Allosteric inhibition of brain hexokinase by glucose 6-phosphate in the reverse reaction

A study of the reverse reaction of rat brain hexokinase (ATP:D-hexose 6-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.1) has been performed using a photometric method based on a mutarotase-glucose oxidase-peroxidase-chromogen system to trap and visualize glucose, plus a glycerol kinase-glycerol system to trap ATP. Glucose 6-phosphate or 2-deoxyglucose 6-phosphate were used as phosphoryl donors at different concentrations of ADP. Variation of glucose 6-phosphate concentrations resulted in a biphasic curve from which apparent Km and Ki values of ca. 0.2 mM were calculated. In contrast, variation of 2-deoxyglucose 6-phosphate concentrations resulted in Michaelian kinetics with an apparent Km of 2 mM. The Km value for MgADP was 16 mM irrespective of the nature and concentration of the hexose 6-phosphate substrate. These results are fully consistent with an allosteric site for glucose 6-phosphate as an explanation for the inhibition of animal hexokinases by glucose 6-P and further indicate that the maximal rate is the parameter affected. From these observations and previous knowledge, the possible occurrence in animal hexokinases of a regulatory site for ATP to account for the competition between glucose 6-phosphate and ATP in the forward reaction is postulated.     

Ligand-induced conformations of rat brain hexokinase: effects of glucose-6-phosphate and inorganic phosphate

Binding of glucose-6-P induces conformational change in rat brain hexokinase (ATP:d-hexose 6-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.1) as indicated by decreased susceptibility to digestion by chymotrypsin and an increased sedimentation coefficient on sucrose density gradients. These effects are competitively reversed by P_i, as are solubilization (of the mitochondrial form of hexokinase) and inhibition by glucose-6-P. Thus, the observed conformational changes are likely to be directly related to the effect of these ligands on catalytic activity and the interaction of the hexokinase with the mitochondrial membrane.Both glucose-6-P and P_i stabilize the enzyme against heat inactivation; this effect, as well as the effect of glucose-6-P on inactivation by chymotrypsin, have been used to estimate the dissociation constants for the complexes of hexokinase with glucose-6-P and P_i; the values are 7–8 μm, and 0.25 mm, respectively.These observations are consistent with a model in which brain hexokinase may exist in two distinct conformations, rapidly and reversibly interconvertible. The effect of glucose-6-P and P_i are explained by highly preferential binding to one or the other of these conformations.     

Studies on the kinetics and mechanism of orthophosphate activation of bovine brain hexokinase

The binding of glucose to bovine brain hexokinase, isozyme I, exhibited one binding site per 100,000 molecular weight. Glucose-6-P binding was examined in the absence and presence of ATP. ATP and glucose-6-P were shown to compete for the same binding site on the enzyme. A model was proposed to account for these findings and the previously reported data that glucose-6-P and P_i exhibit mutually exclusive, non-cooperative binding to the enzyme. The model shows that brain hexokinase exists in two rapidly interconvertible states, either with or without P_i and that glucose-6-P binding to the phosphate associated enzyme form is relatively very poor. This proposal has been tested kinetically and the data appear to support the suggested model.     

Characterisation of inorganic phosphate transport in bovine articular chondrocytes.

In mineralising tissues such as growth plate cartilage extracellular organelles derived from the chondrocyte membrane are present. These matrix vesicles (MV) possess membrane transporters that accumulate Ca(2+) and inorganic phosphate (P(i)), and initiate the formation of hydroxyapatite crystals. MV are also present in articular cartilage, and hydroxyapatite crystals are believed to promote cartilage degradation in osteoarthritic joints. In the present study, P(i) transport pathways in isolated bovine articular chondrocytes have been characterised. P(i) uptake was temperature-sensitive and could be resolved into Na(+)-dependent and Na(+)-independent components. The Na(+)-dependent component saturated at high concentrations of extracellular P(i), with a K(m) for P(i) of 0.17 mM. In solutions lacking Na(+), uptake did not fully saturate, implying that under these conditions carrier-mediated uptake is supplemented by a diffusive pathway. Both Na(+)-dependent and Na(+)-independent components were sensitive to the P(i) transport inhibitors phosphonoacetate and arsenate, although a fraction of Na(+)-independent P(i) uptake was resistant to these anions. Total P(i) uptake was optimal at pH 7.4, and reduced as pH was made more acidic or more alkaline, an effect that represented reduced Na(+)-dependent influx. RT-PCR analysis confirmed that two members of the NaPi III family, Pit-1 and Pit-2, are expressed, but that NaPi II transporters are not.     

Effect of inorganic phosphate on photosynthesis in bean leaves

It was shown that raising pod seedlings by the hydroponics method on KH2PO4 solutions at concentrations between 10(-7) and 10(-5) M leads to an increase in the rate of oxygen release (delta O2/delta t), with the chlorophyll content in leaves being unchanged. The values of the parameters FM/FT of slow fluorescence induction and B/A of photoinduced changes in ESR1 signals from pod leaves correlate with the delta O2/delta t value.     

Effect of phosphate on the macromolecular state of bovine neurophysin

Bovine neurophysin II has been subjected to equilibrium sedimentation in 0.1 m phosphate, pH 5.8, and in 0.1 I acetate, pH 5.6. Under the former conditions the molecular weight is 20,000, which is consistent with the concept that neurophysin is dimeric in the phosphate medium. In acetate the molecular weight varies with neurophysin concentration in conformity with this carrier protein being a monomer-dimer system governed by an association equilibrium constant of 5800 m^?1. This investigation has thus confirmed that the disparity between two previous ultracentrifuge studies of bovine neurophysin II reflected a genuine difference in the macromolecular state of the protein under the conditions employed. The implications of this difference are discussed in relation to the nature of the macromolecular interactions that are responsible for the cooperative binding of oxytocin to neurophysin.     

