Kinetic studies of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase from rabbit muscle

Initial rate studies at pH 7.6 with three aldehydes, product inhibition patterns with NADH and dead-end inhibition with adenosine diphosphoribose show that the kinetic mechanism of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase from rabbit muscle cannot be ordered, and support an enzyme-substitution mechanism. Deviations from Michaelis-Menten behaviour are consistent with negative interactions in the binding of NAD+ and instability of the species E(NAD)3 and E(NAD)4. Inhibition with large concentrations of phosphate and arsenate indicates competition for a binding site for glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate, and is not found with glyceraldehyde as substrate.     

Potato tuber succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase: purification and characterization

Succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) has been purified from potato tubers with 39% yield, 832-fold purification, and a specific activity of 6.5 units/mg protein. The final preparation was homogeneous as judged from native and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Gel filtration on Sepharose 6B gave a relative molecular mass (Mr) of 145,000 for the native enzyme. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gave a single polypeptide band of Mr 35,000. Thus the enzyme appears to be a tetramer of identical subunits. Chromatofocusing of the enzyme gave a pI of 8.7. The enzyme was maximally active at pH 9.0 in 100 mM sodium pyrophosphate buffer. In 100 mM Tris-HCl buffer, pH 9.0, the enzyme gave only 20% of the activity found in pyrophosphate buffer and had a shorter linear rate. The enzyme was specific for succinate semialdehyde (SSA) as substrate and could not utilize acetaldehyde, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate, malonaldehyde, lactate, or ethanol as substrates. The enzyme was also specific for NAD+ as cofactor and NADP+ and 3-acetylpyridine adenine dinucleotide could not serve as cofactors. Potato SSADH had a Km of 4.6 microM for SSA when assayed in pyrophosphate buffer and was inhibited by that substrate at concentrations greater than 120 microM. The Km for NAD+ was found to be 31 microM. The enzyme required exogenous addition of a thiol compound for maximal activity and was inhibited by the thiol-directed reagents p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, dithionitrobenzoate, and N-ethyl-maleimide, by heavy metal ions Hg2+, Cu2+, Cd2+, and Zn2+, and by arsenite. These results indicate a requirement of a SH group for catalytic activity.     

Kinetic evidence for interaction between aldolase and D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.

The possibility of interaction between purified rabbit muscle aldolase and D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase was studied by rapid kinetic methods, by analyzing the kinetics of the consecutive reaction catalyzed by the coupled enzyme system. The Km of the intermediary product, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate, produced by aldolase was determined in the coupled reaction for glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Its value corresponds to that of the aldehyde (active) form of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate, although in the given conditions the aldehyde leads to diol interconversion is faster than the enzymic reaction catalyzed by glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. We suggest that above a certain concentration of the enzymes the glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate produced by aldolase gets direct access to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase without participating in the aldehyde leads to diol interconversion which otherwise would occur if the substrate were to mix with the bulk medium.     

Cloning and characterization of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase from Streptomyces sp. Strain CL190, which uses both the mevalonate and nonmevalonate pathways for isopentenyl diphosphate biosynthesis

In addition to the ubiquitous mevalonate pathway, Streptomyces sp. strain CL190 utilizes the nonmevalonate pathway for isopentenyl diphosphate biosynthesis. The initial step of this nonmevalonate pathway is the formation of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate (DXP) by condensation of pyruvate and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate catalyzed by DXP synthase. The corresponding gene, dxs, was cloned from CL190 by using PCR with two oligonucleotide primers synthesized on the basis of two highly conserved regions among dxs homologs from six genera. The dxs gene of CL190 encodes 631 amino acid residues with a predicted molecular mass of 68 kDa. The recombinant enzyme overexpressed in Escherichia coli was purified as a soluble protein and characterized. The molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be 70 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and 130 kDa by gel filtration chromatography, suggesting that the enzyme is most likely to be a dimer. The enzyme showed a pH optimum of 9.0, with a V(max) of 370 U per mg of protein and K(m)s of 65 microM for pyruvate and 120 microM for D-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate. The purified enzyme catalyzed the formation of 1-deoxyxylulose by condensation of pyruvate and glyceraldehyde as well, with a K(m) value of 35 mM for D-glyceraldehyde. To compare the enzymatic properties of CL190 and E. coli DXP synthases, the latter enzyme was also overexpressed and purified. Although these two enzymes had different origins, they showed the same enzymatic properties.     

