Equilibrium unfolding of a 69-kDa monomeric Escherichia coli maltodextrin glucosidase (MalZ) was studied using intrinsic and extrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy. The unfolding transition of MalZ followed a three-state process, involving the formation of a stable intermediate state having more exposed hydrophobic surface. It was found that the protein structure can be easily perturbed by low con...

We have identified and characterized an anti-human renin monoclonal antibody R1-20-5 that is selective for human active renin. R1-20-5 binds active renin with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 2.5 x 10(-7) M/l and inhibits renin enzymatic activity with an inhibitory constant (IC50) of 1.4 x 10(-8) M/l. R1-20-5 competes with a synthetic renin inhibitor for binding with renin, demonstrating further...

Recently, mutations of the active site Lys296 residue in rhodopsin (Lys296-->Glu and Lys296-->Met) have been found as the cause of disease in some patients with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa. In vitro, these mutations result in constitutive activation of the protein. In an effort to develop a potential therapeutic agent for treatment of the disease, we have examined various amine deri...