High resolution X-ray structure of galactose mutarotase from Lactococcus lactis

Galactose mutarotase plays a key role in normal galactose metabolism by catalyzing the interconversion of beta-D-galactose and alpha-D-galactose. Here we describe the three-dimensional architecture of galactose mutarotase from Lactococcus lactis determined to 1.9-A resolution. Each subunit of the dimeric enzyme displays a distinctive beta-sandwich motif. This tertiary structural element was first identified in beta-galactosidase and subsequently observed in copper amine oxidase, hyaluronate lyase, chondroitinase, and maltose phosphorylase. Two cis-peptides are found in each subunit, namely Pro(67) and Lys(136). The active site is positioned in a rather open cleft, and the electron density corresponding to the bound galactose unequivocally demonstrates that both anomers of the substrate are present in the crystalline enzyme. Those residues responsible for anchoring the sugar to the protein include Arg(71), His(96), His(170), Asp(243), and Glu(304). Both His(96) and His(170) are strictly conserved among mutarotase amino acid sequences determined thus far. The imidazole nitrogens of these residues are located within hydrogen bonding distance to the C-5 oxygen of galactose. Strikingly, the carboxylate group of Glu(304) is situated at approximately 2.7 A from the 1'-hydroxyl group of galactose, thereby suggesting its possible role as a general acid/base group.     

Vacuum-ultraviolet circular dichroism study of saccharides by synchrotron radiation spectrophotometry

Vacuum-ultraviolet circular dichroism (VUVCD) spectra of five monosaccharides (D-glucose, D-mannose, D-galactose, D-xylose, and D-lyxose) and five disaccharides (maltose, isomaltose, cellobiose, gentiobiose, and lactose) were measured to 160 nm using a synchrotron-radiation VUVCD spectrophotometer in aqueous solution under high vacuum at 25 degrees C. Most of the saccharides show a positive peak with some shoulders at around 170 nm, except for D-galactose and lactose, which show two distinct negative peaks at around 165 and 177 nm. These spectra are influenced by such structural factors as alpha and beta anomers at C-1, axial and equatorial hydroxyl groups at C-2 and C-4, trans (T) and gauche (G) conformations of the hydroxymethyl group at C-5, and the type of glycosidic linkage. Deconvolution of the VUVCD spectra of D-glucose, D-mannose, and D-galactose into six independent Gaussian components for alpha-GG, alpha-GT, alpha-TG, beta-GG, beta-GT, and beta-TG conformations suggests that the alpha anomer has red-shifted spectra relative to the beta anomer, and that GG and GT conformations have positive and negative circular dichroism signs, respectively, while the sign for TG conformation is anomer dependent. These speculations from the deconvolution analyses are also supported by the VUVCD spectra of disaccharides. These results give new insight into the equilibrium conformations of saccharides, demonstrating the usefulness of synchrotron-radiation VUVCD spectroscopy.     

The catalytic mechanism of galactose mutarotase

Galactose mutarotase catalyzes the first step in normal galactose metabolism by catalyzing the conversion of beta-D-galactose to alpha-D-galactose. The structure of the enzyme from Lactococcus lactis was recently solved in this laboratory and shown to be topologically similar to domain 5 of beta-galactosidase. From this initial X-ray analysis, four amino acid residues were demonstrated to be intimately involved in sugar binding to the protein: His 96, His 170, Asp 243, and Glu 304. Here we present a combined X-ray crystallographic and kinetic analysis designed to examine the role of these residues in the reaction mechanism of the enzyme. For this investigation, the following site-directed mutant proteins were prepared: H96N, H170N, D243N, D243A, E304Q, and E304A. All of the structures of these proteins, complexed with either glucose or galactose, were solved to a nominal resolution of 1.95 A or better, and their kinetic parameters were measured against D-galactose, D-glucose, L-arabinose, or D-xylose. From these studies, it can be concluded that Glu 304 and His 170 are critical for catalysis and that His 96 and Asp 243 are important for proper substrate positioning within the active site. Specifically, Glu 304 serves as the active site base to initiate the reaction by removing the proton from the C-1 hydroxyl group of the sugar substrate and His 170 functions as the active site acid to protonate the C-5 ring oxygen.     

Preparation of alpha and beta anomers of 1,2,3,6-tetra-O-acetyl-4-chloro-4-deoxy-D-galactopyranose based upon anomerization and kinetic acetylation

4-Chloro-4-deoxy-alpha-d-galactopyranose, 1,2,3,6-tetra-O-acetyl-4-chloro-4-deoxy-alpha-d-galactopyranose and 1,2,3,6-tetra-O-acetyl-4-chloro-4-deoxy-beta-d-galactopyranose were readily prepared from 1,4:3,6-dianhydro-beta-d-fructofuranosyl 4-chloro-4-deoxy-alpha-d-galactopyranoside. In the study, we found an interesting anomerization phenomenon of 4-chloro-4-deoxy-d-galactose. The molar ratio of alpha and beta anomers in solution is about 1:2 when the anomerization reaches a dynamic equilibrium, and the beta anomer could completely convert to the alpha anomer in the process of crystallization and precipitation. The acetylation of 4-chloro-4-deoxy-d-galactopyranose is kinetically controlled, and the configuration of the starting galactose determines the configuration of the resulting acetates. The influence of the chloro group at C-4 and the O-acetyl group at the anomeric carbon on the galactopyranose ring conformations is discussed, based upon the crystallographic data for the alpha and beta anomers of 1,2,3,6-tetra-O-acetyl-4-chloro-4-deoxy-d-galactopyranose.     

Purification and properties of Gal repressor:pL-galR fusion in pKC31 plasmid vector

The galR gene, which encodes the Gal repressor protein in Escherichia coli, has been fused to the strong pL promoter of bacteriophage lambda in plasmid pKC31. The pL promoter is kept repressed by a thermolabilie lambda repressor, CIts857, to prevent cell killing. Heat induction of the pL-galR fusion plasmid synthesizes large amounts of active Gal repressor. The protein has been purified to homogeneity in three steps. The purification is greatly aided by the reversible insolubility of active repressor in crude extract at salt concentrations of less than 200 mM. The amino-terminal amino acid sequence determined by automated Edman degradation is: N-Ala-Thr-Ile-Lys-Asp-Val-Ala-Arg-Leu-Ala-Gly-Val-Ser-Val-Ala-Thr-Val-. Comparison of this sequence with that deduced from the DNA sequence of the galR gene showed that the formyl methionine residue preceding alanine at position 1 is cleaved off. The repressor is present in solution as a dimer of a 37-kDa subunit. The protein binds to gal DNA containing wild type and not mutant operator sequences. As predicted, this sequence-specific binding is inhibited by the presence of D-galactose or D-fucose, both of which are in vivo inducers of the gal operon. Gal repressor inhibits the expresison of gal operon by binding to two spatially separated operators which flank, but do not overlap, the gal promoter segment. Experiments to study the mechanism of repressor action are discussed.     

Rapid and sensitive,colorimetric determination of the anomers of d-glucose with d-glucose oxidase,peroxidase, and mutarotase

A modification, utilising mutarotase, of an enzymic, colorimetric system for determining d-glucose with d-glucose oxidase, peroxidase, and ABTS was satisfactory for the assay of the anomers of d-glucose in aqueous solution. The time required for a single assay is ≈ 10 min, and the lower limit is 0.4 μg of d-glucose. The method is applicable to the anomer analysis of d-glucose released by enzymic hydrolysis of d-glucosides.     

The effect of arabinose 1,5-bisphosphate on rat hepatic 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase

The alpha- and beta-anomers of arabinose 1,5-bisphosphate and ribose 1,5-bisphosphate were tested as effectors of rat liver 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase. Both anomers of arabinose 1,5-bisphosphate activated the kinase and inhibited the bisphosphatase. The alpha-anomer was the more effective kinase activator while the beta-anomer was the more potent inhibitor of the bisphosphatase. Inhibition of the bisphosphatase by both anomers was competitive, and both potentiated allosteric inhibition by AMP. beta-Arabinose 1,5-bisphosphate was also more effective in decreasing fructose 2,6-bisphosphate binding to the enzyme. Neither anomer of ribose 1,5-bisphosphate affected 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase or fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, indicating that the configuration of the C-2 (C-3 in Fru 2,6-P2) hydroxyl group is important for biological activity. These results are also consistent with arabinose 1,5-bisphosphate binding to the active site and thereby enhancing the interaction of AMP with the allosteric site.     

Histochemistry of glycoconjugates in the skin of the bovine muzzle, with special reference to glandular structures

The distribution of glycoconjugates in the muzzle of young adult Holstein cows has been studied by means of selected light-microscopic histochemical methods, including lectin histochemistry. In the skin layers, strong reactions were confined to intercellular substances in between the cells of the vital epidermis, exhibiting neutral glycoconjugates mainly with alpha-D-galactosyl and N-acetyl-D-galactosaminyl residues. In the nasolabial glands, distinctly positive staining for neutral glycoproteins with various saccharide residues (alpha-D-galactose, alpha-N-acetylgalactosamine, D-galactose-beta(1----3)D-N-acetylgalactosamine, beta-D-galactose), and for smaller amounts of acidic glycoconjugates, was found in the secretory cells and the luminal secretion. The cells of the excretory duct system showed weak to moderate reactions (alpha-D-galactose, beta-D-galactose), only the collecting ducts reacted positively for acidic glycoproteins with sialyl residues. The results obtained are discussed in view of muzzle function, with special reference to the salivary nature of the secretion of bovine nasolabial glands.     

Structural studies on C-2 substitution in a new set of synthetic aminodideoxy sugars: the steric bulk at C-2 influences the puckering of the pyranose ring

Synthesis and single-crystal X-ray structural analyses of selected aminodideoxy sugars with different group substitutions at the C-2 position were carried out. Product formation and X-ray crystallographic determination of the products from C-2 substitution in both alpha and beta anomers were studied. The observed variation in pyranose ring conformations in product compounds is explained in terms of C-2 substitution.     

The Hypocrea jecorina gal10 (uridine 5'-diphosphate-glucose 4-epimerase-encoding) gene differs from yeast homologues in structure,genomic organization and expression

As part of a comprehensive study on lactose metabolism in Hypocrea jecorina (anamorph: Trichoderma reesei), a genomic clone of the gal10 gene encoding H. jecorina uridine 5'-diphosphate (UDP)-glucose 4-epimerase has been cloned and sequenced. It contains an open reading frame of 1548-base pair, interrupted by three introns, and encoding a 370-amino acids protein with similarity to pro- and eukaryotic UDP-glucose-4-epimerases. H. jecorina Gal10 does not contain the C-terminal mutarotase domain which is present in yeast Gal10 proteins but is able to functionally complement a corresponding Saccharomyces cerevisiae gal10 mutant. gal10 is not clustered with other H. jecorina gal genes (gal7, gene encoding galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase and gal1, gene encoding galactokinase). The genomic location of H. jecorina gal10 and gal7 was syntenic with that in Neurospora crassa and colinear over an area of 6 and 3.5-kilobase. gal10 is constitutively expressed, and--unlike H. jecorina gal7--not further stimulated by D-galactose or L-arabinose or its corresponding polyols.     

Chemical characteristics of a polysaccharide from Porphyra capensis (Rhodophyta)

The structure of a polysaccharide from the red seaweed, Porphyra capensis, growing along the coast of Namibia and South Africa was investigated. Algae growing at different sites and collected at different times gave a polysaccharide extract with similar chemical components. FTIR and NMR spectral analysis showed that the polysaccharide from P. capensis had a typical porphyran structure. It has the linear backbone of alternating 3-linked beta-D-galactose and 4-linked alpha-L-galactose-6-sulfate or 3,6-anhydro-alpha-L-galactose units. The ratio of alpha-L-galactose-6-sulfate and the 3,6-anhydrogalactose is 1.2:1, as reflected by a 1H NMR spectrum. A high degree of methylation occurred at the C-6 position of the D-galactose units. The degree of methylation was 0.64 for the D-galactose residues.     

Potential energy surfaces of carrageenan models: carrabiose,beta-(1 --> 4)-linked D-galactobiose,and their sulfated derivatives

The adiabatic conformational surfaces of several beta-linked disaccharides, which correspond to the repeating structures of carrageenans, were calculated using the MM3 force-field. The studies were carried out on the disaccharide beta-D-Galp-(1 --> 4)-alpha-D-Galp and eight sulfated derivatives, as well as on carrabiose (beta-D-Galp-(1 --> 4)-3,6-An-alpha-D-Galp) and five sulfated derivatives. The presence of 3,6-anhydrogalactose does not change the main features of the maps, although it increases the flexibility of the glycosidic linkage. Sulfation neither produces a striking effect on the map shape, nor a shift on the global minimum, which always remains with psi (theta(C-1'-O-4-C-4C-5)) in trans orientation, and phi (theta(O-5'-C-1'-O-4-C-4)) with a value close to -80 degrees. This effect differs from that occurring on the alpha linkage of equivalent disaccharides, for which the sulfation pattern on the beta-galactose unit shifts the global minima to different positions. A reduction in the flexibility (originated in a deepening of the global minimum well) is observed by sulfation on position 2 of the beta-D-galactose unit, and by sulfation of position 6 of the alpha-D-galactose unit (when the beta-D-galactose unit is 4-sulfated). Within the compounds containing 3,6-anhydrogalactose, the effect of sulfation is even less noticeable. The calculated low-energy regions on carrabiose derivatives agree with X-ray diffraction data on carrageenan fibers and on peracetylated carrabiose dimethyl acetal, and with NOE calculations carried out on kappa-carrabiose.     

Synthesis of radioiodine-labeled 2-phenylethyl 1-thio-beta-D-galactopyranoside for imaging of LacZ gene expression

A potent inhibitor of beta-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23), 2-phenylethyl 1-thio-beta-D-galactopyranoside (PETG), was radioiodinated for noninvasive imaging of LacZ gene expression. In order to introduce radioiodine to the phenyl ring of PETG, 2-(4-bromophenyl)ethanethiol was prepared and attached to the C-1 position of beta-D-galactose pentaacetate under conditions that resulted in the exclusive formation of the beta anomer. The bromo group of PETG was converted to the tributylstannyl group where radioiododemetallation was carried out. Radioiodine-labeled PETG tetraacetate was purified by HPLC, which can be used as a prodrug for biological evaluation or hydrolyzed to 2-(4-[123I/125I]iodophenyl)ethyl 1-thio-beta-D-galactopyranoside ([123I/125I]7) under basic conditions. The resulting radioiodine-labeled PETG was obtained in overall 62% radiochemical yield (decay-corrected) and with specific activity of 46-74 GBq/micromol.     

13C solid-state NMR chemical shift anisotropy analysis of the anomeric carbon in carbohydrates

(13)C NMR solid-state structural analysis of the anomeric center in carbohydrates was performed on six monosaccharides: glucose (Glc), mannose (Man), galactose (Gal), galactosamine hydrochloride (GalN), glucosamine hydrochloride (GlcN), and N-acetyl-glucosamine (GlcNAc). In the 1D (13)C cross-polarization/magic-angle spinning (CP/MAS) spectrum, the anomeric center C-1 of these carbohydrates revealed two well resolved resonances shifted by 3-5ppm, which were readily assigned to the anomeric alpha and beta forms. From this experiment, we also extracted the (13)C chemical shift anisotropy (CSA) tensor elements of the two forms from their spinning sideband intensities, respectively. It was found out that the chemical shift tensor for the alpha anomer was more axially symmetrical than that of the beta form. A strong linear correlation was obtained when the ratio of the axial asymmetry of the (13)C chemical shift tensors of the two anomeric forms was plotted in a semilogarithmic plot against the relative population of the two anomers. Finally, we applied REDOR spectroscopy to discern whether or not there were any differences in the sugar ring conformation between the anomers. Identical two-bond distances of 2.57A (2.48A) were deduced for both the alpha and beta forms in GlcNAc (GlcN), suggesting that the two anomers have essentially identical sugar ring scaffolds in these sugars. In light of these REDOR distance measurements and the strong correlation observed between the ratio of the axial asymmetry parameters of the (13)C chemical shift tensors and the relative population between the two anomeric forms, we concluded that the anomeric effect arises principally from interaction of the electron charge clouds between the C-1-O-5 and the C-1-O-1 bonds in these monosaccharides.     

Binding of human liver hydrolases by immobilized lectins.

The binding of 22 human liver hydrolase activities by immobilized lectins of six different carbohydrate specificities, namely alpha-D-mannose (glucose), D-N-acetylglucosamine, D-N-acetylgalactosamine, L-fucose, alpha-D-galactose and beta-D-galactose, were examined. Differences in binding among these enzymes and within specific enzymes were observed. For example, the neutral forms of alpha-mannosidase and beta-xylosidase were bound by the Ulex europaeus lectin I (specific for L-fucose), whereas the acidic forms were not. Bandierea simplicifolia lectin (specific for alpha-galactose) bound 65% of beta-glucuronidase activity; recycling experiments demonstrated complete binding of the enzyme that had been eluted with the competitor D-galactose and no binding of the fraction that was not initially bound. These results suggested the presence of two forms of this enzyme. Similar data were obtained for acidic beta-galactosidase activity. These experiments may provide the basis for the expanded use of immobilized lectins for purification and characterization of hydrolases and other glycoproteins.     

The reduction of CrVI to CrIII by the alpha and beta anomers of D-glucose in dimethyl sulfoxide. A comparative kinetic and mechanistic study

The reduction of CrVI by alpha-D-glucose and beta-D-glucose was studied in dimethyl sulfoxide in the presence of pyridinium p-toluensulfonate, a medium where mutarotation is slower than the redox reaction. The two anomers reduce CrVI by formation of an intermediate CrVI ester precursor of the slow redox step. The equilibrium constant for the formation of the intermediate chromic ester and the rate of the redox steps are different for each anomer. alpha-D-Glucose forms the CrVI-Glc ester with a higher equilibrium constant than beta-D-glucose, but the electron transfer within this complex is slower than for the beta anomer. The difference is attributed to the better chelating ability of the 1,2-cis-diolate moiety of the alpha anomer. The CrV species, generated in the reaction mixture, reacts with the two anomers at a rate comparable with that of CrVI. The EPR spectra show that the alpha anomer forms several linkage isomers of the five-coordinate CrV bis-chelate, while beta-D-glucose affords a mixture of six-coordinate CrV monochelate and five-coordinate CrV bis-chelate. The conversion of the CrV mono- to bis-chelate is discussed in terms of the ability of the 1,2-cis- versus 1,2-trans-diolate moieties of the glucose anomers to bind CrV.