Mechanistic implications from crystalline complexes of wild-type and mutant adenylosuccinate synthetases from Escherichia coli.

Asp13 and His41 are essential residues of adenylosuccinate synthetase, putatively catalyzing the formation of adenylosuccinate from an intermediate of 6-phosphoryl-IMP. Wild-type adenylosuccinate synthetase and three mutant synthetases (Arg143 --> Leu, Lys16 --> Gln, and Arg303 --> Leu) from Eschericha coli have been crystallized in the presence of IMP, hadacidin (an analogue of L-aspartate), Mg2+, and GTP. The active site of each complex contains 6-phosphoryl-IMP, Mg2+, GDP, and hadacidin, except for the Arg303 --> Leu mutant, which does not bind hadacidin. In response to the formation of 6-phosphoryl-IMP, Asp13 enters the inner coordination sphere of the active site Mg2+. His41 hydrogen bonds with 6-phosphoryl-IMP, except in the Arg303 --> Leu complex, where it remains bound to the guanine nucleotide. Hence, recognition of the active site Mg2+ by Asp13 evidently occurs after the formation of 6-phosphoryl-IMP, but recognition of the intermediate by His41 may require the association of L-aspartate with the active site. Structures reported here support a mechanism in which Asp13 and His41 act as the catalytic base and acid, respectively, in the formation of 6-phosphoryl-IMP, and then act together as catalytic acids in the subsequent formation of adenylosuccinate.     

Cavitation as a mechanism of substrate discrimination by adenylosuccinate synthetases

Adenylosuccinate synthetase catalyzes the first committed step in the de novo biosynthesis of AMP, coupling L-aspartate and IMP to form adenylosuccinate. Km values of IMP and 2'-deoxy-IMP are nearly identical with each substrate supporting comparable maximal velocities. Nonetheless, the Km value for L-aspartate and the Ki value for hadacidin (a competitive inhibitor with respect to L-aspartate) are 29-57-fold lower in the presence of IMP than in the presence of 2'-deoxy-IMP. Crystal structures of the synthetase ligated with hadacidin, GDP, and either 6-phosphoryl-IMP or 2'-deoxy-6-phosphoryl-IMP are identical except for the presence of a cavity normally occupied by the 2'-hydroxyl group of IMP. In the presence of 6-phosphoryl-IMP and GDP (hadacidin absent), the L-aspartate pocket can retain its fully ligated conformation, forming hydrogen bonds between the 2'-hydroxyl group of IMP and sequence-invariant residues. In the presence of 2'-deoxy-6-phosphoryl-IMP and GDP, however, the L-aspartate pocket is poorly ordered. The absence of the 2'-hydroxyl group of the deoxyribonucleotide may destabilize binding of the ligand to the L-aspartate pocket by disrupting hydrogen bonds that maintain a favorable protein conformation and by the introduction of a cavity into the fully ligated active site. At an approximate energy cost of 2.2 kcal/mol, the unfavorable thermodynamics of cavity formation may be the major factor in destabilizing ligands at the L-aspartate pocket.     

IMP,GTP, and 6-phosphoryl-IMP complexes of recombinant mouse muscle adenylosuccinate synthetase

Prokaryotes have a single form of adenylosuccinate synthetase that controls the committed step of AMP biosynthesis, but vertebrates have two isozymes of the synthetase. The basic isozyme, which predominates in muscle, participates in the purine nucleotide cycle, has an active site conformation different from that of the Escherichia coli enzyme, and exhibits significant differences in ligand recognition. Crystalline complexes presented here of the recombinant basic isozyme from mouse show the following. GTP alone binds to the active site without inducing a conformational change. IMP in combination with an acetate anion induces major conformational changes and organizes the active site for catalysis. IMP, in the absence of GTP, binds to the GTP pocket of the synthetase. The combination of GTP and IMP results in the formation of a stable complex of 6-phosphoryl-IMP and GDP in the presence or absence of hadacidin. The response of the basic isozyme to GTP alone differs from that of synthetases from plants, and yet the conformation of the mouse basic and E. coli synthetases in their complexes with GDP, 6-phosphoryl-IMP, and hadacidin are nearly identical. Hence, reported differences in ligand recognition among synthetases probably arise from conformational variations observed in partially ligated enzymes.     

Crystal structure of fully ligated adenylosuccinate synthetase from Plasmodium falciparum

In the absence of the de novo purine nucleotide biosynthetic pathway in parasitic protozoa, purine salvage is of primary importance for parasite survival. Enzymes of the salvage pathway are, therefore, good targets for anti-parasitic drugs. Adenylosuccinate synthetase (AdSS), catalysing the first committed step in the synthesis of AMP from IMP, is a potential target for anti-protozoal chemotherapy. We report here the crystal structure of adenylosuccinate synthetase from the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, complexed to 6-phosphoryl IMP, GDP, Mg2+ and the aspartate analogue, hadacidin at 2 A resolution. The overall architecture of P. falciparum AdSS (PfAdSS) is similar to the known structures from Escherichia coli, mouse and plants. Differences in substrate interactions seen in this structure provide a plausible explanation for the kinetic differences between PfAdSS and the enzyme from other species. Additional hydrogen bonding interactions of the protein with GDP may account for the ordered binding of substrates to the enzyme. The dimer interface of PfAdSS is also different, with a pronounced excess of positively charged residues. Differences highlighted here provide a basis for the design of species-specific inhibitors of the enzyme.     

The mechanism of the adenylosuccinate synthetase reaction as studied by positional isotope exchange

In an attempt to gain insight into the mechanism of the rat muscle adenylosuccinate synthetase reaction, experiments using the technique of positional isotope exchange (isotope scrambling) were undertaken. [gamma-18O]GTP was prepared and incubated with Mg2+ and the synthetase in the presence of various ligands. Positional isotope exchange occurred, as measured by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, when IMP was present. In the absence of IMP, with or without aspartate or succinate, the [gamma-18O]GTP did not exhibit scrambling. These results suggest that the adenylosuccinate synthetase reaction involves the participation of 6-phosphoryl-IMP as an obligatory intermediate. On the basis of experiments carried out in our laboratory as well as in others, we believe the GDP remains bound to the enzyme until the product, adenylosuccinate, is formed. All products may then dissociate randomly from the enzyme. The positional isotope exchange experiments, along with initial-rate experiments carried out in our laboratory, serve to explain the lack of partial exchange reactions associated with the synthetase (Fromm, H. J. (1958) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 29, 255-262), as well as the net inversion of configuration when chiral thio-GTP is converted to thiophosphate (Webb, M. R., Reed, G. H., Cooper, B. F., and Rudolph, F. B. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 3044-3046).     

Purification and cDNA-derived sequence of adenylosuccinate synthetase from Dictyostelium discoideum

Adenylosuccinate synthetase (IMP:L-aspartate ligase (GDP), EC 6.3.4.4) plays an important role in purine biosynthesis catalyzing the GTP-dependent conversion of IMP to AMP. The enzyme was purified from the cytosol of Dictyostelium discoideum using GTP-agarose chromatography as the critical step. It has an apparent molecular mass of 44 kDa. Monoclonal antibodies identified several forms of the enzyme with pI values between 8.1 and 9.0. Michaelis-Menten constants (Km) were low for the nucleotide substrates IMP (Km = 30 microM) and GTP (Km = 35 microM) as compared with the value for aspartic acid (Km = 440 microM). These values are in good agreement with constants reported from other organisms. Immunological studies indicated that the protein is predominantly localized in the cytosol and only partially associated with particulate fractions. The enzyme is present throughout the developmental cycle of D. discoideum. Using monoclonal antibodies, the gene was cloned from a lambda gt11 expression library. The complete sequence represents the first reported primary structure of an eucaryotic adenylosuccinate synthetase. Southern blots hybridized with a cDNA probe demonstrate that adenylosuccinate synthetase is encoded by a single gene and contains at least one intron. The deduced amino acid sequence shows 43% identity to adenylosuccinate synthetase from Escherichia coli. Homologous regions include short sequence motifs, such as the glycine-rich loop which is typical for GTP-binding proteins.     

Kinetic characterization of adenylosuccinate synthetase from the thermophilic archaea Methanocaldococcus jannaschii

Adenylosuccinate synthetase (AdSS) catalyzes the Mg2+ dependent condensation of a molecule of IMP with aspartate to form adenylosuccinate, in a reaction driven by the hydrolysis of GTP to GDP. AdSS from the thermophilic archaea, Methanocaldococcus jannaschii (MjAdSS) is 345 amino acids long against an average length of 430-457 amino acids for most mesophilic AdSS. This short AdSS has two large deletions that map to the middle and C-terminus of the protein. This article discusses the detailed kinetic characterization of MjAdSS. Initial velocity and product inhibition studies, carried out at 70 degrees C, suggest a rapid equilibrium random AB steady-state ordered C kinetic mechanism for the MjAdSS catalyzed reaction. AdSS are known to exhibit monomer-dimer equilibrium with the dimer being implicated in catalysis. In contrast, our studies show that MjAdSS is an equilibrium mixture of dimers and tetramers with the tetramer being the catalytically active form. The tetramer dissociates into dimers with a minor increase in ionic strength of the buffer, while the dimer is extremely stable and does not dissociate even at 1.2 M NaCl. Phosphate, a product of the reaction, was found to be a potent inhibitor of MjAdSS showing biphasic inhibition of enzyme activity. The inhibition was competitive with IMP and noncompetitive with GTP. MjAdSS, like the mouse acidic isozyme, exhibits substrate inhibition, with IMP inhibiting enzyme activity at subsaturating GTP concentrations. Regulation of enzyme activity by the glycolytic intermediate, fructose 1,6 bisphosphate, was also observed with the inhibition being competitive with IMP and noncompetitive against GTP.     

Effectors of the stringent response target the active site of Escherichia coli adenylosuccinate synthetase.

Guanosine 5'-diphosphate 3'-diphosphate (ppGpp), a pleiotropic effector of the stringent response, potently inhibits adenylosuccinate synthetase from Escherichia coli as an allosteric effector and/or as a competitive inhibitor with respect to GTP. Crystals of the synthetase grown in the presence of IMP, hadacidin, NO3-, and Mg2+, then soaked with ppGpp, reveal electron density at the GTP pocket which is consistent with guanosine 5'-diphosphate 2':3'-cyclic monophosphate. Unlike ligand complexes of the synthetase involving IMP and GDP, the coordination of Mg2+ in this complex is octahedral with the side chain of Asp13 in the inner sphere of the cation. The cyclic phosphoryl group interacts directly with the side chain of Lys49 and indirectly through bridging water molecules with the side chains of Asn295 and Arg305. The synthetase either directly facilitates the formation of the cyclic nucleotide or scavenges trace amounts of the cyclic nucleotide from solution. Regardless of its mode of generation, the cyclic nucleotide binds far more tightly to the active site than does ppGpp. Conceivably, synthetase activity in vivo during the stringent response may be sensitive to the relative concentrations of several effectors, which together exercise precise control over the de novo synthesis of AMP.     

Implication of arginine-131 and arginine-303 in the substrate site of adenylosuccinate synthetase of Escherichia coli by affinity labeling with 6-(4-bromo-2,3-dioxobutyl)thioadenosine 5'-monophosphate

