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Gale Rhodes
Chemistry Department
University of Southern Maine

Revised 2006/08/02

Learn how to use Swiss-PdbViewer. Work through sections 1-4 of the Swiss-PdbViewer Tutorial.

Topic: Amino-Acid Metabolism

Examples:

Featuring cofactors studied in this section of the course.

Aspartate Aminotransferase, complex with PLP (PDB file codes 8AAT and 9AAT)

This enzyme catalyzes transaminase reactions involving oxaloacetate as nitrogen acceptor.

From the Protein Data Bank, download files 8AAT and 9AAT. The model in file 8AAT contains pyridoxal phosphate joined as an aldimine to the active-site lysine. The model in file 9AAT contains pyridoxamine in the active site.

  • Use SwissPdbViewer to compare these structures. They should be superimposed when loaded; if not, use Fit: Magic Fit to superimpose them.
  • To examine cofactor binding, display groups within 5 angstroms of PLP, which is the last group listed in chain A.
  • What are the differences between the nature of PLP binding in this enzyme and in glycogen phosphorylase?How do these differences pertain to the different functions of PLP in aminotransferases and in phosphorolysis of glycogen?

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