Günter Fritzsch

Crystal Structure of Vinorine Synthase, the First Representative of the BAHD Superfamily

Vinorine synthase is an acetyltransferase that occupies a central role in the biosynthesis of the antiarrhythmic monoterpenoid indole alkaloid ajmaline in the plant Rauvolfia. Vinorine synthase belongs to the benzylalcohol acetyl-, anthocyanin-O-hydroxy-cinnamoyl-, anthranilate-N-hydroxy-cinnamoyl/benzoyl-, deacetylvindoline acetyltransferase (BAHD) enzyme superfamily, members of which are involved in the biosynthesis of several important drugs, such as morphine, Taxol, or vindoline, a precursor of the anti-cancer drugs vincaleucoblastine and vincristine. The x-ray structure of vinorine synthase is described at 2.6-Å resolution. Despite low sequence identity, the two-domain structure of vinorine synthase shows surprising similarity with structures of several CoA-dependent acyltransferases such as dihydrolipoyl transacetylase, polyketide-associated protein A5, and carnitine acetyltransferase. All conserved residues typical for the BAHD family are found in domain 1. His160 of the HXXXD motif functions as a general base during catalysis. It is located in the center of the reaction channel at the interface of both domains and is accessible from both sides. The channel runs through the entire molecule, allowing the substrate and co-substrate to bind independently. Asp164 points away from the catalytic site and seems to be of structural rather than catalytic importance. Surprisingly, the DFGWG motif, which is indispensable for the catalyzed reaction and unique to the BAHD family, is located far away from the active site and seems to play only a structural role. Vinorine synthase represents the first solved protein structure of the BAHD superfamily.

Crystal structure of diisopropylfluorophosphatase from Loligo vulgaris.

BACKGROUND Phosphotriesterases (PTE) are enzymes capable of detoxifying organophosphate-based chemical warfare agents by hydrolysis. One subclass of these enzymes comprises the family of diisopropylfluorophosphatases (DFPases). The DFPase reported here was originally isolated from squid head ganglion of Loligo vulgaris and can be characterized as squid-type DFPase. It is capable of hydrolyzing the organophosphates diisopropylfluorophosphate, soman, sarin, tabun, and cyclosarin. RESULTS Crystals were grown of both the native and the selenomethionine-labeled enzyme. The X-ray crystal structure of the DFPase from Loligo vulgaris has been solved by MAD phasing and refined to a crystallographic R value of 17.6% at a final resolution of 1.8 A. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we have structurally and functionally characterized essential residues in the active site of the enzyme. CONCLUSIONS The crystal structure of the DFPase from Loligo vulgaris is the first example of a structural characterization of a squid-type DFPase and the second crystal structure of a PTE determined to date. Therefore, it may serve as a structural model for squid-type DFPases in general. The overall structure of this protein represents a six-fold beta propeller with two calcium ions bound in a central water-filled tunnel. The consensus motif found in the blades of this beta propeller has not yet been observed in other beta propeller structures. Based on the results obtained from mutants of active-site residues, a mechanistic model for the DFP hydrolysis has been developed.

Bisubstrates: substances that interact with both, renal contraluminal organic anion and organic cation transport systems

In order to evaluate whether N-containing substrates interact with the organic “anion” (p-aminohippurate, PAH) or only with the organic “cation” (N1-methylnicotinamide, NMeN) transport system or with both, the stop-flow peritubular capillary microperfusion method was applied in the rat kidney in situ and the apparent Ki values of several classes or organic substrate against contraluminal NMeN and PAH transport were determined. Organic “anion” and organic “cation” transport are in inverted commas because neither transporter sees the degree of ionization in bulk solution, and they also accept nonionizable substrates [Ullrich KJ, Rumrich G (1992) Pflügers Arch 421:286–288]. Amines must be sufficiently hydrophobic (phenylethylamine, piperidine, piperazine) in order to interact with NMeN transport. Additional Cl, Br, NO2 or other electronegative groups render them inhibitory towards PAH transport also. Such bisubstrate amines were identified as follows: metoclopramide, bromopride, diphenhydramine, bromodiphenhydramine, verapamil, citalopram, ketamine, mefloquine, ipsapirone, buspirone, trazodone, H7 and trifluoperazine. Imidazole analogues interact with both transporters if they bear sufficiently hydrophobic alkyl or aryl groups or electronegative sidegroups. Bisubstrate imidazole analogues are tinidazole, pilocarpine, clonidine, azidoclonidine and cimetidine. Pyridines and thiazoles interact with the NMeN transporter if they have an additional ring-attached NH2 group. Again with an additional Cl, Br, or NO2 group the aminopyridines and aminothiazoles also become inhibitors for the PAH transporter. Amongst the guanidines only substances with several electronegative side-groups such as guanfacine, amiloride, benzylamiloride and ranitidine, interact with both transporters. Amongst the phenylhydrazines only 4-bromophenylhydrazine interacts with the NMeN transporter and 4-nitrophenylhydrazine with both transporters. Quinoline (isoquinoline) and its amino and hydroxy analogues interact with both transporters, their pKa values correlate directly with the affinity to the NMeN transporter and reciprocally with their affinity to the PAH transporter. In experiments with labelled substrates only the sufficiently hydrophilic cimetidine, amiloride and ranitidine show a saturable transport, which can be inhibited by probenecid (apalcillin) and tetraethylammonium in an additive manner. The highly hydrophobic substrates verapamil, citalopram, imipramine, diltiazem and clonidine enter the cell very fast in an unsaturable and uninhibitable manner, apparently in the undissociated form, since N-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium, which — disregarding its ionization — is similarly hydrophobic, shows a transport behaviour similar to that of tetraethylammonium [Ullrich et al. (1991) Pflügers Arch 419:84–92]. Ethidium bromide and dimidium bromide, which have a permanent cationic quaternary nitrogen and two sufficiently electronegative NH2 groups, also interact with both transporters. The data indicate that a molecule qualifies as a bisubstrate if it carries both the essentials for organic anion (PAH) transport: hydrophobicity, sufficient acidity or electron-attracting O, OH, Cl, Br, NO2 groups, plus the essentials for organic cation transport: hydrophobicity, sufficient basicity or electron-donating N-containing groups. The nitrogen atoms in the N-containing molecules quinoline (pKa 4.9), isoquinoline (pKa 5.4) and benzylpyridine (pKa 5.13) are of such low basicity that they apparently can also interact with the PAH transporter. Apparent hydrophobicity (disregarding ionization) determines interaction with the transporters, while real hydrophobicity [log (octanol distribution values)] determines the diffusion through the lipid bilayer of the cell membrane.

Anion transport through the contraluminal cell membrane of renal proximal tubule. The influence of hydrophobicity and molecular charge distribution on the inhibitory activity of organic anions

Three different mechanisms of anion transport have been identified for the contraluminal membrane in the proximal tubule of the rat kidney. These mechanisms are specific for the transport of sulfate, dicarboxylate and p-aminohippurate anions. Sulfate transport is inhibited by bivalent organic anions with a distance between the charges of less than 7 A. The sulfate system acts in two modes: in a planar mode for anions with flat charged residues such as COO- and a charge separation of 3-4 A or in a bulky mode for groups such as SO3H- and a charge separation of 4-7 A. Monovalent anions can be accepted if there is a hydrophobic core next to the negative charges. Dicarboxylate transport is inhibited exclusively by anions with two charge centers located within 5 to 9 A, one of those possibly being a partial charge of -0.5 elementary charges. p-Aminohippurate transport is inhibited by monovalent anions, if these have a hydrophobic domain with a minimal length of about 4 A. Bivalent anions inhibit, if they have a charge distance of 6-10 A; both charges can be partial charges of about -0.5 elementary charges. Longer bivalent anions can be effective provided they have a sufficiently large hydrophobic domain. For the sulfate and p-aminohippurate systems it is found that anions with high acidity yield good inhibition. The overlapping specificities of the three systems with respect to charge distance and hydrophobicity allow them to accept a large variety of organic anions.

Contraluminal transport of organic cations in the proximal tubule of the rat kidney

