Isolation, Characterization, and Partial Purification of a Reduced Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate-dependent Dihydroxyacetone Reductase from the Halophilic Alga Dunaliella parva

An NADP⁺-dependent dihydroxyacetone reductase, which catalyzes specifically the reduction of dihydroxyacetone to glycerol, has been isolated from the halophilic alga Dunaliella parva. The enzyme has been purified about 220-fold. It has a molecular weight of about 65,000 and is highly specific for NADPH. The pH optima for dihydroxyacetone reduction and for glycerol oxidation are 7.5 and 9.2, respectively. The enzyme has a very narrow substrate specificity and will not catalyze the reduction of glyceraldehyde or dihydroxyacetone phosphate. It is suggested that this enzyme functions physiologically as a dihydroxyacetone reductase in the path of glycerol synthesis and accumulation in Dunaliella.     

Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate Phosphatase Facilitates Dark Reduction of Nitrate: Regulation by Nitrate and Ammonia

Leaves of 15 - 30-d-old plants of sunflower and jute were harvested at 10.00 or 23.00 (local time) and measured immediately, or those harvested at 10.00 were incubated for one hour in sunlight either in water or 5 mM methionine sulfoximine (MSX) solution and then for three hours in dark either in water or 15 mM KNO3 solution. Nitrate feeding during dark incubation, in general, increased nitrate reductase (NR) and nitrite reductase (NiR) activities, and NADH and soluble sugar contents. Increase in tissue nitrate concentration in MSX fed but not in control samples suggested reduction of nitrate in dark. NADPH-dependent NR activity increased considerably upon feeding with nitrate in dark. Concomitantly, NADPH phosphatase activity was also increased in nitrate treated, dark incubated leaves. It is proposed that nitrate regulates dark nitrate reduction by facilitating generation of NADH from NADPH by NADPH phosphatase. High amounts of ammonia accumulated in MSX treated, but not in control leaves, upon dark incubation. Relative activities of NR and NADPH phosphatase, and amounts of soluble sugar and NADH were low in MSX fed samples compared to that of control. So, high amount of ammonia might partially repress NADPH phosphatase and consequently deprive NR of reducing equivalents. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Further Characterization of the Reduced Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate:Nitrate Oxidoreductase in Aspergillus nidulans

The reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH):nitrate oxidoreductase (EC 1.6.6.2) from Aspergillus nidulans wild-type bi-1 was purified by means of salt fractionation, gel filtration, affinity chromatography, and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Enzyme which was adsorbed on Cibacron blue agarose could be eluted with 2 mM NADPH or 2 mM oxidized NADP (NADP(+)), the former being about three times more effective than the latter. About half the total NADPH:nitrate reductase activity adsorbed on agarose required elution with 1 M NaCl. This salt-elutable form remained active with NADPH and was not converted to the NADPH-elutable form after readsorption on Cibacron blue agarose. The NADPH-eluted enzyme exhibited a markedly different electrophoretic mobility than the enzyme eluted with NADP(+) or NaCl. After electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels, the NADPH-eluted NADPH:nitrate reductase was separated into four proteins, two of which contained nonheme iron and exhibited reduced methyl viologen-nitrate reductase activity. None of these proteins, singly or in combination, reduced nitrate with NADPH as substrate. Difference spectra analyses and specific heme iron stains revealed the presence of cytochrome b(557) in the largest of the proteins. The molecular weights of the four proteins, which were determined from the relationship of their mobilities on varied concentrations of acrylamide gel, were 360,000, 300,000, 240,000, and 118,000. The subunit molecular weights of these, which are determined via sodium dodecyl sulfate slab gel electrophoresis, were 49,000, 50,000, and 75,000. The key role of NADPH in maintenance of the active form of the heteromultimer is further substantiated.     

