Partial Purification and Properties of l-Glutamine d-Fructose 6-Phosphate Amidotransferase from Phaseolus aureus

l-Glutamine d-fructose 6-phosphate amidotransferase (EC 2.6.1.16) was extracted and purified 600-fold by acetone fractionation and diethylaminoethyl cellulose column chromatography from mung bean seeds (Phaseolus aureus). The partially purified enzyme was highly specific for l-glutamine as an amide nitrogen donor, and l-asparagine could not replace it. The enzyme showed a pH optimum in the range of 6.2 to 6.7 in phosphate buffer. Km values of 3.8 mm and 0.5 mm were obtained for d-fructose 6-phosphate and l-glutamine, respectively. The enzyme was competitively inhibited with respect to d-fructose 6-phosphate by uridine diphosphate-N-acetyl-d-glucosamine which had a Ki value of 13 μm. Upon removal of l-glutamine and its replacement by d-fructose 6-phosphate and storage over liquid nitrogen, the enzyme was completely desensitized to inhibition by uridine diphosphate-N-acetyl-d-glucosamine. This indicates that the inhibitor site is distinct from the catalytic site and that uridine diphosphate-N-acetyl-d-glucosamine acts as a feedback inhibitor of the enzyme.     

Methionyl-tRNA Synthetase from Phaseolus aureus: Purification and Properties

l-Methionyl-tRNA synthetase (EC 6.1.1.10) from seeds of Phaseolus aureus has been purified approximately 290-fold. Optimum assay conditions were determined by using the ATP-pyrophosphate exchange assay and the aminoacylation assay. The enzyme catalyzes both selenomethionine- and selenoethionine-dependent ATP-pyrophosphate exchange in addition to catalyzing the formation of selenomethionyl-tRNA at a rate comparable to the rate of formation of methionyl-tRNA. Competition experiments were conducted to investigate further the substrate specificity of the purified enzyme. Two peaks of methionyl-tRNA synthetase were detected by using Sephadex G-200 gel filtration; the molecular weights of the two enzymes as determined by Sephadex G-200 column chromatography were 340,000 and 85,000. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis suggests that the enzyme is a tetramer consisting of four identical monomers with molecular weights of 85,000.     

Cysteinyl-tRNA Synthetase from Phaseolus aureus: Purification and Properties

l-Cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase (EC 6.1.1.16) from Phaseolus aureus was purified approximately 300-fold and was free of contaminating aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. Optimum assay conditions were determined and substrate specificity and inhibitor properties were investigated using the ATP-PPi exchange reaction. The Km values for l-cysteine, ATP, and PPi were 6.20 x 10(-5)m, 1.15 x 10(-3)m, and 1 x 10(-3)m, respectively. Both l-selenocysteine (Km = 5 x 10(-5)m) and alpha-l-aminobutyric acid (Km = 1 x 10(-2)m) acted as alternative substrates of the purified cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase. The enzyme was sensitive to sulfhydryl group reagents; it was inhibited by sulfide, 0-acetylserine, and reduced glutathione.     

The Incorporation of d-Glucosamine into Glycolipids and Glycoproteins of Membrane Preparations from Phaseolus aureus Hypocotyls

Radioactivity from d-glucosamine-(14)C is incorporated into particulate fractions of hypocotyls of Phaseolus aureus (mung bean) seedlings. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the sodium dodecyl sulfate-solubilized materials revealed that several polypeptide components varying considerably in molecular weight had become radioactive during the incubation. A considerable amount of (14)C was also recovered in lipid. Equilibrium centrifugation of the particulate material, isolated by initial centrifugation at 100,000 times gravity on sucrose density gradients revealed that radioactivity was recoverable in all of the membrane fractions along the gradient. It is suggested that glycoproteins and glycolipids containing amino sugar are normal constituents of such membranes. The ability of the particulate preparations to catalyze the transfer of N-acetyl-d-glucosamine from uridine diphospho-N-acetyl-d-glucosamine to endogenous acceptor material was also tested. Transfer was optimal at around pH 9 and in the presence of 10 mm Mg(2+), and it occurred largely into an unidentified lipid fraction. After equilibrium centrifugation of crude membrane material on sucrose gradients, a number of distinct fractions could be detected which would catalyze the transfer reaction. Uridine diphospho-d-glucose transferase activity showed a similar but not identical distribution along the gradient.     

Purification and Properties of NADP-Dependent Sorbitol-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase from Apple Seedlings

NADP-dependent sorbitol-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (S6PDH) waspurified from apple (Malus domestica) seedlings by a purificationprocedure that included two fractionations by affinity chromatography.The purified enzyme was a homogeneous protein that migratedas a single polypeptide chain with an apparent relative massof 36,000 during SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis andthe native enzyme was a homodimer of the polypeptide. The maximumvelocity of the reduction of glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) was muchhigher than that of the oxidation of sorbitol-6-phosphate (S6P)and the enzyme had high G6P-reducing activity over the pH rangefrom 7 to 11 even though the oxidation of S6P proceeded veryslowly at neutral pH. These results are consistent with thehypothesis that S6PDH plays a major role in the biosynthesisof sorbitol in vivo. The reduction of G6P to S6P was inhibitedby the addition of nucleotide di- or triphosphates. ATP, thestrongest inhibitor, and ADP inhibited the reduction of G6Pin a competitive manner with respect to NADPH and the K_i valueswere 0.18 mM for ATP and 0.30 mM for ADP. (Received March 24, 1992; Accepted May 25, 1993)     

Purification and Properties of Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase from Bacillus subtilis Spores

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase [d-glucose-6-phosphate: NADP oxidoreductase, EC. 1. 1. 1. 49] obtained from spores of Bacillus subtilis PCI 219 strain was partially purified by filtration on Sephadex G-200, ammonium sulfate fractionation and chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-25 (about 54-fold). The optimum pH for stability of this enzyme was about 6.3 and the optimum pH for the reaction about 8.3. The apparent K_m values of the enzyme were 5.7 × 10^–4 M for glucose-6-phosphate and 2.4 × 10^–4 M for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP). The isoelectric point was about pH 3.9. The enzyme activity was unaffected by the addition of Mg⁺⁺ or Ca⁺⁺. The inactive glucoses-6-phosphate dehydrogenase obtained from the spores heated at 85 C for 30 min was not reactivated by the addition of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, dipicolinic acid or some salts unlike inactive glucose dehydrogenase.     

Partial Purification and Some Properties of Stearyl-Coa: Sn-Glycerol-3-Phosphate Acyltransferase from Liver Microsomes

About fourfold purification of the stearyl-CoA: sn-glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferases (GPAT) was achieved from liver microsomes by extraction with 1M phosphate buffer (pH 7–4) followed by gel filtration. The partially purified enzyme synthesized mainly diacylgly-cerophosphate and a small amount (5%) of monoacylglycerophosphate. Patty aoyl-CoA synthetase and to some extent stearyl-CoA desaturase were copurified along with the transferases. Data obtained from molecular sieve chromatography, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and electron microscopy showed that GPAT activity was tightly bound to a high molecular weight protein fraction with vesicular structure.     

Characterization and Regulatory Properties of Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase from Black Gram (Phaseolus mungo)

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.49) was partially purified by fractionation with ammonium sulfate and phosphocellulose chromatography. The K_m value for glucose-6-phosphate is 1.6 × 10^?4 and 6.3 × 10^?4M at low (1.0–6.0 × 10^?4M) and high (6.0–30.0 × 10^?4M) concentrations of the substrate, respectively. The K_m value for NADP⁺ is 1.4 × 10^?5M. The enzyme is inhibited by NADPH, 5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate, and ATP, and it is activated by Mg²⁺, and Mn²⁺. In the presence of NADPH, the plot of activity vs. NADP⁺ concentration gave a sigmoidal curve. Inhibition of 5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate and ATP is reversed by Mg²⁺ or a high pH. It is suggested that black gram glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase is a regulatory enzyme of the pentose phosphate pathway.     

