Publications

• Arginine racemization by coupled catabolic and anabolic dehydrogenases.

  Li C., Lu C.D.

  D-amino acids exist in living organisms as specialized components of many different machineries. Biosynthesis of D-amino acids from racemization of predominant L-enantiomers is catalyzed by a single enzyme. Here, we report the finding of a novel 2-component amino acid racemase for D-to-L inversion ... >> More

  D-amino acids exist in living organisms as specialized components of many different machineries. Biosynthesis of D-amino acids from racemization of predominant L-enantiomers is catalyzed by a single enzyme. Here, we report the finding of a novel 2-component amino acid racemase for D-to-L inversion in D-arginine metabolism of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. From DNA microarray analysis, the putative dauBAR operon (for D-arginine utilization) of unknown functions was found to be highly induced by D-arginine. The importance of the dau operon in D-arginine metabolism was demonstrated by the findings that strains with a lesion at dauA or dauB failed to use D-arginine as sole carbon source. Two lines of evidence suggest that DauA and DauB are required for D-to-L racemization of arginine. First, growth complementation of an L-arginine auxotroph by D-arginine was abolished by a lesion at dauA or dauB. Second, D-arginine induced L-arginine-specific genes in the parental strain PAO1 but not in its dauA or dauB mutants. This hypothesis was further supported by activity measurements of the purified enzymes: DauA catalyzes oxidative deamination of D-arginine into 2-ketoarginine and ammonia, and DauB is able to use 2-ketoarginine and ammonia as substrates and convert them into L-arginine in the presence of NADPH or NADH. Thus, we propose that DauA and DauB are coupled catabolic and anabolic dehydrogenases to perform D-to-L racemization of arginine, which serves as prerequisite of D-arginine utilization through L-arginine catabolic pathways. << Less

  Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 106:906-911(2009) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 4 other entries.

• Atomic-resolution structure of an N5 flavin adduct in D-arginine dehydrogenase.

  Fu G., Yuan H., Wang S., Gadda G., Weber I.T.

  D-Arginine dehydrogenase (DADH) catalyzes the flavin-dependent oxidative deamination of D-arginine and other D-amino acids to the corresponding imino acids. The 1.07 Å atomic-resolution structure of DADH crystallized with D-leucine unexpectedly revealed a covalent N(5) flavin adduct, instead of th ... >> More

  D-Arginine dehydrogenase (DADH) catalyzes the flavin-dependent oxidative deamination of D-arginine and other D-amino acids to the corresponding imino acids. The 1.07 Å atomic-resolution structure of DADH crystallized with D-leucine unexpectedly revealed a covalent N(5) flavin adduct, instead of the expected iminoleucine product in the active site. This acyl adduct has been successfully reproduced by photoreduction of DADH in the presence of 4-methyl-2-oxopentanoic acid (ketoleucine). The iminoleucine may be released readily because of weak interactions in the binding site, in contrast to iminoarginine, converted to ketoleucine, which reacts with activated FAD to form the covalently linked acyl adduct. << Less

  Biochemistry 50:6292-6294(2011) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 1 other entry.

• Importance of glutamate 87 and the substrate alpha-amine for the reaction catalyzed by D-arginine dehydrogenase.

  Ball J., Bui Q.V., Gannavaram S., Gadda G.

  Pseudomonas aeruginosa D-arginine dehydrogenase (PaDADH) catalyzes the oxidation of D-arginine to iminoarginine, which is non-enzymatically hydrolyzed to 2-ketoarginine and ammonia. Here, site-directed mutagenesis and pH effects were used to investigate binding and catalysis of zwitterionic and ca ... >> More

  Pseudomonas aeruginosa D-arginine dehydrogenase (PaDADH) catalyzes the oxidation of D-arginine to iminoarginine, which is non-enzymatically hydrolyzed to 2-ketoarginine and ammonia. Here, site-directed mutagenesis and pH effects were used to investigate binding and catalysis of zwitterionic and cationic substrates for the enzyme. An unprotonated group with apparent pKa value ⩾7.9 is required for binding D-arginine or D-lysine, but not D-methionine or D-leucine. This group is E87, as suggested by its replacement with leucine. An unprotonated group with pKa of 9.5, which persists in the H48F and E87L variants, is required for amine oxidation with all substrates. Since Y53 and Y249 were previously ruled out, the pKa is assigned to the substrate α-NH3(+) group, which previous QM/MM and Kd pH-profile demonstrated to be protonated for preferred binding to the enzyme. Lack of pH effects on the (D)kred with D-leucine established 9.5 as the intrinsic pKa, and D-leucine as a non-sticky substrate. D-Arginine, D-lysine and D-methionine and their corresponding iminoproducts were significantly stickier than D-leucine, as indicated by apparent pKa values <9.5 in both kcat/Km and kcat. Restricted proton movements in catalysis were established from hollowed kcat pH profiles in wild-type PaDADH with D-lysine and in the H48F and E87L enzymes with D-arginine. << Less

  Arch Biochem Biophys 568:56-63(2015) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

• Steady-state kinetic mechanism and reductive half-reaction of D-arginine dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

  Yuan H., Fu G., Brooks P.T., Weber I., Gadda G.

