Oxidosqualene-lanosterol Cyclase Research Articles

Protein engineering of oxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclase into triterpene monocyclase

A computational modeling/protein engineering approach was applied to probe H234, C457, T509, Y510, and W587 within Saccharomyces cerevisiae oxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclase (ERG7), which spatially affects the C-10 cation of lanosterol formation. Substitution of Trp587 to aromatic residues supported the "aromatic hypothesis" that the π-electron-rich pocket is important for the stabilization of electron-deficient cationic intermediates. The Cys457 to Gly and Thr509 to Gly mutations disrupted the pre-existing H-bond to the protonating Asp456 and the intrinsic His234 : Tyr510 H-bond network, respectively, and generated achilleol A as the major product. An H234W/Y510W double mutation altered the ERG7 function to achilleol A synthase activity and generated achilleol A as the sole product. These results support the concept that a few-ring triterpene synthase can be derived from polycyclic cyclases by reverse evolution, and exemplify the power of computational modeling coupled with protein engineering both to study the enzyme's structure-function-mechanism relationships and to evolve new enzymatic activity.

Catalytic Mechanism and Product Specificity of Oxidosqualene-Lanosterol Cyclase: A QM/MM Study

Oxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclase (OSC) is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of cholesterol. The catalytic mechanism and the product specificity of OSC have herein been studied using QM/MM calculations. According to our calculations, the protonation of the epoxide ring of oxidosqualene is rate-limiting. Wild-type OSC (which generates lanosterol), and the mutants H232S (which generates parkeol) and H232T (which generates protosta-12,24-dien-3-β-ol) were modeled, in order to explain the product specificity thereof. We show that the product specificity of OSC at the hydride/methyl-shifting stage is unlikely to be achieved by the stabilization of the cationic intermediates, as the precursor of lanosterol is in fact not the most stable cationic intermediate for wild-type OSC. The energy barriers for the product-determining conversions are instead found to be related to the product specificity of different OSC mutants, and we thus suggest that the product specificity of OSC is likely to be controlled by kinetics, rather than thermodynamics.

Protein Engineering of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Oxidosqualene-Lanosterol Cyclase into Parkeol Synthase

A Saccharomyces cerevisiae oxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclase mutant, ERG7(T384Y/Q450H/V454I), produced parkeol but not lanosterol as the sole end product. Parkeol undergoes downstream metabolism to generate compounds 9 and 10. In vitro incubation of parkeol produced a product profile similar to that of the in vivo experiment. In summary, parkeol undergoes a metabolic pathway similar to that of cycloartenol in yeast but distinct from that of lanosterol in yeast, suggesting that two different metabolic pathways of postoxidosqualene cyclization may exist in S. cerevisiae.

The cysteine 703 to isoleucine or histidine mutation of the oxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae generates an iridal-type triterpenoid

The Cys703 to Ile or His mutation within Saccharomyces cerevisiae oxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclase ERG7 (ERG7(C703I/H)) generates an unusual truncated bicyclic rearranged intermediate, (8R,9R,10R)-polypoda-5,13E,17E,21-tetraen-3β-ol, related to iridal-skeleton triterpenoid. Numerous oxidosqualene-cyclized truncated intermediates, including tricyclic, unrearranged tetracyclic with 17α/β exocyclic hydrocarbon side chain, rearranged tetracyclic, and chair-chair-chair tricyclic intermediates (compounds 3-9), were also isolated from the ERG7(C703X) site-saturated mutations or the ERG7(F699T/C703I) double mutation, indicating the functional role of the Cys703 residue in stabilizing the bicyclic C-8 cation and the rearranged intermediate or interacting with Phe699, and opened a new avenue of engineering ERG7 for producing biological active agents.

Characterization, Modes of Synthesis, and Pleiotropic Effects of Hypocholesterolemic Compounds - A Review

Studies on the various cholesterol-lowering agents is one of the important areas in clinical research. Identifica- tion and characterization of potential molecules from various sources have been carried out in the past and their relation- ship with the enzymes which are involved in the cholesterol cascade is gaining interest. In this review, we have high- lighted various inhibitors involved in the cholesterol cascade as well as cholesterol-lowering agents, viz., tocotrienol, flavonoids, phytosterols, phytostanols, statins, DADS, and synthetic compounds. The mechanism of action and characteri- zation of these hypocholesterolemic compounds are discussed in this communication. Major natural sources as well as synthetic and biological routes of synthesis of these compounds are reviewed in a concise manner. Especially, various HMG-CoA analogues including statins have been reviewed specifically. In this respect, researchers have identified 2,3- oxidosqualene cyclase-lanosterol synthase (lanosterol syn- thase, oxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclase, lanosterol synthase, 2,3-oxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclase, human lanosterol syn- thase (EC 5.4.99.7)) having a molecular weight of 83 kDa, catalyzing the highly selective cyclization reaction from the substrate 2,3-oxidosqualene (squalene 2,3-epoxide, squalene 2,3-oxide, (S)-squalene-2,3-epoxide, 2,3-epoxisqualene, oxidosqualene) into lanosterol, as an appropriate step for the inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis (3). Oxidosqualene cyclase inhibitors (OSCI) arrest the downstream of 2,3- oxidosqualene which helps to stimulate epoxysterols to

Protostadienol synthase from Aspergillus fumigatus: Functional conversion into lanosterol synthase

Oxidosqualene:protostadienol cyclase (OSPC) from the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus, catalyzes the cyclization of (3S)-2,3-oxidosqualene into protosta-17(20)Z,24-dien-3β-ol which is the precursor of the steroidal antibiotic helvolic acid. To shed light on the structure–function relationship between OSPC and oxidosqualene:lanosterol cyclase (OSLC), we constructed an OSPC mutant in which the C-terminal residues 702APPGGMR708 were replaced with 702NKSCAIS708, as in human OSLC. As a result, the mutant no longer produced the protostadienol, but instead efficiently produced a 1:1 mixture of lanosterol and parkeol. This is the first report of the functional conversion of OSPC into OSLC, which resulted in a 14-fold decrease in the Vmax/KM value, whereas the binding affinity for the substrate did not change significantly. Homology modeling suggested that stabilization of the C-20 protosteryl cation by the active-site Phe701 through cation-π interactions is important for the product outcome between protostadienol and lanosterol.

Umbelliferone aminoalkyl derivatives as inhibitors of human oxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclase

Human and murine lanosterol synthases (EC 5.4.99.7) were studied as targets of a series of umbelliferone aminoalkyl derivatives previously tested as inhibitors of oxidosqualene cyclases from other eukaryotes. Tests were carried out on cell cultures of human keratinocytes and mouse 3T3 fibroblasts incubated with radiolabeled acetate, and on homogenates prepared from yeast cells expressing human lanosterol synthase, incubated with radiolabeled oxidosqualene. In cell cultures of both human keratinocytes and mouse 3T3 fibroblasts, the observed inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis was selective for oxidosqualene cyclase. The most active compounds bear an allylmethylamino chain in position-7 of the coumarin ring. The inhibition was critically dependent on the position and length of the inhibitor side chain, as well as on the type of aminoalkyl group inserted at the end of the same chain. Molecular docking analyses, carried out to clarify details of inhibitors/enzyme interactions, proved useful to explain the observed differences in inhibitory activities.

Selective Up-regulation of LXR-regulated Genes ABCA1, ABCG1, and APOE in Macrophages through Increased Endogenous Synthesis of 24(S),25-Epoxycholesterol

Liver X receptor (LXR) activation represents a mechanism to prevent macrophage foam cell formation. Previously, we demonstrated that partial inhibition of oxidosqualene:lanosterol cyclase (OSC) stimulated synthesis of the LXR agonist 24(S),25-epoxycholesterol (24(S),25-epoxy) and enhanced ABCA1-mediated cholesterol efflux. In contrast to a synthetic, nonsteroidal LXR activator, TO-901317, triglyceride accumulation was not observed. In the present study, we determined whether endogenous 24(S),25-epoxy synthesis selectively enhanced expression of macrophage LXR-regulated cholesterol efflux genes but not genes that regulate fatty acid metabolism. THP-1 human macrophages incubated with the OSC inhibitor (OSCi) RO0714565 (15 nM) significantly reduced cholesterol synthesis and maximized synthesis of 24(S),25-epoxy. Endogenous 24(S),25-epoxy increased ABCA1, ABCG1, and APOE mRNA abundance and consequently increased cholesterol efflux to apoAI. In contrast, OSCi had no effect on LXR-regulated genes LPL (lipoprotein lipase) and FAS (fatty acid synthase). TO-901317 (>or=10 nM) significantly enhanced expression of all genes examined. OSCi and TO-901317 increased the mRNA and precursor form of SREBP-1c, a major regulator of fatty acid and triglyceride synthesis. However, conversion of the precursor to the active form (nSREBP-1c) was blocked by OSCi-induced 24(S),25-epoxy but not by TO-901317 (>or=10 nm), which instead markedly increased nSREBP-1c. Disruption of nSREBP-1c formation by 24(S),25-epoxy accounted for diminished FAS and LPL expression. In summary, endogenous synthesis of 24(S),25-epoxy selectively up-regulates expression of macrophage LXR-regulated cholesterol efflux genes without stimulating genes linked to fatty acid and triglyceride synthesis.

