Question

Effects of the mutation where a lysine is turned into a glutamine on enzymatic activity

Answer 1

Lysine is a small basic amino acid whereas glutamine is a large acidic amino acid. Thus, the stability of these two amino acids is different under the same pH. This means that the stability and thus activity of this enzyme would be different under the same pH. Whereas lysine contains a basic alkyl group at pH 7, glutamin contains an acidic alkyl group. Thus, the enzyme experiencing this transition will have a detrimental effect on its activity, given the change takes place in the active site of this enzyme.

If the transition mutation takes place in the active site, the activity of the enzyme would be deteriorated due to altered protonation pattern of the enzyme. Hence the complete action of the enzyme would not be obtained and the enzyme structure and function will deteriorate.