Alkaline phosphatase production of Bacillus subtilis

Since alkaline phosphate activity increases in sporulation medium during the developmental period, in spite of the presence of inorganic phosphate, the uptake and intracellular concentration of phosphate were measured. While the uptake of inorganic phosphate decreases and the concentration of acid-soluble organic phosphate remains constant, the intracellular concentration of inorganic phosphate increases to about 30 mM after the end of growth. Some compound other than inorganic phosphate must therefore repress alkaline phosphatase. Other experiments showed that addition of glucose delays both the alkaline phosphatase increase and sporulation by about the same time.     

Regulation and Self-Inhibition of Microsporum gypseum Macroconidia Germination

Germination of Microsporum gypseum macroconidia was accompanied by the release of alkaline protease, calcium ions, and inorganic phosphate into the germination fluid. The rate of germination was greatest during the first 2 hr, decreasing thereafter. This decrease in rate was accompanied by a decrease in protease activity, which was caused by an interaction of the enzyme with the inorganic phosphate released from the spores and accumulated in the germination medium after 2 hr. Germination of high spore densities was regulated by the ratio of released phosphate to protease protein, resulting in a constant percentage of germination at both high and low spore densities. A germination-defective mutant strain failed to germinate normally and released excessively high concentrations of phosphate into the germination medium during the initial 2 hr of incubation. Addition of calcium ions to germination mutant macroconidia stabilized spore morphology, prevented protease inactivation, and allowed normal germ-tube outgrowth. The germination of macroconidia appears to be regulated by the release of phosphate ions, which then inhibit the alkaline protease.     

Phosphorylation by inorganic phosphate of sodium plus potassium ion transport adenosine triphosphatase. Four reactive states.

Native solium and potassium adenosine triphosphatase from guinea pig kidney accepted a phosphate group from radioactive inorganic phosphate to form an acyl phosphate bond at the active site in the presence or absence of sodium ion. Magnesium ion was always required. In the presence of sodium ion and absence of adenosine triphosphate, there was no phosphorylation by inorganic phosphate. Addition of unlabeled adenosine triphosphate produced a potassium-sensitive phosphoenzyme which exchanged its phosphate-group with radioactive inorganic phosphate. The dephosphoenzyme was an intermediate in this exchange. The rate constant for dephosphorylation was about 0.05 per second. Addition of rubidium ion, a congener of potassium ion, to the potassium-sensitive phosphoenzyme produced a phosphoenzyme labeled from inorganic phosphate with a corresponding rate constant of 0.26 per s. This was a rubidium-complexed phosphoenzyme. Addition of magnesium ion to potassium-sensitive phosphoenzyme converted it into insensitive phosphoenzyme, the splitting of which was not accelerated by potassium ion or by adenosine diphosphate. Its rate constant was 0.07 per s. In the absence of sodium ion and adenosine triphosphate, inorganic phosphate was incorporated directly into a similar insensitive phosphoenzyme. In the presence of potassium ion or rubidium ion, inorganic phosphate was incorporated into a potassium-complexed or rubidium-complexed phosphoenzyme which exchanged 32-P with inorganic phosphate completely in less than 3 s. Incorporation of inorganic phosphate into a complex of the enzyme with the inhibitor, ouabain, is already described in the literature. Its rate constant was about 0.02 per s. Thus there appear to be at least four reactive states of the phosphoenzyme which equilibrate measurably with inorganic phosphate, namely, potassium-sensitive phosphoenzyme, potassium-complexed phosphoenzyme, insensitive phosphoenzyme, and ouabain phosphoenzyme. Two of these reactive states are functional intermediates in native sodium and potassium ion transport adenosine triphosphatase. The results are compatible with control of the reactivity of the active site by conformational changes in the surrounding active center and with regulation of the energy level of the phosphate group according to the kind of monovalent cation bound to the enzyme.     

Reactions involving carbamyl phosphate in the presence of precipitated calcium phosphate with formation of pyrophosphate: A model for primitive energy-conservation pathways

The formation of carbamyl phosphate (CAP) in dilute solutions of cyanate (NCO^–) and orthophosphate (Pi) was measured both in the absence and in the presence of a precipitated matrix of calcium phosphate (Pi.Ca). The second-order rate constant and the free energy of CAP synthesis were not modified by the presence of the solid matrix, indicating that synthesis occurs in the homogeneous Pi-containing solution. The elimination reaction of CAP to form NCO^– and Pi followed first-order kinetics and the rate constant was the same whether or not calcium phosphate was present. Elimination was not complete, and the steady level of remaining CAP was that expected from the free energy of synthesis. The formation of pyrophosphate (PPi) was detected in CAP-containing medium only in the presence of calcium, showing a close correlation with the amount of precipitated Pi.Ca. Phosphorolysis of CAP followed a sigmoidal time course, compatible with adsorption of CAP to the solid matrix as a prelude to transphosphorylation. Addition of 5-AMP and of short linear polyphosphates inhibited phosphorolysis of CAP. It is proposed that the presence of a solid phosphate matrix and the relative concentrations of cyano compounds, as well as those of nucleotides and inorganic polyphosphates, could have played a crucial role in the conservation of chemical energy of CAP and in its use in prebiotic phosphorylation reactions.     

Phosphate metabolism and foetal growth in the rat. II. Net transfer of 31P and 32P inorganic phosphate from the maternal plasma to the normal foetus

Net transfer of 31P and 32P inorganic phosphate from the maternal plasma to the rat foetus has been studied after intraperitoneal injection of [32P] ortho-phosphate in primigravid females at the 12th day or later stages of gestation. The concentration per unit weight of foetus of the inorganic phosphate (P1) fraction increases markedly with increasing foetal weight; labelling data [inverse relationship between P1 concentration and specific activity, absence of precursor/product relationship between P1 and acid-soluble organic-bound phosphates (POAS)] show this increase to result in part from the formation of a relatively inert metabolic pool, presumably in mineralized tissue. The foetal concentrations of calcium and inorganic phosphate show a strong positive correlation, both increasing markedly with foetal weight. The progressive accumulation of calcium does not, however, account entirely for the rising concentration of inorganic phosphate. The concentration per unit weight of foetus of the POAS fraction remains stable for foetuses smaller than 2 000 mg. In heavier foetuses (greater than 2 000 mg) the POAS concentrations are, with an abrupt transition, distinctly lower, rising however slightly with increasing foetal weight. The concentration per unit weight of foetus of the acid-insoluble organic-bound phosphate (POAIS) fraction decreases slightly with increasing foetal weight. The label uptake per unit weight of foetus of both POAS and POAIS fractions is negatively correlated with increasing foetal weight. The amount and label uptake per whole foetus of the P1, POAS and POAIS fractions are positively correlated with increasing foetal weight. Phosphate transfer to the foetus increases continuously, being maximal at or near birth.     

Studies on the activities of an acid phosphomonoesterase and an alkaline pyrophosphatase during the growth of Physarum polycephalum.

After an initial decrease, the specific activity of Physarum polycephalum acid phosphomonoesterase increases during the growth of the organism in an axenic medium. This increase is independent of the inorganic phosphate concentration in the culture medium. The specific activity of inorganic alkaline pyrophosphatase remains constant during the growth and is not modified by a high extracellular concentration of orthophosphate. During starvation in a non nutritive saline medium, the increase of acid phosphatase activity is immediate whereas pyrophosphatase activity remnins constant.     

Enzyme mechanism and catalytic property of beta propeller phytase

BACKGROUND: Phytases hydrolyze phytic acid (myo-inositol-hexakisphosphate) to less-phosphorylated myo-inositol derivatives and inorganic phosphate. Phytases are used in animal feed to reduce phosphate pollution in the environment. Recently, a thermostable, calcium-dependent Bacillus phytase was identified that represents the first example of the beta propeller fold exhibiting phosphatase activity. We sought to delineate the catalytic mechanism and property of this enzyme. RESULTS: The crystal structure of the enzyme in complex with inorganic phosphate reveals that two phosphates and four calcium ions are tightly bound at the active site. Mutation of the residues involved in the calcium chelation results in severe defects in the enzyme's activity. One phosphate ion, chelating all of the four calcium ions, is close to a water molecule bridging two of the bound calcium ions. Fluoride ion, which is expected to replace this water molecule, is an uncompetitive inhibitor of the enzyme. The enzyme is able to hydrolyze any of the six phosphate groups of phytate. CONCLUSIONS: The enzyme reaction is likely to proceed through a direct attack of the metal-bridging water molecule on the phosphorous atom of a substrate and the subsequent stabilization of the pentavalent transition state by the bound calcium ions. The enzyme has two phosphate binding sites, the "cleavage site", which is responsible for the hydrolysis of a substrate, and the "affinity site", which increases the binding affinity for substrates containing adjacent phosphate groups. The existence of the two nonequivalent phosphate binding sites explains the puzzling formation of the alternately dephosphorylated myo-inositol triphosphates from phytate and the hydrolysis of myo-inositol monophosphates.     

Kinetics of mitochondrial calcium transport. I. Characteristics of the sodium-independent calcium efflux mechanism of liver mitochondria

The kinetics of sodium-independent calcium efflux from liver mitochondria has been studied over the range of calcium loads from 2 to 60 nmol/mg with emphasis on the lower portion of this range. A procedure has been developed through which mitochondria may be depleted of endogenous calcium (initially in the range of 6-10 nmol/mg following preparation) to values as low as 2 nmol/mg, without involving substrate depletion or de-energization. Mitochondria depleted of calcium by this technique are more resistant to the calcium-induced permeability transition than are those depleted by the older procedures and are therefore appropriate for the kinetics studies. Calcium depletion is necessary in studying the kinetics of sodium-independent calcium efflux in order to bring efflux to a rate considerably less than 50% of the saturation rate. The results of these studies show cooperativity with a Hill coefficient of 1.9 +/- 0.2. They have been fit to an equation representative either of a nonessential activation mechanism with a single transport site or of an Adair-Pauling mechanism with two transport sites. From the fit of the data to this equation, a Vmax of 1.2 +/- 0.1 nmol/mg/min and a concentration of half-maximal activity of 8.4 +/- 0.6 nmol/mg have been obtained. The possible role of phosphate in controlling the Vmax of this transporter has been evaluated by measuring efflux as a function of calcium load at three different concentrations of total inorganic phosphate: 20 microM, 120 microM, and 1 mM. Failure of the maximum transport velocity to decrease with increasing inorganic phosphate indicates that the extreme flatness of the saturation portion of the velocity versus calcium concentration curve observed is not the result of precipitation of calcium with inorganic phosphate but is an inherent property of this efflux mechanism.     

31P nuclear-magnetic-resonance studies on the developing embryos of Xenopus laevis.

The concentrations of nucleoside triphosphate, inorganic phosphate and the yolk proteins, phosvitin and lipovitellin, have been monitored in living embryos of Xenopus laevis by 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The nucleoside triphosphate levels remain relatively constant at about 3.5-4.5 nmol/embryo at least until the 'spontaneous movement' stage of development. By the swimming tadpole stage an inorganic phosphate resonance representing about 30 nmol/embryo becomes evident in the NMR spectrum. Computer manipulation also shows such a resonance, although smaller, to be present at a somewhat earlier developmental stage; these findings are confirmed biochemically. The major contribution to the NMR spectrum of oocytes, unfertilized eggs and early embryos is the yolk phosphoprotein resonance. On isolation of the yolk from the embryos it is possible to quantify the contribution to the NMR spectrum from the lipid-phosphate and protein-phosphate moieties of the yolk proteins. During development, as the yolk is used up, it is found that the protein-phosphate resonance disappears at a greater rate than the lipid-phosphate peak. The total phosphorus content of the embryo (approximately 200 nmol/embryo) is shown biochemically to remain constant during development; however, the total amount of phosphorus observed by NMR decreases by about 40% during development. From the resonance positions of their alpha, beta and gamma phosphate groups it is deduced that the nucleoside triphosphate molecules are liganded in vivo to a divalent cation which is not manganese, but could be either magnesium or calcium. From the position of the inorganic phosphate resonance it is deduced that the internal pH of embryos where this resonance is evident is 6.8 +/- 0.2.     

Control of the Protein Turnover Rates in Lemna minor

The control of protein turnover in Lemna minor has been examined using a method described in the previous paper for determining the rate constants of synthesis and degradation of protein. If Lemna is placed on water, there is a reduction in the rate constants of synthesis of protein and an increase (3- to 6-fold) in the rate constant of degradation. The net effect is a loss of protein from the tissue. Omission of nitrate, phosphate, sulfate, magnesium, or calcium results in increases in the rate constant of degradation of protein.     

Effects of amyl ester of unsubstituted rhodamine on respiration and Ca2+ transport in rat liver mitochondria.

In rat liver mitochondria the amylrhodamine is responsible for uncoupling (respiratory stimulation in state 4) by two distinct processes. Immediately after amylrhodamine addition (2-12 microM) stimulation of respiration takes place. Respiration rate for this phase is constant in time, it is independent of the potassium or inorganic phosphate content in the medium, not inhibited by oligomycin, ruthenium red, cyclosporine A, N-ethyl-maleimide and EGTA. The second phase of the respiratory stimulation is not linear in time. Respiration rate within this phase increases with rising of potassium and phosphate content in the medium. This effect is abolished by oligomycin, ruthenium red, cyclosporine A, N-ethylmaleimide and EGTA. The beginning of respiratory increment coincides with the second phase of Ca2+ release from mitochondria.     

LIVER PARENCHYMAL CELL INJURY : III. The Nature of Calcium-Associated Electron-Opaque Masses in Rat Liver Mitochondria Following Poisoning with Carbon Tetrachloride

Accumulation of calcium in the mitochondria of rat liver parenchymal cells at 16 and 24 hours after poisoning with carbon tetrachloride is associated with an increase in amount of liver inorganic phosphate, the persistence of mitochondrial adenosine triphosphatase activity, and the formation of electron-opaque intramitochondrial masses in cells with increased calcium contents. These masses, which form within the mitochondrial matrix adjacent to internal mitochondrial membranes, resemble those observed in isolated mitochondria which accumulate calcium and inorganic phosphate; are present in a locus similar to that of electron opacities which result from electron-histochemical determination of mitochondrial ATPase activity; and differ in both appearance and position from matrix granules of normal mitochondria. After poisoning, normal matrix granules disappear from mitochondria prior to their accumulation of calcium. As calcium-associated electron-opaque intramitochondrial masses increase in size, mitochondria degenerate in appearance. At the same time, cytoplasmic membrane systems of mid-zonal and centrilobular cells are disrupted by degranulation of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and the formation of labyrinthine tubular aggregates. The increase in amount of inorganic phosphate in rat liver following poisoning is balanced by a decreased amount of phosphoprotein. These chemical events do not appear to be related, however, as the inorganic phosphate accumulated is derived from serum inorganic phosphate.     

Effects of inorganic phosphate on endothermic force generation in muscle.

Using a rapid (ca. 0.2 ms) laser temperature jump technique, the rate of endothermic force generation was examined in single-skinned (rabbit psoas) muscle fibres when they were exposed to different levels of inorganic phosphate (a product released during ATP hydrolysis in active muscle). The steady force is reduced by increased phosphate but the apparent rate constant of force generation induced by a standard temperature jump (from ca. 9 degrees C to ca. 12 degrees C) increases two- to threefold when the phosphate added is increased from zero to ca. 25 mM. The increase in the apparent rate constant also exhibits saturation at higher phosphate levels and the relation is hyperbolic. Detailed examination of the data, particularly in relation to our pressure release experiments, leads to a scheme for the molecular steps involved in phosphate release and force generation in active muscle fibres, where phosphate release from attached cross-bridges involves three reversible and sequentially faster molecular steps. Step one is a moderately slow, pre-force generation step that probably represents a transition of cross-bridges from non-specific to stereospecific attached states. Step two is moderately fast and represents endothermic cross-bridge force generation (temperature sensitive) and step three is a very rapid phosphate release. Such a scheme accommodates findings from a variety of different studies, including pressure perturbation experiments and other studies where the effect of phosphate on muscle force was studied.     

