Open AccessStructural and biochemical characterization of N 5 ‐carboxyaminoimidazole ribonucleotide synthetase and N 5 ‐carboxyaminoimidazole ribonucleotide mutase from Staphylococcus aureus
Author(s) -
Brugarolas Pedro,
Duguid Erica M.,
Zhang Wen,
Poor Catherine B.,
He Chuan
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
acta crystallographica section d
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1399-0047
DOI - 10.1107/s0907444911023821
Subject(s) - biosynthesis , ribonucleotide , enzyme , biochemistry , purine metabolism , staphylococcus aureus , bacteria , purine , stereochemistry , mutase , chemistry , biology , nucleotide , genetics , gene
With the rapid rise of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections, new strategies against S. aureus are urgently needed. De novo purine biosynthesis is a promising yet unexploited target, insofar as abundant evidence has shown that bacteria with compromised purine biosynthesis are attenuated. Fundamental differences exist within the process by which humans and bacteria convert 5‐aminoimidazole ribonucleotide (AIR) to 4‐carboxy‐5‐aminoimidazole ribonucleotide (CAIR). In bacteria, this transformation occurs through a two‐step conversion catalyzed by PurK and PurE; in humans, it is mediated by a one‐step conversion catalyzed by class II PurE. Thus, these bacterial enzymes are potential targets for selective antibiotic development. Here, the first comprehensive structural and biochemical characterization of PurK and PurE from S. aureus is presented. Structural analysis of S. aureus PurK reveals a nonconserved phenylalanine near the AIR‐binding site that occupies the putative position of the imidazole ring of AIR. Mutation of this phenylalanine to isoleucine or tryptophan reduced the enzyme efficiency by around tenfold. The K m for bicarbonate was determined for the first time for a PurK enzyme and was found to be ∼18.8 m M . The structure of PurE is described in comparison to that of human class II PurE. It is confirmed biochemically that His38 is essential for function. These studies aim to provide foundations for future structure‐based drug‐discovery efforts against S. aureus purine biosynthesis.