Partial purification and some regulatory properties of pyruvate kinase from germinating castor bean endosperm

The activity of pyruvate kinase in castor bean endosperm wasfound to increase rapidly from the 3rd to 4th day of germination.The crude enzyme is very labile, but, was stabilized by addingMg²⁺ with a high concentration of ethyleneglycol or glycerol.The enzyme thus stabilized was partially purified about 150-foldby fractionation with ammonium sulfate, and chromatography withDEAE-cellulose and Sephadex G-150. The enzyme showed normalMichaelis-Menten kinetics for both substrates; K_m for PEP andADP were 0.058 mM and 0.13 mM, respectively. Optimum pH wasnear 6.5. The effects of many kinds of amino acids, intermediatesof glycolysis, and the tricarboxylic acid cycle on the activityof the enzyme were tested. ATP was found to inhibit and -ketoglutarateto activate enzymatic activity. (Received December 2, 1975; )     

Purification and regulatory properties of pigeon erythrocyte pyruvate kinase

1. Pigeon erythrocyte pyruvate kinase (PK) was purified 22,000 fold by successive column chromatography on Sephadex DEAE A-50 and Red Agarose. The resulting enzyme preparation had a specific activity of 815.3 U/mg protein and an overall yield of 18.5%. 2. The molecular weight, as determined by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200 was 152,000. 3. Isoelectric focusing in the pH range of 3-10 showed that pigeon erythrocyte contained at least 3 PK isozymes with isoelectric points of 5, 5.7 and 6. 4. The variation of activity of PK at various ADP and phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) concentrations was studied. The Km values for ADP and PEP were 0.40 and 0.46 mM respectively. 5. The enzyme was activated by FDP, and inhibited by ATP, highly phosphorylated inositol derivatives and 2,3-DPG: 6. It was activated by K+ and Mg2+ ions. 7. Phosphorylated hexoses and Pi stimulated the activity of PK. 8. The regulatory role of PK of pigeon erythrocytes, which lack the typical 2,3-DPG bypass, is discussed.     

The regulatory properties of yeast pyruvate kinase.

The kinetics of pyruvate kinase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae were studied in assays at pH 6.2 where the relationships between the initial velocities of the catalysed reaction and the concentrations of the substrates ADP, phosphoenolpyruvate and Mg2+ are non-hyperbolic. The findings were represented empirically by the exponential model for a regulatory enzyme. The analysis shows that ADP, phosphoenolpyruvate and Mg2+ display positive homotropic interaction in their binding behaviour with (calculated) Hill slopes at half-saturation equal to 1.06, 2.35 and 3.11 respectively [Ainsworth (1977) J. Theor. Biol. 68, 391-413]. The direct heterotropic interaction between ADP and phosphoenolpyruvate is small and negative, but the overall interaction between these substrates becomes positive when their positive interactions with Mg2+ are taken into account. The heterotropic interactions of the substrates, though smaller in magnitude, are comparable with those revealed by the rabbit muscle enzyme [Ainsworth, Kinderlerer & Gregory (1983) Biochem. J. 209, 401-411], and it is suggested that they have a common origin in charge interactions within the active site.     

The characterization and regulatory properties of pyruvate kinase from cotton seeds

Pyruvate kinase (ATP: pyruvate phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.40) was partially purified from cotton seeds. The enzyme shows normal kinetics toward phosphoenol-pyruvate, ADP, and magnesium or manganese. Of nearly 50 metabolites tested, the enzyme is inhibited only by ATP, UTP, citrate, and malate, and activated by AMP, GMP, and fumarate. The inhibition by citrate and ATP is not due to metal chelation; both compounds appear to directly affect the enzyme. The kinetics of the activations by AMP and by fumarate suggest the existence of separate activator sites for the two compounds.It is suggested that cotton seed pyruvate kinase is a regulatory enzyme, although it differs markedly from the regulatory pyruvate kinases which have been described in animals and in microorganisms. This is the first instance in which regulatory properties have been reported for a pyruvate kinase from a higher plant.     

Purification, catalytic and regulatory properties of Rana ridibunda erythrocyte pyruvate kinase

Pyruvate kinase of Rana ridibunda erythrocytes is one of the regulatory enzymes of glycolysis. PK was purified about 7800-fold. The purified enzyme showed on SDS-electrophoresis three protein bands with an apparent molecular weight of between 60 and 65 kD. The enzyme is subject to activation by FDP and to inhibition by ATP. It showed Km values for PEP and ADP of 0.095 and 0.98 mM respectively. It was activated by K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions whereas it was inhibited by Na+ ions. The role of PK of Rana ridibunda erythrocytes, as a key and rate controlling enzyme of the glycolytic flux is discussed.     

Structural and regulatory properties of pyruvate kinase from the Cyanobacterium synechococcus PCC 6301

Pyruvate kinase (PK) from the cyanobacterium Synechococcus PCC 6301 was purified 1,300-fold to electrophoretic homogeneity and a final specific activity of 222 micromol of pyruvate produced/min/mg of protein. The enzyme was shown to have a pI of 5.7 and to exist as a 280-kDa homotetramer composed of 66-kDa subunits. This PK appears to be immunologically related to Bacillus PK and a green algal chloroplast PK, but not to rabbit muscle PK, or vascular plant cytosolic and plastidic PKs. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the Synechococcus PK exhibited maximal (67%) identity with the corresponding region of a putative PK-A sequence deduced from the genome of the cyanobacterium, Synechocystis PCC 6803. Synechococcus PK was relatively heat-labile and displayed a broad pH optimum around pH 7.0. Its activity was not influenced by K(+), but required high concentrations of Mg(2+), and was relatively nonspecific with respect to the nucleoside diphosphate substrate. Potent allosteric regulation by various effectors was observed (activators: hexose monophosphates, ribose 5-phosphate, glycerol 3-phosphate, and AMP; inhibitors: fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, inorganic phosphate, ATP, and several Krebs' cycle intermediates). The enzyme exhibited marked positive cooperativity for phosphoenolpyruvate, which was eliminated or reduced by the presence of the allosteric activators. The results are discussed in terms of the phylogeny and probable central role of PK in the control of cyanobacterial glycolysis.     

The regulatory properties of yeast pyruvate kinase. Effect of pH.

The kinetics of pyruvate kinase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae were studied at 25 degrees C as a function of the concentrations of the substrates ADP, phosphoenolpyruvate and Mg2+ and the effector H+ in the pH range 5-6.6. The enzyme was activated by 100 mM-K+ and 32 mM-NH4+ throughout. It was found that the data could be described by the exponential model for a regulatory enzyme. On that basis, it was concluded that the binding of H+ is positively interactive and that the protonated enzyme is catalytically inactive. It was also found that H+ interacts positively with phosphoenolpyruvate but negatively with both ADP and Mg2+.     

On the regulatory properties of the pyruvate kinase from Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes

Streptomycetes are Gram-positive bacteria growing as branching filaments. The filaments are able to deform. This ability allows the cells to squeeze through capillaries as small as 0.2 micron in diameter. After passage through the capillaries, numerous hyphae are morphologically altered to a helical structure.     

A new pyruvate kinase variant (PK Osaka) demonstrated by partial purification and condensation.

A qualitative variant of erythrocyte and liver pyruvate kinases (PK Osaka) was detected in a family in which two siblings have extremely low PK activity by semipurification with DEAE cellulose chromatography and subsequent concentration of the enzyme solutions. This was previously reported to be a quantitative variant based on studies of crude tissue preparations. The molecular aberrations were characterized by slow mobility upon electrophoresis, abnormal kinetics for phosphoenolpyruvate, and low affinity for anti-human erythrocyte PK serum. The mutant PK L was similar both electrophoretically and immunologically to PK R.     

Maize leaf adenylate kinase : purification and partial characterization

Adenylate kinase (EC 2.7.4.3) from leaves of maize (Zea mays) was purified to homogeneity using (NH₄)₂SO₄ fractionation, followed by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, hydroxyapatite, Sephadex G-75SF, and Green A dye-ligand columns. The purified enzyme had specific activity of about 1,550 micromoles ADP produced per minute per milligram protein, and the ratio of velocities of the reverse (utilization of ATP) to forward (formation of ATP) reaction was about 1.5. The M_r value of adenylate kinase, determined by electrophoresis in dissociating conditions and by gel filtration, was 29,000 and 31,000 respectively, suggesting monomeric nature of the enzyme. Purified preparations were stable for at least 1 month at 0 to 4°C. Magnesium ions were essential for activity of adenylate kinase in both directions of the reaction. Optimal rates in the forward direction were observed at the magnesium to ADP ratio of about 0.6 to 0.8. For the reverse reaction, ATP served as a substrate only when complexed with magnesium, while AMP reacted as a free species. The enzyme preferentially utilized adenine ribonucleotides in both directions of the reaction. The nucleoside triphosphate-binding site of adenylate kinase was fairly nonspecific with regard to nucleotide species. On the other hand, the primary amino group of either adenine and cytosine moieties was essential for effective binding to the nucleoside monophosphate site of the enzyme.     

Spinach leaf phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase: purification, properties, and kinetic studies

Spinach leaf phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase has been purified to homogeneity using salt fractionatjon, chromatography, and immunologie procedures to remove contaminating ribulose diphosphate carboxylase. From gel filtration and isoelectric focusing, the molecular weight (~560,000) and isoelectric point (pI = 4.9) are indistinguishable from those of ribulose diphosphate carboxylase. The subunit molecular weight of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (130,000) suggests that the native enzyme is a tetramer.Kinetic studies using Mg²⁺ or Mn²⁺ as the activator indicate that the divalent cation lowers the K_m of the substrate phosphoenolpyruvate by an order of magnitude and conversely, that the presence of the substrate similarly lowers the K_m of the metal ion, suggesting an enzyme-metal-substrate bridge complex. Three analogs of phosphoenolpyruvate, lphospholactate, d-phospholactate, and phosphoglycolate are potent competitive inhibitors. The inhibitor constant (K_i) of l-phospholactate (2 μm) is 49-fold lower with Mn²⁺ as the activator than with Mg²⁺. An analysis of the competitive inhibition by portions of the l-phospholactate molecule (i.e., l-lactate, methyl phosphate, and phosphite) indicates this 49-fold lowering is due to increased interaction of the phosphoryl group and, to a lesser extent, of the carboxyl and C-O-P bridge oxygen of l-phospholactate with the enzyme metal complex. The results provide indirect evidence for phosphoryl coordination by the enzyme-bound divalent cation.     

