Role of K22 and R120 in the covalent binding of the antibiotic
fosfomycin and the substrate-induced conformational change in
UDP-
N
-acetylglucosamine
enol
pyruvyl transferase
Alison M. Thomas
1,
*, Cristian Ginj
1,
*, Ilian Jelesarov
2
, Nikolaus Amrhein
1
and Peter Macheroux
1
1
Eidgeno
¨
ssische Technische Hochschule Zu
¨
rich, Institute of Plant Sciences, Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences and
Department of Biology, Zu
¨
rich, Switzerland;
2
Universita
¨
tZu
¨

protein conformation.
A rigid cell wall is essential for the survival of most bacteria.
Compounds that interfere with cell wall biosynthesis or
function, such as b-lactams, are powerful antibiotics and the
bacterial enzymes involved in cell wall biosynthesis are
attractive targets for the development of new drugs [1]. The
biosynthesis of the cell wall component peptidoglycan (or
murein) commences with the transfer of the intact enolpyr-
uvyl moiety of phosphoenolpyruvate to the 3¢-hydroxyl
group of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UDPNAG) [2]. This
reaction, catalysed by UDP-N-acetylglucosamine enol-
pyruvyl transferase (MurA), leads to the generation of
UDP-N-acetylenolpyruvylglucosamine (Scheme 1A). The
naturally occurring antibiotic fosfomycin, produced by some
Streptomyces and Pseudomonas species [3–5], irreversibly
inhibits MurA activity by alkylating the thiol group of a
catalytically important cysteine residue, C115 (Scheme 1B)
[6].
The rate of MurA inactivation by fosfomycin is increased
considerably in the presence of UDPNAG [7]. This accel-
erating effect is not due to a change in the reactivity of the
thiol group, as the pK
a
of the thiol group is not affected by
UDPNAG binding [8]. Crystallographic studies have shown
that MurA is subject to a large conformational change upon
binding of UDPNAG and fosfomycin or UDPNAG and
(Z)-3-fluorophosphoenolpyruvate, respectively, to the free,
unliganded enzyme [9–11] (Fig. 1). In the unliganded form,
the active site of MurA is readily accessible (ÔopenÕ confor-

DG, free energy change; DH, enthalpy change; DS, entropy change.
*Note: The first two authors contributed equally to this work.
(Received 16 February 2004, revised 26 April 2004,
accepted 30 April 2004)
Eur. J. Biochem. 271, 2682–2690 (2004) Ó FEBS 2004 doi:10.1111/j.1432-1033.2004.04196.x
the positively charged side chain of K22 participates in
fosfomycin binding, thus providing a rationale for the loss of
fosfomycin binding to the K22V and K22E mutant proteins.
However, two other positively charged amino acid side
chains, R397 and R120, are also involved in fosfomycin
binding, and in view of the multitude of interactions, it was
assumed that deletion of a single interaction would not lead
to a complete loss of fosfomycin binding. Therefore it was
argued that K22 may play a role in the transition of the open
and closed conformations, i.e. it is part of a molecular switch
mechanism.
To shed more light on the energetics of the conform-
ational change, we have recently completed a thermody-
namic study of UDPNAG binding to MurA [13]. Based on
the analysis of the measured heat capacity changes (DC
p
),
and on surface accessibility calculations, we have proposed
that binding of UDPNAG alone is accompanied by a
significant structural shift toward the closed conformation,
in agreement with evidence from studies of small angle
X-ray scattering [14] and the protective effect of UDPNAG
on proteolysis of MurA [15]. Here we report the thermo-
dynamic profile of UDPNAG binding to two MurA single
mutants, K22V and R120K, and the double mutant K22V/

properties of the binding process and is solely based on the
detectability of the peptides of interest. We have used this
method to show that binding of fosfomycin to the K22
mutant proteins strongly depends on the charge of the
amino acid side chain occupying this position. Taken
together, our combined calorimetric and protein chemical
approach leads to a more detailed understanding of the role
of K22 and R120 with respect to fosfomycin binding as well
as the ligand-induced conformational switch.
Experimental procedures
Chemicals and enzymes
Fosfomycin (disodium salt) and UDP-N-acetylglucosamine
(sodium salt) were from Sigma, Buchs, Switzerland. 1,4-
dithio-
D
,
L
-threitol, EDTA, isopropyl thio-b-
D
-galactopyr-
anoside and Hepes were from Fluka, Buchs, Switzerland.
Tris was from BDH Laboratory Supplies, Poole, England.
Trypsin (EC 3.4.21.4) from bovine pancreas
(12 200 UÆmg
)1
; TPCK-treated to inactivate any remaining
chymotryptic activity) was from Sigma, Buchs, Switzerland.
Site-directed mutagenesis
Mutagenesis was carried out using the Quik-change site-
directed mutagenesis kit from Stratagene as previously

in affinity chromatography. Therefore microcalorimetric
measurements (see below) could only be performed with the
K22V, R120K and K22V/R120K mutant proteins.
The protein concentration was determined using an
extinction coefficient of 24 020
M
)1
Æcm
)1
at 280 nm or with
Bradford reagent (Pierce) using bovine serum albumin
(BSA) for calibration.
MALDI-TOF-MS analysis of fosfomycin binding
Wild-type MurA, the K22V, K22R and K22E single
mutant proteins and the K22V/R120K and K22V/R120V
double mutant proteins (100 l
M
) were incubated for 50 min
at 25 °Cin50m
M
Tris/HCl, pH 7.4 under each of the
following conditions: (a) no substrates; (b) 10 m
M
fosfo-
mycin; (c) 10 m
M
fosfomycin and 1 m
M
UDPNAG; and
(d) 1 m

)were
titrated with UDPNAG from a 5 m
M
stock solution at
temperatures between 10 and 30 °C. The double mutant
proteins were not stable at 30 °C with stirring in the ITC
cell; the data obtained at this temperature was not included
in the analysis. The raw data were integrated and normal-
ized for molar concentration. The dissociation constants, K
d
values, enthalpies of binding and stoichiometries were
determined from the binding isotherm by fitting a 1 : 1
binding model to the data using the software provided by
the manufacturer.
Results
Reaction of fosfomycin with wild-type and
the K22V, K22E and K22R mutant proteins
We have shown previously by ITC that fosfomycin binding
to wild-type MurA and the K22 mutant proteins in the
presence of UDPNAG is accompanied by heat release in the
case of wild-type enzyme and the K22R mutant protein, but
is calorimetrically silent with the K22V and K22E mutant
proteins. This was interpreted as a lack of fosfomycin
binding to these mutant proteins [12]. Binding of fosfomycin
to either wild-type MurA or the K22 mutant proteins in the
absence of UDPNAG is not associated with a heat change
in any case.
To gain further information on fosfomycin binding to
MurA, we have developed a rapid and reliable method to
detect the covalent adduct formed between the thiol group

with the K22 mutant proteins, marked differences are
observed: in the case of the K22V mutant protein, covalent
binding of fosfomycin requires the presence of UDPNAG
(Fig. 2D, F and H) while the K22E mutant protein lacks the
ability to form the covalent adduct completely (Table 1). On
the other hand, the K22R mutant protein behaves very
similar to wild-type enzyme (data not shown). While the
results obtained with the K22R and K22E mutant proteins
are in agreement with the ITC measurements, the K22V
mutant protein clearly binds fosfomycin covalently, albeit
only in the presence of UDPNAG. This finding is in
contrast to the lack of a heat signal in ITC measurements.
Hence it can be concluded that the absence of an ITC signal
with this mutant protein is not due to a lack of adduct
formation, but rather indicates that the binding process is
not associated with a measurable net heat change.
The finding that binding of UDPNAG to the K22V
mutant protein restores the ability to form the covalent
adduct with fosfomycin raises a question about the
molecular mechanism of this salvage process. The three-
dimensional structure of the ternary complex [11] indicates
that UDPNAG interacts with the phosphonate group of
fosfomycin and also with the guanidinium group of R120,
which in turn forms a salt-bridge to the phosphonate group
(see below). This amino acid residue is invariant in all
known MurA sequences and is part of the loop region that
forms a lid on the active site upon the formation of the
closed protein conformation (Fig. 1). Hence, it is plausible
that UDPNAG plays a direct role and/or an indirect role to
engage residues in the loop for binding interactions with the

