Abstract:
The crystal structure of the cyaB2 tandem GAF is an antiparallel dimer with subdomains binding cAMP. Further, both GAF domains stimulate the adenylyl cyclase in a chimera with catalytic domain of the cyaB1 adenylyl cyclase. The GAF domains of cyaB2 possess an added structural element, i.e. within a conserved NKFDE-motif 14 and 19 amino acids are inserted in GAF A and B, respectively. These inserts mediate a highly positive cooperativity of cAMP stimulation. Further, the usually canonical K/D salt bridge within the NKFDE-motif is here dispensable. The importance of the NKFDE motif is demonstrated by corresponding D /A mutations in shortened constructs. This indicates that cyaB2 may be an evolutionary intermediate in relation to the mammalian tandem GAF domains.
The swapping of cyaB1 and human PDE5 tandem GAF domains resulted in a cGMP-activated adenylyl cyclase. An S102D mutant in the N-terminal of the PDE5 tandem GAF region which mimics persistent phosphorylation, enhanced cGMP affinity five-fold. D and/or K mutations in the conserved NKFDE motif in one or both GAF domains of PDE5 unexpectedly did not abrogate cGMP stimulation, but lowered cGMP affinity 10 to 23-fold. Mutations in GAF B alone increased total stimulation, potentially indicating that GAF B either inhibits binding of cGMP to GAF A or signaling to the catalytic domain. Removal of 147 N-terminal residues substantially raised basal cyclase activity, lowered total stimulation and reduced the EC50 concentration for cGMP. This effect was observed in a step-wise fashion upon removal of 109 N-terminal amino acids. Concomitantly, the EC50 values decreased. Thus, it appears that the N-terminus is involved in cGMP binding and stimulation of the catalytic domain.
Cyclic nucleotide specifity was investigated using chimeras between cyaB1 and rat PDE2 GAF domains. Regions for exchanges were chosen according to the PDE2 crystal structure. A domain swapping between EL and EIRIP resulted in equal stimulation by cGMP and cAMP. In T258S and L259V mutants cAMP stimulation was switched off without affecting cGMP stimulation.
Taken together, I conclude that cyclic nucleotide specificity in tandem GAF domains is not mediated by a single amino acid residue but most likely is due to a domain effect which remains to be investigated in detail.