In order to understand the molecular basis of diseases, particularly those involving single amino acid substitutions, we need to elucidate the relationship between protein structure and function at the molecular level. Therefore, the long-term goals of this project are to acquire a deeper understanding of the relationship between protein structure and function by using alkaline phosphatase as a model system. The function of this enzyme is to catalyze the nonspecific hydrolysis of phosphate esters, and the lack of the activity of this enzyme results in the fatal hereditary disease hypophosphatasia, which is due to insufficient phosphate for bone calcification. Alkaline phosphatase from mammals is closely related to the corresponding bacterial enzyme, and the enzyme from Escherichia coli has become the model for the study of all alkaline phosphatases.
The specific aims of this proposal are to answer fundamental questions concerning the relationship between the structure and function of alkaline phosphatase. We will concentrate on the molecular details of the catalytic mechanism, the need to maintain a dimeric structure for the correct function of the enzyme, the mode by which information is passed between the subunits, a molecular explanation of intergenic complementation, the factors critical for correct secondary structure formation, the function of the metals in catalysis, and the contribution of the electrostatic field around the active site for catalysis. In order to accomplish this goal, we will take advantage of a set of thousands of point mutations created within the alkaline phosphatase gene more than 30 years ago in an early effort to prove that the gene and the protein produced from it were colinear. This set of mutants today provides a unique resource for the investigation of the interrelationship between the structure and function of alkaline phosphatase. Analysis of this set of mutants as well as mutants created during the last grant period will be accomplished by a variety of techniques including x-ray crystallography, 31P and 113Cd NMR, 18(O) isotope effects, and kinetic studies with phosphonates, phosphorothioates and the chiral (Rp) [O16,O17, O18] p-nitrophenyl phosphate. Correlations will be made between the functional changes induced by the amino acid substitution and the three-dimensional structure of the mutant enzymes. This work will not only be important for the understanding of this particular system, but more importantly for formulating general concepts about enzyme catalysis, and the function of metals in proteins, and providing a molecular explanation for intergenic complementation.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM042833-07
Application #
2181688
Study Section
Physical Biochemistry Study Section (PB)
Project Start
1989-07-01
Project End
1997-06-30
Budget Start
1995-07-01
Budget End
1996-06-30
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
1995
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Boston College
Department
Chemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
045896339
City
Chestnut Hill
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02467
Cockrell, Gregory M; Kantrowitz, Evan R (2012) Metal ion involvement in the allosteric mechanism of Escherichia coli aspartate transcarbamoylase. Biochemistry 51:7128-37
Wang, Jie; Kantrowitz, Evan R (2006) Trapping the tetrahedral intermediate in the alkaline phosphatase reaction by substitution of the active site serine with threonine. Protein Sci 15:2395-401
Stec, Boguslaw; Holtz, Kathleen M; Wojciechowski, Cheryl L et al. (2005) Structure of the wild-type TEM-1 beta-lactamase at 1.55 A and the mutant enzyme Ser70Ala at 2.1 A suggest the mode of noncovalent catalysis for the mutant enzyme. Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr 61:1072-9
Wang, Jie; Stieglitz, Kimberly A; Kantrowitz, Evan R (2005) Metal specificity is correlated with two crucial active site residues in Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase. Biochemistry 44:8378-86
Zappa, S; Boudrant, J; Kantrowitz, E R (2004) Pyrococcus abyssi alkaline phosphatase: the dimer is the active form. J Inorg Biochem 98:575-81
Boulanger Jr, Robert R; Kantrowitz, Evan R (2003) Characterization of a monomeric Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase formed upon a single amino acid substitution. J Biol Chem 278:23497-501
Wojciechowski, Cheryl L; Kantrowitz, Evan R (2003) Glutamic acid residues as metal ligands in the active site of Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase. Biochim Biophys Acta 1649:68-73
Wojciechowski, Cheryl L; Cardia, James P; Kantrowitz, Evan R (2002) Alkaline phosphatase from the hyperthermophilic bacterium T. maritima requires cobalt for activity. Protein Sci 11:903-11
Wojciechowski, Cheryl L; Kantrowitz, Evan R (2002) Altering of the metal specificity of Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase. J Biol Chem 277:50476-81
Hehir, M J; Murphy, J E; Kantrowitz, E R (2000) Characterization of heterodimeric alkaline phosphatases from Escherichia coli: an investigation of intragenic complementation. J Mol Biol 304:645-56

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