Publications

• Structural insight into amino group-carrier protein-mediated lysine biosynthesis: crystal structure of the LysZ.LysW complex from Thermus thermophilus.

  Yoshida A., Tomita T., Fujimura T., Nishiyama C., Kuzuyama T., Nishiyama M.

  In the biosynthesis of lysine by Thermus thermophilus, the metabolite α-ketoglutarate is converted to the intermediate α-aminoadipate (AAA), which is protected by the 54-amino acid acidic protein LysW. In this study, we determined the crystal structure of LysZ from T. thermophilus (TtLysZ), an ami ... >> More

  In the biosynthesis of lysine by Thermus thermophilus, the metabolite α-ketoglutarate is converted to the intermediate α-aminoadipate (AAA), which is protected by the 54-amino acid acidic protein LysW. In this study, we determined the crystal structure of LysZ from T. thermophilus (TtLysZ), an amino acid kinase that catalyzes the second step in the AAA to lysine conversion, which was in a complex with LysW at a resolution of 1.85 Å. A crystal analysis coupled with isothermal titration calorimetry of the TtLysZ mutants for TtLysW revealed tight interactions between LysZ and the globular and C-terminal extension domains of the LysW protein, which were mainly attributed to electrostatic forces. These results provided structural evidence for LysW acting as a protecting molecule for the α-amino group of AAA and also as a carrier protein to guarantee better recognition by biosynthetic enzymes for the efficient biosynthesis of lysine. << Less

  J. Biol. Chem. 290:435-447(2015) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

• Lysine and arginine biosyntheses mediated by a common carrier protein in Sulfolobus.

  Ouchi T., Tomita T., Horie A., Yoshida A., Takahashi K., Nishida H., Lassak K., Taka H., Mineki R., Fujimura T., Kosono S., Nishiyama C., Masui R., Kuramitsu S., Albers S.V., Kuzuyama T., Nishiyama M.

  LysW has been identified as a carrier protein in the lysine biosynthetic pathway that is active through the conversion of α-aminoadipate (AAA) to lysine. In this study, we found that the hyperthermophilic archaeon, Sulfolobus acidocaldarius, not only biosynthesizes lysine through LysW-mediated pro ... >> More

  LysW has been identified as a carrier protein in the lysine biosynthetic pathway that is active through the conversion of α-aminoadipate (AAA) to lysine. In this study, we found that the hyperthermophilic archaeon, Sulfolobus acidocaldarius, not only biosynthesizes lysine through LysW-mediated protection of AAA but also uses LysW to protect the amino group of glutamate in arginine biosynthesis. In this archaeon, after LysW modification, AAA and glutamate are converted to lysine and ornithine, respectively, by a single set of enzymes with dual functions. The crystal structure of ArgX, the enzyme responsible for modification and protection of the amino moiety of glutamate with LysW, was determined in complex with LysW. Structural comparison and enzymatic characterization using Sulfolobus LysX, Sulfolobus ArgX and Thermus LysX identify the amino acid motif responsible for substrate discrimination between AAA and glutamate. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that gene duplication events at different stages of evolution led to ArgX and LysX. << Less

  Nat. Chem. Biol. 9:277-283(2013) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 8 other entries.

• Lysine Biosynthesis of Thermococcus kodakarensis with the Capacity to Function as an Ornithine Biosynthetic System.

  Yoshida A., Tomita T., Atomi H., Kuzuyama T., Nishiyama M.

  We recently discovered a biosynthetic system using a novel amino group carrier protein called LysW for lysine biosynthesis via α-aminoadipate (AAA), and revealed that this system is also utilized in the biosynthesis of arginine by Sulfolobus In the present study, we focused on the biosynthesis of ... >> More

  We recently discovered a biosynthetic system using a novel amino group carrier protein called LysW for lysine biosynthesis via α-aminoadipate (AAA), and revealed that this system is also utilized in the biosynthesis of arginine by Sulfolobus In the present study, we focused on the biosynthesis of lysine and ornithine in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus kodakarensis, and showed that their biosynthesis is accomplished by a single set of metabolic enzymes. We also determined the crystal structure of the LysX family protein from T. kodakarensis, which catalyzes the conjugation of LysW with either AAA or glutamate, in a complex with LysW-γ-AAA. This crystal structure is the first example to show how LysX recognizes AAA as a substrate and provides a structural basis for the bifunctionality of the LysX family protein from T. kodakarensis Based on comparisons with other LysX family proteins, we propose a mechanism for substrate recognition and its relationship with molecular evolution among LysX family proteins, which have different substrate specificities. << Less

  J Biol Chem 291:21630-21643(2016) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 2 other entries.

• Discovery of proteinaceous N-modification in lysine biosynthesis of Thermus thermophilus.

  Horie A., Tomita T., Saiki A., Kono H., Taka H., Mineki R., Fujimura T., Nishiyama C., Kuzuyama T., Nishiyama M.

  Although the latter portion of lysine biosynthesis, the conversion of alpha-aminoadipate (AAA) to lysine, in Thermus thermophilus is similar to the latter portion of arginine biosynthesis, enzymes homologous to ArgA and ArgJ are absent from the lysine pathway. Because ArgA and ArgJ are known to mo ... >> More

  Although the latter portion of lysine biosynthesis, the conversion of alpha-aminoadipate (AAA) to lysine, in Thermus thermophilus is similar to the latter portion of arginine biosynthesis, enzymes homologous to ArgA and ArgJ are absent from the lysine pathway. Because ArgA and ArgJ are known to modify the amino group of glutamate to avoid intramolecular cyclization of intermediates, their absence suggests that the pathway includes an alternative N-modification system. We reconstituted the conversion of AAA to lysine and found that the amino group of AAA is modified by attachment to the gamma-carboxyl group of the C-terminal Glu54 of a small protein, LysW; that the side chain of AAA is converted to the lysyl side chain while still attached to LysW; and that lysine is subsequently liberated from the LysW-lysine fusion. The fact that biosynthetic enzymes recognize the acidic globular domain of LysW indicates that LysW acts as a carrier protein or protein scaffold for the biosynthetic enzymes. This study thus reveals the previously unknown function of a small protein in primary metabolism. << Less

  Nat. Chem. Biol. 5:673-679(2009) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 9 other entries.