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J N Jansonius

Publications and source records attributed to J N Jansonius.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Structural comparison suggests that thermolysin and related neutral proteases undergo hinge-bending motion during catalysis.

Crystal structures are known for three members of the bacterial neutral protease family: thermolysin from Bacillus thermoproteolyticus (TLN), the neutral protease from Bacillus cereus (NEU), and the elastase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PAE), both in free and ligand-bound forms. Each enzyme consists of an N-terminal and C-terminal domain with the active site formed at the junction of the two domains. Comparison of the different molecules reveals that the structure within each domain is well conserved, but there are substantial hinge-bending displacements (up to 16 degrees) of one domain relative to the other. These domain motions can be correlated with the presence or absence of bound inhibitor, as was previously observed in the specific example of PAE [Thayer, M.M., Flaherty, K.M., & McKay, D.B. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 2864-2871]. The binding of inhibitor appears to be associated with a reduction of the domain hinge-bending angle by 6-14 degrees and a closure of the "jaws" of the active site cleft by about 2 A. Crystallographic refinement of the structure of thermolysin suggests that electron density seen in the active site of the enzyme in the original structure determination probably corresponds to a bound dipeptide. Thus, the crystal structure appears to correspond to an enzyme-inhibitor or enzyme-product complex, rather than the free enzyme, as has previously been assumed.

Amino Acid Sequence

Domain closure in mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase.

The subunits of the dimeric enzyme aspartate aminotransferase have two domains: one large and one small. The active site lies in a cavity that is close to both the subunit interface and the interface between the two domains. On binding the substrate the domains close together. This closure completely buries the substrate in the active site and moves two arginine side-chains so they form salt bridges with carboxylate groups of the substrate. The salt bridges hold the substrate close to the pyridoxal 5'-phosphate cofactor and in the right position and orientation for the catalysis of the transamination reaction. We describe here the structural changes that produce the domain movements and the closure of the active site. Structural changes occur at the interface between the domains and within the small domain itself. On closure, the core of the small domain rotates by 13 degrees relative to the large domain. Two other regions of the small domain, which form part of the active site, move somewhat differently. A loop, residues 39 to 49, above the active site moves about 1 A less than the core of the small domain. A helix within the small domain forms the "door" of the active site. It moves with the core of the small domain and, in addition, shifts by 1.2 A, rotates by 10 degrees, and switches its first turn from the alpha to the 3(10) conformation. This results in the helix closing the active site. The domain movements are produced by a co-ordinated series of small changes. Within one subunit the polypeptide chain passes twice between the large and small domains. One link involves a peptide in an extended conformation. The second link is in the middle of a long helix that spans both domains. At the interface this helix is kinked and, on closure, the angle of the kink changes to accommodate the movement of the small domain. The interface between the domains is formed by 15 residues in the large domain packing against 12 residues in the small domain and the manner in which these residues pack is essentially the same in the open and closed structures. Domain movements involve changes in the main-chain and side-chain torsion angles in the residues on both sides of the interface. Most of these changes are small; only a few side-chains switch to new conformations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence

Crystal structures explain functional properties of two E. coli porins.

Porins form aqueous channels that aid the diffusion of small hydrophilic molecules across the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. The crystal structures of matrix porin and phosphoporin both reveal trimers of identical subunits, each subunit consisting of a 16-stranded anti-parallel beta-barrel containing a pore. A long loop inside the barrel contributes to a constriction of the channel where the charge distribution affects ion selectivity. The structures explain at the molecular level functional characteristics and their alterations by known mutations.

Amino Acid Sequence

The structure of neutral protease from Bacillus cereus at 0.2-nm resolution.

The crystal structure of the neutral protease from Bacillus cereus has been refined to an R factor of 17.5% at 0.2-nm resolution. The enzyme, an extracellular metalloendopeptidase, consists of two domains and binds one zinc and four calcium ions. The structure is very similar to that of thermolysin, with which the enzyme shares 73% amino-acid sequence identity. The active-site cleft between the two domains is wider in neutral protease than in thermolysin. This suggests the presence of a flexible hinge region between the two domains, which may assist enzyme action. The high-resolution analysis allows detailed examination of possible causes for the difference in thermostability between neutral protease and thermolysin.

Amino Acid Sequence

X-ray structure refinement and comparison of three forms of mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase.

