Aliphatic medium-chain 1-alkenes (MCAEs, ∼10 carbons) are "drop-in" compatible next-generation fuels and precursors to commodity chemicals. Mass production of MCAEs from renewable resources holds promise for mitigating dependence on fossil hydrocarbons. An MCAE, such as 1-undecene, is naturally produced by Pseudomonas as a semivolatile metabolite through an unknown biosynthetic pathway. We describe here the discovery of a single gene conserved in Pseudomonas responsible for 1-undecene biosynthesis. The encoded enzyme is able to convert medium-chain fatty acids (C10-C14) into their corresponding terminal olefins using an oxygen-activating, nonheme iron-dependent mechanism. Both biochemical and X-ray crystal structural analyses suggest an unusual mechanism of β-hydrogen abstraction during fatty acid substrate activation. Our discovery unveils previously unidentified chemistry in the nonheme Fe(II) enzyme family, provides an opportunity to explore the biology of 1-undecene in Pseudomonas, and paves the way for tailored bioconversion of renewable raw materials to MCAE-based biofuels and chemical commodities.urging energy consumption and environmental concerns have stimulated interest in the production of chemicals and fuels through sustainable and renewable approaches. Medium-chain 1-alkenes (MCAEs) are of particular interest because they are "drop-in"-ready next-generation fuels with superior properties such as low freezing point compared with long-chain diesels, high energy content compared with short-chain fuels, easy product recovery due to insolubility in water, and compatibility with the existing engine systems and transportation infrastructure (1, 2). Because of a readily derivatized terminal functionality, MCAEs are also valuable precursors to commodity chemicals such as lubricants, pesticides, polymers, and detergents (3, 4). Biological production of MCAEs from renewable resources holds promise for mitigating dependence on fossil hydrocarbons. Although MCAEs are naturally produced by diverse species as semivolatile metabolites (5, 6), little is known about the genetic and molecular basis for MCAE biosynthesis. Elucidation of MCAE biosynthetic pathway will serve as the basis for engineering efforts to establish bioprocesses for producing MCAE-based biofuels and chemical commodities from renewable resources.1-Undecene, an MCAE with 11 carbons, was identified as a biomarker of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, one of the most significant human pathogens (7-10). However, the biology of this characteristic semivolatile metabolite in P. aeruginosa remains enigmatic, and the biosynthetic pathway of 1-undecene has not previously been explored. It was also reported that some species of Pseudomonas produce 1-undecene, whereas some species do not (8), inspiring us to use a comparative genomics approach to reveal the genetic basis for 1-undecene biosynthesis (11). It is notable that one of the major challenges for MCAE biosynthetic study is the detection and quantification of MCAE production. MCAEs, such as 1-undecene, are only ...
The radical S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) protein PqqE is predicted to function in the pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) biosynthetic pathway via catalysis of carbon-carbon bond formation between a glutamate and tyrosine side chain within the small peptide substrate PqqA. We report here that PqqE activity is dependent on the accessory protein PqqD, which was recently shown to bind PqqA tightly. In addition, PqqE activity in vitro requires the presence of a flavodoxin-and flavodoxin reductasebased reduction system, with other reductants leading to an uncoupled cleavage of the co-substrate SAM. These results indicate that PqqE, in conjunction with PqqD, carries out the first step in PQQ biosynthesis: a radical-mediated formation of a new carbon-carbon bond between two amino acid side chains on PqqA.Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) 2 is employed by a wide variety of bacteria, where it functions as a redox cofactor in substrate oxidation via an alternate (non-glycolytic) pathway for production of cellular ATP (1). Hundreds of bacterial species are thought to produce PQQ, based on the presence in their genomes of the strongly conserved pqq operon (2) (Fig. 1A). Although the existence of this important redox cofactor has been known for decades, knowledge of the biosynthetic pathway for PQQ has remained scant (3, 4). The PQQ molecule derives from the evolutionarily conserved glutamate and tyrosine side chains within a ribosomally produced peptide substrate PqqA (Fig. 1, B and C). To produce PQQ, a large number of chemical modifications are required: (i) the formation of a new carbon-carbon bond between the ␥-carbon of glutamate and the 3-position of tyrosine (labeled in green in Fig. 1C); (ii) the addition of two additional hydroxyl groups to the tyrosine ring; (iii) a condensation between the 4-OH of tyrosine and the backbone amine of glutamate to produce a heterocyclic ring; and (iv) an 8-electron oxidation catalyzed by PqqC, a cofactorless enzyme that converts 3a-(2-amino-2-carboxyethyl)-4,5-dioxo-4,5,6,7,8,9-hexahydroquinoline-7,9-dicarboxylic acid (AHQQ) to PQQ in the final step of the pathway (5-7).The radical SAM enzyme PqqE has been the primary candidate as the catalyst for the formation of the new carbon-carbon bond between glutamate and tyrosine. Radical SAM proteins use the reductive cleavage of S-adenosyl methionine to initiate free radical chemistry, and can accomplish a wide variety of reactions, including carbon-carbon bond formation (8, 9). PqqE is a founding member of the SPASM domain-containing radical SAM proteins, which contain one or more auxiliary clusters in their C-terminal regions, and of which several are known to modify small peptides or proteins (10, 11). Recently, a small (ϳ10 kDa) protein, PqqD, has been shown to form a strong, sub-micromolar K D complex with the peptide substrate PqqA. This complex was further demonstrated to associate with PqqE (12). These findings suggested that PqqD would serve as a chaperone to deliver PqqA to PqqE, functioning as a necessary and heretofore missing componen...
The RNA-binding protein DiGeorge Critical Region 8 (DGCR8) and its partner nuclease Drosha are essential for processing of microRNA (miRNA) primary transcripts (pri-miRNAs) in animals. Previous work showed that DGCR8 forms a highly stable and active complex with ferric [Fe(III)] heme using two endogenous cysteines as axial ligands. Here we report that reduction of the heme iron to the ferrous [Fe(II)] state in DGCR8 abolishes the pri-miRNA processing activity. The reduction causes a dramatic increase in the rate of heme dissociation from DGCR8, rendering the complex labile. Electronic absorption, magnetic circular dichroism, and resonance Raman spectroscopies indicate that reduction of the heme iron is accompanied by loss of the cysteines as axial ligands. ApoDGCR8 dimers, generated through reduction and removal of the heme, show low levels of activity in pri-miRNA processing in vitro. Importantly, ferric, but not ferrous, heme restores the activity of apoDGCR8 to the level of the native ferric complex. This study demonstrates binding specificity of DGCR8 for ferric heme, provides direct biochemical evidence for ferric heme serving as an activator for miRNA maturation, and suggests that an intracellular environment increasing the availability of ferric heme may enhance the efficiency of pri-miRNA processing.
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