Creatine kinase, steroidogenesis and the developing ovarian follicle

Creatine kinase activity was present throughout follicular development and luteinization in rat ovary. The activity of creatine kinase in ovary was about 1/4 that of brain and 1/15th that of heart. The ovary contained the same creatine kinase isoenzyme as brain, and the type did not change during follicular development. Creatine kinase was found to be concentrated in the steroidogenic thecal and luteal cells of the ovary. The activity of creatine kinase was stimulated 23% by choriogonadotropin in luteal tissue.     

Developmental studies on creatine kinase. Isoenzyme in rat gastrointestinal tract

Creatine kinase activity and its isoenzymatic profile in rat intestinal mucose during normal development have been studied. Creatine kinase enzymatic activity increased stepwise during fetal development and the first week of life. An isoenzymatic pattern of exclusively CK-BB types occurred in all segments of the digestive tract during the early fetal stage. The isoenzyme profile of creatine kinase in the esophagic tissue with advancing maturation of the fetus shifted in the same way as in adults, with preferential concentration of CK-MM. However, CK-BB continued to be the main isoenzyme in the rest of the digestive tract. Our results show that rats are particularly suitable for experimental studies of intestinal creatine kinase isoenzymes.     

The creatine kinase system in rat thymus and thymocytes

The content of creatine phosphate, creatine and creatine kinase activity in thymus is shown to be 17.6, 5 and 4 times respectively higher, than in thymocytes isolated from this organ, both the level of adenine nucleotides and adenylate energy charge being practically the same. The creatine phosphate content in thymocytes decreases with addition of papaverine and remains unchanged under the influence of adenosine and concanavalin A. The creatine kinase activity increases considerably during the concanavalin A-induced thymocyte blasttransformation reaction. Creatine inhibits blasttransformation of thymocytes stimulated by this mitogen.     

Expression of creatine kinase isoenzyme during oogenesis and embryogenesis in the mouse

Creatine kinase activity was discovered in the growing mouse oocyte and in the preimplantation embryo. Changes in the enzyme activity during the growth and maturation of the egg and during the development of the embryo up to the blastocyst stage were determined. Close similarity of the protein to the brain-type isoenzyme of creatine kinase was established immunochemically. The kinetic parameters of the brain-type isoenzyme (M. R. Iyengar, C. E. Fluellen, and C. W. L. Iyengar, 1982, J. Muscle Cell Motil. 3, 231–246) and the pattern of development-associated changes in activity suggest a possible role for creatine kinase in maintaining the reported high ATP/ADP ratio (L. Ginsberg and N. Hillman, 1975, J. Reprod. Fertil. 43, 83–90), which is essential for the biosynthetic activities of the embryo.     

Identification of a 43-kDa polypeptide associated with acetylcholine receptor-enriched membranes as MM creatine kinase

Creatine kinase isoenzymes from Torpedo californica electric organ, skeletal muscle, and brain were purified and characterized. Torpedo electric organ and skeletal muscle creatine kinase have identical apparent Mr, electrophoretic mobility, and cyanogen bromide fragments. The electrophoretic mobility of the Torpedo creatine kinase was anodal as compared to mammalian MM creatine kinase. No creatine kinase isoenzyme with an electrophoretic mobility similar to mammalian BB creatine kinase was seen in any of the Torpedo tissues examined. Hybridization studies demonstrate the Torpedo electric organ creatine kinase to be composed of identical subunits and capable of producing an enzymatically active heterodimer when combined with canine BB creatine kinase. Creatine kinase from sucrose gradient-purified Torpedo electric organ acetylcholine receptor-rich membranes has an electrophoretic mobility identical with the cytoplasmic isoenzyme and an apparent Mr identical with mammalian MM creatine kinase. Western blot analysis showed Torpedo electric organ skeletal muscle creatine kinase and acetylcholine receptor-enriched membrane creatine kinase reacted with antiserum specific for canine MM creatine kinase. NH2-terminal amino acid sequence determinations show considerable sequence homology between human MM, Torpedo electric organ, chicken MM, and porcine MM creatine kinase. The acetylcholine receptor-associated creatine kinase is, therefore, identical with the cytoplasmic form from the electric organ and is composed of M-subunits.     

Interaction of Creatine Kinase from Monkey Brain with Substrate: Analysis of Kinetics and Fluorescence Polarization

Abstract: Titrimetric determination of the dissociation constants for the binding of substrates to creatine kinase from monkey brain reveals 13-fold and 4-fold synergism in the forward and reverse directions, respectively. This synergism is expressed as a decrease in the K_D for a given substrate in the ternary complex compared with the binary complex and may be a reflection of substrate-induced conformational change. Creatine kinase labeled with two molecules of 5′-iodoacetamidofluorescein displays a blue shift and a decrease in fluorescence intensity upon binding of MgADP, indicative of movement of the dye into a more hydrophobic environment and quenching of the extrinsic fluorescense. Rotational relaxation times determined from analysis of fluorescence polarization of dansylated brain creatine kinase decrease from 212 ± 7 ns to 189 ± 6 ns upon MgADP binding. Dansylated creatine kinase in 0.5% sodium dodecyl sulfate has a rotational relaxation time of 135 ± 6 ns. The rotational relaxation time of dansylated muscle-type isoenzyme is unaffected by MgADP and has the same value as the brain isoenzyme-MgADP complex. Polarization values at 25°C for muscle and brain enzyme labeled with 3 - (4 - maleimidylphenyl) - 7 - diethylamino - 4 - methylcoumarin compared with limiting polarization and polarization of the free dye suggest that the dye rotation is severely restricted in the muscle form, but possesses freedom of rotation in the brain form. These results support the conclusion that compared with the muscle isoenzyme, the brain isoenzyme is more open at the active site and more flexible overall. Binding of MgADP by brain creatine kinase produces a protein more compact across one or both of its rotational axes, thus resembling the conformation of the muscle isoenzyme. It is probable that creatine kinase in the brain, unlike that from muscle, is subject to kinetic regulation accompanied by conformational modification. This suggests that the neurobiochemical role of the brain isoenzyme is distinct from the metabolic function of the muscle isoenzyme.     

Secretion of beta-hexosaminidase by cultured human skin fibroblasts. Kinetics, effect of temperature, cell density, serum concentration and pH.

The temporal relation between the fusion of mononucleated myoblasts into multinucleated fibres and the quantitative changes in the activity of creatine kinase isoenzymes was determined in rat skeletal muscle cell cultures. The effect of actinomycin D on the isoenzyme transition was investigated. The activity of creatine kinase in cultures prior to the onset of cell fusion is predominantly of the BB type. During the phase of cell fusion, there is a manyfold increase in creatine kinase activity. This is due to the appearance or great increase in the activity of the MM isoenzyme. During this period, increase in the BB isoenzyme activity is very small. Inhibition of RNA synthesis by actinomycin D shortly before the onset of cell fusion did not prevent cell fusion and isoenzyme transition during the first 6 h following application of the drug.     

Influence of mitochondrial creatine kinase on the mitochondrial/extramitochondrial distribution of high energy phosphates in muscle tissue: evidence for a leak in the creatine shuttle

The influence of mitochondrial creatine kinase on subcellular high energy systems has been investigated using isolated rat heart mitochondria, mitoplasts and intact heart and skeletal muscle tissue.In isolated mitochondria, the creatine kinase is functionally coupled to oxidative phosphorylation at active respiratory chain, so that it catalyses the formation of creatine phosphate against its thermodynamic equilibrium. Therefore the mass action ratio is shifted from the equilibrium ratio to lower values. At inhibited respiration, it is close to the equilibrium value, irrespective of the mechanism of the inhibition. The same results were obtained for mitoplasts under conditions where the mitochondrial creatine kinase is still associated with the inner membrane.In intact tissue increasing amounts of creatine phosphate are found in the mitochondrial compartment when respiration and/or muscle work are increased. It is suggested that at high rates of oxidative phosphorylation creatine phosphate is accumulated in the intermembrane space due to the high activity of mitochondrial creatine kinase and the restricted permeability of reactants into the extramitochondrial space. A certain amount of this creatine phosphate leaks into the mitochondrial matrix.This leak is confirmed in isolated rat heart mitochondria where creatine phosphate is taken up when it is generated by the mitochondrial creatine kinase reaction. At inhibited creatine kinase, external creatine phosphate is not taken up. Likewise, mitoplasts only take up creatine phosphate when creatine kinase is still associated with the inner membrane. Both findings indicate that uptake is dependent on the functional active creatine kinase coupled to oxidative phosphorylation.Creatine phosphate uptake into mitochondria is inhibited with carboxyatractyloside. This suggests a possible role of the mitochondrial adenine nucleotide translocase in creatine phosphate uptake.Taken together, our findings are in agreement with the proposal that creatine kinase operates in the intermembrane space as a functional unit with the adenine nucleotide translocase in the inner membrane for optimal transfer of energy from the electron transport chain to extramitochondrial ATP-consuming reactions.     

Creatine induction of creatine kinase synthesis in a developing monolayer culture of muscle cells]

Creatine action on the activity of creatine kinase (ATP: creatine-phosphotransferase; EC 2.7.3.2) and the content of water-soluble proteins in the developing monolayer culture of chick myoblasts are studied. Creatine at concentrations of 1.9-10- minus 3-3.8-10- minus 3 M is shown to increase reliably the creatine kinase activity by 1,1--2,9 times and to reduct considerably the content of water-soluble proteins. Lower concentrations of creatine (3.8-10- minus 5 M) also increased the creatine kinase activity but did not change the contents of water-soluble proteins. The creatine effect was maximal at the period preceding the termination of tissue cells differentiation. In the course of the combined effect of both actinomycin D (50 mcg/plate) and creatine (3.8-10- minus 3 M) the creatine kinase activity was much higher than that in the presence of actinomycin D alone which considerably reduced the enzyme activity as well as the contents of water-soluble proteins.     

Decreased Creatine Kinase Activity Caused by Electroconvulsive Shock

Although several advances have occurred over the past 20 years concerning the use and administration of electroconvulsive therapy to minimize side effects of this treatment, little progress has been made in understanding its mechanism of action. Creatine kinase is a crucial enzyme for brain energy homeostasis, and a decrease of its activity has been associated with neuronal death. This work was performed in order to evaluate creatine kinase activity from rat brain after acute and chronic electroconvulsive shock. Results showed an inhibition of creatine kinase activity in hippocampus, striatum and cortex, after acute and chronic electroconvulsive shock. Our findings demonstrated that creatine kinase activity is altered by electroconvulsive shock.     

Creatine kinase BB in normal, hyperplastic and neoplastic endometrium

We measured creatine kinase BB activity in normal, hyperplastic and neoplastic endometrium. Creatine kinase BB levels were higher in secretory than in proliferative endometrium. High levels were also found in hyperplastic tissue. In endometrial cancer creatine kinase BB activity was higher in well differentiated than in poorly differentiated tumors.     

The localization of the MM isozyme of creatine phosphokinase on the surface membrane of myocardial cells and its functional coupling to ouabain-inhibited (Na+, K+)-ATPase.

A rat heart plasma membrane preparation isolated in a sucrose medium and some of its enzymatic properties have been investigated. It has been shown that a rat heart plasma membrane fraction contains high creatine phosphokinase activity which can not be diminished by repeated washing with sucrose solution. Creatine phosphokinase extracted from a plasma membrane fraction with potassium chloride and 0.01% deoxycholate solution is electrophoretically identical to MM isoenzyme of creatine phosphokinase. Under the conditions where (Na+,K+)-ATPase is activated by addition of Na+, K+ and MgATP, creatine phosphokinase of plasma membrane fraction is able to maintain a low ADP concentration in the medium if creatine phosphate is present. The rate of creatine release is dependent upon MgATP concentration in accordance with the kinetic parameters of the (Na+,K+)-ATPase and is significantly inhibited by ouabain (0.5 mM). The rate of creatine release is also dependent on creatine phosphate concentration in conformance with the kinetic parameters of MM isozyme of creatine phosphokinase. It is concluded that in intact heart cells the plasma membrane creatine phosphokinase may ensure effective utilization of creatine phosphate for immediate rephosphorylation of ADP produced in the (Na+,K+)-ATPase reaction.     

Progressive decrease of phosphocreatine, creatine and creatine kinase in skeletal muscle upon transformation to sarcoma

In vertebrates, phosphocreatine and ATP are continuously interconverted by the reversible reaction of creatine kinase in accordance with cellular energy needs. Sarcoma tissue and its normal counterpart, creatine-rich skeletal muscle, are good source materials to study the status of creatine and creatine kinase with the progression of malignancy. We experimentally induced sarcoma in mouse leg muscle by injecting either 3-methylcholanthrene or live sarcoma 180 cells into one hind leg. Creatine, phosphocreatine and creatine kinase isoform levels decreased as malignancy progressed and reached very low levels in the final stage of sarcoma development; all these parameters remained unaltered in the unaffected contralateral leg muscle of the same animal. Creatine and creatine kinase levels were also reduced significantly in frank malignant portions of human sarcoma and gastric and colonic adenocarcinoma compared with the distal nonmalignant portions of the same samples. In mice, immunoblotting with antibodies against cytosolic muscle-type creatine kinase and sarcomeric mitochondrial creatine kinase showed that both of these isoforms decreased as malignancy progressed. Expressions of mRNA of muscle-type creatine kinase and sarcomeric mitochondrial creatine kinase were also severely downregulated. In human sarcoma these two isoforms were undetectable also. In human gastric and colonic adenocarcinoma, brain-type creatine kinase was found to be downregulated, whereas ubiquitous mitochondrial creatine kinase was upregulated. These significantly decreased levels of creatine and creatine kinase isoforms in sarcoma suggest that: (a) the genuine muscle phenotype is lost during sarcoma progression, and (b) these parameters may be used as diagnostic marker and prognostic indicator of malignancy in this tissue.     

The localization of the MM isozyme of creatine phosphokinase on the surface membrane of myocardial cells and its functional coupling to ouabain-inhibited (Na+,K+)-ATPase

A rat heart plasma membrane preparation isolated in a sucrose medium and some of its enzymatic properties have been investigated.It has been shown that a rat heart plasma membrane fraction contains high creatine phosphokinase activity which can not be diminished by repeated washing with sucrose solution. Creatine phosphokinase extracted from a plasma membrane fraction with potassium chloride and 0.01% deoxycholate solution is electrophoretically identical to MM isoenzyme of creatine phosphokinase. Under the conditions where (Na⁺,K⁺)-ATPase is activated by addition of Na⁺,K⁺ and MgATP, creatine phosphokinase of plasma membrane fraction is able to maintain a low ADP concentration in the medium if creatine phosphate is present. The rate of creatine release is dependent upon MgATP concentration in accordance with the kinetic parameters of the (Na⁺,K⁺)-ATPase and is significantly inhibited by ouabain (0.5 mM). The rate of creatine release is also dependent on creatine phosphate concentration in conformance with the kinetic parameters of MM isozyme of creatine phosphokinase,It is concluded that in intact heart cells the plasma membrane creatine phosphokinase may ensure effective utilization of creatine phosphate for immediate rephosphorylation of ADP produced in the (Na⁺,K⁺)-ATPase reaction.     

A tetrazolium technique for the histochemical localization of ATP: Creatine phosphotransferase

Summary A tetrazolium technique is presented that permits the study of ATP: Creatine phosphotransferase, or creatine kinase, in fixed skeletal muscle tissue sections, within the limits imposed by the properties of the chosen ditetrazole, nitro blue tatrazolium. There is a variation in creatine kinase activity between the muscle fibres. Those with high creatine kinase activity also have high succinate dehydrogenase activity.List of Abbreviations ADP Adenosine-5-diphosphate - ATP adenosine-5-triphosphate - CK creatine kinase - G-6-P glucose-6-phosphate - G-6-P-DH glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase - HK hexokinase - NADP nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate - NBT nitro blue tetrazolium - PMS phenazine methosulphate - SDH succinate dehydrogenase     

Differential effects of peroxynitrite on human mitochondrial creatine kinase isoenzymes. Inactivation,octamer destabilization,and identification of involved residues

Creatine kinase isoenzymes are very susceptible to free radical damage and are inactivated by superoxide radicals and peroxynitrite. In this study, we have analyzed the effects of peroxynitrite on enzymatic activity and octamer stability of the two human mitochondrial isoenzymes (ubiquitous mitochondrial creatine kinase (uMtCK) and sarcomeric mitochondrial creatine kinase (sMtCK)), as well as of chicken sMtCK, and identified the involved residues. Inactivation by peroxynitrite was concentration-dependent and similar for both types of MtCK isoenzymes. Because peroxynitrite did not lower the residual activity of a sMtCK mutant missing the active site cysteine (C278G), oxidation of this residue is sufficient to explain MtCK inactivation. Mass spectrometric analysis confirmed oxidation of Cys-278 and further revealed oxidation of the C-terminal Cys-358, possibly involved in MtCK/membrane interaction. Peroxynitrite also led to concentration-dependent dissociation of MtCK octamers into dimers. In this study, ubiquitous uMtCK was much more stable than sarcomeric sMtCK. Mass spectrometric analysis revealed chemical modifications in peptide Gly-263-Arg-271 located at the dimer/dimer interface, including oxidation of Met-267 and nitration of Trp-268 and/or Trp-264, the latter being a very critical residue for octamer stability. These data demonstrate that peroxynitrite affects the octameric state of MtCK and confirms human sMtCK as the generally more susceptible isoenzyme. The results provide a molecular explanation of how oxidative damage can lead to inactivation and decreased octamer/dimer ratio of MtCK, as seen in neurodegenerative diseases and heart pathology, respectively.     

Contact site between inner and outer mitochondrial membrane: a dynamic microcompartment for creatine kinase activity

Creatine kinase is involved in the integration of high-energy metabolism in various tissues. In this study the tissue-specific distribution of the mitochondrial isoform was investigated, both by electrophoresis of rat tissue extracts, and by ultrastructural localisation of creatine kinase activity. Furthermore, the influence of uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation on mitochondrial creatine kinase activity associated with intermembrane contacts was investigated by enzyme cytochemistry and morphometric analysis. The results of the cytochemical survey indicate that contact sites are a prerequisite for creatine kinase to demonstrate enzymatic activity. Moreover, the extent of creatine kinase active membrane contacts depends on the metabolic state of the mitochondrion, as shown for heart mitochondria in vivo and in vitro, before and after treatment with dinitrophenol.     

Radiochemical assays for creatine kinase and arginine kinase using rapid ion exchange separations

Simple and specific radiochemical assays for the determination of creatine and arginine kinase activities in crude tissue extracts are described. Creatine kinase is assayed by incubation with radioactive creatine and subsequent determination of the radioactivity in creatine phosphate. Creatine and creatine phosphate are separated on DEAE-cellulose ion exchange papers. Arginine kinase is assayed simllarly by using radioactive arginine and separating it from arginine phosphate on short ion exchange columns. An assay for creatine kinase in the direction of creatine formation is also described.     

The distribution of N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase, beta-glucuronidase, acid alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase and alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase in subpopulations of thymocytes, bone marrow cells and other lymphoid organs in mice

Thymocytes, bone marrow lymphocytes, as well as lymphocytes from spleen, lymphoid nodes and peripheral blood were obtained from BALB/c mice. Subpopulations of BALB/c bone marrow T-lymphocyte precursors and immature (small) and mature (large) thymocytes, as established by the percentage of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) and peanut agglutinin (PNA) positive cells, were obtained by centrifugation on discontinuous density gradients. The activities of N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (NAG), beta-glucuronidase (BG), acid alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) and alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (NAE) were determined by enzymatic assays of cell extracts of the diverse T-lymphocyte subpopulations, in order to follow their evolution with the maturation of the T-lymphocytes in the thymus. These activities were compared with that determined in lymphocytes from spleen, lymphoid nodes and peripheral blood. The glucidases BG and NAG and the esterases ANAE and NAE present a high decrease in their activities from bone marrow T-lymphocyte progenitors to immature thymocytes. BG, NAG and ANAE activities undergo an about 3-fold increase with the evolution of the thymocytes from small to large cells. Whereas the level of the NAE activity decreases (2-fold) with that evolution of the thymocytes. Lymphocytes from spleen and lymphoid nodes exhibit activities of the glucidases and, specially, the esterases marked by higher than those of thymocyte populations. Peripheral blood lymphocytes also present NAG, ANAE and NAE activities higher than in thymocytes, but their BG activity is lower.     

Purine nucleoside metabolizing enzyme activities in mouse thymocytes at different stages of differentiation and maturation

The activities of the enzymes involved in purine nucleoside metabolism, adenosine deaminase (ADA), adenosine kinase (AK), purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) and deoxycytidine kinase (deoxyCRK), were determined in mouse thymocytes at various stages of differentiation and maturation, and compared with those in other tissues. The thymocytes were characterized by high ADA and deoxyCRK activities with high ADA/AK and ADA/PNP ratios and low PNP/deoxyCRK ratio. In fetal thymocytes of 16 gestational days, ADA activity was lower, and PNP, AK and deoxyCRK activities were higher than those in the adult thymocytes. During differentiation of fetal thymocytes, ADA activity increased while PNP and AK activities decreased. DeoxyCRK activity decreased after birth. In spleen T lymphocytes, ADA and deoxyCRK activities were lower and PNP activity was about 2.5-fold higher than in the thymocytes. Thus the differentiation stages of T lymphocytes may be characterized by the absolute levels and the ratios of these enzymes.