I24-Microfocus Macromolecular Crystallography
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Lídia Dos Passos
Lima
,
Dev
Sriranganadane
,
Daiane Laise
Da Silva
,
Natália C.
Drebes Dörr
,
Enzo Breviglieri Sichi
Mello
,
Caio Vinicius
Dos Reis
,
Rogério Ferreira
Lourenço
,
José Felipe Teixeira Da Silva
Santos
,
Anita
Salmazo
,
Brenno Wendler
Miranda
,
Katlin B.
Massirer
,
Rafael M.
Counago
,
Cristina E.
Alvarez-Martinez
Open Access
Abstract: Serine/threonine (Ser/Thr) kinases of the Hanks-type family are widespread in bacteria, playing key roles in signal transduction. The transmembrane Ser/Thr kinase PknS (XAC4127) from the phytopathogenic bacterium Xanthomonas citri is required for the expression of a type VI secretion system, which confers resistance to predation by the soil amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum. PknS exerts its function via activation of the cognate ECF-type alternative sigma factor EcfK, ultimately triggering the expression of type VI secretion system (T6SS) genes. In this study, we characterize PknS, demonstrating its ability to undergo autophosphorylation both in vitro and within X. citri cells. Structural analysis of the PknS kinase domain revealed the conservation of the canonical fold characteristic of Hanks-type kinases. PknS directly phosphorylates EcfK at five Ser/Thr residues located in two distinct regions of the sigma factor: the conserved σ2 domain (residue T51) and a nonconserved linker connecting domains σ2 and σ4 (residues T104, T106, S108, and S110). The conserved residue T51, previously shown to be essential for sigma factor activity in an EcfK homolog, corresponds to a site that directly interacts with the RNA polymerase β′ subunit. Site-directed mutagenesis analyses further revealed that the conserved residue T106 is also critical for EcfK function. Structural studies indicated that, in addition to T51, phosphorylation at T106 activates EcfK by promoting its interaction with a positively charged pocket within the RNA polymerase β′ subunit. Collectively, our findings describe a previously unknown signal transduction pathway involving a Hanks-type kinase and a sigma factor, providing new insights into the mechanisms of sigma factor activation via phosphorylation in bacteria.
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Jan 2026
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Krios II-Titan Krios II at Diamond
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Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[34108]
Open Access
Abstract: Understanding the molecular basis of regulated nitrogen (N2) fixation is essential for engineering N2-fixing bacteria that fulfill the demand of crop plants for fixed nitrogen, reducing our reliance on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers. In Azotobacter vinelandii and many other members of Proteobacteria, the two-component system comprising the anti-activator protein (NifL) and the Nif-specific transcriptional activator (NifA)controls the expression of nif genes, encoding the nitrogen fixation machinery. The NifL-NifA system evolved the ability to integrate several environmental cues, such as oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon availability. The nitrogen fixation machinery is thereby only activated under strictly favorable conditions, enabling diazotrophs to thrive in competitive environments. While genetic and biochemical studies have enlightened our understanding of how NifL represses NifA, the molecular basis of NifA sequestration by NifL depends on structural information on their interaction. Here, we present mechanistic insights into how nitrogen fixation is regulated by combining biochemical and genetic approaches with a low-resolution cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) map of the oxidized NifL-NifA complex. Our findings define the interaction surface between NifL and NifA and reveal how this interaction can be manipulated to generate bacterial strains with increased nitrogen fixation rates able to secrete surplus nitrogen outside the cell, a crucial step in engineering improved nitrogen delivery to crop plants.
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Sep 2025
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I04-Macromolecular Crystallography
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Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[31140]
Open Access
Abstract: Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) is a dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase with two homologous catalytic domains [N- and C-domains (nACE and cACE)] that can cleave a range of substrates. cACE primarily cleaves the inactive decapeptide angiotensin I into the potent vasopressor angiotensin II, whereas nACE preferentially cleaves the antifibrotic tetrapeptide N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP). Several ACE inhibitors, which bind to both cACE and nACE active sites, are used clinically for the treatment of hypertension; however, serious side effects are seen in ~ 20–25% of patients due to nonselective inhibition. To improve ACE inhibitor side effect profiles, the design and development of selective inhibitors of cACE or nACE is desirable for the treatment of hypertension or fibrosis. The detailed molecular basis through which the clinically available ACE inhibitors bind and inhibit cACE and nACE was unknown. Thus, in this study, we have characterised the structural and kinetic basis for the interaction between cACE and nACE with enalaprilat, ramiprilat, trandolaprilat, quinaprilat and perindoprilat. The inhibitors display nanomolar inhibition of both domains, with moderate-to-low cACE-selectivity. Trandolaprilat possesses the highest affinity for both nACE and cACE, whereas quinaprilat displayed the largest cACE-selectivity. None of the binding modes of the inhibitors extend beyond the S1–S2′ subsites to make use of the unique nACE/cACE residues that have been shown to influence domain selectivity. These findings supplement our understanding of ACE inhibition by the clinically used ACE inhibitors, and this information should be useful in the future design of more domain-selective inhibitors for the treatment of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.
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Aug 2025
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I03-Macromolecular Crystallography
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Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[32544]
Open Access
Abstract: Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) accounts for ≈6% of global plastic production, contributing considerably to the global solid-waste stream and environmental plastic pollution. Since the discovery of PET-depolymerizing enzymes, enzymatic PET recycling has been regarded as a promising method for plastic disposal, particularly in the context of a circular economy strategy. However, because the PET-degrading enzymes developed so far suffer from relatively limited thermostability and low catalytic efficiency, as well as degradation product inhibition, their large-scale industrial applications are still largely hampered. To overcome these limitations, we engineered the current PET-hydrolyzing enzyme gold standard [the ICCG variant of leaf-branch compost cutinase (LCC-ICCG)] using in silico protein design methods to develop a PET-hydrolyzing enzyme that features enhanced thermal stability and PET depolymerization activity. Our mutant, LCC-ICCG-C09, features a 3.5 °C increase in melting temperature relative to the LCC-ICCG enzyme. Under optimal reaction conditions (68 °C), the engineered enzyme hydrolyzes amorphous PET material into terephthalic acid (TPA) with a two-fold higher efficiency compared to LCC-ICCG. Owing to its enhanced properties, LCC-ICCG-C09 may be a promising candidate for future applications in industrial PET recycling processes.
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Aug 2025
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B21-High Throughput SAXS
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Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[26334]
Open Access
Abstract: Fas-activated serine/threonine kinase (FASTK) is the founding member of the FASTKD protein family, which was shown to regulate the fate of mRNA molecules on multiple levels. The mitochondrial variant of FASTK co-localizes with mitochondrial RNA granules and regulates the degradation of mitochondrial mRNAs, whereas the cytoplasmic and nuclear forms of FASTK are involved in the regulation of alternative splicing, cytoplasmic RNA granule formation, and mRNA translation. Despite these multiple roles of FASTK in mRNA biology, the exact rules of RNA recognition by this protein remained undetermined. Here, we demonstrate direct RNA binding by purified human FASTK and show its preference for single-stranded G-rich oligonucleotides, including those with a tendency to form RNA G-quadruplexes. Addition of FASTK alone was sufficient to achieve protection of mitochondrial mRNAs from degradation by the degradosome. Structural characterization by SAXS (Small-Angle X-ray Scattering) showed that FASTK in solution is a monomer with an extended conformation. Point mutagenesis studies supported the structural predictions of an exposed RNA-binding interface in the central helical region, preceded by a smaller, flexibly attached helical N-terminal domain. We provide the first such extensive in vitro characterization of the RNA binding properties for a representative of the FASTKD protein family and suggest how these intrinsic properties may underlie FASTK function in mRNA metabolism.
