Differential effects of Mg2+ ions on the individual kinetic steps of human cytosolic and mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenases

Although the structures of mammalian cytosolic and mitochondrial ALDH have been determined, several differences, mainly functional, between these two 70% identical isozymes remain unexplained. A major difference is the differential effect of Mg(2+) ions that inhibits the cytosolic and activates the mitochondrial isozyme. Here, we have investigated the effect of Mg(2+) ions on each individual kinetic step of ALDH1 and ALDH2. The metal ions were found not to affect either acylation or hydride transfer for either isozyme. The lack of a Mg(2+) ion effect on hydride transfer was further demonstrated with an E399Q mutant of ALDH1 whose rate-limiting step had been changed from NADH dissociation to hydride transfer. The other steps, however, were affected by Mg(2+) ions for both isozymes. The metal ions inhibited NADH dissociation, the rate-limiting step for ALDH1, and enhanced deacylation, the rate-limiting step for ALDH2. Our results indicated that, with both isozymes, Mg(2+) ions tightened the binding of NADH, and by binding to the coenzyme, they increased the nucleophilicity of the nucleophile Cys302. The inhibition of ALDH1 and activation of ALDH2 at pH 7.4 are due to their different rate-limiting steps. Mg(2+) ions affected similarly the NADH activation of the esterase reaction for both isozymes. In contrast, the metal ions affected only the NAD(+) activation of ALDH1. This latter finding and other features described here can be rationalized on the basis of the known three-dimensional structures of the isozymes.     

Physiologically relevant divalent cations modulate citrate recognition by the McpS chemoreceptor

The McpS chemoreceptor of Pseudomonas putida KT2440 recognizes six different tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates. However, the magnitude of the chemotactic response towards these compounds differs largely, which has led to distinguish between strong attractants (malate, succinate, fumarate, oxaloacetate) and weak attractants (citrate, isocitrate). Citrate is abundantly present in plant tissues and root exudates and can serve as the only carbon source for growth. Citrate is known to form complexes with divalent cations which are also abundantly present in natural habitats of this bacterium. We have used isothermal titration calorimetry to study the formation of citrate-metal ion complexes. In all cases binding was entropy driven but significant differences in affinity were observed ranging from K(D)=157 μM (for Mg(2+)) to 3 μM (for Ni(2+)). Complex formation occurred over a range of pH and ionic strength. The ligand binding domain of McpS (McpS-LBD) was found to bind free citrate, but not complexes with physiologically relevant Mg(2+) and Ca(2+). In contrast, complexes with divalent cations which are present as trace elements (Co(2+), Cd(2+) and Ni(2+)) were recognized by McpS-LBD. This discrimination differs from other citrate sensing proteins. These results are discussed in the context of the three dimensional structure of free citrate and its complex with Mg(2+). Chemotaxis assays using P. putida revealed that taxis towards the strong attractant malate is strongly reduced in the presence of free citrate. However, this reduction is much less important in the presence of citrate-Mg(2+) complexes. The physiological relevance of these findings is discussed.     

Fluorescence study of the interaction of Suwannee River fulvic acid with metal ions and Al3+-metal ion competition

In this study emission and synchronous-scan fluorescence spectroscopy have been used to investigate the interaction of the class A (oxygen seeking 'hard acid') metal Al(3+), with Suwannee River fulvic acid (SRFA), as well as competition between Al(3+) and several other metal ions (Ca(2+), Mg(2+), Cu(2+), Pd(2+), La(3+), Tb(3+) and Fe(3+)) for binding sites on SRFA. Of the four metal ions possessing very similar (and relatively low) ionic indices (Ca(2+), Mg(2+), Cu(2+) and Pd(2+)) only the latter two paramagnetic ions significantly quenched SRFA fluorescence emission intensity. Of the four metal ions possessing very similar (and relatively low) covalent indices (Ca(2+), Mg(2+), La(3+) and Tb(3+)) only the last paramagnetic ion (Tb(3+)) significantly quenched SRFA fluorescence. None of these metals was able to significantly compete with SRFA-bound Al(3+).Fe(3+), which differs substantially from all of the other metals examined in this study in that it possesses a relatively high ionic index (but not as high as Al(3+)) and a relatively low covalent index (but not as low as Al(3+)), was able not only to quench SRFA fluorescence but also to compete (at least to some extent) with SRFA-bound Al(3+). Synchronous-scan fluorescence SRFA spectra taken in the absence and presence of Fe(3+) and/or Al(3+) support the view that these two metal ions can compete for sites on SRFA. The results of these fluorescence experiments further confirm the Al(3+), and metal ions that have electronic properties somewhat similar to Al(3+) (such as Fe(3+)) are somewhat unique in their ability to interact strongly with binding sites on fulvic acids.     

Membrane adenosine triphosphatase of Micrococcus lysodeikticus: effect of millimolar Mg2+ in modulating the properties of the membrane-bound enzyme

The latency of Micrococcus lysodeikticus membrane-bound Mg(2+)-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) is expressed by the ratio of its activity assayed in the presence of trypsin ("total") versus the activity assayed in absence of the protease ("basal"). By isolating membranes in the presence of variable concentrations of Mg(2+) (50 mM, 10 mM, or none) and by washing them with different Mg(2+)- and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-containing tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane-hydrochloride buffers (pH 7.5), we showed that the enzyme latency was dependent on the environmental concentration of this divalent metal ion. Mg(2+) bound to at least two classes of sites. The binding of Mg(2+) to low-affinity sites (saturation at approximately 40 mM external Mg(2+)) induced a high basal ATPase activity, whereas its binding to medium-affinity sites (saturation at about 2 mM Mg(2+)) correlated with low basal activity and a very high stimulation by trypsin. Membranes with tightly bound Mg(2+) (high affinity?) revealed an intermediate behavior for the latency of M. lysodeikticus ATPase. The Mg(2+)/Ca(2+) antagonism as activators of the membrane ATPase was not directly related to Mg(2+) binding by the membranes. The efficiency of the ATPase release from M. lysodeikticus membrane by 3 mM tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane-hydrochloride buffer (pH 7.5) was inversely proportional to the concentration of external and/or bound Mg(2+). Deoxycholate (DOC) (1%) solubilized the ATPase from all types of membrane. All the soluble ATPases behaved as Ca(2+)-ATPases, but the DOC-soluble fractions showed degrees of latency like those of the original membranes. The DOC-soluble ATPase preparation revealed a vesicular structure and complex protein patterns by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis. We propose that ATPase latency is modulated via a Mg(2+)-ATPase-membrane complex.     

Modulation of cardiac ryanodine receptor channels by alkaline earth cations

Cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2) function is modulated by Ca(2+) and Mg(2+). To better characterize Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) binding sites involved in RyR2 regulation, the effects of cytosolic and luminal earth alkaline divalent cations (M(2+): Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Sr(2+), Ba(2+)) were studied on RyR2 from pig ventricle reconstituted in bilayers. RyR2 were activated by M(2+) binding to high affinity activating sites at the cytosolic channel surface, specific for Ca(2+) or Sr(2+). This activation was interfered by Mg(2+) and Ba(2+) acting at low affinity M(2+)-unspecific binding sites. When testing the effects of luminal M(2+) as current carriers, all M(2+) increased maximal RyR2 open probability (compared to Cs(+)), suggesting the existence of low affinity activating M(2+)-unspecific sites at the luminal surface. Responses to M(2+) vary from channel to channel (heterogeneity). However, with luminal Ba(2+)or Mg(2+), RyR2 were less sensitive to cytosolic Ca(2+) and caffeine-mediated activation, openings were shorter and voltage-dependence was more marked (compared to RyR2 with luminal Ca(2+)or Sr(2+)). Kinetics of RyR2 with mixtures of luminal Ba(2+)/Ca(2+) and additive action of luminal plus cytosolic Ba(2+) or Mg(2+) suggest luminal M(2+) differentially act on luminal sites rather than accessing cytosolic sites through the pore. This suggests the presence of additional luminal activating Ca(2+)/Sr(2+)-specific sites, which stabilize high P(o) mode (less voltage-dependent) and increase RyR2 sensitivity to cytosolic Ca(2+) activation. In summary, RyR2 luminal and cytosolic surfaces have at least two sets of M(2+) binding sites (specific for Ca(2+) and unspecific for Ca(2+)/Mg(2+)) that dynamically modulate channel activity and gating status, depending on SR voltage.     

