The gene specifying plastid transketolase (TK) of maize (Zea mays) was cloned from a cDNA library by southern blotting using a heterologous probe from sorghum (Sorghum bicolor). A recombinant fusion protein comprising thioredoxin of Escherichia coli and mature TK of maize was expressed at a high level in E. coli and cleaved with thrombin, affording plastid TK. The protein in complex with thiamine pyrophoshate was crystallized, and its structure was solved by molecular replacement. The enzyme is a C2 symmetric homodimer closely similar to the enzyme from yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). Each subunit is folded into three domains. The two topologically equivalent active sites are located in the subunit interface region and resemble those of the yeast enzyme.
通过南方杂交使用来自高粱(Sorghum bicolor)的异源探针,从玉米(Zea mays)的cDNA文库中克隆了编码质体转酮醇酶(TK)的基因。在大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)中高水平表达了由玉米成熟TK和大肠杆菌硫氧还蛋白组成的重组融合蛋白,并用凝血酶切割,得到质体TK。与硫胺素焦磷酸盐结合的蛋白质被结晶,并通过分子替代法解决了其结构。该酶是一个C2对称的同源二聚体,与酵母(Saccharomyces cerevisiae)酶非常相似。每个亚基折叠成三个结构域。两个拓扑等价的活性位点位于亚基界面区域,并类似于酵母酶的活性位点。
The transketolase (TKT) enzyme in