Active cystathionine beta-synthase can be expressed in heme-free systems in the presence of metal-substituted porphyrins or a chemical chaperone

Impact of primary sequence changes on the self-association properties of mammalian cystathionine beta-synthase enzymes

Cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) is an evolutionarily conserved enzyme that plays a key role in mammalian sulfur amino acid biochemistry, mutations in which are the cause of classical homocystinuria (HCU), an inborn error of metabolism. Although there is agreement in the literature that CBS is a homomultimer, its precise structure is a source of confusion. Here, we performed a series of experiments examining the quaternary structure of various wild-type and mutant CBS enzymes using a combination of native gel electrophoresis, in situ activity assays, analytical ultracentrifugation, and gel filtration. Our data show that recombinantly expressed and purified full-length wild-type human CBS enzyme (hCBS) and HCU-causing variants (p.P422L, p.I435T, and p.R125Q CBS) form high molecular weight assemblies that are consistent with the properties expected of a filament. The filament is enzymatically active, and its size is sensitive to protein concentration. This behavior contrasts sharply with hCBS enzymes containing small deletions within the Bateman domain, which form stable tetramers and octamers regardless of concentration. Examination of liver lysates from humans and mice confirms the existence of enzymatically active high molecular weight aggregates in vivo, but also shows that these aggregates are specific to human CBS and do not occur in mice. Molecular modeling using AlphaFold2 suggests that these experimentally observed differences may be explained by subtle differences in the interaction mediated by the Bateman domains. Our results show that small differences in amino acid sequence can cause large differences in the size and shape of CBS multimers.

Cellular turnover and degradation of the most common missense cystathionine beta-synthase variants causing homocystinuria

Homocystinuria (HCU) due to cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) deficiency is the most common inborn error of sulfur amino acid metabolism. Recent work suggests that missense pathogenic mutations-regardless of their topology-cause instability of the C-terminal regulatory domain, which likely translates into CBS misfolding, impaired assembly, and loss of function. However, it is unknown how instability of the regulatory domain translates into cellular CBS turnover and which degradation pathways are involved in CBS proteostasis. Here, we developed a human HEK293-based cellular model lacking intrinsic CBS and stably overexpressing wild-type (WT) CBS or its 10 most common missense HCU mutants. We found that HCU mutants, except the I278T variant, expressed similarly or better than CBS WT, with some of them showing impaired oligomerization, activity and response to allosteric activator S-adenosylmethionine. Cellular stability of all HCU mutants, except P49L and A114V, was significantly lower than the stability of CBS WT, suggesting their increased degradation. Ubiquitination analysis of CBS WT and two representative CBS mutants (T191M and I278T) showed that proteasomal degradation is the major pathway for CBS disposal, with a minor involvement of lysosomal-autophagic and endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD) pathways for HCU mutants. Proteasomal inhibition significantly increased the half-life and activity of T191M and I278T CBS mutants. Lysosomal and ERAD inhibition had only a minor impact on CBS turnover, but ERAD inhibition rescued the activity of T191M and I278T CBS mutants similarly as proteasomal inhibition. In conclusion, the present study provides new insights into proteostasis of CBS in HCU.

Bridging the Gap in Cancer Research: Sulfur Metabolism of Leukemic Cells with a Focus on L-Cysteine Metabolism and Hydrogen Sulfide-Producing Enzymes

Leukemias are cancers of the blood-forming system, representing a significant challenge in medical science. The development of leukemia cells involves substantial disturbances within the cellular machinery, offering hope in the search for effective selective treatments that could improve the 5-year survival rate. Consequently, the pathophysiological processes within leukemia cells are the focus of critical research. Enzymes such as cystathionine beta-synthase and sulfurtransferases like thiosulfate sulfurtransferase, 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase, and cystathionine gamma-lyase play a vital role in cellular sulfur metabolism. These enzymes are essential to maintaining cellular homeostasis, providing robust antioxidant defenses, and supporting cell division. Numerous studies have demonstrated that cancerous processes can alter the expression and activity of these enzymes, uncovering potential vulnerabilities or molecular targets for cancer therapy. Recent laboratory research has indicated that certain leukemia cell lines may exhibit significant changes in the expression patterns of these enzymes. Analysis of the scientific literature and online datasets has confirmed variations in sulfur enzyme function in specific leukemic cell lines compared to normal leukocytes. This comprehensive review collects and analyzes available information on sulfur enzymes in normal and leukemic cell lines, providing valuable insights and identifying new research pathways in this field.

Genetic and Pharmacological Modulation of Cellular Proteostasis Leads to Partial Functional Rescue of Homocystinuria-Causing Cystathionine-Beta Synthase Variants

Homocystinuria (HCU), an inherited metabolic disorder caused by lack of cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) activity, is chiefly caused by misfolding of single amino acid residue missense pathogenic variants. Previous studies showed that chemical, pharmacological chaperones or proteasome inhibitors could rescue function of multiple pathogenic CBS variants; however, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Using Chinese hamster DON fibroblasts devoid of CBS and stably overexpressing human WT or mutant CBS, we showed that expression of pathogenic CBS variant mostly dysregulates gene expression of small heat shock proteins HSPB3 and HSPB8 and members of HSP40 family. Endoplasmic reticulum stress sensor BiP was found upregulated with CBS I278T variant associated with proteasomes suggesting proteotoxic stress and degradation of misfolded CBS. Co-expression of the main effector HSP70 or master regulator HSF1 rescued steady-state levels of CBS I278T and R125Q variants with partial functional rescue of the latter. Pharmacological proteostasis modulators partially rescued expression and activity of CBS R125Q likely due to reduced proteotoxic stress as indicated by decreased BiP levels and promotion of refolding as indicated by induction of HSP70. In conclusion, targeted manipulation of cellular proteostasis may represent a viable therapeutic approach for the permissive pathogenic CBS variants causing HCU.

satmut_utils: a simulation and variant calling package for multiplexed assays of variant effect

The impact of millions of individual genetic variants on molecular phenotypes in coding sequences remains unknown. Multiplexed assays of variant effect (MAVEs) are scalable methods to annotate relevant variants, but existing software lacks standardization, requires cumbersome configuration, and does not scale to large targets. We present satmut_utils as a flexible solution for simulation and variant quantification. We then benchmark MAVE software using simulated and real MAVE data. We finally determine mRNA abundance for thousands of cystathionine beta-synthase variants using two experimental methods. The satmut_utils package enables high-performance analysis of MAVEs and reveals the capability of variants to alter mRNA abundance.

Recent therapeutic approaches to cystathionine beta-synthase-deficient homocystinuria

Cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS)-deficient homocystinuria (HCU) is the most common inborn error of sulfur amino acid metabolism. The pyridoxine non-responsive form of the disease manifests itself by massively increasing plasma and tissue concentrations of homocysteine, a toxic intermediate of methionine metabolism that is thought to be the major cause of clinical complications including skeletal deformities, connective tissue defects, thromboembolism and cognitive impairment. The current standard of care involves significant dietary interventions that, despite being effective, often adversely affect quality of life of HCU patients, leading to poor adherence to therapy and inadequate biochemical control with clinical complications. In recent years, the unmet need for better therapeutic options has resulted in development of novel enzyme and gene therapies and exploration of pharmacological approaches to rescue CBS folding defects caused by missense pathogenic mutations. Here, we review scientific evidence and current state of affairs in development of recent approaches to treat HCU.

Understanding the role of R266K mutation in cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) enzyme: an in silico study

Human cystathionine β-synthase (hCBS) is a Heme-containing, unique pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) dependent enzyme. CBS catalyzes the bio-chemical condensation reactions in the transsulfuration pathway. The role of Heme in the catalytic activities of the hCBS enzyme is still unknown, even though various experimental studies indicated its participation in the bi-directional electronic communication with the PLP center. The hypothesis is, Heme acts as an electron density reservoir for the catalytic reaction center rather than a redox electron source. In this work, we have investigated In Silico dynamical aspects of the bi-directional communications by performing classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations upon developing the necessary force field parameters for the cysteine and histidine bound hexa-coordinated Heme. The comparative aspects, of electron density overlap across the communicating pathways, were investigated adopting the Density Functional Theory (DFT) in conjunction with the hybrid exchange-correlation functional for the CBS^WT (wild-type) and CBS^R266K (mutated) enzymes. The molecular dynamics simulations and subsequent explorations of the electronic structures confirm the reported observations. It also provides an in-depth mechanistic understanding of how the non-covalent hydrogen bonding interactions with Cys52 control such long-distance communication. Our study also provides a convincing answer to the reduced enzymatic activities in the R266K mutated hCBS compared to the wild-type enzymes. The difference in hydrogen-bonding patterns and salt-bridge interactions play the pivotal roles in such long distant bi-directional communications.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Insights into Domain Organization and Regulatory Mechanism of Cystathionine Beta-Synthase from Toxoplasma gondii

Cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) is a key regulator of homocysteine metabolism. Although eukaryotic CBS have a similar domain architecture with a catalytic core and a C-terminal Bateman module, their regulation varies widely across phyla. In human CBS (HsCBS), the C-terminus has an autoinhibitory effect by acting as a cap that avoids the entry of substrates into the catalytic site. The binding of the allosteric modulator AdoMet to this region alleviates this cap, allowing the protein to progress from a basal toward an activated state. The same activation is obtained by artificial removal or heat-denaturation of the Bateman module. Recently, we reported the crystal structure of CBS from Toxoplasma gondii (TgCBS) showing that the enzyme assembles into basket-like dimers similar to the basal conformers of HsCBS. These findings would suggest a similar lid function for the Bateman module which, as in HsCBS, should relax in the absence of the C-terminal module. However, herein we demonstrate that, in contrast with HsCBS, removal of the Bateman module in TgCBS through deletion mutagenesis, limited proteolysis, or thermal denaturation has no effects on its activity, oligomerization, and thermal stability. This opposite behavior we have now found in TgCBS provides evidence of a novel type of CBS regulation.

TMAO to the rescue of pathogenic protein variants

Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is a chemical chaperone found in various organisms including humans. Various studies unveiled that it is an excellent protein-stabilizing agent, and induces folding of unstructured proteins. It is also well established that it can counteract the deleterious effects of urea, salt, and hydrostatic pressure on macromolecular integrity. There is also existence of large body of data regarding its ability to restore functional deficiency of various mutant proteins or pathogenic variants by correcting misfolding defects and inhibiting the formation of high-order toxic protein oligomers. Since an important class of human disease called "protein conformational disorders" is due to protein misfolding and/or formation of high-order oligomers, TMAO stands as a promising molecule for the therapeutic intervention of such diseases. The present review has been designed to gather a comprehensive knowledge of the TMAO's effect on the functional restoration of various mutants, identify its shortcomings and explore its potentiality as a lead molecule. Future prospects have also been suitably incorporated.

Structural Basis for Allostery in PLP-dependent Enzymes

Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzymes are found ubiquitously in nature and are involved in a variety of biological pathways, from natural product synthesis to amino acid and glucose metabolism. The first structure of a PLP-dependent enzyme was reported over 40 years ago, and since that time, there is a steady wealth of structural and functional information revealed for a wide array of these enzymes. A functional mechanism that is gaining more appreciation due to its relevance in drug design is that of protein allostery, where binding of a protein or ligand at a distal site influences the structure, organization, and function at the active site. Here, we present a review of current structure-based mechanisms of allostery for select members of each PLP-dependent enzyme family. Knowledge of these mechanisms may have a larger potential for identifying key similarities and differences among enzyme families that can eventually be exploited for therapeutic development.

Physiological roles of hydrogen sulfide in mammalian cells, tissues and organs

H2S belongs to the class of molecules known as gasotransmitters, which also includes nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO). Three enzymes are recognized as endogenous sources of H2S in various cells and tissues: cystathionine g-lyase (CSE), cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3-MST). The current article reviews the regulation of these enzymes as well as the pathways of their enzymatic and non-enzymatic degradation and elimination. The multiple interactions of H2S with other labile endogenous molecules (e.g. NO) and reactive oxygen species are also outlined. The various biological targets and signaling pathways are discussed, with special reference to H2S and oxidative posttranscriptional modification of proteins, the effect of H2S on channels and intracellular second messenger pathways, the regulation of gene transcription and translation and the regulation of cellular bioenergetics and metabolism. The pharmacological and molecular tools currently available to study H2S physiology are also reviewed, including their utility and limitations. In subsequent sections, the role of H2S in the regulation of various physiological and cellular functions is reviewed. The physiological role of H2S in various cell types and organ systems are overviewed. Finally, the role of H2S in the regulation of various organ functions is discussed as well as the characteristic bell-shaped biphasic effects of H2S. In addition, key pathophysiological aspects, debated areas, and future research and translational areas are identified A wide array of significant roles of H2S in the physiological regulation of all organ functions emerges from this review.

Overproduction of hydrogen sulfide, generated by cystathionine β-synthase, disrupts brain wave patterns and contributes to neurobehavioral dysfunction in a rat model of down syndrome

Using a novel rat model of Down syndrome (DS), the functional role of the cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS)/hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) pathway was investigated on the pathogenesis of brain wave pattern alterations and neurobehavioral dysfunction. Increased expression of CBS and subsequent overproduction of H₂S was observed in the brain of DS rats, with CBS primarily localizing to astrocytes and the vasculature. DS rats exhibited neurobehavioral defects, accompanied by a loss of gamma brain wave activity and a suppression of the expression of multiple pre- and postsynaptic proteins. Aminooxyacetate, a prototypical pharmacological inhibitor of CBS, increased the ability of the DS brain tissue to generate ATP in vitro and reversed the electrophysiological and neurobehavioral alterations in vivo. Thus, the CBS/H₂S pathway contributes to the pathogenesis of neurological dysfunction in DS, most likely through dysregulation of cellular bioenergetics and gene expression.

How to fix a broken protein: restoring function to mutant human cystathionine β-synthase

Inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) comprise a large class of recessive genetic diseases involving disorders of cellular metabolism that tend to be caused by missense mutations in which a single incorrect amino acid is substituted in the polypeptide chain. Cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) deficiency is an example of an IEM that causes large elevations of blood total homocysteine levels, resulting in phenotypes in several tissues. Current treatment strategies involve dietary restriction and vitamin therapy, but these are only partially effective and do not work in all patients. Over 85% of the described mutations in CBS-deficient patients are missense mutations in which the mutant protein fails to fold into an active conformation. The ability of CBS to achieve an active conformation is affected by a variety of intracellular protein networks including the chaperone system and the ubiquitin/proteasome system, collectively referred to as the proteostasis network. Proteostasis modulators are drugs that perturb various aspects of these networks. In this article, we will review the evidence that modulation of the intracellular protein folding environment can be used as a potential therapeutic strategy to treat CBS deficiency and discuss the pros and cons of such a strategy.

Biosynthesis, Quantification and Genetic Diseases of the Smallest Signaling Thiol Metabolite: Hydrogen Sulfide

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a gasotransmitter and the smallest signaling thiol metabolite with important roles in human health. The turnover of H2S in humans is mainly governed by enzymes of sulfur amino acid metabolism and also by the microbiome. As is the case with other small signaling molecules, disease-promoting effects of H2S largely depend on its concentration and compartmentalization. Genetic defects that impair the biogenesis and catabolism of H2S have been described; however, a gap in knowledge remains concerning physiological steady-state concentrations of H2S and their direct clinical implications. The small size and considerable reactivity of H2S renders its quantification in biological samples an experimental challenge. A compilation of methods currently employed to quantify H2S in biological specimens is provided in this review. Substantial discrepancy exists in the concentrations of H2S determined by different techniques. Available methodologies permit end-point measurement of H2S concentration, yet no definitive protocol exists for the continuous, real-time measurement of H2S produced by its enzymatic sources. We present a summary of available animal models, monogenic diseases that impair H2S metabolism in humans including structure-function relationships of pathogenic mutations, and discuss possible approaches to overcome current limitations of study.

Heme-Thiolate Perturbation in Cystathionine β-Synthase by Mercury Compounds

Cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) is an enzyme involved in sulfur metabolism that catalyzes the pyridoxal phosphate-dependent condensation of homocysteine with serine or cysteine to form cystathionine and water or hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), respectively. CBS possesses a b-type heme coordinated by histidine and cysteine. Fe(III)-CBS is inert toward exogenous ligands, while Fe(II)-CBS is reactive. Both Fe(III)- and Fe(II)-CBS are sensitive to mercury compounds. In this study, we describe the kinetics of the reactions with mercuric chloride (HgCl₂) and p-chloromercuribenzoic acid. These reactions were multiphasic and resulted in five-coordinate CBS lacking thiolate ligation, with six-coordinate species as intermediates. Computational QM/MM studies supported the feasibility of formation of species in which the thiolate is proximal to both the iron ion and the mercury compound. The reactions of Fe(II)-CBS were faster than those of Fe(III)-CBS. The observed rate constants of the first phase increased hyperbolically with concentration of the mercury compounds, with limiting values of 0.3-0.4 s^-1 for Fe(III)-CBS and 40 ± 4 s^-1 for Fe(II)-CBS. The data were interpreted in terms of alternative models of conformational selection or induced fit. Exposure of Fe(III)-CBS to HgCl₂ led to heme release and activity loss. Our study reveals the complexity of the interactions between mercury compounds and CBS.

Cystathionine β-synthase is involved in cysteine biosynthesis and H2S generation in Toxoplasma gondii

Cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) catalyzes the condensation of serine and homocysteine to water and cystathionine, which is then hydrolyzed to cysteine, α-ketobutyrate and ammonia by cystathionine γ-lyase (CGL) in the reverse transsulfuration pathway. The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, includes both CBS and CGL enzymes. We have recently reported that the putative T. gondii CGL gene encodes a functional enzyme. Herein, we cloned and biochemically characterized cDNA encoding CBS from T. gondii (TgCBS), which represents a first example of protozoan CBS that does not bind heme but possesses two C-terminal CBS domains. We demonstrated that TgCBS can use both serine and O-acetylserine to produce cystathionine, converting these substrates to an aminoacrylate intermediate as part of a PLP-catalyzed β-replacement reaction. Besides a role in cysteine biosynthesis, TgCBS can also efficiently produce hydrogen sulfide, preferentially via condensation of cysteine and homocysteine. Unlike the human counterpart and similar to CBS enzymes from lower organisms, the TgCBS activity is not stimulated by S-adenosylmethionine. This study establishes the presence of an intact functional reverse transsulfuration pathway in T. gondii and demonstrates the crucial role of TgCBS in biogenesis of H₂S.

The Spectrum of Mutations of Homocystinuria in the MENA Region

Homocystinuria is an inborn error of metabolism due to the deficiency in cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) enzyme activity. It leads to the elevation of both homocysteine and methionine levels in the blood and urine. Consequently, this build-up could lead to several complications such as nearsightedness, dislocated eye lenses, a variety of psychiatric and behavioral disorders, as well as vascular system complications. The prevalence of homocystinuria is around 1/200,000 births worldwide. However, its prevalence in the Gulf region, notably Qatar, is exceptionally high and reached 1:1800. To date, more than 191 pathogenic CBS mutations have been documented. The majority of these mutations were identified in Caucasians of European ancestry, whereas only a few mutations from African-Americans or Asians were reported. Approximately 87% of all CBS mutations are missense and do not target the CBS catalytic site, but rather result in unstable misfolded proteins lacking the normal biological function, designating them for degradation. The early detection of homocystinuria along with low protein and methionine-restricted diet is the best treatment approach for all types of homocystinuria patients. Yet, less than 50% of affected individuals show a significant reduction in plasma homocysteine levels after treatment. Patients who fail to lower the elevated homocysteine levels, through high protein-restricted diet or by B6 and folic acid supplements, are at higher risk for cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, neural tube defects, and other severe clinical complications. This review aims to examine the mutations spectrum of the CBS gene, the disease management, as well as the current and potential treatment approaches with a greater emphasis on studies reported in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Hydrogen sulfide: Therapeutic or injurious in ischemic stroke?

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been identified as a vasodilatory, neuromodulatory, and anti-inflammatory gasotransmitter with antioxidant properties. Studies focused in cardiac tissue suggest H2S functions as a protective agent; however in the central nervous system (CNS) the effects of H2S during states of stress or injury, such as stroke, remain controversial. Currently, the application of H2S donors and modulators in stroke depends on the type of H2S donor and the timing of the therapy.

Disturbed homocysteine metabolism is associated with cancer

Hyperhomocysteinemia/Homocysteinuria is characterized by an increased level of toxic homocysteine in the plasma. The plasma concentration of homocysteine is 5–15 μmol/L in healthy individuals, while in hyperhomocysteinemic patients, it can be as high as 500 μmol/L. While increased homocysteine levels can cause symptoms such as osteoporosis and eye lens dislocation, high homocysteine levels are most closely associated with cardiovascular complications. Recent advances have shown that increased plasma Hcy is also a fundamental cause of neurodegenerative diseases (including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and dementia), diabetes, Down syndrome, and megaloblastic anemia, among others. In recent years, increased plasma homocysteine has also been shown to be closely related to cancer. In this review, we discuss the relation between elevated plasma Hcy levels and cancer, and we conclude that disturbed homocysteine metabolism is associated with cancer. Future clinical perspectives are also discussed.

Cancer can be added to the wide range of diseases known to be associated with elevated blood levels of the small amino acid homocysteine. Abnormally high levels of this compound are already known to contribute to conditions including cardiovascular problems, neurodegenerative diseases, neural tube defects, Down’s syndrome, diabetes and megaloblastic anemia. This review, by Laishram R. Singh and colleagues at the University of Delhi, India, concludes that disturbed homocysteine metabolism is associated with many forms of human cancer. The authors discuss a range of genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors that may be involved in the cause and effect relationships between homocysteine metabolism and cancer. It is particularly interesting that low folate (vitamin B9) levels result in high homocysteine levels, and vice versa. Further research may yield insights leading to new forms of cancer treatment and diagnosis.

Heme-dependent Inactivation of 5-Aminolevulinate Synthase from Caulobacter crescentus

The biosynthesis of heme is strictly regulated, probably because of the toxic effects of excess heme and its biosynthetic precursors. In many organisms, heme biosynthesis starts with the production of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) from glycine and succinyl-coenzyme A, a process catalyzed by a homodimeric enzyme, pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP)-dependent 5-aminolevulinate synthase (ALAS). ALAS activity is negatively regulated by heme in various ways, such as the repression of ALAS gene expression, degradation of ALAS mRNA, and inhibition of mitochondrial translocation of the mammalian precursor protein. There has been no clear evidence, however, that heme directly binds to ALAS to negatively regulate its activity. We found that recombinant ALAS from Caulobacter crescentus was inactivated via a heme-mediated feedback manner, in which the essential coenzyme PLP was rel eased to form the inactive heme-bound enzyme. The spectroscopic properties of the heme-bound ALAS showed that a histidine-thiolate hexa-coordinated ferric heme bound to each subunit with a one-to-one stoichiometry. His340 and Cys398 were identified as the axial ligands of heme, and mutant ALASs lacking either of these ligands became resistant to heme-mediated inhibition. ALAS expressed in C. crescentus was also found to bind heme, suggesting that heme-mediated feedback inhibition of ALAS is physiologically relevant in C. crescentus.

