Hydrolysis of adenylyl imidodiphosphate in the presence of Na+ + Mg+ by (Na+ + K+)-activated ATPase

(1) Contrary to what has usually been assumed, (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase slowly hydrolyses AdoPP[NH]P in the presence of Na⁺ + Mg²⁺ to ADP-NH₂ and P_i. The activity is ouabain-sensitive and is not detected in the absence of either Mg²⁺ or Na²⁺. The specific activity of the Na⁺ + Mg²⁺ dependent AdoPP[NH]P hydrolysis at 37°C and pH 7.0 is 4% of that for ATP under identical conditions and only 0.07% of that for ATP in the presence of K⁺. The activity is not stimulated by K⁺, nor can K⁺ replace Na⁺ in its stimulatory action. This suggests that phosphorylation is rate-limiting. Stimulation by Na⁺ is positively cooperative with a Hill coefficient of 2.4; half-maximal stimulation occurs at 5–9 mM. The K_m value for AdoPP[NH]P is 17 μM. At 0°C and 21°C the specific activity is 2 and 14%, respectively, of that at 37°C. AMP, ADP and AdoPP[CH₂]P are not detectably hydrolysed by (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase in the presence of Na⁺ + Mg²⁺. (2) In addition, AdoPP[NH]P undergoes spontaneous, non-enzymatic hydrolysis at pH 7.0 with rate constants at 0, 21 and 37°C of 0.0006, 0.006 and 0.07 h^?1, respectively. This effect is small compared to the effect of enzymatic hydrolysis under comparable conditions. Mg²⁺ present in excess of AdoPP[NH]P reduces the rate constant of the spontaneous hydrolysis to 0.005 h^?1 at 37°C, indicating that the MgAdoPP[NH]P complex is virtually stable to spontaneous hydrolysis, as is also the case for its enzymatic hydrolysis. (3) A practical consequence of these findings is that AdoPP[NH]P binding studies in the presence of Na⁺ + Mg²⁺ with enzyme concentrations in the mg/ml range are not possible at temperatures above 0°C. On the other hand, determination of affinity in the (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase reaction by competition with ATP at low protein concentrations (μg/ml range) remains possible without significant hydrolysis of AdoPP[NH]P even at 37°C.     

Replication of RNA viruses: specific binding of the Q RNA polymerase to Q RNA

The specific binding in vitro of the Qβ RNA polymerase to Qβ RNA has been detected by the formation of an enzyme-Qβ RNA complex that did not exchange bound RNA molecules and was not dissociated by 0.8 m NaCl. Formation of this nondissociating complex required GTP and two host protein factors, but not ATP, CTP, UTP, or Mg²⁺ ions. GDP, GMP, dGTP, ITP, and β,γ-methylene GTP did not replace GTP in the reaction. Complex formation at 0 °C was not observed, and the rates of the reaction at 30 °C and 25 °C were 41% and 23%, respectively, of the rate at 37 °C. The reaction occurred with intact Qβ RNA and with polycytidylic acid template but not with bacterial or other bacteriophage RNA. With limiting amounts of enzyme, the amount of Qβ RNA bound in the nondissociating complex was the same as the amount of [γ-³²P]GTP incorporated into nascent RNA chains, indicating a close relationship between complex formation and the initiation of RNA synthesis. The two reactions appear to be separate, however, because in the absence of Mg²⁺ ions, when complex formation occurred readily, no RNA synthesis could be detected either by incorporation of labeled substrate into acid-insoluble material or by formation of short RNA chains still attached to the enzyme. In the presence of factor protein and GTP, a maximum of one active enzyme molecule was bound per molecule of Qβ RNA template, as determined by a liquid polymer phase-separation procedure. These results suggest that formation of the nondissociating complex measures recognition by the Qβ RNA polymerase of a single Qβ RNA site utilized for the initiation of synthesis.     

Cloning of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> K12 xylose isomerase (glucose isomerase) gene and studying the enzymatic properties of its expression product

The coding region of Escherichia coli K12 xylose (glucose) isomerase gene was inserted into the pRAC expression vector and cloned in E. coli BL21(DE3) cells. After induction of expression of the cloned gene, the proportion of recombinant xylose isomerase accounted for 40% of the total protein content. As a result of one-stage purification by affinity chromatography, a protein preparation of 90% purity was obtained. The recombinant enzyme catalyzed the isomerization of glucose to fructose and exhibited maximum activity (0.8 U/mg) at 45°C and pH 6.8. The enzyme required Mg²⁺ ions as a cofactor. When Mg²⁺ and Co²⁺ ions were simultaneously present in the reaction medium, the enzyme activity increased by 15–20%. Complete replacement of Mg²⁺ with Co²⁺ decreased the enzyme activity. In the presence of Ca²⁺ at concentrations comparable to the concentration of Mg²⁺, the enzyme was not inhibited, although published data reported inhibition of similar enzymes by Ca²⁺. The recombinant enzyme exhibited a very low thermostability: it underwent a slow inactivation when incubated at 45°C and was completely inactivated after incubation at 65°C for 1 h.     

A cyanophycin synthetase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thermosynechococcus elongatus</Emphasis> BP-1 catalyzes primer-independent cyanophycin synthesis

Cyanophycin synthesis is catalyzed by cyanophycin synthetase (CphA). It was believed that CphA requires l-aspartic acid (Asp), l-arginine (Arg), ATP, Mg²⁺, and a primer (low-molecular mass cyanophycin) for cyanophycin synthesis and catalyzes the elongation of a low-molecular mass cyanophycin. Despite extensive studies of cyanophycin, the mechanism of primer supply is still unclear, and already-known CphAs were primer-dependent enzymes. In the present study, we found that recombinant CphA from Thermosynechococcus elongatus BP-1 (Tlr2170 protein) catalyzed in vitro cyanophycin synthesis in the absence of a primer. The Tlr2170 protein showed strict substrate specificity toward Asp and Arg. The optimum pH was 9.0, and Mg²⁺ or Mn²⁺ was essential for cyanophycin synthesis. KCl enhanced the cyanophycin synthesis activity of the Tlr2170 protein; in contrast, dithiothreitol did not. The Tlr2170 protein appeared to be a 400 ± 9 kDa homo-tetramer. The Tlr2170 protein showed thermal stability and retained its 80% activity after a 60-min incubation at 50°C. In addition, we examined cyanophycin synthesis at 30°C, 40°C, 50°C, and 60°C. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that the molecular mass of cyanophycin increased with increased reaction temperature.     

Effect of temperature,salts, pH and other factors on the development of peritrichous flagella in Vibrio alginolyticus

The development of peritrichous flagella and, consequently, swarming of Vibrio alginolyticus depend on a complex relationship between temperature, salt concentrations and pH. At temperatures above 28°C V. alginolyticus did not develop peritrichous flagella unless certain minimal concentrations of NaCl are present: the higher the temperature, the higher the NaCl concentrations required for peritrichous flagella synthesis. This requirement for NaCl at high temperatures is much more pronounced at pH 9 than at pH 6. High temperatures and low concentrations of NaCl also inhibited swarming of cells already armed with peritrichous flagella. Other cations, such as Li⁺, K⁺ and Mg²⁺, replaced NaCl only at temperatures below 28°C.     

Solution conformations of B. subtilis ribosomal 5S RNA: a calorimetric study

The unfolding of B. subtilis 5S RNA is examined by direct calorimetric measurement in the presence of various concentrations of Na⁺ and Mg²⁺. The composite differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curve is analyzed into 3–5 individual two-state melting transitions. In the absence of added Na⁺ or Mg²⁺, the 5S RNA segments melt together at T_m = 40°C. Addition of Na⁺ stabilizes the molecular structure (T_m = 56°C) and widens the melting temperature range, so that up to five component transitions are observed. Addition of Mg²⁺ alone produces a very stable structure (T_m = 75°C) with highly cooperative melting. Finally, addition of both Na⁺ and Mg²⁺ produces the highest stability (T_m = 76°C). The results are interpreted according to hypothetical secondary and tertiary base-pairing schemes. The conformational changes demonstrated here may facilitate the movement of the protein synthesis machinery during RNA translation.     

Identification of the first archaeal arylsulfatase from Pyrococcus furiosus and its application to desulfatation of agar

A gene encoding a putative arylsulfatase from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus was identified, cloned, and expressed as a fusion protein with a Sce VMA intein and chitin binding domain (CBD) residue. The gene (PF1345) from P. furiosus encoding a 35 kDa protein showed some similarity (17 ～ 19%) with other arylsulfatases from the bacteria. The recombinant fusion arylsulfatase was overexpressed in E. coli and partially purified. Its molecular mass was estimated to be 90 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The optimal temperature and pH for arylsulfatase activity were found to be 45°C and 9.5, respectively. Various divalent cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Mn²⁺) slightly activated the arylsulfatase activity in a narrow range of concentrations (below 0.5 mM), whereas Zn²⁺ concentrations above 2.0 mM significantly inhibited the activity. After the reaction of agar with recombinant fusion arylsulfatase for 12 h at 50°C, 75% of the sulfate in the agar was removed, and the DNA migration was greatly enhanced. Therefore, the arylsulfatase in this study could be applicable for the production of electrophoretic grade agarose by removing sulfate groups in agar.     

Disruption of the OLE ribonucleoprotein complex causes magnesium toxicity in Bacillus halodurans

OLE RNAs represent an unusual class of bacterial noncoding RNAs common in Gram‐positive anaerobes. The OLE RNA of the alkaliphile Bacillus halodurans is highly expressed and naturally interacts with at least two RNA‐binding proteins called OapA and OapB. The phenotypes of the corresponding knockouts include growth inhibition when exposed to ethanol or other short‐chain alcohols or when incubated at modestly reduced temperatures (e.g. 20°C). Intriguingly, the OapA ‘PM1’ mutant, which carries two amino acid changes to a highly conserved region, yields a dominant‐negative phenotype that causes more severe growth defects under these same stress conditions. Herein, we report that the PM1 strain also exhibits extreme sensitivity to elevated Mg²⁺ concentrations, beginning as low as 2 mM. Suppressor mutants predominantly map to genes for aconitate hydratase and isocitrate dehydrogenase, which are expected to alter cellular citrate concentrations. Citrate reduces the severity of the Mg²⁺ toxicity phenotype, but neither the genomic mutations nor the addition of citrate to the medium overcomes ethanol toxicity or temperature sensitivity. These findings reveal that OLE RNA and its protein partners are involved in biochemical responses under several stress conditions, wherein the unusual sensitivity to Mg²⁺ can be independently suppressed by specific genomic mutations.     

Synthesis of fatty acid esters and diacylglycerols at elevated temperatures by alkalithermophilic lipases from Thermosyntropha lipolytica

LipA and LipB of Thermosyntropha lipolytica DSM 11003 as previously published are the most alkalithermophilic (pH _opt ^25°C  = 9.4–9.6, T _opt = 96°C) and thermostable (T _1/2 ^24 h  = 74–76°C) lipases currently known. The purified enzymes were analyzed in organic solvents for their ability to catalyze synthesis of diacylglycerols and various alcohol fatty acids. To obtain 100% recovery and avoid a 40% and 50% loss of catalytic activity during lyophilization of purified LipA and LipB, respectively, addition of 1 mg/ml bovine serum albumin (BSA) and 25% polyethylene glycol (PEG400) was required. LipA and LipB catalyzed esterification of fatty acids and alcohols with the highest yields for octyl oleate (LipA) and lauryl oleate (LipB) and also catalyzed synthesis of 1,3-dioleoyl glycerol, 1-oleoyl-3-lauroyl glycerol, and 1-oleoyl-3-octoyl glycerol. Isooctane was the most efficient solvent for esterification reactions at 85°C. Similar to the positional specificity for the hydrolytic reaction in aqueous solutions, LipA and LipB catalyzed in organic solvents the synthesis of diacylglycerol with esterification of position 1 and 3 with a yield of 62% for di-oleoyl glycerol. The reported conversion rates do not represent the full potential of these enzymes, since only 1/100th–1/1,000th of the protein concentrations usually used in commercial processes were available. However, use of slightly increased protein concentrations confirmed the trend to higher yields with higher protein concentrations. The obtained specificity and variety of the reactions catalyzed by LipA and LipB, and their high thermostability allowing synthesis to occur at 90°C, demonstrate their great potentials for industrial applications, particularly in structured lipid biosynthesis for substrates that are less soluble at mesobiotic temperatures.     

Equilibrium constants under physiological conditions for the reactions of the nonphosphorylated pathway of L-serine biosynthesis

The observed equilibrium constants (K_obs) for the reactions of d-2-phosphoglycerate phosphatase, d-2-Phosphoglycerate^3? + H₂O → d-glycerate^? + HPO₄^2?; d-glycerate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.29), d-Glycerate^? + NAD⁺ → NADH + hydroxypyruvate^? + H⁺; and l-serine:pyruvate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.51), Hydroxypyruvate^? + l-H · alanine^± → pyruvate^? + l-H · serine^±; have been determined, directly and indirectly, at 38 °C and under conditions of physiological ionic strength (0.25 m) and physiological ranges of pH and magnesium concentrations. From these observed constants and the acid dissociation and metal-binding constants of the substrates, an ionic equilibrium constant (K) also has been calculated for each reaction. The value of K for the d-2-phosphoglycerate phosphatase reaction is 4.00 × 10³m [ΔG⁰ = ?21.4 kJ/mol (?5.12 kcal/mol)]([H₂0] = 1). Values of K_obs for this reaction at 38 °C, [K⁺] = 0.2 m, I = 0.25 M, and pH 7.0 include 3.39 × 10³m (free [Mg²⁺] = 0), 3.23 × 10³m (free [Mg²⁺] = 10^?3m), and 2.32 × 10³m (free [Mg²⁺] = 10^?2m). The value of K for the d-glycerate dehydrogenase reaction has been determined to be 4.36 ± 0.13 × 10^?13m (38 °C, I = 0.25 M) [ΔG⁰ = 73.6 kJ/mol (17.6 kcal/mol)]. This constant is relatively insensitive to free magnesium concentrations but is affected by changes in temperature [ΔH⁰ = 46.9 kJ/mol (11.2 kcal/mol)]. The value of K for the serine:pyruvate aminotransferase reaction is 5.41 ± 0.11 [ΔG⁰ = ?4.37 kJ/mol (?1.04 kcal/mol)] at 38 °C (I = 0.25 M) and shows a small temperature effect [ΔH⁰ = 16.3 kJ/ mol (3.9 kcal/mol)]. The constant showed no significant effect of ionic strength (0.06–1.0 m) and a response to the hydrogen ion concentration only above pH 8.5. The value of K_obs is 5.50 ± 0.11 at pH 7.0 (38 °C, [K⁺] = 0.2 m, [Mg²⁺] = 0, I = 0.25 M). The results have also allowed the value of K for the d-glycerate kinase reaction (EC 2.7.1.31), d-Glycerate^? + ATP^4? → d-2-phosphoglycerate^3? + ADP^3? + H⁺, to be calculated to be 32.5 m (38 °C, I = 0.25 M). Values for K_obs for this reaction under these conditions and at pH 7.0 include 236 (free [Mg²⁺] = 0) and 50.8 (free [Mg²⁺] = 10^?3m).     

Purification and properties of a D-fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase (EC 3.1.3.11) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been purified to homogeneity. A molecular weight of 115,000 has been obtained by gel filtration. The enzyme appears to be a dimer with identical subunits. The apparent K_m for fructose bisphosphatase varies with the Mg²⁺ concentration of the enzyme, being 1 × 10^?6m at 10 mm Mg²⁺ and 1 × 10^?5m at 2 mm Mg²⁺. Other phosphorylated compounds are not significantly hydrolyzed by the enzyme. An optimum pH of 8.0 is exhibited by the enzyme. This optimum is not changed by addition of EDTA. AMP inhibits the enzyme with a K_i of 8.0 × 10^?5m at 25 °C. The inhibition is temperature dependent, the value of K_i increasing with raising temperature. 2-Deoxy-AMP is also inhibitory with a K_i value at 25 °C of 1.6 × 10^?4m. An ordered uni-bi mechanism has been deduced for the reaction with phosphate leaving the enzyme as the first product and the fructose 6-phosphate as the second one.     

Regulation of rat brainstem tryptophan 5-monooxygenase. Calcium-dependent reversible activation by ATP and magnesium.

Tryptophan 5-monooxygenase in rat brainstem cytosol was activated about twofold by incubation with 0.5 mm ATP and 5 mm MgCl₂. The activation required micromolar concentrations of Ca²⁺ but was not dependent on either cyclic AMP or cyclic GMP. Rat brain cytosol was shown to possess an endogenous protein kinase which was markedly stimulated by the addition of Ca²⁺ using endogenous protein substrates. Following activation by ATP and Mg²⁺ in the presence of Ca²⁺, tryptophan 5-monooxygenase was reversibly deactivated to the original level by incubation at 30 °C after removal of Ca²⁺ by adding ethylene glycol bis(β-aminoethyl ether)N,N′-tetraacetic acid and was then reactivated by incubation at 30 °C after subsequent addition of Ca²⁺ and ATP. The deactivation was markedly inhibited by the omission of Mg²⁺ or by the addition of NaF.     

Effects of Magnesium Ions on Thermal Inactivation of Alkaline Phosphatase

The effect of Mg²⁺ on the thermal inactivation and unfolding of calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase has been studied at different temperatures and Mg²⁺ concentrations. Increasing the Mg²⁺ concentration in the denatured system significantly enhanced the inactivation and unfolding of the enzyme during thermal inactivation. The analysis of the kinetic course of substrate reaction during thermal inactivation showed that at 47°C the increased free Mg²⁺ concentration caused the inactivation rate to increase. Increasing the temperature strengthened the effect of Mg²⁺ on the thermal inactivation. Control experiment showed that this is not due to salt effect. The time course of fluorescence emission spectra showed that the emission maximum for Mg²⁺-containing system was always higher than that of Mg²⁺-free system, and the higher temperature enhanced this difference. In addition, Mg²⁺also enhanced the unfolding rate of the enzyme at 47°C. The potential biological significance of these results are discussed.     

A study on the exchange rate of magnesium with ATP

The exchange process of Mg²⁺ with ATP was found to be, in many cases, dominated by Mg²⁺ exchange between ATP and ATP-Mg (a bimolecular reaction) rather than the Mg²⁺ off-process from ATP-Mg to solutino (a unimolecular reaction). The Mg²⁺ off-rate from ATP-Mg and the rate constant of the bimolecular reaction were determined at 10 and 25°C at pH. 7.3, using ³¹P-NMR at 145.7 MHz. At this resonance frequency intermediate to slow exchange phenomena with respect to the NMR time scale of 2.5·10³ s^?1 were observed in ATP resonances. Various implications of these results to studies of biological systems have been pointed out.     

Purification and characterization of human lung calmodulin-independent cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase

A high-affinity calmodulin-independent cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase was purified to homogeneity from human lung tissue. This enzyme has a molecular weight of 60,000, a sedimentation coefficient of 3.2–3.4 S, and an isoelectric pH of 4.6–4.8. Neither Ca²⁺ nor calmodulin (in the presence or absence of added Ca²⁺) stimulates the enzymatic activity. This enzyme appears to be very similar to that described previously from dog kidney (W. J. Thompson, P. M. Epstein, and S. J. Strada, (1979) Biochemistry18, 5228–5237). Hydrolysis of cyclic AMP is greatly enhanced by Mg²⁺ (25–30× at 10 mm Mg²⁺) and Mn²⁺ (20× at 10 mm Mn²⁺). Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Co²⁺ are ineffective at these concentrations. Cyclic AMP is the exclusive substrate with a K_m of 0.7–0.8 μm. The I₅₀ of cyclic GMP is 1 mm using 1 μm cyclic AMP as substrate. In contrast, aminophylline, MIX, and SQ 20009 have I₅₀s of 0.28, 0.021, and 0.001 mm, respectively). The purified enzyme is susceptible to temperature inactivation and protease degradation. Significant (10%) inhibition is seen at 37 °C for 20 min. Trypsin, at 0.1 μg/ml, destroys 50% of the activity in 30 min at 25 °C. Our observations concerning its lability to temperature and proteases coupled with its lack of response to calmodulin suggest this enzyme is a basic catalytic subunit of other cyclic AMP phosphodiesterases present within human lung tissue.     

