1
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Tan HN, Liu WQ, Ho J, Chen YJ, Shieh FJ, Liao HT, Wang SP, Hegemann JD, Chang CY, Chu J. Structure Prediction and Protein Engineering Yield New Insights into Microcin J25 Precursor Recognition. ACS Chem Biol 2024; 19:1982-1990. [PMID: 39163642 PMCID: PMC11420955 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.4c00251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/22/2024]
Abstract
Microcin J25 (MccJ25), a lasso peptide antibiotic with a unique structure that resembles the lariat knot, has been a topic of intense interest since its discovery in 1992. The precursor (McjA) contains a leader and a core segment. McjB is a protease activated upon binding to the leader, and McjC converts the core segment into the mature MccJ25. Previous studies suggested that these biosynthetic steps likely proceed in a (nearly) concerted fashion; however, there is only limited information regarding the structural and molecular intricacies of MccJ25 biosynthesis. To close this knowledge gap, we used AlphaFold2 to predict the structure of the precursor (McjA) in complex with its biosynthetic enzymes (McjB and McjC) and queried the critical predicted features by protein engineering. Based on the predicted structure, we designed protein variants to show that McjB can still be functional and form a proficient biosynthetic complex with McjC when its recognition and protease domains were circularly permutated or split into separate proteins. Specific residues important for McjA recognition were also identified, which permitted us to pinpoint a compensatory mutation (McjBM108T) to restore McjA/McjB interaction that rescued an otherwise nearly nonproductive precursor variant (McjAT-2M). Studies of McjA, McjB, and McjC have long been mired by them being extremely difficult to handle experimentally, and our results suggest that the AF2 predicted ternary complex structure may serve as a reasonable starting point for understanding MccJ25 biosynthesis. The prediction-validation workflow presented herein combined artificial intelligence and laboratory experiments constructively to gain new insights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Ni Tan
- Department
of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Qi Liu
- Department
of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Josh Ho
- Department
of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ju Chen
- Department
of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Fang-Jie Shieh
- Department
of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Tzu Liao
- Department
of Biological Science and Technology, National
Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300193, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Ping Wang
- Institute
of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115201, Taiwan
| | - Julian D. Hegemann
- Helmholtz
Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland, Helmholtz Centre for
Infection Research, Saarland
University Campus, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Chin-Yuan Chang
- Department
of Biological Science and Technology, National
Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300193, Taiwan
| | - John Chu
- Department
of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
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2
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Barrett SE, Yin S, Jordan P, Brunson JK, Gordon-Nunez J, Costa Machado da Cruz G, Rosario C, Okada BK, Anderson K, Pires TA, Wang R, Shukla D, Burk MJ, Mitchell DA. Substrate interactions guide cyclase engineering and lasso peptide diversification. Nat Chem Biol 2024:10.1038/s41589-024-01727-w. [PMID: 39261643 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-024-01727-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024]
Abstract
Lasso peptides are a diverse class of naturally occurring, highly stable molecules kinetically trapped in a distinctive [1]rotaxane conformation. How the ATP-dependent lasso cyclase constrains a relatively unstructured substrate peptide into a low entropy product has remained a mystery owing to poor enzyme stability and activity in vitro. In this study, we combined substrate tolerance data with structural predictions, bioinformatic analysis, molecular dynamics simulations and mutational scanning to construct a model for the three-dimensional orientation of the substrate peptide in the lasso cyclase active site. Predicted peptide cyclase molecular contacts were validated by rationally engineering multiple, phylogenetically diverse lasso cyclases to accept substrates rejected by the wild-type enzymes. Finally, we demonstrate the utility of lasso cyclase engineering by robustly producing previously inaccessible variants that tightly bind to integrin αvβ8, which is a primary activator of transforming growth factor β and, thus, an important anti-cancer target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna E Barrett
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Song Yin
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Thomas A Pires
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Ruoyang Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Diwakar Shukla
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | | | - Douglas A Mitchell
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
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3
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Coricello A, Nardone AJ, Lupia A, Gratteri C, Vos M, Chaptal V, Alcaro S, Zhu W, Takagi Y, Richards NGJ. 3D Variability Analysis Reveals a Hidden Conformational Change Controlling Ammonia Transport in Human Asparagine Synthetase. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.05.16.541009. [PMID: 37292727 PMCID: PMC10245805 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.16.541009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
How motions in enzymes might be linked to catalytic function is of considerable general interest. Advances in X-ray crystallography and cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) offer the promise of elucidating functionally relevant conformational changes that are not easily studied by other biophysical methods. Here we use 3D variability analysis (3DVA) of the cryo-EM map for wild-type (WT) human asparagine synthetase (ASNS) to identify a functional role for the Arg-142 side chain as a gate that mediates ammonia access to a catalytically relevant intramolecular tunnel. Our 3DVA-derived hypothesis is assessed experimentally, using the R142I variant in which Arg-142 is replaced by isoleucine, and by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations on independent, computational models of the WT human ASNS monomer and its catalytically relevant, ternary complex with β-aspartyl-AMP and MgPP i . Residue fluctuations in the MD trajectories for the human ASNS monomer are consistent with those determined for 3DVA-derived structures. These MD simulations also indicate that the gating function of Arg-142 is separate from the molecular events that form a continuous tunnel linking the two active sites. Experimental support for Arg-142 playing a role in intramolecular ammonia translocation is provided by the glutamine-dependent synthetase activity of the R142 variant relative to WT ASNS. MD simulations of computational models for the R142I variant and the R142I/β-aspartyl-AMP/MgPP i ternary complex provide a possible molecular basis for this observation. Overall, the combination of 3DVA with MD simulations is a generally applicable approach to generate testable hypotheses of how conformational changes in buried side chains might regulate function in enzymes.
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4
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Riaz A, Kaleem A, Abdullah R, Iqtedar M, Hoessli DC, Aftab M. In silico approaches to study the human asparagine synthetase: An insight of the interaction between the enzyme active sites and its substrates. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0307448. [PMID: 39093903 PMCID: PMC11296641 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0307448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a leading concern and important cause of death worldwide. Cancer is a non-communicable illness defined as uncontrolled division of cells. It can develop into metastatic cancer when tumor cells migrate to other organs. In recent years evidence has emerged that the bioavailability of Asn play a crucial role in cancer metastasis. Asn is a non-essential amino acid formed from an ATP dependent catalyzed reaction by the enzyme asparagine synthetase (ASNS), where Asp and Gln are converted to Asn and Glu, respectively. The human ASNS enzyme consist of 561 amino acids, with a molecular weight of 64 KDa. ASNS governs the activation of transcriptional factors that regulate the process of metastasis. In this work the 3D model of ASNS in E. coli (AS-B) and the human ASNS docked with its different ligands have been used to study the 3D mechanism of the conversion of Asp and Gln to Asn and Glu, in human ASNS. The stability evaluation of the docked complexes was checked by molecular dynamic simulation through the bioinformatic tool Desmond. The binding residues and their interactions can be exploited for the development of inhibitors, as well as for finding new drug molecules against ASNS and prevention of metastatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anam Riaz
- Department of Biotechnology, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Afshan Kaleem
- Department of Biotechnology, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Roheena Abdullah
- Department of Biotechnology, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Mehwish Iqtedar
- Department of Biotechnology, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Daniel C. Hoessli
- Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Mahwish Aftab
- Department of Biotechnology, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan
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5
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Fan Y, Wei Z, Zhang Y, Duan X. Enhancing L-asparagine Production Through In Vivo ATP Regeneration System Utilizing Glucose Metabolism of Escherichia coli. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2024:10.1007/s12010-024-04982-8. [PMID: 38900400 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-024-04982-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
L-asparaginase synthetase, an ATP-dependent enzyme, necessitates ATP for its catalytic activity. However, the integration of L-asparaginase synthetase into industrial processes is curtailed by the prohibitive cost of ATP. To address this limitation, this study explores the construction of an efficient ATP regeneration system using the glucose metabolism of Escherichia coli, synergistically coupled with L-asparaginase synthetase catalysis. The optimal conditions for L-asparagine yield were determined in shake flasks. A total of 2.7 g/L was the highest yield achieved under specific parameters, including 0.1 mol/L of substrate, 0.2 mol/L glucose, 0.01 mol/L MgCl2 at pH 7.5, a temperature of 37 °C, and agitation at 300 r/min over 12 h. The process was then scaled to a 3-L fermenter, optimizing the addition rates of the substrate and magnesium chloride, and employing a constant glucose feed of 10 g/L/h. The scale-up process led to a significant enhancement in the production of L-asparagine. The yield of L-asparagine was increased to 38.49 g/L after 20 h of conversion, and the molar conversion rate reached 29.16%. This strategy has proven to be effective in improving the efficiency of L-asparagine production. When compared to in vitro ATP regeneration methods, this in vivo approach showcased superior efficiency and reduced costs. These findings furnish pivotal insights that may propel the enzymatic synthesis of L-asparagine toward viable industrial application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yucheng Fan
- College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zijia Wei
- College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuhua Zhang
- College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xuguo Duan
- College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, Jiangsu, China.
