Protein active center

Synthetic models of myoglobin and hemoglobin are complex molecules that mimic the stereochemical properties of the protein active center [24] and have oxygen affinities similar to those measured for the protein [25-27]. The first heme model that reversibly binds oxygen (i.e. the picket-fence-oxygen complex Fe(TpivPP)(l,2-Melm)(02), shown in Fig. 3.3) was obtained in the early nine-teen-seventies by Collman and coworkers (TpivPP = tetrapivalami-nophenyl porphyrin 2-meIm = 2-methylimidazole) [18]. Research on synthetic models of the protein has led to a deeper understand-... 

Metalloproteinases are a subgroup of proteinases. They are responsible for the cleavage of peptide bonds within a protein (proteolysis). Metalloproteinases contain a metal ion in the active center and are divided into four subclasses dependent on their mechanism of catalysis. 

The protein from D. desulfuricans has been characterized by Mbss-bauer and EPR spectroscopy 224). The enzyme has a molecular mass of approximately 150 kDa (three different subunits 88, 29, and 16 kDa) and contains three different types of redox-active centers four c-type hemes, nonheme iron arranged as two [4Fe-4S] centers, and a molybdopterin site (Mo-bound to two MGD). Selenium was also chemically detected. The enzyme specific activity is 78 units per mg of protein. 

One of the best ways to ensure retention of activity in protein molecules is to avoid doing chemistry at the active center. The active center is that portion of the protein where ligand, antigen, or substrate binding occurs. In simpler terms, the active center (or active site) is that part that has specific interaction with another substance (Means and Feeney, 1971). For the preparation of enzyme derivatives, it is important to protect the site of catalysis where conversion of substrate to product happens. For instance, when working with antibody molecules, it is crucial to stay away from the two antigen binding sites. 

Carbohydrates and other biological molecules that contain polysaccharides, such as glycoproteins, can be specifically modified at their sugar residues to produce reactive formyl functionalities. With proteins, this method often allows modification to occur only at specific locals, usually away from critical active centers or binding sites. 

The macromolecule containing sulfhydryl residues to be blocked or protected is dissolved in a buffer suitable for its individual stability requirements. The blocking process may be done on a purified protein or during the early stages of a purification process to protect sulfhydryl active centers from oxidation. PBS buffers containing 1 mM EDTA work well. 

The following sections discuss some of the more common biotinylation reagents available for modification of proteins and other biomolecules. Each biotin derivative contains a reactive portion (or can be made to contain a reactive group) that is specific for coupling to a particular functional group on another molecule. Careful choice of the correct biotinylation reagent can result in directed modification away from active centers or binding sites, and thus preserve the activity of the modified molecule. 

The addition of a radioactive iodine atom to a protein molecule typically has little effect on the resultant protein activity, unless the active center is modified in the process. The size of an iodine atom is relatively small and does not result in many steric problems with large molecules. The sites of potential protein modification are tyrosine and histidine side chains. Tyrosine may be modified with a total of two iodine atoms per phenolate group, whereas histidine can incorporate one iodine. Sulfhydryl modification at cysteine residues is typically unstable. 

---