Enzymological properties of the LPP1-encoded lipid phosphatase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The product of the LPP1 gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a membrane-associated enzyme that catalyzes the Mg(2+)-independent dephosphorylation of phosphatidate (PA), diacylglycerol pyrophosphate (DGPP), and lysophosphatidate (LPA). The LPP1-encoded lipid phosphatase was overexpressed 681-fold in Sf-9 insect cells and used to examine the enzymological properties of the enzyme using PA, DGPP, and LPA as substrates. The optimum pH values for PA phosphatase, DGPP phosphatase, and LPA phosphatase activities were 7. 5, 7.0, and 7.0, respectively. Divalent cations (Mn(2+), Co(2+), and Ca(2+)), NaF, heavy metals, propranolol, phenylglyoxal, and N-ethylmaleimide inhibited the PA phosphatase, DGPP phosphatase, and LPA phosphatase activities of the enzyme. The inhibitory effects of N-ethylmaleimide and phenylglyoxal on the LPP1-encoded enzyme were novel properties when compared with other Mg(2+)-independent lipid phosphate phosphatases from S. cerevisiae and mammalian cells. The LPP1-encoded enzyme exhibited saturation kinetics with respect to the surface concentrations of PA (K(m)=0.05 mol%), DGPP (K(m)=0.07 mol%), and LPA (K(m)=0.08 mol%). Based on specificity constants (V(max)/K(m)LPA (1.3 units/mg/mol%). DGPP (K(i)=0.12 mol%) was a competitive inhibitor with respect to PA, and PA (K(i)=0.12 mol%) was a competitive inhibitor with respect to DGPP. This suggested that the binding sites for these substrates were the same. The enzymological properties of the LPP1-encoded enzyme differed significantly from those of the S. cerevisiae DPP1-encoded lipid phosphatase, a related enzyme that also utilizes PA, DGPP, and LPA as substrates.     

Inhibition of lipid phosphate phosphatase activity by VPC32183 suppresses the ability of diacylglycerol pyrophosphate to activate ERK1/2 MAP kinases

The lipidic metabolite, diacylglycerol pyrophosphate (DGPP), in its dioctanoyl form (DGPP 8:0), has been described as an antagonist for mammalian lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptors LPA1 and LPA3. In this study we show that DGPP 8:0 does not antagonize LPA dependent activation of ERK_1/2 MAP kinases but strongly stimulated them in various mammalian cell lines. LPA and DGPP 8:0 stimulation of ERK_1/2 occurred through different pathways. The DGPP 8:0 effect appeared to be dependent on PKC, Raf and MEK but was insensitive to pertussis toxin and did not involve G protein activation. Finally we showed that DGPP 8:0 effect on ERK_1/2 was dependent on its dephosphorylation by a phosphatase activity sharing lipid phosphate phosphatase properties. The inhibition of this phosphatase activity by VPC32183, a previously characterized LPA receptor antagonist, blocked the DGPP 8:0 effect on ERK_1/2 activation. Moreover, down-regulation of lipid phosphate phosphatase 1 (LPP1) expression by RNA interference technique also reduced DGPP 8:0-induced ERK_1/2 activation. Consistently, over expression of LPP1 in HEK293 cells increases DGPP 8:0 hydrolysis and this increased activity was inhibited by VPC32183. In conclusion, DGPP 8:0 does not exert its effect by acting on a G protein coupled receptor, but through its dephosphorylation by LPP1, generating dioctanoyl phosphatidic acid which in turn activates PKC. These results suggest that LPP1 could have a positive regulatory function on cellular signaling processes such as ERK_1/2 activation.     

Characterization of the Yeast Actin Patch Protein App1p Phosphatidate Phosphatase

Yeast App1p is a phosphatidate phosphatase (PAP) that associates with endocytic proteins at cortical actin patches. App1p, which catalyzes the conversion of phosphatidate (PA) to diacylglycerol, is unique among Mg²⁺-dependent PAP enzymes in that its reaction is not involved with de novo lipid synthesis. Instead, App1p PAP is thought to play a role in endocytosis because its substrate and product facilitate membrane fission/fusion events and regulate enzymes that govern vesicular movement. App1p PAP was purified from yeast and characterized with respect to its enzymological, kinetic, and regulatory properties. Maximum PAP activity was dependent on Triton X-100 (20 mm), PA (2 mm), Mg²⁺ (0.5 mm), and 2-mercaptoethanol (10 mm) at pH 7.5 and 30 °C. Analysis of surface dilution kinetics with Triton X-100/PA-mixed micelles yielded constants for surface binding (K_s^A = 11 mm), interfacial PA binding (K_m^B = 4.2 mol %), and catalytic efficiency (V_max = 557 μmol/min/mg). The activation energy, turnover number, and equilibrium constant were 16.5 kcal/mol, 406 s⁻¹, and 16.2, respectively. PAP activity was stimulated by anionic lipids (cardiolipin, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylserine, and CDP-diacylglycerol) and inhibited by zwitterionic (phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine) and cationic (sphinganine) lipids, nucleotides (ATP and CTP), N-ethylmaleimide, propranolol, phenylglyoxal, and divalent cations (Ca²⁺, Mn²⁺, and Zn²⁺). App1p also utilized diacylglycerol pyrophosphate and lyso-PA as substrates with specificity constants 4- and 7-fold lower, respectively, when compared with PA.     

Yeast Nem1-Spo7 Protein Phosphatase Activity on Pah1 Phosphatidate Phosphatase Is Specific for the Pho85-Pho80 Protein Kinase Phosphorylation Sites

Pah1 is the phosphatidate phosphatase in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae that produces diacylglycerol for triacylglycerol synthesis and concurrently controls the levels of phosphatidate used for phospholipid synthesis. Phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of Pah1 regulate its subcellular location and phosphatidate phosphatase activity. Compared with its phosphorylation by multiple protein kinases, Pah1 is dephosphorylated by a protein phosphatase complex consisting of Nem1 (catalytic subunit) and Spo7 (regulatory subunit). In this work, we characterized the Nem1-Spo7 phosphatase complex for its enzymological, kinetic, and regulatory properties with phosphorylated Pah1. The dephosphorylation of Pah1 by Nem1-Spo7 phosphatase resulted in the stimulation (6-fold) of phosphatidate phosphatase activity. For Pah1 phosphorylated by the Pho85-Pho80 kinase complex, maximum Nem1-Spo7 phosphatase activity required Mg²⁺ ions (8 mm) and Triton X-100 (0.25 mm) at pH 5.0. The energy of activation for the reaction was 8.4 kcal/mol, and the enzyme was thermally labile at temperatures above 40 °C. The enzyme activity was inhibited by sodium vanadate, sodium fluoride, N-ethylmaleimide, and phenylglyoxal but was not significantly affected by lipids or nucleotides. Nem1-Spo7 phosphatase activity was dependent on the concentrations of Pah1 phosphorylated by Pho85-Pho80, Cdc28-cyclin B, PKA, and PKC with k_cat and K_m values of 0.29 s⁻¹ and 81 nm, 0.11 s⁻¹ and 127 nm, 0.10 s⁻¹ and 46 nm, and 0.02 s⁻¹ and 38 nm, respectively. Its specificity constant (k_cat/K_m) for Pah1 phosphorylated by Pho85-Pho80 was 1.6-, 4-, and 6-fold higher, respectively, than that phosphorylated by PKA, Cdc28-cyclin B, and PKC.     

Inhibition of lipid phosphate phosphatase activity by VPC32183 suppresses the ability of diacylglycerol pyrophosphate to activate ERK(1/2) MAP kinases

The lipidic metabolite, diacylglycerol pyrophosphate (DGPP), in its dioctanoyl form (DGPP 8:0), has been described as an antagonist for mammalian lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptors LPA1 and LPA3. In this study we show that DGPP 8:0 does not antagonize LPA dependent activation of ERK(1/2) MAP kinases but strongly stimulated them in various mammalian cell lines. LPA and DGPP 8:0 stimulation of ERK(1/2) occurred through different pathways. The DGPP 8:0 effect appeared to be dependent on PKC, Raf and MEK but was insensitive to pertussis toxin and did not involve G protein activation. Finally we showed that DGPP 8:0 effect on ERK(1/2) was dependent on its dephosphorylation by a phosphatase activity sharing lipid phosphate phosphatase properties. The inhibition of this phosphatase activity by VPC32183, a previously characterized LPA receptor antagonist, blocked the DGPP 8:0 effect on ERK(1/2) activation. Moreover, down-regulation of lipid phosphate phosphatase 1 (LPP1) expression by RNA interference technique also reduced DGPP 8:0-induced ERK(1/2) activation. Consistently, over expression of LPP1 in HEK293 cells increases DGPP 8:0 hydrolysis and this increased activity was inhibited by VPC32183. In conclusion, DGPP 8:0 does not exert its effect by acting on a G protein coupled receptor, but through its dephosphorylation by LPP1, generating dioctanoyl phosphatidic acid which in turn activates PKC. These results suggest that LPP1 could have a positive regulatory function on cellular signaling processes such as ERK(1/2) activation.     

Phosphatidate phosphatase from avocado (Persea americana) – purification, substrate specificity and possible metabolic implications for the Kennedy pathway and cell signalling in plants

Phosphatidate phosphatase (PAP; EC 3.1.3.4) is a pivotal enzyme in plant lipid metabolism positioned at a major branchpoint between the biosyntheses of phospholipids and triacylglycerols. The enzyme has been purified 7000-fold from the microsomes of maturing Avocado fruit. The enzyme has a subunit molecular mass, as determined on SDS-PAGE, of 49 kDa, and gel filtration studies revealed that it is monomeric. The enzyme was examined for the ability to hydrolyse sn-1,2-dioleoylglycerol-3-phosphate (PA), sn-1-oleoylglycerol-3-phosphate (LPA), sn-2-oleoylglycerol-3-phosphate (sn-2-LPA), and ceramide-1-phosphate. All substrates were used, but the apparent V_max values for ceramide-1-phosphate and sn-2-LPA were considerably lower than for PA or LPA. A kinetic analysis of the purified enzyme was conducted using PA and LPA in Triton X-100 mixed micelles according to the surface dilution kinetic model. The V_max and interfacial Michaelis constant (Km^B) were calculated for PA as 47 μmol min^–1 mg^–1 and 1.49 mol%, respectively. LPA was found to be a better substrate with a V_max and Km^B of 100 μmol min^–1 mg^–1 and 1.06 mol%, respectively. A detailed kinetic analysis of the effect of LPA on PA hydrolysis revealed LPA to be a potent competitive inhibitor of the reaction, with a K_i of 1.4 mol%. This possibly indicates that strict metabolic channelling is in operation in the Kennedy Pathway, with very low steady state concentrations of lyso-phosphatidate with respect to phosphatidate in vivo.     

Generation of lysophosphatidylinositol by DDHD domain containing 1 (DDHD1): Possible involvement of phospholipase D/phosphatidic acid in the activation of DDHD1

GPR55 is a seven-transmembrane G-protein-coupled receptor that has been proposed as a novel type of cannabinoid receptor. Previously, we identified lysophosphatidylinositol (LPI), in particular 2-arachidonoyl-LPI, as an agonist for GPR55. In the present study, we examined whether intracellular phospholipase A1 (DDHD domain containing 1, or DDHD1), previously identified as phosphatidic acid (PA)-preferring PLA1 (PA-PLA1), is involved in the formation of 2-arachidonoyl-LPI. HEK293 cells expressing DDHD1 produced [³H]arachidonic acid-containing LPI after prelabeling with [³H]arachidonic acid and subsequent activation by ionomycin; the formation of [³H]LPI was inhibited by n-butanol and the overexpression of an inactive PLD1 mutant PLD1K898R. DDHD1 was translocated from the cytosol to membranes upon ionomycin treatment. A purified recombinant DDHD1 formed [³H]LPI when incubated with [³H]PI; the V_max and apparent K_m were 190 µmol/min/mg protein and 10 mol% PI, respectively. DDHD1 binds PA, and the addition of PA to DDHD1 increased the affinity for PI (K_m ; 3 mol%) and augmented the PI-PLA1 activity. DDHD1 activated by PA was returned to a basal state by its own PA-hydrolytic activity. These results implicate DDHD1 in the formation of 2-arachidonoyl-LPI and indicate that the process is modulated by PA released by phospholipase D. Similar observations for the production of arachidonic acid-containing LPI in neuroblastoma cells suggest the DDHD1-LPI-GPR55 axis to be involved in functions in the brain.     

Localization of (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase,Ca2+ pump and other ATPase activities in cardiac sarcolemma

N-Ethylmaleimide was employed as a surface label for sarcolemmal proteins after demonstrating that it does not penetrate to the intracellular space at concentrations below 1·10^?4 M. The sarcolemmal markers, ouabain-sensitive (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase and Na⁺/Ca²⁺-exchange activities, were inhibited in N-ethylmaleimide perfused hearts. Intracellular activities such as creatine phosphokinase, glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase and the internal phosphatase site of the Na⁺ pump (K⁺-p-nitrophosphatase) were not affected. Almost 20% of the (Ca²⁺ + Mg²⁺)-ATPase and Ca²⁺ pump were inhibited indicating the localization of a portion of this activity in the sarcolemma. Sarcolemma purified by a recent method (Morcos, N.C. and Drummond, G.I. (1980) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 598, 27–39) from N-ethylmaleimide-perfused hearts showed loss of approx. 85% of its (Ca²⁺ + Mg²⁺-ATPase and Ca²⁺ pump compared to control hearts. (Ca²⁺ + Mg²⁺)-ATPase and Ca²⁺ pump activities showed two classes of sensitivity to vanadate ion inhibition. The high vanadate affinity class ($\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ for inhibition approx. 1.5 μM) may be localized in the sarcolemma and represented approx. 20% of the total inhibitable activity in agreement with estimates from N-ethylmaleimide studies. Sucrose density fractionation indicated that only a small portion of Mg²⁺-ATPase and Ca²⁺-ATPase may be associated with the sarcolemma. The major portion of these activities seems to be associated with high density particles.     

The specific,submicromolar-Km ADP-ribose pyrophosphatase purified from human placenta is enzymically indistinguishable from recombinant NUDT9 protein,including a selectivity for Mn as activating cation and increase in Km for ADP-ribose,both elicited by H2O2

Free ADP-ribose is a putative second messenger and also a potentially toxic compound due to its non-enzymic reactivity towards protein side chains. ADP-ribose hydrolysis is catalysed by NDP-sugar/alcohol pyrophosphatases of differing specificity, including a highly specific, low-K_m ADP-ribose pyrophosphatase. In humans, a submicromolar-K_m ADP-ribose pyrophosphatase has been purified from placenta, while recombinant NUDT9 has been described as a similarly specific enzyme with a nudix motif, but with a 10²–10³ higher K_m. Here, a comparative study of both proteins is presented showing that they are in fact enzymically indistinguishable; crucially, they both have submicromolar K_m for ADP-ribose. This study firmly supports the view that the ADP-ribose pyrophosphatase present in human tissues is a product of the NUDT9 gene. In addition, this study reveals previously unknown properties of both enzyme forms. They display the same, differential properties in the presence of Mg²⁺ or Mn²⁺ as activating cations with respect to substrate specificity, ADP-ribose saturation kinetics, and inhibition by fluoride. Treatment with H₂O₂ alters the Mg²⁺/Mn²⁺ responses and increases the K_m values for ADP-ribose, changes that are reversed by DTT. The results are discussed in relation to the proposed roles for ADP-ribose in oxidative/nitrosative stress and for ADP-ribose pyrophosphatase as a protective enzyme whose function is to limit the intracellular accumulation of ADP-ribose.     

Sulphydryl groups of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase from rectal glands of Squalus acanthias: Detection of ligand-induced conformational changes

1. Modification of the Class II sulphydryl groups on the (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase from rectal glands of Squalus acanthias with N-ethylmaleimide has been used to detect conformational changes in the protein. The rates of inactivation of the enzyme and the incorporation of N-ethylmaleimide depend on the ligands present in the incubation medium. With 150 mM K⁺ the rate of inactivation is largest (k₁ = 1.73 mM^?1 · min^?1) and four SH groups per α-subunit are modified. The rate of inactivation in the presence of 150 mM Na⁺ is smaller (k₁ = 1.08 mM^?1 · min^-1) but the incorporation of N-ethylmaleimide is the same as with K⁺. 2. ATP in micromolar concentrations protects the Class II groups in the presence of Na⁺ (k₁ = 0.08 mM^?1 · min^?1 at saturating ATP) and the incorporation id drastically reduced. ATP in millimolar concentrations protects the Class II groups partially in the presence of K⁺ (k₁ = 1.08 mM^?1 · min^?1) and three SH groups are labelled per α subunit. 3. The K⁺ -dependent phosphatase is inhibited in parallel to the (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase under all conditions, and the ligand-dependent incorporation of N-ethylmaleimide was on the α-subunit only. 4. It is shown that the difference between the Na⁺ and K⁺ conformations sensed with N-ethylmaleimide depends on the pH of the incubation medium. At pH 6 there is a very small difference between the rates of inactivation in the presence of Na⁺ and K⁺, but at higher pH the difference increases. It is also shown that the rate of inactivation has a minimum at pH 6.9, which suggests that the conformation of the enzyme changes with pH. 5. Modification of the Class III groups with N-ethylmaleimide-whereby the enzyme activity is reduced from about 16% to zero-shows that these groups are also sensitive to conformational changes. As with the Class II groups, ATP in micromolar concentrations protects in the presence of Na⁺ relative to Na⁺ or K⁺ alone. ATP in millimolar concentrations with K⁺ present increases the rate of inactivation relative to K⁺ alone, in contrast to the effect on the Class II groups. 6. Modification of the Class II groups with a maleimide spin label shows a difference between Class II groups labelled in the presence of Na⁺ (or K⁺) and Class II groups labelled in the presence of K + ATP, in agreement with the difference in incorporation of N-ethylmaleimide. The spectra suggest that the SH group protected by ATP in the presence of K⁺ is buried in the protein. 7. The results suggest that at least four different conformations of the (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase can be sensed with N-ethylmaleimide: (i) a Na⁺ form of the enzyme with ATP bound to a high-affinity site (E₁-Na-ATP); (ii) a Na⁺ form without ATP bound (E₁-Na); (iii) a K⁺ form without ATP bound (E₂-K); and (iv) an enzyme form with ATP bound to a low-affinity site in the presence of K⁺, probably and E₁-K-ATP form.     

Sulphydryl groups of (Na+ +K+)-ATPase from rectal glands of Squalus acanthias: Titrations and classification

1. (Na⁺ +K⁺)-ATPase from rectal gland of Squlus acanthias contains 34 SH groups per mol (M_r 265000). 15 are located on the α subunit (M_r 106 000) and two on the β subunit (M_r 40 000). The β subunit also contains one disulphide bridge. 2. The reaction of (Na⁺ +K⁺)-ATPase with N-ethylmaleimide shows the existence of at least three classes of SH groups. Class I contains two SH groups on each α subunit and one on each β subunit. Reaction of these groups with N-methylmaleimide in the presence of 40% glycerol or sucrose does not alter the enzyme activity. Class II contains four SH groups on each α subunit, and the reaction of these groups with 0.1 mM N-ethylmaleimide in the presence of 150 mM K⁺ leads to an enzyme species with about 16% activity. The remaining enzyme activity can be completely abolished by reaction with 5–10 nM N-ethylmaleimide, indicating a third class of SH groups (Class III). This pattern of inactivation is different from that of the kidney enzyme, where only one class of SH groups essential to activity is observed. 3. It is also shown that N-ethylmaleimide and DTNB inactivate by reacting with the same Class II SH groups. 4. Spin-labelling of the (Na⁺ +K⁺)-ATPase with a maleimide derivative shows that Class II groups are mostly buried in the membrane, whereas Class I groups are more exposed. It is also shown that spin label bound to the Class I groups can monitor the difference between the Na⁺- and K⁺-forms of the enzyme.     

Characterization of a glyphosate-insensitive 5-enolpyruvylshikimic acid-3-phosphate synthase

A glyphosate (N-[phosphonomethyl]glycine)-insensitive 5-enolpyruvylshikimic acid-3-phosphate (EPSP) synthase has been purified from a strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae which is resistant to this herbicide [(1984) Arch. Microbiol. 137, 121-123] and its properties compared with those of the glyphosate-sensitive EPSP synthase of the parent strain. The apparent K_m values of the insensitive enzyme for phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) and shikimate 3-phosphate (S-3-P) were increased 15.6- and 4.3-fold, respectively, as compared to those of the sensitive enzyme, and significant differences were found for the optimal pH and temperature, as well as the isoelectric points of the two enzymes. While PEP protected both enzymes against inactivation by N-ethylmaleimide, 3-bromopyruvate, and phenylglyoxal, glyphosate protected only the sensitive enzyme.     

