Properties of N-terminus truncated and C-terminus mutated muscle acylphosphatases

Enzymatic activity and structure of N-terminus truncated and C-terminus substituted muscle acylphosphatase mutants were investigated by kinetic studies under different conditions and 1H NMR spectroscopy, respectively. The N-terminus truncated mutant lacked the first six residues (delta 6), whereas arginine 97 and tyrosine 98 were replaced by glutamine giving two C-terminus substituted mutants (R97Q and Y98Q, respectively). All acylphosphatase forms were obtained by modifications of a synthetic gene coding for the human muscle enzyme which was expressed in E. coli. The delta 6 deletion mutant elicited a reduced specific activity and a native-like structure. The kinetic and structural properties of R97Q and Y98Q mutants indicate a possible role of Arg-97 in the stabilisation of the active site correct conformation, most likely via back-bone and side chain interactions with Arg-23, the residue involved in phosphate binding by the enzyme. This study also suggests a possible involvement of Tyr-98 in the stabilisation of the acylphosphatase overall structure.