理性设计二硫键提高华根霉脂肪酶热稳定性

【背景】华根霉脂肪酶的工业应用前景广泛,但是受到酶热稳定性较差的限制。【目的】对华根霉Rhizopus chinensis CCTCC M201021脂肪酶r27RCL分子结构进行理性设计,以提高该酶热稳定性。【方法】以Disulfide by design软件筛选r27RCL分子表面能够形成二硫键的突变位点,共得到7对二硫键突变。利用全质粒PCR进行定点突变,并在毕赤酵母中表达获得突变酶。【结果】最佳突变酶m9/10 (S85C-Q145C)与野生型酶r27RCL相比,60°C下的半衰期分别提高了4.5倍,T_m值提高了4.2°C,而催化活性保持不变。蛋白质晶体结构模拟显示,位于β2折叠上的85C和位于α4螺旋上的145C可形成二硫键,从而提高酶的热稳定性。【结论】酶分子中引入新增二硫键可以显著提升酶的热稳定性。     

定点突变对酰胺水解酶DamH可溶性表达和酶活的影响

摘要:【目的】DamH是一种具有酯酶活性的酰胺水解酶,其非活性中心氨基酸残基的突变对重组酶可溶性表达和比酶活产生一定的影响。拟探索DamH的活性中心氨基酸残基构成,并对其非活性中心氨基酸残基突变对可溶性表达和比酶活的影响进行研究。【方法】通过重叠延伸的方法对DamH可能的活性中心氨基酸S149、E244和H274以及非活性中心氨基酸D165及N192进行定点突变,通过静息细胞测活验证了S149、E244和H274 在催化2-氯-N-(2’-甲基-6’-乙基苯基)乙酰胺(CMEPA)水解反应中的作用,通过Ni2+- NTA亲和层析对D165及N192突变子进行纯化,对突变株和野生型比酶活进行比较。【结果】研究表明S149A使DamH的CMEPA 水解酶活性下降为野生型的5%,E244A和H274A突变导致其失去活性;D165P和N192P突变影响到DamH的可溶性表达,表达量分别为野生型的28.2%和20.8%,突变子N192P、D165P比酶活分别为野生型比酶活的55.5%和49.7%。【结论】DamH催化酯类底物和芳基酰胺类底物可能共用同一活性中心S149、E244和H274,其两个α螺旋的转角处氨基酸侧链极性和刚性结构的改变对可溶性表达以及活性有很大的影响。     

基于磷脂酶水解圈定向筛选高效聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯降解酶

【目的】目前自然环境中聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯(polyethylene terephthalate, PET)废弃物的积累严重威胁生态健康,因此PET的降解问题已成为全球性的热点问题。生物酶法降解PET技术以其绿色环保而备受关注,但天然PET降解酶的催化活性普遍偏低,亟待进一步定向改造。现阶段定向进化为快速提高PET降解酶催化性能提供了可能,其中筛选方法是成功获得高性能突变体的关键所在。本研究旨在提出一种新型高效灵敏的筛选方法并应用于褐色喜热裂孢菌(Thermobifida fusca)来源角质酶Tfu-0883的定向改造,以期快速获得PET降解活性提高的突变体。【方法】基于易错PCR构建突变体文库,涂布于卵黄磷脂平板,以水解圈的大小作为筛选指标获得PET降解活性提高的突变体;对突变体进行酶学定性并筛选出潜在的分子改造位点,最终获得高性能突变体。【结果】从卵黄磷脂平板中挑取水解圈直径最大的单菌落,即突变体H10(N2D/D94H/A149E),其PET降解能力是野生型的1.5倍,最适温度与pH分别为60℃和8.0。突变体H10中第2位和第149位氨基酸残基远离底物结合凹槽,其突变会导致酶蛋白稳定性下降;第94位氨基酸残基则位于底物结合凹槽附近,由负电荷氨基酸Asp突变为正电荷氨基酸His,有利于吸附在带负电荷的PET表面,是突变体H10降解能力提升的关键因素;随后将野生型的第94位氨基酸残基Asp分别突变为His及同为正电荷且空间位阻更小的Lys和Arg,突变体D94H、D94K和D94R对PET降解能力均有提升,其中,突变体D94K降解PET能力是野生型的3.6倍。【结论】本研究基于磷脂酶水解圈构建了一种新的PET降解酶定向筛选方法,以此获得了降解活性提高的突变体,并证实角质酶Tfu-0883第94位氨基酸残基位点具有提升其PET降解活性的潜在能力。     

环酰亚胺水解酶C末端区为该酶活性所必需

 为了研究一个新环酰亚胺水解酶（CIH）C端区残基对酶分子构象及酶活性的影响,设计了C末端缺失1～4个氨基酸残基以及C 末端2个Lys替代为2个Glu或2个Leu的突变酶,以野生型酶基因重组质粒pE-cih₂₉₃为模板,在相应引物存在下,通过PCR扩增获得突变的CIH基因片段.经克隆、表达与纯化,得到不同的突变酶蛋白.酶活性测定、荧光光谱与CD谱分析表明,随着C 末端缺失残基的增多,酶活性丧失也越来越多,但酶分子的聚合状态未发生变化;当CIH的C末端2个Lys替代为2个Glu时,酶活性及分子结构变化均不明显,但当替代为2个Leu时,酶活性丧失殆尽,分子结构变得松散而不再保持寡聚态.pH及热稳定性实验也表明,酶的稳定性与其分子的完整性密切相关.结果证实,CIH的C末端电荷残基对该酶活性与分子状态具有重要作用.     

嗜水气单胞菌胞外蛋白酶的化学修饰

 蛋白酶是嗜水气单胞菌 (Aeromonashydrophila)的重要致病因子 .为研究其结构与功能之间的关系 ,用DEPC、EDC、PMSF、N AI等 9种化学修饰剂处理嗜水气单胞菌J 1株胞外蛋白酶ECPase54,然后检测残余酶活力 ,借以研究酶分子中氨基酸侧链基团与酶活性中心的关系 .结果表明 ,羧基、丝氨酸、ε 氨基、胍基等残基与酶活性无关 ;半胱氨酸残基与酶活性也无直接关系 ;而色氨酸、组氨酸、酪氨酸残基侧链以及二硫键的化学修饰引起酶活性的大幅度的下降 ,说明色氨酸、组氨酸、酪氨酸残基以及二硫键是酶活力所必需的基团     

EB病毒蛋白BNLF2a阻止抗原转运蛋白TAP的构象变化

【背景】EB病毒是一个常见的病原,它能引起霍奇金淋巴瘤、伯基特淋巴瘤以及胃癌、鼻咽癌。该病毒编码的膜蛋白BNLF2a抑制抗原转运蛋白TAP (Transporter associated with antigen processing)从而逃逸T细胞的清除。TAP属于ABC(ATP-bindingcassette)转运蛋白超家族,是由TAP1和TAP2两个亚基构成的。TAP通过ATP提供能量,跨膜转运抗原多肽,这一过程伴随着构象变化。【目的】旨在揭示BNLF2a是否影响TAP的构象变化。【方法】TAP蛋白核酸结合结构域的二聚体界面的D-loop进行点突变,引入半胱氨酸。在表达和不表达BNLF2a情况下,采用氧化性的二价铜离子交联半胱氨酸,并通过Westernblot对比TAP的半胱氨酸形成二硫键的比例。【结果】BNLF2a表达使TAP被交联的比例增高。【结论】BNLF2a可能将TAP稳定在核苷酸结合结构域二聚化的构象,从而同时抑制ATP和抗原多肽结合到TAP上来。     

β-葡萄糖苷酶的糖耐受和促活性质研究

【目的】以葡萄糖耐受并促活的β-葡萄糖苷酶Bgl2A为出发材料,寻找与β-葡萄糖苷酶的葡萄糖耐受和促活性质相关的重要氨基酸残基位点并对其进行突变;对突变酶性质进行检测,结合分子对接,探究突变对酶的糖耐受和促活性质的影响及机制;进而对葡萄糖不耐受的Bgl3A (Bgl2A:A22S/V224S)进行分子改造,以获得应用潜能更好的突变酶。【方法】通过序列和结构比对、统计耦联分析和结构分析,选取Bgl2A底物通道口、蛋白质表面以及活性中心附近可能间接影响葡萄糖耐受和促活性质的残基作为突变位点,构建了多个突变酶,并对其酶学性质进行检测。【结果】以Bgl2A为出发酶,D322I、W325A、W126Y、F172N、C173I和N226V的糖耐受和促活性质显著提升。分子对接提示,这些突变可能是通过变构效应影响活性中心与葡萄糖结合的自由能,从而改变酶葡萄糖耐受和促活性质。据此,在Bgl3A分子上对应构建多个突变体,筛选获得了较出发酶在糖耐受和促活性质提升的同时保持较高酶活和稳定性的突变酶N226V和F172N。【结论】除了酶与葡萄糖直接结合的位点,不与葡萄糖直接相互作用的位点也可通过远程作用间接影响...     

Met196突变提高Brucella melitensis 7α-羟基类固醇脱氢酶的催化效率和稳定性

【目的】通过计算机辅助设计,理性提高羊布鲁氏菌7α-羟基类固醇脱氢酶的催化效率和稳定性,实现酶的高效稳定催化合成。【方法】通过同源建模、分子对接和蛋白-配体相互作用分析,理性设计关键位点的定向突变。结合酶学性质测定、酶促反应动力学分析和圆二色谱测定等实验,测定突变酶的催化功能和稳定性。【结果】与野生型7α-羟基类固醇脱氢酶相比,Met196Ile和Met196Val突变酶的酶活提高了8.33倍和7.41倍,k_cat/K_m值分别提高了4.93和4.37倍,T_m值分别提高了1.75℃和1.10℃。Met196Ile和Met196Val突变酶催化底物鹅去氧胆酸,合成产物7-氧代-石胆酸所需时间从野生型的8h缩短为2h,最高产率约为91%。通过全原子动力学模拟分析了均方根偏差、均方根波动以及蛋白-配体相互作用,阐明了催化性能提高的分子机制。Met196突变诱导的B环（残基Ala145-Pro157）和α7螺旋（残基Val249-Gly265）的刚性增强有利于提高蛋白的稳定性,底物与结合位点或活性位点（Tyr208、Lys212）...     

大肠杆菌44277(O2: K1) 中rmlB 基因功能

摘要: 【目的】确定rmlB 基因在大肠杆菌( O2: K1) L-型鼠李糖合成中的作用。【方法】将基因rmlB 进行原核表达并测定酶活; 用同源重组的方法将rmlB 基因敲除,分析表型变化,并运用质谱,以及核磁共振等手段分析脂多糖O 侧链的结构,以确定rmlB 在O 抗原合成中的作用。【结果】成功对rmlB 基因进行了表达并测定了重组蛋白的酶活,确定蛋白RmlB 具有dTDP-D-glucose 4,6-dehydratase 活性。成功构建了rmlB 基因缺失突变株,对突变株进行表型分析发现突变株的表型与野生株相比无变化。对突变株分析发现突变株中的O抗原仍含有L-型鼠李糖,说明在该菌株中可能存在RmlB 的同功能酶或者存在其它的L-型鼠李糖合成途径。【结论】rmlB 基因编码的蛋白具有dTDP-D-glucose 4,6-dehydratase 活性但此基因对于L-型鼠李糖的合成不是必需的。     

链霉菌GXT6 β-葡萄糖苷酶的酶学性质及葡萄糖耐受性分子改造

【目的】从经过全基因组测序的链霉菌GXT6中克隆、表达一个编码糖基水解酶家族3的新β-葡萄糖苷酶基因,研究重组酶的酶学性质并进行相关葡萄糖耐受性的氨基酸残基的分子改造,提高其对葡萄糖的耐受性。【方法】根据链霉菌GXT6的全基因测序结果,对其中一个注释为糖基水解酶的基因设计引物,PCR扩增目的基因,以p SE380为表达载体构建重组质粒,转化至大肠杆菌中诱导表达;采用镍亲和层析技术纯化重组蛋白质,对目的蛋白质进行酶学性质研究;采用定点饱和突变的方法对重组酶进行相关氨基酸残基的分子改造。【结果】从链霉菌GXT6中克隆到一个编码糖基水解酶家族3的新β-葡萄糖苷酶基因,并在大肠杆菌中表达。酶学性质研究结果表明该β-葡萄糖苷酶的最适温度为40°C,最适p H为6.0,Km值为(0.4712±0.0180) mmol/L,Vmax值为(128.000±1.741)μmol/(min·mg),葡萄糖抑制常数Ki值为(1.8880±0.1307)mmol/L。该BGL3-GXT6能够水解黄豆苷、染料木苷、甜茶苷、虎杖苷、淫羊藿苷。还对BGL3-GXT6中与葡萄糖耐受性可能相关的氨基酸残基位点81-Trp和233-Trp进行了定点饱和突变,获得了25个具有酶活的突变酶并对其进行酶学性质研究。其中W233位点饱和突变后获得的突变酶的Km和葡萄糖抑制常数Ki值与重组酶BGL3-GXT6相比均发生明显变化,葡萄糖耐受性有不同程度的提高,最高的提高了209倍。【结论】本研究获得的BGL3-GXT6对天然底物甜茶苷、黄豆苷、染料木苷、虎杖苷和淫羊藿苷具有水解功能,这些特性表明该β-葡萄糖苷酶在理论研究及在工业中有一定的应用价值。     

Stability and structure-forming properties of the two disulfide bonds of alpha-conotoxin GI

alpha-Conotoxin GI is a 13 residue snail toxin peptide cross-linked by Cys2-Cys7 and Cys3-Cys13 disulfide bridges. The formation of the two disulfide bonds by thiol/disulfide exchange with oxidized glutathione (GSSG) has been characterized. To characterize formation of the first disulfide bond in each of the two pathways by which the two disulfide bonds can form, two model peptides were synthesized in which Cys3 and Cys13 (Cono-1) or Cys2 and Cys7 (Cono-2) were replaced by alanines. Equilibrium constants were determined for formation of the single disulfide bonds of Cono-1 and Cono-2, and an overall equilibrium constant was measured for formation of the two disulfide bonds of alpha-conotoxin GI in pH 7.00 buffer and in pH 7. 00 buffer plus 8 M urea using concentrations obtained by HPLC analysis of equilibrium thiol/disulfide exchange reaction mixtures. The results indicate a modest amount of cooperativity in the formation of the second disulfide bond in both of the two-step pathways by which alpha-conotoxin GI folds into its native structure at pH 7.00. However, when considered in terms of the reactive thiolate species, the results indicate substantial cooperativity in formation of the second disulfide bond. The solution conformational and structural properties of Cono-1, Cono-2, and alpha-conotoxin GI were studied by 1H NMR to identify structural features which might facilitate formation of the disulfide bonds or are induced by formation of the disulfide bonds. The NMR data indicate that both Cono-1 and Cono-2 have some secondary structure in solution, including some of the same secondary structure as alpha-conotoxin GI, which facilitates formation of the second disulfide bond by thiol/disulfide exchange. However, both Cono-1 and Cono-2 are considerably less structured than alpha-conotoxin GI, which indicates that formation of the second disulfide bond to give the Cys2-Cys7, Cys3-Cys13 pairing induces considerable structure into the backbone of the peptide.     

Interaction of Met297 in the seventh transmembrane segment of the tachykinin NK2 receptor with neurokinin A

We report the use of thiol chemistry to define specific and reversible disulfide interactions of Cys-substituted NK2 receptor mutants with analogues of neurokinin A (NKA) containing single cysteine substitutions. The NKA analogues were N-biotinylated to facilitate the rapid detection of covalent analogue-receptor interactions utilizing streptavidin reactivity. N-biotinyl-[Tyr1,Cys9]NKA, N-biotinyl-[Tyr1,Cys10]NKA were both found to reversibly disulfide bond to the NK2 receptor mutant Met297 --> Cys. This is consistent with the improved affinities of these particular analogues for the Met297 --> Cys receptor as compared with those for the wild-type and Met297 --> Leu receptors. In our three-dimensional model, Met297 occupies the equivalent position in helix 7 to the retinal binding Lys296 in rhodopsin. Binding of the NK2 receptor antagonist [3H]SR 48968 and of 125I-NKA was used to characterize additional receptor mutants. It seems that the aromatic residues Trp99 (helix 3), His198 (helix 5), Tyr266, His267, and Phe270 play an important role in NKA binding as structural determinants. The existence of overlapping SR 48968 and NKA binding sites is also evident. These data suggest that the peptide binding site of the NK2R is at least in part formed by residues buried deep within the transmembrane bundle and that this intramembranous binding domain may correspond to the binding sites for substantially smaller endogenous GPCR ligands.     

The oxidation of yeast alcohol dehydrogenase-1 by hydrogen peroxide in vitro

Yeast alcohol dehydrogenase (YADH) plays an important role in the conversion of alcohols to aldehydes or ketones. YADH-1 is a zinc-containing protein, and it accounts for the major part of ADH activity in growing baker's yeast. To gain insight into how oxidative modification of the enzyme affects its function, we exposed YADH-1 to hydrogen peroxide in vitro and assessed the oxidized protein by LC-MS/MS analysis of proteolytic cleavage products of the protein and by measurements of enzymatic activity, zinc release, and thiol/thiolate loss. The results illustrated that Cys43 and Cys153, which reside at the active site of the protein, could be selectively oxidized to cysteine sulfinic acid (Cys-SO2H) and cysteine sulfonic acid (Cys-SO3H). In addition, H2O2 induced the formation of three disulfide bonds: Cys43-Cys153 in the catalytic domain, Cys103-Cys111 in the noncatalytic zinc center, and Cys276-Cys277. Therefore, our results support the notion that the oxidation of cysteine residues in the zinc-binding domain of proteins can go beyond the formation of disulfide bond(s); the formation of Cys-SO2H and Cys-SO3H is also possible. Furthermore, most methionines could be oxidized to methionine sulfoxides. Quantitative measurement results revealed that, among all the cysteine residues, Cys43 was the most susceptible to H2O2 oxidation, and the major oxidation products of this cysteine were Cys-SO2H and Cys-SO3H. The oxidation of Cys43 might be responsible for the inactivation of the enzyme upon H2O2 treatment.     

Evidence for intramolecular disulfide bond shuffling in the folding of mutant human lysozyme

Our previous results using the Saccharomyces cerevisiae secretion system suggest that intramolecular exchange of disulfide bonds occurs in the folding pathway of human lysozyme in vivo (Taniyama, Y., Yamamoto, Y., Kuroki, R., and Kikuchi, M. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 7570-7575). Here we report on the results of introducing an artificial disulfide bond in mutants with 2 cysteine residues substituting for Ala83 and Asp91. The mutant (C83/91) protein was not detected in the culture medium of the yeast, probably because of incorrect folding. Thereupon, 2 cysteine residues Cys77 and Cys95 were replaced with Ala in the mutant C83/91, because a native disulfide bond Cys77-Cys95 was found not necessary for correct folding in vivo (Taniyama, Y., Yamamoto, Y., Nakao, M., Kikuchi, M., and Ikehara, M. (1988) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 152, 962-967). The resultant mutant (AC83/91) was secreted as two proteins (AC83/91-a and AC83/91-b) with different specific activities. Amino acid and peptide mapping analyses showed that two glutathiones appeared to be attached to the thiol groups of the cysteine residues introduced into AC83/91-a and that four disulfide bonds including an artificial disulfide bond existed in the AC83/91-b molecule. The presence of cysteine residues modified with glutathione may indicate that the non-native disulfide bond Cys83-Cys91 is not so easily formed as a native disulfide bond. These results suggest that the introduction of Cys83 and Cys91 may act to suppress the process of native disulfide bond formation through disulfide bond interchange in the folding of human lysozyme.     

A second disulfide bridge from the N-terminal domain to extracellular loop 2 dampens receptor activity in GPR39

A highly conserved feature across all families of 7TM receptors is a disulfide bridge between a Cys residue located at the extracellular end of transmembrane segment III (TM-III) and one in extracellular loop 2 (ECL-2). The zinc sensor GPR39 contains four Cys residues in the extracellular domains. By using mutagenesis, treatment with the reducing agent TCEP, and a labeling procedure for free sulfhydryl groups, we identify the pairing of these Cys residues in two disulfide bridges: the prototypical bridge between Cys (108) in TM-III and Cys (210) in ECL-2 and a second disulfide bridge connecting Cys (11) in the N-terminal domain with Cys (191) in ECL-2. Disruption of the conserved disulfide bond by mutagenesis greatly reduced the level of cell surface expression and eliminated agonist-induced increases in inositol phosphate production but surprisingly enhanced constitutive signaling. Disruption of the nonconserved disulfide bridge by mutagenesis led to an increase in the Zn (2+) potency. This phenotype, with an approximate 10-fold increase in agonist potency and a slight increase in E max, was mimicked by treatment of the wild-type receptor with TCEP at low concentrations, which had no effect on the receptor already lacking the second disulfide bridge and already displaying a high Zn (2+) potency. We conclude that the second disulfide bridge, which according to the beta2-adrenergic structure will form a covalent link across the entrance to the main ligand binding pocket, serves to dampen GPR39 activation. We suggest that formation of extra disulfide bridges may be an important general mechanism for regulating the activity of 7TM receptors.     

The Role of Cysteines and Histidins of the Norepinephrine Transporter

The thiol reagent N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) is known to inhibit irreversibly ligand binding by the norepinephrine transporter (NET), while the simultaneous presence of NET substrates or ligands protects from this inhibition. Therefore, cysteine residues located within the substrate binding pocket of the NET were assumed to play an important role in ligand binding. To examine which (if any) of the 10 cysteines (Cys) of the human (h) NET might be involved in transport and/or binding function, we mutated all hNET cysteines to alanine. Using transfected HEK293 cells we studied NEM effects on the hNET with respect to [³H]nisoxetine binding. Two cysteines (Cys176 and Cys185) within the extracellular loop of the NET have been proposed to form a disulfide bond. We could demonstrate that this is of crucial importance as corresponding hNET mutants, in which these cysteines have been replaced, showed a lack of plasma membrane expression. However, due to their oxidized state in the native NET protein, Cys176 and Cys185 may not be targets for NEM. All other Cys-to-Ala hNET mutants were fully active and showed no change in inhibition of [³H]nisoxetine binding by NEM. These observations clearly exclude cysteines as being involved in hNET ligand binding. Since NEM also interacts with histidin (His), we mutated all 13 histidins of the hNET to alanine and examined the NET mutants in functional and binding assays. His222 within the large extracellular loop of the transporter was identified as an interaction partner of NEM since in the corresponding hNET mutant NEM exhibited a significantly reduced inhibitory potency. Furthermore, we could show that histidins in position 296, 370 and 372 are important for nisoxetine binding, while His220, 441, 598 and 599 are crucial for plasma membrane expression of the hNET.     

Evidence for essential thiol groups and disulfide bonds in agonist and antagonist binding to the dopamine receptor

Dithiothreitol (DTT), a disulfide reducing agent, diminished the specific binding of [³H] dopamine to partially purified calf striatal membranes (P₂) but did not have an effect on [³H] spiroperidol binding. The thiol reagents, p-chloromercuribenzoate (PCMB), N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) and iodoacetamide (IA), were also tested for inhibitory effects on agonist and antagonist binding to the dopamine receptor. PCMB inhibited both [³H] dopamine and [³H] spiroperidol binding by changing the affinity (K_d) and the number of binding sites (B_max) for both of these ligands. This effect of PCMB was reversed by the addition of DTT. NEM inhibited binding to the dopamine agonist site but not to the antagonist site, while IA was ineffective on either site. These results indicate that a DTT-reducible disulfide bond may be an essential component for agonist binding to the dopamine receptor. Furthermore, the experiments with PCMB, NEM and IA suggest that the exposure of thiol groups in the dopamine receptor may play an important role in agonist and antagonist binding.     

Human tissue factor contains thioester-linked palmitate and stearate on the cytoplasmic half-cystine

The state of the five half-cystine residues in human tissue factor (TF) has been characterized. The results indicate that the four half-cystines in the extracellular domain of TF form two disulfide bonds and the half-cystine in the cytoplasmic region is acylated by palmitic acid and stearic acid. The extracellular disulfide cross-links, Cys49-Cys57 and Cys186-Cys209, were deduced from the analysis of tryptic peptides. Acylation of the cytoplasmic half-cystine was demonstrated by purifying and characterizing fibroblast TF from cells labeled with [3H]palmitic acid. Radiolabeled fibroblast TF was observed by autoradiography following sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The tritiated material covalently bound to the protein was identified as [3H]palmitate and [3H]stearate by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. Deacylation of TF with hydroxylamine resulted in the spontaneous generation of disulfide-linked TF dimers. This result suggests that the disulfide-linked TF dimer, a minor component of most TF preparations, and the recently described heterodimeric form of TF are artifacts produced by deacylation of Cys245 and subsequent interchain disulfide bond formation.     

The isocitrate dehydrogenase kinase/phosphatase from Escherichia coli is highly sensitive to in-vitro oxidative conditions role of cysteine67 and cysteine108 in the formation of a disulfide-bonded homodimer.

Isocitrate dehydrogenase kinase/phosphatase (IDHK/P) is a homodimeric enzyme which controls the oxidative metabolism of Escherichia coli, and exibits a high intrinsic ATPase activity. When subjected to electrophoresis under nonreducing conditions, the purified enzyme migrates partially as a dimer. The proportion of the dimer over the monomer is greatly increased by treatment with cupric 1,10 phenanthrolinate or 5,5'-dithio-bis(2-nitrobenzoic acid), and fully reversed by dithiothreitol, indicating that covalent dimerization is produced by a disulfide bond. To identify the residue(s) involved in this intermolecular disulfide-bond, each of the eight cysteines of the enzyme was individually mutated into a serine. It was found that, under nonreducing conditions, the electrophoretic patterns of all corresponding mutants are identical to that of the wild-type, except for the Cys67-->Ser which migrates exclusively as a monomer and for the Cys108-->Ser which migrates preferentially as a dimer. Furthermore, in contrast to the wild-type enzyme and all the other mutants, the Cys67-->Ser mutant still migrates as a monomer after treatment with cupric 1,10 phenanthrolinate. This result indicates that the intermolecular disulfide bond involves only Cys67 in each IDHK/P wild-type monomer. This was further supported by mass spectrum analysis of the tryptic peptides derived from either the cupric 1,10 phenanthrolinate-treated wild-type enzyme or the native Cys108-->Ser mutant, which show that they both contain a Cys67-Cys67 disulfide bond. Moreover, both the cupric 1,10 phenanthrolinate-treated wild-type enzyme and the native Cys108-->Ser mutant contain another disulfide bond between Cys356 and Cys480. Previous results have shown that this additional Cys356-Cys480 disulfide bond is intramolecular [Oudot, C., Jault, J.-M., Jaquinod, M., Negre, D., Prost, J.-F., Cozzone, A.J. & Cortay, J.-C. (1998) Eur. J. Biochem. 258, 579-585].