Ma. Walsh et al., Structure of cyanase reveals that a novel dimeric and decameric arrangement of subunits is required for formation of the enzyme active site, STRUCT F D, 8(5), 2000, pp. 505-514
Background: Cyanase is an enzyme found in bacteria and plants that catalyze
s the reaction of cyanate with bicarbonate to produce ammonia and carbon di
oxide. In Escherichia coli, cyanase is induced from the cyn operon in respo
nse to extracellular cyanate. The enzyme is functionally active as a homode
camer of 17 kDa subunits, and displays half-site binding of substrates or s
ubstrate analogs. The enzyme shows no significant amino acid sequence homol
ogy with other proteins.
Results: We have determined the crystal structure of cyanase at 1.65 Angstr
om resolution using the multiwavelength anomalous diffraction (MAD) method.
Cyanase crystals are triclinic and contain one homodecamer in the asymmetr
ic unit. Selenomethionine-labeled protein offers 40 selenium atoms for use
in phasing. Structures of cyanase with bound chloride or oxalate anions, in
hibitors of the enzyme, allowed identification of the active site.
Conclusions: The cyanase monomer is composed of two domains. The N-terminal
domain shows structural similarity to the DNA-binding alpha-helix bundle m
otif. The C-terminal domain has an 'open fold' with no structural homology
to other proteins. The subunits of cyanase are arranged in a novel manner b
oth at the dimer and decamer level. The dimer structure reveals the C-termi
nal domains to be intertwined, and the decamer is formed by a pentamer of t
hese dimers. The active site of the enzyme is located between dimers and is
comprised of residues from four adjacent subunits of the homodecamer. The
structural data allow a conceivable reaction mechanism to be proposed.