Escherichia coli cytosolic glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase (UgpQ) requires Mg2+, Co2+, or Mn2+ for its enzyme activity.

Escherichia coli cytosolic glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase, UgpQ, functions in the absence of other proteins encoded by the ugp operon and requires Mg2+, Mn2+, or Co2+, in contrast to Ca2+-dependent periplasmic glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase, GlpQ. UgpQ has broad substrate specificity toward various glycerophosphodiesters, producing sn-glycerol-3-phosphate and the corresponding alcohols. UgpQ accumulates under conditions of phosphate starvation, suggesting that it allows the utilization of glycerophosphodiesters as a source of phosphate. These results clarify how E. coli utilizes glycerophosphodiesters using two homologous enzymes, UgpQ and GlpQ.

Dimeric core structure of modular stator subunit E of archaeal H+ -ATPase.

Archaeal H(+)-ATPase (A-ATPase) is composed of an A(1) region that hydrolyzes ATP and an integral membrane part A(0) that conducts protons. Subunit E is a component of peripheral stator(s) that physically links A(1) and A(0) parts of the A-ATPase. Here we report the first crystal structure of subunit E of A-ATPase from Pyrococcus horikoshii OT3 at 1.85 A resolution. The protomer structure of subunit E represents a novel fold. The quaternary structure of subunit E is a homodimer, which may constitute the core part of the stator. To investigate the relationship with other stator subunit H, the complex of subunits EH was prepared and characterized using electrophoresis, mass spectrometry, N-terminal sequencing and circular dichroism spectroscopy, which revealed the polymeric and highly helical nature of the EH complex with equimolar stoichiometry of both the subunits. On the basis of the modular architecture of stator subunits, it is suggested that both cytoplasm and membrane sides of the EH complex may interact with other subunits to link A(1) and A(0) parts.

Crystallographic and mutational studies of seryl-tRNA synthetase from the archaeon Pyrococcus horikoshii.

Seryl-tRNA synthetase (SerRS) catalyzes the ligation of serine to the 3'-end of serine tRNA (tRNA(Ser)), which is typical of the type-2 tRNAs characterized by a long extra arm. The SerRSs are divided into two types, the archaeal/eukaryal and bacterial types. In this study, we solved the crystal structures of the SerRS from the archaeon Pyrococcus horikoshii bound with 5'-O-[N-(L-seryl)-sulfamoyl]-adenosine at 2.6 A and with ATP at 2.8 A, as well as in the apo form at 3.0 A. P. horikoshii SerRS recognizes the seryl and adenylate moieties in a manner similar to those of the bacterial and mitochondrial SerRSs from Thermus thermophilus and Bos taurus, respectively, but different from that of the unusual SerRS from the methanogenic archaeon Methanosarcina barkeri. P. horikoshii SerRS efficiently aminoacylated not only P. horikoshii tRNA(Ser) but also bacterial tRNA(Ser)s from T. thermophilus and Escherichia coli. Models of P. horikoshii SerRS bound with the T. thermophilus and P. horikoshii tRNA(Ser)s suggested that the helical domain of P. horikoshii SerRS is involved in the extra arm binding. This region of P. horikoshii SerRS has additional basic residues as compared with T. thermophilus SerRS, and a Trp residue specific to the archaeal/eukaryal SerRSs. Mutational analyses revealed that the basic and Trp residues are important for tRNA aminoacylation. P. horikoshii SerRS has the archaea-specific insertion, which collaborates with the core domain to form a basic channel leading to the active site. Two sulfate ions are bound to the channel, suggesting that the tRNA 3' region might bind to the channel.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of rabbit L-gulonate 3-dehydrogenase.

Rabbit L-gulonate 3-dehydrogenase was crystallized using the oil-microbatch method at 295 K. X-ray diffraction data were collected to 1.70 A resolution from a crystal at 100 K using synchrotron radiation. The crystal belongs to the C-centred monoclinic space group C2, with unit-cell parameters a = 71.81, b = 69.08, c = 65.64 A, beta = 102.7 degrees. Assuming the presence of a monomeric protomer in the asymmetric unit gives a V(M) value of 2.21 A(3) Da(-1) and a solvent content of 44.4%. A cocrystal with NADH, which was isomorphous to the apo form, was also prepared and diffraction data were collected to 1.85 A resolution using Cu Kalpha radiation at 100 K.

Crystal structure of Thermus thermophilus Delta1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase.

Delta(1)-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase (P5CDh) plays an important role in the metabolic pathway from proline to glutamate. It irreversibly catalyzes the oxidation of glutamate-gamma-semialdehyde, the product of the non-enzymatic hydrolysis of Delta(1)-pyrroline-5-carboxylate, into glutamate with the reduction of NAD(+) into NADH. We have confirmed the P5CDh activity of the Thermus thermophilus protein TT0033 (TtP5CDh), and determined the crystal structure of the enzyme in the ligand-free form at 1.4 A resolution. To investigate the structural basis of TtP5CDh function, the TtP5CDh structures with NAD(+), with NADH, and with its product glutamate were determined at 1.8 A, 1.9 A, and 1.4 A resolution, respectively. The solved structures suggest an overall view of the P5CDh catalytic mechanism and provide insights into the P5CDh deficiencies in the case of the human type II hyperprolinemia.

Structural basis of the water-assisted asparagine recognition by asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase.

Asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase (AsnRS) is a member of the class-II aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, and is responsible for catalyzing the specific aminoacylation of tRNA(Asn) with asparagine. Here, the crystal structure of AsnRS from Pyrococcus horikoshii, complexed with asparaginyl-adenylate (Asn-AMP), was determined at 1.45 A resolution, and those of free AsnRS and AsnRS complexed with an Asn-AMP analog (Asn-SA) were solved at 1.98 and 1.80 A resolutions, respectively. All of the crystal structures have many solvent molecules, which form a network of hydrogen-bonding interactions that surrounds the entire AsnRS molecule. In the AsnRS/Asn-AMP complex (or the AsnRS/Asn-SA), one side of the bound Asn-AMP (or Asn-SA) is completely covered by the solvent molecules, which complement the binding site. In particular, two of these water molecules were found to interact directly with the asparagine amide and carbonyl groups, respectively, and to contribute to the formation of a pocket highly complementary to the asparagine side-chain. Thus, these two water molecules appear to play a key role in the strict recognition of asparagine and the discrimination against aspartic acid by the AsnRS. This water-assisted asparagine recognition by the AsnRS strikingly contrasts with the fact that the aspartic acid recognition by the closely related aspartyl-tRNA synthetase is achieved exclusively through extensive interactions with protein amino acid residues. Furthermore, based on a docking model of AsnRS and tRNA, a single arginine residue (Arg83) in the AsnRS was postulated to be involved in the recognition of the third position of the tRNA(Asn) anticodon (U36). We performed a mutational analysis of this particular arginine residue, and confirmed its significance in the tRNA recognition.

Crystal structures of tyrosyl-tRNA synthetases from Archaea.

Tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (TyrRS) catalyzes the tyrosylation of tRNA(Tyr) in a two-step reaction. TyrRS has the "HIGH" and "KMSKS" motifs, which play essential roles in the formation of the tyrosyl-adenylate from tyrosine and ATP. Here, we determined the crystal structures of Archaeoglobus fulgidus and Pyrococcus horikoshii TyrRSs in the l-tyrosine-bound form at 1.8A and 2.2A resolutions, respectively, and that of Aeropyrum pernix TyrRS in the substrate-free form at 2.2 A. The conformation of the KMSKS motif differs among the three TyrRSs. In the A.pernix TyrRS, the KMSKS loop conformation corresponds to the ATP-bound "closed" form. In contrast, the KMSKS loop of the P.horikoshii TyrRS forms a novel 3(10) helix, which appears to correspond to the "semi-closed" form. This conformation enlarges the entrance to the tyrosine-binding pocket, which facilitates the pyrophosphate ion release after the tyrosyl-adenylate formation, and probably is involved in the initial tRNA binding. The KMSSS loop of the A.fulgidus TyrRS is somewhat farther from the active site and is stabilized by hydrogen bonds. Based on the three structures, possible structural changes of the KMSKS motif during the tyrosine activation reaction are discussed. We suggest that the insertion sequence just before the KMSKS motif, which exists in some archaeal species, enhances the binding affinity of the TyrRS for its cognate tRNA. In addition, a non-proline cis peptide bond, which is involved in the tRNA binding, is conserved among the archaeal TyrRSs.

Cloning, expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic study of DHNA synthetase from Geobacillus kaustophilus.

The aerobic Gram-positive bacterium Geobacillus kaustophilus is a bacillus species that was isolated from deep-sea sediment from the Mariana Trench. 1,4-Dihydroxy-2-naphthoate (DHNA) synthetase plays a vital role in the biosynthesis of menaquinone (vitamin K(2)) in this bacterium. DHNA synthetase from Geobacillus kaustophilus was crystallized in the orthorhombic space group C222(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 77.01, b = 130.66, c = 131.69 A. The crystal diffracted to a resolution of 2.2 A. Preliminary studies and molecular-replacement calculations reveal the presence of three monomers in the asymmetric unit.

Crystal structure of the probable haloacid dehalogenase PH0459 from Pyrococcus horikoshii OT3.

PH0459, from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus horikoshii OT3, is a probable haloacid dehalogenase with a molecular mass of 26,725 Da. Here, we report the 2.0 A crystal structure of PH0459 (PDB ID: 1X42) determined by the multiwavelength anomalous dispersion method. The core domain has an alpha/beta structure formed by a six-stranded parallel beta-sheet flanked by six alpha-helices and three 3(10)-helices. One disulfide bond, Cys186-Cys212, forms a bridge between an alpha-helix and a 3(10)-helix, although PH0459 seems to be an intracellular protein. The subdomain inserted into the core domain has a four-helix bundle structure. The crystal packing suggests that PH0459 exists as a monomer. A structural homology search revealed that PH0459 resembles the l-2-haloacid dehalogenases l-DEX YL from Pseudomonas sp. YL and DhlB from Xanthobacter autotrophicus GJ10. A comparison of the active sites suggested that PH0459 probably has haloacid dehalogenase activity, but its substrate specificity may be different. In addition, the disulfide bond in PH0459 probably facilitates the structural stabilization of the neighboring region in the monomeric form, although the corresponding regions in l-DEX YL and DhlB may be stabilized by dimerization. Since heat-stable dehalogenases can be used for the detoxification of halogenated aliphatic compounds, PH0459 will be a useful target for biotechnological research.

Hyper-thermostability of CutA1 protein, with a denaturation temperature of nearly 150 degrees C.

We found that the CutA1 protein, from Pyrococcus horikoshii (PhCutA1), has an extremely high denaturation temperature (T(d)) of nearly 150 degrees C, which exceeds the highest record determined by DSC by about 30 degrees C. To elucidate the mechanism of the ultra-high stability of PhCutA1, we analyzed the crystal structures of CutA1 proteins from three different sources, P. horikoshii, Thermus thermophilus, and Escherichia coli, with different growth temperatures (98, 75, and 37 degrees C). This analysis revealed that the remarkably increased number of ion pairs in the monomeric structure contributes to the stabilization of the trimeric structure and plays an important role in enhancing the T(d), up to 150 degrees C, for PhCutA1.

Crystal structures of biotin protein ligase from Pyrococcus horikoshii OT3 and its complexes: structural basis of biotin activation.

