Disulfide bond structure and domain organization of yeast beta(1,3)-glucanosyltransferases involved in cell wall biogenesis

J Biol Chem. 2008 Jul 4;283(27):18553-65. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M801562200. Epub 2008 May 9.

Abstract

The Gel/Gas/Phr family of fungal beta(1,3)-glucanosyltransferases plays an important role in cell wall biogenesis by processing the main component beta(1,3)-glucan. Two subfamilies are distinguished depending on the presence or absence of a C-terminal cysteine-rich domain, denoted "Cys-box." The N-terminal domain (NtD) contains the catalytic residues for transglycosidase activity and is separated from the Cys-box by a linker region. To obtain a better understanding of the structure and function of the Cys-box-containing subfamily, we identified the disulfide bonds in Gas2p from Saccharomyces cerevisiae by an improved mass spectrometric methodology. We mapped two separate intra-domain clusters of three and four disulfide bridges. One of the bonds in the first cluster connects a central Cys residue of the NtD with a single conserved Cys residue in the linker. Site-directed mutagenesis of the Cys residue in the linker resulted in an endoplasmic reticulum precursor that was not matured and underwent a gradual degradation. The relevant disulfide bond has a crucial role in folding as it may stabilize the NtD and facilitate its interaction with the C-terminal portion of a Gas protein. The four disulfide bonds in the Cys-box are arranged in a manner consistent with a partial structural resemblance with the plant X8 domain, an independent carbohydrate-binding module that possesses only three disulfide bonds. Deletion of the Cys-box in Gas2 or Gas1 proteins led to the formation of an NtD devoid of any enzymatic activity. The results suggest that the Cys-box is required for proper folding of the NtD and/or substrate binding.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Cell Wall / enzymology*
  • Cell Wall / genetics
  • Cysteine / chemistry
  • Cysteine / genetics
  • Cysteine / metabolism
  • Disulfides / chemistry*
  • Disulfides / metabolism
  • Glucan Endo-1,3-beta-D-Glucosidase / chemistry*
  • Glucan Endo-1,3-beta-D-Glucosidase / genetics
  • Glucan Endo-1,3-beta-D-Glucosidase / metabolism
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / chemistry*
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary / physiology
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / enzymology*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / chemistry*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Disulfides
  • GAS1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • 1,3-beta-glucanosyltransferase
  • Glucan Endo-1,3-beta-D-Glucosidase
  • Cysteine