In order to study the characteristics of contraluminal organic cation transport from the blood site into proximal tubular cells the stopped-flow capillary perfusion method was applied. The disappearance of N1-[3H]methylnicotinamide (NMeN+) and [3H]tetraethylammonium (TEA+) at different concentrations and contact times was measured and the following parameters evaluated: Km,NMeN = 0.54 mmol/l, Jmax,NMeN = 0.4 pmol s−1 cm−1; Km,TEA = 0.16 mmol/l, Jmax,TEA = 0.8 pmol s−1 cm−1. TEA+ inhibited NMeN+ transport and NMeN+ the uptake of TEA+. Thereby, the Ki values for inhibition correspond closely to the Km values for uptake. Similar inhibitory potencies of ten organic cation against TEA+ and NMeN+ transport provide further evidence for a common transport system. Omission of HCO3−, or Na+ and addition of K+ (with or without Ba2+) reduce NMeN+ transport, while omission of K+ (with or without valinomycin) or addition of thiocyanate has no effect. Since the manoeuvres that depolarize contraluminal electrical potential difference reduce NMeN+ transport, cell-negative electrical potential difference is suggested as a driving force for contraluminal organic cation transport from the interstitium into the cell. Furthermore, the inhibitory potency (app. Ki values) of homologous series of primary, secondary, tertiary and hydroxy amines as well as of mono- and bisquarternary ammonium compounds against NMeN+ transport was tested. The inhibitory potency increased in the sequence methyl < ethyl < propyl < butyl and primary < secondary < tertiary amines < quarternary ammonium compounds. With the amines a reversed correlation between Ki,NMeN and the octanol/water partition coefficient (log octanol) is seen. With quarternary ammonium compounds the inhibitory potency decreases with increasing molecular size: tetrabutyl- > tetrapentyl- > tetrahexyl- > tetraheptyl > tetraoctylammonium. Introducing two OH groups into triethylamine reduces the inhibitory potency while introduction of two OH groups into diethylamine or three OH groups into triethylamine abolishes the inhibitory potency as a result of reduced hydrophobicity. With choline (trimethylethanolamine) and its analogues the reversed correlation between Ki,NMeN and log octanol was also seen. Molecules with a similar hydrophobic moiety to those of the monoammonium compounds, but with two ammonium groups, showed only a small or no inhibitory potency against NMeN+ transport. The data indicate that (a) hydrophobic moieties are important for the interaction with the contraluminal organic cation transporter, and (b) the size of the molecule can be a limiting factor. The reduced or missing interaction of the bisquarternary compound might be caused either by the second charge and/or reduced hydrophobicity and/or too large size of a molecule.

Contraluminal para-aminohippurate (PAH) transport in the proximal tubule of the rat kidney

In order to evaluate the specificity of the renal contraluminal PAH transport system for amino acids, oligopeptides and their conjugates, the inhibitory potency of these substances against contraluminal [3H] PAH influx has been determined. For this, inhibition of 3H-PAH flux from the interstitium into cortical tubular cells of the rat kidney in situ has been measured. Apparent Ki values were evaluated by a computer program assuming competitive inhibition. Unconjugated amino acids (glycine, cysteine, alanine, leucine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, aspartate, glutamate, arginine, ornithine and lysine) do not inhibit [3H] PAH influx. The very hydrophobic tryptophan, however, does. N-α-methylation does not change this behaviour. N-α-acetylation does not evoke interaction with the PAH transporter when it occurs with glycine, cysteine (to yield mercapturic acid), arginine, ornithine and lysine. However, it renders alanine, leucine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, L-aspartate moderately, and L-glutamate strongly, inhibitory. The acetylated D-isomers of alanine, leucine and phenylalanine exert a higher inhibitory potency compared with the respective L-isomers. N-α-benzoylation of L-lysine is ineffective. N-α-benzoylation, however, evokes interaction with the PAH transporter, when it occurs with ornithine < arginine < histidine < glycine = leucine < alanine = phenylalanine = aspartate = glutamate. Dipeptides interact with the PAH transporter according to their hydrophobicity (Nozaki scale down to 0.9, Fauchère scale up to 1.0). N-acetylation does not change this behaviour. Hydrophobicity also renders oligopeptides, as angiotensin II, inhibitory against PAH transport. Similarly the anionic angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibitors Captopril, Enalapril and Ramipril inhibit contraluminal PAH influx. The same holds for the Amanita phalloides peptides α- and β-amanitin, phalloin, phallacidin and Tyr5-carboxymethyl antamanide. Conjugation with L-glutathione renders only strongly hydrophobic xenobiotics inhibitory against PAH transport: S-(4-azidophenacyl)-= S-(4-chlorophenacyl)-< S-(1,2,2-trichlorovinyl)-< S-(1,2,3,4,4-pentachlorobuta-dienyl)- < S-(n-decyl)-. Processing to the L-cysteine conjugate augments the inhibitory potency and additional N-acetylation of the α-amino group augments it even more. Thus, the above mentioned conjugation, which creates hydrophobic molecules with a negative ionic charge, renders it reactive with the PAH transporter. If a remaining positive change at the α-NH3+is eliminated by N-acetylation the affinity is further augmented.

