K. M. Polyakov

High-resolution structural analysis of a novel octaheme cytochrome c nitrite reductase from the haloalkaliphilic bacterium Thioalkalivibrio nitratireducens

Bacterial pentaheme cytochrome c nitrite reductases (NrfAs) are key enzymes involved in the terminal step of dissimilatory nitrite reduction of the nitrogen cycle. Their structure and functions are well studied. Recently, a novel octaheme cytochrome c nitrite reductase (TvNiR) has been isolated from the haloalkaliphilic bacterium Thioalkalivibrio nitratireducens. Here we present high-resolution crystal structures of the apoenzyme and its complexes with the substrate (nitrite) and the inhibitor (azide). Both in the crystalline state and in solution, TvNiR exists as a stable hexamer containing 48 hemes-the largest number of hemes accommodated within one protein molecule known to date. The subunit of TvNiR consists of two domains. The N-terminal domain has a unique fold and contains three hemes. The catalytic C-terminal domain hosts the remaining five hemes, their arrangement, including the catalytic heme, being identical to that found in NrfAs. The complete set of eight hemes forms a spatial pattern characteristic of other multiheme proteins, including structurally characterized octaheme cytochromes. The catalytic machinery of TvNiR resembles that of NrfAs. It comprises the lysine residue at the proximal position of the catalytic heme, the catalytic triad of tyrosine, histidine, and arginine at the distal side, channels for the substrate and product transport with a characteristic gradient of electrostatic potential, and, finally, two conserved Ca(2+)-binding sites. However, TvNiR has a number of special structural features, including a covalent bond between the catalytic tyrosine and the adjacent cysteine and the unusual topography of the product channels that open into the void interior space of the protein hexamer. The role of these characteristic structural features in the catalysis by this enzyme is discussed.

Structure of native laccase from Trametes hirsuta at 1.8 Å resolution

This paper describes the structural analysis of the native form of laccase from Trametes hirsuta at 1.8 A resolution. This structure provides a basis for the elucidation of the mechanism of catalytic action of these ubiquitous proteins. The 1.8 A resolution native structure provided a good level of structural detail compared with many previously reported laccase structures. A brief comparison with the active sites of other laccases is given.

Atomic structure of the Serratia marcescens endonuclease at 1.1 A resolution and the enzyme reaction mechanism.

The three-dimensional crystal structure of Serratia marcescens endonuclease has been refined at 1.1 A resolution to an R factor of 12.9% and an R(free) of 15.6% with the use of anisotropic temperature factors. The model contains 3694 non-H atoms, 715 water molecules, four sulfate ions and two Mg(2+)-binding sites at the active sites of the homodimeric protein. It is shown that the magnesium ion linked to the active-site Asn119 of each monomer is surrounded by five water molecules and shows an octahedral coordination geometry. The temperature factors for the bound Mg(2+) ions in the A and B subunits are 7.08 and 4.60 A(2), respectively, and the average temperature factors for the surrounding water molecules are 12.13 and 10.3 A(2), respectively. In comparison with earlier structures, alternative side-chain conformations are defined for 51 residues of the dimer, including the essential active-site residue Arg57. A plausible mechanism of enzyme function is proposed based on the high-resolution S. marcescens nuclease structure, the functional characteristics of the natural and mutational forms of the enzyme and consideration of its structural analogy with homing endo-nuclease I-PpoI.

Structure of Escherichia coli glutamate decarboxylase (GADα) in complex with glutarate at 2.05 Å resolution

Glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) is a pyridoxal enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of L-glutamate into gamma-aminobutyric acid and carbon dioxide. The Escherichia coli enzyme exists as two isozymes, referred to as GADalpha and GADbeta. Crystals of the complex of the recombinant isozyme GADalpha with glutarate as a substrate analogue were grown in space group R3, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 117.1, c = 196.4 angstroms. The structure of the enzyme was solved by the molecular-replacement method and refined at 2.05 angstroms resolution to an R factor of 15.1% (R(free) = 19.9%). The asymmetric unit contains a dimer consisting of two subunits of the enzyme related by a noncrystallographic twofold axis which is perpendicular to and intersects a crystallographic threefold axis. The dimers are related by a crystallographic threefold axis to form a hexamer. The active site of each subunit is formed by residues of the large domains of both subunits of the dimer. The coenzyme pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) forms an aldimine bond with Lys276. The glutarate molecule bound in the active site of the enzyme adopts two conformations with equal occupancies. One of the two carboxy groups of the glutarate occupies the same position in both conformations and forms hydrogen bonds with the N atom of the main chain of Phe63 and the side chain of Thr62 of one subunit and the side chains of Asp86 and Asn83 of the adjacent subunit of the dimer. Apparently, it is in this position that the distal carboxy group of the substrate would be bound by the enzyme, thus providing recognition of glutamic acid by the enzyme.

