ROLE OF ALPHA-LACTALBUMIN IN LACTOSE BIOSYNTHESIS

这项研究的最终目标是在分子细节上了解 半乳糖基转移酶和 “修饰”蛋白，α-乳白蛋白。由于一般糖基转移是通过 这种酶存在于雄性和雌性物种的其他器官中， 当β-乳清蛋白被 仅在泌乳乳腺中分泌，以改变 特别用于乳糖合成的系统。 本研究的长期目标是（1）表征，分配和 绘制α-乳白蛋白分子上的特异性阳离子结合和其它区域 在溶液中，（2）表征、描述和映射底物（UDPgal） 半乳糖基上的供体位点、金属位点和（碳水化合物）受体位点 转移酶;和（3）描述参与的残基和相互作用， α-乳白蛋白-半乳糖基转移酶（“乳糖合酶”）复合物， 也就是说，α-乳白蛋白在乳糖生物合成中的作用。这些研究将 涉及ESR、NMR、photo-CIDNP、荧光以及 生化和酶学方法。

The ultimate goal of this research is to understand in molecular detail the interactions involved between the enzyme galactosyl transferase and the "modifier" protein, alpha-lactalbumin. Since general glycosyl transfer by this enzyme occurs in both male and female species in other organs, it is an important example of biological regulation when (&-lactalbumin is secreted only in lactating mammary gland to alter the specificity of the system specifically for lactose synthesis. The long term goals of this research are to (1) characterize, assign and map specific cation binding and other regions on the a-lactalbumin molecule in solution, (2) to characterize, describe and map the substrate (UDPgal) donor site, metal site(s) and (carbohydrate) acceptor site on galactosyl transferase; and (3) to describe the residues and interactions involved in the a-lactalbumin-galactosyl transferase ("lactose synthase") complex, i.e., the role of a-lactalbumin in lactose biosynthesis. These studies will involve the techniques of ESR, NMR, photo-CIDNP, fluorescence as well as biochemical and enzymological methods.