Reassessment of the cold‐labile nature of phosphofructokinase from a hibernating ground squirrel

This study reassesses the proposal that cellular conditions of low temperature and relative acidosis during hibernation contribute to a suppression of phosphofructokinase (PFK) activity which, in turn, contributes to glycolytic rate suppression during torpor. To test the proposal that a dilution effect during in vitro assay of PFK was the main reason for activity loss (tetramer dissociation) at lower pH values, the influence of the macromolecular crowding agent, polyethylene glycol 8000 (PEG), on purified skeletal muscle PFK from Spermophilus lateralis was evaluated at different pH values (6.5, 7.2 and 7.5) and assay temperatures (5, 25 and 37°C). A 78 ± 2.5% loss of PFK activity during 1 h incubation at 5°C and pH 6.5 was virtually eliminated when 10% PEG was present (only 7.0 ± 1.5% activity lost). The presence of PEG also largely reversed PFK inactivation at pH 6.5 at warmer assay temperatures and reversed inhibitory effects by high urea (50 or 400 mM). Analysis of pH curves at 5°C also indicated that ~ 70% of activity would remain at intracellular pH values in hibernator muscle. The data suggest that under high protein concentrations in intact cells that the conditions of relative acidosis, low temperature or elevated urea during hibernation would not have substantial regulatory effects on PFK.     

Temperature and phosphate effects on allosteric phenomena of phosphofructokinase from a hibernating ground squirrel (Spermophilus lateralis)

Temperature effects on the kinetic properties of phosphofructokinase (PFK) purified from skeletal muscle of the golden-mantled ground squirrel, Spermophilus lateralis, were examined at 37 degrees C and 5 degrees C, values characteristic of body temperatures in euthermia vs. hibernation. The enzyme showed reduced sensitivity to all activators at 5 degrees C, the K(a) values for AMP, ADP, NH(4) (+) and F2,6P(2) were 3-11-fold higher at 5 degrees C than at 37 degrees C. Inhibition by citrate was not affected whereas phosphoenolpyruvate, ATP and urea became more potent inhibitors at low temperature. While typically considered an activator of PFK activity, inorganic phosphate performed as an inhibitor at 5 degrees C. Decreasing temperature alone causes the actions of inorganic phosphate to change from activation to inhibition. We found that K(m) values for ATP remained constant while V(max) dropped significantly upon the addition of phosphate. Phosphate inhibition at 5 degrees C was noncompetitive with respect to ATP and the K(i) was 0.15 +/- 0.01 mm (n = 4). The results indicate that PFK is less likely to be activated in cold torpid muscle; PFK is less sensitive to changing adenylate levels at the low temperatures characteristic of torpor, and PFK is clearly much less sensitive to biosynthetic signals. All of these characteristics of hibernator PFK would serve to reduce glycolytic rate and help to preserve carbohydrate reserves during torpor.     

Temperature regulation of glucose metabolism in red blood cells of the freeze-tolerant wood frog.

The low-temperature metabolism of erythrocytes from the freeze-tolerant frog Rana sylvatica was investigated by (13)C and (31)P NMR spectroscopy. Erythrocytes readily took up high concentrations of the natural cryoprotectant, glucose, at both high (12 and 17 degrees C) and low (4 degrees C) temperatures but glucose was apparently not metabolized at 4 degrees C. Strong inhibition of glucose catabolism at low temperature would facilitate the maintenance of the very high concentrations of glucose (approximately 200 mM) that are accumulated to provide cryoprotection during freezing in wood frogs. Analysis of (13)C labeling of glycolytic intermediates at 4 degrees C showed mixing of label primarily in hexose (fructose) and hexose phosphate (glucose 6-phosphate, fructose 6-phosphate) pools but little label incorporation into triose phosphate intermediates. These data are consistent with a profound low-temperature-induced inhibition of phosphofructokinase (PFK). Investigations into potential PFK control mechanisms were undertaken. (31)P NMR analysis showed that the intracellular pH of erythrocytes increased from 7.0 to 7.3 as temperature decreased from 17 to 4 degrees C in a manner consistent with alphastat regulation. This change is exactly opposite to that expected if overall PFK activity was regulated by changes in cellular pH since PFK is less active at lower pH values in vitro. Other factors must, therefore, operate to regulate PFK at lower temperatures.     

A comparison of the heart rate at different ambient temperatures during long-term hibernation in the garden dormouse, Eliomys quercinus L.

Heart rate in hibernating garden dormice, Eliomys quercinus, was studied by means of permanently implanted electrodes; ambient temperatures (TA's) were maintained at 0, 4, 6.5, and 9 degrees C during the 6-month test period in each winter study. The animals were kept under constant conditions in darkness and without food or water. Heart rate remained at a low level during deep hibernation at all TA's studied. There were no differences in midwinter values between the TA's of 6.5 and 9 degrees C: the means were 9-12 beats/min during apnea. Heart rate thus differs from other hibernation parameters studied simultaneously, which were strongly TA dependent. However, the optimal TA of 4 degrees C could be distinguished and heart rate was significantly lower, 8-10 beats/min. At 0 degree C the values were slightly higher: 12-13 beats/min. The TA of 0 degree C was exceptional for all parameters studied. At the beginning of the hibernation season was a transition period with elevated heart rate values. Respiratory-related heart-rate changes appeared during periodic respiration, heart rate being significantly higher during respiratory periods at all TA's. At 0, 6.5, and 9 degrees C tachycardia occurred also during apnea, very close to the respiratory period. There are responses that are comparable to hypoxic environmental conditions during hibernation, diving, and pregnancy and under high-altitude conditions. Parallel adaptations appear in heart rate and respiration, i.e., bradycardia and periodic respiration. In conclusion, heart-rate values were low during deep hibernation, and compared with other parameters measured at different TA's heart rate is maintained inside narrow limits during deep hibernation.     

Regulation of Akt during hibernation in Richardson's ground squirrels

Akt (or protein kinase B) plays a central role in coordinating growth, survival and anti-apoptotic responses in cells and we hypothesized that changes in Akt activity and properties would aid the reprioritization of metabolic functions that occurs during mammalian hibernation. Akt was analyzed in skeletal muscle and liver of Richardson's ground squirrels, Spermophilus richardsonii, comparing the enzyme from euthermic and hibernating states. Akt activity, measured with a synthetic peptide substrate, decreased by 60-65% in both organs during hibernation. Western blotting showed that total Akt protein did not change in hibernation but active, phosphorylated Akt (Ser 473) was reduced by 40% in muscle compared with euthermic controls and was almost undetectable in liver. Kinetic analysis of muscle Akt showed that S(0.5) values for Akt peptide were 28% lower during hibernation, compared with the euthermic enzyme, whereas S(0.5) ATP increased by 330%. Assay at 10 degrees C also elevated S(0.5) ATP of euthermic Akt by 350%. Changes in ATP affinity would limit Akt function in the hibernator since the muscle adenylate pool size is also strongly suppressed during cold torpor. Other parameters of euthermic and hibernator Akt were the same including activation energy calculated from Arrhenius plots and sensitivity to urea denaturation. DEAE Sephadex chromatography of muscle extracts revealed three peaks of Akt activity in euthermia but only two during hibernation suggesting isozymes are differentially dephosphorylated during torpor. Altered enzyme properties and suppression of Akt activity would contribute to the coordinated suppression of energy-expensive anabolic and growth processes that is needed to maintain viability during over weeks of winter torpor.     

pH-temperature interactions on protein function and hibernation: GDP binding to brown adipose tissue mitochondria

1. [3H]GDP binding to the uncoupling protein of brown adipose tissue was determined on mitochondria isolated from hibernating European hamsters, at two temperatures, 35 and 15 degrees C, and four values of 25pH (pH corrected to 25 degrees C): 6.4, 6.8, 7.2 and 7.6, encompassing the physiological range of pH. Buffer composition was adjusted to get the same pH-temperature relationship as for mammalian blood, in which this relationship is mainly determined by protein imidazole buffers. 2. The maximal binding capacity was independent both of temperature and pH. The dissociation constant KD was highly pH-dependent, but was independent of temperature when 25pH was held constant. Under these conditions, the uncoupling protein thus fully conserves its regulatory properties over the temperature range studied (eurythermal adaptation). 3. The temperature coefficient of the apparent pK' for the pH effect (-0.012 +/- 0.004) differed significantly from that of GDP terminal phosphoryl group, but not from that of blood protein imidazole buffer groups, in good agreement with the imidazole alphastat theory. 4. The results indicate that GDP reaction with the protein involves an electrostatic binding with a titratable group of the protein, probably a sulfhydryl. 5. pH modulation of the uncoupling of brown adipose tissue mitochondria probably permits a reversible control of thermogenesis in the hibernation cycle, heat dissipation being inhibited by respiratory acidosis in deep hibernation, but facilitated by the hyperventilation of arousal.     

Time-course of blood acid-base state during arousal from hibernation in the European hamster

1. Arterial blood was sampled at 15 min-intervals in European hamsters Cricetus cricetus fitted with indwelling catheters, from deep hibernation to full arousal. Temperature-corrected pH and PCO2, respectively pH* and P*CO2, were directly measured at 37 degrees C. 2. Deep hibernation corresponded to a respiratory acidosis: pH* = 7.01 +/- 0.01 (mean +/- SE), P*CO2 = 160 +/- 4 Torr (n = 9 animals). 3. Three periods could be distinguished in the arousal: (i) a period of hyperventilation (28 +/- 5 min), in which P*CO2 was reduced to 79 +/- 4 Torr, while cheek pouch temperature increased only by 0.9 +/- 0.2 degrees C; (ii) a period of metabolic acidification by lactate accumulation (84 +/- 6 min), corresponding to the period of peak thermogenesis; (iii) a progressive return to euthermic conditions (104 +/- 10 min), by simultaneous respiratory and metabolic alkalinization. 4. Over 60% of the blood CO2 stores accumulated at the beginning of the hibernation bout were released by hyperventilation during the first period, prior to the full development of thermogenesis. This is in agreement with the hypothesis of an inhibitory role of the respiratory acidosis in hibernation.     

Secretion of antidiuretic hormone and renal function during the awakening of Jaculus orientalis from hibernation

Chemical analysis of kidney tissue from jerboa (Jaculus orientalis) during hibernation shows that the cortico-papillary gradient of Na+ ions is strongly reduced, whereas that of urea is completely suppressed. During the spontaneous rise in body temperature which occurs as the animal comes out of hibernation, the accumulation of Na+ in the papilla then in the medullary zones begins to increase from 25-30 degrees C body temperature, before the appearance of a urea gradient. This confirms the hypothesis that urea accumulation in the kidney medulla is coupled to active transport of sodium. This active transport may be partially dependent upon circulating ADH, circulating levels of which increase with increasing body temperature. Glomerular filtration in normothermic jaculus orientalis is 696 +/- 155 microliter . min-1 and urinary flow is relatively low in this desert species at 1.12 +/- 0.18 microliter . min-1. During hibernation at a body temperature between 7 and 8 degrees C glomerular filtration and urinary flow are not measurable. Glomerular filtration appears (51 microliter . min-1 at 26 degrees C) and increases at a temperature range where systemic blood pressure has already attained a normal level. This indicates that the reestablishment of glomerular filtration may be linked to intra-renal vasomotor events as is suggested by measurement of plasma renin activity during the coming out of hibernation.     

Enzymes of adenylate metabolism and their role in hibernation of the white-tailed prairie dog, Cynomys leucurus

AMP deaminase (AMPD) and adenylate kinase (AK) were purified from skeletal muscle of the white-tailed prairie dog, Cynomus leucurus, and enzyme properties were assayed at temperatures characteristic of euthermia (37 degrees C) and hibernation (5 degrees C) to analyze their role in adenylate metabolism during hibernation. Total adenylates decreased in muscle of torpid individuals from 6.97 +/- 0. 31 to 4.66 +/- 0.58 micromol/g of wet weight due to a significant drop in ATP but ADP, AMP, IMP, and energy charge were unchanged. The affinity of prairie dog AMPD for AMP was not affected by temperature and did not differ from that of rabbit muscle AMPD, used for comparison. However, both prairie dog and rabbit AMPD showed much stronger inhibition by ions and GTP at 5 degrees C, versus 37 degrees C, and inhibition by inorganic phosphate, NH(4)Cl, and (NH(4))(2)SO(4) was much stronger at 5 degrees C for the prairie dog enzyme. Furthermore, ATP and ADP, which activated AMPD at 37 degrees C, were strong inhibitors of prairie dog AMPD at 5 degrees C, with I(50) values of 1 and 14 microM, respectively. ATP also inhibited rabbit AMPD at 5 degrees C (I(50) = 103 microM). Strong inhibition of AMPD at 5 degrees C by several effectors suggests that enzyme function is specifically suppressed in muscle of hibernating animals. By contrast, AK showed properties that would maintain or even enhance its function at low temperature. K(m) values for substrates (ATP, ADP, AMP) decreased with decreasing temperature, the change in K(m) ATP paralleling the decrease in muscle ATP concentration. AK inhibition by ions was also reduced at 5 degrees C. The data suggest that adenylate degradation via AMPD is blocked during hibernation but that AK maintains its function in stabilizing energy charge.     

Comparison of pH-dependent allostery and dissociation for phosphofructokinases from Artemia embryos and rabbit muscle: nature of the enzymes acylated with diethylpyrocarbonate

Purified Artemia phosphofructokinase (PFK), unlike the rabbit skeletal muscle enzyme, displays allosteric kinetics at pH 8, a feature that is functionally significant since the intracellular pH of the developing brine shrimp embryo is greater than or equal to 7.9. Catalytic activity of the Artemia enzyme is severely suppressed by acidic pH even when assayed at the adenylate nucleotide concentrations existing in anaerobic embryos, which is consistent with the lack of a Pasteur effect in these organisms. For both PFK homologs, carbethoxylation reduces the sensitivity to ATP and citrate inhibition, the cooperativity as a function of fructose 6-phosphate concentration and the degree of activation in the presence ADP, AMP, and fructose 2,6-bisphosphate. Considering the role of histidine protonation in PFK allosteric control, the capacity for regulatory kinetics seen at pH 8 in the Artemia enzyme could be explained in part by upward shifts in pKa values of ionizable residues. pH-induced dissociation of tetrameric Artemia PFK into inactive subunits does not occur during catalytic inhibition at acidic pH (pH 6.5, 6 degrees C), as judged by 90 degree light scattering. This observation contrasts markedly with the dimerization and inactivation of rabbit PFK, but is shown not to be unique when compared to other selected PFK homologs. Neither the acute pH sensitivity of Artemia PFK nor the pH-induced hysteretic inactivation displayed by the rabbit enzyme are altered by carbethoxylation, suggesting that ionizable residues involved in these two processes are not the same ones involved in allosteric kinetics.     

Reevaluation of the "glycolytic complex" in muscle: a multitechnique approach using trout white muscle

Preliminary characterization of the "glycolytic complex," formed in trout white muscle, revealed that phosphofructokinase (PFK) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) are bound to particulate matter largely by ionic interactions; increasing neutral salt or charged metabolite concentrations released bound PFK and GAPDH. GAPDH was consistently solubilized at lower salt concentrations, indicating that it is not bound as tightly as PFK, but both enzymes were readily solubilized at physiological concentrations of salts and metabolites. pH titrations indicated that PFK binding is dependent on group(s) with a pKa of 7.3 in 30 mM imidazole. PFK binding increased at lower pH values; at 150 mM KCl the apparent pKa value is 6.5. Experiments with polyethylene glycol 8000 (PEG), which is used to mimic the high in vivo protein concentrations under in vitro conditions, showed that the binding of PFK and GAPDH increased with increasing PEG concentrations. Interestingly, at 5% PEG, only the PFK binding response depended on the ionic composition of the medium--with increased binding occurring at the pH of the exhausted muscle and decreased binding at control pH values. These results suggested that only PFK reversibly bound to cellular structures in response to changing conditions and disagrees with previous studies showing binding of several glycolytic enzymes as measured using the dilution method (F. M. Clarke, F.D. Shaw, and D.J. Morton (1980) Biochem. J. 186, 105-109). In order to determine whether artifactual binding was measured by the dilution method, two new methodologies were employed to measure enzyme binding in vivo: (a) whole muscle slices were pressed to quickly extrude cellular juice, and (b) muscle strips were finely minced and centrifuged to liberate cytoplasmic contents. Both methods indicated that, under physiological conditions, up to 70% of the total cellular phosphofructokinase may be bound, but other glycolytic enzymes are bound to a lesser extent (10-30%). This result contrasts those obtained with the dilution method, and suggests that dilution of cellular contents may result in an overestimation of the percentage of enzyme associated with cellular structures; this is dramatically shown for glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. The viability of the glycolytic complex in trout white muscle is discussed in light of the decreased binding measured using these new methodologies.     

