Histidine 268 in 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonic acid 7-phosphate synthase plays the same role as histidine 202 in 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid 8-phosphate synthase

The enzyme 3-deoxy-d-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate (DAH 7-P) synthase (Phe) is inactivated by diethyl pyrocarbonate (DEPC). The inactivation is first order with respect to enzyme and DEPC concentrations with a pseudo-second order rate constant of inactivation by DEPC of 4.9 +/- 0.8 m(-1) s(-1) at pH 6.8 and 4 degrees C. The dependence of inactivation on pH and the spectral features of enzyme modified at specific pH values imply that both histidine and cysteine residues are modified, which is confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis. Analysis of the chemical modification data indicates that one histidine is essential for activity. DAH 7-P synthase (Phe) is protected against DEPC inactivation by phosphoenolpyruvate, whereas d-erythrose 4-phosphate offers only minimal protection. The conserved residues H-172, H-207, H-268, and H-304 were individually mutated to glycine. The H304G and H207G mutants retain some level of activity, whereas the H268G and H172G mutants are virtually inactive. A comparison of the circular dichroism spectra of wild-type enzyme and the various mutants demonstrates that H-172 may play a structural role. Comparison of the UV spectra of the H268G and wild-type enzymes saturated with Cu(2+) indicates that the metal-binding site of the H268G mutant resembles that of the wild-type enzyme. The residue H-268 may play a catalytic role based on the site-directed mutagenesis and spectroscopic studies. Cysteine 61 appears to influence the pK(a) of H-268 in the wild-type enzyme. The pK(a) of H-268 increases from 6.0 to 7.0 following mutation of C-61 to glycine.     

Regulation of 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonic 7-phosphate acid synthetase activity in relation to the synthesis of the aromatic vitamins in Escherichia coli K-12

Both in vivo and in vitro experiments on wild-type Escherichia coli K-12 and mutant strains possessing only single 3-deoxy-d-arabino-heptulosonic 7-phosphate acid (DAHP) synthetase isoenzymes indicated that, under conditions when all three isoenzymes are fully repressed, sufficient chorismate is still formed for the synthesis of aromatic vitamins. Under repressed conditions both DAHP synthetase (phe) and (trp), but not DAHP synthetase (tyr), were shown to contribute to vitamin production.     

5-Dehydro-3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonic acid 7-phosphate. An intermediate in the 3-dehydroquinate synthase reaction.

3-Dehydroquinate synthase was purified to homogeneity from Escherichia coli. It was found to be a single polypeptide chain of Mr = approximately 57,000. Reaction mixtures of pure enzyme and the substrate, 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonic acid 7-phosphate, were incubated for short times and treated with NaB3H4. The resulting 3-deoxyheptonic acid 7-phosphate was degraded with sodium periodate, and formic acid representing C-5 of the substrate was isolated. The presence of 3H in the formate corresponding to 15% of the enzyme was interpreted as indicating a 5-dehydro derivative of the substrate as an intermediate of the reaction. Quinic acid, resulting from reduction of 3-dehydroquinate with NaB3H4, was also isolated and degraded with periodate. The formate from C-4 of the quinate was unlabeled, indicating that 3,4-bisdehydroquinate is not an intermediate.     

Activation of ATP:GTP 3'-pyrophosphotransferase (guanosine pentaphosphate synthetase) in Streptomyces antibioticus.

The activity of the ATP:GTP 3'-pyrophosphotransferase (guanosine pentaphosphate synthetase I [GPSI]) from Streptomyces antibioticus is stimulated maximally by methanol at 20% (vol/vol) in assay mixtures. Although the enzyme is not activated by ribosomes, its activity is stimulated by tRNA (uncharged or charged) and by synthetic mRNA [e.g., poly(U)]. The level of stimulation is greater in the presence of tRNA and poly(U) together than with either RNA alone. Incubation of GPSI with low levels of trypsin also leads to activation of the enzyme. Analysis of the products of mild trypsin digestion revealed the presence of two intermediates whose M(r)s are identical to those of species produced by incubation of purified GPSI with crude extracts of S. antibioticus mycelium. GPSI can be activated by incubation with crude mycelial extracts, and this activation is partially inhibited by the inclusion of trypsin inhibitor in reaction mixtures.     

DNA-methyltransferase activities in Streptomyces antibioticus

Abstract To quantitate ammonia production by the intestinal flora, ammonia levels in arterial blood and the venous effluent of the small and large bowel of conventional, selectively decontaminated, germ-free and gnotobiotic rats were measured.
When the anaerobic flora was removed by decontamination a significant decrease in ammonia levels was observed in the effluent of both the small and large intestine. Decontamination of aerobic flora did not result in depression of ammonia production. Gnotobiotic rats colonised with an anaerobic flora or with a mixed aerobic and anaerobic flora, showed a slight increase in ammonia levels. No increase in ammonia production was observed when rats were colonised with aerobic flora. These results indicate that the Enterobacteriaceae were not responsible for ammonia generation.
The increase in ammonia levels after colonisation with anaerobic or mixed anaerobic/aerobic flora did not completely restore ammonia levels, despite reaching bacterial counts which were comparable to those in conventional rats. This may be explained by the limited number of species with which the rats were colonized. The finding that aerobic flora does not significantly contribute to ammonia production suggests that neomycin, known to be exclusively effective against aerobic flora, must have other effects to explain improvement of hepatic encephalopathy.     

Restriction-modification systems in Streptomyces antibioticus

Several restriction systems were detected in different strains of Streptomyces antibioticus by using actinophages as biological indicators. Adsorption of phages to the bacteria, together with the study of the efficiency of plating gave an initial indication of restriction in three strains. The alternation of efficiency of plating values obtained from restricting and nonrestricting hosts, gave evidence for the presence of a restriction-modification system in another strain. No common modification systems were detected among the different strains tested. Two specific endonucleases with a possible role in restriction were detected in strains ATCC 11891 and ETH 7451, respectively.