定点突变对酰胺水解酶DamH可溶性表达和酶活的影响

摘要:【目的】DamH是一种具有酯酶活性的酰胺水解酶,其非活性中心氨基酸残基的突变对重组酶可溶性表达和比酶活产生一定的影响。拟探索DamH的活性中心氨基酸残基构成,并对其非活性中心氨基酸残基突变对可溶性表达和比酶活的影响进行研究。【方法】通过重叠延伸的方法对DamH可能的活性中心氨基酸S149、E244和H274以及非活性中心氨基酸D165及N192进行定点突变,通过静息细胞测活验证了S149、E244和H274 在催化2-氯-N-(2’-甲基-6’-乙基苯基)乙酰胺(CMEPA)水解反应中的作用,通过Ni2+- NTA亲和层析对D165及N192突变子进行纯化,对突变株和野生型比酶活进行比较。【结果】研究表明S149A使DamH的CMEPA 水解酶活性下降为野生型的5%,E244A和H274A突变导致其失去活性;D165P和N192P突变影响到DamH的可溶性表达,表达量分别为野生型的28.2%和20.8%,突变子N192P、D165P比酶活分别为野生型比酶活的55.5%和49.7%。【结论】DamH催化酯类底物和芳基酰胺类底物可能共用同一活性中心S149、E244和H274,其两个α螺旋的转角处氨基酸侧链极性和刚性结构的改变对可溶性表达以及活性有很大的影响。     

细胞色素P450BM3催化正十六烷动力学计算

细胞色素P450 BM3作为烷烃羟基化酶,能催化正链烷烃,已被广发研究和应用.利用动力学模拟软件对BM3酶与烷烃底物复合物进行构象、酶的活性位点以及结合能的预测,并通过模拟水以及离子环境下对复合物的影响,从能量及构象位移的角度阐述BM3酶与底物结合的机理,从而用分子动力学观点来解释细胞色素P450催化烷烃机理.用Auto dock等软件将BM3与十六烷对接,发现底物C16与铁原子间距为7.57 ?,并发现与底物结合的活性位点关键残基:ALA 330,ALA 74,SER 72,GLN 73,ALA328,LEU 188,LEU 437.经Gromacs动力学模拟步长为1 ns,温度在298 K,压力为常压1.0,复合物结合稳定.     

亚位点+1处突变提高软化类芽胞杆菌环糊精糖基转移酶底物麦芽糊精特异性

通过改造来源于软化类芽胞杆菌Paenibacillus macerans的环糊精糖基转移酶(Cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase,CGT酶)的+1亚位点提高其对麦芽糊精的底物特异性,并进一步提高以麦芽糊精为糖基供体催化合成2-O-D-吡喃葡糖基-L-抗坏血酸(AA-2G)的效率。首先对+1亚位点附近的3个氨基酸残基Leu194、Ala230和His233分别进行定点饱和突变,得到3个优势突变体L194N(亮氨酸→天冬酰胺),A230D(丙氨酸→天冬氨酸),H233E(组氨酸→谷氨酸),然后以这3个优势突变体为模板进一步进行两点和三点复合突变,获得7个复合突变体。研究结果表明,突变体L194N/A230D/H233E以麦芽糊精为底物合成AA-2G的产量最高,达到1.95 g/L,比野生型CGT酶提高了62.5%。对获得的突变体进行动力学分析,发现高浓度的底物L-AA对突变型CGT酶催化的酶促反应具有抑制作用。确定了突变体酶促反应的最适温度、pH和反应时间。模拟突变体的三维结构并进行分析,突变体底物特异性的改善可能与CGT酶第194位、230位和233位的氨基酸残基的亲水性及与底物分子间的作用力的改变有关。     