The X-ray crystal structures of three forms of the enzyme aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1) from chicken heart mitochondria have been refined by least-squares methods: holoenzyme with the co-factor pyridoxal-5'-phosphate bound at pH 7.5 (1.9 A resolution), holoenzyme with pyridoxal-5'-phosphate bound at pH 5.1 (2.3 A resolution) and holoenzyme with the co-factor pyridoxamine-5'-phosphate bound at pH 7.5 (2.2 A resolution). The crystallographic agreement factors [formula: see text] for the structures are 0.166, 0.130 and 0.131, respectively, for all data in the resolution range from 10.0 A to the limit of diffraction for each structure. The secondary, super-secondary and domain structures of the pyridoxal-phosphate holoenzyme at pH 7.5 are described in detail. The surface area of the interface between the monomer subunits of this dimeric alpha 2 protein is unusually large, indicating a very stable dimer. This is consistent with biochemical data. Both subunit and domain interfaces are relatively smooth compared with other proteins. The interactions of the protein with its co-factor are described and compared among the three structures. Observed changes in co-factor conformation may be related to spectral changes and the energetics of the catalytic reaction. Small but significant adjustments of the protein to changes in co-factor conformation are seen. These adjustments may be accommodated by small rigid-body shifts of secondary structural elements, and by packing defects in the protein core.

Aspartate Aminotransferases

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of pig kidney DOPA decarboxylase.

DOPA decarboxylase from pig kidney, an alpha 2 dimeric enzyme of Mr = 107,000, has been crystallized by the vapour diffusion method with ammonium sulphate as precipitant. The crystals belong to the space group P6(2) (or its enantiomer P6(4)) and have unit cell dimensions of a = b = 155.9 A, c = 87.7 A, alpha = beta = 90 degrees, gamma = 120 degrees. They diffract to 2.6 A resolution. There is one dimeric molecule per asymmetric unit. Rotation function studies have revealed the orientation of the non-crystallographic 2-fold axis of the dimer in the asymmetric unit.

Animals

Three-dimensional structure of the bifunctional enzyme phosphoribosylanthranilate isomerase: indoleglycerolphosphate synthase from Escherichia coli refined at 2.0 A resolution.

The three-dimensional structure of the monomeric bifunctional enzyme N-(5'-phosphoribosyl)anthranilate isomerase:indole-3-glycerol-phosphate synthase from Escherichia coli has been refined at 2.0 A resolution, using oscillation film data obtained from synchrotron radiation. The model includes the complete protein (452 residues), two phosphate ions and 628 water molecules. The final R-factor is 17.3% for all observed data between 15 and 2 A resolution. The root-mean-square deviations from ideal bond lengths and bond angles are 0.010 A and 3.2 degrees, respectively. The structure of N-(5'-phosphoribosyl)anthranilate isomerase: indole-3-glycerol-phosphate synthase from E. coli comprises two beta/alpha-barrel domains that superimpose with a root-mean-square deviation of 2.03 A for 138 C alpha-pairs. The C-terminal domain (residues 256 to 452) catalyses the PRAI reaction and the N-terminal domain (residues 1 to 255) catalyses the IGPS reaction, two sequential steps in tryptophan biosynthesis. The enzyme has the overall shape of a dumb-bell, resulting in a surface area that is considerably larger than normally observed for monomeric proteins of this size. The active sites of the PRAI and the IGPS domains, both located at the C-terminal side of the central beta-barrel, contain equivalent binding sites for the phosphate moieties of the substrates N-(5'-phosphoribosyl) anthranilate and 1-(o-carboxyphenylamino)-1-deoxyribulose-5-phosphate. These two phosphate binding sites are identical with respect to their positions within the tertiary structure of the beta/alpha-barrel, the conformation of the residues involved in phosphate binding and the hydrogen-bonding network between the phosphate ions and the protein. The active site cavities of both domains contain similar hydrophobic pockets that presumably bind the anthranilic acid moieties of the substrates. These similarities of the tertiary structures and the active sites of the two domains provide evidence that N-(5'-phosphoribosyl)anthranilate isomerase:indole-3-glycerol-phosphate synthase from E. coli results from a gene duplication event of a monomeric beta/alpha-barrel ancestor.

Aldose-Ketose Isomerases

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of dialkylglycine decarboxylase, a decarboxylating transaminase.

The pyridoxal phosphate-dependent enzyme dialkylglycine decarboxylase (E.C. 4.1.1.64) has been crystallized by vapor diffusion from a 15% polyethyleneglycol solution with sodium pyruvate as coprecipitant. The space group of the crystals is either P6(2)22 or the enantiomorph, P6(4)22, with one subunit of 46,500 Da per asymmetric unit. The unit cell has dimensions a = b = 152.7 A, c = 86.6 A, alpha = beta = 90 degrees, gamma = 120 degrees, and a solvent content of approximately 61%. diffraction extends to 2.3 A resolution.

