Crystal structure of the catalytic domain of HIV-1 integrase: similarity to other polynucleotidyl transferases.

HIV integrase is the enzyme responsible for inserting the viral DNA into the host chromosome; it is essential for HIV replication. The crystal structure of the catalytically active core domain (residues 50 to 212) of HIV-1 integrase was determined at 2.5 A resolution. The central feature of the structure is a five-stranded beta sheet flanked by helical regions. The overall topology reveals that this domain of integrase belongs to a superfamily of polynucleotidyl transferases that includes ribonuclease H and the Holliday junction resolvase RuvC. The active site region is identified by the position of two of the conserved carboxylate residues essential for catalysis, which are located at similar positions in ribonuclease H. In the crystal, two molecules form a dimer with a extensive solvent-inaccessible interface of 1300 A2 per monomer.

The crystal structure of bovine bile salt activated lipase: insights into the bile salt activation mechanism.

BACKGROUND: The intestinally located pancreatic enzyme, bile salt activated lipase (BAL), possesses unique activities for digesting different kinds of lipids. It also differs from other lipases in a requirement of bile salts for activity. A structure-based explanation for these unique properties has not been reached so far due to the absence of a three-dimensional structure. RESULTS: The crystal structures of bovine BAL and its complex with taurocholate have been determined at 2.8 A resolution. The overall structure of BAL belongs to the alpha/beta hydrolase fold family. Two bile salt binding sites were found in each BAL molecule within the BAL-taurocholate complex structure. One of these sites is located close to a hairpin loop near the active site. Upon the binding of taurocholate, this loop becomes less mobile and assumes a different conformation. The other bile salt binding site is located remote from the active site. In both structures, BAL forms similar dimers with the active sites facing each other. CONCLUSIONS: Bile salts activate BAL by binding to a relatively short ten-residue loop near the active site, and stabilize the loop in an open conformation. Presumably, this conformational change leads to the formation of the substrate-binding site, as suggested from kinetic data. The BAL dimer observed in the crystal structure may also play a functional role under physiological conditions.

Solid state NMR reveals a pH-dependent antiparallel beta-sheet registry in fibrils formed by a beta-amyloid peptide.

We report solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements that probe the supramolecular organization of beta-sheets in the cross-beta motif of amyloid fibrils formed by residues 11-25 of the beta-amyloid peptide associated with Alzheimer's disease (Abeta(11-25)). Fibrils were prepared at pH 7.4 and pH 2.4. The solid state NMR data indicate that the central hydrophobic segment of Abeta(11-25) (sequence LVFFA) adopts a beta-strand conformation and participates in antiparallel beta-sheets at both pH values, but that the registry of intermolecular hydrogen bonds is pH-dependent. Moreover, both registries determined for Abeta(11-25) fibrils are different from the hydrogen bond registry in the antiparallel beta-sheets of Abeta(16-22) fibrils at pH 7.4 determined in earlier solid state NMR studies. In all three cases, the hydrogen bond registry is highly ordered, with no detectable "registry-shift" defects. These results suggest that the supramolecular organization of beta-sheets in amyloid fibrils is determined by a sensitive balance of multiple side-chain-side-chain interactions. Recent structural models for Abeta(11-25) fibrils based on X-ray fiber diffraction data are inconsistent with the solid state NMR data at both pH values.

Crystal structure of the thiamin diphosphate-dependent enzyme pyruvate decarboxylase from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae at 2.3 A resolution.

The crystal structure of pyruvate decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.1), a thiamin diphosphate-dependent enzyme isolated from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has been determined and refined to a resolution of 2.3 A. Pyruvate decarboxylase is a homotetrameric enzyme which crystallizes with two subunits in an asymmetric unit. The structure has been refined by a combination of simulated annealing and restrained least squares to an R factor of 0.165 for 46,787 reflections. As in the corresponding enzyme from Saccharomyces uvarum, the homotetrameric holoenzyme assembly has approximate 222 symmetry. In addition to providing more accurate atomic parameters and certainty in the sequence assignments, the high resolution and extensive refinement resulted in the identification of several tightly bound water molecules in key structural positions. These water molecules have low temperature factors and make several hydrogen bonds with protein residues. There are six such water molecules in each cofactor binding site, and one of them is involved in coordination with the required magnesium ion. Another may be involved in the catalytic reaction mechanism. The refined model includes 1074 amino acid residues (two subunits), two thiamin diphosphate cofactors, two magnesium ions associated with cofactor binding and 440 water molecules. From the refined model we conclude that the resting state of the enzyme-cofactor complex is such that the cofactor is already deprotonated at the N4' position of the pyrimidine ring, and is poised to accept a proton from the C2 position of the thiazolium ring.

