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PubMed1980

Determination of interactive thiol ionizations in bovine serum albumin, glutathione, and other thiols by potentiometric difference titration.

A potentiometric difference titration (PDT) method is used to study the ionization behavior of the thiol group in bovine serum albumin and in the following less complex compounds: glutathione, cysteine, 2-mercaptoethanol, 3-mercaptopropionic acid, 2-mercaptoethylamine, cis-2-mercaptocyclobutylamine, 2-aminothiophenol, and 5-mercapto-2-nitrobenzoic acid. In the PDT method the pH dependence of the amount of protons released in the reaction RSH + CH3SO2SCH3 leads to RSSCH3 + CH3SO2- + H+ is measured in order to obtain the pH dependence of the molar proton content of the thiol (hu) relative to the molar proton content of its methylthio derivative (hm). The pH dependence of hu--hm reflects the ionization behavior of the thiol group and of other groups whose ionization is thermodynamically linked to that of the thiol group. Data presented here indicate that the ionization behavior of the single thiol group in albumin is strikingly different in the native and the urea-denatured proteins. Three ionizable groups appear to affect ionization of the thiol in the native protein whereas only one group appears to affect ionization of the thiol in the urea-denatured protein. Furthermore, the measured PDT curves are consistent with an abnormally high acidity (pK less than 5) for the thiol in native albumin and a normal acidity for the thiol in the urea-denatured protein. Comparisons of microscopic ionization constants determined for cysteine by using the PDT method with those determined by other methods indicate that the PDT method should be useful in characterizing the ionization behavior of thiol groups in proteins and other polyprotic substances.

Animals↗

PubMed1978

Polymerization of human immunoglobulin M.

The repolymerization of human IgM following mild reductive cleavage was studied as a model for intracellular polymer assembly. Repolymerization was found to require the presence of J chain and a disulfide exchanging system which could be furnished either intrinsically by the use of the monofunctional thiol mercaptoethylamine or extrinsically by the inclusion of a protein-mercaptan mixed disulfide, and/or a disulfide exchanging enzyme. The degree of repolymerization was dependent on the extent of monomer reduction and the product covalently incorporated one J chain per five monomer units. Disulfide exchanging enzyme probably served as a source of mixed disulfides rather than as an enzymatic catalyst of the reaction. These results are discussed in terms of a tentative mechanism for IgM polymerization.

Humans↗

PubMed1998

The conformational change and active site structure of tetrahydrodipicolinate N-succinyltransferase.

Tetrahydrodipicolinate (THDP) N-succinyltransferase catalyzes the conversion of tetrahydrodipicolinate and succinyl-CoA to L-2-(succinylamino)-6-oxopimelate and CoA. This reaction represents the committed step of the succinylase branch of the diaminopimelate/L-lysine biosynthetic pathway by which many bacteria synthesize meso-diaminopimelate, a component of peptidoglycan, and L-lysine from L-aspartate. The crystal structures of THDP succinyltransferase in complex with the substrate/cofactor pairs L-2-aminopimelate/coenzyme A and L-2-amino-6-oxopimelate/coenzyme A have been determined and refined to 2.0 A resolution. The active site of the enzyme is a long narrow groove located at the interface between two left-handed parallel beta-helix (LbetaH) structural domains of the trimeric enzyme. On binding the amino acid acceptor and cofactor, this groove is covered by residues from the C-terminus of one subunit and a flexible loop excluded from the LbetaH domain of an adjacent subunit to form a tunnel. This conformational change is directly related to interactions between the enzyme and the bound amino acid substrate and cofactor and serves to shield the ligands from bulk solvent and to orient the nucleophilic amino group of the amino acid acceptor toward the mercaptoethylamine group of the cofactor.

Acyltransferases↗

PubMed2000

Synthesis, structure, and H2O2-dependent catalytic functions of disulfide-bridged dicopper(I) and related thioether-copper(I) and thioether-copper(II) complexes.

A disulfide-bridged dicopper(I) complex, [Cu2(Py2SSPy2)](ClO4)2 (1) (Py2SSPy2 = bis(2-[N,N-bis(2-pyridylethyl)-amino]-1,1- dimethylethyl)disulfide), a thioether-copper(I) complex, [Cu(iPrSPy2)](ClO4) (2) (iPrSPy2 = N-(2-isopropylthio-2-methyl)propyl-N,N-bis-2-(2-pyridyl)ethylamine, and a thioether-copper(II) complex, [Cu-(PheSPy2)(H2O)](ClO4)2 (3) (PheSPy2 = N-(2-methyl-2-phenethylthio)propyl-N,N-bis-2-(2- pyridyl)ethylamine), were newly synthesized by the reactions of Cu(ClO4)2.6H2O with a thiol ligand of Py2SH (N,N-bis[2-(2-pyridyl)-ethyl]-1,1-dimethyl-2- mercaptoethylamine) and thioether ligands of iPrSPy2 and PheSPy2, respectively. For complexes 1 and 2, X-ray analyses were performed. Complex 1 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1, and complex 2 crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbca with the following unit cell parameters: for 1, a = 15.165 (3) A, b = 22.185 (4) A, c = 14.989 (3) A, alpha = 105.76 (1) degrees, beta = 90.82 (2) degrees, gamma = 75.23 (1) degrees, and Z = 2; for 2, a = 17.78 (2) A, b = 17.70 (1) A, c = 15.75 (1) A, and Z = 8. Complex 1 is the first structurally characterized example obtained by the redox reaction Cu(II) + RSH-->Cu(I) + RSSR and has two independent structures (1a, 1b) which mainly differ in S-S bond distances, Cu(I)...Cu(I) separations, and C-S-S-C dihedral angles of the disulfide units. The S-S bond distances of 2.088(7) A in 1a and 2.070(7) A in 1b are indicative of significant activation of the S-S bonds by the dicopper centers. Fragment molecular orbital (FMO) analyses and molecular orbital overlap population (MOOP) analyses based on the extended Hückel method clarify the preferable formation of the disulfide S-S bond in 1 rather than the formation of a thiolate-copper(II) complex within the Py2S- ligand framework. Catalytic functions of complexes 1-3 were investigated with peroxides (H2O2 and tBuOOH) as oxidants. Complex 1 catalyzed the selective oxidation of cyclohexane to cyclohexanol and mediated the cyclohexene epoxidation in the presence of H2O2. A transient dark green intermediate observed in the reaction of 1 with H2O2 is characterized by UV-vis, EPR, and resonance Raman spectroscopies, identifying it as a Cu(II)-OOH species, 1(OOH). The resonance Raman features of the nu(O-O) bands at 822 and 836 cm-1, which are red-shifted to 781 and 791 cm-1, respectively, upon introduction of H2(18)O2, are indicative of formation of two kinds of Cu-OOH species rather than the Fermi doublet and the significant weakening of the O-O bonds. These mechanistic studies demonstrate that by virtue of the electron-donating ability of the disulfide unit the Cu-OOH species can be actually activated for one-electron oxidation, which has been reported so far unfavorable for other vibrationally characterized Cu-OOH species.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2004

Solution structures of chromium(VI) complexes with glutathione and model thiols.