Burkholderia cepacia

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of the spinach-chloroplast thioredoxin f.

Thioredoxins are low-molecular-mass proteins that function as hydrogen carriers in DNA synthesis and in the transformation of sulfur metabolites. They also act as regulatory proteins in the light-dependent enzyme activation during photosynthesis. F-type thioredoxin from spinach chloroplasts, a monomeric protein of 113 amino acid residues, has been found to specifically activate fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase and other key enzymes of CO2 assimilation. It has been crystallized in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1) with a = 30.6 A, b = 63.1 A, c = 31.6 A and beta = 110.7 degrees. The crystals are suitable for X-ray diffraction studies.

Chloroplast Thioredoxins

Structural conservation in parallel beta/alpha-barrel enzymes that catalyze three sequential reactions in the pathway of tryptophan biosynthesis.

Three successive steps in tryptophan biosynthesis are catalyzed by single-domain proteins, each folded as a parallel beta/alpha-barrel, as observed in the crystal structures of the bienzyme (phosphoribosyl)-anthranilate isomerase:indoleglycerolphosphate synthase from Escherichia coli [Priestle, J.P., Grütter, M. G., White, J. L., Vincent, M. G., Kania, M., Wilson, E., Jardetzky, T. S., Kirschner, K., & Jansonius, J. N. (1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84, 5690-5694] and the alpha-subunit of the tetrameric bienzyme tryptophan synthase from Salmonella typhimurium [Hyde, C. C., Ahmed, S. A., Padlan, E. A., Miles, E. W., & Davies, D. R. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 17857-17871]. Recent refinement of the crystal structures of these enzymes at atomic resolution revealed that they contain a common phosphate group binding site in the beta/alpha-barrel, created by residues of the loop between beta-strand 7 and alpha-helix 7 and the N-terminus of an additional helix 8'. The close similarities of their beta/alpha-barrel structures permitted the alignment of 50-75% of their respective amino acid sequences. Considerable sequence similarity was detected in the regions spanning the phosphate binding sites, whereas the percentage of identical residues was barely significant for the remaining parts of the enzymes. These observations suggest divergent evolution of these three beta/alpha-barrel enzymes involved in tryptophan biosynthesis. The same phosphate binding site was also observed in six other beta/alpha-barrel enzymes that are functionally unrelated to those involved in tryptophan biosynthesis: triosephosphate isomerase, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, glycolate oxidase, flavocytochrome b2, trimethylamine dehydrogenase, and tentatively also fructosebisphosphate aldolase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aldose-Ketose Isomerases

Trigonal crystals of porin from Escherichia coli.

Trigonal crystals of the integral membrane protein porin from Escherichia coli have been grown and characterized. They belong to space group P321 with unit cell constants a = b = LL8.4, c = 52.7 A, alpha = beta = 90 degrees, gamma = 120 degrees. The crystals grow as well-defined hexagonal prisms to a size of 0.25 mm in all dimensions, and diffract to 2.7 A. The molecular symmetry coincides with 3-fold crystallographic symmetry, giving two trimers per unit cell (1 monomer/asymmetric unit). This corresponds to VM = 2.9 A3/Da. Native X-ray data to 3.0 A resolution have been collected on a FAST area detector and a search for heavy atom derivatives is underway.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins

The open/closed conformational equilibrium of aspartate aminotransferase. Studies in the crystalline state and with a fluorescent probe in solution.

Aspartate aminotransferase undergoes major shifts in the conformational equilibrium of the protein matrix during transamination. The present study defines the two conformational states of the enzyme by crystallographic analysis, examines the conditions under which the enzyme crystallizes in each of these conformations, and correlates these conditions with the conformational behaviour of the enzyme in solution, as monitored by a fluorescent reporter group. Cocrystallization of chicken mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase with inhibitors and covalent coenzymesubstrate adducts yields three different crystal forms. Unliganded enzyme forms triclinic crystals of the open conformation, the structure of which has been solved (space group P1) [Ford, G. C., Eichele, G. & Jansonius, J. N. (1980) Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 77, 2559-2563; Kirsch, J. F., Eichele, G., Ford, G. C., Vincent, M. G., Jansonius, J. N., Gehring, H. & Christen, P. (1984) J. Mol. Biol. 174, 487-525]. Complexes of the enzyme with dicarboxylate ligands form monoclinic or orthorhombic crystals of the closed conformation. The results of structure determinations of the latter two crystal forms at 0.44 nm resolution are described here. In the closed conformation, the small domain has undergone a rigid-body rotation of 12-14 which closes the active-site pocket. Shifts in the conformational equilibrium of aspartate aminotransferase in solution, as induced by substrates, substrate analogues and specific dicarboxylic inhibitors, can be monitored by changes in the relative fluoresence yield of the enzyme labelled at Cys166 with monobromotrimethylammoniobimane. The pyridoxal and pyridoxamine forms of the labelled enzyme show the same fluorescence properties, whereas in the apoenzyme the fluorescence intensity is reduced by 30%. All active-site ligands, if added to the labelled pyridoxal enzyme at saturating concentrations, cause a decrease in the fluorescence intensity by 40-70% and a blue shift of maximally 5 nm. Comparison of the fluorescence properties of the enzyme in various functional states with the crystallographic data shows that both techniques probe the same conformational equilibrium. The conformational change that closes the active site seems to be ligand-induced in the reaction of the pyridoxal form of the enzyme and syncatalytic in the reverse reaction with the pyridoxamine enzyme.

