Rat hepatic microsomal acetoacetyl-CoA reductase. A beta-ketoacyl-CoA reductase distinct from the long chain beta-ketoacyl-CoA reductase component of the microsomal fatty acid chain elongation system

The present study provides evidence for a new rat liver microsomal enzyme, a short chain beta-ketoacyl (acetoacetyl)-CoA reductase, which is separate from the long chain beta-ketoacyl-CoA reductase component of the microsomal fatty acid chain elongation system. This microsomal reductase converts acetoacetyl-CoA to beta-hydroxybutyryl-CoA at a rate of 70 nmol/min/mg of protein; the enzyme has a specific requirement for NADH and appears to obtain electrons directly from the reduced pyridine nucleotide without the intervention of cytochrome b5 and its flavoprotein reductase. The apparent Km of the enzyme of the acetoacetyl-CoA was 21 microM and for the cofactor, 18 microM. The pH optimum was broad, ranging from 6.5 to 8.0. The product formed is the D-isomer of beta-hydroxybutyryl-CoA. High carbohydrate fat-free diet resulted in a small but significant (35%) increase in microsomal acetoacetyl-CoA reductase activity. The cytosol also contains this enzyme activity, measuring approximately 57% of that found in the microsomes. The mitochondrial activity which is 20-25% higher than the microsomal activity appears to be due to L-beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase which converts acetoacetyl-CoA to L-beta-hydroxybutyryl-CoA. The microsomal acetoacetyl-CoA reductase activity was extracted from the microsomal membrane by 0.4 M KCl, resulting in an 8- to 10-fold purification; in addition, the long chain fatty acid elongation system was unaffected by this extraction procedure. Employing beta- hydroxyhexanoyl -CoA as a substrate, evidence is also provided for a separate dehydratase which acts on short chain substrates. Lastly, the liver microsomes had no detectable acetoacetyl-CoA synthetase or acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase activities. Hence, the possible involvement of the rat hepatic microsomal short chain beta-ketoacyl-CoA reductase, short chain beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydratase, and the previously reported short chain trans-2-enoyl-CoA reductase in the hepatic utilization of acetoacetyl-CoA and in the synthesis of butyryl-CoA for hepatic lipogenesis is discussed.     

Purification and characterization of NADP-linked acetoacetyl-CoA reductase from Zoogloea ramigera I-16-M

An NADP-linked acetoacetyl-CoA reductase was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity from Zoogloea ramigera I-16-M, a poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)-accumulating bacterium. The purified enzyme showed specific activity of 412 mumol acetoacetyl-CoA reduced per min per mg protein, which constituted an 880-fold purification compared to the crude extract, with a 32% yield. Electrophoretic analysis of the purified enzyme which had been cross-linked with dimethylsuberimidate showed that the native enzyme (Mr 92,000) is a tetramer of four identical subunits (Mr 25,500). Among the various D-(-)- and L-(+)-3-hydroxyacyl-CoAs tested, the purified enzyme oxidized only D-(-)-3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA and to a lesser extent D-(-)-3-hydroxyvaleryl-CoA in the presence of NADP+. The antiserum prepared against the purified enzyme completely inhibited poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) synthesis from acetyl-CoA by a crude extract of Z. ramigera I-16-M cells. These findings indicate that this enzyme plays an indispensable role as the supplier of D-(-)-3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA in poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) synthesis in this bacterium.     

Glyoxysomal acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase and 3-oxoacyl-CoA thiolase from sunflower cotyledons

Following chromatography on hydroxyapatite, the elution profile of the thiolase activity of the glyoxysomal fraction from sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cotyledons exhibited two peaks when the enzyme activity was assayed with acetoacetyl-CoA as substrate. Only one of these two activity peaks was detectable when a long-chain thiolase substrate was used in the activity assay. The proteins (thiolase I and thiolase II) underlying the two activity peaks detected with acetoacetyl-CoA were of glyoxysomal origin. They were purified using glyoxysomal matrices as starting material, and biochemically characterized. Thiolase I is an acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase (EC 2.3.1.9) exhibiting activity only towards acetoacetyl-CoA (Km = 11 microM). Its contribution to the total glyoxysomal thiolytic activity towards acetoacetyl-CoA amounted to about 15%. Thiolase II is a 3-oxoacyl-CoA thiolase (EC 2.3.1.16). The activity of the enzyme towards 3-oxoacyl-CoAs increased with increasing chain length of the substrate. Thiolase II exhibited a Km value of 27 microM with acetoacetyl-CoA as substrate. and Km values between 3 and 7 microM with substrates having a carbon chain length from 6 to 16 carbon atoms. The thiolase activity of the glyoxysomes towards acetoacetyl-CoA and 3-oxopalmitoyl-CoA exceeded the glyoxysomal butyryl-CoA and palmitoyl-CoA beta-oxidation rates, respectively, by about 10-fold at all substrate concentrations employed (1-15 microM).     

Ketopantoic acid reductase of Pseudomonas maltophilia 845. Purification, characterization, and role in pantothenate biosynthesis

Ketopantoic acid reductase (EC 1.1.1.169), an enzyme that catalyzes the formation of D-(-)-pantoic acid from ketopantoic acid, was purified 6,000-fold to apparent homogeneity with a 35% overall recovery from Pseudomonas maltophilia 845 and then crystallized. The relative molecular mass of the native enzyme, as estimated by the sedimentation equilibrium method, is 87,000 +/- 5,000, and the subunit molecular mass is 30,500. The enzyme shows high specificity for ketopantoic acid as a substrate (Km = 400 microM, Vm = 1,310 units/mg of protein) and NADPH as a coenzyme (Km = 31.8 microM). Only 2-keto-3-hydroxyisovalerate (Km = 8.55 mM, Vm = 35.8 units/mg) was reduced among a variety of other carbonyl compounds tested. The reaction is reversible (Km for D-(-)-pantoic acid = 52.1 mM), although the reaction equilibrium greatly favors the direction of D-(-)-pantoic acid formation. That the enzyme is responsible for the synthesis of D-(-)-pantoic acid necessary for the biosynthesis of pantothenic acid in P. maltophilia 845 is indicated by the observations that only this enzyme is missing in D-(-)-pantoate (or pantothenate)-requiring mutants derived from P. maltophilia 845 among several enzymes (i.e. ketopantoyl lactone reductase (EC 1.1.1.168) and acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase (EC 1.1.1.86], which may be concerned in the formation of D-(-)-pantoic acid, assayed, whereas it is present in substantial amounts in the parent strain and in spontaneous revertants of the mutants.     

The effect of several 2-alkyl- and 4'-O-methylanalogs of pyridoxol on mouse liver pyridoxal kinase activity]

A simple method of isolation of partially purified puridoxal kinase preparation from mouse liver, having specific activity of 600-700 E/mg protein and a 30% yield is described. It is demonstrated that of all number of 2-alkyl- and 4'-O-methyl pyridoxol analogs synthesized, 4'-O-methyl-pyridoxol (Ki=0.2-10(-5) M, Km(pyridoxal)=4-10(-5) M) is the most active competitive inhibitor of pyridoxal kinase. 3-Deoxy-4'-O-methylpyridoxol is a non-competitive inhibitor of pyridoxal kinase, the latter having an affinity for the enzyme 16 times lower than that of 4'-O-methylpyridoxol. 2-Alkyl analogs of pyridoxol exhibit properties of competitive inhibitors; the affinity of 2'-ethylpyridoxol for the enzyme is 5 times lower than that of 2'-methylpyridoxol; corresponding 2-alkyl derivatives of dimethyl ethers of 3-hydroxycinchomeronic acids have no pronounced affinity for the enzyme. The study of the toxic effects of pyridoxol analogs on the central nervous system has revealed inverse dependence between the neurotoxic dose of the compound and its efficiency as an inhibitor of pyridoxal kinase (Km/Ki value).     

D-(+)-lactate dehydrogenase from Lactobacillus murinus

D-(+)-Lactate dehydrogenase from Lactobacillus murinus was purified 670-fold. The Mr was 140,000 as determined by gel filtration. Maximum enzymatic activity was observed at 25 degrees C and pH 6.0 in 200 mM Na2KPO4 buffer. When the temperature was increased from 60 to 65 degrees C, the enzyme was completely inactive in 5 min. The apparent Km for pyruvate and NADH were 4.7 x 10(-4) and 1 x 10(-5) M, respectively. Pyruvate analogs such as oxalate, oxamate, 2-oxobutyrate, and malonate acted as a competitive inhibitors. L-Lactate and L-malate were noncompetitive inhibitors.     

N-glycohydrolysis of adenosine diphosphoribosyl arginine linkages by dinitrogenase reductase activating glycohydrolase (activating enzyme) from Rhodospirillum rubrum

The reaction catalyzed by the activating enzyme for dinitrogenase reductase from Rhodospirillum rubrum has been studied using an ADP-ribosyl hexapeptide, obtained from proteolysis of inactive dinitrogenase reductase, and synthetic analogs such as N alpha-dansyl-N omega-ADP-ribosylarginine methyl ester. The activating enzyme catalyzed N-glycohydrolysis of the ribosyl-guanidinium linkage releasing ADP-ribose and regenerating an unmodified arginyl guanidinium group. Optimal glycohydrolysis of the low molecular weight substrates occurred at pH 6.6 and required 1 mM MnCl2, but did not require ATP. The ADP-ribosyl hexapeptide (Km 11 microM), N alpha-dansyl-N omega-ADP-ribosylarginine methyl ester (Km 12 microM), N alpha-dansyl-N omega-ADP-ribosylarginine (Km 12 microM), N alpha-dansyl-N omega-1,N6-etheno-ADP-ribosylarginine methyl ester (Km 11 microM), and N alpha-dansyl-N omega-GDP-ribosylarginine methyl ester (Km 11 microM) were comparable substrates. N omega-ADP-ribosylarginine (Km 2 mM) was a poor substrate, and the activating enzyme did not catalyze N-glycohydrolysis of N alpha-dansyl-N omega-5'-phosphoribosylarginine methyl ester or N alpha-dansyl-N omega-ribosylarginine methyl ester. 13C NMR of N alpha-tosyl-N omega-ADP-ribosylarginine methyl ester established that the activating enzyme specifically hydrolyzed the alpha-ribosyl-guanidinium linkage. The beta-linked anomer was hydrolyzed only after anomerization to the alpha configuration. We recommend [arginine(N omega-ADP-alpha-ribose)]dinitrogenase reductase N-glycohydrolase (dinitrogenase reductase activating) and dinitrogenase reductase activating glycohydrolase as the systematic and working names for the activating enzyme.     

Flavin mononucleotide reductase of luminous bacteria

NAD(P)H: FMN oxidoreductase (flavin reductase) couples in vitro to bacterial luciferase. This reductase, which is also postulated to supply reduced flavin mononucleotide in vivo as a substrate for the bioluminescent reaction, has been partially purified and characterized from two species of luminous bacterial. From Photobacterium fischeri the enzyme has a M. W. determined by Sephadex gel filtration, of 43,000 and may have a subunit structure. The turnover number at 20 degrees C, based on a purity estimate of 20 percent, is 1.7 times 10-4 moles of NADH oxidized per min per mole of reductase. The reductase isolated from Beneckea harveyi has an apparent molecular weight of 23,000; its purity was too low to permit estimation of specific activity. Using a spectrophotometric assay at 340 nm with the P. fischeri reductase, both NADH (Km, 8 times 10-5 M) and NADPH (Km, 4 times 10-4 M) were enzymatically oxidized, the Vmax with NADH being approximately twice that of NADPH. Of the flavins tested in this assay, only FMN (Km, 7.3 times 10-5 M) and FAD (Km, 1.4 times 10-4 M) were effective, FMN having a Vmax three times that of FAD. In the coupled assay, i.e., measuring the bioluminescence intensity of the reaction with added luciferase, the optimum FMN concentration was nearly 100 times less than in the spectrophotometric assay. The studies reported suggest the existence of a functional reductase-luciferase complex.     

Regulation of 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 production by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 and synthetic human parathyroid hormone fragment 1-34 in a cloned monkey kidney cell line (JTC-12)

Regulation of 25-hydroxyvitamin D-3 24-hydroxylase by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 and synthetic human parathyroid hormone fragment 1-34 (PTH1-34) was investigated using a cloned monkey kidney cell line, JTC-12. Treatment of the cells with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 markedly enhanced the conversion of [3H]-25-hydroxyvitamin D-3 into a more polar metabolite. The metabolite was identified as 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 by normal phase and reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography and periodate oxidation. The 24-hydroxylase activity appeared to follow Michaelis-Menten kinetics, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 treatment increased the Vmax of 24-hydroxylase from 33 to 95 pmol/h per 10(6) cells without affecting the apparent Km value of the enzyme (220 nM in control vs. 205 nM in 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 treated cells). The enzyme activity reached a maximum between 4 and 8 h of treatment with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3. The dose of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 required to cause a half-maximal stimulation was about 3 X 10(-10) M. The 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3-induced increase in 24-hydroxylase was almost completely inhibited by the presence of 1 microM cycloheximide. Treatment of the cells with PTH1-34 caused a dose-dependent increase in cyclic AMP production. Half-maximal stimulation of cyclic AMP production was obtained at about 5 X 10(-9) M PTH1-34. When 2.4 X 10(-9) M PTH1-34 was added after 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 treatment, the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3-stimulated 24-hydroxylase was inhibited to 70.7 +/- 2.9% of control. Higher concentrations of PTH1-34 caused less inhibition of the enzyme activity. When cyclic AMP was added instead of PTH1-34, the enzyme activity was also suppressed significantly. These results indicate that, in JTC-12 cells, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 stimulates 24-hydroxylase in a dose- and time-dependent manner by increasing the Vmax of the enzyme through a mechanism dependent upon new protein synthesis, and suggest that PTH1-34 inhibits the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3-induced stimulation of 24-hydroxylase through its effect on cyclic AMP production.     

Isolation of rat liver microsomal short-chain beta-ketoacyl-coenzyme A reductase and trans-2-enoyl-coenzyme A hydratase: evidence for more than one hydratase

An enzyme preparation (IIIB) isolated from liver microsomes of untreated male rats was found to contain two activities--short-chain trans-2-enoyl-CoA hydratase and beta-ketoacyl-CoA reductase. The hydratase was purified more than 1000-fold, while the reductase activity was purified over 600-fold. Employing sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, a single band with a molecular weight of 76,000 was observed. Although attempts to separate these two activities have failed, it remains to be established whether the final preparation contains a single enzyme with two activities or two separate enzymes. The hydratase was most active toward crotonyl-CoA, followed by trans-2-hexenoyl-CoA (6:1) and -octenoyl-CoA (8:1); the enzyme was essentially inactive toward substrates containing more than eight carbon atoms. The Vmax for crotonyl-CoA was 2117 mumol/min/mg protein, while the Km was 59 microM. Using acetoacetyl-CoA as substrate, the Vmax for the beta-ketoacyl-CoA reductase was over 60 mumol/min/mg protein and the Km was 37 microM; the Vmax for beta-ketopalmitoyl-CoA was only 15% of that observed with acetoacetyl-CoA, although the Km was 6 microM. During the course of purification, a second short-chain hydratase was discovered (fraction IVA); unlike IIIB, this fraction catalyzed the hydration of 4:1, 6:1, and 8:1 at similar rates. The partially purified preparation yielded maximal activity with 8:1 CoA (apparent Vmax 35 mumol/min/mg), followed by 6:1 CoA, 4:1 CoA, and 10:1 CoA; longer chain CoA's were relatively poor substrates, with trans-2-hexadecenoyl CoA about 0.1 as active as 8:1 CoA. On SDS-gels, fraction IVA contained four bands, all of which were below 60,000 Mr. Proteases, such as trypsin, chymotrypsin, and subtilisin, were found to completely inactivate both enzyme fractions.     

The relation of acyl transfer to the overall reaction of thiolase I from porcine heart

Thiolase I (long chain 3-ketoacyl-CoA-specific) from porcine heart has been characterized kinetically. In the direction of acetoacetyl-CoA cleavage, a variety of thiols including CoASH show the same Vmax at saturating concentrations of acetoacetyl-CoA. At a constant overall velocity of acetoacetyl-CoA disappearance, one of the two acetyl groups from acetoacetyl-CoA will partition between CoASH and 2-mercaptoethanol at increasing 2-mercaptoethanol concentrations. These observations suggest rate-determining formation of an acetyl enzyme intermediate in the direction of acetoacetyl-CoA cleavage. In the direction of acetoacetyl-CoA formation from two molecules of acetyl-CoA, the Vmax of acetoacetyl-CoA formation is identical with the Vmax for an acetyl-CoA in equilibrium CoA isotope exchange reaction and the Vmax for an enzyme-catalyzed acetyl transfer reaction between acetyl-CoA and 2-mercaptoethanol. This suggests that in the direction of acetoacetyl-CoA synthesis, the acetyl transfer half-reaction is rate-limiting. The acetyl intermediate has been isolated and characterized. The equilibrium constant for acetyl enzyme formation from acetyl-CoA and free enzyme is 1 +/- 0.5 X 10(-2). The rate constant for spontaneous hydrolysis of the acetyl enzyme (2.6 X 10(-4) s-1) is a factor of 400 faster than the rate constant for acetyl-CoA hydrolysis under comparable conditions. The acetyl enzyme is thermodynamically and kinetically destabilized compared to acetyl-CoA.     

Metabolism of synthetic inositol trisphosphate analogs

A series of synthetic analogs was employed to explore structure-activity relationships in the metabolism of the second messenger inositol trisphosphate (IP3) in vascular tissue. Cytosolic IP3-5-phosphatase activity was purified approximately 240-fold from bovine aorta. All synthetic analogs tested were apparent competitive inhibitors of the 5-phosphatase activity. The order of potency was DL-1,3,4,5-IP3 greater than D-1,4,5-IP3 greater than DL-1,3,4-IP3 greater than L-1,4,5-IP3 greater than 1,3,5-IP3 greater than DL-6-methoxy-1,4,5-IP3 greater than DL-2,4,5-IP3 greater than DL-1,2,4-cyclohexane-P3. The least potent analogs had Ki values only 11 times higher than the apparent Km of the substrate D-1,4,5-[3H]IP3. However, only three synthetic compounds, DL-1,3,4,5-IP4, D-1,4,5-IP3, and DL-2,4,5-IP3, could serve as substrates for the 5-phosphatase. IP3 kinase activity in the same tissue exhibited considerably more selectivity with respect to inhibition by IP3 analogs. D-1,4,5-IP3 was about 30 times more potent than DL-1,3,4,5-IP4 and 100-1000 times more potent than the other compounds tested. The function of the IP3 receptor was evaluated by measuring labeled calcium mobilization in permeabilized bovine aortic smooth muscle cells in culture. While all analogs tested were full agonists, vast differences in potency were observed. D-1,4,5-IP3 was about 30 times more potent than DL-2,4,5-IP3 and 100-2000 times more potent than the other analogs tested. The results suggest that IP3-5-phosphatase activity is relatively nonselective in the binding of inositol polyphosphates, while IP3 kinase activity and the IP3 receptor exhibit great selectivity in the recognition of these compounds.     

Properties of 2,5-diamino-4-oxy-6-ribosylaminopyrimidine-5'- phosphate reductase, a enzyme of the second stage of flavinogenesis in Pichia guilliermondii yeasts

2,5-Diamino-4-oxy-6-ribosylaminopyrimidine-5'-phosphate reductase has been isolated from cells of Pichia guilliermondii and subjected to 20-fold purification by treating extracts with streptomycin sulphate, frationating proteins (NH4)2SO4 at 45-75% of saturation and chromatography on blue sepharose CL-6B. The use of gel filtration through Sephadex G-150 and chromatography on DEAE-cellulose proved to be less effective for the enzyme purification. It has been established that it is 2,5-diamino-4-oxy-6-ribosylaminopyrimidine-5-phosphate but not its dephosphorylated form that is the substrate of the given reductase; Km is equal to 7.10(-5) M. The reaction proceeds in the presence of NADPH or NADH. The enzyme affinity to NADPH (Km = 4.7.10(-5) M) is approximately one order higher than that to NADPH (Km = 5.5.10(-4) M). The enzyme manifests the optimum of action at pH 7.2 and the temperature of 37 degrees C; the molecular weight is 140 kD. EDTA as well as flavins in the concentration of 1.10(-3) M exert no effect on the reductase activity. The enzyme is labile at 4 degrees C and is inactivated in the frozen state at -15 degrees C. The 2.5-diamino-4-oxy-6-ribosylaminopyrimidine-5'-phosphate reductase has been also revealed in Torulopsis candida, Debaryomyces kl?ckeri, Schwanniomyces occidentalis, Eremothecium ashbyii (flavinogenic species) and Candida utilis. Aspergillus nidulans, Neurospora crassa (nonflavinogenic species). The synthesis of this enzyme contrary to other enzymes of the riboflavin biosynthesis is not regulated in flavinogenic yeast by iron ions.     

The regulation of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate metabolism in Azotobacter beijerinckii

1. The enzymes beta-ketothiolase, acetoacetyl-CoA reductase, acetoacetate-succinate CoA-transferase (;thiophorase') and d(-)-3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase have been partially purified from crude extracts of glucose-grown nitrogen-fixing batch cultures of Azotobacter beijerinckii. The condensation of acetyl-CoA to acetoacetyl-CoA catalysed by beta-ketothiolase is inhibited by CoASH, and the reverse reaction is inhibited by acetoacetyl-CoA. Acetoacetyl-CoA reductase has K(m) for acetoacetyl-CoA of 1.8mum and is inhibited by acetoacetyl-CoA above 10mum. The enzyme utilizes either NADH or NADPH as electron donor. The second enzyme of poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate degradation, d(-)-3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, is NAD(+)-specific and is inhibited by NADH, pyruvate and alpha-oxoglutarate. CoA transferase is inhibited by acetoacetate, the product of hydroxybutyrate oxidation. In continuous cultures poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate biosynthesis ceased on relaxation of oxygen-limitation and the rates in situ of oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide evolution of such cultures increased without a concomitant increase in glucose uptake. 2. On the basis of these and other findings a cyclic mechanism for the biosynthesis and degradation of poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate is proposed, together with a regulatory scheme suggesting that poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate metabolism is controlled by the redox state of the cell and the availability of CoASH, pyruvate and alpha-oxoglutarate. beta-Ketothiolase plays a key role in the regulatory process. Similarities to the pathways of poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate biosynthesis and degradation in Hydrogenomonas are discussed.     

Characterization and nucleotide binding properties of a mutant dihydropteridine reductase containing an aspartate 37-isoleucine replacement.

Kinetic constants for the interaction of NADH and NADPH with native rat dihydropteridine reductase (DHPR) and an Escherichia coli expressed mutant (D-37-I) have been determined. Comparison of kcat and Km values measured employing quinonoid 6,7-dimethyldihydropteridine (q-PtH2) as substrate indicate that the native enzyme has a considerable preference for NADH with an optimum kcat/Km of 12 microM-1 s-1 compared with a figure of 0.25 microM-1 s-1 for NADPH. Although the mutant enzyme still displays an apparent preference for NADH (kcat/Km = 1.2 microM-1 s-1) compared with NADPH (kcat/Km = 0.6 microM-1 s-1), kinetic analysis indicates that NADH and NADPH have comparable stickiness in the D-37-I mutant. The dihydropteridine site is less affected, since the Km for q-PtH2 and K(is) for aminopterin are unchanged and the 14-26-fold synergy seen for aminopterin binding to E.NAD(P)H versus free E is decreased by less than 2-fold in the D-37-I mutant. No significant changes in log kcat and log kcat/Km versus pH profiles for NADH and NADPH were seen for the D-37-I mutant enzyme. However, the mutant enzyme is less stable to proteolytic degradation, to elevated temperature, and to increasing concentrations of urea and salt than the wild type. NADPH provides maximal protection against inactivation in all cases for both the native and D-37-I mutant enzymes. Examination of the rat DHPR sequence shows a typical dinucleotide binding fold with Asp-37 located precisely in the position predicted for the acidic residue that participates in hydrogen bond formation with the 2'-hydroxyl moiety of all known NAD-dependent dehydrogenases. This assignment is consistent with x-ray crystallographic results that localize the aspartate 37 carboxyl within ideal hydrogen bonding distance of the 2'- and 3'-hydroxyl moieties of adenosine ribose in the binary E.NADH complex.     

Androgen concentration and partial characterization of 5alpha reductase in the epididymis of the rhesus monkey.

The 5alpha reductase activity ofthe monkey epididymis was studied. The enzyme was found in particulate subcellular fractions, its distribution closely resembling that of the microsomal marker enzyme NADPH: cytochrome c reductase, suggesting an association of 5alpha reductase with membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum. Maximal enzyme activity was found at pH 5.4 and at 32--37 C. The crude nuclear preparation had a Km: 0.315 x 10(-6)M and Vmax: 168 pmoles/mg protein/h. The microsomal enzyme had a Km: 0.243 x 10(-6)M and Vmax: 828 pmoles/mg protein/h. Neither enzyme preparation was affected by addition to the incubation media of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or 5alpha-androstane-3alpha,17beta-diol. The endogenous androgen concentration in the epididymides of 2 different monkeys, in ng/g wet weight was: DHT 20.81 +/- 1.98; T: 9.0L +/- 2.83; diol: 3.03 +/- 0.41.     

Dehydroquinate synthase in Bacillus subtilis. An enzyme associated with chorismate synthase and flavin reductase.

Dehydroquinate synthase, the enzyme which catalyzes the conversion of 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonic acid 7-phosphate (DAHP) to 5-dehydroquinate, has been purified from Bacillus subtilis in association with chorismate synthase and NADPH-dependent flavin reductase. The enzyme was only active when associated with chorismate synthase, whereas the flavin reductase could be separated from the complex with retention of dehydroquinate synthase activity. The enzyme requires NAD and either Co2+ or Mn2+ for maximal activity. The activity was completely inhibited by EDTA. The Km of the enzyme for DAHP, NAD, and Co2+ were estimated to be 1.3 X 10(-4), 5.5 X 10(-5), and 5.5 X 10(-5) M, respectively. Enzyme activity was completely inhibited by NADH and the inhibition was not reversed by the addition of NAD, NADPH and NADP were not inhibitory. The enzyme was unstable to heat and lost all activity at 55 degrees C. A protein fraction which did not adsorb to phosphocellulose was found to inhibit the enzyme.     

Formation of d-3-hydroxybutyryl-coenzyme A by an acetoacetyl-coenzyme A reductase in Syntrophomonas wolfei subsp. wolfei

Cell-free extracts of Syntrophomonas wolfei subsp. wolfei synthesized d-(-)-3-hydroxybutyryl-coenzyme A (CoA) (the stereoisomer required for the synthesis of poly--hydroxyalkanoate) from acetoacetyl-CoA, but not crotonyl-CoA, and NAD(P)H. Ammonium sulfate fractionation and ion exchange chromatography separated an acetoacetyl-CoA reductase activity that formed d-(-)-3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA from the -oxidation enzyme activity, l-(+)-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase. The former activity was further purified by hydroxylapatite and affinity chromatography. The most pure acetoacetyl-CoA reductase preparations formed d-(-)-3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA from acetoacetyl-CoA and had high specific activities using either NADH or NADPH as the electron donor. Thus, S. wolfei makes d-(-)-3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA by an acetoacetyl-CoA reductase rather than by a d-isomer specific enoyl-CoA hydratase and the reducing equivalents required for PHA synthesis from acetoacetyl-CoA can be supplied from the NADH made during -oxidation.     

Stimulation of hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis by fatty acids. Effects of oleate on cytoplasmic acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase, acetoacetyl-CoA synthetase and hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA synthase.

The effects of oleic acid on the activities of cytosolic HMG-CoA (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA) synthase, AcAc-CoA (acetoacetyl-CoA) thiolase and AcAc-CoA synthetase, as well as microsomal HMG-CoA reductase, all enzymes in the pathway of cholesterol biosynthesis, were studied in the isolated perfused rat liver. Oleic acid bound to bovine serum albumin, or albumin alone, was infused for 4 h at a rate sufficient to sustain an average concentration of 0.61 +/- 0.05 mM fatty acid during the perfusion. Hepatic cytosol and microsomal fractions were isolated at the termination of the perfusion. Oleic acid simultaneously increased the activities of the cytosolic cholesterol-biosynthetic enzymes 1.4-2.7-fold in livers from normal fed rats and from animals fasted for 24 h. These effects were accompanied by increased net secretion by the liver of cholesterol and triacylglycerol in the very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). We confirmed the observations reported previously from this laboratory of the stimulation by oleic acid of microsomal HMG-CoA reductase. In cytosols from perfused livers, the increase in AcAc-CoA thiolase activity was characterized by an increase in Vmax. without any change in the apparent Km of the enzyme for AcAc-CoA. In contrast, oleic acid decreased the Km of HMG-CoA synthase for Ac-CoA, without alteration of the Vmax. of the enzyme. The Vmax. of AcAc-CoA synthetase was increased by oleic acid, and there was a trend towards a small increase in the Km of the enzyme for acetoacetate. These data allow us to conclude that the enzymes that supply the HMG-CoA required for hepatic cholesterogenesis are stimulated, as is HMG-CoA reductase, by a physiological substrate, fatty acid, that increases rates of hepatic cholesterol synthesis and cholesterol secretion. Furthermore, we suggest that these effects of fatty acid on hepatic cholesterol metabolism result from stimulation of secretion of triacylglycerol in the VLDL by fatty acids, and the absolute requirement of cholesterol as an important structural surface component of the VLDL necessary for transport of triacylglycerol from the liver.     

Interrelationships between 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase, acetoacetyl-CoA and ketogenesis

Kinetic and physical approaches have been employed to investigate the binding of acetoacetyl-CoA to hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA synthase. The enzyme has an apparent Km for acetoacetyl-CoA (0.35 microM) which is more than an order of magnitude lower than the Ki (6--10 microM) measured for substrate inhibition by this metabolite. Hepatic acetoacetyl-CoA concentration, as measured by a sensitive and highly specific radioactive assay appears to be in the 1--10 microM range; the concentration decreases during diabetic ketoacidosis. Total hepatic activity of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA synthase and levels of mitochondrial enzyme protein, determined by radioimmunoassay, are not appreciably different in livers from control or ketoacidotic animals. In contrast to the decrease in hepatic acetoacetyl-CoA concentration observed during ketoacidosis, myocardial acetoacetyl-CoA levels are increased by at least tenfold when compared to controls. Elevated acetoacetyl-CoA levels may serve to inhibit fatty acid utilization by the heart. Thus, a consideration of the multiple interactions of acetoacetyl-CoA with the enzymes involved in ketone body production and utilization may be useful in evaluating the metabolic significance of this intermediate.