Gamma -Glutamyl carboxylation: An extracellular posttranslational modification that antedates the divergence of molluscs, arthropods, and chordates.

ABSTRACT: The posttranslational gamma-carboxylation of glutamate residues in secreted proteins to gamma-carboxyglutamate is carried out by the vitamin K-dependent enzyme gamma-glutamyl carboxylase. gamma-Carboxylation has long been thought to be a biochemical specialization of vertebrates, essential for blood clotting. Recently, a gamma-carboxylase was shown to be expressed in Drosophila, although its function remains undefined in this organism. We have characterized both cDNA and genomic clones for the gamma-glutamyl carboxylase from the marine mollusc, Conus, the only nonvertebrate organism for which gamma-carboxyglutamate-containing proteins have been biochemically and physiologically characterized. The predicted amino acid sequence has a high degree of sequence similarity to the Drosophila and v

SUBMITTER: Bandyopadhyay PK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC122178 | biostudies-literature | 2002 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature