Structure and function of a lignostilbene-α,ß-dioxygenase orthologue from Pseudomonas brassicacearum.

BACKGROUND: Stilbene cleaving oxygenases (SCOs), also known as lignostilbene-α,ß-dioxygenases (LSDs) mediate the oxidative cleavage of the olefinic double bonds of lignin-derived intermediate phenolic stilbenes, yielding small modified benzaldehyde compounds. SCOs represent one branch of the larger carotenoid cleavage oxygenases family. Here, we describe the structural and functional characterization of an SCO-like enzyme from the soil-born, bio-control agent Pseudomonas brassicacearum. METHODS: In vitro and in vivo assays relying on visual inspection, spectrophotometric quantification, as well as liquid-chormatographic and mass spectrometric characterization were applied for functional evaluation of the enzyme. X-ray crystallographic analyses and in silico modeling were applied for structural investigations. RESULTS: In vitro assays demonstrated preferential cleavage of resveratrol, while in vivo analyses detected putative cleavage of the straight chain carotenoid, lycopene. A high-resolution structure containing the seven-bladed ß-propeller fold and conserved 4-His-Fe unit at the catalytic site, was obtained. Comparative structural alignments, as well as in silico modelling and docking, highlight potential molecular factors contributing to both the primary in vitro activity against resveratrol, as well as the putative subsidiary activities against carotenoids in vivo, for future validation. CONCLUSIONS: The findings reported here provide validation of the SCO structure, and highlight enigmatic points with respect to the potential effect of the enzyme's molecular environment on substrate specificities for future investigation.

The Catalase Activity of Catalase-Peroxidases Is Modulated by Changes in the pKa of the Distal Histidine.

The unusual Met-Tyr-Trp adduct composed of cross-linked side chains along with an associated mobile Arg is essential for catalase activity in catalase-peroxidases. In addition, acidic residues in the entrance channel, in particular an Asp and a Glu ∼7 and ∼15 Å, respectively, from the heme, significantly enhance catalase activity. The mechanism by which these channel carboxylates influence catalase activity is the focus of this work. Seventeen new variants with fewer and additional acidic residues have been constructed and characterized structurally and for enzymatic activity, revealing that their effect on activity is roughly inversely proportional to their distance from the heme and adduct, suggesting that the electrostatic potential of the heme cavity may be affected. A discrete group of protonable residues are contained within a 15 Å sphere surrounding the heme iron, and a computational analysis reveals that the pKa of the distal His112, alone, is modulated within the pH range of catalase activity by the remote acidic residues in a pattern consistent with its protonated form having a key role in the catalase reaction cycle. The electrostatic potential also impacts the catalatic reaction through its influence on the charged status of the Met-Tyr-Trp adduct.

Insights on the Mechanism of Action of INH-C10 as an Antitubercular Prodrug.

Tuberculosis remains one of the top causes of death worldwide, and combating its spread has been severely complicated by the emergence of drug-resistance mutations, highlighting the need for more effective drugs. Despite the resistance to isoniazid (INH) arising from mutations in the katG gene encoding the catalase-peroxidase KatG, most notably the S315T mutation, this compound is still one of the most powerful first-line antitubercular drugs, suggesting further pursuit of the development of tailored INH derivatives. The N'-acylated INH derivative with a long alkyl chain (INH-C10) has been shown to be more effective than INH against the S315T variant of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but the molecular details of this activity enhancement are still unknown. In this work, we show that INH N'-acylation significantly reduces the rate of production of both isonicotinoyl radical and isonicotinyl-NAD by wild type KatG, but not by the S315T variant of KatG mirroring the in vivo effectiveness of the compound. Restrained and unrestrained MD simulations of INH and its derivatives at the water/membrane interface were performed and showed a higher preference of INH-C10 for the lipidic phase combined with a significantly higher membrane permeability rate (27.9 cm s-1), compared with INH-C2 or INH (3.8 and 1.3 cm s-1, respectively). Thus, we propose that INH-C10 is able to exhibit better minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values against certain variants because of its better ability to permeate through the lipid membrane, enhancing its availability inside the cell. MIC values of INH and INH-C10 against two additional KatG mutations (S315N and D735A) revealed that some KatG variants are able to process INH faster than INH-C10 into an effective antitubercular form (wt and S315N), while others show similar reaction rates (S315T and D735A). Altogether, our results highlight the potential of increased INH lipophilicity for treating INH-resistant strains.

