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Glucosephosphate isomerase from Trypanosoma brucei. Cloning and characterization of the gene and analysis of the enzyme.

In Trypanosoma brucei the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, like most other enzymes of the glycolytic pathway, resides in a microbody-like organelle, the glycosome. Here we report a detailed study of this enzyme, involving a determination of its kinetic properties and the cloning and sequence analysis of its gene. The gene codes for a polypeptide of 606 amino acids, with a calculated Mr of 67280. The protein predicted from the gene sequence has 54-58% positional identity with its yeast and mammalian counterparts. Compared to those other glucose-6-phosphate isomerases the trypanosomal enzyme contains an additional 38-49 amino acids in its N-terminal domain, as well as a number of small insertions and deletions. The additional amino acids are responsible for the 5-kDa-larger subunit mass of the T. brucei enzyme, as measured by gel electrophoresis. The glucose-6-phosphate isomerase of the trypanosome has no excess of positive residues and, consequently, no high isoelectric point, in contrast to the other glycolytic enzymes that are present in the glycosome. However, similar to other glycosomal proteins analyzed so far, specific clusters of positive residues can be recognized in the primary structure. Comparison of the kinetic properties of the T. brucei glucose-6-phosphate isomerase with those of the yeast and rabbit muscle enzymes did not reveal major differences. The three enzymes have very similar pH profiles. The affinity for the substrate fructose 6-phosphate (Km = 0.122 mM) and the inhibition constant for the competitive inhibitor gluconate 6-phosphate (Ki = 0.14 mM) are in the same range as those of the similar enzymes. The Km shows the same strong dependence on salt as the rabbit muscle enzyme, although somewhat less than the yeast glucose-6-phosphate isomerase. The trypanocidal drug suramin inhibits the T. brucei and yeast enzymes to the same extent (Ki = 0.29 and 0.36 mM, respectively), but it had no effect on the rabbit muscle enzyme. Agaricic acid, a potent inhibitor of various glycosomal enzymes of T. brucei, has also a strong, irreversible effect on glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, while leaving the yeast and mammalian enzymes relatively unaffected.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Protein purification, and cloning and characterization of the cDNA and gene for xylose isomerase of barley.

The first eukaryotic xylose isomerase protein was purified from barley Hordeum vulgare. The enzyme requires Mn2+ for its activity and is fairly thermostable, with the optimum temperature being 60 degrees C. It showed maximum activity over a broad pH range (7.0-9.0). The molecular mass of the monomer was about 50,000 Da based on the SDS/PAGE, and the calculated value from the cDNA-deduced polypeptide sequence was 53,620 Da. A relative mass estimation of 100,000 Da was obtained from the Superose 12 chromatography, suggesting that the barley enzyme is a dimer. The cloned corresponding cDNA sequence of 1710 nucleotides encoded a polypeptide of 480 amino acids. The genomic sequence of 4473 nucleotides, revealed that the isomerase gene contained 20 introns, all starting with GT and ending with AG. One large intron was located in the 5'untranslated region. The barley isomerase has an insertion of about 40 residues at its amino terminus when compared to the prokaryotic cluster (family) II isomerases; cluster (family) I and cluster (family) II isomerases vary from the former in an insertion of around 50 residues at their amino termini. Comparison of the barley protein with the prokaryotic isomerases shows that the conserved catalytic and metal binding regions are also well conserved in barley.

Aldose-Ketose Isomerases↗

Ribose catabolism of Escherichia coli: characterization of the rpiB gene encoding ribose phosphate isomerase B and of the rpiR gene, which is involved in regulation of rpiB expression.

Escherichia coli strains defective in the rpiA gene, encoding ribose phosphate isomerase A, are ribose auxotrophs, despite the presence of the wild-type rpiB gene, which encodes ribose phosphate isomerase B. Ribose prototrophs of an rpiA genetic background were isolated by two different approaches. Firstly, spontaneous ribose-independent mutants were isolated. The locus for this lesion, rpiR, was mapped to 93 min on the linkage map, and the gene order zje::Tn10-rpiR-mel-zjd::Tn10-psd-purA was established. Secondly, ribose prototrophs resulted from the cloning of the rpiB gene on a multicopy plasmid. The rpiB gene resided on a 4.6-kbp HindIII-EcoRV DNA fragment from phage lambda 10H5 (642) of the Kohara gene library and mapped at 92.85 min. Consistent with this map position, the cloned DNA fragment contained two divergent open reading frames of 149 and 296 codons, encoding ribose phosphate isomerase B (molecular mass, 16,063 Da) and a negative regulator of rpiB gene expression, RpiR (molecular mass, 32,341 Da), respectively. The 5' ends of rpiB- and rpiR-specified transcripts were located by primer extension analysis. No significant amino acid sequence similarity was found between ribose phosphate isomerases A and B, but ribose phosphate isomerase B exhibited high-level similarity to both LacA and LacB subunits of the galactose 6-phosphate isomerases of several gram-positive bacteria. Analyses of strains containing rpiA, rpiB, or rpiA rpiB mutations revealed that both enzymes were equally efficient in catalyzing the isomerization step in either direction and that the construction of rpiA rpiB double mutants was a necessity to fully prevent this reaction.

Aldose-Ketose Isomerases↗

Isolation and characterization of the cis-trans-unsaturated fatty acid isomerase of Pseudomonas oleovorans GPo12.

Pseudomonas oleovorans contains an isomerase which catalyzes the cis-trans conversion of the abundant unsaturated membrane fatty acids 9-cis-hexadecenoic acid (palmitoleic acid) and 11-cis-octadecenoic acid (vaccenic acid). We purified the isomerase from the periplasmic fraction of Pseudomonas oleovorans. The molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be 80 kDa under denaturing conditions and 70 kDa under native conditions, suggesting a monomeric structure of the active enzyme. N-terminal sequencing showed that the isomerase derives from a precursor with a signal sequence which is cleaved from the primary translation product in accord with the periplasmic localization of the enzyme. The purified isomerase acted only on free unsaturated fatty acids and not on esterified fatty acids. In contrast to the in vivo cis-trans conversion of lipids, this in vitro isomerization of free fatty acids did not require the addition of organic solvents. Pure phospholipids, even in the presence of organic solvents, could not serve as substrate for the isomerase. However, when crude membranes from Pseudomonas or Escherichia coli cells were used as phospholipid sources, a cis-trans isomerization was detectable which occurred only in the presence of organic solvents. These results indicate that isolated membranes from Pseudomonas or E. coli cells must contain factors which, activated by the addition of organic solvents, enable and control the cis-trans conversion of unsaturated acyl chains of membrane phospholipids by the periplasmic isomerase.

Alcohols↗

Periplasmic peptidyl prolyl cis-trans isomerases are not essential for viability, but SurA is required for pilus biogenesis in Escherichia coli.

In Escherichia coli, FkpA, PpiA, PpiD, and SurA are the four known periplasmic cis-trans prolyl isomerases. These isomerases facilitate proper protein folding by increasing the rate of transition of proline residues between the cis and trans states. Genetic inactivation of all four periplasmic isomerases resulted in a viable strain that exhibited a decreased growth rate and increased susceptibility to certain antibiotics. Levels of the outer membrane proteins LamB and OmpA in the quadruple mutant were indistinguishable from those in the surA single mutant. In addition, expression of P and type 1 pili (adhesive organelles produced by uropathogenic strains of E. coli and assembled by the chaperone/usher pathway) were severely diminished in the absence of the four periplasmic isomerases. Maturation of the usher was significantly impaired in the outer membranes of strains devoid of all four periplasmic isomerases, resulting in a defect in pilus assembly. Moreover, this defect in pilus assembly and usher stability could be attributed to the absence of SurA. The data presented here suggest that the four periplasmic isomerases are not essential for growth under laboratory conditions but may have significant roles in survival in environmental and pathogenic niches, as indicated by the effect on pilus production.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Competitive inhibition of Trypanosoma brucei phosphoglucose isomerase by D-arabinose-5-phosphate derivatives.

We report four new strong high energy intermediate analog competitive inhibitors of fructose-6-phosphate isomerization catalyzed by purified Trypanosoma brucei phosphoglucose isomerase: D-arabinonhydroxamic acid-5-phosphate, D-arabinonate-5-phosphate, D-arabinonamide-5-phosphate and D-arabinonhydrazide-5-phosphate. For comparison, the inhibitory properties of the corresponding non-phosphorylated analogues D-arabinonhydroxamic acid, D-arabinonate, D-arabinonamide and D-arabinonhydrazide were also evaluated. D-Arabinonhydroxamic acid-5-phosphate appears as the most potent competitive inhibitor ever evaluated on a phosphoglucose isomerase with an inhibition constant value of 50 nM and a Michaelis constant over inhibition constant ratio of about 2000. Our results show that anionic high energy intermediate analogues, and more particularly D-arabinonhydroxamic acid-5-phosphate, display a weak but significant specificity for Trypanosoma brucei phosphoglucose isomerase versus yeast phosphoglucose isomerase, while neutral high energy intermediate analogues are not selective at all. This would indicate the presence of more positively charged residues in the active site for Trypanosoma brucei phosphoglucose isomerase as compared to that of yeast phosphoglucose isomerase.

Animals↗

Inhibitory effects of environmental chemicals on protein disulfide isomerase in vitro.

BACKGROUND: The influence of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) upon physiological functions and their mechanisms is of concern. We have previously demonstrated that protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) was a target molecule of bisphenol A (BPA), which is considered to be EDC. PDI plays a key role in protein folding as an isomerase and also possesses a 3,3',5-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3)-binding activity. Since PDI activities were inhibited by BPA in our previous study, BPA might have adverse effects on physiological functions via the inhibition of PDI activities. We conducted this study to identify the compounds which disturb PDI activities as well as BPA, and to discuss their structural characteristics. METHODS: We examined the effects of 22 suspected EDC on both the T3-binding activity and isomerase activity of rat recombinant PDI. RESULTS: Among the 22 compounds, only phenolic compounds, namely BPA, p-octylphenol, p-nonylphenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol, pentachlorophenol, tetrabromobisphenol A, and tetrachlorobisphenol A, inhibited T3 binding to PDI. Furthermore non-halogenated compounds among these phenolic compounds, such as BPA, p-octylphenol, and p-nonylphenol, showed inhibitory effects on the isomerase activity of PDI. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that phenolic groups might have important inhibitory effects on the T3-binding activity of PDI, and that compounds with phenolic groups might have the same effects on PDI. Furthermore, non-halogenated phenolic compounds had inhibitory effects on the isomerase activities of PDI in addition to T3-binding activity, indicating that these compounds might also have adverse effects on protein folding, which PDI participates in by catalyzing rearrangements of disulfide bonds as an isomerase.

Animals↗

Chemical modification of chalcone isomerase by mercurials and tetrathionate. Evidence for a single cysteine residue in the active site.

Chalcone isomerase from soybean is inactivated by stoichiometric amounts of p-mercuribenzoate or HgCl2. Spectral titration of the enzyme with p-mercuribenzoate indicates that a single thiol group is modified. Treatment of modified enzyme with KCN or thiols results in a complete restoration of enzyme activity demonstrating that the inactivation is not due to irreversible protein denaturation. A product of the enzymatic reaction, naringenin, provides complete kinetic protection against inactivation by both mercurials. The binding constant (33 microM) for naringenin determined from the concentration dependence of the protection agrees with the inhibition constant (34 microM) for naringenin as a competitive inhibitor of the catalytic reaction. This agreement demonstrates that the observed kinetic protection results from the specific binding of naringenin to the active site. Incubation of native chalcone isomerase with sodium tetrathionate (0.1 M) results in a slow time-dependent loss of enzymatic activity. The inactivation of chalcone isomerase by tetrathionate and N-ethylmaleimide becomes very rapid in the presence of 6 M urea, indicating that the native tertiary structure is responsible for the low reactivity of the enzymatic thiol. The stoichiometric modification of reduced and denatured chalcone isomerase by [3H] N-ethylmaleimide indicates that the enzyme contains only a single cysteine residue and does not contain any disulfides. The evidence presented suggests that the only half-cystine residue in chalcone isomerase is located in the active site and thereby provides the first clue to the location of the active site in chalcone isomerase.

