Antoni Planas

From β‐glucanase to β‐glucansynthase: glycosyl transfer to α‐glycosyl fluorides catalyzed by a mutant endoglucanase lacking its catalytic nucleophile

Removal of the catalytic nucleophile Glu134 of the retaining 1,3‐1,4‐β‐glucanase from Bacillus licheniformis by mutation to alanine yields an enzyme with no glycosidase activity. The mutant is able to catalyze the regio‐ and stereospecific glycosylation of α‐laminaribiosyl fluoride with different glucoside acceptors through a single‐step inverting mechanism. The main advantage of the mutant as glycosylation catalyst with respect to the kinetically controlled transglycosylation using the wild‐type enzyme is that the reaction products cannot be hydrolyzed by the mutant enzyme, and glycosylation yields rise to 90%.

Selective binding to transthyretin and tetramer stabilization in serum from patients with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy by an iodinated diflunisal derivative.

In familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy, TTR (transthyretin) variants are deposited as amyloid fibrils. It is thought that this process involves TTR tetramer dissociation, which leads to partially unfolded monomers that aggregate and polymerize into amyloid fibrils. This process can be counteracted by stabilization of the tetramer. Several small compounds, such as diclofenac, diflunisal and flufenamic acid, have been reported to bind to TTR in vitro, in the T4 (thyroxine) binding channel that runs through the TTR tetramer, and consequently are considered to stabilize TTR. However, if these agents bind plasma proteins other than TTR, decreased drug availability will occur, compromising their use as therapeutic agents for TTR amyloidosis. In the present work, we compared the action of these compounds and of new derivatives designed to increase both selectivity of binding to TTR and inhibitory potency in relation to TTR amyloid fibril formation. We found two diflunisal derivatives that, in contrast with diclofenac, flufenamic acid and diflunisal, displaced T4 from TTR in plasma preferentially over binding to albumin and thyroxine binding globulin. The same diflunisal derivatives also had a stabilizing effect on TTR tetramers in plasma, as studied by isoelectric focusing of whole plasma under semi-denaturing conditions. In addition, by transmission electron microscopy, we demonstrated that, in contrast with other proposed TTR stabilizers (namely diclofenac, flufenamic acid and diflunisal), one of the diflunisal derivatives tested efficiently inhibited TTR aggregation. Taken together, our ex vivo and in vitro studies present evidence for the selectivity and efficiency of novel diflunisal derivates as TTR stabilizers and as inhibitors of fibril formation.

Substrate Distortion in the Michaelis Complex of Bacillus 1,3–1,4-β-Glucanase INSIGHT FROM FIRST PRINCIPLES MOLECULAR DYNAMICS SIMULATIONS

The structure and dynamics of the enzyme-substrate complex of Bacillus 1,3–1,4-β-glucanase, one of the most active glycoside hydrolases, is investigated by means of Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics simulations (CPMD) combined with force field molecular dynamics (QM/MM CPMD). It is found that the substrate sugar ring located at the –1 subsite adopts a distorted 1S3 skew-boat conformation upon binding to the enzyme. With respect to the undistorted 4C1 chair conformation, the 1S3 skew-boat conformation is characterized by: (a) an increase of charge at the anomeric carbon (C1), (b) an increase of the distance between C1 and the leaving group, and (c) a decrease of the intraring O5-C1 distance. Therefore, our results clearly show that the distorted conformation resembles both structurally and electronically the transition state of the reaction in which the substrate acquires oxocarbenium ion character, and the glycosidic bond is partially broken. Together with analysis of the substrate conformational dynamics, it is concluded that the main determinants of substrate distortion have a structural origin. To fit into the binding pocket, it is necessary that the aglycon leaving group is oriented toward the β region, and the skew-boat conformation naturally fulfills this premise. Only when the aglycon is removed from the calculation the substrate recovers the all-chair conformation, in agreement with the recent determination of the enzyme product structure. The QM/MM protocol developed here is able to predict the conformational distortion of substrate binding in glycoside hydrolases because it accounts for polarization and charge reorganization at the –1 sugar ring. It thus provides a powerful tool to model E·S complexes for which experimental information is not yet available.

Crystal structure of Bacillus licheniformis 1,3-1,4-β-d-glucan 4-glucanohydrolase at 1.8 Å resolution

The crystal structure of the 1,3‐1,4‐β‐d‐glucan 4‐glucanohydrolase from Bacillus licheniformis is solved at a resolution of 1.8 Å and refined to R = 16.5%. The protein has a similar β‐sandwich structure as the homologous enzyme from Bacillus macerans and the hybrid H(A16‐M). This demonstrates that the jellyroll fold of these proteins is remarkably rigid and only weakly influenced by crystal contacts. The crystal structure permits to extend mechanistic considerations derived for the B. licheniformis enzyme to the entire class of bacterial 1,3‐1,4‐β‐d‐glucan 4‐glucanohydrolases.

Catalytic Itinerary in 1,3-1,4-β-Glucanase Unraveled by QM/MM Metadynamics. Charge Is Not Yet Fully Developed at the Oxocarbenium Ion-like Transition State

Retaining glycoside hydrolases (GHs), key enzymes in the metabolism of polysaccharides and glycoconjugates and common biocatalysts used in chemoenzymatic oligosaccharide synthesis, operate via a double-displacement mechanism with the formation of a glycosyl-enzyme intermediate. However, the degree of oxocarbenium ion character of the reaction transition state and the precise conformational itinerary of the substrate during the reaction, pivotal in the design of efficient inhibitors, remain elusive for many GHs. By means of QM/MM metadynamics, we unravel the catalytic itinerary of 1,3-1,4-β-glucanase, one of the most active GHs, belonging to family 16. We show that, in the Michaelis complex, the enzyme environment restricts the conformational motion of the substrate to stabilize a (1,4)B/(1)S(3) conformation of the saccharide ring at the -1 subsite, confirming that this distortion preactivates the substrate for catalysis. The metadynamics simulation of the enzymatic reaction captures the complete conformational itinerary of the substrate during the glycosylation reaction ((1,4)B/(1)S(3) -(4)E/(4)H(3) - (4)C(1)) and shows that the transition state is not the point of maximum charge development at the anomeric carbon. The overall catalytic mechanism is of dissociative type, and proton transfer to the glycosidic oxygen is a late event, clarifying previous kinetic studies of this enzyme.

Essential catalytic role of Glu134 in endo-β-1,3-1,4-d-glucan 4-glucanohydrolase from B. licheniformis as determined by site-directed mutagenesis

Site‐directed mutagenesis experiments designed to identify the active site of Bacillus licheniformis endo‐β‐1,3‐1,4‐d‐glucan 4‐glucanohydrolase (β‐glucanase) have been performed. Putative catalytic residues were chosen on the basis of sequence similarity analysis to viral and eukaryotic lysozymes. Four mutant enzymes were expressed and purified from recombinan: E. coli and their kinetics analysed with barley β‐glucan. Replacement of Glu134 by Gin produced a mutant (E134Q) that retains less than 0.3% of the wild‐type activity. The other mutants, D133N, E160Q and D179N, are active but show different kinetic parameters relative to wild‐type indicative of their participation in substrate binding and transition‐state complex stabilization. Glu134 is essential for activity; it is comprised in a region of high sequence similarity to the active site of T4 lysozyme and matches the position of the general acid catalyst. These results strongly support a lysozyme‐like mechanism for this family of Bacillus β‐glucan hydrolases with Glu134 being the essential acid catalyst.

How Family 26 Glycoside Hydrolases Orchestrate Catalysis on Different Polysaccharides: Structure and Activity of a Clostridium Thermocellum Lichenase, Ctlic26A.

One of the most intriguing features of the 90 glycoside hydrolase families (GHs) is the range of specificities displayed by different members of the same family, whereas the catalytic apparatus and mechanism are often invariant. Family GH26 predominantly comprises β-1,4 mannanases; however, a bifunctional Clostridium thermocellum GH26 member (hereafter CtLic26A) displays a markedly different specificity. We show that CtLic26A is a lichenase, specific for mixed (Glcβ1,4Glcβ1,4Glcβ1,3)n oligo- and polysaccharides, and displays no activity on manno-configured substrates or β-1,4-linked homopolymers of glucose or xylose. The three-dimensional structure of the native form of CtLic26A has been solved at 1.50-Å resolution, revealing a characteristic (β/α)8 barrel with Glu-109 and Glu-222 acting as the catalytic acid/base and nucleophile in a double-displacement mechanism. The complex with the competitive inhibitor, Glc-β-1,3-isofagomine (Ki 1 μm), at 1.60 Å sheds light on substrate recognition in the –2 and –1 subsites and illuminates why the enzyme is specific for lichenan-based substrates. Hydrolysis of β-mannosides by GH26 members is thought to proceed through transition states in the B2,5 (boat) conformation in which structural distinction of glucosides versus mannosides reflects not the configuration at C2 but the recognition of the pseudoaxial O3 of the B2,5 conformation. We suggest a different conformational itinerary for the GH26 enzymes active on gluco-configured substrates.

