Interaction of 1,N6-ethenoadenine derivatives of triphosphopyridine and reduced triphosphopyridine nucleotides with dihydrofolate reductase from amethopterin-resistant L1210 cells.

The 1,N6-ethenoadenine derivatives of triphosphopyridine and reduced triphosphopyridine nucleotides (TPN and TPNH) epsilon-TPN and epsilon-TPNH) have been synthesized and used as fluorescent probes to examine the pyridine nucleotide binding site of L1210 dihydrofolate reductase. Epsilon-TPNH (Km = 16.7 muM) was able to replace TPNH (Km = 3.8 muM) in the enzyme-catalyzed reduction of dihyrdofolate, and both epsilon-TPN and epsilon-TPNH formed binary complexes with the enzyme that were stable to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The fluorescence of epsilon-TPN was enhanced and the emission maximum shifted from 415 to 405 nm when the nucleotide was bound to the enzyme. The ethenoadenine moiety in epsilon-TPNH behaved similarily, but the fluorescence changes were complicated by concurrent effects of binding upon the dihydronicotinamide fluorophore. Fluorescence enhancement titrations yielded values of 1.8 and 0.59 muM, respectively, for the dissociation constants of the enzyme-epsilon-TPN and enzyme-epsilon-TPNH complexes. Titration experiments based upon quenching of enzyme fluorescence gave similar values, viz., 2.1 and 0.53 muM for the dissociation constants of these complexes. Fluorimetric titration of the enzyme-TPNH complex with epsilon-TPN (or of the enzyme-TPN complex with epsilon-TPNH) failed to reveal the presence of a second pyridine nucleotide binding site. The fluorescence enhancement of enzyme-bound epsilon-TPN or dihydrofolate was quenched when amethopterin or epsilon-TPN, respectively, was added to form a ternary complex. These results provide information concerning the nature of the pyridine nucleotide binding site and its spatial relationship to the dihydrofolate/amethopterin binding site.     

Real-time NMR monitoring of intermediates and labile products of the bifunctional enzyme UDP-apiose/UDP-xylose synthase

The conversion of UDP-α-d-glucuronic acid to UDP-α-d-xylose and UDP-α-d-apiose by a bifunctional potato enzyme UDP-apiose/UDP-xylose synthase was studied using real-time nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. UDP-α-d-glucuronic acid is converted via the intermediate uridine 5′-β-l-threo-pentapyranosyl-4″-ulose diphosphate to UDP-α-d-apiose and simultaneously to UDP-α-d-xylose. The UDP-α-d-apiose that is formed is unstable and is converted to α-d-apio-furanosyl-1,2-cyclic phosphate and UMP. High-resolution real-time NMR spectroscopy is a powerful tool for the direct and quantitative characterization of previously undetected transient and labile components formed during a complex enzyme-catalyzed reaction.     

Substrate Binding of avian liver prenyltransferase.