亚热带山区土壤未培养微生物L-赖氨酸脱羧酶Ldc1E中关键氨基酸残基的功能鉴定

本研究旨在探讨L-赖氨酸脱羧酶Ldc1E关键氨基酸在底物识别和催化过程中的作用;通过生物信息学方法选择突变位点,并利用直接定点突变技术,完成了6个关键氨基酸残基突变和功能鉴定研究。突变酶D692N最适温度和pH值分别为40℃和6.5。突变酶D692N比野生型Ldc1E对高温具有更强的耐受性,在40℃～55℃温浴1 h后剩余酶活力达到35%以上,在60℃温浴1 h后仍然保留20%的酶活力;而野生型酶Ldc1E在50℃以上温浴1 h后几乎失活。此外,50 mmol/L DMSO、5 mmol/L Al~(3+)和Ca~(2+)对突变酶的酶活力有激活作用,而Al3+对野生型酶Ldc1E具有明显抑制作用。突变酶D692N的分子动力学常数K_m升高了1.78倍,k_(cat)下降了20.2倍。突变酶S221A、H245A、D330A、H366A、F607Y经检测酶催化活性丧失。研究结果表明氨基酸残基位点D692对酶与底物的结合具有重要影响;而S221、H245、D330、H366、F607是Ldc1E酶活性能够体现的关键氨基酸位点,不可替换。本研究为探究L-赖氨酸脱羧酶的结构与功能关系提供理论参考。     

唾液乳杆菌BSH1及其突变体的底物特异性

为了解析胆盐水解酶催化中心中关键氨基酸位点与其底物特异性的关系,以大肠杆菌pET-20b(+)表达系统为分子改造平台,采用理性设计,结合氨基酸定点突变的方法,成功构建了唾液乳杆菌Lactobacillus salivarius胆盐水解酶BSH1的7种突变体。通过对比L.salivarius BSH1及其突变体对6种结合胆盐的底物特异性表明,7种突变体对不同的结合胆盐的水解活性有所改变。结果说明,Cys2和Thr264分别是BSH1催化TCA和GCA的关键残基,且对酶的催化活性的保持具有关键作用。其中,高保守性的氨基酸位点Cys2不是BSH1唯一的活性位点,而其他突变的氨基酸位点可能作为BSH1的结合位点参与了底物的结合,也可能影响了底物进入BSH1活性中心的通道或底物结合口袋的体积与形状,进而影响了BSH1对不同结合胆盐的水解活性。     

β-葡萄糖苷酶的糖耐受和促活性质研究

【目的】以葡萄糖耐受并促活的β-葡萄糖苷酶Bgl2A为出发材料,寻找与β-葡萄糖苷酶的葡萄糖耐受和促活性质相关的重要氨基酸残基位点并对其进行突变;对突变酶性质进行检测,结合分子对接,探究突变对酶的糖耐受和促活性质的影响及机制;进而对葡萄糖不耐受的Bgl3A (Bgl2A:A22S/V224S)进行分子改造,以获得应用潜能更好的突变酶。【方法】通过序列和结构比对、统计耦联分析和结构分析,选取Bgl2A底物通道口、蛋白质表面以及活性中心附近可能间接影响葡萄糖耐受和促活性质的残基作为突变位点,构建了多个突变酶,并对其酶学性质进行检测。【结果】以Bgl2A为出发酶,D322I、W325A、W126Y、F172N、C173I和N226V的糖耐受和促活性质显著提升。分子对接提示,这些突变可能是通过变构效应影响活性中心与葡萄糖结合的自由能,从而改变酶葡萄糖耐受和促活性质。据此,在Bgl3A分子上对应构建多个突变体,筛选获得了较出发酶在糖耐受和促活性质提升的同时保持较高酶活和稳定性的突变酶N226V和F172N。【结论】除了酶与葡萄糖直接结合的位点,不与葡萄糖直接相互作用的位点也可通过远程作用间接影响...     

短链壬基酚聚氧乙烯醚脱氢酶脱氢催化机理

【目的】为研究短链壬基酚聚氧乙烯醚脱氢酶(sNPEO-DH)的脱氢氧化机制(基因克隆于Ensifer sp.AS08),我们进行了以下实验。【方法】采用同源序列比对及同源建模的方法筛选出与其辅酶黄素腺嘌呤二核苷酸(FAD)异咯嗪基邻近的4个氨基酸残基。以定点突变方法分别构建了突变体,并进行了重组蛋白的表达纯化和酶活力测定。【结果】野生型和突变体的酶学动力学实验表明,突变体N90A和N509A对亲水性底物聚乙二醇(PEG1000)的相对活性分别降低为51%和89%,对疏水性底物sNPEO的活性分别降低为26%和40%,说明氨基酸残基N90和N509可能与底物的结合相关。突变体H465A的相对活性丧失了90%以上,突变体N507A完全丧失活性;瞬时"停-流"检测实验进一步证明N507A突变体阻断了底物向FAD传递质子的过程,突变体H465A阻断了对FAD还原形成的FADH2脱氢再生的过程。【结论】以上结果说明N507和H465为sNPEO脱氢酶活性中心中参与对底物氧化脱氢及FADH2脱氢再生进行下一次反应的催化位点。     