Biotin protein ligase (EC 6.3.4.15) catalyses the synthesis of an activated form of biotin, biotinyl-5'-AMP, from substrates biotin and ATP followed by biotinylation of the biotin carboxyl carrier protein subunit of acetyl-CoA carboxylase. The three-dimensional structure of biotin protein ligase from Pyrococcus horikoshii OT3 has been determined by X-ray diffraction at 1.6A resolution. The structure reveals a homodimer as the functional unit. Each subunit contains two domains, a larger N-terminal catalytic domain and a smaller C-terminal domain. The structural feature of the active site has been studied by determination of the crystal structures of complexes of the enzyme with biotin, ADP and the reaction intermediate biotinyl-5'-AMP at atomic resolution. This is the first report of the liganded structures of biotin protein ligase with nucleotide and biotinyl-5'-AMP. The structures of the unliganded and the liganded forms are isomorphous except for an ordering of the active site loop upon ligand binding. Catalytic binding sites are suitably arranged to minimize the conformational changes required during the reaction, as the pockets for biotin and nucleotide are located spatially adjacent to each other in a cleft of the catalytic domain and the pocket for biotinyl-5'-AMP binding mimics the combination of those of the substrates. The exact locations of the ligands and the active site residues allow us to propose a general scheme for the first step of the reaction carried out by biotin protein ligase in which the positively charged epsilon-amino group of Lys111 facilitates the nucleophilic attack on the ATP alpha-phosphate group by the biotin carboxyl oxygen atom and stabilizes the negatively charged intermediates.

Crystal structure of novel NADP-dependent 3-hydroxyisobutyrate dehydrogenase from Thermus thermophilus HB8.

3-Hydroxyisobutyrate, a central metabolite in the valine catabolic pathway, is reversibly oxidized to methylmalonate semialdehyde by a specific dehydrogenase belonging to the 3-hydroxyacid dehydrogenase family. To gain insight into the function of this enzyme at the atomic level, we have determined the first crystal structures of the 3-hydroxyisobutyrate dehydrogenase from Thermus thermophilus HB8: holo enzyme and sulfate ion complex. The crystal structures reveal a unique tetrameric oligomerization and a bound cofactor NADP+. This bacterial enzyme may adopt a novel cofactor-dependence on NADP, whereas NAD is preferred in eukaryotic enzymes. The protomer folds into two distinct domains with open/closed interdomain conformations. The cofactor NADP+ with syn nicotinamide and the sulfate ion are bound to distinct sites located at the interdomain cleft of the protomer through an induced-fit domain closure upon cofactor binding. From the structural comparison with the crystal structure of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, another member of the 3-hydroxyacid dehydrogenase family, it is suggested that the observed sulfate ion and the substrate 3-hydroxyisobutyrate share the same binding pocket. The observed oligomeric state might be important for the catalytic function through forming the active site involving two adjacent subunits, which seems to be conserved in the 3-hydroxyacid dehydrogenases. A kinetic study confirms that this enzyme has strict substrate specificity for 3-hydroxyisobutyrate and serine, but it cannot distinguish the chirality of the substrates. Lys165 is likely the catalytic residue of the enzyme.

Expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of galactokinase from Pyrococcus horikoshii.

Galactokinase (EC 2.7.1.6) catalyzes the ATP-dependent phosphorylation of alpha-D-galactose to alpha-D-galactose-1-phosphate, in an additional metabolic branch of glycolysis. The apo-form crystal structure of the enzyme has not yet been elucidated. Crystals of galactokinase from Pyrococcus horikoshii were prepared in both the apo form and as a ternary complex with alpha-D-galactose and an ATP analogue. Diffraction data sets were collected to 1.24 A resolution for the apo form and to 1.7 A for the ternary complex form using synchrotron radiation. The apo-form crystals belong to space group C2, with unit-cell parameters a = 108.08, b = 38.91, c = 81.57 A, beta = 109.8 degrees. The ternary complex form was isomorphous with the apo form, except for the length of the a axis. The galactokinase activity of the enzyme was confirmed and the kinetic parameters at 323 K were determined.

Crystal structure of purine nucleoside phosphorylase from Thermus thermophilus.

The purine nucleoside phosphorylase from Thermus thermophilus crystallized in space group P4(3)2(1)2 with the unit cell dimensions a = 131.9 A and c = 169.9 A and one biologically active hexamer in the asymmetric unit. The structure was solved by the molecular replacement method and refined at a 1.9A resolution to an r(free) value of 20.8%. The crystals of the binary complex with sulfate ion and ternary complexes with sulfate and adenosine or guanosine were also prepared and their crystal structures were refined at 2.1A, 2.4A and 2.4A, respectively. The overall structure of the T.thermophilus enzyme is similar to the structures of hexameric enzymes from Escherichia coli and Sulfolobus solfataricus, but significant differences are observed in the purine base recognition site. A base recognizing aspartic acid, which is conserved among the hexameric purine nucleoside phosphorylases, is Asn204 in the T.thermophilus enzyme, which is reminiscent of the base recognizing asparagine in trimeric purine nucleoside phosphorylases. Isothermal titration calorimetry measurements indicate that both adenosine and guanosine bind the enzyme with nearly similar affinity. However, the functional assays show that as in trimeric PNPs, only the guanosine is a true substrate of the T.thermophilus enzyme. In the case of adenosine recognition, the Asn204 forms hydrogen bonds with N6 and N7 of the base. While in the case of guanosine recognition, the Asn204 is slightly shifted together with the beta(9)alpha(7) loop and predisposed to hydrogen bond formation with O6 of the base in the transition state. The obtained experimental data suggest that the catalytic properties of the T.thermophilus enzyme are reminiscent of the trimeric rather than hexameric purine nucleoside phosphorylases.

Stabilization due to dimer formation of phosphoribosyl anthranilate isomerase from Thermus thermophilus HB8: X-ray Analysis and DSC experiments.

The crystal structure of phosphoribosyl anthranilate isomerase (PRAI) from Thermus thermophilus HB8 (TtPRAI) was solved at 2.0 A resolution. The overall structure of TtPRAI with a dimeric structure was quite similar to that of PRAI from Thermotoga maritima (TmPRAI). In order to elucidate the stabilization mechanism of TtPRAI, its physicochemical properties were examined using DSC, CD, and analytical centrifugation at various pHs in relation to the association-dissociation of the subunits. Based on the experimental results for TtPRAI and the structural information on TtPRAI and TmPRAI, we found that: (i) the denaturation of TtPRAI at acidic pH is correlated with the dissociation of its dimeric form; (ii) the hydrophobic interaction of TtPRAI in the monomer structure is slightly greater than that of TmPRAI, but dimer interface of the TmPRAI is remarkably greater; (iii) the contributions of hydrogen bonds and ion bonds to the stability are similar to each other; and (iv) destabilization due to the presence of cavities in TtPRAI is greater than that of TmPRAI in both the monomer and dimer structures.

Stabilization mechanism of the tryptophan synthase alpha-subunit from Thermus thermophilus HB8: X-ray crystallographic analysis and calorimetry.

In order to elucidate the thermo-stabilization mechanism of the tryptophan synthase alpha-subunit from the extreme thermophile Thermus thermophilus HB8 (Tt-alpha-subunit), its crystal structure was determined and its stability was examined using DSC. The results were compared to those of other orthologs from mesophilic and hyperthermophilic organisms. The denaturation temperature of the Tt-alpha-subunit was higher than that of the alpha-subunit from S. typhimurium (St-alpha-subunit) but lower than that of the alpha-subunit from P. furiosus (Pf-alpha-subunit). Specific denaturation enthalpy and specific denaturation heat capacity values of the Tt-alpha-subunit were the lowest among the three proteins, suggesting that entropy effects are responsible for the stabilization of the Tt-alpha-subunit. Based on a structural comparison with the St-alpha-subunit, two deletions in loop regions, an increase in the number of ion pairs and a decrease in cavity volume seem to be responsible for the stabilization of the Tt-alpha-subunit. The results of structural comparison suggest that the native structure of the Tt-alpha-subunit is better adapted to an ideally stable structure than that of the St-alpha-subunit, but worse than that of the Pf-alpha-subunit. The results of calorimetry suggest that the residual structure of the Tt-alpha-subunit in the denatured state contributes to the stabilization.

Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of the nickel-responsive regulator NikR from Pyrococcus horikoshii.

The nickel-responsive repressor from Pyrococcus horikoshii OT3 (PhNikR) has been crystallized in the apo form (PhNikR-apo) and two nickel-bound forms (PhNikR-Ni-1 and PhNikR-Ni-2). The PhNikR-apo crystals belong to space group P2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 75.78, b = 54.32, c = 77.28 A, beta = 116.07 degrees, and diffract to 2.2 A. The PhNikR-Ni-1 crystals belong to space group P4(1)2(1)2, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 99.89, c = 97.98 A, and diffract to 3.0 A and the PhNikR-Ni-2 crystals belong to space group P3(1)21 or P3(2)21, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 109.95, c = 79.0 A, and diffract to 2.1 A. The crystals obtained were suitable for detailed structural studies.

Purification, crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of the biotin-protein ligase from Pyrococcus horikoshii OT3.

Biotin-protein ligase is an enzyme that catalyzes the ATP-dependent biotinylation of a specific lysine residue in acetyl-CoA carboxylase. The biotin-protein ligase from Pyrococcus horikoshii OT3 has been cloned, overexpressed and purified. Crystallization was performed by the microbatch method or the vapour-diffusion method using PEG 2000 as a precipitant at 295 K. X-ray diffraction data have been collected to 1.6 A resolution from a native crystal and to 1.55 A resolution from a selenomethionine-derivative crystal for multiple anomalous dispersion phasing using synchrotron radiation at 100 K. The native crystal belongs to the monoclinic space group P2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 38.601, b = 78.264, c = 70.147 A, beta = 101.48 degrees. Assuming a homodimer per asymmetric unit gives a VM value of 2.14 A3 Da(-1) and a solvent content of 42.5%. Cocrystals with biotin, ADP and biotinyl-5'-AMP were prepared and diffraction data sets were collected to 1.6, 1.6 and 1.45 A resolution, respectively.

Structure of PIN-domain protein PH0500 from Pyrococcus horikoshii.

The Pyrococcus horikoshii OT3 protein PH0500 is highly conserved within the Pyrococcus genus of hyperthermophilic archaea and shows low amino-acid sequence similarity with a family of PIN-domain proteins. The protein has been expressed, purified and crystallized in two crystal forms: PH0500-I and PH0500-II. The structure was determined at 2.0 A by the multiple anomalous dispersion method using a selenomethionyl derivative of crystal form PH0500-I (PH0500-I-Se). The structure of PH0500-I has been refined at 1.75 A resolution to an R factor of 20.9% and the structure of PH0500-II has been refined at 2.0 A resolution to an R factor of 23.4%. In both crystal forms as well as in solution the molecule appears to be a dimer. Searches of the databases for protein-fold similarities confirmed that the PH0500 protein is a PIN-domain protein with possible exonuclease activity and involvement in DNA or RNA editing.

Crystallization and avoiding the problem of hemihedral twinning in crystals of Delta1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase from Thermus thermophilus.

Delta1-Pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase from Thermus thermophilus (TtP5CDh) has been crystallized in a citrate-bound form (TtP5CDh-cit). The crystals diffracted to well beyond 2 A resolution, but exhibited perfect or near-perfect hemihedral twinning. Variation of crystallization conditions resulted in the growth of larger untwinned crystals or crystals with significantly reduced twin content, all with similar unit-cell parameters. The soaking of TtP5CDh-cit crystals in citrate-free solution produced crystals of the apo form (TtP5CDh-apo). The TtP5CDh-apo crystals belong to space group R3, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 102.29, c = 279.28 A, and diffract to 1.08 A. Crystals soaked in solution with NAD+ (TtP5CDh-NAD), NADH (TtP5CDh-NADH) and glutamate (TtP5CDh-Glu) were also prepared and characterized.