Unveiling the importance of the C-terminus in the sugar acid dehydratase of the IlvD/EDD superfamily.

Microbial non-phosphorylative oxidative pathways present promising potential in the biosynthesis of platform chemicals from the hemicellulosic fraction of lignocellulose. An L-arabinonate dehydratase from Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the non-phosphorylative oxidative pathways, that is, converts sugar acid to 2-dehydro-3-deoxy sugar acid. We have shown earlier that the enzyme forms a dimer of dimers, in which the C-terminal histidine residue from one monomer participates in the formation of the active site of an adjacent monomer. The histidine appears to be conserved across the sequences of sugar acid dehydratases. To study the role of the C-terminus, five variants (H579A, H579F, H579L, H579Q, and H579W) were produced. All variants showed decreased activity for the tested sugar acid substrates, except the variant H579L on D-fuconate, which showed about 20% increase in activity. The reaction kinetic data showed that the substrate preference was slightly modified in H579L compared to the wild-type enzyme, demonstrating that the alternation of the substrate preference of sugar acid dehydratases is possible. In addition, a crystal structure of H579L was determined at 2.4 Å with a product analog 2-oxobutyrate. This is the first enzyme-ligand complex structure from an IlvD/EDD superfamily enzyme. The binding of 2-oxobutyrate suggests how the substrate would bind into the active site in the orientation, which could lead to the dehydration reaction. KEY POINTS: • Mutation of the last histidine at the C-terminus changed the catalytic activity of L-arabinonate dehydratase from R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii against various C5/C6 sugar acids. • The variant H579L of L-arabinonate dehydratase showed an alteration of substrate preferences compared with the wild type. • The first enzyme-ligand complex crystal structure of an IlvD/EDD superfamily enzyme was solved.

Structural insight to elucidate the binding specificity of the anti-cortisol Fab fragment with glucocorticoids.

Cortisol is a steroid hormone that is produced by the adrenal gland. It is a primary stress hormone that increases glucose levels in the blood stream. High concentrations of cortisol in the body can be used as a biomarker for acute and chronic stress and related mental and physiological disorders. Therefore, the accurate quantification of cortisol levels in body fluids is essential for clinical diagnosis. In this article, we describe the isolation of recombinant anti-cortisol antibodies with high affinity for cortisol and discover their cross-reactivity with other glucocorticoids. To describe the cortisol binding site and elucidate the structural basis for the binding specificity, the high-resolution crystal structures of the anti-cortisol (17) Fab fragment in the absence of glucocorticoid (2.00 Å) and the presence of cortisol (2.26 Å), corticosterone (1.86 Å), cortisone (1.85 Å) and prednisolone (2.00 Å) were determined. To our knowledge, this is the first determined crystal structure of a cortisol-specific antibody. The recognition of cortisol is driven by hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding at the protein-ligand interface coupled with a conformational transition. Comparison of ligand-free and ligand-bound structures showed that the side chains of residues Tyr58-H and Arg56-H can undergo local conformational changes at the binding site, most likely prior to the binding event via a conformational selection mechanism. Compared to other anti-steroid antibody-antigen complexes, (17) Fab possesses a structurally unique steroid binding site, as the H3 loop from the CDR area has only a minor contribution, but framework residues have a prominent contribution to hapten binding.

Xylonolactonase from Caulobacter crescentus Is a Mononuclear Nonheme Iron Hydrolase.

