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A metallo-beta-lactamase enzyme in action: crystal structures of the monozinc carbapenemase CphA and its complex with biapenem.

One strategy developed by bacteria to resist the action of beta-lactam antibiotics is the expression of metallo-beta-lactamases. CphA from Aeromonas hydrophila is a member of a clinically important subclass of metallo-beta-lactamases that have only one zinc ion in their active site and for which no structure is available. The crystal structures of wild-type CphA and its N220G mutant show the structural features of the active site of this enzyme, which is modeled specifically for carbapenem hydrolysis. The structure of CphA after reaction with a carbapenem substrate, biapenem, reveals that the enzyme traps a reaction intermediate in the active site. These three X-ray structures have allowed us to propose how the enzyme recognizes carbapenems and suggest a mechanistic pathway for hydrolysis of the beta-lactam. This will be relevant for the design of metallo-beta-lactamase inhibitors as well as of antibiotics that escape their hydrolytic activity.

Aeromonas hydrophila↗

Crystal structure of chloroplast cytochrome f reveals a novel cytochrome fold and unexpected heme ligation.

BACKGROUND: Cytochrome f is the high potential electron acceptor of the chloroplast cytochrome b6f complex, and is the electron donor to plastocyanin. The 285-residue cytochrome f subunit is anchored in the thylakoid membrane of the chloroplast by a single membrane-spanning segment near the carboxyl terminus. A soluble redox-active 252-residue lumen-side polypeptide with native spectroscopic and redox properties, missing the membrane anchor and carboxyl terminus, was purified from turnip chloroplasts for structural studies. RESULTS: The crystal structure of cytochrome f, determined to 2.3 A resolution, has several unexpected features. The 252-residue polypeptide is organized into one large and one small domain. The larger heme-binding domain is strikingly different from known structures of other c-type cytochromes and has the same fold as the type III domain of the animal protein, fibronectin. Cytochrome f binds heme with an unprecedented axial heme iron ligand: the amino terminus of the polypeptide. CONCLUSION: The first atomic structure of a subunit of either the cytochrome b6f complex or of the related cytochrome bc1 complex has been obtained. The structure of cytochrome f allows prediction of the approximate docking site of plastocyanin and should allow systematic studies of the mechanism of intra- and inter-protein electron transfer between the cytochrome heme and plastocyanin copper, which are approximately isopotential. The unprecedented axial heme iron ligand also provides information on the sequence of events (i.e. cleavage of signal peptide and ligation of heme) associated with translocation of the cytochrome across the membrane and its subsequent folding.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Crystal structures of various maltooligosaccharides bound to maltoporin reveal a specific sugar translocation pathway.

BACKGROUND: Maltoporin (which is encoded by the lamB gene) facilitates the translocation of maltodextrins across the outer membrane of E. coli. In particular, it is indispensable for the transport of long maltooligosaccharides, as these do not pass through non-specific porins. An understanding of this intriguing capability requires elucidation of the structural basis. RESULTS: The crystal structures of maltoporin in complex with maltose, maltotriose and maltohexaose reveal an extended binding site within the maltoporin channel. The maltooligosaccharides are in apolar van der Waals contact with the 'greasy slide', a hydrophobic path that is composed of aromatic residues and located at the channel lining. At the constriction of the channel the sugars are tightly surrounded by protein side chains and form an extensive hydrogen-bonding network with ionizable amino-acid residues. CONCLUSION: Hydrophobic interactions with the greasy slide guide the sugar into and through the channel constriction. The glucosyl-binding subsites at the channel constriction confer stereospecificity to the channel along with the ability to scavenge substrate at low concentrations.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins↗

gC1q-R/p33: structure-function predictions from the crystal structure.

