Rabbit muscle phosphofructokinase. 2. Inactivation by the affinity label 5'-[p-(fluorosulfonyl)benzoyl]-1,N6-ethenoadenosine

The reaction of the fluorescent affinity label 5'-[p-(fluorosulfonyl)benzoyl]-1,N6-ethenoadenosine with rabbit skeletal muscle phosphofructokinase results in an inactivation of the enzyme and in the covalent incorporation of up to one label/monomer. The substrates, MgATP and fructose 6-phosphate, each protect against inactivation of the enzyme, but neither diminishes the extent of covalent incorporation of the label, indicating that the inactivation is not the result of covalent incorporation of the label. Dithiothreitol reactivates the inactivated enzyme but does not reduce the extent of incorporation of the label. A determination of the number of free sulfhydryl groups on the enzyme as a function of the extent of inactivation by the reagent suggests that the inactivation is associated with the loss of two free sulfhydryl groups per phosphofructokinase monomer. The inactivation reaction appears to involve the reversible formation of an enzyme-reagent complex (Kd = 1.11 mM) prior to the conversion of the complex to inactive enzyme (k1 = 0.98 min-1). In view of the protection afforded by either substrate and the evidence suggesting the formation of an enzyme-reagent complex prior to inactivation, it would appear that the inactivation results from a reagent-mediated formation of a disulfide bond between two cysteinyl residues in close proximity, possibly in or near the catalytic site of the enzyme. The site of covalent attachment of the label appears to be the binding site specific for the activating adenine nucleotides cAMP, AMP, and ADP. The extent of covalent incorporation of the label at this site is diminished in the presence of cAMP, and phosphofructokinase modified at this site by this affinity label is no longer subject to activation by cAMP.