Comparison of predicted epimerases and reductases of the Campylobacter jejuni D-altro- and L-gluco-heptose synthesis pathways

Biosynthesis of UDP-α-N-Acetyl-d-mannosaminuronic Acid and CMP-β-N-Acetyl-d-neuraminic Acid for the Capsular Polysaccharides of Campylobacter jejuni

Campylobacter jejuni is a human pathogen and a leading cause of food poisoning in North America and Europe. The exterior surface of the bacterial cell wall is attached to a polymeric coat of sugar molecules known as the capsular polysaccharide (CPS) that helps protect the organism from the host immune response. The CPS is composed of a repeating sequence of common and unusual sugar residues. In the HS:11 serotype of C. jejuni, we identified two enzymes in the gene cluster for CPS formation that are utilized for the biosynthesis of UDP-α-N-acetyl-d-mannosaminuronic acid (UDP-ManNAcA). In the first step, UDP-α-N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) is epimerized at C2 to form UDP-α-N-acetyl-d-mannosamine (UDP-ManNAc). This product is then oxidized by a NAD+-dependent C6-dehydrogenase to form UDP-ManNAcA. In the HS:6 serotype (C. jejuni strain 81116), we identified three enzymes that are required for the biosynthesis of CMP-β-N-acetyl-d-neuraminic acid (CMP-Neu5Ac). In the first step, UDP-GlcNAc is epimerized at C2 and subsequently hydrolyzed to form N-acetyl-d-mannosamine (ManNAc) with the release of UDP. This product is then condensed with PEP by N-acetyl-d-neuraminate synthase to form N-acetyl-d-neuraminic acid (Neu5Ac). In the final step, CMP-N-acetyl-d-neuraminic acid synthase utilizes CTP to convert this product into CMP-Neu5Ac. A bioinformatic analysis of these five enzymes from C. jejuni serotypes HS:11 and HS:6 identified other bacterial species that can produce UDP-ManNAcA or CMP-Neu5Ac for CPS formation.

Biosynthesis of Cytidine Diphosphate-6-d-Glucitol for the Capsular Polysaccharides of Campylobacter jejuni

Campylobacter jejuni is a Gram-negative pathogenic bacterium commonly found in chickens and is the leading cause of human diarrheal disease worldwide. The various serotypes of C. jejuni produce structurally distinct capsular polysaccharides (CPSs) on the exterior surfaces of the cell wall. The capsular polysaccharide from C. jejuni serotype HS:5 is composed of a repeating sequence of d-glycero-d-manno-heptose and d-glucitol-6-phosphate. We previously defined the pathway for the production of d-glycero-d-manno-heptose in C. jejuni. Here, we elucidate the biosynthetic pathway for the assembly of cytidine diphosphate (CDP)-6-d-glucitol by the combined action of two previously uncharacterized enzymes. The first enzyme catalyzes the formation of CDP-6-d-fructose from cytidine triphosphate (CTP) and d-fructose-6-phosphate. The second enzyme reduces CDP-6-d-fructose with NADPH to generate CDP-6-d-glucitol. Using sequence similarity network (SSN) and genome neighborhood network (GNN) analyses, we predict that these pairs of proteins are responsible for the biosynthesis of CDP-6-d-glucitol and/or CDP-d-mannitol in the lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) and capsular polysaccharides in more than 200 other organisms. In addition, high resolution X-ray structures of the second enzyme are reported, which provide novel insight into the manner in which an open-chain nucleotide-linked sugar is harbored in an active site cleft.

