Protein engineering, conformational

Van Aalten, D.M.F., Findlay, J.B.C., Amadei, A., Berendsen,H.J.C. Essential dynamics of the cellular retinol-binding protein. Evidence for ligand-induced conformational changes. Protein Engin. 8 (1995) 1129-1136. 

Through combined effects of noncovalent forces, proteins fold into secondary stmctures, and hence a tertiary stmcture that defines the native state or conformation of a protein. The native state is then that three-dimensional arrangement of the polypeptide chain and amino acid side chains that best facihtates the biological activity of a protein, at the same time providing stmctural stabiUty. Through protein engineering subde adjustments in the stmcture of the protein can be made that can dramatically alter its function or stabiUty. 

BL Sibanda, TL Blundell, JM Thornton. Conformation of (I-hairpms m protein stractures A systematic classification with applications to modelling by homology, electron density fitting and protein engineering. J Mol Biol 206 759-777, 1989. 

Protein engineering is now routinely used to modify protein molecules either via site-directed mutagenesis or by combinatorial methods. Factors that are Important for the stability of proteins have been studied, such as stabilization of a helices and reducing the number of conformations in the unfolded state. Combinatorial methods produce a large number of random mutants from which those with the desired properties are selected in vitro using phage display. Specific enzyme inhibitors, increased enzymatic activity and agonists of receptor molecules are examples of successful use of this method. 

What can we learn about mechanism from protein engineering that cannot be learned from classical enzymology Chapter 7 begins with the statement The mechanism of an enzymatic reaction is ultimately defined when all the intermediates, complexes, and conformational states of an enzyme are characterized and the rate constants for their interconversion are determined. The classical delineation of a mechanism would have been achieved when the general nature of intermediates on a pathway and the type of catalysis had been determined. But... 

Refolding is generally found to proceed by a series of exponential phases. Many of these exponentials are a consequence of cis-trans isomerization about peptidyl-prolyl bonds.14,15 The equilibrium constant for the normal peptide bond in proteins favors the trans conformation by a factor of 103-104 or so. The peptidyl-prolyl bond is an exception that has some 2-20% of cis isomer in model peptides (see Chapter 1, Figure 1.3). Further, it is often found as the cis isomer in native structures. (Replacement of ds-prolines with other amino acids by protein engineering can retain the cis stereochemistry.16) The interconversion of cis to trans in solution is quite slow, having half-lives of 10-100 s at room temperature and neutral pH. This has two important consequences. First, a protein that has several... 

Sutcliffe, M. J., Hayes, F. R. F., Blundell, T. L. Knowledge-based modelling of homologous proteins, part II Rules for the conformations of substituted sidechains. Protein Engineering, 1987, 1,385-392. 

S. A. Islam and M. J. E. Sternberg, Protein Engin., 2, 431 (1989). A Relational Database of Protein Structures Designed for Flexible Enquiries about Conformation. 

Because this problem is complex several avenues of attack have been devised in the last fifteen years. A combination of experimental developments (protein engineering, advances in x-ray and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), various time-resolved spectroscopies, single molecule manipulation methods) and theoretical approaches (use of statistical mechanics, different computational strategies, use of simple models) [5, 6 and 7] has led to a greater understanding of how polypeptide chains reach the native conformation. 

Importance of Conformational Variability in Protein Engineering of Subtilisin... 

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