Prenyltransferase (farnesyl pyrophosphate synthetase) was purified from avian liver and characterized by Sephadex and sodium dodecyl sulfate gel chromatography, peptide mapping, and end-group analysis. The enzyme is 85 800 +/- 4280 daltons and consists of two identical subunits as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis, peptide mapping, and end-group analysis. Chemical analysis of the protein revealed no lipid or carbohydrate components. Avian prenyltransferase synthesizes farnesyl pyrophosphate from either dimethylallyl or geranyl pyrophosphate and isopentenyl pyrophosphate. A lower rate of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthesis from farnesyl pyrophosphate and isopentenyl pyrophosphate was also demonstrated. Michaelis constants for farnesyl pyrophosphate synthesis are 0.5 muM for both isopentenyl pyrophosphate and geranyl pyrophosphate. The V max for the reaction is 1990 nmol min-1 mg-1 (170 mol min-1 mol-1 enzyme). Substrate inhibition by isopentenyl pyrophosphate is evident at high isopentenyl pyrophosphate and low geranyl pyrophosphate concentrations. Michaelis constants for geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthesis are 9 muM for farnesyl pyrophosphate and 20 muM for isopentenyl pyrophosphate. The Vmax is 16 nmol min-1 mg-1 (1.4 mol min-1 mol-1 enzyme). Two moles of each of the allylic substrates is bound per mol of enzyme. The apparent dissociation constants for dimethylallyl, geranyl, and farnesyl pyrophosphates are 1.8, 0.17, and 0.73 muM, respectively. Dimethylallyl and geranyl pyrophosphates bound competitively to prenyltransferase with one-for-one displacement. Four moles of isopentenyl pyrophosphate was bound per mole of enzyme. Citronellyl pyrophosphate, an analogue of geranyl pyrophosphate, was competitive with the binding of 2 of the 4 mol of isopentenyl pyrophosphate bound. The data are interpreted to indicate that each subunit of avian liver prenyltransferase has a single allylic binding site accommodating dimethylallyl, geranyl, and farnesyl pyrophosphates, and one binding site for isopentenyl pyrophosphate. In the absence of an allylic pyrophosphate or analogue, isopentenyl pyrophosphate also can bind to the allylic site.     

UDP-GlcNAc transport across the Golgi membrane: electroneutral exchange for dianionic UMP

We have examined the coupling and charge stoichiometry for UDP-GlcNAc transport into Golgi-enriched vesicles from rat liver. In the absence of added energy sources, these Golgi vesicles concentrate UDP-GlcNAc at least 20-fold, presumably by exchange with endogenous nucleotides. Under the conditions used, extravesicular degradation of UDP-GlcNAc has been eliminated, and less than 15% of the internalized radioactivity becomes associated with endogenous macromolecules. Of the remaining intravesicular label, 85% remains unmetabolized UDP-[3H]GlcNAc, and approximately 15% is hydrolyzed to [3H]GlcNAc-1-phosphate. Efflux of accumulated UDP-[3H]GlcNAc is induced by addition of UMP, UDP, or UDP-galactose to the external medium. Permeabilization of Golgi vesicles causes a rapid and nearly complete loss of internal UDP-[3H]GlcNAc, indicating that the results reflect transport and not binding. Moreover, transport of UDP-[3H]GlcNAc into these Golgi vesicles was stimulated up to 5-fold by mechanically preloading vesicles with either UDP-GlcNAc or UMP. The response of UMP/UMP exchange and UMP/UDP-GlcNAc exchange to alterations in intravesicular and extravesicular pH suggests that UDP-GlcNAc enters the Golgi apparatus in electroneutral exchange with the dianionic form of UMP.     

Synthesis, characterization and properties of uridine 5′-(α-d-apio-d-furanosyl pyrophosphate)

