PMID: 26190575
Authors:
Airola MV, Allen WJ, Pulkoski-Gross MJ, Obeid LM, Rizzo RC, Hannun YA
Title:
Structural Basis for Ceramide Recognition and Hydrolysis by Human Neutral Ceramidase.
Journal:
Structure. 2015 Aug 4;23(8):1482-91. doi: 10.1016/j.str.2015.06.013. Epub 2015, Jul 16.
Abstract:
Neutral ceramidase (nCDase) catalyzes conversion of the apoptosis-associated lipid ceramide to sphingosine, the precursor for the proliferative factor sphingosine-1-phosphate. As an enzyme regulating the balance of ceramide and sphingosine-1-phosphate, nCDase is emerging as a therapeutic target for cancer. Here, we present the 2.6-A crystal structure of human nCDase in complex with phosphate that reveals a striking, 20-A deep, hydrophobic active site pocket stabilized by a eukaryotic-specific subdomain not present in bacterial ceramidases. Utilizing flexible ligand docking, we predict a likely binding mode for ceramide that superimposes closely with the crystallographically observed transition state analog phosphate. Our results suggest that nCDase uses a new catalytic strategy for Zn(2+)-dependent amidases, and generates ceramide specificity by sterically excluding sphingolipids with bulky headgroups and specifically recognizing the small hydroxyl head group of ceramide. Together, these data provide a foundation to aid drug development and establish common themes for how proteins recognize the bioactive lipid ceramide.