The crystal structure of an intermediate dimer of aspergilloglutamic peptidase that mimics the enzyme-activation product complex produced upon autoproteolysis

J Biochem. 2012 Jul;152(1):45-52. doi: 10.1093/jb/mvs050. Epub 2012 May 7.

Abstract

Aspergilloglutamic peptidase from Aspergillus niger var. macrosporus (AGP) is one of the so-called pepstatin-insensitive acid endopeptidases, which are distinct from the well-studied aspartic peptidases. Among the known homologues of the glutamic peptidases, AGP is a unique two-chain enzyme with a light chain and a heavy chain bound non-covalently with each other, and thus is an interesting target for protein structure-function relationship studies. In this article, we report the crystal structure of a dimeric form of the enzyme at a resolution of 1.6 Å. This form has a unique structure in which the C-terminal region of the light chain of one of the molecules binds to the active site cleft of the other molecule like a part of a substrate. This form mimics the enzyme-activation product complex produced upon autoproteolysis, and provides a structural clue that could help to clarify the activation mechanism. This type of dimeric structure of a peptidase is here reported for the first time.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / chemistry*
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / metabolism
  • Aspergillus niger / enzymology*
  • Aspergillus niger / metabolism
  • Binding Sites
  • Catalytic Domain
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Dimerization
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Fungal Proteins / chemistry*
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Multienzyme Complexes / chemistry
  • Multienzyme Complexes / metabolism
  • Protein Conformation

Substances

  • Fungal Proteins
  • Multienzyme Complexes
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases
  • aspergillopepsin II