Hydrolysis Of Acyl-enzyme Research Articles

Electric Fields Are a Key Determinant of Carbapenemase Activity in Class A β-Lactamases.

Resistance to antibiotics is a public health crisis. Although carbapenems are less susceptible to resistance than other β-lactam antibiotics, β-lactamases mediating resistance against these drugs are spreading. Here, we dissect the contributions of electric fields to carbapenemase activity in class A β-lactamases. We perform QM/MM molecular dynamics simulations of meropenem acyl-enzyme hydrolysis that correctly discriminate carbapenemases. Electric field analysis shows that active-site fields in the deacylation transition state and tetrahedral intermediate are important determinants of activity. The active-site fields identify several residues, some distal, that distinguish efficient carbapenemases. Our field analysis script (www.github.com/bunzela/FieldTools) may help in understanding and combating antibiotic resistance.

Molecular basis of β-lactam antibiotic resistance of ESKAPE bacterium E. faecium Penicillin Binding Protein PBP5

Penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) are essential for the formation of the bacterial cell wall. They are also the targets of β-lactam antibiotics. In Enterococcus faecium, high levels of resistance to β-lactams are associated with the expression of PBP5, with higher levels of resistance associated with distinct PBP5 variants. To define the molecular mechanism of PBP5-mediated resistance we leveraged biomolecular NMR spectroscopy of PBP5 – due to its size (>70 kDa) a challenging NMR target. Our data show that resistant PBP5 variants show significantly increased dynamics either alone or upon formation of the acyl-enzyme inhibitor complex. Furthermore, these variants also exhibit increased acyl-enzyme hydrolysis. Thus, reducing sidechain bulkiness and expanding surface loops results in increased dynamics that facilitates acyl-enzyme hydrolysis and, via increased β-lactam antibiotic turnover, facilitates β-lactam resistance. Together, these data provide the molecular basis of resistance of clinical E. faecium PBP5 variants, results that are likely applicable to the PBP family.

Inhibition of β-lactamases of mycobacteria by avibactam and clavulanate.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium abscessus produce broad-spectrum class A β-lactamases, BlaC and Bla Mab , which are inhibited by clavulanate and avibactam, respectively. BlaC differs from Bla Mab at Ambler position 132 in the conserved motif SDN (SDG versus SDN, respectively). Here, we investigated whether this polymorphism could account for the inhibition specificity of β-lactamases from slowly and rapidly growing mycobacteria. Enzyme kinetics were determined to assess the impact of the substitutions G 132 N in BlaC and N 132 G in Bla Mab on β-lactamase inhibition by clavulanate and avibactam. The stability of acylenzymes was evaluated by MS. The impact of the substitutions on the antibacterial activity of drug combinations was determined based on production of the β-lactamases in Escherichia coli . The substitution G 132 N increased 140-fold the efficacy of BlaC inhibition by avibactam and abolished clavulanate inhibition due to acylenzyme hydrolysis. Bla Mab efficiently hydrolysed clavulanate, but the substitution N 132 G led to a 5600-fold reduction in the hydrolysis rate constant k cat due to stabilization of Bla Mab -clavulanate covalent adducts. The N 132 G substitution also led to a 610-fold reduction in the efficacy of Bla Mab carbamylation by avibactam. Testing resistance to the amoxicillin/clavulanate and amoxicillin/avibactam combinations revealed that modifications in the catalytic properties of the β-lactamases resulted in opposite shifts from susceptibility to resistance and vice versa. G 132 N and N 132 G had opposite effects on the inhibition of BlaC and Bla Mab , indicating that these substitutions might lead to acquisition of resistance to either of the β-lactamase inhibitors, but not to both of them.

Kinetic Features of L,D-Transpeptidase Inactivation Critical for β-Lactam Antibacterial Activity

Active-site serine D,D-transpeptidases belonging to the penicillin-binding protein family (PBPs) have been considered for a long time as essential for peptidoglycan cross-linking in all bacteria. However, bypass of the PBPs by an L,D-transpeptidase (Ldtfm) conveys high-level resistance to β-lactams of the penam class in Enterococcus faecium with a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ampicillin >2,000 µg/ml. Unexpectedly, Ldtfm does not confer resistance to β-lactams of the carbapenem class (imipenem MIC = 0.5 µg/ml) whereas cephems display residual activity (ceftriaxone MIC = 128 µg/ml). Mass spectrometry, fluorescence kinetics, and NMR chemical shift perturbation experiments were performed to explore the basis for this specificity and identify β-lactam features that are critical for efficient L,D-transpeptidase inactivation. We show that imipenem, ceftriaxone, and ampicillin acylate Ldtfm by formation of a thioester bond between the active-site cysteine and the β-lactam-ring carbonyl. However, slow acylation and slow acylenzyme hydrolysis resulted in partial Ldtfm inactivation by ampicillin and ceftriaxone. For ampicillin, Ldtfm acylation was followed by rupture of the C5–C6 bond of the β-lactam ring and formation of a secondary acylenzyme prone to hydrolysis. The saturable step of the catalytic cycle was the reversible formation of a tetrahedral intermediate (oxyanion) without significant accumulation of a non-covalent complex. In agreement, a derivative of Ldtfm blocked in acylation bound ertapenem (a carbapenem), ceftriaxone, and ampicillin with similar low affinities. Thus, oxyanion and acylenzyme stabilization are both critical for rapid L,D-transpeptidase inactivation and antibacterial activity. These results pave the way for optimization of the β-lactam scaffold for L,D-transpeptidase-inactivation.

Inactivation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis l , d -Transpeptidase Ldt Mt1 by Carbapenems and Cephalosporins

The structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis peptidoglycan is atypical since it contains a majority of 3→3 cross-links synthesized by l,d-transpeptidases that replace 4→3 cross-links formed by the d,d-transpeptidase activity of classical penicillin-binding proteins. Carbapenems inactivate these l,d-transpeptidases, and meropenem combined with clavulanic acid is bactericidal against extensively drug-resistant M. tuberculosis. Here, we used mass spectrometry and stopped-flow fluorimetry to investigate the kinetics and mechanisms of inactivation of the prototypic M. tuberculosis l,d-transpeptidase Ldt(Mt1) by carbapenems (meropenem, doripenem, imipenem, and ertapenem) and cephalosporins (cefotaxime, cephalothin, and ceftriaxone). Inactivation proceeded through noncovalent drug binding and acylation of the catalytic Cys of Ldt(Mt1), which was eventually followed by hydrolysis of the resulting acylenzyme. Meropenem rapidly inhibited Ldt(Mt1), with a binding rate constant of 0.08 μM(-1) min(-1). The enzyme was unable to recover from this initial binding step since the dissociation rate constant of the noncovalent complex was low (<0.1 min(-1)) in comparison to the acylation rate constant (3.1 min(-1)). The covalent adduct resulting from enzyme acylation was stable, with a hydrolysis rate constant of 1.0 × 10(-3) min(-1). Variations in the carbapenem side chains affected both the binding and acylation steps, ertapenem being the most efficient Ldt(Mt1) inactivator. Cephalosporins also formed covalent adducts with Ldt(Mt1), although the acylation reaction was 7- to 1,000-fold slower and led to elimination of one of the drug side chains. Comparison of kinetic constants for drug binding, acylation, and acylenzyme hydrolysis indicates that carbapenems and cephems can both be tailored to optimize peptidoglycan synthesis inhibition in M. tuberculosis.

Binding to the Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor Accelerates Futile Catalytic Cycling in PCSK9 and Raises the Equilibrium Level of Intramolecular Acylenzyme

Proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9 (PCSK9) binds to the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) on target cells and lowers the level of receptor by impeding its recycling. PCSK9 is self-processed to a complex of its prodomain and catalytic domain like a typical protein convertase, but it does not develop normal proteolytic activity. Instead, its propeptide remains complexed with the catalytic domain, and the C-terminal Gln152 of the prodomain occupies the active site like a substrate for peptide synthesis. To probe its latent catalytic activity, PCSK9 and its complex with the soluble LDLR extracellular domain were separately transferred into H218O, and time point samples were analyzed by peptide mapping with mass spectrometry to measure the rate and extent of incorporation of 18O into the Gln152 carboxylate. In free wild-type or D374Y mutant PCSK9, the t1/2 for exchange of 18O for both oxygens was near 5 min. This slow process progressed to completion, with the distribution of oxygen isotopes in the Gln152 carboxylate finally matching that in solvent. In contrast, exchange reached its final state in <30 s in LDLR-complexed D374Y mutant PCSK9, but approximately 40% of the molecules gave data indicating the presence of only one 18O atom in Gln152. With support from further experiments, this was attributed to hydrolysis of acylenzyme in H216O during preparations for digestion and indicated that PCSK9 complexed with LDLR contains approximately 40% intramolecular acylenzyme at equilibrium. The synthetic EGF-A domain of LDLR induced similar effects as the full-length receptor. The data suggest the existence of distinct conformational states in free and receptor-bound PCSK9.

The ClpP N-Terminus Coordinates Substrate Access with Protease Active Site Reactivity

Energy-dependent protein degradation machines, such as the Escherichia coli protease ClpAP, require regulated interactions between the ATPase component (ClpA) and the protease component (ClpP) for function. Recent studies indicate that the ClpP N-terminus is essential in these interactions, yet the dynamics of this region remain unclear. Here, we use synchrotron hydroxyl radical footprinting and kinetic studies to characterize functionally important conformational changes of the ClpP N-terminus. Footprinting experiments show that the ClpP N-terminus becomes more solvent-exposed upon interaction with ClpA. In the absence of ClpA, deletion of the ClpP N-terminus increases the initial degradation rate of large peptide substrates 5-15-fold. Unlike ClpAP, ClpPDeltaN exhibits a distinct slow phase of product formation that is eliminated by the addition of hydroxylamine, suggesting that truncation of the N-terminus leads to stabilization of the acyl-enzyme intermediate. These results indicate that (1) the ClpP N-terminus acts as a "gate" controlling substrate access to the active sites, (2) binding of ClpA opens this "gate", allowing substrate entry and formation of the acyl-enzyme intermediate, and (3) closing of the N-terminal "gate" stimulates acyl-enzyme hydrolysis.

Coenzyme isomerization is integral to catalysis in aldehyde dehydrogenase.

Crystal structures of many enzymes in the aldehyde dehydrogenase superfamily determined in the presence of bound NAD(P)(+) have exhibited conformational flexibility for the nicotinamide half of the cofactor. This has been hypothesized to be important in catalysis because one conformation would block the second half of the reaction, but no firm evidence has been put forth which shows whether the oxidized and reduced cofactors preferentially occupy the two observed conformations. We present here two structures of the wild type and two structures of a Cys302Ser mutant of human mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase in binary complexes with NAD(+) and NADH. These structures, including the Cys302Ser mutant in complex with NAD(+) at 1.4 A resolution and the wild-type enzyme in complex with NADH at 1.9 A resolution, provide strong evidence that bound NAD(+) prefers an extended conformation ideal for hydride transfer and bound NADH prefers a contracted conformation ideal for acyl-enzyme hydrolysis. Unique interactions between the cofactor and the Rossmann fold make isomerization possible while allowing the remainder of the active site complex to remain intact. In addition, these structures clarify the role of magnesium in activating the human class 2 enzyme. Our data suggest that the presence of magnesium may lead to selection of particular conformations and speed isomerization of the reduced cofactor following hydride transfer.

A clogged gutter mechanism for protease inhibitors.

A classical peptide inhibitor of serine proteases that is hydrolyzed approximately 10(7) times more slowly than a good substrate is shown to form an acyl-enzyme intermediate rapidly. Despite this quick first step, further reaction is slowed dramatically because of tight and oriented binding of the cleaved peptide, preventing acyl-enzyme hydrolysis and favoring the reverse reaction. Moreover, this mechanism appears to be common to a large class of tight-binding serine protease inhibitors that mimic good substrates. The arrest of enzymatic reaction at the intermediate stage allowed us to determine that the consensus nucleophilic attack angle is close to 90 degrees in the reactive Michaelis complexes.

Direct measurement of acylenzyme hydrolysis demonstrates rate-limiting deacylation in cleavage of physiological sequences by the processing protease Kex2.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae Kex2 protease is the prototype for the family of eukaryotic proprotein convertases that includes furin, PC1/3, and PC2. These enzymes belong to the subtilase superfamily of serine proteases and are distinguished from degradative subtilisins by structural features and by their much more stringent substrate specificity. Pre-steady-state studies have shown that both Kex2 and furin exhibit an initial burst of 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin release in cleavage of peptidyl methylcoumarinamide substrates that are based on physiological cleavage sites. Thus, in cleavage of such substrates, formation of the acylenzyme intermediate is fast relative to some later step (deacylation or N-terminal product release). This behavior is significant, because Kex2 also exhibits burst kinetics in cleavage of peptide bonds. k(cat) for cleavage of a tetrapeptidyl methylcoumarinamide substrate based on the physiological yeast substrate pro-alpha-factor exhibits a weak solvent isotope effect, but neither this isotope effect nor temperature dependence studies with this substrate conclusively identify the rate-limiting step for Kex2 cleavage of this substrate. We therefore developed an assay to measure deacylation directly by pulse-chase incorporation of H(2)(18)O in a rapid-quenched-flow mixer followed by mass spectrometric quantitation. The results given by this assay rule out rate-limiting product release for cleavage of this substrate by Kex2. These experiments demonstrate that cleavage of the acylenzyme ester bond, as opposed to either the initial attack on the amide bond or product release, is rate-limiting for the action of Kex2 at physiological sequences. This work demonstrates a fundamental difference in the catalytic strategy of proprotein processing enzymes and degradative subtilisins.

Sultone-Assisted Inactivation of α-Chymotrypsin by Hydroxylamine

Sultone and phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) form sulfonyl-enzymes with serine proteases in a similar fashion. However, the sultone-derived sulfonyl-enzyme is readily hydrolyzed to regenerate active enzyme, while that derived from PMSF is not. Thus, sultone is regarded as a substrate rather than an inhibitor of serine proteases. It has been assumed that the sulfonyl-enzyme derived from sultone is an analog of an acyl-enzyme in a normal reaction. Therefore, this sulfonyl-enzyme is presumably hydrolyzed by a mechanism similar to that of deacylation in the normal enzymatic reaction. We found that in the presence of a nucleophile such as hydroxylamine, sultone induced inactivation of α-chymotrypsin in a time-dependent manner. This inactivation was not seen when α-chymotrypsin was incubated with sultone or hydroxylamine alone. The inactivation presumably results from attack of hydroxylamine at the β-carbon of serine in the sulfonyl-enzyme. If so, the sulfonyl-enzyme is probably hydrolyzed by a mechanism similar to that of tosylate solvolysis rather than the previously assumed mechanism of acyl-enzyme hydrolysis. 1H-NMR and kinetic approaches were used to determine the p K a value (≅6.7) of the active-site histidine in the sulfonyl-enzyme complex. This information together with previously reported pH dependence of sulfonyl-enzyme formation suggests that the o-hydroxyl group on the aromatic ring of the sulfonyl-chymotrypsin is in the phenol form rather than the phenolate form. This o-hydroxyl group probably functions as a general acid to facilitate hydrolysis of the sulfonyl-enzyme. In the absence of this o-hydroxyl group, such as in the case of PMSF-derived sulfonyl-enzyme, hydrolysis of the sulfonyl-enzyme will be significantly slower due to the lack of the general acid catalysis.

Kinetics of p-nitrophenyl pivalate hydrolysis catalysed by cytoplasmic aldehyde dehydrogenase.

The effects of modifiers (NAD+, NADH, propionaldehyde, chloral hydrate, diethylstilboestrol and p-nitrobenzaldehyde) on the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl (PNP) pivalate (PNP trimethylacetate) catalysed by cytoplasmic aldehyde dehydrogenase are reported. In each case a different inhibition pattern is obtained to that observed when the substrate is PNP acetate; for example, propionaldehyde and chloral hydrate competitively inhibit the hydrolysis of PNP acetate, but are mixed inhibitors with PNP pivalate. The kinetic results can be rationalized in terms of different rate-determining steps: acylation of the enzyme in the case of the pivalate but acyl-enzyme hydrolysis for the acetate. This is confirmed by stopped-flow studies, in which a burst of p-nitrophenoxide is observed when the substrate is PNP acetate, but not when it is the pivalate. PNP pivalate inhibits the dehydrogenase activity of the enzyme competitively with the aldehyde substrate; this is most simply explained if the esterase and dehydrogenase reactions occur at a common enzymic site.

The role of the metal ion in the mechanism of the K+-activated aldehyde dehydrogenase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The effect of K+ on assays of the enzyme was studied and it appears that the activation occurs slowly by a two-step process. Kinetic measurements suggest that the enzyme-catalysed reaction can proceed slowly (0.4%) in the complete absence of K+. The enzyme exhibits a K+-activated esterase activity, which is further activated by NAD+ or NADH. Stopped-flow studies indicated that the principal effect of K+ on the dehydrogenase reaction is to accelerate a step (possibly acyl-enzyme hydrolysis) associated with a fluorescence and small absorbance transient that occurs after hydride transfer and before NADH dissociation from the terminal E-NADH complex. The variation of activity of the enzyme with pH was studied. An enzyme group with pKa approx. 7.1 apparently promotes enzyme activity when in its alkaline form.

Catalysis by human leukocyte elastase: proton inventory as a mechanistic probe.

Proton inventories (rate measurements in mixtures of H2O and D2O) were determined for the human leukocyte elastase catalyzed hydrolyses of thiobenzyl esters and p-nitroanilides of the peptides MeOSuc-Val, MeOSuc-Alan-Pro-Val (n = 0-2), and MeOSuc-Alan-Pro-Ala (n = 1 or 2). The dependencies of k2/Ks on mole fraction of solvent deuterium for the p-nitroanilides are "dome-shaped" and were fit to a model that incorporates the mechanistic features of generalized solvent reorganization when substrate binds to enzyme and partial rate limitation of k2/Ks by physical and chemical steps [Stein, R. L. (1985) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 107, 7768-7769]. The proton inventories for the deacylation of MeOSuc-Val-HLE and MeOSuc-Pro-Val-HLE are linear while those for the deacylation of MeOSuc-Ala-Pro-Val-HLE and MeOSuc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Val-HLE are "bowl-shaped" and could be fit to a quadratic dependence of rate on mole fraction of deuterium. These results are interpreted to suggest that the correct operation of the catalytic triad is dependent on substrate structure. Minimal substrates, which cannot interact with elastase at remote subsites, are hydrolyzed via a mechanism involving simple general-base catalysis by the active site histidine and transfer of a single proton in the rate-limiting transition state. In contrast, tri- and tetrapeptide substrates, which are able to interact at remote subsites, are hydrolyzed by a more complex mechanism of protolytic catalysis involving full functioning of the catalytic triad and transfer of two protons in the rate-limiting transition state. Finally, the proton inventories for the deacylation of MeOSuc-Ala-Pro-Ala-HLE and MeOSuc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Ala-HLE are dome-shaped and suggest that the chemical events of acyl-enzyme hydrolysis are only partially rate limiting for these reactions and that some other physical step is also partially rate limiting.

The effects of Mg2+ on certain steps in the mechanisms of the dehydrogenase and esterase reactions catalysed by sheep liver aldehyde dehydrogenase. Support for the view that dehydrogenase and esterase activities occur at the same site on the enzyme.

Stopped-flow experiments in spectrophotometric and fluorescence modes reveal different aspects of the aldehyde dehydrogenase mechanism. Spectrophotometric experiments show a rapid burst of NADH production whose course is not affected by Mg2+. The slower burst seen in the fluorescence mode is markedly accelerated by Mg2+. It is argued that the fluorescence burst accompanies acyl-enzyme hydrolysis and, therefore, that Mg2+ increases the rate of this process. Experiments on the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl propionate indicate that acyl-enzyme hydrolysis is indeed accelerated by Mg2+ and a combination of Mg2+ and NADH. Vmax. values for p-nitrophenyl propionate hydrolysis in the presence of NADH and NADH and Mg2+ agree closely with the specific rates of acyl hydrolysis from the E . NADH . acyl and E . NADH . acyl . Mg2+ complexes seen in the dehydrogenase reaction with propionaldehyde. These observations support the view that esterase and dehydrogenase activities occur at the same site on the enzyme. Other evidence is presented to support this conclusion.

