GMP synthetase (GMPS), a key enzyme in the purine biosynthetic pathway performs catalysis through a coordinated process across two catalytic pockets for which the mechanism remains unclear. Crystal structures of Plasmodium falciparum GMPS in conjunction with mutational and enzyme kinetic studies reported here provide evidence that an 85° rotation of the GATase domain is required for ammonia channelling and thus for the catalytic activity of this two-domain enzyme. We suggest that conformational changes in helix 371–375 holding catalytic residues and in loop 376–401 along the rotation trajectory trigger the different steps of catalysis, and establish the central role of Glu374 in allostery and inter-domain crosstalk. These studies reveal the mechanism of domain rotation and inter-domain communication, providing a molecular framework for the function of all single polypeptide GMPSs and form a solid basis for rational drug design targeting this therapeutically important enzyme.
Although the human and Plasmodium enzymes share 42% amino acid sequence identity, several key differences suggest that PfTIM may turn out to be a potential drug target. We have identified a region which may be responsible for binding PfTIM to cytoskeletal elements or the band 3 protein of erythrocytes; attachment to the erythrocyte membrane may subsequently lead to the extracellular exposure of parts of the protein. This feature may be important in view of a recent report that patients suffering from P. falciparum malaria mount an antibody response to TIM leading to prolonged hemolysis. A second approach to drug design may be provided by the mutation of the largely conserved residue (Ser96) to phenylalanine in PfTIM. This difference may be of importance in designing specific active-site inhibitors against the enzyme. Finally, specific inhibition of PfTIM subunit assembly might be possible by targeting Cys13 at the dimer interface. The crystal structure of PfTIM provides a framework for new therapeutic leads.
Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of the fatal form of malaria, synthesizes GMP primarily from IMP and, hence, needs active GMPS (GMP synthetase) for its survival. GMPS, a G-type amidotransferase, catalyses the amination of XMP to GMP with the reaction occurring in two domains, the GAT (glutamine amidotransferase) and ATPPase (ATP pyrophosphatase). The GAT domain hydrolyses glutamine to glutamate and ammonia, while the ATPPase domain catalyses the formation of the intermediate AMP-XMP from ATP and XMP. Co-ordination of activity across the two domains, achieved through channelling of ammonia from GAT to the effector domain, is the hallmark of amidotransferases. Our studies aimed at understanding the kinetic mechanism of PfGMPS (Plasmodium falciparum GMPS) indicated steady-state ordered binding of ATP followed by XMP to the ATPPase domain with glutamine binding in a random manner to the GAT domain. We attribute the irreversible, Ping Pong step seen in initial velocity kinetics to the release of glutamate before the attack of the adenyl-XMP intermediate by ammonia. Specific aspects of the overall kinetic mechanism of PfGMPS are different from that reported for the human and Escherichia coli enzymes. Unlike human GMPS, absence of tight co-ordination of activity across the two domains was evident in the parasite enzyme. Variations seen in the inhibition by nucleosides and nucleotide analogues between human GMPS and PfGMPS highlighted differences in ligand specificity that could serve as a basis for the design of specific inhibitors. The present study represents the first report on recombinant His-tagged GMPS from parasitic protozoa.
Ten new cyclic hexadepsipeptides, six isariins and four isaridins, from the fungus Isaria have been identified and characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography, coupled to tandem electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESIMS/MS). The isariins possess a beta-hydroxy acid residue and five alpha-amino acids, while isaridins contain a beta-amino acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid, and four alpha-amino acids. One- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy confirmed the chemical identity of some of the isariin fractions. Mass spectral fragmentation patterns of [M + H]+ ions reveal clear diagnostic fragment ions for the isariins and isaridins. Previously described cyclic depsipeptides, isarfelins from Isaria felina (Guo, Y. X.; Liu, Q. H.; Ng, T. B.; Wang H. X. Peptides 2005, 26, 2384), are now reassigned as members of the isaridin family. Examination of isaridin sequences revealed significant similarities with cyclic hexadepsipeptides such as destruxins and roseotoxins. The structure of an isariin (isariin A) investigated by NMR spectroscopy indicated the presence of a hybrid alphabeta C11 turn, formed by the beta-hydroxy acid and glycine residues and a D Leu-L Ala type II' beta-turn. Additionally, the inhibitory effect of isariins and an isaridin on the intra-erythrocytic growth of Plasmodium falciparum is presented.
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