Citrobacter freundii Methionine γ-Lyase: The Role of Serine 339 in the Catalysis of γ- and ß-Elimination Reactions.

Serine 339 of the active site of Citrobacter freundii methionine γ-lyase (MGL) is a conserved amino acid in most pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent enzymes of the cystathionine ß-lyase subclass, to which MGL belongs. The reaction mechanism of the MGL-catalyzed γ-elimination reaction is poorly explored. We replaced serine 339 with alanine using site-directed mutagenesis. The replacement of serine 339 with alanine led to a significant (by two orders of magnitude) decrease in efficiency in the catalysis of the γ- and ß-elimination reactions by the mutant form of the enzyme. The exchange rates of the C-α- and C-ß-protons in the amino acids in complexes consisting of the enzyme and competitive inhibitors decreased by one-two orders of magnitude. The spectral characteristics of the mutant form indicated that the replacement did not lead to significant changes in the conformation and tautomerism of MGL internal aldimine. We crystallized the holoenzyme and determined its spatial structure at 1.7 E resolution. The replacement of serine 339 with alanine did not affect the overall course of the polypeptide chain of the MGL subunit and the tetrameric enzyme structure. An analysis of the obtained kinetic and spectral data, as well as the known spatial structures of C. freundii MGL, indicates that serine 339 is necessary for efficient catalysis of γ- and ß-elimination reactions at the stage of C-α-proton abstraction from the external aldimine, the γ-elimination reaction at the stages of coenzyme C4'-atom protonation, and C-ß-proton abstraction from a ketimine intermediate.

Antibacterial Effect of Thiosulfinates on Multiresistant Strains of Bacteria Isolated from Patients with Cystic Fibrosis.

The multiresistance of A. ruhlandii 155B, B. cenocepacia 122, and P. aeruginosa 48B strains isolated from patients with cystic fibrosis was established. The antibacterial effect of allicin, dimethyl thiosulfinate, and dipropyl thiosulfinate on multidrug-resistant strains was shown. Thiosulfinates can have both bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects depending on the microorganism and the concentration. The studied thiosulfinates may be candidates for the development of alternative antibiotic drugs to treat infections caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens.

Plasma methionine depletion and pharmacokinetic properties in mice of methionine γ-lyase from Citrobacter freundii, Clostridium tetani and Clostridium sporogenes.

PK studies were carried out after a single i.v. administration of 500 and 1000 U/kg by measuring of MGL activity in plasma samples. L-methionine concentration was measured by mass spectrometry. After single i.v. injection of 500U/kg the circulating T1/2 of enzymes in mice varies from 73 to 123min. The AUC0-tinf values determined for MGL 500U/kg from C. freundii, C. tetani and C. sporogenes are 8.21±0.28, 9.04±0.33 and 13.88±0.39U/(ml×h), respectively. Comparison of PK parameters of three MGL sources in the dose of 500U/kg indicated the MGL C. sporogenes to have better PK parameters: clearance 0.83(95%CI: 0.779-0.871) - was lower than C. tetanii 1.27(95%CI: 1.18-1.36) and C. freundii 1.39(95%CI: 1.30-1.49). Mice plasma methionine decreased to undetectable level 10min after MGL 1000 U/kg injection. After MGL C. sporogenes 500U/kg injection plasma methionine level completely omitted after 10min till 6h, assuming the sustainability of negligible levels of methionine (<5µM) in plasma of mice for about 6h. The recovery of methionine concentration showed the advantageous efficiency of MGL from C. sporogenes: 95% 0.010-0.022 vs 0.023-0.061 for MGL C. freundii and 0.036-0.056 for MGL C. tetani. There are no significant differences between methionine cleavage after MGL C. tetani and MGL C. sporogenes i.v. injection at all doses. MGL from C. sporogenes may be considered as promising enzyme for further investigation as potential anticancer agent.

Sulfoxides, Analogues of L-Methionine and L-Cysteine As Pro-Drugs against Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria.

The problem of resistance to antibiotics requires the development of new classes of broad-spectrum antimicrobial drugs. The concept of pro-drugs allows researchers to look for new approaches to obtain effective drugs with improved pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties. Thiosulfinates, formed enzymatically from amino acid sulfoxides upon crushing cells of genus Allium plants, are known as antimicrobial compounds. The instability and high reactivity of thiosulfinates complicate their use as individual antimicrobial compounds. We propose a pharmacologically complementary pair: an amino acid sulfoxide pro-drug and vitamin B6 - dependent methionine γ-lyase, which metabolizes it in the patient's body. The enzyme catalyzes the γ- and ß-elimination reactions of sulfoxides, analogues of L-methionine and L-cysteine, which leads to the formation of thiosulfinates. In the present work, we cloned the enzyme gene from Clostridium sporogenes. Ionic and tautomeric forms of the internal aldimine were determined by lognormal deconvolution of the holoenzyme spectrum and the catalytic parameters of the recombinant enzyme in the γ- and ß-elimination reactions of amino acids, and some sulfoxides of amino acids were obtained. For the first time, the possibility of usage of the enzyme for effective conversion of sulfoxides was established and the antimicrobial activity of thiosulfinates against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria in situ was shown.

[NMR screening of potential inhibitors of Citrobacter freundii methionine].

Methionine γ-lyase [EC 4.4.1.11] participates in a methionine catabolism at a number of bacteria and protozoa eukaryotes, including pathogenic microorganisms. Lack of this enzyme at mammals allows consider it as a perspective target for rational antibacterial drug design. Currently in medical practice there are no the preparations based on an inhibition of methionine γ-lyase activity. We present results of the search of potential inhibitors of the enzyme using the NMR screening techniques based on identification of compounds, which able to bind specifically to their biological target. Study included a stage of in silico virtual screening of the library of commercially available compounds and subsequent experimental selection of the leading compounds, capable to interact with enzyme. Identification of binding was carried out by means of saturation transfer difference (STD) spectroscopy and WaterLOGSY technique. At the final stage the experimental assessment of inhibiting ability of the selected compounds in the reaction of γ-elimination of L-methionine catalyzed by methionine γ-lyase was carried out. Binding constants of two leading compounds were determined using the WaterLOGSY method. The research expands structural group of potential inhibitors of methionine γ-lyase and allows approach to the design of the inhibitors with higher efficacy.

Kinetic Parameters and Cytotoxic Activity of Recombinant Methionine γ-Lyase from Clostridium tetani, Clostridium sporogenes, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Citrobacter freundii.

The steady-state kinetic parameters of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent recombinant methionine γ -lyase from three pathogenic bacteria, Clostridium tetani, Clostridium sporogenes, and Porphyromonas gingivalis, were determined in ß- and γ-elimination reactions. The enzyme from C. sporogenes is characterized by the highest catalytic efficiency in the γ-elimination reaction of L-methionine. It was demonstrated that the enzyme from these three sources exists as a tetramer. The N-terminal poly-histidine fragment of three recombinant enzymes influences their catalytic activity and facilitates the aggregation of monomers to yield dimeric forms under denaturing conditions. The cytotoxicity of methionine γ-lyase from C. sporogenes and C. tetani in comparison with Citrobacter freundii was evaluated using K562, PC-3, LnCap, MCF7, SKOV-3, and L5178y tumor cell lines. K562 (IC50=0.4-1.3 U/ml), PC-3 (IC50=0.1-0.4 U/ml), and MCF7 (IC50=0.04-3.2 U/ml) turned out to be the most sensitive cell lines.

Three-dimensional structures of noncovalent complexes of Citrobacter freundii methionine γ-lyase with substrates.

Crystal structures of Citrobacter freundii methionine γ-lyase complexes with the substrates of γ- (L-1-amino-3-methylthiopropylphosphinic acid) and ß- (S-ethyl-L-cysteine) elimination reactions and the competitive inhibitor L-norleucine have been determined at 1.45, 1.8, and 1.63 Å resolution, respectively. All three amino acids occupy the active site of the enzyme but do not form a covalent bond with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate. Hydrophobic interactions between the active site residues and the side groups of the substrates and the inhibitor are supposed to cause noncovalent binding. Arg374 and Ser339 are involved in the binding of carboxyl groups of the substrates and the inhibitor. The hydroxyl of Tyr113 is a potential acceptor of a proton from the amino groups of the amino acids.

Kinetic and spectral parameters of interaction of Citrobacter freundii methionine γ-lyase with amino acids.

Kinetic parameters of Citrobacter freundii methionine γ-lyase were determined with substrates in γ-elimination reactions as well as the inhibition of the enzyme in the γ-elimination of L-methionine by amino acids with different structure. The data indicate an important contribution of the sulfur atom and methylene groups to the efficiency of binding of substrates and inhibitors. The rate constants of the enzyme-catalyzed exchange of C-α- and C-ß-protons with deuterium were determined, as well as the kinetic isotope effect of the deuterium label in the C-α-position of inhibitors on the rate of exchange of their ß-protons. Neither stereoselectivity in the ß-proton exchange nor noticeable α-isotope effect on the exchange rates of ß-protons was found. The ionic and tautomeric composition of the external Schiff base of methionine γ-lyase was determined. Spectral characteristics (absorption and circular dichroism spectra) of complexes with substrates and inhibitors were determined. The spectral and kinetic data indicate that deamination of aminocrotonate should be the rate-determining stage of the enzymatic reaction.

[Spatial structure and mechanism of tyrosine phenol-lyase and tryptophan indole-lyase].

The bacterial tyrosine phenol-lyase (EC 4.1.99.2) and tryptoptophan indole-lyase (EC 4.1.99.1) belong to pyridoxal-5'-phosphate dependent beta-eliminating lyases, catalysing the reversible decomposition of L-tyrosine and L-tryptophan to pyruvate, ammonia, and phenol or indole correspondingly. Data on the three dimentional structures of the holoenzymes of tyrosine phenol-lyase and tryptophan indole-lyase and several enzyme-inhibitor complexes, modeling distinct reaction stages of the beta-elimination of L-tyrosine are described in the paper and structural bases of monovalent cations influence of activity of the enzymes are discussed. The spectral and catalytic properties of the mutant enzymes were studied. The data thus obtained have allowed us to elucidate the catalytic functions of a number of amino acid residues and conclude that the acid-base properties of the catalytic groups of the enzymes under the optimal for the catalysis conditions in hydrophobic active sites of tyrosine phenol-lyase and tryptoptophan indol-lyase are different from those in water solutions. Study of the mechanisms of labilization of Calpha-proton of the bound amino acids and activation of the leaving groups of the substrates during the catalytic process has demonstrated that in certain cases concerted reaction pathways are realized instead of stepwise ones.

Aspartic acid 214 in Citrobacter freundii tyrosine phenol-lyase ensures sufficient C--H-acidity of the external aldimine intermediate and proper orientation of the cofactor at the active site.

In the X-ray structure of tyrosine phenol-lyase (TPL) Asp214 is located at H-bonding distance from the N1 atom of the cofactor. This residue has been replaced with Ala and Asn and the properties of the mutant enzymes have been studied. The substitutions result in a decrease in the cofactor affinity of about four orders of magnitude. D214A and D214N TPLs do not catalyze the decomposition of l-Tyr and 3-fluoro-l-Tyr. They decompose substrates, containing better leaving groups with rates reduced by one or two orders of magnitude. Lognormal resolution of the spectra of the mutant enzymes revealed that the N1 atom of the cofactor is deprotonated. Spectral characteristics of internal and external aldimines of the mutant TPLs and the data on their interaction with quasisubstrates demonstrate that replacements of Asp214 lead to alteration of active site conformations. The mutant enzymes do not form noticeable amounts of a quinonoid upon interaction with inhibitors, but catalyze isotope exchange of C-alpha-proton of a number of amino acids for deuterium in (2)H(2)O. The k(ex) values for the isotope exchange of l-phenylalanine and 3-fluoro-l-tyrosine are close to the k(cat) values for reacting substrates. Thus, for the mutant TPLs the stage of C-alpha-proton abstraction may be considered as a rate-limiting for the whole reaction.

L-methionine gamma-lyase from Citrobacter freundii: cloning of the gene and kinetic parameters of the enzyme.

It is shown for the first time for the Enterobacteriaceae family that a gene encoding L-methionine gamma-lyase (MGL) is present in the genome of Citrobacter freundii. Homogeneous enzyme has been purified from C. freundii cells and its N-terminal sequence has been determined. The hybrid plasmid pUCmgl obtained from the C. freundii genomic library contains an EcoRI insert of about 3000 bp, which ensures the appearance of MGL activity when expressed in Escherichia coli TG1 cells. The nucleotide sequence of the EcoRI fragment contains two open reading frames. The first frame (the megL gene) encodes a protein of 398 amino acid residues that has sequence homology with MGLs from different sources. The second frame encodes a protein with sequence homology with proteins belonging to the family of permeases. To overexpress the megL gene it was cloned into pET-15b vector. Recombinant enzyme has been purified and its kinetic parameters have been determined. It is demonstrated that a presence of a hybrid plasmid pUCmgl, containing the megL gene in the E. coli K12 cells, leads to a decrease in efficiency of EcoKI-restriction. It seems likely that decomposition of L-methionine under the action of MGL leads to a decrease in the intracellular content of S-adenosylmethionine. Expression of the megL gene in the C. freundii genome occurs only upon induction by a significant amount of L-methionine.

Structure of Citrobacter freundii L-methionine gamma-lyase.

L-Methionine gamma-lyase (MGL) is a pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) dependent enzyme that catalyzes gamma-elimination of L-methionine. The crystal structure of MGL from Citrobacter freundii has been determined at 1.9 A resolution. The spatial fold of the protein is similar to those of MGLs from Pseudomonas putida and Trichomonas vaginalis. The comparison of these structures revealed that there are differences in PLP-binding residues and positioning of the surrounding flexible loops.

Role of arginine 226 in the mechanism of tryptophan indole-lyase from Proteus vulgaris.

In the spatial structure of tryptophanase from Proteus vulgaris the guanidinium group of arginine 226 forms a salt bridge with the 3;-oxygen atom of the coenzyme. The replacement of arginine 226 with alanine using site-directed mutagenesis reduced the affinity of the coenzyme for the protein by one order of magnitude compared to the wild-type enzyme. The catalytic activity of the mutant enzyme in the reaction with L-tryptophan was reduced 10(5)-fold compared to the wild-type enzyme. The rates of the reactions with some other substrates decreased 10(3)-10(4)-fold. The mutant enzyme catalyzed exchange of the C-alpha-proton in complexes with some inhibitors with rates reduced 10(2)-fold compared to the wild-type enzyme. Absorption and circular dichroism spectra of the mutant enzyme and the enzyme-inhibitor complexes demonstrate that the replacement of arginine 226 with alanine does not significantly affect the tautomeric equilibrium of the internal aldimine, but it leads to an alteration of the optimal conformation of the coenzyme-substrate intermediates.

Tryptophan indole-lyase from Proteus vulgaris: kinetic and spectral properties.

An efficient method for purification of recombinant tryptophanase from Proteus vulgaris was developed. Catalytic properties of the enzyme in reactions with L-tryptophan and some other substrates as well as competitive inhibition by various amino acids in the reaction with S-o-nitrophenyl-L-cysteine were studied. Absorption and circular dichroism spectra of holotryptophanase and its complexes with characteristic inhibitors modeling the structure of the principal reaction intermediates were examined. Kinetic and spectral properties of two tryptophanases which markedly differ in their primary structures are compared. It was found that although the spectral properties of the holoenzymes and their complexes with amino acid inhibitors are different, the principal kinetic properties of the enzymes from Proteus vulgaris and Escherichia coli are analogous. This indicates structural similarity of their active sites.

Interaction of tyrosine phenol-lyase with phosphoroorganic analogues of substrate amino acids.

The phosphinic analogues of tyrosine and pyruvate were first demonstrated to be substrates in the reactions of elimination and synthesis catalyzed by tyrosine phenol-lyase. Kinetic parameters of the enzymatic process were determined, and the first enzymic synthesis of an aminophosphinic acid was carried out. Replacement of the planar HOOC-group by the tetrahedral (HO)(O)PH-group in the substrate slightly affected its affinity for the enzyme but substantially diminished the conversion rate. For phosphonic analogues, containing (HO)2(O)P group, the affinity to the enzyme was decreased considerably while the conversion was completely prevented. Thus, the structural parameters of the acid group are important not only for the affinity for the enzyme, but also for the formation of the catalytically competent conformation of the active site.

Citrobacter freundii tyrosine phenol-lyase: the role of asparagine 185 in modulating enzyme function through stabilization of a quinonoid intermediate.

Asn185 is an invariant residue in all known sequences of TPL and of closely related tryptophanase and it may be aligned with the Asn194 in aspartate aminotransferase. According to X-ray data, in the holoenzyme and in the Michaelis complex Asn185 does not interact with the cofactor pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, but in the external aldimine a conformational change occurs which is accompanied by formation of a hydrogen bond between Asn185 and the oxygen atom in position 3 of the cofactor. The substitution of Asn185 in TPL by alanine results in a mutant N185A TPL of moderate residual activity (2%) with respect to adequate substrates, L-tyrosine and 3-fluoro-L-tyrosine. The affinities of the mutant enzyme for various amino acid substrates and inhibitors, studied by both steady-state and rapid kinetic techniques, were lower than for the wild-type TPL. This effect mainly results from destabilization of the quinonoid intermediate, and it is therefore concluded that the hydrogen bond between Asn185 and the oxygen at the C-3 position of the cofactor is maintained in the quinonoid intermediate. The relative destabilization of the quinonoid intermediate and external aldimine leads to the formation of large amounts of gem-diamine in reactions of N185A TPL with 3-fluoro-L-tyrosine and L-phenylalanine. For the reaction with 3-fluoro-L-tyrosine it was first possible to determine kinetic parameters of gem-diamine formation by the stopped-flow method. For the reactions of N185A TPL with substrates bearing good leaving groups the observed values of k(cat) could be accounted for by taking into consideration two effects: the decrease in the quinonoid content under steady-state conditions and the increase in the quinonoid reactivity in a beta-elimination reaction. Both effects are due to destabilization of the quinonoid and they counterbalance each other. Multiple kinetic isotope effect studies on the reactions of N185A TPL with suitable substrates, L-tyrosine and 3-fluoro-L-tyrosine, show that the principal mechanism of catalysis, suggested previously for the wild-type enzyme, does not change. In the framework of this mechanism the observed considerable decrease in k(cat) values for reactions of N185A TPL with L-tyrosine and 3-fluoro-L-tyrosine may be ascribed to participation of Asn185 in additional stabilization of the keto quinonoid intermediate.