Photoinactivation of the Staphylococcus aureus Lactose-Specific EIICB Phosphotransferase Component with p-azidophenyl-ß-D-Galactoside and Phosphorylation of the Covalently Bound Substrate.

BACKGROUND: The phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP):lactose phosphotransferase system of Staphylococcus aureus transports and phosphorylates lactose and various phenylgalactosides. Their phosphorylation is catalyzed by the Cys476-phosphorylated EIIB domain of the lactose-specific permease enzyme IICB (EIICBLac). Phosphorylation causes the release of galactosides bound to the EIIC domain into the cytoplasm by a mechanism not yet understood. RESULTS: Irradiation of a reaction mixture containing the photoactivatable p-azidophenyl-ß-D-galactopyranoside and EIICBLac with UV light caused a loss of EIICBLac activity. Nevertheless, photoinactivated EIICBLac could still be phosphorylated with [32P]PEP. Proteolysis of photoinactivated [32P]P-EIICBLac with subtilisin provided an 11-kDa radioactive peptide. Only the sequence of its first three amino acids (-H-G-P-, position 245-247) could be determined. They are part of the substrate binding pocket in EIICs of the lactose/cellobiose PTS family. Surprisingly, while acid treatment caused hydrolysis of the phosphoryl group in active [32P]P∼EIICBLac, photoinactivated [32P]P-EIICBLac remained strongly phosphorylated. CONCLUSION: Phosphorylation of the -OH group at C6 of p-nitrenephenyl-ß-D-galactopyranoside covalently bound to EIICLac by the histidyl-phosphorylated [32P]P∼EIIBLac domain is a likely explanation for the observed acid resistance. Placing p-nitrenephenyl-ß-D-galactopyranoside into the active site of modelled EIICLac suggested that the nitrene binds to the -NH- group of Ser248, which would explain why no sequence data beyond Pro247could be obtained.

A conserved glutamine plays a central role in LOV domain signal transmission and its duration.

Light is a key stimulus for plant biological functions, several of which are controlled by light-activated kinases known as phototropins, a group of kinases that contain two light-sensing domains (LOV, light-oxygen-voltage domains) and a C-terminal serine/threonine kinase domain. The second sensory domain, LOV2, plays a key role in regulating kinase enzymatic activity via the photochemical formation of a covalent adduct between a LOV2 cysteine residue and an internally bound flavin mononucleotide (FMN) chromophore. Subsequent conformational changes in LOV2 lead to the unfolding of a peripheral Jalpha helix and, ultimately, phototropin kinase activation. To date, the mechanism coupling bond formation and helix dissociation has remained unclear. Previous studies found that a conserved glutamine residue [Q513 in the Avena sativa phototropin 1 LOV2 (AsLOV2) domain] switches its hydrogen bonding pattern with FMN upon light stimulation. Located in the immediate vicinity of the FMN binding site, this Gln residue is provided by the Ibeta strand that interacts with the Jalpha helix, suggesting a route for signal propagation from the core of the LOV domain to its peripheral Jalpha helix. To test whether Q513 plays a key role in tuning the photochemical and transduction properties of AsLOV2, we designed two point mutations, Q513L and Q513N, and monitored the effects on the chromophore and protein using a combination of UV-visible absorbance and circular dichroism spectroscopy, limited proteolysis, and solution NMR. The results show that these mutations significantly dampen the changes between the dark and lit state AsLOV2 structures, leaving the protein in a pseudodark state (Q513L) or a pseudolit state (Q513N). Further, both mutations changed the photochemical properties of this receptor, in particular the lifetime of the photoexcited signaling states. Together, these data establish that this residue plays a central role in both spectral tuning and signal propagation from the core of the LOV domain through the Ibeta strand to the peripheral Jalpha helix.

Differential activation of kinases in ex vivo and in vivo irradiated mice lymphocytes.

Various kinases, such as tyrosine, protein kinase C (PKC) and MAP kinase, play important role in the cellular response to radiation, but little is known about the specific response in the whole animal. Most studies, except a few, are based on single cells. There is a paucity of data where signaling following whole body irradiation is concerned. In this study a comparison has been made between the activities of these kinases following ex vivo and in vivo irradiation. Tyrosine kinase activity showed no difference in the lymphocytes irradiated ex vivo or in vivo. A significant differential dose-dependent response could be observed in PKC activity. PKC was seen to be activated at the higher dose, i.e., 1 Gy in, in vivo irradiated lymphocytes, whereas in ex vivo irradiated lymphocytes, PKC was seen to be activated at the lower dose, i.e., 0.1 Gy. MAP kinase activity was seen to decrease with an increasing dose in ex vivo irradiated lymphocytes. In vivo MAP kinase activity was seen to increase as the dose increased, with maximum activation at 3 Gy. These kinases are being used to manipulate the tumor response to radiotherapy. Thus it is essential to study the behavior of the above kinases in the whole animal because the difference in response of a single cell to the whole animal may be different.