Pseudomonas brassicacearum strain DF41 kills Caenorhabditis elegans through biofilm-dependent and biofilm-independent mechanisms.

Pseudomonas brassicacearum DF41 is a biocontrol agent that suppresses disease caused by the fungal pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum A number of exometabolites are produced by DF41 including the lipopeptide sclerosin, hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and degradative enzymes. Production of these compounds is controlled at both the transcriptional and posttranscriptional level by quorum sensing (QS) and the Gac-two component regulatory system. In order to be successful, a biocontrol agent must persist in the environment at levels sufficient for pathogen control. Bacterivorous predators, including nematodes, represent a challenge to the establishment of introduced microorganisms. In the current study, DF41 was investigated for its ability to resist predation by Caenorhabditis elegans. We discovered that this bacterium is capable of killing C. elegans through two different mechanisms: the first involves exposure to toxic metabolites; and the second entails biofilm formation on the nematode head blocking the buccal cavity. Biofilm formation on nematodes, which has only been reported for Yersinia spp. and Xenorhabdus nematophila, is dependent upon the Gac system. Biofilms were not observed when bacteria were grown on NaCl-containing media, and on C. elegans biofilm-resistant mutants. Co-culturing with nematodes lead to increased expression of the pdfRI-rfiA QS genes and hcnA which is under QS control. HCN was the most nematicidal of the exometabolites, suggesting that this bacterium can respond to predator cues and upregulate expression of toxins accordingly. In summary, DF41 is able to respond to the presence of C. elegans and through two distinct mechanisms it can escape predation. IMPORTANCE: Pseudomonas brassicacearum DF41 can suppress fungal pathogens through a process known as biocontrol. To be successful, a biocontrol agent must be able to persist in the environment at levels sufficient for pathogen control. Predators including the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans represent a threat to persistence. The aim of the current study was to investigate the DF41-C. elegans interaction. We discovered that DF41 is able to escape predation through two distinct mechanisms. The first involves exposure to toxic bacterial metabolites and the second entails formation of a sticky coating on the nematode head, called a biofilm, which blocks feeding and causes starvation. This is the first report of a pseudomonad forming biofilms on the C. elegans surface. When grown with C. elegans, DF41 exhibits altered gene expression and metabolite production indicating that this bacterium can sense the presence of these predators and adjust its physiology accordingly.

Unprecedented access of phenolic substrates to the heme active site of a catalase: substrate binding and peroxidase-like reactivity of Bacillus pumilus catalase monitored by X-ray crystallography and EPR spectroscopy.

Heme-containing catalases and catalase-peroxidases catalyze the dismutation of hydrogen peroxide as their predominant catalytic activity, but in addition, individual enzymes support low levels of peroxidase and oxidase activities, produce superoxide, and activate isoniazid as an antitubercular drug. The recent report of a heme enzyme with catalase, peroxidase and penicillin oxidase activities in Bacillus pumilus and its categorization as an unusual catalase-peroxidase led us to investigate the enzyme for comparison with other catalase-peroxidases, catalases, and peroxidases. Characterization revealed a typical homotetrameric catalase with one pentacoordinated heme b per subunit (Tyr340 being the axial ligand), albeit in two orientations, and a very fast catalatic turnover rate (kcat = 339,000 s(-1) ). In addition, the enzyme supported a much slower (kcat = 20 s(-1) ) peroxidatic activity utilizing substrates as diverse as ABTS and polyphenols, but no oxidase activity. Two binding sites, one in the main access channel and the other on the protein surface, accommodating pyrogallol, catechol, resorcinol, guaiacol, hydroquinone, and 2-chlorophenol were identified in crystal structures at 1.65-1.95 Å. A third site, in the heme distal side, accommodating only pyrogallol and catechol, interacting with the heme iron and the catalytic His and Arg residues, was also identified. This site was confirmed in solution by EPR spectroscopy characterization, which also showed that the phenolic oxygen was not directly coordinated to the heme iron (no low-spin conversion of the Fe(III) high-spin EPR signal upon substrate binding). This is the first demonstration of phenolic substrates directly accessing the heme distal side of a catalase.

