Physiological calcium concentrations regulate calmodulin binding and catalysis of adenylyl cyclase exotoxins

Yuequan Shen, Young Sam Lee, Sandriyana Soelaiman, Pamela Bergson, Dan Lu, Alice Chen, Kathy Beckingham, Zenon Grabarek, Milan Mrksich, Wei Jen Tang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

87 Scopus citations

Abstract

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 affinity 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 affinity 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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)6721-6732
Number of pages12
JournalEMBO Journal
Volume21
Issue number24
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 16 2002

Keywords

  • Adenylyl cyclase exotoxin
  • Anthrax edema factor
  • Ca-calmodulin
  • CyaA
  • Enzyme activation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Immunology and Microbiology

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