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Alfred Pingoud - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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on the divalent metal ion dependence of dna cleavage by restriction endonucleases of the EcoRI family
Journal of Molecular Biology, 2009Co-Authors: Vera Pingoud, Albert Jeltsch, Jürgen Alves, Wolfgang Wende, Peter Friedhoff, Monika Reuter, Letif Mones, Monika Fuxreiter, Alfred PingoudAbstract:Abstract Restriction endonucleases of the PD…D/EXK family need Mg2+ for DNA cleavage. Whereas Mg2+ (or Mn2+) promotes catalysis, Ca2+ (without Mg2+) only supports DNA binding. The role of Mg2+ in DNA cleavage by restriction endonucleases has elicited many hypotheses, differing mainly in the number of Mg2+ involved in catalysis. To address this problem, we measured the Mg2+ and Mn2+ concentration dependence of DNA cleavage by BamHI, BglII, Cfr10I, EcoRI, EcoRII (catalytic domain), MboI, NgoMIV, PspGI, and SsoII, which were reported in co-crystal structure analyses to bind one (BglII and EcoRI) or two (BamHI and NgoMIV) Me2+ per active site. DNA cleavage experiments were carried out at various Mg2+ and Mn2+ concentrations at constant ionic strength. All enzymes show a qualitatively similar Mg2+ and Mn2+ concentration dependence. In general, the Mg2+ concentration optimum (between ∼ 1 and 10 mM) is higher than the Mn2+ concentration optimum (between ∼ 0.1 and 1 mM). At still higher Mg2+ or Mn2+ concentrations, the activities of all enzymes tested are reduced but can be reactivated by Ca2+. Based on these results, we propose that one Mg2+ or Mn2+ is critical for restriction enzyme activation, and binding of a second Me2+ plays a role in modulating the activity. Steady-state kinetics carried out with EcoRI and BamHI suggest that binding of a second Mg2+ or Mn2+ mainly leads to an increase in Km, such that the inhibitory effect of excess Mg2+ or Mn2+ can be overcome by increasing the substrate concentration. Our conclusions are supported by molecular dynamics simulations and are consistent with the structural observations of both one and two Me2+ binding to these enzymes.
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The mechanism of DNA cleavage by the type II restriction enzyme EcoRV: Asp36 is not directly involved in DNA cleavage but serves to couple indirect readout to catalysis.
Biological chemistry, 1998Co-Authors: Frank Stahl, Wolfgang Wende, Albert Jeltsch, Alfred PingoudAbstract:Three different mechanisms have been proposed to describe DNA cleavage by the type II restriction endonuclease EcoRV, which differ in the number and function of metal ions directly involved in catalysis and the different roles assigned to amino acid residues in the active sites and a phosphate group of the substrate. There are only four acidic amino acid residues close to the scissile bond: the essential Asp74 and Asp90, the non-essential Glu45, and Asp36. We show here that Asp36 can be exchanged for alanine, with only minor effects on the cleavage rate of the nearby phosphodiester bond, excluding that Asp36 could be directly involved in catalysis. Hence, the two versions of the two-metal-ion mechanism are not compatible with the experimental data, because too few ligands for two metal ions are present near the active site of EcoRV. Our result, thus, supports the one-metal-ion mechanism for EcoRV. We suggest that Asp36 has an allosteric effect by which specific contacts between one strand of the DNA and one subunit of the enzyme trigger the activation of one catalytic center. Given the similar structures of the active sites of EcoRV, EcoRI, BamHI, PvuII and FokI, as well as the occurrence of a characteristic catalytic motif in several other restriction enzymes, we conclude that these enzymes most likely share a similar mechanism of DNA cleavage, whose characteristic feature is the involvement of only one Mg2+ ion in catalysis.
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A dodecapeptide comprising the extended chain-alpha 4 region of the restriction endonuclease EcoRI specifically binds to the EcoRI recognition site
The Journal of biological chemistry, 1995Co-Authors: Albert Jeltsch, Jürgen Alves, Günter Maass, Claus Urbanke, Heiner Eckstein, Zhang Lianshan, Ernst Bayer, Alfred PingoudAbstract:The restriction endonuclease EcoRI binds and cleaves DNA containing GAATTC sequences with high specificity. According to the crystal structure, most of the specific contacts of the enzyme to the DNA are formed by the extended chain region and the first turn of alpha-helix alpha 4 (amino acids 137-145). Here, we demonstrate that a dodecapeptide (WDGMAAGNAIER), which is identical in the underlined parts of its sequence to EcoRI amino acids 137-145, specifically binds to GAATTC sequences. The peptide inhibits DNA cleavage by EcoRI but not by BamHI, BclI, EcoRV, HindIII, PacI, and XbaI. DNA cleavage by XbaI is slowed down at sites that partially overlap with EcoRI sites. The peptide inhibits cleavage of GAATTC sites by ApoI, which recognizes the sequence RAATTY. It interferes with DNA methylation by the EcoRI methyltransferase but not by the BamHI methyltransferase. It competes with EcoRI for DNA binding. Based on these results, the DNA binding constant of the peptide to GAATTC sequences was calculated to be 3 x 10(4) M-1. DNA binding is not temperature-dependent, suggesting that binding of the peptide is entropy-driven. As the peptide does not show any nonspecific binding to DNA, its DNA binding specificity is similar to that of EcoRI, in spite of the fact that the affinity is much smaller. These results suggest that contacts to the phosphate groups in EcoRI mainly provide binding affinity, whereas the specificity of EcoRI is based to a large extent on sequence-specific base contacts.
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Substrate-assisted catalysis in the cleavage of DNA by the EcoRI and EcoRV restriction enzymes
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 1993Co-Authors: Albert Jeltsch, Heiner Wolfes, Jürgen Alves, Günter Maass, Alfred PingoudAbstract:Abstract The crystal structure analyses of the EcoRI-DNA and EcoRV-DNA complexes do not provide clear suggestions as to which amino acid residues are responsible for the activation of water to carry out the DNA cleavage. Based on molecular modeling, we have proposed recently that the attacking water molecule is activated by the negatively charged pro-Rp phosphoryl oxygen of the phosphate group 3' to the scissile phosphodiester bond. We now present experimental evidence to support this proposal. (i) Oligodeoxynucleotide substrates lacking this phosphate group in one strand are cleaved only in the other strand. (ii) Oligodeoxynucleotide substrates carrying an H-phosphonate substitution at this position in both strands and, therefore, lacking a negatively charged oxygen at this position are cleaved at least four orders of magnitude more slowly than the unmodified substrate. These results are supported by other modification studies: oligodeoxynucleotide substrates with a phosphorothioate substitution at this position in both strands are cleaved only if the negatively charged sulfur is in the RP configuration as shown for EcoRI [Koziolkiewicz, M. & Stec, W.J. (1992) Biochemistry 31, 9460-9466] and EcoRV (B. A. Connolly, personal communication). As the phosphate residue 3' to the scissile phosphodiester bond is not needed for strong DNA binding by both enzymes, these findings strongly suggest that this phosphate group plays an active role during catalysis. This proposal, furthermore, gives a straightforward explanation of why in the EcoRI-DNA and EcoRV-DNA complexes the DNA is distorted differently, but in each case the 3' phosphate group closely approaches the phosphate group that is attacked. Finally, an alternative mechanism for DNA cleavage involving two metal ions is unlikely in the light of our finding that both EcoRI and EcoRV need only one Mg2+ per active site for cleavage.
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On the catalytic mechanism of EcoRI and EcoRV. A detailed proposal based on biochemical results, structural data and molecular modelling.
FEBS letters, 1992Co-Authors: Albert Jeltsch, Jürgen Alves, Günter Maass, Alfred PingoudAbstract:EcoRI and EcoRV have a very similar active site, as is apparent from a comparison of the structures of their respective protein-DNA complexes. Based on structural and mechanistic data, as well as detailed molecular modelling presented here, a mechanism for the DNA cleavage by these enzymes is suggested in which the attacking water molecule is activated by the phosphate group 3′ to the scissile phosphodiester bond, and in which the leaving group is protonated by a water molecule associated with the essential cofactor, Mg2+. The mechanism proposed may also apply to other nucleases.
Albert Jeltsch - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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on the divalent metal ion dependence of dna cleavage by restriction endonucleases of the EcoRI family
Journal of Molecular Biology, 2009Co-Authors: Vera Pingoud, Albert Jeltsch, Jürgen Alves, Wolfgang Wende, Peter Friedhoff, Monika Reuter, Letif Mones, Monika Fuxreiter, Alfred PingoudAbstract:Abstract Restriction endonucleases of the PD…D/EXK family need Mg2+ for DNA cleavage. Whereas Mg2+ (or Mn2+) promotes catalysis, Ca2+ (without Mg2+) only supports DNA binding. The role of Mg2+ in DNA cleavage by restriction endonucleases has elicited many hypotheses, differing mainly in the number of Mg2+ involved in catalysis. To address this problem, we measured the Mg2+ and Mn2+ concentration dependence of DNA cleavage by BamHI, BglII, Cfr10I, EcoRI, EcoRII (catalytic domain), MboI, NgoMIV, PspGI, and SsoII, which were reported in co-crystal structure analyses to bind one (BglII and EcoRI) or two (BamHI and NgoMIV) Me2+ per active site. DNA cleavage experiments were carried out at various Mg2+ and Mn2+ concentrations at constant ionic strength. All enzymes show a qualitatively similar Mg2+ and Mn2+ concentration dependence. In general, the Mg2+ concentration optimum (between ∼ 1 and 10 mM) is higher than the Mn2+ concentration optimum (between ∼ 0.1 and 1 mM). At still higher Mg2+ or Mn2+ concentrations, the activities of all enzymes tested are reduced but can be reactivated by Ca2+. Based on these results, we propose that one Mg2+ or Mn2+ is critical for restriction enzyme activation, and binding of a second Me2+ plays a role in modulating the activity. Steady-state kinetics carried out with EcoRI and BamHI suggest that binding of a second Mg2+ or Mn2+ mainly leads to an increase in Km, such that the inhibitory effect of excess Mg2+ or Mn2+ can be overcome by increasing the substrate concentration. Our conclusions are supported by molecular dynamics simulations and are consistent with the structural observations of both one and two Me2+ binding to these enzymes.
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The mechanism of DNA cleavage by the type II restriction enzyme EcoRV: Asp36 is not directly involved in DNA cleavage but serves to couple indirect readout to catalysis.
Biological chemistry, 1998Co-Authors: Frank Stahl, Wolfgang Wende, Albert Jeltsch, Alfred PingoudAbstract:Three different mechanisms have been proposed to describe DNA cleavage by the type II restriction endonuclease EcoRV, which differ in the number and function of metal ions directly involved in catalysis and the different roles assigned to amino acid residues in the active sites and a phosphate group of the substrate. There are only four acidic amino acid residues close to the scissile bond: the essential Asp74 and Asp90, the non-essential Glu45, and Asp36. We show here that Asp36 can be exchanged for alanine, with only minor effects on the cleavage rate of the nearby phosphodiester bond, excluding that Asp36 could be directly involved in catalysis. Hence, the two versions of the two-metal-ion mechanism are not compatible with the experimental data, because too few ligands for two metal ions are present near the active site of EcoRV. Our result, thus, supports the one-metal-ion mechanism for EcoRV. We suggest that Asp36 has an allosteric effect by which specific contacts between one strand of the DNA and one subunit of the enzyme trigger the activation of one catalytic center. Given the similar structures of the active sites of EcoRV, EcoRI, BamHI, PvuII and FokI, as well as the occurrence of a characteristic catalytic motif in several other restriction enzymes, we conclude that these enzymes most likely share a similar mechanism of DNA cleavage, whose characteristic feature is the involvement of only one Mg2+ ion in catalysis.
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Site-directed mutagenesis in the catalytic center of the restriction endonuclease EcoRI.
Gene, 1995Co-Authors: G Grabowski, Heiner Wolfes, Albert Jeltsch, G Maass, Juergen AlvesAbstract:The catalytic center of the restriction endonuclease (ENase) EcoRI is structurally homologous to that of EcoRV, BamHI and PvuII. Each of these ENases contains a short motif of three to four amino acid (aa) residues which are positioned in a similar orientation to the scissile phosphodiester bond. We have mutated these aa (Pro90, Asp91, Glu111 and Lys113) in EcoRI to determine their individual roles in catalysis. The replacement of Asp91 and Lys113, respectively, by conservative mutations (Ala91, Asn91, Ala113, Gln113, His113 and Leu113) resulted in a reduction of binding affinity and complete loss of cleavage activity. Only Lys113-->Arg substitution still allows to cleave DNA, albeit with a rate reduced by at least four orders of magnitude. Lys113 seems to stabilize the structure of the wild-type (wt) ENase since all five ENase variants with mutations at this position show a strongly enhanced tendency to aggregate. The Ala and Gln mutants of Glu111 bind the recognition sequence slightly stronger than wt EcoRI and cleave it with a low, but detectable rate. Only the Glu111-->Lys mutant, in which the charge is reversed, shows neither binding nor cleavage activity. Pro90 is not important for catalysis, because the Ala90 mutant cleaves DNA with an only slightly reduced rate. Under star conditions, however, this mutant is even more active than wt EcoRI. Therefore, the charged aa Asp91, Glu111 and Lys113 are essential for catalytic activity of the EcoRI ENase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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A dodecapeptide comprising the extended chain-alpha 4 region of the restriction endonuclease EcoRI specifically binds to the EcoRI recognition site
The Journal of biological chemistry, 1995Co-Authors: Albert Jeltsch, Jürgen Alves, Günter Maass, Claus Urbanke, Heiner Eckstein, Zhang Lianshan, Ernst Bayer, Alfred PingoudAbstract:The restriction endonuclease EcoRI binds and cleaves DNA containing GAATTC sequences with high specificity. According to the crystal structure, most of the specific contacts of the enzyme to the DNA are formed by the extended chain region and the first turn of alpha-helix alpha 4 (amino acids 137-145). Here, we demonstrate that a dodecapeptide (WDGMAAGNAIER), which is identical in the underlined parts of its sequence to EcoRI amino acids 137-145, specifically binds to GAATTC sequences. The peptide inhibits DNA cleavage by EcoRI but not by BamHI, BclI, EcoRV, HindIII, PacI, and XbaI. DNA cleavage by XbaI is slowed down at sites that partially overlap with EcoRI sites. The peptide inhibits cleavage of GAATTC sites by ApoI, which recognizes the sequence RAATTY. It interferes with DNA methylation by the EcoRI methyltransferase but not by the BamHI methyltransferase. It competes with EcoRI for DNA binding. Based on these results, the DNA binding constant of the peptide to GAATTC sequences was calculated to be 3 x 10(4) M-1. DNA binding is not temperature-dependent, suggesting that binding of the peptide is entropy-driven. As the peptide does not show any nonspecific binding to DNA, its DNA binding specificity is similar to that of EcoRI, in spite of the fact that the affinity is much smaller. These results suggest that contacts to the phosphate groups in EcoRI mainly provide binding affinity, whereas the specificity of EcoRI is based to a large extent on sequence-specific base contacts.
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Substrate-assisted catalysis in the cleavage of DNA by the EcoRI and EcoRV restriction enzymes
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 1993Co-Authors: Albert Jeltsch, Heiner Wolfes, Jürgen Alves, Günter Maass, Alfred PingoudAbstract:Abstract The crystal structure analyses of the EcoRI-DNA and EcoRV-DNA complexes do not provide clear suggestions as to which amino acid residues are responsible for the activation of water to carry out the DNA cleavage. Based on molecular modeling, we have proposed recently that the attacking water molecule is activated by the negatively charged pro-Rp phosphoryl oxygen of the phosphate group 3' to the scissile phosphodiester bond. We now present experimental evidence to support this proposal. (i) Oligodeoxynucleotide substrates lacking this phosphate group in one strand are cleaved only in the other strand. (ii) Oligodeoxynucleotide substrates carrying an H-phosphonate substitution at this position in both strands and, therefore, lacking a negatively charged oxygen at this position are cleaved at least four orders of magnitude more slowly than the unmodified substrate. These results are supported by other modification studies: oligodeoxynucleotide substrates with a phosphorothioate substitution at this position in both strands are cleaved only if the negatively charged sulfur is in the RP configuration as shown for EcoRI [Koziolkiewicz, M. & Stec, W.J. (1992) Biochemistry 31, 9460-9466] and EcoRV (B. A. Connolly, personal communication). As the phosphate residue 3' to the scissile phosphodiester bond is not needed for strong DNA binding by both enzymes, these findings strongly suggest that this phosphate group plays an active role during catalysis. This proposal, furthermore, gives a straightforward explanation of why in the EcoRI-DNA and EcoRV-DNA complexes the DNA is distorted differently, but in each case the 3' phosphate group closely approaches the phosphate group that is attacked. Finally, an alternative mechanism for DNA cleavage involving two metal ions is unlikely in the light of our finding that both EcoRI and EcoRV need only one Mg2+ per active site for cleavage.
Aneel K. Aggarwal - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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structure of restriction endonuclease bamhi and its relationship to EcoRI
Nature, 1994Co-Authors: M Newman, Ira Schildkraut, T Strzelecka, Lydia F Dorner, Aneel K. AggarwalAbstract:Type II restriction endonucleases are characterized by the remarkable specificity with which they cleave specific DNA sequences. Surprisingly, their protein sequences are in most cases unrelated, and no recurring structural motif has yet been identified. We have determined the structure of restriction endonuclease BamHI at 1.95 A resolution. BamHI shows striking resemblance to the structure of endonuclease EcoRI (refs 3, 4), despite the lack of sequence similarity between them. We also observe some curious differences between the two structures, and propose an evolutionary scheme that may explain them. The active site of BamHI is structurally similar to the active sites of EcoRI and EcoRV (ref. 5), but the mechanism by which BamHI activates a water molecule for nucleophilic attack may be different.
Ichizo Kobayashi - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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regulation of the EcoRI restriction modification system identification of EcoRIm gene promoters and their upstream negative regulators in the EcoRIr gene
Gene, 2007Co-Authors: Yaoping Liu, Asao Ichige, Ichizo KobayashiAbstract:Type II restriction-modification (R-M) systems are composed of linked restriction endonuclease and modification methyltransferase genes and serve as barriers to horizontal gene transfer even though they are mobile in themselves. Their products kill host bacterial cells that have lost the R-M genes, a process that helps to maintain the frequency of the R-M systems in the viable cell population. Their establishment and maintenance in a bacterial host are expected to involve fine regulation of their gene expression. In the present study, we analyzed transcription of the modification gene and its regulation within the EcoRI R-M system. Northern blotting revealed that the downstream EcoRIM gene is transcribed as a monocistronic mRNA and as part of a larger bicistronic mRNA together with the upstream EcoRIR gene. Primer extension, RNase protection, and mutational analysis using lacZ gene fusions identified two overlapping promoters for EcoRIM gene transcription within the EcoRIR gene. Further mutational analysis revealed that two upstream AT-rich elements within the EcoRIR gene, "AATAAA" and "ATTATAAATATA," function as negative regulators of these promoters. Simultaneous substitution of these two elements resulted in a four-fold increase in beta-galactosidase activity and a five-fold increase in transcript levels as measured by RNase protection assay. RNA measurements of the EcoRIM transcript suggested that these elements decreased EcoRIM expression by interfering with transcription initiation of the EcoRIM promoters. Possible roles for these EcoRIM promoters and their negative regulators in the EcoRI R-M system are discussed.
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negative regulation of the EcoRI restriction enzyme gene is associated with intragenic reverse promoters
Journal of Bacteriology, 2007Co-Authors: Yaoping Liu, Ichizo KobayashiAbstract:Type II restriction-modification systems are expected to possess mechanisms for tight regulation of their expression to suppress the potential of lethal attack on their host bacteria when they establish and maintain themselves within them. Although the EcoRI restriction enzyme has been well characterized, regulation of its expression is still poorly understood. In this study, mutational analysis with lacZ gene fusion and primer extension assay identified a promoter for the transcription of the EcoRIR gene. Further analyses revealed that an intragenic region containing two overlapping reverse promoter-like elements acted as a negative regulator for EcoRIR gene expression. The activity of these putative reverse promoters was verified by transcriptional gene fusion, primer extension and in vitro transcription. Mutations in these reverse promoters resulted in increased gene expression in both translational and transcriptional gene fusions. An RNase protection assay revealed that the transcript level of the wild type relative to that of the reverse promoter mutant at the downstream regions was much lower than the level at the upstream regions. This suggests that these reverse promoter-like elements affect their downstream transcript level. The possible mechanisms of this kind of negative regulation, in addition to their possible biological roles, are discussed.
Jürgen Alves - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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on the divalent metal ion dependence of dna cleavage by restriction endonucleases of the EcoRI family
Journal of Molecular Biology, 2009Co-Authors: Vera Pingoud, Albert Jeltsch, Jürgen Alves, Wolfgang Wende, Peter Friedhoff, Monika Reuter, Letif Mones, Monika Fuxreiter, Alfred PingoudAbstract:Abstract Restriction endonucleases of the PD…D/EXK family need Mg2+ for DNA cleavage. Whereas Mg2+ (or Mn2+) promotes catalysis, Ca2+ (without Mg2+) only supports DNA binding. The role of Mg2+ in DNA cleavage by restriction endonucleases has elicited many hypotheses, differing mainly in the number of Mg2+ involved in catalysis. To address this problem, we measured the Mg2+ and Mn2+ concentration dependence of DNA cleavage by BamHI, BglII, Cfr10I, EcoRI, EcoRII (catalytic domain), MboI, NgoMIV, PspGI, and SsoII, which were reported in co-crystal structure analyses to bind one (BglII and EcoRI) or two (BamHI and NgoMIV) Me2+ per active site. DNA cleavage experiments were carried out at various Mg2+ and Mn2+ concentrations at constant ionic strength. All enzymes show a qualitatively similar Mg2+ and Mn2+ concentration dependence. In general, the Mg2+ concentration optimum (between ∼ 1 and 10 mM) is higher than the Mn2+ concentration optimum (between ∼ 0.1 and 1 mM). At still higher Mg2+ or Mn2+ concentrations, the activities of all enzymes tested are reduced but can be reactivated by Ca2+. Based on these results, we propose that one Mg2+ or Mn2+ is critical for restriction enzyme activation, and binding of a second Me2+ plays a role in modulating the activity. Steady-state kinetics carried out with EcoRI and BamHI suggest that binding of a second Mg2+ or Mn2+ mainly leads to an increase in Km, such that the inhibitory effect of excess Mg2+ or Mn2+ can be overcome by increasing the substrate concentration. Our conclusions are supported by molecular dynamics simulations and are consistent with the structural observations of both one and two Me2+ binding to these enzymes.
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A dodecapeptide comprising the extended chain-alpha 4 region of the restriction endonuclease EcoRI specifically binds to the EcoRI recognition site
The Journal of biological chemistry, 1995Co-Authors: Albert Jeltsch, Jürgen Alves, Günter Maass, Claus Urbanke, Heiner Eckstein, Zhang Lianshan, Ernst Bayer, Alfred PingoudAbstract:The restriction endonuclease EcoRI binds and cleaves DNA containing GAATTC sequences with high specificity. According to the crystal structure, most of the specific contacts of the enzyme to the DNA are formed by the extended chain region and the first turn of alpha-helix alpha 4 (amino acids 137-145). Here, we demonstrate that a dodecapeptide (WDGMAAGNAIER), which is identical in the underlined parts of its sequence to EcoRI amino acids 137-145, specifically binds to GAATTC sequences. The peptide inhibits DNA cleavage by EcoRI but not by BamHI, BclI, EcoRV, HindIII, PacI, and XbaI. DNA cleavage by XbaI is slowed down at sites that partially overlap with EcoRI sites. The peptide inhibits cleavage of GAATTC sites by ApoI, which recognizes the sequence RAATTY. It interferes with DNA methylation by the EcoRI methyltransferase but not by the BamHI methyltransferase. It competes with EcoRI for DNA binding. Based on these results, the DNA binding constant of the peptide to GAATTC sequences was calculated to be 3 x 10(4) M-1. DNA binding is not temperature-dependent, suggesting that binding of the peptide is entropy-driven. As the peptide does not show any nonspecific binding to DNA, its DNA binding specificity is similar to that of EcoRI, in spite of the fact that the affinity is much smaller. These results suggest that contacts to the phosphate groups in EcoRI mainly provide binding affinity, whereas the specificity of EcoRI is based to a large extent on sequence-specific base contacts.
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Substrate-assisted catalysis in the cleavage of DNA by the EcoRI and EcoRV restriction enzymes
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 1993Co-Authors: Albert Jeltsch, Heiner Wolfes, Jürgen Alves, Günter Maass, Alfred PingoudAbstract:Abstract The crystal structure analyses of the EcoRI-DNA and EcoRV-DNA complexes do not provide clear suggestions as to which amino acid residues are responsible for the activation of water to carry out the DNA cleavage. Based on molecular modeling, we have proposed recently that the attacking water molecule is activated by the negatively charged pro-Rp phosphoryl oxygen of the phosphate group 3' to the scissile phosphodiester bond. We now present experimental evidence to support this proposal. (i) Oligodeoxynucleotide substrates lacking this phosphate group in one strand are cleaved only in the other strand. (ii) Oligodeoxynucleotide substrates carrying an H-phosphonate substitution at this position in both strands and, therefore, lacking a negatively charged oxygen at this position are cleaved at least four orders of magnitude more slowly than the unmodified substrate. These results are supported by other modification studies: oligodeoxynucleotide substrates with a phosphorothioate substitution at this position in both strands are cleaved only if the negatively charged sulfur is in the RP configuration as shown for EcoRI [Koziolkiewicz, M. & Stec, W.J. (1992) Biochemistry 31, 9460-9466] and EcoRV (B. A. Connolly, personal communication). As the phosphate residue 3' to the scissile phosphodiester bond is not needed for strong DNA binding by both enzymes, these findings strongly suggest that this phosphate group plays an active role during catalysis. This proposal, furthermore, gives a straightforward explanation of why in the EcoRI-DNA and EcoRV-DNA complexes the DNA is distorted differently, but in each case the 3' phosphate group closely approaches the phosphate group that is attacked. Finally, an alternative mechanism for DNA cleavage involving two metal ions is unlikely in the light of our finding that both EcoRI and EcoRV need only one Mg2+ per active site for cleavage.
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On the catalytic mechanism of EcoRI and EcoRV. A detailed proposal based on biochemical results, structural data and molecular modelling.
FEBS letters, 1992Co-Authors: Albert Jeltsch, Jürgen Alves, Günter Maass, Alfred PingoudAbstract:EcoRI and EcoRV have a very similar active site, as is apparent from a comparison of the structures of their respective protein-DNA complexes. Based on structural and mechanistic data, as well as detailed molecular modelling presented here, a mechanism for the DNA cleavage by these enzymes is suggested in which the attacking water molecule is activated by the phosphate group 3′ to the scissile phosphodiester bond, and in which the leaving group is protonated by a water molecule associated with the essential cofactor, Mg2+. The mechanism proposed may also apply to other nucleases.
