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The Role Of Zinc In Dihydroorotase, Pamela S. Gilchrist
The Role Of Zinc In Dihydroorotase, Pamela S. Gilchrist
Dissertations and Theses
Dihydroorotase (4,4—dihydroorotic acid amidolyase, EC 3.5.2.3.) which catalyzes the reversible cyclization of N-carbamyl-L-aspartate to L-dihydroorotate has been purified from orotate-grown Clostridium oroticum. The enzyme is stable in 0.3 M sodium chloride and 10 µ ZnSO4. Sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis indicates the enzyme to be composed of two identical subunits each with a molecular weight of 58,000 + 6000. Dihydroorotase is shown to be a zinc-containing metalloenzyme with 2 g atoms of zinc per 58,000 g of protein. The role of zinc in dihydroorotase is discussed.