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A Study of the Molecular Evolution and Structural Stability of Cytochrome c by using Its Interspecies Hybrids

Research Project

Project/Area Number 09680655
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Research Field Biophysics
Research InstitutionJichi Medical School

Principal Investigator

SAIGO Satoshi  Jichi Medical School, Dept. of Physics, Associate Professor, 医学部, 助教授 (70049071)

Project Period (FY) 1997 – 1999
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 1999)
Budget Amount *help
¥3,100,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,100,000)
Fiscal Year 1999: ¥800,000 (Direct Cost: ¥800,000)
Fiscal Year 1998: ¥800,000 (Direct Cost: ¥800,000)
Fiscal Year 1997: ¥1,500,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,500,000)
KeywordsMolecular Evolution / Cytochrome c / Structural Stability / Chimeric Protein / Amino Acid Substitution / キメラ分子 / シトクロムc / 種間ハイブリッド / シトクロムC / ペプチド合成 / ハイブリッド分子 / ヘプチド合成
Research Abstract

The amino acid sequences of homologous proteins from evolutionarily distant organisms are different to large extents as a result of the molecular evolution of the proteins. For example, difference of ca.45% in sequence is seen between horse and yeast cytochromes c (cyt c's). The spatial structures of homologous proteins are, however, strikingly similar. This structural conservation can be produced by two alternative mechanisms. In the first mechanism, no structural change is caused by each of the amino acid substitutions that occur in the proteins. In the second mechanism, structural changes induced by amino acid substitutions are compensated by substitutions that follow them. Interspecies hybrid proteins can be structurally unstable if the second mechanism realizes the structural conservation. In the present study, horse-yeast hybrid cyt c was prepared by semisynthesis. 12 amino acid sequence differences are seen between horse and the hybrid cyt c's. The spectroscopic and physicochemical properties of the hybrid were compared with those of its parent molecules. The spectral features of the hybrid cyt c indicated that the hybrid cyt c has the same heme coordination structure as those of the parent molecules. Analysis of the guanidine hydrochloride denaturation curves of the hybrid and its parent cyt c's showed that the stability of the hybrid is intermediate between those of the parent molecules. In addition, the measurement of the imidazole binding constants of these cyt c's revealed that the stability of the closed heme crevice structure of the hybrid cyt c is also intermediate between those of the parent molecules. These results indicate that the 12 amino acid substitutions seen in the hybrid cyt c are accommodated at their spatial positions with only minor perturbation of the structure of horse cyt c. Furthermore, the results suggest that these amino acid substitutions change additively the stabilities of the global and local structures of cyt c.

Report

(4 results)
  • 1999 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report Summary
  • 1998 Annual Research Report
  • 1997 Annual Research Report

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Published: 1997-04-01   Modified: 2016-04-21  

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