Influence of osmotic and nutritional stress on physiology of Penicillium fellutanum in removal of phosphocholine and modification of phospho-1-O-[N-peptidyl-(2-aminoethanol)] phosphodiesters of peptidophosphogalactomannan species

Addition of 3 M NaCl to 72-h cultures of Penicillium fellutanum in 2 mM phosphate resulted in an increase in percentage of extracellular peptidophosphogalactomannan III (pP(x)GM(iii)) and a decrease in that of pP(x)GM(ii). The magnitude of (31)P nuclear magnetic resonance signals at 1.47 and 1.33 ppm of phospho-1-O-[N-peptidyl-(2-aminoethanol)] phosphodiesters pP(x)GM(ii) and pP(x)GM(iii) decreased compared with controls. The data suggest that serine, glycine, and threonine residues from the 3-kDa peptide and from galactofuranosyl-6-O-phospho-1'-O-[N-peptidyl-(2-aminoethanol)] residues were the precursors of the needed choline-derived osmolytes.     

Diffusion-limited component of reactions catalyzed by Bacillus cereus beta-lactamase I

The Bacillus cereus beta-lactamase I catalyzes the hydrolysis of a wide variety of penicillins and cephalosporins with values of k(cat)/K(m) varying over several orders of magnitude. The values of this parameter for the most reactive of these compounds, benzylpenicillin, I, and furylacryloyl-penicillin, II (k(cat)/K(m) = 2.43 x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1) and 2.35 x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1), respectively, at pH 7.0 in potassium phosphate buffer containing 0.17 M KCl, I(c) = 0.63, 25 degrees C) are decreased markedly by increasing viscosity in sucrose- or glycerol-containing buffers. The relative sensitivities to viscosity of k(cat)/K(m) values for I and for cephaloridine, III, were found to be virtually unchanged at pH 3.8 from those observed at pH 7.0. The differential effects of viscosity on the reactive vs. the sluggish [e.g., cephalothin (IV), k(cat)/K(m) = 1 x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1)] substrates support the contention that the rates of reaction of the former with the enzyme are in part diffusion controlled. Quantitative analysis gives values for the association rate constants, k(1), of 7.6 x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1), 4 x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1), and 1.1 x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1) for I, II, and III, respectively. As both reactive and sluggish substrates associate with the active site of the enzyme with relatively similar rate constants, the variation in k(cat)/K(m) values is primarily due to the variation in the partition ratios k(-1)/k(2), for the ES complex, which are 2.3, 0.77, and 30 for I, II, and III, respectively. The preceding analysis is based on direct application of the Stokes-Einstein diffusion law to enzyme kinetics. The range of applicability of this law to the diffusion of substrate size molecules and the mechanics of diffusion of ionic species through viscous solutions of sucrose vs. polymers are explored.     

Catalytic properties of the PepQ prolidase from Escherichia coli

The PepQ prolidase from Escherichia coli catalyzes the hydrolysis of dipeptide substrates with a proline residue at the C-terminus. The pepQ gene has been cloned, overexpressed, and the enzyme purified to homogeneity. The k(cat) and k(cat)/K(m) values for the hydrolysis of Met-Pro are 109 s(-1) and 8.4 x 10(5)M(-1)s(-1), respectively. The enzyme also catalyzes the stereoselective hydrolysis of organophosphate triesters and organophosphonate diesters. A series of 16 organophosphate triesters with a p-nitrophenyl leaving group were assessed as substrates for PepQ. The S(P)-enantiomer of methyl phenyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate was hydrolyzed with a k(cat) of 36 min(-1) and a k(cat)/K(m) of 710 M(-1)s(-1). The corresponding R(P)-enantiomer was hydrolyzed more slowly with a k(cat) of 0.4 min(-1) and a k(cat)/K(m) of 11 M(-1)s(-1). The PepQ prolidase can be utilized for the kinetic resolution of racemic phosphate esters. The PepQ prolidase was shown to hydrolyze the p-nitrophenyl analogs of the nerve agents GB (sarin), GD (soman), GF, and VX.     

Specificity of natural and artificial substrates for human Cdc25A

Cdc25A is a dual-specific protein phosphatase involved in the regulation of the kinase activity of Cdk-cyclin complexes in the eukaryotic cell cycle. To understand the mechanism of this important regulator, we have generated highly purified biochemical reagents to determine the kinetic constants for human Cdc25A with respect to a set of peptidic, artificial, and natural substrates. Cdc25A and its catalytic domain (dN25A) demonstrate very similar kinetics toward the artificial substrates p-nitrophenyl phosphate (k(cat)/K(m) = 15-25 M(-1) s(-1)) and 3-O-methylfluorescein phosphate (k(cat)/K(m) = 1.1-1.3 x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1)). Phospho-peptide substrates exhibit extremely low second-order rate constants and a flat specificity profile toward Cdc25A and dN25A (k(cat)/K(m) = 1 to 10 M(-1) s(-1)). In contrast to peptidic substrates, Cdc25A and dN25A are highly active phosphatases toward the natural substrate, T14- and Y15-bis-phosphorylated Cdk2/CycA complex (Cdk2-pTpY/CycA) with k(cat)/K(m) values of 1.0-1.1 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1). In the context of the Cdk2-pTpY/CycA complex, phospho-threonine is preferred over phospho-tyrosine by more than 10-fold. The highly homologous catalytic domain of Cdc25c is essentially inactive toward Cdk2-pTpY/CycA. Taken together these data indicate that a significant degree of the specificity of Cdc25 toward its Cdk substrate resides within the catalytic domain itself and yet is in a region(s) that is outside the phosphate binding site of the enzyme.     

Contribution of enzyme-phosphoribosyl contacts to catalysis by orotidine 5'-phosphate decarboxylase

The crystal structure of the complex formed between recombinant yeast orotidine 5'-phosphate decarboxylase and the competitive inhibitor 6-hydroxyuridine 5'-phosphate reveals the presence of four hydrogen bonds between active site residues Tyr-217 and Arg-235 and the phosphoryl group of this inhibitor. When Tyr-217 and Arg-235 are individually mutated to alanine, values of k(cat)/K(m) are reduced by factors of 3000- and 7300-fold, respectively. In the Y217A/R235A double mutant, activity is reduced more than 10(7)-fold. Experiments with highly enriched [(14)C]orotic acid show that when ribose 5'-phosphate is deleted from substrate orotidine 5'-phosphate, k(cat)/K(m) is reduced by more than 12 orders of magnitude, from 6.3 x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1) for OMP to less than 2.5 x 10(-5) M(-1) s(-1) for orotic acid. Activity toward orotate is not "rescued" by 1 M inorganic phosphate. The K(i) value of ribose 5'-phosphate, representing the part of the natural substrate that is absent in orotic acid, is 8.1 x 10(-5) M. Thus, the effective concentration of the 5'-phosphoribosyl group, in stabilizing the transition state for enzymatic decarboxylation of OMP, is estimated to be >2 x 10(8) M, representing one of the largest connectivity effects that has been reported for an enzyme reaction.     

Cloning and characterization of histamine dehydrogenase from Nocardioides simplex

Histamine dehydrogenase (NSHADH) can be isolated from cultures of Nocardioides simplex grown with histamine as the sole nitrogen source. A previous report suggested that NSHADH might contain the quinone cofactor tryptophan tryptophyl quinone (TTQ). Here, the hdh gene encoding NSHADH is cloned from the genomic DNA of N. simplex, and the isolated enzyme is subjected to a full spectroscopic characterization. Protein sequence alignment shows NSHADH to be related to trimethylamine dehydrogenase (TMADH: EC 1.5.99.7), where the latter contains a bacterial ferredoxin-type [4Fe-4S] cluster and 6-S-cysteinyl FMN cofactor. NSHADH has no sequence similarity to any TTQ containing amine dehydrogenases. NSHADH contains 3.6+/-0.3 mol Fe and 3.7+/-0.2 mol acid labile S per subunit. A comparison of the UV/vis spectra of NSHADH and TMADH shows significant similarity. The EPR spectrum of histamine reduced NSHADH also supports the presence of the flavin and [4Fe-4S] cofactors. Importantly, we show that NSHADH has a narrow substrate specificity, oxidizing only histamine (K(m)=31+/-11 microM, k(cat)/K(m)=2.1 (+/-0.4)x10(5)M(-1)s(-1)), agmatine (K(m)=37+/-6 microM, k(cat)/K(m)=6.0 (+/-0.6)x10(4)M(-1)s(-1)), and putrescine (K(m)=1280+/-240 microM, k(cat)/K(m)=1500+/-200 M(-1)s(-1)). A kinetic characterization of the oxidative deamination of histamine by NSHADH is presented that includes the pH dependence of k(cat)/K(m) (histamine) and the measurement of a substrate deuterium isotope effect, (D)(k(cat)/K(m) (histamine))=7.0+/-1.8 at pH 8.5. k(cat) is also pH dependent and has a reduced substrate deuterium isotope of (D)(k(cat))=1.3+/-0.2.     

Antioxidative function and substrate specificity of NAD(P)H-dependent alkenal/one oxidoreductase. A new role for leukotriene B4 12-hydroxydehydrogenase/15-oxoprostaglandin 13-reductase

There are several known routes for the metabolic detoxication of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes and ketones, including conjugation to glutathione and reduction and oxidation of the aldehyde to an alcohol and a carboxylic acid, respectively. In this study, we describe a fourth class of detoxication that involves the reduction of the alpha,beta-carbon=carbon double bond to a single bond. This reaction is catalyzed by NAD(P)H-dependent alkenal/one oxidoreductase (AO), an enzyme heretofore known as leukotriene B4 12-hydroxydehydrogenase, 15-oxoprostaglandin 13-reductase, and dithiolethione-inducible gene-1. AO is shown to effectively reduce cytotoxic lipid peroxidation products such as 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) (k(cat) = 4.0 x 10(3) min(-1); k(cat)/K(m) = 3.3 x 10(7) min(-1) M(-1)) and acrolein (k(cat) = 2.2 x 10(2) min(-1); k(cat)/K(m) = 1.5 x 10(6) min(-1) M(-1)) and common industrial compounds such as ethyl vinyl ketone (k(cat) = 9.6 x 10(3) min(-1); k(cat)/K(m) = 8.8 x 10(7) min(-1) M(-1)) and 15-oxoprostaglandin E1 (k(cat) = 2.4 x 10(3) min(-1); k(cat)/K(m) = 2.4 x 10(9) min(-1) M(-1)). Furthermore, transfection of human embryonic kidney cells with a rat liver AO expression vector protected these cells from challenge with HNE. The concentration of HNE at which 50% of the cells were killed after 24 h increased from approximately 15 microM in control cells to approximately 70 microM in AO-transfected cells. Overexpression of AO also completely abolished protein alkylation by HNE at all concentrations tested (up to 30 microM). Thus, we describe a novel antioxidative activity of a previously characterized bioactive lipid-metabolizing enzyme that could prove to be therapeutically or prophylactically useful due to its high catalytic rate and inducibility.     

Importance of the P4' residue in human granzyme B inhibitors and substrates revealed by scanning mutagenesis of the proteinase inhibitor 9 reactive center loop

The cytotoxic lymphocyte serine proteinase granzyme B induces apoptosis of abnormal cells by cleaving intracellular proteins at sites similar to those cleaved by caspases. Understanding the substrate specificity of granzyme B will help to identify natural targets and develop better inhibitors or substrates. Here we have used the interaction of human granzyme B with a cognate serpin, proteinase inhibitor 9 (PI-9), to examine its substrate sequence requirements. Cleavage and sequencing experiments demonstrated that Glu(340) is the P1 residue in the PI-9 RCL, consistent with the preference of granzyme B for acidic P1 residues. Ala-scanning mutagenesis demonstrated that the P4-P4' region of the PI-9 RCL is important for interaction with granzyme B, and that the P4' residue (Glu(344)) is required for efficient serpin-proteinase binding. Peptide substrates based on the P4-P4' PI-9 RCL sequence and containing either P1 Glu or P1 Asp were cleaved by granzyme B (k(cat)/K(m) 9.5 x 10(3) and 1.2 x 10(5) s(-1) M(-1), respectively) but were not recognized by caspases. A substrate containing P1 Asp but lacking P4' Glu was cleaved less efficiently (k(cat)/K(m) 5.3 x 10(4) s(-1) M(-1)). An idealized substrate comprising the previously described optimal P4-P1 sequence (Ile-Glu-Pro-Asp) fused to the PI-9 P1'-P4' sequence was efficiently cleaved by granzyme B (k(cat)/K(m) 7.5 x 10(5) s(-1) M(-1)) and was also recognized by caspases. This contrasts with the literature value for a tetrapeptide comprising the same P4-P1 sequence (k(cat)/K(m) 6.7 x 10(4) s(-1) M(-1)) and confirms that P' residues promote efficient interaction of granzyme B with substrates. Finally, molecular modeling predicted that PI-9 Glu(344) forms a salt bridge with Lys(27) of granzyme B, and we showed that a K27A mutant of granzyme B binds less efficiently to PI-9 and to substrates containing a P4' Glu. We conclude that granzyme B requires an extended substrate sequence for specific and efficient binding and propose that an acidic P4' substrate residue allows discrimination between early (high affinity) and late (lower affinity) targets during the induction of apoptosis.     

Utilization of phosphocholine from extracellular complex polysaccharide as a source of cytoplasmic choline derivatives in Penicillium fellutanum.