Purification and Some Catalytic Properties of Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Isoforms from Barley Leaves

The cytosolic and chloroplastic isoforms of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G₆PDH) were separated and purified from barley leaves (Hordeum vulgare L.). In etiolated leaves, only the cytosolic isoform was expressed. The molecular mass of the cytosolic enzyme, G₆PDH₁, was 112±8 kDa and that of the chloroplast enzyme, G₆PDH₂, was 136±7 kDa. The K_m values for glucose-6-phosphate and NADP were 0.133 and 0.041 mM for G₆PDH₁, and 0.275 and 0.062 mM for G₆PDH₂, respectively. The pH optimum was 8.2 for G₆PDH₁ and 7.8 for G₆PDH₂. The enzyme is absolutely specific for NADP. NADPH is a competitive inhibitor of the G₆PDH₁ in respect to glucose-6-phosphate (G₆P) and NADP (K_i = 0.050 and 0.025 mM, respectively). NADPH is a competitive inhibitor of the G₆PDH₂ in respect to NADP (K_i = 0.010 mM), but a non-competitive inhibitor in respect to the G₆P. ADP, AMP, UTP, NAD, and NADH had no effect on the activity of G₆PDH. ATP inhibited the G₆PDH₂ activity.     

Purification and mode of action of phytase from Phaseolus aureus

Phytase isolated from germinated mung bean cotyledons was further purified and migrated as a single protein band in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.     

Aspartate transcarbamoylase from Phaseolus aureus. Partial purification and properties

1. Aspartate transcarbamoylase from 4-day-old radicles of Phaseolus aureus was purified 190-fold by (NH₄)₂SO₄ fractionation, DEAE-cellulose and DEAE-Sephadex chromatography and Sephadex-gel filtration. The partially purified enzyme, which required P_i for maximum stability, had an apparent molecular weight of 83000±5000. 2. Uridine nucleotides were found to inhibit the activity; UMP was the most potent inhibitor, followed by UDP and UTP. No other nucleotide was found to affect the enzyme, nor could UMP inhibition be overcome by adding another nucleotide. Aspartate gives a hyperbolic substrate-saturation curve, both with and without UMP. The nucleotide inhibitor is non-competitive with respect to this substrate. Carbamoyl phosphate also yields a hyperbolic substrate-saturation curve in the absence of feedback inhibitor, but when UMP is added a sigmoidal pattern results, and the inhibition is competitive with carbamoyl phosphate. 3. The degree of inhibition by UMP is not affected by p-chloromercuribenzoate, urea, mild heat pretreatment or change in pH over the range 8.5–10.5, but is affected by temperature. 4. The aspartate analogue, succinate, both activates and inhibits the reaction, depending on the concentrations of aspartate and succinate used. 5. Kinetic studies with the partially purified enzyme showed that the K_m for carbamoyl phosphate (0.091 mm) is much lower than that for aspartate (1.7mm). A sequential reaction mechanism was inferred from product-inhibition kinetics, with carbamoyl phosphate binding to the enzyme before aspartate, and the product, carbamoylaspartate, being released ahead of P_i. Initial-velocity studies gave a set of parallel reciprocal plots, compatible with an essentially irreversible step occurring before the binding of aspartate.     

Purification and Partial Characterization of a Lectin from Phaseolus vulgaris

A method is presented for the isolation of a lectin from a Brazilian cultivar of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), through extraction in acidic (pH 4.2) medium, fractionation with ammonium sulfate, and chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. The lectin was shown to be homogeneous by gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing.     

Purification and characterization of myo-inositol hexaphosphate-adenosine diphosphate phosphotransferase from Phaseolus aureus

myo-Inositol hexaphosphate adenosine diphosphate phosphotransferase transfers phosphate from myo-inositol hexaphosphate to adenosine diphosphate to synthesize adenosine triphosphate. This enzyme has been isolated and purified from ungerminated mungbean seeds and found to be different from guanosine diphosphate phosphotransferase. A purification of about 200-fold with 15% recovery has been obtained. The optimal pH of the reaction is 7.0 and is dependent on the presence of a divalent cation, i.e., Mg²⁺ and Mn²⁺. The K_m value for myo-inositol hexaphosphate has been found to be 0.41 × 10^?4m and V is 90.0 nmol of P_i transferred per milligram of protein per 20 min. K_m for ADP is 0.88 × 10^-4m and V is 83.3 nmol of phosphorus transferred to ADP per milligram of protein per 20 min. The ADP phosphotransferase reaction is reversible to the extent of about 50% of the forward reaction. dADP is partly effective as an acceptor but other ribonucleoside mono- and diphosphates cannot substitute for ADP. The products ATP and myo-inositol pentaphosphate have been confirmed by several criteria. It has also been shown that this enzyme transfers phosphate only from a specific phosphoryl group (C-2 position) of myo-inositol hexaphosphate for the synthesis of ATP and 1,3,4,5,6-myo-inositol pentaphosphate or pentakis (dihydrogen phosphate).     

Characterization and Partial Purification of Aldose-6-phosphate Reductase (Alditol-6-Phosphate:NADP 1-Oxidoreductase) from Apple Leaves

The Pereskia are morphologically primitive, leafed members of the Cactaceae. Gas exchange characteristics using a dual isotope porometer to monitor ¹⁴CO₂ and tritiated water uptake, diurnal malic acid fluctuations, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, and malate dehydrogenase activities were examined in two species of the genus Pereskia, Pereskia grandifolia and Pereskia aculeata. Investigations were done on well watered (control) and water-stressed plants. Nonstressed plants showed a CO₂ uptake pattern indicating C₃ carbon metabolism. However, diurnal fluctuations in titratable acidity were observed similar to Crassulacean acid metabolism. Plants exposed to 10 days of water stress exhibited stomatal opening only during an early morning period. Titratable acidity, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity, and malate dehydrogenase activity fluctuations were magnified in the stressed plants, but showed the same diurnal pattern as controls. Water stress causes these cacti to shift to an internal CO₂ recycling (“idling”) that has all attributes of Crassulacean acid metabolism except nocturnal stomata opening and CO₂ uptake. The consequences of this shift, which has been observed in other succulents, are unknown, and some possibilities are suggested.     

Partial Purification and Some Properties of the Staphylococcus aureus Cytoplasmic Nitrate Reductase

The cytoplasmic nitrate reductase in heme mutant H-14 of Staphylococcus aureus was partially purified by steps which included ammonium sulfate fractionation and chromatography on Bio-Gel A 1.5m and ion-exchange columns. The active fractions from the ion-exchange columns showed two forms of the enzyme upon electrophoresis in nondenaturing gels of polyacrylamide; these corresponded to proteins of R(f) 0.16 and 0.28. Each form contained a predominant polypeptide of molecular weight 140,000, as shown by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The R(f) 0.16 form contained another major polypeptide of molecular weight 57,000, but the R(f) 0.28 form contained several other polypeptides. The sedimentation properties of the enzyme were examined after partial purification on Bio-Gel A 1.5m. In sucrose gradients containing Triton X-100 the enzyme sedimented as a homogeneous peak with an estimated molecular weight of 225,000; without detergent a heterogeneous profile was observed of molecular weight greater than 250,000. Treatment of the enzyme with trypsin increased the specific activity, and the enzyme sedimented as a homogeneous peak in sucrose gradients without Triton X-100, with an estimated molecular weight of 202,000. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that trypsin treatment converted the polypeptide of molecular weight 140,000 to a polypeptide of molecular weight 112,000. We conclude that the cytoplasmic nitrate reductase of S. aureus has a large subunit of molecular weight 140,000, which can be modified by trypsin to a polypeptide of molecular weight 112,000 without loss of catalytic activity.     