Substrate specificity of Escherichia coli thymidine phosphorylase

Substrate specificity of Escherichia coli thymidine phosphorylase to thymidine derivatives modified at 5′-, 3′-, and 2′,3′-positions of the sugar moiety was studied. Equilibrium and kinetic constants (Km, KI, kcat) of the phosphorolysis reaction have been determined for 20 thymidine analogs. The results are compared with X-ray and molecular dynamics data. The most important hydrogen bonds in the enzyme-substrate complex are revealed.

Comparative structural and functional analysis of two octaheme nitrite reductases from closely related Thioalkalivibrio species

Octaheme nitrite reductase from the haloalkaliphilic bacterium Thioalkalivibrio paradoxus was isolated and characterized. A comparative structural and functional analysis of two homologous octaheme nitrite reductases from closely related Thioalkalivibrio species was performed. It was shown that both enzymes have similar catalytic properties, owing to high structural similarity. Both enzymes are characterized by specific structural features distinguishing them from pentaheme cytochrome c nitrite reductases, such as the Tyr‐Cys bond in the active site, the hexameric structure resulting in the formation of a void space inside the hexamer, and the product channel that opens into the void interior space of the hexamer. It is suggested that these specific structural features are responsible for the higher nitrite reductase activity, the greater preference for nitrite than for sulfite as a substrate, and the wider pH range of the catalytic activity of octaheme nitrite reductases than of pentaheme homologs.

Structures of the apo and holo forms of formate dehydrogenase from the bacterium Moraxella sp. C-1: towards understanding the mechanism of the closure of the interdomain cleft

NAD(+)-dependent formate dehydrogenase (FDH) catalyzes the oxidation of formate ion to carbon dioxide coupled with the reduction of NAD(+) to NADH. The crystal structures of the apo and holo forms of FDH from the methylotrophic bacterium Moraxella sp. C-1 (MorFDH) are reported at 1.96 and 1.95 A resolution, respectively. MorFDH is similar to the previously studied FDH from the bacterium Pseudomonas sp. 101 in overall structure, cofactor-binding mode and active-site architecture, but differs in that the eight-residue-longer C-terminal fragment is visible in the electron-density maps of MorFDH. MorFDH also differs in the organization of the dimer interface. The holo MorFDH structure supports the earlier hypothesis that the catalytic residue His332 can form a hydrogen bond to both the substrate and the transition state. Apo MorFDH has a closed conformation of the interdomain cleft, which is unique for an apo form of an NAD(+)-dependent dehydrogenase. A comparison of the structures of bacterial FDH in open and closed conformations allows the differentiation of the conformational changes associated with cofactor binding and domain motion and provides insights into the mechanism of the closure of the interdomain cleft in FDH. The C-terminal residues 374-399 and the substrate (formate ion) or inhibitor (azide ion) binding are shown to play an essential role in the transition from the open to the closed conformation.

Structure of a new crystal modification of the bacterial NAD-dependent formate dehydrogenase with a resolution of 2.1 Å

Formate dehydrogenase (FDG) from methylotrophic bacteria Pseudomonas sp. 101 catalyzes the reaction of oxidation of the formate ion to carbon dioxide, which is accompanied by the reduction of nicotinamid adenine dinucleotide (NAD+). The structures of the apo and holo (enzyme-NAD-azide triple complex) forms of the enzyme were determined earlier. In an attempt to prepare a complex of FDG with the product of the enzymatic reaction (NADH), a new crystal modification of FDG is obtained (space group P42212, a = b = 93.3 Å, c = 103.05 Å). The FDG structure is solved by the molecular replacement method and refined to R = 20.7%. The asymmetric part of the unit cell contains one FDG molecule. In contrast to the previously studied FDG structures, the biologically active dimer is formed by the crystallographic rotation axis. A comparative structural analysis of the studied form with the apo and holo forms of the enzyme is performed. The influence of the molecular structure on the environment in the crystal is investigated.

Determination of the nucleotide conformation in the productive enzyme-substrate complexes of RNA-depolymerases

© 1997 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.

Effect of the L499M mutation of the ascomycetous Botrytis aclada laccase on redox potential and catalytic properties.

The structures of the ascomycetous B. aclada laccase and its L499M T1-site mutant have been solved at 1.7 Å resolution. The mutant enzyme shows a 140 mV lower redox potential of the type 1 copper and altered kinetic behaviour. The wild type and the mutant have very similar structures, which makes it possible to relate the changes in the redox potential to the L499M mutation