The effects of Ni2+, Co2+, and Mn2+ on human serum butyrylcholinesterase

The effects of Ni2+, Co2+, and Mn2+ on human serum butyrylcholinesterase (BChE, acylcholine acylhydrolase E.C. 3.1.1.8) were investigated in this study. Inhibition kinetics of BChE were studied using butyrylthiocholine (BTCh) as substrate. The "1/v" versus "1/[BTCh]" plots in the absence (control plot) and in the presence of the metal ions intersected above 1/[BTCh]-axis for all trace elements. In addition, when the concentrations of the cations were increased at 4 mM BTCh, velocities decreased and drove to zero at high concentrations of the trace elements. These results demonstrate that Ni2+, Co2+, and Mn2+ are linear mixed-type inhibitors of BChE. alphaK(i) values have been determined as 53.20 mM,152.25 mM, and 190.24 mM for Ni2+, Mn2+, and Co2+, respectively, by using nonlinear regression analysis. From the comparison of alphaK(i) values of the trace elements, it can be said that BChE has more affinty to binding Ni2+ than Co2+ and Mn2+.     

Isolation of Ca2+, Mg2+-dependent nuclease from calf thymus chromatin

Ca2+,Mg2+-dependent nuclease was isolated from calf thymus chromatin by stepwise chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose, CM-Sephadex and DNA-Sepharose. The enzyme was purified more than 700-fold. SDS-PAGE electrophoresis revealed one protein band possessing an enzymatic activity. The molecular mass of the nuclease as determined by gel filtration is 25700 Da, that determined by 12% SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is 28,000 Da. In the presence of various ions the enzyme activity decreases in the following order: (Ca2+ + Mn2+) greater than (Ca2+ + Mg2+) greater than Mn2+; the pH optimum is at 8.0. In media with Mg2+, Ca2+, Co2+ and Zn2+ the nuclease is inactive. Some other properties of the enzyme are described.     

Ca2+,Mg2+-ATPase of microsomal membranes from bovine aortic smooth muscle: effects of Sr2+ and Cd2+ on Ca2+ uptake and formation of the phosphorylated intermediate of the Ca2+,Mg2+-ATPase

The effects of various divalent cations on the Ca2+ uptake by microsomes from bovine aortic smooth muscle were studied. High concentrations (1 mM) of Co2+, Zn2+, Mn2+, Fe2+, and Ni2+ inhibited neither the Ca2+ uptake by the microsomes nor the formation of the phosphorylated intermediate (E approximately P) of the Ca2+,Mg2+-ATPase of the microsomes. The cadmium ion, however, inhibited both the Ca2+ uptake and the E approximately P formation by the microsomes. Dixon plot analysis indicated Cd2+ inhibited (Ki = 135 microM) the Ca2+ dependent E approximately P formation in a non-competitive manner. The inhibitory effect of Cd2+ was lessened by cysteine or dithiothreitol. The strontium ion inhibited the Ca2+ uptake competitively, while the E approximately P formation increased on the addition of Sr2+ at low Ca2+ concentrations. At a low Ca2+ concentration (1 microM), Sr2+ was taken up by the aortic microsomes in the presence of 1 mM ATP. It is thus suggested that Sr2+ replaces Ca2+ at the Ca2+ binding site on the ATPase.     

Regulation of fodder yeast Candida tropicalis glutamine synthetase activity by the end products of glutamine metabolism]

Effect of different products of glutamine metabolism on the activity of glutamine synthetase in the presence of Mg2+, and Mn2+ and Co2+ as cofactors is studied. All the metabolites studied are found to inhibit the glutamine synthetase activity in the presence of any cation listed. The degree and the character of the inhibition by one or other metabolite depended in a considerable degree on the nature of the cation presented in the reaction mixture (Mg2+, Mn2+ or Co2+). The mechanism of the cumulative effect of retroinhibitors under the change of Mg2+ or Mn2+ in the reaction mixture was the same.     

Cu2+, Co2+, and Mn2+ modify the gating kinetics of high-voltage-activated Ca2+ channels in rat palaeocortical neurons

The effects of three divalent metal cations (Mn2+, Co2+, and Cu2+) on high-voltage-activated (HVA) Ca2+ currents were studied in acutely dissociated pyramidal neurons of rat piriform cortex using the patch-clamp technique. Cu2+, Mn2+, and Co2+ blocked HVA currents conducted by Ba2+ ( IBa) with IC50 of approximately 920 nM, approximately 58 micro M, and approximately 65 micro M, respectively. Additionally, after application of non-saturating concentrations of the three cations, residual currents activated with substantially slower kinetics than control IBa. As a consequence, the current fraction abolished by the blocking cations typically displayed, in its early phase, an unusually fast-decaying transient. The latter phenomenon turned out to be a subtraction artifact, since none of the pharmacological components (L-, N-, P/Q-, and R-type) that constitute the total HVA currents under study showed a similarly fast early decay: hence, the slow activation kinetics of residual currents was not due to the preferential inhibition of a fast-activating/inactivating component, but rather to a true slowing effect of the blocker cations. The percent IBa-amplitude inhibition caused by Mn2+, Co2+, and Cu2+ was voltage-independent over the whole potential range explored (up to +30 mV), hence the slowing of IBa activation kinetics was not due to a mechanism of voltage- and time-dependent relief from block. Moreover, Mn2+, Co2+, and Cu2+ significantly reduced I(Ba) deactivation speed upon repolarization, which also is not compatible with a depolarization-dependent unblocking mechanism. The above results show that 1) Cu2+ is a particularly potent HVA Ca2+-channel blocker in rat palaeocortical neurons; and 2) Mn2+, Co2+, and Cu2+, besides exerting a blocking action on HVA Ca2+-channels, also modify Ca2+-current activation and deactivation kinetics, most probably by directly interfering with channel-state transitions.     

Raman spectroscopy of DNA-metal complexes. II. The thermal denaturation of DNA in the presence of Sr2+, Ba2+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Mn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, and Cd2+.

Differential scanning calorimetry, laser Raman spectroscopy, optical densitometry, and pH potentiometry have been used to investigate DNA melting profiles in the presence of the chloride salts of Ba2+, Sr2+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Mn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, and Cd2+. Metal-DNA interactions have been observed for the molar ratio [M2+]/[PO2-] = 0.6 in aqueous solutions containing 5% by weight of 160 bp mononucleosomal calf thymus DNA. All of the alkaline earth metals, plus Mn2+, elevate the melting temperature of DNA (Tm > 75.5 degrees C), whereas the transition metals Co2+, Ni2+, and Cd2+ lower Tm. Calorimetric (delta Hcal) and van't Hoff (delta HVH) enthalpies of melting range from 6.2-8.7 kcal/mol bp and 75.6-188.6 kcal/mol cooperative unit, respectively, and entropies from 17.5 to 24.7 cal/K mol bp. The average number of base pairs in a cooperative melting unit (<nmelt>) varied from 11.3 to 28.1. No dichotomy was observed between alkaline earth and transition DNA-metal complexes for any of the thermodynamic parameters other than their effects on Tm. These results complement Raman difference spectra, which reveal decreases in backbone order, base unstacking, distortion of glycosyl torsion angles, and rupture of hydrogen bonds, which occur after thermal denaturation. Raman difference spectroscopy shows that transition metals interact with the N7 atom of guanine in duplex DNA. A broader range of interaction sites with single-stranded DNA includes ionic phosphates, the N1 and N7 atoms of purines, and the N3 atom of pyrimidines. For alkaline earth metals, very little interaction was observed with duplex DNA, whereas spectra of single-stranded complexes are very similar to those of melted DNA without metal. However, difference spectra reveal some metal-specific perturbations at 1092 cm-1 (nPO2-), 1258 cm-1 (dC, dA), and 1668 cm-1 (nC==O, dNH2 dT, dG, dC). Increased spectral intensity could also be observed near 1335 cm-1 (dA, dG) for CaDNA. Optical densitometry, employed to detect DNA aggregation, reveals increased turbidity during the melting transition for all divalent DNA-metal complexes, except SrDNA and BaDNA. Turbidity was not observed for DNA in the absence of metal. A correlation was made between DNA melting, aggregation, and the ratio of Raman intensities I1335/I1374. At room temperature, DNA-metal interactions result in a pH drop of 1.2-2.2 units for alkaline earths and more than 2.5 units for transition metals. Sr2+, Ba2+, and Mg2+ cause protonated sites on the DNA to become thermally labile. These results lead to a model that describes DNA aggregation and denaturation during heating in the presence of divalent metal cations; 1) The cations initially interact with the DNA at phosphate and/or base sites, resulting in proton displacement. 2) A combination of metal-base interactions and heating disrupts the base pairing within the DNA duplex. This allows divalent metals and protons to bind to additional sites on the DNA bases during the aggregation/melting process. 3) Strands whose bases have swung open upon disruption are linked to neighboring strands by metal ion bridges. 4) Near the midpoint of the melting transition, thermal energy breaks up the aggregate. We have no evidence to indicate whether metal ion cross-bridges or direct base-base interactions rupture first. 5) Finally, all cross-links break, resulting in single-stranded DNA complexed with metal ions.     

Further studies on the binding of divalent cations to the phosphoglycoprotein phosvitin.

Dialysis equilibrium measurements at 25 degrees indicate that, at pH 6.8 and at a concentration of 1.0 times 10(-10) 3 M MnC12 or CoC12, phosvitin binds 113 Mn2+ and 120 Co2+. The binding is cooperative at low cation concentrations. The number of Mg2+, Ca2+, Mn2+, and Co2+ bound is not affected by temperatures of up to 60 degrees; however, the cooperactivity is enhanced. Optical rotatory dispersion and circular dichroism studies indicate that a conformational change occurs on binding of Mn2+ and Co2+ which parallels the one produced by Ca2+ and reported elsewhere [Grizzuti, K., and Perlmann, G.E. (1973), Biochemistry 12, 4399]. The conformational changes induced by Mg2+ and Mn2+ follow different paths. Upon binding of Mn2+ and Co2+ the intrinsic viscosity, [eta], of phosvitin decreases from about 0.5 to 0.03 dl/g, while Mg2+ and Ca2+ decrease [eta] to 0.048 dl/g. The ultraviolet absorption spectrum of phosvitin is altered upon binding of Ca2+, Mn2+, and Co2+, but not upon binding of Mg2+; an increase of the temperature to 60% has no further effect on the spectra.     

Effects of Mg2+, Ca2+ and Mn2+ on sheep liver cytoplasmic aldehyde dehydrogenase.

Sheep liver cytoplasmic aldehyde dehydrogenase is strongly inhibited by Mg2+, Ca2+ and Mn2+. The inhibition is only partial, however, with 8-15% of activity remaining at high concentrations of these agents. In 50 mM-Tris/Hcl, pH 7.5, the concentrations giving half-maximal effect were: Mg2+, 6.5 micrometers; Ca2+, 15.2 micrometers; Mn2+, 1.5 micrometer. The esterase activity of the enzyme is not affected by such low metal ion concentrations, but appears to be activated by high concentrations. Fluorescence-titration and stopped-flow experiments provide evidence for interaction of Mg2+ with NADH complexes of the enzyme. As no evidence for the presence of increased concentrations of functioning active centres was obtained in the presence of Mg2+, it is concluded that effects of Mg2+ (and presumably Ca2+ and Mn2+ also) are brought about by trapping increased concentrations of NADH in a Mg2+-containing complex. This complex must liberate products more slowly than any of the complexes involved in the non-inhibited mechanism.     

Activation of brain calcineurin phosphatase towards nonprotein phosphoesters by Ca2+, calmodulin, and Mg2+

