ArticleslgStudy

engineering

Maleylacetoacetate isomerase

Maleylacetoacetate isomerase is a engineering topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Maleylacetoacetate isomerase rather than just read about it. In short: Maleylacetoacetate isomerase (EC 5.2.1.2) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction This enzyme belongs to the family of isomerases, specifically cis-trans isomerases. The systematic name of this enzyme class is 4-maleylacetoacetate cis-trans-isomerase. 4-Maleylacetoacetate isomerase is an enzyme involved in the degradation of L-phenylalanine.

Maleylacetoacetate isomerase — main illustration
Maleylacetoacetate isomerase — illustration

Key takeaways

  • Maleylacetoacetate isomerase belongs to engineering; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect Maleylacetoacetate isomerase to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of Maleylacetoacetate isomerase from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Maleylacetoacetate isomerase (EC 5.2.1.2) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

This enzyme belongs to the family of isomerases, specifically cis-trans isomerases. The systematic name of this enzyme class is 4-maleylacetoacetate cis-trans-isomerase. 4-Maleylacetoacetate isomerase is an enzyme involved in the degradation of L-phenylalanine. It is encoded by the gene glutathione S-transferase zeta 1, or GSTZ1. This enzyme catalyzes the conversion of 4-maleylacetoacetate to 4-fumarylacetoacetate. 4-Maleylacetoacetate isomerase belongs to the zeta class of the glutathione S-transferase (GST) superfamily.

Mechanism In the phenylalanine degradation pathway, 4-maleylacetoacetate isomerase catalyzes a cis-trans isomerization of 4-maleylacetoacetate to fumarylacetoacetate. 4-maleylacetoacetate isomerase requires the cofactor glutathione to function. Ser 15, Cys 16, Gln 111, and the helix dipole of alpha 1 of the enzyme stabilize the thiolate form of glutathione which activates it to attack the alpha carbon of 4-maleylacetoacetate, thus breaking the double bond and allowing rotation around the single bond.

4-maleylacetoacetate is converted to 4-fumarylacetoacetate, this compound can be broken down into fumarate and acetoacetate by the enzyme fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase. The conversion of 4-maleylacetoacetate to fumarylacetoacetate is a step in the catabolism of phenylalanine and tyrosine, amino acids acquired through dietary protein consumption. When 4-maleylacetoacetate isomerase is unable to function properly, the 4-maleylacetoacetate may be converted instead to succinylacetoacetate and further broken down into succinate and acetoacetate by fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase.

Structure

4-maleylacetoacetate is a homodimer. It is classified as an isomerase transferase. It has a total residue count of 216 and a total atom count of 1700. This enzyme's theoretical weight is 24.11 KDa. 4-maleylacetoacetate isomerase has 3 isoforms The most common isoform has two domains, the N-terminal domain (4-87) the C terminal domain (92-212) and the glutathione binding site (14-19, 71-72 and 115-117). The N-terminal domain has a four stranded beta sheet which is sandwiched by alpha helices on both sides to form a three layer sandwich tertiary structure. The C terminal domain is composed mostly of alpha helices and has an up down structure of tightly bundled alpha helices. Glutathione binds in positions 14-19, 71-72, and 115-117. It also binds the sulfate ion and dithiothreitol.

Clinical significance Maleylacetoacetate isomerase deficiency is a disease caused by a mutation in the gene GSTZ1. This is an autosomal recessive inborn error of metabolism. It is caused by a mutation in the gene that codes for the synthesis of 4-maleylacetoacetate isomerase, GSTZ1. Mutations in 4-maleylacetoacetate isomerase resulted in accumulation of fumarylacetoacetate and succinylacetone in the urine, but individuals were otherwise healthy. It is likely that there exists an alternate nonenzymatic bypass that allows the catabolism of 4-maleylacetoacetate in the absence of 4-maleylacetoacetate isomerase. Because of this mechanism, a mutation in the gene encoding 4-Maleylacetoacetate isomerase is not considered dangerous. GSTZ1 is highly expressed in the liver, however mutations in this gene do not impair liver function or coagulation.

Gene expression The gene from which this enzyme is synthesized is mostly expressed in the liver, with some expression in the kidneys, skeletal muscle, and brain. It is also expressed in melanocytes, synovium, placenta, breasts, fetal liver and heart.

Related enzymes Other enzymes involved in the catabolism of phenylalanine include phenylalanine hydroxylase, aminotransferase, p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase, homogentisate oxidase, and fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase. Mutations in some of these enzymes can lead to more severe diseases such as, phenylketonuria, alkaptonuria, and tyrosinemia. The gene GSTZ1 is located on chromosome 14q24.3.

References

Further reading

Illustrations

Maleylacetoacetate isomerase illustration
Maleylacetoacetate isomerase illustration
Maleylacetoacetate isomerase illustration
Maleylacetoacetate isomerase: This image shows the structure of the peptide backbone of 4-maleylacetoacetate isomerase, highlighting the glutathione binding site.
This image shows the structure of the peptide backbone of 4-maleylacetoacetate isomerase, highlighting the glutathione binding site.
Maleylacetoacetate isomerase: This image shows the conversion of 4-maleylacetoacetate to fumarate and acetoacetate, as well as the enzymes that catalyze each step and cofactors required.
This image shows the conversion of 4-maleylacetoacetate to fumarate and acetoacetate, as well as the enzymes that catalyze each step and cofactors required.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Maleylacetoacetate isomerase

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Maleylacetoacetate isomerase claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In engineering, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Maleylacetoacetate isomerase before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Maleylacetoacetate isomerase ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Maleylacetoacetate isomerase

In research
Maleylacetoacetate isomerase appears in engineering research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses Maleylacetoacetate isomerase in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
Maleylacetoacetate isomerase is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics EC 5.2.1, Enzymes of known structure, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for Maleylacetoacetate isomerase outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.
Ask Teacher Smith questions about this articleOpens your AI tutor with a question about “Maleylacetoacetate isomerase” →

Affiliate

Preply — study more efficiently by working with a personal tutor. 50% off.

How to study Maleylacetoacetate isomerase in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what Maleylacetoacetate isomerase means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain Maleylacetoacetate isomerase out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Maleylacetoacetate isomerase in simple terms?

Maleylacetoacetate isomerase (EC 5.2.1.2) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction This enzyme belongs to the family of isomerases, specifically cis-trans isomerases. The systematic name of this enzyme class is 4-maleylacetoacetate cis-trans-isomerase. 4-Maleylacetoacetate isomerase is an…

Why does Maleylacetoacetate isomerase matter?

Because it connects several engineering ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Maleylacetoacetate isomerase?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Maleylacetoacetate isomerase.

Tags

  • EC 5.2.1
  • Enzymes of known structure

Keep exploring