title: Structural basis for membrane binding and catalytic activation of the peripheral membrane enzyme pyruvate oxidase from Escherichia coli.
abstract: The thiamin- and flavin-dependent peripheral membrane enzyme pyruvate oxidase from E. coli catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of the central metabolite pyruvate to CO(2) and acetate. Concomitant reduction of the enzyme-bound flavin triggers membrane binding of the C terminus and shuttling of 2 electrons to ubiquinone 8, a membrane-bound mobile carrier of the electron transport chain. Binding to the membrane in vivo or limited proteolysis in vitro stimulate the catalytic proficiency by 2 orders of magnitude. The molecular mechanisms by which membrane binding and activation are governed have remained enigmatic. Here, we present the X-ray crystal structures of the full-length enzyme and a proteolytically activated truncation variant lacking the last 23 C-terminal residues inferred as important in membrane binding. In conjunction with spectroscopic results, the structural data pinpoint a conformational rearrangement upon activation that exposes the autoinhibitory C terminus, thereby freeing the active site. In the activated enzyme, Phe-465 swings into the active site and wires both cofactors for efficient electron transfer. The isolated C terminus, which has no intrinsic helix propensity, folds into a helical structure in the presence of micelles.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes Strasse 3, D-06120 Halle/Saale, Germany.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.forename: Annett
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weidner
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pech
authors.forename: Milton T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Stubbs
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tittmann
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011771:Pyruvate Oxidase / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D019289:Pyruvic Acid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019289:Pyruvic Acid; D011771:Pyruvate Oxidase