Pyridoxal Phosphate Enzymes: Mechanistic, Structural, and Evolutionary Considerations

Identification of YigL as a PLP/PNP phosphatase in Escherichia coli

In various organisms, the coenzyme form of vitamin B6, pyridoxal phosphate (PLP), is synthesized from pyridoxine phosphate (PNP). Control of PNP levels is crucial for metabolic homeostasis because PNP has the potential to inhibit PLP-dependent enzymes and proteins. Although the only known pathway for PNP metabolism in Escherichia coli involves oxidation by PNP oxidase, we detected a strong PNP phosphatase activity in E. coli cell lysate. To identify the unknown PNP phosphatase(s), we performed a multicopy suppressor screening using the E. coli serA pdxH strain, which displays PNP-dependent conditional lethality. The results showed that overexpression of the yigL gene, encoding a putative sugar phosphatase, effectively alleviated the PNP toxicity. Biochemical analysis revealed that YigL has strong phosphatase activity against PNP. A yigL mutant exhibited decreased PNP phosphatase activity, elevated intracellular PNP concentrations, and increased PNP sensitivity, highlighting the important role of YigL in PNP homeostasis. YigL also shows reactivity with PLP. The phosphatase activity of PLP in E. coli cell lysate was significantly reduced by mutation of yigL and nearly abolished by additional mutation of ybhA, which encodes putative PLP phosphatase. These results underscore the important contribution of YigL, in combination with YbhA, as a primary enzyme in the dephosphorylation of both PNP and PLP in E. coli.IMPORTANCEPyridoxine phosphate (PNP) metabolism is critical for both vitamin B6 homeostasis and cellular metabolism. In Escherichia coli, oxidation of PNP was the only known mechanism for controlling PNP levels. This study uncovered a novel phosphatase-mediated mechanism for PNP homeostasis. Multicopy suppressor screening, kinetic analysis of the enzyme, and knockout/overexpression studies identified YigL as a key PNP phosphatase that contributes to PNP homeostasis when facing elevated PNP concentrations in E. coli. This study also revealed a significant contribution of YigL, in combination with YbhA, to PLP metabolism, shedding light on the mechanisms of vitamin B6 regulation in bacteria.

Active-Site Oxygen Accessibility and Catalytic Loop Dynamics of Plant Aromatic Amino Acid Decarboxylases from Molecular Simulations

Aromatic amino acid decarboxylases (AAADs) are pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzymes that catalyze the decarboxylation of aromatic amino acid l-amino acids. In plants, apart from canonical AAADs that catalyze the straightforward decarboxylation reaction, other members of the AAAD family function as aromatic acetaldehyde synthases (AASs) and catalyze more complex decarboxylation-dependent oxidative deamination. The interconversion between a canonical AAAD and an AAS can be achieved by a single tyrosine-phenylalanine mutation in the large catalytic loop of the enzymes. In this work, we report implicit ligand sampling (ILS) calculations of the canonical l-tyrosine decarboxylase from Papaver somniferum (PsTyDC) that catalyzes l-tyrosine decarboxylation and its Y350F mutant that instead catalyzes the decarboxylation-dependent oxidative deamination of the same substrate. Through comparative analysis of the resulting three-dimensional (3D) O2 free energy profiles, we evaluate the impact of the key tyrosine/phenylalanine mutation on oxygen accessibility to both the wild type and Y350F mutant of PsTyDC. Additionally, using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the l-tryptophan decarboxylase from Catharanthus roseus (CrTDC), we further investigate the dynamics of a large catalytic loop known to be indispensable to all AAADs. Results of our ILS and MD calculations shed new light on how key structural elements and loop conformational dynamics underlie the enzymatic functions of different members of the plant AAAD family.

Biocatalysis enables the scalable conversion of biobased furans into various furfurylamines

Biobased furans have emerged as chemical building blocks for the development of materials because of their diverse scaffolds and as they can be directly prepared from sugars. However, selective, efficient, and cost-effective scalable conversion of biobased furans remains elusive. Here, we report a robust transaminase (TA) from Shimia marina (SMTA) that enables the scalable amination of biobased furanaldehydes with high activity and broad substrate specificity. Crystallographic and mutagenesis analyses provide mechanistic insights and a structural basis for understanding SMTA, which enables a higher substrate conversion. The enzymatic cascade process established in this study allows one-pot synthesis of 2,5-bis(aminomethyl)furan (BAMF) and 5-(aminomethyl)furan-2-carboxylic acid from 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. The biosynthesis of various furfurylamines, including a one-pot cascade reaction for BAMF generation using whole cells, demonstrates their practical application in the pharmaceutical and polymer industries.

Vitamin B6 Cofactor Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate Conjugated Papain-Stabilized Fluorescent Gold Nanoclusters for Switch-on Detection of Zinc(II)

In this study, fluorescent gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) conjugated with pyridoxal-5-phosphate (PLP) were synthesized, characterized, and used for Zn2+ fluorescence turn-on sensing. PLP was conjugated over the surface of papain-stabilized fluorescent gold nanoclusters (pap-AuNCs; λex = 380 nm, λem = 670 nm) by forming imine linkage. Due to this modification, the red color emitting pap-AuNCs changed to orange color emitting nanoclusters PLP_pap-AuNCs. The nano-assembly PLP_pap-AuNCs detect Zn2+ selectively by showing a notable fluorescence enhancement at 477 nm. Zn2+ detection with PLP_pap-AuNCs was quick and easy, with an estimated detection limit of 0.14 µM. Further, paper strips and cotton buds coated with PLP_pap-AuNCs were developed for affordable on-site visual detection of Zn2+. Finally, the detection of Zn2+ in actual environmental water samples served as validation of the usefulness of PLP_pap-AuNCs.

Biochemical Studies on Human Ornithine Aminotransferase Support a Cell-Based Enzyme Replacement Therapy in the Gyrate Atrophy of the Choroid and Retina

The gyrate atrophy of the choroid and retina (GACR) is a rare genetic disease for which no definitive cure is available. GACR is due to the deficit of ornithine aminotransferase (hOAT), a pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent enzyme responsible for ornithine catabolism. The hallmark of the disease is plasmatic ornithine accumulation, which damages retinal epithelium leading to progressive vision loss and blindness within the fifth decade. Here, we characterized the biochemical properties of tetrameric and dimeric hOAT and evaluated hOAT loaded in red blood cells (RBCs) as a possible enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) for GACR. Our results show that (i) hOAT has a relatively wide specificity for amino acceptors, with pyruvate being the most suitable candidate for ornithine catabolism within RBCs; (ii) both the tetrameric and dimeric enzyme can be loaded in RBC retaining their activity; and (iii) hOAT displays reduced stability in plasma, but is partly protected from inactivation upon incubation in a mixture mimicking the intracellular erythrocyte environment. Preliminary ex vivo experiments indicate that hOAT-loaded RBCs are able to metabolize extracellular ornithine at a concentration mimicking that found in patients, both in buffer and, although with lower efficiency, in plasma. Overall, our data provide a proof of concept that an RBC-mediated ERT is feasible and can be exploited as a new therapeutic approach in GACR.

