Enzymes of Carbohydrate Metabolism in Thiobacillus species

A study was made of enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism in representative thiobacilli grown with and without glucose. The data show that Thiobacillus perometabolis possesses an inducible Entner-Doudoroff pathway and is thus similar to T. intermedius and T. ferrooxidans. T. novellus lacks this pathway. Instead, a non-cyclic pentose phosphate pathway along with the Krebs cycle is apparently the major route of glucose dissimilation in this organism. Glucose does not support or stimulate the growth of strains of T. neapolitanus, T. thioparus, and T. thiooxidans examined, nor does its presence in the growth medium greatly influence their enzymatic constitution. These obligately chemolithotrophic thiobacilli do not possess the Entner-Doudoroff pathway. Their nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase activity predominates over their nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP)-linked activity; the converse is true for the other thiobacilli. The data suggest that NAD-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase activity in thiobacilli is involved in biosynthetic reactions.     

Heterotrophic Metabolism of the Chemolithotroph Thiobacillus ferrooxidans

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and the enzymes of the Entner-Doudoroff pathway, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrase and 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogluconate aldolase (assayed together), are induced during heterotrophic growth of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans on an iron-glucose-supplemented medium or on glucose alone. By contrast, autotrophic cells (iron-grown) contain low levels of these enzymes. Fructose 1, 6-diphosphate aldolase, an enzyme of the Embden-Meyerhof pathway, is present at low levels irrespective of the growth medium, suggesting that this enzyme is not involved in energy-yielding reactions but merely provides intermediates for biosynthesis. The Entner-Doudoroff and pentose-phosphate pathways are the principle means through which glucose is dissimilated and is presumed to be concerned with energy production. Isotopic studies showed that a high rate of CO(2) formation from specifically labeled glucose came from carbon atoms 1 and 4. An unexpectedly high rate of evolution of CO(2) also came from carbon 6, suggesting that the triose phosphate formed during glucose breakdown and specifically as a result of 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogluconate aldolase activity, was metabolized via some unorthodox metabolic route. Cells grown in the iron-supplemented and glucose-salts media have a complete tricarboxylic acid cycle, whereas autotrophically grown T. ferrooxidans lacked both alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide oxidase. Two isocitrate dehydrogenases [nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and NAD phosphate (NADP) specific] were present. NAD-linked enzyme was constitutive, whereas the NADP-linked enzyme was induced upon adaptation of autotrophic cells to heterotrophic growth.     

Evidence for two species of glutamate dehydrogenases in Thiobacillus novellus

When grown autotrophically in a thiosulfate-mineral salts medium, cells of the facultative chemoautotrophic bacterium, Thiobacillus novellus, produced two distinct glutamate dehydrogenases, one specific for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) and the other specific for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). When glutamate was supplied exogenously as the sole carbon source, the NAD-specific glutamate dehydrogenase was fully induced. Lower levels of the enzyme were found in bacteria grown in l-arginine, l-alanine, glucose, glycerol, lactate, citrate, or succinate. Arginine, histidine, and aspartate, on the other hand, caused a marked repression of the NADP-specific glutamate dehydrogenase activity. The NAD-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase was allosteric. Adenosine-5'-monophosphate and adenosine-5'-diphosphate acted as positive effectors. Both glutamate dehydrogenases were purified about 250-fold and were shown to be distinct protein with different physical properties.     

Glucose Catabolism in Micrococcus sodonensis

The inability of Micrococcus sodonensis to grow on glucose as the sole source of carbon and energy was investigated. Estimation of pathways of glucose catabolism indicated that both the glycolytic and hexose monophosphate pathways are present in this organism. Comparative studies with Escherichia coli demonstrated that key enzymes for glucose catabolism were present in M. sodonensis in quantities equivalent to those of E. coli. The glucose-6-phosphate and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenases of M. sodonensis were nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) specific, and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase was nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide specific. Transhydrogenase and reduced NADP oxidase were absent. Growth of the organism in the presence of glucose did not result in a repressed ability to oxidize tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates, but these cells did have a decreased capacity for glucose degradation. The addition of substrates rich in growth-promoting substances, e.g., yeast extract, did not provide requisite nutrients for growth on glucose. Studies with (32)P suggest that M. sodonensis is incapable of synthesizing energy-rich phosphate compounds during the catabolism of glucose.     

Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase from the Chemolithotroph Thiobacillus ferrooxidans

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was partially purified from both glucose-grown and iron-glucose-grown Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. The enzyme possesses a dual nucleotide specificity for either nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and has a molecular weight of 110,000 as determined by gel electrophoresis. Evidence is presented that T. ferrooxidans glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase is identical when isolated from cells grown mixotrophically (iron-glucose grown) or cells grown heterotrophically (glucose-grown cells). The enzyme is activated by Mg(2+), and to a lesser extent by low concentrations of Mn(2+). Reduced NAD inhibits the enzyme from T. ferrooxidans. No deviation from normal Michaelis-Menten kinetics was observed in velocity versus substrate concentration experiments. Adenosine triphosphate exerted a profound inhibition of the enzyme; the effect was 10 times more pronounced in the presence of NAD as compared to NADP. The physiological significance of this inhibition is discussed.     

Purification and properties of glutamate synthase from Thiobacillus thioparus.

Glutamate synthase was purified about 250-fold from Thiobacillus thioparus and was characterized. The molecular weight was estimated as 280,000 g/mol. The enzyme showed absorption maxima at 280, 380, and 450 nm and was inhibited by Atebrin, suggesting that T. thioparus glutamate synthase is a flavoprotein. The enzyme activity was also inhibited by iron chelators and thiolbinding agents. The enzyme was specific for reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) and alpha-ketoglutarate, but L-glutamine was partially replaced by ammonia as the amino donor. The Km values of glutamate synthase for NADPH, alpha-ketoglutarate, and glutamine were 3.0 muM, 50 muM, and 1.1 mM, respectively. The enzyme had a pH optimum between 7.3 and 7.8. Glutamate synthase from T. thioparus was relatively insensitive to feedback inhibition by single amino acids but was sensitive to the combined effects of several amino acids. Enzymes involved in glutamate synthesis in T. thioparus were studied. Glutamine synthetase and glutamate synthase, as well as two glutamate dehydrogenases (NADH and NADPH dependent), were present in this organism. This levels of glutamate synthase and glutamate dehydrogenase were similar in T. thioparus grown on 0.7 or 7.0 mM ammonium sulfate. The sum of the activities of both glutamate dehydrogenases was only 1/25 of that of glutamate synthase under the assay conditions. It was concluded that the glutamine pathway is important for ammonia assimilation in this autotrophic bacterium.     

Comparative aspects of some bacterial dehydrogenases and transhydrogenases

Ragland, T. E. (Brandeis University, Waltham, Mass.), T. Kawasaki, and J. M. Lowenstein. Comparative aspects of some bacterial dehydrogenases and transhydrogenases. J. Bacteriol. 91:236-244. 1966.-Twenty-eight diverse bacterial species were surveyed for the activities and coenzyme specificities of four enzymes: isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGDH), and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) transhydrogenase (TH). Most of the species that exhibited a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP)-linked ICDH also showed significant TH activity, but there were several which did not. Only one of the organisms tested, Xanthomonas pruni, had an ICDH active with both NAD and NADP; it was devoid of TH activity. Acetobacter suboxydans, which lacks ICDH altogether, also had no TH. Some of the species examined had G-6-PDH or 6-PGDH (or both) of dual coenzyme specificity, but there was no apparent relation between these findings and the presence or absence of TH. The TH reaction was assayed by use of analogues of NAD as acceptors. The bacteria could be divided into two groups on the basis of TH specificity, one group reacting at a much faster rate with the 3-acetylpyridine analogue of NAD than with the thionicotinamide analogue, whereas the converse was true for the other group. A few organisms showed no marked specificity for either analogue. This division of specificity can be related to the currently accepted taxonomic classification of the organisms, although a few apparent anomalies were found.     

Involvement of 4-hydroxymandelic acid in the degradation of mandelic acid by Pseudomonas convexa.

A microorganism capable of degrading DL-mandelic acid was isolated from sewage sediment of enrichment culture and was identified as Pseudomonas convexa. It was found to metabolize mandelic acid by a new pathway involving 4-hydroxymandelic acid, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid as aromatic intermediates. All the enzymes of the pathway were demonstrated in cell-free extracts. L-Mandelate-4-hydroxylase, a soluble enzyme, requires tetrahydropteridine, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, reduced form, and Fe2+ for its activity. The next enzyme, L-4-hydroxymandelate oxidase (decarboxylating), a particulate enzyme, requires flavine adenine dinucleotide and Mn2+ for its activity. A nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent, as well as a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-dependent, benzaldehyde dehydrogenase has been resolved and partially purified.     

Thiosulfate- and Sulfide-Dependent Pyridine Nucleotide Reduction and Gluconeogenesis in Intact Thiobacillus neapolitanus

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (reduced form) is formed more rapidly after the addition of thiosulfate to suspensions of intact Thiobacillus neapolitanus in the absence of CO(2) than nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (reduced form). Measurement of acid-stable metabolites shows this phenomenon to be the result of rapid reoxidation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (reduced form) by 3-phosphoglyceric acid and other oxidized intermediates, which are converted to triose and hexose phosphates, and that, in reality, the rate of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (oxidized form) reduction exceeds that of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (oxidized form) by approximately 4.5-fold. The overall rate of pyridine nucleotide reduction by thiosulfate (264 nmol per min per mg of protein) is in excess of that rate needed to sustain growth. Pyridine nucleotide reduction, adenosine triphosphate synthesis, and carbohydrate synthesis are prevented by the uncoupler m-Cl-Carbonylcyanide phenylhydrazone. Sodium amytal inhibits pyridine nucleotide reduction and carbohydrate synthesis are prevented by the uncoupler m-Cl-carbonylcyanide observations are reproduced when sulfide serves as the substrate. The rate of pyridine nucleotide anaerobic reduction with endogenous substrates or thiosulfate is less than 1% of the aerobic rate with thiosulfate. We conclude that the principal, if not the only, pathway of pyridine nucleotide reduction proceeds through an energy-dependent and amytal-sensitive step when either thiosulfate or sulfide is used as the substrate.     

Involvement of the protocatechuate pathway in the metabolism of mandelic acid by Aspergillus niger

Cell-free extracts of Aspergillus niger UBC 814 grown in the presence of dl-mandelate oxidized both d(-)- and l(+)-mandelate via benzoylformate and benzaldehyde to benzoate. dl-p-Hydroxymandelate was oxidized, presumably through a parallel pathway, to p-hydroxybenzoate. A particulate d(-)-mandelate dehydrogenase and a supernatant fraction l(+)-mandelate dehydrogenase converted their respective substrates to benzoylformate. Both flavine adenine dinucleotide and flavine mononucleotide showed a stimulatory effect on the activity of the l(+)-mandelate dehydrogenase. Benzoylformate was decarboxylated to benzaldehyde by an enzyme requiring thiamine pyrophosphate for maximal activity. Two benzaldehyde dehydrogenases dependent on nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP), respectively, for their activity dehydrogenated benzaldehyde to benzoate. In the presence of reduced NADP (NADPH), benzoate was oxidized via p-hydroxybenzoate and protocatechuate. Reduced NAD could not replace NADPH. Sensitive methods of assay for d(-)-mandelate dehydrogenase and benzoylformate decarboxylase are described. The fungal pathway is compared with these systems in bacteria.     

Regulation of Glucose Metabolism in Thiobacillus intermedius

Glucose-yeast extract or glucose-casein hydrolysate-grown Thiobacillus intermedius cells, which use glucose for energy generation, possess high specific activities of the Entner-Doudoroff pathway and related enzymes, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrase, 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogluconate aldolase, glucokinase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, but low activities of enzymes unique to the pentose shunt and Embden-Meyerhof pathways. Although the synthesis of the latter enzymes remains largely unaffected by the growth environment, that of the former is stimulated by glucose. Radiorespirometric measurements demonstrate an early and parallel respiration of glucose carbon atoms one and four in glucose-casein hydrolysate broth. It is concluded that the Entner-Doudoroff pathway performs an energetic role in glucose metabolism by T. intermedius with the pentose shunt and Embden-Meyerhof pathways functioning mainly in biosynthesis. The presence of thiosulfate in the growth medium inhibits the synthesis of the Entner-Doudoroff pathway and related enzymes. In addition, both thiosulfate and glucose inhibit the synthesis of the Krebs cycle enzymes, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-linked isocitrate and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenases. Thus, repression of enzymes is of significance in the adaptation of T. intermedius to its nutritional environment. The activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase of T. intermedius is inhibited by adenosine triphosphate. Such a control could afford the organism a mechanism to regulate the flow of glucose into major energetic and biosynthetic routes.     

Regulation of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide- and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-dependent glutamate dehydrogenases of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains two distinct l-glutamate dehydrogenases. These enzymes are affected in a reciprocal fashion by growth on ammonia or dicarboxylic amino acids as the nitrogen source. The specific activity of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) (anabolic) enzyme is highest in ammonia-grown cells and is reduced in cells grown on glutamate or aspartate. Conversely, the specific activity of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) (catabolic) glutamate dehydrogenase is highest in cells grown on glutamate or aspartate and is much lower in cells grown on ammonia. The specific activity of both enzymes is very low in nitrogen-starved yeast. Addition of the ammonia analogue methylamine to the growth medium reduces the specific activity of the NAD-dependent enzyme and increases the specific activity of the NADP-dependent enzyme.     

Induction and Regulation of a Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide-Specific 6-Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase in Streptococcus faecalis

Streptococcus faecalis grown with glucose as the primary energy source contains a single, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP)-specific 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase. Extracts of gluconate-adapted cells, however, exhibited 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase activity with either NADP or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). This was shown to be due to the presence of separate enzymes in gluconate-adapted cells. Although both enzymes catalyzed the oxidative decarboxylation of 6-phosphogluconate, they differed from one another with respect to their coenzyme specificity, molecular weight, pH optimum, K(m) values for substrate and coenzyme, and electrophoretic mobility in starch gels. The two enzymes also differed in their response to certain effector ligands. The NADP-linked enzyme was specifically inhibited by fructose-1,6-diphosphate, but was insensitive to adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and certain other nucleotides. The NAD-specific enzyme, in contrast, was insensitive to fructose-1,6-diphosphate, but was inhibited by ATP. The available data suggest that the NAD enzyme is involved primarily in the catabolism of gluconate, whereas the NADP enzyme appears to function in the production of reducing equivalents (NADPH) for use in various reductive biosynthetic reactions.     

Formation and dissimilation of oxalacetate and pyruvate Pseudomonas citronellolis grown on noncarbohydrate substrates.

Metabolism of lactate as a carbon source by Pseudomonas citronellolis occurred via a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-independent L-lactate dehydrogenase, which was present in cells grown on DL-lactate but was not present in cells grown on acetate, aspartate, citrate, glucose, glutamate, or malate. The cells also possessed a constitutive, NAD-independent malate dehydrogenase instead of the conventional NAD-dependent malate dehydrogenase instead of the conventional NAD-dependent enzyme in the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Both enzymes were particulate and used dichlorophenolindo-phenol or oxygen as an electron acceptor. In acetate-grown cells, the activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase and NAD phosphate-linked malate enzyme decreased, cells grown on glucose or lactate. This was consistent with the need to maintain a supply of oxalacetate for metabolism of acetate via the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Changes in enzyme activities suggest that gluconeogenesis from noncarbohydrate carbon sources occurs via the malate enzyme (when oxalacetate decarboxylase is inhibited) or a combination of the NAD-independent malate dehydrogenase and oxalacetate decarboxylase.     

Relationship between pyridine nucleotide levels and ribonucleotide reductase activity in yoshida ascites hepatoma AH 130

We measured both pyridine nucleotide levels and ribonucleotide reductase-specific activity in Yoshida ascites hepatoma cells as a function of growth in vivo and during recruitment from non-cycling to cycling state in vitro. Oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADP) levels remained unchanged during tumour growth, while NADP⁺ and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) levels were very high in exponentially growing cells and markedly decreased in the resting phase. Ribonucleotide reductase activity paralleled NADP(H) (NADP⁺ plus NADPH) intracellular content. The concomitant increase in both NADP(H) levels and ribonucleotide reductase activity was also observed during G1-S transition in vitro. Cells treated with hydroxyurea showed a comparable correlation between the pool size of NADP(H) and ribonucleotide reductase activity. On the basis of these findings, we suggest that fluctuations in NADP(H) levels and ribonucleotide reductase activity might play a critical role in cell cycle regulation.     

Use of Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD)-Dependent Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase in Enzyme Staining Procedures

Substitution of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dependent glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase for the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate dependent enzyme has produced identical results in a number of enzyme-linked electrophoretic staining procedures. This substitution significantly reduces the cost of staining for adenylate kinase, creatine kinase, glucosephosphate isomerase, mannosephosphate isomerase, phosphoglucomutase, and pyruvate kinase activity by utilizing NAD rather than the more expensive NADP.     

Use of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-dependent glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in enzyme staining procedures

Substitution of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dependent glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase for the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate dependent enzyme has produced identical results in a number of enzyme-linked electrophoretic staining procedures. This substitution significantly reduces the cost of staining for adenylate kinase, creatine kinase, glucosephosphate isomerase, mannosephosphate isomerase, phosphoglucomutase, and pyruvate kinase activity by utilizing NAD rather than the more expensive NADP.     

Morphology-associated expression nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase in Mucorracemosus.

The in vivo regulation of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) was studied in Mucor racemosus as a function of nutritional conditions and morphological state. Both nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP)-dependent GDH activities were found. The effect of carbon and nitrogen source on the specific activity of the NAD-dependent GDH suggests that its role is primarily catabolic. The NAD-dependent activity was generally an order of magnitude greater in mycelial cells than in yeast-phase cells grown on the same medium. During yeast-to-hyphal morphogenesis the increase in NAD-dependent activity preceded the appearance of hyphal cells both under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Exogenous dibutyryl-cyclic AMP prevented the increase in NAD-dependent GDH concomitantly with the suppression of morphological differentiation. The NADP-dependent activity did not change appreciably during morphogenesis.     

Plasmid-determined alcohol dehydrogenase activity in alkane-utilizing strains of Pseudomonas putida.

We have identified an alcohol dehydrogenase activity in Pseudomonas putida strains carrying the CAM-OCT degradative plasmid that were grown on octane. The activity is nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide independent, sediments at 48,000 x g, and shows 20-fold greater activity with octanol rather than butanol as substrate. The enzyme is inducible by unoxidized alkane and is present only in strains that have the OCT plasmid genes for alkane degradation with a wild-type alcO locus. No analogous chromosomal dehydrogenase could be detected. Wild-type and actanol-negative mutants (alcA-) without plasmids both contain a constitutive nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-linked soluble alcohol dehydrogenase activity. This means that alcA- mutants are cryptic for octanol oxidation and suggests that the particulate plasmid-coded alcohol dehydrogenase activity is active on surface- or membrane-bound substrate.     

Isocitrate Dehydrogenases and NADP-Alcohol Dehydrogenase of Euglena gracilis var. bacillaris*

SYNOPSIS. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) linked isocitrate dehydrogenase and NADP linked alcohol dehydrogenase have been detected in Euglena gracilis var. bacillaris. The NADP isocitrate dehydrogenase showed half-maximal activity at a concentration of 3 × 10^?5 M DL-isocitrate, but did not follow simple Michaelis-Menten kinetics with respect to substrate concentration. The optimal NADP concentration was about 0.06 mM, and activity fell off sharply on either side of this optimum. Fresh preparations of the enzyme migrated as single bands in disc electrophoresis, but two enzymatically active bands were present after frozen storage. The NAD isocitrate dehydrogenase followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with respect to substrate. In crude extracts, no requirement for adenosine monophosphate, adenosine diphosphate, or sulfhydryl compounds could be found. NADP alcohol dehydrogenase activity could be found with either ethanol or propanol as substrate. Low concentrations of coenzyme A were moderately inhibitory. In tris(hydroxymethyl) aminomethane buffer (tris buffer), Euglena extracts reduced NAD slowly in the absence of exogenous substrate. In the absence of tris, no such reduction occurred. A similar phenomenon was observed with NADP.