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Xiang X, Vilar Gomez AA, Blomberg SP, Yuan H, Degnan BM, Degnan SM. Potential for host-symbiont communication via neurotransmitters and neuromodulators in an aneural animal, the marine sponge Amphimedon queenslandica. Front Neural Circuits 2023; 17:1250694. [PMID: 37841893 PMCID: PMC10570526 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2023.1250694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Interkingdom signalling within a holobiont allows host and symbionts to communicate and to regulate each other's physiological and developmental states. Here we show that a suite of signalling molecules that function as neurotransmitters and neuromodulators in most animals with nervous systems, specifically dopamine and trace amines, are produced exclusively by the bacterial symbionts of the demosponge Amphimedon queenslandica. Although sponges do not possess a nervous system, A. queenslandica expresses rhodopsin class G-protein-coupled receptors that are structurally similar to dopamine and trace amine receptors. When sponge larvae, which express these receptors, are exposed to agonists and antagonists of bilaterian dopamine and trace amine receptors, we observe marked changes in larval phototactic swimming behaviour, consistent with the sponge being competent to recognise and respond to symbiont-derived trace amine signals. These results indicate that monoamines synthesised by bacterial symbionts may be able to influence the physiology of the host sponge.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Sandie M. Degnan
- Centre for Marine Science, School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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2
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Mori BA, Coutu C, Erlandson MA, Hegedus DD. Characterization of the swede midge, Contarinia nasturtii, first instar larval salivary gland transcriptome. CURRENT RESEARCH IN INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 4:100064. [PMID: 37575317 PMCID: PMC10415697 DOI: 10.1016/j.cris.2023.100064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Proteins in saliva of gall-forming insect larvae govern insect-host plant interactions. Contarinia nasturtii, the swede midge, is a pest of brassicaceous vegetables (cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli) and canola. We examined the salivary gland (SG) transcriptome of first instar larvae reared on Brassica napus and catalogued genes encoding secreted proteins that may contribute to the initial stages of larval establishment, the synthesis of plant growth hormones, extra-oral digestion and evasion of host defenses. A significant portion of the secreted proteins with unknown functions were unique to C. nasturtii and were often members of larger gene families organized in genomic clusters with conservation patterns suggesting that they are undergoing selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boyd A. Mori
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, Canada
| | - Cathy Coutu
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon Research and Development Centre, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0×2, Canada
| | - Martin A. Erlandson
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon Research and Development Centre, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0×2, Canada
| | - Dwayne D. Hegedus
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon Research and Development Centre, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0×2, Canada
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3
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Hiura T, Yoshida H, Miyata U, Asami T, Suzuki Y. Conferring High IAA Productivity on Low-IAA-Producing Organisms with PonAAS2, an Aromatic Aldehyde Synthase of a Galling Sawfly, and Identification of Its Inhibitor. INSECTS 2023; 14:598. [PMID: 37504604 PMCID: PMC10380194 DOI: 10.3390/insects14070598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Gall-inducing insects often contain high concentrations of phytohormones, such as auxin and cytokinin, which are suggested to be involved in gall induction, but no conclusive evidence has yet been obtained. There are two possible approaches to investigating the importance of phytohormones in gall induction: demonstrating either that high phytohormone productivity can induce gall-inducing ability in non-gall-inducing insects or that the gall-inducing ability is inhibited when phytohormone productivity in galling insects is suppressed. In this study, we show that the overexpression of PonAAS2, which encodes an aromatic aldehyde synthase (AAS) responsible for the rate-limiting step in indoleacetic acid (IAA) biosynthesis in a galling sawfly (Pontania sp.) that contains high levels of endogenous IAA, conferred high IAA productivity on Caenorhabditis elegans, as the model system. This result strongly suggests that PonAAS2 can also confer high IAA productivity on low-IAA-producing insects. We also successfully identified an inhibitor of PonAAS2 in a chemical library. This highly selective inhibitor showed stronger inhibitory activity against AAS than against aromatic amino acid decarboxylase, which belongs to the same superfamily as AAS. We also confirm that this inhibitor clearly inhibited IAA productivity in the high-IAA-producing C. elegans engineered here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Hiura