Mouse modeling and structural analysis of the p.G307S mutation in human cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) reveal effects on CBS activity but not stability

Mutations in the cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) gene are the cause of classical homocystinuria, the most common inborn error in sulfur metabolism. The p.G307S mutation is the most frequent cause of CBS deficiency in Ireland, which has the highest prevalence of CBS deficiency in Europe. Individuals homozygous for this mutation tend to be severely affected and are pyridoxine nonresponsive, but the molecular basis for the strong effects of this mutation is unclear. Here, we characterized a transgenic mouse model lacking endogenous Cbs and expressing human p.G307S CBS protein from a zinc-inducible metallothionein promoter (Tg-G307S Cbs^-/-). Unlike mice expressing other mutant CBS alleles, the Tg-G307S transgene could not efficiently rescue neonatal lethality of Cbs^-/- in a C57BL/6J background. In a C3H/HeJ background, zinc-induced Tg-G307S Cbs^-/- mice expressed high levels of p.G307S CBS in the liver, and this protein variant forms multimers, similarly to mice expressing WT human CBS. However, the p.G307S enzyme had no detectable residual activity. Moreover, treating mice with proteasome inhibitors failed to significantly increase CBS-specific activity. These findings indicated that the G307S substitution likely affects catalytic function as opposed to causing a folding defect. Using molecular dynamics simulation techniques, we found that the G307S substitution likely impairs catalytic function by limiting the ability of the tyrosine at position 308 to assume the proper conformational state(s) required for the formation of the pyridoxal-cystathionine intermediate. These results indicate that the p.G307S CBS is stable but enzymatically inert and therefore unlikely to respond to chaperone-based therapy.

Cystathionine β-Synthase in Physiology and Cancer

Cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) regulates homocysteine metabolism and contributes to hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) biosynthesis through which it plays multifunctional roles in the regulation of cellular energetics, redox status, DNA methylation, and protein modification. Inactivating mutations in CBS contribute to the pathogenesis of the autosomal recessive disease CBS-deficient homocystinuria. Recent studies demonstrating that CBS promotes colon and ovarian cancer growth in preclinical models highlight a newly identified oncogenic role for CBS. On the contrary, tumor-suppressive effects of CBS have been reported in other cancer types, suggesting context-dependent roles of CBS in tumor growth and progression. Here, we review the physiological functions of CBS, summarize the complexities regarding CBS research in oncology, and discuss the potential of CBS and its key metabolites, including homocysteine and H₂S, as potential biomarkers for cancer diagnosis or therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.

Allosteric control of human cystathionine β-synthase activity by a redox active disulfide bond

Cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) is the central enzyme in the trans-sulfuration pathway that converts homocysteine to cysteine. It is also one of the three major enzymes involved in the biogenesis of H2S. CBS is a complex protein with a modular three-domain architecture, the central domain of which contains a 272CXXC275 motif whose function has yet to be determined. In the present study, we demonstrated that the CXXC motif exists in oxidized and reduced states in the recombinant enzyme by mass spectroscopic analysis and a thiol labeling assay. The activity of reduced CBS is ∼2-3-fold greater than that of the oxidized enzyme, and substitution of either cysteine in CXXC motif leads to a loss of redox sensitivity. The Cys272-Cys275 disulfide bond in CBS has a midpoint potential of -314 mV at pH 7.4. Additionally, the CXXC motif also exists in oxidized and reduced states in HEK293 cells under oxidative and reductive conditions, and stressing these cells with DTT results in more reduced enzyme and a concomitant increase in H2S production in live HEK293 cells as determined using a H2S fluorescent probe. By contrast, incubation of cells with aminooxyacetic acid, an inhibitor of CBS and cystathionine γ-lyase, eliminated the increase of H2S production after the cells were exposed to DTT. These findings indicate that CBS is post-translationally regulated by a redox-active disulfide bond in the CXXC motif. The results also demonstrate that CBS-derived H2S production is increased in cells under reductive stress conditions.

Potential Pharmacological Chaperones for Cystathionine Beta-Synthase-Deficient Homocystinuria

Classical homocystinuria (HCU) is the most common loss-of-function inborn error of sulfur amino acid metabolism. HCU is caused by a deficiency in enzymatic degradation of homocysteine, a toxic intermediate of methionine transformation to cysteine, chiefly due to missense mutations in the cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) gene. As with many other inherited disorders, the pathogenic mutations do not target key catalytic residues, but rather introduce structural perturbations leading to an enhanced tendency of the mutant CBS to misfold and either to form nonfunctional aggregates or to undergo proteasome-dependent degradation. Correction of CBS misfolding would represent an alternative therapeutic approach for HCU. In this review, we summarize the complex nature of CBS, its multi-domain architecture, the interplay between the three cofactors required for CBS function [heme, pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP), and S-adenosylmethionine (SAM)], as well as the intricate allosteric regulatory mechanism only recently understood, thanks to advances in CBS crystallography. While roughly half of the patients respond to treatment with a PLP precursor pyridoxine, many studies suggested usefulness of small chemicals, such as chemical and pharmacological chaperones or proteasome inhibitors, rescuing mutant CBS activity in cellular and animal models of HCU. Non-specific chemical chaperones and proteasome inhibitors assist in mutant CBS folding process and/or prevent its rapid degradation, thus resulting in increased steady-state levels of the enzyme and CBS activity. Recent interest in the field and available structural information will hopefully yield CBS-specific compounds, by using high-throughput screening and computational modeling of novel ligands, improving folding, stability, and activity of CBS mutants.

Crystal structure of cystathionine β-synthase from honeybee Apis mellifera

Cystathionine β-synthase (CBS), the key enzyme in the transsulfuration pathway, links methionine metabolism to the biosynthesis of cellular redox controlling molecules. CBS catalyzes the pyridoxal-5'-phosphate-dependent condensation of serine and homocysteine to form cystathionine, which is subsequently converted into cysteine. Besides maintaining cellular sulfur amino acid homeostasis, CBS also catalyzes multiple hydrogen sulfide-generating reactions using cysteine and homocysteine as substrates. In mammals, CBS is activated by S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet), where it can adopt two different conformations (basal and activated), but exists as a unique highly active species in fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Here we present the crystal structure of CBS from honeybey Apis mellifera, which shows a constitutively active dimeric species and let explain why the enzyme is not allosterically regulated by AdoMet. In addition, comparison of available CBS structures unveils a substrate-induced closure of the catalytic cavity, which in humans is affected by the AdoMet-dependent regulation and likely impaired by the homocystinuria causing mutation T191M.

