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S G Waley

Publications and source records attributed to S G Waley.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Enzyme-substrate and enzyme-inhibitor complexes of triose phosphate isomerase studied by 31P nuclear magnetic resonance.

The complex formed between the enzyme triose phosphate isomerase (EC 5.3.1.1.), from rabbit and chicken muscle, and its substrate dihydroxyacetone phosphate was studied by 31P n.m.r. Two other enzyme-ligant complexes examined were those formed by glycerol 3-phosphate (a substrate analogue) and by 2-phosphoglycollate (potential transition-state analogue). Separate resonances were observed in the 31P n.m.r. spectrum for free and bound 2-phosphoglycollate, and this sets an upper limit to the rate constant for dissociation of the enzyme-inhibitor complex; the linewidth of the resonance assigned to the bound inhibitor provided further kinetic information. The position of this resonance did not vary with pH but remained close to that of the fully ionized form of the free 2-phosphoglycollate. It is the fully ionized form of this ligand that binds to the enzyme. The proton uptake that accompanies binding shows protonation of a group on the enzyme. On the basis of chemical and crystallographic information [Hartman (1971) Biochemistry 10, 146--154; Miller & Waley (1971) Biochem. J. 123, 163--170; De la Mare, Coulson, Knowles, Priddle & Offord )1972) Biochem. J. 129, 321--331; Phillips, Rivers, Sternberg, Thornton & Wilson (1977) Biochem. Soc. Trans. 5, 642--647] this group is believed to be glutamate-165. On the other hand, the position of the resonance of D-glycerol 3 phosphate (sn-glycerol 1-phosphate) in the enzyme-ligand complex changes with pH, and both monoanion and dianon of the ligand bind, although dianion binds better. The substrate, dihydroxyacetone phosphate, behaves essentially like glycerol 3-phosphate. The experiments with dihydroxy-acetone phosphate and triose phosphate isomerase have to be carried out at 1 degree C because at 37 degrees C there is conversion into methyl glyoxal and orthophosphate. The mechanismof the enzymic reaction and the reasons for rate-enhancement are considered, and aspects of the pH-dependence are discussed in an Appendix.

Animals↗

Spectrophotometric studies on the interaction between triose phosphate isomerase and inhibitors.

The binding of ligands to chicken muscle triose phosphate isomerase was studied. Changes in u.v. absorbance of the enzyme were used to measure binding, and the dissociation constant was determined over a range of pH values. The ligands were 2-phosphoglycollate and rac-glycerol 3-phosphate (only the D-isomer, sn-glycerol 1-phosphate, binds appreciably). Non-linear regression was used to fit calculated curves to the experimental points and hence to compare different models. Both active sites in the dimeric enzyme probably bound 2-phosphoglycollate, without any interaction between the sites. The results of crystallographic analysis [phillips, Rivers, Sternberg, Thornton & Wilson (1977) Biochem. Soc Trans. 5, 642--647], and experiments on the 1H, 13C and 31P n.m.r. of enzyme or 2-phosphoglycollate were combined with the present results to provide the basis for a model in which binding depends on glutamic acid-165 being protonated and on the ligant being fully ionized; additionally, binding affects the ionization of one histidine residue (probably histidine-100). The binding of the glycerol 3-phosphate, on the other hand, was independent of pH over the range pH 6.5--8.5 but decreased at lower pH values. This is explained on a model in which the binding of the monoanion of the ligand is markedly affected by the protonation of a residue in the enzyme, but the binding of the dianion is only slightly affected by this ionization.

Animals↗

6 beta-Bromopenicillanic acid inactivates beta-lactamase I.

The inactivation of beta-lactamase I by preparations of 6alpha-bromopenicillanic acid showed unexpected kinetic features that indicated that the active species was the 6beta-epimer. Samples containing 6beta-bromopenicillanic acid have been synthesized and shown to inactivate the enzyme in a rapid stoicheiometric reaction.

Chemical Phenomena↗

Histidine residues of zinc ligands in beta-lactamase II.

1. The Zn(II)-requiring beta-lactamase from Bacillus cereus 569/H/9, which has two zinc-binding sites, was examined by 270 MHz 1H n.m.r. spectroscopy. Resonances were assigned to five histidine residues. 2. Resonances attributed to three of the histidine residues in the apoenzyme shift on the addition of one equivalent of Zn(II). 3. Although these three histidine residues are free to titrate in the apoenzyme, none of them titrates over the pH range 6.0--9.0 in the mono-zinc enzyme. 4. The ability of the C-2 protons of these three histidine residues to exchange with solvent (2H2O) is markedly decreased on Zn(II) binding. 5. It is proposed that these three histidine residues act as zinc ligands at the tighter zinc-binding site. 6. Resonances attributed to a fourth histidine residue shift on addition of further zinc to the mono-zinc enzyme. It is proposed that this histidine residue acts as a Zn(II) ligand at the second zinc-binding site.

Apoenzymes↗

Reversible inhibitors of penicillinases.

Reversible competitive inhibitors of a penicillinase, beta-lactamase 1 from Bacillus cereus, were studied. These represent the first inhibitors of a penicillinase that lack the beta-lactam ring. The products of the enzymic reaction, namely penicilloic acids, are inhibitors; their decarboxylation products, the penilloic acids, are also inhibitors, and have somewhat lower Ki values. Inhibitors have been prepared from benzylpenicillin, phenoxymethyl-penicillin, methicillin (2,6-dimethoxybenzamidopenicillanic acid) and 3-hydroxy-4-nitrobenzamidopenicillanic acid. Decarboxylation of the penicilloic acids from benzyl-penicillin, or from phenoxymethylpenicillin, leads to epimerization (at C-5) of the penilloic acid. Nuclear-magnetic resonance spectroscopy at a frequency of 270 MHz can distinguish the epimers. Other competitive inhibitors studied were boric acid, benzene boronic acid and m-aminobenzeneboronic acid. Boric acid itself was the best inhibitor of beta-lactamase I so far found.

Bacillus cereus↗

Substrate-induced deactivation of penicillinases. Studies of beta-lactamase I by hydrogen exchange.

The conformational motility of beta-lactamase I from Bacillus cereus was studied by hydrogen exhange. The time course of the isotopic replacement of peptide hydrogen atoms was followed by 'exchange-in' or 'exchange-out' experiments. Many of the substrates for this enzyme that have o-substituted aromatic or heterocyclic side chains (e.g. methicillin or cloxacillin) are known to effect a decrease in enzymic activity ('substrate-induced deactivation'). There was a marked discontinuity in the exchange-out curve when methicillin or cloxacillin was diffused into the enzyme solution. About one-half of the hydrogen atoms that were probed were affected by the presence of these substrates, and the change in the reactivity of the hydrogen atoms was also large. Substrates that do not bring about deactivation (benzylpenicillin and cephalosporin C) do not affect the hydrogen exchange, nor do reversible competitive inhibitors such as the penicilloic acid or penilloic acid. On the other hand, Zn2+ ions do affect the hydrogen exchange; their effect is similar to that of methicillin or cloxacillin.

Cloxacillin↗

The amino acid sequence of rabbit muscle triose phosphate isomerase.

The amino acid sequence of rabbit muscle triose phosphate isomerase was deduced by characterizing peptides that overlap the tryptic peptides. Thiol groups were modified by oxidation, carboxymethylation or aminoen. About 50 peptides that provided information about overlaps were isolated; the peptides were mostly characterized by their compositions and N-terminal residues. The peptide chains contain 248 amino acid residues, and no evidence for dissimilarity of the two subunits that comprise the native enzyme was found. The sequence of the rabbit muscle enzyme may be compared with that of the coelacanth enzyme (Kolb et al., 1974): 84% of the residues are in identical positions. Similarly, comparison of the sequence with that inferred for the chicken enzyme (Furth et al., 1974) shows that 87% of the residues are in identical positions. Limited though these comparisons are, they suggest that triose phosphate isomerase has one of the lowest rates of evolutionary change. An extended version of the present paper has been deposited as Supplementary Publication SUP 50040 (42 pages) at the British Library (Lending Division) (formerly the National Lending Library for Science and Technology), Boston Spa, Yorks. LS23 7BQ, U.K., from whom copies can be obtained on the terms given in Biochem. J. (1975) 145, 5.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The reaction of penicillin with proteins.

