Crystal structure of a bifunctional transformylase and cyclohydrolase enzyme in purine biosynthesis

ATIC, the product of the purH gene, is a 64 kDa bifunctional enzyme that possesses the final two activities in de novo purine biosynthesis, AICAR transformylase and IMP cyclohydrolase. The crystal structure of avian ATIC has been determined to 1.75 Å resolution by the MAD method using a Se-methionine modified enzyme. ATIC forms an intertwined dimer with an extensive interface of ∼5,000 Ų per monomer. Each monomer is composed of two novel, separate functional domains. The N-terminal domain (up to residue 199) is responsible for the IMPCH activity, whereas the AICAR Tfase activity resides in the C-terminal domain (200-593). The active sites of the IMPCH and AICAR Tfase domains are ∼50 Å apart, with no structural evidence of a tunnel connecting the two active sites. The crystal structure of ATIC provides a framework to probe both catalytic mechanisms and to design specific inhibitors for use in cancer chemotherapy and inflammation.