Biosynthesis of the pyrimidine moiety of thiamin in Escherichia coli: incorporation of stable isotope-labeled glycines.

Methods are described for the cleavage, extraction, and subsequent gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of the pyrimidine moiety of thiamin as 2-methyl-4-amino-5-[(ethylthio)methyl]pyrimidine. The methods are of a general nature and can be applied to any system. Using these methods to evaluate the incorporation of 13C-, 15N-, and 2H-labeled glycines into the pyrimidine moiety of thiamin by Escherichia coli, we established that the nitrogen and carbon atoms of glycine are incorporated as a unit into the pyrimidine. 13C- and 15N-labeled glycines are incorporated at greater than 60% but deuterium from [2-(2)H2]glycine was incorporated at only 18%. A detailed analysis of the mass fragmentation pattern of the pyrimidine derivative has established that the glycine nitrogen atom supplies the N-1 of the pyrimidine and that the C-1 and C-2 of the glycine supplies the C-4 and C-6 of the pyrimidine, respectively. This evidence is consistent with the substitution of a C2 unit between the C-5 and C-4 of the 4-aminoimidazole ribonucleotide precursor during the biosynthesis of the pyrimidine moiety of thiamin in E. coli.     

Conformation of complexes of thiamin pyrophosphate with divalent cations as studied by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

The binding of Ni-2+ and Mn-2+ to thiamin phosphate and thiamin pyrophosphate (thiamin-PP) has been compared with the binding of these ions to oxythiamin phosphate and oxythiamin pyrophosphate, analogues of thiamin in which the C-4 amino group has been replaced by an -OH group. The replacement of the NH2 group results in reduced basicity of N-1 of the pyrimidine ring of oxythiamine derivatives. The effects of pD, ligand concentration, and temperature on the binding of metal ions to N-1 have been studied by observing the metal ion-induced shifting and broadening of the C-6-H signal of these compounds. The results indicate the following: (a) the metal ion is held near N-1, resulting in a "folded" conformation, because of a favorable bonding interaction between N-1 and the metal ion rather than for general conformational reasons alone; and (b) the amount of "folded" conformation present in the different pyrophosphate complexes at neutral pH follows the order: Ni-2+-thiamin-PP greater than Mn-2+-thiamin-PP greater than Mn-2+-oxythiamin-PP and Ni-2+-oxythiamin-PP It is concluded that the strength of the metal ion-pyrimidine interaction in the "folded" conformation depends strongly both on the coordination affinity of the metal ion and on the basicity of N-1. Since the interaction of the phosphate-bound metal ion with the pyrimidine ring in the Mg-2+-thiamin-PP complex is probably weaker than the corresponding interaction in the Mn-2+-thiamin-PP complex, these results predict that the Mg-2+-thiamin-PP complex in solution, at neutral pH, exists predominantly in an "unfolded" conformation.     

Thiamin biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Origin of carbon-2 of the thiazole moiety.

Radioactivity from [2-14C]glycine enters C-2 of the thiazole moiety of thiamin and no other site, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (strains A.T.C.C. 24903 and 39916, H.J. Bunker). Radioactivity from L-[Me-14C]methionine or from DL-[2-14C]tyrosine does not enter thiamin.     

Biosynthesis of thiamin. Precursor of C-5, C-6, and hydroxymethyl carbon atoms of the pyrimidine moiety in a eucaryote

We studied the incorporation of radioactive glucose into the pyrimidine moiety of thiamin in the eucaryote Candida utilis. Three carbons of glucose were incorporated into the pyrimidine, and the C-2 of glucose into the C-6 of the pyrimidine. We concluded that the C-5, -6, and hydroxymethyl carbon atoms of the pyrimidine in this eucaryote originate from the C-2, -3 and -4 of glucose via ribose.     

Chiral intermediates in thiamin catalysis: Resolution and pyrophosphorylation of hydroxyethylthiamin

The improved preparation, resolution, and pyrophosphorylation of hydroxyethylthiamin [HET; 2-(1-hydroxyethyl)thiamin] is reported. HET is the chiral precursor to acetaldehyde, formed in the thiamin-catalyzed decarboxylation of pyruvate. The pyrophosphate, HETDP, is the precursor in the corresponding enzymatic process. Resolution of racemic HET was accomplished by formation of the dibenzoyltartrate salt, repeated crystallization from ethanol, and liberation of resolved HET from the resolving agent with 3 m hydrochloric acid. The optical rotation of the isolated material is comparable to that of the diphosphate derivative that has been isolated from an enzymatic reaction. Conversion of HET to the diphosphate provided material that was active in enzymic reactions.     

Biosynthesis of thiamin. The precursor of the five-carbon unit of the thiazole moiety

The precursor of the thiazole moiety of thiamin in Candida utilis was identified. Radioactive C-2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of glucose was incorporated into C-4', 4, 5, 5' and 5" of the thiazole. This experiment shows that the precursor of the five carbon unit of thiazole is a 5-carbon compound such as ribose or ribulose derived from glucose.     

A new thiamin salvage pathway

The physiological function for thiaminase II, a thiamin-degrading enzyme, has eluded investigators for more than 50 years. Here, we demonstrate that this enzyme is involved in the regeneration of the thiamin pyrimidine rather than in thiamin degradation, and we identify a new pathway involved in the salvage of base-degraded forms of thiamin. This pathway is widely distributed among bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes. In this pathway, thiamin hydrolysis products such as N-formyl-4-amino-5-aminomethyl-2-methylpyrimidine (formylaminopyrimidine; 15) are transported into the cell using the ThiXYZ transport system, deformylated by the ylmB-encoded amidohydrolase and hydrolyzed to 4-amino-5-hydroxymethyl-2-methylpyrimidine (HMP; 6)-an intermediate on the de novo thiamin biosynthetic pathway. To our knowledge this is the first example of a thiamin salvage pathway involving thiamin analogs generated by degradation of one of the heterocyclic rings of the cofactor.     

Multinuclear magnetic resonance studies of the 2Fe.2S* ferredoxin from Anabaena species strain PCC 7120. 2. Sequence-specific carbon-13 and nitrogen-15 resonance assignments of the oxidized form

Multinuclear two-dimensional NMR techniques were used to assign nearly all diamagnetic 13C and 15N resonances of the plant-type 2Fe.2S* ferredoxin from Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120. Since a 13C spin system directed strategy had been used to identify the 1H spin systems [Oh, B.-H., Westler, W. M., & Markley, J. L. (1989) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 111, 3083-3085], the sequence-specific 1H assignments [Oh, B.-H., & Markley, J. L. (1990) Biochemistry (first paper of three in this issue)] also provided sequence-specific 13C assignments. Several resonances from 1H-13C groups were assigned independently of the 1H assignments by considering the distances between these nuclei and the paramagnetic 2Fe.2S* center. A 13C-15N correlation data set was used to assign additional carbonyl carbons and to analyze overlapping regions of the 13C-13C correlation spectrum. Sequence-specific assignments of backbone and side-chain nitrogens were based on 1H-15N and 13C-15N correlations obtained from various two-dimensional NMR experiments.     

Characterization of the transport mechanism and permeant binding profile of the uridine permease Fui1p of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The uptake of Urd into the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is mediated by Fui1p, a Urd-specific nucleoside transporter encoded by the FUI1 gene and a member of the yeast Fur permease family, which also includes the uracil, allantoin, and thiamine permeases. When Fui1p was produced in a double-permease knock-out strain (fur4Deltafui1Delta) of yeast, Urd uptake was stimulated at acidic pH and sensitive to the protonophore carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone. Electrophysiological analysis of recombinant Fui1p produced in Xenopus oocytes demonstrated that Fui1p-mediated Urd uptake was dependent on proton cotransport with a 1:1 stoichiometry. Mutagenesis analysis of three charged amino acids (Glu(259), Lys(288), and Asp(474) in putative transmembrane segments 3, 4, and 7, respectively) revealed that only Lys(288) was required for maintaining high Urd transport efficiency. Analysis of binding energies between Fui1p and different Urd analogs indicated that Fuip1 interacted with C(3')-OH, C(2')-OH, C(5)-H, and N(3)-H of Urd. Fui1p-mediated transport of Urd was inhibited by analogs with modifications at C-5', but was not inhibited significantly by analogs with modifications at C-3', C-5, and N-3 or inversions of configuration at C-2' and C-3'. This characterization of Fui1p contributes to the emerging knowledge of the structure and function of the Fur family of permeases, including the Fui1p orthologs of pathogenic fungi.     

Biological activity of optically pure C-1 altered abscisic acid analogs in Brassica napus microspore embryos

We have examined the effects of stereochemically pure analogs of abscisic acid (ABA) on three responses in Brassica napus microspore embryos. The analogs used include modifications to natural (S-) (+)-ABA (= N-ABA) at the C-1 and C-1 positions. At the C-1 position, the carboxylic acid function was replaced with an alcohol, aldehyde, or methyl ester functional group, and at the chiral C-1 position both enantiomers were prepared. The rationale for choosing these particular analogs was that they had previously shown some potential as slow release forms of ABA (Gusta LV, Ewan B, Reaney MJT, Abrams SR (1992) Can J Bot. 70:1550–1555). The responsiveness of microspore-derived embryos of B. napus to these analogs was investigated. Three types of responses were evaluated: (1) the inhibition of precocious germination; (2) induction of oleosin gene expression; and (3) induction of napin gene expression. All of the structural analogs of ABA tested were effective in the three assays, regardless of functional group substitution or stereochemistry. However, the three assays showed differential sensitivity to the various analogs. The U-forms of abscisyl alcohol and abscisyl aldehyde were very effective in inhibiting precocious germination (greater than natural ABA). Oleosin mRNA accumulation responded most effectively to U-abscisyl alcohol, while the N-abscisyl aldehyde and ABA methyl ester were the most effective at inducing napin mRNA accumulation. This work highlights the distinct differences in activity which result from using stereochemically pure analogs. In addition, surprisingly potent responses are reported in one or more of the assays for abscisyl aldehyde and abscisyl alcohol.Abbreviations ABA abscisic acid - LEA late embryogenic abundant - HPLC high performance liquid chromatography - MOPS 4-morpholinepropanesulfonic acid - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate     

Enzyme system involved in the synthesis of thiamin triphosphate. I. Purification and characterization of protein-bound thiamin diphosphate: ATP phosphoryltransferase

An enzyme system catalyzing the synthesis of thiamin triphosphate consists of an enzyme (protein-bound thiamin diphosphate:ATP phosphoryltransferase), thiamin diphosphate bound to a macromolecule as substrate, ATP, Mg2+, and a low molecular weight cofactor. This system was established by combining a purified enzyme and an essentially pure, macromolecule-bound substrate prepared from rat livers. This macromolecule was found to be a protein, and the transphosphorylation of thiamin diphosphate to thiamin triphosphate with ATP and enzyme was shown to occur on this macromolecule which binds thiamin diphosphate. Free thiamin, thiamin monophosphate, thiamin diphosphate, and thiamin triphosphate have no effect on this reaction. Thus, the overall reaction is: thiamin diphosphate-protein + ATP in equilibrium thiamin triphosphate-protein + ADP. So-called thiamin diphosphate:ATP phosphoryltransferase (EC 2.7.4.15) activity was not detected in rat brain or liver. The enzyme was extracted from acetone powder of a crude mitochondrial fraction of bovine brain cortex and purified to homogeneity with a 0.6% yield after DEAE-cellulose chromatography, a first gel filtration, hydroxylapatite chromatography, chromatofocusing, and a second gel filtration. The purified enzyme showed a single protein band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. Its molecular weight was estimated to be 103,000. The pH optimum was 7.5, and the Km was determined to be 6 X 10(-4) M for ATP. ATP was found to be the most effective phosphate donor among the nucleoside triphosphates. Amino acid analysis of the purified enzyme revealed an abundance of glutaminyl, glutamyl, and aspartyl residues. Sulfhydryl reagents inhibited the enzyme reaction. Metals such as Fe2+, Zn2+, Pb2+, and Cu2+ strongly inhibited the activity. The enzyme was unstable, and glycerol (20%) and dithiothreitol (1.0 mM) were found to preserve the enzyme activity.     

Stereochemistry of propionyl-coenzyme A and pyruvate carboxylations catalyzed by transcarboxylase.

The stereochemistry of the two half-reactions catalyzed by the biotin-containing enzyme, transcarboxy-lase from Propionobacteria shermanii, has been determined. The pro-R hydrogen at C-2 of propionyl-coenzyme A is replaced by CO2 in formation of the S isomer of methylmalonyl-CoA, defining the process as retention of configuration. This C-2 hydrogen is abstracted at a rate identical with product formation. For the other half-reaction, pyruvate to oxalacetate, the chiral methyl group methodology of Rose (I. A. Rose (1970), J. Biol. Chem. 245, 6052) was employed. First, it was determined with [3-2-He]pyruvate that a kinetic deuterium isotope effect of 2.1 occurs at Vmax in this carboxyl transfer, indicating that the necessary requirement for discrimination against heavy isotopes of hydrogen existed. Then, 3(S)-[3-2-H,3-H]pyruvate, generated from 3(S)-]E-2-H,3-H]phosphoglycerate, was carboxylated and the oxalacetate trapped as [3030H]malate using malate dehydrogenase. Exhaustive incubation of the tritiated malate (3-H/14-C = 1.95) with fumarase to labilize the pro-R hydrogen at C-3 resulted in release of 65% of the tritium into water. Reisolation of the malate after fumarase action yielded a 30H/14-C ration of 0.67, indicating 34% retention as expected. The theoretical enantiotopic distribution for the observed k1H/k2H of 2.1 is 68:32. Selective enrichment of tritium in the pro-R position at C-3 of malate indicates enzymatic carboxylation of pyruvate with retention of configuration in this half-reaction also.     

Use of 13C in biosynthetic studies. The labelling pattern in tenellin enriched from isotope-labelled acetate, methionine, and phenylalanine

The biogenetic origin of the carbon atoms in tenellin has been established by adding 13C-enriched compounds to cultures of Beauveria bassiana, and determining the isotopic distribution in the metabolite by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry. Tenellin is formed by condensation of an acetate-derived polyketide chain with a phenylpropanoid unit that may be phenylalanine. Alternate carbon atoms of the polyketide chain were labelled with sodium [1(-13C)]- and [2-(13C]-acetate; sodium [1,2-(13C)]acetate was incorporated as intact two-carbon units, the presence of which in tenellin was apparent from coupling between adjacent 13C-enriched carbons. Substituent methyl groups of the polyketide-derived alkenyl chain were labelled with L-[Me-13C]methionine. The labelling patterns from DL-[carboxy-13C]phenylalanine and DL-[alpha-13C]phenylalanine indicated a rearrangement of the propanoid component at some stage in the synthesis. The mass spectrum of tenellin from cultures administered L-[15N]phenylalanine showed isotopic enrichment similar to that obtained with 13C- or 14C-labelled phenylalanine. During incorporation of L-[carboxy-14C, beta-3H]phenylalanine 96% of the tritium label was lost, discounting the possibility of a 1,2-hydride shift during biosynthesis of the metabolite.     