1. A method was developed for synthesizing UDP-apiose [uridine 5'-(alpha-d-apio-d-furanosyl pyrophosphate)] from UDP-glucuronic acid [uridine 5'-(alpha-d-glucopyranosyluronic acid pyrophosphate)] in 62% yield with the enzyme UDP-glucuronic acid cyclase. 2. UDP-apiose had the same mobility as uridine 5'-(alpha-d-xylopyranosyl pyrophosphate) when chromatographed on paper and when subjected to paper electrophoresis at pH5.8. When [(3)H]UDP-[U-(14)C]glucuronic acid was used as the substrate for UDP-glucuronic acid cyclase, the (3)H/(14)C ratio in the reaction product was that expected if d-apiose remained attached to the uridine. In separate experiments doubly labelled reaction product was: (a) hydrolysed at pH2 and 100 degrees C for 15min; (b) degraded at pH8.0 and 100 degrees C for 3min; (c) used as a substrate in the enzymic synthesis of [(14)C]apiin. In each type of experiment the reaction products were isolated and identified and were found to be those expected if [(3)H]UDP-[U-(14)C]apiose was the starting compound. 3. Chemical characterization established that the product containing d-[U-(14)C]apiose and phosphate formed on alkaline degradation of UDP-[U-(14)C]apiose was alpha-d-[U-(14)C]apio-d-furanosyl 1:2-cyclic phosphate. 4. Chemical characterization also established that the product containing d-[U-(14)C]apiose and phosphate formed on acid hydrolysis of alpha-d-[U-(14)C]apio-d-furanosyl 1:2-cyclic phosphate was d-[U-(14)C]apiose 2-phosphate. 5. The half-life periods for the degradation of UDP-[U-(14)C]apiose to alpha-d-[U-(14)C]apio-d-furanosyl 1:2-cyclic phosphate and UMP at pH8.0 and 80 degrees C, at pH8.0 and 25 degrees C and at pH8.0 and 4 degrees C were 31.6s, 97.2min and 16.5h respectively. The half-life period for the hydrolysis of UDP-[U-(14)C]-apiose to d-[U-(14)C]apiose and UDP at pH3.0 and 40 degrees C was 4.67min. After 20 days at pH6.2-6.6 and 4 degrees C, 17% of the starting UDP-[U-(14)C]apiose was degraded to alpha-d-[U-(14)C]apio-d-furanosyl 1:2-cyclic phosphate and UMP and 23% was hydrolysed to d-[U-(14)C]apiose and UDP. After 120 days at pH6.4 and -20 degrees C 2% of the starting UDP-[U-(14)C]apiose was degraded and 4% was hydrolysed.     

A rapid quantitative method for measuring UTP, UDP, and UMP in the picomole range.

A procedure for the determination of picomole amounts of uracil nucleotides is described. The key reaction is the condensation of UTP and [¹⁴C]glucose 1-phosphate catalyzed by uridine 5′-diphosphoglucose pyrophosphorylase yielding UDP-[¹⁴C]glucose. The product is determined by selective adsorption onto charcoal in the presence of 0.8 m Trizma Base. UDP is measured as UTP after its conversion in an incubation with excess ATP and nucleoside diphosphate kinase. Similarly, UMP is analyzed after it is converted to UDP by nucleoside monophosphate kinase. The uracil nucleotide content of germinated wheat embryos had been determined with this method.     

The elementary reactions of the pig heart pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. A study of the inhibition by phosphorylation.

1. A method was devised for preparing pig heart pyruvate dehydrogenase free of thiamin pyrophosphate (TPP), permitting studies of the binding of [35S]TPP to pyruvate dehydrogenase and pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate. The Kd of TPP for pyruvate dehydrogenase was in the range 6.2-8.2 muM, whereas that for pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate was approximately 15 muM; both forms of the complex contained about the same total number of binding sites (500 pmol/unit of enzyme). EDTA completely inhibited binding of TPP; sodium pyrophosphate, adenylyl imidodiphosphate and GTP, which are inhibitors (competitive with TPP) of the overall pyruvate dehydrogenase reaction, did not appreciably affect TPP binding. 2. Initial-velocity patterns of the overall pyruvate dehydrogenase reaction obtained with varying TPP, CoA and NAD+ concentrations at a fixed pyruvate concentration were consistent with a sequential three-site Ping Pong mechanism; in the presence of oxaloacetate and citrate synthase to remove acetyl-CoA (an inhibitor of the overall reaction) the values of Km for NAD+ and CoA were 53+/- 5 muM and 1.9+/-0.2 muM respectively. Initial-velocity patterns observed with varying TPP concentrations at various fixed concentrations of pyruvate were indicative of either a compulsory order of addition of substrates to form a ternary complex (pyruvate-Enz-TPP) or a random-sequence mechanism in which interconversion of ternary intermediates is rate-limiting; values of Km for pyruvate and TPP were 25+/-4 muM and 50+/-10 nM respectively. The Kia-TPP (the dissociation constant for Enz-TPP complex calculated from kinetic plots) was close to the value of Kd-TPP (determined by direct binding studies). 3. Inhibition of the overall pyruvate dehydrogenase reaction by pyrophosphate was mixed non-competitive versus pyruvate and competitive versus TPP; however, pyrophosphate did not alter the calculated value for Kia-TPP, consistent with the lack of effect of pyrophosphate on the Kd for TPP. 4. Pyruvate dehydrogenase catalysed a TPP-dependent production of 14CO2 from [1-14C]pyruvate in the absence of NAD+ and CoA at approximately 0.35% of the overall reaction rate; this was substantially inhibited by phosphorylation of the enzyme both in the presence and absence of acetaldehyde (which stimulates the rate of 14CO2 production two- or three-fold). 5. Pyruvate dehydrogenase catalysed a partial back-reaction in the presence of TPP, acetyl-CoA and NADH. The Km for TPP was 4.1+/-0.5 muM. The partial back-reaction was stimulated by acetaldehyde, inhibited by pyrophosphate and abolished by phosphorylation. 6. Formation of enzyme-bound [14C]acetylhydrolipoate from [3-14C]pyruvate but not from [1-14C]acetyl-CoA was inhibited by phosphorylation. Phosphorylation also substantially inhibited the transfer of [14C]acetyl groups from enzyme-bound [14C]acetylhydrolipoate to TPP in the presence of NADH. 7...     

