Organothallium(III) reagents for modification of biomacromolecules: interaction of thallium derivatives with transfer RNA

As an extension of work on the inhibition of enzymes by arylthallium(III) reagents, the thallium analogues of the organomercurials, we have studied the interactions of these molecules with transfer RNA. In contrast to thallous acetate, thallium(III) derivatives (thallic trifluoroacetate, p-methylphenylthallium(III) bis-trifluoroacetate (MPT) and o-carboxyphenylthallium(III) bis-trifluoroacetate) bound to Escherichia coli tRNA. The interaction was fully reversible upon Sephadex G-25 gel filtration, and binding constants and stoichiometries were evaluated by a number of procedures. The likely site of interaction was shown to be the thiouridine residue (s4U8) based on changes induced by MPT on the absorbance around 330 nm. No changes in stacking interactions could be detected from the absorption or circular dichroic spectra. The detailed structure of the groups on thallium(III) affected the interaction with tRNA. Thalliation at s4U8 affects the absorbance at 335 nm and the amino-acid uptake capacity of E. coli tRNAPhe in parallel, the latter being progressively inhibited by increasing amounts of MPT. In a model nucleoside system, uridine disulphide is probably formed from reduced thiouridine by the oxidative action of the Tl(III) reagents. No evidence of cross-linking of E. coli tRNA molecules under gel electrophoretic conditions was obtained in contrast to the model nucleoside. The easily reversible interaction of MPT with sulphur sites in E. coli tRNA contrasts with the stable (to gel filtration) bonds formed between MPT and (thiol) sites in enzymes.     

Phylogeny and ontogeny of the phosphoglycerate mutases - III. Inactivation of rabbit muscle phosphoglycerate mutase (type M isozyme) by the sulfhydryl group reagents

1. The three phosphoglycerate mutase isozymes from mammals (types M, B and MB isozymes) differ in their sensitivity to the - SH group reagents. 2. Rabbit muscle phosphoglycerate mutase (type M isozyme) is reversibly inactivated by tetrathionate, rho-chloromercuribenzoate and Hg2+. 3. Titration with rho-chloromercuribenzoate shows the existence of two sulfhydryl groups per enzyme subunit, the modification of which produces a progressive decline in enzyme activity. 4. The apparent Km values for substrate and cofactor are not affected by tetrathionate treatment. 5. Phosphoglycerate mutase inactivated by tetrathionate and by rho-chloromercuribenzoate is unable to form the functionally active phosphorylenzyme when mixed with glycerate-2,3-P2, and is not protected by the cofactor against heating. 6. Glycerate-2,3-P2 protects against tetrathionate treatment, but fails to protect against Hg2+ and rho-chloromercuribenzoate inactivation.     

Proteolytic modification of human phosphoglycerate kinase from lymphoblasts

During phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A-induced transformation of human lymphocytes, phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) exhibits new electrophoretic forms (pI = 8.5–8.9). Electrophoresis and electrofocusing showed that the new forms are not due to expression of the autosomally linked isozyme found in sperm (PGK-B; pI = 9.7). The multiple electrophoretic forms are the result of protease modification of the sex-linked PGK-A isozyme.     

Arylthallium(III) reagents for protein modification. Inhibition of lactate dehydrogenase from various sources by o-carboxyphenylthallium(III) bistrifluoroacetate.

The use of organothallium compounds for protein/macromolecule modification and as probes for n.m.r. and fluorescence is introduced. Lactate dehydrogenase from a number of species was rapidly and specifically inhibited by o-carboxyphenylthallium(III) bistrifluoroacetate and p-methylphenylthallium(III) bistrifluoroacetate. Inhibition of rabbit muscle lactate dehydrogenase by o-carboxyphenylthallium(III) bistrifluoroacetate was time-dependent and not reversible by gel filtration. A small degree of re-activation was possible by incubation with dithiothreitol. The time course of the inactivation kinetics showed two phases, only the first, and faster, of which was efficiently prevented by the presence of cofactor, NADH. Inhibition rates depended on the structure of the thallium reagent, its concentration and the temperature. No significant inhibition was found by thallous acetate or thallic trifluoroacetate. Saturation kinetics were observed for the inhibition by o-carboxyphenylthallium(III) bistrifluoroacetate of the pig heart enzyme. The possibilities of various cross-linking activities of these reagents are addressed. Mechanisms of the inhibition are discussed.     

Mechanism of the 2,3-diphosphoglycerate-dependent phosphoglycerate mutase from rabbit muscle

1. The properties and kinetics of the 2,3-diphosphoglycerate-dependent phosphoglycerate mutases are discussed. There are at least three possible mechanisms for the reaction: (i) a phosphoenzyme (Ping Pong) mechanism; (ii) an intermolecular transfer of phosphate from 2,3-diphosphoglycerate to the substrates (sequential mechanism); (iii) an intramolecular transfer of phosphate. It is concluded that these mechanisms cannot be distinguished by conventional kinetic measurements. 2. The fluxes for the different mechanisms are calculated and it is shown that it should be possible to distinguish between the mechanisms by appropriate induced-transport tests and by comparing the fluxes of (32)P- and (14)C-labelled substrates at chemical equilibrium. 3. With (14)C-labelled substrates no induced transport was found over a wide concentration range, and with (32)P-labelled substrates co-transport occurred that was independent of concentration over a twofold range. (14)C-labelled substrates exchange at twice the rate of (32)P-labelled substrates at chemical equilibrium. The results were completely in accord with a phosphoenzyme mechanism and indicated a rate constant for the isomerization of the phosphoenzyme of not less than 4x10(6)s(-1). The intramolecular transfer of phosphate (and intermolecular transfer between two or more molecules of substrate) were completely excluded. The intermolecular transfer of phosphate from 2,3-diphosphoglycerate would have been compatible with the results only if the K(m) for 2-phosphoglycerate had been over 7.5-fold smaller than the observed value and if an isomerization of the enzyme-2,3-diphosphoglycerate complex had been the major rate-limiting step in the reaction. 4. The very rapid isomerization of the phosphoenzyme that the experiments demonstrate suggests a mechanism that does not involve a formal isomerization. According to this new scheme the enzyme is closely related mechanistically and perhaps evolutionarily to a 2,3-diphosphoglycerate diphosphatase.     

Chemical modification of rabbit skeletal muscle phosphorylase kinase with phenylglyoxal

Nonactivated phosphorylase kinase from rabbit skeletal muscle is inactivated by treatment with phenylglyoxal. Under mild reaction conditions, a derivative that retains 10-15% of the pH 8.2 catalytic activity is obtained. The kinetics of inactivation profile, differential effects of modification on pH 6.8 and 8.2 catalytic activities, and the insensitiveness of the modified enzyme to activation by ADP reveal that the 10-15% of catalytic activity remaining is very likely due to intrinsic catalytic activity of the derivative rather than to the presence of unmodified enzyme molecules. The kinetic results also suggest that the inactivation is correlatable with the reaction of one molecule of the reagent with the enzyme without any prior binding of phenylglyoxal. The phenylglyoxal modification reduces the autophosphorylation rate of the kinase. Autophosphorylated phosphorylase kinase is inactivated by phenylglyoxal at a much slower rate than the inactivation of nonactivated kinase. Thus, phenylglyoxal modification influences the phosphorylation and vice versa. The modified enzyme can be reactivated by treatment with trypsin or by dissociation using chatropic salts. The activity of the phenylglyoxal-modified enzyme after trypsin digestion or dissociation with LiBr reaches the same level as that of the native enzyme digested with trypsin or treated with LiBr under identical conditions. The results suggest that the effect of modification is overcome by dissociation of the subunits of phosphorylase kinase and that the catalytic site is not modified under conditions when 85% of the pH 8.2 catalytic activity is lost. Among various nucleotides and metal ions tested, only ADP, with or without Mg2+, afforded effective protection against inactivation with phenylglyoxal. At pH 6.8, 1 mM ADP afforded complete protection against inactivation. Experiments with 14C-labeled phenylglyoxal revealed that ADP seemingly protects one residue from modification. This result is in agreement with the kinetic result that the inactivation seemingly is due to reaction of one molecule of the reagent with the enzyme. The results confirm the existence of a high-affinity ADP binding site on nonactivated phosphorylase kinase and suggest the involvement of a functional arginyl residue at or near the ADP binding site in the regulation of of pH 8.2 catalytic activity of the enzyme.     

Affinity of (alpha-P-borano)-NTP analogs to rabbit muscle pyruvate kinase

The binding affinity of (alpha-P-borano) and other NTP analogs to rabbit muscle pyruvate kinase (PK) was investigated using a fluorescence quenching approach to obtain structure-activity relationships for substrate specificity of nucleotide analogs.     

Cooperative self-association of phosphorylase kinase from rabbit skeletal muscle

Ca(2+)- and Mg(2+)-induced association of phosphorylase kinase (PhK) from rabbit skeletal muscle has been studied at the magnitudes of the ionic strength close to the physiological values (40 mM Hepes, pH 6.8, containing 0.1 M NaCl, 0.1 mM Ca(2+), 10 mM Mg(2+); 25 degrees C) and under the molecular crowding conditions produced by high concentrations (1 M) of the natural osmolyte, trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO). In the presence of 0.1 M NaCl two forms of PhK were registered, namely the "basic form" and "highly associated form", suggesting that PhK association may be treated as an example of cooperative association. According to the data on dynamic light scattering the average hydrodynamic radii of these forms were 16 and 144 nm. The addition of 1 M TMAO produces the time dependent increase in the light scattering intensity caused by the conversion of the basic form into the highly associated form. According to the data of the sedimentation analysis the basic form of PhK comprises a hexadecamer (M(r)=1320 kDa) and its small associates. The removal of Ca(2+) by addition of EGTA results in the reverse conversion of the highly associated form into the basic form suggesting reversibility of self-association of PhK. FAD, the ligand that is specifically bound to PhK, blocks the conversion of the basic form of PhK into the highly associated form.     

Effects of acrylamide on creatine kinase from rabbit muscle

The mechanism of inhibition of creatine kinase (CK) by acrylamide (Acr) has been examined (in vitro). Within the concentration range of 0 to 1 M, Acr markedly inhibited CK and depleted the protein thiols. Both inactivation and thiol depletion were time- and Acr concentration-dependent. Addition of dithiothreitol (DTT) did not reactivate CK inactivated by Acr. However, CK with 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) pre-blocked thiols can be reactivated by DTT after incubation with Acr. The transition-state analogue also had a significant protective effect on CK against Acr inhibition. We conclude that thiol alkylation is a critical event in inactivation of CK by Acr. Furthermore, Acr binding to CK changed its surface charge, which may be the same effect for the toxicity of Acr towards other proteins.     

Selective modification of rabbit muscle pyruvate kinase by 5-chloro-4-oxopentanoic acid.

Rabbit muscle pyruvate kinase was irreverisbly inactivated by 5-chloro-4-oxopentanoic acid with a pKa of 9.2. The inhibition was time-dependent and was related to the 5-chloro-4-oxopentanoic acid concentration. Analysis of the kinetics of inhibition showed that the binding of the inhibitor showed positive co-operativity (n = 1.5 +/- 0.2). Inhibition of pyruvate kinase by 5-chloro-4-oxopentanoic acid was prevented by ligands which bind to the active site. Their effectiveness was placed in the order Mg2+ greater than phosphoenolpyruvate greater than ATP greater than ADP greater than pyruvate. Inhibitor-modified pyruvate kinase was unable to catalyse the detritiation of [3-(3)H]pyruvate in the ATP-promoted reaction, but it did retain 5-10% of the activity with either phosphate or arsenate as promoters. 5-Chlor-4-oxo-[3,5-(3)H]pentanoic acid was covalently bound to pyruvate kinase and demonstrated a stoicheiometry of 1 mol of inhibitor bound per mol of pyruvate kinase protomer. The incorporation of the inhibitor and the loss of enzyme was proportional. These results are discussed in terms of 5-chloro-4-oxopentanoic acid alkylating a functional group in the phosphoryl overlap region of the active site, and a model is presented in which this compound alkylates an active-site thiol in a reaction that is controlled by a more basic group at the active site.     

