Alexios Vlamis-Gardikas

New Thioredoxins and Glutaredoxins as Electron Donors of 3′-Phosphoadenylylsulfate Reductase

Reduction of inorganic sulfate to sulfite in prototrophic bacteria occurs with 3′-phosphoadenylylsulfate (PAPS) as substrate for PAPS reductase and is the first step leading to reduced sulfur for cellular biosynthetic reactions. The relative efficiency as reductants of homogeneous highly active PAPS reductase of the newly identified second thioredoxin (Trx2) and glutaredoxins (Grx1, Grx2, Grx3, and a mutant Grx1C14S) was compared with the well known thioredoxin (Trx1) from Escherichia coli. Trx1, Trx2, and Grx1 supported virtually identical rates of sulfite formation with aV max ranging from 6.6 units mg−1(Trx1) to 5.1 units mg−1 (Grx1), whereas Grx1C14S was only marginally active, and Grx2 and Grx3 had no activity. The structural difference between active reductants had no effect uponK m  PAPS (22.5 μm). Grx1 effectively replaced Trx1 with essentially identicalK m -values: K m  trx1(13.7 μm), K m  grx1 (14.9 μm), whereas the K m  trx2was considerably higher (34.2 μm). The results agree with previous in vivo data suggesting that Trx1 or Grx1 is essential for sulfate reduction but not for ribonucleotide reduction inE. coli.

Cloning, overexpression, and characterization of glutaredoxin 2, an atypical glutaredoxin from Escherichia coli.

Glutaredoxin 2 (Grx2) from Escherichia coli catalyzes GSH-disulfide oxidoreductions via two redox-active cysteine residues, but in contrast to glutaredoxin 1 (Grx1) and glutaredoxin 3 (Grx3), is not a hydrogen donor for ribonucleotide reductase. To characterize Grx2, a chromosomal fragment containing the E. coli Grx2 gene (grxB) was cloned and sequenced. grxB (645 base pairs) is located between the rimJ and pyrC genes while an open reading frame immediately upstream grxB encodes a novel transmembrane protein of 402 amino acids potentially belonging to class II of substrate export transporters. The deduced amino acid sequence for Grx2 comprises 215 residues with a molecular mass of 24.3 kDa. There is almost no similarity between the amino acid sequence of Grx2 and Grx1 or Grx3 (both 9-kDa proteins) with the exception of the active site which is identical in all three glutaredoxins (C9PYC12 for Grx2). Only limited similarities were noted to glutathione S-transferases (Grx2 amino acids 16-72), and protein disulfide isomerases from different organisms (Grx2 amino acids 70-180). Grx2 was overexpressed and purified to homogeneity and its activity was compared with those of Grx1 and Grx3 using GSH, NADPH, and glutathione reductase in the reduction of 0.7 mM β-hydroxyethyl disulfide. The three glutaredoxins had similar apparent Km values for GSH (2-3 mM) but Grx2 had the highest apparent kcat (554 s−1). Expression of two truncated forms of Grx2 (1-114 and 1-133) which have predicted secondary structures similar to Grx1 (βαβαββα) gave rise to inclusion bodies. The mutant proteins were resolubilized and purified but lacked GSH-disulfide oxidoreductase activity. The latter should therefore require the participation of amino acid residues from the COOH-terminal half of the molecule and is probably not confined to a Grx1-like NH2-terminal subdomain. Grx2 being radically different from the presently known glutaredoxins in terms of molecular weight, amino acid sequence, catalytic activity, and lack of a consensus GSH-binding site is the first member of a novel class of glutaredoxins.

Inhibition of bacterial thioredoxin reductase: an antibiotic mechanism targeting bacteria lacking glutathione

Increasing antibiotic resistance makes the identification of new antibacterial principles an urgent task. The thioredoxin system including thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), thioredoxin (Trx), and NADPH plays critical roles in cellular DNA synthesis and defense against oxidative stress. Notably, TrxR is very different in structure and mechanism in mammals and bacteria. Ebselen [2‐phenyl‐1,2 benzisoselenazol‐3(2H)‐one], a well‐known antioxidant and a substrate for mammalian TrxR and Trx, is rapidly bacteriocidal for methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus by an unknown mechanism. We have discovered that ebselen is a competitive inhibitor of Escherichia coli TrxR with a Ki of 0.52 ± 0.13 μM, through reaction with the active site dithiol of the enzyme. Bacteria lacking glutathione (GSH) and glutaredoxin, in which TrxR and Trx are essential for DNA synthesis, were particularly sensitive to ebselen. In growth‐inhibited E. coli strains, Trx1 and Trx2 were oxidized, demonstrating that electron transfer via thioredoxin was blocked. Ebselen and its sulfur analog ebsulfur were bactericidal for GSH‐negative pathogens. Ebsulfur inhibited a clinically isolated Helicobacter pylori strain with a minimum inhibitory concentration value as low as 0.39 μg/ml. These results demonstrate that bacterial Trx and TrxR are viable antibacterial drug targets using benzisoselenazol and benzisothiazol derivates.—Lu, J., Vlamis‐Gardikas, A., Kandasamy, K., Zhao, R., Gustafsson, T. N., Engstrand, L., Hoffner, S., Engman, L., Holmgren, A. Inhibition of bacterial thioredoxin reductase: an antibiotic mechanism targeting bacteria lacking glutathione. FASEB J. 27, 1394–1403 (2013). www.fasebj.org