Effect of the polysaccharide capsule and its heptose on the resistance of Campylobacter jejuni to innate immune defenses

Campylobacter jejuni is a commensal in many animals but causes diarrhea in humans. Its polysaccharide capsule contributes to host colonization and virulence in a strain- and model-specific manner. We investigated if the capsule and its heptose are important for interactions of strain NCTC 11168 with various hosts and their innate immune defenses. We determined that they support bacterial survival in Drosophila melanogaster and enhance virulence in Galleria mellonella. We showed that the capsule had limited antiphagocytic activity in human and chicken macrophages, decreased adherence to chicken macrophages, and decreased intracellular survival in both macrophages. In contrast, the heptose increased uptake by chicken macrophages and supported adherence to human macrophages and survival within them. While the capsule triggered nitric oxide production in chicken macrophages, the heptose mitigated this and protected against nitrosative assault. Finally, the C. jejuni strain NCTC 11168 elicited strong cytokine production in both macrophages but quenched ROS production independently from capsule and heptose, and while the capsule and heptose did not protect against oxidative assault, they favored growth in biofilms under oxidative stress. This study shows that the wild-type capsule with its heptose is optimized to resist innate defenses in strain NCTC 11168 often via antagonistic effects of the capsule and its heptose.

Metabolic Pathways for the Biosynthesis of Heptoses Used in the Construction of Capsular Polysaccharides in the Human Pathogen Campylobacter jejuni

Campylobacter jejuni is the leading cause of food poisoning in North America. The exterior surface of this bacterium is coated with a capsular polysaccharide (CPS) that consists of a repeating sequence of 2-5 different carbohydrates that is anchored to the outer membrane. Heptoses of various configurations are among the most common monosaccharides that have been identified within the CPS. It is currently thought that all heptose variations derive from the modification of GDP-d-glycero-α-d-manno-heptose (GMH). From the associated gene clusters for CPS biosynthesis, we have identified 20 unique enzymes with different substrate profiles that are used by the various strains and serotypes of C. jejuni to make six different stereoisomers of GDP-6-deoxy-heptose, four stereoisomers of GDP-d-glycero-heptoses, and two stereoisomers of GDP-3,6-dideoxy-heptoses starting from d-sedoheptulose-7-phosphate. The modification enzymes include a C4-dehydrogenase, a C4,6-dehydratase, three C3- and/or C5-epimerases, a C3-dehydratase, eight C4-reductases, two pyranose/furanose mutases, and four enzymes for the formation of GMH from d-sedoheptulose-7-phosphate. We have mixed these enzymes in different combinations to make novel GDP-heptose modifications, including GDP-6-hydroxy-heptoses, GDP-3-deoxy-heptoses, and GDP-3,6-dideoxy-heptoses.

Biosynthesis of 3,6-Dideoxy-heptoses for the Capsular Polysaccharides of Campylobacter jejuni

Campylobacter jejuni is the leading cause of food poisoning in the United States. Surrounding the exterior surface of this bacterium is a capsular polysaccharide (CPS) that helps protect the organism from the host immune system. The CPS is composed of a repeating sequence of common and unusual sugar residues, including relatively rare heptoses. In the HS:5 serotype, we identified four enzymes required for the biosynthesis of GDP-3,6-dideoxy-β-l-ribo-heptose. In the first step, GDP-d-glycero-α-d-manno-heptose is dehydrated to form GDP-6-deoxy-4-keto-α-d-lyxo-heptose. This product is then dehydrated by a pyridoxal phosphate-dependent C3-dehydratase to form GDP-3,6-dideoxy-4-keto-α-d-threo-heptose before being epimerized at C5 to generate GDP-3,6-dideoxy-4-keto-β-l-erythro-heptose. In the final step, a C4-reductase uses NADPH to convert this product to GDP-3,6-dideoxy-β-l-ribo-heptose. These results are at variance with the previous report of 3,6-dideoxy-d-ribo-heptose in the CPS from serotype HS:5 of C. jejuni. We also demonstrated that GDP-3,6-dideoxy-β-l-xylo-heptose is formed using the corresponding enzymes found in the gene cluster from serotype HS:11 of C. jejuni. The utilization of different C4-reductases from other serotypes of C. jejuni enabled the formation of GDP-3,6-dideoxy-α-d-arabino-heptose and GDP-3,6-dideoxy-α-d-lyxo-heptose.

Insights into the biosynthesis of septacidin l-heptosamine moiety unveils a VOC family sugar epimerase

l-Heptopyranoses are important components of bacterial polysaccharides and biological active secondary metabolites like septacidin (SEP), which represents a group of nucleoside antibiotics with antitumor, antifungal, and pain-relief activities. However, little is known about the formation mechanisms of those l-heptose moieties. In this study, we deciphered the biosynthetic pathway of the l,l-gluco-heptosamine moiety in SEPs by functional characterizing four genes and proposed that SepI initiates the process by oxidizing the 4'-hydroxyl of l-glycero-α-d-manno-heptose moiety of SEP-328 (2) to a keto group. Subsequently, SepJ (C5 epimerase) and SepA (C3 epimerase) shape the 4'-keto-l-heptopyranose moiety by sequential epimerization reactions. At the last step, an aminotransferase SepG installs the 4'-amino group of the l,l-gluco-heptosamine moiety to generate SEP-327 (3). An interesting phenomenon is that the SEP intermediates with 4'-keto-l-heptopyranose moieties exist as special bicyclic sugars with hemiacetal-hemiketal structures. Notably, l-pyranose is usually converted from d-pyranose by bifunctional C3/C5 epimerase. SepA is an unprecedented monofunctional l-pyranose C3 epimerase. Further in silico and experimental studies revealed that it represents an overlooked metal dependent-sugar epimerase family bearing vicinal oxygen chelate (VOC) architecture.

Bifunctional Epimerase/Reductase Enzymes Facilitate the Modulation of 6-Deoxy-Heptoses Found in the Capsular Polysaccharides of Campylobacter jejuni

Campylobacter jejuni is a human pathogen and the leading cause of food poisoning in the United States and Europe. Surrounding the exterior surface of this bacterium is a capsular polysaccharide (CPS) that consists of a repeating sequence of common and unusual carbohydrate segments. At least 10 different heptose sugars have thus far been identified in the various strains of C. jejuni. The accepted biosynthetic pathway for the construction of the 6-deoxy-heptoses begins with the 4,6-dehydration of GDP-d-glycero-d-manno-heptose by a dehydratase, followed by an epimerase that racemizes C3 and/or C5 of the product GDP-6-deoxy-4-keto-d-lyxo-heptose. In the final step, a C4-reductase catalyzes the NADPH reduction of the resulting 4-keto product. However, in some strains and serotypes of C. jejuni, there are two separate C4-reductases with different product specificities in the gene cluster for CPS formation. Five pairs of these tandem C4-reductases were isolated, and the catalytic properties were ascertained. In four out of five cases, one of the two C4-reductases is able to catalyze the isomerization of C3 and C5 of GDP-6-deoxy-4-keto-d-lyxo-heptose, in addition to the catalysis of the reduction of C4, thus bypassing the requirement for a separate C3/C5-isomerase. In each case, the 3'-end of the gene for the first C4-reductase contains a poly-G tract of 8-10 guanine residues that may be used to control the expression and/or catalytic activity of either C4-reductase. The three-dimensional structure of the C4-reductase from serotype HS:15, which only does a reduction of C4, was determined to 1.45 Å resolution in the presence of NADPH and GDP.

Product Specificity of C4-Reductases in the Biosynthesis of GDP-6-Deoxy-Heptoses during Capsular Polysaccharide Formation in Campylobacter jejuni

