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P P Taylor

Publications and source records attributed to P P Taylor.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Phosphorylation of tyrosine residues in the kinase domain and juxtamembrane region regulates the biological and catalytic activities of Eph receptors.

Members of the Eph family of receptor tyrosine kinases exhibit a striking degree of amino acid homology, particularly notable in the kinase and membrane-proximal regions. A mutagenesis approach was taken to address the functions of specific conserved tyrosine residues within these catalytic and juxtamembrane domains. Ligand stimulation of wild-type EphB2 in neuronal NG108-15 cells resulted in an upregulation of catalytic activity and an increase in cellular tyrosine phosphorylation, accompanied by a retraction of neuritic processes. Tyrosine-to-phenylalanine substitutions within the conserved juxtamembrane motif abolished these responses. The mechanistic basis for these observations was examined using the highly related EphA4 receptor in a continuous coupled kinase assay. Tandem mass spectrometry experiments confirmed autophosphorylation of the two juxtamembrane tyrosine residues and also identified a tyrosine within the kinase domain activation segment as a phosphorylation site. Kinetic analysis revealed a decreased affinity for peptide substrate upon substitution of activation segment or juxtamembrane tyrosines. Together, our data suggest that the catalytic and therefore biological activities of Eph receptors are controlled by a two-component inhibitory mechanism, which is released by phosphorylation of the juxtamembrane and activation segment tyrosine residues.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

Engineering of a novel biochemical pathway for the biosynthesis of L-2-aminobutyric acid in Escherichia coli K12.

L-2-Aminobutyric acid was synthesised in a transamination reaction from L-threonine and L-aspartic acid as substrates in a whole cell biotransformation using recombinant Escherichia coli K12. The cells contained the cloned genes tyrB, ilvA and alsS which respectively encode tyrosine aminotransferase of E. coli, threonine deaminase of E. coli and alpha-acetolactate synthase of B. subtilis 168. The 2-aminobutyric acid was produced by the action of the aminotransferase on 2-ketobutyrate and L-aspartate. The 2-ketobutyrate is generated in situ from L-threonine by the action of the deaminase, and the pyruvate by-product is eliminated by the acetolactate synthase. The concerted action of the three enzymes offers significant yield and purity advantages over the process using the transaminase alone with an eight to tenfold increase in the ratio of product to the major impurity.

Acetolactate Synthase↗

Novel biosynthetic approaches to the production of unnatural amino acids using transaminases.

Transaminase enzymes are being increasingly applied to the large-scale synthesis of unnatural and nonproteinogenic amino acids. Typically displaying relaxed substrate specificity, rapid reaction rates and lacking the need for cofactor regeneration, they possess many characteristics that make them desirable as effective biocatalysts. By judiciously combining the transaminase reaction with additional enzymatic steps, this approach can be used very efficiently to prepare a broad range of D- and L-amino acids.

Amino Acids↗

Characterization of the genes encoding D-amino acid transaminase and glutamate racemase, two D-glutamate biosynthetic enzymes of Bacillus sphaericus ATCC 10208.

In Bacillus sphaericus and other Bacillus spp., D-amino acid transaminase has been considered solely responsible for biosynthesis of D-glutamate, an essential component of cell wall peptidoglycan, in contrast to the glutamate racemase employed by many other bacteria. We report here the cloning of the dat gene encoding D-amino acid transaminase and the glr gene encoding a glutamate racemase from B. sphaericus ATCC 10208. The glr gene encodes a 28. 8-kDa protein with 40 to 50% sequence identity to the glutamate racemases of Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, and Staphylococcus species. The dat gene encodes a 31.4-kDa peptide with 67% primary sequence homology to the D-amino acid transaminase of the thermophilic Bacillus sp. strain YM1.

Amino Acid Isomerases↗

Nucleotide sequence of the Bacillus licheniformis ATCC 10716 dat gene and comparison of the predicted amino acid sequence with those of other bacterial species.

The gene encoding the D-aminotransferase from Bacillus licheniformis was cloned and the complete DNA sequence was determined. The deduced D-aminotransferase protein sequence, consists of 283 amino acids and shows a high degree of homology with other Bacillus D-aminotransferases, branched chain aminotransferase of Escherichia coli and the 4-amino-benzoate-4-deoxychorismate lyase of Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The cloning and sequence analysis of the aspC and tyrB genes from Escherichia coli K12. Comparison of the primary structures of the aspartate aminotransferase and aromatic aminotransferase of E. coli with those of the pig aspartate aminotransferase isoenzymes.

In this paper we describe the cloning and sequence analysis of the tyrB and aspC genes from Escherichia coli K12, which encode the aromatic aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase respectively. The tyrB gene was isolated from a cosmid carrying the nearby dnaB gene, identified by its ability to complement a dnaB lesion. Deletion and linker insertion analysis located the tyrB gene to a 1.7-kilobase NruI-HindIII-digest fragment. Sequence analysis revealed a gene encoding a 43 000 Da polypeptide. The gene starts with a GTG codon and is closely followed by a structure resembling a rho independent terminator. The aspC gene was cloned by screening gene banks, prepared from a prototrophic E. coli K12 strain, for plasmids able to complement the aspC tyrB lesions in the aminotransferase-deficient strain HW225. Sub-cloning and deletion analysis located the aspC gene on a 1.8-kilobase HincII-StuI-digest fragment. Sequence analysis revealed the presence of a gene encoding a 43 000 Da protein, the sequence of which is identical with that previously obtained for the aspartate aminotransferase from E. coli B. Considerable overproduction of the two enzymes was demonstrated. We compared the deduced protein sequences with those of the pig mitochondrial and cytoplasmic aspartate aminotransferases. From the extensive homology observed we are able to propose that the two E. coli enzymes possess subunit structures, subunit interactions and coenzyme-binding and substrate-binding sites that are very similar both to each other and to those of the mammalian enzymes and therefore must also have very similar catalytic mechanisms. Comparison of the aspC and tyrB gene sequences reveals that they appear to have diverged as much as is possible within the constraints of functionality and codon usage.

Animals↗

The effect of stannous fluoride on plaque scores.

A homogeneous group of 37 patients was chosen. The first six days involved brushing and rinsing with stannous fluoride compounds for the experimental group and placebo compounds for the control group. The next five days involved rinsing only. There was a significant difference in plaque scores during the period of rinsing only.

Adolescent↗