Conformational changes induced in bovine lens alpha-crystallin by carbamylation. Relevance to cataract.

Carbamylation of lens proteins may contribute to cataractogenesis in certain medical conditions where blood urea is elevated for prolonged periods. This paper reports on the effects of carbamylation on the physicochemical properties of one of the major lens structural proteins, alpha-crystallin. In particular it is shown that carbamylation alters the tertiary and secondary structure of the protein, leading to an increased reactivity of protein thiols, resulting in interchain disulphide bonding.     

Conformational changes in human lens proteins in cataract

The reactivity of protein thiol groups in human lens and the susceptibility of the proteins to tryptic digestion were investigated. Both were found to be greater in some cataractous lenses, indicating that lens proteins have unfolded during cataractogenesis. Almost all the tyrosine in the proteins of the normal human lens reacts with tetranitromethane and is therefore probably on the outside of the major lens proteins.     

4-Aminobutyrate aminotransferase. Conformational changes induced by reduction of pyridoxal 5-phosphate

Conformational changes induced in 4-aminobutyrate aminotransferase (4-aminobutyrate:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.19) by conversion of pyridoxal-5-P to pyridoxyl-5-P were examined by two independent methods. The reactivity of the SH groups of the reduced enzyme is increased by chemical modification of the cofactor. 1.8 SH per dimer of modified enzyme react with DTNB, whereas 1.2 SH per dimer of the native enzyme react with the attacking reagent under identical experimental conditions. The modified and native forms of the enzyme bind the fluorescent probe ANS, but the number of binding sites for ANS is increased as result of conversion of P-pyridoxal to P-pyridoxyl. After the conformational changes onset by reduction of the cofactor, the modified enzyme binds one molecule of pyridoxal-5-P with a Kd of 0.1 microM to become catalytically competent. The catalytic site of the reduce enzyme was probed with P-pyridoxal analogs. Like resolved 4-aminobutyrate aminotransferase, the reduced species recognize the phosphorothioate analog and regain 40% of the total enzymatic activity. Since the catalytic parameters of reduced and native 4-aminobutyrate aminotransferase are indistinguishable, it is concluded that the additional catalytic site of the reduced enzyme is functionally identical to that of the native enzyme.     

Fructose induced deactivation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity and its prevention by pyruvate: Implications in cataract prevention

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) is an important lens enzyme diverting about 14% of the tissue glucose to the hexose monophosphate shunt pathway. The main function of such a pronounced activity of the enzyme is to support reductive biosyntheses, as well as to maintain a reducing environment in the tissue so as to prevent oxy-radical induced damage and consequent cataract formation. Sugars are one of the well-known cataractogenic agents. Several reports suggest that the cataractogenic effect of the sugars in diabetes as well as in normal aging is initiated by the glycation of the proteins including the enzymes and subsequent formation of more complex and biologically inactive or harmful structures. In a diabetic lens the concentration of fructose exceeds significantly the concentration of glucose, suggesting that the contribution of fructosylation may be greater than that of glucosylation. These studies were undertaken to examine further the possibility that in addition to glycation, generation of oxygen free radicals by fructose and consequent oxidative modifications in certain enzymes may be an important participant in the cataractogenic process. This hypothesis was tested by using G6PDH. The enzyme was incubated with various levels of fructose (0-20 mM) and its activity determined as a function of time. This led to a significant loss of its activity, which was prevented by superoxide dismutase, catalase, mannitol and myoinositol. Most interestingly, pyruvate at levels between 0.2 and 1.0 mM also offered substantial protection. Hence, the results, while elucidating further the mechanism of enzyme deactivation by sugars such as fructose, also demonstrate the possibility of therapeutic prevention of cataracts by pyruvate and other such keto acids, in diabetes and other disabilities involving oxygen free radicals in the pathogenetic process.     

Fructose induced deactivation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity and its prevention by pyruvate: Implications in cataract prevention

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) is an important lens enzyme diverting about 14% of the tissue glucose to the hexose monophosphate shunt pathway. The main function of such a pronounced activity of the enzyme is to support reductive biosyntheses, as well as to maintain a reducing environment in the tissue so as to prevent oxy-radical induced damage and consequent cataract formation. Sugars are one of the well-known cataractogenic agents. Several reports suggest that the cataractogenic effect of the sugars in diabetes as well as in normal aging is initiated by the glycation of the proteins including the enzymes and subsequent formation of more complex and biologically inactive or harmful structures. In a diabetic lens the concentration of fructose exceeds significantly the concentration of glucose, suggesting that the contribution of fructosylation may be greater than that of glucosylation. These studies were undertaken to examine further the possibility that in addition to glycation, generation of oxygen free radicals by fructose and consequent oxidative modifications in certain enzymes may be an important participant in the cataractogenic process. This hypothesis was tested by using G6PDH. The enzyme was incubated with various levels of fructose (0–20 mM) and its activity determined as a function of time. This led to a significant loss of its activity, which was prevented by superoxide dismutase, catalase, mannitol and myoinositol. Most interestingly, pyruvate at levels between 0.2 and 1.0 mM also offered substantial protection. Hence, the results, while elucidating further the mechanism of enzyme deactivation by sugars such as fructose, also demonstrate the possibility of therapeutic prevention of cataracts by pyruvate and other such keto acids, in diabetes and other disabilities involving oxygen free radicals in the pathogenetic process.     

Dehydrogenation of the phosphonate analogue of glucose 6-phosphate by glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase.

6,7 -Dideoxy-alpha-D-gluco-heptose 7-phosphonic acid, the isosteric phosphonate analogue of glucose 6-phosphate, was synthesized in six steps from the readily available precursor benzyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-alpha-D-glucopyranoside. The analogue is a substrate for yeast glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, showing Michaelis-Menten kinetics at pH7.5 and 8.0. At both pH values the Km values of the analogue are 4-5 fold higher and the values approx. 50% lower than those of the natural substrate. The product of enzymic dehydrogenation of the phosphonate analogue at pH8.5 is itself a substrate for gluconate 6-phosphate dehydrogenase.     

Conformational changes induced by binding UDP-2F-galactose to alpha-1,3 galactosyltransferase- implications for catalysis

Alpha-1,3 galactosyltransferase (alpha3GT) catalyzes the transfer of galactose from UDP-galactose to beta-linked galactosides with retention of its alpha configuration. Although several complexes of alpha3GT with inhibitors and substrates have been reported, no structure has been determined of a complex containing intact UDP-galactose. We describe the structure of a complex containing an inhibitory analogue of UDP-galactose, UDP-2F-galactose, in a complex with the Arg365Lys mutant of alpha3GT. The inhibitor is bound in a distorted, bent configuration and comparison with the structure of the apo form of this mutant shows that the interaction induces structural changes in the enzyme, implying a role for ground state destabilization in catalysis. In addition to a general reduction in flexibility in the enzyme indicated by a large reduction in crystallographic B-factors, two loops, one centred around Trp195 and one encompassing the C-terminal 11 residues undergo large structural changes in complexes with UDP and UDP derivatives. The distorted configuration of the bound UDP-2F-galactose in its complex is stabilized, in part, by interactions with residues that are part of or near the flexible loops. Mutagenesis and truncation studies indicate that two highly conserved basic amino acid residues in the C-terminal region, Lys359 and Arg365 are important for catalysis, probably reflecting their roles in these ligand-mediated conformational changes. A second Mn(2+) cofactor has been identified in the catalytic site of a complex of the Arg365Lys with UDP, in a location that suggests it could play a role in facilitating UDP release, consistent with kinetic studies that show alpha3GT activity depends on the binding of two manganese ions. Conformational changes in the C-terminal 11 residues require an initial reorganization of the Trp195 loop and are linked to enzyme progress through the catalytic cycle, including donor substrate distortion, cleavage of the UDP-galactose bond, galactose transfer, and UDP release.     

Ubiquitous lens alpha-, beta-, and gamma-crystallins accumulate in anuran cornea as corneal crystallins

Corneal epithelium is known to have high levels of some metabolic enzymes such as aldehyde dehydrogenase in mammals, gelsolin in zebrafish, and alpha-enolase in several species. Analogous to lens crystallins, these enzymes and proteins are referred to as corneal crystallins, although their precise function is not established in any species. Although it is known that after lentectomy, the outer cornea undergoes transdifferentiation to regenerate a lens only in anuran amphibians, major proteins expressed in an anuran cornea have not been identified. This study therefore aimed to identify the major corneal proteins in the Indian toad (Bufo melanostictus) and the Indian frog (Rana tigrina). Soluble proteins of toad and frog corneas were resolved on two-dimensional gels and identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight and electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight. We report that anuran cornea is made up of the full complement of ubiquitous lens alpha-, beta-, and gamma-crystallins, mainly localized in the corneal epithelium. In addition, some taxon-specific lens crystallins and novel proteins, such as alpha- or beta-enolase/tau-crystallin, were also identified. Our data present a unique case of the anuran cornea where the same crystallins are used in the lens and in the cornea, thus supporting the earlier idea that crystallins are essential for the visual functions of the cornea as they perform for the lens. High levels of lens alpha-, beta-, and gamma-crystallins have not been reported in the cornea of any species studied so far and may offer a possible explanation for their inability to regenerate a lens after lentectomy. Our data that anuran cornea has an abundant quantity of almost all the lens crystallins are consistent with its ability to form a lens, and this connection is worthy of further studies.     

Conformational changes in actin induced by its interaction with gelsolin.

Actin cleaved by the protease from Escherichia coli A2 strain between Gly42 and Val43 (ECP-actin) is no longer polymerizable when it contains Ca2+ as a tightly bound cation, but polymerizes when Mg2+ is bound. We have investigated the interactions of gelsolin with this actin with regard to conformational changes in the actin molecule induced by the binding of gelsolin. ECP-(Ca)actin interacts with gelsolin in a manner similar to that in which it reacts with intact actin, and forms a stoichiometric 2:1 complex. Despite the nonpolymerizability of ECP-(Ca)actin, this complex can act as a nucleus for the polymerization of intact actin, thus indicating that upon interaction with gelsolin, ECP-(Ca)actin undergoes a conformational change that enables its interaction with another actin monomer. By gel filtration and fluorometry it was shown that the binding of at least one of the ECP-cleaved actins to gelsolin is considerably weaker than of intact actin, suggesting that conformational changes in subdomain 2 of actin monomer may directly or allosterically affect actin-gelsolin interactions. On the other hand, interaction with gelsolin changes the conformation of actin within the DNase I-binding loop, as indicated by inhibition of limited proteolysis of actin by ECP and subtilisin. Cross-linking experiments with gelsolin-nucleated actin filaments using N,N-phenylene-bismaleimide (which cross-links adjacent actin monomers between Cys374 and Lys191) reveal that gelsolin causes a significant increase in the yield of the 115-kDa cross-linking product, confirming the evidence that gelsolin stabilizes or changes the conformation of the C-terminal region of the actin molecule, and these changes are propagated from the capped end along the filament. These results allow us to conclude that nucleation of actin polymerization by gelsolin is promoted by conformational changes within subdomain 2 and at the C-terminus of the actin monomer.     

Conformational changes of actin induced by calponin.

Calponin, an actin-linked regulatory protein in smooth muscle, caused a remarkable change in the fluorescence intensity of pyrene-labeled actin in the filamentous form. Calponin, an equimolar ratio to actin, decreased the fluorescence intensity of pyrene-labeled F-actin by some 60% to the level near monomeric actin. This change was partially reversed by Ca2+, when calmodulin was present. Thus it appears that calponin causes conformational changes in actin molecules in an actin filament so as to inhibit their interactions with myosin.     

Mimicked translocation of glucose and glucose 6-phosphate with artificial enzyme membranes.

An approach to the mechanism which may govern the behaviour of biological compartmentalized systems is presented. Artificial enzyme membranes with immobilized glucose oxidase, invertase or hexokinase were used to separate two compartments of a specially designed diffusion cell. Asymmetry in volume, hydrodynamic conditions and enzyme location was purposely chosen in order to create situations which could not be obtained with an enzyme free in solution, and was then used to tentatively mimic situations existing in vivo. Experiments were conducted and a translocation effect of H2O2, glucose and glucose 6-phosphate was obtained. A theoretical analysis taking into account the different identified parameters of the system was elaborated.     

Conformational changes of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase induced by the binding of NAD. A unified model for positive and negative cooperativity.

The fluorescence of the natural coenzyme, NADH, is used to monitor the environment of the nicotinamide moiety at the active centre of rabbit muscle glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.12). Changes of the fluorescence quantum yield and polarization of a small amount of NADH, totally bound by an excess of enzyme, show that at half-saturation of the oligomer with NAD a conformational change is induced which affects the active centre regions of the remaining subunits. This conformational transition is not effected by adenosine diphosphoribose, suggesting that the binding of the nicotinamide moiety of NAD to two subunits is essential for the change of tertiary structure of the remaining subunits that causes the observed changes of the fluorescence properties of the ADH "tracer probe". It is suggested that this conformational transition of the oligomer is responsible for the major decrease of affinity for NAD which occurs at half-saturation, and possibly for the activation by NAD+ of the reductive dephosphorylation reaction catalysed by the enzyme. It is also suggested, by analogy with haemoglobin, that the molecular basis of the negative cooperativity may be the creation of additional intersubunit bonds during the binding of the first two NAD molecules to the tetramer, and a change from a "relaxed" quaternary structure to a "tense" structure at half-saturation.     

Conformational changes in the cytochrome b6f complex induced by inhibitor binding

Binding of stigmatellin, an inhibitor of the Q(o) site of the bc-type complexes, has been shown to induce large conformational changes of the Rieske protein in the respiratory bc(1) complex (Kim, H., Xia, D., Yu, C. A., Xia, J. Z., Kachurin, A. M., Zhang, L., Yu, L., and Deisenhofer, J. (1998) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 95, 8026-8033; Iwata, S., Lee, J. W., Okada, K., Lee, J. K., Iwata, M., Rasmussen, B., Link, T. A., Ramaswamy, S., and Jap, B. K. (1998) Science 281, 64-71; Zhang, Z., Huang, L., Shulmeister, V. M., Chi, Y. I., Kim, K. K., Hung, L. W., Crofts, A. R., Berry, E. A., and Kim, S. H. (1998) Nature 392, 677-684). Such a movement seems necessary to shuttle electrons from the membrane-soluble quinol to the extramembrane heme of cytochrome c(1). To see whether similar changes occur in the related photosynthetic b(6)f complex, we have studied the effect of the binding of stigmatellin to the eukaryotic b(6)f complex by electron crystallography. Comparison of projection maps of thin three-dimensional crystals prepared with or without stigmatellin, and either negatively stained or embedded in glucose, reveals a similar type of movement to that observed in the bc(1) complex and suggests also the occurrence of conformational changes in the transmembrane region.     

Compartmentation of glucose 6-phosphate in hepatocytes.

Rat hepatocytes were incubated with 14C-labelled hexoses, and the specific radioactivities of glucose 6-phosphate, glucose 1-phosphate and fructose 6-phosphate were determined. (1) When suspensions of freshly isolated hepatocytes were incubated with [14C]glucose, the specific radioactivities of glucose 1-phosphate and fructose 6-phosphate were severalfold higher than that of glucose 6-phosphate. The ratios of the specific radioactivities decreased with time of incubation. These relationships were also found when incubations were carried out with primary cultures of rat hepatocytes or with crude homogenates of hepatocytes, but not with isolated nuclei. (2) When cells were incubated with [14C]fructose, the ratios of the specific radioactivities were higher than with [14C]glucose, and also decreased with time. (3) Paired incubations were carried out with a mixture of galactose and fructose, with one or other sugar being labelled with 14C. The specific radioactivity of glucose released into the medium was greater than that of glucose 6-phosphate when fructose was labelled, but not when galactose was labelled. Furthermore, glucose 6-phosphate and glucose in the medium differed with regard to the distribution of 14C between C-1 and C-6. These results are interpreted as evidence that glucose 6-phosphate in hepatocytes does not exist as a homogeneous pool, but that subcompartments exist which are associated with glucose phosphorylation, gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis.     

Conformational changes induced in DNA by in vitro reaction with N-hydroxy-N-2-aminofluorene.

The conformation of DNA modified in vitro by the covalent binding of N-OH-AF was investigated by ultraviolet absorbance, circular dichroism and by radioimmunoassay using specific antibodies against Guo-AAF and nDNA-AAF. The results obtained by both physico-chemical and immunological methods are in agreement with a model involving destabilized regions in the double helical DNA around the carcinogen molecule in which, however, the -AF residues are stacked to the adjacent nucleotides. The RIA results show that the -AF residues are less accessible to antibodies in native than in denatured DNA-AF and thus suggest -AF residues partially buried in the interior of the DNA helix. The present model is compared to the one existing for DNA modified by reaction with N-AcO-AAF (DNA-AAF) (1,2).