Allan Matte

Structural basis for Fe-S cluster assembly and tRNA thiolation mediated by IscS protein-protein interactions.

Crystal structures reveal how distinct sites on the cysteine desulfurase IscS bind two different sulfur-acceptor proteins, IscU and TusA, to transfer sulfur atoms for iron-sulfur cluster biosynthesis and tRNA thiolation.

Structure and Mechanism of Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase

SCHEME 1 This conversion is the first committed step of gluconeogenesis in Escherichia coli and is part of the gluconeogenic pathway in virtually all organisms. In bacteria, such as E. coli, PCK is utilized during gluconeogenic growth when sugar levels are low (1). PCK is also an important enzyme in the glycolytic pathways of some organisms, such as Ascaris suum (2) and Trypanosoma cruzi (3), where it forms OAA from PEP, which in turn enters the citric acid cycle. In humans and other mammals, PCK is a central enzyme in carbohydrate metabolism, helping to regulate the blood glucose level. Gluconeogenic tissues, such as kidney and liver, convert lactate and other non-carbohydrate molecules to glucose, which in turn is released into the blood. The importance of PCK to carbohydrate metabolism in humans is such that it has been suggested as a potential drug target in the treatment of non-insulindependent diabetes mellitus (4). PCKs have been traditionally classified according to nucleotide specificity, with the ATP-dependent enzymes found in bacteria, yeast, Trypanomastid parasites and plants, and GTP-dependent PCKs in a variety of other eukaryotes and mammals (5). There are both important differences and similarities between ATPand GTPdependent PCKs. With the exception of bacterial PCKs, which are monomeric (6), most enzymes of the ATP-dependent class are multimeric, with two (7), four (8, 9), or six (10) subunits per enzyme, while known members of the GTP-dependent class are exclusively monomeric. While enzymes of either the ATPor GTP-dependent classes show significant (40–80%) amino acid sequence identity within their respective groups (11, 12), there is no significant overall sequence homology between the two classes of enzyme. Despite this lack of overall homology, both groups of PCKs contain similar NTP and oxaloacetate binding “consensus motifs” in their active sites, which likely play similar roles in substrate binding (which will be described in this review). Also, both GTP-dependent and ATP-dependent PCKs have been shown to possess lysinyl (13–17), argininyl (18, 19), and histidinyl (20, 21) residues at or near their active sites. The differences in nucleotide specificity and kinetic properties between ATPand GTP-dependent PCKs have led to the suggestion that they may be potential therapeutic targets in parasitic nematodes (22) and in Trypanomastid parasites such as T. cruzi (11). This minireview will focus on new structural results derived from the recent crystal structure determinations of native E. coli PCK (23, 24), its complex with ATP-Mg-oxalate (25), and the implications for the active site residues and catalytic mechanism of E. coli and other ATPand GTP-dependent PCKs. We also suggest revised nucleotide-binding sites and possible active site residues for the GTP-dependent PCK family. Other aspects of GTP-dependent PCK enzymology and genetics have been recently reviewed (26).

Bacterial polysaccharide co-polymerases share a common framework for control of polymer length

The chain length distribution of complex polysaccharides present on the bacterial surface is determined by polysaccharide co-polymerases (PCPs) anchored in the inner membrane. We report crystal structures of the periplasmic domains of three PCPs that impart substantially different chain length distributions to surface polysaccharides. Despite very low sequence similarities, they have a common protomer structure with a long central α-helix extending 100 Å into the periplasm. The protomers self-assemble into bell-shaped oligomers of variable sizes, with a large internal cavity. Electron microscopy shows that one of the full-length PCPs has a similar organization as that observed in the crystal for its periplasmic domain alone. Functional studies suggest that the top of the PCP oligomers is an important region for determining polysaccharide modal length. These structures provide a detailed view of components of the bacterial polysaccharide assembly machinery.

