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The 2011 discovery of the first rare earth-dependent enzyme in methylotrophic Methylobacterium extorquens AM1 prompted intensive research toward understanding the unique chemistry at play in these systems. This enzyme, an alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), features a La3+ ion closely associated with redox-active coenzyme pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) and is structurally homologous to the Ca2+-dependent ADH from the same organism. AM1 also produces a periplasmic PQQ-binding protein, PqqT, which we have now structurally characterized to 1.46-Å resolution by X-ray diffraction. This crystal structure reveals a Lys residue hydrogen-bonded to PQQ at the site analogously occupied by a Lewis acidic cation in ADH. Accordingly, we prepared K142A-and K142D-PqqT variants to assess the relevance of this site toward metal binding. Isothermal titration calorimetry experiments and titrations monitored by UV-Vis absorption and emission spectroscopies support that K142D-PqqT binds tightly (Kd = 0.6 ± 0.2 μM) to La3+ in the presence of bound PQQ and produces spectral signatures consistent with those of ADH enzymes. These spectral signatures are not observed for WT-or K142A-variants or upon addition of Ca2+ to PQQ ⊏ K142D-PqqT. Addition of benzyl alcohol to La3+-bound PQQ ⊏ K142D-PqqT (but not Ca2+-bound PQQ ⊏ K142D-PqqT, or La3+-bound PQQ ⊏ WT-PqqT) produces spectroscopic changes associated with PQQ reduction, and chemical trapping experiments reveal the production of benzaldehyde, supporting ADH activity. By creating a metal binding site that mimics native ADH enzymes, we present a rare earth-dependent artificial metalloenzyme primed for future mechanistic, biocatalytic, and biosensing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxetanocin A (OXT-A) is a potent antitumour, antiviral and antibacterial compound. Biosynthesis of OXT-A has been linked to a plasmid-borne Bacillus megaterium gene cluster that contains four genes: oxsA, oxsB, oxrA and oxrB. Here we show that both the oxsA and oxsB genes are required for the production of OXT-A. Biochemical analysis of the encoded proteins, a cobalamin (Cbl)-dependent S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) radical enzyme, OxsB, and an HD-domain phosphohydrolase, OxsA, reveals that OXT-A is derived from a 2′-deoxyadenosine phosphate in an OxsB-catalysed ring contraction reaction initiated by hydrogen atom abstraction from C2′. Hence, OxsB represents the first biochemically characterized non-methylating Cbl-dependent AdoMet radical enzyme. X-ray analysis of OxsB reveals the fold of a Cbl-dependent AdoMet radical enzyme, a family of enzymes with an estimated 7,000 members. Overall, this work provides a framework for understanding the interplay of AdoMet and Cbl cofactors and expands the catalytic repertoire of Cbl-dependent AdoMet radical enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability of cobalamin to coordinate different upper axial ligands gives rise to a diversity of reactivity. Traditionally, adenosylcobalamin is associated with radical-based rearrangements, and methylcobalamin with methyl cation transfers. Recently, however, a new role for adenosylcobalamin has been discovered as a light sensor, and a methylcobalamin-dependent enzyme has been identified that is suggested to transfer a methyl anion. Additionally, recent studies have provided a wealth of new information about a third class of cobalamin-dependent enzymes that do not appear to use an upper ligand. They function in reductive dehalogenations and epoxide reduction reactions. Finally, mechanistic details are beginning to emerge about the cobalamin-dependent S -adenosylmethionine radical enzyme superfamily for which the role of cobalamin has been largely enigmatic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that has been linked to defects in the protein frataxin (Fxn). Most FRDA patients have a GAA expansion in the first intron of their Fxn gene that decreases protein expression. Some FRDA patients have a GAA expansion on one allele and a missense mutation on the other allele. Few functional details are known for the 15 different missense mutations identified in FRDA patients. Here in vitro evidence is presented that indicates the FRDA I154F and W155R variants bind more weakly to the complex of Nfs1, Isd11, and Isu2 and thereby are defective in forming the four-component SDUF complex that constitutes the core of the Fe-S cluster assembly machine. The binding affinities follow the trend Fxn I154F > W155F > W155A W155R. The Fxn variants also have diminished ability to function as part of the SDUF complex to stimulate the cysteine desulfurase reaction and facilitate Fe-S cluster assembly. Four crystal structures, including the first for a FRDA variant, reveal specific