Properties of the solvent-stimulated ATPase activity of chloroplast coupling factor 1 from Chlamydomonas reinhardii

The effects of solvents on the ATPase activity of chloroplast coupling factor 1 (CF₁) isolated from wild-type Chlamydomonas reinhardii have been studied. Of the solvents examined, the following order summarizes their maximal ability to stimulate the ATPase activity of CF₁: ethanol > methanol>allyl alcohol >n-propanol > acetone≈dioxane > ethylene glycol. Glycerol inhibits the CF₁ activity at all concentrations. In the absence of organic solvents, 50% of the activity of the enzyme is irreversibly lost after a 10 min incubation at 65–70°C. Ethanol (23%) causes a 30°C drop in the temperature required for 50% inactivation. ATP partially stabilizes the CF₁ in the presence, but not in the absence, of ethanol. In the absence of organic solvents, both free Mg²⁺ and ADP inhibit the CF₁-ATPase. Mg²⁺ is a noncompetitive inhibitor with respect to MgATP, and the kinetic constants are: V, 6.3 μmol ATP hydrolyzed/mg protein per min; K_m(MgATP), 0.23 mM; K_ii(Mg²⁺), 27 μM; and K_is(Mg²⁺), 50 μM. In the presence of ethanol, double-reciprocal plots are no longer linear and have a Hill coefficient of about 1.8±0.1. V increases about 10–12-fold. The pattern of inhibition by Mg²⁺ appears to change from noncompetitive to competitive with respect to MgATP. In addition, ADP no longer inhibits the MgATPase activity of CF₁.     

Effects of Divalent Cations,Trypsin, and Phospholipases on the Passive Permeability to Sodium of Inside-Out Vesicles From Human Red Cells

Inside-out vesicles (IOV) were prepared from human red blood cells. Steady-state uptake of ²²Na was observed to generally follow an exponential time course with a rate constant of 1.57 ± 0.09 h^?1 (SE). One week of cold storage (0–4°C) increased the rate constant to 2.50 ± 0.12 h ^?1 (SE). Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, or Sr²⁺ decreased the rate of ²²Na uptake with no observable differences between the three divalent cations when tested at concentrations of 50 μM. Mg²⁺ was shown to decrease the rate of ²²Na uptake at concentrations as low as 5 μM with maximal effect at 50 to 100 μM. The decrease in rate of ²²Na uptake induced by Mg²⁺ could be enhanced by exposure of IOV to Mg²⁺ for longer periods of time. Trypsin treatment of IOV increased the rate of uptake of ²²Na and was dependent on the concentration of trypsin added between 5 to 25 μg/ml (treated for 5 min at 25°C). The ability of Mg²⁺ (50 μM) to decrease the rate of ²²Na uptake was still observed after maximal trypsin treatment. Phospholipase A₂ or phospholipase C treatment of IOV increased the rate of ²²Na uptake and was dependent on the amount of phospholipase A₂ (0.1 to 1.0 units/ml) or phospholipase C (0.25 to 2.5 units/ml) added (treated for 5 min at 25°C). After phospholipase A₂ treatment, the observed decrease in the rate of ²²Na uptake induced by Mg²⁺ (50 μM) was generally greater than controls. After phospholipase C treatment, the observed decrease in rate of ²²Na uptake induced by Mg²⁺ (50 μM) was less or absent when compared with controls. Phospholipase C treatment was less effective in preventing the Mg²⁺ effect the longer IOV were exposed to Mg²⁺. The results suggest that Mg²⁺ binds to phospholipid head-groups to reduce Na permeability perhaps by inducing a change in bilayer structure or phospholipid association.     

Some Characteristics of Practical Relevance of the β -Galactosidase from Potential Probiotic Strains ofPropionibacterium acidipropionici

In the present study, factors influencing the synthesis and activity of β-galactosidase of two strains of Propionibacterium acidipropionici with some probiotic properties are described for the first time. The enzyme 6-phospho-β-D-galactosidase of the PEP-PTS system was not detected, suggesting that P. acidipropionici metabolize lactose only by using β-galactosidase. The highest enzymatic activities were obtained from cultures developed in a basal broth medium containing 1.0% sodium lactate or 0.25% lactose. Maximum β-galactosidase activity from cell-free extracts of the strains was obtained at pH 7.0 and 50°C, but a high activity was even detected at 37°C. The enzyme was competitively inhibited by lactose and activated by glucose and sodium lactate. The remaining activities after heating cell-free extracts up to 20 min at 60°C were 70% and 25% of untreated control activities for P. acidipropionici Q4 and CRL 1198, respectively. Cations like Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺, Li⁺, Na⁺, and K⁺ acted as stimulators of the β-galactosidase activity whereas Ca²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Hg²⁺ and Cu²⁺ showed inhibitory effect in different extent. These results suggest that the environmental conditions commonly present in the human's intestine may be adequate for the synthesis and activity of β-galactosidase from these strains of Propionibacterium. The enzyme resist the cooking temperature of Swiss-type cheeses in different extent depending on the strain tested and most of the cations present in milk stimulate the enzymatic activity. Our results suggest that a cheese would be an appropriate vehicle for delivery of β-galactosidase from propionibacteria to the host and efforts to develop a Swiss-type probiotic cheese for lactose intolerant persons should be done.     

Studies on the mechanism of regulation of the red-cell Ca2+ pump by calmodulin and ATP

(1) The effects of calmodulin binding on the rates of Ca²⁺-dependent phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of the red-cell Ca²⁺ pump, have been tested in membranes stripped of endogenous calmodulin or recombined with purified calmodulin. (2) In Mg²⁺-containing media, phosphorylation and dephosphorylation rates are accelerated by a large factor (at 0°C), but the steady-state level of phosphoenzyme is unaffected by calmodulin binding (at 0°C and 37°C). In Mg²⁺-free media, slower rates of phosphoenzyme formation and hydrolysis are observed, but both rates and the steady-state phosphoenzyme level are raised following calmodulin binding. (3) At 37°C and 0°C, the rate of (Ca²⁺ + Mg²⁺)-ATPase activity is stimulated maximally by 6–7-fold, following calmodulin binding. At 37°C the apparent Ca²⁺ affinity for sustaining ATP hydrolysis is raised at least 20-fold, K_m(Ca) ? 10 μM (—calmodulin) and K_m(Ca) < 0.5 μM (+ calmodulin), but at 0°C the apparent Ca²⁺ affinity is very high in calmodulin-stripped membranes and little or no effect of calmodulin is observed (K_m(Ca) ? 3–4 · 10^-8 M). (Ca²⁺ + Mg²⁺)-ATPase activity in calmodulin activated membranes and at saturating ATP levels, is sharply inhibited by addition of calcium in the range 50–2000 μM. (4) A systematic study of the effects of the nucleotide species MgATP, CaATP and free ATP on (Ca²⁺ + Mg²⁺)-ATPase activity in calmodulin-activated membranes reveals: (a) In the 1–10 μmolar concentration range MgATP, CaATP and free ATP appear to sustain (Ca²⁺ + Mg²⁺)-ATPase activity equally effectively. (b) In the range 100–2000 μM, MgATP accelerates ATP hydrolysis (K_m(MgATP) ? 360 μM), and CaATP is an inhibitor (K_i(CaATP) ? 165 μM), probably competing with MgATP fo the regulatory site. (5) The results suggest that calmodulin binding alters the conformational state of the Ca²⁺- pump active site, producing a high (Ca²⁺ + Mg²⁺)-ATPase activity, high Ca²⁺ affinity and regulation of activity by MgATP.     

Zn2+, Mg2+, and H+ binding to d-fructose 1,6-bisphosphate studied by 31P and 1H NMR

The anomeric composition and mutarotation rates of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate were determined in the presence of 100 mm KCl at pH 7.0 by ³¹P NMR. At 23 and 37 °C the solution contains (15 ± 1)% of the α anomer. The anomeric rate constants at 37 °C are (4.2 ± 0.4) s^?1 for the β → α anomerization and (14.9 ± 0.5) s^?1 for the reverse reaction. A D₂O effect between 2.1 and 2.6 was found. From acid base titration curves it appeared that the pK values of the phosphate groups range from 5.8 to 6.0. Mg²⁺ and Zn²⁺ bind preferentially to the 1-phosphate in the α-anomeric position. Zn²⁺ has a higher affinity for this phosphate group than Mg²⁺ has. At increasing pH the fraction α anomer decreases slightly. At increasing Mg²⁺/fructose 1,6-bisphosphate ratios the fraction α anomer increases till 19% at a ratio of 20. Proton and probably Mg²⁺ binding decreases the anomerization rate. The time-averaged preferred orientation of the 1-phosphate along the C₁O₁ bond of the α conformer is strongly pH dependent, gauche rotamers being predominant at pH 9.4. In the presence of divalent cations the orientation is biased toward trans. A mechanistic model is proposed to explain the Zn²⁺, Mg²⁺, and pH-dependent behavior of the gluconeogenic enzyme fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase.