Model Studies onp-Hydroxybenzoate Hydroxylase. The Catalytic Role of Arg-214 and Tyr-201 in the Hydroxylation Step

Hydroxylation and ring-opening mechanism of an unusual flavoprotein monooxygenase, 2-methyl-3-hydroxypyridine-5-carboxylic acid oxygenase: a theoretical study

Hybrid meta-GGA density functional theory (the MPWB1K functional) was used to study the hydroxylation and ring-opening mechanism of 2-methyl-3-hydroxypyridine-5-carboxylic acid oxygenase (MHPCO). This enzyme catalyses the conversion of 2-methyl-3-hydroxypyridine-5-carboxylic acid (MHPC) to alpha-(N-acetylaminomethylene)succinic acid (AAMS), which is the essential ring-opening step in the bacterial degradation of vitamin B(6). MHPCO belongs to the flavin-containing aromatic hydroxylases family. However, MHPCO is capable of catalysing a subsequent aromatic ring-cleavage reaction to give acyclic products rather than hydroxylated aromatic ones. Our calculations show that the re-aromatisation of the hydroxylated intermediate occurs spontaneously in aqueous solution; this implies that the ring-opening process occurs inside the enzyme's active site, in which limited water is available. The instability of the hydroxylated intermediate of MHPCO is the main reason why acyclic products are formed. Previously proposed mechanisms for the ring-opening step were studied, and were shown to be less likely to occur (DeltaDeltaG(not equal298)>35 kcal mol(-1)). Two new pathways with reasonable barrier heights (DeltaDeltaG(not equal 298)<15 kcal mol(-1)) are reported herein, which are in accordance with all experimental information present to date.

NMR solution structure of human cannabinoid receptor-1 helix 7/8 peptide: candidate electrostatic interactions and microdomain formation

We report the NMR solution structure of a synthetic 40-mer (T(377)-E(416)) that encompasses human cannabinoid receptor-1 (hCB1) transmembrane helix 7 (TMH7) and helix 8 (H8) [hCB1(TMH7/H8)] in 30% trifluoroethanol/H(2)O. Structural features include, from the peptide's amino terminus, a hydrophobic alpha-helix (TMH7); a loop-like, 11 residue segment featuring a pronounced Pro-kink within the conserved NPxxY motif; a short amphipathic alpha-helix (H8) orthogonal to TMH7 with cationic and hydrophobic amino-acid clusters; and an unstructured C-terminal end. The hCB1(TMH7/H8) NMR solution structure suggests multiple electrostatic amino-acid interactions, including an intrahelical H8 salt bridge and a hydrogen-bond network involving the peptide's loop-like region. Potential cation-pi and cation-phenolic OH interactions between Y(397) in the TMH7 NPxxY motif and R(405) in H8 are identified as candidate structural forces promoting interhelical microdomain formation. This microdomain may function as a flexible molecular hinge during ligand-induced hCB1 conformer transitions.

Crystal structure of 3-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase from Comamonas testosteroni has a large tunnel for substrate and oxygen access to the active site

The 3-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase (MHBH) from Comamonas testosteroni KH122-3s is a single-component flavoprotein monooxygenase, a member of the glutathione reductase (GR) family. It catalyzes the conversion of 3-hydroxybenzoate to 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate with concomitant requirements for equimolar amounts of NADPH and molecular oxygen. The production of dihydroxy-benzenoid derivative by hydroxylation is the first step in the aerobic degradation of various phenolic compounds in soil microorganisms. To establish the structural basis for substrate recognition, the crystal structure of MHBH in complex with its substrate was determined at 1.8 A resolution. The enzyme is shown to form a physiologically active homodimer with crystallographic 2-fold symmetry, in which each subunit consists of the first two domains comprising an active site and the C-terminal domain involved in oligomerization. The protein fold of the catalytic domains and the active-site architecture, including the FAD and substrate-binding sites, are similar to those of 4-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase (PHBH) and phenol hydroxylase (PHHY), which are members of the GR family, providing evidence that the flavoprotein aromatic hydroxylases share similar catalytic actions for hydroxylation of the respective substrates. Structural comparison of MHBH with the homologous enzymes suggested that a large tunnel connecting the substrate-binding pocket to the protein surface serves for substrate transport in this enzyme. The internal space of the large tunnel is distinctly divided into hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions. The characteristically stratified environment in the tunnel interior and the size of the entrance would allow the enzyme to select its substrate by amphiphilic nature and molecular size. In addition, the structure of the Xe-derivative at 2.5 A resolution led to the identification of a putative oxygen-binding site adjacent to the substrate-binding pocket. The hydrophobic nature of the xenon-binding site extends to the solvent through the tunnel, suggesting that the tunnel could be involved in oxygen transport.

In Situ FT-IR and UV−vis Spectroscopy of the Low-Temperature NO Disproportionation Mediated by Solid State Manganese(II) Porphyrinates

The heterogeneous reaction between NO gas and sublimed layers of manganese(II) porphyrinato complexes Mn(Por) (Por = TPP (tetraphenylporphyrinato dianion), TMP (tetramesitylporphyrinato dianion), or TPP(d20) (perdeuterated tetraphenylporphyrinato dianion)) has been monitored by IR and optical spectroscopy over the temperature range of 77 K to room temperature. These manganese porphyrins promote NO disproportionation to NO2 species and N2O, and the reaction proceeds via several distinct stages. At 90 K, the principal species observed spectrally are the nitric oxide dimer, cis-ONNO, two manganese nitrosyls, the simple NO adduct Mn(Por)(NO), and another intermediate (1) that is apparently critical to the disproportionation mechanism. This key intermediate is formed prior to N2O evolution, and proposals regarding its likely structure are offered. When the system is warmed to 130 K, the disproportionation products, N2O and the O-coordinated nitrito complex Mn(Por)(NO)(ONO) (2), are formed. IR spectral changes show that, upon further warming to 200 K, 2 isomerizes into the N-bonded nitro linkage isomer Mn(Por)(NO)(NO2) (3). After it is warmed to room temperature, the latter species loses NO and converts to the known 5-coordinate nitrito complex Mn(Por)(ONO) (4).