ABSTRACT
XPB, the largest subunit of the eukaryotic transcription factor TFIIH, is essential for both initiation of transcription by RNA polymerase II and nucleotide excision repair (NER). XPB belongs to the SF2 superfamily of monomeric helicases. XPB helicase is thought to have evolved in eukaryotes; however, a gene highly homologous to human XPB can be found in a number of bacteria. This report is the first biochemical characterization of XPB homologues from bacteria, specifically those from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Kineococcus radiotolerans. Similarly to eukaryotic XPB, bacterial XPB are ATP-dependent 3' --> 5' DNA helicases. The ATPase activity of these XPB helicases is DNA-dependent, requiring a minimum of 4-nucleotide long single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). The maximum rates of ATP hydrolysis are about 10 and 50 molecules per minute by one XPB monomer on a 21-nucleotide ssDNA oligomer and on 5-kb long circular ssDNA, respectively. The ATP hydrolysis by the bacterial XPBs is coupled to their translocation along single-stranded DNA. The hydrolytic activity is strongly dependent on both the nature of a nucleotide triphosphate and that of a divalent metal. The inefficient ATP hydrolysis by bacterial XPB is consistent with nonprocessive functions of its eukaryotic homologue in locally remodeling DNA during transcription initiation and NER.
Subject(s)
Adenosine Triphosphatases/metabolism , Bacterial Proteins/metabolism , DNA Helicases/metabolism , Actinomycetales/enzymology , Actinomycetales/metabolism , Adenosine Triphosphatases/chemistry , Bacterial Proteins/chemistry , Cloning, Molecular , DNA Helicases/chemistry , Hydrolysis , Kinetics , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/enzymology , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/metabolismABSTRACT
Thiocoraline is a thiodepsipeptide antitumor agent that belongs to the family of bisintercalator natural products that bind duplex DNA through their two planar intercalating moieties. In thiocoraline, the 3-hydroxyquinaldic acid (3HQA) chromophores required for intercalation are derived from L-Trp. We have expressed the Micromonospora sp. ML1 tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase(TDO) TioF, purified it from E. coli, and confirmed its role in the irreversible oxidation of L-Trp to N-formylkynurenine, the proposed first step during 3HQA biosynthesis. We have established that TioF is a catalyst with broader specificity than other TDOs, but that is less promiscuous than indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenases. TioF was found to display activity with various L-Trp analogs (serotonin, D-Trp, and indole). The TioF reaction products generated during this study will be used as substrates for subsequent analysis of the other enzymes involved in 3HQA biosynthesis.
