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PubMed1999

Aspartate 142 is involved in both hydrolase and dehydrogenase catalytic centers of 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase.

The enzyme 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (FDH) catalyzes conversion of 10-formyltetrahydrofolate to tetrahydrofolate in either a dehydrogenase or hydrolase reaction. The hydrolase reaction occurs in a 310-residue amino-terminal domain of FDH (N(t)-FDH), whereas the dehydrogenase reaction requires the full-length enzyme. N(t)-FDH shares some sequence identity with several 10-formyltetrahydrofolate-utilizing enzymes. All these enzymes have a strictly conserved aspartate, which is Asp(142) in the case of N(t)-FDH. Replacement of the aspartate with alanine, asparagine, glutamate, or glutamine in N(t)-FDH resulted in complete loss of hydrolase activity. All the mutants, however, were able to bind folate, although with lower affinity than wild-type N(t)-FDH. Six other aspartate residues located near the conserved Asp(142) were substituted with an alanine, and these substitutions did not result in any significant changes in the hydrolase activity. The expressed D142A mutant of the full-length enzyme completely lost both hydrolase and dehydrogenase activities. This study shows that Asp(142) is an essential residue in the enzyme mechanism for both the hydrolase and dehydrogenase reactions of FDH, suggesting that either the two catalytic centers of FDH are overlapped or the dehydrogenase reaction occurs within the hydrolase catalytic center.

Amidohydrolases↗

PubMed2002

10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase, one of the major folate enzymes, is down-regulated in tumor tissues and possesses suppressor effects on cancer cells.

Our studies showed that an abundant folate enzyme, 10-formyltetrahydrofolatedehydrogenase (FDH), is strongly down-regulated in several types of cancer on both the mRNA and the protein level. Transient expression of FDH in several human prostate cancer cell lines, a hepatocarcinoma cell line, HepG2, and a lung cancer cell line, A549, suppressed proliferation and resulted in cytotoxicity. In contrast, overexpression of a catalytically inactive FDH mutant did not inhibit proliferation, which suggests that the suppressor effect of FDH is a result of its enzymatic function. Because the FDH substrate, 10-formyltetrahydrofolate, is required for de novo purine biosynthesis, we hypothesized that the inhibitory effects of FDH occur through the depletion of intracellular 10-formyltetrahydrofolate followed by the loss of de novo purine biosynthesis. The ultimate impact is diminished DNA/RNA biosynthesis. Indeed, supplementation of FDH-overexpressing cells with 5-formyltetrahydrofolate or hypoxanthine reversed the FDH growth-inhibitory effects. Hence, down-regulation of FDH in tumors is proposed to be one of the cellular mechanisms that enhance proliferation.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1984

The effect of nordihydroguaiaretic acid and related lignans on formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase and carboxylesterase.

The lignans nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), heminordihydroguaiaretic acid (HNDGA) and norisoguaiacin were found to inhibit formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase (formate:tetrahydrofolate ligase (ADP-forming), EC 6.3.4.3) and carboxylesterase (carboxylic-ester hydrolase, EC 3.1.1.1) activity from a wide variety of sources. In all cases, NDGA was the most effective inhibitor. Synthetase activity was reduced by half at NDGA concentrations between 0.11 and 0.24 mM. Esterase activity consisted of NDGA-sensitive and NDGA-resistant forms. The sensitive class was half-inhibited by 2-4 microM NDGA. Irreversible inhibition of formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase by NDGA was observed both at low protein concentration (less than 0.2 mg/ml) and at high protein concentration where precipitation of protein was observed. Inhibition of formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase by NDGA arises from a decrease in Vmax and increase in Km for all substrates. In contrast, NDGA affects only the Vmax parameter of the esterase activity. It is suggested that the broad range of enzymes inhibited by NDGA may be a consequence of the amphipathic character of the molecule and the flexibility to accommodate to a variety of binding sites. It is also suggested that the previously reported ability of NDGA to inhibit phagocytosis may be due to the compound's ability to inhibit carboxylesterases.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Oxidation of 10-formyltetrahydrofolate to 10-formyldihydrofolate by complex IV of rat mitochondria.

We hypothesized that the unanticipated bioactivity of orally administered unnatural carbon-6 isomers, (6R)-5-formyltetrahydrofolate (5-HCO-THF) and (6S)-5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate (5,10-CH-THF), in humans [Baggott, J. E., and Tamura, T. (1999) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1472, 323-32] is explained by the rapid oxidation of (6S)-10-formyltetrahydrofolate (10-HCO-THF), which is produced by in vivo chemical processes from the above folates. An oxidation of 10-HCO-THF produces 10-formyldihydrofolate (10-HCO-DHF), which no longer has the asymmetric center at carbon-6 and is metabolized by aminoimidazole carboxamide ribotide (AICAR) transformylase forming bioactive dihydrofolate. Since cytochrome c (Fe(3+)) rapidly oxidizes both (6R)- and (6S)-10-HCO-THF [Baggott et al. (2001) Biochem. J. 354, 115-22], we investigated the metabolism of 10-HCO-THF by isolated rat liver mitochondria. We found that 10-HCO-THF supported the respiration of mitochondria without uncoupling ATP synthesis. The site of electron donation was identified as complex IV, which contains cytochrome c; the folate product was 10-HCO-DHF, and the reaction was saturable with respect to 10-HCO-THF. Both (6S)- (unnatural) and (6R)-10-HCO-THF supported the respiration of mitochondria, whereas (6S)-5-formyltetrahydrofolate (5-HCO-THF) was inactive. To our knowledge, this cytochrome c oxidation of 10-HCO-THF to 10-HCO-DHF in the mitochondrial intermembrane space represents a possible folate metabolic pathway previously unidentified and would explain the bioactivity of unnatural carbon-6 isomers, (6R)-5-HCO-THF and (6S)-5,10-CH-THF, in humans.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Disruption of the mthfd1 gene reveals a monofunctional 10-formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase in mammalian mitochondria.

The Mthfd1 gene encoding the cytoplasmic methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase-methenyltetrahydrofolate cyclohydrolase-formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase enzyme (DCS) was inactivated in embryonic stem cells. The null embryonic stem cells were used to generate spontaneously immortalized fibroblast cell lines that exhibit the expected purine auxotrophy. Elimination of these cytoplasmic activities allowed for the accurate assessment of similar activities encoded by other genes in these cells. A low level of 10-formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase was detected and was shown to be localized to mitochondria. However, NADP-dependent methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase activity was not detected. Northern blot analysis suggests that a recently identified mitochondrial DCS (Prasannan, P., Pike, S., Peng, K., Shane, B., and Appling, D. R. (2003) J. Biol. Chem. 278, 43178-43187) is responsible for the synthetase activity. The lack of NADP-dependent dehydrogenase activity suggests that this RNA may encode a monofunctional synthetase. Moreover, examination of the primary structure of this novel protein revealed mutations in key residues required for dehydrogenase and cyclohydrolase activities. This monofunctional synthetase completes the pathway for the production of formate from formyltetrahydrofolate in the mitochondria in our model of mammalian one-carbon folate metabolism in embryonic and transformed cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1978

Studies on the mechanism of formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase. The Peptococcus aerogenes enzyme.

Two conflicting mechanisms have been proposed for formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase (EC 6.3.4.3). Detailed studies with a clostridial enzyme support a sequential mechanism, while a stepwise mechanism with formation of a dissociable intermediate has been proposed for the Peptococcus aerogenes synthetase. However, the data supporting the P. aerogenes mechanism were obtained using synthetase of questionable purity and the results supporting the mechanism could be attributed to contaminating activities. Consequently, uncertainty still exists with regard to the enzyme mechanism. To resolve this uncertainty, the P. aerogenes formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase has been purified to homogeneity and used in experiments to reinvestigate the reaction mechanism. The results of P1:ATP, ADP:ATP, and formate:10-formyltetrahydrofolate exchange experiments as well as a steady state kinetic analysis revealed no difference in the mechanisms of the P. aerogenes or clostridial synthetases. The results are inconsistent with a stepwise mechanism involving a dissociable intermediate and consistent only with a sequential mechanism.

Clostridium↗

PubMed2006

Regulation of folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism by 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase.

10-Formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (FDH) catalyzes the NADP(+)-dependent conversion of 10-formyltetrahydrofolate to CO(2) and tetrahydrofolate (THF) and is an abundant high affinity folate-binding protein. Although several activities have been ascribed to FDH, its metabolic role in folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism is not well understood. FDH has been proposed to: 1) inhibit purine biosynthesis by depleting 10-formyl-THF pools, 2) maintain cellular folate concentrations by sequestering THF, 3) deplete the supply of folate-activated one-carbon units, and 4) stimulate the generation of THF-activated one-carbon unit synthesis by channeling folate cofactors to other folate-dependent enzymes. The metabolic functions of FDH were investigated in neuroblastoma, which do not contain detectable levels of FDH. Both low and high FDH expression reduced total cellular folate concentrations by 60%, elevated rates of folate catabolism, and depleted cellular 5-methyl-THF and S-adenosylmethionine levels. Low FDH expression increased the formyl-THF/THF ratio nearly 10-fold, whereas THF accounted for nearly 50% of total folate in neuroblastoma with high FDH expression. FDH expression did not affect the enrichment of exogenous formate into methionine, serine, or purines and did not suppress de novo purine nucleotide biosynthesis. We conclude that low FDH expression facilitates the incorporation of one-carbon units into the one-carbon pool, whereas high levels of FDH expression deplete the folate-activated one-carbon pool by catalyzing the conversion of 10-formyl-THF to THF. Furthermore, FDH does not increase cellular folate concentrations by sequestering THF in neuroblastoma nor does it inhibit or regulate de novo purine biosynthesis. FDH expression does deplete cellular 5-methyl-THF and S-adenosylmethionine levels indicating that FDH impairs the folate-dependent homocysteine remethylation cycle.

Carbon↗

PubMed1995

Enzymatic activities of rat liver cytosol 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase.

10-Formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (10-FTH-FDH: EC 1.5.1.6) catalyzes the NADP(+)-dependent oxidation of 10-formyltetrahydrofolate (10-HCO-H4PteGlu) to tetrahydrofolate (H4PteGlu) and CO2 and the NADP(+)-independent hydrolytic cleavage of 10-HCO-H4PteGlu to H4PteGlu and formate. 10-FTHFDH has a 485 amino acid domain at the C-terminus which is 46% identical to aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH: EC 1.2.1.3) and contains a conserved active site cysteine (Cys-707). 10-FTHFDH catalyzed NADP(+)-dependent oxidation of propanal and the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl acetate (pNPA) in a similar fashion to ALDH. Initial rate studies gave Km values of 46 and 636 microM, respectively, for NADP+ and propanal, while pNPA had a Km of 220 microM. Propanal was able to compete with 10-HCO-H4PteGlu for NADP(+)-dependent oxidation but had no effect on the NADP(+)-independent hydrolase reaction. N-Ethylmaleimide inhibited NADP(+)-dependent 10-HCO-H4PteGlu oxidation but only partially inhibited (65%) hydrolase activity. Disulfiram, a potent inhibitor of cytosolic ALDH, inhibited NADP(+)-dependent propanal oxidation by 10-FTHFDH. We propose that the dehydrogenase reaction of 10-FTHFDH has a mechanism which proceeds through thiohemiacetal and thioester intermediates, similar to that described for aldehyde dehydrogenase. 10-FTHFDH hydrolase activity was dependent on 2-mercaptoethanol and is probably an artifact of the assay system. The N-terminal domain of 10-FTHFDH shows identity to glycinamide ribonucleotide transformylase (EC 2.1.2.2) and contains a putative 10-HCO-H4PteGlu binding site but shows no GAR-TF activity. NADP(+)-dependent oxidation of 10-HCO-H4PteGlu by 10-FTHFDH was inhibited by the folate anti-metabolite, 5,10-dideazatetrahydrofolate, a known GAR-TF inhibitor.

Aldehydes↗

PubMed1998

Overexpression of functional hydrolase domain of rat liver 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase in Escherichia coli.

Rat liver 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (FDH) is a tetrameric enzyme composed of four identical 902-amino-acid-residue (99 kDa) monomers. We expressed the enzyme and its 310-amino-acid-residue amino-terminal domain, which is 10-formyltetrahydrofolate hydrolase, in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) cells using the pRSET expression vector. We removed the entire translated region of the vector including the polyhistidyl tag and the recombinant proteins were expressed, not as a fusion constructs, but as unmodified sequences. The expressed full-length enzyme was found to be an insoluble protein and was not purified and characterized, while the amino-terminal domain was expressed as a soluble protein possessing hydrolase activity. The recombinant amino-terminal domain was purified in one step on a DEAE MemSep 1000 HP Ion-Exchange Membrane Chromatography Cartridge (Millipore) using a ConSep LC100 chromatographic system (Millipore). The chromatography gave a homogenous and active preparation of the recombinant protein with a yield of about 2 mg per 100 ml of bacterial culture. Kinetic parameters of the hydrolase reaction displayed by the amino-terminal domain expressed in E. coli were similar to those of the recombinant full-length enzyme and its amino-terminal domain previously expressed in insect cells. The purified recombinant enzyme remained active for at least 4 weeks at 4 degreesC. These results show that the hydrolase amino-terminal domain of FDH can be overexpressed as a functional enzyme in E. coli cells and purified in one step by a simple chromatographic procedure.

