Preliminary crystallographic investigation of rabbit liver aldolase.

Rabbit liver aldolase was purified by affinity elution on a CM52 ion exchanger. Crystals of rabbit liver aldolase suitable for X-ray diffraction experiments were grown from 45% saturated ammonium sulfate solution at 4 degrees C. The enzyme crystallizes in space group C222(1) having cell dimensions a = 377.02 A, b = 130.35 A, c = 80.04 A and diffracts to at least 3.5 A resolution. On the basis of a 55% solvent content there are eight aldolase tetramers in the unit cell. Rotational symmetry analysis to 6.7 A is consistent with the aldolase tetramers having a high degree of internal symmetry corresponding to point group 222. The crystallized enzyme is catalytically active.

Sequential radiation damage in protein crystallography.

Radiation damage in protein crystals is described in terms of a sequential process of protein disordering. A new radiation-damage model has been tested against data from several protein crystals and can describe radiation damage corresponding to loss of the original intensity in excess of 80%. The model is an extension of previous models which characterize radiation damage in terms of successive conformational transitions of the protein from an undamaged to a spatially disordered to finally an amorphous state. The proposed model provides a more-general positional characterization of the disordered protein and includes, prior to the disordered state, a new dose-dependent state in which the protein conformation resembles the undamaged protein. Comparison of this model with the best previous model shows that the proposed model provides an improved fit to radiation-damage data.

Protein crystallization in low gravity by step gradient diffusion method.

Two-step crystallization experiments were conducted in low gravity employing a liquid-liquid diffusion method in an effort to eliminate problems associated with protein crystal growth under the supersaturating conditions required for nucleation. Experiments were performed in diffusion cells formed by the sliding of blocks on orbit. Step gradient diffusion experiments consisted of first exposing protein solutions in diffusion half-wells for brief periods to initiating buffer solutions of high precipitant concentrations to induce nucleation followed by expoure of the same protein solutions to solutions of lower precepitant concentration to promote growth of induced nuclei into crystals. To avoid convective disturbances that occur when solutions of discrepant densities are interfaced at normal gravity, crystallization of hen egg-white lysozyme and rabbit skeletal muscle aldolase by step gradient diffusion was investigated in low gravity on four NASA space shuttle flights. In general, the largest ctystals of both proteins formed at the highest initiating precipitant concentration used, which is consistent with nuclei formation upon brief exposure to high precipitant concentration, and that these nuclei are competent for sustained growth at lower precipitant concentration. The two-step approach dissociates nucleation events from crystal growth allowing parameters affecting nucleation kinetics such as time, precipitant concentration and temperature of nucleation to be varied separately from conditions used for post-nucleation growth.

Purification and characterization of thermostable beta-mannanase and alpha-galactosidase from Bacillus stearothermophilus.

Bacillus stearothermophilus secretes beta-mannanase and alpha-galactosidase enzymatic activities capable of hydrolyzing galactomannan substrates. Expression of the hemicellulase activities in the presence of locust bean gum was sequential, with mannanase activity preceding expression of alpha-galactosidase activity. The hemicellulase activities were purified to homogeneity by a combination of ammonium sulfate fractionation, gel filtration, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, and ion-exchange and chromatofocusing techniques. The purified beta-D-mannanase is a dimeric enzyme (162 kilodaltons) composed of subunits having identical molecular weight (73,000). Maximal activity did not vary between pH 5.5 and 7.5. The beta-D-mannanase activity exhibited thermostability, retaining nearly full activity after incubation for 24 h at 70 degrees C and pH 6.5. The enzyme displayed high specificity for galactomannan substrates, with no-secondary xylanase or cellulase activity detected. Hydrolysis of locust bean gum yielded short oligosaccharides compatible with an endo mode of substrate depolymerization. Initial rate velocities of the mannanase activity displayed substrate inhibition and yielded estimates for Vmax and Km of 455 +/- 60 U/mg and 1.5 +/- 0.3 mg/ml, respectively, at 70 degrees C and pH 6.5. The alpha-galactosidase activity corresponded to a trimeric enzyme (247 kilodaltons) having subunits of identical molecular weight (82,000). The alpha-galactosidase had maximal activity at pH 7 to 7.5 and retained full activity after 24 h of incubation at 60 degrees C. The enzyme had only limited activity on galactomannan substrates as compared with hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl alpha-D-galactose. Kinetics of p-nitrophenyl alpha-D-galactose hydrolysis yielded linear reciprocal plots corresponding to Vmax and Km of 195 +/- 10 U/mg and 0.25 +/- 0.02 mM, respectively, at 60 degrees C and pH 7. The characterization of the mannanase activity is consistent with its potential use in enzymatic bleaching of softwood pulps.

