scholarly journals An Overview of the Proofreading Functions in Bacteria and in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronaviruses

2021 ◽  
pp. 33-62
Author(s):  
Peramachi Palanivelu
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Structure Function ◽  
Active Site ◽  
Active Sites ◽  
Dna Polymerases ◽  
Proton Acceptor ◽  
Conserved Motifs ◽  
Bacterial Dna ◽  
X Ray

Aim: To understand the structure-function relationship of the proofreading (PR) functions in eubacteria and viruses with special reference to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronaviruses (SARS-CoVs) and propose a plausible mechanism of action for PR exonucleases of SARS-CoVs. Study Design: Bioinformatics, biochemical, site-directed mutagenesis (SDM), X-ray crystallographic data were used to study the structure-function relationships of the PR exonucleases from bacteria and CoVs. Methodology: The protein sequences of the PR exonucleases of various DNA polymerases, and RNA polymerases of SARS, SARS-related and human CoVs (HCoVs) were obtained from PUBMED and SWISS-PROT databases. The advanced version of Clustal Omega was used for protein sequence analysis. Along with the conserved motifs identified by the bioinformatics analysis, the data already available by biochemical, SDM experiments and X-ray crystallographic analysis on these enzymes were used to arrive at the possible active amino acids in the PR exonucleases of these crucial enzymes. Results:  A complete analysis of the active sites of the PR exonucleases from various bacteria and CoVs were done. The multiple sequence alignment (MSA) analysis showed many conserved amino acids, small and large peptide regions among them. Based on the conserved motifs, the PR exonucleases are found to fit broadly into two superfamilies, viz. DEDD and polymerase-histidinol phosphatase (PHP) superfamilies. The bacterial DNA polymerases I and II, RNase D, RNase T and ε-subunit of DNA polymerases III belong to the DEDD superfamily. The PR enzymes from SARS, SARS-related CoVs and other HCoVs also essentially belong to the DEDD superfamily. The DEDD superfamily either uses an invariant Tyr or a His as proton acceptor during catalysis. Depending on the proton acceptor, they are further classified into DEDHD and DEDYD subfamilies. RNase T, ε-subunit of DNA polymerases III and the SARS, SARS-related CoVs and other HCoVs belong to DEDHD subfamily.  However, the SARS, SARS-related CoVs and other HCoVs showed additional zinc finger motifs (ZFMs) in their active sites. DNA polymerases I, II and RNase D belong to DEDYD subfamily. The bacterial DNA polymerases X, YcdX phosphoesterases and the co-editing exonuclease of DNA polymerases III belong to the PHP superfamily. Based on the MSA, X-ray crystallographic analyses and SDM experiments, the proposed active-site proton acceptor is Tyr/His in DEDDY/H subfamilies and His in PHP superfamily of PR exonucleases.  Conclusions:   Based on the similarities of active site amino acids/motifs, it may be concluded that the DEDD and PHP superfamilies of PR exonucleases should have evolved from a common ancestor but diverged very long ago. The biochemical properties of these enzymes, including the four conserved acidic amino acid residues in the catalytic core, suggest that the CoVs might have acquired the exonuclease function, possibly from a prokaryote. However, the presence of two zinc fingers in the PR active site of the SARS, SARS-related CoVs and other HCoVs sets their PR exonucleases apart from other homologues.

scholarly journals Eukaryotic Multi-subunit DNA dependent RNA Polymerases: An Insight into Their Active Sites and Catalytic Mechanism

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-60
Author(s):  
Peramachi Palanivelu
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Metal Binding ◽  
Active Sites ◽  
Dna Polymerases ◽  
Rna Polymerases ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Binding Motif ◽  
Conserved Motifs ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Eukaryotic Organisms

Aim: To analyze the most complex multi-subunit (MSU) DNA dependent RNA polymerases (RNAPs) of eukaryotic organisms and find out conserved motifs, metal binding sites and catalytic regions and propose a plausible mechanism of action for these complex eukaryotic MSU RNAPs, using yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) RNAP II, as a model enzyme. Study Design: Bioinformatics, Biochemical, Site-directed mutagenesis and X-ray crystallographic data were analyzed. Place and Duration of Study: School of Biotechnology, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India, between 2007- 2013. Methodology: Bioinformatics, Biochemical, Site-directed mutagenesis (SDM) and X-ray crystallographic data of the enzyme were analyzed. The advanced version of Clustal Omega was used for protein sequence analysis of the MSU DNA dependent RNAPs from various eukaryotic sources. Along with the conserved motifs identified by the bioinformatics analysis, the data already available by biochemical and SDM experiments and X-ray crystallographic analysis of these enzymes were used to confirm the possible amino acids involved in the active sites and catalysis. Results: Multiple sequence alignment (MSA) of RNAPs from different eukaryotic organisms showed a large number of highly conserved motifs among them.  Possible catalytic regions in the catalytic subunits of the yeast Rpb2 (= β in eubacteria) and Rpb1 (= β’ in eubacteria) consist of an absolutely conserved amino acid R, in contrast to a K that was reported for DNA polymerases and single subunit (SSU) RNAPs. However, the invariant ‘gatekeeper/DNA template binding’ YG pair that was reported in all SSU RNAPs, prokaryotic MSU RNAPs and DNA polymerases is also highly conserved in eukaryotic Rpb2 initiation subunits, but unusually a KG pair is found in higher eukaryotes including the human RNAPs. Like the eubacterial initiation subunits of MSU RNAPs, the eukaryotic initiation subunits, viz. Rpb2, exhibit very similar active site and catalytic regions but slightly different distance conservations between the template binding YG/KG pair and the catalytic R. In the eukaryotic initiation subunits, the proposed catalytic R is placed at the -9th position from the YG/KG pair and an invariant R is placed at -5 which are implicated to play a role in nucleoside triphosphate (NTP) selection as reported for SSU RNAPs (viral family) and DNA polymerases. Similarly, the eukaryotic elongation subunits (Rpb1) are also found to be very much homologous to the elongation subunits (β’) of prokaryotes. Interestingly, the catalytic regions are highly conserved, and the metal binding sites are absolutely conserved as in prokaryotic MSU RNAPs. In eukaryotes, the template binding YG pair is replaced with an FG pair. Another interesting observation is, similar to the prokaryotic β’ subunits, in the eukaryotic Rpb1 elongation subunits also, the proposed catalytic R is placed double the distance, i.e., -18 amino acids downstream from the FG pair unlike in the SSU RNAPs and DNA polymerases where the distance is only -8 amino acids downstream from the YG pair. Thus, the completely conserved FG pair, catalytic R with an invariant R, at -6th position are proposed to play a crucial role in template binding, NTP selection and polymerization reactions in the elongation subunits of eukaryotic MSU RNAPs. Moreover, the Zn binding motif with the three completely conserved Cs is also highly conserved in the eukaryotic elongation subunits. Another important difference is that the catalytic region is placed very close to the N-terminal region in eukaryotes. Conclusions: Unlike reported for the DNA polymerases and SSU RNA polymerases, the of eukaryotic MSU RNAPs use an R as the catalytic amino acid and exhibit a different distance conservation in the initiation and elongation subunits. An invariant Zn2+ binding motif found in the Rpb1 elongation subunits is proposed to participate in proof-reading function. Differences in the active sites of bacterial and human RNA polymerases may pave the way for the design of new and effective drugs for many bacterial infections, including the multidrug resistant strains which are a global crisis at present.

scholarly journals Analyses of Homing Endonucleases and Mechanism of Action of CRISPR-Cas9 HNH Endonucleases

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-25
Author(s):  
Peramachi Palanivelu
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Mechanism Of Action ◽  
Metal Binding ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Proton Acceptor ◽  
Homing Endonucleases ◽  
Multiple Sequence ◽  
Conserved Motifs ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Metal Binding Sites

Aim: To analyze different HNH endonucleases from various sources including the HNH endonuclease regions of CRISPR-Cas9 proteins for their conserved motifs, metal-binding sites and catalytic amino acids and propose a plausible mechanism of action for HNH endonucleases, using CRISPR-Cas9 as the model enzyme. Study Design: Multiple sequence analysis (MSA) of homing endonucleases including the CRISPR-Cas9 using Clustal Omega was studied. Other biochemical, Site-directed mutagenesis (SDM) and X-ray crystallographic data were also analyzed. Place and Duration of Study: School of Biotechnology, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India, between 2007 and 2013. Methodology: Bioinformatics, Biochemical, SDM and X-ray crystallographic data of the HNH endonucleases from different organisms including CRISPR-Cas9 enzymes were analyzed. The advanced version of Clustal Omega was used for protein sequence analysis of different HNH endonucleases from various sources. The conserved motifs identified by the bioinformatics analysis were analyzed further with the data already available from biochemical and SDM and X-ray crystallographic analyses of this group of enzymes and to confirm the possible amino acids involved in the active sites and catalysis. Results: Different types of homing endonucleases from various sources including the HNH endonuclease regions of CRISPR-Cas9 enzymes exhibit different catalytic regions and metal-binding sites. However, the catalytic amino acid, i.e., the proton acceptor histidine (His), is completely conserved in all homing endonucleases analyzed. From these data, a plausible mechanism of action for HNH endonucleases, using CRISPR-Cas9 from Streptococcus pyogenes, as the model enzyme is proposed. Furthermore, multiple sequence alignment (MSA) of various homing endonucleases from different organisms showed many highly conserved motifs also among them. However, some of the HNH endonucleases showed consensus only around the active site regions. Possible catalytic amino acids identified among them belong to either -DH---N or -HH--N types. There are at least two types of metal-binding sites and bind Mg2+ or Zn2+ or both. The CRISPR-Cas9 enzyme from S. pyogenes belongs to the -DH- based HNH endonucleases and possesses –DxD- type metal-binding site where it possibly binds to a Mg2+ ion. The other HNH enzymes possess one or two invariant Zn binding CxxC/ CxxxC motifs. Conclusions: The CRISPR-Cas9 enzymes are found to be -DH- type where the first D is likely to involve in metal-binding and the second invariant H acts as the proton acceptor and the N in –HNH- Cas9 confers specificity by interacting with the nucleotide near the catalytic region. In this communication, a metal-bound water molecule is shown as the nucleophile initiating catalysis. Homing endonucleases may be used as novel DNA binding and cleaving reagents for a variety of genome editing applications and Zinc finger nucleases have already found applications in genome editing.

scholarly journals Comparative Analyses of ACE2 Receptor Binding Corona Viruses that Cause Mild versus Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in Humans

2021 ◽  
pp. 64-85
Author(s):  
Peramachi Palanivelu
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Receptor Binding ◽  
Metal Binding ◽  
Protein Sequence ◽  
Active Sites ◽  
Protein Sequence Analysis ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Glycosylation Sites ◽  
Spike Proteins

