Binding of two flaviolin substrate molecules, oxidative coupling, and crystal structure of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) cytochrome P450 158A2

Cytochrome P450 as dimerization catalyst in diketopiperazine alkaloid biosynthesis

As dimeric natural products frequently exhibit useful biological activities, identifying and understanding their mechanisms of dimerization is of great interest. One such compound is (−)-ditryptophenaline, isolated from Aspergillus flavus, which inhibits substance P receptor for potential analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity. Through targeted gene knockout in A. flavus and heterologous yeast gene expression, we determined for the first time the gene cluster and pathway for the biosynthesis of a dimeric diketopiperazine alkaloid. We also determined that a single cytochrome P450, DtpC, is responsible not only for pyrroloindole ring formation but also for concurrent dimerization of N-methylphenylalanyltryptophanyl diketopiperazine monomers into a homodimeric product. Furthermore, DtpC exhibits relaxed substrate specificity, allowing the formation of two new dimeric compounds from a non-native monomeric precursor, brevianamide F. A radical-mediated mechanism of dimerization is proposed.

Effects of exogenous nutrients on polyketide biosynthesis in Escherichia coli

Heterologous hosts are important platforms for engineering natural product biosynthesis. Escherichia coli is such a host widely used for expression of various biosynthetic enzymes. While numerous studies have been focused on optimizing the expression conditions for desired functional proteins, this work describes how supplement of exogenous nutrients into the fermentation broth influences the formation of natural products in E. coli. A type III polyketide synthase gene stts from Streptomyces toxytricini NRRL 15443 was heterogeneously expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3). This enzyme uses five units of malonyl-CoA to generate a polyketide 1,3,6,8-tetrahydroxynaphthalene, which can be spontaneously oxidized into a red compound flaviolin. In this work, we manipulated the fermentation broth of E. coli BL21(DE3)/pET28a-stts by supplying different nutrients including glucose and sodium pyruvate at different concentrations, from which six flaviolin derivatives 1-6 were produced. While addition of glucose yielded the production of 1-4, supplement of sodium pyruvate into the induced broth of E. coli BL21(DE3)/pET28a-stts resulted in the synthesis of 5 and 6, suggesting that different nutrients may enable E. coli to generate different metabolites. These products were purified and structurally characterized based on the spectral data, among which 2-6 are novel compounds. These molecules were formed through addition of different moieties such as acetone and indole to the flaviolin scaffold. The concentrations of glucose and sodium pyruvate and incubation time affect the product profiles. This work demonstrates that supplement of nutrients can link certain intracellular metabolites to the engineered biosynthetic pathway to yield new products. It provides a new approach to biosynthesizing novel molecules in the commonly used heterologous host E. coli.

Production of specialized metabolites by Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)

The actinomycetes are well-known bioactive natural product producers, comprising the Streptomycetes, the richest drug-prolific family in all kingdoms, producing therapeutic compounds for the areas of infection, cancer, circulation, and immunity. Completion and annotation of many actinomycete genomes has highlighted further how proficient these bacteria are in specialized metabolism, which have been largely underexploited in traditional screening programs. The genome sequence of the model strain Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2), and subsequent development of genomics-driven approaches to understand its large specialized metabolome, has been key in unlocking the high potential of specialized metabolites for natural product genomics-based drug discovery. This review discusses systematically the biochemistry and genetics of each of the specialized metabolites of S. coelicolor and describes metabolite transport processes for excretion and complex regulatory patterns controlling biosynthesis.

Role of two alternate water networks in Compound I formation in P450eryF

The P450eryF enzyme (CYP107A1) hydroxylates 6-deoxyerythronolide B to erythronolide B during erythromycin synthesis by Saccharopolyspora erythraea. In many P450 enzymes, a conserved "acid-alcohol pair" is believed to participate in the proton shuttling pathway for O2 activation that generates the reactive oxidant (Compound I, Cpd I). In CYP107A1, the alcohol-containing amino acid is replaced with alanine. The crystal structure of DEB bound to CYP107A1 indicates that one of the substrate hydroxyl groups (5-OH) may facilitate proton transfer during O2 activation. We applied molecular dynamics (MD) and hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) techniques to investigate substrate-mediated O2 activation in CYP107A1. In the QM/MM calculations, the QM region was treated by density functional theory, and the MM region was represented by the CHARMM force field. The MD simulations suggest the existence of two water networks around the active site, the one found in the crystal structure involving E360 and an alternative one involving E244. According to the QM/MM calculations, the first proton transfer that converts the peroxo to the hydroperoxo intermediate (Compound 0, Cpd 0) proceeds via the E244 water network with direct involvement of the 5-OH group of the substrate. For the second proton transfer from Cpd 0 to Cpd I, the computed barriers for the rate-limiting homolytic O-O cleavage are similar for the E360 and E244 pathways, and hence both glutamate residues may serve as proton source in this step.