- United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-0054, Japan
- Department of Food and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Ibaraki University, 3-21-1 Chuo, Ami-machi, Inashiki-gun, Ibaraki 300-0393, Japan
| | - Hibiki Yoshida
- Department of Food and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Ibaraki University, 3-21-1 Chuo, Ami-machi, Inashiki-gun, Ibaraki 300-0393, Japan
| | - Umi Miyata
- Department of Food and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Ibaraki University, 3-21-1 Chuo, Ami-machi, Inashiki-gun, Ibaraki 300-0393, Japan
| | - Tadao Asami
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Yoshihito Suzuki
- United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-0054, Japan
- Department of Food and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Ibaraki University, 3-21-1 Chuo, Ami-machi, Inashiki-gun, Ibaraki 300-0393, Japan
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4
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Han SW, Shin JS. Aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylases: mechanistic features and microbial applications. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2022; 106:4445-4458. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-022-12028-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 06/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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5
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Miyata U, Arakawa K, Takei M, Asami T, Asanbou K, Toshima H, Suzuki Y. Identification of an aromatic aldehyde synthase involved in indole-3-acetic acid biosynthesis in the galling sawfly (Pontania sp.) and screening of an inhibitor. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 137:103639. [PMID: 34428582 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2021.103639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), a phytohormone auxin, may be involved in insect gall induction. We previously proposed that the IAA biosynthetic pathway is Trp → indole-3-acetaldoxime → indole-3-acetaldehyde (IAAld) → IAA or Trp → IAAld → IAA. In this study, we surveyed galling sawfly enzymes responsible for the rate-limiting steps using a heterologous protein expression system and identified PonAAS2, an aromatic aldehyde synthase, that catalyzed the conversion of Trp to IAAld. The PonAAS2 gene was highly expressed in early- and mid-stage larvae that contained high concentrations of IAA, but the expression level was almost negligible in larvae that had escaped from their gall in autumn and contained very low concentrations of IAA. An inhibitor of PonAAS2, obtained by screening a chemical library, inhibited IAA production in sawfly enzyme solution by 80%, suggesting the important role of this enzyme in IAA biosynthesis in sawfly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umi Miyata
- Department of Food and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Ibaraki University, 3-21-1 Chuo, Ami-machi, Inashiki-gun, Ibaraki, 300-0393, Japan
| | - Kenta Arakawa
- Department of Food and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Ibaraki University, 3-21-1 Chuo, Ami-machi, Inashiki-gun, Ibaraki, 300-0393, Japan
| | - Mami Takei
- Department of Food and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Ibaraki University, 3-21-1 Chuo, Ami-machi, Inashiki-gun, Ibaraki, 300-0393, Japan
| | - Tadao Asami
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan
| | - Kazuya Asanbou
- Department of Food and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Ibaraki University, 3-21-1 Chuo, Ami-machi, Inashiki-gun, Ibaraki, 300-0393, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Toshima
- Department of Food and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Ibaraki University, 3-21-1 Chuo, Ami-machi, Inashiki-gun, Ibaraki, 300-0393, Japan
| | - Yoshihito Suzuki
- Department of Food and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Ibaraki University, 3-21-1 Chuo, Ami-machi, Inashiki-gun, Ibaraki, 300-0393, Japan.
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Osire T, Qiao Z, Yang T, Xu M, Zhang X, Rao Z. Biochemical Characterization and Structural Insight into Interaction and Conformation Mechanisms of Serratia marcescens Lysine Decarboxylase (SmcadA). Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26030697. [PMID: 33572696 PMCID: PMC7866039 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26030697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Inducible lysine decarboxylases (LDCs) are essential in various cellular processes of microorganisms and plants, especially under acid stress, which induces the expression of genes encoding LDCs. In this study, a novel Serratia marcesenes LDC (SmcadA) was successfully expressed in E. coli, purified and characterized. The protein had an optimal pH of 6 and a temperature of 40 °C and phylogenetic analysis to determine the evolution of SmcadA, which revealed a close relation to Enterobacteriaceae, Klebsiella sp., among others. The molecular weight of SmcadA was approximately 75 kDa after observation on SDS-PAGE and structural modeling showed the protein as a decamer, comprised of five interlinked dimers. The biocatalytic activity of the purified wild-type SmcadA (WT) was improved through site directed mutations and the results showed that the Arg595Lys mutant had the highest specific activity of 286.55 U/mg, while the Ser512Ala variant and wild-type SmcadA had 215.72 and 179.01 U/mg, respectively. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations revealed that interactions through hydrogen bonds between the protein residues and cofactor pyridoxal-5-phosphate (PLP) are vital for biocatalysis. Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations also indicated that mutations conferred structural changes on protein residues and PLP hence altered the interacting residues with the cofactor, subsequently influencing substrate bioconversion. Moreover, the temperature also induced changes in orientation of cofactor PLP and amino acid residues. This work therefore demonstrates the successful expression and characterization of the purified novel lysine decarboxylase from Serratia marcesenes and provided insight into the mechanism of protein–cofactor interactions, highlighting the role of protein–ligand interactions in altering cofactor and binding site residue conformations, thus contributing to improved biocatalysis.
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7
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Osire T, Yang T, Xu M, Zhang X, Long M, Ngon NKA, Rao Z. Integrated gene engineering synergistically improved substrate-product transport, cofactor generation and gene translation for cadaverine biosynthesis in E. coli. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 169:8-17. [PMID: 33301846 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Several approaches for efficient production of cadaverine, a bio-based diamine with broad industrial applications have been explored. Here, Serratia marcescens lysine decarboxylase (SmcadA) was expressed in E. coli; mild surfactants added in biotransformation reactions; the E. coli native lysine/cadaverine antiporter cadB, E. coli pyridoxal kinases pdxK and pdxY overexpressed and synthetic RBS libraries screened. Addition of mild surfactants and overexpression of antiporter cadB increased cadaverine biosynthesis of SmcadA. Moreover, expression of pdxY gene yielded 19.82 g/L in a reaction mixture containing added cofactor precursor pyridoxal (PL), without adding exogenous PLP. The screened synthetic RBS1, applied to fully exploit pdxY gene expression, ultimately resulted in PLP self-sufficiency, producing 27.02 g/L cadaverine using strain T7R1_PL. To boost SmcadA catalytic activity, the designed mutants Arg595Lys and Ser512Ala had significantly improved cumulative cadaverine production of 219.54 and 201.79 g/L respectively compared to the wild-type WT (181.62 g/L), after 20 h reaction. Finally, molecular dynamics simulations for WT and variants indicated that increased flexibility at the binding sites of the protein enhanced residue-ligand interactions, contributing to high cadaverine synthesis. This work demonstrates potential of harnessing different pull factors through integrated gene engineering of efficient biocatalysts and gaining insight into the mechanisms involved through MD simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tolbert Osire
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 LiHu Boulevard, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China
| | - Taowei Yang
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 LiHu Boulevard, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China
| | - Meijuan Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 LiHu Boulevard, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xian Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 LiHu Boulevard, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mengfei Long
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 LiHu Boulevard, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China
| | - Noelle Kewang A Ngon
- National Engineering Laboratory for Cereal Fermentation Technology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 LiHu Boulevard, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhiming Rao
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 LiHu Boulevard, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China.
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8
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Gayathri SC, Manoj N. Crystallographic Snapshots of the Dunathan and Quinonoid Intermediates provide Insights into the Reaction Mechanism of Group II Decarboxylases. J Mol Biol 2020; 432:166692. [PMID: 33122004 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2020.10.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
PLP-dependent enzymes catalyze a plethora of chemical reactions affecting diverse physiological functions. Here we report the structural determinants of the reaction mechanism in a Group II PLP-dependent decarboxylase by assigning two early intermediates. The in-crystallo complexes of the PLP bound form, and the Dunathan and quinonoid intermediates, allowed direct observation of the active site interactions. The structures reveal that a subtle rearrangement of a conserved Arg residue in concert with a water-mediated interaction with the carboxylate of the Dunathan intermediate, appears to directly stabilize the alignment and facilitate the release of CO2 to yield the quinonoid. Modeling indicates that the conformational change of a dynamic catalytic loop to a closed form controls a conserved network of hydrogen bond interactions between catalytic residues to protonate the quinonoid. Our results provide a structural framework to elucidate mechanistic roles of residues that govern reaction specificity and catalysis in PLP-dependent decarboxylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subash Chellam Gayathri
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
| | - Narayanan Manoj
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India.
