Preparation of analogues of ATP, ADP and AMP suitable for binding to matrices and the enzymic interconversion of ATP and ADP in solid phase.

Alkylation of ATP with iodoacetic acid at pH 6.5 yielded 1-carboxymethyl-ATP which, after alkaline rearrangement, gave N-6-carboxymethyl-ATP. Condensation of this analogue with 1,6-diaminohexane in the presence of a water-soluble carbodiimide generated N-6-[(6-aminohexyl)carbamoylmethyl]-ATP in an overall yield of 40% based on the parent nucleotide ATP. The coenzymic activities of both N-6-adenine-substituted derivatives of ATP were tested with three kinases. Both derivatives showed coenzymic function against hexokinase with the "long" derivative having highest activity (95%) relative to unsubstituted ATP. Their activities towards the other two kinases tested was negligible except with the "long" analogue against glycerokinase (20%). The latter ATP analogue, when bound to Sepharose through its terminal amino group, could be dephosphorylated to the corresponding ADP analogue with soluble hexokinase yielding glucose 6-phosphate in an enzymic "solidphase" fashion. The Sepharose-bound ADP formed could subsequently be phosphorylated back to ATP using soluble acetate kinase. Sepharose-ATP preparations were also used in preliminary affinity chromatography studies using citrate synthase. Alkylation of ADP following the above procedure yielded the corresponding ADP analogue, N-6-[(6-aminohexyl)carbamoylmethyl]-ADP in an overall yield of 40%. Alkylation of AMP yielded the corresponding N-6-[(6-aminohexyl)carbamoylmethyl]-AMP in an overall yield of 45%.     

Preparation and characterization of NADP derivatives alkylated at 2'-phosphate and 6-amino groups

Reaction of NADP with 3-propiolactone at pH 6 gave new NADP derivatives carboxyethylated at the 2'-phosphate or 6-amino group, or both: 2'-O-(2-carboxyethyl)phosphono-NAD (I), N6-(2-carboxyethyl)-NADP (II), and 2'-O-(2-carboxyethyl)phosphono-N6-(2-carboxyethyl)-NAD (III). Their structures were assigned on the basis of ultraviolet, 1H-NMR and 31P-NMR spectra, and also treatment with nucleotide pyrophosphatase or alkaline phosphatase. Carbodiimide-promoted reaction of derivative I with 1,2-diaminoethane gave 2'-O-[N-(2-aminoethyl)carbamoylethyl]phosphono-NAD (IV); derivative III gave 2'-O-[N-(2-aminoethyl)carbamoylethyl]phosphono-N6-[N-(2-aminoethyl ) carbamoylethyl]-NAD (IV). The same reaction of derivative II, on the other hand, gave a mixture of N6-[N-(2-aminoethyl)carbamoylethyl]-NADP (Va) and its 3'-phosphate isomer (Vb). The mixture was converted to Va via the 2',3'-cyclic derivative (Vc). Their structures were assigned on the basis of ultraviolet and 1H-NMR spectra, and also treatment with alkaline phosphatase or 3'-nucleotidase. All the NADP derivatives obtained in this work could be reduced with yeast glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.     

Preparation of N6-[N-(6-aminohexyl) carbamoyl]-adenine nucleotides and their application to coenzymically active immobilized ADP and ATP, and affinity adsorbents.

Reaction of ADP with hexamethylene diisocyanate in hexamethylphosphoramide followed by treatment in an acidic medium afforded three new adenine nucleotide analogues, N6-[N-(6-aminohexyl)carbamoyl]-ADP, N6-[N-(6-aminohexyl)carbamoyl]-ATP, and N6-[N-(6-aminohexyl)carbamoyl]-AMP in yields of 13%, 12% and 17%, respectively. The occurrence of the ATP analogue may be interpreted in terms of the equilibrium, 2ADP = ATP + AMP. Coenzymic activities of the ADP analogue against acetate kinase and pyruvate kinase were 82% and 20%, respectively, relative to ADP and those of the ATP analogue against hexokinase and glycerokinase were 63% and 87%, respectively, relative to ATP. These analogues were bound to CNBr-activated soluble dextran through their terminal amino group to give an immobilized ADP and an immobilized ATP, each of which was recycled in a system comprising acetate kinase and hexokinase, and when placed in a membrane reactor together with the enzymes, functioned as an immobilized coenzyme continuously yielding glucose 6-phosphate. A series of chemically defined affinity adsorbents were obtained by coupling these analogues to CNBr-activated Sepharose, and were used to separate the enzymes in a mixture of hexokinase, pyruvate kinase, phosphoglycerate kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and alcohol dehydrogenase.     

Coenzymic activity of NADP derivatives alkylated at 2'-phosphate and 6-amino groups

Coenzymic activities of the following NADP derivatives were investigated: 2'-O-(2-carboxyethyl)phosphono-NAD (I), N6-(2-carboxyethyl)-NADP (II), 2'-O-(2-carboxyethyl)phosphono-N6-(2-carboxyethyl)-NAD (III), 2'-O-[N-(2-aminoethyl)carbamoylethyl]phosphono-NAD (IV), N6-[N-(2-aminoethyl)carbamoylethyl]-NADP (Va), 2',3'-cyclic NADP, and 3'-NADP. Derivatives I and IV show the effects of modification at the 2'-phosphate group, and derivatives II and Va show those at the 6-amino group of NADP. As for enzymes, alcohol, isocitrate, 6-phosphogluconate, glucose, glucose-6-phosphate, and glutamate dehydrogenases were used. These enzymes were grouped on the basis of the ratio of the activities for NAD and NADP into NADP-specific enzymes (ratio less than 0.01), NAD(P)-specific enzymes (0.01 less than ratio less than 100), and NAD-specific enzymes (ratio greater than 100). For NADP-specific enzymes, modifications at the 2'-phosphate group of NADP caused great loss of cofactor activity. The relative cofactor activities (NADP = 100%) of derivatives I and IV for these enzymes were 0.5-20 and 0.01-0.5%, respectively. On the other hand, NAD(P)-specific enzymes showed several types of responses to the NADP derivatives. The relative cofactor activities of I and IV for Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Bacillus stearothermophilus glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenases and beef liver glutamate dehydrogenase were 60-200%; whereas, for B. megaterium glucose dehydrogenase and L. mesenteroides alcohol dehydrogenase, the values were 0.8-8%. For NAD-specific enzymes, these values were 20-50%. The relative cofactor activities of 2',3'-cyclic NADP and 3'-NADP were very low (less than 0.2%) except for beef liver glutamate dehydrogenase, B. stearothermophilus glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase. Kinetic studies showed that the losses of the cofactor activity of NADP by these modifications were mainly due to the increase of the Km value. The mechanisms of coenzyme specificity of dehydrogenases are discussed. Unlike the 2'-phosphate group, the 6-amino group is common to NAD and NADP, and the effects of modification at the 6-amino group were independent of the coenzyme specificity of enzymes used for the assay. Derivatives II and Va had high relative cofactor activities (65-130%) for most of the enzymes except for isocitrate and glucose dehydrogenases (less than 1%) and L. mesenteroides alcohol dehydrogenase (20-60%). The cofactor activity of derivative III was generally lower than those of I and II.     

Syntheses of biotinylated and dethiobiotinylated insulins

The 600-MHz proton spectrum of dethiobiotin (prepared from d-biotin with Raney nickel) was measured in order to gain information pertaining to its stereochemical homogeneity. The spectrum demonstrated clearly that the material is a 6:1 mixture of two stereoisomers. The cis compound, corresponding to the stereochemistry of d-biotin, is the major isomer. Two biotinyl- and two dethiobiotinylinsulins were prepared in which the distance between the biotins and insulin was varied by interposition of spacer arms. The synthesis of these compounds involved repeated N-hydroxysuccinimido ester condensations. Biotin N-hydroxysuccinimido ester, dethiobiotin N-hydroxysuccinimido ester, 6-aminohexanoic acid, and N-[3-[(3-aminopropyl)carboxyamino]-propyl]succinamic acid N-tert-butyl ester served as the building blocks for the spacers. The latter compound was prepared from N-[3-[(3-aminopropyl)amino]propyl]succinamic acid sulfate by the use of a selective amino-protecting method based on the differential stability toward acid of citraconyl and tert-butoxycarbonyl amino-protecting groups. The structure of N-[3-[(3-aminopropyl)amino]propyl]succinamic acid sulfate was established unequivocally by X-ray diffraction. The attachment of the biotinylated spacers to the insulin was exclusively at the N alpha, B1 position. Homogeneity of the final products as well as of the intermediates used in their synthesis was established by thin-layer chromatography, by high-pressure liquid chromatography, and in most instances by elemental analysis. The ratio of 6-aminohexanoic acid to lysine in hydrolysates of the insulin derivatives was in agreement with theory. The insulin derivatives were required for a study on the effect of avidin on their ability to interact with insulin receptors on rat epididymal adipocytes, which is described in the accompanying paper.     

Phosphorylation of 1,N6-etheno-ADP in flash groups and the concomitant decay kinetics of the absorption change at 515 nm

The accelerated decay of the transmembrane electric field under phosphorylating conditions as well as the concomitant generation of [³²P]-ATP after excitation with flash groups has been measured. An acceleration of the decay and a corresponding synthesis of ATP is found on addition of ADP and 1,N6-etheno-ADP (?-ADP). Both effects are smaller in the presence of optimal concentrations of ?-ADP than in the presence of an optimal ADP concentration. A quantitative evaluation of $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{ATP}$ ratio under comparable conditions gives values of 3.3 for ADP and 3.5 for ?-ADP. The results are consistent with the interpretation that the accelerated decay of the transmembrane field is caused directly by a proton flux via the ATPase.     

Adenosine diphosphate sulphurylase activity in leaf tissue

1. A new method is described for the assay of ADP sulphurylase. The method involves sulphate-dependent [(32)P]P(i)-ADP exchange; the method is simpler, more sensitive and more direct than the method involving adenosine 5'-sulphatophosphate-dependent uptake of P(i). 2. ADP sulphurylase activity was demonstrated in crude extracts of leaf tissue from a range of plants. Crude spinach extract catalysed the sulphate-dependent synthesis of [(32)P]ADP from [(32)P]P(i); spinach extracts did not catalyse sulphate-dependent AMP-P(i), ADP-PP(i) or ATP-P(i) exchange under standard assay conditions. ADP sulphurylase activity in spinach leaf tissue was associated with chloroplasts and was liberated by sonication. 3. Some elementary kinetics of crude spinach leaf and purified yeast ADP sulphurylases in the standard assay are described; addition of Ba(2+) was necessary to minimize endogenous P(i)-ADP exchange of the yeast enzyme and crude extracts of winter-grown spinach. 4. Spinach leaf ADP sulphurylase was activated by Ba(2+) and Ca(2+); Mg(2+) was ineffective. The yeast enzyme was also activated by Ba(2+). The activity of both enzymes decreased with increasing ionic strength. 5. Purified yeast and spinach leaf ADP sulphurylases were sensitive to thiol-group reagents and fluoride. The pH optimum was 8. ATP inhibited sulphate-dependent P(i)-ADP exchange. Neither selenate nor molybdate inhibited sulphate-dependent P(i)-ADP exchange and crude spinach extracts did not catalyse selenate-dependent P(i)-ADP exchange. 6. The presence of ADP sulphurylase activity jeopardizes the enzymic synthesis of adenosine 5'-sulphatophosphate from ATP and sulphate with purified ATP sulphurylase and pyrophosphatase.     

Further characterization of nucleotide binding sites on chloroplast coupling factor one

The solubilized coupling factor from spinach chloroplasts (CF1) contains one nondissociable ADP/CF1 which exchanges slowly with medium ADP in the presence of Ca2+, Mg2+, or EDTA; medium ATP also exchanges in the presence of Ca2+ or EDTA, but it is hydrolyzed, and only ADP is found bound to CF1. The rate of ATP exchange with heat-activated CF1 is approximately 1000 times slower than the rate of ATP hydrolysis. In the presence of Mg2+, both latent CF1 and heat-activated CF1 bind one ATP/CF1, in addition to the ADP. This MgATP is not removed by dialysis, by gel filtration, or by the substrate CaATP during catalytic turnover; however, it is released when the enzyme is stored several days as an ammonium sulfate precipitate. The photoaffinity label 3'-O-[3-[N-(4-azido-2-nitrophenyl)amino]-propionyl]-ATP binds to the MgATP site, and photolysis results in labeling of the beta subunit of CF1. Equilibrium binding measurements indicate that CF1 has two identical binding sites for ADP with a dissociation constant of 3.9 microM (in addition to the nondissociable ADP site). When MgATP is bound to CF1, one ADP binding site with a dissociation constant of 2.9 microM is found. One ATP binding site is found in addition to the MgATP site with a dissociation constant of 2.9 microM. Reaction of CF1 with the photoaffinity label 3'-O-[3-[N-(4-azido-2-nitrophenyl)amino]propionyl]-ADP indicates that the ADP binding site which is not blocked by MgATP is located near the interface of alpha and beta subunits. No additional binding sites with dissociation constants less than 200 micro M are observed for MgATP with latent CF1 and for CaADP with heat-activated CF1. Thus, three distinct nucleotide binding sites can be identified on CF1, and the tightly bound ADP and MgATP are not at the catalytic site. The active site is either the third ADP and ATP binding site or a site not yet detected.     

Production of anti-(ADP-ribose) antibodies with the aid of a dinucleotide-pyrophosphatase-resistant hapten and their application for the detection of mono(ADP-ribosyl)ated polypeptides

Previous attempts to produce anti-(ADP-ribose) antibodies by immunization of rabbits with ADP-ribose conjugated to serum albumin had resulted in the production of 5'AMP-specific antibodies [Bredehorst et al. (1978) Eur. J. Biochem. 82, 105-113]. To obtain true anti-(ADP-ribose) antibodies an antigen was constructed that was resistant to enzymic degradation at the pyrophosphate group. The enzymically active beta-methylene derivative of NAD (NAD[CH2]) was synthesized from ADP containing a methylene bridge (CH2) instead of an oxygen in the diphosphate group. NAD[CH2] was converted to its N6-[(2-carboxyethyl)thiomethyl] derivative and hydrolyzed to the corresponding ADP[CH2]-ribose derivative which was then coupled to bovine serum albumin. The antibodies obtained with this antigen were specific for free or protein-bound ADP-ribose groups, except for a cross-reaction with FAD, AMP, ADP, ATP or poly(ADP-ribose) interfered with [3H]ADP-ribose tracer binding only at higher concentrations. No interference was observed with poly(A), RNA and DNA at 6000-fold excess. The antibodies were purified on a novel type of affinity matrix. This was formed from NAD and guanidinobutyrate by a cholera-toxin-catalyzed reaction and the product, ADP-ribosyl guanidinobutyrate, was bound to Affi Gel by carbodiimide-aided condensation. The purified antibodies allowed the detection of ADP-ribose conjugated to polypeptides in amounts lower than 1 pmol as demonstrated by immunoblotting of [14C]ADP-ribosylated elongation factor 2. They also could be used to observe in situ, by indirect immunofluorescence, the increased mono(ADP-ribosyl)ation of nuclear proteins in dimethyl-sulfate-treated cells, and to show that histone H2B was the principal histone acceptor of single ADP-ribose groups in alkylated 3T3 cells.     

