Application of the reaction of dithioesters with ε-amino groups in lysine to the chemical modification of proteins

The reaction of lysine with dithioesters was applied to horseradish peroxidase donor: hydrogen-peroxide oxidoreductase, EC 1.11.1.7) using car☐ymethyl dithiotridecanoate: three to four lysine residues were modified. The modified enzyme was soluble and active in diethyl ether. Papain (EC 3.4.22.2) was modified with car☐ymethyl dithiobenzoate: two lysine residues were modified. The modified enzyme was soluble and active in dimethylsulfoxide. From these results it is concluded that dithioesters are efficient reagents for the modification of peripheral lysine residues of proteins. Aromatic dithioesters, less reactive but more selective, should be recommended for thiol-dependent enzymes such as papain.     

Chemical modifications of ribonuclease U1.

In order to obtain information on the nature of the amino acid residues involved in the activity of ribonuclease U1 [EC 3.1.4.8], various chemical modifications of the enzyme were carried out. RNase U1 was inactivated by reaction with iodoacetate at pH 5.5 with concomitant incorporation of 1 carboxymethyl group per molecule of the enzyme. The residue specifically modified by iodoacetate was identified as one of the glutamic acid residues, as in the case of RNase T1. The enzyme was also inactivated extensively by reaction with iodoacetamide at pH 8.0 with the loss of about one residue each of histidine and lysine. When RNase U1 was treated with a large excess of phenylglyoxal, the enzymatic activity and binding ability toward 3'-GMP were lost, with simultaneous modification of about 1 residue of arginine. The reaction of citraconic anhydride with RNase U1 led to the loss of enzymatic activity and modification of about 1 residue of lysine. The inactivated enzyme, however, retained binding ability toward 3'-GMP. These results indicate that there are marked similarities in the active sites of RNases T1 and U1.     

Bacillus thuringiensis crystal protein: effect of chemical modification of the cysteine and lysine residues.

The 16 cysteine residues of reduced protoxin from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HD-73 can be quantitatively reacted with: (a) iodoacetic acid, to give carboxymethyl protoxin; (b) iodoacetamide, giving carbaminomethyl protoxin and (c) N-(beta-iodoethyl)trifluoroacetamide to give aminoethyl protoxin. The carboxymethyl derivative was found to be significantly more soluble at neutral pH values where both the native protoxin and the carbaminomethyl derivative exhibit low solubilities. At the alkaline pH values (pH 9.5-10.5) normally used to solubilize the crystal protein, the native protein was slightly more soluble than either the carboxymethyl or the carbaminomethyl derivatives. The aminoethyl derivative had an extremely low solubility at all pH values. Succinic anhydride reacted with only 35% of the lysine residues in both the carboxymethyl and the carbaminomethyl protoxin derivatives. Nonetheless, these succinylated protoxins exhibited significantly increased solubilities at neutral pH values. All the derivatives were found to retain full insecticidal activity toward spruce budworm (Choristeneura fufimerana) larvae. It is concluded that all the cysteine residues and modified lysine residues are on the surface of the protein and that derivatization does not alter the conformation of the solubilized protoxin.     

Histidine and lysine residues and the activity of phospholipase A2 from the venom of Bitis gabonica.

Chemical modification of phospholipase A2 (phosphatide 2-acyl-hydrolase, EC 3.1.1.4) from the venom of gaboon adder (Bitis gabonica) showed that histidine and lysine residues are essential for enzyme activity. Treatment with p-bromophenacyl bromide or pyridoxal 5'-phosphate resulted in the specific covalent modification of one histidine or a total of one lysine residue per molecule of enzyme, respectively, with a concomitant loss of enzyme activity. Competitive protection against modification and inactivation was afforded by the presence of Ca2+ and/or micellar concentrations of substrate analogue, lysophosphatidylcholine. Neither modification caused any significant conformational change, as judged from circular dichroic properties. Amino acid analyses and the alignment of peptides from cyanogen bromide and proteolytic cleavage of modified enzyme preparations delineated His-45 as the only residue modified by p-bromophenacyl bromide. However, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate was shown to have reacted not with a single lysine but with four different ones (residues 11, 33, 58 and 111) in such a manner that an overall stoichiometry of one modified lysine residue/molecule enzyme resulted. Apparently, the essential function of lysine could be fulfilled by any one out of these four residues.     

