1
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Li J, Duan R, Liu A. Cobalt(II)-Substituted Cysteamine Dioxygenase Oxygenation Proceeds through a Cobalt(III)-Superoxo Complex. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:18292-18297. [PMID: 38941563 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c01871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
We investigated the metal-substituted catalytic activity of human cysteamine dioxygenase (ADO), an enzyme pivotal in regulating thiol metabolism and contributing to oxygen homeostasis. Our findings demonstrate the catalytic competence of cobalt(II)- and nickel(II)-substituted ADO in cysteamine oxygenation. Notably, Co(II)-ADO exhibited superiority over Ni(II)-ADO despite remaining significantly less active than the natural enzyme. Structural analyses through X-ray crystallography and cobalt K-edge excitation confirmed successful metal substitution with minimal structural perturbations. This provided a robust structural basis, supporting a conserved catalytic mechanism tailored to distinct metal centers. This finding challenges the proposed high-valent ferryl-based mechanism for thiol dioxygenases, suggesting a non-high-valent catalytic pathway in the native enzyme. Further investigation of the cysteamine-bound or a peptide mimic of N-terminus RGS5 bound Co(II)-ADO binary complex revealed the metal center's high-spin (S = 3/2) state. Upon reaction with O2, a kinetically and spectroscopically detectable intermediate emerged with a ground spin state of S = 1/2. This intermediate exhibits a characteristic 59Co hyperfine splitting (A = 67 MHz) structure in the EPR spectrum alongside UV-vis features, consistent with known low-spin Co(III)-superoxo complexes. This observation, unique for protein-bound thiolate-ligated cobalt centers in a protein, unveils the capacities for O2 activation in such metal environments. These findings provide valuable insights into the non-heme iron-dependent thiol dioxygenase mechanistic landscape, furthering our understanding of thiol metabolism regulation. The exploration of metal-substituted ADO sheds light on the intricate interplay between metal and catalytic activity in this essential enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiasong Li
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78249, United States
| | - Ran Duan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78249, United States
| | - Aimin Liu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78249, United States
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2
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Miller JR, Schnorrenberg EC, Aschenbrener C, Fox BG, Brunold TC. Kinetic and Spectroscopic Investigation of the Y157F and C93G/Y157F Variants of Cysteine Dioxygenase: Dissecting the Roles of the Second-Sphere Residues C93 and Y157. Biochemistry 2024; 63:1684-1696. [PMID: 38885352 PMCID: PMC11219262 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.4c00177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
In mammals, l-cysteine (Cys) homeostasis is maintained by the mononuclear nonheme iron enzyme cysteine dioxygenase (CDO), which oxidizes Cys to cysteine sulfinic acid. CDO contains a rare post-translational modification, involving the formation of a thioether cross-link between a Cys residue at position 93 (Mus musculus CDO numbering) and a nearby tyrosine at position 157 (Cys-Tyr cross-link). As-isolated CDO contains both the cross-linked and non-cross-linked isoforms, and formation of the Cys-Tyr cross-link during repeated enzyme turnover increases CDO's catalytic efficiency by ∼10-fold. Interestingly, while the C93G CDO variant lacks the Cys-Tyr cross-link, it is similarly active as cross-linked wild-type (WT) CDO. Alternatively, the Y157F CDO variant, which also lacks the cross-link but maintains the free thiolate at position 93, exhibits a drastically reduced catalytic efficiency. These observations suggest that the untethered thiolate moiety of C93 is detrimental to CDO activity and/or that Y157 is essential for catalysis. To further assess the roles of residues C93 and Y157, we performed a spectroscopic and kinetic characterization of Y157F CDO and the newly designed C93G/Y157F CDO variant. Our results provide evidence that the non-cross-linked C93 thiolate stabilizes a water at the sixth coordination site of Cys-bound Y157F Fe(II)CDO. A water is also present, though more weakly coordinated, in Cys-bound C93G/Y157F Fe(II)CDO. The presence of a water molecule, which must be displaced by cosubstrate O2, likely makes a significant contribution to the ∼15-fold and ∼7-fold reduced catalytic efficiencies of the Y157F and C93G/Y157F CDO variants, respectively, relative to cross-linked WT CDO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua R. Miller
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | | | - Cole Aschenbrener
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Brian G. Fox
