The fine structure of pigeon breast muscle

The pectoralis major muscle of the pigeon is composed of two types of muscle fibre. In the Type I fibres, the myofibrils are closely packed and there are few mitochondria. The myofibrils in the Type II fibres are separated by numerous columns of large mitochondria and lipid droplets. The membrane systems of the two types of fibre are similar. The triads occur at the Z-line; the sarcoplasmic reticulum is in the form of large terminal cisternae which are joined by narrow longitudinal tubules to a broad central cisterna. The value of morphological criteria in the classification of muscle fibres is discussed.     

Succinate thiokinase in pigeon breast muscle mitochondria

Succinate thiokinase has been purified from pigeon breast muscle. It has been confirmed that the enzyme is entirely specific for ATP, and Km is very high (approximately 0.8 mM). Activity in mitochondrial sonicates is low enough for it to be doubtful whether the enzyme can support citric acid cycle flux in the tissue. The enzyme appears to have an Mr of 80 000-100 000, and to have two unequal subunits. As determined by SDS gel electrophoresis one subunit certainly has an Mr of 40 000.     

Dehydrogenases of alpha-keto acids from pigeon breast muscle

The structure, function and regulation of pyruvate dehydrogenase and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complexes from pigeon breast muscle are reviewed. The nature of essential groups involved in the formation of active centers of the first components of the complexes, i.e., pyruvate dehydrogenase and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, is described. The catalytic mechanism of the pyruvate dehydrogenase reaction and the peculiarities of cooperative interactions of the active centers of the above enzymes are discussed.     

Cooperative interaction of pyruvate dehydrogenase from pigeon breast muscle]

Cooperative interaction of pyruvate with the pyruvate dehydrogenase (PD) complex from pigeon breast muscle was shown. The sigmoidal dependence of the reaction rate on pyruvate concentration was observed for the PD complex. The Hill coefficient is equal to 1,5; no inhibition by the substrate (up to 2.2.10(-3) M) was found. The kinetic behaviour of the isolated pyruvate dehydrogenase component (PDH) analyzed under similar conditions, is more complex; this may be probably due to the presence of oligomeric forms with different molecular weights and specific activities. The competitive inhibitor of the PD complex--an amide of pyruvic acid (PA) (Ki=6.3-10(-6) M) activates the enzyme at low concentrations (less than 2,10(-6) M). When PA is present, the dependence of the reaction rate on pyruvate concentration gives a usual hyperbolic curve, v of [S]o. It is concluded that pyruvate may have a regulatory effect on the activity of muscle PD complex.     

Regulation of alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex from pigeon breast muscle]

The activity of alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex from pigeon breast muscle is controlled by ADP and the reaction products, i. e. succinyl-CoA and NADH. ADP activates the alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase component of the complex, whereas NADH inhibits alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase and lipoyl dehydrogenase. In the presence of NADH the kinetic curve of the complex with respect to alpha-ketoglutarate and NAD and the dependence of upsilon versus [NAD] and upsilon versus [Lip (SH)2] in the lipoyl dehydrogenase reaction are S-shaped. In the absence of inhibitor ADP had no activating effect on lipoyl dehydrogenase; however, in the presence of NADH ADP decreases the cooperativity for NAD. The cooperative kinetics of the constituent enzymes of the complex are indicative of its allosteric properties. Isolation of the alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex and its lipoyl dehydrogenase and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase components in a desensitized state confirms their allosteric nature. It is assumed that NADH effects of isolated alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase is due to a shift in the equilibrium between different oligomeric forms of the enzyme.     

The nature of phosphate residue binding in the phosphorylated form of succinyl-CoA-synthetase from pigeon breast muscle

The hydrolytic stability of phosphorylated pigeon breast muscle succinyl-CoA synthetase within a wide pH range was studied. It was found that within complex I the phosphate-protein bond is hydrolyzed at alkaline values of pH (11.0 and 13.0); at acidic pH values this bond is hydrolyzed by 50%. Within complex II the phosphate-protein bond is hydrolyzed at acidic pH values and is stable at alkaline pH values. The reaction of the phosphorylated enzyme with hydroxylamine and diisopropylfluorophosphate results in protein dephosphorylation by 50%. Ion-exchange chromatography of the radioactive phosphorylated enzyme II alkaline hydrolyzate (3 n NaOH, 3 hours, 100 degrees C) revealed that the radioactivity was distributed between 1-N-, 3-N-phosphohistidine and 1.3-N-diphosphohistidine fractions. The experimental results suggest that in the phosphorylated enzyme I phosphate is bound to the protein to form an acyl phosphate and phosphoester bonds, while in the phosphorylated enzyme II phosphate binding to the protein occurs with the formation of phosphoamide bonds.     

Isolation and some properties of protein kinase from pigeon breast muscle]

Protein kinase was isolated from pigeon breast muscle. The preparation obtained was chromatographically homogeneous. The apparent Km varlue for histone H1 and ATP were 3,5-10(-5) M and 1,6-10(-5) M respectively. The purified enzyme displays high specificity for the lysine-rich histones (H1, H2b, H2a). The protein kinase activity is stimulated, 1,6-fold by cyclic AMP.     

The substrate-mediated inactivation of the pyruvate dehydrogenase component of the pigeon breast muscle pyruvate dehydrogenase complex

Incubation of the pyruvate dehydrogenase component isolated from the pigeon breast muscle pyruvate dehydrogenase complex with Mg2+, thiamine pyrophosphate and low concentrations of pyruvic acid in the absence of electron acceptors results in irreversible time-dependent inactivation of the enzyme. The rate of the enzyme inactivation is markedly decreased in the presence of high concentrations of pyruvate; in this case acetoin and acetolactate are detected in the reaction mixture. The enzyme activity is stabilized when the artificial electron acceptor, 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol, is present in the reaction mixture. The substrate-mediated inactivation of the enzyme is accompanied by incorporation of the 2-[14C]-substrate fragment and labelled thiamine pyrophosphate into the protein fraction. The enzyme reactivation by neutral hydroxylamine and the protective effect of dithiothreitol suggest that the SH-group(s) may be involved in the substrate-mediated inactivation of pyruvate dehydrogenase.