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K W Olsen

Publications and source records attributed to K W Olsen.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Prediction of three-dimensional structure of plant lectins from the domains of concanavalin A.

The circularly permuted sequence homology that relates concanavalin A to the other leguminous plant lectins can be explained by an evolutionary model that requires three exons. The identification of these potential exons from the amino acid sequence data allows the prediction of three domains in the lectin structure. The predicted domains are reasonable, functional and structural units in concanavalin A, demonstrating the correspondence of exons and domains. In addition, slight modifications to the three-dimensional structure of concanavalin A produced a model which was consistent with the sequence data for the other plant lectins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structural basis for the thermal stability of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenases.

The amino acid sequences of two thermophilic and five mesophilic glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenases have been compared with the known three-dimensional structure of this enzyme to determine the factors responsible for thermal stability. The changes are greatest in the S-loop regions at the center of the tetramer, which show a quantitative increase in hydrophobicity and polarity that can strengthen subunit interactions in a complementary manner. The S-loops also show increases in residue volume and bulk that may indicate a tighter packing at the molecular center. In addition, there are changes in the secondary structural parameters indicating that the helices, in particular, may be more stable in the thermophilic proteins. Increases in the hydrophobicity of domain and subunit contacts for the Thermus aquaticus glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase may explain why it is the most thermostable protein in this series.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Hemoglobin connecticut (beta 21 (B3) Asp leads to Gly): a hemoglobin variant with low oxygen affinity.

Electrophoretic analysis of a hemolysate from a young man undergoing a routine physical examination revealed an abnormal hemoglobin with a mobility similar to Hb S on cellulose acetate (pH, 8.4). This new variant, designated Hb Connecticut, was found in three generations of a family of Polish descent. Several individuals possessing the variant exhibited mild anemia. Structural analysis of the abnormal beta-chain indicated that the amino acid substitution was at position 21 (B3), and involved the replacement of aspartic acid with glycine. Oxygen dissociation studies revealed low oxygen affinity. The alkaline Bohr effect and the degree of cooperativity were unchanged. Analysis of the crystal structure of the variant suggested that the low oxygen affinity was due to the possible disruption of salt bridges between aspartic acid 21(B3) and lysines 61(ES) and 65(E9), changes that could lead to steric interference in oxygen binding.

Adolescent↗

Protein synthesis in brine shrimp embryos. Regulation of the formation of the ternary complex (Met-tRNAf X eIF-2 X GTP) by two purified protein factors and phosphorylation of Artemia eIF-2.

We have purified from the ribosomal wash of dormant and developing embryos of Artemia two proteins, Co-eIF-2(A) and Co-eIF-2(B). These factors are essential for ternary complex formation and binding of [35S]-Met-tRNAf to 40-S ribosomal subunits with 15-30 microgram eIF-2/ml of reaction mixture. On polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in dodecylsulfate, Co-eIF-2(A) is composed of a single polypeptide of Mr 65 000, whereas Co-eIF-2(B) contains polypeptides of Mr 105000 and 112000. Co-eIF-2(A) is sensitive to 4.5 microM aurintricarboxylic acid but Co-eIF-2(B) requires approximately 15 microM aurintricarboxylic acid to give 50% inhibition of ternary complex formation. The stimulatory activity of both factors is abolished by pretreatment of the proteins with N-ethylmaleimide. Artemia eIF-2 rapidly bonds [3H]GDP or [3H]GTP and at 15 degrees C the initiation factor rapidly equilibrates bound nucleotides with free GDP or GTP. Both Co-eIF-2(A) and Co-eIF-2(B) have no effect on the exchange or the amount of nucleotide bound. The small subunit (Mr 43 000) of Artemia eIF-2 is phosphorylated in the presence of the rabbit reticulocyte heme-repressible kinase. Tryptic digestion of [32P]phosphorylated eIF-2 produces a single major phosphopeptide and several minor ones. Acid hydrolysis of these phosphopeptides, as well as of [32P]phosphorylated eIF-2, demonstrates that the radioactivity is predominantly associated with phosphoserine. Phosphorylated Artemia eIF-2 is active in ternary complex formation, in AUG-dependent binding of [35S]Met-tRNAf to 40-S ribosomal subunits and in cell-free protein synthesis. Both Co-eIF-2(A) and Co-eIF-2(B) stimulate ternary complex formation with phosphorylated eIF-2. A kinase that phosphorylates the small subunit of eIF-2 is present in the post-ribosomal supernatant as well as in the ribosomal wash of developing Artemia embryos.

Amino Acids↗

Internal residue criteria for predicting three-dimensional protein structures.

The internal amino acid residues of proteins are almost always non-polar since the hydrophobic effect is very important in stabilizing the three-dimensional structure. This fact suggests several new criteria for judging the correctness of structures predicted from sequence data. The dinucleotide binding domain has been used as a test structure for these criteria. The percentage of ionic residues, mutation data, hydrophobicity, dipole moments, and internal preferences of the residues on the interiors of the known dinucleotide binding folds are consistent with expectations. On the other hand, the values of these parameters for predicted domains in glutamate dehydrogenase (Wootton, J.C. (1974) Nature 252, 542--546) and aldolase (Stellwagen, E. (1976) J. Mol. Biol. 106, 903--911) differ significantly from the expected values indicating that these predictions are not entirely correct. The internal residue criteria can then be used to test modifications of the predictions for a better correlation with the internal residue pattern of the domain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Comparison of temperature effect on the guanidine hydrochloride and urea denaturations of lysozyme.

Guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl) and urea denaturations of lysozyme have been observed at various temperatures by measuring changes in fluorescence. Both transitions appear to be two state, with GdnHCl almost twice as effecitve a denaturant as urea for this protein. By plotting the denaturant concentrations at midpoint of the transition vs. the experimental temperature, it can be demonstrated that urea-denatured lysozyme does not obtain the degree of unfolding found in lysozyme denatured by GdnHCl.

Chemical Phenomena↗

Sequence variability and structure of D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.

The amino acid sequences of pig muscle and of yeast glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase are compared with the three-dimensional structure of the lobster muscle enzyme. Residues in sheet and helical regions, on the exterior and interior, in subunit and domain interfaces, as well as residues in the active site have been examined for evolutionary conservation. The residues in the first (NAD binding) domain (1-147) are less conserved than residues in the second (catalytic) domain (148-334) probably because there are fewer internal residues and fewer residues involved in interactions between subunits. Residues in subunit interface are conserved to a significantly greater extent than others, and those involved in catalysis are conserved most of all. Patterns of residues in helices and sheets follow those found for other proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Studies of asymmetry in the three-dimensional structure of lobster D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.

An improved electron density map of lobster holo-D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase has been computed to 2.9 A resolution based on two heavy atom isomorphous derivatives. This has been averaged only over the Q molecular 2-fold axis, which is known to be exact in the human holoenzyme. The map showed possible asymmetry between the subunits in which the active centers are closely related across the R axis (that is, between the red and green or between the yellow and blue subunits). A difference map between the electron density of citrate and sulfate-soaked crystals gave further evidence for possible asymmetry. The major differences of electron density between R axis-related subunits appear around the active center and suggest the following interpretations. 1. The conformation of the adenine about the glycosidic bond is the more frequently observed anti with a C-2' endo conformation for the ribose ring in the red and yellow subunits, but is probably syn with a C-3' endo conformation in the green and blue subunits.2. The adenine ribose has its 3'-hydroxyl group hydrogen-bonded to a main chain carbonyl group in the red and yellow subunits but not in the green and blue subunits, as a consequence of the differing ribose conformations. 3. Cysteine-149 is more closely associated with histidine-176 in the green and blue subunits, and appears nearer the nicotinamide in the red and yellow subunits.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cross-linking of the components of lactose synthetase with dimethylpimelimidate.

The cross-linking of the two components of lactose synthetase, alpha-lactalbumin and a galactosyltransferase, with dimethylpimelimidate was examined. The extent of the cross-linking at pH 8.1 was found to be dependent upon the presence of substrates or inhibitors for the galactosyltransferase. N-acetylglucosamine and mixtures of either N-acetylglucosamine, Mn-2+ and UDP, or UDP-galactose and Mn-2+ promoted the formation of cross-linked species. Glucose or a mixture of UDP and Mn-2+ were much less effective in promoting cross-linking. Two types of intermolecularly cross-linked species of alpha-lactalbumin and the galactosyltransferase were obtained. Each was a 1:1 cross-linked complex of alpha-lactalbumin and either of the two forms of the transferase with molecular weights of about 42,000 and 48,000, respectively. Cross-linked complexes were not observed with more than 1 molecule each of alpha-lactalbumin and the transferase. The cross-linked complexes were obtained in homogeneous form by gel filtration on Sephadex and absorption of uncross-linked enzyme by affinity chromatography on alpha-lactalbumin-Sepharose in the presence of N-acetylglucosamine. They migrated on gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate with mobilities in accord with their predicted molecular weights as 1:1 complexes of alpha-lactalbumin and the transferase. The amino acid composition of the cross-linked complex was in reasonable agreement with the expected composition of a 1:1 mixture of alpha-lactalbumin and galactosyltransferase. The enzymic properties of the cross-linked and uncross-linked enzymes were compared. The cross-linked complex had a much higher intrinsic lactose synthetase activity than did uncross-linked enzyme although only about 1% of the potential activity of uncross-linked enzyme in the presence of optimal concentrations of alpha-lactalbumin. The lactose synthetase activity of the cross-linked complex, however, was unaffected by exogenous alpha-lactalbumin. In addition, the complex readily catalyzed the transfer of galactose from UDP-galactose to xylose in the absence of exogenous alpha-lactalbumin. The N-acetyllactosamine synthetase activity of the complex was low compared to its activity with other monosaccharides. Ovalbumin, which is a good acceptor for the uncross-linked transferase, was not an acceptor for the cross-linked complex. Kinetic studies of the complex suggest that its modified catalytic activity is not the result of the modification by dimethylpimelimidate but reflects the expected effects of is provided, and that

Amino Acids↗

D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase: three-dimensional structure and evolutionary significance.

A 3.0-A resolution electron density map of lobster glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.12) was computed. The essentially single isomorphous replacement map was very substantially improved by averaging subunits. NAD binds in an open conformation at sites close to subunit interfaces. The coenzyme binding portion of the enzyme has almost the same fold as the corresponding portion of lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27). The presence of this structure in the five enzymes, analyzed so far, that use nucleotide coenzymes might indicate a fundamental primordial structural element.

Animals↗