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9
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Mahootchi E, Raasakka A, Luan W, Muruganandam G, Loris R, Haavik J, Kursula P. Structure and substrate specificity determinants of the taurine biosynthetic enzyme cysteine sulphinic acid decarboxylase. J Struct Biol 2020; 213:107674. [PMID: 33253877 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2020.107674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Pyridoxal 5́-phosphate (PLP) is an important cofactor for amino acid decarboxylases with many biological functions, including the synthesis of signalling molecules, such as serotonin, dopamine, histamine, γ-aminobutyric acid, and taurine. Taurine is an abundant amino acid with multiple physiological functions, including osmoregulation, pH regulation, antioxidative protection, and neuromodulation. In mammalian tissues, taurine is mainly produced by decarboxylation of cysteine sulphinic acid to hypotaurine, catalysed by the PLP-dependent cysteine sulphinic acid decarboxylase (CSAD), followed by oxidation of the product to taurine. We determined the crystal structure of mouse CSAD and compared it to other PLP-dependent decarboxylases in order to identify determinants of substrate specificity and catalytic activity. Recognition of the substrate involves distinct side chains forming the substrate-binding cavity. In addition, the backbone conformation of a buried active-site loop appears to be a critical determinant for substrate side chain binding in PLP-dependent decarboxylases. Phe94 was predicted to affect substrate specificity, and its mutation to serine altered both the catalytic properties of CSAD and its stability. Using small-angle X-ray scattering, we further showed that CSAD presents open/close motions in solution. The structure of apo-CSAD indicates that the active site gets more ordered upon internal aldimine formation. Taken together, the results highlight details of substrate recognition in PLP-dependent decarboxylases and provide starting points for structure-based inhibitor design with the aim of affecting the biosynthesis of taurine and other abundant amino acid metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arne Raasakka
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Weisha Luan
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Gopinath Muruganandam
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, Brussels, Belgium; Structural Biology Brussels, Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Remy Loris
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, Brussels, Belgium; Structural Biology Brussels, Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jan Haavik
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Bergen Center of Brain Plasticity, Division of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
| | - Petri Kursula
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
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10
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A single amino acid substitution converts a histidine decarboxylase to an imidazole acetaldehyde synthase. Arch Biochem Biophys 2020; 693:108551. [PMID: 32871134 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2020.108551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Histidine decarboxylase (HDC; EC 4.1.1.22), an enzyme that catalyzes histamine synthesis with high substrate specificity, is a member of the group II pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) -dependent decarboxylase family. Tyrosine is a conserved residue among group II PLP-dependent decarboxylases. Human HDC has a Y334 located on a catalytically important loop at the active site. In this study, we demonstrated that a HDC Y334F mutant is capable of catalyzing the decarboxylation-dependent oxidative deamination of histidine to yield imidazole acetaldehyde. Replacement of the active-site Tyr with Phe in group II PLP-dependent decarboxylases, including mammalian aromatic amino acid decarboxylase, plant tyrosine/DOPA decarboxylase, and plant tryptophan decarboxylase, is expected to result in the same functional change, given that a Y-to-F substitution at the corresponding residue (number 260) in the HDC of Morganella morganii, another group II PLP-dependent decarboxylase, yielded the same effect. Thus, it was suggested that the loss of the OH moiety from the active-site Tyr residue of decarboxylase uniquely converts the enzyme to an aldehyde synthase.
