The Crystal Structure of a Streptomyces thermoviolaceus Thermophilic Chitinase Known for Its Refolding Efficiency.
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ABSTRACT: Analyzing the structure of proteins from extremophiles is a promising way to study the rules governing the protein structure, because such proteins are results of structural and functional optimization under well-defined conditions. Studying the structure of chitinases addresses an interesting aspect of enzymology, because chitin, while being the world's second most abundant biopolymer, is also a recalcitrant substrate. The crystal structure of a thermostable chitinase from Streptomyces thermoviolaceus (StChi40) has been solved revealing a ?/?-barrel (TIM-barrel) fold with an ?+? insertion domain. This is the first chitinase structure of the multi-chitinase system of S. thermoviolaceus. The protein is also known to refold efficiently after thermal or chemical denaturation. StChi40 is structurally close to the catalytic domain of psychrophilic chitinase B from Arthrobacter TAD20. Differences are noted in comparison to the previously examined chitinases, particularly in the substrate-binding cleft. A comparison of the thermophilic enzyme with its psychrophilic homologue revealed structural features that could be attributed to StChi40's thermal stability: compactness of the structure with trimmed surface loops and unique disulfide bridges, one of which is additionally stabilized by S-? interactions with aromatic rings. Uncharacteristically for thermophilic proteins, StChi40 has fewer salt bridges than its mesophilic and psychrophilic homologues.
SUBMITTER: Malecki PH
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7215727 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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