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An unusual peptide deformylase features in the human mitochondrial N-terminal methionine excision pathway.

Dedicated machinery for N-terminal methionine excision (NME) was recently identified in plant organelles and shown to be essential in plastids. We report here the existence of mitochondrial NME in mammals, as shown by the identification of cDNAs encoding specific peptide deformylases (PDFs) and new methionine aminopeptidases (MAP1D). We cloned the two full-length human cDNAs and showed that the N-terminal domains of the encoded enzymes were specifically involved in targeting to mitochondria. In contrast to mitochondrial MAP1D, the human PDF sequence differed from that of known PDFs in several key features. We characterized the human PDF fully in vivo and in vitro. Comparison of the processed human enzyme with the plant mitochondrial PDF1A, to which it is phylogenetically related, showed that the human enzyme had an extra N-terminal domain involved in both mitochondrial targeting and enzyme stability. Mammalian PDFs also display non-random substitutions in the conserved motifs important for activity. Human PDF site-directed mutagenesis variants were studied and compared with the corresponding plant PDF1A variants. We found that amino acid substitutions in human PDF specifically altered its catalytic site, resulting in an enzyme intermediate between bacterial PDF1Bs and plant PDF1As. Because (i) human PDF was found to be active both in vitro and in vivo, (ii) the entire machinery is conserved and expressed in most animals, (iii) the mitochondrial genome expresses substrates for these enzymes, and (iv) mRNA synthesis is regulated, we conclude that animal mitochondria have a functional NME machinery that can be regulated.

Amidohydrolases↗

Enzyme immobilization by means of ultrafiltration techniques.

Unstirred, plane membrane, ultrafiltration cells have been used as enzymatic reactor units. Because of the concentration polarization phenomena which take place in the system, at steady-state the enzyme is confined (dynamically immobilized) within an extremely narrow region upstream the ultrafiltration membrane. Correspondingly its concentration attains fairly high values. Kinetic studies have been therefore performed under quite unusual experimental conditions in order to better approximate local enzyme concentration levels in immobilized enzyme systems. Studies have been also carried out on the kinetics of enzyme deactivation in the continuous presence of substrate and reaction products. Once the enzyme concentration profile is completely developed, further injection into the system of suitable amounts of an inert proteic macromolecule (albumin polymers) gives rise to the formation of a gel layer onto the ultrafiltration membrane within which the enzyme is entrapped (statically immobilized). The effect of this immobilization technique has been studied as far as the kinetics of the main reaction, the substrate mass transfer resistances and the enzyme stability are concerned. The rejective properties of such gel layers towards enzymatic molecules have been exploited in producing multilayer, multi-enzymatic reactors.

Enzymes, Immobilized↗

Soluble human core 2 beta6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase C2GnT1 requires its conserved cysteine residues for full activity.

Human UDP-GlcNAc: Galbeta1-3GalNAc- (GlcNAc to GalNAc) beta1,6-GlcNAc-transferase (C2GnT1) is a member of a group of beta6-GlcNAc-transferases that belongs to CAZy family 14. One of the striking features of these beta6-GlcNAc-transferases is the occurrence of nine completely conserved cysteine residues that are located throughout the catalytic domain. We have expressed the soluble catalytic domain of human C2GnT1 in insect cells, and isolated active enzyme as a secreted protein. beta-Mercaptoethanol (beta-ME) and dithiothreitol (DTT) were found to stimulate the enzyme activity up to 20-fold, indicating a requirement for a reduced sulfhydryl for activity. When the enzyme was subjected to nonreducing PAGE, the migration of the protein was identical to the migration in reducing gels, demonstrating the absence of intermolecular disulfide bonds. This suggested that the monomer is the active form of the enzyme. Sulfhydryl reagents such as 5,5'-dithiobis-2-nitrobenzoic acid (DTNB) and N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) inactivated the enzyme, and the inactivation was partially prevented by prior addition of donor or acceptor substrate and by sulfhydryl reducing agents. We therefore investigated the role of all nine conserved cysteine residues in enzyme stability and activity by site-directed mutagenesis where individual cysteine residues were changed to serine. All of the mutants were expressed as soluble proteins. Seven of the Cys mutants were found to be inactive, while C100S and C217S mutants had 10% and 41% activity, respectively, when compared to the wild-type enzyme. Wild-type and C217S enzymes had similar K(M) and V(max) values for acceptor substrate Galbeta1-3GalNAcalpha-p-nitrophenyl (GGApnp), but the K(M) value for UDP-GlcNAc was higher for C217S than for the wild-type enzyme. In contrast to wild-type enzyme, C217S was not stimulated by reducing agents and was not inhibited by sulfhydryl specific reagents. These results suggest that Cys-217 is a free sulfhydryl in active wild-type enzyme and that Cys-217, although not required for activity, is in or near the active site of the protein. Since seven of the mutations were totally inactive, it is likely that these seven Cys residues play a role in maintaining an active conformation of soluble C2GnT1 by forming disulfide bonds. These bonds are only broken at high concentrations of disulfide reducing agents.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Raman spectroscopy of uracil DNA glycosylase-DNA complexes: insights into DNA damage recognition and catalysis.

Using off-resonance Raman spectroscopy, we have examined each complex along the catalytic pathway of the DNA repair enzyme uracil DNA glycosylase (UDG). The binding of undamaged DNA to UDG results in decreased intensity of the DNA Raman bands, which can be attributed to an increased level of base stacking, with little perturbation in the vibrational modes of the DNA backbone. A specific complex between UDG and duplex DNA containing 2'-beta-fluorodeoxyuridine shows similar increases in the level of DNA base stacking, but also a substrate-directed conformational change in UDG that is not observed with undamaged DNA, consistent with an induced-fit mechanism for damage site recognition. The similar increases in the level of DNA base stacking for the nonspecific and specific complexes suggest a common enzyme-induced distortion in the DNA, potentially DNA bending. The difference spectrum of the extrahelical uracil base in the substrate-analogue complexes reveals only a small electron density reorganization in the uracil ring for the ground state complex, but large 34 cm(-)(1) downshifts in the carbonyl normal modes. Thus, UDG activates the uracil ring in the ground state mainly through H bonds to its C=O groups, without destroying its quasi-aromaticity. This result is at variance with the conclusion from a recent crystal structure, in which the UDG active site significantly distorts the flipped-out pseudouridine analogue such that a change in hybridization at C1 occurs [Parikh, S. S., et al. (2000) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97, 5083]. The Raman vibrational signature of the bound uracil product differs significantly from that of free uracil at neutral pH, and indicates that the uracil is anionic. This is consistent with recent NMR results, which established that the enzyme stabilizes the uracil anion leaving group by 3.4 pK(a) units compared to aqueous solution, contributing significantly to catalysis. These observations are generally not apparent from the high-resolution crystal structures of UDG and its complexes with DNA; thus, Raman spectroscopy can provide unique and valuable insights into the nature of enzyme-DNA interactions.

Base Composition↗

Modifications in a flexible surface loop modulate the isozyme-specific properties of mammalian alkaline phosphatases.

We have analyzed to what extent the surface loop domain of alkaline phosphatases (APs) is responsible for isozyme-specific functional properties. Unique AatII and RsrII restriction sites were introduced by site-directed mutagenesis at identical positions in murine tissue-nonspecific AP (TNAP) and human placental AP (PLAP) cDNAs to allow the homologous exchange of the loop domain of the TNAP (T domain) and PLAP (P domain) isozymes and the generation of the reciprocally chimeric molecules PLAP-T and TNAP-P. The introduction of the T loop into PLAP reduced the heat stability of PLAP-T to almost that of TNAP. The domain substitution was accompanied by a conformational change that resulted in the loss of immune reactivity with four of 17 epitope-mapped anti-PLAP monoclonal antibodies. The T and P loops provided stabilization to the side chain of specific uncompetitive AP inhibitors. The introduction of the T domain also conferred collagen-binding properties to PLAP-T accounting for half of the binding affinity of TNAP for collagen, while not affecting PLAP binding to IgG. Our data indicate that the surface loop determines overall enzyme stability, differs conformationally in the various isozymes, and modulates catalytic parameters in the presence of protein ligands, thus, accounting in part for isozyme-specific protein interactions.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

UDP-apiose/UDP-xylose synthase. Subunit composition and binding studies.

The UDP-apiose/UDP-xylose synthase from cell suspension cultures of parsley has been purified 1400-fold by an improved method. The ratio of apiose to xylose formed from UDP-D-glucuronic acid (UDP-GlcUA) remained constant throughout the purification procedure. Dodecylsulfate-gel electrophoresis and sedimentation equilibrium measurements showed that this enzyme preparation is composed of two proteins with molecular weights of 65000 and 86000. The two proteins which are present in a molar ratio of about 1:0.7 to 1:0.9 could not be separated by ammonium sulfate fractionation, chromatography on DEAE-cellulose at different pH-values, and on omega-aminoalkyl-Sepharose, and by gel filtration on Acrylex P-100. Each protein is composed of two apparently identical subunits. The presence of only two different subunits was confirmed by end group analysis in which glycine was found as N-terminal amino acid for the larger and lysine for the smaller protein. Crosslinking with dimethylsuberimidate gave dimers of the identical subunits but no hybrids. Separation of the two proteins was achieved on DEAE-cellulose in the presence of urea. After dialysis only the 86000-Mr protein showed enzyme activity with no significant change in the apiose/xylose ratio. However, in the absence of the 65000-Mr protein enzyme stability was decreased drastically. By equilibrium dialysis it was found that 0.5 mol UDP-GlcUA are bound per mole of 86000-Mr protein. NAD+ alone was not bound, but in the presence of UDP it was also bound in a ratio of 0.5 mol/mol catalytic protein. Experiments in which sodium borohydride was added to the enzyme incubation gave no indication that the 4-keto intermediate is bound as a Schiff base to the enzyme. Also no evidence for epimerization at C-3 of the 4-ulose intermediate prior to ring contraction to apiose was found.

Carboxy-Lyases↗

Phenotypic characterization of copper-resistant mutants of Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b.

Cultures of Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b grown in the presence of very low concentrations of copper synthesize a soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) that efficiently catalyzes the oxidation of trichloroethylene and other organic pollutants. Recently, we isolated five M. trichosporium OB3b mutants that express sMMO activity when grown in the presence of elevated copper concentrations (P.A. Phelps, S. K. Agarwal, G. E. Speitel, Jr., and G. Georgiou, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 58:3701-3708, 1992). Here we show that, in contrast to the results for the wild-type cells, the addition of copper to mutant cultures grown on methane and nitrate as the nitrogen source has no noticeable effect on the growth rate and sMMO expression. In vitro experiments indicated that the copper-resistant phenotype does not arise from an increased stability of sMMO to copper deactivation. Furthermore, the mutant cultures exhibit altered speciation of copper in the extracellular fluid and have substantially decreased levels of cell-associated copper. On the basis of these results, we propose that the mutant phenotype arises from defects in copper uptake and metabolism rather than from changes in sMMO expression or enzyme stability.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

[Comparative study of soluble and immobilized phenol oxidase from the fungus Mycelia sterilia IBR 35219/2].

Phenol oxidase (EC 1.14.18.1) from the microscopic fungus Mycelia sterilia IBR 35219/2 was immobilized using glutaraldehyde on macroporous silica carriers. The enzyme immobilized on amino-Silochrome SKh-2 or aminopropyl-Silochrome 350/80 exhibited maximum activity. Soluble and immobilized phenol oxidases were compared. Compared to the soluble enzyme, the activity of which was optimum at pH 5.5, immobilized phenol oxidase exhibited optimum activity under slightly more acidic conditions (pH 5.2). Immobilization considerably increased the enzyme stability. Both soluble and immobilized forms of phenol oxidase from M. sterilia IBR 35219/2 catalyze oxidative conversion of phenolic compounds of the green tea extract.