Exploitation of the Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) genome sequence for discovery of new natural products and biosynthetic pathways

Streptomyces, and related genera of Actinobacteria, are renowned for their ability to produce antibiotics and other bioactive natural products with a wide range of applications in medicine and agriculture. Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) is a model organism that has been used for more than five decades to study the genetic and biochemical basis for the production of bioactive metabolites. In 2002, the complete genome sequence of S. coelicolor was published. This greatly accelerated progress in understanding the biosynthesis of metabolites known or suspected to be produced by S. coelicolor and revealed that streptomycetes have far greater potential to produce bioactive natural products than suggested by classical bioassay-guided isolation studies. In this article, efforts to exploit the S. coelicolor genome sequence for the discovery of novel natural products and biosynthetic pathways are summarized.

Iron(IV)hydroxide pK(a) and the role of thiolate ligation in C-H bond activation by cytochrome P450

Cytochrome P450 enzymes activate oxygen at heme iron centers to oxidize relatively inert substrate carbon-hydrogen bonds. Cysteine thiolate coordination to iron is posited to increase the pK(a) (where K(a) is the acid dissociation constant) of compound II, an iron(IV)hydroxide complex, correspondingly lowering the one-electron reduction potential of compound I, the active catalytic intermediate, and decreasing the driving force for deleterious auto-oxidation of tyrosine and tryptophan residues in the enzyme's framework. Here, we report on the preparation of an iron(IV)hydroxide complex in a P450 enzyme (CYP158) in ≥90% yield. Using rapid mixing technologies in conjunction with Mössbauer, ultraviolet/visible, and x-ray absorption spectroscopies, we determine a pK(a) value for this compound of 11.9. Marcus theory analysis indicates that this elevated pK(a) results in a >10,000-fold reduction in the rate constant for oxidations of the protein framework, making these processes noncompetitive with substrate oxidation.

Functional and structural characterisation of a viral cytochrome b5

Cytochrome b5 is a ubiquitous electron transport protein. The sequenced viral OtV-2 genome, which infects Ostreococcus tauri, was predicted to encode a putative cytochrome b5 enzyme. Using purified OtV-2 cytochrome b5 we confirm this protein has identical spectral properties to purified human cytochrome b5 and additionally that the viral enzyme can substitute for yeast cytochrome b5 in yeast cytochrome P450 51 mediated sterol 14α-demethylation. The crystal structure of the OtV-2 cytochrome b5 enzyme reveals a single domain, comprising four β sheets, four α helices and a haem moiety, which is similar to that found in larger eukaryotic cytochrome proteins. As a product of a horizontal gene transfer event involving a subdomain of the host fumarate reductase-like protein, OtV-2 cytochrome b5 appears to have diverged in function and is likely to have evolved an entirely new role for the virus during infection. Indeed, lacking a hydrophobic C-terminal anchor, OtV-2 encodes the first cytosolic cytochrome b5 characterised. The lack of requirement for membrane attachment (in contrast to all other microsomal cytochrome b5s) may be a reflection of the small size of the host cell, further emphasizes the unique nature of this virus gene product and draws attention to the potential importance of cytochrome b5 metabolic activity at the extremes of cellular scale.

On the propagation of errors

The policy of the Protein Data Bank (PDB) that the first deposition of a small-molecule ligand, even with erroneous atom numbering, sets a precedent over accepted nomenclature rules is disputed. Recommendations regarding ligand molecules in the PDB are suggested.

Unusual cytochrome p450 enzymes and reactions

Cytochrome P450 enzymes primarily catalyze mixed-function oxidation reactions, plus some reductions and rearrangements of oxygenated species, e.g. prostaglandins. Most of these reactions can be rationalized in a paradigm involving Compound I, a high-valent iron-oxygen complex (FeO(3+)), to explain seemingly unusual reactions, including ring couplings, ring expansion and contraction, and fusion of substrates. Most P450s interact with flavoenzymes or iron-sulfur proteins to receive electrons from NAD(P)H. In some cases, P450s are fused to protein partners. Other P450s catalyze non-redox isomerization reactions. A number of permutations on the P450 theme reveal the diversity of cytochrome P450 form and function.

Unusual properties of the cytochrome P450 superfamily

During the early years of cytochrome P450 research, a picture of conserved properties arose from studies of mammalian forms of these monooxygenases. They included the protohaem prosthetic group, the cysteine residue that coordinates to the haem iron and the reduced CO difference spectrum. Alternatively, the most variable feature of P450s was the enzymatic activities, which led to the conclusion that there are a large number of these enzymes, most of which have yet to be discovered. More recently, studies of these enzymes in other eukaryotes and in prokaryotes have led to the discovery of unexpected P450 properties. Many are variations of the original properties, whereas others are difficult to explain because of their unique nature relative to the rest of the known members of the superfamily. These novel properties expand our appreciation of the broad view of P450 structure and function, and generate curiosity concerning the evolution of P450s. In some cases, structural properties, previously not found in P450s, can lead to enzymatic activities impacting the biological function of organisms containing these enzymes; whereas, in other cases, the biological reason for the variations are not easily understood. Herein, we present particularly interesting examples in detail rather than cataloguing them all.