Effects of diethylstilbestrol, 2,2'-dithiodipyridine, and chloral hydrate on the esterase activity of sheep liver cytoplasmic aldehyde dehydrogenase

The binding of diethylstilbestrol (DES) to aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) has a very similar effect on the dehydrogenase activity of the enzyme as has modification of the enzyme by 2,2'-dithiodipyridine [Kitson, T.M. (1982) Biochem. J. 207, 81-89]. The latter modification may occur at the site of the esterase activity of the enzyme [Kitson, T.M. (1985) Biochem. J. 228, 765-767]. This suggests that DES might be a competitive inhibitor of the esterase reaction. However, in the absence of oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) or reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), and at low concentrations of substrate (4-nitrophenyl acetate, PNPA), DES is a potent partial noncompetitive inhibitor. It is concluded therefore that DES binds at a site different from the esterase active site and that the enzyme-DES complex retains some ability to act as an esterase. High concentrations of PNPA appear to displace DES from its binding site. In the presence of NAD+, DES is a weaker inhibitor, and in the presence of NADH, DES has very little effect. Esterase activity is enhanced by NADH when PNPA concentrations are high but is inhibited when they are low. The rate of reaction of ALDH with 2,2'-dithiodipyridine is only slightly reduced by DES, suggesting that the site at which thiol modifiers react and the DES binding site are different. When ALDH is modified by 2,2'-dithiodipyridine, it has reduced esterase activity, which declines further as the modified enzyme loses its 2-thiopyridyl label. In the presence of NAD+, chloral hydrate is a simple competitive inhibitor of the esterase reaction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Differentiation of the slow-binding mechanism for magnesium ion activation and zinc ion inhibition of human placental alkaline phosphatase

The binding mechanism of Mg(2+) at the M3 site of human placental alkaline phosphatase was found to be a slow-binding process with a low binding affinity (K(Mg(app.)) = 3.32 mM). Quenching of the intrinsic fluorescence of the Mg(2+)-free and Mg(2+)-containing enzymes by acrylamide showed almost identical dynamic quenching constant (K(sv) = 4.44 +/- 0.09 M(-1)), indicating that there is no gross conformational difference between the M3-free and the M3-Mg(2+) enzymes. However, Zn(2+) was found to have a high affinity with the M3 site (K(Zn(app.)) = 0.11 mM) and was observed as a time-dependent inhibitor of the enzyme. The dependence of the observed transition rate from higher activity to lower activity (k(obs)) at different zinc concentrations resulted in a hyperbolic curve suggesting that zinc ion induces a slow conformational change of the enzyme, which locks the enzyme in a conformation (M3'-Zn) having an extremely high affinity for the Zn(2+) (K*(Zn(app.)) = 0.33 microM). The conformation of the M3'-Zn enzyme, however, is unfavorable for the catalysis by the enzyme. Both Mg(2+) activation and Zn(2+) inhibition of the enzyme are reversible processes. Structural information indicates that the M3 site, which is octahedrally coordinated to Mg(2+), has been converted to a distorted tetrahedral coordination when zinc ion substitutes for magnesium ion at the M3 site. This conformation of the enzyme has a small dynamic quenching constant for acrylamide (K(sv) = 3.86 +/- 0.04 M(-1)), suggesting a conformational change. Both Mg(2+) and phosphate prevent the enzyme from reaching this inactive structure. GTP plays an important role in reactivating the Zn-inhibited enzyme activity. We propose that, under physiological conditions, magnesium ion may play an important modulatory role in the cell for protecting the enzyme by retaining a favorable geometry of the active site needed for catalysis.     

Phenylene-ethynylene trication as an efficient fluorescent signal transducer in an aptasensor for potassium ion

A tricationic phenylene-ethynylene (N(3+)) fluorophore is investigated as a fluorescent transducer in homogeneous aptasensing system for potassium ion (K(+)) assay in aqueous media. The enhancement of the fluorescent signal of N(3+) by three K(+) aptamers consisting of 12, 15, and 21 nucleotides are observed and used for the determination of N(3+)-aptamer binding affinities. The binding affinities increase with the length of the aptameric oligonucleotides and are proven to be important to the sensitivity and selectivity of the aptasensors. The enhanced fluorescent signal of each N(3+)-aptamer solution is selectively quenched by K(+) due to the ability of K(+) in stabilizing the G-quadruplex structure of the aptamer. Among three aptamers, the 15-base aptamer provides optimal sensitivity and selectivity over other ions such as Li(+), Na(+), NH(4)(+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+) and Sr(2+). The sensing system shows the detection limit of 1 μM of K(+) in clean buffered solution and 30 μM of K(+) in the solution containing 4800-fold excess of Na(+), with wide linear dynamic ranges of micro- to millimolar concentration. This label-free fluorescence aptasensor is conveniently and effectively applicable for analysis of K(+) in urine samples.     

