Cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase from dormant tubers of Jerusalem artichoke

An enzyme, which hydrolyzes 3′,5′-cyclic AMP to 3′-AMP and 5′-AMP, has been isolated from dormant tubers of Jerusalem artichoke and purified 850 × with a recovery of 15% of total activity. The partially purified enzyme differs greatly from both animal and bacterial phosphodiesterases in terms of pH optimum, substrate specificity, cation dependence and sensitivity to methylxanthines. The plant hormones are without effect, whereas ATP, 5′-AMP, 3′-AMP, inorganic phosphate and pyrophophosphate are inhibitors. The enzyme seems to be greatly inhibited in vivo by inorganic phosphate during dormancy.     

Possible participation of glucocorticoid in elevation of 3',5'-cyclic AMP levels through inhibition of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase.

Administration of prednisolone and cholate to rats elevated levels of cAMP (adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate) by 1.5- to 2.0-fold. Compounds such as prednisolone, hydrocortisone, cholate, and deoxycholate were found to be potent inhibitors of partially purified cAMP phosphodiesterase prepared from rat liver. Kinetic analysis showed that the prednisolone inhibition was noncompetitive with a Ki of 8.9 x 10(-4) M. These results suggest that in addition to increasing DNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity in vivo, a large application of glucocorticoid may incur elevation of intracellular cAMP levels.     

Regulation of Sertoli cell cyclic adenosine 3':5' monophosphate phosphodiesterase activity by follicle stimulating hormone and dibutyrl cyclic AMP

Total phosphodiesterase activity was measured in Sertoli cell culture after exposure to isobutyl-methyl-xanthine, dibutyryl cyclic AMP and FSH. After 24 hr of incubation both FSH and dibutyryl cAMP caused a significant increase in total phosphodiesterase activity of Sertoli cell homogenates (control: 66 ± 16 pmoles/min/mg protein; FSH: 291 ± 25 pmoles/min/mg protein; dibutyryl cAMP: 630 ± 70 pmoles/min/mg protein). FSH stimulation was potentiated by isobutyl-methyl-xanthine. Both in the presence and absence of xanthine, the induction of phosphodiesterase was dependent on the FSH concentration, with maximal stimulation achieved with 0.5–1.0 μg FSH/ml. The induction of phosphodiesterase activity by hormone was abolished by cycloheximide treatment. The data suggest that FSH regulates phosphodiesterase activity via changes of cAMP levels in Sertoli cell in culture.     

Quantitative estimation of 3'5' cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase using anion exchange resin in a batch process.

An improved method for the preparation of adenosine 3′-phosphate 5′-phosphosulfate (PAPS) is described which includes: enzymes from Chlorella for PAPS synthesis; conversion of ATP to AMP after PAPS formation with hexokinase (EC 2.7.1.1) and myokinase (EC 2.7.4.3); and separation of PAPS on DEAE-Sephadex using triethylammonium bicarbonate buffers. Any specific activity can be obtained by using appropriate concentrations of carrier-free ³⁵S and nonradioactive sulfate in the incubations. Between 300 and 2000 μmol of PAPS per batch can be obtained depending on the scale of the preparation. The PAPS is over 95% pure radiochemically and shows only one ultraviolet-absorbing spot on paper electrophoresis at pH 5.8. Adenosine 5′-phosphosulfate (APS) is prepared by incubating PAPS with a 3′-nucleotidase (EC 3.1.3.6) from rye grass. Quantitative conversion of PAPS to APS is obtained, and the APS is purified by column chromatography in the same manner as for PAPS. The APS obtained is better than 95% pure radiochemically and shows only one uv-absorbing spot on paper electrophoresis at pH 5.8.     

Interaction of the inhibitor of the 3',5' cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase of Dictyostelium discoideum with the Affi-Gel blue

Disodium ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid and/or allylisopropylacetamide administration to rat pups did not evoke a premature induction of hepatic δ-aminolevulinic acid synthetase. Administration of iron to adult rats did not alter δ-aminolevulinic acid synthetase activity and had little inductive effect on heme oxygenase activity. Both heme and cobalt/dextran rapidly induced microsomal heme oxygenase by 3–8 fold. Induction of heme oxygenase by heme could be totally blocked by concurrent administration of cycloheximide. These results argue against the hypothesis that iron is the physiological mediator of δ-aminolevulinic acid synthetase activity.     

