Inhibitory Effect of Magnesium Ion on the Human Placental Alkaline Phosphatase-Catalyzed Reaction in a Reverse Micellar System

Human placental alkaline phosphatase is a membrane-anchored protein. Entrapping the enzyme into a reverse micellar vesicle mimics the in vivo conditions and allows examination of the properties of the enzyme. Placental alkaline phosphatase is enzymatically active in Aerosol-OT/isooctane reverse micelles. Substantially different kinetic behavior of the enzyme has been observed in aqueous or reverse micellar systems. In aqueous solution, Mg²⁺ is a nonessential activator of the enzyme. In the experiments described in the present report Mg²⁺ was found to be an inhibitor for the enzyme in reverse micelles. This inhibition is presumably due to a time-dependent conformational change of the enzyme molecule, which resulted in a curvature in the recorder tracings of the enzyme assays. The Mg²⁺-induced conformational change of the enzyme was completely prevented by phosphate and partially reserved by EDTA. High concentrations of Zn²⁺ also strongly inhibited enzyme activity in both aqueous and reverse micellar solvent systems, presumably by occupying the Mg²⁺ (M3) site of the enzyme. However, binding of Zn²⁺ at the M3 site did not cause conformational change of the enzyme and the enzyme assay tracing was linear. The M3 site of the enzyme is proposed to have a modulatory role in vivo using magnesium ion as the modulator.     

Crystal structure of the yeast Sac1: implications for its phosphoinositide phosphatase function

Sac family phosphoinositide (PI) phosphatases are an essential family of CX₅R(T/S)‐based enzymes, involved in numerous aspects of cellular function such as PI homeostasis, cellular signalling, and membrane trafficking. Genetic deletions of several Sac family members result in lethality in animal models and mutations of the Sac3 gene have been found in human hereditary diseases. In this study, we report the crystal structure of a founding member of this family, the Sac phosphatase domain of yeast Sac1. The 2.0 Å resolution structure shows that the Sac domain comprises of two closely packed sub‐domains, a novel N‐terminal sub‐domain and the PI phosphatase catalytic sub‐domain. The structure further shows a striking conformation of the catalytic P‐loop and a large positively charged groove at the catalytic site. These findings suggest an unusual mechanism for its dephosphorylation function. Homology structural modeling of human Fig4/Sac3 allows the mapping of several disease‐related mutations and provides a framework for the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of human diseases.     

Crystal structure of human renal dipeptidase involved in beta-lactam hydrolysis

Human renal dipeptidase is a membrane-bound glycoprotein hydrolyzing dipeptides and is involved in hydrolytic metabolism of penem and carbapenem beta-lactam antibiotics. The crystal structures of the saccharide-trimmed enzyme are determined as unliganded and inhibitor-liganded forms. They are informative for designing new antibiotics that are not hydrolyzed by this enzyme. The active site in each of the (alpha/beta)(8) barrel subunits of the homodimeric molecule is composed of binuclear zinc ions bridged by the Glu125 side-chain located at the bottom of the barrel, and it faces toward the microvillar membrane of a kidney tubule. A dipeptidyl moiety of the therapeutically used cilastatin inhibitor is fully accommodated in the active-site pocket, which is small enough for precise recognition of dipeptide substrates. The barrel and active-site architectures utilizing catalytic metal ions exhibit unexpected similarities to those of the murine adenosine deaminase and the catalytic domain of the bacterial urease.     

Structural studies of human placental alkaline phosphatase in complex with functional ligands

The activity of human placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) is downregulated by a number of effectors such as l-phenylalanine, an uncompetitive inhibitor, 5'-AMP, an antagonist of the effects of PLAP on fibroblast proliferation and by p-nitrophenyl-phosphonate (PNPPate), a non-hydrolysable substrate analogue. For the first two, such regulation may be linked to its biological function that requires a reduced and better-regulated hydrolytic rate. To understand how such disparate ligands are able to inhibit the enzyme, we solved the structure of the complexes at 1.6A, 1.9A and 1.9A resolution, respectively. These crystal structures are the first of an alkaline phosphatase in complex with organic inhibitors. Of the three inhibitors, only l-Phe and PNPPate bind at the active site hydrophobic pocket, providing structural data on the uncompetitive inhibition process. In contrast, all three ligands interact at a remote peripheral site located 28A from the active site. In order to extend these observations to the other members of the human alkaline phosphatase family, we have modelled the structures of the other human isozymes and compared them to PLAP. This comparison highlights the crucial role played by position 429 at the active site in the modulation of the catalytic process, and suggests that the peripheral binding site may be involved in the functional specialization of the PLAP isozyme.     

Crystal structures of recombinant human purple Acid phosphatase with and without an inhibitory conformation of the repression loop

The crystal structure of human purple acid phosphatase recombinantly expressed in Escherichia coli (rHPAP(Ec)) and Pichia pastoris (rHPAP(Pp)) has been determined in two different crystal forms, both at 2.2A resolution. In both cases, the enzyme crystallized in its oxidized (inactive) state, in which both Fe atoms in the dinuclear active site are Fe(III). The main difference between the two structures is the conformation of the enzyme "repression loop". Proteolytic cleavage of this loop in vivo or in vitro results in significant activation of the mammalian PAPs. In the crystals obtained from rHPAP(Ec), the carboxylate side-chain of Asp145 of this loop acts as a bidentate ligand that bridges the two metal atoms, in a manner analogous to a possible binding mode for a phosphate ester substrate in the enzyme-substrate complex. The carboxylate side-chain of Asp145 and the neighboring Phe146 side-chain thus block the active site, thereby inactivating the enzyme. In the crystal structure of rHPAP(Pp), the enzyme "repression loop" has an open conformation similar to that observed in other mammalian PAP structures. The present structures demonstrate that the repression loop exhibits significant conformational flexibility, and the observed alternate binding mode suggests a possible inhibitory role for this loop.     

体内肉碱来源及其对脂类代谢的影响

肉碱是体内一种有多种生理功能的氨基酸类物质,其在脂类代谢过程中有重要的调节作用,近年来在甘油三脂血症、肾透析患者的脂代谢障碍的辅助治疗中取得了较好疗效。本文就肉碱的来源和对脂类代谢的影响进行了讨论。     

Blockade of MCU-Mediated Ca2+ Uptake Perturbs Lipid Metabolism via PP4-Dependent AMPK Dephosphorylation

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Compromised mitochondrial function results in dephosphorylation of tau through a calcium-dependent process in rat brain cerebral cortical slices

Mitochondria play an important role in modulating intracellular levels of calcium, and therefore compromised mitochondrial function often leads to disruptions in calcium homeostasis. In this study, the effects of two uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation, carbonyl cyanide-3-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) and p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP), on calcium-mediated modifications of the microtubule-associated protein, tau, in rat brain slices were examined. Incubation of slices with CCCP or FCCP resulted in an increase in electrophoretic mobility of several of the tau isoforms, with no apparent loss of intact tau or the appearance of degradation products. These data indicated that disrupting mitochondrial function by dissipating the transmembrane potential resulted in the dephosphorylation of tau. This finding was confirmed by using a front phosphorylation assay to demonstrate a CCCP-induced decrease in the phosphorylation state of tau. The dephosphorylation of tau induced by the proton-ionophores appeared to be calcium-dependent since the effect was blocked by EGTA. In addition, the CCCP-induced dephosphorylation of tau was blocked by cyclosporin A, a selective inhibitor of the calcium-dependent phosphatase, calcineurin. These data strongly indicate that tau is a substrate for calcineurin in vivo. Finally, the levels of ATP were depleted to a similar extent in brain slices incubated in the presence of CCCP or CCCP and EGTA. These results demonstrated depletion of ATP alone was not sufficient to stimulate the dephosphorylation of tau in this experimental paradigm.     

The role of acid phosphatases in plant phosphorus metabolism

Hydrolysis of phosphate esters is a critical process in the energy metabolism and metabolic regulation of plant cells. This review summarizes the characteristics and putative roles of plant acid phosphatase (APase). Although immunologically closely related, plant APases display remarkable heterogeneity with regards to their kinetic and molecular properties, and subcellular location. The secreted APases of roots and cell cultures are relatively non-specific enzymes that appear to be important in the hydrolysis and mobilization of P_i from extracellular phosphomonoesters for plant nutrition. Intracellular APases are undoubtedly involved in the routine utilization of P_i reserves or other P_i-containing compounds. A special class of intracellular APase exists that demonstrate a clear-cut (but generally nonabsolute) substrate selectivity. These APases are hypothesized to have distinct metabolic functions and include: phytase, phosphoglycolate phosphatase, 3-phosphoglycerate phosphatase, phosphoenolpyruvate phosphatase, and phosphotyrosyl-protein phosphatase. APase expression is regulated by a variety of developmental and environmental factors. P_i starvation induces de novo synthesis of extra- and intracellular APases in cell cultures as well as in whole plants. Recommendations are made to achieve uniformity in the analyses of the different APase isoforms normally encountered within and between different plant tissues.