Selective alteration of the rate-limiting step in cytosolic aldehyde dehydrogenase through random mutagenesis

Random mutagenesis followed by a filter-based screening assay has been used to identify a mutant of human class 1 aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH1) that was no longer inhibited by Mg(2+) ions but was activated in their presence. Several mutants possessed double, triple, and quadruple amino acid substitutions with a total of seven different residues being altered, but each had a common T244S change. This point mutation proved to be responsible for the Mg(2+) ion activation. An ALDH1 T244S mutant was recombinantly expressed and was used for mechanistic studies. Mg(2+) ions have been shown to increase the rate of deacylation. Consistent with the rate-limiting step for ALDH1 being changed from coenzyme dissociation to deacylation was finding that chloroacetaldehyde was oxidized more rapidly than acetaldehyde. Furthermore, Mg(2+) ions only in the presence of NAD(H) increased the rate of hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl acetate showing that the metal only affects the binary complex. Though the rate-limiting step for the T244S mutant was different from that of the native enzyme, the catalytic efficiency of the mutant was just 20% that of the native enzyme. The basis for the change in the rate-limiting step appears to be related to NAD(+) binding. Using the structure of a sheep class 1 ALDH, it was possible to deduce that the interaction between the side chain of T244 and its neighboring residues with the nicotinamide ring of NAD(+) were an essential determinant in the catalytic action of ALDH1.     

Effect of metal ions on the activity of green crab (Scylla serrata) alkaline phosphatase

Green crab (Scylla serrata) alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1) is a metalloenzyme, which catalyzes the nonspecific hydrolysis of phosphate monoesters. The present paper deals with the study of the effect of some kinds of metal ions on the enzyme. The positive monovalent alkali metal ions (Li(+), Na(+) and K(+)) have no effect on the enzyme; positive bivalent alkaline-earth metal ions (Mg(2+), Ca(2+) and Ba(2+)) and transition metal ions (Mn(2+), Co(2+), Ni(2+) and Cd(2+)) activate the enzyme; heavy metal ions (Hg(2+), Ag(+), Bi(2+), Cu(2+) and Zn(2+)) inhibit the enzyme. The activation of magnesium ion on the enzyme appears to be a partial noncompetitive type. The kinetic model has been set up and a new plot to determine the activation constant of Mg(2+) was put forward. From the plot, we can easily determine the activation constant (K(a)) value and the activation ratio of Mg(2+) on the enzyme. The inhibition effects of Cu(2+) and Hg(2+) on the enzyme are of noncompetitive type. The inhibition constants have been determined. The inhibition effect of Hg(2+) is stronger than that of Cu(2+).     

Opposing effects of phosphoenolpyruvate and pyruvate with Mg(2+) on the conformational stability and dimerization of phosphotransferase enzyme I from Escherichia coli

The activity of enzyme I (EI), the first protein in the bacterial PEP:sugar phosphotransferase system, is regulated by a monomer-dimer equilibrium where a Mg(2+)-dependent autophosphorylation by PEP requires the homodimer. Using inactive EI(H189A), in which alanine is substituted for the active-site His189, substrate-binding effects can be separated from those of phosphorylation. Whereas 1 mM PEP (with 2 mM Mg(2+)) strongly promotes dimerization of EI(H189A) at pH 7.5 and 20 degrees C, 5 mM pyruvate (with 2 mM Mg(2+)) has the opposite effect. A correlation between the coupling of N- and C-terminal domain unfolding, measured by differential scanning calorimetry, and the dimerization constant for EI, determined by sedimentation equilibrium, is observed. That is, when the coupling between N- and C-terminal domain unfolding produced by 0.2 or 1.0 mM PEP and 2 mM Mg(2+) is inhibited by 5 mM pyruvate, the dimerization constant for EI(H189A) decreases from > 10(8) to < 5 x 10(5) or 3 x 10(7) M(-1), respectively. Incubation of the wild-type, dephospho-enzyme I with the transition-state analog phosphonopyruvate and 2 mM Mg(2+) also increases domain coupling and the dimerization constant approximately 42-fold. With 2 mM Mg(2+) at 15-25 degrees C and pH 7.5, PEP has been found to bind to one site/monomer of EI(H189A) with K(A)' approximately 10(6) M(-1) (deltaG' = -8.05 +/- 0.05 kcal/mole and deltaH = +3.9 kcal/mole at 20 degrees C); deltaC(p) = -0.33 kcal K(-1) mole(-1). The binding of PEP to EI(H189A) is synergistic with that of Mg(2+). Thus, physiological concentrations of PEP and Mg(2+) increase, whereas pyruvate and Mg(2+) decrease the amount of dimeric, active, dephospho-enzyme I.     

Glu-53 of Bacillus cereus sphingomyelinase acts as an indispensable ligand of Mg2+ essential for catalytic activity

Bacillus cereus sphingomyelinase (SMase) is an extracellular hemolysin classified into a group of Mg(2+)-dependent neutral SMases (nSMase). Sequence comparison of bacterial and eukaryotic Mg(2+)-dependent nSMases has shown that several amino acid residues, including Glu-53 of B. cereus SMase, are conserved, suggesting a catalytic mechanism common to these enzymes. Mutational analysis has revealed that hemolytic and SM-hydrolyzing activities are abolished by E53A and E53Q mutations. Only the E53D mutant enzyme partially retains these activities, however, a significant decrease in the apparent k(cat)/K(m) for SM hydrolysis is observed by this mutation. Mg(2+) activates the wild-type enzyme in a two-step manner, i.e., at least two binding sites for Mg(2+), high- and low-affinity, are present on the enzyme. The binding affinity of essential Mg(2+) for the high-affinity site is decreased by the mutation. In addition, the binding affinities of Mn(2+) and Co(2+) (substitutes for Mg(2+)) are also decreased. On the contrary, the inhibitory effects of Ca(2+), Cu(2+), and Zn(2+) on SM-hydrolyzing activity are not influenced by the mutation. The results indicate that Glu-53 of B. cereus SMase acts as a ligand for Mg(2+) and is involved in the high-affinity Mg(2+)-binding site, which is independent of the binding site for inhibitory metals.     

Effect of the Met344His mutation on the conformational dynamics of bovine beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase: crystal structure of the Met344His mutant in complex with chitobiose

Beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase (beta4Gal-T1) in the presence of manganese ion transfers galactose from UDP-galactose (UDP-Gal) to N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) that is either free or linked to an oligosaccharide. Crystallographic studies on bovine beta4Gal-T1 have shown that the primary metal binding site is located in the hinge region of a long flexible loop, which upon Mn(2+) and UDP-Gal binding changes from an open to a closed conformation. This conformational change creates an oligosaccharide binding site in the enzyme. Neither UDP nor UDP analogues efficiently induce these conformational changes in the wild-type enzyme, thereby restricting the structural analysis of the acceptor binding site. The binding of Mn(2+) involves an uncommon coordination to the Sdelta atom of Met344; when it is mutated to His, the mutant M344H, in the presence of Mn(2+) and UDP-hexanolamine, readily changes to a closed conformation, facilitating the structural analysis of the enzyme bound with an oligosaccharide acceptor. Although the mutant M344H loses 98% of its Mn(2+)-dependent activity, it exhibits 25% of its activity in the presence of Mg(2+). The crystal structures of M344H-Gal-T1 in complex with either UDP-Gal.Mn(2+) or UDP-Gal.Mg(2+), determined at 2.3 A resolution, show that the mutant enzyme in these complexes is in a closed conformation, and the coordination stereochemistry of Mg(2+) is quite similar to that of Mn(2+). Although either Mn(2+) or Mg(2+), together with UDP-Gal, binds and changes the conformation of the M344H mutant to the closed one, it is the Mg(2+) complex that engages efficiently in catalyses. Thus, this property enabled us to crystallize the M344H mutant for the first time with the acceptor substrate chitobiose in the presence of UDP-hexanolamine and Mn(2+). The crystal structure determined at 2.3 A resolution reveals that the GlcNAc residue at the nonreducing end of chitobiose makes extensive hydrophobic interactions with the highly conserved Tyr286 residue.     

