Structural basis of semaphorin-plexin cis interaction.

Semaphorin ligands interact with plexin receptors to contribute to functions in the development of myriad tissues including neurite guidance and synaptic organisation within the nervous system. Cell-attached semaphorins interact in trans with plexins on opposing cells, but also in cis on the same cell. The interplay between trans and cis interactions is crucial for the regulated development of complex neural circuitry, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are uncharacterised. We have discovered a distinct mode of interaction through which the Drosophila semaphorin Sema1b and mouse Sema6A mediate binding in cis to their cognate plexin receptors. Our high-resolution structural, biophysical and in vitro analyses demonstrate that monomeric semaphorins can mediate a distinctive plexin binding mode. These findings suggest the interplay between monomeric vs dimeric states has a hereto unappreciated role in semaphorin biology, providing a mechanism by which Sema6s may balance cis and trans functionalities.

The novel technique of vapor pressure analysis to monitor the enzymatic degradation of PHB by HPLC chromatography.

A novel method was introduced for the quantitative determination of substances in aqueous solutions by using the evaporative light scattering (ELS) detector of a high performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC). The principle of the measurement is the different equilibrium vapor pressure of the solvent and the analyte resulting in decreasing evaporation rate, larger droplets and stronger signal with increasing concentration. The new technique based on vapor pressure analysis was validated with traditional UV-Vis detection carried out with a diode array detector (DAD). The new technique was used for monitoring the concentration of solutions obtained during the enzymatic degradation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) yielding the 3-hydroxybutyrate monomer as the product. The accuracy of the measurement allowed the determination of degradation kinetics as well. The results obtained with the two techniques showed excellent agreement at small concentrations. Deviations at larger concentrations were explained with the non-linear correlation between analyte concentration and detector signal and the linear regression used for calibration. Mathematical analysis of the method made possible the determination of the evaporation enthalpy of the analyte as well. The new approach is especially suitable for the quantitative analysis of compounds, which do not absorb in the detection range of the DAD detector or if their characteristic absorbance is close to the lower end of its wavelength range.

Structural Characterization of Arginine Fingers: Identification of an Arginine Finger for the Pyrophosphatase dUTPases.

Arginine finger is a highly conserved and essential residue in many GTPase and AAA+ ATPase enzymes that completes the active site from a distinct protomer, forming contacts with the γ-phosphate of the nucleotide. To date, no pyrophosphatase has been identified that employs an arginine finger fulfilling all of the above properties; all essential arginine fingers are used to catalyze the cleavage of the γ-phosphate. Here, we identify and unveil the role of a conserved arginine residue in trimeric dUTPases that meets all the criteria established for arginine fingers. We found that the conserved arginine adjacent to the P-loop-like motif enables structural organization of the active site for efficient catalysis via its nucleotide coordination, while its direct electrostatic role in transition state stabilization is secondary. An exhaustive structure-based comparison of analogous, conserved arginines from nucleotide hydrolases and transferases revealed a consensus amino acid location and orientation for contacting the γ-phosphate of the substrate nucleotide. Despite the structurally equivalent position, functional differences between arginine fingers of dUTPases and NTPases are explained on the basis of the unique chemistry performed by the pyrophosphatase dUTPases.

Composite aromatic boxes for enzymatic transformations of quaternary ammonium substrates.

Cation-π interactions to cognate ligands in enzymes have key roles in ligand binding and enzymatic catalysis. We have deciphered the key functional role of both charged and aromatic residues within the choline binding subsite of CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase and choline kinase from Plasmodium falciparum. Comparison of quaternary ammonium binding site structures revealed a general composite aromatic box pattern of enzyme recognition sites, well distinguished from the aromatic box recognition site of receptors.

Structure and function of Semaphorin-5A glycosaminoglycan interactions.

Integration of extracellular signals by neurons is pivotal for brain development, plasticity, and repair. Axon guidance relies on receptor-ligand interactions crosstalking with extracellular matrix components. Semaphorin-5A (Sema5A) is a bifunctional guidance cue exerting attractive and inhibitory effects on neuronal growth through the interaction with heparan sulfate (HS) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), respectively. Sema5A harbors seven thrombospondin type-1 repeats (TSR1-7) important for GAG binding, however the underlying molecular basis and functions in vivo remain enigmatic. Here we dissect the structural basis for Sema5A:GAG specificity and demonstrate the functional significance of this interaction in vivo. Using x-ray crystallography, we reveal a dimeric fold variation for TSR4 that accommodates GAG interactions. TSR4 co-crystal structures identify binding residues validated by site-directed mutagenesis. In vitro and cell-based assays uncover specific GAG epitopes necessary for TSR association. We demonstrate that HS-GAG binding is preferred over CS-GAG and mediates Sema5A oligomerization. In vivo, Sema5A:GAG interactions are necessary for Sema5A function and regulate Plexin-A2 dependent dentate progenitor cell migration. Our study rationalizes Sema5A associated developmental and neurological disorders and provides mechanistic insights into how multifaceted guidance functions of a single transmembrane cue are regulated by proteoglycans.

Identification of a nuclear localization signal in the Plasmodium falciparum CTP: phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase enzyme.

The phospholipid biosynthesis of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum is a key process for its survival and its inhibition is a validated antimalarial therapeutic approach. The second and rate-limiting step of the de novo phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis is catalysed by CTP: phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (PfCCT), which has a key regulatory function within the pathway. Here, we investigate the functional impact of the key structural differences and their respective role in the structurally unique pseudo-heterodimer PfCCT protein in a heterologous cellular context using the thermosensitive CCT-mutant CHO-MT58 cell line. We found that a Plasmodium-specific lysine-rich insertion within the catalytic domain of PfCCT acts as a nuclear localization signal and its deletion decreases the nuclear propensity of the protein in the model cell line. We further showed that the putative membrane-binding domain also affected the nuclear localization of the protein. Moreover, activation of phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis by phospholipase C treatment induces the partial nuclear-to-cytoplasmic translocation of PfCCT. We additionally investigated the cellular function of several PfCCT truncated constructs in a CHO-MT58 based rescue assay. In absence of the endogenous CCT activity we observed that truncated constructs lacking the lysine-rich insertion, or the membrane-binding domain provided similar cell survival ratio as the full length PfCCT protein.

The role of enzyme adsorption in the enzymatic degradation of an aliphatic polyester.

The enzyme catalyzed degradation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is a two-step process consisting of the adsorption of the enzyme on the surface of a PHB substrate and the cleavage of ester bonds. A deactivated enzyme was prepared by point mutagenesis to separate the two steps from each other. Measurements carried out with active and inactive enzymes on PHB particles proved that mutagenesis was successful and the modified enzyme did not catalyze degradation. Based on the Michaelis-Menten approach a kinetic model was proposed which could describe the processes quantitatively, the agreement between prediction and the measured data was excellent. The separation of the two processes allowed the determination of the adsorption kinetics of the enzyme; the rate constants of the adsorption and desorption process were determined for the first time. Comparison of these constants to reaction rates showed that adsorption is not instantaneous and can be the rate-determining step. The area occupied by an enzyme molecule was also determined (13.1 nm2) and it was found to be smaller than the value published in the literature (17 ± 8 nm2). The separation of the two steps makes possible the prediction and control of the degradation process.

Enzymatic degradation of poly-[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate]: Mechanism, kinetics, consequences.

Poly-[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] (PHB) films prepared by compression molding and solvent casting, respectively, were degraded with the intracellular depolymerase enzyme natively synthetized by the strain Bacillus megaterium. Quantitative analysis proved that practically only (R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid (3-HBA) forms in the enzyme catalyzed reaction, the amount of other metabolites or side products is negligible. The purity of the product was verified by several methods (UV-VIS spectroscopy, liquid chromatography, mass spectroscopy). Degradation was followed as a function of time to determine the rate of enzymatic degradation. Based on the Michaelis-Menten equation a completely new kinetic model has been derived which takes into consideration the heterogeneous nature of the enzymatic reaction. Degradation proceeds in two steps, the adsorption of the enzyme onto the surface of the PHB film and the subsequent degradation reaction. The rate of both steps depend on the preparation method of the samples, degradation proceed almost twice as fast in compression molded films than in solvent cast samples. The model can describe and predict the formation of the reaction product as a function of time. The approach can be used even for the commercial production of 3-HBA, the chemical synthesis of which is complicated and expensive.

Heterologous expression of CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase from Plasmodium falciparum rescues Chinese Hamster Ovary cells deficient in the Kennedy phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis pathway.

The plasmodial CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (PfCCT) is a promising antimalarial target, which can be inhibited to exploit the need for increased lipid biosynthesis during the erythrocytic life stage of Plasmodium falciparum. Notable structural and regulatory differences of plasmodial and mammalian CCTs offer the possibility to develop species-specific inhibitors. The aim of this study was to use CHO-MT58 cells expressing a temperature-sensitive mutant CCT for the functional characterization of PfCCT. We show that heterologous expression of wild type PfCCT restores the viability of CHO-MT58 cells at non-permissive (40 °C) temperatures, whereas catalytically perturbed or structurally destabilized PfCCT variants fail to provide rescue. Detailed in vitro characterization indicates that the H630N mutation diminishes the catalytic rate constant of PfCCT. The flow cytometry-based rescue assay provides a quantitative readout of the PfCCT function opening the possibility for the functional analysis of PfCCT and the high throughput screening of antimalarial compounds targeting plasmodial CCT.

Structural determinants of the catalytic mechanism of Plasmodium CCT, a key enzyme of malaria lipid biosynthesis.

The development of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, in the human erythrocyte, relies on phospholipid metabolism to fulfil the massive need for membrane biogenesis. Phosphatidylcholine (PC) is the most abundant phospholipid in Plasmodium membranes. PC biosynthesis is mainly ensured by the de novo Kennedy pathway that is considered as an antimalarial drug target. The CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (CCT) catalyses the rate-limiting step of the Kennedy pathway. Here we report a series of structural snapshots of the PfCCT catalytic domain in its free, substrate- and product-complexed states that demonstrate the conformational changes during the catalytic mechanism. Structural data show the ligand-dependent conformational variations of a flexible lysine. Combined kinetic and ligand-binding analyses confirm the catalytic roles of this lysine and of two threonine residues of the helix αE. Finally, we assessed the variations in active site residues between Plasmodium and mammalian CCT which could be exploited for future antimalarial drug design.

Structural model of human dUTPase in complex with a novel proteinaceous inhibitor.

Human deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate nucleotidohydrolase (dUTPase), essential for DNA integrity, acts as a survival factor for tumor cells and is a target for cancer chemotherapy. Here we report that the Staphylococcal repressor protein StlSaPIBov1 (Stl) forms strong complex with human dUTPase. Functional analysis reveals that this interaction results in significant reduction of both dUTPase enzymatic activity and DNA binding capability of Stl. We conducted structural studies to understand the mechanism of this mutual inhibition. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) complemented with hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) data allowed us to obtain 3D structural models comprising a trimeric dUTPase complexed with separate Stl monomers. These models thus reveal that upon dUTPase-Stl complex formation the functional homodimer of Stl repressor dissociates, which abolishes the DNA binding ability of the protein. Active site forming dUTPase segments were directly identified to be involved in the dUTPase-Stl interaction by HDX-MS, explaining the loss of dUTPase activity upon complexation. Our results provide key novel structural insights that pave the way for further applications of the first potent proteinaceous inhibitor of human dUTPase.

Potential steps in the evolution of a fused trimeric all-ß dUTPase involve a catalytically competent fused dimeric intermediate.

Deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate nucleotidohydrolase (dUTPase) is essential for genome integrity. Interestingly, this enzyme from Drosophila virilis has an unusual form, as three monomer repeats are merged with short linker sequences, yielding a fused trimer-like dUTPase fold. Unlike homotrimeric dUTPases that are encoded by a single repeat dut gene copy, the three repeats of the D. virilis dut gene are not identical due to several point mutations. We investigated the potential evolutionary pathway that led to the emergence of this extant fused trimeric dUTPase in D. virilis. The herein proposed scenario involves two sequential gene duplications followed by sequence divergence amongst the dut repeats. This pathway thus requires the existence of a transient two-repeat-containing fused dimeric dUTPase intermediate. We identified the corresponding ancestral dUTPase single repeat enzyme together with its tandem repeat evolutionary intermediate and characterized their enzymatic function and structural stability. We additionally engineered and characterized artificial single or tandem repeat constructs from the extant enzyme form to investigate the influence of the emergent residue alterations on the formation of a functional assembly. The observed severely impaired stability and catalytic activity of these latter constructs provide a plausible explanation for evolutionary persistence of the extant fused trimeric D. virilis dUTPase form. For the ancestral homotrimeric and the fused dimeric intermediate forms, we observed strong catalytic and structural competence, verifying viability of the proposed evolutionary pathway. We conclude that the progression along the herein described evolutionary trajectory is determined by the retained potential of the enzyme for its conserved three-fold structural symmetry.

Correction: Molecular Mechanism for the Thermo-Sensitive Phenotype of CHO-MT58 Cell Line Harbouring a Mutant CTP:Phosphocholine Cytidylyltransferase.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0129632.].

Molecular Mechanism for the Thermo-Sensitive Phenotype of CHO-MT58 Cell Line Harbouring a Mutant CTP:Phosphocholine Cytidylyltransferase.

Control and elimination of malaria still represents a major public health challenge. Emerging parasite resistance to current therapies urges development of antimalarials with novel mechanism of action. Phospholipid biosynthesis of the Plasmodium parasite has been validated as promising candidate antimalarial target. The most prevalent de novo pathway for synthesis of phosphatidylcholine is the Kennedy pathway. Its regulatory and often also rate limiting step is catalyzed by CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (CCT). The CHO-MT58 cell line expresses a mutant variant of CCT, and displays a thermo-sensitive phenotype. At non-permissive temperature (40°C), the endogenous CCT activity decreases dramatically, blocking membrane synthesis and ultimately leading to apoptosis. In the present study we investigated the impact of the analogous mutation in a catalytic domain construct of Plasmodium falciparum CCT in order to explore the underlying molecular mechanism that explains this phenotype. We used temperature dependent enzyme activity measurements and modeling to investigate the functionality of the mutant enzyme. Furthermore, MS measurements were performed to determine the oligomerization state of the protein, and MD simulations to assess the inter-subunit interactions in the dimer. Our results demonstrate that the R681H mutation does not directly influence enzyme catalytic activity. Instead, it provokes increased heat-sensitivity by destabilizing the CCT dimer. This can possibly explain the significance of the PfCCT pseudoheterodimer organization in ensuring proper enzymatic function. This also provide an explanation for the observed thermo-sensitive phenotype of CHO-MT58 cell line.

Preventive DNA repair by sanitizing the cellular (deoxy)nucleoside triphosphate pool.

The occurrence of modified bases in DNA is attributed to some major factors: incorporation of altered nucleotide building blocks and chemical reactions or radiation effects on bases within the DNA structure. Several enzyme families are involved in preventing the incorporation of noncanonical bases playing a 'sanitizing' role. The catalytic mechanism of action of these enzymes has been revealed for a number of representatives in clear structural and kinetic detail. In this review, we focus in detail on those examples where clear evidence has been produced using high-resolution structural studies. Comparing the protein fold and architecture of the enzyme active sites, two main classes of sanitizing deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate pyrophosphatases can be assigned that are distinguished by the site of nucleophilic attack. In enzymes associated with attack at the α-phosphorus, it is shown that coordination of the γ-phosphate group is also ensured by multiple interactions. By contrast, enzymes catalyzing attack at the ß-phosphorus atom mainly coordinate the α- and the ß-phosphate only. Characteristic differences are also observed with respect to the role of the metal ion cofactor (Mg(2+) ) and the coordination of nucleophilic water. Using different catalytic mechanisms embedded in different protein folds, these enzymes present a clear example of convergent evolution.

NLS copy-number variation governs efficiency of nuclear import--case study on dUTPases.

Nucleocytoplasmic trafficking of large macromolecules requires an active transport machinery. In many cases, this is initiated by binding of the nuclear localization signal (NLS) peptide of cargo proteins to importin-α molecules. Fine orchestration of nucleocytoplasmic trafficking is of particularly high importance for proteins involved in maintenance of genome integrity, such as dUTPases, which are responsible for prevention of uracil incorporation into the genome. In most eukaryotes, dUTPases have two homotrimeric isoforms: one of these contains three NLSs and is present in the cell nucleus, while the other is located in the cytoplasm or the mitochondria. Here we focus on the unusual occurrence of a pseudo-heterotrimeric dUTPase in Drosophila virilis that contains one NLS, and investigate its localization pattern compared to the homotrimeric dUTPase isoforms of Drosophila melanogaster. Although the interaction of individual NLSs with importin-α has been well characterized, the question of how multiple NLSs of oligomeric cargo proteins affect their trafficking has been less frequently addressed in adequate detail. Using the D. virilis dUTPase as a fully relevant physiologically occurring model protein, we show that NLS copy number influences the efficiency of nuclear import in both insect and mammalian cell lines, as well as in D. melanogaster and D. virilis tissues. Biophysical data indicate that NLS copy number determines the stoichiometry of complexation between importin-α and dUTPases. The main conclusion of our study is that, in D. virilis, a single dUTPase isoform efficiently reproduces the cellular dUTPase distribution pattern that requires two isoforms in D. melanogaster.

Evolutionary and mechanistic insights into substrate and product accommodation of CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase from Plasmodium falciparum.

The enzyme CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (CCT) is essential in the lipid biosynthesis of Plasmodia (Haemosporida), presenting a promising antimalarial target. Here, we identified two independent gene duplication events of CCT within Apicomplexa and characterized a truncated construct of Plasmodium falciparum CCT that forms a dimer resembling the molecular architecture of CCT enzymes from other sources. Based on biophysical and enzyme kinetics methods, our data show that the CDP-choline product of the CCT enzymatic reaction binds to the enzyme considerably stronger than either substrate (CTP or choline phosphate). Interestingly, in the presence of Mg²âº , considered to be a cofactor of the enzyme, the binding of the CTP substrate is attenuated by a factor of 5. The weaker binding of CTP:Mg²âº , similarly to the related enzyme family of aminoacyl tRNA synthetases, suggests that, with lack of Mg²âº , positively charged side chain(s) of CCT may contribute to CTP accommodation. Thermodynamic investigations by isothermal titration calorimetry and fluorescent spectroscopy studies indicate that accommodation of the choline phosphate moiety in the CCT active site is different when it appears on its own as one of the substrates or when it is linked to the CDP-choline product. A tryptophan residue within the active site is identified as a useful internal fluorescence sensor of enzyme-ligand binding. Results indicate that the catalytic mechanism of Plasmodium falciparum CCT may involve conformational changes affecting the choline subsite of the enzyme.