Energetics of interaction between the G-protein chaperone, MeaB, and B12-dependent methylmalonyl-CoA mutase

MeaB is an auxiliary protein that supports the function of the radical B(12)-dependent enzyme, methylmalonyl-CoA mutase, although its precise role is not understood. Mutations in the human homolog of MeaB, MMAA, lead to methylmalonic aciduria, an inborn error of metabolism that can be fatal. To obtain insights into the function of this recently discovered protein, we have characterized the entropic and enthalpic contributions to DeltaGdegree (assoc) for complexation of MeaB (in the presence and absence of nucleotides) with methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (in the presence and absence of cofactor). The dissociation constant for binding of methylmalonyl-CoA mutase and MeaB ranges from 34 +/- 4 to 524 +/- 66 nm, depending on the combination of nucleotide and mutase form. Holomutase binds MeaB 15-fold more tightly when the nonhydrolyzable GTP analog, GMPPNP, is bound versus GDP. In contrast, the apomutase binds MeaB with similar affinity in the presence of either nucleotide. Our studies reveal that a large structural rearrangement accompanies interaction between these proteins and buries between approximately 4000 and 8600A(2) of surface area, depending on the combination of ligands in the active sites of the two proteins. Furthermore, we demonstrate that MeaB binds GTP and GDP with similar affinity (K(d) of 7.3 +/- 1.9 and 6.2 +/- 0.7 microm, respectively at 20 degrees C) and has low intrinsic GTPase activity (approximately 0.04 min(-1) at 37 degrees C), which is stimulated approximately 100-fold by methylmalonyl-CoA mutase. These studies provide insights into the energetics of interaction between the radical enzyme methylmalonyl-CoA mutase and MeaB, which are discussed.