Lipocalin-type Prostaglandin D Synthase (L-PGDS) is the second most abundant protein
in the human cerebrospinal fluid. It is involved in the transport of hydrophobic molecules
as well as its namesake in the production of prostaglandin D2: an unsaturated fatty acid
that is involved in maintaining homeostasis, regulating sleep, aiding in inflammatory
responses, and other neurological functions. Although structurally and biochemically
different from hematopoietic-PGD synthase, they both take part in the arachidonate
cyclooxygenase pathway to make PGD from PGH2. The smaller of the two PGD
synthases, L-PGDS contains a beta-barrel structure and was initially found in the brain. It
was later found in the tissues of the heart, kidneys, and lungs as well as a number of other
body fluids. Inhibiting this enzyme results in the deterioration and lack of function of
major organs and metabolic processes and has been found to be linked to some cancers,
hair loss, and diabetes. L-PGDS can trigger both pro- and anti-inflammatory responses to
the immune system, allowing its levels to be highly regulated.
You may include any references to papers as in: the use of JSmol in Proteopedia [1] or to the article describing Jmol [2] to the rescue.
Function
A function of this lovely enzyme is that it is eaten by horrible monsters and then digested in a twisted and malignant fashion.
Diseases/Malfunctions!!
It causes the entire world to explode!!!
Relevance
Well, duh, it's affecting the world.
Structural highlights
Disgusting and helical, but definitely without structure, there's no enzyme!
This is a sample scene created with SAT to by Group, and another to make of the protein. You can make your own scenes on SAT starting from scratch or loading and editing one of these sample scenes.
I AM IN BOLD!!!
dOO DOO DOOdooo!!!!!!
Structures to note: The Beta Barrel in yellow. This is for transferring cookies into my stomach!