Campylobacter jejuni is the leading cause of food poisoning in the United States and Europe. A capsular polysaccharide that coats the exterior of the bacterium helps evade the host immune system. At least 33 different strains of C. jejuni have been identified, and the chemical structures of 12 different capsular polysaccharides (CPSs) have been characterized from various serotypes. Thus far, 10 different heptose sugars have been found in the chemically characterized CPSs, and each of these are currently thought to originate from the modification of GDP-d-glycero-d-manno-heptose by the successive action of 4,6-dehydratase (or C4-dehydrogenase), C3- or C3/C5-epimerase, and C4-reductase. Within the sequenced strains of C. jejuni, we have identified 25 different C4-reductases that cluster into nine groups at a sequence identity of >90%. Eight of the proteins from seven different clusters were purified, and their product profiles were determined with GDP-6-deoxy-4-keto-heptose substrates using NMR and ESI mass spectrometry. The isolated products included GDP-6-deoxy-l-gluco-heptose (serotype HS:2), GDP-6-deoxy-l-galacto-heptose (serotype HS:42), GDP-6-deoxy-l-gulo-heptose (serotype HS:15), GDP-6-deoxy-d-ido-heptose (serotypes HS:3, HS:4, and HS:33), GDP-6-deoxy-d-manno-heptose (serotype HS:53), and GDP-6-deoxy-d-altro-heptose (serotype HS:23/36). Based on these observations, the product specificity can be reliably predicted for 14 additional C4-reductases from C. jejuni. The remaining three C4-reductases are highly likely to be required for the biosynthesis of 3,6-dideoxy-heptose products.

C3- and C3/C5-Epimerases Required for the Biosynthesis of the Capsular Polysaccharides from Campylobacter jejuni

Campylobacter jejuni is a human pathogen and one of the leading causes of food poisoning in Europe and the United States. The outside of the bacterium is coated with a capsular polysaccharide that assists in the evasion of the host immune system. Many of the serotyped strains of C. jejuni contain a 6-deoxy-heptose moiety that is biosynthesized from GDP-d-glycero-d-manno-heptose by the successive actions of a 4,6-dehydratase, a C3/C5-epimerase, and a C4-reductase. We identified 18 different C3/C5-epimerases that could be clustered together into three groups at a sequence identity of >89%. Four of the enzymes from the largest cluster (from serotypes HS:3, HS:10, HS:23/36, and HS:41) were shown to only catalyze the epimerization at C3. Three enzymes from the second largest cluster (HS:2, HS:15, and HS:42) were shown to catalyze the epimerization at C3 and C5. Enzymes from the third cluster were not characterized. The three-dimensional structures of the epimerases from serotypes HS:3, HS:23/36, HS:15, and HS:41 were determined to resolutions of 1.5-1.9 Å. The overall subunit architecture places these enzymes into the diverse "cupin" superfamily. Within X-ray coordinate error, the immediate regions surrounding the active sites are identical, suggesting that factors extending farther out may influence product outcome. The X-ray crystal structures are consistent with His-67 and Tyr-134 acting as general acid/base catalysts for the epimerization of C3 and/or C5. Two amino acid changes (A76V/C136L) were enough to convert the C3-epimerase from serotype HS:3 to one that could now catalyze the epimerization at both C3 and C5.

Reaction Mechanism and Three-Dimensional Structure of GDP-d-glycero-α-d-manno-heptose 4,6-Dehydratase from Campylobacter jejuni

Campylobacter jejuni is a human pathogen and a leading cause of food poisoning in the United States and Europe. Surrounding the outside of the bacterium is a carbohydrate coat known as the capsular polysaccharide. Various strains of C. jejuni have different sequences of unusual sugars and an assortment of decorations. Many of the serotypes have heptoses with differing stereochemical arrangements at C2 through C6. One of the many common modifications is a 6-deoxy-heptose that is formed by dehydration of GDP-d-glycero-α-d-manno-heptose to GDP-6-deoxy-4-keto-d-lyxo-heptose via the action of the enzyme GDP-d-glycero-α-d-manno-heptose 4,6-dehydratase. Herein, we report the biochemical and structural characterization of this enzyme from C. jejuni 81-176 (serotype HS:23/36). The enzyme was purified to homogeneity, and its three-dimensional structure was determined to a resolution of 2.1 Å. Kinetic analyses suggest that the reaction mechanism proceeds through the formation of a 4-keto intermediate followed by the loss of water from C5/C6. Based on the three-dimensional structure, it is proposed that oxidation of C4 is assisted by proton transfer from the hydroxyl group to the phenolate of Tyr-159 and hydride transfer to the tightly bound NAD⁺ in the active site. Elimination of water at C5/C6 is most likely assisted by abstraction of the proton at C5 by Glu-136 and subsequent proton transfer to the hydroxyl at C6 via Ser-134 and Tyr-159. A bioinformatic analysis identified 19 additional 4,6-dehydratases from serotyped strains of C. jejuni that are 89-98% identical in the amino acid sequence, indicating that each of these strains should contain a 6-deoxy-heptose within their capsular polysaccharides.