Structural and Functional Characterization of PseC, an Aminotransferase Involved in the Biosynthesis of Pseudaminic Acid, an Essential Flagellar Modification in Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori flagellin is heavily glycosylated with the novel sialic acid-like nonulosonate, pseudaminic acid (Pse). The glycosylation process is essential for assembly of functional flagellar filaments and consequent bacterial motility. Because motility is a key virulence factor for this and other important pathogens, the Pse biosynthetic pathway offers potential for novel therapeutic targets. From recent NMR analyses, we determined that the conversion of UDP-α-d-Glc-NAc to the central intermediate in the pathway, UDP-4-amino-4,6-dideoxy-β-l-AltNAc, proceeds by formation of UDP-2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxy-β-l-arabino-4-hexulose by the dehydratase/epimerase PseB (HP0840) followed with amino transfer by the aminotransferase, PseC (HP0366). The central role of PseC in the H. pylori Pse biosynthetic pathway prompted us to determine crystal structures of the native protein, its complexes with pyridoxal phosphate alone and in combination with the UDP-4-amino-4,6-dideoxy-β-l-AltNAc product, the latter being converted to the external aldimine form in the active site of the enzyme. In the binding site, the AltNAc sugar ring adopts a 4C1 chair conformation, which is different from the predominant 1C4 form found in solution. The enzyme forms a homodimer where each monomer contributes to the active site, and these structures have permitted the identification of key residues involved in stabilization, and possibly catalysis, of the β-l-arabino intermediate during the amino transfer reaction. The essential role of Lys183 in the catalytic event was confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis. This work presents for the first time a nucleotide-sugar aminotransferase co-crystallized with its natural ligand, and, in conjunction with the recent functional characterization of this enzyme, these results will assist in elucidating the aminotransferase reaction mechanism within the Pse biosynthetic pathway.

Structure of [NiFe] Hydrogenase Maturation Protein HypE from Escherichia coli and Its Interaction with HypF

Hydrogenases are enzymes involved in hydrogen metabolism, utilizing H2 as an electron source. [NiFe] hydrogenases are heterodimeric Fe-S proteins, with a large subunit containing the reaction center involving Fe and Ni metal ions and a small subunit containing one or more Fe-S clusters. Maturation of the [NiFe] hydrogenase involves assembly of nonproteinaceous ligands on the large subunit by accessory proteins encoded by the hyp operon. HypE is an essential accessory protein and participates in the synthesis of two cyano groups found in the large subunit. We report the crystal structure of Escherichia coli HypE at 2.0-A resolution. HypE exhibits a fold similar to that of PurM and ThiL and forms dimers. The C-terminal catalytically essential Cys336 is internalized at the dimer interface between the N- and C-terminal domains. A mechanism for dehydration of the thiocarbamate to the thiocyanate is proposed, involving Asp83 and Glu272. The interactions of HypE and HypF were characterized in detail by surface plasmon resonance and isothermal titration calorimetry, revealing a Kd (dissociation constant) of approximately 400 nM. The stoichiometry and molecular weights of the complex were verified by size exclusion chromatography and gel scanning densitometry. These experiments reveal that HypE and HypF associate to form a stoichiometric, hetero-oligomeric complex predominantly consisting of a [EF]2 heterotetramer which exists in a dynamic equilibrium with the EF heterodimer. The surface plasmon resonance results indicate that a conformational change occurs upon heterodimerization which facilitates formation of a productive complex as part of the carbamate transfer reaction.

Crystal Structures of Escherichia coli ATP-Dependent Glucokinase and Its Complex with Glucose

Intracellular glucose in Escherichia coli cells imported by phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system-independent uptake is phosphorylated by glucokinase by using ATP to yield glucose-6-phosphate. Glucokinases (EC 2.7.1.2) are functionally distinct from hexokinases (EC 2.7.1.1) with respect to their narrow specificity for glucose as a substrate. While structural information is available for ADP-dependent glucokinases from Archaea, no structural information exists for the large sequence family of eubacterial ATP-dependent glucokinases. Here we report the first structure determination of a microbial ATP-dependent glucokinase, that from E. coli O157:H7. The crystal structure of E. coli glucokinase has been determined to a 2.3-A resolution (apo form) and refined to final Rwork/Rfree factors of 0.200/0.271 and to 2.2-A resolution (glucose complex) with final Rwork/Rfree factors of 0.193/0.265. E. coli GlK is a homodimer of 321 amino acid residues. Each monomer folds into two domains, a small alpha/beta domain (residues 2 to 110 and 301 to 321) and a larger alpha+beta domain (residues 111 to 300). The active site is situated in a deep cleft between the two domains. E. coli GlK is structurally similar to Saccharomyces cerevisiae hexokinase and human brain hexokinase I but is distinct from the ADP-dependent GlKs. Bound glucose forms hydrogen bonds with the residues Asn99, Asp100, Glu157, His160, and Glu187, all of which, except His160, are structurally conserved in human hexokinase 1. Glucose binding results in a closure of the small domains, with a maximal Calpha shift of approximately 10 A. A catalytic mechanism is proposed that is consistent with Asp100 functioning as the general base, abstracting a proton from the O6 hydroxyl of glucose, followed by nucleophilic attack at the gamma-phosphoryl group of ATP, yielding glucose-6-phosphate as the product.

