Glucuronidation of bile acids in human liver, intestine and kidney. An in vitro study on hyodeoxycholic acid

The activities of UDP-glucuronyl transferase(s) in homogenates and microsomal preparations of human liver, kidney and intestine were tested with hyodeoxycholic acid (HDC). The various kinetic parameters of the UDC-glucuronidation were determined from time course experiments. In both liver and kidney preparations, HDC underwent a very active metabolic transformation: liver Km = 78 microM, Vmax = 3.3 nmol . min-1 . mg-1 protein; kidney Km = 186 microM, Vmax = 9.9 nmol . min-1 . mg-1 protein. To our knowledge this is the first observation of both an extensive and comparable bile acid glucuronidation occurring in renal and hepatic tissues.     

Human insulin receptor beta-subunit transmembrane/cytoplasmic domain expressed in a baculovirus expression system: purification, characterization, and polylysine effects on the protein tyrosine kinase activity.

We have expressed, purified, and characterized the insulin receptor protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) retaining the transmembrane and downstream domains. The proteins expressed in insect cells using a baculovirus expression system were identified as membrane-bound by immunofluorescence staining and biochemical characterization. One-step purification by immunoaffinity chromatography from Triton X-100 cell extracts resulted in a approximately 360-fold increase in the specific kinase activity with a yield of approximately 50%. An appMr = approximately 60,000 protein was the major component identified by both silver staining of the purified enzyme and immunostaining of the crude extracts after separation by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions. Using nondenaturing conditions, the molecular weight was estimated to be approximately 250,000 and approximately 500,000 by glycerol gradient centrifugation and gel permeation chromatography, respectively, suggesting that oligomers of the beta-subunit domains such as tetramers and octamers are formed. The basal PTK activity of this enzyme was much higher than those of previously reported soluble-form insulin receptor PTKs expressed in insect cells or the native receptor. Km and Vmax for two substrates, src-related peptide and poly(Glu, Tyr) (4:1), were 2.4 mM and 2.5 mumol min-1 mg-1 and 0.26 mM and 1.2 mumol min-1 mg-1, respectively. Specific activities measured under two previously reported conditions using histone H2B as a substrate were 100 or 135 nmol min-1 mg-1, in contrast to those of soluble PTKs which were reported to be 20 or 70 nmol min-1 mg-1, respectively. The purified enzyme was autophosphorylated at Tyr residues. Autophosphorylation activated the enzyme approximately 3-fold.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Purification of soluble guanylyl cyclase from bovine lung by a new immunoaffinity chromatographic method

Soluble guanylyl cyclase was purified from bovine lung by an immunoaffinity chromatographic method using IgG fractions of antisera against a synthetic peptide of the C-terminus of the 70-kDa subunit of the enzyme. After anion-exchange chromatography, the enzyme was bound to an immunoaffinity column and was eluted with the synthetic peptide. This method allowed the convenient isolation of 2 mg of apparently homogeneous enzyme from 40 g cytosolic proteins. The enzyme had an apparent molecular mass of about 150 kDa and consisted of two subunits (70 kDa and 73 kDa) as determined by gel permeation fast protein liquid chromatography and SDS/PAGE. The basal activities determined in the presence of Mg2+ and Mn2+ were 10-20 nmol.min-1.mg-1 and 80-100 nmol.min-1.mg-1, respectively. The enzyme exhibited an ultraviolet-visible absorption spectrum typical for hemoproteins, with a Soret band at 430 nm. The purified enzyme was stimulated by NO-containing compounds. Maximal enzyme activities measured in the presence of sodium nitroprusside were 1.2-2.4 mumol.min-1.mg-1 (half-maximal effect of sodium nitroprusside at 1.3-1.9 microM) and 0.9-1.8 mumol.min-1.mg-1 (half-maximal effect at 0.28-0.41 microM sodium nitroprusside) in the presence of Mg2+ and Mn2+, respectively. The method developed for the large-scale purification of soluble guanylyl cyclase by immunoaffinity chromatography, using synthetic peptides for the elution of the enzyme, appears to be superior to previously described methods. As antibodies against synthetic peptides corresponding to deduced amino acid sequences of the respective protein are easily obtained, the described method may be suitable for a convenient large-scale purification of various proteins.     

食酸丛毛单胞菌AN3菌株降解苯胺代谢途径的研究

食酸丛毛单胞菌(\%Comamonas acidovorans\%)AN3菌株中降解苯胺的酶类均为诱导酶,在以苯胺为唯一碳、氮源和能源生长的细胞中,含有苯胺双加氧酶、邻苯二酚2,3双加氧酶、2羟基己二烯半醛酸脱氢酶、4草酰巴豆酸脱羧酶和4羟基2酮戊酸醛缩酶等。苯胺双加氧酶作用于苯胺的\%K\%m值和\%V\%\-\{max\}分别为292μmol/L和3.57μmol\5mg\+\{-1\}·min-1;邻苯二酚2,3双加氧酶作用于邻苯二酚的\%K\%m和\%V\%\-\{max\}分别为16.4 mol/L和15.2μmol\5mg\+\{-1\}\5min\+\{-1\}。根据实验结果,推测了该菌株降解苯胺的代谢途径。     

Purification and properties of phloroglucinol reductase from Eubacterium oxidoreducens G-41

Phloroglucinol reductase was purified 90-fold to homogeneity from the anaerobic rumen organism Eubacterium oxidoreducens strain G-41. The enzyme is stable in the presence of air and is found in the soluble fraction after ultracentrifugation of cell extract. Ion-exchange, hydrophobic interaction, and affinity chromatography were used to purify the enzyme. The native Mr is 78,000, and the subunit Mr is 33,000 indicating an alpha 2 homodimer. The enzyme is specific for phloroglucinol and NADPH. The Km and Vmax are 600 microM and 640 mumol min-1 mg-1 (pH 7.2) for phloroglucinol, and 6.7 microM and 550 mumol min-1 mg-1 (pH 6.8) for NADPH; the Km and Vmax for the reverse direction are 290 microM and 140 mumol min-1 mg-1 (pH 7.2) for dihydrophloroglucinol, and 27 microM and 220 mumol min-1 mg-1 (pH 7.2) for NADP. Temperature and pH optima are 40 degrees C and 7.8 in the forward direction. The pure enzyme is colorless in solution and flavins are absent. Analysis for cobalt, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, tungsten, selenium, copper, nickel, iron, and zinc indicated that these metals are not components of the phloroglucinol reductase. Cupric chloride, n-ethylmaleimide, and p-chloromercuribenzoate are potent inhibitors of enzyme activity. The properties of phloroglucinol reductase indicate that it functions in the pathway of anaerobic degradation of trihydroxybenzenes by catalyzing reduction of the aromatic nucleus prior to ring fission.     

Purification, substrate specificity, and classification of tripeptidyl peptidase II

An extralysosomal tripeptide-releasing aminopeptidase was recently discovered in rat liver (B?l?w, R.-M., Ragnarsson, U., and Zetterqvist, O. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 11622-11628). In the present work this tripeptidyl peptidase is shown to occur in several rat tissues and in human erythrocytes. The erythrocyte enzyme was purified about 80,000-fold from a hemolysate while the rat liver enzyme was purified about 4,000-fold from a homogenate. Upon polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate under reducing conditions more than 90% of the protein was represented by a polypeptide of Mr 135,000 in both cases. In addition, the two enzymes eluted at similar positions in the various chromatographic steps, showed similar specific activity, and had a pH optimum around 7.5. A tryptic pentadecapeptide from the alpha-chain of human hemoglobin, Val-Gly-Ala-His-Ala-Gly-Glu-Tyr-Gly-Ala-Glu-Ala-Leu-Glu-Arg, i.e. residues 17-31, was found to be sequentially cleaved by the erythrocyte enzyme into five tripeptides, beginning from the NH2 terminus. Chromogenic tripeptidylamides showed various rates of hydrolysis at pH 7.5. With Ala-Ala-Phe-4-methyl-7-coumarylamide, Km was 16 microM and Vmax 13 mumol min-1 . mg-1, comparable to the standard substrate Arg-Arg-Ala-Ser(32P)-Val-Ala values (Km 13 microM and Vmax 24 mumol . min-1 . mg-1). The tripeptidyl peptidase of human erythrocytes was classified as a serine peptidase from its irreversible inhibition by phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride and diisopropyl fluorophosphate. The rate of inhibition was decreased by the presence of an efficient competitive inhibitor, Val-Leu-Arg-Arg-Ala-Ser-Val-Ala (Ki 1.5 microM). [3H]Diisopropylphosphate was incorporated to the extent of 0.7-0.9 mol/mol of Mr 135,000 subunit, which confirms the high purity of the enzyme.     

Diethylstilbestrol treatment modulates the enzymatic activities of phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis in rooster liver

The effect of diethylstilbestrol injection on the activities of phosphatidylcholine biosynthetic enzymes in rooster liver has been determined. Choline kinase activity was stimulated within 4 h after the first hormone injection. By the third day enzyme activity reached 5.47 nmol . min-1 . mg-1 protein compared to control values (1.83 nmol . min-1 . mg-1 protein) which were unchanged during the the experiment. CTP : phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase activity was unaffected until Day 3 when its activity was 50% that of control values. When assayed in the presence of exogenous phospholipid, no significant change was noted in cytidylyltransferase activity. The activity of CDPcholine : 1,2-diacylglycerol phosphocholinetransferase was not altered by the hormone injections. The activity of phosphatidylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase gradually increased so that by Day 3, the enzyme activity was elevated 2-fold (0.12 to 0.24 nmol methyl group transferred per mg microsomal protein). These results are consistent with earlier in vivo studies (Vigo, C. and Vance, D.E. (1981) Eur. J. Biochem., in the press) that indicated a stimulation of phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis via CDPcholine during the first 2 days of diethylstilbestrol injection and inhibition on the third day.     

Transport of glucose and cellobiose by Candida wickerhamii and Clavispora lusitaniae

The cellular location of beta-1,4-glucosidase activity from, as well as the transport of glucose and cellobiose into, cells of Clavispora lusitaniae NRRL Y-5394 and Candida wickerhamii NRRL Y-2563 was investigated. The beta-glucosidase from Cl. lusitaniae appeared to be a soluble cytoplasmic enzyme. This yeast transported both glucose and cellobiose when grown in medium containing cellobiose as the sole carbon source. Glucose, but not cellobiose, uptake was observed for cells grown on glucose. The Ks and Vmax values for cellobiose transport were different when Cl. lusitaniae was cultured either aerobically (0.11 mM, 6.28 nmol.min-1.mg-1) or anaerobically (0.25 mM, 3.88 nmol-1.min-1.mg-1). The Ks and Vmax values for glucose transport (0.23-1.10 mM and 17.2-33.9 nmol.min-1.mg-1) also differed with the various growth conditions. The beta-glucosidase from C. wickerhamii was extracytoplasmically located. This yeast transported glucose, but not cellobiose, under all growth conditions tested. The Ks for glucose uptake was 0.13-0.28 mM when C. wickerhamii was cultured on cellobiose and 0.25-0.30 mM when cultured on glucose. The Vmax values for glucose uptake were greater for cells cultured on cellobiose (35.0-37.9 nmol.min-1.mg-1) than for cells cultured on glucose (15.6-21.4 nmol.min-1.mg-1). Cellobiose did not inhibit glucose uptake in either yeast. Glucose partially inhibited cellobiose transport in C. lusitaniae, but only if the yeast was grown aerobically. In both yeasts, sugar transport was sensitive to carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone and 1799, but insensitive to valinomycin.     

