Comparative structural modeling of six old yellow enzymes (OYEs) from the necrotrophic fungus Ascochyta rabiei: insight into novel OYE classes with differences in cofactor binding, organization of active site residues and stereopreferences

PLoS One. 2014 Apr 28;9(4):e95989. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0095989. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Old Yellow Enzyme (OYE1) was the first flavin-dependent enzyme identified and characterized in detail by the entire range of physical techniques. Irrespective of this scrutiny, true physiological role of the enzyme remains a mystery. In a recent study, we systematically identified OYE proteins from various fungi and classified them into three classes viz. Class I, II and III. However, there is no information about the structural organization of Class III OYEs, eukaryotic Class II OYEs and Class I OYEs of filamentous fungi. Ascochyta rabiei, a filamentous phytopathogen which causes Ascochyta blight (AB) in chickpea possesses six OYEs (ArOYE1-6) belonging to the three OYE classes. Here we carried out comparative homology modeling of six ArOYEs representing all the three classes to get an in depth idea of structural and functional aspects of fungal OYEs. The predicted 3D structures of A. rabiei OYEs were refined and evaluated using various validation tools for their structural integrity. Analysis of FMN binding environment of Class III OYE revealed novel residues involved in interaction. The ligand para-hydroxybenzaldehyde (PHB) was docked into the active site of the enzymes and interacting residues were analyzed. We observed a unique active site organization of Class III OYE in comparison to Class I and II OYEs. Subsequently, analysis of stereopreference through structural features of ArOYEs was carried out, suggesting differences in R/S selectivity of these proteins. Therefore, our comparative modeling study provides insights into the FMN binding, active site organization and stereopreference of different classes of ArOYEs and indicates towards functional differences of these enzymes. This study provides the basis for future investigations towards the biochemical and functional characterization of these enigmatic enzymes.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Ascomycota / enzymology*
  • Benzaldehydes / chemistry
  • Benzaldehydes / metabolism
  • Catalytic Domain*
  • Flavin Mononucleotide / metabolism*
  • Molecular Docking Simulation*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • NADPH Dehydrogenase / chemistry*
  • NADPH Dehydrogenase / classification
  • NADPH Dehydrogenase / metabolism*
  • Phylogeny
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Thermodynamics

Substances

  • Benzaldehydes
  • Flavin Mononucleotide
  • NADPH Dehydrogenase
  • 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde

Grants and funding

This work was supported by research grant from Department of Biotechnology, Government of India (File No: BT/PR10605/PBD/16/791/2008) and a core grant from National Institute of Plant Genome Research. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.