The mode of reaction of benzylpenicillin with two proteins was studied, with particular reference to the allergenicity of penicillin. These reactions, with pig insulin, and with hen's-egg-white lysozyme, were carried out in neutral solution at 37 degrees C. High concentrations of penicillin are needed to label the proteins, owing to concurrent hydrolysis of penicillin. Evidence has been obtained that the penicillin-reactive sites on the insulin molecule are the alpha-amino group at the N-terminus of the A chain and the epsilon-amino group of the lysine residue; whereas a site of reaction with lysozyme appears to be the epsilon-amino group of lysine-116.

Amino Acids↗

The pH-dependence and group modification of beta-lactamase I.

The pH-dependence of the kinetic parameters for the hydrolysis of the beta-lactam ring by beta-lactamase I (penicillinase, EC 3.5.2.6) was studied. Benzylpenicillin and ampicillin (6-[D(-)-alpha-aminophenylacetamido]penicillanic acid) were used. Both kcat. and kcat./Km for both substrates gave bell-shaped plots of parameter versus pH. The pH-dependence of kcat./Km for the two substrates gave the same value (8.6) for the higher apparent pK, and so this value may characterize a group on the free enzyme; the lower apparent pK values were about 5(4.85 for benzylpenicillin, 5.4 for ampicillin). For benzylpenicillin both kcat. and kcat./Km depended on pH in exactly the same way. The value of Km for benzylpenicillin was thus independent of pH, suggesting that ionization of the enzyme's catalytically important groups does not affect binding of this substrate. The pH-dependence of kcat. for ampicillin differed, however, presumably because of the polar group in the side chain. The hypothesis that the pK5 group is a carboxyl group was tested. Three reagents that normally react preferentially with carboxyl groups inactivated the enzyme: the reagents were Woodward's reagent K, a water-soluble carbodi-imide, and triethyloxonium fluoroborate. These findings tend to support the idea that a carboxylate group plays a part in the action of beta-lactamase I.

Ampicillin↗

The tryptic peptides of rabbit muscle triose phosphate isomerase.

1. The peptides obtained by tryptic digestion of S-[(14)C]carboxymethylated rabbit muscle triose phosphate isomerase have been studied. 2. The first step in the fractionation of the tryptic digest was gel filtration on coupled columns of Sephadex G-25 and G-50. Further fractionation was carried out by paper electrophoresis and paper chromatography. 3. The digest contained 26 peptides and three free amino acids. The sizes of the peptides ranged from two to 29 residues. 4. The sequences of the peptides have been determined. 5. The length of the polypeptide chains is about 250 amino acid residues. 6. The variant sequences encountered were due to partial deamidation; this may be one of the reasons for multiple forms of the enzyme. 7. The chicken and rabbit enzymes are compared. 8. Detailed evidence for the sequences of the tryptic peptides has been deposited as Supplementary Publication SUP 50024 at the British Library, Lending Division (formerly the National Lending Library for Science and Technology), Boston Spa, Yorks. LS23 7BQ, U.K., from whom copies can be obtained on the terms given in Biochem. J. (1973) 131, 5.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Studies of triose phosphate isomerase by hydrogen exchange.

The (3)H-H exchange of chicken muscle and rabbit muscle triose phosphate isomerases was studied. Their behaviour was mostly very similar. ;Exchange-in' (acquisition of radioactivity when protein was incubated in (3)H(2)O) was measured at 37 degrees C and at pH7.5, and the rates of exchange of the native and liganded enzymes were compared. Inhibitors and substrates retarded exchange, substrates showing the most marked effect; structural rearrangements in the enzyme may thus play some part in catalysis. The inhibitor phosphoglycollate affected the rabbit enzyme, but had little or no effect on the chicken enzyme. ;Exchange-out' (loss of radioactivity from protein previously labelled by incubation in (3)H(2)O) was measured by hollow-fibre dialysis. When ligand was removed during the course of dialysis (by replacing buffer that contained ligand with buffer that lacked ligand) there was a prompt decrease in the number of labelled H atoms of the protein. Analysis of the curves provides some information about the number and half-lives of the responsive H atoms. Ligands decrease the motility of the protein and affect about one-fifth of the chain. Low concentrations of glycerol 3-phosphate have an effect that is greater than expected.

Animals↗