Caulobacter crescentus xylonolactonase (Cc XylC, EC 3.1.1.68) catalyzes an intramolecular ester bond hydrolysis over a nonenzymatic acid/base catalysis. Cc XylC is a member of the SMP30 protein family, whose members have previously been reported to be active in the presence of bivalent metal ions, such as Ca2+, Zn2+, and Mg2+. By native mass spectrometry, we studied the binding of several bivalent metal ions to Cc XylC and observed that it binds only one of them, namely, the Fe2+ cation, specifically and with a high affinity (Kd = 0.5 µM), pointing out that Cc XylC is a mononuclear iron protein. We propose that bivalent metal cations also promote the reaction nonenzymatically by stabilizing a short-lived bicyclic intermediate on the lactone isomerization reaction. An analysis of the reaction kinetics showed that Cc XylC complexed with Fe2+ can speed up the hydrolysis of d-xylono-1,4-lactone by 100-fold and that of d-glucono-1,5-lactone by 10-fold as compared to the nonenzymatic reaction. To our knowledge, this is the first discovery of a nonheme mononuclear iron-binding enzyme that catalyzes an ester bond hydrolysis reaction.

Allergens and their associated small molecule ligands-their dual role in sensitization.

Many allergens feature hydrophobic cavities that allow the binding of primarily hydrophobic small-molecule ligands. Ligand-binding specificities can be strict or promiscuous. Serum albumins from mammals and birds can assume multiple conformations that facilitate the binding of a broad spectrum of compounds. Pollen and plant food allergens of the family 10 of pathogenesis-related proteins bind a variety of small molecules such as glycosylated flavonoid derivatives, flavonoids, cytokinins, and steroids in vitro. However, their natural ligand binding was reported to be highly specific. Insect and mammalian lipocalins transport odorants, pheromones, catecholamines, and fatty acids with a similar level of specificity, while the food allergen ß-lactoglobulin from cow's milk is notably more promiscuous. Non-specific lipid transfer proteins from pollen and plant foods bind a wide variety of lipids, from phospholipids to fatty acids, as well as sterols and prostaglandin B2, aided by the high plasticity and flexibility displayed by their lipid-binding cavities. Ligands increase the stability of allergens to thermal and/or proteolytic degradation. They can also act as immunomodulatory agents that favor a Th2 polarization. In summary, ligand-binding allergens expose the immune system to a variety of biologically active compounds whose impact on the sensitization process has not been well studied thus far.

Current state of and need for enzyme engineering of 2-deoxy-D-ribose 5-phosphate aldolases and its impact.

Deoxyribose-5-phosphate aldolases (DERAs, EC 4.1.2.4) are acetaldehyde-dependent, Class I aldolases catalyzing in nature a reversible aldol reaction between an acetaldehyde donor (C2 compound) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate acceptor (C3 compound, C3P) to generate deoxyribose-5-phosphate (C5 compound, DR5P). DERA enzymes have been found to accept also other types of aldehydes as their donor, and in particular as acceptor molecules. Consequently, DERA enzymes can be applied in C-C bond formation reactions to produce novel compounds, thus offering a versatile biocatalytic alternative for synthesis. DERA enzymes, found in all kingdoms of life, share a common TIM barrel fold despite the low overall sequence identity. The catalytic mechanism is well-studied and involves formation of a covalent enzyme-substrate intermediate. A number of protein engineering studies to optimize substrate specificity, enzyme efficiency, and stability of DERA aldolases have been published. These have employed various engineering strategies including structure-based design, directed evolution, and recently also machine learning-guided protein engineering. For application purposes, enzyme immobilization and usage of whole cell catalysis are preferred methods as they improve the overall performance of the biocatalytic processes, including often also the stability of the enzyme. Besides single-step enzymatic reactions, DERA aldolases have also been applied in multi-enzyme cascade reactions both in vitro and in vivo. The DERA-based applications range from synthesis of commodity chemicals and flavours to more complicated and high-value pharmaceutical compounds. KEY POINTS: • DERA aldolases are versatile biocatalysts able to make new C-C bonds. • Synthetic utility of DERAs has been improved by protein engineering approaches. • Computational methods are expected to speed up the future DERA engineering efforts.

Substrate specificity of 2-deoxy-D-ribose 5-phosphate aldolase (DERA) assessed by different protein engineering and machine learning methods.

