Regulation of F. tularensis MEP synthase.

A) Intrinsic fluorescence spectra of MEP synthase and its mutants. Wildtype and mutant (S177D and S177E) proteins were adjusted to 5 µM in 0.1 M Tris pH 7.5, 1 mM NaCl, 5 mM DTT and analyzed using an excitation wavelength of 290 nm. The emission spectra was measured from 310 to 400 nm. The Em λ_max of wildtype MEP synthase was detected at 335 nm, of S177E was detected at 337 nm, and of S177D was detected at 326 nm. The blue shift observed with S177D is indicative of a conformational change sequestering tryptophan residues into a hydrophobic environment. The slight red shift observed with S177E is indicative of a conformational change exposing tryptophan residues to a hydrophilic environment. The increased quantum yield observed with both S177D and S177E is also indicative of a structural change in MEP synthase. B) The relative catalytic activity of wildtype MEP synthase and the S177D and S177E mutants. Assays were performed with 300 µM DXP and 150 µM NADPH.