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Publication Abstract from PubMed

The first step in the molybdenum cofactor (Moco) biosynthesis pathway involves the conversion of guanosine triphosphate (GTP) to precursor Z by two proteins (MoaA and MoaC). MoaA belongs to the S-adenosylmethionine-dependent radical enzyme superfamily and is believed to generate protein and/or substrate radicals by reductive cleavage of S-adenosylmethionine using an Fe-S cluster. MoaC has been suggested to catalyze the release of pyrophosphate and the formation of the cyclic phosphate of precursor Z. However, structural evidence showing the binding of a substrate-like molecule to MoaC is not available. Here, apo and GTP-bound crystal structures of MoaC from Thermus thermophilus HB8 are reported. Furthermore, isothermal titration calorimetry experiments have been carried out in order to obtain thermodynamic parameters for the protein-ligand interactions. In addition, molecular-dynamics (MD) simulations have been carried out on the protein-ligand complex of known structure and on models of relevant complexes for which X-ray structures are not available. The biophysical, structural and MD results reveal the residues that are involved in substrate binding and help in speculating upon a possible mechanism.

Structures of apo and GTP-bound molybdenum cofactor biosynthesis protein MoaC from Thermus thermophilus HB8.,Kanaujia SP, Jeyakanthan J, Nakagawa N, Balasubramaniam S, Shinkai A, Kuramitsu S, Yokoyama S, Sekar K Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr. 2010 Jul;66(Pt 7):821-33. Epub 2010 Jun 19. PMID:20606263^[1]

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