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.     

Characterization of two glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase isoenzymes from the pentalenolactone producer Streptomyces arenae.

Pentalenolactone (PL) irreversibly inactivates the enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase [D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate:NAD+ oxidoreductase (phosphorylating)] (EC 1.2.1.12) and thus is a potent inhibitor of glycolysis in both procaryotic and eucaryotic cells. We showed that PL-producing strain Streptomyces arenae TU469 contains a PL-insensitive glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase under conditions of PL production. In complex media no PL production was observed, and a PL-sensitive glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, rather than the insensitive enzyme, could be detected. The enzymes had the same substrate specificity but different catalytic and molecular properties. The apparent Km values of the PL-insensitive and PL-sensitive enzymes for glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate were 100 and 250 microM, respectively, and the PL-sensitive enzyme was strongly inhibited by PL under conditions in which the PL-insensitive enzyme was not inhibited. The physical properties of the PL-insensitive enzyme suggest that the protein is an octamer, whereas the PL-sensitive enzyme, like other glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenases, appears to be a tetramer.     

Metabolism of 2-oxoaldehyde in mold. Purification and characterization of two methylglyoxal reductases from Aspergillus niger

Two kinds of methylglyoxal reductases were purified to apparent homogeneity from Aspergillus niger and designated MGR I and MGR II. Both enzymes consisted of a single polypeptide chain with a relative molecular mass of 36,000 (MGR I) and 38,000 (MGR II). NADPH was specifically required for the activities of both enzymes and Km values for NADPH were 54 microM (MGR I) and 6.8 microM (MGR II). MGR I was specific to 2-oxoaldehydes [glyoxal, methylglyoxal (Km = 15.4 mM) and phenylglyoxal], whereas MGR II was active on both 2-oxoaldehydes [glyoxal (Km = 10 mM), methylglyoxal (Km = 1.43 mM), phenylglyoxal (Km = 4.35 mM) and 4,5-dioxovalerate] and some aldehydes (propionaldehyde and acetaldehyde). Optimal pH values for MGR I and MGR II activities were 9.0 and 6.5 respectively. Both enzymes were inactivated by a brief incubation with 2-oxoaldehydes (glyoxal, methylglyoxal and phenylglyoxal) in the absence of NADPH. MGR I activity was competitively inhibited by NADP+ and the Ki value for NADP+ was calculated to be 0.49 mM. On the other hand, the inhibition of MGR II activity by NADP+ was of mixed type, the Ki value for NADP+ being 45 microM. MGR I was different from MGR II in amino acid composition.     

Triacylglycerol synthesis in developing seeds of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea): pathway and properties of enzymes of sn-glycerol 3-phosphate formation

The enzymatic pathway for the synthesis of sn-glycerol 3-phosphate was investigated in developing groundnut seeds (Arachis hypogaea). Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase was not detected in this tissue but an active glycerokinase was demonstrated in the cytosolic fraction. It showed an optimum pH at 8.6 and positive cooperative interactions with both glycerol and ATP. Triosephosphate isomerase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate phosphatase were observed mainly in the cytosolic fraction while an active glyceraldehyde reductase was found mainly in the mitochondrial and microsomal fractions. The glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate phosphatase showed specificity and positive cooperativity with respect to glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate. The glyceraldehyde reductase was active toward glucose and fructose but not toward formaldehyde and showed absolute specificity toward NADPH. It is concluded that in the developing groundnut seed, sn-glycerol 3-phosphate is synthesized essentially by the pathway dihydroxyacetone phosphate----glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate Pi----glyceraldehyde NADPH----glycerol ATP----glycerol 3-phosphate. All the enzymes of this pathway showed activity profiles commensurate with their participation in triacylglycerol synthesis which is maximal during the period 15-35 days after fertilization. Glycerokinase appears to be the rate-limiting enzyme in this pathway.     

