Structure Variations in Lipoxygenase: Mutagenesis of Soybean Lipoxygenase-1

• Other Authors: Imber, Ann Nicole (authoraut)
• Format: Others
• Language: English; English
• Published: Florida State University
• Subjects: Biology
• Online Access: http://purl.flvc.org/fsu/fd/FSU_migr_etd-3882

The focus of this study is a prototypical member of the lipoxygenase protein family (acc. PF00305), soybean lipoxygenase-1 (LOX-1). I am interested in two aspects of this enzyme: a comparison of its structure and sequence with lipoxygenase enzymes and the overall shape of the active site cavity with respect to catalysis. The first topic is primarily focused on an unusual member of the lipoxygenase protein family that binds manganese instead of iron, manganese lipoxygenase (MnLO). In order to perform mutational studies on structural regions of importance in LOX-1, the sequence of LOX-1 will be compared to the sequence of MnLO. In addition, the known structure of LOX-1 will be used as a platform to model features suggested by MnLO. This is possible because of the considerable sequence identity within the conserved motifs of lipoxygenase family members. The results of this approach include implications for the metal selectivity of lipoxygenase enzymes and the structural significance of the highly conserved ð-helix found in the metal binding region. The second topic centers on the origin of the positional and stereochemical specificity of the lipoxygenase catalytic products. Members of the lipoxygenase family catalyze the insertion of molecular oxygen to their long-chain fatty acid substrates in a highly specific manner. The structural rationale for this chemical specificity is implicated in the overall shape of the active site cavity. A stereodeterminant influencing the cavity shape was recently identified as a single residue conserved as a Gly in R- specific lipoxygenases and an Ala in S- specific enzymes. By performing mutagenesis on this residue in the LOX-1 enzyme and evaluating its EPR spectra, it is possible to monitor a catalytically relevant change in the lipoxygenase active site cavity that is propagated to the metal ion. Thus, this study proposes to examine key variations in the lipoxygenase amino acid sequence, especially in terms of enzyme catalysis and the details of the active site cavity and its metal binding site. === A Thesis submitted to the Department of Biological Science in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. === Spring Semester, 2006. === March 27, 2006. === Protein Expression, HPLC === Includes bibliographical references. === Betty J. Gaffney, Professor Directing Thesis; Kenneth A. Taylor, Committee Member; Hank W. Bass, Committee Member.