title: The structure of human mitochondrial manganese superoxide dismutase reveals a novel tetrameric interface of two 4-helix bundles.
abstract: The 2.2 A resolution crystal structure of recombinant human manganese superoxide dismutase, a homotetrameric enzyme that protects mitochondria against oxygen-mediated free radical damage, has been determined. Within each subunit, both the N-terminal helical hairpin and C-terminal alpha/beta domains contribute ligands to the catalytic manganese site. Two identical 4-helix bundles, symmetrically assembled from the N-terminal helical hairpins, form novel tetrameric interfaces that stabilize the active sites. Structurally altered polymorphic variants with reduced activity, such as tetrameric interface mutant Ile-58 to Thr, may produce not only an early selective advantage, through enhanced cytotoxicity of tumor necrosis factor for virus-infected cells, but also detrimental effects from increased mitochondrial oxidative damage, contributing to degenerative conditions, including diabetes, aging, and Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037.
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Borgstahl
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Parge
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hickey
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Beyer
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Hallewell
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Tainer
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D015723:Gene Library; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000201:enzymology*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000737:chemistry*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase