1syl

Publication Abstract from PubMed

dUTPase is essential to keep uracil out of DNA. Crystal structures of substrate (dUTP and alpha,beta-imino-dUTP) and product complexes of wild type and mutant dUTPases were determined to reveal how an enzyme responsible for DNA integrity functions. A kinetic analysis of wild type and mutant dUTPases was performed to obtain relevant mechanistic information in solution. Substrate hydrolysis is shown to be initiated via in-line nucleophile attack of a water molecule oriented by an activating conserved aspartate residue. Substrate binding in a catalytically competent conformation is achieved by (i) multiple interactions of the triphosphate moiety with catalysis-assisting Mg2+, (ii) a concerted motion of residues from three conserved enzyme motifs as compared with the apoenzyme, and (iii) an intricate hydrogen-bonding network that includes several water molecules in the active site. Results provide an understanding for the catalytic role of conserved residues in dUTPases.

Structural insights into the catalytic mechanism of phosphate ester hydrolysis by dUTPase.,Barabas O, Pongracz V, Kovari J, Wilmanns M, Vertessy BG J Biol Chem. 2004 Oct 8;279(41):42907-15. Epub 2004 Jun 17. PMID:15208312^[1]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.