Molecular Evolution Activities
 

This is a comprehensive bibliography (under construction) of primary and secondary sources on the neutral theory of molecular evolution. It currently covers the period 1973-2001.

Author :

Watanabe, K.;Kitamura, K.;Suzuki, Y.

Year :

1996

Title :

Analysis of the critical sites for protein thermostabilization by proline substitution in oligo-1,6-glucosidase from Bacillus coagulans ATCC 7050 and the evolutionary consideration of proline residues

Journal :

Applied and Environmental Microbiology

Volume :

62

Issue :

6

Pages :

2066-2073

Date :

Jun

Short Title :

Analysis of the critical sites for protein thermostabilization by proline substitution in oligo-1,6-

Alternate Journal :

Appl. Environ. Microbiol.

Custom 2 :

ISI:A1996UP12700031

Abstract :

To identify the critical sites for protein thermostabilization by proline substitution, the gene for oligo-1,6-glucosidase from a thermophilic Bacillus coagulans strain, ATCC 7050, was cloned as a 2.4-kb DNA fragment and sequenced, In spite of a big difference in their thermostabilities, B. coagulans oligo- 1,6-glucosidase had a large number of points in its primary structure identical to respective points in the same enzymes from a mesophilic Bacillus cereus strain, ATCC 7064 (57%), and an obligately thermophilic Bacillus thermoglucosidasius strain, KP1006 (59%), The number of prolines (19 for B. cereus oligo- 1,6-glucosidase, 24 for B. coagulans enzyme, and 32 for B. thermoglucosidasius enzyme) was observed to increase with the rise in thermostabilities of the oligo-1,6-glucosidases. Classification of proline residues in light of the amino acid sequence alignment and the protein structure revealed by X-ray crystallographic analysis also supported this tendency. Judging from proline residues occurring in B. coagulans oligo-1,6- glucosidase and the structural requirement for proline substitution (second site of the beta turn and first turn of the alpha helix) (K. Watanabe, T. Masuda, H. Ohashi, H. Mihara, and Y. Suzuki, Eur. J. Biochem, 226:277-283, 1994), the critical sites for thermostabilization were found to be Lys- 121, Glu-290, Lys-457, and Glu-487 in B. cereus oligo-1,6- glucosidase. With regard to protein evolution, the oligo-1,6- glucosidases very likely follow the neutral theory, The adaptive mutations of the oligo-1,6-glucosidases that appear to increase thermostability are consistent with the substitution of proline residues for neutrally occurring residues, It is concluded that proline substitution is an important factor for the selection of thermostability in oligo-1,6-glucosidases.

Notes :

Times Cited: 18 UP127 APPL ENVIRON MICROBIOL
 -- contributed by John Beatty, March 29, 2002