Control of platelet glycogenolysis activation of phosporylase kinase by calcium

An apparent enigma during platelet aggregation is that increased glycogenolysis occurs despite a fall in cyclic AMP levels. Activation by a classical cascade is therefore unlikely, and an alternative stimulus for phosphorylase a formation was sought. It was found that low levels of Ca²⁺ markedly activate phosphorylase b kinase from human platelets, with a K_a of 0.89 μM Ca²⁺, which is similar to that for the skeletal muscle enzyme. The kinase activity is unstable, and on enzyme ageing there is a 50% loss in activity with the K_a decreasing to 0.33 μM Ca²⁺.In unstimulated platelets, phosphorylase a was 13.3% of total measured activity, and glycogen synthetase I was 32.3%. Aggregation induced by ADP did not change the percentage of I synthetase, while increasing that for phosphorylase a. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP did, as expected, increase the percentage of both phosphorylated enzymes.These findings suggest that the natural activator of platelet glycogenolysis during aggregation is Ca²⁺, which directly stimulates phosphorylase b kinase without altering glycogen synthetase activity. The cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase does not appear to be involved.     

Isolation and properties of a Mn2+-activated phosphohistone phosphatase from canine heart.

A Mn²⁺-activated phosphohistone phosphatase has been isolated from canine heart. The s_{20, w} for the enzyme is 3.8. Using this value and the value for Stokes radius (39 Å), the molecular weight for the enzyme was calculated to be 61,000. The enzyme is inactive in the absence of divalent cations, among which Mn²⁺ is the most effective activator. Co²⁺ and Mg²⁺ are less effective than is Mn²⁺. Zn²⁺, Fe²⁺, and Cu²⁺ are inhibitory. The enzyme has a pH optimum between 7 and 7.5 and has an apparent K_m for phosphohistone and Mn²⁺ of about 17 μm and 0.5 mm, respectively. The enzyme is inhibited by nucleoside triphosphate, ADP, AMP, phosphate, and pyrophosphate, but is not affected by cyclic AMP or cyclic GMP. The dephosphorylation of phosphohistone is stimulated by salts. Kinetic studies reveal that KCl and other salts greatly affect both the rate of hydrolysis and the K_m for either Mn²⁺ or phosphohistone by interacting with the substrate. The data suggest that modification at substrate level is an important regulatory mechanism for the enzyme. The enzyme preparation also dephosphorylates phosphorylase a and phosphocasein. Evidence suggests that one enzyme possesses both phosphohistone and phosphorylase phosphatase activities and that a different enzyme catalyzes the Mg²⁺- and Mn²⁺-activated dephosphorylation of phosphocasein.     

Development of a transgenic tobacco plant for phytoremediation of methylmercury pollution

To develop the potential of plant for phytoremediation of methylmercury pollution, a genetically engineered tobacco plant that coexpresses organomercurial lyase (MerB) with the ppk-specified polyphosphate (polyP) and merT-encoding mercury transporter was constructed by integrating a bacterial merB gene into ppk/merT-transgenic tobacco. A large number of independent transgenic tobaccos was obtained, in some of which the merB gene was stably integrated in the plant genome and substantially translated to the expected MerB enzyme in the transgenic tobacco. The ppk/merT/merB-transgenic tobacco callus showed more resistance to methylmercury (CH₃Hg⁺) and accumulated more mercury from CH₃Hg⁺-containing medium than the ppk/merT-transgenic and wild-type progenitors. These results suggest that the MerB enzyme encoded by merB degraded the incorporated CH₃Hg⁺ to Hg²⁺, which then accumulated as a less toxic Hg-polyP complex in the tobacco cells. Phytoremediation of CH₃Hg⁺ and Hg²⁺ in the environment with this engineered ppk/merT/merB-transgenic plant, which prevents the release mercury vapor (Hg⁰) into the atmosphere in addition to generating potentially recyclable mercury-rich plant residues, is believed to be more acceptable to the public than other competing technologies, including phytovolatilization.     

The separation and properties of two phosphoprotein phosphatases from the dimorphic fungus Mucor rouxii

Soluble preparations from mycelium of the dimorphic fungus Mucor rouxii contained detectable amounts of phosphoprotein phosphatase activity. This cytosolic phosphatase activity exhibited a molecular weight below 80,000 and could be resolved into two different forms (enzymes I and II) by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose followed by gel filtration on Sephacryl S-300. Enzyme I (M_r 64,000) was mainly a histone phosphatase activity, absolutely dependent on divalent cations, with a K_0.5 for MnCl₂ of 2 mm. Enzyme II (M_r 40,000) was active with histone and phosphorylase. Its activity was independent or slightly inhibited by Mn²⁺. This enzyme was strongly inhibited by 50 mm NaF or 1 mm ATP. When partially purified enzymes I and II were separately treated with ethanol, the catalytic properties of enzyme II were apparently not affected while those of enzyme I were drastically changed. The activity with histone, which was originally dependent on Mn²⁺, became independent or slightly inhibited by the cation. The treatment was accompanied by a notable increase in phosphorylase phosphatase activity which was strongly inhibited by Mn²⁺. Treated enzyme I eluted from DEAE-cellulose and Sephacryl S-300 columns at a position similar to that of enzyme II.     

Physical and kinetic properties of sheep liver pyridoxine kinase

Pyridoxine kinase purified from sheep liver was found to consist of a single polypeptide chain with a molecular weight of 60,000 as determined by gel filtration, sedimentation equilibrium ultracentrifugation, and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The isoelectric pH of the enzyme was 5.1, and the pH optimum was between 5.5 and 6.0. The enzyme required divalent cations for activity. At cation concentrations of 80 μm, the enzyme activity with each cation was in the order of Zn²⁺ > Mn²⁺ > Mg²⁺. At cation concentrations of 400 μm, the enzyme activity with each cation was in the order of Mn²⁺ > Zn²⁺ > Mg²⁺. Excess free divalent cation inhibited the enzyme. Pyridoxine kinase also required monovalent cations. The enzyme activation was greatest with K⁺, then Rb⁺ and NH₄⁺, whereas the enzyme had very little activity with Na⁺, Li⁺, or Cs⁺. Na⁺ did not interfere with the activation by K⁺. The activation of the kinase by K⁺, NH₄⁺, and Rb⁺ followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics, and the apparent K_m values for the cations were 8.9, 3.7, and 5.3 mm, respectively. Increasing the potassium concentration lowered the apparent K_m value of the enzyme for pyridoxine and had little or no effect on the K_m for ZnATP^2? or the V of the kinase-catalyzed reaction.     

Influence of Certain Cations on Activity of Succinyl CoA Synthetase From Tobacco

Succinyl CoA synthetase from Nicotiana tabacum exhibited a requirement for univalent and divalent cations. Mn²⁺ replaced Mg²⁺ in the assay medium and Co²⁺ and Ca²⁺ partially replaced Mg²⁺. Addition of Zn²⁺ resulted in no enzyme activity. The enzyme was activated by univalent cations K⁺, Rb⁺, NH₄⁺, and Na⁺; Li⁺ showed little or no activation. Maximum enzyme activity varied significantly with potassium salts of different anions. Greatest activation was obtained with K₃PO₄ and, respectively, KCl, KNO₃, K₂SO₄ and KF exhibited steadily decreasing enzyme activation.     