Purification and characterization of membrane-bound inositolpolyphosphate 5-phosphatase

Membrane-bound inositolpolyphosphate 5-phosphatase was solubilized and highly purified from a microsomal fraction of rat liver. Its physiochemical and enzymological properties were compared with those of highly purified preparations of two types of soluble enzyme (soluble Type I and Type II) from rat brain. The molecular masses of the membrane-bound and soluble Type I enzymes were 32 kDa, while that of soluble Type II enzyme was 69 kDa, as determined by molecular sieve chromatography. The membrane-bound and soluble Type I enzymes showed similar broad peaks on isoelectric focusing (pI 5.8-6.4), while soluble Type II enzyme showed multiple peaks in the region between pI 4.0-5.8. All three enzymes required divalent cation for activity. Mg2+ was the most effective for both the membrane-bound and soluble Type I enzymes, while Co2+ enhanced soluble Type II enzyme activity about 1.5-fold relative to Mg2+ at 1 mM. The optimal pH of both the membrane-bound and soluble Type I enzymes was 7.8, while that of soluble Type II was 6.8. The Km values for inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3] of all three enzymes were similar (5-8 microM), but those for inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate [Ins(1,3,4,5)P4] were quite different, the Km values of membrane-bound and soluble Type I enzymes being 0.8 microM, while that of soluble Type II was 130 microM. These similarities between the membrane-bound and soluble Type I enzymes suggest that these two molecules may be the same protein, and that concentrations of Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Ins(1,3,4,5)P4, both of which are considered to play critical roles in the regulation of intracellular Ca2+-concentration, may be differently regulated by two functionally distinct enzymes.     

Inactivation of rabbit muscle glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase by koningic acid

Koningic acid, a sesquiterpene antibiotic, is a specific inhibitor of the enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate:NAD+ oxidoreductase (phosphorylating), EC 1.2.1.12). In the presence of 3 mM of NAD+, koningic acid irreversibly inactivated the enzyme in a time-dependent manner. The pseudo-first-order rate constant for inactivation (kapp) was dependent on koningic acid concentration in saturate manner, indicating koningic acid and enzyme formed a reversible complex prior to the formation of an inactive, irreversible complex; the inactivation rate (k 3) was 5.5.10(-2) s-1, with a dissociation constant for inactivation (Kinact) of 1.6 microM. The inhibition was competitive against glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate with a Ki of 1.1 microM, where the Km for glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate was 90 microM. Koningic acid inhibition was uncompetitive with respect to NAD+. The presence of NAD+ accelerated the inactivation. In its absence, the charcoal-treated NAD+-free enzyme showed a 220-fold decrease in apparent rate constant for inactivation, indicating that koningic acid sequentially binds to the enzyme next to NAD+. The enzyme, a tetramer, was inactivated when maximum two sulfhydryl groups, possibly cysteine residues at the active sites of the enzyme, were modified by the binding of koningic acid. These observations demonstrate that koningic acid is an active-site-directed inhibitor which reacts predominantly with the NAD+-enzyme complex.     

A new chemical mechanism catalyzed by a mutated aldehyde dehydrogenase.

NAD(P) aldehyde dehydrogenases (EC 1.2.1.3) are a family of enzymes that oxidize a wide variety of aldehydes into acid or activated acid compounds. Using site-directed mutagenesis, the essential nucleophilic Cys 149 in the NAD-dependent phosphorylating glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli has been replaced by alanine. Not unexpectedly, the resulting mutant no longer shows any oxidoreduction phosphorylating activity. The same mutation, however, endows the enzyme with a novel oxidoreduction nonphosphorylating activity, converting glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate into 3-phosphoglycerate. Our study further provides evidence for an alternative mechanism in which the true substrate is the gem-diol entity instead of the aldehyde form. This implies that no acylenzyme intermediate is formed during the catalytic event. Therefore, the mutant C149A is a new enzyme which catalyzes a distinct reaction with a chemical mechanism different from that of its parent phosphorylating glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. This finding demonstrates the possibility of an alternative route for the chemical reaction catalyzed by classical nonphosphorylating aldehyde dehydrogenases.     

Modification of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity by adsorption on phospholipid vesicles.

1. The adsorption of [14C]carboxymethylated glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase to negatively charged liposomes of phsphatidic acid/phosphatidylcholine (3:7, w/w) was investigated. The apparent association constant at I/2 = 60, pH 7.6, was 0.4 X 10(6)M-1. Adsorption decreased as ionic strength and pH were increased. 2. In the presence of negatively charged liposomes, the Km value for glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase was increased and Vmax. decreased. In the presence of positively charged liposomes, the Km value for glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate decreased and there was no significant change in Vmax. Addition of Triton X-100 abolished the effect of both positively and negatively charged liposomes on the kinetic properties of the enzyme.     

Transaldolase B of Escherichia coli K-12: cloning of its gene, talB, and characterization of the enzyme from recombinant strains.

A previously recognized open reading frame (T. Yura, H. Mori, H. Nagai, T. Nagata, A. Ishihama, N. Fujita, K. Isono, K. Mizobuchi, and A. Nakata, Nucleic Acids Res. 20:3305-3308) from the 0.2-min region of the Escherichia coli K-12 chromosome is shown to encode a functional transaldolase activity. After cloning of the gene onto high-copy-number vectors, transaldolase B (D-sedoheptulose-7-phosphate:D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dihydroxyacetone transferase; EC 2.2.1.2) was overexpressed up to 12.7 U mg of protein-1 compared with less than 0.1 U mg of protein-1 in wild-type homogenates. The enzyme was purified from recombinant E. coli K-12 cells by successive ammonium sulfate precipitations (45 to 80% and subsequently 55 to 70%) and two anion-exchange chromatography steps (Q-Sepharose FF, Fractogel EMD-DEAE tentacle column; yield, 130 mg of protein from 12 g of cell wet weight) and afforded an apparently homogeneous protein band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with a subunit size of 35,000 +/- 1,000 Da. As the enzyme had a molecular mass of 70,000 Da by gel filtration, transaldolase B is likely to form a homodimer. N-terminal amino acid sequencing of the protein verified its identity with the product of the cloned gene talB. The specific activity of the purified enzyme determined at 30 degrees C with the substrates fructose-6-phosphate (donor of C3 compound) and erythrose-4-phosphate (acceptor) at an optimal pH (50 mM glycylglycine [pH 8.5]) was 60 U mg-1.Km values for the substrates fructose-6-phosphate and erythrose-4-phosphate were determined at 1,200 and 90 microM, respectively. Kinetic constants for the other two physiological reactants, D,L-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate (Km, 38 microM; relative activity [V(rel)], 8%) and sedoheptulose-7-phosphate (K(m), 285 microM; V(rel), 5%) were also determined. Fructose acted as a C(3) donor at a high apparent K(m) (>/=M) and with a V(rel) of 12%. The enzyme was inhibited by Tris-HCl, phosphate, or sugars with the L configuration at C(2) (L-glyceraldehyde, D-arabinose-5-phosphate).     

Isolation and properties of oxaloacetate keto-enol-tautomerases from bovine heart mitochondria

