非特异性脂质转移蛋白突变体的构建及在两种硫氧还蛋白表达载体中的表达比较

对水稻非特异性脂质转移蛋白(Nospecific lipid transfer protein,nsLTP) LTP110中结构重要的5个氨基酸位点进行了定点突变,测序结果证实了突变体构建成功。在尝试了多种大肠杆菌表达系统进行表达之后,发现硫氧还蛋白融合表达载体适合于LTP110野生型及突变体的表达。将编码野生型LTP110及突变体Y17A,P72L,R46A,D45A,C50A蛋白的cDNA顺序克隆进两种硫氧还蛋白表达载体并对其表达情况进行了比较：pTrxFus载体可以在宿主菌GI724中以较低水平表达野生型LTP110及突变体Y17A,P72L,R46A融合蛋白,但不能表达D45A和C50A融合蛋白;pET32a(+)载体可以在宿主菌BL21 (DE3) trxB-中以可溶蛋白的形式表达野生型及所有突变型融合蛋白,且表达量比在pTrxFus载体/GI724突主菌中表达量高。对pET32a(+)载体中表达的LTP110融合蛋白进行了纯化,并利用带有荧光标记的脂肪酸分子对其测活,结果表明表达的野生型LTP110分子具有结合脂质的活性。     

雌激素受体α磷酸化位点突变体T224A和S559A的构建及其转录激活活性检测

目的:构建雌激素受体α(ERα)T224A和S559A磷酸化位点突变体载体,在HEK293T细胞中检测其表达及突变体生物活性的改变。方法:以pc DNA3-Flag-ERα为模板,通过重组PCR技术扩增目的基因片段并突变碱基,插入pc DNA3-Flag载体;将构建的质粒转染HEK293T细胞进行瞬时表达,通过Western印迹检测融合蛋白的表达,采用萤光素酶报告基因方法检测ERα突变体的活性改变。结果:T224A和S559A磷酸化位点突变体在HEK293T细胞中得到表达,相对分子质量为66×103。在无雌激素(E2)时,野生型ERα及T224A和S559A突变体的转录活性分别为空载体的1.94、1.49和1.84倍;在雌激素存在时,野生型ERα活性增强了1.57倍,T224A和S559A突变体活性分别增强了0.54和0.61倍。结论:224位Thr磷酸化修饰对ERα的活性起重要作用,且2个磷酸化位点突变体受雌激素调控减弱。     

葡萄球菌B型肠毒素突变体SEB(Y89A,C93S,Y94A)对小鼠的免疫保护作用

目的:评价葡萄球菌B型肠毒素(SEB)突变体SEB(Y89A,C93S,Y94A)作为超抗原疫苗候选分子对小鼠的免疫保护作用。方法:制备具有一定纯度和活性的突变体蛋白SEB(Y89A,C93S,Y94A)样品,灭活后免疫BALB/c小鼠,待小鼠抗体水平上升后,再以野生型SEB(wt-SEB)攻击用D-半乳糖胺致敏的BALB/c小鼠,评价该突变体蛋白的免疫保护作用。结果:突变体蛋白SEB(Y89A,C93S,Y94A)在重组大肠杆菌DH5α中得到表达,主要以包涵体形式存在,经变性、复性、SephacrylS200凝胶过滤,制备成较高纯度(95%)的、具有与wt-SEB相同抗原性的突变体蛋白样品,甲醛灭活后免疫BALB/c小鼠至4周,ELISA法测定小鼠抗体效价水平可达106;进而以wt-SEB攻毒,在达8倍LD50的攻击下,阴性对照小鼠在24h内全部死亡,而SEB(Y89A,C93S,Y94A)组与wt-SEB组小鼠至48h仍有存活。结论:突变体蛋白的保护效果与wt-SEB相类似,有望成为SEB减毒疫苗候选分子。     