Thermus thermophilus Glycoside Hydrolase Family 57 Branching Enzyme CRYSTAL STRUCTURE, MECHANISM OF ACTION, AND PRODUCTS FORMED

Branching enzyme (EC 2.4.1.18; glycogen branching enzyme; GBE) catalyzes the formation of α1,6-branching points in glycogen. Until recently it was believed that all GBEs belong to glycoside hydrolase family 13 (GH13). Here we describe the cloning and expression of the Thermus thermophilus family GH57-type GBE and report its biochemical properties and crystal structure at 1.35-Å resolution. The enzyme has a central (β/α)7-fold catalytic domain A with an inserted domain B between β2 and α5 and an α-helix-rich C-terminal domain, which is shown to be essential for substrate binding and catalysis. A maltotriose was modeled in the active site of the enzyme which suggests that there is insufficient space for simultaneously binding of donor and acceptor substrates, and that the donor substrate must be cleaved before acceptor substrate can bind. The biochemical assessment showed that the GH57 GBE possesses about 4% hydrolytic activity with amylose and in vitro forms a glucan product with a novel fine structure, demonstrating that the GH57 GBE is clearly different from the GH13 GBEs characterized to date.

Enzymatic production of defined chitosan oligomers with a specific pattern of acetylation using a combination of chitin oligosaccharide deacetylases

Chitin and chitosan oligomers have diverse biological activities with potentially valuable applications in fields like medicine, cosmetics, or agriculture. These properties may depend not only on the degrees of polymerization and acetylation, but also on a specific pattern of acetylation (PA) that cannot be controlled when the oligomers are produced by chemical hydrolysis. To determine the influence of the PA on the biological activities, defined chitosan oligomers in sufficient amounts are needed. Chitosan oligomers with specific PA can be produced by enzymatic deacetylation of chitin oligomers, but the diversity is limited by the low number of chitin deacetylases available. We have produced specific chitosan oligomers which are deacetylated at the first two units starting from the non-reducing end by the combined use of two different chitin deacetylases, namely NodB from Rhizobium sp. GRH2 that deacetylates the first unit and COD from Vibrio cholerae that deacetylates the second unit starting from the non-reducing end. Both chitin deacetylases accept the product of each other resulting in production of chitosan oligomers with a novel and defined PA. When extended to further chitin deacetylases, this approach has the potential to yield a large range of novel chitosan oligomers with a fully defined architecture.

Kinetic analysis using low-molecular mass xyloglucan oligosaccharides defines the catalytic mechanism of a Populus xyloglucan endotransglycosylase

Plant XETs [XG (xyloglucan) endotransglycosylases] catalyse the transglycosylation from a XG donor to a XG or low-molecular-mass XG fragment as the acceptor, and are thought to be important enzymes in the formation and remodelling of the cellulose-XG three-dimensional network in the primary plant cell wall. Current methods to assay XET activity use the XG polysaccharide as the donor substrate, and present limitations for kinetic and mechanistic studies of XET action due to the polymeric and polydisperse nature of the substrate. A novel activity assay based on HPCE (high performance capillary electrophoresis), in conjunction with a defined low-molecular-mass XGO {XG oligosaccharide; (XXXGXXXG, where G=Glcbeta1,4- and X=[Xylalpha1,6]Glcbeta1,4-)} as the glycosyl donor and a heptasaccharide derivatized with ANTS [8-aminonaphthalene-1,3,6-trisulphonic acid; (XXXG-ANTS)] as the acceptor substrate was developed and validated. The recombinant enzyme PttXET16A from Populus tremula x tremuloides (hybrid aspen) was characterized using the donor/acceptor pair indicated above, for which preparative scale syntheses have been optimized. The low-molecular-mass donor underwent a single transglycosylation reaction to the acceptor substrate under initial-rate conditions, with a pH optimum at 5.0 and maximal activity between 30 and 40 degrees C. Kinetic data are best explained by a ping-pong bi-bi mechanism with substrate inhibition by both donor and acceptor. This is the first assay for XETs using a donor substrate other than polymeric XG, enabling quantitative kinetic analysis of different XGO donors for specificity, and subsite mapping studies of XET enzymes.