The synthesis of deuterium-substituted, spin-labeled analogues of AMP and NAD+ and their use in ESR studies of lactate dehydrogenase

Two spin-labeled analogues of AMP and NAD+ were synthesized, in which a perdeuterated nitroxide radical (4-amino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl, TEMPAMINE) was attached to C-6 or C-8 position of the adenine ring. The ESR spectra of these derivatives exhibit a 4-fold increase in sensitivity and a concomitant decrease in line-width as compared to the corresponding protonated analogues. The improved resolution of composite spectra consisting of freely tumbling and immobilized components is demonstrated in ternary complexes of the spin-labeled NAD+ derivatives with lactate dehydrogenase (L-lactate:NAD+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.27) and oxalate.     

Choline analogues: their use in studies of acetylcholine synthesis, storage, and release

The objective of this article is to illustrate how choline analogues might provide insight into mechanisms that regulate the synthesis, storage, and release of acetylcholine (ACh). Studies with false neurotransmitters provide information about the origin of releasable transmitter. Thus, false esters that distribute like ACh to vesicle-bound stores are as releasable as is ACh, but esters that poorly localize to synaptic vesicles are poorly releasable. Studies of choline analogue uptake provide information about the structural specificity of that transport process and, also, show that choline uptake is regulated in response to activity. Thus, stimuli that normally release transmitter increase the rate of choline transport, presumably to provide more precursor for ACh synthesis. However, the relationship between precursor delivery and product formed can be dissociated, suggesting that some factor in addition to choline delivery is involved in ACh synthesis regulation. Studies with a compound (AH5183), which inhibits ACh uptake by synaptic vesicles, provide information about the relationship of ACh stores and releasable transmitter. In the presence of AH5183 some 15% of nerve terminal ACh is released in response to nerve impulses, suggesting the existence of a small population of vesicles that contain readily releasable ACh. In presence of AH5183, ACh synthesis is activated even when ACh release is depressed, showing that transmitter synthesis can be regulated by some factor other than nerve terminal ACh levels.     

Synthesis of spin-labeled photoaffinity derivatives of NAD+ and their interaction with lactate dehydrogenase

The synthesis of NAD+ derivatives spin-labeled at either N6 or C8 of the adenine ring is described, in which the carboxamide function of the nicotinamide moiety is replaced by a diazirine ring. Irradiation of these compounds at 350 nm generates a carbene which will react with any functional group in its vicinity including hydrocarbons. Both NAD+ derivatives form tight ternary complexes with lactate dehydrogenase and were covalently incorporated into this enzyme. They may be employed for ESR studies when non-covalent interactions are too weak for motionally restricted species to be observed.     

The nature of the substrate inhibition in lactate dehydrogenases as studied by a spin-labeled derivative of NAD.

The formation of the ternary complex of lactate dehydrogenase (L-lactate:NAD+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.27) from pig heart and skeletal muscle with the adduct of pyruvate to NAD", spin-labeled at N6 was studied by ultraviolet spectroscopy and ESR techniques. According to ultraviolet measurements we found identical binding characteristics for the natural coenzyme and its spin-labeled analog. The rate by which the ESR signal of free spin-labeled NAD+ decreased upon addition of pyruvate to the binary complexes was substantially different in the two isozymes. With the heart type an initial drop followed by a further linear decrease, zero order in the enzyme and coenzyme concentration was observed. In case of the skeletal muscle isozyme no immediate reaction and a first order process occurred. The initial reaction can be attributed to a non-covalent enzyme/spin-labeled NAD+/pyruvate complex with a dissociation constant for pyruvate of 11 +/- 1 mM, thus explaining the well-known substrate inhibition in the heart isozyme above 2 mM pyruvate. The further reaction is then determined by the buffer dependent enolization of pyruvate. In the muscle isozyme formation of the covalent adduct is not assisted by prior binding of pyruvate in a non-covalent ternary complex and therefore the rate depends on the binary complex concentration.     

Interactions and spatial arrangement of spin-labeled NAD+ bound to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Comparison of EPR and X-ray modeling data

The spatial arrangement of coenzyme NAD+ in remote and adjacent binding sites in various stoichiometric complexes with tetrameric glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase from rabbit muscle was examined via EPR spectroscopy. An adenosine N6-15N,2H17 spin-labeled derivative of coenzyme NAD+ (SL-NAD+) was chemically synthesized for this work. The spectral simplifications and narrow line widths afforded by 15N and 2H substitution enabled experimental EPR spectra to be deconvoluted into their three component spectra: (a) unbound coenzyme, (b) bound coenzyme without adjacent site occupied, and (c) bound coenzyme with adjacent site occupied. Binding of SL-NAD+ in adjacent active centers of R axis-related subunits resulted in resolved dipolar interactions which characterized intersubunit distances. Binding to distant subunits related by the P and Q axes gave no dipolar interaction. Once the first NAD+ site was occupied, EPR spectra at various stoichiometries provided evidence for nonpreferential spatial binding of SL-NAD+ to the three unoccupied sites. EPR spectral simulations indicated a separation of 12.8 A for the unpaired electrons of spin label moieties of R axis-related coenzymes. Molecular modeling based on x-ray crystallographic data predicted 11-13 A. The angles and distance relating to interacting spin-labels were calculated from atomic coordinates based on molecular modeling of both anti-anti and anti-syn (adenine-ribose) conformations of SL-NAD+. Computer-generated line shapes indicated best agreement with experimental EPR results when the anti-anti geometry was employed. Comparison of EPR spectra from soluble and ammonium sulfate-precipitated enzymes indicated that the NAD+-binding domains are positioned equivalently in the two physical states. Since the observed dipolar line shapes are critically dependent on the distance and geometry relating to the interacting SL-NAD+, these data provide direct evidence for a high degree of conservation of quaternary structure of the enzyme in the hydrated crystalline state. Studies on the enzyme isolated from human erythrocytes also indicated a close correlation with the rabbit muscle enzyme in both the arrangement of NAD+-binding domains and negative cooperativity of coenzyme binding.     

Comparative EPR and fluorescence conformational studies of fully active spin-labeled melanotropic peptides

Similar to melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), its potent and long-acting analogue, [Nle(4), D-Phe(7)]alpha-MSH, when labeled with the paramagnetic amino acid probe 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl-4-amino-4-carboxylic acid (Toac), maintains its full biological potency, thus validating any comparative structural investigations between the two labeled peptides. Correlation times, calculated from the electron paramagnetic resonance signal of Toac bound to the peptides, and Toac-Trp distances, estimated from the Toac fluorescence quenching of the Trp residue present in the peptides, indicate a more rigid and folded structure for the potent analogue as compared to the hormone, in aqueous medium.     

Spatial arrangement of coenzyme and substrates bound to L-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase as studied by spin-labeled analogues of NAD+ and CoA.

The synthesis of nitroxide spin-labeled derivatives of S-acetoacetyl-CoA, S-acetoacetylpantetheine, and S-acetoacetylcysteamine is described. These compounds are active substrates of L-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase [(S)-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA:NAD+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.35] exhibiting vmax values from 20% to 70% of S-acetoacetyl-CoA itself. S-Acetoacetylpantetheine and S-acetoacetylcysteamine form binary complexes with the enzyme and exhibit ESR spectra typical for immobilized nitroxides. In the case of spin-labeled pantetheine, the radical is more mobile. When spin-labeled substrates are bound simultaneously to each active site of this dimeric enzyme, spin-spin interactions differentiate between two alternate orientations of the substrate [Birktoft, J.J., Holden, H.M., Hamlin, R., Xuong, N.H., & Banaszak, L.J. (1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84, 8262-8266]. The fatty acid moiety is thought to be located in a cleft between two domains whereas a large part of the CoA moiety probably extends into the solution. NAD+, spin-labeled at N6 of the adenine ring, is an active coenzyme of L-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (60% vmax). Complexes with the enzyme exhibit ESR spectra typical of highly immobilized nitroxides. Binding of coenzyme NAD+ causes conformational changes of the binary enzyme/substrate complex as revealed by changes in the ESR spectrum of spin-labeled S-acetoacetylpantetheine.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel spin-labeled photoaffinity nonnucleoside analogues of ATP as structural and EPR probes for myosin

