Trapping and structure determination of an intermediate in the allosteric transition of aspartate transcarbamoylase

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 May 15;109(20):7741-6. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1119683109. Epub 2012 Apr 30.

Abstract

X-ray crystallography and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) in solution have been used to show that a mutant aspartate transcarbamoylase exists in an intermediate quaternary structure between the canonical T and R structures. Additionally, the SAXS data indicate a pH-dependent structural alteration consistent with either a pH-induced conformational change or a pH-induced alteration in the T to R equilibrium. These data indicate that this mutant is not a model for the R state, as has been proposed, but rather represents the enzyme trapped along the path of the allosteric transition between the T and R states.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Allosteric Regulation
  • Aspartate Carbamoyltransferase / chemistry*
  • Aspartate Carbamoyltransferase / genetics
  • Chromatography, Ion Exchange
  • Crystallization
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Models, Molecular*
  • Protein Conformation*
  • Scattering, Small Angle

Substances

  • Aspartate Carbamoyltransferase

Associated data

  • PDB/4E2F