Publications

• Structures of L-fuculose-1-phosphate aldolase mutants outlining motions during catalysis.

  Joerger A.C., Mueller-Dieckmann C., Schulz G.E.

  The crystal structures of l-fuculose-1-phosphate aldolase (FucA) with and without a ligated analogue of dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) and of a number of active center mutants have resulted in a model of the catalytic mechanism. This model has now been confirmed by structural analyses of furthe ... >> More

  The crystal structures of l-fuculose-1-phosphate aldolase (FucA) with and without a ligated analogue of dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) and of a number of active center mutants have resulted in a model of the catalytic mechanism. This model has now been confirmed by structural analyses of further mutations at the zinc coordination sphere and at the phosphate site. In addition, these mutants have revealed new aspects of the catalysis: the hydroxyl group of Tyr113' (from a neighboring subunit), which sits just outside the zinc coordination sphere, steers DHAP towards a productive binding mode at the zinc ion; Glu73 contacts zinc in between the two ligand positions intended for the DHAP oxygen atoms and thus avoids blocking of these positions by a tetrahedrally coordinated hydroxy ion; the FucA polypeptide does not assume its minimum energy state but oscillates between two states of elevated energy as demonstrated by a mutant in a minimum energy state. The back and forth motion involves a mobile loop connecting the phosphate site with intersubunit motions and thus with the Brownian motion of the solvent. The phosphate group is bound strongly at a given distance to the zinc ion, which prevents the formation of too tight a DHAP:zinc complex. This observation explains our failure to find mutants that accept phosphate-free substitutes for DHAP. The FucA zinc coordination sphere is compared with that of carbonic anhydrase. << Less

  J. Mol. Biol. 303:531-543(2000) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

• Catalytic action of fuculose 1-phosphate aldolase (class II) as derived from structure-directed mutagenesis.

  Joerger A.C., Gosse C., Fessner W.-D., Schulz G.E.

  Previous analyses established the structures of unligated L-fuculose 1-phosphate aldolase and of the enzyme ligated with an inhibitor mimicking the substrate dihydroxyacetone phosphate. These data allowed us to suggest a catalytic mechanism. On the basis of this proposal, numerous mutations were n ... >> More

  Previous analyses established the structures of unligated L-fuculose 1-phosphate aldolase and of the enzyme ligated with an inhibitor mimicking the substrate dihydroxyacetone phosphate. These data allowed us to suggest a catalytic mechanism. On the basis of this proposal, numerous mutations were now introduced at the active center and tested with respect to their catalytic rates and their product distributions. For several mutants, the structures were determined. The results demonstrate the catalytic importance of some particular residues in defined conformations and in the mobile C-terminal chain end. Moreover, they led to a modification of the proposed mechanism. The effect of some mutations on enantioselectivity and on the ratio of diastereomer formation indicates clearly the binding site of the aldehyde moiety in relation to the other substrate dihydroxyacetone phosphate. << Less

  Biochemistry 39:6033-6041(2000) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

• Catalytic mechanism of the metal-dependent fuculose aldolase from Escherichia coli as derived from the structure.

  Dreyer M.K., Schulz G.E.

  The structure of L-fuculose-1-phosphate aldolase in a cubic crystal form has been determined with and without the inhibitor phosphoglycolohydroxamate at 2.4 and 2.7 angstrom (1 angstrom = 0.1 nm) resolution, respectively. This inhibitor mimics the enediolate transition state of the substrate moiet ... >> More

  The structure of L-fuculose-1-phosphate aldolase in a cubic crystal form has been determined with and without the inhibitor phosphoglycolohydroxamate at 2.4 and 2.7 angstrom (1 angstrom = 0.1 nm) resolution, respectively. This inhibitor mimics the enediolate transition state of the substrate moiety dihydroxyacetone phosphate. The structures showed that dihydroxyacetone phosphate ligates the zinc ion of this metal-dependent class II aldolase with its hydroxyl and keto oxygen atoms, shifting Glu73 away from the zinc coordination sphere to a non-polar environment. At this position Glu73 accepts a proton in the initial reaction step, producing the enediolate which is then stabilized by the zinc ion. The other substrate moiety L-lactaldehyde was modeled, because no binding structure is yet available. << Less

  J. Mol. Biol. 259:458-466(1996) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]