Two highly purified proteins with quite different properties capable of oxaloacetate keto-enol-tautomerase activity (oxaloacetate keto-enol-isomerase, EC 5.3.2.2) were isolated from the bovine heart mitochondrial matrix. The first protein has an apparent molecular mass of 37 kDa as determined by SDS-gel electrophoresis and Sephacryl SF-200 gel filtration. It is quite stable upon storage at 40 degrees C and reaches the maximal catalytic activity at pH 8.5 with a half-maximal activity at pH 7.0. The enzyme is specifically inhibited by oxalate and diethyloxaloacetate. When assayed in the enol----ketone direction at 25 degrees C (pH 9.0), the enzyme obeys a simple substrate saturation kinetics with Km and Vmax values of 45 microM and 74 units per mg of protein, respectively; the latter value corresponds to the turnover number of 2700 min-1. The second protein has an apparent molecular mass of 80 kDa as determined by SDS-gel electrophoresis and Sephacryl SF-300 gel filtration. The enzyme is rapidly inactivated at 40 degrees C and shows a sharp pH optimum of activity at pH 9.0. The enzyme can be completely protected from thermal inactivation by oxaloacetate and dithiothreitol. The kinetic parameters of the enzyme as assayed in the enol----ketone direction at 25 degrees C (pH 9.0) are: Km = 220 microM and Vmax = 20 units per mg of protein; the latter corresponds to the turnover number of 1600 min-1. The enzyme activity is specifically inhibited by maleate and pyrophosphate. About 30% of the total oxaloacetate tautomerase activity in crude mitochondrial matrix is represented by the 37 kDa enzyme and about 70% by the 80 kDa protein.     

Kinetic behaviour and properties of aldehyde dehydrogenase from rat testis mitochondria. Effect of Mg2+ ions.

1. Mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase is purified to near homogeneity by hydroxylapatite-, affinity- and hydrophobic interaction-chromatography. 2. The enzyme is an oligomeric protein and its molecular weight, as determined by gel-filtration, is 117,000 +/- 5000. 3. Active only in the presence of exogenous sulfhydryl compounds and NAD(+)-dependent, aldehyde dehydrogenase works optimally with linear-chain aliphatic aldehydes and is practically inactive with benzaldehyde. The pH-optimum is at about pH 8.5. 4. Km-Values for aliphatic aldehydes (C2-C6) range between 0.17 and 0.32 microM. The Km for NAD+ increases from 16 microM with acetaldehyde to 71 microM with capronaldehyde. 5. Millimolar concentrations of Mg2+ promote high increases of both V and Km for NAD+. At the same time, saturation curves with C4-C6 aldehydes can be simulated with a substrate inhibition model. 6. Inhibition by NADH is competitive: with capronaldehyde, the inhibition constant for NADH is 52 microM in the absence of Mg2+ and 14 microM in the presence of 4 mM Mg2+; with acetaldehyde, the inhibition constant is about three times higher (36 and 159 microM, respectively).     

Purification and characterization of a class I fructose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase from Staphylococcus carnosus

Summary A fructose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (E.C.4.1.2.13) from Staphylococcus carnosus DSM 20501 was purified for the first time. The enzymatic activity was insensitive to high levels of EDTA indicating that the enzyme is a class I aldolase. This enzyme exhibits good stability at high temperatures and extreme stability over a wide pH range. The K _m for fructose 1,6-bisphosphate as substrate was 0.022 mm. The S. carnosus aldolase is a monomeric enzyme with a molecular mass of about 33 kDa. It exhibits a relatively broad pH optimum between pH 6.5 and 9.0. Furthermore, the aldolase accepts other aldehydes in place of its natural substrate, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate, allowing the synthesis of various sugar phosphates. Offprint requests to: M. R. Kula     

Two glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase isozymes from the koningic acid (heptelidic acid) producer Trichoderma koningii

The sesquiterpene lactone koningic acid (heptelidic acid) irreversibly inactivated glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase [D-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate: NAD+ oxidoreductase (phosphorylating)] (EC 1.2.1.12) (GAPDH) and thus inhibits glycolysis. The koningic-acid-producing strain of Trichoderma koningii M3947 was shown to contain the koningic-acid-resistant GAPDH isozyme (GAPDH I) under conditions of koningic acid production. In peptone-rich medium, however, no koningic acid production was observed, and the koningic-acid-sensitive GAPDH isozyme (GAPDH II), in addition to the resistant enzyme, was produced. Both enzymes were tetramer with a molecular mass of 152 kDa (4 x 38 kDa) and lost enzyme activity when two of the four cysteine residues reacted with koningic acid. The apparent Km values of GAPDH I and II for glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate were 0.54 mM and 0.33 mM, respectively. The former isozyme was inhibited 50% by 1 mM koningic acid but not affected at 0.1 mM, while the latter isozyme was inhibited 50% at 0.01 mM. The immunochemical properties and partial amino acid sequences suggested that the two isozymes have different molecular structures. These results suggest that GAPDH I is responsible for the glycolysis in T. koningii when koningic acid is produced.     