Naturally Occurring Mutants of Human Steroid 21-Hydroxylase (P450c21) Pinpoint Residues Important for Enzyme Activity and Stability

Three mutants (deletion of E196, G291S, and R483P) of steroid 21-hydroxylase (P450c21) from patients with inherited congenital adrenal hyperplasia had reduced activity toward progesterone and 17-hydroxyprogesterone after transient expression in cultured mammalian cells. In addition, both the E196 deletion and the R483P mutant had shorter half-lives than the wild-type enzyme, whereas the half-life of the G291S mutant was comparable with that of the normal protein. These results directly link the clinical situation with the three mutations and suggest that G291 is important for the catalytic activity of P450c21.

Characterization of the native CREB3L2 transcription factor and the FUS/CREB3L2 chimera

CREB3L2 was first identified as the 3′‐partner of FUS in a fusion gene that seems to be specific for low grade fibromyxoid sarcoma. In silico analyses suggest that the predicted CREB3L2 protein is a member of the CREB3 family of transcription factors, with its bZIP domain being highly similar to that in CREB3L1, CREB3L3, CREB3L4, CREB3, and Drosophila Bbf‐2. In the present study, the authors assessed various cellular outcomes after transfection of NIH3T3 and HEK‐293 cells with constructs containing full‐length and truncated versions of CREB3L2 and FUS/CREB3L2. Northern blot of CREB3L2 mRNA revealed a 7.4 kbp band that contains 0.4 kbp and 5.5 kbp untranslated 5′ and 3′ regions, respectively. CREB3L2 constructs containing the first 120 amino acids (aa) showed the highest transcriptional activation. Much stronger transcriptional activation was consistently seen for the FUS/CREB3L2 constructs than for the corresponding CREB3L2 constructs. Transcriptional activity was achieved through the box‐B element, ATF6 and CRE binding sites, as well as the GRP78 promoter. Proteins encoded by full‐length CREB3L2 and FUS/CREB3L2 were localized to reticular structures of the cytoplasm, whereas the corresponding, truncated proteins lacking the transmembrane domain and the carboxy‐terminal part of CREB3L2 resided within the nucleus. The results of the present study show that CREB3L2 is not only structurally, but also functionally very similar to CREB3L1. Thus, studies regarding the pathways influenced by wild‐type CREB3L2 should provide valuable clues to the pathogenetic significance of the FUS/CREB3L2 chimera in low grade fibromyxoid sarcoma.

The multiple functions of the thiol-based electron flow pathways of Escherichia coli: Eternal concepts revisited

Electron flow via thiols is a theme with many variations in all kingdoms of life. The favourable physichochemical properties of the redox active couple of two cysteines placed in the optimised environment of the thioredoxin fold allow for two electron transfers in between top biological reductants and ultimate oxidants. The reduction of ribonucleotide reductases by thioredoxin and thioredoxin reductase of Escherichia coli (E. coli) was one of the first pathways to be elucidated. Diverse functions such as protein folding in the periplasm, maturation of respiratory enzymes, detoxification of hydrogen peroxide and prevention of oxidative damage may be based on two electron transfers via thiols. A growing field is the relation of thiol reducing pathways and the interaction of E. coli with different organisms. This concept combined with the sequencing of the genomes of different bacteria may allow for the identification of fine differences in the systems employing thiols for electron flow between pathogens and their corresponding mammalian hosts. The emerging possibility is the development of novel antibiotics.

