Characterisation of an associate 17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity and affinity labelling of the 3-alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase of Pseudomonas testosteroni

The 3-alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and the 3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase of Pseudomonas testosteroni were purified to homogeneity by polyaerylamide gel electrophoresis using the following stages: DEAE cellulose chromatography, affinity chromatography on oestrone-aminocaproate sepharose and Sephadex gel filtration. The pure 3-alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase was completely devoid of 3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity but could oxidize estradiol 17-beta at an appreciable rate. This activity accounts for about 40 per cent of the total 17-beta-estradiol dehydrogenase of the crude bacterial extract. Affinity labelling of pure 3-alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase was carried out using 5-beta-pregnane 3,20-dione-12-alpha-iodoacetate and 5-alpha-androstane 3-one-17-beta-bromoacetate. With both reagents, inactivation was obtained only in the presence of coenzyme, the substrate protected against inactivation and the enzyme was fully inhibited with covalent binding of 1 mole of reagent per mole of subunit suggesting an active site directed inhibition. Histidine and methionine were identified as the labelled aminoacid residues.     

3 beta, 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase of Pseudomonas testosteroni. Kinetic evidence for the bifunctional activity at a common catalytic site

3 beta, 17 beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta 17 beta HSDH) is an NAD-dependent dehydrogenase which has a double specificity for the 3- and 17-positions on the steroid skeleton. When dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is used as steroid substrate, and the assay coupled with ketosteroid-isomerase, the two reactions occur alternately and each reaction on the 3-position produces a chromophoric molecule. These two reactions can follow one another without dissociation of the coenzyme from the enzyme binding site. This is confirmed by competition experiments with another dehydrogenase.     

Human placenta contains a high affinity R1881 binding site that is not the androgen receptor

Human placental cytosol was shown to contain a species that binds the synthetic androgen, methyltrienolone (R1881) with high affinity (Kd 6.5 nM). Major differences were found between this placental androgen binding species and the classical androgen receptor found in human foreskin cytosol. Competitive binding assays in the placental cytosol using [3H]R1881 as tracer showed a 200-fold excess of testosterone to compete poorly, while dihydrotestosterone and the synthetic androgen mibolerone did not compete at all. The placental R1881 binding component was found not to bind to hydroxylapatite, although all classes of steroid receptors are reported to do so. Temperature studies showed that the placental binding site is stable at elevated temperatures with no loss of binding after 4 h at 45 degrees C. Ion exchange chromatography showed that the placental R1881 binding site eluted from DEAE cellulose at a lower salt concentration than foreskin androgen receptors. These results show that R1881 is not entirely specific for androgen receptors and that human placenta contains an androgen binding site that is not the classical androgen receptor.     

Characterisation of an associate 17-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity and affinity labelling of the 3-α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase of Pseudomonas testosteroni

The 3-α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and the 3-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase of Pseudomonas testosteroni were purified to homogeneity by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis using the following stages: DEAE cellulose chromatography, affinity chromatography on oestrone-aminocaproate sepharose and Sephadex gel filtration.The pure 3-α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase was completely devoid of 3-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity but could oxidize estradiol 17-β at an appreciable rate. This activity accounts for about 40 per cent of the total 17-β-estradiol dehydrogenase of the crude bacterial extract.Affinity labelling of pure 3-α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase was carried out using 5-β-pregnane 3,20-dione-12-α-iodoacetate and 5-α-androstane 3-one-17-β-bromoacetate. With both reagents, inactivation was obtained only in the presence of coenzyme, the substrate protected against inactivation and the enzyme was fully inhibited with covalent binding of 1 mole of reagent per mole of subunit suggesting an active site directed inhibition. Histidine and methionine were identified as the labelled aminoacid residues.     