Membrane Mg-(Ca)-Activated Adenosine Triphosphatase of Escherichia coli: Characterization in the Membrane-Bound and Solubilized States

The membrane-associated Mg(2+)-activated and Ca(2+)-activated adenosine 5'-triphosphatase (EC 3.6.1.3; ATPase) activities of Escherichia coli were further characterized. The degree of inhibition of membrane-bound Mg(2+)-(Ca(2+))-ATPase by a series of anions (i.e., sodium salts of nitrate, iodide, chloride, and acetate) was found to correlate with the relative chaotropic, or solubilizing, effectiveness of these anions. The enzyme was solubilized from washed membrane ghosts by treatment with 0.04% sodium lauryl sulfate at pH 9.0 and 37 C. Solubilized Mg(2+)-(Ca(2+))-ATPase exhibited an initial increase in activity, followed by fairly rapid inactivation, both ATPase activities being particularly cold-labile. The combined stabilizing effects of lauryl mercaptan (1-dodecanethiol), 0.01 m tris(hydroxymethyl)amino-methane-hydrochloride buffer (pH 9.0), 0.2 mm MgCl(2), and ambient temperature facilitated partial purification of the enzyme, the molecular weight of which was estimated to be approximately 100,000 by the gel filtration technique. In general, the membrane-associated Mg(2+)-(Ca(2+))-ATPase of E. coli resembles both mitochondrial membrane ATPase and the well-characterized membrane ATPases of Bacillus megaterium and Microcococcus lysodeikticus. It is of particular interest that N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), a known inhibitor of mitochondrial ATPase, of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, and of the membrane-bound Mg(2+)-ATPase of Streptococcus faecalis was found to inhibit both the membrane-bound and the solubilized forms of E. coli Mg(2+)-(Ca(2+))-ATPase. The sensitivity of the membrane-associated Mg(2+)-(Ca(2+))-ATPase of E. coli to both anions and cations, its allotopic behavior, and its susceptibility to inhibition by DCCD favor the idea that this enzyme plays a key, probably polyfunctional, role in such biological activities of the membrane as oxidative phosphorylation and ion transport.     

A mechanistic study of the formation of hydroxyl radicals induced by horseradish peroxidase with NADH

During the oxidation of NADH by horseradish peroxidase (HRP-Fe(3+)), superoxide (O(-)(2)) is produced, and HRP-Fe(3+) is converted to compound III. Superoxide dismutase inhibited both the generation of O(-)(2) and the formation of compound III. In contrast, catalase inhibited only the generation of O(-)(2). Under anaerobic conditions, the formation of compound III did not occur in the presence of NADH, thus indicating that compound III is produced via formation of a ternary complex consisting of HRP-Fe(3+), NADH and oxygen. The generation of hydroxyl radicals was dependent upon O(-)(2) and H(2)O(2) produced by HRP-Fe(3+)-NADH. The reaction of compound III with H(2)O(2) caused the formation of compound II without generation of hydroxyl radicals. Only HRP-Fe(3+)-NADH (but not K(+)O(-)(2) and xanthine oxidase-hypoxanthine) was able to induce the conversion of metmyoglobin to oxymyoglobin, thus suggesting the participation of a ternary complex made up of HRP-Fe(2+…)O(2)(…)NAD(.) (but not free O(-)(2) or H(2)O(2)) in the conversion of metmyoglobin to oxymyoglobin. It appears that a cyclic pathway is formed between HRP-Fe(3+), compound III and compound II in the presence of NADH under aerobic conditions, and a ternary complex plays the central roles in the generation of O(-)(2) and hydroxyl radicals.     

Phosphorylation within an autoinhibitory domain in endothelial nitric oxide synthase reduces the Ca(2+) concentrations required for calmodulin to bind and activate the enzyme

We have investigated the effects of phosphorylation at Ser-617 and Ser-635 within an autoinhibitory domain (residues 595-639) in bovine endothelial nitric oxide synthase on enzyme activity and the Ca (2+) dependencies for calmodulin binding and enzyme activation. A phosphomimetic S617D substitution doubles the maximum calmodulin-dependent enzyme activity and decreases the EC 50(Ca (2+)) values for calmodulin binding and enzyme activation from the wild-type values of 180 +/- 2 and 397 +/- 23 nM to values of 109 +/- 2 and 258 +/- 11 nM, respectively. Deletion of the autoinhibitory domain also doubles the maximum calmodulin-dependent enzyme activity and decreases the EC 50(Ca (2+)) values for calmodulin binding and calmodulin-dependent enzyme activation to 65 +/- 4 and 118 +/- 4 nM, respectively. An S635D substitution has little or no effect on enzyme activity or EC 50(Ca (2+)) values, either alone or when combined with the S617D substitution. These results suggest that phosphorylation at Ser-617 partially reverses suppression by the autoinhibitory domain. Associated effects on the EC 50(Ca (2+)) values and maximum calmodulin-dependent enzyme activity are predicted to contribute equally to phosphorylation-dependent enhancement of NO production during a typical agonist-evoked Ca (2+) transient, while the reduction in EC 50(Ca (2+)) values is predicted to be the major contributor to enhancement at resting free Ca (2+) concentrations.     