A stopped flow capillary perfusion method to evaluate contraluminal transport parameters of methylsuccinate from interstitium into renal proximal tubular cells

In order to study the transport of dicarboxylic acids through the contraluminal cell membrane of proximal tubular cells,3H-methylsuccinate has been synthetized by catalytic hydration of methylfumarate. As the chromatography of radioactive material excreted in the urine after i.v. injection of3H-methylsuccinate shows, no metabolite is detectable during the first 3 min. After 10 min, less than 10% of the excreted radiolabel is metabolized.To measure the contraluminal influx of3H-methylsuccinate from the interstitium into cortical tubular cells, the renal vessels were clamped so that the proximal tubular lumina collapsed. Then Ringer solution was injected into the blood capillaries. It contained different concentrations of3H-methylsuccinate and14C-inulin as extracellular space marker. After contact times between 1 and 10 s, this fluid was withdrawn from the capillaries and the disappearance of3H-methylsuccinate relative to14C-inulin was measured. The morphological compartments in the outer cortex of the clamped glutaraldehyde-fixed kidney were evaluated by a stereological method. For proximal tubular cells a ratio of extracellular water space to intracellular space of 1:3.1 and a ratio extracellular water space to free cell water space of 1:2 was found.It was tested whether the experimental disappearance curves with 4 different starting concentrations of3H-methylsuccinate fit with the data from four model calculations. It was found that the data and the conditions of transport are consistent with the predictions of a facilitated diffusion model. In this model, a transport coefficient occurs which depends on the concentration of3H-methylsuccinate following saturation kinetics. The calculated parameters wer:Km for3H-methylsuccinate=0.12 mmol/l,Jmax=0.50 pmol/s ·cm (related to tubular length in cm). Furthermore, equations are given to calculate inhibitory constantsKi of competing dicarboxylic acids.

Assignment of cytochrome hemes in crystallized reaction centers from rhodopseudomonas viridis

In crystals of reaction centers from the purple bacterium Rhodopseudomonas viridis , the four linearly arranged heme groups of the cytochrome- c subunit are oriented in a way that the two outer groups lie preferentially in direction parallel to the crystalline z -axis whereas the inner groups lie mainly perpendicular to z . Illumination of redox poised crystals with polarized light show that both the outer and inner groups have each a high- and a low-potential heme. The absorption maxima appear at 552, 552.5, 556 and 558.5 nm. The inspection of difference spectra taken at various redox potentials and the consideiration of the individual molecular heme planes in the unit cell lead to the following sequence of heme groups (P-960: special bacteriochlorophyll pair, redox potentials in brackets): P-960, c -558.5 (+370 mV), c -552 (+10 mV), c -556 (+300 mV), c -552.5 (−60 mV).

Interactions of vasopressin agonists and antagonists with membrane receptors

Plasma membranes containing one class of non-cooperative binding sites for tritium-labelled [8-arginine]vasopressin were isolated from bovine kidney inner medulla and from rat liver. By using a weighted, non-linear least squares fit to logistic curves, the binding parameters of eight vasopressin agonists and antagonists were determined in competition experiments. Vasopressin analogues with sarcosine or N-methyl-L-alanine in position 7 instead of proline showed a high ratio of antidiuretic to vasopressor activity. These analogues retained a high binding affinity to the renal vasopressin receptor with apparent dissociation constants KD in the order proline less than sarcosine less than methylalanine . In contrast, the affinity to the hepatic vasopressin receptor, which shares characteristics with vasopressor receptors, was drastically reduced with KD values being in the order proline much less than N- methylalanine less than sarcosine. By combining the substitutions at position 7 with substitutions of cysteine in position 1 by either deaminopenicillamine or beta-mercapto-beta, beta-cyclopentamethylenepropionic acid, inhibitors of the oxytocoic and vasopressor responses were obtained. These additional substitutions at position 1 led to a drastic decrease in the binding affinity to the vasopressin receptor in bovine kidney. The intrinsic activity of these analogues to stimulate the renal vasopressin sensitive adenylate cyclase was strongly reduced or completely lost. In the rat liver system, however, these vasopressin antagonists showed a remarkably increased affinity to vasopressin receptors as compared to analogues substituted only at position 7. GTP reduced the binding affinity of all analogues to the hepatic receptor. The results show that these structural modifications which influence both the conformational properties of the vasopressin molecule and the biological activities of the hormone had strikingly different effects on the interactions of the resulting analogues with physiologically important receptors in the kidney and the liver. These studies may lead to the development of more specific vasopressin agonists and antagonists.

Characterization of a Photosystem II core and its three-dimensional crystals.

A photosystem II core from spinach containing the chlorophyll-binding proteins 47 kDa, 43 kDa, the reaction center proteins D1, D2 and cytochromeb559 and three low molecular weight polypeptides (MW < 10 kDa) was isolated, its three-dimensional crystals were prepared, and both core and crystals were studied by spectroscopic techniques and electron microscopy. The absorption spectra of the crystallized form of the core indicate a specific orientation of the various pigments within the crystal.