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.     

Sturgeon glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.

The formation of binary complexes between sturgeon apoglyceralddhyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, coenzymes (NAD+ and NADH) and substrates (phosphate, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate and 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate) has been studied spectrophotometrically and spectrofluorometrica-ly. Coenzyme binding to the apoenzyme can be characterized by several distinct spectroscopic properties: (a) the low intensity absorption band centered at 360 nm which is specific of NAD+ binding (Racker band); (b) the quenching of the enzyme fluorescence upon coenzyme binding; (c) the quenching of the fluorescence of the dihydronicotinamide moiety of the reduced coenzyme (NADH); (D) the hypochromicity and the red shift of the absorption band of NADH centered at 338 nm; (e) the coenzyme-induced difference spectra in the enzyme absorbance region. The analysis of these spectroscopic properties shows that up to four molecules of coenzyme are bound per molecule of enzyme tetramer. In every case, each successively bound coenzyme molecule contributes identically to the total observed change. Two classes of binding sites are apparent at lower temperatures for NAD+ Binding. Similarly, the binding of NADH seems to involve two distinct classes of binding sites. The excitation fluorescence spectra of NADH in the binary complex shows a component centered at 260 nm as in aqueous solution. This is consistent with a "folded" conformation of the reduced coenzyme in the binary complex, contradictory to crystallographic results. Possible reasons for this discrepancy are discussed. Binding of phosphorylated substrates and orthophosphate induce similar difference spectra in the enzyme absorbance region. No anticooperativity is detectable in the binding of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate. These results are discussed in light of recent crystallographic studies on glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenases.     

Ascorbate-induced oxidation of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase

Oxidation of the essential cysteins of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase into the sulfenic acid derivatives was observed in the presence of ascorbate, resulting in a decrease in the dehydrogenase activity and the appearance of the acylphosphatase activity. The oxidation was promoted by EDTA, NAD(+), and phosphate, and blocked in the presence of deferoxamine. The ascorbate-induced oxidation was suppressed in the presence of catalase, suggesting the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide in the conditions employed. The data indicate the metal-mediated mechanism of the oxidation due to the presence of metal traces in the reaction medium. Physiological importance of the mildly oxidized GAPDH is discussed in terms of its ability to uncouple glycolysis and to decrease the ATP level in the cell.     

The Muridae glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase family

Summary Although only one gene is known to be functional, numerous glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) related sequences are scattered throughoutMus musculus andRattus rattus genomes. In this report we show that: (1) GAPDH pseudogenes are repeated to comparable extents, at least 400 copies, in 12 other Muridae species; (2) the complete, or nearly so, sequence of GAPDH messenger RNA is amplified, and a high proportion, if not all of these copies, are intronless; (3) GAPDH pseudogenes are preferentially located in heavily methylated and DNAse I-insensitive regions of chromatin; and (4) the presence of atypical GAPDH-related mRNAs in different cellular contexts raises the possibility that more than one GAPDH gene is transcribed.     

Hypoxic regulation of endothelial glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase

The glycolytic enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphatedehydrogenase (GAPDH) is induced by hypoxia in endothelial cells (EC).To define the mechanisms by which GAPDH is regulated by hypoxia, ECwere exposed to cobalt, other transition metals, carbon monoxide (CO),deferoxamine, or cycloheximide in the presence or absence of hypoxia for 24 h, and GAPDH protein and mRNA levels were measured. GAPDH was induced in cells by the transition metals cobalt, nickel, andmanganese and by deferoxamine, and GAPDH mRNA induction by hypoxia wasblocked by cycloheximide. GAPDH induction by hypoxia, unlike that ofother hypoxia-regulated genes, was not inhibited by CO or by4,6-dioxoheptanoic acid, an inhibitor of heme synthesis. GAPDHinduction was not altered by mediators of protein phosphorylation, acalcium channel blocker, a calcium ionophore, or alterations in redoxstate. GAPDH induction by hypoxia or transitional metals was partiallyblocked by sodium nitroprusside but was not altered by the inhibitor ofnitric oxide synthaseN -nitro-L-arginine. Thesefindings suggest that GAPDH induction by hypoxia in EC occurs viamechanisms other than those involved in other hypoxia-responsivesystems.

     

The radiolysis of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.

The yields in molecules per 100 eV for active-site and sulphydryl loss from glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase have been determined in nitrous-oxide-saturated, aerated and argon-saturated solutions. Molecular hydrogen peroxide produces a sulphenic acid product, which can be repaired by post-irradiation treatment with dithiothreitol. Comparison of the yields under various conditions showed that in aerated solutions both .OH and .O2-radicals inactivated the enzyme with an efficiency of about 26 per cent. However, the efficiency of .OH in air-free solutions was less, and inactivation by .H and eaq- did not appear to be appreciable. There is a correlation between SH loss and loss of active sites.     

Continuous colorimetric monitoring of the fructose bisphosphate aldolase reaction

A simple method for continuous spectrophotometric assay of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase is described. The method is based on the reactivity of the product triose phosphates with cyanide to form compounds capable of the reduction of cytochrome c. At the concentrations employed, cyanide, acting catalytically, reacts with the enediol tautomer of the triose phosphates to generate the reductants, which reduce cytochrome c causing increased absorbance at 550 nm. The rate of increase in the rate of appearance of 550-nm absorbance is directly proportional to the concentration of aldolase present. The procedure is particularly useful for Class I aldolases, since the assay must be run under mildly alkaline conditions.     

Immunolocalization of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase inArabidopsis thaliana

Summary NAD-dependent glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (NAD-dependent GAPDH) was purified to homogeneity and injected into a rabbit to induce a polyclonal antibody. The antibody was judged to be of high specificity and high affinity. This antibody was used to probe sections ofArabidopsis leaf, stem or roots which were fixed using either paraformaldehyde or a high-pressure freezing method. Our results show that the NAD-dependent GAPDH localizes in the nucleus as well as in the cytosol. In phloem tissue, the NAD-dependent GAPDH was found in companion cells but not in the sieve element.