Metal Ion Binding and Conformational Transitions in Concanavalin A: A Structure-Function Study

Abstract

The affinity of the lectin Concanavalin A (Con A) for saccharides, and its requirement for metal ions such as Mn²⁺ and Ca²⁺, have been known for about 50 years. However the relationship between metal ion binding and the saccharide binding activity of Con A has only recently been examined in detail. Brown et al. (Biochemistry 16, 3883 (1977)) showed that Con A exists as a mixture of two conformational states: a “locked” form and an “unlocked” form. The unlocked form of the protein weakly binds metal ions and saccharide, and is the predominate conformation of demetallized Con A (apo-Con A) at equilibrium. The locked form binds two metal ions per monomer with the resulting complex(es) possessing full saccharide binding activity. Brown and coworkers measured the kinetics of the transition of the unlocked form to the fully metallized locked conformation containing Mn²⁺and Ca²⁺. They also demonstrated that Mn²⁺ alone could form a locked ternary complex with Con A, and that rapid removal of the ions resulted in a metastable form of apo-Con A in the locked conformation which slowly (hours at 25°C) reverted back to (predominantly) the unlocked conformation. The ability to form either conformation in the absence or presence of metal ions has thus allowed us to explore the relationship between metal ion binding and conformational transitions in Con A as determinants of the saccharide binding activity of the lectin.

Based on the kinetics of the transition of unlocked apo-Con A to fully metallized locked Con A, and X-ray crystallographic data, it appears that the transition between the two conformations of Con A involves a cis-trans isomerization of an Ala-Asp peptide bond in the backbone of the protein, near one of the two metal ion binding sites. The relatively large activation energy for the transition (～ 22 kcal M^?1) results in relatively slow interconversions between the conformations (from minutes to days), whereas the equilibria with metal ions and saccharide are rapid. Thus, many metastable complexes can be formed and a variety of transition pathways between the two conformations studied.

We have identified and characterized binary, ternary, and quaternary complexes of both conformations of Con A containing Mn²⁺ and saccharide, and have determined both metalion and saccharide dissociation constants for all of them, as well as equilibrium and kinetic values for the conformational transitions between them. The main finding is that saccharide binds very weakly (K_d～2 M) to unlocked apo-Con A and very tightly to the locked ternary Mn²⁺-Con A complex (K_d～ 10^?4 M). Saccharide binding increases along the various pathways connecting these two species in a nonadditive fashion. Thus, both conformation and metal ion binding determine the saccharide affinity of each complex, although the specificity of saccharide binding of the various species is maintained throughout.     

Metal ion binding to concanavalin A

Metal ion activation of saccharide binding has been studied for concana-valin A near pH 7.0. Although two metal ions, a transition metal ion and a Ca²⁺ ion, can bind, both are not required. Ca²⁺ alone, Mn²⁺ alone, or Ca²⁺ with other transition metal ions can activate this lectin. Only one Ca²⁺ ion per subunit or only one Mn²⁺ per subunit is sufficient. Metal ion binding was studied by magnetic resonance techniques and direct binding assays. Saccharide binding activity was monitored by following the fluorescence of 4-methylumbelliferyl a-D-mannopyranoside. When Ca²⁺ binds to demetalized concanavalin A, the transition metal ion site is hindered. When Mn²⁺ alone binds to demetalized concanavalin A, saccharide binding activity is induced. A subsequent conformational change, not necessary for carbohydrate binding activity, covers the Mn²⁺.     

Studies on d-Glucose-isomerizing Enzyme from Bacillus coagulans,Strain HN-68

A functional role of Co²⁺ and Mn²⁺ in the d-glucose- and d-xylose-isomerizing reactions by d-glucose-isomerizing enzyme obtained from the cells of Bacillus coagulans, strain HN–68 was investigated. (1) The enzyme required Co²⁺ and Mn²⁺ for d-glucose- and d-xylose-isomerizing activities, respectively. (2) The enzyme which bound the metal, Co²⁺- or Mn²⁺-enzyme, was active form. Co²⁺ was bound to the enzyme in a molar ratio of 4:1. (3) The rate of activation by metal ion varied with incubation pH. (4) The binding of substrate to the enzyme was completely independent in the presence of metal ions. (5) However, it seemed unlikely that the Co²⁺ and Mn²⁺ acted as catalyzer on the reaction. (6) The binding sites for Co²⁺ and Mn²⁺ were different from each other. (7) The experimental data obtained might be successfully explained in terms of the suitable conformational changes for d-glucose and d-xylose isomerization, which were induced in the catalytic sites of the enzyme by binding Co²⁺ and Mn²⁺, respectively.     

Agonist-specific reverse regulation of muscarinic receptors by transition metal ions and guanine nucleotides

Transition metal ions, e.g. Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Co²⁺ enhance $\text{in vitro}$ agonist binding to muscarinic receptors in mouse cortex or hippocampus. This effect arises mainly from the conversion of low to high affinity binding sites. Binding properties of antagonists in these brain areas, as well as those of both agonists and antagonists of medulla-pons muscarinic receptors, are insensitive to these ions. The induced interconversion can be reversed by either of the following procedures: (i) removal of the ions; (ii) thermal exposure; (iii) addition of micromolar concentrations of guanine nucleotides.     

Interactions of DNA with divalent metal ions. I. 31P-nmr studies

³¹P-nmr has been used to investigate the specific interaction of three divalent metal ions, Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺, and Co⁺², with the phosphate groups of DNA. Mg²⁺ is found to have no significant effect on any of the ³¹P-nmr parameters (chemical shift, line-width, T₁, T₂, and NOE) over a concentration range extending from 20 to 160 mM. The two paramagnetic ions, Mn²⁺ and Co²⁺, on the other hand, significantly change the ³¹P relaxation rates even at very low levels. From an analysis of the paramagnetic contributions to the spin–lattice and spin–spin relaxation rates, the effective internuclear metal–phosphorus distances are found to be 4.5 ± 0.5 and 4.1 ± 0.5 Å for Mn²⁺ and Co²⁺, respectively, corresponding to only 15 ± 5% of the total bound Mn²⁺ and Co²⁺ being directly coordinated to the phosphate groups (inner-sphere complexes). This result is independent of any assumptions regarding the location of the remaining metal ions which may be bound either as outer-sphere complexes relative to the phosphate groups or elsewhere on the DNA, possibly to the bases. Studies of the temperature effects on the ³¹P relaxation rates of DNA in the absence and presence of Mn²⁺ and Co²⁺ yielded kinetic and thermodynamic parameters which characterize the association and dissociation of the metal ions from the phosphate groups. A two-step model was used in the analysis of the kinetic data. The lifetimes of the inner-sphere complexes are 3 × 10^?7 and 1.4 × 10^?5 s for Mn²⁺ and Co²⁺, respectively. The rates of formation of the inner-sphere complexes with the phosphate are found to be about two orders of magnitude slower than the rate of the exchange of the water of hydration of the metal ions, suggesting that expulsion of water is not the rate-determining step in the formation of the inner-sphere complexes. Competition experiments demonstrate that the binding of Mg²⁺ ions is 3–4 times weaker than the binding of either Mn²⁺ or Co²⁺. Since the contribution from direct phosphate coordination to the total binding strength of these metal ion complexes is small (～15%), the higher binding strength of Mn²⁺ and Co²⁺ may be attributed either to base binding or to formation of stronger outer-sphere metal–phosphate complexes. At high levels of divalent metal ions, and when the metal ion concentration exceeds the DNA–phosphate concentration, the fraction of inner-sphere phosphate binding increases. In the presence of very high levels of Mg²⁺ (e.g., 3.1M), the inner-sphere ? outer-sphere equilibrium is shifted toward ～100% inner-sphere binding. A comparison of our DNA results and previous results obtained with tRNA indicates that tRNA and DNA have very similar divalent metal ion binding properties. A comparison of the present results with the predictions of polyelectrolyte theories is presented.     

Interaction of divalent metal ions with the carboxyl-terminal domain of human voltage-gated proton channel Hv1

The voltage-gated proton channel Hv1 functions as a dimer, in which the intracellular C-terminal domain of the protein is responsible for the dimeric architecture and regulates proton permeability. Although it is well known that divalent metal ions have effect on the proton channel activity, the interaction of divalent metal ions with the channel in detail is not well elucidated. Herein, we investigated the interaction of divalent metal ions with the C-terminal domain of human Hv1 by CD spectra and fluorescence spectroscopy. The divalent metal ions binding induced an obvious conformational change at pH 7 and a pH-sensitive reduction of thermostability in the C-terminal domain. The interactions were further estimated by fluorescence spectroscopy experiments. There are at least two binding sites for divalent metal ions binding to the C-terminal domain of Hv1, either of which is close to His²⁴⁴ or His²⁶⁶ residue. The binding of Zn²⁺ to the two sites both enhanced the fluorescence of the protein at pH 7, whereas the binding of other divalent metal ions to the two sites all resulted fluorescence quenching. The orders of the strength of divalent metal ions binding to the two sites from strong to weak are both Co²⁺, Ca²⁺, Ni²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Mn²⁺. The strength of Ca²⁺, Co²⁺, Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Ni²⁺ binding to the site close to His²⁴⁴ is stronger than that of these divalent metal ions binding to the site close to His²⁶⁶.     

Transition metal ions and selenite modulate the methylation of arsenite by the recombinant human arsenic (+3 oxidation state) methyltransferase (hAS3MT)

This report demonstrates that transition metal ions and selenite affect the arsenite methylation by the recombinant human arsenic (+3 oxidation state) methyltransferase (hAS3MT) in vitro. Co²⁺, Mn²⁺, and Zn²⁺ inhibited the arsenite methylation by hAS3MT in a concentration-dependent manner and the kinetics indicated Co²⁺ and Mn²⁺ to be mixed (competitive and non-competitive) inhibitors while Zn²⁺ to be a competitive inhibitor. However, only a high concentration of Fe²⁺ could restrain the methylation. UV-visible, CD and fluorescence spectroscopy were used to study the interactions between the metal ions above and hAS3MT. Further studies showed that neither superoxide anion nor hydrogen peroxide was involved in the transition metal ion or selenite inhibition of hAS3MT activity. The inhibition of arsenite methylating activity of hAS3MT by selenite was reversed by 2 mM DTT (dithiothreitol) but neither by cysteine nor by β-mercaptoethanol. Whereas, besides DTT, cysteine can also prevent the inhibition of hAS3MT activity by Co²⁺, Mn²⁺, and Zn²⁺. Free Cys residues were involved in the interactions of transition metal ions or selenite with hAS3MT. It is proposed that the inhibitory effect of the ions (Co²⁺, Mn²⁺, and Zn²⁺) or selenite on hAS3MT activity might be via the interactions of them with free Cys residues in hAS3MT to form inactive protein adducts.     

Interaction of monolayers of concanavalin A with mono- and polysaccharides A study by means of infrared-attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy

The effects of pH, Mn²⁺ and Ca²⁺ and urea denaturation on the interaction of monolayers of concanavalin A on saline with the polysaccharide dextran B-1355 and the monosaccharides methyl α-d-mannopyranoside and d-galactose have been investigated. Infrared absorption spectra of compressed monolayers of the protein and the protein-dextran complex coated on a germanium plate have been obtained by means of attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy. Except in one case of denaturation, the amide I absorption of concanavalin A peaked around 1631 cm^?1, indicating a predominance of the β-pleated sheet conformation, in agreement with its secondary structure in the solution and crystalline phases. The contribution to the absorbance of the concanavalin A-dextran films at 3300 cm^?1 due to absorption by the O-H stretching modes of the polysaccharide is a measure of its binding. Increasing the pH from 6.1 to 7.5 appreciably reduced the dextran binding, at pH 9.3 the binding was zero. Adding 1 mM Mn²⁺ and Ca²⁺ to the subphase at pH 7.5 restored both the dextran binding and the affinity of concanavalin A for methyl α-d-mannopyranoside to that of the native protein at pH 6.1. At this latter pH, the weak binding of dextran to monolayers of demetallized concanavalin A (apo-concanavalin A) was also restored to that for the native molecule by the addition of these divalents. This indicates the requirement of concanavalin A for these ions to maintain the integrity of the saccharide-binding site. The loss of dextran binding with urea denaturation was also observed. These results parallel those for solutions of the protein, indicating the validity of the monolayer system for the study of these interactions.     

Location of Mn2+ in concanavalin A containing only a Mn2+ ion

The metal-sugar distances in two metallized forms of concanavalin A have been compared by ¹⁹F magnetic resonance techniques. Using relaxation times measured at two different frequencies we have shown that the distance between the Mn²⁺ ion and the bound sugar in concanavalin A containing only Mn²⁺ is essentially identical to that found in concanavalin A containing both Mn²⁺ and Ca²⁺. Our results rule out the possibility that Mn²⁺ activates concanavalin A by binding at the Ca²⁺ site (S2) and would suggest that Mn²⁺ alone can induce an active saccharide binding conformation by binding at the transition metal site (S1).     

A new principle for activity measurement of ADP or ATP dependent enzymes: fluorescence quenching of epsilon-ADP and epsilon-ATP by divalent metal ions.

The divalent metal ions Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, Mn²⁺, and Zn²⁺ form complexes with the fluorescent etheno analogs of the adenine nucleotides. The fluorescence intensity is thereby diminished. The binding strength of the metals to etheno-adenosine triphosphate is higher than to etheno-adenosine di- and monophosphate. The quenching effect of the divalent metal ions can be exploited as a simple routine activity measurement for various kinases and phosphohydrolases.     

Each Phaseolus vulgaris isolectin exists in five electrophoretic forms related to the number of metal ions bound per molecule

Analysis of the pH 8.3 electrophoresis of the Phaseolus vulgaris seed lectins suggests that each of the five isolectins exists in five different forms. Incubations of the lectins in the presence of EDTA or of metal ions such as Mn²⁺, Mg²⁺, Co²⁺ and Ni²⁺ shows that their different electrophoretic behaviours are related to the binding of metal ions to the molecules.Determinations of the isolectin metal content by atomic absorption measurements demonstrate that at pH 8.3 their five electrophoretic forms are related to the number of subunits (0, 1, 2, 3 or 4) which contain metal ions in the tetrameric molecules.     

Biochemical Characterization of Allantoinase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> BL21

Bacterial allantoinase (ALLase; EC 3.5.2.5), which catalyzes the conversion of allantoin into allantoate, possesses a binuclear metal center in which two metal ions are bridged by a posttranslationally carboxylated lysine. Here, we characterized ALLase from Escherichia coli BL21. Purified recombinant ALLase exhibited no activity but could be activated when preincubating with some metal ions before analyzing its activity, and was in the order: Mn²⁺- ≫ Co²⁺- > Zn²⁺- > Ni²⁺- > Cd²⁺- ~Mg²⁺-activated enzyme; however, activity of ALLase (Mn²⁺-activated form) was also significantly inhibited with 5 mM Co²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Cd²⁺ ions. Activity of Mn²⁺-activated ALLase was increased by adding the reducing agent dithiothreitol (DTT), but was decreased by treating with the sulfhydryl modifying reagent N-ethylmaleimide (NEM). Inhibition of Mn²⁺-activated ALLase by chelator 8-hydroxy-5-quinolinesulfonic acid (8-HQSA), but not EDTA, was pH-dependent. Analysis of purified ALLase by gel filtration chromatography revealed a mixture of monomers, dimers, and tetramers. Substituting the putative metal binding residues His59, His61, Lys146, His186, His242, and Asp315 with Ala completely abolished the activity of ALLase, even preincubating with Mn²⁺ ions. On the basis of these results, as well as the pH-activity profile, the reaction mechanism of ALLase is discussed and compared with those of other cyclic amidohydrolases.     

Interactions of DNA with divalent metal ions. II. Proton relaxation enhancement studies

The extent and modes of binding of the divalent metal ions Mn²⁺ and Co²⁺ to DNA and the effects of salt on the binding have been studied by measurements of the effects of these paramagnetic metal ions on the longitudinal and transverse relaxation rates of the protons of the solvent water molecules, a technique that is sensitive to overall binding. The number of water molecules coordinated to the DNA–bound Mn²⁺ and Co²⁺ is found to be between five and six, and the electron spin relaxation times and the electron-nuclear hyperfine constants associated with Mn²⁺ and Co²⁺ are little or not affected by the binding. These observations indicate little disturbance of the hydration sphere of Mn²⁺ and Co²⁺ upon binding to DNA. An average 2–3-fold reduction in the exchange rate of the water of hydration of the bound metal ions and an order-of-magnitude increase in their rotational correlation time are attributed to hydrogen-bond formation with the DNA. The binding constants of Mn²⁺ to DNA, at metal concentrations approaching zero, are found to be inversely proportional to the second power of the salt concentration, in agreement with the predictions of Manning's polyelectrolyte theory. A remarkable quantitative agreement with the polyelectrolyte theory is also obtained for the anticooperativity in the binding of Mn²⁺ to DNA, although the experimental results can be well accounted for by another simple electrostatic model. The various modes of binding of divalent metal ions to DNA are discussed.     

Coordination contributions to protein stability in metal-substituted carbonic anhydrase

Contributions of the active site metal to the stability of carbonic anhydrase (CA) were quantified by differential scanning calorimetry and complementary unfolding measurements of CA substituted with Co²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Mn²⁺. The metal ions stabilize the protein to different extent, with the highest stability provided by the native Zn²⁺. This additional stability does not correlate with the enthalpy of the three metal-imidazole (His) bonds at the active site or other properties of the metal ions (charge density, hydration enthalpy). However, DFT calculations reveal an energetic penalty associated with metal coordination at the active site, and the magnitude of this penalty correlates inversely with metal contributions to the stability of the protein. While the affinity of CA for metal ions generally reflects the Irving–Williams series, the additional thermal stability provided by metal ions is modulated by the rigid His₃ coordination that is imposed at the protein site.     

Conformation and reactivity of DNA. IV. Base binding ability of transition metal ions to native DNA and effect on helix conformation with special reference to DNA-Zn(II) complex

The effects of metal ions of the first-row transition and of alkaline earth metals on the DNA helix conformation have been studied by uv difference spectra, circular dichroism, and sedimentation measurements. At low ionic strength (10^?3 M NaClO₄) DNA shows a maximum in the difference absorption spectra in the presence of Zn²⁺, Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Ni²⁺ but not with Mg²⁺ or Ca²⁺. The amplitude of this maximum is dependent on GC content as revealed by detailed studies of the DNA-Zn²⁺ complex of eight different DNA's. Pronounced changes also occur in the CD spectra of DNA transition metal complexes. A transition appears up to a total ratio of approximately 1 Zn²⁺ per DNA phosphate at 10^?3 M NaClO₄; then no further change was observed up to high concentrations. The characteristic CD changes are strongly dependent on the double-helical structure of DNA and on the GC content of DNA. Differences were also observed in hydrodynamic properties of DNA metal complexes as revealed by the greater increase of the sedimentation coefficient of native DNA in the presence of transition metal ions. Spectrophotometric acid titration experiments and CD measurements at acidic pH clearly indicate the suppression of protonation of GC base-pair regions on the addition of transition metal ions to DNA. Similar effects were not observed with DNA complexes with alkaline earth metal ions such as Mg²⁺ or Ca²⁺. The data are interpreted in terms of a preferential interaction of Zn²⁺ and of other transition metal ions with GC sites by chelation to the N-7 of guanine and to the phosphate residue. The binding of Zn²⁺ to DNA disappears between 0.5 M and 1 M NaClO₄, but complex formation with DNA is observable again in the presence of highly concentrated solutions of NaClO₄ (3?7.2 M NaClO₄) or at 0.5 to 2 M Mn²⁺. At relatively high cation concentration Mg²⁺ is also effective in changing the DNA comformation. These structural alterations probably result from both the shielding of negatively charged phosphate groups and the breakdown of the water structure along the DNA helix. Differential effects in CD are also observed between Mn²⁺, Zn²⁺ on one hand and Mg²⁺ on the other hand under these conditions. The greater sensitivity of the double-helical conformation of DNA to the action of transition metal ions is due to the affinity of the latter to electron donating sites of the bases resulting from the d electronic configuration of the metal ions. An order of the relative phosphate binding ability to base-site binding ability in native DNA is obtained as follows: Mg²⁺, Ba²⁺, < Ca²⁺ < Fe²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺ < Mn²⁺, Zn²⁺ < Cd²⁺ < Cu²⁺. The metal-ion induced conformational changes of the DNA are explained by alternation of the winding angle between base pairs as occurs in the transition from B to C conformation. These findings are used for a tentative molecular interpretation of some effects of Zn²⁺ and Mn²⁺ in DNA synthesis reported in the literature.     

Metal ion requirement by glutamine synthetase of Escherichia coli in catalysis of gamma-glutamyl transfer.

The requirement for metal ions by glutamine synthetase of Escherichia coli in catalyzing the γ-glutamyl transfer reaction has been investigated. In order of decreasing V at pH 7.0, Cd²⁺, Mn²⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Co²⁺, or Zn²⁺ will support the activity of the unadenylylated enzyme in the presence of ADP. With AMP substituted for ADP to satisfy the nucleotide requirement, only Mn²⁺ or Cd²⁺ will support the activity of the unadenylylated enzyme. Kinetic and equilibrium binding measurements show a 1:1 interaction between the nonconsumable substrate ADP and each enzyme subunit of the dodecamer. (To obtain this result, each enzyme subunit must be active in catalyzing γ-glutamyl transfer.) The stability constant of the unadenylylated subunit for ADP-Mn is 3.5 × 10⁵m^?1, or ～2.86 × 10⁷m^?1 under assay conditions, with arsenate, Mn²⁺, and glutamine being responsible for this large affinity increase. Saturation of two Mn²⁺ ion-binding sites per enzyme subunit is absolutely required for activity expression. While apparently not affecting the affinity of the first Mn²⁺ bound (K′ = 1.89 × 10⁶ M^?1), glutamine increases the stability constant for the second Mn²⁺ bound from 2 × 10⁴ to 5.9 × 10⁵m^?1. Reciprocally, increasing Mn²⁺ concentrations decreases the apparent K_m′ value for glutamine. Glutamine (by producing a net uptake of protons in binding to the enzyme) is responsible for changing the proton release from 3 to about 1 for 2 Mn²⁺ bound per enzyme subunit, with ～0.5 H⁺ displaced in both fast and slow processes. The uv spectral change induced by the binding of the first Mn²⁺ to each enzyme subunit remains unchanged by the presence of glutamine. However, glutamine reduces the half-time of the spectral change or slow proton release from ～30 to ～20 sec at 37 °C. Binding and kinetic results indicate a mechanism involving a random addition of Mn²⁺ to two subunit sites. Saturation of the high-affinity site with Mn²⁺ induces a conformational change to an active configuration, while activity expression depends also on the saturation of a second Mn²⁺ binding site (at or near the catalytic site). Once the first Mn²⁺ binding site of the subunit is saturated, an active enzyme complex can be formed either by the sequential binding of Mn²⁺ and ADP at the second site or by the binding of ADP-Mn complex directly to this site if the concentration of ADP-Mn is greater than 10^?8m in the assay. Some additional observations on the binding of Mg²⁺, Ba²⁺, Ca²⁺, and Zn²⁺ to the enzyme are presented.     

Probing the coordination properties of glutathione with transition metal ions (Cr2+,Mn2+,Fe2+,Co2+, Ni2+,Cu2+,Zn2+,Cd2+,Hg2+) by density functional theory

Complexes formed by reduced glutathione (GSH) with metal cations (Cr²⁺, Mn²⁺,Fe²⁺,Co²⁺,Ni²⁺,Cu²⁺,Zn²⁺,Cd²⁺,Hg²⁺) were systematically investigated by the density functional theory (DFT). The results showed that the interactions of the metal cations with GSH resulted in nine different stable complexes and many factors had an effect on the binding energy. Generally, for the same period of metal ions, the binding energies ranked in the order of Cu²⁺>Ni²⁺>Co²⁺>Fe²⁺>Cr²⁺>Zn²⁺>Mn²⁺; and for the same group of metal ions, the general trend of binding energies was Zn²⁺>Hg²⁺>Cd²⁺. Moreover, the amounts of charge transferred from S or N to transition metal cations are greater than that of O atoms. For Fe²⁺,Co²⁺,Ni²⁺,Cu²⁺,Zn²⁺,Cd²⁺ and Hg²⁺ complexes, the values of the Wiberg bond indices (WBIs) of M-S (M denotes metal cations) were larger than that of M-N and M-O; for Cr²⁺ complexes, most of the WBIs of M-O in complexes were higher than that of M-S and M-N. Furthermore, the changes in the electron configuration of the metal cations before and after chelate reaction revealed that Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺,Co²⁺ and Hg²⁺ had obvious tendencies to be reduced to Cu⁺,Ni⁺,Co⁺ and Hg⁺ during the coordination process.     

