A Native Ternary Complex Trapped in a Crystal Reveals the Catalytic Mechanism of a Retaining Glycosyltransferase. Issue 34 (1st July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Albesa‐Jové, David; Mendoza, Fernanda; Rodrigo‐Unzueta, Ane; Gomollón‐Bel, Fernando; Cifuente, Javier O.; Urresti, Saioa; Comino, Natalia; Gómez, Hansel; Romero‐García, Javier; Lluch, José M.; Sancho‐Vaello, Enea; Biarnés, Xevi; Planas, Antoni; Merino, Pedro; Masgrau, Laura; Guerin, Marcelo E.
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie international edition. Volume 54:Issue 34(2015)
• Page Start: 9898
• Page End: 9902
• Publication Date: 2015-07-01
• Subjects: enzyme catalysis -- enzymes -- glycosyltransferases -- reaction mechanisms -- structure elucidation; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201504617
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1433-7851

Abstract

Abstract: Glycosyltransferases (GTs) comprise a prominent family of enzymes that play critical roles in a variety of cellular processes, including cell signaling, cell development, and host–pathogen interactions. Glycosyl transfer can proceed with either inversion or retention of the anomeric configuration with respect to the reaction substrates and products. The elucidation of the catalytic mechanism of retaining GTs remains a major challenge. A native ternary complex of a GT in a productive mode for catalysis is reported, that of the retaining glucosyl‐3‐phosphoglycerate synthase GpgS from M. tuberculosis in the presence of the sugar donor UDP‐Glc, the acceptor substrate phosphoglycerate, and the divalent cation cofactor. Through a combination of structural, chemical, enzymatic, molecular dynamics, and quantum‐mechanics/molecular‐mechanics (QM/MM) calculations, the catalytic mechanism was unraveled, thereby providing a strong experimental support for a front–side substrate‐assisted SN i‐type reaction. Abstract : Pass the sugar : The crystal structure of a native ternary complex of a glycosyltransferase, the retaining glucosyl‐3‐phosphoglycerate synthase GpgS, in a productive mode for catalysis was obtained. By combining structural, chemical, and enzymatic methods, as well as molecular dynamics and QM/MM calculations, the catalytic mechanism was unraveled and the results provide strong experimental support for a front–side substrate‐assisted SN i‐type reaction.