5-Enolpyruvyl shikimate 3-phosphate synthase from Escherichia coli. Identification of Lys-22 as a potential active site residue

5-Enolpyruvyl shikimate 3-phosphate synthase catalyzes the reversible condensation of phosphoenolpyruvate and shikimate 3-phosphate to yield 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate 3-phosphate and inorganic phosphate. The enzyme is a target for the nonselective herbicide glyphosate (N-phosphonomethylglycine). In order to determine the role of lysine residues in the mechanism of action of this enzyme as well as in its inhibition by glyphosate, chemical modification studies with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate were undertaken. Incubation of the enzyme with the reagent in the absence of light resulted in a time-dependent loss of enzyme activity. The inactivation followed pseudo first-order and saturation kinetics with Kinact of 45 microM and a maximum rate constant of 1.1 min-1. The inactivation rate increased with increase in pH, with a titratable pK of 7.6. Activity of the inactive enzyme was restored by addition of amino thiol compounds. Reaction of enzyme with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate was prevented in the presence of substrates or substrate plus glyphosate, an inhibitor of the enzyme. Upon 90% inactivation, approximately 1 mol of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate was incorporated per mol of enzyme. The azomethine linkage between pyridoxal 5'-phosphate and the enzyme was reduced by NaB3H4. Tryptic digestion followed by reverse phase chromatographic separation resulted in the isolation of a peptide which contained the pyridoxal 5'-phosphate moiety as well as 3H label. By amino acid sequencing of this peptide, the modified residue was identified as Lys-22. The amino acid sequence around Lys-22 is conserved in bacterial, fungal, as well as plant enzymes suggesting that this region may constitute a part of the enzyme's active site.     

Arginine chemical modification of Petunia hybrida 5-enol-pyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase

Reaction of Petunia hybrida 5-enol-pyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) with the arginine reagents phenylglyoxal (PGO) and p-hydroxyphenylglyoxal (HPGO) leads to inactivation of the enzyme. Inactivation with HPGO leads to modification of approximately 3 mol of arginine per mole of enzyme. The modification reaction follows pseudo-first-order kinetics with a t1/2 of 1 min at 5 mM p-hydroxyphenylglyoxal in 0.1 M triethanolamine HCl, pH 7.8. By titration of HPGO-modified enzyme with 5,5'-bis(dithio-2-nitrobenzoic acid), the possibility of cysteine modification by the arginine reagent was ruled out. While shikimate 3-phosphate (S3P) afforded partial protection to the enzyme against inactivation by HPGO, complete protection could be obtained by using a mixture of S3P and glyphosate. Under the latter conditions, only 1 mol arginine was modified per mole of enzyme. This pattern of reactivity suggests that two arginines may be involved in the binding of S3P and glyphosate to EPSP synthase. A third reactive arginine appears to be nonessential for EPSPS activity. Labeling of EPSP synthase with [14C]phenylglyoxal, peptic digestion, HPLC mapping, and amino acid sequencing indicate that Arg-28 and Arg-131 are two of the reactive arginines labeled with [14C]PGO.     

Mechanism of inactivation of Escherichia coli 5-enolpyruvoylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase by o-phthalaldehyde

In order to identify the essential reactive amino acid residues of 5-enolpyruvoylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase, a target for the nonselective herbicide glyphosphate (N-phosphonomethylglycine), chemical modification studies with o-phthalaldehyde were undertaken. Incubation of the enzyme with the reagent resulted in a time-dependent loss of enzyme activity. The inactivation followed first-order and saturation kinetics with a Kinact of 25 microM and a maximum rate constant of 0.34 min-1. The inactivation was prevented by preincubation of the enzyme with the substrates shikimate 3-phosphate, 5-enolpyruvoylshikimate 3-phosphate, or by a combination of shikimate 3-phosphate plus glyphosate, but not by phosphoenolpyruvate or glyphosate alone. Absorbance and fluorescence spectra studies indicate that complete inactivation of the enzyme resulted from the formation of two isoindole derivatives per molecule of enzyme. Tryptic mapping of the enzyme modified in the absence of shikimate 3-phosphate and glyphosate resulted in the isolation of two peptides which were not found for the enzyme modified in the presence of shikimate 3-phosphate and glyphosate. Analyses of these two peptides indicate that Lys-22 and Lys-340 were the modified sites. The amino acid sequences around these residues are conserved in bacterial, fungal, as well as plant enzymes, suggesting that these regions may constitute part of the enzyme active site.     

Evidence for a reactive gamma-carboxyl group (Glu-418) at the herbicide glyphosate binding site of 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase from Escherichia coli

Incubation of 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase, a target for the nonselective herbicide glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine), with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide in the presence of glycine ethyl ester resulted in a time-dependent loss of enzyme activity. The inactivation followed pseudo-first order kinetics, with a second order rate constant of 2.2 M-1 min-1 at pH 5.5 and 25 degrees C. The inactivation is prevented by preincubation of the enzyme with a combination of the substrate shikimate 3-phosphate plus glyphosate, but not by shikimate 3-phosphate, phosphoenolpyruvate, or glyphosate alone. Increasing the concentration of glyphosate during preincubation resulted in decreasing the rate of inactivation of the enzyme. Complete inactivation of the enzyme required the modification of 4 carboxyl groups per molecule of the enzyme. However, statistical analysis of the residual activity and the extent of modification showed that among the 4 modifiable carboxyl groups, only 1 is critical for activity. Tryptic mapping of the enzyme modified in the absence of shikimate 3-phosphate and glyphosate by reverse phase chromatography resulted in the isolation of a [14C]glycine ethyl ester-containing peptide that was absent in the enzyme modified in the presence of shikimate 3-phosphate and glyphosate. By amino acid sequencing of this labeled peptide, the modified critical carboxyl group was identified as Glu-418. The above results suggest that Glu-418 is the most accessible reactive carboxyl group under these conditions and is located at or close to the glyphosate binding site.     

Affinity labeling of the active site and the reactive sulfhydryl associated with activation of rat liver phenylalanine hydroxylase

A pterin analogue, 5-[(3-azido-6-nitrobenzylidene)amino]-2,6-diamino-4-pyrimidinone (ANBADP), was synthesized as a probe of the pterin binding site of phenylalanine hydroxylase. The photoaffinity label has been found to be a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme with respect to 6,7-dimethyltetrahydropterin, having a Ki of 8.8 +/- 1.1 microM. The irreversible labeling of phenylalanine hydroxylase by the photoaffinity label upon irradiation is both concentration and time dependent. Phenylalanine hydroxylase is covalently labeled with a stoichiometry of 0.87 +/- 0.08 mol of label/enzyme subunit. 5-Deaza-6-methyltetrahydropterin protects against inactivation and both 5-deaza-6-methyltetrahydropterin and 6-methyltetrahydropterin protect against covalent labeling, indicating that labeling occurs at the pterin binding site. Three tryptic peptides were isolated from [3H]ANBADP-photolabeled enzyme and sequenced. All peptides indicated the sequence Thr-Leu-Lys-Ala-Leu-Tyr-Lys (residues 192-198). The residues labeled with [3H]ANBADP were Lys198 and Lys194, with the majority of the radioactivity being associated with Lys198. The reactive sulfhydryl of phenylalanine hydroxylase associated with activation of the enzyme was also identified by labeling with the chromophoric label 5-(iodoacetamido)fluorescein [Parniak, M. A., & Kaufman, S. (1981) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 6876]. Labeling of the enzyme resulted in 1 mol of fluorescein bound per phenylalanine hydroxylase subunit and a concomitant activation of phenylalanine hydroxylase to 82% of the activity found with phenylalanine-activated enzyme. Tryptic and chymotryptic peptides were isolated from fluorescein-labeled enzyme and sequenced. The modified residue was identified as Cys236.     

Studies on the mechanism of action of histone kinase dependent on adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate. Evidence for involvement of histidine and lysine residues in the phosphotransferase reaction.

The reaction of the phosphate residue transfer catalysed by histone kinase dependent on adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) was studied. The phosphotransferase reaction was shown to obey the mechanism of ping-pong bi-bi type. After incubation of the catalytic subunit of histone kinase with [gamma-32P]ATP the incorporation of one mole of [32P]phosphage per mole of protein was observed. The tryptic [32P]phosphohistidine-containing peptide was isolated and its N-terminus and amino acid composition were determined. The 2',3'-dialdehyde derivative of ATP (oATP) was used as the affinity label for the catalytic subunit of cyclic-AMP-dependent histone kinase. The inhibitor formed an alidmine bond with epsilon-amino group of the lysine residue of the active site and was irreversibly bound to the enzyme after reduction by sodium borohydride with concurrent irreversible inactivation of the enzyme. After inactivation, about one mole of 14C-labelled inhibitor was incorporated per mole of the enzyme. ATP effectively protected the catalytic subunit of histone kinase against inactivation by oATP. Tryptic digestion of the enzyme-inhibitor complex led to the isolation of the 14C-labelled peptide of the active site of histone kinase. Basing on these results, the role of histidine and lysine residues in the active site of the catalytic subunit of histone kinase was suggested.     

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase from Leuconostoc mesenteroides. Isolation and sequence of a peptide containing an essential lysine

Interaction of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase from Leuconostoc mesenteroides with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate and sodium borohydride leads to inactivation and modification of two lysine residues per enzyme dimer that are thought to bind glucose 6-phosphate [Milhausen, M., & Levy, H.R. (1975) Eur. J. Biochem. 50, 453-461]. The amino acid sequence surrounding this lysine residue is reported. Following tryptic hydrolysis of the modified enzyme, two peptides, each containing one pyridoxyllysine residue, were purified to homogeneity and subjected to automated Edman degradation. The sequences revealed that one of these, a heptapeptide, was derived from the other, containing 11 amino acids. Supporting evidence for the role of the modified lysine is provided in the following paper [Haghighi, B., & Levy, H.R. (1982) Biochemistry (second paper of three in this issue)]. End-group analysis of the native enzyme revealed that valine is the N-terminal and glycine the C-terminal amino acid and provides support for the identity of the enzyme's two subunits.     

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase of Escherichia coli. Affinity labeling with bromopyruvate.

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase [EC 4.1.1.31] from Escherichia coli W was alkylated by incubation with bromopyruvate, substrate analog, leading to irreversible inactivation. The reaction followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. Mg2+, an essential cofactor for catalysis, enhanced the inactivation, and the enhancing effect increased as the pH increased. The inactivation rate showed a tendency to saturate with increasing concentrations of bromopyruvate, indicating that an enzyme-bromopyruvate complex was formed prior to the alkylation. DL-Phospholactate, a potent competitive inhibitor with respect to phosphoenolpyruvate, protected the enzyme from inactivation in a competitive manner. Examination of the acid hydrolysate of the enzyme modified with [14C]bromopyruvate by paper chromatography showed that radioactivity was solely incorporated into carboxyhydroxyethyl cysteine. In addition, determination of sulfhydryl groups of the native and modified enzymes with 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate) showed that inactivation occurred concomitant with the modification of one cysteinyl residue per subunit. The results indicate that bromopyruvate reacted with the enzyme as an active-site-directed reagent.     

The use of [3H]aniline to identify the essential carboxyl group in the bovine mitochondrial F1-ATPase that reacts with 1-(ethoxycarbonyl)-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline

The inactivation of the bovine heart mitochondrial F1-ATPase with 1-(ethoxycarbonyl)-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline (EEDQ) in the presence of [3H]aniline at pH 7.0 led to the covalent incorporation of 3H into the enzyme. When the ATPase was inactivated by 94% with 0.9 mM EEDQ in the presence of 3.6 mM [3H]aniline in a large-scale experiment in which the protein concentration was 21 mg/ml, 4.2 mol [3H]anilide were formed per mol enzyme, of which 0.35 mol was incorporated per mol of the alpha subunit and 1.0 mol was incorporated per mol of the beta subunit. Examination of a tryptic digest of the isolated alpha subunit revealed that the majority of the 3H was contained in a single tryptic peptide, which, when purified, was shown to contain the [3H]anilide of a glutamic acid residue which corresponds to alpha-Glu-402 of the Escherichia coli F1-ATPase. This residue was labeled to the extent of about 1.0 mol/mol enzyme. Analysis of tryptic peptides purified from the isolated beta subunit showed that 0.8 and 1.5 mol, respectively, of the [3H]anilides of beta-Glu-341 and beta-Glu-199 were formed per mol MF1 during the inactivation of the enzyme at 21 mg/ml. When the ATPase was inactivated by 90% at a protein concentration of 1.7 mg/ml by 0.9 mM EEDQ in the presence of 1.7 mM [3H]aniline, 3.1 mol [3H]anilide were formed per mol enzyme. From the analysis of the radioactive peptides purified from a tryptic digest of the labeled ATPase from this experiment it was estimated that 0.7 mol of the [3H]anilide of alpha-Glu-402, 0.3 mol of the [3H]anilide of beta-Glu-341, and 1.5 mol of the [3H]anilide of beta-Glu-199 were formed per mol F1-ATPase. Since beta-Glu-199 is labeled to the same extent in the two experiments while alpha-Glu-402 and beta-Glu-341 were not, suggests that the modification of beta-Glu-199 is responsible for inactivation of the enzyme by EEDQ.     

Possible involvement of Lys603 from Escherichia coli glucosamine-6-phosphate synthase in the binding of its substrate fructose 6-phosphate

Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate is a competitive inhibitor of glucosamine-6-phosphate synthase with respect to the substrate fructose 6-phosphate. Irreversible inactivation of pyridoxal-5'-phosphate-treated enzyme with [14C]-cyanide resulted in covalent incorporation of close to 1 mol pyridoxal 5'-phosphate/mol enzyme subunit. The enzyme-pyridoxal-5'-phosphate complex could also be inactivated by reduction with NaBH3CN. Sequence analysis of the unique radioactively labelled tryptic peptide, resulting from inactivation with [3H]NaBH3CN, identified the C-terminal nonapeptide encompassing the modified Lys603. The presence of fructose 6-phosphate protected this residue from pyridoxylation. Direct evidence that a lysine residue is involved in the binding of the substrate as a Schiff base came from the isolation at 4 degrees C of a enzyme-fructose-6-phosphate complex in a 1:1 molar ratio. Treatment of the enzyme-[14C]fructose-6-phosphate complex with NaBH3CN revealed one site of modification in the tryptic peptide map. In contrast, trapping the same complex with potassium cyanide resulted in the isolation of several radiolabelled peptides containing lysines which could potentially bind fructose 6-phosphate. However, since the radioactivity was not specifically associated with the lysine residues, it is suggested that these 14C-labelled peptides resulted from the decomposition of an unstable alpha,alpha'-dihydroxyaminonitrile adduct rather than from a lack of specificity of fructose 6-phosphate fixation. Lys603 is then the candidate of choice for fructose 6-phosphate binding since it lies at or near the active site as demonstrated by the trapping experiments with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate described above, and among the lysines which belong to the sugar-binding domain this is the only one conserved between the three members of the purF, glutamine-dependent, amidotransferase subfamily which include the glucosamine-6-phosphate synthase from Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the Rhizobium nodulation protein NodM.     