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Thomas C. Brunold
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
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3
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Heathcote KC, Keeley TP, Myllykoski M, Lundekvam M, McTiernan N, Akter S, Masson N, Ratcliffe PJ, Arnesen T, Flashman E. N-terminal cysteine acetylation and oxidation patterns may define protein stability. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5360. [PMID: 38918375 PMCID: PMC11199558 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49489-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Oxygen homeostasis is maintained in plants and animals by O2-sensing enzymes initiating adaptive responses to low O2 (hypoxia). Recently, the O2-sensitive enzyme ADO was shown to initiate degradation of target proteins RGS4/5 and IL32 via the Cysteine/Arginine N-degron pathway. ADO functions by catalysing oxidation of N-terminal cysteine residues, but despite multiple proteins in the human proteome having an N-terminal cysteine, other endogenous ADO substrates have not yet been identified. This could be because alternative modifications of N-terminal cysteine residues, including acetylation, prevent ADO-catalysed oxidation. Here we investigate the relationship between ADO-catalysed oxidation and NatA-catalysed acetylation of a broad range of protein sequences with N-terminal cysteines. We present evidence that human NatA catalyses N-terminal cysteine acetylation in vitro and in vivo. We then show that sequences downstream of the N-terminal cysteine dictate whether this residue is oxidised or acetylated, with ADO preferring basic and aromatic amino acids and NatA preferring acidic or polar residues. In vitro, the two modifications appear to be mutually exclusive, suggesting that distinct pools of N-terminal cysteine proteins may be acetylated or oxidised. These results reveal the sequence determinants that contribute to N-terminal cysteine protein modifications, with implications for O2-dependent protein stability and the hypoxic response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen C Heathcote
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, OX1 3TA, Oxford, UK
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, OX3 7FZ, Oxford, UK
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, NW1 1AT, London, UK
| | - Thomas P Keeley
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, OX3 7FZ, Oxford, UK
| | - Matti Myllykoski
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, 5020, Bergen, Norway
| | - Malin Lundekvam
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, 5020, Bergen, Norway
| | - Nina McTiernan
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, 5020, Bergen, Norway
| | - Salma Akter
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, OX1 3TA, Oxford, UK
| | - Norma Masson
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, OX3 7FZ, Oxford, UK
| | - Peter J Ratcliffe
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, OX3 7FZ, Oxford, UK.
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, NW1 1AT, London, UK.
| | - Thomas Arnesen
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, 5020, Bergen, Norway.
- Department of Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021, Bergen, Norway.
| | - Emily Flashman
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, OX1 3RB, Oxford, UK.
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4
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Perri M, Licausi F. Thiol dioxygenases: from structures to functions. Trends Biochem Sci 2024; 49:545-556. [PMID: 38622038 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2024.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Thiol oxidation to dioxygenated sulfinic acid is catalyzed by an enzyme family characterized by a cupin fold. These proteins act on free thiol-containing molecules to generate central metabolism precursors and signaling compounds in bacteria, fungi, and animal cells. In plants and animals, they also oxidize exposed N-cysteinyl residues, directing proteins to proteolysis. Enzyme kinetics, X-ray crystallography, and spectroscopy studies prompted the formulation and testing of hypotheses about the mechanism of action and the different substrate specificity of these enzymes. Concomitantly, the physiological role of thiol dioxygenation in prokaryotes and eukaryotes has been studied through genetic and physiological approaches. Further structural characterization is necessary to enable precise and safe manipulation of thiol dioxygenases (TDOs) for therapeutic, industrial, and agricultural applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Perri
- Plant Molecular Biology Section, Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Francesco Licausi
- Plant Molecular Biology Section, Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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5
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Pierce BS, Schmittou AN, York NJ, Madigan RP, Nino PF, Foss FW, Lockart MM. Improved resolution of 3-mercaptopropionate dioxygenase active site provided by ENDOR spectroscopy offers insight into catalytic mechanism. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:105777. [PMID: 38395308 PMCID: PMC10966181 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.105777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
3-mercaptopropionate (3MPA) dioxygenase (MDO) is a mononuclear nonheme iron enzyme that catalyzes the O2-dependent oxidation of thiol-bearing substrates to yield the corresponding sulfinic acid. MDO is a member of the cysteine dioxygenase family of small molecule thiol dioxygenases and thus shares a conserved sequence of active site residues (Serine-155, Histidine-157, and Tyrosine-159), collectively referred to as the SHY-motif. It has been demonstrated that these amino acids directly interact with the mononuclear Fe-site, influencing steady-state catalysis, catalytic efficiency, O2-binding, and substrate coordination. However, the underlying mechanism by which this is accomplished is poorly understood. Here, pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy [1H Mims electron nuclear double resonance spectroscopy] is applied to validate density functional theory computational models for the MDO Fe-site simultaneously coordinated by substrate and nitric oxide (NO), (3MPA/NO)-MDO. The enhanced resolution provided by electron nuclear double resonance spectroscopy allows for direct observation of Fe-bound substrate conformations and H-bond donation from Tyr159 to the Fe-bound NO ligand. Further inclusion of SHY-motif residues within the validated model reveals a distinct channel restricting movement of the Fe-bound NO-ligand. It has been argued that the iron-nitrosyl emulates the structure of potential Fe(III)-superoxide intermediates within the MDO catalytic cycle. While the merit of this assumption remains unconfirmed, the model reported here offers a framework to evaluate oxygen binding at the substrate-bound Fe-site and possible reaction mechanisms. It also underscores the significance of hydrogen bonding interactions within the enzymatic active site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brad S Pierce
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA.
| | - Allison N Schmittou
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Nicholas J York
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Ryan P Madigan
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, USA
| | - Paula F Nino
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, USA
| | - Frank W Foss
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, USA
| | - Molly M Lockart
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Samford University, Homewood, Alabama, USA.
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6
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Nalivaiko EY, Vasseur CM, Seebeck FP. Enzyme-Catalyzed Oxidative Degradation of Ergothioneine. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202318445. [PMID: 38095354 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202318445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Ergothioneine is a sulfur-containing metabolite that is produced by bacteria and fungi, and is absorbed by plants and animals as a micronutrient. Ergothioneine reacts with harmful oxidants, including singlet oxygen and hydrogen peroxide, and may therefore protect cells against oxidative stress. Herein we describe two enzymes from actinobacteria that cooperate in the specific oxidative degradation of ergothioneine. The first enzyme is an iron-dependent thiol dioxygenase that produces ergothioneine sulfinic acid. A crystal structure of ergothioneine dioxygenase from Thermocatellispora tengchongensis reveals many similarities with cysteine dioxygenases, suggesting that the two enzymes share a common mechanism. The second enzyme is a metal-dependent ergothioneine sulfinic acid desulfinase that produces Nα-trimethylhistidine and SO2 . The discovery that certain actinobacteria contain the enzymatic machinery for O2 -dependent biosynthesis and O2 -dependent degradation of ergothioneine indicates that these organisms may actively manage their ergothioneine content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Egor Y Nalivaiko
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 22, 4002, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Camille M Vasseur
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 22, 4002, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Florian P Seebeck
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 22, 4002, Basel, Switzerland
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7
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Lavilla-Puerta M, Latter R, Bellè F, Cervelli T, Galli A, Perata P, Chini A, Flashman E, Giuntoli B. Identification of novel plant cysteine oxidase inhibitors from a yeast chemical genetic screen. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105366. [PMID: 37863264 PMCID: PMC10692734 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypoxic responses in plants involve Plant Cysteine Oxidases (PCOs). They catalyze the N-terminal cysteine oxidation of Ethylene Response Factors VII (ERF-VII) in an oxygen-dependent manner, leading to their degradation via the cysteine N-degron pathway (Cys-NDP) in normoxia. In hypoxia, PCO activity drops, leading to the stabilization of ERF-VIIs and subsequent hypoxic gene upregulation. Thus far, no chemicals have been described to specifically inhibit PCO enzymes. In this work, we devised an in vivo pipeline to discover Cys-NDP effector molecules. Budding yeast expressing AtPCO4 and plant-based ERF-VII reporters was deployed to screen a library of natural-like chemical scaffolds and was further combined with an Arabidopsis Cys-NDP reporter line. This strategy allowed us to identify three PCO inhibitors, two of which were shown to affect PCO activity in vitro. Application of these molecules to Arabidopsis seedlings led to an increase in ERF-VII stability, induction of anaerobic gene expression, and improvement of tolerance to anoxia. By combining a high-throughput heterologous platform and the plant model Arabidopsis, our synthetic pipeline provides a versatile system to study how the Cys-NDP is modulated. Its first application here led to the discovery of at least two hypoxia-mimicking molecules with the potential to impact plant tolerance to low oxygen stress.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rebecca Latter
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | | | | | | | - Andrea Chini
- Department of Plant Molecular Genetics, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Beatrice Giuntoli
- Plantlab, Center of Plant Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy; Biology Department, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
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8
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York NJ, Lockart MM, Schmittou AN, Pierce BS. Cyanide replaces substrate in obligate-ordered addition of nitric oxide to the non-heme mononuclear iron AvMDO active site. J Biol Inorg Chem 2023; 28:285-299. [PMID: 36809458 PMCID: PMC10075186 DOI: 10.1007/s00775-023-01990-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
Thiol dioxygenases are a subset of non-heme mononuclear iron oxygenases that catalyze the O2-dependent oxidation of thiol-bearing substrates to yield sulfinic acid products. Cysteine dioxygenase (CDO) and 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3MPA) dioxygenase (MDO) are the most extensively characterized members of this enzyme family. As with many non-heme mononuclear iron oxidase/oxygenases, CDO and MDO exhibit an obligate-ordered addition of organic substrate before dioxygen. As this substrate-gated O2-reactivity extends to the oxygen-surrogate, nitric oxide (NO), EPR spectroscopy has long been used to interrogate the [substrate:NO:enzyme] ternary complex. In principle, these studies can be extrapolated to provide information about transient iron-oxo intermediates produced during catalytic turnover with dioxygen. In this work, we demonstrate that cyanide mimics the native thiol-substrate in ordered-addition experiments with MDO cloned from Azotobacter vinelandii (AvMDO). Following treatment of the catalytically active Fe(II)-AvMDO with excess cyanide, addition of NO yields a low-spin (S = 1/2) (CN/NO)-Fe-complex. Continuous wave and pulsed X-band EPR characterization of this complex produced in wild-type and H157N variant AvMDO reveal multiple nuclear hyperfine features diagnostic of interactions within the first- and outer-coordination sphere of the enzymatic Fe-site. Spectroscopically validated computational models indicate simultaneous coordination of two cyanide ligands replaces the bidentate (thiol and carboxylate) coordination of 3MPA allowing for NO-binding at the catalytically relevant O2-binding site. This promiscuous substrate-gated reactivity of AvMDO with NO provides an instructive counterpoint to the high substrate-specificity exhibited by mammalian CDO for L-cysteine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J York
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alabama, 250 Hackberry Lane, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USA
| | - Molly M Lockart
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Drive, Homewood, AL, 35229, USA
| | - Allison N Schmittou
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alabama, 250 Hackberry Lane, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USA
| | - Brad S Pierce
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alabama, 250 Hackberry Lane, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USA.
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9
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Miller JR, Brunold TC. Spectroscopic analysis of the mammalian enzyme cysteine dioxygenase. Methods Enzymol 2023; 682:101-135. [PMID: 36948699 PMCID: PMC11230041 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2023.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
l-Cysteine (Cys) is an essential building block for the synthesis of new proteins and serves as a precursor for several biologically important sulfur-containing molecules, such as coenzyme A, taurine, glutathione, and inorganic sulfate. However, organisms must tightly regulate the concentration of free Cys, as elevated levels of this semi-essential amino acid can be extremely harmful. The non-heme iron enzyme cysteine dioxygenase (CDO) serves to maintain the proper levels of Cys by catalyzing its oxidation to cysteine sulfinic acid. Crystal structures of resting and substrate-bound mammalian CDO revealed two surprising structural motifs in the first and second coordination spheres of the Fe center. The first is the existence of a neutral three histidine (3-His) facial triad that coordinates the Fe ion, as opposed to an anionic 2-His-1-carboxylate facial triad that is typically observed in mononuclear non-heme Fe(II) dioxygenases. The second unusual structural feature exhibited by mammalian CDO is the presence of a covalent crosslink between the sulfur of a Cys residue and an ortho-carbon of a tyrosine residue. Spectroscopic studies of CDO have provided invaluable insights into the roles that these unusual features play with regards to substrate Cys and co-substrate O2 binding and activation. In this chapter, we summarize results obtained from electronic absorption, electron paramagnetic resonance, magnetic circular dichroism, resonance Raman, and Mössbauer spectroscopic studies of mammalian CDO carried out in the last two decades. Pertinent results obtained from complementary computational studies are also briefly summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua R Miller
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Thomas C Brunold
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States.
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10
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Fernandez RL, Juntunen ND, Brunold TC. Differences in the Second Coordination Sphere Tailor the Substrate Specificity and Reactivity of Thiol Dioxygenases. Acc Chem Res 2022; 55:2480-2490. [PMID: 35994511 PMCID: PMC9583696 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.2c00359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, considerable progress has been made toward elucidating the geometric and electronic structures of thiol dioxygenases (TDOs). TDOs catalyze the conversion of substrates with a sulfhydryl group to their sulfinic acid derivatives via the addition of both oxygen atoms from molecular oxygen. All TDOs discovered to date belong to the family of cupin-type mononuclear nonheme Fe(II)-dependent metalloenzymes. While most members of this enzyme family bind the Fe cofactor by two histidines and one carboxylate side chain (2-His-1-carboxylate) to provide a monoanionic binding motif, TDOs feature a neutral three histidine (3-His) facial triad. In this Account, we present a bioinformatics analysis and multiple sequence alignment that highlight the significance of the secondary coordination sphere in tailoring the substrate specificity and reactivity among the different TDOs. These insights provide the framework within which important structural and functional features of the distinct TDOs are discussed.The best studied TDO is cysteine dioxygenase (CDO), which catalyzes the conversion of cysteine to cysteine sulfinic acid in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Crystal structures of resting and substrate-bound mammalian CDOs revealed two surprising structural motifs in the first- and second coordination spheres of the Fe center. The first is the presence of the abovementioned neutral 3-His facial triad that coordinates the Fe ion. The second is the existence of a covalent cross-link between the sulfur of Cys93 and an ortho carbon of Tyr157 (mouse CDO numbering scheme). While the exact role of this cross-link remains incompletely understood, various studies established that it is needed for proper substrate Cys positioning and gating solvent access to the active site. Intriguingly, bacterial CDOs lack the Cys-Tyr cross-link; yet, they are as active as cross-linked eukaryotic CDOs.The other known mammalian TDO is cysteamine dioxygenase (ADO). Initially, it was believed that ADO solely catalyzes the oxidation of cysteamine to hypotaurine. However, it has recently been shown that ADO additionally oxidizes N-terminal cysteine (Nt-Cys) peptides, which indicates that ADO may play a much more significant role in mammalian physiology than was originally anticipated. Though predicted on the basis of sequence alignment, site-directed mutagenesis, and spectroscopic studies, it was not until last year that two crystal structures, one of wild-type mouse ADO (solved by us) and the other of a variant of nickel-substituted human ADO, finally provided direct evidence that this enzyme also features a 3-His facial triad. These structures additionally revealed several features that are unique to ADO, including a putative cosubstrate O2 access tunnel that is lined by two Cys residues. Disulfide formation under conditions of high O2 levels may serve as a gating mechanism to prevent ADO from depleting organisms of Nt-Cys-containing molecules.The combination of kinetic and spectroscopic studies in conjunction with structural characterizations of TDOs has furthered our understanding of enzymatic sulfhydryl substrate regulation. In this article, we take advantage of the fact that the ADO X-ray crystal structures provided the final piece needed to compare and contrast key features of TDOs, an essential family of metalloenzymes found across all kingdoms of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeca L. Fernandez
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Nicholas D. Juntunen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Thomas C. Brunold
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
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11
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Taylor-Kearney LJ, Madden S, Wilson J, Myers WK, Gunawardana DM, Pires E, Holdship P, Tumber A, Rickaby REM, Flashman E. Plant Cysteine Oxidase Oxygen-Sensing Function Is Conserved in Early Land Plants and Algae. ACS BIO & MED CHEM AU 2022; 2:521-528. [PMID: 36281301 PMCID: PMC9585510 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomedchemau.2c00032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
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All aerobic organisms require O2 for survival.