Purification and properties of heterodisulfide reductase from Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum (strain Marburg)

The reduction of the heterodisulfide of coenzyme M (H-S-CoM) and 7-mercaptoheptanoyl-L-threonine phosphate (H-S-HTP) is a key reaction in the metabolism of methanogenic bacteria. The heterodisulfide reductase catalyzing this step was purified 80-fold to apparent homogeneity from Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum. The native enzyme showed an apparent molecular mass of 550 kDa. Sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed the presence of three different subunits of apparent molecular masses 80 kDa, 36 kDa, and 21 kDa. The enzyme, which was brownish yellow, contained per mg protein 7 +/- 1 nmol FAD, 130 +/- 10 nmol non-heme iron and 130 +/- 10 nmol acid-labile sulfur, corresponding to 4 mol FAD and 72 mol FeS/mol native enzyme. The purified heterodisulfide reductase catalyzed the reduction of CoM-S-S-HTP (app. Km = 0.1 mM) with reduced benzylviologen at a specific rate of 30 mumol.min-1.mg protein-1 (kcat = 68 s-1) and the reduction of methylene blue with H-S-CoM (app. Km = 0.2 mM) plus H-S-HTP (app. Km less than 0.05 mM) at a specific rate of 15 mumol.min-1.mg-1. The enzyme was highly specific for CoM-S-S-HTP and H-S-CoM plus H-S-HTP. The physiological electron donor/acceptor remains to be identified.     

Kinetic mechanism of beta-glucosidase from Trichoderma reesei QM 9414

beta-Glucosidase is a key enzyme in the hydrolysis of cellulose to D-glucose. beta-Glucosidase was purified from cultures of Trichoderma reesei QM 9414 grown on wheat straw as carbon source. The enzyme hydrolyzed cellobiose and aryl beta-glucosides. The double-reciprocal plots of initial velocity vs. substrate concentration showed substrate inhibition with cellobiose and salicin. However, when p-nitrophenyl beta-D-glucopyranoside was the substrate no inhibition was observed. The corresponding kinetic parameters were: K = 1.09 +/- 0.2 mM and V = 2.09 +/- 0.52 mumol.min-1.mg-1 for salicin; K = 1.22 +/- 0.3 mM and V = 1.14 +/- 0.21 mumol.min-1.mg-1 for cellobiose; K = 0.19 +/- 0.02 mM and V = 29.67 +/- 3.25 mumol.min-1.mg-1 for p-nitrophenyl beta-D-glucopyranoside. Studies of inhibition by products and by alternative product supported an Ordered Uni Bi mechanism for the reaction catalyzed by beta-glucosidase on p-nitrophenyl beta-D-glucopyranoside as substrate. Alternative substrates as salicin and cellobiose, a substrate analog such as maltose and a product analog such as fructose were competitive inhibitors in the p-nitrophenyl beta-D-glucopyranoside hydrolysis.     

Characterization of the Ca2+- and Mg2+-Dependent ATPases in Electrophorus Electroplax Microsomes

Electrophorus electroplax microsomes were examined for Ca2+- and Mg2+-dependent ATPase activity. In addition to the previously reported low-affinity ATPase, a high-affinity (Ca2+,Mg2+)-ATPase was found. At low ATP and Mg2+ concentrations (200 microM or less), the high-affinity (Ca2+,Mg2+)-ATPase exhibits an activity of 18 nmol Pi mg-1 min-1 with 0.58 microM Ca2+. At higher ATP concentrations (3 mM), the low-affinity Ca2+-ATPase predominates, with an activity of 28 nmol Pi mg-1 min-1 with 1 mM Ca2+. In addition, Mg2+ can also activate the low-affinity ATPase (18 nmol Pi mg-1 min-1). The high-affinity ATPase hydrolyzes ATP at a greater rate than it does GTP, ITP, or UTP and is insensitive to ouabain, oligomycin, or dicyclohexylcarbodiimide inhibition. The high-affinity enzyme is inhibited by vanadate, trifluoperazine, and N-ethylmaleimide. Added calmodulin does not significantly stimulate enzyme activity; rinsing the microsomes with EGTA does not confer calmodulin sensitivity. Thus the high-affinity ATPase from electroplax microsomes is similar to the (Ca2+,Mg2+)-ATPase reported to be associated with Ca2+ transport, based on its affinity for calcium and its response to inhibitors. The low-affinity enzyme hydrolyzes all tested nucleoside triphosphates, as well as diphosphates, but not AMP. Vanadate and N-ethylmaleimide do not inhibit the low-affinity enzymes. The low-affinity enzyme reflects a nonspecific nucleoside triphosphatase, probably an ectoenzyme.     