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6
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John T, Saffoon N, Walsby-Tickle J, Hester SS, Dingler FA, Millington CL, McCullagh JSO, Patel KJ, Hopkinson RJ, Schofield CJ. Aldehyde-mediated inhibition of asparagine biosynthesis has implications for diabetes and alcoholism. Chem Sci 2024; 15:2509-2517. [PMID: 38362406 PMCID: PMC10866355 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc06551k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Patients with alcoholism and type 2 diabetes manifest altered metabolism, including elevated aldehyde levels and unusually low asparagine levels. We show that asparagine synthetase B (ASNS), the only human asparagine-forming enzyme, is inhibited by disease-relevant reactive aldehydes, including formaldehyde and acetaldehyde. Cellular studies show non-cytotoxic amounts of reactive aldehydes induce a decrease in asparagine levels. Biochemical analyses reveal inhibition results from reaction of the aldehydes with the catalytically important N-terminal cysteine of ASNS. The combined cellular and biochemical results suggest a possible mechanism underlying the low asparagine levels in alcoholism and diabetes. The results will stimulate research on the biological consequences of the reactions of aldehydes with nucleophilic residues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias John
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University of Oxford 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Nadia Saffoon
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University of Oxford 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - John Walsby-Tickle
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University of Oxford 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Svenja S Hester
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Target Discovery Institute, University of Oxford Oxford UK
| | - Felix A Dingler
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital/Headley Way Oxford OX3 9DS UK
| | - Christopher L Millington
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital/Headley Way Oxford OX3 9DS UK
| | - James S O McCullagh
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University of Oxford 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Ketan J Patel
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital/Headley Way Oxford OX3 9DS UK
| | - Richard J Hopkinson
- Leicester Institute for Structural and Chemical Biology and School of Chemistry, University of Leicester, Henry Wellcome Building Lancaster Road Leicester LE1 7RH UK
| | - Christopher J Schofield
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University of Oxford 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
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7
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Chang MC, Staklinski SJ, Merritt ME, Kilberg MS. A method for measurement of human asparagine synthetase (ASNS) activity and application to ASNS protein variants associated with ASNS deficiency. Biol Methods Protoc 2023; 8:bpad026. [PMID: 37965492 PMCID: PMC10641120 DOI: 10.1093/biomethods/bpad026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Human asparagine synthetase (ASNS) catalyzes the conversion of aspartate to asparagine in an ATP-dependent reaction that utilizes glutamine as a nitrogen source while generating glutamate, AMP, and pyrophosphate as additional products. Asparagine Synthetase Deficiency (ASNSD) is an inborn error of metabolism in which children present with homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in the ASNS gene. These mutations result in ASNS variant protein expression. It is believed that these variant ASNS proteins have reduced enzymatic activity or stability resulting in a lack of sufficient asparagine production for cell function. Reduced asparagine production by ASNS appears to severely hinder fetal brain development. Although a variety of approaches for assaying ASNS activity have been reported, we present here a straightforward method for the in vitro enzymatic analysis by detection of AMP production. Our method overcomes limitations in technical feasibility, signal detection, and reproducibility experienced by prior methods like high-performance liquid chromatography, ninhydrin staining, and radioactive tracing. After purification of FLAG-tagged R49Q, G289A, and T337I ASNS variants from stably expressing HEK 293T cells, this method revealed a reduction in activity of 90, 36, and 96%, respectively. Thus, ASNS protein expression and purification, followed by enzymatic activity analysis, has provided a relatively simple protocol to evaluate structure-function relationships for ASNS variants reported for ASNSD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario C Chang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
| | - Stephen J Staklinski
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
- School of Biological Sciences, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, United States
| | - Matthew E Merritt
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
| | - Michael S Kilberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
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8
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Nagata R, Nishiyama M, Kuzuyama T. Substrate Recognition Mechanism of a Trichostatin A-Forming Hydroxyamidotransferase. Biochemistry 2023. [PMID: 37167424 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.3c00025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The hydroxyamidotransferase TsnB9 catalyzes hydroxylamine transfer from l-glutamic acid γ-monohydroxamate to the carboxyl group of trichostatic acid to produce the terminal hydroxamic acid group of trichostatin A, which is a potent inhibitor of histone deacetylase (HDAC). The reaction catalyzed by TsnB9 is similar to that catalyzed by glutamine-dependent asparagine synthetase, but the trichostatic acid recognition mechanism remains unclear. Here, we determine the crystal structure of TsnB9 composed of the N-terminal glutaminase domain and the C-terminal synthetase domain. Two consecutive phenylalanine residues, which are not found in glutamine-dependent asparagine synthetase, in the N-terminal glutaminase domain structurally form the bottom of the hydrophobic pocket in the C-terminal synthetase domain. Mutational and computational analyses of TsnB9 suggest five aromatic residues, including the two consecutive phenylalanine residues, in the hydrophobic pocket are important for the recognition of the dimethylaniline moiety of trichostatic acid. These insights lead us to the discovery of hydroxyamidotransferase to produce terminal hydroxamic acid group-containing HDAC inhibitors different from trichostatin A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryuhei Nagata
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Makoto Nishiyama
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
- Collaborative Research Institute for Innovative Microbiology (CRIIM), The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Tomohisa Kuzuyama
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
- Collaborative Research Institute for Innovative Microbiology (CRIIM), The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
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9
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Chang MC, Staklinski SJ, Malut VR, Pierre GL, Kilberg MS, Merritt ME. Metabolomic Profiling of Asparagine Deprivation in Asparagine Synthetase Deficiency Patient-Derived Cells. Nutrients 2023; 15:1938. [PMID: 37111157 PMCID: PMC10145675 DOI: 10.3390/nu15081938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The natural amino acid asparagine (Asn) is required by cells to sustain function and proliferation. Healthy cells can synthesize Asn through asparagine synthetase (ASNS) activity, whereas specific cancer and genetically diseased cells are forced to obtain asparagine from the extracellular environment. ASNS catalyzes the ATP-dependent synthesis of Asn from aspartate by consuming glutamine as a nitrogen source. Asparagine Synthetase Deficiency (ASNSD) is a disease that results from biallelic mutations in the ASNS gene and presents with congenital microcephaly, intractable seizures, and progressive brain atrophy. ASNSD often leads to premature death. Although clinical and cellular studies have reported that Asn deprivation contributes to the disease symptoms, the global metabolic effects of Asn deprivation on ASNSD-derived cells have not been studied. We analyzed two previously characterized cell culture models, lymphoblastoids and fibroblasts, each carrying unique ASNS mutations from families with ASNSD. Metabolomics analysis demonstrated that Asn deprivation in ASNS-deficient cells led to disruptions across a wide range of metabolites. Moreover, we observed significant decrements in TCA cycle intermediates and anaplerotic substrates in ASNS-deficient cells challenged with Asn deprivation. We have identified pantothenate, phenylalanine, and aspartate as possible biomarkers of Asn deprivation in normal and ASNSD-derived cells. This work implies the possibility of a novel ASNSD diagnostic via targeted biomarker analysis of a blood draw.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario C. Chang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Stephen J. Staklinski
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA
| | - Vinay R. Malut
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Geraldine L. Pierre
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Michael S. Kilberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Matthew E. Merritt
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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10
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Staklinski SJ, Chang MC, Ahrens‐Nicklas RC, Kaur S, Stefanatos AK, Dudenhausen EE, Merritt ME, Kilberg MS. Characterizing asparagine synthetase deficiency variants in lymphoblastoid cell lines. JIMD Rep 2023; 64:167-179. [PMID: 36873094 PMCID: PMC9981421 DOI: 10.1002/jmd2.12356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Asparagine synthetase (ASNS) catalyzes the synthesis of asparagine (Asn) from aspartate and glutamine. Biallelic mutations in the ASNS gene result in ASNS Deficiency (ASNSD). Children with ASNSD exhibit congenital microcephaly, epileptic-like seizures, and continued brain atrophy, often leading to premature mortality. This report describes a 4-year-old male with global developmental delay and seizures with two novel mutations in the ASNS gene, c.614A > C (maternal) and c.1192dupT (paternal) encoding p.H205P and p.Y398Lfs*4 variants, respectively. We employed the novel use of immortalized lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL) to show that the proliferation of the heterozygotic parental LCL was not severely affected by culture in Asn-free medium, but growth of the child's cells was suppressed by about 50%. Asn production by the LCL from both the father and the child was significantly decreased relative to the mother's cells. mRNA and protein analysis of the paternal LCL cells for the Y398Lfs*4 variant revealed reductions in both. Attempts to ectopically express the truncated Y398Lfs*4 variant in either HEK293T or ASNS-null cells resulted in little or no detectable protein. Expression and purification of the H205P variant from HEK293T cells revealed enzymatic activity similar to wild-type ASNS. Stable expression of WT ASNS rescued the growth of ASNS-null JRS cells in Asn-free medium and the H205P variant was only slightly less effective. However, the Y398Lfs*4 variant appeared to be unstable in JRS cells. These results indicate that co-expression of the H205P and Y398Lfs*4 variants leads to a significant reduction in Asn synthesis and cellular growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen J. Staklinski
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyUniversity of Florida College of MedicineGainesvilleFloridaUSA
- School of Biological SciencesCold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring HarborNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Mario C. Chang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyUniversity of Florida College of MedicineGainesvilleFloridaUSA
| | - Rebecca C. Ahrens‐Nicklas
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of PediatricsChildren's Hospital of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Shagun Kaur
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of PediatricsChildren's Hospital of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Arianna K. Stefanatos
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesChildren's Hospital of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Elizabeth E. Dudenhausen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyUniversity of Florida College of MedicineGainesvilleFloridaUSA
| | - Matthew E. Merritt
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyUniversity of Florida College of MedicineGainesvilleFloridaUSA
| | - Michael S. Kilberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyUniversity of Florida College of MedicineGainesvilleFloridaUSA
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11
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Analysis of Enzyme Activity and Cellular Function for the N80S and S480F Asparagine Synthetase Variants Expressed in a Child with Asparagine Synthetase Deficiency. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010559. [PMID: 36613999 PMCID: PMC9820069 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Asparagine Synthetase Deficiency (ASNSD) is a disease caused by mutations in asparagine synthetase (ASNS). Newborns exhibit microcephaly, intractable epileptic-like seizures, progressive brain atrophy, and axial hypotonia. ASNSD results in global developmental delays and premature death. The present report describes a 9-year-old child who is a compound heterozygote with ASNS mutations c.1439C > T and c.239A > G leading to variants p.S480F and p.N80S, respectively. When grown in a complete culture medium, primary fibroblasts from the child contained ASNS mRNA and protein levels similar to an unrelated wild-type fibroblast cell line. When the child’s fibroblasts were cultured for up to 72 h in a medium lacking asparagine, proliferation was reduced by about 50%. Purification of ASNS proteins harboring either the S480F or the N80S substitution had reduced enzymatic activity by 80% and 50%, respectively. Ectopic expression of either variant in ASNS-null Jensen rat sarcoma (JRS) cells did not support proliferation in the absence of medium-supplied asparagine, whereas expression of wild-type enzyme completely restored growth. These studies add to the list of pathogenic ASNS variants and use enzyme activity and protein expression in ASNS-null cells to expand our knowledge of the biological impact of mutations in the ASNS gene.