UDPNAG
Activity
(%)
Wild-type + + 100
K22R + + 0.3
K22V – + 0.03
K22E – – 0.05
R120K – – <0.05
K22V/R120K – – *
K22V/R120V – – *
Fig. 3. Incubation of the K22V/R120K double mutant protein with
fosfomycin followed by MALDI-MS analysis. The experimental con-
ditions are as described in the legend to Fig. 2. (A) The double mutant
proteinwithnoadditions;(B)incubationwith10m
M
fosfomycin;
(C) incubation with 10 m
M
fosfomycin and 1 m
M
UDPNAG and
(D) incubation with 1 m
M
fosfomycin and 10 m
M
UDPNAG. The
peak of the unlabeled tryptic fragment (amino acids 295–310) is at 1588
(m/z) and when labelled with fosfomycin a peak at 1726 (m/z)is
expected. The position of the expected mass of the fosfomycin-labelled
peak is marked by an arrow in each panel.

chosen to test our hypothesis was recently established with
wild-type enzyme demonstrating that the conformational
changes occurring upon ligand binding are accompanied by
significant heat capacity changes.
Determination of the heat capacity changes for the K22V,
R120K and K22V/R120K mutant proteins
In a recent study, we measured the thermodynamic
parameters for UDPNAG binding to wild-type enzyme as
a function of temperature [13]. The heat capacity change
(DC
p
) was obtained from the slope of Kirchoff’s plots (DH
vs. T). Analysis of the experimental DC
p
with DC
p
calculated from the change of solvent accessible surface
upon transition from the open to the closed MurA
conformation, indicates that UDPNAG binding alone
induces the formation of the closed conformation to a large
extent [13]. We have carried out the same analysis with the
K22V and R120K single and the K22V/R120K double
mutant proteins in order to obtain information on how the
replacement of these two important side chains affect the
protein conformational change.
The binding of UDPNAG is only slightly weaker
(threefold) for the single and double mutant proteins.
Therefore, the experiments were conducted under similar
experimental conditions as for wild-type enzyme [12]. All
thermodynamic parameters derived from our experiments

thermodynamic profiles indicate that replacement of K22
by valine does not interfere with the conformational change
induced by UDPNAG binding, whereas the additional
replacement of R120 by lysine reduces the probability of
forming the fully closed form of the protein.
The results obtained with the K22V/R120K double
mutant protein point toward a central role of arginine 120
in the conformational process occurring during catalysis.
Therefore, we have generated the R120K single mutant
protein to define its importance in catalysis and the
conformational change. Similarly, the heat capacity change
observed for UDPNAG binding is the same as for the
K22V/R120K double mutant protein, supporting a model
in which R120 plays the crucial role in the open-closed
transformation in MurA.
Discussion
MurA undergoes a pronounced, conformational change
upon ligand binding. The loop region of the upper domain
moves towards the active site of the enzyme, thus shielding
the substrates (and ligands) from bulk solvent. A detailed
thermodynamic study of this process has indicated that the
shift of the equilibrium towards the closed conformation is
induced to a large extent by UDPNAG [13]. Here we have
shown that the thermodynamic characteristics of this
process are identical in the K22V mutant protein, indicating
that the mode and extent of the conformational change is
very similar to wild-type MurA. This finding is in clear
contrast to an earlier hypothesis that K22 plays a key role in
Table 2. Thermodynamic parameters for the binding of UDPNAG to the K22V, R120K and K22V/R120K mutant proteins in comparison to wild-type
MurA. Values at 20 °C were chosen as example. All measurements were performed in 50 mm Hepes, pH 7.4. The calculated values for DH, DG,

DH )46.8 )44.0 )45.9 )33.8
DG )25.5 )23.0 )23.0 )22.8
TDS )21.4 )21.0 )22.9 )11.0
K
d
(l
M
) 28.4 80.5 80.0 87.6
DC
p
)1.9 )2.0 )1.4 )1.38
Ó FEBS 2004 Lysine 22 and arginine 120 in MurA (Eur. J. Biochem. 271) 2687
the conformational change, possibly as part of a molecular
switch mechanism [12]. On the other hand, analysis of
tryptic fragments obtained after incubation with fosfomycin
alone and in combination with UDPNAG have provided
further insight into the molecular mechanism driving the
formation of the covalent C115–fosfomycin adduct. A
conservative exchange of K22 to arginine maintains fosfo-
mycin binding, while a charge reversal in the K22E mutant
enzyme completely abolishes the ability to form the covalent
adduct (Table 1).
Inspection of the three-dimensional structure of MurA
complexed with fosfomycin and UDPNAG provides a
rationale for these findings: the side chain amino group of
K22 engages in a salt-bridge interaction with the phospho-
nate group of fosfomycin (Fig. 5). Clearly, the guanidinium
group of arginine can, at least in part, fulfil this function
while the negatively charged glutamate side chain weakens
or even prohibits fosfomycin binding due to charge–charge

(C). Thermodynamic data for wild-type MurA is included for com-
parison and is represented by filled symbols in (A)–(C). Open symbols
are parameters measured for the corresponding mutant. In a typical
experiment 200–420 l
M
protein was titrated with 5 m
M
UDPNAG.
DC
p
was determined from the slope of the regression line describing the
temperature dependence of DH.
Fig. 5. Schematic respresentation of the active site of MurA with
UDPNAG and fosfomycin bound. The dashed lines indicate hydrogen
bond interactions and the numbers give the distances in A
˚
(based on
the structure reported in [11]).
2688 A. M. Thomas et al. (Eur. J. Biochem. 271) Ó FEBS 2004
H-bond. If the N
e
atom of K22 is missing (as in the K22V
mutant), the fosfomycin binding/reaction with C115 occurs
only in the presence of UDPNAG as the substrate promotes
the interaction of R120 and fosfomycin in order to form a
complex optimal for the nucleophilic attack of the thiol
group. This complex greatly resembles the closed confor-
mation. The observed lack of fosfomycin binding and
covalent attachment to the K22V/R120K double mutant
protein supports this scenario. Lysine in position 120 cannot

within error.
Moreover, we have demonstrated that the presence of
fosfomycin is also not critical to UDPNAG binding [13]. It
follows that UDPNAG binds in a preformed pocket and
does not require significant interactions with either K22 or
with fosfomycin, nor with the guanidinium group of R120.
Also, the heat capacity decrement associated with UDP-
NAG binding is not related to interactions involving K22.
However, the heat capacity decrement is dependent on the
presence of a short H-bond with R120, as it is significantly
lower in the K22V/R120K and R120K mutant proteins.
Replacement of R120 by lysine causes a 25% reduction of
DC
p
for both the single R120K and the K22V/R120K
double mutant protein indicating that the lysine plays a
pivotal role in formation of the closed conformation, i.e. the
closure of the lid. This is supported by the decrease in
enthalpy and the reduction of unfavorable entropy in the
double mutant protein that is compatible with a less ordered
structure of the lid making fewer contacts with the body of
the protein. Alternatively, the observed changes in the
thermodynamic parameters for the K22V/R120K and
R120K mutant proteins might be caused by differences in
the thermal/vibrational content of the complex. As the
structure of the binary complex of MurA with bound
UDPNAG is not available, it is not possible to calculate
how much of the heat capacity change is due to hydration
effects. Also, the lack of a binary structure does not allow us
to evaluate the extent to which the conformational change is

then why is this mutant protein catalytically inactive [12]?
Although phosphoenolpyruvate was shown to be capable of
reacting with the thiol group of C115 in a fashion similar
to fosfomycin [19,21], this adduct appears to be an off-
pathway species that releases phosphoenolpyruvate in the
active site of MurA, which then reacts with the 3¢-hydroxyl
group of bound UDPNAG to form a O-phosphothioketal
[22,23]. This species then eliminates phosphate to yield the
product UDP-N-acetylenolpyruvylglucosamine. The stereo-
chemical course of the reaction (anti-addition, syn-elimin-
ation [10]) also dictates that the reacting molecules are
properly positioned by neighboring amino acid residues.
Hence, productive catalysis is subject to various chemical
and steric constraints in contrast to the comparably simple
adduct formation with fosfomycin. It follows that the role
of K22 in catalysis is to provide a binding partner for the
phosphate group of phosphoenolpyruvate as well as to
achieve proper alignment of the reactants during the critical
addition–elimination steps.
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the ETH through an internal research
grant to P. M. and N. A. (0-20-515-98). We would also like to thank
A. K. Samland for many stimulating discussions and for providing the
K22V, K22E and K22R mutant plasmids. We are also grateful to
T. Etezady-Esfarjani for his help in preparing Fig. 1.
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