Products of the inactivation of ribonucleoside diphosphate reductase from Escherichia coli with 2'-azido-2'-deoxyuridine 5'-diphosphate

Ribonucleoside diphosphate reductase (RDPR) from Escherichia coli was completely inactivated by 1 equiv of the mechanism-based inhibitor 2'-azido-2'-deoxyuridine 5'-diphosphate (N3UDP). Incubation of RDPR with [3'-3H]N3UDP resulted in 0.2 mol of 3H released to solvent per mole of enzyme inactivated, indicating that cleavage of the 3' carbon-hydrogen bond occurred in the reaction. Incubation of RDPR with [beta-32P]N3UDP resulted in stoichiometric production of inorganic pyrophosphate. One equivalent of uracil was eliminated from N3UDP, but no azide release was detected. Analysis of the reaction of RDPR with [15N3]N3UDP by mass spectrometry revealed that the azide moiety was converted to 0.9 mol of nitrogen gas per mole of enzyme inactivated. The tyrosyl radical of the B2 subunit was destroyed during the inactivation by N3UDP as reported previously [Sj?berg, B.-M., Gr?slund, A., & Eckstein, F. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 8060-8067], while the specific activity of the B1 subunit was reduced by half. Incubation of [5'-3H]N3UDP with RDPR resulted in stoichiometric covalent radiolabeling of the enzyme. Separation of the enzyme's subunits by chromatofocusing revealed that the modification was specific for the B1 subunit.     

Catalytic site of rabbit glycogen synthase isozymes. Identification of an active site lysine close to the amino terminus of the subunit

Rabbit skeletal muscle glycogen synthase was inhibited by pyridoxal 5'-phosphate and irreversibly inactivated after sodium borohydride reduction of the enzyme-pyridoxal-P complex. The irreversible inactivation by pyridoxal-P was opposed by the presence of the substrate UDP-glucose. With [3H]pyridoxal-P, covalent incorporation of 3H label into the enzyme could be monitored. UDP-glucose protected against 3H incorporation, whereas glucose-6-P was ineffective. Peptide mapping of tryptic digests indicated that two distinct peptides were specifically modified by pyridoxal-P. One of these peptides contained the NH2-terminal sequence of the glycogen synthase subunit. Chymotrypsin cleavage of this peptide resulted in a single-labeled fragment with the sequence: Glu-Val-Ala-Asn-(Pyridoxal-P-Lys)-Val-Gly-Gly-Ile-Tyr. This sequence is identical to that previously reported (Tagaya, M., Nakano, K., and Fukui, T. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260. 6670-6676) for a peptide specifically modified by a substrate analogue and inferred to form part of the active site of the enzyme. Sequence analysis revealed that the modified lysine was located at residue 38 from the NH2 terminus of the rabbit muscle glycogen synthase subunit. An analogous tryptic peptide obtained from the rabbit liver isozyme displayed a high degree of sequence homology in the vicinity of the modified lysine. We propose that the extreme NH2 terminus of the glycogen synthase subunit forms part of the catalytic site, in close proximity to one of the phosphorylated regions of the enzyme (site 2, serine 7). In addition, the work extends the known NH2-terminal amino acid sequences of both the liver and muscle glycogen synthase isozymes.     

The mechanism of inhibition of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase by fluorine-containing adenosine analogs

(Z)-4',5'-Didehydro-5'-deoxy-5'-fluoroadenosine (I), 5'-deoxy-5'-difluoroadenosine (II), and 4',5'-didehydro-5'-deoxy-5'-fluoroarabinosyl-adenosine (III) are inhibitors of rat liver S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase. Compounds I and II are time-dependent and irreversible inhibitors of the enzyme. Both I and II are oxidized by E.NAD to produce E.NADH, and fluoride anion is formed in the inactivation reaction (0.7 to 1.0 mole fluoride/mole of enzyme subunit, and 1.7 moles fluoride/mole of enzyme subunit from I and II, respectively). The enzyme is stoichiometrically labeled with [8-3H]-I, but the label is lost upon denaturation of the protein either with or without treatment of the labeled complex with sodium borohydride. The compound III, the arabino derivative of I, is a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme. The mechanism of the inhibition of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase by these inhibitors is discussed.     

The orientation and accessibility of substrates on the active site of triosephosphate isomerase.

