title: Key substrate recognition residues in the active site of a plant cytochrome P450, CYP73A1. Homology guided site-directed mutagenesis.
abstract: CYP73 enzymes are highly conserved cytochromes P450 in plant species that catalyse the regiospecific 4-hydroxylation of cinnamic acid to form precursors of lignin and many other phenolic compounds. A CYP73A1 homology model based on P450 experimentally solved structures was used to identify active site residues likely to govern substrate binding and regio-specific catalysis. The functional significance of these residues was assessed using site-directed mutagenesis. Active site modelling predicted that N302 and I371 form a hydrogen bond and hydrophobic contacts with the anionic site or aromatic ring of the substrate. Modification of these residues led to a drastic decrease in substrate binding and metabolism without major perturbation of protein structure. Changes to residue K484, which is located too far in the active site model to form a direct contact with cinnamic acid in the oxidized enzyme, did not influence initial substrate binding. However, the K484M substitution led to a 50% loss in catalytic activity. K484 may affect positioning of the substrate in the reduced enzyme during the catalytic cycle, or product release. Catalytic analysis of the mutants with structural analogues of cinnamic acid, in particular indole-2-carboxylic acid that can be hydroxylated with different regioselectivities, supports the involvement of N302, I371 and K484 in substrate docking and orientation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Stress Response, Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, Université Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, France; Laboratoire de Chimie et Biochimie Pharmacologiques et Toxicologiques, Université Paris V, 45 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Guillaume A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Schoch
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Attias
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Le Ret
authors.forename: Danièle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Werck-Reichhart
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001665:Binding Sites; D002934:Cinnamates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004795:Enzyme Stability / Q000235:genetics; D006368:Helianthus / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D006900:Hydroxylation; D007211:Indoles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D015003:Yeasts / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D002934:Cinnamates; D017931:DNA Primers; D007211:Indoles; D007527:Isoenzymes; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System