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AspH is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane-anchored 2-oxoglutarate oxygenase whose C-terminal oxygenase and tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) domains present in the ER lumen. AspH catalyses hydroxylation of asparaginyl- and aspartyl-residues in epidermal growth factor-like domains (EGFDs). Here we report crystal structures of human AspH, with and without substrate, that reveal substantial conformational changes of the oxygenase and TPR domains during substrate binding. Fe(II)-binding by AspH is unusual, employing only two Fe(II)-binding ligands (His679/His725). Most EGFD structures adopt an established fold with a conserved Cys1–3, 2–4, 5–6 disulfide bonding pattern; an unexpected Cys3–4 disulfide bonding pattern is observed in AspH-EGFD substrate complexes, the catalytic relevance of which is supported by studies involving stable cyclic peptide substrate analogues and by effects of Ca(II) ions on activity. The results have implications for EGFD disulfide pattern processing in the ER and will enable medicinal chemistry efforts targeting human 2OG oxygenases., AspH catalyses hydroxylation of asparagine and aspartate residues in epidermal growth factor-like domains (EGFDs). Here, the authors present crystal structures of AspH with and without substrates and show that AspH uses EFGD substrates with a non-canonical disulfide pattern.

Cellular and physiological responses to changes in dioxygen levels in metazoans are mediated via the posttranslational oxidation of hypoxia-inducible transcription factor (HIF). Hydroxylation of conserved prolyl residues in the HIF-α subunit, catalyzed by HIF prolyl-hydroxylases (PHDs), signals for its proteasomal degradation. The requirement of the PHDs for dioxygen links changes in dioxygen levels with the transcriptional regulation of the gene array that enables the cellular response to chronic hypoxia; the PHDs thus act as an oxygen-sensing component of the HIF system, and their inhibition mimics the hypoxic response. We describe crystal structures of the catalytic domain of human PHD2, an important prolyl-4-hydroxylase in the human hypoxic response in normal cells, in complex with Fe(II) and an inhibitor to 1.7 Å resolution. PHD2 crystallizes as a homotrimer and contains a double-stranded β-helix core fold common to the Fe(II) and 2-oxoglutarate-dependant dioxygenase family, the residues of which are well conserved in the three human PHD enzymes (PHD 1–3). The structure provides insights into the hypoxic response, helps to rationalize a clinically observed mutation leading to familial erythrocytosis, and will aid in the design of PHD selective inhibitors for the treatment of anemia and ischemic disease.

HIF (hypoxia-inducible factor) is an alphabeta transcription factor that modulates the hypoxic response in many animals. The cellular abundance and activity of HIF-alpha are regulated by its post-translational hydroxylation. The hydroxylation of HIF is catalysed by PHD (prolyl hydroxylase domain) enzymes and FIH (factorinhibiting HIF), all of which are 2-oxoglutarate- and Fe(II)-dependent dioxygenases. FIH hydroxylates a conserved asparagine residue in HIF-alpha (Asn-803), which blocks the binding of HIF to the transcriptional co-activator p300, preventing transcription of hypoxia-regulated genes under normoxic conditions. In the present paper, we report studies on possible mechanisms for the regulation of FIH activity. Recently solved crystal structures of FIH indicate that it is homodimeric. Site-directed mutants of FIH at residues Leu-340 and Ile-344, designed to disrupt dimerization, were generated in order to examine the importance of the dimeric state in determining FIH activity. A single point mutant, L340R (Leu-340-->Arg), was shown to be predominantly monomeric and to have lost catalytic activity as measured by assays monitoring 2-oxoglutarate turnover and asparagine hydroxylation. In contrast, the I344R (Ile-344-->Arg) mutant was predominantly dimeric and catalytically active. The results imply that the homodimeric form of FIH is required for productive substrate binding. The structural data also revealed a hydrophobic interaction formed between FIH and a conserved leucine residue (Leu-795) on the HIF substrate, which is close to the dimer interface. A recent report has revealed that phosphorylation of Thr-796, which is adjacent to Leu-795, enhances the transcriptional response in hypoxia. Consistent with this, we show that phosphorylation of Thr-796 prevents the hydroxylation of Asn-803 by FIH.

Asparagine-803 in the C-terminal transactivation domain of human hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1 α-subunit is hydroxylated by factor inhibiting HIF-1 (FIH-1) under normoxic conditions causing abrogation of the HIF-1α/p300 interaction. NMR and other analyses of a hydroxylated HIF fragment produced in vitro demonstrate that hydroxylation occurs at the β-carbon of Asn-803 and imply production of the threo-isomer, in contrast with other known aspartic acid/asparagine hydroxylases that produce the erythro-isomer.

Hydroxylation of hypoxia-inducible factor, a nuclear transcription factor, is catalysed by iron and 2-oxoglutarate dependent hydroxylases. Various analogues of the 2-oxoglutarate cosubstrate were synthesised and shown to inhibit the activity of human hypoxia-inducible factor-1α prolyl hydroxylases in cell-free extracts.

During biosynthesis of the clinically used β-lactamase inhibitor clavulanic acid, one of the three steps catalysed by clavaminic acid synthase is separated from the other two by a step catalysed by proclavaminic acid amidino hydrolase (PAH), in which the guanidino group of an intermediate is hydrolysed to give proclavaminic acid and urea. PAH shows considerable sequence homology with the primary metabolic arginases, which hydrolyse arginine to ornithine and urea, but does not accept arginine as a substrate. Like other members of the bacterial sub-family of arginases, PAH is hexameric in solution and requires Mn2+ ions for activity. Other metal ions, including Co2+, can substitute for Mn2+. Two new substrates for PAH were identified, N-acetyl-(l)-arginine and (3R)-hydroxy-N-acetyl-(l)-arginine. Crystal structures of PAH from Streptomyces clavuligerus (at 1.75Å and 2.45Å resolution, where 1Å = 0.1nm) imply how it binds β-lactams rather than the amino acid substrate of the arginases from which it evolved. The structures also suggest how PAH selects for a particular alcohol intermediate in the clavam biosynthesis pathway. As observed for the arginases, each PAH monomer consists of a core of β-strands surrounded by α-helices, and its active site contains a di-Mn2+ centre with a bridging water molecule responsible for hydrolytic attack on to the guanidino group of the substrate. Comparison of structures obtained under different conditions reveals different conformations of a flexible loop, which must move to allow substrate binding.