When
their O2 is limited (hypoxia), a response is required to
reduce demand and/or improve supply. A hypoxic response mechanism
has been identified in flowering plants: the stability of certain
proteins with N-terminal cysteine residues is regulated in an O2-dependent manner by the Cys/Arg branch of the N-degron pathway.
These include the Group VII ethylene response factors (ERF-VIIs),
which can initiate adaptive responses to hypoxia. Oxidation of their
N-terminal cysteine residues is catalyzed by plant cysteine oxidases
(PCOs), destabilizing these proteins in normoxia; PCO inactivity in
hypoxia results in their stabilization. Biochemically, the PCOs are
sensitive to O2 availability and can therefore act as plant
O2 sensors. It is not known whether oxygen-sensing mechanisms
exist in other phyla from the plant kingdom. Known PCO targets are
only conserved in flowering plants, however PCO-like sequences appear
to be conserved in all plant species. We sought to determine whether
PCO-like enzymes from the liverwort, Marchantia polymorpha (MpPCO), and the freshwater algae, Klebsormidium nitens (KnPCO), have a similar function as PCO enzymes from Arabidopsis
thaliana. We report that MpPCO and KnPCO show O2-sensitive N-terminal cysteine dioxygenase activity toward known
AtPCO ERF-VII substrates as well as a putative endogenous substrate,
MpERF-like, which was identified by homology to the Arabidopsis ERF-VIIs transcription factors. This work confirms functional and
O2-dependent PCOs from Bryophyta and Charophyta, indicating
the potential for PCO-mediated O2-sensing pathways in these
organisms and suggesting PCO O2-sensing function could
be important throughout the plant kingdom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah J. Taylor-Kearney
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel Madden
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Jack Wilson
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - William K. Myers
- Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QR, United Kingdom
| | - Dona M. Gunawardana
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Elisabete Pires
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Philip Holdship
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3AN, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony Tumber
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Rosalind E. M. Rickaby
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3AN, United Kingdom
| | - Emily Flashman
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
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Abstract
Here, the choice of the first coordination shell of the metal center is analyzed from the perspective of charge maintenance in a binary enzyme-substrate complex and an O2-bound ternary complex in the nonheme iron oxygenases. Comparing homogentisate 1,2-dioxygenase and gentisate dioxygenase highlights the significance of charge maintenance after substrate binding as an important factor that drives the reaction coordinate. We then extend the charge analysis to several common types of nonheme iron oxygenases containing either a 2-His-1-carboxylate facial triad or a 3-His or 4-His ligand motif, including extradiol and intradiol ring-cleavage dioxygenases, thiol dioxygenases, α-ketoglutarate-dependent oxygenases, and carotenoid cleavage oxygenases. After forming the productive enzyme-substrate complex, the overall charge of the iron complex at the 0, +1, or +2 state is maintained in the remaining catalytic steps. Hence, maintaining a constant charge is crucial to promote the reaction of the iron center beginning from the formation of the Michaelis or ternary complex. The charge compensation to the iron ion is tuned not only by protein-derived carboxylate ligands but also by substrates. Overall, these analyses indicate that charge maintenance at the iron center is significant when all the necessary components form a productive complex. This charge maintenance concept may apply to most oxygen-activating metalloenzymes systems that do not draw electrons and protons step-by-step from a separate reactant, such as NADH, via a reductase. The charge maintenance perception may also be useful in proposing catalytic pathways or designing prototypical reactions using artificial or engineered enzymes for biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ephrahime S. Traore
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78249, United States
| | - Aimin Liu
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78249, United States
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