Role of water molecules in the structure and function of aspartic proteinases

Prasad, BVLS and Suguna, K (2002) Role of water molecules in the structure and function of aspartic proteinases. In: Acta Crystallographica Section D: Biological Crystallography, 58 (2). pp. 250-259.

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Abstract

The solvent structure in the crystals of ten aspartic proteinases has been analyzed to find the possible roles of conserved water molecules in their structure and activity. 17 waters have been identified which are common to at least eight of the ten examined enzyme structures. These include the catalytic water molecule, whose direct involvement in the mechanism of action of aspartic proteinases has been proposed previously. There appears to be at least one more functionally important water molecule strategically located to stabilize the flexible `flap' region during substrate binding. Many other waters stabilize the structure, whilst a few have been found to maintain the active-site geometry required for the function of the enzyme. In particular, two waters related by the approximate molecular dyad are involved in the formation and preservation of a network of hydrogen bonds extending from the active site.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Acta Crystallographica Section D: Biological Crystallography
Publisher:	International Union of Crystallography
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article International Union of Crystallography.
Keywords:	aspartic proteinases;water molecules;solvent structure
Department/Centre:	Division of Biological Sciences > Molecular Biophysics Unit
Date Deposited:	02 Jun 2006
Last Modified:	19 Sep 2010 04:28
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/7408

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