The structural domains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa phosphorylcholine phosphatase cooperate in substrate hydrolysis: 3D structure and enzymatic mechanism.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic Gram-negative pathogen. It colonizes different tissues by the utilization of diverse mechanisms. One of these may involve the breakdown of the host cell membrane through the sequential action of hemolytic phospholipase C and phosphorylcholine phosphatase (PchP). The action of hemolytic phospholipase C on phosphatidylcholine produces phosphorylcholine, which is hydrolyzed to choline (Cho) and inorganic phosphate by PchP. The available biochemical data on this enzyme demonstrate the involvement of two Cho-binding sites in the catalytic cycle and in enzyme regulation. The crystal structure of P. aeruginosa PchP has been determined. It folds into three structural domains. The first domain harbors all the residues involved in catalysis and is well conserved among the haloacid dehalogenase superfamily of proteins. The second domain is characteristic of PchP and is involved in the recognition of the Cho moiety of the substrate. The third domain stabilizes the relative position of the other two. Fortuitously, the crystal structure of PchP captures molecules of Bistris (2-[bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]-2-(hydroxymethyl)propane-1,3-diol) at the active site and at an additional site. This represents two catalytically relevant complexes with just one or two inhibitory Bistris molecules and provides the basis of the PchP function and regulation. Site-directed mutagenesis along with biochemical experiments corroborates the structural observations and demonstrates the interplay between different sites for Cho recognition and inhibition. The structural comparison of PchP with other phosphatases of the haloacid dehalogenase family provides a three-dimensional picture of the conserved catalytic cycle and the structural basis for the recognition of the diverse substrate molecules.

Phosphorylcholine Phosphatase: A Peculiar Enzyme of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa synthesizes phosphorylcholine phosphatase (PchP) when grown on choline, betaine, dimethylglycine or carnitine. In the presence of Mg(2+) or Zn(2+), PchP catalyzes the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenylphosphate (p-NPP) or phosphorylcholine (Pcho). The regulation of pchP gene expression is under the control of GbdR and NtrC; dimethylglycine is likely the metabolite directly involved in the induction of PchP. Therefore, the regulation of choline metabolism and consequently PchP synthesis may reflect an adaptive response of P. aeruginosa to environmental conditions. Bioinformatic and biochemistry studies shown that PchP contains two sites for alkylammonium compounds (AACs): one in the catalytic site near the metal ion-phosphoester pocket, and another in an inhibitory site responsible for the binding of the alkylammonium moiety. Both sites could be close to each other and interact through the residues (42)E, (43)E and (82)YYY(84). Zn(2+) is better activator than Mg(2+) at pH 5.0 and it is more effective at alleviating the inhibition produced by the entry of Pcho or different AACs in the inhibitory site. We postulate that Zn(2+) induces at pH 5.0 a conformational change in the active center that is communicated to the inhibitory site, producing a compact or closed structure. However, at pH 7.4, this effect is not observed because to the hydrolysis of the [Zn(2+)L(2) (-1)L(2) (0)(H(2)O)(2)] complex, which causes a change from octahedral to tetrahedral in the metal coordination geometry. This enzyme is also present in P. fluorescens, P. putida, P. syringae, and other organisms. We have recently crystallized PchP and solved its structure.

Different Effects of Mg and Zn on the Two Sites for Alkylammonium Compounds in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Phosphorylcholine Phosphatase.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa phosphorylcholine phosphatase (PchP) catalyzes the hydrolysis of phosphorylcholine (Pcho), is activated by Mg(2+) or Zn(2+), and is inhibited by high concentrations of substrate. This study has shown that PchP contains two sites for alkylammonium compounds (AACs): one in the catalytic site near the metal ion-phosphoester pocket, and the other in an inhibitory site responsible for the binding of the alkylammonium moiety. The catalytic mechanism for the entry of Pcho in both sites and Zn(2+) or Mg(2+) follows a random sequential mechanism. However, Zn(2+) is more effective than Mg(2+) at alleviating the inhibition produced by the entry of Pcho or different AACs in the inhibitory site. We postulate that Zn(2+) induces a conformational change in the active center that is communicated to the inhibitory site, producing a compact or closed structure. In contrast, Mg(2+) produces a relaxed or open conformation.