Impact of Amino Acid Substitution on Enzyme Activity

Hard Biochemistry Amino Acids And Proteins

In order to understand protein function and structure, it is essential to consider the properties of individual amino acids. Amino acids can be classified based on their side chain (R group) properties, which influence protein folding and interactions.

Consider the following amino acid, Valine (Val), which is structurally characterized by its branched-chain structure. In a given enzymatic protein that relies on substrate binding, a mutation occurs where a Valine is replaced by Glutamic acid (Glu), which has a charged side chain. This alteration could significantly impact the protein's activity and stability.

Given this context, which of the following statements correctly describes the consequence of replacing Valine with Glutamic acid in this enzymatic protein?

The mutation will enhance enzyme activity due to the introduction of a charged group.

The mutation may introduce a new binding site that improves substrate binding.

The mutation will likely disrupt the hydrophobic interactions that stabilize the protein's structure.

The mutation will have no effect on the protein's activity if the overall fold is maintained.

Hint

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