REACTIVITY OF GLUTAREDOXINS 1, 2 AND 3 FROM ESCHERICHIA COLI AND PROTEIN DISULFIDE ISOMERASE TOWARDS GLUTATHIONYL-MIXED DISULFIDES IN RIBONUCLEASE A

We have examined the activity of protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) and glutaredoxin (Grx) 1, 2 and 3 from Escherichia coli to catalyze the cleavage of glutathionylated ribonuclease A (RNase‐SG) by 1 mM GSH to yield reduced RNase. Apparent K m values for RNase‐SG were similar, 2–10 μM, for Grx 1, 3 and PDI but Grx 1 and Grx 3 showed 500‐fold higher turnover numbers than PDI. The atypical Grx 2 also catalyzed deglutathionylation by GSH, but had higher K m and apparent turnover number values compared to the two classical Grx. Refolding of RNase in a glutathione redox buffer was catalyzed by PDI. However, it could be measured only after a characteristic lag phase that was shortened by all three E. coli Grxs in a concentration‐dependent manner. A role of the glutaredoxin mechanism in the endoplasmic reticulum is suggested.

Identification and characterization of a third thioredoxin h in poplar

Abstract Three full-length sequences encoding thioredoxin h have been isolated in a leaf/root of Populus trichocarpa cv. Trichobel expressed sequence tag (EST) library. One of these, popCXXS1 exhibits the nontypical active site CXXS homologous to atCXXS1. The second one, named popTrxh4, is related to atTrxh9 which forms with several other plant thioredoxin h a distinct subgroup of thioredoxins h. The third one, named popTrxh3, displays 66% identity and also a high degree of homology (81%) vs. the previously described popTrxh1. Nevertheless, the active sites of both proteins differ, since the active site of popTrxh1 (WCPPC) is a variant of the canonical WCGPC found in popTrxh3. The cDNA sequence of popTrxh3 has been introduced in an expression plasmid (pET3d) in order to express the corresponding recombinant polypeptide. The protein has been expressed to a high level, purified from Escherichia coli cells with a high yield and its catalytic properties compared to popTrxh1. Furthermore, two mutants, popTrxh1P40G and popTrxh3G41P, have been engineered in order to explore the importance of the active site residues in the thioredoxin h catalytic properties. The results are discussed in relation with known biochemical properties of thioredoxins h.

Stimulation of Fe–S cluster insertion into apoFNR by Escherichia coli glutaredoxins 1, 2 and 3 in vitro

The oxygen sensor fumarate nitrate reductase regulator (FNR) of Escherichia coli contains in the active (anaerobic) state a [4Fe–4S]2+ cluster which is lost after exposure to O2. In aerobically prepared apoFNR, or in FNR obtained by treatment of [4Fe–4S] · FNR with O2 in vitro, intramolecular cysteine disulfides are found, including the cysteine residues which serve as ligands for the Fe–S cluster. It is shown here that the reconstitution of [4Fe–4S] · FNR from this form of aerobic apoFNR was preceded by a long lag phase when glutathione was used as the reducing agent. Addition of E. coli glutaredoxins (Grx) 1, 2 or 3 decreased the lag phase greatly and stimulated the reconstitution rate slightly (about twofold). Reconstitution of anaerobically prepared apoFNR, which has a lower cysteine disulfide content, showed only a short lag phase, which further decreased in the presence of Grx. It is concluded that in the lag phase the cysteine disulfides of apoFNR become reduced for the incorporation of the [4Fe–4S] cluster and that this reaction is stimulated by Grx. Thioredoxin (Trx) 1 showed no stimulation of FNR reconstitution in vitro. It is suggested that the function of Grx might be of significance for the insertion of FeS cluster in proteins containing disulfides.

Insights into the anthrax lethal factor–substrate interaction and selectivity using docking and molecular dynamics simulations

The anthrax toxin of the bacterium Bacillus anthracis consists of three distinct proteins, one of which is the anthrax lethal factor (LF). LF is a gluzincin Zn‐dependent, highly specific metalloprotease with a molecular mass of ∼90 kDa that cleaves most isoforms of the family of mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinases (MEKs/MKKs) close to their amino termini, resulting in the inhibition of one or more signaling pathways. Previous studies on the crystal structures of uncomplexed LF and LF complexed with the substrate MEK2 or a MKK‐based synthetic peptide provided structure‐activity correlations and the basis for the rational design of efficient inhibitors. However, in the crystallographic structures, the substrate peptide was not properly oriented in the active site because of the absence of the catalytic zinc atom. In the current study, docking and molecular dynamics calculations were employed to examine the LF‐MEK/MKK interaction along the catalytic channel up to a distance of 20 Å from the zinc atom. This residue‐specific view of the enzyme‐substrate interaction provides valuable information about: (i) the substrate selectivity of LF and its inactivation of MEKs/MKKs (an issue highly important not only to anthrax infection but also to the pathogenesis of cancer), and (ii) the discovery of new, previously unexploited, hot‐spots of the LF catalytic channel that are important in the enzyme/substrate binding and interaction.