A continuous spectrophotometric assay for Escherichia coli alanyl-transfer RNA synthetase

X-shaped structure of bacterial heterotetrameric tRNA synthetase suggests cryptic prokaryote functions and a rationale for synthetase classifications

AaRSs (aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases) group into two ten-member classes throughout evolution, with unique active site architectures defining each class. Most are monomers or homodimers but, for no apparent reason, many bacterial GlyRSs are heterotetramers consisting of two catalytic α-subunits and two tRNA-binding β-subunits. The heterotetrameric GlyRS from Escherichia coli (EcGlyRS) was historically tested whether its α- and β-polypeptides, which are encoded by a single mRNA with a gap of three in-frame codons, are replaceable by a single chain. Here, an unprecedented X-shaped structure of EcGlyRS shows wide separation of the abutting chain termini seen in the coding sequences, suggesting strong pressure to avoid a single polypeptide format. The structure of the five-domain β-subunit is unique across all aaRSs in current databases, and structural analyses suggest these domains play different functions on α-subunit binding, ATP coordination and tRNA recognition. Moreover, the X-shaped architecture of EcGlyRS largely fits with a model for how two classes of tRNA synthetases arose, according to whether enzymes from opposite classes can simultaneously co-dock onto separate faces of the same tRNA acceptor stem. While heterotetrameric GlyRS remains the last structurally uncharacterized member of aaRSs, our study contributes to a better understanding of this ancient and essential enzyme family.

Biochemical and structural characterization of mycobacterial aspartyl-tRNA synthetase AspS, a promising TB drug target

The human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the causative agent of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), a disease with high worldwide mortality rates. Current treatment programs are under significant threat from multi-drug and extensively-drug resistant strains of M. tuberculosis, and it is essential to identify new inhibitors and their targets. We generated spontaneous resistant mutants in Mycobacterium bovis BCG in the presence of 10× the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of compound 1, a previously identified potent inhibitor of mycobacterial growth in culture. Whole genome sequencing of two resistant mutants revealed in one case a single nucleotide polymorphism in the gene aspS at ⁵³⁵GAC>⁵³⁵AAC (D179N), while in the second mutant a single nucleotide polymorphism was identified upstream of the aspS promoter region. We probed whole cell target engagement by overexpressing either M. bovis BCG aspS or Mycobacterium smegmatis aspS, which resulted in a ten-fold and greater than ten-fold increase, respectively, of the MIC against compound 1. To analyse the impact of inhibitor 1 on M. tuberculosis AspS (Mt-AspS) activity we over-expressed, purified and characterised the kinetics of this enzyme using a robust tRNA-independent assay adapted to a high-throughput screening format. Finally, to aid hit-to-lead optimization, the crystal structure of apo M. smegmatis AspS was determined to a resolution of 2.4 Å.

Adenosine tetraphosphoadenosine drives a continuous ATP-release assay for aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and other adenylate-forming enzymes

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are essential for the correct linkage of amino acids to cognate tRNAs to maintain the fidelity of protein synthesis. Tractable, continuous assays are valuable for characterizing the functions of synthetases and for their exploitation as drug targets. We have exploited the unexplored ability of these enzymes to consume adenosine tetraphosphoadenosine (diadenosine 5',5‴ P(1) P(4) tetraphosphate; Ap4A) and produce ATP to develop such an assay. We have used this assay to probe the stereoselectivity of isoleucyl-tRNA(Ile) and Valyl-tRNA(Val) synthetases and the impact of tRNA on editing by isoleucyl-tRNA(Ile) synthetase (IleRS) and to identify analogues of intermediates of these enzymes that might allow targeting of multiple synthetases. We further report the utility of Ap4A-based assays for identification of synthetase inhibitors with nanomolar to millimolar affinities. Finally, we demonstrate the broad application of Ap4A utilization with a continuous Ap4A-driven RNA ligase assay.

A broadly applicable continuous spectrophotometric assay for measuring aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase activity

We describe a convenient, simple and novel continuous spectrophotometric method for the determination of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase activity. The assay relies upon the measurement of inorganic pyrophosphate generated in the first step of the aminoacylation of a tRNA. Pyrophosphate release is coupled to inorganic pyrophosphatase, to generate phosphate, which in turn is used as the substrate of purine nucleoside phosphorylase to catalyze the N-glycosidic cleavage of 2-amino 6-mercapto 7-methylpurine ribonucleoside. Of the reaction products, ribose 1-phosphate and 2-amino 6-mercapto 7-methylpurine, the latter has a high absorbance at 360 nm relative to the nucleoside and hence provides a spectrophotometric signal that can be continuously followed. The non-destructive nature of the spectrophotometric assay allowed the re-use of the tRNAs in question in successive experiments. The usefulness of this method was demonstrated for glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase (GlnRS) and tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase. Initial velocities measured using this assay correlate closely with those assayed by quantitation of [3H]Gln-tRNA or [14C]Trp-tRNA formation respectively. In both cases amino acid transfer from the aminoacyl adenylate to the tRNA represents the rate determining step. In addition, aminoacyl adenylate formation by aspartyl-tRNA synthetase was followed and provided a more sensitive means of active site titration than existing techniques. Finally, this novel method was used to provide direct evidence for the cooperativity of tRNA and ATP binding to GlnRS.

Continuous spectrophotometric assay for aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases

A simple, continuous assay for aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases utilizing a commercially available pyrophosphate assay reagent kit was demonstrated. The method coupled aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase activity with pyrophosphate-dependent fructose-6-phosphate kinase, aldolase, triosephosphate isomerase, and glycerophosphate dehydrogenase. PPi formation was correlated with the oxidation of NADH, and was monitored continuously by the decrease of absorbance at 340 nm.