The effects of ATP, inorganic phosphate, protons, and lactate on isolated myofibrillar ATPase activity.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of lactate, protons, inorganic phosphate, and ATP on myofibrillar ATPase activity. Myofibrils were isolated from carp (Cyprinius carpio L.) fast-twitch white muscle, and myofibrillar ATPase activities were assessed under maximal activating calcium levels (pCa 4.0) at 10 degrees C in reaction media containing metabolic profiles similar to those seen in fatiguing muscles. The Ca(2+)-activated ATPase activity was assessed by an ATP regenerating assay that coupled the myofibrillar ATPase to pyruvate kinase and lactate dehydrogenase. This assay allowed the effects of ATP, inorganic phosphate, protons, and lactate on myofibrillar ATPase activity to be assessed. The coupled assay was found to give similar myofibrillar ATPase kinetics, with the exception of higher maximal activities, to those seen with a standard end-point assay. Myofibrillar ATPase activity was depressed by 35% when ATP concentrations were lowered to 2.5 mM. Lowering ATP levels to 0.5 mM reduced the myofibrillar ATPase activities by 85%. Lactate had no effect on myofibrillar ATPase activities. Inorganic phosphate levels up to about 20 mM significantly decreased the myofibrillar ATPase activities, after which further increases in inorganic phosphate content had minimal effects. The changes in ATPase activities were related to total inorganic phosphate, not to the content of diprotonated inorganic phosphate. Myofibrillar ATPase activity was highest at pH 7.5 and lowest at pH 6.0. The interactive effects of low ATP, decreased pH, and high inorganic phosphate levels were not additive, giving similar decreases in activity to those produced by increased inorganic phosphate levels alone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

杨树根际解无机磷细菌Mp1-Ha4的鉴定及其解磷机理

解无机磷细菌能够溶解土壤中的难溶性磷酸盐,增加土壤有效磷含量,促进植物生长。以一株杨树根际土壤中筛选得到的解无机磷细菌Mp1-Ha4为研究对象,利用分子生物学的方法对该菌株进行鉴定,测定了其对磷酸钙、磷酸铝和磷酸铁的解磷能力,并对该菌株9 d内的磷酸钙溶解动力学进行了研究。结果表明,解无机磷细菌Mp1-Ha4为一株西地西菌Cedecea sp.,其对磷酸钙的溶解能力远强于对磷酸铝和磷酸铁的溶解能力。在NBRIP液体培养基中,该菌株对磷酸钙的溶解能力达到了497.4 mg/L,在其对磷酸钙解磷过程中,培养基pH及可滴定酸度与解磷量分别呈显著负、正相关。高效液相色谱分析显示,该菌株在解磷过程中分泌了大量有机酸,主要包括α-酮戊二酸,酒石酸和苹果酸。分泌有机酸,降低环境pH可能是解无机磷细菌西地西菌(Cedecea sp.)Mp1-Ha4溶解难溶性磷酸盐的主要机制,同时该菌株对磷酸钙的高效溶解作用使其具有较大的研究和应用前景。     

The effect of thymus extracts on phosphorus compounds in muscle and serum, and on serum calcium

1. Thymectomy in young rabbits decreased the ATP content and increased the inorganic phosphate content of skeletal muscle. The serum calcium content was decreased, whereas the inorganic phosphate content was increased. 2. The administration of a lipid fraction (TL) or protein fractions (CIF and TP) of thymus extracts to thymectomized rabbits in short-term experiments increased the ATP content of muscle and decreased the inorganic phosphate contents of muscle and serum. Serum calcium content was increased. 3. The action of the thymus extract TP was specific only on the phosphate compounds, since the increase in serum calcium concentration was also caused by the control extract from muscle. The action of the extract TL is not specific, being paralleled by the action of a control extract from muscle.     