Chromium(VI) complexes of the most abundant biological reductant, glutathione (gamma-Glu-Cys-Gly, I), are among the likely initial reactive intermediates formed during the cellular metabolism of carcinogenic and genotoxic Cr(VI). Detailed structural characterization of such complexes in solutions has been performed by a combination of X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) and X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopies, electrospray mass spectrometry (ESMS), UV-vis spectroscopy, and kinetic studies. The Cr(VI) complexes of two model thiols, N-acetyl-2-mercaptoethylamine (II) and 4-bromobenzenethiol (III), were used for comparison. The Cr(VI)-thiolato complexes were generated quantitatively in weakly acidic aqueous solutions (for I and II) or in DMF solutions (for II) or isolated as a pure solid (for III). Contrary to some claims in the literature, no evidence was found for the formation of relatively stable Cr(IV) intermediates during the reactions of Cr(VI) with I in acidic aqueous solutions. The Cr(VI) complexes of I-III exist as tetrahedral [CrO(3)(SR)](-) (IVa) species in the solid state, in solutions of aprotic solvents such as DMF, or in the gas phase (under ESMS conditions). In aqueous or alcohol solutions, reversible addition of a solvent molecule occurs, with the formation of five-coordinate species, [CrO(3)(SR)L](-) (IVb, probably of a trigonal bipyramidal structure, L = H(2)O or MeOH), with a Cr-L bond length of 1.97(1) A (determined by XAFS data modeling). Complex IVb (L = H(2)O) is also formed (in an equilibrium mixture with [CrO(4)](2)(-)) at the first stage of reduction of Cr(VI) by I in neutral aqueous solutions (as shown by global kinetic analysis of time-dependent UV-vis spectra). This is the first observation of a reversible ligand addition reaction in Cr(VI) complexes. The formation of IVb (rather than IVa, as thought before) during the reactions of Cr(VI) with I in aqueous solutions is likely to be important for the reactivity of Cr(VI) in cellular media, including DNA and protein damage and inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatases.

Chromium↗

PubMed1997

Gold Clustering at the Terminal Functions of Long-Chain Thiols and Amines.

Treatment of 1,6-hexanedithiol with (4)/(3) mol equiv of tris[(triphenylphosphino)aurio(I)]oxonium tetrafluoroborate and sodium tetrafluoroborate affords (n-hexane-1,6-dithiolato)tetrakis-[(triphenylphosphine)gold(I)] bis(tetrafluoroborate) (1). The analogous reactions with beta-mercaptoethylamine, HS(CH(2))(2)NH(2), 1,4-diaminobutane, H(2)N(CH(2))(4)NH(2), and n-butyl- and n-octylamine, CH(3)(CH(2))(n)()NH(2) (n = 3 or 7), give the corresponding penta- (2), hexa- (3), and trinuclear (4, 5) complexes, respectively. The crystal structures of compounds 3 and 5 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. In the hexanuclear complex 3, three gold atoms are bonded to each nitrogen, putting each of these atoms at the apex of an NAu(3) pyramid. There are no intra- or intermolecular interactions between the gold centers of different nitrogen atoms. The trinuclear complex 5 features the unfolded aliphatic chain at the apex of such a pyramid. In both compounds the gold atoms show close contacts of 3.0 +/- 0.1 Å, indicating significant bonding, which is probably the main driving force for the clustering of seemingly closed-shell (d(10)) gold(I) metal atoms.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

Carbocyanine dyes as efficient reversible single-molecule optical switch.

We demonstrate that commercially available unmodified carbocyanine dyes such as Cy5 (usually excited at 633 nm) can be used as efficient reversible single-molecule optical switch, whose fluorescent state after apparent photobleaching can be restored at room temperature upon irradiation at shorter wavelengths. Ensemble photobleaching and recovery experiments of Cy5 in aqueous solution irradiating first at 633 nm, then at 337, 488, or 532 nm, demonstrate that restoration of absorption and fluorescence strongly depends on efficient oxygen removal and the addition of the triplet quencher beta-mercaptoethylamine. Single-molecule fluorescence experiments show that individual immobilized Cy5 molecules can be switched optically in milliseconds by applying alternating excitation at 633 and 488 nm between a fluorescent and nonfluorescent state up to 100 times with a reliability of >90% at room temperature. Because of their intriguing performance, carbocyanine dyes volunteer as a simple alternative for ultrahigh-density optical data storage. Measurements on single donor/acceptor (tetramethylrhodamine/Cy5) labeled oligonucleotides point out that the described light-driven switching behavior imposes fundamental limitations on the use of carbocyanine dyes as energy transfer acceptors for the study of biological processes.

Biotin↗

PubMed2006

A mild etch for the fabrication of three-dimensional nanostructures in gold.

A novel mild etch is reported for the fabrication of three-dimensional structures in gold films when used in conjunction with an alkylthiol resist. This etch consists of a solution of mercaptoethylamine in ethanol to which a small amount of ammonium hydroxide has been added. Using mask-based photolithography, micron-scale features have been created that exhibit good edge definition. For long-chain thiols, there is little tendency for the regions protected by thiols to be eroded on extended exposure to the etch solution. In conjunction with scanning near-field photolithography, the new etch solution enables the fabrication of nanoscale structures with dimensions significantly smaller than the conventional diffraction limit.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Colloidal HgTe nanocrystals with widely tunable narrow band gap energies: from telecommunications to molecular vibrations.

A convenient, aqueous-based synthesis of stable HgTe nanocrystals with widely size-tunable room temperature emission between wavelengths of 1.2 to 3.7 mum is demonstrated. By the choice of the thiols, applied as stabilizers, we optimized the growth dynamics, the luminescence quantum yields (up to 40%), and a ligand-exchange procedure, required to transfer the nanocrystals from water to nonpolar organic solvents. The latter is greatly improved and facilitated by the use of mercaptoethylamine as initial stabilizer. The possibility to tune the HgTe nanocrystal sizes from 3 to 12 nm and to control their surface functionalities (hydrophobic and hydrophilic) makes them very promising for the development of infrared optical devices, emitting in the wavelength region between the telecommunications and the molecular vibrations.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Synthesis of poly(beta-amino ester)s with thiol-reactive side chains for DNA delivery.

The safe and efficient delivery of DNA remains the major barrier to the clinical application of non-viral gene therapy. Here, we present novel, biodegradable polymers for gene delivery that are capable of simple graft modification and demonstrate the ability to respond to intracellular conditions. We synthesized poly(beta-amino ester)s using a new amine monomer, 2-(pyridyldithio)-ethylamine (PDA). These cationic, degradable polymers contain pyridyldithio functionalities in the side chains that react with high specificity toward thiol ligands. This reactivity is demonstrated using both mercaptoethylamine (MEA) and the thiol peptide RGDC, a ligand that binds with high affinity to certain integrin receptors. These two polymer derivatives displayed strong DNA binding as determined using electrophoresis and dye exclusion assays. In addition, the MEA-based polymer and plasmid DNA were shown to self-assemble into cationic complexes with effective diameters as low as 100 nm. Furthermore, this DNA binding ability was substantially reduced in response to intracellular glutathione concentrations, which may aid in DNA unpackaging inside the cell. These complexes also displayed low cellular toxicity and were able to mediate transfection at levels comparable to PEI in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. These results suggest that PDA-based poly(beta-amino ester)s may serve as a modular platform for polymer-mediated gene delivery.

Biocompatible Materials↗

PubMed2006

Manipulation of aqueous growth of CdTe nanocrystals to fabricate colloidally stable one-dimensional nanostructures.

The present article is devoted to systematically exploring the influence of various experimental variables, including the precursor concentration, the ligand nature, the counterion type, the Cd-to-Te molar ratio, pH, and temperature, on the aqueous growth of CdTe nanocrystals. The growth may be divided into two stages: the early fast growth stage and the later slow growth stage. The later stage is found to be dominated by Ostwald ripening (OR), being strongly dependent on all experimental conditions. In contrast, the early stage is dominated by adding monomers to nanocrystals, which may be dramatically accelerated by lowering precursor concentrations and using ligands with a molecular structure similar to that of thioglycolic acid (TGA). This fast growth stage is similar to that observed during organometallic growth of nanocrystals in hot organic media. On the basis of this finding, one-dimensional wurtzite CdTe nanostructures can be directly prepared in aqueous media by storing rather dilute precursor solution (2.4 mM with reference to ligand) in the presence of TGA at lower temperature (from room temperature to 80 degrees C). A low growth temperature is used to suppress OR during crystal growth. In addition, the simultaneous presence of both TGA-like ligand and 1-thioglycerol or 2-mercaptoethylamine leads to formation of colloidally stable 1D CdTe nanostructures with controlled aspect ratios.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Radiative and nonradiative rate fluctuations of single colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals.

Spectrally and time-resolved single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy was used to investigate fluctuations of the photophysical characteristics of different types of semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) at room temperature. Correlation of photoluminescence (PL) emission maxima, decay time, and intensity of individual NCs with millisecond time resolution reveals new sources of intensity fluctuations and photophysical properties. In particular, we demonstrate that independent of quenched states spectral diffusion is associated with changes of the radiative rate constant k(r) by means of the quantum-confined Stark effect. Correlation of the different photophysical parameters revealed an intrinsic nonradiative rate and enabled the disentangling of intrinsic and extrinsic nonradiative rate constants. Moreover, it allowed us to assess the PL quantum yield of single NCs. Finally, the presented technique was successfully applied to demonstrate that the addition of antiblinking reagents such as mercaptoethylamine accelerates the observed fluctuations between different photophysical states.

Letter↗

PubMed2007

Strategies to improve photostabilities in ultrasensitive fluorescence spectroscopy.

Given the particular importance of dye photostability for single-molecule and fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy investigations, refined strategies were explored for how to chemically retard dye photobleaching. These strategies will be useful for fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), fluorescence-based confocal single-molecule detection (SMD) and related techniques. In particular, the effects on the addition of two main categories of antifading compounds, antioxidants (n-propyl gallate, nPG, ascorbic acid, AA) and triplet state quenchers (mercaptoethylamine, MEA, cyclo-octatetraene, COT), were investigated, and the relevant rate parameters involved were determined for the dye Rhodamine 6G. Addition of each of the compound categories resulted in significant improvements in the fluorescence brightness of the monitored fluorescent molecules in FCS measurements. For antioxidants, we identify the balance between reduction of photoionized fluorophores on the one hand and that of intact fluorophores on the other as an important guideline for what concentrations to be added for optimal fluorescence generation in FCS and SMD experiments. For nPG/AA, this optimal concentration was found to be in the lower micromolar range, which is considerably less than what has previously been suggested. Also, for MEA, which is a compound known as a triplet state quencher, it is eventually its antioxidative properties and the balance between reduction of fluorophore cation radicals and that of intact fluorophores that defines the optimal added concentration. Interestingly, in this optimal concentration range the triplet state quenching is still far from sufficient to fully minimize the triplet populations. We identify photoionization as the main mechanism of photobleaching within typical transit times of fluorescent molecules through the detection volume in a confocal FCS or SMD instrument (<1-20 ms), and demonstrate its generation via both one- and multistep excitation processes. Apart from reflecting a major pathway for photobleaching, our results also suggest the exploitation of the photoinduced ionization and the subsequent reduction by antioxidants for biomolecular monitoring purposes and as a possible switching mechanism with applications in high-resolution microscopy.

Antioxidants↗

PubMed2004

Imaging of affinity microcontact printed proteins by using liquid crystals.

