Loh, TamaletteMurphy, Kenan C.Marinus, Martin G.2022-08-232022-08-232001-01-022008-11-05J Biol Chem. 2001 Apr 13;276(15):12113-9. Epub 2000 Dec 21. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M007935200 ">Link to article on publisher's site</a>0021-9258 (Print)10.1074/jbc.M00793520011124943https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/34115Site-directed mutagenesis was performed on several areas of MutH based on the similarity of MutH and PvuII structural models. The aims were to identify DNA-binding residues; to determine whether MutH has the same mechanism for DNA binding and catalysis as PvuII; and to localize the residues responsible for MutH stimulation by MutL. No DNA-binding residues were identified in the two flexible loop regions of MutH, although similar loops in PvuII are involved in DNA binding. Two histidines in MutH are in a similar position as two histidines (His-84 and His-85) in PvuII that signal for DNA binding and catalysis. These MutH histidines (His-112 and His-115) were changed to alanines, but the mutant proteins had wild-type activity both in vivo and in vitro. The results indicate that the MutH signal for DNA binding and catalysis remains unknown. Instead, a lysine residue (Lys-48) was found in the first flexible loop that functions in catalysis together with the three presumed catalytic amino acids (Asp-70, Glu-77, and Lys-79). Two deletion mutations (MutHDelta224 and MutHDelta214) in the C-terminal end of the protein, localized the MutL stimulation region to five amino acids (Ala-220, Leu-221, Leu-222, Ala-223, and Arg-224).en-USJournal Articlehttps://escholarship.umassmed.edu/gsbs_sp/779661888gsbs_sp/779