International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. CII: Pharmacological Modulation of H2S Levels: H2S Donors and H2S Biosynthesis Inhibitors

Over the last decade, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has emerged as an important endogenous gasotransmitter in mammalian cells and tissues. Similar to the previously characterized gasotransmitters nitric oxide and carbon monoxide, H2S is produced by various enzymatic reactions and regulates a host of physiologic and pathophysiological processes in various cells and tissues. H2S levels are decreased in a number of conditions (e.g., diabetes mellitus, ischemia, and aging) and are increased in other states (e.g., inflammation, critical illness, and cancer). Over the last decades, multiple approaches have been identified for the therapeutic exploitation of H2S, either based on H2S donation or inhibition of H2S biosynthesis. H2S donation can be achieved through the inhalation of H2S gas and/or the parenteral or enteral administration of so-called fast-releasing H2S donors (salts of H2S such as NaHS and Na2S) or slow-releasing H2S donors (GYY4137 being the prototypical compound used in hundreds of studies in vitro and in vivo). Recent work also identifies various donors with regulated H2S release profiles, including oxidant-triggered donors, pH-dependent donors, esterase-activated donors, and organelle-targeted (e.g., mitochondrial) compounds. There are also approaches where existing, clinically approved drugs of various classes (e.g., nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories) are coupled with H2S-donating groups (the most advanced compound in clinical trials is ATB-346, an H2S-donating derivative of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory compound naproxen). For pharmacological inhibition of H2S synthesis, there are now several small molecule compounds targeting each of the three H2S-producing enzymes cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS), cystathionine-γ-lyase, and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase. Although many of these compounds have their limitations (potency, selectivity), these molecules, especially in combination with genetic approaches, can be instrumental for the delineation of the biologic processes involving endogenous H2S production. Moreover, some of these compounds (e.g., cell-permeable prodrugs of the CBS inhibitor aminooxyacetate, or benserazide, a potentially repurposable CBS inhibitor) may serve as starting points for future clinical translation. The present article overviews the currently known H2S donors and H2S biosynthesis inhibitors, delineates their mode of action, and offers examples for their biologic effects and potential therapeutic utility.

Homocystinuria: Therapeutic approach

Homocystinuria is a disorder of sulfur metabolism pathway caused by deficiency of cystathionine β-synthase (CBS). It is characterized by increased accumulation of homocysteine (Hcy) in the cells and plasma. Increased homocysteine results in various vascular and neurological complications. Present strategies to lower cellular and plasma homocysteine levels include vitamin B6 intake, dietary methionine restriction, betaine supplementation, folate and vitamin B12 administration. However, these strategies are inefficient for treatment of homocystinuria. In recent years, advances have been made towards developing new strategies to treat homocystinuria. These mainly include functional restoration to mutant CBS, enhanced clearance of Hcy from the body, prevention of N-homocysteinylation-induced toxicity and inhibition of homocysteine-induced oxidative stress. In this review, we have exclusively discussed the recent advances that have been achieved towards the treatment of homocystinuria. The review is an attempt to help clinicians in developing effective therapeutic strategies and designing novel drugs against homocystinuria.

Counteraction of Trehalose on N, N-Dimethylformamide-Induced Candida rugosa Lipase Denaturation: Spectroscopic Insight and Molecular Dynamic Simulation

Candida rugosa lipase (CRL) has been widely used as a biocatalyst for non-aqueous synthesis in biotechnological applications, which, however, often suffers significant loss of activity in organic solvent. Experimental results show that trehalose could actively counteract the organic-solvent-induced protein denaturation, while the molecular mechanisms still don’t unclear. Herein, CRL was used as a model enzyme to explore the effects of trehalose on the retention of enzymatic activity upon incubation in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). Results showed that both catalytic activity and conformation changes of CRL influenced by DMF solvent were inhibited by trehalose in a dose-dependent fashion. The simulations further indicated that the CRL protein unfolded in binary DMF solution, but retained the native state in the ternary DMF/trehalose system. Trehalose as the second osmolyte added into binary DMF solution decreased DMF-CRL hydrogen bonds efficiently, whereas increased the intermolecular hydrogen bondings between DMF and trehalose. Thus, the origin of its denaturing effects of DMF on protein is thought to be due to the preferential exclusion of trehalose as well as the intermolecular hydrogen bondings between trehalose and DMF. These findings suggest that trehalose protect the CRL protein from DMF-induced unfolding via both indirect and direct interactions.

Chaperone therapy for homocystinuria: the rescue of CBS mutations by heme arginate

Classical homocystinuria is caused by mutations in the cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) gene. Previous experiments in bacterial and yeast cells showed that many mutant CBS enzymes misfold and that chemical chaperones enable proper folding of a number of mutations. In the present study, we tested the extent of misfolding of 27 CBS mutations previously tested in E. coli under the more folding-permissive conditions of mammalian CHO-K1 cells and the ability of chaperones to rescue the conformation of these mutations. Expression of mutations in mammalian cells increased the median activity 16-fold and the amount of tetramers 3.2-fold compared with expression in bacteria. Subsequently, we tested the responses of seven selected mutations to three compounds with chaperone-like activity. Aminooxyacetic acid and 4-phenylbutyric acid exhibited only a weak effect. In contrast, heme arginate substantially increased the formation of mutant CBS protein tetramers (up to sixfold) and rescued catalytic activity (up to ninefold) of five out of seven mutations (p.A114V, p.K102N, p.R125Q, p.R266K, and p.R369C). The greatest effect of heme arginate was observed for the mutation p.R125Q, which is non-responsive to in vivo treatment with vitamin B(6). Moreover, the heme responsiveness of the p.R125Q mutation was confirmed in fibroblasts derived from a patient homozygous for this genetic variant. Based on these data, we propose that a distinct group of heme-responsive CBS mutations may exist and that the heme pocket of CBS may become an important target for designing novel therapies for homocystinuria.

S-glutathionylation enhances human cystathionine β-synthase activity under oxidative stress conditions

AIMS

Cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) catalyzes the first and rate-limiting step in the two-step trans-sulfuration pathway that converts homocysteine to cysteine. It is also one of three major enzymes responsible for the biogenesis of H2S, a signaling molecule. We have previously demonstrated that CBS is activated in cells challenged by oxidative stress, but the underlying molecular mechanism of this regulation has remained unclear.

RESULTS

Here, we demonstrate that S-glutathionylation of CBS enhances its activity ∼2-fold in vitro. Loss of this post-translational modification in the presence of dithiothreitol results in reversal to basal activity. Cys346 was identified as the site for S-glutathionylation by a combination of mass spectrometric, mutagenesis, and activity analyses. To test the physiological relevance of S-glutathionylation-dependent regulation of CBS, HEK293 cells were oxidatively challenged with peroxide, which is known to enhance the trans-sulfuration flux. Under these conditions, CBS glutathionylation levels increased and were correlated with a ∼3-fold increase in CBS activity.

INNOVATION

Collectively, our results reveal a novel post-translational modification of CBS, that is, glutathionylation, which functions as an allosteric activator under oxidative stress conditions permitting enhanced synthesis of both cysteine and H2S.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study elucidates a molecular mechanism for increased cysteine and therefore glutathione, synthesis via glutathionylation of CBS. They also demonstrate the potential for increased H2S production under oxidative stress conditions, particularly in tissues where CBS is a major source of H2S.

Selectivity of commonly used pharmacological inhibitors for cystathionine β synthase (CBS) and cystathionine γ lyase (CSE)

Background and Purpose

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is a signalling molecule that belongs to the gasotransmitter family. Two major sources for endogenous enzymatic production of H₂S are cystathionine β synthase (CBS) and cystathionine γ lyase (CSE). In the present study, we examined the selectivity of commonly used pharmacological inhibitors of H₂S biosynthesis towards CSE and CBS.

Experimental Approach

To address this question, human CSE or CBS enzymes were expressed and purified from Escherichia coli as fusion proteins with GSH-S-transferase. After purification, the activity of the recombinant enzymes was tested using the methylene blue method.

Key Results

β-cyanoalanine (BCA) was more potent in inhibiting CSE than propargylglycine (PAG) (IC₅₀ 14 ± 0.2 μM vs. 40 ± 8 μM respectively). Similar to PAG, L-aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) only inhibited CSE, but did so at much lower concentrations. On the other hand, aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA), a frequently used CBS inhibitor, was more potent in inhibiting CSE compared with BCA and PAG (IC₅₀ 1.1 ± 0.1 μM); the IC₅₀ for AOAA for inhibiting CBS was 8.5 ± 0.7 μM. In line with our biochemical observations, relaxation to L-cysteine was blocked by AOAA in aortic rings that lacked CBS expression. Trifluoroalanine and hydroxylamine, two compounds that have also been used to block H₂S biosynthesis, blocked the activity of CBS and CSE. Trifluoroalanine had a fourfold lower IC₅₀ for CBS versus CSE, while hydroxylamine was 60-fold more selective against CSE.