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Jul 2025
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B21-High Throughput SAXS
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Cristian Andres
Carmona-Carmona
,
Giovanni
Bisello
,
Rossella
Franchini
,
Gianluigi
Lunardi
,
Roberta
Galavotti
,
Massimiliano
Perduca
,
Rui P.
Ribeiro
,
Benny Danilo
Belviso
,
Alejandro
Giorgetti
,
Rocco
Caliandro
,
Patricia M.-J.
Lievens
,
Mariarita
Bertoldi
Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[21741]
Open Access
Abstract: Aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency is a severe inherited recessive neurotransmitter disorder caused by an impairment in dopamine synthesis due to the lack/modification of AADC, the enzyme converting l-dopa to dopamine. Patients exhibit severe movement disorders and neurodevelopmental delay, with a high risk of premature mortality. Given the lack of a reliable model for the disease, we developed a dopa decarboxylase knockout model using CRISPR/Cas9 technology in the SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line. This model showed a deficiency in AADC protein and activity, with an altered dopamine metabolites profile (low homovanillic acid and high 3-O-methyldopa) and a modified expression of key enzymes, such as dopamine beta-hydroxylase and monoamine oxidases, which are involved in the catecholamine pathway. We then transfected the DDC-KO cells with two AADC catalytic variants, R347Q and L353P, which resulted in loss-of-function and an altered profile of dopamine metabolites. By combining several structural approaches (X-ray crystallography, molecular dynamics, small angle X-ray scattering, dynamic light scattering, and spectroscopy), we determined that both variants alter the flexibility of the structural element to which they belong, whose integrity is essential for catalysis. This change causes a mispositioning of essential residues at the active site, leading, in turn, to an unproductive external aldimine, identifying the molecular basis for the loss-of-function. Overall, the DDC-KO model recapitulates some key features of AADC deficiency, is useful to study the molecular basis of the disease, and represents an ideal system for small molecule screening regarding specific enzyme defects, paving the way for a precision therapeutic approach.
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May 2025
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I04-Macromolecular Crystallography
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Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[21625]
Open Access
Abstract: NrdR is a bacterial transcriptional repressor consisting of a zinc (Zn)-ribbon domain followed by an ATP-cone domain. Understanding its mechanism of action could aid the design of novel antibacterials. NrdR binds specifically to two “NrdR boxes” upstream of ribonucleotide reductase operons, of which Escherichia coli has three: nrdHIEF, nrdDG and nrdAB, in the last of which we identified a new box. We show that E. coli NrdR (EcoNrdR) has similar binding strength to all three sites when loaded with ATP plus deoxyadenosine triphosphate (dATP) or equivalent diphosphate combinations. No other combination of adenine nucleotides promotes binding to DNA. We present crystal structures of EcoNrdR–ATP–dATP and EcoNrdR–ADP–dATP, which are the first high-resolution crystal structures of an NrdR. We have also determined cryo-electron microscopy structures of DNA-bound EcoNrdR–ATP–dATP and novel filaments of EcoNrdR–ATP. Tetrameric forms of EcoNrdR involve alternating interactions between pairs of Zn-ribbon domains and ATP-cones. The structures reveal considerable flexibility in relative orientation of ATP-cones vs Zn-ribbon domains. The structure of DNA-bound EcoNrdR–ATP–dATP shows that significant conformational rearrangements between ATP-cones and Zn-ribbons accompany DNA binding while the ATP-cones retain the same relative orientation. In contrast, ATP-loaded EcoNrdR filaments show rearrangements of the ATP-cone pairs and sequester the DNA-binding residues of NrdR such that they are unable to bind to DNA. Our results, in combination with a previous structural and biochemical study, point to highly flexible EcoNrdR structures that, when loaded with the correct nucleotides, adapt to an optimal promoter-binding conformation.
