Enzymatic production of 5'-inosinic acid by AMP deaminase from a newly isolated Aspergillus oryzae.

5'-adenylic acid deaminase (AMP deaminase), an important enzyme for the food industry, can catalyze the irreversible hydrolysis of adenosine monophosphate (AMP) to inosine monophosphate (IMP) and ammonia. In this study, a new strain was screened that efficiently produces 3191.6U/g of AMP deaminase at 32°C. After purification, the optimal temperature and pH of the AMP deaminase were found to be 40°C and 6.0, respectively, but it was partially inhibited by Fe(3+), Cu(2+), Al(3+), and Zn(2+). With amplification of the AMP deaminase production system, 6mL of crude enzyme could produce 2.00mg/g of IMP from 2.04mg/g of dried yeast with an 84.8% molar yield after 40min. These results provide a new insight into AMP deaminase production and offer a potential platform for producing 5'-IMP.

AMP-deaminase in elasmobranch fish: a comparative histochemical and enzymatic study.

AMP-deaminase activity was measured in white muscle from a wide range of fish, including one cyclostome, 13 chondrosteans, and one teleost to elucidate the pattern of the AMP-deaminase activity in white muscle of fish. Compared to a mammalian (rat) muscle extract, low enzyme activities are found in the cyclostome and two elasmobranchs from two families (Scyliorhinidae, Hexanchidae). In contrast, higher AMP-deaminase activities, similar to mammals, are expressed in Squalidae, all families of skates, Chimaeridae and in the teleostean fish. We then compared AMP-deaminase activities in red and white muscles from two representative elasmobranch fish, the dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) and the thornback ray (Raja clavata). The fibre type composition and distribution of the locomotory musculature were determined in these two elasmobranchs to establish a relationship between the morphology, the type of fibres of the locomotion-implicated muscles and the AMP-deaminase activity. Experimental data are discussed with respect to the layout of fibres in the myotome. In both species, three fibre types were identified. In the two fish myotomes, most of the axial muscles are white fibres while red fibres constitute a thin sheet. Some differences were observed between the two species in the distribution of intermediate fibres: in dogfish, these are located between the red and white fibres; in thornback ray, some are dispersed within the white fibre region, while others form an intermediary layer like in dogfish. These results suggest that in the course of evolution, an amplification of the AMP-deaminase activity in muscle was coupled with increase of complexity of the muscular structure.

Exertional myalgia syndrome associated with diminished serum ammonia elevation in ischemic exercise testing.

A 36-year-old man with chronic severe exertional myalgias had a normal serum lactate elevation and diminished serum ammonia elevation on an ischemic forearm exercise test (IFET). The IFET is commonly performed in the evaluation of patients with complaints of exertional myalgias, cramps, and rhabdomyolysis. The finding of a normal serum lactate elevation and a diminished serum ammonia elevation after ischemic exercise is usually considered indicative of myoadenylate deaminase deficiency. However, myoadenylate deaminase activity was normal in this man's muscle biopsy specimen. This case suggests that a diminished serum ammonia elevation in the IFET is not always indicative of myoadenylate deaminase deficiency, a disorder of ammonia production. A diminished serum ammonia elevation in the IFET could also reflect an impairment of net ammonia efflux from muscle into blood.

Cyanide exposure affects the production and excretion of ammonia by the mudskipper Boleophthalmus boddaerti.

The concentrations of ammonia in the plasma of the mudskipper Boleophthalmus boddaerti exposed to cyanide for 1-6 days were significantly greater than the respective values of the controls. This was due to an increase in the production of NH3 in the muscle and an increase in the retention of NH3 and/or NH4+ in the blood of the cyanide-exposed fish when compared to controls. Cyanide exposure significantly increased the specific activity of muscle AMP deaminase. Since adenylosuccinate synthetase and lyase were also present in the muscle, exposure to cyanide might increase the production of NH3 from the catabolism of purine nucleotides. B. boddaerti exposed to cyanide excreted significantly less ammonia than the control fish. Results indicate changes in the permeability of the epithelial surfaces of the cyanide-exposed fish to NH3 and/or NH4+. Since the tissues and organs needed time to activate the inducible cyanide detoxification mechanisms, the increase in the production of NH3 might be an important defensive mechanism for B. boddaerti during the early phase of cyanide exposure.

The effect of methylmercury on skeletal muscle in the rat: a histopathological study.