Purification and Characterization of Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase from Rat Small Intestine

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) was purified from rat small intestine with 19.2% yield and had a specific activity of 53.8 units per miligram protein. The pH optimum was determined to be 8.1. The purified rat small intestinal G6PD gave one activity, one protein band on native PAGE. The observation of one band on SDS/PAGE with an Mr of 48 kDa and a specific activity lower than expected may suggest the proteolytically affected enzyme or different form of G6PD in the rat small intestine. The activation energy, activation enthalpy, Q10, and optimum temperature from Arrhenius plot for the rat small intestinal G6PD were found to be 8.52 kcal/mol, 7.90 kcal/mol, 1.59, and 38 degrees C, respectively. The Km values for G6P and NADP+ were 70.1 +/- 20.8 and 23.2 +/- 7.6 microM, respectively. Double-reciprocal plots of 1/Vm versus 1/G6P (at constant [NADP+]) and of 1/Vm versus 1/NADP+ at constant [G6P]) intersected at the same point on the 1/Vm axis to give Vm = 53.8 U/mg protein.     

Partial Purification and Some Properties of Polyphenoloxidases from Sago Palm

Two polyphenoloxidases (PPO I and PPO III, EC 1.10.3.1) were extracted and partially purified from sago palm pith by hydroxylapatite chromatography, DEAE-cellulose chromatography and gel filtration. Both purified isozymes gave a single activity band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weights of both enzymes were estimated to be 40,000. They had the same pH optima of 6.5 but different temperature optima, 35°C for PPO I and 45°C for PPO III. PPO I was stable at neutral to alkaline pH and PPO III at acidic pH. PPO III was somewhat more stable than PPO I when incubated at various temperatures for 15 min. PPO I and PPO III oxidized well DL-epicatechin and d-catechin, respectively. Both enzymes were strongly inhibited by KCN, Na-diethyldithiocarbamate and NaHSO₃.     

Partial Purification of a cis-trans-Isomerase of Zeatin from Immature Seed of Phaseolus vulgaris L

Investigation of the conversion of exogenous cis-zeatin to trans-zeatin in immature seeds of Phaseolus vulgaris L. led to the isolation of a cis-trans-isomerase from the endosperm. The enzyme was purified more than 2000-fold by chromatography on a series of fast protein liquid chromatography (anion exchange, gel filtration, and hydrophobic interaction) and concanavalin A columns. The enzymic reaction favors conversion from the cis to the trans form and requires flavin, light, and dithiothreitol. cis-Zeatin riboside is also a substrate for the enzyme. Retention on the concanavalin A column indicated that the enzyme is a glycoprotein. The enzyme was stable for at least 8 weeks when stored at -80[deg] C. The occurrence of cis-trans-isomerization suggests that cis-zeatin and cis-zeatin riboside formed by tRNA degradation could be precursors of biologically active cytokinins.     

Tubulinyl-tyrosine Carboxypeptidase from Chicken Brain: Properties and Partial Purification

Abstract: Tyrosine can be released from tubulinyl-tyrosine by the action of a brain carboxypeptidase. The molecular weight of this enzyme found by gel filtration through a column of Sephadex G-200 was 90,000. The enzyme was very unstable in a purified preparation in which the activity per milligram of protein was increased 250-fold with respect to the starting material. The precise magnitude of the purification cannot be stated because of the unknown amount of endogenous tubulinyl-tyrosine in the material to be assayed. A comparative study was done between tubulinyl-tyrosine carboxypeptidase (TTCP) activity and pancreatic carboxypeptidase A (CPA, EC 3.4.12.2) activity using tubulinyl-[¹⁴C]tyrosine as substrate. The most remarkable differences found are: MgCl₂ (2 mM), phenyl acetate (10 mM), or EDTA (5 mM) increased the TTCP activity whereas the CPA activity was strongly inhibited by these compounds, lodoacetate (2 mM) and ZnCl₂ (0.1 mM) inhibited the TTCP activity more than the CPA activity. Contrarily, mercaptoethanol (50 mM) and dimethyl sulfoxide (5%) showed a stronger inhibitory effect on CPA than on TTCP. Of several N-carbobenzoxy dipeptides (Z-dipeptides) tested the greatest inhibitory effects on TTCP activity were obtained with Z-Glu-Tyr and Z-Glu-Phe, although strong inhibitory effects on CPA were also obtained with other Z-dipeptides.