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12
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Chen XW, Rao L, Chen JL, Zou Y. Unexpected assembly machinery for 4(3H)-quinazolinone scaffold synthesis. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6522. [PMID: 36316336 PMCID: PMC9622831 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34340-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
4(3H)-quinazolinone is the core scaffold in more than 200 natural alkaloids and numerous drugs. Many chemosynthetic methodologies have been developed to generate it; however, investigation of its native enzymatic formation mechanism in fungi has been largely limited to fumiquinazolines, where the two nitrogen atoms come from anthranilate (N-1) and the α-NH2 of amino acids (N-3). Here, via biochemical investigation of the chrysogine pathway, unexpected assembly machinery for 4(3H)-quinazolinone is unveiled, which involves a fungal two-module nonribosomal peptide synthase ftChyA with an unusual terminal condensation domain catalysing tripeptide formation; reveals that N-3 originates from the inorganic ammonium ions or the amide of L-Gln; demonstrates an unusual α-ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase ftChyM catalysis of the C-N bond oxidative cleavage of a tripeptide to form a dipeptide. Our study uncovers a unique release and tailoring mechanism for nonribosomal peptides and an alternative route for the synthesis of 4(3H)-quinazolinone scaffolds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi-Wei Chen
- grid.263906.80000 0001 0362 4044College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715 P. R. China
| | - Li Rao
- grid.263906.80000 0001 0362 4044College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715 P. R. China
| | - Jia-Li Chen
- grid.263906.80000 0001 0362 4044College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715 P. R. China
| | - Yi Zou
- grid.263906.80000 0001 0362 4044College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715 P. R. China
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13
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Safrhansova L, Hlozkova K, Starkova J. Targeting amino acid metabolism in cancer. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 373:37-79. [PMID: 36283767 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2022.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Metabolic rewiring is a characteristic hallmark of cancer cells. This phenomenon sustains uncontrolled proliferation and resistance to apoptosis by increasing nutrients and energy supply. However, reprogramming comes together with vulnerabilities that can be used against tumor and can be applied in targeted therapy. In the last years, the genetic background of tumors has been identified thoroughly and new therapies targeting those mutations tested. Nevertheless, we propose that targeting the phenotype of cancer cells could be another way of treatment aiming to avoid drug resistance and non-responsiveness of cancer patients. Amino acid metabolism is part of the altered processes in cancer cells. Amino acids are building blocks and also sensors of signaling pathways regulating main biological processes. In this comprehensive review, we described four amino acids (asparagine, arginine, methionine, and cysteine) which have been actively investigated as potential targets for anti-tumor therapy. Asparagine depletion is successfully used for decades in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and there is a strong implication to apply it to other types of tumors. Arginine auxotrophic tumors are great candidates for arginine-starvation therapy. Higher requirement for essential amino acids such as methionine and cysteine point out promising targetable weaknesses of cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Safrhansova
- CLIP - Childhood Leukaemia Investigation Prague, Prague, Czech Republic; Dept. of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Katerina Hlozkova
- CLIP - Childhood Leukaemia Investigation Prague, Prague, Czech Republic; Dept. of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Julia Starkova
- CLIP - Childhood Leukaemia Investigation Prague, Prague, Czech Republic; Dept. of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic; University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic.
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14
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Staklinski SJ, Chang MC, Yu F, Collins Ruff K, Franz DN, Qian Z, Bloom LB, Merritt ME, McKenna R, Kilberg MS. Cellular and molecular characterization of two novel asparagine synthetase gene mutations linked to asparagine synthetase deficiency. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102385. [PMID: 35985424 PMCID: PMC9478401 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Asparagine synthetase (ASNS) catalyzes synthesis of asparagine (Asn) and Glu from Asp and Gln in an ATP-dependent reaction. Asparagine synthetase deficiency (ASNSD) results from biallelic mutations in the ASNS gene. Affected children exhibit congenital microcephaly, continued brain atrophy, seizures, and often premature mortality. However, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. This report describes a compound heterozygotic ASNSD child with two novel mutations in the ASNS gene, c.1118G>T (paternal) and c.1556G>A (maternal), that lead to G373V or R519H ASNS variants. Structural mapping suggested that neither variant participates directly in catalysis. Growth of cultured fibroblasts from either parent was unaffected in Asn-free medium, whereas growth of the child's cells was suppressed by about 50%. Analysis of Asn levels unexpectedly revealed that extracellular rather than intracellular Asn correlated with the reduced proliferation during incubation of the child's cells in Asn-free medium. Our attempts to ectopically express the G373V variant in either HEK293T or JRS cells resulted in minimal protein production, suggesting instability. Protein expression and purification from HEK293T cells revealed reduced activity for the R519H variant relative to WT ASNS. Expression of WT ASNS in ASNS-null JRS cells resulted in nearly complete rescue of growth in Asn-free medium, whereas we observed no proliferation for the cells expressing either the G373V or R519H variant. These results support the conclusion that the coexpression of the G373V and R519H ASNS variants leads to significantly reduced Asn synthesis, which negatively impacts cellular growth. These observations are consistent with the ASNSD phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen J Staklinski
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Mario C Chang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Fang Yu
- Department of Medicine, UF Health Cancer Center, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Kathleen Collins Ruff
- Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - David N Franz
- Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Zhijian Qian
- Department of Medicine, UF Health Cancer Center, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Linda B Bloom
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Matthew E Merritt
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Robert McKenna
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Michael S Kilberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
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15
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Yang CI, Zhu Z, Jones JJ, Lomenick B, Chou TF, Shan SO. System-wide analyses reveal essential roles of N-terminal protein modification in bacterial membrane integrity. iScience 2022; 25:104756. [PMID: 35942092 PMCID: PMC9356101 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The removal of the N-terminal formyl group on nascent proteins by peptide deformylase (PDF) is the most prevalent protein modification in bacteria. PDF is a critical target of antibiotic development; however, its role in bacterial physiology remains a long-standing question. This work used the time-resolved analyses of the Escherichia coli translatome and proteome to investigate the consequences of PDF inhibition. Loss of PDF activity rapidly induces cellular stress responses, especially those associated with protein misfolding and membrane defects, followed by a global down-regulation of metabolic pathways. Rapid membrane hyperpolarization and impaired membrane integrity were observed shortly after PDF inhibition, suggesting that the plasma membrane disruption is the most immediate and primary consequence of formyl group retention on nascent proteins. This work resolves the physiological function of a ubiquitous protein modification and uncovers its crucial role in maintaining the structure and function of the bacterial membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chien-I Yang
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Zikun Zhu
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey J. Jones
- Proteome Exploration Laboratory, Beckman Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Brett Lomenick
- Proteome Exploration Laboratory, Beckman Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Tsui-Fen Chou
- Proteome Exploration Laboratory, Beckman Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Shu-ou Shan
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
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16
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Koper K, Han SW, Pastor DC, Yoshikuni Y, Maeda HA. Evolutionary Origin and Functional Diversification of Aminotransferases. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102122. [PMID: 35697072 PMCID: PMC9309667 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Aminotransferases (ATs) are pyridoxal 5′-phosphate–dependent enzymes that catalyze the transamination reactions between amino acid donor and keto acid acceptor substrates. Modern AT enzymes constitute ∼2% of all classified enzymatic activities, play central roles in nitrogen metabolism, and generate multitude of primary and secondary metabolites. ATs likely diverged into four distinct AT classes before the appearance of the last universal common ancestor and further expanded to a large and diverse enzyme family. Although the AT family underwent an extensive functional specialization, many AT enzymes retained considerable substrate promiscuity and multifunctionality because of their inherent mechanistic, structural, and functional constraints. This review summarizes the evolutionary history, diverse metabolic roles, reaction mechanisms, and structure–function relationships of the AT family enzymes, with a special emphasis on their substrate promiscuity and multifunctionality. Comprehensive characterization of AT substrate specificity is still needed to reveal their true metabolic functions in interconnecting various branches of the nitrogen metabolic network in different organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaan Koper
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Sang-Woo Han
- The US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | | | - Yasuo Yoshikuni
- The US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Global Center for Food, Land, and Water Resources, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido 060-8589, Japan
| | - Hiroshi A Maeda
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
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17
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Papageorgiou AC. Structural Characterization of Multienzyme Assemblies: An Overview. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2487:51-72. [PMID: 35687229 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2269-8_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Multienzyme assemblies have attracted significant attention in recent years for use in industrial applications instead of single enzymes. Owing to their ability to catalyze cascade reactions, multienzyme assemblies have become inspirational tools for the in vitro construction of multienzyme molecular machines. The use of such molecular machines could offer several advantages such as fewer side reactions, a high product yield, a fast reaction speed, easy product separation, a tolerable toxic environment, and robust system operability compared to current microbial cell catalytic systems. Besides, they can provide all the benefits found in the use of enzymes, including reusability, catalytic efficiency, and specificity. Similar to single enzymes, multienzyme assemblies could offer economical and environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional catalysts and play a central role as biocatalysts in green chemistry applications. However, detailed characterization of multienzyme assemblies and a full understanding of their mechanistic details are required for their efficient use in industrial biotransformations. Since the determination of the first enzyme structure in 1965, structural information has played a pivotal role in the characterization of enzymes and elucidation of their structure-function relationship. Among the structural biology techniques, X-ray crystallography has provided key mechanistic details into multienzyme assemblies. Here, the structural characterization of multienzyme assemblies is reviewed and several examples are provided.
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18
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Zhang G, Ren X, Liang X, Wang Y, Feng D, Zhang Y, Xian M, Zou H. Improving the Microbial Production of Amino Acids: From Conventional Approaches to Recent Trends. BIOTECHNOL BIOPROC E 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12257-020-0390-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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19
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Luo W, Xu J, Chen H, Zhang H, Yang P, Yu X. Synthesis of L-asparagine Catalyzed by a Novel Asparagine Synthase Coupled With an ATP Regeneration System. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:747404. [PMID: 34631686 PMCID: PMC8495130 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.747404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Compared with low-yield extraction from plants and environmentally unfriendly chemical synthesis, biocatalysis by asparagine synthetase (AS) for preparation of L-asparagine (L-Asn) has become a potential synthetic method. However, low enzyme activity of AS and high cost of ATP in this reaction restricts the large-scale preparation of L-Asn by biocatalysis. In this study, gene mining strategy was used to search for novel AS with high enzyme activity by expressing them in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) or Bacillus subtilis WB600. The obtained LsaAS-A was determined for its enzymatic properties and used for subsequent preparation of L-Asn. In order to reduce the use of ATP, a class III polyphosphate kinase 2 from Deinococcus ficus (DfiPPK2-Ⅲ) was cloned and expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3), Rosetta (DE3) or RosettagamiB (DE3) for ATP regeneration. A coupling reaction system including whole cells expressing LsaAS-A and DfiPPK2-Ⅲ was constructed to prepare L-Asn from L-aspartic acid (L-Asp). Batch catalytic experiments showed that sodium hexametaphosphate (>60 mmol L−1) and L-Asp (>100 mmol L−1) could inhibit the synthesis of L-Asn. Under fed-batch mode, L-Asn yield reached 90.15% with twice feeding of sodium hexametaphosphate. A final concentration of 218.26 mmol L−1 L-Asn with a yield of 64.19% was obtained when L-Asp and sodium hexametaphosphate were fed simultaneously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Luo
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Jinglong Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Huiying Chen
- College of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin, China
| | - Huili Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, University of Shihezi, Shihezi, China
| | - Peilong Yang
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Feed Research of CAAS, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaobin Yu
- The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
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20
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Use of tandem affinity-buffer exchange chromatography online with native mass spectrometry for optimizing overexpression and purification of recombinant proteins. Methods Enzymol 2021; 659:37-70. [PMID: 34752295 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2021.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Purification of recombinant proteins typically entails overexpression in heterologous systems and subsequent chromatography-based isolation. While denaturing sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is routinely used to screen a variety of overexpression conditions (e.g., host, medium, inducer concentration, post-induction temperature and/or incubation time) and to assess the purity of the final product, its limitations, including aberrant protein migration due to compositional eccentricities or incomplete denaturation, often preclude firm conclusions regarding the extent of overexpression and/or purification. Therefore, we recently reported an automated liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based strategy that couples immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) with size exclusion-based online buffer exchange (OBE) and native mass spectrometry (nMS) to directly analyze cell lysates for the presence of target proteins. IMAC-OBE-nMS can be used to assess whether target proteins (1) are overexpressed in soluble form, (2) bind and elute from an IMAC resin, (3) oligomerize, and (4) have the expected mass. Here, we use four poly-His-tagged proteins to demonstrate the potential of IMAC-OBE-nMS for expedient optimization of overexpression and purification conditions for recombinant protein production.
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21
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Hassell DS, Steingesser MG, Denney AS, Johnson CR, McMurray MA. Chemical rescue of mutant proteins in living Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells by naturally occurring small molecules. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2021; 11:6323229. [PMID: 34544143 PMCID: PMC8496222 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkab252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Intracellular proteins function in a complex milieu wherein small molecules influence protein folding and act as essential cofactors for enzymatic reactions. Thus protein function depends not only on amino acid sequence but also on the concentrations of such molecules, which are subject to wide variation between organisms, metabolic states, and environmental conditions. We previously found evidence that exogenous guanidine reverses the phenotypes of specific budding yeast septin mutants by binding to a WT septin at the former site of an Arg side chain that was lost during fungal evolution. Here, we used a combination of targeted and unbiased approaches to look for other cases of "chemical rescue" by naturally occurring small molecules. We report in vivo rescue of hundreds of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants representing a variety of genes, including likely examples of Arg or Lys side chain replacement by the guanidinium ion. Failed rescue of targeted mutants highlight features required for rescue, as well as key differences between the in vitro and in vivo environments. Some non-Arg mutants rescued by guanidine likely result from "off-target" effects on specific cellular processes in WT cells. Molecules isosteric to guanidine and known to influence protein folding had a range of effects, from essentially none for urea, to rescue of a few mutants by DMSO. Strikingly, the osmolyte trimethylamine-N-oxide rescued ∼20% of the mutants we tested, likely reflecting combinations of direct and indirect effects on mutant protein function. Our findings illustrate the potential of natural small molecules as therapeutic interventions and drivers of evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel S Hassell
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Marc G Steingesser
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Ashley S Denney
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Courtney R Johnson
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Michael A McMurray
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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22
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Matsumoto H, Kawashima N, Yamamoto T, Nakama M, Otsuka H, Ago Y, Sasai H, Kubota K, Ozeki M, Kawamoto N, Esaka Y, Ohnishi H. In vitro functional analysis of four variants of human asparagine synthetase. J Inherit Metab Dis 2021; 44:1226-1234. [PMID: 34080208 DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The loss-of-function variants of the human asparagine synthetase (ASNS) gene cause asparagine synthetase deficiency (ASNSD). Diagnosis of ASNSD requires genetic tests because a specific biochemical diagnostic for ASNSD is not available. There are a few reports describing the functional evaluation of ASNS variants. Therefore, in vitro methods are needed to evaluate the detected variants in patients. In this report, five types of human ASNS proteins (wild-type and our reported four variants: p.Leu145Ser, p.Leu247Trp, p.Val489Asp, and p.Trp541Cysfs*5) were expressed in silkworm using a baculoviral expression system. An enzymatic activity assay of ASNS was performed, and the concentration of asparagine by ninhydrin and High Performance Liquid Chromatography methods using the purified recombinant proteins was measured. We established ASNS deficient HEK293 cells using the CRISPR/Cas9 method and evaluated the growth of cells without asparagine after transduction of ASNS variants with a lentiviral expression system. The four ASNS variants displayed significantly low enzymatic activity. The ASNS deficient HEK293 cells transduced with wild-type ASNS grew without asparagine, whereas cells transduced with the variants did not grow or showed significantly slower growth than cells transduced with wild-type ASNS. Herein, we established a method for evaluating the enzymatic activity of the recombinant human ASNS variants. The results of the cell-based assay corroborated the results of the enzymatic activity. These methods should enable the evaluation of the pathogenicity of ASNS variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideki Matsumoto
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Nana Kawashima
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Analytical Chemistry, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Takahiro Yamamoto
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
- Educational Support Center for Pediatric Home-Based Medical Care, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Mina Nakama
- Clinical Genetics Center, Gifu University Hospital, Gifu, Japan
| | - Hiroki Otsuka
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
- Clinical Genetics Center, Gifu University Hospital, Gifu, Japan
| | - Yasuhiko Ago
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Hideo Sasai
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
- Clinical Genetics Center, Gifu University Hospital, Gifu, Japan
| | - Kazuo Kubota
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
- Educational Support Center for Pediatric Home-Based Medical Care, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
- Clinical Genetics Center, Gifu University Hospital, Gifu, Japan
| | - Michio Ozeki
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Norio Kawamoto
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Yukihiro Esaka
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Analytical Chemistry, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Hidenori Ohnishi
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
- Educational Support Center for Pediatric Home-Based Medical Care, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
- Clinical Genetics Center, Gifu University Hospital, Gifu, Japan
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23
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Sabino YNV, de Araújo KC, de Assis FGDV, Moreira SM, Lopes TDS, Mendes TADO, Huws SA, Mantovani HC. In silico Screening Unveil the Great Potential of Ruminal Bacteria Synthesizing Lasso Peptides. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:576738. [PMID: 33072042 PMCID: PMC7533575 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.576738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies of rumen microbial ecology suggest that the capacity to produce antimicrobial peptides could be a useful trait in species competing for ecological niches in the ruminal ecosystem. However, little is known about the synthesis of lasso peptides by ruminal microorganisms. Here we analyzed the distribution and diversity of lasso peptide gene clusters in 425 bacterial genomes from the rumen ecosystem. Genome mining was performed using antiSMASH 5, BAGEL4, and a database of well-known precursor sequences. The genomic context of the biosynthetic clusters was investigated to identify putative lasA genes and protein sequences from enzymes of the biosynthetic machinery were evaluated to identify conserved motifs. Metatranscriptome analysis evaluated the expression of the biosynthetic genes in the rumen microbiome. Several incomplete (n = 23) and complete (n = 11) putative lasso peptide clusters were detected in the genomes of ruminal bacteria. The complete gene clusters were exclusively found within the phylum Firmicutes, mainly (48%) in strains of the genus Butyrivibrio. The analysis of the genetic organization of complete putative lasso peptide clusters revealed the presence of co-occurring genes, including kinases (85%), transcriptional regulators (49%), and glycosyltransferases (36%). Moreover, a conserved pattern of cluster organization was detected between strains of the same genus/species. The maturation enzymes LasB, LasC, and LasD showed regions highly conserved, including the presence of a transglutaminase core in LasB, an asparagine synthetase domain in LasC, and an ABC-type transporter system in LasD. Phylogenetic trees of the essential biosynthetic proteins revealed that sequences split into monophyletic groups according to their shared single common ancestor. Metatranscriptome analyses indicated the expression of the lasso peptides biosynthetic genes within the active rumen microbiota. Overall, our in silico screening allowed the discovery of novel biosynthetic gene clusters in the genomes of ruminal bacteria and revealed several strains with the genetic potential to synthesize lasso peptides, suggesting that the ruminal microbiota represents a potential source of these promising peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Sharon Ann Huws
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Hilário C Mantovani
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil
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24
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The role of asparagine synthetase on nutrient metabolism in pancreatic disease. Pancreatology 2020; 20:1029-1034. [PMID: 32800652 DOI: 10.1016/j.pan.2020.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The pancreas avidly takes up and synthesizes the amino acid asparagine (Asn), in part, to maintain an active translational machinery that requires incorporation of the amino acid. The de novo synthesis of Asn in the pancreas occurs through the enzyme asparagine synthetase (ASNS). The pancreas has the highest expression of ASNS of any organ, and it can further upregulate ASNS expression in the setting of amino acid depletion. ASNS expression is driven by an intricate feedback network within the integrated stress response (ISR), which includes the amino acid response (AAR) and the unfolded protein response (UPR). Asparaginase is a cancer chemotherapeutic drug that depletes plasma Asn. However, asparaginase-associated pancreatitis (AAP) is a major medical problem and could be related to pancreatic Asn depletion. In this review, we will provide an overview of ASNS and then describe its role in pancreatic health and in the exocrine disorders of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. We will offer the overarching perspective that a high abundance of ASNS expression is hardwired in the exocrine pancreas to buffer the high demands of Asn for pancreatic digestive enzyme protein synthesis, that perturbations in the ability to express or upregulate ASNS could tip the balance towards pancreatitis, and that pancreatic cancers exploit ASNS to gain a metabolic survival advantage.
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25
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Zhu W, Radadiya A, Bisson C, Wenzel S, Nordin BE, Martínez-Márquez F, Imasaki T, Sedelnikova SE, Coricello A, Baumann P, Berry AH, Nomanbhoy TK, Kozarich JW, Jin Y, Rice DW, Takagi Y, Richards NGJ. High-resolution crystal structure of human asparagine synthetase enables analysis of inhibitor binding and selectivity. Commun Biol 2019; 2:345. [PMID: 31552298 PMCID: PMC6748925 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-019-0587-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Expression of human asparagine synthetase (ASNS) promotes metastatic progression and tumor cell invasiveness in colorectal and breast cancer, presumably by altering cellular levels of L-asparagine. Human ASNS is therefore emerging as a bona fide drug target for cancer therapy. Here we show that a slow-onset, tight binding inhibitor, which exhibits nanomolar affinity for human ASNS in vitro, exhibits excellent selectivity at 10 μM concentration in HCT-116 cell lysates with almost no off-target binding. The high-resolution (1.85 Å) crystal structure of human ASNS has enabled us to identify a cluster of negatively charged side chains in the synthetase domain that plays a key role in inhibitor binding. Comparing this structure with those of evolutionarily related AMP-forming enzymes provides insights into intermolecular interactions that give rise to the observed binding selectivity. Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of developing second generation human ASNS inhibitors as lead compounds for the discovery of drugs against metastasis. Wen Zhu et al. report the crystal structure of human asparagine synthetase at a 1.85 Å resolution, enabling computational analysis of inhibitor binding. They also find new insights into the intermolecular interactions contributing to binding specificity of inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Zhu
- 1School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.,8Present Address: Department of Chemistry and California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA USA
| | | | - Claudine Bisson
- 2Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,8Present Address: Department of Chemistry and California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Sabine Wenzel
- 3Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN USA
| | - Brian E Nordin
- 4ActivX Biosciences, Inc, La Jolla, CA USA.,Present Address: Vividion Therapeutics, San Diego, CA USA
| | - Francisco Martínez-Márquez
- 3Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN USA
| | - Tsuyoshi Imasaki
- 3Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN USA.,5Division of Structural Medicine and Anatomy, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Svetlana E Sedelnikova
- 2Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | | | | | - Alexandria H Berry
- 6Department of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA USA
| | | | | | - Yi Jin
- 1School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - David W Rice
- 2Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Yuichiro Takagi
- 3Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN USA
| | - Nigel G J Richards
- 1School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.,7Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, Alachua, FL USA
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26
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Tang J, Sun Z, Chen Q, Damaris RN, Lu B, Hu Z. Nitrogen Fertilizer Induced Alterations in The Root Proteome of Two Rice Cultivars. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20153674. [PMID: 31357526 PMCID: PMC6695714 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20153674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 07/20/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) is an essential nutrient for plants and a key limiting factor of crop production. However, excessive application of N fertilizers and the low nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) have brought in severe damage to the environment. Therefore, improving NUE is urgent and critical for the reductions of N fertilizer pollution and production cost. In the present study, we investigated the effects of N nutrition on the growth and yield of the two rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars, conventional rice Huanghuazhan and indica hybrid rice Quanliangyou 681, which were grown at three levels of N fertilizer (including 135, 180 and 225 kg/hm2, labeled as N9, N12, N15, respectively). Then, a proteomic approach was employed in the roots of the two rice cultivars treated with N fertilizer at the level of N15. A total of 6728 proteins were identified, among which 6093 proteins were quantified, and 511 differentially expressed proteins were found in the two rice cultivars after N fertilizer treatment. These differentially expressed proteins were mainly involved in ammonium assimilation, amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, signal transduction, energy production/regulation, material transport, and stress/defense response. Together, this study provides new insights into the regulatory mechanism of nitrogen fertilization in cereal crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jichao Tang
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Grain Industry, Agricultural college, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China
| | - Zhigui Sun
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Grain Industry, Agricultural college, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China
| | - Qinghua Chen
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Grain Industry, Agricultural college, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China
| | - Rebecca Njeri Damaris
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China.
