Inositol polyphosphate-mediated repartitioning of aldolase in skeletal muscle triads and myofibrils

The effects of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3), which has been hypothesized to be a chemical transmitter in excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle, on aldolase bound to isolated triad junctions were investigated. Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase was identified as the major specific binding protein for the Ins(1,4,5)P3 analogue glycolaldehyde (2)-1-phospho-D-myo-inositol 4,5-bisphosphate which can form covalent bonds with protein amino groups by reduction of the Schiff's base intermediate with [3H]NaCNBH3. This analogue, Ins(1,4,5) P3, and the inositol polyphosphates inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate and inositol 1,4-bisphosphate were nearly equipotent in selectively releasing membrane bound aldolase with a K0.5 of about 3 microM. The rank order of the K0.5 values was identical to the KI values for inhibition of aldolase. Aldolase was also released by its substrate fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and by 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate. Ins(1,4,5)P3-induced aldolase release did not disrupt the triad junction; glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, a known junctional constituent, was displaced only at much higher Ins(1,4,5)P3 concentrations. Ins(1,4,5)P3 was as effective as fructose 1,6-bisphosphate in releasing aldolase from myofibrils. A finite number of binding sites for aldolase exist on triads (Bmax = 43-47 pmol of tetrameric aldolase exist on triads (Bmax = 43-47 pmol of tetrameric aldolase/mg of triad protein, KD = 23 nM). The junctional foot protein was implicated as an aldolase binding site by affinity chromatography with the junctional foot protein immobilized on Sepharose 4B. The potential consequences of aldolase being bound in the gap between the terminal cisternae and the transverse tubule to inositol polyphosphate and glycolytic metabolism in that local region are discussed.     

Mechanism of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate transfer from aldolase to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase

The catalytic interaction of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase with glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate has been examined by transient-state kinetic methods. The results confirm previous reports that the apparent Km for oxidative phosphorylation of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate decreases at least 50-fold when the substrate is generated in a coupled reaction system through the action of aldolase on fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, but lend no support to the proposal that glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate is directly transferred between the two enzymes without prior release to the reaction medium. A theoretical analysis is presented which shows that the kinetic behaviour of the coupled two-enzyme system is compatible in all respects tested with a free-diffusion mechanism for the transfer of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate from the producing enzyme to the consuming one.     

Cooperative effect of fructose bisphosphate and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase on aldolase action

The combination of binding and kinetic approaches is suggested to study (i) the mechanism of substrate-modulated dynamic enzyme associations; (ii) the specificity of enzyme interactions. The effect of complex formation between aldolase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate:NAD+ oxidoreductase (phosphorylating), EC 1.2.1.12) on aldolase catalysis was investigated under pseudo-first-order conditions. No change in kcat but a significant increase in KM of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate for aldolase was found when both enzymes were obtained from muscle. In contrast, kcat rather than KM changed if dehydrogenase was isolated from yeast. Next, the conversion of fructose 1-phosphate was not affected by interactions between enzyme couples isolated from muscle. The influence of fructose phosphates on the enzyme-complex formation was studied by means of covalently attached fluorescent probe. We found that the interaction ws not perturbed by the presence of fructose 1-phosphate; however, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate altered the dissociation constant of the enzyme complex. A molecular model for fructose 1,6-bisphosphate-modulated enzyme interaction has been evaluated which suggests that high levels of fructose bisphosphate would drive the formation of the 'channelling' complex between aldolase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.     

Identification, molecular cloning and sequence analysis of a gene cluster encoding the Class II fructose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase, 3-phosphoglycerate kinase and a putative second glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase of Escherichia coli

To investigate a possible chromosomal clustering of glycolytic enzyme genes, the complete nucleotide sequence of the 8029 bp insert of Escherichia coli DNA in the ColE1 plasmid pLC33-5 of the Clarke and Carbon collection (Clark and Carbon, 1976) was determined. Genes (pgk, fda) encoding the phosphoglycerate kinase and Class II fructose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase, respectively, of E. coli were identified. The phosphoglycerate kinase was found to be highly homologous in primary structure to the same enzyme from eukaryotic organisms. A further large open reading frame, designated gapB, was also identified, which on the basis of sequence homology, appears to encode another glycolytic enzyme, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase. This putative gene differs significantly from that (designated gapA) already identified as coding for this enzyme in E. coli and which maps elsewhere on the chromosome. The products, if any, of several other open reading frames remain to be identified.     

Enzymatic analysis of the pathways of glucose catabolism and gluconeogenesis in Pseudomonas citronellolis

Extracts of Pseudomonas citronellolis cells grown on glucose or gluconate possessed all the enzymes of the Entner-Doudoroff pathway. Gluconokinase and either or both 6-phosphogluconate dehydratase and KDPG aldolase were induced by growth on these substrates. Glucose and gluconate dehydrogenases and 6-phosphofructokinase were not detected. Thus catabolism of glucose proceeds via an inducible Entner-Doudoroff pathway. Metabolism of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate apparently proceeded via glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, phosphoglycerate kinase, phosphoglycerate mutase, enolase and pyruvate kinase. These same enzymes plus triose phosphate isomerase were present in lactate-grown cells indicating that synthesis of triose phosphates from gluconeogenic substrates also occurs via this pathway. Extracts of lactate grown-cells possessed fructose diphosphatase and phosphohexoisomerase but apparently lacked fructose diphosphate aldolase thus indicating either the presence of an aldolase with unusual properties or requirements or an alternative pathway for the conversion of triose phosphate to fructose disphosphate. Cells contained two species of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, one an NAD-dependent enzyme which predominated when the organism was grown on glycolytic substrates and the other, an NADP-dependent enzyme which predominated when the organism was grown on gluconeogenic substrates.     

Key enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism as targets of the 11.5-kDa Zn(2+)-binding protein (parathymosin)

The 11.5-kDa Zn(2+)-binding protein (ZnBP) was covalently linked to Sepharose. Affinity chromatography with a cytosolic subfraction from liver resulted in purification of a predominant 38-kDa protein. In comparable experiments with brain cytosol a 39-kDa protein was enriched. The ZnBP-protein interactions were zinc-specific. Both proteins were identified as fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase. Experiments with crude cytosol showed zinc-specific interaction of additional enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism. From liver cytosol greater than 90% of the following enzymes were specifically retained: aldolase, phosphofructokinase-1, hexokinase/glucokinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase. Glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, phosphoglycerate kinase, enolase, lactate dehydrogenase, and most of triosephosphate isomerase remained unbound. From L-type pyruvate kinase only the phosphorylated form seems to interact with ZnBP. Using brain cytosol hexokinase, phosphofructokinase-1, and aldolase were completely bound to the affinity column, whereas glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, phosphoglycerate kinase, enolase, lactate dehydrogenase, pyruvate kinase, and most of triose-phosphate isomerase remained unbound. The behavior of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase from this tissue could not be followed. A possible function of ZnBP in supramolecular organization of carbohydrate metabolism is proposed.     

Exploring CP12 binding proteins revealed aldolase as a new partner for the phosphoribulokinase/glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase/CP12 complex--purification and kinetic characterization of this enzyme from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Possible binding proteins of CP12 in a green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, were investigated. We covalently immobilized CP12 on a resin and then used it to trap CP12 partners. Thus, we found an association between CP12 and phosphoribulokinase (EC 2.7.1.19), glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.13) and aldolase. Immunoprecipitation with purified CP12 antibodies supported these data. The dissociation constant between CP12 and fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (EC 4.1.2.13) aldolase was measured by surface plasmon resonance and is equal to 0.48 +/- 0.05 mum and thus corroborated an interaction between CP12 and aldolase. However, the association is even stronger between aldolase and the phosphoribulokinase/glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase/CP12 complex and the dissociation constant between them is equal to 55+/-5 nm. Moreover, owing to the fact that aldolase has been poorly studied in C. reinhardtii, we purified it and analyzed its kinetic properties. The enzyme displayed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and sedoheptulose 1,7-bisphosphate, with a catalytic constant equal to 35 +/- 1 s(-1) and 4 +/- 0.1 s(-1), respectively. The K(m) value for fructose 1,6-bisphosphate was equal to 0.16 +/- 0.02 mm and 0.046 +/- 0.005 mm for sedoheptulose 1,7-bisphosphate. The catalytic efficiency of aldolase was thus 219 +/- 31 s(-1).mm(-1) with fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and 87 +/- 9 s(-1).mm(-1) with sedoheptulose 1,7-bisphosphate. In the presence of the complex, this parameter for fructose 1,6-bisphosphate increased to 310 +/- 23 s(-1).mm(-1), whereas no change was observed with sedoheptulose 1,7-bisphosphate. The condensation reaction of aldolase to form fructose 1,6-bisphosphate was also investigated but no effect of CP12 or the complex on this reaction was observed.     

Dynamic interactions of enzymes involved in triosephosphate metabolism

A steady-state kinetic analysis of the coupled reactions catalysed by the three-enzyme system, aldolase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and triosephosphate isomerase, was performed. The kinetic parameters of the progress curves of end-product formation calculated for noninteracting enzymes were compared with those measured in the two-enzyme and three-enzyme systems. Changes in the fluorescence anisotropy of labelled dehydrogenase upon addition of aldolase and/or isomerase were also measured. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate oxidation catalysed by glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in the presence of isomerase (which ensures rapid equilibration of the triosephosphates) follows single first-order kinetics. The rate constant depends simply on the concentration of the dehydrogenase, indicating no kinetically significant isomerase-dehydrogenase interaction. Fluorescence anisotropy measurements also fail to reveal complex formation between the two enzymes. The steady-state velocity of 3-phosphoglycerate formation from fructose 1, 6-bisphosphate in the reactions catalysed by aldolase and dehydrogenase is not increased twofold on addition of the isomerase, even though a 1:2 stoichiometry of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate/glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate is expected. In fact, by increasing the concentration of the isomerase, the steady-state velocity actually decreases. This effect of the isomerase may be a kinetic consequence of an aldolase-isomerase interaction, which results in a decrease of aldolase activity. Furthermore, the fluorescence anisotropy of labelled dehydrogenase, measured at different aldolase concentrations, is significantly lower when the sample contains isomerase. The decrease in the steady-state velocity of the consecutive reactions caused by the elevation of isomerase concentration could be negated by increasing the dehydrogenase concentrations in the three-enzyme system. All of these observations fit the assumption that the amount of aldolase-dehydrogenase complex is reduced due to competition of isomerase with dehydrogenase. The alternate binding of dehydrogenase and isomerase to aldolase may regulate the flux rate of glycolysis.     

Heteromerous interactions among glycolytic enzymes and of glycolytic enzymes with F-actin: effects of poly(ethylene glycol)

Interactions of glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (D-glucose-6-phosphate ketol-isomerase, EC 5.3.1.9), aldolase (D-fructose-1,6-bisphosphate D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate lyase, EC 4.1.2.13), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate:NAD+ oxidoreductase (phosphorylating), EC 1.2.1.12), triose-phosphate isomerase (D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate ketol-isomerase, EC 5.3.1.1), phosphoglycerate mutase (D-phosphoglycerate 2,3-phosphomutase, EC 5.4.2.1), phosphoglycerate kinase (ATP:3-phospho-D-glycerate 1-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.3), enolase (2-phospho-D-glycerate hydro-lyase, EC 4.2.1.11), pyruvate kinase (ATP:Pyruvate O2-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.40) and lactate dehydrogenase [S)-lactate:NAD+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.27) with F-actin, among the glycolytic enzymes listed above, and with phosphofructokinase (ATP:D-fructose-6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.11) were studied in the presence of poly(ethylene glycol). Both purified rabbit muscle enzymes and rabbit muscle myogen, a high-speed supernatant fraction containing the glycolytic enzymes, were used to study enzyme-F-actin interactions. Following ultracentrifugation, F-actin and poly(ethylene glycol) tended to increase and KCl to decrease the pelleting of enzymes. In general, the greater part of the pelleting occurred in the presence of both F-actin and poly(ethylene glycol) and the absence of KCl. Enzymes that pelleted more in myogen preparations than as individual purified enzymes in the presence of poly(ethylene glycol) and the absence of F-actin were tested for specific enzyme-enzyme associations, several of which were observed. Such interactions support the view that the internal cell structure is composed of proteins that interact with one another to form the microtrabecular lattice.     

Accumulation of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate in mutant cells of mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa as an evidence of phosphofructokinase activity

Phosphoglucose isomerase negative mutant of mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa accumulated relatively higher concentration of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (Fru-1,6-P₂) when mannitol induced cells were incubated with this sugar alcohol. Also the toluene-treated cells of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase negative mutant of this organism produced Fru-1,6-P₂ from fructose 6-phosphate in presence of ATP, but not from 6-phosphogluconate. The results together suggested the presence of an ATP-dependent fructose 6-phosphate kinase (EC 2.7.1.11) in mucoid P. aeruginosa.Abbreviations ALD Fru-1,6-P₂ aldolse - DHAP dihydroxyacetone phosphate - F6P fructose 6-phosphate - G6P glucose 6-phosphate - Gly3P glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate - KDPG 2-keto 3-deoxy 6-phosphogluconate - PFK fructose 6-phosphate kinase - PGI phosphoglucose isomerase - 6PG 6-phosphogluconate     

Glycolytic enzyme interactions with tubulin and microtubules

Interactions of the glycolytic enzymes glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, aldolase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, triose-phosphate isomerase, enolase, phosphoglycerate mutase, phosphoglycerate kinase, pyruvate kinase, lactate dehydrogenase type-M, and lactate dehydrogenase type-H with tubulin and microtubules were studied. Lactate dehydrogenase type-M, pyruvate kinase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and aldolase demonstrated the greatest amount of co-pelleting with microtubules. The presence of 7% poly(ethylene glycol) increased co-pelleting of the latter four enzymes and two other enzymes, glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, and phosphoglycerate kinase with microtubules. Interactions also were characterized by fluorescence anisotropy. Since the KD values of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, pyruvate kinase and lactate dehydrogenase for tubulin and microtubules were all found to be between 1 and 4 microM, which is in the range of enzyme concentration in cells, these enzymes are probably bound to microtubules in vivo. These observations indicate that interactions of cytosolic proteins, such as the glycolytic enzymes, with cytoskeletal components, such as microtubules, may play a structural role in the formation of the microtrabecular lattice.     

Inhibition of the glycolytic pathway by methylglyoxal in human platelets

The incubation of human platelets with methylglyoxal and glucose produces a rapid transformation of the ketoaldehyde to D-lactate by the glyoxalase system and a partial reduction in GSH. Glucose utilization is affected at the level of the glycolytic pathway. No effect of the ketoaldehyde on glycogenolysis and glucose oxidation through the hexose monophosphate shunt was demonstrated. Phosphofructokinase, fructose 1,6 diphosphate (F1, 6DP) aldolase, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase and 3-phosphoglycerate mutase were mostly inhibited by methylglyoxal. A decrease in lactate and pyruvate formation and an accumulation of some glycolytic intermediates (fructose 1,6 diphosphate, dihydroxyacetone phosphate, 3-phosphoglycerate) was observed. Moreover methylglyoxal induced a fall in the metabolic ATP concentration. Since methylglyoxal is an intermediate of the glycolytic bypass system from dihydroxyacetone phosphate to D-lactate, it may be assumed that ketoaldehyde exerts a regulating effect on triose metabolism.     

Relation of phosphatidylinositol metabolism to glycolytic pathway in skeletal muscle membranes

Skeletal muscle triads are possessing the whole set of enzymes of the phosphatidylinositol (PI)-linked signal generating pathway, PI-kinase, PI(4)P-kinase, and PI(4,5)P₂-phospholipase C (PLC). The activities of these enzymes are comparable to those found in other cell types for which a functional role of the PI-pathway in intracellular signal transduction has been established. For skeletal muscle an unequivocal function and an initiating signal for Ins(1,4,5)P₃-liberation is still unknown. However, the observed Ca-dependency of PLC activity suggests that here Ins(1,4,5)P₃ production is a consequence rather than a cause of increasing cytosolic Ca²⁺. Recently, the glycolytic enzyme aldolase, whose activity can be modulated by inositol polyphosphates, has been localized in the triadic structure. The enzyme which has a high affinity to Ins(1,4)P₂, Ins(1,4,5)P₃ and Ins(1,3,4,5)P₄, seems to be compartmentalized to the junctional foot structure from which it is released upon binding of these molecules. This phenomenon could reflect a capability for regulation of the glycolytic flux even for aldolase, especially if a non steady-state situation in the junctional gap is considered. Meanwhile we have accumulated evidence for the operation of a partial glycolytic sequence in the junctional region established by the enzymes aldolase, glyceraldehyde-3-P (GAP) dehydrogenase and phosphoglycerate kinase. This system is able to produce ATP upon oxidation of GAP and could be, because of the inositol polyphosphate-sensing abilities of aldolase, a target for the membrane associated PI-pathway. The ATP production is however transient which indicates the coupling to an ATP hydrolyzing reaction. Thus, it appears that the ATP produced by the membrane associated system is effectively utilized by an ATP consuming membrane localized system like PI-metabolism or protein kinases. There are indications that exogeneously added ATP does not equilibrate with the ATP synthesized in the junctional region which suggests an effective structural or kinetical compartmentalization of this system. Therefore it is hypothesized that the ATP synthesized by the membrane associated glycolytic sequence is utilized in membrane localized reactions.     

The influence of fructose-1:6-bisphosphate on the release of glycolytic enzymes from cellular structure

In order to provide information on the relative binding characteristics of glycolytic enzymes, the effect of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) on the release of glycolytic enzymes from cultured pig kidney cells treated with digitonin has been studied. In the absence of FBP, a differential release of these enzymes was observed, with the order of retention being aldolase greater than glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase greater than glucosephosphate isomerase, triosephosphate isomerase, phosphoglycerokinase, phosphoglucomutase, lactate dehydrogenase, enolase, pyruvate kinase and phosphofructokinase. In the presence of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate, the release of aldolase was considerably enhanced, whereas the release of phosphofructokinase and pyruvate kinase was decreased by this metabolite. No significant alterations in the rate of release of the other enzymes was caused by FBP. These data have been discussed in relation to their contribution to the knowledge of the degree of association and order of binding between glycolytic enzymes and the cytoplasmic matrix.     

Combined glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase/phosphoglycerate kinase in catecholamine-stimulated guinea-pig cardiac muscle. Comparison with mass-action ratio of creatine kinase.

The steady-state reactant levels of triose-phosphate isomerase and the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase/phosphoglycerate kinase system were examined in guinea-pig cardiac muscle. Key glycolytic intermediates, including glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate were directly measured and compared with those of creatine kinase. Non-working Langendorff hearts as well as isolated working hearts were perfused with 5 mM glucose (plus insulin) under normoxia conditions to maintain lactate dehydrogenase near-equilibrium. The cytosolic phosphorylation potential ([ATP]/([ADP].[Pi])) was derived from creatine kinase and the free [NAD+]/([NADH].[H+]) ratio from lactate dehydrogenase. In Langendorff hearts glycolysis was varied from near-zero flux (hyperkalemic cardiac arrest) to higher than normal flux (normal and maximum catecholamine stimulation). The triose-phosphate isomerase was near-equilibrium only in control or potassium-arrested Langendorff hearts as well as in postischemic 'stunned' hearts. However, when glycolytic flux increased due to norepinephrine or due to physiological pressure-volume work the enzyme was displaced from equilibrium. The alternative phosphorylation ratio [ATP]'/([ADP]).[Pi]) was derived from the magnesium-dependent glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase/phosphoglycerate kinase system assigning free magnesium different values in the physiological range (0.1-2.0 mM). As predicted, [ATP]/([ADP].[Pi]) and [ATP]'/([ADP]'.[Pi]') were in excellent agreement when glycolysis was virtually halted by hyperkalemic arrest (flux approximately 0.2 mumol C3.min-1.g dry mass-1). However, the equality between the two phosphorylation ratios was not abolished upon resumption of spontaneous beating and also not during adrenergic stimulation (flux approximately 5-14 mumol C3.min-1.g dry mass-1). In contrast, when flux increased due to transition from no-work to physiological pressure-volume work (rate increase from approximately 3 to 11 mumol C3.min-1.g dry mass-1), the two ratios were markedly different indicating disequilibrium of the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase/phosphoglycerate kinase. Only during adrenergic stimulation or postischemic myocardial 'stunning', not due to hydraulic work load per se, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate levels increased from about 4 microM to greater than or equal to 16 microM. Thus the guinea-pig cardiac glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase/phosphoglycerate kinase system can realize the potential for near-equilibrium catalysis at significant flux provided glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate levels rise, e.g., due to 'stunning' or adrenergic hormones.     

Modulation of the interaction between aldolase and glycerol-phosphate dehydrogenase by fructose phosphates

Kinetics of fructose-1,6-disphosphate aldolase (EC 4.1.2.13) catalyzed conversion of fructose phosphates was analyzed by coupling the aldolase reactions to the metabolically sequential enzyme, glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.8), which interacts with aldolase. At low enzyme concentration poly(ethylene glycol) was added to promote complex formation of aldolase and glycerol-phosphate dehydrogenase resulting in a 3-fold increase in KM of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate and no change in Vmax. Kinetic parameters for fructose-1-phosphate conversion changed inversely upon complex formation: Vmax increased while KM remained unchanged. Gel penetration and ion-exchange chromatographic experiments showed positive modulation of the interaction of aldolase and dehydrogenase by fructose-1,6-bisphosphate. The dissociation constant of the heterologous enzyme complex decreased 10-fold in the presence of this substrate. Fructose-1-phosphate or dihydroxyacetone phosphate had no effect on the dissociation constant of the aldolase-dehydrogenase complex. In addition, titration of fluorescein-labelled glycerol-phosphate dehydrogenase with aldolase indicated that both fructose-1,6-bisphosphate and fructose-2,6-biphosphate enhanced the affinity of aldolase to glycerol-phosphate dehydrogenase. The results of the kinetic and binding experiments suggest that binding of the C-6 phosphate group of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate to aldolase complexed with dehydrogenase is sterically impeded while saturation of the C-6 phosphate group site increases the affinity of aldolase for dehydrogenase. The possible molecular mechanism of the fructose-1,6-bisphosphate modulated interaction is discussed.     

Exploring substrate binding and discrimination in fructose1, 6-bisphosphate and tagatose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolases.

Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase catalyses the reversible condensation of glycerone-P and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate into fructose 1,6-bisphosphate. A recent structure of the Escherichia coli Class II fructose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase [Hall, D.R., Leonard, G.A., Reed, C.D., Watt, C.I., Berry, A. & Hunter, W.N. (1999) J. Mol. Biol. 287, 383-394] in the presence of the transition state analogue phosphoglycolohydroxamate delineated the roles of individual amino acids in binding glycerone-P and in the initial proton abstraction steps of the mechanism. The X-ray structure has now been used, together with sequence alignments, site-directed mutagenesis and steady-state enzyme kinetics to extend these studies to map important residues in the binding of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate. From these studies three residues (Asn35, Ser61 and Lys325) have been identified as important in catalysis. We show that mutation of Ser61 to alanine increases the Km value for fructose 1, 6-bisphosphate 16-fold and product inhibition studies indicate that this effect is manifested most strongly in the glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate binding pocket of the active site, demonstrating that Ser61 is involved in binding glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate. In contrast a S61T mutant had no effect on catalysis emphasizing the importance of an hydroxyl group for this role. Mutation of Asn35 (N35A) resulted in an enzyme with only 1.5% of the activity of the wild-type enzyme and different partial reactions indicate that this residue effects the binding of both triose substrates. Finally, mutation of Lys325 has a greater effect on catalysis than on binding, however, given the magnitude of the effects it is likely that it plays an indirect role in maintaining other critical residues in a catalytically competent conformation. Interestingly, despite its proximity to the active site and high sequence conservation, replacement of a fourth residue, Gln59 (Q59A) had no significant effect on the function of the enzyme. In a separate study to characterize the molecular basis of aldolase specificity, the agaY-encoded tagatose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase of E. coli was cloned, expressed and kinetically characterized. Our studies showed that the two aldolases are highly discriminating between the diastereoisomers fructose bisphosphate and tagatose bisphosphate, each enzyme preferring its cognate substrate by a factor of 300-1500-fold. This produces an overall discrimination factor of almost 5 x 105 between the two enzymes. Using the X-ray structure of the fructose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase and multiple sequence alignments, several residues were identified, which are highly conserved and are in the vicinity of the active site. These residues might potentially be important in substrate recognition. As a consequence, nine mutations were made in attempts to switch the specificity of the fructose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase to that of the tagatose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase and the effect on substrate discrimination was evaluated. Surprisingly, despite making multiple changes in the active site, many of which abolished fructose 1, 6-bisphosphate aldolase activity, no switch in specificity was observed. This highlights the complexity of enzyme catalysis in this family of enzymes, and points to the need for further structural studies before we fully understand the subtleties of the shaping of the active site for complementarity to the cognate substrate.     

