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ABSTRACT: DNA polymerase β (pol β) is a bifunctional enzyme widely studied for its roles in base excision DNA repair where one key function is gap-filling DNA synthesis. In spite of significant progress in recent years, the atomic level mechanism of the DNA synthesis reaction has remained poorly understood. Based on crystal structures of pol β in complex with its substrates and theoretical considerations of amino acids and metals in the active site, we have proposed that a nearby carboxylate group of Asp256 enables the reaction by accepting a proton from the primer O3´group, thus activating O3´as the nucleophile in the reaction path. Here, we tested this proposal by altering the side chain of Asp256 to Glu and then exploring the impact of this conservative change on the reaction. The D256E enzyme is more than 1,000-fold less active than the wild-type enzyme, and the crystal structures are subtly different in the active sites of the D256E and wild-type enzymes. Theoretical analysis of DNA synthesis by the D256E enzyme shows that the O3´proton still transfers to the nearby carboxylate of residue 256. However, the electrostatic stabilization and location of the O3´ proton transfer during the reaction path are dramatically altered compared with wild-type. Surprisingly, this is due to repositioning of the Arg254 side chain in the Glu256 enzyme active site, such that Arg254 is not in position to stabilize the proton transfer from O3´. The theoretical results with the wild-type enzyme indicate early charge reorganization associated with the O3´ proton transfer, and this does not occur in the D256E enzyme. The charge reorganization is mediated by the catalytic magnesium ion in the active site.
Journal of the American Chemical Society 05/2013; · 9.91 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The human commensal pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae expresses a number of virulence factors that promote serious pneumococcal diseases, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. These virulence factors may give S. pneumoniae the capacity to escape immune defenses, resist antimicrobial agents, or a combination of both. Virulence factors also present possible points of therapeutic intervention. The activities of the surface endonuclease, EndA, allow S. pneumoniae to establish invasive pneumococcal infection. EndA's role in DNA uptake during transformation contributes to gene transfer and genetic diversification. Moreover, EndA's nuclease activity degrades the DNA backbone of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), allowing pneumococcus to escape host immune responses. Given its potential impact on pneumococcal pathogenicity, EndA is an attractive target for novel antimicrobial therapy. Herein, we describe the development of a high-throughput screening assay for the discovery of nuclease inhibitors. Nuclease-mediated digestion of double-stranded DNA was assessed using fluorescence changes of the DNA dye ligand, PicoGreen. Under optimized conditions, the assay provided robust and reproducible activity data (Z'= 0.87) and was used to screen 4727 small molecules against an imidazole-rescued variant of EndA. In total, six small molecules were confirmed as novel EndA inhibitors, some of which may have utility as research tools for understanding pneumococcal pathogenesis and for drug discovery.
Journal of Biomolecular Screening 09/2012; · 2.05 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Heparan sulfates (HSs) have potential therapeutic value as anti-inflammatory and antimetastasis drugs, in addition to their current use as anticoagulants. Recent advances in chemoenzymatic synthesis of HS provide a way to conveniently produce homogenous HS with different biological properties. Crystal structures of sulfotransferases involved in this process are providing atomic detail of their substrate binding clefts and interactions with their HS substrates. In theory, the flexibility of this method can be increased by modifying the specificities of the sulfotransferases based on the structures, thereby producing a new array of products.
Current Opinion in Structural Biology 07/2012; 22(5):550-7. · 9.42 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Although most DNA polymerases discriminate against ribonucleotide triphosphaets (rNTPs) during DNA synthesis, recent studies have shown that large numbers of ribonucleotides are incorporated into the eukaryotic nuclear genome. Here, we investigate how a DNA polymerase can stably incorporate an rNTP. The X-ray crystal structure of a variant of human DNA polymerase λ reveals that the rNTP occupies the nucleotide binding pocket without distortion of the active site, despite an unfavorable interaction between the 2'-O and Tyr505 backbone carbonyl. This indicates an energetically unstable binding state for the rNTP, stabilized by additional protein-nucleotide interactions. Supporting this idea is the 200-fold lower catalytic efficiency for rNTP relative to deoxyribonucleotide triphosphate (dNTP) incorporation, reflecting a higher apparent Km value for the rNTP. Furthermore, distortion observed in the structure of the post-catalytic product complex suggests that once the bond between the α- and β-phosphates of the rNTP is broken, the unfavorable binding state of the ribonucleotide cannot be maintained. Finally, structural and biochemical evaluation of dNTP insertion onto an ribonucleotide monophosphate (rNMP)-terminated primer indicates that a primer-terminal rNMP does not impede extension. The results are relevant to how ribonucleotides are incorporated into DNA in vivo, during replication and during repair, perhaps especially in non-proliferating cells when rNTP:dNTP ratios are high.
Nucleic Acids Research 05/2012; 40(15):7518-27. · 8.03 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Heparin is a polysaccharide-based natural product that is used clinically as an anticoagulant drug. Heparan sulfate 3-O-sulfotransferase (3-OST) is an enzyme that transfers a sulfo group to the 3-OH position of a glucosamine unit. 3-OST is present in multiple isoforms, and the polysaccharides modified by these different isoforms perform distinct biological functions. 3-OST isoform 1 (3-OST-1) is the key enzyme for the biosynthesis of anticoagulant heparin. Here, we report the crystal structure of the ternary complex of 3-OST-1, 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphate, and a heptasaccharide substrate. Comparisons to previously determined structures of 3-OST-3 reveal unique binding modes used by the different isoforms of 3-OST for distinguishing the fine structures of saccharide substrates. Our data demonstrate that the saccharide substrates display distinct conformations when interacting with the different 3-OST isoforms. Site-directed mutagenesis data suggest that several key amino residues, including Lys259, Thr256, and Trp283 in 3-OST-3 and Arg268 in 3-OST-1, play important roles in substrate binding and specificity between isoforms. These results deepen our understanding of the biosynthetic mechanism of heparan sulfate and provide structural information for engineering enzymes for an enhanced biosynthetic approach to heparin production.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 03/2012; 109(14):5265-70. · 9.68 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Mismatch repair (MMR) corrects replication errors that would otherwise lead to mutations and, potentially, various forms of cancer. Among several proteins required for eukaryotic MMR, MutLα is a heterodimer comprised of Mlh1 and Pms1. The two proteins dimerize along their C-terminal domains (CTDs), and the CTD of Pms1 houses a latent endonuclease that is required for MMR. The highly conserved N-terminal domains (NTDs) independently bind DNA and possess ATPase active sites. Here we use two protein footprinting techniques, limited proteolysis and oxidative surface mapping, coupled with mass spectrometry to identify amino acids involved along the DNA-binding surface of the Pms1-NTD. Limited proteolysis experiments elucidated several basic residues that were protected in the presence of DNA, while oxidative surface mapping revealed one residue that is uniquely protected from oxidation. Furthermore, additional amino acids distributed throughout the Pms1-NTD were protected from oxidation either in the presence of a non-hydrolyzable analog of ATP or DNA, indicating that each ligand stabilizes the protein in a similar conformation. Based on the recently published X-ray crystal structure of yeast Pms1-NTD, a model of the Pms1-NTD/DNA complex was generated using the mass spectrometric data as constraints. The proposed model defines the DNA-binding interface along a positively charged groove of the Pms1-NTD and complements prior mutagenesis studies of Escherichia coli and eukaryotic MutL.
DNA repair 02/2011; 10(5):454-65. · 4.20 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In describing the DNA double helix, Watson and Crick suggested that "spontaneous mutation may be due to a base occasionally occurring in one of its less likely tautomeric forms." Indeed, among many mispairing possibilities, either tautomerization or ionization of bases might allow a DNA polymerase to insert a mismatch with correct Watson-Crick geometry. However, despite substantial progress in understanding the structural basis of error prevention during polymerization, no DNA polymerase has yet been shown to form a natural base-base mismatch with Watson-Crick-like geometry. Here we provide such evidence, in the form of a crystal structure of a human DNA polymerase λ variant poised to misinsert dGTP opposite a template T. All atoms needed for catalysis are present at the active site and in positions that overlay with those for a correct base pair. The mismatch has Watson-Crick geometry consistent with a tautomeric or ionized base pair, with the pH dependence of misinsertion consistent with the latter. The results support the original idea that a base substitution can originate from a mismatch having Watson-Crick geometry, and they suggest a common catalytic mechanism for inserting a correct and an incorrect nucleotide. A second structure indicates that after misinsertion, the now primer-terminal G • T mismatch is also poised for catalysis but in the wobble conformation seen in other studies, indicating the dynamic nature of the pathway required to create a mismatch in fully duplex DNA.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 02/2011; 108(5):1862-7. · 9.68 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: EndA is a sequence non-specific endonuclease that serves as a virulence factor during Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. Expression of EndA provides a strategy for evasion of the host's neutrophil extracellular traps, digesting the DNA scaffold structure and allowing further invasion by S. pneumoniae. To define mechanisms of catalysis and substrate binding, we solved the structure of EndA at 1.75 Å resolution. The EndA structure reveals a DRGH (Asp-Arg-Gly-His) motif-containing ββα-metal finger catalytic core augmented by an interesting 'finger-loop' interruption of the active site α-helix. Subsequently, we delineated DNA binding versus catalytic functionality using structure-based alanine substitution mutagenesis. Three mutants, H154A, Q186A and Q192A, exhibited decreased nuclease activity that appears to be independent of substrate binding. Glu205 was found to be crucial for catalysis, while residues Arg127/Lys128 and Arg209/Lys210 contribute to substrate binding. The results presented here provide the molecular foundation for development of specific antibiotic inhibitors for EndA.
Nucleic Acids Research 11/2010; 39(7):2943-53. · 8.03 Impact Factor
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G K Surya Prakash,
Mikhail Zibinsky,
Thomas G Upton,
Boris A Kashemirov,
Charles E McKenna,
Keriann Oertell,
Myron F Goodman,
Vinod K Batra, Lars C Pedersen,
William A Beard,
David D Shock,
Samuel H Wilson,
George A Olah
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ABSTRACT: It is difficult to overestimate the importance of nucleoside triphosphates in cellular chemistry: They are the building blocks for DNA and RNA and important sources of energy. Modifications of biologically important organic molecules with fluorine are of great interest to chemists and biologists because the size and electronegativity of the fluorine atom can be used to make defined structural alterations to biologically important molecules. Although the concept of nonhydrolyzable nucleotides has been around for some time, the progress in the area of modified triphosphates was limited by the lack of synthetic methods allowing to access bisCF(2)-substituted nucleotide analogs-one of the most interesting classes of nonhydrolyzable nucleotides. These compounds have "correct" polarity and the smallest possible steric perturbation compared to natural nucleotides. No other known nucleotides have these advantages, making bisCF(2)-substituted analogs unique. Herein, we report a concise route for the preparation of hitherto unknown highly acidic and polybasic bis(difluoromethylene)triphosphoric acid 1 using a phosphorous(III)/phosphorous(V) interconversion approach. The analog 1 compared to triphosphoric acid is enzymatically nonhydrolyzable due to substitution of two bridging oxygen atoms with CF(2) groups, maintaining minimal perturbations in steric bulkiness and overall polarity of the triphosphate polyanion. The fluorinated triphosphoric acid 1 was used for the preparation of the corresponding fluorinated deoxynucleotides (dNTPs). One of these dNTP analogs (dT) was demonstrated to fit into DNA polymerase beta (DNA pol beta) binding pocket by obtaining a 2.5 A resolution crystal structure of a ternary complex with the enzyme. Unexpected dominating effect of triphosphate/Mg(2+) interaction over Watson-Crick hydrogen bonding was found and discussed.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 09/2010; 107(36):15693-8. · 9.68 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Group 5 allergens from house dust mites elicit strong IgE antibody binding in mite-allergic patients. The structure of Der p 5 was determined by x-ray crystallography to better understand the IgE epitopes, to investigate the biologic function in mites, and to compare with the conflicting published Blo t 5 structures, designated 2JMH and 2JRK in the Protein Data Bank. Der p 5 is a three-helical bundle similar to Blo t 5, but the interactions of the helices are more similar to 2JMH than 2JRK. The crystallographic asymmetric unit contains three dimers of Der p 5 that are not exactly alike. Solution scattering techniques were used to assess the multimeric state of Der p 5 in vitro and showed that the predominant state was monomeric, similar to Blo t 5, but larger multimeric species are also present. In the crystal, the formation of the Der p 5 dimer creates a large hydrophobic cavity of approximately 3000 A(3) that could be a ligand-binding site. Many allergens are known to bind hydrophobic ligands, which are thought to stimulate the innate immune system and have adjuvant-like effects on IgE-mediated inflammatory responses.
Journal of Biological Chemistry 08/2010; 285(33):25394-401. · 4.77 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The major product of oxidative base damage is 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanine (8odG). The coding potential of this lesion is modulated by its glycosidic torsion angle that controls whether its Watson-Crick or Hoogsteen edge is used for base pairing. The 2.0-A structure of DNA polymerase (pol) beta bound with 8odGTP opposite template adenine indicates that the modified nucleotide assumes the mutagenic syn conformation and that the nonmutagenic anti conformation would be incompatible with efficient DNA synthesis.
Nature Structural & Molecular Biology 07/2010; 17(7):889-90. · 12.71 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Beta,gamma-fluoromethylene analogues of nucleotides are considered to be useful mimics of the natural substrates, but direct structural evidence defining their active site interactions has not been available, including the influence of the new chiral center introduced at the CHF carbon, as in beta,gamma-fluoromethylene-dGTP, which forms an active site complex with DNA polymerase beta, a repair enzyme that plays an important role in base excision repair (BER) and oncogenesis. We report X-ray crystallographic results for a series of beta,gamma-CXY dGTP analogues, where X,Y = H, F, Cl, Br, and/or CH(3). For all three R/S monofluorinated analogues examined (CHF, 3/4; CCH(3)F, 13/14; CClF 15/16), a single CXF-diastereomer (3, 13, 16) is observed in the active site complex, with the CXF fluorine atom at a approximately 3 A (bonding) distance to a guanidinium N of Arg183. In contrast, for the CHCl, CHBr, and CHCH(3) analogues, both diasteromers (6/7, 8/9, 10/11) populate the dGTP site in the enzyme complex about equally. The structures of the bound dichloro (5) and dimethyl (12) analogue complexes indicate little to no steric effect on the placement of the bound nucleotide backbone. The results suggest that introduction of a single fluorine atom at the beta,gamma-bridging carbon atom of these dNTP analogues enables a new, stereospecific interaction within the preorganized active site complex that is unique to fluorine. The results also provide the first diverse structural data set permitting an assessment of how closely this class of dNTP analogues mimics the conformation of the parent nucleotide within the active site complex.
Journal of the American Chemical Society 06/2010; 132(22):7617-25. · 9.91 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Sensitization to house dust mite allergens is strongly correlated with asthma. Der p 7 elicits strong IgE antibody and T-cell responses in patients with mite allergy. However, the structure and biological function of this important allergen are unknown. Allergen function might contribute to allergenicity, as shown for the protease activity of group 1 mite allergens and the interaction with the innate immune system by group 2 mite allergens.
We sought to determine the crystal structure of Der p 7 and to investigate its biological function.
X-ray crystallography was used to determine the Der p 7 structure. Nuclear magnetic resonance analysis and biochemical assays were used to examine the binding of Der p 7 to predicted ligands.
Der p 7 has an elongated structure, with two 4-stranded antiparallel beta-sheets that wrap around a long C-terminal helix. The fold of Der p 7 is similar to that of LPS-binding protein (LBP), which interacts with Toll-like receptors after binding LPS and other bacterially derived lipid ligands. Nuclear magnetic resonance and biochemical assays indicate that Der p 7 does not bind LPS but binds with weak affinity to the bacterial lipopeptide polymyxin B in the predicted binding site of Der p 7.
