3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity catalyzed by purified pig adrenal 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.

In earlier studies, two distinct molecules, 20 alpha-HSD-I and 20 alpha-HSD-II, responsible for 20 alpha-HSD activity of pig adrenal cytosol were purified to homogeneity and characterized [S. Nakajin et al., J. Steroid Biochem. 33 (1989) 1181-1189]. We report here that the purified 20 alpha-HSD-I, which mainly catalyzes the reduction of 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone to 17 alpha,20 alpha-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one, catalyzes 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase activity for 5 alpha (or 5 beta)-androstanes (C19), 5 alpha (or 5 beta)-pregnanes (C21) in the presence of NADPH as the preferred cofactor. The purified enzyme has a preference for the 5 alpha (or 5 beta)-androstane substrates rather than 5 alpha (or 5 beta)-pregnane substrates, and the 5 beta-isomers rather than 5 alpha-isomers, respectively. Kinetic constants in the reduction for 5 alpha-androstanedione (Km; 3.3 microM, Vmax; 69.7 nmol/min/mg) and 5 beta-androstanedione (Km; 7.7 microM, Vmax; 135.7 nmol/min/mg) were demonstrated for comparison with those for 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (Km; 26.2 microM, Vmax; 1.3 nmol/min/mg) which is a substrate for 20 alpha-HSD activity. Regarding oxidation, the apparent Km and Vmax values for 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-androstan-17-one were 1.7 microM and 43.2 nmol/min/mg, and 1.2 microM and 32.1 nmol/min/mg for 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 beta-androstan-17-one, respectively. 20 alpha-HSD activity in the reduction of 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone catalyzed by the purified enzyme was inhibited competitively by addition of 5 alpha-DHT with a Ki value of 2.0 microM. Furthermore, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone inhibited competitively 3 alpha-HSD activity with a Ki value of 150 microM.     

Purification and characterization of a protein-phosphotyrosine phosphatase from rat spleen which dephosphorylates and inactivates a tyrosine-specific protein kinase

A particulate form of protein-phosphotyrosine phosphatase was solubilized and purified over 2,000-fold from the particulate fraction of rat spleen. Phosphorylated poly(Glu, Tyr), a random copolymer of glutamic acid and tyrosine, was used as substrate for measuring protein-phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity. Nonionic detergents like Triton X-100 increased the protein-phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity of the particulate fraction (but not of the soluble fraction) by 4-8-fold. Chromatography of the Triton extract of the particulate fraction on DEAE-Sephacel gave three peaks of protein-phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity. The major peak of activity was further purified on Bio-Gel HTP, Sephadex G-75, and phosphocellulose columns. On polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of Na-dodecyl-SO4 the purified enzyme showed a major protein band of Mr 36,000 which comigrated with enzyme activity on the phosphocellulose column. The apparent Vmax and Km for phosphorylated poly(Glu,Tyr) were 6,150 nmol min-1 mg-1 and 1.6 microM, respectively. This enzyme was strongly inhibited by microM concentrations of orthovanadate and zinc acetate. Fluoride (50 mM) inhibited this enzyme only by 30-40%. Divalent metal ions Ca2+, Mg2+, and Mn2+ were inhibitory at 1-10 mM concentration. EDTA had no effect on the activity of the purified enzyme. This phosphatase could dephosphorylate and inactivate the phosphorylated form of a tyrosine-specific protein kinase (TK-I) previously purified from rat spleen. Dephosphorylation and inactivation of TK-I by purified phosphatase were inhibited by orthovanadate. After dephosphorylation and inactivation by phosphatase, TK-I could be rephosphorylated and reactivated on incubation with ATP. These results suggest that this protein-phosphotyrosine phosphatase may be involved in the regulation of the kinase activity of TK-I.     

Purification and characterization of D-3-aminoisobutyrate-pyruvate aminotransferase from rat liver

D-3-Aminoisobutyrate-pyruvate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.40) was purified 1900-fold from rat liver extract. The purified enzyme showed a molecular mass of 180 kDa by gel-permeation HPLC analysis using a TSK gel G3000SW column. Reductive polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate resulted in identification of a single band of approx. 50 kDa, indicating that the native enzyme is probably a tetrametric protein. The specific activity of the purified enzyme was 1.14 mumol/min per mg protein. D-3-Aminoisobutyrate and beta-alanine were good amino donors. The Km value for L-3-aminoisobutyrate was 100-times larger than that for the D-isomer. The apparent Km values for D-3-aminoisobutyrate and beta-alanine were 35 and 282 microM, respectively. Pyruvate, glyoxylate, oxalacetate, 2-oxo-n-valerate, and 2-oxo-n-butyrate were good amino acceptors. The apparent Km values for pyruvate and glyoxylate were 32 and 44 microM, respectively.     

Uridine kinase from Ehrlich ascites carcinoma. Purification and properties of homogeneous enzyme

Uridine kinase from Ehrlich ascites tumor cells has been purified about 60,000-fold to apparent homogeneity and with an overall recovery of about 40%. This purification was achieved using phosphocellulose and adenosine 5'-triphosphate-agarose affinity chromatography. The subunit molecular mass as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was 31,000 daltons. With two-dimensional electrophoresis, only one spot was observed, indicating the absence of isoenzymes. Multiple peaks of activity are routinely observed on ion exchange chromatography or gel filtration, for both crude preparations or homogeneous uridine kinase, in agreement with our earlier results that this enzyme exists as multiple interconvertible oligomeric forms (Payne, R. C., and Traut, T. W. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 12485-12488). The purified enzyme has a specific activity of 283 mumol/min/mg of protein at 22 degrees C. Initial velocity studies using uridine and ATP are consistent with a sequential mechanism. Km values for uridine, cytidine, and ATP are 40, 57, and 450 microM, respectively. CTP and UTP are competitive inhibitors with respect to ATP, with Ki values for CTP and UTP of 10 and 61 microM, respectively. The enzyme was active with several nucleoside analogs, the Km values being 69 microM (5-fluorouridine), 200 microM (3-deazauridine), and 340 microM (6-azauridine). The pure enzyme is very sensitive to freezing, but can be maintained at O degrees C for 8 weeks with only 20% loss of activity. For long-term storage, enzyme in 50% glycerol can be maintained at -20 degrees C for many months with no detectable loss of activity.     

Complete purification and immunochemical analysis of S-adenosylmethionine synthetase from bovine brain

We have purified S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) synthetase about 3000-fold from bovine brain extract. The Km values of the enzyme for L-methionine and ATP were 10 and 50 microM, respectively. An apparent molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be 160 kDa by gel filtration on a Sephacryl S-200 column. Sucrose density gradient centrifugation gave a sedimentation coefficient of 8 S. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified enzyme in native system revealed a single protein band, whereas two polypeptide bands with molecular masses of 48 kDa (p48) and 38 kDa (p38) were observed in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified enzyme. Antibody against bovine brain AdoMet synthetase was prepared by injecting the purified enzyme into a rabbit. Immunoblot analysis revealed that the antibody recognized both p48 and p38 in the impure enzyme preparations from bovine brain as well as in the purified enzyme. Specific antibodies against p48 and p38 were separated from the immunoglobulin fraction by an affinity purification, both of which inhibited the enzyme activity. These results indicate that AdoMet synthetase from bovine brain consists of two different polypeptides, p48 and p38.     

Purification and characterization of a hygromycin B phosphotransferase from Streptomyces hygroscopicus

A hygromycin B phosphotransferase activity from Streptomyces hygroscopicus has been highly purified by ammonium sulphate fractionation followed by affinity column chromatography through Sepharose-6B-hygromycin-B. The combined active fractions showed a single protein band (41 kDa) when subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate. When gel electrophoresis was performed under non-denaturing conditions, the single protein band promoted in situ phosphorylation of hygromycin B, indicating that this protein corresponded to the purified hygromycin B phosphotransferase. The enzyme has been purified 236-fold and approximate Km values of 0.56 microM for hygromycin B and ATP, respectively, were deduced.     

Purification and properties of human hepatic 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.

3 alpha-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 alpha-HSD) was purified greater than 500-fold from human liver cytosol. The purification was monitored using 5 beta-[3H]dihydrocortisol (5 beta-DHF) as substrate. Electrophoretically homogeneous enzyme was obtained using a procedure that involved ammonium sulfate precipitation and three successive column chromatography steps: DEAE-cellulose, hydroxylapatite and Blue-Sepharose. The enzyme is a monomer since the native molecular weight was found to be 37,000, using a calibrated Sephadex G-75 column, and the denatured subunit molecular weight was determined to be 38,500, by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate. The enzyme had a pI of 5.6-5.9. The 3-ketosteroids: cortisol, testosterone, progesterone and androstenedione, were not substrates for 3 alpha-HSD indicating that a saturated 4,5 double bond was required for substrate activity. The conformation at the 5 position, however, did not influence substrate activity since 5 alpha- and 5 beta-DHF and 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone were all reduced at similar rates. The purified enzyme preferred NADPH to NADH as a cofactor and showed a broad peak of activity in the pH range of 6.8-7.4. The apparent Km for 5 beta-DHF was 18 microM. The enzyme was markedly stabilized by 50 mM phosphate buffer containing 10 to 20% glycerol at 4 degrees C. Freezing and thawing of the enzyme resulted in a large loss of activity during early stages of the purification. This is the first report of the purification to homogeneity of 3 alpha-HSD from human tissue.     

Several distinct enzymes catalyze 20alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in mouse liver and kidney

The effects of flavonoids and quinones on NADPH- and NADH-dependent 20alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20alpha-HSD) activities were examined in cytosolic fractions from the liver and kidney of mice. Judging from the data for the inhibition of NADPH- and NADH-dependent 20alpha-HSD activities by flavonoids and quinones, enzyme catalyzing renal NADPH-dependent 20alpha-HSD activity was found to be distinct from enzyme(s) catalyzing hepatic NADPH- and NADH-dependent 20alpha-HSD activities. Sulfobromophthalein (SBP) had little ability to inhibit hepatic NADPH-dependent 20alpha-HSD activity and bromophenol blue (BPB) exhibited a weak activation against the enzyme activity, whereas SBP and BPB were potent and moderate inhibitors, respectively, of hepatic NADH-dependent 20alpha-HSD activity. Thus, enzyme catalyzing hepatic NADPH-dependent 20alpha-HSD activity appeared to be distinct from enzyme catalyzing hepatic NADH-dependent 20alpha-HSD activity. The data for the pH profiles of hepatic NADPH- and NADH-dependent 20alpha-HSD activities also led us to the conclusion. Based on these results, we propose the possibility that several distinct enzymes catalyze NADPH- and NADH-dependent 20alpha-HSD activities in cytosolic fractions from the liver and kidney of mice.     

Glyoxysomal acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase and 3-oxoacyl-CoA thiolase from sunflower cotyledons

Following chromatography on hydroxyapatite, the elution profile of the thiolase activity of the glyoxysomal fraction from sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cotyledons exhibited two peaks when the enzyme activity was assayed with acetoacetyl-CoA as substrate. Only one of these two activity peaks was detectable when a long-chain thiolase substrate was used in the activity assay. The proteins (thiolase I and thiolase II) underlying the two activity peaks detected with acetoacetyl-CoA were of glyoxysomal origin. They were purified using glyoxysomal matrices as starting material, and biochemically characterized. Thiolase I is an acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase (EC 2.3.1.9) exhibiting activity only towards acetoacetyl-CoA (Km = 11 microM). Its contribution to the total glyoxysomal thiolytic activity towards acetoacetyl-CoA amounted to about 15%. Thiolase II is a 3-oxoacyl-CoA thiolase (EC 2.3.1.16). The activity of the enzyme towards 3-oxoacyl-CoAs increased with increasing chain length of the substrate. Thiolase II exhibited a Km value of 27 microM with acetoacetyl-CoA as substrate. and Km values between 3 and 7 microM with substrates having a carbon chain length from 6 to 16 carbon atoms. The thiolase activity of the glyoxysomes towards acetoacetyl-CoA and 3-oxopalmitoyl-CoA exceeded the glyoxysomal butyryl-CoA and palmitoyl-CoA beta-oxidation rates, respectively, by about 10-fold at all substrate concentrations employed (1-15 microM).     

Purification and characterization of bradykinin-hydrolyzing enzyme from 2-day-old rat epidermis

Bradykinin-hydrolyzing enzyme was purified 200-fold from a soluble fraction of cornified cells from 2-day-old rat epidermis. The enzyme has an Mr of 80,000 as identified by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and HPLC gel filtration. The isoelectric point of the enzyme is 5.05. The enzyme hydrolyzed Phe5-Ser6 of bradykinin and seven bradykinin-related peptides, and Tyr5-Ser6 of Tyr5-bradykinin. Production of bradykinin fragments, Arg-Pro-Pro-Gly-Phe and Ser-Pro-Phe-Arg, proceeded in a stoichiometric fashion. Km and Vmax values for bradykinin were 33 microM and 22.2 mumol/min per mg, respectively. The enzyme did not hydrolyze azocasein, denatured hemoglobin or synthetic substrates for other epidermal proteinases. The enzyme activity was enhanced by reducing agents and inhibited by sulfhydryl-blocking agents and divalent cations. Diisopropyl fluorophosphate and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride had no effects. The enzyme has a pH optimum of 7.0-7.5 and is stable at 4 degrees C for 1 month, but loses activity completely at 60 degrees C for 10 min. The epidermal endopeptidase differs in several properties from endooligopeptidase A purified from brain which hydrolyzes Phe5-Ser6 of bradykinin.     

Characterization of FMN-dependent NADH-quinone reductase induced by menadione in Escherichia coli

It was found that when Escherichia coli is grown in the presence of 0.2-0.3 mM menadione (2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone), an FMN-dependent NADH-quinone reductase increases more than 20-fold in the cytoplasmic fraction. The menadione-induced quinone reductase was isolated from the cytoplasmic fraction of induced cells. The purified enzyme had an Mr of 24 kDa on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme required flavin as a cofactor and a half-maximum activity was obtained with 0.54 microM FMN or 16.5 microM FAD. The enzyme had a broad pH optimum at pH 7.0-8.0 and reacted with NADH, but not with NADPH. The reaction followed a ping-pong mechanism and the intrinsic Km values for NADH and menadione were estimated to be 132 microM and 2.0 microM, respectively. Dicoumarol was a simple competitive inhibitor with respect to NADH with a Ki value of 0.22 microM. The electron acceptor specificity of this enzyme was very similar to that of NAD(P)H: (quinone acceptor) oxidoreductase (EC 1.6.99.2, DT-diaphorase) from rat liver. Since menadione is reduced by the two-electron reduction pathway to menadiol, the induction of this enzyme is likely to be an adaptive response of E. coli to partially alleviate the toxicity of menadione.     

Purification and characterization of lysophospholipase D from rat brain

A lysophospholipase D (lysoPLD) was purified to apparent homogeneity from rat brain nuclear fractions using 1-[(14)C]palmitoyl-glycerophosphorylcholine as a substrate. The abundance of autotaxin (ATX), a secretory lysoPLD, was also estimated for each fraction. The nuclear fraction had relatively high levels of lysoPLD activity but weak immunoreactivity with an anti-ATX antibody. LysoPLD activity was further purified 5550-fold by sequential chromatography. The final preparation migrated as a single band with a molecular weight of 35,000. Anti-ATX antibodies did not cross-react with the purified enzyme. Moreover, enzyme activity was highest at pH 7.0-7.5 and requires Mg(2+). The Km and Vmax values for 1-palmitoyl-glycerophosphorylcholine were 176 microM and 0.3 micromol/min/mg, respectively. The purified enzyme hydrolyzed saturated forms of LPC more robustly than unsaturated forms. The enzyme could hydrolyze platelet-activating factor (PAF) to the same extent as 16:0-LPC, and showed a higher activity toward lysoPAF (1-O-hexadecyl-2-lyso-glycerophosphorylcholine). These results suggested that the lysoPLD purified from rat brain nuclear fractions in this work is a novel enzyme that hydrolyzes lysoPAF, PAF, and LPC to liberate choline.     

NADP-dependent malate dehydrogenase from bovine adrenal cortex cytoplasm. Isolation and properties

The NADP-dependent decarboxylating malate dehydrogenase was isolated from the cytoplasmic fraction of bovine adrenal cortex and purified 3530-fold by 3-fold ammonium sulfate fractionation, ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Toyopearl 650 M and DEAE-Sephadex A-50 with subsequent two-fold gel filtration through Toyopearl HW-55. The specific activity of homogeneous enzyme preparations was equal to 60 U/mg protein with a 30% yield. The enzyme molecular weight as determined by gel filtration on Sephadex G-20 was 155000. Upon polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate malate dehydrogenase dissociated into two subunits with Mr 77000. The Arrhenius plot for the reaction rate showed a break at 30 degrees C. The values of activation energy and temperature coefficient above and below the breakpoint were equal to 45049 and 147188 J X mol-1; 1.68 and 2.63, respectively. Within the temperature range of 26-40 degrees C, malate dehydrogenase exhibited hyperbolic kinetics with respect to the substrate. At 30 degrees C, Km for malate was equal to 250 microM, whereas at 40 degrees C it was 130 microM. The curve for the dependence of the initial reaction velocity versus NADP concentration was S-shaped. The Hill coefficient was 1.4, which testifies to positive cooperativity of NADP interaction with malate dehydrogenase.     

Isolation of rat liver microsomal short-chain beta-ketoacyl-coenzyme A reductase and trans-2-enoyl-coenzyme A hydratase: evidence for more than one hydratase

An enzyme preparation (IIIB) isolated from liver microsomes of untreated male rats was found to contain two activities--short-chain trans-2-enoyl-CoA hydratase and beta-ketoacyl-CoA reductase. The hydratase was purified more than 1000-fold, while the reductase activity was purified over 600-fold. Employing sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, a single band with a molecular weight of 76,000 was observed. Although attempts to separate these two activities have failed, it remains to be established whether the final preparation contains a single enzyme with two activities or two separate enzymes. The hydratase was most active toward crotonyl-CoA, followed by trans-2-hexenoyl-CoA (6:1) and -octenoyl-CoA (8:1); the enzyme was essentially inactive toward substrates containing more than eight carbon atoms. The Vmax for crotonyl-CoA was 2117 mumol/min/mg protein, while the Km was 59 microM. Using acetoacetyl-CoA as substrate, the Vmax for the beta-ketoacyl-CoA reductase was over 60 mumol/min/mg protein and the Km was 37 microM; the Vmax for beta-ketopalmitoyl-CoA was only 15% of that observed with acetoacetyl-CoA, although the Km was 6 microM. During the course of purification, a second short-chain hydratase was discovered (fraction IVA); unlike IIIB, this fraction catalyzed the hydration of 4:1, 6:1, and 8:1 at similar rates. The partially purified preparation yielded maximal activity with 8:1 CoA (apparent Vmax 35 mumol/min/mg), followed by 6:1 CoA, 4:1 CoA, and 10:1 CoA; longer chain CoA's were relatively poor substrates, with trans-2-hexadecenoyl CoA about 0.1 as active as 8:1 CoA. On SDS-gels, fraction IVA contained four bands, all of which were below 60,000 Mr. Proteases, such as trypsin, chymotrypsin, and subtilisin, were found to completely inactivate both enzyme fractions.     

Purification and characterization of human liver beta-galactosidase from a patient with the adult form of GM1 gangliosidosis and a normal control

beta-Galactosidases were purified to homogeneity from livers of a normal control and a patient with the adult form of GM1 gangliosidosis. The purification was achieved by chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose fast flow, Con A-Sepharose, p-aminophenyl-1-thio-beta-D-galactopyranoside-Sepharose, and QAE-Mono Q. The normal and mutant enzymes were purified about 5000-fold with a yield of 10% and 1800-fold with a yield of 34%, respectively, and could hydrolyze 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-galactoside, GM1 ganglioside, and asialofetuin. The purified normal enzyme was eluted from a TSK gel G-4000SW column as three symmetrical peaks of protein which were coincident with the three peaks of enzyme activity. The enzyme in these three peaks had apparent molecular weights of 800,000 (polymer), 140,000 (dimer), and 65,000 (monomer), whereas the mutant enzyme was eluted as two symmetrical peaks of protein and enzyme activity. The apparent molecular weight of a major monomeric form of the enzyme (beta-galactosidase A) was 60,000, and no dimeric form of the enzyme existed. Normal and mutant purified enzyme preparations migrated as a single major protein band with apparent molecular weights of 65,000 or 60,000, respectively, by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis after treatment with mercaptoethanol. On isoelectric focussing, the mutant enzyme migrated more anodally than the normal enzyme. The mutant enzyme also had altered enzyme properties, such as pH optimum, Km values, substrate specificity and heat-stability. These data on the characteristics of the purified enzyme preparations provide the first direct evidence that patients with the adult form of GM1 gangliosidosis have a structurally altered beta-galactosidase.     

Partial purification and properties of porcine thymus lactosylceramide beta-galactosidase.

Porcine thymus lactosylceramide beta-galactosidase was purified by a simple procedure. In the final step of isoelectric focusing the enzyme was separated into two peaks of pI 6.3 (peak I) and 7.0 (peak II), which showed 3,600- and 4,000-fold enhancement of lactosylceramide-hydrolysing activity, respectively. The two peaks had identical mobility on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The apparent molecular weight was 34,000. Neither monosialoganglioside (GM1) nor galactosylceramide was hydrolysed by the purified enzyme fractions. The optimal pH was at 4.6, and sodium taurocholate was essential for the reaction. The apparent Km was 2.3 x 10-5 M. The reaction was stimulated by sodium chloride and linoleic acid, while it was strongly inhibited by Triton X-100 and bovine serum albumin. Galactosylceramide, p-nitrophenyl beta-galactoside, and p-nitrophenol were weak inhibitors. No effects of GM1 and galactose were observed on the hydrolysis of lactosylceramide.     

Purification and properties of an NADPH-linked aldehyde reductase from rat kidney

Rat kidney was shown to contain two NADPH-linked aldehyde reductases (alcohol:NADP+) oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.2) with different substrate affinities. The high-Km aldehyde reductase, which was purified to apparent homogeneity, had a molecular weight of 32 000 as determined by Sephadex G-100 gel filtration, and of 37 000 by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. The purified enzyme reduced various aliphatic aldehydes of different carbon-chain lengths besides many chemicals containing aldehyde groups. The Km values for n-hexadecanal and n-octadecanal were 8 microM and 4 microM, respectively. Bovine serum albumin (1.8 mM) stimulated the reduction of n-hexadecanal and n-octadecanal, and increased the Vmax values by about 15-fold without changing the Km values. The kidney enzyme was not distinguishable from the brain and liver high-Km aldehyde reductases in mobility on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, immunological properties, peptide maps or substrate specificity.     

Purification and properties of steroid sulfatase from human placenta.

Steroid sulfatase was purified approximately 170-fold from normal human placental microsomes and properties of the enzyme were investigated. The major steps in the purification procedure included solubilization with Triton X-100, column chromatofocusing, and hydrophobic interaction chromatography on phenylsepharose CL-4B. The purified sulfatase showed a molecular weight of 500-600 kDa on HPLC gel filtration, whereas the enzyme migrated as a molecular mass of 73 kDa on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The isoelectric point of steroid sulfatase was estimated to be 6.7 by isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gel in the presence of 2% Triton X-100. The addition of phosphatidylcholine did not enhance the enzyme activity in the placental microsomes obtained from two patients with placental sulfatase deficiency (PSD) after solubilization and chromatofocusing. This result indicates that PSD is the result of a defect in the enzyme rather than a defect in the membrane-enzyme structure. Amino acid analysis revealed that the purified human placental sulfatase did not contain cysteine residue. The Km and Vmax values of the steroid sulfatase for dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHA-S) were 7.8 microM and 0.56 nmol/min, while those for estrone sulfate (E1-S) were 50.6 microM and 0.33 nmol/min, respectively. The results of the kinetic study suggest the substrate specificity of the purified enzyme, but further studies should be done with different substrates and inhibitors.     

Purification and characterization of UDP-glucose:tetrahydrobiopterin glucosyltransferase from Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942

Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4)-glucoside was identified from Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942 by HPLC analysis and the enzymatic activity of a glycosyltransferase producing the compound from UDP-glucose and BH4. The novel enzyme, named UDP-glucose:BH4 glucosyltransferase, has been purified 846-fold from the cytosolic fraction of Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942 to apparent homogeneity on SDS-PAGE. The native enzyme exists as a monomer having a molecular mass of 39.2 kDa on SDS-PAGE. The enzyme was active over a broad range of pH from 6.5 to 10.5 but most active at pH 10.0. The enzyme required Mn(2+) for maximal activity. Optimum temperature was 42 degrees C. Apparent K(m) values for BH4 and UDP-glucose were determined as 4.3 microM and 188 microM, respectively, and V(max) values were 16.1 and 15.1 pmol min(-1) mg(-1), respectively. The N-terminal amino acid sequence was Thr-Ala-His-Arg-Phe-Lys-Phe-Val-Ser-Thr-Pro-Val-Gly-, sharing high homology with the predicted N-terminal sequence of an unidentified open reading frame slr1166 determined in the genome of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, which is known to produce a pteridine glycoside cyanopterin.