Comparative activity of rat liver dihydrofolate reductase with 7,8-dihydrofolate and other 7,8-dihydropteridines

The various interactions of rat liver dihydrofolate reductase with two unconjugated 7,8-dihydropteridines, 7,8-dihydrobiopterin and 6-methyl-7,8-dihydropteridine, have been compared with those of 7,8-dihydrofolate and folate. Of particular interest was the reactivity demonstrated by 7,8-dihydrobiopterin because of the potential physiological significance of this reaction both in the regeneration of tetrahydrobiopterin, a cofactor for various biological hydroxylations, and as a step in the biosynthesis of this compound from GTP. Kinetic experiments gave Km values of 0.17, 6.42, and 10.2 microM for 7,8-dihydrofolate, 7,8-dihydrobiopterin, and 6-methyl-7,8-dihydropteridine, respectively, with Vmax = 6.22, 2.39, and 1.54 mumol min-1 mg-1. With folate the enzyme showed high affinity (Km = 0.88 microM) but low Vmax (0.20 mumol min-1 mg-1). The natural cofactor was NADPH and a Km of approximately 0.7 microM was measured with each substrate. The enzyme was activated by both p-hydroxymercuribenzoate and urea when assayed with 7,8-dihydrofolate but was inhibited when 7,8-dihydrobiopterin was the substrate. The pH optimum for dihydrofolate reduction was 4 with enhancement at pH greater than or equal to 5.5 in the presence of 1 M NaCl. Peak activity with 7,8-dihydrobiopterin occurred at pH 4.8; this was shifted to pH 5.3 but was not enhanced by 1 M NaCl. Inhibition with methotrexate was similar whether the enzyme was assayed with either the conjugated or unconjugated 7,8-dihydro derivatives. The rat liver enzyme, highly unstable after purification, was stabilized in the presence of the nonionic detergent, Tween-20 (0.1%); however, the comparative properties toward the conjugated and unconjugated substrates were not altered by this treatment.     

Intermediary carbon metabolism of Azospirillum brasilense.

Azospirillum brasilense Sp 7 grew rapidly in AZO medium containing reduced nitrogen and succinate as an energy source, with a doubling time of 43 min. No growth was measured with glucose as the sole carbon source. In contrast, Azospirillum lipoferum Sp 59b could grow in media containing either succinate or glucose with a doubling time of 69 min and 223 min, respectively. Warburg-Barcroft respirometry showed that the rate of oxygen consumption by A. brasilense Sp 7 on glucose medium (0.034 mumol of O2 min-1 mg-1 of cell protein) was only one-quarter of that on succinate medium (0.14 mumol of O2 min-1 mg-1). Radioisotopic labeling showed that very little glucose was assimilated by A. brasilense Sp 7 as compared to succinate. High respiration rates were measured on A. lipoferum Sp 59b with either succinate (0.15 mumol of O2 min-1 mg-1) or glucose (0.13 mumol of O2 min-1 mg-1) as the sole carbon source. The pattern of CO2 evolution from differentially labeled succinate indicated that A. brasilense Sp 7 had a complete tricarboxylic acid cycle. Assimilation of most of the radioactivity from labeled succinate, pyruvate, and acetate into lipids suggested a strong anabolic metabolism and the presence of an active malic enzyme of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. The distribution of radioactivity from differentially labeled pyruvate showed that gluconeogenesis competed with pyruvate dehydrogenase. Uptake and incorporation of labeled acetate also indicated the presence of a glyoxylate cycle in A. brasilense Sp 7.     

