Lithium-7 nuclear magnetic resonance as a probe of structure and function of the monovalent cation site on pyruvate kinase

Electron paramagnetic resonance studies of the coordination schemes and site selectivities for divalent metal ions in complexes with pyruvate kinase

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy has been used to investigate the properties of the binuclear divalent metal center at the active site of pyruvate kinase. The preferred binding sites for different types of divalent cation in complexes of the enzyme with ATP and oxalate were determined in hybrid metal complexes with Mn(II). Superhyperfine coupling between the unpaired electron spin of Mn(II) and the nuclear spin of 17O in isotopically enriched forms of oxalate and ATP was used to determine the position of Mn(II) at the binuclear metal center. When Mn(II) is present in combination with Zn(II), Ni(II), or Co(II), Mn(II) binds predominantly at the site defined by ligands from the protein, oxalate, and the gamma-phosphate of ATP. In contrast, EPR data of samples with mixtures of Mn(II)/Ca(II) or Mn(II)/Cd(II) reveal signals of two distinct hybrid-metal complexes. In one species, Mn(II) binds at the oxalate/gamma-phosphate site, and Ca(II) or Cd(II) binds at the ATP site. In the other species, the positions of Mn(II) and the second metal ion are reversed. The results indicate that, in enzymic complexes with ATP and oxalate, the relative size of the cation is a major factor controlling site selectivity. Metal ions that have ionic radii smaller than Mn(II) bind preferentially at the site occupied by ATP whereas metal ions that have ionic radii larger than Mn(II) bind preferentially at the site occupied by oxalate. EPR data of one of the hybrid complexes formed by Cd(II) and Mn(II) show that an alpha,beta,gamma-tridentate species of MnIIATP binds to the enzyme.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Pyruvate kinase: activation by and catalytic role of the monovalent and divalent cations

This mini review is primarily concerned with the monovalent and divalent cation activation of pyruvate kinase. All preparations of pyruvate kinase from vertebrate tissue which have been examined require monovalent cations such as K+ for catalysis. However, several microbial preparations are not activated by monovalent cations. In fact, E. coli synthesize, depending on growth conditions, 2 different forms of the enzyme; one form is not activated while the other is activated by monovalent cations. The monovalent cation was shown by NMR techniques to bind within 4-8 A of the divalent cation activator and apparently plays a direct role in the catalytic process. As with all kinases, pyruvate kinase requires a divalent cation for catalysis. Mg+2 is optimal for the physiological reaction, however, Co+2, Mn+2, and Ni+2 also activate. The divalent cation activation of several non-physiological reactions catalyzed by pyruvate kinase are reviewed. Several lines of evidence suggest that 2 moles of the divalent cation are required in the catalytic event. However, the specific role of both atoms in the catalytic event have not been thoroughly elucidated.

Characterization of ATP binding sites of sheep kidney medulla (Na+ + K+)--ATPase using CrATP

The nucleotide substrate sites of sheep kidney medulla (NA+ + K+)-ATPase are characterized using CrATP, a paramagnetic, substitution-inert substrate analogue probe. The paramagnetic effect of CrATP on 1/T1 of water protons of water protons is enhanced upon complexation with the enzyme. Titrations of the enzyme with CrATP in the presence of Na+ and K+ yielded characteristic enhancements for the binary enzyme-CrATP and ternary enzyme-Mg2+-CrATP complexes of 3.3 and 3.6 and dissociation constants for CrATP of 5 and 12 microM, respectively. Substitution of Li+ for K+ in these titrations did not substantially alter the titration behavior. From the frequency dependence of 1/T1, the correlation time, tau c, for the dipolar water proton-CrATP interaction is 2.7 x 10(-10) sec, indicating that tau c is dominated by tau s, the electron spin relaxation time of Cr3+. The paramagnetic effect of enzyme-bound Mn2+ on 1/T1 of water protons decreases upon the addition of CrATP. Titration of the binary enzyme-Mn2+ complex with CrATP decreases the characteristic enhancement due to Mn2+ from 6.6-8.0 to 1.5. The failure to observe free Mn2+ epr signals in solutions of the ATPase, Mn2+, and CrATP demonstrate that this decrease in epsilon Mn is due to cross-relaxation between Mn2+ and Cr3+ bound simultaneously to the enzyme, and not to displacement of Mn2+ from the enzyme by CrATP. The relaxation rate, 1/T1, of 7Li+ is increased upon addition of CrATP to solutions of the ATPase, indicating that the sites for Li+ and CrATP are close on the enzyme. A Cr3+-Li+ distance of 4.8 +/- 0.5 angstrom is calculated from that data.

Paramagnetic probes in NMR and EPR studies of membrane enzymes

The applications of paramagnetic probes to problems of structure and mechanism are discussed from the point of view of the membrane enzymologist. Problems unique to membrane systems are discussed, and a variety of nuclear and paramagnetic probes are evaluated. Three membrane ATPase (kidney (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, Ca2+-ATPase from sarcoplasmic reticulum and Mg2+-ATPase from kidney) are used to describe the types of experiments which can be done, the information which can be obtained and the limitations involved. Nuclear relaxation studies employing 1H, 7Li+, 31P and 205Tl+ nuclei are described. The advantages and disadvantages of Mn2+, Gd3+ and Cr3+ as paramagnetic probes are discussed in terms of the three ATPases. The theory and interpretation of Mn2+ and Gd3+ EPR spectra are evaluated in studies with the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and Ca2+-ATPase, respectively.