Functional and structural characterization of a flavoprotein monooxygenase essential for biogenesis of tryptophylquinone cofactor

Nat Commun. 2021 Feb 10;12(1):933. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-21200-9.

Abstract

Bioconversion of peptidyl amino acids into enzyme cofactors is an important post-translational modification. Here, we report a flavoprotein, essential for biosynthesis of a protein-derived quinone cofactor, cysteine tryptophylquinone, contained in a widely distributed bacterial enzyme, quinohemoprotein amine dehydrogenase. The purified flavoprotein catalyzes the single-turnover dihydroxylation of the tryptophylquinone-precursor, tryptophan, in the protein substrate containing triple intra-peptidyl crosslinks that are pre-formed by a radical S-adenosylmethionine enzyme within the ternary complex of these proteins. Crystal structure of the peptidyl tryptophan dihydroxylase reveals a large pocket that may dock the protein substrate with the bound flavin adenine dinucleotide situated close to the precursor tryptophan. Based on the enzyme-protein substrate docking model, we propose a chemical reaction mechanism of peptidyl tryptophan dihydroxylation catalyzed by the flavoprotein monooxygenase. The diversity of the tryptophylquinone-generating systems suggests convergent evolution of the peptidyl tryptophan-derived cofactors in different proteins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Catalysis
  • Coenzymes / chemistry
  • Coenzymes / metabolism*
  • Dipeptides / chemistry
  • Dipeptides / metabolism*
  • Flavin-Adenine Dinucleotide / chemistry
  • Flavin-Adenine Dinucleotide / metabolism
  • Flavoproteins / chemistry
  • Flavoproteins / metabolism*
  • Indolequinones / chemistry
  • Indolequinones / metabolism*
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases / chemistry
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases / metabolism*
  • Paracoccus denitrificans / chemistry
  • Paracoccus denitrificans / enzymology*
  • Paracoccus denitrificans / genetics
  • Paracoccus denitrificans / metabolism
  • Tryptophan / chemistry
  • Tryptophan / metabolism

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Coenzymes
  • Dipeptides
  • Flavoproteins
  • Indolequinones
  • cysteine tryptophylquinone
  • Flavin-Adenine Dinucleotide
  • Tryptophan
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases