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PubMedDate not supplied

Metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli to enhance recombinant protein production through acetate reduction.

Genetic and metabolic engineering provide powerful and effective tools for the systematic manipulation and fine tuning of cellular metabolic activities. In this study, successful application of such techniques to enhance recombinant protein production by reducing acetate accumulation in Escherichia coli is presented. The alsS gene from Bacillus subtilis encoding the enzyme acetolactate synthase was introduced into E. coli cells using a multicopy plasmid. This newly introduced heterologous enzyme modifies the glycolytic fluxes by redirecting excess pyruvate away from acetate to acetolactate. Acetolactate is then converted to a nonacidic and less harmful byproduct acetoin, which appears in the broth. Furthermore, comparative fermentation studies show that the reduction in acetate accumulation leads to a significant improvement of recombinant protein production. The expression of a model recombinant CadA/beta-galactosidase fusion protein, under the control of a strong pH-regulated promoter, was found to increase by about 60% for the specific protein activity (to a level of 30% of total cellular protein) and 50% in terms of the volumetric activity in a batch fermenter. In fed-batch cultivation, the engineered strain achieved a volumetric recombinant protein yield of 1.6 million units/mL (about 1.1 g/L of beta-galactosidase), which represented a 220% enhancement over the control strain. In the meantime, acetate excretion was maintained below 20 mM compared with 80 mM for the control, and the final cell density was improved by 35%.

Acetates↗
PubMed2002

Insulin increases NADH/NAD+ redox state, which stimulates guanylate cyclase in vascular smooth muscle.

BACKGROUND: Insulin inhibits contraction and migration of primary confluent, cultured canine vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) with inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) by stimulating cyclic GMP (cGMP) production. The present study was performed to determine how insulin stimulates guanylate cyclase activity in these cells. METHODS: Primary cultured VSMC were obtained from canine femoral arteries. Lactate and pyruvate levels were measured by enzymatic assays, cGMP production by radioimmunoassay, iNOS activity by conversion of arginine to citrulline, and cell contraction by photomicroscopy. RESULTS: Insulin (1 nmol/L) increased cGMP production fivefold in VSMC with iNOS while raising the lactate-to-pyruvate ratio (LPR) from 3.1 +/- 0.5 to 10.0 +/- 1.6 (P < .05), indicating a rise in the ratio of reduced/oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH/NAD+) redox state of the cell. Insulin's stimulation of cGMP production was blocked by 0.1 mmol/L NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) indicating dependence on iNOS activity, but insulin did not affect iNOS activity. Blocking insulin's increase in LPR by pyruvate (0.5 mmol/L) or oxaloacetate (0.5 mmol/L) completely inhibited the insulin-stimulated component of cGMP production. Pyruvate also blocked insulin's inhibition of serotonin-induced contraction in nonproliferated cells. In the absence of insulin, 5 mmol/L lactate or isocitrate increased the LPR by 420% +/- 47% and 167% +/- 20%, respectively (both P < .05), and stimulated cGMP production by 1,045% +/- 272% and 278% +/- 33%, respectively (both P < .05) by an L-NMMA-inhibitable mechanism. Although cGMP production in cells with iNOS was increased by insulin, the stimulation of cGMP production in cells without iNOS by 3-(5'-hydroxymethyl-2'furyl)-1-benzyl indazole (YC-1) was not affected by insulin, suggesting that insulin does not stimulate guanylate cyclase activity directly. CONCLUSION: We conclude that insulin increases cGMP production in VSMC with iNOS by raising the cell NADH/NAD+ redox state, which may increase the availability of iNOS-derived NO.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Carrier detection of pyruvate carboxylase deficiency in fibroblasts and lymphocytes.

Pyruvate carboxylase (E.C. 6.4.1.1) activity was determined in the circulating peripheral lymphocytes and cultured skin fibroblasts from the family of a patient with hepatic, cerebral, renal cortical, leukocyte, and fibroblast pyruvate carboxylase deficiency (PC Portland deficiency). Lymphocyte activities were: mother, 33--39%; father, 11--29%; brother, 82--103%; and sister, 38--48% of the lowest normal. Fibroblasts from the patient's mother and father had 42 and 34%, respectively, of the activity of the lowest normal. These data demonstrate that the disease is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner and that lymphocytes and fibroblasts can be used to detect carriers. Neither pyruvate carboxylase nor mitochondrial PEPCK activity in lymphocytes was increased by a 21-hr fast.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Lipogenic enzymes in rat maternal adipose tissue in the perinatal period.

