Substrate Binding of avian liver prenyltransferase.

Prenyltransferase (farnesyl pyrophosphate synthetase) was purified from avian liver and characterized by Sephadex and sodium dodecyl sulfate gel chromatography, peptide mapping, and end-group analysis. The enzyme is 85 800 +/- 4280 daltons and consists of two identical subunits as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis, peptide mapping, and end-group analysis. Chemical analysis of the protein revealed no lipid or carbohydrate components. Avian prenyltransferase synthesizes farnesyl pyrophosphate from either dimethylallyl or geranyl pyrophosphate and isopentenyl pyrophosphate. A lower rate of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthesis from farnesyl pyrophosphate and isopentenyl pyrophosphate was also demonstrated. Michaelis constants for farnesyl pyrophosphate synthesis are 0.5 muM for both isopentenyl pyrophosphate and geranyl pyrophosphate. The V max for the reaction is 1990 nmol min-1 mg-1 (170 mol min-1 mol-1 enzyme). Substrate inhibition by isopentenyl pyrophosphate is evident at high isopentenyl pyrophosphate and low geranyl pyrophosphate concentrations. Michaelis constants for geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthesis are 9 muM for farnesyl pyrophosphate and 20 muM for isopentenyl pyrophosphate. The Vmax is 16 nmol min-1 mg-1 (1.4 mol min-1 mol-1 enzyme). Two moles of each of the allylic substrates is bound per mol of enzyme. The apparent dissociation constants for dimethylallyl, geranyl, and farnesyl pyrophosphates are 1.8, 0.17, and 0.73 muM, respectively. Dimethylallyl and geranyl pyrophosphates bound competitively to prenyltransferase with one-for-one displacement. Four moles of isopentenyl pyrophosphate was bound per mole of enzyme. Citronellyl pyrophosphate, an analogue of geranyl pyrophosphate, was competitive with the binding of 2 of the 4 mol of isopentenyl pyrophosphate bound. The data are interpreted to indicate that each subunit of avian liver prenyltransferase has a single allylic binding site accommodating dimethylallyl, geranyl, and farnesyl pyrophosphates, and one binding site for isopentenyl pyrophosphate. In the absence of an allylic pyrophosphate or analogue, isopentenyl pyrophosphate also can bind to the allylic site.     

Heptaprenyl pyrophosphate synthetase from Bacillus subtilis

Heptaprenyl pyrophosphate synthetase was detected in partially purified extracts of Bacillus subtilis. The enzyme catalyzed the synthesis of all-trans C35 prenyl pyrophosphate from isopentenyl pyrophosphate and farnesyl or geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate, but it did not catalyze a reaction between isopentenyl pyrophosphate and either dimethylallyl or geranyl pyrophosphate. The enzyme reaction proceeded with an elimination of 2-pro-R hydrogen of isopentenyl pyrophosphate without accumulation of any prenyl pyrophosphate shorter than C35. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated by gel filtration to be 45,000. Michaelis constants for isopentenyl, farnesyl, and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate were 12.8, 13.3, and 8.3 microM, respectively.     

Lactobacillus plantarum undecaprenyl pyrophosphate synthetase: purification and reaction requirements.

Undecaprenyl pyrophosphate synthetase was partially purified from Lactobacillus plantarum by DEAE-cellulose, hydroxyapatite, and Sephadex G-100 chromatography in Triton X-100. The enzyme has a molecular weight between 53,000 and 60,000. The enzyme demonstrated a fivefold preference for farnesyl pyrophosphate rather than geranyl pyrophosphate as the allylic cosubstrate, whereas dimethylallyl pyrophosphate was not effective as a substrate. Polyprenyl pyrophosphates obtained using either farnesyl or geranyl pyrophosphate as cosubstrate were chromatographically identical. Hydrolysis of these polyprenyl pyrophosphates with either a yeast or liver phosphatase preparation yielded undecaprenol as the major product. Incorporation of radioactive label from mixtures of Δ³-[1-¹⁴C]isopentenyl pyrophosphate and Δ³-2R-[2-³H]isopentenyl pyrophosphate into enzymic product indicated that each isoprene unit added to the allylic pyrophosphate substrate has a cis configuration about the newly formed double bond. The removal of detergent from enzyme solutions resulted in a parallel loss in enzyme activity when analyzed with either farnesyl or geranyl pyrophosphate as cosubstrates. Enzymic activity was restored on addition of Triton X-100 or deoxycholate. The enzyme exhibited a pH-activity profile with optima at pH 7.5 and 10.2. It also demonstrated a divalent cation requirement, with Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Co²⁺ exhibiting comparable activities.     

