A versatile cis-prenyltransferase from Methanosarcina mazei catalyzes both C- and O-prenylations.
Okada, M., Unno, H., Emi, K.I., Matsumoto, M., Hemmi, H.(2021) J Biol Chem 296: 100679-100679
- PubMed: 33872599 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100679
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
7CAQ, 7CAR, 7CAS, 7CAV, 7CC3 - PubMed Abstract: 
Polyprenyl groups, products of isoprenoid metabolism, are utilized in peptidoglycan biosynthesis, protein N-glycosylation, and other processes. These groups are formed by cis-prenyltransferases, which use allylic prenyl pyrophosphates as prenyl-donors to catalyze the C-prenylation of the general acceptor substrate, isopentenyl pyrophosphate. Repetition of this reaction forms (Z,E-mixed)-polyprenyl pyrophosphates, which are converted later into glycosyl carrier lipids, such as undecaprenyl phosphate and dolichyl phosphate. MM_0014 from the methanogenic archaeon Methanosarcina mazei is known as a versatile cis-prenyltransferase that accepts both isopentenyl pyrophosphate and dimethylallyl pyrophosphate as acceptor substrates. To learn more about this enzyme's catalytic activity, we determined the X-ray crystal structures of MM_0014 in the presence or absence of these substrates. Surprisingly, one structure revealed a complex with O-prenylglycerol, suggesting that the enzyme catalyzed the prenylation of glycerol contained in the crystallization buffer. Further analyses confirmed that the enzyme could catalyze the O-prenylation of small alcohols, such as 2-propanol, expanding our understanding of the catalytic ability of cis-prenyltransferases.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.