A structural model of the human plasminogen and Aspergillus fumigatus enolase complex

Proteins. 2022 Mar 5. doi: 10.1002/prot.26331. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The metabolic enzyme, enolase, plays a crucial role in the cytoplasm where it maintains cellular energy production within the process of glycolysis. The main role of enolase in glycolysis is to convert 2-phosphoglycerate to phosphoenolpyruvate; however, enolase can fulfil roles that deviate from this function. In pathogenic bacteria and fungi, enolase is also located on the cell surface where it functions as a virulence factor. Surface-expressed enolase is a receptor for human plasma proteins, including plasminogen, and this interaction facilitates nutrient acquisition and tissue invasion. A novel approach to developing antifungal drugs is to inhibit the formation of this complex. To better understand the structure of enolase and the interactions that may govern complex formation, we have solved the first X-ray crystal structure of enolase from A. fumigatus (2.0 Å) and have shown that it preferentially adopts a dimeric quaternary structure using native mass spectrometry. Two additional X-ray crystal structures of A. fumigatus enolase bound to the endogenous substrate 2-phosphoglycerate and product phosphoenolpyruvate were determined. Kinetic characterization was carried out to better understand the details of its canonical function. From these data, we have produced a model of the A. fumigatus enolase and human plasminogen complex to provide structural insights into mechanisms of virulence and future development of small molecules or peptidomimetics for anti-fungal drug design. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:35247004 | DOI:10.1002/prot.26331