Structural and mechanistic basis of the central energy-converting methyltransferase complex of methanogenesis.

Methanogenic archaea inhabiting anaerobic environments play a crucial role in the global biogeochemical material cycle. The most universal electrogenic reaction of their methane-producing energy metabolism is catalyzed by N    5-methyl-tetrahydromethanopterin: coenzyme M methyltransferase (MtrABCDEFGH), which couples the vectorial Na+ transport with a methyl transfer between the one-carbon carriers tetrahydromethanopterin and coenzyme M via a vitamin B12 derivative (cobamide) as prosthetic group. We present the 2.08 Šcryo-EM structure of Mtr(ABCDEFG)3 composed of the central Mtr(ABFG)3 stalk symmetrically flanked by three membrane-spanning MtrCDE globes. Tetraether glycolipids visible in the map fill gaps inside the multisubunit complex. Putative coenzyme M and Na+ were identified inside or in a side-pocket of a cytoplasmic cavity formed within MtrCDE. Its bottom marks the gate of the transmembrane pore occluded in the cryo-EM map. By integrating Alphafold2 information, functionally competent MtrA-MtrH and MtrA-MtrCDE subcomplexes could be modeled and thus the methyl-tetrahydromethanopterin demethylation and coenzyme M methylation half-reactions structurally described. Methyl-transfer-driven Na+ transport is proposed to be based on a strong and weak complex between MtrCDE and MtrA carrying vitamin B12, the latter being placed at the entrance of the cytoplasmic MtrCDE cavity. Hypothetically, strongly attached methyl-cob(III)amide (His-on) carrying MtrA induces an inward-facing conformation, Na+ flux into the membrane protein center and finally coenzyme M methylation while the generated loosely attached (or detached) MtrA carrying cob(I)amide (His-off) induces an outward-facing conformation and an extracellular Na+ outflux. Methyl-cob(III)amide (His-on) is regenerated in the distant active site of the methyl-tetrahydromethanopterin binding MtrH implicating a large-scale shuttling movement of the vitamin B12-carrying domain.

Structural Basis of Hydrogenotrophic Methanogenesis.

Most methanogenic archaea use the rudimentary hydrogenotrophic pathway-from CO2 and H2 to methane-as the terminal step of microbial biomass degradation in anoxic habitats. The barely exergonic process that just conserves sufficient energy for a modest lifestyle involves chemically challenging reactions catalyzed by complex enzyme machineries with unique metal-containing cofactors. The basic strategy of the methanogenic energy metabolism is to covalently bind C1 species to the C1 carriers methanofuran, tetrahydromethanopterin, and coenzyme M at different oxidation states. The four reduction reactions from CO2 to methane involve one molybdopterin-based two-electron reduction, two coenzyme F420-based hydride transfers, and one coenzyme F430-based radical process. For energy conservation, one ion-gradient-forming methyl transfer reaction is sufficient, albeit supported by a sophisticated energy-coupling process termed flavin-based electron bifurcation for driving the endergonic CO2 reduction and fixation. Here, we review the knowledge about the structure-based catalytic mechanism of each enzyme of hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis.

Structures of the sulfite detoxifying F420-dependent enzyme from Methanococcales.

Methanogenic archaea are main actors in the carbon cycle but are sensitive to reactive sulfite. Some methanogens use a sulfite detoxification system that combines an F420H2-oxidase with a sulfite reductase, both of which are proposed precursors of modern enzymes. Here, we present snapshots of this coupled system, named coenzyme F420-dependent sulfite reductase (Group I Fsr), obtained from two marine methanogens. Fsr organizes as a homotetramer, harboring an intertwined six-[4Fe-4S] cluster relay characterized by spectroscopy. The wire, spanning 5.4 nm, electronically connects the flavin to the siroheme center. Despite a structural architecture similar to dissimilatory sulfite reductases, Fsr shows a siroheme coordination and a reaction mechanism identical to assimilatory sulfite reductases. Accordingly, the reaction of Fsr is unidirectional, reducing sulfite or nitrite with F420H2. Our results provide structural insights into this unique fusion, in which a primitive sulfite reductase turns a poison into an elementary block of life.