Conclusions and Implications

In conclusion, although PAG, AVG and BCA exhibit selectivity in inhibiting CSE versus CBS, no selective pharmacological CBS inhibitor is currently available.

Structural insight into the molecular mechanism of allosteric activation of human cystathionine β-synthase by S-adenosylmethionine

Cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) is a heme-dependent and pyridoxal-5'-phosphate-dependent protein that controls the flux of sulfur from methionine to cysteine, a precursor of glutathione, taurine, and H2S. Deficiency of CBS activity causes homocystinuria, the most frequent disorder of sulfur amino acid metabolism. In contrast to CBSs from lower organisms, human CBS (hCBS) is allosterically activated by S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet), which binds to the regulatory domain and triggers a conformational change that allows the protein to progress from the basal toward the activated state. The structural basis of the underlying molecular mechanism has remained elusive so far. Here, we present the structure of hCBS with bound AdoMet, revealing the activated conformation of the human enzyme. Binding of AdoMet triggers a conformational change in the Bateman module of the regulatory domain that favors its association with a Bateman module of the complementary subunit to form an antiparallel CBS module. Such an arrangement is very similar to that found in the constitutively activated insect CBS. In the presence of AdoMet, the autoinhibition exerted by the regulatory region is eliminated, allowing for improved access of substrates to the catalytic pocket. Based on the availability of both the basal and the activated structures, we discuss the mechanism of hCBS activation by AdoMet and the properties of the AdoMet binding site, as well as the responsiveness of the enzyme to its allosteric regulator. The structure described herein paves the way for the rational design of compounds modulating hCBS activity and thus transsulfuration, redox status, and H2S biogenesis.

Domain organization, catalysis and regulation of eukaryotic cystathionine beta-synthases

Cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) is a key regulator of sulfur amino acid metabolism diverting homocysteine, a toxic intermediate of the methionine cycle, via the transsulfuration pathway to the biosynthesis of cysteine. Although the pathway itself is well conserved among eukaryotes, properties of eukaryotic CBS enzymes vary greatly. Here we present a side-by-side biochemical and biophysical comparison of human (hCBS), fruit fly (dCBS) and yeast (yCBS) enzymes. Preparation and characterization of the full-length and truncated enzymes, lacking the regulatory domains, suggested that eukaryotic CBS exists in one of at least two significantly different conformations impacting the enzyme’s catalytic activity, oligomeric status and regulation. Truncation of hCBS and yCBS, but not dCBS, resulted in enzyme activation and formation of dimers compared to native tetramers. The dCBS and yCBS are not regulated by the allosteric activator of hCBS, S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet); however, they have significantly higher specific activities in the canonical as well as alternative reactions compared to hCBS. Unlike yCBS, the heme-containing dCBS and hCBS showed increased thermal stability and retention of the enzyme’s catalytic activity. The mass-spectrometry analysis and isothermal titration calorimetry showed clear presence and binding of AdoMet to yCBS and hCBS, but not dCBS. However, the role of AdoMet binding to yCBS remains unclear, unlike its role in hCBS. This study provides valuable information for understanding the complexity of the domain organization, catalytic specificity and regulation among eukaryotic CBS enzymes.

Reduced response of Cystathionine Beta-Synthase (CBS) to S-Adenosylmethionine (SAM): Identification and functional analysis of CBS gene mutations in Homocystinuria patients

A reduced response of cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) to its allosteric activator S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) has been reported to be a cause of CBS dysfunction in homocystinuria patients. In this work we performed a retrospective analysis of fibroblast data from 62 homocystinuria patients and found that 13 of them presented a disturbed SAM activation. Their genotypic background was identified and the corresponding CBS mutant proteins were produced in E. coli. Nine distinct mutations were detected in 22 independent alleles: the novel mutations p.K269del, p.P427L, p.S500L and p.L540Q; and the previously described mutations p.P49L, p.C165Rfs*2, p.I278T, p.R336H and p.D444N. Expression levels and residual enzyme activities, determined in the soluble fraction of E. coli lysates, strongly correlated with the localization of the affected amino acid residue. C-terminal mutations lead to activities in the range of the wild-type CBS and to oligomeric forms migrating faster than tetramers, suggesting an abnormal conformation that might be responsible for the lack of SAM activation. Mutations in the catalytic core were associated with low protein expression levels, decreased enzyme activities and a higher content of high molecular mass forms. Furthermore, the absence of SAM activation found in the patients' fibroblasts was confirmed for all but one of the characterized recombinant proteins (p.P49L). Our study experimentally supports a deficient regulation of CBS by SAM as a frequently found mechanism in CBS deficiency, which should be considered not only as a valuable diagnostic tool but also as a potential target for the development of new therapeutic approaches in classical homocystinuria.

Nitrite reductase activity and inhibition of H₂S biogenesis by human cystathionine ß-synthase

Nitrite was recognized as a potent vasodilator >130 years and has more recently emerged as an endogenous signaling molecule and modulator of gene expression. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate nitrite metabolism is essential for its use as a potential diagnostic marker as well as therapeutic agent for cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we have identified human cystathionine ß-synthase (CBS) as a new player in nitrite reduction with implications for the nitrite-dependent control of H₂S production. This novel activity of CBS exploits the catalytic property of its unusual heme cofactor to reduce nitrite and generate NO. Evidence for the possible physiological relevance of this reaction is provided by the formation of ferrous-nitrosyl (Fe^II-NO) CBS in the presence of NADPH, the human diflavin methionine synthase reductase (MSR) and nitrite. Formation of Fe^II-NO CBS via its nitrite reductase activity inhibits CBS, providing an avenue for regulating biogenesis of H₂S and cysteine, the limiting reagent for synthesis of glutathione, a major antioxidant. Our results also suggest a possible role for CBS in intracellular NO biogenesis particularly under hypoxic conditions. The participation of a regulatory heme cofactor in CBS in nitrite reduction is unexpected and expands the repertoire of proteins that can liberate NO from the intracellular nitrite pool. Our results reveal a potential molecular mechanism for cross-talk between nitrite, NO and H₂S biology.

Structural basis of regulation and oligomerization of human cystathionine β-synthase, the central enzyme of transsulfuration

Cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) controls the flux of sulfur from methionine to cysteine, a precursor of glutathione, taurine, and H2S. CBS condenses serine and homocysteine to cystathionine with the help of three cofactors, heme, pyridoxal-5'-phosphate, and S-adenosyl-l-methionine. Inherited deficiency of CBS activity causes homocystinuria, the most frequent disorder of sulfur metabolism. We present the structure of the human enzyme, discuss the unique arrangement of the CBS domains in the C-terminal region, and propose how they interact with the catalytic core of the complementary subunit to regulate access to the catalytic site. This arrangement clearly contrasts with other proteins containing the CBS domain including the recent Drosophila melanogaster CBS structure. The absence of large conformational changes and the crystal structure of the partially activated pathogenic D444N mutant suggest that the rotation of CBS motifs and relaxation of loops delineating the entrance to the catalytic site represent the most likely molecular mechanism of CBS activation by S-adenosyl-l-methionine. Moreover, our data suggest how tetramers, the native quaternary structure of the mammalian CBS enzymes, are formed. Because of its central role in transsulfuration, redox status, and H2S biogenesis, CBS represents a very attractive therapeutic target. The availability of the structure will help us understand the pathogenicity of the numerous missense mutations causing inherited homocystinuria and will allow the rational design of compounds modulating CBS activity.

