@article{ReschkeSigfridssonKaufmannetal.2013, author = {Reschke, Stefan and Sigfridsson, Kajsa G. V. and Kaufmann, Paul and Leidel, Nils and Horn, Sebastian and Gast, Klaus and Schulzke, Carola and Haumann, Michael and Leimk{\"u}hler, Silke}, title = {Identification of a bis-molybdopterin intermediate in molybdenum cofactor biosynthesis in escherichia coli}, series = {The journal of biological chemistry}, volume = {288}, journal = {The journal of biological chemistry}, number = {41}, publisher = {American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology}, address = {Bethesda}, issn = {0021-9258}, doi = {10.1074/jbc.M113.497453}, pages = {29736 -- 29745}, year = {2013}, abstract = {The molybdenum cofactor is an important cofactor, and its biosynthesis is essential for many organisms, including humans. Its basic form comprises a single molybdopterin (MPT) unit, which binds a molybdenum ion bearing three oxygen ligands via a dithiolene function, thus forming Mo-MPT. In bacteria, this form is modified to form the bis-MPT guanine dinucleotide cofactor with two MPT units coordinated at one molybdenum atom, which additionally contains GMPs bound to the terminal phosphate group of the MPTs (bis-MGD). The MobA protein catalyzes the nucleotide addition to MPT, but the mechanism of the biosynthesis of the bis-MGD cofactor has remained enigmatic. We have established an in vitro system for studying bis-MGD assembly using purified compounds. Quantification of the MPT/molybdenum and molybdenum/phosphorus ratios, time-dependent assays for MPT and MGD detection, and determination of the numbers and lengths of Mo-S and Mo-O bonds by X-ray absorption spectroscopy enabled identification of a novel bis-Mo-MPT intermediate on MobA prior to nucleotide attachment. The addition of Mg-GTP to MobA loaded with bis-Mo-MPT resulted in formation and release of the final bis-MGD product. This cofactor was fully functional and reconstituted the catalytic activity of apo-TMAO reductase (TorA). We propose a reaction sequence for bis-MGD formation, which involves 1) the formation of bis-Mo-MPT, 2) the addition of two GMP units to form bis-MGD on MobA, and 3) the release and transfer of the mature cofactor to the target protein TorA, in a reaction that is supported by the specific chaperone TorD, resulting in an active molybdoenzyme.}, language = {en} }