Binding Sites↗

Immunochemical and kinetic evidence for two different prostaglandin H-prostaglandin E isomerases in sheep vesicular gland microsomes.

Splenic lymphocytes from mice immunized with a partially purified prostaglandin (PG) H-PGE isomerase from sheep vesicular glands were fused with SP2/0-Ag14 myeloma cells. Two spleen cell-myeloma hybrids (hei-7 and hei-26) were selected and cloned. The mouse antibodies secreted by the two hybrids, IgG1 (hei-7) and IgG1 (hei-26), caused immunoprecipitation of a maximum of 45 and 22%, respectively, of the solubilized PGH-PGE isomerase activity of sheep vesicular gland; immunoprecipitation of activity by the two antibodies was additive. The antigens reactive with IgG1 (hei-7) and IgG1 (hei-26) were identified as proteins with Mr = 17,500 and 180,000, respectively, by Western transfer blotting or sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of immunoprecipitated 125I-labeled microsomes. The PGH-PGE isomerase activities precipitated by IgG1 (hei-7) and IgG1 (hei-26) exhibited different kinetic properties with respect to time course, Km for PGH2, and concentration dependence for GSH. No significant GSH-S-transferase activity was present in these immunoprecipitates. These data indicate that there are at least two different proteins in sheep vesicular gland microsomes capable of catalyzing GSH-dependent PGH-PGE isomerase reactions. IgG1 (hei-7), but not IgG1 (hei-26), caused coprecipitation of PGH synthase and PGH-PGE isomerase activities when incubated with intact right-side-out vesicular gland microsomes. Thus, the epitope for IgG1 (hei-7) is located on the cytoplasmic surface of those microsomal spheres which contain PGH synthase. This latter finding suggests that the isomerase reactive with IgG1 (hei-7) is involved in PGE synthesis in sheep vesicular glands.

Animals↗

[Glucose isomerase of S. violaceoniger. Fundamental and applied aspects].

XylA gene of Streptomyces violaceoniger (Drocourt et coll. 1988) code for a D-xylose isomerase activity which is used as a D-glucose isomerase activity in large scale. This gene is a part of regulated region involved in xylose utilization (Marcel et coll. 1987). Sequence determination of this region enabled us to characterize xylB gene (Xylulose kinase activity) and xylX gene which is involved in xylA and xylB expression. In order to construct a new strain having a strong and constitutive glucose isomerase activity, a newly isolated strong streptomyces promoter (P1 promoter), has been cloned behind xylA gene. To avoid instability of plasmid and glucose-isomerase activity, the P1-xylA gene of S. violaceoniger has been integrated into the chromosome, using the integrative vector pTS55. The resultant CBS1 strain has four to five fold higher glucose-isomerase activity in absence of xylose compared to that of strain SV1 fully induced by xylose. In addition, specific glucose-isomerase activity of CBS1 strain increases in the secondary growth phase, in contrast to wild type and SV1 strains.

Aldose-Ketose Isomerases↗

Purification and characterization of a plant peroxisomal delta 2, delta 3-enoyl-CoA isomerase acting on 3-cis-enoyl-CoA and 3-trans-enoyl-CoA.

A delta 3, delta 2-enoyl-CoA isomerase was extracted from fat-degrading cotyledons of cucumber seedlings. The enzyme is required for the degradation of cis-unsaturated fatty acids, e.g. linoleic acid being present in the storage tissue of cucumber seedlings in high amounts. The delta 3, delta 2-enoyl-CoA isomerase was exclusively localized within peroxisomes. Its purification included chromatography on a hydrophobic matrix, a cation exchanger, and on hydroxylapatite. 17,000-fold purification yielded a protein of apparent homogeneity. The isomerase is a homodimer with a Mr of 50,000 and an isoelectric point of pH approximately 8.1. Delta 3, delta 2-Enoyl-CoA isomerase reversibly catalyzes the conversion of both cis-3-enoyl-CoA and trans-3-enoyl-CoA into trans-2-enoyl-CoA. The isomerase exhibited optimal activity at pH 9 and was active with 3-enoyl-CoA species having chain lengths of C6-C12, with cis-hexanoyl-CoA being the most effective substrate. The purified enzyme did not show enoyl-CoA hydratase activity.

Carbon-Carbon Double Bond Isomerases↗

Enoyl-CoA hydratase and isomerase form a superfamily with a common active-site glutamate residue.

Mitochondrial 2-enoyl-CoA hydratase (mECH) and 3,2-trans-enoyl-CoA isomerase (mECI), two enzymes which catalyze totally different reactions in fatty acid beta-oxidation, belong to the low-similarity hydratase/isomerase enzyme superfamily. Their substrates and reaction mechanisms are similar [Müller-Newen, G. & Stoffel, W. (1993) Biochemistry 32, 11,405-11,412]. Glu164 of mECH is the only amino acid with a protic side chain that is conserved in these monofunctional and polyfunctional enzymes with 2-enoyl-CoA hydratase and 3,2-trans-enoyl-CoA isomerase activities. We tested our hypothesis that Glu164 of mECH is the putative active-site amino acid responsible for the base-catalyzed alpha-deprotonation in the hydratase/dehydrase and isomerase reaction. We functionally expressed rat liver mECH wild-type and [E164Q] mutant enzymes in Escherichia coli. Characterization of the purified wild-type and mutant enzymes revealed that the replacement of Glu164 by Gln lowers the kcat value more than 100,000-fold, whereas the Km value is only moderately affected. We have demonstrated in a previous study that Glu165 is indispensable for the 3,2-trans-enoyl-CoA isomerase activity. Taking these results together, we conclude that the conserved glutamic acid is the essential basic group in the active sites of 2-enoyl-CoA hydratase (Glu164) and 3,2-trans-enoyl-CoA isomerase (Glu165), and that these enzymes are not only evolutionarily but also functionally and mechanistically related.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A bifunctional beta-xylosidase-xylose isomerase from Streptomyces sp. EC 10.

beta-Xylosidase (1,4-beta-D-xylan xylohydrolase EC 3.2.1.37) and xylose isomerase (D-xylose ketol-isomerase EC 5.3.1.5) produced by Streptomyces sp. strain EC 10, were cell-bound enzymes induced by xylan, straw, and xylose. Enzyme production was subjected to a form of carbon catabolite repression by glycerol. beta-Xylosidase and xylose isomerase copurified strictly, and the preparation was found homogeneous by gel electrophoresis after successive chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel and gel filtration on Biogel A. Streptomyces sp. produced apparently a bifunctional beta-xylosidase-xylose isomerase enzyme. The molecular weight of the enzyme was measured to be 163,000 by gel filtration and 42,000 by SDS-PAGE, indicating that the enzyme behaved as a tetramer of identical subunits. The Streptomyces sp. beta-xylosidase was a typical glycosidase acting as an exoenzyme on xylooligosaccharides, and working optimally at pH 7.5 and 45 degrees C. The xylose isomerase optimal temperature was 70 degrees C and maximal activity was observed in a broad range pH (5-8). Enhanced saccharification of arabinoxylan caused by the addition of the enzyme to endoxylanase suggested a cooperative enzyme action. The first 35 amino acids of the N-terminal sequence of the enzyme showed strong analogies with N-terminal sequences of xylose isomerase produced by other microorganisms but not with other published N-terminal sequences of beta-xylosidases.

Journal Article↗

Production of Glucose Isomerase by Streptomyces flavogriseus.

A microorganism that produces glucose isomerase was isolated from soil and identified as a strain of Streptomyces flavogriseus. The organism produced a large quantity of glucose isomerase when grown on straw hemicellulose, xylan, xylose, and H(2)SO(4) hydrolysate of ryegrass straw. The organism produced glucose isomerase both intra- and extra-cellularly. The highest level of intracellular glucose isomerase (3.5 U/ml) was obtained in about 36 h by a culture grown on straw hemicellulose; the extracellular enzyme (1.5 U/ml) appeared in cultures grown for about 72 h. About equal levels of enzyme were produced in cultures grown on straw hemicellulose, xylan, xylose, and H(2)SO(4) hydrolysate of straw, but production of the enzyme was drastically reduced when the organism was grown on other carbon sources. As a nitrogen source, corn steep liquor produced the best results. Soy flour extract, yeast extract, and various peptones also were adequate substrates for glucose isomerase production. Addition of Mg, Mn, or Fe to the growth medium significantly enhanced enzyme production. The organism, however, did not require Co, which is commonly required by microorganisms used in the production of glucose isomerase.

Journal Article↗

Pentose metabolism in Mycobacterium smegmatis: specificity of induction of pentose isomerases.

The induction of D-xylose, D-ribose, L-arabinose, and D-lyxose isomerases by various sugars was studied to determine the configuration necessary for induction. D-Xylose isomerase was only induced by D-xylose, whereas D-ribose isomerase was induced by D-ribose, L-rhamnose, and L-lyxose. L-arabinose isomerase was induced by L-arabinose, D-galactose, L-arabitol, D-fucose, and dulcitol, whereas D-lyxose isomerase was induced by D-lyxose, D-mannose, D-ribose, dulcitol, and myoinositol. Some compounds such as dulcitol, D-galactose, and D- or L-fucose which do not support growth are still able to serve as inducers for various pentose isomerases.

Arabinose↗

Yeast alpha-isopropylmalate isomerase. Factors affecting stability and enzyme activity.

Yeast alpha-isopropylmalate isomerase was found to be markedly stabilized by high concentrations of glycerol and (NH4)2SO4. Such conditions of high ionic strength inhibited the enzyme, stabilized the enzyme to heat, and affected kinetic parameters. The isomerase was found to exhibit ionic strength-dependent hysteresis when enzyme, totally but reversibly inhibited by storage under conditions of high ionic strength of (NH4)2SO4, was transferred to a lower concentration of (NH4)2SO4. Alpha-Isopropylmalate isomerase was found to be sensitive to KCN and certain other chelators. The inactivation by KCN was prevented by high concentrations of (NH4)2SO4. These observations implicated a metal involvement but the nature of the metal was not revealed. The metal involvement and some of the other properties of alpha-isopropylmalate isomerase reveal a similarity to aconitase. The similarities in properties between the isomerase and aconitase are summarized. Studies of yeast alpha-isopropylmalate isomerase indicated that it is a single polypeptide of about Mr = 90,000.

Ammonium Sulfate↗

The reported cDNA sequence for phospholipase C alpha encodes protein disulfide isomerase, isozyme Q-2 and not phospholipase-C.

We have previously shown that the cDNA sequence published for the rat gene encoding phosphatidylinositol specific phospholipase C alpha (1) may be identical to the sequence of a new isoform of protein disulfide isomerase, Isozyme Q2 (2). To determine whether the presumed phospholipase C alpha gene encodes phospholipase C or protein disulfide isomerase, we have now expressed the cDNA in Escherichia coli and find that the 55.5 kDa protein that it synthesized contains no phospholipase C activity. Moreover, an extract of Escherichia coli containing the expressed protein shows a concentration dependent increase in protein disulfide isomerase activity. The expressed protein is identical to protein disulfide isomerase, Isozyme Q2 on SDS-PAGE and by Western blot analysis. These current studies confirm that the published sequence of phospholipase C alpha is, in fact, the sequence of protein disulfide isomerase, Isozyme Q2.

Animals↗

Heterogeneity of membrane-bound delta5-3-oxosteroid isomerase. Studies on bovine adrenocortical microsomes.

There are conflicting reports concerning the number of distinct delta5-3-oxosteroid isomerases present in various steroid producing tissues; this problem was reexamined by two techniques: (1) kinetics measurements with a mixture of androst-5-ene-3,17-dione and pregn-5-en-3, 20-dione. (2) thermal inactivation of the androst-5-ene-3,17-dione isomerase and pregn-5-ene-3,20-dione isomerase activities. The results are the following: (a) Kinetic data support the concept of a single delta5-3-oxosteroid isomerase with a low substrate specificity in the microsomes. (b) Thermal inactivation experiments also support the one enzyme theory, but strongly suggest an heterogeneity of the delta5-3-oxosteroid isomerase in the bovine adrenocortical microsomes. In view of these results, a tentative explanation of the conflicting reports is proposed.

Adrenal Cortex↗