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Oxygen reactivity with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate enzymes: biochemical implications and functional relevance. Amino Acids 2020; 52:1089-1105. [PMID: 32844248 PMCID: PMC7497351 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-020-02885-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The versatility of reactions catalyzed by pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) enzymes is largely due to the chemistry of their extraordinary catalyst. PLP is necessary for many reactions involving amino acids. Reaction specificity is controlled by the orientation of the external aldimine intermediate that is formed upon addition of the amino acidic substrate to the coenzyme. The breakage of a specific bond of the external aldimine gives rise to a carbanionic intermediate. From this point, the different reaction pathways diverge leading to multiple activities: transamination, decarboxylation, racemization, elimination, and synthesis. A significant novelty appeared approximately 30 years ago when it was reported that some PLP-dependent decarboxylases are able to consume molecular oxygen transforming an amino acid into a carbonyl compound. These side paracatalytic reactions could be particularly relevant for human health, also considering that some of these enzymes are responsible for the synthesis of important neurotransmitters such as γ-aminobutyric acid, dopamine, and serotonin, whose dysregulation under oxidative conditions could have important implications in neurodegenerative states. However, the reactivity of PLP enzymes with dioxygen is not confined to mammals/animals. In fact, some plant PLP decarboxylases have been reported to catalyze oxidative reactions producing carbonyl compounds. Moreover, other recent reports revealed the existence of new oxidase activities catalyzed by new PLP enzymes, MppP, RohP, Ind4, CcbF, PvdN, Cap15, and CuaB. These PLP enzymes belong to the bacterial and fungal kingdoms and are present in organisms synthesizing bioactive compounds. These new PLP activities are not paracatalytic and could only scratch the surface on a wider and unexpected catalytic capability of PLP enzymes.
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12
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Structural basis for divergent and convergent evolution of catalytic machineries in plant aromatic amino acid decarboxylase proteins. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:10806-10817. [PMID: 32371491 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1920097117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Radiation of the plant pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP)-dependent aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AAAD) family has yielded an array of paralogous enzymes exhibiting divergent substrate preferences and catalytic mechanisms. Plant AAADs catalyze either the decarboxylation or decarboxylation-dependent oxidative deamination of aromatic l-amino acids to produce aromatic monoamines or aromatic acetaldehydes, respectively. These compounds serve as key precursors for the biosynthesis of several important classes of plant natural products, including indole alkaloids, benzylisoquinoline alkaloids, hydroxycinnamic acid amides, phenylacetaldehyde-derived floral volatiles, and tyrosol derivatives. Here, we present the crystal structures of four functionally distinct plant AAAD paralogs. Through structural and functional analyses, we identify variable structural features of the substrate-binding pocket that underlie the divergent evolution of substrate selectivity toward indole, phenyl, or hydroxyphenyl amino acids in plant AAADs. Moreover, we describe two mechanistic classes of independently arising mutations in AAAD paralogs leading to the convergent evolution of the derived aldehyde synthase activity. Applying knowledge learned from this study, we successfully engineered a shortened benzylisoquinoline alkaloid pathway to produce (S)-norcoclaurine in yeast. This work highlights the pliability of the AAAD fold that allows change of substrate selectivity and access to alternative catalytic mechanisms with only a few mutations.
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13
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Hoffarth ER, Rothchild KW, Ryan KS. Emergence of oxygen- and pyridoxal phosphate-dependent reactions. FEBS J 2020; 287:1403-1428. [PMID: 32142210 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Revised: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) is an organic cofactor employed by ~ 4% of enzymes. The structure of the PLP cofactor allows for the stabilization of carbanions through resonance. A small number of PLP-dependent enzymes employ molecular oxygen as a cosubstrate. Here, we review the biological roles and possible mechanisms of these enzymes, and we observe that these enzymes are found in multiple protein families, suggesting that reaction with oxygen might have emerged de novo in several protein families and thus could be directed to emerge again through laboratory evolution experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elesha R Hoffarth
- Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | - Katherine S Ryan
- Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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14