1. The specific activities of fatty acid synthetase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase and pyruvate dehydrogenase were measured in rat adipose-tissue extracts in pregnancy and lactation. Fatty acid synthetase specific activity correlates very closely with the rate of fatty acid synthesis, the enzyme specific activity decreasing after mid-pregnancy in a manner very similar to the rate of fatty acid synthesis. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase specific activity also decreases dramatically after mid-pregnancy. Initial pyruvate dehydrogenase specific activity shows a decrease between 2 days pre partum and 2 days post partum, but total enzyme activity shows no significant change in the same period. 2. Immunotitrations of fatty acid synthetase and pyruvate dehydrogenase activities were carried out; the titrations showed that the change in the fatty acid synthetase activity is due to a change in the enzyme amount; the amount of pyruvate dyhydrogenase does not change. Therefore the decrease in fatty acid biosynthesis in subcutaneous and parametrial adipose tissue in late pregnancy and early lactation is associated with a decrease in the amount of at least one of the enzymes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis. The correlation of these events with known hormonal changes is discussed.

Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase↗
PubMed2005

Antioxidants inhibit human endothelial cell functions through down-regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity.

We have recently shown that superoxide and hydrogen peroxide are putative inducers of angiogenesis in vivo, possibly through up regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and increased production of endogenous nitric oxide (NO). The aim of the present work was to elucidate the implication of reactive oxygen species in endothelial cell functions, using cultures of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Superoxide dismutase (SOD), tempol (membrane permeable SOD mimetic) and the NADPH oxidase inhibitors, 4-(2-aminoethyl)-benzenesulfonyl fluoride and apocynin, but not allopurinol, inhibited HUVEC proliferation and migration, as well as activity of endothelial NOS (eNOS). Catalase and the intracellular hydrogen peroxide scavenger sodium pyruvate decreased, while hydrogen peroxide increased HUVEC proliferation, migration and activity of eNOS. Dexamethasone induced the proliferation and migration of HUVEC and activated eNOS. Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), but not Nomega-nitro-D-arginine methyl ester, decreased endothelial cell functions and reversed the effects of dexamethasone and hydrogen peroxide. N5-(1-iminoethyl)-L-ornithine dihydrochloride, but not the inducible NOS specific inhibitor N-[[3-(aminomethyl)phenyl]methyl]-ethanimidamide dihydrochloride also decreased endothelial cell functions, similarly to L-NAME. The guanylate cyclase inhibitor 1H-[1,2,4]Oxadiazole[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one inhibited HUVEC proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner and completely reversed hydrogen peroxide-induced proliferation, migration and cGMP accumulation. In conclusion, superoxide and hydrogen peroxide seem to play a significant role in promoting endothelial cell proliferation and migration, possibly through regulation of eNOS activity.

Acetophenones↗
PubMed1978

The regulation of glutamate metabolism by tricarboxylic acid-cycle activity in rat brain mitochondria.

1. The interrelationship of metabolism of pyruvate or 3-hydroxybutyrate and glutamate transamination in rat brain mitochondria was studied. 2. If brain mitochondria are incubated in the presence of equimolar concentrations of pyruvate and glutamate and the K(+) concentration is increased from 1 to 20mm, the rate of pyruvate utilization is increased 3-fold, but the rate of production of aspartate and 2-oxoglutarate is decreased by half. 3. Brain mitochondria incubated in the presence of a fixed concentration of glutamate (0.87 or 8.7mm) but different concentrations of pyruvate (0 to 1mm) produce aspartate at rates that decrease as the pyruvate concentration is increased. At 1mm-pyruvate, the rate of aspartate production is decreased to 40% of that when zero pyruvate was present. 4. Brain mitochondria incubated in the presence of glutamate and malate alone produce 2-oxoglutarate at rates stoicheiometric with the rate of aspartate production. Both the 2-oxoglutarate and aspartate accumulate extramitochondrially. 5. Externally added 2-oxoglutarate has little inhibitory effect (K(i) approx. 31mm) on the production of aspartate from glutamate by rat brain mitochondria. 6. It is concluded that the inhibitory effect of increased C(2) flux into the tricarboxylic acid cycle on glutamate transamination is caused by competition for oxaloacetate between the transaminase and citrate synthase. 7. Evidence is provided from a reconstituted malate-aspartate (or Borst) cycle with brain mitochondria that increased C(2) flux into the tricarboxylic acid cycle from pyruvate may inhibit the reoxidation of exogenous NADH. These results are discussed in the light of the relationship between glycolysis and reoxidation of cytosolic NADH by the Borst cycle and the requirement of the brain for a continuous supply of energy.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Substrate range of acetohydroxy acid synthase I from Escherichia coli in the stereoselective synthesis of alpha-hydroxy ketones.

Acetohydroxy acid synthase I appears to be the most effective of the AHAS isozymes found in Escherichia coli in the chiral synthesis of phenylacetyl carbinol from pyruvate and benzaldehyde. We report here the exploration of a range of aldehydes as substrates for AHAS I and demonstrate that the enzyme can accept a wide variety of substituted benzaldehydes, as well as heterocyclic and heteroatomic aromatic aldehydes, to produce chiral carbinols. The active site of AHAS I does not appear to impose serious steric constraints on the acceptor substrate. The influence of electronic effects on the reaction has been probed using substituted benzaldehydes as substrates. The electrophilicity of the aldehyde acceptor substrates is most important to their reactivity, but the lipophilicity of substituents also affects their reactivity. AHAS I is an effective biosynthetic platform for production of a variety of alpha-hydroxy ketones, compounds with considerable potential as pharmacological precursors.

Acetolactate Synthase↗
PubMed2006

Significant increase of glycolytic flux in Torulopsis glabrata by inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation.

This study was aimed at increasing the glycolytic flux of the multivitamin-auxotrophic yeast Torulopsis glabrata by disturbing oxidative phosphorylation. We examined two different strategies to impede oxidative phosphorylation. The first strategy was disruption of the activity of the electron transfer chain (ETC), by either of two approaches. One was separately adding, at 10 mg L1, specific inhibitors of complex I (rotenone) or of the bc1 complex (antimycin A) to the culture broth of T. glabrata CCTCC M202019, which resulted in significantly decreased intracellular ATP levels (43% and 27.7%) and significantly increased rates of glucose consumption (qs) and pyruvate production (qp); another approach was breeding a respiratory-deficient mutant RD-16, in which cytochromes aa3 and b in the ETC were deleted after ethidium bromide mutagenesis, to reduce the ETC activity constitutively. The second strategy was inhibiting F0F1-ATP synthase with 0.05 mM oligomycin. Also, a neomycin-resistant mutant with 65% decreased F0F1-ATPase activity was studied. With the two strategies, the specific activity of phosphofructokinase (R2=0.9971), the average specific glucose consumption rate (R2=0.9967) and the average specific pyruvate production rate (R2=0.965) were closely correlated with the intracellular ATP level, all of them being increased at a lower intracellular ATP level.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1997

The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex of the chemolithoautotrophic bacterium Thiobacillus ferrooxidans has an unusual E2-E3 subunit fusion.

The genes encoding pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans were previously located by cloning and sequence analysis of the region upstream of the genes encoding the citrate synthase and gamma glutamylcysteine synthetase genes. The pdh genes of T. ferrooxidans were able to complement an Escherichia coli aroP-lpd mutant for growth on minimal medium lacking acetate, indicating that the T. ferrooxidans PDH complex was functional in E. coli. The predicted amino acid sequence of the T. ferrooxidans PDH complex contained three ORFs. The first ORF encoded a 36.7 kDa homologue of the PDH complex E1 alpha subunit, the second ORF a 37.4 kDa E1 beta subunit and the third ORF an unusual 102 kDa fusion of the E2 and E3 subunits. In spite of T. ferrooxidans being a Gram-negative bacterium, its PDH complex had more features in common with Gram-positive bacteria and eukaryotes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2002

Mitochondrial energy metabolism in very premature neonates.