Confining the sodium pump in a phosphoenzyme form: the effect of lead(II) ions

The effect of Pb²⁺ ions on the Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase was investigated in detail by means of steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy. Experiments were performed by using the electrochromic styryl dye RH421. It is shown that Pb²⁺ ions can bind reversibly to the protein and do not affect the Na⁺ and K⁺ binding affinities in the E₁ and P-E₂ conformations of the enzyme. The pH titrations indicate that lead(II) favors binding of one H⁺ to the P-E₂ conformation in the absence of K⁺. A model scheme is proposed that accounts for the experimental results obtained for backdoor phosphorylation of the enzyme in the presence of Pb²⁺ ions. Taken together, our results clearly indicate that Pb²⁺ bound to the enzyme stabilizes an E₂-type conformation. In particular, under conditions that promote enzyme phosphorylation, Pb²⁺ ions are able to confine the Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase into a phosphorylated E₂ state.     

Adenosine 5'-O(3-thiotriphosphate) in the control of phosphorylase activity

Rabbit muscle phosphorylase b (EC 2.4.1.1) is converted to a thio-analog of phosphorylase a by phosphorylase kinase, Mg²⁺ and adenosine 5′-O(3-thiotriphosphate)(ATPγS). Conversion proceeds at one-fifth the rate obtained with ATP though the extent of reaction and final level of activation of the enzyme are the same. However, the thiophosphorylase a produced is resistant to phosphorylase phosphatase and, therefore, behaves as a competitive inhibitor with a K_I of 3 μM, similar to the K_M obtained with normal phosphorylase a. ATPγS can also be utilized by protein kinase in the activation of phosphorylase kinase at a rate similar to that obtained with ATP. It is hydrolyzed at 5 to 10 times the normal rate by the sarcoplasmic reticulum ATPase. When added to a muscle glycogen-particulate complex in the presence of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, ATPγS triggers an activation of phosphorylase with simultaneous inhibition of phosphorylase phosphatase as previously observed with ATP.     

Solvent effects on ouabain binding to the (Na+,K+)-ATPase of rat brain

The effects of the solvents deuterated water (²H₂O) and dimethyl sulfoxide (Me₂SO) on [³H]ouabain binding to (Na⁺,K⁺)-ATPase under different ligand conditions were examined. These solvents inhibited the type I ouabain binding to the enzyme (i.e., in the presence of Mg²⁺+ATP+Na⁺). In contrast, both solvents stimulated type II (i.e., Mg²⁺+P_i-, or Mn²⁺-dependent) binding of the drug. The solvent effects were not due to pH changes in the reaction. However, pH did influence ouabain binding in a differential manner, depending on the ligands present. For example, changes in pH from 7.05 to 7.86 caused a drop in the rate of binding by about 15% in the presence of Mg²⁺+Na⁺+ATP, 75% in the Mg²⁺+P_i system, and in the presence of Mn²⁺ an increase by 24% under similar conditions. Inhibitory or stimulatory effects of solvents were modified as various ligands, and their order of addition, were altered. Thus, ²H₂O inhibition of type I ouabain binding was dependent on Na⁺ concentration in the reaction and was reduced as Na⁺ was elevated. Contact of the enzyme with Me₂SO, prior to ligands for type I binding, resulted in a greater inhibition of ouabain binding than that when enzyme was exposed to Na⁺+ATP first and then to Me₂SO. Likewise, the stimulation of type II binding was greater when appropriate ligands acted on enzyme prior to addition of the solvent. Since Me₂SO and ²H₂O inhibit type I ouabain binding, it is proposed that this reaction is favored under conditions which promote loss of H₂O, and E₁ enzyme conformation; the stimulation of type II ouabain binding in the presence of the solvents suggests that this type of binding is favored under conditions which promote the presence of H₂O at the active enzyme center and E₂ enzyme conformation. This postulation of a role of H₂O in modulating enzyme conformations and ouabain interaction with them is in concordance with previous observations.     

Purification and characterization of extracellular inulinase from a marine yeast <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pichia guilliermondii</Emphasis> and inulin hydrolysis by the purified inulinase

The extracellular inulinase of the marine yeast Pichia guilliermondii strain 1 was purified to homogeneity resulting in a 7.2-fold increase in specific inulinase activity. The molecular mass of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 50.0 kDa. The optimal pH and temperature for the purified enzyme were 6.0 and 60°C, respectively. The enzyme was activated by Mn²⁺, Ca²⁺, K⁺, Li⁺, Na⁺, Fe³⁺, Fe²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Co²⁺, but Mg²⁺, Hg²⁺, and Ag⁺ inhibited activity. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by phenylmethanesulphonyl fluoride (PMSF), iodoacetic acid, EDTA, and 1, 10-phenanthroline. The K _m and V _max values of the purified inulinase for inulin were 21.1 mg/mL and 0.08 mg/min, respectively. A large number of monosaccharides were detected after the hydrolysis of inulin. The deduced protein sequence from the cloned P. guilliermondii strain 1 inulinase gene contained the consensus motifs R-D-P-K-V-F-W-H and W-M-N-D-P-N-G, which are conserved among the inulinases from other microorganisms.     

Purification and Characterization of Extracellular Phytase from a Marine Yeast <Emphasis Type="Italic">Kodamaea ohmeri</Emphasis> BG3

The extracellular phytase in the supernatant of cell culture of the marine yeast Kodamaea ohmeri BG3 was purified to homogeneity with a 7.2-fold increase in specific phytase activity as compared to that in the supernatant by ammonium sulfate fractionation, gel filtration chromatography (Sephadex™ G-75), and anion-exchange chromatography (DEAE Sepharose Fast Flow Anion-Exchange). According to the data from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the molecular mass of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 98.2 kDa while the molecular mass of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 92.9 kDa and the enzyme was shown to be a monomer according to the results of gel filtration chromatography. The optimal pH and temperature of the purified enzyme were 5.0 and 65°C, respectively. The enzyme was stimulated by Mn²⁺, Ca²⁺, K⁺, Li⁺, Na⁺, Ba²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Co²⁺ (at a concentrations of 5.0 mM), but it was inhibited by Cu²⁺, Hg²⁺, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, Ag⁺, and Zn²⁺ (at a concentration of 5.0 mM). The enzyme was also inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), iodoacetic acid (at a concentration of 1.0 mM), and phenylgloxal hydrate (at a concentration of 5.0 mM), and not inhibited by EDTA and 1,10-phenanthroline (at concentrations of 1.0 mM and 5.0 mM). The K _m, V _max, and K _cat values of the purified enzyme for phytate were 1.45 mM, 0.083 μmol/ml · min, and 0.93 s^-1, respectively.     

The mode of activation by potassium of potassium-dependent and ouabain-sensitive phosphatase activity.

A new simple procedure has been developed for the purification of plasma membranes from rabbit kidney microsomes which yields a three- to fourfold increase in the specific activity of Na⁺-K⁺-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase). The procedure differs from previous methods with deoxycholate or other detergents and does not change the molecular activity of the ATPase. The K⁺-dependent p-nitrophenylphosphatase activity of the native Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase is controlled more effectively by Mg²⁺ in the presence of K⁺ at concentrations higher than that of Mg²⁺, and by K⁺ in the presence of Mg²⁺ at concentrations higher than that of K⁺. The enzyme in its Mg²⁺-regulating state, which shows K⁺-saturation curves with a Hill coefficient of 1, is less sensitive to ouabain (I_0.5 = 90 μM) and corresponds to the enzyme conformation reported previously which is inhibited by the concurrent presence of Na⁺ and ATP or of Na⁺ and oligomycin (I_0.5 is the midpoint of the saturation curve). The enzyme in its K⁺-regulating state, which shows K⁺-saturation curves with a Hill coefficient of 2, is more sensitive to ouabain inhibition (I₀₅ = 8 μM) and corresponds to the enzyme conformation which is stimulated by the concurrent presence of Na⁺ and ATP or of Na⁺ and oligomycin. There appear to be two conformations of the enzyme that are regulated by Mg²⁺ binding on the inhibitory sites of the enzyme.     

