High-Field EPR on Oxalate Decarboxylase, and New Applications for EPR
Event details
| Date | 07.07.2011 |
| Hour | 16:00 |
| Speaker | Prof. Alex Angerhofer, University of Florida |
| Location |
BM6204
|
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
Oxalate decarboxylase (OxDC) is a Mn-dependent bicupin enzyme which catalyzes the redox-neutral heterolytic carbon-carbon cleavage of the protonated oxalate monoanion.
Our goal is to elucidate the
enzymatic mechanism that causes this difficult reaction. One of the important questions is the location of the active site near either the N- or the C-terminal location of the
Mn(II) ions. We are using a multifrequency approach (including very high fields) to the EPR of the Mn(II) sites to distinguish them spectroscopically, coupled with site-directed mutants that allow us to identify the location of the spectroscopic sites. This approach is coupled with other EPR techniques such as electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) and spin trapping. We also employ mass spectrometric tools such as membrane-inlet mass spectrometry (MIMS) to follow the kinetics of gas production and consumption.
Results will be presented that support the N-terminal site as the active site of the enzyme and a flexible protein loop as the gate-keeper for substrate trafficking.
The presentation will also touch on new applications of EPR using microscopic resonators that are currently being developed.
Practical information
- General public
- Free