The crystal structure of the tryptophan synthase beta subunit from the hyperthermophile Pyrococcus furiosus. Investigation of stabilization factors

Harnessing conformational dynamics in enzyme catalysis to achieve nature-like catalytic efficiencies: the shortest path map tool for computational enzyme redesign

Enzymes exhibit diverse conformations, as represented in the free energy landscape (FEL). Such conformational diversity provides enzymes with the ability to evolve towards novel functions. The challenge lies in identifying mutations that enhance specific conformational changes, especially if located in distal sites from the active site cavity. The shortest path map (SPM) method, which we developed to address this challenge, constructs a graph based on the distances and correlated motions of residues observed in nanosecond timescale molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We recently introduced a template based AlphaFold2 (tAF2) approach coupled with 10 nanosecond MD simulations to quickly estimate the conformational landscape of enzymes and assess how the FEL is shifted after mutation. In this study, we evaluate the potential of SPM when coupled with tAF2-MD in estimating conformational heterogeneity and identifying key conformationally-relevant positions. The selected model system is the beta subunit of tryptophan synthase (TrpB). We compare how the SPM pathways differ when integrating tAF2 with different MD simulation lengths from as short as 10 ns until 50 ns and considering two distinct Amber forcefield and water models (ff14SB/TIP3P versus ff19SB/OPC). The new methodology can more effectively capture the distal mutations found in laboratory evolution, thus showcasing the efficacy of tAF2-MD-SPM in rapidly estimating enzyme dynamics and identifying the key conformationally relevant hotspots for computational enzyme engineering.

Estimating conformational heterogeneity of tryptophan synthase with a template-based Alphafold2 approach

The three-dimensional structure of the enzymes provides very relevant information on the arrangement of the catalytic machinery and structural elements gating the active site pocket. The recent success of the neural network Alphafold2 in predicting the folded structure of proteins from the primary sequence with high levels of accuracy has revolutionized the protein design field. However, the application of Alphafold2 for understanding and engineering function directly from the obtained single static picture is not straightforward. Indeed, understanding enzymatic function requires the exploration of the ensemble of thermally accessible conformations that enzymes adopt in solution. In the present study, we evaluate the potential of Alphafold2 in assessing the effect of the mutations on the conformational landscape of the beta subunit of tryptophan synthase (TrpB). Specifically, we develop a template-based Alphafold2 approach for estimating the conformational heterogeneity of several TrpB enzymes, which is needed for enhanced stand-alone activity. Our results show the potential of Alphafold2, especially if combined with molecular dynamics simulations, for elucidating the changes induced by mutation in the conformational landscapes at a rather reduced computational cost, thus revealing its plausible application in computational enzyme design.

In Silico Identification and Experimental Validation of Distal Activity-Enhancing Mutations in Tryptophan Synthase

Allostery is a central mechanism for the regulation of multi-enzyme complexes. The mechanistic basis that drives allosteric regulation is poorly understood but harbors key information for enzyme engineering. In the present study, we focus on the tryptophan synthase complex that is composed of TrpA and TrpB subunits, which allosterically activate each other. Specifically, we develop a rational approach for identifying key amino acid residues of TrpB distal from the active site. Those residues are predicted to be crucial for shifting the inefficient conformational ensemble of the isolated TrpB to a productive ensemble through intra-subunit allosteric effects. The experimental validation of the conformationally driven TrpB design demonstrates its superior stand-alone activity in the absence of TrpA, comparable to those enhancements obtained after multiple rounds of experimental laboratory evolution. Our work evidences that the current challenge of distal active site prediction for enhanced function in computational enzyme design has become within reach.

Conservation of the structure and function of bacterial tryptophan synthases

Tryptophan biosynthesis is one of the most characterized processes in bacteria, in which the enzymes from Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli serve as model systems. Tryptophan synthase (TrpAB) catalyzes the final two steps of tryptophan biosynthesis in plants, fungi and bacteria. This pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzyme consists of two protein chains, α (TrpA) and β (TrpB), functioning as a linear αββα heterotetrameric complex containing two TrpAB units. The reaction has a complicated, multistep mechanism resulting in the β-replacement of the hydroxyl group of l-serine with an indole moiety. Recent studies have shown that functional TrpAB is required for the survival of pathogenic bacteria in macrophages and for evading host defense. Therefore, TrpAB is a promising target for drug discovery, as its orthologs include enzymes from the important human pathogens Streptococcus pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila and Francisella tularensis, the causative agents of pneumonia, legionnaires' disease and tularemia, respectively. However, specific biochemical and structural properties of the TrpABs from these organisms have not been investigated. To fill the important phylogenetic gaps in the understanding of TrpABs and to uncover unique features of TrpAB orthologs to spearhead future drug-discovery efforts, the TrpABs from L. pneumophila, F. tularensis and S. pneumoniae have been characterized. In addition to kinetic properties and inhibitor-sensitivity data, structural information gathered using X-ray crystallo-graphy is presented. The enzymes show remarkable structural conservation, but at the same time display local differences in both their catalytic and allosteric sites that may be responsible for the observed differences in catalysis and inhibitor binding. This functional dissimilarity may be exploited in the design of species-specific enzyme inhibitors.

Directed Evolution Mimics Allosteric Activation by Stepwise Tuning of the Conformational Ensemble

Allosteric enzymes contain a wealth of catalytic diversity that remains distinctly underutilized for biocatalysis. Tryptophan synthase is a model allosteric system and a valuable enzyme for the synthesis of noncanonical amino acids (ncAA). Previously, we evolved the β-subunit from Pyrococcus furiosus, PfTrpB, for ncAA synthase activity in the absence of its native partner protein PfTrpA. However, the precise mechanism by which mutation activated TrpB to afford a stand-alone catalyst remained enigmatic. Here, we show that directed evolution caused a gradual change in the rate-limiting step of the catalytic cycle. Concomitantly, the steady-state distribution of the intermediates shifts to favor covalently bound Trp adducts, which have increased thermodynamic stability. The biochemical properties of these evolved, stand-alone TrpBs converge on those induced in the native system by allosteric activation. High-resolution crystal structures of the wild-type enzyme, an intermediate in the lineage, and the final variant, encompassing five distinct chemical states, show that activating mutations have only minor structural effects on their immediate environment. Instead, mutation stabilizes the large-scale motion of a subdomain to favor an otherwise transiently populated closed conformational state. This increase in stability enabled the first structural description of Trp covalently bound in a catalytically active TrpB, confirming key features of catalysis. These data combine to show that sophisticated models of allostery are not a prerequisite to recapitulating its complex effects via directed evolution, opening the way to engineering stand-alone versions of diverse allosteric enzymes.

CATALASE2 Coordinates SA-Mediated Repression of Both Auxin Accumulation and JA Biosynthesis in Plant Defenses

Plants defend against pathogen attack by modulating auxin signaling and activating the salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathways. SA and JA act antagonistically in resistance to specific pathogen types, yet how plants coordinate these phytohormones remains elusive. Here we report that biotrophic-pathogen-induced SA accumulation dampens both auxin and JA synthesis by inhibiting CATALASE2 (CAT2) activity in the model plant Arabidopsis. SA suppression of CAT2 results in increased H₂O₂ levels and subsequent sulfenylation of tryptophan synthetase β subunit 1, thus depleting the auxin biosynthetic precursor tryptophan. In addition, we find that CAT2 promotes JA biosynthesis by facilitating direct interaction of the JA biosynthetic enzymes ACX2 and ACX3, and thus SA repression of CAT2 inhibits JA accumulation. As such, the cat2-1 mutant exhibits increased resistance to biotrophic pathogens and increased susceptibility to necrotrophic pathogens. Our study illustrates how CAT2 coordinates SA repression of auxin accumulation and JA biosynthesis in plant defense.

