Making biochemistry count: life among the amino acid dehydrogenases

2011 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 425-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul C. Engel
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Coenzyme Binding ◽  
Guiding Principle ◽  
Glutamate Binding ◽  
Metabolic Role ◽  
Structure Solution ◽  
Unexpected Outcomes ◽  
Insight Into

The guiding principle of the IAS Medal Lecture and of the research it covered was that searching mathematical analysis, depending on good measurements, must underpin sound biochemical conclusions. This was illustrated through various experiences with the amino acid dehydrogenases. Topics covered in the present article include: (i) the place of kinetic measurement in assessing the metabolic role of GDH (glutamate dehydrogenase); (ii) the discovery of complex regulatory behaviour in mammalian GDH, involving negative co-operativity in coenzyme binding; (iii) an X-ray structure solution for a bacterial GDH providing insight into catalysis; (iv) almost total positive co-operativity in glutamate binding to clostridial GDH; (v) unexpected outcomes with mutations at the catalytic aspartate site in GDH; (vi) reactive cysteine as a counting tool in the construction of hybrid oligomers to probe the basis of allosteric interaction; (vii) tryptophan-to-phenylalanine mutations in analysis of allosteric conformational change; (viii) site-directed mutagenesis to alter substrate specificity in GDH and PheDH (phenylalanine dehydrogenase); and (ix) varying strengths of binding of the ‘wrong’ enantiomer in engineered mutant enzymes and implications for resolution of racemates.

scholarly journals The role of amino acid α38 in the control of oxygen binding to human adult and embryonic haemoglobin Portland

1999 ◽  
Vol 343 (3) ◽  
pp. 681-685 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao ZHENG ◽  
Thomas BRITTAIN ◽  
Nicholas J. WATMOUGH ◽  
Roy E. WEBER
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Ligand Binding ◽  
Significant Contribution ◽  
Molecular Model ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Oxygen Binding ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Two State Model ◽  
T State

The role of the amino acid at position α38 in haemoglobin has been probed using site-directed mutagenesis. When the Thr residue at position α38 (which is totally conserved in all mammals) is changed to a Gln, the equilibrium properties of the protein are significantly altered. Equilibrium and kinetic data show that the R-state properties of the protein are essentially unaffected by the mutation whilst the allosteric equilibrium and T-state properties are changed. Mutation of the naturally occurring Gln38 of the human embryonic haemoglobin ζ-chain (the only known non-Thr containing globin) to a Thr residue shows the converse change in properties produced by the adult mutation, although in this case the situation is complicated by significant chain heterogeneity in the T state. An extension of the two-state model of co-operativity is presented to describe quantitatively the equilibrium ligand binding in the presence of T-state chain heterogeneity. A molecular model is described in which the putative interaction of αGln38 and βTyr145 is identified which make a significant contribution to the previously reported unusual ligand-binding properties of the ζ-chain containing human embryonic haemoglobins.

Role of the amino acid invariants in the active site of MurG as evaluated by site-directed mutagenesis

Biochimie ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 89 (12) ◽  
pp. 1498-1508 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muriel Crouvoisier ◽  
Geneviève Auger ◽  
Didier Blanot ◽  
Dominique Mengin-Lecreulx
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Active Site ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Directed Mutagenesis

scholarly journals The functional role of the αM4 transmembrane helix in the muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor probed through mutagenesis and coevolutionary analyses

2020 ◽  
Vol 295 (32) ◽  
pp. 11056-11067 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mackenzie J. Thompson ◽  
Jaimee A. Domville ◽  
John E. Baenziger
Keyword(s):  
Acetylcholine Receptor ◽  
Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Induced Response ◽  
Independent Manner ◽  
Nicotinic Acetylcholine ◽  
Α Subunit ◽  
Lipid Sensing ◽  
Insight Into

The activity of the muscle-type Torpedo nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is highly sensitive to lipids, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. The nAChR transmembrane α-helix, M4, is positioned at the perimeter of each subunit in direct contact with lipids and likely plays a central role in lipid sensing. To gain insight into the mechanisms underlying nAChR lipid sensing, we used homology modeling, coevolutionary analyses, site-directed mutagenesis, and electrophysiology to examine the role of the α-subunit M4 (αM4) in the function of the adult muscle nAChR. Ala substitutions for most αM4 residues, including those in clusters of polar residues at both the N and C termini, and deletion of up to 11 C-terminal residues had little impact on the agonist-induced response. Even Ala substitutions for coevolved pairs of residues at the interface between αM4 and the adjacent helices, αM1 and αM3, had little effect, although some impaired nAChR expression. On the other hand, Ala substitutions for Thr422 and Arg429 caused relatively large losses of function, suggesting functional roles for these specific residues. Ala substitutions for aromatic residues at the αM4-αM1/αM3 interface generally led to gains of function, as previously reported for the prokaryotic homolog, the Erwinia chrysanthemi ligand-gated ion channel (ELIC). The functional effects of individual Ala substitutions in αM4 were found to be additive, although not in a completely independent manner. Our results provide insight into the structural features of αM4 that are important. They also suggest how lipid-dependent changes in αM4 structure ultimately modify nAChR function.

scholarly journals Characterization of a Thermoacidophilic l-Arabinose Isomerase from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius: Role of Lys-269 in pH Optimum

2005 ◽  
Vol 71 (12) ◽  
pp. 7888-7896 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sang-Jae Lee ◽  
Dong-Woo Lee ◽  
Eun-Ah Choe ◽  
Young-Ho Hong ◽  
Seong-Bo Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Amino Acid Sequences ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Bacillus Halodurans ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Ph Optimum ◽  
Calculated Molecular Mass ◽  
Alicyclobacillus Acidocaldarius ◽  
Arabinose Isomerase

ABSTRACT The araA gene encoding l-arabinose isomerase (AI) from the thermoacidophilic bacterium Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius was cloned, sequenced, and expressed in Escherichia coli. Analysis of the sequence revealed that the open reading frame of the araA gene consists of 1,491 bp that encodes a protein of 497 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular mass of 56,043 Da. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence of A. acidocaldarius AI (AAAI) with other AIs demonstrated that AAAI has 97% and 66% identities (99% and 83% similarities) to Geobacillus stearothermophilus AI (GSAI) and Bacillus halodurans AI (BHAI), respectively. The recombinant AAAI was purified to homogeneity by heat treatment, ion-exchange chromatography, and gel filtration. The purified enzyme showed maximal activity at pH 6.0 to 6.5 and 65°C under the assay conditions used, and it required divalent cations such as Mn2+, Co2+, and Mg2+ for its activity. The isoelectric point (pI) of the enzyme was about 5.0 (calculated pI of 5.5). The apparent Km values of the recombinant AAAI for l-arabinose and d-galactose were 48.0 mM (V max, 35.5 U/mg) and 129 mM (V max, 7.5 U/mg), respectively, at pH 6 and 65°C. Interestingly, although the biochemical properties of AAAI are quite similar to those of GSAI and BHAI, the three AIs from A. acidocaldarius (pH 6), G. stearothermophilus (pH 7), and B. halodurans (pH 8) exhibited different pH activity profiles. Based on alignment of the amino acid sequences of these homologous AIs, we propose that the Lys-269 residue of AAAI may be responsible for the ability of the enzyme to act at low pH. To verify the role of Lys-269, we prepared the mutants AAAI-K269E and BHAI-E268K by site-directed mutagenesis and compared their kinetic parameters with those of wild-type AIs at various pHs. The pH optima of both AAAI-K269E and BHAI-E268K were rendered by 1.0 units (pH 6 to 7 and 8 to 7, respectively) compared to the wild-type enzymes. In addition, the catalytic efficiency (k cat/Km ) of each mutant at different pHs was significantly affected by an increase or decrease in V max. From these results, we propose that the position corresponding to the Lys-269 residue of AAAI could play an important role in the determination of the pH optima of homologous AIs.

Site-directed mutagenesis studies to probe the role of specific residues in the external loop (L3) of OmpF and OmpC porins in susceptibility of Serratia marcescens to antibiotics

2007 ◽  
Vol 53 (6) ◽  
pp. 710-719
Author(s):  
Sanela Begic ◽  
Elizabeth A. Worobec
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Serratia Marcescens ◽  
Outer Membrane ◽  
Aspartic Acid ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Natural Resistance ◽  
Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
External Loop ◽  
Ompc Porin

Serratia marcescens is a nosocomial bacterium with natural resistance to a broad spectrum of antibiotics, making treatment challenging. One factor contributing to this natural antibiotic resistance is reduced outer membrane permeability, controlled in part by OmpF and OmpC porin proteins. To investigate the direct role of these porins in the diffusion of antibiotics across the outer membrane, we have created an ompF–ompC porin-deficient strain of S. marcescens. A considerable similarity between the S. marcescens porins and those from other members of Enterobacteriaceae was detected by sequence alignment, with the exception of a change in a conserved region of the third external loop (L3) of the S. marcescens OmpC protein. Serratia marcescens OmpC has aspartic acid instead of glycine in position 112, methionine instead of aspartic acid in position 114, and glutamine in position 124, while in S. marcescens OmpF this is a glycine at position 124. To investigate the role of amino acid positions 112, 114, and 124 and how the observed changes within OmpC porin may play a part in pore permeability, 2 OmpC sites were altered in the Enterobacteriaceae consensus (D112G and M114D) through site-directed mutagenesis. Also, Q124G in OmpC, G124Q in OmpF, and double mutants of these amino acid residues were constructed. Antibiotic accumulation assays and minimal inhibitory concentrations of the strains harboring the mutated porins were performed, while liposome swelling experiments were performed on purified porins. Our results demonstrate that the amino acid at position 114 is not responsible for either antibiotic size or ionic selection, the amino acid at position 112 is responsible for size selection only, and position 124 is involved in both size and ionic selection.

