Structural insights into HypB, a GTP-binding protein that regulates metal binding.
Gasper, R., Scrima, A., Wittinghofer, A.(2006) J Biol Chem 281: 27492-27502
- PubMed: 16807243 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M600809200
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
2HF8, 2HF9 - PubMed Abstract: 
HypB is a prokaryotic metal-binding guanine nucleotide-binding protein that is essential for nickel incorporation into hydrogenases. Here we solved the x-ray structure of HypB from Methanocaldococcus jannaschii. It shows that the G-domain has a different topology than the Ras-like proteins and belongs to the SIMIBI (after Signal Recognition Particle, MinD and BioD) class of NTP-binding proteins. We show that HypB undergoes nucleotide-dependent dimerization, which is apparently a common feature of SIMIBI class G-proteins. The nucleotides are located in the dimer interface and are contacted by both subunits. The active site features residues from both subunits arguing that hydrolysis also requires dimerization. Two metal-binding sites are found, one of which is dependent on the state of bound nucleotide. A totally conserved ENV/IGNLV/ICP motif in switch II relays the nucleotide binding with the metal ionbinding site. The homology with NifH, the Fe protein subunit of nitrogenase, suggests a mechanistic model for the switch-dependent incorporation of a metal ion into hydrogenases.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Physiologie, Abteilung Strukturelle Biologie, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 11, 44227 Dortmund, Germany.