Animals↗

PubMed1979

Carbamyl phosphate-dependent ATP synthesis catalyzed by formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase.

Formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase (formate:tetrahydrofolate ligase (ADP-forming), EC 6.3.4.3) from Clostridium cylindrosporum catalyzes phosphate transfer from carbamyl phosphate to ADP. This activity is lost when monovalent cations are removed and is recovered when K+ is added back. Carbamyl phosphate is an inhibitor of the formyltetrahydrolfolate synthetase forward reaction, and formate as well as phosphate inhibit the ATP synthesis reaction. Acetyl phosphate and phosphonoacetate are inhibitors of both reactions. The results of kinetic studies support the concept that carbamyl phosphate is an analog of the putative intermediate of the formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase reaction, formyl phosphate.

Acetates↗

PubMed1986

Formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase-hydrolase from pig liver: simultaneous assay of the activities.

The bifunctional folate-dependent enzyme, 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase-hydrolase (10-formyltetrahydrofolate: NADP+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.5.1.6), has been purified to homogeneity from pig liver. Its amino acid composition was determined and gave a calculated v of 0.735 ml/g; a molecular weight of 92500 for the protein subunit was determined as well. Spectrophotometric, fluorescence emission and radiochemical methods were devised to assay the activities. Quantitative separation of carbon dioxide and formate produced by the dehydrogenase and the hydrolase reactions, respectively, demonstrated that both activities occur simultaneously. This fact, together with a 5-fold difference in the Km values for the folate substrate, strongly suggests that these two activities are functions of different sites. The possible role of polyglutamate specificity for the preferential selection of one of the activities under physiological conditions was ruled out when both proved to have similar specificities, as determined by sensitivity to inhibition by tetrahydropteroylpolyglutamates.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed1994

Identification of a heritable deficiency of the folate-dependent enzyme 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase in mice.

During the analysis of liver protein expression in the offspring of male mice irradiated with fission-spectrum neutrons, one offspring displayed a heritable 50% decrease in the abundance of two proteins. Homozygous mice lacking detectable quantities of these proteins were obtained through breeding. Characterization of this protein deficiency has identified these liver proteins as forms of the enzyme 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (10-formyl-THF DH; 10-formyltetrahydrofolate:NADP+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.5.1.6). NH2-terminal sequence analysis demonstrated that both proteins share identical sequences in the first 25 residues, and this sequence matches (96% identity) that of rat and human 10-formyl-THF DH. In addition, these proteins showed cross-reactivity to polyclonal antiserum raised against purified rat 10-formyl-THF DH. Southern (DNA) blot analysis revealed a restriction fragment length polymorphism consistent with a deletion mutation in the 10-formyl-THF DH structural gene in homozygous mice. Results of Northern (RNA) blot analysis demonstrated the absence of 10-formyl-THF DH mRNA in mice lacking 10-formyl-THF DH protein. Furthermore, liver cytosolic 10-formyl-THF DH enzymatic activity was undetectable in homozygotes. Measurement of hepatic folate pools showed that in homozygotes the total folate pool is decreased and the level of tetrahydrofolate is markedly depleted.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

On the role of conserved histidine 106 in 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase catalysis: connection between hydrolase and dehydrogenase mechanisms.

