An ultrasensitive, continuous fluorometric assay for calpain activity

A rapid, continuous assay for calcium-activated neutral protease activity is described. This assay is based on monitoring the elevation in fluorescence intensity that occurs upon calpainolytic digestion of dichlorotriazinylamino-fluorescein-labeled microtubule-associated protein 2. Tedious separation of peptide products from the protein substrate in this rapid assay is unnecessary, which thus offers two remarkable advantages over conventional caseinolytic assay procedures: (i) it raises sensitivity of detection by about three orders of magnitude, allowing the quantitative determination of calpain in the high picogram range in 10 min; and (ii) it permits a continuous detection of activity, which may prove invaluable in enzyme-mechanism studies that require pre-steady-state measurements. Other features and advantages of the assay, along with its limitations, are discussed in detail.

Suicide inhibition of monoamine oxidases A and B by (-)-deprenyl. A computer-aided solution for determining inhibition specificity

An analytical solution to the differential equations describing the kinetics of the suicide inhibition of a two-enzyme system has been derived and the modelling of suicide inhibition of the monoamine oxidases A and B (MAO A and B, EC 1.4.3.4) by a quasi-selective agent, (-)-deprenyl, is presented as an example. A new parameter, the specificity index is defined and used in a model which describes the specific and non-specific binding of (-)-deprenyl to MAO B and MAO A, respectively. This type of analysis may be of therapeutic value by indicating optimal dosage of quasi-selective MAO B inhibitors for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

A possible in vivo mechanism of intermediate transfer by glycolytic enzyme complexes: steady state fluorescence anisotropy analysis of an enzyme complex formation

Rate constants of dissociation (k(off)) and association (k(on)) of the bienzyme complex yeast glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase--yeast alcohol dehydrogenase have been determined in the absence and presence of NAD or NADH by fluorescence anisotropy measurements. We found that dissociation of the complex is considerably slower than catalytic turnover of either of the enzymes (that is k(off) much less than kcat) irrespective of the presence of coenzymes. A perusal of the literature reveals that this relation invariably applies to all systems studied so far. These observations all taken together constitute compelling evidence that direct metabolite transfer in enzyme complexes cannot be satisfactorily described by invoking the dynamic model but requires a model assuming more lasting complexes. This seems to support the case of the temporary-stationary model suggested by one of us. Implications of this conclusion are treated in depth and further evidence is cited under Discussion.

Interaction of rabbit muscle enolase and 3-phosphoglycerate mutase studied by ELISA and by batch gel filtration

The interaction of rabbit skeletal muscle enolase and 3-phosphoglycerate mutase was detected by an ELISA test, a batch gel-filtration technique, and fluorescence anisotropy measurements, and the activity of enolase was determined to be a function of mutase concentration. The apparent dissociation constant of this enzyme complex is approximately 1 microM. This value seems to be independent of the presence (in fluorescence anisotropy measurements) or the absence (in activity as well as in ELISA experiments) of fluorescein isothiocyanate used widely as a label for determining the complex formation between enzymes in fluorescence anisotropy measurements.

Kinetic misinterpretation of a coupled enzyme reaction can lead to the assumption of an enzyme-enzyme interaction. The example of 3-phospho-D-glycerate kinase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase couple

The time course of the conversion of 3-phospho-D-glycerate (GriP) to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (GraP) catalyzed by 3-phospho-D-glycerate kinase (GriP kinase) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GraPDH) couple has been reinvestigated. The dependence of the steady-state rate on the dehydrogenase concentration is fully compatible with the consecutive nature of the reaction and therefore is not necessarily related to a complex formation of the two enzymes. To derive a Kd value of a bienzyme complex, as was done by Sukhodolets et al. [Sukhodolets, M. V., Muronetz, V. I. & Nagradova, N. K. (1987) Biochem. Int. 15, 373-379], is basically erroneous. In contrast with some previous reports, the maximal activity of GriP kinase is not influenced by the auxiliary enzyme present in the coupled assay system. Thus, no special accelerating effect can be attributed to GraPDH. 1,3-Bisphospho-D-glycerate (GriP2) bound to GriP kinase does not seem to be a substrate for GraPDH, providing evidence against channelling of GriP2 between the two enzymes.

Remarks on the supramolecular organization of the glycolytic system in vivo

The great latent catalytic capacity, manifested at the extremely high intracellular concentrations and in large apparent kcat/Km values, of the glycolytic enzymes on the one hand and their tendency in experiments in vitro to form functionally-specific flux-enhancing (channeling) complexes on the other, is considered and discussed as an apparent discrepancy. A random association of glycolytic enzymes in vivo is probable.

Complex of brain D-phosphoglycerate mutase and gamma enolase and its reactivation by D-glycerate 2,3-bisphosphate

The dissociabilities of dimeric gamma enolase, alpha enolase, and phosphoglycerate mutase of brain origin were tested using fluorescein isothiocyanate attached covalently to these enzymes. The dissociation constant of dimeric gamma enolase is lower (Kd = 0.03 microM) than that of the alpha enolase (Kd = 3 microM), while dimeric mutase seems to be nondissociable in the concentration range 0.1-10 microM, at pH 7.3 in 50 mM imidazole buffer at 20 degrees C. Interaction of neuron-specific gamma enolase with D-phosphoglycerate mutase was detected with the same fluorescence-labeling technique as well as by a kinetic analysis. The determined dissociation constant of the enolase-mutase complex was found to be in the range 5-40 microM, independent of the technique used. A mixed type of inhibition in the binding of D-glycerate-2-P and mutase to the D-glycerate-2-P binding site on enolase was observed in the absence of D-glycerate-2,3-P2. However, the inhibition of the enolase activity by brain D-phosphoglycerate mutase in the D-glycerate-2-P----phosphoenolpyruvate transformation is almost fully reverted by D-glycerate-2,3-P2, probably via the proper coordination of the active centers in the ternary complex of enolase, D-phosphoglycerate mutase, and their common intermediate, D-glycerate-2-P. The mechanism of intermediate transfer by consecutive enzyme pairs in a nondivergent metabolite flux (around the transformation of D-glycerate-2-P) is examined and conclusions of the present experiments are compared with the results of an extended analysis performed earlier with a divergent metabolite flux (around the transformation of multiusage triosephosphates, D-glyceraldehyde-3-P, and dihydroxyacetone phosphate).

Kinetic evidence for a reversible isomerization of pig muscle glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in its crystallization medium

Ammonium sulfate, a typical component of crystallization media of proteins, stabilizes an inactive conformation of pig muscle glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. In fact, in the presence of ammonium sulfate the reconstitution of the catalytically active holoenzyme from the apoenzyme and NAD is not instantaneous, as in the case of enzymes from Bacillus stearothermophilus and the Mediterranean lobster Palinurus vulgaris. With pig muscle enzyme, at pH 6.0, the time course of formation of the characteristic Racker band can be monitored by a rapid mixing stopped flow technique. Activation follows a single exponential curve with a rate constant independent of the concentration of both NAD and protein and, therefore, appears to be limited by a slow protein isomerization (k = 7 +/- 2 s-1). Accordingly, when the apoenzyme is simultaneously exposed to NAD and either glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate or 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate, the ensuing reactions (the redox and the acylation steps, respectively) are kinetically limited by the same protein isomerization. At pH 7.0 and 8.0, however, two among the four active sites react with NAD at an unmeasurably high rate, while the other two sites behave as they do at pH 6.0. When the pig muscle apoenzyme is preincubated and allowed to react with either glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate or 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate before the rapid mixing with NAD, both the redox reaction and the NAD-dependent activation of apo-acyl-enzyme toward arsenolysis become unmeasurably fast. Similarly, when the sulfate in the medium is replaced by ions such as phosphate and citrate, the reconstitution of the active holoenzyme is practically instantaneous. Thus, the slow protein isomerization observed in the presence of sulfate and abolished by competing substrates and anions is diagnostic of a structural state of the pig muscle apoenzyme, which is induced by sulfate ions bound within the enzyme active site.

Detailed analysis of heterogeneity of [3H]naloxone binding sites in rat brain synaptosomes

The experiments reported in this paper address the question of heterogeneity of [3H]naloxone binding sites in rat brainstem synaptosomal preparations at 23 degrees C in the presence of 100 mM sodium chloride. Kinetic analysis in the presence of 0.4, 4 and 10 nM [3H]naloxone gave pseudo-first order association rate of 0.9 +/- 0.04, 1.23 +/- 0.08 and 1.06 +/- 0.08 min-1, respectively. The dissociation of a 1 nM [3H]naloxone receptor complex was biphasic with dissociation rate constants of 1.8 and 0.4 min-1. On the other hand, dissociation of 10 nM [3H]naloxone was monophasic with a kd of 1.1 min-1. Two subpopulations of binding sites were also observed by steady state binding studies, with Kd values of 0.5 and 3.4 nM and a ratio of high to low affinity sites of 1:9. Heterogeneity of [3H]naloxone binding sites could be seen by displacement studies performed with opioid peptides and alkaloids. We suggest that our data best fits a model with two independent naloxone binding sites wherein either one or both undergo a multi-step interaction with ligand.

Quantitation of the interaction between citrate synthase and malate dehydrogenase

Formation of a bienzyme complex of pig heart mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase and citrate synthase in a buffered system is demonstrated by means of a covalently attached fluorescent probe to citrate synthase. Assuming 1:1 stoichiometry of the enzymes in the complex, an apparent dissociation constant of 10(-6) M was calculated from fluorescence anisotropy measurements. The effect of various metabolites on the interaction was tested. NAD+, oxalacetate, citrate, ATP, and L(-)- or D(+)-malate had no effect on the association of the two enzymes, whereas alpha-ketoglutarate increased and NADH decreased it. The interaction of mitochondrial citrate synthase with cytosolic malate dehydrogenase was found to be much weaker, whereas interaction of citrate synthase with another cytosolic enzyme, aldolase, could not be detected. In kinetic experiments, the activation of malate dehydrogenase by citrate synthase was observed. The effect of pyridine nucleotides and alpha-ketoglutarate is discussed in relation to the direction of the metabolic flow of oxalacetate.

How to determine the efficiency of intermediate transfer in an interacting enzyme system?

A kinetic method, based upon measuring the transient time of coupled reactions, is proposed for the determination of the intermediate channel efficiency in a system of functionally interacting enzymes. The procedure rests upon a novel description in which the transient time is expressed as a function of channel efficiency and lifetime of the intermediate molecules. By this approach the reduction of transient time can be explained even if no changes in the kinetic parameters of the individual reactions occur. For determining channel efficiency, a linearized form has been evaluated and applied to the analysis of the kinetics of the aspartate aminotransferase-glutamate dehydrogenase coupled reaction, for which the data were taken from the literature [(1982) Eur. J. Biochem. 121, 511-517].

Interaction of enzymes involved in triosephosphate metabolism. Comparison of yeast and rabbit muscle cytoplasmic systems

The affinity of baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase towards the metabolically related enzymes phosphofructokinase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase was tested by using a fluorescence-probe technique with fluorescein isothiocyanate attached covalently to the enzymes. The dissociation constants of the enzyme-enzyme complexes, as well as the rate constants of association and dissociation, were determined. Data were compared with the parameters derived from a mammalian (rabbit muscle) system, known from the literature and determined under the same conditions (pH 7.5 or 8.5 in 0.05 M Tris/HCl buffer at 20 degrees C). The comparison reveals similarities in the supramolecular organization of these cytoplasmic enzymes in phylogenetically distant species. Moreover, the fact that in vitro hybrid complexes are formed of stability comparable to that of non-hybrid complexes indicates that this ancient characteristic is probably conserved during evolution. A possible regulatory mechanism is presented, based on the dynamic competition, with each other, of the enzymes involved in triosephosphate metabolism.

Displacement analysis of binding inhomogeneities in crude extracts of receptors

Guidelines are given to distinguish different kinds of binding inhomogeneities of non-radiolabeled ligands in crude extracts of receptors if an appropriate 'binding analogue' of the displacers is available in radiolabeled form. Three minimal models for the simplest types of binding inhomogeneities are analysed theoretically. These models include a cooperative system (with two interacting sites on the same receptor molecule) and two non-cooperative systems (one of them with a single-site receptor having two conformational states in equilibrium and the other with two single-site receptors independent of each other). In certain cases one can distinguish these systems experimentally. Furthermore, if a group of displacers is already classified according to the above models, then dissociation constants can be determined. The quantitative comparison of these displacers on the basis of their dissociation constants is more appropriate (e.g. in Quantitative Structure Activity Relationship studies) than on the basis of their ID50 and Ki values or Hill coefficients, which is often done.

Kinetic pathways of formation and dissociation of the glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase-fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase complex

Quantitative analysis of the time courses of fluorescence anisotropy changes due to the binding of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase to the dissociable cytoplasmic glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase covalently labelled with fluorescent dye was carried out. The behaviour of the aldolase-dehydrogenase system seems to be consistent with a cyclic reversible model characterized by the formation and dissociation of complexes of both the monomeric and the dimeric forms of dehydrogenase with aldolase, and rapid equilibrium between the free monomeric and dimeric forms of dehydrogenase. The half-life time of the formation of dimeric dehydrogenase-aldolase complex at the concentration of the enzymes expected to exist in the cell (i.e. in the micromolar range) is some minutes, and the time needed for equilibration between the aldolase-bound dimeric and monomeric forms of dehydrogenase is a few minutes as well. Consequently, one may expect that both the formation and the dissociation of this heterologous enzyme complex have physiological relevance.

Substrate-induced structural changes of the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex

The time course of the overall reaction catalyzed by the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex produces an unexpectedly high lag (tau = 8 S) even in the presence of saturating concentrations of its substrates. The preincubation of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex with one of the substrates alone decreases the duration of this lag, and all the substrates of the pyruvate dehydrogenase component (E1) and dihydrolipoyl transacetylase component (E2) together (pyruvate, thiamine pyrophosphate, and CoA) result in the complete disappearance of the lag. The reduction of the dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase component (E3) of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex with the substrates of the complex in the absence of NAD+ produces significantly different quenching in the FAD fluorescence, and then the reduction with the substrates of E3 as dihydrolipoic acid and dithioerythritol. (The formation of FADH2 was not observed in the system.) The higher fluorescence quenching in the presence of substrates of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex compared to the effect caused by the substrates of the E3 component (dihydrolipoic acid and DTE) indicates conformational changes additionally manifested in the fluorescence properties of the enzyme complex. The substrate-induced quenching of the enzyme-bound FAD fluorescence shows biphasic kinetics. The rate constant of the slow phase is comparable with the rate constant calculated from the time duration of the lag phase observed in the overall reaction. The kinetic analysis of both intensity and anisotropy decrease of the FAD fluorescence suggests a consecutive transmittance of an all substrate-coordinated, induced conformational changes directed from the pyruvate dehydrogenase-via the lipoyl transacetylase--to the lipoyl dehydrogenase. Two simultaneous conformational effects caused by binding of the substrates can be distinguished; one of them results the fluorescence of the bound FAD to be more quenched, while the other makes the FAD more mobile. The first-order rate constants of both these conformational changes were determined. The present observations suggest that the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex exists in a partially inactive state in the absence of its substrates, and it becomes active due to conformational changes caused by the binding of its substrates.

Adenine nucleotides affect the binding of 3-phosphoglycerate to pig muscle 3-phosphoglycerate kinase

Pig muscle 3-phosphoglycerate kinase was complexed with 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulfonate (ANS) in order to monitor the binding of substrates to the enzyme. The enzyme-dye interaction did not influence the enzymic activity under the experimental conditions used. By measuring the substrate-dependent change in the fluorescence emission of ANS molecules tightly bound to the enzyme (Kd less than or equal to 0.05 mM), fluorimetric titrations were carried out in 0.1 M Tris/HCl buffer pH 7.5, containing 5 mM mercaptoethanol, at 20 degrees C. The dissociation constants obtained for the separate bindings of 3-phosphoglycerate, MgATP, 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate and MgADP were 0.03 +/- 0.01 mM, 0.15 +/- 0.10 mM, 0.00005 +/- 0.00001 mM and 0.15 +/- 0.10 mM respectively. binding of 3-phosphoglycerate is weakened when MgATP is also bound to the enzyme: the dissociation constant of 3-phosphoglycerate in this ternary complex (0.25 +/- 0.08 mM) is comparable to its Km value (0.38 +/- 0.10 mM). The same weakening can be observed in the non-productive ternary complexes where MgATP is replaced by MgADP (Kd = 0.20 +/- 0.10 mM) or AMP (Kd = 0.12 +/- 0.05 mM), whereas adenosine has no such effect. This indicates the importance of the negatively charged phosphate(s) of nucleotides in influencing the binding of 3-phosphoglycerate. In contrast to 3-phosphoglycerate, the binding of the substrate analogue, glycerol 3-phosphate is practically not affected by the presence of MgATP: the dissociation constant to the free enzyme (0.40 +/- 0.10 mM) is comparable to its inhibitory constant (0.70 +/- 0.20 mM). This finding and the similarity of the dissociation constant of glycerol 3-phosphate binding (0.40 +/- 0.10 mM) and the Km value of 3-phosphoglycerate (0.38 +/- 0.10 mM) suggest that, during the enzymic reaction, binding of 3-phosphoglycerate occurs probably without involvement of the carboxyl group.

Change in the reactivity of the active-site serine OH of butyrylcholinesterase caused by a new reversible inhibitor

The 2-chloro-12-(2-piperidinoethyl)-dibenzo[d,g] (1,3,6)-dioxazocine . HCl (EGYT-2347), a new specific inhibitor of butyrylcholinesterase inhibits reversibly and non-competitively the enzymatic hydrolysis of butyrylthiocholine iodide (Ki = 0.15 microM, at 37 degrees C in 0.1 M Tris/HCl, pH 7.5). The theoretical progress curve of product accumulation has been developed for the case when a non-competitive reversible inhibitor (EGYT-2347) and an active-site-directed irreversible inhibitor (diisopropylfluorophosphate) act simultaneously. By the aid of this approach it was concluded that the butyrylcholinesterase--EGYT-2347 binary complex does not react with diisopropylfluorophosphate either because of a structural change caused by binding or by the direct steric hindrance of EGYT-2347.

Interaction of the dissociable glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase. Quantitative analysis by an extrinsic fluorescence probe

Cytoplasmic sn-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, labelled covalently with fluorescein isothiocyanate, shows an enzyme-concentration-dependent fluorescence anisotropy. The anisotropy versus enzyme concentration curve is shifted towards higher concentrations when substrates are present. The comparison of the dissociation constants estimated from anisotropy measurements and derived from kinetic experiments suggests that the substrate-induced dissociation of the dimeric dehydrogenase is slow with respect to the enzymatic reaction catalyzed by either its monomeric or dimeric form. The fluorescence anisotropy of the fluorescent dye-labelled dehydrogenase increase with time upon addition of unlabelled fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase approaching a limiting value. This fact indicates the binding of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase aldose aldolase to glycerolphosphate dehydrogenase. A model is proposed assuming simultaneous binding of tetrameric fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase to monomeric and dimeric glycerolphosphate dehydrogenase with 1:1 stoichiometry. The dissociation constants, as parameters fitted to the experimental curves, were estimated as 0.2 microM and 1 microM for aldolase-dimeric-glycerolphosphate-dehydrogenase and aldolase-monomeric-glycerolphosphate-dehydrogenase complexes respectively.

Local conformational changes induced by successive nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide binding to dissociable tetrameric D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Quantitative analysis of a two-step dissociation process

Covalent binding of FITC up to 2 mol/mol of tetrameric enzyme does not affect the enzymatic activity and dissociation properties of pig muscle D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPD). The binding of NAD to dehydrogenase-FITC complex partially reverts the quenching caused by the binding of dye to apo-GAPD. This phenomenon, as well as the formation of a characteristic absorption difference spectrum caused by the binding of NAD, makes it possible to follow the NAD-induced local conformational changes near the dye-binding region. The time course of NAD-induced spectral changes shows biphasic kinetics: a burst and a slow phase. The amplitude of burst phase as a function of NAD equivalents has sigmoidal shape due to the cooperative interaction between subunits. The same conclusion could be drawn from fluorescence anisotropy measurements. In the presence of excess NAD a slow conformational change can be detected, the amplitude of which is a function of NAD concentration. This phenomenon can be attributed to the binding of further NAD molecules to the holoenzyme. The slow phase follows first-order kinetics, and the rate constant depends on enzyme concentration. The specific fluorescence intensity and the fluorescence anisotropy of fluorescent dye labeled apo-GAPD and GAPD saturated with NAD are also dependent on enzyme concentration. We suggest that NAD binding induces major changes in the steric structure of tetrameric enzyme without influencing remarkably the interacting forces between the contact surfaces of subunits. Data are quantitatively interpreted in terms of a two-step dissociation model.

Evidence for absence of an interaction between purified 3-phosphoglycerate kinase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase

The possibility of a functional complex formation between glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.12) and 3-phosphoglycerate kinase (EC. 2.7.2.3), enzymes catalysing two consecutive reactions in glycolysis has been investigated. Kinetic analysis of the coupled enzymatic reaction did not reveal any kinetic sign of the assumed interaction up to 4 X 10(-6) M kinase and 10(-4) M dehydrogenase. Fluorescence anisotrophy of 10(-7) M or 2 X 10(-5) M glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase labeled with fluorescein isothiocynate did not change in the presence of non-labeled 3-phosphoglycerate kinase (up to 4 X 10(-5) M). The frontal gel chromatographic analysis of a mixture of the two enzymes (10(-4) M dehydrogenase) could not reveal any molecular species with the kinase activity having a molecular weight higher than that of 3-phosphoglycerate kinase. Both types of physicochemical measurements were also performed in the presence of substrates of the kinase and gave the same results. The data seem to invalidate the hypothesis that there is a complex between purified pig muscle glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and 3-phosphoglycerate kinase.

Substrate-induced dissociation of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and its complex formation with fructose-bisphosphate aldolase

A threefold decrease in specific activity of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase was found on going from 800 nM to 10 nM enzyme concentration. According to ultracentrifugal analyses the dimeric glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (molecular weight 78,000) dissociates into monomers in the equilibrium mixture of its substrates and products. The concentration-dependent decrease in the specific activity is interpreted as a consequence of subunit dissociation and the estimated dissociation constants are 0.7 micro M and 3.5 micro M at 38 degrees C and 20 degrees C respectively. According to active-enzyme-band centrifugation experiments and kinetic analysis aldolase forms a complex with glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and this complex formation influences the specific activity of the dehydrogenase. The interaction between glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and aldolase can provide a regulatory mechanism at the branching point of glycolytic and lipid metabolic pathways.