Edema factor (EF), a key anthrax exotoxin, has an anthrax protective antigen-binding domain (PABD) and a calmodulin (CaM)-activated adenylyl cyclase domain. Here, we report the crystal structures of CaM-bound EF, revealing the architecture of EF PABD. CaM has N- and C-terminal domains and each domain can bind two calcium ions. Calcium binding induces the conformational change of CaM from closed to open. Structures of the EF-CaM complex show how EF locks the N-terminal domain of CaM into a closed conformation regardless of its calciumloading state. This represents a mechanism of how CaM effector alters the calcium affinity of CaM and uncouples the conformational change of CaM from calcium loading. Furthermore, structures of EF-CaM complexed with nucleotides show that EF uses two-metal-ion catalysis, a prevalent mechanism in DNA and RNA polymerases. A histidine (H351) further facilitates the catalysis of EF by activating a water to deprotonate 30OH of ATP. Mammalian adenylyl cyclases share no structural similarity with EF and they also use two-metal-ion catalysis, suggesting the catalytic mechanism-driven convergent evolution of two structurally diverse adenylyl cyclases.

CyaA is crucial for colonization by Bordetella pertussis, the etiologic agent of whooping cough. Here we report crystal structures of the adenylyl cyclase domain (ACD) of CyaA with the C-terminal domain of calmodulin. Four discrete regions of CyaA bind calcium-loaded calmodulin with a large buried contact surface. Of those, a tryptophan residue (W242) at an a-helix of CyaA makes extensive contacts with the calcium-induced, hydrophobic pocket of calmodulin. Mutagenic analyses show that all four regions of CyaA contribute to calmodulin binding and the calmodulin- induced conformational change of CyaA is crucial for catalytic activation. A crystal structure of CyaA-calmodulin with adefovir diphosphate, the metabolite of an approved antiviral drug, reveals the location of catalytic site of CyaA and how adefovir diphosphate tightly binds CyaA. The ACD of CyaA shares a similar structure and mechanism of activation with anthrax edema factor (EF). However, the interactions of CyaA with calmodulin completely diverge from those of EF. This provides molecular details of how two structurally homologous bacterial toxins evolved divergently to bind calmodulin, an evolutionarily conserved calcium sensor.

Edema factor (EF), a key virulence factor in anthrax pathogenesis, has calmodulin (CaM)-activated adenylyl cyclase activity. We have found that adefovir dipivoxil, a drug approved to treat chronic infection of hepatitis B virus, effectively inhibits EF-induced cAMP accumulation and changes in cytokine production in mouse primary macrophages. Adefovir diphosphate (PMEApp), the active cellular metabolite of adefovir dipivoxil, inhibits the adenylyl cyclase activity of EF in vitro with high affinity (Ki=27 nM). A crystal structure of EF-CaM-PMEApp reveals that the catalytic site of EF forms better van der Waals contacts and more hydrogen bonds with PMEApp than with its endogenous substrate, ATP, providing an explanation for the ~10,000-fold higher affinity EF-CaM has for PMEApp versus ATP. Adefovir dipivoxil is a clinically approved drug that can block the action of an anthrax toxin. It can be used to address the role of EF in anthrax pathogenesis.

Anthrax edema factor (EF) raises host intracellular cAMP to pathological levels through a calcium-calmodulin (CaM)-dependent adenylyl cyclase activity. Here we report the structure of EF·CaM in complex with its reaction products, cAMP and PPi. Mutational analysis confirmed the interaction of EF with cAMP and PPi as depicted in the structural model. While both cAMP and PPi have access to solvent channels to exit independently, PPi is likely released first. EF can synthesize ATP from cAMP and PPi, and the estimated rate constants of this reaction at two physiologically relevant calcium concentrations were similar to those of adenylyl cyclase activity of EF. Comparison of the conformation of adenosine in the structures of EF·CaM·cAMP·PPi with EF·CaM·3'dATP revealed about 160° rotation in the torsion angle of N-glycosyl bond from the _anti conformation in 3'dATP to _syn in cAMP; such a rotation could serve to distinguish against substrates with the N-2 amino group of purine. The catalytic rate of EF for ITP was about 2 orders of magnitude better than that for GTP, supporting the potential role of this rotation in substrate selectivity of EF. The anomalous difference Fourier map revealed that two ytterbium ions (Yb3+) could bind the catalytic site of EF_CaM in the presence of cAMP and PPi, suggesting the presence of two magnesium ions at the catalytic site of EF. We hypothesize that EF could use a "histidine and two-metalion" hybrid mechanism to facilitate the cyclization reaction.

