21st Annual Student Research Conference
High Resolution Crystal Structure of the Phe223Leu Mutant of Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase from E. Coli
Melissa K. Thorstad
Dr. John J. Tanner (University of Missouri - Columbia) and Dr. James McCormick, Faculty Mentors
The flavoprotein methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) catalyzes the reduction of methylenetetrahydrofolate to methyltetrahydrofolate using NADH as the hydride donor and FAD as an intermediate hydride acceptor/donor. The action of MTHFR influences folate levels, which in turn, affects plasma homocysteine levels. Elevated plasma homocysteine levels in humans are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and neural tube defects. As previous research has indicated a unique mode of NADH binding involving stacking interaction with Phe223, this work is aimed at determining the structural consequences of mutating Phe223 to Leu. The Phe223Leu mutant has been crystallized and the structure determined to 1.75 Å resolution using data collected at the Advance Light Source. Current work is focused on determining the structure of reduced Phe223Leu complexed with NADH.
Keywords: Protein Crystallography, Physical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase
Topic(s):Chemistry
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 4-2
Location: OP Lobby
Time: 4:15