The activity, amount and protein composition of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) and respiratory chain complexes were studied in muscle mitochondria obtained postmortally from 6 neonates with a gestational age of 23-29 weeks. The activities of PDH and respiratory chain complex III and IV and citrate synthase were significantly lower in comparison with control children aged 0.5-2 and 2-20 years. Protein analyses revealed a parallel decrease in the content of PDH, respiratory chain complexes and their subunits in the cases analyzed. The observed immaturity of the mitochondrial energy-providing system suggests that significant development of mitochondrial energy metabolism occurs during the last 3 months of prenatal development. The metabolic disturbances of mitochondrial energy conversion associated with the low functional capacity and content of PDH and respiratory chain complexes may play an important role in the morbidity of very premature neonates.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Substrate oxidation capacity in rodent skeletal muscle: effects of exposure to zero gravity.

A study was conducted, as part of the integrated National Aeronautics and Space Administration Space Life Sciences 1 mission flown in June of 1991, to ascertain the effects of 9 days of exposure to zero gravity on the capacity of rodent skeletal muscle fiber types to oxidize either [14C]pyruvate or [14C]palmitate under state 3 metabolic conditions, i.e., nonlimiting amounts of substrate and cofactors. In addition, activity levels of marker enzymes of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, malate shuttle, and beta-oxidation were measured. Results showed that significant differences in muscle weight occurred in both the predominantly slow vastus intermedius and predominantly fast vastus lateralis of flight vs. control groups (P < 0.05). Total protein content of the muscle samples was similar between groups. Both pyruvate oxidation capacity and the marker oxidative enzymes were not altered in the flight relative to control animals. However, the capacity to oxidize long-chain fatty acids was significantly reduced by 37% in both the high- and low-oxidative regions of the vastus muscle (P < 0.05). Although these findings of a selective reduction in fatty acid oxidation capacity in response to spaceflight are surprising, they are consistent with previous findings showing 1) an increased capacity to take up glucose and upregulate glucose transporter proteins and 2) a marked accumulation of triglycerides in the skeletal muscles of rats subjected to states of unloading. Thus, skeletal muscle of animals exposed to non-weight-bearing environments undergo subcellular transformations that may preferentially bias energy utilization to carbohydrates.

3-Hydroxyacyl CoA Dehydrogenases↗
PubMed2004

Carbohydrate response element binding protein directly promotes lipogenic enzyme gene transcription.

Carbohydrate response element (ChRE)-binding protein (ChREBP) is a recently discovered transcription factor that is activated in response to high glucose concentrations in liver independently of insulin. ChREBP was first identified by its ability to bind the ChRE of the liver pyruvate kinase (LPK) gene. We recently reported that the increase in expression of multiple liver lipogenic enzyme mRNAs elicited by feeding a high-carbohydrate diet as well as that of LPK mRNA is markedly reduced in mice lacking ChREBP gene expression (ChREBP(-/-)) in comparison to WT mice. The present study provides evidence for a direct and dominant role of ChREBP in the glucose regulation of two key liver lipogenic enzymes, acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and fatty acid synthase (FAS). ACC, FAS, and LPK mRNA levels were higher in WT hepatocytes cultured with high (25 mM) rather than low (5.5 mM) glucose medium, but there was no effect of glucose concentration on these mRNA levels in ChREBP(-/-) hepatocytes. Similarly, reporter constructs containing ACC, FAS, or LPK gene ChREs were responsive to glucose when transfected into WT but not ChREBP(-/-) hepatocytes, and glucose transactivation of the constructs in ChREBP(-/-) hepatocytes was restored by cotransfection with a ChREBP expression plasmid. ChREBP binding to ACC, FAS, and LPK ChRE sequences in vitro was demonstrated by electrophoretic mobility super shift assays. In vivo binding of ChREBP to ACC, FAS, and LPK gene promoters in intact liver nuclei from rats fed a high-carbohydrate diet was demonstrated by using a formaldehyde crosslinking and chromatin immunoprecipitation procedure.

Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase↗
PubMed1988

Pyruvate carboxylase activity in chorionic villi: possibility of application to prenatal diagnosis.

Pyruvate carboxylase (PC) activity was assayed in 27 chorionic villi samples (CVS) obtained at 9-12 weeks of gestation. The kinetic properties of the CVS enzyme were similar to those of liver PC; more than 75% of PC activity was recovered in the mitochondrial fraction of CVS. Apparent Km for pyruvate, ATP, acetyl CoA and HCO3- in the presence of saturation concentrations of the other reactants, were 0.3, 0.44, 0.015 and 6.0 mmol/l, respectively. The optimum pH was 7.5-8.0. The activity of PC in CVS was 3.2 +/- 0.3 nmol/min/mg protein, which is severalfold higher than that of amniotic fluid fibroblasts.

Cell Fractionation↗
PubMed1986

Hepatic pyruvate metabolism during liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in the rat.

Hepatic pyruvate kinase (PK) and pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDHa) specific activities were decreased after partial hepatectomy or sham operation. The decreases were more marked and sustained after partial hepatectomy. These activity changes ensure that hepatic carbon flux after partial hepatectomy is predominantly in the direction of gluconeogenesis. The decrease in PK specific activity observed after partial hepatectomy was associated with a decreased PK activation ratio (activity measured at 0.15 mM PEP: activity measured at 5.0 mM PEP), and hepatic concentrations of PEP were increased. The low hepatic PDHa activity observed at the first day after partial hepatectomy occurred concomitantly with an increased fatty acid concentration. PDHa activity increased after inhibition of lipolysis. The results indicate that carbohydrate utilization is unimportant for hepatic energy supply during liver regeneration. There was no evidence that the control of PK or PDH in the regenerative liver after partial hepatectomy differed from that observed in the liver of the unoperated rat.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Matching of vertebrate cardiac energy demand to energy metabolism.

Concentrations of high-energy phosphates and activities of key enzymes of energy metabolism were assessed in hearts from species with differing levels of cardiac power output. Positive correlations were found between resting power output and the total adenylate pool and between citrate synthase activity and the total adenylate pool. Maximum in vitro activity levels of enzymes from energy metabolism were compared with calculated resting cardiac power output and maximal cardiac power output (as reflected by total oligomycin-insensitive adenosine-triphosphatase activity). Three indexes of carbohydrate metabolism (hexokinase, pyruvate kinase, and L-lactate dehydrogenase) all plateau at relatively low levels of energy demand. In contrast, enzymes required for aerobic fatty acid metabolism, (carnitine palmitoyltransferase and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase) and for tricarboxylic acid and electron transport (citrate synthase and cytochrome-c oxidase) show consistent increases as ATP demand is elevated. It appears that as capacity for power development by vertebrate hearts, increases across taxa, the elevated demand for ATP is met by expansion of fatty acid based aerobic metabolism and not carbohydrate metabolism.

Adenosine Monophosphate↗
PubMed2001

Benzylsuccinate synthase of Azoarcus sp. strain T: cloning, sequencing, transcriptional organization, and its role in anaerobic toluene and m-xylene mineralization.

Biochemical studies in Azoarcus sp. strain T have demonstrated that anaerobic oxidation of both toluene and m-xylene is initiated by addition of the aromatic hydrocarbon to fumarate, forming benzylsuccinate and 3-methyl benzylsuccinate, respectively. Partially purified benzylsuccinate synthase was previously shown to catalyze both of these addition reactions. In this study, we identified and sequenced the genes encoding benzylsuccinate synthase from Azoarcus sp. strain T and examined the role of this enzyme in both anaerobic toluene and m-xylene mineralization. Based on reverse transcription-PCR experiments and transcriptional start site mapping, we found that the structural genes encoding benzylsuccinate synthase, bssCAB, together with two additional genes, bssD and bssE, were organized in an operon in the order bssDCABE. bssD is believed to encode an activating enzyme, similar in function to pyruvate formate-lyase activase. bssE shows homology to tutH from Thauera aromatica strain T1, whose function is currently unknown. A second operon that is upstream of bssDCABE and divergently transcribed contains two genes, tdiS and tdiR. The predicted amino acid sequences show similarity to sensor kinase and response regulator proteins of prokaryotic two-component regulatory systems. A chromosomal null bssA mutant was constructed (the bssA gene encodes the alpha-subunit of benzylsuccinate synthase). This bssA null mutant strain was unable to grow under denitrifying conditions on either toluene or m-xylene, while growth on benzoate was unaffected. The growth phenotype of the DeltabssA mutant could be rescued by reintroducing bssA in trans. These results demonstrate that benzylsuccinate synthase catalyzes the first step in anaerobic mineralization of both toluene and m-xylene.