In this work, deoxyribose-5-phosphate aldolase (Ec DERA, EC 4.1.2.4) from Escherichia coli was chosen as the protein engineering target for improving the substrate preference towards smaller, non-phosphorylated aldehyde donor substrates, in particular towards acetaldehyde. The initial broad set of mutations was directed to 24 amino acid positions in the active site or in the close vicinity, based on the 3D complex structure of the E. coli DERA wild-type aldolase. The specific activity of the DERA variants containing one to three amino acid mutations was characterised using three different substrates. A novel machine learning (ML) model utilising Gaussian processes and feature learning was applied for the 3rd mutagenesis round to predict new beneficial mutant combinations. This led to the most clear-cut (two- to threefold) improvement in acetaldehyde (C2) addition capability with the concomitant abolishment of the activity towards the natural donor molecule glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (C3P) as well as the non-phosphorylated equivalent (C3). The Ec DERA variants were also tested on aldol reaction utilising formaldehyde (C1) as the donor. Ec DERA wild-type was shown to be able to carry out this reaction, and furthermore, some of the improved variants on acetaldehyde addition reaction turned out to have also improved activity on formaldehyde. KEY POINTS: • DERA aldolases are promiscuous enzymes. • Synthetic utility of DERA aldolase was improved by protein engineering approaches. • Machine learning methods aid the protein engineering of DERA.

The peroxisomal zebrafish SCP2-thiolase (type-1) is a weak transient dimer as revealed by crystal structures and native mass spectrometry.

The SCP2 (sterol carrier protein 2)-thiolase (type-1) functions in the vertebrate peroxisomal, bile acid synthesis pathway, converting 24-keto-THC-CoA and CoA into choloyl-CoA and propionyl-CoA. This conversion concerns the ß-oxidation chain shortening of the steroid fatty acyl-moiety of 24-keto-THC-CoA. This class of dimeric thiolases has previously been poorly characterized. High-resolution crystal structures of the zebrafish SCP2-thiolase (type-1) now reveal an open catalytic site, shaped by residues of both subunits. The structure of its non-dimerized monomeric form has also been captured in the obtained crystals. Four loops at the dimer interface adopt very different conformations in the monomeric form. These loops also shape the active site and their structural changes explain why a competent active site is not present in the monomeric form. Native mass spectrometry studies confirm that the zebrafish SCP2-thiolase (type-1) as well as its human homolog are weak transient dimers in solution. The crystallographic binding studies reveal the mode of binding of CoA and octanoyl-CoA in the active site, highlighting the conserved geometry of the nucleophilic cysteine, the catalytic acid/base cysteine and the two oxyanion holes. The dimer interface of SCP2-thiolase (type-1) is equally extensive as in other thiolase dimers; however, it is more polar than any of the corresponding interfaces, which correlates with the notion that the enzyme forms a weak transient dimer. The structure comparison of the monomeric and dimeric forms suggests functional relevance of this property. These comparisons provide also insights into the structural rearrangements that occur when the folded inactive monomers assemble into the mature dimer.

Thermokinetic Analysis of Protein Subunit Exchange by Variable-Temperature Native Mass Spectrometry.

Many protein complexes are assembled from a varying number of subunits, which are continuously exchanging with diverse time scales. This structural dynamics is considered to be important for many regulatory and sensory adaptation processes that occur in vivo. We have developed an accurate method for monitoring protein subunit exchange by using native electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), exemplified here for an extremely stable Rad50 zinc hook (Hk) dimer assembly, Zn(Hk)2. The method has two steps: appropriate protein/peptide mutation and native ESI-MS analysis using a variable-temperature sample inlet. In this work, two Hk mutants were produced, mixed with wild-type Hk, and measured at three different temperatures. A thermokinetic analysis of heterodimer formation allowed us to determine the enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs free energy of activation for subunit exchange, showing that the reaction is slow and associated with a high enthalpic barrier, consistent with the exceptionally high stability of the Zn(Hk)2 assembly.

