Functional Characterization of a Spectrum of Genetic Variants in a Family with Succinic Semialdehyde Dehydrogenase Deficiency.

Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) is a mitochondrial enzyme involved in the catabolism of the neurotransmitter γ-amino butyric acid. Pathogenic variants in the gene encoding this enzyme cause SSADH deficiency, a developmental disease that manifests as hypotonia, autism, and epilepsy. SSADH deficiency patients usually have family-specific gene variants. Here, we describe a family exhibiting four different SSADH variants: Val90Ala, Cys93Phe, and His180Tyr/Asn255Asp (a double variant). We provide a structural and functional characterization of these variants and show that Cys93Phe and Asn255Asp are pathogenic variants that affect the stability of the SSADH protein. Due to the impairment of the cofactor NAD+ binding, these variants show a highly reduced enzyme activity. However, Val90Ala and His180Tyr exhibit normal activity and expression. The His180Tyr/Asn255Asp variant exhibits a highly reduced activity as a recombinant species, is inactive, and shows a very low expression in eukaryotic cells. A treatment with substances that support protein folding by either increasing chaperone protein expression or by chemical means did not increase the expression of the pathogenic variants of the SSADH deficiency patient. However, stabilization of the folding of pathogenic SSADH variants by other substances may provide a treatment option for this disease.

Kinetic and structural insights into enzymatic mechanism of succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase from Cyanothece sp. ATCC51142.

As a ubiquitous enzyme, succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase contributes significantly in many pathways including the tricarboxylic acid cycle and other metabolic processes such as detoxifying the accumulated succinic semialdehyde and surviving in nutrient-limiting conditions. Here the cce4228 gene encoding succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase from Cyanothece sp. ATCC51142 was cloned and the homogenous recombinant cce4228 protein was obtained by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. Biochemical characterization revealed that cce4228 protein displayed optimal activity at presence of metal ions in basic condition. Although the binding affinity of cce4228 protein with NAD+ was about 50-fold lower than that of cce4228 with NADP+, the catalytic efficiency of cce4228 protein towards succinic semialdehyde with saturated concentration of NADP+ is same as that with saturated concentration of NAD+ as its cofactors. Meanwhile, the catalytic activity of cce4228 was competitively inhibited by succinic semialdehyde substrate. Kinetic and structural analysis demonstrated that the conserved Cys262 and Glu228 residues were crucial for the catalytic activity of cce4228 protein and the Ser157 and Lys154 residues were determinants of cofactor preference.

SSADH Variants Increase Susceptibility of U87 Cells to Mitochondrial Pro-Oxidant Insult.

Succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) is a mitochondrial enzyme, encoded by ALDH5A1, mainly involved in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) catabolism and energy supply of neuronal cells, possibly contributing to antioxidant defense. This study aimed to further investigate the antioxidant role of SSADH, and to verify if common SNPs of ALDH5A1 may affect SSADH activity, stability, and mitochondrial function. In this study, we used U87 glioblastoma cells as they represent a glial cell line. These cells were transiently transfected with a cDNA construct simultaneously harboring three SNPs encoding for a triple mutant (TM) SSADH protein (p.G36R/p.H180Y/p.P182L) or with wild type (WT) cDNA. SSADH activity and protein level were measured. Cell viability, lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial morphology, membrane potential (ΔΨ), and protein markers of mitochondrial stress were evaluated upon Paraquat treatment, in TM and WT transfected cells. TM transfected cells show lower SSADH protein content and activity, fragmented mitochondria, higher levels of peroxidized lipids, and altered ΔΨ than WT transfected cells. Upon Paraquat treatment, TM cells show higher cell death, lipid peroxidation, 4-HNE protein adducts, and lower ΔΨ, than WT transfected cells. These results reinforce the hypothesis that SSADH contributes to cellular antioxidant defense; furthermore, common SNPs may produce unstable, less active SSADH, which could per se negatively affect mitochondrial function and, under oxidative stress conditions, fail to protect mitochondria.

Succinic Semialdehyde Dehydrogenase Deficiency: An Update.

Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency (SSADH-D) is a genetic disorder that results from the aberrant metabolism of the neurotransmitter γ-amino butyric acid (GABA). The disease is caused by impaired activity of the mitochondrial enzyme succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase. SSADH-D manifests as varying degrees of mental retardation, autism, ataxia, and epileptic seizures, but the clinical picture is highly heterogeneous. So far, there is no approved curative therapy for this disease. In this review, we briefly summarize the molecular genetics of SSADH-D, the past and ongoing clinical trials, and the emerging features of the molecular pathogenesis, including redox imbalance and mitochondrial dysfunction. The main aim of this review is to discuss the potential of further therapy approaches that have so far not been tested in SSADH-D, such as pharmacological chaperones, read-through drugs, and gene therapy. Special attention will also be paid to elucidating the role of patient advocacy organizations in facilitating research and in the communication between researchers and patients.

Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency: The combination of a novel ALDH5A1 gene mutation and a missense SNP strongly affects SSADH enzyme activity and stability.

Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency (SSADHD) is a rare autosomal recessive metabolic disorder of GABA catabolism. SSADH is a mitochondrial homotetrameric enzyme encoded by ALDH5A1 gene. We report the molecular characterization of ALDH5A1 gene in an Italian SSADHD patient, showing heterozygosity for four missense mutations: c.526G>A (p.G176R), c.538C>T (p.H180Y), c.709G>T (p.A237S) and c.1267A>T (p.T423S), the latter never described so far. The patient inherited c.526A in cis with c.538T from the mother and c.709T in cis with c.1267T from the father. To explore the effects of the two allelic arrangements on SSADH activity and protein level, wild type, single or double mutated cDNA constructs were expressed in a cell system. The p.G176R change, alone or in combination with p.H180Y, causes the abolishment of enzyme activity. Western blot analysis showed a strongly reduced amount of the p.176R-p.180Y double mutant protein, suggesting increased degradation. Indeed, in silico analyses confirmed high instability of this mutant homotetramer. Enzyme activity relative to the other p.423S-p.237S double mutant is around 30% of wt. Further in silico analyses on all the possible combinations of mutant monomers suggest the lowest stability for the tetramer constituted by p.176R-p.180Y monomers and the highest stability for that constituted by p.237S-p.423S monomers. The present study shows that when a common SNP, associated with a slight reduction of SSADH activity, is inherited in cis with a mutation showing no consequences on the enzyme function, the activity is strongly affected. In conclusion, the peculiar arrangement of four missense mutations occurring in this patient is responsible for the SSADHD phenotype.

Selective determination of the catalytic cysteine pKa of two-cysteine succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase from Acinetobacter baumannii using burst kinetics and enzyme adduct formation.

Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) from Acinetobacter baumannii (Ab) catalyzes the oxidation of succinic semialdehyde (SSA). This enzyme has two conserved cysteines (Cys289 and Cys291) and preferentially uses NADP+ over NAD+ as a hydride acceptor. Steady-state kinetic analysis showed that AbSSADH has the highest catalytic turnover (137 s-1 ) and can tolerate SSA inhibition the most (< 500 µm) among all SSADHs reported. Alanine substitutions of the two conserved cysteines indicated that Cys291Ala has ~ 65% activity compared with the wild-type enzyme while Cys289Ala is inactive, suggesting that Cys289 is the active residue participating in catalysis. Pre-steady-state kinetics showed for the first time burst kinetics for NADPH formation in SSADH, indicating that the rate-limiting step is associated with steps that occur after the hydride transfer. As the magnitude of burst kinetics represents the amount of NADPH formed during the first turnover, it is directly dependent on the amount of the deprotonated form of cysteine. The pKa of Cys289 was calculated from a plot of the burst magnitude vs pH as 7.4 ± 0.2. The Cys289 pKa was also measured based on the ability of AbSSADH to form an NADP-cysteine adduct, which can be detected by the increase of absorbance at ~ 330 nm as 7.9 ± 0.2. The lowering of the catalytic cysteine pKa by 0.6-1 unit renders the catalytic thiol more nucleophilic, which facilitates AbSSADH catalysis under physiological conditions. The methods established herein can specifically measure the active site cysteine pKa without interference from other cysteines. These techniques may be useful for studying ionization state of other cysteine-containing aldehyde dehydrogenases. ENZYME: Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase, EC1.2.1.24.

Kinetic characterization and structural modeling of an NADP+-dependent succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase from Anabaena sp. PCC7120.

Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenases (SSADH) of cyanobacteria played a pivotal role in completing the cyanobacterial tricarboxylic acid cycle. The structural information of cofactor preference and catalysis for SSADH from cyanobacteria is currently available. However, the detailed kinetics of SSADH from cyanobacteria were not characterized yet. In this study, an all3556 gene encoding SSADH from Anabaena sp. PCC7120 (ApSSADH) was amplified and the recombinant ApSSADH was purified homogenously. Kinetic analysis showed that ApSSADH was an NADP+-dependent SSADH, which utilized NADP+ and succinic semialdehyde (SSA) as its preferred substrates and the activity of ApSSADH was inhibited by its substrate of SSA. At the same time, the Ser157 residue was found to function as the determinant of cofactor preference. Further study demonstrated that activity and substrate inhibition of ApSSADH would be greatly reduced by the mutation of the residues at the active site. Bioinformatic analysis indicated that those residues were highly conserved throughout the SSADHs. To our knowledge this is the first report exploring the detailed kinetics of SSADH from cyanobacteria.

Neuroinformatics analyses reveal GABAt and SSADH as major proteins involved in anticonvulsant activity of valproic acid.

The unequivocal hypotheses about anticonvulsant activity of valproic acid (VPA) have always been a basic hurdle in designing next generation neurotherapeutics, particularly the anti-epileptic drugs. The present study reports about a comprehensive in-silico investigation into qualitative and quantitative binding of VPA and corresponding natural ligands of four major enzymes involved in neurotransmissions, namely-GABA transaminase (GABAt), α-keto glutarate dehydrogenase (α-KGDH), Succinate Semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) and Glutamate Decarboxylase (GAD), respectively. The molecular docking analyses revealed that VPA inhibits GABAt and α-KGDH through allosteric while SSADH through competitive mode of binding. There is an observed elevation in binding of glutamate over GAD in the presence of VPA. The docking inhibition constant (Ki) of VPA to all the studied enzymatic receptors were observed to be well below the therapeutic concentration of VPA in blood, except for α-KGDH, thus favouring GABAergic over glutamatergic mode of anticonvulsant activity of VPA. The report is probably the first comprehensive in-silico molecular study about VPA action.

Modeling conformational redox-switch modulation of human succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase.

Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) converts succinic semialdehyde (SSA) to succinic acid in the mitochondrial matrix and is involved in the metabolism of the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The molecular structure of human SSADH revealed the intrinsic regulatory mechanism--redox-switch modulation--by which large conformational changes are brought about in the catalytic loop through disulfide bonding. The crystal structures revealed two SSADH conformations, and computational modeling of transformation between them can provide substantial insights into detailed dynamic redox modulation. On the basis of these two clear crystal structures, we modeled the conformational motion between these structures in silico. For that purpose, we proposed and used a geometry-based coarse-grained mathematical model of long-range protein motion and the related modeling algorithm. The algorithm is based on solving the special optimization problem, which is similar to the classical Monge-Kantorovich mass transportation problem. The modeled transformation was supported by another morphing method based on a completely different framework. The result of the modeling facilitates better interpretation and understanding of the SSADH biological role.

Domain characterization of Bacillus subtilis GabR, a pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent transcriptional regulator.

Bacillus subtilis GabR is a transcriptional regulator consisting of a helix-turn-helix N-terminal DNA-binding domain, a pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP)-binding C-terminal domain that has a structure homologous to aminotransferases, and a linker of 29 amino acid residues. In the presence of γ-aminobutyrate (GABA), GabR activates the transcription of gabT and gabD, which encode GABA aminotransferase and succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase, respectively. We expressed N-terminal and C-terminal domain fragments (named N'-GabR and C'-GabR) in Escherichia coli cells, and obtained N'-GabR as a soluble monomer and C'-GabR as a soluble dimer. Spectroscopic studies suggested that C'-GabR contains PLP and binds to d-Ala, ß-Ala, d-Asn and d-Gln, as well as GABA, although the intact GabR binds only to GABA. N'-GabR does not bind to the DNA fragment containing the GabR-binding sequence regardless of the presence or absence of C'-GabR. A fusion protein consisting of N'-GabR and 2-aminoadipate aminotransferase of Thermus thermophilus bound to the DNA fragment. These results suggested that each domain of GabR could be an independent folding unit. The C-terminal domain provides the N-terminal domain with DNA-binding ability via dimerization. The N-terminal domain controls the ligand specificity of the C-terminal domain. Connection by the linker is indispensable for the mutual interaction of the domains.

Structural insight into the substrate inhibition mechanism of NADP(+)-dependent succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase from Streptococcus pyogenes.

Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenases (SSADHs) are ubiquitous enzymes that catalyze the oxidation of succinic semialdehyde (SSA) to succinic acid in the presence of NAD(P)(+), and play an important role in the cellular mechanisms including the detoxification of accumulated SSA or the survival in conditions of limited nutrients. Here, we report the inhibitory properties and two crystal structures of SSADH from Streptococcus pyogenes (SpSSADH) in a binary (ES) complex with SSA as the substrate and a ternary (ESS) complex with the substrate SSA and the inhibitory SSA, at 2.4 Å resolution for both structures. Analysis of the kinetic inhibitory parameters revealed significant substrate inhibition in the presence of NADP(+) at concentrations of SSA higher than 0.02 mM, which exhibited complete uncompetitive substrate inhibition with the inhibition constant (Ki) value of 0.10 ± 0.02 mM. In ES-complex of SpSSADH, the SSA showed a tightly bound bent form nearby the catalytic residues, which may be caused by reduction of the cavity volume for substrate binding, compared with other SSADHs. Moreover, structural comparison of ESS-complex with a binary complex with NADP(+) of SpSSADH indicated that the substrate inhibition was induced by the binding of inhibitory SSA in the cofactor-binding site, instead of NADP(+). Our results provide first structure-based molecular insights into the substrate inhibition mechanism of SpSSADH as the Gram-positive bacterial SSADH.

Kinetic and structural characterization for cofactor preference of succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase from Streptococcus pyogenes.

The γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) that is found in prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms has been used in various ways as a signaling molecule or a significant component generating metabolic energy under conditions of nutrient limitation or stress, through GABA catabolism. Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) catalyzes the oxidation of succinic semialdehyde to succinic acid in the final step of GABA catabolism. Here, we report the catalytic properties and two crystal structures of SSADH from Streptococcus pyogenes (SpSSADH) regarding its cofactor preference. Kinetic analysis showed that SpSSADH prefers NADP(+) over NAD(+) as a hydride acceptor. Moreover, the structures of SpSSADH were determined in an apo-form and in a binary complex with NADP(+) at 1.6 Šand 2.1 Šresolutions, respectively. Both structures of SpSSADH showed dimeric conformation, containing a single cysteine residue in the catalytic loop of each subunit. Further structural analysis and sequence comparison of SpSSADH with other SSADHs revealed that Ser158 and Tyr188 in SpSSADH participate in the stabilization of the 2'-phosphate group of adenine-side ribose in NADP(+). Our results provide structural insights into the cofactor preference of SpSSADH as the gram-positive bacterial SSADH.

Identification of three proteins involved in fertilization and parthenogenetic development of a brown alga, Scytosiphon lomentaria.

Metabolic pathways of cell organelles may influence the expression of nuclear genes involved in fertilization and subsequent zygote development through a retrograde regulation. In Scytosiphon lomentaria, inheritance of chloroplast is biparental but mitochondria are maternally inherited. Male and female gametes underwent different parthenogenetic outcomes. Most (>99%) male gametes did not differentiate rhizoid cells or survived beyond four-cell stage, while over 95% of female gametes grew into mature asexual plants. Proteomic analysis showed that the protein contents of male and female gametes differed by approximately 1.7%, 12 sex-specific proteins out of 700 detected proteins. Three sex-specific proteins were isolated and identified using CAF-MALDI mass spectrometry and RACE-PCR. Among them, a male gamete-specific homoaconitate hydratase (HACN) and a female gamete-specific succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) were predicted to be the genes involved in mitochondrial metabolic pathways. The expression level of both mitochondrial genes was dramatically changed at the fertilization event. During parthenogenetic development the male-specific HACN and GTP-binding protein were gradually down-regulated but SSADH stayed up-regulated up to 48h. To observe the effect of chemicals on the expression of these genes, male and female gametes were treated with γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), hydrogen peroxide and L-ascorbic acid. Among them GABA treatment significantly reduced SSADH gene expression in female gamete but the same treatment induced high upregulation of the gene in male gamete. GABA treatment affected the behavior of gametes and their parthenogenetic development. Both gametes showed prolonged motile stage, retarded settlement and subsequent parthenogenetic development. Our results suggest that male and female gametes regulate mitochondrial metabolic pathways differentially during fertilization, which may be the reason for their physiological and behavioral differences.

Kinetic characterization and molecular modeling of NAD(P)(+)-dependent succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase from Bacillus subtilis as an ortholog YneI.

Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) catalyzes the oxidation of succinic semialdehyde (SSA) into succinic acid in the final step of γ-aminobutyric acid degradation. Here, we characterized Bacillus subtilis SSADH (BsSSADH) regarding its cofactor discrimination and substrate inhibition. BsSSADH showed similar values of the catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) in both NAD(+) and NADP(+) as cofactors, and exhibited complete uncompetitive substrate inhibition at higher SSA concentrations. Further analyses of the sequence alignment and homology modeling indicated that the residues of catalytic and cofactor-binding sites in other SSADHs were highly conserved in BsSSADH.

Structural basis of substrate selectivity of Δ(1)-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase (ALDH4A1): semialdehyde chain length.

The enzyme Δ(1)-pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) dehydrogenase (aka P5CDH and ALDH4A1) is an aldehyde dehydrogenase that catalyzes the oxidation of γ-glutamate semialdehyde to l-glutamate. The crystal structures of mouse P5CDH complexed with glutarate, succinate, malonate, glyoxylate, and acetate are reported. The structures are used to build a structure-activity relationship that describes the semialdehyde carbon chain length and the position of the aldehyde group in relation to the cysteine nucleophile and oxyanion hole. Efficient 4- and 5-carbon substrates share the common feature of being long enough to span the distance between the anchor loop at the bottom of the active site and the oxyanion hole at the top of the active site. The inactive 2- and 3-carbon semialdehydes bind the anchor loop but are too short to reach the oxyanion hole. Inhibition of P5CDH by glyoxylate, malonate, succinate, glutarate, and l-glutamate is also examined. The Ki values are 0.27 mM for glyoxylate, 58 mM for succinate, 30 mM for glutarate, and 12 mM for l-glutamate. Curiously, malonate is not an inhibitor. The trends in Ki likely reflect a trade-off between the penalty for desolvating the carboxylates of the free inhibitor and the number of compensating hydrogen bonds formed in the enzyme-inhibitor complex.

Structural basis for a cofactor-dependent oxidation protection and catalysis of cyanobacterial succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase.

Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) from cyanobacterium Synechococcus differs from other SSADHs in the γ-aminobutyrate shunt. Synechococcus SSADH (SySSADH) is a TCA cycle enzyme and completes a 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase-deficient cyanobacterial TCA cycle through a detour metabolic pathway. SySSADH produces succinate in an NADP(+)-dependent manner with a single cysteine acting as the catalytic residue in the catalytic loop. Crystal structures of SySSADH were determined in their apo form, as a binary complex with NADP(+) and as a ternary complex with succinic semialdehyde and NADPH, providing details about the catalytic mechanism by revealing a covalent adduct of a cofactor with the catalytic cysteine in the binary complex and a proposed thiohemiacetal intermediate in the ternary complex. Further analyses showed that SySSADH is an oxidation-sensitive enzyme and that the formation of the NADP-cysteine adduct is a kinetically preferred event that protects the catalytic cysteine from H2O2-dependent oxidative stress. These structural and functional features of SySSADH provide a molecular basis for cofactor-dependent oxidation protection in 1-Cys SSADH, which is unique relative to other 2-Cys SSADHs employing a redox-dependent formation of a disulfide bridge.

Structural basis for cofactor and substrate selection by cyanobacterium succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) catalyzes the oxidation of aldehydes to carboxylic acids. Cyanobacterium Synechococcus contains one ALDH enzyme (Sp2771), together with a novel 2-oxoglutarate decarboxylase, to complete a non-canonical tricarboxylic acid cycle. However, the molecular mechanisms for substrate selection and cofactor preference by Sp2771 are largely unknown. Here, we report crystal structures of wild type Sp2771, Sp2771 S419A mutant and ternary structure of Sp2771 C262A mutant in complex with NADP(+) and SSA, as well as binary structure of Gluconobacter oxydans aldehyde dehydrogenase (Gox0499) in complex with PEG. Structural comparison of Sp2771 with Gox0499, coupled with mutational analysis, demonstrates that Ser157 residue in Sp2771 and corresponding Pro159 residue in Gox0499 play critical structural roles in determining NADP(+) and NAD(+) preference for Sp2771 and Gox0499, respectively, whereas size and distribution of hydrophobic residues along the substrate binding funnel determine substrate selection. Hence, our work has provided insightful structural information into cofactor and substrate selection by ALDH.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic studies of succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase from Streptococcus pyogenes.

Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) plays a critical role in the metabolism of the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and catalyzes the NAD(P)(+)-coupled oxidation of succinic semialdehyde (SSA) to succinic acid (SA). SSADH from Streptococcus pyogenes has been purified and crystallized as the apoenzyme and in a complex with NAD(+). The crystals of native and NAD(+)-complexed SSADH diffracted to resolutions of 1.6 and 1.7 Å, respectively, using a synchrotron-radiation source. Both crystals belonged to the orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 93.3, b = 100.3, c = 105.1 Å for the native crystal and a = 93.3, b = 100.3, c = 105.0 Å for the complex crystal. Preliminary molecular replacement confirmed the presence of one dimer in both crystals, corresponding to a Matthews coefficient (V(M)) of 2.37 Å(3) Da(-1) and a solvent content of 48.0%.

On the chemical mechanism of succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (GabD1) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenases (SSADHs) are ubiquitous enzymes that catalyze the NAD(P)+-coupled oxidation of succinic semialdehyde (SSA) to succinate, the last step of the γ-aminobutyrate shunt. Mycobacterium tuberculosis encodes two paralogous SSADHs (gabD1 and gabD2). Here, we describe the first mechanistic characterization of GabD1, using steady-state kinetics, pH-rate profiles, ¹H NMR, and kinetic isotope effects. Our results confirmed SSA and NADP+ as substrates and demonstrated that a divalent metal, such as Mg²+, linearizes the time course. pH-rate studies failed to identify any ionizable groups with pK(a) between 5.5 and 10 involved in substrate binding or rate-limiting chemistry. Primary deuterium, solvent and multiple kinetic isotope effects revealed that nucleophilic addition to SSA is very fast, followed by a modestly rate-limiting hydride transfer and fast thioester hydrolysis. Proton inventory studies revealed that a single proton is associated with the solvent-sensitive rate-limiting step. Together, these results suggest that product dissociation and/or conformational changes linked to it are rate-limiting. Using structural information for the human homolog enzyme and ¹H NMR, we further established that nucleophilic attack takes place at the Si face of SSA, generating a thiohemiacetal with S stereochemistry. Deuteride transfer to the Pro-R position in NADP+ generates the thioester intermediate and [4A-²H, 4B-¹H] NADPH. A chemical mechanism based on these data and the structural information available is proposed.

Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase: biochemical-molecular-clinical disease mechanisms, redox regulation, and functional significance.

Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH; aldehyde dehydrogenase 5a1, ALDH5A1; E.C. 1.2.1.24; OMIM 610045, 271980) deficiency is a rare heritable disorder that disrupts the metabolism of the inhibitory neurotransmitter 4-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Identified in conjunction with increased urinary excretion of the GABA analog gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), numerous patients have been identified worldwide and the autosomal-recessive disorder has been modeled in mice. The phenotype is one of nonprogressive neurological dysfunction in which seizures may be prominently displayed. The murine model is a reasonable phenocopy of the human disorder, yet the severity of the seizure disorder in the mouse exceeds that observed in SSADH-deficient patients. Abnormalities in GABAergic and GHBergic neurotransmission, documented in patients and mice, form a component of disease pathophysiology, although numerous other disturbances (metabolite accumulations, myelin abnormalities, oxidant stress, neurosteroid depletion, altered bioenergetics, etc.) are also likely to be involved in developing the disease phenotype. Most recently, the demonstration of a redox control system in the SSADH protein active site has provided new insights into the regulation of SSADH by the cellular oxidation/reduction potential. The current review summarizes some 30 years of research on this protein and disease, addressing pathological mechanisms in human and mouse at the protein, metabolic, molecular, and whole-animal level.