Divalent metal ion effects on a mutant histidinol phosphate phosphatase from Salmonella typhimurium

The effect of divalent metal ions on the activity of a mutant histidinol phosphate phosphatase has been studied. The enzyme was isolated from strain TA387, a mutant of Salmonella typhimurium with a nonsense lesion near the midpoint of the bifunctional hisB gene. Mn²⁺, Mg²⁺, Co²⁺, and Zn²⁺ shift the optimal pH of phosphatase activity to 6.5 while Be²⁺ and Ca²⁺ have no effect on the shape of the pH profile. In the absence of divalent metal ions, the pH optimum is 7.5. Four Me²⁺ ions, Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Fe²⁺ decreased the K_m of histidinol phosphate at pH 6.5 from 5.5 mm (without Me²⁺) to 0.14 mm. Ni²⁺ and Be²⁺ increased the K_m to 22.2 and 25.0 mm, respectively, and Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ had an intermediate effect. Changes in maximal velocity were substantially less, only about 2-fold changes being observed. It was shown that the maximal velocity at optimal pH was the same in the absence and presence of Mn²⁺. Kinetic analysis indicated that there was a rapid equilibrium-ordered addition of Mn²⁺ to the enzyme before the addition of the substrate, histidinol phosphate. A k_imn²⁺ of 4.3 μm was calculated for the metal ion activation at both pH 6.5 and 7.5. Addition of ethyl-enediaminetetracetate (EDTA) strongly inhibited the phosphatase; inhibition could be reversed by addition of several Me²⁺ ions, Mg²⁺ being the most efficient followed by Mn²⁺. Prolonged incubation with EDTA led to irreversible inactivation.     

Ultrafiltration is theoretically equivalent to equilibrium dialysis but much simpler to carry out.

This study shows that if one component of a reaction at equilibrium is freely diffusible through a semipermeable membrane, and if an aliquot of this component is removed through the membrane at its equilibrium concentration, the concentration of this component in the reaction mixture remains unchanged. This is illustrated by the binding of manganese (Mn²⁺) to concanavalin A. It is also shown that, at concentrations of calcium ions near saturation levels (0.01 m CaCh₂, pH 5.2, 0.2 m NaCl), the binding of 1 mol of Mn²⁺ is extremely strong, with a dissociation constant K < 10^?7, and at least 1 additional mol of Mn²⁺/mol of concanavalin A binds less strongly. As the pH is lowered, the affinity decreases to a small extent, until at pH 1.82 approximately 0.25 mol of Mn²⁺ binds/mol of protein. A possible application of the method to measure binding as a function of ligand concentration is described.     

Properties of a Zn2+-glycerophosphocholine cholinephosphodiesterase from bovine brain membranes

A Zn²⁺-glycerophosphocholine cholinephosphodiesterase was purified with a specific activity of 4.6 μmole/min·mg protein from bovine brain membranes by procedures involving PI-PLC solubilization, concanavalin A affinity chromatography, CM-sephadex chromatography and Sephadex G-150 chromatography. Based on molecular weight determination gel chromatography and SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the phosphodiesterase activity appears to be a dimeric protein (110 kDa) composed of two subunits with a molecular weight of approximately 54 kDa. The Km value for p-nitrophenylphosphocholine and the optimum pH were found to be 16 μM and pH 10.5, respectively. The phosphodiesterase was inhibited by Cu²⁺, but not the other divalent metal ions. The activity of the apoenzyme was remarkably activated by Co²⁺ or Zn²⁺, but not Mn²⁺ or Mg²⁺. In addition, the inactivation of the enzyme in glycine buffer was prevented by Mn²⁺ or Zn²⁺, but not Co²⁺ or Mg². In a separate experiment, comparing properties of the purified and membrane-bound phosphodiesterases, the forms of two enzymes were quite similar except in stability. Both enzymes were more stable at pH 7.4 than pH 5 or 10. However, the membrane-bound enzyme was more stable than the soluble enzyme at all three pHs. These data suggest that the activity of the phosphodiesterase may be stabilized in-vivo.