Metal-triggered changes in the stability and secondary structure of a tetrameric dihydropyrimidinase: a biophysical characterization.
Dihydropyrimidinase is involved in the reductive pathway of pyrimidine degradation, catalysing the reversible hydrolysis of the cyclic amide bond (-CO-NH-) of 5,6-dihydrouracil and 5,6-dihydrothymine to the corresponding N-carbamoyl-beta-amino acids. This enzyme is an attractive candidate for commercial production of D-aminoacids, which are used in the production of semi-synthetic beta-lactams, antiviral agents, artificial sweeteners, peptide hormones and pesticides. We have obtained the crystal structure of the dihydropyrimidinase from Sinorhizobium meliloti (SmelDhp) in the presence of zinc ions, but we have not been able to obtain good diffracting crystals in its absence. Then, the role of the ion in the structure of the protein, and in its stability, remains to be elucidated. In this work, the stability and the structure of SmelDhp have been studied in the absence and in the presence of zinc. In its absence, the protein acquired a tetrameric functional structure at pH approximately 6.0, which is stable up to pH approximately 9.0, as concluded from fluorescence and CD. Chemical-denaturation occurred via a monomeric intermediate with non-native structure. The addition of zinc caused: (i) an increase of the helical structure, and changes in the environment of aromatic residues; and, (ii) a higher thermal stability. However, chemical-denaturation still occurred through a monomeric intermediate. This is the first hydantoinase whose changes in the stability and in the secondary structure upon addition of zinc are described and explained, and one of the few examples where the zinc exclusively alters the secondary helical structure and the environment of some aromatic residues in the protein, leaving unchanged the quaternary structure.
Martínez-Rodríguez
Sergio
S
Laboratorium voor Ultrastructuur, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
Encinar
José A
JA
Hurtado-Gómez
Estefanía
E
Prieto
Jesús
J
Clemente-Jiménez
Josefa M
JM
Las Heras-Vázquez
Francisco J
FJ
Rodríguez-Vico
Felipe
F
Neira
José L
JL
D000581:Amidohydrolases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D004795:Enzyme Stability; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011489:Protein Denaturation; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D016962:Sinorhizobium meliloti / Q000201:enzymology*; D013696:Temperature; D015032:Zinc / Q000494:pharmacology*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D000581:Amidohydrolases; C020047:dihydropyrimidinase; D015032:Zinc