Search

Chlorite dismutase from Dechloromonas aromatica RCB, a novel b-type hemoprotein that catalyzes O-O bond formation, has been crystallized. Synchrotron X-ray diffraction data have been collected to 3.0 Å resolution. The crystals belonged to space group P212121, with unit-cell parameters a = 122.7, b = 202.9, c = 247.1 Å. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

X-ray exposure during crystallographic data collection can result in unintended redox changes in proteins containing functionally important redox centers. In order to directly monitor X-ray-derived redox changes in trapped oxidative half-reaction intermediates of Paracoccus denitrificans methylamine dehydrogenase, a commercially available single-crystal UV/Vis microspectrophotometer was installed on-line at the BioCARS beamline 14-BM-C at the Advanced Photon Source, Argonne, USA. Monitoring the redox state of the intermediates during X-ray exposure permitted the creation of a general multi-crystal data collection strategy to generate true structures of each redox intermediate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytochrome P460 from Nitrosomonas europaea, a novel mono-heme protein containing an unusual cross-link between a conserved lysine and the porphyrin ring, has been recombinantly expressed and purified from Escherichia coli. The protein crystallizes readily and diffraction to 1.7 Å has been obtained in-house. The crystals belong to the trigonal space group P31/221, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 53.3, c = 127.1 Å, and contain one monomer in the asymmetric unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Time-resolved structural studies on biomolecular function are coming of age. Focus has shifted from studies on 'systems of opportunities' to a more problem-oriented approach, addressing significant questions in biology and chemistry. An important step in this direction has been the use of physical and chemical trapping methods to capture and then freeze reaction intermediates in crystals. Subsequent monochromatic data collection at cryogenic temperatures can produce high resolution structures of otherwise elusive intermediates. The combination of diffraction methods with spectroscopic techniques provides a means to directly correlate electronic transitions with structural transitions in the sample, eliminating much of the guesswork from experiments. Studies on cytochrome P450, isopenicillin N synthase, cytochrome cd1 nitrite reductase, copper amine oxidase and bacteriorhodopsin were selected as examples, and the results are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OleC, a biosynthetic enzyme involved in microbial hydrocarbon biosynthesis, has been crystallized. Synchrotron X-ray diffraction data have been collected to 3.4 Å resolution. The crystals belonged to space group P3121 or P3221, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 98.8, c = 141.0 Å. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urease allows organisms to use exogenous and internally generated urea as a nitrogen source, by catalyzing the hydrolysis of urea to form ammonia and carbon dioxide. Urease may also participate in the systemic nitrogen-transport pathways and possibly acts as a toxic defence protein. Jack bean urease (JBU) was the first nickel- metalloenzyme identified and was crystallized as early as 1926. Despite this, the structure has not yet been determined. An antibody fragment, Fv, that has a high affinity for JBU has been used to aid crystallization. The complex, which retains full enzyme activity, forms very small crystals that diffract weakly to 3.3 Å. The crystals belong to the rhombohedral space group R32, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 228.6, c = 130.9 Å. The structure of the urease molecule has been solved by molecular replacement using the structure of homogenous enzyme from Klebsiella aerogenes as a search model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic reversible methylation of lysine residues on histone proteins is central to chromatin biology. Key components are demethylase enzymes, which remove methyl moieties from lysine residues. KDM2A, a member of the Jumonji C domain-containing histone lysine demethylase family, specifically targets lower methylation states of H3K36. Here, structural studies reveal that H3K36 specificity for KDM2A is mediated by the U-shaped threading of the H3K36 peptide through a catalytic groove within KDM2A. The side chain of methylated K36 inserts into the catalytic pocket occupied by Ni2+ and cofactor, where it is positioned and oriented for demethylation. Key residues contributing to K36me specificity on histone H3 are G33 and G34 (positioned within a narrow channel), P38 (a turn residue), and Y41 (inserts into its own pocket). Given that KDM2A was found to also bind the H3K36me3 peptide, we postulate that steric constraints could prevent α-ketoglutarate from undergoing an "off-line"-to-"in-line" transition necessary for the demethylation reaction. Furthermore, structure-guided substitutions of residues in the KDM2A catalytic pocket abrogate KDM2A-mediated functions important for suppression of cancer cell phenotypes. Together, our results deduce insights into the molecular basis underlying KDM2A regulation of the biologically important methylated H3K36 mark. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PqqB is an enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of pyrroloquinoline quinone and a distal member of the metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) superfamily. PqqB lacks two residues in the conserved signature motif HxHxDH that makes up the key metal-chelating elements that can bind up to two metal ions at the active site of MBLs and other members of its superfamily. Here, we report crystal structures of PqqB bound to Mn 2+ , Mg 2+ , Cu 2+ , and Zn 2+ . These structures demonstrate that PqqB can still bind metal ions at the canonical MBL active site. The fact that PqqB can adapt its side chains to chelate a wide spectrum of metal ions with different coordination features on a uniform main chain scaffold demonstrates its metal-binding plasticity. This plasticity may provide insights into the structural basis of promiscuous activities found in ensembles of metal complexes within this superfamily. Furthermore, PqqB belongs to a small subclass of MBLs that contain an additional CxCxxC motif that binds a structural Zn 2+ . Our data support a key role for this motif in dimerization.