The enzyme, 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (FDH), converts 10-formyltetrahydrofolate (10-formyl-THF) to tetrahydrofolate in an NADP(+)-dependent dehydrogenase reaction or an NADP(+)-independent hydrolase reaction. The hydrolase reaction occurs in a 310-amino acid long amino-terminal domain of FDH (N(t)-FDH), whereas the dehydrogenase reaction requires the full-length enzyme. The amino-terminal domain of FDH shares some sequence identity with several other enzymes utilizing 10-formyl-THF as a substrate. These enzymes have two strictly conserved residues, aspartate and histidine, in the putative catalytic center. We have shown recently that the conserved aspartate is involved in FDH catalysis. In the present work we studied the role of the conserved histidine, His(106), in FDH function. Site-directed mutagenesis experiments showed that replacement of the histidine with alanine, asparagine, aspartate, glutamate, glutamine, or arginine in N(t)-FDH resulted in expression of insoluble proteins. Replacement of the histidine with another positively charged residue, lysine, produced a soluble mutant with no hydrolase activity. The insoluble mutants refolded from inclusion bodies adopted a conformation inherent to the wild-type N(t)-FDH, but they did not exhibit any hydrolase activity. Substitution of alanine for three non-conserved histidines located close to the conserved one did not reveal any significant changes in the hydrolase activity of N(t)-FDH. Expressed full-length FDH with the substitution of lysine for the His(106) completely lost both the hydrolase and dehydrogenase activities. Thus, our study showed that His(106), besides being an important structural residue, is also directly involved in both the hydrolase and dehydrogenase mechanisms of FDH. Modeling of the putative hydrolase catalytic center/folate-binding site suggested that the catalytic residues, aspartate and histidine, are unlikely to be adjacent to the catalytic cysteine in the aldehyde dehydrogenase catalytic center. We hypothesize that 10-formyl-THF dehydrogenase reaction is not an independent reaction but is a combination of hydrolase and aldehyde dehydrogenase reactions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2002

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of recombinant hydrolase domain of 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase.

10-Formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (FDH) is an abundant enzyme in liver cytosol. It is important for the regulation of 10-formyltetrahydrofolate/tetrahydrofolate pools, for de novo purine biosynthesis and for the removal of formate in the form of CO(2). The enzyme is a natural fusion of two unrelated genes and consists of two functional catalytic domains. Here, the crystallization of the N-terminal domain of FDH is reported. This domain binds folate and functions as a 10-formyltetrahydrofolate hydrolase. The crystals grow as either spear-shaped needles or large plates, with the largest crystals reaching dimensions of 1.2 x 0.2 x 0.05 mm. Diffraction analysis revealed the space group to be P2(1)2(1)2, with unit-cell parameters a = 100.00, b = 64.63, c = 64.59 A. Based on the estimated solvent content, there is one 34 kDa molecule in the asymmetric unit. A native data set extending to 2.3 A resolution has been collected with good merging statistics.

Animals↗

PubMed1976

Variable response of bone marrow to feeding DL-5-formyltetrahydrofolate in pernicious anaemia.

It has been suggested that the megaloblastic anaemia in pernicious anaemia is due to inadequate intracellular concentration of monoglutamyl folates other than methyltetrahydrofolate caused by diminished conversion of methyltetrahydrofolate to tetrahydrofolate (methylfolate trap). To test this, we have increased the concentration of methyltetrahydrofolate in the plasma of six patients with pernicious anaemia by feeding DL-5-formyltetrahydrofolate. The effect of therapy on bone marrow morphology and routine haematologic parameters was measured. Of two patients receiving 800 mug/d of DL-5-formyltetrahydrofolate, one had a significant response; of four receiving 6 mg/d, one converted erythroid maturation to normoblastic, and in two others some improvement was noted in levels of neutrophils, platelets or reticulocytes although marrow morphology remained megaloblastic. Response did not correlate with the degree of elevation of plasma folate. In patients receiving this therapy, slight increase of methylcobalamin in plasma may have occurred (P less than 0.05). These observations support ineffective utilization of methyltetrahydrofolate as the major cause of megaloblastic anaemia in pernicious anaemia, but indicate that the degree and location of block varied in different patients, and in different precursor cells of a single patient.

Aged↗

PubMed1983

Predictions of a network thermodynamics computer model relating to the mechanism of methotrexate rescue by 5-formyltetrahydrofolate and to the importance of inhibition of thymidylate synthase by methotrexate-polyglutamates.

Computer modeling has been a valuable tool for clarifying the mechanism of action of antifolates. Some consequences of folyl and antifolyl polyglutamate synthesis can be addressed by adaptation of a network thermodynamic computer model of methotrexate action. Reversal or prevention of methotrexate cytotoxicity by 5-formyltetrahydrofolate has widely been assumed to occur through the delivery of reduced folate in substrate amounts for thymidylate synthesis, by-passing the effects of methotrexate at dihydrofolate reductase. This mechanism is inconsistent with experimental data which shows that "rescue" is a competitive phenomenon and that the transport process is incapable of delivering reduced folate at an adequate rate. Computer modeling studies are presented which predict that expansion of the total folate pool as folylpolyglutamates with "rescue" would reduce the inhibitory effect of MTX on thymidylate synthesis. Dihydrofolate polyglutamates could then accumulate to the high level needed to displace methotrexate from the small fraction of sites on dihydrofolate reductase that are sufficient to sustain tetrahydrofolate synthesis. Experimental studies with Ehrlich ascites tumor cells support this prediction. It is likely that a critical step in the protection of normal host tissues in high dose-rescue treatment regimens is the conversion of exogenously supplied 5-formyltetrahydrofolate to polyglutamyl derivatives and accumulation of total intracellular folate to higher than normal levels. Other computer simulations are presented which examine the potential significance of direct inhibition of thymidylate synthase by polyglutamyl forms of methotrexate. The model predicts that in cells with biochemical properties similar to methotrexate sensitive L1210 cells, inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase would still be the predominant site of action unless the thymidylate synthase Ki for a methotrexate polyglutamate is below about 0.1 microM. However, in methotrexate-resistant cells with elevated dihydrofolate reductase but normal membrane transport and polyglutamylation, thymidylate synthase may be the more important target enzyme.

Computers↗

PubMed1996

The hydrogenase gene cluster of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae contains an additional gene (hypX), which encodes a protein with sequence similarity to the N10-formyltetrahydrofolate-dependent enzyme family and is required for nickel-dependent hydrogenase processing and activity.

Plasmid pAL618 contains the genetic determinants for H2 uptake (hup) from Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae, including a cluster of 17 genes named hupSLCDEFGHIJK-hypABFCDE. A 1.7-kb segment of insert DNA located downstream of hypE has now been sequenced, thus completing the sequence of the 20441-bp insert DNA in plasmid pAL618. An open reading frame (designated hypX) encoding a protein with a calculated M(r) of 62300 that exhibits extensive sequence similarity with HoxX from Alcaligenes eutrophus (52% identity) and Bradyrhizobium japonicum (57% identity) was identified 10 bp downstream of hypE. Nodule bacteroids produced by hypX mutants in pea (Pisum sativum L.) plants grown at optimal nickel concentrations (100 microM) for hydrogenase expression, exhibited less than 5% of the wild-type levels of hydrogenase activity. These bacteroids contained wild-type levels of mRNA from hydrogenase structural genes (hupSL) but accumulated large amounts of the immature form of HupL protein. The Hup-deficient mutants were complemented for normal hydrogenase activity and nickel-dependent maturation of HupL by a hypX gene provided in trans. From expression analysis of hypX-lacZ fusion genes, it appears that hypX gene is transcribed from the FnrN-dependent hyp promoter, thus placing hypX in the hyp operon (hypBFCDEX). Comparisons of the HypX/HoxX sequences with those in databases provided unexpected insights into their function in hydrogenase synthesis. Similarities were restricted to two distinct regions in the HypX/HoxX sequences. Region I, corresponding to a sequence conserved in N10-formyltetrahydrofolate-dependent enzymes involved in transferring one-carbon units (C1), was located in the N-terminal half of the protein, whereas region II, corresponding to a sequence conserved in enzymes of the enoyl-CoA hydratase/isomerase family, was located in the C-terminal half. These similarities strongly suggest that HypX/HoxX have dual functions: binding of the C1 donor N10-formyltetrahydrofolate and transfer of the C1 to an unknown substrate, and catalysis of a reaction involving polarization of the C = O bond of an X-CO-SCoA substrate. These results also suggest the involvement of a small organic molecule, possibly synthesized with the participation of an X-CO-SCoA precursor and of formyl groups, in the synthesis of the metal-containing active centre of hydrogenase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1986

Microbiological analysis of 5-formyltetrahydrofolic acid and other folates using an automatic 96-well plate reader.

The growth of auxotrophic bacteria remains the method of choice for the determination of biologically active folate metabolites in plasma. This report describes a microbiological assay for folates adapted to use disposable 96-well plates and an automatic plate reader. The modifications in the assay decreased reagent costs and made the analysis of hundreds of samples per day possible with a sensitivity limit of 10 fmol of (6S)-5-formyltetrahydrofolic acid. This limit compares favorably with that of previously reported, more laborious methods. The unnatural 6R diastereomer of 5-formyltetrahydrofolic acid did not interfere with the microbiological assay of the natural 6S diastereomer.

Autoanalysis↗