Two γ-Methyl Biosides from Dregea volubilis (L.) Benth

From the hydrolysate of the crude glycosides from the roots, of Dregea volubilis(L.) Benth in Dehong, Yunnan, two α-methyl biosides Ⅰ and Ⅱ (yields: 0.016%and 0.0097%, respectively) were isolated by silica gel column chromatography. Theirchemical structures were established by interpretation of MS, IR,1H,13C-NMR, andgas chromatographic analysis of their degradation products, and comparison of thephysical properties of Ⅰ, Ⅱ and their acetates which were reported in literatures asfollows: α-methyl-pachybioside for Ⅰ, and α-methyl-[3-O-methyl-6-deoxy-D-allose(1→4)-D-olivoside] for Ⅱ. Ⅱ named α-methyl-dredehongbioside, is reported for the first time. Ⅱ, α-methyl-dredehongbioside, colorless needles (from MeOH), bitter, mp. 184–186℃,[α]D22 +74.5˚~(c= 0.52, MeOH). Anal. Cald(%) for C14H26O8:C52.17, H8.07;Found; C52.23,H8.22. Irvmaxkbr: 3370, 1443, 1419, 1375, 1268, 1218, 1168,1127,1060cm-1. MS(m/e,%): 322(M+,3),291(M+-OCH3,15), 273(M+-OCH3-H2O,12), 258,246,232, 222, 159, 145, 141, 128, 95, 87, 85, 74 (base peak, 100), 59. 1H NMRδ(CDCl3): 4.73(1H, dd, J= 4.0 Hz, J= 1.5Hz, C-1-H), 4.55(1H, d, J= 8.0Hz,C-1′-H), 3.79(1H, dd, J=3.0Hz, J= 3.0Hz, C-3′-H), 3.00(1H, dd, J= 9.0Hz,J= 9.0Hz, C-4-H), 2.22(1H, m, C-2-Ha), 1.60(1H, m, C-2-He), 1.33(3H, d,J= 6.0Hz,C-5-CH,), 1.31(3H,d,,J= 6.5Hz, C-5′-CH), 3.68(3H,s,,C-3′-OCH),3.31(3H,s,C-1-OCH). 13C NMR data were seen in Table 1. Ⅳ, tri-acetyl-α-methyl-dredehongbioside, colorless granular (from MeOH),mp. 135--137℃, [a]D22+ 88.2˚(c= 0.50, MeOH). MS(m/e, %): 488 (M+, 2), 388(M+-HOAc,2), 357(M+-OCH3-HOAc,33), 288, 187, 127, 116, 85, 74, 59, 43(basepeak, 100). 1H NMR,δ(CDCl3): 5.25(1H, ddd,.J= 11.0Hz, J=9.0Hz,.J= 5.5Hz,C-3-H), 4.86(1H, d, J= 8.0Hz, C-1′-H), 4.69 (1H, dd, J= 4.0Hz, J= 1.5Hz,C-1-H), 4.58(1H,m,C-2′-H),3.94(1H, dd, J= 3.0Hz,J= 3.0Hz,C-3′-H),3.64(1H,m,C-5-H), 3.22(1H,dd, J= 9.5Hz, J= 8.5Hz, C-4-H), 2.30(1H, m, C-2-Ha),1.67(1H,m,C-2-He), 1.31(3H, d, .J= 6.5Hz, C-5-CH3), 1.17(3H, d, J= 6.0Hz,C-5-CH3), 3.47(3H, s, C-3′-OCH3), 3.30(3H,s, C-1-OCH3), 2.10(6H, s, C-2′, C- 4′ -OCH3), 2.03(3H,s,C-3-OCH3).     

Modifications of the pyroglutamic acid and histidine residues in thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) yield analogs with selectivity for TRH receptor type 2 over type 1

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) analogs in which the N-1(tau) or the C-2 position of the imidazole ring of the histidine residue is substituted with various alkyl groups and the l-pyroglutamic acid (pGlu) is replaced with the l-pyro-2-aminoadipic acid (pAad) or (R)- and (S)-3-oxocyclopentane-1-carboxylic acid (Ocp) were synthesized and studied as agonists for TRH receptor subtype 1 (TRH-R1) and subtype 2 (TRH-R2). We observed that several analogs were selective agonists of TRH-R2 showing relatively less or no activation of TRH-R1. For example, the most selective agonist of the series 13, in which pGlu is replaced with the pAad and histidine residue is substituted at the N-1 position with an isopropyl group, was found to activate TRH-R2 with a potency (EC(50)=1.9microM) but did not activate TRH-R1 (potency>100 microM); that is, exhibited >51-fold greater selectivity for TRH-R2 versus TRH-R1. Analog 8, in which pGlu is replaced with pAad and histidine is substituted at the N-1(tau) position with a methyl group, exhibited a binding affinity (K(i)=0.0032 microM) to TRH-R1 that is similar to that of [Ntau(1)-Me-His]-TRH and displayed potent activation of TRH-R1 and TRH-R2 (EC(50)=0.0049 and 0.0024 microM, respectively). None of the analogs in which pGlu is replaced with the bioisosteric (R)- and (S)-(Ocp) and the imidazole ring is substituted at the N-1(tau) or C-2 position were found to bind or activate either TRH-R1 or TRH-R2 at the highest test dose of 100 microM.     

Thiazolium C(2)-proton exchange: structure-reactivity correlations and the pKa of thiamin C(2)-H revisited

Rate constants for C(2)-proton exchange from thiamin, N(1')-methylthiamin, and several 3-substituted-4-methylthiazolium ions catalyzed by D2O and deuterioxide ion were determined by 1H NMR at 30 degrees C and ionic strength 2.0 M. Values of pKa for the thiazolium ions, including thiamin itself, were found to be in the range pKa = 17-19; the pKa values for N(1')-protonated thiamin and free thiamin C(2)-H in H2O are 17.7 and 18.0, respectively. The pKa value for N(1')-protonated thiamin was calculated from the observed rate constant for the pD-independent reaction with D2O after correction for a secondary solvent deuterium isotope effect of kH2O/kD2O = 2.6. The pKa value for free thiamin was calculated from the rate constant for catalysis by OD- after correction by a factor of 3.3 = 8/2.4 for an 8-fold negative deviation of kOD from the Br?nsted plot of slope 1.0 for general base catalysis and a secondary solvent isotope effect of kOD/kOH = 2.4. Values of k-a = 2 X 10(10) and 3 X 10(9) M-1 s-1 were assumed for diffusion-controlled protonation of the C(2) ylide in the reverse direction by H3O+ and H2O, respectively. The Hammett rho I value for the exchange reaction catalyzed by deuterioxide ion or D2O is 8.4 +/- 0.2. There is no positive deviation of the rate constants for free or N(1')-substituted thiamin analogues in either Hammett correlation. This shows that the aminopyrimidinyl group does not provide significant intramolecular catalysis of nonenzymic C(2)-proton removal in the coenzyme.     

The genes and enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of thiamin and thiamin diphosphate in yeasts

Thiamin (vitamin B1) is an essential molecule for all living organisms. Its major biologically active derivative is thiamin diphosphate, which serves as a cofactor for several enzymes involved in carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism. Important new functions for thiamin and its phosphate esters have recently been suggested, e.g. in gene expression regulation by influencing mRNA structure, in DNA repair after UV illumination, and in the protection of some organelles against reactive oxygen species. Unlike higher animals, which rely on nutritional thiamin intake, yeasts can synthesize thiamin de novo. The biosynthesis pathways include the separate synthesis of two precursors, 4-amino-5-hydroxymethyl-2-methylpyrimidine diphosphate and 5-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-methylthiazole phosphate, which are then condensed into thiamin monophosphate. Additionally, yeasts evolved salvage mechanisms to utilize thiamin and its dephosphorylated late precursors, 4-amino-5-hydroxymethyl-2-methylpyrimidine and 5-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-methylthiazole, from the environment. The current state of knowledge on the discrete steps of thiamin biosynthesis in yeasts is far from satisfactory; many intermediates are postulated only by analogy to the much better understood biosynthesis process in bacteria. On the other hand, the genetic mechanisms regulating thiamin biosynthesis in yeasts are currently under extensive exploration. Only recently, the structures of some of the yeast enzymes involved in thiamin biosynthesis, such as thiamin diphosphokinase and thiazole synthase, were determined at the atomic resolution, and mechanistic proposals for the catalysis of particular biosynthetic steps started to emerge. Paper authored by participants of the international conference: XXXIV Winter School of the Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology of Jagiellonian University, Zakopane, March 7–11, 2007, “The Cell and Its Environment”. Publication cost was partially covered by the organisers of this meeting.     

