Role of the interaction between troponin T and AMP deaminase by zinc bridge in modulating muscle contraction and ammonia production

The N-terminal region of troponin T (TnT) does not bind any protein of the contractile machinery and the role of its hypervariability remains uncertain. In this review we report the evidence of the interaction between TnT and AMP deaminase (AMPD), a regulated zinc enzyme localized on the myofibril. In periods of intense muscular activity, a decrease in the ATP/ADP ratio, together with a decrease in the tissue pH, is the stimulus for the activation of the enzyme that deaminating AMP to IMP and NH3 displaces the myokinase reaction towards the formation of ATP. In skeletal muscle subjected to strong tetanic contractions, a calpain-like proteolytic activity produces the removal in vivo of a 97-residue N-terminal fragment from the enzyme that becomes desensitized towards the inhibition by ATP, leading to an unrestrained production of NH3. When a 95-residue N-terminal fragment is removed from AMPD by trypsin, simulating in vitro the calpain action, rabbit fast TnT or its phosphorylated 50-residue N-terminal peptide binds AMPD restoring the inhibition by ATP. Taking in consideration that the N-terminus of TnT expressed in human as well as rabbit white muscle contains a zinc-binding motif, we suggest that TnT might mimic the regulatory action of the inhibitory N-terminal domain of AMPD due to the presence of a zinc ion connecting the N-terminal and C-terminal regions of the enzyme, indicating that the two proteins might physiologically associate to modulate muscle contraction and ammonia production in fast-twitching muscle under strenuous conditions.

Facile and Rapid Access to Inosine Puromycin Analogues through the Use of Adenylate Deaminase

To study the ribosomal peptidyl transfer, puromycin analogues are of interest in which adenine has been replaced by hypoxanthine. We synthesized inosine puromycin analogues from 3'-azidodeoxyadenosine derivatives using adenylate deaminase for the quantitative transformation of the N-heterocycle. The amino acid coupling was carried out under Staudinger-Vilarrasa conditions in 94% yield starting from the protected and in 82% using the unprotected azide, thus, in the presence of two hydroxyls and a lactam function.

Deamination of 2',3'-O-isopropylideneadenosine-5'- carboxylic acid catalyzed by adenosine deaminase (ADA) and adenylate deaminase (AMPDA): influence of substrate ionization on the activity of the enzymes

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) and adenylate deaminase (AMPDA) catalyze the deamination of 2 ',3 '-O-isopropylideneadenosine-5'-carboxylic acid to the corresponding inosine derivative and dependence of the rate of enzymatic reaction on the ionization degree of the substrate has been studied at different pH values.

Characterization of the metallocenter of rabbit skeletal muscle AMP deaminase. Evidence for a dinuclear zinc site

XAS of Zn-peptide binary and ternary complexes prepared using peptides mimicking the potential metal binding sites of rabbit skeletal muscle AMP deaminase (AMPD) strongly suggest that the region 48-61 of the enzyme contains a zinc binding site, whilst the region 360-372 of the enzyme is not able to form 1:1 complexes with zinc, in contrast with what has been suggested for the corresponding region of yeast AMPD. XAS performed on fresh preparations of rabbit skeletal muscle AMPD provides evidence for a dinuclear zinc site in the enzyme compatible with a (mu-aqua)(mu-carboxylato)dizinc(II) core with an average of two histidine residues at each metal site and a Zn-Zn distance of about 3.3 Angstrom. The data indicate that zinc is not required for HPRG/AMPD interaction, both zinc ions being bound to the catalytic subunit of the enzyme, one to the three conserved amino acid residues among those four assumed to be in contact with zinc in yeast AMPD, and the other at the N-terminal region, probably to His-52, Glu-53 and His-57. Tryptic digests of different enzyme preparations demonstrate the existence of two different protein conformations and of a zinc ion connecting the N-terminal and C-terminal regions of AMPD.

Membrane association, mechanism of action, and structure of Arabidopsis embryonic factor 1 (FAC1)

Embryonic factor 1 (FAC1) is one of the earliest expressed plant genes and encodes an AMP deaminase (AMPD), which is also an identified herbicide target. This report identifies an N-terminal transmembrane domain in Arabidopsis FAC1, explores subcellular fractionation, and presents a 3.3-A globular catalytic domain x-ray crystal structure with a bound herbicide-based transition state inhibitor that provides the first glimpse of a complete AMPD active site. FAC1 contains an (alpha/beta)(8)-barrel characterized by loops in place of strands 5 and 6 that places it in a small subset of the amidohydrolase superfamily with imperfect folds. Unlike tetrameric animal orthologs, FAC1 is a dimer and each subunit contains an exposed Walker A motif that may be involved in the dramatic combined K(m) (25-80-fold lower) and V(max) (5-6-fold higher) activation by ATP. Normal mode analysis predicts a hinge motion that flattens basic surfaces on each monomer that flank the dimer interface, which suggests a reversible association between the FAC1 globular catalytic domain and intracellular membranes, with N-terminal transmembrane and disordered linker regions serving as the anchor and attachment to the globular catalytic domain, respectively.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of adenosine 5'-monophosphate deaminase (AMPD) from Arabidopsis thaliana in complex with coformycin 5'-phosphate

Adenosine 5'-monophosphate deaminase (AMPD) is a eukaryotic enzyme that converts adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP) to inosine 5'-monophosphate (IMP) and ammonia. AMPD from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtAMPD) was cloned into the baculoviral transfer vector p2Bac and co-transfected along with a modified baculoviral genome into Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells. The resulting recombinant baculovirus were plaque-purified, amplified and used to overexpress recombinant AtAMPD. Crystals of purified AtAMPD have been obtained to which coformycin 5'-phosphate, a transition-state inhibitor, is bound. Crystals belong to space group P6(2)22, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 131.325, c = 208.254 A, alpha = beta = 90, gamma = 120 degrees. Diffraction data were collected to 3.34 A resolution from a crystal in complex with coformycin 5'-phosphate and to 4.05 A resolution from a crystal of a mercury derivative.

Calcium activates erythrocyte AMP deaminase [isoform E (AMPD3)] through a protein-protein interaction between calmodulin and the N-terminal domain of the AMPD3 polypeptide

Erythrocyte AMP deaminase [isoform E (AMPD3)] is activated in response to increased intracellular calcium levels in Tarui's disease, following exposure of ionophore-treated cells to extracellular calcium, and by the addition of calcium to freshly prepared hemolysates. However, the assumption that Ca(2+) is a positive effector of isoform E is inconsistent with the loss of sensitivity to this divalent cation following dilution of erythrocyte lysates or enzyme purification. Ca(2+) regulation of isoform E was studied by examining in vitro effects of calmodulin (CaM) on this enzyme and by monitoring the influence of CaM antagonists on purine catabolic flow in freshly prepared erythrocytes under various conditions of energy imbalance. Erythrocyte and recombinant isoform E both adsorb to immobilized Ca(2+)-CaM, and relative adsorption across a series of N-truncated recombinant enzymes localizes CaM binding determinants to within residues 65-89 of the AMPD3 polypeptide. Ca(2+)-CaM directly stimulates isoform E catalytic activity through a K(mapp) effect and also antagonizes the protein-lipid interaction between this enzyme and intracellular membranes that inhibits catalytic activity. AMP is the predominant purine catabolite in erythrocytes deprived of glucose or exposed to A23187 ionophore alone, whereas IMP accumulates when Ca(2+) is included under the latter conditions and also during autoincubation at 37 degrees C. Preincubation with a CaM antagonist significantly slows the accumulation of erythrocyte IMP under both conditions. The combined results reveal a protein-protein interaction between Ca(2+)-CaM and isoform E and identify a mechanism that advances our understanding of erythrocyte purine metabolism. Ca(2+)-CaM overcomes potent isoform E inhibitory mechanisms that function to maintain the total adenine nucleotide pool in mature erythrocytes, which are unable to synthesize AMP from IMP because of a developmental loss of adenylosuccinate synthetase. This may also explain why Tarui's disease erythrocytes exhibit accelerated adenine nucleotide depletion in response to an increase in intracellular Ca(2+) concentration. This regulatory mechanism could also play an important role in purine metabolism in other human tissues and cells where the AMPD3 gene is expressed.

AMP-deaminase from normal and cirrhotic human liver: a comparative study

AMP-deaminase (EC 3.5.4.6) is an enzyme of nucleotide breakdown involved in regulation of adenine nucleotide pool in mammalian cells. Reaction catalysed by AMP-deaminase constitutes a rate-limiting step in adenine nucleotide catabolism in liver. In this study kinetic and regulatory properties of AMP-deaminase purified from normal and cirrhotic human liver were investigated. In comparison to AMP-deaminase extracted from the normal human liver, AMP-deaminase extracted from the cirrhotic liver was less sensitive towards substrate analogues, and only a very limited response towards pH and adenylate energy charge changes tested for enzyme isolated from this tissue source had been observed. At physiological pH 7.0, in the absence and in the presence of important allosteric effectors (ATP, ADP, GTP and orthophosphate), AMP-deaminases from the two sources studied manifested different regulatory profiles, with half-saturation constant (S0.5) values being distinctly higher for the enzyme extracted from the pathological organ. In contrast to AMP-deaminase isolated from the normal, healthy liver, where presence of relatively large (68 kDa) protein fragment was also detected, only smaller protein fragments were identified, while SDS-PAG electrophoresis of AMP-deaminase isolated from the cirrhotic liver was performed. The obtained results indicate clearly that advanced proteolytic processes occurring in the cirrhotic liver may affect structural integrity of AMP-deaminase studied, making enzyme less active and less sensitive to regulatory action of important allosteric effectors.

Full-size form of human liver AMP-deaminase?

AMP-deaminase from human liver was purified by two-step phosphocellulose chromatography, and SDS-PAG electrophoresis of the most active enzyme fraction eluted has been performed. The largest of the protein fragments revealed had a size (92 kDa) of an apparent full-size enzyme subunit, and reacted positively with antibodies produced against specific human ampd2 gene product. Three-day storage at cold room temperature modified significantly the electrophoretical pattern of the enzyme, evidencing continuous and progressive degradation of its structure. This is a first report evidencing the presence of apparent full-size form of human liver AMP-deaminase in preparation obtained from endogenous source.

Comparative immunologic and kinetic evaluation of AMP-deaminase isolated from normal human liver and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)

In the present paper physico-chemical properties of AMP-deaminase purified from human liver neoplasm-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were investigated and compared with these obtained for the enzyme from normal, unaffected tissue.

[Family of AMP-deaminase genes]

AMP-deaminase (AMP-aminohydrolase, EC 3.5.4.6), a highly regulated oligomeric enzyme catalyzing the irreversible deamination of adenylic acid (5'-AMP), is located at a branch point of adenylate nucleotide catabolism. It plays an important role in the stabilization of adenylate energy charge (AEC) and the regulation of the purine nucleotide pool in several types of animal tissue. Tissue- and stage-specific isoforms of AMP-deaminase were described in mammals. In humans, three isozymes of AMP-deaminase, i.e. M (muscle), L (liver), and E (erythrocyte), exhibiting different physical, catalytic, and regulatory properties, were identified. AMP-deaminase activity is encoded by a multigene family in which two genes produce at least three mRNAs through alternative splicing of one of the primary transcripts. In this study we present all found and so far unpublished detailed knowledge about AMP-deaminase gene structures. We also present basic information on the effects of these gene mutations.

A calpain-like proteolytic activity produces the limited cleavage at the N-terminal regulatory domain of rabbit skeletal muscle AMP deaminase: evidence of a protective molecular mechanism

On storage at 4 degrees C, rabbit skeletal muscle AMP deaminase undergoes limited proteolysis with the conversion of the native 85-kDa enzyme subunit to a 75-kDa core that is resistant to further proteolysis. Further studies have shown that limited proteolysis of AMP deaminase with trypsin, removing the 95-residue N-terminal fragment, converts the native enzyme to a species that exhibits hyperbolic kinetics even at low K+ concentration. The results of this report show that a 21-residue synthetic peptide, when incubated with the purified enzyme, is cleaved with a specificity identical to that reported for ubiquitous calpains. In addition, the cleavage of a specific fluorogenic peptide substrate by rabbit m-calpain is inhibited by a synthetic peptide that corresponds to residues 10-17 of rabbit skeletal muscle AMP deaminase; this peptide contains a sequence (K-E-L-D-D-A) that is present in the fourth subdomain A of rabbit calpastatin, suggesting that the N-terminus of AMP deaminase shares with calpastatin a regulatory sequence that might exert a protective role against the fragmentation-induced activation of AMP deaminase. These observations suggest that a calpain-like proteinase present in muscle removes from AMP deaminase a domain that holds the enzyme in an inactive conformation and which also contains a regulatory region that protects against unregulated proteolysis. We conclude that proteolysis of AMP deaminase is the basis of the large ammonia accumulation that occurs in skeletal muscle subjected to strong tetanic contraction or passing into rigor mortis.

AMP-deaminase from hen stomach smooth muscle--physico-chemical properties of the enzyme

AMP-deaminase from hen stomach smooth muscle was isolated and physico-chemical properties of the purified enzyme were investigated. The enzyme had an activity optimum at pH 6.5, and poorly deaminated the substrate analogues tested. At optimum pH (6.5), in the absence of regulatory ligands (control conditions), the enzyme manifested hyperbolic substrate-saturation kinetics with half-saturation constant (S(0.5)) of about 4.5 mM. Additions of adenine nucleotide effectors (ATP, ADP) activated the enzyme strongly at all the concentrations tested, diminishing significantly the value of S(0.5) constant. In contrast, the regulatory effect of orthophosphate was variable, and depended on the orthophosphate concentration used. The molecular mass of the enzyme subunit determined in SDS/PAG electrophoresis was about of 37kDa. The obtained results suggest that in different types of hen muscle, similarly as in humans and rats, expression of AMP-deaminase is under the control of independent genes.

N-terminal extensions of the human AMPD2 polypeptide influence ATP regulation of isoform L

Human tissues and cells express three AMP deaminase (AMPD) isoforms containing divergent N-terminal domains, and each member of the multigene family encoding these enzymes produces alternative transcripts that confer additional N-terminal divergence through extensions and cassette-type substitutions. Available data suggest that divergent N-terminal domains can influence AMPD isoform behavior, but the functional significance for additional divergence within each enzyme is unknown. Three isoform L (AMPD2) variants, 1A/2, 1B/2, and 1B/3, contain N-terminal extensions of 47, 128, and 53 amino acids, respectively. This study has determined the kinetic and regulatory behaviors of these three isoform L enzymes in the presence of positive (ATP) and negative (phosphate) allosteric effectors. All display nearly identical kinetic parameters and regulatory responses in the presence of phosphate alone, or in combination with ATP. Regulation by ATP is biphasic and the three isoform L enzymes also exhibit similar activation profiles and maximum initial velocities at 2-3mM in the presence of 1mM phosphate, whereas higher concentrations of phosphate suppress this activation. However, maximum initial velocities are achieved at lower ATP concentrations (0.8-1.5mM) in the absence of phosphate and under these conditions 1B/2 is less active, 1B/3 is more active, and 1A/2 is similarly active when compared to 1mM phosphate over the range of ATP concentrations found in non-muscle cells (0.8-3.7mM). These combined results suggest that isoform L enzymes are designed to function under different metabolic conditions encountered in the non-striated muscle environments where they are expressed.

Expression, purification, and inhibition of in vitro proteolysis of human AMPD2 (isoform L) recombinant enzymes

AMP deaminase (AMPD) is a multigene family in higher eukaryotes whose three members encode tetrameric isoforms that catalyze the deamination of AMP to IMP. AMPD polypeptides share conserved C-terminal catalytic domains of approximately 550 amino acids, whereas divergent N-terminal domains of approximately 200-330 amino acids may confer isoform-specific properties to each enzyme. However, AMPD polypeptides are subject to limited N-terminal proteolysis during purification and subsequent storage at 4 degrees C. This presents a technical challenge to studies aimed at determining the structural and functional significance of these divergent sequences. This study describes the recombinant overexpression of three naturally occurring human AMPD2 proteins, 1A/2, 1B/2, and 1B/3, that differ by N-terminal extensions of 47-128 amino acids, resulting from the use of multiple promoters and alternative splicing events. A survey of protease inhibitors reveals that E-64 and leupeptin are able to maintain the subunit structure of each AMPD2 protein when they are included in extraction and storage buffers. Gel filtration chromatography of these three purified AMPD2 enzymes comprised of intact subunits reveals that each migrates faster than expected, resulting in observed molecular masses significantly greater than those predicted for native tetrameric structures. However, chemical crosslinking analysis indicates four subunits per AMPD2 molecule, confirming that these enzymes have a native tetrameric structure. These combined results suggest that AMPD2 N-terminal extensions may exist as extended structures in solution.

Isolation by zinc-affinity chromatography of the histidine-proline-rich-glycoprotein molecule associated with rabbit skeletal muscle AMP deaminase. Evidence that the formation of a protein-protein complex between the catalytic subunit and the novel component is critical for the stability of the enzyme

The histidine-proline-rich glycoprotein (HPRG) component of rabbit skeletal muscle AMP deaminase under denaturing and reducing conditions specifically binds to a Zn(2+)-charged affinity column and is only eluted with an EDTA-containing buffer that strips Zn(2+) from the gel. The isolated protein is homogeneous showing an apparent molecular weight (MW) of 95000 and the N-terminal sequence L-T-P-T-D-X-K-T-T-K-P-L-A-E-K-A-L-D-L-I, corresponding to that of rabbit plasma HPRG. The incubation with peptide-N-glycosidase F promotes the reduction of the apparent MW of isolated HPRG to 70000, characterizing it as a N-glycosylated protein. The separation from AMP deaminase of an 85-kDa component with a blocked N terminus is observed when the enzyme is applied to the Zn-charged column under nondenaturing conditions. On storage under reducing conditions, this component undergoes an 85- to 95-kDa transition yielding a L-T-P-T-D-X-K-T-T-K-P-L N-terminal sequence, suggesting that the shift in the migration on SDS/PAGE as well as the truncation of the protein at its N terminus are promoted by the reduction of a disulfide bond present in freshly isolated HPRG. The separation of HPRG induces a marked reduction in the solubility of AMP deaminase, strongly suggesting a role of HPRG in assuring the molecular integrity of the enzyme.

XAS of dilute biological samples

The experimental setup of beamline ID26 at ESRF (Grenoble) has been successfully exploited to obtain high-quality XAS (X-ray absorption spectroscopy) data from a biological sample where the metal concentration is about 100 micro M. The sample consists of the adenosine monophosphate deaminase (AMPD) histidine proline rich glycoprotein (HPRG) complex that contains 3-4 Zn(II) ions per dimer of approximately 320 kDa molecular weight. The experiment shows that third-generation X-ray sources equipped with insertion devices and appropriate optics and detectors allow the investigation of complex biological systems where the metal concentration is intrinsically low. The availability of such experimental setups makes possible a completely new set of experiments in biological XAS.

Human liver AMP-deaminase--oligomeric forms of the enzyme

AMP-deaminase (EC 3.5.4.6) is a key enzyme of nucleotide breakdown involved in regulation of adenine nucleotide pool in the liver. Mechanisms regulating activity of the enzyme are not completely elucidated, till now. In this paper experimental data indicating on the potential regulatory significance of changes in oligomeric structure of the enzyme are presented. SDS-PAG electrophoresis of human liver AMP-deaminase revealed the presence of three enzyme fragments. Only largest of them (the protein fragments weighing 68 kDa) reacted immunologically with anti- (human liver) AMP-deaminase antibodies. At physiological pH 7.0, in the absence of regulatory ligands, reaction catalysed by human liver AMP-deaminase was strongly dependent on enzyme concentration used, with half-saturation constant (S0.5) values increasing significantly with the degree of enzyme dilution. Preincubation with activated long-chain fatty acids--substances promoting dissociation of oligomeric enzymes, inhibited the activity of AMP-deaminase studied nearly completely. Gel filtration on Sepharose CL-6B column demonstrated existence of at least three active oligomeric forms of human liver AMP-deaminase. We postulate that oligomeric structure of the enzyme is a factor determining regulatory profile of AMP-deaminase studied.

N-terminal sequence and distal histidine residues are responsible for pH-regulated cytoplasmic membrane binding of human AMP deaminase isoform E

Mammalian AMP deaminase 3 (AMPD3) enzymes reportedly bind to intracellular membranes, plasma lipid vesicles, and artificial lipid bilayers with associated alterations in enzyme conformation and function. However, proteolytic sensitivity of AMPD polypeptides makes it likely that prior studies were performed with N-truncated enzymes. This study uses erythrocyte ghosts to characterize the reversible cytoplasmic membrane association of human full-sized recombinant isoform E (AMPD3). Membrane-bound isoform E exhibits diminished catalytic activity whereas low micromolar concentrations of the cationic antibiotic, neomycin, disrupt this protein-lipid interaction and relieve catalytic inhibition. The cytoplasmic membrane association of isoform E also displays an inverse correlation with pH in the physiological range. Diethyl pyrocarbonate (DEPC) modification of isoform E nearly abolishes its cytoplasmic membrane binding capacity, and this effect can be reversed by hydroxylamine. Difference spectra reveal that 18 of 29 histidine residues in each isoform E subunit are N-carbethoxylated by DEPC. These combined data demonstrate that protonated imidazole rings of histidine residues mediate a pH-responsive association of isoform E with anionic charges on the surface of the cytoplasmic membrane, possibly phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, a pure noncompetitive inhibitor of the enzyme. Finally, AMPD1 and a series of N-truncated AMPD3 enzymes are used to show that these behaviors are specific to isoform E and require up to 48 N-terminal amino acids, even though this stretch of sequence contains no histidine residues. The pH-responsive cytosol-membrane partitioning of isoform E may be an important mechanism for branch point regulation of adenylate catabolism.

Oxidative stress induces impairment of human erythrocyte energy metabolism through the oxygen radical-mediated direct activation of AMP-deaminase

The effect of oxidative stress on human red blood cell AMP-deaminase activity was studied by incubating either fresh erythrocytes or hemolysates with H(2)O(2) (0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 mm) or NaNO(2) (1, 5, 10, 20, and 50 mm), for 15 min at 37 degrees C. AMP-deaminase tremendously increased by increasing H(2)O(2) or NaNO(2) at up to 4 and 20 mm, respectively (maximal effect for both oxidants was 9.5 and 6.5 times higher enzymatic activity than control erythrocytes or hemolysates, respectively). The incubation of hemolysates with iodoacetate (5-100 mm), N-ethylmaleimide (0.1-10 mm), or p-hydroxymercuribenzoate (0.1-5 mm) mimicked the effect of oxidative stress on AMP-deaminase, indicating that sulfhydryl group modification is involved in the enzyme activation. In comparison with control hemolysates, changes of the kinetic properties of AMP-deaminase (decrease of AMP concentration necessary for half-maximal activation, increase of V(max), modification of the curve shape of V(o) versus [S], Hill plots, and coefficients) were recorded with 4 mm H(2)O(2)- and 1 mm N-ethylmaleimide-treated hemolysates. Data obtained using 90% purified enzyme, incubated with Fenton reagents (Fe(2+) + H(2)O(2)) or -SH-modifying compounds, demonstrated that (i) reactive oxygen species are directly responsible for AMP-deaminase activation; (ii) this phenomenon occurs through sulfhydryl group modification; and (iii) the activation does not involve the loss of the tetrameric protein structure. Results of experiments conducted with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase-deficient erythrocytes, challenged with increasing doses of the anti-malarial drug quinine hydrochloride and showing dramatic AMP-deaminase activation, suggest relevant physiopathological implications of this enzymatic activation in conditions of increased oxidative stress. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of an enzyme, fundamental for the maintenance of the correct red blood cell energy metabolism, that is activated (rather than inhibited) by the interaction with reactive oxygen species.

Localization of N-terminal sequences in human AMP deaminase isoforms that influence contractile protein binding

The reversible association of AMP deaminase (AMPD, EC 3.5.4.6) with elements of the contractile apparatus is an identified mechanism of enzyme regulation in mammalian skeletal muscle. All three members of the human AMPD multigene family contain coding information for polypeptides with divergent N-terminal and conserved C-terminal domains. In this study, serial N-terminal deletion mutants of up to 111 (AMPD1), 214 (AMPD2), and 126 (AMPD3) residues have been constructed without significant alteration of catalytic function or protein solubility. The entire sets of active enzymes are used to extend our understanding of the contractile protein binding of AMPD. Analysis of the most truncated active enzymes demonstrates that all three isoforms can associate with skeletal muscle actomyosin and suggests that a primary binding domain is located within the C-terminal 635-640 residues of each polypeptide. However, discrete stretches of N-terminal sequence alter this behavior. Residues 54-83 in the AMPD1 polypeptide contribute to a high actomyosin binding capacity of both isoform M spliceoforms, although the exon 2- enzyme exhibits significantly greater association compared to its exon 2+ counterpart. Conversely, residues 129-183 in the AMPD2 polypeptide reduce actomyosin binding of isoform L. In addition, residues 1-48 in the AMPD3 polypeptide dramatically suppress contractile protein binding of isoform E, thus allowing this enzyme to participate in other intracellular interactions.

AMP deaminase inhibitors. 5. Design, synthesis, and SAR of a highly potent inhibitor series

A highly potent AMP deaminase (AMPDA) inhibitor series was discovered by replacing the N3 substitutents of the two lead AMPDA inhibitor series with a conformationally restricted group. The most potent compound, 3-[2-(3-carboxy-4-bromo-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthyl)ethyl]-3,6,7,8-tetrahydroimidazo[4,5-d][1,3]diazepin-8-ol (24b), represents a 10- to 250-fold enhancement in AMPDA inhibitory potency without loss in the enzyme specificity. The potency of the inhibitor 24b (AMPDA K(i) = 0.002 microM) is 10(5)-fold lower than the Km for the substrate AMP. It represents the most potent nonnucleotide AMPDA inhibitor known.

Regulation of skeletal muscle AMP deaminase: lysine residues are critical for the pH-dependent positive homotropic cooperativity behaviour of the rabbit enzyme

Reaction of rabbit skeletal muscle AMP deaminase with a low molar excess of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) results in conversion of the enzyme into a species with about six trinitrophenylated lysine residues per molecule which no longer manifests positive homotropic cooperativity at pH 7.1 or at the optimal pH value of 6.5 in the presence of low K+ concentrations. Substitution of the reactive thiol groups with 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) does not protect the enzyme from the TNBS-induced changes of the catalytic properties, indicating that cysteine residues modification is not at the basis of the effects of TNBS treatment on AMP deaminase and strongly suggesting the obligatory participation of lysine residues to the constitution of a regulatory anionic site to which AMP must bind to stimulate the enzyme at alkaline pH. The TNBS-treated enzyme is also completely desensitized to inhibition by ATP, but not to inhibition by GTP and stimulation by ADP. This observation suggests a connection between the operation of the hypothesized anionic activating site, responsible for positive homotropic cooperativity, and the inhibition exerted by anionic compounds that compete for the same site, among them the most efficient metabolite being probably ATP.

AMP deaminase inhibitors. 4. Further N3-substituted coformycin aglycon analogues: N3-alkylmalonates as ribose 5'-monophosphate mimetics

AMP deaminase (AMPDA) inhibitors increase the levels of extracellular adenosine and preserve intracellular adenylate pools in cellular models of ATP depletion and therefore represent a potential new class of antiischemic drugs. Recently we reported that replacement of the ribose 5'-monophosphate component of the very potent transition-state analogue AMPDA inhibitor coformycin monophosphate (1) with a simple alkylcarboxy group resulted in potent, selective, and cell-penetrating AMPDA inhibitors. Here we report that replacement of this alkylcarboxy group with an alpha-substituted alkylmalonic acid resulted in enhanced inhibitor potency. The lead compound, 3-(5, 5-dicarboxy-6-(3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-n-hexyl)coformycin aglycon (21), exhibited an AMPDA K(i) of 0.029 microM which is (3 x 10(5))-fold lower than the K(M) for the natural substrate AMP. A comparison of inhibitory potencies shows that the diacid analogues with alpha-benzyl substituents are 2-10-fold more inhibitory than similar monoacid-monoester, monoester-monoamide, or diester derivatives. Finally, these diacid analogues are 2-40-fold more potent inhibitors than the corresponding monocarboxylates.

AMP deaminase inhibitors. 3. SAR of 3-(carboxyarylalkyl)coformycin aglycon analogues

N3-Substituted coformycin aglycon analogues with improved AMP deaminase (AMPDA) inhibitory potency are described. Replacement of the 5-carboxypentyl substituent in the lead AMPDA inhibitor 3-(5-carboxypentyl)-3,6,7,8-tetrahydroimidazo[4,5-d][1, 3]diazepin-8-ol (2) described in the previous article with various carboxyarylalkyl groups resulted in compounds with 10-100-fold improved AMPDA inhibitory potencies. The optimal N3 substituent had m-carboxyphenyl with a two-carbon alkyl tether. For example, 3-[2-(3-carboxy-5-ethylphenyl)ethyl]-3,6,7,8-tetrahydroimidazo[4, 5-d][1,3]diazepin-8-ol (43g) inhibited human AMPDA with a K(i) = 0. 06 microM. The compounds within the series also exhibited >1000-fold specificity for AMPDA relative to adenosine deaminase.

AMP deaminase inhibitors. 2. Initial discovery of a non-nucleotide transition-state inhibitor series

A series of N3-substituted coformycin aglycon analogues are described that inhibit adenosine 5'-monophosphate deaminase (AMPDA) or adenosine deaminase (ADA). The key steps involved in the preparation of these compounds are (1) treating the sodium salt of 6, 7-dihydroimidazo[4,5-d][1,3]diazepin-8(3H)-one (4) with an alkyl bromide or an alkyl mesylate to generate the N3-alkylated compound 5 and (2) reducing 5 with NaBH(4). Selective inhibition of AMPDA was realized when the N3-substituent contained a carboxylic acid moiety. For example, compound 7b which has a hexanoic acid side chain inhibited AMPDA with a K(i) = 4.2 microM and ADA with a K(i) = 280 microM. Substitution of large lipophilic groups alpha to the carboxylate provided a moderate potency increase with maintained selectivity as exemplified by the alpha-benzyl analogue 7j (AMPDA K(i) = 0.41 microM and ADA K(i) > 1000 microM). These compounds, as well as others described in this series of papers, are the first compounds suitable for testing whether selective inhibition of AMPDA can protect tissue from ischemic damage by increasing local adenosine concentrations at the site of injury and/or by minimizing adenylate loss.

cycloSal-Pronucleotides of 2'-fluoro-ara- and 2'-fluoro-ribo-2',3'- dideoxyadenosine as a strategy to bypass a metabolic blockade

Novel, lipophilic cycloSal triesters 4a-c and 5a-c were synthesized, respectively, from the ara- and ribo-configurated 2'-fluorinated-2', 3'-dideoxyadenosines 2 and 3. The cycloSal phosphotriesters were used as tools to study the effects of the two different sugar pucker conformations induced by two opposite configurations of the fluorine substituent at C2' of the dideoxyribose moiety. F-ara-ddA (2) is known to be an active anti-HIV agent, whereas the ribo-analogue 3 is inactive. Hydrolysis studies with the triester precursors 4a-c and 5a-c showed selective formation of the monophosphates of 2 and 3. The lipophilicity of the triester prodrugs was considerably increased by the cycloSal mask with respect to ddA (1), F-ara-ddA (2), and F-ribo-ddA (3). Phosphotriesters 4 and 5 proved to be completely resistant to ADA and AMPDA deamination. In parallel experiments, ribo-nucleoside 3 showed a 50-fold faster deamination rate relative to the ara-analogue 2. Against HIV in CEM cells, the phosphotriesters 4 proved to be 10-fold more potent than the parent nucleoside 2. Furthermore, the prodrugs 4 were active against MSV-induced transformation of C3H/3T3 fibroblasts, while 2 was inactive. More interestingly, the ribo-configurated phosphotriesters 5, prepared from the inactive F-ribo-ddA (3), showed a level of anti-HIV activity that was even higher than that of F-ara-ddA (2). Our findings clearly prove that the application of the cycloSal-pronucleotide concept to F-ribo-ddA (3) overcomes a metabolic blockade in the formation of the corresponding monophosphate.

cycloSal-Pronucleotides of 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine and 2', 3'-dideoxy-2',3'-didehydroadenosine: synthesis and antiviral evaluation of a highly efficient nucleotide delivery system

The synthesis, hydrolysis, and antiviral evaluation of novel, lipophilic cycloSal-ddAMP (9a-d) and cycloSal-d4AMP (10a-d) derivatives of the antiviral purine dideoxynucleoside analogues 2', 3'-dideoxyadenosine (ddA) (2) and 2',3'-dideoxy-2', 3'-didehydroadenosine (d4A) (3) are reported. These potential pronucleotides release ddAMP (7) or d4AMP (8) selectively by a controlled, chemically induced tandem reaction. All new compounds 9 and 10a-d were synthesized in good yields using our previously reported phosphorus(III) method starting from substituted salicyl alcohols 14a-h. The phosphotriesters 9 and 10 were obtained with a stereochemical preference of 2:1 with respect to the configuration at the phosphorus center. In an 1-octanol/water mixture phosphotriesters 9 and 10 exhibited 7-43-fold higher lipophilicity than the parent nucleosides ddA (2) and d4A (3) as judged by their log P values. In hydrolysis studies, 9 and 10 decomposed under mild aqueous basic conditions releasing solely ddAMP (7) and d4AMP (8), as well as the diols 14. Further hydrolysis studies under acidic conditions showed a marked increase in stability with respect to the acid-catalyzed cleavage of the glycosyl bond. Phosphotriesters 9 and 10 exhibited antiviral potencies against wild-type HIV-1 and HIV-2 strains in human T-lymphocyte (CEM/O) cells that were, respectively, 100- and 600-fold higher than those of ddA (2) and d4A (3). Furthermore, all triesters 9 and 10 were markedly more active than the corresponding ddI compounds 11 and 12, which supports the concept of the delivery of the adenine nucleotides. Studies with adenosine deaminase (ADA) and adenosine monophosphate deaminase (AMPDA) showed that the triesters were not substrates for enzymatic deamination. The studies reported herein demonstrate conclusively that the cycloSal triesters deliver exclusively the nucleotides ddAMP and d4AMP, not only under chemical-simulated hydrolysis but also under intracellular conditions fulfilling the adenosine deaminase bypass premise.

Novel aspects of tetramer assembly and N-terminal domain structure and function are revealed by recombinant expression of human AMP deaminase isoforms

AMP deaminase isoforms purified from endogenous sources display smaller than predicted subunit molecular masses, whereas baculoviral expression of human AMPD1 (isoform M) and AMPD3 (isoform E) cDNAs produces full-sized recombinant enzymes. However, nearly 100 N-terminal amino acid residues are cleaved from each recombinant polypeptide during storage at 4 degreesC. Expression of N-truncated cDNAs (DeltaL96AMPD1 and DeltaM90AMPD3) produces stable recombinant enzymes exhibiting subunit molecular masses and kinetic properties that are similar to those reported for purified isoforms M and E. Conversely, wild type recombinant isoforms display significantly higher Km(app) values in the absence of ATP. Gel filtration analysis demonstrates native tetrameric structures for all recombinant proteins, except the wild type AMPD1 enzyme, which forms aggregates of tetramers that disperse upon cleavage of N-terminal residues at 4 degreesC. These data: 1) confirm that available literature on AMP deaminase is likely derived from N-truncated enzymes and 2) are inconsistent with a new model proposing native trimeric structure of an N-truncated rabbit skeletal muscle AMP deaminase (Ranieri-Raggi, M., Montali, U., Ronca, F., Sabbatini, A., Brown, P. E., Moir, A. J. G., and Raggi, A. (1997) Biochem. J. 326, 641-648). N-terminal residues also influence actomyosin-binding properties of the enzyme, which are enhanced and suppressed by AMPD1 and AMPD3 sequences, respectively. Finally, co-expression of AMPD1 and AMPD3 recombinant polypeptides produces tetrameric enzymes with either isoform-specific or mixed subunits, and also reveals that tetramer assembly is driven by relative polypeptide abundance with no apparent preference for like subunits.

Control of AMP deaminase 1 binding to myosin heavy chain

AMP deaminase (AMPD) plays a central role in preserving the adenylate energy charge in myocytes following exercise and in producing intermediates for the citric acid cycle in muscle. Prior studies have demonstrated that AMPD1 binds to myosin heavy chain (MHC) in vitro; binding to the myofibril varies with the state of muscle contraction in vivo, and binding of AMPD1 to MHC is required for activation of this enzyme in myocytes. The present study has identified three domains in AMPD1 that influence binding of this enzyme to MHC using a cotransfection model that permits assessment of mutations introduced into the AMPD1 peptide. One domain that encompasses residues 178-333 of this 727-amino acid peptide is essential for binding of AMPD1 to MHC. This region of AMPD1 shares sequence similarity with several regions of titin, another MHC binding protein. Two additional domains regulate binding of this peptide to MHC in response to intracellular and extracellular signals. A nucleotide binding site, which is located at residues 660-674, controls binding of AMPD1 to MHC in response to changes in intracellular ATP concentration. Deletion analyses demonstrate that the amino-terminal 65 residues of AMPD1 play a critical role in modulating the sensitivity to ATP-induced inhibition of MHC binding. Alternative splicing of the AMPD1 gene product, which alters the sequence of residues 8-12, produces two AMPD1 isoforms that exhibit different MHC binding properties in the presence of ATP. These findings are discussed in the context of the various roles proposed for AMPD in energy production in the myocyte.

Structural-functional relationships in pig heart AMP-deaminase in the presence of ATP, orthophosphate, and phosphatidate bilayers

The secondary structure of pig heart AMP-deaminase (AMP-d) in the absence and in the presence of orthophosphate or dioleoyl phosphatidic acid (DOPA) or ATP was investigated by FT-IR spectroscopy. While the latter substance activates the enzyme, orthophosphate is a well-known negative allosteric effector and DOPA exerts a noncompetitive inhibition on AMP-deaminase. Small changes in the secondary structure of AMP-d were induced by the above mentioned substances. Only DOPA reduced the thermal stability of AMP-d and avoided protein intermolecular interactions suggesting structural-functional relationships in AMP-d in the presence of the above substances and a possible role of phosphatidic acid in the subtle regulation of AMP-d activity by temporary binding of the enzyme to cellular membranes.

Association of purified skeletal-muscle AMP deaminase with a histidine-proline-rich-glycoprotein-like molecule

Denaturation of rabbit skeletal-muscle AMP deaminase in acidic medium followed by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose in 8 M urea atpH 8.0 allows separation of two main peptide components of similar apparent molecular mass (75-80 kDa) that we tentatively assume correspond to two different enzyme subunits. Whereas the amino acid composition of one of the two peptides is in good agreement with that derived from the nucleotide sequence of the known rat and human AMPD1 cDNAs, the second component shows much higher contents of proline, glycine and histidine. N-Terminal sequence analysis of the fragments liberated by limited proteolysis with trypsin of the novel peptide reveals a striking similarity to the fragments produced by plasmin cleavage of the rabbit plasma protein called histidine-proline-rich glycoprotein (HPRG). However, some divergence is observed between the sequence of one of the fragments liberated from AMP deaminase by a more extensive trypsinization and rabbit plasma HPRG in the region containing residues 472-477. A fragment with a blocked N-terminus, which was found among those liberated by proteolysis with pepsin of either whole AMP deaminase or the novel component of the enzyme, shows an amino acid composition quite different from that of the N-terminus of the known subunit of AMP deaminase. By coupling this observation with the detection in freshly prepared AMP deaminase of a low yield of the sequence (LTPTDX) corresponding to that of HPRG N-terminus, it can be deduced that in comparison with HPRG, the putative HPRG-like component of AMP deaminase contains an additional fragment with a blocked N-terminus, which is liberated by a proteolytic process during purification of the enzyme. The implications of the association to rabbit skeletal-muscle AMP deaminase of a HPRG-like protein species are discussed.

AMP-deaminases from chicken and rabbit muscle: partial primary sequences of homologous 17-kDa CNBr fragments: autorecognition by rabbit anti-[chicken AMPD]

The apparent size (87.5 kDa) of the major polypeptide in freshly isolated chicken muscle AMP deaminase (AMPD.M) was comparable with that predicted from the sequences of the genes for the major muscle isoforms from human and rat. The size of the subunit of AMP deaminase from chicken muscle is indistinguishable from that of the rabbit enzyme. The peptide profiles of cyanogen bromide digests of AMPD.M from chicken and rabbit share a 17-kDa fragment, representing approximately 20% of the intact subunits of these enzymes. The first 25 residues of these fragments are 88.5% identical; the rabbit and chicken segments are greater than 92% and 84% identical, respectively, to the sequences predicted for residues 310-335 for AMPD.M from human and rat. Polyclonal rabbit antisera directed against AMPD.M from chicken breast recognize the full-length AMPD.M polypeptides on immunoblots of extracts of both avian and rabbit muscle, including an antiserum from the rabbit in which the antibody was prepared. The 17-kDa fragments, derived by incomplete cleavage of highly conserved internal segments of the deaminase subunit, share epitopes involved in the autorecognition of rabbit AMPD.M by rabbit polyclonal antibodies directed against the avian AMPD.M.

[Modification of the histidine in rat skeletal muscle deaminase by diethylpyrocarbonate]

Diethylpyrocarbonate inactivated rat skeletal muscle AMP deaminase in 10 mM phosphate buffer, pH 6.5, at 23 degrees with the second order rate constant of 580 M-1.min-1. Absorbtion at 240 nm was concomitantly increase. Enzyme activity can be restored by hydroxylamine. The pH-dependence of inactivation indicates the involvement of a group with pKa 6.9. The data suggest that modification of one histidyl residue per subunit inactivates the activity of tetrameric AMP deaminase.

Regulation of skeletal-muscle AMP deaminase: involvement of histidine residues in the pH-dependent inhibition of the rabbit enzyme by ATP

Reaction of rabbit skeletal-muscle AMP deaminase with a low molar excess of diethyl pyrocarbonate results in conversion of the enzyme into a species with one or two carbethoxylated histidine residues per subunit that retains sensitivity to ATP at pH 7.1 but, unlike the native enzyme, it is not sensitive to regulation by ATP at pH 6.5. This effect mimics that exerted on the enzyme by limited proteolysis with trypsin, which removes the 95-residue N-terminal region from the 80 kDa enzyme subunit. These observations suggest involvement of some histidine residues localized in the region HHEMQAHILH (residues 51-60) in the regulatory mechanism which stabilizes the binding of ATP to its inhibitory site at acidic pH. Carbethoxylation of two histidine residues per subunit abolishes the inhibition by ATP of the proteolysed enzyme at pH 7.1, suggesting the obligatory participation of a second class of histidine residues, localized in the 70 kDa subunit core, in the mechanism of the pH-dependent inhibition of the enzyme by ATP. At a slightly acidic pH, these histidine residues would be positively charged, resulting in a desensitized form of the enzyme similar to that obtained with the carbethoxylation reaction.

Identification of functional domains in AMPD1 by mutational analysis

AMP deaminase (AMPD) is a complex allosteric enzyme encoded by a multigene family in higher eukaryotes. The amino terminus of each AMPD gene is unique, while the mild and carboxy termini have been highly conserved among all the AMPD genes. Mutational analyses of the AMPD1 gene demonstrate that the catalytic site and a regulatory site, likely an ATP binding site, are located in the highly conserved carboxy terminus. Deletion mutants and a normal splice variant of AMPD1 demonstrate that the amino terminus has a profound influence on catalytic activity of AMPD and by inference from prior studies this region also influences binding of AMPD1 to myosin. Results of these studies suggest a regulatory model in which alternative splicing in the amino terminal region of AMPD1 generates isoforms of AMPD that exhibit differential sensitivity to effector molecules such as ATP.

Evidence of a species-differentiated regulatory domain within the N-terminal region of skeletal muscle AMP deaminase

Rabbit skeletal muscle AMP deaminase was submitted to limited proteolysis by trypsin that converts the native 80 kDa enzyme subunit to a stable product of approx. 70 kDa, which, in contrast to the native enzyme, is not sensitive to regulation by ATP at pH 6.5. Tryptic peptide mapping indicates that proteolysis is confined to the N-terminal region of the molecule, identifying in this region of AMP deaminase a non-catalytic, 95 residue regulatory domain that stabilises the binding of ATP to a distant site in the molecule. Protein sequence analysis reveals a marked degree of divergence between rat and rabbit skeletal muscle AMP deaminases in the regions containing residues 7-12 and 51-52, giving molecular basis to the hypothesis of the existence of isoenzymes of AMP deaminase in the mature skeletal muscle of the mammals.

Electrostatic potential surfaces of the transition state for AMP deaminase and for (R)-coformycin, a transition state inhibitor

The transition state for the hydrolysis of AMP by AMP deaminase has been characterized by heavy atom kinetic isotope effects (Merkler, D.J., Kline, P.C., Weiss, P., and Schramm, V.L. (1993) Biochemistry 32, 12993-13001). The experimentally established transition state includes a bond order of 0.8 to the attacking water nucleophile, a full bond order to the exocyclic 6-amino group, rehybridization of C-6 of the purine ring to sp3 and protonation of N-1 by Glu633. The transition state is one the path to formation of an unstable tetrahedral intermediate in which the exocyclic amine undergoes rapid protonation followed by its departure. In this mechanism, the highest energetic barrier on the reaction coordinate is the attack of the zinc-activated water. In a further test of this transition state structure, the electrostatic potential surface for the purine ring of the transition state has been determined by molecular orbital calculations and compared to that of the base of (R)-coformycin 5'-monophosphate, a slow onset, tight binding inhibitor of AMP deaminase that binds with an overall dissociation constant of 10(-11) M. The electrostatic potential surfaces of the aglycones of the transition state and (R)-coformycin are compared to the adenine ring of the substrate and to an alternative transition state structure in which the transition state is late, with fully bonded hydroxyl and fully protonated exocyclic amine. The results indicate a near-match of the electrostatic potential surfaces for the early transition state and (R)-coformycin. The electrostatic nature of the late transition state with a protonated amine leaving group differs both from the transition state determine by kinetic isotope effects and from that of (R)-coformycin analogues. The results provide evidence that the nature of the enzyme-stabilized transition state for adenine deamination involves an early transition state with a partially bonded hydroxyl group. The observed tight binding inhibition by (R)-coformycin analogues as transition state inhibitors results from the similarity of the partial charges on the inhibitors to that of the enzymatic transition state stabilized by AMP deaminase.

Transition-state analysis of AMP deaminase

The transition state of the allosteric AMP deaminase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been characterized by 14C and 15N Vmax/Km heavy-atom kinetic isotope effects. The primary 6-14C isotope effect was measured with [6-14C]AMP, and the 6-15N primary isotope effect was measured by isotope ratio mass spectrometry using the natural abundance of 15N in AMP and by using 15N release from ATP as a slow substrate. Isotope effects for AMP as the substrate were measured in the presence and absence of ATP as an allosteric activator and GTP as an allosteric inhibitor. Kinetic isotope effects with [6-14C]AMP were 1.030 +/- 0.003, 1.038 +/- 0.004, and 1.042 +/- 0.003 in the absence of effectors and in the presence of ATP and GTP, respectively. Isotope effects for [6-15N]AMP averaged 1.010 +/- 0.002. Allosteric activation increased the 15N isotope effect to 1.016 +/- 0.003. A primary 15N kinetic isotope effect with ATP, which has a Vmax/Km 10(-6) that for AMP, was 1.013 +/- 0.001. The presence of D2O as solvent caused a marginally significant decrease in the [6-15N]AMP kinetic isotope effect from 1.011 +/- 0.001 to 1.007 +/- 0.002. Previous studies have established that the solvent D2O effect is inverse (0.34) for slow substrates with two or more protons transferred prior to transition state formation and remains inverse (0.79) with AMP as substrate [Merkler, D. J., & Schramm, V. L. (1993) Biochemistry 32, 5792-5799]. Bond vibrational analysis was used to identify transition states for AMP deaminase that are consistent with all kinetic isotope effects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

AMP-deaminase from human uterine smooth muscle: the effect of DTNB treatment on kinetic and regulatory properties of the enzyme

Reactivity of sulfhydryl groups of human uterine smooth muscle AMP-deaminase with DTNB, and the effect of their chemical modification on kinetic and regulatory properties of the enzyme were investigated. (1), Approx. 7 and 5 sulfhydryl groups per mol of the enzyme have been shown to be accessible for DTNB (5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid)) titration in denaturated and native AMP-deaminase, respectively. (2), Titrated groups were not homogenous; some of them reacted with DTNB much faster than others. (3), The activity of the modified enzyme was very low, and the modified enzyme manifested unusual hyperbolic saturation kinetics with the substrate. (4), Exhaustive dialysis against a buffer containing 10 mM thioethanol reactivated the modified enzyme, and restored its original regulatory properties. Experimental results obtained indicate that modified sulfhydryl groups play a significant role in the maintenance of the proper, catalytically-efficient conformation of the enzyme.

