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He S, Abdallah II, van Merkerk R, Quax WJ. Insights into taxadiene synthase catalysis and promiscuity facilitated by mutability landscape and molecular dynamics. PLANTA 2024; 259:87. [PMID: 38460012 PMCID: PMC10924717 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-024-04363-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
MAIN CONCLUSION Protein modeling, carbocation docking, and molecular dynamics along with structure-based mutability landscapes provided insight into taxadiene synthase catalysis (first step of the anticancer Taxol biosynthesis), protein structure-function correlations, and promiscuity. Plant terpenes belong to one of the largest and most diverse classes of natural products. This diversity is driven by the terpene synthase enzyme family which comprises numerous different synthases, several of which are promiscuous. Taxadiene synthase (TXS) is a class I diterpene synthase that catalyzes the first step in the biosynthesis pathway of the diterpene Taxol, an anticancer natural product produced by the Taxus plant. Exploring the molecular basis of TXS catalysis and its promiscuous potential garnered interest as a necessary means for understanding enzyme evolution and engineering possibilities to improve Taxol biosynthesis. A catalytically active closed conformation TXS model was designed using the artificial intelligence system, AlphaFold, accompanied by docking and molecular dynamics simulations. In addition, a mutability landscape of TXS including 14 residues was created to probe for structure-function relations. The mutability landscape revealed no mutants with improved catalytic activity compared to wild-type TXS. However, mutations of residues V584, Q609, V610, and Y688 showed high degree of promiscuity producing cembranoid-type and/or verticillene-type major products instead of taxanes. Mechanistic insights into V610F, V584M, Q609A, and Y688C mutants compared to the wild type revealed the trigger(s) for product profile change. Several mutants spanning residues V584, Q609, Y688, Y762, Q770, and F834 increased production of taxa-4(20),11(12)-diene which is a more favorable substrate for Taxol production compared to taxa-4(5),11(12)-diene. Finally, molecular dynamics simulations of the TXS reaction cascade revealed residues involved in ionization, carbocation stabilization, and cyclization ushering deeper understanding of the enzyme catalysis mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqi He
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ingy I Abdallah
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Ronald van Merkerk
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Wim J Quax
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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2
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Yang W, Zhuang J, Li C, Cheng GJ. Unveiling the Methyl Transfer Mechanisms in the Epigenetic Machinery DNMT3A-3L: A Comprehensive Study Integrating Assembly Dynamics with Catalytic Reactions. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:2086-2099. [PMID: 36968013 PMCID: PMC10034213 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In epigenetic mechanisms, DNA methyltransferase 3 alpha (DNMT3A) acts as an initiator for DNA methylation and prevents the downstream genes from expressing. Perturbations of DNMT3A functions may cause uncontrolled gene expression, resulting in pathogenic consequences such as cancers. It is, therefore, vitally important to understand the catalytic process of DNMT3A in its biological macromolecule assembly, viz., heterotetramer: (DNMT3A-3 L)dimer. In this study, we utilized molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, Markov State Models (MSM), and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics simulations (QM/MM) to investigate the de novo methyl transfer process. We identified the dynamics of the key residues relevant to the insertion of the target cytosine (dC) into the catalytic domain of DNMT3A, and the detailed potential energy surface of the seven-step reaction referring to methyl transfer. Our calculated potential energy barrier (22.51 kcal/mol) approximates the former experimental data (23.12 kcal/mol). The conformational change of the 5-methyl-cytosine (5mC) intermediate was found necessary in forming a four-water chain for the elimination step, which is unique to the other DNMTs. The biological assembly facilitates the creation of such a water chain, and the elimination occurs in an asynchronized mechanism in the two catalytic pockets. We anticipate the findings can enable a better understanding of the general mechanisms of the de novo methyl transfer for fulfilling the key enzymatic functions in epigenetics. And the unique elimination of DNMT3A might ignite novel methods for designing anti-cancer and tumor inhibitors of DNMTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Yang
- Warshel Institute for Computational Biology, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518172, China
- School of Biotechnology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Jingyuan Zhuang
- Warshel Institute for Computational Biology, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518172, China
| | - Chen Li
- Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Gui-Juan Cheng
- Warshel Institute for Computational Biology, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518172, China
- School of Life and Health Sciences, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518172, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Steroid Drug Development, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518172, China
- Corresponding author at: Warshel Institute for Computational Biology, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518172, China.
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3
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Leferink NGH, Escorcia AM, Ouwersloot BR, Johanissen LO, Hay S, van der Kamp MW, Scrutton NS. Molecular Determinants of Carbocation Cyclisation in Bacterial Monoterpene Synthases. Chembiochem 2022; 23:e202100688. [PMID: 35005823 PMCID: PMC9303655 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202100688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Monoterpene synthases are often promiscuous enzymes, yielding product mixtures rather than pure compounds due to the nature of the branched reaction mechanism involving reactive carbocations. Two previously identified bacterial monoterpene synthases, a linalool synthase (bLinS) and a cineole synthase (bCinS), produce nearly pure linalool and cineole from geranyl diphosphate, respectively. We used a combined experimental and computational approach to identify critical residues involved in bacterial monoterpenoid synthesis. Phe77 is essential for bCinS activity, guiding the linear carbocation intermediate towards the formation of the cyclic α-terpinyl intermediate; removal of the aromatic ring results in variants that produce acyclic products only. Computational chemistry confirmed the importance of Phe77 in carbocation stabilisation. Phe74, Phe78 and Phe179 are involved in maintaining the active site shape in bCinS without a specific role for the aromatic ring. Phe295 in bLinS, and the equivalent Ala301 in bCinS, are essential for linalool and cineole formation, respectively. Where Phe295 places steric constraints on the carbocation intermediates, Ala301 is essential for bCinS initial cyclisation and activity. Our multidisciplinary approach gives unique insights into how carefully placed amino acid residues in the active site can direct carbocations down specific paths, by placing steric constraints or offering stabilisation via cation-π interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole G H Leferink
- Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology and Department of Chemistry, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK
| | - Andrés M Escorcia
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Bodi R Ouwersloot
- Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology and Department of Chemistry, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK
| | - Linus O Johanissen
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology and Department of Chemistry, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK
| | - Sam Hay
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology and Department of Chemistry, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK
| | - Marc W van der Kamp
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Nigel S Scrutton
- Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology and Department of Chemistry, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK
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4
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Erdogan T. DFT, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation studies on some newly introduced natural products for their potential use against SARS-CoV-2. J Mol Struct 2021; 1242:130733. [PMID: 34054142 PMCID: PMC8140653 DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2021.130733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Throughout the history, natural products always give new paths to develop new drugs. As with many other diseases, natural compounds can be helpful in the treatment of COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 main protease enzyme has an important role in viral replication and transcription. Therefore, inhibiting this enzyme may be helpful in the treatment of COVID-19. In this study, it is aimed to investigate eight natural compounds which have recently entered the literature, computationally for their potential use against SARS-CoV-2. For this purpose, first, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed on the investigated compounds, and energy minimizations, geometry optimizations, vibrational analyses, molecular electrostatic potential map calculations were carried out. After DFT calculations, geometry optimized structures were subjected to molecular docking calculations with the use of SARS-CoV-2 main protease (pdb id: 5r80) and top-scoring ligand-receptor complexes were obtained. In the next part of the study, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed on the top-scoring ligand-receptor complexes to investigate the stability of the ligand-receptor complexes and the interactions between ligands and receptor in more detail. Additionally, in this part of the study, binding free energies are calculated with the use of molecular mechanics with Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA) method. Results showed that, all ligand-receptor complexes remain stable during the MD simulations and most of the investigated compounds but especially two of them showed considerably high binding affinity to SARS-CoV-2 main protease. Finally, in the study, ADME (adsorption, desorption, metabolism, excretion) predictions and drug-likeness analyses were performed on the investigated compounds.