Digestive proteinase activity of the Khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium Everts (Coleoptera: Dermestidae)

The khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium, is one of the most important stored product pests worldwide. A study of digestive proteinases in T. granarium was performed to identify potential targets for proteinaceous biopesticides, such as proteinase inhibitors. The pH of guts was determined by addition of pH indicator solutions to broken open gut regions. The last instar larvae were dissected in cold distilled water and the whole guts were cleaned from adhering unwanted tissues. The pooled gut homogenates were centrifuged and the supernatants were used in the subsequent enzyme assay. Total proteinases activity of the gut homogenates was determined using the protein substrate azocasein. Optimal azocasein hydrolysis by luminal proteinases of the larvae of T. granarium was highly alkaline in pH 10-10.5, although the pH of luminal contents was slightly acidic (pH 6.5). The extract showed the highest activity at 55 degrees C (pH 6.5), 45 degrees C (pH 8) and 30 degrees C (pH 10). The proteolytic activity was strongly inhibited in the presence of phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride (82.33+/-4.37% inhibition). This inhibition was decreased with increasing of the pH of assay incubating medium. N-p-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone (51.6+/-3.3% inhibition) and N-tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone (27.23+/-4.37 % inhibition) showed inhibitory effect on proteolysis. Addition of thiol activators dithiothreitol and L-cysteine had not enhanced azocaseinolytic activity. The data suggest that protein digestion in the larvae of T. granarium is primarily dependent on serine proteinases; trypsin- and chymotrypsin-like proteinases.     

Hypochlorite inactivation kinetics of Listeria monocytogenes in phosphate buffer

The inactivation kinetics of Listeria monocytogenes in a phosphate buffer (PB) was determined at different hypochlorite concentrations, pH values and temperatures. D-values, using a linear regression, of L. monocytogenes in PB (pH 6.5) were 23.54, 17.40, 14.24 and 12.00s at 5, 10, 50 and 100 mg l(-1) hypochlorite, respectively, at 30 degrees C. The k-values ranged from 0.098 to 0.192s(-1) and 0.007 to 0.018s(-1) for hypochlorite concentrations (from 5 to 100 mg l(-1)) in PB (pH 6.5) and PB containing 0.1% peptone (pH 6.5), respectively, at 30 degrees C. D-values of L. monocytogenes exposed to hypochlorite were decreased with decreasing pH of PB (pH from 8.5 to 4.5). Hypochlorite showed higher antimicrobial activity at higher temperature. Not only the effect of hypochlorite concentration on the inactivation of L. monocytogenes but also other parameters like temperature, pH and suspending solutions effect the inactivation rates.     

Glutamate dehydrogenase from liver of euthermic and hibernating Richardson's ground squirrels: evidence for two distinct enzyme forms.

Glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) was purified to homogeneity from the liver of euthermic (37 degrees C body temperature) and hibernating (torpid, 5 degrees C body temperature) Richardson's ground squirrels (Spermophilus richardsonii). SDS-PAGE yielded a subunit molecular weight of 59.5+/-2 kDa for both enzymes, but reverse phase and size exclusion HPLC showed native molecular weights of 335+/-5 kDa for euthermic and 320+/-5 kDa for hibernator GDH. Euthermic and hibernator GDH differed substantially in apparent Km values for glutamate, NH4+, and alpha-ketoglutarate, as well as in Ka and IC50 values for nucleotide and ion activators and inhibitors. Kinetic properties of each enzyme were differentially affected by assay temperature (37 versus 5 degrees C). For example, the Km for alpha-ketoglutarate of euthermic GDH was higher at 5 degrees C (3.66+/-0.34 mM) than at 37 degrees C (0.10+/-0.01 mM), whereas hibernator GDH had a higher affinity for alpha-ketoglutarate at 5 degrees C (Km was 0.98+/-0.08 mM at 37 degrees C and 0.43+/-0.02 mM at 5 degrees C). Temperature effects on Ka ADP values of the enzymes followed a similar pattern; GTP inhibition was strongest with the euthermic enzyme at 37 degrees C and weakest with hibernator GDH at 5 degrees C. Entry into hibernation leads to stable changes in the properties of ground squirrel liver GDH that allow the enzyme to function optimally at the prevailing body temperature.     

Activity and properties of phosphofructokinase from while muscle of the horse mackerel Trachurus mediterraneus during simulation due to swimming

The activity and properties of phosphofructokinase (PFK) in tissues of horse mackerel which was swimming at burst regimen for 5 min and at cruiser one for 60 min have been investigated. In white muscle the PFK activity increased 1.6-fold after burst swimming and Hill's coefficient rose as well and decreased 3-fold after cruiser one. Swimming did not change the half-maximal saturation constant for both substrates and inhibition constants for ATP and citrate. In the preparations from white muscle of fish which were stimulated by burst swimming the PFK activity at physiological pH values (6.0-7.0) was higher comparing with one from the control group and after cruiser swimming. Incubation of preparations at 45 degrees C decreased the activity of PFK in control and cruiser swimming groups (to 61-67% of initial level) and increased it after burst swimming (1.3-fold). The mechanisms involving in stable modification of PFK under different swimming regimens are discussed.     