Aim: To analyze the spike proteins and Replication-Transcription Complexes (RTCs) of the Mild and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and SARS-related coronaviruses (CoVs) to find out the similarities and differences between them, as both of groups bind to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor for human cell entry. Study Design: Bioinformatics, Biochemical, Site-Directed Mutagenesis (SDM), X-ray crystallographic, cryo-Electron microscopic (cryo-EM) and Mass Spectrometric (MS) data were analyzed. Methodology: The protein sequence data for spike proteins and the proteins of the RTCs, viz. the RNA- dependent RNA polymerases (RdRps), primases and the nonstructural protein 7 (NSP7) were obtained from PUBMED and SWISS-PROT databases. The advanced version of Clustal Omega was used for protein sequence analysis. Along with the conserved motifs identified by the bioinformatics analysis, the data already available by biochemical and SDM experiments and X-ray crystallographic and cryo-EM  studies on these  proteins were used to confirm the possible amino acids involved in ACE2 receptor binding and active sites of the RTCs. For identification of probable N-linked and O-linked glycosylation sites, NetNGlyc 1.0 and NetOGlyc 4.0 tools of Technical University of Denmark were used. ExPASy tool was used for pI analysis. Results: The spike protein of human CoV (HCoV)-NL63 is ~90 amino acids longer than the spike proteins of SARS and SARS-related CoVs. The additions are mostly found in the N-terminal regions and few insertions are also found in the crucial receptor binding domain (RBD). The SARS and SARS-related CoVs and HCoV-NL63 showed several conserved residues, motifs and large peptide regions. The most important aspect between the recent pandemic causing SARS-CoV-2 and HCoV-NL63 is a unique but different tetrapeptide insertions very close to the S1/S2 cleavage region, i.e., -PRRA-  and  -IPVR-, respectively. The next cleavage point S2’ and the transmembrane domains are conserved between the two groups. The RdRps are highly conserved between the two groups. The catalytic regions, catalytic amino acids and the NTP selection tripeptide regions are completely conserved between SARS-CoVs and HCoV-NL63.  However, one of the metal binding sites, viz. the universal –GDD- reported in all RdRps is aligning with– KDG- in the RdRp of HCoV-NL63. The other metal binding site, viz. –SDD- is completely conserved in both the groups. The NiRAN domains of the RdRps differed from the possible catalytic amino acid and NTP selection tripeptide regions. The primases (NSP8) and the NSP7 subunits of the RTC are highly conserved in both the groups. The NSP8 and NSP7 subunits exhibit closer similarities between the MERS-CoV and HCoV-NL63. Unlike other SARS and SARS-related CoVs, the HCoV-NL63 possesses only a single accessory protein. Interestingly, a large number of amino acids are replaced with Ns in the spike proteins (which is also reflected in the number of N-linked glycosylation sites in it) as well as in the RTC. Conclusions: Detailed analysis revealed several unique features in the HCoV-NL63 pathogen. As all the pandemic strains like SARS-CoV-1, SARS-CoV-2 and the milder HCoV-NL63 strain, use the same ACE2 receptor for entry into human cells, the frequent infection of humans by HCoV-NL63, especially in children, suggests that there is an ample opportunity for highly pathogenic variants to evolve in the future.

scholarly journals An Insight into the Proofreading Functions of Multisubunit DNA-Dependent RNA Polymerases and Their Catalytic Mechanism

2021 ◽  
pp. 15-59
Author(s):  
Peramachi Palanivelu
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Active Site ◽  
Protein Sequence ◽  
Catalytic Mechanism ◽  
Rna Polymerases ◽  
Zinc Atom ◽  
Proton Acceptor ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Clustal Omega

Aim: To analyze the active sites of the proofreading (PR) functions in the multisubunit DNA-dependent RNA polymerases (MSU RNAPs) from prokaryotes, chloroplasts and eukaryotes, and propose a plausible unified catalytic mechanism for these enzymes. Study Design: Data collected on these enzymes from bioinformatics, biochemical, site-directed mutagenesis (SDM), X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) were used for the analyses. Methodology: The protein sequence data of MSU RNAPs from prokaryotes, prokaryotic-types (plant chloroplasts) and eukaryotes were obtained from PUBMED and SWISS-PROT databases. The advanced version of Clustal Omega was used for protein sequence analysis. Along with the conserved motifs identified by the bioinformatics analysis, the data already available from biochemical and SDM experiments, and X-ray crystallographic and cryo-EM data on these enzymes are also used to confirm the possible amino acids involved in the active site of the PR function in these MSU RNAPs Results: All the seven types of MSU RNAPs (I-VII) reported from prokaryotes to eukaryotes were analyzed by the multiple sequence alignment (MSA) software, Clustal Omega, to find out conservations among them. The MSA analysis showed many conserved amino acid motifs including small and large peptide regions from the MSU RNAPs of prokaryotes, eukaryotes and plant chloroplasts. Interestingly, the catalytic amino acid and template-binding pairs are highly conserved in all these polymerases, with a few exceptions. Most of them use a basic amino acid (R/K/H) for initiating catalysis and an -YG/FG- pair for template-binding. Some odd type of catalytic amino acids and template-binding pairs are observed in human pathogens, parasites and organisms which cannot ferment sugars. In all the MSU RNAPs, the proposed polymerase catalytic region also possessed three invariant Cs and an invariant H within it. The invariant Cs is shown to bind a zinc atom and proposed to involve in the PR function by excising any misincorporated nucleotide during the transcription process. In the plant-specific MSU RNAPs IV and V, which involve in transcriptional gene silencing in plants, the catalytic and template-binding pairs do not follow the regular distance conservations as observed with other five of the MSU RNAPs. Their polymerase/PR active site regions are similar to RNAP III rather than to RNAP II, as all three make only low molecular weight RNAs. Conclusions: All the known MSU RNAPs possess three invariant Cs and an invariant H embedded within the polymerase active site itself. The three invariant Cs are shown to bind a zinc atom and the invariant H could act as the proton acceptor from a metal-bound water molecule, for initiating excision of the mismatches by a Zn-mediated hydrolysis. Thus, the PR function in MSU RNAPs is integrated within the polymerase active site itself, which is in sharp contrast to the PR functions reported in DNA-dependent DNA polymerases and RNA-dependent RNA polymerases. Therefore, all the seven MSU RNAPs from prokaryotes and eukaryotes are proposed to follow a unified mechanism to excise the mismatches during transcription. The discovery of intrinsic self-correcting RNA transcription mechanism fulfils the missing link in molecular evolution.

scholarly journals On the possible origin of protein homochirality, structure, and biochemical function

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (52) ◽  
pp. 26571-26579 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Skolnick ◽  
Hongyi Zhou ◽  
Mu Gao
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Active Site ◽  
Ribosomal Proteins ◽  
Active Sites ◽  
Cell Formation ◽  
Binding Pocket ◽  
Nucleotide Biosynthesis ◽  
Native Proteins ◽  
Structural And Functional Properties ◽  
Biochemical Function

Living systems have chiral molecules, e.g., native proteins that almost entirely contain L-amino acids. How protein homochirality emerged from a background of equal numbers of L and D amino acids is among many questions about life’s origin. The origin of homochirality and its implications are explored in computer simulations examining the stability and structural and functional properties of an artificial library of compact proteins containing 1:1 (termed demi-chiral), 3:1, and 1:3 ratios of D:L and purely L or D amino acids generated without functional selection. Demi-chiral proteins have shorter secondary structures and fewer internal hydrogen bonds and are less stable than homochiral proteins. Selection for hydrogen bonding yields a preponderance of L or D amino acids. Demi-chiral proteins have native global folds, including similarity to early ribosomal proteins, similar small molecule ligand binding pocket geometries, and many constellations of L-chiral amino acids with a 1.0-Å RMSD to native enzyme active sites. For a representative subset containing 550 active site geometries matching 457 (2) 4-digit (3-digit) enzyme classification (E.C.) numbers, native active site amino acids were generated at random for 472 of 550 cases. This increases to 548 of 550 cases when similar residues are allowed. The most frequently generated sequences correspond to ancient enzymatic functions, e.g., glycolysis, replication, and nucleotide biosynthesis. Surprisingly, even without selection, demi-chiral proteins possess the requisite marginal biochemical function and structure of modern proteins, but were thermodynamically less stable. If demi-chiral proteins were present, they could engage in early metabolism, which created the feedback loop for transcription and cell formation.

