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A de Kok

Publications and source records attributed to A de Kok.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Structural basis of the dysfunctioning of human 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complexes.

2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complexes are a ubiquitous family of multienzyme systems that catalyse the oxidative decarboxylation of various 2-oxo acid substrates. They play a key role in the primary energy metabolism: in glycolysis (pyruvate dehydrogenase complex), the citric acid cycle (2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex) and in amino acid catabolism (branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complex). Malfunctioning of any of these complexes leads to a broad variety of clinical manifestations. Deficiency of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex predominantly leads to lactic acidosis combined with impairment of neurological function and/or delayed growth and development. Maple urine disease is an inborn metabolic error caused by dysfunction of the branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complex. An association between both Alzheimer disease and Parkinson s disease and the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase gene has been reported. Currently a wealth of both genetic and structural information is available. Three-dimensional structures of three components of the complex are presently available: of the pyruvate dehydrogenase component (E1), of the dihydrolipoyl acyltransferase component (E2) and of the lipoamide dehydrogenase component (E3). Moreover, detailed information on the reaction mechanism, regulation and the interactions between the different components of the complex is now at hand. Although only one of the structures is of human origin (E1b), model building by homology modelling allows us to investigate the causes of dysfunction. In this review we have combined this knowledge to gain more insight into the structural basis of the dysfunctioning of the 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complexes.

3-Methyl-2-Oxobutanoate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide)↗

Kinetic properties of the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex from Azotobacter vinelandii evidence for the formation of a precatalytic complex with 2-oxoglutarate.

The 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex was purified from Azotobacter vinelandii. The complex consists of three components, 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase/decarboxylase (E1o), lipoate succinyltransferase (E2o) and lipoamide dehydrogenase (E3). Upon purification, the E3 component dissociates partially from the complex. From reconstitution experiments, the Kd for E3 was found to be 26 nM, about 30 times higher than that for the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. The Km values for the substrates 2-oxoglutarate, CoA and NAD+ were found to be 0.15, 0.014 and 0.17 mM, respectively. The system has a high specificity for 2-oxoglutarate, which is determined by the action of both E1o and E2o. Above 4 mM substrate inhibition is observed. From steady-state inhibition experiments with substrate analogs, two substrate-binding modes are revealed at different degrees of saturation of the enzyme with 2-oxoglutarate. At low substrate concentrations (10(-6) to 10(-5) M), the binding mainly depends on the interaction of the enzyme with the substrate carboxyl groups. At a higher degree of substrate saturation (10(-4) to 10(-3) M) the relative contribution of the 2-oxo group in the binding increases. A kinetic analysis points to a single binding site for a substrate analog under steady state conditions. Saturation of this site with an analog indicates that two kinetically different complexes are formed with 2-oxoglutarate in the course of catalysis. From competition studies with analogs it is concluded that one of these complexes is formed at the site that is sterically identical to the substrate inhibition site. The data obtained are represented by a minimal scheme that considers formation of a precatalytic complex SE between the substrate and E1o before the catalytic complex ES, in which the substrate is added to the thiamin diphosphate cofactor, is formed. The incorrect orientation of the substrate molecule in SE or the occupation of this site by analogs is supposed to cause substrate or analog inhibition, respectively.

Acyltransferases↗

Principles of quasi-equivalence and Euclidean geometry govern the assembly of cubic and dodecahedral cores of pyruvate dehydrogenase complexes.

The pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex (Mr of 5-10 million) is assembled around a structural core formed of multiple copies of dihydrolipoyl acetyltransferase (E2p), which exhibits the shape of either a cube or a dodecahedron, depending on the source. The crystal structures of the 60-meric dihydrolipoyl acyltransferase cores of Bacillus stearothermophilus and Enterococcus faecalis pyruvate dehydrogenase complexes were determined and revealed a remarkably hollow dodecahedron with an outer diameter of approximately 237 A, 12 large openings of approximately 52 A diameter across the fivefold axes, and an inner cavity with a diameter of approximately 118 A. Comparison of cubic and dodecahedral E2p assemblies shows that combining the principles of quasi-equivalence formulated by Caspar and Klug [Caspar, D. L. & Klug, A. (1962) Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol. 27, 1-4] with strict Euclidean geometric considerations results in predictions of the major features of the E2p dodecahedron matching the observed features almost exactly.

Acetyltransferases↗

Pyruvate dehydrogenase from Azotobacter vinelandii. Properties of the N-terminally truncated enzyme.

The pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex (PDHC) catalyses the oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate and the subsequent acetylation of coenzyme A to acetyl-CoA. Previously, limited proteolysis experiments indicated that the N-terminal region of the homodimeric pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1p) from Azotobacter vinelandii could be involved in the binding of E1p to the core protein (E2p) [Hengeveld, A. F., Westphal, A. H. & de Kok, A. (1997) Eur J. Biochem. 250, 260-268]. To further investigate this hypothesis N-terminal deletion mutants of the E1p component of Azotobacter vinelandii pyruvate dehydrogenase complex were constructed and characterized. Up to nine N-terminal amino acids could be removed from E1p without effecting the properties of the enzyme. Truncation of up to 48 amino acids did not effect the expression or folding abilities of the enzyme, but the truncated enzymes could no longer interact with E2p. The 48 amino acid deletion mutant (E1pdelta48) is catalytically fully functional: it has a Vmax value identical to that of wild-type E1p, it can reductively acetylate the lipoamide group attached to the lipoyl domain of the core enzyme (E2p) and it forms a dimeric molecule. In contrast, the S0.5 for pyruvate is decreased. A heterodimer was constructed containing one subunit of wild-type E1p and one subunit of E1pdelta48. From the observation that the heterodimer was not able to bind to E2p, it is concluded that both N-terminal domains are needed for the binding of E1p to E2p. The interactions are thought to be mainly of an electrostatic nature involving negatively charged residues on the N-terminal domains of E1p and previously identified positively charged residues on the binding and catalytic domain of E2p.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The pyruvate dehydrogenase multi-enzyme complex from Gram-negative bacteria.

Pyruvate dehydrogenase multi-enzyme complexes from Gram-negative bacteria consists of three enzymes, pyruvate dehydrogenase/decarboxylase (E1p), dihydrolipoyl acetyltransferase (E2p) and dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase (E3). The acetyltransferase harbors all properties required for multi-enzyme catalysis: it forms a large core of 24 subunits, it contains multiple binding sites for the E1p and E3 components, the acetyltransferase catalytic site and mobile substrate carrying lipoyl domains that visit the active sites. Today, the Azotobacter vinelandii complex is the best understood oxo acid dehydrogenase complex with respect to structural details. A description of multi-enzyme catalysis starts with the structural and catalytic properties of the individual components of the complex. Integration of the individual properties is obtained by a description of how the many copies of the individual enzymes are arranged in the complex and how the lipoyl domains couple the activities of the respective active sites by way of flexible linkers. These latter aspects are the most difficult to study and future research need to be aimed at these properties.

Acetyltransferases↗

Kinetics and specificity of reductive acylation of wild-type and mutated lipoyl domains of 2-oxo-acid dehydrogenase complexes from Azotobacter vinelandii.

The kinetics and specificity of reductive acylation of lipoyl domains derived from Azotobacter vinelandii 2-oxo-acid dehydrogenase complexes, catalysed by A. vinelandii and Escherichia coli complexes, have been investigated. With the wild-type pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from A. vinelandii the rate of reductive acetylation and deacetylation was studied by rapid mixing methods. The rate of reductive acetylation, 126 s(-1), corresponds well with the turnover rate derived from steady-state measurements. Deacetylation was rapid and specific for coenzyme A. No deacetylation was observed with reduced or oxidised lipoamide or with dithiothreitol. The rate of reductive acetylation of complex-bound lipoyl domains by pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1p) is at least 60 times higher than of free lipoyl domains under comparable conditions. This gain in catalytic rate indicates a large diffusion limitation of lipoyl domains when attached via the flexible linker segments to the complex, and illustrates the efficiency of substrate channeling in the multienzyme complex. The 2-oxo-acid dehydrogenases exhibit specificity for lipoyl domains in the reductive acylation reaction. The A. vinelandii lipoyl domain derived from the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex is a good substrate for A. vinelandii E1p, but not for A. vinelandii 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase (E1o), and vice versa. The A. vinelandii lipoyl domain of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex is also, although at a lower rate, reductively acetylated by E. coli E1p and reductively succinylated by E. coli E1o. Likewise, the A. vinelandii lipoyl domain derived from the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex is recognised by E. coli E1o, but not by E. coli E1p. This suggests that common determinants of the lipoyl domains exist that are responsible for recognition by the E1 components. On the basis of the observed specificity and lipoyl domain sequences and structures, an exposed loop of the A. vinelandii 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex lipoyl domain was subjected to mutagenesis. Although the reductive acylation experiments of mutants of the lipoyl domain indicate the importance of this loop for recognition, it is probably not the single determinant for specificity.

