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Publication Abstract from PubMed

The second step in the biosynthesis of the 22nd genetically encoded amino acid pyrrolysine (Pyl) is catalyzed by PylC that forms the pseudopeptide L-lysine-N(epsilon)-3R-methyl-D-ornithine. Here, we present six crystal structures of the monomeric active ligase in complex with substrates, reaction intermediates, and products including ATP, the non-hydrolyzable ATP analogue 5'-adenylyl-beta-gamma-imidodiphosphate, ADP, D-ornithine (D-Orn), L-lysine (Lys), phosphorylated D-Orn, L-lysine-N(epsilon)-D-ornithine, inorganic phosphate, carbonate, and Mg(2+). The overall structure of PylC reveals similarities to the superfamily of ATP-grasp enzymes; however, there exist unique structural and functional features for a topological control of successive substrate entry and product release. Furthermore, the presented high-resolution structures provide detailed insights into the reaction mechanism of isopeptide bond formation starting with phosphorylation of D-Orn by transfer of a phosphate moiety from activated ATP. The binding of Lys to the enzyme complex is then followed by an S(N)2 reaction resulting in L-lysine-N(epsilon)-D-ornithine and inorganic phosphate. Surprisingly, PylC harbors two adenine nucleotides bound at the active site, what has not been observed in any ATP-grasp protein analyzed to date. Whereas one ATP molecule is involved in catalysis, the second adenine nucleotide functions as a selective anchor for the C- and N-terminus of the Lys substrate and is responsible for protein stability as shown by mutagenesis.

Biosynthesis of the 22nd genetically encoded amino acid pyrrolysine: structure and reaction mechanism of PylC at 1.5A resolution.,Quitterer F, List A, Beck P, Bacher A, Groll M J Mol Biol. 2012 Dec 14;424(5):270-82. doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2012.09.007. Epub 2012 , Sep 14. PMID:22985965^[2]

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