人副流感病毒3型HN蛋白十一肽重复序列保守氨基酸突变分析

为确定人副流感病毒3型(Human parainfluenza virus type 3,hPIV3)病毒包膜表面血凝素神经氨酸酶(Hemagglutinin-neuraminidase,HN)糖蛋白茎部区十一肽重复序列中保守氨基酸中具有关键性作用的位点,进一步探讨HN蛋白茎部区在融合机制中的重要作用。结合定点突变和同源重组技术将HN蛋白茎部区十一肽重复序列中5个保守氨基酸位点(I102、P111、L114、S119、I125)突变为丙氨酸(Alanine,A),通过痘苗病毒-T7聚合酶系统在BHK-21细胞中表达突变蛋白,定性定量检测各突变体蛋白的促细胞融合活性、受体结合活性、神经氨酸酶活性和半融合活性。突变体蛋白I102A、P111A、L114A、S119A、I125A的促细胞融合活性均有不同程度下降,依次为野生型的6%、16%、14%、87%和4%,除S119A外其余4个突变型与野生型相比差别均具有统计学意义(P0.01);突变体蛋白I102A、P111A、L114A、S119A、I125A的受体结合活性也出现不同程度下降,依次分别为野生型的32.2%、77.4%、74.2%、83.9%和38.7%,其中I102A和I125A的受体结合活性与野生型相比差别具有统计学意义(P0.01);突变体蛋白I102A、P111A、L114A、S119A、I125A的神经氨酸酶活性分别为野生型的66.5%、73.1%、69.1%、76.1%和72.8%,与野生型相比差别无统计学意义(P0.05)。结果表明:茎部区十一肽重复序列对hPIV3HN蛋白的促细胞融合活性和受体结合活性具有重要意义。该区域氨基酸I102、P111、L114、I125具有关键作用,推测其能通过影响头部区受体结合活性或是与融合蛋白的相互作用等不同方式导致HN蛋白结构功能发生改变。     

葡萄球菌B型肠毒素突变体的分子设计、高效表达与活性初步研究

葡萄球菌B型肠毒素（SEB0是重要的超抗原,依据SEB分子的晶体结构并结合表面分析,模拟设计了与MHCⅡ类分子和TCR VB区亲合力降低的三位点突变体mSEB(Y89A,C93S,Y94A)。通过PCR重叠延伸法获得突变体基因,导入PBV220载体中,于E.coliDH5α中获得高效表达,纯化的突变毒素T细胞激活活性仅为野生型毒素的1/5左右。     

人凋亡相关基因TFAR19缺失突变体的原核表达、产物纯化及鉴定

构建TF 1细胞凋亡相关基因 19(TF 1cellapoptosisrelatedgene 19,TFAR19)缺失突变体的原核表达载体 ,获取缺失突变体蛋白 ,用于TFAR19促凋亡分子机理的研究 .从真核表达载体pcDI TFAR19扩增出野生型TFAR19和 4个缺失突变体 ,重组到原核表达载体pGEX 4T 2 .经亲和层析方法对缺失体蛋白进行纯化后 ,再利用凝胶过滤的方法进一步纯化 .利用抗GST和抗TFAR19的单克隆抗体对蛋白进行免疫学鉴定 .用白血病细胞株HL 6 0检测蛋白活性 .成功地克隆并重组了野生型TFAR19及缺失突变体 pGEX 4T 2表达载体 ,对融合蛋白的表达条件进行了优化 .SDS PAGE结果显示 ,各个缺失突变体融合蛋白均有较高水平的表达 .免疫学检测证实获得了正确的表达产物 .活性检测证实 ,野生型TFAR19和缺失突变体 4可以明显促进去血清诱导的HL 6 0细胞凋亡 ,第 6外显子可能是一个与TFAR19促凋亡活性密切相关的功能结构域     

葡萄球菌肠毒素 B 突变体的构建及其抗肿瘤活性分析

目的：通过对葡萄球菌肠毒素B（SEB）32位His进行定点突变,获得抑瘤效果显著增强的SEB突变体。方法：利用基因定点突变的方法,将SEB的32位His替换为Asn,将重组质粒转入大肠杆菌中诱导表达,用CM弱阳离子层析柱纯化获得重组蛋白,用SDS-PAGE和Western印迹对其进行鉴定,并用增殖实验检测其丝裂原活性,通过MTS法检测其体外抗肿瘤活性。结果：构建并高效表达了突变体蛋白SEB（H32N）,纯化获得了足够纯度的突变体蛋白;体外实验表明,在相同浓度下,SEB（H32N）的丝裂原活性及体外抗肿瘤活性明显优于野生型SEB。结论：同野生型SEB相比,突变体蛋白SEB（H32N）对肿瘤生长的抑制作用得到了提高。     