Purification, properties and substrate specificity of adenosine triphosphate sulphurylase from spinach leaf tissue

1. ATP sulphurylase was purified up to 1000-fold from spinach leaf tissue. Activity was measured by sulphate-dependent [(32)P]PP(i)-ATP exchange. The enzyme was separated from Mg(2+)-requiring alkaline pyrophosphatase (which interferes with the PP(i)-ATP-exchange assay) and from other PP(i)-ATP-exchange activities. No ADP sulphurylase activity was detected. 2. Sulphate was the only form of inorganic sulphur that catalysed PP(i)-ATP exchange; K(m) (sulphate) was 3.1mm, K(m) (ATP) was 0.35mm and the pH optimum was 7.5-9.0. The enzyme was insensitive to thiol-group reagents and required either Mg(2+) or Co(2+) for activity. 3. The enzyme catalysed [(32)P]PP(i)-dATP exchange; K(m) (dATP) was 0.84mm and V (dATP) was 30% of V (ATP). Competition between ATP and dATP was demonstrated. 4. Selenate catalysed [(32)P]PP(i)-ATP exchange and competed with sulphate; K(m) (selenate) was 1.0mm and V (selenate) was 30% of V (sulphate). No AMP was formed with selenate as substrate. Molybdate did not catalyse PP(i)-ATP exchange, but AMP was formed. 5. Synthesis of adenosine 5'-[(35)S]sulphatophosphate was demonstrated by coupling purified ATP sulphurylase and Mg(2+)-dependent alkaline pyrophosphatase (also prepared from spinach) with [(35)S]sulphate and ATP as substrates; adenosine 5'-sulphatophosphate was not synthesized in the absence of pyrophosphatase. Some parameters of the coupled system are reported.     

31P saturation transfer spectroscopy predicts differential intracellular macromolecular association of ATP and ADP in skeletal muscle

The kinetics of phosphoryl exchange involving ATP and ADP have been investigated successfully by in vivo ³¹P magnetic resonance spectroscopy using magnetization transfer. However, magnetization transfer effects seen on the signals of ATP also could arise from intramolecular cross-relaxation. This relaxation process carries information on the association state of ATP in the cell. To disentangle contributions of chemical exchange and cross-relaxation to magnetization transfer effects seen in ³¹P magnetic resonance spectroscopy of skeletal muscle, we performed saturation transfer experiments on wild type and double-mutant mice lacking the cytosolic muscle creatine kinase and adenylate kinase isoforms. We find that cross-relaxation, observed as nuclear Overhauser effects (NOEs), is responsible for magnetization transfer between ATP phosphates both in wild type and in mutant mice. Analysis of ³¹P relaxation properties identifies these effects as transferred NOEs, i.e. underlying this process is an exchange between free cellular ATP and ATP bound to slowly rotating macromolecules. This explains the β-ATP signal decrease upon saturation of the γ-ATP resonance. Although this usually is attributed to β-ADP ↔ β-ATP phosphoryl exchange, we did not detect an effect of this exchange on the β-ATP signal as expected for free [ADP], derived from the creatine kinase equilibrium reaction. This indicates that in resting muscle, conditions prevail that prevent saturation of β-ADP spins and puts into question the derivation of free [ADP] from the creatine kinase equilibrium. We present a model, matching the experimental result, for ADP ↔ ATP exchange, in which ADP is only transiently present in the cytosol.     

N6-Alkylthiomethyl and N6-Arylthiomethyl Derivatives of Adenosine and Their Cytokinin Activity

Five new derivatives of adenosine, N⁶-[(1-methylethyl)thiomethyl]-(1), N⁶-methyithiomethyl-(2), N⁶-phenylthiomethyl-(3), N⁶-[(3-amino-3-carboxypropyl)thiomethyl]-(4), and N⁶-[(2-amino-2-carboxyethyl)thiomethyl]adenosine (5), were synthesized and their cytokinin activity was tested in the Amaranthus betacyanin assay and the soybean callus growth.

1, 2, and 3 were active in the former assay and all five compounds were active in the latter assay. The activities of the compounds were, however, weaker than those of the reference derivatives, in which Sulfides were replaced by methylenes, N⁶-isopentyl-, N⁶-n-propyl-, N⁶-benzyl-, and N⁶-(5-amino-5-carboxypentyl)adenosine. This fact indicates that the sulfide structure introduced into the N⁶-side chains had the effect of reducing cytokinin activity.     

Thiolation and 2-methylthio- modification of Bacillus subtilis transfer ribonucleic acids.

Six thionucleosides found in Bacillus subtilis transfer ribonucleic acids were investigated: N6-(delta 2-isopentenyl)-2-methylthioadenosine, 5-carboxymethylaminomethyl-2-thiouridine, 4-thiouridine, 2-methylthioadenosine, N-[(9-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-2-methylthiopurin-6-yl)carbamoyl]threonine, and one unknown (X1). The presence of N-[(9-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-2-methylthiopurin-6-yl)carbamoyl]threonine was demonstrated based on the affinity of the transfer ribonucleic acid containing it for an immunoadsorbent made with the antibody directed toward N-[9-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)purin-6-ylcarbamoyl]-L-threonine. The existance of N-[(9-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-2-methylthiopurin-6-yl)carbamoyl]threonine in two species of lysine transfer ribonucleic acids was also confirmed by high-resolution mass spectrometry. Four of these thionucleosides--N6-(delta 2-isopenenyl)-2-methylthioadenosine, 2-methylthioadenosine, 5-carboxymethylaminomethyl-2-thiouridine, and the unknown designated X1--occurred only in specific areas in the elution profile of an RPC-5 column and probably affect the chromatographic properties of the transfer ribonucleic acids containing them. In contrast with Escherichia coli, where 4-thiouridine is the most frequent type of sulfur-containing modification, approximately one-third of the sulfur groups in B. subtilis transfer ribonucleic acid are present as thiomethyl groups on the 2 position of an adenosine or modified adenosine residue.     

The distribution of l-asparagine synthetase in the principal organs of several mammalian and avian species

1. Sulphate-dependent PP(i)-ATP exchange, catalysed by purified spinach leaf ATP sulphurylase, was correlated with the concentration of MgATP(2-) and MgP(2)O(7) (2-); ATP sulphurylase activity was not correlated with the concentration of free Mg(2+). 2. Sulphate-dependent PP(i)-ATP exchange was independent of PP(i) concentration, but dependent on the concentration of ATP and sulphate. The rate of sulphate-dependent PP(i)-ATP exchange was quantitatively defined by the rate equation applicable to the initial rate of a bireactant sequential mechanism under steady-state conditions. 3. Chlorate, nitrate and ADP inhibited the exchange reaction. The inhibition by chlorate and nitrate was uncompetitive with respect to ATP and competitive with respect to sulphate. The inhibition by ADP was competitive with respect to ATP and non-competitive with respect to sulphate. 4. ATP sulphurylase catalysed the synthesis of [(32)P]ATP from [(32)P]PP(i) and adenosine 5'-sulphatophosphate in the absence of sulphate; some properties of the reaction are described. Enzyme activity was dependent on the concentration of PP(i) and adenosine 5'-sulphatophosphate. 5. The synthesis of ATP from PP(i) and adenosine 5'-sulphatophosphate was inhibited by sulphate and ATP. The inhibition by sulphate was non-competitive with respect to PP(i) and adenosine 5'-sulphatophosphate; the inhibition by ATP was competitive with respect to adenosine 5'-sulphatophosphate and non-competitive with respect to PP(i). It was concluded that the reaction catalysed by spinach leaf ATP sulphurylase was ordered; expressing the order in the forward direction, MgATP(2-) was the first product to react with the enzyme and MgP(2)O(7) (2-) was the first product released. 6. The expected exchange reaction between sulphate and adenosine 5'-sulphatophosphate could not be demonstrated.     

Investigation of the preferred Mg(II)-adenine-nucleotide complex at the active site of ectonucleotidases in intact vascular cells using phosphorothioate analogues of ADP and ATP

In the presence of Mg2+ the ecto-(nucleoside diphosphatase) on intact vascular endothelial or smooth muscle cells in culture selectively catabolizes the PS diastereoisomer of adenosine 5'-[alpha-thio]diphosphate, (PS)-ADP [alpha S], and the ecto-(nucleoside triphosphatase) selectively catabolizes the PS isomer of adenosine 5'-[beta-thio]triphosphate, (PR)-ATP[beta S], but exhibits no selectivity towards ATP[alpha S] isomers. In the presence of Cd2+ selectivity to ADP[alpha S] and to ATP[beta S] isomers is reversed; in the presence of Co2+, selectivity is lost. We conclude that each enzyme preferentially recognises the lambda (screw-sense) bidentate Mg(II)-nucleotide complex at its active site.     

2',3'-O-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)-8-azido-adenosine mono-, di-, and triphosphates as photoaffinity probes of the Ca2+-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum. Regulatory/superfluorescent nucleotides label the catalytic site with high efficiency

We have synthesized a new class of ATP photo-affinity analogs, 2',3'-O-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)-8-azido (TNP-8N3)-ATP, -ADP, and -AMP, and their radiolabeled derivatives, and characterized their interaction with sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles. The nucleotides bind with high affinity (Kd = 0.04-0.4 microM) to the catalytic site of the Ca2+-ATPase. TNP-8N3-ATP and TNP-8N3-ADP, at low concentrations (less than 10 microM), accelerate ATPase activity 1.5- and 1.4-fold, respectively, indicating that they bind to a regulatory site. In the same concentration range, they all undergo a large increase in fluorescence ("superfluorescence") during enzyme turnover in the presence of ATP and Ca2+, or on phosphorylation from Pi in a Ca2+-depleted medium. Irradiation at alkaline pH results in specific covalent incorporation of the nucleotide at the catalytic site on the A1 tryptic subfragment. The efficiency of catalytic site labeling is greatest (up to 80% of available sites/irradiation period) in the presence of ATP, Ca2+, and Mg2+, conditions in which the probe binds only to the regulatory and superfluorescent sites. The covalently attached nucleotide exhibits fluorescence enhancement on enzyme turnover in the presence of acetyl phosphate plus Ca2+ or on phosphorylation from Pi in a Ca2+-depleted medium, but not in the presence of ATP plus Ca2+. The results suggest that the catalytic, regulatory, and superfluorescent nucleotide sites are at the same locus and that the binding domain includes portions of the A1 subfragment. The high efficiency with which the site is photolabeled during turnover is ascribed to water exclusion and possibly cleft closure in E2-P.     

Characterization of an ATP diphosphohydrolase activity (APYRASE,EC 3.6.1.5) in rat blood platelets

In the present report we describe an apyrase (ATP diphosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.5) in rat blood platelets. The enzyme hydrolyses almost identically quite different nucleoside di- and triphosphates. The calcium dependence and pH requirement were the same for the hydrolysis of ATP and ADP and the apparent Km values were similar for both Ca²⁺-ATP and Ca²⁺-ADP as substrates. Ca²⁺-ATP and Ca²⁺-ADP hydrolysis could not be attributed to the combined action of different enzymes because adenylate kinase, inorganic pyrophosphatase and nonspecific phosphatases were not detected under our assay conditions. The Ca²⁺-ATPase and Ca²⁺-ADPase activity was insensitive to ATPase, adenylate kinase and alkaline phosphatase classical inhibitors, thus excluding these enzymes as contaminants. The results demonstrate that rat blood platelets contain an ATP diphosphohydrolase involved in the hydrolysis of ATP and ADP which are vasoactive and platelet active adenine nucleotides.     

Formation and characterization of kinesin.ADP.fluorometal complexes

Recent crystallographic studies of motor proteins showed that the structure of the motor domains of myosin and kinesin are highly conserved. Thus, these motor proteins, which are important for motility, may share a common mechanism for generating energy from ATP hydrolysis. We have previously demonstrated that, in the presence of ADP, myosin forms stable ternary complexes with new phosphate analogues of aluminum fluoride (AlF(4)(-)) and beryllium fluoride (BeF(n)), and these stable complexes mimic the transient state along the ATPase kinetic pathway [Maruta et al. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 7093-7100]. In this study, we examined the formation of kinesin.ADP.fluorometals ternary complexes and analyzed their characteristics using the fluorescent ATP analogue NBD-ATP (2'(3')-O-[6-(N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amino)hexanoyl]-ADP). Our results suggest that these ternary complexes may mimic transient state intermediates in the kinesin ATPase cycle. Thus, the kinesin.ADP.AlF(4)(-) complex resembles the kinesin.ADP state, and the kinesin.ADP.BeF(n) complex mimics the kinesin.ADP.P(i) state.     

Competition between Li+ and Mg2+ for ATP and ADP in aqueous solution: a multinuclear NMR study

We used 7Li NMR spin-lattice relaxation times and 31P NMR chemical shifts to study the binding of Li+ and Mg2+ to the phosphate moieties of ATP and ADP. To examine the binding of Li+ and Mg2+ to the base and ribose moieties, we used 1H and 13C NMR chemical shifts. The 7Li NMR relaxation times of Li+/Mg2+ mixtures of ATP or ADP increased with increasing concentrations of Mg2+, suggesting competition between the two ions for adenine nucleotides. No significant binding of Li+ and Mg2+ to the base and ribose moieties occurred. At the pH and ionic strength used, 2:1 and 1:1 species of the Li(+)-ATP and Li+-ADP complexes were present, with the 2:1 species predominating. In contrast, 1:1 species predominated for the Mg(2+)-ADP and Mg(2+)-ATP complexes. We calculated the Li(+)-nucleotide binding constants in the presence and absence of Mg2+ and found them to be somewhat greater in the presence of Mg2+. Although competition between Li+ and Mg2+ for ATP and ADP phosphate binding sites in solution is consistent with the 31P chemical shift data, the possibility that the Li+ and Mg2+ form mixed complexes with the phosphate groups of ATP or ADP cannot be ruled out.     

Comparative enzymology of the adenosine triphosphate sulphurylases from leaf tissue of selenium-accumulator and non-accumulator plants

1. ATP sulphurylases were partially purified (20-40-fold) from leaf tissue of Astragalus bisulcatus, Astragalus racemosus (selenium-accumulator species) and Astragalus hamosus and Astragalus sinicus (non-accumulator species). Activity was measured by sulphate-dependent PP(i)-ATP exchange. The enzymes were separated from pyrophosphatase and adenosine triphosphatase activities. The properties of the Astragalus ATP sulphurylases were similar to the spinach enzyme. 2. The ATP sulphurylases from both selenium-accumulator and non-accumulator species catalysed selenate-dependent PP(i)-ATP exchange; selenate competed with sulphate. The ratio of V(selenate)/V(sulphate) and K(m)(selenate)/K(m)(sulphate) was approximately the same for the enzyme from each species. 3. Sulphate-dependent PP(i)-ATP exchange was inhibited by ADP, chlorate and nitrate. The kinetics of the inhibition for each enzyme were consistent with an ordered reaction mechanism, in which ATP is the first substrate to react with the enzyme and PP(i) is the first product released. 4. Synthesis of adenosine 5'-[(35)S]sulphatophosphate from [(35)S]sulphate was demonstrated by coupling the Astragalus ATP sulphurylases with Mg(2+)-dependent pyrophosphatase; the reaction was inhibited by selenate. An analogous reaction using [(75)Se]selenate as substrate could not be demonstrated.