Majtan, T. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2025

Structural basis for a filamentous morpheein model of human cystathionine beta-synthase

Human cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) is a vital enzyme that regulates sulfur amino acid metabolism, hydrogen sulfide production, and cellular redox balance. Using a multidisciplinary approach, we demonstrate that CBS functions as a filamentous morpheein, with its stability, turnover, and activity governed by dynamic quaternary structural transitions. Three distinct filamentous assemblies were resolved by cryo-EM and are mediated by the oligomerization loop (residues 516-525): (i) ligand-free trans-dimers that form trans-basal filaments with basal stability and activity, (ii) adenosylornithine-bound cis-dimers that assemble into stabilized cis-basal filaments and (iii) S-adenosylmethionine-bound allo-dimers, which, together with cis-dimers, form highly stable, allo-activated stacked filaments. These reversible filamentous assemblies redefine CBS biology by integrating oligomerization and allosteric regulation within a morpheein framework. These findings provide a transformative perspective on CBS function and open new avenues for pharmacological targeting of dysregulated CBS in various diseases including homocystinuria, cancer, and Down syndrome.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2024

Endogenously produced hydrogen cyanide serves as a novel mammalian gasotransmitter

Small, gaseous molecules, known as gasotransmitters (NO, CO, H2S), are produced endogenously in mammalian cells and serve important biological roles. Hydrogen cyanide, traditionally considered a cytotoxic molecule in mammals, serves as an endogenous mediator in several plants and bacterial species. Here we show that low concentrations of cyanide are generated endogenously in mouse liver and human hepatocytes. Cyanide production is stimulated by glycine, occurs at the low pH of lysosomes and requires peroxidase activity. Cyanide, in turn, is detectable in several cellular compartments. Cyanide is also detectable basally in the blood of mice; its levels increase after treatment of the animals with glycine. Rhodanese activity regulates endogenous cyanide levels. Cyanide, when generated endogenously at an optimal level, exerts stimulatory effects on mitochondrial bioenergetics, cell metabolism and cell proliferation. Dysregulation of endogenous cyanide, either below or above optimal levels, impairs cellular bioenergetics. The regulatory effects of cyanide are in part mediated by posttranslational modification of cysteine residues via protein cyanylation; cyanylated protein residues can be detected basally, and increase after treatment with glycine. Controlled low-dose cyanide supplementation exhibits cytoprotective effects, as demonstrated in hypoxia and reoxygenation models in vitro and in vivo. However, pathologically elevated cyanide production, as demonstrated in nonketotic hyperglycinemia - an autosomal recessive disease of glycine metabolism - is deleterious to the cells.

biochemistry↗