Sandbox 35: Difference between revisions

Located in the cleft between its domains, the <scene name='Sandbox_35/Active_site_papain/4'>active site</scene> primarily consist of three main residues Cys 25, His 159, and Asn 175 holding resemblance to the catalytic triad of chymotrypsin <ref name="Wang">PMID: 8140097</ref><ref>PMID: 2397208</ref>. However, growing studies are showing that the mechanism behind catalysis may actually involve a double catalytic site - consisting of Cys 25- His 159- Asn 175 ''and'' Cys 25- His 159-  

<scene name='Sandbox_35/Active_site_papain/5'>Asp 158</scene>! It is postulated that "a two-state mechanism" takes place instead of a "single steric mechanism." <ref name="Wang" /> In addition, replacement of Asn 175 with other residues such as Ala mutants, reveals a decrease in kcat revealing less efficiency. Despite this, the rate of hydrolysis is still significantly larger than non-catalytic rates, suggesting a less essential role Asn 175 plays than originally thought. Building on these observations, alteration to the 175 side chain results in less thermal stability lending thought that Asn 175 plays a more structural rather than catalytic role. <ref>[http://www.jbc.org/content/270/28/16645.abstract] The Journal of Biological Chemistry </ref>

Crystallization of the protease under conditions of 62% (w/w) methanol in water reveals water playing a crucial role in providing structural stability. The 21 internal water molecules surrounding adjacent papain molecules appear to form an encasement that limit protein to protein interaction. <ref name="Kamphuis" />