Directed evolution of the tryptophan synthase β-subunit for stand-alone function recapitulates allosteric activation

Enzymes in heteromeric, allosterically regulated complexes catalyze a rich array of chemical reactions. Separating the subunits of such complexes, however, often severely attenuates their catalytic activities, because they can no longer be activated by their protein partners. We used directed evolution to explore allosteric regulation as a source of latent catalytic potential using the β-subunit of tryptophan synthase from Pyrococcus furiosus (PfTrpB). As part of its native αββα complex, TrpB efficiently produces tryptophan and tryptophan analogs; activity drops considerably when it is used as a stand-alone catalyst without the α-subunit. Kinetic, spectroscopic, and X-ray crystallographic data show that this lost activity can be recovered by mutations that reproduce the effects of complexation with the α-subunit. The engineered PfTrpB is a powerful platform for production of Trp analogs and for further directed evolution to expand substrate and reaction scope.

The tryptophan synthase β-subunit paralogs TrpB1 and TrpB2 in Thermococcus kodakarensis are both involved in tryptophan biosynthesis and indole salvage

The last two steps of l-tryptophan (Trp) biosynthesis are catalyzed by Trp synthase, a heterotetramer composed of TrpA and TrpB. TrpB catalyzes the condensation of indole, synthesized by TrpA, and serine to Trp. In the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus kodakarensis, trpA and trpB (trpB1) are located adjacently in the trpCDEGFB1A operon. Interestingly, several organisms possess a second trpB gene (trpB2) encoding TrpB2, located outside of the trp operon in T. kodakarensis. Until now, the physiological function of trpB2 has not been examined genetically. In the present study, we report the biochemical and physiological analyses of TrpB2 from T. kodakarensis. Kinetic analysis indicated that TrpB2 catalyzed the TrpB reaction but did not interact with TrpA as in the case of TrpB1. When growth phenotypes were examined for gene disruption strains, the double-deletion mutant (ΔtrpB1ΔtrpB2) displayed Trp auxotrophy, whereas individual single mutants (ΔtrpB1 and ΔtrpB2 strains) did not. It has been proposed previously that, in Thermotoga maritima, TrpB2 provides an alternate route to generate Trp from serine and free indole (indole salvage). To accurately examine the capacity of TrpB1 and TrpB2 in Trp synthesis via indole salvage, we constructed ΔtrpEB1 and ΔtrpEB2 strains using strain KUW1 (ΔpyrFΔtrpE) as a host, eliminating the route for endogenous indole synthesis. Indole complemented the Trp auxotrophies of ΔtrpEB1 (ΔpyrFΔtrpEΔtrpB1) and ΔtrpEB2 (ΔpyrFΔtrpEΔtrpB2) to similar levels. The results indicate that TrpB1 and TrpB2 both contribute to Trp biosynthesis in T. kodakarensis and can utilize free indole, and that indole salvage does not necessarily rely on TrpB2 to a greater extent.

The role of oligomerization and cooperative regulation in protein function: the case of tryptophan synthase

The oligomerization/co-localization of protein complexes and their cooperative regulation in protein function is a key feature in many biological systems. The synergistic regulation in different subunits often enhances the functional properties of the multi-enzyme complex. The present study used molecular dynamics and Brownian dynamics simulations to study the effects of allostery, oligomerization and intermediate channeling on enhancing the protein function of tryptophan synthase (TRPS). TRPS uses a set of α/β–dimeric units to catalyze the last two steps of L-tryptophan biosynthesis, and the rate is remarkably slower in the isolated monomers. Our work shows that without their binding partner, the isolated monomers are stable and more rigid. The substrates can form fairly stable interactions with the protein in both forms when the protein reaches the final ligand–bound conformations. Our simulations also revealed that the α/β–dimeric unit stabilizes the substrate–protein conformation in the ligand binding process, which lowers the conformation transition barrier and helps the protein conformations shift from an open/inactive form to a closed/active form. Brownian dynamics simulations with a coarse-grained model illustrate how protein conformations affect substrate channeling. The results highlight the complex roles of protein oligomerization and the fine balance between rigidity and dynamics in protein function.

Conformational changes of enzymes are often related to regulating and creating an optimal environment for efficient chemistry. An increasing number of evidences also indicate that oligomerization/co-localization of proteins contributes to the efficiency of metabolic pathways. Although static structures have been available for many multi-enzyme complexes, their efficiency is also governed by the synergistic regulation between the multi-units. Our study applies molecular dynamics and Brownian dynamics simulations to the model system, the tryptophan synthase complex. The multi-enzyme complex is a bienzyme nanomachine and its catalytic activity is intimately related to the allosteric signaling and the metabolite transfer between its α– and β–subunits connected by a 25-Å long channel. Our studies suggest that the binding partner is crucial for the ligand binding processes. Although the isolated monomers are stable in the ligand–free state and can form stable interaction if the substrate is in the final bound conformation, it has higher energy barrier when ligand binds to the active site. We also show that the channel does not always exist, but it may be blocked before the enzyme reaches its final bound conformation. The results highlight the importance of forming protein complexes and the cooperative changes during different states.

Large conformational changes in the Escherichia coli tryptophan synthase beta(2) subunit upon pyridoxal 5'-phosphate binding

To understand the basis for the lower activity of the tryptophan synthase beta(2) subunit in comparison to the alpha(2)beta(2) complex, we determined the crystal structures of apo-beta(2) and holo-beta(2) from Escherichia coli at 3.0 and 2.9 A resolutions, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first report of both beta(2) subunit structures with and without pyridoxal-5'-phosphate. The apo-type molecule retained a dimeric form in solution, as in the case of the holo-beta(2) subunit. The subunit structures of both the apo-beta(2) and the holo-beta(2) forms consisted of two domains, namely the N domain and the C domain. Although there were significant structural differences between the apo- and holo-structures, they could be easily superimposed with a 22 degrees rigid body rotation of the C domain. The pyridoxal-5'-phosphate-bound holo-form had multiple interactions between the two domains and a long loop (residues 260-310), which were missing in the apo-form. Comparison of the structures of holo-Ecbeta(2) and Stbeta(2) in the alpha(2)beta(2) complex from Salmonella typhimurium (Stalpha(2)beta(2)) identified the cause of the lower enzymatic activity of holo-Ecbeta(2) in comparison with Stalpha(2)beta(2). The substrate (indole) gate residues, Tyr279 and Phe280, block entry of the substrate into the beta(2) subunit, although the indole can directly access the active site as a result of a wider cleft between the N and C domains in the holo-Ecbeta(2) subunit. In addition, the structure around betaAsp305 of the holo-Ecbeta(2) subunit was similar to the open state of Stalpha(2)beta(2) with low activity, resulting in lower activity of holo-Ecbeta(2).

Modelling the evolution of the archeal tryptophan synthase

Background

Microorganisms and plants are able to produce tryptophan. Enzymes catalysing the last seven steps of tryptophan biosynthesis are encoded in the canonical trp operon. Among the trp genes are most frequently trpA and trpB, which code for the alpha and beta subunit of tryptophan synthase. In several prokaryotic genomes, two variants of trpB (named trpB1 or trpB2) occur in different combinations. The evolutionary history of these trpB genes is under debate.

Results

In order to study the evolution of trp genes, completely sequenced archeal and bacterial genomes containing trpB were analysed. Phylogenetic trees indicated that TrpB sequences constitute four distinct groups; their composition is in agreement with the location of respective genes. The first group consisted exclusively of trpB1 genes most of which belonged to trp operons. Groups two to four contained trpB2 genes. The largest group (trpB2_o) contained trpB2 genes all located outside of operons. Most of these genes originated from species possessing an operon-based trpB1 in addition. Groups three and four pertain to trpB2 genes of those genomes containing exclusively one or two trpB2 genes, but no trpB1. One group (trpB2_i) consisted of trpB2 genes located inside, the other (trpB2_a) of trpB2 genes located outside the trp operon. TrpA and TrpB form a heterodimer and cooperate biochemically. In order to characterise trpB variants and stages of TrpA/TrpB cooperation in silico, several approaches were combined. Phylogenetic trees were constructed for all trp genes; their structure was assessed via bootstrapping. Alternative models of trpB evolution were evaluated with parsimony arguments. The four groups of trpB variants were correlated with archeal speciation. Several stages of TrpA/TrpB cooperation were identified and trpB variants were characterised. Most plausibly, trpB2 represents the predecessor of the modern trpB gene, and trpB1 evolved in an ancestral bacterium.

Conclusion

In archeal genomes, several stages of trpB evolution, TrpA/TrpB cooperation, and operon formation can be observed. Thus, archeal trp genes may serve as a model system for studying the evolution of protein-protein interactions and operon formation.

Evolution of multi-enzyme complexes: the case of tryptophan synthase

The prototypical tryptophan synthase is a stable heterotetrameric alpha-betabeta-alpha complex. The constituting TrpA and TrpB1 subunits, which are encoded by neighboring genes in the trp operon, activate each other in a bi-directional manner. Recently, a novel class of TrpB2 proteins has been identified, whose members contain additional amino acids that might sterically prevent complex formation with TrpA. To test this hypothesis, we characterized the TrpA and TrpB proteins from Sulfolobus solfataricus. This hyperthermophilic archaeon does not contain a TrpB1 protein but instead contains two TrpB2 homologues that are encoded within (TrpB2i) and outside (TrpB2o) the trp operon. We find that TrpB2i and TrpA form a weak and transient complex during catalysis, with a uni-directional activation of TrpA by TrpB2i. In contrast, TrpB2o and TrpA do not form a detectable complex. These results suggest a model for the evolution of the tryptophan synthase in which TrpB2o, TrpB2i, and TrpB1 reflect the stepwise increase of TrpB affinity for TrpA and the refinement of functional subunit interaction, concomitant with the co-localization of the encoding genes in the trp operon.

Conformational changes in the alpha-subunit coupled to binding of the beta 2-subunit of tryptophan synthase from Escherichia coli: crystal structure of the tryptophan synthase alpha-subunit alone

When the tryptophan synthase alpha- and beta(2)-subunits combine to form the alpha(2)beta(2)-complex, the enzymatic activity of each subunit is stimulated by 1-2 orders of magnitude. To elucidate the structural basis of this mutual activation, it is necessary to determine the structures of the alpha- and beta-subunits alone and together with the alpha(2)beta(2)-complex. The crystal structures of the tryptophan synthase alpha(2)beta(2)-complex from Salmonella typhimurium (Stalpha(2)beta(2)-complex) have already been reported. However, the structures of the subunit alone from mesophiles have not yet been determined. The structure of the tryptophan synthase alpha-subunit alone from Escherichia coli (Ecalpha-subunit) was determined by an X-ray crystallographic analysis at 2.3 A, which is the first report on the subunits alone from the mesophiles. The biggest difference between the structures of the Ecalpha-subunit alone and the alpha-subunit in the Stalpha(2)beta(2)-complex (Stalpha-subunit) was as follows. Helix 2' in the Stalpha-subunit, including an active site residue (Asp60), was changed to a flexible loop in the Ecalpha-subunit alone. The conversion of the helix to a loop resulted in the collapse of the correct active site conformation. This region is also an important part for the mutual activation in the Stalpha(2)beta(2)-complex and interaction with the beta-subunit. These results suggest that the formation of helix 2'that is essential for the stimulation of the enzymatic activity of the alpha-subunit is constructed by the induced-fit mode involved in conformational changes upon interaction between the alpha- and beta-subunits. This also confirms the prediction of the conformational changes based on the thermodynamic analysis for the association between the alpha- and beta-subunits.