Edema factor (EF) and CyaA are adenylyl cyclase toxins secreted by pathogenic bacteria that cause anthrax and whooping cough, respectively. Using the structure of the catalytic site of EF, we screened a data base of commercially available, small molecular weight chemicals for those that could specifically inhibit adenylyl cyclase activity of EF. From 24 compounds tested, we have identified one quinazoline compound, ethyl 5-aminopyrazolo[1,5-a]quinazoline-3-carboxylate, that specifically inhibits adenylyl cyclase activity of EF and CyaA with ～20uM Ki. This compound neither affects the activity of host resident adenylyl cyclases type I, II, and V nor exhibits promiscuous inhibition. The compound is a competitive inhibitor, consistent with the prediction that it binds to the adenine portion of the ATP binding site on EF. EF is activated by the host calcium sensor, calmodulin. Surface plasmon resonance spectroscopic analysis shows that this compound does not affect the binding of calmodulin to EF. This compound is dissimilar from a previously described, non-nucleoside inhibitor of host adenylyl cyclase. It may serve as a lead to design antitoxins to address the role of adenylyl cyclase toxins in bacterial pathogenesis and to fight against anthrax and whooping cough.

Edema factor (EF) and CyaA are calmodulin (CaM)- activated adenylyl cyclase exotoxins involved in the pathogenesis of anthrax and whooping cough, respectively. Using spectroscopic, enzyme kinetic and surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy analyses, we show that low Ca2+ concentrations increase the af®nity of CaM for EF and CyaA causing their activation, but higher Ca2+ concentrations directly inhibit catalysis. Both events occur in a physiologically relevant range of Ca2+ concentrations. Despite the similarity in Ca2+ sensitivity, EF and CyaA have substantial differences in CaM binding and activation. CyaA has 100-fold higher af®nity for CaM than EF. CaM has N- and C-terminal globular domains, each binding two Ca2+ ions. CyaA can be fully activated by CaM mutants with one defective C-terminal Ca2+-binding site or by either terminal domain of CaM while EF cannot. EF consists of a catalytic core and a helical domain, and both are required for CaM activation of EF. Mutations that decrease the interaction of the helical domain with the catalytic core create an enzyme with higher sensitivity to Ca2+±CaM activation. However, CyaA is fully activated by CaM without the domain corresponding to the helical domain of EF.

Here we report a 2.3-Å crystal structure of scallop myosin S1 complexed with ADP/BeFx, as well as three additional structures (at 2.8 -3.8 Å resolution) for this S1 complexed with ATP analogs, some of which are cross-linked by para-phenyl dimaleimide, a short intramolecular cross-linker. In all cases, the complexes are characterized by an unwound SH1 helix first seen in an unusual 2.5-Å scallop myosin-MgADP structure and described as corresponding to a previously unrecognized actin-detached internally uncoupled state. The unwinding of the SH1 helix effectively uncouples the converter/lever arm module from the motor and allows crosslinking by para-phenyl dimaleimide, which has been shown to occur only in weak actin-binding states of the molecule. Mutations near the metastable SH1 helix that disable the motor can be accounted for by viewing this structural element as a clutch controlling the transmission of torque to the lever arm. We have also determined a 3.2-Å nucleotide-free structure of scallop myosin S1, which suggests that in the near-rigor state there are two conformations in the switch I loop, depending on whether nucleotide is present. Analysis of the subdomain motions in the weak actin-binding states revealed by x-ray crystallography, together with recent electron microscopic results, clarify the mechanical roles of the parts of the motor in the course of the contractile cycle and suggest how strong binding to actin triggers both the power stroke and product release.

D-Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) shows cooperative properties for binding coenzymes. The structure of apo-GAPDH from Palinurus versicolor has been solved at 2.0 Å resolution by X-ray crystallography. The final model gives a crystallographic R factor of 0.178 in the resolution range 8 to 2 Å. The structural comparison with holo-GAPDH from the same species reveals a conformational change induced by coenzyme binding similar to that observed in Bacillus stearothermophilus GAPDH but to a lesser extent. The differences in magnitude during the apo-holo transition between these two enzymes were analyzed with respect to the change of the amino acid composition in the coenzyme binding pocket. In the crystalline state of apo-GAPDH, the overall structures of the subunits are similar to each other; however, significant differences in temperature factors and minor differences in domain rotation upon coenzyme binding were observed for different subunits. These structural features are discussed in relation to the environmental asymmetry of crystallographically independent subunits.