A GTPase chimera illustrates an uncoupled nucleotide affinity and release rate, providing insight into the activation mechanism.

The release of GDP from GTPases signals the initiation of a GTPase cycle, where the association of GTP triggers conformational changes promoting binding of downstream effector molecules. Studies have implicated the nucleotide-binding G5 loop to be involved in the GDP release mechanism. For example, biophysical studies on both the eukaryotic Gα proteins and the GTPase domain (NFeoB) of prokaryotic FeoB proteins have revealed conformational changes in the G5 loop that accompany nucleotide binding and release. However, it is unclear whether this conformational change in the G5 loop is a prerequisite for GDP release, or, alternatively, the movement is a consequence of release. To gain additional insight into the sequence of events leading to GDP release, we have created a chimeric protein comprised of Escherichia coli NFeoB and the G5 loop from the human Giα1 protein. The protein chimera retains GTPase activity at a similar level to wild-type NFeoB, and structural analyses of the nucleotide-free and GDP-bound proteins show that the G5 loop adopts conformations analogous to that of the human nucleotide-bound Giα1 protein in both states. Interestingly, isothermal titration calorimetry and stopped-flow kinetic analyses reveal uncoupled nucleotide affinity and release rates, supporting a model where G5 loop movement promotes nucleotide release.

Structural basis of GDP release and gating in G protein coupled Fe2+ transport.

G proteins are key molecular switches in the regulation of membrane protein function and signal transduction. The prokaryotic membrane protein FeoB is involved in G protein coupled Fe(2+) transport, and is unique in that the G protein is directly tethered to the membrane domain. Here, we report the structure of the soluble domain of FeoB, including the G protein domain, and its assembly into an unexpected trimer. Comparisons between nucleotide free and liganded structures reveal the closed and open state of a central cytoplasmic pore, respectively. In addition, these data provide the first observation of a conformational switch in the nucleotide-binding G5 motif, defining the structural basis for GDP release. From these results, structural parallels are drawn to eukaryotic G protein coupled membrane processes.

Structure of an atypical FeoB G-domain reveals a putative domain-swapped dimer.

FeoB is a transmembrane protein involved in ferrous iron uptake in prokaryotic organisms. FeoB comprises a cytoplasmic soluble domain termed NFeoB and a C-terminal polytopic transmembrane domain. Recent structures of NFeoB have revealed two structural subdomains: a canonical GTPase domain and a five-helix helical domain. The GTPase domain hydrolyses GTP to GDP through a well characterized mechanism, a process which is required for Fe(2+) transport. In contrast, the precise role of the helical domain has not yet been fully determined. Here, the structure of the cytoplasmic domain of FeoB from Gallionella capsiferriformans is reported. Unlike recent structures of NFeoB, the G. capsiferriformans NFeoB structure is highly unusual in that it does not contain a helical domain. The crystal structures of both apo and GDP-bound protein forms a domain-swapped dimer.

Potassium-activated GTPase reaction in the G Protein-coupled ferrous iron transporter B.

FeoB is a prokaryotic membrane protein responsible for the import of ferrous iron (Fe(2+)). A defining feature of FeoB is that it includes an N-terminal 30-kDa soluble domain with GTPase activity, which is required for iron transport. However, the low intrinsic GTP hydrolysis rate of this domain appears to be too slow for FeoB either to function as a channel or to possess an active Fe(2+) membrane transport mechanism. Here, we present crystal structures of the soluble domain of FeoB from Streptococcus thermophilus in complex with GDP and with the GTP analogue derivative 2'-(or -3')-O-(N-methylanthraniloyl)-beta,gamma-imidoguanosine 5'-triphosphate (mant-GMPPNP). Unlike recent structures of the G protein domain, the mant-GMPPNP-bound structure shows clearly resolved, active conformations of the critical Switch motifs. Importantly, biochemical analyses demonstrate that the GTPase activity of FeoB is activated by K(+), which leads to a 20-fold acceleration in its hydrolysis rate. Analysis of the structure identified a conserved asparagine residue likely to be involved in K(+) coordination, and mutation of this residue abolished K(+)-dependent activation. We suggest that this, together with a second asparagine residue that we show is critical for the structure of the Switch I loop, allows the prediction of K(+)-dependent activation in G proteins. In addition, the accelerated hydrolysis rate opens up the possibility that FeoB might indeed function as an active transporter.

Structural genomics of the bacterial mobile metagenome: an overview.

Mobile gene cassettes collectively carry a highly diverse pool of novel genes, ostensibly for purposes of microbial adaptation. At the sequence level, putative functions can only be assigned to a minority of carried ORFs due to their inherent novelty. Having established these mobilized genes code for folded and functional proteins, the authors have recently adopted the procedures of structural genomics to efficiently sample their structures, thereby scoping their functional range. This chapter outlines protocols used to produce cassette-associated genes as recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli and crystallization procedures based on the dual screen/pH optimization approach of the SECSG (SouthEast Collaboratory for Structural Genomics). Crystal structures solved to date have defined unique members of enzyme fold classes associated with transport and nucleotide metabolism.

Exploring the correlation between the sequence composition of the nucleotide binding G5 loop of the FeoB GTPase domain (NFeoB) and intrinsic rate of GDP release.

GDP release from GTPases is usually extremely slow and is in general assisted by external factors, such as association with guanine exchange factors or membrane-embedded GPCRs (G protein-coupled receptors), which accelerate the release of GDP by several orders of magnitude. Intrinsic factors can also play a significant role; a single amino acid substitution in one of the guanine nucleotide recognition motifs, G5, results in a drastically altered GDP release rate, indicating that the sequence composition of this motif plays an important role in spontaneous GDP release. In the present study, we used the GTPase domain from EcNFeoB (Escherichia coli FeoB) as a model and applied biochemical and structural approaches to evaluate the role of all the individual residues in the G5 loop. Our study confirms that several of the residues in the G5 motif have an important role in the intrinsic affinity and release of GDP. In particular, a T151A mutant (third residue of the G5 loop) leads to a reduced nucleotide affinity and provokes a drastically accelerated dissociation of GDP.

Structural and functional analysis of a FeoB A143S G5 loop mutant explains the accelerated GDP release rate.

GTPases (G proteins) hydrolyze the conversion of GTP to GDP and free phosphate, comprising an integral part of prokaryotic and eukaryotic signaling, protein biosynthesis and cell division, as well as membrane transport processes. The G protein cycle is brought to a halt after GTP hydrolysis, and requires the release of GDP before a new cycle can be initiated. For eukaryotic heterotrimeric Gαßγ proteins, the interaction with a membrane-bound G protein-coupled receptor catalyzes the release of GDP from the Gα subunit. Structural and functional studies have implicated one of the nucleotide binding sequence motifs, the G5 motif, as playing an integral part in this release mechanism. Indeed, a Gαs G5 mutant (A366S) was shown to have an accelerated GDP release rate, mimicking a G protein-coupled receptor catalyzed release state. In the present study, we investigate the role of the equivalent residue in the G5 motif (residue A143) in the prokaryotic membrane protein FeoB from Streptococcus thermophilus, which includes an N-terminal soluble G protein domain. The structure of this domain has previously been determined in the apo and GDP-bound states and in the presence of a transition state analogue, revealing conformational changes in the G5 motif. The A143 residue was mutated to a serine and analyzed with respect to changes in GTPase activity, nucleotide release rate, GDP affinity and structural alterations. We conclude that the identity of the residue at this position in the G5 loop plays a key role in the nucleotide release rate by allowing the correct positioning and hydrogen bonding of the nucleotide base.

A putative house-cleaning enzyme encoded within an integron array: 1.8 A crystal structure defines a new MazG subtype.

Mobile gene cassettes collectively contain a highly diverse pool of novel genes that encode many novel adaptive functions. In the non-clinical context, the function of almost all of the encoded proteins remains unknown despite the enormous size of this mobile gene pool. We have been characterizing cassette arrays by taking advantage of the fact that they cluster at discrete sites in chromosomes; even large arrays are thus recoverable in a relatively small number of clones in genomic libraries. In one assembled array of 116 cassettes from the marine bacterium Vibrio sp. DAT722, a putative MazG protein is encoded within the 21st cassette. Because MazG proteins are implicated in a number of cellular processes, including house-cleaning and stress survival, the presence of such a protein in a mobile cassette was noteworthy. Here we solve the crystal structure of this alpha-helical protein, and define both open and closed states of a new variant of the MazG family. Functional assays confirm that the protein is a dNTP pyrophosphohydrolase, with marked preferences for dCTP and dATP. We hypothesize that iMazG acts as a house-cleaning enzyme, preventing the incorporation of damaging non-canonical nucleotides into host-cell DNA.