Purification and characterization of a probable light receptor with kinase activity from beet root plasma membranes.

A 120-kDa glycoprotein was found in beet root (Beta vulgaris L.) plasma membranes. This protein could be phosphorylated in a Ca2+-independent manner. Its carbohydrate moiety was composed of both O-linked galactose-beta(1-3)-N-acetylgalactosamine disaccharides (which bind peanut agglutinin) and N-linked concanavalin A (ConA)-binding oligosaccharides. The phosphorylation of this protein was rapid, half-saturated with 6 microM ATP and higher at alkaline pH values. This protein was phosphorylated more efficiently with Mn-ATP as substrate than with Mg-ATP. This phosphorylation increased when plasma membranes were illuminated with low-fluence blue light, a fact suggesting that the 120-kDa glycoprotein could be similar to phototropin: a blue-light photoreceptor involved in phototropism. This protein was purified using a ConA-Sepharose column. The phosphorylation of the purified protein could be observed, but it was much lower than that of the 120-kDa protein in plasma membranes. In addition, it was not enhanced by light. Some possible explanations for this photosensitivity loss are discussed.

Transferrin binding of bone marrow cells and metabolic activity of erythrocytes after 5 Gy irradiation.

The effect of total body irradiation (5 Gy) on functional mouse erythroid lineage has been studied. The transferrin binding capacity by bone marrow cells and the activity of glycolytic regulatory enzymes and intracellular levels of 2,3 bisphosphoglycerate in peripheral blood erythrocytes have been determined. Results obtained along one year post-irradiation period suggest a complete recovery in the erythroid cell lineage with respect to the biological endpoints investigated.

A residue substitution in phosphoribulokinase of Synechocystis PCC 6803 renders the mutant light-sensitive.

We have isolated a light-sensitive mutant (BRLS) of the photosynthetic cyanobacterium Synechocystis 6803 (S. 6803) that does not survive exposure to bright light: 70% of BRLS cells die upon exposure to light of greater than 3,000 lux for 2 h. A complementing DNA fragment from wild-type cells and the corresponding DNA from the BRLS cells have been cloned and sequenced. An open reading frame is found to encode phosphoribulokinase, a key enzyme in the enzyme system for photosynthetic carbon reduction (ES-PCR). The deduced peptide sequence of this enzyme is highly homologous to eukaryotic phosphoribulokinases but is not similar to known prokaryotic phosphoribulokinases. The mutation responsible for the phenotype of BRLS is a single nucleotide change that results in substitution of phenylalanine for Ser-222 in the phosphoribulokinase. The catalytic activity and the apparent affinity for ATP of the mutated kinase are about one-tenth and one-seventh those of the wild-type kinase, respectively. Furthermore, the mutated kinase is selectively degraded in BRLS cells in bright light. Degradation of the mutated kinase and cell death in bright light can be suppressed by inhibiting photosynthetic electron flow (PS-EF) with 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea. The data indicate that PS-EF is not impeded by an impaired ES-PCR although the ES-PCR activity is controlled by the rate of PS-EF. Continued PS-EF in the absence of the normal substrates for carbon reduction appears to result in damage to cellular components essential for life or in the generation of lethal components.

Light-dependent ATP synthesis in mitochondria.

Light-dependent ATP synthesis was studied in an illuminated suspension of rat liver mitochondria. The action of light was shown to lead to an increase in the ATP content in the absence of oxidisable substrates and in the presence of high (hundreds of microM) ADP concentrations in the medium. At a relatively low (50 microM) ADP concentration, efficient light-dependent phosphorylation was observed in the presence of alpha-ketoglutarate. Prolonged illumination stimulated ATP hydrolysis. Rotenone, antimycin, azide, dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, and oligomycin inhibited the light-dependent phosphorylation almost completely. The level of ATP decreased under the action of 2,4-dinitrophenol in the dark but was restored by high light intensities. Blue light, 436 nm, was most efficient to produce light-dependent phosphorylation. It is assumed that quanta of vibrational excitation formed in the course of vibrational relaxation and the internal conversion of photoexcited flavoproteins and cytochromes are transferred to the ATP-synthetase and "eject" ATP from the active center, thus shifting the enzymatic reaction to ATP production.

Rapid light-induced changes in phosphoinositide kinases and H(+)-ATPase in plasma membrane of sunflower hypocotyls.

Irradiation of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. cv. Russian Mammoth) hypocotyls with white light resulted in a 51% decrease in plasma membrane phosphatidylinositol monophosphate (PIP) kinase activity. As little as 10 s of white light irradiation was sufficient to lower the phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate (PIP2) produced in the in vitro phosphorylation assay. This decrease was not caused by an increase in phospholipase C activity since analysis of the water-soluble products indicated no increase in inositol bisphosphate or inositol trisphosphate. Treatment of the plasma membrane with 200 microM vanadate prior to phosphorylation enhanced the PIP kinase and appeared to overcome the light inhibition. In addition to decreasing the PIP kinase activity, light irradiation resulted in a corresponding decrease in the H(+)-ATPase activity to 53% of the dark control values. The plasma membrane ATPase activity increased approximately 2-fold when PIP or PIP2 was added to the isolated membranes. Thus, effects of external stimuli on the level of plasma membrane PIP or PIP2 could affect plasma membrane ATPase activity directly and thereby provide an alternative mechanism for control of cell growth.

Altered molecular size of N-acetylglucosamine 1-phosphotransferase in I-cell disease and pseudo-Hurler polydystrophy.

The size of the mutant N-acetylglucosamine 1-phosphotransferase in Golgi membranes from fibroblasts of patients with I-cell disease and classical pseudo-Hurler polydystrophy, which comprised one complementation group characterized by deficiency towards both artificial and natural acceptor substrates, was significantly smaller than the normal enzyme, 151-174 kDa compared with 225-278 kDa. The size of the mutant enzyme from cell lines of patients with variant forms of pseudo-Hurler polydystrophy, which comprised another complementation group characterized by normal activity towards mono- and oligo-saccharide substrates, was significantly larger than the normal enzyme, ranging from 321 to 356 kDa in two families and from 528 to 547 kDa in a third family. These findings suggest that the mutations in I-cell disease and classical pseudo-Hurler polydystrophy result in a missing enzyme component, which renders the enzyme catalytically inefficient toward any type of acceptor substrate. In contrast, the mutations in the variant forms of pseudo-Hurler polydystrophy produce a larger enzyme molecule which is active toward small substrates but is incapable of binding natural lysosomal glycoprotein substrates.

Molecular size of N-acetylglucosaminylphosphotransferase and alpha-N-acetylglucosaminyl phosphodiesterase as determined in situ in Golgi membranes by radiation inactivation.

The radiation inactivation method was used to determine the molecular size of the two enzymes that participate in the synthesis of the phosphomannosyl recognition marker of lysosomal proteins. The determinations were carried out in situ, in Golgi membranes isolated from normal human placenta and cultured skin fibroblasts. A molecular size of 228 +/- 29 kDa was found for placental N-acetylglucosaminyl-phosphotransferase, and 129 +/- 11 kDa for placental alpha-N-acetylglucosaminyl phosphodiesterase. The values for the fibroblast enzymes were about 20% higher, 283 +/- 27 kDa and 156 +/- 14 kDa for the transferase and phosphodiesterase respectively. Triton X-100 had no effect on the molecular size of these enzymes.

Purification and characterization of ribulose-5-phosphate kinase from spinach.

An efficient purification procedure utilizing affinity chromatography is described for spinach ribulose-5-phosphate kinase, a light-regulated chloroplastic enzyme. Gel filtration and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified enzyme reveal a dimeric structure of 44,000 Mr subunits. Chemical crosslinking with dimethyl suberimidate confirms the presence of two subunits per molecule of native kinase, which are shown to be identical by partial NH2-terminal sequencing. Based on sulfhydryl titrations and on amino acid analyses, each subunit contains four to five cysteinyl residues. The observed slow loss of activity during spontaneous oxidation in air-saturated buffer correlates with the intramolecular oxidation of two sulfhydryl groups, presumably those involved in thioredoxin-mediated regulation.

[Nucleoside mono- and nucleoside diphosphate kinase activities in rat liver and brain in radiation sickness]. / Nukleozidmono- i nukleoziddifosfatkinaznaia aktivnost' pecheni i golovnogo mozga krys pri luchevoi bolezni.

Activity of nucleoside di- and nucleoside triphosphates metabolism enzymes in tissues of rats gamma-irradiated by a dose of 30 Gy was studied 0.5, 1, 3, 6 and 24 hours after the radiation effect. It is shown that the nucleoside monophosphate kinase activity of the liver and brain is enhanced almost at all stages of the studies and the nucleoside diphosphate kinase activity is inhibited. A significant but reversible decrease of the nucleoside monophosphate kinase activity is observed in the liver 3 h later. By an end of the first day after irradiation the nucleoside mono- and nucleoside diphosphate kinase activities increase significantly both in the liver and brain.

[Adenylate kinase activity of the blood of irradiated rats]. / Aktivnost' adenilatkinazy v krovi obluchennykh krys.

The direct and reverse adenylate kinase reactions were studied in blood of rats 1, 3, 7, 15 and 30 days after total X-ray irradiation with a dose of 154.8 mC/kg (600 R) dose. It is found out that adenylate kinase (CE 2.7.4.3) activity in leucocytes and erythrocytes is inhibited on the 3d, 7th and 15th days of the study. Inhibition of the reverse adenylate kinase reaction is pronounced to a greater extent than that of the direct one. The adenylate kinase of erythrocytes is more stable to the effect of ionizing radiations as compared to this enzyme of leucocytes. When the enzymic activity in the blood cells is inhibited, the activity of the direct adenylate kinase reaction in the serum increases significantly and that of the reverse one remains unchanged.

Immobilization of microbial cells containing NAD-kinase.

Microbial cells having NAD-kinase activity, Brevibacterium ammoniagenes, were immobilized by the radiation-copolymerization method under low temperature with the activity recovery of more than 80%. Compared to the native microbial cells the immobilized cells were more stable against heat and pH change. The immobilized cells were subjected to the 5 hr reaction repeatedly 20 times without any activity loss.

Influence of light on activity of adenylate kinase and pterin-protein complexes from pea chloroplasts.

The activity of adenylate kinase (AK) and of pterin-protein complexes (PPC), whose proteins have adenylate kinase activity comparable to that of the enzyme was studied. It was established that light inhibits adenylate kinase activity and that this effect is partially eliminated by phosphate ions. The forward and reverse reactions catalyzed by AK and PPC were studied and it was found that the activity of native protein complexes is different in the forward and reverse reactions. The thermostable protein both of adenylate kinase and of the pterin-protein complexes had identical activity in the ADP dismutation and the reverse reaction.

Photochemical studies and ultraviolet sensitization of Escherichia coli thymidylate kinase by various halogenated substrate analogs.

The effect of 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine monophosphate (IdUMP), various 5-halogenated-5'-azido-2', 5' -dideoxyuridine derivatives, 2'-deoxy-6-azauridine (AzdUrd), and its halogenated analogs on the ultraviolet sensitization of Escherichia coli thymidylate kinase has been investigated. Only those compounds iodinated in position 5 enhance the rate of ultraviolet inactivation of this enzyme. However, 5'-azido nucleosides with iodo, bromo, chloro, or fluoro substituents in position 5 neither protect nor sensitize thymidylate kinase to ultraviolet inactivation. Thymidine 5'-monophosphate partially protects the enzyme against ultraviolet inactivation either in the presence or absence of ultraviolet-sensitizing iodinated analogs. Magnesium ion does not enhance the ultraviolet inactivation of thymidylate kinase by 5-iodinated nucleoside analogs. The kinatic data support an active site-directed enhancement of the enzyme to ultraviolet inactivation by 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine monophosphate, since the concentration of IdUMP required to attain 50% maximal enhancement is 0.24 mM which is in good agreement with its Ki of 0.18 mM. When either [125I]IdUMP or [2-14C]IdUMP was irradiated with the enzyme, both radioactivities were associated with the enzyme, however only with the 14C analog was the amount bound at half-saturation essentially equal to the amount required to inactivate the enzyme by 50%. These data support the hypothesis that the active entity in the enhancement by IdUMP of thymidylate kinase inactivation during ultraviolet irradiation is the uridylate free radical which is formed photochemically from IdUMP. Photochemical studies of 6-azauracil (AzUra), 2'-deoxy-6-azauridine, and 5-iodo-2'-deoxy-6-azauridine (IAzdUrd) were performed. Photolysis of IAzdUrd in the presence of a hydrogen donor yields AzdUrd which upon further photolysis yields the photohydrate. The photohydrate of AzdUrd when incubated in the dark at pH 5.2 is 90% converted back to AzdUrd, whereas the photohydrate of AzUra is only partially (20%) converted to AzUra. The rate of deiodination of IAzdUrd is 2.1-fold greater than that of IdUMP. Although the Ki of IdUMP and IAzdUrd is similar, the increased photosensitivity of the aza analog accounts for the much greater enhancement of ultraviolet inactivation of thymidylate kinase. The ability of a compound to enhance the ultraviolet inactivation of deoxythymidylate kinase is correlated with the potential of the compound to produce a free radical rather than a photohydrate when the enzyme-substrate analog complex is irradiated.

Measure of enzymatic activity coincident with 2450 MHz microwave exposure.

Enzyme preparations were exposed to microwave radiation at 2450 MHz and enzymatic activity was simultaneously monitored spectrophotometrically with a crossed-beam exposure detection system. Enzymes studied were glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase from human red blood cells and yeast, adenylate kinase from rat liver mitochondria and rabbit muscle, and rat liver microsomal NADPH cytochrome c reductase. No difference was found between the specific activity at 25 degrees C of unirradiated controls and enzyme preparations irradiated at an absorbed dose rate of 42 W/kg.