| Structural highlights
Disease
PCCA_HUMAN Defects in PCCA are the cause of propionic acidemia type I (PA-1) [MIM:606054. PA-1 is a life-threatening disease characterized by episodic vomiting, lethargy and ketosis, neutropenia, periodic thrombocytopenia, hypogammaglobulinemia, developmental retardation, and intolerance to protein.[1] [2] [3] [4]
Function
PCCA_HUMAN
Publication Abstract from PubMed
Propionyl-CoA carboxylase (PCC) is a biotin-dependent mitochondrial enzyme responsible for propionyl-CoA catabolism. Deficiencies in human PCC (hPCC) cause propionic acidemia, a severe metabolic disorder driven by toxic metabolite accumulation. Despite its therapeutic relevance, the structural basis of hPCC's catalytic function remains unresolved. Here, we present high-resolution cryo-EM structures of hPCC in four distinct states, unliganded, ADP-, AMPPNP-, and ATP-bound/substrate-bound, capturing the full trajectory of the biotin carboxyl carrier protein (BCCP) domain as it translocates between active sites. Our results reinforce the crucial role of nucleotide-gated B-lid subdomain in synchronizing catalysis through coupling with BCCP movement. Structural and biochemical analysis of 10 disease-associated variants reveals how mutations disrupt key domain interfaces and dynamic motions required for activity. These new insights define the mechanistic principles governing hPCC functions, establish a structural framework for understanding PCC-related disorders, and lay the groundwork for future efforts to engineer functional replacements or modulators for metabolic therapy.
Nanoscale conformational dynamics of human propionyl-CoA carboxylase.,Yan H, Ni F, Wang Q, Ma J Structure. 2025 Nov 5:S0969-2126(25)00396-X. doi: 10.1016/j.str.2025.10.009. PMID:41197621[5]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
References
- ↑ Richard E, Desviat LR, Perez B, Perez-Cerda C, Ugarte M. Genetic heterogeneity in propionic acidemia patients with alpha-subunit defects. Identification of five novel mutations, one of them causing instability of the protein. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1999 Mar 30;1453(3):351-8. PMID:10101253
- ↑ Perez B, Desviat LR, Rodriguez-Pombo P, Clavero S, Navarrete R, Perez-Cerda C, Ugarte M. Propionic acidemia: identification of twenty-four novel mutations in Europe and North America. Mol Genet Metab. 2003 Jan;78(1):59-67. PMID:12559849
- ↑ Yang X, Sakamoto O, Matsubara Y, Kure S, Suzuki Y, Aoki Y, Yamaguchi S, Takahashi Y, Nishikubo T, Kawaguchi C, Yoshioka A, Kimura T, Hayasaka K, Kohno Y, Iinuma K, Ohura T. Mutation spectrum of the PCCA and PCCB genes in Japanese patients with propionic acidemia. Mol Genet Metab. 2004 Apr;81(4):335-42. PMID:15059621 doi:10.1016/j.ymgme.2004.01.003
- ↑ Campeau E, Dupuis L, Leon-Del-Rio A, Gravel R. Coding sequence mutations in the alpha subunit of propionyl-CoA carboxylase in patients with propionic acidemia. Mol Genet Metab. 1999 May;67(1):11-22. PMID:10329019 doi:10.1006/mgme.1999.2850
- ↑ Yan H, Ni F, Wang Q, Ma J. Nanoscale conformational dynamics of human propionyl-CoA carboxylase. Structure. 2025 Nov 5:S0969-2126(25)00396-X. PMID:41197621 doi:10.1016/j.str.2025.10.009
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