Thermodynamics, kinetics, and mechanism in yeast inorganic pyrophosphatase catalysis of inorganic pyrophosphate: inorganic phosphate equilibration

We have developed two methods for quantitatively measuring inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) in the presence of 10(3)--10(4) molar excesses of inorganic phosphate (Pi) and used them to measure the extent of enzyme-bound pyrophosphate (EPPi) formation in solutions of yeast inorganic pyrophosphatase and Pi. We have also measured the rate of enzyme-catalyzed H2O--phosphate oxygen exchange. We find both processes to have essentially identical dependence on Mg2+ and Pi concentrations, thus providing important confirmation for the recent proposal by Janson et al. (1979) that oxygen exchange proceeds via EPPi formation. Our results are consistent with a model in which three Mg2+ per active site are required for EPPi formation but inconsistent with a model requiring only two Mg2+ per active site and permit the formulation of an overall scheme for inorganic pyrophosphatase catalysis of PPi--Pi equilibration as well as the evaluation of equilibrium and rate constants in this scheme. The major results and conclusions of our work are the following: (a) the equilibrium constant for PPi (enzyme-bound) in equilibrium with 2Pi (enzyme-bound) is 4.8; (b) following PPi hydrolysis, the first released Pi contains an oxygen from solvent water; (c) the steps for PPi hydrolysis on the enzyme and for release of both product Pi's are all partially rate determining in overall enzyme-catalyzed PPi hydrolysis; (d) PPi formation on the enzyme is rate determining for H2O--Pi oxygen exchange; (e) PPi dissociation from the enzyme is very slow and is the rate-determining step in Pi--PPi exchange (Cohn, 1958; Janson et al., 1979). This also accounts for the observation that the calculated dissociation constant for MgPPi complex binding to enzyme is considerably lower than the measured Km for enzyme-catalyzed MgPPi hydrolysis.     

Two pathways of pyrophosphate hydrolysis and synthesis by yeast inorganic pyrophosphatase.

Initial rates of pyrophosphate hydrolysis and synthesis by baker's yeast inorganic pyrophosphatase and equilibrium amounts of enzyme-bound and free pyrophosphate were measured over wide ranges of Mg2+ and respective substrate concentrations. Computer analysis of these data, in conjunction with those on phosphate/water oxygen exchange [Kasho, V. N. & Baykov, A. A. (1989) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 161, 475-480], yielded values of the equilibrium constants for Mg2+ binding to free enzyme and central complexes and values of the forward and reverse rate constants for the four reaction steps, namely, PPi binding/release, PPi hydrolysis/synthesis and two Pi binding/release steps. All catalytic steps were found to proceed through two parallel pathways, involving 3 or 4 Mg2+/PPi or 2 Pi bound. Product release is the slowest catalytic event in both hydrolysis and synthesis of pyrophosphate, at least, for the four-metal pathway. In the hydrolytic reaction, magnesium pyrophosphate binding is faster for the four-metal pathway, dissociation of the second Pi is faster for the three-metal pathway, while PPi hydrolysis and the release of the first Pi may proceed with similar rates. Release of pyrophosphate formed on the enzyme is faster for the three-metal pathway. Both pathways are expected to operate in vivo, and their relative contributions will vary with changes in the Mg2+ concentration, thus providing a means for pyrophosphatase-activity regulation.     

Induction by nucleotide triphosphate hydrolysis of a form of sarcoplasmic reticulum ATPase capable of medium phosphate-oxygen exchange in presence of calcium.

Sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles rendered leaky by exposure to alkaline pH, like intact vesicles, catalyze a rapid Mg2+-dependent exchange of oxygens of medium Pi with water. The exchange with 10 mM Pi is strongly inhibited by 0.15 mM Ca2+. Upon addition and hydrolysis of ITP or ATP, a rapid phosphate-oxygen exchange is observed even with 0.15 mM Ca2+ present and a definite but smaller exchange at 8 mM Ca2+. Oxygen exchange per Pi formed is greater with ITP than with ATP. When no Pi is initially present, the extent of oxygen exchange is increased with time of incubation as Pi is formed. With 18O-labeled Pi present, ATP hydrolysis accelerates 18O loss. The results show that much of the oxygen exchange occurs as a result of reversible binding of medium Pi. Thus the binding and cleavage of ITP or ATP overcomes the Ca2+ inhibition of the medium Pi in equilibrium HOH exchange. Such findings support the concept that the cleavage cycle includes a transient conformational form which can reversibly react with Pi to give a phosphoryl enzyme and resultant oxygen exchange or in a rate-limiting step decay to a form with high Ca2+ and NTP affinity.     

