Methylobacteria are ubiquitous in the biosphere which are capable of growing on C1 compounds such as formate, formaldehyde, methanol and methylamine as well as on a wide range of multi-carbon growth substrates such as C2, C3 and C4 compounds due to the methylotrophic enzymes methanol dehydrogenase (MDH). MDH is performing these functions with the help of a key protein mxaF. Unfortunately, detailed structural analysis and homology modeling of mxaF is remains undefined. Hence, the objective of this research is the characterization and three dimensional modeling of mxaF protein from three different methylotrophs by using I-TASSER server. The predicted model were further optimize and validate by Profile 3D, Errat, Verifiy3-D and PROCHECK server. Predicted and best evaluated models have been successfully deposited to PMDB database with PMDB ID PM0077505, PM0077506 and PM0077507. Active site identification revealed 11, 13 and 14 putative functional site residues in respected models. It may play a major role during protein-protein, and protein-cofactor interactions. This study can provide us an ab-initio and detail information to understand the structure, mechanism of action and regulation of mxaF protein.
Keywords: Methylobacteria; functional site; homology modeling; mxaF protein.