Identification of the lysine residue modified during the activation of acetimidylation of horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase.

A single amino group in horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase was modified with methyl(14C)acetimidate by a differential labeling procedure. Lysine residues outside the active site were modified with ethyl acetimidate while a lysine residue in the active site was protected by the formation of an enzyme-NAD+-pyrazole complex. After the protecting reagents were removed, the enzyme was treated with methyl(14C)acetimidate. Enzyme activity was enhanced 13-fold as 1.1 (14C)acetimidyl group was incorporated per active site. A labeled peptide was isolated from a tryptic-chymotryptic digest of the modified enzyme in 35% overall yield. Amino acid composition and sequential Edman degradations identified the peptide as residues 219-229; lysine residue 228 was modified with the radioactive acetimidyl group.     

Human placental estradiol 17 beta-dehydrogenase: sequence of a histidine-bearing peptide in the catalytic region

The amino acid sequence of an octapeptide from the catalytic site of human placental estradiol 17 beta-dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.62) was established by affinity-labeling techniques. The enzyme was inactivated separately by 12 beta-hydroxy-4-estrene-3,17-dione 12-(bromo[2-14C]acetate) and 3-methoxyestriol 16-(bromo[2-14C]acetate) at pH 6.3. The inactivations, in both cases, followed pseudo-first-order kinetics with half-times for the 12 beta and 16 alpha derivatives being 192 and 68 h, respectively. Both derivatives are known substrates that inactivate in a time-dependent, irreversible manner and that modify cysteine residues to form (carboxymethyl)cysteine and histidine residues to form either N tau- or N pi-(carboxymethyl)histidine. The inactivated enzyme samples were separately reduced, carboxymethylated, and digested with trypsin. The tryptic digests were applied to Sephadex G-50 and the radioactive N tau- and N phi-(carboxymethyl)histidine-bearing peptides identified. The peptides were further purified by cation-exchange chromatography and gel filtration. Final purification was achieved by HPLC prior to sequencing. It was determined that both steroid derivatives modified either of the two histidine residues in the peptide Thr-Asp-Ile-His-Thr-Phe-His-Arg. These histidines are different from a histidine that was previously shown to be alkylated by estrone 3-(bromoacetate) and that was presumed to proximate the A ring of the bound steroid. It is concluded that the two histidine residues identified in the present study proximate the D ring of the steroid as it binds at the active site and may participate in the hydrogen transfer effected by human placental estradiol 17 beta-dehydrogenase.     

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase of Escherichia coli. The role of lysyl residues in the catalytic and regulatory functions.

Phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylase [EC 4.1.1.31] of E. coli was inactivated by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonate (TNBS), a reagent known to attack amino groups in polypeptides. When the modified enzyme was hydrolyzed with acid, epsilon-trinitrophenyl lysine (TNP-lysine) was identified as a product. Close similarity of the absorption spectrum of the modified enzyme to that of TNP-alpha-acetyl lysine and other observations indicated that most of the amino acid residues modified were lysyl residues. Spectrophotometric determination suggested that five lysyl residues out of 37 residues per subunit were modified concomitant with the complete inactivation of the enzyme. DL-Phospholactate (P-lactate), a potent competitive inhibitor of the enzyme, protected the enzyme from TNBS inactivation. The concentration of P-lactate required for half-maximal protection was 3 mM in the presence of Mg2+ and acetyl-CoA (CoASAc), which is one of the allosteric activators of the enzyme. About 1.3 lysyl residues per subunit were protected from modification by 10 mM P-lactate, indicating that one or two lysyl residues are essential for the catalytic activity and are located at or near the active site. The Km values of the partially inactivated enzyme for PEP and Mg2+ were essentially unchanged, though Vmax was decreased. The partially inactivated enzyme showed no sensitivity to the allosteric activators, i.e., fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (Fru-1,6-P2) and GTP, or to the allosteric inhibitor, i.e., L-aspartate (or L-malate), but retained sensitivities to other activators, i.e., CoASAc and long-chain fatty acids. P-lactate, in the presence of Mg2+ and CoASAc, protected the enzyme from inactivation, but did not protect it from desensitization to Fru-1,6-P2, GTP, and L-aspartate. However, when the modification was carried out in the presence of L-malate, the enzyme was protected from desensitization to L-aspartate (or L-malate), but was not protected from desensitization to Fru-1,6-P2 and GTP. These results indicate that the lysyl residues involved in the catalytic and regulatory functions are different from each other, and that lysyl residues involved in the regulation by L-aspartate (or L-malate) are also different from those involved in the regulation by Fru-1,6-P2 and GTP.     

Enhanced heat, alkaline and tryptic stability of acetamidinated pig heart lactate dehydrogenase.

Modification of 17 from 24 lysine residues in pig heart lactate dehydrogenase (L-lactate: NAD+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.27) with methyl aceimidate yields an enzyme derivative with enhanced stability toward meat and alkaline denaturation as well as tryptic digestion. The specific activity of the modified enzyme is only slightly reduced     

Sequence-specific endonuclease Bgl I. Modification of lysine and arginine residues of the homogeneous enzyme.

The sequence-specific endonuclease Bgl I from Bacillus globigii (RUB561) has been purified to homogeneity as determined by denaturing polyacrylamide gel analysis. The active form of the enzyme is a single polypeptide with a molecular weight of 32,000. The enzyme requires Mg2+ in the reaction mixture and displays a broad pH and monovalent cation requirement. Bgl I is not sensitive to sulfhydryl reagents but was affected by reagents that modify lysine and arginine residues. When lysine residues were modified by pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, both binding and catalysis were diminished while modification of arginine residues by 2,3-butanedione inhibited the enzyme activity but had no effect on its binding properties.     

Binding of arylazidocytochrome c to yeast cytochrome c peroxidase

Cytochrome c derivatives modified with a photoactivatable arylazido group in selected lysine residues were irradiated in the presence of cytochrome c peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.5). A derivative modified at lysine 13 was able to cross-link to the enzyme and inhibit electron transfer activity. Complete inhibition of cytochrome c peroxidase activity was obtained when 1 mol of cytochrome c was covalently bound per mol of cytochrome c peroxidase. Chemical cleavage of the covalent complex has been used for a preliminary characterization of the site of cross-linking of cytochrome c to cytochrome c peroxidase. This linkage site was localized to the NH2 terminal part of cytochrome c peroxidase including residues 1-51.     

Co-overexpression of folding modulators improves the solubility of the recombinant guinea pig liver transglutaminase expressed in Escherichia coli

Transglutaminases (EC 2.3.2.13) catalyze the formation of epsilon-(gamma-glutamyl)lysine cross-links and the substitution of primary amines for the gamma-carboxamide groups of protein bound glutamine residues, and are involved in many biological phenomena. Transglutaminase reactions are also applicable in applied enzymology. Here, we established an expression system of recombinant mammalian tissue-type transglutaminase with high productivity. Overexpression of guinea pig liver transglutaminase in Escherichia coli, using a plasmid pET21-d, mostly resulted in the accumulation of insoluble and inactive enzyme protein. By the expression culture at lower temperatures (25 and 18 degrees C), however, a fraction of the soluble and active enzyme protein slightly increased. Co-overexpression of a molecular chaperone system (DnaK-DnaJ-GrpE) and/or a folding catalyst (trigger factor) improved the solubility of the recombinant enzyme produced in E. coli cells. The specific activity, the affinity to the amine substrate, and the sensitivity to the calcium activation and GTP inhibition of the purified soluble recombinant enzyme were lower than those of the natural liver enzyme. These results indicated that co-overexpression of folding modulators tested improved the solubility of the overproduced recombinant mammalian tissue-type transglutaminase, but the catalytic properties of the soluble recombinant enzyme were not exactly the same as those of the natural enzyme.     

Role of lysine versus arginine in enzyme cold-adaptation: modifying lysine to homo-arginine stabilizes the cold-adapted alpha-amylase from Pseudoalteramonas haloplanktis

