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Structural characterization of the LEM motif common to three human inner nuclear membrane proteins.

BACKGROUND: Integral membrane proteins of the inner nuclear membrane are involved in chromatin organization and postmitotic reassembly of the nucleus. The discovery that mutations in the gene encoding emerin causes X-linked Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy has enhanced interest in such proteins. A common structural domain of 50 residues, called the LEM domain, has been identified in emerin MAN1, and lamina-associated polypeptide (LAP) 2. In particular, all LAP2 isoforms share an N-terminal segment composed of such a LEM domain that is connected to a highly divergent LEM-like domain by a linker that is probably unstructured. RESULTS: We have determined the three-dimensional structures of the LEM and LEM-like domains of LAP2 using nuclear magnetic resonance and molecular modeling. Both domains adopt the same fold, mainly composed of two large parallel alpha helices. CONCLUSIONS: The structural LEM motif is found in human inner nuclear membrane proteins and in protein-protein interaction domains from bacterial multienzyme complexes. This suggests that LEM and LEM-like domains are protein-protein interaction domains. A region conserved in all LEM domains, at the surface of helix 2, could mediate interaction between LEM domains and a common protein partner.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

The structure of the feruloyl esterase module of xylanase 10B from Clostridium thermocellum provides insights into substrate recognition.

BACKGROUND: Degradation of the plant cell wall requires the synergistic action of a consortium of predominantly modular enzymes. In Clostridiae, these biocatalysts are organized into a supramolecular assembly termed a "cellulosome." This multienzyme complex possesses, in addition to its well-described cellulolytic activity, an apparatus specific for xylan degradation. Cinnamic acid esterases hydrolyze the ferulate groups involved in the crosslinking of arabinoxylans to lignin and thus play a key role in the degradation of the plant cell wall in addition to having promising industrial and medical applications. RESULTS: We have cloned and overexpressed the feruloyl esterase module from a 5 domain xylanase, Xyn10B from Clostridium thermocellum. The native structure at 1.6 A resolution has been solved with selenomethionine multiple wavelength anomalous dispersion and refined to a final R(free) of 17.8%. The structure of a hydrolytically inactive mutant, S954A, in complex with the reaction product ferulic acid has been refined at a resolution of 1.4 A with an R(free) of 16.0%. CONCLUSIONS: The C. thermocellum Xyn10B ferulic acid esterase displays the alpha/beta-hydrolase fold and possesses a classical Ser-His-Asp catalytic triad. Ferulate esterases are characterized by their specificity, and the active center reveals the binding site for ferulic acid and related compounds. Ferulate binds in a small surface depression that possesses specificity determinants for both the methoxy and hydroxyl ring substituents of the substrate. There appears to be a lack of specificity for the xylan backbone, which may reflect the intrinsic chemical heterogeneity of the natural substrate.

Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases↗

Biochemical characterization of peptidyl carrier protein (PCP), the thiolation domain of multifunctional peptide synthetases.

BACKGROUND: A structurally diverse group of bioactive peptides is synthesized by peptide synthetases which act as templates for a growing peptide chain, attached to the enzyme via a thioester bond. The protein templates are composed of distinctive substrate-activating modules, whose order dictates the primary structure of the corresponding peptide product. Each module contains defined domains that catalyze adenylation, thioester and peptide bond formation, as well as substrate modifications. To show that a putative thiolation domain (PCP) is involved in covalent binding and transfer of amino acyl residues during non-ribosomal peptide synthesis, we have cloned and biochemically characterized that region of tyrocidine synthetase 1, TycA. RESULTS: The 327-bp gene fragment encoding PCP was cloned using its homology to the genes for the acyl carrier proteins of fatty acid and polyketide biosynthesis. The protein was expressed as a His6 fusion protein, and purified in a single step by affinity chromatography. Incorporation of beta-[3H]alanine, a precursor of coenzyme A, demonstrated the modification of PCP with the cofactor 4'-phosphopantetheine. When an adenylation domain is present to supply the amino adenylate moiety, PCP can be acylated in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: PCP can bind covalently to the cofactor phosphopantetheine and can subsequently be acylated, strongly supporting the multiple carrier model of non-ribosomal peptide synthesis. The adenylation and thiolation domains can each act as independent multifunctional enzymes, further confirming the modular structure of peptide synthases, and can also perform sequential steps in trans, as do multienzyme complexes.