Human gC1q-R (p33) is a multicompartmental cellular protein expressed on various types of cells and tissues. Although originally isolated as a receptor for C1q by virtue of its specificity for the globular heads of that molecule, a large body of evidence has now been accumulated which shows that in addition to C1q, gC1q-R can serve as a receptor for diverse ligands including proteins of the intrinsic coagulation/bradykinin forming cascade, as well as antigens of cellular, bacterial, and viral origin. Furthermore, since gC1q-R has been shown to regulate the functions of protein kinase C (PKC), it is postulated that gC1q-R-induced signaling cascade may involve activation of PKC. These data collectively therefore suggest that gC1q-R plays an important role in blood coagulation, inflammation, and infection. However, although significant progress has been made in unraveling the molecular, biochemical, and structural features of this molecule, and data in support of its biological relevance is accumulating, it is still unclear as to how the molecule is anchored on the membrane since its sequence is devoid of a classical transmembrane domain or a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor. Furthermore, while recombinant gC1q-R can bind to cell surfaces suggesting that it may bind directly to the phospholipid bilayer, our recent experiments show that, at least in vitro, gC1q-R does not bind to unilamellar vesicle preparations of either phosphatidylcholine (PC) or phosphatidylserine: phosphatidylcholine. This work was therefore undertaken to analyze the three-dimensional structure of gC1q-R in order to identify unique structural features that may serve not only to anchor the protein but also to explain its affinity for such a diversity of plasma as well as microbial and viral ligands.

Animals↗

Crystal structures of a poplar xyloglucan endotransglycosylase reveal details of transglycosylation acceptor binding.

Xyloglucan endotransglycosylases (XETs) cleave and religate xyloglucan polymers in plant cell walls via a transglycosylation mechanism. Thus, XET is a key enzyme in all plant processes that require cell wall remodeling. To provide a basis for detailed structure-function studies, the crystal structure of Populus tremula x tremuloides XET16A (PttXET16A), heterologously expressed in Pichia pastoris, has been determined at 1.8-A resolution. Even though the overall structure of PttXET16A is a curved beta-sandwich similar to other enzymes in the glycoside hydrolase family GH16, parts of its substrate binding cleft are more reminiscent of the distantly related family GH7. In addition, XET has a C-terminal extension that packs against the conserved core, providing an additional beta-strand and a short alpha-helix. The structure of XET in complex with a xyloglucan nonasaccharide, XLLG, reveals a very favorable acceptor binding site, which is a necessary but not sufficient prerequisite for transglycosylation. Biochemical data imply that the enzyme requires sugar residues in both acceptor and donor sites to properly orient the glycosidic bond relative to the catalytic residues.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The ab initio crystal structure solution of proteins by direct methods. II. The procedure and its first applications.

A direct phasing method is described that is potentially able to solve ab initio protein structures. The method uses the information contained in diffraction data of the native structure and of one isomorphous derivative. The various steps of the procedure are analysed in order to estimate their robustness against experimental errors in measurements and lack of isomorphism. Experimental tests involve four typical protein structures and show that crystal structure solution is attained in a rather straightforward way.

Crystallography↗

Crystal structure of yeast YHR049W/FSH1, a member of the serine hydrolase family.

Yhr049w/FSH1 was recently identified in a combined computational and experimental proteomics analysis for the detection of active serine hydrolases in yeast. This analysis suggested that FSH1 might be a serine-type hydrolase belonging to the broad functional alphabeta-hydrolase superfamily. In order to get insight into the molecular function of this gene, it was targeted in our yeast structural genomics project. The crystal structure of the protein confirms that it contains a Ser/His/Asp catalytic triad that is part of a minimal alpha/beta-hydrolase fold. The architecture of the putative active site and analogies with other protein structures suggest that FSH1 may be an esterase. This finding was further strengthened by the unexpected presence of a compound covalently bound to the catalytic serine in the active site. Apparently, the enzyme was trapped with a reactive compound during the purification process.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Crystal structures of Escherichia coli RecA in complex with MgADP and MnAMP-PNP.