  D-arginine dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa catalyzes the oxidation of D-arginine to iminoarginine, which is hydrolyzed in solution to ketoarginine and ammonia. In the present study, we have genetically engineered an untagged form of the enzyme that was purified to high levels and charact ... >> More

  D-arginine dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa catalyzes the oxidation of D-arginine to iminoarginine, which is hydrolyzed in solution to ketoarginine and ammonia. In the present study, we have genetically engineered an untagged form of the enzyme that was purified to high levels and characterized in its kinetic properties. The enzyme is a true dehydrogenase that does not react with molecular oxygen. Steady-state kinetic studies with D-arginine or D-histidine as substrate and PMS as the electron acceptor established a ping-pong bi-bi kinetic mechanism. With the fast substrate D-arginine a dead-end complex of the reduced enzyme and the substrate occurs at high concentrations of D-arginine yielding substrate inhibition, while the overall turnover is partially limited by the release of the iminoarginine product. With the slow substrate D-histidine the initial Michaelis complex undergoes an isomerization involving multiple conformations that are not all equally catalytically competent for the subsequent oxidation reaction, while the overall turnover is at least partially limited by flavin reduction. The kinetic data are interpreted in view of the high-resolution crystal structures of the iminoarginine--and iminohistidine--enzyme complexes. << Less

  Biochemistry 49:9542-9550(2010) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 2 other entries.

• Insights on the mechanism of amine oxidation catalyzed by D-arginine dehydrogenase through pH and kinetic isotope effects.

  Yuan H., Xin Y., Hamelberg D., Gadda G.

  The mechanism of amine oxidation catalyzed by D-arginine dehydrogenase (DADH) has been investigated using steady-state and rapid reaction kinetics, with pH, substrate and solvent deuterium kinetic isotope effects (KIE) as mechanistic probes, and computational studies. Previous results showed that ... >> More

  The mechanism of amine oxidation catalyzed by D-arginine dehydrogenase (DADH) has been investigated using steady-state and rapid reaction kinetics, with pH, substrate and solvent deuterium kinetic isotope effects (KIE) as mechanistic probes, and computational studies. Previous results showed that 85-90% of the flavin reduction reaction occurs in the mixing time of the stopped-flow spectrophotometer when arginine is the substrate, precluding a mechanistic investigation. Consequently, leucine, with slower kinetics, has been used here as the flavin-reducing substrate. Free energy calculations and the pH profile of the K(d) are consistent with the enzyme preferentially binding the zwitterionic form of the substrate. Isomerization of the Michaelis complex, yielding an enzyme-substrate complex competent for flavin reduction, is established due to an inverse hyperbolic dependence of k(cat)/K(m) on solvent viscosity. Amine deprotonation triggers the oxidation reaction, with cleavage of the substrate NH and CH bonds occurring in an asynchronous fashion, as suggested by the multiple deuterium KIE on the rate constant for flavin reduction (k(red)). A pK(a) of 9.6 signifies the ionization of a group that facilitates flavin reduction in the unprotonated form. The previously reported high-resolution crystal structures of the iminoarginine and iminohistidine complexes of DADH allow us to propose that Tyr(53), on a mobile loop covering the active site, may participate in substrate binding and facilitate flavin reduction. << Less

  J Am Chem Soc 133:18957-18965(2011) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 1 other entry.

• Conformational changes and substrate recognition in Pseudomonas aeruginosa D-arginine dehydrogenase.

  Fu G., Yuan H., Li C., Lu C.D., Gadda G., Weber I.T.

  DADH catalyzes the flavin-dependent oxidative deamination of d-amino acids to the corresponding α-keto acids and ammonia. Here we report the first X-ray crystal structures of DADH at 1.06 Å resolution and its complexes with iminoarginine (DADH(red)/iminoarginine) and iminohistidine (DADH(red)/imin ... >> More

  DADH catalyzes the flavin-dependent oxidative deamination of d-amino acids to the corresponding α-keto acids and ammonia. Here we report the first X-ray crystal structures of DADH at 1.06 Å resolution and its complexes with iminoarginine (DADH(red)/iminoarginine) and iminohistidine (DADH(red)/iminohistidine) at 1.30 Å resolution. The DADH crystal structure comprises an unliganded conformation and a product-bound conformation, which is almost identical to the DADH(red)/iminoarginine crystal structure. The active site of DADH was partially occupied with iminoarginine product (30% occupancy) that interacts with Tyr53 in the minor conformation of a surface loop. This flexible loop forms an "active site lid", similar to those seen in other enzymes, and may play an essential role in substrate recognition. The guanidinium side chain of iminoarginine forms a hydrogen bond interaction with the hydroxyl of Thr50 and an ionic interaction with Glu87. In the structure of DADH in complex with iminohistidine, two alternate conformations were observed for iminohistidine where the imidazole groups formed hydrogen bond interactions with the side chains of His48 and Thr50 and either Glu87 or Gln336. The different interactions and very distinct binding modes observed for iminoarginine and iminohistidine are consistent with the 1000-fold difference in k(cat)/K(m) values for d-arginine and d-histidine. Comparison of the kinetic data for the activity of DADH on different d-amino acids and the crystal structures in complex with iminoarginine and iminohistidine establishes that this enzyme is characterized by relatively broad substrate specificity, being able to oxidize positively charged and large hydrophobic d-amino acids bound within a flask-like cavity. << Less

  Biochemistry 49:8535-8545(2010) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 3 other entries.

