Structural characterization of the nonameric assembly of an Archaeal alpha-L-fucosidase by synchrotron small angle X-ray scattering

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2004 Jul 16;320(1):176-82. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2004.05.149.

Abstract

alpha-l-Fucosidase is a lysosomal enzyme responsible for hydrolyzing the alpha-1,6-linked fucose joined to the reducing-end N-acetylglucosamine of carbohydrate moieties in glycoproteins. The first alpha-l-fucosidase from Archaea was recently identified in the genome of the hyperthermophile Sulfolobus solfataricus; the enzyme is encoded by two open reading frames separated by a -1 frameshift. A preliminary biochemical and biophysical characterization of this extremophile enzyme has been carried out both in solution, through small angle X-ray scattering experiments, and in the crystalline state, showing an unusual oligomeric assembly resulting from the association of nine subunits, endowed with 3-fold molecular symmetry.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Computer Simulation
  • Crystallization / methods*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Weight
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • Solutions
  • Sulfolobus / enzymology*
  • Synchrotrons
  • X-Ray Diffraction / methods*
  • alpha-L-Fucosidase / analysis
  • alpha-L-Fucosidase / chemistry*
  • alpha-L-Fucosidase / metabolism

Substances

  • Solutions
  • alpha-L-Fucosidase