A conservative distribution of tridomain NDP-heptose synthetases in actinobacteria

Heptoses are important structural components of Gram-negative bacterium cell wall and participate in bacterial colonization, infection, and immune recognition. Current knowledge of NDP-heptose originating from d-sedoheptulose 7-phosphate in Grampositive bacterium remains limited. Here, in silico analysis suggested that the special tridomain NDP-heptose synthetases with isomerase, kinase, and nucleotidyltransferase activities are conservatively distributed in Actinobacteria class of Gram-positive bacterium. Enzymatical characterization of the tridomain proteins from different strains showed that they are involved in ADP-d-glycero-β-d-manno-heptose biosynthesis despite the unexpected discovery of kinase activities deficient in some proteins. The presence of three types of NDP-heptose synthetases in Gram-positive bacterium suggests that it is also a rich source of heptoses and the heptose moieties may play important roles in vivo. Our work updates the understanding of NDP-heptose biosynthesis in Gram-positive bacterium and lays a solid foundation for further physiological function explorations.

Functional Characterization of Two PLP-Dependent Enzymes Involved in Capsular Polysaccharide Biosynthesis from Campylobacter jejuni

Campylobacter jejuni is a Gram-negative, pathogenic bacterium that causes campylobacteriosis, a form of gastroenteritis. C. jejuni is the most frequent cause of food-borne illness in the world, surpassing Salmonella and E. coli. Coating the surface of C. jejuni is a layer of sugar molecules known as the capsular polysaccharide that, in C. jejuni NCTC 11168, is composed of a repeating unit of d-glycero-l-gluco-heptose, d-glucuronic acid, d-N-acetyl-galactosamine, and d-ribose. The d-glucuronic acid moiety is further amidated with either serinol or ethanolamine. It is unknown how these modifications are synthesized and attached to the polysaccharide. Here, we report the catalytic activities of two previously uncharacterized, pyridoxal phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzymes, Cj1436 and Cj1437, from C. jejuni NCTC 11168. Using a combination of mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance, we determined that Cj1436 catalyzes the decarboxylation of l-serine phosphate to ethanolamine phosphate. Cj1437 was shown to catalyze the transamination of dihydroxyacetone phosphate to (S)-serinol phosphate in the presence of l-glutamate. The probable routes to the ultimate formation of the glucuronamide substructures in the capsular polysaccharides of C. jejuni are discussed.

Biosynthesis of d-glycero-l-gluco-Heptose in the Capsular Polysaccharides of Campylobacter jejuni

Campylobacter jejuni is the leading cause of food poisoning in the United States and Europe. The exterior cell surface of C. jejuni is coated with a capsular polysaccharide (CPS) that is essential for the maintenance and integrity of the bacterial cell wall and evasion of the host immune response. The identity and sequences of the monosaccharide components of the CPS are quite variable and dependent on the specific strain of C. jejuni. It is currently thought that the immediate precursor for the multiple variations found in the heptose moieties of the C. jejuni CPS is GDP-d-glycero-α-d-manno-heptose. In C. jejuni NCTC 11168, the heptose moiety is d-glycero-l-gluco-heptose. It has previously been shown that Cj1427 catalyzes the oxidation of GDP-d-glycero-α-d-manno-heptose to GDP-d-glycero-4-keto-α-d-lyxo-heptose using α-ketoglutarate as a cosubstrate. Cj1430 was now demonstrated to catalyze the double epimerization of this product at C3 and C5 to form GDP-d-glycero-4-keto-β-l-xylo-heptose. Cj1428 subsequently catalyzes the stereospecific reduction of this GDP-linked heptose by NADPH to form GDP-d-glycero-β-l-gluco-heptose. The three-dimensional crystal structure of Cj1430 was determined to a resolution of 1.85 Å in the presence of bound GDP-d-glycero-β-l-gluco-heptose, a product analogue. The structure shows that it belongs to the cupin superfamily. The three-dimensional crystal structure of Cj1428 was solved in the presence of NADPH to a resolution of 1.50 Å. Its fold places it into the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase superfamily. Typically, members in this family display a characteristic signature sequence of YXXXK, with the conserved tyrosine serving a key role in catalysis. In Cj1428, this residue is a phenylalanine.

