Search

The N-terminal isochorismatase (ISC) domain of VibB (VibB-ISC) catalyzes the vinyl ether hydrolysis of isochorismate to 2,3-dihydro-2,3-dihydroxybenzoate and pyruvate. Structures of the ISC domain and its complex with isochorismate have been determined at 1.35 and 1.10 Å resolution, respectively. Two catalytic waters which were absent from previously reported homologous structures were observed adjacent to isochorismate and the catalytic residues (Asp35 and Lys118) in the VibB-ISC complex. Molecular-dynamics (MD) simulations starting with the structure of the VibB-ISC complex suggest that the catalytic waters contribute to the hydrolysis of the vinyl ether by participating in two reactions. Firstly, they may function as a general acid to protonate the Asp35 carboxylate prior to isochorismate protonation; secondly, one of the catalytic waters may be activated by the ionizable side chain of Asp35 to perform a nucleophilic attack on the intermediate carbocation/oxocarbonium ion. The positions of the waters are both significantly affected by the mutation of Asp35 and Lys118. The structural, biochemical and MD results reveal the residues that are involved in substrate binding and provide clues towards defining a possible mechanism.

An acidic PLA(2) (OH APLA(2)-II) from the venom of Ophiophagus hannah (king cobra) shows greater phospholipase A(2) activity and weaker cardiotoxic and myotoxic activity than a homologous acidic PLA(2) from the same venom. The crystal of the enzyme belongs to space group P6(3). The crystals are invariably hemihedrally twinned, exhibiting perfect 622 Laue symmetry. The structure was determined by molecular replacement and refined using a hemihedral twinning program at 2.1 A resolution. The final model has reasonable stereochemistry and a crystallographic R factor of 19.5% (R(free) = 21.5%). The structure reveals the molecular arrangement and the mode of twinning. There are six independent molecules in the asymmetric unit. Owing to the presence of a non-crystallographic twofold parallel to the hemihedral twinning twofold, the molecular packing in the twinned crystal is extremely similar to that in an untwinned crystal for four of the molecules. This unique molecular arrangement may be related to the difficulty in recognizing the twinning. The structure was compared with the previously determined structure of a homologous acidic PLA(2) from the same source. The comparison shows structural changes that might be implicated in the increased catalytic activity and weakened toxicity.

An acidic phospholipase A(2) (OH APLA(2)-II) with an isoelectric point (pI) of 4.0 was recently isolated from Ophiophagus hannah (king cobra) from Guangxi province, China. Comparison of this enzyme to a previously reported homologous phospholipase A(2) from the same venom shows that it lacks toxicity and exhibits a greater phospholipase activity. OH APLA(2)-II has been crystallized by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method using 1,6-hexanediol and magnesium chloride as precipitants. The crystal belongs to space group P6(3), with unit-cell parameters a = b = 98.06, c = 132.39 A. The diffraction data were collected under cryoconditions (100 K) and reduced to 2.1 A resolution. A molecular-replacement solution has been determined and shows that there are six molecules in one asymmetric unit.

An acidic phospholipase A(2) was purified from Deinagkistrodon acutus (Agkistrodon acutus) which displays an inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation. The three-dimensional structure of the enzyme was determined by molecular replacement at 2.6 A resolution with a crystallographic R factor of 18.40% (R(free) = 22.50%) and reasonable stereochemistry. Two molecules in the asymmetric unit form a dimer and the dimer formation accompanies a significant conformational adaptation of segment 14-23, a constituent of the 'interface recognition site' (IRS). This probably reflects the inherent structural flexibility of the IRS. The possible expansion of the site for inhibiting platelet aggregation as proposed previously [Wang et al. (1996), J. Mol. Biol. 255, 669-676] is discussed.