Multiple molecular forms of glutamine synthetase in pea seeds

Summary Multiple molecular forms of glutamine synthetase (GS, EC 6.3.1.2) have been studied in pea seeds of different varieties. The number of GS molecular forms in the seeds proved to be related to their colour. Two GS forms in the green seeds have been found and only one of them in the yellow seeds. Green seeds had chlorophyll content amounted to 0.4% of the total pigment content in the leaves. Chloroplasts, somewhat smaller than those in pea leaves of the same variety, have been isolated from green seeds. The presence of the second GS form in the pea green seeds we relate to the chloroplasts. By electrophoretic mobility both forms of GS from the green seeds are not identical to the chloroplast GS and the cytosol GS of leaves. Thus, we believe pea plant to contain, at least, four GS forms.     

Multiple molecular forms of glutamine synthetase in carp muscles]

Cytoplasmic and mitochondrial molecular forms of glutamine synthetase (CE 6.3.1.2) have been isolated from the carp muscle with purification degree of 100 and 165 times and output 9.0%. It is established that the temperature optimum of the cytoplasmic form activity is 30 degrees C and that of mitochondrial one--20 degrees C; the pH optimum for the both molecular forms is 6.0 and 8.2. The optimal ratio [Me2+] : [ATP] for the isolated form is 2:1; Km (seeming) of the cytoplasmic form in the presence of Mg2+ is 6.0 mM for glutamate, 0.035 for ammonium, for ATP 0.5 and 0.7 for magnesium ions; these values for the mitochondrial form are: 14.3, 0.048, 1.0 and 0.8 mM, respectively. Activity of the both glutamine synthetases with Mg2+ ions is almost by 50% higher than that of glutamine synthetases with Mn2+ ions. Seasonal regularities of the synthesis of molecular glutamine synthetase forms have been established in vivo. Cytoplasmic form is present in the muscles all year round, while mitochondrial one only in winter at low temperature of the environment and fish starvation. Differences in properties and seasonal character of synthesis of molecular glutamine synthetase forms in carp muscles are a result of diversity of their functional role.     

New crystal forms of glutamine synthetase and implications for the molecular structure.

New crystal forms of glutamine synthetase from Escherichia coli are reported. Two of these (II A and II B) demand that the dodecameric molecule contains a 2-fold axis of symmetry perpendicular to the apparent hexagonal face.Whereas forms II A and II B and others reported previously (I and III A) were grown from enzyme containing covalently bound AMP groups, a third new form (III C) was grown from enzyme lacking covalently bound AMP groups. Form III C is isomorphous with form III A. This demonstrates that the addition of AMP groups, which profoundly affect the catalytic and regulatory properties of glutamine synthetase, does not alter the dimensions of the molecular envelope. Thus adenylylation of the enzyme does not seem to cause a quaternary structural transition, though small changes of intensities suggest that there may be tertiary structural changes within the subunits.Other new forms include form III B, a low symmetry polymorph, closely related to form III A, and form IV, a trigonal polymorph with large asymmetric unit. All crystal forms are consistent with a symmetry of 622 for the glutamine synthetase molecule.     

高等植物谷氨酰胺合成酶研究进展

谷氨酰胺合成酶（GS）是参与高等植物氮同化过程的关键酶。介绍了高等植物谷氨酰联合成酶及其同工酶的分布、性质、生理作用及分子生物学等方面的研究进展。     

Two forms of glutamine synthetase from pumpkin leaves

Two molecular forms of glutamine synthetase localized in the cytoplasm and in chloroplasts, respectively, were detected in pumpkin leaves. Ammonium infiltrated into intact pumpkin leaves activated the synthesis of both enzyme forms. Glutamine synthetase from chloroplasts and the cytoplasmic enzyme were purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulfate fractionation, ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose DE-32, selective adsorption on potassium phosphate gel and preparative electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel. The molecular weights of both forms of glutamine synthetase as determined by gel-filtration through Sephacryl S-200 are equal to 370,000 and 480,000, respectively. During SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis the enzymes from both sources produced polypeptide chains with respective molecular weights of 50,000 and 58,000. The amino acid composition of the enzymes differed considerably. The content of alpha-helix moities in the chloroplast and cytoplasmic enzyme made up to 17% and 34%, respectively. In the presence of Mg+ the pH optima for the enzymes were equal to 7.75 and 7.25, respectively, and the Km values for L-glutamate were 46 and 13 mM, respectively. It may be concluded that the enzyme forms under study are isoenzymes.     

Overproduction of alfalfa glutamine synthetase in transgenic tobacco plants

Summary We have obtained transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing the enzyme glutamine synthetase (GS) by fusing an alfalfa GS gene to the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promotor and integrating it intoNicotiana tabacum var. W38 plants byAgrobacterium tumefaciens mediated gene transfer. The amount of RNA specific to alfalfa GS was about 10 times higher in transgenic tobacco plants than in alfalfa. The alfalfa GS produced by these transgenic plants was identified by Western blotting and represented 5% of total soluble protein in the transformed plants, amounting to a 5-fold increase in specific GS activity and in a 20-fold increase in resistance to the GS inhibitorl-phosphinothricin in vitro. Tissue from GS overproducing plants showed a sevenfold lower amount of free NH₃. The amino acid composition of the plant tissue was not altered significantly by GS overproduction. GS overproducing plants were fertile and grew normally. These data show that a high level of expression of a key metabolic enzyme such as glutamine synthetase does not interfere with growth and fertility of plants.     