Catalytic mechanism of yeast adenosine 5'-monophosphate deaminase. Zinc content, substrate specificity, pH studies, and solvent isotope effects

Adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP) deaminase from baker's yeast is an allosteric enzyme containing a single AMP binding site and two ATP regulatory sites per polypeptide [Merkler, D. J., & Schramm, V. L. (1990) J. Biol Chem. 265, 4420-4426]. The enzyme contains 0.98 +/- 0.17 zinc atom per subunit. The X-ray crystal structure for mouse adenosine deaminase shows zinc in contact with the attacking water nucleophile using purine riboside as a transition-state inhibitor [Wilson, D. K., Rudolph, F. B., & Quiocho, F. A. (1991) Science 252, 1278-1284]. Alignment of the amino acid sequence for yeast AMP deaminase with that for mouse adenosine deaminase demonstrates conservation of the amino acids known from the X-ray crystal structure to bind to the zinc and to a transition-state analogue. On the basis of these similarities, yeast AMP deaminase is also proposed to use a Zn(2+)-activated water molecule to attack C6 of AMP with the displacement of NH3. The pKm and pKi profiles for AMP and a competitive inhibitor overlap in a bell-shaped curve with pKa values of 7.0 and 7.4. This pattern is characteristic of a rapid equilibrium between AMP and the enzyme, thus confirming the rapid equilibrium random kinetic patterns [Merkler, D. J., Wali, A. S., Taylor, J., Schramm, V. L. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 21422-21430]. The Vmax of the reaction requires one unprotonated and one protonated group with pKa values of 6.4 +/- 0.2 and 7.7 +/- 0.3, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The interaction of phospholipid bilayers with pig heart AMP deaminase: Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopic and kinetic studies

The interaction of pig heart AMP deaminase with different chemical species of phosphatidylcholine and with natural plasma membranes has been investigated. Phospholipids added to the system either as natural biological membranes (plasma membrane vesicles) or in the form of liposomes containing unsaturated phosphatidylcholine considerably enhanced AMP deaminase activity. The secondary structure of pig heart AMP deaminase in the absence and in the presence of dioleoyl phosphatidylcholine and dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine liposomes was investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Quantitative analysis of the amide I band showed that the enzyme contains 45% beta-sheets, 28% alpha-helix, 16% turns and 11% non-ordered structure. In the presence of dioleoyl phosphatidylcholine liposomes, the beta/alpha content ratio decreased; this decrease was dependent on the amount of lipid added. This phenomenon was not observed in the case of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine liposomes. These data suggest a possible role for membrane phospholipids in the regulation of AMP deaminase activity.

Mutagenic analysis of AMP nucleosidase from Escherichia coli. Deletion of a region similar to AMP deaminase and peptide characterization by mass spectrometry

AMP nucleosidase (EC 3.2.2.4) from Escherichia coli and AMP deaminase (EC 3.5.4.6) from bakers' yeast are proposed to regulate cellular AMP levels under allosteric control of the activator ATP and the inhibitor, PO4. Both enzymes contain catalytic sites which bind AMP and regulatory sites which bind ATP. The deduced amino acid sequences of the proteins revealed only one region of homology in which six of eight amino acids are identical. A similar sequence is found in glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, phoE, ras proteins, RNA polymerase, K(+)-ATPase, nucleolin, and other proteins expected to have nucleotide or phosphate binding properties. In the crystal structure of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, this sequence is part of the NAD(+)-binding site. The function of these amino acids was explored with a deletion mutant of AMP nucleosidase. The protein was over-produced in a pTZ construct using the AMP nucleosidase promoter which resulted in approximately 30% of the total protein as the desired enzyme. The mutation was characterized by DNA sequence analysis and by direct analysis of the peptides using high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Deletion of amino acids 128-135, corresponding to DGSELTLD, produced an enzyme with a 20-fold decrease in Vmax but with smaller changes in substrate saturation kinetics, activation by MgATP, inhibition by inorganic phosphate, and inhibition by the tight-binding inhibitor, formycin 5-phosphate. The deletion mutant of AMP nucleosidase exhibits hysteresis in establishing a steady-state rate of product formation which is most pronounced in the absence of MgATP. These results establish that the sequence DGSELTLD in E. coli AMP nucleosidase is not required for binding of AMP, MgATP, or inorganic phosphate. However, the mutant enzyme has a structural defect related to the polymerization state which delays the onset of catalysis and decreases the catalytic efficiency.

AMP deaminase histochemical activity and immunofluorescent isozyme localization in rat skeletal muscle

The cellular distribution of AMP deaminase (AMPda) isozymes was documented for rat soleus and plantaris muscles, utilizing immunofluorescence microscopy and immunoprecipitation methods. AMPda is a ubiquitous enzyme existing as three distinct isozymes, A, B and C, which were initially purified from skeletal muscle, liver (and kidney), and heart, respectively. AMPda-A is primarily concentrated subsarcolemmally and intermyofibrillarly within muscle cells, while isozymes B and C are concentrated within non-myofiber elements of muscle tissue. AMPda-B is principally associated with connective tissues surrounding neural elements and the muscle spindle capsule, and AMPda-C is predominantly associated with circulatory elements, such as arterial and venous walls, capillary endothelium, and red blood cells. These specific localizations, combined with documented differences in kinetic properties, suggest multiple functional roles for the AMPda isozymes or temporal segregation of similar AMPda functions. Linkage of the AMPda substrate with adenosine production pathways at the AMP level and the localization of isozyme-C in vascular tissue suggest a regulatory role in the microcirculation.

Molecular forms of human heart muscle AMP deaminase

Chromatography on phosphocellulose revealed the presence of two, kinetically different forms of human heart AMP deaminase. The main portion of the activity eluted from the column at about 1.1 M KCl, and the enzyme present in this eluate manifested a sigmoidal type of substrate saturation kinetics. The results from gel filtration indicate that human heart AMP deaminase is a tetrameric protein capable of aggregating in more complex active structures.

Purification and characterization of developmentally regulated AMP deaminase from Dictyostelium discoideum

AMP deaminase, the enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of adenosine monophosphate (AMP) to inosine monophosphate (IMP) and ammonia, was purified from the cellular slime mold, Dictyostelium discoideum in the nutrient-deprived state. The native enzyme had an apparent molecular weight of 199,000 daltons. Its apparent Km was 1.6 mM and its Vmax was 1.0 mumol min-1 mg-1, as measured by the release of IMP From AMP. The enzyme, like other AMP deaminases, was found to be activated by ATP, and inhibited either by GTP or inorganic phosphate. It was also specific for the deamination of AMP. Deaminase activity was increased either when vegetative cells were placed in a nutrient-deprived medium (for up to 6 h) or when vegetative cells were treated with the drug hadacidin. In cells actively growing in complete media, enzyme activity was more non-specific, hydrolyzing adenosine as well as AMP. AMP deaminase in D. discoideum appears to be stage-specific and developmentally regulated, possibly serving to regulate the adenylated nucleotide pool and the interconversion to guanylated nucleotides during early morphodifferentiation.