Calcineurin purified from bovine brain was found to be active towards beta-naphthyl phosphate greater than p-nitrophenyl phosphate greater than alpha-naphthyl phosphate much greater than phosphotyrosine. In its native state, calcineurin shows little activity. It requires the synergistic action of Ca2+, calmodulin, and Mg2+ for maximum activation. Ca2+ and Ca2+ X calmodulin exert their activating effects by transforming the enzyme into a potentially active form which requires Mg2+ to express the full activity. Ni2+, Mn2+, and Co2+, but not Ca2+ or Zn2+, can substitute for Mg2+. The pH optimum, and the Vm and Km values of the phosphatase reaction are characteristics of the divalent cation cofactor. Ca2+ plus calmodulin increases the Vm in the presence of a given divalent cation, but has little effect on the Km for p-nitrophenyl phosphate. The activating effects of Mg2+ are different from those of the transition metal ions in terms of effects on Km, Vm, pH optimum of the phosphatase reaction and their affinity for calcineurin. Based on the Vm values determined in their respective optimum conditions, the order of effectiveness is: Mg2+ greater than or equal to Ni2+ greater than Mn2+ much greater than Co2+. The catalytic properties of calcineurin are markedly similar to those of p-nitrophenyl phosphatase activity associated with protein phosphatase 3C and with its catalytic subunit of Mr = 35,000, suggesting that there are common features in the catalytic sites of these two different classes of phosphatase.     

Effects of bivalent cations on prostaglandin biosynthesis and phospholipase A2 activation in rabbit kidney medulla slices.

The bivalent cations Ca2+, Mg2+, Co2+, Mn2+, Sr2+ and Ba2+ were compared for their stimulatory or inhibitory effect on prostaglandin formation in rabbit kidney medulla slices. Ca2+, Mn2+ and Sr2+ ions stimulated prostaglandin generation up to 3--5-fold in a time- and dose-dependent manner (Ca2+ greater than Mn2+ congruent to Sr2+). The stimulation by Mn2+ (but not by Sr2+) was also observed in incubations of medulla slices in the presence of Ca2+. Mg2+ and Co2+ ions were without significant effects on either basal or Ca2+-stimulated prostaglandin synthesis. The stimulatory effects of Ca2+, Mn2+ and Sr2+ on medullary generation of prostaglandin E2 were found to correlate with their stimulatory effects on the release of arachidonic acid and linoleic acid from tissue lipids. The release of other fatty acids was unaffected, except for a small increase in oleic acid release. As both arachidonic acid and linoleic acid are predominantly found in the 2-position of the glycerol moiety of phospholipids, the stimulation by these cations of prostaglandin E2 formation appears to be mediated via stimulation of phospholipase A2 activity.     

Comparison of Different Cations (Mn2+, Mg2+, Ca2+) on the Hydrolytic Activity of Chloroplast ATPase

The influences of Mn2+, Mg2+, and Ca2+ on the enzymic activity of chloroplast ATPase have been compared, using an HPLC method for the separation of ADP. The dissociation constants of the divalent ion-ATP complexes have been determined by a spectrophotometric method, with the dye antipyrylazo III, and enzymic constants (dissociation constant of the ion-enzyme complexes, Michaelis constants, maximum rates) have been calculated. The comparison between the rates obtained, respectively, with Mn2+ and Ca2+ alone with that given by the mixture of these two ions, allows us to conclude that, as for Mg2+, Mn2+ is also an activator of chloroplast ATPase and that metal-free ATP is the true substrate.     

产气肠杆菌几丁质酶的分离纯化及性质研究

从自然罹病死亡的草原毛虫(Gynephorap ruoergnesis)体内分离到一株产气肠杆菌(Enterobacter aerogenes),它在几丁质的诱导下能产生较高活性的几丁质酶。发酵液经硫酸铵盐析、DEAE纤维素柱层析和Sephadex G-100柱层析分离出几丁质酶。用SDSPAGE测得该酶的分子量为425kD。水解几丁质的Km值为2.88mg/mL-1。酶反应的最适温度为55℃,最适pH值为60,金属离子对几丁质酶活性影响较大,其中Zn2+、Ba2+、Ca2+和Mn2+对酶有较强的激活作用,而Hg2+、Co2+和Mg2+则有较强的抑制作用。     

