Coordination of magnesium with adenosine 5′-diphosphate and triphosphate

³¹P NMR chemical shifts of salts of adenosine 5′-triphosphate and diphosphate: ATPH^2?₂2(Me₄N⁺) · H₂O, ATPH^2?₂2 Na⁺ · 3.5 H₂O, ATPH^2?₂Mg²⁺ · 4 H₂O, ATPH^2?₂Ca²⁺ · 2 H₂O, ADPH^2?2(Me₄N⁺) · H₂O and ADPH^2?Mg²⁺ · 4 H₂O have been measured in 0.02 M ²H₂O solutions at 145.7 MHz (22° C) at constant p²H values (8.20 and 6.20). The results are compared with those obtained from salts of adenosine 5′-monophosphate and other simpler phosphomonoesters, e.g. AMP^2?2(Me₄N⁺), AMP^2?Mg²⁺, AMPH^?Me₄N⁺ and (AMPH^?)₂Mg²⁺. It is concluded that the effects exerted by Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ on the ³¹P NMR shifts of dipoly- and tripolyphosphates relative to monovalent cations are due mainly to changes in conformation of the polyphosphate chain rather than to purely electronic factors associated with the binding of divalent cations to the phospho-oxyanions. The data are consistent with the existence of the following complexes at p²H 8.20: (MgP_αP_β)ADP^? and (MgP_αP_γ)ATP^2?af (MgP_αP_β)ATP^2?af (MgP_βP_γ)ATP^2? with the latter equilibrium relatively fast in the NMR time scale. Monoprotonation of the terminal phosphate appears to weaken the Mg²⁺-polyphosphate binding, particularly at P_β of MgADPH and at P_β and P_γ of MgATPH^?. The Mg²⁺-polyphosphate binding weakens further at p²H 3.70, i.e. in MgATPH₂. Possible implications of the results in the mechanism of actomyosin Mg²⁺-ATPase in muscle contraction are discussed.     

Occurrence of Guanosine-5′-diphosphate-3′-diphosphate and Adenosine-5′-triphosphate-3′-diphosphate in Streptomyces galilaeus

Synthetic activity and existence of ppGpp and pppApp in an anthracycline-producing strain Streptomyces galilaeus were determined by radioimmunoassay and ³²P-labeling method during cultivation under both the antibiotic productive and non-productive conditions. The cellular ppGpp(pppGpp)-synthesizing activity was highest at the end of exponential growth, and 3-fold higher in the antibiotic-productive cultivation than in non-productive cultivation. The intracellular level of ppGpp determined by radioimmunoassay was high at the end of exponential growth, and afterwards its level decreased by one fifth. The low level of cellular ppGpp during the period of intense antibiotic production suggests that ppGpp consumption may play an important role in antibiotic production of S. galilaeus. The concentration of pppApp was not determined intracellularly by radioimmunoassay.     

Efficient chemoenzymatic synthesis of UDP-α-6-N3-glucose

A novel chemo-enzymatic synthetic method for UDP-α-6-N₃-glucose was developed by combining the versatility of chemical synthesis and natural enzyme stereo-selectivity of Bifidobacterium longum (BLUSP). This flexible and efficient platform expanded the substrate scope for UDP-sugars on an improved scale, particularly for UDP-sugar substrates containing bioorthogonal functional groups.     

Enzymic memory studies with nucleoside-5′-diphosphate kinase

Steady-state kinetic tests for enzymic memory were carried out with nucleoside-5′-diphosphate kinase (EC 2.7.4.6). The results were positive, with differences as large as 10-fold in the dTDP reactivities of phosphoryl enzymes obtained with five different nucleoside triphosphates as donor substrates. It was shown that these differences were not caused either by donor substrate inhibition or by the occurrence of separate active sites for the alternative donors. Guidelines for selecting enzymes for steady-state kinetic memory study are presented.     

Purification and characterisation of a novel starch synthase selective for uridine 5′-diphosphate glucose from the red alga Gracilaria tenuistipitata

Red algae (Rhodophyceae) are photosynthetic eukaryotes that accumulate starch granules in the cytosol. Starch synthase activity in crude extracts of Gracilaria tenuistipitata Chang et Xia was almost 9-fold higher with UDP[U-¹⁴C]glucose than with ADP[U-¹⁴C]glucose. The activity with UDP[U-¹⁴C]glucose was sensitive to proteolytic and oxidative inhibition during extraction whilst the activity with ADP[U-¹⁴C]glucose appeared unaffected. This indicates the presence of separate starch synthases with different substrate specificities in G. tenuistipitata. The UDPglucose: starch synthase was purified and characterised. The enzyme appears to be a homotetramer with a native M_r of 580 kDa and displays kinetic properties similar to other α-glucan synthases such as stimulation by citrate, product (UDP) inhibition and broad primer specificity. We propose that this enzyme is involved in cytosolic starch synthesis in red algae and thus is the first starch synthase described that utilises UDPglucose in vivo. The biochemical implications of the different compartmentalisation of starch synthesis in red algae and green algae/plants are also discussed. Received: 29 January 1999 / Accepted: 11 March 1999     

Simple radioassay for uridine phosphorylase and 5′-nucleotidase

A simple micromethod was developed for the accurate measurement of the activity of uridine phosphorylase in the direction of both ribosylation and phosphorolysis. The technique was applicable also to the measurement of cytoplasmic 5′-nucleotidase. In this micromethod the radioactive products were separated from the substrates by electrophoresis on cellulose acetate membrane in 0.1 m borate buffer, pH 9.0, at 150 V for 40 min. These micromethods are highly sensitive and capable of utilizing small samples (4–30 μg protein); they are valid in crude tissue extracts of rat liver and hepatoma.     

Effects of Exogenous Adenosine 5′-triphosphate 3′-diphosphate on Growth and Sporulation of Bacillus subtilis

Exogenous adenosine 5′-triphosphate 3′-diphosphate (pppApp) had interesting effects on the cell cycle of B. subtilis IFO 3027. The growth rate was reduced by the addition of 1 mm pppApp, and the vegetative cell form was significantly changed. Moreover, the sporulation frequency was increased by 100 times or more as compared with the culture without pppApp. The sporulation process seemed to be stimulated around t₀. pppGpp and ppGpp also showed the same effects as pppApp. Among these effects, depression in growth rate was restored by Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺, and stimulation of sporulation was inhibited by Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ and certain carbon sources, such as glucose and glycerol. On the other hand, casamino acids or monovalent cations showed no influence on the pppApp effects. pppApp was not incorporated into cells in experiments with radioactive pppApp.     

A chemoenzymatic synthesis of 5a-carba-α-D-mannose-6-phosphate

An efficient chemical synthesis of 5a-carba-α-D-mannose and its enzymatic elaboration to 5a-carba-α-D-mannose-6-phosphate, using yeast hexokinase, is described.     

Compartmentation of uridine 5′-triphosphate occurs during synthesis of cytoplasmic and mitochondrial ribosomal RNAs of cultured tomato cells but not during synthesis of cytoplasmic ribosomal and transfer RNAs

Compartmentation of uridine 5-triphosphate (UTP) was studied during the nucleolar synthesis of cytoplasmic ribosomal RNA (cyt-rRNA) and the synthesis of cytoplasmic transfer RNA (cyt-tRNA) in the nuclear matrix as well as the synthesis of mitochondrial ribosomal RNA (mt-rRNA) in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Lukullus) cell-suspension culture using the approach of Wiegers et al. (Eur. J. Biochem. 64, 535–540, 1976). Before measurements were made, it was ensured that: (i) there was steady-state labeling of all RNAs studied as well as UTP; (ii) there was stability of cyt-tRNA and cyt-rRNA; (iii) there was no label randomization through degradation of [³H]uridine; (iv) there were significant differences in the specific radioactivity of UTP, the final immediate precursor of RNA, after supplying the cells with two different exogenous [³H]uridine concentrations.By comparing the steady-state specific radioactivity of UTP with that of cyt-tRNA and cyt-18S rRNA during constant [³H]uridine supply, we found that the three molecules had equal specific radioactivities which, however, differed significantly from that of the mt-rRNA. With a 20-fold higher uridine concentration, i.e. a 20-fold lower specific radioactivity of exogenous [³H]uridine, the specific radioactivity of cyt-rRNA, cyt-tRNA and UTP decreased proportionally whereas that of mt-RNA increased. These results argue against different UTP pools during synthesis of cyt-rRNA and cyt-tRNA, but indicate compartmentation of UTP during rRNA synthesis in the nucleus and the mitochondria of tomato cells.Abbreviations CMP cytidine 5-monophosphate - cyt-rRNA cytoplasmic ribosomal RNA - cyt-tRNA cytoplasmic transfer RNA - mt-rRNA mitochondrial rRNA - NC nitrocellulose - PAGE polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - TLC thin-layer chromatography - Tris 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol - UDP uridine 5-diphosphate - UMP uridine 5-monophosphate - UTP uridine 5-triphosphate     

Chemical synthesis and properties of modified oligonucleotides containing 5′-amino-5′-deoxy-5′-hydroxymethylthymidine residues

In this study, we designed 5′-amino-5′-deoxy-5′-hydroxymethylthymidine as a new oligonucleotide modification with an amino group directly attached to the 5′-carbon atom. We successfully synthesized two isomers of 5′-amino-5′-deoxy-5′-hydroxymethylthymidine via dihydroxylation of the 5′-vinyl group incorporated into 5′-deoxy-5′-C-methenylthymidine derivative. Moreover, it was found that the nuclease resistance, binding selectivity to single-stranded RNA, and triplex-forming ability of an oligonucleotide containing _RT residues of the new compound were higher than those of the unmodified oligonucleotide.     

Highly Efficient and Facile Synthesis of 5-Azido-2′-Deoxyuridine

Previously reported syntheses of the photoaffinity label 5-azido-2′-deoxyuridine are rather inefficient and involve the tedious preparation of a 5-nitro intermediate. To overcome these inconveniences, we have developed a new approach from the commercially available 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine nucleoside. Our synthetic route makes use of a benzylamination reduction sequence. Using this strategy, the 5-azido-2′-deoxyuridine photolabel is prepared in three steps and quantitative yields.     

Relative levels of guanosine 5′-diphosphate 3′-diphosphate (ppGpp) in some N2 fixing bacteria during derepression and repression of nitrogenase

Addition of ammonium to N₂ fixing cultures of Azotobacter vinelandii, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Clostridium pasteurianum rapidly reduced the intracellular levels of guanosine 5-diphosphate 3-diphosphate (ppGpp) by 70–90%. This change might reflect a regulatory role of ppGpp in nitrogen metabolism.Abbreviations ppGpp guanosine 5-diphosphate 3-diphosphate     

Efficient solid-phase synthesis of oligodeoxynucleotides having a 5′-terminal 2,2,7-trimethylguanosine pyrophosphate linkage

A 5′-terminal 2,2,7-trimethylguanosine (TMG) cap structure plays an important role in transport of TMG-capped snRNAs from the cytoplasm to the nucleus in living cells. This property can be expected to be used for carrying artificial nucleic acids into the nucleus in gene therapy. In this paper, a new TMG-capping reagent 1 was developed and used for the synthesis of oligodeoxynucleotides having a 5′-terminal TMG-capped pyrophosphate linkage (m₃^2,2,7G^5′pp-DNA) lacking one phosphate group using a silyl-type linker on polymer supports.     

A Direct and Efficient Synthesis of 5′-Deoxy-2′, 3′-

Abstract

A direct and efficient synthesis of 5′-deoxy-2′,3′-O-isopropylideneinosine, 7, from readily available inosine is described. An example of a potentially general synthesis of N -substituted-5′-deoxyadenosines from 7 is also described.     

Efficient Synthesis of 5-Carboxy-2′-Deoxypyrimidine Nucleoside 5′-Triphosphates

An efficient P(V)–N activation method for the synthesis of 5-carboxy-2′-deoxyuridine and 5-carboxy-2′-deoxycytidine triphosphates directly from the corresponding phosphoropiperidate precursors has been developed.