Ergothioneine in an Enzyme: Using Protein Engineering to Create a Unique Antioxidant Enzyme Containing 2-thiohistidine
Conference Year
January 2022
Abstract
Ergothioneine is a sulfur containing amino acid with unique antioxidant properties. The amino acid 2-thiohistidine is an analog of ergothioneine and displays very similar antioxidant qualities. 2-thiohistidine can be inserted into a peptide, and therefore the unique properties of ergothioneine can be conferred to a protein. Insertion of 2-thiohistidine into an enzyme for its antioxidant properties would create a unique catalyst with novel function which could be used to protect biomolecules from oxidative stress. In this project I tested the gain of function of a mutant enzyme containing 2-thiohistidine to replace the c-terminal active cysteine in Plasmodium falciparum thioredoxin reductase.
Primary Faculty Mentor Name
Robert Hondal
Graduate Student Mentors
Kaelyn Jenny
Status
Undergraduate
Student College
College of Arts and Sciences
Program/Major
Biochemistry
Second Program/Major
Pharmacology
Primary Research Category
Biological Sciences
Ergothioneine in an Enzyme: Using Protein Engineering to Create a Unique Antioxidant Enzyme Containing 2-thiohistidine
Ergothioneine is a sulfur containing amino acid with unique antioxidant properties. The amino acid 2-thiohistidine is an analog of ergothioneine and displays very similar antioxidant qualities. 2-thiohistidine can be inserted into a peptide, and therefore the unique properties of ergothioneine can be conferred to a protein. Insertion of 2-thiohistidine into an enzyme for its antioxidant properties would create a unique catalyst with novel function which could be used to protect biomolecules from oxidative stress. In this project I tested the gain of function of a mutant enzyme containing 2-thiohistidine to replace the c-terminal active cysteine in Plasmodium falciparum thioredoxin reductase.