Crystal structure of the stimulatory complex of GTP cyclohydrolase I and its feedback regulatory protein GFRP

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002 Feb 5;99(3):1212-7. doi: 10.1073/pnas.022646999. Epub 2002 Jan 29.

Abstract

In the presence of phenylalanine, GTP cyclohydrolase I feedback regulatory protein (GFRP) forms a stimulatory 360-kDa complex with GTP cyclohydrolase I (GTPCHI), which is the rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of tetrahydrobiopterin. The crystal structure of the stimulatory complex reveals that the GTPCHI decamer is sandwiched by two GFRP homopentamers. Each GFRP pentamer forms a symmetrical five-membered ring similar to beta-propeller. Five phenylalanine molecules are buried inside each interface between GFRP and GTPCHI, thus enhancing the binding of these proteins. The complex structure suggests that phenylalanine-induced GTPCHI x GFRP complex formation enhances GTPCHI activity by locking the enzyme in the active state.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • GTP Cyclohydrolase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • GTP Cyclohydrolase / chemistry*
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Proteins / chemistry*
  • Rats
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Gchfr protein, rat
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • GTP Cyclohydrolase

Associated data

  • PDB/1IS7
  • PDB/1IS8