Biotin synthase: insights into radical-mediated carbon-sulfur bond formation

RudS: bacterial desulfidase responsible for tRNA 4-thiouridine de-modification

In this study, we present an extensive analysis of a widespread group of bacterial tRNA de-modifying enzymes, dubbed RudS, which consist of a TudS desulfidase fused to a Domain of Unknown Function 1722 (DUF1722). RudS enzymes exhibit specific de-modification activity towards the 4-thiouridine modification (s4U) in tRNA molecules, as indicated by our experimental findings. The heterologous overexpression of RudS genes in Escherichia coli significantly reduces the tRNA 4-thiouridine content and diminishes UVA-induced growth delay, indicating the enzyme's role in regulating photosensitive tRNA s4U modification. Through a combination of protein modeling, docking studies, and molecular dynamics simulations, we have identified amino acid residues involved in catalysis and tRNA binding. Experimental validation through targeted mutagenesis confirms the TudS domain as the catalytic core of RudS, with the DUF1722 domain facilitating tRNA binding in the anticodon region. Our results suggest that RudS tRNA modification eraser proteins may play a role in regulating tRNA during prokaryotic stress responses.

Fe/S proteins in microbial sulfur oxidation

Iron-sulfur clusters serve as indispensable cofactors within proteins across all three domains of life. Fe/S clusters emerged early during the evolution of life on our planet and the biogeochemical cycle of sulfur is one of the most ancient and important element cycles. It is therefore no surprise that Fe/S proteins have crucial roles in the multiple steps of microbial sulfur metabolism. During dissimilatory sulfur oxidation in prokaryotes, Fe/S proteins not only serve as electron carriers in several steps, but also perform catalytic roles, including unprecedented reactions. Two cytoplasmic enzyme systems that oxidize sulfane sulfur to sulfite are of particular interest in this context: The rDsr pathway employs the reverse acting dissimilatory sulfite reductase rDsrAB as its key enzyme, while the sHdr pathway utilizes polypeptides resembling the HdrA, HdrB and HdrC subunits of heterodisulfide reductase from methanogenic archaea. Both pathways involve components predicted to bind unusual noncubane Fe/S clusters acting as catalysts for the formation of disulfide or sulfite. Mapping of Fe/S cluster machineries on the sulfur-oxidizing prokaryote tree reveals that ISC, SUF, MIS and SMS are all sufficient to meet the Fe/S cluster maturation requirements for operation of the sHdr or rDsr pathways. The sHdr pathway is dependent on lipoate-binding proteins that are assembled by a novel pathway, involving two Radical SAM proteins, namely LipS1 and LipS2. These proteins coordinate sulfur-donating auxiliary Fe/S clusters in atypical patterns by three cysteines and one histidine and act as lipoyl synthases by jointly inserting two sulfur atoms to an octanoyl residue. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Biogenesis and Function of Fe/S proteins.

Advances and prospects in microbial production of biotin

Biotin, serving as a coenzyme in carboxylation reactions, is a vital nutrient crucial for the natural growth, development, and overall well-being of both humans and animals. Consequently, biotin is widely utilized in various industries, including feed, food, and pharmaceuticals. Despite its potential advantages, the chemical synthesis of biotin for commercial production encounters environmental and safety challenges. The burgeoning field of synthetic biology now allows for the creation of microbial cell factories producing bio-based products, offering a cost-effective alternative to chemical synthesis for biotin production. This review outlines the pathway and regulatory mechanism involved in biotin biosynthesis. Then, the strategies to enhance biotin production through both traditional chemical mutagenesis and advanced metabolic engineering are discussed. Finally, the article explores the limitations and future prospects of microbial biotin production. This comprehensive review not only discusses strategies for biotin enhancement but also provides in-depth insights into systematic metabolic engineering approaches aimed at boosting biotin production.

Radical SAM Enzyme PylB Generates a Lysyl Radical Intermediate in the Biosynthesis of Pyrrolysine by Using SAM as a Cofactor

Pyrrolysine, the 22nd amino acid encoded by the natural genetic code, is essential for methanogenic archaea to catabolize methylamines into methane. The structure of pyrrolysine consists of a methylated pyrroline carboxylate that is linked to the ε-amino group of the l-lysine via an amide bond. The biosynthesis of pyrrolysine requires three enzymes: PylB, PylC, and PylD. PylB is a radical S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) enzyme and catalyzes the first biosynthetic step, the isomerization of l-lysine into methylornithine. PylC catalyzes an ATP-dependent ligation of methylornithine and a second l-lysine to form l-lysine-Nε-methylornithine. The last biosynthetic step is catalyzed by PylD via oxidation of the PylC product to form pyrrolysine. While enzymatic reactions of PylC and PylD have been well characterized by X-ray crystallography and in vitro studies, mechanistic understanding of PylB is still relatively limited. Here, we report the first in vitro activity of PylB to form methylornithine via the isomerization of l-lysine. We also identify a lysyl C4 radical intermediate that is trapped, with its electronic structure and geometric structure well characterized by EPR and ENDOR spectroscopy. In addition, we demonstrate that SAM functions as a catalytic cofactor in PylB catalysis rather than canonically as a cosubstrate. This work provides detailed mechanistic evidence for elucidating the carbon backbone rearrangement reaction catalyzed by PylB during the biosynthesis of pyrrolysine.

Structure-based insights into the mechanism of [4Fe-4S]-dependent sulfur insertase LarE

Several essential cellular metabolites, such as enzyme cofactors, contain sulfur atoms and their biosynthesis requires specific thiolation enzymes. LarE is an ATP-dependent sulfur insertase, which catalyzes the sequential conversion of the two carboxylate groups of the precursor of the lactate racemase cofactor into thiocarboxylates. Two types of LarE enzymes are known, one that uses a catalytic cysteine as a sacrificial sulfur donor, and the other one that uses a [4Fe-4S] cluster as a cofactor. Only the crystal structure of LarE from Lactobacillus plantarum (LpLarE) from the first class has been solved. We report here the crystal structure of LarE from Methanococcus maripaludis (MmLarE), belonging to the second class, in the cluster-free (apo-) and cluster-bound (holo-) forms. The structure of holo-MmLarE shows that the [4Fe-4S] cluster is chelated by three cysteines only, leaving an open coordination site on one Fe atom. Moreover, the fourth nonprotein-bonded iron atom was able to bind an anionic ligand such as a phosphate group or a chloride ion. Together with the spectroscopic analysis of holo-MmLarE and the previously reported biochemical investigations of holo-LarE from Thermotoga maritima, these crystal structures support the hypothesis of a reaction mechanism, in which the [4Fe-4S] cluster binds a hydrogenosulfide ligand in place of the chloride anion, thus generating a [4Fe-5S] intermediate, and transfers it to the substrate, as in the case of [4Fe-4S]-dependent tRNA thiolation enzymes.

