Crystal structure of soluble domain of malaria sporozoite protein UIS3 in complex with lipid.

Malaria parasite UIS3 (up-regulated in infective sporozoites gene 3) is essential for sporozoite development in infected hepatocytes. UIS3 encodes for a membrane protein that is localized to the parasite parasitophorous vacuolar membrane in infected hepatocytes. We describe here 2.5-A resolution crystal structure of Plasmodium falciparum UIS3 soluble domain (PfUIS3(130-229)) in complex with the lipid phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). PfUIS3(130-229) is a novel, compact, and all alpha-helical structure bound to one molecule of PE. The PfUIS3(130-229)-PE complex structure reveals a novel binding site with specific interactions between PfUIS3(130-229) and the PE head group. One acyl chain of PE wraps around part of PfUIS3(130-229) and docks onto a hydrophobic channel. We additionally provide new structural and biochemical evidence of PfUIS3(130-229) interactions with lipids (phosphatidylethanolamine), with phospholipid liposomes, and with the human liver fatty acid-binding protein. The direct interaction of PfUIS3(130-229) with liver fatty acid-binding protein most likely provides the parasite with a conduit for importing essential fatty acids/lipids. Therefore, our analyses have implications for lipid transport into the parasite during the rapid growth phases of sporozoites. Given that PfUIS3 is essential for establishment of liver stage infection by P. falciparum, our data provide a new target for abrogating parasite development within liver cells before typical symptoms of malaria can manifest.

Structural analysis of ABC-family periplasmic zinc binding protein provides new insights into mechanism of ligand uptake and release.

ATP-binding cassette superfamily of periplasmic metal transporters are known to be vital for maintaining ion homeostasis in several pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria. We have determined crystal structure of the high-affinity zinc transporter ZnuA from Escherichia coli at 1.8 A resolution. This structure represents the first native (non-recombinant) protein structure of a periplasmic metal binding protein. ZnuA reveals numerous conformational features, which occur either in Zn(2+) or in Mn(2+) transporters, and presents a unique conformational state. A comprehensive comparison of ZnuA with other periplasmic ligand binding protein structures suggests vital mechanistic differences between bound and release states of metal transporters. The key new attributes in ZnuA include a C-domain disulfide bond, an extra alpha-helix proximal to the highly charged metal chelating mobile loop region, alternate conformations of secondary shell stabilizing residues at the metal binding site, and domain movements potentially controlled by salt bridges. Based on in-depth structural analyses of five metal binding transporters, we present here a mechanistic model termed as "partial domain slippage" for binding and release of Zn(2+).

Suggestive evidence for the involvement of the second calcium and surface loop in interfacial binding: monoclinic and trigonal crystal structures of a quadruple mutant of phospholipase A2.

The crystal structures of the monoclinic and trigonal forms of the quadruple mutant K53,56,120,121M of recombinant bovine pancreatic phospholipase A2 (PLA2) have been solved and refined at 1.9 and 1.1 A resolution, respectively. Interestingly, the monoclinic form reveals the presence of the second calcium ion. Furthermore, the surface-loop residues are ordered and the conformation of residues 62-66 is similar to that observed in other structures containing the second calcium ion. On the other hand, in the trigonal form the surface loop is disordered and the second calcium is absent. Docking studies suggest that the second calcium and residues Lys62 and Asp66 from the surface loop could be involved in the interaction with the polar head group of the membrane phospholipid. It is hypothesized that the two structures of the quadruple mutant, monoclinic and trigonal, represent the conformations of PLA2 at the lipid interface and in solution, respectively. A docked structure with a phospholipid molecule and with a transition-state analogue bound, one at the active site coordinating to the catalytic calcium and the other at the second calcium site, but both at the i-face, is presented.

Atomic resolution structure of the double mutant (K53,56M) of bovine pancreatic phospholipase A2.