RecA catalyzes the DNA pairing and strand-exchange steps of homologous recombination, an important mechanism for repair of double-stranded DNA breaks. The binding of RecA to DNA is modulated by adenosine nucleotides. ATP increases the affinity of RecA for DNA, while ADP decreases the affinity. Previously, the crystal structures of E. coli RecA and its complex with ADP have been determined to resolutions of 2.3 and 3.0 A, respectively, but the model for the RecA-ADP complex did not include magnesium ion or side chains. Here, we have determined the crystal structures of RecA in complex with MgADP and MnAMP-PNP, a nonhydrolyzable analogue of ATP, at resolutions of 1.9 and 2.1 A, respectively. Both crystals grow in the same conditions and have RecA in a right-handed helical form with a pitch of approximately 82 A. The crystal structures show the detailed interactions of RecA with the nucleotide cofactors, including the metal ion and the gamma phosphate of AMP-PNP. There are very few conformational differences between the structures of RecA bound to ADP and AMP-PNP, which differ from uncomplexed RecA only in a slight opening of the P-loop residues 66-73 upon nucleotide binding. To interpret the functional significance of the structure of the MnAMP-PNP complex, a coprotease assay was used to compare the ability of different nucleotides to promote the active, extended conformation of RecA. Whereas ATPgammaS and ADP-AlF(4) facilitate a robust coprotease activity, ADP and AMP-PNP do not activate RecA at all. We conclude that the crystal structure of the RecA-MnAMP-PNP complex represents a preisomerization state of the RecA protein that exists after ATP has bound but before the conformational transition to the active state.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Structural consequences of effector binding to the T state of aspartate carbamoyltransferase: crystal structures of the unligated and ATP- and CTP-complexed enzymes at 2.6-A resolution.

The crystal structure of Escherichia coli aspartate carbamoyltransferase complexed with adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) has been solved by molecular replacement and has been refined to a crystallographic residual of 0.17 at 2.6-A resolution by using the computer program X-PLOR. The unit cell dimensions of this crystal form are a = b = 122.2 A and c = 143.3 A and the space group is P321. Although the c-axis unit cell dimension is approximately 1 A longer than the corresponding dimension of the CTP-ligated P321 crystal form (c = 142.2 A), the ATP-ligated enzyme adopts a T-like quaternary structure. The base moiety of ATP interacts with residues Glu10, Ile12, and Lys60 while the ribose is near Asp19 and Lys60; the triphosphate entity is bound to Lys94, although His20 and Arg96 are nearby. We observe a higher occupancy for ATP in the allosteric site of the R1 regulatory chain in comparison to the occupancy of the R6 allosteric site. These crystallographically independent sites are related by a molecular 2-fold axis. There are other violations of the noncrystallographic symmetry that are similar to those observed in the refined CTP-ligated aspartate carbamoyltransferase structure. These infringements on the molecular symmetry might be the result of intermolecular interactions in the crystal. To ensure the most meaningful comparison with the ATP-ligated structure, we refined the previously reported CTP-bound and unligated structures to crystallographic residuals between 0.17 and 0.18 using X-PLOR. These X-PLOR refined structures are not significantly different from the initial structures that had been crystallographically refined by a restrained least-squares method. After making all possible comparisons between the CTP- and ATP-ligated and the unligated T-state structures, we find that the most significant differences are located at the allosteric sites and in small changes in the quaternary structures. At the allosteric site, the binding of CTP and ATP successively enlarges the nucleotide binding cavity, particularly in the vicinity of the base. The changes in the quaternary structure can be characterized by an increase in the separation of the catalytic trimers by approximately 0.5 A as ATP binds to the unligated T structure. On the basis of these structural studies, we discuss the relationships between the conformational differences in the allosteric site and the small changes in the quaternary structure within the T form to the possible mechanisms for CTP inhibition and ATP activation.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Search for isotypism in crystal structures by means of the graph theory

A method for the classification of crystal structures of chemical compounds is proposed, which is based on the representation of the system of interatomic bonds in a crystal as a finite 'reduced' graph. The program IsoTest is described, allowing one to find automatically the topological similarity (isotypism) for large groups of stoichiometrically and structurally different compounds. The analysis of crystal structures of simple and double sulfates and binary inorganic compounds was carried out and numerous examples of topological isotypism of the representatives of these groups of substances were found. It is shown that in many cases the ionic sublattices, constructed according to one of the close packings, can be selected in the sulfate crystal structures.

Journal Article↗

The crystal structure of the light-harvesting complex II (B800-850) from Rhodospirillum molischianum.

BACKGROUND: The light-harvesting complexes II (LH-2s) are integral membrane proteins that form ring-like structures, oligomers of alpha beta-heterodimers, in the photosynthetic membranes of purple bacteria. They contain a large number of chromophores organized optimally for light absorption and rapid light energy migration. Recently, the structure of the nonameric LH-2 of Rhodopseudomonas acidophila has been determined; we report here the crystal structure of the octameric LH-2 from Rhodospirillum molischianum. The unveiling of similarities and differences in the architecture of these proteins may provide valuable insight into the efficient energy transfer mechanisms of bacterial photosynthesis. RESULTS: The crystal structure of LH-2 from Rs. molischianum has been determined by molecular replacement at 2.4 A resolution using X-ray diffraction. The crystal structure displays two concentric cylinders of sixteen membrane-spanning helical subunits, containing two rings of bacteriochlorophyll-a (BChl-a) molecules. One ring comprises sixteen B850 BChl-as perpendicular to the membrane plane and the other eight B800 BChl-as that are nearly parallel to the membrane plane; eight membrane-spanning lycopenes (the major carotenoid in this complex) stretch out between the B800 and B850 BChl-as. The B800 BChl-as exhibit a different ligation from that of Rps. acidophila (aspartate is the Mg ligand as opposed to formyl-methionine in Rps. acidophila). CONCLUSIONS: The light-harvesting complexes from different bacteria assume various ring sizes. In LH-2 of Rs. molischianum, the Qy transition dipole moments of neighbouring B850 and B800 BChl-as are nearly parallel to each other, that is, they are optimally aligned for Föster exciton transfer. Dexter energy transfer between these chlorophylls is also possible through interactions mediated by lycopenes and B850 BChl-a phytyl tails; the B800 BChl-a and one of the two B850 BChl-as associated with each heterodimeric unit are in van der Waals distance to a lycopene, such that singlet and triplet energy transfer between lycopene and the BChl-as can occur by the Dexter mechanism. The ring structure of the B850 BChl-as is optimal for light energy transfer in that it samples all spatial absorption and emission characteristics and places all oscillator strength into energetically low lying, thermally accessible exciton states.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Crystal structure and stability studies of C77S HiPIP: a serine ligated [4Fe-4S] cluster.

The crystal structure of Chromatium vinosum C77S HiPIP has been determined and is compared with that of wild type. This is the first reported crystal structure of a Ser ligated [4Fe-4S] cluster and reveals a 0.11 A shortening of the Fe-O bond (relative to Fe-S), but only minor structural alterations of the overall tertiary structure. Coordination changes are corroborated by resonance Raman spectroscopy. Comparison of the crystal and solution structures for HiPIPs identifies Phe48 as the main controller of solvent access to the Fe-S cluster; however, there is no significant change in cluster solvation of the C77S mutant relative to WT HiPIP. Ser ligation ultimately results in decreased cluster stability due to increased sensitivity to proton mediated degradation.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Crystal structure of canine and bovine granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF).

The crystal structures of recombinant canine and bovine granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) have been determined by X-ray crystallography, using molecular replacement with recombinant human G-CSF as a model. G-CSF is a member of the cytokine family of glycoproteins that stimulate the differentiation and proliferation of blood cells. Human, bovine and canine G-CSF all have a molecular mass of about 19 kDa and share an amino acid sequence identity of about 80%. Two crystal forms of canine G-CSF have been solved. Form I recombinant canine G-CSF (rcG-CSFI; space group C2) contains one molecule in the asymmetric unit while form II canine G-CSF (rcG-CSFII; space group P2(1)) has two molecules in the asymmetric unit and bovine G-CSF (rbG-CSF; space group P2(1)2(1)2(1)) contains one molecule in the asymmetric unit. rcG-CSFI has been refined to an R factor of 20.7% with data to 2.3 A resolution and rcG-CSFII has been refined to an R factor of 19.3% with data to 2.2 A resolution. rbG-CSF has been refined to an R factor of 21.3% with data to 1.7 A resolution. The structure of human, canine and bovine G-CSF is an antiparallel 4-alpha-helical bundle with up-up-down-down connectivity. With the exception of one highly exposed loop (residues 66 to 74), the human, canine and bovine structures are very similar to each other. Using our series of G-CSF crystal structures we developed a function that describes the probability that a particular residue position (i) contributes to a G-CSF receptor binding site based on two principles, (1) high sequence conservation in the primary sequence of human, bovine, canine and murine G-CSF and (2) conservation of high solvent accessibility in the human, bovine and canine crystal structures. On the basis of this probability function as well as a comparison of G-CSF to the crystal structure of human growth hormone (hGH) complexed with the extracellular domain of the human growth hormone receptor (hGHbp), residues that contribute to potential G-CSF receptor binding sites are identified.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Crystal structure of lactaldehyde dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli and inferences regarding substrate and cofactor specificity.

Aldehyde dehydrogenases catalyze the oxidation of aldehyde substrates to the corresponding carboxylic acids. Lactaldehyde dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli (aldA gene product, P25553) is an NAD(+)-dependent enzyme implicated in the metabolism of l-fucose and l-rhamnose. During the heterologous expression and purification of taxadiene synthase from the Pacific yew, lactaldehyde dehydrogenase from E. coli was identified as a minor (</=5%) side-product subsequent to its unexpected crystallization. Accordingly, we now report the serendipitous crystal structure determination of unliganded lactaldehyde dehydrogenase from E. coli determined by the technique of multiple isomorphous replacement using anomalous scattering at 2.2 A resolution. Additionally, we report the crystal structure of the ternary enzyme complex with products lactate and NADH at 2.1 A resolution, and the crystal structure of the enzyme complex with NADPH at 2.7 A resolution. The structure of the ternary complex reveals that the nicotinamide ring of the cofactor is disordered between two conformations: one with the ring positioned in the active site in the so-called hydrolysis conformation, and another with the ring extended out of the active site into the solvent region, designated the out conformation. This represents the first crystal structure of an aldehyde dehydrogenase-product complex. The active site pocket in which lactate binds is more constricted than that of medium-chain dehydrogenases such as the YdcW gene product of E. coli. The structure of the binary complex with NADPH reveals the first view of the structural basis of specificity for NADH: the negatively charged carboxylate group of E179 destabilizes the binding of the 2'-phosphate group of NADPH sterically and electrostatically, thereby accounting for the lack of enzyme activity with this cofactor.

Aldehyde Oxidoreductases↗

Crystal structure of the human TRPV2 channel ankyrin repeat domain.

TRPV channels are important polymodal integrators of noxious stimuli mediating thermosensation and nociception. An ankyrin repeat domain (ARD), which is a common protein-protein recognition domain, is conserved in the N-terminal intracellular domain of all TRPV channels and predicted to contain three to four ankyrin repeats. Here we report the first structure from the TRPV channel subfamily, a 1.7 A resolution crystal structure of the human TRPV2 ARD. Our crystal structure reveals a six ankyrin repeat stack with multiple insertions in each repeat generating several unique features compared with a canonical ARD. The surface typically used for ligand recognition, the ankyrin groove, contains extended loops with an exposed hydrophobic patch and a prominent kink resulting from a large rotational shift of the last two repeats. The TRPV2 ARD provides the first structural insight into a domain that coordinates nociceptive sensory transduction and is likely to be a prototype for other TRPV channel ARDs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Crystal structure of ovine interferon-tau at 2.1 A resolution.

Ovine interferon-tau (ovIFN-tau) is a pregnancy recognition hormone required for normal embryonic development in sheep. In addition to its novel role in reproductive physiology, ovIFN-tau displays antiviral and antiproliferative activities similar to the IFN-alpha subtypes. To probe the structural basis for its unique activity profile, the crystal structure of ovIFN-tau has been determined at 2.1 A resolution. The fold of ovIFN-tau is similar to the previously determined crystal structures of human IFN-alpha2b and human and murine IFN-beta, which each contain five alpha-helices. Comparison of ovIFN-tau with huIFN-alpha2b, huIFN-beta, and muIFN-beta reveals unexpected structural differences that occur in regions of considerable sequence identity. Specifically, main-chain differences up to 11 A occur for residues in helix A, the AB loop, helix B, and the BC loop. Furthermore, these regions are known to be important for receptor binding and biological activity. Of particular interest, a buried ion pair is observed in ovIFN-tau between Glu71 and Arg145 which displaces a conserved tryptophan residue (Trp77) from the helical bundle core. This ion pair represents a major change in the core of ovIFN-tau compared to huIFN-alpha2b. Based on amino acid sequence comparisons, these ovIFN-tau structural features may be conserved in several human IFN-alpha subtypes and IFN-omega. The structure identifies potential problems in interpreting site-directed mutagenesis data on the human IFN-alpha family that consists of 12 proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