Clustering of mutations in the biotin-binding region of holocarboxylase synthetase in biotin-responsive multiple carboxylase deficiency

Holocarboxylase synthetase (HCS) catalyses the biotinylation of the four biotin-dependent carboxylases found in humans. A deficiency in HCS results in biotin-responsive multiple carboxylase deficiency (MCD). We have identified six different point mutations in the HCS gene in nine patients with MCD. Two of the mutations are frequent among the MCD patients analyzed. Four of the mutations cluster in the putative biotin-binding domain as deduced from the corresponding Escherichia coli enzyme and consistent with an explanation for biotin-responsiveness based on altered affinity for biotin. The two others may define an additional domain involved in biotin-binding or biotin-mediated stabilization of the protein.

Sequence requirements for the biotinylation of carboxyl-terminal fragments of human propionyl-CoA carboxylase alpha subunit expressed in Escherichia coli

Biotin-dependent enzymes play an essential role in the metabolism of all organisms. Their biotinylation is catalyzed by holoenzyme synthetases, which attach a biotin molecule to a specific lysine residue on the apoenzymes. The sequence flanking the biotin binding site is highly conserved among biotin-dependent enzymes. This sequence conservation might be related to the extensive cross-species activity showed by holoenzyme synthetases. In this study, we have expressed carboxyl-terminal fragments of the alpha subunit of human propionyl-CoA carboxylase (PCC-alpha) in Escherichia coli and used site-directed mutagenesis to determine the sequence requirements for biotinylation by the bacterial holoenzyme synthetase. We show that the carboxyl-terminal 67 amino acids of PCC-alpha act as an independent domain in the biotinylation reaction. Mutations that affect several conserved Gly residues and a Pro-Met-Pro sequence near the biotin binding site are critical for biotinylation. Substitution of the amino acids that flank the biotin acceptor Lys residue or elimination of the last 3 amino acids of the PCC-alpha peptides had little or no effect on their biotinylation despite their high conservation in biotin enzymes.