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Müller MC, Lemaire ON, Kurth JM, Welte CU, Wagner T. Differences in regulation mechanisms of glutamine synthetases from methanogenic archaea unveiled by structural investigations. Commun Biol 2024; 7:111. [PMID: 38243071 PMCID: PMC10799026 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05726-w] [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: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Glutamine synthetases (GS) catalyze the ATP-dependent ammonium assimilation, the initial step of nitrogen acquisition that must be under tight control to fit cellular needs. While their catalytic mechanisms and regulations are well-characterized in bacteria and eukaryotes, only limited knowledge exists in archaea. Here, we solved two archaeal GS structures and unveiled unexpected differences in their regulatory mechanisms. GS from Methanothermococcus thermolithotrophicus is inactive in its resting state and switched on by 2-oxoglutarate, a sensor of cellular nitrogen deficiency. The enzyme activation overlays remarkably well with the reported cellular concentration for 2-oxoglutarate. Its binding to an allosteric pocket reconfigures the active site through long-range conformational changes. The homolog from Methermicoccus shengliensis does not harbor the 2-oxoglutarate binding motif and, consequently, is 2-oxoglutarate insensitive. Instead, it is directly feedback-inhibited through glutamine recognition by the catalytic Asp50'-loop, a mechanism common to bacterial homologs, but absent in M. thermolithotrophicus due to residue substitution. Analyses of residue conservation in archaeal GS suggest that both regulations are widespread and not mutually exclusive. While the effectors and their binding sites are surprisingly different, the molecular mechanisms underlying their mode of action on GS activity operate on the same molecular determinants in the active site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Caroline Müller
- Microbial Metabolism Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstraße 1, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Olivier N Lemaire
- Microbial Metabolism Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstraße 1, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Julia M Kurth
- Department of Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Microcosm Earth Center, Philipps-University Marburg and Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 4, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Cornelia U Welte
- Department of Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Tristan Wagner
- Microbial Metabolism Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstraße 1, 28359, Bremen, Germany.
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Sahin S, Lemaire ON, Belhamri M, Kurth JM, Welte CU, Wagner T, Milton RD. Bioelectrocatalytic CO 2 Reduction by Mo-Dependent Formylmethanofuran Dehydrogenase. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202311981. [PMID: 37712590 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202311981] [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: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Massive efforts are invested in developing innovative CO2 -sequestration strategies to counter climate change and transform CO2 into higher-value products. CO2 -capture by reduction is a chemical challenge, and attention is turned toward biological systems that selectively and efficiently catalyse this reaction under mild conditions and in aqueous solvents. While a few reports have evaluated the effectiveness of isolated bacterial formate dehydrogenases as catalysts for the reversible electrochemical reduction of CO2 , it is imperative to explore other enzymes among the natural reservoir of potential models that might exhibit higher turnover rates or preferential directionality for the reductive reaction. Here, we present electroenzymatic catalysis of formylmethanofuran dehydrogenase, a CO2 -reducing-and-fixing biomachinery isolated from a thermophilic methanogen, which was deposited on a graphite rod electrode to enable direct electron transfer for electroenzymatic CO2 reduction. The gas is reduced with a high Faradaic efficiency (109±1 %), where a low affinity for formate prevents its electrochemical reoxidation and favours formate accumulation. These properties make the enzyme an excellent tool for electroenzymatic CO2 -fixation and inspiration for protein engineering that would be beneficial for biotechnological purposes to convert the greenhouse gas into stable formate that can subsequently be safely stored, transported, and used for power generation without energy loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selmihan Sahin
- University of Geneva, Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Sciences II, Quai Ernest-Ansermet 30, 1211, Geneva 4, Switzerland
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Suleyman Demirel University, Cunur, 32260, Isparta, Turkiye
| | - Olivier N Lemaire
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstraße 1, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Mélissa Belhamri
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstraße 1, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Julia M Kurth
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Microcosm Earth Center - Philipps-Universität Marburg & Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 4, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Cornelia U Welte
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Tristan Wagner
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstraße 1, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Ross D Milton
- University of Geneva, Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Sciences II, Quai Ernest-Ansermet 30, 1211, Geneva 4, Switzerland
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3
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Adam PS, Kolyfetis GE, Bornemann TLV, Vorgias CE, Probst AJ. Genomic remnants of ancestral methanogenesis and hydrogenotrophy in Archaea drive anaerobic carbon cycling. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabm9651. [PMID: 36332026 PMCID: PMC9635834 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm9651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Anaerobic methane metabolism is among the hallmarks of Archaea, originating very early in their evolution. Here, we show that the ancestor of methane metabolizers was an autotrophic CO2-reducing hydrogenotrophic methanogen that possessed the two main complexes, methyl-CoM reductase (Mcr) and tetrahydromethanopterin-CoM methyltransferase (Mtr), the anaplerotic hydrogenases Eha and Ehb, and a set of other genes collectively called "methanogenesis markers" but could not oxidize alkanes. Overturning recent inferences, we demonstrate that methyl-dependent hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis has emerged multiple times independently, either due to a loss of Mtr while Mcr is inherited vertically or from an ancient lateral acquisition of Mcr. Even if Mcr is lost, Mtr, Eha, Ehb, and the markers can persist, resulting in mixotrophic metabolisms centered around the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway. Through their methanogenesis remnants, Thorarchaeia and two newly reconstructed order-level lineages in Archaeoglobi and Bathyarchaeia act as metabolically versatile players in carbon cycling of anoxic environments across the globe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis S. Adam
- Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
- Corresponding author.
| | - George E. Kolyfetis
- Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15784 Athens, Greece
| | - Till L. V. Bornemann
- Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Constantinos E. Vorgias
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15784 Athens, Greece
| | - Alexander J. Probst
- Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
- Centre for Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
- Research Center One Health Ruhr, Research Alliance Ruhr, Environmental Metagenomics, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
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Gagsteiger J, Jahn S, Heidinger L, Gericke L, Andexer JN, Friedrich T, Loenarz C, Layer G. A Cobalamin-Dependent Radical SAM Enzyme Catalyzes the Unique C α -Methylation of Glutamine in Methyl-Coenzyme M Reductase. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202204198. [PMID: 35638156 PMCID: PMC9401015 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202204198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Methyl‐coenzyme M reductase, which is responsible for the production of the greenhouse gas methane during biological methane formation, carries several unique posttranslational amino acid modifications, including a 2‐(S)‐methylglutamine. The enzyme responsible for the Cα‐methylation of this glutamine is not known. Herein, we identify and characterize a cobalamin‐dependent radical SAM enzyme as the glutamine C‐methyltransferase. The recombinant protein from Methanoculleus thermophilus binds cobalamin in a base‐off, His‐off conformation and contains a single [4Fe‐4S] cluster. The cobalamin cofactor cycles between the methyl‐cob(III)alamin, cob(II)alamin and cob(I)alamin states during catalysis and produces methylated substrate, 5′‐deoxyadenosine and S‐adenosyl‐l‐homocysteine in a 1 : 1 : 1 ratio. The newly identified glutamine C‐methyltransferase belongs to the class B radical SAM methyltransferases known to catalyze challenging methylation reactions of sp3‐hybridized carbon atoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Gagsteiger
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Wissenschaften, Pharmazeutische Biologie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Str. 19, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sören Jahn
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Wissenschaften, Pharmazeutische und Medizinische Chemie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Albertstr. 25, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Lorenz Heidinger
- Institut für Biochemie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Albertstr. 21, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Lukas Gericke
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Wissenschaften, Pharmazeutische und Medizinische Chemie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Albertstr. 25, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jennifer N Andexer
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Wissenschaften, Pharmazeutische und Medizinische Chemie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Albertstr. 25, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Thorsten Friedrich
- Institut für Biochemie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Albertstr. 21, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Loenarz
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Wissenschaften, Pharmazeutische und Medizinische Chemie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Albertstr. 25, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Gunhild Layer
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Wissenschaften, Pharmazeutische Biologie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Str. 19, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
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Gagsteiger J, Jahn S, Heidinger L, Gericke L, Andexer JN, Friedrich T, Loenarz C, Layer G. A Cobalamin‐Dependent Radical SAM Enzyme Catalyzes the Unique Cα‐Methylation of Glutamine in Methyl‐Coenzyme M Reductase. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202204198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jana Gagsteiger
- Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Fakultät für Chemie und Pharmazie Institut für Pharmazeutische Wissenschaften, Pharmazeutische Biologie GERMANY
| | - Sören Jahn
- Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Fakultät für Chemie und Pharmazie Institut für Pharmazeutische Wissenschaften, Pharmazeutische und Medizinische Chemie GERMANY
| | - Lorenz Heidinger
- Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg Institut für Biochemie GERMANY
| | - Lukas Gericke
- Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Fakultät für Chemie und Pharmazie Institut für Pharmazeutische Wissenschaften, Pharmazeutische und Medizinische Chemie GERMANY
| | - Jennifer N. Andexer
- Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Fakultät für Chemie und Pharmazie Institut für Pharmazeutische Wissenschaften, Pharmazeutische und Medizinische Chemie GERMANY
| | - Thorsten Friedrich
- Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Fakultät für Chemie und Pharmazie Institut für Biochemie GERMANY
| | - Christoph Loenarz
- Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Fakultät für Chemie und Pharmazie Institut für Pharmazeutische Wissenschaften, Pharmazeutische und Medizinische Chemie GERMANY
| | - Gunhild Layer
- Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Fakultät für Chemie und Pharmazie Institut für Pharmazeutische Wissenschaften, Pharmazeutische Biologie Stefan-Meier-Str. 19 79104 Freiburg GERMANY
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Gendron A, Allen KD. Overview of Diverse Methyl/Alkyl-Coenzyme M Reductases and Considerations for Their Potential Heterologous Expression. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:867342. [PMID: 35547147 PMCID: PMC9081873 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.867342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR) is an archaeal enzyme that catalyzes the final step of methanogenesis and the first step in the anaerobic oxidation of methane, the energy metabolisms of methanogens and anaerobic methanotrophs (ANME), respectively. Variants of MCR, known as alkyl-coenzyme M reductases, are involved in the anaerobic oxidation of short-chain alkanes including ethane, propane, and butane as well as the catabolism of long-chain alkanes from oil reservoirs. MCR is a dimer of heterotrimers (encoded by mcrABG) and requires the nickel-containing tetrapyrrole prosthetic group known as coenzyme F430. MCR houses a series of unusual post-translational modifications within its active site whose identities vary depending on the organism and whose functions remain unclear. Methanogenic MCRs are encoded in a highly conserved mcrBDCGA gene cluster, which encodes two accessory proteins, McrD and McrC, that are believed to be involved in the assembly and activation of MCR, respectively. The requirement of a unique and complex coenzyme, various unusual post-translational modifications, and many remaining questions surrounding assembly and activation of MCR largely limit in vitro experiments to native enzymes with recombinant methods only recently appearing. Production of MCRs in a heterologous host is an important step toward developing optimized biocatalytic systems for methane production as well as for bioconversion of methane and other alkanes into value-added compounds. This review will first summarize MCR catalysis and structure, followed by a discussion of advances and challenges related to the production of diverse MCRs in a heterologous host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksei Gendron
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Kylie D Allen
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
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Lemaire ON, Wagner T. A Structural View of Alkyl-Coenzyme M Reductases, the First Step of Alkane Anaerobic Oxidation Catalyzed by Archaea. Biochemistry 2022; 61:805-821. [PMID: 35500274 PMCID: PMC9118554 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.2c00135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
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Microbial anaerobic
oxidation of alkanes intrigues the scientific
community by way of its impact on the global carbon cycle, and its
biotechnological applications. Archaea are proposed to degrade short-
and long-chain alkanes to CO2 by reversing methanogenesis,
a theoretically reversible process. The pathway would start with alkane
activation, an endergonic step catalyzed by methyl-coenzyme M reductase
(MCR) homologues that would generate alkyl-thiols carried by coenzyme
M. While the methane-generating MCR found in methanogens has been
well characterized, the enzymatic activity of the putative alkane-fixing
counterparts has not been validated so far. Such an absence of biochemical
investigations contrasts with the current explosion of metagenomics
data, which draws new potential alkane-oxidizing pathways in various
archaeal phyla. Therefore, validating the physiological function of
these putative alkane-fixing machines and investigating how their
structures, catalytic mechanisms, and cofactors vary depending on
the targeted alkane have become urgent needs. The first structural
insights into the methane- and ethane-capturing MCRs highlighted unsuspected
differences and proposed some explanations for their substrate specificity.
This Perspective reviews the current physiological, biochemical, and
structural knowledge of alkyl-CoM reductases and offers fresh ideas
about the expected mechanistic and chemical differences among members
of this broad family. We conclude with the challenges of the investigation
of these particular enzymes, which might one day generate biofuels
for our modern society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier N Lemaire
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstraße 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Tristan Wagner
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstraße 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany
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