Electrophoretic variation for x-chromosome-linked phosphoglycerate kinase (pgk-1) in the mouse

Electrophoretic variation for X-chromosome-linked phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK-1) has been found as a polymorphism in feral mice in Denmark. Males from feral sampling or from a variety of genetic crosses have only a single-banded phenotype of the variant PGK-1A type or of the PGK-1B type commonly found among inbred mice. By contrast, three phenotypes were observed among females; two homozygous single-banded types and a heterozygous double-banded type. The X-chromosome linkage of the Pgk-1 locus was determined from the mode of inheritance in F₁ and backcross generations and confirmed by the linkage of Pgk-1 and the X-linked markers Hq, Ta and Mo. Pgk-1 showed 29/122 recombinations with Hq, 5/185 with Ta and 0/108 recombinants with Mo. Based on these recombination data, a gene order of Hq—Ta—Pgk-1—Mo is suggested.     

Evidence for conformers of rabbit muscle adenylate kinase

Changes of the apparent Mr values and the circular dichroism patterns suggest the existence of three relatively stable conformers of rabbit muscle adenylate kinase (RMAK). The effects of dithiothreitol (DTT) which stimulates activity, pH, the substrates, and ATP on the Mr value and the Stokes radius of RMAK were determined from gel filtration data, and apparent Mr values near 22,000, 26,000, and 29,000 resulted. Substrates generated multiple Mr values, suggesting the presence of multiple conformers of RMAK. The higher apparent Mr values were obtained in the presence of DTT and at the higher substrate concentrations, indicating more open conformations. The effect of the substrates on the conformation of RMAK is discussed in relation to the kinetic mechanism of this random bireactant system. Circular dichroism studies were undertaken in order to observe any changes in the secondary structures of RMAK in relation to changes of the Mr values. The secondary structure composition of RMAK, determined under our conditions, does not agree with results determined from crystallographic studies. The gel filtration and the CD studies suggest that above pH 7 a more open conformation of RMAK obtains in the presence of DTT. The results of these studies are discussed with reference to the location of the active sites.     

C-protein from rabbit soleus (red) muscle.

A new form of skeletal-muscle C-protein has been isolated from rabbit soleus (red) muscle. This new form of C-protein has been purified to homogeneity by a procedure similar to that used to purify C-protein from white skeletal muscle. In soleus muscle, only this new form of C-protein could be detected, whereas in psoas (white) muscle, only the previously identified form of C-protein was detected. The content of C-protein in rabbit soleus muscle is comparable with that found in psoas muscle. Other rabbit skeletal muscles composed of a mixture of fibre types contained at least two forms of C-protein. C-Protein derived from red skeletal muscle bound to myosin isolated from either red or white tissue, with maximum binding occurring at a ratio of approximately 13 microgram of red C-protein/100 microgram of myosin. Polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate indicated that C-protein isolated from red skeletal muscle has a molecular weight approx. 7% greater than that of C-protein isolated from white skeletal muscle. The amino acid content of both forms of C-protein was similar but major differences in the mol % of isoleucine and threonine were found. Antiserum against C-protein from white rabbit skeletal muscle formed a single precipitin line with rabbit C-protein on double in agar. This antiserum did not form a precipitin line when diffused against red C-protein from rabbit skeletal muscle. Also, this antiserum bound specifically to the A-band region of myofibrils isolated from psoas (white) muscle, but it did not bind to myofibrils prepared from soleus (red) muscle.     

