Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate-dependent L-lactate dehydrogenase from Thermus aquaticus YT-1, an extreme thermophile: activation by citrate and modification reagents and comparison with Thermus caldophilus GK24 L-lactate dehydrogenase

Heat-stable fructose 1,6-bisphosphate-dependent L-lactate dehydrogenase [EC 1.1.1.27] was purified from an extremely thermophilic bacterium, Thermus aquaticus YT-1. The amino acid composition and NH2-terminal 34 amino acid sequence of the enzyme were determined. Its NH2-terminal sequence shows high homology with those of Thermus caldophilus GK24 (82% identity) and some other bacterial L-lactate dehydrogenases (44-53% identity), indicating the close phylogenic relationship of the two Thermus species. At the same time, the two Thermus L-lactate dehydrogenases were found not to be identical not only chemically but also kinetically and immunologically. Citrate activated the T. aquaticus enzyme in the weak acidic pH region, while fructose 1,6-bisphosphate did in both acidic and neutral pH regions. The maximum activity obtained with citrate at pH 5.0 was about 2.5 times higher than that in the presence of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate at pH 6.7. The enzymes modified with 2,3-butanedione, acetic anhydride and diethyl pyrocarbonate in the presence of both NADH and oxamate were desensitized to fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, and the modified enzymes were active even in the absence of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate. All of the modified enzymes examined were still activated by citrate similarly to the native enzyme. These results suggest that the mechanism of activation by citrate is different from that by fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, and that the citrate-binding site is different from the fructose 1,6-bisphosphate-binding site.     

Conformation of NAD+ bound to allosteric L-lactate dehydrogenase activated by chemical modification

On modification of arginine residues with 2,3-butanedione, the Thermus caldophilus L-lactate dehydrogenase is converted to an activated form that is independent of an allosteric effector, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (Fru-1,6-P2). The conformation of NAD+ bound to the modified enzyme in the absence of Fru-1,6-P2 was investigated by means of proton NMR, analyzing the time dependence of the transferred nuclear Overhauser effect (TRNOE) and TRNOE action spectra. The inter-proton distances determined on TRNOE analysis indicated that both the nicotinamide riboside moiety and the adenosine moiety of NAD+ were in the anti conformation, the ribose rings being in the C3'-endo form. This conformation was almost the same as that of NAD+ bound to the native enzyme-Fru-1,6-P2 complex, rather than that of NAD+ bound to the free native enzyme. These results suggest that the C3'-endo-anti form of the enzyme-bound NAD+ is essential for the activation of the T. caldophilus L-lactate dehydrogenase.     

Functional consequences of modifying highly reactive arginyl residues of fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase. Loss of monovalent cation activation.

Modification of pig kidney fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase with 2,3-butanedione (in the presence of AMP) results in the loss of activation of the enzyme by monovalent cations. Under these conditions about 8 arginyl residues per mole of enzyme were modified. No other residues were modified. No loss of monovalent cation activation occurs when modification with 2,3-butanedione is carried out in the presence of AMP plus the substrate fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and 3.2 less arginyl residues were modified. Since fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase contains 4 subunits, it is suggested that one arginyl residue per subunit plays an essential role in monovalent cation activation of the enzyme. Studies on sulfhydryl group reactivity toward 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) explain the protection exerted by fructose 1,6-bisphosphate against the loss of monovalent cation activation in terms of an enzyme conformational change induced by substrate, which makes unreactive the essential arginyl residue. The results of the present paper, as well as previous evidence, are discussed in terms of the mechanism of monovalent cation activation of fructose 1,6-biphosphatase.     

Involvement of the conserved histidine-188 residue in the L-lactate dehydrogenase from Thermus caldophilus GK24 in allosteric regulation by fructose 1,6-bisphosphate

The conserved histidine-188 residue of the L-lactate dehydrogenase of Thermus caldophilus GK 24, which is allosterically activated by fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, has been exchanged to phenylalanine by site-specific mutagenesis. In the mutant enzyme the strong stimulatory effect of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate is abolished. The analysis of the pH dependence of the activity indicates that the positive charge of the conserved His-188 residue is important for the interaction of the enzyme with the allosteric effector.     

Allosteric effect of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate on the conformation of NAD+ as bound to L-lactate dehydrogenase from Thermus caldophilus GK24

The allosteric effect of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (Fru-1,6-P2) on L-lactate dehydrogenase (L-lactate:NAD+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.27) from Thermus caldophilus GK24 was studied by means of 1H NMR analyses. The conformation of NAD+ as bound to the T. caldophilus enzyme was elucidated by analyses of the transferred nuclear Overhauser effects (TRNOE), in the presence and the absence of the allosteric effector, Fru-1,6-P2. Upon binding of Fru-1,6-P2 to the enzyme, the ribose ring of the adenosine moiety of NAD+ is converted from the C2'-endo form to the C3'-endo form. This C3'-endo form of the adenosine moiety is similar to that of NAD+ as bound to nonallosteric vertebrate enzymes. However, the anti conformation of the adenine-ribose bond of NAD+ as bound to the T. caldophilus enzyme is not affected by the binding of Fru-1,6-P2. In contrast, the syn conformation of the nicotinamide-ribose bond is converted to the anti form on the binding of Fru-1,6-P2, while the ribose ring remains in the C3'-endo form as found in the case of a nonallosteric enzyme. Such a conformational change of enzyme-bound NAD+ as found on TRNOE analysis is essentially involved in the allosteric regulation of the T. caldophilus enzyme by Fru-1,6-P2.     

Essential arginyl residues in fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase.

Modification of pig kidney fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase with 2,3-butanedione in borate buffer (pH 7.8) leads to the loss of the activation of the enzyme by monovalent cations, as well as to the loss of allosteric adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP) inhibition. In agreement with the results obtained for the butanedione modification of arginyl residues in other enzymes, the effects of modification can be reversed upon removal of excess butanedione and borate. Significant protection to the loss of K+ activation was afforded by the presence of the substrate fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, whereas AMP preferentially protected against the loss of AMP inhibition. The combination of both fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and AMP fully protected against the changes in enzyme properties on butanedione treatment. Under the latter conditions, one arginyl residue per mole of enzyme subunit was modified, whereas three arginyl residues were modified by butanedione under conditions leading to the loss of both potassium activation and AMP inhibition. Thus, the modification of two arginyl residues per subunit would appear to be responsible for the change in enzyme properties. The present results, as well as those of a previous report on the subject (Marcus, F. (1975), Biochemistry 14, 3916-3921) support the conclusion that one arginyl residue per subunit is essential for monovalent cation activation, and another arginyl residue is essential for AMP inhibition. A likely role of the latter residue could be its involvement in the binding of the phosphate group of AMP.     

A single arginine residue is required for the interaction of the electron transferring flavoprotein (ETF) with three of its dehydrogenase partners

The interaction of several dehydrogenases with the electron transferring flavoprotein (ETF) is a crucial step required for the successful transfer of electrons into the electron transport chain. The exact determinants regarding the interaction of ETF with its dehydrogenase partners are still unknown. Chemical modification of ETF with arginine-specific reagents resulted in the loss, to varying degrees, of activity with medium chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase (MCAD). The kinetic profiles showed the inactivations followed pseudo-first-order kinetics for all reagents used. For activity with MCAD, maximum inactivation of ETF was accomplished by 2,3-butanedione (4% residual activity after 120 min) and it was shown that modification of one arginine residue was responsible for the inactivation. Almost 100% restoration of this ETF activity was achieved upon incubation with free arginine. However, the same 2,3-butanedione modified ETF only possessed decreased activity with dimethylglycine- (DMGDH, 44%) and sarcosine- (SDH, 27%) dehydrogenases unlike the abolition with MCAD. Full protection of ETF from arginine modification by 2,3-butanedione was achieved using substrate-protected DMGDH, MCAD and SDH respectively. Cross-protection studies of ETF with the three dehydrogenases implied use of the same single arginine residue in the binding of all three dehydrogenases. These results lead us to conclude that this single arginine residue is essential in the binding of the ETF to MCAD, but only contributes partially to the binding of ETF to SDH and DMGDH and thus, the determinants of the dehydrogenase binding sites overlap but are not identical.     

Reversible desensitization of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase to multiple effectors by butanedione.

Chemical modification of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase [EC 4.1.1.31] of Escherichia coli W with 2,3-butanedione, an arginyl residue reagent, results in an inactivation of the enzyme. The inactivation proceeds following pseudo-first order kinetics. DL-Phospholactate, a substrate analog, effectively protects the enzyme from the inactivation. The enzyme modified in the presence of DL-phospholactate or in its absence is completely desensitized to fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and GTP, allosteric activators for the enzyme. At the same time, the sensitivities to acetyl coenzyme a, laurate and L-aspartate are considerably decreased. Resensitization is attained, however, upon removal of excess butanedione and borate by gel filtration, concomitant with the restoration of the catalytic activity.     

Characterization of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase from Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1: evidence for the involvement of arginine in allosteric regulation

ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (ADPGlc PPase, EC 2.7.7.27) from Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1 has been purified to near homogeneity. The enzyme reacted in Western blots to polyclonal antibodies raised against other bacterial ADPGlc PPases. The purified enzyme was found to be activated by fructose 6-phosphate, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, and pyruvate and inhibited by phosphate, phosphoenolpyruvate, ADP, and pyridoxal phosphate. Kinetic studies indicate that AMP, while having little effect on kinetic parameters at pH 8 in the absence of effectors, is a specific ligand for an allosteric site(s). Treatment of the purified enzyme with the arginyl reagents 2,3-butanedione and phenylglyoxal resulted in desensitization of the enzyme to both activation and inhibition by metabolites. Phosphate, fructose 6-phosphate, and AMP were found to protect the enzyme against allosteric desensitization supportive of these metabolites interacting at common site(s) or with a common enzyme form. As a first step in cloning the gene coding for this enzyme, a polymerase chain reaction fragment was generated from genomic DNA using primers based on amino terminal sequencing data and a highly conserved region in known ADPGlc PPases. The sequence of this fragment and position of amino terminal arginines in comparison to other known ADPGlc PPases is discussed in relation to the kinetic and chemical modification data.     

Selective thiol group modification renders fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase insensitive to fructose 2,6-bisphosphate inhibition

Limited treatment of native pig kidney fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (50 microM enzyme subunit) with [14C]N-ethylmaleimide (100 microM) at 30 degrees C, pH 7.5, in the presence of AMP (200 microM) results in the modification of 1 reactive cysteine residue/enzyme subunit. The N-ethylmaleimide-modified fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase has a functional catalytic site but is no longer inhibited by fructose 2,6-bisphosphate. The enzyme derivative also exhibits decreased affinity toward Mg2+. The presence of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate during the modification protects the enzyme against the loss of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate inhibition. Moreover, the modified enzyme is inhibited by monovalent cations, as previously reported (Reyes, A., Hubert, E., and Slebe, J.C. (1985) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 127, 373-379), and does not show inhibition by high substrate concentrations. A comparison of the kinetic properties of native and N-ethylmaleimide-modified fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase reveals differences in some properties but none is so striking as the complete loss of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate sensitivity. The results demonstrate that fructose 2,6-bisphosphate interacts with a specific allosteric site on fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, and they also indicate that high levels of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate inhibit the enzyme by binding to this fructose 2,6-bisphosphate allosteric site.     

Relationship between thiol group modification and the binding site for fructose 2,6-bisphosphate on rabbit liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase

A thiol group present in rabbit liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase is capable of reacting rapidly with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) with a stoichiometry of one per monomer. Either fructose 1,6-bisphosphate or fructose 2,6-bisphosphate at 500 microM protected against the loss of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate inhibition potential when fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase was treated with NEM in the presence of AMP for up to 20 min. Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate proved more effective than fructose 1,6-bisphosphate when fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase was treated with NEM for 90-120 min. The NEM-modified enzyme exhibited a significant loss of catalytic activity. Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate was more effective than the substrate in protecting against the thiol group modification when the ligands are present with the enzyme and NEM. 100 microM fructose 2,6-bisphosphate, a level that should almost saturate the inhibitory binding site of the enzyme under our experimental conditions, affords only partial protection against the loss of activity of the enzyme caused by the NEM modification. In addition, the inhibition pattern for fructose 2,6-bisphosphate of the NEM-derivatized enzyme was found to be linear competitive, identical to the type of inhibition observed with the native enzyme. The KD for the modified enzyme was significantly greater than that of untreated fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase. Examination of space-filling models of the two bisphosphates suggest that they are very similar in conformation. On the basis of these observations, we suggest that fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and fructose 2,6-bisphosphate occupy overlapping sites within the active site domain of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase. Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate affords better shielding against thiol-NEM modification than fructose 1,6-bisphosphate; however, the difference between the two ligands is quantitative rather than qualitative.     

Identification of arginine 331 as an important active site residue in the class II fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase of Escherichia coli.

Treatment of the Class II fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase of Escherichia coli with the arginine-specific alpha-dicarbonyl reagents, butanedione or phenylglyoxal, results in inactivation of the enzyme. The enzyme is protected from inactivation by the substrate, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, or by inorganic phosphate. Modification with [7-14C] phenylglyoxal in the absence of substrate demonstrates that enzyme activity is abolished by the incorporation of approximately 2 moles of reagent per mole of enzyme. Sequence alignment of the eight known Class II FBP-aldolases shows that only one arginine residue is conserved in all the known sequences. This residue, Arg-331, was mutated to either alanine or glutamic acid. The mutant enzymes were much less susceptible to inactivation by phenylglyoxal. Measurement of the steady-state kinetic parameters revealed that mutation of Arg-331 dramatically increased the K(m) for fructose 1,6-bisphosphate. Comparatively small differences in the inhibitor constant Ki for dihydroxyacetone phosphate or its analogue, 2-phosphoglycolate, were found between the wild-type and mutant enzymes. In contrast, the mutation caused large changes in the kinetic parameters when glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate was used as an inhibitor. Kinetic analysis of the oxidation of the carbanionic aldolase-substrate intermediate of the reaction by hexacyanoferrate (III) revealed that the K(m) for dihydroxyacetone phosphate was again unaffected, whereas that for fructose 1,6-bisphosphate was dramatically increased. Taken together, these results show that Arg-331 is critically involved in the binding of fructose bisphosphate by the enzyme and demonstrate that it interacts with the C-6 phosphate group of the substrate.     

Role of arginine residue in saccharopine dehydrogenase (L-lysine forming) from baker's yeast

The baker's yeast saccharopine dehydrogenase (EC 1.5.1.7) was inactivated by 2,3-butanedione following pseudo-first-order reaction kinetics. The pseudo-first-order rate constant for inactivation was linearly related to the butanedione concentration, and a value of 7.5 M-1 min-1 was obtained for the second-order rate constant at pH 8.0 and 25 degrees C. Amino acid analysis of the inactivated enzyme revealed that arginine was the only amino acid residue affected. Although as many as eight arginine residues were lost on prolonged incubation with butanedione, only one residue appears to be essential for activity. The modification resulted in the change in Vmax, but not in Km, values for substrates. The inactivation by butanedione was substantially protected by L-leucine, a competitive analogue of substrate lysine, in the presence of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and alpha-ketoglutarate. Since leucine binds only to the enzyme-NADH-alpha-ketoglutarate complex, the result suggests that an arginine residue located near the binding site for the amino acid substrate is modified. Titration with leucine showed that the reaction of butanedione also took place with the enzyme-NADH-alpha-ketoglutarate-leucine complex more slowly than with the free enzyme. The binding study indicated that the inactivated enzyme still retained the capacity to bind leucine, although the affinity appeared to be somewhat decreased. From these results it is concluded that an arginine residue essential for activity is involved in the catalytic reaction rather than in the binding of the coenzyme and substrates.     