The purification of 3,3-dimethylallyl- and geranyl-transferase and of isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase from pig liver

The enzyme catalysing the synthesis of farnesyl pyrophosphate from dimethylallyl pyrophosphate and isopentenyl pyrophosphate, or from geranyl pyrophosphate and isopentenyl pyrophosphate, has been purified 100-fold from homogenates of pig liver. The enzyme has optimum pH 7.9 and requires Mg(2+) as activator in preference to Mn(2+); it is inhibited by iodoacetamide, N-ethylmaleimide, p-hydroxymercuribenzoate and phosphate ions in addition to the products of the reaction, inorganic pyrophosphate and farnesyl pyrophosphate. From product-inhibition studies of the geranyltransferase reaction, the order of addition of substrates to and release of products from the enzyme has been deduced: geranyl pyrophosphate combines with the enzyme first, followed by isopentenyl pyrophosphate. Farnesyl pyrophosphate dissociates from the enzyme before inorganic pyrophosphate. The existence of isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase in liver is confirmed. Methods for the preparation of the pyrophosphate esters of isopentenol, 3,3-dimethylallyl alcohol, geraniol and farnesol are also described.     

Purification and Characterization of Geranyl Diphosphate Synthase from Vitis vinifera L. cv Muscat de Frontignan Cell Cultures

A geranyl diphosphate synthase (EC 2.5.1.1), which catalyzes the formation of geranyl diphosphate from dimethylallyl diphosphate and isopentenyl diphosphate, was isolated from Vitis vinifera L. cv Muscat de Frontignan cell cultures. Purification of the enzyme was achieved successively by ammonium sulfate precipitation and chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel, hydroxylapatite, Mono Q, Phenyl Superose, Superose 12, and preparative nondenaturing polyacrylamide gels. The enzyme formed only geranyl diphosphate as a product. In all cases, neither neryl diphosphate, the cis isomer, nor farnesyl diphosphate was detected. The enzyme showed a native molecular mass of 68 [plus or minus] 5 kD as determined by gel permeation. On sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels, geranyl diphosphate synthase purified to electrophoretic homogeneity migrated with a molecular mass of 66 [plus or minus] 2 kD. Michaelis constants for isopentenyl diphosphate and dimethylallyl diphosphate were 8.5 and 56.8 [mu]M, respectively. The enzyme required Mn2+ and Mg2+ as cofactors and its activity was enhanced by Triton X-100. Inorganic pyrophosphate, aminophenylethyl diphosphate, and geranyl diphosphate had inhibitory effects on the enzyme.     

Monoterpene formation by leucoplasts of Citrofortunella mitis and Citrus unshiu

Leucoplasts of immature calamondin and satsuma fruits were incubated with [1-¹⁴C] isopentenyl pyrophosphate under various conditions. Optimal incorporation of the tracer into geranyl pyrophosphate and monoterpene hydrocarbons occurred in the presence of exogenous dimethylallyl pyrophosphate and Mn²⁺ which was more effective than Mg²⁺. The dependence of dimethylallyl pyrophosphate showed that about 10 moles were required for 1 mole of isopentenyl pyrophosphate for the best recovery in monoterpene hydrocarbon biosynthesis. A time-course incorporation of isopentenyl pyrophosphate revealed that the C₁₀ hydrocarbon elaboration was dependent on the geranyl pyrophosphate production and at no time neryl pyrophosphate was synthesized by leucoplasts. The amount of labelled farnesyl pyrophosphate was rather low whatever the conditions used in the experiments and sesquiterpene hydrocarbon biosynthesis was never observed.Abbreviations DMAPP dimethylallyl pyrophosphate - FPP farnesyl pyrophosphate - GPP geranyl pyrophosphate - IPP isopentenyl pyrophosphate - LPP linalyl pyrophosphate - NPP neryl pyrophosphate     

Isoprenoid enzyme systems of silkworm. I. Partial purification of isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase, farnesyl pyrophosphate synthetase, and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthetase

Isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase, farnesyl pyrophosphate synthetase, and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthetase were detected in cell-free extracts of Bombyx mori and were partially purified by hydroxyapatite and Sephadex G-100 chromatography. Two forms of farnesyl pyrophosphate synthetase were chromatographically separated. They were designated as farnesyl pyrophosphate synthetases I and II in the order of their elution from hydroxyapatite. Both enzymes catalyzed the exclusive formation of (E,E)-farnesyl pyrophosphate from isopentenyl pyrophosphate and either dimethylallyl pyrophosphate or geranyl pyrophosphate. However, they were not interconvertible, unlike the enzyme from pig liver. These two enzymes resembled each other in pH optima and molecular weights but differed in susceptibility to metal ions. Farnesyl pyrophosphate synthetase II was stimulated by Triton X-100 while synthetase I was inhibited by the same reagent.     

Biosynthesis of the Macrocyclic Diterpene Casbene in Castor Bean (Ricinus communis L.) Seedlings : The Purification and Properties of Farnesyl Transferase from Elicited Seedlings

Farnesyl transferase (farnesyl pyrophosphate: isopentenyl pyrophosphate farnesyl transferase; geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthetase) was purified at least 400-fold from extracts of castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) seedlings that were elicited by exposure for 10 h to Rhizopus stolonifer spores. The purified enzyme was free of isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase and phosphatase activities which interfere with prenyl transferase assays. The purified enzyme showed a broad optimum for farnesyl transfer between pH 8 and 9. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 72,000 ± 3,000 from its behavior on a calibrated G-100 Sephadex molecular sieving column. Mg²⁺ ion at 4 millimolar gave the greatest stimulation of activity; Mn²⁺ ion gave a small stimulation at 0.5 millimolar, but was inhibitory at higher concentrations. Farnesyl pyrophosphate (K_m = 0.5 micromolar) in combination with isopentenyl pyrophosphate (K_m = 3.5 micromolar) was the most effective substrate for the production of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate. Geranyl pyrophosphate (K_m = 24 micromolar) could replace farnesyl pyrophosphate as the allylic pyrophosphate substrate, but dimethylallyl pyrophosphate was not utilized by the enzyme. One peak of farnesyl transferase activity (geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthetase) and two peaks of geranyl transferase activity (farnesyl pyrophosphate synthetases) from extracts of whole elicited seedlings were resolved by DEAE A-25 Sephadex sievorptive ion exchange chromatography. These results suggest that the pathway for geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthesis in elicited castor bean seedlings involves the successive actions of two enzymes—a geranyl transferase which utilizes dimethylallypyrophosphate and isopentenyl pyrophosphate as substrates and a farnesyl transferase which utilizes the farnesyl pyrophosphate produced in the first step and isopentenyl pyrophosphate as substrates.     

Geranyl pyrophosphate synthase: characterization of the enzyme and evidence that this chain-length specific prenyltransferase is associated with monoterpene biosynthesis in sage (Salvia officinalis)

Cell-free homogenates from sage (Salvia officinalis) leaves convert dimethylallyl pyrophosphate and isopentenyl pyrophosphate to a mixture of geranyl pyrophosphate, farnesyl pyrophosphate, and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate, with farnesyl pyrophosphate predominating. These prenyltransferase activities were localized primarily in the soluble enzyme fraction, and separation of this preparation on Sephadex G-150 revealed the presence of a partially resolved, labile geranyl pyrophosphate synthase activity. The product of the condensation reaction between [1-14C]dimethylallyl pyrophosphate and [1-3H]isopentenyl pyrophosphate was verified as [14C,1-3H]geranyl pyrophosphate by TLC isolation, enzymatic hydrolysis to geraniol, degradative studies, and the preparation of the crystalline diphenylurethane. The cis-isomer, neryl pyrophosphate, was not a product of the enzymatic reaction. By employing a selective tissue extraction procedure, the geranyl pyrophosphate synthase activity was localized in the leaf epidermal glands, the site of monoterpene biosynthesis, suggesting that the role of this enzyme is to supply the C10 precursor for the production of monoterpenes. Glandular extracts enriched in geranyl pyrophosphate synthase were partially purified by a combination of hydrophobic interaction chromatography on phenyl-Sepharose and gel permeation chromatography on Sephadex G-150. Substrate and product specificity studies confirmed the selective synthesis of geranyl pyrophosphate by this enzyme, which was also characterized with respect to molecular weight, pH optimum, cation requirement, inhibitors, and kinetic parameters, and shown to resemble other prenyltransferases.     

Prenyltransferase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Purification to homogeneity and molecular properties.

Prenyltransferase (EC 2.5.1.1) has been purified to homogeneity from the supernatant fraction of yeast by ammonium sulfate fractionation, diethylaminoethyl-cellulose and hydroxylapatite chromatography, and column isoelectric focusing techniques. The active enzyme from isoelectric focusing columns emerged as a single symmetrical peak with specific activities 15- to 35-fold higher than previously reported preparations. The enzyme was found to be homogeneous by continuous polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at pH 8.4 and discontinuous polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at pH 6.9 as well as sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide electrophoresis at pH 7.0. By means of gel chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the protein was shown to be a dimer with a molecular weight of 84,000 plus or minus 10%. The isoelectric point of the enzyme was determined to be 5.3. The enzyme synthesizes farnesyl and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphates from dimethylallyl, geranyl, and farnesyl pyrophosphates. Michaelis constants for the enzyme were 4, 8, and 14 mu M for isopentenyl, dimethylallyl, and geranyl pyrophosphates, respectively.     

Structure and mechanism of the farnesyl diphosphate synthase from Trypanosoma cruzi: implications for drug design

Typanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, has recently been shown to be sensitive to the action of the bisphosphonates currently used in bone resorption therapy. These compounds target the mevalonate pathway by inhibiting farnesyl diphosphate synthase (farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase, FPPS), the enzyme that condenses the diphosphates of C5 alcohols (isopentenyl and dimethylallyl) to form C10 and C15 diphosphates (geranyl and farnesyl). The structures of the T. cruzi FPPS (TcFPPS) alone and in two complexes with substrates and inhibitors reveal that following binding of the two substrates and three Mg2+ ions, the enzyme undergoes a conformational change consisting of a hinge-like closure of the binding site. In this conformation, it would be possible for the enzyme to bind a bisphosphonate inhibitor that spans the sites usually occupied by dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP) and the homoallyl moiety of isopentenyl diphosphate. This observation may lead to the design of new, more potent anti-trypanosomal bisphosphonates, because existing FPPS inhibitors occupy only the DMAPP site. In addition, the structures provide an important mechanistic insight: after its formation, geranyl diphosphate can swing without leaving the enzyme, from the product site to the substrate site to participate in the synthesis of farnesyl diphosphate.     

A new prenyltransferase from Micrococcuslysodeikticus

A new prenyltransferase which catalyzes the synthesis of geranyl pyrophosphate as the only product from dimethylallyl pyrophosphate and isopentenyl pyrophosphate has been separated from other known prenyltransferases from $\text{Micrococcus}\text{lysodeikticus}$. This enzyme fraction is also capable of synthesizing all-$\text{trans}$ geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate from farnesyl pyrophosphate and isopentenyl pyrophosphate though it lacks ability to synthesize farnesyl pyrophosphate.     

Characterization and mechanism of (4S)-limonene synthase, a monoterpene cyclase from the glandular trichomes of peppermint (Mentha x piperita).

(4S)-Limonene synthase, a monoterpene cyclase isolated from the secretory cells of the glandular trichomes of Mentha x piperita (peppermint), catalyzes the cyclization of geranyl pyrophosphate to (4S)-limonene, a key intermediate in the biosynthesis of p-menthane monoterpenes in Mentha species. The enzyme synthesizes principally (-)-(4S)-limonene (greater than 94% of the total products), plus several other monoterpene olefins. The general properties of (4S)-limonene synthase resemble those of other monoterpene cyclases. The enzyme shows a pH optimum near 6.7, an isoelectric point of 4.35, and requires a divalent metal ion for catalysis, either Mg2+ or Mn2+, with Mn2+ preferred. The Km value measured for geranyl pyrophosphate was 1.8 microM. The activity of (4S)-limonene synthase was inhibited by sodium phosphate, sodium pyrophosphate, and reagents directed against the amino acids cysteine, methionine, and histidine. In the presence of Mn2+, geranyl pyrophosphate protected against cysteine-directed inhibition, suggesting that at least one cysteine residue is located at or near the active site. Experiments with alternate substrates and substrate analogs confirmed many elements of the proposed reaction mechanism, including the binding of geranyl pyrophosphate in the form of a complex with the divalent metal ion, the preliminary isomerization of geranyl pyrophosphate to linalyl pyrophosphate (a bound intermediate capable of cyclization), and the participation of a series of carbocation:pyrophosphate anion pairs in the reaction sequence.     

Isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase and prenyltransferase from tomato fruit plastids

Isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase has been isolated from an extract of tomato fruit plastids and purified 245-fold by fractionation with ammonium sulfate, gel filtration on Bio-Gel A 1.5m, ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, gel filtration on Sephadex G-100, and chromatofocusing. Gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 separated the isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase from a prenyltransferase fraction that catalyzed the conversion of isopentenyl pyrophosphate to acid-labile compounds in the presence of dimethylallyl, geranyl, or farnesyl pyrophosphates. The molecular weights of the isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase and prenyltransferase were determined to be 34,000 and 64,000, respectively, by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100. The only cofactor required by either the isomerase or the prenyltransferase was a divalent cation, either Mg²⁺ or Mn²⁺. Isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase could also be totally inactivated by 1 × 10^?3m iodoacetamide, and this property was utilized in the assay of prenyltransferase activity in the presence of contaminating isomerase. The inactivation of isomerase by iodoacetamide is consistent with the stabilization of isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase by dithiothreitol. The K_m of isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase for isopentenyl pyrophosphate was found to be 5.7 × 10^?6.     

The activity and kinetic properties of mevalonate kinase in superovulated rat ovary

Methods are described for the assay and partial purification of mevalonate kinase from superovulated rat ovary. The total activity of mevalonate kinase in superovulated rat ovary was 1.6+/-0.14units/g wet wt.; it was unchanged by the administration of luteinizing hormone in vivo. The K(m) of a partially purified preparation of mevalonate kinase for dl-Mevalonate was 3.6+/-0.5mum; its K(m) for MgATP(2-) was 120+/-7.7mum. The enzyme was inhibited by geranyl pyrophosphate and farnesyl pyrophosphate, but not by isopentenyl pyrophosphate or 3,3'-dimethylallyl pyrophosphate. dl-mevalonate 5-phosphate inhibited at high concentrations. With both geranyl pyrophosphate and farnesyl pyrophosphate the inhibition was competitive with respect to MgATP(2-). The K(i) for inhibition by geranyl pyrophosphate was 1.3+/-0.2mum; the K(i) for inhibition by farnesyl pyrophosphate was 1.0+/-0.3mum. These findings are discussed with reference to the control by luteinizing hormone of steroidogenesis from acetate.     

Structural basis for bisphosphonate-mediated inhibition of isoprenoid biosynthesis

Farnesyl pyrophosphate synthetase (FPPS) synthesizes farnesyl pyrophosphate through successive condensations of isopentyl pyrophosphate with dimethylallyl pyrophosphate and geranyl pyrophosphate. Nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate drugs used to treat osteoclast-mediated bone resorption and tumor-induced hypercalcemia are potent inhibitors of the enzyme. Here we present crystal structures of substrate and bisphosphonate complexes of FPPS. The structures reveal how enzyme conformational changes organize conserved active site residues to exploit metal-induced ionization and substrate positioning for catalysis. The structures further demonstrate how nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates mimic a carbocation intermediate to inhibit the enzyme. Together, these FPPS complexes provide a structural template for the design of novel inhibitors that may prove useful for the treatment of osteoporosis and other clinical indications including cancer.     

Expression, purification, and characterization of recombinant amorpha-4,11-diene synthase from Artemisia annua L

A cDNA clone encoding amorpha-4,11-diene synthase from Artemisia annua was subcloned into a bacterial expression vector in frame with a His6-tag. Recombinant amorpha-4,11-diene synthase was produced in Escherichia coli and purified to apparent homogeneity. The enzyme showed pH optimum at pH 6.5, and a minimum at pH 7.5. Substantial activity was observed in the presence of Mg2+, Mn2+ or Co2+ as cofactor. The enzyme exhibits a low activity in the presence of Ni2+ and essentially no activity with Cu2+ or Zn2+. The sesquiterpenoids produced from farnesyl diphosphate in the presence of Mg2+ were analyzed by GC-MS. In addition to amorpha-4,11-diene, 15 sesquiterpenoids were produced. Only small quantitative differences in product pattern were observed at pH 6.5, 7.5, or 9.5. Amorpha-4,11-diene synthase showed significant increased product selectivity in the presence of Mn2+ or Co2+. Km for farnesyl diphosphate was 3.3, 8.0, and 0.7 microM in the presence of Mg2+, Mn2+ or Co2+, respectively. The corresponding kcat-values were 6.8, 15.0, and 1.3 x 10(-3) s(-1), respectively. Km and kcat for geranyl diphosphate were 16.9 microM and 7.0 x 10(-4) s(-1), respectively, at pH 6.5, in the presence of Mn2+.     

Prenyltransferase from Gossypium hirsutum

A protein fraction has been purified from Gossypium hirsutum var. Coker 413 which synthesized all four geometrical isomers of farnesyl pyrophosphate from isopentenyl pyrophosphate alone, from isopentenyl pyrophosphate and geranyl or neryl pyrophosphate. Electrophoretic analysis showed that this protein fraction consisted of three proteins. One of these proteins contained isopentenyl pyrophosphate /ag dimethylallyl pyrophosphate isomerase activity. The other two proteins were insufficiently pure to characterize. Estimation of molecular weights by electrophoresis of the three proteins revealed values in the order of 3 × 10⁴ to 1.3 × 10⁵. However the same protein fraction eluted as one peak from Sepharose 6B molecular sieve columns, indicative of a larger protein component as could be accounted for by the electrophoretic molecular weight estimation. From these results and from the different products synthesized it is proposed that isopentenyl pyrophosphate /ag dimethylallyl pyrophosphate isomerase and prenyltransferase (farnesyl pyrophosphate synthetase) exists as a multiprotein complex in G. hirsutum.     

Purification of geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase from Phycomyces blakesleanus

Geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase has been purified to homogeneity from the carotene-overproducing strain M1 of Phycomyces blakesleanus. Usually two activity peaks with molecular weights of 60,000 and 30,000 eluted on gel exclusion chromatography, suggesting that the enzyme consists of two subunits, with a tendency to dissociate. With homogeneous protein, a single-staining band with molecular weight of 30,000 appeared on sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis, confirming a subunit molecular weight of 30,000. Only isopentenyl diphosphate and farnesyl diphosphate were accepted by this enzyme for geranylgeranyl diphosphate formation. The smaller allylic compounds, dimethylallyl and geranyl diphosphate, were utilized at less than 1/20th the rate of farnesyl diphosphate. Michaelis constants of 9 microM for isopentenyl diphosphate and 60 microM for farnesyl diphosphate were found. The isoelectric point is 4.8.     

Two forms of farnesyl pyrophosphate synthetase from hog liver

Two forms of farnesyl pyrophosphate synthetase were separated from hog liver extracts by DEAE-Sephadex chromatography. They were designated as farnesyl pyrophosphate synthetase A and B, in order of elution. Both enzymes catalyzed the exclusive formation of E,E-farnesyl pyrophosphate from isopentenyl pyrophosphate and either dimethylallyl pyrophosphate or geranyl pyrophosphate. They also showed no detectable differences in pH optima, molecular weights, and susceptibilities to metal ions. However, the catalytic activity of the synthetase B was greatly stimulated by the addition of common sulfhydryl reagents. This stimulation was the result of conversion of the synthetase B into the synthetase A. Conversely the synthetase A was converted into form B when it was dialyzed against a buffer solution containing cupric ions. It is suggested that the formation and cleavage of disulfide bond(s) is involved in the interconversion between the two forms.