Pre-existent asymmetry in the human cyclooxygenase-2 sequence homodimer.

Prostaglandin endoperoxide H synthase-2 (PGHS-2), also known as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), is a sequence homodimer. However, the enzyme exhibits half-site heme and inhibitor binding and functions as a conformational heterodimer having a catalytic subunit (Ecat) with heme bound and an allosteric subunit (Eallo) lacking heme. Some recombinant heterodimers composed of a COX-deficient mutant subunit and a native subunit (i.e. Mutant/Native PGHS-2) have COX activities similar to native PGHS-2. This suggests that the presence of heme plus substrate leads to the subunits becoming lodged in a semi-stable Eallo-mutant/Ecat-Native∼heme form during catalysis. We examined this concept using human PGHS-2 dimers composed of combinations of Y385F, R120Q, R120A, and S530A mutant or native subunits. With some heterodimers (e.g. Y385F/Native PGHS-2), heme binds with significantly higher affinity to the native subunit. This correlates with near native COX activity for the heterodimer. With other heterodimers (e.g. S530A/Native PGHS-2), heme binds with similar affinities to both subunits, and the COX activity approximates that expected for an enzyme in which each monomer contributes equally to the net COX activity. With or without heme, aspirin acetylates one-half of the subunits of the native PGHS-2 dimer, the Ecat subunits. Subunits having an S530A mutation are refractory to acetylation. Curiously, aspirin acetylates only one-quarter of the monomers of S530A/Native PGHS-2 with or without heme. This implies that there are comparable amounts of two noninterchangeable species of apoenzymes, Eallo-S530A/Ecat-Native and Eallo-Native/Ecat-S530A. These results suggest that native PGHS-2 assumes a reasonably stable, asymmetric Eallo/Ecat form during its folding and processing.

Coxibs interfere with the action of aspirin by binding tightly to one monomer of cyclooxygenase-1.

Pain associated with inflammation involves prostaglandins synthesized from arachidonic acid (AA) through cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) pathways while thromboxane A(2) formed by platelets from AA via cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) mediates thrombosis. COX-1 and COX-2 are both targets of nonselective nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (nsNSAIDs) including aspirin whereas COX-2 activity is preferentially blocked by COX-2 inhibitors called coxibs. COXs are homodimers composed of identical subunits, but we have shown that only one subunit is active at a time during catalysis; moreover, many nsNSAIDS bind to a single subunit of a COX dimer to inhibit the COX activity of the entire dimer. Here, we report the surprising observation that celecoxib and other coxibs bind tightly to a subunit of COX-1. Although celecoxib binding to one monomer of COX-1 does not affect the normal catalytic processing of AA by the second, partner subunit, celecoxib does interfere with the inhibition of COX-1 by aspirin in vitro. X-ray crystallographic results obtained with a celecoxib/COX-1 complex show how celecoxib can bind to one of the two available COX sites of the COX-1 dimer. Finally, we find that administration of celecoxib to dogs interferes with the ability of a low dose of aspirin to inhibit AA-induced ex vivo platelet aggregation. COX-2 inhibitors such as celecoxib are widely used for pain relief. Because coxibs exhibit cardiovascular side effects, they are often prescribed in combination with low-dose aspirin to prevent thrombosis. Our studies predict that the cardioprotective effect of low-dose aspirin on COX-1 may be blunted when taken with coxibs.

Human cyclooxygenase-2 is a sequence homodimer that functions as a conformational heterodimer.

Prostaglandin endoperoxide H synthases 1 and 2, also known as cyclooxygenases (COXs) 1 and 2, convert arachidonic acid (AA) to prostaglandin endoperoxide H(2). Prostaglandin endoperoxide H synthases are targets of nonspecific nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and COX-2-specific inhibitors called coxibs. PGHS-2 is a sequence homodimer. Each monomer has a peroxidase and a COX active site. We find that human PGHS-2 functions as a conformational heterodimer having a catalytic monomer (E(cat)) and an allosteric monomer (E(allo)). Heme binds tightly only to the peroxidase site of E(cat), whereas substrates, as well as certain inhibitors (e.g. celecoxib), bind the COX site of E(cat). E(cat) is regulated by E(allo) in a manner dependent on what ligand is bound to E(allo). Substrate and nonsubstrate fatty acids (FAs) and some COX inhibitors (e.g. naproxen) preferentially bind to the COX site of E(allo). AA can bind to E(cat) and E(allo), but the affinity of AA for E(allo) is 25 times that for E(cat). Palmitic acid, an efficacious stimulator of human PGHS-2, binds only E(allo) in palmitic acid/murine PGHS-2 co-crystals. Nonsubstrate FAs can potentiate or attenuate actions of COX inhibitors depending on the FA and whether the inhibitor binds E(cat) or E(allo). Our studies suggest that the concentration and composition of the free FA pool in the environment in which PGHS-2 functions in cells, the FA tone, is a key factor regulating PGHS-2 activity and its responses to COX inhibitors. We suggest that differences in FA tone occurring with different diets will likely affect both base-line prostanoid synthesis and responses to COX inhibitors.

Asymmetric acetylation of the cyclooxygenase-2 homodimer by aspirin and its effects on the oxygenation of arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic, and docosahexaenoic acids.

Prostaglandin endoperoxide H synthases (PGHS)-1 and -2, also called cyclooxygenases, convert arachidonic acid (AA) to prostaglandin H(2) (PGH(2)) in the committed step of prostaglandin biosynthesis. Both enzymes are homodimers, but the monomers often behave asymmetrically as conformational heterodimers during catalysis and inhibition. Here we report that aspirin maximally acetylates one monomer of human (hu) PGHS-2. The acetylated monomer of aspirin-treated huPGHS-2 forms 15-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid from AA, whereas the nonacetylated partner monomer forms mainly PGH(2) but only at 15 to 20% of the rate of native huPGHS-2. These latter conclusions are based on the findings that the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac binds a single monomer of native huPGHS-2, having an unmodified Ser530 to inhibit the enzyme, and that diclofenac inhibits PGH(2) but not 15-hydroperoxyeicosatraenoic acid formation by acetylated huPGHS-2. The 18R- and 17R-resolvins putatively involved in resolution of inflammation are reportedly formed via aspirin-acetylated PGHS-2 from eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, respectively, so we also characterized the oxygenation of these omega-3 fatty acids by aspirin-treated huPGHS-2. Our in vitro studies suggest that 18R- and 17R-resolvins could be formed only at low rates corresponding to less than 1 and 5%, respectively, of the rates of formation of PGH(2) by native PGHS-2.

Mechanistic studies on the mononuclear ZnII-containing metallo-beta-lactamase ImiS from Aeromonas sobria.

In an effort to understand the reaction mechanism of a B2 metallo-beta-lactamase, steady-state and pre-steady-state kinetic and rapid freeze quench electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies were conducted on ImiS and its reaction with imipenem and meropenem. pH dependence studies revealed no inflection points in the pH range of 5.0-8.5, while proton inventories demonstrated at least 1 rate-limiting proton transfer. Site-directed mutagenesis studies revealed that Lys224 plays a catalytic role in ImiS, while the side chain of Asn233 does not play a role in binding or catalysis. Stopped-flow fluorescence studies on ImiS, which monitor changes in tryptophan fluorescence on the enzyme, and its reaction with imipenem and meropenem revealed biphasic fluorescence time courses with a rate of fluorescence loss of 160 s(-)(1) and a slower rate of fluorescence regain of 98 s(-)(1). Stopped-flow UV-vis studies, which monitor the concentration of substrate, revealed a rapid loss in absorbance during catalysis with a rate of 97 s(-)(1). These results suggest that the rate-limiting step in the reaction catalyzed by ImiS is C-N bond cleavage. Rapid freeze quench EPR studies on Co(II)-substituted ImiS demonstrated the appearance of a rhombic signal after 10 ms that is assigned to a reaction intermediate that has a five-coordinate metal center. A distinct product (EP) complex was also observed and began to appear in 18-19 ms. When these results are taken together, they allow for a reaction mechanism to be offered for the B2 metallo-beta-lactamases and demonstrate that the mono- and dinuclear Zn(II)-containing enzymes share a common rate-limiting step, which is C-N bond cleavage.

X-ray absorption spectroscopy of the zinc-binding sites in the class B2 metallo-beta-lactamase ImiS from Aeromonas veronii bv. sobria.

X-ray absorption spectroscopy was used to investigate the metal-binding sites of ImiS from Aeromonas veronii bv. sobria in catalytically active (1-Zn), product-inhibited (1-Zn plus imipenem), and inactive (2-Zn) forms. The first equivalent of zinc(II) was found to bind to the consensus Zn(2) site. The reaction of 1-Zn ImiS with imipenem leads to a product-bound species, coordinated to Zn via a carboxylate group. The inhibitory binding site of ImiS was examined by a comparison of wild-type ImiS with 1 and 2 equiv of bound zinc. 2-Zn ImiS extended X-ray absorption fine structure data support a binding site that is distant from the active site and contains both one sulfur donor and one histidine ligand. On the basis of the amino acid sequence of ImiS and the crystal structure of CphA [Garau et al. (2005) J. Mol. Biol. 345, 785-795], we propose that the inhibitory binding site is formed by M146, found on the B2-distinct alpha3 helix, and H118, a canonical Zn(1) ligand, proposed to help activate the nucleophilic water. The mutation of M146 to isoleucine abolishes metal inhibition. This is the first characterization of ImiS with the native metal Zn and establishes, for the first time, the location of the inhibitory metal site.