Initial rate and isotope exchange studies of rat skeletal muscle hexokinase

The kinetic mechanism of rat skeletal muscle hexokinase (hexokinase II) was investigated in light of a proposal by Cornish-Bowden and his co-workers (Gregoriou, M., Trayer, I. P., and Cornish-Bowden, A. (1983) Eur. J. Biochem. 134, 283-288). These investigators reported that the kinetic mechanism is ordered, with glucose adding before ATP and ADP dissociating from hexokinase before glucose-6-P. In addition, these workers suggest that glucose-6-P and ATP add to allosteric sites on hexokinase. We investigated the mechanism of action of hexokinase II by studying initial rate kinetics in the nonphysiological direction and by isotope exchange at chemical equilibrium. The former experiments were carried out in the absence of inhibitors and then with AMP, which is a competitive inhibitor of ADP, and with glucose 1,6-bisphosphate, a competitive inhibitor of glucose-6-P. The findings from these experiments suggest that the kinetic mechanism is rapid equilibrium Random Bi Bi. Isotope exchange at equilibrium studies also supports the random nature of the muscle hexokinase reaction; however, they also suggest that the mechanism is partially ordered, i.e. there is a preferred pathway associated with the branched mechanism. Approximately two-thirds of the flux through the hexokinase reaction involves the glucose on first glucose-6-P off last branch of the Random Bi Bi mechanism. These results imply that the kinetic mechanism is steady state Random Bi Bi. There is some evidence to suggest that glucose-6-P binds to an allosteric site on muscle hexokinase, but none to suppose that ATP binds allosterically. Analysis of the mechanism of Gregoriou et al. suggests that it is at variance with the findings of this report as well as with data available from other laboratories.     

Thyrotropin interactions with human fat cell membrane preparations and the finding of soluble thyrotropin binding component.

Three criteria are presented that permit a distinction to be made between the conventional rapid equilibrium Random Bi Bi mechanism and a unique Ordered Bi Bi mechanism in which the rapid equilibrium assumption is made[C. Frieden (1976) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 68, 914–917]. A choice between these mechanisms cannot be made using kinetic procedures now in vogue for differentiating between Ordered and Random Bi Bi mechanisms. However, transition state analogs, pulse-chase experiments, and pre-equilibrium isotope exchange procedures can be employed to make this distinction.     

Kinetic studies on the mechanism and regulation of rabbit liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase

The interaction of Mg2+, AMP, and fructose 2,6-bisphosphate with respect to rabbit liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase was investigated by studying initial-rate kinetics of the system at pH 9.5. A rapid-equilibrium Random Bi Bi mechanism is suggested for the rabbit liver enzyme from the kinetic data. Our kinetic findings indicate that Mg2+ and the inhibitor AMP are mutually exclusive in their binding to fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase. This probably is the mechanism for AMP regulation of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase and thus, to some extent, gluconeogenesis. A kinetic model for the interaction of these ligands with respect to rabbit liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase is presented.     

Purification and initial rate kinetics of acyl-phosphate-hexose phosphotransferase from Aerobacter aerogenes.

The enzyme acyl-phosphate-hexose phosphotransferase from Aerobacter aerogenes was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity. The molecular weight of the enzyme as determined on Sephadex gels is 150 000. The enzyme possesses potent phosphotransferase and phosphohydrolase activities. Initial rate kinetics were used to investigate the mechanism of acyl-phosphate-hexose phosphotransferase. These studies, which involved a number of different phosphoryl donors and substrate analogues, suggest that the kinetic mechanism is of the rapid equilibrium random Bi Bi type. A number of other enzymes that exhibit both transferase and hydrolase activities involve obligatory covalent enzyme-substrate intermediates in their mechanisms of action.     

Two distinctive O-methyltransferases catalyzing penultimate and terminal reactions of macrolide antibiotic (tylosin) biosynthesis. Substrate specificity, enzyme inhibition, and kinetic mechanism

S-Adenosyl-L-methionine:demethylmacrocin O-methyltransferase catalyzes the conversion of demethylmacrocin to macrocin as the penultimate step of tylosin biosynthesis in Streptomyces fradiae. The O-methyltransferase was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity by a conventional chromatographic procedure. The purified enzyme appears to be trimeric with a molecular weight of 122,000-126,000 and a subunit size of 42,000. Its isoelectric point was 6.0. The enzyme required Mg2+ for maximal activity and was catalytically optimal at pH 7.8-8.5 and 42 degrees C. The O-methyltransferase catalyzed conversion of demethylmacrocin to macrocin at a stoichiometric ratio of 1:1. The O-methyltransferase also mediated conversion of demethyllactenocin----lactenocin. The corresponding Vmax/Km ratios for the two analogous conversions varied only slightly. Both enzymic conversions were susceptible to an extensive and identical range of metabolic inhibitions. Steady-state kinetic studies for initial velocity, substrate analogue, and product inhibitions are consistent with Ordered Bi Bi as the reaction mechanism of demethylmacrocin O-methyltransferase. Except for an identical kinetic mechanism, demethylmacrocin O-methyltransferase can be readily differentiated from macrocin O-methyltransferase by its physical and catalytic properties as well as metabolic inhibitions.     

Molecular cloning of the Escherichia coli B L-fucose-D-arabinose gene cluster.

To metabolize the uncommon pentose D-arabinose, enteric bacteria often recruit the enzymes of the L-fucose pathway by a regulatory mutation. However, Escherichia coli B can grow on D-arabinose without the requirement of a mutation, using some of the L-fucose enzymes and a D-ribulokinase that is distinct from the L-fuculokinase of the L-fucose pathway. To study this naturally occurring D-arabinose pathway, we cloned and partially characterized the E. coli B L-fucose-D-arabinose gene cluster and compared it with the L-fucose gene cluster of E. coli K-12. The order of the fucA, -P, -I, and -K genes was the same in the two E. coli strains. However, the E. coli B gene cluster contained a 5.2-kb segment located between the fucA and fucP genes that was not present in E. coli K-12. This segment carried the darK gene, which encodes the D-ribulokinase needed for growth on D-arabinose by E. coli B. The darK gene was not homologous with any of the L-fucose genes or with chromosomal DNA from other D-arabinose-utilizing bacteria. D-Ribulokinase and L-fuculokinase were purified to apparent homogeneity and partially characterized. The molecular weights, substrate specificities, and kinetic parameters of these two enzymes were very dissimilar, which together with DNA hybridization analysis, suggested that these enzymes are not related. D-Arabinose metabolism by E. coli B appears to be the result of acquisitive evolution, but the source of the darK gene has not been determined.     

The determination of lactate turnover in vivo with 3H- and 14C-labelled lactate. The significance of sites of tracer administration and sampling.

The D-ribulokinase and D-xylulokinase of Klebsiella aerogenes were purified to homogeneity from Escherichia coli K12 construct strains that synthesized these enzymes constitutively. The D-ribulokinase, which is encoded in the ribitol operon, is active as a dimer of 60 000 subunit mol.wt., whereas the D-xylulokinase, which is encoded in the D-arabitol operon, is active as a dimer of 54 000 subunit mol.wt. The amino acid compositions and N-terminal sequences of both pentulokinases are reported. The Kapp. values of the enzymes for their D-pentulose substrates were determined, and the D-ribulokinase was shown to have a low-affinity side-specificity for ribitol and D-arabitol. These results are discussed in the context of the evolution of the Klebsiella aerogenes pentitol operons.     

The effect of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate on the reverse reaction kinetics of fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase from bovine liver

The fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase reaction was investigated in the reverse direction by using fructose 2,6-bisphosphate. The effector was found to be a potent inhibitor of the reverse reaction substrates. Inhibition of fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase by fructose 2,6-bisphosphate was competitive, and slope replots were linear. In the context of other accumulated kinetic data, our results serve to support a Random Bi Uni mechanism as the most likely mechanism for the reverse reaction. In addition, two models consistent with the data are presented for the interaction of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate with fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase.     

Purification and characterization of CDP-diacylglycerol synthase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The membrane-associated phospholipid biosynthetic enzyme CDP-diacylglycerol synthase (CTP:phosphatidate cytidylyltransferase, EC 2.7.7.41) was purified 2,300-fold from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The purification procedure included Triton X-100 solubilization of mitochondrial membranes, CDP-diacylglycerol-Sepharose affinity chromatography, and hydroxylapatite chromatography. The procedure resulted in a nearly homogeneous enzyme preparation as determined by native and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Radiation inactivation of mitochondrial associated and purified CDP-diacylglycerol synthase suggested that the molecular weight of the native enzyme was 114,000. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified enzyme preparation yielded two subunits with molecular weights of 56,000 and 54,000. Antibodies prepared against the purified enzyme immunoprecipitated CDP-diacylglycerol synthase activity and subunits. CDP-diacylglycerol synthase activity was dependent on magnesium ions and Triton X-100 at pH 6.5. Thio-reactive agents inhibited activity. The activation energy for the reaction was 9 kcal/mol, and the enzyme was thermally labile above 30 degrees C. The Km values for CTP and phosphatidate were 1 and 0.5 mM, respectively, and the Vmax was 4,700 nmol/min/mg. Results of kinetic and isotopic exchange reactions suggested that the enzyme catalyzes a sequential Bi Bi reaction mechanism.     

Purification, characterization, and kinetic mechanism of S-adenosyl-L-methionine:macrocin O-methyltransferase from Streptomyces fradiae

S-Adenosyl-L-methionine:macrocin O-methyltransferase catalyzes conversion of macrocin to tylosin, the terminal and main rate-limiting step of tylosin biosynthesis in Streptomyces fradiae. The O-methyltransferase was stabilized in vitro and purified to electrophoretic homogeneity. The purified enzyme had a molecular weight of 65,000 and consisted of two identical subunits of 32,000 with an isoelectric point of 4.5. The enzyme required Mg2+, Mn2+, or Co2+ for maximal activity and was catalytically optimal at pH 7.5-8.0 and 31 degrees C. The O-methyltransferase catalyzed the conversion of macrocin to tylosin at a stoichiometric ratio of 1:1. The enzyme also mediated conversion of lactenocin----desmycosin. The corresponding Vmax/Km ratios for the two analogous conversions were similar, and both enzymic conversions were susceptible to extensive competitive and noncompetitive inhibitions by macrolide metabolites. Steady-state kinetic studies for initial velocity, substrate analogue, and product inhibitions have allowed formulation of Ordered Bi Bi as the reaction mechanism for macrocin O-methyltransferase.     

Kinetic study of enantioselective esterification of ketoprofen with n-propanol catalysed by an lipase in an organic medium

A kinetic study of an immobilised lipase esterification reaction in dipropyl ether for resolution of ketoprofen indicated a Bi Bi Ping Pong mechanism with dead-end inhibition of the alcohol was occurring for both enantiomers and this is was confirmed experimentally. Parameters in the kinetic equation and reaction activation energies for the two enantiomers were determined by non-linear regression.     

Ornithine transcarbamylase from Salmonella typhimurium: purification, subunit composition, kinetic analysis, and immunological cross-reactivity.

Ornithine transcarbamylase (OTCase) was purified to hemogeneity from a derepressed strain of Salmonella typhimurium. The optimal pH for enzyme activity is 8.0. The molecular weight of the enzyme was calculated to be 116,000, based on measurements of the sedimentation coefficient by sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation and the Stokes radius by gel filtration. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of cross-linked OTCase in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate showed that the enzyme is composed of three identical subunits. The molecular weight of the monomer was determined to be 39,000. Steady-state kinetics indicate that the reaction mechanism is sequential. The limiting Michealis constants for carbamylphosphate and ornithine were determined to be 0.06 and 0.2 mM, respectively. The dissociation constant for carbamylphosphate was 0.02 mM. Product and dead-end inhibition patterns are consistent with an ordered Bi Bi mechanism, in which carbamylphosphate is the first substrate added and phosphate is the last product released. OTCase activity was inhibited by arginine, but relatively high concentrations were required for significant inhibition. The inhibition by arginine might be physiologically significant in the regulation of carbamlphosphate utilization; a single carbamylphosphate synthetase is responsible for the synthesis of carbamylphosphate for both arginine and pyrimidines in S. typhimurium and the inhibition by argine might serve to divert carbamlphosphate to the synthesis of pyrimidines when arginine is present at high concentrations. The crossreaction of OTCases from different microorganisms with purified antibodies raised against the homogeneous OTCase from S. typhimurium was investigated. The results of immunotitration and immunodiffusion experiments revealed a high degree of identity between the enzymes form S. typhimurium and Esherichia coli B and W. In these three cases, a single gen (argl) encodes OTCase. Wild-type E. coli K-12 and strain 3000 X 111, which carry two OTCase genes (argI, argF), also revealed similar cross-reactivity, supporting the hypothesis that argF is the product of a relatively recent duplication. The activity of OTCase from Bacillus subtilis was partially inhibited by antibodies against the enzyme from S. typhimurium, indicating unusual conservation of primary structure among widely different taxonomic groups. OTCase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, whose molecular weight and primary structure are similar to those of the enzyme from S. typhimurium, was without detectable cross-reactivity.     

Kinetic studies of bovine liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase.

Initial rate kinetic studies with bovine liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase were carried out in both directions of the reaction to determine the sequence of product release from the enzyme. Product inhibition by fructose-6-P was found to be S-linear, I-linear noncompetitive relative to fructose-1,6-bisphosphate, whereas inorganic orthophosphate was determined to be linear competitive with respect to the substrate. The kinetics of the reverse reaction were studied by coupling the phosphatase reaction to the aldolase, triosephosphate isomerase, and glycerolphosphate dehydrogenase reactions. The kinetic results were found to be in harmony with the Uni Bi ordered and random sequential mechanisms as well as a Uni Bi ping-pong mechanism. The nomenclature is that of Cleland (Cleland, W.W. (1963) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 67, 104-137). However, nonkinetic considerations, when taken together with the kinetic results, suggest that the steady state ordered Uni Bi mechanism is the most likely possibility. There is evidence that isomerization of the binary complex of enzyme and phosphate occurs in the kinetic mechanism. Although magnesium is required for the reverse reaction, there is no evidence to suggest that the enzyme discriminates between the magnesium-associated or divalent cation-free forms of the substrates.     

6-phosphofructokinase (pyrophosphate). Properties of the enzyme from Entamoeba histolytica and its reaction mechanism.

The inorganic pyrophosphate-requiring 6-phosphofructokinase of Entamoeba histolytica has been further investigated. The molecular weight of the enzyme is approximately 83,000 and its isoelectric point occurs at pH 5.8 to 6.0. The divalent cation requirement for reaction was explored. In the direction of fructose 6-phosphate formation half-maximal rate required 500 muM magnesium ion; in the direction of fructose bisphosphate formation 8 muM magnesium ion sufficed. ATP, PPi, polyphosphate, acetyl phosphate, or carbamyl phosphate cannot replace PPi as phosphate donor for the conversion of fructose 6-phosphate to fructose bisphosphate. In the direction of fructose 6-phosphate formation arsenate can replace orthophosphate. Isotope exchange studies indicate that little or no exchange occurs between Pi and PPi or between fructose 6-phosphate and fructose bisphosphate in the absence of a third substrate. These findings appear to rule out phosphoenzyme formation and a ping-pong reaction mechanism. PPi, Pi, and fructose bisphosphate are competitive inhibitors of fructose bisphosphate, PPi, and fructose 6-phosphate, respectively. This argues against an ordered mechanism and suggests a random mechanism. Fructose 6-phosphate and Pi were noncompetitive with respect to each other indicating the formation of a dead end complex. These product inhibition relationships are in accord with a Random Bi Bi mechanism.     

Study of vitamin ester synthesis by lipase-catalyzed transesterification in organic media

Immobilized lipase from Candida antarctica (Novozym 435) was used in organic media to catalyze esterifications of vitamins (ascorbic acid and retinol) from hydroxy acid. We described the synthesis of retinyl L-lactate by transesterification between retinol and L-methyl lactate with yield reaching 90% and the synthesis of ascorbyl L-lactate by transesterification between ascorbic acid and L-methyl lactate with yield reaching 80%. The kinetic study of the esterification of vitamins with L-methyl lactate in organic media has been carried out and agrees with ping-pong-ordered Bi-Bi when the initial vitamin concentration is low. When initial vitamin concentration is high, the kinetic is similar to a hybrid ping-pong-ordered Bi Bi or hybrid ping-pong-random Bi Bi mechanism. However, with high initial substrate concentration, change of the kinetic by other phenomena, such as interaction of substrates with molecular sieves, adsorption of the methanol formed, and decreases of substrate diffusion, could be considered. It is obvious that in these conditions, classical enzymology (i.e., Michaelian enzymology) cannot be used for the interpretation of results.     

Ribitol dehydrogenase of Klebsiella aerogenes. Sequence of the structural gene.

The ribitol dehydrogenase gene was cloned from wild-type Klebsiella aerogenes and also from a transducing phage lambda prbt which expresses the rbt operon constitutively. The coding sequence for 249 amino acids is separated from the following D-ribulokinase gene by 31 base pairs containing three stop codons, one of which overlaps the ribosome binding site for D-ribulokinase. Three residues in the amino acid sequence differ from that predicted from the DNA sequence: Asp-212 for Asn-212 is probably a protein sequencing error, but -Ala-Val- for -Ser-Ser- at 146-147 appears to be a 'neutral mutation' that may have arisen during prolonged chemostat selection of a strain that superproduces the enzyme from which the protein sequence was determined.     

Kinetic and structural properties of diacetyl reductase from hamster liver

Kinetic and physicochemical properties of hamster liver diacetyl reductase have been examined. The results of kinetic studies on the reduction of diacetyl and NADPH to acetoin and NADP+ suggest that the reaction follows an Ordered Bi Bi mechanism in which NADPH binds first before diacetyl. The enzyme is a tetrameric glycoprotein of single subunits of a molecular weight of 23,500 with a sedimentation coefficient of 6.0S. The enzyme does not contain Zn, Cu, or Fe. The amino acid composition revealed an unusually low proportion of proline residues (0.9%). p-Chloromercuriphenylsulfonate and phenylglyoxal inactivated the enzyme, but the presence of NADPH prevented the loss of activity due to thiol and arginine modification. The enzyme transferred the pro 4S hydrogen atom of NADPH to the substrate and the binding of the enzyme to NADPH resulted in a red shift of the ultraviolet absorption spectrum of the cofactor.     

Kinetic mechanism of the type II calmodulin-dependent protein kinase: studies of the forward and reverse reactions and observation of apparent rapid-equilibrium ordered binding

The kinetic reaction mechanism of the type II calmodulin-dependent protein kinase was studied by using its constitutively active kinase domain. Lacking regulatory features, the catalytic domain simplified data collection, analysis, and interpretation. To further facilitate this study, a synthetic peptide was used as the kinase substrate. Initial velocity measurements of the forward reaction were consistent with a sequential mechanism. The patterns of product and dead-end inhibition studies best fit an ordered Bi Bi kinetic mechanism with ATP binding first to the enzyme, followed by binding of the peptide substrate. Initial-rate patterns of the reverse reaction of the kinase suggested a rapid-equilibrium mechanism with obligatory ordered binding of ADP prior to the phosphopeptide substrate; however, this apparent rapid-equilibrium ordered mechanism was contrary to the observed inhibition by the phosphopeptide which is not supposed to bind to the kinase in the absence of ADP. Inspection of product inhibition patterns of the phosphopeptide with both ATP and peptide revealed that an ordered Bi Bi mechanism can show initial-rate patterns of a rapid-equilibrium ordered system when a Michaelis constant for phosphopeptide, Kip, is large relative to the concentration of phosphopeptide used. Thus, the results of this study show an ordered Bi Bi mechanism with nucleotide binding first in both directions of the kinase reaction. All the kinetic constants in the forward and reverse directions and the Keq of the kinase reaction are reported herein. To provide theoretical bases and diagnostic aid for mechanisms that can give rise to typical rapid-equilibrium ordered kinetic patterns, a discussion on various sequential cases is presented in the Appendix.     

Ornithine carbamoyltransferase from Escherichia coli W. Purification, structure and steady-state kinetic analysis.

Ornithine carbamoyltransferase from Escherichia coli W was purified to homogeneity. The enzyme has a molecular weight of 105000. It is composed of three apparently identical subunits with molecular weights of 35000. The mechanism of the ornithine carbamoyltransferase enzyme system from E. coli W was investigated kinetically by using the approach of product inhibition and dead-end inhibition of both forward and reverse reactions. On the basis of the kinetic data and binding studies it appears that the mechanism of the reaction involves a compulsory sequence of substrate binding to the enzyme, in which carbamoylphosphate is the first substrate to bind to the enzyme and phosphate the last product to be released. The same studies also indicate that the mechanism involves dead-end complexes. The reaction mechanism appears consistent with that proposed by Theorell and Chance. Values have been determined for the Michaelis and dissociation constants involved in the combination of each reactant with the enzyme. Comparison of the values for the kinetic constants which are common to both forward and reverse reaction have shown that they are always of a comparable magnitude.     

Purification and some kinetic properties of rat liver glucosamine synthetase

1. Glucosamine synthetase (l-glutamine-d-fructose 6-phosphate aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.16) was purified about 300-fold from rat liver by two techniques. One procedure utilized the protective action of fructose 6-phosphate and gave a relatively stable preparation, the other yielded an unstable enzyme (half-life of about 20h), free of contaminant activities, on which kinetic experiments were performed. Although the properties of the two preparations showed slight differences, the unstabilized form could be converted into the stabilized form. 2. During preparation the enzyme retained its sensitivity to the feedback inhibitor, UDP-N-acetylglucosamine. 3. The reversibility of the enzyme-catalysed reaction could not be demonstrated. There was no apparent requirement for a cofactor. 4. The pH optimum was at 7.5, at which pH the reaction obeyed a Ping Pong Bi Bi rate equation. At pH values outside the range 6.9-7.6 and at temperatures below 29 degrees C the velocity was described by an ordered Bi Bi rate equation. 5. The molecular weight of the enzyme, determined by two procedures, was 360000-400000. 6. The aminotransferase was unable to utilize ammonia as a substrate.