Acylation↗

Mechanism of alkaloid cyclopeptide synthesis in the ergot fungus Claviceps purpurea.

BACKGROUND: Previous analyses of the biosynthesis of the alkaloid cyclopeptides from the ergot fungus Claviceps purpurea were hampered by a lack of suitable systems for study in vitro, and this led to conflicting results concerning the mechanism of alkaloid cyclopeptide formation. Recently, D-lysergyl peptide synthetase (LPS) of the ergot fungus Claviceps purpurea, which assembles the non-cyclol precursors of the ergopeptines, has been partially purified and shown to consist of two polypeptide chains of 370 kDa (LPS 1) and 140 kDa (LPS 2); these contain all the sites necessary for the assembly of the D-lysergyl peptide backbone. The mechanism of D-lysergyl peptide synthesis remained unclear, however. RESULTS: We have identified the obligatory peptidic intermediates in D-lysergyl peptide synthesis and the sequential order of their formation. The two LPS subunits catalyze the formation of D-lysergyl mono-, di-, and tripeptides as enzyme-thioester intermediates, the formation of which appears to be irreversible. Peptide synthesis starts when D-lysergic acid binds to the LPS 2 subunit, which most probably occurs after the previous round of synthesis has been completed by the release of the end product from the LPS enzyme. CONCLUSIONS: We have shown that the mechanism of D-lysergyl peptide synthesis is an ordered process of successive acyl transfers on a multienzyme complex. This knowledge opens the way for enzymatic and genetic investigations into the formation of novel alkaloid cyclopeptides.

Alkaloids↗

The bacitracin biosynthesis operon of Bacillus licheniformis ATCC 10716: molecular characterization of three multi-modular peptide synthetases.

BACKGROUND: The branched cyclic dodecylpeptide antibiotic bacitracin, produced by special strains of Bacillus, is synthesized nonribosomally by a large multienzyme complex composed of the three bacitracin synthetases BA1, BA2 and BA3. These enzymes activate and incorporate the constituent amino acids of bacitracin by a thiotemplate mechanism in a pathway driven by a protein template. The biochemical features of these enzymes have been studied intensively but little is known about the molecular organization of their genes. RESULTS: The entire bacitracin synthetase operon containing the genes bacA-bacC was cloned and sequenced, identifying a modular structure typical of peptide synthetases. The bacA gene product (BA1, 598kDa) contains five modules, with an internal epimerization domain attached to the fourth; bacB encodes BA2 (297kDa), and has two modules and a carboxy-terminal epimerization domain; bacC encodes BA3, five modules (723kDa) with additional internal epimerization domains attached to the second and fourth. A carboxy-terminal putative thioesterase domain was also detected in BA3. A putative cyclization domain was found in BA1 that may be involved in thiazoline ring formation. The adenylation/thioester-binding domains of the first two BA1 modules were overproduced and the detected amino-acid specificity coincides with the first two amino acids in bacitracin. Disruption of chromosomal bacB resulted in a bacitracin-deficient mutant. CONCLUSIONS: The genes encoding the bacitracin synthetases BA1, BA2 and BA3 are organized in an operon, the structure of which reflects the modular architecture expected of peptide synthetases. In addition, a putative thiazoline ring formation domain was identified in the BA1 gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

An activator target in the RNA polymerase II holoenzyme.

Expression of protein-coding genes in eukaryotes involves the recruitment, by transcriptional activator proteins, of a transcription initiation apparatus consisting of greater than 50 polypeptides. Recent genetic and biochemical evidence in yeast suggests that a subset of these proteins, called SRB proteins, are likely targets for transcriptional activators. We demonstrate here, through affinity chromatography, photo-cross-linking, and surface plasmon resonance experiments, that the GAL4 activator interacts directly with the SRB4 subunit of the RNA polymerase II holoenzyme. The GAL4 activation domain binds to two essential segments of SRB4. The physiological relevance of this interaction is confirmed by mutations in SRB4, which occur within its GAL4-binding domain and which restore activation in vivo by a GAL4 derivative bearing a mutant activation domain.

Binding Sites↗

Human dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase gene transcription is mediated by cAMP-response element-like site and TACGAC direct repeat.

Dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase is a common component of four multienzyme complexes which are involved in oxidation of carbohydrates, lipids and amino acids. To better understand the regulation of human DLD gene expression, we have analyzed the proximal promoter region of this gene. DNase I footprinting analysis of the promoter region (-322 to +47 bp) revealed four major protein-binding domains (termed P1-P4). Nested deletions and site-specific mutations of approximately 100 bp proximal promoter region identified two elements, TACGAC direct repeat sequence and cAMP-response element (CRE)-like site, which are localized in the P2 and P1 domains, respectively, and mediate basal transcription of the DLD gene. Electrophoretic mobility supershift assays showed that the CRE-like site is associated with CRE binding protein. Interestingly, when DLD promoter constructs (-1.8 kb to +47 bp and -78 to +47 bp) fused with the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene were transiently transfected into human HepG2 cells either in the presence or absence of 0.5 mM 8-Br-cAMP, the levels of CAT expression remained unaffected. In addition, endogenous DLD mRNA levels in HepG2 cells also remained unaffected by treatment with 0.5 mM 8-Br-cAMP. These results indicate that the CRE binding protein is essential for basal transcription of the human DLD promoter, but does not confer cAMP-dependent gene regulation.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

Growth factor-dependent phosphoinositide signalling.

A wide variety of messages, in the form of diffusible growth factors, hormones and cytokines, are carried throughout multicellular organisms to coordinate important physiological properties of target cells, such as proliferation, differentiation, migration, apoptosis and metabolism. Most messengers bind to cognate receptors on target cells, which initiate a characteristic cascade of reactions within the cell, ultimately leading to the desired response. The cellular response is defined by the combination of signalling components whose individual activity depends upon the number and type of surface receptors. Consequently the responses of different cell types to one or more stimuli can be quite disparate. A molecular understanding of the signalling pathways employed by each type of receptor therefore underlies the ability to rationalize many cellular functions and to correct disfunctions. As a well studied example of the primary signalling events that take place on the cytoplasmic leaflet of the plasma membrane following receptor activation, we will discuss how the widely expressed receptor for epidermal growth factor (EGF) causes the phosphorylation and hydrolysis of a signalling precursor, the membrane lipid phosphatidylinositol. This paradigm will be used to illustrate certain general principles of signalling, including formation of multienzyme complexes, compartmentation of second messengers and intermediates, and cross-talk between different signalling pathways.

1-Phosphatidylinositol 4-Kinase↗

Morphogenesis of Escherichia coli.

Morphogenesis of the rod-shaped Escherichia coli is determined by controlled growth of an exoskeleton made of murein (peptidoglycan). Recent insights in the growth strategy of the stress-bearing murein sacculus has contributed to our understanding of how the required concerted action of murein polymerizing and hydrolyzing enzymes is achieved. The proteins involved are coordinated by the formation of multienzyme complexes. In this review, we summarize the recent results on murein structure and metabolism. On the basis of these findings, we present a model that explains maintenance of the specific rod shape of E. coli.

Cell Division↗

Crystallographic and enzymatic investigations on the role of Ser558, His610, and Asn614 in the catalytic mechanism of Azotobacter vinelandii dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase (E2p).

Dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase (E2p) is the structural and catalytic core of the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex. In Azotobacter vinelandii E2p, residues Ser558, His610', and Asn614' are potentially involved in transition state stabilization, proton transfer, and activation of proton transfer, respectively. Three active site mutants, S558A, H610C, and N614D, of the catalytic domain of A. vinelandii E2p were prepared by site-directed mutagenesis and enzymatically characterized. The crystal structures of the three mutants have been determined at 2.7, 2.5, and 2.6 A resolution, respectively. The S558A and H610C mutants exhibit a strongly (200-fold and 500-fold, respectively) reduced enzymatic activity whereas the substitution of Asn614' by aspartate results in a moderate (9-fold) reduced activity. The decrease in enzymatic activity of the S558A and H610C mutants is solely due to the absence of the hydroxyl and imidazole side chains, respectively, and not due to major conformational rearrangements of the protein. Furthermore the sulfhydryl group of Cys610' is reoriented, resulting in a completely buried side chain which is quite different from the solvent-exposed imidazole group of His610' in the wild-type enzyme. The presence of Asn614' in A. vinelandii E2p is exceptional since all other 18 known dihydrolipoamide acyltransferase sequences contain an aspartate in this position. We observe no difference in conformation of Asp614' in the N614D mutant structure compared with the conformation of Asn614' in the wild-type enzyme. Detailed analysis of all available structures and sequences suggests two classes of acetyltransferases: one class with a catalytically essential His-Asn pair and one with a His-Asp-Arg triad as present in chloramphenicol acetyltransferase [Leslie, A. G. W. (1990) J. Mol. Biol. 213, 167-186] and in the proposed active site models of Escherichia coli and yeast E2p.

Acetyltransferases↗

Crystallographic analysis of substrate binding and catalysis in dihydrolipoyl transacetylase (E2p).

The catalytic domain of dihydrolipoyl transacetylase (E2pCD) forms the core of the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex and catalyzes the acetyltransferase reaction using acetylCoA as acetyl donor and dihydrolipoamide (Lip(SH)2) as acceptor. The crystal structures of six complexes and derivatives of Azotobacter vinelandii E2pCD were solved. The binary complexes of the enzyme with CoA and Lip(SH)2 were determined at 2.6- and 3.0-A resolutions, respectively. The two substrates are found in an extended conformation at the two opposite entrances of the 30 A long channel which runs at the interface between two 3-fold-related subunits and forms the catalytic center. The reactive thiol groups of both substrates are within hydrogen-bond distance from the side chain of His 610. This fact supports the indication, derived from the similarity with chloramphenicol acetyl transferase, that the histidine side chain acts as general-base catalyst in the deprotonation of the reactive thiol of CoA. The conformation of Asn 614 appears to be dependent on the protonation state of the active site histidine, whose function as base catalyst is modulated in this way. Studies on E2pCD soaked in a high concentration of dithionite lead to the structure of the binary complex between E2pCD and hydrogen sulfite solved at 2.3-A resolution. It appears that the anion is bound in the middle of the catalytic center and is therefore capable of hosting and stabilizing a negative charge, which is of special interest since the reaction catalyzed by E2pCD is thought to proceed via a negatively charged tetrahedral intermediate. The structure of the binary complex between E2pCD and hydrogen sulfite suggests that transition-state stabilization can be provided by a direct hydrogen bond between the side chain of Ser 558 and the oxy anion of the putative intermediate. In the binary complex with CoA, the hydroxyl group of Ser 558 is hydrogen bonded to the nitrogen atom of one of the two peptide-like units of the substrate. Thus, CoA itself is involved in keeping the Ser hydroxyl group in the proper position for transition-state stabilization. Quite unexpectedly, the structure at 2.6-A resolution of a ternary complex in which CoA and Lip(SH)2 are simultaneously bound to E2pCD reveals that CoA has an alternative, nonproductive binding mode. In this abortive ternary complex, CoA adopts a helical conformation with two intramolecular hydrogen bonds and the reactive sulfur of the pantetheine arm positioned 12 A away from the active site residues involved in the transferase reaction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Acetyltransferases↗

Kinetic characterization of the polymerase and exonuclease activities of the gene 43 protein of bacteriophage T4.

