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Crystallization and preliminary x-ray crystallographic analysis of NAD+-dependent DNA ligase from Thermus filiformis.

A highly thermostable DNA ligase from Thermus filiformis has been crystallized at room temperature using methoxypolyethylene glycol 5000 as a precipitant. The crystal belongs to the monoclinic space group P2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 90.63, b = 117.80, c = 98. 65 A, beta = 115.56 degrees. Two molecules of DNA ligase are present in the asymmetric unit, giving a crystal volume per protein mass (V(m)) of 3.1 A(3) Da(-1) and a solvent content of 61%. A native data set extending to 3.0 A resolution has been collected at 100 K using synchrotron X-rays.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Purification, crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of the biotin-protein ligase from Pyrococcus horikoshii OT3.

Biotin-protein ligase is an enzyme that catalyzes the ATP-dependent biotinylation of a specific lysine residue in acetyl-CoA carboxylase. The biotin-protein ligase from Pyrococcus horikoshii OT3 has been cloned, overexpressed and purified. Crystallization was performed by the microbatch method or the vapour-diffusion method using PEG 2000 as a precipitant at 295 K. X-ray diffraction data have been collected to 1.6 A resolution from a native crystal and to 1.55 A resolution from a selenomethionine-derivative crystal for multiple anomalous dispersion phasing using synchrotron radiation at 100 K. The native crystal belongs to the monoclinic space group P2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 38.601, b = 78.264, c = 70.147 A, beta = 101.48 degrees. Assuming a homodimer per asymmetric unit gives a VM value of 2.14 A3 Da(-1) and a solvent content of 42.5%. Cocrystals with biotin, ADP and biotinyl-5'-AMP were prepared and diffraction data sets were collected to 1.6, 1.6 and 1.45 A resolution, respectively.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Promiscuous protein biotinylation by Escherichia coli biotin protein ligase.

Biotin protein ligases (BPLs) are enzymes of extraordinary specificity. BirA, the BPL of Escherichia coli biotinylates only a single cellular protein. We report a mutant BirA that attaches biotin to a large number of cellular proteins in vivo and to bovine serum albumin, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase, immunoglobin heavy and light chains, and RNAse A in vitro. The mutant BirA also self biotinylates in vivo and in vitro. The wild type BirA protein is much less active in these reactions. The biotinylation reaction is proximity-dependent in that a greater extent of biotinylation was seen when the mutant ligase was coupled to the acceptor proteins than when the acceptors were free in solution. This approach may permit facile detection and recovery of interacting proteins by existing avidin/streptavidin technology.

Animals↗

Downregulation of cell surface receptors by the K3 family of viral and cellular ubiquitin E3 ligases.

The mK3, K3, and K5 gene products from the gamma2 group of gamma-herpesviruses are the founding members of a family of membrane-associated ubiquitin E3 ligases. As part of the viral immunoevasion strategy, expression of these proteins results in a decrease in cell-surface major histocompatibility complex class I molecules and other immunoreceptors including intercellular adhesion molecule-1, CD86, and CD1d. These viral gene products all possess a characteristic cytosolic N-terminal RING-CH domain, responsible for ubiquitination of the target protein, and two membrane-spanning segments required for substrate specificity. For the majority of substrates, ubiquitination at the cell surface leads to rapid internalization and endolysosomal degradation, while mK3 ubiquitinates class I molecules associated with the peptide-loading complex resulting in proteasome-mediated degradation. Related viral genes with similar functions have been found in poxviruses, suggesting appropriation of these genes from the eukaryotic host. Ten membrane-associated RING-CH (MARCH) human genes with a similar organization have now been identified, and their overexpression leads to ubiquitination and downregulation of a variety of cell-surface immunoreceptors. While all the MARCH proteins are predicted to act as ubiquitin E3 ligases, their physiological role and substrates remain to be defined.

Animals↗

Characterization of a novel temperature-sensitive allele of the CUL1/AXR6 subunit of SCF ubiquitin-ligases.

Selective protein degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway has emerged as a key regulatory mechanism in a wide variety of cellular processes. The selective components of this pathway are the E3 ubiquitin-ligases which act downstream of the ubiquitin-activating and -conjugating enzymes to identify specific substrates for ubiquitinylation. SCF-type ubiquitin-ligases are the most abundant class of E3 enzymes in Arabidopsis. In a genetic screen for enhancers of the tir1-1 auxin response defect, we identified eta1/axr6-3, a recessive and temperature-sensitive mutation in the CUL1 core component of the SCF(TIR1) complex. The axr6-3 mutation interferes with Skp1 binding, thus preventing SCF complex assembly. axr6-3 displays a pleiotropic phenotype with defects in numerous SCF-regulated pathways including auxin signaling, jasmonate signaling, flower development, and photomorphogenesis. We used axr6-3 as a tool for identifying pathways likely to be regulated by SCF-mediated proteolysis and propose new roles for SCF regulation of the far-red light/phyA and sugar signaling pathways. The recessive inheritance and the temperature-sensitive nature of the pleiotropically acting axr6-3 mutation opens promising possibilities for the identification and investigation of SCF-regulated pathways in Arabidopsis.