Adenylosuccinate synthetase from Escherichia coli is inactivated in a biphasic reaction by 6-(4-bromo-2,3-dioxobutyl)thioadenosine 5'-monophosphate (6-BDB-TAMP) at pH 7.0 and 25 degrees C. The initial fast-phase inactivation is not affected by the presence of active-site ligands and can be completely eliminated by blocking Cys291 of the enzyme with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM). Reaction of the NEM-treated enzyme with 6-BDB-[32P]TAMP results in 2 mol of reagent incorporated/mol of enzyme subunit. The inactivation kinetics of the slow-phase exhibit an apparent KI of 40.6 microM and kmax of 0.0228 min-1. Active-site ligands, either adenylosuccinate or IMP and GTP, completely prevent inactivation of the enzyme by 6-BDB-TAMP, whereas IMP or IMP and aspartate is much less effective in protection. 6-BDB-TAMP-inactivated enzyme has a 3-fold increase in Km for aspartate with no change in Km for IMP or GTP. Protease digestion of 6-BDB-[32P]TAMP inactivated enzyme reveals that both Arg131 and Arg303 are modified by the affinity-labeling reagent. The crystal structure [Poland, B. W., Fromm, H. J., and Honzatko, R. B. (1996) J. Mol. Biol. 264, 1013-1027] and site-directed mutagenesis [Kang, C., Sun, N., Poland, B. W., Gorrell, A., and Fromm, H. J. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 11881-11885] of E. coli adenylosuccinate synthetase show that Arg303 interacts with the carboxyl group of aspartate and the 2'-OH of the ribose of IMP and Arg131 is involved in stabilizing aspartate in the active site of the enzyme. We conclude that 6-BDB-TAMP functions as a reactive adenylosuccinate analogue in modifying both Arg131 and Arg303 in the active site of adenylosuccinate synthetase.     

Inhibition of de novo purine biosynthesis and interconversion by 6-methylpurine in Escherichia coli

The inhibition of Escherichia coli strain B and strain W-11 by 6-methylpurine depended on the formation of 6-methylpurine ribonucleotide by the action of adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (AMP: pyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase, EC 2.4.2.7). 6-Methylpurine ribonucleotide inhibited the de novo synthesis of purines, presumably via pseudofeedback inhibition of phosphoribosylpyrophosphate amidotransferase (EC 2.4.2.14). The same mechanism accounted for its inhibition of adenylosuccinate synthetase [IMP: l-aspartate ligase (GDP), EC 6.3.4.4]. Adenine and 6-methylaminopurine prevented inhibition by competing for the action of adenine phosphoribosyltransferase. In addition, adenine reversed this inhibition by replenishing the AMP to bypass both sites of inhibition. Nonproliferating suspensions of strain B-94, which lacked adenylosuccinate lyase (EC 4.3.2.2), converted exogenous hypoxanthine and aspartate to succinoadenine derivatives which accumulated in the medium. Compounds which inhibited adenylosuccinate synthetase inhibited accumulation of the succinoadenine derivatives. A method was described for the isolation of mutants which potentially possessed an altered adenylosuccinate synthetase.     

Isotope exchange at equilibrium studies with rat muscle adenylosuccinate synthetase

The kinetic mechanism of rat muscle adenylosuccinate synthetase was studied by determining the rates of isotope exchange at equilibrium. A random sequential binding mechanism was indicated for both the forward and reverse reactions. Aspartate, adenylosuccinate, GDP, and Pi were determined to bind in rapid equilibrium. GTP exchanges with both GDP and Pi at the same rate, which is similar to the exchange rate of IMP with adenylosuccinate. Aspartate exchanges with adenylosuccinate at a higher rate than does IMP over the range of concentrations tested. The slower IMP and GTP exchange rates suggest a forward binding mechanism containing a preferred path in which the quaternary complex is most often formed by aspartate binding to the E-GTP-IMP complex. This preferred path is consistent with an interaction between IMP and GTP in the absence of aspartate as determined by isotope scrambling experiments [Bass, M. B., Fromm, H. J., & Rudolph, F. B. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 12330-12333]. However, the products of such an interaction are tightly bound to the enzyme as no partial exchange reactions between adenylosuccinate and aspartate in the presence or absence of Pi were detected.     

