Stabilization of quaternary structure of water-soluble quinoprotein glucose dehydrogenase

Water-soluble quinoprotein glucose dehydrogease (PQQGDH-B) is a dimeric enzyme whose application for glucose sensing is the focus of much attention. We attempted to increase the thermal stability of PQQGDH-B by introducing a disulfide bond at the dimer interface. The Ser residue at position 415 was selected for substitution with Cys, as structural information revealed that its side chains face each other at the dimer interface of PQQGDH-B. PQQGDH-B with Ser415Cys showed 30-fold greater thermal stability at 55°C than did the wild-type enzyme without any decrease in catalytic activity. After incubation at 70°C for 10 min, Ser415Cys retained 90% of the GDH activity of the wild-type enzyme. Disulfide bond formation between the mutant subunits was confirmed by analyses with sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence and absence of reductants. Our results indicate that the introduction of one Cys residue in each monomer of PQQGDH-B resulted in formation of a disulfide bond at the dimer interface and thus achieved a large increase in the thermal stability of the enzyme.     

Engineering subtilisin E for enhanced stability and activity in polar organic solvents

We examined the effect of a novel disulfide bond engineered in subtilisin E from Bacillus subtilis based on the structure of a thermophilic subtilisin-type serine protease aqualysin I. Four sites (Ser163/Ser194, Lys170/Ser194, Lys170/Glu195, and Pro172/Glu195) in subtilisin E were chosen as candidates for Cys substitutions by site-directed mutagenesis. The Cys170/Cys195 mutant subtilisin formed a disulfide bond in B. subtilis, and showed a 5-10-fold increase in specific activity for an authentic peptide substrate for subtilisin, N-succinyl-L-Ala-L-Ala-L-Pro-L-Phe-p-nitroanilide, compared with the single-Cys mutants. However, the disulfide mutant had a 50% decrease in catalytic efficiency due to a smaller k(cat) and was thermolabile relative to the wild-type enzyme, whereas it was greatly stabilized relative to its reduced form. These results suggest that an electrostatic interaction between Lys170 and Glu195 is important for catalysis and stability in subtilisin E. Interestingly, the disulfide mutant was found to be more stable in polar organic solvents, such as dimethylformamide and ethanol, than the wild-type enzyme, even under reducing conditions; this is probably due to the substitution of uncharged Cys by charged surface residues (Lys170 and Glu195). Further, the amino-terminal engineered disulfide bond (Gly61Cys/Ser98Cys) and the mutation Ile31Leu were introduced to enhance the stability and catalytic activity. A prominent 3-4-fold increase in the catalytic efficiency occurred in the quintet mutant enzyme over the range of dimethylformamide concentration (up to 40%).     

Contribution of disulfide bonds to the conformational stability and catalytic activity of ribonuclease A.

Disulfide bonds between the side chains of cysteine residues are the only common crosslinks in proteins. Bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A (RNase A) is a 124-residue enzyme that contains four interweaving disulfide bonds (Cys26-Cys84, Cys40-Cys95, Cys58-Cys110, and Cys65-Cys72) and catalyzes the cleavage of RNA. The contribution of each disulfide bond to the conformational stability and catalytic activity of RNase A has been determined by using variants in which each cystine is replaced independently with a pair of alanine residues. Thermal unfolding experiments monitored by ultraviolet spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry reveal that wild-type RNase A and each disulfide variant unfold in a two-state process and that each disulfide bond contributes substantially to conformational stability. The two terminal disulfide bonds in the amino-acid sequence (Cys26-Cys84 and Cys58-Cys110) enhance stability more than do the two embedded ones (Cys40-Cys95 and Cys65-Cys72). Removing either one of the terminal disulfide bonds liberates a similar number of residues and has a similar effect on conformational stability, decreasing the midpoint of the thermal transition by almost 40 degrees C. The disulfide variants catalyze the cleavage of poly(cytidylic acid) with values of kcat/Km that are 2- to 40-fold less than that of wild-type RNase A. The two embedded disulfide bonds, which are least important to conformational stability, are most important to catalytic activity. These embedded disulfide bonds likely contribute to the proper alignment of residues (such as Lys41 and Lys66) that are necessary for efficient catalysis of RNA cleavage.     

Enhancement of the thermal stability of pyroglutamyl peptidase I by introduction of an intersubunit disulfide bond.

From the comparison of the three-dimensional structure of mesophilic pyroglutamyl peptidase from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and the thermophilic enzyme from Thermococcus litoralis, the intersubunit disulfide bond was estimated to be one of the factors for thermal stability. Since Ser185 was corresponded to Cys190 of the thermophilic enzyme by sequence alignment, the Ser185 residue was replaced with cysteine by site-directed mutagenesis. The S185C mutant enzyme appeared to form a disulfide bond, which was confirmed by SDS-PAGE with and without 2-mercaptoethanol. The mutant enzyme showed a catalytic efficiency equivalent to that of the wild-type enzyme for hydrolysis of a synthetic peptide substrate. However, the thermal stability of the S185C mutant was found to be 30 degrees C higher than that of wild-type. Thus the introduction of a disulfide bond enhanced thermal stability without changing the catalytic efficiency of the enzyme.     

枯草蛋白酶E的突变体

Ser236位于横贯枯草蛋白酶E的α螺旋末端,远离催化活性中心,Ser236的突变不会对酶的活性产生大的影响。用定点突变的方法对枯草蛋白酶E的基因进行改造引入Ser236Cys,可能会形成分子间二硫键,有利于提高酶的稳定性。Ser236Cys变体酶(BP1)活性是野生型蛋白酶E的15倍,热稳定性提高3倍;进一步在其他位点引入突变的变体酶BU1(A1a15Asp/Gly20His/Ser236Cys)和BW1(Ser24His/Lys27Asp/Ser236Cys)活性都比野生型蛋白酶E低,但BW1的稳定性稍高于野生型蛋白酶E。     

Catalytic mechanism of the Streptomyces K15 DD-transpeptidase/penicillin-binding protein probed by site-directed mutagenesis and structural analysis

The Streptomyces K15 penicillin-binding DD-transpeptidase is presumed to be involved in peptide cross-linking during bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan assembly. To gain insight into the catalytic mechanism, the roles of residues Lys38, Ser96, and Cys98, belonging to the structural elements defining the active site cleft, have been investigated by site-directed mutagenesis, biochemical studies, and X-ray diffraction analysis. The Lys38His and Ser96Ala mutations almost completely abolished the penicillin binding and severely impaired the transpeptidase activities while the geometry of the active site was essentially the same as in the wild-type enzyme. It is proposed that Lys38 acts as the catalytic base that abstracts a proton from the active serine Ser35 during nucleophilic attack and that Ser96 is a key intermediate in the proton transfer from the Ogamma of Ser35 to the substrate leaving group nitrogen. The role of these two residues should be conserved among penicillin-binding proteins containing the Ser-Xaa-Asn/Cys sequence in motif 2. Conversion of Cys98 into Asn decreased the transpeptidase activity and increased hydrolysis of the thiolester substrate and the acylation rate with most beta-lactam antibiotics. Cys98 is proposed to play the same role as Asn in motif 2 of other penicilloyl serine transferases in properly positioning the substrate for the catalytic process.     

Characterization of catalytic centre mutants of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and comparison to Cys81Ser MIF.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) displays both cytokine and enzyme activities, but its molecular mode of action is still unclear. MIF contains three cysteine residues and we showed recently that the conserved Cys57-Ala-Leu-Cys60 (CALC) motif is critical for the oxidoreductase and macrophage-activating activities of MIF. Here we probed further the role of this catalytic centre by expression, purification, and characterization of the cysteine-->serine mutants Cys60Ser, Cys57Ser/Cys60Ser, and Cys81Ser of human MIF and of mutants Ala58Gly/Leu59Pro and Ala58Gly/Leu59His, containing a thioredoxin (Trx)-like and protein disulphide isomerase (PDI)-like dipeptide, respectively. The catalytic centre mutants formed inclusion bodies and the resultant mutant proteins Cys57Ser/Cys60Ser, Ala58Gly/Leu59Pro, and Als58Gly/Leu59His were only soluble in organic solvent or 6 m GdmHCl when reconstituted at concentrations above 1 microgram.mL-1. This made it necessary to devise new purification methods. By contrast, mutant Cys81Ser was soluble. Effects of pH, solvent, and ionic strength conditions on the conformation of the mutants were analysed by far-UV CD spectropolarimetry and mutant stability was examined by denaturant-induced unfolding. The mutants, except for mutant Cys81Ser, showed a close conformational similarity to wild-type (wt) MIF, and stabilization of the mutants was due mainly to acid pH conditions. Intramolecular disulphide bond formation at the CALC region was confirmed by near-UV CD of mutant Cys60Ser. Mutant Cys81Ser was not involved in disulphide bond formation, yet had decreased stability. Analysis in the oxidoreductase and a MIF-specific cytokine assay revealed that only substitution of the active site residues led to inactivation of MIF. Mutant Cys60Ser had no enzyme and markedly reduced cytokine activity, whereas mutant Cys81Ser was active in both tests. The Trx-like variant showed significant enzyme activity but was less active than wtMIF; PDI-like MIF was enzymatically inactive. However, both variants had full cytokine activity. Together with the low but nonzero cytokine activity of mutant Cys60Ser, this indicated that the cytokine activity of MIF may not be tightly regulated by redox effects or that a distinguishable receptor mechanism exists. This study provides evidence for a role of the CALC motif in the oxidoreductase and cytokine activities of MIF, and suggests that Cys81 could mediate conformational effects. Availability and characterization of the mutants should greatly aid in the further elucidation of the mechanism of action of the unusual cytokine MIF.     

Critical residues for the specificity of cofactors and substrates in human estrogenic 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1: variants designed from the three-dimensional structure of the enzyme.

Human estrogenic 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase is an NADP(H)-preferring enzyme. It possesses 11- and 4-fold higher specificity toward NADP(H) over NAD(H) for oxidation and reduction, respectively, as demonstrated by kinetic studies. To elucidate the roles of the amino acids involved in cofactor specificity, we generated variants by site-directed mutagenesis. The results showed that introducing a positively charged residue, lysine, at the Ser12 position increased the enzyme's preference for NADP(H) more than 20-fold. Substitution of the negatively charged residue, aspartic acid, into the Leu36 position switched the enzyme's cofactor preference from NADPH to NAD with a 220-fold change in the ratio of the specificity toward the two cofactors in the case of oxidation. This variant dramatically abolished the enzyme's reductase function and stimulated its dehydrogenase activity, as shown by enzyme activity in intact cells. The substrate-binding pocket was also studied with four variants: Ser142Gly, Ser142Cys, His221Ala, and Glu282Ala. The Ser142Gly variant abolished most of the enzyme's oxidation and reduction activities. The residual reductase activity in vitro is less than 2% that of the wild-type enzyme. However, the Ser142Cys variant was fully inactive, both as a partially purified protein and in intact cells. This suggests that the bulky sulfhydryl group of cysteine entirely disrupted the catalytic triad and that the Ser142 side chain is important for maintaining the integrity of this triad. His221 variation weakened the apparent affinity for estrone, as demonstrated by a 30-fold increase in Michaelis-Menten constant, supporting its important role in substrate binding. This residue may play an important role in substrate inhibition via the formation of a dead-end complex. The formerly suggested importance of Glu282 could not be confirmed.     

Properties of Cys21-mutated muscle acylphosphatases

Cys21 is an invariant residue in muscle acylphosphatases, but is absent in the erythrocyte isozymes. To assess the importance of this residue in the muscle isozymes for catalytic, structural, and stability properties, two gene mutants have been prepared by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis and expressed inEscherichia coli cells; in these mutants, the codon for Cys21 was replaced by those for Ser and Ala, respectively. The two mutant enzymes, purified by immunoaffinity chromatography, showed kinetic and structural properties similar to those of the wild-type recombinant enzyme; however, the specific activity of the two mutants, especially that of the C21A mutant, was lower. The urea and thermal stabilities of the mutant enzymes were reduced with respect to those of the wild-type form, contrary to the susceptibility to inactivation by mercuric ions. The reported data support the possibility that Cys21 is involved in the stabilization of the enzyme active-site conformation.     

Identification and characterization of the functional amino acids at the active center of pig liver thioltransferase by site-directed mutagenesis

By using site-directed mutagenesis techniques, the essential amino acids at the catalytic center of porcine thioltransferase (glutaredoxin) were determined. Seven oligonucleotides were designed, synthesized, and used to construct mutants, ETT-C22S, ETT-C25S, ETT-C25A, ETT-R26V, ETT-K27Q, ETT-R26V: K27Q, and ETT-C78S:C82S, by altering their codons in pig liver thioltransferase cDNA/M13mp18 clones. Each of the thioltransferases was purified to homogeneity and its dithiol-disulfide exchange, and dehydroascorbate reductase activities were compared with those of the wild-type (ETT). Evidence was obtained that Cys22 was essential for catalytic activity, and the extremely low pKa value of its sulfhydryl group was facilitated primarily by Arg26. The role of Lys27 at the active center was different from that of Arg26 and may be important in stabilizing the E.S intermediate by electrostatic forces. The second pair of cysteines, Cys78 and Cys82, nearer the C terminus, were not directly involved in the active center, but may play a role in defining the native protein structure. The replacement of the original Cys with a Ser at position 25 increased rather than decreased the enzyme activity, suggesting that the proposed intramolecular disulfide bond between Cys22 and Cys25 is not necessary for the catalytic mechanism of the Ser25 mutant, but does not rule out such a mechanism for the wild-type enzyme.     

Identification of essential amino acid residues for catalytic activity and thermostability of novel chitosanase by site-directed mutagenesis

The functional importance of a conserved region in a novel chitosanase from Bacillus sp. CK4 was investigated. Each of the three carboxylic amino acid residues (Glu-50, Glu-62, and Asp-66) was changed to Asp and Gln or Asn and Glu by site-directed mutagenesis, respectively. The Asp-66-->Asn and Asp-66-->Glu mutation remarkably decreased kinetic parameters such as Vmax and kcat to approximately 1/1,000 those of the wild-type enzyme, indicating that the Asp-66 residue was essential for catalysis. The thermostable chitosanase contains three Cys residues at positions 49, 72, and 211. The Cys-49-->Ser/Tyr and Cys-72-->Ser/Tyr mutant enzymes were as stable to thermal inactivation and denaturating agents as the wild-type enzyme. However, the half-life of the Cys-211-->Ser/Tyr mutant enzyme was less than 10 min at 80 degrees C, while that of the wild-type enzyme was about 90 min. Moreover, the residual activity of Cys-211-->Ser/Tyr enzyme was substantially decreased by 8 M urea; and it lost all catalytic activity in 40% ethanol. These results show that the substitution of Cys with any amino acid residues at position 211 seems to affect the conformational stability of the chitosanase.     

Role of disulfide bonds in goose-type lysozyme

The role of the two disulfide bonds (Cys4-Cys60 and Cys18-Cys29) in the activity and stability of goose-type (G-type) lysozyme was investigated using ostrich egg-white lysozyme as a model. Each of the two disulfide bonds was deleted separately or simultaneously by substituting both Cys residues with either Ser or Ala. No remarkable differences in secondary structure or catalytic activity were observed between the wild-type and mutant proteins. However, thermal and guanidine hydrochloride unfolding experiments revealed that the stabilities of mutants lacking one or both of the disulfide bonds were significantly decreased relative to those of the wild-type. The destabilization energies of mutant proteins agreed well with those predicted from entropic effects in the denatured state. The effects of deleting each disulfide bond on protein stability were found to be approximately additive, indicating that the individual disulfide bonds contribute to the stability of G-type lysozyme in an independent manner. Under reducing conditions, the thermal stability of the wild-type was decreased to a level nearly equivalent to that of a Cys-free mutant (C4S/C18S/C29S/C60S) in which all Cys residues were replaced by Ser. Moreover, the optimum temperature of the catalytic activity for the Cys-free mutant was downshifted by about 20 degrees C as compared with that of the wild-type. These results indicate that the formation of the two disulfide bonds is not essential for the correct folding into the catalytically active conformation, but is crucial for the structural stability of G-type lysozyme.     

Improving the activity and stability of thermolysin by site-directed mutagenesis

In previous site-directed mutagenesis study on thermolysin, mutations which increase the catalytic activity or the thermal stability have been identified. In this study, we attempted to generate highly active and stable thermolysin by combining the mutations so far revealed to be effective. Three mutant enzymes, L144S (Leu144 in the central alpha-helix located at the bottom of the active site cleft is replaced with Ser), G8C/N60C/S65P (Gly8, Asn60, and Ser65 in the N-terminal region are replaced with Cys, Cys, and Pro, respectively, to introduce a disulfide bridge between the positions 8 and 60), and G8C/N60C/S65P/L144S, were constructed by site-directed mutagenesis. In the hydrolysis of N-[3-(2-furyl)acryloyl]-glycyl-L-leucine amide (FAGLA) and N-carbobenzoxy-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester (ZDFM), the k(cat)/K(m) values of L144S and G8C/N60C/S65P/L144S were 5- to 10-fold higher than that of the wild-type enzyme. The rate constants for thermal inactivation at 70 degrees C and 80 degrees C of G8C/N60C/S65P and G8C/N60C/S65P/L144S decreased to 50% of that of the wild-type enzyme. These results indicate that G8C/N60C/S65P/L144S is more active and stable than the wild-type thermolysin. Thermodynamic analysis suggests that the single mutation of Leu144-->Ser and the triple mutation of Gly8-->Cys, Asn60-->Cys, and Ser65-->Pro are independent.     

Importance of cysteine residues for the stability and catalytic activity of human pancreatic beta cell glucokinase

The low-affinity glucose phosphorylating enzyme glucokinase has the function of a physiological glucose sensor in pancreatic beta cells and in liver. In contrast to the high-affinity hexokinase types I-III glucokinase shows extraordinary sensitivity toward SH group oxidizing compounds. To characterize the function of sulfhydryl groups cysteine residues in the vicinity of the sugar binding site (Cys 213, Cys 220, Cys 230, Cys 233, and Cys 252) as well as cysteine residues a distance from the active site (Cys 364, Cys 371, and Cys 382), they were replaced in human beta cell glucokinase by serine through site-directed mutagenesis. Controlled proteolysis of wild-type glucokinase by proteinase K revealed that the SH group oxidizing agent alloxan can induce the formation of multiple intramolecular disulfide bridges corresponding to a double-band pattern of glucokinase protein in nonreducing sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The formation of intramolecular disulfide bridges altered the mobility of the protein. None of the cysteine mutations could prevent the formation of the 49-kDa glucokinase conformation after alloxan treatment. The cysteine mutants Cys 233, Cys 252, and Cys 382 showed nearly complete loss of catalytic activity, whereas the V(max) values of the Cys 213, Cys 220, Cys 364, and Cys 371 mutants were decreased by 30-60%. Only the Cys 230 mutant showed kinetic characteristics comparable to those of wild-type glucokinase. The sensitivity of the Cys 213, Cys 230, Cys 364, and Cys 371 mutants toward alloxan-induced inhibition of enzyme activity was up to 10-fold lower compared with wild-type glucokinase. d-Glucose and dithiotreitol provided protection against alloxan-induced inhibition of wild-type glucokinase and all catalytically active cysteine mutants. Conclusively our data demonstrate the functional significance of the cysteine residues of beta cell glucokinase for both structural instability of the enzyme and catalytic function. Knowledge of sensitive cysteine targets may help to develop strategies that improve glucokinase enzyme function under conditions of oxidative stress.     

Enhancement of the thermostability of subtilisin E by introduction of a disulfide bond engineered on the basis of structural comparison with a thermophilic serine protease

Sites for Cys substitutions to form a disulfide bond were chosen in subtilisin E from Bacillus subtilis, a cysteine-free bacterial serine protease, based on the structure of aqualysin I of Thermus aquaticus YT-1 (a thermophilic subtilisin-type protease containing two disulfide bonds). Cys residues were introduced at positions 61 (wild-type, Gly) and 98 (Ser) in subtilisin E by site-directed mutagenesis. The Cys-61/Cys-98 mutant subtilisin appeared to form a disulfide bond spontaneously in the expression system used and showed a catalytic efficiency equivalent to that of the wild-type enzyme for hydrolysis of a synthetic peptide substrate. The thermodynamic characteristics of these enzymes were examined in terms of enzyme autolysis (t1/2) and thermal stability (Tm). The half-life of the Cys-61/Cys-98 mutant was found to be 2-3 times longer than that of the wild-type enzyme. Similar results were obtained by differential scanning calorimetry. The disulfide mutant showed a Tm of 63.0 degrees C, which was 4.5 degrees C higher than that observed for the wild-type enzyme. Under reducing conditions, however, the characteristics of the mutant enzyme were found to revert to those of the wild-type enzyme. These results strongly suggest that the introduction of a disulfide bond by site-directed mutagenesis enhanced the thermostability of subtilisin E without changing the catalytic efficiency of the enzyme.     

Mutant subtilisin E with enhanced protease activity obtained by site-directed mutagenesis

The specific activity of subtilisin E, an alkaline serine protease of Bacillus subtilis, was substantially increased by optimizing the amino acid residue at position 31 (Ile in the wild-type enzyme) in the vicinity of the catalytic triad of the enzyme. Eight uncharged amino acids (Cys, Ser, Thr, Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, and Phe) were introduced at this site, which is next to catalytic Asp32, using site-directed mutagenesis. Mutant enzymes were expressed in Escherichia coli and were prepared from the periplasmic space. Only the Val and Leu substitutions gave active enzyme, and the Leu31 mutant was found to have a greatly increased activity compared to the wild-type enzyme. The other six mutant enzymes showed a marked decrease in activity. This result indicates that a branched-chain amino acid at position 31 is essential for the expression of subtilisin activity and that the level of the activity depends on side chain structure. The purified Leu31 mutant enzyme was analyzed with respect to substrate specificity, heat stability, and optimal temperature. It was found that the Leu31 replacement caused a prominent 2-6-fold increase in catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) due to a larger kcat for peptide substrates.     

Site-directed mutational analysis of active site residues in the acetate kinase from Methanosarcina thermophila

Acetate kinase catalyzes the magnesium-dependent transfer of the gamma-phosphate of ATP to acetate. The recently determined crystal structure of the Methanosarcina thermophila enzyme identifies it as a member of the sugar kinase/Hsc70/actin superfamily based on the fold and the presence of five putative nucleotide and metal binding motifs that characterize the superfamily. Residues from four of these motifs in M. thermophila acetate kinase were selected for site-directed replacement and analysis of the variants. Replacement of Asp(148) and Asn(7) resulted in variants with catalytic efficiencies less than 1% of that of the wild-type enzyme, indicating that these residues are essential for activity. Glu(384) was also found to be essential for catalysis. A 30-fold increase in the magnesium concentration required for half-maximal activity of the E384A variant relative to that of the wild type implicated Glu(384) in magnesium binding. The kinetic analysis of variants and structural data is consistent with nonessential roles for active site residues Ser(10), Ser(12), and Lys(14) in catalysis. The results are discussed with respect to the acetate kinase catalytic mechanism and the relationship to other sugar kinase/Hsc70/actin superfamily members.     

Site-directed mutagenesis of human aldolase isozymes: the role of Cys-72 and Cys-338 residues of aldolase A and of the carboxy-terminal Tyr residues of aldolases A and B

In order to elucidate the role of particular amino acid residues in the catalytic activity and conformational stability of human aldolases A and B [EC 4.1.2.13], the cDNAs encoding these isoenzyme were modified using oligonucleotide-directed, site-specific mutagenesis. The Cys-72 and/or Cys-338 of aldolase A were replaced by Ala and the COOH-terminal Tyr of aldolases A and B was replaced by Ser. The three mutant aldolases A thus prepared, A-C72A, A-C338A, and A-C72,338A, were indistinguishable from the wild-type enzyme with respect to general catalytic properties, while the replacement of Tyr-363 by Ser in aldolase A (A-Y363S) resulted in decreases of the Vmax of the fructose-1, 6-bisphosphate (FDP) cleavage reaction, activity ratio of FDP/fructose-1-phosphate (F1P), and the Km values for FDP and F1P. The wild-type and all the mutant aldolase A proteins exhibited similar thermal stabilities. In contrast, the mutant aldolase A proteins were more stable than the wild-type enzyme against tryptic and alpha-chymotryptic digestions. Based upon these results it is concluded that the strictly conserved Tyr-363 of human aldolase A is required for the catalytic function with FDP as the substrate, while neither Cys-72 nor Cys-338 directly takes part in the catalytic function although the two Cys residues may be involved in maintaining the correct spatial conformation of aldolase A. Replacement of Tyr-363 by Ser in human aldolase B lowered the Km value for FDP appreciably and also diminished the stability against elevated temperatures and tryptic digestion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Serine-376 contributes to the binding of substrate by ribulose-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase from Anacystis nidulans.

Site-directed mutagenesis was used to change Ser376 in the active site of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase from the cyanobacterium Anacystis nidulans to Cys, Thr, or Ala. When expressed in Escherichia coli and purified, the mutant enzymes exhibited carboxylase activities that were reduced by 99% or more with respect to the activity of the wild-type enzyme. The Km values for ribulose bisphosphate at pH 8.0, 30 degrees C, were elevated from 46 microM for wild-type enzyme to 287, 978, and 81 microM for mutants in which Cys, Thr, or Ala, respectively, replaced Ser376. The Cys and Thr variants were almost devoid of oxygenase activity whereas the Ala variant had 16% as much oxygenase as wild-type enzyme, suggesting that this mutation had greatly elevated the oxygenase:carboxylase ratio.     

Identification of the amino acid residues essential for proteolytic activity in an archaeal signal peptide peptidase

Signal peptide peptidases (SPPs) are enzymes involved in the initial degradation of signal peptides after they are released from the precursor proteins by signal peptidases. In contrast to the eukaryotic enzymes that are aspartate peptidases, the catalytic mechanisms of prokaryotic SPPs had not been known. In this study on the SPP from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus kodakaraensis (SppA(Tk)), we have identified amino acid residues that are essential for the peptidase activity of the enzyme. DeltaN54SppA(Tk), a truncated protein without the N-terminal 54 residues and putative transmembrane domain, exhibits high peptidase activity, and was used as the wild-type protein. Sixteen residues, highly conserved among archaeal SPP homologue sequences, were selected and replaced by alanine residues. The mutations S162A and K214A were found to abolish peptidase activity of the protein, whereas all other mutant proteins displayed activity to various extents. The results indicated the function of Ser(162) as the nucleophilic serine and that of Lys(214) as the general base, comprising a Ser/Lys catalytic dyad in SppA(Tk). Kinetic analyses indicated that Ser(184), His(191) Lys(209), Asp(215), and Arg(221) supported peptidase activity. Intriguingly, a large number of mutations led to an increase in activity levels of the enzyme. In particular, mutations in Ser(128) and Tyr(165) not only increased activity levels but also broadened the substrate specificity of SppA(Tk), suggesting that these residues may be present to prevent the enzyme from cleaving unintended peptide/protein substrates in the cell. A detailed alignment of prokaryotic SPP sequences strongly suggested that the majority of archaeal enzymes, along with the bacterial enzyme from Bacillus subtilis, adopt the same catalytic mechanism for peptide hydrolysis.