Animals

A common channel-forming motif in evolutionarily distant porins.

Four new crystal packings of Escherichia coli porins are presented (phosphoporin, maltoporin, and two crystal forms of matrix porin). These were determined by molecular replacement methods using a polyalanine trial model acquired from the refined coordinates of porin from Rhodobacter capsulatus. The successful molecular replacement shows that the dominant motif found in R. capsulatus porin (a 16-stranded antiparallel beta-barrel) also applies to the E. coli porins, despite the lack of significant amino acid sequence homology. A 30 degrees-40 degrees tilt of the beta-strands with respect to the membrane normal was derived from the intensity distributions in the X-ray diffraction patterns for each porin studied, stressing their similarity. In view of the evolutionary distance between enteric and photosynthetic bacteria, the antiparallel beta-barrel may have significance as a basic structural motif for the formation of bacterial membrane channel structures.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins

Crystallisation and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of cyclophilin-tetrapeptide and cyclophilin-cyclosporin complexes.

Recombinant human cyclophilin has been co-crystallised with a number of peptides to give crystals suitable for X-ray analysis. The crystal complexes for which heavy-atom derivatives have been prepared and X-ray data collected are: cyclophilin with N-acetyl-Ala-Ala-Pro-Ala-amidomethyl-coumarin (I) which crystallises in space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with a = 108.2, b = 123.0, c = 35.8 A, and cyclophilin with cyclosporin (II) which crystallises as tetragonal plates in space group P4(1)2(1)2 or P4(3)2(1)2 with a = b = 94.98, c = 278.55 A.

Amino Acid Isomerases

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of the N-terminal domain of the phosphorylating subunit of mannose permease from Escherichia coli.

Mannose permease is a constitutive component of the phosphotransferase system in Escherichia coli. This complex consists of two transmembrane subunits (II-PMan, Mr = 28,000 and II-MMan, Mr = 31,000) and a hydrophilic subunit (IIIMan). IIIMan functions as a phosphorylating enzyme and exists as a soluble homo-dimer of Mr = 70,000 in the cytosol. The N-terminal domain (P13) of IIIMan contains a phosphorylation site and the interface for dimerization. P13 has been crystallized in two different forms: type I, orthorhombic, space group C222 with a = 98.7 A, b = 106.5 A and c = 57.4 A, and type II, monoclinic, space group P2(1), with a = 54.4 A, b = 100.5 A, c = 58.1 A and beta = 90.5 degrees. Both types of crystal are suitable for X-ray diffraction studies.

Bacterial Proteins

Trigonal crystals of porcine mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase.

Crystals suitable for X-ray analysis of porcine mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase in the closed conformation were obtained after the apoenzyme was reconstituted with N-5'-phosphopyridoxyl-L-aspartate, an inhibitor in which the cofactor is covalently bound to the substrate. This results in a crystal form that has not been encountered previously in studies of aspartate aminotransferases. The crystals belong to the trigonal space group P3121 (or the enantiomeric P3221) with unit cell dimensions alpha = b = 202.0 A, c = 58.0 A, alpha = beta = 90 degrees, gamma = 120 degrees and contain one dimer in the asymmetric unit.

Animals

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of gamma-aminobutyric acid transaminase.

gamma-Aminobutyric acid transaminase from pig liver, an alpha 2 dimeric enzyme of Mr 110,100, has been crystallized by the vapour diffusion method with polyethylene glycol as precipitant. The crystals are monoclinic, space group P2(1), unit cell dimensions a = 82.1 A, b = 230.0 A, c = 70.3 A, beta = 123.9 degrees and diffract to 2.5 A resolution. There are two dimers per asymmetric unit.

4-Aminobutyrate Transaminase