Site-Saturated Mutagenesis of Histidine 234 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Oxidosqualene-Lanosterol Cyclase Demonstrates Dual Functions in Cyclization and Rearrangement Reactions

Site-saturated mutagenesis experiments were carried out on the His234 residue of Saccharomyces cerevisiae oxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclase (ERG7) to characterize its functional role in ERG7 activity and to determine its effect on the oxidosqualene cyclization/rearrangement reaction. Two novel intermediates, (13alphaH)-isomalabarica-14(26),17E,21-trien-3beta-ol and protosta-20,24-dien-3beta-ol, isolated from ERG7(H234X) mutants, provided direct mechanistic evidence for formation of the chair-boat 6-6-5 tricyclic Markovnikov cation and protosteryl cation that were assigned provisionally to the ERG7-catalyzed biosynthetic pathway. In addition, we obtained mutants that showed a complete change in product specificity from lanosterol formation to either protosta-12,24-dien-3beta-ol or parkeol production. Finally, the repeated observation of multiple abortive and/or alternative cyclization/arrangement products from various ERG7(H234X) mutants demonstrated the catalytic plasticity of the enzyme. Specifically, subtle changes in the active site affect both the stability of the cation-pi interaction and generate product diversity.

Tryptophan 232 within Oxidosqualene−Lanosterol Cyclase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae Influences Rearrangement and Deprotonation but Not Cyclization Reactions

[reaction: see text] Oxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclases convert oxidosqualene to lanosterol in yeast and mammals. Site-saturated mutants' construction of Saccharomyces cerevisiae oxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclase, at Trp232 exchanges against proteinogenic amino acids, and product profiles are shown. All mutants, except Lys and Arg, produced protosta-12,24-dien-3beta-ol, lanosterol, and parkeol. Overall, Trp232 plays a catalytic role in the influence of rearrangement process and determination of deprotonation position but does not involve intervention in the cyclization steps.

Cloning and characterization of the erg1 gene of Trichoderma harzianum: Effect of the erg1 silencing on ergosterol biosynthesis and resistance to terbinafine

Trichoderma species are commonly used as biocontrol agents of different plant-pathogenic fungi. Terpene compounds are involved in the biocontrol process due to their antifungal properties (e.g., ergokonins and viridins) but additionally their structural function in the cell membranes (ergosterol) is essential. We report here the characterization of the T. harzianum erg1 gene, encoding a squalene epoxidase, a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of triterpene derivatives such as ergosterol. In T. harzianum the partial silencing of the erg1 gene gave rise to transformants with a higher level of sensitivity to terbinafine, an antifungal compound that acts specifically over the squalene epoxidase activity. In addition, these silenced transformants produced lower levels of ergosterol than the wild type strain. Finally, the silencing of the erg1 gene resulted in an increase in the expression level of the erg7 gene that encodes the oxidosqualene lanosterol-cyclase, another enzyme of the terpene biosynthesis pathway.

Histidine Residue at Position 234 of Oxidosqualene‐Lanosterol Cyclase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae Simultaneously Influences Cyclization, Rearrangement, and Deprotonation Reactions

Oxidosqualene cyclases catalyze the biotransformation of acyclic (3S)-2,3-oxidosqualene (OS) to a variety of polycyclic sterols and triterpenoids, generating over 100 distinct triterpenoid skeletons with the formula C30H50O. [1–3,4 and references therein] Product specificity is species-dependent and precisely controlled by the prefolded substrate conformation as well as by interactions between the carbocationic intermediate for deprotonation and the functional groups of catalytic amino acid residues of the enzyme. The transformation mechanisms of this single class of enzymes can vary widely. For example, the triterpenes lanosterol, cycloartenol, and parkeol are formed from a preorganized chair–boat–chair substrate conformation of OS, and cationic cyclization to the protosteryl cation is followed by skeletal rearrangements until the final deprotonation step. Formation of the pentacyclic b-amyrin and lupeol proceed similarly except that OS is in the chair–chair–chair conformation (this results in stereochemical differences in the products relative to the chair–boat–chair substrate conformation), and the cationic cyclization to the dammarenyl cation is followed by annulation of a fifth ring. Various strategies have been used to probe the complex cyclization/rearrangement reaction mechanism, both for the purpose of understanding these complex enzymes and also to engineer cyclases to generate new product profiles. For example, site-directed mutagenesis was used to identify the residues responsible for the product specificity of b-amyrin synthase (PNY) and lupeol synthase (OEW). Two residues of PNY from Panax ginseng, Trp259 and Tyr261, were found to play important roles in the reaction mechanism to direct b-amyrin and/or lupeol formation. We and others independently identified several critical residues from oxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclase (ERG7) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and oxidosqualenecycloartenol synthase (CAS) from Arabidopsis thaliana, and demonstrated their roles in facilitating tetracyclic formation and/or stabilizing the lanosteryl cation for deprotonation, as

Lord of the rings – the mechanism for oxidosqualene:lanosterol cyclase becomes crystal clear

The enzyme oxidosqualene:lanosterol cyclase (OSC) represents a novel target for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. OSC catalyzes the cyclization of the linear 2,3-monoepoxysqualene to lanosterol, the initial four-ringed sterol intermediate in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway. OSC also catalyzes the formation of 24(S),25-epoxycholesterol, a ligand activator of the liver X receptor. Inhibition of OSC reduces cholesterol biosynthesis and selectively enhances 24(S),25-epoxycholesterol synthesis. Through this dual mechanism, OSC inhibition decreases plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol and prevents cholesterol deposition within macrophages. The recent crystallization of OSC identifies the mechanism of action for this complex enzyme, setting the stage for the design of OSC inhibitors with improved pharmacological properties for cholesterol lowering and treatment of atherosclerosis.

Enzymatic Formation of Multiple Triterpenes by Mutation of Tyrosine 510 of the Oxidosqualene‐Lanosterol Cyclase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The simultaneous formation of monocyclic and differentially deprotonated triterpenes by mutation of Tyr510 of the oxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclase (ERG7) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae is reported (see scheme). Possible dual functions of this residue involved in the cyclization and deprotonation steps of the oxidosqualene cyclization/rearrangement cascade are discussed.

Purification, tandem mass characterization, and inhibition studies of oxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclase enzyme from bovine liver

The oxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclase (OSC) from bovine liver has been isolated from the microsomal membrane fraction and purified to homogeneity by ultracentrifugation, Q-Sepharose, hydroxyapatite, and HiTrap heparin chromatographies. The purified protein required Triton X-100 to retain its highest activity. The cyclase had a molecular mass of ∼70 and ∼140 kDa, as evidenced by a single protein band on silver-stained SDS–PAGE and Coomassie-stained PAGE, respectively. Results from Edman degradation of OSC suggested that it might have a blocked N-terminus. Further peptide mapping coupled with tandem mass spectrometric determination identified three peptide fragments, ILGVGPDDPDLVR, LSAEEGPLVQSLR, and NPDGGFATYETK, which are highly homologous to human, rat, and mouse OSCs. The purified cyclase showed pH and temperature optima at pH 7.4 and 37 °C, respectively. The apparent K M and k cat/ K M values were estimated to be 11 μM and 1.45 mM −1 min −1, respectively. Inhibition studies using both Ro48-8071 and N-(4-methylenebenzophenonyl)pyridinium bromide showed potent inhibition of OSC with an IC 50 of 11 nM and 0.79 μM, respectively. Results from DTNB modification and DTNB coupled with Ro48-8071 competition study suggest that two sulfhydryl groups are involved in the catalysis but not located in the substrate binding pocket or catalytic active site. The purified OSC was maximally inactivated by diethyl pyrocarbonate near neutral pH and re-activated by hydroxylamine, indicating the modification of histidine residues. The stoichiometry of histidine modification and the extent of inactivation showed that two essential histidine residues per active site are necessary for complete bovine liver OSC activity.

Molecular cloning, expression, and site-directed mutations of oxidosqualene cyclase from Cephalosporium caerulens

A cDNA for oxidosqualene:lanosterol cyclase (OSLC) was cloned and sequenced from the fungus Cephalosporium caerulens, that produces a steroidal antibiotic, helvolic acid. A 2280 bp open reading frame encoded an M r 87 078 protein with 760 amino acids. The cDNA was functionally expressed in the OSLC-deficient mutant GIL77 strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A truncated recombinant enzyme (Δ49N) starting from the second methionine (M50) residue was completely inactive, suggesting that ca. 30 additional hydrophilic amino acid residues at the N-terminal are essential for the folding of the enzyme. Furthermore, the active site residues, H234 and D456 (numbering in S. cerevisiae OSLC), were chosen for site-directed mutagenesis experiments; H234E, H234Y, H234F, D456E, D456N, and D456H mutants were inactive, while H234W and H234K mutants retained lanosterol-forming activity.

An Oxysterol-derived Positive Signal for 3-Hydroxy- 3-methylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Degradation in Yeast

Sterol synthesis by the mevalonate pathway is modulated, in part, through feedback-regulated degradation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR). In mammals, both a non-sterol isoprenoid signal derived from farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) and a sterol-derived signal appear to act together to positively regulate the rate of HMGR degradation. Although the nature and number of sterol-derived signals are not clear, there is growing evidence that oxysterols can serve in this capacity. In yeast, a similar non-sterol isoprenoid signal generated from FPP acts to positively regulate HMGR degradation, but the existence of any sterol-derived signal has thus far not been revealed. We now demonstrate, through the use of genetic and pharmacological manipulation of oxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclase, that an oxysterol-derived signal positively regulated HMGR degradation in yeast. The oxysterol-derived signal acted by specifically modulating HMGR stability, not endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation in general. Direct biochemical labeling of mevalonate pathway products confirmed that oxysterols were produced endogenously in yeast and that their levels varied appropriately in response to genetic or pharmacological manipulations that altered HMGR stability. Genetic manipulation of oxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclase did result in the buildup of detectable levels of 24,25-oxidolanosterol by gas chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy, and NMR analyses, whereas no detectable amounts were observed in wild-type cells or cells with squalene epoxidase down-regulated. In contrast to mammalian cells, the yeast oxysterol-derived signal was not required for HMGR degradation in yeast. Rather, the function of this second signal was to enhance the ability of the FPP-derived signal to promote HMGR degradation. Thus, although differences do exist, both yeast and mammalian cells employ a similar strategy of multi-input regulation of HMGR degradation.

Enzymatic cyclization of squalene analogs

Abstract

Photoaffinity labeling of oxidosqualene cyclase and squalene cyclase by a benzophenone-containing inhibitor.

A new orally active oxidosqualene:lanosterol cyclase (OSLC) inhibitor (Ro48-8071; Morand, O. H. et al. (1997) J. Lipid Res. 38, 373-390) showed potent noncompetitive inhibition of bacterial squalene:hopene cyclase (SHC) from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius (IC50 = 9.0 nM, KI = 6.6 nM) and OSLC (IC50 = 40 nM, KI = 22 nM for homogeneous rat liver OSLC). A tritium-labeled isotopomer (18.8 Ci/mmol) of this nonterpenoid inhibitor, which possesses a benzophenone (BP) photophore, was chemically synthesized as a photoaffinity label. Specific, efficient covalent modification of both OSLC and SHC enzymes was observed after UV irradiation at 360 nm. Labeling of both OSLC and SHC by [3H]Ro48-8071 was competitively displaced by coincubation with a 1000-fold molar excess of 18-thia-2, 3-oxidosqualene or the nonterpenoid inhibitor BIBX79. Displacement of labeling of OSLC was also achieved with the suicide substrate (3S)-29-methylidene-2,3-oxidosqualene. Thus, the nonsubstrate Ro48-8071 and both terpenoid and nonterpenoid inhibitors of these enzymes appear to share a common binding site.

Further evidence that the polycyclization reaction by oxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclase proceeds via a ring expansion of the 5-membered C-ring formed by Markovnikov closure. On the enzymic products of the oxidosqualene analogue having an ethyl residue at the 15-position

The incubation of the substrate analogue, (3S)-(6E,10E,14E,18E)-15-ethyl-2,6,19,23-tetramethyl-2,3- epoxytetracosa-6,10,14,18,22-pentaene (-)-1 with 2,3-oxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclase from pig liver gave products 2 (a lanosterol homologue) and 3 (a tricyclic product), definitively demonstrating that the cyclization of oxidosqualene proceeds via the expansion reaction from a 5- to a 6-membered ring for the C-ring formation of lanosterol.