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Biomedical subjects

P Kaldis

Publications and source records attributed to P Kaldis.

22 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Functional differences between dimeric and octameric mitochondrial creatine kinase.

Mitochondrial creatine kinase (Mi-CK) consists of octameric and dimeric molecules that are interconvertible. In the present study, the kinetic properties of purified chicken heart Mi-CK (Mib-CK) dimers and octamers were investigated separately under highly controlled conditions. Gel-permeation chromatography was performed before and after kinetic measurements in order to clearly define the proportions of octamers and dimers. 'Dimeric' Mi-CK solutions consisted of > or = 90% dimers throughout the experiment whereas 'octameric' Mi-CK solutions consisted in the beginning of 90% octamers, but upon measuring with the highest concentrations of creatine (Cr) and ATP approximately one-third of the octamers dissociated into dimers. These proper controls enabled us to pinpoint the observed kinetic differences between dimers and octamers solely to the oligomeric state of Mib-CK. Both dimeric and octameric Mi-CK displayed synergism in substrate binding (Kd values are higher than Km values), meaning that binding of the first substrate facilities subsequent binding of the second substrate. Most interestingly, Km(Cr) and Kd(Cr) values are both 2-3 times higher for octameric than for dimeric Mi-CK. Thus, at low Cr concentrations, the dimer is kinetically favoured for the forward direction of the reaction (phosphorylcreatine synthesis) compared with the octamer. The possible physiological significance of the lower Kd(Cr) value of dimeric versus octameric Mib-CK, as well as the apparent negative cooperativity of ATP binding at higher [Cr], are discussed within the context of a possible functional role for dimeric Mib-CK in vivo.

Animals↗

In vitro complex formation between the octamer of mitochondrial creatine kinase and porin.

An interaction of mitochondrial creatine kinase with purified outer mitochondrial porin (voltage-dependent anion channel) was shown by co-sedimentation assays as well as by gel permeation chromatography. Porin formed high M(r) complexes with wild-type mitochondrial creatine kinase as well as with an N-terminal deletion mutant, lacking the first five N-terminal amino acids. The complexes were identified by creatine kinase activity in parallel with immunoblotting using specific antibodies against the two proteins. In addition, porin induced octamerization of the N-terminal creatine kinase mutant, which under the same conditions without porin, did not polymerize but remained more than 90% dimeric. Furthermore, binding of mitochondrial creatine kinase to porin affected the conductance of porin when reconstituted in "black membranes." At 10 mV the pore in the complex adopted a low conductance (1.5-2 nanosiemens) state, compared to the high conductance state (3-4 nanosiemens) of the free incorporated pores. The former state of the pore is known to be cationically selective. Thus, besides a specific structural interaction, a defined physiological function is assumed of the mitochondrial creatine kinase-porin complexes that are discussed here.

Animals↗

The N-terminal heptapeptide of mitochondrial creatine kinase is important for octamerization.

Mitochondrial creatine kinase (Mi-CK) isoenzymes, in contrast to cytosolic CKs, form octameric molecules composed of four stable dimers. Octamers and dimers are interconvertible. Removal of the N-terminal pentapeptide of chicken cardiac Mi-CK (Mib-CK) by limited proteolysis drastically destabilized the octamer. The role of the charged amino acids within the N-terminal heptapeptide was studied in detail by progressively substituting the four charged residues by uncharged ones. In these altered proteins, the octamer/dimer ratio at equilibrium conditions was shifted toward the dimer. Also, the in vitro dissociation rate of octamers into dimers was increased in correlation to the number of charged residues eliminated. Point mutant E4Q, with only one positive charged amino acid removed, already displayed a 50-fold higher equilibrium constant and a 13-fold increased dissociation rate compared to wild-type Mib-CK. Mutant 4-7, having all four charged residues in the N-terminal heptapeptide substituted, showed a 100-fold higher equilibrium constant and a 146-fold increased dissociation rate. The corresponding values for double mutant E4Q/K5L were intermediate between the single and quadruple mutants. This strongly suggests that the charged amino acids in the N-terminal heptapeptide of Mib-CK, and therefore ionic interactions mediated by the N-terminal moiety, play an important role in forming and stabilizing the octameric molecule. The role of dimer-octamer interconversion in vivo as a possible regulator of contact site formation and of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Expression of active octameric chicken cardiac mitochondrial creatine kinase in Escherichia coli.

Sarcomeric mitochondrial creatine kinase (Mib-CK) of chicken was expressed in Escherichia coli as a soluble enzyme by using an inducible phage-T7 promoter. Up to one third of the protein in E. coli extracts consisted of soluble recombinant Mib-CK in an enzymically active form. Approx. 20 mg of nearly-homogenous Mib-CK was isolated in a two-step isolation procedure starting with 1 litre of isopropyl beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside-induced E. coli culture, whereas previous attempts to express other CK genes in E. coli have resulted in 20-fold lower yields and inclusion-body formation. Selection of the Mib-CK expression plasmid on media containing kanamycin rather than ampicillin extended the time period of maximal Mib-CK expression. Recombinant Mib-CK displayed an identical N-terminal amino acid sequence, identical Km for phosphocreatine and Vmax. values, the same electrophoretic behaviour and the same immunological cross-reactivity as the native enzyme isolated from chicken heart mitochondria. The recombinant Mib-CK had the same molecular mass as native chicken Mib-CK in m.s. analysis, indicating that post-translational modification of the enzyme in chicken tissue does not occur. As judged by gel-permeation chromatography and electron microscopy, recombinant enzyme formed predominantly octameric oligomers with the same overall structure as the chicken heart enzyme. Furthermore, the enzymes isolated from both sources formed protein crystals of space group P42(1)2, when grown in the absence of ATP, with one Mi-CK octamer per asymmetric unit. The indistinguishable X-ray-diffraction patterns indicate identical structures for the native and recombinant proteins.

Animals↗