Insights into the roles of non-catalytic residues in the active site of a GH10 xylanase with activity on cellulose.

Bifunctional glycoside hydrolases have potential for cost-savings in enzymatic decomposition of plant cell wall polysaccharides for biofuels and bio-based chemicals. The N-terminal GH10 domain of a bifunctional multimodular enzyme CbXyn10C/Cel48B from Caldicellulosiruptor bescii is an enzyme able to degrade xylan and cellulose simultaneously. However, the molecular mechanism underlying its substrate promiscuity has not been elucidated. Herein, we discovered that the binding cleft of CbXyn10C would have at least six sugar-binding subsites by using isothermal titration calorimetry analysis of the inactive E140Q/E248Q mutant with xylo- and cello-oligosaccharides. This was confirmed by determining the catalytic efficiency of the wild-type enzyme on these oligosaccharides. The free form and complex structures of CbXyn10C with xylose- or glucose-configured oligosaccharide ligands were further obtained by crystallographic analysis and molecular modeling and docking. CbXyn10C was found to have a typical (ß/α)8-TIM barrel fold and "salad-bowl" shape of GH10 enzymes. In complex structures with xylo-oligosaccharides, seven sugar-binding subsites were found, and many residues responsible for substrate interactions were identified. Site-directed mutagenesis indicated that 6 and 10 amino acid residues were key residues for xylan and cellulose hydrolysis, respectively. The most important residues are centered on subsites -2 and -1 near the cleavage site, whereas residues playing moderate roles could be located at more distal regions of the binding cleft. Manipulating the residues interacting with substrates in the distal regions directly or indirectly improved the activity of CbXyn10C on xylan and cellulose. Most of the key residues for cellulase activity are conserved across GH10 xylanases. Revisiting randomly selected GH10 enzymes revealed unreported cellulase activity, indicating that the dual function may be a more common phenomenon than has been expected.

Unraveling Substrate Specificity and Catalytic Promiscuity of Aspergillus oryzae Catechol Oxidase.

Catechol oxidases and tyrosinases are coupled binuclear copper enzymes that oxidize various o-diphenolic compounds to corresponding o-quinones. Tyrosinases have an additional monooxygenation ability to hydroxylate monophenol to o-diphenol. It is still not clear what causes the difference in the catalytic activities. We solved a complex structure of Aspergillus oryzae catechol oxidase with resorcinol bound into the active site. Catalytic activity of A. oryzae catechol oxidase was studied, for the first time, by high-resolution FT-ICR mass spectrometry to shed light on the reaction mechanism. The enzyme was also found to catalyze monooxygenation of small phenolics, which provides a novel perspective for the discussion of differences in the catalytic activity between tyrosinases and catechol oxidases. According to the results, two binding modes for resorcinol are suggested and a reaction mechanism for coupled binuclear copper enzymes is discussed.

Structure and function of Caulobacter crescentus aldose-aldose oxidoreductase.

Aldose-aldose oxidoreductase (Cc AAOR) is a recently characterized enzyme from the bacterial strain Caulobacter crescentus CB15 belonging to the glucose-fructose oxidoreductase/inositol dehydrogenase/rhizopine catabolism protein (Gfo/Idh/MocA) family. Cc AAOR catalyses the oxidation and reduction of a panel of aldose monosaccharides using a tightly bound NADP(H) cofactor that is regenerated in the catalytic cycle. Furthermore, Cc AAOR can also oxidize 1,4-linked oligosaccharides. In the present study, we present novel crystal structures of the dimeric Cc AAOR in complex with the cofactor and glycerol, D-xylose, D-glucose, maltotriose and D-sorbitol determined to resolutions of 2.0, 1.8, 1.7, 1.9 and 1.8 Å (1 Å=0.1 nm), respectively. These complex structures allowed for a detailed analysis of the ligand-binding interactions. The structures showed that the C1 carbon of a substrate, which is either reduced or oxidized, is close to the reactive C4 carbon of the nicotinamide ring of NADP(H). In addition, the O1 hydroxy group of the substrate, which is either protonated or deprotonated, is unexpectedly close to both Lys(104) and Tyr(189), which may both act as a proton donor or acceptor. This led us to hypothesize that this intriguing feature could be beneficial for Cc AAOR to catalyse the reduction of a linear form of a monosaccharide substrate and the oxidation of a pyranose form of the same substrate in a reaction cycle, during which the bound cofactor is regenerated.

Structure and function of a decarboxylating Agrobacterium tumefaciens keto-deoxy-d-galactarate dehydratase.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens (At) strain C58 contains an oxidative enzyme pathway that can function on both d-glucuronic and d-galacturonic acid. The corresponding gene coding for At keto-deoxy-d-galactarate (KDG) dehydratase is located in the same gene cluster as those coding for uronate dehydrogenase (At Udh) and galactarolactone cycloisomerase (At Gci) which we have previously characterized. Here, we present the kinetic characterization and crystal structure of At KDG dehydratase, which catalyzes the next step, the decarboxylating hydrolyase reaction of KDG to produce α-ketoglutaric semialdehyde (α-KGSA) and carbon dioxide. The crystal structures of At KDG dehydratase and its complexes with pyruvate and 2-oxoadipic acid, two substrate analogues, were determined to 1.7 Å, 1.5 Å, and 2.1 Å resolution, respectively. Furthermore, mass spectrometry was used to confirm reaction end-products. The results lead us to propose a structure-based mechanism for At KDG dehydratase, suggesting that while the enzyme belongs to the Class I aldolase protein family, it does not follow a typical retro-aldol condensation mechanism.

Robust Approach for Quantifying Glucocorticoid Binding to the Anti-Cortisol Fab Fragment via Native Mass Spectrometry.

In the development of proteins, aptamers, and molecular imprints for diagnostic purposes, a major goal is to obtain a molecule with both a high binding affinity and specificity for the target ligand. Cushing syndrome or Addison's disease can be diagnosed by cortisol level tests. We have previously characterized and solved the crystal structure of an anti-cortisol (17) Fab fragment having a high affinity to cortisol but also significant cross-reactivity to other glucocorticoids, especially the glucocorticoid drug prednisolone. We used native mass spectrometry (MS) to determine the binding affinities of nine steroid hormones to anti-cortisol (17) Fab, including steroidogenic precursors of cortisol. Based on the results, the number of hydroxyl groups in the structure of a steroid ligand plays a key role in the antigen recognition by the Fab fragment as the ligands with three hydroxyl groups, cortisol and prednisolone, had the highest affinities. The antibody affinity toward steroid hormones often decreases with a decrease in the number of hydroxyl groups in the structure. The presence of the hydroxyl group at position C11 increased the affinity more than did the other hydroxyl groups at positions C17 or C21. The binding affinities obtained by native MS were compared to the values determined by surface plasmon resonance (SPR), and the affinities were found to correlate well between these two techniques. Our study demonstrates that native MS with a large dynamic range and high sensitivity is a versatile tool for ligand binding studies of proteins.

Structural insights into ternary immunocomplex formation and cross-reactivity: binding of an anti-immunocomplex FabB12 to Fab220-testosterone complex.

Anti-immunocomplex (Anti-IC) antibodies have been used in developing noncompetitive immunoassays for detecting small molecule analytics (haptens). These antibodies bind specifically to the primary antibody in complex with hapten. Although several anti-IC antibody-based immunoassays have been developed, structural studies of these systems are very limited. In this study, we determined the crystal structures of anti-testosterone Fab220 in complex with testosterone and the corresponding anti-IC antibody FabB12. The structure of the ternary complex of testosterone, Fab220, and FabB12 was predicted using LightDock and AlphaFold. The ternary complex has a large (~ 1100 Å2) interface between antibodies. The A-ring of the testosterone bound by Fab220 also participates in the binding of the anti-IC antibody. The structural analysis was complemented by native mass spectrometry. The affinities for testosterone (TES) and three cross-reactive steroids [dihydrotestosterone (DHT), androstenedione (A4), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S)] were measured, and ternary complex formation was studied. The results clearly show the ternary complex formation in the solution. Although DHT showed significant cross-reactivity, A4 and DHEA-S exhibited minor cross-reactivity.

The crystal structure of an extracellular catechol oxidase from the ascomycete fungus Aspergillus oryzae.

Catechol oxidases (EC 1.10.3.1) catalyse the oxidation of o-diphenols to their corresponding o-quinones. These oxidases contain two copper ions (CuA and CuB) within the so-called coupled type 3 copper site as found in tyrosinases (EC 1.14.18.1) and haemocyanins. The crystal structures of a limited number of bacterial and fungal tyrosinases and plant catechol oxidases have been solved. In this study, we present the first crystal structure of a fungal catechol oxidase from Aspergillus oryzae (AoCO4) at 2.5-Å resolution. AoCO4 belongs to the newly discovered family of short-tyrosinases, which are distinct from other tyrosinases and catechol oxidases because of their lack of the conserved C-terminal domain and differences in the histidine pattern for CuA. The sequence identity of AoCO4 with other structurally known enzymes is low (less than 30 %), and the crystal structure of AoCO4 diverges from that of enzymes belonging to the conventional tyrosinase family in several ways, particularly around the central α-helical core region. A diatomic oxygen moiety was identified as a bridging molecule between the two copper ions CuA and CuB separated by a distance of 4.2-4.3 Å. The UV/vis absorption spectrum of AoCO4 exhibits a distinct maximum of absorbance at 350 nm, which has been reported to be typical of the oxy form of type 3 copper enzymes.

Crystal structure of uronate dehydrogenase from Agrobacterium tumefaciens.

Uronate dehydrogenase from Agrobacterium tumefaciens (AtUdh) belongs to the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase superfamily and catalyzes the oxidation of D-galacturonic acid and D-glucuronic acid with NAD(+) as a cofactor. We have determined the crystal structures of an apo-form of AtUdh, a ternary form in complex with NADH and product (substrate-soaked structure), and an inactive Y136A mutant in complex with NAD(+). The crystal structures suggest AtUdh to be a homohexamer, which has also been observed to be the major form in solution. The monomer contains a Rossmann fold, essential for nucleotide binding and a common feature of the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase family enzymes. The ternary complex structure reveals a product, D-galactaro-1,5-lactone, which is bound above the nicotinamide ring. This product rearranges in solution to D-galactaro-1,4-lactone as verified by mass spectrometry analysis, which agrees with our previous NMR study. The crystal structure of the mutant with the catalytic residue Tyr-136 substituted with alanine shows changes in the position of Ile-74 and Ser-75. This probably altered the binding of the nicotinamide end of NAD(+), which was not visible in the electron density map. The structures presented provide novel insights into cofactor and substrate binding and the reaction mechanism of AtUdh. This information can be applied to the design of efficient microbial conversion of D-galacturonic acid-based waste materials.

Calculation and Visualization of Binding Equilibria in Protein Studies.

A set of simulation applets has been developed for visualizing the behavior of the association and dissociation reactions in protein studies. These reactions are simple equilibrium reactions, and the equilibrium constants, most often dissociation constant K D, are useful measures of affinity. Equilibria, even in simple systems, may not behave intuitively, which can cause misconceptions and mistakes. These applets can be utilized for planning experiments, for verifying experimental results, and for visualization of the equilibria in education. The considered reactions include protein homodimerization, ligand binding to a receptor (or heterodimerization), and competitive ligand binding. The latter one can be considered as either a ligand binding to two receptors or a binding of two ligands to a single receptor. In general, the user is required to input the total concentrations of all proteins and ligands and the dissociation constants of all complexes, and the applets output the equilibrium concentrations of all protein species graphically as functions of concentration and as numerical values at a specified point. Also, a curve fitting tool is provided which roughly estimates the concentrations or the dissociation constants based on the experimental data. The applets are freely available online (URL: https://protsim.github.io/protsim) and readily hackable for custom purposes if necessary.

