• Journal of Life Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.146-152
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• 1999

In order to elucidate a role of residue 24 in the folding of tryptophan synthase $\alpha$ subunit, mutant proteins in which Thr 24 was replaced by Met, Ala, Ser, Leu or Lys were overexpressed in E. coli, and the extents of accumulated proteins as soluble or aggregated forms were examined. The mutant proteins with Met or Leu at residue 24 were predominantly accumulated as soluble forms as the native protein. On the other hand, mutant proteins with Ser, Ala or Lys at residue 24 were expressed as aggregated forms as well. This result suggests that residue 24 of tryptophan synthase $\alpha$ subunit may be implicated in the folding of this protein.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.319-323
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• 2013

Protein aggregation can cause diseases and hinder the production of useful recombinant proteins. The present study showed that at least three types of aggregates can be formed from tryptophan synthase ${\alpha}$-subunit (${\alpha}TS$) by varying conditions: (1) an opaque white precipitous aggregate, (2) a transparent gel-like precipitous aggregate, and (3) an unprecipitous aggregate. Macroscopically different aggregate types might suggest different mechanisms underlying aggregation processes.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.328-332
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• 1999

The effect of cations on the formation of protein aggregates was examined by in vitro refolding of mutant tryptophan synthase $\alpha$-subunit in which Pro 24 was replaced by Leu. $NH^{4+},; K{^+}; and; Na^{+}$ and no effect, but $Mg^{2+}; and; Ca^{2+}$stimulated the formation of protein aggregates in dose-dependent manner. It is suggested that $Mg^{2+} and Ca^{2+}$ may be implicated in the formation of protein aggregates in vivo.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.304-312
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• 1996

In the present report, a p[ossibility of the interaction fo Ser-33 and Asp-112 residues in folding of tryptophan synthase $\alpha$ subunit was explored by examining the effect of single or double substitution of these residues on folding of $\alpha$ subunit in E. coli. $\alpha$ subunit of which Ser-33 was substituted with Leu (SL33) was accumulated as insoluble aggregate form, when overproduced in E. coli, whereas $\alpha$ subunit of which Asp-112 was replaced by Asn (DN112) or Gly (DG112) was accumulated as soluble form to the similar extent as wild type $\alpha$ subunit was. When these alterations were combined into one protein, the synergistic effect of residues 33 and 112 on the amount of aggregate form was shown. The amount of doubly altered SL33/DG112 $\alpha$ subunit as aggregate form was increased 5-13 fold that of SL33 $\alpha$ subunit, and the amount of SL33/DG112 $\alpha$ subunit as aggregate form was decreased 3-4 fold that of SL33 $\alpha$ subunit. Aggregates are derived from the specific association of partially folded or unassembled subunits in the folding process. Therefore, this result suggests that residues 33 and 112 of $\alpha$ subunit may unteract during the folding of this enzyme in E. coli.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.733-736
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• 1999

The doubly altered mutant tryptophan synthase $\alpha$-subunits, in which Thr 24 was replaced by Ser, Leu or Lys in addition to F139W substitution, were purified. Urea-induced unfolding equilibrium curves of these proteins, monitored by fluorescence intensity of tryptophan, show that the alterations of residue 24 resulted in marked changes in folding properites, suggesting the importance of this residue in folding of this protein.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.43-47
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• 2001

A mutant tryptophan synthase $\alpha$-subunit, where Pro28 was replaced with Leu, tends to be expressed in recombinant E. coli. CD and fluorescence spectra of this protein indicate some changes in secondary and tertiary structure. Wild type protein was more or less affected by {TEX}$Ca^{2+}${/TEX} ion in regards of the fluorescent properties of its native, unfolded and intermediate forms, but the mutant protein was not at all. The dramatic structural changes may be related to the aggregation of this mutant protein.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.219-222
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• 2005

The a-subunit of Escherichia coli tryptophan synthase (${\alpha}TS$), a component of the tryptophan synthase ${\alpha}_2{\beta}_2$ complex, is a monomeric 268-residues protein (Mr = 28,600). ${\alpha}TS$ by itself catalyzes the cleavage of indole-3-glycerol phosphate to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate and indole, which is converted to tryptophan in tryptophan biosynthesis. Wild-type and P28L/Y173F double mutant ${\alpha}$-subunits were overexpressed in E. coli and crystallized at 298 K by the hanging-drop vapor-diffusion method. X-ray diffraction data were collected to $2.5{\AA}$ resolution from the wild-type crystals and to $1.8{\AA}$ from the crystals of the double mutant, since the latter produced better quality diffraction data. The wild-type crystals belonged to the monoclinic space group C2 ($a=155.64{\AA}$, $b=44.54{\AA}$, $c=71.53{\AA}$ and ${\beta}=96.39^{\circ}$) and the P28L/Y173F crystals to the monoclinic space group $P2_1$ ($a=71.09{\AA}$, b=52.70, $c=71.52{\AA}$ and ${\beta}=91.49^{\circ}$). The asymmetric unit of both structures contained two molecules of ${\alpha}TS$. Crystal volume per protein mass ($V_m$) and solvent content were $2.15{\AA}^3\;Da^{-1}$ and 42.95% for the wild-type and $2.34{\AA}^3\;Da^{-1}$ and 47.52% for the double mutant.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.1410-1414
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• 2017

