Chain folding in the dihydrolipoyl acyltransferase components of the 2-oxo-acid dehydrogenase complexes from Escherichia coli. Identification of a segment involved in binding the E3 subunit

Characterization of lysine acetylation in the peripheral subunit-binding domain of the E2 subunit of the pyruvate dehydrogenase-2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase hybrid complex from Corynebacterium glutamicum

In Corynebacterium glutamicum, pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase (ODH) form a unique hybrid complex in which CgE1p and CgE1o are associated with the CgE2-CgE3 subcomplex. We analyzed the role of a lysine acetylation site in the peripheral subunit-binding domain of CgE2 in PDH and ODH functions. Acetylation-mimic substitution at Lys391 of CgE2 severely reduced the interaction of CgE2 with CgE1p and CgE3, but not with CgE1o, indicating the critical role of this residue in the assembly of CgE1p and CgE3 into the complex. It also suggested that Lys391 acetylation inhibited the binding of CgE1p and CgE3 to CgE2, thereby affecting PDH and ODH activities. Interestingly, the CgE2-K391R variant strain showed increased l-glutamate production and reduced pyruvate accumulation. Kinetic analysis suggested that the increased affinity of the K391R variant toward pyruvate might be advantageous for l-glutamate production.

In vitro reconstitution and characterization of pyruvate dehydrogenase and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase hybrid complex from Corynebacterium glutamicum

Pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) and 2‐oxoglutarate dehydrogenase (ODH) are critical enzymes in central carbon metabolism. In Corynebacterium glutamicum, an unusual hybrid complex consisting of CgE1p (thiamine diphosphate‐dependent pyruvate dehydrogenase, AceE), CgE2 (dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase, AceF), CgE3 (dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase, Lpd), and CgE1o (thiamine diphosphate‐dependent 2‐oxoglutarate dehydrogenase, OdhA) has been suggested. Here, we elucidated that the PDH‐ODH hybrid complex in C. glutamicum probably consists of six copies of CgE2 in its core, which is rather compact compared with PDH and ODH in other microorganisms that have twenty‐four copies of E2. We found that CgE2 formed a stable complex with CgE3 (CgE2‐E3 subcomplex) in vitro, hypothetically comprised of two CgE2 trimers and four CgE3 dimers. We also found that CgE1o exists mainly as a hexamer in solution and is ready to form an active ODH complex when mixed with the CgE2‐E3 subcomplex. Our in vitro reconstituted system showed CgE1p‐ and CgE1o‐dependent inhibition of ODH and PDH, respectively, actively supporting the formation of the hybrid complex, in which both CgE1p and CgE1o associate with a single CgE2‐E3. In gel filtration chromatography, all the subunits of CgODH were eluted in the same fraction, whereas CgE1p was eluted separately from CgE2‐E3, suggesting a weak association of CgE1p with CgE2 compared with that of CgE1o. This study revealed the unique molecular architecture of the hybrid complex from C. glutamicum and the compact‐sized complex would provide an advantage to determine the whole structure of the unusual hybrid complex.

Nuclear magnetic resonance approaches in the study of 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase multienzyme complexes--a literature review

The 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase complexes (ODHc) consist of multiple copies of three enzyme components: E1, a 2-oxoacid decarboxylase; E2, dihydrolipoyl acyl-transferase; and E3, dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase, that together catalyze the oxidative decarboxylation of 2-oxoacids, in the presence of thiamin diphosphate (ThDP), coenzyme A (CoA), Mg²⁺ and NAD⁺, to generate CO₂, NADH and the corresponding acyl-CoA. The structural scaffold of the complex is provided by E2, with E1 and E3 bound around the periphery. The three principal members of the family are pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDHc), 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase (OGDHc) and branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase (BCKDHc). In this review, we report application of NMR-based approaches to both mechanistic and structural issues concerning these complexes. These studies revealed the nature and reactivity of transient intermediates on the enzymatic pathway and provided site-specific information on the architecture and binding specificity of the domain interfaces using solubilized truncated domain constructs of the multi-domain E2 component in its interactions with the E1 and E3 components. Where studied, NMR has also provided information about mobile loops and the possible relationship of mobility and catalysis.

Origins of barriers and barrierless folding in BBL

In contrast to classical chemical phenomenology, theory suggests that proteins may undergo downhill folding without an activation barrier under certain thermodynamic conditions. Recently, the BBL protein was proposed to fold by such a downhill scenario, but discrepancies between experimental results found in different groups argue against this. After briefly reviewing the major experimental studies of the BBL folding mechanism, we show that simulations of both coarse-grained and atomistic models can reconcile the seemingly conflicting observations.

Crystal structure of the E1 component of the Escherichia coli 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex

The thiamine-dependent E1o component (EC 1.2.4.2) of the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex catalyses a rate-limiting step of the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) of aerobically respiring organisms. We describe the crystal structure of Escherichia coli E1o in its apo and holo forms at 2.6 A and 3.5 A resolution, respectively. The structures reveal the characteristic fold that binds thiamine diphosphate and resemble closely the alpha(2)beta(2) hetero-tetrameric E1 components of other 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complexes, except that in E1o, the alpha and beta subunits are fused as a single polypeptide. The extended segment that links the alpha-like and beta-like domains forms a pocket occupied by AMP, which is recognised specifically. Also distinctive to E1o are N-terminal extensions to the core fold, and which may mediate interactions with other components of the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex. The active site pocket contains a group of three histidine residues and one serine that appear to confer substrate specificity and the capacity to accommodate the TCA metabolite oxaloacetate. Oxaloacetate inhibits E1o activity at physiological concentrations, and we suggest that the inhibition may allow coordinated activity within the TCA cycle. We discuss the implications for metabolic control in facultative anaerobes, and for energy homeostasis of the mammalian brain.

Experimental identification of downhill protein folding

Theory predicts the existence of barrierless protein folding. Without barriers, folding should be noncooperative and the degree of native structure should be coupled to overall protein stability. We investigated the thermal unfolding of the peripheral subunit binding domain from Escherichia coli's 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex (termed BBL) with a combination of spectroscopic techniques and calorimetry. Each technique probed a different feature of protein structure. BBL has a defined three-dimensional structure at low temperatures. However, each technique showed a distinct unfolding transition. Global analysis with a statistical mechanical model identified BBL as a downhill-folding protein. Because of BBL's biological function, we propose that downhill folders may be molecular rheostats, in which effects could be modulated by altering the distribution of an ensemble of structures.

Self-assembly and catalytic activity of the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex from Bacillus stearothermophilus

The pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex from Bacillus stearothermophilus was reconstituted in vitro from recombinant proteins derived from genes over-expressed in Escherichia coli. Titrations of the icosahedral (60-mer) dihydrolipoyl acetyltransferase (E2) core component with the pyruvate decarboxylase (E1, alpha2beta2) and dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase (E3, alpha2) peripheral components indicated a variable composition defined predominantly by tight and mutually exclusive binding of E1 and E3 with the peripheral subunit-binding domain of each E2 chain. However, both analysis of the polypeptide chain ratios in complexes generated from various mixtures of E1 and E3, and displacement of E1 or E3 from E1-E2 or E3-E2 subcomplexes by E3 or E1, respectively, showed that the multienzyme complex does not behave as a simple competitive binding system. This implies the existence of secondary interactions between the E1 and E3 subunits and E2 that only become apparent on assembly. Exact geometrical distribution of E1 and E3 is unlikely and the results are best explained by preferential arrangements of E1 and E3 on the surface of the E2 core, superimposed on their mutually exclusive binding to the peripheral subunit-binding domain of the E2 chain. Correlation of the subunit composition with the overall catalytic activity of the enzyme complex confirmed the lack of any requirement for precise stoichiometry or strict geometric arrangement of the three catalytic sites and emphasized the crucial importance of the flexibility associated with the lipoyl domains and intramolecular acetyl group transfer in the mechanism of active-site coupling.

Dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase-binding protein of the human pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. DNA-derived amino acid sequence, expression, and reconstitution of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex

Protein X, recently renamed dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase-binding protein (E3BP), is required for anchoring dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (E3) to the dihydrolipoamide transacetylase (E2) core of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complexes of eukaryotes. DNA and deduced protein sequences for E3BP of the human pyruvate dehydrogenase complex are reported here. With the exception of only a single lipoyl domain, the protein has a segmented multi-domain structure analogous to that of the E2 component of the complex. The protein has 46% amino acid sequence identity in its amino-terminal region with the second lipoyl domain of E2, 38% identity in its central region with the putative peripheral subunit-binding domain of E2, and 50% identity in its carboxyl-terminal region with the catalytic inner core domain of E2. The similarity in the latter domain stands in contrast to E3BP of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which is quite different from its homologous transacetylase in this region. The putative catalytic site histidine residue present in the inner core domains of all dihydrolipoamide acyltransferases is replaced by a serine residue in human E3BP; thus, catalysis of coenzyme A acetylation by this protein is unlikely. Coexpression of cDNAs for E3BP and E2 resulted in the formation of an E2.E3BP subcomplex that spontaneously reconstituted the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex in the presence of native E3 and recombinant pyruvate decarboxylase (E1).

Assembly and full functionality of recombinantly expressed dihydrolipoyl acetyltransferase component of the human pyruvate dehydrogenase complex

The dihydrolipoyl acetyltransferase (E2) component of mammalian pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) consists of 60 COOH-terminal domains as an inner assemblage and sequentially via linker regions an exterior pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1) binding domain and two lipoyl domains. Mature human E2, expressed in a protease-deficient Escherichia coli strain at 27 degrees , was prepared in a highly purified form. Purified E2 had a high acetyltransferase activity, was well lipoylated based on its acetylation, and bound a large complement of bovine E1. Electron micrographs demonstrated that the inner core was assembled in the expected pentagonal dodecahedron shape with E1 binding around the inner core periphery. With saturating E1 and excess dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase (E3) but no E3-binding protein (E3BP), the recombinant E2 supported the overall PDC reaction at 4% of the rate of bovine E2.E3BP subcomplex. The lipoates of assembled human E2 or its free bilipoyl domain region were reduced by E3 at rates proportional to the lipoyl domain concentration, but those of the E2.E3BP were rapidly used in a concentration-independent manner consistent with bound E3 rapidly using a set of lipoyl domains localized nearby. Given this restriction and the need for E3BP for high PDC activity, directed channeling of reducing equivalents to bound E3 must be very efficient in the complex. The recombinant E2 oligomer increased E1 kinase activity by up to 4-fold and, in a Ca2+-dependent process, increased phospho-E1 phosphatase activity more than 15-fold. Thus the E2 assemblage fully provides the molecular intervention whereby a single E2-bound kinase or phosphatase molecule rapidly phosphorylate or dephosphorylate, respectively, many E2-bound E1. Thus, we prepared properly assembled, fully functional human E2 that mediated enhanced regulatory enzyme activities but, lacking E3BP, supported low PDC activity.

A lipoamide dehydrogenase from Neisseria meningitidis has a lipoyl domain

A protein of molecular weight of 64 kDa (p64k) found in the outer membrane of Neisseria meningitidis shows a high degree of homology with both the lipoyl domain of the acetyltransferase and the entire sequence of the lipoamide dehydrogenase, the E2 and E3 components of the dehydrogenase multienzyme complexes, respectively. The alignment of the p64k with lipoyl domains and lipoamide dehydrogenases from different species is presented. The possible implications of this protein in binding protein-dependent transport are discussed. This is the first lipoamide dehydrogenase reported to have a lipoyl domain.

Overproduction of the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex of Escherichia coli and site-directed substitutions in the E1p and E2p subunits

The aceEF-lpd operon of Escherichia coli encodes the pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1p), dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase (E2p) and dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (E3) subunits of the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex (PDH complex). An isopropyl beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside-inducible expression system was developed for amplifying fully lipoylated wild-type and mutant PDH complexes to over 30% of soluble protein. The extent of lipoylation was related to the degree of aeration during amplification. The specific activities of the isolated PDH complexes and the E1p component were 50-75% of the values normally observed for the unamplified complex. This could be due to altered stoichiometries of the overproduced complexes (higher E3 and lower E1p contents) or inactivation of E1p. The chaperonin, GroEL, was identified as a contaminant which copurifies with the complex. Site-directed substitutions of an invariant glycine residue (G231A, G231S and G231M) in the putative thiamine pyrophosphate-binding fold of the E1p component had no effect on the production of high-molecular-mass PDH complexes but their E1p and PDH complex activities were very low or undetectable, indicating that G231 is essential for the structural or catalytic integrity of E1p. A minor correction to the nucleotide sequence, which leads to the insertion of an isoleucine residue immediately after residue 273, was made. Substitution of the conserved histidine and arginine residues (H602 and R603) in the putative active-site motif of the E2p subunit confirmed that H602 of the E. coli E2p is essential, whereas R603 could be replaced without inactivating E2p. Deletions affecting putative secondary structural elements at the boundary of the E2p catalytic domain inhibited catalytic activity without affecting the assembly of the E2p core or its ability to bind E1p, indicating that the latter functions are determined elsewhere in the domain. The results further consolidate the view that chloramphenicol acetyltransferase serves as a useful structural and functional model for the catalytic domain of the lipoate acyltransferases.

The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from the parasitic nematode Ascaris suum: novel subunit composition and domain structure of the dihydrolipoyl transacetylase component

The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) from muscle of the adult parasitic nematode Ascaris suum plays a unique role in its anaerobic mitochondrial metabolism. Resolution of the intact complex in high salt dissociates the pyruvate dehydrogenase subunit but leaves the dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase subunit (E3) and two other proteins with apparent M(r)s of 45 and 43 kDa bound to the dihydrolipoyl transacetylase (E2) core. These proteins are not observable on Coomassie brilliant blue-stained gels of other eukaryotic PDCs, but the 45-kDa protein is similar in apparent M(r), pI, and sensitivity to trypsin to the Kb subunit of the bovine kidney PDH alpha kinase. Acetylation of the ascarid PDC with [2-14C]pyruvate under conditions designed to maximize the incorporation of label into protein yielded only a single radiolabeled subunit, E2. These results confirm earlier reports that the ascarid PDC lacks protein X, an integral component recently identified in other eukaryotic PDCs. About 1.6 to 1.8 mol of 14C was incorporated/mole of E2, suggesting that the ascarid E2 contained two lipoly-bearing domains. Domain mapping of the 14C-acetylated ascarid E2 by limited tryptic digestion identified two lipoyl-bearing fragments with apparent M(r)s of 50 and 34 kDa and two core fragments with apparent M(r)s of 46 and 30 kDa. The ascarid E2 domain structure appears to be similar to that of other E2s. However, it appears that the subunit-binding domain (E2B) of the ascarid E2 may be significantly larger or be flanked by larger than normal interdomain regions. An enlarged E2B domain may be necessary to accommodate the additional binding of E3 to the E2 subunit in the ascarid complex, in the absence of protein X.

Configuration of interdomain linkers in pyruvate dehydrogenase complex of Escherichia coli as determined by cryoelectron microscopy

The dihydrolipoyl transacetylase (E2p) component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) of Escherichia coli is a multidomain polypeptide comprising a catalytic domain, a domain that binds dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase (E3-binding domain), and three domains containing lipoic acid (lipoyl domains). In PDC 24 subunits of E2p associate by means of interactions involving the catalytic domains to form the structural core of PDC. From cryoelectron microscopy and computer image analysis of frozen-hydrated isolated E2p cores it appears that the lipoyl domains are located peripherally about the core complex and do not assume fixed positions. To further test this interpretation the visibility of the lipoyl domains in electron micrographs was enhanced by specifically biotinylating the lipoic acids and labeling them with streptavidin. In agreement with the studies of native, unlabeled E2p cores, cryoelectron microscopy of the streptavidin-labeled E2p cores showed that the lipoic acid moieties are capable of extending approximately 13 nm from the surface of the core. Localization of the E3-binding domains was accomplished by cryoelectron microscopy of E2p-E3 subcomplexes prepared by reconstitution in vitro. Frequently an apparent gap of several nanometers separated the bound E3 from the surface of the core. The third component of PDC, pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1p), appeared to bind to the E2p core in a manner similar to that observed for E3. These results support a structural model of the E2p core in which the catalytic, E3-binding, and three lipoyl domains are interconnected by linker sequences that assume extended and flexible conformations.

Reconstitution of pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complexes based on chimeric core structures from Azotobacter vinelandii and Escherichia coli

Two unique restriction sites were introduced by site-directed mutagenesis at identical positions in the DNA encoding the dihydrolipoyltransacetylase (E2p) components of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from Azotobacter vinelandii and from Escherichia coli. In this manner each DNA chain could be cut into three parts, coding for the lipoyl domain, which consists of three lipoyl subdomains, the binding domain and the core-forming catalytic domain, respectively. Chimeric E2p components were constructed by exchanging the three domains between E2p from A. vinelandii and E. coli on gene level. The six chimeric E2p proteins were expressed and purified from E. coli TG2. All chimeras were catalytically active, 24-subunit E2p proteins. Interactions of the peripheral components E1p and E3 with the wild-type enzymes from A. vinelandii and E. coli and with the chimeric proteins were studied by gel-filtration experiments, analytical ultracentrifugation and reconstitution of the overall activity of the complex. A. vinelandii E3 interacts only with those chimeras that contain the A. vinelandii binding domain, whereas E. coli E3 interacts with all chimeras. Exchange of the lipoyl or catalytic domain did not influence the binding properties of E3. Recognition of E1p depends on the origin of both the binding domain and the catalytic domain. E. coli E1p interacts strongly with those chimeras in which both the binding domain and the catalytic domain were derived from E. coli E2p and weakly with chimeras that contained either the binding domain or the catalytic domain from E. coli E2p. No binding of E. coli E1p was observed when both domains were of A. vinelandii origin. A. vinelandii E1p recognizes E2p from A. vinelandii and E. coli, but strong interaction required that the binding and catalytic domain were of the same origin. Exchange of lipoyl domains had no effect on the binding properties of the E1p component. These observations confirm previous conclusions, based on site-directed mutagenesis of A. vinelandii E2p [Schulze, E., Westphal, A. H., Boumans, H., and de Kok, A. (1991) Eur. J. Biochem. 202, 841-848], that the binding site for E1p consists of amino acid residues derived from both the binding and the catalytic domain and extend these conclusions to E. coli E2p. Dissociation of the 24 subunit E2p core was only detected when the chimeric E2p proteins contained the catalytic domain from A. vinelandii E2p. Dissociation depends on the binding of peripheral components to the E1p-binding sites, pointing to differences in the inter-trimer contacts between the E2p proteins from both species.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Expression in Escherichia coli of a sub-gene encoding the lipoyl and peripheral subunit-binding domains of the dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex of Bacillus stearothermophilus

A sub-gene encoding the N-terminal 170 residues of the dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase chain of the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex of Bacillus stearothermophilus was over-expressed in Escherichia coli. The expressed polypeptide consists of the lipoyl domain, inter-domain linker and peripheral subunit-binding domain; these were found to have folded into their native functional conformations as judged by reductive acetylation of the lipoyl domain, limited proteolysis of the linker region and ability to bind the dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase dimer. The di-domain was largely (80%) unlipoylated; a small proportion (4%) was correctly modified with lipoic acid and the remainder (16%) was aberrantly modified with octanoic acid. A polyclonal antiserum was raised that recognized both the di-domain and the individual component domains. The 400 MHz 1H-n.m.r. spectrum of the di-domain showed resonances corresponding to those seen in spectra of the lipoyl domain, plus others characteristic of amino acid residues in the flexible linker region. Further, as yet unidentified, resonances are likely to be derived from the peripheral subunit-binding domain. The existence and independent folding of the peripheral subunit-binding domain is thus confirmed and its purification in large-scale amounts for detailed structural analysis is now possible.

Purification and cellular localization of wild type and mutated dihydrolipoyltransacetylases from Azotobacter vinelandii and Escherichia coli expressed in E. coli

Wild type dihydrolipoyltransacetylase(E2p)-components from the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex of A. vinelandii or E. coli, and mutants of A. vinelandii E2p with stepwise deletions of the lipoyl domains or the alanine- and proline-rich region between the binding and the catalytic domain have been overexpressed in E. coli TG2. The high expression of A. vinelandii wild type E2p (20% of cellular protein) and of a mutant enzyme with two lipoyl domains changed the properties of the inner bacterial membrane. This resulted in a solubilization of A. vinelandii E2p after degradation of the outer membrane by lysozyme without any contamination by E. coli pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) or other high-molecular-weight contaminants. The same effect could be detected for A. vinelandii E2o, an E2 which contains only one lipoyl domain, whereas almost no solubilization of A. vinelandii E2p with one lipoyl domain or of E2p consisting only of the binding and catalytic domain was found. Partial or complete deletion of the alanine- and proline-rich sequence between the binding and the catalytic domain did also decrease the solubilization of the E2p-mutants after lysozyme treatment. Immunocytochemical experiments on E. coli TG2 cells expressing A. vinelandii wild type E2p indicated that the enzyme was present as a soluble protein in the cytoplasm. In contrast, overexpressed A. vinelandii E2p with deletion of all three lipoyl domains and E. coli wild type E2p aggregated intracellularly. The solubilization by lysozyme is therefore ascribed to excluded volume effects leading to changes in the properties of the inner bacterial membrane.

Site-directed mutagenesis of the dihydrolipoyl transacetylase component (E2p) of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from Azotobacter vinelandii. Binding of the peripheral components E1p and E3

Site-directed mutagenesis was performed in the protease-sensitive region, between the lipoyl and catalytic domains and in the catalytic domain, of the dihydrolipoyl transacetylase component (E2p) of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from Azotobacter vinelandii. The interaction of the mutated enzymes with the peripheral components pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1p) and lipoamide dehydrogenase (E3) was studied by gel filtration experiments, analytical ultracentrifugation and reconstitution of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. Upon binding of peripheral components, the 24-subunit core of A. vinelandii wild-type E2p dissociates into tetramers. Four E1p or E3 dimers can bind to a tetramer. Binding is mutually exclusive, resulting in an active complex containing one E3 and three E1p dimers. Large deletions of the protease-sensitive region of E2p resulted in a total loss of the E1p and E3 binding. A small deletion (delta P361-R362) or the point mutation K367Q in the protease-sensitive region did not influence E3 binding, but affected E1p binding strongly, although with excess E1p almost complete reconstitution was reached. For E2p with the point mutation R416D in the N-terminal region of the catalytic domain only 16% overall activity could be measured in reconstituted complexes. This is due to a very weak E1p/E2p interaction, whereas the E3 binding was not affected. The point mutation R416D did not influence the catalytic activity of E2p, although a function for this residue in the formation of the active site was predicted from amino acid similarities with chloramphenicol acetyltransferase type III from Escherichia coli. Deletion of the complete Ala + Pro-rich sequence between the protease-sensitive region and the catalytic domain did not affect the enzymological properties of E2p, nor the affinity for E1p or E3. A further deletion of 20 N-terminal residues from the catalytic domain destroyed the E2p activity. From gel filtration experiments it was concluded that the quaternary structure was unaffected, as was E3 binding. E1p binding was lost and, in contrast to the wild-type enzyme, no dissociation of the core upon addition of E3 was observed. This mutant enzyme possesses, like E. coli E2p, six E3 binding sites and clearly shows that interaction of E3 or E1p with the E1p sites and dissociation are linked processes. It is concluded that the binding site for E3 is located on the N-terminal part of the protease-sensitive region. In contrast, the binding site for E1p consists of two regions, one located on the protease-sensitive region and one of the catalytic domain. These regions are separated by a flexible sequence of about 20 amino acids.

The catalytic domain of the dihydrolipoyl transacetylase component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from Azotobacter vinelandii and Escherichia coli. Expression, purification, properties and preliminary X-ray analysis

Partial sequences of the dihydrolipoyl transacetylase component (E2p) of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from Azotobacter vinelandii and Escherichia coli, containing the catalytic domain, were cloned in pUC plasmids and over-expressed in E. coli TG2. A high expression of a homogeneous protein was only detectable for E2p mutants consisting of the catalytic domain and the alanine-proline-rich sequence between a putative binding region for the peripheral components and the catalytic domain (apa-4). Most of the catalytic domain from A. vinelandii without the apa-4 sequence was degraded intracellularly, probably due to incorrect folding. Fusion proteins of six amino acids from beta-galactosidase, the apa-4 region and the catalytic domains of A. vinelandii or E. coli E2p could be highly purified. Both catalytic domains were assembled in 24-subunit structures with a molecular mass of approximately 670 kDa. The expression of catalytic domain from A. vinelandii E2p is more than twice as high as found for wild-type E2p. This can be explained by intracellular degradation of over-expressed wild-type E2p, whereas the catalytic domains are stable against proteolysis in vivo and in vitro. The interaction of the peripheral components pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1p) and dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (E3) with the catalytic domains was studied, using gel filtration on Superose-6 and sedimentation velocity experiments. No binding of either E1p or E3 to the catalytic domain of either organism was detectable. Crystals of the catalytic domain of A. vinelandii E2p could be grown to a maximum size of 0.6 x 0.6 x 0.4 mm. They diffract up to a resolution of 0.28 nm.

Sequence-specific 1H-NMR assignments and secondary structure of the lipoyl domain of the Bacillus stearothermophilus pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex

The lipoyl domain (residues 1-85) of the lipoate-acetyltransferase polypeptide chain of the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex of Bacillus stearothermophilus has been subjected to detailed structural analysis by means of two-dimensional (2D) 1H-NMR spectroscopy at 400 MHz. Sequence-specific proton resonance assignments were made, but at this field strength not all of the side-chain protons could be assigned, especially from complex spin systems like those of leucine, proline and lysine residues. Measurement of short-range interproton distances identified two extensive regions of beta-sheet, each containing four anti-parallel peptide strands. The lipoyl-lysine residue (Lys42) is located in a tight turn at a corner of one sheet, the N-terminal and C-terminal residues of the domain are close together in two adjacent beta-strands in the other. The lipoylated and unlipoylated forms of the domain have almost identical spectra, indicating that there is little, if any, conformational change in the protein as a result of the post-translational modification.

In vivo assembly of yeast mitochondrial alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex

The assembly of alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex (KGDC) has been studied in wild-type Saccharomyces cerevisiae and in respiratory-deficient strains (pet) with mutations in KGD1 and KGD2, the structural genes for alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (KE1) and dihydrolipoyl transsuccinylase (KE2) components, respectively. Mutants unable to express KE1 or KE2 form partial complexes similar to those reported in earlier studies on the resolution and reconstitution of bacterial and mammalian KGDC. Thus mutants lacking KE1 assemble a high-molecular-weight subcomplex consisting of a KE2 core particle with bound dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase (E3). Similarly, mitochondrial extracts of mutants lacking KE2 contain dimeric KE1 and E3. These components, however, are not associated with each other. The partial complexes detected in the mutants are capable of reconstituting normal KGDC when supplied with the missing subunit. Complete restoration of overall alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase activity is achieved by mixing appropriate ratios of mitochondrial extracts from mutants deficient in KE1 and KE2. The reconstitution of enzymatic activity correlates with binding of KE1 to the KE2-E3 particle to form a complex with the same sedimentation properties as wild-type KGDC. Overexpression of KE2 relative to KE1 results in a preponderance of incompletely assembled complexes with substoichiometric contents of KE1. Formation of a complex with a full complement of KE1 therefore depends on a balanced output of KE1 and KE2 from their respective genes. Biochemical screens of a pet mutant collection have led to the identification of a new gene required for the expression of enzymatically active KGDC. Mitochondria of the mutant have all of the catalytic subunits of KGDC. Sedimentation analysis of these components indicates that while the mutant has a stable KE2-E3 subcomplex, the interaction of KE1 with KE2 core is much weaker in the mutant than in the wild type. The gene product responsible for this phenotype, therefore, appears to function at a late stage of assembly of KGDC, most likely by posttranslational modification of one of the subunits.

Interaction of lipoamide dehydrogenase with the dihydrolipoyl transacetylase component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from Azotobacter vinelandii

The interaction between lipoamide dehydrogenase (E3) and dihydrolipoyl transacetylase (E2p) from the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex was studied during the reconstitution of monomeric E3 apoenzymes from Azotobacter vinelandii and Pseudomonas fluorescens. The dimeric form of E3 is not only essential for catalysis but also for binding to the E2p core, because the apoenzymes as well as a monomeric holoenzyme from P. fluorescens, which can be stabilized as an intermediate at 0 degree C, do not bind to E2p. Lipoamide dehydrogenase from A. vinelandii contains a C-terminal extension of 15 amino acids with respect to glutathione reductase which is, in contrast to E3, presumably not part of a multienzyme complex. Furthermore, the last 10 amino acid residues of E3 are not visible in the electron density map of the crystal structure and are probably disordered. Therefore, the C-terminal tail of E3 might be an attractive candidate for a binding region. To probe this hypothesis, a set of deletions of this part was prepared by site-directed mutagenesis. Deletion of the last five amino acid residues did not result in significant changes. A further deletion of four amino acid residues resulted in a decrease of lipoamide activity to 5% of wild type, but the binding to E2p was unaffected. Therefore it is concluded that the C-terminus is not directly involved in binding to the E2p core. Deletion of the last 14 amino acids produced an enzyme with a high tendency to dissociate (Kd approximately 2.5 microM). This mutant binds only weakly to E2p. The diaphorase activity was still high. This indicates, together with the decreased Km for NADH, that the structure of the monomer is not appreciably changed by the mutation. Rather the orientation of the monomers with respect to each other is changed. It can be concluded that the binding region of E3 for E2p is constituted from structural parts of both monomers and binding occurs only when dimerization is complete.

In vivo assembly of yeast mitochondrial alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex

The assembly of alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex (KGDC) has been studied in wild-type Saccharomyces cerevisiae and in respiratory-deficient strains (pet) with mutations in KGD1 and KGD2, the structural genes for alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (KE1) and dihydrolipoyl transsuccinylase (KE2) components, respectively. Mutants unable to express KE1 or KE2 form partial complexes similar to those reported in earlier studies on the resolution and reconstitution of bacterial and mammalian KGDC. Thus mutants lacking KE1 assemble a high-molecular-weight subcomplex consisting of a KE2 core particle with bound dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase (E3). Similarly, mitochondrial extracts of mutants lacking KE2 contain dimeric KE1 and E3. These components, however, are not associated with each other. The partial complexes detected in the mutants are capable of reconstituting normal KGDC when supplied with the missing subunit. Complete restoration of overall alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase activity is achieved by mixing appropriate ratios of mitochondrial extracts from mutants deficient in KE1 and KE2. The reconstitution of enzymatic activity correlates with binding of KE1 to the KE2-E3 particle to form a complex with the same sedimentation properties as wild-type KGDC. Overexpression of KE2 relative to KE1 results in a preponderance of incompletely assembled complexes with substoichiometric contents of KE1. Formation of a complex with a full complement of KE1 therefore depends on a balanced output of KE1 and KE2 from their respective genes. Biochemical screens of a pet mutant collection have led to the identification of a new gene required for the expression of enzymatically active KGDC. Mitochondria of the mutant have all of the catalytic subunits of KGDC. Sedimentation analysis of these components indicates that while the mutant has a stable KE2-E3 subcomplex, the interaction of KE1 with KE2 core is much weaker in the mutant than in the wild type. The gene product responsible for this phenotype, therefore, appears to function at a late stage of assembly of KGDC, most likely by posttranslational modification of one of the subunits.

Sequence similarities within the family of dihydrolipoamide acyltransferases and discovery of a previously unidentified fungal enzyme

A composite protein sequence database was searched for amino acid sequences similar to the C-terminal domain of the dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase subunit (E2p) of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex of Escherichia coli. Nine sequences with extensive similarity were found, of which eight were E2 subunits. The other was for a putative mitochondrial ribosomal protein, MRP3, from Neurospora crassa. Alignment of the MRP3 and E2 sequences showed that the similarity extends through the entire MRP3 sequence and that MRP3 is most closely related to the E2p subunit of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, with 54% identical residues and a further 36% that are conservatively substituted. Other features of the MRP3 gene and protein are also consistent with it being the acyltransferase subunit of a 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complex. A multiple alignment of 13 E2 sequences indicated that 120 (34%) of 353 equivalenced residues are identical or show some degree of conservation. It also identified residues that are potentially important for the structure, catalytic activity and substrate-specificity of the acyltransferases.

Cloning and sequence analysis of the genes encoding the dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase and dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase components of the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex of Bacillus stearothermophilus

A 2641-bp EcoRI fragment of DNA that encodes the C-terminal part of the dihydrolipoyl acetyltransferase (E2) component and the dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (E3) component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex of Bacillus stearothermophilus has been cloned in Escherichia coli. Its nucleotide sequence was determined. A 705-bp truncated open reading frame was located at the 5'end of the insert which, together with the 588-bp truncated open reading frame at the 3' end of another EcoRI fragment of B. stearothermophilus DNA previously cloned and sequenced [Hawkins, C. F., Borges, A. & Perham, R. N. (1990) Eur. J. Biochem. 191, 337-446], was identified as the gene, pdhC, encoding the E2 polypeptide chain. Direct sequence analysis of the purified E2 chain confirmed that the two EcoRI fragments are adjoining in the B. stearothermophilus genome. The E3 gene, pdhD, begins just 4 bp downstream from the stop codon of the pdhC gene. The amino acid sequences deduced from the pdhC and pdhD genes correspond to proteins of 427 amino acids (E2, Mr 46,265) and 469 amino acids (E3, Mr 49,193), respectively. Both genes are preceded by potential ribosome-binding sites and the E3 gene is followed by a stemloop structure characteristic of rho-independent transcription terminators. The B. stearothermophilus E2 and E3 chains exhibit substantial sequence similarity with the corresponding subunits of other 2-oxo-acid dehydrogenase multienzyme complexes. The cloning and sequence analysis described here complete the description of the gene cluster (pdhA, B, C and D) which encodes the B. stearothermophilus pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex.

Time-resolved fluorescence studies on mutants of the dihydrolipoyl transacetylase (E2) component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from Azotobacter vinelandii

Fluorescence anisotropy decays were measured for the wild-type dihydrolipoyl transacetylase (E2) component of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from Azotobacter vinelandii and E. coli and for E2-mutants from A. vinelandii in which the alanine-proline-rich sequence between the binding domain and the catalytic domain is partially or completely deleted. In both E2-mutants the rotational mobility of the lipoyl domain and the overall activity after reconstitution of the complex are significantly decreased indicating the important role of the deleted sequence for the movement of the lipoyl domain and the transfer of substrates between the different active sites within the complex.

Overexpression and mutagenesis of the catalytic domain of dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The inner core domain (residues approximately 221-454) of the dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase component (E2P) of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been overexpressed in Escherichia coli strain JM105 via the expression vector pKK233-2. The truncated E2p was purified to apparent homogeneity. It exhibited catalytic activity (acetyl transfer from [1-14C]acetyl-CoA to dihydrolipoamide) very similar to that of wild-type E2p. The appearance of the truncated and wild-type E2p was also very similar, as observed by negative-stain electron microscopy, namely, a pentagonal dodecahedron. These findings demonstrate that the active site of E2p from S. cerevisiae resides in the inner core domain, i.e., catalytic domain, and that this domain alone can undergo self-assembly. The purified truncated E2p showed a tendency to aggregate. Aggregation was prevented by genetically engineered attachment of the interdomain linker segment (residues approximately 181-220) to the catalytic domain. All dihydrolipoamide acyltransferases contain the sequence His-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Asp-Gly near their carboxyl termini. By analogy with chloramphenicol acetyltransferase, the highly conserved His and Asp residues were postulated to be involved in the catalytic mechanism [Guest, J. R. (1987) FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 44, 417-422]. Substitution of the sole His residue in the S. cerevisiae truncated E2p, His-427, by Asn or Ala by site-directed mutagenesis did not have a significant effect on the kcat or Km values of the truncated E2p. However, the Asp-431----Asn, Ala, or Glu substitutions resulted in a 16-, 24-, and 3.7-fold reduction, respectively, in kcat, with little change in Km values.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Structure and regulation of KGD2, the structural gene for yeast dihydrolipoyl transsuccinylase

Yeast mutants assigned to the pet complementation group G104 were found to lack alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase activity as a result of mutations in the dihydrolipoyl transsuccinylase (KE2) component of the complex. The nuclear gene KGD2, coding for yeast KE2, was cloned by transformation of E250/U6, a G104 mutant, with a yeast genomic library. Analysis of the KGD2 sequence revealed an open reading frame encoding a protein with a molecular weight of 52,375 and 42% identities to the KE2 component of Escherichia coli alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex. Disruption of the chromosomal copy of KGD2 in a respiratory-competent haploid yeast strain elicited a growth phenotype similar to that of G104 mutants and abolished the ability to mitochondria to catalyze the reduction of NAD+ by alpha-ketoglutarate. The expression of KGD2 was transcriptionally regulated by glucose. Northern (RNA) analysis of poly(A)+ RNA indicated the existence of two KGD2 transcripts differing in length by 150 nucleotides. The concentrations of both RNAs were at least 10 times lower in glucose (repressed)- than in galactose (derepressed)-grown cells. Different 5'-flanking regions of KGD2 were fused to the lacZ gene of E. coli in episomal plasmids, and the resultant constructs were tested for expression of beta-galactosidase in wild-type yeast cells and in hap2 and hap3 mutants. Results of the lacZ fusion assays indicated that transcription of KGD2 is activated by the HAP2 and HAP3 proteins. The regulated expression of KGD2 was found to depend on sequences that map to a region 244 to 484 nucleotides upstream of the structural gene. This region contains two short sequence elements that differ by one nucleotide from the consensus core (5'-TN[A/G]TTGGT-3') that has been proposed to be essential for binding of the HAP activation complex. These data together with earlier reports on the regulation of the KGD1 and LPD1 genes for the alpha-ketoglutarate and dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenases indicate that all three enzyme components of the complex are catabolite repressed and subject to positive regulation by the HAP2 and HAP3 proteins.

