title: Conserved sequence motif DPPY in region IV of the phage T4 Dam DNA-[N6-adenine]-methyltransferase is important for S-adenosyl-L-methionine binding.
abstract: Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences of DNA-[N6-adenine]-methyltransferases has revealed several conserved regions. All of these enzymes contain a DPPY [or closely related] motif. By site-directed mutagenesis of a cloned T4 dam gene, we have altered the first proline residue in this motif [located in conserved region IV of the T4 Dam-MTase] to alanine or threonine. The mutant enzymic forms, P172A and P172T, were overproduced and purified. Kinetic studies showed that compared to the wild-type [wt] the two mutant enzymic forms had: (i) an increased [5 and 20-fold, respectively] Km for substrate, S-adenosyl-methionine [AdoMet]; (ii) a slightly reduced [2 and 4-fold lower] kcat; (iii) a strongly reduced kcat/KmAdoMet [10 and 100-fold]; and (iv) almost the same Km for substrate DNA. Equilibrium dialysis studies showed that the mutant enzymes had a reduced [4 and 9-fold lower] Ka for AdoMet. Taken together these data indicate that the P172A and P172T alterations resulted primarily in a reduced affinity for AdoMet. This suggests that the DPPY-motif is important for AdoMet-binding, and that region IV contains or is part of an AdoMet-binding site.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Rochester, NY 14627.
authors.forename: V G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Kossykh
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Schlagman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hattman
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D007700:Kinetics; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D012436:S-Adenosylmethionine / Q000378:metabolism*; D015265:Site-Specific DNA-Methyltransferase (Adenine-Specific); D014764:Viral Proteins
chemical_list: D014764:Viral Proteins; D012436:S-Adenosylmethionine; D008780:Methyltransferases; C058693:Dam methyltransferase; D015265:Site-Specific DNA-Methyltransferase (Adenine-Specific); C499297:dam protein, Bacteriophage T4