Der p 7 binds a bacterially derived lipid product, a common feature of some allergens. The finding that the group 7, as well as the group 2, mite allergens are structurally similar to different proteins in the Toll-like receptor pathway further strengthens the connections between dust mites, innate immunity, and allergy.
The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology 04/2010; 125(4):909-917.e4. · 9.17 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Protein crystallographers are often confronted with recalcitrant proteins not readily crystallizable, or which crystallize in problematic forms. A variety of techniques have been used to surmount such obstacles: crystallization using carrier proteins or antibody complexes, chemical modification, surface entropy reduction, proteolytic digestion, and additive screening. Here we present a synergistic approach for successful crystallization of proteins that do not form diffraction quality crystals using conventional methods. This approach combines favorable aspects of carrier-driven crystallization with surface entropy reduction. We have generated a series of maltose binding protein (MBP) fusion constructs containing different surface mutations designed to reduce surface entropy and encourage crystal lattice formation. The MBP advantageously increases protein expression and solubility, and provides a streamlined purification protocol. Using this technique, we have successfully solved the structures of three unrelated proteins that were previously unattainable. This crystallization technique represents a valuable rescue strategy for protein structure solution when conventional methods fail.
Protein Science 03/2010; 19(5):901-13. · 2.80 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Saccharomyces cerevisiae MutLalpha is a heterodimer of Mlh1 and Pms1 that participates in DNA mismatch repair (MMR). Both proteins have weakly conserved C-terminal regions (CTDs), with the CTD of Pms1 harboring an essential endonuclease activity. These proteins also have conserved N-terminal domains (NTDs) that bind and hydrolyze ATP and bind to DNA. To better understand Pms1 functions and potential interactions with DNA and/or other proteins, we solved the 2.5A crystal structure of yeast Pms1 (yPms1) NTD. The structure is similar to the homologous NTDs of Escherichia coli MutL and human PMS2, including the site involved in ATP binding and hydrolysis. The structure reveals a number of conserved, positively charged surface residues that do not interact with other residues in the NTD and are therefore candidates for interactions with DNA, with the CTD and/or with other proteins. When these were replaced with glutamate, several replacements resulted in yeast strains with elevated mutation rates. Two replacements also resulted in NTDs with decreased DNA binding affinity in vitro, suggesting that these residues contribute to DNA binding that is important for mismatch repair. Elevated mutation rates also resulted from surface residue replacements that did not affect DNA binding, suggesting that these conserved residues serve other functions, possibly involving interactions with other MMR proteins.
DNA repair 02/2010; 9(4):448-57. · 4.20 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Family X polymerases such as DNA polymerase lambda (Pol lambda) are well suited for filling short gaps during DNA repair because they simultaneously bind both the 5' and 3' ends of short gaps. DNA binding and gap filling are well characterized for 1-nucleotide (nt) gaps, but the location of yet-to-be-copied template nucleotides in longer gaps is unknown. Here we present crystal structures revealing that, when bound to a 2-nt gap, Pol lambda scrunches the template strand and binds the additional uncopied template base in an extrahelical position within a binding pocket that comprises three conserved amino acids. Replacing these amino acids with alanine results in less processive gap filling and less efficient NHEJ when 2-nt gaps are involved. Thus, akin to scrunching by RNA polymerase during transcription initiation, scrunching occurs during gap filling DNA synthesis associated with DNA repair.
Nature Structural & Molecular Biology 09/2009; 16(9):967-72. · 12.71 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites are continuously generated in genomic DNA. Left unrepaired, AP sites represent noninstructional premutagenic lesions that are impediments to DNA synthesis. When DNA polymerases encounter an AP site, they generally insert dAMP. This preferential insertion is referred to as the A-rule. Crystallographic structures of DNA polymerase (pol) beta, a family X polymerase, with active site mismatched nascent base pairs indicate that the templating (i.e. coding) base is repositioned outside of the template binding pocket thereby diminishing interactions with the incorrect incoming nucleotide. This effectively produces an abasic site because the template pocket is devoid of an instructional base. However, the template pocket is not empty; an arginine residue (Arg-283) occupies the space vacated by the templating nucleotide. In this study, we analyze the kinetics of pol beta insertion opposite an AP site and show that the preferential incorporation of dAMP is lost with the R283A mutant. The crystallographic structures of pol beta bound to gapped DNA with an AP site analog (tertrahydrofuran) in the gap (binary complex) and with an incoming nonhydrolyzable dATP analog (ternary complex) were solved. These structures reveal that binding of the dATP analog induces a closed polymerase conformation, an unstable primer terminus, and an upstream shift of the templating residue even in the absence of a template base. Thus, dATP insertion opposite an abasic site and dATP misinsertions have common features.
Journal of Biological Chemistry 09/2009; 284(46):31680-9. · 4.77 Impact Factor
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Thomas G Upton,
Boris A Kashemirov,
Charles E McKenna,
Myron F Goodman,
G K Surya Prakash,
Roman Kultyshev,
Vinod K Batra,
David D Shock, Lars C Pedersen,
William A Beard,
Samuel H Wilson
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ABSTRACT: Alpha,beta-difluoromethylene deoxynucleoside 5'-triphosphates (dNTPs, N = A or C) are advantageously obtained via phosphorylation of corresponding dNDP analogues using catalytic ATP, PEP, nucleoside diphosphate kinase, and pyruvate kinase. DNA pol beta K(d) values for the alpha,beta-CF(2) and unmodified dNTPs, alpha,beta-NH dUTP, and the alpha,beta-CH(2) analogues of dATP and dGTP are discussed in relation to the conformations of alpha,beta-CF(2) dTTP versus alpha,beta-NH dUTP bound into the enzyme active site.
Organic Letters 05/2009; 11(9):1883-6. · 5.86 Impact Factor
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Thomas G. Upton,
Boris A. Kashemirov,
Charles E. McKenna,
Myron F. Goodman,
G. K. Surya Prakash,
Roman Kultyshev,
Vinod K. Batra,
David D. Shock, Lars C. Pedersen,
William A. Beard,
Samuel H. Wilson
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ABSTRACT: α,β-Difluoromethylene deoxynucleoside 5′-triphosphates (dNTPs, N = A or C) are advantageously obtained via phosphorylation of corresponding dNDP analogues using catalytic ATP, PEP, nucleoside diphosphate kinase, and pyruvate kinase. DNA pol β Kd values for the α,β-CF2 and unmodified dNTPs, α,β-NH dUTP, and the α,β-CH2 analogues of dATP and dGTP are discussed in relation to the conformations of α,β-CF2 dTTP versus α,β-NH dUTP bound into the enzyme active site.
04/2009;
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ABSTRACT: The 28 kDa epsilon subunit of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase III is the exonucleotidic proofreader responsible for editing polymerase insertion errors. Here, we study the mechanism by which epsilon carries out the exonuclease activity. We performed quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics calculations on the N-terminal domain containing the exonuclease activity. Both the free-epsilon and a complex epsilon bound to a theta homologue (HOT) were studied. For the epsilon-HOT complex Mg(2+) or Mn(2+) were investigated as the essential divalent metal cofactors, while only Mg(2+) was used for free-epsilon. In all calculations a water molecule bound to the catalytic metal acts as the nucleophile for hydrolysis of the phosphate bond. Initially, a direct proton transfer to H162 is observed. Subsequently, the nucleophilic attack takes place followed by a second proton transfer to E14. Our results show that the reaction catalyzed with Mn(2+) is faster than that with Mg(2+), in agreement with experiment. In addition, the epsilon-HOT complex shows a slightly lower energy barrier compared to free-epsilon. In all cases the catalytic metal is observed to be pentacoordinated. Charge and frontier orbital analyses suggest that charge transfer may stabilize the pentacoordination. Energy decomposition analysis to study the contribution of each residue to catalysis suggests that there are several important residues. Among these, H98, D103, D129, and D146 have been implicated in catalysis by mutagenesis studies. Some of these residues were found to be structurally conserved on human TREX1, the exonuclease domains from E. coli DNA-Pol I, and the DNA polymerase of bacteriophage RB69.
Journal of the American Chemical Society 02/2009; 131(4):1550-6. · 9.91 Impact Factor
