Steady-state kinetics of formaldehyde dehydrogenase and formate dehydrogenase from a methanol-utilizing yeast, Candida boidinii.

Initial velocity studies and product inhibition studies were conducted for the forward and reverse reactions of formaldehyde dehydrogenase (formaldehyde: NAD oxidoreductase, EC 1.2.1.1) isolated from a methanol-utilizing yeast Candida boidinii. The data were consistent with an ordered Bi-Bi mechanism for this reaction in which NAD+ is bound first to the enzyme and NADH released last. Kinetic studies indicated that the nucleoside phosphates ATP, ADP and AMP are competitive inhibitors with respect to NAD and noncompetitive inhibitors with respect to S-hydroxymethylglutathione. The inhibitions of the enzyme activity by ATP and ADP are greater at pH 6.0 and 6.5 than at neutral or alkaline pH values. The kinetic studies of formate dehydrogenase (formate:NAD oxidoreductase, EC 1.2.1.2) from the methanol grown C. boidinii suggested also an ordered Bi-Bi mechanism with NAD being the first substrate and NADH the last product. Formate dehydrogenase the last enzyme of the dissimilatory pathway of the methanol metabolism is also inhibited by adenosine phosphates. Since the intracellular concentrations of NADH and ATP are in the range of the Ki values for formaldehyde dehydrogenase and formate dehydrogenase the activities of these main enzymes of the dissimilatory pathway of methanol metabolism in this yeast may be regulated by these compounds.     

Chorismate mutase-prephenate dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli. 2. Evidence for two different active sites

The inhibition of the bifunctional enzyme chorismate mutase-prephenate dehydrogenase by substrate analogues, by the end product, tyrosine, and by the protein modifying agent iodoacetate has been investigated. The purpose of the investigations was to determine if the two reactions catalyzed by the enzyme occur at a single active site or at two separate active sites. Evidence in support of the conclusion that the mutase and dehydrogenase reactions are catalyzed at two similar but distinct active sites comes from the following results: (1) A substrate analogue (endo-oxabicyclic diacid) that inhibits competitively the mutase reaction has no effect on the dehydrogenase reaction. (2) Malonic acid and several of its derivatives act as inhibitory analogues of chorismate in the mutase reaction and of prephenate in the dehydrogenase reaction. However, different dissociation constants for their interaction with the free enzyme are obtained from studies on the mutase and dehydrogenase reactions. (3) The kinetics of the inhibition by tyrosine of the mutase reaction in the presence of NAD differ from those of the dehydrogenase reaction. The results confirm that carboxymethylation with iodoacetate of one cysteine residue per subunit eliminates both mutase and dehydrogenase activities and show that the inactivation of the enzyme activities is due to iodoacetate functioning as an active site directed inhibitor.     

Partial purification, substrate specificity and regulation of alpha-L-glycerolphosphate dehydrogenase from Saccharomyces carlsbergensis.

alpha-L-Glycerolphosphate dehydrogenase (sn-glycerol-3-phosphate:NAD+ 2-oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.8) from Saccharomyces carlsbergensis was purified 400-fold. The enzyme preparation is free of interfering activities, such as glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase, alcohol dehydrogenase, triose phosphate isomerase and glycerolphosphatase. At pH 7.0 it is specific for NADH (Km = 0.027 mM with 0.8 mM dihydroxyacetone phosphate) and dihydroxyacetone phosphate (Km = 0.2 mM with 0.2 mM NADH). Between pH 5.0 and 6.0 the enzyme functions with NADPH, but only at 7% of the rate with NADH. Various anions (I- greater than SO42- greater than Br- greater than Cl-) act as inhibitors competing with the substrate dihydroxyacetone phosphate. Inorganic phosphate (Ki = 0.1 mM), pyrophosphate and arsenate are strong inhibitors. The nucleotides ATP and ADP are also inhibitory, but their action seems to be of the same type as the general anion competition (Ki = 0.73 mM for ATP). The results are consistent with the notion that the enzyme may regulate the redox potential of the NAD+/NADH couple during fermentation.     

Regulation of coenzyme utilization by mitochondrial NAD(P)-dependent malic enzyme

1. Skeletal muscle mitochondrial NAD(P)-dependent malic enzyme [EC 1.1.1. 39, L-malate:NAD+ oxidoreductase (decarboxylating)] from herring could use both coenzymes, NAD and NADP, in a similar manner. 2. The coenzyme preference of mitochondrial NAD(P)-dependent malic enzyme was probed using dual wavelength spectroscopy and pairing the natural coenzymes, NAD or NADP with their respective thionicotinamide analogues, s-NADP or s-NAD, that have absorbance maxima in reduced forms at 400 nm. 3. s-NAD and s-NADP were found to be good alternate substrates for NAD(P)-dependent malic enzyme, the apparent Km values for the thioderivatives were similar to those of the corresponding natural coenzymes. 4. ATP produced greater inhibition of the NAD or s-NAD linked reactions than of the NADP or s-NADP-linked reactions of skeletal muscle mitochondrial NAD(P)-dependent malic enzyme. 5. At 5 mM malate concentration and in the presence of 2 mM ATP the NADP-linked reaction is favoured and the activity ratios, V(s-NADP)/V(NAD) or V(NADP)/V(s-NAD), are 6 and 26, respectively.     

Functional roles of ATP-binding residues in the catalytic site of human mitochondrial NAD(P)+-dependent malic enzyme

Human mitochondrial NAD(P)+-dependent malic enzyme is inhibited by ATP. The X-ray crystal structures have revealed that two ATP molecules occupy both the active and exo site of the enzyme, suggesting that ATP might act as an allosteric inhibitor of the enzyme. However, mutagenesis studies and kinetic evidences indicated that the catalytic activity of the enzyme is inhibited by ATP through a competitive inhibition mechanism in the active site and not in the exo site. Three amino acid residues, Arg165, Asn259, and Glu314, which are hydrogen-bonded with NAD+ or ATP, are chosen to characterize their possible roles on the inhibitory effect of ATP for the enzyme. Our kinetic data clearly demonstrate that Arg165 is essential for catalysis. The R165A enzyme had very low enzyme activity, and it was only slightly inhibited by ATP and not activated by fumarate. The values of K(m,NAD) and K(i,ATP) to both NAD+ and malate were elevated. Elimination of the guanidino side chain of R165 made the enzyme defective on the binding of NAD+ and ATP, and it caused the charge imbalance in the active site. These effects possibly caused the enzyme to malfunction on its catalytic power. The N259A enzyme was less inhibited by ATP but could be fully activated by fumarate at a similar extent compared with the wild-type enzyme. For the N259A enzyme, the value of K(i,ATP) to NAD+ but not to malate was elevated, indicating that the hydrogen bonding between ATP and the amide side chain of this residue is important for the binding stability of ATP. Removal of this side chain did not cause any harmful effect on the fumarate-induced activation of the enzyme. The E314A enzyme, however, was severely inhibited by ATP and only slightly activated by fumarate. The values of K(m,malate), K(m,NAD), and K(i,ATP) to both NAD+ and malate for E314A were reduced to about 2-7-folds compared with those of the wild-type enzyme. It can be concluded that mutation of Glu314 to Ala eliminated the repulsive effects between Glu314 and malate, NAD+, or ATP, and thus the binding affinities of malate, NAD+, and ATP in the active site of the enzyme were enhanced.     

Differential protective effects of O-phenanthroline and catalase on H2O2-induced DNA damage and inhibition of protein synthesis in endothelial cells.

The respective roles of H2O2 and .OH radicals was assessed from the protective effects of catalase and the iron chelator o-phenanthroline on 1) the inhibition of protein synthesis, and 2) DNA damage and the related events (activation of the DNA repairing enzyme poly(ADP)ribose polymerase with the associated depletion of NAD and ATP stores) in cultured endothelial cells exposed to the enzyme reaction hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase (HX-XO) or pure H2O2. Catalase added in the extracellular phase completely prevented all of these oxidant-induced changes. O-phenanthroline afforded a complete protective effect against DNA strand breakage and the associated activation of the enzyme poly(ADP)ribose polymerase. By contrast, iron chelation was only partially effective in maintaining the cellular NAD and ATP contents, as well as the protein synthetic activity. In addition, the ATP depletion following oxidant injury was much more profound than NAD depletion. These results indicate that: 1) .OH radical was most likely the ultimate O2 species responsible for DNA damage and activation of poly(ADP)ribose polymerase; 2) both H2O2 and .OH radicals were involved in the other cytotoxic effects (inhibition of protein synthesis and reduction of NAD and ATP stores); and 3) NAD and ATP depletion did not result solely from activation of poly(ADP)ribose polymerase, but other mechanisms are likely to be involved. These observations are also compatible with the existence of a compartmentalized intracellular iron pool.     