Discovery of a Biotin Synthase That Utilizes an Auxiliary 4Fe-5S Cluster for Sulfur Insertion

Biotin synthase (BioB) is a member of the Radical SAM superfamily of enzymes that catalyzes the terminal step of biotin (vitamin B7) biosynthesis, in which it inserts a sulfur atom in desthiobiotin to form a thiolane ring. How BioB accomplishes this difficult reaction has been the subject of much controversy, mainly around the source of the sulfur atom. However, it is now widely accepted that the sulfur atom inserted to form biotin stems from the sacrifice of the auxiliary 2Fe-2S cluster of BioB. Here, we bioinformatically explore the diversity of BioBs available in sequence databases and find an unexpected variation in the coordination of the auxiliary iron-sulfur cluster. After in vitro characterization, including the determination of biotin formation and representative crystal structures, we report a new type of BioB utilized by virtually all obligate anaerobic organisms. Instead of a 2Fe-2S cluster, this novel type of BioB utilizes an auxiliary 4Fe-5S cluster. Interestingly, this auxiliary 4Fe-5S cluster contains a ligated sulfide that we propose is used for biotin formation. We have termed this novel type of BioB, Type II BioB, with the E. coli 2Fe-2S cluster sacrificial BioB representing Type I. This surprisingly ubiquitous Type II BioB has implications for our understanding of the function and evolution of Fe-S clusters in enzyme catalysis, highlighting the difference in strategies between the anaerobic and aerobic world.

Intermolecular electron transfer in radical SAM enzymes as a new paradigm for reductive activation

Radical S-adenosyl-L-methionine (rSAM) enzymes bind one or more Fe-S clusters and catalyze transformations that produce complex and structurally diverse natural products. One of the clusters, a 4Fe-4S cluster, binds and reductively cleaves SAM to generate the 5'-deoxyadenosyl radical, which initiates the catalytic cycle by H-atom transfer from the substrate. The role(s) of the additional auxiliary Fe-S clusters (ACs) remains largely enigmatic. The rSAM enzyme PapB catalyzes the formation of thioether cross-links between the β-carbon of an Asp and a Cys thiolate found in the PapA peptide. One of the two ACs in the protein binds to the substrate thiol where, upon formation of a thioether bond, one reducing equivalent is returned to the protein. However, for the next catalytic cycle to occur, the protein must undergo an electronic state isomerization, returning the electron to the SAM-binding cluster. Using a series of iron-sulfur cluster deletion mutants, our data support a model whereby the isomerization is an obligatorily intermolecular electron transfer event that can be mediated by redox active proteins or small molecules, likely via the second AC in PapB. Surprisingly, a mixture of FMN and NADPH is sufficient to support both the reductive and the isomerization steps. These findings lead to a new paradigm involving intermolecular electron transfer steps in the activation of rSAM enzymes that require multiple iron-sulfur clusters for turnover. The implications of these results for the biological activation of rSAM enzymes are discussed.

Peptide Selenocysteine Substitutions Reveal Direct Substrate-Enzyme Interactions at Auxiliary Clusters in Radical S-Adenosyl-l-methionine Maturases

Radical S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) enzymes leverage the properties of one or more iron- and sulfide-containing metallocenters to catalyze complex and radical-mediated transformations. By far the most populous superfamily of radical SAM enzymes are those that, in addition to a 4Fe-4S cluster that binds and activates the SAM cofactor, also bind one or more additional auxiliary clusters (ACs) of largely unknown catalytic significance. In this report we examine the role of ACs in two RS enzymes, PapB and Tte1186, that catalyze formation of thioether cross-links in ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs). Both enzymes catalyze a sulfur-to-carbon cross-link in a reaction that entails H atom transfer from an unactivated C-H to initiate catalysis, followed by formation of a C-S bond to yield the thioether. We show that both enzymes tolerate substitution of SeCys instead of Cys at the cross-linking site, allowing the systems to be subjected to Se K-edge X-ray spectroscopy. The EXAFS data show a direct interaction with the Fe of one of the ACs in the Michaelis complex, which is replaced with a Se-C interaction under reducing conditions that lead to the product complex. Site-directed deletion of the clusters in Tte1186 provide evidence for the identity of the AC. The implications of these observations in the context of the mechanism of these thioether cross-linking enzymes are discussed.

Characterization of LipS1 and LipS2 from Thermococcus kodakarensis: Proteins Annotated as Biotin Synthases, which Together Catalyze Formation of the Lipoyl Cofactor

Lipoic acid is an eight-carbon sulfur-containing biomolecule that functions primarily as a cofactor in several multienzyme complexes. It is biosynthesized as an attachment to a specific lysyl residue on one of the subunits of these multienzyme complexes. In Escherichia coli and many other organisms, this biosynthetic pathway involves two dedicated proteins: octanoyltransferase (LipB) and lipoyl synthase (LipA). LipB transfers an n-octanoyl chain from the octanoyl-acyl carrier protein to the target lysyl residue, and then, LipA attaches two sulfur atoms (one at C6 and one at C8) to give the final lipoyl cofactor. All classical lipoyl synthases (LSs) are radical S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) enzymes, which use an [Fe4S4] cluster to reductively cleave SAM to generate a 5'-deoxyadenosyl 5'-radical. Classical LSs also contain a second [Fe4S4] cluster that serves as the source of both appended sulfur atoms. Recently, a novel pathway for generating the lipoyl cofactor was reported. This pathway replaces the canonical LS with two proteins, LipS1 and LipS2, which act together to catalyze formation of the lipoyl cofactor. In this work, we further characterize LipS1 and LipS2 biochemically and spectroscopically. Although LipS1 and LipS2 were previously annotated as biotin synthases, we show that both proteins, unlike E. coli biotin synthase, contain two [Fe4S4] clusters. We identify the cluster ligands to both iron-sulfur clusters in both proteins and show that LipS2 acts only on an octanoyl-containing substrate, while LipS1 acts only on an 8-mercaptooctanoyl-containing substrate. Therefore, similarly to E. coli biotin synthase and in contrast to E. coli LipA, sulfur attachment takes place initially at the terminal carbon (C8) and then at the C6 methylene carbon.

Two Radical SAM Enzymes Are Necessary and Sufficient for the In Vitro Production of the Oxetane Nucleoside Antiviral Agent Albucidin

Oxetanocin A and albucidin are two oxetane natural products. While the biosynthesis of oxetanocin A has been described, less is known about albucidin. In this work, the albucidin biosynthetic gene cluster is identified in Streptomyces. Heterologous expression in a nonproducing strain demonstrates that the genes alsA and alsB are necessary and sufficient for albucidin biosynthesis confirming a previous study (Myronovskyi et al. Microorganisms 2020, 8, 237). A two-step construction of albucidin 4'-phosphate from 2'-deoxyadenosine monophosphate (2'-dAMP) is shown to be catalyzed in vitro by the cobalamin dependent radical S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) enzyme AlsB, which catalyzes a ring contraction, and the radical SAM enzyme AlsA, which catalyzes elimination of a one-carbon fragment. Isotope labelling studies show that AlsB catalysis begins with stereospecific H-atom transfer of the C2'-pro-R hydrogen from 2'-dAMP to 5'-deoxyadenosine, and that the eliminated one-carbon fragment originates from C3' of 2'-dAMP.

ThnL, a B12-dependent radical S-adenosylmethionine enzyme, catalyzes thioether bond formation in carbapenem biosynthesis

Complex carbapenems are important clinical antibiotics used to treat recalcitrant infections. Their biosynthetic gene clusters contain three essential B12-dependent radical S-adenosylmethionine (rSAM) enzymes. The majority of characterized enzymes in this subfamily catalyze methyl transfer, but only one is required to sequentially install all methionine-derived carbons in complex carbapenems. Therefore, it is probable that the other two rSAM enzymes have noncanonical functions. Through a series of fermentation and in vitro experiments, we show that ThnL uses radical SAM chemistry to catalyze thioether bond formation between C2 of a carbapenam precursor and pantetheine, uniting initial bicycle assembly common to all carbapenems with later tailoring events unique to complex carbapenems. ThnL also catalyzes reversible thiol/disulfide redox on pantetheine. Neither of these functions has been observed previously in a B12-dependent radical SAM enzyme. ThnL expands the known activity of this subclass of enzymes beyond carbon-carbon bond formation or rearrangement. It is also the only radical SAM enzyme currently known to catalyze carbon-sulfur bond formation with only an rSAM Fe-S cluster and no additional auxiliary clusters.

Recent Advances in the Elucidation of Frataxin Biochemical Function Open Novel Perspectives for the Treatment of Friedreich’s Ataxia

Friedreich’s ataxia (FRDA) is the most prevalent autosomic recessive ataxia and is associated with a severe cardiac hypertrophy and less frequently diabetes. It is caused by mutations in the gene encoding frataxin (FXN), a small mitochondrial protein. The primary consequence is a defective expression of FXN, with basal protein levels decreased by 70–98%, which foremost affects the cerebellum, dorsal root ganglia, heart and liver. FXN is a mitochondrial protein involved in iron metabolism but its exact function has remained elusive and highly debated since its discovery. At the cellular level, FRDA is characterized by a general deficit in the biosynthesis of iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters and heme, iron accumulation and deposition in mitochondria, and sensitivity to oxidative stress. Based on these phenotypes and the proposed ability of FXN to bind iron, a role as an iron storage protein providing iron for Fe-S cluster and heme biosynthesis was initially proposed. However, this model was challenged by several other studies and it is now widely accepted that FXN functions primarily in Fe-S cluster biosynthesis, with iron accumulation, heme deficiency and oxidative stress sensitivity appearing later on as secondary defects. Nonetheless, the biochemical function of FXN in Fe-S cluster biosynthesis is still debated. Several roles have been proposed for FXN: iron chaperone, gate-keeper of detrimental Fe-S cluster biosynthesis, sulfide production stimulator and sulfur transfer accelerator. A picture is now emerging which points toward a unique function of FXN as an accelerator of a key step of sulfur transfer between two components of the Fe-S cluster biosynthetic complex. These findings should foster the development of new strategies for the treatment of FRDA. We will review here the latest discoveries on the biochemical function of frataxin and the implication for a potential therapeutic treatment of FRDA.

Effect of Oriented Electric Fields on Biologically Relevant Iron-Sulfur Clusters: Tuning Redox Reactivity for Catalysis

Enzyme-based iron-sulfur clusters, exemplified in families such as hydrogenases, nitrogenases, and radical S-adenosylmethionine enzymes, feature in many essential biological processes. The functionality of biological iron-sulfur clusters extends beyond simple electron transfer, relying primarily on the redox activity of the clusters, with a remarkable diversity for different enzymes. The active-site structure and the electrostatic environment in which the cluster resides direct this redox reactivity. Oriented electric fields in enzymatic active sites can be significantly strong, and understanding the extent of their effect on iron-sulfur cluster reactivity can inform first steps toward rationally engineering their reactivity. An extensive systematic density functional theory-based screening approach using OPBE/TZP has afforded a simple electric field-effect representation. The results demonstrate that the orientation of an external electric field of strength 28.8 MV cm^-1 at the center of the cluster can have a significant effect on its relative stability in the order of 35 kJ mol^-1. This shows clear implications for the reactivity of iron-sulfur clusters in enzymes. The results also demonstrate that the orientation of the electric field can alter the most stable broken-symmetry state, which further has implications on the directionality of initiated electron-transfer reactions. These insights open the path for manipulating the enzymatic redox reactivity of iron-sulfur cluster-containing enzymes by rationally engineering oriented electric fields within the enzymes.

A Review of Multiple Mitochondrial Dysfunction Syndromes, Syndromes Associated with Defective Fe-S Protein Maturation

Mitochondrial proteins carrying iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters are involved in essential cellular pathways such as oxidative phosphorylation, lipoic acid synthesis, and iron metabolism. NFU1, BOLA3, IBA57, ISCA2, and ISCA1 are involved in the last steps of the maturation of mitochondrial [4Fe-4S]-containing proteins. Since 2011, mutations in their genes leading to five multiple mitochondrial dysfunction syndromes (MMDS types 1 to 5) were reported. The aim of this systematic review is to describe all reported MMDS-patients. Their clinical, biological, and radiological data and associated genotype will be compared to each other. Despite certain specific clinical elements such as pulmonary hypertension or dilated cardiomyopathy in MMDS type 1 or 2, respectively, nearly all of the patients with MMDS presented with severe and early onset leukoencephalopathy. Diagnosis could be suggested by high lactate, pyruvate, and glycine levels in body fluids. Genetic analysis including large gene panels (Next Generation Sequencing) or whole exome sequencing is needed to confirm diagnosis.

Biochemical Approaches to Probe the Role of the Auxiliary Iron-Sulfur Cluster of Lipoyl Synthase from Mycobacterium Tuberculosis

Lipoic acid is an essential sulfur-containing cofactor used by several multienzyme complexes involved in energy metabolism and the breakdown of certain amino acids. It is composed of n-octanoic acid with sulfur atoms appended at C6 and C8. Lipoic acid is biosynthesized de novo in its cofactor form, in which it is covalently bound in an amide linkage to a target lysyl residue on a lipoyl carrier protein (LCP). The n-octanoyl moiety of the cofactor is derived from type 2 fatty acid biosynthesis and is transferred to an LCP to afford an octanoyllysyl amino acid. Next, lipoyl synthase (LipA in bacteria) catalyzes the attachment of the two sulfur atoms to afford the intact cofactor. LipA is a radical S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) enzyme that contains two [4Fe-4S] clusters. One [4Fe-4S] cluster is used to facilitate a reductive cleavage of SAM to render the highly oxidizing 5'-deoxyadenosyl 5'-radical needed to abstract C6 and C8 hydrogen atoms to allow for sulfur attachment. By contrast, the second cluster is the sulfur source, necessitating its destruction during turnover. In Escherichia coli, this auxiliary cluster can be restored after each turnover by NfuA or IscU, which are two iron-sulfur cluster carrier proteins that are implicated in iron-sulfur cluster biogenesis. In this chapter, we describe methods for purifying and characterizing LipA and NfuA from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a human pathogen for which endogenously synthesized lipoic acid is essential. These studies provide the foundation for assessing lipoic acid biosynthesis as a potential target for the design of novel antituberculosis agents.

Structural Evidence for a [4Fe-5S] Intermediate in the Non-Redox Desulfuration of Thiouracil

We recently discovered a [Fe-S]-containing protein with in vivo thiouracil desulfidase activity, dubbed TudS. The crystal structure of TudS refined at 1.5 Å resolution is reported; it harbors a [4Fe-4S] cluster bound by three cysteines only. Incubation of TudS crystals with 4-thiouracil trapped the cluster with a hydrosulfide ligand bound to the fourth non-protein-bonded iron, as established by the sulfur anomalous signal. This indicates that a [4Fe-5S] state of the cluster is a catalytic intermediate in the desulfuration reaction. Structural data and site-directed mutagenesis indicate that a water molecule is located next to the hydrosulfide ligand and to two catalytically important residues, Ser101 and Glu45. This information, together with modeling studies allow us to propose a mechanism for the unprecedented non-redox enzymatic desulfuration of thiouracil, in which a [4Fe-4S] cluster binds and activates the sulfur atom of the substrate.

The Biotin Biosynthetic Pathway in Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a Validated Target for the Development of Antibacterial Agents

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, responsible for Tuberculosis (TB), remains the leading cause of mortality among infectious diseases worldwide from a single infectious agent, with an estimated 1.7 million deaths in 2016. Biotin is an essential cofactor in M. tuberculosis that is required for lipid biosynthesis and gluconeogenesis. M. tuberculosis relies on de novo biotin biosynthesis to obtain this vital cofactor since it cannot scavenge sufficient biotin from a mammalian host. The biotin biosynthetic pathway in M. tuberculosis has been well studied and rigorously genetically validated providing a solid foundation for medicinal chemistry efforts. This review examines the mechanism and structure of the enzymes involved in biotin biosynthesis and ligation, summarizes the reported genetic validation studies of the pathway, and then analyzes the most promising inhibitors and natural products obtained from structure-based drug design and phenotypic screening.

Reactivity, Mechanism, and Assembly of the Alternative Nitrogenases

Biological nitrogen fixation is catalyzed by the enzyme nitrogenase, which facilitates the cleavage of the relatively inert triple bond of N2. Nitrogenase is most commonly associated with the molybdenum-iron cofactor called FeMoco or the M-cluster, and it has been the subject of extensive structural and spectroscopic characterization over the past 60 years. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, two "alternative nitrogenase" systems were discovered, isolated, and found to incorporate V or Fe in place of Mo. These systems are regulated by separate gene clusters; however, there is a high degree of structural and functional similarity between each nitrogenase. Limited studies with the V- and Fe-nitrogenases initially demonstrated that these enzymes were analogously active as the Mo-nitrogenase, but more recent investigations have found capabilities that are unique to the alternative systems. In this review, we will discuss the reactivity, biosynthetic, and mechanistic proposals for the alternative nitrogenases as well as their electronic and structural properties in comparison to the well-characterized Mo-dependent system. Studies over the past 10 years have been particularly fruitful, though key aspects about V- and Fe-nitrogenases remain unexplored.

Mechanistic Studies on CysS - A Vitamin B12-Dependent Radical SAM Methyltransferase Involved in the Biosynthesis of the tert-Butyl Group of Cystobactamid

Cobalamin (Cbl)-dependent radical S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) methyltransferases catalyze methylation reactions at non-nucleophilic centers in a wide range of substrates. CysS is a Cbl-dependent radical SAM methyltransferase involved in cystobactamid biosynthesis. This enzyme catalyzes the sequential methylation of a methoxy group to form ethoxy, i-propoxy, s-butoxy, and t-butoxy groups on a p-aminobenzoate peptidyl carrier protein thioester intermediate. This biosynthetic strategy enables the host myxobacterium to biosynthesize a combinatorial antibiotic library of 25 cystobactamid analogues. In this Article, we describe three experiments to elucidate how CysS uses Cbl, SAM, and a [4Fe-4S] cluster to catalyze iterative methylation reactions: a cyclopropylcarbinyl rearrangement was used to trap the substrate radical and to estimate the rate of the radical substitution reaction involved in the methyl transfer; a bromoethoxy analogue was used to explore the active site topography; and deuterium isotope effects on the hydrogen atom abstraction by the adenosyl radical were used to investigate the kinetic significance of the hydrogen atom abstraction. On the basis of these experiments, a revised mechanism for CysS is proposed.

Radical Stabilization Energies for Enzyme Engineering: Tackling the Substrate Scope of the Radical Enzyme QueE

Experimental assessment of catalytic reaction mechanisms and profiles of radical enzymes can be severely challenging due to the reactive nature of the intermediates and sensitivity of cofactors such as iron-sulfur clusters. Here, we present an enzyme-directed computational methodology for the assessment of thermodynamic reaction profiles and screening for radical stabilization energies (RSEs) for the assessment of catalytic turnovers in radical enzymes. We have applied this new screening method to the radical S-adenosylmethione enzyme 7-carboxy-7-deazaguanine synthase (QueE), following a detailed molecular dynamics (MD) analysis that clarifies the role of both specific enzyme residues and bound Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, or Na⁺. The MD simulations provided the basis for a statistical approach to sample different conformational outcomes. RSE calculation at the M06-2X/6-31+G* level of theory provided the most computationally cost-effective assessment of enzyme-based energies, facilitated by an initial triage using semiempirical methods. The impact of intermolecular interactions on RSE was clearly established, and application to the assessment of potential alternative substrates (focusing on radical clock type rearrangements) proposes a selection of carbon-substituted analogues that would react to afford cyclopropylcarbinyl radical intermediates as candidates for catalytic turnover by QueE.

Enzymatic Cascade Reactions in Biosynthesis

Enzyme-mediated cascade reactions are widespread in biosynthesis. To facilitate comparison with the mechanistic categorizations of cascade reactions by synthetic chemists and delineate the common underlying chemistry, we discuss four types of enzymatic cascade reactions: those involving nucleophilic, electrophilic, pericyclic, and radical reactions. Two subtypes of enzymes that generate radical cascades exist at opposite ends of the oxygen abundance spectrum. Iron-based enzymes use O2 to generate high valent iron-oxo species to homolyze unactivated C-H bonds in substrates to initiate skeletal rearrangements. At anaerobic end, enzymes reversibly cleave S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to generate the 5'-deoxyadenosyl radical as a powerful oxidant to initiate C-H bond homolysis in bound substrates. The latter enzymes are termed radical SAM enzymes. We categorize the former as "thwarted oxygenases".

Zinc Toxicity and Iron-Sulfur Cluster Biogenesis in Escherichia coli

While zinc is an essential trace metal in biology, excess zinc is toxic to organisms. Previous studies have shown that zinc toxicity is associated with disruption of the [4Fe-4S] clusters in various dehydratases in Escherichia coli Here, we report that the intracellular zinc overload in E. coli cells inhibits iron-sulfur cluster biogenesis without affecting the preassembled iron-sulfur clusters in proteins. Among the housekeeping iron-sulfur cluster assembly proteins encoded by the gene cluster iscSUA-hscBA-fdx-iscX in E. coli cells, the scaffold IscU, the iron chaperone IscA, and ferredoxin have strong zinc binding activity in cells, suggesting that intracellular zinc overload inhibits iron-sulfur cluster biogenesis by binding to the iron-sulfur cluster assembly proteins. Mutations of the conserved cysteine residues to serine in IscA, IscU, or ferredoxin completely abolish the zinc binding activity of the proteins, indicating that zinc can compete with iron or iron-sulfur cluster binding in IscA, IscU, and ferredoxin and block iron-sulfur cluster biogenesis. Furthermore, intracellular zinc overload appears to emulate the slow-growth phenotype of the E. coli mutant cells with deletion of the iron-sulfur cluster assembly proteins IscU, IscA, and ferredoxin. Our results suggest that intracellular zinc overload inhibits iron-sulfur cluster biogenesis by targeting the iron-sulfur cluster assembly proteins IscU, IscA, and ferredoxin in E. coli cells.IMPORTANCE Zinc toxicity has been implicated in causing various human diseases. High concentrations of zinc can also inhibit bacterial cell growth. However, the underlying mechanism has not been fully understood. Here, we report that zinc overload in Escherichia coli cells inhibits iron-sulfur cluster biogenesis by targeting specific iron-sulfur cluster assembly proteins. Because iron-sulfur proteins are involved in diverse physiological processes, the zinc-mediated inhibition of iron-sulfur cluster biogenesis could be largely responsible for the zinc-mediated cytotoxicity. Our finding provides new insights on how intracellular zinc overload may inhibit cellular functions in bacteria.

Investigation of ( S)-(-)-Acidomycin: A Selective Antimycobacterial Natural Product That Inhibits Biotin Synthase

The synthesis, absolute stereochemical configuration, complete biological characterization, mechanism of action and resistance, and pharmacokinetic properties of ( S)-(-)-acidomycin are described. Acidomycin possesses promising antitubercular activity against a series of contemporary drug susceptible and drug-resistant M. tuberculosis strains (minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) = 0.096-6.2 μM) but is inactive against nontuberculosis mycobacteria and Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens (MICs > 1000 μM). Complementation studies with biotin biosynthetic pathway intermediates and subsequent biochemical studies confirmed acidomycin inhibits biotin synthesis with a K_i of approximately 1 μM through the competitive inhibition of biotin synthase (BioB) and also stimulates unproductive cleavage of S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) to generate the toxic metabolite 5'-deoxyadenosine. Cell studies demonstrate acidomycin selectively accumulates in M. tuberculosis providing a mechanistic basis for the observed antibacterial activity. The development of spontaneous resistance by M. tuberculosis to acidomycin was difficult, and only low-level resistance to acidomycin was observed by overexpression of BioB. Collectively, the results provide a foundation to advance acidomycin and highlight BioB as a promising target.

Snapshots of C-S Cleavage in Egt2 Reveals Substrate Specificity and Reaction Mechanism

Sulfur incorporation in the biosynthesis of ergothioneine, a histidine thiol derivative, differs from other well-characterized transsulfurations. A combination of a mononuclear non-heme iron enzyme-catalyzed oxidative C-S bond formation and a subsequent pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP)-mediated C-S lyase reaction leads to the net transfer of a sulfur atom from a cysteine to a histidine. In this study, we structurally and mechanistically characterized a PLP-dependent C-S lyase Egt2, which mediates the sulfoxide C-S bond cleavage in ergothioneine biosynthesis. A cation-π interaction between substrate and enzyme accounts for Egt2's preference of sulfoxide over thioether as a substrate. Using mutagenesis and structural biology, we captured three distinct states of the Egt2 C-S lyase reaction cycle, including a labile sulfenic intermediate captured in Egt2 crystals. Chemical trapping and high-resolution mass spectrometry were used to confirm the involvement of the sulfenic acid intermediate in Egt2 catalysis.

Nitrogenase Cofactor Assembly: An Elemental Inventory

Nitrogenase is known for its remarkable ability to catalyze the reduction of N₂ to NH₃, and C₁ substrates to short-chain hydrocarbon products, under ambient conditions. The best-studied Mo-nitrogenase utilizes a complex metallocofactor as the site of substrate binding and reduction. Designated the M-cluster, this [MoFe₇S₉C(R-homocitrate)] cluster can be viewed as [MoFe₃S₃] and [Fe₄S₃] subclusters bridged by three μ₂-sulfides and one μ₆-interstitial carbide, with its Mo end further coordinated by an R-homocitrate moiety. The unique cofactor has attracted considerable attention ever since its discovery; however, the complexity of its structure has hindered mechanistic understanding and chemical synthesis of this cofactor. Motivated by the pressing questions related to the structure and function of the nitrogenase cofactor, one major thrust of our research has been to unravel the key biosynthetic steps of this metallocluster to cultivate a deeper understanding of these reactions and their effects on functionalizing the cofactor. In this Account, we will discuss our recent work that provides insights into how simple Fe and S atoms, along with a single C atom, a heterometallic Mo atom and an organic homocitrate entity, are assembled into one of the most complex metalloclusters known in Nature. Combined biochemical, spectroscopic and structural studies have led us to a working model of M-cluster assembly, which starts with the sequential synthesis of small [Fe₂S₂] and [Fe₄S₄] units by NifS/U, followed by the coupling and rearrangement of two [Fe₄S₄] clusters on NifB concomitant with the insertion of an interstitial carbide and a "9th sulfur" that give rise to a [Fe₈S₉C] core that is nearly indistinguishable in structure to the M-cluster except for the absence of Mo and homocitrate. This 8Fe core is then matured into an M-cluster on NifEN upon substitution of a Mo-homocitrate conjugate for one terminal Fe atom of the cluster prior to transfer of the M-cluster to its target binding site in the catalytic component of Mo-nitrogenase. Taking stock of the elemental inventory during the cofactor assembly process, the core Fe and S atoms are derived from modular fusion of FeS building blocks, going through 2Fe, 4Fe and 8Fe stages to generate an 8Fe core of the cofactor. However, such a flow of Fe/S along the biosynthetic pathway of the M-cluster is "intervened" by the insertion of C and Mo, which renders the cofactor unique in structure and reactivity. Insertion of C occurs through a novel, radical SAM-dependent mechanism, which involves SN2-type methyl transfer from SAM to a [Fe₄S₄] cluster pair, hydrogen abstraction of the transferred methyl group by a SAM-derived 5'-dA· radical, and further deprotonation of the resultant methylene radical concomitant with radical chemistry-based coupling and rearrangement of the [Fe₄S₄] cluster pair into an [Fe₈S₉C] core. Insertion of Mo, on the other hand, employs an ATPase-dependent mechanism that parallels metal trafficking in the biosynthesis of molybdopterin and CO dehydrogenase cofactors. These findings provide a nice framework for further exploration of the "black box" of nitrogenase cofactor assembly and function.

Mechanism-Based Strategies for Structural Characterization of Radical SAM Reaction Intermediates

X-ray crystallographic characterization of enzymes at different stages in their reaction cycles can provide unique insight into the reaction pathway, the number and type of intermediates formed, and their structural context. The known mechanistic diversity in the radical S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) superfamily of enzymes makes it an appealing target for such studies as more than 100,000 sequences have been identified to date with wide-ranging reactivities that share a pattern of complex radical-mediated chemistry. Here, we review selected examples of radical SAM enzyme crystal structures representative of reactant, product, and intermediate state complexes with a particular emphasis on the strategies employed to capture these states. Broader application of structural characterization techniques to analyze mechanism and substrate specificity is certain to play an important role as more members of this family become tractable for biochemical study.

Radical Reaction Control in the AdoMet Radical Enzyme CDG Synthase (QueE): Consolidate, Destabilize, Accelerate

Controlling radical intermediates and thus catalysing and directing complex radical reactions is a central feature of S-adensosylmethionine (SAM)-dependent radical enzymes. We report ab initio and DFT calculations highlighting the specific influence of ion complexation, including Mg2+ , identified as a key catalytic component on radical stability and reaction control in 7-carboxy-7-deazaguanine synthase (QueE). Radical stabilisation energies (RSEs) of key intermediates and radical clock-like model systems of the enzyme-catalysed rearrangement of 6-carboxytetrahydropterin (CPH4), reveals a directing role of Mg2+ in destabilising both the substrate-derived radical and corresponding side reactions, with the effect that the experimentally-observed rearrangement becomes dominant over possible alternatives. Importantly, this is achieved with minimal disruption of the thermodynamics of the substrate itself, affording a novel mechanism for an enzyme to both maintain binding potential and accelerate the rearrangement step. Other mono and divalent ions were probed with only dicationic species achieving the necessary radical conformation to facilitate the reaction.

Does Viperin Function as a Radical S-Adenosyl-l-methionine-dependent Enzyme in Regulating Farnesylpyrophosphate Synthase Expression and Activity?

Viperin is an endoplasmic reticulum-associated antiviral responsive protein that is highly up-regulated in eukaryotic cells upon viral infection through both interferon-dependent and independent pathways. Viperin is predicted to be a radical S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) enzyme, but it is unknown whether viperin actually exploits radical SAM chemistry to exert its antiviral activity. We have investigated the interaction of viperin with its most firmly established cellular target, farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (FPPS). Numerous enveloped viruses utilize cholesterol-rich lipid rafts to bud from the host cell membrane, and it is thought that by inhibiting FPPS activity (and therefore cholesterol synthesis), viperin retards viral budding from infected cells. We demonstrate that, consistent with this hypothesis, overexpression of viperin in human embryonic kidney cells reduces the intracellular rate of accumulation of FPPS but does not inhibit or inactivate FPPS. The endoplasmic reticulum-localizing, N-terminal amphipathic helix of viperin is specifically required for viperin to reduce cellular FPPS levels. However, although viperin reductively cleaves SAM to form 5'-deoxyadenosine in a slow, uncoupled reaction characteristic of radical SAM enzymes, this cleavage reaction is independent of FPPS. Furthermore, mutation of key cysteinyl residues ligating the catalytic [Fe₄S₄] cluster in the radical SAM domain, surprisingly, does not abolish the inhibitory activity of viperin against FPPS; indeed, some mutations potentiate viperin activity. These observations imply that viperin does not act as a radical SAM enzyme in regulating FPPS.

A [3Fe-4S] cluster is required for tRNA thiolation in archaea and eukaryotes

The sulfur-containing nucleosides in transfer RNA (tRNAs) are present in all three domains of life; they have critical functions for accurate and efficient translation, such as tRNA structure stabilization and proper codon recognition. The tRNA modification enzymes ThiI (in bacteria and archaea) and Ncs6 (in archaea and eukaryotic cytosols) catalyze the formation of 4-thiouridine (s⁴U) and 2-thiouridine (s²U), respectively. The ThiI homologs were proposed to transfer sulfur via cysteine persulfide enzyme adducts, whereas the reaction mechanism of Ncs6 remains unknown. Here we show that ThiI from the archaeon Methanococcus maripaludis contains a [3Fe-4S] cluster that is essential for its tRNA thiolation activity. Furthermore, the archaeal and eukaryotic Ncs6 homologs as well as phosphoseryl-tRNA (Sep-tRNA):Cys-tRNA synthase (SepCysS), which catalyzes the Sep-tRNA to Cys-tRNA conversion in methanogens, also possess a [3Fe-4S] cluster similar to the methanogenic archaeal ThiI. These results suggest that the diverse tRNA thiolation processes in archaea and eukaryotic cytosols share a common mechanism dependent on a [3Fe-4S] cluster for sulfur transfer.

Biochemical and Spectroscopic Characterization of a Radical S-Adenosyl-L-methionine Enzyme Involved in the Formation of a Peptide Thioether Cross-Link

Peptide-derived natural products are a class of metabolites that afford the producing organism a selective advantage over other organisms in their biological niche. While the polypeptide antibiotics produced by the nonribosomal polypeptide synthetases (NRPS) are the most widely recognized, the ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) are an emerging group of natural products with diverse structures and biological functions. Both the NRPS derived peptides and the RiPPs undergo extensive post-translational modifications to produce structural diversity. Here we report the first characterization of the six cysteines in forty-five (SCIFF) [Haft, D. H. and Basu M. K. (2011) J. Bacteriol. 193, 2745-2755] peptide maturase Tte1186, which is a member of the radical S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) superfamily. Tte1186 catalyzes the formation of a thioether cross-link in the peptide Tte1186a encoded by an orf located upstream of the maturase, under reducing conditions in the presence of SAM. Tte1186 contains three [4Fe-4S] clusters that are indispensable for thioether cross-link formation; however, only one cluster catalyzes the reductive cleavage of SAM. Mechanistic imperatives for the reaction catalyzed by the thioether forming radical SAM maturases will be discussed.

A sandwich-type electrochemical immunosensor based on the biotin- streptavidin-biotin structure for detection of human immunoglobulin G

A sandwich-type immunosensor is designed and fabricated to detect the human immunoglobulin G (HIgG) using polyaniline and tin dioxide functionalized graphene (GS-SnO2-PAN) as the platform and biotin-functionalized amination magnetic nanoparticles composite (B-Fe3O4@APTES) as the label. GS-SnO2-PAN is used as the sensing agent to capture the primary anti-HIgG (Ab1) and SnO2 reduces the stack of GS. The B-Fe3O4@APTES with a large surface area and excellent biocompatibility captures second antibody (Ab2) efficiently based on the highly selective recognition of streptavidin to biotinylated antibody. The B-Fe3O4@APTES has better electro-catalytic activity in the reduction of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and the "biotin-streptavidin-biotin" (B-SA-B) strategy leads to signal amplification. Under optimal conditions, the immunosensor has a wide sensitivity range from 1 pg/L to 10 ng/L and low detection limit of 0.33 pg/L (S/N = 3) for HIgG. The immunosensor has high sensitivity, fast assay rate, as well as good reproducibility, specificity, and stability especially in the quantitative detection of biomolecules in serum samples.

