Search results

Lysostaphin, an endopeptidase specific for the cell wall peptidoglycan of staphylococci, is an extremely potent anti-staphylococcal agent. Lysostaphin is used as a research and diagnostic tool. Because it lyses staphylococci efficiently, it is widely used when preparing staphylococcal DNA or other cellular components for genetic and biochemical studies and for the preparation of protoplasts for transformation. Preparation and analysis of bacterial DNA has become a powerful tool used by clinical and other microbiologists in epidemiological studies aimed at tracing sources of infection or bacterial contamination.

GAPDH is a catalytic enzyme normally known to play a role in glycolysis. GAPDH exists as a tetramer composed of 36-kDa subunits and has a range of intracellular functions. GAPDH catalyzes the reversible reduction of 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate to glyceraldehyde 3-phosphophate in the presence of NADPH. Besides functioning as a glycolytic enzyme in cytoplasm, GAPDH has function in intracellular processes such as membrane fusion, microtubule bundling, phosphotransferase activity, nuclear RNA export, DNA replication and DNA repair. GAPDH catalyzes a vital energy-yielding step in carbohydrate metabolism, the reversible oxidative phosphorylation of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate in the presence of inorganic phosphate and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). The enzyme exists as a tetramer of identical chains.

Glutamyl endopeptidase (GLU-C) is an enzyme which cleaves peptide bonds on the carboxyl-terminal side of glutamic acid and, less frequently, aspartic acid (for example: Glu-|-Xaa, Asp-|-Xaa). GLU-C is a pathogenic factor involved in the adherence and colonization of human tissue. GLU-C preferentially cleaves peptide bonds on the carboxyl-terminal side of aspartate and glutamate. GLU-C is required for proteolytic maturation of thiol protease SspB and inactivation of SspC, an inhibitor of SspB. GLU-C is the most important protease for degradation of fibronectin-binding protein (FnBP) and surface protein A, which are involved in adherence to host cells. Furthermore, GLU-C protects bacteria against host defense mechanism by cleaving the immunoglobulin classes IgG, IgA and IgM. GLU-C may also be involved in the stability of secreted lipases.

Pyrroline-5-Carboxylate Reductase Like (PYCRL) is a member of the pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase family and acts as a homodecamer. PYCRL plays a key role in proline bio-synthesis. Proline serves as a non-enzymatic antioxidant to reduce damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) in microorganisms, animals and plants. In the final stage of proline biosynthesis, PYCRL catalyzes the reduction of aldehyde dehydrogenase 4A1 (ALDH4A1) to proline with NAD(P)H as the cofactor.

GLUL catalyzes the synthesis of glutamine from glutamate and ammonia. Glutamine is a major source of energy and that takes part in cell proliferation, inhibition of apoptosis, and cell signaling. GLUL is expressed during early fetal stages, and has a role in maintaining body pH by removing ammonia from circulation. Mutations in GLUL gene are related with congenital glutamine deficiency.

HAGH is a part of the glyoxalase family and a thiolesterase which hydrolyses S-lactoyl-glutathione to reduced glutathione and D-lactate. HAGH protein is a detoxifying enzyme of glycolysis byproduct methylglyoxal and a target of p63 and p73 and serves as a pro-survival factor of the p53 family. HAGH appears only as a monomer and binds two zinc ions per subunit.

HEXA is the alpha subunit of the lysosomal enzyme beta-hexosaminidase which, combined with the cofactor GM2 activator protein, catalyzes the degradation of the ganglioside GM2, and other molecules having N-acetyl hexosamines terminus. The two subunits composing Beta-hexosaminidase, alpha and beta, belong to the glycosyl hydrolases family and are encoded by distinct genes. Alpha subunit gene mutations can cause Tay-Sachs disease (GM2-gangliosidosis type I).

DCXR catalyzes the NADPH-dependent reduction of numerous pentoses, tetroses, trioses, alpha-dicarbonyl molecules and L-xylulose. DCXR takes part in the uronate cycle of glucose metabolism. DCXR participates in the water absorption and cellular osmoregulation in the proximal renal tubules by producing xylitol, an osmolyte, thus preventing osmolytic stress from occurring in the renal tubules.