Probing the role of lysine 16 in ras p[sup 21] protein with unnatural amino acids
- Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (United States)
Mamalian proteins encoded by the ras gene are thought to function as regulators of various signal transduction processes involved in cell growth and differentiation. The chemical basis for the regulation is cycling of the protein between the inactive guanosine diphosphate (GDP)-bound state and the active guanosine triphophate (GTP)-bound state. Loop 1 of ras contains the GXXXXGK(S/T) motif (residues 10-17), which is found in all ras-related proteins, G proteins, and other nucleotide-binding proteins. Structural and biochemical studies have suggested that Lys 16 of loop 1 is critical for substrate binding and catalysis. The [epsilon]-amino group is involved in ion pair interactions with the [Beta]-and [gamma]-phosphates of GTP and forms hydrogen bonds with the main-chain oxygens of Gly 10 and Ala 11. In order to better understand the role of the key residue in ras function, we have replaced Lys 16 with a number of unnatural amino acid analogues, including (aminoethyl)cysteine, (hydroxyethyl)cysteine, (aminoethyl)homocysteine, and ornithine. We were surprised to find that the [open quotes]unnatural[close quotes] mutant ras proteins retained high levels of GAP-stimulated GTPase activity and GTP dissociation rates comparable to that of wild-type ras. These results may indicate that, in the GAP-activated form, Lys 16 is not involved in transition-state stabilization or GTP binding. However, replacement of Lys 16 with the isosteric uncharged Lys analogue, (hydroxyethyl)cysteine, led to a complete loss of GAP-stimulated GTPase activity, demonstrating the importance of the charged ammonium side chain. 22 refs., 1 fig., 1 tab.
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-76SF00098
- OSTI ID:
- 5695955
- Journal Information:
- Journal of the American Chemical Society; (United States), Vol. 115:14; ISSN 0002-7863
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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