Temperature-Resolved Cryo-EM Uncovers Structural Bases of Temperature-Dependent Enzyme Functions

J Am Chem Soc. 2019 Dec 26;141(51):19983-19987. doi: 10.1021/jacs.9b10687. Epub 2019 Dec 16.

Abstract

Protein functions are temperature-dependent, but protein structures are usually solved at a single (often low) temperature because of limitations on the conditions of crystal growth or protein vitrification. Here we demonstrate the feasibility of solving cryo-EM structures of proteins vitrified at high temperatures, solve 12 structures of an archaeal ketol-acid reductoisomerase (KARI) vitrified at 4-70 °C, and show that structures of both the Mg2+ form (KARI:2Mg2+) and its ternary complex (KARI:2Mg2+:NADH:inhibitor) are temperature-dependent in correlation with the temperature dependence of enzyme activity. Furthermore, structural analyses led to dissection of the induced-fit mechanism into ligand-induced and temperature-induced effects and to capture of temperature-resolved intermediates of the temperature-induced conformational change. The results also suggest that it is preferable to solve cryo-EM structures of protein complexes at functional temperatures. These studies should greatly expand the landscapes of protein structure-function relationships and enhance the mechanistic analysis of enzymatic functions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cryoelectron Microscopy
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Ketol-Acid Reductoisomerase / chemistry
  • Ketol-Acid Reductoisomerase / metabolism*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Sulfolobus solfataricus / enzymology
  • Temperature*

Substances

  • Ketol-Acid Reductoisomerase