The oxygen-dependent hydroxylation of proline residues in the alpha subunit of hypoxia-inducible transcription factor (HIFalpha) is central to the hypoxic response in animals. Prolyl hydroxylation of HIFalpha increases its binding to the von Hippel-Lindau protein (pVHL), so signaling for degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome system. The HIF prolyl hydroxylases (PHDs, prolyl hydroxylase domain enzymes) are related to the collagen prolyl hydroxylases, but form unusually stable complexes with their Fe(II) cofactor and 2-oxoglutarate cosubstrate. We report crystal structures of the catalytic domain of PHD2, the most important of the human PHDs, in complex with the C-terminal oxygen-dependent degradation domain of HIF-1alpha. Together with biochemical analyses, the results reveal that PHD catalysis involves a mobile region that isolates the hydroxylation site and stabilizes the PHD2.Fe(II).2OG complex. The results will be of use in the design of PHD inhibitors aimed at treating anemia and ischemic disease.

Activity of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) complex is controlled by oxygen-dependent hydroxylation of prolyl and asparaginyl residues. Hydroxylation of specific prolyl residues by 2-oxoglutarate (2-OG)-dependent oxygenases mediates ubiquitinylation and proteasomal destruction of HIF-alpha. Hydroxylation of an asparagine residue in the C-terminal transactivation domain (CAD) of HIF-alpha abrogates interaction with p300, preventing transcriptional activation. Yeast two-hybrid assays recently identified factor inhibiting HIF (FIH) as a protein that associates with the CAD region of HIF-alpha. Since FIH contains certain motifs present in iron- and 2-OG-dependent oxygenases we investigated whether FIH was the HIF asparaginyl hydroxylase. Assays using recombinant FIH and HIF-alpha fragments revealed that FIH is the enzyme that hydroxylates the CAD asparagine residue, that the activity is directly inhibited by cobalt(II) and limited by hypoxia, and that the oxygen in the alcohol of the hydroxyasparagine residue is directly derived from dioxygen. Sequence analyses involving FIH link the 2-OG oxygenases with members of the cupin superfamily, including Zn(II)-utilizing phosphomannose isomerase, revealing structural and evolutionary links between these metal-binding proteins that share common motifs.

The stability and activity of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) are regulated by the post-translational hydroxylation of specific prolyl and asparaginyl residues. We show that the HIF asparaginyl hydroxylase, factor inhibiting HIF (FIH), also catalyzes hydroxylation of highly conserved asparaginyl residues within ankyrin repeat (AR) domains (ARDs) of endogenous Notch receptors. AR hydroxylation decreases the extent of ARD binding to FIH while not affecting signaling through the canonical Notch pathway. ARD proteins were found to efficiently compete with HIF for FIH-dependent hydroxylation. Crystallographic analyses of the hydroxylated Notch ARD (2.35A) and of Notch peptides bound to FIH (2.4-2.6A) reveal the stereochemistry of hydroxylation on the AR and imply that significant conformational changes are required in the ARD fold in order to enable hydroxylation at the FIH active site. We propose that ARD proteins function as natural inhibitors of FIH and that the hydroxylation status of these proteins provides another oxygen-dependent interface that modulates HIF signaling.

(3R,5R)-Clavulanic acid (CA) is a clinically important inhibitor of Class A β-lactamases. Sequence comparisons suggest that orf14 of the clavulanic acid biosynthesis gene cluster encodes for an acetyl transferase (CBG). Crystallographic studies reveal CBG to be a member of the emerging structural subfamily of tandem Gcn5-related acetyl transferase (GNAT) proteins. Two crystal forms (C2 and P21 space groups) of CBG were obtained; in both forms one molecule of acetyl-CoA (AcCoA) was bound to the N-terminal GNAT domain, with the C-terminal domain being unoccupied by a ligand. Mass spectrometric analyzes on CBG demonstrate that, in addition to one strongly bound AcCoA molecule, a second acyl-CoA molecule can bind to CBG. Succinyl-CoA and myristoyl-CoA displayed the strongest binding to the “second” CoA binding site, which is likely in the C-terminal GNAT domain. Analysis of the CBG structures, together with those of other tandem GNAT proteins, suggest that the AcCoA in the N-terminal GNAT domain plays a structural role whereas the C-terminal domain is more likely to be directly involved in acetyl transfer. The available crystallographic and mass spectrometric evidence suggests that binding of the second acyl-CoA occurs preferentially to monomeric rather than dimeric CBG. The N-terminal AcCoA binding site and the proposed C-terminal acyl-CoA binding site of CBG are compared with acyl-CoA binding sites of other tandem and single domain GNAT proteins. Proteins 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

In humans both the levels and activity of the alpha-subunit of the hypoxia-inducible transcription factor (HIF-alpha) are regulated by its post-translation hydroxylation as catalyzed by iron- and 2-oxoglutarate (2OG)-dependent prolyl and asparaginyl hydroxylases (PHD1-3 and factor-inhibiting HIF (FIH), respectively). One consequence of hypoxia is the accumulation of tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates (TCAIs). In vitro assays were used to assess non-2OG TCAIs as inhibitors of purified PHD2 and FIH. Under the assay conditions, no significant FIH inhibition was observed by the TCAIs or pyruvate, but fumarate, succinate, and isocitrate inhibited PHD2. Mass spectrometric analyses under nondenaturing conditions were used to investigate the binding of TCAIs to PHD2 and supported the solution studies. X-ray crystal structures of FIH in complex with Fe(II) and fumarate or succinate revealed similar binding modes for each in the 2OG co-substrate binding site. The in vitro results suggest that the cellular inhibition of PHD2, but probably not FIH, by fumarate and succinate may play a role in the Warburg effect providing that appropriate relative concentrations of the components are achieved under physiological conditions.

The activity and levels of the metazoan HIF (hypoxia-inducible factor) are regulated by its hydroxylation, catalysed by 2OG (2-oxoglutarate)- and Fe(II)-dependent dioxygenases. An oxygen consumption assay was developed and used to study the relationship between HIF hydroxylase activity and oxygen concentration for recombinant forms of two human HIF hydroxylases, PHD2 (prolyl hydroxylase domain-containing protein 2) and FIH (factor inhibiting HIF), and compared with two other 2OG-dependent dioxygenases. Although there are caveats on the absolute values, the apparent Km (oxygen) values for PHD2 and FIH were within the range observed for other 2OG oxygenases. Recombinant protein substrates were found to have lower apparent Km (oxygen) values compared with shorter synthetic peptides of HIF. The analyses also suggest that human PHD2 is selective for fragments of the C-terminal over the N-terminal oxygen-dependent degradation domain of HIF-1α. The present results, albeit obtained under non-physiological conditions, imply that the apparent Km (oxygen) values of the HIF hydroxylases enable them to act as oxygen sensors providing their in vivo capacity is appropriately matched to a hydroxylation-sensitive signalling pathway.

In humans, many responses to hypoxia including angiogenesis and erythropoiesis are mediated by the alpha/beta-heterodimeric transcription factor hypoxia inducible factor (HIF). The stability and/or activity of human HIF-1alpha are modulated by post-translational modifications including prolyl and asparaginyl hydroxylation, phosphorylation, and reportedly by acetylation of the side-chain of Lys532 by ARD1 (arrest defective protein 1 homologue), an acetyltransferase. Using purified recombinant human ARD1 (hARD1) we did not observe ARD1-mediated N-acetylation of Lys532 using fragments of HIF-1alpha. However, recombinant hARD1 from Escherichia coli was produced with partial N-terminal acetylation and was observed to undergo slow self-mediated N-terminal acetylation. The observations are consistent with the other data indicating that hARD1, at least alone, does not acetylate HIF-1alpha, and with reports on the N-terminal acetyltransferase activity of a recently reported heterodimeric complex comprising hARD1 and N-acetyltransferase protein.

Deacetoxycephalosporin/deacetylcephalosporin C synthase (DAOC/DACS) is an iron(II) and 2-oxoglutarate-dependent oxygenase involved in the biosynthesis of cephalosporin C in Cephalosporium acremonium. It catalyzes two oxidative reactions, oxidative ring-expansion of penicillin N to deacetoxycephalosporin C, and hydroxylation of the latter to give deacetylcephalosporin C. The enzyme is closely related to deacetoxycephalosporin C synthase (DAOCS) and DACS from Streptomyces clavuligerus, which selectively catalyze ring-expansion or hydroxylation reactions, respectively. In this study, structural models based on DAOCS coupled with site-directed mutagenesis were used to identify residues within DAOC/DACS that are responsible for controlling substrate and reaction selectivity. The M306I mutation abolished hydroxylation of deacetylcephalosporin C, whereas the W82A mutant reduced ring-expansion of penicillin G (an "unnatural" substrate). Truncation of the C terminus of DAOC/DACS to residue 310 (Delta310 mutant) enhanced ring-expansion of penicillin G by approximately 2-fold. A double mutant, Delta310/M306I, selectively catalyzed the ring-expansion reaction and had similar kinetic parameters to the wild-type DAOC/DACS. The Delta310/N305L/M306I triple mutant selectively catalyzed ring-expansion of penicillin G and had improved kinetic parameters (K(m) = 2.00 +/- 0.47 compared with 6.02 +/- 0.97 mm for the wild-type enzyme). This work demonstrates that a single amino acid residue side chain within the DAOC/DACS active site can control whether the enzyme catalyzes ring-expansion, hydroxylation, or both reactions. The catalytic efficiency of mutant enzymes can be improved by combining active site mutations with other modifications including C-terminal truncation and modification of Asn-305.

Sensing of ambient dioxygen levels and appropriate feedback mechanisms are essential processes for all multicellular organisms. In animals, moderate hypoxia causes an increase in the transcription levels of specific genes, including those encoding vascular endothelial growth factor and erythropoietin. The hypoxic response is mediated by hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), an alphabeta heterodimeric transcription factor in which both the HIF subunits are members of the basic helix-loop-helix PAS (PER-ARNT-SIM) domain family. Under hypoxic conditions, levels of HIFalpha rise, allowing dimerization with HIFbeta and initiating transcriptional activation. Two types of dioxygen-dependent modification to HIFalpha have been identified, both of which inhibit the transcriptional response. Firstly, HIFalpha undergoes trans -4-hydroxylation at two conserved proline residues that enable its recognition by the von Hippel-Lindau tumour-suppressor protein. Subsequent ubiquitinylation, mediated by an ubiquitin ligase complex, targets HIFalpha for degradation. Secondly, hydroxylation of an asparagine residue in the C-terminal transactivation domain of HIFalpha directly prevents its interaction with the co-activator p300. Hydroxylation of HIFalpha is catalysed by enzymes of the iron(II)- and 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase family. In humans, three prolyl hydroxylase isoenzymes (PHD1-3) and an asparagine hydroxylase [factor inhibiting HIF (FIH)] have been identified. The role of 2-oxoglutarate oxygenases in the hypoxic and other signalling pathways is discussed.

Analogues of the naturally occurring cyclic hydroxamate dealanylalahopcin, which is an inhibitor of procollagen prolyl-4-hydroxylase, were synthesised and shown to be inhibitors of the human hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylases.

The clinically used beta-lactamase inhibitor clavulanic acid is produced by fermentation of Streptomyces clavuligerus. The orf6 gene of the clavulanic acid biosynthetic gene cluster in S. clavuligerus encodes a protein that shows sequence homology to ornithine acetyltransferase (OAT), the fifth enzyme of the arginine biosynthetic pathway. Orf6 was overexpressed in Escherichia coli (at ≈ 15% of total soluble protein by SDS/PAGE analysis) indicating it was not toxic to the host cells. The recombinant protein was purified (to > 95% purity) by a one-step technique. Like other OATs it was synthesized as a precursor protein which underwent autocatalytic internal cleavage in E. coli to generate α and β subunits. Cleavage was shown to occur between the alanine and threonine residues in a KGXGMXXPX--(M/L)AT (M/L)L motif conserved within all identified OAT sequences. Gel filtration and native electrophoresis analyses implied that the ORF6 protein was an α2β2 heterotetramer and direct evidence for this came from mass spectrometric analyses. Although anomalous migration of the β subunit was observed by standard SDS/PAGE analysis, which indicated the presence of two bands (as previously observed for other OATs), mass spectrometric analyses did not reveal any evidence for post-translational modification of the β subunit. Extended denaturation with SDS before PAGE resulted in observation of a single major β subunit band. Purified ORF6 was able to catalyse the reversible transfer of an acetyl group from N-acetylornithine to glutamate, but not the formation of N-acetylglutamate from glutamate and acetyl-coenzyme A, nor (detectably) the hydrolysis of N-acetylornithine. Mass spectrometry also revealed the reaction proceeds via acetylation of the β subunit.

Biotin synthase contains an essential [4Fe-4S]+ cluster that is thought to provide an electron for the cleavage of S-adenosylmethionine, a cofactor required for biotin formation. The conserved cysteine residues Cys53, Cys57 and Cys60 have been proposed as ligands to the [4Fe-4S] cluster. These residues belong to a C-X3-C-X2-C motif which is also found in pyruvate formate lyase-activating enzyme, lysine 2,3-aminomutase and the anaerobic ribonucleotide reductase-activating component. To investigate the role of the cysteine residues, Cys--Ala mutants of the eight cysteine residues of Escherichia coli biotin synthase were prepared and assayed for activity. Our results show that six cysteines are important for biotin formation. Only two mutant proteins, C276A and C288A, closely resembled the wild-type protein, indicating that the corresponding cysteines are not involved in iron chelation and biotin formation. The six other mutant proteins, C53A, C57A, C60A, C97A, C128A and C188A, were inactive but capable of assembling a [4Fe-4S] cluster, as shown by Mössbauer spectroscopy. The C53A, C57A and C60A mutant proteins are unique in that their cluster could not undergo reduction to the [4Fe-4S]+ state, as shown by EPR and Mössbauer spectroscopy. On this basis and by analogy with pyruvate formate lyase-activating enzyme and the anaerobic ribonucleotide reductase-activating component, it is suggested that the corresponding cysteines coordinate the cluster even though one cannot fully exclude the possibility that other cysteines play that role as well. Therefore it appears that for activity biotin synthase absolutely requires cysteines that are not involved in iron chelation.

Biotin synthase (BioB) is a member of a family of enzymes that includes anaerobic ribonucleotide reductase and pyruvate formate lyase activating enzyme. These enzymes all use S-adenosylmethionine during turnover and contain three highly conserved cysteine residues that may act as ligands to an iron-sulfur cluster required for activity. Three mutant enzymes of BioB have been made, each with one cysteine residue (C53, 57, 60) mutated to alanine. All three mutant enzymes were inactive, but they still exhibited the characteristic UV-visible spectrum of a [2Fe-2S]2+ cluster similar to that of the wild-type enzyme.

An Mg2+ and ATP dependent β-lactam synthetase (BLS) catalyses formation of a β-lactam ring during the biosynthesis of clavulanic acid, an important β-lactamase inhibitor. An epimeric mixture of a 2-methylated derivative of the natural BLS substrate N2-(2-carboxyethyl)- l -arginine was synthesised and found to be a substrate for the enzyme. The epimeric products were characterised by 1H NMR and mass spectrometric analyses. The results suggest that a modified version of BLS might be used to catalyse the preparation of intermediates useful for the synthesis of β-lactam antibiotics.

(3R,5R)-Clavulanic acid (CA) is a clinically important inhibitor of Class A beta-lactamases. Sequence comparisons suggest that orf14 of the clavulanic acid biosynthesis gene cluster encodes for an acetyl transferase (CBG). Crystallographic studies reveal CBG to be a member of the emerging structural subfamily of tandem Gcn5-related acetyl transferase (GNAT) proteins. Two crystal forms (C2 and P2(1) space groups) of CBG were obtained; in both forms one molecule of acetyl-CoA (AcCoA) was bound to the N-terminal GNAT domain, with the C-terminal domain being unoccupied by a ligand. Mass spectrometric analyzes on CBG demonstrate that, in addition to one strongly bound AcCoA molecule, a second acyl-CoA molecule can bind to CBG. Succinyl-CoA and myristoyl-CoA displayed the strongest binding to the "second" CoA binding site, which is likely in the C-terminal GNAT domain. Analysis of the CBG structures, together with those of other tandem GNAT proteins, suggest that the AcCoA in the N-terminal GNAT domain plays a structural role whereas the C-terminal domain is more likely to be directly involved in acetyl transfer. The available crystallographic and mass spectrometric evidence suggests that binding of the second acyl-CoA occurs preferentially to monomeric rather than dimeric CBG. The N-terminal AcCoA binding site and the proposed C-terminal acyl-CoA binding site of CBG are compared with acyl-CoA binding sites of other tandem and single domain GNAT proteins.

A 2-His-1-carboxylate triad of iron binding residues is present in many non-heme iron oxygenases including the Fe(II) and 2-oxoglutarate (2OG)-dependent dioxygenases. Three variants (D201A, D201E, and D201G) of the iron binding Asp-201 residue of an asparaginyl hydroxylase, factor inhibiting HIF (FIH), were made and analyzed. FIH-D201A and FIH-D201E did not catalyze asparaginyl hydroxylation, but in the presence of a reducing agent, they displayed enhanced 2OG turnover when compared with wild-type FIH. Turnover of 2OG by FIH-D201A was significantly stimulated by the addition of HIF-1α786–826 peptide. Like FIH-D201A and D201E, the D201G variant enhanced 2OG turnover but rather unexpectedly catalyzed asparaginyl hydroxylation. Crystal structures of the FIH-D201A and D201G variants in complex with Fe(II)/Zn(II), 2OG, and HIF-1α786–826/788–806 implied that only two FIH-based residues (His-199 and His-279) are required for metal binding. The results indicate that variation of 2OG-dependent dioxygenase iron-ligating residues as a means of functional assignment should be treated with caution. The results are of mechanistic interest in the light of recent biochemical and structural analyses of non-heme iron and 2OG-dependent halogenases that are similar to the FIH-D201A/G variants in that they use only two His-residues to ligate iron.

Hydroxylation of two conserved prolyl residues in the N- and C-terminal oxygen-dependent degradation domains (NODD and CODD) of the alpha-subunit of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) signals for its degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. In human cells, three prolyl hydroxylases (PHDs 1-3) belonging to the Fe(II) and 2-oxoglutarate (2OG)-dependent oxygenase family catalyze prolyl hydroxylation with differing selectivity for CODD and NODD. Sequence analysis of the catalytic domains of the PHDs in the light of crystal structures for PHD2, and results for other 2OG oxygenases, suggested that either the C-terminal region or a loop linking two beta-strands (beta2 and beta3 in human PHD2) are important in determining substrate selectivity. Mutation analyses on PHD2 revealed that the beta2beta3 loop is a major determinant in conferring selectivity for CODD over NODD peptides. A chimeric PHD in which the beta2beta3 loop of PHD2 was replaced with that of PHD3 displayed an almost complete selectivity for CODD (in competition experiments), as observed for wild-type PHD3. CODD was observed to bind much more tightly to this chimeric protein than the wild type PHD2 catalytic domain.

The adaptation of animals to oxygen availability is mediated by a transcription factor termed hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF). HIF is an alpha (alpha)/beta (beta) heterodimer that binds hypoxia response elements (HREs) of target genes, including some of medicinal importance, such as erythropoietin (EPO) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). While the concentration of the HIF-beta subunit, a constitutive nuclear protein, does not vary with oxygen availability, the abundance and activity of the HIF-alpha subunits are tightly regulated via oxygen-dependent modification of specific residues. Hydroxylation of prolyl residues (Pro402 and Pro564 in HIF-1alpha) promotes interaction with the von Hippel-Lindau E3 ubiquitin ligase and, consequently, proteolytic destruction by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. This prolyl hydroxylation is catalyzed by the prolyl-hydroxylase domain (PHD) containing enzymes for which three isozymes have been identified in humans (1-3). Additionally, asparaginyl hydroxylation (Asn803 in HIF-1alpha) by factor-inhibiting HIF (FIH) ablates interaction of the HIF-alpha subunit with the coactivator p300, providing an alternative mechanism for down-regulation of HIF-dependent genes. Under hypoxic conditions, when oxygen-mediated regulation of the alpha-subunits is curtailed or minimized, dimerization of the alpha- and beta-subunits occurs with subsequent target gene upregulation. Therapeutic activation of HIF signaling has been suggested as a potential treatment for numerous conditions, including ischemia, stroke, heart attack, inflammation, and wounding. One possible route to achieve this is via inhibition of the HIF hydroxylases. This chapter details methods for the purification and assaying of PHD2, the most abundant PHD and the most important in setting steady-state levels of HIF-alpha. Assays are described that measure the activity of PHD2 via direct and indirect means. Furthermore, conditions for the screening of small molecules against PHD2 are described.

Variants in the FTO (fat mass and obesity associated) gene are associated with increased body mass index in humans. Here, we show by bioinformatics analysis that FTO shares sequence motifs with Fe(II)- and 2-oxoglutarate–dependent oxygenases. We find that recombinant murine Fto catalyzes the Fe(II)- and 2OG-dependent demethylation of 3-methylthymine in single-stranded DNA, with concomitant production of succinate, formaldehyde, and carbon dioxide. Consistent with a potential role in nucleic acid demethylation, Fto localizes to the nucleus in transfected cells. Studies of wild-type mice indicate that Fto messenger RNA (mRNA) is most abundant in the brain, particularly in hypothalamic nuclei governing energy balance, and that Fto mRNA levels in the arcuate nucleus are regulated by feeding and fasting. Studies can now be directed toward determining the physiologically relevant FTO substrate and how nucleic acid methylation status is linked to increased fat mass.

Studies on hypoxia-sensitive pathways have revealed a series of Fe(II)-dependent dioxygenases that regulate hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) by prolyl and asparaginyl hydroxylation. The recognition of these unprecedented signaling processes has led to a search for other substrates of the HIF hydroxylases. Here we show that the human HIF asparaginyl hydroxylase, factor inhibiting HIF (FIH), also efficiently hydroxylates specific asparaginyl (Asn)-residues within proteins of the IκB family. After the identification of a series of ankyrin repeat domain (ARD)-containing proteins in a screen for proteins interacting with FIH, the ARDs of p105 ( NFKB1 ) and IκBα were shown to be efficiently hydroxylated by FIH at specific Asn residues in the hairpin loops linking particular ankyrin repeats. The target Asn residue is highly conserved as part of the ankyrin consensus, and peptides derived from a diverse range of ARD-containing proteins supported FIH enzyme activity. These findings demonstrate that this type of protein hydroxylation is not restricted to HIF and strongly suggest that FIH-dependent ARD hydroxylation is a common occurrence, potentially providing an oxygen-sensitive signal to a diverse range of processes.

(3R,5R)-Clavulanic acid, a clinically used inhibitor of serine beta-lactamases, is produced by fermentation of Streptomyces clavuligerus. The early steps in clavulanic acid biosynthesis leading to the bicyclic beta-lactam intermediate (3S,5S)-clavaminic acid have been defined. However, the mechanism by which (3S,5S)-clavaminic acid is converted to the penultimate intermediate (3R,5R)-clavaldehyde is unclear. Disruption of orf15 or orf16, of the clavulanic acid biosynthesis gene cluster, blocks clavulanic acid production and leads to the accumulation of N-acetyl-glycyl-clavaminic acid and N-glycyl-clavaminic acid, suggesting that these compounds are intermediates in the pathway. Two alternative start codons have been proposed for orf17 to encode for two possible polypeptides, one of which has 92 N-terminal residues less then the other. The shorter version of orf17 was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli and purified as a monomeric protein. Sequence analyses predicting the ORF17 protein to be a member of the ATP-grasp fold superfamily were supported by soft ionization mass spectrometric analyses that demonstrated binding of ATP to the ORF17 protein. Semisynthetic clavaminic acid, prepared by in vitro reconstitution of the biosynthetic pathway from the synthetically accessible intermediate proclavaminic acid, was shown by mass spectrometric analyses to be converted to N-glycyl-clavaminic acid in the presence of ORF17, ATP, and glycine. Under the same conditions N-acetyl-glycine and clavaminic acid were not converted to N-acetyl-glycyl-clavaminic acid. The specificity of ORF17 as an N-glycyl-clavaminic acid synthetase, together with the reported accumulation of N-glycyl-clavaminic acid in orf15 and orf16 disruption mutants, suggested that N-glycyl-clavaminic acid is an intermediate in clavulanic acid biosynthesis.

Regulation of the hypoxic response in humans is regulated by the post-translational hydroxylation of hypoxia inducible transcription factor; a recombinant form of a human prolyl-4-hydroxylase (PHD2) was characterised and shown to have an unexpectedly high affinity for, and to copurify with endogenous levels of, its Fe(ii) cofactor and 2-oxoglutarate cosubstrate.

A widely used generic assay for 2-oxoglutarate-dependent oxygenases relies upon monitoring the release of 14CO2 from labeled [1-14C]-2-oxoglutarate. We report an alternative assay in which depletion of 2-oxoglutarate is monitored by its postincubation derivatization with o-phenylenediamine to form a product amenable to fluorescence analysis. The utility of the procedure is demonstrated by assays with hypoxia-inducible factor hydroxylases where it was shown to give results similar to those reported with the radioactive assay, but it is more efficient and readily adapted to a multiwell format. The process should be amenable to the assay of other 2-oxoglutarate-consuming enzymes and to the discovery of inhibitors.

Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is an alpha,beta-heterodimeric transcription factor that mediates cellular responses to low oxygen concentration via the transcriptional activation of specific genes involved in both tumorogenesis and angiogenesis. Manipulation of the HIF pathway has potential use for the treatment of ischemic disease and cancer. Unlike HIF-beta, which is constitutively expressed, the levels and activity of the HIF-alpha subunit are regulated by processes involving posttranslational hydroxylation, catalyzed by Fe(II)- and 2-oxoglutarate-dependent oxygenases. This review focuses on the HIF pathway as a therapeutic target.

The initial step in the biosynthesis of the clinically important beta-lactamase inhibitor clavulanic acid involves condensation of two primary metabolites, D-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate and L-arginine, to give N2-(2-carboxyethyl)arginine, a beta-amino acid. This unusual N-C bond forming reaction is catalyzed by the thiamin diphosphate (ThP2)-dependent enzyme N2-(2-carboxyethyl)arginine synthase. Here we report the crystal structure of N2-(2-carboxyethyl)arginine synthase, complexed with ThP2 and Mg2+, to 2.35-A resolution. The structure was solved in two space groups, P2(1)2(1)2(1) and P2(1)2(1)2. In both, the enzyme is observed in a tetrameric form, composed of a dimer of two more tightly associated dimers, consistent with both mass spectrometric and gel filtration chromatography studies. Both ThP2 and Mg2+ cofactors are present at the active site, with ThP2 in a "V" conformation as in related enzymes. A sulfate anion is observed in the active site of the enzyme in a location proposed as a binding site for the phosphate group of the d-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate substrate. The mechanistic implications of the active site arrangement are discussed, including the potential role of the aminopyrimidine ring of the ThP2. The structure will form a basis for future mechanistic and structural studies, as well as engineering aimed at production of alternative beta-amino acids.

Humans, like other complex aerobic organisms, possess highly evolved systems for the delivery of dioxygen to all the cells of the body. These systems are regulated since excessive levels of dioxygen are toxic. In animals hypoxia causes an increase in the transcription levels of specific genes, including those encoding for vascular endothelial growth factor and erythropoietin. At the transcriptional level, the hypoxic response is mediated by hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), an alpha,beta-heterodimeric protein. HIF-beta is constitutively present, but HIF-alpha levels are regulated by dioxygen. Under hypoxic conditions, levels of HIF-alpha rise, allowing its dimerization with HIF-beta and enabling transcriptional activation. Under normoxic conditions both the level of HIF-alpha and its ability to enable transcription are directly controlled by its post-translational oxidation by oxygenases. Hydroxylation of HIF-alpha at either of two conserved prolyl residues enables its recognition by the von Hippel-Lindau tumour suppressor protein which targets it for proteasomal degradation. Hydroxylation of an asparaginyl residue in the C-terminal transactivation domain of HIF-alpha directly prevents its interaction with the coactivator p300 from the transcription complex. Hydroxylation of HIF-alpha is catalysed by members of the iron (II) and 2-oxoglutarate dependent oxygenase family. In humans, three prolyl-hydroxylase isozymes (PHD1-3, for prolyl hydroxylase domain enzymes) and an asparaginyl hydroxylase (FIH, for factor inhibiting HIF) have been identified. Recent studies have identified additional post-translational modifications of HIF-alpha including acetylation and phosphorylation. Modulation of the HIF mediated hypoxic response is of potential use in a wide range of disease states including cardiovascular disease and cancer. Here we review current knowledge of the HIF pathway focusing on its regulation by dioxygen and discussion of potential targets and challenges in attempts to modulate the pathway for medicinal application.

AlkB is one of four proteins involved in the adaptive response to DNA alkylation damage in Escherichia coli and is highly conserved from bacteria to humans. Recent analyses have verified the prediction that AlkB is a member of the Fe(II) and 2-oxoglutarate (2OG)-dependent oxygenase family of enzymes. AlkB mediates repair of methylated DNA by direct demethylation of 1-methyladenine and 3-methylcytosine lesions. Other members of the Fe(II) and 2OG-dependent oxygenase family, including those involved in the hypoxic response, are targets for therapeutic intervention. Assays measuring 2OG turnover were used to investigate the selectivity of AlkB. 1-Methyladenosine, 1-methyl-2'-deoxyadenosine, 3-methylcytidine, and 3-methyl-2'-deoxycytidine all stimulated 2OG turnover by AlkB but were not demethylated indicating an uncoupling of 2OG and prime substrate oxidation and that oligomeric DNA is required for hydroxylation and subsequent demethylation. In contrast the equivalent unmethylated nucleosides did not stimulate 2OG turnover indicating that the presence of a methyl group in the substrate is important in initiating oxidation of 2OG. Stimulation of 2OG turnover by 1-methyladenosine was highly dependent on the presence of a reducing agent, ascorbate or dithiothreitol. Following the observation that AlkB is inhibited by high concentrations of 2OG, analogues of 2OG, including 2-mercaptoglutarate, were found to specifically inhibit AlkB. The flavonoid quercetin inhibits both AlkB and the 2OG oxygenase factor-inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor (FIH) in vitro. FIH inhibition by quercetin occurs in the presence of excess iron indicating a specific interaction, while the inhibition of AlkB by quercetin is, predominantly, due to nonspecific iron chelation.

The activity of the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is regulated by oxygen-dependent hydroxylation. Under normoxic conditions, hydroxylation of proline residues triggers destruction of its alpha-subunit while hydroxylation of Asn(803) in the C-terminal transactivation domain of HIF-1 alpha (CAD) prevents its interaction with p300. Here we report crystal structures of the asparagine hydroxylase (factor-inhibiting HIF, FIH) complexed with Fe((II)), 2-oxoglutarate cosubstrate, and CAD fragments, which reveal the structural basis of HIF modification. CAD binding to FIH occurs via an induced fit process at two distinct interaction sites. At the hydroxylation site CAD adopts a loop conformation, contrasting with a helical conformation for the same residues when bound to p300. Asn(803) of CAD is buried and precisely orientated in the active site such that hydroxylation occurs at its beta-carbon. Together with structures with the inhibitors Zn((II)) and N-oxaloylglycine, analysis of the FIH-CAD complexes will assist design of hydroxylase inhibitors with proangiogenic properties. Conserved structural motifs within FIH imply it is one of an extended family of Fe((II)) oxygenases involved in gene regulation.

Biotin synthase (BioB) is an iron-sulfur dimeric enzyme which catalyzes the last step in biotin synthesis. The reaction consists of the introduction of a sulfur atom into dethiobiotin. It is shown here that BioB displays a significant cysteine desulfurase activity, providing it with the ability to mobilize sulfur from free cysteine. This activity is dependent on pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) and dithiothreitol and proceeds through a protein-bound persulfide. Like other cysteine desulfurases, BioB binds 1 equiv of PLP. By site-directed mutagenesis, two conserved cysteines, Cys97 and Cys128, are shown to be critical for cysteine desulfuration and are good candidates as the site for a persulfide. Since biotin synthase activity is greatly increased by PLP and cysteine, even though it does not exceed 1 nmol of biotin/nmol of monomer, it is proposed that cysteine desulfuration is intimately linked to biotin synthesis. New scenarios for sulfur insertion into dethiobiotin, in which cysteine persulfides play a key role, are discussed.

The clinically used beta-lactamase inhibitor clavulanic acid is produced by fermentation of Streptomyces clavuligerus. The orf6 gene of the clavulanic acid biosynthetic gene cluster in S. clavuligerus encodes a protein that shows sequence homology to ornithine acetyltransferase (OAT), the fifth enzyme of the arginine biosynthetic pathway. Orf6 was overexpressed in Escherichia coli (at approximately 15% of total soluble protein by SDS/PAGE analysis) indicating it was not toxic to the host cells. The recombinant protein was purified (to95% purity) by a one-step technique. Like other OATs it was synthesized as a precursor protein which underwent autocatalytic internal cleavage in E. coli to generate alpha and beta subunits. Cleavage was shown to occur between the alanine and threonine residues in a KGXGMXXPX--(M/L)AT (M/L)L motif conserved within all identified OAT sequences. Gel filtration and native electrophoresis analyses implied that the ORF6 protein was an alpha2beta2 heterotetramer and direct evidence for this came from mass spectrometric analyses. Although anomalous migration of the beta subunit was observed by standard SDS/PAGE analysis, which indicated the presence of two bands (as previously observed for other OATs), mass spectrometric analyses did not reveal any evidence for post-translational modification of the beta subunit. Extended denaturation with SDS before PAGE resulted in observation of a single major beta subunit band. Purified ORF6 was able to catalyse the reversible transfer of an acetyl group from N-acetylornithine to glutamate, but not the formation of N-acetylglutamate from glutamate and acetyl-coenzyme A, nor (detectably) the hydrolysis of N-acetylornithine. Mass spectrometry also revealed the reaction proceeds via acetylation of the beta subunit.

Biotin synthase (BioB) catalyzes the insertion of a sulfur atom between the C6 and C9 carbons of dethiobiotin. Reconstituted BioB from Escherichia coli contains a [4Fe-4S](2+/1+) cluster thought to be involved in the reduction and cleavage of S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet), generating methionine and the reactive 5'-deoxyadenosyl radical responsible for dethiobiotin H-abstraction. Using EPR and Mossbauer spectroscopy as well as methionine quantitation we demonstrate that the reduced S = 1/2 [4Fe-4S](1+) cluster is indeed capable of injecting one electron into AdoMet, generating one equivalent of both methionine and S = 0 [4Fe-4S](2+) cluster. Dethiobiotin is not required for the reaction. Using site-directed mutagenesis we show also that, among the eight cysteines of BioB, only three (Cys-53, Cys-57, Cys-60) are essential for AdoMet reductive cleavage, suggesting that these cysteines are involved in chelation of the [4Fe-4S](2+/1+) cluster.

An Mg2+ and ATP dependent β-lactam synthetase (BLS) catalyses formation of a β-lactam ring during the biosynthesis of clavulanic acid, an important β-lactamase inhibitor. An epimeric mixture of a 2-methylated derivative of the natural BLS substrate N2-(2-carboxyethyl)- l -arginine was synthesised and found to be a substrate for the enzyme. The epimeric products were characterised by 1H NMR and mass spectrometric analyses. The results suggest that a modified version of BLS might be used to catalyse the preparation of intermediates useful for the synthesis of β-lactam antibiotics.

HIF is a transcriptional complex that plays a central role in mammalian oxygen homeostasis. Recent studies have defined posttranslational modification by prolyl hydroxylation as a key regulatory event that targets HIF-α subunits for proteasomal destruction via the von Hippel-Lindau ubiquitylation complex. Here, we define a conserved HIF-VHL-prolyl hydroxylase pathway in C. elegans, and use a genetic approach to identify EGL-9 as a dioxygenase that regulates HIF by prolyl hydroxylation. In mammalian cells, we show that the HIF-prolyl hydroxylases are represented by a series of isoforms bearing a conserved 2-histidine-1-carboxylate iron coordination motif at the catalytic site. Direct modulation of recombinant enzyme activity by graded hypoxia, iron chelation, and cobaltous ions mirrors the characteristics of HIF induction in vivo, fulfilling requirements for these enzymes being oxygen sensors that regulate HIF.

Biotin synthase is required for the conversion of dethiobiotin to biotin and requires a number of accessory proteins and small molecule cofactors for activity in vitro. We have previously identified two of these proteins as flavodoxin and ferredoxin (flavodoxin) NADP(+) reductase. We now report the identification of MioC as a third essential protein, together with its cloning, purification, and characterization. Purified MioC has a UV-visible spectrum characteristic of a flavoprotein and contains flavin mononucleotide. The presence of flavin mononucleotide and the primary sequence similarity to flavodoxin suggest that MioC may function as an electron transport protein. The role of MioC in the biotin synthase reaction is discussed, and the structure and function of MioC is compared with that of flavodoxin.

A set of four non-heme iron(II) and 2-oxoglutarate-dependent enzymes catalyze the post-translational modification of a transcription factor, hypoxia inducible factor (HIF), that mediates the hypoxic response in animals. Hydroxylation of HIF both causes its degradation and limits its activity. We describe how the use of structural data coupled to solid-phase synthesis led to the discovery of a selective inhibitor of one of the HIF hydroxylases. The inhibitor N-oxalyl-d-phenylalanine was shown to inhibit the HIF asparaginyl hydroxylase (FIH) but not a HIF prolyl hydroxylase. A crystal structure of the inhibitor complexed to FIH reveals that it binds in the 2OG and, likely, in the dioxygen binding site. The results will help to enable the modulation of the hypoxic response for the up-regulation of specific genes of biomedical importance, such as erythropoietin and vascular endothelial growth factor.

Cyclic beta-oxocarboxylic acids inhibit factor inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor via ligation to the active site iron.

Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is a transcriptional complex that is regulated by oxygen sensitive hydroxylation of its alpha subunits by the prolyl hydroxylases PHD1, 2 and 3. To better understand the role of these enzymes in directing cellular responses to hypoxia, we derived an assay to determine their specific activity in both native cell extracts and recombinant sources of enzyme. We show that all three are capable of high rates of catalysis, in the order PHD2=PHD3>PHD1, using substrate peptides derived from the C-terminal degradation domain of HIF-alpha subunits, and that each demonstrates similar and remarkable sensitivity to oxygen, commensurate with a common role in signaling hypoxia.

The hypoxic response in animals is mediated by hydroxylation of proline residues in the alpha-subunit of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF). Hydroxylation is catalysed by prolyl-4-hydroxylases (PHD isozymes in humans) which are iron(II) and 2-oxoglutarate dependent oxygenases. Mutation of the arginine proposed to bind 2-oxoglutarate and of the 2His-1-carboxylate iron(II) binding motif in PHD1 dramatically reduces its activity. The source of the oxygen of the product alcohol is (>95%) dioxygen.