Arginine-specific modification of rabbit muscle phosphoglucose isomerase: Differences in the inactivation by phenylglyoxal and butanedione and in the protection by substrate analogs

Rabbit muscle phosphoglucose isomerase was modified with phenylglyoxal or 2,3-butanedione, the reaction with either reagent resulting in loss of enzymatic activity in a biphasic mode. At slightly alkaline pH butanedione was found to be approximately six times as effective as phenylglyoxal. The inactivation process could not be significantly reversed by removal of the modifier. Competitive inhibitors of the enzyme protected partially against loss of enzyme activity by either modification. The only kind of amino acid residue affected was arginine. However, more than one arginine residue per enzyme subunit was found to be susceptible to modification by the dicarbonyl reagents. From protection experiments it was concluded (i) that both modifiers react specifically with an arginine in the phosphoglucose isomerase active site and nonspecifically with one or more arginine residues elsewhere in the enzyme molecule, (ii) that modification at either loci causes loss of catalytic activity, and (iii) that butanedione has a higher preference for active site arginine than for arginine residues outside of the catalytic center whereas the opposite is true for phenylglyoxal.     

Modification of cys-128 of pig kidney fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase with different thiol reagents: Size dependent effect on the substrate and fructose-2,6-bisphosphate interaction

Treatment of fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase with N-ethylmaleimide was shown to abolish the inhibition by fructose 2,6-bisphosphate, which also protected the enzyme against this chemical modification [Reyes, A., Burgos, M. E., Hubert, E., and Slebe, J. C. (1987),J. Biol. Chem. 262, 8451–8454]. On the basis of these results, it was suggested that a single reactive sulfhydryl group was essential for the inhibition. We have isolated a peptide bearing the N-ethylmaleimide target site and the modified residue has been identified as cysteine-128. We have further examined the reactivity of this group and demonstrated that when reagents with bulky groups are used to modify the protein at the reactive sulfhydryl [e.g., N-ethylmaleimide or 5,5-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoate)], most of the fructose 2,6-bisphosphate inhibition potential is lost. However, there is only partial or no loss of inhibition when smaller groups (e.g., cyanate or cyanide) are introduced. Kinetic and ultraviolet difference spectroscopy-binding studies show that the treatment of fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase with N-ethylmaleimide causes a considerable reduction in the affinity of the enzyme for fructose 2,6-bisphosphate while affinity for fructose 1,6-bisphosphate does not change. We can conclude that modification of this reactive sulfhydryl affects the enzyme sensitivity to fructose 2,6-bisphosphate inhibition by sterically interfering with the binding of this sugar bisphosphate, although this residue does not seem to be essential for the inhibition to occur. The results also suggest that fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and fructose 2,6-bisphosphate may interact with the enzyme in a different way.     

Unusual amino acid substitution in the anion-binding site of Lactobacillus plantarum non-allosteric L-lactate dehydrogenase.

In Lactobacillus plantarum non-allosteric L-lactate dehydrogenase (L-LDH), the highly conserved His188 residue, which is involved in the binding of an allosteric effector, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate [Fru(1,6)P2], in allosteric L-LDH is uniquely substituted by an Asp. The mutant L. plantarum L-LDH, in which Asp188 is replaced by a His, showed essentially the same Fru(1,6)P2-independent catalytic activity as the wild-type enzyme, except that the Km and Vmax values were slightly decreased. However, the addition of Fru(1,6)P2 induced significant thermostabilization of the mutant enzyme, as in the case of many allosteric L-LDHs, while Fru(1,6)P2 showed no significant effect on the stability of the wild-type enzyme, indicating that only the single-point mutation, G-->C, sufficiently induces the Fru(1,6)P2-binding ability of L. plantarum L-LDH. The mutant enzyme showed higher thermostability than the wild-type enzyme in the presence of Fru(1,6)P2. In the absence of Fru(1,6)P2, on the other hand, the mutant enzyme was more labile below 65 degrees C but more stable above 70 degrees C.     

Inactivation of Escherichia coli L-threonine dehydrogenase by 2,3-butanedione. Evidence for a catalytically essential arginine residue

Incubation of homogeneous preparations of L-threonine dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli with 2,3-butanedione, 2,3-pentanedione, phenylglyoxal, or 1,2-cyclohexanedione causes a time- and concentration-dependent loss of enzymatic activity; plots of log percent activity remaining versus time are linear to greater than 90% inactivation, indicative of pseudo-first order inactivation kinetics. The reaction order with respect to the concentration of modifying reagent is approximately 1.0 in each case suggesting that the loss of catalytic activity is due to one molecule of modifier reacting with each active unit of enzyme. Controls establish that this inactivation is not due to modifier-induced dissociation or photoinduced nonspecific alteration of the dehydrogenase. Essentially the same Km but decreased Vmax values are obtained when partially inactivated enzyme is compared with native. NADH (25 mM) and NAD+ (70 mM) give full protection against inactivation whereas much higher concentrations (i.e. 150 mM) of L-threonine or L-threonine amide provide a maximum of 80-85% protection. Amino acid analyses coupled with quantitative sulfhydryl group determinations show that enzyme inactivated 95% by 2,3-butanedione loses 7.5 arginine residues (out of 16 total)/enzyme subunit with no significant change in other amino acid residues. In contrast, only 2.4 arginine residues/subunit are modified in the presence of 80 mM NAD+. Analysis of the course of modification and inactivation by the statistical method of Tsou (Tsou, C.-L. (1962) Sci. Sin. 11, 1535-1558) demonstrates that inactivation of threonine dehydrogenase correlates with the loss of 1 "essential" arginine residue/subunit which quite likely is located in the NAD+/NADH binding site.     

Involvement of arginine residues in the allosteric activation of Escherichia coli ADP-glucose synthetase

Inactivation of Escherichia coli ADP-glucose synthetase (EC 2.7.2.27) by the arginine-specific reagents cyclohexanedione and phenylglyoxal resulted primarily from interference with normal allosteric activation. Partial modification by phenylglyoxal resulted in a lessened ability of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (fructose-P2) to stimulate and of 5'-AMP (5'-adenylate) to inhibit enzymic activity. The apparent affinity for fructose-P2 and the Vmax at saturating fructose-P2 concentrations were decreased by the arginine modification. Fructose-P2, 5'-adenylate, and several other allosteric effectors were able to partially protect the enzyme from inactivation. However, catalytic activity was not decreased by arginine modification under conditions where the enzyme was assayed in the absence of fructose-P2. The two arginine-modifying reagents differed markedly in their reactivity with the enzyme. Cyclohexanedione inactivated the enzyme quite slowly and eventually reacted with at least 14 of the 32 arginines present per subunit. Phenylglyoxal was some 50-fold more effective in inactivation, but it modified only one arginine residue per subunit.     

Inactivation of purine nucleoside phosphorylase by modification of arginine residues.

Treatment of purine nucleoside phosphorylase (EC 2.4.2.1), from either calf spleen or human erythrocytes, with 2,3-butanedione in borate buffer or with phenylglyoxal in Tris buffer markedly decreased the enzyme activity. At pH 8.0 in 60 min, 95% of the catalytic activity was destroyed upon treatment with 33 mM phenylglyoxal and 62% of the activity was lost with 33 mm 2,3-butanedione. Inorganic phosphate, ribose-1-phosphate, arsenate, and inosine when added prior to chemical modification all afforded protection from inactivation. No apparent decrease in enzyme catalytic activity was observed upon treatment with maleic anhydride, a lysine-specific reagent. Inactivation of electrophoretically homogeneous calf-spleen purine nucleoside phosphorylase by butanedione was accompanied by loss of arginine residues and of no other amino acid residues. A statistical analysis of the inactivation data vis-à-vis the fraction of arginines modified suggested that one essential arginine residue was being modified.     

A functional arginine residue in rabbit-muscle aldolase.

Rabbit muscle aldolase is irreversibly modified by the arginine-selective alpha-dicarbonyl, phenylglyoxal, loss of activity correlating with the unique modifications of one arginine residue per subunit, as determined by amino acid analysis, and (7-14C)phenylglyoxal incorporation. The affinity of the modified enzyme for dihydroxyacetone phosphate is significantly reduced while substantial protection against inactivation is afforded by fructose 1,6-disphosphate, dihydroxyacetone phosphate or phosphate ion. The nature of the substrate C-1 phosphate binding site in this enzyme is discussed in the light of these and other results.