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Background: Inteins are protein maturation machines that enable technologies for regulating enzymes and protein semisynthesis.Results: Robust splicing was achieved with novel genetically selected exteins.Conclusion: In contrast to commonly held perceptions, the natural extein was not the fastest splicing substrate.Significance: Natural precursors balance extein- and intein-selective pressures. Specificity studies provide a predictive rubric for identifying new intein insertion sites.

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Inteins are single turnover enzymes that splice out of protein precursors during maturation of the host protein (extein). The Cys or Ser at the N terminus of most inteins initiates a four-step protein splicing reaction by forming a (thio)ester bond at the N-terminal splice junction. Several recently identified inteins cannot perform this acyl rearrangement because they do not begin with Cys, Thr, or Ser. This study analyzes one of these, the mycobacteriophage Bethlehem DnaB intein, which we describe here as the prototype for a new class of inteins based on sequence comparisons, reactivity, and mechanism. These Class 3 inteins are characterized by a non-nucleophilic N-terminal residue that co-varies with a non-contiguous Trp, Cys, Thr triplet (WCT) and a Thr or Ser as the first C-extein residue. Several mechanistic differences were observed when compared with standard inteins or previously studied atypical KlbA Ala1 inteins: (a) cleavage at the N-terminal splice junction in the absence of all standard N- and C-terminal splice junction nucleophiles, (b) activation of the N-terminal splice junction by a variant Block B motif that includes the WCT triplet Trp, (c) decay of the branched intermediate by thiols or Cys despite an ester linkage at the C-extein branch point, and (d) an absolute requirement for the WCT triplet Block F Cys. Based on biochemical data and confirmed by molecular modeling, we propose roles for these newly identified conserved residues, a novel protein splicing mechanism that includes a second branched intermediate, and an intein classification with three mechanistic categories.

This study determined which class the mycobacteriophage Catera Gp206 and Nocardioides sp. JS614 TOPRIM inteins belong to based on catalytic mechanism. The mycobacteriophage Catera Gp206 intein (starting with Ser 1 ) is a class 3 intein, and its Ser 1 residue is not required for splicing. Based on phylogenetic analysis, we propose that class 3 inteins arose from a single mutated intein that was spread by phage into predominantly helicase genes in various phages and their hosts.

Inteins are the protein equivalent of introns. They are remarkable and robust single turnover enzymes that splice out of precursor proteins during post-translational maturation of the host protein (extein). The Deinococcus radiodurans Snf2 intein is the second member of the recently discovered Class 3 subfamily of inteins to be characterized. Class 3 inteins have a unique sequence signature: (a) they start with residues other than the standard Class 1 Cys, Ser or Thr, (b) have a noncontiguous, centrally located Trp/Cys/Thr triplet, and (c) all but one have Ser or Thr at the start of the C-extein instead of the more common Cys. We previously proposed that Class 3 inteins splice by a variation in the standard intein-mediated protein splicing mechanism that includes a novel initiating step leading to the formation of a previously unrecognized branched intermediate. In this mechanism defined with the Class 3 prototypic Mycobacteriophage Bethlehem DnaB intein, the triplet Cys attacks the peptide bond at the N-terminal splice junction to form the class specific branched intermediate after which the N-extein is transferred to the side chain of the Ser, Thr, or Cys at the C-terminal splice junction to form the standard intein branched intermediate. Analysis of the Deinococcus radiodurans Snf2 intein confirms this splicing mechanism. Moreover, the Class 3 specific Block F branched intermediate was isolated, providing the first direct proof of its existence.