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G Tarr

Publications and source records attributed to G Tarr.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Cloning and sequence analysis of the structural gene for the bc1-type Rieske iron-sulfur protein from Thermus thermophilus HB8.

The structural gene encoding the Rieske iron-sulfur protein from Thermus thermophilus HB8 has been cloned and sequenced. The gene encodes a protein of 209 amino acids that begins with a hydrophilic N-terminus followed by a stretch of 21 hydrophobic amino acids that could serve as a transmembrane helix. The remainder of the protein has a hydrophobicity pattern typical of a water-soluble protein. A phylogenetic analysis of 26 Rieske proteins that are part of bc1 or b6f complexes shows that they fall into three major groups: eubacterial and mitochondrial, cyanobacterial and plastid, and five highly divergent outliers, including that of Thermus. Although the overall homology with other Rieske proteins is very low, the C-terminal half of the Thermus protein contains the signature sequence CTHLGC-(13X)-CPCH that most likely provides the ligands of the [2Fe-2S] cluster. It is proposed that this region of the protein represents a small domain that folds independently and that the encoding DNA sequence may have been transferred during evolution to several unrelated genes to provide the cluster attachment site to proteins of different origin. The role of individual residues in this domain of the Thermus protein is discussed vis-a-vis the three-dimensional structure of the bovine protein (Iwata et al., 1996 Structure 4, 567-579).

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Optimization of the synthesis of peptide combinatorial libraries using a one-pot method.

Conditions for the synthesis of synthetic peptide combinatorial libraries (SPCLs) from mixtures of amino acids were explored. In a one-pot synthesis, the effect of the starting concentrations of amino acids on the resulting library composition was studied, and the optimum balance of amino acids was determined. Protein sequencing, MALDI-TOF, and amino acid analysis were used for the evaluation of the libraries, and their relative merits-are discussed. The effects of continuous-flow automated synthesis instrumentation in conjunction with polyethylene glycol-polystyrene (PEG-PS) graft supports and various cleavage cocktails on the successful synthesis of SPCLs were examined.

Amino Acids↗

Affinity-based screening of combinatorial libraries using automated, serial-column chromatography.

We have developed an automated serial chromatographic technique for screening a library of compounds based upon their relative affinity for a target molecule. A "target" column containing the immobilized target molecule is set in tandem with a reversed-phase column. A combinatorial peptide library is injected onto the target column. The target-bound peptides are eluted from the first column and transferred automatically to the reversed-phase column. The target-specific peptide peaks from the reversed-phase column are identified and sequenced. Using a monoclonal antibody (3E-7) against beta-endorphin as a target, we selected a single peptide with sequence YGGFL from approximately 5800 peptides present in a combinatorial library. We demonstrated the applicability of the technology towards selection of peptides with predetermined affinity for bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS, endotoxin). We expect that this technology will have broad applications for high throughout screening of chemical libraries or natural product extracts.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification of the lysine residue modified during the activation of acetimidylation of horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase.

A single amino group in horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase was modified with methyl(14C)acetimidate by a differential labeling procedure. Lysine residues outside the active site were modified with ethyl acetimidate while a lysine residue in the active site was protected by the formation of an enzyme-NAD+-pyrazole complex. After the protecting reagents were removed, the enzyme was treated with methyl(14C)acetimidate. Enzyme activity was enhanced 13-fold as 1.1 (14C)acetimidyl group was incorporated per active site. A labeled peptide was isolated from a tryptic-chymotryptic digest of the modified enzyme in 35% overall yield. Amino acid composition and sequential Edman degradations identified the peptide as residues 219-229; lysine residue 228 was modified with the radioactive acetimidyl group.

Acetates↗