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Full-Text Articles in Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology
Cysteine Metallochemistry And Metal Binding: Quantification Of The Thermodynamic Foundations Of Cellular Homeostasis, Matthew R. Mehlenbacher
Cysteine Metallochemistry And Metal Binding: Quantification Of The Thermodynamic Foundations Of Cellular Homeostasis, Matthew R. Mehlenbacher
Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations
Metals are required for life. Many metalloproteins contain cysteine in their metal-binding site (MBS) and cysteines are unique in that they are reactive, and strongly bind certain metals, which aid in metal selectivity and specificity. Using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), the thermodynamic foundation for metal binding, cellular protection, and transcriptional regulation, which all utilize cysteines in their MBS, are quantified.
In bacteria there are metalloprotein pathways that actively uptake mercury, which are regulated by the metalloregulatory protein MerR. MerR de-represses the transcription of these mer proteins in a metal-dependent manner. Using ITC, the thermodynamic foundation of the negative allosteric coupling …