Functional Characterization and Structural Basis of an Efficient Di-C-glycosyltransferase from Glycyrrhiza glabra.

A highly efficient di-C-glycosyltransferase GgCGT was discovered from the medicinal plant Glycyrrhiza glabra. GgCGT catalyzes a two-step di-C-glycosylation of flopropione-containing substrates with conversion rates of >98%. To elucidate the catalytic mechanisms of GgCGT, we solved its crystal structures in complex with UDP-Glc, UDP-Gal, UDP/phloretin, and UDP/nothofagin, respectively. Structural analysis revealed that the sugar donor selectivity was controlled by the hydrogen-bond interactions of sugar hydroxyl groups with D390 and other key residues. The di-C-glycosylation capability of GgCGT was attributed to a spacious substrate-binding tunnel, and the G389K mutation could switch di- to mono-C-glycosylation. GgCGT is the first di-C-glycosyltransferase with a crystal structure, and the first C-glycosyltransferase with a complex structure containing a sugar acceptor. This work could benefit the development of efficient biocatalysts to synthesize C-glycosides with medicinal potential.

Structural and Biochemical Insights into the Multiple Functions of Yeast Grx3.

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae monothiol glutaredoxin Grx3 plays a key role in cellular defense against oxidative stress and more importantly, cooperates with BolA-like iron repressor of activation protein Fra2 to regulate the localization of the iron-sensing transcription factor Aft2. The interplay among Grx3, Fra2 and Aft2 responsible for the regulation of iron homeostasis has not been clearly described. Here we solved the crystal structures of the Trx domain (Grx3Trx) and Grx domain (Grx3Grx) of Grx3 in addition to the solution structure of Fra2. Structural analyses and activity assays indicated that the Trx domain also contributes to the glutathione S-transferase activity of Grx3, via an inter-domain disulfide bond between Cys37 and Cys176. NMR titration and pull-down assays combined with surface plasmon resonance experiments revealed that Fra2 could form a noncovalent heterodimer with Grx3 via an interface between the helix-turn-helix motif of Fra2 and the C-terminal segment of Grx3Grx, different from the previously identified covalent heterodimer mediated by Fe-S cluster. Comparative affinity assays indicated that the interaction between Fra2 and Aft2 is much stronger than that between Grx3 and Aft2, or Aft2 toward its target DNA. These structural and biochemical analyses enabled us to propose a model how Grx3 executes multiple functions to coordinate the regulation of Aft2-controlled iron metabolism.

Crystal structure of yeast monothiol glutaredoxin Grx6 in complex with a glutathione-coordinated [2Fe-2S] cluster.

Glutaredoxins (Grxs) constitute a superfamily of proteins that perform diverse biological functions. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae glutaredoxin Grx6 not only serves as a glutathione (GSH)-dependent oxidoreductase and as a GSH transferase, but also as an essential [2Fe-2S]-binding protein. Here, the dimeric structure of the C-terminal domain of Grx6 (holo Grx6C), bridged by one [2Fe-2S] cluster coordinated by the active-site Cys136 and two external GSH molecules, is reported. Structural comparison combined with multiple-sequence alignment demonstrated that holo Grx6C is similar to the [2Fe-2S] cluster-incorporated dithiol Grxs, which share a highly conserved [2Fe-2S] cluster-binding pattern and dimeric conformation that is distinct from the previously identified [2Fe-2S] cluster-ligated monothiol Grxs.

Crystal structures and catalytic mechanism of the C-methyltransferase Coq5 provide insights into a key step of the yeast coenzyme Q synthesis pathway.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae Coq5 is an S-adenosyl methionine (SAM)-dependent methyltransferase (SAM-MTase) that catalyzes the only C-methylation step in the coenzyme Q (CoQ) biosynthesis pathway, in which 2-methoxy-6-polyprenyl-1,4-benzoquinone (DDMQH2) is converted to 2-methoxy-5-methyl-6-polyprenyl-1,4-benzoquinone (DMQH2). Crystal structures of Coq5 were determined in the apo form (Coq5-apo) at 2.2 Šresolution and in the SAM-bound form (Coq5-SAM) at 2.4 Šresolution, representing the first pair of structures for the yeast CoQ biosynthetic enzymes. Coq5 displays a typical class I SAM-MTase structure with two minor variations beyond the core domain, both of which are considered to participate in dimerization and/or substrate recognition. Slight conformational changes at the active-site pocket were observed upon binding of SAM. Structure-based computational simulation using an analogue of DDMQH2 enabled us to identify the binding pocket and entrance tunnel of the substrate. Multiple-sequence alignment showed that the residues contributing to the dimeric interface and the SAM- and DDMQH2-binding sites are highly conserved in Coq5 and homologues from diverse species. A putative catalytic mechanism of Coq5 was proposed in which Arg201 acts as a general base to initiate catalysis with the help of a water molecule.

Structure and catalytic mechanism of yeast 4-amino-4-deoxychorismate lyase.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae Abz2 is a pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP)-dependent lyase that converts 4-amino-4-deoxychorismate (ADC) to para-aminobenzoate and pyruvate. To investigate the catalytic mechanism, we determined the 1.9 Å resolution crystal structure of Abz2 complexed with PLP, representing the first eukaryotic ADC lyase structure. Unlike Escherichia coli ADC lyase, whose dimerization is critical to the formation of the active site, the overall structure of Abz2 displays as a monomer of two domains. At the interdomain cleft, a molecule of cofactor PLP forms a Schiff base with residue Lys-251. Computational simulations defined a basic clamp to orientate the substrate ADC in a proper pose, which was validated by site-directed mutageneses combined with enzymatic activity assays. Altogether, we propose a putative catalytic mechanism of a unique class of monomeric ADC lyases led by yeast Abz2.