Journal
NATURE STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY
Volume 8, Issue 8, Pages 679-683Publisher
NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
DOI: 10.1038/90387
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Nitric oxide synthase is inhibited by asymmetric NG-methylated derivatives of arginine whose cellular levels are controlled in part by dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH, EC 3.5.3.18). Levels of asymmetric N(G),N(G)-dimethylarginine (ADMA) are known to correlate with certain disease states. Here, the first structure of a DDAH shows an unexpected similarity to arginine:glycine amidinotransferase (EC 2.1.4.1) and arginine deiminase (EC 3.5.3.6), thus defining a superfamily of arginine-modifying enzymes. The identification of a Cys-His-Glu catalytic triad and the structures of a Cys to Ser point mutant bound to both substrate and product suggest a reaction mechanism. Comparison of the ADMA-DDAH and arginine-amidinotransferase complexes reveals a dramatic rotation of the substrate that effectively maintains the orientation of the scissile bond of the substrate with respect to the catalytic residues. The DDAH structure will form a basis for the rational design of selective inhibitors, which are of potential use in modulating NO synthase activity in pathological settings.
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