Cation dependence of restriction endonuclease EcoRI activity

Restriction endonuclease EcoRI cleaves the DNA sequence 5'd(-G-A-A-T-T-C-) under optimum digestion conditions. A variation in pH and ionic strength can result in EcoRI activity when 5'd(-A-A-T-T-) is cut. A divalent cation, usually Mg2+, is required for enzyme activity, though Mn2+ can also be used. Eight different cations with ionic radius/charge ratios similar to Mg2+ were tested and Co2+ and Zn2+ were also found to act as cofactors for EcoRI. A comprehensive study has been made of the effect of NaCl and pH on the EcoRI/EcoRI transition in the presence of the above four cations. Generally, a decrease in NaCl and/or an increase in pH caused a decrease in enzyme specificity. The changeover depended on the cation. They may be placed in order of their ability to increase EcoRI specificity thus: Co2+ greater than Zn2+ greater than Mg2+ greater than Mn2+. The Km of EcoRI for ColE1 DNA, in the presence of Co2+, was found to be 0.4 nM, compared to 3 nM with Mg2+, whereas the turnover was only one double-stranded scission/min with Co2+ compared to eight/min with Mg2+. The implications of all these findings on the enzyme's mechanism are discussed.     

The spectrophotometric determination of micromolar concentrations of Co2+ using o-phenanthroline

Co2+ and o-phenanthroline formed a 1:3 complex with absorption maxima at 346, 332, 313, and 301 nm. The complex obeyed Beer's Law at the first three maxima. Standard curves constructed by monitoring the E346 at different concentrations of Co2+ had a maximum sensitivity of about 1 microM Co2+. At this concentration of Co2+ the delta E346 was 0.003 absorption units. This assay was not affected greatly by Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, Na+, or Tris. Erbium ions (Er3+) produced a small, nonspecific increase in absorbance at all wavelengths. Zn2+ also formed a complex with o-phenanthroline with maxima at 343, 328, and 313 nm. The absorbance of the Zn2+-o-phenanthroline complex was about 10% that of the Co2+-o-phenanthroline complex at 346 nm, but was still sufficient to cause interference at Zn2+ concentrations above 10 microM.     

Mn2+, Co2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ complexes with two macrocyclic ligands bearing L-lactate-like functions: potentiometric studies and evaluation of superoxide-scavenging properties of the Mn2+ complex

Some aerobic organisms devoid of SOD use Mn2+ chelates to scavenge the O2- radical. Since the Mn2+-bis(lactato)diaquo complex is known as having a high SOD-like activity, we prepared manganese(II) complexes with triazamacrocyclic ligands bearing L-lactate-like functions in order to obtain model compounds able to disproportionate the superoxide radical. Thus, two macrocyclic ligands, N,N',N"-tris[2(S)-hydroxybutyric acid]-1,4,7-triazacyclononane, L1, and N,N',N"-tris[2(S)-hydroxybutyric acid]-1,5,9-triazacyclododecane, L2, were prepared and their capacity to retain the Mn2+ ion in aqueous solution was determined from potentiometric experiments. The chelating properties in aqueous solution of each ligand towards Co2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ ions were also determined. L1 forms complexes with Mn2+, Co2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ ions with stability constants of 8.33(5), 15.78(5), 17.65(3) and 14.32(1), respectively. L2 forms complexes with Cu2+ and Zn2+ ions with stability constants of 10.67(1) and 6.98(3), respectively. But the constants related to the Mn2+ and Co2+ complexes were too low to be determined by the method used. The stability constants values calculated for L2 complexes are significantly lower than those for the corresponding complexes of L1. Additional spectroscopic measurements were carried out on the Mn2+-L1 system. The electronic spectrum of this system showed a pH-dependence that may be consistent with the formation of hydroxo-species as the ESR spectra recorded at 120 K did not show oxidation of the Mn2+ ion in the pH range studied. The superoxide-scavenging activity of the manganese(II)-L1 complex was investigated using the cytochrome c assay. The Mn2+-L1 system showed an IC50 value of 1.7 microM which indicates that it appears as a potent SOD mimic.     

Cation and sequence effects on stability of intermolecular pyrimidine-purine-purine triplex.

A differential effect is found of various bivalent cations (Ba2+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cd2+, Co2+, Mn2+, Ni2+, Zn2+ and Hg2+) on stability of intermolecular Py-Pu-Pu triplex with different sequence of base triads. Ca2+, Mg2+, Cd2+, Co2+, Mn2+, Ni2+ and Zn2+ do stabilize the d(C)n d(G)n d(G)n triplex whereas Ba2+ and Hg2+ do not. Ba2+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and Hg2+ destabilize the d(TC)n d(GA)n d(AG)n triplex whereas Cd2+, Co2+, Mn2+, Ni2+ and Zn2+ stabilize it. The complexes we observe are rather stable because they do not dissociate during time of gel electrophoresis in the co-migration experiments. Chemical probing experiments with dimethyl sulfate as a probe indicate that an arbitrary homopurine-homopyrimidine sequence forms triplex with corresponding purine oligonucleotide in the presence of Mn2+ or Zn2+, but not Mg2+. In the complex the purine oligonucleotide has antiparallel orientation with respect to the purine strand of the duplex. Specifically, we have shown the formation of the Py-Pu-Pu triplex in a fragment of human papilloma virus HPV-16 in the presence of Mn2+.     

