another chemistry question!

Thread starter bondgirl
Start date Feb 25, 2003

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bondgirl

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Feb 25, 2003

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I came across a little experiment question where scientists studying the structure of the enzyme lysosome mutated a buried core methionine amino acid to a lysine. This led to a reduction in the theromodynamic stability of the protien. They observed that the pKa of the lysine dropped from a typical 10.3 (in most protiens) to a 6.3 in this protien. And they hypothesize that this purturbation in the pKa leads to reduction in thermodynamic stability.
now they want to know what might lead to the purturbation of the pKa of the lysine?

any thoughts?