1
|
Hollmann F, Sanchis J, Reetz MT. Learning from Protein Engineering by Deconvolution of Multi-Mutational Variants. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202404880. [PMID: 38884594 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202404880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
This review analyzes a development in biochemistry, enzymology and biotechnology that originally came as a surprise. Following the establishment of directed evolution of stereoselective enzymes in organic chemistry, the concept of partial or complete deconvolution of selective multi-mutational variants was introduced. Early deconvolution experiments of stereoselective variants led to the finding that mutations can interact cooperatively or antagonistically with one another, not just additively. During the past decade, this phenomenon was shown to be general. In some studies, molecular dynamics (MD) and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) computations were performed in order to shed light on the origin of non-additivity at all stages of an evolutionary upward climb. Data of complete deconvolution can be used to construct unique multi-dimensional rugged fitness pathway landscapes, which provide mechanistic insights different from traditional fitness landscapes. Along a related line, biochemists have long tested the result of introducing two point mutations in an enzyme for mechanistic reasons, followed by a comparison of the respective double mutant in so-called double mutant cycles, which originally showed only additive effects, but more recently also uncovered cooperative and antagonistic non-additive effects. We conclude with suggestions for future work, and call for a unified overall picture of non-additivity and epistasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frank Hollmann
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629HZ, Delft, Netherlands
| | - Joaquin Sanchis
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Manfred T Reetz
- Max-Plank-Institut für Kohlenforschung, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Platz 1, 45481, Mülheim, Germany
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Henkel A, Oberthür D. A snapshot love story: what serial crystallography has done and will do for us. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2024; 80:563-579. [PMID: 38984902 PMCID: PMC11301758 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798324005588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Serial crystallography, born from groundbreaking experiments at the Linac Coherent Light Source in 2009, has evolved into a pivotal technique in structural biology. Initially pioneered at X-ray free-electron laser facilities, it has now expanded to synchrotron-radiation facilities globally, with dedicated experimental stations enhancing its accessibility. This review gives an overview of current developments in serial crystallography, emphasizing recent results in time-resolved crystallography, and discussing challenges and shortcomings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Henkel
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFELDeutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESYNotkestr. 8522607HamburgGermany
| | - Dominik Oberthür
- Center for Free-Electron Laser Science CFELDeutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESYNotkestr. 8522607HamburgGermany
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hilvert D. Spiers Memorial Lecture: Engineering biocatalysts. Faraday Discuss 2024. [PMID: 39046423 DOI: 10.1039/d4fd00139g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Abstract
Enzymes are being engineered to catalyze chemical reactions for many practical applications in chemistry and biotechnology. The approaches used are surveyed in this short review, emphasizing methods for accessing reactivities not expressed by native protein scaffolds. The successful generation of completely de novo enzymes that rival the rates and selectivities of their natural counterparts highlights the potential role that designer enzymes may play in the coming years in research, industry, and medicine. Some challenges that need to be addressed to realize this ambitious dream are considered together with possible solutions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Donald Hilvert
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Karvelis E, Swanson C, Tidor B. Substrate Turnover Dynamics Guide Ketol-Acid Reductoisomerase Redesign for Increased Specific Activity. ACS Catal 2024; 14:10491-10509. [PMID: 39050899 PMCID: PMC11264209 DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.4c01446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
The task of adapting enzymes for specific applications is often hampered by our incomplete ability to tune and tailor catalytic functions, particularly when seeking increased activity. Here, we develop and demonstrate a rational approach to address this challenge, applied to ketol-acid reductoisomerase (KARI), which has uses in industrial-scale isobutanol production. While traditional structure-based computational enzyme redesign strategies typically focus on the enzyme-bound ground state (GS) and transition state (TS), we postulated that additionally treating the underlying dynamics of complete turnover events that connect and pass through both states could further elucidate the structural properties affecting catalysis and help identify mutations that lead to increased catalytic activity. To examine the dynamics of substrate conversion with atomistic detail, we adapted and applied computational methods based on path sampling techniques to gather thousands of QM/MM simulations of attempted substrate turnover events by KARI: both productive (reactive) and unproductive (nonreactive) attempts. From these data, machine learning models were constructed and used to identify specific conformational features (interatomic distances, angles, and torsions) associated with successful, productive catalysis. Multistate protein redesign techniques were then used to select mutations that stabilized reactive-like structures over nonreactive-like ones while also meeting additional criteria consistent with enhanced specific activity. This procedure resulted in eight high-confidence enzyme mutants with a significant improvement in calculated specific activity relative to wild type (WT), with the fastest variant's increase in calculated k cat being (2 ± 1) × 104-fold. Collectively, these results suggest that introducing mutations designed to increase the population of reaction-promoting conformations of the enzyme-substrate complex before it reaches the barrier can provide an effective approach to engineering improved enzyme catalysts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elijah Karvelis
- Department
of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Computer
Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Chloe Swanson
- Department
of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Computer
Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Bruce Tidor
- Department
of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Computer
Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Department
of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Chisholm LO, Orlandi KN, Phillips SR, Shavlik MJ, Harms MJ. Ancestral Reconstruction and the Evolution of Protein Energy Landscapes. Annu Rev Biophys 2024; 53:127-146. [PMID: 38134334 PMCID: PMC11192866 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biophys-030722-125440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
A protein's sequence determines its conformational energy landscape. This, in turn, determines the protein's function. Understanding the evolution of new protein functions therefore requires understanding how mutations alter the protein energy landscape. Ancestral sequence reconstruction (ASR) has proven a valuable tool for tackling this problem. In ASR, one phylogenetically infers the sequences of ancient proteins, allowing characterization of their properties. When coupled to biophysical, biochemical, and functional characterization, ASR can reveal how historical mutations altered the energy landscape of ancient proteins, allowing the evolution of enzyme activity, altered conformations, binding specificity, oligomerization, and many other protein features. In this article, we review how ASR studies have been used to dissect the evolution of energy landscapes. We also discuss ASR studies that reveal how energy landscapes have shaped protein evolution. Finally, we propose that thinking about evolution from the perspective of an energy landscape can improve how we approach and interpret ASR studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren O Chisholm
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA;
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA
| | - Kona N Orlandi
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA
| | - Sophia R Phillips
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA;
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA
| | - Michael J Shavlik
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA
| | - Michael J Harms
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA;
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Duran C, Casadevall G, Osuna S. Harnessing conformational dynamics in enzyme catalysis to achieve nature-like catalytic efficiencies: the shortest path map tool for computational enzyme redesign. Faraday Discuss 2024. [PMID: 38910409 DOI: 10.1039/d3fd00156c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Duran
- Departament de Química, Institut de Química Computacional i Catàlisi, Universitat de Girona, c/Maria Aurèlia Capmany 69, 17003, Girona, Spain.
| | - Guillem Casadevall
- Departament de Química, Institut de Química Computacional i Catàlisi, Universitat de Girona, c/Maria Aurèlia Capmany 69, 17003, Girona, Spain.
| | - Sílvia Osuna
- Departament de Química, Institut de Química Computacional i Catàlisi, Universitat de Girona, c/Maria Aurèlia Capmany 69, 17003, Girona, Spain.
- ICREA, Pg. Lluís Companys 23, 08010, Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Casilli F, Canyelles-Niño M, Roelfes G, Alonso-Cotchico L. Computation-guided engineering of distal mutations in an artificial enzyme. Faraday Discuss 2024. [PMID: 38836699 DOI: 10.1039/d4fd00069b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Artificial enzymes are valuable biocatalysts able to perform new-to-nature transformations with the precision and (enantio-)selectivity of natural enzymes. Although they are highly engineered biocatalysts, they often cannot reach catalytic rates akin those of their natural counterparts, slowing down their application in real-world industrial processes. Typically, their designs only optimise the chemistry inside the active site, while overlooking the role of protein dynamics on catalysis. In this work, we show how the catalytic performance of an already engineered artificial enzyme can be further improved by distal mutations that affect the conformational equilibrium of the protein. To this end, we subjected a specialised artificial enzyme based on the lactococcal multidrug resistance regulator (LmrR) to an innovative algorithm that quickly inspects the whole protein sequence space for hotpots which affect the protein dynamics. From an initial predicted selection of 73 variants, two variants with mutations distant by more than 11 Å from the catalytic pAF residue showed increased catalytic activity towards the new-to-nature hydrazone formation reaction. Their recombination displayed a 66% higher turnover number and 14 °C higher thermostability. Microsecond time scale molecular dynamics simulations evidenced a shift in the distribution of productive enzyme conformations, which are the result of a cascade of interactions initiated by the introduced mutations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Casilli
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.
| | | | - Gerard Roelfes
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.
| | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Gonzales J, Kim I, Hwang W, Cho JH. Evolutionary rewiring of the dynamic network underpinning allosteric epistasis in NS1 of influenza A virus. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.24.595776. [PMID: 38826371 PMCID: PMC11142230 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.24.595776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Viral proteins frequently mutate to evade or antagonize host innate immune responses, yet the impact of these mutations on the molecular energy landscape remains unclear. Epistasis, the intramolecular communications between mutations, often renders the combined mutational effects unpredictable. Nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) is a major virulence factor of the influenza A virus (IAV) that activates host PI3K by binding to its p85β subunit. Here, we present the deep analysis for the impact of evolutionary mutations in NS1 that emerged between the 1918 pandemic IAV strain and its descendant PR8 strain. Our analysis reveal how the mutations rewired inter-residue communications which underlies long-range allosteric and epistatic networks in NS1. Our findings show that PR8 NS1 binds to p85β with approximately 10-fold greater affinity than 1918 NS1 due to allosteric mutational effects. Notably, these mutations also exhibited long-range epistatic effects. NMR chemical shift perturbation and methyl-axis order parameter analyses revealed that the mutations induced long-range structural and dynamic changes in PR8 NS1, enhancing its affinity to p85β. Complementary MD simulations and graph-based network analysis uncover how these mutations rewire dynamic residue interaction networks, which underlies the long-range epistasis and allosteric effects on p85β-binding affinity. Significantly, we find that conformational dynamics of residues with high betweenness centrality play a crucial role in communications between network communities and are highly conserved across influenza A virus evolution. These findings advance our mechanistic understanding of the allosteric and epistatic communications between distant residues and provides insight into their role in the molecular evolution of NS1.
Collapse
|
9
|
Coricello A, Nardone AJ, Lupia A, Gratteri C, Vos M, Chaptal V, Alcaro S, Zhu W, Takagi Y, Richards NGJ. Cryo-EM and Molecular Dynamics Simulations Reveal Hidden Conformational Dynamics Controlling Ammonia Transport in Human Asparagine Synthetase. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.05.16.541009. [PMID: 37292727 PMCID: PMC10245805 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.16.541009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
How motions in enzymes might be linked to catalytic function is of considerable general interest. Recent advances in X-ray crystallography and cryogenic electron microscopy offer the promise of elucidating functionally relevant motions in proteins that are not easily amenable to study by other biophysical methods. Here we use 3D variability analysis (3DVA) on cryo-EM maps for wild type (WT) human asparagine synthetase (ASNS) and the R142I ASNS variant to identify conformational changes in the Arg-142 side chain, which mediates the formation of a catalytically relevant intramolecular tunnel. Our 3DVA results for WT ASNS are consistent with independent molecular dynamics (MD) simulations on a model generated from the X-ray structure of human ASNS. Moreover, MD simulations of computational models for the ASNS/β-aspartyl-AMP/MgPPi and R142I/β-aspartyl-AMP/MgPPi ternary complexes, suggest that the structural integrity of the tunnel is impaired in the R142I variant when β-aspartyl-AMP is present in the synthetase active site. The kinetic properties of the R142I ASNS variant support the proposed function of Arg-142. These studies illustrate the power of cryo-EM to identify localized motions and dissect the conformational landscape of large proteins. When combined with MD simulations, 3DVA is a powerful approach to understanding how conformational dynamics might regulate function in multi-domain enzymes possessing multiple active sites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Coricello
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università "Magna Græcia" di Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
- Present address: Dipartimento di Scienze Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Urbino "Carlo Bo", 61029 Urbino, Italy
| | - Alanya J Nardone
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Antonio Lupia
- Net4Science Academic Spin-Off, Università "Magna Græcia" di Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
- Present address: Dipartimento di Scienze della vita e dell'ambiente, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, 09042 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Carmen Gratteri
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università "Magna Græcia" di Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Matthijn Vos
- NanoImaging Core Facility, Centre de Resources et Recherches Technologiques, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Vincent Chaptal
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry Laboratory, CNRS UMR 5086, University of Lyon, 69367 Lyon, France
| | - Stefano Alcaro
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università "Magna Græcia" di Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
- Net4Science Academic Spin-Off, Università "Magna Græcia" di Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Wen Zhu
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Yuichiro Takagi
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Nigel G J Richards
- School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, UK
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, Alachua, FL 32615, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Rakotoharisoa RV, Seifinoferest B, Zarifi N, Miller JDM, Rodriguez JM, Thompson MC, Chica RA. Design of Efficient Artificial Enzymes Using Crystallographically Enhanced Conformational Sampling. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:10001-10013. [PMID: 38532610 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c00677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
The ability to create efficient artificial enzymes for any chemical reaction is of great interest. Here, we describe a computational design method for increasing the catalytic efficiency of de novo enzymes by several orders of magnitude without relying on directed evolution and high-throughput screening. Using structural ensembles generated from dynamics-based refinement against X-ray diffraction data collected from crystals of Kemp eliminases HG3 (kcat/KM 125 M-1 s-1) and KE70 (kcat/KM 57 M-1 s-1), we design from each enzyme ≤10 sequences predicted to catalyze this reaction more efficiently. The most active designs display kcat/KM values improved by 100-250-fold, comparable to mutants obtained after screening thousands of variants in multiple rounds of directed evolution. Crystal structures show excellent agreement with computational models, with catalytic contacts present as designed and transition-state root-mean-square deviations of ≤0.65 Å. Our work shows how ensemble-based design can generate efficient artificial enzymes by exploiting the true conformational ensemble to design improved active sites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rojo V Rakotoharisoa
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada
- Center for Catalysis Research and Innovation, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Behnoush Seifinoferest
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Merced, Merced, California 95343, United States
| | - Niayesh Zarifi
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada
- Center for Catalysis Research and Innovation, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Jack D M Miller
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada
- Center for Catalysis Research and Innovation, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Joshua M Rodriguez
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Merced, Merced, California 95343, United States
| | - Michael C Thompson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Merced, Merced, California 95343, United States
| | - Roberto A Chica
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada
- Center for Catalysis Research and Innovation, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Read BJ, Mitchell JBO, da Silva RG. Allosteric activation unveils protein-mass modulation of ATP phosphoribosyltransferase product release. Commun Chem 2024; 7:77. [PMID: 38582930 PMCID: PMC10998830 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-024-01165-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Heavy-isotope substitution into enzymes slows down bond vibrations and may alter transition-state barrier crossing probability if this is coupled to fast protein motions. ATP phosphoribosyltransferase from Acinetobacter baumannii is a multi-protein complex where the regulatory protein HisZ allosterically enhances catalysis by the catalytic protein HisGS. This is accompanied by a shift in rate-limiting step from chemistry to product release. Here we report that isotope-labelling of HisGS has no effect on the nonactivated reaction, which involves negative activation heat capacity, while HisZ-activated HisGS catalytic rate decreases in a strictly mass-dependent fashion across five different HisGS masses, at low temperatures. Surprisingly, the effect is not linked to the chemical step, but to fast motions governing product release in the activated enzyme. Disruption of a specific enzyme-product interaction abolishes the isotope effects. Results highlight how altered protein mass perturbs allosterically modulated thermal motions relevant to the catalytic cycle beyond the chemical step.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J Read
- School of Biology, Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - John B O Mitchell
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Rafael G da Silva
- School of Biology, Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Ludwig J, Curado-Carballada C, Hammer SC, Schneider A, Diether S, Kress N, Ruiz-Barragán S, Osuna S, Hauer B. Controlling Monoterpene Isomerization by Guiding Challenging Carbocation Rearrangement Reactions in Engineered Squalene-Hopene Cyclases. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202318913. [PMID: 38270537 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202318913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
The interconversion of monoterpenes is facilitated by a complex network of carbocation rearrangement pathways. Controlling these isomerization pathways is challenging when using common Brønsted and Lewis acid catalysts, which often produce product mixtures that are difficult to separate. In contrast, natural monoterpene cyclases exhibit high control over the carbocation rearrangement reactions but are reliant on phosphorylated substrates. In this study, we present engineered squalene-hopene cyclases from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius (AacSHC) that catalyze the challenging isomerization of monoterpenes with unprecedented precision. Starting from a promiscuous isomerization of (+)-β-pinene, we first demonstrate noticeable shifts in the product distribution solely by introducing single point mutations. Furthermore, we showcase the tuneable cation steering by enhancing (+)-borneol selectivity from 1 % to >90 % (>99 % de) aided by iterative saturation mutagenesis. Our combined experimental and computational data suggest that the reorganization of key aromatic residues leads to the restructuring of the water network that facilitates the selective termination of the secondary isobornyl cation. This work expands our mechanistic understanding of carbocation rearrangements and sets the stage for target-oriented skeletal reorganization of broadly abundant terpenes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julian Ludwig
- Department of Technical Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Christian Curado-Carballada
- Institut de Química Computacional i Catàlisi (IQCC) and, Departament de Química, Universitat de Girona, Maria Aurèlia Capmany 69, 17003, Girona, Spain
| | - Stephan C Hammer
- Department of Technical Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
- Faculty of Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Biocatalysis, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Andreas Schneider
- Department of Technical Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Svenja Diether
- Department of Technical Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Nico Kress
- Department of Technical Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Sergi Ruiz-Barragán
- Institut de Química Computacional i Catàlisi (IQCC) and, Departament de Química, Universitat de Girona, Maria Aurèlia Capmany 69, 17003, Girona, Spain
- Departament de Fisica, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Rambla Sant Nebridi 22, 08222, Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sílvia Osuna
- Institut de Química Computacional i Catàlisi (IQCC) and, Departament de Química, Universitat de Girona, Maria Aurèlia Capmany 69, 17003, Girona, Spain
- ICREA, Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 08010, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Bernhard Hauer
- Department of Technical Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Fröhlich C, Bunzel HA, Buda K, Mulholland AJ, van der Kamp MW, Johnsen PJ, Leiros HKS, Tokuriki N. Epistasis arises from shifting the rate-limiting step during enzyme evolution of a β-lactamase. Nat Catal 2024; 7:499-509. [PMID: 38828429 PMCID: PMC11136654 DOI: 10.1038/s41929-024-01117-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Epistasis, the non-additive effect of mutations, can provide combinatorial improvements to enzyme activity that substantially exceed the gains from individual mutations. Yet the molecular mechanisms of epistasis remain elusive, undermining our ability to predict pathogen evolution and engineer biocatalysts. Here we reveal how directed evolution of a β-lactamase yielded highly epistatic activity enhancements. Evolution selected four mutations that increase antibiotic resistance 40-fold, despite their marginal individual effects (≤2-fold). Synergistic improvements coincided with the introduction of super-stochiometric burst kinetics, indicating that epistasis is rooted in the enzyme's conformational dynamics. Our analysis reveals that epistasis stemmed from distinct effects of each mutation on the catalytic cycle. The initial mutation increased protein flexibility and accelerated substrate binding, which is rate-limiting in the wild-type enzyme. Subsequent mutations predominantly boosted the chemical steps by fine-tuning substrate interactions. Our work identifies an overlooked cause for epistasis: changing the rate-limiting step can result in substantial synergy that boosts enzyme activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - H. Adrian Bunzel
- Department of Biosystem Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Karol Buda
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia Canada
| | - Adrian J. Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Marc W. van der Kamp
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Pål J. Johnsen
- Department of Pharmacy, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - Nobuhiko Tokuriki
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia Canada
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Nam K, Shao Y, Major DT, Wolf-Watz M. Perspectives on Computational Enzyme Modeling: From Mechanisms to Design and Drug Development. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:7393-7412. [PMID: 38405524 PMCID: PMC10883025 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c09084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Understanding enzyme mechanisms is essential for unraveling the complex molecular machinery of life. In this review, we survey the field of computational enzymology, highlighting key principles governing enzyme mechanisms and discussing ongoing challenges and promising advances. Over the years, computer simulations have become indispensable in the study of enzyme mechanisms, with the integration of experimental and computational exploration now established as a holistic approach to gain deep insights into enzymatic catalysis. Numerous studies have demonstrated the power of computer simulations in characterizing reaction pathways, transition states, substrate selectivity, product distribution, and dynamic conformational changes for various enzymes. Nevertheless, significant challenges remain in investigating the mechanisms of complex multistep reactions, large-scale conformational changes, and allosteric regulation. Beyond mechanistic studies, computational enzyme modeling has emerged as an essential tool for computer-aided enzyme design and the rational discovery of covalent drugs for targeted therapies. Overall, enzyme design/engineering and covalent drug development can greatly benefit from our understanding of the detailed mechanisms of enzymes, such as protein dynamics, entropy contributions, and allostery, as revealed by computational studies. Such a convergence of different research approaches is expected to continue, creating synergies in enzyme research. This review, by outlining the ever-expanding field of enzyme research, aims to provide guidance for future research directions and facilitate new developments in this important and evolving field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kwangho Nam
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas 76019, United States
| | - Yihan Shao
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019-5251, United States
| | - Dan T. Major
- Department
of Chemistry and Institute for Nanotechnology & Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel
| | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Mao J, Jin X, Shi M, Heidenreich D, Brown LJ, Brown RCD, Lelli M, He X, Glaubitz C. Molecular mechanisms and evolutionary robustness of a color switch in proteorhodopsins. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadj0384. [PMID: 38266078 PMCID: PMC10807816 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj0384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Proteorhodopsins are widely distributed photoreceptors from marine bacteria. Their discovery revealed a high degree of evolutionary adaptation to ambient light, resulting in blue- and green-absorbing variants that correlate with a conserved glutamine/leucine at position 105. On the basis of an integrated approach combining sensitivity-enhanced solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) spectroscopy and linear-scaling quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) methods, this single residue is shown to be responsible for a variety of synergistically coupled structural and electrostatic changes along the retinal polyene chain, ionone ring, and within the binding pocket. They collectively explain the observed color shift. Furthermore, analysis of the differences in chemical shift between nuclei within the same residues in green and blue proteorhodopsins also reveals a correlation with the respective degree of conservation. Our data show that the highly conserved color change mainly affects other highly conserved residues, illustrating a high degree of robustness of the color phenotype to sequence variation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiafei Mao
- Institute for Biophysical Chemistry and Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe University Frankfurt, Max von Laue Straße 9, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Xinsheng Jin
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Molecule Intelligent Syntheses, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Man Shi
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Molecule Intelligent Syntheses, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - David Heidenreich
- Institute for Biophysical Chemistry and Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe University Frankfurt, Max von Laue Straße 9, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Lynda J. Brown
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ UK
| | - Richard C. D. Brown
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ UK
| | - Moreno Lelli
- Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff” and Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Italy
- Consorzio Interuniversitario Risonanze Magnetiche MetalloProteine (CIRMMP), Via Luigi Sacconi 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Italy
| | - Xiao He
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Molecule Intelligent Syntheses, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China
- New York University–East China Normal University Center for Computational Chemistry, New York University Shanghai, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Clemens Glaubitz
- Institute for Biophysical Chemistry and Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe University Frankfurt, Max von Laue Straße 9, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Sumida K, Núñez-Franco R, Kalvet I, Pellock SJ, Wicky BIM, Milles LF, Dauparas J, Wang J, Kipnis Y, Jameson N, Kang A, De La Cruz J, Sankaran B, Bera AK, Jiménez-Osés G, Baker D. Improving Protein Expression, Stability, and Function with ProteinMPNN. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:2054-2061. [PMID: 38194293 PMCID: PMC10811672 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c10941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Natural proteins are highly optimized for function but are often difficult to produce at a scale suitable for biotechnological applications due to poor expression in heterologous systems, limited solubility, and sensitivity to temperature. Thus, a general method that improves the physical properties of native proteins while maintaining function could have wide utility for protein-based technologies. Here, we show that the deep neural network ProteinMPNN, together with evolutionary and structural information, provides a route to increasing protein expression, stability, and function. For both myoglobin and tobacco etch virus (TEV) protease, we generated designs with improved expression, elevated melting temperatures, and improved function. For TEV protease, we identified multiple designs with improved catalytic activity as compared to the parent sequence and previously reported TEV variants. Our approach should be broadly useful for improving the expression, stability, and function of biotechnologically important proteins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kiera
H. Sumida
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
- Institute
for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Reyes Núñez-Franco
- Center
for Cooperative Research in Biosciences, Basque Research and Technology Alliance, Derio 48160, Spain
| | - Indrek Kalvet
- Institute
for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
- Howard
Hughes Medical Institute, University of
Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Samuel J. Pellock
- Institute
for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Basile I. M. Wicky
- Institute
for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Lukas F. Milles
- Institute
for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Justas Dauparas
- Institute
for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Jue Wang
- Institute
for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Yakov Kipnis
- Institute
for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
- Howard
Hughes Medical Institute, University of
Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Noel Jameson
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Alex Kang
- Institute
for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Joshmyn De La Cruz
- Institute
for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Banumathi Sankaran
- Berkeley
Center for Structural Biology, Molecular Biophysics, and Integrated
Bioimaging, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Asim K. Bera
- Institute
for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Gonzalo Jiménez-Osés
- Center
for Cooperative Research in Biosciences, Basque Research and Technology Alliance, Derio 48160, Spain
- Ikerbasque,
Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao 48013, Spain
| | - David Baker
- Institute
for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
- Howard
Hughes Medical Institute, University of
Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Borsley S, Gallagher JM, Leigh DA, Roberts BMW. Ratcheting synthesis. Nat Rev Chem 2024; 8:8-29. [PMID: 38102412 DOI: 10.1038/s41570-023-00558-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic chemistry has traditionally relied on reactions between reactants of high chemical potential and transformations that proceed energetically downhill to either a global or local minimum (thermodynamic or kinetic control). Catalysts can be used to manipulate kinetic control, lowering activation energies to influence reaction outcomes. However, such chemistry is still constrained by the shape of one-dimensional reaction coordinates. Coupling synthesis to an orthogonal energy input can allow ratcheting of chemical reaction outcomes, reminiscent of the ways that molecular machines ratchet random thermal motion to bias conformational dynamics. This fundamentally distinct approach to synthesis allows multi-dimensional potential energy surfaces to be navigated, enabling reaction outcomes that cannot be achieved under conventional kinetic or thermodynamic control. In this Review, we discuss how ratcheted synthesis is ubiquitous throughout biology and consider how chemists might harness ratchet mechanisms to accelerate catalysis, drive chemical reactions uphill and programme complex reaction sequences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Borsley
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | | | - David A Leigh
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
| | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Jiang Y, Ding N, Shao Q, Stull SL, Cheng Z, Yang ZJ. Substrate Positioning Dynamics Involves a Non-Electrostatic Component to Mediate Catalysis. J Phys Chem Lett 2023; 14:11480-11489. [PMID: 38085952 PMCID: PMC11211065 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c02444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
Substrate positioning dynamics (SPD) orients the substrate in the active site, thereby influencing catalytic efficiency. However, it remains unknown whether SPD effects originate primarily from electrostatic perturbation inside the enzyme or can independently mediate catalysis with a significant non-electrostatic component. In this work, we investigated how the non-electrostatic component of SPD affects transition state (TS) stabilization. Using high-throughput enzyme modeling, we selected Kemp eliminase variants with similar electrostatics inside the enzyme but significantly different SPD. The kinetic parameters of these mutants were experimentally characterized. We observed a valley-shaped, two-segment linear correlation between the TS stabilization free energy (converted from kinetic parameters) and substrate positioning index (a metric to quantify SPD). The energy varies by approximately 2 kcal/mol. Favorable SPD was observed for the distal mutant R154W, increasing the proportion of reactive conformations and leading to the lowest activation free energy. These results indicate the substantial contribution of the non-electrostatic component of SPD to enzyme catalytic efficiency.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yaoyukun Jiang
- Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Ning Ding
- Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Qianzhen Shao
- Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Sebastian L. Stull
- Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Zihao Cheng
- Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Zhongyue J. Yang
- Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
- Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
- Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
- Data Science Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Eastman KS, Mifflin MC, Oblad PF, Roberts AG, Bandarian V. A Promiscuous rSAM Enzyme Enables Diverse Peptide Cross-linking. ACS BIO & MED CHEM AU 2023; 3:480-493. [PMID: 38144258 PMCID: PMC10739248 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomedchemau.3c00043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Ribosomally produced and post-translationally modified polypeptides (RiPPs) are a diverse group of natural products that are processed by a variety of enzymes to their biologically relevant forms. PapB is a member of the radical S-adenosyl-l-methionine (rSAM) superfamily that introduces thioether cross-links between Cys and Asp residues in the PapA RiPP. We report that PapB has high tolerance for variations in the peptide substrate. Our results demonstrate that branched side chains in the thiol- and carboxylate-containing residues are processed and that lengthening of these groups to homocysteine and homoglutamate does not impair the ability of PapB to form thioether cross-links. Remarkably, the enzyme can even cross-link a peptide substrate where the native Asp carboxylate moiety is replaced with a tetrazole. We show that variations to residues embedded between the thiol- and carboxylate-containing residues are tolerated by PapB, as peptides containing both bulky (e.g., Phe) and charged (e.g., Lys) side chains in both natural L- and unnatural D-forms are efficiently cross-linked. Diastereomeric peptides bearing (2S,3R)- and (2S,3S)-methylaspartate are processed by PapB to form cyclic thioethers with markedly different rates, suggesting the enzymatic hydrogen atom abstraction event for the native Asp-containing substrate is diastereospecific. Finally, we synthesized two diastereomeric peptide substrates bearing E- and Z-configured γ,δ-dehydrohomoglutamate and show that PapB promotes addition of the deoxyadenosyl radical (dAdo•) instead of hydrogen atom abstraction. In the Z-configured γ,δ-dehydrohomoglutamate substrate, a fraction of the dAdo-adduct peptide is thioether cross-linked. In both cases, there is evidence for product inhibition of PapB, as the dAdo-adducts likely mimic the native transition state where dAdo• is poised to abstract a substrate hydrogen atom. Collectively, these findings provide critical insights into the arrangement of reacting species in the active site of the PapB, reveal unusual promiscuity, and highlight the potential of PapB as a tool in the development peptide therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karsten
A. S. Eastman
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 S. 1400 E, Salt Lake
City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Marcus C. Mifflin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 S. 1400 E, Salt Lake
City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Paul F. Oblad
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 S. 1400 E, Salt Lake
City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Andrew G. Roberts
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 S. 1400 E, Salt Lake
City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Vahe Bandarian
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 S. 1400 E, Salt Lake
City, Utah 84112, United States
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Ramelot TA, Tejero R, Montelione GT. Representing structures of the multiple conformational states of proteins. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2023; 83:102703. [PMID: 37776602 PMCID: PMC10841472 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2023.102703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
Biomolecules exhibit dynamic behavior that single-state models of their structures cannot fully capture. We review some recent advances for investigating multiple conformations of biomolecules, including experimental methods, molecular dynamics simulations, and machine learning. We also address the challenges associated with representing single- and multiple-state models in data archives, with a particular focus on NMR structures. Establishing standardized representations and annotations will facilitate effective communication and understanding of these complex models to the broader scientific community.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Theresa A Ramelot
- Dept of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA.
| | - Roberto Tejero
- Dept of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA
| | - Gaetano T Montelione
- Dept of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Zheng C, Ji Z, Mathews II, Boxer SG. Enhanced active-site electric field accelerates enzyme catalysis. Nat Chem 2023; 15:1715-1721. [PMID: 37563323 PMCID: PMC10906027 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-023-01287-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
The design and improvement of enzymes based on physical principles remain challenging. Here we demonstrate that the principle of electrostatic catalysis can be leveraged to substantially improve a natural enzyme's activity. We enhanced the active-site electric field in horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase by replacing the serine hydrogen-bond donor with threonine and replacing the catalytic Zn2+ with Co2+. Based on the electric field enhancement, we make a quantitative prediction of rate acceleration-50-fold faster than the wild-type enzyme-which was in close agreement with experimental measurements. The effects of the hydrogen bonding and metal coordination, two distinct chemical forces, are described by a unified physical quantity-electric field, which is quantitative, and shown here to be additive and predictive. These results suggest a new design paradigm for both biological and non-biological catalysts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chu Zheng
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Zhe Ji
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Steven G Boxer
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Yang ZJ, Shao Q, Jiang Y, Jurich C, Ran X, Juarez RJ, Yan B, Stull SL, Gollu A, Ding N. Mutexa: A Computational Ecosystem for Intelligent Protein Engineering. J Chem Theory Comput 2023; 19:7459-7477. [PMID: 37828731 PMCID: PMC10653112 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.3c00602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Protein engineering holds immense promise in shaping the future of biomedicine and biotechnology. This Review focuses on our ongoing development of Mutexa, a computational ecosystem designed to enable "intelligent protein engineering". In this vision, researchers will seamlessly acquire sequences of protein variants with desired functions as biocatalysts, therapeutic peptides, and diagnostic proteins through a finely-tuned computational machine, akin to Amazon Alexa's role as a versatile virtual assistant. The technical foundation of Mutexa has been established through the development of a database that combines and relates enzyme structures and their respective functions (e.g., IntEnzyDB), workflow software packages that enable high-throughput protein modeling (e.g., EnzyHTP and LassoHTP), and scoring functions that map the sequence-structure-function relationship of proteins (e.g., EnzyKR and DeepLasso). We will showcase the applications of these tools in benchmarking the convergence conditions of enzyme functional descriptors across mutants, investigating protein electrostatics and cavity distributions in SAM-dependent methyltransferases, and understanding the role of nonelectrostatic dynamic effects in enzyme catalysis. Finally, we will conclude by addressing the future steps and fundamental challenges in our endeavor to develop new Mutexa applications that assist the identification of beneficial mutants in protein engineering.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhongyue J. Yang
- Department
of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
- Center
for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
- Vanderbilt
Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt
University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
- Data
Science Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Qianzhen Shao
- Department
of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Yaoyukun Jiang
- Department
of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Christopher Jurich
- Department
of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
- Vanderbilt
Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt
University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Xinchun Ran
- Department
of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Reecan J. Juarez
- Department
of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
- Chemical
and Physical Biology Program, Vanderbilt
University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Bailu Yan
- Department
of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37205, United States
| | - Sebastian L. Stull
- Department
of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Anvita Gollu
- Department
of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Ning Ding
- Department
of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Tozzi A, Mazzeo M. The First Nucleic Acid Strands May Have Grown on Peptides via Primeval Reverse Translation. Acta Biotheor 2023; 71:23. [PMID: 37947915 DOI: 10.1007/s10441-023-09474-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
The central dogma of molecular biology dictates that, with only a few exceptions, information proceeds from DNA to protein through an RNA intermediate. Examining the enigmatic steps from prebiotic to biological chemistry, we take another road suggesting that primordial peptides acted as template for the self-assembly of the first nucleic acids polymers. Arguing in favour of a sort of archaic "reverse translation" from proteins to RNA, our basic premise is a Hadean Earth where key biomolecules such as amino acids, polypeptides, purines, pyrimidines, nucleosides and nucleotides were available under different prebiotically plausible conditions, including meteorites delivery, shallow ponds and hydrothermal vents scenarios. Supporting a protein-first scenario alternative to the RNA world hypothesis, we propose the primeval occurrence of short two-dimensional peptides termed "selective amino acid- and nucleotide-matching oligopeptides" (henceforward SANMAOs) that noncovalently bind at the same time the polymerized amino acids and the single nucleotides dispersed in the prebiotic milieu. In this theoretical paper, we describe the chemical features of this hypothetical oligopeptide, its biological plausibility and its virtues from an evolutionary perspective. We provide a theoretical example of SANMAO's selective pairing between amino acids and nucleosides, simulating a poly-Glycine peptide that acts as a template to build a purinic chain corresponding to the glycine's extant triplet codon GGG. Further, we discuss how SANMAO might have endorsed the formation of low-fidelity RNA's polymerized strains, well before the appearance of the accurate genetic material's transmission ensured by the current translation apparatus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arturo Tozzi
- Center for Nonlinear Science, Department of Physics, University of North Texas, 1155 Union Circle, #311427, Denton, TX, 76203-5017, USA.
| | - Marco Mazzeo
- Erredibi Srl, Via Pazzigno 117, 80146, Naples, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Madubuike H, Ferry N. Enhanced Activity and Stability of an Acetyl Xylan Esterase in Hydrophilic Alcohols through Site-Directed Mutagenesis. Molecules 2023; 28:7393. [PMID: 37959811 PMCID: PMC10647838 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28217393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Current demands for the development of suitable biocatalysts showing high process performance is stimulated by the need to replace current chemical synthesis with cleaner alternatives. A drawback to the use of biocatalysts for unique applications is their low performance in industrial conditions. Hence, enzymes with improved performance are needed to achieve innovative and sustainable biocatalysis. In this study, we report the improved performance of an engineered acetyl xylan esterase (BaAXE) in a hydrophilic organic solvent. The structure of BaAXE was partitioned into a substrate-binding region and a solvent-affecting region. Using a rational design approach, charged residues were introduced at protein surfaces in the solvent-affecting region. Two sites present in the solvent-affecting region, A12D and Q143E, were selected for site-directed mutagenesis, which generated the mutants MUT12, MUT143 and MUT12-143. The mutants MUT12 and MUT143 reported lower Km (0.29 mM and 0.27 mM, respectively) compared to the wildtype (0.41 mM). The performance of the mutants in organic solvents was assessed after enzyme incubation in various strengths of alcohols. The mutants showed improved activity and stability compared to the wild type in low strengths of ethanol and methanol. However, the activity of MUT143 was lost in 40% methanol while MUT12 and MUT12-143 retained over 70% residual activity in this environment. Computational analysis links the improved performance of MUT12 and MUT12-143 to novel intermolecular interactions that are absent in MUT143. This work supports the rationale for protein engineering to augment the characteristics of wild-type proteins and provides more insight into the role of charged residues in conferring stability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Henry Madubuike
- School of Science Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Manchester M5 4WT, UK
| | - Natalie Ferry
- School of Science Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Manchester M5 4WT, UK
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Rakotoharisoa RV, Seifinoferest B, Zarifi N, Miller JD, Rodriguez JM, Thompson MC, Chica RA. Design of efficient artificial enzymes using crystallographically-enhanced conformational sampling. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.01.564846. [PMID: 37961474 PMCID: PMC10635043 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.01.564846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
The ability to create efficient artificial enzymes for any chemical reaction is of great interest. Here, we describe a computational design method for increasing catalytic efficiency of de novo enzymes to a level comparable to their natural counterparts without relying on directed evolution. Using structural ensembles generated from dynamics-based refinement against X-ray diffraction data collected from crystals of Kemp eliminases HG3 (kcat/KM 125 M-1 s-1) and KE70 (kcat/KM 57 M-1 s-1), we design from each enzyme ≤10 sequences predicted to catalyze this reaction more efficiently. The most active designs display kcat/KM values improved by 100-250-fold, comparable to mutants obtained after screening thousands of variants in multiple rounds of directed evolution. Crystal structures show excellent agreement with computational models. Our work shows how computational design can generate efficient artificial enzymes by exploiting the true conformational ensemble to more effectively stabilize the transition state.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rojo V. Rakotoharisoa
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1N 6N5
- Center for Catalysis Research and Innovation, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1N 6N5
| | - Behnoush Seifinoferest
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Merced, Merced, California 95343, United States
| | - Niayesh Zarifi
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1N 6N5
- Center for Catalysis Research and Innovation, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1N 6N5
| | - Jack D.M. Miller
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1N 6N5
- Center for Catalysis Research and Innovation, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1N 6N5
| | - Joshua M. Rodriguez
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Merced, Merced, California 95343, United States
| | - Michael C. Thompson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Merced, Merced, California 95343, United States
| | - Roberto A. Chica
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1N 6N5
- Center for Catalysis Research and Innovation, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1N 6N5
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Jóźwik IK, Bombino E, Abdulmughni A, Hartz P, Rozeboom HJ, Wijma HJ, Kappl R, Janssen DB, Bernhardt R, Thunnissen AMWH. Regio- and stereoselective steroid hydroxylation by CYP109A2 from Bacillus megaterium explored by X-ray crystallography and computational modeling. FEBS J 2023; 290:5016-5035. [PMID: 37453052 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
The P450 monooxygenase CYP109A2 from Bacillus megaterium DSM319 was previously found to convert vitamin D3 (VD3) to 25-hydroxyvitamin D3. Here, we show that this enzyme is also able to convert testosterone in a highly regio- and stereoselective manner to 16β-hydroxytestosterone. To reveal the structural determinants governing the regio- and stereoselective steroid hydroxylation reactions catalyzed by CYP109A2, two crystal structures of CYP109A2 were solved in similar closed conformations, one revealing a bound testosterone in the active site pocket, albeit at a nonproductive site away from the heme-iron. To examine whether the closed crystal structures nevertheless correspond to a reactive conformation of CYP109A2, docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed with testosterone and vitamin D3 (VD3) present in the active site. These MD simulations were analyzed for catalytically productive conformations, the relative occurrences of which were in agreement with the experimentally determined stereoselectivities if the predicted stability of each carbon-hydrogen bond was taken into account. Overall, the first-time determination and analysis of the catalytically relevant 3D conformation of CYP109A2 will allow for future small molecule ligand screening in silico, as well as enabling site-directed mutagenesis toward improved enzymatic properties of this enzyme.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ilona K Jóźwik
- Biotransformation and Biocatalysis, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Elvira Bombino
- Biotransformation and Biocatalysis, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ammar Abdulmughni
- Department of Biochemistry, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Philip Hartz
- Department of Biochemistry, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Henriette J Rozeboom
- Biotransformation and Biocatalysis, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hein J Wijma
- Biotransformation and Biocatalysis, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Reinhard Kappl
- Department of Biophysics, CIPMM, School of Medicine, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Dick B Janssen
- Biotransformation and Biocatalysis, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Rita Bernhardt
- Department of Biochemistry, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Andy-Mark W H Thunnissen
- Biotransformation and Biocatalysis, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
St-Jacques AD, Rodriguez JM, Eason MG, Foster SM, Khan ST, Damry AM, Goto NK, Thompson MC, Chica RA. Computational remodeling of an enzyme conformational landscape for altered substrate selectivity. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6058. [PMID: 37770431 PMCID: PMC10539519 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41762-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Structural plasticity of enzymes dictates their function. Yet, our ability to rationally remodel enzyme conformational landscapes to tailor catalytic properties remains limited. Here, we report a computational procedure for tuning conformational landscapes that is based on multistate design of hinge-mediated domain motions. Using this method, we redesign the conformational landscape of a natural aminotransferase to preferentially stabilize a less populated but reactive conformation and thereby increase catalytic efficiency with a non-native substrate, resulting in altered substrate selectivity. Steady-state kinetics of designed variants reveals activity increases with the non-native substrate of approximately 100-fold and selectivity switches of up to 1900-fold. Structural analyses by room-temperature X-ray crystallography and multitemperature nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy confirm that conformational equilibria favor the target conformation. Our computational approach opens the door to targeted alterations of conformational states and equilibria, which should facilitate the design of biocatalysts with customized activity and selectivity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antony D St-Jacques
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada
- Center for Catalysis Research and Innovation, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Joshua M Rodriguez
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, 95343, USA
| | - Matthew G Eason
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada
- Center for Catalysis Research and Innovation, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Scott M Foster
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada
- Center for Catalysis Research and Innovation, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Safwat T Khan
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada
- Center for Catalysis Research and Innovation, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Adam M Damry
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada
- Center for Catalysis Research and Innovation, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Natalie K Goto
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada
- Center for Catalysis Research and Innovation, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Michael C Thompson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, 95343, USA
| | - Roberto A Chica
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada.
- Center for Catalysis Research and Innovation, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Marshall LR, Bhattacharya S, Korendovych IV. Fishing for Catalysis: Experimental Approaches to Narrowing Search Space in Directed Evolution of Enzymes. JACS AU 2023; 3:2402-2412. [PMID: 37772192 PMCID: PMC10523367 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.3c00315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Directed evolution has transformed protein engineering offering a path to rapid improvement of protein properties. Yet, in practice it is limited by the hyper-astronomic protein sequence search space, and approaches to identify mutagenic hot spots, i.e., locations where mutations are most likely to have a productive impact, are needed. In this perspective, we categorize and discuss recent progress in the experimental approaches (broadly defined as structural, bioinformatic, and dynamic) to hot spot identification. Recent successes in harnessing protein dynamics and machine learning approaches provide new opportunities for the field and will undoubtedly help directed evolution reach its full potential.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liam R. Marshall
- Department of Chemistry, Syracuse
University, 111 College Place, Syracuse, New York 13224, United States
| | - Sagar Bhattacharya
- Department of Chemistry, Syracuse
University, 111 College Place, Syracuse, New York 13224, United States
| | - Ivan V. Korendovych
- Department of Chemistry, Syracuse
University, 111 College Place, Syracuse, New York 13224, United States
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Abstract
A survey of protein databases indicates that the majority of enzymes exist in oligomeric forms, with about half of those found in the UniProt database being homodimeric. Understanding why many enzymes are in their dimeric form is imperative. Recent developments in experimental and computational techniques have allowed for a deeper comprehension of the cooperative interactions between the subunits of dimeric enzymes. This review aims to succinctly summarize these recent advancements by providing an overview of experimental and theoretical methods, as well as an understanding of cooperativity in substrate binding and the molecular mechanisms of cooperative catalysis within homodimeric enzymes. Focus is set upon the beneficial effects of dimerization and cooperative catalysis. These advancements not only provide essential case studies and theoretical support for comprehending dimeric enzyme catalysis but also serve as a foundation for designing highly efficient catalysts, such as dimeric organic catalysts. Moreover, these developments have significant implications for drug design, as exemplified by Paxlovid, which was designed for the homodimeric main protease of SARS-CoV-2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ke-Wei Chen
- Lab of Computional Chemistry and Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Tian-Yu Sun
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518132, China
| | - Yun-Dong Wu
- Lab of Computional Chemistry and Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518132, China
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Thompson MC. Combining temperature perturbations with X-ray crystallography to study dynamic macromolecules: A thorough discussion of experimental methods. Methods Enzymol 2023; 688:255-305. [PMID: 37748829 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2023.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Temperature is an important state variable that governs the behavior of microscopic systems, yet crystallographers rarely exploit temperature changes to study the structure and dynamics of biological macromolecules. In fact, approximately 90% of crystal structures in the Protein Data Bank were determined under cryogenic conditions, because sample cryocooling makes crystals robust to X-ray radiation damage and facilitates data collection. On the other hand, cryocooling can introduce artifacts into macromolecular structures, and can suppress conformational dynamics that are critical for function. Fortunately, recent advances in X-ray detector technology, X-ray sources, and computational data processing algorithms make non-cryogenic X-ray crystallography easier and more broadly applicable than ever before. Without the reliance on cryocooling, high-resolution crystallography can be combined with various temperature perturbations to gain deep insight into the conformational landscapes of macromolecules. This Chapter reviews the historical reasons for the prevalence of cryocooling in macromolecular crystallography, and discusses its potential drawbacks. Next, the Chapter summarizes technological developments and methodologies that facilitate non-cryogenic crystallography experiments. Finally, the chapter discusses the theoretical underpinnings and practical aspects of multi-temperature and temperature-jump crystallography experiments, which are powerful tools for understanding the relationship between the structure, dynamics, and function of proteins and other biological macromolecules.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael C Thompson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Ramakrishnan K, Johnson RL, Winter SD, Worthy HL, Thomas C, Humer DC, Spadiut O, Hindson SH, Wells S, Barratt AH, Menzies GE, Pudney CR, Jones DD. Glycosylation increases active site rigidity leading to improved enzyme stability and turnover. FEBS J 2023; 290:3812-3827. [PMID: 37004154 PMCID: PMC10952495 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Glycosylation is the most prevalent protein post-translational modification, with a quarter of glycosylated proteins having enzymatic properties. Yet, the full impact of glycosylation on the protein structure-function relationship, especially in enzymes, is still limited. Here, we show that glycosylation rigidifies the important commercial enzyme horseradish peroxidase (HRP), which in turn increases its turnover and stability. Circular dichroism spectroscopy revealed that glycosylation increased holo-HRP's thermal stability and promoted significant helical structure in the absence of haem (apo-HRP). Glycosylation also resulted in a 10-fold increase in enzymatic turnover towards o-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride when compared to its nonglycosylated form. Utilising a naturally occurring site-specific probe of active site flexibility (Trp117) in combination with red-edge excitation shift fluorescence spectroscopy, we found that glycosylation significantly rigidified the enzyme. In silico simulations confirmed that glycosylation largely decreased protein backbone flexibility, especially in regions close to the active site and the substrate access channel. Thus, our data show that glycosylation does not just have a passive effect on HRP stability but can exert long-range effects that mediate the 'native' enzyme's activity and stability through changes in inherent dynamics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Rachel L. Johnson
- Molecular Biosciences Division, School of BiosciencesCardiff UniversityUK
| | | | - Harley L. Worthy
- Molecular Biosciences Division, School of BiosciencesCardiff UniversityUK
- Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Life SciencesUniversity of ExeterUK
| | | | - Diana C. Humer
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Area Biochemical EngineeringTU WienAustria
| | - Oliver Spadiut
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Area Biochemical EngineeringTU WienAustria
| | | | | | - Andrew H. Barratt
- Molecular Biosciences Division, School of BiosciencesCardiff UniversityUK
| | | | - Christopher R. Pudney
- Department of Biology and BiochemistryUniversity of BathUK
- Centre for Therapeutic InnovationUniversity of BathUK
| | - D. Dafydd Jones
- Molecular Biosciences Division, School of BiosciencesCardiff UniversityUK
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Markin CJ, Mokhtari DA, Du S, Doukov T, Sunden F, Cook JA, Fordyce PM, Herschlag D. Decoupling of catalysis and transition state analog binding from mutations throughout a phosphatase revealed by high-throughput enzymology. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2219074120. [PMID: 37428919 PMCID: PMC10629569 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2219074120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Using high-throughput microfluidic enzyme kinetics (HT-MEK), we measured over 9,000 inhibition curves detailing impacts of 1,004 single-site mutations throughout the alkaline phosphatase PafA on binding affinity for two transition state analogs (TSAs), vanadate and tungstate. As predicted by catalytic models invoking transition state complementary, mutations to active site and active-site-contacting residues had highly similar impacts on catalysis and TSA binding. Unexpectedly, most mutations to more distal residues that reduced catalysis had little or no impact on TSA binding and many even increased tungstate affinity. These disparate effects can be accounted for by a model in which distal mutations alter the enzyme's conformational landscape, increasing the occupancy of microstates that are catalytically less effective but better able to accommodate larger transition state analogs. In support of this ensemble model, glycine substitutions (rather than valine) were more likely to increase tungstate affinity (but not more likely to impact catalysis), presumably due to increased conformational flexibility that allows previously disfavored microstates to increase in occupancy. These results indicate that residues throughout an enzyme provide specificity for the transition state and discriminate against analogs that are larger only by tenths of an Ångström. Thus, engineering enzymes that rival the most powerful natural enzymes will likely require consideration of distal residues that shape the enzyme's conformational landscape and fine-tune active-site residues. Biologically, the evolution of extensive communication between the active site and remote residues to aid catalysis may have provided the foundation for allostery to make it a highly evolvable trait.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Craig J. Markin
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | | | - Siyuan Du
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Tzanko Doukov
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Light Source, Stanford Linear Accelerator Centre National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA94025
| | - Fanny Sunden
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Jordan A. Cook
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Polly M. Fordyce
- ChEM-H Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA94110
| | - Daniel Herschlag
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- ChEM-H Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Casadevall G, Duran C, Osuna S. AlphaFold2 and Deep Learning for Elucidating Enzyme Conformational Flexibility and Its Application for Design. JACS AU 2023; 3:1554-1562. [PMID: 37388680 PMCID: PMC10302747 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.3c00188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
The recent success of AlphaFold2 (AF2) and other deep learning (DL) tools in accurately predicting the folded three-dimensional (3D) structure of proteins and enzymes has revolutionized the structural biology and protein design fields. The 3D structure indeed reveals key information on the arrangement of the catalytic machinery of enzymes and which structural elements gate the active site pocket. However, comprehending enzymatic activity requires a detailed knowledge of the chemical steps involved along the catalytic cycle and the exploration of the multiple thermally accessible conformations that enzymes adopt when in solution. In this Perspective, some of the recent studies showing the potential of AF2 in elucidating the conformational landscape of enzymes are provided. Selected examples of the key developments of AF2-based and DL methods for protein design are discussed, as well as a few enzyme design cases. These studies show the potential of AF2 and DL for allowing the routine computational design of efficient enzymes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guillem Casadevall
- Institut
de Química Computacional i Catàlisi (IQCC) and Departament
de Química, Universitat de Girona, Maria Aurèlia Capmany 69, 17003 Girona, Spain
| | - Cristina Duran
- Institut
de Química Computacional i Catàlisi (IQCC) and Departament
de Química, Universitat de Girona, Maria Aurèlia Capmany 69, 17003 Girona, Spain
| | - Sílvia Osuna
- Institut
de Química Computacional i Catàlisi (IQCC) and Departament
de Química, Universitat de Girona, Maria Aurèlia Capmany 69, 17003 Girona, Spain
- ICREA, Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Deng J, Cui Q. Second-Shell Residues Contribute to Catalysis by Predominately Preorganizing the Apo State in PafA. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:11333-11347. [PMID: 37172218 PMCID: PMC10810092 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c02423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Residues beyond the first coordination shell are often observed to make considerable cumulative contributions in enzymes. Due to typically indirect perturbations of multiple physicochemical properties of the active site, however, their individual and specific roles in enzyme catalysis and disease-causing mutations remain difficult to predict and understand at the molecular level. Here we analyze the contributions of several second-shell residues in phosphate-irrepressible alkaline phosphatase of flavobacterium (PafA), a representative system as one of the most efficient enzymes. By adopting a multifaceted approach that integrates quantum-mechanical/molecular-mechanical free energy computations, molecular-mechanical molecular dynamics simulations, and density functional theory cluster model calculations, we probe the rate-limiting phosphoryl transfer step and structural properties of all relevant enzyme states. In combination with available experimental data, our computational results show that mutations of the studied second-shell residues impact catalytic efficiency mainly by perturbation of the apo state and therefore substrate binding, while they do not affect the ground state or alter the nature of phosphoryl transfer transition state significantly. Several second-shell mutations also modulate the active site hydration level, which in turn influences the energetics of phosphoryl transfer. These mechanistic insights also help inform strategies that may improve the efficiency of enzyme design and engineering by going beyond the current focus on the first coordination shell.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiahua Deng
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Qiang Cui
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Physics, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Skaist Mehlman T, Biel JT, Azeem SM, Nelson ER, Hossain S, Dunnett L, Paterson NG, Douangamath A, Talon R, Axford D, Orins H, von Delft F, Keedy DA. Room-temperature crystallography reveals altered binding of small-molecule fragments to PTP1B. eLife 2023; 12:84632. [PMID: 36881464 PMCID: PMC9991056 DOI: 10.7554/elife.84632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Much of our current understanding of how small-molecule ligands interact with proteins stems from X-ray crystal structures determined at cryogenic (cryo) temperature. For proteins alone, room-temperature (RT) crystallography can reveal previously hidden, biologically relevant alternate conformations. However, less is understood about how RT crystallography may impact the conformational landscapes of protein-ligand complexes. Previously, we showed that small-molecule fragments cluster in putative allosteric sites using a cryo crystallographic screen of the therapeutic target PTP1B (Keedy et al., 2018). Here, we have performed two RT crystallographic screens of PTP1B using many of the same fragments, representing the largest RT crystallographic screens of a diverse library of ligands to date, and enabling a direct interrogation of the effect of data collection temperature on protein-ligand interactions. We show that at RT, fewer ligands bind, and often more weakly - but with a variety of temperature-dependent differences, including unique binding poses, changes in solvation, new binding sites, and distinct protein allosteric conformational responses. Overall, this work suggests that the vast body of existing cryo-temperature protein-ligand structures may provide an incomplete picture, and highlights the potential of RT crystallography to help complete this picture by revealing distinct conformational modes of protein-ligand systems. Our results may inspire future use of RT crystallography to interrogate the roles of protein-ligand conformational ensembles in biological function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tamar Skaist Mehlman
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research CenterNew YorkUnited States
- PhD Program in Biochemistry, CUNY Graduate CenterNew YorkUnited States
| | - Justin T Biel
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Syeda Maryam Azeem
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research CenterNew YorkUnited States
| | | | - Sakib Hossain
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research CenterNew YorkUnited States
| | - Louise Dunnett
- Diamond Light SourceDidcotUnited Kingdom
- Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation CampusDidcotUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Alice Douangamath
- Diamond Light SourceDidcotUnited Kingdom
- Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation CampusDidcotUnited Kingdom
| | | | | | - Helen Orins
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research CenterNew YorkUnited States
| | - Frank von Delft
- Diamond Light SourceDidcotUnited Kingdom
- Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation CampusDidcotUnited Kingdom
- Centre for Medicines Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Department of Biochemistry, University of JohannesburgJohannesburgSouth Africa
| | - Daniel A Keedy
- Structural Biology Initiative, CUNY Advanced Science Research CenterNew YorkUnited States
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, City College of New YorkNew YorkUnited States
- PhD Programs in Biochemistry, Biology, and Chemistry, CUNY Graduate CenterNew YorkUnited States
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Zhang A, Zhuang X, Liu J, Huang J, Lin L, Tang Y, Zhao S, Li R, Wang B, Fang B, Hong W. Catalytic cycle of formate dehydrogenase captured by single-molecule conductance. Nat Catal 2023. [DOI: 10.1038/s41929-023-00928-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
|
37
|
Wang P, Zhang J, Zhang S, Lu D, Zhu Y. Using High-Throughput Molecular Dynamics Simulation to Enhance the Computational Design of Kemp Elimination Enzymes. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:1323-1337. [PMID: 36782360 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c00002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Computational enzyme design has been successfully applied to identify new alternatives to natural enzymes for the biosynthesis of important compounds. However, the moderate catalytic activities of de novo designed enzymes indicate that the modeling accuracy of current computational enzyme design methods should be improved. Here, high-throughput molecular dynamics simulations were used to enhance computational enzyme design, thus allowing the identification of variants with higher activities in silico. Different time schemes of high-throughput molecular dynamics simulations were tested to identify the catalytic features of evolved Kemp eliminases. The 20 × 1 ns molecular dynamics simulation scheme was sufficiently accurate and computationally viable to screen the computationally designed massive variants of Kemp elimination enzymes. The developed hybrid computational strategy was used to redesign the most active Kemp eliminase, HG3.17, and five variants were generated and experimentally confirmed to afford higher catalytic efficiencies than that of HG3.17, with one double variant (D52Q/A53S) exhibiting a 55% increase. The hybrid computational enzyme design strategy is general and computationally economical, with which we anticipate the efficient creation of practical enzymes for industrial biocatalysis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pengyu Wang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China.,Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Shengyu Zhang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Diannan Lu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yushan Zhu