Cloning, expression and characterization of histidine-tagged biotin synthase of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The emergence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains that are resistant to the current anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs necessitates a need to develop a new class of drugs whose targets are different from the current ones. M. tuberculosis biotin synthase (MtbBS) is one such target that is essential for the survival of the bacteria. In this study, MtbBS was cloned, overexpressed and purified to homogeneity for biochemical characterization. It is likely to be a dimer in its native form. Its pH and temperature optima are 8.0 and 37 °C, respectively. Km for DTB and SAM was 2.81 ± 0.35 and 9.95 ± 0.98 μM, respectively. The enzyme had a maximum velocity of 0.575 ± 0.015 μM min(-1), and a turn-over of 0.0935 min(-1). 5'-deoxyadenosine (dAH), S-(5'-Adenosyl)-l-cysteine (AdoCy) and S-(5'-Adenosyl)-l-homocysteine (AdoHcy) were competitive inhibitors of MtbBS with the following inactivation parameters: Ki = 24.2 μM, IC50 = 267.4 μM; Ki = 0.84 μM, IC50 = 9.28 μM; and Ki = 0.592 μM, IC50 = 6.54 μM for dAH, AdoCy and AdoHcy respectively. dAH could inhibit the growth of M. tuberculosis H37Ra with an MIC of 392.6 μg/ml. This information should be useful for the discovery of inhibitors of MtbBS.

Whole-Genome Sequence Analysis and Genome-Wide Virulence Gene Identification of Riemerella anatipestifer Strain Yb2

Riemerella anatipestifer is a well-described pathogen of waterfowl and other avian species that can cause septicemic and exudative diseases. In this study, we sequenced the complete genome of R. anatipestifer strain Yb2 and analyzed it against the published genomic sequences of R. anatipestifer strains DSM15868, RA-GD, RA-CH-1, and RA-CH-2. The Yb2 genome contains one circular chromosome of 2,184,066 bp with a 35.73% GC content and no plasmid. The genome has 2,021 open reading frames that occupy 90.88% of the genome. A comparative genomic analysis revealed that genome organization is highly conserved among R. anatipestifer strains, except for four inversions of a sequence segment in Yb2. A phylogenetic analysis found that the closest neighbor of Yb2 is RA-GD. Furthermore, we constructed a library of 3,175 mutants by random transposon mutagenesis, and 100 mutants exhibiting more than 100-fold-attenuated virulence were obtained by animal screening experiments. Southern blot analysis and genetic characterization of the mutants led to the identification of 49 virulence genes. Of these, 25 encode cytoplasmic proteins, 6 encode cytoplasmic membrane proteins, 4 encode outer membrane proteins, and the subcellular localization of the remaining 14 gene products is unknown. The functional classification of orthologous-group clusters revealed that 16 genes are associated with metabolism, 6 are associated with cellular processing and signaling, and 4 are associated with information storage and processing. The functions of the other 23 genes are poorly characterized or unknown. This genome-wide study identified genes important to the virulence of R. anatipestifer.

Advanced paramagnetic resonance spectroscopies of iron-sulfur proteins: Electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) and electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM)

The advanced electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) techniques, electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) and electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) spectroscopies, provide unique insights into the structure, coordination chemistry, and biochemical mechanism of nature's widely distributed iron-sulfur cluster (FeS) proteins. This review describes the ENDOR and ESEEM techniques and then provides a series of case studies on their application to a wide variety of FeS proteins including ferredoxins, nitrogenase, and radical SAM enzymes. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Fe/S proteins: Analysis, structure, function, biogenesis and diseases.

Structures of lipoyl synthase reveal a compact active site for controlling sequential sulfur insertion reactions

Lipoyl cofactors are essential for living organisms and are produced by the insertion of two sulfur atoms into the relatively unreactive C-H bonds of an octanoyl substrate. This reaction requires lipoyl synthase, a member of the radical S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) enzyme superfamily. In the present study, we solved crystal structures of lipoyl synthase with two [4Fe-4S] clusters bound at opposite ends of the TIM barrel, the usual fold of the radical SAM superfamily. The cluster required for reductive SAM cleavage conserves the features of the radical SAM superfamily, but the auxiliary cluster is bound by a CX4CX5C motif unique to lipoyl synthase. The fourth ligand to the auxiliary cluster is an extremely unusual serine residue. Site-directed mutants show this conserved serine ligand is essential for the sulfur insertion steps. One crystallized lipoyl synthase (LipA) complex contains 5'-methylthioadenosine (MTA), a breakdown product of SAM, bound in the likely SAM-binding site. Modelling has identified an 18 Å (1 Å=0.1 nm) deep channel, well-proportioned to accommodate an octanoyl substrate. These results suggest that the auxiliary cluster is the likely sulfur donor, but access to a sulfide ion for the second sulfur insertion reaction requires the loss of an iron atom from the auxiliary cluster, which the serine ligand may enable.

Auxiliary iron-sulfur cofactors in radical SAM enzymes

A vast number of enzymes are now known to belong to a superfamily known as radical SAM, which all contain a [4Fe-4S] cluster ligated by three cysteine residues. The remaining, unligated, iron ion of the cluster binds in contact with the α-amino and α-carboxylate groups of S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM). This binding mode facilitates inner-sphere electron transfer from the reduced form of the cluster into the sulfur atom of SAM, resulting in a reductive cleavage of SAM to methionine and a 5'-deoxyadenosyl radical. The 5'-deoxyadenosyl radical then abstracts a target substrate hydrogen atom, initiating a wide variety of radical-based transformations. A subset of radical SAM enzymes contains one or more additional iron-sulfur clusters that are required for the reactions they catalyze. However, outside of a subset of sulfur insertion reactions, very little is known about the roles of these additional clusters. This review will highlight the most recent advances in the identification and characterization of radical SAM enzymes that harbor auxiliary iron-sulfur clusters. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Fe/S proteins: Analysis, structure, function, biogenesis and diseases.

Mössbauer spectroscopy of Fe/S proteins

Iron-sulfur (Fe/S) clusters are structurally and functionally diverse cofactors that are found in all domains of life. (57)Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy is a technique that provides information about the chemical nature of all chemically distinct Fe species contained in a sample, such as Fe oxidation and spin state, nuclearity of a cluster with more than one metal ion, electron spin ground state of the cluster, and delocalization properties in mixed-valent clusters. Moreover, the technique allows for quantitation of all Fe species, when it is used in conjunction with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and analytical methods. (57)Fe-Mössbauer spectroscopy played a pivotal role in unraveling the electronic structures of the "well-established" [2Fe-2S](2+/+), [3Fe-4S](1+/0), and [4Fe-4S](3+/2+/1+/0) clusters and -more-recently- was used to characterize novel Fe/S clustsers, including the [4Fe-3S] cluster of the O2-tolerant hydrogenase from Aquifex aeolicus and the 3Fe-cluster intermediate observed during the reaction of lipoyl synthase, a member of the radical SAM enzyme superfamily.

The biosynthesis of thiol- and thioether-containing cofactors and secondary metabolites catalyzed by radical S-adenosylmethionine enzymes

Sulfur atoms are present as thiol and thioether functional groups in amino acids, coenzymes, cofactors, and various products of secondary metabolic pathways. The biosynthetic pathways for several sulfur-containing biomolecules require the substitution of sulfur for hydrogen at unreactive aliphatic or electron-rich aromatic carbon atoms. Examples discussed in this review include biotin, lipoic acid, methylthioether modifications found in some nucleic acids and proteins, and thioether cross-links found in peptide natural products. Radical S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) enzymes use an iron-sulfur cluster to catalyze the reduction of SAM to methionine and a highly reactive 5'-deoxyadenosyl radical; this radical can abstract hydrogen atoms at unreactive positions, facilitating the introduction of a variety of functional groups. Radical SAM enzymes that catalyze sulfur insertion reactions contain a second iron-sulfur cluster that facilitates the chemistry, either by donating the cluster's endogenous sulfide or by binding and activating exogenous sulfide or sulfur-containing substrates. The use of radical chemistry involving iron-sulfur clusters is an efficient anaerobic route to the generation of carbon-sulfur bonds in cofactors, secondary metabolites, and other natural products.

Protein-protein interaction studies provide evidence for electron transfer from ferredoxin to lipoic acid synthase in Toxoplasma gondii

The only known redox system in the apicoplast, a plastid-like organelle of apicomplexan parasites, is ferredoxin and ferredoxin-associated reductase. Ferredoxin donates electrons to different enzymes, presumably including lipoate synthase (LipA), which is essential for fatty acid biosynthesis. We recombinantly expressed and characterized LipA from the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, generated LipA-specific antibodies and confirmed the apicoplast localization of LipA. Electron transfer from ferredoxin to LipA would require direct protein-protein interaction. Such a robust interaction between the two proteins was demonstrated in both yeast and bacterial two-hybrid systems. Taken together, our results provide strong evidence for a role of ferredoxin as an electron donor to LipA.

Shared-intermediates in the biosynthesis of thio-cofactors: Mechanism and functions of cysteine desulfurases and sulfur acceptors

Cysteine desulfurases utilize a PLP-dependent mechanism to catalyze the first step of sulfur mobilization in the biosynthesis of sulfur-containing cofactors. Sulfur activation and integration into thiocofactors involve complex mechanisms and intricate biosynthetic schemes. Cysteine desulfurases catalyze sulfur-transfer reactions from l-cysteine to sulfur acceptor molecules participating in the biosynthesis of thio-cofactors, including Fe-S clusters, thionucleosides, thiamin, biotin, and molybdenum cofactor. The proposed mechanism of cysteine desulfurases involves the PLP-dependent cleavage of the C-S bond from l-cysteine via the formation of a persulfide enzyme intermediate, which is considered the hallmark step in sulfur mobilization. The subsequent sulfur transfer reaction varies with the class of cysteine desulfurase and sulfur acceptor. IscS serves as a mecca for sulfur incorporation into a network of intertwined pathways for the biosynthesis of thio-cofactors. The involvement of a single enzyme interacting with multiple acceptors, the recruitment of shared-intermediates partaking roles in multiple pathways, and the participation of Fe-S enzymes denote the interconnectivity of pathways involving sulfur trafficking. In Bacillus subtilis, the occurrence of multiple cysteine desulfurases partnering with dedicated sulfur acceptors partially deconvolutes the routes of sulfur trafficking and assigns specific roles for these enzymes. Understanding the roles of promiscuous vs. dedicated cysteine desulfurases and their partnership with shared-intermediates in the biosynthesis of thio-cofactors will help to map sulfur transfer events across interconnected pathways and to provide insight into the hierarchy of sulfur incorporation into biomolecules. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Fe/S proteins: Analysis, structure, function, biogenesis and diseases.

Endogenous biotin-binding proteins: an overlooked factor causing false positives in streptavidin-based protein detection

Biotinylation is widely used in DNA, RNA and protein probing assays as this molecule has generally no impact on the biological activity of its substrate. During the streptavidin-based detection of glycoproteins in Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG with biotinylated lectin probes, a strong positive band of approximately 125 kDa was observed, present in different cellular fractions. This potential glycoprotein reacted heavily with concanavalin A (ConA), a lectin that specifically binds glucose and mannose residues. Surprisingly, this protein of 125 kDa could not be purified using a ConA affinity column. Edman degradation of the protein, isolated via cation and anion exchange chromatography, lead to the identification of the band as pyruvate carboxylase, an enzyme of 125 kDa that binds biotin as a cofactor. Detection using only the streptavidin conjugate resulted in more false positive signals of proteins, also in extracellular fractions, indicating biotin-associated proteins. Indeed, biotin is a known cofactor of numerous carboxylases. The potential occurence of false positive bands with biotinylated protein probes should thus be considered when using streptavidin-based detection, e.g. by developing a blot using only the streptavidin conjugate. To circumvent these false positives, alternative approaches like detection based on digoxigenin labelling can also be used.

Paramagnetic intermediates generated by radical S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) enzymes

A [4Fe-4S](+) cluster reduces a bound S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) molecule, cleaving it into methionine and a 5'-deoxyadenosyl radical (5'-dA(•)). This step initiates the varied chemistry catalyzed by each of the so-called radical SAM enzymes. The strongly oxidizing 5'-dA(•) is quenched by abstracting a H-atom from a target species. In some cases, this species is an exogenous molecule of substrate, for example, L-tyrosine in the [FeFe] hydrogenase maturase, HydG. In other cases, the target is a proteinaceous residue as in all the glycyl radical forming enzymes. The generation of this initial radical species and the subsequent chemistry involving downstream radical intermediates is meticulously controlled by the enzyme so as to prevent unwanted reactions. But the manner in which this control is exerted is unknown. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy has proven to be a valuable tool used to gain insight into these mechanisms. In this Account, we summarize efforts to trap such radical intermediates in radical SAM enzymes and highlight four examples in which EPR spectroscopic results have shed significant light on the corresponding mechanism. For lysine 2,3-aminomutase, nearly each possible intermediate, from an analogue of the initial 5'-dA(•) to the product radical L-β-lysine, has been explored. A paramagnetic intermediate observed in biotin synthase is shown to involve an auxiliary [FeS] cluster whose bridging sulfide is a co-substrate for the final step in the biosynthesis of vitamin B7. In HydG, the L-tyrosine substrate is converted in unprecedented fashion to a 4-oxidobenzyl radical on the way to generating CO and CN(-) ligands for the [FeFe] cluster of hydrogenase. And finally, EPR has confirmed a mechanistic proposal for the antibiotic resistance protein Cfr, which methylates the unactivated sp(2)-hybridized C8-carbon of an adenosine base of 23S ribosomal RNA. These four systems provide just a brief survey of the ever-growing set of radical SAM enzymes. The diverse chemistries catalyzed by these enzymes make them an intriguing target for continuing study, and EPR spectroscopy, in particular, seems ideally placed to contribute to our understanding.