Open AccessEffects of pH on the structure and function of carboxypeptidase A: crystallographic studies.
Author(s) -
G. Shoham,
Douglas C. Rees,
William N. Lipscomb
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.81.24.7767
Subject(s) - carboxypeptidase a , carboxypeptidase , chemistry , crystal structure , crystallography , hydrolase , enzyme , hydrolysis , stereochemistry , biochemistry
High-resolution crystal structures are described for carboxypeptidase A (EC 3.4.17.1) in crystals grown at pH 8.5, 9.0, and 9.5 and compared with the structure at pH 7.5. The comparison shows that in the pH range of 7.5-9.5 the enzyme structure is practically unchanged, and, most importantly, that the flexible side chain of Tyr-248 remains exclusively in the "up" position, away from the Zn atom, throughout the pH range. There is no evidence for binding of Tyr-248 to Zn at any of these pH values. We conclude that the interaction of Tyr-248 with Zn is not an essential part of the mechanism of carboxypeptidase A and that its occurrence is an artifact of chemical modification of Tyr-248. It is also suggested that Tyr-248 is not uniquely associated with the observed high pK of the enzymatic hydrolysis.