Characterization of the Reduced Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate-Nitrate Reductase of Aspergillus nidulans

The reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-nitrate oxidoreductase (EC 1.6.6.2) from Aspergillus nidulans was purified over 200-fold by use of salt fractionation, gel filtration, and ion-exchange chromatography. The purified enzyme was specific for NADPH and catalyzed reduction of nitrate, cytochrome c from isolated mitochondria of Aspergillus, and mammalian cytochrome c. An S(0.725) (20, w) of 7.8 was derived with sucrose density gradient centrifugation, and a Stokes radius of 6.4 nm was derived by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. From these values, a molecular weight of 197,000 was computed, assuming v = 0.725 cm(3)/g. The spectral properties of the purified enzyme suggested a flavine component was present but revealed no pattern indicative of a hemoprotein. A cytochrome c, similar to the cytochrome c from isolated mitochondria, was found unassociated with the nitrate reductase after ion-exchange chromatography. No NADPH-nitrate reductase activity was detected in isolated mitochondria. Spectrally discernable reduction of the flavine component of the enzyme at 450 nm was noted after reaction with NADPH. This reduction was inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoate but not by KCN. The addition of nitrate to NADPH reduced enzyme caused a reoxidation of the flavine component via a reaction which was inhibited by KCN but not by p-chloromercuribenzoate. The half-life of the purified enzyme at 37 C was 20 min for NADPH-nitrate reductase and 35 min for NADPH-cytochrome c reductase.     

The Distribution of Enzymes Which Synthesize Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide and Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate in Monkey, Rabbit, and Ground Squirrel Retinas

The activity of adenosinetriphosphate:nicotinamide adenylyltransferase (EC 2.7.7.1) was measured in all the layers of monkey, rabbit, and ground squirrel retinas. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) kinase (EC 2.7.1.23) distribution was measured in monkey and rabbit retinas. An attempt was made to measure NAD synthetase (EC 6.3.5.1), but the activities in the retinal layers were too low to produce a reliable increment in the levels of endogenous NAD. In monkey retina the adenylyl transferase was highest by far in the outer and inner nuclear layers, lower and variable in ganglion cell and fiber layers, and almost absent elsewhere. Rabbit retina differed in that activity was nearly absent in the outer nuclear layer, whereas in the ground squirrel outer nuclear layer activity was double that of the inner nuclear layer. The species differences suggest that adenylyl transferase is almost absent from cone cell nuclei and high in rod cell nuclei. NAD kinase distribution in monkey retina was almost the mirror image of that of adenylyl transferase.     

Levels of Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide and Reduced Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide in Facultative Bacteria and the Effect of Oxygen

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and reduced NAD (NADH) levels have been measured in bacterial cultures. The cofactors were assayed by using the very sensitive cycling assay described previously by Cartier. Control experiments showed that the level of total NAD(H) falls during harvesting, and so samples were taken quickly from growing cultures and extracted immediately without separating the cells from the medium. Total NAD(H) ranged from 4.0 to 11.7 mumoles/g of dry cells for three facultative organisms, Klebsiella aerogenes, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus albus. NADH was remarkably constant in these bacteria; only one out of ten series of determinations was outside the range 1.4 to 1.9 mumoles/g of dry cells. NAD(+) showed much greater variation. An anaerobe (Clostridium welchii) had significantly more total NAD(H) whereas an aerobe Pseudomonas aeruginosa had about as much NAD(H) as the facultative organisms. NAD and NADH were measured during growth: once more NADH was much more constant than NAD. During change-over between aerobiosis and anaerobiosis, NADH showed a temporary increase but then returned to a constant level, whereas NAD changed from high aerobically to low anaerobically. These results are discussed in terms of the control mechanisms that may be involved.     

Adenosine Phosphate and Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Pool Sizes during Shoot Initiation in Tobacco Callus

Shoot-forming tobacco callus is found to have high levels of adenosine phosphates and NAD⁺, and a low energy charge during meristemoid and shoot primordium formation. NADH levels are low and show little change during this period. There is a decline in the content of NADPH to nondetectable levels during the process, and a transient increase of NADP⁺ is observed early in culture. These patterns are indicative of a shift to a more intensive rate of metabolism during meristemoid and shoot primordium formation and apparently reflect the requirement for energy and reducing power during organ initiation.     

