βγ-Crystallination Endows a Novel Bacterial Glycoside Hydrolase 64 with Ca2+-Dependent Activity Modulation

March 24, 2020

Title

βγ-Crystallination Endows a Novel Bacterial Glycoside Hydrolase 64 with Ca2+-Dependent Activity Modulation

Author

Bal Krishnan, Shanti Swaroop Srivastava, Venu Sankeshi, Rupsi Garg, Sudhakar Srivastava, Rajan Sankaranarayanan, Yogendra Sharma

Year

2019

Journal

Journal of Bacteriology

Abstract

The prokaryotic βγ-crystallins are a large group of uncharacterized domains with Ca2+-binding motifs. We have observed that a vast number of these domains are found appended to other domains, in particular, the carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZy) domains. To elucidate the functional significance of these prospective Ca2+ sensors in bacteria and this widespread domain association, we have studied one typical example from Clostridium beijerinckii, a bacterium known for its ability to produce acetone, butanol, and ethanol through fermentation of several carbohydrates. This novel glycoside hydrolase of family 64 (GH64), which we named glucanallin, is composed of a βγ-crystallin domain, a GH64 domain, and a carbohydrate-binding module 56 (CBM56). The substrates of GH64, β-1,3-glucans, are the targets for industrial biofuel production due to their plenitude. We have examined the Ca2+-binding properties of this protein, assayed its enzymatic activity, and analyzed the structural features of the β-1,3-glucanase domain through its high-resolution crystal structure. The reaction products resulting from the enzyme reaction of glucanallin reinforce the mixed nature of GH64 enzymes, in contrast to the prevailing notion of them being an exotype. Upon disabling Ca2+ binding and comparing different domain combinations, we demonstrate that the βγ-crystallin domain in glucanallin acts as a Ca2+ sensor and enhances the glycolytic activity of glucanallin through Ca2+ binding. We also compare the structural peculiarities of this new member of the GH64 family to two previously studied members.

Instrument

J-815

Keywords

Circular dichroism, Secondary structure, Thermal stability, Chemical stability, Protein folding, Biochemistry