alpha lactalbumin

3D Structure of alpha lactalbumin

CPK Color Scheme C O N P S

Alpha lactalbumin is a globular proein that is produced in mammary glands (Ren, et al 1993). It has an approximate molecular mass of 14,200 (Acharya, et al 1991). Alpha lactalbumin regulates lactose biosynthesis by forming the lactose synthase complex with beta 1,4 galactosyltransferase. Alpha lactalbumin binds several metal ions, including calcium, which is thought to play a role in the regeneration of native alpha lactalbumin from the reduced denatured form. Alpha lactalbumin also has a distinct zinc binding site that is thought to play a role in the binding of the lactose synthase complex (Ren, et al 1993).

DISCOVERING THE STRUCTURE OF ALPHA LACTALBUMIN

Click on the buttons below for different views:

To display the molecule's turns (blue), alpha helices (red), and beta sheets (yellow), click

here.

To display the molecule's N-terminus (blue) and C-terminus (green), click

here.

To display the molecule's calcium binding site, click

here.

To display the molecule's zinc binding site, click

here.

REFERENCES

Acharya, K, Ren J, Stuart, DI, Phillips, DC. (1991). Crystal Structure of Human a-Lactalbumin at 1.7Å Resolution. J. Mol. Biol. 221, 571-581.

Kogoy, John. 2003. Chime Tutorial Manual. Accessed 2003, April 2.

Ren, J, Stuart, DI, Acharya, KR. (1993). a-Lactalbumin Possesses a Distinct Zinc Binding Site. J. Biol. Chem. 268, 19292-19298.