Evidence for histidine in the active sites of ficin and stem-bromelain. 1968

S S Husain, and G Lowe

1. Ficin and stem-bromelain are irreversibly inhibited by 1,3-dibromoacetone, a reagent designed to react first with the active-site cysteine residue and subsequently with a second nucleophile. Evidence is presented that establishes that a histidine residue is within a 5A locus of the active-site cysteine residue in both enzymes. The histidine residue in both enzymes is alkylated at N-1 by dibromoacetone. It is suggested that, as with papain, the thiol and imidazole groups act in concert in the hydrolysis of substrates by these enzymes. 2. The inhibition of thiol-subtilisin with 1,3-dibromoacetone is shown to be due to the alkylation of a cysteine residue only.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010450 Endopeptidases A subclass of PEPTIDE HYDROLASES that catalyze the internal cleavage of PEPTIDES or PROTEINS. Endopeptidase,Peptide Peptidohydrolases
D011480 Protease Inhibitors Compounds which inhibit or antagonize biosynthesis or actions of proteases (ENDOPEPTIDASES). Antiprotease,Endopeptidase Inhibitor,Endopeptidase Inhibitors,Peptidase Inhibitor,Peptidase Inhibitors,Peptide Hydrolase Inhibitor,Peptide Hydrolase Inhibitors,Peptide Peptidohydrolase Inhibitor,Peptide Peptidohydrolase Inhibitors,Protease Antagonist,Protease Antagonists,Antiproteases,Protease Inhibitor,Antagonist, Protease,Antagonists, Protease,Hydrolase Inhibitor, Peptide,Hydrolase Inhibitors, Peptide,Inhibitor, Endopeptidase,Inhibitor, Peptidase,Inhibitor, Peptide Hydrolase,Inhibitor, Peptide Peptidohydrolase,Inhibitor, Protease,Inhibitors, Endopeptidase,Inhibitors, Peptidase,Inhibitors, Peptide Hydrolase,Inhibitors, Peptide Peptidohydrolase,Inhibitors, Protease,Peptidohydrolase Inhibitor, Peptide,Peptidohydrolase Inhibitors, Peptide
D001963 Bromelains Protein-digesting and milk-clotting enzymes found in PINEAPPLE fruit juice and stem tissue. Enzymes from the two sources are distinguished as fruit bromelain and stem bromelain. This enzyme was formerly listed as EC 3.4.22.4. Bromelins,Ananase,Bromelain,Bromelain-POS,Bromelin,Dayto Anase,Debrase,Dontisanin,Extranase,Mucozym,Proteozym,Traumanase,Bromelain POS,BromelainPOS
D001966 Bromine A halogen with the atomic symbol Br, atomic number 35, and atomic weight 79.904. It is a volatile reddish-brown liquid that gives off suffocating vapors, is corrosive to the skin, and may cause severe gastroenteritis if ingested. Bromine-79,Bromine 79
D002621 Chemistry A basic science concerned with the composition, structure, and properties of matter; and the reactions that occur between substances and the associated energy exchange.
D002850 Chromatography, Gel Chromatography on non-ionic gels without regard to the mechanism of solute discrimination. Chromatography, Exclusion,Chromatography, Gel Permeation,Chromatography, Molecular Sieve,Gel Filtration,Gel Filtration Chromatography,Chromatography, Size Exclusion,Exclusion Chromatography,Gel Chromatography,Gel Permeation Chromatography,Molecular Sieve Chromatography,Chromatography, Gel Filtration,Exclusion Chromatography, Size,Filtration Chromatography, Gel,Filtration, Gel,Sieve Chromatography, Molecular,Size Exclusion Chromatography
D003545 Cysteine A thiol-containing non-essential amino acid that is oxidized to form CYSTINE. Cysteine Hydrochloride,Half-Cystine,L-Cysteine,Zinc Cysteinate,Half Cystine,L Cysteine
D006639 Histidine An essential amino acid that is required for the production of HISTAMINE. Histidine, L-isomer,L-Histidine,Histidine, L isomer,L-isomer Histidine
D000096 Acetone A colorless liquid used as a solvent and an antiseptic. It is one of the ketone bodies produced during ketoacidosis.
D000478 Alkylation The covalent bonding of an alkyl group to an organic compound. It can occur by a simple addition reaction or by substitution of another functional group. Alkylations

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