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Homotrimeric dUTPases; Structural Solutions for Specific Recognition and Hydrolysis of dUTP

Persson, Rebecca ; Cedergren, Eila LU and Wilson, Keith S. (2001) In Current Protein and Peptide Science 2(4). p.287-300
Abstract
Prevention of incorporation of dUTP into DNA is essential for maintenance of the genetic information. Prompt and specific removal of dUTP from the nucleotide pool, as expedited by the ubiquitous enzyme dUTPase, is therefore required for full viability in most biological systems. Conserved structural features perpetuate specificity in choice of substrate, which is crucial as hydrolysis of the structurally closely related nucleotides dTTP, dCTP and UTP would debilitate DNA and RNA synthesis.







The most common family of dUTPases is the homotrimeric variety where X-ray structures are available for one bacterial, one mammalian and two retroviral dUTPases. These four enzymes have similar overall structural... (More)
Prevention of incorporation of dUTP into DNA is essential for maintenance of the genetic information. Prompt and specific removal of dUTP from the nucleotide pool, as expedited by the ubiquitous enzyme dUTPase, is therefore required for full viability in most biological systems. Conserved structural features perpetuate specificity in choice of substrate, which is crucial as hydrolysis of the structurally closely related nucleotides dTTP, dCTP and UTP would debilitate DNA and RNA synthesis.







The most common family of dUTPases is the homotrimeric variety where X-ray structures are available for one bacterial, one mammalian and two retroviral dUTPases. These four enzymes have similar overall structural layouts, but the interactions that stabilise the trimer vary markedly, ranging from exclusively hydrophobic to water-mediated interactions. Trimeric dUTPases contain five conserved sequence motifs, positioned at the subunit interfaces where they contribute to the formation of the active sites. Each of the three identical active sites per trimer is built of residues contributed by all three subunits. One subunit provides residues involved in base and sugar recognition, where a b-hairpin acts to maintain exquisite selectivity, while a second subunit contributes residues for phosphate interactions. The third subunit supplies a glycine-rich consensus motif located in the flexible C-terminal part of the subunit, known from crystallographic studies to cover the active site in the presence of substrate and certain substrate analogues.







All dUTPases studied require the presence of a divalent metal ion, preferably Mg2+, for optimal activity. The putative position of the essential metal ion has been identified in the structure of one retroviral dUTPase.







Structure-function studies are essential if the properties of dUTPases are to be understood fully in relation to their biological role. In this review the structural arrangement of the homotrimeric dUTPases is discussed in the context of active site geometry, achievement of specificity and subunit interactions. (Less)
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; and
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Contribution to journal
publication status
published
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in
Current Protein and Peptide Science
volume
2
issue
4
pages
287 - 300
publisher
Bentham Science Publishers
ISSN
1875-5550
language
English
LU publication?
yes
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9cf6cea0-f074-4bd7-9b9e-19e23a9768ca (old id 125046)
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http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ben/cpps/2001/00000002/00000004/art00004?token=005e1694d6b3243033297d33757e6f3f2f2730673f232f26773870335a666f3a7b2f2d4034425e6b41473e3f3c27f5
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:44:09
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2018-11-21 19:59:40
@article{9cf6cea0-f074-4bd7-9b9e-19e23a9768ca,
  abstract     = {{Prevention of incorporation of dUTP into DNA is essential for maintenance of the genetic information. Prompt and specific removal of dUTP from the nucleotide pool, as expedited by the ubiquitous enzyme dUTPase, is therefore required for full viability in most biological systems. Conserved structural features perpetuate specificity in choice of substrate, which is crucial as hydrolysis of the structurally closely related nucleotides dTTP, dCTP and UTP would debilitate DNA and RNA synthesis. <br/><br>
<br/><br>
 <br/><br>
<br/><br>
The most common family of dUTPases is the homotrimeric variety where X-ray structures are available for one bacterial, one mammalian and two retroviral dUTPases. These four enzymes have similar overall structural layouts, but the interactions that stabilise the trimer vary markedly, ranging from exclusively hydrophobic to water-mediated interactions. Trimeric dUTPases contain five conserved sequence motifs, positioned at the subunit interfaces where they contribute to the formation of the active sites. Each of the three identical active sites per trimer is built of residues contributed by all three subunits. One subunit provides residues involved in base and sugar recognition, where a b-hairpin acts to maintain exquisite selectivity, while a second subunit contributes residues for phosphate interactions. The third subunit supplies a glycine-rich consensus motif located in the flexible C-terminal part of the subunit, known from crystallographic studies to cover the active site in the presence of substrate and certain substrate analogues. <br/><br>
<br/><br>
 <br/><br>
<br/><br>
All dUTPases studied require the presence of a divalent metal ion, preferably Mg2+, for optimal activity. The putative position of the essential metal ion has been identified in the structure of one retroviral dUTPase. <br/><br>
<br/><br>
 <br/><br>
<br/><br>
Structure-function studies are essential if the properties of dUTPases are to be understood fully in relation to their biological role. In this review the structural arrangement of the homotrimeric dUTPases is discussed in the context of active site geometry, achievement of specificity and subunit interactions.}},
  author       = {{Persson, Rebecca and Cedergren, Eila and Wilson, Keith S.}},
  issn         = {{1875-5550}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{287--300}},
  publisher    = {{Bentham Science Publishers}},
  series       = {{Current Protein and Peptide Science}},
  title        = {{Homotrimeric dUTPases; Structural Solutions for Specific Recognition and Hydrolysis of dUTP}},
  url          = {{http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ben/cpps/2001/00000002/00000004/art00004?token=005e1694d6b3243033297d33757e6f3f2f2730673f232f26773870335a666f3a7b2f2d4034425e6b41473e3f3c27f5}},
  volume       = {{2}},
  year         = {{2001}},
}