Radiochemical assays for creatine kinase and arginine kinase using rapid ion exchange separations

Simple and specific radiochemical assays for the determination of creatine and arginine kinase activities in crude tissue extracts are described. Creatine kinase is assayed by incubation with radioactive creatine and subsequent determination of the radioactivity in creatine phosphate. Creatine and creatine phosphate are separated on DEAE-cellulose ion exchange papers. Arginine kinase is assayed simllarly by using radioactive arginine and separating it from arginine phosphate on short ion exchange columns. An assay for creatine kinase in the direction of creatine formation is also described.     

Specific assays for bacteria using phage mediated release of adenylate kinase

A sensitive and rapid assay method for the specific detection of bacteria was developed using Escherichia coli and Salmonella newport as the test organisms. Bacteriophages were used to provide specific lysis of the bacteria and then the release of cell contents was measured by ATP bioluminescence. Increased sensitivity was obtained by focusing on the bacteria's adenylate kinase (AK) as the cell marker instead of ATP as conventionally used. Fewer than 10³ E. coli cells could be readily detected in less than 1 h. Salmonella newport assays, although as sensitive, were slower and took up to 2 h. The effects of the culture medium, the phage, and the presence of non-specific bacteria were examined.     

Role of adenylate kinase, AMP deaminase and 5'-nucleotidase in the metabolism of adenylic nucleotides

The activities of adenylate kinase, AMP-deaminase and 5'-nucleotidase in various tissues of the rat were studied. The activity of the forward adenylate kinase reaction (ATP + AMP----2 ADP) against the back one (2 ADP----ATP + AMP) was predominant. The liver was shown to contain two, while the blood serum--three adenylate kinase isoenzymes. In the skeletal muscles, the catabolism of adenylic acid involving AMP-deaminase and 5'-nucleotidase predominantly occurred via deamination, in the liver--via dephosphorylation, while in the leucocytes, erythrocytes and blood serum the activity of these processes was essentially the same. In vitro, ATP enhanced the activity of AMP-deaminase in the liver, leucocytes and erythrocytes and decreased it in the blood serum. Under effects of ATP, the activity of 5'-nucleotidase in the leucocytes and blood serum was markedly elevated, that in the liver and erythrocytes was unaffected.     

Metformin activates AMP kinase through inhibition of AMP deaminase

The mechanism for how metformin activates AMPK (AMP-activated kinase) was investigated in isolated skeletal muscle L6 cells. A widely held notion is that inhibition of the mitochondrial respiratory chain is central to the mechanism. We also considered other proposals for metformin action. As metabolic pathway markers, we focused on glucose transport and fatty acid oxidation. We also confirmed metformin actions on other metabolic processes in L6 cells. Metformin stimulated both glucose transport and fatty acid oxidation. The mitochondrial Complex I inhibitor rotenone also stimulated glucose transport but it inhibited fatty acid oxidation, independently of metformin. The peroxynitrite generator 3-morpholinosydnonimine stimulated glucose transport, but inhibited fatty acid oxidation. Addition of the nitric oxide precursor arginine to cells did not affect glucose transport. These studies differentiate metformin from inhibition of mitochondrial respiration and from active nitrogen species. Knockdown of adenylate kinase also failed to affect metformin stimulation of glucose transport. Hence, any means of increase in ADP appears not to be involved in the metformin mechanism. Knockdown of LKB1, an upstream kinase and AMPK activator, did not affect metformin action. Having ruled out existing proposals, we suggest a new one: metformin might increase AMP through inhibition of AMP deaminase (AMPD). We found that metformin inhibited purified AMP deaminase activity. Furthermore, a known inhibitor of AMPD stimulated glucose uptake and fatty acid oxidation. Both metformin and the AMPD inhibitor suppressed ammonia accumulation by the cells. Knockdown of AMPD obviated metformin stimulation of glucose transport. We conclude that AMPD inhibition is the mechanism of metformin action.     

Comparative enzymology of AMP deaminase,adenylate kinase,and creatine kinase in vertebrate heart and skeletal muscle: the characteristic AMP deaminase levels of skeletal versus cardiac muscle are reversed in the North American toad

The specific activity of three characteristic enzymes, adenylate deaminase, adenylate kinase, and creatine kinase, in the skeletal muscles and heart of a variety of vertebrate land animals, including the human, are surveyed. Data from this study and available studies in the literature suggest that adenosine monophosphate deaminase in land vertebrates is quite high in white skeletal muscle, usually somewhat lower in red muscle, and 15-to 500-fold lower in cardiac muscle. Adenosine monophosphate deaminase is active primarily under ischemic or hypoxic conditions which occur frequently in white muscle, only occasionally in red muscle, and ought never occur in heart muscle, and this may therefore account for observed enzyme levels. The common North American toad, Bufo americanus, provides a striking exception to the rule with cardiac adenosine monophosphate deaminase as high as in mammalian skeletal muscle, whereas its skeletal muscle level of adenosine monophosphate deaminase is several times lower. The exceptional levels in the toad are not due to a change in substrate binding and are not accompanied by comparable change in the level of adenylate or creatine kinase. Nor do they signal any major change in isozyme composition, since a human muscle adenosine monophosphate deaminase-specific antiserum reacts with toad muscle adenosine monophosphate deaminase, but not with toad heart adenosine monophosphate deaminase. They do not represent any general anuran evolutionary strategy, since the bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) and the giant tropic toad (Bufo marinus) have the usual vertebrate pattern of adenosine monophosphate deaminase distribution. Lower skeletal muscle activities in anurans may simply represent the contribution of tonic muscle fiber bundles containing low levels of adenosine monophosphate deaminase, but the explanation for the extremely high adenosine monophosphate deaminase levels in heart ventricular muscle is not apparent.Abbreviations AK adenylate kinase - AMP adenosine monophosphate - AMPD, AMP deaminase - CPK creatine (phospho)kinase - EHNA erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)-adenine-HCl     

Differential response of AMP deaminase isozymes to changes in the adenylate energy charge

AMP deaminase has been prepared from white skeletal muscle fibers, red skeletal muscle fibers, cardiac muscle and liver. The isozymes from skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle and liver can be readily distinguished from one another by the shape of the adenylate energy charge response curve. However, the enzyme prepared from different skeletal muscles which consists of predominately red or white fibers are indistinguishable from one another by this criterion.     

Polymorphism of erythrocyte phosphoglucomutase,adenylate kinase and adenosine deaminase in northern Thailand

Summary Phenotypes of the erythrocyte enzymes phosphoglucomutase (PGM) (n-587), adenylate kinase (AK) (n=695), and adenosine deaminase (ADA) (n=616) were determined by horizontal starch gel electrophoresis in Thai subjects from norther Thailand, mainly from the provinces of Chiang Mai and Lamphun. The following gene frequencies were calculated: PGM ₁ ¹ 0.7385 PGM ₁ ² 0.2487 PGM ₁ ⁶ 0.0102 PGM ₁ ⁷ 0.0026, AK ¹ 0.9950 AK ² 0.0050, ADA ¹ 0.9180 ADA ² 0.0820.The regular, apparently autosomal transmission of the PGM ₁ ⁶ and PGM ₁ ⁷ alleles was demonstrated in 7 families revealing sufficient data.

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Zusammenfassung Die Phänotypen der Erythrocytenenzyme Phosphoglucomutase (PGM) (n=587), Adenylatkinase (AK) (n=695), and Adenosindeaminase (ADA) (n=616) wurden mittles horizontaler Stärkegelelektrophorese bei Thailändern aus Nordthailand, hauptsächlich aus den Provinzen Chiang Mai und Lamphun, bestimmt. Auf Grund der Ergebnisse wurden die in der englischen Zusammenfassung angegebenen Genfrequenzen berechnet. Die regelmäßige, anschinend autosomale Vererbung der Allele PGM ₁ ⁶ und PGM ₁ ⁷ wurde in 7 Familien mit ausreichenden Daten nachgewiesen.

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Established and supported by Stiftung Volkswagenwerk.     

Adenosine deaminase,adenylate kinase and acid phosphatase polymorphism in a French-Canadian population

Summary Adenosine deaminase (ADA), adenylate kinase (AK1), and acid phosphatase (ACP1) red blood cell enzymes were studied for allelic variation in a French-Canadian population from Quebec City, Canada. Allele frequencies in 887 unrelated individuals were for ACP1, ACP1^*A: 0.305; ACP1^*B: 0.635 and ACP1^*C: 0.060, for ADA, ADA^*1: 0.969, ADA^*2: 0.031, and for AK1, AK1^*1: 0.976, AK1^*2: 0.024. The allele frequencies for each enzyme were identical to those previously reported in other Caucasian populations.     

Radiochemical micro assays for the determination of choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase activities

1. The methods for the assay of choline acetyltransferase were based on the reaction between labelled acetyl-CoA and unlabelled choline to give labelled acetylcholine. 2. Both synthetic acetyl-CoA and acetyl-CoA formed from sodium [1-(14)C]acetate or sodium [(3)H]acetate by incubation with CoA, ATP, Mg(2+) and extract from acetone-dried pigeon liver were used. 3. [1-(14)C]Acetylcholine was isolated by extraction with ketonic sodium tetraphenylboron. 4. [(3)H]Acetylcholine was precipitated with sodium tetraphenylboron to remove a ketone-soluble contaminant in sodium [(3)H]acetate and then extracted with ketonic sodium tetraphenylboron. 5. The values of choline acetyltransferase activity obtained in the presence of sodium cyanide or EDTA and synthetic acetyl-CoA were similar to those obtained with acetyl-CoA synthesized in situ. 6. The assay of acetylcholinesterase was based on the formation of labelled acetate from labelled acetylcholine. The labelled acetylcholine could be quantitatively removed from the acetate by extraction with ketonic sodium tetraphenylboron. 7. The methods were tested with samples from central and peripheral nervous tissues and purified enzymes. 8. The blank values for choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase corresponded to the activities in 20ng. and 5ng. of brain tissue respectively.     

In situ studies on AMP deaminase as a control system of the adenylate energy charge in yeasts

The role of AMP deaminase reaction in the stabilization of the adenylate energy charge was investigated using permeabilized yeast cells. The addition of P_i or Zn²⁺, which inhibits AMP deaminase, remarkably retarded the depletion of total adenylate pool and the recovery of the adenylate energy charge. Polyamine, an activator of the enzyme, decreased total adenylates, resulting in the enhanced recovery of the energy charge in situ. AMP deaminase can act as a regulatory enzyme in the system that stabilizes the adenylate energy charge in yeast cells under the conditions of severe metabolic stress.     

Polymorphism of red cell phosphoglucomutase, adenylate kinase and adenosine deaminase in a Polish population.

Genetic variants of PGM1, AK and ADA were studied in a sample of unrelated individuals from the Polish population. The gene frequencies observed are: PGM1/1: 0.715, AK1: 0.962 AND ADA1: 0.940.     

Three-dimensional structure of the complex between the mitochondrial matrix adenylate kinase and its substrate AMP

Crystals of adenylate kinase from beef heart mitochondrial matrix (EC 2.7.4.10) complexed with its substrate AMP were analyzed by X-ray diffraction. The crystal structure was solved by multiple isomorphous replacement and solvent flattening at a resolution of 3.0 A. There are two enzyme-substrate molecules in the asymmetric unit. The resolution was extended to 1.9 A by model building and refinement using simulated annealing. The current R-factor is 28.4%. The model is given as a backbone tracing for residues 5-218. The enzyme can be subdivided into three domains, the relative arrangements of which differ slightly but significantly between the two crystallographically independent molecules. When compared with other adenylate kinase structures, the chain fold is similar but the observed domain arrangement differs grossly, suggesting that large parts of the enzyme move during catalysis. The observed binding site of AMP is described. Its location in conjunction with data from homologous proteins clarifies the nucleotide-binding sites of the adenylate kinases. Previous assignments of these sites derived from X-ray crystallographic and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses are discussed.     

In vitro ATP regeneration from polyphosphate and AMP by polyphosphate:AMP phosphotransferase and adenylate kinase from Acinetobacter johnsonii 210A

In vitro enzyme-based ATP regeneration systems are important for improving yields of ATP-dependent enzymatic reactions for preparative organic synthesis and biocatalysis. Several enzymatic ATP regeneration systems have been described but have some disadvantages. We report here on the use of polyphosphate:AMP phosphotransferase (PPT) from Acinetobacter johnsonii strain 210A in an ATP regeneration system based on the use of polyphosphate (polyP) and AMP as substrates. We have examined the substrate specificity of PPT and demonstrated ATP regeneration from AMP and polyP using firefly luciferase and hexokinase as model ATP-requiring enzymes. PPT catalyzes the reaction polyP(n) + AMP --> ADP + polyP(n-1). The ADP can be converted to ATP by adenylate kinase (AdK). Substrate specificity with nucleoside and 2'-deoxynucleoside monophosphates was examined using partially purified PPT by measuring the formation of nucleoside diphosphates with high-pressure liquid chromatography. AMP and 2'-dAMP were efficiently phosphorylated to ADP and 2'-dADP, respectively. GMP, UMP, CMP, and IMP were not converted to the corresponding diphosphates at significant rates. Sufficient AdK and PPT activity in A. johnsonii 210A cell extract allowed demonstration of polyP-dependent ATP regeneration using a firefly luciferase-based ATP assay. Bioluminescence from the luciferase reaction, which normally decays very rapidly, was sustained in the presence of A. johnsonii 210A cell extract, MgCl(2), polyP(n=35), and AMP. Similar reaction mixtures containing strain 210A cell extract or partially purified PPT, polyP, AMP, glucose, and hexokinase formed glucose 6-phosphate. The results indicate that PPT from A. johnsonii is specific for AMP and 2'-dAMP and catalyzes a key reaction in the cell-free regeneration of ATP from AMP and polyP. The PPT/AdK system provides an alternative to existing enzymatic ATP regeneration systems in which phosphoenolpyruvate and acetylphosphate serve as phosphoryl donors and has the advantage that AMP and polyP are stabile, inexpensive substrates.     

