Sandbox Reserved 919: Difference between revisions
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==Introduction== | ==Introduction== | ||
'''Monoglyceride Lipase''' ('''MGL''', '''MAGL''', '''MGLL''') is a 33 kDa [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein protein] found mostly in the cell membrane. It is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serine_hydrolase serine hydrolase] enzyme that exhibits an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha/beta_hydrolase_fold α/β hydrolase fold]. MGL plays a key role in the hydrolysis of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2-Arachidonoylglycerol 2-arachidonoylglycerol] (2-AG), an endocannabinoid produced by the the central nervous system. The α/β fold, along with a characteristic [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphiphile amphipathic] occluded tunnel, allows 2-AG to selectively bind to the active site and be degraded into [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arachidonic_acid arachidonic acid] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycerol glycerol]. Upon breakdown, glycerol leaves via | '''Monoglyceride Lipase''' ('''MGL''', '''MAGL''', '''MGLL''') is a 33 kDa [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein protein] <ref name="labar"> PMID:19957260 </ref> found mostly in the cell membrane. It is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serine_hydrolase serine hydrolase] enzyme that exhibits an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha/beta_hydrolase_fold α/β hydrolase fold]. MGL plays a key role in the hydrolysis of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2-Arachidonoylglycerol 2-arachidonoylglycerol] (2-AG), an endocannabinoid produced by the the central nervous system. The α/β fold, along with a characteristic [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphiphile amphipathic] occluded tunnel, allows 2-AG to selectively bind to the active site and be degraded into [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arachidonic_acid arachidonic acid] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycerol glycerol]. Upon breakdown, glycerol leaves via a distinctive "exit tunnel" found perpendicular to the active site. 2-AG has been found to possess anti-nociceptive, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and tumor-reductive character when it binds to cannabinoid receptors. <ref name="labar" /> <ref name="bert"> PMID:19962385 </ref> Due to the vast medical and therapeutic utility of 2-AG, the inhibition of MGL is a high interest target in pharmaceutical research. Furthermore, MGL has been cited as having both negative and positive effector roles in cancer pathology. | ||
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Bertrand, et al, created the first crystal structure of MGL in its <scene name='57/573133/Generic_monomer/3'>apo form</scene>. MGL is a part of the α-β hydrolase family of enzymes. This category of proteins contains an <scene name='57/573134/Beta_sheet/1'>eight-stranded</scene> [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_sheet beta sheet], specifically containing seven parallel and one antiparallel constituent strand, surrounded by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_helix alpha-helices]. <ref name="bert" /> | Bertrand, et al, created the first crystal structure of MGL in its <scene name='57/573133/Generic_monomer/3'>apo form</scene>. MGL is a part of the α-β hydrolase family of enzymes. This category of proteins contains an <scene name='57/573134/Beta_sheet/1'>eight-stranded</scene> [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_sheet beta sheet], specifically containing seven parallel and one antiparallel constituent strand, surrounded by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_helix alpha-helices]. <ref name="bert" /> | ||
MGL has a characteristic lid domain comprised of two large loops that surround <scene name='57/573134/Helix_a4/1'>helix A4</scene>. This region of the enzyme is the putative membrane-interacting moiety of the protein, which is consistent with its [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphiphile amphipathic] nature and outward-facing hydrophobic residues. It has been proposed that 2-AG and other lipids suspended in the hydrophobic section of the cell membrane associate with this region before entering the active tunnel. Interestingly, MGL’s lid domain may be more flexible than its analogs in other α-β hydrolases, due to the various conformations it assumed in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystallography crystallographic studies]. <ref name="bert" /> Currently, there is no consensus about the quaternary arrangement of MGL. Some researchers claim that it is found as a monomer <ref name="bert" /> <ref name="shalk"> PMID:21308848 </ref>, whereas others believe it to be a physiologically active <scene name='57/573134/Dimer/1'>dimer</scene>. <ref name="labar" | MGL has a characteristic lid domain comprised of two large loops that surround <scene name='57/573134/Helix_a4/1'>helix A4</scene>. This region of the enzyme is the putative membrane-interacting moiety of the protein, which is consistent with its [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphiphile amphipathic] nature and outward-facing hydrophobic residues. It has been proposed that 2-AG and other lipids suspended in the hydrophobic section of the cell membrane associate with this region before entering the active tunnel. Interestingly, MGL’s lid domain may be more flexible than its analogs in other α-β hydrolases, due to the various conformations it assumed in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystallography crystallographic studies]. <ref name="bert" /> Currently, there is no consensus about the quaternary arrangement of MGL. Some researchers claim that it is found as a monomer <ref name="bert" /> <ref name="shalk"> PMID:21308848 </ref>, whereas others believe it to be a physiologically active <scene name='57/573134/Dimer/1'>dimer</scene>. <ref name="labar" /> | ||
MGL contains an active site tunnel roughly 25Å long and 8Å wide residing beneath its lid region. Like its substrates, 2-AG and other [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoglyceride monoacylglycerols], the tunnel is largely amphipathic. Hydrophobic residues dominate the tunnel with the exception of the terminal occluded region, which houses the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalytic_triad#Ser-His-Asp catalytic triad]. In its apo form, the catalytic region is not solvent-exposed, unlike the wide opening of the tunnel. <ref name="bert" /><ref name="labar" /> A unique structural motif in MGL is a 5Å solvent-exposed hole connecting the exterior to the catalytic site. It is proposed to act as an “exit hole” through which the glycerol product leaves MGL. The fatty acid product, namely arachidonic acid, presumably travels back through the active site tunnel. <ref name="bert" /><ref name="shalk" /><ref name="labar" /> | MGL contains an active site tunnel roughly 25Å long and 8Å wide residing beneath its lid region. Like its substrates, 2-AG and other [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoglyceride monoacylglycerols], the tunnel is largely amphipathic. Hydrophobic residues dominate the tunnel with the exception of the terminal occluded region, which houses the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalytic_triad#Ser-His-Asp catalytic triad]. In its apo form, the catalytic region is not solvent-exposed, unlike the wide opening of the tunnel. <ref name="bert" /><ref name="labar" /> A unique structural motif in MGL is a 5Å solvent-exposed hole connecting the exterior to the catalytic site. It is proposed to act as an “exit hole” through which the glycerol product leaves MGL. The fatty acid product, namely arachidonic acid, presumably travels back through the active site tunnel. <ref name="bert" /><ref name="shalk" /><ref name="labar" /> | ||