Structural Evidence for a 1,2-Enediolate Intermediate in the Reaction Catalyzed by 3-Keto-L-Gulonate 6-Phosphate Decarboxylase, a Member of the Orotidine 5′-Monophosphate Decarboxylase Suprafamily

Eric L. Wise, Wen Shan Yew, John A. Gerlt, Ivan Rayment

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

3-Keto-L-gulonate 6-phosphate decarboxylase (KGPDC) and orotidine 5′-phosphate decar-boxylase (OMPDC) are members of an enzyme suprafamily, the OMPDC suprafamily, because they are homologous enzymes that catalyze mechanistically distinct reactions using different substrates. KGPDC catalyzes the Mg2+ ion-dependent decarboxylation of 3-keto-L-gulonate 6-phosphate to yield L-xylulose 5-phosphate and CO2; OMPDC catalyzes the metal ion-independent decarboxylation of OMP to UMP and CO2. Structural studies have shown that KGPDC and OMPDC share several strictly conserved active site residues that are used differently by each enzyme to catalyze their mechanistically distinct reactions. Although the mechanism of the KGPDC-catalyzed reaction has yet to be elucidated, it is thought to proceed via a Mg2+ ion-stabilized 1,2-enediolate intermediate. Here we report the crystal structures of KGPDC complexed with L-gulonate 6-phosphate, L-threonohydroxamate 4-phosphate, and L-xylitol 5-phosphate, analogues of the substrate, enediolate intermediate, and product, as well as with the product, L-xylulose 5-phosphate, at 1.2, 1.8, 1.7, and 1.8 Å resolution, respectively. These structures support a mechanism that involves the formation of a cis-1,2-enediolate intermediate. Contrary to expectations, the geometry of the intermediate does not involve bidentate coordination of both enediolate oxygen atoms to the Mg2+ ion but rather involves only the coordination of the oxygen on C2 to the Mg2+ ion. The oxygen atom on C1 instead forms hydrogen bonds to both Lys64 and Asp67, two strictly conserved active site residues. Lys64 also interacts with the oxygen on C2 and may serve to stabilize a cis conformation of the 1,2-enediolate. These structures also implicate His 136 to be the general acid that protonates the 1,2-enediolate intermediate. This study further demonstrates that multiple unrelated enzyme functions can evolve from a single active site architecture without regard for substrate binding affinity or mechanism.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)12133-12142
Number of pages10
JournalBiochemistry
Volume42
Issue number42
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 28 2003

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry

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