Computational Evidence for the Catalytic Mechanism of Tyrosylprotein Sulfotransferases: A Density Functional Theory Investigation

Biochemistry. 2015 Jul 21;54(28):4404-10. doi: 10.1021/acs.biochem.5b00343. Epub 2015 Jul 9.

Abstract

In this paper we have examined the mechanism of tyrosine O-sulfonation catalyzed by human TPST-2. Our computations, in agreement with Teramoto's hypothesis, indicate a concerted SN2-like reaction (with an activation barrier of 18.2 kcal mol(-1)) where the tyrosine oxygen is deprotonated by Glu(99) (base catalyst) and simultaneously attacks as a nucleophile the sulfuryl group. For the first time, using a quantum mechanics protocol of alanine scanning, we identified unequivocally the role of the amino acids involved in the catalysis. Arg(78) acts as a shuttle that "assists" the sulfuryl group moving from the 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate molecule to threonine and stabilizes the transition state (TS) by electrostatic interactions. The residue Lys(158) keeps close the residues participating in the overall H-bond network, while Ser(285), Thr(81), and Thr(82) stabilize the TS via strong hydrogen interactions and contribute to lower the activation barrier.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Amino Acids / chemistry
  • Amino Acids / genetics
  • Amino Acids / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry*
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Quantum Theory
  • Static Electricity
  • Sulfotransferases / chemistry*
  • Sulfotransferases / genetics
  • Sulfotransferases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Sulfotransferases
  • TPST2 protein, human