title: Interaction of phosphonate analogues of the tetrahedral reaction intermediate with 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase in atomic detail.
abstract: The enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) catalyzes the penultimate step of the shikimate pathway and is the target of the broad-spectrum herbicide glyphosate. Since the functionality of the shikimate pathway is vital not only for plants but also for microorganisms, EPSPS is considered a prospective target for the development of novel antibiotics. We have kinetically analyzed and determined the crystal structures of Escherichia coli EPSPS inhibited by (R)- and (S)-configured phosphonate analogues of the tetrahedral reaction intermediate. Both diastereomers are competitive inhibitors with respect to the substrates of the EPSPS reaction, shikimate-3-phosphate (S3P) and phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP). Remarkably, the (S)-phosphonate (K(iS3P) = 750 nM), whose configuration corresponds to that of the genuine tetrahedral intermediate, is a much weaker inhibitor than the (R)-phosphonate analogue (K(iS3P) = 16 nM). The crystal structures of EPSPS liganded with the (S)- and (R)-phosphonates, at 1.5 and 1.9 A resolution, respectively, revealed that binding of the (R)-phosphonate induces conformational changes of the strictly conserved residues Arg124 and Glu341 within the active site. This appears to give rise to substantial structural alterations in the amino-terminal globular domain of the enzyme. By contrast, binding of the (S)-phosphonate renders the enzyme structure unchanged. Thus, EPSPS may facilitate the tight binding of structurally diverse ligands through conformational flexibility. Molecular docking calculations did not explain why the (R)-phosphonate is the better inhibitor. Therefore, we propose that the structural events during the open-closed transition of EPSPS are altered as a result of inhibitor action.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, USA.
authors.forename: Melanie A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Priestman
authors.forename: Martha L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Healy
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Alberg
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Bartlett
authors.forename: Gerald H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Lushington
authors.forename: Ernst
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schönbrunn
mesh_terms: D051229:3-Phosphoshikimate 1-Carboxyvinyltransferase; D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D001665:Binding Sites; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D008024:Ligands; D063065:Organophosphonates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D011487:Protein Conformation; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D008024:Ligands; D063065:Organophosphonates; D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases; D051229:3-Phosphoshikimate 1-Carboxyvinyltransferase