scholarly journals The Uncommon Active Site of D-Amino Acid Transaminase from Haliscomenobacter hydrossis: Biochemical and Structural Insights into the New Enzyme

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (16) ◽  
pp. 5053
Author(s):  
Alina K. Bakunova ◽  
Alena Yu. Nikolaeva ◽  
Tatiana V. Rakitina ◽  
Tatiana Y. Isaikina ◽  
Maria G. Khrenova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Structural Analysis ◽  
Active Site ◽  
Active Sites ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Active Site Residues ◽  
Type Iv ◽  
Fold Type ◽  
Arginine Residues

Among industrially important pyridoxal-5’-phosphate (PLP)-dependent transaminases of fold type IV D-amino acid transaminases are the least studied. However, the development of cascade enzymatic processes, including the synthesis of D-amino acids, renewed interest in their study. Here, we describe the identification, biochemical and structural characterization of a new D-amino acid transaminase from Haliscomenobacter hydrossis (Halhy). The new enzyme is strictly specific towards D-amino acids and their keto analogs; it demonstrates one of the highest rates of transamination between D-glutamate and pyruvate. We obtained the crystal structure of the Halhy in the holo form with the protonated Schiff base formed by the K143 and the PLP. Structural analysis revealed a novel set of the active site residues that differ from the key residues forming the active sites of the previously studied D-amino acids transaminases. The active site of Halhy includes three arginine residues, one of which is unique among studied transaminases. We identified critical residues for the Halhy catalytic activity and suggested functions of the arginine residues based on the comparative structural analysis, mutagenesis, and molecular modeling simulations. We suggested a strong positive charge in the O-pocket and the unshaped P-pocket as a structural code for the D-amino acid specificity among transaminases of PLP fold type IV. Characteristics of Halhy complement our knowledge of the structural basis of substrate specificity of D-amino acid transaminases and the sequence-structure-function relationships in these enzymes.

scholarly journals A Cobalt-Iron Double-Atom Catalyst for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lichen Bai ◽  
Chia-Shuo Hsu ◽  
Duncan Alexander ◽  
Hao Ming Chen ◽  
Xile Hu
Keyword(s):  
Oxygen Evolution ◽  
Active Site ◽  
Oxygen Evolution Reaction ◽  
Active Sites ◽  
Single Atom ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Highly Active ◽  
Cobalt Iron ◽  
X Ray Absorption

Single atom catalysts exhibit well-defined active sites and potentially maximum atomic efficiency. However, they are unsuitable for reactions that benefit from bimetallic promotion such as the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline medium. Here we show that a single atom Co precatalyst can be in-situ transformed into a Co-Fe double atom catalyst for OER. This catalyst exhibits one of the highest turnover frequencies among metal oxides. Electrochemical, microscopic, and spectroscopic data including those from operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy, reveal a dimeric Co-Fe moiety as the active site of the catalyst. This work demonstrates double-atom catalysis as a promising approach for the developed of defined and highly active OER catalysts.

Spectroscopic studies on two-iron ferredoxins

1974 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 443-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. H. Sands ◽  
W. R. Dunham
Keyword(s):  
High Spin ◽  
Active Site ◽  
Active Sites ◽  
Spectroscopic Studies ◽  
Transport Proteins ◽  
Distorted Tetrahedron ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Iron Proteins ◽  
Electron Transport Proteins ◽  
Reduced State

The application of magnetic resonance techniques to biological systems has permitted a detailed study of the nature of the active sites of many proteins that had not been possible previously. Among these is the whole class of iron—sulphur proteins which have been implicated as electron transport proteins in a variety of fundamental processes: photosynthesis, hydroxylation and nitrogen fixation to name but a few.The single-iron proteins in this class, the rubredoxins, have been studied extensively by chemical, spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic techniques (Lovenberg, 1973), and the active site is composed of a single iron atom bound in a distorted tetrahedron of cysteine sulphur ligands. The iron is high-spin ferric in the oxidized state and high-spin ferrous in the reduced state. This structure is shown in Fig. I (α).

scholarly journals Substituent Effects on Carbon Acidity in Aqueous Solution and at Enzyme Active Sites

Synlett ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (12) ◽  
pp. 1407-1421 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Richard ◽  
Tina Amyes
Keyword(s):  
Aqueous Solution ◽  
Amino Acids ◽  
Active Site ◽  
Active Sites ◽  
Substituent Effects ◽  
Imidazolium Cations ◽  
Enzyme Active Sites ◽  
Iminium Cations ◽  
Carbon Acids

Methods are described for the determination of pK as for weak carbon acids in water. The application of these methods to the determination of the pK as for a variety of carbon acids including nitriles, imidazolium cations, amino acids, peptides and their derivatives and, α-iminium cations is presented. The substituent effects on the acidity of these different classes of carbon acids are discussed, and the relevance of these results to catalysis of the deprotonation of amino acids by enzymes and by pyridoxal 5′-phosphate is reviewed. The procedure for estimating the pK a of uridine 5′-phosphate for C-6 deprotonation at the active site of orotidine 5′-phosphate decarboxylase is described, and the effect of a 5-F substituent on carbon acidity of the enzyme-bound substrate is discussed.1 Introduction2 The Carbon Acidity of Ethyl Thioacetate3 The Carbon Acidity of Carboxylic Acid Derivatives4 The Carbon Acidity of Imidazolium Cations5 The α-Carbon Acidity of Amino Acids, Peptides and Their Derivatives6 Electrophilic Catalysis of Deprotonation of Amino Acids: The α-Carbon Acidity of Iminium Cations7 pK as for Carbon Acids at Enzyme Active Sites8 Concluding Remarks

scholarly journals Assessment of enzyme active site positioning and tests of catalytic mechanisms through X-ray–derived conformational ensembles

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (52) ◽  
pp. 33204-33215
Author(s):  
Filip Yabukarski ◽  
Justin T. Biel ◽  
Margaux M. Pinney ◽  
Tzanko Doukov ◽  
Alexander S. Powers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Active Site ◽  
Active Sites ◽  
Enzyme Design ◽  
Reaction Cycle ◽  
New Era ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Enzyme Active Site ◽  
Conformational Ensembles ◽  
X Ray Crystallography ◽  
General Base

How enzymes achieve their enormous rate enhancements remains a central question in biology, and our understanding to date has impacted drug development, influenced enzyme design, and deepened our appreciation of evolutionary processes. While enzymes position catalytic and reactant groups in active sites, physics requires that atoms undergo constant motion. Numerous proposals have invoked positioning or motions as central for enzyme function, but a scarcity of experimental data has limited our understanding of positioning and motion, their relative importance, and their changes through the enzyme’s reaction cycle. To examine positioning and motions and test catalytic proposals, we collected “room temperature” X-ray crystallography data for Pseudomonas putida ketosteroid isomerase (KSI), and we obtained conformational ensembles for this and a homologous KSI from multiple PDB crystal structures. Ensemble analyses indicated limited change through KSI’s reaction cycle. Active site positioning was on the 1- to 1.5-Å scale, and was not exceptional compared to noncatalytic groups. The KSI ensembles provided evidence against catalytic proposals invoking oxyanion hole geometric discrimination between the ground state and transition state or highly precise general base positioning. Instead, increasing or decreasing positioning of KSI’s general base reduced catalysis, suggesting optimized Ångstrom-scale conformational heterogeneity that allows KSI to efficiently catalyze multiple reaction steps. Ensemble analyses of surrounding groups for WT and mutant KSIs provided insights into the forces and interactions that allow and limit active-site motions. Most generally, this ensemble perspective extends traditional structure–function relationships, providing the basis for a new era of “ensemble–function” interrogation of enzymes.

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