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Torrens-Spence MP, Liu CT, Weng JK. Engineering New Branches of the Kynurenine Pathway To Produce Oxo-(2-aminophenyl) and Quinoline Scaffolds in Yeast. ACS Synth Biol 2019; 8:2735-2745. [PMID: 31714755 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.9b00368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The kynurenine pathway, named after its nonproteinogenic amino acid precursor l-kynurenine, is responsible for the de novo biosynthesis of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) in eukaryotes. Oxo-(2-aminophenyl) and quinoline molecules downstream from l-kynurenine also serve as antagonists of several receptors of the central nervous system in mammals. In this study, we engineered new biosynthetic routes in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to produce a suite of l-kynurenine-derived natural products. Overexpression of Homo sapiens l-tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (HsTDO2) in S. cerevisiae led to a marked increase in the production of l-kynurenine and downstream metabolites. Using this background, new branch points to the kynurenine pathway were added through the incorporation of a Psilocybe cubensis noncanonical L-aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (PcncAAAD) capable of catalyzing both decarboxylation and decarboxylation-dependent oxidative-deamination reactions of l-kynurenine and 3-hydroxy-l-kynurenine to yield their corresponding monoamines, aldehydes, and downstream nonenzymatically cyclized quinolines. The PcncAAAD-catalyzed decarboxylation products, kynuramine and 3-hydroxykynuramine, could further be converted to quinoline scaffolds through the addition of H. sapiens monoamine oxidase A (HsMAO-A). Finally, by incorporating upstream regiospecific l-tryptophan halogenases into the engineering scheme, we produced a number of halogenated oxo-(2-aminophenyl) and quinoline compounds. This work illustrates a synthetic biology approach to expand primary metabolic pathways in the production of novel natural-product-like scaffolds amenable for downstream functionalization.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chun-Ting Liu
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, 455 Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Jing-Ke Weng
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, 455 Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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Chen J, Lu HR, Zhang L, Liao CH, Han Q. RNA interference-mediated knockdown of 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde synthase affects larval development and adult survival in the mosquito Aedes aegypti. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:311. [PMID: 31234914 PMCID: PMC6591897 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3568-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2019] [Accepted: 06/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The cuticle is an indispensable structure that protects the mosquito against adverse environmental conditions and prevents pathogen entry. While most cuticles are hard and rigid, some parts of cuticle are soft and flexible to allow movement and blood-feeding. It has been reported that 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde (DOPAL) synthase is associated with flexible cuticle formation in Aedes aegypti. However, the molecular function of DOPAL synthase in the ontogenesis of mosquito remains largely unknown. In this study, we characterized gene expression profiles of DOPAL synthase and investigated its functions in larvae and female adults of Aedes agypti by RNAi. RESULTS Our results suggest that the expression of DOPAL synthase is different during development and the transcriptional level reached its peak at the female white pupal stage, and DOPAL synthase was more highly expressed in the cuticle and midgut than other tissues in the adult. The development process from larva to pupa was slowed down strikingly by feeding the first-instar larvae with chitosan/DOPAL synthase dsRNA nanoparticles. A qRT-PCR analysis confirmed that the dsRNA-mediated transcription of the DOPAL synthase was reduced > 50% in fourth-instar larvae. Meanwhile, larval molt was abnormal during development. Transmission electron microscopy results indicated that the formation of endocuticle and exocuticle was blocked. In addition, we detected that the dsDOPAL synthase RNA caused significant mortality when injected into the female adult mosquitoes. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate that DOPAL synthase plays a critical role in mosquito larval development and adult survival and suggest that DOPAL synthase could be a good candidate gene in RNAi intervention strategies in mosquito control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Chen
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, Hainan, China.,Laboratory of Tropical Veterinary Medicine and Vector Biology, School of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, Hainan, China
| | - Hao-Ran Lu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, Hainan, China.,Laboratory of Tropical Veterinary Medicine and Vector Biology, School of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, Hainan, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, Hainan, China.,Laboratory of Tropical Veterinary Medicine and Vector Biology, School of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, Hainan, China
| | - Cheng-Hong Liao
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, Hainan, China. .,Laboratory of Tropical Veterinary Medicine and Vector Biology, School of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, Hainan, China.
| | - Qian Han
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, Hainan, China. .,Laboratory of Tropical Veterinary Medicine and Vector Biology, School of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, Hainan, China.
