3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde synthase evolved an ordered structure to deliver oxygen to pyridoxal 5’-phosphate for cuticle assembly in the mosquito Aedes aegypti

Abstract 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde synthase (DHPAAS) catalyzes oxygen-dependent conversion of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (dopa) to 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde (DHPAA), a likely cross-linking agent precursor of the insect cuticle. In the current study, extensive in vivo experiments in Aedes...

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Main Authors: Jing Chen, Christopher J. Vavricka, Shuangshuang Wei, Yasumoto Nakazawa, Yuri Matsumoto, Huaqing Chen, Yu Tang, Jing Liang, Jiukai Chen, Yaneng Huang, Keiichi Noguchi, Tomohisa Hasunuma, Huai Guan, Jianyong Li, Chenghong Liao, Qian Han
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59723-0
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author Jing Chen
Christopher J. Vavricka
Shuangshuang Wei
Yasumoto Nakazawa
Yuri Matsumoto
Huaqing Chen
Yu Tang
Jing Liang
Jiukai Chen
Yaneng Huang
Keiichi Noguchi
Tomohisa Hasunuma
Huai Guan
Jianyong Li
Chenghong Liao
Qian Han
author_facet Jing Chen
Christopher J. Vavricka
Shuangshuang Wei
Yasumoto Nakazawa
Yuri Matsumoto
Huaqing Chen
Yu Tang
Jing Liang
Jiukai Chen
Yaneng Huang
Keiichi Noguchi
Tomohisa Hasunuma
Huai Guan
Jianyong Li
Chenghong Liao
Qian Han
author_sort Jing Chen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde synthase (DHPAAS) catalyzes oxygen-dependent conversion of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (dopa) to 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde (DHPAA), a likely cross-linking agent precursor of the insect cuticle. In the current study, extensive in vivo experiments in Aedes aegypti show that DHPAAS is essential for abdominal integrity, egg development and cuticle structure formation. Solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of the Ae. aegypti cuticle molecular structure shows chemical shifts of 115 to 145 ppm, suggesting the presence of catechols derived from DHPAA. The crystal structure of insect DHPAAS was then solved, revealing an active site that is divergent from that of the homologous enzyme dopa decarboxylase. In the DHPAAS crystal structure, stabilization of the flexible 320–350 region accompanies the positioning of the 350–360 loop relatively close to the catalytic Asn192 residue while the conserved active site residue Phe103 adopts an open conformation away from the active center; these distinct features participate in the formation of a specific hydrophobic tunnel which potentially facilitates delivery of oxygen to pyridoxal 5’-phosphate in the conversion of dopa to DHPAA.
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spelling doaj-art-7a78d1ae68f2433daece2cbf712e85512025-08-20T03:48:02ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-05-0116111310.1038/s41467-025-59723-03,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde synthase evolved an ordered structure to deliver oxygen to pyridoxal 5’-phosphate for cuticle assembly in the mosquito Aedes aegyptiJing Chen0Christopher J. Vavricka1Shuangshuang Wei2Yasumoto Nakazawa3Yuri Matsumoto4Huaqing Chen5Yu Tang6Jing Liang7Jiukai Chen8Yaneng Huang9Keiichi Noguchi10Tomohisa Hasunuma11Huai Guan12Jianyong Li13Chenghong Liao14Qian Han15Laboratory of Tropical Veterinary Medicine and Vector Biology, School of Life and Health Sciences, Hainan Province Key Laboratory of One Health, Collaborative Innovation Center of Life and Health, Hainan UniversityDepartment of Biotechnology and Life Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, KoganeiLaboratory of Tropical Veterinary Medicine and Vector Biology, School of Life and Health Sciences, Hainan Province Key Laboratory of One Health, Collaborative Innovation Center of Life and Health, Hainan UniversityDepartment of Biotechnology and Life Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, KoganeiDepartment of Biotechnology and Life Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, KoganeiLaboratory of Tropical Veterinary Medicine and Vector Biology, School of Life and Health Sciences, Hainan Province Key Laboratory of One Health, Collaborative Innovation Center of Life and Health, Hainan UniversityLaboratory of Tropical Veterinary Medicine and Vector Biology, School of Life and Health Sciences, Hainan Province Key Laboratory of One Health, Collaborative Innovation Center of Life and Health, Hainan UniversityDepartment of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityLaboratory of Tropical Veterinary Medicine and Vector Biology, School of Life and Health Sciences, Hainan Province Key Laboratory of One Health, Collaborative Innovation Center of Life and Health, Hainan UniversityLaboratory of Tropical Veterinary Medicine and Vector Biology, School of Life and Health Sciences, Hainan Province Key Laboratory of One Health, Collaborative Innovation Center of Life and Health, Hainan UniversityDepartment of Biotechnology and Life Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, KoganeiEngineering Biology Research Center, Kobe UniversityLaboratory of Tropical Veterinary Medicine and Vector Biology, School of Life and Health Sciences, Hainan Province Key Laboratory of One Health, Collaborative Innovation Center of Life and Health, Hainan UniversityDepartment of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityLaboratory of Tropical Veterinary Medicine and Vector Biology, School of Life and Health Sciences, Hainan Province Key Laboratory of One Health, Collaborative Innovation Center of Life and Health, Hainan UniversityLaboratory of Tropical Veterinary Medicine and Vector Biology, School of Life and Health Sciences, Hainan Province Key Laboratory of One Health, Collaborative Innovation Center of Life and Health, Hainan UniversityAbstract 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde synthase (DHPAAS) catalyzes oxygen-dependent conversion of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (dopa) to 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde (DHPAA), a likely cross-linking agent precursor of the insect cuticle. In the current study, extensive in vivo experiments in Aedes aegypti show that DHPAAS is essential for abdominal integrity, egg development and cuticle structure formation. Solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of the Ae. aegypti cuticle molecular structure shows chemical shifts of 115 to 145 ppm, suggesting the presence of catechols derived from DHPAA. The crystal structure of insect DHPAAS was then solved, revealing an active site that is divergent from that of the homologous enzyme dopa decarboxylase. In the DHPAAS crystal structure, stabilization of the flexible 320–350 region accompanies the positioning of the 350–360 loop relatively close to the catalytic Asn192 residue while the conserved active site residue Phe103 adopts an open conformation away from the active center; these distinct features participate in the formation of a specific hydrophobic tunnel which potentially facilitates delivery of oxygen to pyridoxal 5’-phosphate in the conversion of dopa to DHPAA.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59723-0
spellingShingle Jing Chen
Christopher J. Vavricka
Shuangshuang Wei
Yasumoto Nakazawa
Yuri Matsumoto
Huaqing Chen
Yu Tang
Jing Liang
Jiukai Chen
Yaneng Huang
Keiichi Noguchi
Tomohisa Hasunuma
Huai Guan
Jianyong Li
Chenghong Liao
Qian Han
3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde synthase evolved an ordered structure to deliver oxygen to pyridoxal 5’-phosphate for cuticle assembly in the mosquito Aedes aegypti
Nature Communications
title 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde synthase evolved an ordered structure to deliver oxygen to pyridoxal 5’-phosphate for cuticle assembly in the mosquito Aedes aegypti
title_full 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde synthase evolved an ordered structure to deliver oxygen to pyridoxal 5’-phosphate for cuticle assembly in the mosquito Aedes aegypti
title_fullStr 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde synthase evolved an ordered structure to deliver oxygen to pyridoxal 5’-phosphate for cuticle assembly in the mosquito Aedes aegypti
title_full_unstemmed 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde synthase evolved an ordered structure to deliver oxygen to pyridoxal 5’-phosphate for cuticle assembly in the mosquito Aedes aegypti
title_short 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde synthase evolved an ordered structure to deliver oxygen to pyridoxal 5’-phosphate for cuticle assembly in the mosquito Aedes aegypti
title_sort 3 4 dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde synthase evolved an ordered structure to deliver oxygen to pyridoxal 5 phosphate for cuticle assembly in the mosquito aedes aegypti
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59723-0
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