Probing functional divergence of 5-aminoimidazole ribonucleotide carboxylases

Hasik Youn, Purdue University

Abstract

The conversion of AIR to CAIR catalyzed by AIR carboxylase represents the only carbon-carbon bond formation step in de novo purine biosynthesis. Prokaryotic and most eukaryotic AIR carboxylases utilize two proteins, PurK and PurE to accomplish the conversion of AIR to CAIR via $N\sp5$-CAIR from AIR, ATP, and bicarbonate. In vertebrates, AIR carboxylases utilizes AIR and CO$\sb2$ directly to produce CAIR without a free intermediate. NAIR is a slow-tight binding inhibitor for G. gallus AIR carboxylase while this compound is a simple competitive inhibitor in the case of the Escherichia coli system. The tight binding nature of NAIR suggested that this compound represents a transition state analog. A structure-activity study was extended in order to understand the role of ring electronics and substituents of NAIR for the tight-binding phenomenon. The analysis of inhibition data of azole nucleotide inhibitors was summarized as follows; (1) N3 of NAIR is not critical for binding, (2) ring electronics are important for binding in the nitro azole derivatives while they are not critical in the series of carboxy amino azole nucleotides, (3) the nitro group is a critical binding element for the tight-binding of NAIR, (4) the exocyclic amino group contributes to the optimum display of charge density of NAIR for tight-binding, (5) the carboxyl group of CAIR plays an import role for initial binding through electrostatic interactions. The fact that the gene for AIR carboxylase from both avian and methanogen can functionally complement E. coli purK and purE mutants despite the lack of any sequence homology with purK raised questions about the divergent functions of AIR carboxylases. The M. thermoautotrophicum AIR carboxylase was overexpressed and the catalytic function was established. Based on the stoichimetry of the ATP consumption, substrate specificities, and NAIR inhibition pattern, the methanogen AIR carboxylase is proposed to be distinctive from the E. coli and vertebrate forms and therefore represents a third class of CO$\sb2$ utilizing enzyme. The results establish distinct functions for AIR carboxylases from three life forms which has no precedent in other primary biosynthetic pathways.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Davisson, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Organic chemistry|Biochemistry|Molecules

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