Phosphate ion inactivation of rabbit skeletal muscle aldolase in the crystalline state.

Catalytically active crystals of rabbit skeletal muscle aldolase are inactivated by phosphate ion and D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate. Four moles of phosphate are incorporated per mole of tetrameric enzyme. The inactivation rates are first order in time and demonstrate saturation behaviour. Competition inactivation experiments are consistent with the two substrates competing for the same site on the enzyme. Protection is afforded by substrates binding to the active site on the enzyme. No phosphate inactivation is observed in solution under identical experimental conditions and D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate inactivation in solution is unaffected by phosphate ion concentrations. Inactivation by phosphate is apparently due to an unique enzyme conformation stabilized upon protein crystallization.

Purification and Characterization of Three Chitosanase Activities from Bacillus megaterium P1.

Bacillus megaterium P1, a bacterial strain capable of hydrolyzing chitosan, was isolated from soil samples. Chitosan-degrading activity was induced by chitosan but not by its constituent d-glucosamine. Extracellular secretion of chitosanase reached levels corresponding to 1 U/ml under optimal conditions. Three chitosan-degrading proteins (chitosanases A, B, and C) were purified to homogeneity. Chitosanase A (43 kilodaltons) was highly specific for chitosan and represented the major chitosan-hydrolyzing species. Chitosanases B (39.5 kilodaltons) and C (22 kilodaltons) corresponded to minor activities and possessed comparable specific activities toward chitosan, chitin, and cellulose. Chitosanase A was active from pH 4.5 to 6.5 and was stable on the basis of activity up to 45 degrees C. The optimum temperature for enzymatic chitosan hydrolysis was 50 degrees C. Kinetic studies on chitosanase A suggest that the enzyme is substrate inhibited. The apparent K(m) and V(max) determined at 22 degrees C and pH 5.6 were 0.8 mg/ml and 280 U/mg, respectively. End products of chitosan hydrolysis by each of the three chitosanases were identified as glucosamine oligomers, similar to those obtained for previously reported chitosanase digestions.

Molecular cloning, expression, purification, and characterization of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase from Thermus aquaticus.

Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase from the thermophilic eubacteria, Thermus aquaticus YT-1, was cloned and sequenced. Nucleotide-sequence analysis revealed an open reading frame coding for a 33-kDa protein of 305 amino acids having amino acid sequence typical of thermophilic adaptation. Multiple sequence alignment classifies the enzyme as a class II B aldolase that shares similarity with aldolases from other extremophiles: Thermotoga maritima, Aquifex aeolicus, and Helicobacter pylori (49--54% identity, 76--81% homology). Taq FBP aldolase was overexpressed under tac promoter control in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity using heat treatment followed by two chromatographic steps. Yields of 40--50 mg of monodisperse protein were obtained per liter of culture. The quaternary structure is that of a homotetramer stabilized by an apparent 21-amino-acid insertion sequence. The recombinant protein is thermostable for at least 45 min at 80 degrees C with little residual activity below 60 degrees C. Kinetic characterization at 70 degrees C, the optimal growth temperature for T. aquaticus, indicates extreme negative subunit cooperativity (h = 0.32) with a limiting K(m) of 305 microM. The maximal specific activity (V(max)) is 46 U/mg at 70 degrees C.

Subunit interaction in mammalian aldolases.

Enzyme inactivation was utilized to study subunit interaction in the homotetrameric glycolytic enzyme, aldolase. Isoenzymes from rabbit liver and skeletal muscle were inactivated in the presence of Pi and d-glyceraldehyde-P to a maximum stoichiometry of one modification per aldolase subunit. Subunit modification increased net negative charge on each subunit surface and was used to resolve modified aldolase isoenzymes into various chromatographic species. A combination of anion-(Mono Q) and cation- (Mono S) exchange chromatography separated the modified aldolase homotetramers into three distinct enzyme populations: unchanged enzyme, fully modified enzyme corresponding to one ligand molecule incorporated per subunit and partially modified enzyme in which only one subunit out of four is modified. Both fully and partially modified species were devoid of catalytic activity. Activity loss through modification of a single subunit in both aldolase isoenzymes indicates tightly coupled communication between subunit active sites and suggests simple functional regulation of aldolases.

Product binding and role of the C-terminal region in class I D-fructose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase.

The structure of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase shows three distinct modes of product binding that are correlated to the disposition of the C-terminal region and depicts a possible trajectory for product exchange. The structure also indicates binding preference for monobasic triose phosphates.

