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Crystal Structure Of The Catalytic Trimer Of Methanococcus Jannaschii Aspartate Transcarbamoylase, Jacqueline Vitali, Michael Colaneri Colaneri, Evan Kantrowitz

Physics Faculty Publications

The catalytic trimer of Methanococcus jannaschii aspartate transcarbamoylase is extremely heat stable, maintaining 75% of its activity after heat treatment for 60 min at 75 degrees C. We undertook its structural analysis in order to understand the molecular basis of its thermostability and gain insight on how its catalytic function adapts to high temperature. Several structural elements potentially contributing to thermostability were identified. These include: (i) changes in the amino acid composition such as a decrease in the thermolabile residues Gln and Asn, an increase in the charged residues Lys and Glu, an increase in Tyr and a decrease in …