I24-Microfocus Macromolecular Crystallography
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Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[19880]
Open Access
Abstract: CodB is a cytosine transporter from the Nucleobase-Cation-Symport-1 (NCS1) transporter family, a member of the widespread LeuT superfamily. Previous experiments with the nosocomial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa have shown CodB as also important for the uptake of 5-fluorocytosine, which has been suggested as a novel drug to combat antimicrobial resistance by suppressing virulence. Here we solve the crystal structure of CodB from Proteus vulgaris, at 2.4 Å resolution in complex with cytosine. We show that CodB carries out the sodium-dependent uptake of cytosine and can bind 5-fluorocytosine. Comparison of the substrate-bound structures of CodB and the hydantoin transporter Mhp1, the only other NCS1 family member for which the structure is known, highlight the importance of the hydrogen bonds that the substrates make with the main chain at the breakpoint in the discontinuous helix, TM6. In contrast to other LeuT superfamily members, neither CodB nor Mhp1 makes specific interactions with residues on TM1. Comparison of the structures provides insight into the intricate mechanisms of how these proteins transport substrates across the plasma membrane.
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Jul 2022
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I04-Macromolecular Crystallography
I24-Microfocus Macromolecular Crystallography
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Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[23620, 17221]
Open Access
Abstract: Integral membrane transporters play essential roles in the movement of substrates across biological membranes. One approach to produce transporters suitable for structural studies is to introduce mutations that reduce conformational flexibility and increase stability. However, it can be difficult to predict which mutations will result in a more stable protein. Previously, we stabilised the uric‐acid xanthine transporter, UapA, a member of the SLC23 family, through introduction of a single point mutation, G411V, trapping the protein in the inward facing conformation. Here we attempted to stabilise the structurally related BOR1 transporter from Arabidopsis thaliana, a member of the SLC4 family, by introducing the equivalent substitution. We identified possible residues, P362 and M363, in AtBOR1, likely to be equivalent to the G411 of UapA, and generated four mutants, P362V or L and M363F or Y. Stability analysis using heated Fluorescent Size Exclusion Chromatography indicated that the M363F/Y mutants were more stable than the WT AtBOR1 and P362V/L mutants. Furthermore, functional complementation analysis revealed that the M363F/Y mutants exhibited reduced transport activity compared to the P362V/L and WT proteins. Purification and crystallisation of the M363F/Y proteins yielded crystals that diffracted better than WT (5.5 vs 7 Å). We hypothesize that the increased bulk of the F and Y substitutions limits the ability of the protein to undergo the conformational rearrangements associated with transport. These proteins represent a basis for future studies on AtBOR1.
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May 2021
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I03-Macromolecular Crystallography
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Christopher M.
Furze
,
Ignacio
Delso
,
Enriqueta
Casal
,
Collette S.
Guy
,
Chloe
Seddon
,
Chelsea M.
Brown
,
Hadyn L.
Parker
,
Anjana
Radhakrishnan
,
Raul
Pacheco-Gomez
,
Phillip J.
Stansfeld
,
Jesus
Angulo
,
Alexander D.
Cameron
,
Elizabeth
Fullam
Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[19880]
Open Access
Abstract: The Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) LpqY-SugABC ATP-binding cassette transporter is a recycling system that imports trehalose released during remodelling of the Mtb cell-envelope. As this process is essential for the virulence of the Mtb pathogen it may represent an important target for tuberculosis drug and diagnostic development, but the transporter specificity and molecular determinants of substrate recognition are unknown. To address this, we have determined the structural and biochemical basis of how mycobacteria transport trehalose using a combination of crystallography, STD NMR, molecular dynamics, site-directed mutagenesis, biochemical/biophysical assays and the synthesis of trehalose analogues. This analysis pinpoints key residues of the LpqY substrate binding lipoprotein that dictate substrate-specific recognition and has revealed which disaccharide modifications are tolerated. These findings provide critical insights into how the essential Mtb LpqY-SugABC transporter reuses trehalose and modified analogues, and specifies a framework that can be exploited for the design of new anti-tubercular agents and/or diagnostic tools.
