Biomaterial Database

Aspartate transcarbamoylase from Escherichia coli: electron density at 5.5 A resolution. 1973

S G Warren, and B F Edwards, and D R Evans, and D C Wiley, and W N Lipscomb

The allosteric enzyme, aspartate transcarbamoylase (EC 2.1.3.2), has previously been shown in our x-ray diffraction studies to have D(3)-32 symmetry. There are six catalytic (C) and six regulatory (R) chains in the molecular complex (R(6)C(6)). Our three-dimensional x-ray diffraction study of this enzyme (R32, a = 131 A, c = 200 A) at 5.5 A resolution shows a spatial arrangement of the two catalytic trimers C(3) above and below an equatorial belt of three regulatory dimers R(2). The molecule is about 110 x 110 x 90 A in largest dimensions, and is shown here to contain a large central aqueous cavity about 50 x 50 x 25 A in size. Location of the single sulfhydryl of each catalytic chain, and correlation of its reactivity with enzymatic activity in the molecule, suggests that the nearby active sites are most probably accessible from the central cavity, but probably not directly from the external solution. The most obvious access to the central cavity consists of six channels, each about 15 A in diameter, near the regulatory region. A component of the regulatory mechanism may be modulation of access of substrates through these channels.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008961	Models, Structural	A representation, generally small in scale, to show the structure, construction, or appearance of something. (From Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed)	Model, Structural,Structural Model,Structural Models
D011487	Protein Conformation	The characteristic 3-dimensional shape of a protein, including the secondary, supersecondary (motifs), tertiary (domains) and quaternary structure of the peptide chain. PROTEIN STRUCTURE, QUATERNARY describes the conformation assumed by multimeric proteins (aggregates of more than one polypeptide chain).	Conformation, Protein,Conformations, Protein,Protein Conformations
D004926	Escherichia coli	A species of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria (GRAM-NEGATIVE FACULTATIVELY ANAEROBIC RODS) commonly found in the lower part of the intestine of warm-blooded animals. It is usually nonpathogenic, but some strains are known to produce DIARRHEA and pyogenic infections. Pathogenic strains (virotypes) are classified by their specific pathogenic mechanisms such as toxins (ENTEROTOXIGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI), etc.	Alkalescens-Dispar Group,Bacillus coli,Bacterium coli,Bacterium coli commune,Diffusely Adherent Escherichia coli,E coli,EAggEC,Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli,Enterococcus coli,Diffusely Adherent E. coli,Enteroaggregative E. coli,Enteroinvasive E. coli,Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli
D000494	Allosteric Regulation	The modification of the reactivity of ENZYMES by the binding of effectors to sites (ALLOSTERIC SITES) on the enzymes other than the substrate BINDING SITES.	Regulation, Allosteric,Allosteric Regulations,Regulations, Allosteric
D001221	Aspartate Carbamoyltransferase	An enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of carbamoyl phosphate and L-aspartate to yield orthophosphate and N-carbamoyl-L-aspartate. (From Enzyme Nomenclature, 1992) EC 2.1.3.2.	Aspartate Transcarbamylase,Co(II)-Aspartate Transcarbamoylase,Ni(II)-Aspartate Transcarbamoylase,Carbamoyltransferase, Aspartate,Transcarbamylase, Aspartate
D014961	X-Ray Diffraction	The scattering of x-rays by matter, especially crystals, with accompanying variation in intensity due to interference effects. Analysis of the crystal structure of materials is performed by passing x-rays through them and registering the diffraction image of the rays (CRYSTALLOGRAPHY, X-RAY). (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Xray Diffraction,Diffraction, X-Ray,Diffraction, Xray,Diffractions, X-Ray,Diffractions, Xray,X Ray Diffraction,X-Ray Diffractions,Xray Diffractions