Catalysis↗

A topological model for transcription based on unwinding angle analysis of E. coli RNA polymerase binary, initiation and ternary complexes.

DNA unwinding induced by Escherichia coli RNA polymerase is measured for binary, initiation and ternary complexes formed from a unique promoter sequence on simian virus 40 DNA. At 37 degrees C the complexes all have an unwinding angle of 17 +/- 1 base pairs (580 degrees +/- 30 degrees). This unwinding is attributed to an enzyme-stabilized separation of the double helix at the promoter site, which is maintained throughout initiation and elongation. There is no heterogeneity in the unwinding angle of the ternary complex as it progresses down the helical template. The constant DNA unwinding during all phases of transcription leads us to propose the existence of unwindase and rewindase activities on the enzyme that allow it to travel down the helix like a nut on a DNA bolt. During elongation, the unwindase unwinds the DNA helix while the rewindase, lagging by 17 base pairs, displaces the RNA transcript and reseals the helix. Both activities induce a rotation in the DNA double helix relative to the polymerase. The RNA-DNA hybrid also rotates, maintaining both ends of that helix fixed relative to the catalytic and windase sites. Formation of an RNA-DNA hybrid which spans the distal end of the DNA unwound region is proposed as a possible mechanism for polymerase pausing and termination. This model requires that the polymerase direct the transcript past the noncoding DNA strand. Pausing occurs 16-20 nucleotides downstream from the centers of appropriately sized dyad symmetry elements.

Base Sequence↗

Inactivation of delta5-3-ketosteroid isomerase(s) from beef adrenal cortex by beta, gamma-acetylenic ketosteroids.

The beta, gamma-acetylenic ketosteroids, 5-10-seco-19-norpregn-5-yne-3,-10,20-trione approximately 1 and 5,10-secoestr-5-yne-3,10,17-trione approximately 2 irreversibly inactivate both the C19-and the C21-delta 5-3-ketosteroid isomerase activities of beef adrenal cortex microsomes. At saturating concentrations of inhibitor half-lives of these enzyme activities vary from 45 to 240 s. It is uncertain whether the enzyme generates its own alkylating agent by isomerizing compounds approximately 3 and approximately 4 to the corresponding allenic ketones, namely (4R)-5,10-seco-19-norpregn-4,5-diene-3,10,20-trione approximately 3 and (4R)-5,10-secoestra-4,5-diene-3,10,17-trione approximately 4 since these are formed spontaneously in the buffer used to stabilize enzyme activity. In the presence of catalytic quantities of adrenal enzyme compound approximately 4 is a powerful competitive inhibitor for both 5-androstene-3,17-dione (Ki 8.0 microM) and 5-pregnene-3,20-dione (Ki 3.5 microM) indicating that the eventual alkylating event is active site-directed. The differences in Ki values and half-lives for inactivation support the view that the C19- and C21-delta 5-3-ketosteroid isomerase activities do not reside at the same catalytic site in beef adrenal cortex microsomes.

Adrenal Cortex↗

Impairments in enzyme activity and biosynthesis of brush border-associated hydrolases in human intestinal Caco-2/TC7 cells infected by members of the Afa/Dr family of diffusely adhering Escherichia coli.

Wild-type diffusely adhering Escherichia coli (DAEC) harbouring afimbrial adhesin (Afa) or fimbrial Dr and F1845 adhesins (Afa/Dr DAEC) apically infecting the human intestinal epithelial cells promote injuries in the brush border of the cells. We report here that infection by Afa/Dr DAEC wild-type strains C1845 and IH11128 in polarized human fully differentiated Caco-2/TC7 cells dramatically impaired the enzyme activity of functional brush border-associated proteins sucrase-isomaltase (SI) and dipeptidylpeptidase IV (DPP IV). Blockers of the transduction signal molecules, previously found to be active against the Afa/Dr DAEC-induced cytoskeleton injury, were inactive against the Afa/Dr-induced decrease in sucrase enzyme activity. In parallel, Afa/Dr DAEC infection promotes the blockade of the biosynthesis of SI and DPP IV without affection enzyme stability. The observation that no changes occurred in mRNA levels of SI and DPP IV upon infection suggested that the decrease in biosynthesis probably resulted from a decrease in the translation rate. When the cells were infected with recombinant E. coli strains expressing homologous adhesins of the wild-type strains, neither a decrease in sucrase and DPP IV enzyme activities nor an inhibition of enzyme biosynthesis were observed. In conclusion, taken together, these data give new insights into the mechanisms by which the wild-type Afa/Dr DAEC strains induce functional injuries in polarized fully differentiated human intestinal cells. Moreover, the results revealed that other pathogenic factor(s) distinct from the Afa/Dr adhesins may play(s) a crucial role in this mechanism of pathogenicity.

Adhesins, Escherichia coli↗

Crystal structure of human 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA Lyase: insights into catalysis and the molecular basis for hydroxymethylglutaric aciduria.

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) lyase is a key enzyme in the ketogenic pathway that supplies metabolic fuel to extrahepatic tissues. Enzyme deficiency may be due to a variety of human mutations and can be fatal. Diminished activity has been explained based on analyses of recombinant human mutant proteins or, more recently, in the context of structural models for the enzyme. We report the experimental determination of a crystal structure at 2.1 A resolution of the recombinant human mitochondrial HMG-CoA lyase containing a bound activator cation and the dicarboxylic acid 3-hydroxyglutarate. The enzyme adopts a (betaalpha)(8) barrel fold, and the N-terminal barrel end is occluded. The structure of a physiologically relevant dimer suggests that substrate access to the active site involves binding across the cavity located at the C-terminal end of the barrel. An alternative hypothesis that involves substrate insertion through a pore proposed to extend through the barrel is not compatible with the observed structure. The activator cation ligands included Asn(275), Asp(42),His(233), and His(235); the latter three residues had been implicated previously as contributing to metal binding or enzyme activity. Arg(41), previously shown to have a major effect on catalytic efficiency, is also located at the active site. In the observed structure, this residue interacts with a carboxyl group of 3-hydroxyglutarate, the hydrolysis product of the competitive inhibitor 3-hydroxyglutaryl-CoA required for crystallization of human enzyme. The structure provides a rationale for the decrease in enzyme activity due to clinical mutations, including H233R, R41Q, D42H, and D204N, that compromise active site function or enzyme stability.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Evidence for H2O2 mediating the irreversible action of acetylenic inhibitors of prostaglandin biosynthesis.

Oxidizing intermediates formed during prostaglandin biosynthesis can be detected by ferrocytochrome c and epinephrine. Different intermediates were responsible for the oxidative colorimetric changes with epinephrine and ferrocytochrome c, and submicromolar amounts of oxidant were detectable. Catalase diminished the absorbance change with epinephrine, but it did not stop the conversion of arachidonate to prostaglandins. This result indicates that small amounts of H2O2 were formed when producing the colorimetric change, and these had no apparent effect upon the enzyme stability. No colorimetric changes were detected during the time-dependent loss of oxygenase activity caused by various acetylenic acids, indicating that negligible amounts of H2O2 were formed. Nevertheless, the destructive action of the acetylenic acid was prevented by catalase, and it thereby appeared due to small amounts of H2O2 generated in situ as a result of a metastable complex of enzyme, oxygen and the acetylenic substrate analog.

Acetylene↗

Primary structures of dehydrogenases. Evolutionary characteristics related to functional aspects; models for isozyme developments and ancestral connections.

This chapter describes known characteristics of evolutionary changes in individual dehydrogenases, as well as possible relationships among this group of enzymes. Data from primary structures are correlated with those from other observations. Variations in the amino acid sequences demonstrate functional properties, and can be interpreted in relation to conformational aspects, subunit arrangements and enzyme stabilities. Different types of isozyme developments have occurred and show functional fixations at various levels. They define isozyme patterns of general significance in protein evolution. Sequence similarities may be found between different segments. They are analyzed in relation to known conformations, subunit sizes, species divergence and genetic mechanisms. A wide-ranging evolutionary model is discussed relating dehydrogenases and some other oligomeric enzymes to a distant, frequently remodelled ancestral building unit of repetitive occurrence.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

Purification and properties of D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 3-kinase from rat brain. Susceptibility to calpain.

A new, rapid method for purification of inositol(1,4,5)P3 3-kinase in high yield from rat brain is described. Purified enzyme exhibited a polypeptide of Mr = 53,000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel and a specific activity of 29 mumol/min/mg at 37 degrees C in the absence of calmodulin. Inclusion of calpain inhibitors was critical for obtaining the 53-kDa protein as the major product and 0.1% of the zwitterionic detergent, 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylamino]-2-propanesulfonate, was necessary to stabilize enzyme activity. In the absence of calpain inhibitors, the 53-kDa protein degraded progressively during purification and yielded a mixture containing polypeptides of various sizes. Relative intensity of these degradation products on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel varied from one preparation to another. However, broad band(s) at the 42-45 kDa region and a band at 35 kDa were always weak, while bands of 53, 51, 40 (sometimes doublets), 33, and 32 KDa were usually strong. The fact that all of these polypeptides including the weak bands of 42-45 and 35 kDa were derived from the 53 kDa form was confirmed by their immunocross-reactivity with monoclonal antibodies to the 53 kDa form. When the 51, 40, and a mixture of the 33 and 32 kDa forms were obtained separately and nearly free from other forms, each of them exhibited catalytic activity. Nevertheless, calmodulin binds to polypeptides larger than 35,000 but not to the 33 and 32 kDa forms. Incubation of the purified 53 kDa form with calpain generated a fragmentation pattern nearly identical to that generated during purification in the absence of calpain inhibitors. Incubation with five other endoproteases produced proteolytic fragments slightly different from those by calpain. However, the general fragmentation patterns generated by the proteases were similar, suggesting that inositol(1,4,5)P3 3-kinase contains several motifs susceptible to a variety of proteases.

Animals↗

Cobalt-activated acylase from human uterine myoma.

Cobalt-activated acylase was isolated from human uterine muscle and myoma. The enzyme was purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation, and subsequent chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, Sephadex G-150 and DEAE-Sephadex. The comparison of muscle acylase and acylase obtained from myoma has shown differences in the enzyme stability, the dependence of activity on pH and in the susceptibility to the effect of activators and inhibitors. Only one molecular form of cobalt-activated acylase has been found in both tissues.

Acyltransferases↗

Apparent post-transcriptional modification of ornithine decarboxylase accounts for its induction in IEC-6 cells in culture.

Putrescine, the product of the ornithine decarboxylase (ODC)-catalyzed reaction, stimulates macromolecular synthesis in a duodenal crypt cell line, IEC-6 cells, grown in culture. In addition, supplementation of medium with putrescine alone reverses the inhibition of proliferation produced by inhibition of ODC with difluoromethylornithine (DFMO). A series of experiments was initiated in the IEC-6 cell line to study the regulation of induction of ODC, as this enzyme is rate-limiting in putrescine synthesis. Five percent fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 10 nM IGF-II stimulated a 21-fold and 6-fold induction of ODC activity, respectively. Kinetic analysis indicated that the effect was on the Vmax of the reaction and not on the Km, suggesting an increase in total ODC protein. This was verified by measuring [3H]DFMO binding; serum-stimulated induction of activity was accompanied by a corresponding 20-fold increase in the specific binding of DFMO to ODC. In contrast, Northern analysis demonstrated only a two-fold change in ODC mRNA level during induction. Measurement of enzyme stability showed that the half-life of the ODC protein was increased three-fold above basal level in the induced state. Inhibition of induction was produced by pretreatment with either the calmodulin antagonist, W-7, or the product of the ODC-catalyzed reaction, putrescine. Further analysis illustrated that the inhibition produced by these agents was partly the result of destabilization of the enzyme and not a decrease in message level. These results demonstrate that the induction of ODC by trophic agents is the result of post-transcriptional events rather than at the level of RNA synthesis.

Animals↗