Structural highlights
Function
[CNX1_ARATH] Catalyzes two steps in the biosynthesis of the molybdenum cofactor. In the first step, molybdopterin is adenylated. Subsequently, molybdate is inserted into adenylated molybdopterin and AMP is released.[1] [2] [3] [4]
Evolutionary Conservation
Check, as determined by ConSurfDB. You may read the explanation of the method and the full data available from ConSurf.
Publication Abstract from PubMed
The molybdenum cofactor (Moco) consists of a unique and conserved pterin derivative, usually referred to as molybdopterin (MPT), which coordinates the essential transition metal molybdenum (Mo). Moco is required for the enzymatic activities of all Mo-enzymes, with the exception of nitrogenase and is synthesized by an evolutionary old multi-step pathway that is dependent on the activities of at least six gene products. In eukaryotes, the final step of Moco biosynthesis, i.e. transfer and insertion of Mo into MPT, is catalyzed by the two-domain proteins Cnx1 in plants and gephyrin in mammals. Gephyrin is ubiquitously expressed, and was initially found in the central nervous system, where it is essential for clustering of inhibitory neuroreceptors in the postsynaptic membrane. Gephyrin and Cnx1 contain at least two functional domains (E and G) that are homologous to the Escherichia coli proteins MoeA and MogA, the atomic structures of which have been solved recently. Here, we present the crystal structures of the N-terminal human gephyrin G domain (Geph-G) and the C-terminal Arabidopsis thaliana Cnx1 G domain (Cnx1-G) at 1.7 and 2.6 A resolution, respectively. These structures are highly similar and compared to MogA reveal four major differences in their three-dimensional structures: (1) In Geph-G and Cnx1-G an additional alpha-helix is present between the first beta-strand and alpha-helix of MogA. (2) The loop between alpha 2 and beta 2 undergoes conformational changes in all three structures. (3) A beta-hairpin loop found in MogA is absent from Geph-G and Cnx1-G. (4) The C terminus of Geph-G follows a different path from that in MogA. Based on the structures of the eukaryotic proteins and their comparisons with E. coli MogA, the predicted binding site for MPT has been further refined. In addition, the characterized alternative splice variants of gephyrin are analyzed in the context of the three-dimensional structure of Geph-G.
Crystal structures of human gephyrin and plant Cnx1 G domains: comparative analysis and functional implications.,Schwarz G, Schrader N, Mendel RR, Hecht HJ, Schindelin H J Mol Biol. 2001 Sep 14;312(2):405-18. PMID:11554796[5]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
References
- ↑ Llamas A, Mendel RR, Schwarz G. Synthesis of adenylated molybdopterin: an essential step for molybdenum insertion. J Biol Chem. 2004 Dec 31;279(53):55241-6. Epub 2004 Oct 25. PMID:15504727 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M409862200
- ↑ Llamas A, Otte T, Multhaup G, Mendel RR, Schwarz G. The Mechanism of nucleotide-assisted molybdenum insertion into molybdopterin. A novel route toward metal cofactor assembly. J Biol Chem. 2006 Jul 7;281(27):18343-50. Epub 2006 Apr 24. PMID:16636046 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M601415200
- ↑ Kuper J, Winking J, Hecht HJ, Mendel RR, Schwarz G. The active site of the molybdenum cofactor biosynthetic protein domain Cnx1G. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2003 Mar 1;411(1):36-46. PMID:12590921
- ↑ Kuper J, Llamas A, Hecht HJ, Mendel RR, Schwarz G. Structure of the molybdopterin-bound Cnx1G domain links molybdenum and copper metabolism. Nature. 2004 Aug 12;430(7001):803-6. PMID:15306815 doi:10.1038/nature02681
- ↑ Schwarz G, Schrader N, Mendel RR, Hecht HJ, Schindelin H. Crystal structures of human gephyrin and plant Cnx1 G domains: comparative analysis and functional implications. J Mol Biol. 2001 Sep 14;312(2):405-18. PMID:11554796 doi:10.1006/jmbi.2001.4952
