Functional elucidation of TfuA in peptide backbone thioamidation.

YcaO enzymes catalyze several post-translational modifications on peptide substrates, including thioamidation, which substitutes an amide oxygen with sulfur. Most predicted thioamide-forming YcaO enzymes are encoded adjacent to TfuA, which when present, is required for thioamidation. While activation of the peptide amide backbone is well established for YcaO enzymes, the function of TfuA has remained enigmatic. Here we characterize the TfuA protein involved in methyl-coenzyme M reductase thioamidation and demonstrate that TfuA catalyzes the hydrolysis of thiocarboxylated ThiS (ThiS-COSH), a proteinaceous sulfur donor, and enhances the affinity of YcaO toward the thioamidation substrate. We also report a crystal structure of a TfuA, which displays a new protein fold. Our structural and mutational analyses of TfuA have uncovered conserved binding interfaces with YcaO and ThiS in addition to revealing a hydrolase-like active site featuring a Ser-Lys catalytic pair.

Functional diversity of prokaryotic HdrA(BC) modules: Role in flavin-based electron bifurcation processes and beyond.

In methanogenic archaea, the archetypical complex of heterodisulfide reductase (HdrABC) and hydrogenase (MvhAGD) couples the endergonic reduction of CO2 by H2 to the exergonic reduction of the CoB-S-S-CoM heterodisulfide by H2 via flavin-based electron bifurcation. Presently known enzymes containing HdrA(BC)-like components play key roles in methanogenesis, acetogenesis, respiratory sulfate reduction, lithotrophic reduced sulfur compound oxidation, aromatic compound degradation, fermentations, and probably many further processes. This functional diversity is achieved by a modular architecture of HdrA(BC) enzymes, where a big variety of electron input/output modules may be connected either directly or via adaptor modules to the HdrA(BC) components. Many, but not all HdrA(BC) complexes are proposed to catalyse a flavin-based electron bifurcation/confurcation. Despite the availability of HdrA(BC) crystal structures, fundamental questions of electron transfer and energy coupling processes remain. Here, we address the common properties and functional diversity of HdrA(BC) core modules integrated into electron-transfer machineries of outstanding complexity.

Handling methane: a Ni(i) F430-like cofactor derived from VB12 is active in methyl-coenzyme M reductase.

Replacing coenzyme F430, an Ni(i) F430-like cofactor derived from vitamin B12 (F430-B12) is revealed by DFT calculations to be able to catalyze methane formation in methyl-coenzyme M reductase with a barrier of 13.3 kcal mol-1, demonstrating the correctness of the route starting from vitamin B12. The structure-activity relationships of F430 and F430-B12 (especially the roles of the F ring) are discovered and several sources of inspiration promoting the application of F430-B12 are also obtained, coming closer to using F430 chemistry in man-made catalysis.

Generalized correlation-based dynamical network analysis: a new high-performance approach for identifying allosteric communications in molecular dynamics trajectories.

Molecular interactions are essential for regulation of cellular processes from the formation of multi-protein complexes to the allosteric activation of enzymes. Identifying the essential residues and molecular features that regulate such interactions is paramount for understanding the biochemical process in question, allowing for suppression of a reaction through drug interventions or optimization of a chemical process using bioengineered molecules. In order to identify important residues and information pathways within molecular complexes, the dynamical network analysis method was developed and has since been broadly applied in the literature. However, in the dawn of exascale computing, this method is frequently limited to relatively small biomolecular systems. In this work, we provide an evolution of the method, application, and interface. All data processing and analysis are conducted through Jupyter notebooks, providing automatic detection of important solvent and ion residues, an optimized and parallel generalized correlation implementation that is linear with respect to the number of nodes in the system, and subsequent community clustering, calculation of betweenness of contacts, and determination of optimal paths. Using the popular visualization program visual molecular dynamics (VMD), high-quality renderings of the networks over the biomolecular structures can be produced. Our new implementation was employed to investigate three different systems, with up to 2.5M atoms, namely, the OMP-decarboxylase, the leucyl-tRNA synthetase complexed with its cognate tRNA and adenylate, and respiratory complex I in a membrane environment. Our enhanced and updated protocol provides the community with an intuitive and interactive interface, which can be easily applied to large macromolecular complexes.

Krypton-derivatization highlights O2-channeling in a four-electron reducing oxidase.

F420H2-oxidase (FprA) catalyses the four-electron reduction of O2 to 2H2O using the reduced form of F420 as electron donor. The hydrophobic O2-channel detected by Kr-derivatization and the concerted movement of a gating loop could contribute to prevent unwanted side-reaction between the catalytic intermediates and solvents, therefore preventing reactive oxygen species formation.

Mechanistic insights into Lhr helicase function in DNA repair.

The DNA helicase Large helicase-related (Lhr) is present throughout archaea, including in the Asgard and Nanoarchaea, and has homologues in bacteria and eukaryotes. It is thought to function in DNA repair but in a context that is not known. Our data show that archaeal Lhr preferentially targets DNA replication fork structures. In a genetic assay, expression of archaeal Lhr gave a phenotype identical to the replication-coupled DNA repair enzymes Hel308 and RecQ. Purified archaeal Lhr preferentially unwound model forked DNA substrates compared with DNA duplexes, flaps and Holliday junctions, and unwound them with directionality. Single-molecule FRET measurements showed that binding of Lhr to a DNA fork causes ATP-independent distortion and base-pair melting at, or close to, the fork branchpoint. ATP-dependent directional translocation of Lhr resulted in fork DNA unwinding through the 'parental' DNA strands. Interaction of Lhr with replication forks in vivo and in vitro suggests that it contributes to DNA repair at stalled or broken DNA replication.

Application of Acetyl-CoA synthetase from Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus to non-native substrates.

The substrate selectivity of the Trp416Gly mutant of Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus acetyl-CoA synthetase (Trp416Gly MT-ACS1) was explored. The goal was to identify its substrate range, particularly for functionalized carboxylic acid substrates that would allow post-synthesis functionalization of CoA thioesters or downstream products using metathesis or Click chemistry. Relative activities were determined by in situ formation of acyl-hydroxamate iron (III) complexes. Trp416Gly MT-ACS1 showed good activities for saturated straight chain carboxylic acids from C2 to C8, for ω-alkenyl straight chain carboxylic acids from C4 to C7 and for ω-alkynyl straight chain carboxylic acids from C5 to C7. Carboxylic acids showing ≥20% conversion in screening reactions were used in preparative conversions that completely consumed the added CoASH.

Coenzyme F420-Dependent Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase-Coupled Polyglutamylation of Coenzyme F420 in Mycobacteria.

Coenzyme F420 plays a key role in the redox metabolisms of various archaea and bacteria, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis In M. tuberculosis, F420-dependent reactions have been linked to several virulence factors. F420 carries multiple glutamate residues in the side chain, forming F420-n species (n, number of glutamate residues), and the length of this side chain impacts cellular physiology. M. tuberculosis strains with F420 species carrying shorter side chains exhibit resistance to delamanid and pretomanid, two new tuberculosis (TB) drugs. Thus, the process of polyglutamylation of F420 is of great interest. It has been known from genetic analysis that in mycobacteria an F420-0 γ-glutamyl ligase (FbiB) introduces up to seven glutamate residues into F420 However, purified FbiB of M. tuberculosis (MtbFbiB) is either inefficient or incapable of incorporating more than two glutamates. We found that, in vitro, MtbFbiB synthesized side chains containing up to seven glutamate residues if F420 was presented to the enzyme in a two-electron reduced state (F420H2). Our genetic analysis in Mycobacterium bovis BCG and Mycobacterium smegmatis and an analysis of literature data on M. tuberculosis revealed that in these mycobacteria the polyglutamylation process requires the assistance of F420-dependent glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (Fgd) which reduces F420 to F420H2 We hypothesize that, starting with F420-0H2, the amino-terminal domain of FbiB builds F420-2H2, which is then transferred to the carboxy-terminal domain for further glutamylation; F420-2H2 modifies the carboxy-terminal domain structurally to accommodate longer glutamyl chains. This system is analogous to folylpolyglutamate synthase, which introduces more than one glutamate residue into folate only after this vitamin is reduced to tetrahydrofolate.IMPORTANCE Coenzyme F420-dependent reactions of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes tuberculosis, potentially contributes to the virulence of this bacterium. The coenzyme carries a glutamic acid-derived tail, the length of which influences the metabolism of M. tuberculosis Mutations that eliminate the production of F420 with longer tails make M. tuberculosis resistant to two new tuberculosis drugs. This report describes that the synthesis of longer glutamyl tails of F420 requires concerted actions of two enzymes, one of which reduces the coenzyme prior to the action of the other, which catalyzes polyglutamylation. This knowledge will help to develop more effective tuberculosis (TB) drugs. Remarkably, the introduction of multiple glutamate residues into the sidechain of folate (vitamin B9) requires similar concerted actions, where one enzyme reduces the vitamin to tetrahydrofolate and the other catalyzes polyglutamylation; folate is required for DNA and amino acid synthesis. Thus, the reported research has also revealed a key similarity between two important cellular systems.

How [Fe]-Hydrogenase from Methanothermobacter is Protected Against Light and Oxidative Stress.

[Fe]-hydrogenase (Hmd) catalyzes the reversible hydrogenation of methenyltetrahydromethanopterin (methenyl-H4 MPT+ ) with H2 . Hmd contains the iron-guanylylpyridinol (FeGP) cofactor, which is sensitive to light and oxidative stress. A natural protection mechanism is reported for Hmd based on structural and biophysical data. Hmd from Methanothermobacter marburgensis (mHmd) was found in a hexameric state, where an expanded oligomerization loop is detached from the dimer core and intrudes into the active site of a neighboring dimer. An aspartic acid residue from the loop ligates to FeII of the FeGP cofactor and thus blocks the postulated H2 -binding site. In solution, this enzyme is in a hexamer-to-dimer equilibrium. Lower enzyme concentrations, and the presence of methenyl-H4 MPT+ , shift the equilibrium toward the active dimer side. At higher enzyme concentrations-as present in the cell-the enzyme is predominantly in the inactive hexameric state and is thereby protected against light and oxidative stress.

An archaeal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase complex for improved substrate quality control.

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) decode genetic information by coupling tRNAs with cognate amino acids. In the archaeon Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus arginyl- and seryl-tRNA synthetase (ArgRS and SerRS, respectively) form a complex which enhances serylation and facilitates tRNASer recycling through its association with the ribosome. Yet, the way by which complex formation participates in Arg-tRNAArg synthesis is still unresolved. Here we utilized pull down and surface plasmon resonance experiments with truncated ArgRS variants to demonstrate that ArgRS uses its N-terminal domain to establish analogous interactions with both SerRS and cognate tRNAArg, providing a rationale for the lack of detectable SerRS•[ArgRS•tRNAArg] complex. In contrast, stable ternary ArgRS•[SerRS•tRNASer] complex was easily detected supporting the model wherein ArgRS operates in serylation by modulating SerRS affinity toward tRNASer. We also found that the interaction with SerRS suppresses arginylation of unmodified tRNAArg by ArgRS, which, by itself, does not discriminate against tRNAArg substrates lacking posttranscriptional modifications. Hence, there is a fundamentally different participation of the protein partners in Arg-tRNA and Ser-tRNA synthesis. Propensity of the ArgRS•SerRS complex to exclude unmodified tRNAs from translation leads to an attractive hypothesis that SerRS•ArgRS complex might act in vivo as a safeguarding switch that improves translation accuracy.

DNA binding and unwinding by Hel308 helicase requires dual functions of a winged helix domain.

Hel308 helicases promote genome stability linked to DNA replication in archaea, and have homologues in metazoans. In the crystal structure of archaeal Hel308 bound to a tailed DNA duplex, core helicase domains encircle single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) in a "ratchet" for directional translocation. A winged helix domain (WHD) is also present, but its function is mysterious. We investigated the WHD in full-length Hel308, identifying that mutations in a solvent exposed α-helix resulted in reduced DNA binding and unwinding activities. When isolated from the rest of Hel308, the WHD protein alone bound to duplex DNA but not ssDNA, and DNA binding by WHD protein was abolished by the same mutations as were analyzed in full-length Hel308. Isolated WHD from a human Hel308 homologue (HelQ) also bound to duplex DNA. By disrupting the interface between the Hel308 WHD and a RecA-like domain, a topology typical of Ski2 helicases, we show that this is crucial for ATPase and helicase activities. The data suggest a model in which the WHD promotes activity of Hel308 directly, through binding to duplex DNA that is distinct from ssDNA binding by core helicase, and indirectly through interaction with the RecA-like domain. We propose how the WHD may contribute to ssDNA translocation, resulting in DNA helicase activity or in removal of other DNA bound proteins by "reeling" ssDNA.

A Novel F420-dependent Thioredoxin Reductase Gated by Low Potential FAD: A TOOL FOR REDOX REGULATION IN AN ANAEROBE.

A recent report suggested that the thioredoxin-dependent metabolic regulation, which is widespread in all domains of life, existed in methanogenic archaea about 3.5 billion years ago. We now show that the respective electron delivery enzyme (thioredoxin reductase, TrxR), although structurally similar to flavin-containing NADPH-dependent TrxRs (NTR), lacked an NADPH-binding site and was dependent on reduced coenzyme F420 (F420H2), a stronger reductant with a mid-point redox potential (E'0) of -360 mV; E'0 of NAD(P)H is -320 mV. Because F420 is a deazaflavin, this enzyme was named deazaflavin-dependent flavin-containing thioredoxin reductase (DFTR). It transferred electrons from F420H2 to thioredoxin via protein-bound flavin; Km values for thioredoxin and F420H2 were 6.3 and 28.6 µm, respectively. The E'0 of DFTR-bound flavin was approximately -389 mV, making electron transfer from NAD(P)H or F420H2 to flavin endergonic. However, under high partial pressures of hydrogen prevailing on early Earth and present day deep-sea volcanoes, the potential for the F420/F420H2 pair could be as low as -425 mV, making DFTR efficient. The presence of DFTR exclusively in ancient methanogens and mostly in the early Earth environment of deep-sea volcanoes and DFTR's characteristics suggest that the enzyme developed on early Earth and gave rise to NTR. A phylogenetic analysis revealed six more novel-type TrxR groups and suggested that the broader flavin-containing disulfide oxidoreductase family is more diverse than previously considered. The unprecedented structural similarities between an F420-dependent enzyme (DFTR) and an NADPH-dependent enzyme (NTR) brought new thoughts to investigations on F420 systems involved in microbial pathogenesis and antibiotic production.

Didehydroaspartate Modification in Methyl-Coenzyme†M Reductase Catalyzing Methane Formation.

All methanogenic and methanotrophic archaea known to date contain methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR) that catalyzes the reversible reduction of methyl-coenzyme M to methane. This enzyme contains the nickel porphinoid F430 as a prosthetic group and, highly conserved, a thioglycine and four methylated amino acid residues near the active site. We describe herein the presence of a novel post-translationally modified amino acid, didehydroaspartate, adjacent to the thioglycine as revealed by mass spectrometry and high-resolution X-ray crystallography. Upon chemical reduction, the didehydroaspartate residue was converted into aspartate. Didehydroaspartate was found in MCR I and II from Methanothermobacter marburgensis and in MCR of phylogenetically distantly related Methanosarcina barkeri but not in MCR I and II of Methanothermobacter wolfeii, which indicates that didehydroaspartate is dispensable but might have a role in fine-tuning the active site to increase the catalytic efficiency.

High-temperature single-molecule kinetic analysis of thermophilic archaeal MCM helicases.

The minichromosome maintenance (MCM) complex is the replicative helicase responsible for unwinding DNA during archaeal and eukaryal genome replication. To mimic long helicase events in the cell, a high-temperature single-molecule assay was designed to quantitatively measure long-range DNA unwinding of individual DNA helicases from the archaeons Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus (Mth) and Thermococcus sp. 9°N (9°N). Mth encodes a single MCM homolog while 9°N encodes three helicases. 9°N MCM3, the proposed replicative helicase, unwinds DNA at a faster rate compared to 9°N MCM2 and to Mth MCM. However, all three MCM proteins have similar processivities. The implications of these observations for DNA replication in archaea and the differences and similarities among helicases from different microorganisms are discussed. Development of the high-temperature single-molecule assay establishes a system to comprehensively study thermophilic replisomes and evolutionary links between archaeal, eukaryal, and bacterial replication systems.

The radical mechanism of biological methane synthesis by methyl-coenzyme M reductase.

Methyl-coenzyme M reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme in methanogenesis and anaerobic methane oxidation, is responsible for the biological production of more than 1 billion tons of methane per year. The mechanism of methane synthesis is thought to involve either methyl-nickel(III) or methyl radical/Ni(II)-thiolate intermediates. We employed transient kinetic, spectroscopic, and computational approaches to study the reaction between the active Ni(I) enzyme and substrates. Consistent with the methyl radical-based mechanism, there was no evidence for a methyl-Ni(III) species; furthermore, magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy identified the Ni(II)-thiolate intermediate. Temperature-dependent transient kinetics also closely matched density functional theory predictions of the methyl radical mechanism. Identifying the key intermediate in methanogenesis provides fundamental insights to develop better catalysts for producing and activating an important fuel and potent greenhouse gas.

Evidence for the involvement of two heterodisulfide reductases in the energy-conserving system of Methanomassiliicoccus luminyensis.

Methanomassiliicoccus luminyensis was isolated from the human gut, and requires H2 and methanol or methylamines to produce methane. The organism lacks cytochromes, indicating that it cannot couple membrane-bound electron transfer reactions with extrusion of H(+) or Na(+) ions using known methanogenic pathways. Furthermore, M. luminyensis contains a soluble hydrogenase/heterodisulfide reductase complex (MvhAGD/HdrABC) as found in obligate hydrogenotrophic methanogens, but the energy-conserving methyltransferase (MtrA-H) is absent. Thus, the question arises as to how this species synthesizes ATP. We present evidence that M. luminyensis uses two types of heterodisulfide reductases (HdrABC and HdrD) in a novel process for energy conservation. Quantitative RT-PCR studies revealed that genes encoding these heterodisulfide reductases showed high expression levels. Other genes with high transcript abundance were fpoA (part of the operon encoding the 'headless' F420 H2 dehydrogenase) and atpB (part of the operon encoding the A1 Ao ATP synthase). High activities of the soluble heterodisulfide reductase HdrABC and the hydrogenase MvhADG were found in the cytoplasm of M. luminyensis. Also, heterologously produced HdrD was able to reduce CoM-S-S-CoB using reduced methylviologen as an electron donor. We propose that membrane-bound electron transfer is based on conversion of two molecules of methanol and concurrent formation of two molecules of the heterodisulfide CoM-S-S-CoB. First the HdrABC/MvhADG complex catalyzes the H2 -dependent reduction of CoM-S-S-CoB and formation of reduced ferredoxin. In a second cycle, reduced ferredoxin is oxidized by the 'headless' F420 H2 dehydrogenase, thereby translocating up to 4 H(+) across the membrane, and electrons are channeled to HdrD for reduction of the second heterodisulfide.

The reaction mechanism of methyl-coenzyme M reductase: how an enzyme enforces strict binding order.

Methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR) is a nickel tetrahydrocorphinoid (coenzyme F430) containing enzyme involved in the biological synthesis and anaerobic oxidation of methane. MCR catalyzes the conversion of methyl-2-mercaptoethanesulfonate (methyl-SCoM) and N-7-mercaptoheptanoylthreonine phosphate (CoB7SH) to CH4 and the mixed disulfide CoBS-SCoM. In this study, the reaction of MCR from Methanothermobacter marburgensis, with its native substrates was investigated using static binding, chemical quench, and stopped-flow techniques. Rate constants were measured for each step in this strictly ordered ternary complex catalytic mechanism. Surprisingly, in the absence of the other substrate, MCR can bind either substrate; however, only one binary complex (MCR·methyl-SCoM) is productive whereas the other (MCR·CoB7SH) is inhibitory. Moreover, the kinetic data demonstrate that binding of methyl-SCoM to the inhibitory MCR·CoB7SH complex is highly disfavored (Kd = 56 mM). However, binding of CoB7SH to the productive MCR·methyl-SCoM complex to form the active ternary complex (CoB7SH·MCR(Ni(I))·CH3SCoM) is highly favored (Kd = 79 µM). Only then can the chemical reaction occur (kobs = 20 s(-1) at 25 °C), leading to rapid formation and dissociation of CH4 leaving the binary product complex (MCR(Ni(II))·CoB7S(-)·SCoM), which undergoes electron transfer to regenerate Ni(I) and the final product CoBS-SCoM. This first rapid kinetics study of MCR with its natural substrates describes how an enzyme can enforce a strictly ordered ternary complex mechanism and serves as a template for identification of the reaction intermediates.

A novel cytosolic NADH:quinone oxidoreductase from Methanothermobacter marburgensis.

Methanothermobacter marburgensis is a strictly anaerobic, thermophilic methanogenic archaeon that uses methanogenesis to convert H2 and CO2 to energy. M. marburgensis is one of the best-studied methanogens, and all genes required for methanogenic metabolism have been identified. Nonetheless, the present study describes a gene (Gene ID 9704440) coding for a putative NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase that has not yet been identified as part of the metabolic machinery. The gene product, MmNQO, was successfully expressed, purified and characterized biochemically, as well as structurally. MmNQO was identified as a flavin-dependent NADH:quinone oxidoreductase with the capacity to oxidize NADH in the presence of a wide range of electron acceptors, whereas NADPH was oxidized with only three acceptors. The 1.50 Å crystal structure of MmNQO features a homodimeric enzyme where each monomer comprises 196 residues folding into flavodoxin-like α/ß domains with non-covalently bound FMN (flavin mononucleotide). The closest structural homologue is the modulator of drug activity B from Streptococcus mutans with 1.6 Å root-mean-square deviation on 161 Cα atoms and 28% amino-acid sequence identity. The low similarity at sequence and structural level suggests that MmNQO is unique among NADH:quinone oxidoreductases characterized to date. Based on preliminary bioreactor experiments, MmNQO could provide a useful tool to prevent overflow metabolism in applications that require cells with high energy demand.

The F420-reducing [NiFe]-hydrogenase complex from Methanothermobacter marburgensis, the first X-ray structure of a group 3 family member.

The reversible redox reaction between coenzyme F420 and H2 to F420H2 is catalyzed by an F420-reducing [NiFe]-hydrogenase (FrhABG), which is an enzyme of the energy metabolism of methanogenic archaea. FrhABG is a group 3 [NiFe]-hydrogenase with a dodecameric quaternary structure of 1.25MDa as recently revealed by high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy. We report on the crystal structure of FrhABG from Methanothermobacter marburgensis at 1.7Å resolution and compare it with the structures of group 1 [NiFe]-hydrogenases, the only group structurally characterized yet. FrhA is similar to the large subunit of group 1 [NiFe]-hydrogenases regarding its core structure and the embedded [NiFe]-center but is different because of the truncation of ca 160 residues that results in similar but modified H2 and proton transport pathways and in suitable interfaces for oligomerization. The small subunit FrhG is composed of an N-terminal domain related to group 1 enzymes and a new C-terminal ferredoxin-like domain carrying the distal and medial [4Fe-4S] clusters. FrhB adopts a novel fold, binds one [4Fe-4S] cluster as well as one FAD in a U-shaped conformation and provides the F420-binding site at the Si-face of the isoalloxazine ring. Similar electrochemical potentials of both catalytic reactions and the electron-transferring [4Fe-4S] clusters, determined to be E°'≈-400mV, are in full agreement with the equalized forward and backward rates of the FrhABG reaction. The protein might contribute to balanced redox potentials by the aspartate coordination of the proximal [4Fe-4S] cluster, the new ferredoxin module and a rather negatively charged FAD surrounding.