Techniques, tools and best practices for ligand electron-density analysis and results from their application to deposited crystal structures

As a result of substantial instrumental automation and the continuing improvement of software, crystallographic studies of biomolecules are conducted by non-experts in increasing numbers. While improved validation almost ensures that major mistakes in the protein part of structure models are exceedingly rare, in ligand-protein complex structures, which in general are most interesting to the scientist, ambiguous ligand electron density is often difficult to interpret and the modelled ligands are generally more difficult to properly validate. Here, (i) the primary technical reasons and potential human factors leading to problems in ligand structure models are presented; (ii) the most common categories of building errors or overinterpretation are classified; (iii) a few instructive and specific examples are discussed in detail, including an electron-density-based analysis of ligand structures that do not contain any ligands; (iv) means of avoiding such mistakes are suggested and the implications for database validity are discussed and (v) a user-friendly software tool that allows non-expert users to conveniently inspect ligand density is provided.

Microbial cytochromes P450: biodiversity and biotechnology. Where do cytochromes P450 come from, what do they do and what can they do for us?

The first eukaryote genome revealed three yeast cytochromes P450 (CYPs), hence the subsequent realization that some microbial fungal genomes encode these proteins in 1 per cent or more of all genes (greater than 100) has been surprising. They are unique biocatalysts undertaking a wide array of stereo- and regio-specific reactions and so hold promise in many applications. Based on ancestral activities that included 14α-demethylation during sterol biosynthesis, it is now seen that CYPs are part of the genes and metabolism of most eukaryotes. In contrast, Archaea and Eubacteria often do not contain CYPs, while those that do are frequently interesting as producers of natural products undertaking their oxidative tailoring. Apart from roles in primary and secondary metabolism, microbial CYPs are actual/potential targets of drugs/agrochemicals and CYP51 in sterol biosynthesis is exhibiting evolution to resistance in the clinic and the field. Other CYP applications include the first industrial biotransformation for corticosteroid production in the 1950s, the diversion into penicillin synthesis in early mutations in fungal strain improvement and bioremediation using bacteria and fungi. The vast untapped resource of orphan CYPs in numerous genomes is being probed and new methods for discovering function and for discovering desired activities are being investigated.

Diversity of P450 enzymes in the biosynthesis of natural products

Diverse oxygenation patterns of natural products generated by secondary metabolic pathways in microorganisms and plants are largely achieved through the tailoring reactions catalysed by cytochrome P450 enzymes (P450s). P450s are a large family of oxidative hemoproteins found in all life forms from prokaryotes to humans. Understanding the reactivity and selectivity of these fascinating C-H bond-activating catalysts will advance their use in generating valuable pharmaceuticals and products for medicine, agriculture and industry. A major strength of this P450 group is its set of established enzyme-substrate relationships, the source of the most detailed knowledge on how P450 enzymes work. Engineering microbial-derived P450 enzymes to accommodate alternative substrates and add new functions continues to be an important near- and long-term practical goal driving the structural characterization of these molecules. Understanding the natural evolution of P450 structure-function should accelerate metabolic engineering and directed evolutionary approaches to enhance diversification of natural product structures and other biosynthetic applications.

Flavoenzyme-catalyzed atropo-selective N,C-bipyrrole homocoupling in marinopyrrole biosynthesis

Axially chiral biaryl compounds are frequently encountered in nature where they exhibit diverse biological properties. Many are biphenols that have C-C or C-O linkages installed by cytochrome P450 oxygenases that control the regio- and stereoselectivity of the intermolecular coupling reaction. In contrast, bipyrrole-coupling enzymology has not been observed. Marinopyrroles, produced by a marine-derived streptomycete, are the first 1,3'-bipyrrole natural products. On the basis of marinopyrrole's unusual bipyrrole structure, we explored its atropo-selective biosynthesis in Streptomyces sp. CNQ-418 in order to elucidate the N,C-bipyrrole homocoupling enzymology. Through a series of genetic experiments involving the discovery and heterologous expression of marinopyrrole biosynthesis genes, we report that two flavin-dependent halogenases catalyze the unprecedented homocoupling reaction.

Structural analysis of cytochrome P450 105N1 involved in the biosynthesis of the zincophore, coelibactin

Coelibactin is a putative non-ribosomally synthesized peptide with predicted zincophore activity and which has been implicated in antibiotic regulation in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2). The coelibactin biosynthetic pathway contains a stereo- and regio-specific monooxygenation step catalyzed by a cytochrome P450 enzyme (CYP105N1). We have determined the X-ray crystal structure of CYP105N1 at 2.9 Å and analyzed it in the context of the bacterial CYP105 family as a whole. The crystal structure reveals a channel between the α-helical domain and the β-sheet domain exposing the heme pocket and the long helix I to the solvent. This wide-open conformation of CYP105N1 may be related to the bulky substrate coelibactin. The ligand-free CYP105N1 structure has enough room in the substrate access channel to allow the coelibactin to enter into the active site. Analysis of typical siderophore ligands suggests that CYP105N1 may produce derivatives of coelibactin, which would then be able to chelate the zinc divalent cation.

