Characterization of Class V DyP-Type Peroxidase SaDyP1 from Streptomyces avermitilis and Evaluation of SaDyPs Expression in Mycelium

DyP-type peroxidases are a family of heme peroxidases named for their ability to degrade persistent anthraquinone dyes. DyP-type peroxidases are subclassified into three classes: classes P, I and V. Based on its genome sequence, Streptomyces avermitilis, eubacteria, has two genes presumed to encode class V DyP-type peroxidases and two class I genes. We have previously shown that ectopically expressed SaDyP2, a member of class V, indeed has the characteristics of a DyP-type peroxidase. In this study, we analyzed SaDyP1, a member of the same class V as SaDyP2. SaDyP1 showed high amino acid sequence identity to SaDyP2, retaining a conserved GXXDG motif and catalytic aspartate. SaDyP1 degraded anthraquinone dyes, which are specific substrates of DyP-type peroxidases but not azo dyes. In addition to such substrate specificity, SaDyP1 showed other features of DyP-type peroxidases, such as low optimal pH. Furthermore, immunoblotting using an anti-SaDyP2 polyclonal antibody revealed that SaDyP1 and/or SaDyP2 is expressed in mycelia of wild-type S. avermitilis.

Transcriptome analysis of Caenorhabditis elegans lacking heme peroxidase SKPO-1 reveals an altered response to Enterococcus faecalis

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is commonly used as a model organism in studies of the host immune response. The worm encodes twelve peroxidase-cyclooxygenase superfamily members, making it an attractive model in which to study the functions of heme peroxidases. In previous work, loss of one of these peroxidases, SKPO-1 (ShkT-containing peroxidase), rendered C. elegans more sensitive to the human, Gram-positive pathogen Enterococcus faecalis. SKPO-1 was localized to the hypodermis of the animals where it also affected cuticle development as indicated by a morphological phenotype called "dumpy." In this work, a better understanding of how loss of skpo-1 impacts both sensitivity to pathogen as well as cuticle development was sought by subjecting a deletion mutant of skpo-1 to transcriptome analysis using RNA sequencing following exposure to control (Escherichia coli) and pathogenic (E. faecalis) feeding conditions. Loss of skpo-1 caused a general upregulation of genes encoding collagens and other proteins related to cuticle development. On E. faecalis, these animals also failed to upregulate guanylyl cyclases that are often involved in environmental sensing. Hoechst straining revealed increased permeability of the cuticle and atomic force microscopy exposed the misalignment of the cuticular annuli and furrows. These findings provide a basis for better understanding of the morphological as well as the pathogen sensitivity phenotypes associated with loss of SKPO-1 function.

Dose-resolved serial synchrotron and XFEL structures of radiation-sensitive metalloproteins

An approach is demonstrated to obtain, in a sample- and time-efficient manner, multiple dose-resolved crystal structures from room-temperature protein microcrystals using identical fixed-target supports at both synchrotrons and X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs). This approach allows direct comparison of dose-resolved serial synchrotron and damage-free XFEL serial femtosecond crystallography structures of radiation-sensitive proteins. Specifically, serial synchrotron structures of a heme peroxidase enzyme reveal that X-ray induced changes occur at far lower doses than those at which diffraction quality is compromised (the Garman limit), consistent with previous studies on the reduction of heme proteins by low X-ray doses. In these structures, a functionally relevant bond length is shown to vary rapidly as a function of absorbed dose, with all room-temperature synchrotron structures exhibiting linear deformation of the active site compared with the XFEL structure. It is demonstrated that extrapolation of dose-dependent synchrotron structures to zero dose can closely approximate the damage-free XFEL structure. This approach is widely applicable to any protein where the crystal structure is altered by the synchrotron X-ray beam and provides a solution to the urgent requirement to determine intact structures of such proteins in a high-throughput and accessible manner.

