Anthrax lethal factor endopeptidase
Encyclopedia
Anthrax lethal factor endopeptidase is an enzyme
that catalyzes the hydrolysis of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases. This enzyme is a component of the lethal factor
produced by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis
. The preferred cleavage site can be denoted by BBBBxHxH, in which B denotes a basic amino acid Arg
or Lys
, H denotes a hydrophobic amino acid, and x is any amino acid.
Enzyme
Enzymes are proteins that catalyze chemical reactions. In enzymatic reactions, the molecules at the beginning of the process, called substrates, are converted into different molecules, called products. Almost all chemical reactions in a biological cell need enzymes in order to occur at rates...
that catalyzes the hydrolysis of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases. This enzyme is a component of the lethal factor
Anthrax toxin
Anthrax toxin is a three-protein exotoxin secreted by virulent strains of the bacterium, Bacillus anthracis--the causative agent of anthrax. The toxin was first discovered by Harry Smith in 1954. Anthrax toxin is composed of a cell-binding protein, known as protective antigen , and two enzyme...
produced by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis
Bacillus anthracis
Bacillus anthracis is the pathogen of the Anthrax acute disease. It is a Gram-positive, spore-forming, rod-shaped bacterium, with a width of 1-1.2µm and a length of 3-5µm. It can be grown in an ordinary nutrient medium under aerobic or anaerobic conditions.It is one of few bacteria known to...
. The preferred cleavage site can be denoted by BBBBxHxH, in which B denotes a basic amino acid Arg
Arginine
Arginine is an α-amino acid. The L-form is one of the 20 most common natural amino acids. At the level of molecular genetics, in the structure of the messenger ribonucleic acid mRNA, CGU, CGC, CGA, CGG, AGA, and AGG, are the triplets of nucleotide bases or codons that codify for arginine during...
or Lys
Lysine
Lysine is an α-amino acid with the chemical formula HO2CCH4NH2. It is an essential amino acid, which means that the human body cannot synthesize it. Its codons are AAA and AAG....
, H denotes a hydrophobic amino acid, and x is any amino acid.