Batch and continuous solid-phase fermentation of Jerusalem artichoke tubers

Two strains of Kluyveromyces marxianus were evaluated for their ability to ferment Jerusalem artichoke tuber pulp to ethanol under pH levels ranging from 2.0–6.3. Bacterial contamination was prevented in batch, solid-phase fermentation when pulp was initially adjusted to pH 3.5 or less, and maximal yeast populations occurred at pH 3.0–3.5. Fermentation times were also shortest for both yeast (13–18 h) and ethanol (48–64 h) production when pulp pH was in this range. However, ethanol yields (41–53% of theoretical) and fermentation efficiencies (68–78%) were somewhat lower than expected, with only 6.6–7.2% (v/v) ethanol produced by strain Y-1598 and 5.7–6.9% produced by strain Y-1550. Based on these parameters, the continuous solid-phase fermentor was operated for 396 h using strain Y-1598. The pH of pulp entering the fermentor was adjusted to 2.5 to compensate for partial neutralization by the mild steel of the fermentor. This resulted in fermenting pulp with a pH of 3.0–3.5, and therefore no contamination. Pulp exiting the fermentor after 72 h contained 6.9 × 10⁸ yeast cells/ml and 7.3% ethanol, which represented 55.9% of the theoretical yield and a fermentation efficiency of 73.3%. Further modifications (partial acid hydrolysis, finer grinding, etc.) should permit higher yields.     

Chlorpropamide and tolbutamide inhibition of adenosine 3'5' cyclic monophosphate phosphodiesterase

These sulfonylurea agents inhibit the cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase, and thereby could increase the steady state level of cyclic AMP in various tissues, depending upon the tissue concentrations achieved after oral or parental administration.     

Particulate cyclic 3',5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterase and calmodulin of cardiac muscle

Cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase and calmodulin were measured in purified subcellular fractions of cardiac muscle. Phosphodiesterase activity solubilized by sonication of the nuclear fraction yielded a major 6.6 S form which was calcium-sensitive and cyclic GMP-specific. Phosphodiesterase activity occurring in the nuclear fraction could be further enriched by subfractionation on sucrose density gradients in the presence of MgCl2.     

Purification and properties of the arginase from Jerusalem artichoke tubers

Arginase [l-arginine amidinohydrolase] in Jerusalem artichoke tubers occurs in a particulate fraction from which it was released in active form by detergent treatment. The particulate enzyme was purified 450-fold with ca 3% yield. The enzyme has a MW of ca 140 000 and pI of 5.3. The enzyme required Mn²⁺ for activity and was unstable when Mn²⁺ was removed. In tissue extracts the K_m for arginine was ca 1OmM, but when purified the K_m (arginine) was 145 mM. The artichoke arginase was shown to be more substrate specific than other plant and animal arginases which have been described, and to be very sensitive to competitive inhibition by indospicine, ornithine and citrulline.     

Rapid assays for adenylate cyclase and 3',5' cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activities. Simultaneous measurements of other pathways of ATP catabolism

This paper deals with a rapid assay of adenylate cyclase activity and 3′,5′ cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity which permits simultaneous measurements of other pathways of ATP catabolism. The separation of all the adenylic nucleotides was obtained by an electrophoresis on cellulose acetate 15 min at 50 V/cm with a fluorescent buffer pH 8.6. Before electrophoresis, the incubation sample was added with a carrier solution of nucleotides to allow their localization under uv light, by fluorescence inhibition. Each fraction was cut and dissolved in Bray's liquid for scintillation counting. This assay method is rapid, reliable, and sensitive, it is suitable either for research or for routine and clinical purposes.     

Cyclic 3'.5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterase. Effect of binding protein on the hydrolysis of cyclic AMP

The rate of cyclic AMP hydrolysis by a cyclic 3′,5′-nucleotide phosphodiesterase was diminished by the presence of a cyclic AMP binding protein in the reaction mixture. The reduction was proportional to the concentration of the binding protein; and was more pronounced at 0° than at 30°, presumably because the affinity of cyclic AMP to the binding protein was greater at 0° (“apparent dissociation constant” = 3 × 10⁻⁸ M) than at 30° (“apparent dissociation constant” = 4 × 10⁻⁷ M). These experiments indicate that cyclic AMP bound to the binding protein is not susceptible to the action of phosphodiesterase. It is hydrolyzed only when dissociated from the protein, and the rate of dissociation appears to be the limiting factor. The possible physiological significance of these results is discussed.