Publications

Here are some of our publications.

2005

Chu CK, Feng LL, Wouters MA. Comparison of sequence and structure-based datasets for nonredundant structural data mining. Proteins. 2005; 60:577-83 PubMed

Wouters MA, Rigoutsos I, Chu CK, Feng LL, Sparrow DB, Dunwoodie SL. Evolution of distinct EGF domains with specific functions. Protein Sci 2005; 14:1091 PubMed

2004

Whittock NV, Sparrow DB, Wouters MA, Sillence D, Ellard S, Dunwoodie SL, Turnpenny PD. Mutated MESP2 causes spondylocostal dysostosis in humans. Am J Hum Genet 2004; 74:1249-54 PubMed

Wouters MA, Lau KK, Hogg PJ. Cross-strand disulphides in cell entry proteins: poised to act. Bioessays 2004; 26:73-9 PubMed

2003

Iismaa SE, Holman S, Wouters MA, Lorand L, Graham RM, Husain A. Evolutionary specialization of a tryptophan indole group for transition state stabilization by eukaryotic transglutaminases. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2003; 100:12636-41 http://www.pnas.org/. PubMed

Wouters MA, Liu K, Riek P, Husain A. A despecialization step underlying evolution of a family of serine proteases. Mol Cell 2003; 12:343-54 PubMed http://www.molecule.org/.

How enzymes and other proteins have evolved is critical to understanding how they function and how they may be altered to advantage, to produce "designer" enzymes with new functions. In this paper, a Jurassic enzyme (over 170 million years old) is recreated and studied, revealing a major new understanding of how it evolved and functions.

2001

Fernandez M, Liu X, Wouters MA, Heyberger S, Husain A Angiotensin I-converting enzyme transition state stabilization by HIS1089: evidence for a catalytic mechanism distinct from other gluzincin metalloproteinases. J Biol Chem 2001; 276: 4998-5004 PubMed

Liu X, Fernandez M, Wouters MA, Heyberger S, Husain A Arg(1098) is critical for the chloride dependence of human angiotensin I-converting enzyme C-domain catalytic activity. J Biol Chem 2001; 276: 33518-25 PubMed

Wouters MA, Husain A Changes in zinc ligation promote remodeling of the active site in the zinc hydrolase superfamily. Mol Biol 2001; 314: 1191-207 PubMed

1995

Wouters MA, Curmi PM An analysis of side chain interactions and pair correlations within antiparallel beta-sheets: the differences between backbone hydrogen-bonded and non-hydrogen-bonded residue pairs. Proteins 1995; 22:119-31 PubMed