Effects of adenosine phosphates and nicotinamide nucleotides on pyruvate carboxylase from baker''s yeast

1. Pyruvate carboxylase from baker's yeast is inhibited by ADP, AMP and adenosine at pH8.0 in the presence of magnesium chloride concentrations equal to or higher than the ATP concentration. The adenine moiety is essential for the inhibitory effect. 2. In the absence of acetyl-CoA (an allosteric activator) ADP, AMP and adenosine are competitive inhibitors with respect to ATP. In the presence of acetyl-CoA, besides the effect with respect to ATP, AMP competes with acetyl-CoA, whereas ADP and adenosine are non-competitive inhibitors with respect to the activator. 3. Pyruvate carboxylase is inhibited by NADH. The inhibition is competitive with respect to acetyl-CoA and specific with respect to NADH, since NAD(+), NADP(+) and NADPH do not affect the enzyme activity. In the absence of acetyl-CoA, NAD(+), NADH, NADP(+) and NADPH do not inhibit pyruvate carboxylase. 4. Pyruvate carboxylase is inhibited by ADP, AMP and NADH at pH6.5, in the presence of 12mm-Mg(2+), 0.75mm-Mn(2+) and 0.5mm-ATP, medium conditions similar to those existing inside the yeast cell. The ADP and NADH effects are consistent with a regulation of enzyme activity by the intracellular [ATP]/[ADP] ratio and secondarily by NADH concentration. These mechanisms would supplement the already known control of yeast pyruvate carboxylase by acetyl-CoA and l-aspartate. Inhibition by AMP is less marked and its physiological role is perhaps limited.     

Participation of peroxisomal beta-oxidation system in the chain-shortening of a xenobiotic acyl compound

A drug, (E)-3-[4-(1-imidazolylmethyl)phenyl]-2-propenoic acid, was metabolized to 4-(1-imidazolylmethyl)benzoic acid in isolated hepatocytes of rats, which was enhanced markedly by the pretreatment of rats with clofibrate. With liver homogenates, the formation of the CoA-ester of this drug and its subsequent chain-shortening were demonstrated. In the series of these reactions, acyl-CoA synthetase, CoA, ATP and NAD were required, whereas cyanide did not inhibit the reaction. These results indicate that peroxisomes are capable of shortening the acyl side-chains of drugs by the beta-oxidation, giving an additional suggestion on the functions of peroxisomes.     

Influential factor contributing to the isoform-specific inhibition by ATP of human mitochondrial NAD(P)+-dependent malic enzyme: functional roles of the nucleotide binding site Lys346

Human mitochondrial NAD(P)(+)-dependent malic enzyme (m-NAD-ME) is a malic enzyme isoform with dual cofactor specificity, ATP inhibition and substrate cooperativity. The determinant of ATP inhibition in malic enzyme isoforms has not yet been identified. Sequence alignment of nucleotide-binding sites of ME isoforms revealed that Lys346 is conserved uniquely in m-NAD-ME. In other ME isoforms, this residue is serine. As the inhibitory effect of ATP is more pronounced on m-NAD-ME than on other ME isoforms, we have examined the possible role of Lys346 by replacing it to alanine, serine or arginine. Our kinetic data indicate that the K346S mutant enzyme displays a shift in its cofactor preference from NAD(+) to NADP(+) upon increasing k(cat,NADP) and decreasing K(m,NADP). Furthermore, the cooperative binding of malate becomes less significant in human m-NAD-ME after mutation of Lys346. The h value for the wild-type is close to 2, but those of the K346 mutants are approximately 1.5. The K346 mutants can also be activated by fumarate and the cooperative effect can be abolished by fumarate, suggesting that the allosteric property is retained in these mutants. Our data strongly suggest that Lys346 in human m-NAD-ME is required for ATP inhibition. Mutation of Lys346 to Ser or Ala causes the enzyme to be much less sensitive to ATP, similar to cytosolic NADP-dependent malic enzyme. Substitution of Lys to Arg did not change the isoform-specific inhibition of the enzyme by ATP. The inhibition constants of ATP are increased for K346S and K346A, but are similar to those of the wild-type for K346R, suggesting that the positive charge rather than group specificity is required for binding affinity of ATP. Thus, ATP inhibition is proposed to be determined by the electrostatic potential involving the positive charge on the side chain of Lys346.     

Fluorescence studies on glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase from bovine heart muscle

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase is a glycolytic enzyme that catalyses conversion of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate to 1,3-diphosphoglycerate. ATP has been found to have an inhibitory effect on this enzyme. To establish the interaction between the enzyme and ATP, a fluorescence technique was used. Fluorescence quenching in the presence of ATP suggests cooperative binding of ATP to the enzyme (the Hill obtained coefficient equals 2.78). The interaction between glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and ATP may control not only glycolysis but other activities of this enzyme, such as binding to the cytoskeleton.     

Inhibitory effects of adenine nucleotides and related substances on UDP-glucuronosyltransferase: structure-effect relationships and evidence for an allosteric mechanism

The inhibitory effects of nucleotides and related substances on rat hepatic UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) were studied. ATP and NADP+ markedly reduced 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU) UGT activity only when detergent-treated rat liver microsomes were used as the enzyme source. The IC50 values of adenine, ATP, NAD+ and NADP+ were estimated to be below 20 microM, whereas AMP had no inhibitory effect. From the kinetic behavior observed, these adenine-related compounds were assumed to inhibit UGT activity non-competitively without competing with either 4-MU or UDP-glucuronic acid. Among guanine, cytosine and their related nucleotides, only triphosphate nucleotides (CTP and GTP) exhibited potent UGT inhibition, although the effect of GTP was weak. Estradiol 3- and 17-glucuronidation were also inhibited by the inhibitors of 4-MU UGT. The only exception was that estradiol 17-glucuronidation activity was inhibited by AMP (IC50=31 microM). In addition, AMP antagonized the inhibitory effects of adenine, ATP, and NADP+ on 4-MU and estradiol 3- glucuronidation activities. These results suggest that (1) a number of cellular nucleotides present within the endoplasmic reticulum regulate UGT function; and (2) these substances bind to a common allosteric site on UGT to reduce catalytic function.     

Stimulatory effect of ADP, ATP, NAD(P) on pyruvate production from malate by uncoupled human placental mitochondria

It has been shown that ADP, ATP, NAD(P), and NAD(P)H significantly stimulate pyruvate production from malate by intact uncoupled human term placental mitochondria. No stimulation by ADP was observed when mitochondria were incubated in the presence of NAD(P) or NAD(P)H or when mitochondrial membrane had been disrupted. Atractyloside and oligomycin were without effect on ADP- and ATP-stimulated pyruvate production. Other dinucleotides tested such as GDP, UDP, and CDP, stimulated pyruvate production only slightly when mitochondria were incubated in the absence of phosphate. The rate of pyruvate production by intact mitochondria is commensurate with partly purified NAD(P)-linked malic enzyme activity as measured by NAD(P) reduction as far as the effects of pH of hydroxymalonate on these both processes is concerned. It is concluded that pyruvate production by intact human placental mitochondria is catalyzed by NAD(P)-linked malic enzyme and that this process is stimulated by ADP and ATP.     

Heart phosphofructokinase: allosteric kinetics with fructose 6-sulfate.

The allosteric regulation of heart phosphofructokinase was studied at pH 6.9 with an alternative substrate, fructose 6-sulfate. The alternative substrate allowed kinetic studies to be carried out at high enzyme concentrations (0.1 mg/ml) where the effect of allosteric ligands on enzyme physical structure has been studied. A Km for ATP binding (8-10 muM) in the presence of saturating AMP concentrations was found which agreed well with the value obtained at pH 8.2, ATP inhibitory effects closely followed saturation of its substrate site. Hill plots for ATP inhibition gave an interaction coefficient of 3.5 indicating cooperatively between at least four enzyme subunits. Neither AMP nor fructose 6-sulfate affected the cooperativity between the ATP inhibitory sites but only increased the inhibitory threshold. As the ATP concentration was increased from suboptimal to inhibitory levels, interaction coefficients for AMP and fructose 6-sulfate changed from 1 to 2. Increasing citrate concentration resulted in an increase in the interaction coefficient for fructose 6-sulfate to a value of 1.9. Citrate inhibition was synergistic with ATP inhibition with an interaction coefficient of 2. The data indicate that allosteric kinetics of the enzyme can be shown at high enzyme concentrations with the alternative substrate. ATP inhibition appears to involve interaction between at least four subunits, while citrate, AMP, and fructose 6-sulfate interact minimally with two subunits.     

ADP-Ribosylation of Highly Purified Rat Brain Mitochondria

Highly purified synaptic and nonsynaptic mitochondria were prepared from rat brain, and their ADP-ribosyl transferase and NAD glycohydrolase activities were investigated. Data show that there is no significant difference in ADP-ribosyl transferase activity between these two types of subcellular preparations. However, NAD glycohydrolase activity appeared to be much higher in nonsynaptic mitochondria. The specific activity of both enzymes was investigated in the presence of the inhibitor nicotinamide or its analogue 3-aminobenzamide or other adenine nucleotides, such as ATP or ADP-ribose. The inhibitory effect of nicotinamide or 3-aminobenzamide on ADP-ribosyl transferase appears rather weak compared with their effect on NAD glycohydrolase activity. However, ADP-ribose and ATP appeared more effective in inhibiting ADP-ribosyl transferase. Our results provide evidence for the existence of ADP-ribosyl transferase activity in rat brain mitochondria. When NAD glycohydrolase was inhibited totally by nicotinamide, the transfer of ADP-ribose from NAD to mitochondrial proteins still occurred. The chain length determinations show that the linkage of ADP-ribose to mitochondrial proteins is oligomeric.     

Identification of an unusual AT(D)Pase-like activity in multifunctional NAD glycohydrolase from the venom of Agkistrodon acutus

NAD-glycohydrolases (NADases) are ubiquitous enzymes that possess NAD glycohydrolase, ADPR cyclase or cADPR hydrolase activity. All these activities are attributed to the NADase-catalyzed cleavage of C-N glycosyl bond. AA-NADase purified from the venom of Agkistrodon acutus is different from the known NADases, for it consists of two chains linked with disulfide-bond(s) and contains one Cu(2+) ion. Here, we show that AA-NADase is not only able to cleave the C-N glycosyl bond of NAD to produce ADPR and nicotinamide, but also able to cleave the phosphoanhydride linkages of ATP, ADP and AMP-PNP to yield AMP. AA-NADase selectively cleaves the P-O-P bond of ATP, ADP and AMP-PNP without the cleavage of P-O-P bond of NAD. The hydrolysis reactions of NAD, ATP and ADP catalyzed by AA-NADase are mutually competitive. ATP is the excellent substrate for AA-NADase with the highest specificity constant k(cat)/K(m) of 293+/-7mM(-1)s(-1). AA-NADase catalyzes the hydrolysis of ATP to produce AMP with an intermediate ADP. AA-NADase binds with one AMP with high affinity determined by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). AMP is an efficient inhibitor against NAD. AA-NADase has so far been identified as the first unique multicatalytic enzyme with both NADase and AT(D)Pase-like activities.     

Pertussis Toxin-Catalyzed ADP-Ribosylation: Effects on the Coupling of Inhibitory Receptors to the Adenylate Cyclase System

Abstract

The adenylate cyclase system consists of stimulatory and inhibitory hormone and drug receptors coupled through different GTP-binding proteins to a catalytic unit, responsible for the synthesis of cAMP from ATP. Pertussis toxin blocks the effect of inhibitory agonists on the catalytic unit by enzymatically inactivating the inhibitory GTP-binding protein (G_i). Study of the inhibitory arm of the cyclase system has been facilitated by the dissection of the overall process of hormonal inhibition of cAMP formation into a series of reactions characteristic of the individual protein components of this complex system; pertussis toxin has proven to be a useful tool with which to study these individual reactions. Exposure of cells or membranes to pertussis toxin in the presence of NAD results in ADP-ribosylation of a 41,000 Da subunit of G_i. ADP-ribosylation of G_i has a number of effects on the overall and partial reactions of the cyclase system, including a loss of a) hormonal inhibition of cAMP formation, b) hormonal stimulation of GTPase and c) agonist-induced release of membrane-bound guanyl nucleotides. In addition, in toxin-treated membranes, the affinity of inhibitory receptors for agonist but not antagonist is decreased with no significant change in receptor number.     

Pyridine nucleotide analog interference with metabolic processes in mitogen-stimulated human T lymphocytes

The differential metabolic effects of three nicotinamide analogs, 6-aminonicotinamide, 3-aminobenzamide, and 5-methylnicotinamide, were analyzed in mitogen-stimulated preparations of human T lymphocytes. Mitogen stimulation with the phorbol ester TPA and a monoclonal antibody to the T3 cell surface antigen caused an increase in cellular NAD and ATP levels and a marked increase in glucose metabolism as demonstrated by an increase in cellular levels of glucose 6-phosphate and a sevenfold increase in radioactive CO2 formation from [l-14C]glucose. 6-Aminonicotinamide had drastic inhibitory effects on the mitogen-stimulated increases in NAD and ATP levels as well as on the metabolism of glucose. Treatment of the mitogen-stimulated cells with 6-aminonicotinamide also caused a marked increase in cellular levels of 6-phosphogluconate, suggesting inhibition of the hexose monophosphate shunt at 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase. Radioactive CO2 formation from [6-14C]glucose showed that metabolism through the tricarboxylic acid cycle was not used to compensate for the inhibition of the hexose monophosphate shunt pathway. Treatment of cells with 3-aminobenzamide had the opposite effect of 6-aminonicotinamide in that cellular NAD levels increased, presumable due to inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. 3-Aminobenzamide did not interfere with ATP or glucose 6-phosphate levels and did not cause significant elevations of 6-phosphogluconate. Thus, 6-aminonicotinamide appears to have direct inhibitory effects on the synthesis of both pyridine nucleotides and poly(ADP-ribose), whereas 3-aminobenzamide has its major inhibitory effect on poly(ADP-ribose) synthesis. 5-Methylnicotinamide also interferes with the mitogen-stimulated increase in NAD levels but not as effectively as 6-aminonicotinamide. The alterations in pyridine nucleotide metabolism resulting from treatment with these nicotinamide analogs can produce drastic and diverse alterations in pathways of glucose utilization and energy generation.     

Catalytic control and coupling efficiency of the Escherichia coli FoF1 ATP synthase: influence of the Fo sector and epsilon subunit on the catalytic transition state

The rate-limiting transition state of steady-state ATP hydrolysis and synthesis reactions in the F(o)F(1) ATP synthase involves the rotation of the gamma, epsilon, and c subunits. To probe the role of the transport and coupling mechanisms in controlling catalysis, kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of ATP hydrolysis were determined for enzymes in the presence of the detergent lauryldimethylamine oxide (LDAO), which uncouples active transport and disables the inhibitory effect of the epsilon subunit. At 5 mM LDAO or greater, the inhibitory effects of epsilon subunit are abrogated in both purified F(1) and membranous F(o)F(1). In these conditions, LDAO solubilized F(o)F(1) has a higher k(cat) for ATP hydrolysis than F(1). These results indicate an influence of F(o) on F(1) even though catalysis is uncoupled from transport. The alpha(3)beta(3)gamma complex free of the epsilon subunit is activated at a lower concentration of 0.5 mM LDAO. Significantly, the gammaY205C mutant enzyme is similarly activated at 0.5 mM LDAO, suggesting that the mutant enzyme lacks epsilon inhibition. The gammaY205C F(o)F(1), which has a k(cat) for ATP hydrolysis 2-fold higher than wild type, has an ATP synthesis rate 3-fold lower than wild type, showing that coupling is inefficient. Arrhenius and isokinetic analyses indicate that enzymes that are free of epsilon subunit inhibition have a different transition-state structure from those under the influence of the epsilon subunit. We propose that the epsilon subunit is one of the factors that determines the proper transition-state structure, which is essential for efficient coupling.     