Comparative study of enzyme activity and heme reactivity in Drosophila melanogaster and Homo sapiens cystathionine β-synthases

Cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) is the first and rate-limiting enzyme in the transsulfuration pathway, which is critical for the synthesis of cysteine from methionine in eukaryotes. CBS uses coenzyme pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) for catalysis, and S-adenosylmethionine regulates the activity of human CBS, but not yeast CBS. Human and fruit fly CBS contain heme; however, the role for heme is not clear. This paper reports biochemical and spectroscopic characterization of CBS from fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster (DmCBS) and the CO/NO gas binding reactions of DmCBS and human CBS. Like CBS enzymes from lower organisms (e.g., yeast), DmCBS is intrinsically highly active and is not regulated by AdoMet. The DmCBS heme coordination environment, the reactivity, and the accompanying effects on enzyme activity are similar to those of human CBS. The DmCBS heme bears histidine and cysteine axial ligands, and the enzyme becomes inactive when the cysteine ligand is replaced. The Fe(II) heme in DmCBS is less stable than that in human CBS, undergoing more facile reoxidation and ligand exchange. In both CBS proteins, the overall stability of the protein is correlated with the heme oxidation state. Human and DmCBS Fe(II) hemes react relatively slowly with CO and NO, and the rate of the CO binding reaction is faster at low pH than at high pH. Together, the results suggest that heme incorporation and AdoMet regulation in CBS are not correlated, possibly providing two independent means for regulating the enzyme.

Lanthionine synthetase C-like protein 1 interacts with and inhibits cystathionine β-synthase: a target for neuronal antioxidant defense

The finding that eukaryotic lanthionine synthetase C-like protein 1 (LanCL1) is a glutathione-binding protein prompted us to investigate the potential relationship between LanCL1 and cystathionine β-synthase (CBS). CBS is a trans-sulfuration enzyme critical for the reduced glutathione (GSH) synthesis and GSH-dependent defense against oxidative stress. In this study we found that LanCL1 bound to CBS in mouse cortex and HEK293 cells. Mapping studies revealed that the binding region in LanCL1 spans amino acids 158-169, and that in CBS contains N-terminal and C-terminal regulatory domains. Recombinant His-LanCL1 directly bound endogenous CBS from mouse cortical lysates and inhibited its activity. Overexpression of LanCL1 inhibited CBS activity in HEK293 cells. CBS activity is reported to be regulated by oxidative stress. Here we found that oxidative stress induced by H(2)O(2) or glutamate lowered the GSH/GSSG ratio, dissociated LanCL1 from CBS, and elevated CBS activity in primary rat cortical neurons. Decreasing the GSH/GSSG ratio by adding GSSG to cellular extracts also dissociated LanCL1 from CBS. Either lentiviral knockdown of LanCL1 or specific disruption of the LanCL1-CBS interaction using the peptide Tat-LanCL1(153-173) released CBS activity in neurons but occluded CBS activation in response to oxidative stress, indicating the major contribution of the LanCL1-CBS interaction to the regulation of CBS activity. Furthermore, LanCL1 knockdown or Tat-LanCL1(153-173) treatment reduced H(2)O(2) or glutamate-induced neuronal damage. This study implies potential therapeutic value in targeting the LanCL1-CBS interaction for neuronal oxidative stress-related diseases.

Folding and activity of mutant cystathionine β-synthase depends on the position and nature of the purification tag: characterization of the R266K CBS mutant

Cystathionine β-synthase (CBS), a heme-containing pyridoxal-5-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzyme, catalyzes the condensation of serine and homocysteine to yield cystathionine. Missense mutations in CBS, the most common cause of homocystinuria, often result in misfolded proteins. Arginine 266, where the pathogenic missense mutation R266K was identified, appears to be involved in the communication between heme and the PLP-containing catalytic center. Here, we assessed the effect of a short affinity tag (6xHis) compared to a bulky fusion partner (glutathione S-transferase - GST) on CBS wild type (WT) and R266K mutant enzyme properties. While WT CBS was successfully expressed either in conjunction with a GST or with a 6xHis tag, the mutant R266K CBS had no activity, did not form native tetramers and did not respond to chemical chaperone treatment when expressed with a GST fusion partner. Interestingly, expression of R266K CBS constructs with a 6xHis tag at either end yielded active enzymes. The purified, predominantly tetrameric, R266K CBS with a C-terminal 6xHis tag had ∼82% of the activity of a corresponding WT CBS construct. Results from thermal pre-treatment of the enzyme and the denaturation profile of R266K suggests a lower thermal stability of the mutant enzyme compared to WT, presumably due to a disturbed heme environment.

Cobalt cystathionine β-synthase: a cobalt-substituted heme protein with a unique thiolate ligation motif

Human cystathionine β-synthase (hCBS), a key enzyme in the trans-sulfuration pathway, catalyzes the condensation of serine with homocysteine to produce cystathionine. CBS from higher organisms is the only known protein that binds pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP) and heme. Intriguingly, the function of the heme in hCBS has yet to be elucidated. Herein, we describe the characterization of a cobalt-substituted variant of hCBS (Co hCBS) in which CoPPIX replaces FePPIX (heme). Co(III) hCBS is a unique Co-substituted heme protein: the Co(III) ion is 6-coordinate, low-spin, diamagnetic, and bears a cysteine(thiolate) as one of its axial ligands. The peak positions and intensities of the electronic absorption and MCD spectra of Co(III) hCBS are distinct from those of previously Co-substituted heme proteins; TD-DFT calculations reveal that the unique features arise from the 6-coordinate Co bound axially by cysteine(thiolate) and a neutral donor, presumably histidine. Reactivity of Co(III) hCBS with HgCl(2) is consistent with a loss of the cysteine(thiolate) ligand. Co(III) hCBS is slowly reduced to Co(II) hCBS, which contains a 5-coordinate, low-spin, S = 1/2 Co-porphyrin that does not retain the cysteine(thiolate) ligand; this form of Co(II) hCBS binds NO((g)) but not CO((g)). Co(II) hCBS is reoxidized in the air to form a new Co(III) form, which does not contain a cysteine(thiolate) ligand. Canonical and alternative CBS assays suggest that maintaining the native heme ligation motif of wild-type Fe hCBS (Cys/His) is essential in maintaining maximal activity in Co hCBS. Correlation between the coordination structures and enzyme activity in both native Fe and Co-substituted proteins implicates a structural role for the heme in CBS.

Purification and characterization of cystathionine β-synthase bearing a cobalt protoporphyrin

Human cystathionine β-synthase (CBS), a pivotal enzyme in the metabolism of homocysteine, is a pyridoxal-5'-phosphate-dependent enzyme that also contains heme, a second cofactor whose function is still unclear. One strategy for elucidation of heme function is its replacement with different metalloporphyrins or with porphyrins containing different substituent groups. This paper describes a novel expression approach and purification of cobalt CBS (CoCBS), which results in a high yield of fully active, high purity enzyme, in which heme is substituted by Co-protoporphyrin IX (CoPPIX). Metal content analysis showed that the enzyme contained 92% cobalt and 8% iron. CoCBS was indistinguishable from wild-type FeCBS in its activity, tetrameric oligomerization, PLP saturation and responsiveness to the allosteric activator, S-adenosyl-l-methionine. The observed biochemical and spectral characteristics of CoCBS provide further support for the suggestion that heme is involved in structural integrity and folding of this unusual enzyme.