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Janson G, Valdes-Garcia G, Heo L, Feig M. Direct generation of protein conformational ensembles via machine learning. Nat Commun 2023; 14:774. [PMID: 36774359 PMCID: PMC9922302 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36443-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Dynamics and conformational sampling are essential for linking protein structure to biological function. While challenging to probe experimentally, computer simulations are widely used to describe protein dynamics, but at significant computational costs that continue to limit the systems that can be studied. Here, we demonstrate that machine learning can be trained with simulation data to directly generate physically realistic conformational ensembles of proteins without the need for any sampling and at negligible computational cost. As a proof-of-principle we train a generative adversarial network based on a transformer architecture with self-attention on coarse-grained simulations of intrinsically disordered peptides. The resulting model, idpGAN, can predict sequence-dependent coarse-grained ensembles for sequences that are not present in the training set demonstrating that transferability can be achieved beyond the limited training data. We also retrain idpGAN on atomistic simulation data to show that the approach can be extended in principle to higher-resolution conformational ensemble generation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Janson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Gilberto Valdes-Garcia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Lim Heo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Michael Feig
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Borg AJE, Esquivias O, Coines J, Rovira C, Nidetzky B. Enzymatische C4-Epimerisierung von UDP-Glucuronsäure: präzise gesteuerte Rotation eines transienten 4-Ketointermediats für eine invertierende Reaktion ohne Decarboxylierung. ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 135:e202211937. [PMID: 38515538 PMCID: PMC10952283 DOI: 10.1002/ange.202211937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
AbstractUDP‐Glucuronsäure(UDP‐GlcA)‐4‐Epimerase repräsentiert eine wichtige Fragestellung in der Enzymkatalyse: die Balance zwischen konformativer Flexibilität und genauer Positionierung. Das Enzym koordiniert die C4‐Oxidation des Substrats durch NAD+ mit der Rotation eines leicht decarboxylierbaren β‐Ketosäure‐Intermediats im aktiven Zentrum zur Ermöglichung der stereoinvertierenden Reduktion der Ketogruppe durch NADH. Wir zeigen hier die nur schwer erfassbare Rotationskoordinate des 4‐Ketointermediats. Distorsion des Zuckerrings in eine Boot‐Konformation erzeugt torsionale Mobilität in der Bindungstasche des Enzyms. Die Endpunkte der Rotation zeigen den 4‐Ketozucker in einer unverformten 4C1‐Sesselkonformation. Die äquatorial positionierte Carboxylatgruppe ist ungünstig für die 4‐Ketozucker‐Decarboxylierung. Varianten der Epimerase zeigen Decarboxylierung, wenn sie die Bindung mit der Carboxylatgruppe im entgegengesetzten Rotationsisomer des Substrats entfernen. R185A/D‐Substitutionen wandeln die Epimerase in UDP‐Xylose‐Synthasen um, welche UDP‐GlcA in stereospezifischen, konfigurationserhaltenden Reaktionen decarboxylieren.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annika J. E. Borg
- Institut für Biotechnologie und BioprozesstechnikTechnische Universität GrazPetersgasse 12/18010GrazÖsterreich
| | - Oriol Esquivias
- Department of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry (Section of Organic Chemistry)Institute of Computational and Theoretical Chemistry (IQTCUB)Martí i Franquès 108028BarcelonaSpanien
| | - Joan Coines
- Department of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry (Section of Organic Chemistry)Institute of Computational and Theoretical Chemistry (IQTCUB)Martí i Franquès 108028BarcelonaSpanien
- Derzeitige Adresse: Nostrum BiodiscoveryAv. De Josep Tarradellas, 8–1008029BarcelonaSpanien
| | - Carme Rovira
- Department of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry (Section of Organic Chemistry)Institute of Computational and Theoretical Chemistry (IQTCUB)Martí i Franquès 108028BarcelonaSpanien
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA)Passeig Lluís Companys, 2308010BarcelonaSpanien
| | - Bernd Nidetzky
- Institut für Biotechnologie und BioprozesstechnikTechnische Universität GrazPetersgasse 12/18010GrazÖsterreich
- Austrian Center of Industrial Biotechnology (acib)Krenngasse 378010GrazÖsterreich
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Borg AJE, Esquivias O, Coines J, Rovira C, Nidetzky B. Enzymatic C4-Epimerization of UDP-Glucuronic Acid: Precisely Steered Rotation of a Transient 4-Keto Intermediate for an Inverted Reaction without Decarboxylation. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202211937. [PMID: 36308301 PMCID: PMC10107529 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202211937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
UDP-glucuronic acid (UDP-GlcA) 4-epimerase illustrates an important problem regarding enzyme catalysis: balancing conformational flexibility with precise positioning. The enzyme coordinates the C4-oxidation of the substrate by NAD+ and rotation of a decarboxylation-prone β-keto acid intermediate in the active site, enabling stereoinverting reduction of the keto group by NADH. We reveal the elusive rotational landscape of the 4-keto intermediate. Distortion of the sugar ring into boat conformations induces torsional mobility in the enzyme's binding pocket. The rotational endpoints show that the 4-keto sugar has an undistorted 4 C1 chair conformation. The equatorially placed carboxylate group disfavors decarboxylation of the 4-keto sugar. Epimerase variants lead to decarboxylation upon removal of the binding interactions with the carboxylate group in the opposite rotational isomer of the substrate. Substitutions R185A/D convert the epimerase into UDP-xylose synthases that decarboxylate UDP-GlcA in stereospecific, configuration-retaining reactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annika J E Borg
- Institute of Biotechnology and Biochemical Engineering, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 12/1, 8010, Graz, Austria
| | - Oriol Esquivias
- Department of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry (Section of Organic Chemistry), Institute of Computational and Theoretical Chemistry (IQTCUB), Martí i Franquès 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Coines
- Department of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry (Section of Organic Chemistry), Institute of Computational and Theoretical Chemistry (IQTCUB), Martí i Franquès 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.,Present address: Nostrum Biodiscovery, Av. De Josep Tarradellas, 8-10, 08029, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carme Rovira
- Department of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry (Section of Organic Chemistry), Institute of Computational and Theoretical Chemistry (IQTCUB), Martí i Franquès 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.,Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Passeig Lluís Companys, 23, 08010, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Bernd Nidetzky
- Institute of Biotechnology and Biochemical Engineering, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 12/1, 8010, Graz, Austria.,Austrian Center of Industrial Biotechnology (acib), Krenngasse 37, 8010, Graz, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Allosteric rescue of catalytically impaired ATP phosphoribosyltransferase variants links protein dynamics to active-site electrostatic preorganisation. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7607. [PMID: 36494361 PMCID: PMC9734150 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34960-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
ATP phosphoribosyltransferase catalyses the first step of histidine biosynthesis and is controlled via a complex allosteric mechanism where the regulatory protein HisZ enhances catalysis by the catalytic protein HisGS while mediating allosteric inhibition by histidine. Activation by HisZ was proposed to position HisGS Arg56 to stabilise departure of the pyrophosphate leaving group. Here we report active-site mutants of HisGS with impaired reaction chemistry which can be allosterically restored by HisZ despite the HisZ:HisGS interface lying ~20 Å away from the active site. MD simulations indicate HisZ binding constrains the dynamics of HisGS to favour a preorganised active site where both Arg56 and Arg32 are poised to stabilise leaving-group departure in WT-HisGS. In the Arg56Ala-HisGS mutant, HisZ modulates Arg32 dynamics so that it can partially compensate for the absence of Arg56. These results illustrate how remote protein-protein interactions translate into catalytic resilience by restoring damaged electrostatic preorganisation at the active site.
Collapse
|
42
|
Bhattacharya S, Margheritis EG, Takahashi K, Kulesha A, D'Souza A, Kim I, Yoon JH, Tame JRH, Volkov AN, Makhlynets OV, Korendovych IV. NMR-guided directed evolution. Nature 2022; 610:389-393. [PMID: 36198791 PMCID: PMC10116341 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05278-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Directed evolution is a powerful tool for improving existing properties and imparting completely new functionalities to proteins1-4. Nonetheless, its potential in even small proteins is inherently limited by the astronomical number of possible amino acid sequences. Sampling the complete sequence space of a 100-residue protein would require testing of 20100 combinations, which is beyond any existing experimental approach. In practice, selective modification of relatively few residues is sufficient for efficient improvement, functional enhancement and repurposing of existing proteins5. Moreover, computational methods have been developed to predict the locations and, in certain cases, identities of potentially productive mutations6-9. Importantly, all current approaches for prediction of hot spots and productive mutations rely heavily on structural information and/or bioinformatics, which is not always available for proteins of interest. Moreover, they offer a limited ability to identify beneficial mutations far from the active site, even though such changes may markedly improve the catalytic properties of an enzyme10. Machine learning methods have recently showed promise in predicting productive mutations11, but they frequently require large, high-quality training datasets, which are difficult to obtain in directed evolution experiments. Here we show that mutagenic hot spots in enzymes can be identified using NMR spectroscopy. In a proof-of-concept study, we converted myoglobin, a non-enzymatic oxygen storage protein, into a highly efficient Kemp eliminase using only three mutations. The observed levels of catalytic efficiency exceed those of proteins designed using current approaches and are similar with those of natural enzymes for the reactions that they are evolved to catalyse. Given the simplicity of this experimental approach, which requires no a priori structural or bioinformatic knowledge, we expect it to be widely applicable and to enable the full potential of directed enzyme evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Eleonora G Margheritis
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Katsuya Takahashi
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Alona Kulesha
- Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Areetha D'Souza
- Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Inhye Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Jennifer H Yoon
- Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Jeremy R H Tame
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Alexander N Volkov
- VIB Centre for Structural Biology, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB), Brussels, Belgium.
- Jean Jeener NMR Centre, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
43
|
Blazeck J, Karamitros CS, Ford K, Somody C, Qerqez A, Murray K, Burkholder NT, Marshall N, Sivakumar A, Lu WC, Tan B, Lamb C, Tanno Y, Siddiqui MY, Ashoura N, Coma S, Zhang XM, McGovern K, Kumada Y, Zhang YJ, Manfredi M, Johnson KA, D’Arcy S, Stone E, Georgiou G. Bypassing evolutionary dead ends and switching the rate-limiting step of a human immunotherapeutic enzyme. Nat Catal 2022; 5:952-967. [PMID: 36465553 PMCID: PMC9717613 DOI: 10.1038/s41929-022-00856-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The Trp metabolite kynurenine (KYN) accumulates in numerous solid tumours and mediates potent immunosuppression. Bacterial kynureninases (KYNases), which preferentially degrade kynurenine, can relieve immunosuppression in multiple cancer models, but immunogenicity concerns preclude their clinical use, while the human enzyme (HsKYNase) has very low activity for kynurenine and shows no therapeutic effect. Using fitness selections, we evolved a HsKYNase variant with 27-fold higher activity, beyond which exploration of >30 evolutionary trajectories involving the interrogation of >109 variants led to no further improvements. Introduction of two amino acid substitutions conserved in bacterial KYNases reduced enzyme fitness but potentiated rapid evolution of variants with ~500-fold improved activity and reversed substrate specificity, resulting in an enzyme capable of mediating strong anti-tumour effects in mice. Pre-steady-state kinetics revealed a switch in rate-determining step attributable to changes in both enzyme structure and conformational dynamics. Apart from its clinical significance, our work highlights how rationally designed substitutions can potentiate trajectories that overcome barriers in protein evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John Blazeck
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Christos S. Karamitros
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Kyle Ford
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Catrina Somody
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Ahlam Qerqez
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Kyle Murray
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas, USA
| | - Nathaniel T. Burkholder
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Nicholas Marshall
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Anirudh Sivakumar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Wei-Cheng Lu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Bing Tan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Candice Lamb
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Yuri Tanno
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Menna Y. Siddiqui
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Norah Ashoura
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Silvia Coma
- Ikena Oncology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | | | - Yoichi Kumada
- Department of Molecular Chemistry and Engineering, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yan Jessie Zhang
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), Austin, Texas, USA
- Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), Austin, Texas, USA
| | | | - Kenneth A. Johnson
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Sheena D’Arcy
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas, USA
| | - Everett Stone
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), Austin, Texas, USA
- Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), Austin, Texas, USA
- Department of Oncology, University of Texas Dell Medical School, LiveSTRONG Cancer Institutes, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - George Georgiou
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), Austin, Texas, USA
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), Austin, Texas, USA
- Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), Austin, Texas, USA
- Department of Oncology, University of Texas Dell Medical School, LiveSTRONG Cancer Institutes, Austin, Texas, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), Austin, TX, USA
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Casadevall G, Duran C, Estévez‐Gay M, Osuna S. Estimating conformational heterogeneity of tryptophan synthase with a template-based Alphafold2 approach. Protein Sci 2022; 31:e4426. [PMID: 36173176 PMCID: PMC9601780 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guillem Casadevall
- CompBioLab Group, Institut de Química Computacional i Catàlisi and Departament de QuímicaUniversitat de GironaGironaSpain
| | - Cristina Duran
- CompBioLab Group, Institut de Química Computacional i Catàlisi and Departament de QuímicaUniversitat de GironaGironaSpain
| | - Miquel Estévez‐Gay
- CompBioLab Group, Institut de Química Computacional i Catàlisi and Departament de QuímicaUniversitat de GironaGironaSpain
| | - Sílvia Osuna
- CompBioLab Group, Institut de Química Computacional i Catàlisi and Departament de QuímicaUniversitat de GironaGironaSpain
- ICREABarcelonaSpain
- Present address:
ICREA, Pg. Lluís Companys 23, 08010BarcelonaSpain
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Kim I, Dubrow A, Zuniga B, Zhao B, Sherer N, Bastiray A, Li P, Cho JH. Energy landscape reshaped by strain-specific mutations underlies epistasis in NS1 evolution of influenza A virus. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5775. [PMID: 36182933 PMCID: PMC9526705 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33554-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Elucidating how individual mutations affect the protein energy landscape is crucial for understanding how proteins evolve. However, predicting mutational effects remains challenging because of epistasis—the nonadditive interactions between mutations. Here, we investigate the biophysical mechanism of strain-specific epistasis in the nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) of influenza A viruses (IAVs). We integrate structural, kinetic, thermodynamic, and conformational dynamics analyses of four NS1s of influenza strains that emerged between 1918 and 2004. Although functionally near-neutral, strain-specific NS1 mutations exhibit long-range epistatic interactions with residues at the p85β-binding interface. We reveal that strain-specific mutations reshaped the NS1 energy landscape during evolution. Using NMR spin dynamics, we find that the strain-specific mutations altered the conformational dynamics of the hidden network of tightly packed residues, underlying the evolution of long-range epistasis. This work shows how near-neutral mutations silently alter the biophysical energy landscapes, resulting in diverse background effects during molecular evolution. Influenza A virus (IAV) nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) is a multifunctional virulence factor that interacts with several host factors such as phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K). NS1 binds specifically to the p85β regulatory subunit of PI3K and subsequently activates PI3K signaling. Here, Kim et al. show that functionally near-neutral, strain-specific NS1 mutations lead to variations in binding kinetics to p85β exhibit long-range epistatic interactions. Applying NMR they provide evidence that the structural dynamics of the NS1 hydrophobic core have evolved over time and contributed to epistasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Iktae Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Alyssa Dubrow
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Bryan Zuniga
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Baoyu Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Noah Sherer
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Abhishek Bastiray
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Pingwei Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Jae-Hyun Cho
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Natural Evolution Provides Strong Hints about Laboratory Evolution of Designer Enzymes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2207904119. [PMID: 35901204 PMCID: PMC9351539 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2207904119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Laboratory evolution combined with computational enzyme design provides the opportunity to generate novel biocatalysts. Nevertheless, it has been challenging to understand how laboratory evolution optimizes designer enzymes by introducing seemingly random mutations. A typical enzyme optimized with laboratory evolution is the abiological Kemp eliminase, initially designed by grafting active site residues into a natural protein scaffold. Here, we relate the catalytic power of laboratory-evolved Kemp eliminases to the statistical energy ([Formula: see text]) inferred from their natural homologous sequences using the maximum entropy model. The [Formula: see text] of designs generated by directed evolution is correlated with enhanced activity and reduced stability, thus displaying a stability-activity trade-off. In contrast, the [Formula: see text] for mutants in catalytic-active remote regions (in which remote residues are important for catalysis) is strongly anticorrelated with the activity. These findings provide an insight into the role of protein scaffolds in the adaption to new enzymatic functions. It also indicates that the valley in the [Formula: see text] landscape can guide enzyme design for abiological catalysis. Overall, the connection between laboratory and natural evolution contributes to understanding what is optimized in the laboratory and how new enzymatic function emerges in nature, and provides guidance for computational enzyme design.
Collapse
|
47
|
Gao S, Klinman JP. Functional roles of enzyme dynamics in accelerating active site chemistry: Emerging techniques and changing concepts. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2022; 75:102434. [PMID: 35872562 PMCID: PMC9901422 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2022.102434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
With the growing acceptance of the contribution of protein conformational ensembles to enzyme catalysis and regulation, research in the field of protein dynamics has shifted toward an understanding of the atomistic properties of protein dynamical networks and the mechanisms and time scales that control such behavior. A full description of an enzymatic reaction coordinate is expected to extend beyond the active site and include site-specific networks that communicate with the protein/water interface. Advances in experimental tools for the spatial resolution of thermal activation pathways are being complemented by biophysical methods for visualizing dynamics in real time. An emerging multidimensional model integrates the impacts of bound substrate/effector on the distribution of protein substates that are in rapid equilibration near room temperature with reaction-specific protein embedded heat transfer conduits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuaihua Gao
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, United States; California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, United States. https://twitter.com/S_H_Gao
| | - Judith P Klinman
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, United States; California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, United States; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Bolik-Coulon N, Ferrage F. Explicit models of motions to analyze NMR relaxation data in proteins. J Chem Phys 2022; 157:125102. [DOI: 10.1063/5.0095910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) is a tool of choice to characterize molecular motions. In biological macromolecules, pico- to nano-second motions, in particular, can be probed by nuclear spin relaxation rates which depend on the time fluctuations of the orientations of spin interaction frames. For the past 40 years, relaxation rates have been successfully analyzed using the Model Free (MF) approach which makes no assumption on the nature of motions and reports on the effective amplitude and time-scale of the motions. However, obtaining a mechanistic picture of motions from this type of analysis is difficult at best, unless complemented with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. In spite of their limited accuracy, such simulations can be used to obtain the information necessary to build explicit models of motions designed to analyze NMR relaxation data. Here, we present how to build such models, suited in particular to describe motions of methyl-bearing protein side-chains and compare them with the MF approach. We show on synthetic data that explicit models of motions are more robust in the presence of rotamer jumps which dominate the relaxation in methyl groups of protein side-chains. We expect this work to motivate the use of explicit models of motion to analyze MD and NMR data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Fabien Ferrage
- Departement de chimie, Ecole Normale Superieure Departement de Chimie, France
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Zhang S, Zhang J, Luo W, Wang P, Zhu Y. A preorganization oriented computational method for de novo design of Kemp elimination enzymes. Enzyme Microb Technol 2022; 160:110093. [DOI: 10.1016/j.enzmictec.2022.110093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
|
50
|
Abstract
The ability to design efficient enzymes from scratch would have a profound effect on chemistry, biotechnology and medicine. Rapid progress in protein engineering over the past decade makes us optimistic that this ambition is within reach. The development of artificial enzymes containing metal cofactors and noncanonical organocatalytic groups shows how protein structure can be optimized to harness the reactivity of nonproteinogenic elements. In parallel, computational methods have been used to design protein catalysts for diverse reactions on the basis of fundamental principles of transition state stabilization. Although the activities of designed catalysts have been quite low, extensive laboratory evolution has been used to generate efficient enzymes. Structural analysis of these systems has revealed the high degree of precision that will be needed to design catalysts with greater activity. To this end, emerging protein design methods, including deep learning, hold particular promise for improving model accuracy. Here we take stock of key developments in the field and highlight new opportunities for innovation that should allow us to transition beyond the current state of the art and enable the robust design of biocatalysts to address societal needs.
Collapse
|