Purification and characterization of a tyrosine aminotransferase from Crithidia fasciculata

Mol Biochem Parasitol. 1987 Aug;25(1):1-9. doi: 10.1016/0166-6851(87)90012-0.

Abstract

Tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT, EC 2.6.1.5) from the kinetoplastid, Crithidia fasciculata, was purified over 2000 fold to electrophoretic homogeneity. The native form of the enzyme had a molecular weight of approximately 100,000, whereas under denaturing conditions it produced two polypeptides of approximately 50,000 and 48,000, respectively. Absence of a reaction with the periodic acid-Schiff stain suggested that the crithidial enzyme was not a glycoprotein. It was relatively stable and remained active over a wide range of pH and temperature. It exhibited a broad substrate specificity and was able to utilize L-tyrosine, L-tryptophan, and L-phenylalanine as amino donors. Antiserum produced against partially purified crithidial tyrosine aminotransferase failed to inhibit the enzymatic activity. The same antiserum cross-reacted with a soluble extract from Trypanosoma brucei gambiense, but not with that from normal mouse liver, confirming evolutionary conservatism between the two protozoa.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chromatography
  • Crithidia / enzymology*
  • Cross Reactions
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Kinetics
  • Liver / enzymology
  • Mice
  • Phenylalanine / metabolism
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Temperature
  • Trypanosoma brucei gambiense / immunology
  • Tryptophan / metabolism
  • Tyrosine / metabolism
  • Tyrosine Transaminase / analysis
  • Tyrosine Transaminase / immunology
  • Tyrosine Transaminase / isolation & purification*
  • Tyrosine Transaminase / metabolism

Substances

  • Tyrosine
  • Phenylalanine
  • Tryptophan
  • Tyrosine Transaminase