Penicillium fellutanum produces a phosphorylated, choline-containing extracellular polysaccharide, peptidophosphogalactomannan (pP(x)GM) [where x is the number of phosphodiester residues]). The 13C-methyl-labeled pP(x)GM ([methyl-13C]pP(x)GM) was prepared from the cultures supplemented with L-[methyl-13C]methionine and was used as a probe to monitor the fate of phosphocholine in this polymer. The addition of [methyl-13C]pP(x)GM to growing cultures in low-phosphate medium resulted in the disappearance within 5 days of [methyl-13C]phosphocholine and N,N'-dimethylphosphoethanolamine from the added [methyl-13C]pP(x)GM. Two 13C-methyl-enriched cytoplasmic solutes, choline-O-sulfate and glycine betaine, were found in mycelial extracts, suggesting that phosphocholine-containing extracellular pP(x)GM of P. fellutanum is a precursor of intracellular choline-O-sulfate and glycine betaine. The mycelia cultured in low-phosphate (2 mM) medium contained glycine betaine and 1.5-fold more choline-O-sulfate than those grown in high-phosphate (20 mM) medium. The high levels of extracellular nonspecific phosphocholine:phosphocholine hydrolase and acid phosphomonoesterase observed in the low-phosphate culture medium are likely related to the release of phosphocholine from pP(x)GM and hydrolysis of phosphocholine, respectively. These results suggest that extracellular pP(x)GM of P. fellutanum provides phosphate needed as the environment becomes depleted of this nutrient. Choline, in excess of that needed immediately, is stored in the cytoplasm in forms that can be reutilized.     

Kinetic and mechanistic properties of biotin sulfoxide reductase

Rhodobacter sphaeroides f. sp. denitrificans biotin sulfoxide reductase catalyzes the reduction of d-biotin d-sulfoxide (BSO) to biotin. Initial rate studies of the homogeneous recombinant enzyme, expressed in Escherichia coli, have demonstrated that the purified protein utilizes NADPH as a facile electron donor in the absence of any additional auxiliary proteins. We have previously shown [Pollock, V. V., and Barber, M. J. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 3355-3362] that, at pH 8 and in the presence of saturating concentrations of BSO, the enzyme exhibits, a marked preference for NADPH (k(cat,app) = 500 s(-1), K(m,app) = 269 microM, and k(cat,app)/K(m,app) = 1.86 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1)) compared to NADH (k(cat,app) = 47 s(-1), K(m,app) = 394 microM, and k(cat,app)/K(m,app) = 1.19 x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1)). Production of biotin using NADPH as the electron donor was confirmed by both the disk biological assay and by reversed-phase HPLC analysis of the reaction products. The purified enzyme also utilized ferricyanide as an artificial electron acceptor, which effectively suppressed biotin sulfoxide reduction and biotin formation. Analysis of the enzyme isolated from tungsten-grown cells yielded decreased reduced methyl viologen:BSO reductase, NADPH:BSO reductase, and NADPH:FR activities, confirming that Mo is required for all activities. Kinetic analyses of substrate inhibition profiles revealed that the enzyme followed a Ping Pong Bi-Bi mechanism with both NADPH and BSO exhibiting double competitive substrate inhibition. Replots of the 1/v-axes intercepts of the parallel asymptotes obtained at several low concentrations of fixed substrate yielded a K(m) for BSO of 714 and 65 microM for NADPH. In contrast, utilizing NADH as an electron donor, the replots yielded a K(m) for BSO of 132 microM and 1.25 mM for NADH. Slope replots of data obtained at high concentrations of BSO yielded a K(i) for BSO of 6.10 mM and 900 microM for NADPH. Kinetic isotope studies utilizing stereospecifically deuterated NADPD indicated that BSO reductase uses specifically the 4R-hydrogen of the nicotinamide ring. Cyanide inhibited NADPH:BSO and NADPH:FR activities in a reversible manner while diethylpyrocarbonate treatment resulted in complete irreversible inactivation of the enzyme concomitant with molybdenum cofactor release, indicating that histidine residues are involved in cofactor-binding.     

A structure-based site-directed mutagenesis study on the neurolysin (EC 3.4.24.16) and thimet oligopeptidase (EC 3.4.24.15) catalysis

Neurolysin (EP24.16) and thimet oligopeptidase (EP24.15) are closely related metalloendopeptidases. Site-directed mutagenesis of Tyr(613) (EP24.16) or Tyr(612) (EP24.15) to either Phe or Ala promoted a strong reduction of k(cat)/K(M) for both enzymes. These data suggest the importance of both hydroxyl group and aromatic ring at this specific position during substrate hydrolysis by these peptidases. Furthermore, the EP24.15 A607G mutant showed a k(cat)/K(M) of 2x10(5) M(-1) s(-1) for the Abz-GFSIFRQ-EDDnp substrate, similar to that of EP24.16 (k(cat)/K(M)=3x10(5) M(-1) s(-1)) which contains Gly at the corresponding position; the wild type EP24.15 has a k(cat)/K(M) of 2.5x10(4) M(-1) s(-1) for this substrate.     

A fluorimetric method for the determination of pepsin activity

An intramolecularly quenched fluorogenic peptide containing o-aminobenzoyl (Abz) and ethylenediamine 2,4-dinitrophenyl (Eddnp) groups at amino- and carboxyl-terminal amino acid residues, Abz-Lys-Pro-Ile-Glu-Phe-Phe-Arg-Leu-Eddnp, was hydrolyzed by purified human pepsin, gastricsin, and gastric juice uniquely at the Phe-Phe bond. Kinetic parameters determined for purified pepsin were K(m)=0.68+/-0.11 microM; k(cat)=6.3+/-0.16s(-1); k(cat)/K(m)=9.26s(-1) microM(-1); Gastricsin showed K(m)=2.69+/-0.18 microM; k(cat)=0.03+/-0.005s(-1); k(cat)/K(m)=0.011s(-1) microM(-1). Gastric juice (21 samples) from subjects without gastric disorders at endoscopy examination showed activities varying from 0.0008 to 9.72 micromolml(-1)min(-1). Pepstatin A inhibition of gastric juice enzymatic activity was complete at 3.4x10(-5)M (final concentration) inhibitor. In the proposed method the presence of a unique scissile bond in the synthetic substrate provides a direct ratio between enzymatic activity and amount of substrate hydrolyzed, and a unique step reaction facilitates the use of this assay for the determination of the activity of aspartic proteinases in biological fluids and during enzyme purification procedures.     

Constitutive expression, purification and characterization of a phosphoglucomutase from Fusarium oxysporum

The phosphoglucomutase gene from a wild type Fusarium oxysporum strain (F3), was homologously expressed, under the control of the constitutive promoter of gpdA of Aspergillus nidulans. The transformant produced elevated levels of phosphoglucomutase activity compared to the wild type, a fact that facilitated the subsequent purification procedure. The enzyme (FoPGM) was purified to homogeneity applying three anion exchange and one gel filtration chromatography steps. The native enzyme revealed a monomeric structure with a molecular mass of 60 kDa, while the isoelectric point was 3.5. FoPGM was active in pH ranged from 6.0 to 8.0, with an optimum using 3-(N-morpholino)propanesulfonic acid buffer at 7.0, while loss of activity was observed when phosphate buffer was used in the above mentioned pH range. The optimal temperature for activity was 45°C but the enzyme became unstable at temperatures above 40°C. FoPGM requires the presence of a divalent cation for its function with maximum activity being obtained with Co(2+). The apparent K(m) for Co(2+) was found to be 10 μM. The enzyme was also active with other divalent metal ions such as Mn(2+), Mg(2+), Ni(2+) and Ca(2+) but to a lesser extent. The following kinetic constants were determined: v(max), 0.74 μmol mg(protein)(-1)min(-1); k(cat), 44.2 min(-1); K(m)(G1P), 0.10mM; K(m)(G1,6 diP), 1.03 μM; k(cat)/K(m)(G1P), 443 mM(-1)min(-1) and k(cat)/K(m)(G1,6 diP), 42,860 mM(-1)min(-1). The enzyme was considered to follow a Ping Pong substituted enzyme or enzyme isomerization mechanism.     

Kinetic mechanism of an aldehyde reductase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae that relieves toxicity of furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural

An effective means of relieving the toxicity of furan aldehydes, furfural (FFA) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), on fermenting organisms is essential for achieving efficient fermentation of lignocellulosic biomass to ethanol and other products. Ari1p, an aldehyde reductase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has been shown to mitigate the toxicity of FFA and HMF by catalyzing the NADPH-dependent conversion to corresponding alcohols, furfuryl alcohol (FFOH) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfuryl alcohol (HMFOH). At pH 7.0 and 25°C, purified Ari1p catalyzes the NADPH-dependent reduction of substrates with the following values (k(cat) (s(-1)), k(cat)/K(m) (s(-1)mM(-1)), K(m) (mM)): FFA (23.3, 1.82, 12.8), HMF (4.08, 0.173, 23.6), and dl-glyceraldehyde (2.40, 0.0650, 37.0). When acting on HMF and dl-glyceraldehyde, the enzyme operates through an equilibrium ordered kinetic mechanism. In the physiological direction of the reaction, NADPH binds first and NADP(+) dissociates from the enzyme last, demonstrated by k(cat) of HMF and dl-glyceraldehyde that are independent of [NADPH] and (K(ia)(NADPH)/k(cat)) that extrapolate to zero at saturating HMF or dl-glyceraldehyde concentration. Microscopic kinetic parameters were determined for the HMF reaction (HMF+NADPH?HMFOH+NADP(+)), by applying steady-state, presteady-state, kinetic isotope effects, and dynamic modeling methods. Release of products, HMFOH and NADP(+), is 84% rate limiting to k(cat) in the forward direction. Equilibrium constants, [NADP(+)][FFOH]/[NADPH][FFA][H(+)]=5600×10(7)M(-1) and [NADP(+)][HMFOH]/[NADPH][HMF][H(+)]=4200×10(7)M(-1), favor the physiological direction mirrored by the slowness of hydride transfer in the non-physiological direction, NADP(+)-dependent oxidation of alcohols (k(cat) (s(-1)), k(cat)/K(m) (s(-1)mM(-1)), K(m) (mM)): FFOH (0.221, 0.00158, 140) and HMFOH (0.0105, 0.000104, 101).     

Catalytic reaction pathway for the mitogen-activated protein kinase ERK2

The structural, functional, and regulatory properties of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAP kinases) have long attracted considerable attention owing to the critical role that these enzymes play in signal transduction. While several MAP kinase X-ray crystal structures currently exist, there is by comparison little mechanistic information available to correlate the structural data with the known biochemical properties of these molecules. We have employed steady-state kinetic and solvent viscosometric techniques to characterize the catalytic reaction pathway of the MAP kinase ERK2 with respect to the phosphorylation of a protein substrate, myelin basic protein (MBP), and a synthetic peptide substrate, ERKtide. A minor viscosity effect on k(cat) with respect to the phosphorylation of MBP was observed (k(cat) = 10 +/- 2 s(-1), k(cat)(eta) = 0.18 +/- 0.05), indicating that substrate processing occurs via slow phosphoryl group transfer (12 +/- 4 s(-1)) followed by the faster release of products (56 +/- 4 s(-1)). At an MBP concentration extrapolated to infinity, no significant viscosity effect on k(cat)/K(m(ATP)) was observed (k(cat)/K(m(ATP)) = 0.2 +/- 0.1 microM(-1) s(-1), k(cat)/K(m(ATP))(eta) = -0.08 +/- 0.04), consistent with rapid-equilibrium binding of the nucleotide. In contrast, at saturating ATP, a full viscosity effect on k(cat)/K(m) for MBP was apparent (k(cat)/K(m(MBP)) = 2.4 +/- 1 microM(-1) s(-1), k(cat)/K(m(MBP))(eta) = 1.0 +/- 0.1), while no viscosity effect was observed on k(cat)/K(m) for the phosphorylation of ERKtide (k(cat)/K(m(ERKtide)) = (4 +/- 2) x 10(-3) microM(-1) s(-1), k(cat)/K(m(ERKtide))(eta) = -0.02 +/- 0.02). This is consistent with the diffusion-limited binding of MBP, in contrast to the rapid-equilibrium binding of ERKtide, to form the ternary Michaelis complex. Calculated values for binding constants show that the estimated value for K(d(MBP)) (/= 1.5 mM). The dramatically higher catalytic efficiency of MBP in comparison to that of ERKtide ( approximately 600-fold difference) is largely attributable to the slow dissociation rate of MBP (/=56 s(-1)), from the ERK2 active site.     

Hydrolysis of biological peptides by human angiotensin-converting enzyme-related carboxypeptidase

Human angiotensin-converting enzyme-related carboxypeptidase (ACE2) is a zinc metalloprotease whose closest homolog is angiotensin I-converting enzyme. To begin to elucidate the physiological role of ACE2, ACE2 was purified, and its catalytic activity was characterized. ACE2 proteolytic activity has a pH optimum of 6.5 and is enhanced by monovalent anions, which is consistent with the activity of ACE. ACE2 activity is increased approximately 10-fold by Cl(-) and F(-) but is unaffected by Br(-). ACE2 was screened for hydrolytic activity against a panel of 126 biological peptides, using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry detection. Eleven of the peptides were hydrolyzed by ACE2, and in each case, the proteolytic activity resulted in removal of the C-terminal residue only. ACE2 hydrolyzes three of the peptides with high catalytic efficiency: angiotensin II () (k(cat)/K(m) = 1.9 x 10(6) m(-1) s(-1)), apelin-13 (k(cat)/K(m) = 2.1 x 10(6) m(-1) s(-1)), and dynorphin A 1-13 (k(cat)/K(m) = 3.1 x 10(6) m(-1) s(-1)). The ACE2 catalytic efficiency is 400-fold higher with angiotensin II () as a substrate than with angiotensin I (). ACE2 also efficiently hydrolyzes des-Arg(9)-bradykinin (k(cat)/K(m) = 1.3 x 10(5) m(-1) s(-1)), but it does not hydrolyze bradykinin. An alignment of the ACE2 peptide substrates reveals a consensus sequence of: Pro-X((1-3 residues))-Pro-Hydrophobic, where hydrolysis occurs between proline and the hydrophobic amino acid.     

Enzyme-coupled assay for beta-xylosidase hydrolysis of natural substrates

We describe here a new enzyme-coupled assay for the quantitation of d-xylose using readily available enzymes that allows kinetic evaluation of hemicellulolytic enzymes using natural xylooligosaccharide substrates. Hydrogen peroxide is generated as an intermediary analyte, which allows flexibility in the choice of the chromophore or fluorophore used as the final reporter. Thus, we present d-xylose quantitation results for solution-phase assays performed with both the fluorescent reporter resorufin, generated from N-acetyl-3,7-dihydroxyphenoxazine (Amplex Red), and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS), whose corresponding radical cation has an absorbance maximum at approximately 400 nm. We also describe a useful solid-phase variation of the assay performed with the peroxidase substrate 3,3'-diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride, which produces an insoluble brown precipitate. In addition, kinetic parameters for hydrolysis of the natural substrates xylobiose and xylotriose were obtained using this assay for a glycosyl hydrolase family 39 beta-xylosidase from Thermoanaerobacterium sp. strain JW/SL YS485 (Swiss-Prot accession no. O30360). At higher xylobiose substrate concentrations the enzyme showed an increase in the rate indicative of transglycosylation, while for xylotriose marked substrate inhibition was observed. At lower xylobiose concentrations k(cat) was 2.7 +/- 0.4 s(-1), K(m) was 3.3 +/- 0.7 mM, and k(cat)/K(m) was 0.82 +/- 0.21 mM(-1) . s(-1). Nonlinear curve fitting to a substrate inhibition model showed that for xylotriose K(i) was 1.7 +/- 0.1 mM, k(cat) was 2.0 +/- 0.1 s(-1), K(m) was 0.144 +/- 0.011 mM, and k(cat)/K(m) was 14 +/- 1.3 mM(-1) . s(-1).     

The consequences of hydroxyl radical formation on the stoichiometry and kinetics of ferrous iron oxidation by human apoferritin

Despite previous detection of hydroxyl radical formation during iron deposition into ferritin, no reports exist in the literature concerning how it might affect ferritin function. In the present study, hydroxyl radical formation during Fe(II) oxidation by apoferritin was found to be contingent on the "ferroxidase" activity (i.e., H subunit composition) exhibited by apoferritin. Hydroxyl radical formation was found to affect both the stoichiometry and kinetics of Fe(II) oxidation by apoferritin. The stoichiometry of Fe(II) oxidation by apoferritin in an unbuffered solution of 50 mM NaCl, pH 7.0, was approximately 3.1 Fe(II)/O(2) at all iron-to-protein ratios tested. The addition of HEPES as an alternate reactant for the hydroxyl radical resulted in a stoichiometry of about 2 Fe(II)/O(2) at all iron-to-protein ratios. HEPES functioned to protect apoferritin from oxidative modification, for its omission from reaction mixtures containing Fe(II) and apoferritin resulted in alterations to the ferritin consistent with oxidative damage. The kinetic parameters for the reaction of recombinant human H apoferritin with Fe(II) in HEPES buffer (100 mM) were: K(m) = 60 microM, k(cat) = 10 s(-1), and k(cat)/K(m) = 1.7 x 10(5) M(-1) x (-1). Collectively, these results contradict the "crystal growth model" for iron deposition into ferritin and, while our data would seem to imply that the ferroxidase activity of ferritin is adequate in facilitating Fe(II) oxidation at all stages of iron deposition into ferritin, it is important to note that these data were obtained in vitro using nonphysiologic conditions. The possibility that these findings may have physiological significance is discussed.     

Binding energy and catalysis by D-xylose isomerase: kinetic, product, and X-ray crystallographic analysis of enzyme-catalyzed isomerization of (R)-glyceraldehyde

D-Xylose isomerase (XI) and triosephosphate isomerase (TIM) catalyze the aldose-ketose isomerization reactions of D-xylose and d-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate (DGAP), respectively. D-Glyceraldehyde (DGA) is the triose fragment common to the substrates for XI and TIM. The XI-catalyzed isomerization of DGA to give dihydroxyacetone (DHA) in D(2)O was monitored by (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and a k(cat)/K(m) of 0.034 M(-1) s(-1) was determined for this isomerization at pD 7.0. This is similar to the k(cat)/K(m) of 0.017 M(-1) s(-1) for the TIM-catalyzed carbon deprotonation reaction of DGA in D(2)O at pD 7.0 [Amyes, T. L., O'Donoghue, A. C., and Richard, J. P. (2001) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 123, 11325-11326]. The much larger activation barrier for XI-catalyzed isomerization of D-xylose (k(cat)/K(m) = 490 M(-1) s(-1)) versus that for the TIM-catalyzed isomerization of DGAP (k(cat)/K(m) = 9.6 × 10(6) M(-1) s(-1)) is due to (i) the barrier to conversion of cyclic d-xylose to the reactive linear sugar (5.4 kcal/mol) being larger than that for conversion of DGAP hydrate to the free aldehyde (1.7 kcal/mol) and (ii) the intrinsic binding energy [Jencks, W. P. (1975) Adv. Enzymol. Relat. Areas Mol. Biol. 43, 219-410] of the terminal ethylene glycol fragment of D-xylose (9.3 kcal/mol) being smaller than that of the phosphodianion group of DGAP (~12 kcal/mol). The XI-catalyzed isomerization of DGA in D(2)O at pD 7.0 gives a 90% yield of [1-(1)H]DHA and a 10% yield of [1-(2)H]DHA, the product of isomerization with incorporation of deuterium from solvent D(2)O. By comparison, the transfer of (3)H from the labeled hexose substrate to solvent is observed only once in every 10(9) turnovers for the XI-catalyzed isomerization of [2-(3)H]glucose in H(2)O [Allen, K. N., Lavie, A., Farber, G. K., Glasfeld, A., Petsko, G. A., and Ringe, D. (1994) Biochemistry 33, 1481-1487]. We propose that truncation of the terminal ethylene glycol fragment of d-xylose to give DGA results in a large decrease in the rate of XI-catalyzed isomerization with hydride transfer compared with that for proton transfer. An ultra-high-resolution (0.97 ?) X-ray crystal structure was determined for the complex obtained by soaking crystals of XI with 50 mM DGA. The triose binds to XI as the unreactive hydrate, but ligand binding induces metal cofactor movement and conformational changes in active site residues similar to those observed for XI·sugar complexes.     

Kinetic properties of human placental glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase

The kinetic properties of placental glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were studied, since this enzyme is expected to be an important component of the placental protection system. In this capacity it is also very important for the health of the fetus. The placental enzyme obeyed "Rapid Equilibrium Ordered Bi Bi" sequential kinetics with K(m) values of 40+/-8 microM for glucose-6-phosphate and 20+/-10 microM for NADP. Glucose-6-phosphate, 2-deoxyglucose-6-phosphate and galactose-6-phosphate were used with catalytic efficiencies (k(cat)/K(m)) of 7.4 x 10(6), 4.89 x 10(4) and 1.57 x 10(4) M(-1).s(-1), respectively. The K(m)app values for galactose-6-phosphate and for 2-deoxyglucose-6-phosphate were 10+/-2 and 0.87+/-0.06 mM. With galactose-6-phosphate as substrate, the same K(m) value for NADP as glucose-6-phosphate was obtained and it was independent of galactose-6-phosphate concentration. On the other hand, when 2-deoxyglucose-6-phosphate used as substrate, the K(m) for NADP decreased from 30+/-6 to 10+/-2 microM as the substrate concentration was increased from 0.3 to 1.5 mM. Deamino-NADP, but not NAD, was a coenzyme for placental glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. The catalytic efficiencies of NADP and deamino-NADP (glucose-6-phosphate as substrate) were 1.48 x 10(7) and 4.80 x 10(6) M(-1)s(-1), respectively. With both coenzymes, a hyperbolic saturation and an inhibition above 300 microM coenzyme concentration, was observed. Human placental glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was inhibited competitively by 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (K(i)=15+/-3 mM) and NADPH (K(i)=17.1+/-3.2 microM). The small dissociation constant for the G6PD:NADPH complex pointed to tight enzyme:NADPH binding and the important role of NADPH in the regulation of the pentose phosphate pathway.