A Panel of TrpB Biocatalysts Derived from Tryptophan Synthase through the Transfer of Mutations that Mimic Allosteric Activation

Naturally occurring enzyme homologues often display highly divergent activity with non‐natural substrates. Exploiting this diversity with enzymes engineered for new or altered function, however, is laborious because the engineering must be replicated for each homologue. A small set of mutations of the tryptophan synthase β‐subunit (TrpB) from Pyrococcus furiosus, which mimics the activation afforded by binding of the α‐subunit, was demonstrated to have a similar activating effect in different TrpB homologues with as little as 57 % sequence identity. Kinetic and spectroscopic analyses indicate that the mutations function through the same mechanism: mimicry of α‐subunit binding. From these enzymes, we identified a new TrpB catalyst that displays a remarkably broad activity profile in the synthesis of 5‐substituted tryptophans. This demonstrates that allosteric activation can be recapitulated throughout a protein family to explore natural sequence diversity for desirable biocatalytic transformations.     

Quantitation of tryptophan and kynurenine in human plasma using 4-vinylphenylboronic acid column by capillary electrochromatography coupled with mass spectrometry

Tryptophan (TRP) is an essential amino acid catabolized mainly through the kynurenine pathway, and part of it is catabolized in the brain. The abnormal depletion of TRP and production of kynurenine (KYN) by two enzymes, tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), have been linked to various neurological diseases. The ratio of TRP/KYN in plasma is a valuable measure for IDO/TDO activity and the prognosis of disease conditions. The 4-vinylphenylboronic acid (4-VPBA) was evaluated as a novel stationary phase for OT–CEC–MS/MS. TRP, KYN, and 3-hydroxykynurenine were separated using optimum conditions of 15 mM (NH₄)₂CO₃ at pH 8 as a background electrolyte and 25 kV separation voltage on a 90 cm column. The usefulness of the 4-VPBA column for simple, fast, repeatable, and sensitive CEC–ESI–MS/MS application was demonstrated for the quantitation of TRP and KYN in the plasma of healthy human subjects and neuroinflammation subjects. The plasma sample was extracted on a zirconia-based ion-exchange cartridge for simultaneous protein precipitation and phospholipid removal. The method of standard addition, in combination with the internal standards approach, was used to prepare the calibration curve to overcome matrix matching and eliminate procedural errors. The developed quantitation method was validated according to FDA guidelines for sensitivity, accuracy, precision, and extraction recovery. The measured plasma level of TRP and KYN in healthy humans is aligned with the human metabolome database for the same two metabolites.     

A generic rotamer model to explain the temperature dependence of BSA protein fluorescence

Protein fluorescence signals essential information about the conformational dynamics of proteins. Different types of intrinsic fluorophores reflect different protein local or global structural changes. Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) is a transport protein that contains two intrinsic fluorophores: Tryptophan134 (Trp134) and Tryptophan213 (Trp213). This protein displays an interesting temperature dependence of the tryptophan fluorescence. However, the molecular mechanism of the temperature dependence is still unclear. In this work, we propose a generic rotamer model to explain this phenomenon. The model assumes the presence of rotamer-specific fluorescence lifetimes. The fluorescence temperature dependence is caused by the population shifts between different rotamers due to thermal effects. As a proof of concept, we show that the tryptophan's two fluorescence lifetimes (𝜏₁ = 0.4–0.5 ns and 𝜏₂ = 2-4 ns) are sufficient to qualitatively explain the fluorescence intensity change at different temperatures, both in buffer solution (water) and in the protein. To computationally verify our rotamer hypothesis, we use an all-atom molecular dynamics simulation to study the effects of temperature on the two tryptophans' rotamer dynamics. The simulations show that Trp134 is more sensitive to temperature, consistent with experimental observations. Overall, the results support that the temperature dependence of fluorescence in the protein BSA is due to local conformational changes at the residue level. This work sheds light on the relationship between tryptophan's rotamer dynamics and its ability to fluorescence.     

Separation of Enantiomers by On‐Line Capillary Isotachophoresis‐Capillary Zone Electrophoresis

The ability of capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) coupled on‐line with capillary isotachophoresis (ITP) sample pretreatment in the column‐coupling capillary electrophoresis equipment to separate trace enantiomers present in samples of complex ionic matrices and enantiomers present in their mixtures at significantly differing concentrations has been studied. Enantiomers of 2,4‐dinitrophenyl labeled norleucine (DNP‐Nleu) and tryptophan enantiomers were employed as model analytes in this work while urine and mixtures of tryptophan enantiomers of differing concentrations served as model samples. Experiments performed with urine samples spiked with the DNP‐Nleu racemate at sub‐μmol/L concentrations demonstrated excellent sample pretreatment capabilities of ITP (concentration of the analytes, in‐column and post‐column sample clean up) when coupled on‐line with chiral CZE separations. In the CZE separations of enantiomers present in the samples at trace concentrations the sample pretreatment could be performed in both achiral and chiral ITP electrolyte systems. The use of a chiral electrolyte system was found to be essential in the ITP pretreatment of the samples containing the enantiomers at very differing concentrations. For example, a 2×10^–7 mol/L concentration of L‐tryptophan could be detected in the CZE separation stage of the ITP‐CZE combination in samples containing about a 10⁴ excess of D‐tryptophan only when the ITP pretreatment was carried out in the electrolyte system providing the resolution of enantiomers (α‐cyclodextrin served for this purpose in the present work). A post‐column ITP sample clean up was found effective in enhancing the destacking rate of the trace enantiomer in the CZE stage when the migration configuration of the enantiomers was less favorable (the trace constituent migrating behind the major enantiomer).     

三辛基甲基氯化铵萃取色氨酸的研究

萃取平衡;三辛基甲基氯化铵萃取色氨酸的研究     

ELECTROCHEMISTRY OF NICKEL(II) TRYPTOPHAN FILM ELECTRODE AND ELECTROCATALYTIC OXIDATION OF METHANOL

A polymer film of tryptophan was obtained at a glassy carbon electrode (GC) by cyclic voltammetry. The cyclic voltammograms of the polymer film electrode(poly-Try GC) exhibited two redox waves. After incorporation of Ni(II), the electrode (poly-Ni(II) Try/GC) was greatly improved in catalytic activity. The potential 0.65 V of methanol oxidation at the poly-Ni(II)Try/GC is much more negative than the potential at the poly-Try/GC and at the bare glassy carbon (GC) electrode in 0.01 mol/L NaOH.     

激光诱导游离色氨酸对血红蛋白反应动力学影响及机理

血红蛋白活性中心铁卟啉具有环状共轭结构,类似于叶绿素,可以吸收特定波长光,光会诱导铁卟啉发生氧化还原反应。研究中发现,紫外区波长光照射血红蛋白的氧化还原反应情况优于铁卟啉特征吸收波长(406 nm)光照射情况。无游离色氨酸(Trp)时,266 nm激光激发后高铁血红蛋白(metHb)、脱氧血红蛋白(deoxyHb)、氧合血红蛋白(HbO₂)和碳氧血红蛋白(HbCO)均被激发至各自相应的激发态,其Soret带谱峰衰减至基态的时间大致相同;加入游离Trp后,激发态Trp会转移能量到铁卟啉,在直接和间接光能量双重作用叠加下,激发态铁卟啉衰减时间发生变化。metHb、deoxyHb、和HbCO衰减时间明显延长,但对HbO₂影响相对较小。根据瞬态吸收光谱、动力学曲线和紫外-可见吸收光谱综合分析可知,在加入游离Trp前后,4种形态血红蛋白在被入射光激发后,铁卟啉均反应至具有(或近似具有)一空位的铁六配位平面卟啉结构状态。     

Tryptophan and Proteins Can Be Entrapped in UV Transmitting Glass

It is demonstrated that tryptophan and proteins (parvalbumin and alcohol dehydrogenase) can be entrapped in silica glass. The silica glass is transparent in the UV spectral region, allowing for spectroscopic studies of immobilized proteins. The fluorescence spectra and phosphorescence spectra and lifetime of entrapped proteins resemble those observed for the molecules in aqueous solution.     

不同介质中大肠杆菌碱性磷酸酶构象变化的研究

利用色氨酸残基作为内源荧光探针的膜模拟剂（各种表面活性剂）和不同变性剂中对大肠杆菌碱性磷酸酶（ＡＰ）的构象变化进行了系统的研究。通过测定在不同变性时间下盐酸胍浓度对荧光强度的影响以及荧光强度随pＨ有规律的变化,进一步证实了该蛋白质变性过程中形成较稳定中间态的结论。     

高效液相色谱法快速测定血清中的芳香族氨基酸

采用高效液相色谱-紫外检测法分离测定了血清中的芳香族氨基酸。采用的色谱柱为Waters Nova-Pak C18柱(4 μm,150 mm×3.9 mm i.d.),流动相为乙腈-水(体积比为6∶94,pH 3.4)溶液,流速为1.0 mL/min,检测波长为215 nm。血清标本经5%(体积分数)高氯酸溶液去除蛋白质后取上清液直接进样,10 min内完成测定。探讨了流动相的pH及其有机相的比例、蛋白质沉淀剂以及检测波长等因素对分离度和灵敏度的影响。考察了其他10余种氨基酸、多巴胺类等物质对目标组分检测的