Biochemical characterization of a type III polyketide biosynthetic gene cluster from Streptomyces toxytricini

A type III polyketide biosynthetic gene cluster has been discovered in the industrially important strain Streptomyces toxytricini NRRL 15443, including four genes stp450-1, stts, stp450-2, and stmo. The stts gene encodes a putative type III polyketide synthase that is homologous to RppA, a 1,3,6,8-tetrahydroxynaphthalene (THN) synthase from Streptomyces griseus. The deduced protein product of stmo resembles the cupin-containing monooxygenase MomA from Streptomyces antibioticus that oxidizes THN into flaviolin. Two cytochrome P450s (CYPs), StP450-1 and StP450-2, are present in the gene cluster. StTS was overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) and identified as a THN synthase. The synthesized THN can be easily oxidized into flaviolin by air. Both CYPs were reconstituted in E. coli BL21(DE3) and can oxidize flaviolin to form oligomers. The k(cat)/K(m) values for StP450-1 and StP450-2 were 0.28 and 0.71 min⁻¹ mM⁻¹, respectively. UV irradiation test showed that expression of StTS in E. coli BL21(DE3) significantly protects the cells from UV radiation, and coexpression of StTS and StP450-1 provides even stronger protection.

The role of Ile87 of CYP158A2 in oxidative coupling reaction

Both CYP158A1 and CYP158A2 are able to catalyze an oxidative C-C coupling reaction producing biflaviolin or triflaviolin in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2). The substrate-bound crystal structures of CYP158A2 and CYP158A1 reveal that the side chain of Ile87 in CYP158A2 points to the active site contacting the distal flaviolin molecule, however, the bulkier side chain of Lys90 in CYP158A1 (corresponding to Ile87 in CYP158A2) is toward the distal surface of the protein. These results suggest that these residues could be important in determining product regiospecificity. In order to explore the role of the two residues in catalysis, the reciprocal mutants, Ile87Lys and Lys90Ile, of CYP158A2 and CYP158A1, respectively, were generated and characterized. The mutant Ile87Lys enzyme forms two isomers of biflaviolin instead of three isomers of biflaviolin in wild-type CYP158A2. CYP158A1 containing the substitution of lysine with isoleucine has the same catalytic activity compared with the wild-type CYP158A1. The crystal structure of Ile87Lys showed that the BC loop in the mutant is in a very different orientation compared with the BC loop in both CYP158A1/A2 structures. These results shed light on the mechanism of the oxidative coupling reaction catalyzed by cytochrome P450.

Prioritizing orphan proteins for further study using phylogenomics and gene expression profiles in Streptomyces coelicolor

Background

Streptomyces coelicolor, a model organism of antibiotic producing bacteria, has one of the largest genomes of the bacterial kingdom, including 7825 predicted protein coding genes. A large number of these genes, nearly 34%, are functionally orphan (hypothetical proteins with unknown function). However, in gene expression time course data, many of these functionally orphan genes show interesting expression patterns.

Results

In this paper, we analyzed all functionally orphan genes of Streptomyces coelicolor and identified a list of "high priority" orphans by combining gene expression analysis and additional phylogenetic information (i.e. the level of evolutionary conservation of each protein).

Conclusions

The prioritized orphan genes are promising candidates to be examined experimentally in the lab for further characterization of their function.

Three clusters of conformational states in p450cam reveal a multistep pathway for closing of the substrate access channel

Conformational changes in the substrate access channel have been observed for several forms of cytochrome P450, but the extent of conformational plasticity exhibited by a given isozyme has not been completely characterized. Here we present crystal structures of P450cam bound to a library of 12 active site probes containing a substrate analogue tethered to a variable linker. The structures provide a unique view of the range of protein conformations accessible during substrate binding. Principal component analysis of a total of 30 structures reveals three discrete clusters of conformations: closed (P450cam-C), intermediate (P450cam-I), and fully open (P450cam-O). Relative to P450cam-C, the P450cam-I state results predominantly from a retraction of helix F, while both helices F and G move in concert to reach the fully open P450cam-O state. Both P450cam-C and P450cam-I are well-defined states, while P450cam-O shows evidence of a somewhat broader distribution of conformations and includes the open form recently seen in the absence of substrate. The observed clustering of protein conformations over a wide range of ligand variants suggests a multistep closure of the enzyme around the substrate that begins by conformational selection from an ensemble of open conformations and proceeds through a well-defined intermediate, P450cam-I, before full closure to the P450cam-C state in the presence of small substrates. This multistep pathway may have significant implications for a full understanding of substrate specificity, kinetics, and coupling of substrate binding to P450 function.

Conformational plasticity and structure/function relationships in cytochromes P450

The cytochrome P450s are a superfamily of enzymes that are found in all kingdoms of living organisms, and typically catalyze the oxidative addition of atomic oxygen to an unactivated C-C or C-H bond. Over 8000 nonredundant sequences of putative and confirmed P450 enzymes have been identified, but three-dimensional structures have been determined for only a small fraction of these. While all P450 enzymes for which structures have been determined share a common global fold, the flexibility and modularity of structure around the active site account for the ability of P450 enzymes to accommodate a vast number of structurally dissimilar substrates and support a wide range of selective oxidations. In this review, known P450 structures are compared, and some structural criteria for prediction of substrate selectivity and reaction type are suggested. The importance of dynamic processes such as redox-dependent and effector-induced conformational changes in determining catalytic competence and regio- and stereoselectivity is discussed, and noncrystallographic methods for characterizing P450 structures and dynamics, in particular, mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy are reviewed.

Arabidopsis CYP72C1 is an atypical cytochrome P450 that inactivates brassinosteroids

Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s) are a diverse family of proteins that have specialized roles in secondary metabolism and in normal cell development. Two P450s in particular, CYP734A1 and CYP72C1, have been identified as brassinosteroid-inactivating enzymes important for steroid-mediated signal transduction in Arabidopsis thaliana. Genetic analyses have demonstrated that these P450s modulate growth throughout plant development. While members of the CYP734A subfamily inactivate brassinosteroids through C-26 hydroxylation, the biochemical activity of CYP72C1 is unknown. Because CYP734A1 and CYP72C1 in Arabidopsis diverge more than brassinosteroid inactivating P450s in other plants, this study examines the structure and biochemistry of each enzyme. Three-dimensional models were generated to examine the substrate binding site structures and determine how they might affect the function of each P450. These models have indicated that the active site of CYP72C1 does not contain several conserved amino acids typically needed for substrate hydroxylation. Heterologous expression of these P450s followed by substrate binding analyses have indicated that CYP734A1 binds active brassinosteroids, brassinolide and castasterone, as well as their upstream precursors whereas CYP72C1 binds precursors more effectively. Seedling growth assays have demonstrated that the genetic state of CYP734A1, but not CYP72C1, affected responsiveness to high levels of exogenous brassinolide supporting our observations that CYP72C1 acts on brassinolide precursors. Although there may be some overlap in their physiological function, the distinct biochemical functions of these proteins in Arabidopsis has significant potential to fine-tune the levels of different brassinosteroid hormones throughout plant growth and development.

P450cam visits an open conformation in the absence of substrate

P450cam from Pseudomonas putida is the best characterized member of the vast family of cytochrome P450s, and it has long been believed to have a more rigid and closed active site relative to other P450s. Here we report X-ray structures of P450cam crystallized in the absence of substrate and at high and low [K(+)]. The camphor-free structures are observed in a distinct open conformation characterized by a water-filled channel created by the retraction of the F and G helices, disorder of the B' helix, and loss of the K(+) binding site. Crystallization in the presence of K(+) alone does not alter the open conformation, while crystallization with camphor alone is sufficient for closure of the channel. Soaking crystals of the open conformation in excess camphor does not promote camphor binding or closure, suggesting resistance to conformational change by the crystal lattice. This open conformation is remarkably similar to that seen upon binding large tethered substrates, showing that it is not the result of a perturbation by the ligand. Redissolved crystals of the open conformation are observed as a mixture of P420 and P450 forms, which is converted to the P450 form upon addition of camphor and K(+). These data reveal that P450cam can dynamically visit an open conformation that allows access to the deeply buried active site without being induced by substrate or ligand.

Regio- and stereospecificity of filipin hydroxylation sites revealed by crystal structures of cytochrome P450 105P1 and 105D6 from Streptomyces avermitilis

The polyene macrolide antibiotic filipin is widely used as a probe for cholesterol and a diagnostic tool for type C Niemann-Pick disease. Two position-specific P450 enzymes are involved in the post-polyketide modification of filipin during its biosynthesis, thereby providing molecular diversity to the "filipin complex." CYP105P1 and CYP105D6 from Streptomyces avermitilis, despite their high sequence similarities, catalyze filipin hydroxylation at different positions, C26 and C1', respectively. Here, we determined the crystal structure of the CYP105P1-filipin I complex. The distal pocket of CYP105P1 has the second largest size among P450 hydroxylases that act on macrolide substrates. Compared with previously determined substrate-free structures, the FG helices showed significant closing motion on substrate binding. The long BC loop region adopts a unique extended conformation without a B' helix. The binding site is essentially hydrophobic, but numerous water molecules are involved in recognizing the polyol side of the substrate. Therefore, the distal pocket of CYP105P1 provides a specific environment for the large filipin substrate to bind with its pro-S side of position C26 directed toward the heme iron. The ligand-free CYP105D6 structure was also determined. A small sub-pocket accommodating the long alkyl side chain of filipin I was observed in the CYP105P1 structure but was absent in the CYP105D6 structure, indicating that filipin cannot bind to CYP105D6 with a similar orientation due to steric hindrance. This observation can explain the strict regiospecificity of these enzymes.

Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) CYP102 protein, a novel fatty acid hydroxylase encoded as a heme domain without an N-terminal redox partner

The gene from Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) encoding CYP102B1, a recently discovered CYP102 subfamily which exists solely as a single P450 heme domain, has been cloned, expressed in Escherichia coli, purified, characterized, and compared to its fusion protein family members. Purified reconstitution metabolism experiments with spinach ferredoxin, ferredoxin reductase, and NADPH revealed differences in the regio- and stereoselective metabolism of arachidonic acid compared to that of CYP102A1, exclusively producing 11,12-epoxyeicosa-5,8,14-trienoic acid in addition to the shared metabolites 18-hydroxy arachidonic acid and 14,15-epoxyeicosa-5,8,11-trienoic acid. Consequently, in order to elucidate the physiological function of CYP102B1, transposon mutagenesis was used to generate an S. coelicolor A3(2) strain lacking CYP102B1 activity and the phenotype was assessed.

Cooperative properties of cytochromes P450

Cytochromes P450 form a large and important class of heme monooxygenases with a broad spectrum of substrates and corresponding functions, from steroid hormone biosynthesis to the metabolism of xenobiotics. Despite decades of study, the molecular mechanisms responsible for the complex non-Michaelis behavior observed with many members of this superfamily during metabolism, often termed 'cooperativity', remain to be fully elucidated. Although there is evidence that oligomerization may play an important role in defining the observed cooperativity, some monomeric cytochromes P450, particularly those involved in xenobiotic metabolism, also display this behavior due to their ability to simultaneously bind several substrate molecules. As a result, formation of distinct enzyme-substrate complexes with different stoichiometry and functional properties can give rise to homotropic and heterotropic cooperative behavior. This review aims to summarize the current understanding of cooperativity in cytochromes P450, with a focus on the nature of cooperative effects in monomeric enzymes.

Identification and structural basis of the reaction catalyzed by CYP121, an essential cytochrome P450 in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The gene encoding the cytochrome P450 CYP121 is essential for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, the CYP121 catalytic activity remains unknown. Here, we show that the cyclodipeptide cyclo(l-Tyr-l-Tyr) (cYY) binds to CYP121, and is efficiently converted into a single major product in a CYP121 activity assay containing spinach ferredoxin and ferredoxin reductase. NMR spectroscopy analysis of the reaction product shows that CYP121 catalyzes the formation of an intramolecular C-C bond between 2 tyrosyl carbon atoms of cYY resulting in a novel chemical entity. The X-ray structure of cYY-bound CYP121, solved at high resolution (1.4 A), reveals one cYY molecule with full occupancy in the large active site cavity. One cYY tyrosyl approaches the heme and establishes a specific H-bonding network with Ser-237, Gln-385, Arg-386, and 3 water molecules, including the sixth iron ligand. These observations are consistent with low temperature EPR spectra of cYY-bound CYP121 showing a change in the heme environment with the persistence of the sixth heme iron ligand. As the carbon atoms involved in the final C-C coupling are located 5.4 A apart according to the CYP121-cYY complex crystal structure, we propose that C-C coupling is concomitant with substrate tyrosyl movements. This study provides insight into the catalytic activity, mechanism, and biological function of CYP121. Also, it provides clues for rational design of putative CYP121 substrate-based antimycobacterial agents.

Chapter 19. In vitro studies of phenol coupling enzymes involved in vancomycin biosynthesis

Oxidative phenol cross-linking reactions play a key role in the biosynthesis of glycopeptide antibiotics such as vancomycin. The vancomycin aglycone contains three cross-links between aromatic amino acid side-chains, which stabilize the folded backbone conformation required for binding to the target D-Ala-D-Ala dipeptide. At least the first cross-link is introduced into a peptide precursor whilst it is still bound as a thioester to a peptide carrier protein (PCP) domain (also called a thiolation domain) within the nonribosomal peptide synthetase. We described here methods for the solid-phase synthesis of peptides and their coupling to PCP domains, which may be useful for in vitro studies of cross-linking and related tailoring reactions during nonribosomal glycopeptide antibiotic biosynthesis.

Crystal structures of cytochrome P450 105P1 from Streptomyces avermitilis: conformational flexibility and histidine ligation state

The polyene macrolide antibiotic filipin is widely used as a probe for cholesterol in biological membranes. The filipin biosynthetic pathway of Streptomyces avermitilis contains two position-specific hydroxylases, C26-specific CYP105P1 and C1'-specific CYP105D6. In this study, we describe the three X-ray crystal structures of CYP105P1: the ligand-free wild-type (WT-free), 4-phenylimidazole-bound wild-type (WT-4PI), and ligand-free H72A mutant (H72A-free) forms. The BC loop region in the WT-free structure has a unique feature; the side chain of His72 within this region is ligated to the heme iron. On the other hand, this region is highly disordered and widely open in WT-4PI and H72A-free structures, respectively. Histidine ligation of wild-type CYP105P1 was not detectable in solution, and a type II spectral change was clearly observed when 4-phenylimidazole was titrated. The H72A mutant showed spectroscopic characteristics that were almost identical to those of the wild-type protein. In the H72A-free structure, there is a large pocket that is of the same size as the filipin molecule. The highly flexible feature of the BC loop region of CYP105P1 may be required to accept a large hydrophobic substrate.

Oxygen activation by cytochrome P450 monooxygenase

Unlike photosystem II (PSII) that catalyzes formation of the O-O bond, the cytochromes P450 (P450), members of a superfamily of hemoproteins, catalyze the scission of the O-O bond of dioxygen molecules and insert a single oxygen atom into unactivated hydrocarbons through a hydrogen abstraction-oxygen rebound mechanism. Hydroxylation of the unactivated hydrocarbons at physiological temperatures is vital for many cellar processes such as the biosynthesis of many endogenous compounds and the detoxification of xenobiotics in humans and plants. Even though it carries out the opposite of the water splitting reaction, P450 may share similarities to PSII in proton delivery networks, oxygen and water access channels, and consecutive electron transfer processes. In this article, we review recent advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms by which P450 activates dioxygen.

Crystal structure of CYP199A2, a para-substituted benzoic acid oxidizing cytochrome P450 from Rhodopseudomonas palustris

CYP199A2, a cytochrome P450 enzyme from Rhodopseudomonas palustris, oxidatively demethylates 4-methoxybenzoic acid to 4-hydroxybenzoic acid. 4-Ethylbenzoic acid is converted to a mixture of predominantly 4-(1-hydroxyethyl)-benzoic acid and 4-vinylbenzoic acid, the latter being a rare example of CC bond dehydrogenation of an unbranched alkyl group. The crystal structure of CYP199A2 has been determined at 2.0-A resolution. The enzyme has the common P450 fold, but the B' helix is missing and the G helix is broken into two (G and G') by a kink at Pro204. Helices G and G' are bent back from the extended BC loop and the I helix to open up a clearly defined substrate access channel. Channel openings in this region of the P450 fold are rare in bacterial P450 enzymes but more common in eukaryotic P450 enzymes. The channel is hydrophobic except for the basic residue Arg246 at the entrance, which probably plays a role in the specificity of this enzyme for charged benzoates over neutral phenols and benzenes. The substrate binding pocket is hydrophobic, with Ser97 and Ser247 being the only polar residues. Computer docking of 4-ethylbenzoic acid into the active site suggests that the substrate carboxylate oxygens interact with Ser97 and Ser247, and the beta-methyl group is located over the heme iron by Phe185, the side chain of which is only 6.35 A above the iron in the native structure. This binding orientation is consistent with the observed product profile of exclusive attack at the para substituent. Putidaredoxin of the CYP101A1 system from Pseudomonas putida supports substrate oxidation by CYP199A2 at approximately 6% of the activity of the physiological ferredoxin. Comparison of the heme proximal faces of CYP199A2 and CYP101A1 suggests that charge reversal surrounding the surface residue Leu369 in CYP199A2 may be a significant factor in this low cross-activity.

Substrate binding to cytochromes P450

P450s have attracted tremendous attention owing to not only their involvement in the metabolism of drug molecules and endogenous substrates but also the unusual nature of the reaction they catalyze, namely, the oxidation of unactivated C-H bonds. The binding of substrates to P450s, which is usually viewed as the first step in the catalytic cycle, has been studied extensively via a variety of biochemical and biophysical approaches. These studies were directed towards answering different questions related to P450s, including mechanism of oxidation, substrate properties, unusual substrate oxidation kinetics, function, and active-site features. Some of the substrate binding studies extending over a period of more than 40 years of dedicated work have been summarized in this review and categorized by the techniques employed in the binding studies.

