Crystal structures of two tetrameric β-carbonic anhydrases from the filamentous ascomycete Sordaria macrospora

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are metalloenzymes catalyzing the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide to bicarbonate (hydrogen carbonate) and protons. CAs have been identified in archaea, bacteria and eukaryotes and can be classified into five groups (, , , , ) that are unrelated in sequence and structure. The fungal -class has only recently attracted attention. In the present study, we investigated the structure and function of the plant-like -CA proteins CAS1 and CAS2 from the filamentous ascomycete Sordariamacrospora. We demonstrated that both proteins can substitute for the Saccharomycescerevisiae -CA Nce103 and exhibit an invitro CO2 hydration activity (k(cat)/K-m of CAS1:1.30x10(6)m(-1)s(-1); CAS2:1.21x10(6)m(-1)s(-1)). To further investigate the structural properties of CAS1 and CAS2, we determined their crystal structures to a resolution of 2.7 angstrom and 1.8 angstrom, respectively. The oligomeric state of both proteins is tetrameric. With the exception of the active site composition, no further major differences have been found. In both enzymes, the Zn2+-ion is tetrahedrally coordinated; in CAS1 by Cys45, His101 and Cys104 and a water molecule and in CAS2 by the side chains of four residues (Cys56, His112, Cys115 and Asp58). Both CAs are only weakly inhibited by anions, making them good candidates for industrial applications.