Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase from Leuconostoc mesenteroides. Isolation and sequence of a peptide containing an essential lysine

Interaction of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase from Leuconostoc mesenteroides with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate and sodium borohydride leads to inactivation and modification of two lysine residues per enzyme dimer that are thought to bind glucose 6-phosphate [Milhausen, M., & Levy, H.R. (1975) Eur. J. Biochem. 50, 453-461]. The amino acid sequence surrounding this lysine residue is reported. Following tryptic hydrolysis of the modified enzyme, two peptides, each containing one pyridoxyllysine residue, were purified to homogeneity and subjected to automated Edman degradation. The sequences revealed that one of these, a heptapeptide, was derived from the other, containing 11 amino acids. Supporting evidence for the role of the modified lysine is provided in the following paper [Haghighi, B., & Levy, H.R. (1982) Biochemistry (second paper of three in this issue)]. End-group analysis of the native enzyme revealed that valine is the N-terminal and glycine the C-terminal amino acid and provides support for the identity of the enzyme's two subunits.     

Cyanate modification of essential lysyl residues in the catalytic subunit of tobacco ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase

Crystalline ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (3-phospho-D-glycerate carboxy-lyase (dimerizing), EC 4.1.1.39) isolated from tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) leaf homogenates is irreversibly inactivated by incubation with potassium cyanate at pH 7.4. The rate of inactivation is pseudo first-order and linearly dependent on reagent concentration. In the presence of ribulosebisphosphate or high levels of CO2 and Mg2+ the rate constant for inactivation is reduced, suggesting that chemical modification occurs in the active site region of the enzyme. In contrast, neither the effector NADPH nor the activator Mg2+ alone significantly affect the rate of inactivation by cyanate; however, NADPH markedly enhances the protective effect of CO2 and Mg2+. Incubation of the carboxylase with potassium [14C] cyanate in the absence or presence of ribulosebisphosphate revealed that the substrate specifically reduces cyanate incorporation into the large catalytic subunits of the enzyme. Analysis of acid hydrolysates of the radioactive carboxylase indicated that the reagent carbamylates both NH2-terminal groups and lysyl residues in the large and small subunits. Comparison of the substrate-protected enzyme with the inactivated carboxylase revealed that ribulosebisphosphate preferentially reduces lysyl modification within the large subunit. The data here presented indicate that inactivation of ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase by cyanate or its reactive tautomer, isocyanic acid, results from the modification of lysyl residues within the catalytic subunit, presumably at the activator and substrate CO2 binding sites on the enzyme.     

Demonstration of a functional requirement for the carbamate nitrogen of ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase by chemical rescue

Ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase is reversibly activated by the reaction of CO2 with a specific lysyl residue (Lys191 of the Rhodospirillum rubrum enzyme) to form a carbamate that coordinates an essential Mg2+ cation. Surprisingly, the Lys191----Cys mutant protein, in the presence of CO2 and Mg2+, exhibits tight binding of the reaction intermediate analogue 2-carboxyarabinitol bisphosphate [Smith, H. B., Larimer, F. W., & Hartman, F. C. (1988) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 152, 579-584], a property normally equated with effective coordination of the Mg2+ by the carbamate. Catalytic ineptness of the Cys191 mutant protein, despite its ability to coordinate Mg2+ properly, might be due to the absence of the carbamate nitrogen. To investigate this possibility, we have evaluated the ability of exogenous amines to restore catalytic activity to the mutant protein. Significantly, the Cys191 protein manifests ribulose bisphosphate dependent fixation of 14CO2 when incubated with aminomethanesulfonate but not ethanesulfonate. This novel activity reflects a Km value for ribulose bisphosphate which is not markedly perturbed relative to wild-type enzyme, a Km for Mg2+ which is in fact decreased 10-fold, and rate saturation with respect to aminomethanesulfonate (Kd = 8 mM). Chromatographic and spectrophotometric analyses reveal the product of CO2 fixation to be D-3-phosphoglycerate, while turnover of [1-3H]ribulose bisphosphate into [3H]phosphoglycolate confirms oxygenase activity. We conclude that aminomethanesulfonate restored ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase activities to the Cys191 mutant protein by providing a nitrogenous function which satisfies a catalytic demand normally met by the carbamate nitrogen of Lys191.     

Determination of lysine residues affinity labeled in the active site of yeast RNA polymerase II(B) by mutagenesis.

In a previous study, yeast RNA polymerase II(B) was affinity labeled with two nucleotide derivatives (III and VIII) (1). In both cases, the labeled site was localized to the C-terminal part of the B150 subunit. The potential target lysyl residues of derivative III were mapped to the conserved domain H, between Asn946 and Met999. In the present work, we have mutagenized to arginine the five lysines present in domain H. Three lysines can be replaced, individually or simultaneously, without affecting cell growth, and each mutated enzyme can still be affinity labeled. Hence one or both of the other two lysyl residues, Lys979 and Lys987, is the target of the affinity reagent. These two lysines were each found to be essential for cell viability. Derivative VIII labeled another domain in addition to domain H. Supported by analogous results obtained for E. coli RNA polymerase using derivative VIII (2), we hypothesized that the second domain labeled by this derivative in the B150 subunit was domain I. Mutagenesis of the unique lysine present in domain I demonstrated that Lys 1102 was the target of derivative VIII. These results indicate that in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic RNA polymerases, domains H and I are in close proximity and participate to the active site.     

Interaction of the tRNA(Phe) acceptor end with the synthetase involves a sequence common to yeast and Escherichia coli phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetases

Modified lysines resulting from the cross-linking of the 3' end of tRNA(Phe) to yeast phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase (an enzyme with an alpha 2 beta 2 structure) have been characterized by sequencing the labeled chymotryptic peptides that were isolated by means of gel filtration and reversed-phase chromatography. The analysis showed that Lys131 and Lys436 in the alpha subunit are the target sites of periodate-oxidized tRNA(Phe). Mutant protein with a Lys----Asn substitution established that each lysine contributes to the binding of the tRNA but is not essential for catalysis. The major labeled lysine (K131) belongs to the sequence IALQDKL (residues 126-132), which shares three identities with the peptide sequence ADKL found around the tRNAox-labeled Lys61 in the large subunit of Escherichia coli phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase [Hountondji, C., Schmitter, J. M., Beauvallet, C., & Blanquet, S. (1987) Biochemistry 26, 5433-5439].     

Escherichia coli tyrosyl- and methionyl-tRNA synthetases display sequence similarity at the binding site for the 3'-end of tRNA

Covalent modification of Escherichia coli tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (TyrRS) by the 2',3'-dialdehyde derivative of tRNATyr (tRNAox) resulted in a time-dependent inactivation of both ATP-PPi exchange and tRNA aminoacylation activities of the enzyme. In parallel with the inactivation, covalent incorporation of approximately 1 mol of [14C]tRNATyrox/mol of the dimeric synthetase occurred. Intact tRNATyr protected the enzyme against inactivation by the tRNA dialdehyde. Treatment of the TyrRS-[14C]tRNATyr covalent complex with alpha-chymotrypsin produced two labeled peptides (A and B) that were isolated and identified by sequence analysis. Peptides A and B are adjacent and together span residues 227-244 in the primary structure of the enzyme. The three lysine residues in this sequence (lysines-229, -234, and -237) are labeled in a mutually exclusive fashion, with lysine-234 being the most reactive. By analogy with the known three-dimensional structure of the homologous tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase from Bacillus stearothermophilus, these lysines should be part of the C-terminal domain which is presumed to bind the cognate tRNA. Interestingly, the labeled TyrRS structure showed significant similarities to the structure around the lysine residue of E. coli methionyl-tRNA synthetase which is the most reactive toward tRNAMetf(ox) (lysine-335) [Hountondji, C., Blanquet, S., & Lederer, F. (1985) Biochemistry 24, 1175-1180].     

Selective 'in synthesis' labeling of peptides with biotin and rhodamine

A new method is described for the selective 'in synthesis' labeling of peptides by rhodamine or biotin at a single, predetermined epsilon-amino group of a lysine residue. The alpha-amino group and other lysyl residues of the peptide remain unmodified. Peptides are assembled by the Fmoc approach, which requires mild operative conditions for the final deprotection and cleavage, and ensures little damage of the reporter group. The labeling technique involves the previous preparation of a suitable Lysine derivative, easily obtained from commercially-available protected amino acids. This new derivative, where the reporter group (biotin, or rhodamine) acts now as permanent protection of lysyl side chain functions, is then inserted into the synthesis program as a conventional protected amino acid, and linked to the preceding residue by aid of carbodiimide. A simpler, alternative method is also described for the selective 'in synthesis' labeling of peptides with N-terminal lysyl residues. Several applications of labeled peptides are reported.     

Catalytic site of rabbit glycogen synthase isozymes. Identification of an active site lysine close to the amino terminus of the subunit

Rabbit skeletal muscle glycogen synthase was inhibited by pyridoxal 5'-phosphate and irreversibly inactivated after sodium borohydride reduction of the enzyme-pyridoxal-P complex. The irreversible inactivation by pyridoxal-P was opposed by the presence of the substrate UDP-glucose. With [3H]pyridoxal-P, covalent incorporation of 3H label into the enzyme could be monitored. UDP-glucose protected against 3H incorporation, whereas glucose-6-P was ineffective. Peptide mapping of tryptic digests indicated that two distinct peptides were specifically modified by pyridoxal-P. One of these peptides contained the NH2-terminal sequence of the glycogen synthase subunit. Chymotrypsin cleavage of this peptide resulted in a single-labeled fragment with the sequence: Glu-Val-Ala-Asn-(Pyridoxal-P-Lys)-Val-Gly-Gly-Ile-Tyr. This sequence is identical to that previously reported (Tagaya, M., Nakano, K., and Fukui, T. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260. 6670-6676) for a peptide specifically modified by a substrate analogue and inferred to form part of the active site of the enzyme. Sequence analysis revealed that the modified lysine was located at residue 38 from the NH2 terminus of the rabbit muscle glycogen synthase subunit. An analogous tryptic peptide obtained from the rabbit liver isozyme displayed a high degree of sequence homology in the vicinity of the modified lysine. We propose that the extreme NH2 terminus of the glycogen synthase subunit forms part of the catalytic site, in close proximity to one of the phosphorylated regions of the enzyme (site 2, serine 7). In addition, the work extends the known NH2-terminal amino acid sequences of both the liver and muscle glycogen synthase isozymes.     

Hydrogen-deuterium exchange studies on guanidinated pig heart lactate dehydrogenase

Pig heart lactate dehydrogenase becomes more thermostable on increasing the degree of guanidination (conversion of lysine to homoarginine) (Minotani, N., Sekiguchi, T., Bautista, J.G. and Nosoh, Y. (1979) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 581, 334-341). The conformational change of the protein on guanidination was then examined by hydrogen-deuterium (H-2H) exchange reactions. It ws found that (i) the fluctuation degrees of peptides and tyrosine and tryptophan residues in the protein decrease in that order, (ii) two H-2H exchangeable tryptophan residues per subunit are freely accessible to solvent and the fluctuation degrees of the residues does not change on guanidination, (iii) the H-2H exchange detectable tyrosine residues are not freely accessible to solvent and become less fluctuating when 15 lysine residues per subunit are guanidinated, and (iv) the peptides become much less fluctuating on increasing the degree of guanidination. The specific activity of the enzyme decreased on guanidination. The increased thermostability of the protein on guanidination may be related to the decrease in flexibility of the molecular structure by sacrificing the enzyme activity.     

Identification of peptide sequences at the tRNA binding site of Escherichia coli methionyl-tRNA synthetase

Four different structural regions of Escherichia coli tRNAfMet have been covalently coupled to E. coli methionyl-tRNA synthetase (MetRS) by using a tRNA derivative carrying a lysine-reactive cross-linker. We have previously shown that this cross-linking occurs at the tRNA binding site of the enzyme and involves reaction of only a small number of the potentially available lysine residues in the protein [Schulman, L. H., Valenzuela, D., & Pelka, H. (1981) Biochemistry 20, 6018-6023; Valenzuela, D., Leon, O., & Schulman, L. H. (1984) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 119, 677-684]. In this work, four of the cross-linked peptides have been identified. The tRNA-protein cross-linked complex was digested with trypsin, and the peptides attached to the tRNA were separated from the bulk of the tryptic peptides by anion-exchange chromatography. The tRNA-bound peptides were released by cleavage of the disulfide bond of the cross-linker and separated by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography, yielding five major peaks. Amino acid analysis indicated that four of these peaks contained single peptides. Sequence analysis showed that the peptides were cross-linked to tRNAfMet through lysine residues 402, 439, 465, and 640 in the primary sequence of MetRS. Binding of the tRNA therefore involves interactions with the carboxyl-terminal half of MetRS, while X-ray crystallographic data have shown the ATP binding site to be located in the N-terminal domain of the protein [Zelwer, C., Risler, J. L., & Brunie, S. (1982) J. Mol. Biol. 155, 63-81].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The primary structure of thermostable D-amino acid aminotransferase from a thermophilic Bacillus species and its correlation with L-amino acid aminotransferases

