PMID: 25574024 , Related PDB ids: 4O93, 4O9U

Authors:

Leung JH, Schurig-Briccio LA, Yamaguchi M, Moeller A, Speir JA, Gennis RB, Stout CD

Title:

Structural biology. Division of labor in transhydrogenase by alternating proton translocation and hydride transfer.

Journal:

Science. 2015 Jan 9;347(6218):178-81. doi: 10.1126/science.1260451.

Abstract:

NADPH/NADP(+) (the reduced form of NADP(+)/nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate) homeostasis is critical for countering oxidative stress in cells. Nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (TH), a membrane enzyme present in both bacteria and mitochondria, couples the proton motive force to the generation of NADPH. We present the 2.8 A crystal structure of the transmembrane proton channel domain of TH from Thermus thermophilus and the 6.9 A crystal structure of the entire enzyme (holo-TH). The membrane domain crystallized as a symmetric dimer, with each protomer containing a putative proton channel. The holo-TH is a highly asymmetric dimer with the NADP(H)-binding domain (dIII) in two different orientations. This unusual arrangement suggests a catalytic mechanism in which the two copies of dIII alternatively function in proton translocation and hydride transfer.