Exploring the multi-protein assembly of the enzymes of the de novo purine nucleotide biosynthetic pathway from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Abstract

Purine nucleotide biosynthesis is a crucial metabolic pathway responsible that produces building blocks essential for a plethora of cellular processes. In bacteria, the de novo purine nucleotide biosynthetic pathway (DNPNB) involves fifteen chemical steps catalysed by fourteen different enzymes. While the mammalian orthologues have been extensively shown to interact and form a metabolon named "purinosome", the possible existence of a prokaryotic equivalent was only recently revealed for the case of Escherichia coli. In this study, we explored the potential conservation of a bacterial purinosome-like complex in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an opportunistic pathogen known for its high antibiotic resistance. Using a bacterial two-hybrid system, we mapped protein-protein interactions among all tested DNPNB enzymes in P. aeruginosa and revealed a dense interaction network. An in-silico protein-protein docking approach on three core enzymes allowed the structural reconstitution of a complex composed of PurK, PurE and PurC with a 4:8:8 stoichiometry, respectively. Interestingly, a tunnel connecting the different active sites has been revealed, showing a metabolon-like property for possible efficient substrate channelling. These findings support a conserved regulatory organization of purine biosynthesis in bacteria, providing deeper insights into bacterial metabolism and paving the way for potential antibiotic targets.