The structure of the double mutant K53,56M has previously been refined at 1.9 A resolution using room-temperature data. The present paper reports the crystal structure of the same mutant K53,56M refined against 1.1 A data collected using synchrotron radiation. A total of 116 main-chain atoms from 29 residues and 44 side chains are modelled in alternate conformations. Most of the interfacial binding residues are found to be disordered and alternate conformations could be recognized. The second calcium ion-binding site residue Glu92 adopts two alternate conformations. The minor and major conformations of Glu92 correspond to the second calcium ion bound and unbound states.

1,2,3-Trimethoxy-5,11-dihydroindolo[1,2-b]isoquinoline-5,11-dione.

The title compound, C15H19NO5, crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c with four molecules in the asymmetric unit, which differ from each other in the orientation of their methoxy groups. Of the three methoxy groups in each molecule, one lies close to the plane of the molecule and the other two have an out-of-plane conformation where they point in opposite directions. In the crystal structure, four different types of pi-stacks are observed and the molecules pack in two different types of stacking sheets, with alternating molecules A and B in one ribbon and alternating molecules C and D in the other. The supramolecular structure is supported by C-H...O and pi-pi interactions.

Crystal structures of the free and anisic acid bound triple mutant of phospholipase A2.

Phospholipase A2 catalyses the hydrolysis of the ester bond of 3-sn-phosphoglycerides. Here, we report the crystal structures of the free and anisic acid-bound triple mutant (K53,56,120M) of bovine pancreatic phospholipase A2. In the bound triple mutant structure, the small organic molecule p-anisic acid is found in the active site, and one of the carboxylate oxygen atoms is coordinated to the functionally important primary calcium ion. The other carboxylate oxygen atom is hydrogen bonded to the phenolic hydroxyl group of Tyr69. In addition, the bound anisic acid molecule replaces one of the functionally important water molecules in the active site. The residues 60-70, which are in a loop (surface loop), are disordered in most of the bovine pancreatic phospholipase A2 structures. It is interesting to note that these residues are ordered in the bound triple mutant structure but are disordered in the free triple mutant structure. The organic crystallization ingredient 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol is found near the active site of the free triple mutant structure. The overall tertiary folding and stereochemical parameters for the final models of the free and anisic acid-bound triple mutant are virtually identical.

Supramolecular structures of 2-cyano-3-dimethylamino-N-(4-methylphenyl)acrylamide and 2-cyano-3-dimethylamino-N-(2-methoxyphenyl)acrylamide.

In the title compounds, C(13)H(15)N(3)O, (I), and C(13)H(15)N(3)O(2), (II), the dihedral angles between the planes of the phenyl ring and the amide group are 4.1 (1) and 20.7 (1) degrees, respectively. The molecules adopt a fully extended conformation, aided by intramolecular interactions. The molecular structures of (I) and (II) display different crystal packing and hydrogen-bonding networks.

Observation of additional calcium ion in the crystal structure of the triple mutant K56,120,121M of bovine pancreatic phospholipase A2.

Phospholipase A(2) catalyses hydrolysis of the ester bond at the C2 position of 3-sn-phosphoglycerides. Here we report the 1.9A resolution crystal structure of the triple mutant K56,120,121M of bovine pancreatic phospholipase A(2). The structure was solved by molecular replacement method using the orthorhombic form of the recombinant phospholipase A(2). The final protein model contains all the 123 amino acid residues, two calcium ions, 125 water molecules and one 2-methyl-2-4-pentanediol molecule. The model has been refined to a crystallographic R-factor of 19.6% (R(free) of 25.9%) for all data between 14.2A and 1.9A. The residues 62-66, which are in a surface loop, are always disordered in the structures of bovine pancreatic phospholipase A(2) and its mutants. It is interesting to note that the residues 62-66 in the present structure is ordered and the conformation varies substantially from those in the previously published structures of this enzyme. An unexpected and interesting observation in the present structure is that, in addition to the functionally important calcium ion in the active site, one more calcium ion is found near the N terminus. Detailed structural analyses suggest that binding of the second calcium ion could be responsible for the conformational change and the ordering of the surface loop. Furthermore, the results suggest a structural reciprocity between the k(cat)(*) allosteric site and surface loop at the i-face, which represents a newly identified structural property of secreted phospholipase A(2).