Properties of family 79 beta-glucuronidases that hydrolyze beta-glucuronosyl and 4-O-methyl-beta-glucuronosyl residues of arabinogalactan-protein

The carbohydrate moieties of arabinogalactan-proteins (AGPs), which are mainly composed of Gal, L-Ara, GlcA, and 4-Me-GlcA residues, are essential for the physiological functions of these proteoglycans in higher plants. For this study, we have identified two genes encoding family 79 beta-glucuronidases, designated AnGlcAase and NcGlcAase, in Aspergillus niger and Neurospora crassa, respectively, based on the amino acid sequence of a native beta-glucuronidase purified from a commercial pectolytic enzyme preparation from A. niger. Although the deduced protein sequences of AnGlcAase and NcGlcAase were highly similar, the recombinant enzymes expressed in Pichia pastoris exhibited distinct substrate specificity toward 4-Me-GlcA residues of AGPs: recombinant AnGlcAase (rAnGlcAase) substantially liberated both GlcA and 4-Me-GlcA residues from radish AGPs, whereas recombinant NcGlcAase (rNcGlcAase) activity on the 4-Me-GlcA residues of AGPs was very low. Maximum activity of rAnGlcAase hydrolyzing PNP beta-GlcA occurred at pH 3.0-4.0, whereas the maximum rNcGlcAase activity was at pH 6.0. The apparent Km values of rAnGlcAase were 30.4 microM for PNP beta-GlcA and 422 microM for beta-GlcA-(1-->6)-Gal, and those of rNcGlcAase were 38.3 microM and 378 microM, respectively. Similar to the native enzyme, rAnGlcAase was able to catalyze the transglycosylation of GlcA residues from PNP beta-GlcA to various monosaccharide acceptors such as Glc, Gal, and Xyl. We propose that both AnGlcAase and NcGlcAase are instances of a novel type of beta-glucuronidase with the capacity to hydrolyze beta-GlcA and 4-Me-beta-GlcA residues of AGPs, although they differ significantly in their preferences.     

Purification and some properties of NAD-degrading purine nucleosidase from Aspergillus niger.

An enzyme which degrades NAD at the adenine-ribose linkage has been purified from the mycelial extract of Aspergillus niger. NADP, deamido-NAD, and purine nucleosides and nucleotides were also susceptible to the hydrolytic cleavage. Pyrimidine- and nicotinamide-ribose linkages were not attacked. The substrate specificity showed that the enzyme may be classified as a N-ribosyl-purine ribohydrolase (EC 3.2.2.1). The enzyme had a maximum activity in the pH range of 4.0-4.5 toward NAD. The Km values for NAD, 5'-AMP, and inosine were 3.0, 2.9 and 1.6mM respectively.     

Isolation and characterization of the major form of beta-glucuronidase from human seminal plasma

Human seminal plasma contain two forms of beta-glucuronidase (beta-D-glucuronidase glucuronosohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.31) which are present in the ratio of 4:1. The major form of beta-glucuronidase with a slow moving band in electrophoresis was purified to homogeneity as revealed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, double immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoresis. The major form of beta-glucuronidase shows dual optimum pH at 4.3 and 4.7 with a dip in the activity at pH 4.5. The Km of this form of beta-glucuronidase is dependent on pH and was found to be 0.95, 3.08 and 0.67 mM at pH 4.4, 4.5 and 4.7, respectively. The major form of beta-glucuronidase from seminal plasma is stable at 55 degrees C for 30 min but it denatures at 65 degrees C. Heat denaturation is faster at acidic pH (4.7) than at alkaline pH (7.8). However, the activity of enzyme increased linearly with increase in temperature up to 70 degrees C during incubation with substrate. Cu, Ag, Hg and Ni salts inhibited enzyme activity significantly at 0.1 and 1.0 mM concentration, but the inhibition of HgCl2 was protected by cysteine. 1,4-D-Saccharic acid lactone and ascorbic acid inhibited seminal beta-glucuronidase competitively, yielding Ki values of 1.7 . 10(-3) mM and 10.3 mM, respectively. Though fructose and mannose also showed significant inhibition of beta-glucuronidase at 10-100 mM, glucose did not show any effect. The molecular weight of the major form of beta-glucuronidase was found to be 279 000, and it appears to be composed of four subunits each having a molecular weight of 74 000.     

Aryl sulfatase from Naja nigricolis venom: characterization and possible contribution in the pathology of snake poisoning

The venom of Naja nigricolis was found to contain a high level of the enzyme aryl sulfatase. The enzyme was isolated from the venom of N. nigriclois and purified to electrophoretic homogeneity by gel chromatography on Sephadex G-100, DEAE-cellulose, and phenyl-sepharose columns. The enzyme was optimally active at pH 5 and 40 degrees C. Arrhenius plot for the determination of the activation energy (E(a)) gave the value 25 kJ/mol with a half-life (t(1/2)) of 5 min at 50 degrees C. It was highly activated by Fe(2+) and Ca(2+) and inhibited by Co(2+) and Mn(2+). The enzyme catalyzed the hydrolysis of the fluorescent compound methylumbelliferyl-sulfate (MU-SO(4)). Double reciprocal plots of initial velocity data, using MU-SO(4) as substrate, gave a K(M) value of 110 microM and V(max) of 225 micromol min(-1) x mg(-1). N. nigricolis Aryl sulphatase also hydrolyzed chondroitin-4-sulphate. It was inhibited competitively by N-acetyl glucosamine sulfate (GlcNAc-SO(4)), glucose-6-sulfate (Glc-6-SO(4)), and glucose 1-sulfate (Glc-1-SO(4)). Extrapolated inhibition binding constants (K(i)) gave the values of 3, 25, and 315 microM for GlcNAc-SO(4), Glc-6-SO(4), and Glc-1-SO(4) respectively.     

beta-Glucuronidase in the bull seminal plasma and reproductive organs

The biochemical distribution of beta-glucuronidase activity was studied in different reproductive organs, seminal plasma and spermatozoa of the bull. The highest specific activity was found in the epididymis, where the activity seemed to be mostly in nonsecretory and only partly in secretory form. A molecular weight of 340 X 10(3) to 360 X 10(3) was recorded for beta-glucuronidase in the bull seminal plasma and different reproductive organs with gel filtration on Sepharose 6B. In chromatofocusing four activity areas (CF-1 to CF-4) were usually obtained for beta-glucuronidase in the bull seminal plasma. The major peak CF-2 (also in the different reproductive organs) had a pI value of 5.6-5.3 and the two minor activity areas CF-1 and CF-3 had pI values of 6.0-5.8 and 5.2-4.5, respectively. Peak CF-4 eluted with a NaCl gradient after the Polybuffer elution and possibly represents an enzyme form incompletely detached from negatively charged cellular material. Isoelectric focusing on polyacrylamide gel confirmed the heterogeneity of beta-glucuronidase, since several activity bands were detected in the secretion of the different parts of the epididymis. beta-Glucuronidase activities CF-1, CF-2 and CF-3 had similar pH activity profiles (pH optimum around pH 3.0-4.0) and response to thermal inactivation at 50 degrees C. The multiple beta-glucuronidase activities of the bull seminal plasma are proposed to derive mainly from the secretion of the cauda epididymidis.     

Comparative activity of rat liver dihydrofolate reductase with 7,8-dihydrofolate and other 7,8-dihydropteridines