12 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase from Clostridium group P, strain C 48-50. Production, purification and characterization

NADP(H)-dependent 12 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSDH) from Clostridium group P, strain C 48-50, is still expressed at unusual high level (approximately 1% of total protein) under cultivation conditions where the usual expensive brain/heart infusion complex medium is replaced by inexpensive technical grade yeast autolysate. An inexpensive anaerobic bioprocess for the production of HSDH was developed provisionally up to 900-1 scale (9000 U/l, 7 g HSDH, specific activity 1.0 U/mg crude protein, 55 U/g wet cells). By a simple two-step affinity chromatography procedure, easily adaptable to a large-scale operation, using columns of small dimensions of Sephacryl-S-400-Procion-orange-P-2R (5 cm x 28 cm) and Sephacryl-S-400-Procion-red-HE-7B (2.6 cm x 14 cm) approximately 140 mg (1.8 x 10(4) U), HSDH was purified to apparent homogeneity and concentrated directly from a crude cell extract (overall yield 53%, specific activity 128 U/mg). As confirmed by fast native and SDS/PAGE, isoelectric focussing and electron microscopy, HSDH has a molecular mass of approximately 105 kDa and consists of four flattened tetrahedrically arranged identical subunits (26 kDa). The enzyme exhibits a rather low isoelectric point of 4.6, a pH optimum of 8.5-9.5 and a temperature optimum of approximately 55 C for the oxidation of cholic acid. Inhibition by SH reagents and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate has been observed. Chelating agents have no inhibitory effect. The presence of NADP increases considerably the thermostability (t 1/2 4-10 d, 25 C; 2-5 d, 37 C). Steady-state kinetic analysis for both reaction directions indicated that the reaction proceeds through an ordered bi bi mechanism with NADP(H) binding first to the free enzyme. Km, Vmax [forward (Vf) and reverse reactions (Vr)] and the dissociation constants Kd for the binary complexes with NADP and NADPH were as follows. NADP, Km = 35 microns, Kd = 35 microns; cholic acid, Km = 72 microns, deoxycholic acid, Km = 45 microns, Vf = 160 U mg; NAPDH, Kd = 16 microns; 12-oxochenodeoxylic acid, Km = 12 microns, 66 U/mg (conditions, 0.1 M potassium phosphate, pH 8.0, 25 degrees C). N6-functionalized NADP derivatives, e.g. N6-(2-aminoethyl)NADP (Km = 4.5 mM) are poorly accepted as coenzyme by HSDH.     

Improved Properties of Bacillus coagulans β‐Galactosidase through Immobilization

Thermostable β‐galactosidase from Bacillus coagulans RCS3 was purified by successive column chromatography using DEAE‐cellulose and Sephadex G‐50. Immobilization of the purified enzyme was studied with DEAE‐cellulose and calcium alginate. The efficiency of β‐galactosidase retention was 87 % with DEAE‐cellulose (17 mg protein/mL of matrix) and 80 % with calcium alginate (2.2 mg protein/g bead). Comparative studies of immobilization displayed a shift in the optimum temperature from 65 °C to 70 °C provoked by DEAE‐cellulose, although no effect was observed with calcium alginate. The heat inactivation curve revealed an improvement in the stability (t_1/2 of 14.5 h for the immobilized enzyme as compared to 2 h for the free enzyme at 65 °C) in a calcium alginate system. This immobilized enzyme has a wide pH stability range (6.5–11). β‐Galactosidase immobilized by DEAE‐cellulose and calcium alginate allowed a 57 and 70 % lactose hydrolysis, respectively, to be achieved within 48 h after repeated use for twenty times.     

Kinetic and stereochemical studies on reaction mechanism of mouse liver 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases

The kinetic mechanism of two major monomeric 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases from mouse liver cytosol was studied at pH 7 in both directions with NADP(H) and three steroid substrates: testosterone, 5 beta-androstane-3 alpha, 17 17 beta-diol, and estradiol-17 beta. In each case the reaction mechanism of the two enzymes was sequential, and inhibition patterns by-products and dead-end inhibitors were consisted with an ordered bi bi mechanism with the coenzyme binding to the free enzyme, although there was difference in affinity and maximum velocity for the steroidal substrates between the two enzymes. Binding studies of the coenzyme and substrate indicate the binding of coenzyme to the free enzyme, in which 1 mol of NADPH binds to 1 mol of each monomeric enzyme. The 4-pro-R-hydrogen atom of NADPH was transferred to the alpha-face of the steroid molecule by the two enzymes.     

Isolation and properties of spiramycin I 3-hydroxyl acylase from Streptomyces and ambofaciens

An enzyme preparation able to acylate the hydroxyl group at C-3 of the lactone ring of spiramycin was obtained from the spiramycin-producing strain, Streptomyces ambofaciens ISP-5053. The enzyme was purified about 33-fold from the crude extract by means of ammonium sulfate fractionation, diethylaminoethyl (DEAE) cellulose batchwise elution and DEAE cellulose column chromatography. The optimum pH for the enzyme activity was 8.5. The enzyme was activated by Ca2++, Mg2+, and Mn2+ in this order, but was inhibited by various SH reagents. Spiramycin I was the best substrate for the enzyme. The enzyme showed no preference between acetyl-CoA and propionyl-CoA.     

Purification and characterization of 2-oxoglutarate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase from a thermophilic, obligately chemolithoautotrophic bacterium, Hydrogenobacter thermophilus TK-6.

2-Oxoglutarate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase from a thermophilic, obligately autotrophic, hydrogen-oxidizing bacterium, Hydrogenobacter thermophilus TK-6, was purified to homogeneity by precipitation with ammonium sulfate and by fractionation by DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B, polyacrylate-quaternary amine, hydroxyapatite, and Superdex-200 chromatography. The purified enzyme had a molecular mass of about 105 kDa and comprised two subunits (70 kDa and 35 kDa). The activity of the 2-oxoglutarate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase was detected by the use of 2-oxoglutarate, coenzyme A, and one of several electron acceptors in substrate amounts (ferredoxin isolated from H. thermophilus, flavin adenine dinucleotide, flavin mononucleotide, or methyl viologen). NAD, NADP, and ferredoxins from Chlorella spp. and Clostridium pasteurianum were ineffective. The enzyme was extremely thermostable; the temperature optimum for 2-oxoglutarate oxidation was above 80 degrees C, and the time for a 50% loss of activity at 70 degrees C under anaerobic conditions was 22 h. The optimum pH for a 2-oxoglutarate oxidation reaction was 7.6 to 7.8. The apparent Km values for 2-oxoglutarate and coenzyme A at 70 degrees C were 1.42 mM and 80 microM, respectively.     

Human placental 3 beta-hydroxy-5-ene-steroid dehydrogenase and steroid 5----4-ene-isomerase: purification from microsomes, substrate kinetics, and inhibition by product steroids

In human pregnancy, placental 3 beta-hydroxy-5-ene-steroid dehydrogenase and steroid 5----4-ene-isomerase produce progesterone from pregnenolone and metabolize fetal dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate to androstenedione, an estrogen precursor. The enzyme complex was solubilized from human placental microsomes using the anionic detergent, sodium cholate. Purification (500-fold, 3.9% yield) was achieved by ion exchange chromatography (Fractogel-TSK DEAE 650-S) followed by hydroxylapatite chromatography (Bio-Gel HT). The purified enzyme was detected as a single protein band in sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (monomeric Mr = 19,000). Fractionation by gel filtration chromatography at constant specific enzyme activity supported enzyme homogeneity and determined the molecular mass (Mr = 76,000). The dehydrogenase and isomerase activities copurified. Kinetic constants were determined at pH 7.4, 37 degrees C for the oxidation of pregnenolone (Km = 1.9 microM, Vmax = 32.6 nmol/min/mg) and dehydroepiandrosterone (Km = 2.8 microM, Vmax = 32.0 nmol/min/mg) and for the isomerization of 5-pregnene-3,20-dione (Km = 9.7 microM, Vmax = 618.3 nmol/min/mg) and 5-androstene-3,17-dione (Km = 23.7 microM, Vmax = 625.7 nmol/min/mg). Mixed substrate analyses showed that the dehydrogenase and isomerase reactions use the appropriate pregnene and androstene steroids as alternative, competitive substrates. Dixon analyses demonstrated competitive inhibition of the oxidation of pregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosterone by both product steroids, progesterone and androstenedione. The enzyme has a 3-fold higher affinity for androstenedione than for progesterone as an inhibitor of dehydrogenase activity. Based on these competitive patterns of substrate utilization and product inhibition, the pregnene and androstene activities of 3 beta-hydroxy-5-ene-steroid dehydrogenase and steroid 5----4-ene-isomerase may be expressed at a single catalytic site on one protein in human placenta.     

The pH-dependent binding of NADH and subsequent enzyme isomerization of human liver beta 3 beta 3 alcohol dehydrogenase

Human class I beta 3 beta 3 is one of the alcohol dehydrogenase dimers that catalyzes the reversible oxidation of ethanol. The beta 3 subunit has a Cys substitution for Arg-369 (beta 369C) in the coenzyme-binding site of the beta1 subunit. Kinetic studies have demonstrated that this natural mutation in the coenzyme-binding site decreases affinity for NAD+ and NADH. Structural studies suggest that the enzyme isomerizes from an open to closed form with coenzyme binding. However, the extent to which this isomerization limits catalysis is not known. In this study, stopped-flow kinetics were used from pH 6 to 9 with recombinant beta 369C to evaluate rate-limiting steps in coenzyme association and catalysis. Association rates of NADH approached an apparent zero-order rate with increasing NADH concentrations at pH 7.5 (42 +/- 1 s-1). This observation is consistent with an NADH-induced isomerization of the enzyme from an open to closed conformation. The pH dependence of apparent zero-order rate constants fit best a model in which a single ionization limits diminishing rates (pKa = 7.2 +/- 0.1), and coincided with Vmax values for acetaldehyde reduction. This indicates that NADH-induced isomerization to a closed conformation may be rate-limiting for acetaldehyde reduction. The pH dependence of equilibrium NADH-binding constants fits best a model in which a single ionization leads to a loss in NADH affinity (pKa = 8.1 +/- 0. 2). Rate constants for isomerization from a closed to open conformation were also calculated, and these values coincided with Vmax for ethanol oxidation above pH 7.5. This suggests that NADH-induced isomerization of beta 369C from a closed to open conformation is rate-limiting for ethanol oxidation above pH 7.5.     

Human placental estradiol 17 beta-dehydrogenase: evidence for inverted substrate orientation ("wrong-way" binding) at the active site

Human placental estradiol 17 beta-dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.62) was affinity labeled with 17 alpha-estradiol 17-(bromo[2-14C]acetate) (10 microM) or 17 beta-estradiol 17-(bromo[2-14C]acetate) (10 microM). The steroid bromoacetates competitively inhibit the enzyme (against 17 beta-estradiol) with Ki values of 90 microM (17 alpha bromoacetate) and 134 microM (17 beta bromoacetate). Inactivation of the enzyme followed pseudo-first-order kinetics with a t1/2 = 110 min (17 alpha bromoacetate) and t1/2 = 220 min (17 beta bromoacetate). Amino acid analysis of the affinity radioalkylated enzyme samples from the two bromoacetates revealed that N pi-(carboxy[14C]methyl)histidine was the modified amino acid labeled in each case. Digestion with trypsin produced peptides that were isolated by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and found to contain N pi-(carboxy[14C]methyl)histidine. Both the 17 alpha bromoacetate and also the 17 beta bromoacetate modified the same histidine in the peptide Phe-Tyr-Gln-Tyr-Leu-Ala-His(pi-CM)-Ser-Lys. Previously, the same histidine had been exclusively labeled by estrone 3-(bromoacetate) and shown not to be directly involved in catalytic hydrogen transfer at the D-ring of estradiol. Therefore, this histidine was presumed to proximate the A-ring of the bound steroid substrate. The present results suggest that the 17 alpha bromoacetate and 17 beta bromoacetate D-ring analogues of estradiol react with the same active site histidine residue as estrone 3-(bromoacetate), the A-ring analogue of estrone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

酵母3-脱氧葡糖醛酮代谢酶的分离纯化及部分性质

3-脱氧葡糖醛酮 ( 3- deoxyglucosone)是美拉德反应的主要中间产物 ,对生物体具有毒性作用 .用硫酸铵分部沉淀、DEAE- cellulose52、Hydroxyapatite、DEAE- Sepharose CL- 6B柱层析从酿酒酵母 YBr-M( S.cerevisiae YBr-M)抽提液中分离纯化了 3-脱氧葡糖醛酮代谢酶 (以 NADPH为辅酶 ) .该酶是单一的分子 ,分子量为 44k D,反应最适 p H为 7.0 ,p H6.0～ 8.0之间酶活性相对稳定 ,以 3-脱氧葡糖醛酮为底物的米氏常数 Km 为 2 .2 5mmol/ L.在 35℃以下保温 30 min酶活不变 ,50℃保温 30 min后酶活损失 50 % .该酶对二羰基化合物的活性较高 ,对单羰基化合物则较低 ,其催化作用受碘乙酸、N-乙基顺丁烯二酰亚胺的抑制 ,而被β-巯基乙醇、二硫苏糖醇激活 ,催化作用必须以 NADPH为专一辅酶 ,当用 NADH代替 NADPH时 ,活力只有 5.3% .     

Kinetic studies of dogfish liver glutamate dehydrogenase.

Initial-rate studies were made of the oxidation of L-glutamate by NAD+ and NADP+ catalysed by highly purified preparations of dogfish liver glutamate dehydrogenase. With NAD+ as coenzyme the kinetics show the same features of coenzyme activation as seen with the bovine liver enzyme [Engel & Dalziel (1969) Biochem. J. 115, 621--631]. With NADP+ as coenzyme, initial rates are much slower than with NAD+, and Lineweaver--Burk plots are linear over extended ranges of substrate and coenzyme concentration. Stopped-flow studies with NADP+ as coenzyme give no evidence for the accumulation of significant concentrations of NADPH-containing complexes with the enzyme in the steady state. Protection studies against inactivation by pyridoxal 5'-phosphate indicate that NAD+ and NADP+ give the same degree of protection in the presence of sodium glutarate. The results are used to deduce information about the mechanism of glutamate oxidation by the enzyme. Initial-rate studies of the reductive amination of 2-oxoglutarate by NADH and NADPH catalysed by dogfish liver glutamate dehydrogenase showed that the kinetic features of the reaction are very similar with both coenzymes, but reactions with NADH are much faster. The data show that a number of possible mechanisms for the reaction may be discarded, including the compulsory mechanism (previously proposed for the enzyme) in which the sequence of binding is NAD(P)H, NH4+ and 2-oxoglutarate. The kinetic data suggest either a rapid-equilibrium random mechanism or the compulsory mechanism with the binding sequence NH4+, NAD(P)H, 2-oxoglutarate. However, binding studies and protection studies indicate that coenzyme and 2-oxoglutarate do bind to the free enzyme.     

Purification and characterization of an exoglucanase from Streptomyces flavogriseus

Streptomyces flavogriseus, a mesophilic actinomycete, produces high levels of extracellular enzymes capable of hydrolyzing cellulose and xylan. One such enzyme, an exoglucanase, has been purified to molecular homogeneity by a sequence involving DEAE Bio-Gel A chromatography, gel permeation chromatography on Bio-Gel P-60, preparative isoelectric focusing, and concanavalin A affinity chromatography. This purification sequence disclosed the presence of several distinct endoglucanase and xylanase fractions. Homogeneity of the purified enzyme was demonstrated by analytical isoelectric focusing and sodium dodecyl sulphate--polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The purified enzyme had a molecular weight of approximately 45 000 and an isoelectric point of 4.15. The enzyme demonstrated negligible activity with carboxymethylcellulose as the substrate. It was able to extensively hydrolyse acid-swollen cellulose; the main product of enzyme action was cellobiose.     

Human placental delta5-3beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity (delta5-3beta HSDH): intracellular distribution, kinetic properties, retroinhibition and influence of membrane delipidation.

Delta5-3beta HSDH activity has been assayed either by spectrophotometric method or by use of radioactive substrates. The enzymatic activity is equally distributed between mitochondrial and microsomal fractions verified by electronic microscopy. The specific activity is comparable in both fractions, as well as the optimal pH and the Km for NAD and for the substrates. The delta5-3beta Hut optimal pH, specific activity and sensitivity to the inhibitory action of various steroids are different when C19 and C21 steroids are used as substrates. Estrogens and cyclic AMP have also an inhibitory action on the oxidation of C21 steroids. Treatment of microsomal or mitochondrial membranes with phospholipase A releases fatty acids (mainly arachidonic) and decreases the enzymatic activity. "Adsorbtion" of the fatty acids on bovine serum albumin partially reactivates the delta5-3beta HSDH.     

Rational design of novel mutants of fungal 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase

Reduction of 17-ketosteroids is a biocatalytic process of economic significance for the production of steroid drugs. This reaction can be catalyzed by different microbial 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (17beta-HSD), like the 17beta-HSD activity of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Pichia faranosa and Mycobacterium sp., and by purified 3beta,17beta-HSD from Pseudomonas testosteroni. In addition to the bacterial 3beta,17beta-HSD the 17beta-HSD of the filamentous fungus Cochliobolus lunatus is the only microbial 17beta-HSD that has been expressed as a recombinant protein and fully characterized. On the basis of its modeled 3D structure, we selected several positions for the replacement of amino acids by site-directed mutagenesis to change substrate specificity, alter coenzyme requirements, and improve overall catalytic activity. Replacement of Val161 and Tyr212 in the substrate-binding region by Gly and Ala, respectively, increased the initial rates for the conversion of androstenedione to testosterone. Replacement of Tyr49 within the coenzyme binding site by Asp changed the coenzyme specificity of the enzyme. This latter mutant can convert the steroids not only in the presence of NADP(+) and NADPH, but also in the presence of NADH and NAD(+). The replacement of His164, located in the non-flexible part of the 'lid' covering the active center resulted in a conformation of the enzyme that possessed a higher catalytic activity.     

Characterization of fungal 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases

To promote understanding of the evolution of the steroid hormone signalling and hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (HSDs), comparative characterization of fungal 17beta-HSDs was performed. Constitutive 17beta-HSD activity was determined in cytosols of the fungi: Cochliobolus lunatus, Pleospora herbarum, Fusarium lini, Trichoderma viride, Mucor spinosus, Rhizopus nigricans and Pleurotus ostreatus. The reaction equilibrium in all species except P. ostreatus was shifted towards reduction. The preferential coenzyme for reduction of androstenedione was NADPH, while for oxidation of testosterone, NAD4 was preferred. The highest enzyme activities were found in the Ascomycete C. lunatus (152.4 nmol mg(-1) h(-1)) and in the Basidiomycete P. ostreatus (69.1 nmol mg(-1) h(-1)). No similarities on the protein and mRNA level between fungal 17beta-HSDs and the purified enzyme from C. lunatus were observed. To investigate the nature of these enzymes, 17beta-HSD was purified from P. ostreatus using ammonium sulphate precipitation, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, and affinity chromatography. The purified enzyme has an apparent molecular mass of approximately 35 kDa and is probably a dimer as determined by gel filtration. Chemical modifications exposed Lys, His and Tyr as important for enzyme activity. Additionally, no similarities of C. lunatus and P. ostreatus enzymes were found to bacterial 3alpha,20beta-HSD from Streptomyces hydrogenans, 3beta,17beta-HSD from Comamonas testosteroni and mammalian 17beta-HSD types 1 and 4. The results thus suggest that there are most probably different enzymes responsible for 17beta-HSD activity in filamentous fungi.     

Isolation and characterization of L-fucose dehydrogenase from rabbit liver

L-Fucose dehydrogenase [EC 1.1.1.122] was isolated from a rabbit liver extract and purified about 390-fold with a yield of approximately 13%. The purification procedures included treatment with protamine, ammonium sulfate fractionation, treatment with acid, DE-32 celluose colum chromatography, gel filtration on Sephadex G-100, preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and affinity chromatography on 5' AMP-Sepharose 4B. The last procedure, affinity chromatography on 5' AMP-Sephadex 4B, was useful for the removal of other dehydrogenases. The eznyme which was homogeneous, as shown by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, had a molecular weight of about 92,000. The optimum pH was at 10.0 and isoelectric point at 5.2. The enzyme accepted both L-fucose and D-arabinose as substrate, but was specific for NAD+ as coenzyme. Km values were 0.15 mM, 1.4 mM, and 0.7 mM for L-fucose, D-arabinose, and NAD+, respectively. A single enzyme catalyzed the oxidation of L-fucose and D-arabinose, which had the same configurations of hydroxyl groups from C-2 to C-4. The reaction products obtained with L-fucose as substrate were L-fucono-lactone and L-fuconic acid. The L-fucono-lactone was an immediate product of oxidation and was hydrolyzed to L-fuconic acid spontaneously. This reaction was irreversible. Therefore, it is likely that L-fucose dehydrogenase is involved in the initial step of the catabolic pathway of L-fucose in rabbit liver.     

Characterization of three casein kinases type I from Dictyostelium discoideum

Three different casein kinases type I have been characterized and partially purified from vegetative cells of Dictyostelium discoideum. The enzymes have been classified as type I because they are excluded from DEAE cellulose columns and do not utilize GTP as phosphoryl donor. We have named these activities as casein kinases IA, IB and IC respectively, according to the elution profile on phosphocellulose chromatography. The three activities differ in: the sensitivity to heparin inhibition; the salt optimum for activity and the amino acids phosphorylated, using casein as substrate. Experiments carried out in conditions that favor autophosphorylation indicate that casein kinase IB could have a 53 kDa subunit, susceptible to autophosphorylation in vitro.