A polyprotein precursor of two mitochondrial enzymes in Neurospora crassa. Gene structure and precursor processing

Microarray Analysis of the Genomic Effect of Eugenol on Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus is a highly adaptive human pathogen responsible for serious hospital- and community-acquired infectious diseases, ranging from skin and soft tissue infections, to complicated and life-threatening conditions such as endocarditis and toxic shock syndrome (TSS). The rapid development of resistance of this organism to available antibiotics over the last few decades has necessitated a constant search for more efficacious antibacterial agents. Eugenol (4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol) belongs to the class of chemical compounds called phenylpropanoids. It is a pure-to-pale yellow, oily liquid substance, mostly extracted as an essential oil from natural products such as clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, basil, and bay leaf. Eugenol has previously been shown to have antimicrobial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). However, the mechanism of action of eugenol against MRSA has not, as yet, been elucidated; hence, the necessity of this study. Global gene expression patterns in response to challenge from subinhibitory concentrations of eugenol were analysed using the Agilent DNA microarray system to identify genes that can be used as drug targets—most importantly, essential genes involved in unique metabolic pathways elicited for bacterial survival. Transcriptomic analysis of fluctuating genes revealed those involved in amino acid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, translational, and ribosomal pathways. In amino acid metabolism, for instance, the argC gene encodes for N-acetyl-gamma-glutamyl-phosphate reductase. The argC gene plays an important role in the biosynthesis of arginine from glutamate in the amino acid metabolic pathway. It is the enzyme that catalyses the third step in the latter reaction, and without this process the production of N-acetylglutamate 5-semialdehyde cannot be completed from the NADP-dependent reduction of N-acetyl-5-glutamyl phosphate, which is essential for the survival of some microorganisms and plants. This study enables us to examine complete global transcriptomic responses in MRSA when challenged with eugenol. It reveals novel information with the potential to further benefit the exploratory quest for novel targets against this pathogen, with a view to the development of efficacious antimicrobial agents for the treatment of associated infections.

More than just a ticket canceller: the mitochondrial processing peptidase tailors complex precursor proteins at internal cleavage sites

Most mitochondrial proteins are synthesized as precursors that carry N-terminal presequences. After they are imported into mitochondria, these targeting signals are cleaved off by the mitochondrial processing peptidase (MPP). Using the mitochondrial tandem protein Arg5,6 as a model substrate, we demonstrate that MPP has an additional role in preprotein maturation, beyond the removal of presequences. Arg5,6 is synthesized as a polyprotein precursor that is imported into mitochondria and subsequently separated into two distinct enzymes. This internal processing is performed by MPP, which cleaves the Arg5,6 precursor at its N-terminus and at an internal site. The peculiar organization of Arg5,6 is conserved across fungi and reflects the polycistronic arginine operon in prokaryotes. MPP cleavage sites are also present in other mitochondrial fusion proteins from fungi, plants, and animals. Hence, besides its role as a "ticket canceller" for removal of presequences, MPP exhibits a second conserved activity as an internal processing peptidase for complex mitochondrial precursor proteins.

Schizosaccharomyces pombe cardiolipin synthase is part of a mitochondrial fusion protein regulated by intron retention

Cardiolipin (CL) is a unique lipid component of mitochondria in all eukaryotes. It is important for the architecture of mitochondrial membranes and for mitochondrial dynamics. CL also creates a highly specific microenvironment of mitochondrial protein machineries. CL biosynthetic pathway is, however, only partially characterized in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Here we show that CL synthase is an essential protein in S. pombe. It is encoded by the ORF SPAC22A12.08c as a C terminal part of a tandem fusion protein together with a mitochondrial hydrolase of unknown function. Expression of S. pombe CL synthase is able to complement deletion of the CRD1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and, vice versa, S. cerevisiae CRD1 gene complements deletion of S. pombe SPAC22A12.08c. The proper expression of CL synthase and its partner in the tandem protein, the mitochondrial hydrolase, is regulated at the level of alternate intron splicing. The first part of the SPAC22A12.08c fusion protein could be translated from both major SPAC22A12.08c derived mRNAs, with and without intron IV. Functional CL synthase, however, is produced only from the minor SPAC22A12.08c derived mRNA that has intron IV retained. Thus, intron retention is a novel mechanism for the differential expression of two proteins that evolved as a fusion protein and are under the control of the same promoter.

Proteomic profiling of the mitochondrial ribosome identifies Atp25 as a composite mitochondrial precursor protein

Whereas the structure and function of cytosolic ribosomes are well characterized, we only have a limited understanding of the mitochondrial translation apparatus. Using SILAC-based proteomic profiling, we identified 13 proteins that cofractionated with the mitochondrial ribosome, most of which play a role in translation or ribosomal biogenesis. One of these proteins is a homologue of the bacterial ribosome-silencing factor (Rsf). This protein is generated from the composite precursor protein Atp25 upon internal cleavage by the matrix processing peptidase MPP, and in this respect, it differs from all other characterized mitochondrial proteins of baker's yeast. We observed that cytosolic expression of Rsf, but not of noncleaved Atp25 protein, is toxic. Our results suggest that eukaryotic cells face the challenge of avoiding negative interference from the biogenesis of their two distinct translation machineries.

N-acetylglutamate synthase: structure, function and defects

N-acetylglutamate (NAG) is a unique enzyme cofactor, essential for liver ureagenesis in mammals while it is the first committed substrate for de novo arginine biosynthesis in microorganisms and plants. The enzyme that produces NAG from glutamate and CoA, NAG synthase (NAGS), is allosterically inhibited by arginine in microorganisms and plants and activated in mammals. This transition of the allosteric effect occurred when tetrapods moved from sea to land. The first mammalian NAGS gene (from mouse) was cloned in 2002 and revealed significant differences from the NAGS ortholog in microorganisms. Almost all NAGS genes possess a C-terminus transferase domain in which the catalytic activity resides and an N-terminus kinase domain where arginine binds. The three-dimensional structure of NAGS shows two distinctly folded domains. The kinase domain binds arginine while the acetyltransferase domain contains the catalytic site. NAGS deficiency in humans leads to hyperammonemia and can be primary, due to mutations in the NAGS gene or secondary due to other mitochondrial aberrations that interfere with the normal function of the same enzyme. For either condition, N-carbamylglutamate (NCG), a stable functional analog of NAG, was found to either restore or improve the deficient urea-cycle function.

Isolation and characterization of a novel lysine racemase from a soil metagenomic library

A lysine racemase (lyr) gene was isolated from a soil metagenome by functional complementation for the first time by using Escherichia coli BCRC 51734 cells as the host and d-lysine as the selection agent. The lyr gene consisted of a 1,182-bp nucleotide sequence encoding a protein of 393 amino acids with a molecular mass of about 42.7 kDa. The enzyme exhibited higher specific activity toward lysine in the l-lysine-to-d-lysine direction than in the reverse reaction.

A novel bifunctional N-acetylglutamate synthase-kinase from Xanthomonas campestris that is closely related to mammalian N-acetylglutamate synthase

Background

In microorganisms and plants, the first two reactions of arginine biosynthesis are catalyzed by N-acetylglutamate synthase (NAGS) and N-acetylglutamate kinase (NAGK). In mammals, NAGS produces an essential activator of carbamylphosphate synthetase I, the first enzyme of the urea cycle, and no functional NAGK homolog has been found. Unlike the other urea cycle enzymes, whose bacterial counterparts could be readily identified by their sequence conservation with arginine biosynthetic enzymes, mammalian NAGS gene was very divergent, making it the last urea cycle gene to be discovered. Limited sequence similarity between E. coli NAGS and fungal NAGK suggests that bacterial and eukaryotic NAGS, and fungal NAGK arose from the fusion of genes encoding an ancestral NAGK (argB) and an acetyltransferase. However, mammalian NAGS no longer retains any NAGK catalytic activity.

Results

We identified a novel bifunctional N-acetylglutamate synthase and kinase (NAGS-K) in the Xanthomonadales order of gamma-proteobacteria that appears to resemble this postulated primordial fusion protein. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that xanthomonad NAGS-K is more closely related to mammalian NAGS than to other bacterial NAGS. We cloned the NAGS-K gene from Xanthomonas campestis, and characterized the recombinant NAGS-K protein. Mammalian NAGS and its bacterial homolog have similar affinities for substrates acetyl coenzyme A and glutamate as well as for their allosteric regulator arginine.

Conclusion

The close phylogenetic relationship and similar biochemical properties of xanthomonad NAGS-K and mammalian NAGS suggest that we have identified a close relative to the bacterial antecedent of mammalian NAGS and that the enzyme from X. campestris could become a good model for mammalian NAGS in structural, biochemical and biophysical studies.

Sequential processing of a mitochondrial tandem protein: insights into protein import in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

The sequencing of the genome of Schizosaccharomyces pombe revealed the presence of a number of genes encoding tandem proteins, some of which are mitochondrial components. One of these proteins (pre-Rsm22-Cox11) consists of a fusion of Rsm22, a component of the mitochondrial ribosome, and Cox11, a factor required for copper insertion into cytochrome oxidase. Since in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Cox11 is physically attached to the mitochondrial ribosome, it was suggested that the tandem organization of Rsm22-Cox11 is used to covalently tie the mitochondrial ribosome to Cox11 in S. pombe. We report here that pre-Rsm22-Cox11 is matured in two subsequent processing events. First, the mitochondrial presequence is removed. At a later stage of the import process, the Rsm22 and Cox11 domains are separated by cleavage of the mitochondrial processing peptidase at an internal processing site. In vivo data obtained using a tagged version of pre-Rsm22-Cox11 confirmed the proteolytic separation of Cox11 from the Rsm22 domain. Hence, the tandem organization of pre-Rsm22-Cox11 does not give rise to a persistent fusion protein but rather might be used to increase the import efficiency of Cox11 and/or to coordinate expression levels of Rsm22 and Cox11 in S. pombe.

Recognition and processing of a nuclear-encoded polyprotein precursor by mitochondrial processing peptidase

The nuclear-encoded protein RPS14 (ribosomal protein S14) of rice mitochondria is synthesized in the cytosol as a polyprotein consisting of a large N-terminal domain comprising preSDHB (succinate dehydrogenase B precursor) and the C-terminal RPS14. After the preSDHB-RPS14 polyprotein is transported into the mitochondrial matrix, the protein is processed into three peptides: the N-terminal prepeptide, the SDHB domain and the C-terminal mature RPS14. Here we report that the general MPP (mitochondrial processing peptidase) plays an essential role in processing of the polyprotein. Purified yeast MPP cleaved both the N-terminal presequence and the connector region between SDHB and RPS14. Moreover, the connector region was processed more rapidly than the presequence. When the site of cleavage between SDHB and RPS14 was determined, it was located in an MPP processing motif that has also been shown to be present in the N-terminal presequence. Mutational analyses around the cleavage site in the connector region suggested that MPP interacts with multiple sites in the region, possibly in a similar manner to the interaction with the N-terminal presequence. In addition, MPP preferentially recognized the unfolded structure of preSDHB-RPS14. In mitochondria, MPP may recognize the stretched polyprotein during passage of the precursor through the translocational apparatus in the inner membrane, and cleave the connecting region between the SDHB and RPS14 domains even before processing of the presequence.

The N-acetylglutamate synthase/N-acetylglutamate kinase metabolon of Saccharomyces cerevisiae allows co-ordinated feedback regulation of the first two steps in arginine biosynthesis

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which uses the nonlinear pathway of arginine biosynthesis, the first two enzymes, N-acetylglutamate synthase (NAGS) and N-acetylglutamate kinase (NAGK), are controlled by feedback inhibition. We have previously shown that NAGS and NAGK associate in a complex, essential to synthase activity and protein level [Abadjieva, A., Pauwels, K., Hilven, P. & Crabeel, M. (2001) J. Biol. Chem.276, 42869-42880]. The NAGKs of ascomycetes possess, in addition to the catalytic domain that is shared by all other NAGKs and whose structure has been determined, a C-terminal domain of unknown function and structure. Exploring the role of these two domains in the synthase/kinase interaction, we demonstrate that the ascomycete-specific domain is required to maintain synthase activity and protein level. Previous results had suggested a participation of the third enzyme of the pathway, N-acetylglutamylphosphate reductase, in the metabolon. Here, genetic analyses conducted in yeast at physiological level, or in a heterologous background, clearly demonstrate that the reductase is dispensable for synthase activity and protein level. Most importantly, we show that the arginine feedback regulation of the NAGS and NAGK enzymes is mutually interdependent. First, the kinase becomes less sensitive to arginine feedback inhibition in the absence of the synthase. Second, and as in Neurospora crassa, in a yeast kinase mutant resistant to arginine feedback inhibition, the synthase becomes feedback resistant concomitantly. We conclude that the NAGS/NAGK metabolon promotes the co-ordination of the catalytic activities and feedback regulation of the first two, flux controlling, enzymes of the arginine pathway.

The Oxa1 protein forms a homooligomeric complex and is an essential part of the mitochondrial export translocase in Neurospora crassa

The Oxa1 protein is a ubiquitous constituent of the inner membrane of mitochondria. Oxa1 was identified in yeast as a crucial component of the protein export machinery known as the OXA translocase, which facilitates the integration of proteins from the mitochondrial matrix into the inner membrane. We have identified the Neurospora crassa Oxa1 protein which shows a sequence identity of 22% to the yeast homologue. Despite the low level of identity, the function of the homologues is conserved as the N. crassa gene fully complemented a yeast null mutant. Genetic analysis revealed that Oxa1 is essential for viability in N. crassa. Cells propagated under conditions that severely reduce Oxa1 levels grew extremely slowly and were deficient in subunits of complex I and complex IV. Isolation of the Oxa1 complex from N. crassa mitochondria revealed a 170-180-kDa complex that contained exclusively Oxa1. Since the Oxa1 monomer has a molecular weight of 43,000, our data suggest that the OXA translocase consists of a homooligomer most likely containing four Oxa1 subunits.

A new yeast metabolon involving at least the two first enzymes of arginine biosynthesis: acetylglutamate synthase activity requires complex formation with acetylglutamate kinase

Open reading frame YJL071W of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was shown to be ARG2 and identified as the structural gene for acetylglutamate synthase, first step in arginine biosynthesis. The three Ascomycete acetylglutamate synthases characterized to date appear homologous, but unlike the other enzymes of the yeast arginine biosynthesis pathway, they showed no significant similarity to their prokaryotic equivalents. The measured synthase activity did not increase with the number of ARG2 gene copies unless the number of ARG5,6 gene copies was increased similarly. ARG5,6 encodes a precursor that is maturated in the mitochondria into acetylglutamate kinase and acetylglutamyl-phosphate reductase, catalyzing the second and third steps in the pathway. The results imply that the synthase must interact stoichiometrically in vivo with the kinase, the reductase, or both to be active. Results obtained with synthetic ARG5 and ARG6 genes suggested that both the kinase and the reductase could be needed. This situation, which has completely escaped notice in yeast until now, is reminiscent of the observation in Neurospora crassa that nonsense arg-6 kinase/reductase mutants lack synthase activity (Hinde, R. W., Jacobson, J. A., Weiss, R. L., and Davis, R. H. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 5848-5852). In immunoprecipitation experiments, hemagglutinin-tagged synthase coprecipitated with a protein proven by microsequencing to be the kinase. Western blot analyses showed that the synthase has reduced stability in the absence of the kinase/reductase. Our data demonstrate the existence of a new yeast arginine metabolon involving at least the first two, and possibly the first three, enzymes of the pathway. Hypotheses regarding the biological significance of this interaction are discussed.

Characterization of proteins in latex of the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and microsequencing

The opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) belongs to the group of latex-containing plants. Latex is the milky-like fluid within laticifer cells. In this study, poppy latex was analyzed with respect to ultrastructure, alkaloid, and protein content. The main goal of this project was the examination of the proteins by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. In a proteomics approach, we investigated two main fractions of the latex, namely the cytosolic serum and the sedimented fraction containing the alkaloid-accumulating vesicles. Of the serum, representing the protein-rich part of the latex, 75 spots were analyzed by internal peptide microsequencing, followed by a database searching. For 69 proteins a function could be assigned due to homology to known proteins, whereas six spots could not be identified. Furthermore, codeinone reductase, a representative of the specific enzyme system in morphine biosynthesis, could be detected within the cytosolic serum fraction. In the vesicle-containing pellet, 23 protein spots were analyzed. An attempt was also made to separate the vesicle pellet by density centrifugation, followed by investigation of the alkaloid content, ultrastructure, and protein pattern. This study describes the first database of soluble proteins present in the latex of P. somniferum

Processing and function of a polyprotein precursor of two mitochondrial proteins in neurospora crassa

In Neurospora crassa, the mitochondrial arginine biosynthetic enzymes, N-acetylglutamate kinase (AGK) and N-acetyl-gamma-glutamyl-phosphate reductase (AGPR), are generated by processing of a 96-kDa cytosolic polyprotein precursor (pAGK-AGPR). The proximal kinase and distal reductase domains are separated by a short connector region. Substitutions of arginines at positions -2 and -3 upstream of the N terminus of the AGPR domain or replacement of threonine at position +3 in the mature AGPR domain revealed a second processing site at position -20. Substitution of arginine at position -22, in combination with changes at -2 and -3, prevented cleavage of the precursor and identified two proteolytic cleavage sites, Arg-Gly downward arrow Tyr-Leu-Thr at the N terminus of the AGPR domain and Arg-Gly-Tyr downward arrow Ser-Thr located 20 residues upstream. Inhibitors of metal-dependent peptidases blocked proteolytic cleavage at both sites. Amino acid residues required for proteolytic cleavage in the connector were identified, and processing was abolished by mutations changing these residues. The unprocessed AGK-AGPR fusion had both catalytic activities, including feedback inhibition of AGK, and complemented AGK-AGPR- mutants. These results indicate that cleavage of pAGK-AGPR is not required for functioning of these enzymes in the mitochondria.

Characterization of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae ARG7 gene encoding ornithine acetyltransferase, an enzyme also endowed with acetylglutamate synthase activity

We have cloned by functional complementation and characterized the yeast ARG7 gene encoding mitochondrial ornithine acetyltransferase, the enzyme catalyzing the fifth step in arginine biosynthesis. While forming ornithine, this enzyme regenerates acetylglutamate, also produced in the first step by the ARG2-encoded acetylglutamate synthase. Interestingly, total deletion of the genomic ARG7 ORF resulted in an arginine-leaky phenotype, indicating that yeast cells possess an alternative route for generating ornithine from acetylornithine. Yeast ornithine acetyltransferase has been purified and characterized previously as a heterodimer of two subunits proposed to derive from a single precursor protein [Liu, Y-S., Van Heeswijck R., Hoj, P. & Hoogenraad, N. (1995) Eur. J. Biochem. 228, 291-296]; those authors further suggested that the internal processing of Arg7p, which is a mitochondrial enzyme, might occur in the matrix, while the leader peptide would be of the non-cleavable-type. The characterization of the gene (a) establishes that Arg7p is indeed encoded by a single gene, (b) demonstrates the existence of a cleaved mitochondrial prepeptide of eight residues, and (c) shows that the predicted internal processing site is unlike the mitochondrial proteolytic peptidase target sequence. Yeast Arg7p shares between 32-43% identity in pairwise comparisons with the ten analogous bacterial ArgJ enzymes characterized. Among these evolutionarily related enzymes, some but not all appear bifunctional, being able to produce acetylglutamate not only from acetylornithine but also from acetyl-CoA, thus catalyzing the same reaction as the apparently unrelated acetylglutamate synthase. We have addressed the question of the bifunctionality of the eucaryotic enzyme, showing that overexpressed ARG7 can complement yeast arg2 and Escherichia coli argA mutations (affecting acetylglutamate synthase). Furthermore, Arg7p-linked acetylglutamate synthase activity was measurable in an assay. The yeast enzyme is thus clearly, albeit modestly, bifunctional. As with several bacterial ornithine acetyltransferases, the activity of Arg7p was practically insensitive to arginine but strongly inhibited by ornithine, which behaved as a competitive inhibitor.

Genome analysis in Neurospora crassa; cloning of four loci arginine-1 (arg-1), methionine-6 (met-6), unknown-7 (un-7), and ribosome production-1 (rip-1) and associated chromosome walking

We have cloned four Neurospora crassa genes by complementation analysis. Cloned genes include the arginine-1 (arg-1), methionine-6 (met-6), unknown-7 (un-7), and ribosome production-1 (rip-1) loci. Chromosome walks were initiated in ordered cosmid libraries from the cloned loci. A total of about 700 kb of the Neurospora genome is covered in these walks.

Genes and enzymes of the acetyl cycle of arginine biosynthesis in Corynebacterium glutamicum: enzyme evolution in the early steps of the arginine pathway

A cluster of arginine biosynthetic genes of Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032, comprising argJ, argB and argD as well as part of argC and argF, has been cloned by heterologous complementation of an Escherichia coli argE mutant. The gene order has been established as argCJBDF by sequencing the entire 4.4 kb cloned DNA fragment. The C. glutamicum argB gene can be transcribed in E. coli cells from an internal promoter located in the coding part of the preceding argJ gene, whereas transcription of the argJ gene appears vector-dependent. Expression of the corynebacterial argB gene is repressed by arginine in the native host but not in recombinant E. coli cells. Feedback inhibition of the corresponding N-acetylglutamate kinase activity was observed both in cell extracts of C. glutamicum and in recombinant E. coli argB auxotrophic strains. Extracts of E. coli cells carrying cloned corynebacterial DNA display an ornithine acetyltransferase activity (encoded by argJ) which alleviates the acetylornithinase (encoded by argE) deficiency of the enterobacterial host. In contrast to Bacillus stearothermophilus ornithine acetyltransferase which also exhibits acetylglutamate synthase activity, C. glutamicum ornithine acetyltransferase appears monofunctional. ArgA and ArgB proteins from different sources share highly significant similarities. The evolutionary implications of these data are discussed.