Phosphonomethyl analogues of hexose phosphates.

The analogue of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate in which the phosphate group, -O-PO3H2, on C-6 is replaced by the phosphonomethyl group, -CH2-PO3H2, was made enzymically from the corresponding analogue of 3-phosphoglycerate. It was a substrate for aldolase, which was used to form it, but not for fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase. It was hydrolysed chemically to yield the corresponding analogue of fructose 6-phosphate [i.e. 6-deoxy-6-(phosphonomethyl)-D-fructose, or, more strictly, 6,7-dideoxy-7-phosphono-D-arabino-2-heptulose]. This proved to be a substrate for the sequential actions of glucose 6-phosphate isomerase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase. Thus seven out of the nine enzymes of the glycolytic and pentose phosphate pathways so far tested catalyse the reactions of the phosphonomethyl isosteres of their substrates.     

Degradation of endogenous fructose during catabolism of sucrose and mannitol in halophilic archaebacteria

Metabolism of fructose arising endogenously from sucrose or mannitol was studied in halophilic archaebacteria Haloarcula vallismortis and Haloferax mediterranei. Activities of the enzymes of Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas (EMP) pathway, Entner-Doudoroff (ED) pathway and Pentose Phosphate (PP) pathway were examined in extracts of cells grown on sucrose or mannitol and compared to those grown on fructose and glucose. Sucrase and NAD-specific mannitol dehydrogenase were induced only when sucrose or mannitol respectively were the growth substrates. Endogenously arising fructose was metabolised in a manner similar to that for exogenously supplied fructose i.e. a modified EMP pathway initiated by ketohexokinase. While the enzymes for modified EMP pathway viz. ketohexokinase, 1-phosphofructokinase and fructose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase were present under all growth conditions, their levels were elevated in presence of fructose. Besides, though fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase, phosphohexoseisomerase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase were present, the absence of 6-phosphogluconate dehydratase precluded routing of fructose through ED pathway, or through PP pathway directly as 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase was lacking. Fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase plays the unusual role of a catabolic enzyme in supporting the non-oxidative part of PP pathway. However the presence of constitutive levels of glucose dehydrogenase and 2-keto 3-deoxy 6-phosphogluconate aldolase when glucose or sucrose were growth substrates suggested that glucose breakdown took place via the modified ED pathway.Abbreviations EMP Embden Meyerhof Parnas - ED Entner Doudoroff - PP pentose phosphate - KHK ketohexokinase - 1-PFK 1-phosphofructokinase - PEP-PTS phosphoenolpyruvate phosphotransferase - 6-PFK 6-phosphofructokinase - FBPase fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase - PHI phosphohexoseisomerase - G6P-DH glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase - 6PG-DH 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase - GAPDH glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase - FIP fructose 1-phosphate - GSH reduced glutathione - 2-ME -mercaptoethanol - FBP fructose 1,6-bisphosphate - KDPG 2-keto 3-deoxy 6-phosphogluconate - F6P fructose 6-phosphatez     

Binding of rabbit muscle aldolase to band 3, the predominant polypeptide of the human erythrocyte membrane.

Aldolase is a trace protein in isolated human red cell membrane preparations. Following total elution of the endogenous enzyme by a saline wash, the interaction of this membrane with rabbit muscle aldolase was studied. At saturation, exogenous aldolase constituted over 40% of the repleted membrane protein. Scatchard analysis revealed two classes of sites, each numbering approximately 7 X 10(5) per ghost. Specificity was suggested by the exclusive binding of the enzyme to the membrane's inner (cytoplasmic) surface. Furthermore, milimolar levels of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate eluted the enzyme from ghosts, while fructose 6-phosphate and NADH (a metabolite which elutes human erythrocyte glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G3PD) from its binding site) were ineffectuve. Removing peripheral membrane proteins with EDTA and lithium 3,5-diiodosalicylate did not diminish the binding capacity of the membranes. An aldolase-band 3 complex, dissociable by high ionic strength or fructose 1,6-bisphosphate treatment, was demonstrated in Triton X-100 extracts of repleted membranes by rate zonal sedimentation analysis on sucrose gradients. We conclude that the association of rabbit muscle aldolase with isolated human erythrocyte membranes reflects its specific binding to band 3 at the cytoplasmic surface, as is also true of G3PD.