Microenvironment at the substrate binding subsite of the active site of UDPglucose 4-epimerase from Kluyveromyces fragilis using a fluorescent analog of UMP.

A chromophorics and fluorescent analog of uridine 5'-monophosphate (UMP), a known competitive inhibitor of UDPglucose 4-epimerase was synthesised. This analog, namely 2',3'-O-(2,4,6-trinitrocyclohexadienylidene) uridine 5'-monophosphate, was found to be a powerful reversible inhibitor of UDPglucose 4-epimerase indicating its interaction with the substrate binding site of the enzyme. The extreme sensitivity of the fluorescence emission spectrum of this analog to solvent polarity makes it an excellent probe for the study of the environment at the active site of the enzyme. We report here the effective use of this UMP analog to demonstrate that the hydroxyl groups of the ribose moiety of UMP and presumably the substrates (UDPgalactose and UDPglucose) do not reside in a hydrophobic milieu.     

Determinants of substrate specificity in RNA-dependent nucleotidyl transferases

Poly(A) polymerases were identified almost 50 years ago as enzymes that add multiple AMP residues to the 3' ends of primer RNAs without use of a template from ATP as cosubstrate and with release of pyrophosphate. Based on sequence homology of a signature motif in the catalytic domain, poly(A) polymerases were later found to belong to a superfamily of nucleotidyl transferases acting on a very diverse array of substrates. Enzymes belonging to the superfamily can add from single nucleotides of AMP, CMP or UMP to RNA, antibiotics and proteins but also homopolymers of many hundred residues to the 3' ends of RNA molecules. The recently reported structures of several nucleotidyl transferases facilitate the study of the catalytic mechanisms of these very diverse enzymes. Numerous structures of CCA-adding enzymes have now revealed all steps in the formation of a CCA tail at the 3' end of tRNAs. In addition, structures of poly(A) polymerases and uridylyl transferases are now available as binary and ternary complexes with incoming nucleotide and RNA primer. Some of these proteins undergo significant conformational changes after substrate binding. This is proposed to be an indication for an induced fit mechanism that drives substrate selection and leads to catalysis. Insights from recent structures of ternary complexes indicate an important role for the primer molecule in selecting the incoming nucleotide.     

Free pyrimidine nucleotide pool of Ehrlich ascites-tumour cells. Compartmentation with respect to the synthesis of heterogeneous nuclear RNA and precursors to ribosomal RNA.

The incorporation of [14C]orotate and [14C]uridine into UMP residues of hnRNA (heterogeneous nuclear RNA) and pre-rRNA (precursors to rRNA) of Eharlich ascites-tumour cells was compared: orotate was incorporated at a markedly higher rate into hnRNA. On the other hand, the rate of incorporation of uridine into pre-rRTNA was even somewhat higher than into hnRNA. The ratio of specific radioactivities of CMP to UMP residues in pre-rRNA and hnRNA was studied. At all times of labelling this ratio was similar for both RNA species independently of the precursor used. On addition of excess unlabelled uridine, the CMP/UMP labelling ratio in both pre-rRNA and hnRNA rose. However, this increase was much more pronounced with hnRNA. It is concluded that nuclear pyrimidine nucleotide pool for RNA synthesis is compartmentalized. The synthesis of hnRNa is supplied preferentially by the large and the small compartment, respectively. A detailed model for the cellular compartmentation of uridine nucleotide precursors to RNA is proposed.U     

The Escherichia coli gene encoding the UDP-2,3-diacylglucosamine pyrophosphatase of lipid A biosynthesis

UDP-2,3-diacylglucosamine hydrolase is believed to catalyze the fourth step of lipid A biosynthesis in Escherichia coli. This reaction involves pyrophosphate bond hydrolysis of the precursor UDP-2,3-diacylglucosamine to yield 2,3-diacylglucosamine 1-phosphate and UMP. To identify the gene encoding this hydrolase, E. coli lysates generated with individual lambda clones of the ordered Kohara library were assayed for overexpression of the enzyme. The sequence of lambda clone 157[6E7], promoting overproduction of hydrolase activity, was examined for genes encoding hypothetical proteins of unknown function. The amino acid sequence of one such open reading frame, ybbF, is 50.5% identical to a Haemophilus influenzae hypothetical protein and is also conserved in most other Gram-negative organisms, but is absent in Gram-positives. Cell extracts prepared from cells overexpressing ybbF behind the T7lac promoter have approximately 540 times more hydrolase activity than cells with vector alone. YbbF was purified to approximately 60% homogeneity, and its catalytic properties were examined. Enzymatic activity is maximal at pH 8 and is inhibited by 0.01% (or more) Triton X-100. The apparent K(m) for UDP-2,3-diacylglucosamine is 62 microm. YbbF requires a diacylated substrate and does not cleave CDP-diacylglycerol. (31)P NMR studies of the UMP product generated from UDP-2,3-diacylglucosamine in the presence of 40% H(2)180 show that the enzyme attacks the alpha-phosphate group of the UDP moiety. Because ybbF encodes the specific UDP-2,3-diacylglucosamine hydrolase involved in lipid A biosynthesis, it is now designated lpxH.     

Design of fluorogenic substrates for continuous assay of sialyltransferase by resonance energy transfer

Glycosyltransferases are important synthetic enzymes for the construction of naturally occurring glycoconjugates as well as for the design of neoglycoconjugates. The assay methods currently available for these enzymes require tedious and time-consuming procedures for separation of products and do not permit continual assay of enzyme activities. As a set of convenient fluorogenic substrates for continuous monitoring of sialyltransferase activities, we designed and synthesized a novel CMP-Neu5Ac derivative with a naphthylmethyl group at the C-9 position and N-acetyllactosamine derivative containing a dansyl group at the terminal position of aglycon. In such substrates, the emission peak of the naphthylmethyl group (lambdaem = 340 nm) of the glycosyl donor is successfully overlapped with the excitation peak due to the dansyl group (lambdaex = 335 nm) of the glycosyl acceptor. A coupling reaction of these two substrates catalyzed by rat liver 2,6-sialyltransferase caused an increase of dansyl fluorescence (lambdaem = 525 nm) and a decrease of naphthylmethyl fluorescence on the basis of resonance energy transfer between two fluorescence probes. The substrates presented here permit continuous fluorescent monitoring of enzymatic sugar combining reactions. Actually, using this time course of enzymatic reactions, kinetic constants of rat liver 2,6-sialyltransferase against glycosyl donor substrates were estimated to be Km = 4.85 microM and Vmax. = 0.119 micromol/min, respectively. This strategy allows precise and efficient analyses of enzyme kinetics not possible with the conventional assay methods for the glycosyltransferases that usually require separation of products from the reaction mixture.     

Glycogen synthase Hymenolepis diminuta. I. Allosteric activation and inhibition.

Glycogen synthase (UDP glucose: glycogen alpha-4-glycosyltransferase, EC2.4.1.11) of the tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta exists in 2 forms: 1) the I-form (independent), which has significant activity in the absence of glucose 6-phosphate (G6P); and 2) the phosphorylated D-form (dependent), which has no enzymatic activity unless G6P is present. The activity of the I-form is greatly enhanced by a variety of allosteric effectors which have, as their common feature, 1 or more phosphate groups. These include inorganic phosphate (Pi), several sugar phosphates, some phosphorylated glycolytic intermediates, and nucleoside mono- and triphosphates. Competition studies suggest that while most of the positive effectors act at the same site on the enzyme (the "G6P site"), fructose 1,6-diphosphate (FDP) and 2,3-diphosphoglyceric acid (2,3DPG) act at low concentrations to stimulate the enzyme at another locus (the "diphosphate site"), while at high concentrations they competitively inhibit the binding of G6P and of the other activators. The inhibition by high uridine monophosphate (UMP) concentrations is competitive only with the activator uridine triphosphate (UTP), suggesting the existence of a third type of allosteric site (the "uridine nucleotide site"). This third site may be the locus for feedback inhibition by the product uridine diphosphate (UDP), a control mechanism which has been observed to occur in mammalian systems. The allosteric control of the D-form of the enzyme is comparatively simple, apparently involving only one site (the "G6P site") that binds a few effects with greatly reduced affinity. Pi reverses the activation of the D-form by G6P.     

Preparation of analogues of NAD+ as substrates for a sensitive fluorimetric assay of nucleotide pyrophosphatase.

1,N6-Etheno derivatives of pyridine analogues of NAD+ were synthesized, characterized and tested as substrates for a fluorimetric assay of nucleotide pyrophosphatase (EC 3.6.1.9). Upon cleavage of their pyrophosphate bond, the fluorescence of pyridine-1,N6-ethenoadenine dinucleotide (epsilon PdAD+) and of 4-hydrazinocarbonyl-pyridine-1,N6-ethenoadenine dinucleotide (epsilon hy4PdAD+) increased respectively 15-and 73-fold, at pH 7.4. This property allows a convenient steady-state assay of nucleotide pyrophosphatase by continuous monitoring of reaction progress. Both compounds were good substrates of this class of enzyme. The relative insensitivity of the fluorescence of epsilon PdAD+ and epsilon hy4PdAD+ to pH changes allowed assays under conditions preserving cellular integrity. epsilon PdAD+ is useful as a substrate for measuring nucleotide pyrophosphatase activity on the outside of mammalian cells because it is not a substrate for the external NAD+ glycohydrolase. epsilon Hy4PdAD+ proved useful when high sensitivity was needed.     

Glycoproten biosynthesis in Trypanosoma brucei. The glycosylation of Glycoproteins located in and attached to the plasma membrane

1. Glycosyltransferase activity incorporating N-[14C]acetylglucosamine ([14C]GlcNAc) from uridine diphosphate N-[14C]acetylglucosamine (UDP-[14C]GlcNAc) into endogenous proitein acceptors was localized primarily in the plasma membrane of Trypanosoma brucei. 2. The acceptor site for the nucleotide sugar was further localized exclusively to the cytoplasmic face of the plasma membrane. 3. The glycosyltransferase produced elongation of the growing oligosaccharide chains while they were attached to their peptide acceptors. 4. This glycosyltransferase activity was incapable of initiating sugar attachment directly to amino acid residues within peptide acceptors. 5. The dolichyl-phosphate-sugar pathway for glycoprotein biosynthesis was either absent of only present at a very low level in T. brucei when compared to rat liver. 6. All oligosaccharide chains accepting GlcNAc were of the same or very similar lengths. 7. Both O-glycosidic (26%) and N-glycosidic (74%) linkages (exclusive of hydroxylysine attachment) were found. 8. Glycosyltransferase activity required either Mn2+ or Mg2+, had a pH optimum of 6.5 and was temperature-dependent. 9. The kinetics of incorporation were complex, probably a result of multiple acceptors or glycosyltransferases whose activities were characterized by a Km of 30 microM for UDP-GlcNAc with a V of 40 pmol x mg protein -1 x min-1 for the highest affinity system and a Km of approximately 2 mM for UDP-GlcNAc with a V of approximately 400 pmol x mg protein-1 x min-1 for the lowest affinity system. 10. Glycosyltransferases using UDP-GlcNAc, uridine diphosphate glucose, uridine diphosphate galactose and guanidine diphosphate mannose as glycosyl donors were observed. Each peptide acceptor was specific for a singloe labelled sugar in the absence of other unlabelled nucleotide sugars. 11. The final extent of incorporation of GlcNAc was due primarily to exhaustion of peptide acceptor. 12. An inhibitor of UDP-[14C]GlcNAc incorporation into plasma membranes was found in the cytoplasmic fraction.     

Equilibrium and water proton relaxation rate enhancement properties of formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase-manganous ion-substrate complexes.

Binding of Mn(pi)-nucleotide complexes to the enzyme formyltertrahydrofolate synthetase (EC 6.3.4.3) from Clostridium cylindrosporum has been examined in the presence and absence of other substrates by solvent proton relaxation mearurements. MnADP and MnATP form ternary complexes with the enzyme with highly enhanced proton relaxation rates for water. The enhancement parameters, epsilont, for the MnADP and MnATP ternary complexes are 19.8 and 12.5, respectively at 24.3 MHZ and 25 degrees. Titration curves with constant total concentrations of enzyme and Mn(pi) with variable nucleotide concentration are similar to those observed in similar titrations with the endp and MnATP are 175 muM and 64 muM, respectively at 25 degrees. Addition of tetrahydrofolate to solutions of the MnADP OR MnATP ternary complexes lowers the observed relaxation enhancement markedly. An analysis of titration curves with constant total concentrations of enzyme, Mn(pi), and nucleotide with variable tetrahydrofolate concentration gives the dissociation constant for tetrahydrofolate from the respective quaternary complexes. The affinity of the enzyme for tetrahydrofolate is increased 6-fold when MnADP is present at the active site whereas a 3-fold increase is observed with MnATP present. Furthermore, there is a 20-fold increase in the enzyme's affinity for tetrahydrofolate when both MnADP and the third substrate, formate, are present. The observed relaxation rate of water for solutions of the complex, enzyme-MnADP-tetrahydrofolate-formate, is deenhanced with respect to the rate observed for the simple aquo-Mn(pi) solution. Addition of nitrate to solutions of the above complex increases the affinity of the enzyme for tetrahydrofolate and MnADP by an additional factor of 5 and lowers the relaxation rate further to a value which approaches that for solutions of the enzyme and substrates which lack the paramagnetic cation.     

The role of nucleoside diphosphatase in a uridine nucleotide cycle associated with lactose synthesis in rat mammary-gland Golgi apparatus.

1. UDP-galactose utilization by isolated Golgi vesicles or rat mammary gland synthesizing lactose causes accumulation of UMP but not UDP, although UDP is the immediate product of lactose synthase (EC 2.4.1.22). 2. This can be ascribed to a nucleoside diphosphatase (EC 3.6.1.6), specific for UDP, GDP and IDP, activated by bivalent metal ions and apparently located on the luminal face of the Golgi membrane. 3. The uridine diphosphatase activity exceeds the total galactosyltransferase activity 5-fold, and is estimated to maintain UDP at about 14 micrometer within the Golgi lumen. 4. Evidence is given that UMP, but not UDP, penetrates the membrane and that UMP is rephosphorylated to UDP by a UMP kinase located in the cytosol. 5. Golgi-cytosol relationships with respect to lactose synthesis are formulated in terms of a uridine nucleotide cycle which throws new light on the energy cost and possible regulation of lactose synthesis.     

Glycosyl transferase activity of the Escherichia coli penicillin-binding protein 1b: specificity profile for the substrate

The glycosyl transferase of the Escherichia coli bifunctional penicillin-binding protein (PBP) 1b catalyzes the assembly of lipid-transported N-acetylglucosaminyl-beta-1,4-N-acetylmuramoyl-L-Ala-gamma-D-Glu-meso-A2pm-D-Ala-D-Ala units (lipid II) into linear peptidoglycan chains. These units are linked, at C1 of N-acetylmuramic acid (MurNAc), to a C55 undecaprenyl pyrophosphate. In an in vitro assay, lipid II functions both as a glycosyl donor and as a glycosyl acceptor substrate. Using substrate analogues, it is suggested that the specificity of the enzyme for the glycosyl donor substrate differs from that for the acceptor. The donor substrate requires the presence of both N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) and MurNAc and a reactive group on C1 of the MurNAc and does not absolutely require the lipid chain which can be replaced by uridine. The enzyme appears to prefer an acceptor substrate containing a polyprenyl pyrophosphate on C1 of the MurNAc sugar. The problem of glycan chain elongation that presumably proceeds by the repetitive addition of disaccharide peptide units at their reducing end is discussed.     

Multinuclear NMR study of the interaction of vanadate with mononucleotides, ADP, and ATP

The interaction of vanadate with 5'-mononucleotides, ADP, ATP, and various molecules containing some of their chemical moieties was studied in aqueous solution in the pH region of 5-9 using proton, 13C, 31P, and 51V nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. All the compounds studied formed noncyclic vanadate esters through interaction of monovanadate or divanadate with the hydroxyl groups of the ribose ring. Noncyclic anhydrides were also formed with the phosphate groups of ribose 5-phosphate, the mononucleotides, ADP, ATP, phosphate, pyrophosphate, and tripolyphosphate. In particular, ADP and ATP analogs resulted from AMP (AMPV and AMPV2) and from ADP (ADPV). Cyclic esters of trigonal bipyramidal geometry resulted from the interaction of vanadate with two ribose ring cis hydroxyl groups. AMP, CMP, and UMP formed two such complexes of 1:1 and 1:2 stoichiometries, similar to what has been observed for uridine and other nucleosides. However, 2'-deoxy-AMP does not yield this type of complexes. ADP and ATP also form similar cyclic ester complexes with vanadate, which does not chelate their pyrophosphate and tripolyphosphate moieties. Nevertheless, the separate pyrophosphate (PP) and tripolyphosphate (PPP) ligands form cyclic anhydrides of octahedral geometry with vanadate. However, their binding to vanadate is weaker than that of the ribose ring of nucleotides. Competition experiments between ethylene glycol and phosphate (P), pyrophosphate (PP), or tripolyphosphate (PPP) show that the relative strength of the interaction of these ligands with vanadate is PP greater than ethylene glycol greater than PPP greater than P.     

Inhibition of beta-1,4-Glucan Biosynthesis by Deoxyglucose : The Effect on the Glucosylation of Lipid Intermediates

GDP- and UDP-deoxyglucose inhibit the incorporation of glucose from UDP-glucose into dolichyl phosphate glucose and dolichyl pyrophosphate oligosaccharides. GDP-deoxyglucose inhibits by competing with the physiological nucleotide sugars for dolichyl phosphate, and dolichyl phosphate deoxyglucose is formed. This inhibition is reversed by excess of dolichyl phosphate. UDP-deoxyglucose does not give rise to a lipid-linked derivative, and inhibition by this analog is not reversed by dolichyl phosphate. The UDP- and GDP-derivatives of deoxyglucose inhibit the incorporation of glucose into glucose-containing glycoproteins. This effect seems to be the result of the inhibition of lipid intermediates glucosylation and is comparable to the effect produced by coumarin. Cellulose synthetase activity is not affected by UDP- or GDP-deoxyglucose. On the other hand, deoxyglucose inhibits the formation of β-1,4-glucans in vivo.