Search bioRxiv⌕ Search

Biology subjects

Borges, J. C.

Publications and source records attributed to Borges, J. C..

2 recordsLinked to original sources
bioRxiv2018

The molecular structure of Schistosoma mansoni PNP isoform 2 provides insights into the nucleotide selectivity of PNPs

Purine nucleoside phosphorylases (PNPs) play an important role in the blood fluke parasite Schistosoma mansoni as a key enzyme of the purine salvage pathway. Here we present the structural and kinetic characterization of a new PNP isoform from S. mansoni, named as SmPNP2. Screening of different ligands using a thermofluorescence approach indicated cytidine and cytosine as potential ligands. The binding of cytosine was confirmed by isothermal titration calorimetry, with a KD of 27 M, and kinetic parameters for cytidine catalysis were obtained by ITC resulting in a KM of 76.3 M. SmPNP2 also displays catalytic activity against inosine and adenosine, making it the first described PNP with robust catalytic activity towards both pyrimidines and purines. Crystallographic structures of SmPNP2 with different ligands were obtained and comparison of these structures with the previously described S. mansoni PNP (SmPNP1) provided clues for the unique capability of SmPNP2 to bind pyrimidines. When compared with the structure of SmPNP1, substitutions in the vicinity of SmPNP2 active site alter the architecture of the nucleoside base binding site allowing an alternative binding mode for nucleosides, with a 180{degrees} rotation from the canonical binding mode. The remarkable plasticity of this binding site deepens the understanding of the correlation between structure and nucleotide selectivity, offering new ways to analyses PNP activity.\n\nAuthor SummarySchistosoma mansoni is a human parasite dependent on purine salvage for purine bases supply. Purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) is a key enzyme in this pathway. It carries two PNP isoforms, one previously characterized (SmPNP1) and one unknown (SmPNP2). Here we present the crystallographic structure of SmPNP2 and its complex with cytosine, cytidine, ribose-l-phosphate, adenine, hypoxanthine, and tubercidin. Cytidine and cytosine were identified as ligands of SmPNP2 using a thermofluorescence approach. Binding of cytosine was proven by Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC) and cytidine, inosine, and adenosine kinetic parameters were also obtained. Purine bases showed different binding in the active site, rotated 180{degrees} from the canonical binding mode. Its the first report showing a Low Molecular Mass PNP capable of catalyzing both types of nucleotide bases. The SmPNP2 odd behavior sheds a new light on the Schistosoma mansonis life cycle metabolic adaptation.

biochemistry↗
bioRxiv2018

Insights into the effect of the J-domain on the substrate binding domain (SBD) of the 70 kDa heat shock protein, Hsp70, from a chimeric human J-SBD polypeptide

DnaJ/Hsp40 chaperones deliver unfolded proteins and stimulate the ATPase activity of DnaK/Hsp70 via their J-domain, a crucial event for the function that this system has in assisting protein folding. The interaction between Hsp40 and Hsp70 is transient and thus difficult to study, since mixing the binding partners can lead to quick dissociation due to their low affinity, creating a challenge for detailed analysis. As a consequence, knowledge of many important aspects of the mechanism of interaction is still lacking, for instance, the effect that J-domain binding has on Hsp70. In this study, we investigated whether it would be possible to gain understanding of this interaction by engineering a chimeric polypeptide where the J-domain of Hsp40 was covalently attached to the substrate binding domain (SBD) of Hsp70 by a flexible linker. The rationale for this is that an increase in the proximity between the interacting partners in this engineered chimera will promote the natural interaction and facilitate the characterization of the protein- protein interaction, which is a requirement to gain further understanding of many biological processes. The resulting chimera, termed J-SBD, was properly folded and had properties not present in the SBD alone. J-SBD behaved primarily as a monomer in all conditions tested and exhibited chaperone activity, as shown by aggregation protection and substrate binding assays, which revealed decreased binding to bis-ANS, a probe for hydrophobic patches. Collectively, our results suggest that Hsp40 binding to Hsp70 via the J-domain shifts the Hsp70 equilibrium towards the monomer state to expose hydrophobic sites prone to substrate accommodation.\n\nAbbreviationsBis-ANS (4,4-Dianilino-1,1-Binaphthyl-5,5-Disulfonic Acid; CD, circular dichroism; Hsp, heat shock protein; J-SBD, chimeric polypeptide in which the J-domain of Hsp40 (at the N-terminus) is covalently attached to the substrate binding domain of Hsp70 (at the C-terminus) by a flexible linker; SBD: substrate binding domain of Hsp70.

biochemistry↗