Structure and regulation of KGD2, the structural gene for yeast dihydrolipoyl transsuccinylase

Yeast mutants assigned to the pet complementation group G104 were found to lack alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase activity as a result of mutations in the dihydrolipoyl transsuccinylase (KE2) component of the complex. The nuclear gene KGD2, coding for yeast KE2, was cloned by transformation of E250/U6, a G104 mutant, with a yeast genomic library. Analysis of the KGD2 sequence revealed an open reading frame encoding a protein with a molecular weight of 52,375 and 42% identities to the KE2 component of Escherichia coli alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex. Disruption of the chromosomal copy of KGD2 in a respiratory-competent haploid yeast strain elicited a growth phenotype similar to that of G104 mutants and abolished the ability to mitochondria to catalyze the reduction of NAD+ by alpha-ketoglutarate. The expression of KGD2 was transcriptionally regulated by glucose. Northern (RNA) analysis of poly(A)+ RNA indicated the existence of two KGD2 transcripts differing in length by 150 nucleotides. The concentrations of both RNAs were at least 10 times lower in glucose (repressed)- than in galactose (derepressed)-grown cells. Different 5'-flanking regions of KGD2 were fused to the lacZ gene of E. coli in episomal plasmids, and the resultant constructs were tested for expression of beta-galactosidase in wild-type yeast cells and in hap2 and hap3 mutants. Results of the lacZ fusion assays indicated that transcription of KGD2 is activated by the HAP2 and HAP3 proteins. The regulated expression of KGD2 was found to depend on sequences that map to a region 244 to 484 nucleotides upstream of the structural gene. This region contains two short sequence elements that differ by one nucleotide from the consensus core (5'-TN[A/G]TTGGT-3') that has been proposed to be essential for binding of the HAP activation complex. These data together with earlier reports on the regulation of the KGD1 and LPD1 genes for the alpha-ketoglutarate and dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenases indicate that all three enzyme components of the complex are catabolite repressed and subject to positive regulation by the HAP2 and HAP3 proteins.

Overexpression of restructured pyruvate dehydrogenase complexes and site-directed mutagenesis of a potential active-site histidine residue

The aceEF-lpd operon of Escherichia coli encodes the pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1p), dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase (E2p) and dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (E3) components of the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex (PDH complex). A thermoinducible expression system was developed to amplify a variety of genetically restructured PDH complexes, including those containing three, two, one and no lipoyl domains per E2p chain. Although large quantities of the corresponding complexes were produced, they had only 20-50% of the predicted specific activities. The activities of the E1p components were diminished to the same extent, and this could account for the shortfall in overall complex activity. Thermoinduction was used to express a mutant PDH complex in which the putative active-site histidine residue of the E2p component (His-602) was replaced by cysteine in the H602C E2p component. This substitution abolished dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase activity of the complex without affecting other E2p functions. The results support the view that His-602 is an active-site residue. The inactivation could mean that the histidine residue performs an essential role in the acetyltransferase reaction mechanism, or that the reaction is blocked by an irreversible modification of the cysteine substituent. Complementation was observed between the H602C PDH complex and a complex that is totally deficient in lipoyl domains, both in vitro, by the restoration of overall complex activity in mixed extracts, and in vivo, from the nutritional independence of strains that co-express the two complexes from different plasmids.

Rotational diffusion studies of the lipoyl domain of 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase multienzyme complexes

Rotational mobility of the lipoyl domain of a number of 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase complexes was investigated by transient dichroism after the domain had been specifically labeled with the triplet probe eosin-5-maleimide. Complexes investigated included pyruvate dehydrogenase complexes from Bacillus stearothermophilus, ox heart, and Escherichia coli (in which the E2 component had been genetically engineered to contain one lipoyl domain) and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complexes from ox heart and E. coli. Measurements were also performed with ox heart pyruvate dehydrogenase and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complexes specifically labeled on E1. Anisotropy decays were recorded in glycerol-buffer solutions of varying viscosity and at different temperatures. For E2-labeled complexes, the decays were found to be multiexponential, and the fastest correlation time was considerably shorter than expected for tumbling of the whole complex. This fast correlation time was absent from E1-labeled complexes and was assigned to independent motion of the lipoyl domain. Plots of the fast correlation time against eta/T showed a surprisingly weak dependence on viscosity and extrapolated to a time of 30-40 microseconds at zero viscosity. To explain this result, a model is proposed in which the lipoyl domain is in equilibrium between "free" and bound states. The time of 30-40 microseconds is shown to correspond to 1/koff, where koff is the rate constant for dissociation of the domain from binding sites on the complex. This dissociation phenomenon only contributes to the anisotropy decay when the viscosity of the solution is sufficiently high to slow the tumbling of the whole complex to times that are long in comparison to 1/koff.

The 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex from Azotobacter vinelandii. 2. Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of the gene encoding the succinyltransferase component

The nucleotide sequence encoding the succinyltransferase component (E2o) of the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex from Azotobacter vinelandii has been determined. Previously the cloning in Escherichia coli of the gene encoding lipoamide dehydrogenase from A. vinelandii was reported [Westphal, A.H. & de Kok, A. (1988) Eur. J. Biochem. 172, 299-305]. The 3.2-kb fragment used for the sequence determination contained the main part of the gene encoding succinyltransferase. The complete E2o gene, as well as the gene encoding the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase component, resided on a 14.7-kb fragment from which the 3.2-kb fragment was subcloned. The protein-coding sequence of the gene consists of 1200 bp (400 codons, including the AUG start codon and the UGA stop codon). It is separated from the gene encoding the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase component by 42 bp. No E. coli-like promoter sequence was found. A putative ribosome-binding site is located 9-15 bp upstream from the start codon. No terminator sequences were found downstream of the stop codon. This makes it likely that the three genes of the oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex are transcribed as a single mRNA transcript analogous to the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex in E. coli. The intact gene was subcloned from the 14.7-kb fragment and brought to high expression under the influence of the vector-encoded lacZ promoter. The similarity with the E. coli enzyme is high with 63% identity. Like the enzyme from E. coli, it consists of a single lipoyl-binding domain, a putative E1- and E3-binding domain and a catalytic domain. The main difference is found in a 31-residue sequence rich in alanine and proline located between the lipoyl domain and the putative E1- and E3-binding domain. This sequence, usually found in acetyltransferases and there identified as a highly mobile region by 1H-NMR, is replaced by a more polar, charged region in the E. coli enzyme.

Molecular studies of mammalian branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complexes: domain structures, expression, and inborn errors

We have cloned cDNAs encoding the E1b-alpha, E1b-beta, and E2b subunits of the bovine and human branched-chain alpha-keto acid complexes. The deduced primary structures indicate that the mammalian E2b contains a lipoyl-bearing, an E3-binding, and an inner core domain that are linked in series by two flexible hinge regions. The observed conservation among E2 proteins in each of the three folded domains strongly suggests that the structural cores of alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complexes are evolutionarily related. We have expressed bovine pre-E2b in E. coli. The lipoate-free precursor protein is enzymatically active and appears to assemble into a 24-mer structure. Studies with deletion mutants support the proposal that the antigenicity in pre-E2b is associated with the flexible proline-rich hinge region. We have observed five distinct molecular phenotypes in maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) cells, according to the pattern of the branched-chain complex protein subunits and mRNAs present. The results have demonstrated a high degree of genetic heterogeneity in MSUD and have identified the affected genes which must be characterized.

Molecular biology of the human pyruvate dehydrogenase complex: structural aspects of the E2 and E3 components

The availability of the primary amino acid sequences of the E2 of PDC, alpha-KGDC and BCKADC from several prokaryotic and eukaryotic species has allowed us to compare the structural aspects of human PDC-E2 with those of the E2 components from the other complexes. The PDC-E2 components from all the species examined so far contain three structurally identifiable regions: the lipoyl-bearing domain, the E3-binding site, and the catalytic domain. The primary structure of the lipoyl-bearing domain shows considerable variation in its size, ranging from one to three repeating units of approximately 110 amino acids, but essentially preserving its function in the E2 components. In contrast, the sizes of the E3-binding site and the catalytic domain of PDC-E2 from several species are essentially similar and show considerable conservation of specific amino acid residues. Obviously, additional studies are warranted to better understand the structure-function relationships of these domains and the evolutionary conservation of PDC-E2 in different species. Similarly, the availability of the primary amino acid sequences of E3 from several prokaryotes and eukaryotes has also permitted comparison of the structural domains of these proteins with that of the known structure of human GR, a flavoprotein member of the pyridine nucleotide-disulfide oxidoreductase family. Four structural domains (FAD, NAD+, central, and interface domains) have been identified in the E3 components. On the basis of the comparison of the secondary structural elements of GR and E3, the core structure of these two proteins are shown to be similar. It is hoped that further analysis of E3 using site-directed mutagenesis and determination of its crystal structure will provide better insight into its structure-function relationships.

Reductive acetylation of tandemly repeated lipoyl domains in the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex of Escherichia coli is random order

In vitro deletion and site-directed mutagenesis of the aceF gene of Escherichia coli was used to generate dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase (E2p) polypeptide chains containing various permutations and combinations of functional and non-functional lipoyl domains. A lipoyl domain was rendered non-functional by converting the lipoylatable lysine residue to glutamine. Two- and three-lipoyl domain E2p chains, with lipoyl-lysine (Lys244) substituted by glutamine in the innermost lipoyl domains (designated +/- and +/+/-, respectively), and similar chains with lipoyl-lysine (Lys143) substituted by glutamine in the outer lipoyl domains (designated -/+ and -/-/+), were constructed. In all instances, pyruvate dehydrogenase complexes were assembled in vivo around E2p cores composed of the modified peptide chains. All the complexes were essentially fully active in catalysis, although the complex containing the -/-/+ version of the E2p polypeptide chain showed a 50% reduction in specific catalytic activity. Similarly, active-site coupling in the complexes containing the +/-, +/+/- and -/+ constructions of the E2p chains was not significantly different from that achieved by the wild-type complex. However, active-site coupling in the complex containing the -/-/+ version of the E2p chain was slightly impaired, consistent with the reduced overall complex activity. These results indicate that during oxidative decarboxylation there is no mandatory order of reductive acetylation of repeated lipoyl domains within E2p polypeptide chains, and strongly suggest that the three tandemly repeated lipoyl domains in the wild-type E2p chain function independently in the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex.

Antibodies against an inter-domain segment of polypeptide chain inhibit active-site coupling in the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex

A synthetic peptide, AAPAAAPAKQEAAAPAPAAKAEAPAAAPAAKA, proved to be an efficient and specific immunogen in rabbits. The amino acid sequence of the peptide is identical to that of the inter-domain region (PEP3) linking the innermost of the three lipoyl domains to the dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase-binding domain in the dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase chain of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex of Escherichia coli. Fab fragments from anti-PEP3 antibodies selectively inhibited active-site coupling in the complex without affecting the individual activities of the three component enzymes, highlighting the role of the inter-domain regions as flexible linkers in catalysis.

Genetic characterization of Bacillus subtilis odhA and odhB, encoding 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase and dihydrolipoamide transsuccinylase, respectively

The 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex consists of three different subenzymes, the E1o (2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase) component, the E2o (dihydrolipoyl transsuccinylase) component, and the E3 (dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase) component. In Bacillus subtilis, the E1o and E2o subenzymes are encoded by odhA and odhB, respectively. A plasmid with a 6.8-kilobase-pair DNA fragment containing odhA and odhB was isolated. Functional E1o and E2o are expressed from this plasmid in Escherichia coli. Antisera generated against B. subtilis E1o and E2o expressed in E. coli reacted with antigens of the same size from B. subtilis. The nucleotide sequence of odhB and the terminal part of odhA was determined. The deduced primary sequence of B. subtilis E2o shows striking similarity to the corresponding E. coli protein, which made it possible to identify the lipoyl-binding lysine residue as well as catalytic histidine and aspartic acid residues. An mRNA of 4.5 kilobases hybridizing to both odhA and odhB probes was detected, indicating that odhA and odhB form an operon.

Kinetics and specificity of reductive acylation of lipoyl domains from 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase multienzyme complexes

Lipoamide and a peptide, Thr-Val-Glu-Gly-Asp-Lys-Ala-Ser-Met-Glu lipoylated on the N6-amino group of the lysine residue, were tested as substrates for reductive acetylation by the pyruvate decarboxylase (E1p) component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex of Escherichia coli. The peptide has the same amino acid sequence as that surrounding the three lipoyllysine residues in the lipoate acetyltransferase (E2p) component of the native enzyme complex. Lipoamide was shown to be a very poor substrate, with a Km much higher than 4 mM and a value of kcat/Km of 1.5 M-1.s-1. Under similar conditions, the three E2p lipoyl domains, excised from the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex by treatment with Staphylococcus aureus V8 proteinase, could be reductively acetylated by E1p much more readily, with a typical Km of approximately 26 microM and a typical kcat of approximately 0.8 s-1. The value of kcat/Km for the lipoyl domains, approximately 3.0 x 10(4) M-1.s-1, is about 20,000 times higher than that for lipoamide as a substrate. This indicates the great improvement in the effectiveness of lipoic acid as a substrate for E1p that accompanies the attachment of the lipoyl group to a protein domain. The free E2o lipoyl domain was similarly found to be capable of being reductively succinylated by the 2-oxoglutarate decarboxylase (E1o) component of the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex of E. coli. The 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complexes are specific for their particular 2-oxo acid substrates. The specificity of the E1 components was found to extend also to the lipoyl domains.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)