The cold-adapted alpha-amylase from Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis (AHA) is a multidomain enzyme capable of reversible unfolding. Cold-adapted proteins, including AHA, have been predicted to be structurally flexible and conformationally unstable as a consequence of a high lysine-to-arginine ratio. In order to examine the role of low arginine content in structural flexibility of AHA, the amino groups of lysine were guanidinated to form homo-arginine (hR), and the structure-function-stability properties of the modified enzyme were analyzed by transverse urea gradient-gel electrophoresis. The extent of modification was monitored by MALDI-TOF-MS, and correlated to changes in activity and stability. Modifying lysine to hR produced a conformationally more stable and less active alpha-amylase. The k(cat) of the modified enzyme decreased with a concomitant increase in deltaH# and decrease in K(m). To interpret the structural basis of the kinetic and thermodynamic properties, the hR residues were modeled in the AHA X-ray structure and compared to the X-ray structure of a thermostable homolog. The experimental properties of the modified AHA were consistent with K106hR forming an intra-Domain B salt bridge to stabilize the active site and decrease the cooperativity of unfolding. Homo-Arg modification also appeared to alter Ca2+ and Cl- binding in the active site. Our results indicate that replacing lysine with hR generates mesophilic-like characteristics in AHA, and provides support for the importance of lysine residues in promoting enzyme cold adaptation. These data were consistent with computational analyses that show that AHA possesses a compositional bias that favors decreased conformational stability and increased flexibility.     

Fatty acyl coupled catalase

Bovine liver catalase (hydrogen-peroxide:hydrogen peroxide oxidoreductase, EC 1.11.1.6) was derivatized by 9"(10")-[4'-(2-(4,6-dichloro-1,3,5-triazinyl) oxy)butoxy] stearic acid and the fatty acyl-coated enzyme was separated from native catalase and excess reagent by hydroxyapatite chromatography. The derivatization of catalase resulted in coupling the long-chain fatty acyl residues to lysine, histidine and arginine, while other amino acids remained essentially unaffected. The fatty acyl-coated enzyme was water soluble at pH greater than 7.0 but became octanol and ether soluble at pH less than 6.5. The derivatized enzyme retained 50-80% of the catalatic- and peroxidative-specific activities. The free carboxyl function of the coupled long-chain fattyl acyl residues could serve as substrate for ATP-dependent CoA-thioesterification catalyzed by the rat liver microsomal long-chain fatty acyl-CoA synthase.     

Fatty acyl coupled catalase

Bovine liver catalase (hydrogen-peroxide:hydrogen peroxide oxidoreductase, EC 1.11.1.6) was derivatized by 9″(10″)-[4′-{2-(4,6-dichloro-1,3,5-triazinyl)oxy}butoxy]stearic acid and the fatty acyl-coated enzyme was separated from native catalase and excess reagent by hydroxyapatite chromatography. The derivatization of catalase resulted in coupling the long-chain fatty acyl residues to lysine, histidine and arginine, while other amino acids remained essentially unaffected. The fatty acyl-coated enzyme was water soluble at pH > 7.0 but became octanol and ether soluble at pH < 6.5. The derivatized enzyme retained 50–80% of the catalatic- and peroxidative-specific activities. The free carboxyl function of the coupled long-chain fattyl acyl residues could serve as substrate for ATP-dependent CoA-thioesterification catalyzed by the rat liver microsomal long-chain fatty acyl-CoA synthase.     

Chemical modification of lysine residues of beta-1,3-glucanase from Spisula sachalinensis

The effects of chemical modification of the amino groups of lysine residues on the activity of beta-1.3-glucanase from Spisula sachalinensis were studied. Modification of two lysine residues per molecule did not affect either the enzyme activity with respect to laminarine, nor the Km value. The modified beta-1.3-glucanase retains the ability to catalyze the transglycosylation and cleaves the high molecular weight CM-pachyman at the same rate as does the native enzyme. No significant changes in the enzyme thermal stability were observed. Thus, the modified enzyme groups cannot be involved in the enzyme active center and are exposed on the surface of the protein globule. The chemical modification was shown to have no effect on the enzyme kinetics, which is essential for its immobilization.     

Orotate phosphoribosyltransferase from yeast: studies of the structure of the pyrimidine substrate binding site

The pH dependencies of both the forward and reverse orotate phosphoribosyltransferase (ORPTase)-catalyzed reactions have been examined and determined to be dissimilar, with maximal activity for the forward reaction near to pH 8. The maximal activity of the reverse pyrophosphorolysis was observed between pH 6.5 and 7.5. Appropriate pK values were determined using computer fitting exercises. One such pK value (equal to 8.6) suggested the presence of lysine residues at the OPRTase active site. Incubations of OPRTase with the substrate analog, uracil 6-aldehyde, in the presence of sodium borohydride, suggested that this compound is a covalent modifier of OPRTase lysine residues, and substrate protection studies provided evidence that the affected lysine residues were located near to both the phosphoribosyl 1-pyrophosphate (PRibPP) and the orotate binding sites. Similar studies with pyridoxal 5-phosphate and labeled sodium borohydride as modifiers have revealed that two modified active site lysine residues per OPRTase subunit account for the loss of 90% of the enzymatic activity with this reagent. We suggest that essential lysine residues, along with divalent metal ions, are located at the OPRTase active site, and form ion-pair bonds with anionic PRibPP and orotate as these substrates bind to the enzyme. We also report that 5-azaorotate is an alternate substrate for OPRTase (Km = 75.5 +/- 0.1 microM) leading to formation of an unstable nucleotide product).     

The chemical modification of the essential groups of beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase from Turbo cornutus Solander

The chemical modification of beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase (EC3.2.1.30) from Turbo cornutus Solander has been first studied. The results demonstrate that the sulfhydryl group of cysteine residues and the hydroxyl group of serine residues are not essential to the enzyme's function. The modification of indole group of tryptophan of the enzyme by N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) can lead to the complete inactivation, accompanying the absorption decreasing at 278 nm and the fluorescence intensity quenching at 335 nm, indicating that tryptophan is essential residue to the enzyme. The modification of amino group of lysine residue by formaldehyde and trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid also inactivates the enzyme completely. The results show that lysine and tryptophan are probably situated in the active site of the enzyme. The modification of the imidazole residue and carboxyl group leads to inactivate incompletely, indicating they are not the composing groups of the enzyme active center, and they are essential for maintaining the enzyme's conformation which is necessary for the catalytic activity of the enzyme.     

Identification of two essential histidine residues of ribonuclease T2 from Aspergillus oryzae

Ribonuclease (RNase) T2 from Aspergillus oryzae was modified by diethyl pyrocarbonate and iodoacetic acid. RNase T2 was rapidly inactivated by diethyl pyrocarbonate above pH 6.0 and by incorporation of a carboxymethyl group. No inactivation occurred in the presence of 3'AMP. 1H-NMR titration and photo-chemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization experiments demonstrated that two histidine residues were involved in the active site of RNase T2. Furthermore, analysis of inactive carboxymethylated RNase T2 showed that both His53 and His115 were partially modified to yield a total of one mole of N tau-carboxymethylhistidine/mole enzyme. The results indicate that the two histidine residues in the active site of RNase T2 are essential for catalysis and that modification of either His53 or His115 inactivates the enzyme.     

Inhibition of pigeon liver fatty acid synthetase by specific modification of lysine residues with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid

Pigeon liver fatty acid synthetase was inactivated irreversibly by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNBS). Biphasic inactivation of the enzyme was observed with the inhibitor. NADPH provided protection to the enzyme against inactivation by TNBS and the extent of protection increased with NADPH concentration indicating that the essential lysine residues are present at the NADPH binding site. The stoichiometric results with TNBS showed that 4 mol of lysine residues are modified per mole of fatty acid synthetase upon complete inactivation. The rapid reaction of two amino groups per enzyme molecule led to the loss of 60% of the enzyme activity. These approaches suggested that two lysine residues present at the active site are essential for the enzymatic activity of fatty acid synthetase.     

Chemical modification of lysine residues in Bacillus licheniformis alpha-amylase: conversion of an endo- to an exo-type enzyme

The lysine residues of Bacillus licheniformis alpha-amylase (BLA) were chemically modified using citraconic anhydride or succinic anhydride. Modification caused fundamental changes in the enzymes specificity, as indicated by a dramatic increase in maltosidase and a reduction in amylase activity. These changes in substrate specificity were found to coincide with a change in the cleavage pattern of the substrates and with a conversion of the native endo- form of the enzyme to a modified exo- form. Progressive increases in the productions of rho-nitrophenol or glucose, when para nitrophenyl-maltoheptaoside or soluble starch, respectively, was used as substrate, were observed upon modification. The described changes were affected by the size of incorporated modified reagent: citraconic anhydride was more effective than succinic anhydride. Reasons for the observed changes are discussed and reasons for the effectivenesses of chemical modifications for tailoring enzyme specificities are suggested.