Citrobacter freundii Methionine γ-Lyase: The Role of Serine 339 in the Catalysis of γ- and ß-Elimination Reactions.

Serine 339 of the active site of Citrobacter freundii methionine γ-lyase (MGL) is a conserved amino acid in most pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent enzymes of the cystathionine ß-lyase subclass, to which MGL belongs. The reaction mechanism of the MGL-catalyzed γ-elimination reaction is poorly explored. We replaced serine 339 with alanine using site-directed mutagenesis. The replacement of serine 339 with alanine led to a significant (by two orders of magnitude) decrease in efficiency in the catalysis of the γ- and ß-elimination reactions by the mutant form of the enzyme. The exchange rates of the C-α- and C-ß-protons in the amino acids in complexes consisting of the enzyme and competitive inhibitors decreased by one-two orders of magnitude. The spectral characteristics of the mutant form indicated that the replacement did not lead to significant changes in the conformation and tautomerism of MGL internal aldimine. We crystallized the holoenzyme and determined its spatial structure at 1.7 E resolution. The replacement of serine 339 with alanine did not affect the overall course of the polypeptide chain of the MGL subunit and the tetrameric enzyme structure. An analysis of the obtained kinetic and spectral data, as well as the known spatial structures of C. freundii MGL, indicates that serine 339 is necessary for efficient catalysis of γ- and ß-elimination reactions at the stage of C-α-proton abstraction from the external aldimine, the γ-elimination reaction at the stages of coenzyme C4'-atom protonation, and C-ß-proton abstraction from a ketimine intermediate.

Plasma methionine depletion and pharmacokinetic properties in mice of methionine γ-lyase from Citrobacter freundii, Clostridium tetani and Clostridium sporogenes.

PK studies were carried out after a single i.v. administration of 500 and 1000 U/kg by measuring of MGL activity in plasma samples. L-methionine concentration was measured by mass spectrometry. After single i.v. injection of 500U/kg the circulating T1/2 of enzymes in mice varies from 73 to 123min. The AUC0-tinf values determined for MGL 500U/kg from C. freundii, C. tetani and C. sporogenes are 8.21±0.28, 9.04±0.33 and 13.88±0.39U/(ml×h), respectively. Comparison of PK parameters of three MGL sources in the dose of 500U/kg indicated the MGL C. sporogenes to have better PK parameters: clearance 0.83(95%CI: 0.779-0.871) - was lower than C. tetanii 1.27(95%CI: 1.18-1.36) and C. freundii 1.39(95%CI: 1.30-1.49). Mice plasma methionine decreased to undetectable level 10min after MGL 1000 U/kg injection. After MGL C. sporogenes 500U/kg injection plasma methionine level completely omitted after 10min till 6h, assuming the sustainability of negligible levels of methionine (<5µM) in plasma of mice for about 6h. The recovery of methionine concentration showed the advantageous efficiency of MGL from C. sporogenes: 95% 0.010-0.022 vs 0.023-0.061 for MGL C. freundii and 0.036-0.056 for MGL C. tetani. There are no significant differences between methionine cleavage after MGL C. tetani and MGL C. sporogenes i.v. injection at all doses. MGL from C. sporogenes may be considered as promising enzyme for further investigation as potential anticancer agent.

Sulfoxides, Analogues of L-Methionine and L-Cysteine As Pro-Drugs against Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria.

The problem of resistance to antibiotics requires the development of new classes of broad-spectrum antimicrobial drugs. The concept of pro-drugs allows researchers to look for new approaches to obtain effective drugs with improved pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties. Thiosulfinates, formed enzymatically from amino acid sulfoxides upon crushing cells of genus Allium plants, are known as antimicrobial compounds. The instability and high reactivity of thiosulfinates complicate their use as individual antimicrobial compounds. We propose a pharmacologically complementary pair: an amino acid sulfoxide pro-drug and vitamin B6 - dependent methionine γ-lyase, which metabolizes it in the patient's body. The enzyme catalyzes the γ- and ß-elimination reactions of sulfoxides, analogues of L-methionine and L-cysteine, which leads to the formation of thiosulfinates. In the present work, we cloned the enzyme gene from Clostridium sporogenes. Ionic and tautomeric forms of the internal aldimine were determined by lognormal deconvolution of the holoenzyme spectrum and the catalytic parameters of the recombinant enzyme in the γ- and ß-elimination reactions of amino acids, and some sulfoxides of amino acids were obtained. For the first time, the possibility of usage of the enzyme for effective conversion of sulfoxides was established and the antimicrobial activity of thiosulfinates against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria in situ was shown.

[NMR screening of potential inhibitors of Citrobacter freundii methionine].

Methionine γ-lyase [EC 4.4.1.11] participates in a methionine catabolism at a number of bacteria and protozoa eukaryotes, including pathogenic microorganisms. Lack of this enzyme at mammals allows consider it as a perspective target for rational antibacterial drug design. Currently in medical practice there are no the preparations based on an inhibition of methionine γ-lyase activity. We present results of the search of potential inhibitors of the enzyme using the NMR screening techniques based on identification of compounds, which able to bind specifically to their biological target. Study included a stage of in silico virtual screening of the library of commercially available compounds and subsequent experimental selection of the leading compounds, capable to interact with enzyme. Identification of binding was carried out by means of saturation transfer difference (STD) spectroscopy and WaterLOGSY technique. At the final stage the experimental assessment of inhibiting ability of the selected compounds in the reaction of γ-elimination of L-methionine catalyzed by methionine γ-lyase was carried out. Binding constants of two leading compounds were determined using the WaterLOGSY method. The research expands structural group of potential inhibitors of methionine γ-lyase and allows approach to the design of the inhibitors with higher efficacy.

Kinetic Parameters and Cytotoxic Activity of Recombinant Methionine γ-Lyase from Clostridium tetani, Clostridium sporogenes, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Citrobacter freundii.

The steady-state kinetic parameters of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent recombinant methionine γ -lyase from three pathogenic bacteria, Clostridium tetani, Clostridium sporogenes, and Porphyromonas gingivalis, were determined in ß- and γ-elimination reactions. The enzyme from C. sporogenes is characterized by the highest catalytic efficiency in the γ-elimination reaction of L-methionine. It was demonstrated that the enzyme from these three sources exists as a tetramer. The N-terminal poly-histidine fragment of three recombinant enzymes influences their catalytic activity and facilitates the aggregation of monomers to yield dimeric forms under denaturing conditions. The cytotoxicity of methionine γ-lyase from C. sporogenes and C. tetani in comparison with Citrobacter freundii was evaluated using K562, PC-3, LnCap, MCF7, SKOV-3, and L5178y tumor cell lines. K562 (IC50=0.4-1.3 U/ml), PC-3 (IC50=0.1-0.4 U/ml), and MCF7 (IC50=0.04-3.2 U/ml) turned out to be the most sensitive cell lines.

Kinetic and spectral parameters of interaction of Citrobacter freundii methionine γ-lyase with amino acids.

Kinetic parameters of Citrobacter freundii methionine γ-lyase were determined with substrates in γ-elimination reactions as well as the inhibition of the enzyme in the γ-elimination of L-methionine by amino acids with different structure. The data indicate an important contribution of the sulfur atom and methylene groups to the efficiency of binding of substrates and inhibitors. The rate constants of the enzyme-catalyzed exchange of C-α- and C-ß-protons with deuterium were determined, as well as the kinetic isotope effect of the deuterium label in the C-α-position of inhibitors on the rate of exchange of their ß-protons. Neither stereoselectivity in the ß-proton exchange nor noticeable α-isotope effect on the exchange rates of ß-protons was found. The ionic and tautomeric composition of the external Schiff base of methionine γ-lyase was determined. Spectral characteristics (absorption and circular dichroism spectra) of complexes with substrates and inhibitors were determined. The spectral and kinetic data indicate that deamination of aminocrotonate should be the rate-determining stage of the enzymatic reaction.

[Distribution of subfractions of high-density lipoproteins during their separation according to hydrated density and particle size]. / Raspredelenie podfraktsii lipoproteidov vysokoi plotnosti pri ikh razdelenii v sootvetstvii s gidratirovannoi plotnost'iu i razmerom chastits.

Distribution of high density lipoprotein (HDL) subfractions was studied by means of gradient ultracentrifugation depending on their hydration density and using electrophoresis in gradient polyacrylamide gel according to the particles size. 53 men were examined, where 43 patients were impaired with ischemic heart disease and with atherosclerosis of coronary arteries documented by angiography. In all the patients with ischemic heart disease and dislipoproteinemias distribution of the HDL particles was altered towards a decrease in amount of HDL2b particles; at the same time, loading with cholesterol of the HDL3 subfraction was lowered. The alterations in the subfraction spectrum and composition of HDL observed in the patients with the ischemia and coronary atherosclerosis appear to exhibit the atherogenous impairments in cholesterol elimination from arterial wall.