title: Crystal structure and catalytic mechanism of the LPS 3-O-deacylase PagL from Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
abstract: Pathogenic gram-negative bacteria can modify the lipid A portion of their lipopolysaccharide in response to environmental stimuli. 3-O-deacylation of lipid A by the outer membrane enzyme PagL modulates signaling through Toll-like receptor 4, leading to a reduced host immune response. We found that PagL is widely disseminated among gram-negative bacteria. Only four residues are conserved: a Ser, His, Phe, and Asn residue. Here, we describe the crystal structure of PagL from Pseudomonas aeruginosa to 2.0-A resolution. It consists of an eight-stranded beta-barrel with the axis tilted by approximately 30 degrees with respect to the lipid bilayer. The structure reveals that PagL contains an active site with a Ser-His-Glu catalytic triad and an oxyanion hole that comprises the conserved Asn. The importance of active site residues was confirmed in mutagenesis studies. Although PagL is most likely active as a monomer, its active site architecture shows high resemblance to that of the dimeric 12-stranded outer membrane phospholipase A. Modeling of the substrate lipid X onto the active site reveals that the 3-O-acyl chain is accommodated in a hydrophobic groove perpendicular to the membrane plane. In addition, an aspartate makes a hydrogen bond with the hydroxyl group of the 3-O-acyl chain, probably providing specificity of PagL toward lipid A.
authors.affiliation: Department of Crystal and Structural Chemistry, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rutten
authors.forename: Jeroen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Geurtsen
authors.forename: Wietske
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: Jeroen J M
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Smolenaers
authors.forename: Alexandre M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bonvin
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Haan
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van der Ley
authors.forename: Maarten R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Egmond
authors.forename: Piet
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gros
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tommassen
mesh_terms: D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001665:Binding Sites; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D008050:Lipid A / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008958:Models, Molecular; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D017510:Protein Folding; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000201:enzymology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D008050:Lipid A; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases