Molecular basis for N-terminal alpha-synuclein acetylation by human NatB.

ABSTRACT: NatB is one of three major N-terminal acetyltransferase (NAT) complexes (NatA-NatC), which co-translationally acetylate the N-termini of eukaryotic proteins. Its substrates account for about 21% of the human proteome, including well known proteins such as actin, tropomyosin, CDK2, and ?-synuclein (?Syn). Human NatB (hNatB) mediated N-terminal acetylation of ?Syn has been demonstrated to play key roles in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease and as a potential therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma. Here we report the cryo-EM structure of hNatB bound to a CoA-?Syn conjugate, together with structure-guided analysis of mutational effects on catalysis. This analysis reveals functionally important differences with human NatA and Candida albicans NatB, resolves key hNatB protein determinants for ?Syn N-terminal acetylation, and identifies important residues for substrate-specific recognition and acetylation by NatB enzymes. These studies have implications for developing small molecule NatB probes and for understanding the mode of substrate selection by NAT enzymes.

SUBMITTER: Deng S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7494357 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature