Abstract:
Some organisms, such as Neurospora crassa, have a unique capability of producing uracil through the thymine salvage pathway. The enzyme involved in the final step of this pathway, Iso-orotate decarboxylase, catalyzes conversion of Iso-orotate to uracil through a decarboxylation reaction. The project done in the lab mainly concentrated on kinetic studies on the non-enzymatic conversion of Iso-orotate to uracil. Apart from this isotope effects involved in the reaction have also been studied to get a comprehensive understanding on the mechanistic details involved in the decarboxylation reaction catalyzed by Iso-orotate decarboxylase. This work will provide a foundation for future mechanistic studies with the enzyme.
Description:
xiii, 66 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm. Thesis (M.S.)--Youngstown State University, 2006. Includes bibliographical references (leaf 66).