The Functional Unit of Neisseria meningitidis 3-Deoxy-ᴅ-Arabino-Heptulosonate 7-Phosphate Synthase Is Dimeric

PLoS One. 2016 Feb 1;11(2):e0145187. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0145187. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Neisseria meningitidis 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate synthase (NmeDAH7PS) adopts a homotetrameric structure consisting of an extensive and a less extensive interface. Perturbation of the less extensive interface through a single mutation of a salt bridge (Arg126-Glu27) formed at the tetramer interface of all chains resulted in a dimeric DAH7PS in solution, as determined by small angle X-ray scattering, analytical ultracentrifugation and analytical size-exclusion chromatography. The dimeric NmeDAH7PSR126S variant was shown to be catalytically active in the aldol-like condensation reaction between D-erythrose 4-phosphate and phosphoenolpyruvate, and allosterically inhibited by L-phenylalanine to the same extent as the wild-type enzyme. The dimeric NmeDAH7PSR126S variant exhibited a slight reduction in thermal stability by differential scanning calorimetry experiments and a slow loss of activity over time compared to the wild-type enzyme. Although NmeDAH7PSR126S crystallised as a tetramer, like the wild-type enzyme, structural asymmetry at the less extensive interface was observed consistent with its destabilisation. The tetrameric association enabled by this Arg126-Glu27 salt-bridge appears to contribute solely to the stability of the protein, ultimately revealing that the functional unit of NmeDAH7PS is dimeric.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3-Deoxy-7-Phosphoheptulonate Synthase / chemistry
  • 3-Deoxy-7-Phosphoheptulonate Synthase / metabolism*
  • Biocatalysis
  • Chromatography, Gel
  • Conserved Sequence
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Kinetics
  • Models, Molecular
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Neisseria meningitidis / enzymology*
  • Phenylalanine / pharmacology
  • Protein Multimerization*
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • Scattering, Small Angle
  • Solutions
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Solutions
  • Phenylalanine
  • 3-Deoxy-7-Phosphoheptulonate Synthase