Effect of CrATP on the association of the reacting forms of yeast hexokinase.

Reacting enzyme sedimentation studies have been performed with yeast hexokinase isozymes A and B in the presence and absence of chromium ATP at pH 6.75. Preincubation of either isozyme with CrATP causes a shift in the monomer-dimer equilibrium toward the monomeric form. The results are consistent with the observed increase in inhibition caused by CrATP (Danenberg, K.D., and Cleland, W.W. (1975) Biochemistry 14, 28-39) being due to a conformational change in the protein which causes a decrease in the association constant for the monomer.     

Activation of yeast pyruvate carboxylase: interactions between acyl coenzyme A compounds, aspartate, and substrates of the reaction

Chicken liver pyruvate carboxylase has an absolute requirement for short-chain acyl coenzyme A (CoA), whereas the same enzyme from yeast has less stringent requirements. The yeast enzyme has now been studied in an effort to elucidate the mechanism by which acyl-CoA stimulates pyruvate carboxylase activity. Yeast pyruvate carboxylase has an apparent basal level of activity above which CoA and acyl-CoAs of 2-20 carbons activate; the concentration of acyl-CoA required for half-maximum activation (K0.5) decreases as the chain length of the acyl moiety increases to 16 carbons. Activation of yeast pyruvate carboxylase by acyl-CoA is brought about in part by increasing the affinity of pyruvate carboxylase for two substrates, bicarbonate and pyruvate. The affinity of pyruvate carboxylase for bicarbonate is also increased by potassium ions. The observation of only low levels of activity in the absence of acyl-CoA or potassium ion leads to the conclusion that the basal activity so frequently referred to is probably due to the presence of activating monovalent cations. Pyruvate carboxylase from yeast probably has an absolute requirement for monovalent cations or acyl-CoA with a combination of the two being required for optimum conditions for maximal activity. Stimulation by acyl-CoA and inhibition by aspartate are mutually antagonistic with each affecting the activation or inhibition constant and the degree of cooperativity brought about by the other. The enzyme from liver is unaffected by aspartate.     

Control of mitochondrial respiration. The contribution of the adenine nucleotide translocator depends on the ATP- and ADP-consuming enzymes

The consequence of the complexity of the metabolic network on the amount of control strength of adenine nucleotide translocator was investigated with isolated rat liver mitochondria. Two experimental systems were compared: (i) mitochondria in the presence of yeast hexokinase (hexokinase system) and (ii) the same system plus additional pyruvate kinase (pyruvate kinase system). In both systems the control strength was analysed for the adenine nucleotide translocator by inhibitor titration studies with carboxyatractyloside and for the hexokinase or pyruvate kinase by changing their relative activities. Experimental results were compared with computer simulation of these systems and that of a third one, where the extramitochondrial ATP / ADP ratio was held constant by perifusion (perifusion system). The results demonstrate quite different flux-dependent control strength of the translocator in the three systems. In the hexokinase system the control strength of the translocator on mitochondrial respiration was zero up to respiration rates of about 60 nmol O₂/mg protein per min. For higher rates, the control strength increased until the maximum value (0.45) was reached in the fully active state. Here, the same value was also found in the pyruvate kinase system. In all other states of respiration the translocator exerts a higher control strength in the pyruvate kinase system than in the hexokinase system. This different behaviour was attributed to the various changes in the adenine nucleotide pattern caused by partial inhibition of the translocator in the hexokinase and pyruvate kinase system. The data clearly show that the sharing of control strength depends not only on the respiration rate but also on the complexity of the metabolic system.     

Quaternary structure of pyruvate carboxylase from Pseudomonas citronellolis.

Physical-chemical studies of pyruvate carboxylase from Pseudomonas citronellolis demonstrate that the enzyme has an alpha 4 beta 4 structure. The individual polypeptides, alpha (Mr = 65,000) and beta (Mr = 54,000), were separated and isolated by preparative gel electrophoresis. Analysis of the relationship between Coomassie blue staining and protein quantity for each polypeptide indicated that the alpha and beta subunits are present in a 1:1 stoichiometry in the native enzyme. Determinations of the molecular weight of the protein by sedimentation equilibrium (Mr = 454,000), gel filtration analysis (Mr = 510,000), disc gel electrophoresis (Mr = 530,000), and mass measurement from the Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope (Mr = 530,000) are consistent with the proposed alpha 4 beta 4 structure. Disc gel electrophoresis studies revealed that under certain circumstances the enzyme may dissociate to a smaller molecular weight species (Mr = 228,000). This dissociation phenomenon could explain the earlier reported observation of Taylor et al. ((1972) J. Biol. Chem 22, 7388-8390) that the enzyme had a molecular weight of 265,000. Evidence from electron microscopic studies shows that the three-dimensional structure of this enzyme is quite distinct from other species of pyruvate carboxylase. The enzyme does not show the typical rhombic appearance which has been noted for chicken liver, sheep liver, and yeast pyruvate carboxylase.     

Influence of 1,2,3-benzene-tricarboxylate on pyruvate metabolism in rat-liver mitochondria.

1,2,3-Benzene-tricarboxylate, a known inhibitor of the mitochondrial tricarboxylate carrier, was found to inhibit pyruvate carboxylation as well as the transport of citrate out of the matrix in rat liver mitochondria incubated with pyruvate. The inhibition of pyruvate carboxylation was observed with both intact mitochondria and with the solubilized pyruvate carboxylase. The inhibition of the pyruvate carboxylase by 1,2,3-benzene-tricarboxylase was not mediated via one of the parameters known to regulate the activity of the enzyme and therefore a direct inhibition of the enzyme by the tricarboxylate was assumed. Since the pyruvate carboxylase is exclusively localized in the mitochondrial matrix space it was concluded that 1,2,3-benzene-tricarboxylate penetrates into this compartment.     

Mode of action of the macrolide-type antibiotic, chlorothricin. Effect of the antibiotic on the catalytic activity and some structural parameters of pyruvate carboxylases purified from rat and chicken liver.

The macrolide-type antibiotic chlorothricin inhibits pyruvate carboxylases purified from rat liver, chicken liver and Azotobacter vinelandii. Under standard assay conditions the concentration of chlorothricin required for half-maximal inhibition of oxalacetate synthesis is 0.26 mM (rat liver), 0.12 mM (chicken liver), and 0.5 mM (Azobacter vinelandii). Inhibition by chlorothricin appears non-competitive in character when measured as a function of the concentration of the substrates of the pyruvate carboxylase reaction as well as of CoASAc and Mg2+. This pattern of inhibition suggests that this antibiotic interacts at unique sites on chicken and rat liver pyruvate carboxylase which are distinct from both the catalytic and activator sites. Interaction of chlorothricin with the two vertebrate liver pyruvate carboxylases differs from the effect exerted by this antibiotic on pyruvate carboxylase purified from Azotobacter vinelandii. A sigmoidal relationship between initial velocity and inhibitor concentration is observed for the vertebrate enzymes under most conditions whereas a hyperbolic profile characterizes the concentration dependence of inhibition of the Azotobacter vinelandii enzyme by chlorothricin. In the case of rat liver pyruvate carboxylase chlorothricin does not alter the extent of cooperativity in the relationship between initial rate and CoASAc concentration. However, a small but significant increase of the Hill coefficient from a value of 2.7 in the absence of antibiotic to that of 3.3 in the presence of 0.5 mM chlorothricin is observed for chicken liver pyruvate carboxylase. Chlorothricin decreases the rate of inactivation observed when rat liver pyruvate carboxylase is incubated with trinitrobenzenesulfonate and when chicken liver pyruvate carboxylase is incubated at 2 degrees C. The maximal decrease in inactivation observed in the presence of saturating concentrations of antibiotic is 50% for cold inactivation of the chicken liver enzyme and 60% for inactivation of the enzyme from rat liver by trinitrobenzenesulfonate. In both cases a sigmoidal relationship is observed between inactivation rate and chlorothricin concentration. These data as well as the initial rate studies suggest that multiple interacting sites for this antibiotic are present on the vertebrate liver pyruvate carboxylases. The occupancy of these sites appears to cause significant distortion of both the catalytic and the activator sites.     

Selective guanosine phosphate deficiency in hepatoma cells induced by inhibitors of IMP dehydrogenase

Inhibition of IMP dehydrogenase in AS-30D hepatoma cells in suspension culture resulted in a pronounced and selective reduction of guanine nucleotide pools. Total acid-soluble guanine nucleotides decreased to 40% and the content of GTP and GDP dropped to about 20% of control within 4 h when mycophenolate or ribavirin were used as the inhibitors. Induction of GTP deficiency was associated with a 50% rise in UTP and other uracil nucleotides. Guanosine rapidly reversed both the reduction of guanine nucleotide pools and the elevation of cellular UTP contents. Enzymatic nucleotide analyses in cell and tissue extracts after treatment with ribavirin indicated that ribavirin 5'-triphosphate was an effective substrate for yeast hexokinase, yeast phosphoglycerate kinase, and nucleosidediphosphate kinase from yeast or bovine liver. These results were confirmed in detail by the use of synthetic ribavirin 5'-triphosphate and 5'-diphosphate. The latter nucleotide analog was also a substrate of pyruvate kinase from muscle. Mycophenolate-induced GTP deficiency was associated with an arrest of hepatoma cell growth in suspension culture. Ribavirin, at an equimolar concentration, was much less effective in this respect. None of the two inhibitors had a detectable effect, however, in vivo when guanine or uracil nucleotides were assayed in liver. This indicated that an inhibition of de novo guanylate synthesis in vivo can be compensated by salvage pathway synthesis.     

Inhibition of yeast pyruvate decarboxylase by alkyl phosphates]

It is found that yeast pyruvate decarboxylase is inhibited by alkyl phosphates. Inhibition is competitive with respect to a substrate. The inhibition constants with n-butyl and n-heptyl esters of phosphoric acid are the values of the same order of magnitude. With an increase in the length of the alkyl phosphates hydrocarbon chain from 7 to 10 carbon atoms inhibition constants change drastically. For n-heptyl phosphate and n-decyl phosphate values KI are equal to 1.6 x 10(-4) M and 1.7 x 10(-6) M, respectively. A further increase in the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl substituent of phosphoric acid ester induces no reduction of the inhibition constant. Multiple-inhibitor experiments of pyruvate decarboxylase show that inorganic phosphate and n-decyl ester of phosphoric acid are mutually exclusive. It is suggested that the inhibition mechanism with alkyl phosphates includes the competition of the phosphoric acid residue with alpha-ketocarboxyl group of pyruvate as well as the interaction between a hydrocarbon radical and hydrophobic parts on the enzyme surface, one of them being outside the substrate binding site.     

Functional differences in the beta gamma complexes of transducin and the inhibitory guanine nucleotide regulatory protein

We have examined the mechanism of inhibition of adenylate cyclase using the purified alpha and beta gamma subunits of bovine brain inhibitory guanine nucleotide regulatory protein (Ni) (i.e., alpha i and beta gamma N) and bovine retinal transducin (alpha T and beta gamma T) in reconstituted phospholipid vesicle systems. The addition of beta gamma N or beta gamma T to lipid vesicles containing the pure stimulatory guanine nucleotide regulatory protein (Ns) from human erythrocytes as well as a resolved preparation of the catalytic moiety (C) of bovine caudate adenylate cyclase results in significant inhibition of guanine nucleotide stimulated cyclase activity (80-90%). The inhibition by these beta gamma subunit complexes appears to fully account for the inhibitory effects observed with holo-Ni or holotransducin. A variety of structure-function comparisons of the beta gamma N and beta gamma T complexes were performed in order to further probe the molecular mechanisms involved in the inhibitory pathway. Whereas the beta subunits of beta gamma N and beta gamma T appear to be very similar, if not identical, on the basis of comparisons of their gel electrophoretic mobility and immunological cross-reactivity, clear differences exist in the apparent structures of gamma N and gamma T. Interestingly, functional differences are observed in the effectiveness of these two beta gamma complexes to inhibit adenylate cyclase activity. Specifically, while both beta gamma N and beta gamma T are capable of effecting significant levels of inhibition of the guanine nucleotide stimulated activities, the beta gamma N complex is consistently more potent than beta gamma T in inhibiting these activities.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Physiological properties of Saccharomyces cerevisiae from which hexokinase II has been deleted

