title: Folding and stability of different oligomeric states of thiamin diphosphate dependent homomeric pyruvate decarboxylase.
abstract: The folding and stability of recombinant homomeric (alpha-only) pyruvate decarboxylase from yeast was investigated. Different oligomeric states (tetramers, dimers and monomers) of the enzyme occur under defined conditions. The enzymatic activity is used as a sensitive probe for structural differences between the active and inactive form (mis-assembled forms, aggregates) of the folded protein. Unfolding kinetics starting from the native protein comprise both the dissociation of the oligomers into monomers and their subsequent denaturation, which could be monitored by stopped-flow kinetics. In the course of unfolding, the tetramers do not directly dissociate into monomers, but via a stable dimeric state. Starting from the unfolded state, a reactivation of homomeric pyruvate decarboxylase requires both refolding to monomers and their correct association to enzymatically active dimers or tetramers. The reactivation yield under the in vitro conditions used follows an optimum behavior.
authors.affiliation: Analytik Jena AG, Konrad-Zuse-Strasse 1, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Margrit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Killenberg-Jabs
authors.forename: Gunther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kern
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hübner
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Golbik
mesh_terms: D002942:Circular Dichroism; D019281:Dimerization; D007700:Kinetics; D011489:Protein Denaturation / Q000187:drug effects; D017510:Protein Folding; D011767:Pyruvate Decarboxylase / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013696:Temperature; D014508:Urea / Q000494:pharmacology; D015003:Yeasts / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D014508:Urea; D011767:Pyruvate Decarboxylase