Cyclic AMP metabolism in mouse parotid glands properties of adenylate cyclase,protein kinase and phosphodiesterase

Catecholamines induce unique growth and secretory responses in salivary glands. An analysis of three enzyme activities involved in cyclic AMP metabolism was carried out to identify the specificity of these responses for salivary glands.Although parotid adenylate cyclase has an unusually high specific activity, its kinetic properties and responses to NaF, guanine nucleotides, and isoproterenol are similar to other tissues not stimulated to grow after isoproterenol stimulation. Solubilized adenylate cyclase was separated from other membrane proteins by isoelectric focusing on polyacrylamide gels. There was a single broad peak of activity with a pI of 5.9. Parotid protein kinase has a subcellular distribution and substrate preference similar to hepatic protein kinase. Activation by cyclic AMP is also similar to that reported for other tissues, with a K_a of 1.2·10^?7 M. Parotid cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP phosphoriesterases are a heterogeneous group of enzymes with relatively low specific activity as compared with mouse pancreas, liver and brain. Isoelectric focusing of supernatant phosphodiesterases revealed at least six peaks of enzyme activity in the pI range of 4–6.Previous reports of a large increase in parotid cyclic AMP levels after in vivo administration of catecholamines and specific growth and secretion could be the result of a relatively high specific activity adenylate cyclase associated with low specific activity cyclic AMP phosphodiesterases.     

Purification and properties of trout gill AMP deaminase

Summary The AMP deaminase has been purified 450–500 fold from 20,000 g supernatants from trout gill. The procedure comprised cellulose phosphate and DEAE-cellulose chromatography. The gill appeared to contain different isoenzymes as indicated by different chromatographic behaviour on cellulose phosphate and different heat stabilities. The two major isoenzymes were compared with respect to their pH optima and the effect of temperature, ATP and inorganic phosphate. The pH optimum is about pH 6.7 at low substrate concentration. A second optimum is found in phosphate buffer. The substrate saturation curve is hyperbolic, even in the absence of KCl or ATP. ATP is an activator of the enzyme in the absence of KCl, but is without effect in the presence of monovalent cations. Among the monovalent cations tested, Na⁺ is the most potent activator followed by K⁺ and NH ₄ ⁺ . Inorganic phosphate is an inhibitor of gill AMP deaminase increasing the affinity for its substrate but having no effect on the maximal velocity or the Hill coefficient. The inhibition by phosphate is partially reversed by ATP. ADP and GTP are competitive inhibitors of the enzyme. In addition, the enzyme showed negative cooperativity in the presence of ATP or GTP.     

Isolation and regulation of piglet cardiac AMP deaminase

The properties of piglet cardiac AMP deaminase were determined and its regulation by pH, phosphate, nucleotides and phosphorylation is described. AMP deaminase purified from the ventricles of newborn piglet hearts displayed hyperbolic kinetics with a K_m of 2 mM for 5-AMP. The enzyme had a pH optimum of 7.0 and was strongly inhibited by inorganic phosphate. ATP decreased the K_m of the native enzyme 3-fold, but did not significantly block the inhibitory effects of phosphate. Kinetic parameters were not significantly altered in the presence of adenosine, cyclic AMP and NAD⁺, whereas, the K_m was decreased by 50% in the presence of NADH. Piglet cardiac AMP deaminase was phosphorylated by protein kinase C, resulting in a 2-fold increase in V_max with no change in K_m. However, incubation with cAMP-dependent protein kinase did not affect enzyme kinetics. The 80-85 kD protein subunit of piglet cardiac AMP deaminase immunoreacted with antisera raised against human erythrocyte AMP deaminase, rabbit heart AMP deaminase and human recombinant AMP deaminase 3 (isoform E). These results are discussed in relation to in situ AMP deaminase activity in neonatal piglet heart myocytes.     

Purification and some physico-chemical properties of myocardial adenylate deaminase

A procedure for isolation of adenylate deaminase from duck heart muscle has been developed. The method includes extraction of enzyme, chromatography on cellulose phosphate, fractionation by ammonium sulfate, chromatography on Sephadex G-25 and ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. The enzyme was purified approximately 4000-fold with a yield of 25%. Electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel revealed that the enzyme contains no proteins other than adenylate deaminase. The enzyme has a UV absorption spectrum typical for proteins which contain no nucleic acid impurities. Using sievorptive chromatography, it was shown that the myocardial extract contains two adenylate deaminase forms, which are tetramers with mol. weights of 190 000 and 240 000. The molecular weights of the subunits are 47 000 and 63 000, respectively. In the oligomeric form the enzyme is only detected at high enzyme concentrations and in the presence of large amounts of substrate.