Abstract
Altered inositol metabolism is implicated in a number of diabetic complications. The first committed step in mammalian inositol catabolism is performed by myo-inositol oxygenase (MIOX), which catalyzes a unique four-electron dioxygen-dependent ring cleavage of myo-inositol to D-glucuronate. Here, we present the crystal structure of human MIOX in complex with myo-inosose-1 bound in a terminal mode to the MIOX diiron cluster site. Furthermore, from biochemical and biophysical results from N-terminal deletion mutagenesis we show that the N terminus is important, through coordination of a set of loops covering the active site, in shielding the active site during catalysis. EPR spectroscopy of the unliganded enzyme displays a two-component spectrum that we can relate to an open and a closed active site conformation. Furthermore, based on site-directed mutagenesis in combination with biochemical and biophysical data, we propose a novel role for Lys(127) in governing access to the diiron cluster.