Julian D. Langer

The Structure of cbb3 Cytochrome Oxidase Provides Insights into Proton Pumping

C-Family Oxidase Structure The heme-copper oxidases (HCOs) play a key role in aerobic respiration by coupling oxygen reduction to transmembrane proton pumping to generate electrochemical ion gradients across biological membranes that provide energy for many cellular processes. Based on subunit composition, electron donor, and heme type, the HCOs are divided into three families, of which families A and B have been structurally characterized. Buschmann et al. (p. 327, published online 24 June) now report the crystal structure of the C-family cbb3 oxidase from Pseudomonas stutzeri. The structure suggests a different redox-driven pumping mechanism from A and B HCOs, and gives insight into why C HCOs are catalytically active at low oxygen concentrations. The third class of heme-copper oxidases reveals new structural solutions to achieve redox-driven proton translocation. The heme-copper oxidases (HCOs) accomplish the key event of aerobic respiration; they couple O2 reduction and transmembrane proton pumping. To gain new insights into the still enigmatic process, we structurally characterized a C-family HCO—essential for the pathogenicity of many bacteria—that differs from the two other HCO families, A and B, that have been structurally analyzed. The x-ray structure of the C-family cbb3 oxidase from Pseudomonas stutzeri at 3.2 angstrom resolution shows an electron supply system different from families A and B. Like family-B HCOs, C HCOs have only one pathway, which conducts protons via an alternative tyrosine-histidine cross-link. Structural differences around hemes b and b3 suggest a different redox-driven proton-pumping mechanism and provide clues to explain the higher activity of family-C HCOs at low oxygen concentrations.

Structure of the mycobacterial ATP synthase Fo rotor ring in complex with the anti-TB drug bedaquiline

Structure and inhibition mechanism of the anti-TB drug bedaquiline bound to the ATP synthase rotor from Mycobacteria. Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is more prevalent today than at any other time in human history. Bedaquiline (BDQ), a novel Mycobacterium-specific adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase inhibitor, is the first drug in the last 40 years to be approved for the treatment of MDR-TB. This bactericidal compound targets the membrane-embedded rotor (c-ring) of the mycobacterial ATP synthase, a key metabolic enzyme required for ATP generation. We report the x-ray crystal structures of a mycobacterial c9 ring without and with BDQ bound at 1.55- and 1.7-Å resolution, respectively. The structures and supporting functional assays reveal how BDQ specifically interacts with the rotor ring via numerous interactions and thereby completely covers the c-ring’s ion-binding sites. This prevents the rotor ring from acting as an ion shuttle and stalls ATP synthase operation. The structures explain how diarylquinoline chemicals specifically inhibit the mycobacterial ATP synthase and thus enable structure-based drug design of next-generation ATP synthase inhibitors against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other bacterial pathogens.

Engineering rotor ring stoichiometries in the ATP synthase

ATP synthase membrane rotors consist of a ring of c-subunits whose stoichiometry is constant for a given species but variable across different ones. We investigated the importance of c/c-subunit contacts by site-directed mutagenesis of a conserved stretch of glycines (GxGxGxGxG) in a bacterial c11 ring. Structural and biochemical studies show a direct, specific influence on the c-subunit stoichiometry, revealing c<11, c12, c13, c14, and c>14 rings. Molecular dynamics simulations rationalize this effect in terms of the energetics and geometry of the c-subunit interfaces. Quantitative data from a spectroscopic interaction study demonstrate that the complex assembly is independent of the c-ring size. Real-time ATP synthesis experiments in proteoliposomes show the mutant enzyme, harboring the larger c12 instead of c11, is functional at lower ion motive force. The high degree of compliance in the architecture of the ATP synthase rotor offers a rationale for the natural diversity of c-ring stoichiometries, which likely reflect adaptations to specific bioenergetic demands. These results provide the basis for bioengineering ATP synthases with customized ion-to-ATP ratios, by sequence modifications.

Structural and energetic basis for H+ versus Na+ binding selectivity in ATP synthase Fo rotors

The functional mechanism of the F1Fo ATP synthase, like many membrane transporters and pumps, entails a conformational cycle that is coupled to the movement of H+ or Na+ ions across its transmembrane domain, down an electrochemical gradient. This coupling is an efficient means of energy transduction and regulation, provided that ion binding to the membrane domain, known as Fo, is appropriately selective. In this study we set out to establish the structural and energetic basis for the ion-binding selectivity of the membrane-embedded Fo rotors of two representative ATP synthases. First, we use a biochemical approach to demonstrate the inherent binding selectivity of these rotors, that is, independently from the rest of the enzyme. We then use atomically detailed computer simulations of wild-type and mutagenized rotors to calculate and rationalize their selectivity, on the basis of the structure, dynamics and coordination chemistry of the binding sites. We conclude that H+ selectivity is most likely a robust property of all Fo rotors, arising from the prominent presence of a conserved carboxylic acid and its intrinsic chemical propensity for protonation, as well as from the structural plasticity of the binding sites. In H+-coupled rotors, the incorporation of hydrophobic side chains to the binding sites enhances this inherent H+ selectivity. Size restriction may also favor H+ over Na+, but increasing size alone does not confer Na+ selectivity. Rather, the degree to which Fo rotors may exhibit Na+ coupling relies on the presence of a sufficient number of suitable coordinating side chains and/or structural water molecules. These ligands accomplish a shift in the relative binding energetics, which under some physiological conditions may be sufficient to provide Na+ dependence.

Several ADP-ribosylation Factor (Arf) Isoforms Support COPI Vesicle Formation

Newly synthesized proteins and lipids are transported in vesicular carriers along the secretory pathway. Arfs (ADP-ribosylation factors), a family of highly conserved GTPases within the Ras superfamily, control recruitment of molecular coats to membranes, the initial step of coated vesicle biogenesis. Arf1 and coatomer constitute the minimal cytosolic machinery leading to COPI vesicle formation from Golgi membranes. Although some functional redundancies have been suggested, other Arf isoforms have been poorly analyzed in this context. In this study, we found that Arf1, Arf4, and Arf5, but not Arf3 and Arf6, associate with COPI vesicles generated in vitro from Golgi membranes and purified cytosol. Using recombinant myristoylated proteins, we show that Arf1, Arf4, and Arf5 each support COPI vesicle formation individually. Unexpectedly, we found that Arf3 could also mediate vesicle biogenesis. However, Arf3 was excluded from the vesicle fraction in the presence of the other isoforms, highlighting a functional competition between the different Arf members.

Unconventional secretory processing diversifies neuronal ion channel properties

N-glycosylation – the sequential addition of complex sugars to adhesion proteins, neurotransmitter receptors, ion channels and secreted trophic factors as they progress through the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus – is one of the most frequent protein modifications. In mammals, most organ-specific N-glycosylation events occur in the brain. Yet, little is known about the nature, function and regulation of N-glycosylation in neurons. Using imaging, quantitative immunoblotting and mass spectrometry, we show that hundreds of neuronal surface membrane proteins are core-glycosylated, resulting in the neuronal membrane displaying surprisingly high levels of glycosylation profiles that are classically associated with immature intracellular proteins. We report that while N-glycosylation is generally required for dendritic development and glutamate receptor surface expression, core-glycosylated proteins are sufficient to sustain these processes, and are thus functional. This atypical glycosylation of surface neuronal proteins can be attributed to a bypass or a hypo-function of the Golgi apparatus. Core-glycosylation is regulated by synaptic activity, modulates synaptic signaling and accelerates the turnover of GluA2-containing glutamate receptors, revealing a novel mechanism that controls the composition and sensing properties of the neuronal membrane. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.20609.001

Structure of a bd oxidase indicates similar mechanisms for membrane-integrated oxygen reductases.

Peering into a membrance oxidase Microorganisms have evolved a number of enzymes to reduce oxygen and prevent oxidative stress. Cytochrome bd oxidases serve this role and also protect pathogenic bacteria from nitric acid; however, this class of enzymes so far has eluded high-resolution crystallography. Safarian et al. were able to resolve the three-dimensional structure of cytochrome bd oxidase from a thermophilic bacterium (see the Perspective by Cook and Poole). The overall structure and triangular arrangement of its heme cofactors bear little structural resemblance to those of other membrane-spanning oxidases, despite serving a similar function. Science, this issue p. 583; see also p. 518 Structural details reveal how pathogens protect against oxidative stress and nitric oxide. The cytochrome bd oxidases are terminal oxidases that are present in bacteria and archaea. They reduce molecular oxygen (dioxygen) to water, avoiding the production of reactive oxygen species. In addition to their contribution to the proton motive force, they mediate viability under oxygen-related stress conditions and confer tolerance to nitric oxide, thus contributing to the virulence of pathogenic bacteria. Here we present the atomic structure of the bd oxidase from Geobacillus thermodenitrificans, revealing a pseudosymmetrical subunit fold. The arrangement and order of the heme cofactors support the conclusions from spectroscopic measurements that the cleavage of the dioxygen bond may be mechanistically similar to that in the heme-copper–containing oxidases, even though the structures are completely different.

Identification and Characterization of the Novel Subunit CcoM in the cbb3-Cytochrome c Oxidase from Pseudomonas stutzeri ZoBell

ABSTRACT Cytochrome c oxidases (CcOs), members of the heme-copper containing oxidase (HCO) superfamily, are the terminal enzymes of aerobic respiratory chains. The cbb3-type cytochrome c oxidases (cbb3-CcO) form the C-family and have only the central catalytic subunit in common with the A- and B-family HCOs. In Pseudomonas stutzeri, two cbb3 operons are organized in a tandem repeat. The atomic structure of the first cbb3 isoform (Cbb3-1) was determined at 3.2 Å resolution in 2010 (S. Buschmann, E. Warkentin, H. Xie, J. D. Langer, U. Ermler, and H. Michel, Science 329:327–330, 2010, http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1187303). Unexpectedly, the electron density map of Cbb3-1 revealed the presence of an additional transmembrane helix (TMH) which could not be assigned to any known protein. We now identified this TMH as the previously uncharacterized protein PstZoBell_05036, using a customized matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI)–tandem mass spectrometry setup. The amino acid sequence matches the electron density of the unassigned TMH. Consequently, the protein was renamed CcoM. In order to identify the function of this new subunit in the cbb3 complex, we generated and analyzed a CcoM knockout strain. The results of the biochemical and biophysical characterization indicate that CcoM may be involved in CcO complex assembly or stabilization. In addition, we found that CcoM plays a role in anaerobic respiration, as the ΔCcoM strain displayed altered growth rates under anaerobic denitrifying conditions. IMPORTANCE The respiratory chain has recently moved into the focus for drug development against prokaryotic human pathogens, in particular, for multiresistant strains (P. Murima, J. D. McKinney, and K. Pethe, Chem Biol 21:1423–1432, 2014, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chembiol.2014.08.020). cbb3-CcO is an essential enzyme for many different pathogenic bacterial species, e.g., Helicobacter pylori, Vibrio cholerae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and represents a promising drug target. In order to develop compounds targeting these proteins, a detailed understanding of the molecular architecture and function is required. Here we identified and characterized a novel subunit, CcoM, in the cbb3-CcO complex and thereby completed the crystal structure of the Cbb3 oxidase from Pseudomonas stutzeri, a bacterium closely related to the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The respiratory chain has recently moved into the focus for drug development against prokaryotic human pathogens, in particular, for multiresistant strains (P. Murima, J. D. McKinney, and K. Pethe, Chem Biol 21:1423–1432, 2014, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chembiol.2014.08.020). cbb3-CcO is an essential enzyme for many different pathogenic bacterial species, e.g., Helicobacter pylori, Vibrio cholerae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and represents a promising drug target. In order to develop compounds targeting these proteins, a detailed understanding of the molecular architecture and function is required. Here we identified and characterized a novel subunit, CcoM, in the cbb3-CcO complex and thereby completed the crystal structure of the Cbb3 oxidase from Pseudomonas stutzeri, a bacterium closely related to the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Nascent Proteome Remodeling following Homeostatic Scaling at Hippocampal Synapses

Summary Homeostatic scaling adjusts the strength of synaptic connections up or down in response to large changes in input. To identify the landscape of proteomic changes that contribute to opposing forms of homeostatic plasticity, we examined the plasticity-induced changes in the newly synthesized proteome. Cultured rat hippocampal neurons underwent homeostatic up-scaling or down-scaling. We used BONCAT (bio-orthogonal non-canonical amino acid tagging) to metabolically label, capture, and identify newly synthesized proteins, detecting and analyzing 5,940 newly synthesized proteins using mass spectrometry and label-free quantitation. Neither up- nor down-scaling produced changes in the number of different proteins translated. Rather, up- and down-scaling elicited opposing translational regulation of several molecular pathways, producing targeted adjustments in the proteome. We discovered ∼300 differentially regulated proteins involved in neurite outgrowth, axon guidance, filopodia assembly, excitatory synapses, and glutamate receptor complexes. We also identified differentially regulated proteins that are associated with multiple diseases, including schizophrenia, epilepsy, and Parkinson’s disease.

Heterotrimeric NADH-Oxidizing Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase from the Acetogenic Bacterium Acetobacterium woodii

UNLABELLED The methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) of acetogenic bacteria catalyzes the reduction of methylene-THF, which is highly exergonic with NADH as the reductant. Therefore, the enzyme was suggested to be involved in energy conservation by reducing ferredoxin via electron bifurcation, followed by Na(+) translocation by the Rnf complex. The enzyme was purified from Acetobacterium woodii and shown to have an unprecedented subunit composition containing the three subunits RnfC2, MetF, and MetV. The stable complex contained 2 flavin mononucleotides (FMN), 23.5 ± 1.2 Fe and 24.5 ± 1.5 S, which fits well to the predicted six [4Fe4S] clusters in MetV and RnfC2. The enzyme catalyzed NADH:methylviologen and NADH:ferricyanide oxidoreductase activity but also methylene-tetrahydrofolate (THF) reduction with NADH as the reductant. The NADH:methylene-THF reductase activity was high (248 U/mg) and not stimulated by ferredoxin. Furthermore, reduction of ferredoxin, alone or in the presence of methylene-THF and NADH, was never observed. MetF or MetVF was not able to catalyze the methylene-THF-dependent oxidation of NADH, but MetVF could reduce methylene-THF using methyl viologen as the electron donor. The purified MTHFR complex did not catalyze the reverse reaction, the endergonic oxidation of methyl-THF with NAD(+) as the acceptor, and this reaction could not be driven by reduced ferredoxin. However, addition of protein fractions made the oxidation of methyl-THF to methylene-THF coupled to NAD(+) reduction possible. Our data demonstrate that the MTHFR of A. woodii catalyzes methylene-THF reduction according to the following reaction: NADH + methylene-THF → methyl-THF + NAD(+). The differences in the subunit compositions of MTHFRs of bacteria are discussed in the light of their different functions. IMPORTANCE Energy conservation in the acetogenic bacterium Acetobacterium woodii involves ferredoxin reduction followed by a chemiosmotic mechanism involving Na(+)-translocating ferredoxin oxidation and a Na(+)-dependent F1Fo ATP synthase. All redox enzymes of the pathway have been characterized except the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR). Here we report the purification of the MTHFR of A. woodii, which has an unprecedented heterotrimeric structure. The enzyme reduces methylene-THF with NADH. Ferredoxin did not stimulate the reaction; neither was it oxidized or reduced with NADH. Since the last enzyme with a potential role in energy metabolism of A. woodii has now been characterized, we can propose a quantitative bioenergetic scheme for acetogenesis from H2 plus CO2 in the model acetogen A. woodii.