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5
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Yu C, Zhang C, Xu X, Huang J, Chen Y, Luo X, Wang H, Shen C. Omic analysis of the endangered Taxaceae species Pseudotaxus chienii revealed the differences in taxol biosynthesis pathway between Pseudotaxus and Taxus yunnanensis trees. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2021; 21:104. [PMID: 33622251 PMCID: PMC7903646 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-021-02883-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Taxol is an efficient anticancer drug accumulated in Taxus species. Pseudotaxus chienii is an important member of Taxaceae, however, the level of six taxoids in P. chienii is largely unknown. RESULTS High accumulation of 10-DAB, taxol, and 7-E-PTX suggested that P. chienii is a good taxol-yielding species for large-scale cultivation. By the omics approaches, a total of 3,387 metabolites and 61,146 unigenes were detected and annotated. Compared with a representative Taxus tree (Taxus yunnanensis), most of the differentially accumulated metabolites and differential expressed genes were assigned into 10 primary and secondary metabolism pathways. Comparative analyses revealed the variations in the precursors and intermediate products of taxol biosynthesis between P. chienii and T. yunnanensis. Taxusin-like metabolites highly accumulated in P. chienii, suggesting a wider value of P. chienii in pharmaceutical industry. CONCLUSIONS In our study, the occurrence of taxoids in P. chienii was determined. The differential expression of key genes involved in the taxol biosynthesis pathway is the major cause of the differential accumulation of taxoids. Moreover, identification of a number of differentially expressed transcription factors provided more candidate regulators of taxol biosynthesis. Our study may help to reveal the differences between Pseudotaxus and Taxus trees, and promote resource utilization of the endangered and rarely studied P. chienii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunna Yu
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310036 China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Genetic Improvement and Quality Control of Medicinal Plants, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310036 China
| | - Chengchao Zhang
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310036 China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Genetic Improvement and Quality Control of Medicinal Plants, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310036 China
| | - Xinyun Xu
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310036 China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Genetic Improvement and Quality Control of Medicinal Plants, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310036 China
| | - Jiefang Huang
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310036 China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Genetic Improvement and Quality Control of Medicinal Plants, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310036 China
| | - Yueyue Chen
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310036 China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Genetic Improvement and Quality Control of Medicinal Plants, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310036 China
| | - Xiujun Luo
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310036 China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Genetic Improvement and Quality Control of Medicinal Plants, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310036 China
| | - Huizhong Wang
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310036 China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Genetic Improvement and Quality Control of Medicinal Plants, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310036 China
| | - Chenjia Shen
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310036 China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Genetic Improvement and Quality Control of Medicinal Plants, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310036 China
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6
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Mutanda I, Li J, Xu F, Wang Y. Recent Advances in Metabolic Engineering, Protein Engineering, and Transcriptome-Guided Insights Toward Synthetic Production of Taxol. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:632269. [PMID: 33614616 PMCID: PMC7892896 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.632269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The diterpenoid paclitaxel (Taxol®) is a blockbuster anticancer agent that was originally isolated from the Pacific yew (Taxus brevifolia) five decades ago. Despite the wealth of information gained over the years on Taxol research, there still remains supply issues to meet increasing clinical demand. Although alternative Taxol production methods have been developed, they still face several drawbacks that cause supply shortages and high production costs. It is highly desired to develop biotechnological production platforms for Taxol, however, there are still gaps in our understanding of the biosynthetic pathway, catalytic enzymes, regulatory and control mechanisms that hamper production of this critical drug by synthetic biology approaches. Over the past 5 years, significant advances were made in metabolic engineering and optimization of the Taxol pathway in different hosts, leading to accumulation of taxane intermediates. Computational and experimental approaches were leveraged to gain mechanistic insights into the catalytic cycle of pathway enzymes and guide rational protein engineering efforts to improve catalytic fitness and substrate/product specificity, especially of the cytochrome P450s (CYP450s). Notable breakthroughs were also realized in engineering the pathway in plant hosts that are more promising in addressing the challenging CYP450 chemistry. Here, we review these recent advances and in addition, we summarize recent transcriptomic data sets of Taxus species and elicited culture cells, and give a bird's-eye view of the information that can be gleaned from these publicly available resources. Recent mining of transcriptome data sets led to discovery of two putative pathway enzymes, provided many lead candidates for the missing steps and provided new insights on the regulatory mechanisms governing Taxol biosynthesis. All these inferences are relevant to future biotechnological production of Taxol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ishmael Mutanda
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianhua Li
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Fanglin Xu
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Life Sciences, He’nan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Yong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
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7
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Combining protein and metabolic engineering to construct efficient microbial cell factories. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2020; 66:27-35. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2020.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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8
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Raz K, Levi S, Gupta PK, Major DT. Enzymatic control of product distribution in terpene synthases: insights from multiscale simulations. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2020; 65:248-258. [PMID: 32679412 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2020.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
In this opinion, we review some recent work on terpene biosynthesis using multiscale simulation approaches, with special focus on contributions from our group. Terpene synthases generate terpenes employing rich carbocation chemistry, including highly specific ring formations, proton, hydride, methyl, and methylene migrations, followed by reaction quenching. In these enzymes, the main catalytic challenge is not rate enhancement, but rather control of intrinsically reactive carbocations and the resulting product distribution. Herein, we review multiscale simulations of selected mono-, sesqui-, and diterpene synthases. We point to the many tools adopted by terpene synthases to achieve correct substrate fold, carbocation formation, carbocation reaction environment, and reaction quenching. A better understanding of the toolbox employed by terpene synthases is expected to aid in the search for new enzymatic and biomimetic synthetic routes to natural and unnatural terpenes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keren Raz
- Department of Chemistry and Institute for Nanotechnology & Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel
| | - Shani Levi
- Department of Chemistry and Institute for Nanotechnology & Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel
| | - Prashant Kumar Gupta
- Department of Chemistry and Institute for Nanotechnology & Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel
| | - Dan Thomas Major
- Department of Chemistry and Institute for Nanotechnology & Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel.
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9
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Exploring the catalytic cascade of cembranoid biosynthesis by combination of genetic engineering and molecular simulations. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2020; 18:1819-1829. [PMID: 32695274 PMCID: PMC7365961 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2020.06.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
While chemical steps involved in bioactive cembranoid biosynthesis have been examined, the corresponding enzymatic mechanisms leading to their formation remain elusive. In the tobacco plant, Nicotiana tabacum, a putative cembratriene-ol synthase (CBTS) initiates the catalytic cascade that lead to the biosynthesis of cembratriene-4,6-diols, which displays antibacterial- and anti-proliferative activities. We report here on structural homology models, functional studies, and mechanistic explorations of this enzyme using a combination of biosynthetic and computational methods. This approach guided us to develop an efficient de novo production of five bioactive non- and monohydroxylated cembranoids. Our homology models in combination with quantum and classical simulations suggested putative principles of the CBTS catalytic cycle, and provided a possible rationale for the formation of premature olefinic side products. Moreover, the functional reconstruction of a N. tabacum-derived class II P450 with a cognate CPR, obtained by transcriptome mining provided for production of bioactive cembratriene-4,6-diols. Our combined findings provide mechanistic insights into cembranoid biosynthesis, and a basis for the sustainable industrial production of highly valuable bioactive cembranoids.
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10
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Tantillo DJ. Interrogating chemical mechanisms in natural products biosynthesis using quantum chemical calculations. WIRES COMPUTATIONAL MOLECULAR SCIENCE 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/wcms.1453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dean J. Tantillo
- Department of Chemistry University of California–Davis Davis California
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11
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Hayes CJ, Palframan MJ, Pattenden G. The Impact of Macrocycle Conformation on the Taxadiene-Forming Carbocation Cascade: Insight Gained from Sobralene, a Recently Discovered Verticillene Isomer. J Org Chem 2020; 85:4507-4514. [PMID: 32101002 DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.0c00369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
DFT calculations on the carbocation intermediates that connect the biosynthetic pathways leading to the sand fly pheromone sobralene and taxadiene have been made. Establishment of the conformation of the macrocyclic carbocation intermediate required to produce the (Z)-C8,C9 alkene bond in sobralene has identified new conformations of the verticillyl carbocation intermediates on the taxadiene biosynthetic pathway. These "sobralene-like" carbocation conformations provide an exothermic pathway to taxadiene and are validated by comparison to closely related structures (X-ray and NMR).
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Hayes
- School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K
| | - Matthew J Palframan
- School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K
| | - Gerald Pattenden
- School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K
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12
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van Rijn JPM, Escorcia AM, Thiel W. QM/MM study of the taxadiene synthase mechanism. J Comput Chem 2019; 40:1902-1910. [DOI: 10.1002/jcc.25846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2019] [Revised: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrés M. Escorcia
- Max‐Planck‐Institut für Kohlenforschung Kaiser‐Wilhelm‐Platz 1, 45470 Mülheim Germany
| | - Walter Thiel
- Max‐Planck‐Institut für Kohlenforschung Kaiser‐Wilhelm‐Platz 1, 45470 Mülheim Germany
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13
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Palframan MJ, Pattenden G. The verticillenes. Pivotal intermediates in the biosynthesis of the taxanes and the phomactins. Nat Prod Rep 2019; 36:108-121. [DOI: 10.1039/c8np00034d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Recent enzymatic studies, quantum chemical calculations and biomimetic conversions consolidate the role of verticillenes in the biosynthesis of taxanes and phomactins.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gerald Pattenden
- School of Chemistry
- The University of Nottingham
- University Park
- Nottingham
- UK
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14
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Hirte M, Meese N, Mertz M, Fuchs M, Brück TB. Insights Into the Bifunctional Aphidicolan-16-ß-ol Synthase Through Rapid Biomolecular Modeling Approaches. Front Chem 2018; 6:101. [PMID: 29692986 PMCID: PMC5902962 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2018.00101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Diterpene synthases catalyze complex, multi-step C-C coupling reactions thereby converting the universal, aliphatic precursor geranylgeranyl diphosphate into diverse olefinic macrocylces that form the basis for the structural diversity of the diterpene natural product family. Since catalytically relevant crystal structures of diterpene synthases are scarce, homology based biomolecular modeling techniques offer an alternative route to study the enzyme's reaction mechanism. However, precise identification of catalytically relevant amino acids is challenging since these models require careful preparation and refinement techniques prior to substrate docking studies. Targeted amino acid substitutions in this protein class can initiate premature quenching of the carbocation centered reaction cascade. The structural characterization of those alternative cyclization products allows for elucidation of the cyclization reaction cascade and provides a new source for complex macrocyclic synthons. In this study, new insights into structure and function of the fungal, bifunctional Aphidicolan-16-ß-ol synthase were achieved using a simplified biomolecular modeling strategy. The applied refinement methodologies could rapidly generate a reliable protein-ligand complex, which provides for an accurate in silico identification of catalytically relevant amino acids. Guided by our modeling data, ACS mutations lead to the identification of the catalytically relevant ACS amino acid network I626, T657, Y658, A786, F789, and Y923. Moreover, the ACS amino acid substitutions Y658L and D661A resulted in a premature termination of the cyclization reaction cascade en-route from syn-copalyl diphosphate to Aphidicolan-16-ß-ol. Both ACS mutants generated the diterpene macrocycle syn-copalol and a minor, non-hydroxylated labdane related diterpene, respectively. Our biomolecular modeling and mutational studies suggest that the ACS substrate cyclization occurs in a spatially restricted location of the enzyme's active site and that the geranylgeranyl diphosphate derived pyrophosphate moiety remains in the ACS active site thereby directing the cyclization process. Our cumulative data confirm that amino acids constituting the G-loop of diterpene synthases are involved in the open to the closed, catalytically active enzyme conformation. This study demonstrates that a simple and rapid biomolecular modeling procedure can predict catalytically relevant amino acids. The approach reduces computational and experimental screening efforts for diterpene synthase structure-function analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Hirte
- Werner Siemens Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Nicolas Meese
- Werner Siemens Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Michael Mertz
- Werner Siemens Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Monika Fuchs
- Werner Siemens Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas B Brück
- Werner Siemens Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
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