Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4G (eIF4G) plays a crucial role in translation initiation, serving as a scaffolding protein binding several other initiation factors, other proteins, and RNA. Binding of eIF4G to the ATP-dependent RNA helicase eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A (eIF4A) enhances the activity of eIF4A in solution and in crowded environments. Previously, this activ...

TrwB is the conjugative coupling protein of plasmid R388. TrwBDeltaN70 contains the soluble domain of TrwB. It was constructed by deletion of trwB sequences containing TrwB N-proximal transmembrane segments. Purified TrwBDeltaN70 protein bound tightly the fluorescent ATP analogue TNP-ATP (K(s) = 8.7 microM) but did not show measurable ATPase or GTPase activity. A single ATP binding site was fou...

We have undertaken studies to identify amino acid residues that are involved in the catalytic mechanism of argininosuccinate synthetase [L-citrulline:L-aspartate ligase (AMP-forming), EC 6.3.4.5] and have found that a cysteine residue and an arginine residue are required for activity. The reactive cysteine residues are accessible to solvent and available to react with 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenz...

Cytoplasmic dynein is a minus-end-directed microtubule motor involved in numerous essential processes within eukaryotic cells, such as nuclear segregation and trafficking of intracellular particles. The motor domain of the dynein heavy chain comprises six tandemly linked AAA (ATPase associated with diverse cellular activities) modules (AAA1-AAA6). The first four modules include nucleotide-bindi...

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) channel opening and closing are driven by cycles of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) binding-induced formation and hydrolysis-triggered disruption of a heterodimer of its cytoplasmic nucleotide-binding domains (NBDs). Although both composite sites enclosed within the heterodimer interface contain ATP in an open CFTR channel, ATP hydrolysis ...

Protein kinases are important mediators of cellular communication and attractive drug targets for many diseases. Although success has been achieved with developing ATP-competitive kinase inhibitors, the disadvantages of ATP-competitive inhibitors have led to increased interest in targeting sites outside of the ATP binding pocket. Kinase inhibitors with substrate-competitive, ATP-noncompetitive ...

Abstract DNA gyrase, a type II topoisomerase found predominantly in bacteria, is the target for variety of ‘poisons’, namely natural product toxins (e.g. albicidin, microcin B17) and clinically important synthetic molecules fluoroquinolones). Resistance to both groups can be mediated by pentapeptide repeat proteins (PRPs). Despite long-term studies, mechanism action these protective PRPs not kn...