The three-dimensional structure of the Nudix enzyme diadenosine tetraphosphate hydrolase from Lupinus angustifolius L

The solution structure of diadenosine 5', 5'''-P-1, P-4-tetraphosphate hydr olase from Lupinus angustifolius L., an enzyme of the Nudix family, has bee n determined by heteronuclear NMR, using a torsion angle dynamics/simulated annealing protocol based on approximately 12 interresidue NOEs per residue . The structure represents the first Ap(4)A hydrolase to be determined, and sequence homology suggests that other members will have the same fold. The family of structures shows a well-defined fold comprised of a central four -stranded mixed beta-sheet, a two-stranded antiparallel beta-sheet and thre e helices (alpha I, alpha III, alpha IV). The root-mean-squared deviation f or the backbone (C', O, N, C-alpha) of the rigid parts (residues 9 to 75, 9 7 to 115, 125 to 160) of the protein is 0.32 Angstrom Several regions, howe ver, show lower definition, particularly an isolated helix (alpha II) that connects two strands of the central sheet. This poor definition is mainly d ue to a lack of long-range NOEs between alpha II and other parts of the pro tein. Mapping conserved residues outside of the Nudix signature and those s ensitive to an Ap(4)A analogue suggests that the adenosine-ribose moiety of the substrate binds into a large cleft above the four-stranded beta-sheet. Four conserved glutamate residues (Glu55, Glu58, GIu59 and Glu125) form a cluster that most likely ligates an essential magnesium ion, however, Gly41 also an expected magnesium ligand, is distant from this cluster. (C) 2000 Academic Press.