scholarly journals A Critical Role of Non-active Site Residues on Cyclooxygenase Helices 5 and 6 in the Control of Prostaglandin Stereochemistry at Carbon 15

2007 ◽  
Vol 282 (38) ◽  
pp. 28157-28163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin Valmsen ◽  
William E. Boeglin ◽  
Reet Järving ◽  
Ivar Järving ◽  
Külliki Varvas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Active Site ◽  
Amino Acid Sequence Identity ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Single Amino Acid ◽  
Active Site Residues ◽  
The Core ◽  
The Difference

The correct stereochemistry of prostaglandins is a prerequisite of their biological activity and thus is under a strict enzymatic control. Recently, we cloned and characterized two cyclooxygenase (COX) isoforms in the coral Plexaura homomalla that share 97% amino acid sequence identity, yet form prostaglandins with opposite stereochemistry at carbon 15. The difference in oxygenation specificity is only partially accounted for by the single amino acid substitution in the active site (Ile or Val at position 349). For further elucidation of residues involved in the C-15 stereocontrol, a series of sequence swapping and site-directed mutagenesis experiments between 15R- and 15S-COX were performed. Our results show that the change in stereochemistry at carbon 15 of prostaglandins relates mainly to five amino acid substitutions on helices 5 and 6 of the coral COX. In COX proteins, these helices form a helix-turn-helix motif that traverses through the entire protein, contributing to the second shell of residues around the oxygenase active site; it constitutes the most highly conserved region where even slight changes result in loss of catalytic activity. The finding that this region is among the least conserved between the P. homomalla 15S- and 15R-specific COX further supports its significance in maintaining the desired prostaglandin stereochemistry at C-15. The results are particularly remarkable because, based on its strong conservation, the conserved middle of helix 5 is considered as central to the core structure of peroxidases, of which COX proteins are derivatives. Now we show that the same parts of the protein are involved in the control of oxygenation with 15R or 15S stereospecificity in the dioxygenase active site.

The Functional Role of Positively Charged Amino Acid Side Chains in α-Bungarotoxin Revealed by Site-Directed Mutagenesis of a His-Tagged Recombinant α-Bungarotoxin†

Biochemistry ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 38 (24) ◽  
pp. 7847-7855 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie A. Rosenthal ◽  
Mark M. Levandoski ◽  
Belle Chang ◽  
Jerald F. Potts ◽  
Qing-Luo Shi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Functional Role ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Side Chains ◽  
Amino Acid Side Chains ◽  
Positively Charged

scholarly journals Non-metabolic role of UCK2 links EGFR-AKT pathway activation to metastasis enhancement in hepatocellular carcinoma

Oncogenesis ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Cai ◽  
Xuehua Sun ◽  
Han Guo ◽  
Xiaoye Qu ◽  
Hongting Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Synergistic Effects ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Akt Pathway ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Metabolic Role ◽  
Pathway Activation ◽  
Pyrimidine Salvage

AbstractUp-regulation of Uridine-cytidine kinase 2 (UCK2), a rate-limiting enzyme of the pyrimidine salvage pathway, has been suggested in HCC, but the detailed molecular mechanisms and therapic role of UCK2 remain elusive. Bioinformatic analyses revealed that UCK2 might be a key up-regulated metabolic gene in HCCs. The expressional pattern and prognostic value of UCK2 were further examined in a large number of clinical samples. Functional assays based on site-directed mutagenesis showed that UCK2 promoted cell proliferation in a metabolic manner, but non-catalytically facilitates HCC metastasis. Mechanistically, in response to EGF, UCK2 interacted with EGFR to block EGF-induced EGFR ubiquitination and degradation, which resulted in elevated EGFR-AKT pathway activation and metastasis enhancement in HCCs. Concurrent pharmacological targeting on UCK2 and EGFR showed synergistic effects on HCC treatment. This study disclosed the non-metabolic role of UCK2 and suggested the therapeutic potential of concurrent blocking the metabolic and non-metabolic roles of UCK2 in HCC treatment.

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