Characterization of recombinant Drosophila melanogaster myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase expressed in Escherichia coli

Cloned myo-inositol-1-phpsphate synthase (INOS) of Drosophila melanogaster was expressed in Escherichia coli, and purified using a His-affinity column. The purified INOS required NAD+ for the conversion of glucose-6-phosphate to inositol-1-phosphate. The optimum pH for myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase is 7.5, and the maximum activity was measured at 40 degrees C. The molecular weight of the native enzyme, as determined by gel filtration, was approximately Mr 271,000 +/- 15,000. A single subunit of approximately Mr 62,000 +/- 5,000 was detected upon SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The Michaelis (Km) and dissociation constants for glucose-6-phosphate were 3.5 and 3.7 mM, whereas for the cofactor NAD+ these were 0.42 and 0.4 mM, respectively.     

Separation of Neurospora crassa myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase from glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase by affinity chromatography

The purification of Neurospora crassa myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase (EC 5.5.1.4) was studied by affinity chromatography using the substrate (glucose-6-phosphate), the inhibitor (pyrophosphate), the coenzyme (NAD+) and the coenzyme analogues (5'AMP and Cibacron Blue F3G-A) of the enzyme as adsorbents attached to agarose gel. Myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase could be separated completely from the contaminating substance, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49), on Blue Sepharose CL-6B and on pyrophosphate-Sepharose. The purified enzyme had a specific activity of 16 400 U/mg. The sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the 60 micrograms of this purified enzyme gave a homogenous band. The enzyme was found to be composed of four identical subunits having a molecular weight of 65 000.     

Localization of myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase to the endosperm in developing seeds of Arabidopsis

Expression and localization of myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase (MIPS) in developing seeds of Arabidopsis thaliana was investigated. MIPS is an essential enzyme for production of inositol and inositol phosphates via its circularization of glucose-6-phosphate as the initial step. myo-inositol-6-phosphate (InsP(6) or phytic acid) is the predominant form of phosphorus found in seeds and accumulates as a consequence of MIPS action. Three MIPS genes have been identified in Arabidopsis, all of which were expressed not only in siliques but in both leaves and roots. Immunoelectron microscopy using a MIPS antibody showed that MIPS localizes to the cytosol primarily in the endosperm during seed development and not in the embryo. This is consistent with results obtained using fluorescent microscopy and western blot analysis that showed a similar pattern of localization. However, InsP(6), which is the final product of inositol phosphate metabolism, was present mainly in the embryo. This suggests that a complex interaction between the endosperm and embryo occurs during the synthesis and subsequent accumulation of InsP(6) in developing seeds of Arabidopsis.     

A limitation of the continuous spectrophotometric assay for the measurement of myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase activity

Myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase (MIPS) catalyzes the conversion of glucose-6-phosphate to myo-inositol-1-phosphate. The reaction catalyzed by MIPS is the first step in the biosynthesis of inositol and inositol-containing molecules that serve important roles in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Consequently, MIPS is a target for the development of therapeutic agents for the treatment of infectious diseases and bipolar disorder. We recently reported a continuous spectrophotometric method for measuring MIPS activity using a coupled assay that allows the rapid characterization of MIPS in a multiwell plate format. Here we validate the continuous assay as a high-throughput alternative for measuring MIPS activity and report on one limitation of this assay—the inability to examine the effect of divalent metal ions (at high concentrations) on MIPS activity. In addition, we demonstrate that the activity of MIPS from Arabidopsis thaliana is moderately enhanced by the addition Mg²⁺ and is not enhanced by other divalent metal ions (Zn²⁺ and Mn²⁺), consistent with what has been observed for other eukaryotic MIPS enzymes. Our findings suggest that the continuous assay is better suited for characterizing eukaryotic MIPS enzymes that require monovalent cations as cofactors than for characterizing bacterial or archeal MIPS enzymes that require divalent metal ions as cofactors.     

Comparative modeling and virtual screening for the identification of novel inhibitors for myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase

Myo-inositol-1-phosphate (MIP) synthase is a key enzyme in the myo-inositol biosynthesis pathway. Disruption of the inositol signaling pathway is associated with bipolar disorders. Previous work suggested that MIP synthase could be an attractive target for the development of anti-bipolar drugs. Inhibition of this enzyme could possibly help in reducing the risk of a disease in patients. With this objective, three dimensional structure of the protein was modeled followed by the active site prediction. For the first time, computational studies were carried out to obtain structural insights into the interactive behavior of this enzyme with ligands. Virtual screening was carried out using FILTER, ROCS and EON modules of the OpenEye scientific software. Natural products from the ZINC database were used for the screening process. Resulting compounds were docked into active site of the target protein using FRED (Fast Rigid Exhaustive Docking) and GOLD (Genetic Optimization for Ligand Docking) docking programs. The analysis indicated extensive hydrogen bonding network and hydrophobic interactions which play a significant role in ligand binding. Four compounds are shortlisted and their binding assay analysis is underway.     

Molecular characterization of a putative peroxidase gene of Drosophila melanogaster.

We have identified genomic clones and corresponding cDNAs that encode a putative peroxidase of Drosophila melanogaster. The gene (DmPO) appears as a single copy gene located on the third chromosome at position 89 D/E. It is interrupted by seven small introns and one unusually large 5' intron (about 11 kb). Sequence analysis of the cDNA showed an open reading frame of 690 amino acids resulting in a protein of 77 kDa. The deduced amino acid sequence reveals an overall homology to myeloeosinophil and thyroid peroxidase, a human superfamily of peroxidases.     

Investigations on myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase from the wild type and the inositol-dependent mutant of Neurospora crassa.

The inositol-dependent mutant of Neurospora crassa lacks inositol-1-phosphate synthetase activity. This defect can be revorted by the addition of high-molecular DNA isolated from the wild type. To elucidate the biochemical background of inositol dependence, inositol-1-phosphate synthetase was studied. A method has been developed fro the isolation of the enzyme from the wild type strain in 10 mg scale by salt fractionation, gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography. The specific activity of the purified enzyme is 4750 U/mg protein and its purity has increased about 100-fold. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that, in addition to the main enzymatically active band, several accompanying proteins occur in very small amount. The molecular weight of the enzyme is 225,000 daltons. Probably it consists of four subunits, two with a molecular weight of 64,000 daltons and another two of 50,000 daltons. An enzymatically inactive protein has been isolated from the mutant with the same procedure as that of the enzyme; it migrated at gel electrophoreis similarly to the enzyme. It may be supposed that the isolated protein is the defective enzyme molecule.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of a secretory neutral ceramidase of Drosophila melanogaster

We report here the molecular cloning and characterization of the Drosophila neutral ceramidase (CDase). Using the BLAST program, a neutral CDase homologue (AE003774) was found in the Drosophila GenBank and cloned from a cDNA library of Drosophila imaginal discs. The open reading frame of 2,112 nucleotides encoded a polypeptide of 704 amino acids having five putative N-glycosylation sites and a putative signal sequence composed of 23 residues. When a His-tagged CDase was overexpressed in D. melanogaster Schneider's line 2 (S2) cells, the enzyme was continuously secreted into the medium through a vesicular transport system. Treatment of the secretory 86.3-kDa CDase with glycopeptidase F resulted in the generation of a 79.3-kDa protein, indicating that the enzyme is actually glycosylated with N-glycans. The enzyme hydrolyzed various N-acylsphingosines but not galactosylceramide, GM1a or sphingomyelin, and exhibited a peak of activity at pH 6.5-7.5, and thus was classified as a neutral CDase. RNAi for the enzyme remarkably decreased the CDase activity in a cell lysate as well as a culture supernatant of S2 cells mostly at neutral pH, indicating that both activities were derived from the same gene product.     

盐地碱蓬(Suaeda salsa)中SsINPS基因的分子克隆及表达特性分析

肌醇 1 磷酸 (I 1 P)合成酶 (EC5 .5 .1 .4,INPS)是肌醇生物合成中的关键酶 ,催化葡萄糖 6 磷酸 (G 6 P)到I 1 P的反应。从该实验室已构建的NaCl40 0mmol/L处理的盐地碱蓬 (Suaedasal sa)cDNA文库中克隆了肌醇 1 磷酸合成酶的全长cDNA (S .salsamyo inositol 1 phosphatesynthase,SsINPS) ,基因注册号为AF43 3 879。SsINPS全长约 1 986bp ,含有开放式阅读框架 1 5 3 0bp ,3′和 5′的非翻译区分别为 1 3 9bp和 3 1 7bp ;推导的氨基酸序列全长 5 1 0个氨基酸残基 ,分子量约为 5 6 .7kD ,pI值为 5 .3 5。BLAST同源性分析表明 ,该cDNA与已报告的冰叶日中花 (Mesembryanthemumcrys tallinum)的INPS基因同源性最高 ,其中 ,核苷酸水平的同源性为 91 % ,氨基酸水平上的同源性为84%。以SsINPS全长cDNA为探针进行的South ern杂交结果表明 ,SsINPS基因在盐地碱蓬基因组中只有一个拷贝 ;Northern结果表明 ,在盐处理(40 0mmol/L的NaCl)下 ,SsINPS在叶中的表达量有显著的增加。从而说明SsINPS在盐胁迫下是上升调节的     

Purification and characterization of acid phosphatase-1 from Drosophila melanogaster

Acid phosphatase-1 (orthophosphoric monoester phosphohydrolase, acid optimum, EC 3.1.3.2), the major phosphatase in adult Drosophila melanogaster, has been purified to apparent homogeneity. The final product is a glycoprotein homodimer with a subunit molecular weight of about 50,000, as measured by its electrophoretic mobility in denaturing conditions on polyacrylamide gels containing sodium dodecyl sulfate. It has a turnover number of 1720 1-naphthyl phosphate molecules hydrolyzed/s by each acid phosphatase-1 molecule at 37 degrees C, pH 5.0. An average fly contains about 5 ng of enzyme. Pure acid phosphatase-1 displays heterogeneity in isoelectric focusing, with a major band at pH 5.3. The enzyme hydrolyzes a wide variety of phosphate monoesters, including AMP, glucose 6-phosphate, ATP, choline phosphate, or phosphoproteins. The maximum reaction rates are different for all substrates, and some substrates appear to inhibit the reaction at high substrate concentrations. The Michaelis constants for 1-naphthyl phosphate and p-nitrophenyl phosphate are 79 microM and 68 microM, respectively, at pH 5.0 and 37 degrees C. The optimum pH level for 1-naphthyl phosphate is 4.5. Acid phosphatase-1 is inhibited by L(+)-tartrate (but not D(-)-tartrate), phosphate, and fluoride. The reaction rate increases 2.1-fold for every 10 degrees C rise in temperature. Above 48 degrees C, the rate of thermal denaturation is greater than the rate of the enzyme reaction.     

Demonstration of myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase and its assumed defective variant in various Neurospora crassa strains by immunological methods.

Immunological experiments were performed to demonstrate myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase (EC 5.5.1.4) and its assumed defective variant in various Neurospora crassa stains. An enzymatically inactive protein fraction was isolated from the inl-mutant by the same procedure as that of the enzyme. It consisted of several components by gel electrophoresis, and produced a positive immune reaction demonstrated by immunodiffusion using immune sera produced against the enzyme. Using immunodisc gel electrophoresis it produced an immunoprecipitate of slightly lower mobility than the enzyme itself. Similarly, positive immune reactions were obtained with the enzyme using immune sera produced against the protein fraction isolated from the inl- mutant. Enzyme activity was demonstrated both in a strain transformed by wild-type DNA and in a spontaneous revertant. The enzymes were subsequently isolated from both strains, and some properties were compared with those of the wild-type enzyme. The specific activities were lower but the Michaelis constants were nearly the same. The immunodisc gel electrophoretic patterns of these enzymes were similar to that of the protein fraction from the inositol requiring mutant.