Kunitz 型丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂结构与功能研究

蛋白酶抑制剂在酶学及蛋白质的结构与功能关系研究中有重要意义,Kunitz型丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂是其中最重要的,也是研究最广泛的蛋白酶抑制剂之一．该类蛋白酶抑制剂三维结构高度保守：由一个明显的疏水核心、三对高度保守的二硫键桥、三链β-折叠和一个N端3 10螺旋及一个C端α-螺旋组成．3对二硫键对分子空间结构的稳定起着非常重要的作用．这一类型抑制剂有5个主要的活性位点：P1、P1’、P3、P3’、P4,它们都位于一个溶剂暴露的环上．P1位点是抑制作用的关键活性位点,抑制剂的专一性由P1位点氨基酸残基的性质决定;P1’位点氨基酸残基的侧链大小对抑制剂．酶的结合常数有很大影响,用大的侧链残基取代会导致结合常数降低;P4位点残基被取代经常产生负效应,会导致活性区域环的构象发生很大改变,从而影响酶与抑制剂的结合．     

色氨酸残基在内切葡聚糖酶分子中的作用

内切葡聚糖酶的化学修饰研究表明：色氨酸残基可能位于活性位点,与底物结合有关．荧光光谱测定指出该酶的荧光几乎都来自色氨酸残基,酶分子中色氨酸微环境对ｐＨ变化非常敏感,降低ｐＨ导致了酶分子构象发生了较大变化,配基结合使酶分子色氨酸微环境产生了改变,引发了与ｐＨ诱导不同的构象变化．     

GL—7ACA酰化酶（C130）β亚基N端氨基酸残基的突变及功能

戊二酰 7 氨基头孢烷酸酰化酶 (即GL 7ACA酰化酶 ,EC .3.5 .1.11)的催化中心通常在 β亚基N端的第一个氨基酸 ,底物亲和标记的研究亦显示N端存在着结合靶点 ,因而该区域的结构可能与酶的功能密切相关。对C130 β亚基N端的 2～ 8位氨基酸残基分别进行了肽段置换和定点突变研究。将N端前 8位肽段置换为来源于Arthrobacterviscosus的青霉素G酰化酶 (PAC)的对应序列后 ,C130酰化酶活力丧失 ;而置换为来源于E .coli的青霉素G酰化酶 (PGA)的对应序列后 ,酰化酶活力仍然保留 ,但Km 值从 0 .44× 10 -3 mol·L-1增大为 0 .5 5× 10 -3mol·L-1,kcat值由 4.92s-1降低为 1.6 4s-1。另对C130 β亚基N端 2～ 4位氨基酸残基作了单点突变 :第 4位的Trp为可能的底物类似物结合位点 ,被变为Tyr后 ,它对底物GL 7ACA的结合能力略为减弱 ,kcat则降低为 2 .2 9s-1;而变为Leu后 ,Km 为 0 .34× 10 -3 mol·L-1,kcat为 3.15s-1;第 3位的Ser变为Met、Ala及Cys后 ,随着Km值逐渐降低 ,kcat也有所降低 ,而S3 M、S3 A突变体的kcat/Km 值比野生型的分别增加了 2 2 .3%和 39.3% ;将活性中心Ser(β1)邻位的Asn(β2 )变为Gln后 ,C130酶活大幅度下降 ,kcat减为 0 .47s-1。上述结果表明 ,C130 β亚基N端的前几个氨基酸残基均可对酶的功能     

Docking sites on substrate proteins direct extracellular signal-regulated kinase to phosphorylate specific residues