Two forms of glutamine synthetase in free-living root-nodule bacteria.

Cell-free extracts of $\text{Rhizobium japonicum}$ 61A76 contain two forms of glutamine synthetase (EC 6.3.1.2) which can be easily separated by isoelectric focusing. The more acid form (pI = 5.4), like the enzyme from $\text{E. coli}$, is stable at 50° and catalyses an ADP-dependent transferase reaction, whose inhibition by excess Mg⁺⁺ can be relieved by snake venom phosphodiesterase. The more alkaline form (pI = 6.1) is labile at 50°, and catalyses and ADP-dependent transferase reaction which is strongly inhibited by Mg⁺⁺ regardless of phosphodiesterase treatment. We have also observed the two forms of the enzyme in a nitrogenaseless mutant of 61A76, and in other strains of rhizobia, but only the acid form in $\text{E. coli}$ W, $\text{A. vinelandii}$ OP, and $\text{K. pneumoniae}$ M 51A.     

Multiple forms of glutamine synthetase in Bacillus brevis AG 4

Glutamine synthetase in Bacillus brevis AG 4, a Gram-positive spore forming bacteria, has been found to exist in multiple molecular forms. It was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity by single-step Blue Sepharose affinity chromatography. The native enzyme has a molecular weight of 600,000 with subunits of 50,000. The enzyme samples purified from different stages of growth differed in Mg2+ sensitivity and other kinetic properties. Four different enzyme samples selected on the basis of Mg2+ sensitivity showed distinct mobilities at pH 6.3 on PAGE using discontinuous buffer system. A correlation amongst Mg2+ sensitivity, electrophoretic mobility, and kinetic properties was highly suggestive of multiple forms of glutamine synthetase in Bacillus brevis arising due to modification.     

Effect of glutamine on the degradation of glutamine synthetase in hepatoma tissue-culture cells.

In certain lines of hepatoma tissue-culture cells, the extracellular glutamine concentration regulates the specific activity of glutamine synthetase. By quantifying the radioactivity in immunoprecipitated glutamine synthetase on polyacrylamide gels, we found that the rate of degradation, but not of synthesis, of glutamine synthetase is a sensitive function of extracellular glutamine. The activiy that degrades this enzyme appears to be labile.     

Two forms of glutamine synthetase in leaves of Cucurbita pepo

It has been shown that the leaves of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) contain two molecular forms of glutamine synthetase (GS), one occurring in the cytosol (GS₁)and the other in the chloroplasts (GS₂). The activities of both forms were greater when ammonium ion was infiltrated into the leaves and this was shown to be due to de novo synthesis. The two synthetases were purified by ammonium sulphate fractionation, ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, selective adsorption on calcium phosphate gel, and preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The MWs of GS₁ and GS₂, estimated by gel filtration on Sephacryl S-200, were 480 000 and 370 000 respectively. During polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of SDS both GS₁ and GS₂ were dissociated into polypeptide chains with MWs of 58 000 and 50 000 respectively, suggesting that GS, ₁ and GS₂ are octamers consisting of identical monomers. The synthetases showed noticeable differences in their amino acid composition. In GS₁ and GS₂ the proportions of α- helical segments were 34 and 17 % respectively. In the presence of Mg²⁺, the pH optima for GS₁ and GS₂ were 7.25 and 7.75 respectively, and K_m values toward l-glutamate were 13 and 46 mM respectively. From the experimental data it is inferred that GS₁ and GS₂ are isoenzymes.     

Cytosolic glutamine synthetase in higher plants. A comparative immunological study

Cytosolic glutamine synthetase (GS1) was purified to homogeneity from etiolated barley leaves by DEAE-Sephacel and hydroxyapatite chromatography, gel filtration and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Specific antibodies against the purified protein were raised by the immunization of rabbits. Immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated that cytosolic glutamine synthetases isolated from the leaves of different plant species were very similar proteins. Good recognition of other cytosolic glutamine synthetases from roots, root nodular tissue and seeds by barley GS1 antibodies was obtained, suggesting that they too are all quite similar proteins. In contrast, chloroplast glutamine synthetase (GS2) was considered to be a different protein in view of its low level of recognition by barley GS1 antibodies.     

Identification of two forms of glutamine synthetase in barley (Hordeum vulgare).

Hepatocytes of 14-day-old rats have no detectable glucokinase activity $\text{in}$$\text{vivo}$, but it was induced by insulin (10^?8M) in primary cultures of these hepatocytes. The glucokinase induced by insulin was separated by electrophoresis on a cellulose acetate membrane and identified by its low affinity for glucose. This precocious induction of glucokinase was completely prevented by the presence of either actinomycin D or cycloheximide. Glucagon also inhibited its induction by insulin. Dexamethasone and testosterone, which alone had no inductive effect, strongly enhanced the induction by insulin. When hepatocytes of 14-day-old rats were cultured with 10^?7M insulin, 10^?6M dexamethasone and 10^?7M testosterone for 48 hr, their glucokinase activity increased to the non-induced level in hepatocytes of adult rats. Estrogen, thyroxine or growth hormone did not induce glucokinase precociously. Testosterone did not enhance induction of glucokinase by insulin in cultured hepatocytes of adult rats.     

Identification and characterization of three forms of glutamine synthetase unique to Rhizobia

Glutamine synthetase (GS) activities of Rhizobia were chromatographically resolved into three distinct forms, GSI, GSII, and GSIII on DEAE cellulose, being eluted with 0.3M, 0.5M and 0.8M KCl, respectively. GSIII was the major form inR. leguminosarum andR. phaseoli. InR. meliloti, however, GSI was the major form. The three forms of GS were also distinguished on the basis of (a) rapid heat inactivation of GSII, (b) insensitivity of GSI to inhibitors, (c) marked inhibition of GSII by thymidine, and (d) inability of Zn⁺⁺ to inhibit GSIII. The three forms of GS are also distinct molecular entities and are unique to Rhizobia.     

Structural property,molecular regulation,and functional diversity of glutamine synthetase in higher plants: a data-mining bioinformatics approach

Glutamine synthetase (GS; E.C.6.3.1.2) is a key enzyme in higher plants with two isozymes, cytosolic GS1 and plastidic GS2, and involves in the assimilation and recycling of NH₄⁺ ions and maintenance of complex traits such as crop nitrogen-use efficiency and yield. Our present understanding of crop nitrogen-use efficiency and its correlation with the functional role of the GS family genes is inadequate, which delays harnessing the benefit of this key enzyme in crop improvement. In this report, we performed a comprehensive investigation on the phylogenetic relationship, structural properties, complex multilevel gene regulation, and expression patterns of the GS genes to enrich present understanding about the enzyme. Our Gene Ontology and protein–protein interactions analysis revealed the functional aspects of GS isozymes in stress mitigation, aging, nucleotide biosynthesis/transport, DNA repair and response to metals. The insight gained here contributes to the future research strategies in developing climate-smart crops for global sustainability.     

Distribution of glutamine synthetase and an inverse relationship between glutamine synthetase expression and intramuscular glutamine concentration in the horse

Glutamine plays important roles in the interorgan transport of nitrogen, carbon and energy but little is known about glutamine metabolism in the horse. In this study we determined the tissue distribution of glutamine synthetase expression in three Standardbred mares. Expression of glutamine synthetase was highest in kidney and mammary gland, and relatively high in liver and adipose tissue. Expression was lower in gluteus muscle, thymus, colon and lung, and much lower in small intestine, pancreas and uterus. The pattern of glutamine synthetase expression in the horse is similar to that of other herbivores and it is likely that skeletal muscle, liver, adipose tissue and lungs are the major sites of net glutamine synthesis in this species. Expression did not differ between adipose tissue depots but did vary between different muscles. Expression was highest in gluteus and semimembranous muscles and much lower in diaphragm and heart muscles. The concentration of intramuscular free glutamine was inversely correlated with expression of glutamine synthetase (r=-0.81, p=0.0017). The concentration of free glutamine was much higher in heart muscle (21.6+/-0.9 micromol/g wet wt) than in gluteus muscle (4.19+0.33 micromol/g wet wt), which may indicate novel functions and/or regulatory mechanisms for glutamine in the equine heart.     

o-Phosphotyrosyl glutamine synthetase: modification of the nucleotide ligation site of adenylylated glutamine synthetase

The nucleotide ligation site of adenylylated glutamine synthetase, which contains a unique tyrosyl residue linked through a phosphodiester bond to 5'-AMP, was studied by digestion with three hydrolytic enzymes. The products on micrococcal nuclease digestion were adenosine and o-phosphotyrosyl glutamine synthetase. The Km for this macromolecular substrate with the nuclease was 40 microM, at pH 8.9. The glutamine synthetase activity was not affected by deadenosylation with the nuclease, in contrast to SVPDE digestion, with which the glutamine synthetase activity was markedly increased. The Km for the native adenylylated glutamine synthetase with the SVPDE was 36 microM, i.e., similar to that for the nuclease. When the isolated o-phosphotyrosyl enzyme was incubated with alkaline phosphatase at pH 7.2, the glutamine synthetase activity rapidly increased to the same level as that of the SVPDE treated enzyme. Furthermore, kinetic properties of the o-phosphotyrosyl glutamine synthetase were compared with those of the adenylylated enzyme. The optimum pH, apparent Km for each of three substrates, glutamate, ATP, and NH3, and Vmax were in good agreement, as to either Mg2+- or Mn2+-dependent biosynthetic activity. From these results we can conclude that the regulation of glutamine synthetase activity simply requires the phosphorylation of the tyrosyl residue in each subunit, without recourse to adenylylation.