Thromboxane A2 synthase (TXAS) converts prostaglandin H2 to thromboxane A2 (TXA2) which is a potent inducer of vasoconstriction and platelet aggregation. TXA2 is believed to be a crucial factor contributing to variety of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases such as thrombosis, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction and primary pulmonary hypertension. TXAS is a member of the cytochrome P450 superfamily. Unlike most cytochrome P450s, TXAS catalyzes an isomerization reaction and does not need any reductas or any other external electron donor. Characterization of the enzymology of TXAS has bee limited by its low abundance in nature. The efforts in Dr. Wang's laboratory in isolating the human TXAS cDNA and developing a large scale expression system has resulted in making the biochemical tools available to study the enzymology of TXAS.
The specific aims to study the active site structure and catalytic mechanism of TXAS are: (1) to characterize the active site topology and substrate access channel, (2) to identify the heme and substrate intermediate states in TXAS catalysis, and (3) to determine the functional roles of the candidate amino acid residues involved in TXAS catalysis. In addition to TXAS enzymology, the principal investigator also proposes to study the transcriptional regulation of TXAS gene.
Specific aims for this portion of the proposed study are: (4) to analyze the functional roles of the cis-acting elements of TXAS promoter, (5) to develop an in vitro transcription system to elucidate the molecular mechanism of TXAS gene transcription, and (6 to examine the involvement of NF-E2, a hematopoietic-specific transcription factor, in TXAS gene regulation. The overall goals of this application are to understand the reaction mechanism of TXAS and the mechanism of the transcription regulation of TXAS gene. Results from these studies may provide useful information for rational drug design targeted against the cardiovascula and pulmonary diseases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL060625-02
Application #
6030898
Study Section
Medical Biochemistry Study Section (MEDB)
Project Start
1998-07-01
Project End
2002-06-30
Budget Start
1999-07-01
Budget End
2000-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1999
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Health Science Center Houston
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
Houston
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
77225
Chen, Chung-Ying K; Poole, Elizabeth M; Ulrich, Cornelia M et al. (2012) Functional analysis of human thromboxane synthase polymorphic variants. Pharmacogenet Genomics 22:653-8
Yeh, Hui-Chun; Gerfen, Gary J; Wang, Jinn-Shyan et al. (2009) Characterization of the peroxidase mechanism upon reaction of prostacyclin synthase with peracetic acid. Identification of a tyrosyl radical intermediate. Biochemistry 48:917-28
Yeh, Hui-Chun; Hsu, Pei-Yung; Tsai, Ah-Lim et al. (2008) Spectroscopic characterization of the oxyferrous complex of prostacyclin synthase in solution and in trapped sol-gel matrix. FEBS J 275:2305-14
Li, Yi-Ching; Chiang, Chia-Wang; Yeh, Hui-Chun et al. (2008) Structures of prostacyclin synthase and its complexes with substrate analog and inhibitor reveal a ligand-specific heme conformation change. J Biol Chem 283:2917-26
Berka, Vladimir; Wang, Lee-Ho; Tsai, Ah-Lim (2008) Oxygen-induced radical intermediates in the nNOS oxygenase domain regulated by L-arginine, tetrahydrobiopterin, and thiol. Biochemistry 47:405-20
Yeh, Hui-Chun; Tsai, Ah-Lim; Wang, Lee-Ho (2007) Reaction mechanisms of 15-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid catalyzed by human prostacyclin and thromboxane synthases. Arch Biochem Biophys 461:159-68
Chiang, Chia-Wang; Yeh, Hui-Chun; Wang, Lee-Ho et al. (2006) Crystal structure of the human prostacyclin synthase. J Mol Biol 364:266-74
Yeh, Hui-Chun; Wang, Lee-Ho (2006) Profiling of prostanoids in zebrafish embryonic development. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 75:397-402
Ruan, Ke-He; Wu, Jiaxin; Wang, Lee-Ho (2005) Solution structure of a common substrate mimetic of cyclooxygenase-downstream synthases bound to an engineered thromboxane A2 synthase using a high-resolution NMR technique. Arch Biochem Biophys 444:165-73
Yu, I-Shing; Lin, Shu-Rung; Huang, Chin-Chin et al. (2004) TXAS-deleted mice exhibit normal thrombopoiesis, defective hemostasis, and resistance to arachidonate-induced death. Blood 104:135-42

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