Hypermethioninemias of genetic and non-genetic origin: A review

This review covers briefly the major conditions, genetic and non-genetic, sometimes leading to abnormally elevated methionine, with emphasis on recent developments. A major aim is to assist in the differential diagnosis of hypermethioninemia. The genetic conditions are: (1) Homocystinuria due to cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) deficiency. At least 150 different mutations in the CBS gene have been identified since this deficiency was established in 1964. Hypermethioninemia is due chiefly to remethylation of the accumulated homocysteine. (2) Deficient activity of methionine adenosyltransferases I and III (MAT I/III), the isoenzymes the catalytic subunit of which are encoded by MAT1A. Methionine accumulates because its conversion to S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) is impaired. (3) Glycine N-methyltrasferase (GNMT) deficiency. Disruption of a quantitatively major pathway for AdoMet disposal leads to AdoMet accumulation with secondary down-regulation of methionine flux into AdoMet. (4) S-adenosylhomocysteine (AdoHcy) hydrolase (AHCY) deficiency. Not being catabolized normally, AdoHcy accumulates and inhibits many AdoMet-dependent methyltransferases, producing accumulation of AdoMet and, thereby, hypermethioninemia. (5) Citrin deficiency, found chiefly in Asian countries. Lack of this mitochondrial aspartate-glutamate transporter may produce (usually transient) hypermethioninemia, the immediate cause of which remains uncertain. (6) Fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (FAH) deficiency (tyrosinemia type I) may lead to hypermethioninemia secondary either to liver damage and/or to accumulation of fumarylacetoacetate, an inhibitor of the high K(m) MAT. Additional possible genetic causes of hypermethioninemia accompanied by elevations of plasma AdoMet include mitochondrial disorders (the specificity and frequency of which remain to be elucidated). Non-genetic conditions include: (a) Liver disease, which may cause hypermethioninemia, mild, or severe. (b) Low-birth-weight and/or prematurity which may cause transient hypermethioninemia. (c) Ingestion of relatively large amounts of methionine which, even in full-term, normal-birth-weight babies may cause hypermethioninemia.

Restoring assembly and activity of cystathionine β-synthase mutants by ligands and chemical chaperones

Misfolding and aggregation of mutant enzymes have been proposed to play role in the pathogenesis of homocystinuria due to cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) deficiency. Chemical chaperones have been recently shown to facilitate proper assembly of several CBS mutants. To asses the number of patients that may respond to chaperone therapy, we examined the effect of selected CBS ligands and osmolytes on assembly and activity of 27 CBS mutants that represent 70% of known CBS alleles. The mutant enzymes were expressed in a bacterial system, and their properties were assessed by native Western blotting and sensitive liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assay, respectively. We studied the chaperoning activity of δ-aminolevulinic acid (δ-ALA)-a heme precursor-and of three osmolytes betaine, 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid (taurine), and glycerol. Fourteen mutants responded by at least 30% increase in the amount of correctly assembled tetramers and enzymatic activity to the coexpressional presence of either 0.5 mM δ-ALA, 100 mM betaine, and/or 750 mM glycerol. Eight of these mutants (p.R266K, p.P49L, p.R125Q, p.K102N, p.R369C, p.V180A, p.P78R, p.S466L) were rescuable by all of these three substances. Four mutants showed increased formation of tetramers that was not accompanied by changes in activity. Topology of mutations appeared to determine the chaperone responsiveness, as 11 of 14 solvent-exposed mutations were substantially more responsive than three of 13 buried mutations. This study identified chaperone-responsive mutants that represent 56 of 713 known patient-derived CBS alleles and may serve as a basis for exploring pharmacological approaches aimed at correcting misfolding in homocystinuria.

Effect of cobalt on Escherichia coli metabolism and metalloporphyrin formation

Toxicity in Escherichia coli resulting from high concentrations of cobalt has been explained by competition of cobalt with iron in various metabolic processes including Fe-S cluster assembly, sulfur assimilation, production of free radicals and reduction of free thiol pool. Here we present another aspect of increased cobalt concentrations in the culture medium resulting in the production of cobalt protoporphyrin IX (CoPPIX), which was incorporated into heme proteins including membrane-bound cytochromes and an expressed human cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS). The presence of CoPPIX in cytochromes inhibited their electron transport capacity and resulted in a substantially decreased respiration. Bacterial cells adapted to the increased cobalt concentration by inducing a modified mixed acid fermentative pathway under aerobiosis. We capitalized on the ability of E. coli to insert cobalt into PPIX to carry out an expression of CoPPIX-substituted heme proteins. The level of CoPPIX-substitution increased with the number of passages of cells in a cobalt-containing medium. This approach is an inexpensive method to prepare cobalt-substituted heme proteins compared to in vitro enzyme reconstitution or in vivo replacement using metalloporphyrin heme analogs and seems to be especially suitable for complex heme proteins with an additional coenzyme, such as human CBS.

Rescue of cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) mutants with chemical chaperones: purification and characterization of eight CBS mutant enzymes

Missense mutations represent the most common cause of many genetic diseases including cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) deficiency. Many of these mutations result in misfolded proteins, which lack biological function. The presence of chemical chaperones can sometimes alleviate or even restore protein folding and activity of mutant proteins. We present the purification and characterization of eight CBS mutants expressed in the presence of chemical chaperones such as ethanol, dimethyl sulfoxide, or trimethylamine-N-oxide. Preliminary screening in Escherichia coli crude extracts showed that their presence during protein expression had a significant impact on the amount of recovered CBS protein, formation of tetramers, and catalytic activity. Subsequently, we purified eight CBS mutants to homogeneity (P49L, P78R, A114V, R125Q, E176K, P422L, I435T, and S466L). The tetrameric mutant enzymes fully saturated with heme had the same or higher specific activities than wild type CBS. Thermal stability measurements demonstrated that the purified mutants are equally or more thermostable than wild type CBS. The response to S-adenosyl-L-methionine stimulation or thermal activation varied. The lack of response of R125Q and E176K to both stimuli indicated that their specific conformations were unable to reach the activated state. Increased levels of molecular chaperones in crude extracts, particularly DnaJ, indicated a rather indirect effect of the chemical chaperones on folding of CBS mutants. In conclusion, the chemical chaperones present in the expression medium were able to fully restore the activity of eight CBS mutants by improving their protein folding. This finding could have direct implications for the development of a therapeutical approach to pyridoxine unresponsive homocystinuria.

Heme regulation of human cystathionine beta-synthase activity: insights from fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy

Cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) plays a central role in homocysteine metabolism, and malfunction of the enzyme leads to homocystinuria, a devastating metabolic disease. CBS contains a pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) cofactor which catalyzes the synthesis of cystathionine from homocysteine and serine. Mammalian forms of the enzyme also contain a heme group, which is not involved in catalysis. It may, however, play a regulatory role, since the enzyme is inhibited when CO or NO are bound to the heme. We have investigated the mechanism of this inhibition using fluorescence and resonance Raman spectroscopies. CO binding is found to induce a tautomeric shift of the PLP from the ketoenamine to the enolimine form. The ketoenamine is key to PLP reactivity because its imine C horizontal lineN bond is protonated, facilitating attack by the nucleophilic substrate, serine. The same tautomer shift is also induced by heat inactivation of Fe(II)CBS, or by an Arg266Met replacement in Fe(II)CBS, which likewise inactivates the enzyme; in both cases the endogenous Cys52 ligand to the heme is replaced by another, unidentified ligand. CO binding also displaces Cys52 from the heme. We propose that the tautomer shift results from loss of a stabilizing H-bond from Asn149 to the PLP ring O3' atom, which is negatively charged in the ketoenamine tautomer. This loss would be induced by displacement of the PLP as a result of breaking the salt bridge between Cys52 and Arg266, which resides on a short helix that is also anchored to the PLP via H-bonds to its phosphate group. The salt bridge would be broken when Cys52 is displaced from the heme. Cys52 protonation is inferred to be the rate-limiting step in breaking the salt bridge, since the rate of the tautomer shift, following CO binding, increases with decreasing pH. In addition, elevation of the concentration of phosphate buffer was found to diminish the rate and extent of the tautomer shift, suggesting a ketoenamine-stabilizing phosphate binding site, possibly at the protonated imine bond of the PLP. Implications of these findings for CBS regulation are discussed.