Organometallic mechanism of action and inhibition of the 4Fe-4S isoprenoid biosynthesis protein GcpE (IspG).
We report the results of a series of chemical, EPR, ENDOR, and HYSCORE spectroscopic investigations of the mechanism of action (and inhibition) of GcpE, E-1-hydroxy-2-methyl-but-2-enyl-4-diphosphate (HMBPP) synthase, also known as IspG, an Fe(4)S(4) cluster-containing protein. We find that the epoxide of HMBPP when reduced by GcpE generates the same transient EPR species as observed on addition of the substrate, 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol-2, 4-cyclo-diphosphate. ENDOR and HYSCORE spectra of these transient species (using (2)H, (13)C and (17)O labeled samples) indicate formation of an Fe-C-H containing organometallic intermediate, most likely a ferraoxetane. This is then rapidly reduced to a ferracyclopropane in which the HMBPP product forms an eta(2)-alkenyl pi- (or pi/sigma) complex with the 4th Fe in the Fe(4)S(4) cluster, and a similar "metallacycle" also forms between isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) and GcpE. Based on this metallacycle concept, we show that an alkyne (propargyl) diphosphate is a good (K(i) approximately 300 nM) GcpE inhibitor, and supported again by EPR and ENDOR results (a (13)C hyperfine coupling of approximately 7 MHz), as well as literature precedent, we propose that the alkyne forms another pi/sigma metallacycle, an eta(2)-alkynyl, or ferracyclopropene. Overall, the results are of broad general interest because they provide new mechanistic insights into GcpE catalysis and inhibition, with organometallic bond formation playing, in both cases, a key role.
Center for Biophysics and Computational Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 607 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
Weixue
W
Wang
Jikun
J
Li
Ke
K
Wang
Cancan
C
Huang
Yong
Y
Zhang
Eric
E
Oldfield
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000378:metabolism; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D002384:Catalysis; D015195:Drug Design; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry*; D007700:Kinetics; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D013455:Sulfur / Q000737:chemistry*; D013729:Terpenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D016963:Thermus thermophilus / Q000378:metabolism*; D014965:X-Rays
D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013729:Terpenes; D013455:Sulfur; D007501:Iron; D010088:Oxidoreductases; C000708271:AT5G60600 protein, Arabidopsis