The various interactions of rat liver dihydrofolate reductase with two unconjugated 7,8-dihydropteridines, 7,8-dihydrobiopterin and 6-methyl-7,8-dihydropteridine, have been compared with those of 7,8-dihydrofolate and folate. Of particular interest was the reactivity demonstrated by 7,8-dihydrobiopterin because of the potential physiological significance of this reaction both in the regeneration of tetrahydrobiopterin, a cofactor for various biological hydroxylations, and as a step in the biosynthesis of this compound from GTP. Kinetic experiments gave Km values of 0.17, 6.42, and 10.2 microM for 7,8-dihydrofolate, 7,8-dihydrobiopterin, and 6-methyl-7,8-dihydropteridine, respectively, with Vmax = 6.22, 2.39, and 1.54 mumol min-1 mg-1. With folate the enzyme showed high affinity (Km = 0.88 microM) but low Vmax (0.20 mumol min-1 mg-1). The natural cofactor was NADPH and a Km of approximately 0.7 microM was measured with each substrate. The enzyme was activated by both p-hydroxymercuribenzoate and urea when assayed with 7,8-dihydrofolate but was inhibited when 7,8-dihydrobiopterin was the substrate. The pH optimum for dihydrofolate reduction was 4 with enhancement at pH greater than or equal to 5.5 in the presence of 1 M NaCl. Peak activity with 7,8-dihydrobiopterin occurred at pH 4.8; this was shifted to pH 5.3 but was not enhanced by 1 M NaCl. Inhibition with methotrexate was similar whether the enzyme was assayed with either the conjugated or unconjugated 7,8-dihydro derivatives. The rat liver enzyme, highly unstable after purification, was stabilized in the presence of the nonionic detergent, Tween-20 (0.1%); however, the comparative properties toward the conjugated and unconjugated substrates were not altered by this treatment.     

Characteristics of sialidase in the rat salivary glands

Using 4-methylumbelliferyl-N-acetylneuraminic acid (4MU-NeuAc) as substrate, we measured sialidase activity in the salivary glands and other organs of the rat. The pH optima of salivary gland sialidase were between 4.0 and 4.5, which were similar to those of the enzyme in the brain, liver and kidney. Among the salivary glands, the submandibular one showed the highest sialidase activity followed by the parotid and the sublingual glands. However, sialidase activity in these glands was lower when compared with the activity in the brain, liver and kidney. From the subcellular distribution study, salivary gland sialidase was found to be mainly localized in the lysosomes. The pH optima of the lysosomal sialidase of the salivary glands were between 4.0 and 4.5; and Km values for 4MU-NeuAc approximately 0.09 mmol/l. In the submandibular and parotid glands, a soluble sialidase with a different pH optimum (5.5) and Km value (0.25 mmol/l) was also detected.     

A new type of exo-beta-glucuronidase acting only on non-sulfated glycosaminoglycans

Using chondroitin as a substrate, a new type of exo-beta-glucuronidase (EC 3.2.1.31) from rabbit liver was purified using a combination of ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-cellulose chromatography, gel filtration on Sephracryl S-300, affinity chromatography through heparin-Sepharose CL-6B, and preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This enzyme acts only on non-sulfated glycosaminoglycans and their oligosaccharides and was shown to be quite different from exo-beta-glucuronidase, which does act on p-nitro-phenyl-beta-D-glucuronide with regard to the following properties. 1) Neither sulfated glycosaminoglycanoligosaccharides nor p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-glucuronide were substrates for the enzyme. 2) The molecular weight was found to be about 130,000 by gel filtration, compared with a molecular weight of 280,000-300,000 for beta-glucuronidase, which acts on p-nitro-phenyl-beta-D-glucuronide. 3) The enzyme showed maximal activity at pH 5.0, compared with an optimum pH of 4.5 for beta-glucuronidase, which acts on p-nitro-phenyl-beta-D-glucuronide. 4) The enzyme showed maximal activity in 0.075 M NaCl but no activity above 0.25 M NaCl. 5) The enzyme was inhibited strongly by compounds bearing a sulfate group. 6) The enzyme did not react with an antibody against beta-glucuronidase acting on p-nitrophenyl-D-glucuronide. It is suggested that the enzyme may be involved in the catabolism of glycosaminoglycans, acting especially on chondroitin after the desulfation reaction and/or hyaluronic acid, but showing little involvement with the detoxification system.     

The pH dependency of bovine spleen cathepsin B-catalyzed transfer of N alpha-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-lysine from p-nitrophenol to water and dipeptide nucleophiles. Comparisons with papain

Cathepsin B has been shown to catalyze the transfer of the N alpha-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-lysyl residue from the corresponding p-nitrophenyl ester substrate to water and dipeptide nucleophiles. These reactions occurred through the formation of an acyl-enzyme intermediate. The pH dependency of the acylation and deacylation steps were determined from the increases in the maximum rate of appearance of p-nitrophenol on addition of glycylglycine or L-leucylglycine to the reaction. The second order acylation rate constant, kcat/Km was found to depend on the state of ionization of three groups in the enzyme having pKa values of 4.2, 5.5, and 8.6. Protonation of the group with pKa = 5.5 decreased but did not abolish enzymatic activity, resulting in the appearance of a second, active protonic form of the enzyme between pH 4.2 and pH 5.5. The first order rate constant for the hydrolysis of the acyl-enzyme intermediate was independent of pH between 4.0 and 7.5. In contrast, acyl group transfer from cathepsin B to glycylglycine and L-leucylglycine depended on a group with a pKa of about 4.5. These results are discussed in terms of possible structural and functional homologies between the active sites of cathepsin B and papain.     

Purification and characterization of active recombinant human napsin A.

Recombinant human napsin A expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells was purified to homogeneity by a single-step procedure using part of napsin A propeptide as affinity ligand. N-Terminal amino-acid sequencing of the purified enzyme identified the mature form of napsin A. Treatment of purified napsin A with endoglycosidases F and H resulted in a decrease in its molecular mass from 39 kDa to approximately 37 kDa, confirming that napsin A is glycosylated. The kinetic properties were analyzed by using two fluorogenic synthetic substrates K(Dabsyl)-TSLLMAAPQ-Lucifer yellow (DS1) and K(Dabsyl)-TSVLMAAPQ-Lucifer yellow (DS3). The Km values obtained were 1.7 microM and 6.2 microM, respectively. A substrate-specificity study using a napsin A-targeted peptide library confirmed the preference of napsin A for hydrophobic residues at positions P1 and P1'. Adjacent positions, P2-P4 and P2'-P4', appeared less restricted in distribution of amino acids. A pH optimum between 4.0 and 5.5 at room temperature was determined. The purified enzyme was fully active for more than 10 h at pH 5.0 and 6.0, while a half-life of 4 h was determined at pH 7.0 and 37 degrees C.     

Characterization of bovine kappa-casein fractions and the kinetics of chymosin-induced macropeptide release from carbohydrate-free and carbohydrate-containing fractions determined by high-performance gel-permeation chromatography.

Bovine kappa-casein was fractionated at pH 8.0 on DEAE-Sepharose with an NaCl gradient, followed by DEAE-cellulose chromatography using a decreasing pH gradient from pH 6.0 to 4.5. At least ten components could be identified, each differing in N-acetylneuraminic acid (NeuAc) and/or phosphorus content. Two components appeared to be multiply-phosphorylated, but did not contain NeuAc. The possible significance of this finding in relation to the mode of phosphorylation and glycosylation in vivo is discussed. A carbohydrate-free fraction as well as two NeuAc-containing fractions were compared in their substrate behaviour towards the action of the milk-clotting enzyme chymosin at pH 6.6 and 30 degrees C. To this end the trichloroacetic acid-soluble reaction products were analysed by high-performance gel-permeation chromatography. In order of increasing carbohydrate content the kcat. values found ranged from 40 to 25 s-1 and the Km values from 9 to 3 microM; the overall substrate properties of these components as reflected by the kinetic parameter kcat./Km ranged from 5 to 8 microM-1 X S-1. Irreversible polymerization of the carbohydrate-free fraction brought about a more-than-2-fold increase in Km, the kcat. value remaining virtually constant. The kcat./Km found for the cleavage of whole kappa-casein at pH 6.6 was of the same magnitude as the kcat./Km found for the polymerized carbohydrate-free fraction (i.e. about 3 microM-1 X S-1). No indication of substrate inhibition was found for the carbohydrate-free fraction.     

Isolation and molecular kinetic properties of the angiotensin-converting enzyme from the human heart

An angiotensin-converting enzyme was isolated from human heart using N[-1(S)-carboxy-5-aminopentyl]glycyl-glycine as an affinity adsorbent. The isolation procedure resulted in an enzyme purified 1650-fold. The enzyme specific activity was 38.0 u./mg protein, Mr = 150 kD. The pH optimum for the angiotensin-converting enzyme towards Hip-His-Leu lies at 7.8, Km = 1.2 mM. The enzyme was inhibited by the substrate (Ks' = 14 mM). The enzyme effectively catalyzed the hydrolysis of angiotensin I (Km = 10 microM; kcat = 250 s-1). NaCl, CaCl2 as well as Na2SO4 in the absence of Cl- activated the enzyme, whereas CH3COONa and NaNO3 did not influence the enzyme activity. It was found that the bradykinin-potentiating factor inhibited the cardiac angiotensin-converting enzyme with IC50 = 4.0 X 10(-8) M.     

Human liver glucuronate 2-sulphatase. Purification, characterization and catalytic properties.

Human glucuronate 2-sulphatase (GAS), which is involved in the degradation of the glycosaminoglycans heparan sulphate and chondroitin 6-sulphate, was purified almost 2,000,000-fold to homogeneity in 8% yield from liver with a four-step six-column procedure, which consists of a concanavalin A-Sepharose/Blue A-agarose coupled step, a DEAE-Sephacel/octyl-Sepharose coupled step, CM-Sepharose chromatography and gel-permeation chromatography. Although more than 90% of GAS activity had a pI of greater than 7.5, other forms with pI values of 5.8, 5.3, 4.7 and less than 4.0 were also present. The pI greater than 7.5 form of GAS had a native molecular mass of 63 kDa. SDS/polyacrylamide-gel-electrophoretic analysis resulted in two polypeptide subunits of molecular mass 47 and 19.5 kDa. GAS was active towards disaccharide substrates derived from heparin [O-(beta-glucuronic acid 2-sulphate)-(1----4)-O-(2,5)-anhydro[1-3H]mannitol 6-sulphate (GSMS)] and chondroitin 6-sulphate [O-(beta-glucuronic acid 2-sulphate-(1----3)-O-(2,5)-anhydro[1-3H]talitol 6-sulphate (GSTS)]. GAS activity towards GSMS and GSTS was at pH optima of 3.2 and 3.0 respectively with apparent Km values of 0.3 and 0.6 microM respectively and corresponding Vmax values of 12.8 and 13.7 mumol/min per mg of protein respectively. Sulphate and phosphate ions are potent inhibitors of enzyme activity. Cu2+ ions stimulated, whereas EDTA inhibited enzyme activity. It was concluded that GAS is required together with a series of other exoenzyme activities in the lysosomal degradation of glycosaminoglycans containing glucuronic acid 2-sulphate residues.     

Aspergillus ficuum phytase: partial primary structure, substrate selectivity, and kinetic characterization

Purified Aspergillus ficuum phytase's partial primary structure and amino acid and sugar composition were elucidated. Determination of kinetic parameters of the enzyme at different pH values and temperatures indicated no significant alteration of the Km for phytate while the Kcat was affected. The enzyme was able to release more than 51% of the total available Pi from phytate in a 3.0 hr assay at 58 degrees C, but the Kcat dropped to 15% of the initial rate. Substrate selectivity studies revealed phytate to be the preferred substrate. The pH optima of phytase was 5.0, 4.0, and 3.0 for phytate, ATP, and polyphosphate, respectively. The enzyme had varied sensitivity towards cations. While Ca++ and Fe++ produced no effect on the catalytic rate of the enzyme, Cu+, Cu++, Zn++, and Fe were found to be inhibitory. Mn++ was observed to enhance enzyme activity by 33% at 50 microM. Known inhibitors of acid phosphatases e.g. L (+)-tartrate, phosphomycin, and sodium fluoride had no effect on enzyme activity.     

Properties of two molecular forms of beta-glucuronidase from the mollusc Littorina littorea L.

The occurrence of the two molecular forms, I and II, in the beta-glucuronidase of the liver (hepatopancreas) from the marine mollusc Littorina littorea L. has been demonstrated for the first time. The two forms have been purified 355-fold and 1262-fold, respectively. Form I and II of beta-glucuronidase behave differently on DEAE-cellulose chromatography, polyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing (pH 5.5 and 4.2, respectively), optimum pH (4.4 and 3.4--4.1, respectively), thermal stability, Km (1.2 mM and 0.5 mM with p-nitrophenyl beta-D-glucuronide, 0.3 mM and 0.15 mM with phenolphthalein beta-D-glucuronide as substrates for form I and II, respectively) and V. Their molecular weight, estimated by gel filtration through Sephadex G-200, was about 250000 for both forms. Several subunits were separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate. This beta-glucuronidase is a glycoprotein, but sialic acid(s) were not detected. The enzyme was very active on synthetic substrates and also on hexasaccharides and tetrasaccharides containing glucuronic acid residues with beta 1 leads to 3 linkages; it had practially no activity on certain glycosaminoglycans. Hg2+ and glucaro-1,4-lactone were very effective inhibitors of this enzyme; the latter by a competitive mechanism.     

Purification, characterization and subcellular localization of pig liver alpha-L-iduronidase

alpha-L-Iduronidase was purified about 100,000-fold from pig liver by employing column chromatography on cellulose phosphate (P11), concanavalin A-Sepharose 4B, heparin-Sepharose 4B, Toyopearl HW-55, Sephadex G-100 and chelating Sepharose 6B charged with cupric ions. The molecular mass of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 70 kDa by Sephadex G-100 column chromatography. The purified enzyme gave a single band on disc polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis without using sodium dodecyl sulfate. However, two separate components of 70 kDa and 62 kDa appeared when it was analyzed by SDS/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These 70-kDa and 62-kDa components were confirmed as alpha-L-iduronidase immunochemically. The isoelectric points of these enzymes were both 9.1 as measured by isoelectric focusing in a polyacrylamide gel containing ampholine and sucrose. The optimal pH and Km values were 3.0-3.5 and 65 microM 4-methylumbelliferyl-alpha-L-iduronide, respectively. The purified enzyme was stable in the pH range 3.5-6.0 under conditions with or without 0.5 M NaCl. However, in the presence of 0.5 M NaCl, it was unstable at pH 3.0. Moreover, it was conversely stabilized at pH 7.0 in the presence of 0.5 M NaCl. Immunohistochemically, the enzyme was found in the Kupffer cells and was abundant on their lysosomal membranes. In liver cells, however, the immunohistochemical reaction was weak.     

Lignin peroxidase H2 from Phanerochaete chrysosporium: purification, characterization and stability to temperature and pH

The wood-destroying fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium secretes extracellular enzymes known as lignin peroxidases that are involved in the biodegradation of lignin and a number of environmental pollutants. Several lignin peroxidases are produced in liquid cultures of this fungus. However, only lignin peroxidase isozyme H8 has been extensively characterized. In agitated nutrient nitrogen-limited culture, P. chrysosporium produces two lignin peroxidases in about equal proportions. The molecular weights of these two major proteins (H2 and H8) as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were 38,500 (H2) and 42,000 (H8). The isoelectric points of these enzymes were 4.3 for H2 and 3.65 for H8. All subsequent experiments in this study were performed with H2 as it contributed the most (42%) to total activity and had the highest specific activity (57.3 U/mg). The Km values of lignin peroxidase H2 for H2O2 and veratryl alcohol were calculated to be 47 microM and 167 microM at pH 3.5, respectively. The pH optima for veratryl alcohol oxidase activity were pH 2.5 at 25 degrees C, pH 3.0 at 35 degrees C, and pH 3.5 at 45 degrees C. In the same manner the temperature optimum shifted from 25 degrees C at pH 2.5 to 45 degrees C at pH 3.5 and approximately 45-60 degrees C at pH 4.5. During storage the resting enzyme was relatively stable for 48 h up to 50 degrees C. Above this temperature the enzyme lost all activity within 6 h at 60 degrees C. At 70 degrees C all activity was lost within 10 min. The resting enzyme retained approximately 80% of its initial activity when stored at 40 degrees C for 21 h at a pH range of 4.0-6.5. Above pH 7.5 and below 4.0, the enzyme lost all activity in less than 5 h. During turnover the enzyme remained active at pH 5.5 for over 2 h whereas the enzyme activity was lost after 45 min at pH 2.5. The oxidation of veratryl alcohol was inhibited by EDTA, azide, cyanide, and by the catalase inhibitor 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole, but not by chloride. In the absence of another reducing substrate incubation of lignin peroxidase H2 with excess H2O2 resulted in partial and irreversible inactivation of the enzyme. The spectral characteristics of lignin peroxidase H2 are similar to those of other peroxidases. The suitability of lignin peroxidases for industrial applications is discussed.     