Two new spin-labeled photoreactive nonnucleoside ATP analogues, 1-(4-azido-2-nitrophenyl)amino-3-(1-oxyl-2,2,5, 5-tetramethylpyrrolidinyl-3-carbamido)-2-propyl triphosphate (SL-NANTP) and 2-(4-azido-2-nitrophenyl)amino-2,2-(1-oxyl-2,2,6, 6-tetramethyl-4-piperidylidene)di(oxymethylene) ethyl triphosphate (SSL-NANTP), were synthesized and characterized. This study aims to develop a second generation of NANTP-based analogues containing immobile spin labels that can be used to monitor conformational changes in myosin during the contractile cycle of muscle. Previous studies have shown that both a photoaffinity nonnucleoside ATP analogue, 2-[(4-azido-2-nitrophenyl)amino] ethyl triphosphate (NANTP) [Nakamaye et al. (1985) Biochemistry 24, 5226-5235], and a photoaffinity ATP analogue, 3'(2')-O-4-[4-oxo-(4-amino-2,2,6, 6-tetramethyl-piperidino-1-oxyl)-4-benzoyl] benzoyl adenosine 5'-triphosphate (SL-Bz(2)ATP) [Wang et al. (1999) J. Muscle Res. Cell Motil. 20, 743-753], behave like ATP in their interactions with myosin. Remarkably, photolabeled myosin recovers all of its normal enzymatic properties after treatment with actin in the presence of MgATP [Luo et al. (1995) Biochemistry 34, 1978-1987]. For SL-NANTP, the spin label moiety is attached to NANTP via an aminomethyl side chain. In SSL-NANTP, attachment is via a restricted spiro ring. The two new probes interact with myosin subfragment-1 (S1) in a manner analogous to ATP, and after photoincorporation, labeled S1 recovers full activity after treatment with actin and MgATP. The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum resulting from S1 photolabeled with SL-NANTP shows a very high degree of probe mobility. However, the EPR spectrum of S1 photolabeled with SSL-NANTP shows that the probe is highly immobilized with respect to S1, constrained to move within a cone of angle 52 degrees (full-width, half-max). Unlike the parent, NANTP, which photolabels on the 23 kDa tryptic fragment of S1, SSL-NANTP photolabels on the 20 kDa fragment. Its highly immobile nature means that it is potentially a useful reporter group to monitor cross-bridge motion in muscle fibers.     

Covalent fixation of NAD+ to dehydrogenases and properties of the modified enzymes

Starting from 6-chloropurine riboside and NAD+, different reactive analogues of NAD+ have been obtained by introducing diazoniumaryl or aromatic imidoester groups via flexible spacers into the nonfunctional adenine moiety of the coenzyme. The analogues react with different amino-acid residues of dehydrogenases and form stable amidine or azobridges, respectively. After the formation of a ternary complex by the coenzyme, the enzyme and a pseudosubstrate, the reactive spacer is anchored in the vicinity of the active site. Thus, the coenzyme remains covalently attached to the protein even after decomposition of the complex. On addition of substrates the covalently bound coenzyme is converted to the dihydro-form. In enzymatic tests the modified dehydrogenases show 80-90% of the specific activity of the native enzymes, but they need remarkably higher concentrations of free NAD+ to achieve these values. The dihydro-coenzymes can be reoxidized by oxidizing agents like phenazine methosulfate or by a second enzyme system. Various systems for coenzyme regeneration were investigated; the modified enzymes were lactate dehydrogenase from pig heart and alcohol dehydrogenase from horse liver; the auxiliary enzymes were alcohol dehydrogenase from yeast and liver, lactate dehydrogenase from pig heart, glutamate dehydrogenase and alanine dehydrogenase. Lactate dehydrogenase from heart muscle is inhibited by pyruvate. With alanine dehydrogenase as the auxiliary enzyme, the coenzyme is regenerated and the reaction product, pyruvate, is removed. This system succeeds to convert lactate quantitatively to L-alanine. The thermostability of the binary enzyme systems indicates an interaction of covalently bound coenzymes with both dehydrogenases; both binding sites seem to compete for the coenzyme. The comparison of dehydrogenases with different degrees of modifications shows that product formation mainly depends on the amount of incorporated coenzyme.     

Binding of a spin-labeled phenylalanine analog to sickle hemoglobin: EPR and NMR studies

We have synthesized a spin-label analog of phenylalanine as a competitive inhibitor probe of the sickle hemoglobin aggregation process. Sickle hemoglobin gelation measurements indicate that the spin-label phenylalanine analog is a potent inhibitor of deoxy sickle hemoglobin aggregation. We have also used spin label EPR and high-resolution proton NMR to study the interaction of the phenylalanine analog with hemoglobin, and find that the kinetic off-rate is comparable to, or slower than the hemoglobin rotational rate (i.e., greater than or equal to 10(8) s-1), and that at least one, and perhaps two significant localized interaction region(s) exist within a few angstroms of the beta chain N- and C-termini. Correlation with other known structural information suggests that the observed interaction sites may be relevant to the mechanism for inhibition of sickle hemoglobin aggregation.     

Coenzymatic properties of low molecular-weight and macromolecular N6-derivatives of NAD+ and NADP+ with dehydrogenases of interest for organic synthesis.

The catalytic activity, expressed as Km and Vmax values, of 16 enzymes of practical interest with the macromolecular coenzymes poly(ethylene glycol)-N6-(2-aminoethyl)-NAD+ and poly(ethylene glycol)-N6-(2-aminoethyl)-NADP+ and their low molecular weight precursors N6-(2-aminoethyl)-NAD+ and N6-(2-aminoethyl)-NADP+, was investigated. The enzymes examined are of direct interest for organic synthesis (i.e. alcohol dehydrogenase from yeast, horse liver, or Thermoanaerobium brockii, lactic dehydrogenase, and several hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases) or are used for the regeneration of NAD+, NADP+, NADH, or NADPH (i.e. glutamate dehydrogenase from liver or Proteus, formate dehydrogenase, glucose dehydrogenase, and malic enzyme). The cycling efficiency of poly(ethylene glycol)-N6-(2-aminoethyl)-NADP+ was examined with coupled-enzymes or coupled-substrates systems. Poly(ethylene glycol)-N6-(2-aminoethyl)-NAD+ and, even more so, poly(ethylene glycol)-N6-(2-aminoethyl)-NADP+ were excellent coenzymes with several dehydrogenases. In addition, the coenzymatic properties of N6-(3-sulfonatopropyl)-NAD+, an NAD+ derivative carrying a strong anionic group, were compared with those of the newly synthesized N6-(2-hydroxy-3-trimethylammonium propyl)-NAD+, an NAD+ derivative carrying a strong cationic group. It was expected that the presence of the sulfonic or quaternary ammonium group would enhance the residence time of the coenzyme inside continuous-flow reactors if membranes with anionic or cationic groups, respectively, were used.     

Combinatorial synthesis of omega-conotoxin MVIIC analogues and their binding with N- and P/Q-type calcium channels

Omega-conotoxin MVIIC (MVIIC) blocks P/Q-type calcium channels with high affinity and N-type calcium channels with low affinity, while the highly homologous omega-conotoxin MVIIA blocks only N-type calcium channels. We wished to obtain MVIIC analogues more selective for P/Q-type calcium channels than MVIIC to elucidate structural differences among the channels, which discriminate the omega-conotoxins. To prepare a number of MVIIC analogues efficiently, we developed a combinatorial method which includes a random air oxidation step. Forty-seven analogues were prepared in six runs and some of them exhibited higher selectivity for P/Q-type calcium channels than MVIIC in binding assays.     

Pilot scale production and isolation of recombinant NAD+- and NADP+-specific formate dehydrogenases.

The expression of the recombinant wild-type NAD+- and mutant NADP+-dependent formate dehydrogenases (EC 1.2.1.2., FDH) from the methanol-utilizing bacterium Pseudomonas sp. 101 in Escherichia coli cells has been improved to produce active and soluble enzyme up to the level of 50% of total soluble proteins. The cultivation process for E. coli/pFDH8a and E. coli/pFDH8aNP cells was optimized and scaled up to a volume of 100 L. A downstream purification process has been developed to produce technical grade NAD+- and NADP+-specific formate dehydrogenases in pilot scale, utilizing extraction in aqueous two-phase systems.     

Conformational and functional studies of gomesin analogues by CD, EPR and fluorescence spectroscopies

The aim of this work was to examine the bioactivity and the conformational behavior of some gomesin (Gm) analogues in different environments that mimic the biological membrane/water interface. Thus, manual peptide synthesis was performed by the solid-phase method, antimicrobial activity was evaluated by a liquid growth inhibition assay, and conformational studies were performed making use of several spectroscopic techniques: CD, fluorescence and EPR. [TOAC(1)]-Gm; [TOAC(1), Ser(2,6,11,15)]-Gm; [Trp(7)]-Gm; [Ser(2,6,11,15), Trp(7)]-Gm; [Trp(9)]-Gm; and [Ser(2,6,11,15), Trp(9)]-Gm were synthesized and tested. The results indicated that incorporation of TOAC or Trp caused no significant reduction of antimicrobial activity; the cyclic analogues presented a beta-hairpin conformation similar to that of Gm. All analogues interacted with negatively charged SDS both above and below the detergent's critical micellar concentration (cmc). In contrast, while Gm and [TOAC(1)]-Gm required higher LPC concentrations to bind to micelles of this zwitterionic detergent, the cyclic Trp derivatives and the linear derivatives did not seem to interact with this membrane-mimetic system. These data corroborate previous results that suggest that electrostatic interactions with the lipid bilayer of microorganisms play an important role in the mechanism of action of gomesin. Moreover, the results show that hydrophobic interactions also contribute to membrane binding of this antimicrobial peptide.     

Conformational and functional studies of gomesin analogues by CD, EPR and fluorescence spectroscopies

The aim of this work was to examine the bioactivity and the conformational behavior of some gomesin (Gm) analogues in different environments that mimic the biological membrane/water interface. Thus, manual peptide synthesis was performed by the solid-phase method, antimicrobial activity was evaluated by a liquid growth inhibition assay, and conformational studies were performed making use of several spectroscopic techniques: CD, fluorescence and EPR. [TOAC¹]-Gm; [TOAC¹, Ser^2,6,11,15]-Gm; [Trp⁷]-Gm; [Ser^2,6,11,15, Trp⁷]-Gm; [Trp⁹]-Gm; and [Ser^2,6,11,15, Trp⁹]-Gm were synthesized and tested. The results indicated that incorporation of TOAC or Trp caused no significant reduction of antimicrobial activity; the cyclic analogues presented a β-hairpin conformation similar to that of Gm. All analogues interacted with negatively charged SDS both above and below the detergent's critical micellar concentration (cmc). In contrast, while Gm and [TOAC¹]-Gm required higher LPC concentrations to bind to micelles of this zwitterionic detergent, the cyclic Trp derivatives and the linear derivatives did not seem to interact with this membrane-mimetic system. These data corroborate previous results that suggest that electrostatic interactions with the lipid bilayer of microorganisms play an important role in the mechanism of action of gomesin. Moreover, the results show that hydrophobic interactions also contribute to membrane binding of this antimicrobial peptide.     

EPR studies on two ferredoxin-type iron-sulfur centers in reconstitutively active, inactive, and reactivated soluble succinate dehydrogenases

Two distinct iron-sulfur centers, S-1 and S-2 are present in both reconstitutively active and inactive soluble succinate dehydrogenase preparations in approximately equivalent concentrations to that of bound flavin. The midpoint potentials at pH 7.4 of these centers are ?5 ± 15 mV and ?400 ± 15 mV, respectively. EPR characteristics of Center S-2, observed above 6° K, are not significantly different in the active and inactive dehydrogenases. At lower temperatures, however, major line shape modifications of Center S-2 spectra are observed in the reconstitutively inactive dehydrogenases, but neither in the active dehydrogenase nor in the particulate preparations. This phenomenon may reflect spin-spin interaction between Centers S-1 and S-2. Chemical reactivation of the reconstitutively inactive preparations abolishes this resonance modification and restores the normal line shape. This is a demonstration of another close correlation between a physical property and reconstitutive activity of succinate dehydrogenase.     

The binding of spin-labeled derivatives of NAD+ and its structural components to pig skeletal muscle lactate dehydrogenase.

The binding of spin-labeled derivatives of NAD+ and its structural components to pig skeletal muscle lactate dehydrogenase (L-lactate:NAD+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.27) is described. In contrast to results previously obtained with the heart muscle isozyme (Wenzel, H.R., Pfleiderer, G., Trommer, W.E., Paschenda, K. and Redhardt, A. (1976) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 452,292--301), no significant increase is observed in the binding constant of N6-SL-ADP as compared N6-SL-AMP. This different behavior can be explained by the substitution of glutamine-31 for alanine in the muscle isozyme, which has been proposed to account for the the tighter binding of NADH to the heart type. In both isozymes the binding of the binding of the spin-labeled coenzyme itself is weaker than found for its structural components.     

Properties and synthesis regulation of NAD(P)H dehydrogenases from Rhodobacter capsulatus

Three NAD(P)H dehydrogenases were found and purified from a soluble fraction of cells of the purple non-sulfur bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus, strain B10. Molecular mass of NAD(P)H, NADPH and NADH dehydrogenases are 67 000 (4 · 18 000), 35 000 and 39 000, and the isoelectric points are 4.6, 4.3 and 4.5, respectively. NAD(P)H dehydrogenase is characterized by a higher sensitivity to quinacrine, NADPH dehydrogenase by its sensitivity to p-chloromercuribenzoate and NADH dehydrogenase by its sensitivity to sodium arsenite. In contrast to the other two enzymes, NAD(P)H dehydrogenase is capable of oxidizing NADPH as well as NADH, but the ratio of their oxidation rates depends on the pH. All NAD(P)H dehydrogenases reacted with ferricyanide, 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol, benzoquinone and naphthoquinone, but did not exhibit transhydrogenase, reductase or oxidase activity. Moreover, NADH dehydrogenase was also capable of reducing FAD and FMN. NAD(P)H and NADH dehydrogenases possessed cytochrome-c reductase activity, which was stimulated by menadione and ubiquinone Q₁. The activity of NAD(P)H and NADH dehydrogenases depended on culture-growth conditions. The activity of NAD(P)H dehydrogenase from cells grown under chemoheterotrophic aerobic conditions was the lowest and it increased notably under photoheterotrophic anaerobic conditions upon lactate or malate growth limitation. The activity of NADH dehydrogenase was higher from the cells grown under photoheterotrophic anaerobic conditions upon nitrate growth limitation and under chemoheterotrophic aerobic conditions. NADPH dehydrogenase synthesis dependence on R. capsulatus growth conditions was insignificant.