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Title: Structural and mutational characterization of the catalytic A-module of the mannuronan C-5-epimerase AlgE4 from Azotobacter vinelandii. Author: Rozeboom HJ, Bjerkan TM, Kalk KH, Ertesvåg H, Holtan S, Aachmann FL, Valla S, Dijkstra BW. Journal: J Biol Chem; 2008 Aug 29; 283(35):23819-28. PubMed ID: 18574239. Abstract: Alginate is a family of linear copolymers of (1-->4)-linked beta-d-mannuronic acid and its C-5 epimer alpha-l-guluronic acid. The polymer is first produced as polymannuronic acid and the guluronic acid residues are then introduced at the polymer level by mannuronan C-5-epimerases. The structure of the catalytic A-module of the Azotobacter vinelandii mannuronan C-5-epimerase AlgE4 has been determined by x-ray crystallography at 2.1-A resolution. AlgE4A folds into a right-handed parallel beta-helix structure originally found in pectate lyase C and subsequently in several polysaccharide lyases and hydrolases. The beta-helix is composed of four parallel beta-sheets, comprising 12 complete turns, and has an amphipathic alpha-helix near the N terminus. The catalytic site is positioned in a positively charged cleft formed by loops extending from the surface encompassing Asp(152), an amino acid previously shown to be important for the reaction. Site-directed mutagenesis further implicates Tyr(149), His(154), and Asp(178) as being essential for activity. Tyr(149) probably acts as the proton acceptor, whereas His(154) is the proton donor in the epimerization reaction.[Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]