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Identification and characterisation of human aldose 1‐epimerase
Author(s) -
Timson David J.,
Reece Richard J.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(03)00364-8
Subject(s) - biochemistry , open reading frame , enzyme , mutagenesis , galactose , biology , aldose , chemistry , peptide sequence , mutation , stereochemistry , gene , glycoside
Aldose 1‐epimerase or mutarotase (EC 5.1.3.3) is a key enzyme of carbohydrate metabolism catalysing the interconversion of the α‐ and β‐anomers of hexose sugars such as glucose and galactose. We identified an open reading frame in the human genome (BC014916) which has high sequence similarity to previously identified bacterial aldose 1‐epimerases. This sequence was cloned into a bacterial expression vector, and expressed and purified from this source. Enzyme assays show that the protein has aldose 1‐epimerase activity and exhibits a preference for galactose over glucose. Site‐directed mutagenesis confirmed the involvement of three residues involved in catalysis and substrate binding.