An Aromatic Dyad Motif in Dye Decolourising Peroxidases Has Implications for Free Radical Formation and Catalysis

Dye decolouring peroxidases (DyPs) are the most recent class of heme peroxidase to be discovered. On reacting with H₂ O₂ , DyPs form a high-valent iron(IV)-oxo species and a porphyrin radical (Compound I) followed by stepwise oxidation of an organic substrate. In the absence of substrate, the ferryl species decays to form transient protein-bound radicals on redox active amino acids. Identification of radical sites in DyPs has implications for their oxidative mechanism with substrate. Using a DyP from Streptomyces lividans, referred to as DtpA, which displays low reactivity towards synthetic dyes, activation with H₂ O₂ was explored. A Compound I EPR spectrum was detected, which in the absence of substrate decays to a protein-bound radical EPR signal. Using a newly developed version of the Tyrosyl Radical Spectra Simulation Algorithm, the radical EPR signal was shown to arise from a pristine tyrosyl radical and not a mixed Trp/Tyr radical that has been widely reported in DyP members exhibiting high activity with synthetic dyes. The radical site was identified as Tyr374, with kinetic studies inferring that although Tyr374 is not on the electron-transfer pathway from the dye RB19, its replacement with a Phe does severely compromise activity with other organic substrates. These findings hint at the possibility that alternative electron-transfer pathways for substrate oxidation are operative within the DyP family. In this context, a role for a highly conserved aromatic dyad motif is discussed.

The Relationship of NADPH Oxidases and Heme Peroxidases: Fallin' in and Out

Peroxidase enzymes can oxidize a multitude of substrates in diverse biological processes. According to the latest phylogenetic analysis, there are four major heme peroxidase superfamilies. In this review, we focus on certain members of the cyclooxygenase-peroxidase superfamily (also labeled as animal heme peroxidases) and their connection to specific NADPH oxidase enzymes which provide H₂O₂ for the one- and two-electron oxidation of various peroxidase substrates. The family of NADPH oxidases is a group of enzymes dedicated to the production of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide. There is a handful of known and important physiological functions where one of the seven known human NADPH oxidases plays an essential role. In most of these functions NADPH oxidases provide H₂O₂ for specific heme peroxidases and the concerted action of the two enzymes is indispensable for the accomplishment of the biological function. We discuss human and other metazoan examples of such cooperation between oxidases and peroxidases and analyze the biological importance of their functional interaction. We also review those oxidases and peroxidases where this kind of partnership has not been identified yet.

Roles of distal aspartate and arginine of B-class dye-decolorizing peroxidase in heterolytic hydrogen peroxide cleavage

Dye-decolorizing peroxidases (DyPs) represent the most recently classified hydrogen peroxide-dependent heme peroxidase family. Although widely distributed with more than 5000 annotated genes and hailed for their biotechnological potential, detailed biochemical characterization of their reaction mechanism remains limited. Here, we present the high-resolution crystal structures of WT B-class DyP from the pathogenic bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae (KpDyP) (1.6 Å) and the variants D143A (1.3 Å), R232A (1.9 Å), and D143A/R232A (1.1 Å). We demonstrate the impact of elimination of the DyP-typical, distal residues Asp-143 and Arg-232 on (i) the spectral and redox properties, (ii) the kinetics of heterolytic cleavage of hydrogen peroxide, (iii) the formation of the low-spin cyanide complex, and (iv) the stability and reactivity of an oxoiron(IV)porphyrin π-cation radical (Compound I). Structural and functional studies reveal that the distal aspartate is responsible for deprotonation of H₂O₂ and for the poor oxidation capacity of Compound I. Elimination of the distal arginine promotes a collapse of the distal heme cavity, including blocking of one access channel and a conformational change of the catalytic aspartate. We also provide evidence of formation of an oxoiron(IV)-type Compound II in KpDyP with absorbance maxima at 418, 527, and 553 nm. In summary, a reaction mechanism of the peroxidase cycle of B-class DyPs is proposed. Our observations challenge the idea that peroxidase activity toward conventional aromatic substrates is related to the physiological roles of B-class DyPs.