Catalytic mechanism of Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase: resolution of three variants of the acyl-enzyme mechanism.

Three variants of the classical acyl-enzyme mechanism were compared theoretically with respect to the predicted transient kinetics of substrate hydrolysis by Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase. In all three, acyl-enzyme hydrolysis was assumed to exist initially primarily as a noncovalent complex with the acid product, inorganic phosphate. In one mechanism, the pre-steady-state rate-controlling step was assumed to be the dissociation of acid product from its initial complex with enzyme. In the other two, pre-steady-state rate control was assigned to an enzyme isomerization occurring before or after substrate binding to free enzyme. Under concentration conditions of excess substrate and acid product, integrated rate laws were used to reject the possibility of pre-steady-state rate control by enzyme isomerization between phosphate dissociation and substrate binding. Whereas this mechanism predicts a pre-steady-state noncompetitive relationship between substrate and acid product, the stopped-flow kinetics of 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate hydrolysis demonstrates a competitive relationship, consistent with either of the other two mechanisms. Under concentration conditions of stoichiometrically limiting substrate, computer simulations eliminated the possibility of rate control by enzyme isomerization after substrate binding. This mechanism predicts a substrate concentration dependence for the apparent first-order rate constant of substrate hydrolysis which disagrees with previously published data [Halford, S. E. (1971) Biochem. J. 125, 319--327]; the other two mechanisms are consistent with experiment. Comparison of transient kinetic theory and experiment under these two contrasting concentration conditions suggests strongly that the rate-controlling step in phosphate ester hydrolysis by E. coli alkaline phosphate is the dissociation of "sticky" acid product from its noncovalent complex with enzyme. This mechanism explains an anomaly in the stopped-flow kinetic trace, a substoichiometric pre-steady-state burst of alcohol product release.

The free energy–reaction coordinate profile for α‐chymotryptic hydrolysis of a series of N‐acetyl‐α‐L‐amino acid methyl esters

AbstractThe effect of added nucleophiles (methanol and 1,4‐butanediol) on the steady‐state kinetics of α‐chymotryptic hydrolysis of a series of N‐acetyl‐L‐amino acid methyl esters, R‐CH(NHCOCH3)C(O)OCH3, has been studied. As a result, the rate and equilibrium constants of the ‘elementary’ steps of the enzyme process have been determined.It has also been demonstrated how the free energy–reaction coordinate profile changes if the structure (the size of the hydrocarbon chain) of the ‘chemically inert’ substrate fragment R is varied. The effects observed can be described by the following equation: equation image where ΔGs and ΔGa are the free energies of formation of metastable intermediates, i.e., the enzyme–substrate complex and the acylenzyme, respectively, ΔG2≠ and ΔG3≠ are the free energies of activation for the chemical steps, i.e., enzyme acylation and acylenzyme hydrolysis, respectively; and ΔGtrans(R) is the free energy of transfer of substrate group R from water into a nonaqueous solvent.To explain the results obtained, a mechanism for enzyme–substrate interaction is suggested according to which the potential free energy of sorption of substrate group R on the enzyme is 2 ΔGtrans(R). Such a high gain in the free energy of hydrophobic interaction may only be realized if (a) in the free enzyme the sorption region has a thermodynamically unfavorable contact with the aqueous medium, and (b) water is forced out of the active center as a result of the hydrophobic interaction of substrate group R with the enzyme. Such a model is in agreement with the published x‐ray data on the structure of the crystalline enzyme.The kinetic experiment has proved that not all the potential free energy of sorption is realized as binding force. Thus the true free energy of the binding of substrate group R with the protein does not exceed half the maximum value, both in the enzyme–substrate complex and acylenzyme.