Membrane Association, Mechanism of Action, and Structure of Arabidopsis Embryonic Factor 1 (FAC1)

Embryonic factor 1 (FAC1) is one of the earliest expressed plant genes and encodes an AMP deaminase (AMPD), which is also an identified herbicide target. This report identifies an N-terminal transmembrane domain in Arabidopsis FAC1, explores subcellular fractionation, and presents a 3.3-Å globular catalytic domain x-ray crystal structure with a bound herbicide-based transition state inhibitor that provides the first glimpse of a complete AMPD active site. FAC1 contains an (α/β)8-barrel characterized by loops in place of strands 5 and 6 that places it in a small subset of the amidohydrolase superfamily with imperfect folds. Unlike tetrameric animal orthologs, FAC1 is a dimer and each subunit contains an exposed Walker A motif that may be involved in the dramatic combined Km (25-80-fold lower) and Vmax (5-6-fold higher) activation by ATP. Normal mode analysis predicts a hinge motion that flattens basic surfaces on each monomer that flank the dimer interface, which suggests a reversible association between the FAC1 globular catalytic domain and intracellular membranes, with N-terminal transmembrane and disordered linker regions serving as the anchor and attachment to the globular catalytic domain, respectively.