Multiple binding sites for tetrahedral oxyanion inhibitors of bovine spleen purple acid phosphatase

Structural, Spectroscopic, and Theoretical Investigation of a T-Shaped [Fe3(μ3-O)] Cluster

The synthesis, X-ray crystal and electronic structures of [Fe₃(μ₃-O)(mpmae)₂(OAc)₂ Cl₃], 1, where mpmae-H = 2-(N-methyl-N-((pyridine-2-yl)methyl)amino)ethanol, are described. This cluster comprises three high-spin ferric ions and exhibits a T-shaped site topology. Variable-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance measurements performed on single crystals of 1 demonstrate a total spin S_T = 5/2 ground state, characterized by a small, negative, and nearly axial zero-field splitting tensor D = -0.49 cm^-1, E/D ≈ 0.055. Analysis of magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, and magneto-structural correlations further corroborate the presence of a sextet ground-spin state. The observed ground state originates from the strong anti-ferromagnetic interaction of two iron(III) spins, with J = 115(5) cm^-1, that, in turn, are only weakly coupled to the spin of the third site, with j = 7(1) cm^-1. These exchange interactions lead to a ground state with magnetic properties that are essentially entirely determined by the weakly coupled site. The contributions of the individual spins to the total ground state of the cluster were monitored using variable-field ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. Field-dependent spectra reveal that, while one of the iron sites exhibits a large negative internal field, typical of ferric ions, the other two sites exhibit small, but not null, negative and positive internal fields. A theoretical analysis reveals that these small internal fields originate from the mixing of the lowest S_T = 5/2 excited state into the ground state which, in turn, is induced by a minute structural distortion.

Reactive-oxygen-species-mediated Cdc25C degradation results in differential antiproliferative activities of vanadate, tungstate, and molybdate in the PC-3 human prostate cancer cell line

The differential antiproliferative effects of vanadate, tungstate, and molybdate on human prostate cancer cell line PC-3 were compared and the underlying mechanisms were investigated. The results demonstrate that all of the three oxoanions can cause G(2)/M cell cycle arrest, which is evidenced by the increase in the level of phosphorylated Cdc2 at its inactive Tyr-15 site. Moreover, even if the difference in cellular uptake among the three oxoanions is excluded from the possible factors affecting their antiproliferative activity, vanadate exerted a much more potent effect in PC-3 cells than the other two oxoanions. Our results also reveal that reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated degradation of Cdc25C rather than Cdc25A or Cdc25B is responsible for vanadate-induced G(2)/M cell cycle arrest. We propose a possible mechanism to clarify the differential effect of the three oxoanions in biological systems beyond just considering that they are structural analogs of phosphate. We suggest that ROS formation is unlikely to be involved in the biological function of tungstate and molybdate, whereas the redox properties of vanadium may be important factors for it to exert pharmacological effects. Further, given the evidence from epidemiology studies of the association between diabetes and prostate cancer, the possibility of vanadate as a good candidate as both an antidiabetic and an anticancer agent or a chemopreventive agent is indicated.

The divalent metal ion in the active site of uteroferrin modulates substrate binding and catalysis

The purple acid phosphatases (PAP) are binuclear metallohydrolases that catalyze the hydrolysis of a broad range of phosphomonoester substrates. The mode of substrate binding during catalysis and the identity of the nucleophile is subject to debate. Here, we used native Fe(3+)-Fe(2+) pig PAP (uteroferrin; Uf) and its Fe(3+)-Mn(2+) derivative to investigate the effect of metal ion substitution on the mechanism of catalysis. Replacement of the Fe(2+) by Mn(2+) lowers the reactivity of Uf. However, using stopped-flow measurements it could be shown that this replacement facilitates approximately a ten-fold faster reaction between both substrate and inorganic phosphate with the chromophoric Fe(3+) site. These data also indicate that in both metal forms of Uf, phenyl phosphate hydrolysis occurs faster than formation of a mu-1,3 phosphate complex. The slower rate of interaction between substrate and the Fe(3+) site relative to catalysis suggests that the substrate is hydrolyzed while coordinated only to the divalent metal ion. The likely nucleophile is a water molecule in the second coordination sphere, activated by a hydroxide terminally coordinated to Fe(3+). The faster rates of interaction with the Fe(3+) site in the Fe(3+)-Mn(2+) derivative than the native Fe(3+)-Fe(2+) form are likely mediated via a hydrogen bond network connecting the first and second coordination spheres, and illustrate how the selection of metal ions may be important in fine-tuning the function of this enzyme.

Structural and kinetic properties of a novel purple acid phosphatase from phosphate-starved tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) cell cultures

An intracellular acid phosphatase (IAP) from P(i)-starved (-P(i)) tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum ) suspension cells has been purified to homogeneity. IAP is a purple acid phosphatase (PAP), as the purified protein was violet in colour (lambda(max)=546 nm) and was insensitive to L-tartrate. PAGE, periodic acid-Schiff staining and peptide mapping demonstrated that the enzyme exists as a 142 kDa heterodimer composed of an equivalent ratio of glycosylated and structurally dissimilar 63 (alpha-subunit) and 57 kDa (beta-subunit) polypeptides. However, the nine N-terminal amino acids of the alpha- and beta-subunits were identical, exhibiting similarity to the deduced N-terminal portions of several putative plant PAPs. Quantification of immunoblots probed with rabbit anti-(tomato acid phosphatase) immune serum revealed that the 4-fold increase in IAP activity due to P(i)-deprivation was correlated with similar increases in the amount of antigenic IAP alpha- and beta-subunits. IAP displayed optimal activity at pH 5.1, was activated 150% by 10 mM Mg(2+), but was potently inhibited by Zn(2+), Cu(2+), Fe(3+), molybdate, vanadate, fluoride and P(i). Although IAP demonstrated broad substrate selectivity, its specificity constant ( V (max)/ K (m)) with phosphoenolpyruvate was >250% greater than that obtained with any other substrate. IAP exhibited significant peroxidase activity, which was optimal at pH 9.0 and insensitive to Mg(2+) or molybdate. This IAP is proposed to scavenge P(i) from intracellular phosphate esters in -P(i) tomato. A possible secondary IAP role in the metabolism of reactive oxygen species is discussed. IAP properties are compared with those of two extracellular PAP isoenzymes that are secreted into the medium of -P(i) tomato cells [Bozzo, Raghothama and Plaxton (2002) Eur. J. Biochem. 269, 6278-6286].

Specificity and mechanism of metal ion activation in UDP-galactose:beta -galactoside-alpha -1,3-galactosyltransferase

UDP-galactose:beta-galactosyl-alpha1,3-galactosyltransferase (alpha3GT) catalyzes the synthesis of galactosyl-alpha-1,3-beta-galactosyl structures in mammalian glycoconjugates. In humans the gene for alpha3GT is inactivated, and its product, the alpha-Gal epitope, is the target of a large fraction of natural antibodies. alpha3GT is a member of a family of metal-dependent-retaining glycosyltransferases that includes the histo blood group A and B enzymes. Mn(2+) activates the catalytic domain of alpha3GT (alpha3GTcd), but the affinity reported for this ion is very low relative to physiological levels. Enzyme activity over a wide range of metal ion concentrations indicates a dependence on Mn(2+) binding to two sites. At physiological metal ion concentrations, Zn(2+) gives higher levels of activity and may be the natural cofactor. To determine the role of the cation, metal activation was perturbed by substituting Co(2+) and Zn(2+) for Mn(2+) and by mutagenesis of a conserved D(149)VD(151) sequence motif that is considered to act in cation binding in many glycosyltransferases. The aspartates of this motif were found to be essential for activity, and the kinetic properties of a Val(150) to Ala mutant with reduced activity were determined. The results indicate that the cofactor is involved in binding UDP-galactose and has a crucial influence on catalytic efficiency for galactose transfer and for the low endogenous UDP-galactose hydrolase activity. It may therefore interact with one or more phosphates of UDP-galactose in the Michaelis complex and in the transition state for cleavage of the UDP to galactose bond. The DXD motif conserved in many glycosyltransferases appears to have a key role in metal-mediated donor substrate binding and phosphate-sugar bond cleavage.