Recombinant mouse muscle adenylosuccinate synthetase: overexpression, kinetics, and crystal structure

Vertebrates possess two isozymes of adenylosuccinate synthetase. The acidic isozyme is similar to the synthetase from bacteria and plants, being involved in the de novo biosynthesis of AMP, whereas the basic isozyme participates in the purine nucleotide cycle. Reported here is the first instance of overexpression and crystal structure determination of a basic isozyme of adenylosuccinate synthetase. The recombinant mouse muscle enzyme purified to homogeneity in milligram quantities exhibits a specific activity comparable with that of the rat muscle enzyme isolated from tissue and K(m) parameters for GTP, IMP, and l-aspartate (12, 45, and 140 microm, respectively) similar to those of the enzyme from Escherichia coli. The mouse muscle and E. coli enzymes have similar polypeptide folds, differing primarily in the conformation of loops, involved in substrate recognition and stabilization of the transition state. Residues 65-68 of the muscle isozyme adopt a conformation not observed in any previous synthetase structure. In its new conformation, segment 65-68 forms intramolecular hydrogen bonds with residues essential for the recognition of IMP and, in fact, sterically excludes IMP from the active site. Observed differences in ligand recognition among adenylosuccinate synthetases may be due in part to conformational variations in the IMP pocket of the ligand-free enzymes.     

Regulatory effects of purine ribonucleotides on Escherichia coli adenylosuccinate synthase

Adenylosuccinate synthase (EC 6.3.4.4.) ($\text{l-aspartate + GTP + IMP}\text{→}\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{adenylosuccinate + GDP + P}{}_{\mathrm{i}}$) is an important site for the regulation of adenylate biosynthesis. A partially purified preparation of the enzyme from Escherichia coli B showed feedback inhibition by ADP and AMP, weak positive response to the adenylate energy charge, and weak positive response to the mole fraction of GTP in the GTP + GDP pool. These responses seem to ensure that the synthesis of adenine nucleotides will be controlled appropriately in response to the level of end products and to the energy state of the cell, and to avoid the potential difficulties arising from the fact that the end products of this sequence and the indicators of the energy state of the cell are the same compounds.     

8-(4-Bromo-2,3-dioxobutylthio)guanosine 5'-triphosphate: a new affinity label for purine nucleotide sites in proteins

A new affinity label, 8-(4-bromo-2,3-dioxobutylthio)guanosine 5'-triphosphate (8-BDB-TGTP), has been synthesized by initial reaction of GTP to form 8-Br-GTP, followed by its conversion to 8-thio-GTP, and finally coupling with 1,4-dibromobutanedione to produce 8-BDB-TGTP. 8-BDB-TGTP and its synthetic intermediates were characterized by thin-layer chromatography, UV, (31)P NMR spectroscopy, as well as by bromide and phosphorus analysis. Escherichia coli adenylosuccinate synthetase is inactivated by 8-BDB-TGTP at pH 7.0 at 25 degrees C. Pretreatment of the enzyme with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) blocks the exposed Cys(291) and leads to simple pseudo-first-order kinetics of inactivation. The inactivation exhibits a nonlinear relationship of initial inactivation rate versus 8-BDB-TGTP concentration, indicating the reversible association of 8-BDB-TGTP with the enzyme prior to the formation of a covalent bond. The inactivation kinetics exhibit an apparent K(I) of 115 microM and a k(max) of 0.0262 min(-1). Reaction of the NEM-treated adenylosuccinate synthetase with 8-BDB-[(3)H]TGTP results in 1 mol of reagent incorporated/mol of enzyme subunit. Adenylosuccinate or IMP plus GTP completely protects the enzyme against 8-BDB-TGTP inactivation, whereas IMP or GTP alone provide partial protection against inactivation. AMP is much less effective in protection. The results of ligand protection studies suggest that E. coli adenylosuccinate synthetase may accommodate 8-BDB-TGTP as a GTP analog. The new affinity label may be useful for identifying catalytic amino acid residues of protein proximal to the guanosine ring.     

Studies of ligand binding to Escherichia coli adenylosuccinate synthetase

Dissociation constants of Escherichia coli adenylosuccinate synthetase with IMP, GTP, adenylosuccinate, and AMP (a competitive inhibitor for IMP) were determined by measuring the extent of quenching of the intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence of the enzyme. The enzyme has one binding site for each of these ligands. Aspartate and GDP did not quench the fluorescence to any great extent, and their dissociation constants could not be determined. These ligand binding studies were generally supportive of the kinetic mechanism proposed earlier for the enzyme. Cys291 was modified with the fluorescent chromophores N-(iodoacetylaminoethyl)-5-naphthylamine-1-sulfonate and tetramethylrhodamine maleimide in order to measure enzyme conformational changes attending ligand binding. The excitation and emission spectra of these fluorophores are not altered by the addition of active site binding ligands. TbGTP and TbGDP were used as native reporter groups, and changes in their fluorescence on complexing with the enzyme and various ligands made it possible to detect conformational changes occurring at the active site. Evidence is presented for abortive complexes of the type: enzyme-TbGTP-adenylosuccinate and enzyme-TbGTP-adenylosuccinate-aspartate. These results suggest that the IMP and aspartate binding sites are spatially separated.     

Studies on active site mutants of P. falciparum adenylosuccinate synthetase: Insights into enzyme catalysis and activation

Adenylosuccinate synthetase catalyzes a reversible reaction utilizing IMP, GTP and aspartate in the presence of Mg²⁺ to form adenylosuccinate, GDP and inorganic phosphate. Comparison of similarly liganded complexes of Plasmodium falciparum, mouse and Escherichia coli AdSS reveals H-bonding interactions involving nonconserved catalytic loop residues (Asn429, Lys62 and Thr307) that are unique to the parasite enzyme. Site-directed mutagenesis has been used to examine the role of these interactions in catalysis and structural organization of P. falciparum adenylosuccinate synthetase (PfAdSS). Mutation of Asn429 to Val, Lys62 to Leu and Thr307 to Val resulted in an increase in K_m values for IMP, GTP and aspartate, respectively along with a 5 fold drop in the k_cat value for N429V mutant suggesting the role of these residues in ligand binding and/or catalysis. We have earlier shown that the glycolytic intermediate, fructose 1,6 bisphosphate, which is an inhibitor of mammalian AdSS is an activator of the parasite enzyme. Enzyme kinetics along with molecular docking suggests a mechanism for activation wherein F16BP seems to be binding to the Asp loop and inducing a conformation that facilitates aspartate binding to the enzyme active site. Like in other AdSS, a conserved arginine residue (Arg155) is involved in dimer crosstalk and interacts with IMP in the active site of the symmetry related subunit of PfAdSS. We also report on the biochemical characterization of the arginine mutants (R155L, R155K and R155A) which suggests that unlike in E. coli AdSS, Arg155 in PfAdSS influences both ligand binding and catalysis.     

Adenylosuccinate synthetase from Dictyostelium discoideum: effects of hadacidin analogs and binding of [14C]hadacidin

The enzyme adenylosuccinate (sAMP) synthetase has been partially purified from Dictyostelium discoideum using hadacidin-Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography, anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and gel-filtration HPLC, resulting in a 2600-fold purification. Using a newly developed HPLC procedure to assay activity, it has been found that D. discoideum adenylosuccinate synthetase activity has apparent Km values for the substrates IMP, GTP, and aspartate of 36, 23, and 714 microM, respectively. The analog guanosine-5'-(beta, gamma-imino)triphosphate was found to be an inhibitor of GTP with a Ki of 15 microM, and IMP was competitively inhibited by its analog formycin B monophosphate with a Ki of 80 microM. An analysis of these kinetic data showed a pattern consistent with a fully random terter mechanism. Hadacidin, an analog of aspartate, was an inhibitor of that substrate at 86 microM. Other analogs of hadacidin were synthesized and examined for their effect on the sAMP synthetase activity. Compared to hadacidin, which produced 100% inhibition at 5 mM, it was observed that N-acetyl-N-hydroxyglycine, N-formylglycine, N-acetylglycine, and N-hydroxyglycine all inhibited between 50 and 75%, with N-(thiocarboxy)-L-aspartic anhydride less effective at 27%, and N-benzoylglycine at only 6%. N-Formylsarcosine, N-acetylmethionine, O-methylpyruvate oxime, and hadacidin methylester had no effect at this concentration. The adenylosuccinate synthetase activity was dependent on metal ions with maximum activity being obtained with Mg2+. The ability of the aspartate analog hadacidin to bind to the purified adenylosuccinate synthetase was demonstrated using anion-exchange HPLC and [formyl-14C]hadacidin. The radioactivity coeluted with the adenylosuccinate synthetase and the bound, radiolabeled hadacidin was displaced by excess aspartate.     

Site-directed mutagenesis of the phosphate-binding consensus sequence in Escherichia coli adenylosuccinate synthetase.

Adenylosuccinate synthetases from different sources contain an N-terminal glycine-rich sequence GDEGKGK, which is homologous to the conserved sequence GXXXXGK found in many other guanine nucleotide-binding proteins or enzymes. To determine the role of this sequence in the structure and function of Escherichia coli adenylosuccinate synthetase, site-directed mutagenesis was performed to generate five mutant enzymes: G12V (Gly12----Val), G15V (Gly15----Val), G17V (Gly17----Val), K18R (Lys18----Arg), and I19T (Ile19----Thr). Comparison of the kinetic properties of the wild-type enzyme and those of the mutant enzymes revealed that the sequence is critical for enzyme activity. Replacement of Gly12, Gly15, or Gly17 with Val, or replacement of Lys18 with Arg, resulted in significant decreases in the kcat/Km values of the enzyme. Because the consensus sequence GXXXXGK(T/S) has been found in many GTP-binding proteins, isoleucine at position 19 in the E. coli adenylosuccinate synthetase was changed to threonine to produce the sequence GDEGKGKT. This mutation, which more closely resembles the consensus sequence, resulted in a 160-fold increase in the Km value for substrate GTP; however, there were no great changes for the other two substrates, IMP and aspartate. Based on these data, we suggest that the N-terminal glycinerich sequence in E. coli adenylosuccinate synthetase plays a more important role in enzyme catalysis than in substrate binding. In addition, a hydrophobic amino acid residue such as isoleucine, leucine, or valine, rather than threonine, may play a critical role in GTP binding in adenosuccinate synthetase. These findings suggest that the glycine-rich sequence in adenylosuccinate synthetase functions differently relative to those in other GTP binding proteins or enzymes.     

Mechanism of the potentiating effect of ribavirin on the activity of 2',3'-dideoxyinosine against human immunodeficiency virus

Ribavirin enhances the anti-human immunodeficiency virus activity of 2',3'-dideoxyinosine (ddIno) in MT-4, CEM and peripheral blood lymphocyte cells. Ribavirin causes an increase in the levels of IMP, the presumed phosphate donor for the conversion of ddIno to ddIMP by 5'-nucleotidase. Consequently, ribavirin stimulates the conversion of ddIno to its antivirally active metabolite ddATP. Ribavirin also causes a marked depletion of the guanine nucleotide pools. The increase in IMP pool levels may result from (i) a direct inhibitory effect of ribavirin 5'-monophosphate on IMP dehydrogenase (which converts IMP to XMP) and (ii) an indirect inhibition of adenylosuccinate synthetase by the decreased GTP and dGTP pools (since GTP is an obligatory cofactor in the conversion of IMP to succinyl AMP). GTP depletion plays a key role in the accumulation of IMP and the resultant higher rate of ddIno phosphorylation to ddIMP and eventually ddATP. Our findings are in agreement with the observations that guanosine and 2'-deoxyguanosine, but not 2'-deoxyadenosine, reverse (i) the stimulatory effect of ribavirin on the anti-human immunodeficiency virus activity of ddIno and (ii) the accumulation of endogenous IMP pools as well as accumulation of [3H]IMP from exogenous [3H]hypoxanthine in ribavirin-treated cells.