Anaerobiosis↗
PubMed2000

Activities of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation enzymes in cultured amniocytes.

Amniocytes represent a population of foetal cells that can be used for prenatal diagnosis in families with suspected mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) defects. In this paper, we present a complex protocol for evaluation of the function of mitochondrial OXPHOS enzymes in cultured amniocytes using three independent and complementary methods: (a) spectrophotometry as a tool for determination of the capacities of mitochondrial respiratory-chain enzymes (NADH ubiquinone oxidoreductase, succinate- and glycerophosphate cytochrome c reductase, cytochrome c oxidase and citrate synthase); (b) polarography as a tool for the evaluation of mitochondrial OXPHOS enzyme functions in situ using digitonin-permeabilised amniocytes (rotenone-sensitive oxidation of pyruvate+malate, antimycin A-sensitive oxidation of succinate, KCN-sensitive oxidation of cytochrome c, ADP-activated substrate oxidation) and (c) cytofluorometric determination of tetramethyl rhodamine methyl ester (TMRM) fluorescence in digitonin-permeabilised amniocytes as a sensitive way to determine the mitochondrial membrane potential under steady-state conditions (state 4 with succinate). These protocols are presented together with reference control values using 9-22 independent cultures of amniocytes.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1988

Purification and properties of a protamine kinase and a type II casein kinase from bovine kidney mitochondria.

Bovine kidney mitochondrial extracts contain an inactive protamine kinase and an inactive casein kinase. The protamine kinase was activated by chromatography on poly(L-lysine)-agarose. Two forms of this soluble mitochondrial protamine kinase were separated by chromatography on protamine-agarose. Both forms were purified about 80,000-fold to apparent homogeneity. Both forms of the protamine kinase consist of a single polypeptide chain with an apparent Mr approximately 45,000. Both enzyme forms underwent autophosphorylation without significant effect on activity, and both forms exhibited identical substrate specificities. The protamine kinase showed little activity toward branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase (less than 3%), and it was essentially inactive (less than 0.1%) with pyruvate dehydrogenase, casein, and ovalbumin. The enzyme was active with histone H1 and with bovine serum albumin. Protamine kinase activity was unaffected by heparin (up to 100 micrograms/ml), by the protein inhibitor of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, by Ca2+ and calmodulin, and by monoclonal antibody to the catalytic domain of protein kinase C from rat brain. The casein kinase was activated in the presence of spermine or by chromatography of the extract on DEAE-cellulose or poly(L-lysine)-agarose. The enzyme was purified about 80,000-fold to apparent homogeneity. It exhibited an apparent Mr 130,000 as determined by gel-permeation chromatography on Sephacryl S-300 in the presence of 0.5 M NaCl. Two subunits, with apparent Mr's 36,000 (alpha) and 28,000 (beta) were detected by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The kinase underwent autophosphorylation of its beta-subunit, without significant effect on activity. Casein kinase activity was inhibited 50% by 1.5 micrograms/ml of heparin. Spermine (1.0 mM) stimulated activity of the purified kinase two- to three-fold at 1.5 mM Mg2+. Half-maximal stimulation occurred at 0.1 mM spermine. The kinase utilized both ATP and GTP as substrates. The casein kinase showed little activity (less than 1%) toward pyruvate dehydrogenase and branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase from kidney mitochondria, and the kinase was essentially inactive with glycogen synthase a. The properties of this soluble mitochondrial kinase indicate that it is a type II casein kinase.

Animals↗