Conformational difference between PDE4 apoenzyme and holoenzyme

The type 4 cAMP-specific phosphodiesterases (PDE4s) are Mg(2+)-dependent hydrolases that catalyze the hydrolysis of 3', 5'-cAMP to AMP. Previous studies indicate that PDE4 exists in two conformations that bind the inhibitor rolipram with affinities differing by more than 100-fold. Here we report that these two conformations are the consequence of PDE4 binding to its metal cofactor such as Mg(2+). Using a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based equilibrium binding assay, we identified that L-791,760, a fluorescent inhibitor, binds to the apoenzyme (free enzyme) and the holoenzyme (enzyme bound to Mg(2+)) with comparable affinities (K(d) approximately 30 nM). By measuring the displacement of the bound L-791,760, we have also identified that other inhibitors bind differentially with the apoenzyme and the holoenzyme depending upon their structure. CDP-840, SB-207499, and RP-73401 bind preferentially to the holoenzyme. The conformational-sensitive inhibitor (R)-rolipram binds to the holoenzyme and apoenzyme with affinities (K(d)) of 5 and 300 nM, respectively. In contrast to its high affinity (K(d) approximately 2 microM) and active holoenzyme complex, cAMP binds to the apoenzyme nonproductively with a reduced affinity (K(d) approximately 170 microM). These results demonstrate that cofactor binding to PDE4 is responsible for eliciting its high-affinity interaction with cAMP and the activation of catalysis.     

Kinetics of conformational changes induced by the binding of various metal ions to bovine alpha-lactalbumin.

The kinetic effects of the binding of various metal ions (Ca(2+), Cd(2+), Co(2+), Mg(2+), Mn(2+), Sr(2+) and Zn(2+)) to apo bovine alpha-lactalbumin has been monitored by means of stopped-flow fluorescence spectroscopy. Our results show that the measured rate constant for the binding of metal ions to the Ca(2+)-site increases with increasing binding constant. This is, however, not the case for metal ions binding to the Zn(2+)-site. The binding experiments performed at different temperatures allowed us to calculate the activation energy for the transition from the metal-free to the metal-loaded state of the protein. These values do not depend on the nature of the metal ion but are correlated with the type of binding site. As a result, we were able to demonstrate that Mg(2+), a metal ion which was thought to bind to the Ca(2+)-site, shows the same binding characteristics as Co(2+) and Zn(2+) and therefore most likely interacts with the residues belonging to the Zn(2+)-binding site.     

Mag-indo1 affinity for Ca(2+), compartmentalization and binding to proteins: the challenge of measuring Mg(2+) concentrations in living cells

A physicochemical study of the Mag-indo1 binding to Ca(2+) in solution showed that: (i) the characteristic fluorescence spectra of Ca(2+)-bound and Mg(2+)-bound Mag-indo1 are identical; (ii) two successive equilibria occur for increasing Ca(2+) concentrations; and (iii) the value of the dissociation constant of the first one, as determined by using a probe dilution protocol, amounts to 780 nM. In order to investigate the fluorescence level of Mag-indo1 trapped in cell organelles, fluorescence spectra of Mag-indo1-loaded fibroblasts were recorded before and after a digitonin permeabilization. Their resolution into cation-bound, protein-bound, and free Mag-indo1 characteristic spectra allowed measurement of the fluorescence intensities of these species. The intensities emitted from whole cells were compared to those emitted from organelles (assumed to be endoplasmic reticulum according to a DiOC(6) loading). The cation-bound Mag-indo1 fluorescence resulted partially (20 to 50%) from the cytosol for 30% of the cells, and totally from compartments for 70% of the cells. We found a concentration value of 500 nM for compartmentalized Ca(2+) and concluded that the Mag-indo1 binding to Ca(2+) is likely to affect drastically the Mg(2+) concentration measurements in cells. Moreover, we showed that the amount variation of protein-bound Mag-indo1 also affects Mg(2+) measurements when using the two-wavelength ratio method.