Malate synthase

In enzymology, a malate synthase (EC 2.3.3.9) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

acetyl-CoA + H₂O + glyoxylate (S)-malate + CoA

The 3 substrates of this enzyme are acetyl-CoA, H₂O, and glyoxylate, whereas its two products are (S)-malate and CoA.

This enzyme belongs to the family of transferases, specifically those acyltransferases that convert acyl groups into alkyl groups on transfer. The systematic name of this enzyme class is acetyl-CoA:glyoxylate C-acetyltransferase (thioester-hydrolysing, carboxymethyl-forming). Other names in common use include L-malate glyoxylate-lyase (CoA-acetylating), glyoxylate transacetylase, glyoxylate transacetase, glyoxylic transacetase, malate condensing enzyme, malate synthetase, malic synthetase, and malic-condensing enzyme. This enzyme participates in pyruvate metabolism and glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism.

Structure and Isoforms

Malate synthases fall into two major families, isoforms A and G. Isoform G is monomeric with a size of ~80-kD and found exclusively in bacteria.^[1] Isoform A is about ~65 kD per subunit, and can form homomultimers in eukaryotes.^[2] This enzyme contains a central TIM barrel sandwiched between an N-terminal alpha-helical clasp and an alpha/beta domain stemming from two insertions into the TIM barrel sequence. Then the enzyme ends with a C-terminal five-helix plug. The active site, where the acetyl-CoA and glyoxylate bind to the enzyme, lie between the TIM barrel and C-terminal plug.^[3] Upon binding, the acetyl-CoA molecule forms a J-shape inserted into the binding pocket, by an intramolecular hydrogen bond between N7 of the adenine ring and a hydroxyl group on the pantetheine tail.^[3] In addition, a critical magnesium ion within the active site coordinates with glyoxylate, glutamic acid 427, aspartic acid 455, and two water molecules.^[3] The amino acids interacting with acetyl CoA upon binding are highly conserved.^[1] Sequence identity is high within each class of isoforms, but between both classes sequence identity drops to about 15%.^[4] The alpha/beta domain, which has no apparent function, is not seen in isoform A.^[5]

This depicts the active site of malate synthase, with relevant amino acids crystallized with a pyruvate molecule instead of glyoxylate. ACO stands for acetyl-CoA, which is shown in its bent J configuration. The octahedral coordinating Mg2+ cation is shown in green. Red dots are the water molecules. Yellow bonds show polar contacts.

Mechanism

The mechanism of malate synthase is a combination of a Claisen condensation and a hydrolysis of an acyl-CoA. Initially, the aspartic acid 631 acts as a catalytic base, abstracting a proton from the alpha carbon of acetyl-CoA and creating a enolate that is stabilized by Arginine 338.^[5] This is considered to be the rate-determining step of the mechanism.^[6] Then the newly-formed enolate acts as a nucleophile that attacks the aldehyde of the glyoxylate molecule, imparting a negative charge on the oxygen which is stabilized by the Arginine 338 and the coordinating magnesium cation. This malyl-CoA intermediate then undergoes hydrolysis at the acyl-CoA portion, replacing it with an carboxylate anion.^[1] The enzyme is free to release the malate and the coenzyme A molecules.

Function

Malate synthase works together with isocitrate lyase in the glyoxylate cycle to bypass two oxidative steps of Krebs cycle and permit carbon incorporation from acetate or fatty acids in many microorganisms.^[7] As a result, the cell would not need to lose 2 molecules of carbon dioxide when entering the glyoxylate cycle rather than the Krebs cycle. This pathway is especially important to M. tuberculosis, allowing long-term persistence of its infection.^[1] When the M. tuberculosis becomes phagocytosed, the bacterium upregulates genes encoding the glyoxylate shunt enzymes.^[8] Since this cycle is not found in humans and other mammals, malate synthase is perceived as a future drug target against tuberculosis and other microorganisms. Within germinating plants, the glyoxylate cycle allows the conversion of reserve lipids into carbohydrates within glyoxysomes.^[9]

Structural studies

As of late 2007, 4 structures have been solved for this class of enzymes, with PDB accession codes 1P7T, 1Y8B, 2GQ3, and 2JQX.

References

• DIXON GH, KORNBERG HL, LUND P (1960). "Purification and properties of malate synthetase". Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 41 (2): 217–33. doi:10.1016/0006-3002(60)90004-4. PMID 13816984.