Topology of the Active Centre of Enzymes

2009 ◽  
pp. 267-340
Author(s):  
Jeannine Yon-Kahn ◽  
Guy Hervé
Keyword(s):  
Author(s):  
S.N Mbugua ◽  
L.W Njenga ◽  
R.A Odhiambo ◽  
S.O Wandiga ◽  
M.O Onani

: Modern anticancer drugs target DNA specifically on rapid division of malignant cells. One downside of this approach is that they also target other rapidly dividing healthy cells such as those involved in hair growth leading to serious toxic side effects and hair loss. Therefore, it would be better to develop novel agents that address cellular signalling mechanisms unique to cancerous cells, and new research is now focussing on such approaches. Although the classical chemotherapy area involving DNA as the set target continues to produce important findings, nevertheless, a distinctly discernible emerging trend is the divergence from the cisplatin operation model that uses the metal as the primary active centre of the drug. Many successful anti-cancer drugs present are associated with elevated toxicity levels. Cancers also develop immunity against most therapies and the area of cancer research can therefore be seen as an area with a high unaddressed need. Hence, ongoing work into cancer pathogenesis is important to create accurate preclinical tests which can contribute to the development of innovative drugs to manage and treat cancer. Some of the emergent frontiers utilizing different approaches include nanoparticles delivery, use of quantum dots, metal complexes, tumour ablation, magnetic hypothermia and hyperthermia by use of Superparamagnetic Iron oxide Nanostructures, pathomics and radiomics, laser surgery and exosomes. This review summarizes these new approaches in good detail giving critical views with necessary comparisons. It also delves into what they carry for the future including their advantages and disadvantages.


1975 ◽  
Vol 149 (2) ◽  
pp. 471-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
P T Andrews ◽  
C E Johnson ◽  
B Wallbank ◽  
R Cammack ◽  
D O Hall ◽  
...  

The X-ray photoelectron spectra of the 2p, 3s and 3p levels of iron in oxidized Clostridium pasteurianum ferredoxin indicate that the eight iron atoms in the molecule are indistinguishable. Their magnetic state is indicated both by core polarization splitting of the 3s electrons, and by ‘shake-up’ satellites on the 2p lines. Similar satellites are observed in the 2p lines of reduced Chromatium high-potential iron-sulphur proteins and oxidized spinach ferredoxin, indicating that there too the iron atoms are magnetic. The low observed magnetic susceptibility of these proteins is therefore due to spin-coupling between the iron atoms in the active centre.


1980 ◽  
Vol 189 (1) ◽  
pp. 189-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Brocklehurst ◽  
B S Baines ◽  
M S Mushiri

The active centres of chymopapains A and B (jointly designated EC 3.4.22.6) and papaya (Carica papaya L.) peptidase A were investigated by using 2,2′-dipyridyl disulphide and 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) as thiol-specific reactivity probes. Whereas the first active-centre pKa values for chymopapain B and papaya peptidase A are less than 5, is as the case for papain (EC 3.4.22.2) and ficin (EC 3.4.22.3), that for chymopapain A is about 6.8. The reason why the reactions of thiols of pKa approx. 6.5 with 2.2′-dipyridyl disulphide are essentially pH-independent in the pH range around the thiol pKa is delineated. The value of the Brønsted coefficient (beta nuc.) for the reactions of thiolate ions with the 2,2′-dipyridyl disulphide monocation appears to be smaller than its value for the corresponding reactions with the neutral disulphide.


1976 ◽  
Vol 159 (2) ◽  
pp. 245-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Norris ◽  
K Brocklehurst