次黄嘌呤-鸟嘌呤磷酸核糖转移酶突变体的基因构建、表达和性质

通过对我国嗜热菌Thermoanaerobactertengcongensis中次黄嘌呤 鸟嘌呤磷酸核糖转移酶 (HGPRT)三维结构进行同源模建 ,设计出HGPRT的突变体K1 33A、K1 33S和K1 33T。用抗性筛选法 ,对HGPRT的基因进行了定点突变 ,并实现了在大肠杆菌中的高效表达。野生型HGPRT及其突变体K1 33A、K1 33S和K1 33T的催化动力学研究表明 ,HG PRT突变体改变并扩大了底物专一性 ,具有催化嘌呤类似物的活性。     

毕赤酵母表达的嗜热蓝状菌β-葡萄糖苷酶N-糖基化修饰的作用与功能

【目的】研究N-糖基化对来源于嗜热蓝状菌β-葡萄糖苷酶(β-glucosidase,Bgl3A)的酶学性质影响。【方法】采用定点突变技术构建了3个去N-糖基化的突变体T44A、S228A、S299A,并分别在毕赤酵母GS115中表达纯化。【结果】与野生型Bgl3A相比,突变体S228A分泌蛋白产量极低,仅能微量检测到p NPG活性;突变体T44A和S299A的最适pH和最适温度没有改变,分别为4.0和75°C,但二者的T_m值和70°C下的热稳定性都明显优于野生型。以p NPG为底物时,突变体S299A和T44A的催化效率分别降低了14.5%和70.0%;以纤维二糖为底物时,T44A的催化效率基本不变,而S299A的催化效率提高了1.1倍。【结论】Bgl3A不同位点的N-糖基化修饰对酶的分泌和酶学性质的影响具有明显差异。其中,N226位的N-糖基化在维持酶的表达和功能方面至关重要,而去除N297位点的N-糖基化可以提高酶的热稳定性及对纤维二糖的催化效率。     

细菌视紫红质 E204Q 和 I119T/T121S/A126T突变体的构建及其功能研究

应用定点突变的方法获得了细菌视紫红质 (bacteriorhodopsin , BR) 的单突变体 BR_E204Q和三突变体 BR_{I119T/T121S/A126T}. 通过功能研究发现, BR 蛋白的单突变体 BR_E204Q的 M 态寿命为 7.10 ms ,三突变体 BR_{I119T/T121S/A126T}的 M 态寿命为 8.23 ms ,均较野生型 BR 蛋白 (6.23ms) 有所延长,三突变体表现得更为显著,其 M 态延长时间可超出野生型的 32％. 同时单突变体 BR_E204Q和三突变体 BR_{I119T/T121S/A126T}的质子泵功能也均有改变,都比野生型 BR 蛋白有所下降,其中三突变体 BR_{I119T/T121S/A126T}下降得更为明显.     

白念珠菌H310D突变型14α-去甲基化酶的克隆、表达及活性的初步研究

利用错配内部引物,采用重组PCR方法获得H310D突变型白念珠菌14α去甲基化酶（CYP51）,构建H310D突变型CYP51蛋白的表达载体pYCYP51M,转化进入酵母菌INVSC-1中,半乳糖诱导蛋白的表达,微量液基稀释法测定表达野生型及突变型CYP51蛋白的宿主酵母菌对氟康唑的MIC。表达的CYP51蛋白占微粒体蛋白酶系的15%;表达突变蛋白的酵母菌MIC值是表达野生蛋白的酵母菌MIC值的2倍。CYP51蛋白H310D的突变导致表达突变蛋白的酵母菌对氟康唑MIC的升高,证明H310残基对CYP51蛋白与氟康唑的结合有一定作用,为研究新型抗真菌前导化合物寻找新的靶点。     

The amino acid residues affecting the activity and azole susceptibility of rat CYP51 (sterol 14-demethylase P450)

The amino acid residues affecting the function of rat sterol 14-demethylase P450 (CYP51) were examined by means of point mutation. Forty-five mutants with respect to 27 amino acid sites were constructed and expressed in Escherichia coli. Substitution of highly conserved Y131, E369, R372, or R382 decreased the expression of CYP51 protein, indicating some structural importance of these residues. Substitution of H314, T315, or S316 caused considerable effects on the catalytic activity, and T315 was identified as the "conserved threonine" of CYP51. H314 was important for maintenance of the activity of CYP51 and was a characteristic residue of this P450, because the position corresponding to this residue is occupied by an acidic amino acid in most other P450 species. A144 was identified as a residue affecting the interaction of CYP51 with ketoconazole. Substitution of A144 with I, which occupies the corresponding position in fungal CYP51, enhanced the ketoconazole susceptibility of rat CYP51 with little change in the catalytic activity, indicating an important role of this residue in determination of the ketoconazole susceptibility of CYP51. Alteration of the catalytic activity was caused by the substitution at some other sites, whereas substitution of a few highly conserved amino acids caused little alteration of the activity of CYP51.     