Surface modification of nanofibrous poly(acrylonitrile-co-acrylic acid) membrane with biomacromolecules for lipase immobilization

In this work, poly(acrylonitrile-co-acrylic acid) (PANCAA) was electrospun into nanofibers with a mean diameter of 180 nm. To create a biofriendly microenvironment for enzyme immobilization, collagen or protein hydrolysate from egg skin (ES) was respectively tethered on the prepared nanofibrous membranes in the presence of 1-ethyl-3-(dimethyl-aminopropyl) carbodiamine (EDC)/N-hydroxyl succinimide (NHS). Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was used to verify the surface modification and protein density on the nanofibrous membranes. Lipase from Candida rugosa was then immobilized on the protein-modified nanofibrous membranes by covalent binding using glutaraldehyde (GA) as coupling agent, and on the nascent PANCAA nanofibrous membrane using EDC/NHS as coupling agent, respectively. The properties of the immobilized enzyme were assayed. It was found that different pre-tethered biomacromolecules had distinct effects on the immobilized enzyme. The activity retention of the immobilized lipase on ES hydrolysate-modified nanofibrous membrane increased from 15.0% to 20.4% compared with that on the nascent one, while it was enhanced up to more than quadrupled (activity retention of 61.7%) on the collagen-modified nanofibrous membrane. The kinetic parameter, K_m and V_max, were also determined for the free and immobilized lipases. Furthermore, the stabilities of the immobilized lipases were obviously improved compared with the free one.     

Purification and crystallization of creatine kinase from rabbit skeletal muscle

Crystallization is the primary rate-limiting step in protein structure determination. It has been our experience over approximately 10 years that crystals are obtained in about 20% of the proteins attempted and that only about 10% of these crystals are sufficiently well ordered to permit atomic resolution structure analysis. In attempts to overcome this limitation, we have investigated the effect on crystallization of microheterogeneity in a protein regarded as pure by conventional criteria. Creatine kinase was purified from rabbit skeletal muscle and crystallized from methylpentanediol. The protein appeared to be nearly pure judging by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and high specific activity. The crystals that were obtained were of poor quality, and an extensive survey of precipitants, crystallization conditions, and additives failed to discover conditions from which usable crystals could be obtained. The enzyme was then subjected to a series of further purification steps. After each purification step, the quality of the crystals obtained under almost identical conditions improved. The final purification step was flat-bed isoelectric focusing. Crystals grown from focused creatine kinase are well ordered and diffract to approximately 3-A resolution.     

GuHC1 induced unfolding-folding transition of a hinge-bending protein: horse muscle phosphoglycerate kinase

The antineoplastic compound N2-methyl-9-hydroxyellipticinium (9-OH-NME) is able to bind to different biological molecules after an oxidative activation by horseradish peroxidase and hydrogen peroxide. In this study, the efficient covalent binding in vitro of 9-OH-NME onto RNA and poly A is described. The phenomenon is analyzed by different HPLC methods and the yield of binding is determined using [3H]9-OH-NME. For an initial ratio drug per nucleotide of 0.07, the rb obtained (ratio of drug bound per nucleotide) of 0.026 for RNA and 0.044 for poly A, which represent respectively a yield of 40% and 60% for the drug fixation onto these macromolecules. These facts demonstrate the high electrophilicity of para-quinone-imine derivatives in ellipticinium series.     

Heat and cold denaturation of phosphoglycerate kinase (interaction of domains)

It has been shown that the denaturation of phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) can be observed not only when the solution is heated above 30 degrees C, but also when it is cooled below this temperature. The disruption of the native PGK structure upon cooling and the subsequent formation of this structure upon heating both proceed in two distinct stages which correspond to the independent disruption or reformation of each of its domains. In contrast, the heat denaturation of PGK proceeds in one stage, showing that the two domains of the molecule are associated into a single complex which figures in the denaturation process as a cooperative unit. It follows that, at elevated temperature, there is a positive interaction between the domains, which disappears at lower temperatures. This might be due to hydrophobic interactions, which are known to be temperature dependent. The temperature decrease leads to a decrease in inter- and intradomain interactions, which results in an increase of the independence of the domains and a decrease in their stability.