Methylmercury (MeHg)-induced neurotoxicity includes skeletal muscle symptoms (extremity weakness and wasting, muscle cramp) in addition to ataxia and disturbances of sensory and visual function. The underlying mechanisms responsible for the skeletal muscle symptoms are still poorly understood. In this study the effects of MeHg exposure on skeletal muscle were investigated in rats receiving orally administered MeHgCl at 5 mg/kg/day for 12 days. MeHg-treated rats gradually lost body weight and showed muscle weakness and wasting. Seven days after the last MeHg dose, MeHg levels in the skeletal muscle were as high as those in liver, kidney, or cerebrum. The obvious histopathological finding in skeletal muscle was a decrease in mitochondrial enzyme activity. These changes were more prominent in mitochondria-rich soleus muscle than in extensor digitorum longus muscle. Our findings confirm that MeHg exposure disturbs mitochondrial energy metabolism in skeletal muscle.

[Solubilization of the AMP deaminase in the muscles of the teleost fish Scorpaena]. / Soliubilizatsiia AMP-deaminazy m'iaziv kostystoï ryby skorpeny.

A considerable amount of AMP deaminase (AMPDA) in animal muscles is linked with myofibrils. This link is disturbed with growth of the ionic strength. A smooth increase of AMPDA solubilization has been showed in experiments with rabbit muscles when KCl concentration grew from 0 to 500 mM. Earlier we showed at trout muscles that an increase in KCl concentration from 0 to 200 mM in the homogenization medium induced growth of the bound enzyme portion followed by its decrease at the range of KCl concentrations 300-500 mM. Similar results were obtained in experiments with the sea scorpion muscles, which shows specific character of AMPDA interaction with myofibrils in teleost fish muscles. Comparison of the pH influence on AMPDA extraction from Scorpaena and rabbit muscles supported the idea on the specific character of this enzyme binding in the teleost muscles.

Mammalian-heart adenylate deaminase: cross-species immunoanalysis of tissue distribution with a cardiac-directed antibody.

A sheep antiserum against purified rabbit-heart adenylate deaminase (EC 3.5.4.6) (AMPD) was developed and validated as an immunologic probe to assess the cross-species tissue distribution of the mammalian cardiac AMPD isoform. The antiserum and the antibodies purified therefrom recognized both native and denatured rabbit-heart AMPD in immunoprecipitation and immunoblot experiments, respectively, and antibody binding did not affect native enzyme activity. The immunoprecipitation experiments further demonstrated a high antiserum titer. Immunoblot analysis of either crude rabbit-heart extracts or purified rabbit-heart AMPD revealed a major immunoreactive band with the molecular mass (approximately 81 kDa) of the soluble rabbit-heart AMPD subunit. AMPD in heart extracts from mammalian species other than rabbit (including human) was equally immunoreactive with this antiserum by quantitative immunoblot criteria. Although generally held to be in the same isoform class as heart AMPD, erythrocyte AMPD was not immunoreactive either within or across species. Nor was AMPD from most other tissues [e.g., white (gastrocnemius) muscle, lung, kidney] immunoreactive with the cardiac-directed antibody. Limited immunoreactivity was evidenced by mammalian liver, red (soleus) muscle, and brain extracts across species, indicating the presence of a minor cardiac(-like) AMPD isoform in these tissues. The results of this study characterize the tissue distribution of the cardiac AMPD isoform using a molecular approach with the first polyclonal antibodies prepared against homogeneous cardiac AMPD. This immunologic probe should prove useful at the tissue level for AMPD immunohistochemistry.

Hyperthyroidism increases adenosine transport and metabolism in the rat heart.

Hyperthyroidism induces a number of metabolic and physiological changes in the heart including hypertrophy, increase in inotropic status, and alterations of myocardial energy metabolism. The effects of hyperthyroidism on adenosine metabolism which is intimately involved in the control of many aspects of myocardial energetics, have not been clarified. The aim of this study was thus to evaluate the potential role of adenosine in the altered physiology of the hyperthyroid heart. Transport of adenosine was studied in cardiomyocytes isolated from hyperthyroid and euthyroid rats. Activities of different enzymes of purine metabolism were studied in heart homogenates and concentrations of nucleotide and creatine metabolites were determined in hearts freeze-clamped in situ. Both transport of adenosine into cardiomyocytes and the rate of intracellular phosphorylation were higher in the hyperthyroid rat. At 10 microM concentration, adenosine transport rates were 275 and 197 pmol/min/mg protein in hyperthyroid and euthyroid cardiomyocytes respectively whilst rates of adenosine phosphorylation were 250 and 180 pmol/min/mg prot. An even more pronounced difference was observed if values were expressed per number of cells due to cardiomyocyte enlargement. Hyperthyroidism was associated with a 20% increase in adenosine kinase, 30% decrease in membrane 5'-nucleotidase and 15% decrease in adenosine deaminase activities measured in heart homogenates. In addition there was a substantial depletion in the total creatine pool from 63.7 to 41.6 mumol/g dry wt, a small decrease in the adenylate pool (from 27.2 to 24.3 mumol/g dry wt) and an elevation of the guanylate pool (from 1.22 to 1.36). These results show that adenosine transport and phosphorylation capacity is enhanced in hyperthyroidism.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Quantification and removal of glycogen phosphorylase and other enzymes associated with sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane preparations.

The enzymatic characterization of sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane fragments from rabbit skeletal muscle presented in this paper shows that glycogen phosphorylase, as well as other enzymes (e.g., creatine kinase, myokinase, phosphorylase kinase, glycosidase, AMP-deaminase, phosphoglucomutase) are associated with these membrane preparations. Amongst these enzymes, the highest activity associated with sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes is that of glycogen phosphorylase, which is mostly (at least 95%) in its b form (dephosphorylated form), since its activity in sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes is largely dependent upon AMP. A protocol is presented to quantify the amount of phosphorylase bound to sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes from fluorimetric measurements of the content of its coenzyme, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate. The content of phosphorylase ranged from 0.03 to 0.37 mg phosphorylase per mg of membrane protein, in sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane preparations made following several of the protocols most commonly used and also depending upon the length of the starvation period of the animal before killing. We also show that dilution of sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes to 0.1-0.2 mg protein per ml in a buffer containing 50 mM Tes-KOH (pH 7.4), 0.1 M KCl and 0.25 M sucrose removes at least 95% of glycogen phosphorylase from these membrane fragments, as well as other enzymes like myokinase and glycosidase. On these grounds, we suggest to introduce a final dilution step as indicated above in protocols of sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane preparations.

Immunolocalization of AMP-deaminase isozymes in human skeletal muscle and cultured muscle cells: concentration of isoform M at the neuromuscular junction.

The three major isoforms of AMP-deaminase (AMPda) were localized in human skeletal muscle and cultured muscle cells by immunocytochemistry. The M isoform was mainly located in Type II muscle fibers and showed a clear cross-striation. Particularly strong staining was present at the neuromuscular junction. Capillaries were also immunoreactive. The L isoform was predominantly observed in nerve bundles and to a minor extent in smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells. The E isoform was predominantly present in smooth muscle cells, and to a lesser extent in Type I muscle fibers and nerve bundles. In quadriceps muscle of patients with myoadenylate deaminase deficiency, no immunostaining for the M isozyme was observed, whereas reactivity for the L and E isoforms was unaltered. In human muscle cell cultures, mononuclear cells, including myoblasts, were immunoreactive for the L isoform and to a lesser extent the E isoform, whereas the M isoform was absent. In myotubes, diffuse or fibrillar staining was present for all three isoforms, but only the M isoform showed a clear cross-striation pattern in highly differentiated myotubes.

Molecular biology of AMP deaminase deficiency.

In man, there are at least four isoforms of adenosine monophosphate deaminase (AMPD): myoadenylate deaminase in skeletal muscle, the L isoform in liver, and the E1 and E2 isoforms in erythrocytes. Myoadenylate deaminase is encoded by the AMPD1 gene located on chromosome 1 p13-p21, the L isoform by the AMPD2 gene, and both isoforms in erythrocytes by the AMPD3 gene. Myoadenylate deaminase deficiency is found in 2-3% of all muscle biopsies. The inborn type of myoadenylate deaminase deficiency is caused by a single mutant allele harbouring two mutations: C34-->T (Gln-->Stop) and C143-->T (Pro-48-->Leu). Population studies revealed a frequency of the mutant allele of 0.12 in Caucasian Americans and Germans. The C34-->T mutation is located in exon 2, which is alternatively spliced in part of the AMPD1 transcript in human muscle. Since the second mutation does not affect enzyme function, alternatively spliced mRNA encodes a catalytically active enzyme. Only one patient with a disorder linked to liver AMPD has been described so far. In this patient the decreased inhibition of this enzyme by GTP resulted in uric acid overproduction and gout. A complete lack of erythroyte AMPD activity is found in asymptomatic subjects. The molecular basis of both disorders is not yet known.

Amino acid metabolism enzyme activities in the obese Zucker rat.

Hepatic serine dehydratase activity was significantly lower in the obese Zucker rats. In both skeletal muscle and kidney adenylate deaminase showed a lower activity in the obese animals. In the small intestine the activity of glutamate dehydrogenase was increased while that of glutamine synthetase was reduced. No changes were found in the enzymatic activities of white adipose tissue while those found in brown adipose tissue were lower for glutamine synthetase. Starvation resulted in increase in liver serine dehydratase in the lean animals and in aspartate transaminase in both lean and obese. Kidney aspartate transaminase and glutamine synthetase were increased with starvation in the lean rats while kidney adenylate deaminase and small intestine glutamine synthetase and branched-chain amino acid transaminase were increased with starvation in the obese animals. In brown adipose tissue starvation caused an increase in branched-chain amino acid transaminase in the lean rats while it significantly lowered the adenylate deaminase and increased branched-chain amino acid transaminase in the obese rats.

Immunologic evidence for three isoforms of AMP deaminase (AMPD) in mature skeletal muscle.

Four rabbit polyclonal antisera to purified AMP deaminase (AMPD) isozymes were used to precipitate homogenate AMPD activity from dissected gracilis, soleus and gastrocnemius muscles of the cat, rabbit, rat, mouse, Rhesus monkey, human and toad. The antisera were also tested against other unusual muscles: autonomically innervated striated muscle of the upper esophagus (UEM), skeletal muscle of patients with myo-AMPD deficiency and extraocular muscles (EOM) of humans and Rhesus monkeys. The reference antiserum, M, prepared against human psoas muscle AMPD, precipitated > 90% AMPD from all primate skeletal muscles tested, and from type-2 muscles of all mammals tested, but < 75% from cat and rodent soleus, toad gastrocnemius and primate UEM, EOM and myo-AMPD deficient muscles. Thus, a second isozyme was clearly indicated. Antibody B, against rat liver and kidney AMPD, had no effect with any muscle specimen. Antibody C, against rat heart AMPD, produced additive precipitation of AMPD from soleus of rat and mouse, while antibody E1, against human red cell (and heart) AMPD, produced additive AMPD precipitation from toad gastrocnemius, cat soleus and muscles of several AMPD-deficient humans. A second AMPD isozyme thus accounted for as much as 25% of total activity in some animal red muscles, but no more than 5% in human mixed muscles. At least one more isozyme is needed to account for muscle AMPD unreactive with all antibodies tested in rabbit soleus, toad gastrocnemius and primate UEM and EOM. A list is appended of the approximate AMPD activity in various human cells and tissues.

Yeast AMP deaminase. Catalytic activity in Schizosaccharomyces pombe and chromosomal location in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The AMP deaminase gene was mapped to chromosome XIII of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain JM1901. The AMP deaminase gene is located near SUP5, GAL80, SUF7, and SUF22. The presence of AMP deaminase in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe was examined by comparing DNA hybridization, protein immunoreactivity, and catalytic activity from S. cerevisiae, known to contain the protein, to S. pombe. DNA hybridization experiments using the cloned S. cerevisiae AMP deaminase gene failed to hybridize to the genomic DNA from S. pombe strain 972h-s. Protein extracts from S. pombe and S. cerevisiae were analyzed in parallel and exhibited comparable AMP deaminase activities. Analysis of reaction intermediates in cell extracts of S. pombe established that IMP is formed directly from AMP without intervening steps. The AMP deaminase of S. pombe was purified 1,100-fold to a specific catalytic activity of 67 mumol/min/mg of protein. Purified protein interacted weakly with polyclonal antibodies prepared against S. cerevisiae AMP deaminase. AMP deaminases from both S. cerevisiae and S. pombe were activated by ATP with micromolar activation constants, are inhibited by coformycin, and are specific for AMP when compared to other purine nucleosides and nucleotides. The results establish that S. pombe contains an AMP deaminase with catalytic properties similar to that from S. cerevisiae, even though the DNA sequences of the genes and the immunoreactivity of the protein from S. pombe differs considerably from the AMP deaminase of S. cerevisiae. Genetic analysis of the pathways of purine metabolism in S. pombe (Pourquié, J., and Heslot, H. (1971) Genet. Res. 18, 33-44) had indicated the absence of AMP deaminase. The presence of a regulated AMP deaminase in S. pombe supports the hypothesis that eukaryotes regulate adenine nucleotide pools by the activity of AMP deaminase.

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.

Purification and properties of AMP-deaminase from human kidney.