Bioelectrocatalytic CO2 Reduction by Mo-Dependent Formylmethanofuran Dehydrogenase.

Massive efforts are invested in developing innovative CO2 -sequestration strategies to counter climate change and transform CO2 into higher-value products. CO2 -capture by reduction is a chemical challenge, and attention is turned toward biological systems that selectively and efficiently catalyse this reaction under mild conditions and in aqueous solvents. While a few reports have evaluated the effectiveness of isolated bacterial formate dehydrogenases as catalysts for the reversible electrochemical reduction of CO2 , it is imperative to explore other enzymes among the natural reservoir of potential models that might exhibit higher turnover rates or preferential directionality for the reductive reaction. Here, we present electroenzymatic catalysis of formylmethanofuran dehydrogenase, a CO2 -reducing-and-fixing biomachinery isolated from a thermophilic methanogen, which was deposited on a graphite rod electrode to enable direct electron transfer for electroenzymatic CO2 reduction. The gas is reduced with a high Faradaic efficiency (109±1 %), where a low affinity for formate prevents its electrochemical reoxidation and favours formate accumulation. These properties make the enzyme an excellent tool for electroenzymatic CO2 -fixation and inspiration for protein engineering that would be beneficial for biotechnological purposes to convert the greenhouse gas into stable formate that can subsequently be safely stored, transported, and used for power generation without energy loss.

A Structural View of Alkyl-Coenzyme M Reductases, the First Step of Alkane Anaerobic Oxidation Catalyzed by Archaea.

Microbial anaerobic oxidation of alkanes intrigues the scientific community by way of its impact on the global carbon cycle, and its biotechnological applications. Archaea are proposed to degrade short- and long-chain alkanes to CO2 by reversing methanogenesis, a theoretically reversible process. The pathway would start with alkane activation, an endergonic step catalyzed by methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR) homologues that would generate alkyl-thiols carried by coenzyme M. While the methane-generating MCR found in methanogens has been well characterized, the enzymatic activity of the putative alkane-fixing counterparts has not been validated so far. Such an absence of biochemical investigations contrasts with the current explosion of metagenomics data, which draws new potential alkane-oxidizing pathways in various archaeal phyla. Therefore, validating the physiological function of these putative alkane-fixing machines and investigating how their structures, catalytic mechanisms, and cofactors vary depending on the targeted alkane have become urgent needs. The first structural insights into the methane- and ethane-capturing MCRs highlighted unsuspected differences and proposed some explanations for their substrate specificity. This Perspective reviews the current physiological, biochemical, and structural knowledge of alkyl-CoM reductases and offers fresh ideas about the expected mechanistic and chemical differences among members of this broad family. We conclude with the challenges of the investigation of these particular enzymes, which might one day generate biofuels for our modern society.

Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) of Human Kidney Allografts.

OBJECTIVE: Aim of our study was to test a noninvasive HSI technique as an intraoperative real time assessment tool for deceased donor kidney quality and function in human kidney allotransplantation. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: HSI is capable to deliver quantitative diagnostic information about tissue pathology, morphology, and composition, based on the spectral characteristics of the investigated tissue. Because tools for objective intraoperative graft viability and performance assessment are lacking, we applied this novel technique to human kidney transplantation. METHODS: Hyperspectral images of distinct components of kidney allografts (parenchyma, ureter) were acquired 15 and 45 minutes after reperfusion and subsequently analyzed using specialized HSI acquisition software capable to compute oxygen saturation levels (StO2), near infrared perfusion indices (NIR), organ hemoglobin indices, and tissue water indices of explored tissues. RESULTS: Seventeen kidney transplants were analyzed. Median recipient and donor age were 55 years. Cold ischemia time was 10.8 ±â€Š4.1 hours and anastomosis time was 35 ±â€Š7 minutes (mean ±â€Šstandard deviation). Two patients (11.8%) developed delayed graft function (DGF). cold ischemia time was significantly longer (18.6 ±â€Š1.6) in patients with DGF (P < 0.01). Kidneys with DGF furthermore displayed significant lower StO2 (P = 0.02) and NIR perfusion indices, 15 minutes after reperfusion (P < 0.01). Transplant ureters displayed a significant decrease of NIR perfusion with increased distance to the renal pelvis, identifying well and poor perfused segments. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative HSI is feasible and meaningful to predict DGF in renal allografts. Furthermore, it can be utilized for image guided surgery, providing information about tissue oxygenation, perfusion, hemoglobin concentration, and water concentration, hence allowing intraoperative viability assessment of the kidney parenchyma and the ureter.