Determinants of cytochrome P450 2C8 substrate binding: structures of complexes with montelukast, troglitazone, felodipine, and 9-cis-retinoic acid

Although a crystal structure and a pharmacophore model are available for cytochrome P450 2C8, the role of protein flexibility and specific ligand-protein interactions that govern substrate binding are poorly understood. X-ray crystal structures of P450 2C8 complexed with montelukast (2.8 A), troglitazone (2.7 A), felodipine (2.3 A), and 9-cis-retinoic acid (2.6 A) were determined to examine ligand-protein interactions for these chemically diverse compounds. Montelukast is a relatively large anionic inhibitor that exhibits a tripartite structure and complements the size and shape of the active-site cavity. The inhibitor troglitazone occupies the upper portion of the active-site cavity, leaving a substantial part of the cavity unoccupied. The smaller neutral felodipine molecule is sequestered with its dichlorophenyl group positioned close to the heme iron, and water molecules fill the distal portion of the cavity. The structure of the 9-cis-retinoic acid complex reveals that two substrate molecules bind simultaneously in the active site of P450 2C8. A second molecule of 9-cis-retinoic acid is located above the proximal molecule and can restrain the position of the latter for more efficient oxygenation. Solution binding studies do not discriminate between cooperative and noncooperative models for multiple substrate binding. The complexes with structurally distinct ligands further demonstrate the conformational adaptability of active site-constituting residues, especially Arg-241, that can reorient in the active-site cavity to stabilize a negatively charged functional group and define two spatially distinct binding sites for anionic moieties of substrates.

Important amino acid residues that confer CYP2C19 selective activity to CYP2C9

Although CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 display 91% sequence identity at the amino acid level, the two enzymes have distinct substrate specificities for compounds such as diclofenac, progesterone and (S)-mephenytoin. Amino acid substitutions in CYP2C9 were made based on an alignment of CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and monkey CYP2C43 sequences. Mutants of CYP2C9 were expressed in Escherichia coli. Sixteen amino acids, which are common to both CYP2C19 and CYP2C43 but different between CYP2C9 and CYP2C19, were substituted in CYP2C9 (CYP2C9-16aa). Next, the mutated amino acids in CYP2C9-16aa were individually reverted to those of CYP2C9 to examine the effect of each substitution on the enzymatic activity for CYP2C marker substrates. In addition, the role of the F-G loop in CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 was examined for substrate specificity and enzymatic activity. Our results showed: (i) CYP2C9-16aa displays 11% (S)-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylase and full omeprazole 5-hydroxylase activity compared with that of CYP2C19; (ii) residue 286 is important for conferring CYP2C9-like enzyme activity on CYP2C9-16aa and residue 442 in CYP2C19 may be involved in the interaction with NADPH-P450 reductase; (iii) substitution of the F-G loop in CYP2C9 to that of CYP2C19 enhances tolbutamide p-methyhydroxylase and diclofenac 4'-hydroxylase activities and confers partial (S)-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylase and omeprazole 5-hydroxylase activities, which are attributed to CYP2C19.

Analysis of the cryptophycin P450 epoxidase reveals substrate tolerance and cooperativity

Cryptophycins are potent anticancer agents isolated from Nostoc sp. ATCC 53789 and Nostoc sp. GSV 224. The most potent natural cryptophycin analogues retain a beta-epoxide at the C2'-C3' position of the molecule. A P450 epoxidase encoded by c rpE recently identified from the cryptophycin gene cluster was shown to install this key functional group into cryptophycin-4 (Cr-4) to produce cryptophycin-2 (Cr-2) in a regio- and stereospecific manner. Here we report a detailed characterization of the CrpE epoxidase using an engineered maltose binding protein (MBP)-CrpE fusion. The substrate tolerance of the CrpE polypeptide was investigated with a series of structurally related cryptophycin analogues generated by chemoenzymatic synthesis. The enzyme specifically installed a beta-epoxide between C2' and C3' of cyclic cryptophycin analogues. The kcat/Km values of the enzyme were determined to provide further insights into the P450 epoxidase catalytic efficiency affected by substrate structural variation. Finally, binding analysis revealed cooperativity of MBP-CrpE toward natural and unnatural desepoxy cryptophycin substrates.

Crystal structure of CYP105A1 (P450SU-1) in complex with 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3

Vitamin D 3 (VD 3), a prohormone in mammals, plays a crucial role in the maintenance of calcium and phosphorus concentrations in serum. Activation of VD 3 requires 25-hydroxylation in the liver and 1alpha-hydroxylation in the kidney by cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes. Bacterial CYP105A1 converts VD 3 into 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 (1alpha,25(OH) 2D 3) in two independent reactions, despite its low sequence identity with mammalian enzymes (<21% identity). The present study determined the crystal structures of a highly active mutant (R84A) of CYP105A1 from Streptomyces griseolus in complex and not in complex with 1alpha,25(OH) 2D 3. The compound 1alpha,25(OH) 2D 3 is positioned 11 A from the iron atom along the I helix within the pocket. A similar binding mode is observed in the structure of the human CYP2R1-VD 3 complex, indicating a common substrate-binding mechanism for 25-hydroxylation. A comparison with the structure of wild-type CYP105A1 suggests that the loss of two hydrogen bonds in the R84A mutant increases the adaptability of the B' and F helices, creating a transient binding site. Further mutational analysis of the active site reveals that 25- and 1alpha-hydroxylations share residues that participate in these reactions. These results provide the structural basis for understanding the mechanism of the two-step hydroxylation that activates VD 3.