The DNA polymerase from the bacteriophage T4 is part of a multienzyme complex required for the synthesis of DNA. As a first step in understanding the contributions of individual proteins to the dynamic properties of the complex, e.g., turnover, processivity, and fidelity of replication, the minimal kinetic schemes for the polymerase and exonuclease activities of the gene 43 protein have been determined by pre-steady-state kinetic methods and fit by computer simulation. A DNA primer/template (13/20-mer) was used as substrate; duplexes that contained more single-strand DNA resulted in nonproductive binding of the polymerase. The reaction sequence features an ordered addition of 13/20-mer followed by dATP to the T4 enzyme (dissociation constants of 70 nM and 20 microM) followed by rapid conversion (400 s-1) of the T4.13/20-mer.dATP complex to the T4.14/20-mer.PPi product species. A slow step (2 s-1) following PPi release limits a single turnover, although this step is bypassed in multiple incorporations (13/20-mer-->17/20-mer) which occur at rates > 400 s-1. Competition between correct versus incorrect nucleotides relative to the template strand indicates that the dissociation constants for the incorrect nucleotides are at millimolar values, thus providing evidence that the T4 polymerase, like the T7 but unlike the Klenow fragment polymerases, discriminates by factors > 10(3) against misincorporation in the nucleotide binding step. The exonuclease activity of the T4 enzyme requires an activation step, i.e., T4.DNA-->T4.(DNA)*, whose rate constants reflect whether the 3'-terminus of the primer is matched or mismatched; for matched 13/20-mer the constant is 1 s-1, and for mismatched 13T/20-mer, 5 s-1. Evidence is presented from crossover experiments that this step may represent a melting of the terminus of the duplex, which is followed by rapid exonucleolytic cleavage (100s-1). In the presence of the correct dNTP, primer extension is the rate-limiting step rather than a step involving travel of the duplex between separated exonuclease and polymerase sites. Since the rate constant for 13/20-mer or 13T/20-mer dissociation from the enzyme is 6 or 8 s-1 and competes with that for activation, the exonucleolytic editing by the enzyme alone in a single pass is somewhat inefficient (5 s-1/(8 s-1+5 s-1)), ca. 40%. Consequently, a major role for the accessory proteins may be to slow the rate of enzyme.substrate dissociation, thereby increasing overall fidelity and processivity.

Base Sequence↗

Active-site modification of mammalian pyruvate dehydrogenase by pyridoxal 5'-phosphate.

The pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex from bovine kidney and heart is inactivated by treatment with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate and sodium cyanide or sodium borohydride. The site of this inhibition is the pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1) component of the complex. Inactivation of E1 by the pyridoxal phosphate-cyanide treatment was prevented by thiamin pyrophosphate. Equilibrium binding studies showed that E1 contains two thiamin pyrophosphate binding sites per molecule (alpha 2 beta 2) and that modification of E1 increased the dissociation constant (Kd) for thiamin pyrophosphate about 5-fold. Incorporation of approximately 2.4 equiv of 14CN per mole of E1 tetramer in the presence of pyridoxal phosphate resulted in about a 90% loss of E1 activity. Radioactivity was incorporated predominantly into the E1 alpha subunit. Radioactive N6-pyridoxyllysine was identified in an acid hydrolysate of the E1-pyridoxal phosphate complex that had been reduced with NaB3H4. The data are interpreted to indicate that in the presence of sodium cyanide or sodium borohydride, pyridoxal phosphate reacts with a lysine residue at or near the thiamin pyrophosphate binding site of E1. This binding site is apparently located on the alpha subunit.

Animals↗

Pyridoxal phosphate as a probe of reovirus transcriptase.

The ribonucleoprotein core of reovirus is a multienzyme complex that transcribes messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) from double-stranded RNA templates. So far, the core has resisted attempts to disassemble it and identify the polypeptide species responsible for RNA polymerase activity. As an alternative approach, we tested pyridoxal 5-phosphate (PLP) as a potential affinity labeling reagent for reovirus transcriptase in vitro; PLP has been used as an affinity reagent for cellular and viral nucleic acid polymerases. We found that PLP inhibited reovirus transcriptase reversibly (apparent Ki = 0.2 mM), but the inhibition was noncompetitive with respect to each of the four ribonucleoside triphosphates. This interaction required both the aldehyde and phosphate moieties in PLP, since pyridoxamine and pyridoxal were relatively inactive. To identify the polypeptides involved, we labeled the PLP--core complex by reductive alkylation with [3H]borohydride. At PLP concentrations close to the apparent Ki, labeling was selective for the two largest virion polypeptides, lambda 1 and lambda 2. At saturation, there were only 10 high-affinity PLP binding sites per core in each of the lambda polypeptide species. These findings implicate either or both lambda polypeptide species in viral transcription and they indicate that a special population, representing no more than 10% of the total lambda molecules in each core, participates in RNA synthesis.

