title: Biochemical and spectroscopic studies on (S)-2-hydroxypropylphosphonic acid epoxidase: a novel mononuclear non-heme iron enzyme.
abstract: The last step of the biosynthesis of fosfomycin, a clinically useful antibiotic, is the conversion of (S)-2-hydroxypropylphosphonic acid (HPP) to fosfomycin. Since the ring oxygen in fosfomycin has been shown in earlier feeding experiments to be derived from the hydroxyl group of HPP, this oxirane formation reaction is effectively a dehydrogenation process. To study this unique C-O bond formation step, we have overexpressed and purified the desired HPP epoxidase. Results reported herein provided initial biochemical evidence revealing that HPP epoxidase is an iron-dependent enzyme and that both NAD(P)H and a flavin or flavoprotein reductase are required for its activity. The 2 K EPR spectrum of oxidized iron-reconstituted fosfomycin epoxidase reveals resonances typical of S = (5)/(2) Fe(III) centers in at least two environments. Addition of HPP causes a redistribution with the appearance of at least two additional species, showing that the iron environment is perturbed. Exposure of this sample to NO elicits no changes, showing that the iron is nearly all in the Fe(III) state. However, addition of NO to the Fe(II) reconstituted enzyme that has not been exposed to O(2) yields an intense EPR spectrum typical of an S = (3)/(2) Fe(II)-NO complex. This complex is also heterogeneous, but addition of substrate converts it to a single, homogeneous S = (3)/(2) species with a new EPR spectrum, suggesting that substrate binds to or near the iron, thereby organizing the center. The fact that NO binds to the ferrous center suggests O(2) can also bind at this site as part of the catalytic cycle. Using purified epoxidase and (18)O isotopic labeled HPP, the retention of the hydroxyl oxygen of HPP in fosfomycin was demonstrated. While ether ring formation as a result of dehydrogenation of a secondary alcohol has precedence in the literature, these catalyses require alpha-ketoglutarate for activity. In contrast, HPP epoxidase is alpha-ketoglutarate independent. Thus, the cyclization of HPP to fosfomycin clearly represents an intriguing conversion beyond the scope entailed by common biological epoxidation and C-O bond formation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.
authors.forename: Pinghua
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Aimin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Matt D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Wolfe
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lipscomb
authors.forename: Hung-wen
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002384:Catalysis; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005027:Ethylene Oxide / Q000737:chemistry; D005578:Fosfomycin / Q000737:chemistry; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000737:chemistry; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000737:chemistry; D019906:Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D044224:Pseudomonas syringae / Q000201:enzymology; D013302:Streptomyces / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D005578:Fosfomycin; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D007501:Iron; D010088:Oxidoreductases; C405402:2-hydroxypropylphosphonic acid epoxidase; C099976:CDP-6-deoxy-4-hexulose-3-dehydrase reductase; D005027:Ethylene Oxide; D010100:Oxygen