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16
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Mechanism-based tuning of insect 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde synthase for synthetic bioproduction of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids. Nat Commun 2019; 10:2015. [PMID: 31043610 PMCID: PMC6494836 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09610-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have utilized monoamine oxidase (MAO) and L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine decarboxylase (DDC) for microbe-based production of tetrahydropapaveroline (THP), a benzylisoquinoline alkaloid (BIA) precursor to opioid analgesics. In the current study, a phylogenetically distinct Bombyx mori 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde synthase (DHPAAS) is identified to bypass MAO and DDC for direct production of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde (DHPAA) from L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA). Structure-based enzyme engineering of DHPAAS results in bifunctional switching between aldehyde synthase and decarboxylase activities. Output of dopamine and DHPAA products is fine-tuned by engineered DHPAAS variants with Phe79Tyr, Tyr80Phe and Asn192His catalytic substitutions. Balance of dopamine and DHPAA products enables improved THP biosynthesis via a symmetrical pathway in Escherichia coli. Rationally engineered insect DHPAAS produces (R,S)-THP in a single enzyme system directly from L-DOPA both in vitro and in vivo, at higher yields than that of the wild-type enzyme. However, DHPAAS-mediated downstream BIA production requires further improvement. Bioproduction of tetrahydropapaveroline (THP) is limited by the specificity of monoamine oxidase (MAO). Here, the authors identify an insect 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde synthase (DHPAAS) that can bypass MAO for direct aldehyde production and demonstrate bifunctional switching of DHPAAS for efficient THP production.
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17
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Liang J, Han Q, Tan Y, Ding H, Li J. Current Advances on Structure-Function Relationships of Pyridoxal 5'-Phosphate-Dependent Enzymes. Front Mol Biosci 2019; 6:4. [PMID: 30891451 PMCID: PMC6411801 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2019.00004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP) functions as a coenzyme in many enzymatic processes, including decarboxylation, deamination, transamination, racemization, and others. Enzymes, requiring PLP, are commonly termed PLP-dependent enzymes, and they are widely involved in crucial cellular metabolic pathways in most of (if not all) living organisms. The chemical mechanisms for PLP-mediated reactions have been well elaborated and accepted with an emphasis on the pure chemical steps, but how the chemical steps are processed by enzymes, especially by functions of active site residues, are not fully elucidated. Furthermore, the specific mechanism of an enzyme in relation to the one for a similar class of enzymes seems scarcely described or discussed. This discussion aims to link the specific mechanism described for the individual enzyme to the same types of enzymes from different species with aminotransferases, decarboxylases, racemase, aldolase, cystathionine β-synthase, aromatic phenylacetaldehyde synthase, et al. as models. The structural factors that contribute to the reaction mechanisms, particularly active site residues critical for dictating the reaction specificity, are summarized in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Liang
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Qian Han
- Laboratory of Tropical Veterinary Medicine and Vector Biology, Hainan Key Laboratory of Sustainable Utilization of Tropical Bioresources, Institute of Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Yang Tan
- Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Haizhen Ding
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Jianyong Li
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
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18
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Liao C, Upadhyay A, Liang J, Han Q, Li J. 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde synthase and cuticle formation in insects. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2018; 83:44-50. [PMID: 29155013 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2017.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Revised: 10/28/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Cuticle is the most important structure that protects mosquitoes and other insect species from adverse environmental conditions and infections of microorganism. The physiology and biochemistry of insect cuticle formation have been studied for many years and our understanding of cuticle formation and hardening has increased considerably. This is especially true for flexible cuticle. The recent discovery of a novel enzyme that catalyzes the production of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde (DOPAL) in insects provides intriguing insights concerning the flexible cuticle formation in insects. For convenience, the enzyme that catalyzes the production DOPAL from l-dopa is named DOPAL synthase. In this mini-review, we summarize the biochemical pathways of cuticle formation and hardening in general and discuss DOPAL synthase-mediated protein crosslinking in insect flexible cuticle in particular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenghong Liao
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan 570228, China; Laboratory of Tropical Veterinary Medicine and Vector Biology, Hainan Key Laboratory of Sustainable Utilization of Tropical Bioresources, Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan 570228, China
| | - Archana Upadhyay
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan 570228, China; Laboratory of Tropical Veterinary Medicine and Vector Biology, Hainan Key Laboratory of Sustainable Utilization of Tropical Bioresources, Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan 570228, China
| | - Jing Liang
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Qian Han
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan 570228, China; Laboratory of Tropical Veterinary Medicine and Vector Biology, Hainan Key Laboratory of Sustainable Utilization of Tropical Bioresources, Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan 570228, China.
| | - Jianyong Li
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
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