Purification and kinetic characterization of a dopamine-sulfating form of phenol sulfotransferase from human brain

The kinetic and biochemical properties of a purified, monoamine-sulfating form of phenol sulfotransferase (M-PST) from human brain are described. M-PST activity was separated and purified from phenol-sulfating activity by anion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and subsequently purified on AffiGel Blue and Sephacryl S-200, routinely giving a final purification of over 20 000-fold, with approximately a 3% yield. The molecular weight of the active species, as estimated by gel filtration chromatography, was 250 000. The purified enzyme was inhibited by NaCl (50% at 325 mM) and showed an optimum for dopamine sulfation at pH 7.0. Of the monoamine substrates examined, 4-methoxytyramine was the most extensively sulfated at 20 microM, while at higher substrate concentrations (200 microM), tyramine was the apparent preferred substrate. Kinetic analysis demonstrated that sulfation by M-PST proceeds via an ordered, bisubstrate reaction mechanism, where 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS) is the leading substrate. True Km values for dopamine and PAPS were 2.9 and 0.35 microM, respectively. The product inhibitor 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphate possessed a Ki of 0.07 microM, while the dead-end inhibitor ATP exhibited a Ki of 170 microM.     

The interrelation between high- and low-molecular-weight forms of GM1-beta-galactosidase purified from porcine spleen

1) Two forms of acid beta-galactosidase [EC 3.1.23] with different molecular weights catalyzing the hydrolysis of GM1-ganglioside and p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactoside were separated and purified from porcine spleen. 2) The apparent molecular weights were 400,000-600,000 and 70,000-74,000 for the high (termed Am form) and low (termed A1 form) molecular weight forms, respectively. 3) On examination by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, both forms of the enzyme had a common protein band of molecular weight 63,000, and the Am form showed three additional protein bands with molecular weights of 31,000, 21,000, and 20,000. 4) Both forms of the enzyme had similar catalytic functions with regard to pH-optimum, Km, substrate specificity and sensitivity to substrate analogues and other substances such as detergents, bovine serum albumin (BSA) and NaCl. 5) Both forms of the enzyme were fairly stable upon preincubation at 45 degrees C at acidic pH (pH 4.5), but lost their activities at neutral pH (pH 7.0). 6) The A1 form was a monomer at neutral pH (pH 7.0) and formed a dimer at acidic pH (pH 4.5). However, most of the Am form could not be converted to a dimeric form on gel filtration at acidic pH.     

Purification and characterization of a beta-glucuronidase present during embryogenesis of the mollusk Pomacea sp

A beta-glucuronidase was purified from Pomacea sp. eggs by ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-BioGel and Heparin-Sepharose chromatographies. This enzyme showed a Mr 180 kDa, with subunits of 90 kDa. The kinetic parameters were: pH 4.0, temperature 60 degrees C, Km 2.7 x 10(-6) and Vmax 15.3 microM/h, activator Mg+2, and inhibitor: lactone of D-saccharic acid. beta-glucuronidase is an exoglucuronidase involved in glycosaminoglycans metabolism with kinetics parameters similar to those found in mammals.