Identification of unique amino acids that modulate CYP4A7 activity

A multifamily sequence alignment of the rabbit CYP4A members with the known structure of CYP102 indicates amino acid differences falling within the so-called substrate recognition site(s) (SRS). Chimeric proteins constructed between CYP4A4 and CYP4A7 indicate that laurate activity is affected by the residues within SRS1 and prostaglandin activity is influenced by SRS2-3. Site-directed mutant proteins of CYP4A7 found laurate and arachidonate activity markedly diminished in the R90W mutant (SRS1) and somewhat decreased in W93S. While PGE(1) activity was only slightly increased, the mutant proteins H206Y and S255F (SRS2-3), on the other hand, exhibited remarkable increases in laurate and arachidonate metabolism (3-fold) above wild-type substrate metabolism. Mutant proteins H206Y, S255F, and H206Y/S255F but not R90W/W93S, wild-type CYP4A4, or CYP4A7 metabolized arachidonic acid in the absence of cytochrome b(5). Stopped-flow kinetic experiments were performed in a CO-saturated environment performed to estimate interaction rates of the monooxygenase reaction components. The mutant protein H206Y, which exhibits 3-fold higher than wild-type substrate activity, interacts with CPR at a rate at least 10 times faster than that of wild-type CYP4A7. These experimental results provide insight regarding the residues responsible for modulation of substrate specificity, affinity, and kinetics, as well as possible localization within the enzyme structure based on comparisons with homologous, known cytochrome P450 structures.     

Effects of Y132H and F145L substitutions on the activity, azole resistance and spectral properties of Candida albicans sterol 14-demethylase P450 (CYP51): a live example showing the selection of altered P450 through interaction with environmental compounds

Three variants of Candida albicans CYP51 (sterol 14-demethylase P450) having Y132H and/or F145L substitutions were purified and characterized to reveal the effects of these amino acid substitutions on the enzymatic properties and azole resistance of the enzyme. Y132H and F145L substitutions modified the spectral properties of the enzyme, suggesting that they caused some structural change modifying the heme environments of CYP51. Y132H and F145L substitutions increased the resistance of the enzyme to azole compounds but considerably decreased the catalytic activity. This fact represents a trade-off between acquisition of azole resistance and maintenance of high activity in the CYP51 having Y132H and F145L substitutions. A fluconazole-resistant C. albicans strain DUMC136 isolated from patients receiving long-term azole treatment was a homozygote of the altered CYP51 having Y132H and F145L substitutions. However, neither of these substitutions was found in CYP51 of wild-type C. albicans so far studied. These facts suggest that the azole-resistant variant having Y132H and/or F145L substitutions might be selected only under azole-rich environments because of its azole resistance and impaired catalytic activity. This may be a live example showing one of the important processes of P450 diversification, the selection of altered P450 through the interaction with environmental compounds.     

Fluconazole binding and sterol demethylation in three CYP51 isoforms indicate differences in active site topology

14alpha-Demethylase (CYP51) is a key enzyme in all sterol biosynthetic pathways (animals, fungi, plants, protists, and some bacteria), catalyzing the removal of the C-14 methyl group following cyclization of squalene. Based on mutations found in CYP51 genes from Candida albicans azole-resistant isolates obtained after fluconazole treatment of fungal infections, and using site-directed mutagenesis, we have found that fluconazole binding and substrate metabolism vary among three different CYP51 isoforms: human, fungal, and mycobacterial. In C. albicans, the Y132H mutant from isolates shows no effect on fluconazole binding, whereas the F145L mutant results in a 5-fold increase in its IC(50) for fluconazole, suggesting that F145 (conserved only in fungal 14alpha-demethylases) interacts with this azole. In C. albicans, F145L accounts, in part, for the difference in fluconazole sensitivity reported between mammals and fungi, providing a basis for treatment of fungal infections. The C. albicans Y132H and human Y145H CYP51 mutants show essentially no effect on substrate metabolism, but the Mycobacterium tuberculosis F89H CYP51 mutant loses both its substrate binding and metabolism. Because these three residues align in the three isoforms, the results indicate that their active sites contain important structural differences, and further emphasize that fluconazole and substrate binding are uncoupled properties.     

Role of serine 214 and tyrosine 171, components of the S2 subsite of alpha-lytic protease, in catalysis.

The function of a hydrogen bond network, comprised of the hydroxyl groups of Tyr 171 and Ser 214, in the hydrophobic S2 subsite of alpha-lytic protease, was investigated by mutagenesis and the kinetics of a substrate analog series. To study the catalytic role of the Tyr 171 and Ser 214 hydroxyl groups, Tyr 171 was converted to phenylalanine (Y171F) and Ser 214 to alanine (S214A). The double mutant (Y171F: S214A) also was generated. The single S214A and double Y171F:S214A mutations cause differential effects on catalysis and proenzyme processing. For S214A, kcat/Km is (4.9 x 10(3))-fold lower than that of wild type and proenzyme processing is blocked. For the double mutant (Y171F:S214A), kcat/Km is 82-fold lower than that of wild type and proenzyme processing occurs. In Y171F, kcat/Km is 34-fold lower than that of wild type, and the proenzyme is processed. The data indicate that Ser 214, although conserved among serine proteases and hydrogen bonded to the catalytic triad [Brayer, G. D., Delbaere, L. T. J., & James, M. N. G. (1979) J. Mol. Biol. 131, 743], is not essential for catalytic function in alpha-lytic protease. A substrate series (in which peptide length is varied) established that the mutations (Y171F and Y171F:S214A) do not alter enzyme-substrate interactions in subsites other than S2. The pH dependence of kcat/Km for Y171F and Y171F:S214A has changed less than 0.5 unit from that of wild type; this suggests the catalytic triad is unperturbed. In wild type, hydrophobic interactions at S2 increase kcat/Km by up to (1.2 x 10(3))-fold with no effect on Km.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Optimized expression and catalytic properties of a wheat obtusifoliol 14alpha-demethylase (CYP51) expressed in yeast. Complementation of erg11Delta yeast mutants by plant CYP51.

CYP51s form the only family of P450 proteins conserved in evolution from prokaryotes to fungi, plants and mammals. In all eukaryotes, CYP51s catalyse 14alpha-demethylation of sterols. We have recently isolated two CYP51 cDNAs from sorghum [Bak, S., Kahn, R.A., Olsen, C. E. & Halkier, B.A. (1997) Plant J. 11, 191-201] and wheat [Cabello-Hurtado, F., Zimmerlin, A., Rahier, A., Taton, M., DeRose, R., Nedelkina, S., Batard, Y., Durst, F., Pallett, K.E. & Werck-Reichhart, D. (1997) Biophys. Biochem. Res. Commun. 230, 381-385]. Wheat and sorghum CYP51 proteins show a high identity (92%) compared with their identity with their fungal and mammalian orthologues (32-39%). Data obtained with plant microsomes have previously suggested that differences in primary sequences reflect differences in sterol pathways and CYP51 substrate specificities between animals, fungi and plants. To investigate more thoroughly the properties of the plant CYP51, the wheat enzyme was expressed in yeast strains overexpressing different P450 reductases as a fusion with either yeast or plant (sorghum) membrane targeting sequences. The endogenous sterol demethylase gene (ERG11) was then disrupted. A sorghum-wheat fusion protein expressed with the Arabidopsis thaliana reductase ATR1 showed the highest level of expression and activity. The expression induced a marked proliferation of microsomal membranes so as to obtain 70 nmol P450.(L culture)-1, with CYP51 representing 1.5% of microsomal protein. Without disruption of the ERG11 gene, the expression level was fivefold reduced. CYP51 from wheat complemented the ERG11 disruption, as the modified yeasts did not need supplementation with exogenous ergosterol and grew normally under aerobic conditions. The fusion plant enzyme catalysed 14alpha-demethylation of obtusifoliol very actively (Km,app = 197 microm, kcat = 1.2 min-1) and with very strict substrate specificity. No metabolism of lanosterol and eburicol, the substrates of the fungal and mammalian CYP51s, nor metabolism of herbicides and fatty acids was detected in the recombinant yeast microsomes. Surprisingly lanosterol (Ks = 2.2 microM) and eburicol (Ks = 2.5 microm) were found to bind the active site of the plant enzyme with affinities higher than that for obtusifoliol (Ks = 289 microM), giving typical type-I spectra. The amplitudes of these spectra, however, suggested that lanosterol and eburicol were less favourably positioned to be metabolized than obtusifoliol. The recombinant enzyme was also used to test the relative binding constants of two azole compounds, LAB170250F and gamma-ketotriazole, which were previously reported to be potent inhibitors of the plant enzyme. The Ks of plant CYP51 for LAB170250F (0.29 microM) and gamma-ketotriazole (0.40 microM) calculated from the type-II sp2 nitrogen-binding spectra were in better agreement with their reported effects as plant CYP51 inhibitors than values previously determined with plant microsomes. This optimized expression system thus provides an excellent tool for detailed enzymological and mechanistic studies, and for improving the selectivity of inhibitory molecules.     

Sequence variation in CYP51A from the Y strain of Trypanosoma cruzi alters its sensitivity to inhibition

CYP51 (sterol 14α-demethylase) is an efficient target for clinical and agricultural antifungals and an emerging target for treatment of Chagas disease, the infection that is caused by multiple strains of a protozoan pathogen Trypanosoma cruzi. Here, we analyze CYP51A from the Y strain T. cruzi. In this protein, proline 355, a residue highly conserved across the CYP51 family, is replaced with serine. The purified enzyme retains its catalytic activity, yet has been found less susceptible to inhibition. These biochemical data are consistent with cellular experiments, both in insect and human stages of the pathogen. Comparative structural analysis of CYP51 complexes with VNI and two derivatives suggests that broad-spectrum CYP51 inhibitors are likely to be preferable as antichagasic drug candidates.     

The interaction of bovine adrenodoxin with CYP11A1 (cytochrome P450scc) and CYP11B1 (cytochrome P45011beta ). Acceleration of reduction and substrate conversion by site-directed mutagenesis of adrenodoxin.

The kinetics of protein-protein interaction and heme reduction between adrenodoxin wild type as well as eight mutants and the cytochromes P450 CYP11A1 and CYP11B1 was studied in detail. Rate constants for the formation of the reduced CYP11A1.CO and CYP11B1.CO complexes by wild type adrenodoxin, the adrenodoxin mutants Adx-(4-108), Adx-(4-114), T54S, T54A, and S112W, and the double mutants Y82F/S112W, Y82L/S112W, and Y82S/S112W (the last four mutants are Delta113-128) are presented. The rate constants observed differ by a factor of up to 10 among the respective adrenodoxin mutants for CYP11A1 but not for CYP11B1. According to their apparent rate constants for CYP11A1, the adrenodoxin mutants can be grouped into a slow (wild type, T54A, and T54S) and a fast group (all the other mutants). The adrenodoxin mutants forming the most stable complexes with CYP11A1 show the fastest rates of reduction and the highest rate constants for cholesterol to pregnenolone conversion. This strong correlation suggests that C-terminal truncation of adrenodoxin in combination with the introduction of a C-terminal tryptophan residue enables a modified protein-protein interaction rendering the system almost as effective as the bacterial putidaredoxin/CYP101 system. Such a variation of the adrenodoxin structure resulted in a mutant protein (S112W) showing a 100-fold increased efficiency in conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone.     

The mechanism of Mycobacterium tuberculosis alkylhydroperoxidase AhpD as defined by mutagenesis,crystallography, and kinetics

AhpD, a protein with two cysteine residues, is required for physiological reduction of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis alkylhydroperoxidase AhpC. AhpD also has an alkylhydroperoxidase activity of its own. The AhpC/AhpD system provides critical antioxidant protection, particularly in the absence of the catalase-peroxidase KatG, which is suppressed in most isoniazid-resistant strains. Based on the crystal structure, we proposed recently a catalytic mechanism for AhpD involving a proton relay in which the Glu118 carboxylate group, via His137 and a water molecule, deprotonates the catalytic residue Cys133 (Nunn, C. M., Djordjevic, S., Hillas, P. J., Nishida, C., and Ortiz de Montellano, P. R. (2002) J. Biol. Chem. 277, 20033-20040). A possible role for His132 in subsequent formation of the Cys133-Cys130 disulfide bond was also noted. To test this proposed mechanism, we have expressed the H137F, H137Q, H132F, H132Q, E118F, E118Q, C133S, and C130S mutants of AhpD, determined the crystal structures of the H137F and H132Q mutants, estimated the pKa values of the cysteine residues, and defined the kinetic properties of the mutant proteins. The collective results strongly support the proposed catalytic mechanism for AhpD.