纳米羟基磷灰石/胶原复合材料制备方法研究

研究了在脱钙骨基质内原位沉积纳米羟基磷灰石的电化学方法,探讨了影响沉积的实验因素和条件.并利用红外光谱和X衍射表征无机相的组成,透射电子显微镜观测晶体的形态和尺寸,光学显微镜观察无机相分布,灰化法测定无机成分含量.结果表明,电化学方法可以制备出纳米羟基磷灰石/胶原复合材料,其无机成分为53 9±3.2%,并且无机相的组成、分布、性质与自然骨非常一致,是纳米复合材料.     

Three kinetically different inorganic phosphate entities in bovine casein micelles revealed by isotopic exchange method and compartmental analysis

Much controversy exists concerning the way calcium phosphate is linked to milk phosphoproteins including caseins. Homoionic exchange of inorganic phosphate between micellar calcium phosphates (MCP) of casein micelles and solute phosphates in cows' milk was investigated using H(32)PO(4)(2-) as radiotracer. Compartmental analysis and modelling revealed the presence of three MCP-related inorganic phosphate compartments each representing a separate phosphate entity. The relative phosphate quantities per compartment, i.e. the quantities of kinetically identical phosphate ions per MCP-ion cluster, and their mean residence times are 2:1:1 and 818, 0.24 and 23 h, respectively. Hence each MCP-ion cluster comprises four inorganic phosphate ions divided over three intra-MCP binding sites each characterised by a mean residence time for homomolecular phosphate exchange at solution/MCP interface.     

Involvement of intracellular calcium in the phosphate efflux from mammalian nonmyelinated nerve fibers

Summary Phosphate efflux was measured as the fractional rate of loss of radioactivity from desheathed rabbit vagus nerves after loading with radiophosphate. The effects of strategies designed to increase intracellular calcium were investigated. At the same time, the exchangeable calcium content was measured using⁴⁵Ca. Application of calcium ionophore A23187 increased phosphate efflux in the presence of external calcium in parallel with an increase in calcium content. In the absence of external calcium, there was only a late, small increase in phosphate efflux. For nerves already treated with the calcium ionophore, the phosphate efflux was sensitive to small changes in external calcium, in the range 0.2 to 2mm calcium, whereas similar increases in calcium in absence of ionophore gave much smaller increases in phosphate efflux. Removal of external sodium (choline substitution) produced an initial increase in phosphate efflux followed by a fall. The initial increase in phosphate efflux was much larger in the presence of calcium, than in its absence. The difference was again paralleled by an increase in calcium content of the preparation, thought to be due to inhibition of Na/Ca exchange by removal of external sodium. Measurements of ATP content and ATP, ADP, phosphate and creatine phosphate ratios did not indicate significant metabolic changes when the calcium content was increased. Stimulation of phosphate efflux by an increase in intracellular calcium may be due to stimulation of phospholipid metabolism. Alternatively, it is suggested that stimulation of phosphate efflux is associated with the stimulation of calcium efflux, possibly by cotransport of calcium and phosphate.     

Investigation of the Accompaniment of Calcium During Active Calcium Transport from Human Erythrocyte Ghosts

To determine whether a cell metabolite was involved in active calcium transport, the cell contents of human erythrocytes were subjected to high dilutions and the resultant ghosts were checked for their ability to actively transport calcium. It was found that the diluted erythrocyte ghosts did retain their capacity to actively transport calcium and that the characteristics of this transport process appeared to be unaltered by the high dilutions. Calcium analysis of the cell membrane and cell supernatant indicated that almost all of the calcium was lost from the cell solution rather than the cell membrane as active calcium transport proceeded. Therefore it appeared that calcium was able to cross the cell membrane without the aid of a cell metabolite. Investigations with layered erythrocytes indicated that the active transport of calcium was not assisted by centrifugation. Neither inorganic phosphate, pyrophosphate, nor an adenine nucleotide appeared to accompany calcium across the membrane as indicated by total phosphate and inorganic phosphate analysis and 260-nm readings of the deproteinized supernatant.