Metal ion requirements for sequence-specific endoribonuclease activity of the Tetrahymena ribozyme

A shortened form of the self-splicing intervening sequence RNA of Tetrahymena thermophila acts as an enzyme, catalyzing sequence-specific cleavage of RNA substrates. We have now examined the metal ion requirements of this reaction. Mg2+ and Mn2+ are the only metal ions that by themselves give RNA enzyme activity. Atomic absorption spectroscopy indicates that Zn, Cu, Co, and Fe are not present in amounts equimolar to the RNA enzyme and when added to reaction mixtures do not facilitate cleavage. Thus, these ions can be eliminated as cofactors for the reaction. While Ca2+ has no activity by itself, it alleviates a portion of the Mg2+ requirement; 1 mM Ca2+ reduces the Mg2+ optimum from 2 to 1 mM. These results, combined with studies of the reactivity of mixtures of metal ions, lead us to postulate that two classes of metal ion binding sites are required for catalysis. Class 1 sites have more activity with Mn2+ than with Mg2+, with the other divalent ions and Na+ and K+ having no activity. It is not known if ions located at class 1 sites have specific structural roles or are directly involved in active-site chemistry. Class 2 sites, which are presumably structural, have an order of preference Mg2+ greater than or equal to Ca2+ greater than Mn2+ and Ca2+ greater than Sr2+ greater than Ba2+, with Zn2+, Cu2+, Co2+, Na+, and K+ giving no detectable activity over the concentration range tested.     

Wheat germ phosphoglycerate mutase: evidence for a metalloenzyme

Wheat germ phosphoglycerate mutase, exposed to 3.4 M guanidinium chloride at 22 degrees C and pH 7.8, slowly undergoes time-dependent inactivation which can be fully reversed by adding excess Co2+ or Mn2+ to a 50-fold dilution of the denaturing medium. Titration of the denatured enzyme with either Co2+ or Mn2+ shows that wheat germ mutase preferentially binds Co2+. Assuming 1:1 complexation between metal atom and protein, the apparent dissociation constants (Kd) for E Co2+ and E Mn2+ at 22 degrees C and pH 8.7 are approximately 1.06 and 1.84, respectively. Other metal atoms (e.g., Cr2+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Mg2+, and Ni2+) have no effect in restoring the apoenzyme's catalytic activity. At low concentrations (0.11-0.23 mM) Zn2+ partially restores activity, but promotes protein precipitation at elevated concentrations. Evidence suggests that all bisphosphoglycerate-independent phosphoglycerate mutases require either an intra- or an extramolecular metal atom in order to function. Attempts to characterize wheat germ mutase as a glycoprotein have yielded negative results.     

Dimethyl sulfoxide: a possible effect on the interconversion of phosphorylated forms of Na+,K(+)-ATPase

Purified Na+,K(+)-ATPase from kidney outer medulla was phosphorylated by Pi in a reaction synergistically stimulated by Mg2+, when 40% (v/v) dimethyl sulfoxide was added to the assay medium. The phosphoenzyme formed at this solvent concentration was able to synthesize ATP even in the presence of Mg2+, because hydrolysis was impaired. ATP in equilibrium [32P]Pi exchange was also inhibited, indicating that partial reactions in the forward direction were blocked by the solvent. In 40% (v/v) dimethyl sulfoxide the enzyme's affinity for ADP decreased, in comparison with the values observed in purely aqueous medium. Addition of K+, which accelerated dephosphorylation of Na+,K(+)-ATPase in a totally water medium, partially reversed the inhibition of hydrolysis that was observed in the presence of dimethyl sulfoxide.