the full-length CdaS protein was found to form hexamers, a truncated version with a deletion of the first N-terminal helix formed dimers with high enzyme activity. To assess the role of CdaS in sporulation, we assayed the germination of wild type and cdaS mutant spores. The results indicate that cyclic di-AMP formed by CdaS is required for efficient germination.

Sub-ångström-resolution crystallography reveals physical distortions that enhance reactivity of a covalent enzymatic intermediate

It is recognized widely that enzymes promote reactions by providing a pathway that proceeds through a transition state of lower energy. In principle, further rate enhancements could be achieved if intermediates are prevented from relaxing to their lowest energy state, and thereby reduce the barrier to the subsequent transition state. Here, we report sub-ångström-resolution crystal structures of genuine covalent reaction intermediates of transketolase. These structures reveal a pronounced out-of-plane distortion of over 20° for the covalent bond that links cofactor and substrate, and a specific elongation of the scissile substrate carbon-carbon bond (d > 1.6 Å). To achieve these distortions, the protein's conformation appears to prevent relaxation of a substrate-cofactor intermediate. The results implicate a reduced barrier to the subsequent step that is consistent with an intermediate of raised energy and leads to a more efficient overall process.

A δ38 deletion variant of human transketolase as a model of transketolase-like protein 1 exhibits no enzymatic activity

Besides transketolase (TKT), a thiamin-dependent enzyme of the pentose phosphate pathway, the human genome encodes for two closely related transketolase-like proteins, which share a high sequence identity with TKT. Transketolase-like protein 1 (TKTL1) has been implicated in cancerogenesis as its cellular expression levels were reported to directly correlate with invasion efficiency of cancer cells and patient mortality. It has been proposed that TKTL1 exerts its function by catalyzing an unusual enzymatic reaction, a hypothesis that has been the subject of recent controversy. The most striking difference between TKTL1 and TKT is a deletion of 38 consecutive amino acids in the N-terminal domain of the former, which constitute part of the active site in authentic TKT. Our structural and sequence analysis suggested that TKTL1 might not possess transketolase activity. In order to test this hypothesis in the absence of a recombinant expression system for TKTL1 and resilient data on its biochemical properties, we have engineered and biochemically characterized a “pseudo-TKTL1” Δ38 deletion variant of human TKT (TKTΔ38) as a viable model of TKTL1. Although the isolated protein is properly folded under in vitro conditions, both thermal stability as well as stability of the TKT-specific homodimeric assembly are markedly reduced. Circular dichroism and NMR spectroscopic analysis further indicates that TKTΔ38 is unable to bind the thiamin cofactor in a specific manner, even at superphysiological concentrations. No transketolase activity of TKTΔ38 can be detected for conversion of physiological sugar substrates thus arguing against an intrinsically encoded enzymatic function of TKTL1 in tumor cell metabolism.

Bifunctionality of the thiamin diphosphate cofactor: assignment of tautomeric/ionization states of the 4'-aminopyrimidine ring when various intermediates occupy the active sites during the catalysis of yeast pyruvate decarboxylase

Thiamin diphosphate (ThDP) dependent enzymes perform crucial C-C bond forming and breaking reactions in sugar and amino acid metabolism and in biosynthetic pathways via a sequence of ThDP-bound covalent intermediates. A member of this superfamily, yeast pyruvate decarboxylase (YPDC) carries out the nonoxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate and is mechanistically a simpler ThDP enzyme. YPDC variants created by substitution at the active center (D28A, E51X, and E477Q) and on the substrate activation pathway (E91D and C221E) display varying activity, suggesting that they stabilize different covalent intermediates. To test the role of both rings of ThDP in YPDC catalysis (the 4'-aminopyrimidine as acid-base, and thiazolium as electrophilic covalent catalyst), we applied a combination of steady state and time-resolved circular dichroism experiments (assessing the state of ionization and tautomerization of enzyme-bound ThDP-related intermediates), and chemical quench of enzymatic reaction mixtures followed by NMR characterization of the ThDP-bound intermediates released from YPDC (assessing occupancy of active centers by these intermediates and rate-limiting steps). Results suggest the following: (1) Pyruvate and analogs induce active site asymmetry in YPDC and variants. (2) The rare 1',4'-iminopyrimidine ThDP tautomer participates in formation of ThDP-bound intermediates. (3) Propionylphosphinate also binds at the regulatory site and its binding is reflected by catalytic events at the active site 20 Å away. (4) YPDC stabilizes an electrostatic model for the 4'-aminopyrimidinium ionization state, an important contribution of the protein to catalysis. The combination of tools used provides time-resolved details about individual events during ThDP catalysis; the methods are transferable to other ThDP superfamily members.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of transaldolase from Thermoplasma acidophilum

The metabolic enzyme transaldolase from Thermoplasma acidophilum was recombinantly expressed in Escherichia coli and could be crystallized in two polymorphic forms. Crystals were grown by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method using PEG 6000 as precipitant. Native data sets for crystal forms 1 and 2 were collected in-house to resolutions of 3.0 and 2.7 Å, respectively. Crystal form 1 belonged to the orthorhombic space group C222(1) with five monomers per asymmetric unit and crystal form 2 belonged to the monoclinic space group P2(1) with ten monomers per asymmetric unit.

Recombinant expression, in vitro refolding, and biophysical characterization of the human glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor

Activation of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) upon ligand binding leads to the release of insulin from pancreatic cells. This strictly glucose-dependent process renders the receptor and its ligands useful in the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus. To enable a biophysical characterization in vitro, we expressed the human full-length GLP-1R in the cytosol of Escherichia coli as inclusion bodies. After purification, refolding of the SDS-solubilized receptor was achieved by the exchange of SDS against the detergent Brij78 using an artificial chaperone system. Far-UV circular dichroism spectroscopic studies revealed that the receptor adopts a characteristic alpha-helical structure in Brij78 micelles. Ligand binding of the renatured protein was quantified by fluorescence quenching and surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy. In the presence of Brij micelles, the refolded receptor binds the agonist exendin-4 with an apparent dissociation constant of approximately 100 nM in a reversible one-step mechanism. To demonstrate that the detected ligand binding activity is not only due to an autonomously functional N-terminal domain (nGLP-1R) but also due to additional contacts with the juxtamembrane part, we separately expressed and refolded the extracellular domain relying on identical protocols established for the full-length GLP-1R. In support of the suggested multidomain binding mode, the nGLP-1R binds exendin-4 with a lower affinity (K(app) in the micromolar range) and a different kinetic mechanism. The lower ligand affinity of the nGLP-1R results entirely from a decreased kinetic stability of the receptor-ligand complex, dissociation of which is approximately 40-fold faster in the case of the nGLP-1R compared to the full-length GLP-1R. In summary, a framework was developed to produce functional human full-length GLP-1R by recombinant expression in E. coli as a prerequisite for eventual structure determination and a rigorous biophysical characterization including protein variants.

Double duty for a conserved glutamate in pyruvate decarboxylase: evidence of the participation in stereoelectronically controlled decarboxylation and in protonation of the nascent carbanion/enamine intermediate

Pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC) catalyzes the nonoxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate into acetaldehyde and carbon dioxide and requires thiamin diphosphate (ThDP) and a divalent cation as cofactors. Recent studies have permitted the assignment of functional roles of active site residues; however, the underlying reaction mechanisms of elementary steps have remained hypothetical. Here, a kinetic and thermodynamic single-step analysis in conjunction with X-ray crystallographic studies of PDC from Zymomonas mobilis implicates active site residue Glu473 (located on the re-face of the ThDP thiazolium nucleus) in facilitating both decarboxylation of 2-lactyl-ThDP and protonation of the 2-hydroxyethyl-ThDP carbanion/enamine intermediate. Variants carrying either an isofunctional (Glu473Asp) or isosteric (Glu473Gln) substitution exhibit a residual catalytic activity of less than 0.1% but accumulate different intermediates at the steady state. Whereas the predecarboxylation intermediate 2-lactyl-ThDP is accumulated in Glu473Asp because of a 3000-fold slower decarboxylation compared to that of the wild-type enzyme, Glu473Gln is not impaired in decarboxylation but generates a long-lived 2-hydroxyethyl-ThDP carbanion/enamine postdecarboxylation intermediate. CD spectroscopic analysis of the protonic and tautomeric equilibria of the cocatalytic aminopyrimidine part of ThDP indicates that an acidic residue is required at position 473 for proper substrate binding. Wild-type PDC and the Glu473Asp variant bind the substrate analogue acetylphosphinate with the same affinity, implying a similar stabilization of the predecarboxylation intermediate analogue on the enzyme, whereas Glu473Gln fails to bind the analogue. The X-ray crystallographic structure of 2-lactyl-ThDP trapped in the decarboxylation-deficient variant Glu473Asp reveals a common stereochemistry of the intermediate C2α stereocenter; however, the scissile C2α-C(carboxylate) bond deviates by ∼25-30° from the perpendicular "maximum overlap" orientation relative to the thiazolium ring plane as commonly observed in ThDP enzymes. Because a reactant-state stabilization of the predecarboxylation intermediate can be excluded to account for the slower decarboxylation, the data suggest a strong stereoelectronic effect for the transition state of decarboxylation as supported by additional DFT studies on models. To the best of our knowledge, this is a very rare example in which the magnitude of a stereoelectronic effect could be experimentally estimated for an enzymatic system. Given that variant Glu473Gln is not decarboxylation-deficient, electrostatic stress can be excluded as a driving force for decarboxylation. The apparent dual function of Glu473 further suggests that decarboxylation and protonation of the incipient carbanion are committed and presumably proceed in the same transition state.

The crystal structure of human transketolase and new insights into its mode of action

The crystal structure of human transketolase (TKT), a thiamine diphosphate (ThDP) and Ca(2+)-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the interketol transfer between ketoses and aldoses as part of the pentose phosphate pathway, has been determined to 1.75 Å resolution. The recombinantly produced protein crystallized in space group C2 containing one monomer in the asymmetric unit. Two monomers form the homodimeric biological assembly with two identical active sites at the dimer interface. Although the protomer exhibits the typical three (α/β)-domain structure and topology reported for TKTs from other species, structural differences are observed for several loop regions and the linker that connects the PP and Pyr domain. The cofactor and substrate binding sites of human TKT bear high resemblance to those of other TKTs but also feature unique properties, including two lysines and a serine that interact with the β-phosphate of ThDP. Furthermore, Gln(189) spans over the thiazolium moiety of ThDP and replaces an isoleucine found in most non-mammalian TKTs. The side chain of Gln(428) forms a hydrogen bond with the 4'-amino group of ThDP and replaces a histidine that is invariant in all non-mammalian TKTs. All other amino acids involved in substrate binding and catalysis are strictly conserved. Besides a steady-state kinetic analysis, microscopic equilibria of the donor half-reaction were characterized by an NMR-based intermediate analysis. These studies reveal that formation of the central 1,2-dihydroxyethyl-ThDP carbanion-enamine intermediate is thermodynamically favored with increasing carbon chain length of the donor ketose substrate. Based on the structure of human transketolase and sequence alignments, putative functional properties of the related transketolase-like proteins TKTL1 and -2 are discussed in light of recent findings suggesting that TKTL1 plays a role in cancerogenesis.

