Anatomy of enzyme channels.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Enzyme active sites can be connected to the exterior environment by one or more channels passing through the protein. Despite our current knowledge of enzyme structure and function, surprisingly little is known about how often channels are present or about any structural features such channels may have in common.

Results

Here, we analyze the long channels (i.e. >15 Å) leading to the active sites of 4,306 enzyme structures. We find that over 64% of enzymes contain two or more long channels, their typical length being 28 Å. We show that amino acid compositions of the channel significantly differ both to the composition of the active site, surface and interior of the protein.

Conclusions

The majority of enzymes have buried active sites accessible via a network

SUBMITTER: Pravda L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4245731 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature