Year: 2022
Type: article
Abstract: Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) is an important marine anti-stress compound, with key roles in global nutrient cycling, chemotaxis and, potentially, climate regulation. Recently, diverse marine Actinobacteria, α- and γ-proteobacteria were shown to initiate DMSP synthesis via the methionine (Met) S-methyltransferase enzyme (MmtN), generating S-methyl-Met (SMM). Here we characterize a roseobacterial MmtN, providing structural and mechanistic insights into this DMSP synthesis enzyme. We propose that MmtN uses the proximity and desolvation mechanism for Met S-methylation with two adjacent MmtN monomers comprising the Met binding site. We also identify diverse functional MmtN enzymes in potentially symbiotic archaeal Candidatus Woesearchaeota and Candidate Phyla Radiation (CPR) bacteria, and the animalcule Adineta steineri, not anticipated to produce SMM and/or DMSP. These diverse MmtN enzymes, alongside the larger plant MMT enzyme with an N-terminus homologous to MmtN, likely utilize the same proximity and desolvation mechanism. This study provides important insights into the catalytic mechanism of SMM and/or DMSP production, and proposes roles for these compounds in secondary metabolite production, and SMM cycling in diverse organisms and environments.
Source: Nature Communications
Language: English
Subfield: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $5,890
Funders: Shandong University, Research Councils UK, National Natural Science Foundation of China, China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province, Directorate for Biological Sciences, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, Natural Environment Research Council, National Key Research and Development Program of China, Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities
Awards: G10999155, G1315309669, G133710864, G1549959810, G1728757540, Mechanistic and Structural Insights into NO sensing by Iron-Sulfur Cluster Regulators, G1975581418, G2239302486, G2463643468, Earth's coolest organosulfur molecule: understanding how agriculture can be more cooling to the climate, G3559982116, G4078734561, G4429538422, G4523337081, G4890658347, G5054666911, Oh I do like to grow beside the seaside: understanding how and why plants produce DMSP, G5334846882, G6074862898, G6289586172, Organosulfur cycling in abundant anoxic marine sediments: a case study of saltmarsh sediments, Bacteria make DMSP - how significant is this process?, A multidisciplinary study of DMSP production and lysis - from enzymes to organisms to process modelling., G6921773696, G7060731908, G7118969835, G7788567087, G7997514167, G8329910748, G8400551720
OpenAlex ID: W4281552222