PMID: 11839304 , Related PDB ids: 1GPW, 1K9V

Authors:

Douangamath A, Walker M, Beismann-Driemeyer S, Vega-Fernandez MC, Sterner R, Wilmanns M

Title:

Structural evidence for ammonia tunneling across the (beta alpha)(8) barrel of the imidazole glycerol phosphate synthase bienzyme complex.

Journal:

Structure. 2002 Feb;10(2):185-93.

Abstract:

Since reactive ammonia is not available under physiological conditions, glutamine is used as a source for the incorporation of nitrogen in a number of metabolic pathway intermediates. The heterodimeric ImGP synthase that links histidine and purine biosynthesis belongs to the family of glutamine amidotransferases in which the glutaminase activity is coupled with a subsequent synthase activity specific for each member of the enzyme family. Its X-ray structure from the hyperthermophile Thermotoga maritima shows that the glutaminase subunit is associated with the N-terminal face of the (beta alpha)(8) barrel cyclase subunit. The complex reveals a putative tunnel for the transfer of ammonia over a distance of 25 A. Although ammonia tunneling has been reported for glutamine amidotransferases, the ImGP synthase has evolved a novel mechanism, which extends the known functional properties of the versatile (beta alpha)(8) barrel fold.