The possible existence of a heat-stable alkaline proteinase (HAP) in rat skeletal muscle

1. A unique caseinolytic activity was found in the crude extract from chicken and rat skeletal muscle. Hardly any activity was detected at physiological assay temperatures at pH 8.0 but did well at around 60 degrees C. 2. The activity partially purified from rat skeletal muscle showed optimum pH at around 8.0 at 60 degrees C. It hardly hydrolyzed casein below 50 degrees C, but in the presence of 5 M urea it showed relatively high activity at 30 degrees C. The activity was completely stable at 50 degrees C for 1 hr. 3. The activity seems to be contained in a high mol. wt (450,000) protein from the elution volume and is due to cysteine proteinase from the effect of inhibitors. 4. The above properties agreed with those of the heat-stable alkaline proteinase (HAP) of fish purified homogeneously by electrophoresis. This seems to suggest that HAP may also exist in rat skeletal muscle.     

Thermal stability of beta-xylanases produced by different Thermomyces lanuginosus strains

The thermostability of beta-xylanases produced by nine thermophilic Thermomyces lanuginosus strains in a coarse corn cob medium was assessed. The xylanase produced by T. lanuginosus strain SSBP retained 100% of its activity after 6 h at temperatures up to 65 degrees C. In comparison seven ATCC strains and the DSM 5826 strain of T. lanuginosus only retained 100% xylanase activity at temperatures up to 60 degrees C. Culture filtrates of T. lanuginosus strain SSBP grown on coarse corn cobs, oatspelts xylan, birchwood xylan, wheatbran, locust beangum, and sugar cane bagasse, retained 100% xylanase activity at temperatures up to 60 degrees C. The xylanase produced on corn cobs was the most thermostable and showed an increase of approximately 6% from 70 degrees C to 80 degrees C. The T(1/2) of all strains at 70 degrees C at pH 6.5 varied greatly from 63 min for strain ATCC 28083 to 340 min for strain SSBP. The xylanase of strain SSBP was much less thermostable at pH 5.0 and pH 12.0 with T(1/2) values of 11.5 min and 15 min, respectively at 70 degrees C. At 50 degrees C, the enzyme of T. lanuginosus strain SSBP produced on coarse corn cobs was stable within the pH range of 5.5-10.0. Furthermore, the enzyme retained total activity at 60 degrees C for over 14 days and at 65 degrees C for over 48 h. The xylanase of T. lanuginosus strain SSBP possesses thermo- and pH stability properties that may be attractive to industrial application.     

Prolonged diving and recovery in the freshwater turtle, Pseudemys scripta--IV. Effects of profound acidosis on O2 consumption in turtle vs rat (mammalian) brain and heart slices

The oxygen consumption of rat versus turtle brain and heart slices was compared as a function of extracellular pH and temperature. At pH = 6.20 rat (mammalian) brain and heart slices show a significant depression of oxygen consumption as compared to pH = 7.50 at temperatures of both 24 degrees and 37 degrees C. In the turtle oxygen consumption in brain and heart slices was not depressed at pH = 6.20 compared to pH = 7.50 at 24 degrees C and brain oxygen consumption was not significantly different at the two pH values at 37 degrees C. Turtle heart QO2 was depressed at 37 degrees C. The results suggest that extracellular acidosis depresses mitochondrial O2 uptake in mammalian brain and heart, playing a role in the bioenergetic manifestations of O2 depletion. Turtle brain mitochondria do not show a depression of QO2 at the acidotic pH. The resistance to acidosis of turtle brain mitochondria presumably enhances the possibility of survival following prolonged diving by maintaining ATP generation during the early diving period and during recovery.     

Conformational and thermodynamic properties of apo A-1 of human plasma high density lipoproteins.

Conformational changes of apo A-1, the principal apoprotein of human plasma high density lipoprotein, have been studied by differential scanning calorimetry and ultraviolet difference spectroscopy as a function of temperature, pH, concentration of apoprotein, and urea concentration. Calorimetry shows that apo A-1 (5 to 40 mg/ml, pH 9.2) undergoes a two-state, reversible denaturation (enthalpy = 64 +/- 8.9 kcal/mole), between 43--71 degrees (midpoint temperature, Tm = 54 degrees), associated with a rise in heat capacity (deltaCvd) of 2.4 +/- 0.5 kcal/mole/degrees C. Apo A-1 (0.2 to 0.4 mg/ml, pH 9.2) develops a negative difference spectrum between 42--70 degrees, with Tm = 53 degrees. The enthalpy (deltaH = 59 +/- 5.7 kcal/mole at Tm) and heat capacity change (2.7 +/- 0.9 kcal/mole/degrees C) in the spectroscopic experiments were not significantly different from the calorimetric values. Below pH 9 and above pH 11, the calorimetric Tm and deltaH of denaturation are decreased. In the pH range of reversible denaturation (6.5 to 11.8), delatH and Tm are linearly related, showing that the heat capacity change (ddeltaH/dT) associated with denaturation is independent of Tm. In urea solutions, the calorimetric Tm and deltaH of denaturation are decreased. At 25 degrees, apo A-1 develops a negative difference spectrum between 1.4 and 3 M urea. Fifty per cent of the spectral change occurs in 2.4 M urea, which corresponds to the urea concentration obtained by extrapolation of the calorimetric Tm to 25 degrees. In urea solution of less than 0.75 M there is hyperchromicity at 285 nm (delta epsilon = 264 in 0.75 M urea), indicating strong interaction of aromatic amino acid residues in the native molecule with the solvent. Spectrophotometric titration of apo A-1 shows that 6.6 of the 7 tyrosine groups of apo A-1 titrate at pH less than 11.9, with similar titration curves obtained in aqueous solutions and in 6 M urea. The free energy of stabilization (deltaG) of the native conformation of apo A-1 was estimated, (a) at 37 degrees, using the calorimetric deltaA and deltaCvd, and (b) at 25 degrees, by extrapolation of spectroscopic data to zero urea concentration. The values (deltaG (37 degrees) = 2.4 and deltaG (25 degrees) = 2.7 kcal/mole) are small compared to typical globular proteins, indicating that native apo A-1 has a loosely folded tertiary structure. The low values of deltaG reflect the high degree of exposure of hydrophobic areas in the native protein molecule. The loosely folded conformation of apo A-1 allows extensive binding of lipid, since this can involve both surface hydrophobic sites and hydrophobic areas exposed by a cooperative, low energy unfolding process.     

Purification and properties of extracellular alpha-glucosidase of a thermophile, Bacillus thermoglucosidus KP 1006.

An extracecular alpha-glucosidase (alpha-D-glucoside glycohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.20) of a thermophile, Bacillus thermoglucosidius KP 1006, was purified about 350-fold. The purified enzyme had a specific activity of 164 mumol of p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside hydrolyzed per min at 60 degrees C and pH 6.8 per mg of protein. The molecular weight was estimated at 55 000. The pH and temperature optima for activity were 5.0--6.0 and 75 degrees C, respectively. Below 40 degrees C, the activity was less than 4.5% of the optimym. The enzyme showed a high specificity for alpha-D-glucopyranoside. The maximal hydrolyzing velocity per substrate diminished in the order: phenyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside, p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside, isomaltose, methyl-alpha-glycopyranoside. The respective Km values were 3.0, 0.23, 3.2 and 27 mM. The activity was trace for turanose, and not detectable for sucrose, trehalose, raffinose, melezitose, maltose, maltotriose, phenyl-alpha-D-maltoside, dextran, dextrin and starch. Tris, p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-xylopyranoside, glucose and glucono-delta-lactone blocked competitively the enzyme with respect to p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside. The Ki values were 0.12, 0.14, 2.2 and 2.4 mM, respectively. The activity was affected by heavy metal ions, but insensitive to EDTA, p-chloromercuribenzoate and iodoacetate. The enzyme was stable up to 60 degrees C, and inactivated rapidly at temperatures beyond 72 degrees C. The pH range for stability was 4.0--11.0 at 31 degrees C, and 6.0--8.5 at 55.5 degrees C. At 25 degrees C, the enzyme failed to be inactivated in 45% ethanol, in 7.2 M urea, and in 0.06% sodium dodecyl sulfate, but the tolerance was extremely reduced at 60 degrees C.