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.     

Purification and properties of phosphoserine aminotransferase from bovine liver

L-Phosphoserine aminotransferase was purified from bovine liver to apparent homogeneity as judged by nondenaturing and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, analytical ultracentrifugation, and immunochemical analysis. The purification procedure described involves the specific elution of the enzyme from Cibacron blue-agarose by micromolar concentrations of its substrate, phosphohydroxypyruvate. The purified enzyme had a specific activity of approximately 13 mumol of phosphohydroxypyruvate formed min-1 mg-1 of protein at 38 degrees C. Determinations of the native molecular weight and the subunit molecular weight indicated that the phosphoserine aminotransferase from bovine liver was a dimer composed of two subunits with identical molecular weights of 43,000.     

Transformation of leukotriene A4 methyl ester to leukotriene C4 monomethyl ester by cytosolic rat glutathione transferases

Six major basic cytosolic glutathione transferases from rat liver catalyzed the conversion of leukotriene A4 methyl ester to the corresponding leukotriene C4 monomethyl ester. Glutathione transferase 4-4, the most active among these enzymes, had a Vmax of 615 nmol X min-1 X mg protein-1 at 30 degrees C in the presence of 5 mM glutathione. It was followed in efficiency by transferase 3-4 which had a Vmax of 160 nmol X min-1 X mg-1 under the same conditions. Transferases 1-1, 1-2, 2-2 and 3-3 had at least 30 times lower Vmax values than transferase 4-4.     

Expression and characterization of calmodulin-activated (type I) adenylylcyclase

A complementary DNA that encodes a bovine brain, calmodulin-sensitive (type I) adenylylcyclase has been inserted into the baculovirus genome under the control of the strong polyhedron promoter. Expression of the recombinant adenylylcyclase in Sf9 cells using recombinant baculovirus increases adenylylcyclase activity in cell membranes to 10-20 nmol.min-1.mg-1 (approximately 0.1% of membrane protein). The catalytic activity of the recombinant adenylylcyclase can be stimulated by Gs alpha, calmodulin, or forskolin, and it can be inhibited by adenosine analogs and by G protein beta gamma subunit. The specific activity of the purified recombinant protein approximates 5 mumol.min-1.mg-1. This is similar to that of the enzyme purified from bovine brain. Type I adenylylcyclase has a quasiduplicated structure. There are two membrane-spanning domains, each with six putative transmembrane helices, and there are two presumed nucleotide-binding domains that are about 55% similar to each other. No catalytic activity is detectable when each half of the adenylylcyclase molecule is expressed by itself. However, coexpression of the two halves results in considerable enzymatic activity. Interaction between the two halves of adenylylcyclase may be necessary for catalysis.     

Purification of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase from Dictyostelium discoideum: reversible inactivation by cAMP and 2'-deoxyadenosine

S-Adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase from Dictyostelium discoideum has been purified to homogeneity. It is composed of four subunits, each with a molecular mass of 47,000. In the hydrolysis direction, the enzyme has a pH optimum of 7.5, a Km for S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (SAH) of 6 microM, and a Vmax of 0.22 mumol min-1 mg-1. In the synthesis direction, the pH optimum is 8.0, the Km for adenosine is 0.4 microM, and the Vmax is 0.30 mumol min-1 mg-1. Although the enzyme binds beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, as well as adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate and 2'-deoxyadenosine, these ligands have no effect on enzymatic activity when added to the assay mixture. However, preincubation of SAH hydrolase with NAD+ results in a 25% activation of the enzyme. In addition, this ligand has a striking effect on subunit-subunit interactions, as shown by stabilization of quaternary structure during polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Preincubation with cAMP or 2'-deoxyadenosine inactivates the enzyme. Although in both cases the activity is restored upon further incubation with NAD+, we show that inactivation by these two ligands proceeds by different mechanisms. NAD+-reversible inactivation by cAMP and 2'-deoxyadenosine was also observed with the SAH hydrolase from rabbit erythrocytes. Thus, these previously unreported properties of SAH hydrolase also occur with mammalian enzymes and are not restricted to D. discoideum.     

Anaerobic degradation of 2-aminobenzoic acid (anthranilic acid) via benzoyl-coenzyme A (CoA) and cyclohex-1-enecarboxyl-CoA in a denitrifying bacterium.

The enzymes catalyzing the initial reactions in the anaerobic degradation of 2-aminobenzoic acid (anthranilic acid) were studied with a denitrifying Pseudomonas sp. anaerobically grown with 2-aminobenzoate and nitrate as the sole carbon and energy sources. Cells grown on 2-aminobenzoate are simultaneously adapted to growth with benzoate, whereas cells grown on benzoate degrade 2-aminobenzoate several times less efficiently than benzoate. Evidence for a new reductive pathway of aromatic metabolism and for four enzymes catalyzing the initial steps is presented. The organism contains 2-aminobenzoate-coenzyme A ligase (2-aminobenzoate-CoA ligase), which forms 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA. 2-Aminobenzoyl-CoA is then reductively deaminated to benzoyl-CoA by an oxygen-sensitive enzyme, 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA reductase (deaminating), which requires a low potential reductant [Ti(III)]. The specific activity is 15 nmol of 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA reduced min-1 mg-1 of protein at an optimal pH of 7. The two enzymes are induced by the substrate under anaerobic conditions only. Benzoyl-CoA is further converted in vitro by reduction with Ti(III) to six products; the same products are formed when benzoyl-CoA or 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA is incubated under reducing conditions. Two of them were identified preliminarily. One product is cyclohex-1-enecarboxyl-CoA, the other is trans-2-hydroxycyclohexane-carboxyl-CoA. The complex transformation of benzoyl-CoA is ascribed to at least two enzymes, benzoyl-CoA reductase (aromatic ring reducing) and cyclohex-1-enecarboxyl-CoA hydratase. The reduction of benzoyl-CoA to alicyclic compounds is catalyzed by extracts from cells grown anaerobically on either 2-aminobenzoate or benzoate at almost the same rate (10 to 15 nmol min-1 mg-1 of protein). In contrast, extracts from cells grown anaerobically on acetate or grown aerobically on benzoate or 2-aminobenzoate are inactive. This suggests a sequential induction of the enzymes.     

Regiospecific hydroxylation of lauric acid at the (omega-1) position by hepatic and kidney microsomal cytochromes P-450 from rainbow trout

Microsomes from liver or kidney of untreated rainbow trout hydroxylated lauric acid specifically at the (omega-1) position. Turnover numbers for liver (2.72 min-1) and kidney (14.1 min-1) were decreased seven- and twofold, respectively, following treatment with beta-naphthoflavone. Laurate hydroxylation activity from untreated trout hepatic microsomes was sensitive to inhibition by SKF-525A, but was not sensitive to metyrapone and only partially inhibited by alpha-naphthoflavone. The temperature optimum of laurate (omega-1) hydroxylation in trout liver microsomes was 25-30 degrees C. The Km and Vmax for (omega-1)- hydroxylaurate formation was 50 microM and 1.63 nmol min-1 mg-1, respectively, in liver and 20 microM and 3.95 nmol min-1 mg-1, respectively, in kidney from untreated trout microsomes. (omega-1) Hydroxylation of laurate, in both liver and kidney microsomes, was sensitive to an antibody raised against a previously purified cytochrome P-450 isozyme (LM2) of trout liver microsomes, which has been shown to be active towards aflatoxin B1. Antibody to the major isozyme of cytochrome P-450 ( LM4b , active towards benzo(a)pyrene) induced by beta-naphthoflavone did not inhibit (omega-1) hydroxylation of laurate in microsomes from untreated or beta-naphthoflavone-treated trout.