Generalized enzymatic mechanism of catalysis by tetrameric L-asparaginases from mesophilic bacteria

Sci Rep. 2020 Oct 15;10(1):17516. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-74480-4.

Abstract

The mechanism of catalysis by the L-glutaminase-asparaginase from Pseudomonas 7A (PGA) was investigated using structural, mass spectrometry, and kinetic data. We had previously proposed mechanism of hydrolysis of L-Asn by the type II L-asparaginase from E. coli (EcAII), but that work was limited to just one enzyme. Based on results presented in this report, we postulate that all homotetrameric L-asparaginases from mesophilic bacteria utilize a common ping-pong mechanism of catalysis consisting of two subsequent nucleophilic substitutions. Several new structures of non-covalent complexes of PGA with different substrates, as well as structures of covalent acyl-enzyme intermediates of PGA with canonical substrates (L-Asp and L-Glu) and an opportunistic ligand, a citrate anion, were determined. The results of kinetic experiments monitored by high-resolution LC/MS, when combined with new structural data, clearly show that the reaction catalyzed by L-glutaminase-asparaginases proceeds through formation of a covalent intermediate, as observed previously for EcAII. Additionally, by showing that the same mechanism applies to L-Asn and L-Gln, we postulate that it is common for all these structurally related enzymes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Anions
  • Asparaginase / metabolism*
  • Aspartic Acid / metabolism
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Catalysis*
  • Catalytic Domain
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Electrons
  • Escherichia coli / enzymology*
  • Glutaminase / metabolism*
  • Kinetics
  • Ligands
  • Polyethylene Glycols / metabolism*
  • Pseudomonas / enzymology*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Substances

  • Anions
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Ligands
  • Aspartic Acid
  • polyethylene glycol-glutaminase-asparaginase
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Asparaginase
  • Glutaminase