The gene for thermostable D-amino acid aminotransferase from a thermophile, Bacillus species YM-1 was cloned and expressed efficiently in Escherichia coli. The entire covalent structure of the enzyme was determined from the nucleotide sequence of the cloned gene and mostly confirmed by amino acid sequences of tryptic peptides from the gene product. The polypeptide is composed of 282 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular weight of 32,226. Comparison of the primary structure with those of various proteins registered in a protein data bank revealed a significant sequence homology between D-amino acid aminotransferase and the L-branched chain amino acid aminotransferase of E. coli (Kuramitsu, S., Ogawa, T., Ogawa, H., and Kagamiyama, H. (1985) J. Biochem. (Tokyo) 97, 993-999); the active site lysyl residue is located in an equivalent position in both enzyme sequences of similar size. Despite the difference in subunit composition and no immunochemical cross-reactivity, the sequences of the two enzymes show similar hydropathy profiles, and spectrophotometric properties of the enzyme-bound cofactor are also similar. The sequence homology suggests that the structural genes for D-amino acid and L-branched chain amino acid aminotransferases evolved from a common ancestral gene.     

Affinity labeling of cAMP-dependent protein kinase with p-fluorosulfonylbenzoyl adenosine. Covalent modification of lysine 71

p-Fluorosulfonylbenzoyl 5'-adenosine (FSO2BzAdo) was shown previously to be an irreversible inhibitor of the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase II from porcine skeletal muscle (Zoller, M. J., and Taylor, S. S. (1979) J. Biol. Chem. 254, 8363-8368). The catalytic subunit of porcine heart cAMP-dependent protein kinase was also inhibited following incubation with FSO2[14C]BzAdo, and inhibition was shown to result from the stoichiometric, covalent modification of a single lysine residue. The amino acid sequence in an extended region around the carboxybenzenesulfonyl lysine (CBS-lysine) was elucidated by characterizing both tryptic and cyanogen bromide peptides containing the 14C-modified residue. The sequence in this region was Leu-Val-Lys-His-Lys-Glu-Thr-Gly-Asn-His-Phe-Ala-Met-Lys(CBS)-Ile-Leu-Asp-Lys-Glu-Lys-Val-Val-Lys-Leu-Lys-Gln-Ile. The covalently modified residue corresponded to lysine 71 in the overall polypeptide chain. Homologies to bovine heart catalytic subunit and to a site modified by FSO2BzAdo in phosphofructokinase are considered.     

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.     

Conformation and microenvironment of the active site of a low molecular weight 1,4-beta-D-glucan glucanohydrolase from an alkalothermophilic Thermomonospora sp.: involvement of lysine and cysteine residues

Conformation and microenvironment at the active site of 1,4-beta-D-glucan glucanohydrolase was probed with fluorescent chemo-affinity labeling using o-phthalaldehyde. OPTA has been known to form a fluorescent isoindole derivative by cross-linking the proximal thiol and amino groups of cysteine and lysine. Modification of lysine of the enzyme by TNBS and of cysteine residue by PHMB abolished the ability of the enzyme to form an isoindole derivative with OPTA. Kinetic analysis of the TNBS and PHMB-modified enzyme suggested the presence of essential lysine and cysteine residues, respectively, at the active site of the enzyme. The substrate protection of the enzyme with carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) confirmed the involvement of lysine and cysteine residues in the active site of the enzyme. Multiple sequence alignment of peptides obtained by tryptic digestion of the enzyme showed cysteine is one of the conserved amino acids corroborating the chemical modification studies.     

Evidence for essential lysyl residues in ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase by use of the affinity label 3-bromo-1,4-dihydroxy-2-butanone 1,4-bisphosphate.

A previous study from our laboratory suggested that 3-bromo-1,4-dihydroxy-2-butanone 1,4-bisphosphate is an affinity label for spinach ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase. To identify the essential residues that react with the reagent we have isolated and characterized the labeled peptides that are present in tryptic digests of inactivated enzyme but lacking in digests of the substrate-protected enzyme. Peptides representing two sites of modification have been obtained from the inactivated carboxylase. Both sites of reaction have been identified as lysyl residues based on the conversion of the derivatives to free lysine by oxidation with sodium metaperiodate. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoretic experiments show that both essential lysyl residues are contained within the large subunit of ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase. In addition to lysyl residues, sulfhydryl groups of the carboxylase are also modified, but their modification seems to play little role in the inactivation process. The carboxylase modified in the presence of substrate contains sulfhydryl derivatives but is essentially lacking in lysyl derivatives. By comparing the profiles from ion exchange chromatography of labeled peptides in digests of inactivated and substrate-protected enzyme, we conclude that the same sulfhydryl groups are modified in the absence and presence of substrate.     

Chemical modification of Pseudomonas ochraceae 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-oxoglutarate aldolase by diethyl pyrocarbonate.

Diethyl pyrocarbonate inactivates Pseudomonas ochraceae 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-oxoglutarate aldolase [4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-oxoglutarate pyruvate-lyase: EC 4.1.3.17] by a simple bimolecular reaction. The inactivation is not reversed by hydroxylamine. The pH curve of inactivation indicates the involvement of a residue with a pK of 8.8. Several lines of evidence show that the inactivation is due to the modification of epsilon-amino groups of lysyl residues. Although histidyl residue is also modified, this is not directly correlated to the inactivation. No cysteinyl, tyrosyl, or tryptophyl residue or alpha-amino group is significantly modified. The modification of three lysyl residues per enzyme subunit results in the complete loss of aldolase activity toward various 4-hydroxy-2-oxo acid substrates, whereas oxaloacetate beta-decarboxylase activity associated with the enzyme is not inhibited by this modification. Statistical analysis suggests that only one of the three lysyl residues is essential for activity. l-4-Carboxy-4-hydroxy-2-oxoadipate, a physiological substrate for the enzyme, strongly protects the enzyme against inactivation. Pi as an activator of the enzyme shows no specific protection. The molecular weight of the enzyme, Km for substrate or Mg2+, and activation constant for Pi are virtually unaltered after modification. These results suggest that the modification occurs at or near the active site and that the essential lysyl residue is involved in interaction with the hydroxyl group but not with the oxal group of the substrate.     

Reaction of ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase from rhodospirlilum rubrum with the potential affinity label 3-bromo-1,4-dihydroxy-2-butanone 1,4-biphosphate.

Under mild conditions, 3-bromo-1,4-dihydroxy-2-butanone 1,4-bisphosphate rapidly and irreversibly inactivates ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase from $\text{Rhodospirillum rubrum}$. The substrate ribulosebisphosphate protects the enzyme against inactivation. Incorporation of reagent has been quantitated by reduction of the modified carboxylase with [³H]NaBH₄. Based on the difference in the levels of incorporation found in the inactivated enzyme as compared with the protected enzyme, loss of enzymic activity results from the modification of about 0.4 residue per catalytic subunit. Analyses of hydrolysates demonstrate that both cysteinyl and lysyl derivatives are present in the inactivated carboxylase; the protected sample contains about the same amount of modified cysteine but little of the modified lysine. Thus, inactivation appears to correlate with derivatization of lysyl residues.     

Suppression of Kinetic AMP Cooperativity of Fructose-1,6-Bisphosphatase by Carbamoylation of Lysine 50

Selective treatment of pig kidney fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase with cyanate leads to the formation of an active carbamoylated derivative that shows no cooperative interaction between the AMP-binding sites, but completely retains the sensitivity to the inhibitor. By an exhaustive carbamoylation of the enzyme a derivative is formed that has a complete loss of cooperativity and a decrease of sensitivity to AMP. It was proposed that the observed changes of allosteric properties were due to the chemical modification of two lysine residues per enzyme subunit [Slebe et al. (1983), J. Protein Chem. 2, 437–443]. Studies of the temperature dependence of AMP sensitivity and the interaction with Cibacron Blue Sepharose of carbamoylated fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase derivatives indicate that the lysine residue involved in AMP sensitivity is located at the allosteric AMP site, while the lysine residue involved in AMP cooperativity is at a distinct location. Using [¹⁴C]cyanate, we identified both lysine residues in the primary structure of the enzyme; Lys50 is essential for AMP cooperativity and Lys112 appears to be the reactive residue involved in the AMP sensitivity. According to the fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase crystal structure, Lys50 is strategically positioned at the C1–C2 interface, near the molecular center of the tetramer, and Lys112 is in the AMP-binding site. The results reported here, combined with the structural data of the enzyme, strongly suggest that the C1ndash;C2 interface is critical for the propagation of the allosteric signal among the AMP sites on different subunits.     

Biosynthesis of bacterial glycogen. Isolation and characterization of the pyridoxal-P allosteric activator site and the ADP-glucose-protected pyridoxal-P binding site of Escherichia coli B ADP-glucose synthase.

[3H]Pyridoxal-P can be covalently incorporated into Escherichia coli B mutant strain AC70R1 ADP-glucose synthase by reduction with NaBH4. Two distinct lysine residues can be modified by the allosteric activator pyridoxal-P. Incorporation of [3H]pyridoxal-P in the presence of substrate ADP-glucose + MgCl2 prevents pyridoxylation of an ADP-glucose-protected site and allows modification of the allosteric activator site. Incorporation of [3H]pyridoxal-P in the presence of the allosteric effector, 1,6-hexanediol-P2, protects against pyridoxylation of the allosteric activator site and allows modification of the ADP-glucose-protected site. The activator site CNBr [3H]pyridoxyl-P peptide was purified to homogeneity in the presence of urea by Sephadex G-50 and CM-cellulose chromatography. The peptide consists of 59 residues, with a molecular weight of 6750. The NH2-terminal of the peptide has a 16-residue sequence overlap with the previously determined NH2-terminal sequence of the native enzyme. The activator site pyridoxyl-P lysine is identified as residue 38 of the native enzyme's NH2 terminus. The ADP-glucose-protected site CNBr [3H]pyridoxyl peptide was purified to homogeneity by Sephadex G-50 and DEAE-cellulose chromatography. The peptide consists of 21 residues, with a molecular weight of 2460. The sequence of this peptide has been elucidated.     

Identification of amine components in a glycolipid membrane-binding domain at the C-terminus of human erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase

Purified human erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase was labeled by reductive radiomethylation with saturating amounts of [14C]formaldehyde and sodium cyanoborohydride. Acid hydrolysis and automated amino acid analysis permitted both identification of radiomethylated components by their coelution with radiomethylated standards and quantitation of these components. The methylated N-terminal amino acids glutamate and arginine were observed at levels of 0.66 and 0.34 residues, respectively, per 70-kilodalton subunit, and lysine residues were methylated on their epsilon-amino groups to a level of 7.40 residues per subunit [Haas, R., & Rosenberry, T.L. (1985) Anal. Biochem. 148, 154-162]. In addition, each subunit contained 1.35 residues of methylated ethanolamine and 0.98 residue of methylated glucosamine. Papain digestion cleaved the intact enzyme into two fragments, an enzymatically active hydrophilic fragment and a small hydrophobic fragment that represented the membrane-binding domain. The radiomethylated amino acids were quantitatively retained in the hydrophilic fragment, while the methylated ethanolamine and glucosamine were confined exclusively to the hydrophobic domain fragment. This fragment included the C-terminal dipeptide of the subunit. Peptide sequencing by manual Edman methods was combined with radiomethylation to demonstrate the sequence His-Gly-ethanolamine-Z for the hydrophobic domain fragment. The ethanolamine residue in this sequence is in amide linkage to the C-terminal Gly and is clearly distinct from the ethanolamine residues in Z which are susceptible to radiomethylation in the intact enzyme. Since Z also includes glucosamine and 2 mol of fatty acids [Roberts, W.L. & Rosenberry, T.L. (1985) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 133, 621-627], we conclude that the membrane-binding domain of human erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase is a covalently linked glycolipid at the C-termini of the subunits.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)