Crystal structure of a GDP-6-OMe-4-keto-L-xylo-heptose reductase from Campylobacter jejuni

Carbohydrates play a major role in infection strategies of various enteric pathogens. In Campylobacter jejuni, the most common cause of gastroenteritis, uniquely modified heptoses found in surface carbohydrates are synthesized by specific pathways. Owing to the importance of such pathways for the infectious potential of pathogens and/or their virulence, these biosynthesis pathways present potential targets for therapeutic intervention. Here, we determined the crystal structure of GDP-6-OMe-4-keto-L-xylo-heptose reductase (MlghC), an enzyme within the L-gluco-heptose synthesis pathway of C. jejuni strain NCTC 11168. This enzyme lacks the canonical tyrosine residue of the conserved catalytic Ser-Lys-Tyr triad commonly found among functionally related reductases. Despite adopting the overall two-domain fold shared with other short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase family members, subtle structural differences in the interface between the cofactor- and substrate-binding domains explain the absence of epimerase activity and different substrate specificity of this reductase. Modeling of the product-bound complex based on the crystal structure presented here suggests that a tyrosine residue unique to MlghC replaces the missing canonical residue of the catalytic triad.

Heptose-containing bacterial natural products: structures, bioactivities, and biosyntheses

Covering: up to 2020Glycosylated natural products hold great potential as drugs for the treatment of human and animal diseases. Heptoses, known as seven-carbon-chain-containing sugars, are a group of saccharides that are rarely observed in natural products. Based on the structures of the heptoses, the heptose-containing natural products can be divided into four groups, characterized by heptofuranose, highly-reduced heptopyranose, d-heptopyranose, and l-heptopyranose. Many of them possess remarkable biological properties, including antibacterial, antifungal, antitumor, and pain relief activities, thereby attracting great interest in biosynthesis and chemical synthesis studies to understand their construction mechanisms and structure-activity relationships. In this review, we summarize the structural properties, biological activities, and recent progress in the biosynthesis of bacterial natural products featuring seven-carbon-chain-containing sugars. The biosynthetic origins of the heptose moieties are emphasized.

Functional and Structural Characterization of the UDP-Glucose Dehydrogenase Involved in Capsular Polysaccharide Biosynthesis from Campylobacter jejuni

Campylobacter jejuni is a pathogenic organism that can cause campylobacteriosis in children and adults. Most commonly, campylobacter infection is brought on by consumption of raw or undercooked poultry, unsanitary drinking water, or pet feces. Surrounding the C. jejuni bacterium is a coat of sugar molecules known as the capsular polysaccharide (CPS). The capsular polysaccharide can be very diverse among the different strains of C. jejuni, and this diversity is considered important for evading the host immune system. Modifications to the CPS of C. jejuni NCTC 11168 include O-methylation, phosphoramidylation, and amidation of glucuronate with either serinol or ethanolamine. The enzymes responsible for amidation of glucuronate are currently unknown. In this study, Cj1441, an enzyme expressed from the CPS biosynthetic gene cluster in C. jejuni NCTC 11168, was shown to catalyze the oxidation of UDP-α-d-glucose into UDP-α-d-glucuronic acid with NAD⁺ as the cofactor. No amide products were found in an attempt to determine whether the putative thioester intermediate formed during the oxidation of UDP-glucose by Cj1441 could be captured in the presence of added amines. The three-dimensional crystal structure of Cj1441 was determined in the presence of NAD⁺ and UDP-glucose bound in the active site of the enzyme (Protein Data Bank entry 7KWS). A more thorough bioinformatic analysis of the CPS gene cluster suggests that the amidation activity is localized to the t-terminal half of Cj1438, a bifunctional enzyme that is currently annotated as a sugar transferase.

