Toru Nakatsu

Structural basis for the spectral difference in luciferase bioluminescence.

Fireflies communicate with each other by emitting yellow-green to yellow-orange brilliant light. The bioluminescence reaction, which uses luciferin, Mg-ATP and molecular oxygen to yield an electronically excited oxyluciferin species, is carried out by the enzyme luciferase. Visible light is emitted during relaxation of excited oxyluciferin to its ground state. The high quantum yield of the luciferin/luciferase reaction and the change in bioluminescence colour caused by subtle structural differences in luciferase have attracted much research interest. In fact, a single amino acid substitution in luciferase changes the emission colour from yellow-green to red. Although the crystal structure of luciferase from the North American firefly (Photinus pyralis) has been described, the detailed mechanism for the bioluminescence colour change is still unclear. Here we report the crystal structures of wild-type and red mutant (S286N) luciferases from the Japanese Genji-botaru (Luciola cruciata) in complex with a high-energy intermediate analogue, 5′-O-[N-(dehydroluciferyl)-sulfamoyl]adenosine (DLSA). Comparing these structures to those of the wild-type luciferase complexed with AMP plus oxyluciferin (products) reveals a significant conformational change in the wild-type enzyme but not in the red mutant. This conformational change involves movement of the hydrophobic side chain of Ile 288 towards the benzothiazole ring of DLSA. Our results indicate that the degree of molecular rigidity of the excited state of oxyluciferin, which is controlled by a transient movement of Ile 288, determines the colour of bioluminescence during the emission reaction.

Structural basis for gibberellin recognition by its receptor GID1.

Gibberellins (GAs) are phytohormones essential for many developmental processes in plants. A nuclear GA receptor, GIBBERELLIN INSENSITIVE DWARF1 (GID1), has a primary structure similar to that of the hormone-sensitive lipases (HSLs). Here we analyse the crystal structure of Oryza sativa GID1 (OsGID1) bound with GA4 and GA3 at 1.9 Å resolution. The overall structure of both complexes shows an α/β-hydrolase fold similar to that of HSLs except for an amino-terminal lid. The GA-binding pocket corresponds to the substrate-binding site of HSLs. On the basis of the OsGID1 structure, we mutagenized important residues for GA binding and examined their binding activities. Almost all of them showed very little or no activity, confirming that the residues revealed by structural analysis are important for GA binding. The replacement of Ile 133 with Leu or Val—residues corresponding to those of the lycophyte Selaginella moellendorffii GID1s—caused an increase in the binding affinity for GA34, a 2β-hydroxylated GA4. These observations indicate that GID1 originated from HSL and was further modified to have higher affinity and more strict selectivity for bioactive GAs by adapting the amino acids involved in GA binding in the course of plant evolution.

A direct repeat of E-box-like elements is required for cell-autonomous circadian rhythm of clock genes

BackgroundThe circadian expression of the mammalian clock genes is based on transcriptional feedback loops. Two basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) PAS (for Period-Arnt-Sim) domain-containing transcriptional activators, CLOCK and BMAL1, are known to regulate gene expression by interacting with a promoter element termed the E-box (CACGTG). The non-canonical E-boxes or E-box-like sequences have also been reported to be necessary for circadian oscillation.ResultsWe report a new cis-element required for cell-autonomous circadian transcription of clock genes. This new element consists of a canonical E-box or a non-canonical E-box and an E-box-like sequence in tandem with the latter with a short interval, 6 base pairs, between them. We demonstrate that both E-box or E-box-like sequences are needed to generate cell-autonomous oscillation. We also verify that the spacing nucleotides with constant length between these 2 E-elements are crucial for robust oscillation. Furthermore, by in silico analysis we conclude that several clock and clock-controlled genes possess a direct repeat of the E-box-like elements in their promoter region.ConclusionWe propose a novel possible mechanism regulated by double E-box-like elements, not to a single E-box, for circadian transcriptional oscillation. The direct repeat of the E-box-like elements identified in this study is the minimal required element for the generation of cell-autonomous transcriptional oscillation of clock and clock-controlled genes.

Crystal structure of the PsbP protein of photosystem II from Nicotiana tabacum

PsbP is a membrane‐extrinsic subunit of the water‐oxidizing complex photosystem II (PS II). The evolutionary origin of PsbP has long been a mystery because it specifically exists in higher plants and green algae but not in cyanobacteria. We report here the crystal structure of PsbP from Nicotiana tabacum at a resolution of 1.6 Å. Its structure is mainly composed of β‐sheet, and is not similar to any structures in cyanobacterial PS II. However, the electrostatic surface potential of PsbP is similar to that of cyanobacterial PsbV (cyt c550), which has a function similar to PsbP. A structural homology search with the DALI algorithm indicated that the folding of PsbP is very similar to that of Mog1p, a regulatory protein for the nuclear transport of Ran GTPase. The structure of PsbP provides insight into its novel function in GTP‐regulated metabolism in PS II.

Structural basis for gating mechanisms of a eukaryotic P-glycoprotein homolog.

Significance P-glycoprotein exports various hydrophobic chemicals in an ATP-dependent manner, determines their absorption and distribution in the body, and is involved in multidrug resistance (MDR) in tumors. Understanding the mechanism of the multidrug transport is important for designing drugs of good bioavailability and efficient cancer chemotherapy. We determined the high-resolution crystal structures of a eukaryotic P-glycoprotein homolog and revealed the detailed architecture of its transmembrane domains, which contain an exit gate for substrates that opens to the extracellular side and two entrance gates that open to the intramembranous region and the cytosolic side. We propose a motion of the transmembrane domains powered by the association of two nucleotide-binding domains on ATP binding that is different from other transporters. P-glycoprotein is an ATP-binding cassette multidrug transporter that actively transports chemically diverse substrates across the lipid bilayer. The precise molecular mechanism underlying transport is not fully understood. Here, we present crystal structures of a eukaryotic P-glycoprotein homolog, CmABCB1 from Cyanidioschyzon merolae, in two forms: unbound at 2.6-Å resolution and bound to a unique allosteric inhibitor at 2.4-Å resolution. The inhibitor clamps the transmembrane helices from the outside, fixing the CmABCB1 structure in an inward-open conformation similar to the unbound structure, confirming that an outward-opening motion is required for ATP hydrolysis cycle. These structures, along with site-directed mutagenesis and transporter activity measurements, reveal the detailed architecture of the transporter, including a gate that opens to extracellular side and two gates that open to intramembranous region and the cytosolic side. We propose that the motion of the nucleotide-binding domain drives those gating apparatuses via two short intracellular helices, IH1 and IH2, and two transmembrane helices, TM2 and TM5.

Crystal structure of a MARCKS peptide containing the calmodulin-binding domain in complex with Ca2+-calmodulin.

The calmodulin-binding domain of myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS), which interacts with various targets including calmodulin, actin and membrane lipids, has been suggested to function as a crosstalk point among several signal transduction pathways. We present here the crystal structure at 2 Å resolution of a peptide consisting of the MARCKS calmodulin (CaM)-binding domain in complex with Ca2+-CaM. The domain assumes a flexible conformation, and the hydrophobic pocket of the calmodulin N-lobe, which is a common CaM-binding site observed in previously resolved Ca2+-CaM–target peptide complexes, is not involved in the interaction. The present structure presents a novel target-recognition mode of calmodulin and provides insight into the structural basis of the flexible interaction module of MARCKS.

