scholarly journals α-Lactalbumin, Amazing Calcium-Binding Protein

Biomolecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1210
Author(s):  
Eugene A. Permyakov
Keyword(s):  
Oleic Acid ◽  
Metal Ions ◽  
Metal Binding ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Calcium Binding ◽  
Amyloid Fibrils ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Molten Globule ◽  
Bacterial Cells ◽  
Practical Applications

α-Lactalbumin (α-LA) is a small (Mr 14,200), acidic (pI 4–5), Ca2+-binding protein. α-LA is a regulatory component of lactose synthase enzyme system functioning in the lactating mammary gland. The protein possesses a single strong Ca2+-binding site, which can also bind Mg2+, Mn2+, Na+, K+, and some other metal cations. It contains several distinct Zn2+-binding sites. Physical properties of α-LA strongly depend on the occupation of its metal binding sites by metal ions. In the absence of bound metal ions, α-LA is in the molten globule-like state. The binding of metal ions, and especially of Ca2+, increases stability of α-LA against the action of heat, various denaturing agents and proteases, while the binding of Zn2+ to the Ca2+-loaded protein decreases its stability and causes its aggregation. At pH 2, the protein is in the classical molten globule state. α-LA can associate with membranes at neutral or slightly acidic pH at physiological temperatures. Depending on external conditions, α-LA can form amyloid fibrils, amorphous aggregates, nanoparticles, and nanotubes. Some of these aggregated states of α-LA can be used in practical applications such as drug delivery to tissues and organs. α-LA and some of its fragments possess bactericidal and antiviral activities. Complexes of partially unfolded α-LA with oleic acid are cytotoxic to various tumor and bacterial cells. α-LA in the cytotoxic complexes plays a role of a delivery carrier of cytotoxic fatty acid molecules into tumor and bacterial cells across the cell membrane. Perhaps in the future the complexes of α-LA with oleic acid will be used for development of new anti-cancer drugs.

scholarly journals Identification of Metal-binding Sites in Rat Brain Calcium-binding Protein

1995 ◽  
Vol 270 (51) ◽  
pp. 30353-30358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy D. Veenstra ◽  
Myron D. Gross ◽  
Willi Hunziker ◽  
Rajiv Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Rat Brain ◽  
Metal Binding ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Calcium Binding ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Calcium Binding Protein ◽  
Metal Binding Sites

scholarly journals Investigation of the nature of the two metal-binding sites in 5-aminolaevulinic acid dehydratase from Escherichia coli

1994 ◽  
Vol 300 (2) ◽  
pp. 373-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Spencer ◽  
P M Jordan
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Metal Ions ◽  
Metal Binding ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Metal Ion ◽  
Protein Fluorescence ◽  
Metal Binding Sites ◽  
Aminolaevulinic Acid ◽  
Acid Dehydratase ◽  
Aminolaevulinic Acid Dehydratase

Two distinct metal-binding sites, termed alpha and beta, have been characterized in 5-aminolaevulinic acid dehydratase from Escherichia coli. The alpha-site binds a Zn2+ ion that is essential for catalytic activity. This site can also utilize other metal ions able to function as a Lewis acid in the reaction mechanism, such as Mg2+ or Co2+. The beta-site is exclusively a transition-metal-ion-binding site thought to be involved in protein conformation, although a metal bound at this site only appears to be essential for activity if Mg2+ is to be bound at the alpha-site. The alpha- and beta-sites may be distinguished from one another by their different abilities to bind divalent-metal ions at different pH values. The occupancy of the beta-site with Zn2+ results in a decrease of protein fluorescence at pH 6. Occupancy of the alpha- and beta-sites with Co2+ results in u.v.-visible spectral changes. Spectroscopic studies with Co2+ have tentatively identified three cysteine residues at the beta-site and one at the alpha-site. Reaction with N-ethyl[14C]maleimide preferentially labels cysteine-130 at the alpha-site when Co2+ occupies the beta-site.

scholarly journals Computational approaches for de novo design and redesign of metal-binding sites on proteins

2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gunseli Bayram Akcapinar ◽  
Osman Ugur Sezerman
Keyword(s):  
Metal Ions ◽  
Metal Binding ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Metal Ion ◽  
De Novo ◽  
De Novo Design ◽  
Ion Binding ◽  
Chemical Transformations ◽  
Metal Ion Binding ◽  
Metal Binding Sites

Metal ions play pivotal roles in protein structure, function and stability. The functional and structural diversity of proteins in nature expanded with the incorporation of metal ions or clusters in proteins. Approximately one-third of these proteins in the databases contain metal ions. Many biological and chemical processes in nature involve metal ion-binding proteins, aka metalloproteins. Many cellular reactions that underpin life require metalloproteins. Most of the remarkable, complex chemical transformations are catalysed by metalloenzymes. Realization of the importance of metal-binding sites in a variety of cellular events led to the advancement of various computational methods for their prediction and characterization. Furthermore, as structural and functional knowledgebase about metalloproteins is expanding with advances in computational and experimental fields, the focus of the research is now shifting towards de novo design and redesign of metalloproteins to extend nature’s own diversity beyond its limits. In this review, we will focus on the computational toolbox for prediction of metal ion-binding sites, de novo metalloprotein design and redesign. We will also give examples of tailor-made artificial metalloproteins designed with the computational toolbox.

scholarly journals Metal-binding studies for a de novo designed calcium-binding protein

2002 ◽  
Vol 15 (7) ◽  
pp. 571-574 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna L. Wilkins ◽  
Yiming Ye ◽  
Wei Yang ◽  
Hsiau-Wei Lee ◽  
Zhi-ren Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Metal Binding ◽  
Calcium Binding ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Calcium Binding Protein ◽  
Binding Studies
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document