Preparation of coenzymic activity of soluble polyethyleneimine-bound NADP+ derivatives.

Alkylation at N-1 of the NADP+ adenine ring with 3,4-epoxybutanoic acid gave 1-(2-hydroxy-3-carboxypropyl)-NADP+. Enzymic reduction of the latter, followed by alkaline Dimroth rearrangement and enzymic reoxidation, gave N6-(2-hydroxy-3-carboxypropyl)-NADP+. On the other hand, bromination at C-8 of the NADP+ adenine ring, followed by reaction with the disodium salt of 3-mercaptroproionic acid, gave 8-(2-carboxyethylthio)-NADP+. Carbodimide coupling of the three carboxylic NADP+ derivatives to polyethyleneimine afforded the corresponding macromolecular NADP+ analogues. The carboxylic and the polyethyleneimine derivatives synthesized have been shown to be co-enzymically active with yeast glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, liver glutamate dehydrogenase and yeast aldehyde dehydrogenase. The degree of efficiency relative to NADP+ with the three enzymes ranged from 17% to 100% for the carboxylic derivatives and from 1% to 36% for the polyethyleneimine analogues. On comparing the efficiences with the three enzymes of the N-1 derivatives to the one of the corresponding N6 anc C-8 analogues, the order of activity was N-1 greater than N6 greater C-8, except in the case of the carboxylic compounds with glutamate dehydrogenase, where this order was inverted. None of these modified cofactors were active with pig heart isocitrate dehydrogenase.     

Two classes of cAMP analogs which are selective for the two different cAMP-binding sites of type II protein kinase demonstrate synergism when added together to intact adipocytes

Twenty-five cyclic nucleotide analogs were tested individually to act as lipolytic agents and to activate adipocyte protein kinase. The lipolytic potency of individual analogs correlated better with their Ka for protein kinase and their lipophilicity rather than with either parameter alone. Some of the most potent lipolytic analogs had I50 values for the particulate low Km cAMP phosphodiesterase suggesting that their effect was not due to raising endogenous cAMP levels through inhibition of phosphodiesterase. The most potent lipolytic analogs contained a thio moiety at the C-8 or C-6 position. These analogs exhibited concave upward dose-response curves. At high concentrations, some analogs were as effective as optimal concentrations of epinephrine in stimulating glycerol release. The regulatory subunit of protein kinase has two different intrachain cAMP-binding sites and cAMP analogs modified at the C-8 position (C-8 analogs) are generally selective for Site 1 and analogs modified at the C-6 position (C-6 analogs) are generally selective for Site 2 (Rannels, S. R., and Corbin, J. D. (1980) J. Biol. Chem. 255, 7085-7088). Thus, C-8 and C-6 analogs were tested in combination to stimulate lipolysis in intact adipocytes and to activate protein kinase in vitro. Each process was stimulated synergistically by a combination of a C-6 and C-8 analog. Two C-8 analogs or two C-6 analogs added together did not cause synergism of either process. For both lipolysis and protein kinase activation, C-8 thio analogs acted more synergistically than C-8 amino analogs when incubated in combination with C-6 analogs, a characteristic of type II protein kinase. It is concluded that the observed synergism of lipolysis is due to binding of cAMP analogs to both intrachain sites and that it is the type II protein kinase isozyme which is responsible for the lipolytic response.