Luis F. Garcia-Alles

The dihydroxyacetone kinase of Escherichia coli utilizes a phosphoprotein instead of ATP as phosphoryl donor

The dihydroxyacetone kinase (DhaK) of Escherichia coli consists of three soluble protein subunits. DhaK (YcgT; 39.5 kDa) and DhaL (YcgS; 22.6 kDa) are similar to the N‐ and C‐terminal halves of the ATP‐dependent DhaK ubiquitous in bacteria, animals and plants. The homodimeric DhaM (YcgC; 51.6 kDa) consists of three domains. The N‐terminal dimerization domain has the same fold as the IIA domain (PDB code 1PDO) of the mannose transporter of the bacterial phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system (PTS). The middle domain is similar to HPr and the C‐terminus is similar to the N‐terminal domain of enzyme I (EI) of the PTS. DhaM is phosphorylated three times by phosphoenolpyruvate in an EI‐ and HPr‐dependent reaction. DhaK and DhaL are not phosphorylated. The IIA domain of DhaM, instead of ATP, is the phosphoryl donor to dihydroxyacetone (Dha). Unlike the carbohydrate‐specific transporters of the PTS, DhaK, DhaL and DhaM have no transport activity.

Endogenous phosphatidylcholine and a long spacer ligand stabilize the lipid-binding groove of CD1b.

CD1 proteins present lipid antigens to T cells. The antigens are acquired in the endosomal compartments. This raises the question of how the large hydrophobic CD1 pockets are preserved between the moment of biosynthesis in the endoplasmic reticulum and arrival to the endosomes. To address this issue, the natural ligands associated with a soluble form of human CD1b have been investigated. Using isoelectric focusing, native mass spectrometry and resolving the crystal structure at 1.8 Å resolution, we found that human CD1b is simultaneously associated with endogenous phosphatidylcholine (PC) and a 41–44 carbon atoms‐long spacer molecule. The two lipids appear to work in concert to stabilize the CD1b groove, their combined size slightly exceeding the maximal groove capacity. We propose that the spacer serves to prevent binding of ligands with long lipid tails, whereas short‐chain lipids might still displace the PC, which is exposed at the groove entrance. The data presented herein explain how the CD1b groove is preserved, and provide a rationale for the in vivo antigen‐binding properties of CD1b.

Lipase-catalyzed transesterification in organic media: Solvent effects on equilibrium and individual rate constants

The kinetics of the immobilized lipase B from Candida antarctica have been studied in organic solvents. This enzyme has been shown to be slightly affected by the water content of the organic media, and it does not seem to be subject to mass transfer limitations. On the other hand, some evidence indicates that the catalytic mechanism of reactions catalyzed by this lipase proceeds through the acyl-enzyme intermediate. Moreover, despite the fact that the immobilization support dramatically enhances the catalytic power of the enzyme, it does not interfere with the intrinsic solvent effect. Consequently, this enzyme preparation becomes optimum for studying the role played by the organic solvent in catalysis. To this end, we have measured the acylation and deacylation individual rate constants, and the binding equilibrium constant for the ester, in several organic environments. Data obtained show that the major effect of the organic solvent is on substrate binding, and that the catalytic steps are almost unaffected by the solvent, indicating the desolvation of the transition state. However, the strong decrease in binding for hydrophilic solvents such as THF and dioxane, compared to the rest of solvents, cannot be easily explained by means of thermodynamic arguments (desolvation of the ester substrate). For this reason, data have been considered as an indication of the existence of an unknown step in the catalytic pathway occurring prior to formation of the acyl-enzyme intermediate.

Alcohol inhibition and specificity studies of lipase B from Candida antarctica in organic solvents

Alcohol inhibition of the lipase B from Candida antarctica has been studied through two different approaches: using the same inhibitor (1-butanol) in different organic solvents and using different inhibitors (differing in chain length) in the same solvent. The competitive inhibition constant values obtained in each case correlate with the calculated activity coefficients of the substrate, suggesting that desolvation of the alcohol is the major force changed. Data dispersion observed using the second approach has been interpreted to come from contributions of enzyme-inhibitor interactions to the binding energy. On the other hand, deacylation has been found to be much less influenced by the solvent variation than the acylation step, despite of the fact that solvation of the substrate involved in this step (the alcohol) is expected to change more than for the ester. Concerning the specificity behavior of the enzyme, a bimodal pattern was observed for the deacylation rate dependence on the alcohol chain length, with the highest values for hexanol (C6) and decanol (C10). With regard to the ester specificity, ethyl caproate (C6) is the preferred one. These results have been confronted with those reported for the lipase from Candida rugosa. Copyright 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Fatty Acyl Structures of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Sulfoglycolipid Govern T Cell Response

CD1b-restricted T lymphocytes recognize a large diversity of mycobacterial lipids, which differ in their hydrophilic heads and the structure of their acyl appendages. Both moieties participate in the antigenicity of lipid Ags, but the structural constraints governing binding to CD1b and generation of antigenic CD1b:lipid Ag complexes are still poorly understood. Here, we investigated the structural requirements conferring antigenicity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis sulfoglycolipid Ags using a combination of CD1b:lipid binding and T cell activation assays with both living dendritic cells and plate-bound recombinant soluble CD1b. Comparison of the antigenicity of a panel of synthetic analogs, sharing the same trehalose-sulfate polar head, but differing in the structure of their acyl tails, shows that the number of C-methyl substituents on the fatty acid, the configuration of the chiral centers, and the respective localization of the two different acyl chains on the sugar moiety govern TCR recognition and T lymphocyte activation. These studies have major implications for the design of sulfoglycolipid analogs with potential use as tuberculosis subunit vaccines.

Fine tuning by human CD1e of lipid-specific immune responses

CD1e is a member of the CD1 family that participates in lipid antigen presentation without interacting with the T-cell receptor. It binds lipids in lysosomes and facilitates processing of complex glycolipids, thus promoting editing of lipid antigens. We find that CD1e may positively or negatively affect lipid presentation by CD1b, CD1c, and CD1d. This effect is caused by the capacity of CD1e to facilitate rapid formation of CD1–lipid complexes, as shown for CD1d, and also to accelerate their turnover. Similar results were obtained with antigen-presenting cells from CD1e transgenic mice in which lipid complexes are assembled more efficiently and show faster turnover than in WT antigen-presenting cells. These effects maximize and temporally narrow CD1-restricted responses, as shown by reactivity to Sphingomonas paucimobilis-derived lipid antigens. CD1e is therefore an important modulator of both group 1 and group 2 CD1-restricted responses influencing the lipid antigen availability as well as the generation and persistence of CD1–lipid complexes.

Crystal structure of the Citrobacter freundii dihydroxyacetone kinase reveals an eight-stranded alpha-helical barrel ATP-binding domain.

Dihydroxyacetone kinases are a sequence-conserved family of enzymes, which utilize two different phosphoryldonors, ATP in animals, plants and some bacteria, and a multiphosphoprotein of the phosphoenolpyruvate carbohydrate phosphotransferase system in bacteria. Here we report the 2.5-Å crystal structure of the homodimeric Citrobacter freundii dihydroxyacetone kinase complex with an ATP analogue and dihydroxyacetone. The N-terminal domain consists of two α/β-folds with a molecule of dihydroxyacetone covalently bound in hemiaminal linkage to the Nϵ2 of His-220. The C-terminal domain consists of a regular eight-helix α-barrel. The eight helices form a deep pocket, which includes a tightly bound phospholipid. Only the lipid headgroup protrudes from the surface. The nucleotide is bound on the top of the barrel across from the entrance to the lipid pocket. The phosphate groups are coordinated by two Mg2+ ions to γ-carboxyl groups of aspartyl residues. The ATP binding site does not contain positively charged or aromatic groups. Paralogues of dihydroxyacetone kinase also occur in association with transcription regulators and proteins of unknown function pointing to biological roles beyond triose metabolism.

