Publications

• Structure of a Streptomyces maltosyltransferase GlgE: a homologue of a genetically validated anti-tuberculosis target.

  Syson K., Stevenson C.E., Rejzek M., Fairhurst S.A., Nair A., Bruton C.J., Field R.A., Chater K.F., Lawson D.M., Bornemann S.

  GlgE is a recently identified (1→4)-α-d-glucan:phosphate α-d-maltosyltransferase involved in α-glucan biosynthesis in bacteria and is a genetically validated anti-tuberculosis drug target. It is a member of the GH13_3 CAZy subfamily for which no structures were previously known. We have solved the ... >> More

  GlgE is a recently identified (1→4)-α-d-glucan:phosphate α-d-maltosyltransferase involved in α-glucan biosynthesis in bacteria and is a genetically validated anti-tuberculosis drug target. It is a member of the GH13_3 CAZy subfamily for which no structures were previously known. We have solved the structure of GlgE isoform I from Streptomyces coelicolor and shown that this enzyme has the same catalytic and very similar kinetic properties to GlgE from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The S. coelicolor enzyme forms a homodimer with each subunit comprising five domains, including a core catalytic α-amylase-type domain A with a (β/α)(8) fold. This domain is elaborated with domain B and two inserts that are specifically configured to define a well conserved donor pocket capable of binding maltose. Domain A, together with domain N from the neighboring subunit, forms a hydrophobic patch that is close to the maltose-binding site and capable of binding cyclodextrins. Cyclodextrins competitively inhibit the binding of maltooligosaccharides to the S. coelicolor enzyme, showing that the hydrophobic patch overlaps with the acceptor binding site. This patch is incompletely conserved in the M. tuberculosis enzyme such that cyclodextrins do not inhibit this enzyme, despite acceptor length specificity being conserved. The crystal structure reveals two further domains, C and S, the latter being a helix bundle not previously reported in GH13 members. The structure provides a framework for understanding how GlgE functions and will help guide the development of inhibitors with therapeutic potential. << Less

  J. Biol. Chem. 286:38298-38310(2011) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

• Last step in the conversion of trehalose to glycogen: a mycobacterial enzyme that transfers maltose from maltose 1-phosphate to glycogen.

  Elbein A.D., Pastuszak I., Tackett A.J., Wilson T., Pan Y.T.

  We show that Mycobacterium smegmatis has an enzyme catalyzing transfer of maltose from [(14)C]maltose 1-phosphate to glycogen. This enzyme was purified 90-fold from crude extracts and characterized. Maltose transfer required addition of an acceptor. Liver, oyster, or mycobacterial glycogens were t ... >> More

  We show that Mycobacterium smegmatis has an enzyme catalyzing transfer of maltose from [(14)C]maltose 1-phosphate to glycogen. This enzyme was purified 90-fold from crude extracts and characterized. Maltose transfer required addition of an acceptor. Liver, oyster, or mycobacterial glycogens were the best acceptors, whereas amylopectin had good activity, but amylose was a poor acceptor. Maltosaccharides inhibited the transfer of maltose from [(14)C]maltose-1-P to glycogen because they were also acceptors of maltose, and they caused production of larger sized radioactive maltosaccharides. When maltotetraose was the acceptor, over 90% of the (14)C-labeled product was maltohexaose, and no radioactivity was in maltopentaose, demonstrating that maltose was transferred intact. Stoichiometry showed that 0.89 micromol of inorganic phosphate was produced for each micromole of maltose transferred to glycogen, and 56% of the added maltose-1-P was transferred to glycogen. This enzyme has been named alpha1,4-glucan:maltose-1-P maltosyltransferase (GMPMT). Transfer of maltose to glycogen was inhibited by micromolar amounts of inorganic phosphate or arsenate but was only slightly inhibited by millimolar concentrations of glucose-1-P, glucose-6-P, or inorganic pyrophosphate. GMPMT was compared with glycogen phosphorylase (GP). GMPMT catalyzed transfer of [(14)C]maltose-1-P, but not [(14)C]glucose-1-P, to glycogen, whereas GP transferred radioactivity from glucose-1-P but not maltose-1-P. GMPMT and GP were both inhibited by 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-d-arabinitol, but only GP was inhibited by isofagomine. Because mycobacteria that contain trehalose synthase accumulate large amounts of glycogen when grown in high concentrations of trehalose, we propose that trehalose synthase, maltokinase, and GMPMT represent a new pathway of glycogen synthesis using trehalose as the source of glucose. << Less

  J. Biol. Chem. 285:9803-9812(2010) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]