NAD biosynthesis in human placenta: purification and characterization of homogeneous NMN adenylyltransferase.

Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) adenylyltransferase has been purified to homogeneity from human placenta. The purification procedure consists of several chromatographic steps, including dye-ligand, adsorption, and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The final enzyme preparation is homogeneous as judged by a single silver stainable band on both nondenaturating and denaturating polyacrylamide gels. The native enzyme shows a molecular weight of about 132,000, as determined by gel filtration on a Superose 12 HR 10/30 fast protein liquid chromatography column. The protein possesses a quaternary structure and is composed of four apparently identical M(r) 33,000 subunits. Isoelectrofocusing experiments give multiple pI values ranging from pH 4.7 to 6.6. Optimum pH study shows a plateau extending from pH 6.0 to pH 9.0. Km values for NMN, ATP, NAD+, and PPi are 38, 23, 67, and 125 microM, respectively. Kinetic analysis reveals a behavior consistent with an ordered sequential Bi-Bi mechanism. Among several metabolites tested only ADP-ribose and beta-NMNH were found to significantly inhibit the enzyme activity.     

Purification and characterization of protease Re, a cytoplasmic endoprotease in Escherichia coli.

Protease Re, a new cytoplasmic endoprotease in Escherichia coli, was purified to homogeneity by conventional procedures, using [3H]casein as the substrate. The enzyme consists of a single polypeptide of 82,000 molecular weight. It is maximally active between pH 7 and 8.5 and is independent of ATP. It has a pI of 6.8 and a Km of 10.8 microM for casein. Since diisopropyl fluorophosphate and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride inhibited this enzyme, it appears to be a serine protease. Protease Re was sensitive to inhibition by L-1-tosylamido-2-phenylethylchloromethylketone but not to that by 1-chloro-3-tosylamido-7-aminoheptanone, thiol-blocking reagents, chelating agents, or various peptide aldehydes. Re also degraded [125I]globin, [125I]glucagon, and 125I-labeled denatured bovine serum albumin to acid-soluble products (generally oligopeptides of greater than 1,500 daltons), but it showed no activity against serum albumin, growth hormone, insulin, or a variety of fluorometric peptide substrates. It also hydrolyzed oxidatively inactivated glutamine synthetase (generated by ascorbate, oxygen, and iron) four- to fivefold more rapidly than the native protein. Protease Re appears to be identical to the proteolytic enzyme isolated by Roseman and Levine (J. Biol. Chem. 262:2101-2110, 1987) by its ability to degrade selectively oxidatively damaged glutamine synthetase in vivo. Its role in intracellular protein breakdown is uncertain.     

Activation of Glyceraldehyde-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (NADP) and Phosphoribulokinase in Phaseolus vulgaris Leaf Extracts Involves the Dissociation of Oligomers

Phosphoribulokinase (EC 2.7.1.19, ATP: d-ribulose-5-phosphate-1-phosphotransferase) resembles the NADPH-dependent glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.13, d-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate: NADPH(+) oxidoreductase [phosphorylating]) of chloroplasts in that the activation of both of these enzymes involves the dissociation of oligomers (apparently tetrameric forms) with low catalytic activity to give protomers which possess higher catalytic activity. Gel filtration on Sepharose 6B has shown that the molecular weights of the oligomer and active protomer of phosphoribulokinase are, respectively, about 6.8 x 10(5) and 1.7 x 10(5), whereas the corresponding values for glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase are 8.2 x 10(5) and 2.2 x 10(5). Activation of both enzymes occurs in response to either ATP, dithiothreitol, or cholate while the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase is also activated by NADPH. Activation/dissociation of these enzymes may involve conformational changes resulting from nucleotide binding, the reduction of sulfur bridges, and the cholate induced loosening of hydrophobic interactions.