A mechanism of covalent substrate binding in the x-ray structure of subunit K of the Escherichia coli dihydroxyacetone kinase

Dihydroxyacetone (Dha) kinases are homologous proteins that use different phosphoryl donors, a multiphosphoryl protein of the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent carbohydrate:phosphotransferase system in bacteria, ATP in animals, plants, and some bacteria. The Dha kinase of Escherichia coli consists of three subunits, DhaK and DhaL, which are colinear to the ATP-dependent Dha kinases of eukaryotes, and the multiphosphoryl protein DhaM. Here we show the crystal structure of the DhaK subunit in complex with Dha at 1.75 Å resolution. DhaK is a homodimer with a fold consisting of two six-stranded mixed β-sheets surrounded by nine α-helices and a β-ribbon covering the exposed edge strand of one sheet. The core of the N-terminal domain has an α/β fold common to subunits of carbohydrate transporters and transcription regulators of the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent carbohydrate:phosphotransferase system. The core of the C-terminal domain has a fold similar to the C-terminal domain of the cell-division protein FtsZ. A molecule of Dha is covalently bound in hemiaminal linkage to the Nε2 of His-230. The hemiaminal does not participate in covalent catalysis but is the chemical basis for discrimination between short-chain carbonyl compounds and polyols. Paralogs of Dha kinases occur in association with transcription regulators of the TetR/QacR and the SorC families, pointing to their biological role as sensors in signaling.

Structural reorganization of the antigen-binding groove of human CD1b for presentation of mycobacterial sulfoglycolipids

The mechanisms permitting nonpolymorphic CD1 molecules to present lipid antigens that differ considerably in polar head and aliphatic tails remain elusive. It is also unclear why hydrophobic motifs in the aliphatic tails of some antigens, which presumably embed inside CD1 pockets, contribute to determinants for T-cell recognition. The 1.9-Å crystal structure of an active complex of CD1b and a mycobacterial diacylsulfoglycolipid presented here provides some clues. Upon antigen binding, endogenous spacers of CD1b, which consist of a mixture of diradylglycerols, moved considerably within the lipid-binding groove. Spacer displacement was accompanied by F’ pocket closure and an extensive rearrangement of residues exposed to T-cell receptors. Such structural reorganization resulted in reduction of the A’ pocket capacity and led to incomplete embedding of the methyl-ramified portion of the phthioceranoyl chain of the antigen, explaining why such hydrophobic motifs are critical for T-cell receptor recognition. Mutagenesis experiments supported the functional importance of the observed structural alterations for T-cell stimulation. Overall, our data delineate a complex molecular mechanism combining spacer repositioning and ligand-induced conformational changes that, together with pocket intricacy, endows CD1b with the required molecular plasticity to present a broad range of structurally diverse antigens.

Crystal structure of human CD1e reveals a groove suited for lipid-exchange processes

CD1e is the only human CD1 protein existing in soluble form in the late endosomes of dendritic cells, where it facilitates the processing of glycolipid antigens that are ultimately recognized by CD1b-restricted T cells. The precise function of CD1e remains undefined, thus impeding efforts to predict the participation of this protein in the presentation of other antigens. To gain insight into its function, we determined the crystal structure of recombinant CD1e expressed in human cells at 2.90-Å resolution. The structure revealed a groove less intricate than in other CD1 proteins, with a significantly wider portal characterized by a 2 Å-larger spacing between the α1 and α2 helices. No electron density corresponding to endogenous ligands was detected within the groove, despite the presence of ligands unequivocally established by native mass spectrometry in recombinant CD1e. Our structural data indicate that the water-exposed CD1e groove could ensure the establishment of loose contacts with lipids. In agreement with this possibility, lipid association and dissociation processes were found to be considerably faster with CD1e than with CD1b. Moreover, CD1e was found to mediate in vitro the transfer of lipids to CD1b and the displacement of lipids from stable CD1b–antigen complexes. Altogether, these data support that CD1e could have evolved to mediate lipid-exchange/editing processes with CD1b and point to a pathway whereby the repertoire of lipid antigens presented by human dendritic cells might be expanded.