Polyamine synthesis in plants: isolation and characterization of spermidine synthase from soybean (Glycine max) axes

Spermidine synthase (EC 2.5.1.16) was purified to homogeneity for the cytosol of soybean (Glycine max) axes using ammonium sulfate fractionation and chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel, Sephacryl S-300, ω-aminooctyl-Sepharose and ATPA-Sepharose. The molecular mass of the enzyme estimated by gel filtration and SDS–PAGE is 74 kDa. Cadaverin and 1,6-diaminohexane could not replace putrescine as the aminopropyl acceptor. Kinetic behaviors of the substrate are consistent with a ping pong mechanism. The kinetic mechanism is further supported by direct evidence confirming the presence of an aminopropylated enzyme and identification of product, 5′-deoxy-5′-methylthioadenosine, prior to adding putrescine. The K_m values for decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine and putrescine are 0.43 μM and 32.45 μM, respectively. Optimum pH and temperature for the enzyme reaction are 8.5 and 37°C, respectively. The enzyme activity is inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide and DTNB, but stimulated by Co²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Ca²⁺ significantly, suggesting that these metal ions could be the cellular regulators in polyamine biosynthesis.     

Interaction of Ca2+ with (Na+ + K+)-ATPase: Properties of the Ca2+-stimulated phosphatase activity

Ca²⁺ inhibited the Mg²⁺-dependent and K⁺-stimulated p-nitrophenylphosphatase activity of a highly purified preparation of dog kidney (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase. In the absence of K⁺, however, a Mg²⁺-dependent and Ca²⁺-stimulated phosphatase was observed, the maximal velocity of which, at pH 7.2, was about 20% of that of the K⁺-stimulated phosphatase. The Ca²⁺-stimulated phosphatase, like the K⁺-stimulated activity, was inhibited by either ouabain or Na⁺ or ATP. Ouabain sensitivity was decreased with increase in Ca²⁺, but the K_0.5 values of the inhibitory effects of Na⁺ and ATP were independent of Ca²⁺ concentration. Optimal pH was 7.0 for Ca²⁺-stimulated activity, and 7.8–8.2 for the K⁺-stimulated activity. The ratio of the two activities was the same in several enzyme preparations in different states of purity. The data indicate that (a) Ca²⁺-stimulated phosphatase is catalyzed by (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase; (b) there is a site of Ca²⁺ action different from the site at which Ca²⁺ inhibits in competition with Mg²⁺; and (c) Ca²⁺ stimulation can not be explained easily by the action of Ca²⁺ at either the Na⁺ site or the K⁺ site.     

Kinetic characterization of recombinant human cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase with and without a His10-tag

We report the first kinetic characterization of human liver cytosolic GTP-dependent phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP-PEPCK), which plays a major role in the development of type 2 diabetes in human. In this work two recombinant forms of the enzyme were studied. One form had a His₁₀-tag and the other was His-tag-free, and with one exception, both exhibited similar kinetic properties. When Mn²⁺ was used as the sole divalent cation, the His₁₀-tagged enzyme, but not the His-tag-free enzyme, was increasingly inhibited at Mn²⁺ concentrations greater than 0.7 mM. This inhibition did not pose any problem in kinetic analysis, for within the relevant Mn²⁺ concentration range the His-tagged human PEPCK behaved almost identically to the tag-free enzyme. This property will bring simplicity and speed to purifying and studying multiple structural variants of this important enzyme. Apparent K_m values of tag-free enzyme for phosphoenolpyruvate, GDP and bicarbonate were 450, 79 and 20,600 μM, respectively, while those for oxaloacetate and GTP were 4 and 23 μM, respectively, emphasizing the enzyme's gluconeogenic character. Bicarbonate (> 100 mM) inhibited OAA-forming activity, which was a new observation with a GTP-PEPCK. The apparent K_m for Mn²⁺ in the PEP-forming direction was 30-fold lower than that for the OAA-forming direction. Mn²⁺ and bicarbonate or CO₂ might regulate the enzyme in vivo.     

