DTNB modification of SH groups of isocitrate dehydrogenase from Bacillus stearothermophilus purified by affinity chromatography.

A new method of affinity chromatography using blue dextran-Sepharose 4B resin was established to purify NADP+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase [EC 1.1.1.42] from Bacillus stearothermophilus in high yield. The purified preparation was found to be homogeneous on disc gel electrophoresis. The SH groups of the enzyme were modified with 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) to determine the number of SH groups per molecule and their contribution to the enzyme activity. One SH group was titrated with DTNB per subunit (the native enzyme consisted of two subunits) and after complete denaturation with 4 M guanidine-HCl the number of titratable SH groups remained unchanged. ORD and CD measurements showed that the alpha-helical conformation of the polypeptide backbone was unaffected by DTNB modification, though the near ultraviolet CD spectrum was evidently altered. The fluorescence derived from tryptophanyl residue(s) was quenched by the modification to 30% of the native level, which may indicate the presence of SH in the vicinity of tryptophanyl residue(s). A remarkable decrease of the enzyme activity was detected upon modification with DTNB, but there was some discrepancy between the rate of inactivation and that of modification of SH groups. The presence of substrate and Mg2+ gave partial protection against modification of the SH groups by DTNB. Complete protection of the native enzyme activity against heating at 65 degrees was observed in the presence of substrate and Mg2+, but the thermostability of the enzyme was markedly reduced by modification of the SH groups.     

Studies on regulatory functions of malic enzymes. VII. Structural and functional characteristics of sulfhydryl groups in NADP-linked malic enzyme from Escherichia coli W.

NADP-linked malic enzyme from Escherichia coli W contains 7 cysteinyl residues per enzyme subunit. The reactivity of sulfhydryl (SH) groups of the enzyme was examined using several SH reagents, including 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) and N-ethylmaleimide (NEM). 1. Two SH groups in the native enzyme subunit reacted with DTNB (or NEM) with different reaction rates, accompanied by a complete loss of the enzyme activity. The second-order modification rate constant of the "fast SH group" with DTNB coincided with the second-order inactivation rate constant of the enzyme by the reagent, suggesting that modification of the "fast SH group" is responsible for the inactivation. When the enzyme was denatured in 4 M guanidine HCl, all the SH groups reacted with the two reagents. 2. Althoug the inactivation rate constant was increased by the addition of Mg2+, an essential cofactor in the enzyme reaction, the modification rate constant of the "fast SH group" was unaffected. The relationship between the number of SH groups modified with DTNB or NEM and the residual enzyme activity in the absence of Mg2+ was linear, whereas that in the presence of Mg2+ was concave-upwards. These results suggest that the Mg2+-dependent increase in the inactivation rate constant is not the result of an increase in the rate constant of the "fast FH group" modification. 3. The absorption spectrum of the enzyme in the ultraviolet region was changed by addition of Mg2+. The dissociation constant of the Mg2+-enzyme complex obtained from the Mg2+- dependent increment of the difference absorption coincided with that obtained from the Mg2+- dependent enhancement of NEM inactivation. 4. Both the inactivation rate constant and the modification rate constant of the "fast SH group" were decreased by the addition of NADP+. The protective effect of NADP+ was increased by the addition of Mg2+. Based on the above results, the effects of Mg2+ on the SH-group modification are discussed from the viewpoint of conformational alteration of the enzyme.     

Studies on aspartase. II. Role of sulfhydryl groups in aspartase from Escherichia coli.

Aspartase (L-aspartate ammonia-lyase, EC 4.3.1.1) of Escherichia coli W contains 38 half-cystine residues per tetrameric enzyme molecule. Two sulfhydryl groups were modified with N-ethylmaleimide or 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) per subunit, while 8.3 sulfhydryl groups were titrated with p-mercuribenzoic acid. In the presence of 4 M guanidine - HCl, 8.6 sulfhydryl groups reacted with DTNB per subunit. Aspartase was inactivated by various sulfhydryl reagents following pseudo-first-order kinetics. Upon modification of one sulfhydryl group per subunit with N-Ethylmaleimide, 85% of the original activity was lost; a complete inactivation was attained concomitant with the modification of two sulfhydryl groups. These results indicate that one or two sulfhydryl groups are essential for enzyme activity. L-Aspartate and DL-erythro-beta-hydroxyaspartate markedly protected the enzyme against N-ethylmaleimide-inactivation. Only the compounds having an amino group at the alpha-position exhibited protection, indicating that the amino group of the substrate contributes to the protection of sulfhydryl groups of the enzyme. Examination of enzymatic properties after N-ethylmaleimide modification revealed that 5-fold increase in the Km value for L-aspartate and a shift of the optimum pH for the activity towards acidic pH were brought about by the modification, while neither dissociation into subunits nor aggregation occurred. These results indicate that the influence of the sulfhydryl group modification is restricted to the active site or its vicinity of the enzyme.     

Number and function of sulphydryl groups of N-acetylneuraminate lyase

The reaction between DTNB and the SH groups of N-acetylneuraminate lyase has been investigated in the presence and absence of pyruvic acid, substrate of the enzyme. It was found that DTNB inactivates N-acetylneuraminate lyase, while pyruvic acid protects the enzyme against this inactivation. When the enzyme was fully inactivated, two SH groups have reacted with DTNB. This result supports previous suggestions, that there is one cystein residue per active site responsible for enzyme activity. In the presence of SDS, approx. 6 SH groups reacted with DTNB suggesting the existence of 3 SH groups per enzyme subunit.     

人胎盘谷胱甘肽S-转移酶中巯基的研究

 用巯基试剂5.5'-二硫双(2-硝基苯甲酸)(DTNB)测得人胎盘谷胱甘肽S-转移酶(GST-π)的总巯基数为每亚基2个,均为表面巯基,,其中一个与DTNB反应快,被修饰后可导致酶活力全部丧失。另一巯基与DTNB反应较慢,可能与酶活力无关。用在12℃测定剩余巯基和Stallcup-Koshland作图法求得DTNB修饰快反应和慢反应巯基的速度常数分别为44056和162min~(-1)(mol/L)~(-1)。底物谷胱甘肽的衍生物S-正辛烷谷胱甘肽(S-o-GSH)能保护GST-π能保护的快反应巯基免受DTNB的修饰,使反应速度常数随着S-o-GSH浓度的增高而降低。S-o-GSH也能保护酶被N-乙基马来酰亚胺(NEMI)修饰失活,但不能保护慢反应巯基被DTNB修饰。另一底物2,4-二硝基氯苯(CDNB)对NEMI的修饰失活没有保护作用。上述结果提示快反应巯基参与GST-π和谷胱甘肽的结合,是组成活性中心的重要基因。     

Sulfhydryl group reactivity of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate dependent protein kinase from bovine heart: a probe of holoenzyme structure.

The spectrophotometric titration of SH groups in adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) dependent protein kinase from bovine heart muscle with 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid)(DTNB) is described. The holoenzyme (R2C2) contains 16 SH groups, 12 of which react with DTNB in the native enzyme. The SH groups are distributed 2 per catalytic (C) and 4 per regulatory (R) subunit. The binding of cAMP to the holoenzyme or isolated R subunit prevents the reaction of one SH group per R subunit. Modification of SH groups, however, has only a small effect on cAMP binding to R. Reaction of the C subunit with DTNB results in less than 95% loss of catalytic activity. The kinetics of the DTNB reaction and the reversal of the inactivation process by treatment with dithiothreitol suggest that the inactivation is associated with SH group modification. Inactivation studies with the holoenzyme show that: (1) the R subunit inhibits DTNG inactivation of the C subunit in the absence of cAMP; (2) the rate of inactivation of the dephosphoholoenzyme in the presence of cAMP is considerably faster than that of the free catalytic subunit; and (3) the rate of inactivation of the phosphoholoenzyme in the presence of cAMP is faster than that of the C subunit but slower than the dephosphoholoenzyme. The results are interpreted as evidence for a significant interaction of the R and C subunits in the presence of saturating concentrations of cAMP. This interaction is modulated by the state of phosphorylation of R. To account for the inactivation data, a short-lived ternary complex containing R, C, and cAMP is postulated to be in rapid equilibrium with the subunits.     