Comparison of 4-hydroxynzoate decarboxylase and phenol carboxylase activities in cell-free extracts of a defined, 4-hydroxybenzoate and phenol-degrading anaerobic consortium

Summary Two 4-hydroxybenzoate decarboxylase activities and a phenol carboxylase activity were found in cell-free extracts of a defined, 4-hydroxybenzoate- or phenol-grown consortium. Both decarboxylase activities were loosely membrane-associated and required K⁺ but a different pH and ion strength. Loss of activity of both decarboxylases by EDTA could be compensated by Zn²⁺ ions. The K _m values for 4-hydroxybenzoate and K⁺ of the decarboxylase activities with pH optima at 6.4 or 7.8 were 0.02 and 2.5 or 0.004 and 0.5 mm, respectively. 3,4-Dihydroxybenzoate, 3,4,5-tridydroxybenzoate, 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxybenzoate and 3-chloro-4-hydroxybenzoate were also decarboxylated by both enzyme activities. The phenol carboxylase was a soluble enzyme with its pH optimum at 6.5. It required K⁺, Rb⁺ or NH _inf4 ^sup+ as monovalent, Zn²⁺, Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺ or Ni²⁺ as divalent cations and catalysed the carboxylation of phenol if 2,4-,2,3,4- or 2,4,6-hydroxybezoates were absent. The three enzyme activities were not influenced by Avidin and thus were probably not biotin-dependent enzymes. Offprint requests to: J. Winter     

The association of phosphorylase kinase with rabbit muscle T-tubules

Evidence is presented for the association of a phosphorylase kinase activity with transverse tubules as well as terminal cisternae in triads isolated from rabbit skeletal muscle. This activity remained associated with T-tubules throughout the purification of triad junctions by one cycle of dissociation and reassociation. The possibility that the presence of phosphorylase kinase in these highly purified membrane vesicle preparations was due to its association with glycogen was eliminated by digestion of the latter with α-amylase. The phosphorylase kinase activity associated with the T-tubule membranes was similar to that reported for other membrane-bound phosphorylase kinases. The enzyme had a high $\text{pH}\text{6.8}\text{pH}\text{8.2}$ activity ratio (0.4 – 0.7) and a high level of Ca²⁺ independent activity $\text{(EGTA}\text{Ca}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{= 0.3?0.5)}$. The kinase activated and phosphorylated exogenous phosphorylase b with identical time courses. When mechanically disrupted triads were centrifuged on continuous sucrose gradients, the distribution of phosphorylase kinase activity was correlated with the distribution of a M_r 128,000 polypeptide in the gradients. This polypeptide and a M_r 143,000 polypeptide were labeled with ³²P by endogenous and exogenous protein kinases. These findings suggest that the membrane-associated phosphorylase kinase may be similar to the cytosolic enzyme. Markers employed for the isolated organelles included a M_r 102,000 membrane polypeptide which followed the distribution of Ca²⁺-stimulated 3-O-methylfluorescein phosphatase activity, which is specific for the sarcoplasmic reticulum. A M_r 72,000 polypeptide was confirmed to be a T-tubule-specific protein. Several proteins of the triad component organelle were phosphorylated by the endogenous kinase in a Ca²⁺/calmodulin-stimulated manner, including a M_r ca. 72,000 polypeptide found only in the transverse tubule.     

Purification of glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase from rat (Rattus norvegicus) erythrocytes and inhibition effects of some metal ions on enzyme activity

Glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is the first enzyme on which the pentose phosphate pathway was checked. In this study, purification of a G6PD enzyme was carried out by using rat erythrocytes with a specific activity of 13.7 EU/mg and a yield of 67.7 and 155.6‐fold by using 2′,5′‐ADP Sepharose‐4B affinity column chromatography. For the purpose of identifying the purity of enzyme and molecular mass of the subunit, a sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was carried out. The molecular mass of subunit was calculated 56.5 kDa approximately. Then, an investigation was carried out regarding the inhibitory effects caused by various metal ions (Fe²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Ag⁺, and Zn²⁺) on G6PD enzyme activities, as per Beutler method at 340 nm under in vitro conditions. Lineweaver–Burk diagrams were used for estimation of the IC₅₀ and K_i values for the metals. K_i values for Pb⁺², Cd⁺², Ag⁺, and Zn⁺² were 113.3, 215.2, 19.4, and 474.7 μM, respectively.     

Characterization of a partially purified adenosine triphosphatase from a corn root plasma membrane fraction

The (K⁺,Mg²⁺)-ATPase was partially purified from a plasma membrane fraction from corn roots (WF9 × Mol7) and stored in liquid N₂ without loss of activity. Specific activity was increased 4-fold over that of the plasma membrane fraction. ATPase activity resembled that of the plasma membrane fraction with certain alterations in cation sensitivity. The enzyme required a divalent cation for activity (Co²⁺ > Mg²⁺ > Mn²⁺ > Zn²⁺ > Ca²⁺) when assayed at 3 millimolar ATP and 3 millimolar divalent cation at pH 6.3. When assayed in the presence of 3 millimolar Mg²⁺, the enzyme was further activated by monovalent cations (K⁺, NH₄⁺, Rb⁺ Na⁺, Cs⁺, Li⁺). The pH optima were 6.5 and 6.3 in the absence and presence of 50 millimolar KCl, respectively. The enzyme showed simple Michaelis-Menten kinetics for the substrate ATP-Mg, with a K_m of 1.3 millimolar in the absence and 0.7 millimolar in the presence of 50 millimolar KCl. Stimulation by K⁺ approached simple Michaelis-Menten kinetics, with a K_m of approximately 4 millimolar KCl. ATPase activity was inhibited by sodium orthovanadate. Half-maximal inhibition was at 150 and 35 micromolar in the absence and presence of 50 millimolar KCl. The enzyme required the substrate ATP. The rate of hydrolysis of other substrates, except UDP, IDP, and GDP, was less than 20% of ATP hydrolysis. Nucleoside diphosphatase activity was less than 30% of ATPase activity, was not inhibited by vanadate, was not stimulated by K⁺, and preferred Mn²⁺ to Mg²⁺. The results demonstrate that the (K⁺,Mg²⁺)-ATPase can be clearly distinguished from nonspecific phosphohydrolase and nucleoside diphosphatase activities of plasma membrane fractions prepared from corn roots.     

The hemoglobin of the crossopterygian fish, Latimeria chalumnae (Smith). Subunit structure and oxygen equilibria

There are five oxidation-reduction states of horseradish peroxidase which are interconvertible. These states are ferrous, ferric, Compound II (ferryl), Compound I (primary compound of peroxidase and H₂O₂), and Compound III (oxy-ferrous). The presence of heme-linked ionization groups was confirmed in the ferrous enzyme by spectrophotometric and pH stat titration experiments. The values of pK were 5.87 for isoenzyme A and 7.17 for isoenzymes (B + C). The proton was released when the ferrous enzyme was oxidized to the ferric enzyme while the uptake of the proton occurred when the ferrous enzyme reacted with oxygen to form Compound III. The results could be explained by assuming that the heme-linked ionization group is in the vicinity of the sixth ligand and forms a stable hydrogen bond with the ligand.The measurements of uptake and release of protons in various reactions also yielded the following stoichiometries: Ferric peroxidase + H₂O₂ → Compound I, Compound I + e^? + H⁺ → Compound II, Compound II + e^? + H⁺ → ferric peroxidase, Compound II + H₂O₂ → Compound III, Compound III + 3e^? + 3H⁺ → ferric peroxidase.Based on the above stoichiometries and assuming the interaction between the sixth ligand and heme-linked ionization group of the protein, it was possible to picture simple models showing structural relations between five oxidation-reduction states of peroxidase. Tentative formulae are as follows: [Pr·Po·Fe-(II) $\text{\$}\text{?}$PrH⁺·Po·Fe(II)] is for the ferrous enzyme, Pr·Po·Fe(III)OH₂ for the ferric one, Pr·Po·Fe(IV)OH^? for Compound II, Pr(OH^?)·Po⁺·Fe(IV)OH^? for Compound I, and PrH⁺·Po·Fe(III)O₂^? for Compound III, in which Pr stands for protein and Po for porphyrin. And by Fe(IV)OH^?, for instance, is meant that OH^? is coordinated at the sixth position of the heme iron and the formal oxidation state of the iron is four.     

