Pathogenic Microbiology Commons^™

A Glutathione-Independent Glyoxalase Of The Dj-1 Superfamily Plays An Important Role In Managing Metabolically Generated Methylglyoxal In Candida Albicans, Sahar Hasim, Nur Ahmad Hussin, Fadhel Alomar, Keshore R. Bidasee, Kenneth W. Nickerson, Mark A. Wilson

Kenneth Nickerson Papers

Methylglyoxal is a cytotoxic reactive carbonyl compound produced by central metabolism. Dedicated glyoxalases convert methylglyoxal to D-lactate using multiple catalytic strategies. In this study, the DJ-1 superfamily member ORF 19.251/GLX3 from Candida albicans is shown to possess glyoxalase activity, making this the first demonstrated glutathione-independent glyoxalase in fungi. The crystal structure of Glx3p indicates that the protein is a monomer containing the catalytic triad Cys¹³⁶- His¹³⁷-Glu¹⁶⁸. Purified Glx3p has an in vitro methylglyoxalase activity (K_m = 5.5 mM andk_cat = 7.8 s^-1) that is significantly greater than that of …