Identifying the elusive sites of tyrosyl radicals in cytochrome c peroxidase: implications for oxidation of substrates bound at a site remote from the heme.

The location of the Trp radical and the catalytic function of the [Fe(IV)═O Trp191(•+)] intermediate in cytochrome c peroxidase (CcP) are well-established; however, the unambiguous identification of the site(s) for the formation of tyrosyl radical(s) and their possible biological roles remain elusive. We have now performed a systematic investigation of the location and reactivity of the Tyr radical(s) using multifrequency Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy combined with multiple-site Trp/Tyr mutations in CcP. Two tyrosines, Tyr71 and Tyr236, were identified as those contributing primarily to the EPR spectrum of the tyrosyl radical, recorded at 9 and 285 GHz. The EPR characterization also showed that the heme distal-side Trp51 is involved in the intramolecular electron transfer between Tyr71 and the heme and that formation of Tyr71(•) and Tyr236(•) is independent of the [Fe(IV)═O Trp191(•+)] intermediate. Tyr71 is located in an optimal position to mediate the oxidation of substrates binding at a site, more than 20 Šfrom the heme, which has been reported recently in the crystal structures of CcP with bound guaicol and phenol [Murphy, E. J., et al. (2012) FEBS J. 279, 1632-1639]. The possibility of discriminating the radical intermediates by their EPR spectra allowed us to identify Tyr71(•) as the reactive species with the guaiacol substrate. Our assignment of the surface-exposed Tyr236 as the other radical site agrees well with previous studies based on MNP labeling and protein cross-linking [Tsaprailis, G., and English, A. M. (2003) JBIC, J. Biol. Inorg. Chem. 8, 248-255] and on its covalent modification upon reaction of W191G CcP with 2-aminotriazole [Musah, R. A., and Goodin, D. B. (1997) Biochemistry 36, 11665-11674]. Accordingly, while Tyr71 acts as a true reactive intermediate for the oxidation of certain small substrates that bind at a site remote from the heme, the surface-exposed Tyr236 would be more likely related to oxidative stress signaling, as previously proposed. Our findings reinforce the view that CcP is the monofunctional peroxidase that most closely resembles its ancestor enzymes, the catalase-peroxidases, in terms of the higher complexity of the peroxidase reaction [Colin, J., et al. (2009) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 131, 8557-8563]. The strategy used to identify the elusive Tyr radical sites in CcP may be applied to other heme enzymes containing a large number of Tyr and Trp residues and for which Tyr (or Trp) radicals have been proposed to be involved in their peroxidase or peroxidase-like reaction.

Structural asymmetry and disulfide bridges among subunits modulate the activity of human malonyl-CoA decarboxylase.

Decarboxylation of malonyl-CoA to acetyl-CoA by malonyl-CoA decarboxylase (MCD; EC 4.1.1.9) is an essential facet in the regulation of fatty acid metabolism. The structure of human peroxisomal MCD reveals a molecular tetramer that is best described as a dimer of structural heterodimers, in which the two subunits present markedly different conformations. This molecular organization is consistent with half-of-the-sites reactivity. Each subunit has an all-helix N-terminal domain and a catalytic C-terminal domain with an acetyltransferase fold (GNAT superfamily). Intersubunit disulfide bridges, Cys-206-Cys-206 and Cys-243-Cys-243, can link the four subunits of the tetramer, imparting positive cooperativity to the catalytic process. The combination of a half-of-the-sites mechanism within each structural heterodimer and positive cooperativity in the tetramer produces a complex regulatory picture that is further complicated by the multiple intracellular locations of the enzyme. Transport into the peroxisome has been investigated by docking human MCD onto the peroxisomal import protein peroxin 5, which revealed interactions that extend beyond the C-terminal targeting motif.

An ionizable active-site tryptophan imparts catalase activity to a peroxidase core.

Catalase peroxidases (KatG's) are bifunctional heme proteins that can disproportionate hydrogen peroxide (catalatic reaction) despite their structural dissimilarity with monofunctional catalases. Using X-ray crystallography and QM/MM calculations, we demonstrate that the catalatic reaction of KatG's involves deprotonation of the active-site Trp, which plays a role similar to that of the distal His in monofunctional catalases. The interaction of a nearby mobile arginine with the distal Met-Tyr-Trp essential adduct (in/out) acts as an electronic switch, triggering deprotonation of the adduct Trp.

Triclosan can select for an AdeIJK-overexpressing mutant of Acinetobacter baumannii ATCC 17978 that displays reduced susceptibility to multiple antibiotics.

In order to determine if triclosan can select for mutants of Acinetobacter baumannii ATCC 17978 that display reduced susceptibilities to antibiotics, we isolated a triclosan-resistant mutant, A. baumannii AB042, by serial passaging of A. baumannii ATCC 17978 in growth medium supplemented with triclosan. The antimicrobial susceptibility of AB042 was analyzed by the 2-fold serial dilution method. Expression of five different resistance-nodulation-division (RND) pump-encoding genes (adeB, adeG, adeJ, A1S_2818, and A1S_3217), two outer membrane porin-encoding genes (carO and oprD), and the MATE family pump-encoding gene abeM was analyzed using quantitative reverse transcriptase (qRT) PCR. A. baumannii AB042 exhibited elevated resistance to multiple antibiotics, including piperacillin-tazobactam, doxycycline, moxifloxacin, ceftriaxone, cefepime, meropenem, doripenem, ertapenem, ciprofloxacin, aztreonam, tigecycline, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, in addition to triclosan. Genome sequencing of A. baumannii AB042 revealed a (116)G→V mutation in fabI, the gene encoding the target enzyme for triclosan. Expression analysis of efflux pumps showed overexpression of the AdeIJK pump, and sequencing of adeN, the gene that encodes the repressor of the adeIJK operon, revealed a 73-bp deletion which would cause a premature termination of translation, resulting in an inactive truncated AdeN protein. This work shows that triclosan can select for mutants of A. baumannii that display reduced susceptibilities to multiple antibiotics from chemically distinct classes in addition to triclosan resistance. This multidrug resistance can be explained by the overexpression of the AdeIJK efflux pump.

Spectroscopic and kinetic investigation of the reactions of peroxyacetic acid with Burkholderia pseudomallei catalase-peroxidase, KatG.

Catalase-peroxidases or KatGs can utilize organic peroxyacids and peroxides instead of hydrogen peroxide to generate the high-valent ferryl-oxo intermediates involved in the catalase and peroxidase reactions. In the absence of peroxidatic one-electron donors, the ferryl intermediates generated with a low excess (10-fold) of peroxyacetic acid (PAA) slowly decay to the ferric resting state after several minutes, a reaction that is demonstrated in this work by both stopped-flow UV-vis absorption measurements and EPR spectroscopic characterization of Burkholderia pseudomallei KatG (BpKatG). EPR spectroscopy showed that the [Fe(IV)═O Trp330(•+)], [Fe(IV)═O Trp139(•)], and [Fe(IV)═O Trp153(•)] intermediates of the peroxidase-like cycle of BpKatG ( Colin, J. Wiseman, B. Switala, J. Loewen, P. C. Ivancich, A. ( 2009 ) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 131 , 8557 - 8563 ), formed with a low excess of PAA at low temperature, are also generated with a high excess (1000-fold) of PAA at room temperature. However, under high excess conditions, there is a rapid conversion to a persistent [Fe(IV)═O] intermediate. Analysis of tryptic peptides of BpKatG by mass spectrometry before and after treatment with PAA showed that specific tryptophan (including W330, W139, and W153), methionine (including Met264 of the M-Y-W adduct), and cysteine residues are either modified with one, two, or three oxygen atoms or could not be identified in the spectrum because of other undetermined modifications. It was concluded that these oxidized residues were the source of electrons used to reduce the excess of PAA to acetic acid and return the enzyme to the ferric state. Treatment of BpKatG with PAA also caused a loss of catalase activity towards certain substrates, consistent with oxidative disruption of the M-Y-W adduct, and a loss of peroxidase activity, consistent with accumulation of the [Fe(IV)═O] intermediate and the oxidative modification of the W330, W139, and W153. PAA, but not H2O2 or tert-butyl hydroperoxide, also caused subunit cross-linking.