Tritiated sodium borohydride was used to reduce the substrates of triosephosphate isomerase in the presence of the enzyme, and the mixture of the four possible products (D-[1(R)-3H]; D-[1(S)-3H]-; D-[2-3H]-, and L-[2-3H]glycerol 3-phosphate) was analyzed. While enzyme-bound dihydroxyacetone phosphate is reduced completely stereoselectively and at a rate eight imes faster than in free solution, D-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate is inaccessible to reduction by borohydride when bound to the active site of the enzyme.     

Three copies of the beta subunit must be modified to achieve complete inactivation of the bovine mitochondrial F1-ATPase by 5'-p-fluorosulfonylbenzoyladenosine

The modification of both beta-Tyr-368 and beta-His-427 can be correlated with the loss of activity observed when the bovine mitochondrial F1-ATPase is inactivated with 5'-p-fluorosulfonylbenzoyl[3H]adenosine ([3H]FSBA). At pH 8.0, where the rate of inactivation is fast, beta-Tyr-368 is modified predominantly, while at pH 6.0, where the rate of inactivation is slow, beta-His-427 is modified predominantly. At pH 7.0, the 2 residues are modified with about equal efficiency. When the F1-ATPase was inactivated by 80% at pH 6.5, 7.0, and 7.5, the sum of radioactivity incorporated into beta-Tyr-368 and beta-His-427 was 1.99, 1.87, and 1.82 mol of label incorporated per mol of enzyme, respectively. Examination of the rate of inactivation of the enzyme by FSBA as a function of pH revealed two pKa values, one of about 7.6 associated with the modification of beta-Tyr-368 and the other of about 5.8 associated with the modification of beta-His-427. The inactivation of the F1-ATPase by FSBA exhibited an initial fast rate followed by a slower rate in triethanolamine-HCl, pH 7.0. In contrast, only a single rate, equivalent to the fast phase of inactivation in the absence of phosphate, was observed in 0.2 M phosphate, pH 7.0. The dependence of this stimulation on phosphate concentration is sigmoidal with half-maximal stimulation occurring at approximately 160 mM. The ratio of 3H incorporated into beta-Tyr-368 to that incorporated into beta-His-427 was approximately the same during the fast and slow phases of inactivation in triethanolamine-HCl, pH 7.0. Approximately the same ratio was observed when the enzyme was modified during the single phase of inactivation exhibited in the presence of 0.2 M phosphate, pH 7.0. The sum of the 3H incorporated into beta-Tyr-368 and beta-His-427 during inactivation of the F1-ATPase from bovine heart mitochondria by [3H]FSBA in the presence and absence of phosphate was linear and extrapolated to a value of about 2.6 residues modified on complete inactivation of the enzyme. From these data, it is concluded that FSBA binds to a single binding site on the beta subunits of the enzyme where it reacts with either beta-Tyr-368 or beta-His-427 in mutually exclusive reactions. All three beta subunits must be modified in this manner for complete inactivation to be observed.     

Bromopyruvate inactivation of 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogalactonate aldolase of Pseudomonas saccharophila. Kinetics and stereochemistry.

The enzyme 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogalactonate aldolase of Pseudomonas saccharophila is inactivated by the substrate analog beta-bromopyruvate, which satisfies several criteria of being an active site directed reagent. The inactivation exhibits saturation kinetics, and both bromopyruvate and pyruvate (substrate) compete for free enzyme. Upon prolonged incubation, inactivation is virtually complete. The Kinact for bromopyruvate is 12 mM and the minimum inactivation half-time is 16 min with a k of 0.0433 min minus 1. Bromopyruvate is also a substrate for the enzyme in that 3(R,S)-[3-3H2]bromopyruvate is asymmetrically detritiated by the enzyme yielding 3(S)-[3-3H,H]bromopyruvate concomitant with inactivation. At various concentrations of bromopyruvate which affect the inactivation rate, the ratio of nanomoles of bromopyruvate turned over/unit of enzyme inactivated remains constant averaging 12:1, consistent with both inactivation and catalysis occurring at a single protein site, the catalytic site. The above value does not take into account a possible hydrogen isotope effect and is not thus an absolute value. The stereochemistry of bromopyruvate turnover catalyzed by this enzyme is the same as that for 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogluconate aldolase of P. putida. This fact provides the first evidence that the pyruvate-specific portions of the two active sites may have evolved from a common precursor.     

Pyruvate carboxylase: affinity labelling of the pyruvate binding site.

The active-site-directed reagent, bromopyruvate has been used to covalently label the pyruvate binding site of pyruvate carboxylase (E.C.6.4.1.1.) isolated from sheep liver. Oxalo-acetate proved to be the most effective reaction component in protecting the enzyme against inactivation; pyruvate was less effective although its efficiency was enhanced by the presence of acetyl CoA. The other reaction components, MgATP^2? and HCO₃^? failed to protect the enzyme against inactivation. Using bromo[2¹⁴C]pyruvate, it was shown that at 100% inactivation, 1.5 pyruvyl residues were bound per mole of biotin and when the reaction was carried out in the presence of acetyl CoA, this ratio was reduced to 1.0. Analysis of pronase digests of the enzyme revealed that more than 90% of the radioactivity was present as carboxy-hydroxyethyl cysteine.     

Alkylation of acetohydroxyacid synthase I from Escherichia coli K-12 by 3-bromopyruvate: evidence for a single active site catalyzing acetolactate and acetohydroxybutyrate synthesis.

Acetohydroxyacid synthase I (AHAS I) purified from Escherichia coli K-12 was irreversibly inactivated by incubation with 3-bromopyruvate. Inactivation was specific, insofar as bromoacetate and iodoacetate were much less effective than bromopyruvate. Inactivation was accompanied by incorporation of radioactivity from 3-bromo[2-14C]pyruvate into acid-insoluble material. More than 95% of the incorporated radioactivity coelectrophoresed with the 60-kilodalton IlvB subunit of the enzyme through a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel; less than 5% coelectrophoresed with the 11.2-kilodalton IlvN subunit. The stoichiometry of incorporation at nearly complete inactivation was 1 mol of 14C per mol of IlvB polypeptide. These data indicate that bromopyruvate inactivates AHAS I by alkylating an amino acid at or near a single active site located in the IlvB subunit of the enzyme. We confirmed that this alkylation inactivated both AHAS reactions normally catalyzed by AHAS I. These results provide the first direct evidence that AHAS I catalyzes both acetohydroxybutyrate and acetolactate synthesis from the same active site.     

Photoaffinity labeling of mitochondrial adenosinetriphosphatase by 2-azidoadenosine 5'-[alpha-32P]diphosphate

2-Azidoadenosine 5'-diphosphate (2-azido-ADP) labeled with 32P in the alpha-position was prepared and used to photolabel the nucleotide binding sites of beef heart mitochondrial F1-ATPase. The native F1 prepared by the procedure of Knowles and Penefsky [Knowles, A. F., & Penefsky, H. S. (1972) J. Biol. Chem. 247, 6617-6623] contained an average of 2.9 mol of tightly bound ADP plus ATP per mole of enzyme. Short-term incubation of F1 with micromolar concentrations of [alpha-32P]-2-azido-ADP in the dark in a Mg2+-supplemented medium resulted in the rapid supplementary binding of 3 mol of label/mol of F1, consistent with the presence of six nucleotide binding sites per F1. The Kd relative to the reversible binding of [alpha-32P]-2-azido-ADP to mitochondrial F1 in the dark was 5 microM in the presence of MgCl2 and 30 microM in the presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. A linear relationship between the percentage of inactivation of F1 and the extent of covalent photolabeling by [alpha-32P]-2-azido-ADP was observed for percentages of inactivation up to 90%, extrapolating to 2 mol of covalently bound [alpha-32P]-2-azido-ADP/mol of F1. Under these conditions, only the beta subunit was photolabeled. Covalent binding of one photolabel per beta subunit was ascertained by electrophoretic separation of labeled and unlabeled beta subunits based on charge differences and by mapping studies showing one major radioactive peptide segment per photolabeled beta subunit.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)