Hyperspectral imaging for quantitative assessment of hepatic steatosis in human liver allografts.

INTRODUCTION: In liver transplantation (LT), steatosis is commonly judged to be a risk factor for graft dysfunction, and quantitative assessment of hepatic steatosis remains crucial. Liver biopsy as the gold standard for evaluation of hepatic steatosis has certain drawbacks, that is, invasiveness, and intra- and inter-observer variability. A non-invasive, quantitative modality could replace liver biopsy and eliminate these disadvantages, but has not yet been evaluated in human LT. METHODS: We performed a pilot study to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of hyperspectral imaging (HSI) in the assessment of hepatic steatosis of human liver allografts for transplantation. Thirteen deceased donor liver allografts were included in the study. The degree of steatosis was assessed by means of conventional liver biopsy as well as HSI, performed at the end of back-table preparation, during normothermic machine perfusion (NMP), and after reperfusion in the recipient. RESULTS: Organ donors were 51 [30-83] years old, and 61.5% were male. Donor body mass index was 24.2 [16.5-38.0] kg/m2 . The tissue lipid index (TLI) generated by HSI at the end of back-table preparation correlated significantly with the histopathologically assessed degree of overall hepatic steatosis (R2 = .9085, P < .0001); this was based on a correlation of TLI and microvesicular steatosis (R2 = .8120; P < .0001). There is also a linear relationship between the histopathologically assessed degree of overall steatosis and TLI during NMP (R2 = .5646; P = .0031) as well as TLI after reperfusion (R2 = .6562; P = .0008). CONCLUSION: HSI may safely be applied for accurate assessment of hepatic steatosis in human liver grafts. Certainly, TLI needs further assessment and validation in larger sample sizes.

Ex situ arterial reconstruction prior normothermic machine perfusion of liver grafts.

PURPOSE: Atypical variants of the hepatic artery are common and pose a technical challenge for normothermic machine perfusion (NMP). The transplant surgeon has three options when confronted with hepatic arterial variation in a liver graft to be subjected to NMP: to perform arterial reconstruction (i) prior, (ii) during, or (iii) following NMP. METHODS: Herein, we report our experience and technical considerations with pre-NMP reconstruction. Out of 52 livers, 9 had an atypical hepatic artery (HA): 3 replaced right HA, 3 replaced left HA, 1 accessory left HA, 1 accessory left and right HA, and 1 replaced left and right HA. RESULTS: Reconstruction was conducted during back-table preparation. A single vascular conduit was created in all grafts to allow single arterial cannulation for NMP, necessitating only one arterial anastomosis within the recipient. All grafts were subjected to NMP and subsequently successfully transplanted. CONCLUSION: Our approach is being advocated for as it preserves the ability to alter the reconstruction in case of problems resulting from the reconstruction itself, thereby allowing functional evaluation of the reconstruction prior transplantation, permitting simultaneous reperfusion in the recipient, and providing the shortest possible duration for vascular reconstruction once the graft is rewarming non-perfused within the recipient. In addition, in light of the frequency of technically demanding reconstructions with very small vessels, we consider our technique beneficial as the procedure can be performed under ideal conditions at the back-table.

Methylofuran is a prosthetic group of the formyltransferase/hydrolase complex and shuttles one-carbon units between two active sites.

Methylotrophy, the ability of microorganisms to grow on reduced one-carbon substrates such as methane or methanol, is a feature of various bacterial species. The prevailing oxidation pathway depends on tetrahydromethanopterin (H4MPT) and methylofuran (MYFR), an analog of methanofuran from methanogenic archaea. Formyltransferase/hydrolase complex (Fhc) generates formate from formyl-H4MPT in two consecutive reactions where MYFR acts as a carrier of one-carbon units. Recently, we chemically characterized MYFR from the model methylotroph Methylorubrum extorquens and identified an unusually long polyglutamate side chain of up to 24 glutamates. Here, we report on the crystal structure of Fhc to investigate the function of the polyglutamate side chain in MYFR and the relatedness of the enzyme complex with the orthologous enzymes in archaea. We identified MYFR as a prosthetic group that is tightly, but noncovalently, bound to Fhc. Surprisingly, the structure of Fhc together with MYFR revealed that the polyglutamate side chain of MYFR is branched and contains glutamates with amide bonds at both their α- and γ-carboxyl groups. This negatively charged and branched polyglutamate side chain interacts with a cluster of conserved positively charged residues of Fhc, allowing for strong interactions. The MYFR binding site is located equidistantly from the active site of the formyltransferase (FhcD) and metallo-hydrolase (FhcA). The polyglutamate serves therefore an additional function as a swinging linker to shuttle the one-carbon carrying amine between the two active sites, thereby likely increasing overall catalysis while decreasing the need for high intracellular MYFR concentrations.

Influence of Divalent Cations in the Protein Crystallization Process Assisted by Lanthanide-Based Additives.

The use of lanthanide complexes as powerful auxiliaries for biocrystallography prompted us to systematically analyze the influence of the commercial crystallization kit composition on the efficiency of two lanthanide additives: [Eu(DPA)3]3- and Tb-Xo4. This study reveals that the tris(dipicolinate) complex presents a lower chemical stability and a strong tendency toward false positives, which are detrimental for its use in a high-throughput robotized crystallization platform. In particular, the crystal structures of (Mg(H2O)6)3[Eu(DPA)3]2·7H2O (1), {(Ca(H2O)4)3[Eu(DPA)3]2}n·10nH2O (2), and {Cu(DPA)(H2O)2}n (3), resulting from spontaneous crystallization in the presence of a divalent alkaline-earth cation and transmetalation, are reported. On the other hand, Tb-Xo4 is perfectly soluble in the crystallization media, stable in the presence of alkaline-earth dications, and slowly decomposes (within days) by transmetalation with transition metals. The original structure of [Tb4L4(H2O)4]Cl4·15H2O (4) is also described, where L represents a bis(pinacolato)triazacyclononane ligand. This paper also highlights a potential synergy of interactions between Tb-Xo4 and components of the crystallization mixtures, leading to the formation of complex adducts like {AdkA/Tb-Xo4/Mg2+/glycerol} in the protein binding sites. The observation of such multicomponent adducts illustrated the complexity and versatility of the supramolecular chemistry occurring at the surface of the proteins.

Archaeal acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase/HMG-CoA synthase complex channels the intermediate via a fused CoA-binding site.

Many reactions within a cell are thermodynamically unfavorable. To efficiently run some of those endergonic reactions, nature evolved intermediate-channeling enzyme complexes, in which the products of the first endergonic reactions are immediately consumed by the second exergonic reactions. Based on this concept, we studied how archaea overcome the unfavorable first reaction of isoprenoid biosynthesis-the condensation of two molecules of acetyl-CoA to acetoacetyl-CoA catalyzed by acetoacetyl-CoA thiolases (thiolases). We natively isolated an enzyme complex comprising the thiolase and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl (HMG)-CoA synthase (HMGCS) from a fast-growing methanogenic archaeon, Methanothermococcus thermolithotrophicus HMGCS catalyzes the second reaction in the mevalonate pathway-the exergonic condensation of acetoacetyl-CoA and acetyl-CoA to HMG-CoA. The 380-kDa crystal structure revealed that both enzymes are held together by a third protein (DUF35) with so-far-unknown function. The active-site clefts of thiolase and HMGCS form a fused CoA-binding site, which allows for efficient coupling of the endergonic thiolase reaction with the exergonic HMGCS reaction. The tripartite complex is found in almost all archaeal genomes and in some bacterial ones. In addition, the DUF35 proteins are also important for polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biosynthesis, most probably by functioning as a scaffold protein that connects thiolase with 3-ketoacyl-CoA reductase. This natural and highly conserved enzyme complex offers great potential to improve isoprenoid and PHA biosynthesis in biotechnologically relevant organisms.

Pre-operative ankle-brachial index for cardiovascular risk assessment in simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant recipients: a simple and elegant strategy!

BACKGROUND: Patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus type 1 (IDDM1) and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) undergoing simultaneous pancreas kidney transplantation (SPKT) are a population with diffuse atherosclerosis and elevated risk of cardio- and cerebrovascular morbidity and mortality. We aimed to investigate the feasibility of preoperative screening for peripheral arterial disease (PAD), specifically ankle-brachial index (ABI) testing, to predict peri- and postoperative outcomes in SPKT recipients. METHODS: Medical data (2000-2016) from all patients with IDDM and ESKD undergoing SPKT at our transplant center were retrospectively analyzed. The correlation between PAD (defined by an abnormal ABI before SPKT and graft failure and mortality rates as primary end points, and the occurrence of acute myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular and peripheral vascular complications as secondary end points were investigated after adjustment for known cardiovascular risk factors. RESULTS: Among 101 SPKT recipients in our transplant population who underwent structured physiological arterial studies, 17 patients (17%) were diagnosed with PAD before transplantation. PAD, as defined by a low ABI index, was an independent and significant predictor of death (HR, 2.99 (95% CI 1.00-8.87), p = 0.049) and pancreas graft failure (HR, 4.3 (95% CI 1.24-14.91), p = 0.022). No significant differences were observed for kidney graft failure (HR 1.85 (95% CI 0.76-4.50), p = 0.178). In terms of the secondary outcomes, patients with PAD were more likely to have myocardial infarction, stroke, limb ischemia, gangrene or amputation (HR, 2.90 (95% CI 1.19-7.04), p = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: Pre-transplant screening for PAD and cardiovascular risk factors with non-invasive ABI testing may help to reduce perioperative complications in high-risk patients. Future research on long-term outcomes might provide more in depth insights in optimal treatment strategies for PAD among SPKT recipients.

The Oxoglutarate Binding Site and Regulatory Mechanism Are Conserved in Ammonium Transporter Inhibitors GlnKs from Methanococcales.

Protein inhibition is a natural regulatory process to control cellular metabolic fluxes. PII-family signal-transducing effectors are in this matter key regulators of the nitrogen metabolism. Their interaction with their various targets is governed by the cellular nitrogen level and the energy charge. Structural studies on GlnK, a PII-family inhibitor of the ammonium transporters (Amt), showed that the T-loops responsible for channel obstruction are displaced upon the binding of 2-oxoglutarate, magnesium and ATP in a conserved cleft. However, GlnK from Methanocaldococcus jannaschii was shown to bind 2-oxoglutarate on the tip of its T-loop, causing a moderate disruption to GlnK-Amt interaction, raising the question if methanogenic archaea use a singular adaptive strategy. Here we show that membrane fractions of Methanothermococcus thermolithotrophicus released GlnKs only in the presence of Mg-ATP and 2-oxoglutarate. This observation led us to structurally characterize the two GlnK isoforms apo or in complex with ligands. Together, our results show that the 2-oxoglutarate binding interface is conserved in GlnKs from Methanococcales, including Methanocaldococcus jannaschii, emphasizing the importance of a free carboxy-terminal group to facilitate ligand binding and to provoke the shift of the T-loop positions.

The Influence of Martensitic Intercalations in Magnetic Shape Memory NiCoMnAl Multilayered Films.

Hysteresis and transformation behavior were studied in epitaxial NiCoMnAl magnetic shape memory alloy thin films with varying number martensitic intercalations (MIs) placed in between. MIs consists of a different NiCoMnAl composition with a martensitic transformation occurring at much higher temperature than the host composition. With increasing number of intercalations, we find a decrease in hysteresis width from 17 K to 10 K. For a large difference in the layers thicknesses this is accompanied by a larger amount of residual austenite. If the thicknesses become comparable, strain coupling between them dominates the transformation process, which manifests in a shift of the hysteresis to higher temperatures, splitting of the hysteresis in sub hysteresis and a decrease in residual austenite to almost 0%. A long-range ordering of martensite and austenite regions in the shape of a 3D checker board pattern is formed at almost equal thicknesses.

The multicatalytic compartment of propionyl-CoA synthase sequesters a toxic metabolite.

Cells must cope with toxic or reactive intermediates formed during metabolism. One coping strategy is to sequester reactions that produce such intermediates within specialized compartments or tunnels connecting different active sites. Here, we show that propionyl-CoA synthase (PCS), an ∼ 400-kDa homodimer, three-domain fusion protein and the key enzyme of the 3-hydroxypropionate bi-cycle for CO2 fixation, sequesters its reactive intermediate acrylyl-CoA. Structural analysis showed that PCS forms a multicatalytic reaction chamber. Kinetic analysis suggested that access to the reaction chamber and catalysis are synchronized by interdomain communication. The reaction chamber of PCS features three active sites and has a volume of only 33 nm3. As one of the smallest multireaction chambers described in biology, PCS may inspire the engineering of a new class of dynamically regulated nanoreactors.

Conformational transitions in the active site of mycobacterial 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase upon binding phosphonate analogues of 2-oxoglutarate: From a Michaelis-like complex to ThDP adducts.

Mycobacterial KGD, the thiamine diphosphate (ThDP)-dependent E1o component of the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex (OGDHC), is known to undergo significant conformational changes during catalysis with two distinct conformational states, previously named as the early and late state. In this work, we employ two phosphonate analogues of 2-oxoglutarate (OG), i.e. succinyl phosphonate (SP) and phosphono ethyl succinyl phosphonate (PESP), as tools to isolate the first catalytic steps and understand the significance of conformational transitions for the enzyme regulation. The kinetics showed a more efficient inhibition of mycobacterial E1o by SP (Ki 0.043 ±â€¯0.013 mM) than PESP (Ki 0.88 ±â€¯0.28 mM), consistent with the different circular dichroism spectra of the corresponding complexes. PESP allowed us to get crystallographic snapshots of the Michaelis-like complex, the first one for 2-oxo acid dehydrogenases, followed by the covalent adduction of the inhibitor to ThDP, mimicking the pre-decarboxylation complex. In addition, covalent ThDP-phosphonate complexes obtained with both compounds by co-crystallization were in the late conformational state, probably corresponding to slowly dissociating enzyme-inhibitor complexes. We discuss the relevance of these findings in terms of regulatory features of the mycobacterial E1o enzymes, and in the perspective of developing tools for species-specific metabolic regulation.

InhA, the enoyl-thioester reductase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis forms a covalent adduct during catalysis.

The enoyl-thioester reductase InhA catalyzes an essential step in fatty acid biosynthesis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and is a key target of antituberculosis drugs to combat multidrug-resistant M. tuberculosis strains. This has prompted intense interest in the mechanism and intermediates of the InhA reaction. Here, using enzyme mutagenesis, NMR, stopped-flow spectroscopy, and LC-MS, we found that the NADH cofactor and the CoA thioester substrate form a covalent adduct during the InhA catalytic cycle. We used the isolated adduct as a molecular probe to directly access the second half-reaction of the catalytic cycle of InhA (i.e. the proton transfer), independently of the first half-reaction (i.e. the initial hydride transfer) and to assign functions to two conserved active-site residues, Tyr-158 and Thr-196. We found that Tyr-158 is required for the stereospecificity of protonation and that Thr-196 is partially involved in hydride transfer and protonation. The natural tendency of InhA to form a covalent C2-ene adduct calls for a careful reconsideration of the enzyme's reaction mechanism. It also provides the basis for the development of effective tools to study, manipulate, and inhibit the catalytic cycle of InhA and related enzymes of the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) superfamily. In summary, our work has uncovered the formation of a covalent adduct during the InhA catalytic cycle and identified critical residues required for catalysis, providing further insights into the InhA reaction mechanism important for the development of antituberculosis drugs.

A conserved threonine prevents self-intoxication of enoyl-thioester reductases.

Enzymes are highly specific biocatalysts, yet they can promote unwanted side reactions. Here we investigated the factors that direct catalysis in the enoyl-thioester reductase Etr1p. We show that a single conserved threonine is essential to suppress the formation of a side product that would otherwise act as a high-affinity inhibitor of the enzyme. Substitution of this threonine with isosteric valine increases side-product formation by more than six orders of magnitude, while decreasing turnover frequency by only one order of magnitude. Our results show that the promotion of wanted reactions and the suppression of unwanted side reactions operate independently at the active site of Etr1p, and that the active suppression of side reactions is highly conserved in the family of medium-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (MDRs). Our discovery emphasizes the fact that the active destabilization of competing transition states is an important factor during catalysis that has implications for the understanding and the de novo design of enzymes.

Effects of simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation and kidney transplantation alone on the outcome of peripheral vascular diseases.

BACKGROUND: The effects of Simultaneous Pancreas Kidney Transplantation (SPKT) on Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) warrants additional study and more target focus, since little is known about the mid- and long-term effects on the progression of PVD after transplantation. METHODS: 101 SPKT and 26 Kidney Transplantation Alone (KTA) recipients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) were retrospectively evaluated with regard to graft and metabolic outcome. Special subgroup analysis was directed towards the development and progression of peripheral vascular complications (PVC) (amputation, ischemic ulceration, lower extremity angioplasty/ bypass surgery) after transplantation. RESULTS: The 10-year patient survival was significantly higher in the SPKT group (SPKT: 82% versus KTA 40%; P < 0.001). KTA recipients had a higher prevalence of atherosclerotic risk factors, including coronary artery disease (P < 0.001), higher serum triglyceride levels (P = 0.049), higher systolic (P = 0.03) and diastolic (P = 0.02) blood pressure levels. The incidence of PVD before transplantation was comparable between both groups (P = 0.114). Risk factor adjusted multivariate analysis revealed that patients with SPKT had a significant lower amount (32%) of PVCs (32 PVCs in 21 out of 101 SPKT; P < 0.001) when compared to the KTA patients who developed a significant increase in PVCs to 69% of cases (18 PVCs in 11 out of 26 KTA; P < 0.001). In line mean values of HbA1c (P < 0.01) and serum triglycerides (P < 0.01) were significantly lower in patients with SPKT > 8 years after transplantation. CONCLUSION: SPKT favorably slows down development and progression of PVD by maintaining a superior metabolic vascular risk profile in patients with IDDM1.

Mode of action uncovered for the specific reduction of methane emissions from ruminants by the small molecule 3-nitrooxypropanol.

Ruminants, such as cows, sheep, and goats, predominantly ferment in their rumen plant material to acetate, propionate, butyrate, CO2, and methane. Whereas the short fatty acids are absorbed and metabolized by the animals, the greenhouse gas methane escapes via eructation and breathing of the animals into the atmosphere. Along with the methane, up to 12% of the gross energy content of the feedstock is lost. Therefore, our recent report has raised interest in 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP), which when added to the feed of ruminants in milligram amounts persistently reduces enteric methane emissions from livestock without apparent negative side effects [Hristov AN, et al. (2015) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 112(34):10663-10668]. We now show with the aid of in silico, in vitro, and in vivo experiments that 3-NOP specifically targets methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR). The nickel enzyme, which is only active when its Ni ion is in the +1 oxidation state, catalyzes the methane-forming step in the rumen fermentation. Molecular docking suggested that 3-NOP preferably binds into the active site of MCR in a pose that places its reducible nitrate group in electron transfer distance to Ni(I). With purified MCR, we found that 3-NOP indeed inactivates MCR at micromolar concentrations by oxidation of its active site Ni(I). Concomitantly, the nitrate ester is reduced to nitrite, which also inactivates MCR at micromolar concentrations by oxidation of Ni(I). Using pure cultures, 3-NOP is demonstrated to inhibit growth of methanogenic archaea at concentrations that do not affect the growth of nonmethanogenic bacteria in the rumen.