Alleles↗

The effects of spermine and Mg2+ on the catalytic mechanism of isoleucine: tRNA ligase.

Isoleucyl-tRNA formation catalysed by isoleucine: tRNA ligase is stimulated by both Mg2+ and spermine in the pH-range 7.0 to 8.0 at 310 K. At low [Mg2+] the acceleration caused by both cations together exceeds the sum of their individual effects. 2. The spermine-stimulated reaction has a steeper temperature-dependence than reaction in the presence of Mg2+. Two phases in the kinetics of isoleucyl-tRNA formation are detected in the presence of Mg2+ plus or minus spermine, but only a single step is observed in the presence of spermine alone. Thus the rate-limiting steps under normal assay conditions are different for the two cations. 3. Enzyme-bound isoleucyl-AMP can be formed in the absence of Mg-2+ and plus or minus spermine. 4. It is concluded that there is no evidence for cation-dependent differences in the reaction mechanism of isoleucine: tRNA ligase, though there are certainly differences in the relative rates of some of the individual steps.

Enzyme Activation↗

Kinetics and effect of salts and polyamines on T4 polynucleotide ligase.

The kinetics of T4 polynucleotide ligase has been investigated at pH 8,20 degrees C and using the double-stranded DNA substrate (dA)n - [(dT)10]n/10. Double-reciprocal plots of initial rates vs substrate concentrations as well as product inhibition studies have indicated that the enzyme reacts according to a ping-pong mechanism. The overall mechanism was found to be non-processive. The true Km for the DNA substrate was 0.6 muM and that of ATP 100 muM. Several attempts were made to reverse the T4 polynucleotide ligase joining reaction using 32-p-labelled (dA)n - [(DT)40]n/40 as substrate. No breakdown of this DNA could be detected. The joining reaction was inhibited by high concentrations, i.e. above approximately 70mM, of salts such as KCl, NaCl, NH4Cl and CsCl. At a concentration of 200 mM almost 100% inhibition was observed. Polyamines also caused inhibition of the enzyme, the most efficient inhibitor being spermine followed by spermidine. At a concentration of 1 mM spermine, virtually no joining took place. Addition of salts or polyamines resulted in a large increase in the apparent Km for the DNA substrate whereas the apparent Km for ATP remained unchanged. It is suggested that the affinity of the enzyme for the DNA substrate is decreased in the presence of inhibiting agents.

Adenosine Monophosphate↗

Labelling of L-isoleucine tRNA ligase from Escherichia coli with L-isoleucyl-bromomethyl ketone.

L-Isoleucine: tRNA ligase from Escherichia coli could be irreversibly inactivated by L-isoleucyl-bromomethyl ketone but not by L-isoleucyl-chromethyl ketone. The inactivation rate exhibited a saturation concentration dependence typical for an affinity reagent. L-Isoleucine provided 100% protection against inactivation at saturating concentration, whereas ATP, AMP, and pyrophosphate offered partial protection and tRNAIle, no protection. The ligase was labelled in preparative scale with L-[14C]isoleucyl-bromethyl ketone. The molar ration of label incorporated to enzyme inactivated was close to unity. The protein was subsequently subjected to tryptic digestion and the radioactive peptide isolated and identified. The labelled amino acid proved to be the same cysteine previously reported as being labelled with N-[14C]ethylmaleimide [Kula, M.-R. (1974) FEBS Lett. 46, 130-133].

Affinity Labels↗

Use of the T4 polynucleotide ligase in the joining of flush-ended DNA segments generated by restriction endonucleases.

Double-stranded DNA segments with completely base-paired ends were obtained by the action of various restriction endonucleases on phage and plasmid DNAs. These segments were joined covalently by the T4 polynucleotide ligase. The joining was monitored by the electron microscopy count of intramolecularly circularized segments. The highest extent of joining, close to 75%, was observed at 15-25 degrees C with the segments resulting from the action of the Bacillus subtilis (strain R) restriction endonuclease Bsu on the DNA of bacteriophage SPPI or of the plasmid pSC 101. The joining of double-stranded termini required about 10 times more enzyme than the short single-stranded termini produced by the Escherichia coli restriction endonuclease EcoRI. A shortened purification of the T4 ligase was found to give an enzyme devoid of interfacing nucleases.

Coliphages↗

Heterologous expression of the plant coumarate: CoA ligase in Lactococcus lactis.

AIMS: To demonstrate the expression of coumarate : CoA ligase of Arabidopsis thaliana in Lactococcus lactis as a first step of cloning the vanillin pathway. METHODS AND RESULTS: The 4CL gene was amplified from a cDNA library of A. thaliana by PCR and subcloned into a multicopy lactococcal vector where the expression is under the nisA promoter. The maximum yield of the protein in the recombinant strain of L. lactis was obtained 3 h after induction with 10 ng ml(-1) of nisin. However, these levels were only fraction of those detected in cell extracts of Pseudomonas fluorescens AN103 strain which naturally expresses its own enzyme when grown in the presence of ferulic acid as a carbon source. Among different substrates examined, the enzyme was most active against coumaric acid. CONCLUSIONS: The gene encoding coumarate : CoA ligase in A. thaliana was isolated, sequenced, cloned and expressed in L. lactis. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study represents the first of the two steps for genetic engineering of the vanillin pathway in the GRAS (generally recognized as safe) organism L. lactis.

Arabidopsis↗

The glycopeptide antibiotic producer Streptomyces toyocaensis NRRL 15009 has both D-alanyl-D-alanine and D-alanyl-D-lactate ligases.

High level resistance to vancomycin and other glycopeptide antibiotics requires the synthesis of peptidoglycan terminating in the depsipeptide D-Ala-D-lactate, rather the usual D-Ala-D-Ala. We report the purification and enzymatic characterization of two D-Ala ligases from Streptomyces toyocaensis NRRL 15009 which produces the glycopeptide antibiotic A47934. One of these enzymes catalyzes only D-Ala-D-Ala peptide formation and is recovered from mid-exponential phase cell cultures. The other enzyme is a D-Ala-D-lactate ligase which can be detected in actively antibiotic producing stationary phase cultures or mid-exponential phase cultures grown in the presence of A47934. These results imply that peptidoglycan components of S. toyocaensis NRRL 15009 change upon induction of antibiotic production and predict the existence of a VanX-like D-Ala-D-Ala DD-dipeptidase activity.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

E3 ubiquitin ligases as regulators of membrane protein trafficking and degradation.

Ubiquitination is a regulated post-translational modification that conjugates ubiquitin (Ub) to lysine residues of target proteins and determines their intracellular fate. The canonical role of ubiquitination is to mediate degradation by the proteasome of short-lived cytoplasmic proteins that carry a single, polymeric chain of Ub on a specific lysine residue. However, protein modification by Ub has much broader and diverse functions involved in a myriad of cellular processes. Monoubiquitination, at one or multiple lysine residues of transmembrane proteins, influences their stability, protein-protein recognition, activity and intracellular localization. In these processes, Ub functions as an internalization signal that sends the modified substrate to the endocytic/sorting compartments, followed by recycling to the plasma membrane or degradation in the lysosome. E3 ligases play a pivotal role in ubiquitination, because they recognize the acceptor protein and hence dictate the high specificity of the reaction. The multitude of E3s present in nature suggests their nonredundant mode of action and the need for their controlled regulation. Here we give a short account of E3 ligases that specifically modify and regulate membrane proteins. We emphasize the intricate network of interacting proteins that contribute to the substrate-E3 recognition and determine the substrate's cellular fate.

Adherens Junctions↗

Identification of ubiquitin ligases required for skeletal muscle atrophy.

Skeletal muscle adapts to decreases in activity and load by undergoing atrophy. To identify candidate molecular mediators of muscle atrophy, we performed transcript profiling. Although many genes were up-regulated in a single rat model of atrophy, only a small subset was universal in all atrophy models. Two of these genes encode ubiquitin ligases: Muscle RING Finger 1 (MuRF1), and a gene we designate Muscle Atrophy F-box (MAFbx), the latter being a member of the SCF family of E3 ubiquitin ligases. Overexpression of MAFbx in myotubes produced atrophy, whereas mice deficient in either MAFbx or MuRF1 were found to be resistant to atrophy. These proteins are potential drug targets for the treatment of muscle atrophy.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Human De-etiolated-1 regulates c-Jun by assembling a CUL4A ubiquitin ligase.

Arabidopsis thaliana De-etiolated-1 (AtDET1) is a highly conserved protein, with orthologs in vertebrate and invertebrate organisms. AtDET1 negatively regulates photomorphogenesis, but its biochemical mechanism and function in other species are unknown. We report that human DET1 (hDET1) promotes ubiquitination and degradation of the proto-oncogenic transcription factor c-Jun by assembling a multisubunit ubiquitin ligase containing DNA Damage Binding Protein-1 (DDB1), cullin 4A (CUL4A), Regulator of Cullins-1 (ROC1), and constitutively photomorphogenic-1. Ablation of any subunit by RNA interference stabilized c-Jun and increased c-Jun-activated transcription. These findings characterize a c-Jun ubiquitin ligase and define a specific function for hDET1 in mammalian cells.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

Mycobacterial Ku and ligase proteins constitute a two-component NHEJ repair machine.

In mammalian cells, repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) by nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) is critical for genome stability. Although the end-bridging and ligation steps of NHEJ have been reconstituted in vitro, little is known about the end-processing reactions that occur before ligation. Recently, functionally homologous end-bridging and ligation activities have been identified in prokarya. Consistent with its homology to polymerases and nucleases, we demonstrate that DNA ligase D from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mt-Lig) possesses a unique variety of nucleotidyl transferase activities, including gap-filling polymerase, terminal transferase, and primase, and is also a 3' to 5' exonuclease. These enzyme activities allow the Mt-Ku and Mt-Lig proteins to join incompatible DSB ends in vitro, as well as to reconstitute NHEJ in vivo in yeast. These results demonstrate that prokaryotic Ku and ligase form a bona fide NHEJ system that encodes all the recognition, processing, and ligation activities required for DSB repair.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Ubiquitination on nonlysine residues by a viral E3 ubiquitin ligase.

Ubiquitination controls a broad range of cellular functions. The last step of the ubiquitination pathway is regulated by enzyme type 3 (E3) ubiquitin ligases. E3 enzymes are responsible for substrate specificity and catalyze the formation of an isopeptide bond between a lysine residue of the substrate (or the N terminus of the substrate) and ubiquitin. MIR1 and MIR2 are two E3 ubiquitin ligases encoded by Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus that mediate the ubiquitination of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC I) molecules and subsequent internalization. Here, we found that MIR1, but not MIR2, promoted down-regulation of MHC I molecules lacking lysine residues in their intracytoplasmic domain. In the presence of MIR1, these MHC I molecules were ubiquitinated, and their association with ubiquitin was sensitive to beta2-mercaptoethanol, unlike lysine-ubiquitin bonds. This form of ubiquitination required a cysteine residue in the intracytoplasmic tail of MHC I molecules. An MHC I molecule containing a single cysteine residue in an artificial glycine and alanine intracytoplasmic domain was endocytosed and degraded in the presence of MIR1. Thus, ubiquitination can occur on proteins lacking accessible lysines or an accessible N terminus.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

Five hundredfold overproduction of DNA ligase after induction of a hybrid lambda lysogen constructed in vitro.

A lambda vector that contains the gene for Escherichia coli DNA ligase (lambdagt4-lop-11 lig+) has been modified to achieve overproduction of this enzyme. The third Eco RI site in the lambda chromosome has been altered by mutation, and the left-hand Eco RI fragment has been shortened. The new vector, lambdagt4-lop-11 lig+, forms a stable lysogen which, upon induction, produces a 100-fold increase in DNA ligase activity. Introduction of a phage mutation (S7) that prevents cell lysis results in an even greater increase (500-fold).

Coliphages↗

Rapid discriminatory detection of genes coding for SHV beta-lactamases by ligase chain reaction.

Ligase chain reaction (LCR) is a recently developed technique that employs a thermostable ligase and allows for the discrimination of DNA sequences differing in only a single base pair. The method has been adapted and applied to differentiation of bla(SHV) genes. We have developed an LCR typing method to characterize point mutations in genes for SHV-derived extended-spectrum beta-lactamases with four different sets of biotinylated LCR primers. To evaluate the applicability of the current technique, we tested seven Escherichia coli strains producing SHV-1, SHV-2, SHV-2a, SHV-3, SHV-4, SHV-5, and SHV-12. With the LCR typing, seven SHV genes can be distinguished according to their incorporating point mutations. In an attempt to characterize SHV beta-lactamases by LCR typing in clinical isolates, 46 strains carrying bla(SHV) genes (32 Klebsiella pneumoniae, 10 Enterobacter cloacae, and 4 E. coli) were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing, isoelectric focusing, and LCR typing. LCR typing allowed the characterization of beta-lactamases, and genotypes obtained by LCR typing were in accordance with phenotypes such as antibiotic resistance profile and pI value of beta-lactamase. Therefore, we concluded that LCR typing may permit defining the SHV families with simplicity and reliability and can be applied to the detailed characterization and molecular epidemiology of SHV-type beta-lactamases.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