Engineering the pH-dependence of kinetic parameters of maize glutathione S-transferase I by site-directed mutagenesis

The optimisation of enzymes for particular application or conditions remains an important target in all protein engineering endeavours. Here, we report a successful strategy for altering the pH-profile of kinetic parameters and to define in detail the molecular mechanism of maize glutathione S-transferase I (GST I). To accomplish this, selected residues from the glutathione binding site (His40, Ser11, Lys41, Asn49, Gln53 and Ser67) were mutated to Ala, and the pH-dependence of the catalytic parameters V(max), and V(max)/K(GSH)(m) of the mutated forms were analysed. The pH-dependence of V(max) for the wild-type enzyme exhibits two transitions in the acidic pH range with pK(a1) of 5.7 and pK(a2) of 6.6. Based on thermodynamic data, site-directed mutagenesis and UV deference spectroscopy, it was concluded that pK(a1) corresponds to GSH carboxylates, whereas the pK(a2) has a conformational origin of the protein. The pH-dependence of V(max)/K(GSH)(m) for the wild-type enzyme exhibits a single transition with pK(a) of 6.28 which was attributed to the thiol ionisation of bound GSH. These findings complement the conclusions about the catalytic mechanism deduced from the crystal structure of the enzyme and provide the basis for rationally designing engineered forms of GST I with valuable properties.     

Optical biosensor consisting of glutathione-S-transferase for detection of captan

The optical biosensor consisting of a glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-immobilized gel film was developed to detect captan in contaminated water. The sensing scheme was based on the decrease of yellow product, s-(2,4-dinitrobenzene) glutathione, produced from substrates, 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) and glutathione (GSH), due to the inhibition of GST reaction by captan. Absorbance of the product as the output of enzyme reaction was detected and the light was guided through the optical fibers. The enzyme reactor of the sensor system was fabricated by the gel entrapment technique for the immobilized GST film. The immobilized GST had the maximum activity at pH 6.5. The optimal concentrations of substrates were determined with 1 mM for both of CDNB and GSH. The optimum concentration of enzyme was also determined with 100 μg/ml. The activity of immobilized enzyme was fairly sustained during 30 days. The proposed biosensor could successfully detect the captan up to 2 ppm and the response time to steady signal was about 15 min.     

Structural basis of the suppressed catalytic activity of wild-type human glutathione transferase T1-1 compared to its W234R mutant

The crystal structures of wild-type human theta class glutathione-S-transferase (GST) T1-1 and its W234R mutant, where Trp234 was replaced by Arg, were solved both in the presence and absence of S-hexyl-glutathione. The W234R mutant was of interest due to its previously observed enhanced catalytic activity compared to the wild-type enzyme. GST T1-1 from rat and mouse naturally contain Arg in position 234, with correspondingly high catalytic efficiency. The overall structure of GST T1-1 is similar to that of GST T2-2, as expected from their 53% sequence identity at the protein level. Wild-type GST T1-1 has the side-chain of Trp234 occupying a significant portion of the active site. This bulky residue prevents efficient binding of both glutathione and hydrophobic substrates through steric hindrance. The wild-type GST T1-1 crystal structure, obtained from co-crystallization experiments with glutathione and its derivatives, showed no electron density for the glutathione ligand. However, the structure of GST T1-1 mutant W234R showed clear electron density for S-hexyl-glutathione after co-crystallization. In contrast to Trp234 in the wild-type structure, the side-chain of Arg234 in the mutant does not occupy any part of the substrate-binding site. Instead, Arg234 is pointing in a different direction and, in addition, interacts with the carboxylate group of glutathione. These findings explain our earlier observation that the W234R mutant has a markedly improved catalytic activity with most substrates tested to date compared to the wild-type enzyme. GST T1-1 catalyzes detoxication reactions as well as reactions that result in toxic products, and our findings therefore suggest that humans have gained an evolutionary advantage by a partially disabled active site.     

Tyrosine 8 contributes to catalysis but is not required for activity of rat liver glutathione S-transferase, 1-1.

Reaction of rat liver glutathione S-transferase, isozyme 1-1, with 4-(fluorosulfonyl)benzoic acid (4-FSB), a xenobiotic substrate analogue, results in a time-dependent inactivation of the enzyme to a final value of 35% of its original activity when assayed at pH 6.5 with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) as substrate. The rate of inactivation exhibits a nonlinear dependence on the concentration of 4-FSB from 0.25 mM to 9 mM, characterized by a KI of 0.78 mM and kmax of 0.011 min-1. S-Hexylglutathione or the xenobiotic substrate analogue, 2,4-dinitrophenol, protects against inactivation of the enzyme by 4-FSB, whereas S-methylglutathione has little effect on the reaction. These experiments indicate that reaction occurs within the active site of the enzyme, probably in the binding site of the xenobiotic substrate, close to the glutathione binding site. Incorporation of [3,5-3H]-4-FSB into the enzyme in the absence and presence of S-hexylglutathione suggests that modification of one residue is responsible for the partial loss of enzyme activity. Tyr 8 and Cys 17 are shown to be the reaction targets of 4-FSB, but only Tyr 8 is protected against 4-FSB by S-hexylglutathione. DTT regenerates cysteine from the reaction product of cysteine and 4-FSB, but does not reactivate the enzyme. These results show that modification of Tyr 8 by 4-FSB causes the partial inactivation of the enzyme. The Michaelis constants for various substrates are not changed by the modification of the enzyme. The pH dependence of the enzyme-catalyzed reaction of glutathione with CDNB for the modified enzyme, as compared with the native enzyme, reveals an increase of about 0.9 in the apparent pKa, which has been interpreted as representing the ionization of enzyme-bound glutathione; however, this pKa of about 7.4 for modified enzyme remains far below the pK of 9.1 for the -SH of free glutathione. Previously, it was considered that Tyr 8 was essential for GST catalysis. In contrast, we conclude that Tyr 8 facilitates the ionization of the thiol group of glutathione bound to glutathione S-transferase, but is not required for enzyme activity.     

The C1-C2 interface residue lysine 50 of pig kidney fructose-1, 6-bisphosphatase has a crucial role in the cooperative signal transmission of the AMP inhibition.

To understand the mechanism of signal propagation involved in the cooperative AMP inhibition of the homotetrameric enzyme pig-kidney fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, Arg49 and Lys50 residues located at the C1-C2 interface of this enzyme were replaced using site-directed mutagenesis. The mutant enzymes Lys50Ala, Lys50Gln, Arg49Ala and Arg49Gln were expressed in Escherichia coli, purified to homogeneity and the initial rate kinetics were compared with the wild-type recombinant enzyme. The mutants exhibited kcat, Km and I50 values for fructose-2,6-bisphosphate that were similar to those of the wild-type enzyme. The kinetic mechanism of AMP inhibition with respect to Mg2+ was changed from competitive (wild-type) to noncompetitive in the mutant enzymes. The Lys50Ala and Lys50Gln mutants showed a biphasic behavior towards AMP, with total loss of cooperativity. In addition, in these mutants the mechanism of AMP inhibition with respect to fructose-1,6-bisphosphate changed from noncompetitive (wild-type) to uncompetitive. In contrast, AMP inhibition was strongly altered in Arg49Ala and Arg49Gln enzymes; the mutants had > 1000-fold lower AMP affinity relative to the wild-type enzyme and exhibited no AMP cooperativity. These studies strongly indicate that the C1-C2 interface is critical for propagation of the cooperative signal between the AMP sites on the different subunits and also in the mechanism of allosteric inhibition of the enzyme by AMP.     

Identification of tyrosine 79 in the tocopherol binding site of glutathione S-transferase pi

Alpha-tocopherol, the most abundant form of vitamin E present in humans, is a noncompetitive inhibitor of glutathione S-transferase pi (GST pi), but its binding site had not been located. Tocopherol iodoacetate (TIA), a reactive analogue, produces a time-dependent inactivation of GST pi to a limit of 25% residual activity. The rate constant for inactivation, k(obs), exhibits a nonlinear dependence on reagent concentration, with K(I) = 19 microM and k(max) = 0.158 min(-)(1). Complete protection against inactivation is provided by tocopherol and tocopherol acetate, whereas glutathione derivatives, electrophilic substrate analogues, buffers, or nonsubstrate hydrophobic ligands have little effect on k(obs). These results indicate that TIA reacts as an affinity label of a distinguishable tocopherol binding site. Loss of activity occurs concomitant with incorporation of about 1 mol of reagent/mol of enzyme subunit when the enzyme is maximally inactivated. Isolation of the labeled peptide from the tryptic digest shows that Tyr(79) is the only enzymic amino acid modified. The Y79F, Y79S, and Y79A mutant enzymes were generated, expressed, and purified. Changing Tyr(79) to Ser or Ala, but not Phe, renders the enzyme insensitive to inhibition by either tocopherol or tocopherol acetate as demonstrated by increases of at least 49-fold in K(I) values as compared to the wild-type enzyme. These results and examination of the crystal structure of GST pi suggest that tocopherols bind at a novel site, where an aromatic residue at position 79 is essential for binding.     

The C-terminal region of human glutathione transferase A1-1 affects the rate of glutathione binding and the ionization of the active-site Tyr9

In human glutathione transferase (GST) A1-1, the C-terminal region covers the active site and contributes to substrate binding. This region is flexible, but upon binding of an active-site ligand, it is stabilized as an amphipatic alpha-helix. The stabilization has implications for the catalytic activity of the enzyme. In the present study, residue M208 in GST A1-1 has been mutated to Lys and Glu, and residue F220 to Ala and Thr. These mutations are likely to destabilize the C-terminal region due to loss of hydrophobic interactions with the rest of the hydrophobic binding site. The rate constant for binding of glutathione to wild-type GST A1-1 is 450 mM(-)(1) s(-)(1) at 5 degrees C and pH 7.0, which is less than for an association limited by diffusion. However, the M208 and the F220 mutations increase the apparent on-rate constant for glutathione binding to 640-1170 mM(-)(1) s(-)(1). The binding data can be explained by a rapid reversible transition between different enzyme conformations occurring prior to glutathione binding, and restriction of the access to the active site by the C-terminal region. The effect of the mutations appears to be promotion of a less closed conformation, thereby facilitating the association of glutathione and enzyme. Both the M208 and F220 mutants display a lowered pK(a) value ( approximately 0.3 log unit) of the catalytically important Tyr9. Residue 208 does not interact directly with Tyr9 in the active site, and the shift in pK(a) value is therefore ascribed to the proposed dislocation of the C-terminal region caused by the mutation.     

Inhibition of AChE by malathion and some structurally similar compounds

Inhibition of bovine erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (free and immobilized on controlled pore glass) by separate and simultaneous exposure to malathion and malathion transformation products which are generally formed during storage or through natural or photochemical degradation was investigated. Increasing concentrations of malathion, its oxidation product malaoxon, and its isomerisation product isomalathion inhibited free and immobilized AChE in a concentration-dependent manner. KI, the dissociation constant for the initial reversible enzyme inhibitor-complex, and k3, the first order rate constant for the conversion of the reversible complex into the irreversibly inhibited enzyme, were determined from the progressive development of inhibition produced by reaction of native AChE with malathion, malaoxon and isomalathion. KI values of 1.3 x 10(-4) M(-1), 5.6 x 10(-6) M(-1) and 7.2 x 10(-6)M(-1) were obtained for malathion, malaoxon and isomalathion, respectively. The IC50 values for free/immobilized AChE, (3.7 +/- 0.2) x 10(-4) M/(1.6 +/-0.1) x 10(-4), (2.4 +/- 0.3) x 10(-6)/(3.4 +/- 0.1) x 10(-6)M and (3.2 +/- 0.3) x 10(-6) M/(2.7 +/- 0.2) x 10(-6) M, were obtained from the inhibition curves induced by malathion, malaoxon and isomalathion, respectively. However, the products formed due to photoinduced degradation, phosphorodithioic O,O,S-trimethyl ester and O,O-dimethyl thiophosphate, did not noticeably affect enzymatic activity, while diethyl maleate inhibited AChE activity at concentrations > 10mM. Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase increased with the time of exposure to malathion and its inhibiting by-products within the interval from 0 to 5 minutes. Through simultaneous exposure of the enzyme to malaoxon and isomalathion, an additive effect was achieved for lower concentrations of the inhibitors (in the presence of malaoxon/isomalathion at concentrations 2 x 10(-7) M/2 x 10(-7) M, 2 x 10(-7) M/3 x 10(-7)M and 2 x 10(-7) M/4.5 x 109-7) M), while an antagonistic effect was obtained for all higher concentrations of inhibitors. The presence of a non-inhibitory degradation product (phosphorodithioic O,O,S-trimethyl ester) did not affect the inhibition efficiencies of the malathion by-products, malaoxon and isomalathion.     

Immobilization of rat brain acetylcholinesterase on ZnS and poly(indole-5-carboxylic acid) modified Au electrode for detection of organophosphorus insecticides

A novel, highly sensitive amperometric biosensor for detection of organophosphorus (OP) compounds has been constructed, based on rat brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) immobilized onto nanocomposite of ZnS-nanoparticles (ZnSNPs) and poly(indole-5-carboxylic acid) electrodeposited on Au electrode. In the presence of acetylthiocholine chloride (ATCl) as a substrate, ZnSNPs promoted electron transfer reactions at a lower potential and catalyzed electrochemical oxidation of enzymatically formed thiocholine, thus increasing detection sensitivity. Under optimum conditions (phosphate buffer, pH 7.5 and 30°C), the inhibition of AChE by malathion and chlorpyrifos was proportional to their concentrations in the range, 0.1-50nM and 1.5-40nM, respectively. The biosensor determined malathion and chlorpyrifos in spiked tap water samples with a acceptable accuracy (95-100%). The enzyme electrode had long-storage stability (50% retention of initial activity within 2 months, when stored at 4°C).     

Structure-based design and application of an engineered glutathione transferase for the development of an optical biosensor for pesticides determination

In the present work, a structure-based design approach was used for the generation of a novel variant of synthetic glutathione transferase (PvGmGSTU) with higher sensitivity towards pesticides. Molecular modelling studies revealed Phe117 as a key residue that contributes to the formation of the hydrophobic binding site (H-site) and modulates the affinity of the enzyme towards xenobiotic compounds. Site-saturation mutagenesis of position Phe117 created a library of PvGmGSTU variants with altered kinetic and binding properties. Screening of the library against twenty-five different pesticides, showed that the mutant enzyme Phe117Ile displays 3-fold higher catalytic efficiency and exhibits increased affinity towards α-endosulfan, compared to the wild-type enzyme. Based on these catalytic features the mutant enzyme Phe117Ile was explored for the development of an optical biosensor for α-endosulfan. The enzyme was entrapped in alkosixylane sol-gel system in the presence of two pH indicators (bromocresol purple and phenol red). The sensing signal was based on the inhibition of the sol-gel entrapped GST, with subsequent decrease of released [H⁺] by the catalytic reaction, measured by sol–gel entrapped indicators. The assay response at 562?nm was linear in the range pH?=?4–7. Linear calibration curves were obtained for α-endosulfan in the range of 0–30?μΜ. The reproducibility of the assay response, expressed by relative standard deviation, was in the order of 4.1% (N?=?28). The method was successfully applied to the determination of α-endosulfan in real water samples without sample preparation steps.     

Monobromobimane occupies a distinct xenobiotic substrate site in glutathione S-transferase pi

Monobromobimane (mBBr), functions as a substrate of porcine glutathione S-transferase pi (GST pi): The enzyme catalyzes the reaction of mBBr with glutathione. S-(Hydroxyethyl)bimane, a nonreactive analog of monobromobimane, acts as a competitive inhibitor with respect to mBBr as substrate but does not affect the reaction of GST pi with another substrate, 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB). In the absence of glutathione, monobromobimane inactivates GST pi at pH 7.0 and 25 degrees C as assayed using mBBr as substrate, with a lesser effect on the enzyme's use of CDNB as substrate. These results indicate that the sites occupied by CDNB and mBBr are not identical. Inactivation is proportional to the incorporation of 2 moles of bimane/mole of subunit. Modification of GST pi with mBBr does not interfere with its binding of 8-anilino-1-naphthalene sulfonate, indicating that this hydrophobic site is not the target of monobromobimane. S-Methylglutathione and S-(hydroxyethyl)bimane each yield partial protection against inactivation and decrease reagent incorporation, while glutathionyl-bimane protects completely against inactivation. Peptide analysis after trypsin digestion indicates that mBBr modifies Cys45 and Cys99 equally. Modification of Cys45 is reduced in the presence of S-methylglutathione, indicating that this residue is at or near the glutathione binding region. In contrast, modification of Cys99 is reduced in the presence of S-(hydroxyethyl)bimane, suggesting that this residue is at or near the mBBr xenobiotic substrate binding site. Modification of Cys99 can best be understood by reaction with monobromobimane while it is bound to its xenobiotic substrate site in an alternate orientation. These results support the concept that glutathione S-transferase accomplishes its ability to react with a diversity of substrates in part by harboring distinct xenobiotic substrate sites.     

The occluding loop in cathepsin B defines the pH dependence of inhibition by its propeptide

Papain-like proenzymes are prone to autoprocess under acidic pH conditions. Similarly, peptides derived from the proregion of cathepsin B are potent pH-dependent inhibitors of that enzyme; i.e., at pH 6.0 the inhibition of human cathepsin B by its propeptide is defined by slow binding kinetics with a Ki of 3.7 nM and at pH 4.0 by classical kinetics with a Ki of 82 nM. This pH dependency is essentially eliminated either by the removal of a portion of the enzyme's occluding loop through deletion mutagenesis or by the mutation of either residue Asp22 or His110 to alanine; e.g., the mutant enzyme His110Ala is inhibited by its propeptide with Ki's of 2.0 +/- 0.3 nM at pH 4.0 and 1.1 +/- 0.2 nM at pH 6.0. For the His110Ala mutant the inhibition also displays slow binding kinetics at both pH 4.0 and pH 6.0. As shown by the crystal structure of mature cathepsin B [Musil, D., et al. (1991) EMBO J. 10, 2321-2330] Asp22 and His110 form a salt bridge in the mature enzyme, and it has been shown that this bridge stabilizes the occluding loop in its closed position [N?gler, D. K., et al. (1997) Biochemistry 36, 12608-12615]. Thus the pH dependency of propeptide binding can be explained on the basis of a competitive binding between the occluding loop and the propeptide. At low pH, when the Asp22-His110 pair forms a salt bridge stabilizing the occluding loop in its closed conformation, the loop more effectively competes with the propeptide than at higher pH where deprotonation of His110 and the concomitant destruction of the Asp22-His110 salt bridge results in a destabilization of the closed form of the loop. The rate of autocatalytic processing of procathepsin B to cathepsin B correlates with the affinity of the enzyme for its propeptide rather than with its catalytic activity, thus suggesting a possible influence of occluding loop stability on the rate of processing.     

Tocotrienols inhibit human glutathione S-transferase P1-1

Tocopherols and tocotrienols are food ingredients that are believed to have a positive effect on health. The most studied property of both groups of compounds is their antioxidant action. Previously, we found that tocopherols and diverse tocopherol derivatives can inhibit the activity of human glutathione S-transferase P1-1 (GST P1-1). In this study we found that GST P1-1 is also inhibited, in a concentration-dependent manner, by alpha- and gamma-tocotrienol. The concentration giving 50% inhibition of GST P1-1 is 1.8 +/- 0.1 microM for alpha-tocotrienol and 0.7 +/- 0.1 microM for gamma-tocotrienol. This inhibition of GST P1-1 is noncompetitive with respect to both substrates CDNB and GSH. We also examined the 3D structure of GST P1-1 for a possible tocopherol/tocotrienol binding site. The enzyme contains a very hydrophobic pit-like structure where the phytyl tail of tocopherols and tocotrienols could fit in. Binding of tocopherol and tocotrienol to this hydrophobic region might lead to bending of the 3D structure. In this way tocopherols and tocotrienols can inhibit the activity of the enzyme; this inhibition can have far-reaching implications for humans.     

Upward shift of the pH optimum of Acremonium ascorbate oxidase

A gene encoding a thermostable Acremonium ascorbate oxidase (ASOM) was randomly mutated to generate mutant enzymes with altered pH optima. One of the mutants, which exhibited a significantly higher activity in the pH range 4.5-7 compared to ASOM, had a Gln183Arg substitution in the region corresponding to SBR1, one of the substrate binding regions of the zucchini enzyme. The other mutant with almost the same pH profile as Gln183Arg had a Thr527Ala substitution near the type 3 copper center and became more sensitive to azide than ASOM. Site-directed mutagenesis in the substrate binding regions with reference to the amino acid sequences of plant enzymes led to isolation of mutants shifted upward in the pH optimum; Val193Pro and Val193Pro/Pro190Ile increased the pH optimum by 1 and 0.5 units, respectively, while retaining the near-wild-type thermostability and azide sensitivity. The homology model of ASOM constructed from the zucchini enzyme coordinates suggested that replacement of Val193 by Pro could disturb the ion pair networks among Arg309, Glu192, Arg194 and Glu311. This perturbation could affect either the molecular recognition between the substrate and ASOM or the electron transfer from the substrate to the type 1 copper center, leading to the alkaline shift of the catalytic activity of the mutant enzyme. The other mutations, Val193Pro/Pro190Ile, could also induce similar structural perturbations involving the ion pair networks.     

Thermodynamics of glutathione binding to the tyrosine 7 to phenylalanine mutant of glutathione S-transferase from Schistosoma japonicum

The binding of glutathione (GSH) to the tyrosine 7 to phenylalanine mutant of Schistosoma japonicum glutathione S-transferase (SjGST-Y7F) has been studied by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). At pH 6.5 and 25 °C this mutant shows a higher affinity for glutathione than wild type enzyme despite an almost complete loss of activity in the presence of 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) as second substrate. The enthalpy change upon binding of GSH is more negative for the mutant than for the wild type GST (SjGST). Changes in accessible solvent areas (ASA) have been calculated based on enthalpy and heat capacity changes. ASA values indicated the burial of apolar surfaces of protein and ligand upon binding. A more negative ΔC_p value has been obtained for the mutant enzyme, suggesting a more hydrophobic interaction, as may be expected from the change of a tyrosine residue to phenylalanine.     

Structure and function of Plasmodium falciparum malate dehydrogenase: Role of critical amino acids in co-substrate binding pocket

The malaria parasite thrives on anaerobic fermentation of glucose for energy. Earlier studies from our laboratory have demonstrated that a cytosolic malate dehydrogenase (PfMDH) with striking similarity to lactate dehydrogenase (PfLDH) might complement PfLDH function in Plasmodium falciparum. The N-terminal glycine motif, which forms a characteristic Rossman dinucleotide-binding fold in the co-substrate binding pocket, differentiates PfMDH (GlyXGlyXXGly) from other eukaryotic and prokaryotic malate dehydrogenases (GlyXXGlyXXGly). The amino acids lining the co-substrate binding pocket are completely conserved in MDHs from different species of human, primate and rodent malaria parasites. Based on this knowledge and conserved domains among prokaryotic and eukaryotic MDH, the role of critical amino acids lining the co-substrate binding pocket was analyzed in catalytic functions of PfMDH using site-directed mutagenesis. Insertion of Ala at the 9th or 10th position, which converts the N-terminal GlyXGlyXXGly motif (characteristic of malarial MDH and LDH) to GlyXXGlyXXGly (as in bacterial and eukaryotic MDH), uncoupled regulation of the enzyme through substrate inhibition. The dinucleotide fold GlyXGlyXXGly motif seems not to be responsible for the distinct affinity of PfMDH to 3-acetylpyridine-adenine dinucleotide (APAD, a synthetic analog of NAD), since Ala9 and Ala10 insertion mutants still utilized APADH. The Gln11Met mutation, which converts the signature glycine motif in PfMDH to that of PfLDH, did not change the enzyme function. However, the Gln11Gly mutant showed approximately a 5-fold increase in catalytic activity, and higher susceptibility to inhibition with gossypol. Asn119 and His174 participate in binding of both co-substrate and substrate. The Asn119Gly mutant exhibited approximately a 3-fold decrease in catalytic efficiency, while mutation of His174 to Asn or Ala resulted in an inactive enzyme. These studies provide critical insights into the co-substrate binding pocket of PfMDH, which may be important in design of selective PfMDH/PfLDH inhibitors as potential antimalarials.     

Probing subunit interactions in alpha class rat liver glutathione S-transferase with the photoaffinity label glutathionyl S-[4-(succinimidyl)benzophenone

Glutathionyl S-[4-(succinimidyl)benzophenone] (GS-Succ-BP), an analogue of the product of glutathione and electrophilic substrate, acts as a photoaffinity label of dimeric rat liver glutathione S-transferase (GST), isoenzyme 1-1. A time-dependent loss of enzyme activity is observed upon irradiation of the enzyme with long wavelength UV light in the presence of the reagent. The initial rate of inactivation exhibits nonlinear dependence on the concentration of the reagent, characterized by an apparent dissociation constant of the enzyme-reagent complex (K(R)) of 99 +/- 2 microM and k(max) of 0.082 +/- 0.005 min(-1). Protection against this inactivation is provided by the electrophilic substrate (ethacrynic acid), electrophilic substrate analogue (dinitrophenol), and product analogues (S-hexylglutathione and p-nitrobenzylglutathione) but not by steroids (Delta(5)-androstene-3,17-dione and 17beta-estradiol-3, 17-disulfate). These results suggest that GS-Succ-BP binds and reacts with the enzyme within the xenobiotic substrate binding site, and this reaction site is distinct from the substrate and nonsubstrate steroid binding sites of the enzyme. About 1 mol of reagent is incorporated into 1 mol of enzyme dimer when the enzyme is completely inactivated. Met-208 is the only amino acid target of the reagent, and modification of this residue in one enzyme subunit of the GST 1-1 dimer completely abolishes the enzyme activity of both subunits. In order to evaluate the role of subunit interactions in the Alpha class glutathione S-transferases, inactive GS-Succ-BP-modified GST 1-1 was mixed with unlabeled, active GST 2-2. The enzyme subunits were dissociated in dilute trifluoroacetic acid and then renatured at pH 7.8 and separated by chromatofocusing into GST 1-1, 1-2, and 2-2. The specific activities of the heterodimer toward several substrates indicate that the loss of catalytic activity in the unmodified subunit of the modified GST 1-1 is the indirect result of the interaction between the two enzyme subunits and that this subunit interaction is absent in the heterodimer GST 1-2.     

Determinants of the dual cofactor specificity and substrate cooperativity of the human mitochondrial NAD(P)+-dependent malic enzyme: functional roles of glutamine 362

The human mitochondrial NAD(P)+-dependent malic enzyme (m-NAD-ME) is a malic enzyme isoform with dual cofactor specificity and substrate binding cooperativity. Previous kinetic studies have suggested that Lys362 in the pigeon cytosolic NADP+-dependent malic enzyme has remarkable effects on the binding of NADP+ to the enzyme and on the catalytic power of the enzyme (Kuo, C. C., Tsai, L. C., Chin, T. Y., Chang, G.-G., and Chou, W. Y. (2000) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 270, 821-825). In this study, we investigate the important role of Gln362 in the transformation of cofactor specificity from NAD+ to NADP+ in human m-NAD-ME. Our kinetic data clearly indicate that the Q362K mutant shifted its cofactor preference from NAD+ to NADP+. The Km(NADP) and kcat(NADP) values for this mutant were reduced by 4-6-fold and increased by 5-10-fold, respectively, compared with those for the wild-type enzyme. Furthermore, up to a 2-fold reduction in Km(NADP)/Km(NAD) and elevation of kcat(NADP)/kcat(NAD) were observed for the Q362K enzyme. Mutation of Gln362 to Ala or Asn did not shift its cofactor preference. The Km(NADP)/Km(NAD) and kcat(NADP)/kcat(NAD) values for Q362A and Q362N were comparable with those for the wild-type enzyme. The DeltaG values for Q362A and Q362N with either NAD+ or NADP+ were positive, indicating that substitution of Gln with Ala or Asn at position 362 brings about unfavorable cofactor binding at the active site and thus significantly reduces the catalytic efficiency. Our data also indicate that the cooperative binding of malate became insignificant in human m-NAD-ME upon mutation of Gln362 to Lys because the sigmoidal phenomenon appearing in the wild-type enzyme was much less obvious that that in Q362K. Therefore, mutation of Gln362 to Lys in human m-NAD-ME alters its kinetic properties of cofactor preference, malate binding cooperativity, and allosteric regulation by fumarate. However, the other Gln362 mutants, Q362A and Q362N, have conserved malate binding cooperativity and NAD+ specificity. In this study, we provide clear evidence that the single mutation of Gln362 to Lys in human m-NAD-ME changes it to an NADP+-dependent enzyme, which is characteristic because it is non-allosteric, non-cooperative, and NADP+-specific.     

The role of glutathione in the isomerization of delta 5-androstene-3,17-dione catalyzed by human glutathione transferase A1-1

Human glutathione transferase (GST) A1-1 efficiently catalyzes the isomerization of Delta(5)-androstene-3,17-dione (AD) into Delta(4)-androstene-3,17-dione. High activity requires glutathione, but enzymatic catalysis occurs also in the absence of this cofactor. Glutathione alone shows a limited catalytic effect. S-Alkylglutathione derivatives do not promote the reaction, and the pH dependence of the isomerization indicates that the glutathione thiolate serves as a base in the catalytic mechanism. Mutation of the active-site Tyr(9) into Phe significantly decreases the steady-state kinetic parameters, alters their pH dependence, and increases the pK(a) value of the enzyme-bound glutathione thiol. Thus, Tyr(9) promotes the reaction via its phenolic hydroxyl group in protonated form. GST A2-2 has a catalytic efficiency with AD 100-fold lower than the homologous GST A1-1. Another Alpha class enzyme, GST A4-4, is 1000-fold less active than GST A1-1. The Y9F mutant of GST A1-1 is more efficient than GST A2-2 and GST A4-4, both having a glutathione cofactor and an active-site Tyr(9) residue. The active sites of GST A2-2 and GST A1-1 differ by only four amino acid residues, suggesting that proper orientation of AD in relation to the thiolate of glutathione is crucial for high catalytic efficiency in the isomerization reaction. The GST A1-1-catalyzed steroid isomerization provides a complement to the previously described isomerase activity of 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.     

Determination of organophosphorous and carbamate insecticides by flow injection analysis.

A flow injection system, incorporating an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) single bead string reactor (SBSR), for the determination of some organophosphorous (azinphos-ethyl, azinphos-methyl, bromophos-methyl, dichlorovos, fenitrothion, malathion, paraoxon, parathion-ethyl and parathion-methyl) and carbamate insecticides (carbofuran and carbaryl) is presented. The detector is a simple pH electrode with a wall-jet entry. Variations in enzyme activity due to inhibition are measured from pH changes when the substrate (acetylcholine) is injected before and after the passage of the solution containing the insecticide. The percentage inhibition of enzyme activity is correlated to the insecticide concentration. Several parameters influencing the performance of the system are studied and discussed. The detection limits of the insecticides ranged from 0.5 to 275 ppb. The determination of these compounds was conducted in Hepes buffer and a synthetic sea water preparation. The enzyme reactor can be regenerated after inhibition with a dilute solution of 2-PAM and be reused for analysis. The immobilized enzyme did not lose any activity up to 12 weeks when stored at 4 degrees C.