Communication between thiamin cofactors in the Escherichia coli pyruvate dehydrogenase complex E1 component active centers: evidence for a "direct pathway" between the 4'-aminopyrimidine N1' atoms

Kinetic, spectroscopic, and structural analysis tested the hypothesis that a chain of residues connecting the 4'-aminopyrimidine N1' atoms of thiamin diphosphates (ThDPs) in the two active centers of the Escherichia coli pyruvate dehydrogenase complex E1 component provides a signal transduction pathway. Substitution of the three acidic residues (Glu(571), Glu(235), and Glu(237)) and Arg(606) resulted in impaired binding of the second ThDP, once the first active center was filled, suggesting a pathway for communication between the two ThDPs. 1) Steady-state kinetic and fluorescence quenching studies revealed that upon E571A, E235A, E237A, and R606A substitutions, ThDP binding in the second active center was affected. 2) Analysis of the kinetics of thiazolium C2 hydrogen/deuterium exchange of enzyme-bound ThDP suggests half-of-the-sites reactivity for the E1 component, with fast (activated site) and slow exchanging sites (dormant site). The E235A and E571A variants gave no evidence for the slow exchanging site, indicating that only one of two active sites is filled with ThDP. 3) Titration of the E235A and E237A variants with methyl acetylphosphonate monitored by circular dichroism suggested that only half of the active sites were filled with a covalent predecarboxylation intermediate analog. 4) Crystal structures of E235A and E571A in complex with ThDP revealed the structural basis for the spectroscopic and kinetic observations and showed that either substitution affects cofactor binding, despite the fact that Glu(235) makes no direct contact with the cofactor. The role of the conserved Glu(571) residue in both catalysis and cofactor orientation is revealed by the combined results for the first time.

Structural and kinetic studies on native intermediates and an intermediate analogue in benzoylformate decarboxylase reveal a least motion mechanism with an unprecedented short-lived predecarboxylation intermediate

The thiamin diphosphate- (ThDP-) dependent enzyme benzoylformate decarboxylase (BFDC) catalyzes the nonoxidative decarboxylation of benzoylformic acid to benzaldehyde and carbon dioxide. To date, no structural information for a cofactor-bound reaction intermediate in BFDC is available. For kinetic analysis, a chromophoric substrate analogue was employed that produces various absorbing intermediates during turnover but is a poor substrate with a 10(4)-fold compromised kcat. Here, we have analyzed the steady-state distribution of native intermediates by a combined chemical quench/1H NMR spectroscopic approach and estimated the net rate constants of elementary catalytic steps. At substrate saturation, carbonyl addition of the substrate to the cofactor (k' approximately 500 s-1 at 30 degrees C) and elimination of benzaldehyde (k' approximately 2.400 s-1) were found to be partially rate-determining for catalysis, whereas decarboxylation of the transient 2-mandelyl-ThDP intermediate is 1 order of magnitude faster with k' approximately 16.000 s-1, the largest rate constant of decarboxylation in any thiamin enzyme characterized so far. The X-ray structure of a predecarboxylation intermediate analogue was determined to 1.6 A after cocrystallization of BFDC from Pseudomonas putida with benzoylphosphonic acid methyl ester. In contrast to the free acid, for which irreversible phosphorylation of active center Ser26 was reported, the methyl ester forms a covalent adduct with ThDP with a similar configuration at C2alpha as observed for other thiamin enzymes. The C2-C2alpha bond of the intermediate analogue is out of plane by 7degrees, indicating strain. The phosphonate part of the adduct forms hydrogen bonds with Ser26 and His281, and the 1-OH group is held in place by interactions with His70 and the 4'-amino group of ThDP. The phenyl ring accommodates in a hydrophobic pocket formed by Phe464, Phe397, Leu109, and Leu403. A comparison with the previously determined structure of BFDC in noncovalent complex with the inhibitor (R)-mandelate suggests a least motion mechanism. Binding of benzoylphosphonic acid methyl ester to BFDC was further characterized by CD spectroscopy and stopped-flow kinetics, indicating a two-step binding mechanism with a 200-fold slower carbonyl addition to ThDP than determined for benzoylformic acid, in line with the observed slight structural reorganization of Phe464 due to steric clashes with the phosphonate moiety.