Title The crystal structure of methanol dehydrogenase, a quinoprotein from the marine methylotrophic bacterium Methylophaga aminisulfidivorans MPT
Author Thinh-Phat Cao1, Jin Myung Choi1, Si Wouk Kim2, and Sung Haeng Lee1*
Address 1Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Chosun University School of Medicine, Gwangju 61452, Republic of Korea, 2Department of Environmental Engineering, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Republic of Korea
Bibliography Journal of Microbiology, 56(4),246–254, 2018,
DOI 10.1007/s12275-018-7483-y
Key Words methanol dehydrogenase, methanol oxidizing system, pyrroloquinoline quinone, Mg2+, marine bacterium
Abstract The first crystal structure of a pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ)-dependent methanol dehydrogenase (MDH) from a marine methylotrophic bacterium, Methylophaga aminisulfidivorans MPT (MDHMas), was determined at 1.7 Å resolution. The active form of MDHMas (or MDHIMas) is a heterotetrameric α2β2, where each β-subunit assembles on one side of each of the α-subunits, in a symmetrical fashion, so that two β-subunits surround the two PQQ-binding pockets on the α-subunits. The active site consists of a PQQ molecule surrounded by a β-propeller fold for each α-subunit. Interestingly, the PQQ molecules are coordinated by a Mg2+ ion, instead of the Ca2+ ion that is commonly found in the terrestrial MDHI, indicating the efficiency of osmotic balance regulation in the high salt environment. The overall interaction of the β-subunits with the α-subunits appears tighter than that of terrestrial homologues, suggesting the efficient maintenance of MDHIMas integrity in the sea water environment to provide a firm basis for complex formation with MxaJMas or Cyt cL. With the help of the features mentioned above, our research may enable the elucidation of the full molecular mechanism of methanol oxidation by taking advantage of marine bacterium-originated proteins in the methanol oxidizing system (mox), including MxaJ, as the attainment of these proteins from terrestrial bacteria for structural studies has not been successful.