Publications

• Structure of beta-lactam synthetase reveals how to synthesize antibiotics instead of asparagine.

  Miller M.T., Bachmann B.O., Townsend C.A., Rosenzweig A.C.

  The enzyme beta-lactam synthetase (beta-LS) catalyzes the formation of the beta-lactam ring in clavulanic acid, a clinically important beta-lactamase inhibitor. Whereas the penicillin beta-lactam ring is generated by isopenicillin N synthase (IPNS) in the presence of ferrous ion and dioxygen, beta ... >> More

  The enzyme beta-lactam synthetase (beta-LS) catalyzes the formation of the beta-lactam ring in clavulanic acid, a clinically important beta-lactamase inhibitor. Whereas the penicillin beta-lactam ring is generated by isopenicillin N synthase (IPNS) in the presence of ferrous ion and dioxygen, beta-LS uses ATP and Mg2+ as cofactors. According to sequence alignments, beta-LS is homologous to class B asparagine synthetases (AS-Bs), ATP/Mg2+-dependent enzymes that convert aspartic acid to asparagine. Here we report the first crystal structure of a beta-LS. The 1.95 A resolution structure of Streptomyces clavuligerus beta-LS provides a fully resolved view of the active site in which substrate, closely related ATP analog alpha,beta-methyleneadenosine 5'-triphosphate (AMP-CPP) and a single Mg2+ ion are present. A high degree of substrate preorganization is observed. Comparison to Escherichia coli AS-B reveals the evolutionary changes that have taken place in beta-LS that impede interdomain reaction, which is essential in AS-B, and that accommodate beta-lactam formation. The structural data provide the opportunity to alter the synthetic potential of beta-LS, perhaps leading to the creation of new beta-lactamase inhibitors and beta-lactam antibiotics. << Less

  Nat. Struct. Biol. 8:684-689(2001) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

• The catalytic cycle of beta -lactam synthetase observed by X-ray crystallographic snapshots.

  Miller M.T., Bachmann B.O., Townsend C.A., Rosenzweig A.C.

  The catalytic cycle of the ATP/Mg(2+)-dependent enzyme beta-lactam synthetase (beta-LS) from Streptomyces clavuligerus has been observed through a series of x-ray crystallographic snapshots. Chemistry is initiated by the ordered binding of ATP/Mg(2+) and N(2)-(carboxyethyl)-l-arginine (CEA) to the ... >> More

  The catalytic cycle of the ATP/Mg(2+)-dependent enzyme beta-lactam synthetase (beta-LS) from Streptomyces clavuligerus has been observed through a series of x-ray crystallographic snapshots. Chemistry is initiated by the ordered binding of ATP/Mg(2+) and N(2)-(carboxyethyl)-l-arginine (CEA) to the apoenzyme. The apo and ATP/Mg(2+) structures described here, along with the previously described CEA.alpha,beta-methyleneadenosine 5'-triphosphate (CEA.AMP-CPP)/Mg(2+) structure, illuminate changes in active site geometry that favor adenylation. In addition, an acyladenylate intermediate has been trapped. The substrate analog N(2)-(carboxymethyl)-l-arginine (CMA) was adenylated by ATP in the crystal and represents a close structural analog of the previously proposed CEA-adenylate intermediate. Finally, the structure of the ternary product complex deoxyguanidinoproclavaminic acid (DGPC).AMP/PP(i)/Mg(2+) has been determined. The CMA-AMP/PP(i)/Mg(2+) and DGPC.AMP/PP(i)/Mg(2+) structures reveal interactions in the active site that facilitate beta-lactam formation. All of the ATP-bound structures differ from the previously described CEA.AMP-CPP/Mg(2+) structure in that two Mg(2+) ions are found in the active sites. These Mg(2+) ions play critical roles in both the adenylation and beta-lactamization reactions. << Less

  Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 99:14752-14757(2002) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

• Kinetic mechanism of the beta-lactam synthetase of Streptomyces clavuligerus.

  Bachmann B.O., Townsend C.A.

  Streptomyces clavuligerus beta-lactam synthetase (beta-LS) was recently demonstrated to catalyze an early step in clavulanic acid biosynthesis, the ATP/Mg(2+)-dependent intramolecular closure of the beta-amino acid N(2)-(carboxyethyl)-L-arginine (CEA) to the monocyclic beta-lactam deoxyguanidinopr ... >> More

  Streptomyces clavuligerus beta-lactam synthetase (beta-LS) was recently demonstrated to catalyze an early step in clavulanic acid biosynthesis, the ATP/Mg(2+)-dependent intramolecular closure of the beta-amino acid N(2)-(carboxyethyl)-L-arginine (CEA) to the monocyclic beta-lactam deoxyguanidinoproclavaminic acid (DGPC). Here we investigate the steady-state kinetic mechanism of the beta-LS-catalyzed reaction to better understand this unprecedented secondary metabolic enzyme. Initial velocity patterns were consistent with a sequential ordered bi-ter kinetic mechanism. Product inhibition studies with PP(i) and DGPC demonstrated competitive inhibition versus their cognate substrates ATP and CEA, respectively, and noncompetitive inhibition against their noncognate substrates. To clarify the order of substrate binding, the truncated substrate analogue N(2)-(carboxymethyl)-L-arginine was synthesized and demonstrated uncompetitive inhibition versus ATP and competitive patterns versus CEA. These data are consistent with ordered substrate binding, with ATP binding first, an abortive enzyme-DGPC complex, and PP(i) released as the last product. The pH dependence of V and V/K was determined and suggests that residues with a pK of 6.5 and 9.3 must be ionized for optimal activity. These observations were considered in the context of investigations of the homologous primary metabolic enzyme asparagine synthetase B, and a chemical mechanism is proposed that is consistent with the kinetic mechanism. << Less

  Biochemistry 39:11187-11193(2000) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

• New reactions in clavulanic acid biosynthesis.

  Townsend C.A.

  Clavulanic acid is only a modestly effective antibiotic against bacterial infections in humans, but a potent inhibitor/inactivator of beta-lactamase enzymes that confer bacterial resistance. The biosynthetic pathway to clavulanic acid is considerably more complex than that to the structurally rela ... >> More

  Clavulanic acid is only a modestly effective antibiotic against bacterial infections in humans, but a potent inhibitor/inactivator of beta-lactamase enzymes that confer bacterial resistance. The biosynthetic pathway to clavulanic acid is considerably more complex than that to the structurally related penicillins and cephalosporins and has revealed several interesting reactions. << Less

  Curr Opin Chem Biol 6:583-589(2002) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 4 other entries.

• Spectroscopic studies of substrate interactions with clavaminate synthase 2, a multifunctional alpha-KG-dependent non-heme iron enzyme: correlation with mechanisms and reactivities.

  Zhou J., Kelly W.L., Bachmann B.O., Gunsior M., Townsend C.A., Solomon E.I.

  Using a single ferrous active site, clavaminate synthase 2 (CS2) activates O(2) and catalyzes the hydroxylation of deoxyguanidinoproclavaminic acid (DGPC), the oxidative ring closure of proclavaminic acid (PC), and the desaturation of dihydroclavaminic acid (and a substrate analogue, deoxyproclava ... >> More

  Using a single ferrous active site, clavaminate synthase 2 (CS2) activates O(2) and catalyzes the hydroxylation of deoxyguanidinoproclavaminic acid (DGPC), the oxidative ring closure of proclavaminic acid (PC), and the desaturation of dihydroclavaminic acid (and a substrate analogue, deoxyproclavaminic acid (DPC)), each coupled to the oxidative decarboxylation of cosubstrate, alpha-ketoglutarate (alpha-KG). CS2 can also catalyze an uncoupled decarboxylation of alpha-KG both in the absence and in the presence of substrate, which results in enzyme deactivation. Resting CS2/Fe(II) has a six-coordinate Fe(II) site, and alpha-KG binds to the iron in a bidentate mode. The active site becomes five-coordinate only when both substrate and alpha-KG are bound, the latter still in a bidentate mode. Absorption, CD, MCD, and VTVH MCD studies of the interaction of CS2 with DGPC, PC, and DPC provide significant molecular level insight into the structure/function correlations of this multifunctional enzyme. There are varying amounts of six-coordinate ferrous species in the substrate complexes, which correlate to the uncoupled reaction. Five-coordinate ferrous species with similar geometric and electronic structures are present for all three substrate/alpha-KG complexes. Coordinative unsaturation of the Fe(II) in the presence of both cosubstrate and substrate appears to be critical for the coupling of the oxidative decarboxylation of alpha-KG to the different substrate oxidation reactions. In addition to the substrate orientation relative to the open coordination position on the iron site, it is hypothesized that the enzyme can affect the nature of the reactivity by further regulating the binding energy of the water to the ferrous species in the enzyme/succinate/product complex. << Less

  J Am Chem Soc 123:7388-7398(2001) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 4 other entries.