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The spliceosomal protein SF3b49, a component of the splicing factor 3b (SF3b) protein complex in the U2 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein, contains two RNA recognition motif (RRM) domains. In yeast, the first RRM domain (RRM1) of Hsh49 protein (yeast orthologue of human SF3b49) reportedly interacts with another component, Cus1 protein (orthologue of human SF3b145). Here, we solved the solution structure of the RRM1 of human SF3b49 and examined its mode of interaction with a fragment of human SF3b145 using NMR methods. Chemical shift mapping showed that the SF3b145 fragment spanning residues 598-631 interacts with SF3b49 RRM1, which adopts a canonical RRM fold with a topology of β1-α1-β2-β3-α2-β4. Furthermore, a docking model based on NOESY measurements suggests that residues 607-616 of the SF3b145 fragment adopt a helical structure that binds to RRM1 predominantly via α1, consequently exhibiting a helix-helix interaction in almost antiparallel. This mode of interaction was confirmed by a mutational analysis using GST pull-down assays. Comparison with structures of all RRM domains when complexed with a peptide found that this helix-helix interaction is unique to SF3b49 RRM1. Additionally, all amino acid residues involved in the interaction are well conserved among eukaryotes, suggesting evolutionary conservation of this interaction mode between SF3b49 RRM1 and SF3b145. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaphase-promoting complex or cyclosome (APC/C) is a multisubunit ubiquitin ligase E3 that targets cell-cycle regulators. Cdc20 is required for full activation of APC/C in M phase, and mediates substrate recognition. In vertebrates, Emi2/Erp1/FBXO43 inhibits APC/C-Cdc20, and functions as a cytostatic factor that causes long-term M phase arrest of mature oocytes. In this study, we found that a fragment corresponding to the zinc-binding region (ZBR) domain of Emi2 inhibits cell-cycle progression, and impairs the association of Cdc20 with the APC/C core complex in HEK293T cells. Furthermore, we revealed that the ZBR fragment of Emi2 inhibits in vitro ubiquitin chain elongation catalyzed by the APC/C cullin-RING ligase module, the ANAPC2–ANAPC11 subcomplex, in combination with the ubiquitin chain-initiating E2, E2C/UBE2C/UbcH10. Structural analyses revealed that the Emi2 ZBR domain uses different faces for the two mechanisms. Thus, the double-faced ZBR domain of Emi2 antagonizes the APC/C function by inhibiting both the binding with the coactivator Cdc20 and ubiquitylation mediated by the cullin-RING ligase module and E2C. In addition, the tail region between the ZBR domain and the C-terminal RL residues [the post-ZBR (PZ) region] interacts with the cullin subunit, ANAPC2. In the case of the ZBR fragment of the somatic paralogue of Emi2, Emi1/FBXO5, these inhibitory activities against cell division and ubiquitylation were not observed. Finally, we identified two sets of key residues in the Emi2 ZBR domain that selectively exert each of the dual Emi2-specific modes of APC/C inhibition, by their mutation in the Emi2 ZBR domain and their transplantation into the Emi1 ZBR domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In thermophilic bacteria, specific 2-thiolation occurs on the conserved ribothymidine at position 54 (T54) in tRNAs, which is necessary for survival at high temperatures. T54 2-thiolation is achieved by the tRNA thiouridine synthetase TtuA and sulfur-carrier proteins. TtuA has five conserved CXXC/H motifs and the signature PP motif, and belongs to the TtcA family of tRNA 2-thiolation enzymes, for which there is currently no structural information. In this study, we determined the crystal structure of a TtuA homolog from the hyperthermophilic archeon Pyrococcus horikoshii at 2.1 Å resolution. The P. horikoshii TtuA forms a homodimer, and each subunit contains a catalytic domain and unique N- and C-terminal zinc fingers. The catalytic domain has much higher structural similarity to that of another tRNA modification enzyme, TilS (tRNAIle2 lysidine synthetase), than to the other type of tRNA 2-thiolation enzyme, MnmA. Three conserved cysteine residues are clustered in the putative catalytic site, which is not present in TilS. An in vivo mutational analysis in the bacterium Thermus thermophilus demonstrated that the three conserved cysteine residues and the putative ATP-binding residues in the catalytic domain are important for the TtuA activity. A positively charged surface that includes the catalytic site and the two zinc fingers is likely to provide the tRNA-binding site. Proteins 2013; 81:1232-1244. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Like many other RNA viruses, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus ( SARS- Co V) produces polyproteins containing several non-structural proteins, which are then processed by the viral proteases. These proteases often exist within the polyproteins, and are excised by their own proteolytic activity ('autoprocessing'). It is important to investigate the autoprocessing mechanism of these proteases from the point of view of anti- SARS- Co V drug design. In this paper, we describe a new method for investigating the autoprocessing mechanism of the main protease ( Mpro), which is also called the 3 C-like protease (3 CLpro). Using our method, we measured the activities, under the same conditions, of the mature form and pro-forms with the N-terminal pro-sequence, the C-terminal pro-sequence or both pro-sequences, toward the pro-form with both N- and C-terminal pro-sequences. The data indicate that the pro-forms of the enzyme have proteolytic activity, and are stimulated by the same proteolytic activity. The stimulation occurs in two steps, with approximately eightfold stimulation by N-terminal cleavage, approximately fourfold stimulation by C-terminal cleavage, and 23-fold stimulation by the cleavage of both termini, compared to the pro-form with both the N- and C-terminal pro-sequences. Such cleavage mainly occurs in a trans manner; i.e. the pro-form dimer cleaves the monomeric form. The stimulation by N-terminal pro-sequence removal is due to the cis (intra-dimer and inter-protomer) effect of formation of the new N-terminus, whereas that by C-terminal cleavage is due to removal of its trans (inter-dimer) inhibitory effect. A numerical simulation of the maturation pathway is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The WWE domain is often identified in proteins associated with ubiquitination or poly-ADP-ribosylation. Structural information about WWE domains has been obtained for the ubiquitination-related proteins, such as Deltex and RNF146, but not yet for the poly-ADP-ribose polymerases (PARPs). Here we determined the solution structures of the WWE domains from PARP11 and PARP14, and compared them with that of the RNF146 WWE domain. NMR perturbation experiments revealed the specific differences in their ADP-ribose recognition modes that correlated with their individual biological activities. The present structural information sheds light on the ADP-ribose recognition modes by the PARP WWE domains. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Adenylosuccinate synthetase (AdSS) is a ubiquitous enzyme that catalyzes the first committed step in the conversion of inosine monophosphate (IMP) to adenosine monophosphate (AMP) in the purine-biosynthetic pathway. Although AdSS from the vast majority of organisms is 430-457 amino acids in length, AdSS sequences isolated from thermophilic archaea are 90-120 amino acids shorter. In this study, crystallographic studies of a short AdSS sequence from Pyrococcus horikoshii OT3 (PhAdSS) were performed in order to reveal the unusual structure of AdSS from thermophilic archaea. Crystals of PhAdSS were obtained by the microbatch-under-oil method and X-ray diffraction data were collected to 2.50 Å resolution. The crystal belonged to the trigonal space group P3212, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 57.2, c = 107.9 Å. There was one molecule per asymmetric unit, giving a Matthews coefficient of 2.17 Å3 Da−1 and an approximate solvent content of 43%. In contrast, the results of native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and analytical ultracentrifugation showed that the recombinant PhAdSS formed a dimer in solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the inhibitor-bound structures of human pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4). The study involved the determination of the crystal structures of human PDK4 that is complexed with either AMPPNP, ADP or the inhibitor M77976. Based from the result of the biochemical analyses, it has been found out that with increased potency, PDK4 is inhibited by M77976 compared with the previous characterized PDK inhibitor radicicol.

The hypermodified nucleoside N-threonylcarbamoyladenosine resides at position 37 of tRNA molecules bearing U at position 36 and maintains translational fidelity in the three kingdoms of life. The N-threonylcarbamoyl moiety is composed of -threonine and bicarbonate, and its synthesis was genetically shown to require YrdC/Sua5. YrdC/Sua5 binds to tRNA and ATP. In this study, we analyzed the -threonine-binding mode of Sua5 from the archaeon Sulfolobus tokodaii. Isothermal titration calorimetry measurements revealed that S. tokodaii Sua5 binds -threonine more strongly than -serine and glycine. The Kd values of Sua5 for -threonine and -serine are 9.3 μ M and 2.6 m M, respectively. We determined the crystal structure of S. tokodaii Sua5, complexed with AMPPNP and -threonine, at 1.8 Å resolution. The -threonine is bound next to AMPPNP in the same pocket of the N-terminal domain. Thr118 and two water molecules form hydrogen bonds with AMPPNP in a unique manner for adenine-specific recognition. The carboxyl group and the side-chain hydroxyl and methyl groups of -threonine are buried deep in the pocket, whereas the amino group faces AMPPNP. The -threonine is located in a suitable position to react together with ATP for the synthesis of N-threonylcarbamoyladenosine. Proteins 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study on the structural basis for compound C inhibition of the human AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) α2 subunit kinase domain. AMPK is described as a serine/threonine kinase functioning as a sensor to maintain energy balance at the cellular and whole-body levels. The authors say that AMPK is a potential target for drug design against metabolic syndrome, obesity and type 2 diabetes.

The TAR RNA-binding Protein (TRBP) is a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-binding protein, which binds to Dicer and is required for the RNA interference pathway. TRBP consists of three dsRNA-binding domains (dsRBDs). The first and second dsRBDs (dsRBD1 and dsRBD2, respectively) have affinities for dsRNA, whereas the third dsRBD (dsRBD3) binds to Dicer. In this study, we prepared the single domain fragments of human TRBP corresponding to dsRBD1 and dsRBD2 and solved the crystal structure of dsRBD1 and the solution structure of dsRBD2. The two structures contain an α−β−β−β−α fold, which is common to the dsRBDs. The overall structures of dsRBD1 and dsRBD2 are similar to each other, except for a slight shift of the first α helix. The residues involved in dsRNA binding are conserved. We examined the small interfering RNA (siRNA)-binding properties of these dsRBDs by isothermal titration colorimetry measurements. The dsRBD1 and dsRBD2 fragments both bound to siRNA, with dissociation constants of 220 and 113 n M, respectively. In contrast, the full-length TRBP and its fragment with dsRBD1 and dsRBD2 exhibited much smaller dissociation constants (0.24 and 0.25 n M, respectively), indicating that the tandem dsRBDs bind simultaneously to one siRNA molecule. On the other hand, the loop between the first α helix and the first β strand of dsRBD2, but not dsRBD1, has a Trp residue, which forms hydrophobic and cation-π interactions with the surrounding residues. A circular dichroism analysis revealed that the thermal stability of dsRBD2 is higher than that of dsRBD1 and depends on the Trp residue. | PDB Code(s): , [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The extended Fes-CIP4 homology (EFC)/FCH-BAR (F-BAR) domain tubulates membranes. Overexpression of the pacsin2 EFC/F-BAR domain resulted in tubular localization inside cells and deformed liposomes into tubules in vitro. We found that overexpression of the pacsin2 EFC/F-BAR domain induced cellular microspikes, with the pacsin2 EFC/F-BAR domain concentrated at the neck. The hydrophobic loops and the basic amino-acid residues on the concave surface of the pacsin2 EFC/F-BAR domain are essential for both the microspike formation and tubulation. Since the curvature of the neck of the microspike and that of the tubulation share similar geometry, the pacsin2 EFC/F-BAR domain is considered to facilitate both microspike formation and tubulation. Structured summary: MINT-7710892: EFCS pacsin2 (uniprotkb:Q9UNF0) and EFCS pacsin2 (uniprotkb:Q9UNF0) bind (MI:0407) by X-ray crystallography (MI:0114) [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

TTHA1846 is a conserved hypothetical protein from Thermus thermophilus HB8 with a molecular mass of 15.1 kDa that belongs to the thioesterase superfamily (Pfam 03061). Here, the 1.9 Å resolution crystal structure of TTHA1846 from T. thermophilus is reported. The crystal structure is a dimer of dimers. Each subunit adopts the so-called hot-dog fold composed of five antiparallel β-strands flanked on one side by a rather long α-helix and shares structural similarity to a number of thioesterases. Unexpectedly, TTHA1846 binds one metal ion and one ligand per subunit. The ligand density was modelled as coenzyme A (CoA). Its structure was confirmed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and electron-density mapping. X-ray absorption fine-structure (XAFS) measurement of the crystal unambiguously characterized the metal ion as zinc. The zinc ion is tetrahedrally coordinated by the side chains of Asp18, His22 and Glu50 and the CoA thiol group. This is the first structural report of the interaction of CoA with a zinc ion. From structural and database analyses, it was speculated that the zinc ion may play an inhibitory role in the enzymatic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The muscleblind-like (MBNL) proteins 1, 2, and 3, which contain four CCCH zinc finger motifs (ZF1-4), are involved in the differentiation of muscle inclusion by controlling the splicing patterns of several pre-mRNAs. Especially, MBNL1 plays a crucial role in myotonic dystrophy. The CCCH zinc finger is a sequence motif found in many RNA binding proteins and is suggested to play an important role in the recognition of RNA molecules. Here, we solved the solution structures of both tandem zinc finger (TZF) motifs, TZF12 (comprising ZF1 and ZF2) and TZF34 (ZF3 and ZF4), in MBNL2 from Homo sapiens. In TZF12 of MBNL2, ZF1 and ZF2 adopt a similar fold, as reported previously for the CCCH-type zinc fingers in the TIS11d protein. The linker between ZF1 and ZF2 in MBNL2 forms an antiparallel β-sheet with the N-terminal extension of ZF1. Furthermore, ZF1 and ZF2 in MBNL2 interact with each other through hydrophobic interactions. Consequently, TZF12 forms a single, compact global fold, where ZF1 and ZF2 are approximately symmetrical about the C2 axis. The structure of the second tandem zinc finger (TZF34) in MBNL2 is similar to that of TZF12. This novel three-dimensional structure of the TZF domains in MBNL2 provides a basis for functional studies of the CCCH-type zinc finger motifs in the MBNL protein family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Receptor activity-modifying protein (RAMP) 1 forms a heterodimer with calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CRLR) and regulates its transport to the cell surface. The CRLR·RAMP1 heterodimer functions as a specific receptor for calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Here, we report the crystal structure of the human RAMP1 extracellular domain. The RAMP1 structure is a three-helix bundle that is stabilized by three disulfide bonds. The RAMP1 residues important for cell-surface expression of the CRLR·RAMP1 heterodimer are clustered to form a hydrophobic patch on the molecular surface. The hydrophobic patch is located near the tryptophan residue essential for binding of the CGRP antagonist, BIBN4096BS. These results suggest that the hydrophobic patch participates in the interaction with CRLR and the formation of the ligand-binding pocket when it forms the CRLR·RAMP1 heterodimer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The second WW domain in mammalian Salvador protein (SAV1 WW2) is quite atypical, as it forms a β-clam-like homodimer. The second WW domain in human MAGI1 (membrane associated guanylate kinase, WW and PDZ domain containing 1) (MAGI1 WW2) shares high sequence similarity with SAV1 WW2, suggesting comparable dimerization. However, an analytical ultracentrifugation study revealed that MAGI1 WW2 (Leu355-Pro390) chiefly exists as a monomer at low protein concentrations, with an association constant of 1.3 × 102 M−1. We determined its solution structure, and a structural comparison with the dimeric SAV1 WW2 suggested that an Asp residue is crucial for the inhibition of the dimerization. The substitution of this acidic residue with Ser resulted in the dimerization of MAGI1 WW2. The spin-relaxation data suggested that the MAGI1 WW2 undergoes a dynamic process of transient dimerization that is limited by the charge repulsion. Additionally, we characterized a longer construct of this WW domain with a C-terminal extension (Leu355-Glu401), as the formation of an extra α-helix was predicted. An NMR structural determination confirmed the formation of an α-helix in the extended C-terminal region, which appears to be independent from the dimerization regulation. A thermal denaturation study revealed that the dimerized MAGI1 WW2 with the Asp-to-Ser mutation gained apparent stability in a protein concentration-dependent manner. A structural comparison between the two constructs with different lengths suggested that the formation of the C-terminal α-helix stabilized the global fold by facilitating contacts between the N-terminal linker region and the main body of the WW domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Familial oncocytic thyroid carcinoma is associated with a missense mutation, P308Q, in the C-terminal domain of Tim44. Tim44 is the mitochondrial inner-membrane translocase subunit and it functions as a membrane anchor for the mitochondrial heat-shock protein 70 (mtHsp70). Here, the crystal structure of the human Tim44 C-terminal domain complexed with pentaethylene glycol has been determined at 1.9 Å resolution. The overall structure resembles that of the nuclear transport factor 2-like domain. In the crystal structure, pentaethylene glycol molecules are associated at two potential membrane-binding sites: the large hydrophobic cavity and the highly conserved loop between the α1 and α2 helices near Pro308. A comparison with the yeast homolog revealed that lipid binding induces conformational changes around the α1–α2 loop, leading to slippage of the α1 helix along the large β-sheet. These changes may play important roles in the translocation of polypeptides across the mitochondrial inner membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The zinc finger HIT domain is a sequence motif found in many proteins, including thyroid hormone receptor interacting protein 3 (TRIP-3), which is possibly involved in maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY). Novel zinc finger motifs are suggested to play important roles in gene regulation and chromatin remodeling. Here, we determined the high-resolution solution structure of the zinc finger HIT domain in ZNHIT2 (protein FON) from Homo sapiens, by an NMR method based on 567 upper distance limits derived from NOE intensities measured in three-dimensional NOESY spectra. The structure yielded a backbone RMSD to the mean coordinates of 0.19 Å for the structured residues 12-48. The fold consists of two consecutive antiparallel β-sheets and two short C-terminal helices packed against the second β-sheet, and binds two zinc ions. Both zinc ions are coordinated tetrahedrally via a CCCC-CCHC motif to the ligand residues of the zf-HIT domain in an interleaved manner. The tertiary structure of the zinc finger HIT domain closely resembles the folds of the B-box, RING finger, and PHD domains with a cross-brace zinc coordination mode, but is distinct from them. The unique three-dimensional structure of the zinc finger HIT domain revealed a novel zinc-binding fold, as a new member of the treble clef domain family. On the basis of the structural data, we discuss the possible functional roles of the zinc finger HIT domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The general transcription factor TFII-I, with the corresponding gene name GTF2I, is an unusual transcriptional regulator that associates with both basal and signal-induced transcription factors. TFII-I consists of six GTF2I repeat domains, called I-repeats R1-R6. The structure and function of the GTF2I domain are not clearly understood, even though it contains a helix-loop-helix motif, which is considered to be the protein-protein interaction area, based on biochemical analyses. Here, we report the solution structure of the fifth repeat of the six GTF2I repeat domains from murine TFII-I, which was determined by heteronuclear multidimensional NMR spectroscopy (PDB code 1Q60). The three-dimensional structure of the GTF2I domain is classified as a new fold, consisting of four helices (residues 8-24, 34-39, 63-71, and 83-91), two antiparallel beta strands (residues 44-47 and 77-80), and a well-defined loop containing two β-turns between sheet 1 and helix 3. All of the repeats probably have similar folds to that of repeat 5, because the conserved residues in the GTF2I repeat domains are assembled on the hydrophobic core, turns, and secondary structure elements, as revealed by a comparison of the sequences of the first through the sixth GTF2I repeats in TFII-I. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glyoxylate reductase catalyzes the NAD(P)H-linked reduction of glyoxylate to glycolate. Here, the 1.7 Å crystal structure of glyoxylate reductase from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus horikoshii OT3 complexed with nico­tinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate [NADP(H)] determined by the single-wavelength anomalous dispersion (SAD) method is reported. The monomeric structure comprises the two domains typical of NAD(P)-dependent dehydrogenases: the substrate-binding domain (SBD) and the nucleotide-binding domain (NBD). The crystal structure and analytical ultracentrifugation results revealed dimer formation. In the NADP(H)-binding site, the pyrophosphate moiety and the 2′-­phosphoadenosine moiety are recognized by the glycine-rich loop (residues 157–162) and by loop residues 180–182, respectively. Furthermore, the present study revealed that P. horikoshii glyoxylate reductase contains aromatic clusters and has a larger number of ion pairs and a lower percentage of hydrophobic accessible surface area than its mesophilic homologues, suggesting its thermostability mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transcription termination factor NusA from Aeropyrum pernix was crystallized using a counter-diffusion technique in both terrestrial and microgravity environments. Crystallization under microgravity conditions significantly reduced the twinning content (1.0%) compared with terrestrially grown crystals (18.3%) and improved the maximum resolution from 3.0 to 2.29 Å, with similar unit-cell parameters. Based on a comparison of the crystal parameters, the effect of microgravity on protein crystallization is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

UNC5Hs (UNC5H1–4) are netrin 1 receptors that are involved in axonal guidance and neuronal migration. They are dependence receptors that mediate apoptosis in the absence of netrin 1. UNC5H2-induced apoptosis depends on the interaction of the death domain at the C-terminus with the DAP-kinase death domain and caspase cleavage near the transmembrane region. Here, the crystal structure of the mouse UNC5H2 death domain has been determined at 2.1 Å resolution. The domain adopts a six-helix bundle fold, which is similar to those of the other members of the death-domain superfamily. The UNC5H2 death domain is a dimer in the crystal and in solution. This homodimerized structure may represent the structure of the death domain when netrin 1 binds to the UNC5H2 receptor. Homodimerization of UNC5H2 may block the access of caspase to the cleavage site. In the death-domain dimer, residues in α3 and the 310-­helix preceding α3 and the residues in α4 make significant contacts, mainly by hydrophobic and van der Waals interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microtubule-associated protein/microtubule affinity-regulating kinases (MARKs)/PAR-1 are common regulators of cell polarity that are conserved from nematode to human. All of these kinases have a highly conserved C-terminal domain, which is termed the kinase-associated domain 1 (KA1), although its function is unknown. In this study, we determined the solution structure of the KA1 domain of mouse MARK3 by NMR spectroscopy. We found that ∼50 additional residues preceding the previously defined KA1 domain are required for its proper folding. The newly defined KA1 domain adopts a compact α+β structure with a βαββββα topology. We also found a characteristic hydrophobic, concave surface surrounded by positively charged residues. This concave surface includes the highly conserved Glu-Leu-Lys-Leu motif at the C terminus, indicating that it is important for the function of the KA1 domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TTHA0727 is a conserved hypothetical protein from Thermus thermophilus HB8, with a molecular mass of 12.6 kDa. TTHA0727 belongs to the carboxymuconolactone decarboxylase (CMD) family (Pfam 02627). A sequence comparison with its homologs suggested that TTHA0727 is a distinct protein from alkylhydroperoxidase AhpD and γ-carboxymuconolactone decarboxylase in the CMD family. Here we report the 1.9 Å crystal structure of TTHA0727 (PDB ID: 2CWQ) determined by the multiwavelength anomalous dispersion method. The TTHA0727 monomer structure consists of seven α-helices (α1-α7) and one short 310-helix. The crystal structure and the analytical ultracentrifugation revealed that TTHA0727 forms a hexameric ring structure in solution. The electrostatic potential distribution on the solvent-accessible surface of the TTHA0727 hexamer showed that positively charged regions exist on the side of the ring structure, suggesting that TTHA0727 interacts with some negatively charged molecules. A structural homology search revealed that the structure of three α-helices (α4-α6) is remarkably conserved, suggesting that it is the common structural motif for the CMD family proteins. In addition, the nine residues of the N-terminal tag bound to the cleft region between α1 and α3 in chains A and B of TTHA0727, implying that this region is the putative binding/active site for some small molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure of the C-terminal antifreeze-like (AFL) domain of human sialic acid synthase was determined by NMR spectroscopy. The structure comprises one α- and two single-turn 310-helices and two β-strands, and is similar to those of the type III antifreeze proteins. Evolutionary trace analyses of the type III antifreeze protein family suggested that the class-specific residues in the human and bacterial AFL domains are important for their substrate binding, while the class-specific residues of the fish antifreeze proteins are gathered on the ice-binding surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: SQUAMOSA promoter-binding proteins (SBPs) form a major family of plant-specific transcription factors, mainly related to flower development. SBPs share a highly conserved DNA-binding domain of ∼80 amino acids (SBP domain), which contains two non-interleaved zinc-binding sites formed by eight conserved Cys or His residues. In the present study, an Arabidopsis SPL12 SBP-domain fragment that lacks a Cys residue involved in the C-terminal zinc-binding pocket was found to retain a folded structure, even though only a single Zn2+ ion binds to the fragment. Solution structure of this fragment determined by NMR is very similar to the previously determined structures of the full SBP domains of Arabidopsis SPL4 and SPL7. Considering the previous observations that chelating all the Zn2+ ions of SBPs resulted in the complete unfolding of the structure and that a mutation of the Cys residue equivalent to that described above impaired the DNA-binding activity, we propose that the Zn2+ ion at the N-terminal site is necessary to maintain the overall tertiary structure, while the Zn2+ ion at the C-terminal site is necessary for the DNA binding, mainly by guiding the basic C-terminal loop to correctly fit into the DNA groove. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The enhancer of rudimentary gene, e(r), of Drosophila melanogaster encodes an enhancer of rudimentary (ER) protein with functions implicated in pyrimidine biosynthesis and the cell cycle. The ER homolog (ERH) is highly conserved among vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants. Xenopus laevis ERH was reported to be a transcriptional repressor. Here we report the 2.1 Å crystal structure of murine ERH (Protein Data Bank ID 1WZ7), determined by the multiwavelength anomalous dispersion (MAD) method. The monomeric structure of ERH comprises a single domain consisting of three α-helices and four β-strands, which is a novel fold. In the crystal structure, ERH assumes a dimeric structure, through interactions between the β-sheet regions. The formation of an ERH dimer is consistent with the results of analytical ultracentrifugation. The residues at the core region and at the dimer interface are highly conserved, suggesting the conservation of the dimer formation as well as the monomer fold. The long flexible loop (44∼53) is also significantly conserved, suggesting that this loop region may be important for the functions of ERH. In addition, the putative phosphorylation sites are located at the start of the β2-strand (Thr18) and at the start of the α1-helix (Ser24), implying that the phosphorylation might cause some structural changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The isoprenoid quinones exist widely among prokaryotes and eukaryotes. They play essential roles in respiratory electron transport and in controlling oxidative stress and gene regulation. In the isoprenoid quinone biosynthetic pathway, polyprenyl pyrophosphates are used as isoprenoid side-chain precursors. Here we report the crystal structure of a novel polyprenyl pyrophosphate binding protein, TT1927b, from Thermus thermophilus HB8, complexed with its ligand. This protein belongs to the YceI-like family in the Pfam database, and its sequence homologs are present in a broad range of bacteria and archaea. The structure consists of an extended, eight-stranded, antiparallel β-barrel. In the hydrophobic pore of the barrel, the protein binds the polyisoprenoid chain by hydrophobic interactions. Its overall structure resembles the lipocalin fold, but there is no sequence homology between TT1927b and the lipocalin family of proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the many PWWP-containing proteins, the largest group of homologous proteins is related to hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF). Within a well-conserved region at the extreme N-terminus, HDGF and five HDGF-related proteins (HRPs) always have a PWWP domain, which is a module found in many chromatin-associated proteins. In this study, we determined the solution structure of the PWWP domain of HDGF-related protein-3 (HRP-3) by NMR spectroscopy. The structure consists of a five-stranded β-barrel with a PWWP-specific long loop connecting β2 and β3 (PR-loop), followed by a helical region including two α-helices. Its structure was found to have a characteristic solvent-exposed hydrophobic cavity, which is composed of an abundance of aromatic residues in the β1/β2 loop (β-β arch) and the β3/β4 loop. A similar ligand binding cavity occurs at the corresponding position in the Tudor, chromo, and MBT domains, which have structural and probable evolutionary relationships with PWWP domains. These findings suggest that the PWWP domains of the HDGF family bind to some component of chromatin via the cavity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TT1426, from Thermus thermophilus HB8, is a conserved hypothetical protein with a predicted phosphoribosyltransferase (PRTase) domain, as revealed by a Pfam database search. The 2.01 Å crystal structure of TT1426 has been determined by the multiwavelength anomalous dispersion (MAD) method. TT1426 comprises a core domain consisting of a central five-stranded β sheet surrounded by four α-helices, and a subdomain in the C terminus. The core domain structure resembles those of the type I PRTase family proteins, although a significant structural difference exists in an inserted 43-residue region. The C-terminal subdomain corresponds to the 'hood,' which contains a substrate-binding site in the type I PRTases. The hood structure of TT1426 differs from those of the other type I PRTases, suggesting the possibility that TT1426 binds an unknown substrate. The structure-based sequence alignment provides clues about the amino acid residues involved in catalysis and substrate binding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crystal structure of APE2540, the putative trans-editing enzyme ProX from Aeropyrum pernix K1, was determined in a high-throughput manner. The crystal belongs to the monoclinic space group P21, with unit-cell parameters a = 47.4, b = 58.9, c = 53.6 Å, β= 106.8°. The structure was solved by the multiwavelength anomalous dispersion method at 1.7 Å and refined to an R factor of 16.8% (Rfree = 20.5%). The crystal structure includes two protein molecules in the asymmetric unit. Each monomer consists of eight β-strands and seven α-helices. A structure-homology search revealed similarity between the trans-editing enzyme YbaK (or cysteinyl-tRNAPro deacylase) from Haemophilus influenzae (HI1434; 22% sequence identity) and putative ProX proteins from Caulobacter crescentus (16%) and Agrobacterium tumefaciens (21%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The three-dimensional structure of the rhodanese homology domain At4g01050(175-195) from Arabidopsis thaliana has been determined by solution nuclear magnetic resonance methods based on 3043 upper distance limits derived from NOE intensities measured in three-dimensional NOESY spectra. The structure shows a backbone root mean square deviation to the mean coordinates of 0.43 Å for the structured residues 7-125. The fold consists of a central parallel β-sheet with five strands in the order 1-5-4-2-3 and arranged in the conventional counterclockwise twist, and helices packing against each side of the β-sheet. Comparison with the sequences of other proteins with a rhodanese homology domain in Arabidopsis thaliana indicated residues that could play an important role in the scaffold of the rhodanese homology domain. Finally, a three-dimensional structure comparison of the present noncatalytic rhodanese homology domain with the noncatalytic rhodanese domains of sulfurtransferases from other organisms discloses differences in the length and conformation of loops that could throw light on the role of the noncatalytic rhodanese domain in sulfurtransferases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TT1887 and TT1465 from Thermus thermophilus HB8 are conserved hypothetical proteins, and are annotated as possible lysine decarboxylases in the Pfam database. Here we report the crystal structures of TT1887 and TT1465 at 1.8 Å and 2.2 Å resolutions, respectively, as determined by the multiwavelength anomalous dispersion (MAD) method. TT1887 is a homotetramer, while TT1465 is a homohexamer in the crystal and in solution. The structures of the TT1887 and TT1465 monomers contain single domains with the Rossmann fold, comprising six α helices and seven β strands, and are quite similar to each other. The major structural differences exist in the N terminus of TT1465, where there are two additional α helices. A comparison of the structures revealed the elements that are responsible for the different oligomerization modes. The distributions of the electrostatic potential on the solvent-accessible surfaces suggested putative active sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ribosomal protein L27 is located near the peptidyltransferase center at the interface of ribosomal subunits, and is important for ribosomal assembly and function. We report the crystal structure of ribosomal protein L27 from Thermus thermophilus HB8, which was determined by the multiwavelength anomalous dispersion method and refined to an R-factor of 19.7% ( Rfree = 23.6%) at 2.8 Å resolution. The overall fold is an all β-sheet hybrid. It consists of two sets of four-stranded β-sheets formed around a well-defined hydrophobic core, with a highly positive charge on the protein surface. The structure of ribosomal protein L27 from T. thermophilus HB8 in the RNA-free form is investigated, and its functional roles in the ribosomal subunit are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GCN2 is the α-subunit of the only translation initiation factor (eIF2α) kinase that appears in all eukaryotes. Its function requires an interaction with GCN1 via the domain at its N-terminus, which is termed the RWD domain after three major RWD-containing proteins: RING finger-containing proteins, WD-repeat-containing proteins, and yeast DEAD (DEXD)-like helicases. In this study, we determined the solution structure of the mouse GCN2 RWD domain using NMR spectroscopy. The structure forms an α + β sandwich fold consisting of two layers: a four-stranded antiparallel β-sheet, and three side-by-side α-helices, with an αββββαα topology. A characteristic YPXXXP motif, which always occurs in RWD domains, forms a stable loop including three consecutive β-turns that overlap with each other by two residues (triple β-turn). As putative binding sites with GCN1, a structure-based alignment allowed the identification of several surface residues in α-helix 3 that are characteristic of the GCN2 RWD domains. Despite the apparent absence of sequence similarity, the RWD structure significantly resembles that of ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (E2s), with most of the structural differences in the region connecting β-strand 4 and α-helix 3. The structural architecture, including the triple β-turn, is fundamentally common among various RWD domains and E2s, but most of the surface residues on the structure vary. Thus, it appears that the RWD domain is a novel structural domain for protein-binding that plays specific roles in individual RWD-containing proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NusG is an essential bacterial protein modulator of transcriptional elongation and termination events, and interacts directly with RNA polymerase and Rho protein. Found also in Archaea, NusG shows stretches of sequence similarity to the eukaryotic transcription elongation factor Spt5. Herein, the three-dimensional solution structure of the bacterial NusG from Thermus thermophilus, which shows 43% amino acid sequence similarity to the Escherichia coli NusG, is described, and a survey of NusG and Spt5 amino acid sequences is presented. Although there is a clear evolutionary and functional relationship between these proteins, it is evident from the structural, sequence, and biochemical data that their binding specificities to both nucleic acids and other proteins differ. Proteins 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The BolA-like proteins are widely conserved from prokaryotes to eukaryotes. The BolA-like proteins seem to be involved in cell proliferation or cell-cycle regulation, but the molecular function is still unknown. Here we determined the structure of a mouse BolA-like protein. The overall topology is αββααβα, in which β1 and β2 are antiparallel, and β3 is parallel to β2. This fold is similar to the class II KH fold, except for the absence of the GXXG loop, which is well conserved in the KH fold. The conserved residues in the BolA-like proteins are assembled on the one side of the protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The TT1542 protein from Thermus thermophilus HB8 is annotated as a conserved hypothetical protein, and belongs to the DUF158 family in the Pfam database. A BLAST search revealed that homologs of TT1542 are present in a wide range of organisms. The TT1542 homologs in eukaryotes, PIG-L in mammals, and GPI12 in yeast and protozoa, have N-acetylglucosaminylphosphatidylinositol (GlcNAc-PI) de- N-acetylase activity. Although most of the homologs in prokaryotes are hypothetical and have no known function, Rv1082 and Rv1170 from Mycobacterium tuberculosis are enzymes involved in the mycothiol detoxification pathway. Here we report the crystal structure of the TT1542 protein at 2.0 Å resolution, which represents the first structure for this superfamily of proteins. The structure of the TT1542 monomer consists of a twisted β-sheet composed of six parallel β-strands and one antiparallel β-strand (with the strand order 3-2-1-4-5-7-6) sandwiched between six α-helices. The N-terminal five β-strands and four α-helices form an incomplete Rossmann fold-like structure. The structure shares some similarity to the sugar-processing enzymes with Rossmann fold-like domains, especially those of the GPGTF (glycogen phosphorylase/glycosyl transferase) superfamily, and also to the NAD(P)-binding Rossmann fold domains. TT1542 is a homohexamer in the crystal and in solution, the six monomers forming a cylindrical structure. Putative active sites are suggested by the structure and conserved amino acid residues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies the crystal structure of TT1466 hypothetical binding protein from Thermus thermophilus HB8. Synthesis of the protein by a cell-free system; Structure-based analysis of the function of the protein; Ability of TT1466 to bind CoA.

Small protein B (SmpB) is required for trans-translation, binding specifically to tmRNA. We show here the solution structure of SmpB from an extremely thermophilic bacterium, Thermus thermophilus HB8, determined by heteronuclear nuclear magnetic resonance methods. The core of the protein consists of an antiparallel β-barrel twisted up from eight β-strands, each end of which is capped with the second or third helix, and the first helix is located beside the barrel. Its C-terminal sequence (20 residues), which is rich in basic residues, shows a poorly structured form, as often seen in isolated ribosomal proteins. The results are discussed in relation to the oligonucleotide binding fold. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Precursors for isoprenoid synthesis are essential in all organisms. These compounds are synthesized by one of two known routes: the well characterized mevalonate pathway or a recently discovered non-mevalonate route which is used in many bacteria and human pathogens. Since the second pathway is both vital and unlike any found in humans, enzymes catalysing reactions along this synthetic route are possible drug targets. The structure of one such enzyme from the thermophilic bacterium Thermus thermophilus has been solved to high resolution in the presence of substrate and with a substrate analogue. Enzyme co-crystallized with substrate shows only one product, cytosine monophosphate (CMP), in the active site. At the high resolution of the refinement (1.6 Å) the positions and coordination of the magnesium ions in the active site are clearly seen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knots in polypeptide chains have been found in very few proteins. Only two proteins are considered to have a shallow 'trefoil' knot, which tucks a few residues at one end of the chain through a loop exposed on the protein surface. Recently, another protein was found by a mathematical algorithm to have a deep 'figure-of-eight' knot which had not been visually identified. In the present study, the crystal structure of a hypothetical RNA 2'-O-ribose methyltransferase from Thermus thermophilus (RrmA) was determined at 2.4 Å resolution and a deep trefoil knot was found for the first time. The present knot is formed by the threading of a 44-residue polypeptide chain through a 41-residue loop and is better defined than the previously reported knots. Two of the three catalytic residues conserved in the 2'-O-ribose methyltransferase family are located in the knotting loop and in the knotted carboxy-terminal chain, which is the first observation that the enzyme active site is constructed right on the knot. On the other hand, the amino-terminal domain exhibits a geometrical similarity to the ribosomal proteins which recognize an internal loop of RNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this report we present kinetic data of the activation reaction of several synthetic 3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-gaIacto-nonulosonic acid (Kdn) and N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) analogues catalyzed by the rainbow trout testis CMP-Kdn synthetase. This enzyme showed broad substrate specificity in terms of substitutions at C4 or C5 position of Kdn and Neu5Ac. In contrast. calf brain CMP-N-acylneuraminic acid synthetase had narrow substrate specificity, being active only on various N-acyl analogues of Neu5Ac and only slightly active on Kdn derivatives. Usefulness of the trout testis enzyme for synthesis of various CMP-sialate analogues, which could be donor substrates for sialyltransferases, was demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Galactokinase (EC 2.7.1.6) catalyzes the ATP-dependent phosphorylation of α-­d-­galactose to α-d-galactose-1-phosphate, in an additional metabolic branch of glycolysis. The apo-form crystal structure of the enzyme has not yet been elucidated. Crystals of galactokinase from Pyrococcus horikoshii were prepared in both the apo form and as a ternary complex with α-d-galactose and an ATP analogue. Diffraction data sets were collected to 1.24 Å resolution for the apo form and to 1.7 Å for the ternary complex form using synchrotron radiation. The apo-form crystals belong to space group C2, with unit-cell parameters a = 108.08, b = 38.91, c = 81.57 Å, β = 109.8°. The ternary complex form was isomorphous with the apo form, except for the length of the a axis. The galactokinase activity of the enzyme was confirmed and the kinetic parameters at 323 K were determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ribosomal proteins are subjected to a variety of post-transational modifications, of which methylation is the most frequently found in all three kingdoms of life. PrmA is the only bacterial enzyme identified to date that catalyzes the methy1ation of a ribosomal protein. It is responsible for the introduction of nice methyl groups into the N-terminal domain of ribosomal protein L11. The PrmA protein from Thermus thermophilus HB8 was crystallized and a preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis was performed. A cryocooled crystal diffracted X-rays beyond 1.9 Å using synchrotron radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]