Hexokinase II is an enzyme central to glucose metabolism and glucose repression in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Deletion of HXK2, the gene which encodes hexokinase II, dramatically changed the physiology of S. cerevisiae. The hxk2-null mutant strain displayed fully oxidative growth at high glucose concentrations in early exponential batch cultures, resulting in an initial absence of fermentative products such as ethanol, a postponed and shortened diauxic shift, and higher biomass yields. Several intracellular changes were associated with the deletion of hexokinase II. The hxk2 mutant had a higher mitochondrial H(+)-ATPase activity and a lower pyruvate decarboxylase activity, which coincided with an intracellular accumulation of pyruvate in the hxk2 mutant. The concentrations of adenine nucleotides, glucose-6-phosphate, and fructose-6-phosphate are comparable in the wild type and the hxk2 mutant. In contrast, the concentration of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate, an allosteric activator of pyruvate kinase, is clearly lower in the hxk2 mutant than in the wild type. The results suggest a redirection of carbon flux in the hxk2 mutant to the production of biomass as a consequence of reduced glucose repression.     

Comparative study of free and bound glycolytic enzymes from sea scorpion brain.

Free and bound forms of hexokinase, pyruvate kinase, and lactate dehydrogenase were prepared from the brain of the sea scorpion (Scorpaena porcus) in a low ionic strength medium. Properties of the free and bound forms were compared to determine whether binding to particulate matter could influence enzyme function or stability in vivo. Changes in pH differently affected the activity of the free and bound forms of all three enzymes. Furthermore, bound forms of hexokinase and pyruvate kinase were more stable than the free enzymes to heating at 45 degrees C. Bound hexokinase showed higher affinity for substrates (ATP, glucose) than the free form and bound lactate dehydrogenase had greater affinity for pyruvate and NADH. Although the affinities of the two forms of pyruvate kinase for substrates were similar, Hill coefficients for phosphoenolpyruvate as well as inhibition by ATP differed between the two enzyme forms. Free and bound lactate dehydrogenase also showed differences in Hill coefficients and bound lactate dehydrogenase was less sensitive to substrate inhibition by high pyruvate concentrations. The possible physiological role of the binding of these glycolytic enzymes to subcellular structures is discussed.     

Kinetic characterization of yeast pyruvate carboxylase isozyme pyc1

Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is unusual in being the only organism thus far identified as having two genes for pyruvate carboxylase. The expression of the two isozymes Pyc1 and Pyc2 appears to be differentially regulated, and since both are expressed cytoplasmically, this suggests that they have different properties. To the present, little has been done to characterize these isozymes, and almost all of the published kinetic information on yeast pyruvate carboxylase comes from measurements of enzyme prepared from bakers' yeast which is likely to be a mixture of both isozymes. Here we have measured basic kinetic parameters for Pyc1 and found that the K(a) of this isozyme for acetyl CoA is in the order of 8-10-fold higher than previously recorded, suggesting that Pyc1 and Pyc2 may be differentially regulated by this effector. Pyc1 is highly dependent on the presence of acetyl CoA for activity and in this respect is similar to chicken liver pyruvate carboxylase. However, unlike the chicken liver enzyme, the quaternary structure of the enzyme is quite stable in the absence of acetyl CoA, and the major locus of action of this effector appears to lie outside of the stimulation of the biotin carboxylation reaction.     

Effects on the Activity of the Enzyme Phosphoribosyl-Aminoimidazole Carboxylase,Involved in the Biosynthesis of Purine Nucleotides De Novo by Bi-Valent Metal Complexes of the Natural Substrate 5-Amino-1-β-D-Ribofuranosylimidazole-4-Carboxylic Acid 5′-Phosphate

Abstract

A series of bi-valent metal complexes of 5-amino-l-β-D-ribofuranosylimida-zole-4-carboxylic acid and its 5′-phosphate derivative (CAIR), a central intermediate in de novo biosynthesis of purine nucleotides have been synthesised. The nucleotide complexes were found to affect the activity of the enzyme phosphoribosylaminoimidazole carboxylase (EC. 4.1.1.21).     

Sensitivity of yeast glycolytic enzymes to chloroquine

Chloroquine at pH 8.0 and 10 mM concentration inhibits about 30% glucose consumption and ethanol formation in yeast cells. Out of the 11 glycolytic enzymes assayed, phosphoglycerate kinase and pyruvate decarboxylase have been found to be most sensitive to chloroquine. Next sensitive are hexokinase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and pyruvate kinase. Kinetic studies with the three kinases studied revealed competitive inhibition of chloroquine with ATP (hexokinase, phosphoglycerate kinase) or ADP (pyruvate kinase).     

Binding of non-catalytic ATP to human hexokinase I highlights the structural components for enzyme-membrane association control

BACKGROUND: Hexokinase I sets the pace of glycolysis in the brain, catalyzing the ATP-dependent phosphorylation of glucose. The catalytic properties of hexokinase I are dependent on product inhibition as well as on the action of phosphate. In vivo, a large fraction of hexokinase I is bound to the mitochondrial outer membrane, where the enzyme adopts a tetrameric assembly. The mitochondrion-bound hexokinase I is believed to optimize the ATP/ADP exchange between glucose phosphorylation and the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation reactions. RESULTS: The crystal structure of human hexokinase I has been determined at 2.25 A resolution. The overall structure of the enzyme is in keeping with the closed conformation previously observed in yeast hexokinase. One molecule of the ATP analogue AMP-PNP is bound to each N-terminal domain of the dimeric enzyme in a surface cleft, showing specific interactions with the nucleotide, and localized positive electrostatic potential. The molecular symmetry brings the two bound AMP-PNP molecules, at the centre of two extended surface regions, to a common side of the dimeric hexokinase I molecule. CONCLUSIONS: The binding of AMP-PNP to a protein site separated from the catalytic centre of human hexokinase I can be related to the role played by some nucleotides in dissociating the enzyme from the mitochondrial membrane, and helps in defining the molecular regions of hexokinase I that are expected to be in contact with the mitochondrion. The structural information presented here is in keeping with monoclonal antibody mapping of the free and mitochondrion-bound forms of the enzyme, and with sequence analysis of hexokinases that differ in their mitochondria binding properties.     

Conformations and arrangement of substrates at active sites of ATP-utilizing enzymes

The phosphoryl transferring enzymes pyruvate kinase, cAMP-dependent protein kinase and the pyrophosphoryl transferring enzyme PP-Rib-P synthetase utilize the beta, gamma bidentate metal--ATP chelate (delta-isomer) as substrate, as determined with substitution-insert CrIIIATP or CoIII(NH3)4ATP complexes. In addition, these enzymes bind a second divalent cation, which is an essential activator for pyruvate kinase and PP-Rib-P synthetase and an inhibitor of protein kinase. The enzyme-bound metal has been used as a paramagnetic reference point in T1 measurements to determine distances to the protons and phosphorus atoms of the bound nucleotide and acceptor substrates. These distances have been used to construct models of the conformations of the bound substrates. The activating metal forms a second sphere complex of the metal-nucleotide substrate on pyruvate kinase and PP-Rib-P synthetase while the inhibitory metal directly coordinates the polyphosphate chain of the metal-nucleotide substrate on protein kinase. Essentially no change is found in the dihedral angle at the glycosidic bond of ATP upon binding to pyruvate kinase (chi = 30 degrees), an enzyme of low base specificity, but significant changes in the torsional angle of ATP occur on binding to protein kinase (chi = 84 degrees) and PP-Rib-P synthetase (chi = 62 degrees), enzymes with high adenine-base specificity. Intersubstrate distances, measured with tridentate CrATP or beta, gamma bidentate CrAMPPCP as paramagnetic reference points, have been used to deduce the distance along the reaction coordinate on each enzyme. The reaction coordinate distances on pyruvate kinase (# +/- 1 A) and PP-Rib-P synthetase (not less than 3.8 A) are consistent with associative mechanisms, while that on protein kinase (5 +/- 0.7 A) allows room for a dissociative mechanism.     

Modification of AlF-4- and receptor-stimulated phospholipase C activity by G-protein beta gamma subunits

Turkey erythrocyte membranes possess a phospholipase C that is markedly activated by P2Y-purinergic receptor agonists and guanine nucleotides. Reconstitution of [3H]inositol-labeled turkey erythrocyte membranes with guanine nucleotide regulatory protein (G-protein) beta gamma subunits resulted in inhibition of both AlF-4-stimulated adenylate cyclase and AlF-4-stimulated phospholipase C activities. The apparent potency (K0.5 approximately 1 microgram or 20 pmol of beta gamma/mg of membrane protein) of beta gamma subunits for inhibition of each enzyme activity was similar and occurred with beta gamma purified by different methodologies from turkey erythrocyte, bovine brain, or human placenta membranes. In contrast to the effect on AlF-4-stimulated activity, the stimulatory effect on phospholipase C of the P2Y-purinergic receptor agonist 2-methylthioadenosine 5'-triphosphate in the presence of guanine nucleotides was potentiated by 50-100% in a concentration-dependent manner by reconstitution of beta gamma subunits. beta gamma subunits did not affect the K0.5 value of 2-methylthioadenosine 5'-triphosphate for the stimulation of phospholipase C activity. These results indicate that beta gamma subunits influence phospholipase C activity in a concentration range similar to that necessary for regulation of adenylate cyclase activity and suggest the involvement of a G-protein possessing an alpha beta gamma heterotrimeric structure in coupling hormone receptors to phospholipase C.     

Lack of glyconeogenesis in pancreatic islets: expression of gluconeogenic enzyme genes in islets.

Studies were performed to obtain evidence for glyconeogenesis from pyruvate to the triose phosphates in pancreatic islets. Inability to show this evidence would be consistent with the fact that glyceraldehyde, but not pyruvate, is a potent insulin secretagogue. Synthesis of 14C-labelled glucose from 14C-labelled pyruvate could not be detected. Since this might have been due to lack of sensitivity required to measure 14C-glucose production in such a scarce tissue as islets, cDNA probes were used to estimate the relative expression of genes coding for gluconeogenic enzymes. Islets expressed pyruvate carboxylase mRNA, but even islets from rats which had been starved (a condition which induces phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) in liver, kidney and adipose tissue) showed no PEPCK mRNA. This is consistent with our previous work showing the absence of PEPCK enzyme activity in islets. Therefore, islets can convert pyruvate to oxalacetate, but since they lack PEPCK, neither the beta nor alpha cell can convert oxalacetate to phosphoenolpyruvate and carry out glyconeogenesis. Pyruvate carboxylase mRNA was increased in islets that possessed the capacity for glucose-induced insulin release versus islets that lacked the capacity to respond to glucose, such as islets from fed rats (versus starved rats) and in islets cultured at a high concentration of glucose (versus at low glucose). Pyruvate carboxylase, therefore, must be involved in pyruvate metabolism and not glyconeogenesis in the pancreatic islet.     

Control of gluconeogenesis in rat liver cells. Flux control coefficients of the enzymes in the gluconeogenic pathway in the absence and presence of glucagon.

We have used control analysis to quantify the distribution of control in the gluconeogenic pathway in liver cells from starved rats. Lactate and pyruvate were used as gluconeogenic substrates. The flux control coefficients of the various enzymes in the gluconeogenic pathway were calculated from the elasticity coefficients of the enzymes towards their substrates and products and the fluxes through the different branches in the pathway. The elasticity coefficients were either calculated from gamma/Keq. ratios (where gamma is the mass-action ratio and Keq. is the equilibrium constant) and enzyme-kinetic data or measured experimentally. It is concluded that the gluconeogenic enzyme pyruvate carboxylase and the glycolytic enzyme pyruvate kinase play a central role in control of gluconeogenesis. If pyruvate kinase is inactive, gluconeogenic flux from lactate is largely controlled by pyruvate carboxylase. The low elasticity coefficient of pyruvate carboxylase towards its product oxaloacetate minimizes control by steps in the gluconeogenic pathway located after pyruvate carboxylase. This situation occurs when maximal gluconeogenic flux is required, i.e. in the presence of glucagon. In the absence of the hormone, when pyruvate kinase is active, control of gluconeogenesis is distributed among many steps, including pyruvate carboxylase, pyruvate kinase, fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase and also steps outside the classic gluconeogenic pathway such as the adenine-nucleotide translocator.     

The complete amino acid sequence of the catalytic domain of rat brain hexokinase, deduced from the cloned cDNA

The complete amino acid sequence of the catalytic domain of rat brain hexokinase (ATP:D-hexose 6-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.1) has been deduced from the nucleotide sequence of cloned cDNA. Extensive similarity in sequence, taken to indicate similarity in secondary and tertiary structure, is seen between the mammalian enzyme and yeast hexokinase isozymes A and B. All residues critical for binding glucose to the yeast enzyme are conserved in brain hexokinase. A location for the substrate ATP binding site is proposed based on relation of structural features in the yeast enzyme to characteristics commonly observed in other nucleotide binding enzymes; sequences in regions proposed to be important for binding of ATP to the yeast enzyme are highly conserved in brain hexokinase.