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases such as extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) are important signaling proteins that phosphorylate (S/T)P sites in many different protein substrates. ERK binding to substrate proteins is mediated by docking sites including the FXFP motif and the D-domain. We characterized the sequence of amino acids that can constitute the FXFP motif using peptide and protein substrates. Substitutions of the phenylalanines at positions 1 and 3 had significant effects, indicating that these phenylalanines provide substantial binding affinity, whereas substitutions of the residues at positions 2 and 4 had less effect. The FXFP and D-domain docking sites were analyzed in a variety of positions and arrangements in the proteins ELK-1 and KSR-1. Our results indicate that the FXFP and D-domain docking sites form a flexible, modular system that has two functions. First, the affinity of a substrate for ERK can be regulated by the number, type, position, and arrangement of docking sites. Second, in substrates with multiple potential phosphorylation sites, docking sites can direct phosphorylation of specific (S/T)P residues. In particular, the FQFP motif of ELK-1 is necessary and sufficient to direct phosphorylation of serine 383, whereas the D-domain directs phosphorylation of other (S/T)P sites in ELK-1.     

Role of protein conformational dynamics in the catalysis by 6-hydroxymethyl-7,8-dihydropterin pyrophosphokinase

Enzymatic catalysis has conflicting structural requirements of the enzyme. In order for the enzyme to form a Michaelis complex, the enzyme must be in an open conformation so that the substrate can get into its active center. On the other hand, in order to maximize the stabilization of the transition state of the enzymatic reaction, the enzyme must be in a closed conformation to maximize its interactions with the transition state. The conflicting structural requirements can be resolved by a flexible active center that can sample both open and closed conformational states. For a bisubstrate enzyme, the Michaelis complex consists of two substrates in addition to the enzyme. The enzyme must remain flexible upon the binding of the first substrate so that the second substrate can get into the active center. The active center is fully assembled and stabilized only when both substrates bind to the enzyme. However, the side-chain positions of the catalytic residues in the Michaelis complex are still not optimally aligned for the stabilization of the transition state, which lasts only approximately 10(-13) s. The instantaneous and optimal alignment of catalytic groups for the transition state stabilization requires a dynamic enzyme, not an enzyme which undergoes a large scale of movements but an enzyme which permits at least a small scale of adjustment of catalytic group positions. This review will summarize the structure, catalytic mechanism, and dynamic properties of 6-hydroxymethyl-7,8-dihydropterin pyrophosphokinase and examine the role of protein conformational dynamics in the catalysis of a bisubstrate enzymatic reaction.     

Long-distance placement of substrate RNA by H/ACA proteins

The structural basis for accurate placement of substrate RNA by H/ACA proteins is studied using a nonintrusive fluorescence assay. A model substrate RNA containing 2-aminopurine immediately 3′ of the uridine targeted for modification produces distinct fluorescence signals that report the substrate's docking status within the enzyme active site. We combined substrate RNA with complete and subcomplexes of H/ACA ribonucleoprotein particles and monitored changes in the substrate conformation. Our results show that each of the three accessory proteins, as well as an active site residue, have distinct effects on substrate conformations, presumably as docking occurs. Interestingly, in some cases these effects are exerted far from the active site. Application of our data to an available structural model of the holoenzyme, enables the functional role of each accessory protein in substrate placement to come into view.     

Crystal structure of an inactive duck delta II crystallin mutant with bound argininosuccinate

Delta-crystallin, the major soluble protein component of avian and reptilian eye lenses, is highly homologous to the urea cycle enzyme, argininosuccinate lyase (ASL). In duck lenses, there are two highly homologous delta crystallins, delta I and delta II, that are 94% identical in amino acid sequence. While delta II crystallin has been shown to exhibit ASL activity in vitro, delta I is enzymatically inactive. The X-ray structure of a His to Asn mutant of duck delta II crystallin (H162N) with bound argininosuccinate has been determined to 2.3 A resolution using the molecular replacement technique. The overall fold of the protein is similar to other members of the superfamily to which this protein belongs, with the active site located in a cleft formed by three different monomers in the tetramer. The active site of the H162N mutant structure reveals that the side chain of Glu 296 has a different orientation relative to the homologous residue in the H91N mutant structure [Abu-Abed et al. (1997) Biochemistry 36, 14012-14022]. This shift results in the loss of the hydrogen bond between His 162 and Glu 296 seen in the H91N and turkey delta I crystallin structures; this H-bond is believed to be crucial for the catalytic mechanism of ASL/delta II crystallin. Argininosuccinate was found to be bound to residues in each of the three monomers that form the active site. The fumarate moiety is oriented toward active site residues His 162 and Glu 296 and other residues that are part of two of the three highly conserved regions of amino acid sequence in the superfamily, while the arginine moiety of the substrate is oriented toward residues which belong to either domain 1 or domain 2. The analysis of the structure reveals that significant conformational changes occur on substrate binding. The comparison of this structure with the inactive turkey delta I crystallin reveals that the conformation of domain 1 is crucial for substrate affinity and that the delta I protein is almost certainly inactive because it can no longer bind the substrate.     

The conserved sequence NXX[S/T]HX[S/T]QDXXXT of the lactate/pyruvate:H(+) symporter subfamily defines the function of the substrate translocation pathway

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae Jen1p is a lactate/proton symporter belonging to the lactate/pyruvate:H(+) symporter subfamily (TC#2.A.1.12.2) of the Major Facilitator Superfamily. We investigated structure-function relationships of Jen1p using a rational mutational analysis based on the identification of conserved amino acid residues. In particular, we studied the conserved sequence (379)NXX[S/T]HX[S/T]QDXXXT(391). Substitution of amino acid residues N379, H383 or D387, even with very similar amino acids, resulted in a dramatic reduction of lactate and pyruvate uptake, but conserved measurable acetate transport. Acetate transport inhibition assays showed that these mutants conserve the ability to bind, but do not transport, lactate and pyruvate. More interestingly, the double mutation H383D/D387H, while behaving as a total loss-of-function allele for lactate and pyruvate uptake, can fully restore the kinetic parameters of Jen1p for acetate transport. Thus, residues N379, H383 or D387 affect both the transport capacity and the specificity of Jen1p. Substitutions of Q386 and T391 resulted in no or moderate changes in Jen1p transport capacities for lactate, pyruvate and acetate. On the other hand, Q386N reduces the binding affinities for all Jen1p substrates, while Q386A increases the affinity specifically for pyruvate. We also tested Jen1p specificity for a range of monocarboxylates. Several of the mutants studied showed altered inhibition constants for these acids. These results and 3D in silico modelling by homology threading suggest that the conserved motif analyzed is part of the substrate translocation pathway in the lactate/pyruvate:H(+) symporter subfamily.     

Quantitative analysis of ERK2 interactions with substrate proteins: roles for kinase docking domains and activity in determining binding affinity

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1 and -2 (ERK1/2) proteins regulate a variety of cellular functions, including cell proliferation and differentiation, by interacting with and phosphorylating substrate proteins. Two docking sites, common docking (CD/ED) domain and F-site recruitment site (FRS), on ERK proteins have been identified. Specific interactions with the CD/ED domain and the FRS occur with substrates containing a docking site for ERK and JNK, LXL (DEJL) motif (D-domain) and a docking site for ERK, FXF (DEF) motif (F-site), respectively. However, the relative contributions of the ERK docking sites in mediating substrate interactions that allow efficient phosphate transfer are largely unknown. In these studies, we provide a quantitative analysis of ERK2 interactions with substrates using surface plasmon resonance to measure real time protein-protein interactions. ERK2 interacted with ELK-1 (DEF and DEJL motifs), RSK-1 (DEJL motif), and c-Fos (DEF motif) with K(D) values of 0.25, 0.15, and 0.97 μM, respectively. CD/ED domain mutations inhibited interactions with ELK-1 and RSK-1 by 6-fold but had no effect on interactions with c-Fos. Select mutations in FRS residues differentially inhibited ELK-1 or c-Fos interactions with ERK2 but had little effect on RSK-1 interactions. Mutations in both the ED and FRS docking sites completely inhibited ELK-1 interactions but had no effect on interactions with stathmin, an ERK substrate whose docking site is unknown. The phosphorylation status of ERK2 did not affect interactions with RSK-1 or c-Fos but did inhibit interactions with ELK-1 and stathmin. These studies provide a quantitative evaluation of specific docking domains involved in mediating interactions between ERK2 and protein substrates and define the contributions of these interactions to phosphate transfer.     

Site-directed mutagenesis of diphosphoinositol polyphosphate phosphohydrolase, a dual specificity NUDT enzyme that attacks diadenosine polyphosphates and diphosphoinositol polyphosphates

Diphosphoinositol polyphosphate phosphohydrolase (DIPP) hydrolyzes diadenosine 5',5"'-P(1),P(6)-hexaphosphate (Ap(6)A), a Nudix (nucleoside diphosphate attached-moiety "x") substrate, and two non-Nudix compounds: diphosphoinositol pentakisphosphate (PP-InsP(5)) and bis-diphosphoinositol tetrakisphosphate ((PP)(2)-InsP(4)). Guided by multiple sequence alignments, we used site-directed mutagenesis to obtain new information concerning catalytically essential amino acid residues in DIPP. Mutagenesis of either of two conserved glutamate residues (Glu(66) and Glu(70)) within the Nudt (Nudix-type) catalytic motif impaired hydrolysis of Ap(6)A, PP-InsP(5), and (PP)(2)-InsP(4) >95%; thus, all three substrates are hydrolyzed at the same active site. Two Gly-rich domains (glycine-rich regions 1 and 2 (GR1 and GR2)) flank the Nudt motif with potential sites for cation coordination and substrate binding. GR1 comprises a GGG tripeptide, while GR2 is identified as a new functional motif (GX(2)GX(6)G) that is conserved in yeast homologues of DIPP. Mutagenesis of any of these Gly residues in GR1 and GR2 reduced catalytic activity toward all three substrates by up to 95%. More distal to the Nudt motif, H91L and F84Y mutations substantially decreased the rate of Ap(6)A and (PP)(2)-InsP(4) metabolism (by 71 and 96%), yet PP-InsP(5) hydrolysis was only mildly reduced (by 30%); these results indicate substrate-specific roles for His(91) and Phe(84). This new information helps define DIPP's structural, functional, and evolutionary relationships to Nudix hydrolases.     

A double-headed cathepsin B inhibitor devoid of warhead

Most synthetic inhibitors of peptidases have been targeted to the active site for inhibiting catalysis through reversible competition with the substrate or by covalent modification of catalytic groups. Cathepsin B is unique among the cysteine peptidase for the presence of a flexible segment, known as the occluding loop, which can block the primed subsites of the substrate binding cleft. With the occluding loop in the open conformation cathepsin B acts as an endopeptidase, and it acts as an exopeptidase when the loop is closed. We have targeted the occluding loop of human cathepsin B at its surface, outside the catalytic center, using a high-throughput docking procedure. The aim was to identify inhibitors that would interact with the occluding loop thereby modulating enzyme activity without the help of chemical warheads against catalytic residues. From a large library of compounds, the in silico approach identified [2-[2-(2,4-dioxo-1,3-thiazolidin-3-yl)ethylamino]-2-oxoethyl] 2-(furan-2-carbonylamino) acetate, which fulfills the working hypothesis. This molecule possesses two distinct binding moieties and behaves as a reversible, double-headed competitive inhibitor of cathepsin B by excluding synthetic and protein substrates from the active center. The kinetic mechanism of inhibition suggests that the occluding loop is stabilized in its closed conformation, mainly by hydrogen bonds with the inhibitor, thus decreasing endoproteolytic activity of the enzyme. Furthermore, the dioxothiazolidine head of the compound sterically hinders binding of the C-terminal residue of substrates resulting in inhibition of the exopeptidase activity of cathepsin B in a physiopathologically relevant pH range.     

The active site of yeast aspartyl-tRNA synthetase: structural and functional aspects of the aminoacylation reaction.

The crystal structures of the various complexes formed by yeast aspartyl-tRNA synthetase (AspRS) and its substrates provide snapshots of the active site corresponding to different steps of the aminoacylation reaction. Native crystals of the binary complex tRNA-AspRS were soaked in solutions containing the two other substrates, ATP (or its analog AMPPcP) and aspartic acid. When all substrates are present in the crystal, this leads to the formation of the aspartyl-adenylate and/or the aspartyl-tRNA. A class II-specific pathway for the aminoacylation reaction is proposed which explains the known functional differences between the two classes while preserving a common framework. Extended signature sequences characteristic of class II aaRS (motifs 2 and 3) constitute the basic functional unit. The ATP molecule adopts a bent conformation, stabilized by the invariant Arg531 of motif 3 and a magnesium ion coordinated to the pyrophosphate group and to two class-invariant acidic residues. The aspartic acid substrate is positioned by a class II invariant acidic residue, Asp342, interacting with the amino group and by amino acids conserved in the aspartyl synthetase family. The amino acids in contact with the substrates have been probed by site-directed mutagenesis for their functional implication.