title: Activity and conformational changes of alpha-chymotrypsin in reverse micelles studied by spin labeling.
abstract: alpha-Chymotrypsin (CT), spin-labeled at the active site by using an acylating label which constitutes a substrate for this protein, has been investigated in reverse micelles formed by AOT in isooctane. The electron spin resonance spectra provided information on conformation, dynamics and deacylation activity. The dynamics of the label bound to CT appears to be more hindered in reverse micelles than in aqueous solution, probably owing to the effect of the micellar environment on protein conformation. The deacylation rate in reverse micelles does not show the characteristic bell-shaped dependence on water content which is generally found for CT enzymatic activity.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica e Chimica Industriale, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marzola
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Forte
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pinzino
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Veracini
mesh_terms: D000215:Acylation; D000345:Affinity Labels; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002918:Chymotrypsin / Q000737:chemistry*; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D008823:Micelles; D010179:Pancreas / Q000201:enzymology; D011487:Protein Conformation
chemical_list: D000345:Affinity Labels; D008823:Micelles; D002918:Chymotrypsin