Nitrate reductase of Dunaliella parva

Nitrate reductase of the salt tolerant alga Dunaliella parva, in contrast to that of most green algae, can use NADPH as well as NADH as electron donor. Extracts of cells contained various amounts of latent nitrate reductase. The latent enzyme could be activated at 45°C but only in the presence of flavine adenine dinucleotide. The heat activated enzyme did not require flavine adenine dinucleotide for activity and was fully active with NADH, NADPH or reduced flavine mononucleotide as electron donors.     

A Metaphosphate-dependent Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Kinase from Brevibacterium ammoniagenes

The enzyme utilizing metaphosphate for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphorylation was purified 500-fold from B. ammoniagenes and its properties were studied. The isolated enzyme appeared homogeneous on disc gel electrophoresis; its molecular weight was determined to be 9.0 × 10⁴ by gel filtration. This enzyme specifically phosphorylated nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide at the optimum pH at 6.0. Of phosphoryl donors tested, metaphosphate was most effective for the reaction, and adenosine-5′-triphosphate was less effective. The activity was inhibited by adenosine-5′-monophosphate, adenosine-5′-diphosphate or reduced pyridine nucleotides. The enzyme did not exhibit catalytic activity in the absence of a divalent cation. We concluded that the enzyme phosphorylating nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide in the presence of metaphosphate is distinct from adenosine-5′-triphosphate-dependent nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide kinase, and tentatively designated it metaphosphate-dependent nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide kinase.     

Correlation Between Reduced Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate Levels and Morphological Changes in Neurospora crassa

A colonial mutant of Neurospora crassa, previously shown to be altered in the structure of glucose-6-P dehydrogenase [a reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) producing reaction], contained only 40% as much NADPH in extracts as did the wild type. A partial revertant strain, when grown at 23 C, had the same total NADPH content as the wild type, but, at 34 C, had lower levels of NADPH as well as a colonial morphology. A revertant with complete wild-type morphology had wild-type levels of NADPH. Two different colonial mutants, which have also been reported to be altered in NADPH-generating reactions, were found to have a lower content of NADPH, whereas other colonial mutants had wild-type levels. The wild-type strain, when grown under conditions in which it contained a lower total content of NADPH, had a morphology similar to that of a colonial mutant. The evidence indicates that lowered NADPH content leads to a dramatic alteration in the morphology of Neurospora, but not necessarily vice versa. The possible pleiotropic effects of the NADPH deficiency are discussed.     

Synthesis of Methylene-Bridged Analogues of Nicotinamide Riboside,Nicotinamide Mononucleotide and Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide

Abstract

5-O-tert-Butyldimethylsilyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-3(R)-(nicotinamid-2-ylmethyl)-α-D-ribofuranose (11a) and ?3(R)-(nicotinamid-6-ylmethyl)-α-D-ribofuranose (11b) were prepared by condensation of 5-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-D-erythro-3-pentulofuranose (10) with lithiated (LDA) 2-methylnicotinamide and 6-methylnicotinamide, respectively, and then deprotected to give 1,2-O-isopropylidene-3-(R)-(nicotinamid-2-ylmethyl)-α-D-ribofuranose(12a) and 1,2-O-isopropylidene-3(R)-(nicotinamid-6-ylmethyl)-α-D-ribofuranose (12b). Benzoylation as well as phosphorylation of compounds 12 afforded the corresponding 5-O-benzoate (13b) and 5-O-monophosphates (14a and 14b). Treatment of 13b with CF₃COOH/H₂O caused 1,2-de-O-isopropylidenation with simultaneous cyclization to the corresponding methylene-bridged cyclic nucleoside - 3′,6-methylene-1-(5-O-benzoyl-β-D-ribofuranose)-3-carboxamidopyridinium trifluoro-acetate (8b) - restricted to the “anti” conformation. In a similar manner compounds 14a and 14b were converted into conformationally restricted 2,3′-methylene-1-(β-D-ribofuranose)-3-carboxamidopyridinium-5′-monophosphate (9a - “syn”) and 3′,6-methylene-1-(β-D-ribofuranose)-3-carboxamido -pyridinium-5′monophosphate (9b - “anti”) respectively. Coupling of derivatives 12a and 12b with the adenosine 5′-methylenediphosphonate (16) afforded the corresponding dinucleotides 17. Upon acidic 1,2-de-O-isopropylidenation of 17b, the conformationally restricted P¹-[6,3′-methylene-1-(β-D-ribofuranos-5-yl)-3-carboxamidopyridinium]-P²-(adenosin-5′-yl)methylenediphosphonate 18b -“anti” was formed. Compound 18b was found to be unstable. Upon addition of water 18b was converted into the anomeric mixture of acyclic dinucleotides, i. e. P¹-[3(R)-nicotinamid-6-ylmethyl-D-ribofuranos-5-yl]-P²-(adenosin-5′-yl)-methylenediphosphonate (19b). In a similar manner, treatment of 17a with CF₃COOH/H₂O and HPLC purification afforded the corresponding dinucleotide 19a.

     

Production of Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Glycohydrolases by Bacteria

The distribution of heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni and Cd) were investigated in various organs and tissues of striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba. The animals were caught alive at Taiji, on the coast of Kii Peninsula, during the open season in December 1978. Determination of the metals was made by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and significant differences of metal concentration in the positions of the muscle, blubber and skin, respectively, were observed. The front ventral muscle of matured dolphins showed the highest concentrations of Zn and Cd and lowest Fe when compared to other parts of the muscle. Most of the metals recorded relatively low concentrations in melon rather than in the other lipid layers of blubber. In skin tissue, the concentrations of Fe, Mn and Zn were significantly higher in black-colored skin than in white skin. Moreover, a difference in the concentrations of metals according to bone position was observed. In general, high concentrations of most of the metals were found in liver, kidney and bone, with low concentrations in brain and the lipid layer of blubber. Furthermore, relatively high concentrations of Cu, Mn and Zn were found in skin, and for Mn, Zn, Ni and Cd it was likewise in pancreas and the reproductive organs. Based upon these results, the nature of the organ(s) of a dolphin that has to be selected for ecological and hygienic comparison was discussed.     

Function of Ubiquinone in Electron Transport from Reduced Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide to Nitrate and Oxygen in Aerobacter aerogenes

The possible role of quinones in the electron transport system of Aerobacter aerogenes was investigated. The only quinone found in measurable amounts in bacteria grown in minimal media under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions was ubiquinone-8. Membrane-bound ubiquinone-8 could be removed by extraction with pentane, or destroyed by ultraviolet irradiation, with a concomitant loss of both reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) oxidase and NADH-linked respiratory nitrate reductase activity. In the extracted membrane preparations, these enzymatic activities could be restored, both to the same degree, by incorporation of ubiquinone-6, -8, or -10, but not by incorporation of menaquinones. The NADH oxidation and the nitrate reduction were sensitive to the respiratory inhibitors dicoumarol, lapachol, and cyanide. The results obtained indicate that ubiquinone-8 mediates the electron transport between NADH and oxygen as well as between NADH and nitrate. Branching of the electron transport chain to oxygen and nitrate occurs after an initial common pathway.     