This paper reports the design of surfaces on which thermotropic liquid crystals can be used to image affinity microcontact printed proteins. The surfaces comprise gold films deposited onto silica substrates at an oblique angle of incidence and then functionalized with a monolayer formed from 2-mercaptoethylamine. Ellipsometric measurements confirm the transfer of anti-biotin IgG to these surfaces from affinity stamps functionalized with biotinylated bovine serum albumin (BSA), while control experiments performed using anti-goat IgG confirmed the specificity of the IgG capture on the stamp. On these surfaces, anti-biotin IgG caused nematic phases of 4-cyano-4'-pentylbiphenyl (5CB, Delta epsilon = epsilon(parallel) - epsilon(perpendicular) > 0) to assume orientations that were parallel to the surfaces (planar anchoring) but with azimuthal orientations that were distinct from those assumed by the liquid crystals on the amine-terminated surfaces not supporting IgGs. Following incubation of these samples for >8 h at 36 degrees C, we observed that the amine-terminated regions of the surface not supporting IgG cause 5CB to undergo a transition from planar to perpendicular (homeotropic). Because N-(4-methoxybenzylidene)-4-butylaniline (MBBA) (Delta epsilon < 0) does not undergo a similar transition in orientation, this transition is consistent with the effects of an electrical double layer formed at the amine-terminated surface on the liquid crystal. Following the transition to homeotropic anchoring, the liquid crystals provide high optical contrast between regions of the surface supporting and not supporting IgG. We conclude that amine-terminated surfaces (I) uniformly align liquid crystals when not supporting proteins and (II) have sufficiently high surface free energy to capture proteins delivered to the surface from an affinity stamp, and thus they form the basis of a useful class of surfaces on which affinity microcontact printed proteins can be imaged using liquid crystals.

Amines↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Reaction of trifluoroacetaldehyde with amino acids, nucleotides, lipid nucleophiles, and their analogs.

Trihaloacetaldehydes are used as sedatives, are key intermediates in the metabolism of 1,1,1,2-tetrahaloethanes, some of which are chlorofluorocarbon substitutes, and are metabolites of trihaloethanols, which are intestinal and bone marrow toxins. In the present study, trifluoroacetaldehyde was used as a model to examine the reactions of trihaloacetaldehydes with cellular nucleophiles, including amino acids, nucleotides, and lipid components. Reaction of trifluoroacetaldehyde hydrate (10 mM) with amino acids (100 mM) in buffer at pH 7.0 and 30 degrees C showed that only L-cysteine formed stable adducts, which were identified as (2R,4R)- and (2S,4R)-2-(trifluoromethyl)thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid. The absolute stereochemistry of (2R,4R)- and (2S,4R)-2-(trifluoromethyl)thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid was determined by homonuclear Overhauser effect experiments. The diastereoisomers were formed in a 2.8:1 ratio at 37 degrees C and in a 1:4.0 ratio at 80 degrees C. Trifluoroacetaldehyde also reacted with L-cysteine methyl ester and 2-mercaptoethylamine to form stable thiazolidine derivatives, but did not react with N-acetyl-L-cysteine. The reaction of trifluoroacetaldehyde with the amino groups of ATP, GMP, CMP, L-citrulline, and urea resulted in the formation of stable imines. TMP, which lacks an exocyclic amino group, did not react. Glutathione reacted with trifluoroacetaldehyde to form (2R,5R)- and (2S,5R)-5-amino-6-[carboxymethyl)imino]-2-(trifluoromethyl)-1,3- oxathiane, whose formation was accompanied by simultaneous cleavage of the glutamyl moiety. The reactivity of nucleophilic groups with trifluoroacetaldehyde follows the order SH > NH2 > OH. The results of the present study indicate that trifluoroacetaldehyde covalently modifies cellular nucleophiles. The biological significance of these reactions warrants further investigation. The reaction of trifluoroacetaldehyde with L-cysteine and glutathione may afford routes for the stereoselective synthesis of cysteine prodrugs and five- or six-membered heterocyclic compounds.

Acetaldehyde↗

PubMed1974

The incorporation of J chain into reassembled human immunoglobulin M.

Human IgM (immunoglobulin M) was reduced with 24mm-mercaptoethylamine. This atreatment resulted in complete dissociation to IgMs subunits and free J chain. Intr-subunit interchain disulphide bonds remained intact. The mixture then was encouraged to reoxidize. The schlieren pattern of the reoxidized mixture showed the presence of a considerable quantity of IgM in addition to residual IgMs. The isolated reassembled IgM did not dissociate in 5m-guanidinium hydrochloride. It apparently contained the same amount of covalently attached J chain as did native IgM. The J chain was a part of the high-molecular-weight Fc fragment obtained from the reassembled IgM.

Binding Sites↗

PubMed2006

Regulation of cysteine dioxygenase degradation is mediated by intracellular cysteine levels and the ubiquitin-26 S proteasome system in the living rat.

Mammalian metabolism of ingested cysteine is conducted principally within the liver. The liver tightly regulates its intracellular cysteine pool to keep levels high enough to meet the many catabolic and anabolic pathways for which cysteine is needed, but low enough to prevent toxicity. One of the enzymes the liver uses to regulate cysteine levels is CDO (cysteine dioxygenase). Catalysing the irreversible oxidation of cysteine, CDO protein is up-regulated in the liver in response to the dietary intake of cysteine. In the present study, we have evaluated the contribution of the ubiquitin-26 S proteasome pathway to the diet-induced changes in CDO half-life. In the living rat, inhibition of the proteasome with PS1 (proteasome inhibitor 1) dramatically stabilized CDO in the liver under dietary conditions that normally favour its degradation. Ubiquitinated CDO intermediates were also seen to accumulate in the liver. Metabolic analyses showed that PS1 had a significant effect on sulphoxidation flux secondary to the stabilization of CDO but no significant effect on the intracellular cysteine pool. Finally, by a combination of in vitro hepatocyte culture and in vivo whole animal studies, we were able to attribute the changes in CDO stability specifically to cysteine rather than the metabolite 2-mercaptoethylamine (cysteamine). The present study represents the first demonstration of regulated ubiquitination and degradation of a protein in a living mammal, inhibition of which had dramatic effects on cysteine catabolism.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Use of site-directed chemical modification to study an essential lysine in Escherichia coli leader peptidase.

Escherichia coli leader peptidase, which catalyzes the cleavage of signal peptides from pre-proteins, is an essential, integral membrane serine peptidase that has its active site residing in the periplasmic space. It contains a conserved lysine residue that has been proposed to act as the general base, abstracting the proton from the side chain hydroxyl group of the nucleophilic serine 90. To help elucidate the role of the essential lysine 145 in the activity of E. coli leader peptidase, we have combined site-directed mutagenesis and chemical modification methods to introduce unnatural amino acid side chains at the 145-position. We show that partial activity can be restored to an inactive K145C leader peptidase mutant by reacting it with 2-bromoethylamine.HBr to produce a lysine analog (gamma-thia-lysine) at the 145-position. Modification with the reagents 3-bromopropylamine.HBr and 2-mercaptoethylamine also allowed for partial restoration of activity showing that there is some flexibility in the length requirements of this essential residue. Modification with (2-bromoethyl)trimethylammonium.Br to form a positively charged, nontitratable side chain at the 145-position failed to restore activity to the inactive K145C leader peptidase mutant. This result, along with an inactive K145R mutant result, supports the claim that the lysine side chain at the 145-position is essential due to its ability to form a hydrogen bond(s) or to act as a general base rather than because of an ability to form a critical salt bridge. We find that leader peptidase processes the pre-protein substrate, pro-OmpA nuclease A, with maximum efficiency at pH 9.0, and apparent pKa values for titratable groups at approximately 8.7 and 9.3 are revealed. We show that the lysine modifier maleic anhydride inhibits leader peptidase by reacting with lysine 145. The results of this study are consistent with the hypothesis that the lysine at the 145-position of leader peptidase functions as the active site general base. A model of the active site region of leader peptidase is presented based on the structure of the E. coli UmuD', and a mechanism for bacterial leader peptidase is proposed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