Effect of thiol reagents on the activity of NADP-dependent malate dehydrogenase isolated from bovine adrenal cortex cytoplasm

NADP-dependent malate dehydrogenase was rapidly inactivated in the presence of mercurous chloride. Titration of malate dehydrogenase by 5,5'-dithiobis (2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) in a solution of 8 M urea revealed 18 SH groups per molecule of the enzyme. Eight sulphydryl groups reacted with DTNB in native malate dehydrogenase and their modification was not accompanied by a loss of the enzyme activity. The interaction of p-chloromercury benzoate (PCMB) with malate dehydrogenase resulted in a 70% decrease in the enzyme activity. The binding of the thiol reagents by the malate dehydrogenase molecule appreciably increased the Michaelis constant value for the substrate. In the presence of magnesium ions, NADP and malate did not affect the process of malate dehydrogenase modification by DTNB and did not protect the enzyme from the inactivation by PCMB. It is suggested from the data obtained that the sulphyryl groups are involved in maintaining the active conformation of the enzyme.     

Chemical modification of Pseudomonas ochraceae 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-oxoglutarate aldolase by diethyl pyrocarbonate.

Diethyl pyrocarbonate inactivates Pseudomonas ochraceae 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-oxoglutarate aldolase [4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-oxoglutarate pyruvate-lyase: EC 4.1.3.17] by a simple bimolecular reaction. The inactivation is not reversed by hydroxylamine. The pH curve of inactivation indicates the involvement of a residue with a pK of 8.8. Several lines of evidence show that the inactivation is due to the modification of epsilon-amino groups of lysyl residues. Although histidyl residue is also modified, this is not directly correlated to the inactivation. No cysteinyl, tyrosyl, or tryptophyl residue or alpha-amino group is significantly modified. The modification of three lysyl residues per enzyme subunit results in the complete loss of aldolase activity toward various 4-hydroxy-2-oxo acid substrates, whereas oxaloacetate beta-decarboxylase activity associated with the enzyme is not inhibited by this modification. Statistical analysis suggests that only one of the three lysyl residues is essential for activity. l-4-Carboxy-4-hydroxy-2-oxoadipate, a physiological substrate for the enzyme, strongly protects the enzyme against inactivation. Pi as an activator of the enzyme shows no specific protection. The molecular weight of the enzyme, Km for substrate or Mg2+, and activation constant for Pi are virtually unaltered after modification. These results suggest that the modification occurs at or near the active site and that the essential lysyl residue is involved in interaction with the hydroxyl group but not with the oxal group of the substrate.     

Functional cysteinyl residues in human placental aldose reductase

Incubation of human placental aldose reductase (EC 1.1.1.21) with the sulfhydryl oxidizing reagents 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) and N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) results in a biexponential loss of catalytic activity. Inactivation by DTNB or NEM is prevented by saturating concentrations of NADPH. ATP-ribose offers partial protection against inactivation by DTNB, whereas NADP, nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), and the substrates glyceraldehyde and glucose offer little or no protection. The inactivation by DTNB was reversed by dithiothreitol and partially by 2-mercaptoethanol but not by KCN. When the release of 2-nitro-5-mercaptobenzoic acid was measured, 3 mol of sulfhydryl residues was found to be modified per mole of the enzyme by DTNB. Correlation of the fractional activity remaining with the extent of modification by the statistical method of C.-L. Tsou (1962, Sci. Sin. 11, 1535-1558) indicates that of the three reactive residues, one reacts at a faster rate than the other two, and that two residues are essential for the catalytic activity of the enzyme. Labeling of the total sulfhydryl by [14C]NEM and quantification of DTNB-reactive residues in the enzyme denatured by 6 M urea indicates that a total of seven sulfhydryl residues are present in the protein. The modification of the enzyme did not affect Km glyceraldehyde, but the modified enzyme had a lower Km NADPH. Kinetic analysis of the data suggests that a biexponential nature of inactivation could be due to the formation of a dissociable E:DTNB complex and the presence of a partially active enzyme species.     

Evidence for the proximity of two sulfhydryl groups at the active site of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase

The reaction between 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase from Candida utilis and 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate) results in the inactivation of the enzyme. At pH 6.0 the inactivation can be correlated with the modification of only one SH group per enzyme subunit. The modified SH group can react with another SH group forming an intramolecular disulfide bridge. Since the modified enzymes, either with an SH group modified or with a cystine disulfide bridge, are still able to bind the substrate and the coenzyme, gross conformational changes seem unlikely to have occurred. The results obtained suggest that the SH groups of two cysteine residues are located close to each other in the three-dimensional structure of the active site of the enzyme.     

Deoxycytidylate hydroxymethylase: purification, properties, and the role of a thiol group in catalysis

Deoxycytidylate (dCMP) hydroxymethylase from Escherichia coli infected with a T-4 bacteriophage amber mutant has been purified to homogeneity. It is a dimer with a subunit molecular weight of 28,000. Chemical modification of the homogeneous enzyme with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) and 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) leads to complete loss of enzyme activity. dCMP can protect the enzyme against NEM inactivation, but the dihydrofolate analogues methotrexate and aminopterin alone do not afford similar protection. Compared to dCMP alone, dCMP plus either methotrexate or aminopterin greatly enhances protection against NEM inactivation. DTNB inactivation is reversed by dithiothreitol. For both reagents, inactivation kinetics obey second-order kinetics. NEM inactivation is pH dependent with a pKa for a required thiol group of 9.15 +/- 0.11. Complete enzyme inactivation by both reagents involves the modification of one thiol group per mole of dimeric enzyme. There are two thiol groups in the totally denatured enzyme modified by either NEM or DTNB. Kinetic analysis of NEM inactivation cannot distinguish between these two groups; however, with DTNB kinetic analysis of 2-nitro-5-thiobenzoate release shows that enzyme inactivation is due to the modification of one fast-reacting thiol followed by the modification of a second group that reacts about 5-6-fold more slowly. In the presence of methotrexate, the stoichiometry of dCMP binding to the dimeric enzyme is 1:1 and depends upon a reduced thiol group. It appears that the two equally sized subunits are arranged asymmetrically, resulting in one thiol-containing active site per mole of dimeric enzyme.     

Histidine decarboxylase of Lactobacillus 30a: function and reactivity of sulfhydryl groups.

Two classes of sulfhydryl groups in histidine decarboxylase from Lactobacillus 30 a can be differentiated by their reaction with 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB). Five cysteinyl residues (class I) of the native enzyme are titrated by DTNB as the pH of the reaction medium is increased from 6.5 to 7.5; the pH-rate profile for their reaction is described by a pKa of 9.2. An additional five thiol groups (class II) are titrated only when denaturing agents are added above neutral pH. Histidine decarboxylase is completely inactivated by DTNB in a kinetically second-order process (Kapp = 660 +/- 20 M-1 min-1 at pH 7.6 and 25 degrees C) which occurs coincident with and at the same rate as modification of the five class-I SH groups of the enzyme, i.e., one thiol group per pyruvoyl prosthetic group. The competitive inhibitors, histamine and imidazole, markedly enhanced the reactivity of these cysteinyl residues toward DTNB; this enhancement is accompanied by a concomitant increase in the rate of inactivation. A single SH group in each of the five catalytic units of histidine decarboxylase is thus implicated as being critical for the expression of enzymatic activity.     

Inactivation of Escherichia coli glycerol kinase by 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) and N-ethylmaleimide: evidence for nucleotide regulatory binding sites

Glycerol kinase (EC 2.7.1.30, ATP:glycerol 3-phosphotransferase) from Escherichia coli is inactivated by 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) and by N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) in 0.1 M triethanolamine at pH 7 and 25 degrees C. The inactivation by DTNB is reversed by dithiothreitol. In the cases of both reagents, the kinetics of activity loss are pseudo first order. The dependencies of the rate constants on reagent concentration show that while the inactivation by NEM obeys second-order kinetics (k2app = 0.3 M-1 s-1), DTNB binds to the enzyme prior to the inactivation reaction; i.e., the pseudo-first-order rate constant shows a hyperbolic dependence on DTNB concentration. Complete inactivation by each reagent apparently involves the modification of two sulfhydryl groups per enzyme subunit. However, analysis of the kinetics of DTNB modification, as measured by the release of 2-nitro-5-thiobenzoate, shows that the inactivation is due to the modification of one sulfhydryl group per subunit, while two other groups are modified 6 and 15 times more slowly. The enzyme is protected from inactivation by the ligands glycerol, propane-1,2-diol, ATP, ADP, AMP, and cAMP but not by Mg2+, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, or propane-1,3-diol. The protection afforded by ATP or AMP is not dependent on Mg2+. The kinetics of DTNB modification are different in the presence of glycerol or ATP, despite the observation that the degree of protection afforded by both of these ligands is the same.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Reactive sulfhydryl groups in Saccharomyces cerevisiae phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase

Saccharomyces cerevisiae phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (ATP:oxaloacetate carboxy-lyase (transphosphorylating), EC 4.1.1.49) is inactivated by several thiol- and vicinal dithiol-specific reagents. Titration experiments of the enzyme with 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate) (DTNB) show the presence of reactive monothiol and vicinal dithiol groups, whose modifications lead to enzyme inactivation. The enzyme is also inactivated by N-(1-pyrenyl)iodoacetamide (PyrIAM), with a binding stoichiometry of approx. 2 mol per mol of enzyme subunit. A high level of pyrene excimer fluorescence is detected on the labeled enzyme, thus implying the reaction of the reagent with two spatially close sulfhydryl groups in the protein. The carboxykinase is not completely inactivated by different vicinal dithiol-specific reagents, thus implying a catalytically non-essential character for these groups. From substrate protection experiments of the enzyme inactivation by DTNB, PyrIAM and vicinal dithiol-specific reagents, it is concluded that the loss of enzyme activity is caused by the modification of both thiol and vicinal dithiol groups in the substrate binding region.     

Sulfhydryl groups of an extramitochondrial acetyl-CoA hydrolase from rat liver

An extramitochondrial acetyl-CoA hydrolase (EC 3.1.2.1) purified from rat liver was inactivated by heavy metal cations (Hg2+, Cu2+, Cd2+ and Zn2+), which are known to be highly reactive with sulfhydryl groups. Their order of potency for enzyme inactivation was Hg2+ greater than Cu2+ greater than Cd2+ greater than Zn2+. This enzyme was also inactivated by various sulfhydryl-blocking reagents such as p-hydroxymercuribenzoate (PHMB), N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB), and iodoacetate (IAA). DL-Dithiothreitol (DTT) reversed the inactivation of this enzyme by DTNB markedly, and that by PHMB slightly, but did not reverse the inactivations by NEM, DTNB and IAA. Benzoyl-CoA (a substrate-like competitive inhibitor) and ATP (an activator) greatly protected acetyl-CoA hydrolase from inactivation by PHMB, NEM, DTNB and IAA. These results suggest that the essential sulfhydryl groups are on or near the substrate binding site and nucleotide binding site. The enzyme contained about four sulfhydryl groups per mol of monomer, as estimated with DTNB. When the enzyme was denatured by 4 M guanidine-HCl, about seven sulfhydryl groups per mol of monomer reacted with DTNB. Two of the four sulfhydryl groups of the subunit of the native enzyme reacted with DTNB first without any significant inactivation of the enzyme, but its subsequent reaction with the other two sulfhydryl groups seemed to be involved in the inactivation process.     

Primary structure, physicochemical properties, and chemical modification of NAD(+)-dependent D-lactate dehydrogenase. Evidence for the presence of Arg-235, His-303, Tyr-101, and Trp-19 at or near the active site.

The NAD(+)-dependent D-lactate dehydrogenase was purified to apparent homogeneity from Lactobacillus bulgaricus and its complete amino acid sequence determined. Two gaps in the polypeptide chain (10 residues) were filled by the deduced amino acid sequence of the polymerase chain reaction amplified D-lactate dehydrogenase gene sequence. The enzyme is a dimer of identical subunits (specific activity 2800 +/- 100 units/min at 25 degrees C). Each subunit contains 332 amino acid residues; the calculated subunit M(r) being 36,831. Isoelectric focusing showed at least four protein bands between pH 4.0 and 4.7; the subunit M(r) of each subform is 36,000. The pH dependence of the kinetic parameters, Km, Vm, and kcat/Km, suggested an enzymic residue with a pKa value of about 7 to be involved in substrate binding as well as in the catalytic mechanism. Treatment of the enzyme with group-specific reagents 2,3-butanedione, diethylpyrocarbonate, tetranitromethane, or N-bromosuccinimide resulted in complete loss of enzyme activity. In each case, inactivation followed pseudo first-order kinetics. Inclusion of pyruvate and/or NADH reduced the inactivation rates manyfold, indicating the presence of arginine, histidine, tyrosine, and tryptophan residues at or near the active site. Spectral properties of chemically modified enzymes and analysis of kinetics of inactivation showed that the loss of enzyme activity was due to modification of a single arginine, histidine, tryptophan, or tyrosine residue. Peptide mapping in conjunction with peptide purification and amino acid sequence determination showed that Arg-235, His-303, Tyr-101, and Trp-19 were the sites of chemical modification. Arg-235 and His-303 are involved in the binding of 2-oxo acid substrate whereas other residues are involved in binding of the cofactor.     

