The long term goal of the proposed research is to understand at the molecular level how enzymes achieve their extraordinary catalytic efficiencies. We seek this understanding through direct observation of ligands (substrates, intermediates, and ground-state and transition-state analog inhibitors) bound to enzyme active sites using techniques (primarily NMR and FTIR spectroscopy) sensitive to local bond distortions, electronic environment, and other factors likely to reflect the enzyme's catalytic strategy. We will study the effects of structural alterations in substrates or their analogs and in the enzyme itself. Structural changes in the enzyme will be made using newly developed protein engineering methodology. In addition we shall make whatever kinetic and equilibrium measurements are required for proper interpretation or deeper understanding of the spectroscopic data. We have chosen two groups of enzymes, the Claisen enzymes and the nucleoside aminohydrolases for special emphasis because efficient structural and kinetic data are available to suggest what catalytic strategies be used by these enzymes and our past work shows that intermediate structures characteristic of those strategies can be directly observed. Enzymes which catalyze Claisen condensations are prominent in pathways requiring carbon-carbon bond formation in he biosynthesis of fats and cholesterol (thiolase(s), HMG-CoA synthase) as well in the energy-yielding pathways of glycolysis (citrate synthase) and the malate-isocitrate cycle malate synthase). These enzymes operate through activation of a substrate carbonyl together with stabilization of the alpha-carbanion of the acylthioester cosubstrate. Enzymes which catalyze amino- nucleoside(tide) hydrolysis have more varied but no less vital oles. Adenosine deaminase is necessary to the integrity of the immune response. Other enzymes of this class participate in salvage pathways of purines and pyrimidines guanase, etc) or are involved in the maintenance of cellular energy balance (adenylic deaminase). These enzymes operate through stabilization of tetrahedral intermediate, an analytic strategy used by several other important enzyme groups. Our work will first concentrate on citrate synthase and adenosine deaminase since a great deal of progress as already been made in understanding these enzymes and then our focus will shift to elected other systems within the two groups to expand the context within which we may assess the general applicability of our conclusions. A detailed understanding of metabolic processes at the most fundamental level (how enzymes work) cannot help but lead to a better understand of disease and how to combat it.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM033851-06
Application #
3283975
Study Section
Physical Biochemistry Study Section (PB)
Project Start
1984-09-27
Project End
1993-08-31
Budget Start
1990-09-01
Budget End
1991-08-31
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
1990
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Washington University
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
062761671
City
Saint Louis
State
MO
Country
United States
Zip Code
63130
Kurz, Linda C; Constantine, Charles Z; Jiang, Hong et al. (2009) The partial substrate dethiaacetyl-coenzyme A mimics all critical carbon acid reactions in the condensation half-reaction catalyzed by Thermoplasma acidophilum citrate synthase. Biochemistry 48:7878-91
Kurz, Linda C; Fite, Brett; Jean, John et al. (2005) Photophysics of tryptophan fluorescence: link with the catalytic strategy of the citrate synthase from Thermoplasma acidophilum. Biochemistry 44:1394-413
Deng, Hua; Cahill, Sean; Kurz, Linda et al. (2004) The assignment of downfield proton resonances in an enzyme inhibitor complex using time-dependent saturation transferred NOEs. J Am Chem Soc 126:1952-3
Kurz, L C; Drysdale, G; Riley, M et al. (2000) Kinetics and mechanism of the citrate synthase from the thermophilic archaeon Thermoplasma acidophilum. Biochemistry 39:2283-96
Gu, Z; Drueckhammer, D G; Kurz, L et al. (1999) Solid state NMR studies of hydrogen bonding in a citrate synthase inhibitor complex. Biochemistry 38:8022-31
Kurz, L C; Nakra, T; Stein, R et al. (1998) Effects of changes in three catalytic residues on the relative stabilities of some of the intermediates and transition states in the citrate synthase reaction. Biochemistry 37:9724-37
Deng, H; Kurz, L C; Rudolph, F B et al. (1998) Characterization of hydrogen bonding in the complex of adenosine deaminase with a transition state analogue: a Raman spectroscopic study. Biochemistry 37:4968-76
Kurz, L C; Roble, J H; Nakra, T et al. (1997) Ability of single-site mutants of citrate synthase to catalyze proton transfer from the methyl group of dethiaacetyl-coenzyme A, a non-thioester substrate analog. Biochemistry 36:3981-90
Evans, C T; Kurz, L C; Remington, S J et al. (1996) Active site mutants of pig citrate synthase: effects of mutations on the enzyme catalytic and structural properties. Biochemistry 35:10661-72
Sideraki, V; Wilson, D K; Kurz, L C et al. (1996) Site-directed mutagenesis of histidine 238 in mouse adenosine deaminase: substitution of histidine 238 does not impede hydroxylate formation. Biochemistry 35:15019-28

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