• Regulation of the dauBAR operon and characterization of D-amino acid dehydrogenase DauA in arginine and lysine catabolism of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1.

  Li C., Yao X., Lu C.D.

  A unique D-to-L racemization of arginine by coupled arginine dehydrogenases DauA and DauB encoded by the dauBAR operon has been recently reported as a prerequisite for D-arginine utilization as the sole source of carbon and nitrogen through L-arginine catabolic pathways in P. aeruginosa. In this s ... >> More

  A unique D-to-L racemization of arginine by coupled arginine dehydrogenases DauA and DauB encoded by the dauBAR operon has been recently reported as a prerequisite for D-arginine utilization as the sole source of carbon and nitrogen through L-arginine catabolic pathways in P. aeruginosa. In this study, enzymic properties of the catabolic FAD-dependent d-amino acid dehydrogenase DauA and the physiological functions of the dauBAR operon were further characterized with other d-amino acids. These results establish DauA as a D-amino acid dehydrogenase of broad substrate specificity, with D-Arg and D-Lys as the two most effective substrates, based on the kinetic parameters. In addition, expression of dauBAR is specifically induced by exogenous D-Arg and D-Lys, and mutations in the dauBAR operon affect utilization of these two amino acids alone. The function of DauR as a repressor in the control of the dauBAR operon was demonstrated by dauB promoter activity measurements in vivo and mobility shift assays with purified His-tagged protein in vitro. The potential effect of 2-ketoarginine (2-KA) derived from D-Arg deamination by DauA as a signal molecule in dauBAR induction was first revealed by mutation analysis and further supported by its in vitro effect on alleviation of DauR-DNA interactions. Through sequence analysis, putative DauR operators were identified and confirmed by mutation analysis. Induction of the dauBAR operon to the maximal level was found to require the L-arginine-responsive regulator ArgR, as supported by the loss of inductive effect by L-Arg on dauBAR expression in the argR mutant and binding of purified ArgR to the dauB regulatory region in vitro. In summary, this study establishes that optimal induction of the dauBAR operon requires relief of DauR repression by 2-KA and activation of ArgR by L-Arg as a result of d-Arg racemization by the encoded DauA and DauB. << Less

  Microbiology 156:60-71(2010) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 1 other entry.

• The fourth arginine catabolic pathway of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

  Jann A., Matsumoto H., Haas D.

  D-Arginine dehydrogenase activity was discovered in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This enzyme was inducible by its substrate, D-arginine, as well as by its product, 2-ketoarginine, but not by L-arginine. The enzyme activity was measured in vitro, in the presence of artificial electron acceptore (phenazi ... >> More

  D-Arginine dehydrogenase activity was discovered in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This enzyme was inducible by its substrate, D-arginine, as well as by its product, 2-ketoarginine, but not by L-arginine. The enzyme activity was measured in vitro, in the presence of artificial electron acceptore (phenazine methosulphate and iodonitrotetrazolium chloride). 2-ketoarginine was catabolized further to 4-guanidinobutyraldehyde, 4-guanidinobutyrate and 4-aminobutyrate. Two enzymes involved, 4-guanidinobutyraldehyde dehydrogenase and guanidinobutyrase, were inducible by 2-ketoarginine; the latter enzyme was also strongly induced by 4-guanidinobutyrate. An arginine racemase activity was detected by an invivo test. E-Arginine had the potential to be catabolized via the D-arginine dehydrogenase pathway and, after racemization, via the three L-arginine catabolic pathyways previously demonstrated in P. aeruginosa. In mutants blocked in the L-arginine succinyltransferase pathway, but no in the wild-type, L-arginine was channelled partially into the D-arginine dehydrogenase pathway. Mutations in the kauB locus abolished growth of P. aeruginosa on 2-ketoarginine, agmatine and putrescine, and led to loss of 4-guanidinobutyraldehyde dehydrogenase and 4-aminobutyaldehyde dehydrogenase activites. Thus, these two activites appear to be due to one enzyme in P. aeruginosa. The kauB locus was mapped on the chromosome between lysA and argB and was not linked to known genes involved in the three L-arginine catabolic pathways. The existence of four arginine catabolic pathways illustrates the metabolic versatility of P. aeruginosa. << Less

  J. Gen. Microbiol. 134:1043-1053(1988) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 2 other entries.