title: Detection of open and closed conformations of tryptophan synthase by 15N-heteronuclear single-quantum coherence nuclear magnetic resonance of bound 1-15N-L-tryptophan.
abstract: 1-15N-L-Tryptophan (1-15N-L-Trp) was synthesized from 15N-aniline by a Sandmeyer reaction, followed by cyclization to isatin, reduction to indole with LiAlH4, and condensation of the 15N-indole with L-serine, catalyzed by tryptophan synthase. 1-15N-L-Trp was complexed with wild-type tryptophan synthase and beta-subunit mutants, betaK87T, betaD305A, and betaE109D, in the absence or presence of the allosteric ligands sodium chloride and disodium alpha-glycerophosphate. The enzyme complexes were observed by 15N-heteronuclear single-quantum coherence nuclear magnetic resonance (15N-HSQC NMR) spectroscopy for the presence of 1-15N-L-Trp bound to the beta-active site. No 15N-HSQC signal was detected for 1-15N-L-Trp in 10 mm triethanolamine hydrochloride buffer at pH 8. 1-15N-L-Trp in the presence of wild-type tryptophan synthase in the absence or presence of 50 mm sodium chloride showed a cross peak at 10.25 ppm on the 1H axis and 129 ppm on the 15N axis as a result of reduced solvent exchange for the bound 1-15N-L-Trp, consistent with formation of a closed conformation of the active site. The addition of disodium alpha-glycerophosphate produced a signal twice as intense, suggesting that the equilibrium favors the closed conformation. 15N-HSQC NMR spectra of betaK87T and betaE109D mutant Trp synthase with 1-15N-L-Trp showed a similar cross peak either in the presence or absence of disodium alpha-glycerophosphate, indicating the preference for a closed conformation for these mutant proteins. In contrast, the betaD305A Trp synthase mutant only showed a 15N-HSQC signal in the presence of disodium alpha-glycerophosphate. Thus, this mutant Trp synthase favored an open conformation in the absence of disodium alpha-glycerophosphate but was able to form a closed conformation in the presence of disodium alpha-glycerophosphate. Our results demonstrate that the 15N-HSQC NMR spectra of 1-15N-L-Trp bound to Trp synthase can be used to determine the conformational state of mutant forms in solution rapidly. In contrast, UV-visible spectra of wild-type and mutant Trp synthase in the presence of L-Trp with NaCl and/or disodium alpha-glycerophosphate are more difficult to interpret in terms of altered conformational equilibria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602-2556, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Osborne
authors.forename: Quincy
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Teng
authors.forename: Edith Wilson
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Miles
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Phillips
mesh_terms: D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007553:Isotope Labeling / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009154:Mutation; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes; D011487:Protein Conformation; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000737:chemistry*; D014367:Tryptophan Synthase / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes; D014364:Tryptophan; D014367:Tryptophan Synthase