Escherichia coli tryptophan synthase (TS) contains ${\alpha}_2{\beta}_2$, which catalyzes the final two steps in Trp biosynthesis. A molecular tunnel exists between the two active sites of ${\alpha}$ and ${\beta}$ subunits in TS. Via intersubunit communication, TS increases catalytic efficiency, including substrate channeling. The ${\beta}$ subunit of TS is composed of two domains, one of which, the COMM (communication) domain, plays an important role in intersubunit communication. The ${\alpha}$ subunit has a TIM barrel structure. This protein has functional regions at the C terminal of ${\beta}$ pleated sheets and in its loop regions. Three regions of the ${\alpha}$ subunit (${\alpha}L6$ [${\alpha}-loop$ L6], ${\alpha}L2$, and ${\alpha}L3$) are implicated in intersubunit communication. In the present study, conformational changes in ${\alpha}L6$ were monitored by measuring the sensitivity of mutant proteins in these regions to trypsin. The addition of a ${\alpha}$ subunit-specific ligand, D,L-${\alpha}$-glycerophosphate (GP), partially restored the sensitivity of mutant proteins to trypsin. In contrast, the addition of the ${\beta}$ subunit-specific ligand L-serine (Ser) resulted in varied sensitivity to trypsin, with an increase in PT53 (substitution of Pro with Thr at residue 53) and DG56, decrease in NS104 and wild type, and no change in GD51 and PH53. This finding may be related to several reaction intermediates formed under this condition. The addition of both GP and Ser led to a highly stable state of the complex. The present results are consistent with the current model. The method used herein may be useful for screening residues involved in intersubunit communication.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.186-195
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• 2015

Anthranilate synthase (AS) is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of tryptophan (Trp), which is the precursor of bioactive metabolites like indole-3-acetic acid and other indole alkaloids. Alpha anthranilate synthase 2 (OsASA2) plays a critical role in the feedback inhibition of tryptophan biosynthesis. In this study, two vectors with single (F124V) and double (S126F/L530D) point mutations of the OsASA2 gene for feedback-insensitive ${\alpha}$ subunit of rice anthranilate synthase were constructed and transformed into wildtype Dongjinbyeo by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Transgenic single and double mutant lines were selected as a single copy using TaqMan PCR utilized nos gene probe. To select intergenic lines, the flanking sequence of RB or LB was digested with a BfaI enzyme. Four intergenic lines were selected using a flanking sequence tagged (FST) analysis. Expression in rice (Oryza sativa L.) of the transgenes resulted in the accumulation of tryptophan (Trp), indole-3-acetonitrile (IAN), and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in leaves and tryptophan content as a free amino acid in seeds also increased up to 30 times relative to the wildtype. Two homozygous event lines, S-TG1 and D-TG1, were selected for characterization of agronomic traits and metabolite profiling of seeds. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs), related to ion transfer and nutrient supply, were upregulated and DEGs related to co-enzymes that work as functional genes were down regulated. These results suggest that two homozygous event lines may prove effective for the breeding of crops with an increased level of free tryptophan content.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.464-468
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• 2002

Enzymatic activities and fluorescence spectroscopic properties of the double mutant proteins P96L/F139W, P96L/F258W and a triple mutant protein P96L/F139W/F258W of tryptophan synthase $\alpha$ subunit from Escherichia coli was examined to study tertiary and local structure changes around the tryptophan residues. The enzymatic activities of P96l./F139W and P96L/F258W were similar, but P96L/F139W/F258W had lower activity, as compared to wild type. The fluorescence intensities of double mutant, P96L/F139W and P96L/F258W, were decreased but that of a triple mutant, P96L/F139W/F258W, was increased when compared to wild type. The sum of the maximum fluorescence intensity (fluorescence intensity at the λ$_{max}$) for the double mutant proteins was not equal to the intensity seen in the triple mutant protein. The enzymatic activity and fluorescence data indicate that the replacement of Pro$^{96}$ longrightarrowLeu might affect on the stability of helix 8 and the loop located between strand 4 and helix4. The result suggests that the tertiary structure of triple mutant (P96L/F139W/F258W), being different from wild type, might have more compact residual structure at the vicinity of 139 and 258.8.