Leishmania pyruvate kinase: the crystal structure reveals the structural basis of its unique regulatory properties

Glycolysis occupies a central role in cellular metabolism, and is of particular importance for the catabolic production of ATP in protozoan parasites such as Leishmania and Trypanosoma. In these organisms pyruvate kinase plays a key regulatory role, and is unique in responding to fructose 2,6-bisphosphate as allosteric activator. The determination of the crystal structure of the first eukaryotic pyruvate kinase in the T-state (the inactive or 'tense' conformation of allosteric enzymes) is described. A comparison of the effector sites of the Leishmania and yeast enzymes reveals the structural basis for the different effector specificity. Two loops, comprising residues 443-453 and 480-489, adopt very different conformations in the two enzymes, and Lys-453 and His-480 that are a feature of trypanosomatid enzymes provide probable ligands for the 2-phospho group of the effector molecule. These and other differences offer an opportunity for the design of drugs that would exploit regulatory differences between parasite and host.     

Chloroplast phosphofructokinase in the green alga, Dunaliella marina: partial purification and kinetic and regulatory properties

The aim of this work was to study the pathway(s) of sugar phosphate metabolism in chloroplasts of the unicellular green alga, Dunaliella marina (Volvocales). Phosphofructokinase, detectable in crude cell extracts, copurifled with intact chloroplasts on sucrose density gradients. In isolated chloroplasts, phosphofructokinase activity displayed latency to the same degree as chloroplast marker enzymes. From the quantitative distribution of enzyme activities in fractionated cells, it is concluded that there is an exclusive localization of phosphofructokinase in chloroplasts. In addition, no separation into multiple forms could be achieved. For the study of regulatory properties, chloroplast phosphofructokinase was partially purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation followed by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. The pH optimum of the enzyme activity was 7.0 and was not altered with varying concentrations of substrates or low-molecular-weight effectors. Fructose 6-phosphate showed a sigmoidal saturation curve whose shape was further changed with varying protein concentrations of the preparation. The second substrate, ATP, gave a hyperbolic saturation curve with a Michaelis constant of 60 μm. At a Mg²⁺ concentration of 2.5 mm, ATP concentrations exceeding 1 mm inhibited the enzyme in a positive cooperative manner. The same type of inhibition was observed with other phosphorylated intermediates of carbon metabolism, the most efficient being phosphoenolpyruvate, glycolate 2-phosphate, glycerate 3-phosphate, and glycerate 2-phosphate. Inorganic phosphate was the only activator found for phosphofructokinase. With nonsaturating fructose 6-phosphate concentrations, P_i activated in a positive cooperative fashion, while no activation occurred with saturating fructose 6-phosphate concentrations. In the presence of either an activator or an inhibitor, the sigmoidal shape of the fructose 6-phosphate saturation curve was altered. Most notably, the activator P_i could relieve the inhibitory action of ATP, phosphoenolpyruvate, glycerate 3-phosphate, glycerate 2-phosphate, and glycolate 2-phosphate. Based on these experimental findings, the regulatory properties of D. marina chloroplast phosphofructokinase are discussed with respect to its playing a key role in the regulation of chloroplast starch metabolism during a light/dark transition. All available evidence is compatible with the interpretation that phosphofructokinase is active only in the dark thus channeling starch degradation products into glycolysis.     

The regulatory properties of rabbit muscle pyruvate kinase. The influence of effector concentrations

The initial velocity of the reaction catalysed by rabbit muscle pyruvate kinase was studied as a function of the concentrations of the modifiers phenylalanine and fructose 1,6-bisphosphate under conditions where the relationships between the initial velocities and the concentrations of substrates are non-hyperbolic. It is shown that these data can be represented by the exponential model for a regulatory enzyme.     

The regulatory properties of rabbit muscle pyruvate kinase. The effect of pH.

The regulatory behavior of rabbit pyruvate kinase has been studied as a function of pH. The initial velocity of the enzyme-catalysed reaction as a function of ADP concentration was analysed with the exponential model for a regulatory enzyme. The analysis of the exponential model parameters as functions of pH provided pK values of 6.6 and 8.08 for the free enzyme in its fully ADP-bound conformation. By contrast, the binding of ADP to the ADP-free conformation of the free enzyme did not involve groups that ionize within the pH range (6.2-8.5) of these experiments. The results suggest that homotropic allosteric interactions actually alter the mode of ADP binding. The pK values of 6.63 and 9.00 determined from the analysis of V as a function of pH are readily interpreted in terms of a direct phosphoryl-transfer mechanism in which the beta-phosphoryl group of ADP (pK 6.63) acts as the nucleophile and a lysine epsilon-amino group (pK 9.0) acts as the proton donor in the pyruvate kinase reaction.