Potassium-p-nitrophenyl phosphate interactions with (Na+ + K+)-ATPase their relevance to phosphatase activity

The K⁺-dependent p-nitrophenylphosphatase activity catalyzed by purified (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase from pig kidney shows substrate inhibition (K_i about 9.5 mM at 2.1 mM Mg²⁺). Potassium antagonizes and sodium favours this inhibition. In addition, K⁺ reduces the apparent affinity for substrate activation, whereas p-nitrophenyl phosphate reduces the apparent affinity for K⁺ activation. In the absence of Mg²⁺, p-nitrophenyl phosphate, as well as ATP, accelerates the release of Rb⁺ from the Rb⁺ occluded unphosphorylated enzyme. With no Mg²⁺ and with 0.5 mM KCl, trypsin inactivation of (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase as a function of time follows a single exponential but is transformed into a double exponential when 1 mM ATP or 5 mM p-nitrophenyl phosphate are also present. In the presence of 3 mM MgCl₂, 5 mM p-nitrophenyl phosphate and without KCl the trypsin inactivation pattern is that described for the E₁ enzyme form; the addition of 10 mM KCl changes the pattern which, after about 6 min delay, follows a single exponential. These results suggest that (i) the shifting of the enzyme toward the E₁ state is the basis for substrate inhibition of the p-nitrophenulphosphatase acitivy of (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase, and (ii) the substrate site during phosphatase activity is distinct from the low-affinity ATP site.     

The K+- and HCO3−-stimulated phosphatase activities in renal microsomes of rats

The K⁺-stimulated phosphatase activity of microsomes from rat kidney was not inhibited by l-phenylalanine, but the HCO₃^?-stimulated phosphatase activity was markedly inhibited by l-phenylalanine. Valinomycin enhanced the HCO₃^?-stimulated phosphatase activity, but did not enhance the K⁺-stimulated phosphatase activity. Ouabain did not inhibit the HCO₃^?-stimulated phosphatase activity, but inhibited the K⁺-stimulated phosphatase activity.The renal K⁺-stimulated phosphatase activity was suppressed to 40% of the control values by adrenalectomy, but the renal HCO₃^?-stimulated phosphatase activity was little suppressed by adrenalectomy. The renal K⁺-stimulated phosphatase activity in intact and adrenalectomized rats was found to be significantly elevated, in a manner similar to the elevation of the renal (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase activity by aldosterone treatment (P < 0.02).     

Studies on the interaction of chick brain microsomal (Na+ + K+)-ATPase with copper

Chick brain microsomal ATPase was strongly inhibited by Cu²⁺. (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase was more susceptible to low levels of Cu²⁺ than Mg²⁺-ATPase. The inhibition of (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase could be partially protected from Cu²⁺ in the presence of ATP in the preincubation period. When Cu²⁺ (6 μM) was preincubated with the enzyme in the absence of ATP, only sulfhydryl-containing amino acids (d-penicillamine and l-cysteine) could reverse the inhibition. At lower concentrations of Cu²⁺ (< 1.4 μM), in the absence of ATP during preincubation, the inhibition could be completely reversed by the addition of 5 mM l-phenylalanine and l-histidine as well as d-penicillamine and l-cysteine.Kinetic analysis of action of Cu²⁺ (1.0 μM) on (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase revealed that the inhibition was uncompetitive with respect to ATP. At a low concentration of K⁺ (5 mM), V with Na⁺ was markedly decreased in the presence of Cu²⁺ and K_m was about twice that of the control. However, at high K⁺ concentration (20 mM), the K_m for Na⁺ was not affected. At both low (25 mM) and high (100 mM) Na⁺, Cu²⁺ displayed non-competitive inhibition of the enzyme with respect to K⁺.On the basis of these data, we suggest that Cu²⁺ at higher concentrations (> 6 μM) inactivates the enzyme irreversibly, but that at lower concentrations (< 1.4 μM), Cu²⁺ interacts reversibly with the enzyme.