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Purification and properties of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase from Proteus mirabilis

Journal of Bacteriology
|October 1, 1984
PubMed

Insights

This study purified gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase from Proteus mirabilis, revealing its subunit structure and enzymatic activity. The enzyme

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Enzymology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) plays a crucial role in amino acid metabolism and transport.
  • Understanding GGT from microbial sources can offer insights into enzyme evolution and function.
  • Proteus mirabilis is a common bacterium, and its GGT characterization is of interest.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To purify and characterize gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase from Proteus mirabilis.
  • To determine the enzyme's kinetic properties and substrate specificity.
  • To compare microbial GGT with mammalian counterparts.

Main Methods:

  • Purification of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase to electrophoretic homogeneity.
  • Crystallization of the purified enzyme.
  • Enzyme activity assays for hydrolysis and transpeptidation.
  • Determination of kinetic parameters (Km) and inhibition studies.
  • Subunit molecular weight determination via SDS-PAGE.

Main Results:

  • Gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase was purified ~15,200-fold and crystallized.
  • The enzyme has a molecular weight of 80,000 Da, composed of 47,000 Da and 28,000 Da subunits.
  • Catalyzed hydrolysis and transpeptidation of various gamma-glutamyl compounds.
  • Demonstrated substrate acceptance by various amino acids and peptides.
  • Enzyme kinetics followed a ping pong bi bi mechanism.
  • Inhibited by known mammalian GGT inhibitors (L-serine plus borate, 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine).

Conclusions:

  • Proteus mirabilis gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase shares functional and inhibitory similarities with mammalian enzymes.
  • The characterized enzyme exhibits broad substrate specificity for gamma-glutamyl compounds and amino acid acceptors.
  • The ping pong bi bi mechanism provides a framework for understanding the enzyme's catalytic cycle.

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