Elucidating the Role of Phenylalanine in the Urate Oxidase Enzyme

Interns

Andrew Garcia - Biology

Allison Koopman - Biochemistry (CCS)

Joshua Lakin - Electrical Engineering

Project Description

Urate oxidase (UOx) is an enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of uric acid to 5-hydroxyisourate with the aid of molecular oxygen and water. One of the most unique features about this enzyme is that the oxidation of uric acid can occur without a metal cofactor such as Fe, Cu or Zn. Most enzymes of this class need to utilize a metal cofactor for the reaction to occur. Another key importance of this enzyme is that recombinant UOx is used medicinally for the treatment of gout, which is a painful arthritis caused by build-up of uric acid. By unraveling the mystery of this enzyme, novel reaction pathways never observed in nature can be characterized and augment the treatment for patients suffering gout by creating an engineered version of UOx that performs better. We will employ modern day biochemical techniques to study and characterize urate oxidase using E.coli, protein purification through chromatography and enzyme kinetics using UV-Vis spectroscopy.

Project Files

understanding_urate_oxidase_full_presentation_final_version_.pdf