AMP-deaminase from human kidney (cortex and medulla) was purified and the physicochemical properties were characterized. The enzyme from both portions of the kidney exhibited identical kinetics and regulatory properties. At optimal pH (6.6), the AMP-deaminase studied exhibited a distinctly sigmoidal substrate saturation kinetics, with the half-saturation parameter (S0.5) as high as 10 mM. ATP at 1 mM strongly activated the enzyme, decreasing S0.5 nearly 10-fold. The activating effect of ADP was less strong. Orthophosphate inhibited the enzyme, but the inhibition observed was weak (Ki approximately 16 mM) and had a pure competitive character. At pH 7.2, physiological for the kidney cortex, orthophosphate inhibition became even weaker and became partially competitive. Variations in the adenylate energy charge had potent effects on the activity of AMP-deaminase, depending on the size of the total adenine nucleotide pool examined. The results of gel filtration and SDS-PAGE indicated that human kidney AMP-deaminase is an oligomeric enzyme composed of four, probably identical, subunits weighing about 37 kDa each.

Some aspects of purine nucleotide metabolism in lymphocytes of B-CLL.

The authors studied the behavior of some enzymes involved in purine nucleotide metabolism in human peripheral blood lymphocytes from normal and B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia subjects. Determinations were made with radiochemical methods associated with high performance liquid chromatography. Results indicated a marked increase in de novo purine synthesis enzymes, particularly those of the "inosinic branch point". The latter were absent in normal lymphocytes, whereas they were well evident in leukemic lymphocytes, with the exception of AMP-S synthetase. Whereas the enzymes of the "salvage pathway" were spared in comparison to other proteins, those of the "catabolic pathway" significantly decreased. The authors discuss the possibility that such enzymes may be used as tumor markers.

Changes in AMP deaminase activities in the hearts of diabetic rats.

AMP deaminase from normal and diabetic rat hearts was separated on cellulose phosphate and quantitated by HPLC. From soluble fractions three different AMP deaminase activities, according to KCl elution from cellulose phosphate and percent of total activity were: 170 mM (85%), 250 mM (8%) and 330 mM (7%) KCl. The AMP deaminase activity which eluted with 170 mM KCl was resolved to two distinct peaks by HPLC anionic exchange. After 4 weeks of diabetes the heart enzyme profile change to: 170 mM (10%), 250 mM (75%) and 330 mM (15%). Once purified the four activities were kinetically distinct: 170 mM KCl cytosolic, AMP Km = 1.78, stimulated by ATP, GTP, NADP and strongly inhibited by NAD; 170 mM KCl mitochondria AMP Km = 17.9, stimulated by ATP, ADP; 250 mM KCl isozyme, AMP Km = 0.66, stimulated by ADP; and 330 mM KCl isozyme, AMP Km = 0.97, inhibited by ATP, NAD(P).

[AMP deaminase activity in hyperoxia and the effect of AMP on animal sensitivity to oxygen under pressure]. / Aktivnost' AMF-dezaminazy pri giperoksii i vliianie AMF na chuvstvitel'nost' zhivotnykh k kislorodu pod davleniem.

Under the effects of 0.7 MPa of oxygen leading to a convulsive state, AMP-deaminase activity increased significantly in the rat brain mitochondrial fraction with only a tendency to increase in cytoplasmic fraction. Stimulated effects of the enzyme allosteric activator ATP is more obvious in intact animals than in hyperoxic ones. Pretreatment with AMP before hyperoxygenation exerts a protective effect preventing the alteration of monoamine oxydase catalytic properties, stabilizing membrane structure and improving the general state of the animals.

[Purine metabolism: determination of adenyl deaminase in human lymphocytes]. / Metabolismo purinico: determinazione dell'adenilico deaminasi in linfociti umani.

Adenylic acid (AMP) deaminase is a "catabolic enzyme" involved in nucleotide degradation, transforming AMP into inosinic acid (IMP). We present a simple method for the determination of the enzyme activity, which combines high sensitivity with requirement of low quantities of lymphocytes. Human lymphocytes were isolated with a Lymphocyte Separation Medium from FLOW and sonicated. After centrifugation at 2,000 rpm x 10 min and treatment with Norit A, the cells were incubated at 37 degrees C with ATP 0.8 mM and 14C-AMP 0.1 mM (specific activity 12 microCi/mumole) in potassium phosphate 100 mM (pH 7.4). 14C-IMP and 14C-AMP were separated through HPLC by an isocratic elution, with 20 mM KH2PO4 (pH 5.5) at a 1.5 ml/min flow rate. Identification of the nucleotides was carried out through retention time, coelution with internal standards: their evaluation by determining the radioactivity of the collected peaks. The enzyme activity is decreased in patients affected by CLL: the decrease is evident only when data are referred to the single cells and not when they are referred to the protein.