Structure of an integral membrane sterol reductase from Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum

Nature. 2015 Jan 1;517(7532):104-7. doi: 10.1038/nature13797. Epub 2014 Oct 12.

Abstract

Sterols are essential biological molecules in the majority of life forms. Sterol reductases including Δ(14)-sterol reductase (C14SR, also known as TM7SF2), 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase (DHCR7) and 24-dehydrocholesterol reductase (DHCR24) reduce specific carbon-carbon double bonds of the sterol moiety using a reducing cofactor during sterol biosynthesis. Lamin B receptor (LBR), an integral inner nuclear membrane protein, also contains a functional C14SR domain. Here we report the crystal structure of a Δ(14)-sterol reductase (MaSR1) from the methanotrophic bacterium Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum 20Z (a homologue of human C14SR, LBR and DHCR7) with the cofactor NADPH. The enzyme contains ten transmembrane segments (TM1-10). Its catalytic domain comprises the carboxy-terminal half (containing TM6-10) and envelops two interconnected pockets, one of which faces the cytoplasm and houses NADPH, while the other one is accessible from the lipid bilayer. Comparison with a soluble steroid 5β-reductase structure suggests that the reducing end of NADPH meets the sterol substrate at the juncture of the two pockets. A sterol reductase activity assay proves that MaSR1 can reduce the double bond of a cholesterol biosynthetic intermediate, demonstrating functional conservation to human C14SR. Therefore, our structure as a prototype of integral membrane sterol reductases provides molecular insight into mutations in DHCR7 and LBR for inborn human diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Catalytic Domain
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism*
  • Cholesterol / biosynthesis
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Humans
  • Lamin B Receptor
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Methylococcaceae / enzymology*
  • Models, Molecular
  • NADP / chemistry
  • NADP / metabolism
  • Oxidoreductases / chemistry*
  • Oxidoreductases / metabolism*
  • Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors / chemistry
  • Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors / genetics
  • Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors / metabolism
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / chemistry
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / genetics
  • Sterols / metabolism

Substances

  • Membrane Proteins
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear
  • Sterols
  • NADP
  • Cholesterol
  • Oxidoreductases
  • Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors
  • 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase
  • TM7SF2 protein, human
  • delta(14)-sterol reductase

Associated data

  • PDB/4QUV