Effect of hypophysectomy on absorption of inorganic phosphate by the eel intestine

Hypophysectomy of freshwater-adapted eels resulted in a marked reduction in net absorption of PO4(3-) in the non-stripped and non-everted intestine. Stanniectomy was without effect on net movements of water and electrolytes in this isolated eel preparation. Repeated injections of eel calcitonin into the eel, kept either in deionized water or 10 mM CaCl2, had no effect on net absorption of water and electrolytes, including Ca2+ and PO4(3-). In the stripped and everted intestine, the net PO4(3-) absorption was significantly greater in the fed eel than in the starved fish. Hypophysectomy of the fed eel resulted in a significant reduction, not only in PO4(3-) absorption, but also in absorption of water and other electrolytes. It is suggested that pituitary hormone is involved in the intestinal PO4(3-) absorption of the eel.     

The influence of inorganic phosphate and ATP on the kinetics of bovine heart muscle pyruvate kinase

Summary The mechanism of activation by inorganic phosphate and ATP of cardiac muscle pyruvate kinase was studied with the aid of steady-state kinetics. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity to a final specific activity of 400 units/ mg (phosphate buffer, pH 7.6, 25 °C). At pH 7.6 the enzyme displays Michaelis-Menten kinetics with respect to both its substrates, phosphoenolpyruvate and ADP. Substrate kinetic constants are: app.K_m(phosphoenolpyruvate) –0.04 mM, app.K_m(ADP) =0.22 mM. Under the conditions used in the standard assay the specific activity is greatly enhanced by inorganic phosphate (50 mM) or ATP (2.5 mM). Each of these modifiers, acting separately, increases the V_max without seriously affecting Michaelis constants and Hill coefficients. In the presence of both Pi and ATP, only a decrease in V_max was observed.The kinetics of activation by inorganic phosphate of pyruvate kinase was examined. Studying the effect of varying concentrations of Pi on the initial rate we obtained a hyperbolic saturation curve with the app. K_m(P_i) = 20 mM and V_max = 167 units/ mg. The evidence is presented that inorganic phosphate is a substrate for a side reaction catalyzed by cardiac pyruvate kinase. It is shown that in the presence of pyruvate, inorganic phosphate and ATP in the assay system, P_i is incorporated into acid-labile products of this reaction, inorganic pyrophosphate being one of them.These findings indicate the existence of an alternative reaction catalyzed by pyruvate kinase by which energy may be stored in the form of inorganic pyrophosphate.Abbreviations PEP phosphoenolpyruvate - Pi inorganic phosphate - TEA triethanolamine - EDTA ethylenediaminetetraacetate     

Effect of inorganic phosphate on the secretion of pectinolytic enzymes by Aspergillus niger

Inorganic phosphates, taken as NaH₂PO₄ or KH₂PO₄, stimulated the production of pectinolytic enzymes and enhanced by up to two-fold the growth of Aspergillus niger in submerged liquid culture of apple pomace. Production of extracellular enzymes of endo- and exo- types, showed a different response to concentrations of phosphate in the medium.     

Effect of arsenate on inorganic phosphate transport in Escherichia coli.

The effect of arsenate on strains dependent on the two major inorganic phosphate (Pi) transport systems in Escherichia coli was examined in cells grown in 1 mM phosphate medium. The development of arsenate-resistant Pi uptake in a strain dependent upon the Pst (phosphate specific transport) system was examined. The growth rate of Pst-dependent cells in arsenate-containing medium was a function of the arsenate-to-Pi ratio. Growth in arsenate-containing medium was not due to detoxification of the arsenate. Kinetic studies revealed that cells grown with a 10-fold excess of arsenate to Pi have almost a twofold increase in capacity (Vmax) for Pi, but maintained the same affinity (Km). Pi accumulation in the Pst-dependent strain was still sensitive to changes in the arsenate-to-Pi ratio, and a Ki (arsenate) for Pi transport of 39 microM arsenate was determined. The Pst-dependent strain did not accumulate radioactive arsenate, and showed only a transient decrease in intracellular adenosine triphosphate levels after arsenate was added to the medium. The Pi transport-dependent strain ceased growth in arsenate-containing media. This strain accumulated 74As-arsenate, and intracellular adenosine triphosphate pools were almost completely depleted after the addition of arsenate to the medium. Arsenate accumulation required a metabolizable energy source and was inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide. Previously accumulated arsenate could exchange with arsenate or Pi in the medium.     

Biophysical investigations on the active site of brain hexokinase

Replacement of Mg (II), the natural activator of brain hexokinase (EC 2.7.1.1) by paramagnetic Mn (II) without affecting the physiological properties of the enzyme, has rendered brain hexokinase accessible to investigations by magnetic resonance methods. Based on such studies, a site on the enzyme, where Mn (II) binds directly with high affinity has been identified and characterized in detail. Use ofβ,γ-bidentate Cr (III) ATP as an exchange-inert analogue for Mn (II) ATP has shown that Mn (II) binding directly to the enzyme has no catalytic role but another Mn (II) ion binding simultaneously and independently to the enzyme through the nucleotide bridge participates in enzyme function. However, using this direct binding Mn (II) ion and a covalently bound spin label as paramagnetic probes a beginning has been made in mapping the ligand binding sites of the enzyme. Ultra-violet difference spectroscopy has revealed the presence of at least two glucose 6-phosphate locations on the enzyme one of which presumably is the high affinity regulatory site modulated by substrate glucose. Elution behaviour of the enzyme on a phosphocellulose column suggests that glucose induces a specific phosphate site on the enzyme to which the phosphate bearing regulatory ligands of the enzyme may bind.