Structure-function studies of the C3/C5 epimerases and C4 reductases of the Campylobacter jejuni capsular heptose modification pathways

Many bacteria produce polysaccharide-based capsules that protect them from environmental insults and play a role in virulence, host invasion, and other functions. Understanding how the polysaccharide components are synthesized could provide new means to combat bacterial infections. We have previously characterized two pairs of homologous enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of capsular sugar precursors GDP-6-deoxy-D-altro-heptose and GDP-6-OMe-L-gluco-heptose in Campylobacter jejuni. However, the substrate specificity and mechanism of action of these enzymes-C3 and/or C5 epimerases DdahB and MlghB and C4 reductases DdahC and MlghC-are unknown. Here, we demonstrate that these enzymes are highly specific for heptose substrates, using mannose substrates inefficiently with the exception of MlghB. We show that DdahB and MlghB feature a jellyroll fold typical of cupins, which possess a range of activities including epimerizations, GDP occupying a similar position as in cupins. DdahC and MlghC contain a Rossman fold, a catalytic triad, and a small C-terminal domain typical of short-chain dehydratase reductase enzymes. Integrating structural information with site-directed mutagenesis allowed us to identify features unique to each enzyme and provide mechanistic insight. In the epimerases, mutagenesis of H67, D173, N121, Y134, and Y132 suggested the presence of alternative catalytic residues. We showed that the reductases could reduce GDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-mannulose without prior epimerization although DdahC preferred the pre-epimerized substrate and identified T110 and H180 as important for substrate specificity and catalytic efficacy. This information can be exploited to identify inhibitors for therapeutic applications or to tailor these enzymes to synthesize novel sugars useful as glycobiology tools.

Discovery of novel pathways for carbohydrate metabolism

Closing the gap between the increasing availability of complete genome sequences and the discovery of novel enzymes in novel metabolic pathways is a significant challenge. Here, we review recent examples of assignment of in vitro enzymatic activities and in vivo metabolic functions to uncharacterized proteins, with a focus on enzymes and metabolic pathways involved in the catabolism and biosynthesis of monosaccharides and polysaccharides. The most effective approaches are based on analyses of sequence-function space in protein families that provide clues for the predictions of the functions of the uncharacterized enzymes. As summarized in this Opinion, this approach allows the discovery of the catabolism of new molecules, new pathways for common molecules, and new enzymatic chemistries.

Functional Characterization of Cj1427, a Unique Ping-Pong Dehydrogenase Responsible for the Oxidation of GDP-d-glycero-α-d-manno-heptose in Campylobacter jejuni

The capsular polysaccharides (CPS) of Campylobacter jejuni contain multiple heptose residues with variable stereochemical arrangements at C3-C6. The immediate precursor to all of these possible variations is currently believed to be GDP-d-glycero-α-d-manno-heptose. Oxidation of this substrate at C4 enables subsequent epimerization reactions at C3-C5 that can be coupled to the dehydration/reduction at C5/C6. However, the enzyme responsible for the critical oxidation of C4 from GDP-d-glycero-α-d-manno-heptose has remained elusive. The enzyme Cj1427 from C. jejuni NCTC 11168 was shown to catalyze the oxidation of GDP-d-glycero-α-d-manno-heptose to GDP-d-glycero-4-keto-α-d-lyxo-heptose in the presence of α-ketoglutarate using mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. At pH 7.4, the apparent kcat is 0.6 s-1, with a value of kcat/Km of 1.0 × 104 M-1 s-1 for GDP-d-glycero-α-d-manno-heptose. α-Ketoglutarate is required to recycle the tightly bound NADH nucleotide in the active site of Cj1427, which does not dissociate from the enzyme during catalysis.

