Amino acid racemases catalyze the stereoinversion of the chiral C ␣ to produce the D-enantiomers that participate in biological processes, such as cell wall construction in prokaryotes. Within this large protein family, bacterial proline racemases have been extensively studied as a model of enzymes acting with a pyridoxalphosphate-independent mechanism. Here we report the crystal structure of the proline racemase from the human parasite Trypanosoma cruzi (TcPRACA), a secreted enzyme that triggers host B cell polyclonal activation, which prevents specific humoral immune responses and is crucial for parasite evasion and fate. The enzyme is a homodimer, with each monomer folded in two symmetric ␣͞ subunits separated by a deep crevice. The structure of TcPRACA in complex with a transition-state analog, pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid, reveals the presence of one reaction center per monomer, with two Cys residues optimally located to perform acid͞base catalysis through a carbanion stabilization mechanism. Mutation of the catalytic Cys residues abolishes the enzymatic activity but preserves the mitogenic properties of the protein. In contrast, inhibitor binding promotes the closure of the interdomain crevice and completely abrogates B cell proliferation, suggesting that the mitogenic properties of TcPRACA depend on the exposure of transient epitopes in the ligand-free enzyme.B cell mitogen ͉ pyridoxal phosphate-independent proline racemase ͉ epimerases ͉ enzyme-inhibitor complex ͉ titration calorimetry T he vast majority of amino acids found in living cells correspond to the L-stereoisomer at the C ␣ chiral center. However, D-amino acids are often found as constituents of bacterial cell walls (1, 2) and were identified in archaea and higher eukaryotes (3-5). Amino acid racemases and epimerases, which catalyze the L,D-stereochemistry inversion on free amino acids, have been extensively studied in prokaryotic systems (6). In the D3L sense, cells use D-amino acids to feed the large L-amino acid pool in normal amino acid͞protein metabolism; whereas, in the L3D sense, bacteria generate the D-enantiomers widely distributed in bacterial cell walls, in particular D-alanine, D-glutamate, and D,L-diaminopimelate, as peptidoglycan components that function as innate defense against host proteolytic mechanisms (1, 2) All known racemases catalyze the inversion of the chiral center by deprotonation of the C ␣ , followed by reprotonation on the opposite face of the planar carbanionic transition-state species. To overcome the high energetic barrier of this reaction [estimated pK a values for the C ␣ are in the range 21-32 (7, 8)], some racemases evolved to use pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) as cofactor, because formation of an imine PLP-substrate covalent bond greatly acidifies the chiral center by resonance (9). However, a second class of enzymes, which includes proline, aspartate, and glutamate racemases and diaminopimelate epimerase, operates through a twobase mechanism in a cofactor-independent manner (10-13). A foundational paper on the Cl...
Proline racemase catalyzes the interconversion of Land D-proline enantiomers and has to date been described in only two species. Originally found in the bacterium Clostridium sticklandii, it contains cysteine residues in the active site and does not require co-factors or other known coenzymes. We recently described the first eukaryotic amino acid (proline) racemase, after isola-
Human rhinovirus (RV) infections are the principle cause of common colds and precipitate asthma and COPD exacerbations. There is currently no RV vaccine, largely due to the existence of ∼150 strains. We aimed to define highly conserved areas of the RV proteome and test their usefulness as candidate antigens for a broadly cross-reactive vaccine, using a mouse infection model. Regions of the VP0 (VP4+VP2) capsid protein were identified as having high homology across RVs. Immunization with a recombinant VP0 combined with a Th1 promoting adjuvant induced systemic, antigen specific, cross-serotype, cellular and humoral immune responses. Similar cross-reactive responses were observed in the lungs of immunized mice after infection with heterologous RV strains. Immunization enhanced the generation of heterosubtypic neutralizing antibodies and lung memory T cells, and caused more rapid virus clearance. Conserved domains of the RV capsid therefore induce cross-reactive immune responses and represent candidates for a subunit RV vaccine.
The gene encoding the major horse allergen, designated Equus caballus allergen 1 (Equ c1), was cloned from total cDNA of sublingual salivary glands by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction using synthetic degenerate oligonucleotides deduced from N-terminal and internal peptide sequences of the glycosylated hair dandruff protein. A recombinant form of the protein, with a polyhistidine tail, was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by immobilized metal affinity chromatography. The recombinant protein is able to induce a passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction in rat, and it behaves similarly to the native Equ c1 in several immunological tests with allergic patients' IgE antibodies, mouse monoclonal antibodies, or rabbit polyclonal IgG antibodies. Amino acid sequence identity of 49 -51% with rodent urinary proteins from mice and rats suggests that Equ c1 is a new member of the lipocalin superfamily of hydrophobic ligand-binding proteins that includes several other major allergens. An RNA blot analysis demonstrates the expression of mRNA Equ c1 in liver and in sublingual and submaxillary salivary glands.
The three-dimensional structure of the major horse allergen Equ c 1 has been determined at 2.3 Å resolution by x-ray crystallography. Equ c 1 displays the typical fold of lipocalins, a -barrel flanked by a C-terminal ␣-helix. The space between the two -sheets of the barrel defines an internal cavity that could serve, as in other lipocalins, for the binding and transport of small hydrophobic ligands. Equ c 1 crystallizes in a novel dimeric form, which is distinct from that observed in other lipocalin dimers and corresponds to the functional form of the allergen. Binding studies of point mutants of the allergen with specific monoclonal antibodies raised in mouse and IgE serum from horse allergic patients allowed to identify putative B cell antigenic determinants. In addition, total inhibition of IgE serum recognition by a single specific monoclonal antibody revealed the restricted nature of the IgE binding target on the molecular surface of Equ c 1.The incidence of allergic diseases is increasing in developed countries resulting from growing exposure to allergens, altered stimulation of the immune system during development, and probably facilitating an adjuvant effect of the environment. Allergy to animals is distinguishable by its intensity and the possibility of sensitization by a limited contact with danders or hair. The animals responsible for allergy are obviously familiar domestic cats and dogs, but also the horse, which is often incriminated. Five main horse allergens have been isolated and purified (1, 2). Among these, the Equ c 1 protein (molecular mass 21.5 kDa, 187 amino acids, pI ϭ 4.5) has been defined as a major allergen, because it induces an IgE-mediated type I allergic reaction in a majority of the patients allergic to horses.Equ c 1 belongs to the lipocalin family (3, 4). Although members of this family display low sequence similarity (often lower than 20% of amino acid identities), all share a conserved folding pattern, an 8-stranded -barrel flanked by an ␣-helix at the C-terminal end of the polypeptide chain. The lipocalin -barrel often defines a central apolar cavity that serves for the binding and transport of small hydrophobic molecules such as retinol (retinol-binding protein (5, 6)), odorant molecules (bovine odorant-binding protein (7, 8)), or pheromones (mouse major urinary protein, mMUP 1 (9), and rat urinary ␣2-globulin (10)). Several lipocalins have been described as allergenic proteins, among which the mouse major urinary protein mMUP (11), rat urinary ␣2-globulin rat urinary ␣2-globulin (12), bovine -lactoglobulin (13), cockroach allergen Bla g 4 (14), dog allergens Can f 1 and Can f 2 (15), and bovine allergen Bos d 2 (16).Whether a protein exhibits special structural characteristics that are responsible for its allergenic properties is an issue that remains poorly understood. Although the three-dimensional structures of some allergenic lipocalins are known (mMUP (9), rat urinary ␣2-globulin (10), bovine -lactoglobulin (17, 18), and Bos d 2 (19)), little information is availa...
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