Key structural features to favour imines over hydrates in water: pyridoxal phosphate as a muse

Imination reactions in water represent a challenge not only because of the high propensity of imines to be hydrolysed but also as a result of the competing hydrate formation through H2O addition to the aldehyde. In the present work we report a successful approach that allows for favouring imitation reactions while silencing hydrate formation. Such remarkable reactivity and selectivity can be attained by fine-tuning the electronic and steric structural features of the ortho-substituents of the carbonyl groups. It resulted from studying the structure-reactivity relationships in a series of condensation reactions between different amines and aldehydes, comparing the results to the ones obtained in the presence of the biologically-relevant pyridoxal phosphate (PLP). The key role of negatively-charged and sterically-crowding units (i.e., sulfonate groups) in disfavouring hydrate formation was corroborated by DFT and steric-hindrance calculations. Furthermore, the best-performing aldehyde leads to higher imine yields, selectivity and stability than those of PLP itself, allowing for the inhibition of a PLP-dependent enzyme (transaminase) through dynamic aldimine exchange. These results will increase the applicability of imine-based dynamic covalent chemistry (DCvC) under physiological conditions and will pave the way for the design of new carbonyl derivatives that might be used in the dynamic modification of biomolecules.

A New Age of Biocatalysis Enabled by Generic Activation Modes

Biocatalysis is currently undergoing a profound transformation. The field moves from relying on nature's chemical logic to a discipline that exploits generic activation modes, allowing for novel biocatalytic reactions and, in many instances, entirely new chemistry. Generic activation modes enable a wide range of reaction types and played a pivotal role in advancing the fields of organo- and photocatalysis. This perspective aims to summarize the principal activation modes harnessed in enzymes to develop new biocatalysts. Although extensively researched in the past, the highlighted activation modes, when applied within enzyme active sites, facilitate chemical transformations that have largely eluded efficient and selective catalysis. This advance is attributed to multiple tunable interactions in the substrate binding pocket that precisely control competing reaction pathways and transition states. We will highlight cases of new synthetic methodologies achieved by engineered enzymes and will provide insights into potential future developments in this rapidly evolving field.

Discovery of (±)-Penindolenes Reveals an Unusual Indole Ring Cleavage Pathway Catalyzed by P450 Monooxygenase

(±)-Penindolenes A-D (1-4), the first representatives of indole terpenoids featuring a γ-lactam skeleton, were isolated from the mangrove-derived endophytic fungus Penicillium brocae MA-231. Our bioactivity tests revealed their potent antimicrobial and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities. The biosynthetic reactions by the five enzymes PbaABCDE leading to γ-lactam ring formation were identified with heterologous expression and in vitro enzymatic assays. Remarkably, the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase PbaB and its homolog in Aspergillus oryzae catalyzed the 2,3-cleavage of the indole ring to generate two keto groups in 1. This is the first example of the oxidative cleavage of indole by a P450 monooxygenase. In addition, rare secondary amide bond formation by the glutamine synthetase-like enzyme PbaD was reported. These findings will contribute to the engineered biosynthesis of unnatural, bioactive indole terpenoids.

Transaminase-Catalyzed Synthesis of β-Branched Noncanonical Amino Acids Driven by a Lysine Amine Donor

Transaminases are choice biocatalysts for the synthesis of chiral primary amines, including amino acids bearing contiguous stereocenters. In this study, we employ lysine as a "smart" amine donor in transaminase-catalyzed dynamic kinetic resolution reactions to access β-branched noncanonical arylalanines. Our mechanistic investigation demonstrates that, upon transamination, the lysine-derived ketone byproduct readily cyclizes to a six-membered imine, driving the equilibrium in the desired direction and thus alleviating the need to load superstoichiometric quantities of the amine donor or deploy a multienzyme cascade. Lysine also shows good overall compatibility with a panel of wild-type transaminases, a promising hint of its application as a smart donor more broadly. Indeed, by this approach, we furnished a broad scope of β-branched arylalanines, including some bearing hitherto intractable cyclopropyl and isopropyl substituents, with high yields and excellent selectivities.

7,8-Dihydroxyflavone is a direct inhibitor of human and murine pyridoxal phosphatase

Vitamin B6 deficiency has been linked to cognitive impairment in human brain disorders for decades. Still, the molecular mechanisms linking vitamin B6 to these pathologies remain poorly understood, and whether vitamin B6 supplementation improves cognition is unclear as well. Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate phosphatase (PDXP), an enzyme that controls levels of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), the co-enzymatically active form of vitamin B6, may represent an alternative therapeutic entry point into vitamin B6-associated pathologies. However, pharmacological PDXP inhibitors to test this concept are lacking. We now identify a PDXP and age-dependent decline of PLP levels in the murine hippocampus that provides a rationale for the development of PDXP inhibitors. Using a combination of small-molecule screening, protein crystallography, and biolayer interferometry, we discover, visualize, and analyze 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF) as a direct and potent PDXP inhibitor. 7,8-DHF binds and reversibly inhibits PDXP with low micromolar affinity and sub-micromolar potency. In mouse hippocampal neurons, 7,8-DHF increases PLP in a PDXP-dependent manner. These findings validate PDXP as a druggable target. Of note, 7,8-DHF is a well-studied molecule in brain disorder models, although its mechanism of action is actively debated. Our discovery of 7,8-DHF as a PDXP inhibitor offers novel mechanistic insights into the controversy surrounding 7,8-DHF-mediated effects in the brain.

Why pyridoxal phosphate could be a functional predecessor of thiamine pyrophosphate and speculations on a primordial metabolism

The account attempts to substantiate the hypothesis that, from an evolutionary perspective, the coenzyme couple pyridoxal phosphate and pyridoxamine phosphate preceded the coenzyme thiamine pyrophosphate and acted as its less efficient chemical analogue in some form of early metabolism. The analysis combines mechanism-based chemical reactivity with biosynthetic arguments and provides evidence that vestiges of "TPP-like reactivity" are still found for PLP today. From these thoughts, conclusions can be drawn about the key elements of a primordial form of metabolism, which includes the citric acid cycle, amino acid biosynthesis and the pentose phosphate pathway.

Genome-wide dissection of the genetic factors underlying food quality in boiled and pounded white Guinea yam

BACKGROUND

Food quality traits related to the genetics of yam influence the acceptability for its consumption. This study aimed at identifying genetic factors underlying sensory and textural quality attributes of boiled and pounded yam, the two dominant food products from white Guinea yam.

RESULTS

A genome-wide association study (GWAS) of a panel of 184 genotypes derived from five multi-parent crosses population was conducted. The panel was phenotyped for the qualities of boiled and pounded yam using sensory quality and instrument-based textural profile assays. The genotypes displayed significant variation for most of the attributes. Population differentiation and structure analysis using principal component analysis (PCA) and population structure-based Bayesian information criteria revealed the presence of four well-defined clusters. The GWAS results from a multi-random mixed linear model with kinship and PCA used as covariate identified 13 single-nucleotide polymorphic (SNP) markers significantly associated with the boiled and pounded yam food qualities. The associated SNP markers explained 7.51-13.04% of the total phenotypic variance with a limit of detection exceeding 4.

CONCLUSION

Regions on chromosomes 7 and 15 were found to be associated with boiled and pounded yam quality attributes from sensory and instrument-based assays. Gene annotation analysis for the regions of associated SNPs revealed co-localization of several known putative genes involved in glucose export, hydrolysis and glycerol metabolism. Our study is one of the first reports of genetic factors underlying the boiled and pounded yam food quality to pave the way for marker-assisted selection in white Guinea yam. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Multifunctionality of arginine residues in the active sites of non-canonical d-amino acid transaminases

Structure-function relationships are key to understanding enzyme mechanisms, controlling enzyme activities, and designing biocatalysts. Here, we investigate the functions of arginine residues in the active sites of pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP)-dependent non-canonical d-amino acid transaminases, focusing on the analysis of a transaminase from Haliscomenobacter hydrossis. Our results show that the tandem of arginine residues R28* and R90, which form the conserved R-[RK] motif in non-canonical d-amino acid transaminases, not only facilitates effective substrate binding but also regulates the catalytic properties of PLP. Non-covalent interactions between residues R28*, R90, and Y147 strengthen the hydrogen bond between Y147 and PLP, thereby maintaining the reactivity of the cofactor. Next, the R90 residue contributes to the stability of the holoenzyme. Finally, the R90I substitution induces structural changes that lead to substrate promiscuity, as evidenced by the effective binding of substrates with and without the α-carboxylate group. This study sheds light on the structural determinants of the activity of non-canonical d-amino acid transaminases. Understanding the structural basis of the active site plasticity in the non-canonical transaminase from H. hydrossis, which is characterized by effective conversion of d-amino acids and α-keto acids, may help to tailor it for industrial applications.

Synergistic Photoenzymatic Catalysis Enables Synthesis of a-Tertiary Amino Acids Using Threonine Aldolases

a-Tertiary amino acids are essential components of drugs and agrochemicals, yet traditional syntheses are step-intensive and provide access to a limited range of structures with varying levels of enantioselectivity. Here, we report the α-alkylation of unprotected alanine and glycine by pyridinium salts using pyridoxal (PLP)-dependent threonine aldolases with a Rose Bengal photoredox catalyst. The strategy efficiently prepares various a-tertiary amino acids in a single chemical step as a single enantiomer. UV-vis spectroscopy studies reveal a ternary interaction between the pyridinium salt, protein, and photocatalyst, which we hypothesize is responsible for localizing radical formation to the active site. This method highlights the opportunity for combining photoredox catalysts with enzymes to reveal new catalytic functions for known enzymes.

Identification and enzymatic properties of arginine decarboxylase from Aspergillus oryzae

Aspergillus oryzae spores, when sprinkled onto steamed rice and allowed to propagate, are referred to as rice "koji." Agmatine, a natural polyamine derived from arginine through the action of arginine decarboxylase (ADC), is abundantly produced by solid state-cultivated rice koji of A. oryzae RIB40 under low pH conditions, despite the apparent absence of ADC orthologs in its genome. Mass spectrometry imaging revealed that agmatine was accumulated inside rice koji at low pH conditions, where arginine was distributed. ADC activity was predominantly observed in substrate mycelia and minimally in aerial mycelia. Natural ADC was isolated from solid state-cultivated A. oryzae rice koji containing substrate mycelia, using ammonium sulfate fractionation, ion exchange, and gel-filtration chromatography. The purified protein was subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate poly-acrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and the detected peptide band was digested for identification by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The gene AO090102000327 of strain RIB40 was identified, previously annotated as phosphatidylserine decarboxylase (PSD), and encoded a 483-amino acid peptide. Recombinant protein encoded by AO090102000327 was expressed in Escherichia coli cells cultivated at 20°C, resulting in the detection of 49 kDa and 5 kDa peptides. The protein exhibited pyruvoyl-dependent decarboxylase activity, favoring arginine over ornithine and showing no activity with phosphatidylserine. The gene was designated Ao-adc1. Ao-ADC1 expression in rice koji at pH 4-6 was confirmed through western blotting using the anti-Ao-ADC1 serum. These findings indicate that Ao-adc1 encodes arginine decarboxylase involved in agmatine production.IMPORTANCEGene AO090102000327 in A. oryzae RIB40, previously annotated as a PSD, falls into a distinct clade when examining the phylogenetic distribution of PSDs. Contrary to the initial PSD annotation, our analysis indicates that the protein encoded by AO090102000327 is expressed in the substrate mycelia area of solid state-cultivated A. oryzae rice koji and functions as an arginine decarboxylase (ADC). The clade to which Ao-ADC1 belongs includes three other Ao-ADC1 paralogs (AO090103000445, AO090701000800, and AO090701000802) that presumably encode ADC rather than PSDs. Regarding PSD, AO090012000733 and AO090005001124 were speculated to be nonmitochondrial and mitochondrial PSDs in A. oryzae RIB40, respectively.

Stereoselective amino acid synthesis by photobiocatalytic oxidative coupling

Photobiocatalysis-where light is used to expand the reactivity of an enzyme-has recently emerged as a powerful strategy to develop chemistries that are new to nature. These systems have shown potential in asymmetric radical reactions that have long eluded small-molecule catalysts1. So far, unnatural photobiocatalytic reactions are limited to overall reductive and redox-neutral processes2-9. Here we report photobiocatalytic asymmetric sp3-sp3 oxidative cross-coupling between organoboron reagents and amino acids. This reaction requires the cooperative use of engineered pyridoxal biocatalysts, photoredox catalysts and an oxidizing agent. We repurpose a family of pyridoxal-5'-phosphate-dependent enzymes, threonine aldolases10-12, for the α-C-H functionalization of glycine and α-branched amino acid substrates by a radical mechanism, giving rise to a range of α-tri- and tetrasubstituted non-canonical amino acids 13-15 possessing up to two contiguous stereocentres. Directed evolution of pyridoxal radical enzymes allowed primary and secondary radical precursors, including benzyl, allyl and alkylboron reagents, to be coupled in an enantio- and diastereocontrolled fashion. Cooperative photoredox-pyridoxal biocatalysis provides a platform for sp3-sp3 oxidative coupling16, permitting the stereoselective, intermolecular free-radical transformations that are unknown to chemistry or biology.

Bacterial selenocysteine synthase structure revealed by single-particle cryoEM

The 21st amino acid, selenocysteine (Sec), is synthesized on its dedicated transfer RNA (tRNASec). In bacteria, Sec is synthesized from Ser-tRNA[Ser]Sec by Selenocysteine Synthase (SelA), which is a pivotal enzyme in the biosynthesis of Sec. The structural characterization of bacterial SelA is of paramount importance to decipher its catalytic mechanism and its role in the regulation of the Sec-synthesis pathway. Here, we present a comprehensive single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (SPA cryoEM) structure of the bacterial SelA with an overall resolution of 2.69 Å. Using recombinant Escherichia coli SelA, we purified and prepared samples for single-particle cryoEM. The structural insights from SelA, combined with previous in vivo and in vitro knowledge, underscore the indispensable role of decamerization in SelA's function. Moreover, our structural analysis corroborates previous results that show that SelA adopts a pentamer of dimers configuration, and the active site architecture, substrate binding pocket, and key K295 catalytic residue are identified and described in detail. The differences in protein architecture and substrate coordination between the bacterial enzyme and its counterparts offer compelling structural evidence supporting the independent molecular evolution of the bacterial and archaea/eukarya Ser-Sec biosynthesis present in the natural world.

One substrate many enzymes virtual screening uncovers missing genes of carnitine biosynthesis in human and mouse

The increasing availability of experimental and computational protein structures entices their use for function prediction. Here we develop an automated procedure to identify enzymes involved in metabolic reactions by assessing substrate conformations docked to a library of protein structures. By screening AlphaFold-modeled vitamin B6-dependent enzymes, we find that a metric based on catalytically favorable conformations at the enzyme active site performs best (AUROC Score=0.84) in identifying genes associated with known reactions. Applying this procedure, we identify the mammalian gene encoding hydroxytrimethyllysine aldolase (HTMLA), the second enzyme of carnitine biosynthesis. Upon experimental validation, we find that the top-ranked candidates, serine hydroxymethyl transferase (SHMT) 1 and 2, catalyze the HTMLA reaction. However, a mouse protein absent in humans (threonine aldolase; Tha1) catalyzes the reaction more efficiently. Tha1 did not rank highest based on the AlphaFold model, but its rank improved to second place using the experimental crystal structure we determined at 2.26 Å resolution. Our findings suggest that humans have lost a gene involved in carnitine biosynthesis, with HTMLA activity of SHMT partially compensating for its function.

Development of a General Organophosphorus Radical Trap: Deoxyphosphonylation of Alcohols

Here we report the design of a general, redox-switchable organophosphorus alkyl radical trap that enables the synthesis of a broad range of C(sp3)-P(V) modalities. This "plug-and-play" approach relies upon in situ activation of alcohols and O═P(R2)H motifs, two broadly available and inexpensive sources of molecular complexity. The mild, photocatalytic deoxygenative strategy described herein allows for the direct conversion of sugars, nucleosides, and complex pharmaceutical architectures to their organophosphorus analogs. This includes the facile incorporation of medicinally relevant phosphonate ester prodrugs.

Neutron diffraction from a microgravity-grown crystal reveals the active site hydrogens of the internal aldimine form of tryptophan synthase

Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), the biologically active form of vitamin B6, is an essential cofactor in many biosynthetic pathways. The emergence of PLP-dependent enzymes as drug targets and biocatalysts, such as tryptophan synthase (TS), has underlined the demand to understand PLP-dependent catalysis and reaction specificity. The ability of neutron diffraction to resolve the positions of hydrogen atoms makes it an ideal technique to understand how the electrostatic environment and selective protonation of PLP regulates PLP-dependent activities. Facilitated by microgravity crystallization of TS with the Toledo Crystallization Box, we report the 2.1 Å joint X-ray/neutron (XN) structure of TS with PLP in the internal aldimine form. Positions of hydrogens were directly determined in both the α- and β-active sites, including PLP cofactor. The joint XN structure thus provides insight into the selective protonation of the internal aldimine and the electrostatic environment of TS necessary to understand the overall catalytic mechanism.

The cytosolic aminotransferase VAS1 coordinates aromatic amino acid biosynthesis and metabolism

The aromatic amino acids (AAAs) phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan are basic protein units and precursors of diverse specialized metabolites that are essential for plant growth. Despite their significance, the mechanisms that regulate AAA homeostasis remain elusive. Here, we identified a cytosolic aromatic aminotransferase, REVERSAL OF SAV3 PHENOTYPE 1 (VAS1), as a suppressor of arogenate dehydrogenase 2 (adh2) in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Genetic and biochemical analyses determined that VAS1 uses AAAs as amino donors, leading to the formation of 3-carboxyphenylalanine and 3-carboxytyrosine. These pathways represent distinct routes for AAA metabolism that are unique to specific plant species. Furthermore, we show that VAS1 is responsible for cytosolic AAA biosynthesis, and its enzymatic activity can be inhibited by 3-carboxyphenylalanine. These findings provide valuable insights into the crucial role of VAS1 in producing 3-carboxy AAAs, notably via recycling of AAAs in the cytosol, which maintains AAA homeostasis and allows plants to effectively coordinate the complex metabolic and biosynthetic pathways of AAAs.

1,3-Proton Transfer of Pyridoxal 5'-Phosphate Schiff Base in the Branched-Chain Aminotransferase: Concerted or Stepwise Mechanism?

The branched-chain aminotransferase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MtIlvE) is a pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) dependent enzyme, and it is essential for the synthesis of the branched-chain amino acids. Ketimine is an important intermediate in the catalytic process. We have investigated the mechanism of ketimine formation and the energy landscape using the multiple computational methods. It is found that the 1,3-proton transfer involved in ketimine formation occurs through a stepwise process rather than a one-step process. Lys204 is identified as a key residue for ligand binding and as a base that abstracts the Cα proton from the PLP-Glu Schiff base, yielding a carbanionic intermediate. The first proton transfer is the rate-limiting step with an energy barrier of 17.8 kcal mol-1. Our study disclosed the detailed pathway of the proton transfer from external aldimine to ketimine, providing novel insights into the catalytic mechanism of other PLP-dependent enzymes.

Stereoselective Biocatalytic α-Deuteration of L-Amino Acids by a Pyridoxal 5'-Phosphate-Dependent Mannich Cyclase

α-Deuterated amino acids are valuable building blocks for developing deuterated drugs, and are important tools for studying biological systems. Biocatalytic deuteration represents an attractive strategy to directly access enantiopure α-deuterated amino acids. Here, we show that a PLP-dependent Mannich cyclase, LolT, involved in the biosynthesis of loline alkaloids, is capable of deuterating a diverse range of L-amino acids, including basic and acidic, nonpolar and polar, aliphatic and aromatic amino acids. Furthermore, complete deuteration of many amino acids can be achieved within minutes with exquisite control on the site- and stereoselectivity. During the course of this investigation, we also unexpectedly discovered that LolT exhibits β-elimination activity with L-cystine and O-acetyl-L-serine, confirming our previous hypothesis based on structural and phylogenetic analysis that LolT, a Cα-C bond forming enzyme, is evolved from a primordial Cβ-S lyase family. Overall, our study demonstrates that LolT is an extremely versatile biocatalyst, and can be used for not only heterocyclic quaternary amino acid biosynthesis, but also biocatalytic amino acid deuteration.

Dietary supplementation of pyridoxine can enhance the growth performance and improve the protein, lipid utilization efficiency of mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi)

This study aimed to assess the effect of pyridoxine supplementation in the mandarin fish diet on growth performance, protein and lipid metabolism, and liver and intestinal histology. Mandarin fish were fed six diets with different levels of pyridoxine (2.67 mg/kg (control), 4.41 mg/kg, 6.57 mg/kg, 10.25 mg/kg, 17.93 mg/kg, 33.12 mg/kg diet) for 8 weeks, and samples were collected for analysis. The findings demonstrated that feeding mandarin fish a diet with 6.57 mg/kg pyridoxine led to a significant increase in weight gain rate (WGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), whole-body crude protein, whole-body crude lipid, serum protein, cholesterol (CHO), triacylglycerol (TG), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), as well as significantly lower serum glucose (GLU) and feed conversion ratio (FCR), compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, we found a significant upregulation of the relative expression of genes associated with hepatic lipid oxidation and synthesis (hl, lpl, pparα, cpt1, cs, srebp1, and fas) and proteolysis (ast, alt, and gdh) in fish fed a diet containing 6.57 mg/kg pyridoxine (P < 0.05). Regarding the histological analysis, we observed a notable decrease in the quantity of intestinal mucus-secreting cells when the fish fed a diet containing 10.25 mg/kg pyridoxine (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that dietary pyridoxine supplementation promotes mandarin fish growth by improving the efficiency of protein and lipid utilization. Additionally, we used a broken-line regression analysis to estimate the optimal dietary pyridoxine requirement for mandarin fish in the range of 6.17-6.41 mg/kg based on WGR, FCR, and PER.

Expanded Substrate Specificity in D-Amino Acid Transaminases: A Case Study of Transaminase from Blastococcus saxobsidens

Enzymes with expanded substrate specificity are good starting points for the design of biocatalysts for target reactions. However, the structural basis of the expanded substrate specificity is still elusive, especially in the superfamily of pyridoxal-5'-phosphate-dependent transaminases, which are characterized by a conserved organization of both the active site and functional dimer. Here, we analyze the structure-function relationships in a non-canonical D-amino acid transaminase from Blastococcus saxobsidens, which is active towards D-amino acids and primary (R)-amines. A detailed study of the enzyme includes a kinetic analysis of its substrate scope and a structural analysis of the holoenzyme and its complex with phenylhydrazine-a reversible inhibitor and analogue of (R)-1-phenylethylamine-a benchmark substrate of (R)-selective amine transaminases. We suggest that the features of the active site of transaminase from B. saxobsidens, such as the flexibility of the R34 and R96 residues, the lack of bulky residues in the β-turn at the entrance to the active site, and the short O-pocket loop, facilitate the binding of substrates with and without α-carboxylate groups. The proposed structural determinants of the expanded substrate specificity can be used for the design of transaminases for the stereoselective amination of keto compounds.