Two pathways for phosphate/water oxygen exchange by yeast inorganic pyrophosphatase

A scheme of Mg2+ and Pi binding to yeast inorganic pyrophosphatase has been deduced from the concentration dependencies of the rate of oxygen exchange between Pi and water. The exchange reaction requires the binding of MgPi and free Pi (pathway I) or two MgPi (pathway II) in addition to two Mg2+ ions bound in the absence of Pi. Pathway II predominates above 0.16 mM Mg2+. The rate of formation of bound PPi from bound Pi for pathway II is three times as high as that for pathway I. The results suggest that the binding of the fourth Mg2+ ion to pyrophosphatase stimulates its synthetic vs its hydrolytic capability.     

Kinetics and thermodynamics of catalysis by the inorganic pyrophosphatase of Escherichia coli in both directions

Combined evidence obtained from the measurements of pyrophosphate hydrolysis and synthesis, oxygen exchange between phosphate and water, enzyme-bound pyrophosphate formation and Mg2+ binding enabled us to deduce the overall scheme of catalysis by Escherichia coli inorganic pyrophosphatase in the presence of Mg2+. We determined the equilibrium constants for Mg2+ binding to various enzyme species and forward and reverse rate constants for the four steps of the catalytic reaction, namely, binding/release of PPi, hydrolysis/synthesis of PPi and successive binding/release of two Pi molecules. Catalysis by the E. coli enzyme in both directions, in contrast to baker's yeast pyrophosphatase, occurs via a single pathway, which requires the binding of Mg2+ to the sites of four types. Three of them can be filled in the absence of the substrates, and the affinity of one of them to Mg2+ is increased by two orders of magnitude in the enzyme-substrate complexes. The distribution of 18O-labelled phosphate isotopomers during the exchange indicated that hydrolysis of pyrophosphate in the active site is appreciably reversible. The equilibrium constant for this process estimated from direct measurements is 5.0. The ratio of the maximal velocities of pyrophosphate hydrolysis and synthesis is 69. The rate of the synthesis is almost entirely determined by the rate of the release of pyrophosphate from the enzyme. In the hydrolytic reaction, enzyme-bound pyrophosphate hydrolysis and successive release of two phosphate molecules proceed with nearly equal rate constants.     

Theoretical analysis of distribution of [18O]Pi species during exchange with water. Application to exchanges catalyzed by yeast inorganic pyrophosphatase

A theoretical analysis has been derived which allows the analytical calculation of the complete distribution of 18O-labeled Pi species expected to occur during medium Pi equilibrium HOH exchange of [18O]Pi and to be produced by intermediate Pi equilibrium HOH exchange during net hydrolysis of [18O]PPi or other labeled phosphate compounds. The observed distributions with catalysis by yeast inorganic pyrophosphatase are found to agree closely with the theoretical values indicating that the exchange reaction can be adequately described by a unique value of the partitioning of bound Pi between release from the enzyme versus formation of bound PPi with loss of an oxygen to the water. The limitations on the exclusion of other mechanisms are discussed. The extent of this partitioning does change, however, under some experimental conditions. At low pH, with activation by Mg2+ or Mn2+, the relative rate of release of Pi is found to increase. The extent of exchange is also dependent on the nature of the activating metal, being greatest with Co2+. During PPi hydrolysis with PPi in excess over Mg2+, a shift to lower extents of exchange is observed.     

ATP sulfurylase-dependent assays for inorganic pyrophosphate: applications to determining the equilibrium constant and reverse direction kinetics of the pyrophosphatase reaction, magnesium binding to orthophosphate, and unknown concentrations of pyrophosphate

A continuous, coupled, spectrophotometric assay is described in which the enzyme ATP sulfurylase is employed to measure the concentration of inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) at equilibrium with known concentrations of inorganic orthophosphate (Pi) in the presence of excess inorganic pyrophosphatase (PPitase). In agreement with previous reports, the apparent equilibrium constant (Keq,app) of the PPi hydrolysis reaction was shown to decrease as the concentration of Mg2+ is increased. At pH 7.3, 30 degrees C, in the presence of 150 mM NaCl and 1 mM free Mg2+, Keq,app (calculated as [Pi]t2/[PPi]t) was 1950. Measurements of Keq,app at different total concentrations of Mg2+ and Pi permitted the determination of K0, the dissociation constant of the Mg-Pi complex. In 0.05 M Tris-Cl, pH 8.0, at 30 degrees C, K0 was 3.6 mM. In the presence of excess ATP sulfurylase, yeast PPitase catalyzed PPi formation from Pi with a specific activity (Vmax) of 9 units X mg protein-1 at pH 8.0, 30 degrees C, and 1 mM free Mg2+. Half-maximum reverse reaction velocity was observed at a total Pi concentration of 18 mM. (Under the same conditions, Vmax of the PPi hydrolysis reaction was 530 units X mg protein-1.) A radiochemical end point ("reaction-to-completion") assay for measuring unknown concentrations of PPi was devised. In the presence of excess 35S-adenosine-5'-phosphosulfate ([35S]APS) as the cosubstrate, 35SO2-4 formation was stoichiometric with added PPi. (The 35SO2-4 and [35S]APS are separated by adsorption of the latter onto charcoal.) The sensitivity of the assay can be adjusted by varying the specific radioactivity of the [35S]APS. In the absence of interfering substances, as little as 2 pmol of PPi per 1.0 ml assay volume can be measured. The sensitivity of the assay is reduced in the presence of ATP plus perchlorate (which synergistically inhibit the enzyme). However, if the bulk of the ATP is removed from perchloric acid extracts of tissues with glucose and hexokinase, initial intracellular levels as low as 1 microM can be measured. The possibility that most of the cellular PPi extracted with perchloric acid was originally enzyme bound is discussed.     

Ubiquitin adenylate: structure and role in ubiquitin activation

The acid precipitate of the ubiquitin activating enzyme after reaction with ATP and ubiquitin contains one enzyme equivalent of ubiquitin adenylate in which the carboxyl-terminal glycine of ubiquitin and AMP are in an acyl-phosphate linkage. The recovered ubiquitin adenylate has the catalytic properties proposed for it as a reaction intermediate. Thus, upon reaction with fresh enzyme in the absence of Mg2+ or ATP, the product complex, E-ubiquitin . AMP-ubiquitin, is formed. This complex is capable of generating ubiquitin-protein isopeptide derivatives when added to a reticulocyte fraction that catalyzes protein conjugation. This reproduces the effect previously shown to require ubiquitin, ATP, and Mg2+. In the presence of activating enzyme, ubiquitin adenylate is converted to ATP and free ubiquitin in a step requiring PPi and Mg2+. On the basis of studies of [32P]PPi/nucleoside triphosphate exchange, the activating enzyme could be used to generate 2'-deoxy-AMP-, 2'-deoxy-IMP-, and 2'-deoxy-GMP-ubiquitin but not pyrimidine nucleotide-ubiquitin derivatives. The enzyme shows a modest preference for the pro-S diastereomers of adenosine 5'-O-(1-thiotriphosphate) and adenosine 5'-O-(2-thiotriphosphate). Inorganic phosphate, arsenate, methyl phosphate, and tripolyphosphate, but not nucleoside triphosphates, can serve as alternate substrates in place of PPi in the reverse of ubiquitin adenylate formation. Therefore, the enzyme catalyzes the unusual reaction ATP + Pi in equilibrium ADP + PPi in the presence of ubiquitin.     

Bound adenosine 5'-triphosphate formation, bound adenosine 5'-diphosphate and inorganic phosphate retention, and inorganic phosphate oxygen exchange by chloroplast adenosinetriphosphatase in the presence of Ca2+ or Mg2+

When the heat-activated chloroplast F1 ATPase hydrolyzes [3H, gamma-32P]ATP, followed by the removal of medium ATP, ADP, and Pi, the enzyme has labeled ATP, ADP, and Pi bound to it in about equal amounts. The total of the bound [3H]ADP and [3H]ATP approaches 1 mol/mol of enzyme. Over a 30-min period, most of the bound [32P]Pi falls off, and the bound [3H]ATP is converted to bound [3H]ADP. Enzyme with such remaining tightly bound ADP will form bound ATP from relatively high concentrations of medium Pi with either Mg2+ or Ca2+ present. The tightly bound ADP is thus at a site that retains a catalytic capacity for slow single-site ATP hydrolysis (or synthesis) and is likely the site that participates in cooperative rapid net ATP hydrolysis. During hydrolysis of 50 microM [3H]ATP in the presence of either Mg2+ or Ca2+, the enzyme has a steady-state level of about one bound [3H]ADP per mole of enzyme. Because bound [3H]ATP is also present, the [3H]ADP is regarded as being present on two cooperating catalytic sites. The formation and levels of bound ATP, ADP, and Pi show that reversal of bound ATP hydrolysis can occur with either Ca2+ or Mg2+ present. They do not reveal why no phosphate oxygen exchange accompanies cleavage of low ATP concentrations with Ca2+ in contrast to Mg2+ with the heat-activated enzyme. Phosphate oxygen exchange does occur with either Mg2+ or Ca2+ present when low ATP concentrations are hydrolyzed with the octyl glucoside activated ATPase. Ligand binding properties of Ca2+ at the catalytic site rather than lack of reversible cleavage of bound ATP may underlie lack of oxygen exchange under some conditions.     

Energy interconversion in sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles in the presence of Ca2+ and Sr2+ gradients

Sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles of rabbit skeletal muscle are able to accumulate Ca2+ or Sr2+ at the expense of ATP hydrolysis. Depending on the conditions used, vesicles loaded with Ca2+ can catalyze either an ATP in equilibrium Pi exchange or the synthesis of ATP from ADP and Pi. Both reactions are impaired in vesicles loaded with Sr2+. The Sr2+ concentration required for half-maximal ATPase activity increases from 2 microM to 60-70 microM when the Mg2+ concentration is raised from 0.5 to 50 mM. The enzyme is phosphorylated by ATP in the presence of Sr2+. The steady state level of phosphoenzyme varies depending on both the Sr2+ and Mg2+ concentrations in the medium. Phosphorylation of the enzyme by Pi is inhibited by both Ca2+ and Sr2+. In the presence of 2 and 20 mM Mg2+, half-maximal inhibition is attained in the presence of 4 and 8 microM Ca2+ or in the presence of 0.24 mM and more than 2 mM Sr2+, respectively. After the addition of Sr2+, the phosphoenzyme is cleaved with two different rate constants, 0.5-1.5 s-1 and 10-18 s-1. The fraction of phosphoenzyme cleaved at a slow rate is smaller the higher the Sr2+ concentration in the medium. Ca2+ inhibition of enzyme phosphorylation by Pi is overcome by the addition of ITP. This is not observed when Ca2+ is replaced by Sr2+.     

On the roles of magnesium and spermidine in the isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase reaction. Analysis of the reaction mechanism by total rate equations

The reaction of isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase from Escherichia coli B was analysed by deriving total steady-state rate equations for the ATP/PPi exchange reaction and for the aminoacylation of tRNA, and by fitting these rate equations to series of experimental results. The analysis suggests that (a) a Mg2+ inhibits the aminoacylation of tRNA but not the activation of the amino acid. In the chosen mechanism, this enzyme-bound Mg2+ is required at the activation step. (b) Another Mg2+ is required at ATP, but the MgATP apparently can be replaced by the spermidine.ATP complex. Spermidine.ATP is a weaker substrate. The role of spermidine.ATP is especially suggested by the relative rates of the aminoacylation of tRNA when the spermidine and magnesium concentrations are varied. The aminoacylation measurements still suggest that (c) two (or more) Mg2+ are bound to the tRNA molecule and are required for enzyme activity at the transfer step, and that these Mg2+ can be replaced by spermidines.     

Sarcoplasmic reticulum adenosinetriphosphatase phosphorylation from inorganic phosphate. Theoretical and experimental reinvestigation

Pi phosphorylation of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) vesicles in the absence of Ca was reinvestigated. Theoretical analysis shows that, for various substrate concentrations, the time dependence of phosphoenzyme formation does not allow determination of an unambiguous reaction scheme or estimation of the stoichiometry of the reaction. To overcome this difficulty, we measured medium Pi oxygen exchange, [32P]-phosphoenzyme formation, and intrinsic fluorescence. We found that contrarily to the usual assumption the substrate binding step in the phosphorylation direction at pH 6.0, KCl = 0, and 23 degrees C is a slow process whose bimolecular rate constant is around 5 X 10(3) M-1 s-1 for both Mg and Pi binding. We confirm [Lacapère, J. J., Gingold, M. P., Champeil, P., & Guillain, F. (1981) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 2302-2306] that, in a second step, the establishment of a covalent bond between the bound Pi and the enzyme is formed with a rate constant greater than or equal to 20 s-1 whereas the dephosphorylation rate constant is 2-3 s-1. These results imply that under optimal conditions for phosphorylation, the enzyme is almost entirely phosphorylated at concentrations of 20 mM MgCl2 and 20 mM Pi. Study of the phosphorylation reaction under various experimental conditions shows that reduction of the phosphoenzyme level upon KCl addition is mainly due to the augmentation of the hydrolysis rate constant. In addition we propose that the strong inhibition by large amounts of MgCl2 is due to the formation of an E? . Mg complex unfit for phosphorylation by Pi.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Two types of sarcoplasmic reticulum-orthophosphate interactions observed with dye probe.

The interaction of Pi with sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) isolated from rabbit skeletal muscle was studied using bromocresol purple (BCP) as a probe and a dual-wavelength spectrophotometer. Two kinds of absorption-intensity changes controlled by a low concentration of Ca2+ (greater than 10(-6)M) were observed after addition of Pi; an increase phase (in the presence of Ca2+), and a decrease phase (in the presence of EGTA). The increase phase was rapid, Ca2+-dependent, Mg2+-enhanced (depressed by high Mg2+ concentration) and not inhibited by PCMB and was suggested to reflect the formation of an SR-Pi complex. The decrease phase was slower than the increase phase, and was strongly inhibited by the low concentration of Ca2+. It required Mg2+, and was completely inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoate or deoxycholate. It was suggested to reflect the formation of SR-Pi (phosphorylated protein). ATP inhibited this phase by converting it completely to an SR-MgATP phase. PPi was effective for inducing the decrease phase but PPPi was not. From measurements of these phases, the association constants of the SR-Pi complex and SR-Pi at pH 8.8 in the reaction scheme, SR + Pi in equilibrium SR-Pi in equilibrium SR-Pi, were calculated as 5.4 X 10 M-1 and 1.8 X 10(3) M-1, respectively. From the completely different responses of SR-Pi and SR-Pi observed with BCP a marked difference in the conformations of these enzyme states was suggested.     

Ca2+ gradient and drugs reveal different binding sites for Pi and Mg2+ in phosphorylation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum ATPase.

The first step towards ATP synthesis by the Ca2-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum is the phosphorylation of the enzyme by Pi. Phosphoenzyme formation requires both Pi and Mg2+. At 35 degrees C, the presence of a Ca2+ gradient across the vesicle membrane increases the apparent affinity of the ATPase for Pi more than 10-fold, whereas it had no effect on the apparent affinity for Mg2+. In the absence of a Ca2+ gradient, the phosphorylation reaction is inhibited by both K+ and Na+ at all Mg2+ concentrations used. However, in the presence of 1 mM Mg2+ and of a transmembrane Ca2+ gradient, the reaction is still inhibited by Na+, but the inhibition promoted by K+ is greatly decreased. When the Mg2+ concentration is raised above 2 mM, the enzyme no longer discriminates between K+ and Na+, and the phosphorylation reaction is equally inhibited by the two cations. Trifluoperazine, ruthenium red and spermidine were found to inhibit the phosphorylation reaction by different mechanisms. In the absence of a Ca2+ gradient, trifluoperazine competes with the binding to the enzyme of both Pi and Mg2+, whereas spermidine and ruthenium red were found to compete only with Mg2+. The data presented suggest that the enzyme has different binding sites for Mg2+ and for Pi.     

K(+)- and Mg2(+)-dependent hydrolysis of acetyl phosphate catalyzed by the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum

The (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum catalyzes the hydrolysis of acetyl phosphate in the presence of Mg2+ and EGTA and is stimulated by Ca2+. The Mg2(+)-dependent hydrolysis of acetyl phosphate measured in the presence of 6 mM acetyl phosphate, 5 mM MgCl2, and 2 mM EGTA is increased 2-fold by 20% dimethyl sulfoxide. This activity is further stimulated 1.6-fold by the addition of 30 mM KCl. In this condition addition of Ca2+ causes no further increase in the rate of hydrolysis and Ca2+ uptake is reduced to a low level. In leaky vesicles, hydrolysis continues to be back-inhibited by Ca2+ in the millimolar range. Unlike ATP, acetyl phosphate does not inhibit phosphorylation by Pi unless dimethyl sulfoxide is present. The presence of dimethyl sulfoxide also makes it possible to detect Pi inhibition of the Mg2(+)-dependent acetyl phosphate hydrolysis. These results suggest that dimethyl sulfoxide stabilizes a Pi-reactive form of the enzyme in a conformation that exhibits comparable affinities for acetyl phosphate and Pi. In this conformation the enzyme is transformed from a Ca2(+)- and Mg2(+)-dependent ATPase into a (K+ + Mg2+)-ATPase.     

The role of nucleoside triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase in in vitro nucleoside triphosphate-dependent matrix vesicle calcification

Nucleoside triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase (EC 3.6.1.8) activity is associated with matrix vesicles purified from collagenase digests of fetal calf epiphyseal cartilage. This enzyme hydrolyzes nucleoside triphosphates to nucleotides and PPi, the latter inducing precipitation in the presence of Ca2+ and Pi. An assay for matrix vesicle nucleoside triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase is developed using beta, gamma-methylene ATP as substrate. The assay is effective in the presence of matrix vesicle-associated ATPase, pyrophosphatase, and alkaline phosphatase activities. A soluble nucleoside triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase is obtained from matrix vesicles by treatment with 5 mM sodium deoxycholate. The solubilized enzyme induced the precipitation of calcium phosphate in the presence of ATP, Ca2+, and Pi. Extraction of deoxycholate-solubilized enzymes from matrix vesicles with 1-butanol destroys nucleoside triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase activity while enhancing the specific activities of ATPase, pyrophosphatase, and alkaline phosphatase. In solutions devoid of ATP and matrix vesicles, concentrations of PPi between 10 and 100 microM induce calcification in mixtures containing initial Ca2+ X P ion products of 3.5 to 7.9 mM2. This finding plus the discovery of nucleoside triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase in matrix vesicles supports the view that these extracellular organelles induce calcium precipitation by the enzymatic production of PPi. Nucleoside triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase is more active against pyrimidine nucleoside triphosphates than the corresponding purine derivatives. The pH optimum is 10.0 and the enzyme is neither activated nor inhibited by Mg2+ or Ca2+ ions or mixtures of the two. Vmax at pH 7.5 for beta, gamma-methylene ATP is 0.012 mumol of substrate hydrolyzed per min per mg of protein and Km is below 10 microM. The enzyme is irreversibly destroyed at pH 4 and is stable at pH 10.5.     

PPi-dependent phosphofructotransferase (phosphofructokinase) activity in the mollicutes (mycoplasma) Acholeplasma laidlawii.

A PPi-dependent phosphofructotransferase (PPi-fructose 6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.90) which catalyzes the conversion of fructose 6 phosphate (F-6-P) to fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (F-1, 6-P2) was isolated from a cytoplasmic fraction of Acholeplasma laidlawii B-PG9 and partially purified (430-fold). PPi was required as the phosphate donor. ATP, dATP, CTP, dCTP, GTP, dGTP, UTP, dUTP, ITP, TTP, ADP, or Pi could not substitute for PPi. The PPi-dependent reaction (2.0 mM PPi) was not altered in the presence of any of these nucleotides (2.0 mM) or in the presence of smaller (less than or equal to 300 microM) amounts of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate, (NH4)2SO4, AMP, citrate, GDP, or phosphoenolpyruvate. Mg2+ and a pH of 7.4 were required for maximum activity. The partially purified enzyme in sucrose density gradient experiments had an approximate molecular weight of 74,000 and a sedimentation coefficient of 6.7. A second form of the enzyme (molecular weight, 37,000) was detected, although in relatively smaller amounts, by using Blue Sepharose matrix when performing electrophoresis experiments. The back reaction, F-1, 6-P2 to F-6-P, required Pi; arsenate could substitute for Pi, but not PPi or any other nucleotide tested. The computer-derived kinetic constants (+/- standard deviation) for the reaction in the PPi-driven direction of F-1, 6-P2 were as follows: v, 38.9 +/- 0.48 mM min-1; Ka(PPi), 0.11 +/- 0.04 mM; Kb(F-6-P), 0.65 +/- 0.15 mM; and Kia(PPi), 0.39 +/- 0.11 mM. A. laidlawii B-PG9 required PPi not only for the PPi-phosphofructotransferase reaction which we describe but also for purine nucleoside kinase activity. a dependency unknown in any other organism. In A. laidlawii B-PG9, the PPi requirement may be met by reactions in this organism already known to synthesize PPi (e.g., dUTPase and purine nucleobase phosphoribosyltransferases). In almost all other cells, the conversion of F-6-P to F-1,6-P2 is ATP dependent, and the reaction is generally considered to be the rate-limiting step of glycolysis. The ability of A. laidlawii B-PG9 and one other acholeplasma to use PPi instead of ATP as an energy source may offer these cytochrome-deficient organisms some metabolic advantage and may represent a conserved metabolic remnant of an earlier evolutionary process.     

Pyrophosphate synthesis from phospho(enol)pyruvate catalyzed by precipitated magnesium phosphate with ”enzyme-like” activity

Summary The enzyme-like kinetic properties of precipitated magnesium phosphate as a catalyst for formation of pyrophosphate (PPi) from phospho (enol)pyruvate (PEP) are described. This synthesis occurs at a low temperature (37°C) and represents a model that may help us understand the relevance to chemical evolution of minerals as ancient catalysts whose functions could have been taken over by contemporary enzymes. An insoluble Pi.Mg matrix was formed in a medium with 80% of the water replaced by dimethyl sulfoxide as a way of simulating conditions in a drying pond. Phospho(enol)pyruvate adsorbs onto the Pi.Mg surface according to a Langmuir isotherm, and the PEP concentration dependence of PPi formation follows a Michaelian-like function. A yield of 33% for transformation of the initially adsorbed PEP into PPi was attained after 4 days of incubation with equimolecular concentrations of Pi, MgCl₂, and PEP. The magnesium concentration dependence for Pi and Mg precipitation, for adsorption of PEP onto solid Pi.Mg, and for PPi formation showed complex cooperative behavior. These results taken as a whole lead to the conclusion that the Pi.Mg surface not only provides a reactant for PPi formation but also catalyzes the reaction.Offprint requests to: A. Vieyra     

An assay for inorganic pyrophosphate in chondrocyte culture using anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography and radioactive orthophosphate labeling

A method is described for determination of inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) in cell culture medium and in rabbit articular chondrocytes grown in the presence of radioactive orthophosphate (32Pi). Intra- and extracellular 32PPi formed was measured using high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) separation of the PPi from orthophosphate (Pi) and other phosphate-containing compounds. The chromatographic separation on a weak anion-exchange column is based on the extent to which various phosphate compounds form complexes with Mg2+ at low pH and the rate at which such formation occurs. These complexes are eluted more readily than the uncomplexed compounds. Best results were obtained using a simultaneous gradient of Mg2+ ions and ionic strength. In this case separation of small amounts of PPi from a large excess of Pi was possible without prior removal of Pi or extraction of the PPi fraction. The assay is also useful for measurement of inorganic pyrophosphatase activity. The sensitivity of the assay depends on the specific activity of the added 32Pi and on the culture conditions, but is comparable with the most sensitive of the enzymatic assays. Sample preparation, particularly deproteinization, proved to be of importance. The losses of PPi which occur during procedures of this sort due to hydrolysis and coprecipitation were quantitated.     

Characteristics of the formation of enzyme-bound ATP from medium inorganic phosphate by mitochondrial F1 adenosinetriphosphatase in the presence of dimethyl sulfoxide

Addition of dimethyl sulfoxide promotes the formation of enzyme-bound ATP from medium Pi by mitochondrial F1 adenosinetriphosphatase that has tightly bound ADP present. Measurements are reported of medium Pi in equilibrium H18OH exchange and of the dependence of formation of enzyme-bound ATP on Pi concentration. Attainment of an apparent equilibrium between medium Pi and bound ATP requires longer than 30 min, even though the rates of Pi binding and release after apparent equilibrium is reached would suffice for a faster approach to equilibrium. Slow protein conformational changes or other unknown modulating factors may be responsible for the slow rate of bound ATP formation. After apparent equilibrium is reached, each Pi that binds to the enzyme reversibly forms ATP about 50 times before being released to the medium. The rate of interconversion of bound ATP to bound ADP and Pi is much slower than that in the absence of dimethyl sulfoxide as measured with sufficiently low ATP concentrations so that single-site catalysis is favored. Although the interconversion rate is slowed, the equilibrium constant for bound ATP formation from bound ADP and Pi is not far from unity. Dimethyl sulfoxide favors the formation of enzyme-bound ATP by promoting the competent binding of Pi to enzyme with ADP bound at a catalytic site rather than by promoting formation of bound ATP from bound ADP and Pi.