NMR spectra of exchangeable protons of pyridoxal phosphate-dependent enzymes

We have recorded 1H NMR spectra in H2O for exchangeable protons of four pyridoxal phosphate-dependent enzymes: D-serine dehydratase, aspartate aminotransferase, tryptophan: indole-lyase and glutamate decarboxylase. The molecular masses range from 48-250 kDa. In every case there are downfield peaks which are lost when the apoenzyme is formed. In most cases some peaks shift in response to interactions with substrates and inhibitors and with changes in pH. We associate one downfield resonance with the proton on the ring nitrogen of the coenzyme and others with imidazole groups that interact with coenzyme or substrates. The chemical shift for the coenzyme-bound proton differs for free enzyme, substrate Schiff base or quinonoid forms.     

Regulation of aspartate aminotransferase activity associated with change of pyridoxal phosphate level.

The activities of aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1) in the cytosol fractions of the liver and kidney of rats fed pyridoxine-deficient or control diet for 3 weeks were determined. In the absence of pyridoxal phosphate, the activities in the liver and kidney preparations of deficient rats were both abnormally low. The activity in the kidney fraction of deficient rats was restored to almost the control level by addition of pyridoxal phosphate, whereas that of the liver was only partially restored. The antigen activity, however, measured using anti-aspartate aminotransferase, was similar in liver fractions from deficient and control rats. These findings suggest the existence of a form of transaminase with little or no activity in the liver of deficient rats. The properties of the crude enzymes from deficient and control rats were indistinguishable by immunodiffusion, and the enzymes had the same subunit size and heat stability under the conditions tested. However, purified enzyme from deficient rat liver had a different specific activity and absorption spectrum from purified enzyme from normal liver.     

Porcine cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase reconstituted with [4'-13C]pyridoxal phosphate. pH- and ligand-induced changes of the coenzyme observed by 13C NMR spectroscopy

Apoenzyme samples of aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT) purified from the cytosolic fraction of pig heart were reconstituted with [4'-13C]pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (pyridoxal-P). The 13C NMR spectra of AspAT samples thus generated established the chemical shift of 165.3 ppm for C4' of the coenzyme bound as an internal aldimine with lysine 258 of the enzyme at pH 5. In the absence of ligands the chemical shift of C4' was shown to be pH dependent, shifting 5 ppm upfield to a constant value of 160.2 ppm above pH 8, the resulting pKa of 6.3 in agreement with spectrophotometric titrations. The addition of the competitive inhibitor succinate to the internal aldimine raises the pKa of the imine to 7.8, consistent with the theory of charge neutralization in the active site. In the presence of saturating concentrations of 2-methylaspartic acid the C4' signal of the coenzyme was shown to be invariant with pH and located at 162.7 ppm, midway between the observed chemical shifts of the protonated and unprotonated forms of the internal aldimine. The intermediate chemical shift of the external aldimine complex is thought to reflect the observation of an equilibrium mixture composed of roughly equal populations of the protonated ketoenamine and a dipolar anion species, corresponding to their respective spectral bands at 430 and 360-370 nm. Conversion to the pyridoxamine form was accomplished via reaction of the internal aldimine with L-cysteinesulfinate or by reduction with sodium borohydride, and the resulting C4' chemical shifts were identified by difference spectroscopy. Finally, the line widths of the C4' resonance under the various conditions were measured and qualitatively compared. The results are discussed in terms of the current mechanism and molecular models of the active site of AspAT.     

Experimental diabetes causes mitochondrial loss and cytoplasmic enrichment of pyridoxal phosphate and aspartate aminotransferase activity

The streptozotocin diabetic rat was selected as a model to study how insulin deficiency alters vitamin B6 utilization by focusing on pyridoxal phosphate levels and aspartate aminotransferase activities in liver tissues. Diabetes of 15 weeks' duration lowered plasma pyridoxal phosphate levels by 84%. Normal plasma pyridoxal phosphate was 480 pmole/ml. Fractionation of liver into mitochondrial and extramitochondrial compartments demonstrated that diabetes caused a 43% diminution in mitochondrial pyridoxal phosphate per gram of liver. There was no cytoplasmic change in these diabetic rats. Mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase activity was decreased 53% per gram of diabetic liver and cytoplasmic aspartate aminotransferase activity was elevated 3.4-fold. Damage to diabetic mitochondria during preparation procedures could not account for the rise in cytoplasmic aspartate aminotransferase activity. Electrophoresis showed that in the diabetic cytoplasm both cathodal and anodal forms of the enzyme were elevated. Speculations concerning mitochondrial loss and cytoplasmic gain of enzyme activity as well as those on the reduction of plasma pyridoxal phosphate in the diabetic rat are presented.     

Acrolein modifies and inhibits cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase

Acrolein is a reactive lipid peroxidation byproduct, which is found in ischemic tissue. We examined the effects of acrolein on cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase (cAAT), which is an enzyme that was previously shown to be inhibited by glycating agents. cAAT is thought to protect against ischemic injury. We observed that acrolein cross-linked cAAT subunits as evidenced by the presence of high molecular weight bands following SDS-PAGE. Acrolein-modified cAAT resisted thermal denaturation when compared with native cAAT. We also observed a decrease in intrinsic fluorescence (290 nm, ex; 380 nm, em). These observations are consistent with an acrolein-induced change in conformation that is more rigid and compact than native cAAT, suggesting that intramolecular cross-links occurred. Acrolein also inhibited activity, and the inhibition of enzyme activity correlated with the acrolein-induced formation of cAAT cross-links.     

Crystal structure of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase.

The crystal structure of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cytoplasmic aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1) has been determined to 2.05 A resolution in the presence of the cofactor pyridoxal-5'-phosphate and the competitive inhibitor maleate. The structure was solved by the method of molecular replacement. The final value of the crystallographic R-factor after refinement was 23.1% with good geometry of the final model. The yeast cytoplasmic enzyme is a homodimer with two identical active sites containing residues from each subunit. It is found in the "closed" conformation with a bound maleate inhibitor in each active site. It shares the same three-dimensional fold and active site residues as the aspartate aminotransferases from Escherichia coli, chicken cytoplasm, and chicken mitochondria, although it shares less than 50% sequence identity with any of them. The availability of four similar enzyme structures from distant regions of the evolutionary tree provides a measure of tolerated changes that can arise during millions of years of evolution.     

Role of tryptophan, histidine and methionine residues in the catalytic activity of mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase from beef kidney.

The role of tryptophan, methionine, and histidine residues in mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase from beef kidney has been established by using N-bromosuccinimide, 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzylbromide, and tetraiodofluoresceine as specific chemical modifiers of the amino acid residues of the enzyme. Since N-bromosuccinimide promotes extensive inactivation of the enzyme and the chemical modification of 1.65 tryptophan and 3 methionine residues per enzymes protomer, 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzylbromide modifies once more 1.65 tryptophan residues per enzyme protomer but induces only 10% inactivation of the enzyme. Tetraiodofluoresceine exerts a 40% inactivation of the enzyme which is due to the chemical modification of 5.8 histidine res in     

Purification and characterization of chicken brain cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase

Aspartate aminotransferase from the cytosolic fraction of chicken brain was isolated with acceptable yield and high degree of purity. The enzyme appeared in multiple molecular forms: , , , and ( predominates), as detected by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with specific staining. These different forms of the enzyme were separated by DEAE-Sephacel chromatography, and showed different isoelectric points and maximal velocities values, whereas their molecular weight, optimum pH and Michaelis constants were very similar. Generation process studies suggest that minors subforms of the enzyme could be raised from form by a mechanism in which the oxidation of particular amino acid groups are involved.Abbreviations used AAT aspartate aminotransferase - c-AAT cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase - IU international units - LDH Iactate dehydrogenase - MDH malate dehydrogenase - 2-ME 2-mercaptoethanol - PAGE polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - PLP pyridoxal-5-phosphate - S.A. specific activity     

The separate effects of coenzyme components may not be additive. Roles of pyridoxal and inorganic phosphate in aspartate aminotransferase apoenzymes

Both cytosolic and mitochondrial aspartate transaminase can be resolved of pyridoxal phosphate. The resulting apoenzymes still bind individual structural components of the coenzyme. The separate contributions of coenzyme components to protein thermal stability have been independently assessed for phosphate ions (Pi) and for the pyridoxal or pyridoxamine components of the coenzyme. 31P NMR and differential scanning calorimetry reveal that the thermodynamic contributions of binding are not additive and are dissimilar for the two isozymes. High and low affinity sites for Pi binding are present in both apoenzymes with only the low affinity site being present in the holoenzyme forms. The contribution of both bound phosphates to increasing temperatures (Tm) and enthalpies (delta Hd) of denaturation differ between the isozymes and within sites. In either isozyme occupancy of the high affinity site by Pi produces only a 4- or 5- degree increase in the Tm value with respect to Pi-free apoenzyme. By contrast, in the mitochondrial apoenzyme, the presence of Pi at the second low affinity site increases the calorimetric parameters from Tm = 47 degrees C and delta Hd = 4.7 cal g-1 to Tm = 62 degrees C and delta Hd = 7 cal g-1. For cytosolic apoenzyme the respective changes are from 66 to 69.5 degrees C and 5.2 to 5.8 cal g-1. Addition of pyridoxal, but not pyridoxamine, displaces the high affinity Pi in both apoenzymes. This shows that the pyridine ring and Pi groups of pyridoxal-P bind exclusive of each other when they are not covalently linked as an ester, as in the coenzyme. The observation has been exploited as a method to prepare completely dephosphorylated mitochondrial apoenzyme. Electrostatic effects, structural differences in the phosphate binding pockets, and steric effects can be invoked to account for the Pi and pyridine binding behavior in the two proteins.     

Effect of phosphate and other inorganic anions on the activity of chicken liver cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase

Chicken liver aspartate aminotransferase was inhibited by several inorganic anions. The inhibitory effect of the anions was related to their chaotropic character. Apparent Km (2-oxoglutarate) and Km (L-aspartate) values depended on the molarity of the buffer. The profile of the curves obtained did not depend on the nature of the enzyme sample assayed. Phosphate slightly inhibited the holoaspartate aminotransferase and was a strong inhibitor of apoaspartate aminotransferase with respect to pyridoxal phosphate.     

The interaction of pyridoxal phosphate with aspartate apoaminotransferase

The rate of binding of pyridoxal phosphate to the apoenzyme of pig heart cytoplasmic aspartate aminotransferase (l-aspartate: 2-oxoglurate aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.1) was measured by absorption spectroscopy and by formation of active enzyme. At pH 5.1 and 8.3 the binding of coenzyme follows saturation kinetics. The binding process thus involves at least two steps.The rate of pyridoxal phosphate binding to the apoenzyme is dependent on the anion present in the pH 8.3 triethanolamine buffer. Chloride activates somewhat at very low concentrations. Phosphate and its methyl, ethyl, and phenyl esters are very effective inhibitors of the recombination in that 0.2–0.4 mM inhibit the rate of coenzyme binding by 50%. This is below the physiological concentration of phosphate. Sulfate also inhibits the rate of binding, but nitrate and acetate have little effect.     

Induction of cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase by a high-protein diet

Induction of cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase (glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase) was observed in rat liver on administration of a high-protein diet. The enzyme activity in the liver of rats given 60% and 80% protein diet increased to 1.8- and 1.9-fold that in the liver of rats maintained on 20% protein diet, with about 2-fold increases in the levels of functional sGOT mRNA, measured by in vitro translation. Whereas the activity of mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase did not increase. Induction of cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase was also detected immunocytochemically.     

Interactions of pyridoxal kinase and aspartate aminotransferase emission anisotropy and compartmentation studies

Physical interactions between pyridoxal kinase and aspartate aminotransferase were detected by means of emission anisotropy and affinity chromatography techniques. Binding of aspartate aminotransferase (apoenzymes) to pyridoxal kinase tagged with a fluorescent probe was detected by emission anisotropy measurements at pH 6.8 (150 mM KCl). Upon saturation of the kinase with the aminotransferase, the emission anisotropy increases 22%. The protein complex is characterized by a dissociation constant of 3 microM. Time-dependent emission anisotropy measurements conducted with the mixture 5-naphthylamine-1-sulfonic acid-kinase aspartate aminotransferase (apoenzyme), revealed the presence of two rotational correlation times of phi 1 = 36 and phi 2 = 62 ns. The longer correlation time is attributed to the stable protein complex. By immobilizing one enzyme (pyridoxal kinase) through interactions with pyridoxal-Sepharose, it was possible to demonstrate that aspartate aminotransferase releases pyridoxal kinase. A test of compartmentation of pyridoxal-5-phosphate within the protein complex using alkaline phosphatase as trapping agent, indicates that the cofactor generated by the catalytic action of the kinase is channeled to the apotransaminase. The main function of the stable complex formed by the kinase and the aminotransferase is to hinder the release of free pyridoxal-5-phosphate into the bulk solvent.     

Release of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate upon unfolding of mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase

Dimeric mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase (mAAT) contains a molecule of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) tightly attached to each of its two identical active sites. The presence of this natural reporter allows us to study separately local perturbations in the architecture of this critical region of the molecule during unfolding. Upon unfolding of the enzyme with guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl), the coenzyme is completely released from the active site. The transition midpoint for the dissociation of PLP is 1.4+/-0.02 M when determined by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) and 1.6+/-0.02 M when the protein-bound PLP is estimated by electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). In both cases the transition midpoint is higher than that of inactivation (1.3+/-0.01 M). On the other hand, the midpoint of the unfolding transition obtained by monitoring changes in ellipticity at 356 nm, which reflects the asymmetric environment of the PLP cofactor at the active site, is 1.19+/-0.011 M guanidine. These results indicate that the unfolding of mAAT is a multi-step process which includes an intermediate containing bound PLP but lacking catalytic activity.     

Inhibition by cycloserine of mitochondrial and cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase in isolated rat hepatocytes.

Isolated hepatocytes were incubated with L-cycloserine and then treated with digitonin so that mitochondrial and cytosolic fractions were obtained in 5 s. Mitochondrial and total cellular aspartate aminotransferases (EC 2.6.1.1) were inactivated in parallel. The enzyme was also inhibited in isolated mitochondria incubated with L-cycloserine. These results, in contrast with previous reports, indicate that cycloserine reacts equally with mitochondrial and cytosolic aspartate aminotransferases.     

The amino acid sequence of cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase from human liver.

1. The cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase was purified from human liver. 2. The isoenzyme contains four cysteine residues, only one of which reacts with 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) in the absence of denaturing agents. 3. The amino acid sequence of the isoenzyme is reported, as determined from peptides produced by digestion with trypsin and with CNBr, and from sub-digestion of some of these peptides with Staphylococcus aureus V8 proteinase. 4. The isoenzyme shares 48% identity of amino acid sequence with the mitochondrial form from human heart. 5. Comparisons of the amino acid sequences of all known mammalian cytosolic aspartate aminotransferases and of the same set of mitochondrial isoenzymes are reported. The results indicate that the cytosolic isoenzymes have evolved at about 1.3 times the rate of the mitochondrial forms. 6. The time elapsed since the cytosolic and mitochondrial isoenzymes diverged from a common ancestral protein is estimated to be 860 x 10(6) years. 7. Experimental details and confirmatory data for the results presented here are given in a supplementary paper that has been deposited as a Supplementary Publication SUP 50158 (25 pages) at the British Library Document Supply Centre, Boston Spa, Wetherby, West Yorkshire LS23 7BQ, U.K., from whom copies can be obtained on the terms indicated in Biochem. J. (1990) 265, 5.