Negative cooperativity in alkaline phosphatase from E. col: new kinetic evidence from a steady-state study

Metal-ion induced conformational changes in alkaline phosphatase from E. coli assessed by limited proteolysis

Alkaline phosphatase (AP) displays significant structural changes during metal-ion binding, supporting cooperative interactions between the subunits of the dimeric enzyme. Here, we present data on the dynamic properties of AP from E. coli, and characterize the structural changes that accompany variations in metal-ion content, combining limited proteolysis and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Limited proteolysis revealed an internal cleavage site at Arg-293, reflecting a position of conformational flexibility supporting subunit communication essential for catalysis. A specific shielding of a region distant from the metal-binding site has been demonstrated, implying transmission of conformational changes, induced by metal-ion binding to the adjacent subunit, across the subunit interface.

Refolding and reactivation of calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase with excess magnesium ions

It is well known that Mg(2+) is an essential component in many biological processes. This research investigated the courses of both the reactivation and the refolding in the absence and presence of Mg(2+) ions. Calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase (CIP) was extensively denatured in 3 M guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl) solution for 2 h. Under suitable renaturation conditions, about 60-70% of the activity was recovered in the absence and presence of different magnesium ion concentrations. The refolding processes followed two-phase courses, whereas the reactivation processes were monophasic after dilution in proper solutions with or without Mg(2+). The magnesium ions affected both the reactivation and the refolding courses of unfolded CIP. A comparison of rate constants for the refolding of unfolded CIP with those for recovery of enzyme activity at different Mg(2+) concentrations showed that they were not synchronized. The activity recovery was speeded up due to the presence of Mg(2+) ions; while the refolding course of unfolded CIP was somewhat inhibited by the excess Mg(2+).

Room temperature phosphorescence study of phosphate binding in Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase

The phosphorescence spectrum and decay of Trp109 in Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase was measured for the enzyme in 10 mM Tris/HCl, pH 7.4, at 21 degrees C. Changes in the spectrum and decay from the steady-state in response to non-covalent phosphate binding suggested a phosphate-induced alteration in the local environment surrounding Trp109 which lies buried below the active site. The seemingly inflexible structure in the region of Trp109, as judged by its very long phosphorescence lifetime, appeared unaltered when the enzyme was symmetrically bound with phosphate. However, the protein with phosphate bound to only one site displayed a marked increase in flexibility that extended over both subunits. For ratios of phosphate/enzyme (mol/mol) between 1.0 and 2.0, the observation of exponential phosphorescence decays with lifetimes that are a function of dilution provided evidence for the rapid exchange between phosphate half-saturated and fully-saturated enzymes consistent with observed enzyme turnover rates. The lifetimes under these conditions result in the calculation of a Kd for the dissociation of phosphate from the doubly occupied enzyme of 1.1 +/- 0.1 microM. The non-exponential decays at P/Ed (phosphate/dimeric enzyme) ratios less than 1.0 revealed that the exchange of phosphate between phosphate-free and half-saturated enzymes was not occurring on the timescale of the phosphorescence decay times, which implied that the half-saturated molecule cannot be contributing significantly to catalysis under steady-state conditions. The observation that the phosphorescence decay at a P/Ed ratio of 1.0 is exponential with a lifetime characteristic of the half-saturated species indicates that the binding of the first phosphate is significantly greater than the second, or that the binding exhibits negative cooperativity.

Tryptophan phosphorescence as a monitor of the structural role of metal ions in alkaline phosphatase

The phosphorescence properties of Trp109 in alkaline phosphatase from Escherichia coli have been utilized to probe the conformation of the polypeptide following the removal of metal ions, reconstitution with Zn2+ and Cd2+ and phosphorylation. The complete removal of metal ions induces a drastic loosening of the protein structure that extends to the inner core of the macromolecule. While binding of a single metal ion/subunit (A-site occupancy) restores the holoconformer, practically no structuring effect is observed upon B-site occupancy by the second incoming metal ion. An exception to this rule occurs at alkaline pH and when the adjacent subunit in the dimer is metal-free. Under these circumstances a conformation of the subunit more compact than that of the fully saturated dimer manifests some degree of communication across the subunit interface. The binding of more than two metal ions/monomer generally destabilizes the protein, the effect being more pronounced at acid pH. Finally, the binding of inorganic phosphate restores the native-like configuration abolishing any destabilization induced by excess metal ions and acid pH. If the negative cooperativity towards metal binding to A sites in doubly metalated forms at pH 8 is in substantial agreement with 113Cd-NMR data, the equivalence in conformation between Zn2+- and Cd2+-reconstituted alkaline phosphatase emphasizes that no serious structural changes are introduced by the metal replacement.

Kinetic study of the enzyme NADPH cytochrome-C (P-450) reductase: non-Michaelian behaviour

1. Contrary to what has been accepted until now, the enzyme exhibits non-Michaelian kinetics both against NADPH and against cytochrome-c as substrates; deviations were detected that have led to the proposition of a rate equation of minimum degree 2:2. 2. A general mechanism is proposed that includes, apart from the binding of the enzyme to NADPH, the formation of an enzyme-cytochrome-c complex, both routes leading to the formation of a ternary-complex NADPH-enzyme-acceptor. 3. From the latter, a series of intermediate steps finally leads to the release of the enzyme in conditions to start a new catalytic cycle. 4. Application of the King-Altman method to this mechanism yields a kinetic equation of degree 2:2 with respect to the cytochrome-c and NADPH, in accordance with our experimental results.

Evidence concerning a possible steady state rate equation for E. coli alkaline phosphatase

Steady state data was obtained for alkaline phosphatase over a wide range of experimental conditions using two substrates, four inhibitors, two modifiers and several pH, ionic strength and temperatures values. The data was fitted by rational functions of degree 1:1, 2:2 and 3:3 using a non-linear regression program and then the F-test was used to assess the goodness of fit. A proportion of the curves could only be fitted by 2:2 functions but many of them could be adequately fitted by 1:1 functions. No statistically significant improvement in fit occurred with 3:3 functions. Data was simulated using a computer program to see what sort of curves could be generated by a two sites mechanism proposed for alkaline phosphatase and this study showed it is difficult to detect cubic terms in this rate equation. It was concluded that alkaline phosphatase does not obey Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Rather, the steady state data require a mechanism of at least second degree but do not exclude a rate equation of third degree.

Kinetic studies of the transphosphorylation reactions catalyzed by alkaline phosphatase from E. coli: hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl phosphate and o-carboxyphenyl phosphate in presence of Tris

1. Transphosphorylation of p-nitrophenyl phosphate and o-carboxyphenyl phosphate to Tris, has been studied at alkaline and acid pH. 2. The rate of release for all reactions products was Tris-dependent for both substrates, with a slight maximum for phenol at alkaline pH. These dependences have been analyzed from a mechanistic standpoint. 3. Individual constants of rate of a simple transphosphorylation mechanism have been determined. 4. At high Tris concentration (greater than 1.0 M) a slight competitive inhibition has been observed. 5. Inhibition in NH4+-NH3Cl buffer has been found at alkaline pH but not at acid pH. It would therefore seem that the non-protonated NH2 group of Tris is responsible for inhibition. 6. The results suggest the formation of complexes between Tris and the enzyme. Other possible alternatives are also analyzed.