Crystal structure of the C-terminal clock-oscillator domain of the cyanobacterial KaiA protein

KaiA, KaiB and KaiC constitute the circadian clock machinery in cyanobacteria, and KaiA activates kaiBC expression whereas KaiC represses it. Here we show that KaiA is composed of three functional domains, the N-terminal amplitude-amplifier domain, the central period-adjuster domain and the C-terminal clock-oscillator domain. The C-terminal domain is responsible for dimer formation, binding to KaiC, enhancing KaiC phosphorylation and generating the circadian oscillations. The X-ray crystal structure at a resolution of 1.8 Å of the C-terminal clock-oscillator domain of KaiA from the thermophilic cyanobacterium Thermosynechococcus elongatus BP-1 shows that residue His270, located at the center of a KaiA dimer concavity, is essential to KaiA function. KaiA binding to KaiC probably occurs via the concave surface. On the basis of the structure, we predict the structural roles of the residues that affect circadian oscillations.

Crystal structure of a myristoylated CAP-23/NAP-22 N-terminal domain complexed with Ca2+/calmodulin

A variety of viral and signal transduction proteins are known to be myristoylated. Although the role of myristoylation in protein–lipid interaction is well established, the involvement of myristoylation in protein–protein interactions is less well understood. CAP‐23/NAP‐22 is a brain‐specific protein kinase C substrate protein that is involved in axon regeneration. Although the protein lacks any canonical calmodulin (CaM)‐binding domain, it binds CaM with high affinity. The binding of CAP‐23/NAP‐22 to CaM is myristoylation dependent and the N‐terminal myristoyl group is directly involved in the protein–protein interaction. Here we show the crystal structure of Ca2+‐CaM bound to a myristoylated peptide corresponding to the N‐terminal domain of CAP‐23/NAP‐22. The myristoyl moiety of the peptide goes through a hydrophobic tunnel created by the hydrophobic pockets in the N‐ and C‐terminal domains of CaM. In addition to the myristoyl group, several amino‐acid residues in the peptide are important for CaM binding. This is a novel mode of binding and is very different from the mechanism of binding in other CaM–target complexes.

Mechanism of efficient firefly bioluminescence via adiabatic transition state and seam of sloped conical intersection.

Firefly emission is a well-known efficient bioluminescence. However, the mystery of the efficient thermal generation of electronic excited states in firefly still remains unsolved, particularly at the atomic and molecular levels. We performed SA-CASSCF(12,12)/6-31G* and CASPT2(12,12)/6-31G*//SA-CASSCF(12,12)/6-31G* calculations to elucidate the reaction mechanism of bioluminescence from the firefly dioxetanone in the gas phase. Adiabatic transition state (TS) for the O-O bond cleavage and the minimum energy conical intersection (MECI) were located and characterized. The unique topology of MECI featuring a seam of a sloped conical intersection for the firefly dioxetanone, which was uncovered for the first time, emerges along the reaction pathway to provide a widely extended channel to diabatically access the excited-state from the ground state.

Structural basis for docking of peroxisomal membrane protein carrier Pex19p onto its receptor Pex3p

Peroxisomes require peroxin (Pex) proteins for their biogenesis. The interaction between Pex3p, which resides on the peroxisomal membrane, and Pex19p, which resides in the cytosol, is crucial for peroxisome formation and the post‐translational targeting of peroxisomal membrane proteins (PMPs). It is not known how Pex3p promotes the specific interaction with Pex19p for the purpose of PMP translocation. Here, we present the three‐dimensional structure of the complex between a cytosolic domain of Pex3p and the binding‐region peptide of Pex19p. The overall shape of Pex3p is a prolate spheroid with a novel fold, the ‘twisted six‐helix bundle.’ The Pex19p‐binding site is at an apex of the Pex3p spheroid. A 16‐residue region of the Pex19p peptide forms an α‐helix and makes a contact with Pex3p; this helix is disordered in the unbound state. The Pex19p peptide contains a characteristic motif, consisting of the leucine triad (Leu18, Leu21, Leu22), and Phe29, which are critical for the Pex3p binding and peroxisome biogenesis.