Sequence-structure relationships in polysaccharide co-polymerase (PCP) proteins

Polysaccharides are ubiquitously distributed on the cell surface of bacteria. These polymers are involved in many processes, including immune avoidance and bacteria-host interactions, which are especially important for pathogenic organisms. In many instances, the lengths of these polysaccharides are not random, but rather distribute around some mean value, termed the modal length. A large family of proteins, called polysaccharide co-polymerases (PCPs), found in both Gram-negative and Gram-positive species regulate polysaccharide modal length. Recent crystal structures of Wzz proteins from Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium provide the first atomic-resolution information for one family of PCPs, the PCP1 group. These crystal structures have important implications for the structures of other PCP families.

Snapshot of an enzyme reaction intermediate in the structure of the ATP–Mg2+–oxalate ternary complex of Escherichia coli PEP carboxykinase

We report the 1.8 Å crystal structure of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)–magnesium–oxalate bound phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK) from Escherichia coli. ATP binding induces a 20° hinge-like rotation of the N- and C-terminal domains which closes the active-site cleft. PCK possesses a novel nucleotide-binding fold, particularly in the adenine-binding region, where the formation of a cis backbone torsion angle in a loop glycine residue promotes intimate contacts between the adenine-binding loop and adenine, while stabilizing a syn conformation of the base. This complex represents a reaction intermediate analogue along the pathway of the conversion of oxaloacetate to phosphoenolpyruvate, and provides insight into the mechanistic details of the chemical reaction catalysed by this enzyme.

Structure of the 16S rRNA pseudouridine synthase RsuA bound to uracil and UMP.

In Escherichia coli, the pseudouridine synthase RsuA catalyzes formation of pseudouridine (ψ) at position 516 in 16S rRNA during assembly of the 30S ribosomal subunit. We have determined the crystal structure of RsuA bound to uracil at 2.0 Å resolution and to uridine 5′-monophosphate (UMP) at 2.65 Å resolution. RsuA consists of an N-terminal domain connected by an extended linker to the central and C-terminal domains. Uracil and UMP bind in a cleft between the central and C-terminal domains near the catalytic residue Asp 102. The N-terminal domain shows structural similarity to the ribosomal protein S4. Despite only 15% amino acid identity, the other two domains are structurally similar to those of the tRNA-specific ψ-synthase TruA, including the position of the catalytic Asp. Our results suggest that all four families of pseudouridine synthases share the same fold of their catalytic domain(s) and uracil-binding site.

Crystal structure of a dodecameric FMN‐dependent UbiX‐like decarboxylase (Pad1) from Escherichia coli O157: H7

The crystal structure of the flavoprotein Pad1 from Escherichia coli O157:H7 complexed with the cofactor FMN has been determined by the multiple anomalous diffraction method and refined at 2.0 Å resolution. This protein is a paralog of UbiX (3‐octaprenyl‐4‐hydroxybenzoate carboxylyase, 51% sequence identity) that catalyzes the third step in ubiquinone biosynthesis and to Saccharomyces cerevisiae Pad1 (54% identity), an enzyme that confers resistance to the antimicrobial compounds phenylacrylic acids through decarbox‐ylation of these compounds. Each Pad1 monomer consists of a typical Rossmann fold containing a non–covalently bound molecule of FMN. The fold of Pad1 is similar to MrsD, an enzyme associated with lantibiotic synthesis; EpiD, a peptidyl‐cysteine decarboxylase; and AtHAL3a, the enzyme, which decarboxylates 4′‐phosphopantothenoylcysteine to 4′‐phosphopantetheine during coenzyme A biosynthesis, all with a similar location of the FMN binding site at the interface between two monomers, yet each having little sequence similarity to one another. All of these proteins associate into oligomers, with a trimer forming the common structural unit in each case. In MrsD and EpiD, which belong to the homo‐dodecameric flavin‐containing cysteine decarboxylase (HFCD) family, these trimers associate further into dodecamers. Pad1 also forms dodecamers, although the association of the trimers is completely different, resulting in exposure of a different side of the trimer unit to the solvent. This exposure affects the location of the substrate binding site and, specifically, its access to the FMN cofactor. Therefore, Pad1 forms a separate family, distinguishable from the HFCD family.