Structural insights into the epimerization of β-1,4-Linked Oligosaccharides Catalyzed by Cellobiose 2-Epimerase, the Sole Enzyme Epimerizing non-Anomeric Hydroxyl groups of Unmodified Sugars

Abstract

Background: The details of the catalytic mechanism of cellobiose 2-epimerase (CE) remains unclear. Results: The crystal structures of Rhodothermus marinus CE in the apo form and complexes with its substrates/products 4-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-D-mannnose, epilactose, or cellobiitol (reaction intermediate analog) were elucidated. Conclusion: Epimerization catalyzed byCEproceeds through ring opening, deprotonation/ reprotonation, carbon-carbon bond rotation, and ring closure. Significance: This study yielded structural insights into epimerization catalyzed by CE. Cellobiose 2-epimerase (CE) reversibly converts D-glucose residues into D-mannose residues at the reducing end of unmodified β1,4-linked oligosaccharides, including β-1,4-mannobiose, cellobiose, and lactose.CEis responsible for conversion of β1,4-mannobiose to 4-O-β-D-mannosyl-D- glucose in mannan metabolism. However, the detailed catalytic mechanism of CE is unclear due to the lack of structural data in complex with ligands. We determined the crystal structures of halothermophile Rhodothermus marinus CE (RmCE) in complex with substrates/ products or intermediate analogs, and its apo form. The structures in complex with the substrates/products indicated that the residues in the β5-β6 loop as well as those in the inner six helices form the catalytic site. Trp-322 and Trp-385 interact with reducing and non-reducing end parts of these ligands, respectively, by stacking interactions. The architecture of the catalytic site also provided insights into the mechanism of reversible epimerization. His-259 abstracts the H2 proton of the D-mannose residue at the reducing end, and consistently forms the cis-enediol intermediate by facilitated depolarization of the 2-OH group mediated by hydrogen bonding interaction with His-200. His-390 subsequently donates the proton to the C2 atom of the intermediate to form a D-glucose residue. The reverse reaction is mediated by these three histidines with the inverse roles of acid/base catalysts. The conformation of cellobiitol demonstrated that the deprotonation/reprotonation step is coupled with rotation of the C2-C3 bond of the open form of the ligand. Moreover, it is postulated that His-390 is closely related to ring opening/closure by transferring a proton between the O5 and O1 atoms of the ligand.© 2014 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.