High conformational stability of secreted eukaryotic catalase-peroxidases: answers from first crystal structure and unfolding studies.

Catalase-peroxidases (KatGs) are bifunctional heme enzymes widely spread in archaea, bacteria, and lower eukaryotes. Here we present the first crystal structure (1.55 Å resolution) of an eukaryotic KatG, the extracellular or secreted enzyme from the phytopathogenic fungus Magnaporthe grisea. The heme cavity of the homodimeric enzyme is similar to prokaryotic KatGs including the unique distal (+)Met-Tyr-Trp adduct (where the Trp is further modified by peroxidation) and its associated mobile arginine. The structure also revealed several conspicuous peculiarities that are fully conserved in all secreted eukaryotic KatGs. Peculiarities include the wrapping at the dimer interface of the N-terminal elongations from the two subunits and cysteine residues that cross-link the two subunits. Differential scanning calorimetry and temperature- and urea-mediated unfolding followed by UV-visible, circular dichroism, and fluorescence spectroscopy combined with site-directed mutagenesis demonstrated that secreted eukaryotic KatGs have a significantly higher conformational stability as well as a different unfolding pattern when compared with intracellular eukaryotic and prokaryotic catalase-peroxidases. We discuss these properties with respect to the structure as well as the postulated roles of this metalloenzyme in host-pathogen interactions.

Structure of Pisum sativum Rubisco with bound ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate.

The first structure of a ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) from a pulse crop is reported. Rubisco was purified from Pisum sativum (garden pea) and diffraction-quality crystals were obtained by hanging-drop vapour diffusion in the presence of the substrate ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate. X-ray diffraction data were recorded to 2.20 Šresolution from a single crystal at the Canadian Light Source. The overall quaternary structure of non-activated P. sativum Rubisco highlights the conservation of the form I Rubisco hexadecameric complex. The electron density places the substrate in the active site at the interface of the large-subunit dimers. Lys201 in the active site is not carbamylated as expected for this non-activated structure. Some heterogeneity in the small-subunit sequence is noted, as well as possible variations in the conformation and contacts of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate in the large-subunit active sites. Overall, the active-site conformation most closely correlates with the `closed' conformation observed in other substrate/inhibitor-bound Rubisco structures.

Mutation of Phe413 to Tyr in catalase KatE from Escherichia coli leads to side chain damage and main chain cleavage.

The monofunctional catalase KatE of Esherichia coli exhibits exceptional resistance to heat denaturation and proteolytic degradation. During an investigation of subtle conformation changes in Arg111 and Phe413 on the proximal side of the heme induced by H(2)O(2), variants at position R111, T115 and F413 were constructed. Because the residues are not situated in the distal side heme cavity where catalysis occurs, significant changes in reactivity were not expected and indeed, only small changes in the kinetic characteristics were observed in all of the variants. However, the F413Y variant was found to have undergone main chain cleavage whereas the R111A, T115A, F413E and F413K variants had not. Two sites of cleavage were identified in the crystal structure and by mass spectrometry at residues 111 and 115. In addition to main chain cleavage, modifications to the side chains of Tyr413, Thr115 and Arg111 were suggested by differences in the electron density maps compared to maps of the native and inactive variant H128N/F413Y. The inactive variant H128N/F413Y and the active variant T115A/F413Y both did not exhibit main chain cleavage and the R11A/F413Y variant exhibited less cleavage. In addition, the apparent modification of three side chains was largely absent in these variants. It is also significant that all three F413 single variants contained heme b suggesting that the fidelity of the phenyl group was important for mediating heme b oxidation to heme d. The reactions are attributed to the introduction of a new reactive center possibly involving a transient radical on Tyr413 formed during catalytic turn over.

Thirty years of heme catalases structural biology.

About thirty years ago the crystal structures of the heme catalases from Penicillium vitale (PVC) and, a few months later, from bovine liver (BLC) were published. Both enzymes were compact tetrameric molecules with subunits that, despite their size differences and the large phylogenetic separation between the two organisms, presented a striking structural similarity for about 460 residues. The high conservation, confirmed in all the subsequent structures determined, suggested a strong pressure to preserve a functional catalase fold, which is almost exclusively found in these mono-functional heme catalases. However, even in the absence of the catalase fold an efficient catalase activity is also found in the heme containing catalase-peroxidase proteins. The structure of these broad substrate range enzymes, reported for the first time less than ten years ago from the halophilic archaebacterium Haloarcula marismortui (HmCPx) and from the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei (BpKatG), showed a heme pocket closely related to that of plant peroxidases, though with a number of unique modifications that enable the catalase reaction. Despite the wealth of structural information already available, for both monofunctional catalases and catalase-peroxidases, a number of unanswered major questions require continuing structural research with truly innovative approaches.

Influence of main channel structure on H(2)O(2) access to the heme cavity of catalase KatE of Escherichia coli.

The main channel for H(2)O(2) access to the heme cavity in large subunit catalases is twice as long as in small subunit catalases and is divided into two distinct parts. Like small subunit catalases, the 15Å of the channel adjacent to the heme has a predominantly hydrophobic surface with only weak water occupancy, but the next 15Å extending to the protein surface is hydrophilic and contains a complex water matrix in multiple passages. At the approximate junction of these two sections are a conserved serine and glutamate that are hydrogen bonded and associated with H(2)O(2) in inactive variants. Mutation of these residues changed the dimensions of the channel, both enlarging and constricting it, and also changed the solvent occupancy in the hydrophobic, inner section of the main channel. Despite these structural changes and the prominent location of the residues in the channel, the variants exhibited less than a 2-fold change in the k(cat) and apparent K(M) kinetic constants. These results reflect the importance of the complex multi-passage structure of the main channel. Surprisingly, mutation of either the serine or glutamate to an aliphatic side chain interfered with heme oxidation to heme d.

Structure of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPD1) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae at 2.45†Šresolution.

The interconversion of glycerol 3-phosphate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate by glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenases provides a link between carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and provides Saccharomyces cerevisiae with protection against osmotic and anoxic stress. The first structure of a glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase from S. cerevisiae, GPD1, is reported at 2.45 Šresolution. The asymmetric unit contains two monomers, each of which is organized with N- and C-terminal domains. The N-terminal domain contains a classic Rossmann fold with the (ß-α-ß-α-ß)2 motif typical of many NAD+-dependent enzymes, while the C-terminal domain is mainly α-helical. Structural and phylogenetic comparisons reveal four main structure types among the five families of glycerol-3-phosphate and glycerol-1-phosphate dehydrogenases and reveal that the Clostridium acetobutylican protein with PDB code 3ce9 is a glycerol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase.

Chemical and biological characterization of sclerosin, an antifungal lipopeptide.

Pseudomonas sp. strain DF41 produces a lipopeptide, called sclerosin that inhibits the fungal pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum . The aim of the current study was to deduce the chemical structure of this lipopeptide and further characterize its bioactivity. Mass spectrometry analysis determined the structure of sclerosin to be CH(3)-(CH(2))(6)-CH(OH)-CH(2)-CO-Dhb-Pro-Ala-Leu/Ile-Ala-Val-Val-Dhb-Thr-Val-Leu/Ile-Dhp-Ala-Ala-Ala-Val-Dhb-Dhb-Ala-Dab-Ser-Val-OH, similar to corpeptins A and B of the tolaasin group, differing by only 3 amino acids in the peptide chain. Subjecting sclerosin to various ring opening procedures revealed no new ions, suggesting that this molecule is linear. As such, sclerosin represents a new member of the tolaasin lipopeptide group. Incubation of S. sclerotinia ascospores and sclerotia in the presence of sclerosin inhibited the germination of both cell types. Sclerosin also exhibited antimicrobial activity against Bacillus species. Conversely, this lipopeptide demonstrated no zoosporicidal activity against the oomycete pathogen Phytophthora infestans . Next, we assessed the effect of DF41 and a lipopeptide-deficient mutant on the growth and development of Caenorhabditis elegans larvae. We discovered that sclerosin did not protect DF41 from ingestion by and degradation in the C. elegans digestive tract. However, another metabolite produced by this bacterium appeared to shorten the life-span of the nematode compared to C. elegans growing on Escherichia coli OP50.

Modulation of heme orientation and binding by a single residue in catalase HPII of Escherichia coli.

Heme-containing catalases have been extensively studied, revealing the roles of many residues, the existence of two heme orientations, flipped 180° relative to one another along the propionate-vinyl axis, and the presence of both heme b and heme d. The focus of this report is a residue, situated adjacent to the vinyl groups of the heme at the entrance of the lateral channel, with an unusual main chain geometry that is conserved in all catalase structures so far determined. In Escherichia coli catalase HPII, the residue is Ile274, and replacing it with Gly, Ala, and Val, found at the same location in other catalases, results in a reduction in catalytic efficiency, a reduced intensity of the Soret absorbance band, and a mixture of heme orientations and species. The reduced turnover rates and higher H(2)O(2) concentrations required to attain equivalent reaction velocities are explained in terms of less efficient containment of substrate H(2)O(2) in the heme cavity arising from easier escape through the more open entrance to the lateral channel created by the smaller side chains of Gly and Ala. Inserting a Cys at position 274 resulted in the heme being covalently linked to the protein through a Cys-vinyl bond that is hypersensitive to X-ray irradiation being largely degraded within seconds of exposure to the X-ray beam. Two heme orientations, flipped along the propionate-vinyl axis, are found in the Ala, Val, and Cys variants.

Isonicotinic acid hydrazide conversion to Isonicotinyl-NAD by catalase-peroxidases.

Activation of the pro-drug isoniazid (INH) as an anti-tubercular drug in Mycobacterium tuberculosis involves its conversion to isonicotinyl-NAD, a reaction that requires the catalase-peroxidase KatG. This report shows that the reaction proceeds in the absence of KatG at a slow rate in a mixture of INH, NAD(+), Mn(2+), and O(2), and that the inclusion of KatG increases the rate by >7 times. Superoxide, generated by either Mn(2+)- or KatG-catalyzed reduction of O(2), is an essential intermediate in the reaction. Elimination of the peroxidatic process by mutation slows the rate of reaction by 60% revealing that the peroxidatic process enhances, but is not essential for isonicotinyl-NAD formation. The isonicotinyl-NAD(*+) radical is identified as a reaction intermediate, and its reduction by superoxide is proposed. Binding sites for INH and its co-substrate, NAD(+), are identified for the first time in crystal complexes of Burkholderia pseudomallei catalase-peroxidase with INH and NAD(+) grown by co-crystallization. The best defined INH binding sites were identified, one in each subunit, on the opposite side of the protein from the entrance to the heme cavity in a funnel-shaped channel. The NAD(+) binding site is approximately 20 A from the entrance to the heme cavity and involves interactions primarily with the AMP portion of the molecule in agreement with the NMR saturation transfer difference results.

The dynamic role of distal side residues in heme hydroperoxidase catalysis. Interplay between X-ray crystallography and ab initio MD simulations.

The enzymatic cycle of hydroperoxidases involves the resting Fe(III) state of the enzyme and the high-valent iron intermediates Compound I and Compound II. These states might be characterized by X-ray crystallography and the transition pathways between each state can be investigated using atomistic simulations. Here we review our recent work in the modeling of two key steps of the enzymatic reaction of hydroperoxidases: the formation of Cpd I in peroxidase and the reduction of Cpd I in catalase. It will be shown that small conformational motions of distal side residues (His in peroxidases and His/Asn in catalases), not,or only partially, revealed by the available X-ray structures, play an important role in the catalytic processes examined.