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Structure and mechanism of the evolutionarily unique plant enzyme chalcone isomerase

Nature Structural Biology volume 7, pages 786–791 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

Chalcone isomerase (CHI) catalyzes the intramolecular cyclization of chalcone synthesized by chalcone synthase (CHS) into (2S)-naringenin, an essential compound in the biosynthesis of anthocyanin pigments, inducers of Rhizobium nodulation genes, and antimicrobial phytoalexins. The 1.85 Å resolution crystal structure of alfalfa CHI in complex with (2S)-naringenin reveals a novel open-faced β-sandwich fold. Currently, proteins with homologous primary sequences are found only in higher plants. The topology of the active site cleft defines the stereochemistry of the cyclization reaction. The structure and mutational analysis suggest a mechanism in which shape complementarity of the binding cleft locks the substrate into a constrained conformation that allows the reaction to proceed with a second-order rate constant approaching the diffusion controlled limit. This structure raises questions about the evolutionary history of this structurally unique plant enzyme.

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Figure 1: Reaction and structure of CHI.
Figure 2: (2S)-Naringenin binding and structure of the active site cleft of CHI.
Figure 3: Proposed enzyme mediated stereochemical control of the cyclization reaction.
Figure 4: Proposed reaction mechanism of CHI.

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Acknowledgements

We thank A. Hirsch (UCLA) for providing the CHI cDNA. The SSRL Biotechnology Program is supported by the NIH, National Center for Research Resources, Biomedical Technology Program, and the DOE, Office of Biological and Environmental Research. This work was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation awarded to J.P.N. J.M.J. is a NIH Postdoctoral Research Fellow and also received support from the Hoffman Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Structural Biology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, 92037, California, USA

    Joseph M. Jez, Marianne E. Bowman & Joseph P. Noel

  2. Plant Biology Division, Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, P.O. Box 2180, Ardmore, 73402, Oklahoma, USA

    Richard A. Dixon

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  1. Joseph M. Jez
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  4. Joseph P. Noel
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Correspondence to Joseph P. Noel.

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Jez, J., Bowman, M., Dixon, R. et al. Structure and mechanism of the evolutionarily unique plant enzyme chalcone isomerase. Nat Struct Mol Biol 7, 786–791 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/79025

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