We expressed chitinase-1 (TBC-1) from tulip bulbs (Tulipa bakeri) in E. coli cells and used site-directed mutagenesis to identify amino acid residues essential for catalytic activity. Mutations at Glu-125 and Trp-251 completely abolished enzyme activity, and activity decreased with mutations at Asp-123 and Trp-172 when glycolchitin was the substrate. Activity changed with the mutations of Trp-251 to one of several amino acids with side-chains of little hydrophobicity, suggesting that hydrophobic interaction of Trp-251 is important for the activity. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation analysis with hevamine as the model compound showed that the distance between Asp-123 and Glu-125 was extended by mutation of Trp-251. Kinetic studies of Trp-251-mutated chitinases confirmed these various phenomena. The results suggested that Glu-125 and Trp-251 are essential for enzyme activity and that Trp-251 had a direct role in ligand binding.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://dx.doi.org/10.1271/bbb.67.341 | DOI Listing |
J Am Chem Soc
January 2025
Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.
The use of proteins as intracellular probes and therapeutic tools is often limited by poor intracellular delivery. One approach to enabling intracellular protein delivery is to transform proteins into spherical nucleic acid (proSNA) nanoconstructs, with surfaces chemically modified with a dense shell of radially oriented DNA that can engage with cell-surface receptors that facilitate endocytosis. However, proteins often have a limited number of available reactive surface residues for DNA conjugation such that the extent of DNA loading and cellular uptake is restricted.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Am Chem Soc
January 2025
Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
The enantioselective synthesis of 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds continues to pose a significant challenge in organic synthesis, and a catalytic process which generates two adjacent stereogenic centers with full stereochemical control is lacking until now. The 1,4-relationship of the functional groups requires an Umpolung strategy as one of the α-carbonyl positions has to be inverted into an electrophilic center to react with a normal enolate. We report herein the highly enantio- and diastereoselective addition of silyl ketene acetals toward electrophilic 1-azaallyl cations to furnish chiral 4-hydrazonoesters, which are masked 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Neuropharmacol
January 2025
Department of Stem Cell Bioengineering, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawinskiego 5 Str, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland.
The purpose of this review was to analyse the literature regarding the correlation between the level of tryptamine, aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) signalling pathway activation, and monoamine oxidase (MAO)-A and MAO-B activity in health and conditions such as neurodegenerative, neurodevelopmental, and psychiatric disorders. Tryptamine is generated through the decarboxylation of tryptophan by aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) in the central nervous system (CNS), peripheral nervous system (PNS), endocrine system, and gut bacteria. Organ-specific metabolism of tryptamine, which is mediated by different MAO isoforms, causes this trace amine to have different pharmacokinetics between the brain and periphery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMini Rev Med Chem
January 2025
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology Vittorio Erspamer, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy.
Currently, the synthesis of bioactive sulfonamides using amino acid as a starting reagent has become an area of research interest in organic chemistry. Over the years, an amine-sulfonyl chloride reaction has been adopted as a common step in traditional sulfonamide synthetic methods. However, recent developments have shown amino acids to be better precursors than amines in the synthesis of sulfonamides.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVet Med Sci
January 2025
Department of Industrial Management, Faculty of Humanities, University of Tehran, Kish International Campus, Tehran, Iran.
Background: The poultry industry faces challenges with the high cost and environmental impact of Soybean meal. Feather meal, a byproduct with low digestibility due to its keratin content, is a potential alternative. Recent biotechnological advances, including enzymatic and bacterial hydrolysis, have enhanced its digestibility and nutritional value.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!