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Mar 2025
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I04-1-Macromolecular Crystallography (fixed wavelength)
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Abstract: Actin is an intrinsically dynamic protein, the function and state of which are modulated by actin-binding proteins. Actin-depolymerizing factors (ADF)/cofilins are ubiquitous actin-binding proteins that accelerate actin turnover. Malaria is an infectious disease caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium, which belong to the phylum Apicomplexa. The parasites require two hosts to complete their life cycle: the definitive host, or the vector, an Anopheles spp. mosquito, and a vertebrate intermediate host, such as humans. Here, the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae ADF (AgADF) crystal structure is reported. AgADF has a conserved ADF/cofilin fold with six central β-strands surrounded by five α-helices with a long β-hairpin loop protruding out of the structure. The G- and F-actin-binding sites of AgADF are conserved, and the structure shows features of potential importance for regulation by membrane binding and redox state. AgADF binds monomeric ATP- and ADP-actin with a high affinity, having a nanomolar Kd, and binds effectively also to actin filaments.
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Feb 2025
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I03-Macromolecular Crystallography
I04-1-Macromolecular Crystallography (fixed wavelength)
I04-Macromolecular Crystallography
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Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[17212, 23269]
Open Access
Abstract: Angiotensin-1-converting enzyme (ACE) is a zinc-dependent carboxypeptidase of therapeutic interest for the treatment of hypertension, inflammation and fibrosis. It consists of two homologous N and C catalytic domains, nACE and cACE, respectively. Unfortunately, the current clinically available ACE inhibitors produce undesirable side effects due to the nonselective inhibition of these domains. Through structure-based drug design, we previously identified a series of diprolyl-derived inhibitors (SG3, SG15, SG16, SG17 and SG18) in an attempt to specifically target nACE. Only one compound, SG16, possessed significant nACEselectivity. The previously determined 16-nACE crystal structure (nACE:SG16) suggested interactions with Tyr369 (Phe381 in cACE) are responsible for this selectivity. To better understand the molecular basis for the lack of selectivity in the remaining compounds, we have cocrystallised nACE in complex with SG3, SG15, SG17 and SG18 and cACE in complex with SG3, SG15, SG16 and SG18 and determined their structures at high resolution. Apart from the catalytic residues, these structures further highlight the importance of residues distal to the active site that may play an important role in the design of domain-selective inhibitors of ACE.
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Jan 2025
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I03-Macromolecular Crystallography
I04-1-Macromolecular Crystallography (fixed wavelength)
I04-Macromolecular Crystallography
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Yuqi
Yu
,
Laura N.
Jeffreys
,
Harshwardhan
Poddar
,
Adam
Hill
,
Linus
Johannissen
,
Fanzhuo
Dai
,
Michiyo
Sakuma
,
David
Leys
,
Derren J.
Heyes
,
Shaowei
Zhang
,
Nigel S.
Scrutton
Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[24447]
Open Access
Abstract: Photoreceptors control cellular processes in response to light. Most photoreceptors sense blue or red light, but the recent discovery of the cobalamin-dependent photoreceptor, CarH, has expanded the wavelength range of photoreception to other regions of the electromagnetic spectrum to include the green light region. Further identification of cobalamin-dependent green light-sensitive photoreceptors has been hampered owing to poor annotation of the light responsiveness of cobalamin-binding domains (CBDs) in public databases. Here we report a computational workflow, SignatureFinder, that uses a combination of sequence and structural analyses to identify new light-responsive CBD-containing proteins. The light response of exemplar proteins containing the proposed signature were confirmed experimentally. A structural analysis of these new photoreceptors, including the crystal structure of a new CBD domain, highlights how the signature elements interact with the cobalamin chromophore to sense light. Database mining of 128 000 CBD-containing sequences using the identified signature revealed more diverse CBD-containing photoreceptors, thereby expanding the family of green-light photoreceptors. A SignatureFinder web server is available (https://enzymeevolver.com) for wider applications, including the identification of signature sequences of other biological ligands of interest.
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Dec 2024
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