Methionine function

In addition to illustrating the mechanics of translation Figure 28 12 is important m that It shows the mechanism of peptide bond formation as a straightforward nude ophilic acyl substitution Both methionine and alanine are attached to their respective tRNAs as esters The ammo group of alanine attacks the methionine carbonyl displac mg methionine from its tRNA and converting the carbonyl group of methionine from an ester to an amide function... 

Folate antagonists (eg, methotrexate and certain antiepileptics) are used ia treatment for various diseases, but their adininistration can lead to a functional folate deficiency. Folate utilization can be impaired by a depletion of ziac (see Zinc compounds). In humans, the intestinal bmsh border folate conjugase is a ziac metaHoenzyme (72). One study iadicates that the substantial consumption of alcohol, when combiaed with an iaadequate iatake of folate and methionine, may iacrease the risk of colon cancer (73). Based on this study, it is recommended to avoid excess alcohol consumption and iacrease folate iatake to lower the risk of colon cancer. 

The Dim ester was developed for the protection of the carboxyl function during peptide synthesis. It is prepared by transesterification of amino acid methyl esters with 2-(hydroxymethyl)-l,3-dithiane and Al(/-PrO)3 (reflux, 4 h, 75°, 12 torr, 75% yield). It is removed by oxidation [H2O2, (NH4)2Mo04 pH 8, H2O, 60 min, 83% yield]. Since it must be removed by oxidation it is not compatible with.sulfur-containing amino acids such as cysteine and methionine. Its suitability for other, easily oxidized amino acids (e.g., tyrosine and tryptophan) must also be questioned. It is stable to CF3CO2H and HCl/ether. - ... 

Adenosine triphosphate, coupled reactions and. 1128-1129 function of, 157, 1127-1128 reaction with glucose, 1129 structure of, 157, 1044 S-Adenosylmethionine, from methionine, 669 function of, 382-383 stereochemistry of, 315 structure of, 1045 Adipic acid, structure of, 753 ADP, sec Adenosine diphosphate Adrenaline, biosynthesis of, 382-383 molecular model of, 323 slructure of, 24... 

Catechol-O-Methyltransferase. Figure. 1 The basic function of COMT. Enzymatic O-methylation of the catechol substrate to 3-methoxy (major route) or 4-methoxy (minor route) products in the presence of Mg2+ and S-adenosyl-methionine (AdoMet). 

Biocatalytic access to both antipodal sulfoxides was exploited in total syntheses of bioactive compounds, which is outlined in some representative examples. Biooxidation of functionalized dialkyl sulfides was utilized in the direct synthesis of both enantiomers of sulforaphane and some analogs in low to good yields and stereoselectivities (Scheme 9.27) [206]. This natural product originates from broccoli and represents a potent inducer of detoxification enzymes in mammalian metabolism it might be related to anticarcinogenic properties of plants from the cruciform family. All four possible stereoisomers of methionine (R = Me) and ethionine sulfoxides... 

Besides short ELPS, longer ELPs have also been conjugated to synthetic polymers. In one approach, Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition click chemistry was applied. For this purpose, ELPs were functionalized with azides or alkynes via incorporation of azidohomoalanine and homopropargyl glycine, respectively, using residue-specific replacement of methionine in ELP via bacterial expression [133]. More recently, an alternative way to site-selectively introduce azides into ELPs was developed. Here, an aqueous diazotransfer reaction was performed directly onto ELP[V5L2G3-90] using imidazole-1-sulfonyl azide [134]. 

When acting as a methyl donor, 5-adenosylmethionine forms homocysteine, which may be remethylated by methyltetrahydrofolate catalyzed by methionine synthase, a vitamin Bj2-dependent enzyme (Figure 45-14). The reduction of methylene-tetrahydrofolate to methyltetrahydrofolate is irreversible, and since the major source of tetrahydrofolate for tissues is methyl-tetrahydrofolate, the role of methionine synthase is vital and provides a link between the functions of folate and vitamin B,2. Impairment of methionine synthase in Bj2 deficiency results in the accumulation of methyl-tetrahydrofolate—the folate trap. There is therefore functional deficiency of folate secondary to the deficiency of vitamin B,2. 

Supplements of 400 Ig/d of folate begun before conception result in a significant reduction in the incidence of neural mbe defects as found in spina bifida. Elevated blood homocysteine is an associated risk factor for atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and hypertension. The condition is due to impaired abihty to form methyl-tetrahydrofolate by methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase, causing functional folate deficiency and resulting in failure to remethylate homocysteine to methionine. People with the causative abnormal variant of methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase do not develop hyperhomocysteinemia if they have a relatively high intake of folate, but it is not yet known whether this affects the incidence of cardiovascular disease. 

Blue copper proteins. A typical blue copper redox protein contains a single copper atom in a distorted tetrahedral environment. Copper performs the redox function of the protein by cycling between Cu and Cu. Usually the metal binds to two N atoms and two S atoms through a methionine, a cysteine, and two histidines. An example is plastocyanin, shown in Figure 20-29Z>. As their name implies, these molecules have a beautiful deep blue color that is attributed to photon-induced charge transfer from the sulfur atom of cysteine to the copper cation center. 

In contrast with the role of cofactor B12 in methionine synthase (methyl group transfer to a thiol), functional Bi2 model complexes have provided a formidable challenge. Several oxime alkyl-cobalt (structural) B12 models when reacted with arene- and alkanethiolates lead only to... 

The introduction of redox activity through a Co11 center in place of redox-inactive Zn11 can be revealing. Carboxypeptidase B (another Zn enzyme) and its Co-substituted derivative were oxidized by the active-site-selective m-chloroperbenzoic acid.1209 In the Co-substituted oxidized (Co111) enzyme there was a decrease in both the peptidase and the esterase activities, whereas in the zinc enzyme only the peptidase activity decreased. Oxidation of the native enzyme resulted in modification of a methionine residue instead. These studies indicate that the two metal ions impose different structural and functional properties on the active site, leading to differing reactivities of specific amino acid residues. Replacement of zinc(II) in the methyltransferase enzyme MT2-A by cobalt(II) yields an enzyme with enhanced activity, where spectroscopy also indicates coordination by two thiolates and two histidines, supported by EXAFS analysis of the zinc coordination sphere.1210... 

Selectivity studies with DTU indicated marked discrimination in the clathrate formation 23,45). As in other types of clathrates, the steric factor is important in differentiation between compounds of similar functionality but different shape. For example, DTU forms crystalline complexes with some alcohols (methanol, ethanol, propanol, 1-butanol) but not with others (2-butanol). It complexes the ethyl esters of N-acetyl derivatives of glycine, alanine, methionine and aspartic acid, but not of proline, serine, phenylalanine and glutamic acid. 

In total the analysis of protein complexes indicates that methionine is the most likely group to bind to [PtCU]2 and [PtenClfc] probably by a displacement reaction. However a specific attachment to another residue such as histidine or sulphydryl can not be ruled out. Furthermore the antitumour activity is that of cis- [Pt (NH 3) 2CI2] and the di-functional character of this reagent has not been revealed so far by the above studies. In fact no attempt has been made to uncover the difference between [PtCl2(NH3)2] in its cis and fraMS-forms. 

Hundreds of different natural amino acids have been found and isolated. In some cases, they are quite complex and have a variety of functions. The preparation and isolation of amino acids occurs either from biological material or via chemical synthesis. Several amino acids, such as glutamic acid and methionine, are now prepared on a scale of 100,000 tons per year. 

Many substances which are necessary (and even essential) for life functions contain sulphur for example, the amino acids cysteine and methionine, the tripeptide glutathione or coenzyme A (CoA), with the latter containing the SH group of cys-teamine as the terminal functional group. CoA acts as a coenzyme in all important biochemical acylations. The cysteamine SH group bonds to carboxylic acids to give thioesters ... 

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