3-Methyl-2-Oxobutanoate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide)↗

Expression and characterisation of the homodimeric E1 component of the Azotobacter vinelandii pyruvate dehydrogenase complex.

We have cloned and sequenced the gene encoding the homodimeric pyruvate dehydrogenase component (E1p) of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from Azotobacter vinelandii and expressed and purified the E1p component in Escherichia coli. Cloned E1p can be used to fully reconstitute complex activity. The enzyme was stable in high ionic strength buffers, but was irreversibly inactivated when incubated at high pH, which presumably was caused by its inability to redimerize correctly. This explains the previously found low stability of the wild-type E1p component after resolution from the complex at high pH. Cloned E1p showed a kinetic behaviour exactly like the wild-type complex-bound enzyme with respect to its substrate (pyruvate), its allosteric properties, and its effectors. These experiments show that acetyl coenzyme A acts as a feedback inhibitor by binding to the E1p component. Limited proteolysis experiments showed that the N-terminal region of E1p was easily removed. The resulting protein fragment was still active with artificial electron acceptors but had lost its ability to bind to the core component (E2p) and thus reconstitute complex activity. E1p was protected against proteolysis by E2p. The allosteric effector pyruvate changed E1p into a conformation that is more resistant to proteolysis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Three-dimensional structure in solution of the N-terminal lipoyl domain of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from Azotobacter vinelandii.

The three-dimensional structure of the N-terminal lipoyl domain of the acetyltransferase component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from Azotobacter vinelandii has been determined using heteronuclear multidimensional NMR spectroscopy and dynamical simulated annealing. The structure is compared with the solution structure of the lipoyl domain of the A. vinelandii 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex. The overall fold of the two structures, described as a beta-barrel-sandwich hybrid, is very similar. This agrees well with the high similarity of NMR-derived parameters, e.g. chemical shifts, between the two lipoyl domains. The main structural differences between the two lipoyl domains occur in a solvent-exposed loop close in space to the lipoylation site. Despite their high structural similarity, these lipoyl domains show a high preference for being reductively acylated by their parent 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase. Potential residues of the lipoyl domain involved in this process of molecular recognition are discussed.

Acylation↗

Improvement of diffraction quality upon rehydration of dehydrated icosahedral Enterococcus faecalis pyruvate dehydrogenase core crystals.

Members of the family of 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase multienzyme complexes catalyze the oxidative decarboxylation of alpha-keto acids and are among the most remarkable enzymatic machineries in the living cell. These multienzyme complexes combine a highly symmetric (cubic or icosahedral) core with a dynamic and flexible arrangement of numerous subunits and domains surrounding the core. The center of the complex is formed by either 24 or 60 copies of dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase (E2)-a multidomain enzyme. The hollow icosahedral cores are composed of 60 identical subunits of the catalytic domain of E2 with a molecular weight of about 1.8 million Da. Bipyramidal crystals suitable for X-ray diffraction of the icosahedral core of the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex from Enterococcus faecalis were grown up to 0.7 mm in each dimension. The crystals belong to space group R32 with a = b = 244.3 A (hexagonal setting), and have a solvent content of 73%. The asymmetric unit contains one-third of the molecule, i.e., 20 of the 60 subunits. Initial X-ray crystallographic data to 7 A resolution were collected at cryotemperatures at synchrotron facilities. Interestingly, the diffraction was improved significantly upon rehydrating dehydrated crystals and extended to 4.2 A.

Crystallography, X-Ray↗

2-Oxo acid dehydrogenase multienzyme complexes. The central role of the lipoyl domain.

2-Oxo acid dehydrogenase complexes are composed of multiple copies of at least three different enzymes, 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase, dihydrolipoyl acyltransferase and dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase. The acyltransferase component harbours all properties required for multienzyme catalysis: it forms a large multimeric core, it contains binding sites for the peripheral components, the acyltransferase active site and mobile substrate carrying lipoyl domains that couple the active sites. In the past years these complexes have disclosed many of their secrets, providing currently a wealth of information on macromolecular structure, assembly and symmetry, active-site coupling, conformational mobility, substrate specificity and metabolic regulation. In this review we will discuss developments concerning the structural and mechanistic features of the 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complexes, with special emphasis on the structure and role of the lipoyl domains in the complex.

3-Methyl-2-Oxobutanoate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide)↗

Solution structure of the lipoyl domain of the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex from Azotobacter vinelandii.

The three-dimensional solution structure of the lipoyl domain of the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex from Azotobacter vinelandii has been determined from nuclear magnetic resonance data by using distance geometry and dynamical simulated annealing refinement. The structure determination is based on a total of 580 experimentally derived distance constraints and 65 dihedral angle constraints. The solution structure is represented by an ensemble of 25 structures with an average root-mean-square deviation between the individual structures of the ensemble and the mean coordinates of 0.71 A for backbone atoms and 1.08 A for all heavy atoms. The overall fold of the lipoyl domain is that of a beta-barrel-sandwich hybrid. It consists of two almost parallel four-stranded anti-parallel beta-sheets formed around a well-defined hydrophobic core, with a central position of the single tryptophan 21. The lipoylation site, lysine 42, is found in a beta-turn at the far end of one of the sheets, and is close in space to a solvent-exposed loop comprising residues 7 to 15. The lipoyl domain displays a remarkable internal symmetry that projects one beta-sheet onto the other beta-sheet after rotation of approximately 180 degrees about a 2-fold rotational symmetry axis. There is close structural similarity between the structure of this 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex lipoyl domain and the structures of the lipoyl domains of pyruvate dehydrogenase complexes from Bacillus stearothermophilus and Escherichia coli, and conformational differences occur primarily in a solvent-exposed loop close in space to the lipoylation site. The lipoyl domain structure is discussed in relation to the process of molecular recognition of lipoyl domains by their parent 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A novel type of pyridine nucleotide-disulfide oxidoreductase is essential for NAD+- and NADPH-dependent degradation of epoxyalkanes by Xanthobacter strain Py2.

Epoxide degradation in cell extracts of Xanthobacter strain Py2 has been reported to be dependent on NAD+ and dithiols. This multicomponent system has now been fractionated. A key protein encoded by a DNA fragment complementing a Xanthobacter strain Py2 mutant unable to degrade epoxides was purified and analyzed. This NADP-dependent protein, a novel type of pyridine nucleotide-disulfide oxidoreductase, is essential for epoxide degradation. NADPH, acting as the physiological cofactor, replaced the dithiols in epoxide conversion.

Adenine Nucleotides↗

The interaction between lipoamide dehydrogenase and the peripheral-component-binding domain from the Azotobacter vinelandii pyruvate dehydrogenase complex.

The sensitivity of lipoamide dehydrogenase (dihydrolipoamide:NAD+ oxidoreductase E3) from Azotobacter vinelandii to inhibition by NADH requires measurement of the activity in the initial phase of the reaction. Stopped-flow turnover experiments show that kcat is 830 s-1 compared with 420 s-1 found in standard steady-state experiments. Mutations at the si-side of the flavin prosthetic group that cause severe inhibition by NADH were studied. Tyr16 was replaced by phenylalanine and serine, which causes the loss of two intersubunit H-bonds. [F16]E3 shows only 5.7% of wild-type activity in the standard assay procedure, but analyzed by stopped-flow the activity is 70% of the wild-type enzyme. The NADH-->Cl2Ind (dichloroindophenol) activity was normal or slightly increased. The inhibition by NADH is competitive with respect to NAD+, Ki = 50 microM. Spectral analysis show that electrons readily pass over from the disulfide to the FAD, indicating an increase in the redox potential of the flavin. It is concluded that subunit interaction plays an important role in the protection of the enzyme against over-reduction by decreasing the redox potential of the flavin. The interaction of wild-type or mutant enzymes with the core component of the pyruvate (E2p) or oxoglutarate (E2o) dehydrogenase multienzyme complex relieves the inhibition to a large extent. In the mutant enzymes, the mechanism of inhibition changes from competitive to the mixed-type inhibition observed for the wild-type enzyme. The stabilizing effect of E2 on [F16]E3 was used as an assay to analyze the stoichiometry of interaction of E3 with E2p as well as E2o. 1 mol E2p monomer was sufficient to saturate 1 mol E3 dimer with a Kd of about 1 nM. Similarly, 1 mol E2o saturated the E3 dimer with a Kd of 30 nM. From these experiments it is concluded that the E3-binding domain of E2 interacts with the subunit interface of E3 near the dyad axis, thus preventing sterically the interaction with a second molecule of the binding domain. This mode of interaction, which causes asymmetry in the complex, explains the stabilization against over-reduction by tightening the subunit interaction. Subgene cloning of the E2p component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex is described in order to obtain a complex between the lipoamide dehydrogenase component (E3) and the binding domain of E2p. A unique restriction site in the DNA encoding the flexible linker between the third lipoyl domain and the binding domain combined with timed digestion with exonuclease Bal31 was used to create a set of deletion mutants in the N-terminal region of the binding-catalytic didomain, fused to six N-terminal amino acids from beta-galactosidase. The expressed proteins, selected for E2p activity, were analyzed for binding of E3 and E1p. The shortest fusion protein containing a functional binding domain was expressed and purified. [F16]E3 was combined with this fusion protein in a stoichiometric ratio and the resulting complex was subjected to limited proteolysis to remove the catalytic domain. The resulting [F16]E3-binding domain preparation was purified to homogeneity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Sequential 1H and 15N nuclear magnetic resonance assignments and secondary structure of the lipoyl domain of the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex from Azotobacter vinelandii. Evidence for high structural similarity with the lipoyl domain of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex.