Borohydrides↗

Functional and structural characterization of a synthetic peptide representing the N-terminal domain of prokaryotic pyruvate dehydrogenase.

A synthetic peptide (Nterm-E1p) is used to characterize the structure and function of the N-terminal region (amino acid residues 4-45) of the pyruvate dehydrogenase component (E1p) from the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex (PDHC) from Azotobacter vinelandii. Activity and binding studies established that Nterm-E1p specifically competes with E1p for binding to the dihydrolipoyl transacetylase component (E2p) of PDHC. Moreover, the experiments show that the N-terminal region of E1p forms an independent folding domain that functions as a binding domain. CD measurements, two-dimensional (2D) (1)H NMR analysis, and secondary structure prediction all indicate that Nterm-E1p has a high alpha-helical content. Here a structural model of the N-terminal domain is proposed. The peptide is present in two conformations, the population of which depends on the sample conditions. The conformations are designated "unfolded" at pH > or =6 and "folded" at pH <5. The 2D (1)H TOCSY spectrum of a mixture of folded and unfolded Nterm-E1p shows exchange cross-peaks that "link" the folded and unfolded state of Nterm-E1p. The rate of exchange between the two species is in the range of 0.5-5 s(-1). Sharp resonances in the NMR spectra of wild-type E1p demonstrate that this 200 kDa enzyme contains highly flexible regions. The observed dynamic character of E1p and of Nterm-E1p is likely required for the binding of the E1p dimer to the two different binding sites on E2p. Moreover, the flexibility might be essential in sustaining the allosteric properties of the enzyme bound in the complex.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The lipoamide dehydrogenase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis permits the direct observation of flavin intermediates in catalysis.

Lipoamide dehydrogenase catalyses the NAD(+)-dependent oxidation of the dihydrolipoyl cofactors that are covalently attached to the acyltransferase components of the pyruvate dehydrogenase, alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, and glycine reductase multienzyme complexes. It contains a tightly, but noncovalently, bound FAD and a redox-active disulfide, which cycle between the oxidized and reduced forms during catalysis. The mechanism of reduction of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis lipoamide dehydrogenase by NADH and [4S-(2)H]-NADH was studied anaerobically at 4 degrees C and pH 7.5 by stopped-flow spectrophotometry. Three phases of enzyme reduction were observed. The first phase, characterized by a decrease in absorbance at 400-500 nm and an increase in absorbance at 550-700 nm, was fast (k(for) = 1260 s(-)(1), k(rev) = 590 s(-)(1)) and represents the formation of FADH(2).NAD(+), an intermediate that has never been observed before in any wild-type lipoamide dehydrogenase. A primary deuterium kinetic isotope effect [(D)(k(for) + k(rev)) approximately 4.2] was observed on this phase. The second phase, characterized by regain of the absorbance at 400-500 nm, loss of the 550-700 nm absorbance, and gain of 500-550 nm absorbance, was slower (k(obs) = 200 s(-)(1)). This phase represents the intramolecular transfer of electrons from FADH(2) to the redox-active disulfide to generate the anaerobically stable two-electron reduced enzyme, EH(2). The third phase, characterized by a decrease in absorbance at 400-550 nm, represents the formation of the four-electron reduced form of the enzyme, EH(4). The observed rate constant for this phase showed a decreasing NADH concentration dependence, and results from the slow (k(for) = 57 s(-)(1), k(rev) = 128 s(-)(1)) isomerization of EH(2) or slow release of NAD(+) before rapid NADH binding and reaction to form EH(4). The mechanism of oxidation of EH(2) by NAD(+) was also investigated under the same conditions. The 530 nm charge-transfer absorbance of EH(2) shifted to 600 nm upon NAD(+) binding in the dead time of mixing of the stopped-flow instrument and represents formation of the EH(2).NAD(+) complex. This was followed by two phases. The first phase (k(obs) = 750 s(-)(1)), characterized by a small decrease in absorbance at 435 and 458 nm, probably represents limited accumulation of FADH(2).NAD(+). The second phase was characterized by an increase in absorbance at 435 and 458 nm and a decrease in absorbance at 530 and 670 nm. The observed rate constant that describes this phase of approximately 115 s(-)(1) probably represents the overall rate of formation of E(ox) and NADH from EH(2) and NAD(+), and is largely determined by the slower rates of the coupled sequence of reactions preceding flavin oxidation.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Catalysis of diaphorase reactions by Mycobacterium tuberculosis lipoamide dehydrogenase occurs at the EH4 level.

Lipoamide dehydrogenase catalyzes the reversible NAD(+)-dependent oxidation of the dihydrolipoyl cofactors that are covalently attached to the acyltransferase components of the pyruvate dehydrogenase, alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, and glycine reductase multienzyme complexes. It contains two redox centers: a tightly, but noncovalently, bound FAD and an enzymic disulfide, each of which can accommodate two electrons. In the two-electron-reduced enzyme (EH(2)), the disulfide is reduced while the FAD cofactor is oxidized. In the four-electron-reduced enzyme (EH(4)), both redox centers are reduced. Lipoamide dehydrogenase can also catalyze the NADH-dependent reduction of alternative electron acceptors such as 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol, ferricyanide, quinones, and molecular oxygen (O(2)). To determine the mechanism of these "diaphorase" reactions, we generated the EH(2) and EH(4) forms of Mycobacterium tuberculosis lipoamide dehydrogenase and rapidly mixed these enzyme forms with d,l-lipoylpentanoate, 2,6-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone, and O(2), in a stopped-flow spectrophotometer at pH 7.5 and 4 degrees C. EH(2) reduced d,l-lipoylpentanoate >/=100 times faster than EH(4) did. Conversely, EH(4) reduced 2,6-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone and molecular oxygen 90 and 40 times faster than EH(2), respectively. Comparison of the rates of reduction of the above substrates by EH(2) and EH(4) with their corresponding steady-state kinetic parameters for kinetic competence leads to the conclusion that reduction of lipoyl substrates occurs with EH(2) while reduction of diaphorase substrates occurs with EH(4).

Bacterial Proteins↗

The tRNA-interacting factor p43 associates with mammalian arginyl-tRNA synthetase but does not modify its tRNA aminoacylation properties.

Arginyl-tRNA synthetase (ArgRS) is one of the nine synthetase components of a multienzyme complex containing three auxiliary proteins as well. We previously established that the N-terminal moiety of the auxiliary protein p43 associates with the N-terminal, eukaryotic-specific polypeptide extension of ArgRS. Because p43 is homologous to Arc1p, a yeast general RNA-binding protein that associates with MetRS and GluRS and plays the role of tRNA-binding cofactor in the aminoacylation reaction, we analyzed the functional significance of p43-ArgRS association. We had previously showed that full-length ArgRS, corresponding to the ArgRS species associated within the multisynthetase complex, and ArgRS with a deletion of 73 N-terminal amino acid residues, corresponding to a free species of ArgRS, both produced in yeast, have similar catalytic parameters (Lazard, M., Kerjan, P., Agou, F., and Mirande, M. (2000) J. Mol. Biol. 302, 991-1004). However, a recent study had suggested that association of p43 to ArgRS reduces the apparent K(M) of ArgRS to tRNA (Park, S. G., Jung, K. H., Lee, J. S., Jo, Y. J., Motegi, H., Kim, S., and Shiba, K. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 16673-16676). In this study, we analyzed in detail, by gel retardation assays and enzyme kinetics, the putative role of p43 as a tRNA-binding cofactor of ArgRS. The association of p43 with ArgRS neither strengthened tRNA-binding nor changed kinetic parameters in the amino acid activation or in the tRNA aminoacylation reaction. Furthermore, selective removal of the C-terminal RNA-binding domain of p43 from the multisynthetase complex did not affect kinetic parameters for ArgRS. Therefore, p43 has a dual function. It promotes association of ArgRS to the complex via its N-terminal domain, but its C-terminal RNA-binding domain may act as a tRNA-interacting factor for an as yet unidentified component of the complex.

Acylation↗