Structure-stability-activity relationship in covalently cross-linked N-carbamoyl D-amino acid amidohydrolase and N-acylamino acid racemase

J Mol Biol. 2006 Jun 9;359(3):741-53. doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2006.03.063. Epub 2006 Apr 18.

Abstract

N-Acylamino acid racemase (NAAAR) and N-carbamoyl-D-amino-acid amidohydrolase (D-NCAase) are important biocatalysts for producing enantiopure alpha-amino acids. NAAAR forms an octameric assembly and displays induced fit movements upon substrate binding, while D-NCAase is a tetramer that does not change conformation in the presence of a ligand. To investigate the effects of introducing potentially stabilizing S-S bridges in these different multimeric enzymes, cysteine residues predicted to form inter or intra-subunit disulfide bonds were introduced by site-directed mutagenesis. Inter-subunit S-S bonds were formed in two NAAAR variants (A68C-D72C and P60C-Y100C) and two d-NCAase variants (A302C and P295C-F304C). Intra-subunit S-S bonds were formed in two additional NAAAR variants (E149C-A182C and V265C). Crystal structures of NAAARs variants show limited deviations from the wild-type overall tertiary structure. An apo A68C-D72C subunit differs from the wild-type enzyme, in which it has an ordered lid loop, resembling ligand-bound NAAAR. The structures of A222C and A302C D-NCAases are nearly identical to the wild-type enzyme. All mutants with inter-subunit bridges had increases in thermostability. Compared with the wild-type enzyme, A68C-D72C NAAAR showed similar kcat/Km ratios, whereas mutant D-NCAases demonstrated increased kcat/Km ratios at high temperatures (A302C: 4.2-fold at 65 degrees C). Furthermore, molecular dynamic simulations reveal that A302C substantially sustains the fine-tuned catalytic site as temperature increases, achieving enhanced activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amidohydrolases / chemistry*
  • Amidohydrolases / genetics
  • Amino Acid Isomerases / chemistry*
  • Amino Acid Isomerases / genetics
  • Catalytic Domain
  • Cross-Linking Reagents / chemistry
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Disulfides / chemistry
  • Enzyme Stability
  • Models, Molecular*
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Protein Conformation
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Cross-Linking Reagents
  • Disulfides
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Amidohydrolases
  • N-carbamoyl-D-amino acid amidohydrolase
  • Amino Acid Isomerases

Associated data

  • PDB/2FKP
  • PDB/2GGG
  • PDB/2GGH
  • PDB/2GGI
  • PDB/2GGJ
  • PDB/2GGK
  • PDB/2GGL