Salvage pathway for NAD biosynthesis in Brevibacterium ammoniagenes: regulatory properties of triphosphate-dependent nicotinate phosphoribosyltransferase

As the rate-limiting enzyme, catalyzing the first reaction in NAD salvage synthesis, nicotinate phosphoribosyltransferase (NAPRTase, EC 2.4.2.11) is of important interest for studies of intracellular pyridine nucleotide pool regulation. We have purified NAPRTase 520-fold from Brevibacterium ammoniagenes ATCC 6872 without using an over-expression system by applying acid treatment, salt fractionation, Ca-phosphate gel treatment, anion exchange column chromatography and size-exclusion gel filtration. Unlike this enzyme from other sources, B. ammoniagenes NAPRTase was found to be controlled by the feedback inhibition by the end product NAD with K(i)=0.7+/-0.1 mM. The reaction products, pyrophosphate and nicotinate mononucleotide, also decreased the enzyme activity, as did other intermediates of NAD synthesis, such as AMP, ADP and a NAD direct precursor, nicotinate adenine dinucleotide or deamido NAD. The enzyme was observed to require a nucleoside triphosphate for its activity and showed the maximum affinity for ATP. The specificity, however, turned out to be poor, and ATP could be substituted by other nucleoside triphosphates as well as by sodium triphosphate. The kinetic characteristics of the enzyme are reported. For the first time, our data have experimentally revealed such complicated stimulatory and inhibitory effects by the intermediates of NAD biosynthesis on one of its salvage enzymes, NAPRTase. On the basis of these data, the key role of NAPRTase is discussed in light of the regulation of NAD metabolism in B. ammoniagenes.     

Analysis of function-related interactions of ATP, sodium and potassium ions with Na+- and K+-transporting ATPase studied with a thiol reagent as tool.

The paper describes the interaction of ATP, Na+ and K+ with (NaK)-ATPase exploiting the inactivation by reaction with NBD-chloride as an analytical tool for the evaluation of enzyme ligandation with the various effectors. 1. The inactivation of (NaK)-ATPase by reaction with NBD-chloride showing under all conditions studied a pseudo first-order rate rests on the alkylation of thiol groups in or near catalytic centre. ATP bound to catalytic centre prevents from enzyme inactivation by NDD-chloride through protection of these thiol groups from alkylation. Na+ and K+ affect the reactivity of the thiol groups towards NBD-chloride either indirectly via influencing ATP binding or more directly via changing the conformation of catalytic centre. Proceeding from these interrelations, the interaction of the various effectors with the enzyme was analyzed. 2. The K'D-values of various nucleotides determined by our approach correspond to the values obtained by independent methods. As shown for the first time, two catalytic centres per enzyme molecule exist. They exhibit high or low affinity to both ATP and ADP apparently caused by anticooperative interaction of the half-units of the enzyme through intersubunit communication ("half-of-the-sites reactivity"). 3. In the absence of ATP, Na+ or K+ ligandation of (NaK)-ATPase produce opposite effects on the reactivity of the thiol groups of catalytic centres reflecting different changes of their conformation. This corresponds to the well-known antagonistic effect of Na+ and K+ on some partial reactions of (NaK)-ATPase. The Na+ and K+ concentrations required to change thiol reactivity are rather high, i.e. the ionophoric centres for both Na+ and K+ are not readily accessible for cation complexation in the absence of enzyme complexation with ATP. 4. Na+ being without effect on ATP binding to the enzyme also does not influence the inactivating reaction with NBD-chloride while K+ by decreasing ATP binding dramatically decreases the protective effect of ATP. The K+ affinity of the enzyme-ATP complex is by more than two orders of magnitude higher than that of free enzyme. Na+ ligandation of the K+-liganded enzyme-ATP complex reverses the effect of K+ ligandation and produces a protective effect which distinctly surpasses that of the complexation of free enzyme with ATP. Hence, the enzyme molecule carries simultaneously ionophoric centres for both Na+ and K+. 5. The findings that per enzyme molecule ionophoric centres for Na+ and K+, and two catalytic centres with anticooperative interaction coexist corroborate the corresponding basic predictions of the flip-flop concept of (NaK)-ATPase pump mechanism, and explain some peculiar kinetic features of transport and enzyme activities of (NaK)-ATPase.