Photosynthetic Activities of the Halophilic Alga Dunaliella parva

Dunaliella parva, a unicellular halophilic alga, was found to evolve oxygen photosynthetically only in the presence of a high osmolar concentration. Cell free preparations were obtained by placing the cells in a medium of low osmolarity. The fragments obtained showed a high photoreducing and photophosphorylating activity except for their inability to catalyze all ferredoxin dependent photoreactions. Placing the cells in a medium of intermediate osmolarity produced a “chloroplast” preparation which maintained some capacity for O₂ evolution and CO₂ fixation, while possessing the ability to catalyze the photoinduced reduction of ferricyanide. Enzymic and photosynthetic reactions of cell-free preparations from D. parva were inhibited, rather than stimulated, by the salt concentration optimal for growth. These results were interpreted as indicating the existence of a steep NaCl gradient in vivo between the medium and the cell compartments which are not permeable to salt.     

烟酰胺腺嘌呤二核苷酸激酶研究进展

本文介绍了ＮＡＤ￣＋激酶的来源和分布、测定方法、最适ｐＨ、反应平衡常数、影响酶稳定性的因子、比活力和动力学常数、三磷酸核苷酸特异性、对金属离子的需要、抑制剂和底物类似物、反应机制、反应的感光性、酶固定化、与钙调蛋白的关系、各种效应物等方面研究的进展,并进行了评述。     

Escherichia coli Mutant with Elevated Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate (Reduced) Oxidase Activity

A slow-growing mutant of Escherichia coli with greatly elevated nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (reduced; NADPH) oxidase activity has been isolated. The oxidase activity of the wild-type organism, normally low at pH 7.5, was increased when the assay was performed at pH 6.0. Sucrose density gradients of sonic extracts of the mutant and wild-type strains revealed several peaks of NADPH oxidase activity at pH 6.0. The parent organism had a peak of activity of high molecular weight which was absent from the mutant. The mutant strain had an activator capable of increasing the activity of all wild-type density gradient peaks, especially the one of high molecular weight. The activator was either missing or masked in the wild type. Agar gel electrophoresis of the extracts uncovered a rapidly moving band from the wild type, missing from the mutant; the material in this band had weak NADPH-diaphorase activity and strongly inhibited the activity of the mutant NADPH oxidase. It was concluded that, in wild-type E. coli, NADPH oxidase activity is regulated by a proper balance of an activator and an inhibitor. The absence of the inhibitor, as in the mutant, or the inactivation of the inhibitor at acid pH levels, results in a high level of NADPH oxidase activity. The relation of high NADPH oxidase levels and subsequent decrease of the NADPH pool to the decrease in growth rate is considered.     

Production of Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide by Saccharomyces carlsbergensis

The accumulation of NAD was studied by culturing yeast in the presence of NAD precursors, Among the strains tested, Saccharomyces carlsbergensis showed the highest ability for the accumulation of NAD, Additions of pantothenate, inositol, zinc ion and fatty acids were effective for the accumulation of NAD. Under the optimal culture condition, NAD level in Saccharomyces carlsbergensis reached 42 mg per gram dry cells. Surfactants belonging to alkyl sulfate were effective on the leaking of the intracellular NAD, and about 75 mg of NAD per 100 ml was accumulated.     

Properties of Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate-Dependent Formate Dehydrogenase from Clostridium thermoaceticum

Li, Lan-Fun (Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio), Lars Ljungdahl, and Harland G. Wood. Properties of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-dependent formate dehydrogenase from Clostridium thermoaceticum. J. Bacteriol. 92: 405-412. 1966.-A nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP)-dependent formate dehydrogenase has been isolated from C. thermoaceticum. The enzyme is very sensitive to oxygen and requires sulfhydryl compounds for activity. The apparent K(m) at 50 C and pH 7.0 for NADP is 5.9 x 10(-5)m and for formate, 2.2 x 10(-4)m. The enzyme is most active at about 60 C and at pH values between 7.0 and 9.0. The enzyme catalyzes an exchange between C(14)O(2) and formate, which requires NADP, but net synthesis of formate from CO(2) and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate could not be demonstrated. The reaction does not involve ferredoxin.