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Copley SD, Newton MS, Widney KA. How to Recruit a Promiscuous Enzyme to Serve a New Function. Biochemistry 2023; 62:300-308. [PMID: 35729117 PMCID: PMC9881647 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.2c00249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Promiscuous enzymes can be recruited to serve new functions when a genetic or environmental change makes catalysis of a novel reaction important for fitness or even survival. Subsequently, gene duplication and divergence can lead to evolution of an efficient and specialized new enzyme. Every organism likely has thousands of promiscuous enzyme activities that provide a vast reservoir of catalytic potential. However, much of this potential may not be accessible. We compiled kinetic parameters for promiscuous reactions catalyzed by 108 enzymes. The median value of kcat/KM is a very modest 31 M-1 s-1. Based upon the fluxes through metabolic pathways in E. coli, we estimate that many, if not most, promiscuous activities are too inefficient to impact fitness. However, mutations can elevate the level of an insufficient promiscuous activity by increasing enzyme expression, improving kcat/KM, or altering concentrations of the promiscuous and native substrates and allosteric regulators. Particularly in large bacterial populations, stochastic mutations may provide a viable pathway for recruitment of even inefficient promiscuous activities.
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2
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Coevolution of Metabolic Pathways in Blattodea and Their Blattabacterium Endosymbionts, and Comparisons with Other Insect-Bacteria Symbioses. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0277922. [PMID: 36094208 PMCID: PMC9603385 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02779-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Many insects harbor bacterial endosymbionts that supply essential nutrients and enable their hosts to thrive on a nutritionally unbalanced diet. Comparisons of the genomes of endosymbionts and their insect hosts have revealed multiple cases of mutually-dependent metabolic pathways that require enzymes encoded in 2 genomes. Complementation of metabolic reactions at the pathway level has been described for hosts feeding on unbalanced diets, such as plant sap. However, the level of collaboration between symbionts and hosts that feed on more variable diets is largely unknown. In this study, we investigated amino acid and vitamin/cofactor biosynthetic pathways in Blattodea, which comprises cockroaches and termites, and their obligate endosymbiont Blattabacterium cuenoti (hereafter Blattabacterium). In contrast to other obligate symbiotic systems, we found no clear evidence of "collaborative pathways" for amino acid biosynthesis in the genomes of these taxa, with the exception of collaborative arginine biosynthesis in 2 taxa, Cryptocercus punctulatus and Mastotermes darwiniensis. Nevertheless, we found that several gaps specific to Blattabacterium in the folate biosynthetic pathway are likely to be complemented by their host. Comparisons with other insects revealed that, with the exception of the arginine biosynthetic pathway, collaborative pathways for essential amino acids are only observed in phloem-sap feeders. These results suggest that the host diet is an important driving factor of metabolic pathway evolution in obligate symbiotic systems. IMPORTANCE The long-term coevolution between insects and their obligate endosymbionts is accompanied by increasing levels of genome integration, sometimes to the point that metabolic pathways require enzymes encoded in two genomes, which we refer to as "collaborative pathways". To date, collaborative pathways have only been reported from sap-feeding insects. Here, we examined metabolic interactions between cockroaches, a group of detritivorous insects, and their obligate endosymbiont, Blattabacterium, and only found evidence of collaborative pathways for arginine biosynthesis. The rarity of collaborative pathways in cockroaches and Blattabacterium contrasts with their prevalence in insect hosts feeding on phloem-sap. Our results suggest that host diet is a factor affecting metabolic integration in obligate symbiotic systems.
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3
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Low protein expression enhances phenotypic evolvability by intensifying selection on folding stability. Nat Ecol Evol 2022; 6:1155-1164. [PMID: 35798838 PMCID: PMC7613228 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-022-01797-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Protein abundance affects the evolution of protein genotypes, but we do not know how it affects the evolution of protein phenotypes. Here we investigate the role of protein abundance in the evolvability of green fluorescent protein (GFP) towards the novel phenotype of cyan fluorescence. We evolve GFP in E. coli through multiple cycles of mutation and selection and show that low GFP expression facilitates the evolution of cyan fluorescence. A computational model whose predictions we test experimentally helps explain why: lowly expressed proteins are under stronger selection for proper folding, which facilitates their evolvability on short evolutionary time scales. The reason is that high fluorescence can be achieved by either few proteins that fold well or by many proteins that fold less well. In other words, we observe a synergy between a protein's scarcity and its stability. Because many proteins meet the essential requirements for this scarcity-stability synergy, it may be a widespread mechanism by which low expression helps proteins evolve new phenotypes and functions.
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4
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Correia K, Mahadevan R. Pan‐Genome‐Scale Network Reconstruction: Harnessing Phylogenomics Increases the Quantity and Quality of Metabolic Models. Biotechnol J 2020; 15:e1900519. [DOI: 10.1002/biot.201900519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Correia
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry University of Toronto 200 College Street Toronto Ontario M5S 3E5 Canada
| | - Radhakrishnan Mahadevan
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry University of Toronto 200 College Street Toronto Ontario M5S 3E5 Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering University of Toronto 164 College Street Toronto Ontario M5S 3G9 Canada
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5
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Khan MS, Gargiulo S, Soumillion P. Promiscuous activity of 3-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase produced at physiological level affords Escherichia coli growth on d-malate. FEBS Lett 2020; 594:2421-2430. [PMID: 32412093 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Promiscuous activities of enzymes may serve as starting points for the evolution of new functions. However, most experimental examples of promiscuity affording an observable phenotype necessitate the artificial overexpression of the target enzyme. Here, we show that 3-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase (IPMDH), an enzyme involved in leucine biosynthesis, has a secondary activity on d-malate, which is sufficient for d-malate assimilation under physiological conditions where the enzyme is upregulated. In vitro, the turnover constant (kcat ) of IPMDH for d-malate is about 30-fold lower than the kcat for 3-isopropylmalate, yet sufficiently high to support the growth on d-malate. From an evolutionary perspective, our results highlight the possibility of phenotype emergence triggered by arbitrary changes in environmental conditions and prior to any mutational event.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Shahneawz Khan
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.,University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Serena Gargiulo
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Patrice Soumillion
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
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6
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Liu G, Beaton SE, Grieve AG, Evans R, Rogers M, Strisovsky K, Armstrong FA, Freeman M, Exley RM, Tang CM. Bacterial rhomboid proteases mediate quality control of orphan membrane proteins. EMBO J 2020; 39:e102922. [PMID: 32337752 PMCID: PMC7232013 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2019102922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Revised: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Although multiprotein membrane complexes play crucial roles in bacterial physiology and virulence, the mechanisms governing their quality control remain incompletely understood. In particular, it is not known how unincorporated, orphan components of protein complexes are recognised and eliminated from membranes. Rhomboids, the most widespread and largest superfamily of intramembrane proteases, are known to play key roles in eukaryotes. In contrast, the function of prokaryotic rhomboids has remained enigmatic. Here, we show that the Shigella sonnei rhomboid proteases GlpG and the newly identified Rhom7 are involved in membrane protein quality control by specifically targeting components of respiratory complexes, with the metastable transmembrane domains (TMDs) of rhomboid substrates protected when they are incorporated into a functional complex. Initial cleavage by GlpG or Rhom7 allows subsequent degradation of the orphan substrate. Given the occurrence of this strategy in an evolutionary ancient organism and the presence of rhomboids in all domains of life, it is likely that this form of quality control also mediates critical events in eukaryotes and protects cells from the damaging effects of orphan proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangyu Liu
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Stephen E Beaton
- Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Adam G Grieve
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Rhiannon Evans
- Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Miranda Rogers
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Kvido Strisovsky
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Praha 6, Czech Republic
| | | | - Matthew Freeman
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Rachel M Exley
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Christoph M Tang
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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7
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Newton MS, Cabezas-Perusse Y, Tong CL, Seelig B. In Vitro Selection of Peptides and Proteins-Advantages of mRNA Display. ACS Synth Biol 2020; 9:181-190. [PMID: 31891492 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.9b00419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
mRNA display is a robust in vitro selection technique that allows the selection of peptides and proteins with desired functions from libraries of trillions of variants. mRNA display relies upon a covalent linkage between a protein and its encoding mRNA molecule; the power of the technique stems from the stability of this link, and the large degree of control over experimental conditions afforded to the researcher. This article describes the major advantages that make mRNA display the method of choice among comparable in vivo and in vitro methods, including cell-surface display, phage display, and ribosomal display. We also describe innovative techniques that harness mRNA display for directed evolution, protein engineering, and drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matilda S. Newton
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics & BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, 1479 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology & Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Yari Cabezas-Perusse
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics & BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, 1479 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
| | - Cher Ling Tong
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics & BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, 1479 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
| | - Burckhard Seelig
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics & BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, 1479 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
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8
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Rohweder B, Lehmann G, Eichner N, Polen T, Rajendran C, Ruperti F, Linde M, Treiber T, Jung O, Dettmer K, Meister G, Bott M, Gronwald W, Sterner R. Library Selection with a Randomized Repertoire of (βα) 8-Barrel Enzymes Results in Unexpected Induction of Gene Expression. Biochemistry 2019; 58:4207-4217. [PMID: 31557000 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.9b00579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The potential of the frequently encountered (βα)8-barrel fold to acquire new functions was tested by an approach combining random mutagenesis and selection in vivo. For this purpose, the genes encoding 52 different phosphate-binding (βα)8-barrel proteins were subjected to error-prone PCR and cloned into an expression plasmid. The resulting mixed repertoire was used to transform different auxotrophic Escherichia coli strains, each lacking an enzyme with a phosphate-containing substrate. After plating of the different transformants on minimal medium, growth was observed only for two strains, lacking either the gene for the serine phosphatase SerB or the phosphoserine aminotransferase SerC. The same mutants of the E. coli genes nanE (encoding a putative N-acetylmannosamine-6-phosphate 2-epimerase) and pdxJ (encoding the pyridoxine 5'-phosphate synthase) were responsible for rescuing both ΔserB and ΔserC. Unexpectedly, the complementing NanE and PdxJ variants did not catalyze the SerB or SerC reactions in vitro. Instead, RT-qPCR, RNAseq, and transcriptome analysis showed that they rescue the deletions by enlisting the help of endogenous E. coli enzymes HisB and HisC through exclusive up-regulation of histidine operon transcription. While the promiscuous SerB activity of HisB is well-established, our data indicate that HisC is promiscuous for the SerC reaction, as well. The successful rescue of ΔserB and ΔserC through point mutations and recruitment of additional amino acids in NanE and PdxJ provides another example for the adaptability of the (βα)8-barrel fold.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bettina Rohweder
- Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry , University of Regensburg , Universitätsstrasse 31 , D-93053 Regensburg , Germany
| | - Gerhard Lehmann
- Institute of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology , University of Regensburg , Universitätsstrasse 31 , D-93053 Regensburg , Germany
| | - Norbert Eichner
- Institute of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology , University of Regensburg , Universitätsstrasse 31 , D-93053 Regensburg , Germany
| | - Tino Polen
- IBG-1: Biotechnology , Institute of Bio- and Geosciences , Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH , D-52425 Jülich , Germany
| | - Chitra Rajendran
- Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry , University of Regensburg , Universitätsstrasse 31 , D-93053 Regensburg , Germany
| | - Fabian Ruperti
- Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry , University of Regensburg , Universitätsstrasse 31 , D-93053 Regensburg , Germany
| | - Mona Linde
- Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry , University of Regensburg , Universitätsstrasse 31 , D-93053 Regensburg , Germany
| | - Thomas Treiber
- Institute of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology , University of Regensburg , Universitätsstrasse 31 , D-93053 Regensburg , Germany
| | - Oona Jung
- Institute of Functional Genomics , University of Regensburg , Universitätsstrasse 31 , D-93053 Regensburg , Germany
| | - Katja Dettmer
- Institute of Functional Genomics , University of Regensburg , Universitätsstrasse 31 , D-93053 Regensburg , Germany
| | - Gunter Meister
- Institute of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology , University of Regensburg , Universitätsstrasse 31 , D-93053 Regensburg , Germany
| | - Michael Bott
- IBG-1: Biotechnology , Institute of Bio- and Geosciences , Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH , D-52425 Jülich , Germany
| | - Wolfram Gronwald
- Institute of Functional Genomics , University of Regensburg , Universitätsstrasse 31 , D-93053 Regensburg , Germany
| | - Reinhard Sterner
- Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry , University of Regensburg , Universitätsstrasse 31 , D-93053 Regensburg , Germany
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9
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Baier F, Hong N, Yang G, Pabis A, Miton CM, Barrozo A, Carr PD, Kamerlin SC, Jackson CJ, Tokuriki N. Cryptic genetic variation shapes the adaptive evolutionary potential of enzymes. eLife 2019; 8:40789. [PMID: 30719972 PMCID: PMC6372284 DOI: 10.7554/elife.40789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2018] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic variation among orthologous proteins can cause cryptic phenotypic properties that only manifest in changing environments. Such variation may impact the evolvability of proteins, but the underlying molecular basis remains unclear. Here, we performed comparative directed evolution of four orthologous metallo-β-lactamases toward a new function and found that different starting genotypes evolved to distinct evolutionary outcomes. Despite a low initial fitness, one ortholog reached a significantly higher fitness plateau than its counterparts, via increasing catalytic activity. By contrast, the ortholog with the highest initial activity evolved to a less-optimal and phenotypically distinct outcome through changes in expression, oligomerization and activity. We show how cryptic molecular properties and conformational variation of active site residues in the initial genotypes cause epistasis, that could lead to distinct evolutionary outcomes. Our work highlights the importance of understanding the molecular details that connect genetic variation to protein function to improve the prediction of protein evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Baier
- Michael Smith Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Nansook Hong
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Gloria Yang
- Michael Smith Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Anna Pabis
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Charlotte M Miton
- Michael Smith Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Alexandre Barrozo
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Paul D Carr
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Shina Cl Kamerlin
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Colin J Jackson
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Nobuhiko Tokuriki
- Michael Smith Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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10
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Guzmán GI, Olson CA, Hefner Y, Phaneuf PV, Catoiu E, Crepaldi LB, Micas LG, Palsson BO, Feist AM. Reframing gene essentiality in terms of adaptive flexibility. BMC SYSTEMS BIOLOGY 2018; 12:143. [PMID: 30558585 PMCID: PMC6296033 DOI: 10.1186/s12918-018-0653-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Essentiality assays are important tools commonly utilized for the discovery of gene functions. Growth/no growth screens of single gene knockout strain collections are also often utilized to test the predictive power of genome-scale models. False positive predictions occur when computational analysis predicts a gene to be non-essential, however experimental screens deem the gene to be essential. One explanation for this inconsistency is that the model contains the wrong information, possibly an incorrectly annotated alternative pathway or isozyme reaction. Inconsistencies could also be attributed to experimental limitations, such as growth tests with arbitrary time cut-offs. The focus of this study was to resolve such inconsistencies to better understand isozyme activities and gene essentiality. RESULTS In this study, we explored the definition of conditional essentiality from a phenotypic and genomic perspective. Gene-deletion strains associated with false positive predictions of gene essentiality on defined minimal medium for Escherichia coli were targeted for extended growth tests followed by population sequencing and transcriptome analysis. Of the twenty false positive strains available and confirmed from the Keio single gene knock-out collection, 11 strains were shown to grow with longer incubation periods making these actual true positives. These strains grew reproducibly with a diverse range of growth phenotypes. The lag phase observed for these strains ranged from less than one day to more than 7 days. It was found that 9 out of 11 of the false positive strains that grew acquired mutations in at least one replicate experiment and the types of mutations ranged from SNPs and small indels associated with regulatory or metabolic elements to large regions of genome duplication. Comparison of the detected adaptive mutations, modeling predictions of alternate pathways and isozymes, and transcriptome analysis of KO strains suggested agreement for the observed growth phenotype for 6 out of the 9 cases where mutations were observed. CONCLUSIONS Longer-term growth experiments followed by whole genome sequencing and transcriptome analysis can provide a better understanding of conditional gene essentiality and mechanisms of adaptation to such perturbations. Compensatory mutations are largely reproducible mechanisms and are in agreement with genome-scale modeling predictions to loss of function gene deletion events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela I Guzmán
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92093, CA, USA
| | - Connor A Olson
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92093, CA, USA
| | - Ying Hefner
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92093, CA, USA
| | - Patrick V Phaneuf
- Department of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, University of California, San Diego, 92093, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Edward Catoiu
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92093, CA, USA
| | - Lais B Crepaldi
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92093, CA, USA.,Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lucas Goldschmidt Micas
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92093, CA, USA.,Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Bernhard O Palsson
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92093, CA, USA.,Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark.,Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92093, CA, USA
| | - Adam M Feist
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, 92093, CA, USA. .,Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark.
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11
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Evolutionary repurposing of a sulfatase: A new Michaelis complex leads to efficient transition state charge offset. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:E7293-E7302. [PMID: 30012610 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1607817115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The recruitment and evolutionary optimization of promiscuous enzymes is key to the rapid adaptation of organisms to changing environments. Our understanding of the precise mechanisms underlying enzyme repurposing is, however, limited: What are the active-site features that enable the molecular recognition of multiple substrates with contrasting catalytic requirements? To gain insights into the molecular determinants of adaptation in promiscuous enzymes, we performed the laboratory evolution of an arylsulfatase to improve its initially weak phenylphosphonate hydrolase activity. The evolutionary trajectory led to a 100,000-fold enhancement of phenylphosphonate hydrolysis, while the native sulfate and promiscuous phosphate mono- and diester hydrolyses were only marginally affected (≤50-fold). Structural, kinetic, and in silico characterizations of the evolutionary intermediates revealed that two key mutations, T50A and M72V, locally reshaped the active site, improving access to the catalytic machinery for the phosphonate. Measured transition state (TS) charge changes along the trajectory suggest the creation of a new Michaelis complex (E•S, enzyme-substrate), with enhanced leaving group stabilization in the TS for the promiscuous phosphonate (βleavinggroup from -1.08 to -0.42). Rather than altering the catalytic machinery, evolutionary repurposing was achieved by fine-tuning the molecular recognition of the phosphonate in the Michaelis complex, and by extension, also in the TS. This molecular scenario constitutes a mechanistic alternative to adaptation solely based on enzyme flexibility and conformational selection. Instead, rapid functional transitions between distinct chemical reactions rely on the high reactivity of permissive active-site architectures that allow multiple substrate binding modes.
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12
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Martínez-Martínez M, Coscolín C, Santiago G, Chow J, Stogios PJ, Bargiela R, Gertler C, Navarro-Fernández J, Bollinger A, Thies S, Méndez-García C, Popovic A, Brown G, Chernikova TN, García-Moyano A, Bjerga GEK, Pérez-García P, Hai T, Del Pozo MV, Stokke R, Steen IH, Cui H, Xu X, Nocek BP, Alcaide M, Distaso M, Mesa V, Peláez AI, Sánchez J, Buchholz PCF, Pleiss J, Fernández-Guerra A, Glöckner FO, Golyshina OV, Yakimov MM, Savchenko A, Jaeger KE, Yakunin AF, Streit WR, Golyshin PN, Guallar V, Ferrer M, The INMARE Consortium. Determinants and Prediction of Esterase Substrate Promiscuity Patterns. ACS Chem Biol 2018; 13:225-234. [PMID: 29182315 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.7b00996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Esterases receive special attention because of their wide distribution in biological systems and environments and their importance for physiology and chemical synthesis. The prediction of esterases' substrate promiscuity level from sequence data and the molecular reasons why certain such enzymes are more promiscuous than others remain to be elucidated. This limits the surveillance of the sequence space for esterases potentially leading to new versatile biocatalysts and new insights into their role in cellular function. Here, we performed an extensive analysis of the substrate spectra of 145 phylogenetically and environmentally diverse microbial esterases, when tested with 96 diverse esters. We determined the primary factors shaping their substrate range by analyzing substrate range patterns in combination with structural analysis and protein-ligand simulations. We found a structural parameter that helps rank (classify) the promiscuity level of esterases from sequence data at 94% accuracy. This parameter, the active site effective volume, exemplifies the topology of the catalytic environment by measuring the active site cavity volume corrected by the relative solvent accessible surface area (SASA) of the catalytic triad. Sequences encoding esterases with active site effective volumes (cavity volume/SASA) above a threshold show greater substrate spectra, which can be further extended in combination with phylogenetic data. This measure provides also a valuable tool for interrogating substrates capable of being converted. This measure, found to be transferred to phosphatases of the haloalkanoic acid dehalogenase superfamily and possibly other enzymatic systems, represents a powerful tool for low-cost bioprospecting for esterases with broad substrate ranges, in large scale sequence data sets.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cristina Coscolín
- Institute of Catalysis, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Gerard Santiago
- Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jennifer Chow
- Biozentrum Klein Flottbek, Mikrobiologie & Biotechnologie, Universität Hamburg, 22609 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Peter J. Stogios
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, M5S 3E5 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rafael Bargiela
- Institute of Catalysis, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Christoph Gertler
- School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, LL57 2UW Bangor, United Kingdom
| | - José Navarro-Fernández
- Institute of Catalysis, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alexander Bollinger
- Institut für Molekulare Enzymtechnologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Stephan Thies
- Institut für Molekulare Enzymtechnologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Celia Méndez-García
- Department of Functional Biology-IUBA, Universidad de Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Ana Popovic
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, M5S 3E5 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Greg Brown
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, M5S 3E5 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | - Gro E. K. Bjerga
- Uni Research AS, Center for Applied Biotechnology, 5006 Bergen, Norway
| | - Pablo Pérez-García
- Biozentrum Klein Flottbek, Mikrobiologie & Biotechnologie, Universität Hamburg, 22609 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tran Hai
- School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, LL57 2UW Bangor, United Kingdom
| | - Mercedes V. Del Pozo
- Institute of Catalysis, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Runar Stokke
- Department of Biology and KG Jebsen Centre for Deep Sea Research, University of Bergen, 5020 Bergen, Norway
| | - Ida H. Steen
- Department of Biology and KG Jebsen Centre for Deep Sea Research, University of Bergen, 5020 Bergen, Norway
| | - Hong Cui
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, M5S 3E5 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Xiaohui Xu
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, M5S 3E5 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Boguslaw P. Nocek
- Structural Biology Center, Biosciences Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, 60439 Illinois, United States
| | - María Alcaide
- Institute of Catalysis, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Marco Distaso
- School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, LL57 2UW Bangor, United Kingdom
| | - Victoria Mesa
- Department of Functional Biology-IUBA, Universidad de Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Ana I. Peláez
- Department of Functional Biology-IUBA, Universidad de Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Jesús Sánchez
- Department of Functional Biology-IUBA, Universidad de Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Patrick C. F. Buchholz
- Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Jürgen Pleiss
- Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Antonio Fernández-Guerra
- Jacobs University Bremen gGmbH, Bremen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, 28359 Bremen, Germany
- University of Oxford, Oxford e-Research Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Frank O. Glöckner
- Jacobs University Bremen gGmbH, Bremen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Olga V. Golyshina
- School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, LL57 2UW Bangor, United Kingdom
| | - Michail M. Yakimov
- Institute for Coastal Marine Environment, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 98122 Messina, Italy
- Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, 236041 Kaliningrad, Russia
| | - Alexei Savchenko
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, M5S 3E5 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Karl-Erich Jaeger
- Institut für Molekulare Enzymtechnologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 52425 Jülich, Germany
- Institute for Bio- and Geosciences IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschunsgzentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Alexander F. Yakunin
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, M5S 3E5 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Wolfgang R. Streit
- Biozentrum Klein Flottbek, Mikrobiologie & Biotechnologie, Universität Hamburg, 22609 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Peter N. Golyshin
- School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, LL57 2UW Bangor, United Kingdom
| | - Víctor Guallar
- Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), 08034 Barcelona, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuel Ferrer
- Institute of Catalysis, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 28049 Madrid, Spain
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13
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Goldsmith M, Tawfik DS. Enzyme engineering: reaching the maximal catalytic efficiency peak. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2017; 47:140-150. [PMID: 29035814 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2017.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2017] [Revised: 07/04/2017] [Accepted: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The practical need for highly efficient enzymes presents new challenges in enzyme engineering, in particular, the need to improve catalytic turnover (kcat) or efficiency (kcat/KM) by several orders of magnitude. However, optimizing catalysis demands navigation through complex and rugged fitness landscapes, with optimization trajectories often leading to strong diminishing returns and dead-ends. When no further improvements are observed in library screens or selections, it remains unclear whether the maximal catalytic efficiency of the enzyme (the catalytic 'fitness peak') has been reached; or perhaps, an alternative combination of mutations exists that could yield additional improvements. Here, we discuss fundamental aspects of the process of catalytic optimization, and offer practical solutions with respect to overcoming optimization plateaus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moshe Goldsmith
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
| | - Dan S Tawfik
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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14
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Refined experimental annotation reveals conserved corrinoid autotrophy in chloroform-respiring Dehalobacter isolates. ISME JOURNAL 2016; 11:626-640. [PMID: 27898054 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2016.158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Revised: 09/25/2016] [Accepted: 10/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Two novel chlorinated alkane-respiring Dehalobacter restrictus strains CF and DCA were isolated from the same enrichment culture, ACT-3, and characterized. The closed genomes of these highly similar sister strains were previously assembled from metagenomic sequence data and annotated. The isolation of the strains enabled experimental verification of predicted annotations, particularly focusing on irregularities or predicted gaps in central metabolic pathways and cofactor biosynthesis. Similar to D. restrictus strain PER-K23, strains CF and DCA require arginine, histidine and threonine for growth, although the corresponding biosynthesis pathways are predicted to be functional. Using strain CF to experimentally verify annotations, we determined that the predicted defective serine biosynthesis pathway can be rescued with a promiscuous serine hydroxymethyltransferase. Strain CF grew without added thiamine although the thiamine biosynthesis pathway is predicted to be absent; intracellular thiamine diphosphate, the cofactor of carboxylases in central metabolism, was not detected in cell extracts. Thus, strain CF may use amino acids to replenish central metabolites, portending entangled metabolite exchanges in ACT-3. Consistent with annotation, strain CF possesses a functional corrinoid biosynthesis pathway, demonstrated by increasing corrinoid content during growth and guided cobalamin biosynthesis in corrinoid-free medium. Chloroform toxicity to corrinoid-producing methanogens and acetogens may drive the conservation of corrinoid autotrophy in Dehalobacter strains. Heme detection in strain CF cell extracts suggests the 'archaeal' heme biosynthesis pathway also functions in anaerobic Firmicutes. This study reinforces the importance of incorporating enzyme promiscuity and cofactor availability in genome-scale functional predictions and identifies essential nutrient interdependencies in anaerobic dechlorinating microbial communities.
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15
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Newton MS, Arcus VL, Patrick WM. Rapid bursts and slow declines: on the possible evolutionary trajectories of enzymes. J R Soc Interface 2016; 12:rsif.2015.0036. [PMID: 25926697 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2015.0036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolution of enzymes is often viewed as following a smooth and steady trajectory, from barely functional primordial catalysts to the highly active and specific enzymes that we observe today. In this review, we summarize experimental data that suggest a different reality. Modern examples, such as the emergence of enzymes that hydrolyse human-made pesticides, demonstrate that evolution can be extraordinarily rapid. Experiments to infer and resurrect ancient sequences suggest that some of the first organisms present on the Earth are likely to have possessed highly active enzymes. Reconciling these observations, we argue that rapid bursts of strong selection for increased catalytic efficiency are interspersed with much longer periods in which the catalytic power of an enzyme erodes, through neutral drift and selection for other properties such as cellular energy efficiency or regulation. Thus, many enzymes may have already passed their catalytic peaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matilda S Newton
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Vickery L Arcus
- School of Biology, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Wayne M Patrick
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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16
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Digianantonio KM, Hecht MH. A protein constructed de novo enables cell growth by altering gene regulation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:2400-5. [PMID: 26884172 PMCID: PMC4780649 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1600566113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in protein design rely on rational and computational approaches to create novel sequences that fold and function. In contrast, natural systems selected functional proteins without any design a priori. In an attempt to mimic nature, we used large libraries of novel sequences and selected for functional proteins that rescue Escherichia coli cells in which a conditionally essential gene has been deleted. In this way, the de novo protein SynSerB3 was selected as a rescuer of cells in which serB, which encodes phosphoserine phosphatase, an enzyme essential for serine biosynthesis, was deleted. However, SynSerB3 does not rescue the deleted activity by catalyzing hydrolysis of phosphoserine. Instead, SynSerB3 up-regulates hisB, a gene encoding histidinol phosphate phosphatase. This endogenous E. coli phosphatase has promiscuous activity that, when overexpressed, compensates for the deletion of phosphoserine phosphatase. Thus, the de novo protein SynSerB3 rescues the deletion of serB by altering the natural regulation of the His operon.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael H Hecht
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540
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17
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Martínez-Núñez MA, Pérez-Rueda E. Do lifestyles influence the presence of promiscuous enzymes in bacteria and Archaea metabolism? ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.1186/s40508-016-0047-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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18
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Andersson DI, Jerlström-Hultqvist J, Näsvall J. Evolution of new functions de novo and from preexisting genes. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2015; 7:7/6/a017996. [PMID: 26032716 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a017996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
How the enormous structural and functional diversity of new genes and proteins was generated (estimated to be 10(10)-10(12) different proteins in all organisms on earth [Choi I-G, Kim S-H. 2006. Evolution of protein structural classes and protein sequence families. Proc Natl Acad Sci 103: 14056-14061] is a central biological question that has a long and rich history. Extensive work during the last 80 years have shown that new genes that play important roles in lineage-specific phenotypes and adaptation can originate through a multitude of different mechanisms, including duplication, lateral gene transfer, gene fusion/fission, and de novo origination. In this review, we focus on two main processes as generators of new functions: evolution of new genes by duplication and divergence of pre-existing genes and de novo gene origination in which a whole protein-coding gene evolves from a noncoding sequence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan I Andersson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, SE-75123 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jon Jerlström-Hultqvist
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, SE-75123 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Joakim Näsvall
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, SE-75123 Uppsala, Sweden
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19
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Copley SD. An evolutionary biochemist's perspective on promiscuity. Trends Biochem Sci 2015; 40:72-8. [PMID: 25573004 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2014.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2014] [Revised: 12/08/2014] [Accepted: 12/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Evolutionary biochemists define enzyme promiscuity as the ability to catalyze secondary reactions that are physiologically irrelevant, either because they are too inefficient to affect fitness or because the enzyme never encounters the substrate. Promiscuous activities are common because evolution of a perfectly specific active site is both difficult and unnecessary; natural selection ceases when the performance of a protein is 'good enough' that it no longer affects fitness. Although promiscuous functions are accidental and physiologically irrelevant, they are of great importance because they provide opportunities for the evolution of new functions in nature and in the laboratory, as well as targets for therapeutic drugs and tools for a wide range of technological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelley D Copley
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA; Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
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20
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Price DRG, Wilson ACC. A substrate ambiguous enzyme facilitates genome reduction in an intracellular symbiont. BMC Biol 2014; 12:110. [PMID: 25527092 PMCID: PMC4306246 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-014-0110-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2014] [Accepted: 12/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genome evolution in intracellular microbial symbionts is characterized by gene loss, generating some of the smallest and most gene-poor genomes known. As a result of gene loss these genomes commonly contain metabolic pathways that are fragmented relative to their free-living relatives. The evolutionary retention of fragmented metabolic pathways in the gene-poor genomes of endosymbionts suggests that they are functional. However, it is not always clear how they maintain functionality. To date, the fragmented metabolic pathways of endosymbionts have been shown to maintain functionality through complementation by host genes, complementation by genes of another endosymbiont and complementation by genes in host genomes that have been horizontally acquired from a microbial source that is not the endosymbiont. Here, we demonstrate a fourth mechanism. RESULTS We investigate the evolutionary retention of a fragmented pathway for the essential nutrient pantothenate (vitamin B5) in the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum endosymbiosis with Buchnera aphidicola. Using quantitative analysis of gene expression we present evidence for complementation of the Buchnera pantothenate biosynthesis pathway by host genes. Further, using complementation assays in an Escherichia coli mutant we demonstrate functional replacement of a pantothenate biosynthesis enzyme, 2-dehydropantoate 2-reductase (E.C. 1.1.1.169), by an endosymbiont gene, ilvC, encoding a substrate ambiguous enzyme. CONCLUSIONS Earlier studies have speculated that missing enzyme steps in fragmented endosymbiont metabolic pathways are completed by adaptable endosymbiont enzymes from other pathways. Here, we experimentally demonstrate completion of a fragmented endosymbiont vitamin biosynthesis pathway by recruitment of a substrate ambiguous enzyme from another pathway. In addition, this work extends host/symbiont metabolic collaboration in the aphid/Buchnera symbiosis from amino acid metabolism to include vitamin biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R G Price
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, 33146, USA.
| | - Alex C C Wilson
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, 33146, USA.
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21
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Vorobieva AA, Khan MS, Soumillion P. Escherichia coli D-malate dehydrogenase, a generalist enzyme active in the leucine biosynthesis pathway. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:29086-96. [PMID: 25160617 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.595363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The enzymes of the β-decarboxylating dehydrogenase superfamily catalyze the oxidative decarboxylation of D-malate-based substrates with various specificities. Here, we show that, in addition to its natural function affording bacterial growth on D-malate as a carbon source, the D-malate dehydrogenase of Escherichia coli (EcDmlA) naturally expressed from its chromosomal gene is capable of complementing leucine auxotrophy in a leuB(-) strain lacking the paralogous isopropylmalate dehydrogenase enzyme. To our knowledge, this is the first example of an enzyme that contributes with a physiologically relevant level of activity to two distinct pathways of the core metabolism while expressed from its chromosomal locus. EcDmlA features relatively high catalytic activity on at least three different substrates (L(+)-tartrate, D-malate, and 3-isopropylmalate). Because of these properties both in vivo and in vitro, EcDmlA may be defined as a generalist enzyme. Phylogenetic analysis highlights an ancient origin of DmlA, indicating that the enzyme has maintained its generalist character throughout evolution. We discuss the implication of these findings for protein evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastassia A Vorobieva
- From the Laboratoire de Biochimie, Biophysique et Génétique des Microorganismes (BBGM), Institut des Sciences de la Vie, Université catholique de Louvain, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium and
| | | | - Patrice Soumillion
- From the Laboratoire de Biochimie, Biophysique et Génétique des Microorganismes (BBGM), Institut des Sciences de la Vie, Université catholique de Louvain, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium and
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22
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Abstract
Although more than 10(9) years have passed since the existence of the last universal common ancestor, proteins have yet to reach the limits of divergence. As a result, metabolic complexity is ever expanding. Identifying and understanding the mechanisms that drive and limit the divergence of protein sequence space impact not only evolutionary biologists investigating molecular evolution but also synthetic biologists seeking to design useful catalysts and engineer novel metabolic pathways. Investigations over the past 50 years indicate that the recruitment of enzymes for new functions is a key event in the acquisition of new metabolic capacity. In this review, we outline the genetic mechanisms that enable recruitment and summarize the present state of knowledge regarding the functional characteristics of extant catalysts that facilitate recruitment. We also highlight recent examples of enzyme recruitment, both from the historical record provided by phylogenetics and from enzyme evolution experiments. We conclude with a look to the future, which promises fruitful consequences from the convergence of molecular evolutionary theory, laboratory-directed evolution, and synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy Schulenburg
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, ETH-Zürich , Zürich CH-8093, Switzerland
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23
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Danchin A, Sekowska A. The logic of metabolism and its fuzzy consequences. Environ Microbiol 2013; 16:19-28. [PMID: 24387040 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.12270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2013] [Revised: 08/02/2013] [Accepted: 08/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Intermediary metabolism molecules are orchestrated into logical pathways stemming from history (L-amino acids, D-sugars) and dynamic constraints (hydrolysis of pyrophosphate or amide groups is the driving force of anabolism). Beside essential metabolites, numerous variants derive from programmed or accidental changes. Broken down, variants enter standard pathways, producing further variants. Macromolecule modification alters enzyme reactions specificity. Metabolism conform thermodynamic laws, precluding strict accuracy. Hence, for each regular pathway, a wealth of variants inputs and produces metabolites that are similar to but not the exact replicas of core metabolites. As corollary, a shadow, paralogous metabolism, is associated to standard metabolism. We focus on a logic of paralogous metabolism based on diversion of the core metabolic mimics into pathways where they are modified to minimize their input in the core pathways where they create havoc. We propose that a significant proportion of paralogues of well-characterized enzymes have evolved as the natural way to cope with paralogous metabolites. A second type of denouement uses a process where protecting/deprotecting unwanted metabolites - conceptually similar to the procedure used in the laboratory of an organic chemist - is used to enter a completely new catabolic pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Danchin
- Building G1, AMAbiotics SAS, 2 rue Gaston Crémieux, Evry, 91000, France
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