7cav

Publication Abstract from PubMed

Polyprenyl groups, products of isoprenoid metabolism, are utilized in peptidoglycan biosynthesis, protein N-glycosylation, and other processes. These groups are formed by cis-prenyltransferases, which use allylic prenyl pyrophosphates as prenyl-donors to catalyze the C-prenylation of the general acceptor substrate, isopentenyl pyrophosphate. Repetition of this reaction forms (Z,E-mixed)-polyprenyl pyrophosphates, which are converted later into glycosyl carrier lipids, such as undecaprenyl phosphate and dolichyl phosphate. MM_0014 from the methanogenic archaeon Methanosarcina mazei is known as a versatile cis-prenyltransferase that accepts both isopentenyl pyrophosphate and dimethylallyl pyrophosphate as acceptor substrates. To learn more about this enzyme's catalytic activity, we determined the X-ray crystal structures of MM_0014 in the presence or absence of these substrates. Surprisingly, one structure revealed a complex with O-prenylglycerol, suggesting that the enzyme catalyzed the prenylation of glycerol contained in the crystallization buffer. Further analyses confirmed that the enzyme could catalyze the O-prenylation of small alcohols, such as 2-propanol, expanding our understanding of the catalytic ability of cis-prenyltransferases.

A versatile cis-prenyltransferase from Methanosarcina mazei catalyzes both C- and O-prenylations.,Okada M, Unno H, Emi KI, Matsumoto M, Hemmi H J Biol Chem. 2021 Apr 16:100679. doi: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100679. PMID:33872599^[1]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.