1. A convenient method of preparation of jack-bean urease (EC3.5.1.5) involving covalent chromatography by thiol-disulphide interchange is described. 2. Urease thus prepared has specific activity comparable with the highest value yet reported (44.5 ± 1.47 kat/kg, Km = 3.32 ± 0.05 mM; kcat. = 2.15 × 104 ± 0.05 × 104s-1 at pH7.0 and 38°C). 3. Titration of the urease thiol groups with 2,2'-dipyridyl disulphide (2-Py-S-S-2-Py) and application of the method of Tsou Chen-Lu [(1962) Sci. Sin.11, 1535-1558] suggests that the urease molecule (assumed to have mol.wt. 483000 and ε280 = 2.84 × 105 litre·mol-1-cm-1) contains 24 inessential thiol groups of relatively high reactivity (class-I), six ‘essential’ thiol groups of low reactivity (class-II) and 54 buried thiol groups (class-III) which are exposed in 6M-guanidinium chloride. 4. The reaction of the class-I thiol groups with 2-Py-S-S-2-Py was studied in the pH range 6-11 at 25°C(I = 0.1 mol/l) by stopped-flow spectrophotometry, and the analogous reaction of the class-II thiol groups by conventional spectrophotometry. 5. The class-I thiol groups consist of at least two sub-classes whose reactions with 2-Py-S-S-2-Py are characterized by (a) pKa = 9.1, k = 1.56 × 104M-1·s-1 and (b) pKa = 8.1, k = 8.05 × 102M-1·s-1 respectively. The reaction of the class-II thiol groups is characterized by pKa = 9.15 and k = 1.60 × 102M-1·s-1. 6. At pH values 7-8 the class-I thiol groups consist of approx. 50% class-Ia groups and 50% class-Ib groups. The ratio class Ia/class Ib decreases as the pH is raised according to a pKa value ≥ approx. 9.5, and at high pH the class-I thiol groups consist of at most 25% class-Ia groups and at least 75% class-Ib groups. 7. The reactivity of the class-II thiol groups towards 2-Py-S-S-2-Py is insensitive to the nature of the group used to block the class-I thiols. 8. All the ‘essential’ thiol groups in urease appear to be eeactive only as uncomplicated thiolate ions. The implications of this for the active-centre chemistry of urease relative to that of the thiol proteinases are discussed.


1972 ◽  
Vol 126 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Middleton

1. The effect of independent variation of both acetyl-CoA and acetoacetyl-CoA on the initial velocity at pH8.0 and pH8.9 gives results compatible with a sequential mechanism involving a modified enzyme tentatively identified as an acetyl-enzyme, resulting from the reaction with acetyl-CoA in the first step of a Ping Pong (Cleland, 1963a) reaction. 2. Acetoacetyl-CoA gives marked substrate inhibition that is competitive with acetyl-CoA. This suggests formation of a dead-end complex with the unacetylated enzyme and is in accord with the inhibition pattern given by 3-oxohexanoyl-CoA, an inactive analogue of acetoacetyl-CoA. 3. The inhibition pattern given by products of the reaction is compatible with the above mechanism. CoA gives mixed inhibition with respect to both substrates, whereas dl-3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA competes with acetyl-CoA but gives uncompetitive inhibition with respect to acetoacetyl-CoA. 4. 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA analogues lacking the 3-hydroxyl group are found to compete, like 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA, with acetyl-CoA but have Ki values ninefold higher, indicating the importance of the 3-hydroxyl group in the interaction. 5. A comparison of inhibition by CoA and desulpho-CoA at pH8.0 and pH8.9 shows that at the higher pH value a kinetically significant reversal of the formation of acetyl-enzyme can occur. 6. Acetyl-CoA homologues do not act as substrates and compete only with acetyl-CoA. A study of the variation of Ki with acyl-chain length suggests the presence near the active centre of a hydrophobic region. 7. These results are discussed in terms of a kinetic mechanism in which there is only one CoA-binding site the specificity of which is altered by acetylation of the enzyme. 8. The rate of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthesis in yeast is calculated from the kinetic constants determined for purified 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase and from estimates of the physiological substrate concentrations. The rate of synthesis of 12nmol of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA/min per g wet wt. of yeast is still greater than the rate of utilization in spite of the extremely low (calculated) acetoacetyl-CoA concentration (1.8nm).


1989 ◽  
Vol 257 (1) ◽  
pp. 309-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Brocklehurst ◽  
M O'Driscoll ◽  
D Kowlessur ◽  
I R Phillips ◽  
W Templeton ◽  
...  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document