Crystal structure of a putative CN hydrolase from yeast.

The crystal structure of a yeast hypothetical protein with sequence similarity to CN hydrolases has been determined to 2.4 A resolution by the multiwavelength anomalous dispersion (MAD) method. The protein folds as a four-layer alphabetabetaalpha sandwich and exists as a dimer in the crystal and in solution. It was selected in a structural genomics project as representative of CN hydrolases at a time when no structures had been determined for members of this family. Structures for two other members of the family have since been reported and the three proteins have similar topology and dimerization modes, which are distinct from those of other alphabetabetaalpha proteins whose structures are known. The dimers form an unusual eight-layer alphabetabetaalpha:alphabetabetaalpha structure. Although the precise enzymatic reactions catalyzed by the yeast protein are not known, considerable information about the active site may be deduced from conserved sequence motifs, comparative biochemical information, and comparison with known structures of hydrolase active sites. As with serine hydrolases, the active-site nucleophile (cysteine in this case) is positioned on a nucleophile elbow.

Structure of formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase covalently complexed to DNA.

Formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase (Fpg) is a DNA repair enzyme that excises oxidized purines from damaged DNA. The Schiff base intermediate formed during this reaction between Escherichia coli Fpg and DNA was trapped by reduction with sodium borohydride, and the structure of the resulting covalently cross-linked complex was determined at a 2.1-A resolution. Fpg is a bilobal protein with a wide, positively charged DNA-binding groove. It possesses a conserved zinc finger and a helix-two turn-helix motif that participate in DNA binding. The absolutely conserved residues Lys-56, His-70, Asn-168, and Arg-258 form hydrogen bonds to the phosphodiester backbone of DNA, which is sharply kinked at the lesion site. Residues Met-73, Arg-109, and Phe-110 are inserted into the DNA helix, filling the void created by nucleotide eversion. A deep hydrophobic pocket in the active site is positioned to accommodate an everted base. Structural analysis of the Fpg-DNA complex reveals essential features of damage recognition and the catalytic mechanism of Fpg.

Structural analysis of an Escherichia coli endonuclease VIII covalent reaction intermediate.

Endonuclease VIII (Nei) of Escherichia coli is a DNA repair enzyme that excises oxidized pyrimidines from DNA. Nei shares with formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase (Fpg) sequence homology and a similar mechanism of action: the latter involves removal of the damaged base followed by two sequential beta-elimination steps. However, Nei differs significantly from Fpg in substrate specificity. We determined the structure of Nei covalently crosslinked to a 13mer oligodeoxynucleotide duplex at 1.25 A resolution. The crosslink is derived from a Schiff base intermediate that precedes beta-elimination and is stabilized by reduction with NaBH(4). Nei consists of two domains connected by a hinge region, creating a DNA binding cleft between domains. DNA in the complex is sharply kinked, the deoxyribitol moiety is bound covalently to Pro1 and everted from the duplex into the active site. Amino acids involved in substrate binding and catalysis are identified. Molecular modeling and analysis of amino acid conservation suggest a site for recognition of the damaged base. Based on structural features of the complex and site-directed mutagenesis studies, we propose a catalytic mechanism for Nei.