Biomaterial Database

Thermodynamics of assembly of Escherichia coli aspartate transcarbamoylase. 1983

M P McCarthy, and N M Allewell

Reaction microcalorimetry and potentiometry have been used to define the thermodynamics of assembly of Escherichia coli aspartate transcarbamoylase (aspartate carbamoyltransferase, carbamoylphosphate:L-aspartate carbamoyltransferase, EC 2.1.3.2) from its catalytic and regulatory subunits and the linkage between assembly and proton binding. Over the pH range 7-9.5 and the temperature range 15-30 degrees C, assembly is characterized by negative enthalpy and heat capacity changes and positive entropy changes. The dependence of the enthalpy and entropy changes on pH is complex; however, the negative heat capacity change results in both quantities becoming more negative with increasing temperature. Assembly is linked to the binding of protons; the effects observed can be fit to models involving six or more ionizable groups with pK values of 7.3-7.4, 8.5-8.8, and 9.2-9.5, which ionize cooperatively. Contributions from additional groups cannot be ruled out and are in fact expected. The overall pattern of thermodynamic effects implies a complex set of intersubunit interactions. Protonation reactions and increased hydrogen bonding are likely to be the major sources of the negative enthalpy change; however, the negative heat capacity change results primarily from changes in solvent structure associated with hydrophobic and electrostatic bond formation with changes in low-frequency vibrational modes making a secondary contribution. Similarly, the relatively small entropy change observed within the temperature range examined probably reflects the balance between positive contributions from increased hydrophobic and electrostatic bonding and negative contributions from increased hydrogen bonding and damping of low-frequency vibrational modes.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007700	Kinetics	The rate dynamics in chemical or physical systems.
D011199	Potentiometry	Solution titration in which the end point is read from the electrode-potential variations with the concentrations of potential determining ions. (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)
D011499	Protein Processing, Post-Translational	Any of various enzymatically catalyzed post-translational modifications of PEPTIDES or PROTEINS in the cell of origin. These modifications include carboxylation; HYDROXYLATION; ACETYLATION; PHOSPHORYLATION; METHYLATION; GLYCOSYLATION; ubiquitination; oxidation; proteolysis; and crosslinking and result in changes in molecular weight and electrophoretic motility.	Amino Acid Modification, Post-Translational,Post-Translational Modification,Post-Translational Protein Modification,Posttranslational Modification,Protein Modification, Post-Translational,Amino Acid Modification, Posttranslational,Post-Translational Amino Acid Modification,Post-Translational Modifications,Post-Translational Protein Processing,Posttranslational Amino Acid Modification,Posttranslational Modifications,Posttranslational Protein Processing,Protein Processing, Post Translational,Protein Processing, Posttranslational,Amino Acid Modification, Post Translational,Modification, Post-Translational,Modification, Post-Translational Protein,Modification, Posttranslational,Modifications, Post-Translational,Modifications, Post-Translational Protein,Modifications, Posttranslational,Post Translational Amino Acid Modification,Post Translational Modification,Post Translational Modifications,Post Translational Protein Modification,Post Translational Protein Processing,Post-Translational Protein Modifications,Processing, Post-Translational Protein,Processing, Posttranslational Protein,Protein Modification, Post Translational,Protein Modifications, Post-Translational
D002151	Calorimetry	The measurement of the quantity of heat involved in various processes, such as chemical reactions, changes of state, and formations of solutions, or in the determination of the heat capacities of substances. The fundamental unit of measurement is the joule or the calorie (4.184 joules). (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)
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
D006863	Hydrogen-Ion Concentration	The normality of a solution with respect to HYDROGEN ions; H+. It is related to acidity measurements in most cases by pH	pH,Concentration, Hydrogen-Ion,Concentrations, Hydrogen-Ion,Hydrogen Ion Concentration,Hydrogen-Ion Concentrations
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
D013816	Thermodynamics	A rigorously mathematical analysis of energy relationships (heat, work, temperature, and equilibrium). It describes systems whose states are determined by thermal parameters, such as temperature, in addition to mechanical and electromagnetic parameters. (From Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, 12th ed)	Thermodynamic
D046911	Macromolecular Substances	Compounds and molecular complexes that consist of very large numbers of atoms and are generally over 500 kDa in size. In biological systems macromolecular substances usually can be visualized using ELECTRON MICROSCOPY and are distinguished from ORGANELLES by the lack of a membrane structure.	Macromolecular Complexes,Macromolecular Compounds,Macromolecular Compounds and Complexes,Complexes, Macromolecular,Compounds, Macromolecular,Substances, Macromolecular