A Ferromagnetic Interaction between Cu(2+) Centers through a [CrO(4)](2-) Bridge: Crystal Structures and Magnetic Properties of [{Cu(acpa)}(2)(&mgr;-MO(4))] (M = Cr, Mo) (Hacpa = N-(1-Acetyl-2-propyridene)(2-pyridylmethyl)amine)

The reaction of [Cu(acpa)](+) with [MO(4)](2)(-) (Hacpa = N-(1-acetyl-2-propyridene)(2-pyridylmethyl)amine and M = Cr and Mo) in water-methanol or water-acetonitrile solution affords dinuclear copper(II) complexes with metalate bridges, [{Cu(acpa)}(2)(&mgr;-CrO(4))].4CH(3)OH.4H(2)O (1) and [{Cu(acpa)}(2)(&mgr;-MoO(4))].4H(2)O (2), respectively. The crystal structures and the magnetic properties have been studied. Complexes 1 and 2 are isomorphous and the structures are made up of discrete dimers in which two copper(II) ions are bridged by the [MO(4)](2)(-) anion. The coordination geometry about the copper(II) ions is square planar with a N(2)O chelate group from acpa and an oxygen atom from [MO(4)](2)(-). Magnetic susceptibility measurements for 1 revealed that a ferromagnetic interaction between copper(II) ions is propagated through the [CrO(4)](2)(-) bridge and the coupling constant (2J) was evaluated to be 14.6(1) cm(-)(1) (H = -2JS(1).S(2)). In 2, two copper(II) ions bridged by [MoO(4)](2)(-) anion are antiferromagnetically coupled with the 2J value of -5.1(4) cm(-)(1). The ferromagnetic interaction in 1 is explained by means of the orbital topology of frontier orbitals. Crystal data: 1, monoclinic, space group P2(1)/m, a = 8.349(2) Å, b = 17.616(3) Å, c = 10.473 Å, beta = 107.40(2) degrees, Z= 2; 2, monoclinic, space group P2(1)/m, a = 8.486(2) Å, b = 18.043(3) Å, c = 9.753(2) Å, beta = 95.82(2) degrees, Z = 2.

The amino acid sequence of the red kidney bean Fe(III)-Zn(II) purple acid phosphatase. Determination of the amino acid sequence by a combination of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry and automated Edman sequencing

Purple acid phosphatase of the common bean Phaseolus vulgaris is a homodimeric 110-kDa glycoprotein with a Fe(III)-Zn(II) center in the active site of each monomer. After exchange of Zn(II) for Fe(II), the enzyme spectroscopically and kinetically resembles the mammalian purple acid phosphatases with Fe(III)-Fe(II) centers in monomeric 35-kDa proteins. The kidney bean enzyme consists of 432 amino acids/monomer with five N-glycosylated asparagine residues. The complete amino acid sequence was determined by a combination of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) and classical sequencing methods. Our strategy involved mass determination and sequence analysis of all cyanogen-bromide-generated fragments by automated Edman degradation. Limited cleavages with cyanogen bromide were performed to obtain fragments containing still uncleaved Met-Xaa linkages. MALDI mass spectra of these products allowed the characterization of each fragment and the determination of the order of the cyanogen bromide fragments in the intact protein without producing overlapping peptides. For one large 30-kDa methionine-free fragment, the alignment of the Edman-degraded tryptic peptides was obtained by MALDI-MS analysis and enzymic microscale peptide laddering of overlapping Glu-C-generated fragments. The employed strategy shows that the classical method, in combination with modern mass spectrometry, is an attractive approach for primary structure determination in addition to the DNA sequencing method.