Structural Basis for the Substrate Inhibition of Proline Utilization A by Proline

Authors

David A. Korasick, University of MissouriFollow
Travis A. Pemberton, University of MissouriFollow
Benjamin W. Arentson, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Donald F. Becker, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
John J. Tanner, University of MissouriFollow

ORCID IDs

0000-0002-6337-2085

Date of this Version

2018

Citation

Molecules 2018, 23, 32

Comments

© 2017 by the authors.

Open access

doi:10.3390/molecules23010032

Abstract

Proline utilization A (PutA) is a bifunctional flavoenzyme that catalyzes the two-step oxidation of L-proline to L-glutamate using spatially separated proline dehydrogenase (PRODH) and L-glutamate-y-semialdehyde dehydrogenase (GSALDH) active sites. Substrate inhibition of the coupled PRODH-GSALDH reaction by proline is a common kinetic feature of PutAs, yet the structural basis for this phenomenon remains unknown. To understand the mechanism of substrate inhibition, we determined the 2.15 Å resolution crystal structure of Bradyrhizobium japonicum PutA complexed with proline. Proline was discovered in five locations remote from the PRODH active site. Most notably, strong electron density indicated that proline bound tightly to the GSAL binding site of the GSALDH active site. The pose and interactions of proline bound in this site are remarkably similar to those of the natural aldehyde substrate, GSAL, implying that proline inhibits the GSALDH reaction of PutA. Kinetic measurements show that proline is a competitive inhibitor of the PutA GSALDH reaction. Together, the structural and kinetic data show that substrate inhibition of the PutA coupled reaction is due to proline binding in the GSAL site.