| | - Bilin Lu
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Grain Industry, Agricultural college, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China.
| | - Zhengrong Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China.
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27
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Sprute R, Ardicli D, Oguz KK, Malenica-Mandel A, Daimagüler HS, Koy A, Coskun T, Wang H, Topcu M, Cirak S. Clinical outcomes of two patients with a novel pathogenic variant in ASNS: response to asparagine supplementation and review of the literature. Hum Genome Var 2019; 6:24. [PMID: 31123592 PMCID: PMC6531480 DOI: 10.1038/s41439-019-0055-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Revised: 03/31/2019] [Accepted: 04/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Asparagine synthetase deficiency (ASNSD, OMIM #615574) is a rare autosomal recessive neurometabolic inborn error that leads to severe cognitive impairment. It manifests with microcephaly, intractable seizures, and progressive cerebral atrophy. Currently, there is no established treatment for this condition. In our pediatric cohort, we discovered, by whole-exome sequencing in two siblings from Turkey, a novel homozygous missense mutation in asparagine synthetase at NM_133436.3 (ASNS_v001): c.1108C>T that results in an amino acid exchange p.(Leu370Phe), in the C-terminal domain. After identification of the metabolic defect, treatment with oral asparagine supplementation was attempted in both patients for 24 months. Asparagine supplementation was well tolerated, and no further disease progression was observed during treatment. One of our patients showed mild developmental progress with increased levels of attention and improved nonverbal communication. These results support our hypothesis that asparagine supplementation should be further investigated as a treatment option for ASNSD. We further reviewed all previously reported ASNSD cases with regard for their clinical phenotypes and brain imaging findings to provide an essential knowledge base for rapid diagnosis and future clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosanne Sprute
- 1Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany.,2Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Didem Ardicli
- 3Department of Pediatric Neurology, Hacettepe University, 06100 Ankara, Turkey
| | - Kader Karli Oguz
- 4Department of Radiology, Hacettepe University, 06100 Ankara, Turkey
| | - Anna Malenica-Mandel
- 1Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany.,2Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Hülya-Sevcan Daimagüler
- 1Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany.,2Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Anne Koy
- 1Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Turgay Coskun
- 5Department of Pediatric Metabolism Unit, Hacettepe University, 06100 Ankara, Turkey
| | - Haicui Wang
- 1Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany.,2Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Meral Topcu
- 3Department of Pediatric Neurology, Hacettepe University, 06100 Ankara, Turkey
| | - Sebahattin Cirak
- 1Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany.,2Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
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28
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Lux MC, Standke LC, Tan DS. Targeting adenylate-forming enzymes with designed sulfonyladenosine inhibitors. J Antibiot (Tokyo) 2019; 72:325-349. [PMID: 30982830 PMCID: PMC6594144 DOI: 10.1038/s41429-019-0171-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Adenylate-forming enzymes are a mechanistic superfamily that are involved in diverse biochemical pathways. They catalyze ATP-dependent activation of carboxylic acid substrates as reactive acyl adenylate (acyl-AMP) intermediates and subsequent coupling to various nucleophiles to generate ester, thioester, and amide products. Inspired by natural products, acyl sulfonyladenosines (acyl-AMS) that mimic the tightly bound acyl-AMP reaction intermediates have been developed as potent inhibitors of adenylate-forming enzymes. This simple yet powerful inhibitor design platform has provided a wide range of biological probes as well as several therapeutic lead compounds. Herein, we provide an overview of the nine structural classes of adenylate-forming enzymes and examples of acyl-AMS inhibitors that have been developed for each.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaelyn C Lux
- Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Lisa C Standke
- Pharmacology Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Derek S Tan
- Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA. .,Pharmacology Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA. .,Chemical Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, and Tri-Institutional Research Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
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Cyst-Peritoneal Shunt for the Treatment of a Progressive Intracerebral Cyst Associated with ASNS Mutation: Case Report and Literature Review. World Neurosurg 2019; 127:1-7. [PMID: 30844524 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2019.02.130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Revised: 02/19/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Congenital microcephaly could result from a gene mutation. Asparagine synthetase deficiency, which is caused by the asparagine synthetase (ASNS) mutation, is a rare autosomal-recessive neurometabolic disorder. It is characterized by severe developmental delay, congenital microcephaly, and seizures. CASE DESCRIPTION Here we present the first report on a progressive intracerebral cyst associated with ASNS mutation, which caused neurodevelopmental dysplasia. ASNS mutation was confirmed by whole-exome sequencing and is the most likely reason for the neurodevelopmental dysplasia, which results in microcephaly, refractory seizures, and congenital visual impairment. Antiepileptic drugs have limited therapeutic effect on these epileptic seizures. CONCLUSIONS Although there is no cure for this disorder so far, the huge progressive intracerebral cyst can be cured by a cyst-peritoneal shunt.
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Noree C, Sirinonthanawech N, Wilhelm JE. Saccharomyces cerevisiae ASN1 and ASN2 are asparagine synthetase paralogs that have diverged in their ability to polymerize in response to nutrient stress. Sci Rep 2019; 9:278. [PMID: 30670751 PMCID: PMC6342913 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36719-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent work has found that many metabolic enzymes have the ability to polymerize in response to metabolic changes or environmental stress. This ability to polymerize is well conserved for the few metabolic enzyme paralogs that have been studied in yeast. Here we describe the first set of paralogs, Asn1p and Asn2p, that have differential assembly behavior. Asn1p and Asn2p both co-assemble into filaments in response to nutrient limitation. However, the ability of Asn2p to form filaments is strictly dependent on the presence of Asn1p. Using mutations that block enzyme activity but have differential effects on Asn1p polymerization, we have found that Asn1p polymers are unlikely to have acquired a moonlighting function. Together these results provide a novel system for understanding the regulation and evolution of metabolic enzyme polymerization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chalongrat Noree
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, 25/25 Phuttamonthon 4 Road, Salaya, Phuttamonthon, Nakhon Pathom, 73170, Thailand.
| | - Naraporn Sirinonthanawech
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, 25/25 Phuttamonthon 4 Road, Salaya, Phuttamonthon, Nakhon Pathom, 73170, Thailand
| | - James E Wilhelm
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive (MC 0347), La Jolla, CA, 92093-0347, USA.
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31
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Koos JD, Link AJ. Heterologous and in Vitro Reconstitution of Fuscanodin, a Lasso Peptide from Thermobifida fusca. J Am Chem Soc 2018; 141:928-935. [PMID: 30532970 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b10724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Lasso peptides are a class of ribosomally derived natural products typified by their threaded rotaxane structure. The conversion of a linear precursor peptide into a lasso peptide structure requires two enzymatic activities: cleavage of the precursor via a cysteine protease and cyclization via isopeptide bond formation. In vitro studies of lasso peptide enzymology have been hampered by difficulties in obtaining pure, soluble enzymes. We reasoned that thermophilic bacteria would be a good source for well-behaved lasso peptide biosynthetic enzymes. The genome of the thermophilic actinobacterium Thermobifida fusca encodes for a lasso peptide with an unprecedented Trp residue at its N-terminus, a peptide we have named fuscanodin. Here we reconstitute fuscanodin biosynthesis in vitro with purified components, establishing a minimal fuscanodin synthetase. These experiments have allowed us to probe the kinetics of lasso peptide biosynthesis for the first time, and we report initial rates of fuscanodin biosynthesis. The fuscanodin biosynthetic enzymes are insensitive to substrate concentration and operate in a near single-turnover regime in vitro. While lasso peptides are often touted for their stability to both chaotropic and thermal challenges, fuscanodin is found to undergo a conformational change consistent with lasso peptide unthreading in organic solvents at room temperature.
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32
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DiCaprio AJ, Firouzbakht A, Hudson GA, Mitchell DA. Enzymatic Reconstitution and Biosynthetic Investigation of the Lasso Peptide Fusilassin. J Am Chem Soc 2018; 141:290-297. [PMID: 30589265 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b09928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Lasso peptides are a class of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified natural product which possess a unique lariat knot conformation. The low entropy "threaded" conformation endows lasso peptides with considerable resistance to heat and proteolytic degradation, which are attractive properties for the development of peptide-based therapeutics. Despite their discovery nearly 30 years ago, the molecular mechanism underlying lasso peptide biosynthesis remains poorly characterized due to the low stability of the purified biosynthetic enzymes. Here, we report the biosynthetic reconstitution of a lasso peptide derived from Thermobifida fusca, termed fusilassin. Beyond robust catalytic activity, the fusilassin enzymes demonstrate extraordinary substrate tolerance during heterologous expression in E. coli and upon purification in cell-free biosynthetic reconstitution reactions. We provide evidence that the fusilassin biosynthetic enzymes are not capable of forming branched-cyclic products but can produce entirely unrelated lasso peptides. Finally, we leveraged our bioinformatic survey of all lasso peptides identified in GenBank to perform coevolutionary analysis of two requisite biosynthetic proteins. This effort correctly identified residues governing an important protein-protein interaction, illustrating how genomic insight can accelerate the characterization of natural product biosynthetic pathways. The fusilassin enzymes described within represent a model system for both designing future lasso peptides of biomedical importance and also for elucidating the molecular mechanisms that govern lasso peptide biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J DiCaprio
- Department of Chemistry , University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , 600 South Mathews Avenue , Urbana , Illinois 61801 , United States.,Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology , University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , 1206 West Gregory Drive , Urbana , Illinois 61801 , United States
| | - Arash Firouzbakht
- Department of Chemistry , University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , 600 South Mathews Avenue , Urbana , Illinois 61801 , United States.,Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology , University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , 1206 West Gregory Drive , Urbana , Illinois 61801 , United States
| | - Graham A Hudson
- Department of Chemistry , University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , 600 South Mathews Avenue , Urbana , Illinois 61801 , United States
| | - Douglas A Mitchell
- Department of Chemistry , University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , 600 South Mathews Avenue , Urbana , Illinois 61801 , United States.,Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology , University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , 1206 West Gregory Drive , Urbana , Illinois 61801 , United States
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33
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Zhang S, Ding K, Shen QJ, Zhao S, Liu JL. Filamentation of asparagine synthetase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. PLoS Genet 2018; 14:e1007737. [PMID: 30365499 PMCID: PMC6221361 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2018] [Revised: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Asparagine synthetase (ASNS) and CTP synthase (CTPS) are two metabolic enzymes crucial for glutamine homeostasis. A genome-wide screening in Saccharomyces cerevisiae reveal that both ASNS and CTPS form filamentous structures termed cytoophidia. Although CTPS cytoophidia were well documented in recent years, the filamentation of ASNS is less studied. Using the budding yeast as a model system, here we confirm that two ASNS proteins, Asn1 and Asn2, are capable of forming cytoophidia in diauxic and stationary phases. We find that glucose deprivation induces ASNS filament formation. Although ASNS and CTPS form distinct cytoophidia with different lengths, both structures locate adjacently to each other in most cells. Moreover, we demonstrate that the Asn1 cytoophidia colocalize with the Asn2 cytoophidia, while Asn2 filament assembly is largely dependent on Asn1. In addition, we are able to alter Asn1 filamentation by mutagenizing key sites on the dimer interface. Finally, we show that ASN1D330V promotes filamentation. The ASN1D330V mutation impedes cell growth in an ASN2 knockout background, while growing normally in an ASN2 wild-type background. Together, this study reveals a connection between ASNS and CTPS cytoophidia and the differential filament-forming capability between two ASNS paralogs. Asparagine synthetase (ASNS) is an essential enzyme for biosynthesis of asparagine. We have recently shown that ASNS, similar to CTP synthase (CTPS), can assemble into snake-shaped structures termed cytoophidia. In this study, we reveal that the ASNS cytoophidium stays close with the CTPS cytoophidium in most cells. Two ASNS proteins, Asn1 and Asn2, localize in the same structure. The Asn1 protein is important for the formation of the Asn2 filaments. Mutant cells with branching Asn1 cytoophidia grow slower than wild-type cells. Our findings provide a better understanding of the ASNS cytoophidium as well as its relationship with the CTPS cytoophidium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Zhang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Kang Ding
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qing-Ji Shen
- MRC Functional Genomics Unit, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Suwen Zhao
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ji-Long Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
- MRC Functional Genomics Unit, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: ,
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34
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Fellner M, Hausinger RP, Hu J. A structural perspective on the PP-loop ATP pyrophosphatase family. Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol 2018; 53:607-622. [DOI: 10.1080/10409238.2018.1516728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Fellner
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Robert P. Hausinger
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Jian Hu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
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35
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Tsitkov S, Pesenti T, Palacci H, Blanchet J, Hess H. Queueing Theory-Based Perspective of the Kinetics of “Channeled” Enzyme Cascade Reactions. ACS Catal 2018. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.8b02760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stanislav Tsitkov
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Theo Pesenti
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
- École Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles (ESPCI), Paris, 75231 Cedex 05, France
| | - Henri Palacci
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Jose Blanchet
- Management Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California 94305, United States
| | - Henry Hess
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
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36
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Wang KKA, Ng TL, Wang P, Huang Z, Balskus EP, van der Donk WA. Glutamic acid is a carrier for hydrazine during the biosyntheses of fosfazinomycin and kinamycin. Nat Commun 2018; 9:3687. [PMID: 30206228 PMCID: PMC6133997 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06083-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Accepted: 08/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Fosfazinomycin and kinamycin are natural products that contain nitrogen-nitrogen (N-N) bonds but that are otherwise structurally unrelated. Despite their considerable structural differences, their biosynthetic gene clusters share a set of genes predicted to facilitate N-N bond formation. In this study, we show that for both compounds, one of the nitrogen atoms in the N-N bond originates from nitrous acid. Furthermore, we show that for both compounds, an acetylhydrazine biosynthetic synthon is generated first and then funneled via a glutamyl carrier into the respective biosynthetic pathways. Therefore, unlike other pathways to N-N bond-containing natural products wherein the N-N bond is formed directly on a biosynthetic intermediate, during the biosyntheses of fosfazinomycin, kinamycin, and related compounds, the N-N bond is made in an independent pathway that forms a branch of a convergent route to structurally complex natural products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwo-Kwang A Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, 61801, IL, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, 61801, IL, USA
| | - Tai L Ng
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, 02138, MA, USA
| | - Peng Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, 02138, MA, USA
- Red & Charline McCombs Institute for the Early Detection and Treatment of Cancer, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, 77030, TX, USA
| | - Zedu Huang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, 61801, IL, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, 61801, IL, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438-6789, China
| | - Emily P Balskus
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, 02138, MA, USA.
| | - Wilfred A van der Donk
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, 61801, IL, USA.
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, 61801, IL, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, 20815, MD, USA.
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37
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Sacharow SJ, Dudenhausen EE, Lomelino CL, Rodan L, El Achkar CM, Olson HE, Genetti CA, Agrawal PB, McKenna R, Kilberg MS. Characterization of a novel variant in siblings with Asparagine Synthetase Deficiency. Mol Genet Metab 2018; 123:317-325. [PMID: 29279279 PMCID: PMC5832599 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2017.12.433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2017] [Revised: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Asparagine Synthetase Deficiency (ASD) is a recently described inborn error of metabolism caused by bi-allelic pathogenic variants in the asparagine synthetase (ASNS) gene. ASD typically presents congenitally with microcephaly and severe, often medically refractory, epilepsy. Development is generally severely affected at birth. Tone is abnormal with axial hypotonia and progressive appendicular spasticity. Hyperekplexia has been reported. Neuroimaging typically demonstrates gyral simplification, abnormal myelination, and progressive cerebral atrophy. The present report describes two siblings from consanguineous parents with a homozygous Arg49Gln variant associated with a milder form of ASD that is characterized by later onset of symptoms. Both siblings had a period of normal development before onset of seizures, and development regression. Primary fibroblast studies of the siblings and their parents document that homozygosity for Arg49Gln blocks cell growth in the absence of extracellular asparagine. Functional studies with these cells suggest no impact of the Arg49Gln variant on basal ASNS mRNA or protein levels, nor on regulation of the gene itself. Molecular modelling of the ASNS protein structure indicates that the Arg49Gln variant lies near the substrate binding site for glutamine. Collectively, the results suggest that the Arg49Gln variant affects the enzymatic function of ASNS. The clinical, cellular, and molecular observations from these siblings expand the known phenotypic spectrum of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie J Sacharow
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Elizabeth E Dudenhausen
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Genetics Institute, University of Florida College of Medicine, 1200 Newell Drive, FL 32608, USA
| | - Carrie L Lomelino
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Genetics Institute, University of Florida College of Medicine, 1200 Newell Drive, FL 32608, USA
| | - Lance Rodan
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States; Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Christelle Moufawad El Achkar
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States; Epilepsy Genetics Program, Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Heather E Olson
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States; Epilepsy Genetics Program, Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Casie A Genetti
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States; Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Pankaj B Agrawal
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States; Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States; Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Robert McKenna
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Genetics Institute, University of Florida College of Medicine, 1200 Newell Drive, FL 32608, USA
| | - Michael S Kilberg
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Genetics Institute, University of Florida College of Medicine, 1200 Newell Drive, FL 32608, USA.
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38
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Lomelino CL, Andring JT, McKenna R, Kilberg MS. Asparagine synthetase: Function, structure, and role in disease. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:19952-19958. [PMID: 29084849 PMCID: PMC5723983 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.r117.819060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 177] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Asparagine synthetase (ASNS) converts aspartate and glutamine to asparagine and glutamate in an ATP-dependent reaction. ASNS is present in most, if not all, mammalian organs, but varies widely in basal expression. Human ASNS activity is highly responsive to cellular stress, primarily by increased transcription from a single gene located on chromosome 7. Elevated ASNS protein expression is associated with resistance to asparaginase therapy in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. There is evidence that ASNS expression levels may also be inversely correlated with asparaginase efficacy in certain solid tumors as well. Children with mutations in the ASNS gene exhibit developmental delays, intellectual disability, microcephaly, intractable seizures, and progressive brain atrophy. Thus far, 15 unique mutations in the ASNS gene have been clinically associated with asparagine synthetase deficiency (ASD). Molecular modeling using the Escherichia coli ASNS-B structure has revealed that most of the reported ASD substitutions are located near catalytic sites or within highly conserved regions of the protein. For some ASD patients, fibroblast cell culture studies have eliminated protein and mRNA synthesis or stability as the basis for decreased proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carrie L Lomelino
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shands Cancer Center, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610
| | - Jacob T Andring
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shands Cancer Center, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610
| | - Robert McKenna
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shands Cancer Center, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610
| | - Michael S Kilberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shands Cancer Center, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610.
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Gupta N, Tewari VV, Kumar M, Langeh N, Gupta A, Mishra P, Kaur P, Ramprasad V, Murugan S, Kumar R, Jana M, Kabra M. Asparagine Synthetase deficiency-report of a novel mutation and review of literature. Metab Brain Dis 2017; 32:1889-1900. [PMID: 28776279 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-017-0073-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2017] [Accepted: 07/19/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Asparagine synthetase deficiency is a rare inborn error of metabolism caused by a defect in ASNS, a gene encoding asparagine synthetase. It manifests with a severe neurological phenotype manifesting as severe developmental delay, congenital microcephaly, spasticity and refractory seizures. To date, nineteen patients from twelve unrelated families have been identified. Majority of the mutations are missense and nonsense mutations in homozygous or compound heterozygous state. We add another case from India which harbored a novel homozygous missense variation in exon 11 and compare the current case with previously reported cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neerja Gupta
- Division of Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India.
| | | | - Manoj Kumar
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Nitika Langeh
- Division of Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Aditi Gupta
- Division of Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Pallavi Mishra
- Division of Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Punit Kaur
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Vedam Ramprasad
- Department of Radiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Sakthivel Murugan
- Department of Radiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Reema Kumar
- Department of Pediatrics, Army Hospital (Referral & Research), New Delhi, India
| | - Manisha Jana
- Department of Radiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Madhulika Kabra
- Division of Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India
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40
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Li J, Tang X, Awakawa T, Moore BS. Enzymatic C−H Oxidation-Amidation Cascade in the Production of Natural and Unnatural Thiotetronate Antibiotics with Potentiated Bioactivity. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201705239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jie Li
- Center of Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine; Scripps Institution of Oceanography; University of California at San Diego; 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla CA 92093-0204 USA
| | - Xiaoyu Tang
- Center of Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine; Scripps Institution of Oceanography; University of California at San Diego; 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla CA 92093-0204 USA
| | - Takayoshi Awakawa
- Center of Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine; Scripps Institution of Oceanography; University of California at San Diego; 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla CA 92093-0204 USA
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences; The University of Tokyo; 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-0033 Japan
| | - Bradley S. Moore
- Center of Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine; Scripps Institution of Oceanography; University of California at San Diego; 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla CA 92093-0204 USA
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences; University of California at San Diego; 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla CA 92093 USA
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41
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Li J, Tang X, Awakawa T, Moore BS. Enzymatic C-H Oxidation-Amidation Cascade in the Production of Natural and Unnatural Thiotetronate Antibiotics with Potentiated Bioactivity. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2017; 56:12234-12239. [PMID: 28833969 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201705239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2017] [Revised: 07/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The selective activation of unreactive hydrocarbons by biosynthetic enzymes has inspired new synthetic methods in C-H bond activation. Herein, we report the unprecedented two-step biosynthetic conversion of thiotetromycin to thiotetroamide C involving the tandem oxidation and amidation of an unreactive ethyl group. We detail the genetic and biochemical basis for the terminal amidation in thiotetroamide C biosynthesis, which involves a uniquely adapted cytochrome P450-amidotransferase enzyme pair and highlights the first oxidation-amidation enzymatic cascade reaction leading to the selective formation of a primary amide group from a chemically inert alkyl group. Motivated by the ten-fold increase in antibiotic potency of thiotetroamide C ascribed to the acetamide group and the unusual enzymology involved, we enzymatically interrogated diverse thiolactomycin analogues and prepared an unnatural thiotetroamide C analogue with potentiated bioactivity compared to the parent molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Li
- Center of Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California at San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0204, USA
| | - Xiaoyu Tang
- Center of Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California at San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0204, USA
| | - Takayoshi Awakawa
- Center of Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California at San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0204, USA.,Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Bradley S Moore
- Center of Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California at San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0204, USA.,Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California at San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
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Yamamoto T, Endo W, Ohnishi H, Kubota K, Kawamoto N, Inui T, Imamura A, Takanashi JI, Shiina M, Saitsu H, Ogata K, Matsumoto N, Haginoya K, Fukao T. The first report of Japanese patients with asparagine synthetase deficiency. Brain Dev 2017; 39:236-242. [PMID: 27743885 DOI: 10.1016/j.braindev.2016.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2016] [Revised: 09/19/2016] [Accepted: 09/26/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Asparagine synthetase (ASNS) deficiency was recently discovered as a metabolic disorder of non-essential amino acids, and presents as severe progressive microcephaly, intellectual disorder, dyskinetic quadriplegia, and intractable seizures. METHODS Two Japanese children with progressive microcephaly born to unrelated patients were analyzed by whole exome sequencing and novel ASNS mutations were identified. The effects of the ASNS mutations were analyzed by structural evaluation and in silico predictions. RESULTS We describe the first known Japanese patients with ASNS deficiency. Their clinical manifestations were very similar to reported cases of ASNS deficiency. Progressive microcephaly was noted during the prenatal period in patient 1 but only after birth in patient 2. Both patients had novel ASNS mutations: patient 1 had p.L145S transmitted from his mother and p.L247W which was absent from his mother, while patient 2 carried p.V489D and p.W541Cfs*5, which were transmitted from his mother and father, respectively. Three of the four mutations were predicted to affect protein folding, and in silico analyses suggested that they would be pathogenic. CONCLUSION We report the first two Japanese patients with ASNS deficiency. Disease severity appears to vary among patients, as is the case for other non-essential amino acid metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahiro Yamamoto
- Department of Disability Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan; Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan.
| | - Wakaba Endo
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Takuto Rehabilitation Center for Children, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hidenori Ohnishi
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Kazuo Kubota
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Norio Kawamoto
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Takehiko Inui
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Takuto Rehabilitation Center for Children, Sendai, Japan
| | - Atsushi Imamura
- Department of Pediatrics, Gifu Prefectural General Medical Center, Gifu, Japan
| | - Jun-Ichi Takanashi
- Department of Pediatrics, Tokyo Women's Medical University Yachiyo Medical Center, Yachiyo, Japan
| | - Masaaki Shiina
- Department of Biochemistry, Yokohama City University, Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Hirotomo Saitsu
- Department of Human Genetics, Yokohama City University, Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Ogata
- Department of Biochemistry, Yokohama City University, Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Naomichi Matsumoto
- Department of Human Genetics, Yokohama City University, Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Haginoya
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Takuto Rehabilitation Center for Children, Sendai, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Fukao
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
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43
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Xu H, Curtis TY, Powers SJ, Raffan S, Gao R, Huang J, Heiner M, Gilbert DR, Halford NG. Genomic, Biochemical, and Modeling Analyses of Asparagine Synthetases from Wheat. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:2237. [PMID: 29379512 PMCID: PMC5775275 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.02237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Asparagine synthetase activity in cereals has become an important issue with the discovery that free asparagine concentration determines the potential for formation of acrylamide, a probably carcinogenic processing contaminant, in baked cereal products. Asparagine synthetase catalyses the ATP-dependent transfer of the amino group of glutamine to a molecule of aspartate to generate glutamate and asparagine. Here, asparagine synthetase-encoding polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products were amplified from wheat (Triticum aestivum) cv. Spark cDNA. The encoded proteins were assigned the names TaASN1, TaASN2, and TaASN3 on the basis of comparisons with other wheat and cereal asparagine synthetases. Although very similar to each other they differed slightly in size, with molecular masses of 65.49, 65.06, and 66.24 kDa, respectively. Chromosomal positions and scaffold references were established for TaASN1, TaASN2, and TaASN3, and a fourth, more recently identified gene, TaASN4. TaASN1, TaASN2, and TaASN4 were all found to be single copy genes, located on chromosomes 5, 3, and 4, respectively, of each genome (A, B, and D), although variety Chinese Spring lacked a TaASN2 gene in the B genome. Two copies of TaASN3 were found on chromosome 1 of each genome, and these were given the names TaASN3.1 and TaASN3.2. The TaASN1, TaASN2, and TaASN3 PCR products were heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli (TaASN4 was not investigated in this part of the study). Western blot analysis identified two monoclonal antibodies that recognized the three proteins, but did not distinguish between them, despite being raised to epitopes SKKPRMIEVAAP and GGSNKPGVMNTV in the variable C-terminal regions of the proteins. The heterologously expressed TaASN1 and TaASN2 proteins were found to be active asparagine synthetases, producing asparagine and glutamate from glutamine and aspartate. The asparagine synthetase reaction was modeled using SNOOPY® software and information from the BRENDA database to generate differential equations to describe the reaction stages, based on mass action kinetics. Experimental data from the reactions catalyzed by TaASN1 and TaASN2 were entered into the model using Copasi, enabling values to be determined for kinetic parameters. Both the reaction data and the modeling showed that the enzymes continued to produce glutamate even when the synthesis of asparagine had ceased due to a lack of aspartate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongwei Xu
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Department of Plant Sciences, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, United Kingdom
| | - Tanya Y. Curtis
- Department of Plant Sciences, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen J. Powers
- Department of Computational and Analytical Sciences, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Raffan
- Department of Plant Sciences, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, United Kingdom
| | - Runhong Gao
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Department of Plant Sciences, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, United Kingdom
| | - Jianhua Huang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Nigel G. Halford, Jianhua Huang,
| | - Monika Heiner
- Department of Computer Science, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Cottbus, Germany
| | - David R. Gilbert
- Department of Computer Science, College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United Kingdom
| | - Nigel G. Halford
- Department of Plant Sciences, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Nigel G. Halford, Jianhua Huang,
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44
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Marques SM, Daniel L, Buryska T, Prokop Z, Brezovsky J, Damborsky J. Enzyme Tunnels and Gates As Relevant Targets in Drug Design. Med Res Rev 2016; 37:1095-1139. [PMID: 27957758 DOI: 10.1002/med.21430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2016] [Revised: 10/11/2016] [Accepted: 11/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Many enzymes contain tunnels and gates that are essential to their function. Gates reversibly switch between open and closed conformations and thereby control the traffic of small molecules-substrates, products, ions, and solvent molecules-into and out of the enzyme's structure via molecular tunnels. Many transient tunnels and gates undoubtedly remain to be identified, and their functional roles and utility as potential drug targets have received comparatively little attention. Here, we describe a set of general concepts relating to the structural properties, function, and classification of these interesting structural features. In addition, we highlight the potential of enzyme tunnels and gates as targets for the binding of small molecules. The different types of binding that are possible and the potential pharmacological benefits of such targeting are discussed. Twelve examples of ligands bound to the tunnels and/or gates of clinically relevant enzymes are used to illustrate the different binding modes and to explain some new strategies for drug design. Such strategies could potentially help to overcome some of the problems facing medicinal chemists and lead to the discovery of more effective drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio M Marques
- Loschmidt Laboratories, Faculty of Science, Department of Experimental Biology and Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment, RECETOX, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lukas Daniel
- Loschmidt Laboratories, Faculty of Science, Department of Experimental Biology and Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment, RECETOX, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.,International Centre for Clinical Research, St. Anne's University Hospital, Pekarska 53, 656 91, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tomas Buryska
- Loschmidt Laboratories, Faculty of Science, Department of Experimental Biology and Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment, RECETOX, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.,International Centre for Clinical Research, St. Anne's University Hospital, Pekarska 53, 656 91, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Zbynek Prokop
- Loschmidt Laboratories, Faculty of Science, Department of Experimental Biology and Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment, RECETOX, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.,International Centre for Clinical Research, St. Anne's University Hospital, Pekarska 53, 656 91, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Brezovsky
- Loschmidt Laboratories, Faculty of Science, Department of Experimental Biology and Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment, RECETOX, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.,International Centre for Clinical Research, St. Anne's University Hospital, Pekarska 53, 656 91, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Damborsky
- Loschmidt Laboratories, Faculty of Science, Department of Experimental Biology and Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment, RECETOX, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.,International Centre for Clinical Research, St. Anne's University Hospital, Pekarska 53, 656 91, Brno, Czech Republic
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45
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An W, Guo F, Song Y, Gao N, Bai S, Dai J, Wei H, Zhang L, Yu D, Xia M, Yu Y, Qi M, Tian C, Chen H, Wu Z, Zhang T, Qiu D. Comparative genomics analyses on EPS biosynthesis genes required for floc formation of Zoogloea resiniphila and other activated sludge bacteria. WATER RESEARCH 2016; 102:494-504. [PMID: 27403872 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2016.06.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2016] [Revised: 06/27/2016] [Accepted: 06/27/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Activated sludge (AS) process has been widely utilized for municipal sewage and industrial wastewater treatment. Zoolgoea and its related floc-forming bacteria are required for formation of AS flocs which is the key to gravitational effluent-and-sludge separation and AS recycling. However, little is known about the genetics, biochemistry and physiology of Zoogloea and its related bacteria. This report deals with the comparative genomic analyses on two Zoogloea resiniphila draft genomes and the closely related proteobacterial species commonly found in AS. In particular, the metabolic processes involved in removal of organic matters, nitrogen and phosphorus were analyzed. Furthermore, it is revealed that a large gene cluster, encoding eight glycosyltransferases and other proteins involved in biosynthesis and export of extracellular polysaccharides (EPS), was required for floc formation. One of the two asparagine synthase paralogues, associated with this EPS biosynthesis gene cluster, was required for floc formation in Zoogloea. Similar EPS biosynthesis gene cluster(s) were identified in the genome of other AS proteobacteria including polyphosphate-accumulating Candidatus Accumulibacter phosphatis (CAP) and nitrifying Nitrosopira and Nitrosomonas bacteria, but the gene composition varies interspecifically and intraspecifically. Our results indicate that floc formation of desired AS bacteria, including CAP strains, facilitate their recruitment into AS and gradual enrichment via repeated AS settling and recycling processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weixing An
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Feng Guo
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Yulong Song
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Na Gao
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shijie Bai
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; Institute of Deep-sea Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya 572000, China
| | - Jingcheng Dai
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Hehong Wei
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Liping Zhang
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Dianzhen Yu
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ming Xia
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ying Yu
- Institute for Genetics and Development, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Ming Qi
- Institute for Genetics and Development, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Chunyuan Tian
- School of Life Sciences and Technology, Hubei Engineering University, Xiaogan 43200, China
| | - Haofeng Chen
- Institute for Genetics and Development, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Zhenbin Wu
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Tong Zhang
- Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
| | - Dongru Qiu
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China.
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46
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Yang L, Zhang J, Che X, Gao YQ. Simulation Studies of Protein and Small Molecule Interactions and Reaction. Methods Enzymol 2016; 578:169-212. [PMID: 27497167 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2016.05.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Computational studies of protein and small molecule (protein-ligand/enzyme-substrate) interactions become more and more important in biological science and drug discovery. Computer modeling can provide molecular details of the processes such as conformational change, binding, and transportation of small molecules/proteins, which are not easily to be captured in experiments. In this chapter, we discussed simulation studies of both protein and small molecules from three aspects: conformation sampling, transportations of small molecules in enzymes, and enzymatic reactions involving small molecules. Both methodology developments and examples of simulation studies in this field were presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Yang
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, PR China; Biodynamic Optical Imaging Center (BIOPIC), Peking University, Beijing, PR China
| | - J Zhang
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, PR China; Biodynamic Optical Imaging Center (BIOPIC), Peking University, Beijing, PR China
| | - X Che
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, PR China; Biodynamic Optical Imaging Center (BIOPIC), Peking University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Y Q Gao
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, PR China; Biodynamic Optical Imaging Center (BIOPIC), Peking University, Beijing, PR China.
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Faria J, Loureiro I, Santarém N, Macedo-Ribeiro S, Tavares J, Cordeiro-da-Silva A. Leishmania infantum Asparagine Synthetase A Is Dispensable for Parasites Survival and Infectivity. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004365. [PMID: 26771178 PMCID: PMC4714757 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A growing interest in asparagine (Asn) metabolism has currently been observed in cancer and infection fields. Asparagine synthetase (AS) is responsible for the conversion of aspartate into Asn in an ATP-dependent manner, using ammonia or glutamine as a nitrogen source. There are two structurally distinct AS: the strictly ammonia dependent, type A, and the type B, which preferably uses glutamine. Absent in humans and present in trypanosomatids, AS-A was worthy of exploring as a potential drug target candidate. Appealingly, it was reported that AS-A was essential in Leishmania donovani, making it a promising drug target. In the work herein we demonstrate that Leishmania infantum AS-A, similarly to Trypanosoma spp. and L. donovani, is able to use both ammonia and glutamine as nitrogen donors. Moreover, we have successfully generated LiASA null mutants by targeted gene replacement in L. infantum, and these parasites do not display any significant growth or infectivity defect. Indeed, a severe impairment of in vitro growth was only observed when null mutants were cultured in asparagine limiting conditions. Altogether our results demonstrate that despite being important under asparagine limitation, LiAS-A is not essential for parasite survival, growth or infectivity in normal in vitro and in vivo conditions. Therefore we exclude AS-A as a suitable drug target against L. infantum parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Faria
- Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Inês Loureiro
- Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno Santarém
- Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sandra Macedo-Ribeiro
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Protein Crystallography Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Tavares
- Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva
- Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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48
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Asparagine requirement in Plasmodium berghei as a target to prevent malaria transmission and liver infections. Nat Commun 2015; 6:8775. [PMID: 26531182 PMCID: PMC4659947 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2015] [Accepted: 09/29/2015] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The proteins of Plasmodium, the malaria parasite, are strikingly rich in asparagine. Plasmodium depends primarily on host haemoglobin degradation for amino acids and has a rudimentary pathway for amino acid biosynthesis, but retains a gene encoding asparagine synthetase (AS). Here we show that deletion of AS in Plasmodium berghei (Pb) delays the asexual- and liver-stage development with substantial reduction in the formation of ookinetes, oocysts and sporozoites in mosquitoes. In the absence of asparagine synthesis, extracellular asparagine supports suboptimal survival of PbAS knockout (KO) parasites. Depletion of blood asparagine levels by treating PbASKO-infected mice with asparaginase completely prevents the development of liver stages, exflagellation of male gametocytes and the subsequent formation of sexual stages. In vivo supplementation of asparagine in mice restores the exflagellation of PbASKO parasites. Thus, the parasite life cycle has an absolute requirement for asparagine, which we propose could be targeted to prevent malaria transmission and liver infections. Malaria parasites obtain amino acids primarily from the host, but possess a gene encoding a putative asparagine synthetase. Here, the authors show that this enzyme is functional and that asparagine is crucial for the development of the parasite's sexual stages in mosquitoes and liver stages in mice.
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49
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Palmer EE, Hayner J, Sachdev R, Cardamone M, Kandula T, Morris P, Dias KR, Tao J, Miller D, Zhu Y, Macintosh R, Dinger ME, Cowley MJ, Buckley MF, Roscioli T, Bye A, Kilberg MS, Kirk EP. Asparagine Synthetase Deficiency causes reduced proliferation of cells under conditions of limited asparagine. Mol Genet Metab 2015; 116:178-86. [PMID: 26318253 PMCID: PMC10152381 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2015.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2015] [Revised: 08/10/2015] [Accepted: 08/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Asparagine Synthetase Deficiency is a recently described cause of profound intellectual disability, marked progressive cerebral atrophy and variable seizure disorder. To date there has been limited functional data explaining the underlying pathophysiology. We report a new case with compound heterozygous mutations in the ASNS gene (NM_183356.3:c. [866G>C]; [1010C>T]). Both variants alter evolutionarily conserved amino acids and were predicted to be pathogenic based on in silico protein modelling that suggests disruption of the critical ATP binding site of the ASNS enzyme. In patient fibroblasts, ASNS expression as well as protein and mRNA stability are not affected by these variants. However, there is markedly reduced proliferation of patient fibroblasts when cultured in asparagine-limited growth medium, compared to parental and wild type fibroblasts. Restricting asparagine replicates the physiology within the blood-brain-barrier, with limited transfer of dietary derived asparagine, resulting in reliance of neuronal cells on intracellular asparagine synthesis by the ASNS enzyme. These functional studies offer insight into the underlying pathophysiology of the dramatic progressive cerebral atrophy associated with Asparagine Synthetase Deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Emma Palmer
- Sydney Children's Hospital, High Street Randwick NSW 2031, Australia; University of New South Wales, High Street, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; Genetics of Learning Disability (GOLD) service, Corner of Turton and Tinonee Roads, Waratah NSW 2298
| | - Jaclyn Hayner
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Florida College of Medicine, 1200 Newell Drive, Florida, USA, 32608
| | - Rani Sachdev
- Sydney Children's Hospital, High Street Randwick NSW 2031, Australia; University of New South Wales, High Street, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Michael Cardamone
- Sydney Children's Hospital, High Street Randwick NSW 2031, Australia; University of New South Wales, High Street, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Tejaswi Kandula
- Sydney Children's Hospital, High Street Randwick NSW 2031, Australia; University of New South Wales, High Street, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Paula Morris
- Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, 384 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia
| | - Kerith-Rae Dias
- Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, 384 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia
| | - Jiang Tao
- Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, 384 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia
| | - David Miller
- Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, 384 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia
| | - Ying Zhu
- Genetics of Learning Disability (GOLD) service, Corner of Turton and Tinonee Roads, Waratah NSW 2298
| | - Rebecca Macintosh
- Sydney Children's Hospital, High Street Randwick NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Marcel E Dinger
- Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, 384 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia; St Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales, 390 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia
| | - Mark J Cowley
- Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, 384 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia; St Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales, 390 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia
| | - Michael F Buckley
- University of New South Wales, High Street, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; Seals Molecular Genetics, POW Hospital Campus, Barker Street, Randwick, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Tony Roscioli
- Sydney Children's Hospital, High Street Randwick NSW 2031, Australia; University of New South Wales, High Street, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; Seals Molecular Genetics, POW Hospital Campus, Barker Street, Randwick, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Ann Bye
- Sydney Children's Hospital, High Street Randwick NSW 2031, Australia; University of New South Wales, High Street, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Michael S Kilberg
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Florida College of Medicine, 1200 Newell Drive, Florida, USA, 32608
| | - Edwin P Kirk
- Sydney Children's Hospital, High Street Randwick NSW 2031, Australia; University of New South Wales, High Street, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; Seals Molecular Genetics, POW Hospital Campus, Barker Street, Randwick, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia.
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50
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Nepal KK, Lee RP, Rezenom YH, Watanabe CMH. Probing the Role of N-Acetyl-glutamyl 5-Phosphate, an Acyl Phosphate, in the Construction of the Azabicycle Moiety of the Azinomycins. Biochemistry 2015; 54:4415-8. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.5b00711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Keshav K. Nepal
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Rachel P. Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Yohannes H. Rezenom
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Coran M. H. Watanabe
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
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