Allosteric communication in mammalian muscle aldolase.

Mixed disulphide formation in the presence of oxidized glutathione reversibly inactivates rabbit skeletal muscle aldolase. Inactivation is allosteric, preferentially modifying Cys-72 on the surface of the aldolase homotetramer distant from active-site locations and subunit interfaces. Ion-exchange chromatography fractionates partly inactivated aldolase into three distinct enzymic species: unmodified enzyme, inactive fully modified enzyme corresponding to one thiol reacted per subunit, and inactive singly modified enzyme in which only one thiol has reacted. Acid-precipitable enzymic intermediates formed in the presence of substrate, D-fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, and product, dihydroxyacetone phosphate, indicates that active site binding is unaffected upon modification. The absence of enamine carbanion formation in the presence of substrate but not product is consistent with mixed disulphide formation's blocking -C-C- cleavage and/or subsequent D-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate release. Inactivation upon single subunit modification and substrate protection against modification denotes that the blocked step is associated with a long-range conformational transition involving highly co-operative subunit behaviour.

Catalytic activity of rabbit skeletal muscle aldolase in the crystalline state.

The monoclinic crystalline form of aldolase from rabbit skeletal muscle grown at 29 degrees C is catalytically active in the direction of aldol cleavage. Activity was assayed for in a crystallization buffer containing 45% saturated ammonium sulfate using chemically unmodified single crystals cut to precise dimensions. Diffusion effects on velocities from assays employing aldolase crystals do not appear to be limiting when cut single crystals are crushed. Assays of crushed crystals are linear with respect to both time and enzyme concentration. Kinetic constants are reported for both substrates fructose 1-phosphate and fructose 1,6-phosphate. Maximal velocities and binding constants determined differ by no more than a factor of 2 between the crystalline and the soluble state of the enzyme. Analysis of the kinetic constants for fructose 1-phosphate as substrate shows that binding of substrate does not change in going to the crystalline state. Release of product is reduced roughly 2-fold in the crystalline state. A similar conclusion can be reached in the case of fructose 1,6-phosphate as substrate provided the "on" steps of substrate and product are only diffusion limited but independent of the physical state of the enzyme. It is not possible to distinguish between a more sluggish conformational change during catalysis or simply tighter product binding in the crystalline state as compared to the soluble enzyme state.

Structure of rabbit muscle aldolase at low resolution.

X-ray diffraction data were measured by x-ray diffractometry to 5-A resolution for both the monoclinic form of rabbit skeletal muscle aldolase (EC 4.1.2.13) and a platinum derivative. The heavy atom difference patterson was solved at 6-A resolution yielding eight distinct heavy atom sites. Choice was made of the enantiomorph and protein phases were calculated on the basis of single isomorphous replacement differences. The electron density map calculated from these phases was averaged according to the non-crystallographic molecular symmetry. Rotational symmetry analysis of native patterson and site symmetry analysis of refined heavy atom positions are consistent with the aldolase tetramer possessing a very high degree of 222 internal symmetry. The subunits in the tetramer are positioned in a tetrahedral configuration displaying a slight square planar deformation. Each subunit is roughly ellipsoidal in shape with the major axis nearly parallel to a local 2-fold axis. Prominent at the surface of each subunit were structural features resembling alpha helices. Each subunit contributes to its boundary surface at least six helices which are arranged in a barrel-like manner and possessing a right handed twist with respect to each other. Density associated with binding of substrate on the enzyme was located on the surface of each subunit. Cooperative aspects of the conformational changes produced upon substrate binding are discussed.

Inactivation of mammalian fructose diphosphate aldolases by COOH terminus autophosphorylation.

Rabbit skeletal muscle and liver fructose 1,6-diphosphate aldolases autophosphorylate in the presence of inorganic phosphate at physiological and alkaline pH. ATP as well as nonhydrolyzable ATP analogues inhibits autophosphorylation. Autophosphorylation of aldolases abolishes catalytic activity, which is restored upon treatment with alkaline phosphatase. Limited proteolysis of aldolase preferentially hydrolyzes the COOH terminus and liberates a phosphorylated peptide. Treatment of rabbit aldolases with carboxypeptidase, which liberates the COOH terminal residue Tyr 363, although modifying catalytic activity does not affect autophosphorylation. Amino acid analyses are consistent with results of autophosphorylation of the COOH terminus showing residue His 361 in muscle aldolase and Tyr 361 in liver aldolase. Phosphate lability in acid pH by phosphorylated muscle aldolase but not by phosphorylated liver aldolase corroborates the amino acid assignment. Autophosphorylation of the aldolases in the crystalline state is consistent with an intramolecular mechanism. The pH dependence of autophosphorylation being dependent on the enzyme's physical state (soluble or crystalline) is not inconsistent with crystallization stabilizing a conformer having different amino acid pka values and/or reactivities than those of the soluble state.

Molecular architecture of rabbit skeletal muscle aldolase at 2.7-A resolution.

The molecular architecture of the rabbit skeletal muscle aldolase (D-fructose-1,6-bisphosphate D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate-lyase, EC 4.1.2.13) tetramer has been determined to 2.7-A resolution. Solution of the three-dimensional structure of rabbit muscle aldolase utilized phase information from a single isomorphous Pt(CN)4(2-) derivative, which was combined with iterative-phase refinement based upon the noncrystallographic 222-fold symmetry exhibited by the tetramer subunits. The electron-density map calculated from the refined phases (mf = 0.72) was interpreted on the basis of the known amino acid sequence (363 amino acids per subunit). The molecular architecture of the aldolase subunit corresponds to a singly wound beta-barrel of the parallel alpha/beta class structures as has been observed in triose phosphate isomerase, pyruvate kinase, phosphogluconate aldolase, as well as others. Close contacts between tetramer subunits are virtually all between regions of hydrophobic residues. Contrary to other beta-barrel structures, the known active-site residues are located in the center of the beta-barrel and are accessible to substrate from the COOH side of the beta-barrel. Biochemical and crystallographic data suggest that the COOH-terminal region of aldolase covers the active-site pocket from the COOH side of the beta-barrel and mediates access to the active site. On the basis of sequence studies, active-site residues as well as residues lining the active-site pocket have been totally conserved throughout evolution. By comparison, homology in the COOH-terminal region is minimal. It is suggested that the amino acid sequence of the COOH-terminal region may be, in part, the basis for the variable specific activities aldolases exhibit toward their substrates.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of native and selenomethionine fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase from Thermus aquaticus.

Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (E.C. 4.1.2) catalyses the reversible cleavage of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate to dihydroxyacetone phosphate and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate in the glycolytic pathway of prokaryote and eukaryote organisms. The enzyme was obtained from the extreme thermophile Thermus aquaticus and, in contrast to mesophilic aldolases, expresses maximal activity in the presence of Co(2+) as cofactor instead of Zn(2+). The purified recombinant protein was monodisperse according to dynamic light-scattering measurements. Crystals of recombinant native class II fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase from T. aquaticus were obtained from two different starting conditions at low protein concentrations. Condition I, using the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method, yielded monoclinic crystals having space group P2 and unit-cell parameters a = 99.5, b = 57.5, c = 138.6 A, beta = 90.25 degrees. Diffraction data were collected to 2 A resolution at beamline X8-C of the NSLS synchrotron-radiation source. Native and selenomethionine-substituted protein crystals were obtained from condition II by hanging-drop vapor diffusion. The tetragonal crystals of the native protein belong to the space group P4(1), with unit-cell parameters a = b = 88.8, c = 163.1 A, while those of the SeMet protein have space group I4(1), with unit-cell parameters a = b = 88.6, c = 164.1 A. A data set suitable for MAD phasing was collected to 2.6 A resolution at beamline X8-C of the NSLS synchrotron source.

Covalent intermediate trapped in 2-keto-3-deoxy-6- phosphogluconate (KDPG) aldolase structure at 1.95-A resolution.

2-Keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogluconate (KDPG) aldolase catalyzes the reversible cleavage of KDPG to pyruvate and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate. The enzyme is a class I aldolase whose reaction mechanism involves formation of Schiff base intermediates between Lys-133 and a keto substrate. A covalent adduct was trapped by flash freezing KDPG aldolase crystals soaked with 10 mM pyruvate in acidic conditions at pH 4.6. Structure determination to 1.95-A resolution showed that pyruvate had undergone nucleophilic attack with Lys-133, forming a protonated carbinolamine intermediate, a functional Schiff base precursor, which was stabilized by hydrogen bonding with active site residues. Carbinolamine interaction with Glu-45 indicates general base catalysis of several rate steps. Stereospecific addition is ensured by aromatic interaction of Phe-135 with the pyruvate methyl group. In the native structure, Lys-133 donates all of its hydrogen bonds, indicating the presence of an epsilon-ammonium salt group. Nucleophilic activation is postulated to occur by proton transfer in the monoprotonated zwitterionic pair (Glu-45/Lys-133). Formation of the zwitterionic pair requires prior side chain rearrangement by protonated Lys-133 to displace a water molecule, hydrogen bonded to the zwitterionic residues.