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G Locke

Publications and source records attributed to G Locke.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Enoyl-ACP reductase (FabI) of Haemophilus influenzae: steady-state kinetic mechanism and inhibition by triclosan and hexachlorophene.

Steady-state kinetics, equilibrium binding, and primary substrate kinetic isotope effect studies revealed that the reduction of crotonyl-CoA by NADH, catalyzed by Haemophilus influenzae enoyl-ACP reductase (FabI), follows a rapid equilibrium random kinetic mechanism with negative interaction among the substrates. Two biphenyl inhibitors, triclosan and hexachlorophene, were studied in the context of the kinetic mechanism. IC(50) values for triclosan in the presence and absence of NAD(+) were 0.1 +/- 0.02 and 2.4 +/- 0.02 microM, respectively, confirming previous observations that the E-NAD(+) complex binds triclosan more tightly than the free enzyme. Preincubation of the enzyme with triclosan and NADH suggested that the E-NADH complex is the active triclosan binding species as well. These results were reinforced by measurement of binding kinetic transients. Intrinsic protein fluorescence changes induced by binding of 20 microM triclosan to E, E-NADH, E-NAD(+), and E-crotonyl-CoA occur at rates of 0.0124 +/- 0.001, 0.0663 +/- 0.002, 0.412 +/- 0.01, and 0.0069 +/- 0.0001 s(-1), respectively. The rate of binding decreased with increasing crotonyl-CoA concentrations in the E-crotonyl-CoA complex, and the extrapolated rate at zero concentration of crotonyl-CoA corresponded to the rate observed for the binding to the free enzyme. This suggests that triclosan and the acyl substrate share a common binding site. Hexachlorophene inhibition, on the other hand, was NAD(+)- and time-independent; and the calculated IC(50) value was 2.5 +/- 0.4 microM. Steady-state inhibition patterns did not allow the mode of inhibition to be unambiguously determined, but binding kinetics suggested that free enzyme, E-NAD(+), and E-crotonyl-CoA have similar affinity for hexachlorophene, since the k(obs)s were in the same range of 20-24 s(-1). When the E-NADH complex was mixed with hexachlorophene ligand, concentration-independent fluorescence quenching at 480 nm was observed, suggesting at least partial competition between NADH and hexachlorophene for the same binding site. Mutual exclusivity studies, together with the above-discussed results, indicate that triclosan and hexachlorophene bind at different sites of H. influenzae FabI.

Binding Sites↗

Role of lys100 in human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase: mutagenesis studies and chemical rescue by external amines.

Chemical modification, mutagenesis, chemical rescue, and isotope effect studies are used to identify and probe the roles of several conserved amino acid groups in catalysis by human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase. Time- and pH-dependent inactivation of human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase by trinitrobenzenesulfonate implicates at least one critical lysyl residue in catalysis. Of four highly conserved lysines, only the cognate of Lys255 was previously suggested to have catalytic functionality. We now show that replacement of either Lys184 or Lys186 by mutagenesis does not impact, whereas substitution of Lys100 abolishes, enzymatic activity. However, activity is partially restored to K100C (or K100A) by inclusion of exogenous primary amines in reaction mixtures. This rescued activity saturates with respect to numerous amines and exhibits a steric discrimination reflected in K(d,(amine)) values. For all amines, rescued k(cat) values were only approximately 10% of wild type and independent of amine basicity. K(M) values for dihydroorotate and coenzyme Q(0) were similar to wild type. Thus, exogenous amines (as surrogates for Lys100) apparently complement a chemical, not binding, step(s) of catalysis, which does not entail proton transfer. In support of this postulate, solvent kinetic isotope effect analysis indicates that Lys100 stabilizes developing negative charge on the isoalloxazine ring of flavin mononucleotide during hydride transfer, as has been observed for a number of flavoprotein oxidoreductases. Ser215 of human dihydroarotate dehydrogenase (DHODase) was also studied because of its alignment with the putative active-site base Cys130 of Lactococcus lactisDHODase. Substantial retention of activity by S215C, yet complete loss of activity for S215A, is consistent with Ser215 serving as the active-site base in the human enzyme.

Amines↗

A second dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (Type A) of the human pathogen Enterococcus faecalis: expression, purification, and steady-state kinetic mechanism.

We report the identification, expression, and characterization of a second Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODase A) from the human pathogen Enterococcus faecalis. The enzyme consists of a polypeptide chain of 322 amino acids that shares 68% identity with the cognate type A enzyme from the bacterium Lactococcus lactis. E. faecalis DHODase A catalyzed the oxidation of l-dihydroorotate while reducing a number of substrates, including fumarate, coenzyme Q(0), and menadione. The steady-state kinetic mechanism has been determined with menadione as an oxidizing substrate at pH 7.5. Initial velocity and product inhibition data suggest that the enzyme follows a two-site nonclassical ping-pong kinetic mechanism. The absorbance of the active site FMN cofactor is quenched in a concentration-dependent manner by titration with orotate and barbituric acid, two competitive inhibitors with respect to dihydroorotate. In contrast, titration of the enzyme with menadione had no effect on FMN absorbance, consistent with nonoverlapping binding sites for dihyroorotate and menadione, as suggested from the kinetic mechanism. The reductive half-reaction has been shown to be only partially rate limiting, and an attempt to evaluate the slow step in the overall reaction has been made by simulating orotate production under steady-state conditions. Our data indicate that the oxidative half-reaction is a rate-limiting segment, while orotate, most likely, retains significant affinity for the reduced enzyme, as suggested by the product inhibition pattern.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Accident & emergency: care and transfer of the burns patient.

A patient with major burns requires intervention from highly skilled nursing and medical teams on arrival at the accident and emergency department, and those staff without proper training can lack confidence in dealing with such a situation. The author offers guidance and advice for nurses in A&E on initial treatment of the burns patient, and discusses the preparation necessary before transferring the victim to another area, as well as the transfer itself.

Bandages↗

Infection precautions in a burns unit.

Staff working with patients with burns are regularly exposed to large amounts of potentially infected blood. With the steady rise of HIV infection in the general population it is no longer appropriate to classify patients as at high or low risk of infection. This article describes the introduction of cost-effective precautions in a regional burns unit after Department of Health recommendations on universal precautions.

Burn Units↗