Structural Analysis of Cj1427, an Essential NAD-Dependent Dehydrogenase for the Biosynthesis of the Heptose Residues in the Capsular Polysaccharides of Campylobacter jejuni

Many strains of Campylobacter jejuni display modified heptose residues in their capsular polysaccharides (CPS). The precursor heptose was previously shown to be GDP-d-glycero-α-d-manno-heptose, from which a variety of modifications of the sugar moiety have been observed. These modifications include the generation of 6-deoxy derivatives and alterations of the stereochemistry at C3-C6. Previous work has focused on the enzymes responsible for the generation of the 6-deoxy derivatives and those involved in altering the stereochemistry at C3 and C5. However, the generation of the 6-hydroxyl heptose residues remains uncertain due to the lack of a specific enzyme to catalyze the initial oxidation at C4 of GDP-d-glycero-α-d-manno-heptose. Here we reexamine the previously reported role of Cj1427, a dehydrogenase found in C. jejuni NTCC 11168 (HS:2). We show that Cj1427 is co-purified with bound NADH, thus hindering catalysis of oxidation reactions. However, addition of a co-substrate, α-ketoglutarate, converts the bound NADH to NAD⁺. In this form, Cj1427 catalyzes the oxidation of l-2-hydroxyglutarate back to α-ketoglutarate. The crystal structure of Cj1427 with bound GDP-d-glycero-α-d-manno-heptose shows that the NAD(H) cofactor is ideally positioned to catalyze the oxidation at C4 of the sugar substrate. Additionally, the overall fold of the Cj1427 subunit places it into the well-defined short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase superfamily. The observed quaternary structure of the tetrameric enzyme, however, is highly unusual for members of this superfamily.

Biosynthesis of GDP-d-glycero-α-d-manno-heptose for the Capsular Polysaccharide of Campylobacter jejuni

The capsular polysaccharide (CPS) structure of Campylobacter jejuni contributes to its robust fitness. Many strains contain heptose moieties in their CPS units. The precursor heptose is GDP-d-glycero-α-d-manno-heptose; modifications to the stereochemistry at C3-C6 as well as additions of methyl and phosphoramidate groups lend to the hypervariability of the C. jejuni CPS structures. Synthesis of GDP-d-glycero-α-d-manno-heptose has been described previously, but using enzymes from Aneurinibacillus thermoaerophilus DSM 10155. Here we describe the complete synthesis of GDP-d-glycero-α-d-manno-heptose using enzymes from C. jejuni NTCC 11168: Cj1152 and Cj1423-Cj1425. Our results yield kinetic parameters for these enzymes and outline a successful strategy for milligram-gram scale synthesis of GDP-d-glycero-α-d-manno-heptose. This achievement is critical for the characterization of other carbohydrate tailoring enzymes, which are expected to utilize GDP-d-glycero-α-d-manno-heptose for the biosynthesis of more complex carbohydrates in the CPS of C. jejuni.

Chemoenzymatic Synthesis and Applications of Prokaryote-Specific UDP-Sugars

This method describes the chemoenzymatic synthesis of several nucleotide sugars, which are essential substrates in the biosynthesis of prokaryotic N- and O-linked glycoproteins. Protein glycosylation is now known to be widespread in prokaryotes and proceeds via sequential action of several enzymes, utilizing both common and modified prokaryote-specific sugar nucleotides. The latter, which include UDP-hexoses such as UDP-diNAc-bacillosamine (UDP-diNAcBac), UDP-diNAcAlt, and UDP-2,3-diNAcManA, are also important components of other bacterial and archaeal glycoconjugates. The ready availability of these "high-value" intermediates will enable courses of study into inhibitor screening, glycoconjugate biosynthesis pathway discovery, and unnatural carbohydrate incorporation toward metabolic engineering.