Reduced nicotinamide-adenine-dinucleotide-pyrophosphorylase: A novel enzyme in seeds

An enzyme which splits reduced NAD has been partially purified from pea (Pisum sativum, Kelvedon Wonder) seeds. The activity requires orthophosphate and the products are ADP and probably NMN (dihydro NMN?). The enzyme splits the NADH₂ at the pyrophosphate bond and incorporates the phosphate into the AMP residue. NAD, NADP or NADPH₂ could not replace NADH₂. The enzyme is unstable during storage, is activated by Mg²⁺ and by Mn²⁺, and inhibited by Ca²⁺. K⁺, Li⁺ and NH₄⁺ have no effect. The possible role of this enzyme in the synthesis of ATP in seeds at the early stage of germination is discussed.     

Purification and properties of oxaloacetate decarboxylase fromCorynebacterium glutamicum

Oxaloacetate (OAA) decarboxylase (E.C. 4.1.1.3) was isolated fromCorynebacterium glutamicum. In five steps the enzyme was purified 300-fold to apparent homogeneity. The molecular mass estimated by gel filtration was 118 ± 6 kDa. SDS-PAGE showed a single subunit of 31.7 KDa, indicating an ₄ subunit structure for the native enzyme. The enzyme catalyzed the decarboxylation of OAA to pyruvate and CO₂, but no other -ketoacids were used as substrate. The cation Mn²⁺ was required for full activity, but could be substituted by Mg²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Ca²⁺. Monovalent ions like Na⁺, K⁺ or NH ₄ ⁺ were not required for activity. The enzyme was inhibited by Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, ADP, coenzyme A and succinate. Avidin did not inhibit the enzyme activity, indicating that biotin is not involved in decarboxylation of OAA. Analysis of the kinetic properties revealed a K _m for OAA of 2.1 mM and a K _m of 1.2 mM for Mn²⁺. The V _max was 158 µmol of OAA converted per min per mg of protein, which corresponds to an apparent k _cat of 311 s^–1.Abbreviations OAA oxaloacetate - LDH lactate dehydrogenase     

Characterization of microsomal ATPases from developing human placenta

Activities and some properties of microsomal ATPases have been studied in developing human placenta. The enzyme activities (Na⁺ + K⁺ + Mg²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Ca²⁺ dependent) in the placenta increase steadily with gestational age until the 18th to 21st week, and decrease in the second half of pregnancy. Mg²⁺-dependent and Na⁺ + K⁺ + Mg²⁺-dependent ATPases possess nearly the same K_m (apparent) for ATP, while the Ca²⁺-dependent enzyme shows a different one. Mg²⁺-dependent ATPase shows higher substrate affinity than Ca²⁺-dependent ATPase, although the V_max of the Mg²⁺-dependent enzyme is lower than that of the latter. However, for each enzyme, the K_m remains almost constant and V_max varies during ontogenic development. V_max of the enzymes decline at term. The enzymes are heat-labile, unaffected by amino acids, namely, l-phenylalanine, l-leucine, and l-tryptophan, and deoxycholate inhibits the enzyme activities by about 50%.