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Christoph Woenckhaus

Bio: Christoph Woenckhaus is an academic researcher from Goethe University Frankfurt. The author has contributed to research in topics: NAD+ kinase & Cofactor. The author has an hindex of 10, co-authored 29 publications receiving 232 citations.

Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The mitochondrial isozyme of horse liver aldehyde dehydrogenase was labeled with brominated [5-(3-acetylpyridinio)pentyl]diphosphoadenosine and a cysteine residue was selectively modified by the brominate coenzyme analogue and was identified in a 35-residue tryptic peptide.
Abstract: The mitochondrial isozyme of horse liver aldehyde dehydrogenase was labeled with brominated [5-(3-acetylpyridinio)pentyl]diphosphoadenosine. Specific labeling of a coenzyme binding region was proven by an enzymatic activity of the isozyme with the nonbrominated coenzyme derivative, optical properties of the complex, stoichiometry of incorporation, and protection against inactivation. A cysteine residue was selectively modified by the brominated coenzyme analogue and was identified in a 35-residue tryptic peptide. This cysteine residue corresponds to Cys-302 of the cytoplasmic isozyme and has earlier been implicated in disulfiram binding, confirming a position close to the active site. In contrast, the butyl homologue of the coenzyme analogue labels another residue of the mitochondrial isozyme. Thus, in the same isozyme, two residues are selectively reactive. They are concluded to be close together in the tertiary structure and to be close enough to the coenzyme binding site to be differentially labeled by coenzyme analogues differing only by a single methylene group.

52 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Kinetic investigations employing the substrate analogues 2-oxoglutarate and phospho(enol)pyruvate indicate that the allosteric L-lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.27) of Lactobacillus casei has a non-catalytic pyruvATE-binding site to which, in addition to pyruVate, theallosteric effector fructose 1,6-bisphosphate can also be found
Abstract: Kinetic investigations employing the substrate analogues 2-oxoglutarate and phospho(enol)pyruvate indicate that the allosteric L-lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27) of Lactobacillus casei has a non-catalytic pyruvate-binding site to which, in addition to pyruvate, the allosteric effector fructose 1,6-bisphosphate can also be found. A modification using the 14C-labelled substrate analogue 3-bromopyruvate induces a loss of regulation by fructose 1,6-bisphosphate. The histidine residue labelled by 3-bromopyruvate is homologous to histidine-188 which is part of the anion-binding site of the non-allosteric vertebrate L-lactate dehydrogenases. Thus, the allosteric site of the allosteric L-lactate dehydrogenases corresponds to the anion-binding site of the non-allosteric vertebrate enzymes.

23 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The amino acid sequence around one reactive cysteine residue close to the active site of the acidic isozyme was determined after labeling with the butyl coenzyme analogue, suggesting the presence of more than one reactive residue.
Abstract: NAD analogues with the nicotinamide moiety exchanged for acetylpyridino-pentyl or acetylpyridino-butyl groups function as coenzymes in the enzymatic reaction with liver aldehyde dehydrogenase. The corresponding bromoacetyl derivatives bind to the coenzyme-binding site of the enzyme and inactive the protein by covalent modification of single residues close to the active site. Protection by coenzymes and substrate against the inactivation differs slightly for the two coenzyme analogues, suggesting the presence of more than one reactive residue. This is consistent with the results of differential carboxymethylation of cysteine residues of the basic isozyme in the presence and absence of the inhibitor disulfiram. The amino acid sequence around one reactive cysteine residue close to the active site of the acidic isozyme was determined after labeling with the butyl coenzyme analogue. This structure bears no extensive homology to corresponding known structures of dehydrogenases working on other types of aldehyde substrates.

21 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Stabilization of the dimeric intermediate or acceleration of its transformation seems to be the most likely explanation for the observed effect of free or covalently bound coenzyme on the rate of reconstitution.
Abstract: Kinetic analysis of the in vitro reconstitution of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase [D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate:NAD+ oxidoreductase (phosphorylating), EC 1.2.1.12] from yeast showed that both oxidized and reduced coenzyme enhance the transconformation reaction, which is rate limiting in the sequential folding-association process at high enzyme concentrations (Krebs, H., Rudolph, R. & Jaenicke, R. (1979) Eur. J. Biochem. 100, 359-364). In the present study the reconstitution of the enzyme has been analyzed after covalent modification with the coenzyme analog 3-[(3-bromoacetylpyridinio)-propyl]adenosine pyrophosphate. Reconstitution of the modified enzyme, as determined by the regain of the native tryptophan fluorescence, is found to be more then 10 times faster than refolding of the unmodified apoenzyme and more than 5 times faster than that of the unmodified holoenzyme. Various degrees of denaturation and the presence of up to 0.4 M guanidine . HCl do not affect the rate of reconstitution of the modified enzyme. The kinetic effect of free or covalently bound coenzyme is discussed in terms of a decrease in free energy of the native or native-like structure or in terms of a decreased activation energy of rate-limiting steps in the process of reconstitution. Stabilization of the dimeric intermediate or acceleration of its transformation seems to be the most likely explanation for the observed effect of free or covalently bound coenzyme on the rate of reconstitution.

19 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Amino acid and sequence analysis show that Cys-38 of the B. stearothermophilus alcohol dehydrogenase was modified by the reactive coenzyme analogue, which is homologous to CYS-43 in yeast alcohol dehydrogensase and Cymru-46 in the horse liver enzyme but, unlike the latter two, Cys -38 is not reactive towards iodoacetate in the native bacterial enzyme.
Abstract: 4-(3-Bromoacetylpyridinio)butyldiphosphoadenosine was synthesized with a [carbonyl-14C]acetyl label. The reactive coenzyme analogue inactivates alcohol dehydrogenase from Bacillus stearothermophilus by forming a covalent enzyme-coenzyme compound. The inactivation kinetics as well as the spectral properties of the modified enzyme after treatment with sodium hyposulphite suggest that the analogue is bound at the coenzyme binding site. B. stearothermophilus alcohol dehydrogenase modified with 14C-labelled coenzyme analogue and subsequently carboxymethylated with unlabelled iodoacetic acid was digested with trypsin. The radioactive peptide was isolated and sequenced in parallel with the corresponding peptide similarly isolated from unmodified enzyme that had instead been carboxymethylated with iodo[14C]acetic acid. Amino acid and sequence analysis show that Cys-38 of the B. stearothermophilus alcohol dehydrogenase was modified by the reactive coenzyme analogue. This residue is homologous to Cys-43 in yeast alcohol dehydrogenase and Cys-46 in the horse liver enzyme but, unlike the latter two, Cys-38 is not reactive towards iodoacetate in the native bacterial enzyme.

16 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: For small proteins successive stages in the folding have been resolved kinetically; these suggest that H-bonded elements of secondary structure are formed first, followed by folding steps to generate the complete tertiary structure.
Abstract: The acquisition of the native three-dimensional structure of proteins consists of sequential folding reactions with well-populated and well-defined structural intermediates. For small proteins successive stages in the folding have been resolved kinetically; these suggest that H-bonded elements of secondary structure are formed first, followed by folding steps to generate the complete tertiary structure.

656 citations

Book ChapterDOI
TL;DR: This chapter describes the advances with an emphasis on the structures of the alcohol dehydrogenases and the relationship between structure and function, and establishes that mammalian alcohol dehydrogensases have a distant evolutionary link to both the yeast and bacterial enzymes.
Abstract: Publisher Summary This chapter describes the advances with an emphasis on the structures of the alcohol dehydrogenases and the relationship between structure and function Yeast and mammalian alcohol dehydrogenase differ in substrate specificity and rate of catalytic activity The classic yeast enzyme is more specific for acetaldehyde and ethanol, which is consistent with its recognized physiological Significance to participate in alcohol fermentation at the end of the glycolytic pathway Enzyme forms with other functions and properties also occur in yeast The mammalian enzymes have broad substrate specificity and, even with primary alcohols, the maximum activity is not observed with ethanol Alcohols including ethanol, produced in the intestinal tracts mainly by bacterial actions, are found in the portal vein One physiological function of liver alcohol dehydrogenase may be to metabolize these products Structural studies have established that mammalian alcohol dehydrogenases have a distant evolutionary link to both the yeast and bacterial enzymes Ingested alcohol is metabolized to acetaldehyde mainly by the action of liver alcohol dehydrogenase

656 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The ability of heme, tetrahydrobiopterin, and L-arginine to promote subunit dimerization is unprecedented and suggests novel roles for these molecules in forming and stabilizing the active dimeric NOS.

394 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Comparisons reveal extensive variations in alcohol dehydrogenase, but with evolutionary changes that are of the same order in different branches and at different times, and illustrate the requirements for functionally important binding interactions, and the extent of space restrictions in proteins with related overall conformations and functions.
Abstract: Sixteen characterized alcohol dehydrogenases and one sorbitol dehydrogenase have been aligned. The proteins represent two formally different enzyme activities (EC 1.1.1.1 and EC 1.1.1.14), three different types of molecule (dimeric alcohol dehydrogenase, tetrameric alcohol dehydrogenase, tetrameric sorbitol dehydrogenase), metalloproteins with different zinc contents (1 or 2 atoms per subunit), and polypeptide chains from different kingdoms and orders (mammals, higher plants, fungus, yeasts). Present comparisons utilizing all 17 forms reveal extensive variations in alcohol dehydrogenase, but with evolutionary changes that are of the same order in different branches and at different times. They emphasize the general importance of particular residues, suggesting related overall functional constraints in the molecules. The comparisons also define a few coincidences between intron positions in the genes and gap positions in the gene products. Only 22 residues are strictly conserved; half of these are Gly, and most of the remaining ones are Pro or acidic residues. No basic residue, no straight-chain hydrophobic residues, no aromatic residues, and essentially no branched-chain or polar neutral residues are invariable. Tentative consensus sequences were calculated, defining 13 additional residues likely to be typical of but not invariant among the alcohol dehydrogenases. These show a predominance of Val, charged residues, and Gly. Combined, the comparisons, which are particularly relevant to the data base for protein engineering, illustrate the requirements for functionally important binding interactions, and the extent of space restrictions in proteins with related overall conformations and functions.

312 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Sequence comparisons of the class 3 ALDH with other ALDHs indicate a similar polypeptide fold, novel NAD-binding mode and catalytic site for this family, and a mechanism for enzymatic specificity and activity is postulated.
Abstract: The first structure of an aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) is described at 2.6 A resolution. Each subunit of the dimeric enzyme contains an NAD-binding domain, a catalytic domain and a bridging domain. At the interface of these domains is a 15 A long funnel-shaped passage with a 6 × 12 A opening leading to a putative catalytic pocket. A new mode of NAD binding, which differs substantially from the classic β-α-β binding mode associated with the ‘Rossmann fold’, is observed which we term the β-α,β mode. Sequence comparisons of the class 3 ALDH with other ALDHs indicate a similar polypeptide fold, novel NAD-binding mode and catalytic site for this family. A mechanism for enzymatic specificity and activity is postulated.

293 citations