Hirae V-ATPase Research Articles

Application of Homology Modeling by Enhanced Profile-Profile Alignment and Flexible-Fitting Simulation to Cryo-EM Based Structure Determination.

Application of cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) is crucially important for ascertaining the atomic structure of large biomolecules such as ribosomes and protein complexes in membranes. Advances in cryo-EM technology and software have made it possible to obtain data with near-atomic resolution, but the method is still often capable of producing only a density map with up to medium resolution, either partially or entirely. Therefore, bridging the gap separating the density map and the atomic model is necessary. Herein, we propose a methodology for constructing atomic structure models based on cryo-EM maps with low-to-medium resolution. The method is a combination of sensitive and accurate homology modeling using our profile–profile alignment method with a flexible-fitting method using molecular dynamics simulation. As described herein, this study used benchmark applications to evaluate the model constructions of human two-pore channel 2 (one target protein in CASP13 with its structure determined using cryo-EM data) and the overall structure of Enterococcus hirae V-ATPase complex.

Off-axis rotor in Enterococcus hirae V-ATPase visualized by Zernike phase plate single-particle cryo-electron microscopy

EhV-ATPase is an ATP-driven Na+ pump in the eubacteria Enterococcus hirae (Eh). Here, we present the first entire structure of detergent-solubilized EhV-ATPase by single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) using Zernike phase plate. The cryo-EM map dominantly showed one of three catalytic conformations in this rotary enzyme. To further stabilize the originally heterogeneous structure caused by the ATP hydrolysis states of the V1-ATPases, a peptide epitope tag system was adopted, in which the inserted peptide epitope sequence interfered with rotation of the central rotor by binding the Fab. As a result, the map unexpectedly showed another catalytic conformation of EhV-ATPase. Interestingly, these two conformations identified with and without Fab conversely coincided with those of the minor state 2 and the major state 1 of Thermus thermophilus V/A-ATPase, respectively. The most prominent feature in EhV-ATPase was the off-axis rotor, where the cytoplasmic V1 domain was connected to the transmembrane Vo domain through the off-axis central rotor. Furthermore, compared to the structure of ATP synthases, the larger size of the interface between the transmembrane a-subunit and c-ring of EhV-ATPase would be more advantageous for active ion pumping.

The Role of Amino Acid Residues Located at the Catalytic Site in the Rotation of Enterococcus Hirae V1-ATPase

V-ATPases are rotary molecular motors that generally function as proton pumps. We have recently solved the crystal structures of the V1 moiety of Enterococcus hirae V-ATPase (EhV1), providing the first high-resolution molecular structure of the V1 moiety. Additionally, we have also verified the rotary catalysis of EhV1 by using single-molecule high-speed imaging and have analyzed the properties of the rotary motion in detail. Here, to understand the role of amino acid residues located at the catalytic site on the ATP hydrolysis of EhV1, we analyzed the rotation of the mutants of EhV1. We observed the rotation of the mutants, A(F506E) (an amino acid residue which interacts with adenine ring of ATP) and B(R350K) (the arginine finger which interacts withβ- and γ-phosphates of ATP) by using a 40 or 50 nm Au colloid as a low-load probe. These mutants rotate unidirectionally and the rotation rates obeyed the Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The maximal rotation rates for A(F506E) and B(R350K) were 86 rps and 0.3 rps respectively, and were 0.8 and 0.003 times that of the wild-type (107 rps). The second-order binding rate constant for ATP for A(F506E) and B(R350K) were 5.2 × 104 M−1s−1 and 2.4 × 106 M−1s−1 respectively, and were 0.02 times and equivalent to that of the wild-type (2.3 × 106 M−1s−1). These results strongly suggest that specific interaction of the catalytic site with the adenine ring of ATP is important to accelerate ATP binding, while interaction of arginine-finger with the β- and γ-phosphates of ATP accelerates the ATP hydrolysis.

Mutant LV476-7AA of A-subunit of Enterococcus hirae V1-ATPase: High affinity of A3B3 complex to DF axis and low ATPase activity

Vacuolar ATPase (V-ATPase) of Enterococcus hirae is composed of a soluble functional domain V1 (A3B3DF) and an integral membrane domain Vo (ac), where V1 and Vo domains are connected by a central stalk, composed of D-, F-, and d-subunits; and two peripheral stalks (E- and G-subunits). We identified 120 interacting residues of A3B3 heterohexamer with D-subunit in DF heterodimer in the crystal structures of A3B3 and A3B3DF. In our previous study, we reported 10 mutants of E. hirae V1-ATPase, which showed lower binding affinities of DF with A3B3 complex leading to higher initial specific ATPase activities compared to the wild-type. In this study, we identified a mutation of A-subunit (LV476-7AA) at its C-terminal domain resulting in the A3B3 complex with higher binding affinities for wild-type or mutant DF heterodimers and lower initial ATPase activities compared to the wild-type A3B3 complex, consistent with our previous proposal of reciprocal relationship between the ATPase activity and the protein-protein binding affinity of DF axis to the A3B3 catalytic domain of E. hirae V-ATPase. These observations suggest that the binding of DF axis at the contact region of A3B3 rotary ring is relevant to its rotation activity.

Basic Properties of Rotary Dynamics of the Molecular Motor Enterococcus hirae V1-ATPase

V-ATPases are rotary molecular motors that generally function as proton pumps. We recently solved the crystal structures of the V1 moiety of Enterococcus hirae V-ATPase (EhV1) and proposed a model for its rotation mechanism. Here, we characterized the rotary dynamics of EhV1 using single-molecule analysis employing a load-free probe. EhV1 rotated in a counterclockwise direction, exhibiting two distinct rotational states, namely clear and unclear, suggesting unstable interactions between the rotor and stator. The clear state was analyzed in detail to obtain kinetic parameters. The rotation rates obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with a maximal rotation rate (Vmax) of 107 revolutions/s and a Michaelis constant (Km) of 154 μM at 26 °C. At all ATP concentrations tested, EhV1 showed only three pauses separated by 120°/turn, and no substeps were resolved, as was the case with Thermus thermophilus V1-ATPase (TtV1). At 10 μM ATP (<<Km), the distribution of the durations of the ATP-waiting pause fit well with a single-exponential decay function. The second-order binding rate constant for ATP was 2.3 × 10(6) M(-1) s(-1). At 40 mM ATP (>>Km), the distribution of the durations of the catalytic pause was reproduced by a consecutive reaction with two time constants of 2.6 and 0.5 ms. These kinetic parameters were similar to those of TtV1. Our results identify the common properties of rotary catalysis of V1-ATPases that are distinct from those of F1-ATPases and will further our understanding of the general mechanisms of rotary molecular motors.

Mutagenesis of the Residues Forming an Ion Binding Pocket of the NtpK Subunit of Enterococcus hirae V-ATPase

The crystal structures of the Na(+)- and Li(+)-bound NtpK rings of Enterococcus hirae V-ATPase have been obtained. The coupling ion (Na(+) or Li(+)) was surrounded by five oxygen atoms contributed by residues T64, Q65, Q110, E139, and L61, and the hydrogen bonds of the side chains of Q110, Y68, and T64 stabilized the position of the E139 γ carboxylate essential for ion occlusion (PDB accession numbers 2BL2 and 2CYD). We previously indicated that an NtpK mutant strain (E139D) lost tolerance to sodium but not to lithium at alkaline pHs and suggested that the E139 residue is indispensable for the enzymatic activity of E. hirae V-ATPase linked with the sodium tolerance of this bacterium. In this study, we examined the activities of V-ATPase in which these four residues, except for E139, were substituted. The V-ATPase activities of the Q65A and Y68A mutants were slightly retained, but those of the T64A and Q110A mutants were negligible. Among the residues, T64 and Q110 are indispensable for the ion coupling of E. hirae V-ATPase, in addition to the essential residue E139.

Calculating the Na+ translocating V-ATPase catalytic site affinity for substrate binding by homology modeled NtpA monomer using molecular dynamics/free energy calculation

Vacuolar ATPase (V-ATPase) of Enterococcus hirae is composed of a soluble catalytic domain (V1; NtpA3-B3-D-G) and an integral membrane domain (Vo; NtpI-K10) connected by a central and two peripheral stalks (NtpC, NtpD-G and NtpE-F). Recently nucleotide binding of catalytic NtpA monomer has been reported (Arai et al. [19]). In the present study, we calculated the nucleotide binding affinity of NtpA by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation/free energy calculation using MM-GBSA approach based on homology modeled structure of NtpA monomer docked with ATP analogue, adenosine 5′-[β, γ-imido] triphosphate (AMP-PNP). The calculated binding free energies showed qualitatively good agreement with experimental data. The calculation was cross-validated further by the rigorous method, thermodynamic integration (TI) simulation. Finally, the interaction between NtpA and nucleotides at the atomic level was investigated by the analyses of components of free energy and the optimized model structures obtained from MD simulations, suggesting that electrostatic contribution is responsible for the difference in nucleotide binding to NtpA monomer. This is the first observation and suggestion to explain the difference of nucleotide binding properties in V-ATPase NtpA subunit, and our method can be a valuable primary step to predict nucleotide binding affinity to other subunits (NtpAB, NtpA3B3) and to explore subunit interactions and eventually may help to understand energy transduction mechanism of E. hirae V-ATPase.

Tributyltin sensitivity of vacuolar-type Na+-transporting ATPase from Enterococcus hirae

Tributyltin chloride (TBT), an environmental pollutant, is toxic to a variety of eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms. Some members of F-ATP synthase (F-ATPase)/vacuolar type ATPase (V-ATPase) superfamily have been identified as the molecular target of this compound. TBT inhibited the activities of H(+)-transporting or Na(+)-transporting F-ATPase as well as H(+)-transporting V-ATPase originated from various organisms. However, the sensitivity to TBT of Na(+)-transporting V-ATPase has not been investigated. We examined the effect of TBT on Na(+)-transporting V-ATPase from an eubacterium Enterococus hirae. The ATP hydrolytic activity of E. hirae V-ATPase in purified form as well as in membrane-bound form was little inhibited by less than 10 microM TBT; IC50 for TBT inhibition of purified enzyme was estimated to be about 35 microM. Active sodium transport by E. hirae cells, indicating the in vivo activity of this V-ATPase, was not inhibited by 20 microM TBT. By contrast, IC50 of H(+)-transporting V-ATPase of the vacuolar membrane vesicles from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was about 0.2 microM. E. hirae V-ATPase is thus extremely less sensitive to TBT.

3P-134 腸内連鎖球菌V型ATPaseの膜内在性サブユニット(NtpI)の発現と精製(分子モーター,第47回日本生物物理学会年会)

3P-134 腸内連鎖球菌V型ATPaseの膜内在性サブユニット(NtpI)の発現と精製(分子モーター,第47回日本生物物理学会年会)

Interaction and Stoichiometry of the Peripheral Stalk Subunits NtpE and NtpF and the N-terminal Hydrophilic Domain of NtpI of Enterococcus hirae V-ATPase

The vacuolar ATPase (V-ATPase) is composed of a soluble catalytic domain and an integral membrane domain connected by a central stalk and a few peripheral stalks. The number and arrangement of the peripheral stalk subunits remain controversial. The peripheral stalk of Na+-translocating V-ATPase from Enterococcus hirae is likely to be composed of NtpE and NtpF (corresponding to subunit G of eukaryotic V-ATPase) subunits together with the N-terminal hydrophilic domain of NtpI (corresponding to subunit a of eukaryotic V-ATPase). Here we purified NtpE, NtpF, and the N-terminal hydrophilic domain of NtpI (NtpI(Nterm)) as separate recombinant His-tagged proteins and examined interactions between these three subunits by pulldown assay using one tagged subunit, CD spectroscopy, surface plasmon resonance, and analytical ultracentrifugation. NtpI(Nterm) directly bound NtpF, but not NtpE. NtpE bound NtpF tightly. NtpI(Nterm) bound the NtpE-F complex stronger than NtpF only, suggesting that NtpE increases the binding affinity between NtpI(Nterm) and NtpF. Purified NtpE-F-I(Nterm) complex appeared to be monodisperse, and the molecular masses estimated from analytical ultracentrifugation and small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) indicated that the ternary complex is formed with a 1:1:1 stoichiometry. A low resolution structure model of the complex produced from the SAXS data showed an elongated "L" shape.

1P-144 腸内連鎖球菌V型ATPaseの外周ストークのサブユニット構成とその溶液構造(分子モーター(1),第46回日本生物物理学会年会)

1P-144 腸内連鎖球菌V型ATPaseの外周ストークのサブユニット構成とその溶液構造(分子モーター(1),第46回日本生物物理学会年会)

Structure and Mechanism of Vacuolar Na+-Translocating ATPase From Enterococcus hirae

V-type Na(+)-ATPase from Entercoccus hirae consists of nine kinds of subunits (NtpA(3), B(3), C(1), D(1), E(1-3), F(1-3), G(1), I(1), and K(10)) which are encoded by the ntp operon. The amino acid sequences of the major subunits, A, B, and K (proteolipid), were highly similar to those of A, B, and c subunits of eukaryotic V-ATPases, and those of beta, alpha, and c subunits of F-ATPases. We modeled the A and B subunits by homology modeling using the structure of beta and alpha subunits of F-ATPase, and obtained an atomic structure of NtpK ring by X-ray crystallography. Here we briefly summarize our current models of the whole structure and mechanism of the E. hirae V-ATPase.

Identification of Nucleotide Binding Sites in V-Type Na+-ATPase fromEnterococcus hirae

A and B subunits of the V-type Na+-ATPase from Enterococcus hirae were suggested to possess nucleotide binding sites (Murata, T. et al., J. Biochem., 132, 789-794 (2002)), although the B subunit did not have the consensus sequence for nucleotide binding. To further characterize the binding sites in the V-ATPase, we did the photoaffinity labeling study using 8-azido-[alpha-32P]ATP. A and B subunits were labeled with 8-azido-[alpha-32P]ATP when analysed with SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The peptide fragment of A subunit obtained by lysyl endopeptidase digestion after labeling showed a molecular size of 9 kDa and its amino acid sequencing revealed that it corresponded to residues Arg423-Lys494. The peptide fragment from B subunit after photoaffinity labeling and lysyl endopeptidase digestion showed the size of 5 kDa and corresponded to residues Phe404-Lys443. In our structure model, these peptides were close to the adenine ring of ATP. We suggest that non-catalytic B subunit of E. hirae V-ATPase has a nucleotide binding site, similarly to eukaryotic V-ATPases and F-ATPases.

Nucleotide-binding sites in V-type Na+-ATPase from Enterococcus hirae.

Enterococcus hirae V-ATPase, in contrast to most V-type ATPases, is resistant to N-ethylmaleimide (NEM). Alignment of the amino acid sequences of NtpA suggests that the NEM-sensitive Cys of V-type ATPases is replaced by Ala in E. hirae V-ATPase. Consistent with this prediction, the V-ATPase became sensitive upon substitution of the Ala with Cys. The three-dimensional structure of the NtpB subunit of V-ATPase was modeled based on the structure of the corresponding subunit (alpha subunit) of bovine F(1)-ATPase by homology modeling. Overall, the 3D structure of the subunit resembled that of alpha subunit of bovine F(1)-ATPase. The NtpB subunit, which lacks the P-loop consensus sequence for nucleotide binding, was predicted to bind a nucleotide at the modeled nucleotide-binding site. Experimental data supported the prediction that the E. hirae V-ATPase had about six nucleotide-binding sites.

2SE2 腸内連鎖球菌V-ATPaseのイオン選択性とその結合反応

2SE2 腸内連鎖球菌V-ATPaseのイオン選択性とその結合反応