The IS200/IS605 Family and "Peel and Paste" Single-strand Transposition Mechanism.

This chapter presents an analysis of the organization and distribution of the IS200/IS605 family of insertion sequences (IS). Members of this family are widespread in both bacteria and archaea. They are unusual because they use obligatory single-strand DNA intermediates, which distinguishes them from classical IS. We summarize studies of the experimental model systems IS608 (from Helicobacter pylori) and ISDra2 (from Deinococcus radiodurans) and present biochemical, genetic, and structural data that describe their transposition pathway and the way in which their transposase (an HuH rather than a DDE enzyme) catalyzes this process. The transposition of IS200/IS605 family members can be described as a "Peel-and-Paste" mechanism. We also address the probable domestication of IS200/IS605 family transposases as enzymes involved in multiplication of repeated extragenic palindromes and as potential homing endonucleases in intron-IS chimeras.

14-3-3 proteins in pineal photoneuroendocrine transduction: how many roles?

Recent studies suggest that a common theme links the diverse elements of pineal photoneuroendocrine transduction--regulation via binding to 14-3-3 proteins. The elements include photoreception, neurotransmission, signal transduction and the synthesis of melatonin from tryptophan. We review general aspects of 14-3-3 proteins and their biological function as binding partners, and also focus on their roles in pineal photoneuroendocrine transduction.

Direct methods with single isomorphous replacement data. I. Reduction of systematic errors.

The direct-methods procedure for single isomorphous replacement (SIR) data [Hauptman (1982). Acta Cryst. A38, 289-294], as modified by Fortier, Moore & Fraser [Acta Cryst. (1985), A41, 571-577] has been implemented and tested with a large number of known structures. It was found that the modified procedure greatly reduces the bias toward 'unresolved' SIR invariant values associated with estimates of 0 or pi, but does not remove it entirely. If the heavy atoms are not in a centrosymmetric array the centroid of the distribution of invariant estimates is not centered on true protein values, but is biased toward conventional SIR values by up to 15 degrees, thus errors in the estimates are not random but systematic. When the heavy atoms are in a centrosymmetric array (or single heavy-atom site in space group P21), the distribution of estimates is often sharply bimodal, with peaks centered at both true invariant values and pure 'unresolved' SIR values. Simple procedures are given which can be applied in both situations to reduce significantly the bias with no overall loss of accuracy. An additional correction factor is then described which can be used to remove nearly all of the bias, and improve the accuracy as well. The result is that errors in the corrected invariant estimates are small in magnitude, but are now also random instead of systematic. Since the number of estimates greatly exceeds the number of phases, the remaining random errors should have little impact in phasing processes.

Heterogeneity in recombinant HIV-1 integrase corrected by site-directed mutagenesis: the identification and elimination of a protease cleavage site.

Purified recombinant human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) integrase and certain deletion mutants exhibit heterogeneity consistent with proteolysis at a site close to the C-terminus. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometric analysis indicated that proteolytic cleavage generated a protein missing five residues from the C-terminus. PCR mutagenesis of amino acids on either side of the cleavage site identified two changes which were subsequently shown to prevent clipping when proteins were expressed and purified from Escherichia coli: the substitution of Arg284, the residue on the C-terminal side of the cleavage site, by either glycine or lysine. The introduction of either of these mutations into full-length integrase did not affect in vitro 3' processing or strand transfer activities. Thus, the incorporation of either of these mutations is likely to be beneficial when homogeneity of HIV-1 integrase is a concern, as in crystallographic or nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic experiments.

GCN5-related N-acetyltransferases: a structural overview.

Hundreds of acetyltransferases exist. All use a common acetyl donor--acetyl coenzyme A--and each exhibits remarkable specificity for acetyl acceptors, which include small molecules and proteins. Analysis of the primary sequences of these enzymes indicates that they can be sorted into several superfamilies. This review covers the three-dimensional structures of members of one of these superfamilies, now referred to in the literature as the GCN5-related N-acetyltransferases (GNAT), reflecting the importance of one functional category, the histone acetyltransferases. Despite the diversity of substrate specificities, members of the GNAT superfamily demonstrate remarkable similarity in protein topology and mode of acetyl coenzyme A binding, likely reflecting a conserved catalytic mechanism.

Melatonin biosynthesis: the structure of serotonin N-acetyltransferase at 2.5 A resolution suggests a catalytic mechanism.

Conversion of serotonin to N-acetylserotonin, the precursor of the circadian neurohormone melatonin, is catalyzed by serotonin N-acetyltransferase (AANAT) in a reaction requiring acetyl coenzyme A (AcCoA). AANAT is a globular protein consisting of an eight-stranded beta sheet flanked by five alpha helices; a conserved motif in the center of the beta sheet forms the cofactor binding site. Three polypeptide loops converge above the AcCoA binding site, creating a hydrophobic funnel leading toward the cofactor and serotonin binding sites in the protein interior. Two conserved histidines not found in other NATs are located at the bottom of the funnel in the active site, suggesting a catalytic mechanism for acetylation involving imidazole groups acting as general acid/base catalysts.

The crystal structure of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin domain III with nicotinamide and AMP: conformational differences with the intact exotoxin.

Domain III of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A catalyses the transfer of ADP-ribose from NAD to a modified histidine residue of elongation factor 2 in eukaryotic cells, thus inactivating elongation factor 2. This domain III is inactive in the intact toxin but is active in the isolated form. We report here the 2.5-A crystal structure of this isolated domain crystallized in the presence of NAD and compare it with the corresponding structure in the intact Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A. We observe a significant conformational difference in the active site region from Arg-458 to Asp-463. Contacts with part of domain II in the intact toxin prevent the adoption of the isolated domain conformation and provide a structural explanation for the observed inactivity. Additional electron density in the active site region corresponds to separate AMP and nicotinamide and indicates that the NAD has been hydrolyzed. The structure has been compared with the catalytic domain of the diphtheria toxin, which was crystallized with ApUp.

Structure-based mutagenesis of the catalytic domain of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 integrase.

Two different crystal structures of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) integrase (IN) catalytic domain were analyzed for interactions at the enzyme active site. Gln-62 and Glu-92 interact with active-site residue Asp-64, and Lys-136 interacts with active-site residue Asp-116 across a dimer interface. Conservative and nonconservative substitutions were introduced at these positions to probe the roles of these interactions in HIV-1 integration. Purified mutant proteins were assayed for in vitro 3' processing, DNA strand transfer, and disintegration activities, and HIV-1 mutants were assayed for virion protein composition, reverse transcription, and infectivities in human cell lines. Each of the mutant IN proteins displayed wild-type disintegration activity, indicating that none of the interactions is essential for catalysis. Mutants carrying Gln or Ala for Glu-92 displayed wild-type activities, but substituting Lys for Glu-92 reduced in vitro 3' processing and DNA strand transfer activities 5- to 10-fold and yielded a replication-defective IN active-site mutant viral phenotype. Substituting Glu for Gln-62 reduced in vitro 3' processing and DNA strand transfer activities 5- to 10-fold without grossly affecting viral replication kinetics, suggesting that HIV-1 can replicate in T-cell lines with less than the wild-type level of IN activity. The relationship between IN solubility and HIV-1 replication was also investigated. We previously showed that substituting Lys for Phe-185 dramatically increased the solubility of recombinant IN but caused an HIV-1 particle assembly defect. Mutants carrying His at this position displayed increased solubility and wild-type replication kinetics, showing that increased IN solubility per se is not detrimental to virus growth.

Molecular organization in site-specific recombination: the catalytic domain of bacteriophage HP1 integrase at 2.7 A resolution.

HP1 integrase promotes site-specific recombination of the HP1 genome into that of Haemophilus influenzae. The isolated C-terminal domain (residues 165-337) of the protein interacts with the recombination site and contains the four catalytic residues conserved in the integrase family. This domain represents a novel fold consisting principally of well-packed alpha helices, a surface beta sheet, and an ordered 17-residue C-terminal tail. The conserved triad of basic residues and the active-site tyrosine are contributed by a single monomer and occupy fixed positions in a defined active-site cleft. Dimers are formed by mutual interactions of the tail of one monomer with an adjacent monomer; this orients active-site clefts antiparallel to each other.

Role of cysteines in the activation and inactivation of brewers' yeast pyruvate decarboxylase investigated with a PDC1-PDC6 fusion protein.

Possible roles of the Cys side chains in the activation and inactivation mechanisms of brewers' yeast pyruvate decarboxylase were investigated by comparing the behavior of the tetrameric enzyme pdc1 containing four cysteines/subunit (positions 69, 152, 221, and 222) with that of a fusion enzyme (pdc1-6, a result of spontaneous gene fusion between PDC1 and PDC6 genes) that is 84% identical in sequence with pdc1 and has only Cys221 (the other three Cys being replaced by aliphatic side chains). The two forms of the enzyme are rather similar so far as steady-state kinetic parameters and substrate activation are considered, as tested for activation by the substrate surrogate pyruvamide. Therefore, if a cysteine is responsible for substrate activation, it must be Cys221. The inactivation of the two enzymes was tested with several inhibitors. Methylmethanethiol sulfonate, a broad spectrum sulfhydryl reagent, could substantially inactivate both enzymes, but was slightly less effective toward the fusion enzyme. (p-Nitrobenzoyl)formic acid is an excellent alternate substrate, whose decarboxylation product p-nitrobenzaldehyde inhibited both enzymes possibly at a Cys221, the only one still present in the fusion enzyme. Exposure of the fusion enzyme, just as of pdc1, to (E)-2-oxo-4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid type inhibitors/alternate substrates enabled detection of the enzyme-bound enamine intermediate at 440 nm. However, unlike pdc1, the fusion enzyme was not irreversibly inactivated by these substrates. These substrates are now known to cause inactivation of pdc1 with concomitant modification of one Cys of the four [Zeng, X.; Chung, A.; Haran, M.; Jordan, F. (1991) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 113, 5842-49].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Preliminary crystallographic data for the thiamin diphosphate-dependent enzyme pyruvate decarboxylase from brewers' yeast.

Single crystals of the thiamin diphosphate (the vitamin B1 coenzyme)-dependent enzyme pyruvate decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.1) from brewers' yeast have been grown using polyethylene glycol as a precipitating agent. Crystals of the homotetrameric version alpha 4 of the holoenzyme are triclinic, space group P1, with cell constants a = 81.0, b = 82.4, c = 116.6 A, alpha = 69.5 beta = 72.6, gamma = 62.4 degrees. The crystals are reasonably stable in a rotating anode x-ray beam and diffract to at least 2.5 A resolution. The Vm value of 2.55 A/dalton is consistent with a unit cell containing four subunits with mass of approximately 60 kDa each. Rotation function results with native data indicate strong non-crystallographic 222 symmetry relating the four identical subunits, thus density averaging methods are likely to play a role in the structure determination.

Hydrophilic peptides derived from the transframe region of Gag-Pol inhibit the HIV-1 protease.

The HIV-1 transframe region (TFR) is between the structural and functional domains of the Gag-Pol polyprotein, flanked by the nucleocapsid and the protease domains at its N and C termini, respectively. Transframe octapeptide (TFP) Phe-Leu-Arg-Glu-Asp-Leu-Ala-Phe, the N terminus of TFR, and its analogues are competitive inhibitors of the action of the mature HIV-1 protease. The smallest, most potent analogues are tripeptides: Glu-Asp-Leu and Glu-Asp-Phe with Ki values of approximately 50 and approximately 20 microM, respectively. Substitution of the acidic amino acids in the TFP by neutral amino acids and d or retro-d configurations of Glu-Asp-Leu results in an >40-fold increase in Ki. Protease inhibition by Glu-Asp-Leu is dependent on a protonated form of a group with a pKa of 3.8; unlike other inhibitors of HIV-1 protease which are highly hydrophobic, Glu-Asp-Leu is extremely soluble in water, and its binding affinity decreases with increasing NaCl concentration. However, Glu-Asp-Leu is a poor inhibitor (Ki approximately 7.5 mM) of the mammalian aspartic acid protease pepsin. X-ray crystallographic studies at pH 4.2 show that the interactions of Glu at P2 and Leu at P1 of Glu-Asp-Leu with residues of the active site of HIV-1 protease are similar to those of other product-enzyme complexes. It was not feasible to understand the interaction of intact TFP with HIV-1 protease under conditions of crystal growth due to its hydrolysis giving rise to two products. The sequence-specific, selective inhibition of the HIV-1 protease by the viral TFP suggests a role for TFP in regulating protease function during HIV-1 replication.

Crystal structure of the catalytic domain of Pseudomonas exotoxin A complexed with a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide analog: implications for the activation process and for ADP ribosylation.

The catalytic, or third domain of Pseudomonas exotoxin A (PEIII) catalyzes the transfer of ADP ribose from nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) to elongation factor-2 in eukaryotic cells, inhibiting protein synthesis. We have determined the structure of PEIII crystallized in the presence of NAD to define the site of binding and mechanism of activation. However, NAD undergoes a slow hydrolysis and the crystal structure revealed only the hydrolysis products, AMP and nicotinamide, bound to the enzyme. To better define the site of NAD binding, we have now crystallized PEIII in the presence of a less hydrolyzable NAD analog, beta-methylene-thiazole-4-carboxamide adenine dinucleotide (beta-TAD), and refined the complex structure at 2.3 angstroms resolution. There are two independent molecules of PEIII in the crystal, and the conformations of beta-TAD show some differences in the two binding sites. The beta-TAD attached to molecule 2 appears to have been hydrolyzed between the pyrophosphate and the nicotinamide ribose. However molecule 1 binds to an intact beta-TAD and has no crystal packing contacts in the vicinity of the binding site, so that the observed conformation and interaction with the PEIII most likely resembles that of NAD bound to PEIII in solution. We have compared this complex with the catalytic domains of diphtheria toxin, heat labile enterotoxin, and pertussis toxin, all three of which it closely resembles.

Crystal structure of the 14-3-3zeta:serotonin N-acetyltransferase complex. a role for scaffolding in enzyme regulation.

Serotonin N-acetyltransferase (AANAT) controls the daily rhythm in melatonin synthesis. When isolated from tissue, AANAT copurifies with isoforms epsilon and zeta of 14-3-3. We have determined the structure of AANAT bound to 14-3-3zeta, an association that is phosphorylation dependent. AANAT is bound in the central channel of the 14-3-3zeta dimer, and is held in place by extensive interactions both with the amphipathic phosphopeptide binding groove of 14-3-3zeta and with other parts of the central channel. Thermodynamic and activity measurements, together with crystallographic analysis, indicate that binding of AANAT by 14-3-3zeta modulates AANAT's activity and affinity for its substrates by stabilizing a region of AANAT involved in substrate binding.

Catalytic centers in the thiamin diphosphate dependent enzyme pyruvate decarboxylase at 2.4-A resolution.

The crystal structure of brewers' yeast pyruvate decarboxylase, a thiamin diphosphate dependent alpha-keto acid decarboxylase, has been determined to 2.4-A resolution. The homotetrameric assembly contains two dimers, exhibiting strong intermonomer interactions within each dimer but more limited ones between dimers. Each monomeric subunit is partitioned into three structural domains, all folding according to a mixed alpha/beta motif. Two of these domains are associated with cofactor binding, while the other is associated with substrate activation. The catalytic centers containing both thiamin diphosphate and Mg(II) are located deep in the intermonomer interface within each dimer. Amino acids important in cofactor binding and likely to participate in catalysis and substrate activation are identified.

The structural basis of ordered substrate binding by serotonin N-acetyltransferase: enzyme complex at 1.8 A resolution with a bisubstrate analog.

Serotonin N-acetyltransferase, a member of the GNAT acetyltransferase superfamily, is the penultimate enzyme in the conversion of serotonin to melatonin, the circadian neurohormone. Comparison of the structures of the substrate-free enzyme and the complex with a bisubstrate analog, coenzyme A-S-acetyltryptamine, demonstrates that acetyl coenzyme A (AcCoA) binding is accompanied by a large conformational change that in turn leads to the formation of the serotonin-binding site. The structure of the complex also provides insight into how the enzyme may facilitate acetyl transfer. A water-filled channel leading from the active site to the surface provides a pathway for proton removal following amine deprotonation. Furthermore, structural and mutagenesis results indicate an important role for Tyr-168 in catalysis.