In this issue of Structure, Li et al. present high resolution crystal structures of two fungal polysaccharide monoxygenases. Unexpectedly, they observe oxygen species bound at the active sites that inform on the chemistry that can be supported by these enzymes. Additionally, the organization of aromatic amino acids and glycosylation on the carbohydrate binding surfaces suggests that regiospecificity and cellulose orientation can be predicted., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Copper amine oxidases (CAOs) catalyze the oxidative deamination of primary amines to their corresponding aldehydes, with the concomitant reduction of O(2) to H(2)O(2). Catalysis requires two cofactors: a mononuclear copper center and the cofactor 2,4,5-trihydroxyphenylalanine quinone (TPQ). TPQ is synthesized through the post-translational modification of an endogenous tyrosine residue and requires only oxygen and copper to proceed. TPQ biogenesis in CAO can be supported by alternate metals, albeit at decreased rates. A variety of factors are thought to contribute to the degree to which a metal can support TPQ biogenesis, including Lewis acidity, redox potential and electrostatic stabilization capability. The crystal structure has been solved of one of two characterized CAOs from the yeast Hansenula polymorpha (HPAO-1) in its metal-free (apo) form, which contains an unmodified precursor tyrosine residue instead of fully processed TPQ (HPAO-1 was denoted HPAO in the literature prior to 2010). Structures of apoHPAO-1 in complex with Cu(I) and Co(II) have also been solved, providing structural insight into metal binding prior to biogenesis.

Post-translational modifications of amino acids can be used to generate novel cofactors capable of chemistries inaccessible to conventional amino acid side chains. The biosynthesis of these sites often requires one or more enzyme or protein accessory factors, the functions of which are quite diverse and often difficult to isolate in cases where multiple enzymes are involved. Herein is described the current knowledge of the biosynthesis of urease and nitrile hydratase metal centers, pyrroloquinoline quinone, hypusine, and tryptophan tryptophylquinone cofactors along with the most recent work elucidating the functions of individual accessory factors in these systems. These examples showcase the breadth and diversity of this continually expanding field., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The diheme enzyme MauG catalyzes the posttranslational modification of the precursor protein of methylamine dehydrogenase (preMADH) to complete biosynthesis of its protein-derived tryptophan tryptophylquinone (TTQ) cofactor. Catalysis proceeds through a high valent bis-Fe(IV) redox state and requires long-range electron transfer (ET), as the distance between the modified residues of preMADH and the nearest heme iron of MauG is 19.4 Å. Trp199 of MauG resides at the MauG-preMADH interface, positioned midway between the residues that are modified and the nearest heme. W199F and W199K mutations did not affect the spectroscopic and redox properties of MauG, or its ability to stabilize the bis-Fe(IV) state. Crystal structures of complexes of W199F/K MauG with preMADH showed no significant perturbation of the MauG-preMADH structure or protein interface. However, neither MauG variant was able to synthesize TTQ from preMADH. In contrast, an ET reaction from diferrous MauG to quinone MADH, which does not require the bis-Fe(IV) intermediate, was minimally affected by the W199F/K mutations. W199F/K MauGs were able to oxidize quinol MADH to form TTQ, the putative final two-electron oxidation of the biosynthetic process, but with k(cat)/K(m) values approximately 10% that of wild-type MauG. The differential effects of the W199F/K mutations on these three different reactions are explained by a critical role for Trp199 in mediating multistep hopping from preMADH to bis-Fe(IV) MauG during the long-range ET that is required for TTQ biosynthesis.

The diheme enzyme MauG catalyzes a six-electron oxidation required for posttranslational modification of a precursor of methylamine dehydrogenase (preMADH) to complete the biosynthesis of its protein-derived tryptophan tryptophylquinone (TTQ) cofactor. The crystal structure of the MauG-preMADH complex revealed the presence of a Ca(2+) in proximity to the two hemes [Jensen, L. M. R., Sanishvili, R., Davidson, V. L., and Wilmot, C. M. (2010) Science 327, 1392-1394]. This Ca(2+) did not readily dissociate; however, after extensive treatment with EGTA or EDTA MauG was no longer able to catalyze TTQ biosynthesis and exhibited altered absorption and resonance Raman spectra. The changes in spectral features are consistent with Ca(2+)-dependent changes in heme spin state and conformation. Addition of H(2)O(2) to the Ca(2+)-depleted MauG did not yield spectral changes characteristic of formation of the bis-Fe(IV) state which is stabilized in native MauG. After addition of Ca(2+) to the Ca(2+)-depleted MauG, full TTQ biosynthesis activity and reactivity toward H(2)O(2) were restored, and the spectral properties returned to those of native MauG. Kinetic and equilibrium studies of Ca(2+) binding to Ca(2+)-depleted MauG indicated a two-step mechanism. Ca(2+) initially reversibly binds to Ca(2+)-depleted MauG (K(d) = 22.4 μM) and is followed by a relatively slow (k = 1.4 × 10(-3) s(-1)) but highly favorable (K(eq) = 4.2) conformational change, yielding an equilibrium dissociation constant K(d,eq) value of 5.3 μM. The circular dichroism spectra of native and Ca(2+)-depleted MauG were essentially the same, consistent with Ca(2+)-induced conformational changes involving domain or loop movements rather than general unfolding or alteration of secondary structure. These results are discussed in the context of the structures of MauG and heme-containing peroxidases.

MauG is a diheme enzyme responsible for the posttranslational modification of two tryptophan residues to form the tryptophan tryptophylquinone (TTQ) cofactor of methylamine dehydrogenase (MADH). MauG converts preMADH, containing monohydroxylated betaTrp57, to fully functional MADH by catalyzing the insertion of a second oxygen atom into the indole ring and covalently linking betaTrp57 to betaTrp108. We have solved the x-ray crystal structure of MauG complexed with preMADH to 2.1 angstroms. The c-type heme irons and the nascent TTQ site are separated by long distances over which electron transfer must occur to achieve catalysis. In addition, one of the hemes has an atypical His-Tyr axial ligation. The crystalline protein complex is catalytically competent; upon addition of hydrogen peroxide, MauG-dependent TTQ synthesis occurs.

Hydroxylamine oxidoreductase (HAO) from Nitrosomonas europaea is a homotrimeric protein that catalyzes the oxidation of hydroxylamine to nitrite. Each monomer, with a molecular weight of 67.1 kDa, contains seven c-type hemes and one heme P460, the porphyrin ring of which is covalently linked to a tyrosine residue from an adjacent subunit. HAO was first crystallized and structurally characterized at a resolution of 2.8 A in 1997. The structure was solved in space group P6(3) and suffered from merohedral twinning. Here, a crystallization procedure is presented that yielded untwinned crystals belonging to space group P2(1)2(1)2, which diffracted to 2.25 A resolution and contained one trimer in the asymmetric unit. The unit-cell parameters were a = 140.7, b = 142.6, c = 107.4 A.