Structural and Biochemical Characterization of MppQ, an L-Enduracididine Biosynthetic Enzyme from Streptomyces hygroscopicus

MppQ is an enzyme of unknown function from Streptomyces hygroscopicus (ShMppQ) that operates in the biosynthesis of the nonproteinogenic amino acid L-enduracididine (L-End). Since L-End is a component of several peptides showing activity against antibiotic-resistant pathogens, understanding its biosynthetic pathway could facilitate the development of chemoenzymatic routes to novel antibiotics. Herein, we report on the crystal structures of ShMppQ complexed with pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP) and pyridoxamine-5'-phosphate (PMP). ShMppQ is similar to fold-type I PLP-dependent aminotransferases like aspartate aminotransferase. The tertiary structure of ShMppQ is composed of an N-terminal extension, a large domain, and a small domain. The active site is placed at the junction of the large and small domains and includes residues from both protomers of the homodimer. We also report the first functional characterization of MppQ, which we incubated with the enzymatically produced 2-ketoenduracidine and observed the conversion to L-End, establishing ShMppQ as the final enzyme in L-End biosynthesis. Additionally, we have observed that MppQ has a relatively high affinity for 2-keto-5-guanidinovaleric acid (i.e., 2-ketoarginine), a shunt product of MppP, indicating the potential role of MppQ in increasing the efficiency of L-End biosynthesis by converting 2-ketoarginine back to the starting material, l-arginine. A panel of potential amino-donor substrates was tested for the transamination activity against a saturating concentration of 2-ketoarginine in end-point assays. Most l-Arg was produced with l-ornithine as the donor substrate. Steady-state kinetic analysis of the transamination reaction with l-Orn and 2-ketoarginine shows that the kinetic constants are in line with those for the amino donor substrate of other fold-type I aminotransferases.

New Insights Into Pyridoxal Kinase Inhibitors and Their Antileukemic Effects

Pyridoxal kinase (PDXK) plays a pivotal role as an essential enzyme in cellular processes. It catalyzes the phosphorylation of pyridoxal, pyridoxamine, and pyridoxine to generate pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), the bioactive form of vitamin B6. An intriguing link has emerged between elevated expression levels of PDXK and PLP and various types of carcinomas, including leukemia. Leukemic cells have an increased need for vitamin B6 to sustain their survival and rapid growth, highlighting the potential of targeting PDXK-PLP as a promising therapeutic target in cancer treatment. To discover a novel and promising PDXK inhibitor, we conducted a comprehensive screening of compounds derived from both natural sources and drug-like databases. Our approach involved employing structure-based virtual screening and molecular docking techniques to attenuate the phosphorylation of PLP. Among the top six compounds, ZINC095099376 (referred to as C03) emerged as the most potent inhibitor of PDXK, primarily due to its exceptional binding affinity and remarkable specificity for the target protein. Furthermore, our investigation revealed that compound C03 establishes crucial interactions with key residues within the substrate binding site, indicating that it binds at the same site as the co-crystallized ligand. Remarkably, compound C03 inhibited the endogenous PDXK expression, showed anti-proliferative activity, and triggered an intrinsic pathway for apoptosis via the activation of key apoptotic factors in leukemic cells. In summary, these findings strongly indicate that compound C03 holds promise as a novel inhibitor of PDXK, offering the potential for the development of effective treatments for leukemia.

Review of Eukaryote Cellular Membrane Lipid Composition, with Special Attention to the Fatty Acids

Biological membranes, primarily composed of lipids, envelop each living cell. The intricate composition and organization of membrane lipids, including the variety of fatty acids they encompass, serve a dynamic role in sustaining cellular structural integrity and functionality. Typically, modifications in lipid composition coincide with consequential alterations in universally significant signaling pathways. Exploring the various fatty acids, which serve as the foundational building blocks of membrane lipids, provides crucial insights into the underlying mechanisms governing a myriad of cellular processes, such as membrane fluidity, protein trafficking, signal transduction, intercellular communication, and the etiology of certain metabolic disorders. Furthermore, comprehending how alterations in the lipid composition, especially concerning the fatty acid profile, either contribute to or prevent the onset of pathological conditions stands as a compelling area of research. Hence, this review aims to meticulously introduce the intricacies of membrane lipids and their constituent fatty acids in a healthy organism, thereby illuminating their remarkable diversity and profound influence on cellular function. Furthermore, this review aspires to highlight some potential therapeutic targets for various pathological conditions that may be ameliorated through dietary fatty acid supplements. The initial section of this review expounds on the eukaryotic biomembranes and their complex lipids. Subsequent sections provide insights into the synthesis, membrane incorporation, and distribution of fatty acids across various fractions of membrane lipids. The last section highlights the functional significance of membrane-associated fatty acids and their innate capacity to shape the various cellular physiological responses.

Constructing and interpreting a large-scale variant effect map for an ultrarare disease gene: Comprehensive prediction of the functional impact of PSAT1 genotypes

Reduced activity of the enzymes encoded by PHGDH, PSAT1, and PSPH causes a set of ultrarare, autosomal recessive diseases known as serine biosynthesis defects. These diseases present in a broad phenotypic spectrum: at the severe end is Neu-Laxova syndrome, in the intermediate range are infantile serine biosynthesis defects with severe neurological manifestations and growth deficiency, and at the mild end is childhood disease with intellectual disability. However, L-serine supplementation, especially if started early, can ameliorate and in some cases even prevent symptoms. Therefore, knowledge of pathogenic variants can improve clinical outcomes. Here, we use a yeast-based assay to individually measure the functional impact of 1,914 SNV-accessible amino acid substitutions in PSAT. Results of our assay agree well with clinical interpretations and protein structure-function relationships, supporting the inclusion of our data as functional evidence as part of the ACMG variant interpretation guidelines. We use existing ClinVar variants, disease alleles reported in the literature and variants present as homozygotes in the primAD database to define assay ranges that could aid clinical variant interpretation for up to 98% of the tested variants. In addition to measuring the functional impact of individual variants in yeast haploid cells, we also assay pairwise combinations of PSAT1 alleles that recapitulate human genotypes, including compound heterozygotes, in yeast diploids. Results from our diploid assay successfully distinguish the genotypes of affected individuals from those of healthy carriers and agree well with disease severity. Finally, we present a linear model that uses individual allele measurements to predict the biallelic function of ~1.8 million allele combinations corresponding to potential human genotypes. Taken together, our work provides an example of how large-scale functional assays in model systems can be powerfully applied to the study of ultrarare diseases.

Potential for host-symbiont communication via neurotransmitters and neuromodulators in an aneural animal, the marine sponge Amphimedon queenslandica

Interkingdom signalling within a holobiont allows host and symbionts to communicate and to regulate each other's physiological and developmental states. Here we show that a suite of signalling molecules that function as neurotransmitters and neuromodulators in most animals with nervous systems, specifically dopamine and trace amines, are produced exclusively by the bacterial symbionts of the demosponge Amphimedon queenslandica. Although sponges do not possess a nervous system, A. queenslandica expresses rhodopsin class G-protein-coupled receptors that are structurally similar to dopamine and trace amine receptors. When sponge larvae, which express these receptors, are exposed to agonists and antagonists of bilaterian dopamine and trace amine receptors, we observe marked changes in larval phototactic swimming behaviour, consistent with the sponge being competent to recognise and respond to symbiont-derived trace amine signals. These results indicate that monoamines synthesised by bacterial symbionts may be able to influence the physiology of the host sponge.

Free Energy Landscapes of the Tautomeric Interconversion of Pyridoxal 5'-Phosphate Aldimines at the Active Site of Ornithine Decarboxylase in Aqueous Media

The pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) acts as a coenzyme for a large number of biochemical reactions. It exists in mainly two bound forms at the active site of the concerned enzyme: the internal aldimine, in which the PLP is bound with the ϵ-amino group of lysine at the active site, and the external aldimine, where the PLP is bound to the substrate amino acid. Both the internal and external aldimines have Schiff base linkage (N-H-O) and can exist in two tautomeric structures of ketoenamine and enolimine forms. In this work, we have investigated the free energy landscape for the tautomeric proton transfer in the internal and external aldimines at the active site of the ornithine decarboxylase enzyme in an aqueous medium. We performed hybrid quantum-classical metadynamics and force field-based molecular dynamics simulations, which revealed that the ketoenamine tautomer is more stable than the enolimine form. The QM/MM metadynamics calculations show that the free energy difference between the ketoenamine and enolimine forms for the internal aldimine is 3.9 kcal/mol, and it is found to be 5.8 kcal/mol for the external aldimine, with the ketoenamine form being more stable in both cases. The results are further supported by calculations of the binding free energies from classical simulations and static quantum chemical calculations in different environments. We have also analyzed the configurational structure of the microenvironment at the active site in order to have better insights into the interactions of the active site residues with the PLP in its two tautomeric forms.

Computational remodeling of an enzyme conformational landscape for altered substrate selectivity

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.

PLP-Dependent Enzyme Methionine γ-Lyase: Insights into the Michaelis Complex from Molecular Dynamics and Free Energy Simulations

Methionine γ-lyase (MGL) breaks down methionine, with the help of its cofactor pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP), or vitamin B6. Methionine depletion is damaging for cancer cells but not normal cells, so MGL is of interest as a therapeutic protein. To increase our understanding and help engineer improved activity, we focused on the reactive, Michaelis complex M between MGL, covalently bound PLP, and substrate Met. M is not amenable to crystallography, as it proceeds to products. Experimental activity measurements helped exclude a mechanism that would bypass M . We then used molecular dynamics and alchemical free energy simulations to elucidate its structure and dynamics. We showed that the PLP phosphate has a pKa strongly downshifted by the protein, whether Met is present or not. Met binding affects the structure surrounding the reactive atoms. With Met, the Schiff base linkage between PLP and a nearby lysine shifts from a zwitterionic, keto form to a neutral, enol form that makes it easier for Met to approach its labile, target atom. The Met ligand also stabilizes the correct orientation of the Schiff base, more strongly than in simulations without Met, and in agreement with structures in the Protein Data Bank, where the Schiff base orientation correlates with the presence or absence of a co-bound anion or substrate analogue in the active site. Overall, the Met ligand helps organize the active site for the enzyme reaction by reducing fluctuations and shifting protonation states and conformational populations.

Vitamin B6 is governed by the local compartmentalization of metabolic enzymes during growth

Vitamin B6 is a vital micronutrient across cell types and tissues, and dysregulated B6 levels contribute to human disease. Despite its importance, how B6 vitamer levels are regulated is not well understood. Here, we provide evidence that B6 dynamics are rapidly tuned by precise compartmentation of pyridoxal kinase (PDXK), the rate-limiting B6 enzyme. We show that canonical Wnt rapidly led to the accumulation of inactive B6 by shunting cytosolic PDXK into lysosomes. PDXK was modified with methyl-arginine Degron (MrDegron), a protein tag for lysosomes, which enabled delivery via microautophagy. Hyperactive lysosomes resulted in the continuous degradation of PDXK and B6 deficiency that promoted proliferation in Wnt-driven colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Pharmacological or genetic disruption of the coordinated MrDegron proteolytic pathway was sufficient to reduce CRC survival in cells and organoid models. In sum, this work contributes to the repertoire of micronutrient-regulated processes that enable cancer cell growth and provides insight into the functional impact of B6 deficiencies for survival.

Structure of the Oxygen, Pyridoxal Phosphate-Dependent Capuramycin Biosynthetic Protein Cap15

Pyridoxal phosphate-dependent enzymes able to use oxygen as a co-substrate have emerged in multiple protein families. Here, we use crystallography to solve the 2.40 Å resolution crystal structure of Cap15, a nucleoside biosynthetic enzyme that catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of glycyl uridine. Our structural study captures the internal aldimine, pinpointing the active site lysine as K230 and showing the site of phosphate binding. Our docking studies reveal how Cap15 is able to catalyze a stereoselective deprotonation reaction, and bioinformatic analysis reveals active site residues that distinguish Cap15 from the structurally related d-glucosaminate-6-phosphate ammonia lyase and l-seryl-tRNA(Sec) selenium transferase (SelA). Our work provides the structural basis for further mechanistic investigation of a unique biosynthetic enzyme and provides a blueprint for understanding how oxygen reactivity emerged in the SelA-like protein family.

Maintenance of cellular vitamin B6 levels and mitochondrial oxidative function depend on pyridoxal 5'-phosphate homeostasis protein

Recently, biallelic variants in PLPBP coding for pyridoxal 5'-phosphate homeostasis protein (PLPHP) were identified as a novel cause of early-onset vitamin B6-dependent epilepsy. The molecular function and precise role of PLPHP in vitamin B6 metabolism are not well understood. To address these questions, we used PLPHP-deficient patient skin fibroblasts and HEK293 cells and YBL036C (PLPHP ortholog)-deficient yeast. We showed that independent of extracellular B6 vitamer type (pyridoxine, pyridoxamine, or pyridoxal), intracellular pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) was lower in PLPHP-deficient fibroblasts and HEK293 cells than controls. Culturing cells with pyridoxine or pyridoxamine led to the concentration-dependent accumulation of pyridoxine 5'-phosphate and pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate (PMP), respectively, suggesting insufficient pyridox(am)ine 5'-phosphate oxidase activity. Experiments utilizing 13C4-pyridoxine confirmed lower pyridox(am)ine 5'-phosphate oxidase activity and revealed increased fractional turnovers of PLP and pyridoxal, indicating increased PLP hydrolysis to pyridoxal in PLPHP-deficient cells. This effect could be partly counteracted by inactivation of pyridoxal phosphatase. PLPHP deficiency had a distinct effect on mitochondrial PLP and PMP, suggesting impaired activity of mitochondrial transaminases. Moreover, in YBL036C-deficient yeast, PLP was depleted and PMP accumulated only with carbon sources requiring mitochondrial metabolism. Lactate and pyruvate accumulation along with the decrease of tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates downstream of α-ketoglutarate suggested impaired mitochondrial oxidative metabolism in PLPHP-deficient HEK293 cells. We hypothesize that impaired activity of mitochondrial transaminases may contribute to this depletion. Taken together, our study provides new insights into the pathomechanisms of PLPBP deficiency and reinforces the link between PLPHP function, vitamin B6 metabolism, and mitochondrial oxidative metabolism.

Photoinduced Reductive Dehalogenation of Phenacyl Bromides with Pyridoxal 5'-Phosphate

We describe the photoinduced reductive debromination of phenacyl bromides using pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP). The reaction requires irradiation with cyan or blue light in an anaerobic atmosphere. Mechanistic analysis reveals the formation of the phenacyl radical as an intermediate in the reaction, implying a single electron transfer to phenacyl bromides from a PLP-derived species resulting from excitation by illumination.

In search for structural targets for engineering d-amino acid transaminase: modulation of pH optimum and substrate specificity

The development of biocatalysts requires reorganization of the enzyme's active site to facilitate the productive binding of the target substrate and improve turnover number at desired conditions. Pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP) - dependent transaminases are highly efficient biocatalysts for asymmetric amination of ketones and keto acids. However, transaminases, being stereoselective enzymes, have a narrow substrate specificity due to the ordered structure of the active site and work only in neutral-alkaline media. Here, we investigated the d-amino acid transaminase from Aminobacterium colombiense, with the active site organized differently from that of the canonical d-amino acid transaminase from Bacillus sp. YM-1. Using a combination of site-directed mutagenesis, kinetic analysis, molecular modeling, and structural analysis we determined the active site residues responsible for substrate binding, substrate differentiation, thermostability of a functional dimer, and affecting the pH optimum. We demonstrated that the high specificity toward d-glutamate/α-ketoglutarate is due to the interactions of a γ-carboxylate group with K237 residue, while binding of other substrates stems from the effectiveness of their accommodation in the active site optimized for d-glutamate/α-ketoglutarate binding. Furthermore, we showed that the K237A substitution shifts the catalytic activity optimum to acidic pH. Our findings are useful for achieving target substrate specificity and demonstrate the potential for developing and optimizing transaminases for various applications.

Stereoselective amino acid synthesis by synergistic photoredox-pyridoxal radical biocatalysis

Developing synthetically useful enzymatic reactions that are not known in biochemistry and organic chemistry is an important challenge in biocatalysis. Through the synergistic merger of photoredox catalysis and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) biocatalysis, we developed a pyridoxal radical biocatalysis approach to prepare valuable noncanonical amino acids, including those bearing a stereochemical dyad or triad, without the need for protecting groups. Using engineered PLP enzymes, either enantiomeric product could be produced in a biocatalyst-controlled fashion. Synergistic photoredox-pyridoxal radical biocatalysis represents a powerful platform with which to discover previously unknown catalytic reactions and to tame radical intermediates for asymmetric catalysis.

Crystal structure of CmnB involved in the biosynthesis of the nonproteinogenic amino acid L-2,3-diaminopropionic acid

L-2,3-Diaminopropionic acid (L-Dap) is a nonproteinogenic amino acid that plays as an important role as a building block in the biosynthesis of several natural products, including capreomycin, viomycin, zwittermicin, staphyloferrin and dapdiamide. A previous study reported that CmnB and CmnK are two enzymes that are involved in the formation of L-Dap in the biosynthesis of capreomycin. CmnB catalyzes the condensation reaction of O-phospho-L-serine and L-glutamic acid to generate N-(1-amino-1-carboxyl-2-ethyl)glutamic acid, which subsequently undergoes oxidative hydrolysis via CmnK to generate the product L-Dap. Here, the crystal structure of CmnB in complex with the reaction intermediate PLP-α-aminoacrylate is reported at 2.2 Å resolution. Notably, CmnB is the second known example of a PLP-dependent enzyme that forms a monomeric structure in crystal packing. The crystal structure of CmnB also provides insights into the catalytic mechanism of the enzyme and supports the biosynthetic pathway of L-Dap reported in previous studies.

The In Planta Gene Expression of Austropuccinia psidii in Resistant and Susceptible Eucalyptus grandis

Austropuccinia psidii, commonly known as myrtle rust, is an obligate, biotrophic rust pathogen that causes rust disease in a broad host range of Myrtaceae species. Eucalyptus grandis, a widely cultivated hardwood Myrtaceae species, is susceptible to A. psidii infection, with this pathogen threatening both their natural range and various forest plantations across the world. This study aimed to investigate the A. psidii transcriptomic responses in resistant and susceptible E. grandis at four time points. RNA-seq reads were mapped to the A. psidii reference genome to quantify expressed genes at 12 h postinoculation and 1, 2, and 5 days postinoculation (dpi). A total of eight hundred and ninety expressed genes were found, of which 43 were candidate effector protein genes. These included rust transferred protein 1 (RTP1), expressed in susceptible hosts at 5 dpi, and a hydrolase protein gene expressed in both resistant and susceptible hosts over time. Functional categorization of expressed genes revealed processes enriched in susceptible hosts, including malate metabolic and malate dehydrogenase activity, implicating oxalic acid in disease susceptibility. These results highlight putative virulence or pathogenicity mechanisms employed by A. psidii to cause disease, and they provide the first insight into the molecular responses of A. psidii in E. grandis over time.

Molecular Responses of Red Ripe Tomato Fruit to Copper Deficiency Stress

Fruit nutritional value, plant growth, and yield can be compromised by deficient copper (Cu) bioavailability, which often appears in arable lands. This condition causes low Cu content and modifications in the ripening-associated processes in tomato fruit. This research studies the transcriptomic changes that occur in red ripe tomato fruit grown under suboptimal Cu conditions to shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying this stress. Comparative RNA-sequencing and functional analyses revealed that Cu deficiency during cultivation activates signals for metal ion transport, cellular redox homeostasis, pyridoxal phosphate binding, and amino acid metabolism while repressing the response to phosphate starvation in harvested fruit. Transcriptomic analyses highlighted a number of novel Cu stress-responsive genes of unknown function and indicated that Cu homeostasis regulation in tomato fruit may involve additional components than those described in model plants. It also studied the regulation of high-affinity Cu transporters and a number of well-known Cu stress-responsive genes during tomato fruit ripening depending on Cu availability, which allowed potential candidates to be targeted for biotechnological improvements in reproductive tissues. We provide the first study characterizing the molecular responses of fruit to Cu deficiency stress for any fruit crop.

Prebiotic Synthesis of Aspartate Using Life's Metabolism as a Guide

A protometabolic approach to the origins of life assumes that the conserved biochemistry of metabolism has direct continuity with prebiotic chemistry. One of the most important amino acids in modern biology is aspartic acid, serving as a nodal metabolite for the synthesis of many other essential biomolecules. Aspartate's prebiotic synthesis is complicated by the instability of its precursor, oxaloacetate. In this paper, we show that the use of the biologically relevant cofactor pyridoxamine, supported by metal ion catalysis, is sufficiently fast to offset oxaloacetate's degradation. Cu²⁺-catalysed transamination of oxaloacetate by pyridoxamine achieves around a 5% yield within 1 h, and can operate across a broad range of pH, temperature, and pressure. In addition, the synthesis of the downstream product β-alanine may also take place in the same reaction system at very low yields, directly mimicking an archaeal synthesis route. Amino group transfer supported by pyridoxal is shown to take place from aspartate to alanine, but the reverse reaction (alanine to aspartate) shows a poor yield. Overall, our results show that the nodal metabolite aspartate and related amino acids can indeed be synthesised via protometabolic pathways that foreshadow modern metabolism in the presence of the simple cofactor pyridoxamine and metal ions.

Precise Regulation of the TAA1/TAR-YUCCA Auxin Biosynthesis Pathway in Plants

The indole-3-pyruvic acid (IPA) pathway is the main auxin biosynthesis pathway in the plant kingdom. Local control of auxin biosynthesis through this pathway regulates plant growth and development and the responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. During the past decades, genetic, physiological, biochemical, and molecular studies have greatly advanced our understanding of tryptophan-dependent auxin biosynthesis. The IPA pathway includes two steps: Trp is converted to IPA by TRYPTOPHAN AMINOTRANSFERASE OF ARABIDOPSIS/TRYPTOPHAN AMINOTRANSFERASE RELATED PROTEINs (TAA1/TARs), and then IPA is converted to IAA by the flavin monooxygenases (YUCCAs). The IPA pathway is regulated at multiple levels, including transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation, protein modification, and feedback regulation, resulting in changes in gene transcription, enzyme activity and protein localization. Ongoing research indicates that tissue-specific DNA methylation and miRNA-directed regulation of transcription factors may also play key roles in the precise regulation of IPA-dependent auxin biosynthesis in plants. This review will mainly summarize the regulatory mechanisms of the IPA pathway and address the many unresolved questions regarding this auxin biosynthesis pathway in plants.

Mechanism-based and computational modeling of hydrogen sulfide biogenesis inhibition: interfacial inhibition

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is a gaseous signaling molecule that participates in various signaling functions in health and diseases. The tetrameric cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE) contributes to H₂S biogenesis and several investigations provide evidence on the pharmacological modulation of CSE as a potential target for the treatment of a multitude of conditions. D-penicillamine (D-pen) has recently been reported to selectively impede CSE-catalyzed H₂S production but the molecular bases for such inhibitory effect have not been investigated. In this study, we report that D-pen follows a mixed-inhibition mechanism to inhibit both cystathionine (CST) cleavage and H₂S biogenesis by human CSE. To decipher the molecular mechanisms underlying such a mixed inhibition, we performed docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Interestingly, MD analysis of CST binding reveals a likely active site configuration prior to gem-diamine intermediate formation, particularly H-bond formation between the amino group of the substrate and the O3' of PLP. Similar analyses realized with both CST and D-pen identified three potent interfacial ligand-binding sites for D-pen and offered a rational for D-pen effect. Thus, inhibitor binding not only induces the creation of an entirely new interacting network at the vicinity of the interface between enzyme subunits, but it also exerts long range effects by propagating to the active site. Overall, our study paves the way for the design of new allosteric interfacial inhibitory compounds that will specifically modulate H₂S biogenesis by cystathionine γ-lyase.

Mechanism of D-Cycloserine Inhibition of D-Amino Acid Transaminase from Haliscomenobacter hydrossis

D-cycloserine inhibits pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzymes. Inhibition effect depend on organization of the active site and mechanism of the catalyzed reaction. D-cycloserine interacts with the PLP form of the enzyme similarly to the substrate (amino acid), and this interaction is predominantly reversible. Several products of the interaction of PLP with D-cycloserine are known. For some enzymes formation of a stable aromatic product - hydroxyisoxazole-pyridoxamine-5'-phosphate at certain pH - leads to irreversible inhibition. The aim of this work was to study the mechanism of D-cycloserine inhibition of the PLP-dependent D-amino acid transaminase from Haliscomenobacter hydrossis. Spectral methods revealed several products of interaction of D-cycloserine with PLP in the active site of transaminase: oxime between PLP and β-aminooxy-D-alanine, ketimine between pyridoxamine-5'-phosphate and cyclic form of D-cycloserine, and pyridoxamine-5'-phosphate. Formation of hydroxyisoxazole-pyridoxamine-5'-phosphate was not observed. 3D structure of the complex with D-cycloserine was obtained using X-ray diffraction analysis. In the active site of transaminase, a ketimine adduct between pyridoxamine-5'-phosphate and D-cycloserine in the cyclic form was found. Ketimine occupied two positions interacting with different active site residues via hydrogen bonds. Using kinetic and spectral methods we have shown that D-cycloserine inhibition is reversible, and activity of the inhibited transaminase from H. hydrossis could be restored by adding excess of keto substrate or excess of cofactor. The obtained results confirm reversibility of the inhibition by D-cycloserine and interconversion of various adducts of D-cycloserine and PLP.

Modulators of a robust and efficient metabolism: Perspective and insights from the Rid superfamily of proteins

Metabolism is an integrated network of biochemical pathways that assemble to generate the robust, responsive physiologies of microorganisms. Despite decades of fundamental studies on metabolic processes and pathways, our understanding of the nuance and complexity of metabolism remains incomplete. The ability to predict and model metabolic network structure, and its influence on cellular fitness, is complicated by the persistence of genes of unknown function, even in the best-studied model organisms. This review describes the definition and continuing study of the Rid superfamily of proteins. These studies are presented with a perspective that illustrates how metabolic complexity can complicate the assignment of function to uncharacterized genes. The Rid superfamily of proteins has been divided into eight subfamilies, including the well-studied RidA subfamily. Aside from the RidA proteins, which are present in all domains of life and prevent metabolic stress, most members of the Rid superfamily have no demonstrated physiological role. Recent progress on functional assignment supports the hypothesis that, overall, proteins in the Rid superfamily modulate metabolic processes to ensure optimal organismal fitness.

Inhibition of 3-Hydroxykynurenine Transaminase from Aedes aegypti and Anopheles gambiae: A Mosquito-Specific Target to Combat the Transmission of Arboviruses

Arboviral infections such as Zika, chikungunya, dengue, and yellow fever pose significant health problems globally. The population at risk is expanding with the geographical distribution of the main transmission vector of these viruses, the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The global spreading of this mosquito is driven by human migration, urbanization, climate change, and the ecological plasticity of the species. Currently, there are no specific treatments for Aedes-borne infections. One strategy to combat different mosquito-borne arboviruses is to design molecules that can specifically inhibit a critical host protein. We obtained the crystal structure of 3-hydroxykynurenine transaminase (AeHKT) from A. aegypti, an essential detoxification enzyme of the tryptophan metabolism pathway. Since AeHKT is found exclusively in mosquitoes, it provides the ideal molecular target for the development of inhibitors. Therefore, we determined and compared the free binding energy of the inhibitors 4-(2-aminophenyl)-4-oxobutyric acid (4OB) and sodium 4-(3-phenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl)butanoate (OXA) to AeHKT and AgHKT from Anopheles gambiae, the only crystal structure of this enzyme previously known. The cocrystallized inhibitor 4OB binds to AgHKT with K _i of 300 μM. We showed that OXA binds to both AeHKT and AgHKT enzymes with binding energies 2-fold more favorable than the crystallographic inhibitor 4OB and displayed a 2-fold greater residence time τ upon binding to AeHKT than 4OB. These findings indicate that the 1,2,4-oxadiazole derivatives are inhibitors of the HKT enzyme not only from A. aegypti but also from A. gambiae.

The rapid high-throughput screening of ω-transaminases via a colorimetric method using aliphatic α-diketones as amino acceptors

ω-Transaminases (ω-TAs) are widely available for the production of chiral amines and unnatural amino acids. Herein, a rapid spectrophotometric method was developed for screening ω-TAs based on the colored products that can be generated from transamination reactions between aliphatic α-diketones and amino donors catalyzed by ω-TAs. The possible mechanism of the formation of the colored product was investigated according to LC-Q-TOF-MS analysis. Among seven diketones, 2,3-butanedione was selected as the most suitable amino acceptor for colorimetric screening of ω-TAs with high efficiency, high sensitivity, and low background interference. Meanwhile, the absorbance of the colored product generated by 2,3-butanedione catalyzed by ω-TAs in this method was linearly correlated with the results by HPLC analysis. This method was also confirmed to effectively screen ω-TA mutants with high activity towards isopropylamine.

The yeast ALA synthase C-terminus positively controls enzyme structure and function

5-Aminolevulinic acid synthase (ALAS) is a pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the first and rate-limiting step of heme biosynthesis in α-proteobacteria and several non-plant eukaryotes. All ALAS homologs contain a highly conserved catalytic core, but eukaryotes also have a unique C-terminal extension that plays a role in enzyme regulation. Several mutations in this region are implicated in multiple blood disorders in humans. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae ALAS (Hem1), the C-terminal extension wraps around the homodimer core to contact conserved ALAS motifs proximal to the opposite active site. To determine the importance of these Hem1 C-terminal interactions, we determined the crystal structure of S. cerevisiae Hem1 lacking the terminal 14 amino acids (Hem1 ΔCT). With truncation of the C-terminal extension, we show structurally and biochemically that multiple catalytic motifs become flexible, including an antiparallel β-sheet important to Fold-Type I PLP-dependent enzymes. The changes in protein conformation result in an altered cofactor microenvironment, decreased enzyme activity and catalytic efficiency, and ablation of subunit cooperativity. These findings suggest that the eukaryotic ALAS C-terminus has a homolog-specific role in mediating heme biosynthesis, indicating a mechanism for autoregulation that can be exploited to allosterically modulate heme biosynthesis in different organisms.