Tryptophanase (Trpase) is a pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP)-dependent homotetrameric enzyme which catalyzes the degradation of L-tryptophan. Trpase is also known for its cold lability, which is a reversible loss of activity at low temperature (2°C) that is associated with the dissociation of the tetramer. Escherichia coli Trpase dissociates into dimers, while Proteus vulgaris Trpase dissociates into monomers. As such, this enzyme is an appropriate model to study the protein–protein interactions and quaternary structure of proteins. The aim of the present study was to understand the differences in the mode of dissociation between the E. coli and P. vulgaris Trpases. In particular, the effect of mutations along the molecular axes of homotetrameric Trpase on its dissociation was studied. To answer this question, two groups of mutants of the E. coli enzyme were created to resemble the amino-acid sequence of P. vulgaris Trpase. In one group, residues 15 and 59 that are located along the molecular axis R (also termed the noncatalytic axis) were mutated. The second group included a mutation at position 298, located along the molecular axis Q (also termed the catalytic axis). Replacing amino-acid residues along the R axis resulted in dissociation of the tetramers into monomers, similar to the P. vulgaris Trpase, while replacing amino-acid residues along the Q axis resulted in dissociation into dimers only. The crystal structure of the V59M mutant of E. coli Trpase was also determined in its apo form and was found to be similar to that of the wild type. This study suggests that in E. coli Trpase hydrophobic interactions along the R axis hold the two monomers together more strongly, preventing the dissociation of the dimers into monomers. Mutation of position 298 along the Q axis to a charged residue resulted in tetramers that are less susceptible to dissociation. Thus, the results indicate that dissociation of E. coli Trpase into dimers occurs along the molecular Q axis.

Tryptophanase (Trpase) is a pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP)-dependent homotetrameric enzyme which catalyzes the degradation of L-tryptophan. Trpase is also known for its cold lability, which is a reversible loss of activity at low temperature (2°C) that is associated with the dissociation of the tetramer. Escherichia coli Trpase dissociates into dimers, while Proteus vulgaris Trpase dissociates into monomers. As such, this enzyme is an appropriate model to study the protein–protein interactions and quaternary structure of proteins. The aim of the present study was to understand the differences in the mode of dissociation between the E. coli and P. vulgaris Trpases. In particular, the effect of mutations along the molecular axes of homotetrameric Trpase on its dissociation was studied. To answer this question, two groups of mutants of the E. coli enzyme were created to resemble the amino-acid sequence of P. vulgaris Trpase. In one group, residues 15 and 59 that are located along the molecular axis R (also termed the noncatalytic axis) were mutated. The second group included a mutation at position 298, located along the molecular axis Q (also termed the catalytic axis). Replacing amino-acid residues along the R axis resulted in dissociation of the tetramers into monomers, similar to the P. vulgaris Trpase, while replacing amino-acid residues along the Q axis resulted in dissociation into dimers only. The crystal structure of the V59M mutant of E. coli Trpase was also determined in its apo form and was found to be similar to that of the wild type. This study suggests that in E. coli Trpase hydrophobic interactions along the R axis hold the two monomers together more strongly, preventing the dissociation of the dimers into monomers. Mutation of position 298 along the Q axis to a charged residue resulted in tetramers that are less susceptible to dissociation. Thus, the results indicate that dissociation of E. coli Trpase into dimers occurs along the molecular Q axis.

Two crystal forms of Escherichia coli tryptophanase (tryptophan indole-lyase, Trpase) were obtained under the same crystallization conditions. Both forms belonged to the same space group P43212 but had slightly different unit-cell parameters. The holo crystal form, with pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) bound to Lys270 of both polypeptide chains in the asymmetric unit, diffracted to 2.9 Å resolution. The second crystal form diffracted to 3.2 Å resolution. Of the two subunits in the asymmetric unit, one was found in the holo form, while the other appeared to be in the apo form in a wide-open conformation with two sulfate ions bound in the vicinity of the active site. The conformation of all holo subunits is the same in both crystal forms. The structures suggest that Trpase is flexible in the apo form. Its conformation partially closes upon binding of PLP. The closed conformation might correspond to the enzyme in its active state with both cofactor and substrate bound in a similar way as in tyrosine phenol-lyase.

A new crystal form of E. coli tryptophanase (tryptophan indole-lyase, Trpase) (space group P43212, a=b=109.97 Å, c=238.40 Å) was obtained under the same conditions as the tetragonal crystals of holo E. coli. Trpase. The structure was solved by molecular replacement at 3.2 Å resolution using the coordinates of apo E. coli Trpase (PDB code 2OQX) as a search model and refined to R=21.3 %, Rfree=28.9 %. Out of two polypeptide chains contained in the asymmetric unit, one was found in holo form with PLP covalently attached to Lys271, while the other appeared to be in the apo form. The overall conformation of the holo subunit is the same as in the holo form of tyrosine phenol-lyase. The apo subunit is found in a wide-open conformation very similar to the one observed in the crystal structure of apo Trpase. Taking into account the flexibility of apo Trpase as seen in the known structures and difference in the crystallization conditions (pH, precipitant) and crystal packing, this finding is quite unexpected. We suggest that apo Trpase is found in the solution predominantly in the wide-open conformation which partially closes upon binding of PLP. The closed conformation might correspond to the enzyme state with both cofactor and substrate bound, in a way similar to tyrosine phenol-lyase. In addition, the conformation of the loop 301-310 is different in apo and holo subunits of the new structure suggesting that this conformational change is not induced by the oxidation of Cys298.

Oligomeric enzymes can undergo a reversible loss of activity at low temperatures. One such enzyme is tryptophanase (Trpase) from Escherichia coli. Trpase is a pyridoxal phosphate (PLP)-dependent tetrameric enzyme with a Mw of 210 kD. PLP is covalently bound through an enamine bond to Lys270 at the active site. The incubation of holo E. coli Trpases at 2°C for 20 h results in breaking this enamine bond and PLP release, as well as a reversible loss of activity and dissociation into dimers. This sequence of events is termed cold lability and its understanding bears relevance to protein stability and shelf life.

A wide variety of enzymes can undergo a reversible loss of activity at low temperature, a process that is termed cold inactivation. This phenomenon is found in oligomeric enzymes such as tryptophanase (Trpase) and other pyridoxal phosphate dependent enzymes. On the other hand, cold-adapted, or psychrophilic enzymes, isolated from organisms able to thrive in permanently cold environments, have optimal activity at low temperature, which is associated with low thermal stability. Since cold inactivation may be considered "contradictory" to cold adaptation, we have looked into the amino acid sequences and the crystal structures of two families of enzymes, subtilisin and tryptophanase. Two cold adapted subtilisins, S41 and subtilisin-like protease from Vibrio, were compared to a mesophilic and a thermophilic subtilisins, as well as to four PLP-dependent enzymes in order to understand the specific surface residues, specific interactions, or any other molecular features that may be responsible for the differences in their tolerance to cold temperatures. The comparison between the psychrophilic and the mesophilic subtilisins revealed that the cold adapted subtilisins have a high content of acidic residues mainly found on their surface, making it charged. The analysis of the Trpases showed that they have a high content of hydrophobic residues on their surface. Thus, we suggest that the negatively charged residues on the surface of the subtilisins may be responsible for their cold adaptation, whereas the hydrophobic residues on the surface of monomeric Trpase molecules are responsible for the tetrameric assembly, and may account for their cold inactivation and dissociation.

The crystal structure of apo tryptophanase from Escherichia coli (space group F222, unit-cell parameters a = 118.4, b = 120.1, c = 171.2 A) was determined at 1.9 A resolution using the molecular-replacement method and refined to an R factor of 20.3% (R(free) = 23.2%). The structure revealed a significant shift in the relative orientation of the domains compared with both the holo form of Proteus vulgaris tryptophanase and with another crystal structure of apo E. coli tryptophanase, reflecting the internal flexibility of the molecule. Domain shifts were previously observed in tryptophanase and in the closely related enzyme tyrosine phenol-lyase, with the holo form found in an open conformation and the apo form in either an open or a closed conformation. Here, a wide-open conformation of the apo form of tryptophanase is reported. A conformational change is also observed in loop 297-303. The structure contains a hydrated Mg(2+) at the cation-binding site and a Cl(-) ion at the subunit interface. The enzyme activity depends on the nature of the bound cation, with smaller ions serving as inhibitors. It is hypothesized that this effect arises from variations of the coordination geometry of the bound cation.