Christine Schlicker

Substrates and regulation mechanisms for the human mitochondrial sirtuins Sirt3 and Sirt5.

The enzymes of the Sirtuin family of nicotinamide-adenine-dinucleotide-dependent protein deacetylases are emerging key players in nuclear and cytosolic signaling, but also in mitochondrial regulation and aging. Mammalian mitochondria contain three Sirtuins, Sirt3, Sirt4, and Sirt5. Only one substrate is known for Sirt3 as well as for Sirt4, and up to now, no target for Sirt5 has been reported. Here, we describe the identification of novel substrates for the human mitochondrial Sirtuin isoforms Sirt3 and Sirt5. We show that Sirt3 can deacetylate and thereby activate a central metabolic regulator in the mitochondrial matrix, glutamate dehydrogenase. Furthermore, Sirt3 deacetylates and activates isocitrate dehydrogenase 2, an enzyme that promotes regeneration of antioxidants and catalyzes a key regulation point of the citric acid cycle. Sirt3 thus can regulate flux and anapleurosis of this central metabolic cycle. We further find that the N- and C-terminal regions of Sirt3 regulate its activity against glutamate dehydrogenase and a peptide substrate, indicating roles for these regions in substrate recognition and Sirtuin regulation. Sirt5, in contrast to Sirt3, deacetylates none of the mitochondrial matrix proteins tested. Instead, it can deacetylate cytochrome c, a protein of the mitochondrial intermembrane space with a central function in oxidative metabolism, as well as apoptosis initiation. Using a mitochondrial import assay, we find that Sirt5 can indeed be translocated into the mitochondrial intermembrane space, but also into the matrix, indicating that localization might contribute to Sirt5 regulation and substrate selection.

A molecular mechanism for direct sirtuin activation by resveratrol.

Sirtuins are protein deacetylases regulating metabolism, stress responses, and aging processes, and they were suggested to mediate the lifespan extending effect of a low calorie diet. Sirtuin activation by the polyphenol resveratrol can mimic such lifespan extending effects and alleviate metabolic diseases. The mechanism of Sirtuin stimulation is unknown, hindering the development of improved activators. Here we show that resveratrol inhibits human Sirt3 and stimulates Sirt5, in addition to Sirt1, against fluorophore-labeled peptide substrates but also against peptides and proteins lacking the non-physiological fluorophore modification. We further present crystal structures of Sirt3 and Sirt5 in complex with fluorogenic substrate peptide and modulator. The compound acts as a top cover, closing the Sirtuin’s polypeptide binding pocket and influencing details of peptide binding by directly interacting with this substrate. Our results provide a mechanism for the direct activation of Sirtuins by small molecules and suggest that activators have to be tailored to a specific Sirtuin/substrate pair.

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Inhibition of the β-class enzymes from the fungal pathogens Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans with aliphatic and aromatic carboxylates

The inhibition of the beta-carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) from the pathogenic fungi Cryptococcus neoformans (Can2) and Candida albicans (Nce103) with carboxylates such as the C1-C5 aliphatic carboxylates, oxalate, malonate, maleate, malate, pyruvate, lactate, citrate and some benzoates has been investigated. The best Can2 inhibitors were acetate and maleate (K(I)s of 7.3-8.7 microM), whereas formate, acetate, valerate, oxalate, maleate, citrate and 2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzoate showed less effective inhibition, with K(I)s in the range of 42.8-88.6 microM. Propionate, butyrate, malonate, L-malate, pyruvate, L-lactate and benzoate, were weak Can2 inhibitors, with inhibition constants in the range of 225-1267 microM. Nce103 was more susceptible to inhibition with carboxylates compared to Can2, with the best inhibitors (maleate, benzoate, butyrate and malonate) showing K(I)s in the range of 8.6-26.9 microM. L-Malate and pyruvate together with valerate were the less efficient Nce103 inhibitors (K(I)s of 87.7-94.0 microM), while the remaining carboxylates showed a compact behavior of efficient inhibitors (K(I)s in the range of 35.1-61.6 microM). Notably the inhibition profiles of the two fungal beta-CAs was very different from that of the ubiquitous host enzyme hCA II (belonging to the alpha-CA family), with maleate showing selectivity ratios of 113.6 and 115 for Can2 and Nce103, respectively, over hCA II inhibition. Therefore, maleate is a promising starting lead molecule for the development of better, low nanomolar, selective beta-CA inhibitors.

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Inhibition and homology modeling studies of the fungal β-carbonic anhydrase from Candida albicans with sulfonamides

The beta-carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) from the fungal pathogen Candida albicans (Nce103) is involved in a CO(2) sensing pathway critical for the pathogen life cycle and amenable to drug design studies. Herein we report an inhibition study of Nce103 with a library of sulfonamides and one sulfamate, showing that Nce103, similarly to the related enzyme from Cryptococcus neoformans Can2, is inhibited by these compounds with K(I)s in the range of 132 nM-7.6 microM. The best Nce103 inhibitors were acetazolamide, methazolamide, bromosulfanilamide, and 4-hydroxymethylbenzenesulfonamide (K(I)s<500 nM). A homology model was generated for Nce103 based on the crystal structure of Can2. The model shows that compounds with zinc-binding groups incorporating less polar moieties and compact scaffolds generate stronger Nce103 inhibitors, whereas highly polar zinc-binding groups and bulkier compounds appear more promising for the specific inhibition of Can2. Such compounds may be useful for the design of antifungal agents possessing a new mechanism of action.

Crystal structure of mammalian selenocysteine-dependent iodothyronine deiodinase suggests a peroxiredoxin-like catalytic mechanism.

Significance Deiodinases activate and inactivate thyroid hormones through a unique biochemical reaction. Enzymes expand their catalytic capabilities through special heteroatoms in cofactors or in the rare but essential amino acid selenocysteine, and deiodinases use an active-site selenocysteine for the reductive elimination of iodide from the aromatic iodothyronine rings. The mechanism of deiodinases has remained elusive despite many mutational and enzymatic studies. We solved the crystal structure of the deiodinase catalytic domain and find that it resembles a family of peroxiredoxin(s) (Prx). Structure and biochemical data suggest a deiodinase catalytic mechanism with Prx-like elements and enable us to assign unexpected functions to residues previously reported to contribute to deiodinase catalysis. Our findings indicate how deiodinases may have evolved from a common reductase ancestor. Local levels of active thyroid hormone (3,3′,5-triiodothyronine) are controlled by the action of activating and inactivating iodothyronine deiodinase enzymes. Deiodinases are selenocysteine-dependent membrane proteins catalyzing the reductive elimination of iodide from iodothyronines through a poorly understood mechanism. We solved the crystal structure of the catalytic domain of mouse deiodinase 3 (Dio3), which reveals a close structural similarity to atypical 2-Cys peroxiredoxin(s) (Prx). The structure suggests a route for proton transfer to the substrate during deiodination and a Prx-related mechanism for subsequent recycling of the transiently oxidized enzyme. The proposed mechanism is supported by biochemical experiments and is consistent with the effects of mutations of conserved amino acids on Dio3 activity. Thioredoxin and glutaredoxin reduce the oxidized Dio3 at physiological concentrations, and dimerization appears to activate the enzyme by displacing an autoinhibitory loop from the iodothyronine binding site. Deiodinases apparently evolved from the ubiquitous Prx scaffold, and their structure and catalytic mechanism reconcile a plethora of partly conflicting data reported for these enzymes.

A Third Metal Is Required for Catalytic Activity of the Signal-transducing Protein Phosphatase M tPphA

Protein phosphatase M (PPM) regulates key signaling pathways in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Novel structures of bacterial PPM members revealed three divalent metal ions in their catalytic centers. The function of metal 3 (M3) remained unclear. To reveal its function, we created variants of tPphA from Thermosynechococcus elongatus in all metal-coordinating residues, and multiple variants were created for the M3 coordinating Asp-119 residue. The structures of variants D119A and D193A were resolved, showing loss of M3 binding but unaffected binding of M1 and M2 in the catalytic center of D119A, with the nucleophilic water molecule in the correct place. The catalytic activity of this variant was highly impaired. This and further structure-function analyses showed that M3 is required for catalysis by providing a water molecule as a proton donor during catalysis. Mutation of the homologue Asp residue in human PP2Cα also caused loss of function, suggesting a general requirement of M3 in PPM-catalyzed reactions.

Crystal structure of the GAF-B domain from human phosphodiesterase 5.

The second messengers cGMP and cAMP are formed by nucleotidyl cyclases, regulate target proteins such as protein kinases, and are hydrolyzed by cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDE).1,2 Mammalian PDEs were classified into 11 families based on regulatory properties and sequence2,3 and are widely used as therapeutic targets.4 PDEs are homodimers (with the exception of the heterodimeric photoreceptor PDE6) with a homologous C-terminal catalytic domain but a diverse set of N-terminal regulatory domains.2 PDE2, 5, 6, 10, and 11 contain a tandem of GAF domains (first identified in cGMPregulated PDEs, adenylyl cyclases from Anabaena, transcription factor FhlA),5,6 a family of signaling and sensor domains with weak sequence conservation present in more than 7000 proteins. GAF domains show a conserved architecture and typically form parallel dimers.5,7 They often appear in tandem arrangements and can function in protein/protein interaction or binding of small molecules, such as heme or cyclic nucleotides (cNMPs).8,9 In mammals, GAF tandems are solely found in PDEs, where they contribute to cyclic nucleotide binding and dimerization.10,11 Binding of cGMP to their GAF domains activates PDEs 212 and 5.13,14 cGMP binds to the N-terminal GAF-A of the PDE5A tandem,13 whereas GAF-B appears to be critical for dimerization.15 Comparison of PDE5A electron microscopy data16 to the crystal structure of PDE2A17 indicates differences in dimerization, which might be caused by the fact that PDE2A also differs from PDE5A in binding cGMP through GAF-B. Higher resolution structures for PDE5A are restricted, however, to the isolated catalytic and GAF-A domain,18,19 and we thus solved the crystal structure of the structurally uncharacterized PDE5A GAF-B domain.

Expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of the DNA-binding domain of Rhodobacter capsulatus MopB

The LysR-type regulator MopB represses transcription of several target genes (including the nitrogen-fixation gene anfA) in Rhodobacter capsulatus at high molybdenum concentrations. In this study, the isolated DNA-binding domain of MopB (MopBHTH) was overexpressed in Escherichia coli. Purified MopBHTH bound the anfA promoter as shown by DNA mobility-shift assays, demonstrating the function of the isolated regulator domain. MopBHTH was crystallized using the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method in the presence of 0.2 M lithium sulfate, 0.1 M phosphate/citrate pH 4.2, 20%(w/v) PEG 1000 at 291 K. The crystal belonged to space group P3(1)21 or P3(2)21, with unit-cell parameters a=b=61.84, c=139.64 Å, α=β=90, γ=120°, and diffracted to 3.3 Å resolution at a synchrotron source.

Structural and mechanistic insights into cGMP signaling

Implications Meeting abstracts - A single PDF containing all abstracts in this Supplement is available here . http://www .biomedcentral.c om/content/pdf/1 471-2210-9-S1-i nfo.pdf