Molecular structure of the Brucella abortus metalloprotein RicA, a Rab2-binding virulence effector

Biochemistry. 2013 Dec 17;52(50):9020-8. doi: 10.1021/bi401373r. Epub 2013 Nov 22.

Abstract

The Gram-negative intracellular pathogen Brucella abortus is the causative agent of brucellosis, which is among the most common zoonoses globally. The B. abortus RicA protein binds the host-expressed guanosine nucleotide-binding protein, Rab2, and modulates B. abortus infection biology. We have solved the first X-ray crystal structure of RicA to 2.7 Å resolution and have quantified the affinity of RicA binding to human Rab2 in its GDP-bound and nucleotide-free forms. RicA adopts a classic γ-carbonic anhydrase (γ-CA) fold containing a left-handed β-helix followed by a C-terminal α-helix. Two homotrimers of RicA occupy the crystallographic asymmetric unit. Though no zinc was included in the purification or crystallization buffers, zinc is contained within the RicA crystals, as demonstrated by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. Electron density for a Zn(2+) ion coordinated by three histidine residues is evident in the putative active site of RicA. However, purified RicA preparations do not exhibit carbonic anhydrase activity, suggesting that Zn(2+) may not be the physiologically relevant metal cofactor or that RicA is not a bona fide carbonic anhydrase enzyme. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) measurements of purified RicA binding to purified human Rab2 and GDP-Rab2 revealed similar equilibrium affinities (Kd ≈ 35 and 40 μM, respectively). This study thus defines RicA as a Zn(2+)-binding γ-carbonic anhydrase-like protein that binds the human membrane fusion/trafficking protein Rab2 with low micromolar affinity in vitro. These results support a model in which γ-CA family proteins may evolve unique cellular functions while retaining many of the structural hallmarks of archetypal γ-CA enzymes.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Brucella abortus / chemistry*
  • Carbonic Anhydrases / chemistry*
  • Carbonic Anhydrases / metabolism
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Humans
  • Metalloproteins / chemistry*
  • Metalloproteins / isolation & purification
  • Metalloproteins / metabolism*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Virulence Factors / chemistry
  • Virulence Factors / isolation & purification
  • Virulence Factors / metabolism*
  • Zinc / chemistry*
  • rab2 GTP-Binding Protein / chemistry
  • rab2 GTP-Binding Protein / isolation & purification
  • rab2 GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism*

Substances

  • Metalloproteins
  • Virulence Factors
  • rab2 GTP-Binding Protein
  • Carbonic Anhydrases
  • Zinc