Reaction of rat liver glycine methyltransferase with 5'-p-fluorosulfonylbenzoyladenosine

Rat liver glycine methyltransferase is inactivated by 5'-p-fluorosulfonylbenzoyladenosine (FSBA) in a pseudo-first order fashion at pH 7.5. The addition of dithiothreitol (20 mM) to the reaction mixture results in partial restoration of enzyme activity. A semilog plot of residual activity after dithiothreitol reactivation versus time is also linear, indicating that at least two essential residues are present on the enzyme and the modification of either of which causes total loss of activity. The inactivation is accompanied by incorporation of the radiolabel from adenine-labeled FSBA, but the amount of radioactivity fixed is not altered upon treatment with dithiothreitol. From this fact and the stoichiometry between the loss of dithiothreitol-sensitive activity and the number of sulfhydryl groups disappeared, it is suggested that the dithiothreitol-sensitive inactivation is the consequence of the FSBA-mediated formation of a disulfide between two sulfhydryl groups in close proximity. Although 4 mol of reagent are covalently bound per enzyme subunit, the kinetics of modification and inactivation show that the reaction at 1 residue, which is identified as tyrosine, is responsible for the dithiothreitol-insensitive inactivation. The substrate S-adenosylmethionine provides complete protection against both types of inactivation, but the dithiothreitol-insensitive inactivation is protected much more effectively with a Kd value comparable to the Km value. This suggests that the tyrosine is located at or near the active site of the methyltransferase.     

Soybean (Glycine max) urease: Significance of sulfhydryl groups in urea catalysis

The soybean urease (urea amidohydrolase; EC 3.5.1.5) was investigated to elucidate the presence of sulfhydryl (–SH) groups and their significance in urea catalysis with the help of various –SH group specific reagents. The native urease incubated with 5,5′-dithiobis (2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) showed exponential increase in the absorbance, thereby revealing the presence of –SH groups. A total of 34 –SH groups per hexamer enzyme molecule were estimated from the absorption studies which represents nearly six –SH groups per subunit. The time-dependent inactivation of urease with DTNB, p-chloromercuribenzoate (p-CMB), N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) and iodoacetamide (IAM) showed biphasic kinetics, where half of the enzyme activity was lost more rapidly than the other half. This study reveals the presence of two categories of “accessible” –SH groups, one category being more reactive than the other. The inactivation of urease by p-CMB was largely reversed on treatment with cysteine, which might be due to unblocking of –SH group by mercaptide exchange reaction. Finally, when NEM inactivated urease was incubated with sodium fluoride, a time-dependent regain of activity was observed with higher concentrations of fluoride ion.     

The modification of sulfhydryl groups of glutamine synthetase from Bacillus stearothermophilus with 5, 5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid).

The SH groups of glutamine synthetase [EC 6.3.1.2] from Bacillus stearothermophilus were modified with 5, 5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) in order to determine the number of SH groups in the molecule as well as the effect of the modification on the enzyme activity. Three SH groups per subunit were detected after complete denaturation of the enzyme with 6 M urea, one of which was essential for the enzyme activity in view of its reactivity with 5, 5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) on addition of MgCl2 with loss of the activity. The CD spectra of the modified enzyme in the near ultraviolet region changed from that of the native enzyme, indicating that aromatic amino acid residues were affected by modification of the SH group. The fluorescence derived from tryptophanyl residue(s) was quenched depending on the extent of modification of the SH group, suggesting that the tryptophanyl residue(s) was located in the proximity of the SH group. The thermostability of the enzyme was remarkably decreased by modification of the SH group.     

Chemical modification of lysine residues at active-site of human placental estradiol 17 beta-dehydrogenase

Estradiol 17 beta-dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.62.) activity was decreased by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonate (TNBS), a reagent for modification of epsilon-amino moiety of lysine residues in a protein. The inactivation exhibited pseudo-first-order kinetics, and was protected by oxidyzed cofactors. Stoichiometric studies showed that the complete inactivation was caused by modification of one lysine residue per molecule of the enzyme. Differential modification with 5,5'-dithio-bis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB), TNBS and dithiothreitol (DTT) indicated that the residues of lysine and cysteine were located at the active-site and played an essential role in the catalytic function of the estradiol 17 beta-dehydrogenase.