Biochemical and structural basis of polyamine, lysine and ornithine acetylation catalyzed by spermine/spermidine N-acetyl transferase in moss and maize.

Polyamines such as spermidine and spermine are essential regulators of cell growth, differentiation, maintenance of ion balance and abiotic stress tolerance. Their levels are controlled by the spermidine/spermine N1 -acetyltransferase (SSAT) via acetylation to promote either their degradation or export outside the cell as shown in mammals. Plant genomes contain at least one gene coding for SSAT (also named NATA for N-AcetylTransferase Activity). Combining kinetics, HPLC-MS and crystallography, we show that three plant SSATs, one from the lower plant moss Physcomitrium patens and two from the higher plant Zea mays, acetylate various aliphatic polyamines and two amino acids lysine (Lys) and ornithine (Orn). Thus, plant SSATs exhibit a broad substrate specificity, unlike more specific human SSATs (hSSATs) as hSSAT1 targets polyamines, whereas hSSAT2 acetylates Lys and thiaLys. The crystal structures of two PpSSAT ternary complexes, one with Lys and CoA, the other with acetyl-CoA and polyethylene glycol (mimicking spermine), reveal a different binding mode for polyamine versus amino acid substrates accompanied by structural rearrangements of both the coenzyme and the enzyme. Two arginine residues, unique among plant SSATs, hold the carboxyl group of amino acid substrates. The most abundant acetylated compound accumulated in moss was N6 -acetyl-Lys, whereas N5 -acetyl-Orn, known to be toxic for aphids, was found in maize. Both plant species contain very low levels of acetylated polyamines. The present study provides a detailed biochemical and structural basis of plant SSAT enzymes that can acetylate a wide range of substrates and likely play various roles in planta.

Arabidopsis thaliana DGAT3 is a [2Fe-2S] protein involved in TAG biosynthesis.

Acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferases 3 (DGAT3) are described as plant cytosolic enzymes synthesizing triacylglycerol. Their protein sequences exhibit a thioredoxin-like ferredoxin domain typical of a class of ferredoxins harboring a [2Fe-2S] cluster. The Arabidopsis thaliana DGAT3 (AtDGAT3; At1g48300) protein is detected in germinating seeds. The recombinant purified protein produced from Escherichia coli, although very unstable, exhibits DGAT activity in vitro. A shorter protein version devoid of its N-terminal putative chloroplast transit peptide, Δ46AtDGAT3, was more stable in vitro, allowing biochemical and spectroscopic characterization. The results obtained demonstrate the presence of a [2Fe-2S] cluster in the protein. To date, AtDGAT3 is the first metalloprotein described as a DGAT.

Expression of Soluble Forms of Yeast Diacylglycerol Acyltransferase 2 That Integrate a Broad Range of Saturated Fatty Acids in Triacylglycerols.

The membrane proteins acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferases (DGAT) are essential actors for triglycerides (TG) biosynthesis in eukaryotic organisms. Microbial production of TG is of interest for producing biofuel and value-added novel oils. In the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica, Dga1p enzyme from the DGAT2 family plays a major role in TG biosynthesis. Producing recombinant DGAT enzymes pure and catalytically active is difficult, hampering their detailed functional characterization. In this report, we expressed in Escherichia coli and purified two soluble and active forms of Y. lipolytica Dga1p as fusion proteins: the first one lacking the N-terminal hydrophilic segment (Dga1pΔ19), the second one also devoid of the N-terminal putative transmembrane domain (Dga1pΔ85). Most DGAT assays are performed on membrane fractions or microsomes, using radiolabeled substrates. We implemented a fluorescent assay in order to decipher the substrate specificity of purified Dga1p enzymes. Both enzyme versions prefer acyl-CoA saturated substrates to unsaturated ones. Dga1pΔ85 preferentially uses long-chain saturated substrates. Dga1p activities are inhibited by niacin, a specific DGAT2 inhibitor. The N-terminal transmembrane domain appears important, but not essential, for TG biosynthesis. The soluble and active proteins described here could be useful tools for future functional and structural studies in order to better understand and optimize DGAT enzymes for biotechnological applications.

Fold of an oleosin targeted to cellular oil bodies.

In cells, from bacteria to plants or mammals, lipids are stored in natural emulsions called oil bodies (OBs). This organelle is surrounded by a phospholipid monolayer which is thought to contain integral proteins involved in its stabilization. The insertion and fold of these proteins into the phospholipid monolayer are poorly understood. In seed OBs, the most abundant integral proteins are oleosins, which contain a 70-residue central hydrophobic domain. The secondary structure of solubilized oleosins varies greatly from mainly alpha helices to a predominantly beta sheets depending on the detergent used. To study the fold of integral membrane proteins inserted in a cellular OB environment, S3 protein, the major Arabidopsis thaliana seed oleosin, was targeted to Saccharomyces cerevisiae OBs. The diameter of purified yeast OBs harboring S3 or S3 fused with the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) was smaller and more homogeneous than plant OBs. Comparison of the secondary structure of S3 and S3-GFP was used to validate the structure of folded S3. Circular dichroism using synchrotron radiation indicated that S3 and S3-GFP in yeast OBs contain mainly beta secondary structures. While yeast OBs are chemically different to A. thaliana seed OBs, this approach allowed the secondary structure of S3 in OB particles to be determined for the first time.