Publications [#232642] of Michael C. Fitzgerald

Journal Articles

  1. Silinski, P; Fitzgerald, MC, "A stable dimer in the pH-induced equilibrium unfolding of the homo-hexameric enzyme 4-oxalocrotonate tautomerase (4-OT).", BiochemistryApril,, 2002, 41(13), 4480-4491 [11914096], [doi].
    (last updated on 2026/01/16)

    Abstract:
    4-Oxalocrotonate tautomerase (4-OT) is a multimeric, bacterial enzyme comprised of 6 identical 62-amino acid subunits, which associate under native conditions to form a homo-hexameric structure stabilized entirely by noncovalent interactions. We have previously shown that the GuHCl-induced equilibrium unfolding of 4-OT at pH 8.5 is well modeled as a two-state process involving only hexamer and unfolded monomer; and we have obtained spectroscopic evidence that intermediate state(s) is (are) populated in the equilibrium unfolding reaction at pHs 6.0 and 7.4 [Silinski, P., Allingham, M. J., and Fitzgerald, M. C. (2001) Biochemistry 40, 4493-4502]. Here, we report on the pH-induced equilibrium unfolding of 4-OT using size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), far-UV-circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, and catalytic activity measurements over the pH range from 1.5 to 10.1. Our results indicate that the native hexamer of 4-OT is the predominant species in solution at pHs > or =6.2, that a partially folded dimeric state of 4-OT is stabilized in solution at pH 4.8, and that the enzyme is largely denatured in strongly acidic solutions (pH < or =3.1). GuHCl-induced equilibrium unfolding studies on 4-OT at pH 4.8 indicate that the folded 4-OT dimer populated at this pH is stabilized by 11.7 kcal.mol(-1). The results of biophysical studies on a fluorescent analogue of the enzyme, 4-OT(F50Y), and the results of UV photo-cross-linking studies on a synthetically derived 4-OT analogue, 4-OT(P1Bpa), suggest the polypeptide chains in the 4-OT dimer are nativelike in structure with the exception of their C-termini.