Secreted heme peroxidase from Dictyostelium discoideum: Insights into catalysis, structure, and biological role

Oxidation of halides and thiocyanate by heme peroxidases to antimicrobial oxidants is an important cornerstone in the innate immune system of mammals. Interestingly, phylogenetic and physiological studies suggest that homologous peroxidases are already present in mycetozoan eukaryotes such as Dictyostelium discoideum This social amoeba kills bacteria via phagocytosis for nutrient acquisition at its single-cell stage and for antibacterial defense at its multicellular stages. Here, we demonstrate that peroxidase A from D. discoideum (DdPoxA) is a stable, monomeric, glycosylated, and secreted heme peroxidase with homology to mammalian peroxidases. The first crystal structure (2.5 Å resolution) of a mycetozoan peroxidase of this superfamily shows the presence of a post-translationally-modified heme with one single covalent ester bond between the 1-methyl heme substituent and Glu-236. The metalloprotein follows the halogenation cycle, whereby compound I oxidizes iodide and thiocyanate at high rates (>10⁸ m^-1 s^-1) and bromide at very low rates. It is demonstrated that DdPoxA is up-regulated and likely secreted at late multicellular development stages of D. discoideum when migrating slugs differentiate into fruiting bodies that contain persistent spores on top of a cellular stalk. Expression of DdPoxA is shown to restrict bacterial contamination of fruiting bodies. Structure and function of DdPoxA are compared with evolutionary-related mammalian peroxidases in the context of non-specific immune defense.

Anopheles stephensi Heme Peroxidase HPX15 Suppresses Midgut Immunity to Support Plasmodium Development

The heme peroxidase HPX15 is an evolutionary conserved anopheline lineage-specific gene. Previously, we found that this gene is present in the genome of 19 worldwide distributed different species of Anopheles mosquito and its orthologs are absent in other mosquitoes, insects, or human. In addition, 65–99% amino acid identity among these 19 orthologs permitted us to hypothesize that the functional aspects of this gene might be also conserved in different anophelines. In this study, we found that Anopheles stephensi AsHPX15 gene is mainly expressed in the midgut and highly induced after uninfected or Plasmodium berghei-infected blood feeding. RNA interference-mediated silencing of midgut AsHPX15 gene drastically reduced the number of developing P. berghei oocysts. An antiplasmodial gene nitric oxide synthase was induced 13-fold in silenced midguts when compared to the unsilenced controls. Interestingly, the induction of antiplasmodial immunity in AsHPX15-silenced midguts is in absolute agreement with Anopheles gambiae. In A. gambiae, AgHPX15 catalyzes the formation of a dityrosine network at luminal side of the midgut that suppresses the activation of mosquito immunity against the bolus bacteria. Thus, a low-immunity zone created by this mechanism indirectly supports Plasmodium development inside the midgut lumen. These indistinguishable functional behaviors and conserved homology indicates that HPX15 might be a potent target to manipulate the antiplasmodial immunity of the anopheline midgut, and it will open new frontiers in the field of malaria control.

Kinetics, subcellular localization, and contribution to parasite virulence of a Trypanosoma cruzi hybrid type A heme peroxidase (TcAPx-CcP)

The Trypanosoma cruzi ascorbate peroxidase is, by sequence analysis, a hybrid type A member of class I heme peroxidases [TcAPx-cytochrome c peroxidase (CcP)], suggesting both ascorbate (Asc) and cytochrome c (Cc) peroxidase activity. Here, we show that the enzyme reacts fast with H₂O₂ (k = 2.9 × 10⁷ M^-1⋅s^-1) and catalytically decomposes H₂O₂ using Cc as the reducing substrate with higher efficiency than Asc (k_cat/K_m = 2.1 × 10⁵ versus 3.5 × 10⁴ M^-1⋅s^-1, respectively). Visible-absorption spectra of purified recombinant TcAPx-CcP after H₂O₂ reaction denote the formation of a compound I-like product, characteristic of the generation of a tryptophanyl radical-cation (Trp^233•+). Mutation of Trp²³³ to phenylalanine (W233F) completely abolishes the Cc-dependent peroxidase activity. In addition to Trp^233•+, a Cys²²²-derived radical was identified by electron paramagnetic resonance spin trapping, immunospin trapping, and MS analysis after equimolar H₂O₂ addition, supporting an alternative electron transfer (ET) pathway from the heme. Molecular dynamics studies revealed that ET between Trp²³³ and Cys²²² is possible and likely to participate in the catalytic cycle. Recognizing the ability of TcAPx-CcP to use alternative reducing substrates, we searched for its subcellular localization in the infective parasite stages (intracellular amastigotes and extracellular trypomastigotes). TcAPx-CcP was found closely associated with mitochondrial membranes and, most interestingly, with the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane, suggesting a role at the host-parasite interface. TcAPx-CcP overexpressers were significantly more infective to macrophages and cardiomyocytes, as well as in the mouse model of Chagas disease, supporting the involvement of TcAPx-CcP in pathogen virulence as part of the parasite antioxidant armamentarium.

Epoxy alcohol synthase of the rice blast fungus represents a novel subfamily of dioxygenase-cytochrome P450 fusion enzymes

The genome of the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae codes for two proteins with N-terminal dioxygenase (DOX) and C-terminal cytochrome P450 (CYP) domains, respectively. One of them, MGG_13239, was confirmed as 7,8-linoleate diol synthase by prokaryotic expression. The other recombinant protein (MGG_10859) possessed prominent 10R-DOX and epoxy alcohol synthase (EAS) activities. This enzyme, 10R-DOX-EAS, transformed 18:2n-6 sequentially to 10(R)-hydroperoxy-8(E),12(Z)-octadecadienoic acid (10R-HPODE) and to 12S(13R)-epoxy-10(R)-hydroxy-8(E)-octadecenoic acid as the end product. Oxygenation at C-10 occurred by retention of the pro-R hydrogen of C-8 of 18:2n-6, suggesting antarafacial hydrogen abstraction and oxygenation. Experiments with (18)O2 and (16)O2 gas confirmed that the epoxy alcohol was formed from 10R-HPODE, likely by heterolytic cleavage of the dioxygen bond with formation of P450 compound I, and subsequent intramolecular epoxidation of the 12(Z) double bond. Site-directed mutagenesis demonstrated that the cysteinyl heme ligand of the P450 domain was required for the EAS activity. Replacement of Asn(965) with Val in the conserved AsnGlnXaaGln sequence revealed that Asn(965) supported formation of the epoxy alcohol. 10R-DOX-EAS is the first member of a novel subfamily of DOX-CYP fusion proteins of devastating plant pathogens.

Discovery of a linoleate 9S-dioxygenase and an allene oxide synthase in a fusion protein of Fusarium oxysporum

Fusarium oxysporum is a devastating plant pathogen that oxidizes C₁₈ fatty acids sequentially to jasmonates. The genome codes for putative dioxygenase (DOX)-cytochrome P450 (CYP) fusion proteins homologous to linoleate diol synthases (LDSs) and the allene oxide synthase (AOS) of Aspergillus terreus, e.g., FOXB_01332. Recombinant FOXB_01332 oxidized 18:2n-6 to 9S-hydroperoxy-10(E),12(Z)-octadecadienoic acid by hydrogen abstraction and antarafacial insertion of molecular oxygen and sequentially to an allene oxide, 9S(10)-epoxy-10,12(Z)-octadecadienoic acid, as judged from nonenzymatic hydrolysis products (α- and γ-ketols). The enzyme was therefore designated 9S-DOX-AOS. The 9S-DOX activity oxidized C₁₈ and C₂₀ fatty acids of the n-6 and n-3 series to hydroperoxides at the n-9 and n-7 positions, and the n-9 hydroperoxides could be sequentially transformed to allene oxides with only a few exceptions. The AOS activity was stereospecific for 9- and 11-hydroperoxides with S configurations. FOXB_01332 has acidic and alcoholic residues, Glu⁹⁴⁶-Val-Leu-Ser⁹⁴⁹, at positions of crucial Asn and Gln residues (Asn-Xaa-Xaa-Gln) of the AOS and LDS. Site-directed mutagenesis studies revealed that FOXB_01332 and AOS of A. terreus differ in catalytically important residues suggesting that AOS of A. terreus and F. oxysporum belong to different subfamilies. FOXB_01332 is the first linoleate 9-DOX with homology to animal heme peroxidases and the first 9-DOX-AOS fusion protein.