Three-dimensional structure of xylonolactonase from Caulobacter crescentus: A mononuclear iron enzyme of the 6-bladed ß-propeller hydrolase family.

Xylonolactonase Cc XylC from Caulobacter crescentus catalyzes the hydrolysis of the intramolecular ester bond of d-xylonolactone. We have determined crystal structures of Cc XylC in complex with d-xylonolactone isomer analogues d-xylopyranose and (r)-(+)-4-hydroxy-2-pyrrolidinone at high resolution. Cc XylC has a 6-bladed ß-propeller architecture, which contains a central open channel having the active site at one end. According to our previous native mass spectrometry studies, Cc XylC is able to specifically bind Fe2+ . The crystal structures, presented here, revealed an active site bound metal ion with an octahedral binding geometry. The side chains of three amino acid residues, Glu18, Asn146, and Asp196, which participate in binding of metal ion are located in the same plane. The solved complex structures allowed suggesting a reaction mechanism for intramolecular ester bond hydrolysis in which the major contribution for catalysis arises from the carbonyl oxygen coordination of the xylonolactone substrate to the Fe2+ . The structure of Cc XylC was compared with eight other ester hydrolases of the ß-propeller hydrolase family. The previously published crystal structures of other ß-propeller hydrolases contain either Ca2+ , Mg2+ , or Zn2+ and show clear similarities in ligand and metal ion binding geometries to that of Cc XylC. It would be interesting to reinvestigate the metal binding specificity of these enzymes and clarify whether they are also able to use Fe2+ as a catalytic metal. This could further expand our understanding of utilization of Fe2+ not only in oxidative enzymes but also in hydrolases.

Probing the dioxygen route in Melanocarpus albomyces laccase with pressurized xenon gas.

Laccases catalyze the oxidation of phenolic substrates and the concominant reduction of dioxygen to water. We used xenon as an oxygen probe in search of routes for the entry of dioxygen into the catalytic center. Two xenon-pressurized crystal structures of recombinant Melanocarpus albomyces laccase were determined, showing three hydrophobic Xe-binding sites located in domain C. The analysis of hydrophobic cavities in other laccase structures further suggested the preference of domain C for binding of hydrophobic species such as dioxygen, thus suggesting that the hydrophobic core of domain C could function as a channel through which dioxygen can enter the trinuclear copper center.

Crystal structures of Trichoderma reesei ß-galactosidase reveal conformational changes in the active site.

We have determined the crystal structure of Trichoderma reesei (Hypocrea jecorina) ß-galactosidase (Tr-ß-gal) at a 1.2Å resolution and its complex structures with galactose, IPTG and PETG at 1.5, 1.75 and 1.4Å resolutions, respectively. Tr-ß-gal is a potential enzyme for lactose hydrolysis in the dairy industry and belongs to family 35 of the glycoside hydrolases (GH-35). The high resolution crystal structures of this six-domain enzyme revealed interesting features about the structure of Tr-ß-gal. We discovered conformational changes in the two loop regions in the active site, implicating a conformational selection-mechanism for the enzyme. In addition, the Glu200, an acid/base catalyst showed two different conformations which undoubtedly affect the pK(a) value of this residue and the catalytic mechanism. The electron density showed extensive glycosylation, suggesting a structure stabilizing role for glycans. The longest glycan showed an electron density that extends to the eighth monosaccharide unit in the extended chain. The Tr-ß-gal structure also showed a well-ordered structure for a unique octaserine motif on the surface loop of the fifth domain.