A 79-amino-acid polypeptide, corresponding to the lipoyl domain of the succinyltransferase component of the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex from Azotobacter vinelandii, has been sub-cloned and produced in Escherichia coli. Complete sequential 1H and 15N resonance assignments for the lipoyl domain have been obtained by using homo- and hetero-nuclear NMR spectroscopy. Two antiparallel beta-sheets of four strands each were identified from characteristic NOE connectivities and 3JHN alpha values. The lipoyl-lysine residue is found in a type-I turn connecting two beta-strands. The secondary structure of the lipoyl domain very much resembles the secondary solution structure of the N-terminal lipoyl domain of the A. vinelandii pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, despite the sequence identity of 25%. A detailed comparison of the NMR-derived parameters of both lipoyl domains, i.e. chemical shifts, NH-exchange rates, NOEs, and 3JHN alpha values suggests a high structural similarity in solution between the two lipoyl domains. Preliminary tertiary-structure calculations confirm that these lipoyl domains have very similar overall folds. The observed specificity of the 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase components of both complexes for these lipoyl domains is discussed in this respect.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Crystallographic and enzymatic investigations on the role of Ser558, His610, and Asn614 in the catalytic mechanism of Azotobacter vinelandii dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase (E2p).

Dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase (E2p) is the structural and catalytic core of the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex. In Azotobacter vinelandii E2p, residues Ser558, His610', and Asn614' are potentially involved in transition state stabilization, proton transfer, and activation of proton transfer, respectively. Three active site mutants, S558A, H610C, and N614D, of the catalytic domain of A. vinelandii E2p were prepared by site-directed mutagenesis and enzymatically characterized. The crystal structures of the three mutants have been determined at 2.7, 2.5, and 2.6 A resolution, respectively. The S558A and H610C mutants exhibit a strongly (200-fold and 500-fold, respectively) reduced enzymatic activity whereas the substitution of Asn614' by aspartate results in a moderate (9-fold) reduced activity. The decrease in enzymatic activity of the S558A and H610C mutants is solely due to the absence of the hydroxyl and imidazole side chains, respectively, and not due to major conformational rearrangements of the protein. Furthermore the sulfhydryl group of Cys610' is reoriented, resulting in a completely buried side chain which is quite different from the solvent-exposed imidazole group of His610' in the wild-type enzyme. The presence of Asn614' in A. vinelandii E2p is exceptional since all other 18 known dihydrolipoamide acyltransferase sequences contain an aspartate in this position. We observe no difference in conformation of Asp614' in the N614D mutant structure compared with the conformation of Asn614' in the wild-type enzyme. Detailed analysis of all available structures and sequences suggests two classes of acetyltransferases: one class with a catalytically essential His-Asn pair and one with a His-Asp-Arg triad as present in chloramphenicol acetyltransferase [Leslie, A. G. W. (1990) J. Mol. Biol. 213, 167-186] and in the proposed active site models of Escherichia coli and yeast E2p.

Acetyltransferases↗

Sequential 1H and 15N nuclear magnetic resonance assignments and secondary structure of the N-terminal lipoyl domain of the dihydrolipoyl transacetylase component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from Azotobacter vinelandii.

The N-terminal lipoyl domain (79 residues) of the transacetylase component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from Azotobacter vinelandii has been sub-cloned and produced in Escherichia coli. Over-expression exceeds the capacity of E. coli cells to lipoylate all expressed lipoyl domain, but addition of lipoic acid to the growth medium results in expression of fully lipoylated domain. A two-dimensional homo- and heteronuclear NMR study of the lipoyl domain has resulted in sequential 1H and 15N resonance assignments of the unlipoylated form of the protein. Small differences in chemical shift values for protons of residues in the vicinity of the lipoyl-lysine residue are observed for the lipoylated form of the domain, suggesting that the conformation of the lipoyl domain is not altered significantly by the coupled cofactor. From nuclear Overhauser effects, backbone coupling constants and slowly exchanging amide protons, two antiparallel beta-sheets, each containing four strands, were identified. The lipoyl-lysine residue is exposed to the solvent and located in a type-I turn between two strands. The N- and C-terminal residues of the folded chain are close together in the other sheet. Preliminary data on the relative three-dimensional orientation of the two beta-sheets are presented. Comparison with the solution structure of the lipoyl domain of the Bacillus stearothermophilous pyruvate dehydrogenase complex shows resemblance to a large extent, despite the sequence identity of 31%.

Acetyltransferases↗

Differences in sensitivity to NADH of purified pyruvate dehydrogenase complexes of Enterococcus faecalis, Lactococcus lactis, Azotobacter vinelandii and Escherichia coli: implications for their activity in vivo.

The effect of NADH on the activity of the purified pyruvate dehydrogenase complexes (PDHc) of Enterococcus (Ec.) faecalis, Lactococcus lactis, Azotobacter vinelandii and Escherichia coli was determined in vitro. It was found that the PDHc of E. coli and L. lactis was active only at relatively low NADH/NAD ratios, whereas the PDHc of Ec. faecalis was inhibited only at high NADH/NAD ratios. The PDHc of Azotobacter vinelandii showed an intermediate sensitivity. The organisms were grown in chemostat culture under conditions that led to different intracellular NADH/NAD ratios and the PDHc activities in vivo could be calculated from the specific rates of product formation. Under anaerobic growth conditions, only Ec. faecalis expressed PDHc activity in vivo. The activities in vivo of the complexes of the different organisms were in good agreement with their properties determined in vitro. The physiological consequences of these results are discussed.

Aerobiosis↗

Role of Tyr201 and Tyr385 in substrate activation by p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase from Pseudomonas fluorescens.

The crystal structure of the enzyme-substrate complex of p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase from Pseudomonas fluorescens shows that the hydroxyl group of 4-hydroxybenzoate interacts with the side chain of Tyr201, which is in close contact with the side chain of Tyr385. The role of this hydrogen bonding network in substrate activation was studied by kinetic and spectral analysis of Tyr-->Phe mutant enzymes. The catalytic properties of the enzymes with Tyr201 or Tyr385 replaced by Phe (Tyr201-->Phe and Tyr385-->Phe) with the physiological substrate are comparable with those of the corresponding mutant proteins of p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase from P. aeruginosa [Entsch, B., Palfey, B. A., Ballou, D. P. & Massey, V. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 17341-17349]. Enzyme Tyr201-->Phe has a high Km for NADPH and produces only 5% of 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate/catalytic cycle. Unlike the wild-type enzyme, the Tyr201-->Phe mutant does not stabilize the phenolate form of 4-hydroxybenzoate. With enzyme Tyr385-->Phe, flavin reduction is rate-limiting and the turnover rate is only 2% of wild type. Despite rather efficient hydroxylation, and deviating from the description of the corresponding P. aeruginosa enzyme, mutant Tyr385-->Phe prefers the binding of the phenolic form of 4-hydroxybenzoate. Studies with substrate analogs show that both tyrosines are important for the fine tuning of the effector specificity. Binding of 4-fluorobenzoate differentially stimulates the stabilization of the 4 alpha-hydroperoxyflavin intermediate. Unlike wild type, both Tyr mutants produce 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate from 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate. The affinity of enzyme Tyr201-->Phe for the dianionic substrate 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-4-hydroxybenzoate is very low, probably because of repulsion of the substrate phenolate in a more nonpolar microenvironment. In contrast to data reported for p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase from P. aeruginosa, binding of the inhibitor 4-hydroxycinnamate to wild-type and mutant proteins is not simply described by binary complex formation. A binding model is presented, including secondary binding of the inhibitor. Enzyme Tyr201-->Phe does not stabilize the phenolate form of the inhibitor. In enzyme Tyr385-->Phe, the phenolic pKa of bound 4-hydroxycinnamate is increased with respect to wild type. It is proposed that Tyr385-->Phe is involved in substrate activation by facilitating the deprotonation of Tyr201.

4-Hydroxybenzoate-3-Monooxygenase↗