The cDNA encoding trehalose phosphorylase, a family GT-4 glycosyltransferase from the fungus Schizophyllum commune, was isolated and expressed in Escherichia coli to yield functional recombinant protein in its full length of 737 amino acids. Unlike the natural phosphorylase that was previously obtained as a truncated 61 kDa monomer containing one tightly bound Mg2+, the intact enzyme produced in E. coli is a dimer and not associated with metal ions [Eis, Watkins, Prohaska and Nidetzky (2001) Biochem.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe have used alanine-scanning site-directed mutagenesis of the dimer contact region of starch phosphorylase from Corynebacterium callunae to explore the relationship between a protein conformational change induced by phosphate binding and the up to 500-fold kinetic stabilization of the functional quarternary structure of this enzyme when phosphate is present. Purified mutants (at positions Ser-224, Arg-226, Arg-234, and Arg-242) were characterized by Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and enzyme activity measurements at room temperature and under conditions of thermal denaturation. Difference FT-IR spectra of wild type and mutants in (2)H(2)O solvent revealed small changes in residual amide II band intensities at approximately 1,550 cm(-1), indicating that (1)H/(2)H exchange in the wild type is clearly perturbed by the mutations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGlycogen phosphorylases (GPs) constitute a family of widely spread catabolic alpha1,4-glucosyltransferases that are active as dimers of two identical, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-containing subunits. In GP from Corynebacterium callunae, physiological concentrations of phosphate are required to inhibit dissociation of protomers and cause a 100-fold increase in kinetic stability of the functional quarternary structure. To examine interactions involved in this large stabilization, we have cloned and sequenced the coding gene and have expressed fully active C.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStarting from a common tyrosine, yeast xylose reductases (XRs) contain two conserved sequence motifs corresponding to the catalytic signatures of single-domain reductases/epimerases/dehydrogenases (Tyr(n)-(X)3-Lys(n+4)) and aldo/keto reductases (AKRs) (Tyr(n)-(X)28-Lys(n+29)). Tyr(51), Lys(55) and Lys(80) of XR from Candida tenuis were replaced by site-directed mutagenesis. The purified Tyr(51)--> Phe and Lys(80)-->Ala mutants showed turnover numbers and catalytic efficiencies for NADH-dependent reduction of D-xylose between 2500- and 5000-fold below wild-type levels, suggesting a catalytic role of both residues.
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