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Jan 2021
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I04-Macromolecular Crystallography
I24-Microfocus Macromolecular Crystallography
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Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[19880]
Abstract: Microbial metabolism of carnitine to trimethylamine (TMA) in the gut can accelerate atherosclerosis and heart disease and these TMA-producing enzymes are therefore important drug targets. Here, we report the first structures of the carnitine oxygenase CntA, an enzyme of the Rieske oxygenase family. CntA exists in a head-to-tail a3 trimeric structure. The two functional domains (the Rieske and the catalytic mononuclear iron domains) are located > 40 Å apart in the same monomer but adjacent in two neighbouring monomers. Structural determination of CntA and subsequent electron paramagnetic resonance measurements uncover the molecular basis of the so-called bridging glutamate (E205) residue in inter-subunit electron transfer. The structures of the substrate-bound CntA help to define the substrate pocket. Importantly, a tyrosine residue (Y203) is essential for ligand recognition through a π-cation interaction with the quaternary ammonium group. This interaction between an aromatic residue and quaternary amine substrates allows us to delineate a subgroup of Rieske oxygenases (group V) from the prototype ring-hydroxylating Rieske oxygenases involved in bioremediation of aromatic pollutants in the environment. Furthermore, we report the discovery of the first known CntA inhibitors and solve the structure of CntA in complex with the inhibitor, demonstrating the pivotal role of Y203 through a π-π stacking interaction with the inhibitor. Our study provides the structural and molecular basis for future discovery of drugs targeting this TMA-producing enzyme in human gut.
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Nov 2020
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I04-1-Macromolecular Crystallography (fixed wavelength)
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Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[14692]
Open Access
Abstract: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB) and has evolved an incredible ability to survive latently within the human host for decades. The Mtb pathogen encodes for a low number of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) importers for the acquisition of carbohydrates that may reflect the nutrient poor environment within the host macrophages. Mtb UgpB (Rv2833c) is the substrate binding domain of the UgpABCE transporter that recognizes glycerophosphocholine (GPC), indicating that this transporter has a role in recycling glycerophospholipid metabolites. By using a combination of saturation transfer difference (STD) NMR and X-ray crystallography, we report the structural analysis of Mtb UgpB complexed with GPC and have identified that Mtb UgpB not only recognizes GPC but is also promiscuous for a broad range of glycerophosphodiesters. Complementary biochemical analyses and site-directed mutagenesis precisely define the molecular basis and specificity of glycerophosphodiester recognition. Our results provide critical insights into the structural and functional role of the Mtb UgpB transporter and reveal that the specificity of this ABC-transporter is not limited to GPC, therefore optimizing the ability of Mtb to scavenge scarce nutrients and essential glycerophospholipid metabolites via a single transporter during intracellular infection.
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Aug 2019
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I03-Macromolecular Crystallography
I24-Microfocus Macromolecular Crystallography
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Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[14692]
Open Access
Abstract: Trans-splicing of trypanosomatid polycistronic transcripts produces polyadenylated monocistronic mRNAs modified to form the 5′ cap4 structure (m7Gpppm36,6,2′Apm2′Apm2′Cpm23,2′U). NMR and X-ray crystallography reveal that Leishmania has a unique type of N-terminally-extended cap-binding protein (eIF4E4) that binds via a PAM2 motif to PABP1. This relies on the interactions of a combination of polar and charged amino acid side-chains together with multiple hydrophobic interactions, and underpins a novel architecture in the Leishmania cap4-binding translation factor complex. Measurements using microscale thermophoresis, fluorescence anisotropy and surface plasmon resonance characterize the key interactions driving assembly of the Leishmania translation initiation complex. We demonstrate that this complex can accommodate Leishmania eIF4G3 which, unlike the standard eukaryotic initiation complex paradigm, binds tightly to eIF4E4, but not to PABP1. Thus, in Leishmania, the chain of interactions 5′cap4-eIF4E4–PABP1-poly(A) bridges the mRNA 5′ and 3′ ends. Exceptionally, therefore, by binding tightly to two protein ligands and to the mRNA 5′ cap4 structure, the trypanosomatid N-terminally extended form of eIF4E acts as the core molecular scaffold for the mRNA-cap-binding complex. Finally, the eIF4E4 N-terminal extension is an intrinsically disordered region that transitions to a partly folded form upon binding to PABP1, whereby this interaction is not modulated by poly(A) binding to PABP1.
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Nov 2018
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I04-Macromolecular Crystallography
I24-Microfocus Macromolecular Crystallography
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Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[14692]
Open Access
Abstract: The Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) pathogen encodes an N-acetylglucosamine-6-phosphate deacetylase enzyme, NagA (Rv3332), that belongs to the amidohydrolase superfamily. NagA enzymes catalyze the deacetylation of N-acetylglucosamine-6-phosphate (GlcNAc6P) to glucosamine-6-phosphate (GlcN6P). NagA is a potential anti-tubercular drug target because it represents the key enzymatic step in the generation of essential amino–sugar precursors required for Mtb cell wall biosynthesis and also influences recycling of cell wall peptidoglycan fragments. Here, we report the structural and functional characterization of NagA from Mycobacterium smegmatis (MSNagA) and Mycobacterium marinum (MMNagA), close relatives of Mtb. Using a combination of X-ray crystallography, site-directed mutagenesis, and biochemical and biophysical assays, we show that these mycobacterial NagA enzymes are selective for GlcNAc6P. Site-directed mutagenesis studies revealed crucial roles of conserved residues in the active site that underpin stereo-selective recognition, binding, and catalysis of substrates. Moreover, we report the crystal structure of MSNagA in both ligand-free form and in complex with the GlcNAc6P substrate at 2.6 Å and 2.0 Å resolutions, respectively. The GlcNAc6P-complex structure disclosed the precise mode of GlcNAc6P binding and the structural framework of the active site, including two divalent metals located in the α/β binuclear site. Furthermore, we observed a cysteine residue located on a flexible loop region that occludes the active site. This cysteine is unique to mycobacteria and may represent a unique subsite for targeting mycobacterial NagA enzymes. Our results provide critical insights into the structural and mechanistic properties of mycobacterial NagA enzymes having an essential role in amino–sugar and nucleotide metabolism in mycobacteria.
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May 2018
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I04-Macromolecular Crystallography
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Yilmaz
Alguel
,
Sotiris
Amillis
,
James
Leung
,
George
Lambrinidis
,
Stefano
Capaldi
,
Nicola J.
Scull
,
Gregory
Craven
,
So
Iwata
,
Alan
Armstrong
,
Emmanuel
Mikros
,
George
Diallinas
,
Alexander D.
Cameron
,
Bernadette
Byrne
Open Access
Abstract: The uric acid/xanthine H+ symporter, UapA, is a high-affinity purine transporter from the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. Here we present the crystal structure of a genetically stabilized version of UapA (UapA-G411VΔ1–11) in complex with xanthine. UapA is formed from two domains, a core domain and a gate domain, similar to the previously solved uracil transporter UraA, which belongs to the same family. The structure shows UapA in an inward-facing conformation with xanthine bound to residues in the core domain. Unlike UraA, which was observed to be a monomer, UapA forms a dimer in the crystals with dimer interactions formed exclusively through the gate domain. Analysis of dominant negative mutants is consistent with dimerization playing a key role in transport. We postulate that UapA uses an elevator transport mechanism likely to be shared with other structurally homologous transporters including anion exchangers and prestin.
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Apr 2016
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I04-Macromolecular Crystallography
I24-Microfocus Macromolecular Crystallography
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Abstract: To fully understand the transport mechanism of Na+/H+ exchangers, it is necessary to clearly establish the global rearrangements required to facilitate ion translocation. Currently, two different transport models have been proposed. Some reports have suggested that structural isomerization is achieved through large elevator-like rearrangements similar to those seen in the structurally unrelated sodium-coupled glutamate-transporter homolog GltPh. Others have proposed that only small domain movements are required for ion exchange, and a conventional rocking-bundle model has been proposed instead. Here, to resolve these differences, we report atomic-resolution structures of the same Na+/H+ antiporter (NapA from Thermus thermophilus) in both outward- and inward-facing conformations. These data combined with cross-linking, molecular dynamics simulations and isothermal calorimetry suggest that Na+/H+ antiporters provide alternating access to the ion-binding site by using elevator-like structural transitions.
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Feb 2016
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I04-1-Macromolecular Crystallography (fixed wavelength)
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T.
Arakawa
,
T.
Kobayashi-Yurugi
,
Y.
Alguel
,
H.
Iwanari
,
H.
Hatae
,
M.
Iwata
,
Y.
Abe
,
T.
Hino
,
C.
Ikeda-Suno
,
H.
Kuma
,
D.
Kang
,
T.
Murata
,
T.
Hamakubo
,
A. D.
Cameron
,
T.
Kobayashi
,
N.
Hamasaki
,
S.
Iwata
Abstract: Anion exchanger 1 (AE1), also known as band 3 or SLC4A1, plays a key role in the removal of carbon dioxide from tissues by facilitating the exchange of chloride and bicarbonate across the plasma membrane of erythrocytes. An isoform of AE1 is also present in the kidney. Specific mutations in human AE1 cause several types of hereditary hemolytic anemias and/or distal renal tubular acidosis. Here we report the crystal structure of the band 3 anion exchanger domain (AE1CTD) at 3.5 angstroms. The structure is locked in an outward-facing open conformation by an inhibitor. Comparing this structure with a substrate-bound structure of the uracil transporter UraA in an inward-facing conformation allowed us to identify the anion-binding position in the AE1CTD, and to propose a possible transport mechanism that could explain why selected mutations lead to disease.
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Nov 2015
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