rearrangements associated with the loss of function and lead to a model for Fxn-based activation of the Fe-S cluster assembly complex. Importantly, the weaker binding and lower activity for FRDA variants correlate with the severity of disease progression. Together, these results suggest that Fxn facilitates sulfur transfer from Nfs1 to Isu2 and that these in vitro assays are sensitive and appropriate for deciphering functional defects and mechanistic details for human Fe-S cluster biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many microorganisms use both biological and nonbiological molecules as sources of carbon and energy. This resourcefulness means that some microorganisms have mechanisms to assimilate pollutants found in the environment. One such organism is Comamonas testosteroni, which metabolizes 4- methylbenzenesulfonate and 4-methylbenzoate using the TsaMBCD pathway. TsaM is a Rieske oxygenase, which in concert with the reductase TsaB consumes a molar equivalent of NADH. Following this step, the annotated short-chain dehydrogenase/ reductase and aldehyde dehydrogenase enzymes TsaC and TsaD each regenerate a molar equivalent of NADH. This co-occurrence ameliorates the need for stoichiometric addition of reducing equivalents and thus represents an attractive strategy for integration of Rieske oxygenase chemistry into biocatalytic applications. Therefore, in this work, to overcome the lack of information regarding NADH recycling enzymes that function in partnership with Rieske non-heme iron oxygenases (Rieske oxygenases), we solved the X-ray crystal structure of TsaC to a resolution of 2.18 Å. Using this structure, a series of substrate analog and protein variant combination reactions, and differential scanning fluorimetry experiments, we identified active site features involved in binding NAD+ and controlling substrate specificity. Further in vitro enzyme cascade experiments demonstrated the efficient TsaC- and TsaD-mediated regeneration of NADH to support Rieske oxygenase chemistry. Finally, through in-depth bioinformatic analyses, we illustrate the widespread cooccurrence of Rieske oxygenases with TsaC-like enzymes. This work thus demonstrates the utility of these NADH recycling enzymes and identifies a library of short-chain dehydrogenase/ reductase enzyme prospects that can be used in Rieske oxygenase pathways for in situ regeneration of NADH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Rieske non-heme iron oxygenases (Rieske oxygenases) comprise a class of metalloenzymes that are involved in the biosynthesis of complex natural products and the biodegradation of aromatic pollutants. Despite this desirable catalytic repertoire, industrial implementation of Rieske oxygenases has been hindered by the multicomponent nature of these enzymes and their requirement for expensive reducing equivalents in the form of a reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide cosubstrate (NAD(P)H). Fortunately, however, some Rieske oxygenases co-occur with accessory proteins, that through a downstream reaction, recycle the needed NAD(P)H for catalysis. As these pathways and accessory proteins are attractive for bioremediation applications and enzyme engineering campaigns, herein, we describe methods for assembling Rieske oxygenase pathways in vitro. Further, using the TsaMBCD pathway as a model system, in this chapter, we provide enzymatic, spectroscopic, and crystallographic methods that can be adapted to explore both Rieske oxygenases and their co-occurring accessory proteins., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

The cobalamin (Cbl)-dependent radical S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) enzymes use a [4Fe-4S] cluster, SAM, and Cbl to carry out remarkable catalytic feats in a large number of biosynthetic pathways. However, despite the abundance of annotated Cbl-dependent radical SAM enzymes, relatively few molecular details exist regarding how these enzymes function. Traditionally, challenges associated with purifying and reconstituting Cbl-dependent radical SAM enzymes have hindered biochemical studies aimed at elucidating the structures and mechanisms of these enzymes. Herein, we describe a bottom-up approach that was used to crystallize OxsB, learn about the overall architecture of a Cbl-dependent radical SAM enzyme, and facilitate mechanistic studies. We report lessons learned from the crystallization of different states of OxsB, including the apo-, selenomethionine (SeMet)-labeled, and fully reconstituted form of OxsB that has a [4Fe-4S] cluster, SAM, and Cbl bound. Further, we suggest that, when appropriate, this bottom-up method can be used to facilitate studies on enzymes in this class for which there are challenges associated with purifying and reconstituting the active enzyme., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)