Baisakhee Saha

Crystal Structure of Low-Molecular-Weight Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis at 1.9-Å Resolution

The low-molecular-weight protein tyrosine phosphatase (LMWPTPase) belongs to a distinctive class of phosphotyrosine phosphatases widely distributed among prokaryotes and eukaryotes. We report here the crystal structure of LMWPTPase of microbial origin, the first of its kind from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The structure was determined to be two crystal forms at 1.9- and 2.5-A resolutions. These structural forms are compared with those of the LMWPTPases of eukaryotes. Though the overall structure resembles that of the eukaryotic LMWPTPases, there are significant changes around the active site and the protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) loop. The variable loop forming the wall of the crevice leading to the active site is conformationally unchanged from that of mammalian LMWPTPase; however, differences are observed in the residues involved, suggesting that they have a role in influencing different substrate specificities. The single amino acid substitution (Leu12Thr [underlined below]) in the consensus sequence of the PTP loop, CTGNICRS, has a major role in the stabilization of the PTP loop, unlike what occurs in mammalian LMWPTPases. A chloride ion and a glycerol molecule were modeled in the active site where the chloride ion interacts in a manner similar to that of phosphate with the main chain nitrogens of the PTP loop. This structural study, in addition to identifying specific mycobacterial features, may also form the basis for exploring the mechanism of the substrate specificities of bacterial LMWPTPases.

An oligopeptide transporter of Mycobacterium tuberculosis regulates cytokine release and apoptosis of infected macrophages.

Background The Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome encodes two peptide transporters encoded by Rv3665c-Rv3662c and Rv1280c-Rv1283c. Both belong to the family of ABC transporters containing two nucleotide-binding subunits, two integral membrane proteins and one substrate-binding polypeptide. However, little is known about their functions in M. tuberculosis. Here we report functional characterization of the Rv1280c-Rv1283c-encoded transporter and its substrate-binding polypeptide OppAMTB. Methodology/Principal Findings OppAMTB was capable of binding the tripeptide glutathione and the nonapeptide bradykinin, indicative of a somewhat broad substrate specificity. Amino acid residues G109, N110, N230, D494 and F496, situated at the interface between domains I and III of OppA, were required for optimal peptide binding. Complementaton of an oppA knockout mutant of M. smegmatis with OppAMTB confirmed the role of this transporter in importing glutathione and the importance of the aforesaid amino acid residues in peptide transport. Interestingly, this transporter regulated the ability of M. tuberculosis to lower glutathione levels in infected compared to uninfected macrophages. This ability was partly offset by inactivation of oppD. Concomitantly, inactivation of oppD was associated with lowered levels of methyl glyoxal in infected macrophages and reduced apoptosis-inducing ability of the mutant. The ability to induce the production of the cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α was also compromised after inactivation of oppD. Conclusions Taken together, these studies uncover the novel observations that this peptide transporter modulates the innate immune response of macrophages infected with M. tuberculosis.

Crystal structure of Staphylococcal dual specific inositol monophosphatase/NADP(H) phosphatase (SAS2203) delineates the molecular basis of substrate specificity.

Inositol monophosphatase (IMPase) family of proteins are Mg(2+) activated Li(+) inhibited class of ubiquitous enzymes with promiscuous substrate specificity. Herein, the molecular basis of IMPase substrate specificity is delineated by comparative crystal structural analysis of a Staphylococcal dual specific IMPase/NADP(H) phosphatase (SaIMPase - I) with other IMPases of different substrate compatibility, empowered by in silico docking and Escherichia coli SuhB mutagenesis analysis. Unlike its eubacterial and eukaryotic NADP(H) non-hydrolyzing counterparts, the composite structure of SaIMPase - I active site pocket exhibits high structural resemblance with archaeal NADP(H) hydrolyzing dual specific IMPase/FBPase. The large and shallow SaIMPase - I active site cleft efficiently accommodate large incoming substrates like NADP(H), and therefore, justifies the eminent NADP(H) phosphatase activity of SaIMPase - I. Compared to other NADP(H) non-hydrolyzing IMPases, the profound difference in active site topology as well as the unique NADP(H) recognition capability of SaIMPase - I stems from the differential length and orientation of a distant helix α4 (in human and bovine α5) and its preceding loop. We identified the length of α4 and its preceding loop as the most crucial factor that regulates IMPase substrate specificity by employing a size exclusion mechanism. Hence, in SaIMPase - I, the substrate promiscuity is a gain of function by trimming the length of α4 and its preceding loop, compared to other NADP(H) non-hydrolyzing IMPases. This study thus provides a biochemical - structural framework revealing the length and orientation of α4 and its preceding loop as the predisposing factor for the determination of IMPase substrate specificity.

Differential chemical and thermal unfolding pattern of Rv3588c and Rv1284 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis — A comparison by fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopy

The thermal and chemical unfolding pathways of two beta carbonic anhydrases, Rv3588c and Rv1284 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis have been compared by fluorescence and circular dichroism. Chemical and thermal denaturation of the tertiary and secondary structures of these two ubiquitous enzymes of the pathogen reveals that the unfolding of Rv3588c is mediated through the formation of a molten globule intermediate with depleted tertiary structure. However, Rv1284 directly unfolds from the native to the unfolded state. Calculation of the thermodynamic parameters suggest that overall Rv3588c is more stable than Rv1284. Stern-Volmer analysis together with the fluorescence spectra of the proteins suggest that Trp115 in Rv1284 is more buried than Trp10 in Rv3588c. The tryptophan residues in both the proteins are surrounded by positively charged amino acid residues.

Expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase 1 from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA252)

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase 1 from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA252) was cloned in pQE30 vector, overexpressed in Escherichia coli M15(pREP4) cells and purified to homogeneity. The protein was crystallized using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. The crystals belonged to space group P2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 65.23, b = 95.58, c = 87.91 A, beta = 106.5 degrees . X-ray diffraction data were collected and processed to a maximum resolution of 2.0 A. The presence of one tetramer in the asymmetric unit gave a Matthews coefficient (V(M)) of 1.78 A(3) Da(-1) and a solvent content of 31%. The structure was solved by molecular replacement and structure refinement is now in progress.

Expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of triosephosphate isomerase from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA252).

Triosephosphate isomerase from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA252) was cloned in pQE30 vector, overexpressed in Escherichia coli M15 (pREP4) cells and purified to homogeneity. The protein was crystallized from 1.6 M trisodium citrate dihydrate pH 6.5 using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. The crystals belonged to space group P4(3)2(1)2, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 79.15, c = 174.27 A. X-ray diffraction data were collected and processed to a maximum resolution of 1.9 A. The presence of two molecules in the asymmetric unit gave a Matthews coefficient (V(M)) of 2.64 A(3) Da(-1), with a solvent content of 53.63%.

Purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of apo glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase 1 (GAP1) from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA252)

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase 1 (GAP1) from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA252) has been purified to homogeneity in the apo form. The protein was crystallized using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. The crystals belonged to space group P2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 69.95, b = 93.68, c = 89.05 A, beta = 106.84 degrees . X-ray diffraction data have been collected and processed to a maximum resolution of 2.2 A. The presence of one tetramer in the asymmetric unit gives a Matthews coefficient (V(M)) of 1.81 A(3) Da(-1) with a solvent content of 32%. The structure has been solved by molecular replacement and structure refinement is now in progress.

Expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of the transcriptional repressor SirR from Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv

SirR, a metal-dependent transcriptional repressor from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Rv2788), was cloned in pQE30 expression vector with an N-terminal His(6) tag for heterologous overexpression in Escherichia coli M15 (pREP4) cells and purified to homogeneity using chromatographic procedures. The purified protein was crystallized using the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion technique. The crystals belonged to the tetragonal space group P4(1)2(1)2/P4(3)2(1)2, with unit-cell parameters a = 105.21, b = 105.21, c = 144.85 A. The X-ray diffraction data were processed to a maximum resolution of 2.5 A. The Matthews coefficient suggests the presence of two (V(M) = 4.01 A(3) Da(-1)) to four (V(M) = 2.0 A(3) Da(-1)) molecules in the asymmetric unit. Calculation of the self-rotation function shows a crystallographic fourfold symmetry axis along the z axis (chi = 90 degrees) and also a twofold symmetry axis around the z axis (chi = 180 degrees).