Investigation of the role of lysine in the subunit contact regions of rabbit muscle aldolase.

Rabbit muscle aldolase (E.C. 4. 1. 2. 13) was guanidinated by reaction with O-methylisourea. Up to 60% of the lysine residues can be guanidinated without any dissociation of the tetramer but with a complete loss of enzymatic activity. Native and guanidinated aldolase can be dissociated into monomers in 2.4 m MgCl₂ with only slight change in conformation of the subunit. Nitrotroponylation of guanidinated aldolase in dilute buffer gives no reaction whereas in 2.4 m MgCl₂ nitrotroponlylation modifies another 8–12% of the lysine residues. Removal of MgCl₂ by dialysis affords 100% recovery of activity and tetrameric structure for native aldolase and 100% recovery of tetrameric structure for guanidinated aldolase. In contrast nitrotroponylated and guanidinated aldolase remains monomeric before precipitating as the MgCl₂ concentration is lowered. It is concluded that lysine may be involved in the protein-protein interaction of the subunit contact domains of muscle aldolase.     

Radiation inactivation of rabbit muscle aldolase.

Pulse radiolysis and steady-state X-radiolysis have been used to investigate the radiation inactivation of aldolase from rabbit muscle. Both eaq-and OH readily react with aldolase, and contribute to inactivation. The radical anions (CNS)2-and (Br)2-react with aldolase at neutral pH. The progressive addition of alkali results in an increase in the second-order rate constants, with an apparent pK approximately 10 +/- 0-3, and with the formation of an unstable intermediate, lambdamax approximately 400 nm resembling a phenoxyl radical. Steady-state radiolysis in the presence of (CNS)2-and (Br)2- at alkaline pH results in increased aldolase inactivation, with a pK of enzyme inactivation similar to that observed for reaction of the radical anions. We propose that a reaction of the radical anoins with tyrosine residues accounts for the resultant inactivation.     

Structure of rabbit muscle aldolase at low resolution

X-ray diffraction data were measured by x-ray diffractometry to 5-A resolution for both the monoclinic form of rabbit skeletal muscle aldolase (EC 4.1.2.13) and a platinum derivative. The heavy atom difference patterson was solved at 6-A resolution yielding eight distinct heavy atom sites. Choice was made of the enantiomorph and protein phases were calculated on the basis of single isomorphous replacement differences. The electron density map calculated from these phases was averaged according to the non-crystallographic molecular symmetry. Rotational symmetry analysis of native patterson and site symmetry analysis of refined heavy atom positions are consistent with the aldolase tetramer possessing a very high degree of 222 internal symmetry. The subunits in the tetramer are positioned in a tetrahedral configuration displaying a slight square planar deformation. Each subunit is roughly ellipsoidal in shape with the major axis nearly parallel to a local 2-fold axis. Prominent at the surface of each subunit were structural features resembling alpha helices. Each subunit contributes to its boundary surface at least six helices which are arranged in a barrel-like manner and possessing a right handed twist with respect to each other. Density associated with binding of substrate on the enzyme was located on the surface of each subunit. Cooperative aspects of the conformational changes produced upon substrate binding are discussed.     

The pyridoxal phosphate-binding site of rabbit muscle aldolase

Under appropriate conditions pyridoxal phosphate forms a Schiff-base derivative with a specific lysine residue in rabbit muscle aldolase, with the incorporation of slightly less than 1 equiv of pyridoxal phosphate per enzyme subunit. Reduction of the Schiff base with tritium-labeled borohydride introduces a radioactive label at this site. A tryptic peptide containing the labeled lysine residue has been isolated and found to possess the following sequence: Gly-Gly-Val-Val-Gly-Ile-Lys¹-Val-Asp-Lys, where the asterisk indicates the modified lysine residue.     

The interaction of rabbit muscle aldolase with NADH

Fluorescence studies on both the emission of aldolase and NADH bound to the enzyme were carried out. Aldolase was found to bind four molecules of NADH with KD = 6.0 +/- 0.3 microM. KD values for NADPH and NAD+ were 41 +/- 4 microM and 140 +/- 30 microM, respectively. The affinity to NADH was comparable with that of some NAD-dependent dehydrogenases, and was not affected by the substrate or the inhibitor.     

Isolation of buffalo muscle aldolase and comparison of its properties with those of rabbit muscle aldolase .

Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (D-fructose-1,6-bisphosphate D-glyceraldehyde-3-phyosphate-lyase, EC 4.1.2.13) was isolated from buffalo muscle by fractionation with ammonium sulphate and subsequent purification by phosphocellulose column chromatography using a linear salt gradient. As judged by gel filtration and electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel, the enzyme was homogeneous with respect to size and charge. The molecular weight and Stokes radius of the enzyme were determined from its elution profile on a calibrated Sephadex column and the respective values were 162000 and 4.55 nm. The diffusion coefficient and frictional ratio were computed to be 4.8-10(7) cm2-s-1 and 1.27, respectively. The molecular weight of the polypeptide chain as measured by aodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was 40750. This taken together with the native molecular weight suggested a four-subunit model for the protein. The N- AND C-terminal residues of polypeptide chains were identified to be proline and tyrosine, respectively. At pH 8.0 the Michaelis-Menten constant and maximum attainable velocity were found to be 8.1 muM and 27 muM Fru-1,6-P2 split/min per mg, respectively. The buffalo muscle aldolase was found to be similar to rabbit muscle aldolase in physico-chemical properties. However, the two enzymes differ significantly in pH optimum; the p optima of the buffalo and rabbit enzymes were determined under identical conditions to be 8.0 and 8.6, respectively.     

The NADP binding site on rabbit muscle aldolase

Rabbit muscle aldolase binds NADPH with a 1:1 stoichiometry and with a dissociation constant 18 microM. Three sites of the dinucleotide are involved in the binding: the adenosyl diphosphate moiety, the nicotinamide-ribose, and the nicotinamide ring. These data show the existence of a specific dinucleotide binding site in the aldolase molecule.     

Purification and properties of rabbit heart muscle aldolase.

Fructose diphosphate aldolase (D-fructose-1,6-biphosphate D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate lyase, EC 4.1.2.13) from rabbit heart has been purified and obtained in crystalline form. The preparations are homogeneous on the basis of disc gel electrophoresis and ultracentrifugation. The catalytic and the molecular properties indicate that this is aldolase A. A comparison was made between rabbit heart aldolase and the rabbit muscle enzyme. The sedimentation coefficient, energy of activation and Michaelis constant for Fru-1,6-P2 were found to be identical with the values obtained for the muscle enzyme. As in case of the muscle enzyme, heart aldolase was found to have a broad pH optimum, remarkable stability over a wide pH range, and the ability to form a Schiff base intermediate with dihydroxyacetone phosphate upon reduction with borohydride. Cleavage of the methionyl bonds with CNBr yields the same pattern as obtained with the muscle enzyme.