Purification and characterization of Candida albicans 20S proteasome: identification of four proteasomal subunits.

The 20S proteasome from yeast cells of Candida albicans was purified by successive chromatographic steps to apparent homogeneity, as judged by nondenaturing and denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Its molecular mass was estimated to be 640 kDa by gel filtration. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate gave at least 10 bands in the range 20-32 kDa. Two-dimensional electrophoresis revealed the presence of at least 14 polypeptides. By electron microscopy after negative staining, the proteasome preparation appeared as typical symmetrical barrel-shaped particles. The enzyme cleaved the peptidyl-arylamide bonds in the model synthetic substrates Cbz-G-G-L-p-nitroanilide, Cbz-G-G-R-beta-naphthylamide, and Cbz-L-L-E-beta-naphthylamide (chymotrypsin-like, trypsin-like, and peptidylglutamyl-peptide-hydrolyzing activities). The differential sensitivity of these activities to aldehyde peptides and sodium dodecyl sulfate supported the multicatalytic nature of this enzyme. Three proteasomal subunits were identified as alpha6/Pre5, alpha3/Y13, and alpha5/Pup2 by internal sequencing of tryptic fragments. Their sequences perfectly matched the corresponding deduced amino acid sequences of the C. albicans genes. A fourth subunit was identified as alpha7/Prs1 by immunorecognition with a monoclonal antibody specific for C8, the human proteasome subunit homologue. Treatment of the intact isolated 20S proteasome with acid phosphatase and Western blot analysis of the separated components indicated that the alpha7/Prs1 subunit is obtained as a multiply phosphorylated protein.

Role of Mg2+ in nucleoside diphosphate kinase autophosphorylation.

Nucleoside diphosphate (NDP) kinase is a ubiquitous enzyme that has been described to have regulatory functions. In addition to its classical enzymatic activity, NDP kinases have been characterized as inhibitors of metastasis, as a factor stimulating gene transcription, and as a protein kinase. In this report we show some characteristics of the autophosphorylation of homogeneous NDP kinase and make a comparison with that of other proteins in crude extracts. By using labeled substrates and fluorescence quenching analysis, we prove that Mg2+ is indeed necessary for the two steps of the ping-pong reaction to take place and present evidence that NTPs or NDPs, when uncomplexed to divalent cations, may not bind the active site in a comparable way to NTP . Mg2+ and NDP . Mg2+. However, even extremely small concentrations of Mg2+ suffice for maximal autophosphorylation which is obtained with Mg2+ in the nanomolar range and 100 microM ATP using homogeneous enzyme. Moreover, lower autophosphorylation levels were observed with increasing concentrations of Mg2+. The autophosphorylation equilibrium varied from 0.19 to 1.6 upon the inclusion of 10 mM EDTA to produce low Mg2+ concentrations. Under optimal conditions (low Mg2+ concentrations and short incubation times) NDP kinase was the only protein phosphorylated in crude extracts from Candida albicans, indicating that the autophosphorylation properties of the enzyme are very singular.

Isolation and characterisation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase from Candida albicans. Purification of the regulatory and catalytic subunits.

cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) from Candida albicans yeast cells was isolated and characterised. Structural parameters of the holoenzyme and those of its subunits suggested that C. albicans PKA is a tetramer of 287 kDa composed of two regulatory (R) subunits of 64 kDa and two catalytic (C) subunits of unusually large molecular mass of 78 kDa. The apparent Km for ATP and Kemptide were 30 microM and 60 microM respectively. The [A]0.5 for cAMP activation was 150 nM with a Hill coefficient of 1.6. The holoenzyme undergoes autophosphorylation on the R subunit, a characteristic of the type-II R subunits. Photoaffinity labeling with 8-azido-[32P]cAMP of crude extracts from yeast and mycelial cells strongly suggests that only one type of R subunit is present in the fungus. The R subunit was purified to apparent homogeneity as a protein of 64 kDa. A highly specific polyclonal antiserum raised against the purified protein immunoprecipitated a 64-kDa protein from crude extracts, indicating that the purified R subunit very probably represents the native form of the protein. The 78-kDa form of the C subunit was detected in crude extracts and in Mono Q Sepharose column fractions with heterologous anti-C Ig. It could be isolated by cAMP treatment of the holoenzyme immunoprecipitated from crude extracts with anti-R serum, but this form could not be purified further. Instead, a 60-kDa protein with the main characteristics of C subunit was purified to near homogeneity from soluble extracts of yeast cells. Evidence is presented that this protein very probably derives from the 78-kDa form by proteolytic degradation.

In vivo and in vitro phosphorylation of the alpha 7/PRS1 subunit of Saccharomyces cerevisiae 20 S proteasome: in vitro phosphorylation by protein kinase CK2 is absolutely dependent on polylysine.

In this paper, we show that the Saccharomyces cerevisiae 20 S proteasome subunit 1 (PRS1), recently renamed as alpha 7, is the main in vivo phosphorylated and in vitro CK2-phosphorylatable proteasome component. In vitro phosphorylation occurs only in the presence of polylysine, a characteristic that distinguishes the yeast proteasome from mammalian ones which are phosphorylated by CK2 in the absence of polylysine. A peptide reproducing the long acidic C-terminal tail of alpha 7/PRS1, where consensus CK2 phosphorylation sites are located, was also phosphorylated by the CK2 holoenzyme in a polylysine-dependent manner, suggesting that this region contains structural features responsible for this particular behavior.

N-acetyl-D-glucosamine induces germination in Candida albicans through a mechanism sensitive to inhibitors of cAMP-dependent protein kinase.

The present study examines the involvement of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) in the dimorphic transition of Candida albicans by assessing the in vivo effect of two permeable PKA inhibitors on N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc)- and serum-induced differentiation. The permeable myristoylated derivative of the heat-stable PKA inhibitor (MyrPKI), which inhibited C. albicans PKA in vitro, caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of germ-tube formation in cultures induced to germinate by GlcNAc; germination halted irrespective of the time of addition of the inhibitor. MyrPKI also blocked dibutyryl-cAMP (dbcAMP)- and glucagon-stimulated germination but did not affect serum-induced germination. H-89, another highly specific PKA inhibitor, displayed the same effect on germination. Neither MyrPKI nor H-89 had any effect on budding of yeast cells. In conclusion, our results indicate that cAMP-mediated activation of PKA plays a pivotal role in the biochemical mechanism underlying morphogenesis.

Purification and characterization of protein kinase CK2 from Candida albicans: evidence for the presence of two distinct regulatory subunits beta and beta'.

Protein kinase CK2 of Candida albicans has been purified to near homogeneity by a procedure which involves chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, phosphocellulose, Q-Sepharose, and heparin-agarose. The purified enzyme has the characteristic properties of animal and yeast CK2, i.e., it utilizes ATP as well as GTP as phosphate donor, phosphorylates serine and threonine residues on casein, is inhibited by low concentrations of heparin, and is stimulated by NaCl and polycationic compounds such as polylysine, spermine, and spermidine. The native form of the enzyme exhibits a molecular mass of 159 kDa, and SDS-PAGE analysis indicates that it is composed of four polypeptides with relative molecular masses of 44, 39, 37 and 36 kDa. The 39- and 37-kDa polypeptides were identified as distinct catalytic subunits alpha and alpha' on the basis of in situ phosphorylation assays and immunological recognition with heterologous antibodies. The purified kinase undergoes autophosphorylation on the 44- and 36-kDa polypeptides, a characteristic of the beta subunits from other species. Antibodies raised against the beta subunit of Drosophila melanogaster and human CK2 crossreact only with the 36-kDa polypeptide. The 44-kDa polypeptide was identified as an unusually large beta' subunit by Western blotting with an antibody raised against the beta' subunit of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. All these data suggest that C. albicans CK2 has an alpha alpha' beta beta' heterotetrameric composition similar to that found in S. cerevisiae.

Inhibition of nucleoside diphosphate kinase activity by in vitro phosphorylation by protein kinase CK2. Differential phosphorylation of NDP kinases in HeLa cells in culture.

Although a number of nucleoside diphosphate kinases (NDPKs) have been reported to act as inhibitors of metastasis or as a transcription factor in mammals, it is not known whether these functions are linked to their enzymatic activity or how this protein is regulated. In this report, we show that in vitro protein kinase CK2 catalyzed phosphorylation of human NDPK A inhibits its enzymatic activity by inhibiting the first step of its ping-pong mechanism of catalysis: its autophosphorylation. Upon in vivo 32P labeling of HeLa cells, we observed that both human NDPKs, A and B, were autophosphorylated on histidine residues, however, only the B isoform appeared to be serine phosphorylated.

Discrimination between acid and alkali-labile phosphorylated residues on Immobilon: phosphorylation studies of nucleoside diphosphate kinase.

We have critically analyzed current methodologies for distinguishing histidine and serine phosphorylated residues in proteins and report a simple technique that assures a reliable discrimination. Electro-transfer of a phosphorylated enzyme to Immobilon membranes and its treatment at pH 1 and 14 in buffers containing 5% methanol allows unambiguous distinction between serine/threonine and histidine phosphorylation (O-phosphomonoesters and phosphoramide, respectively) since under these conditions only one type of residue is dephosphorylated. The addition of 5% methanol to all buffers was indispensable to deplete phosphate from membranes incubated successively under acid and basic conditions. The technique was applied to the study of nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDP kinase) phosphorylation. In this enzyme, autophosphorylation of active site histidine is an accepted intermediate step in the catalytic phosphate transfer activity of nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDP kinase). Nonetheless, a significant degree of autophosphorylation on other residues has been reported by several laboratories, and the hypothesis has been advanced that this nonhistidine phosphorylation may play an important role in NDP kinase cellular function, signaling the suppression of metastasis in the case of human NDP kinase A. Using this improved method, we show that human, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans NDP kinases are only autophosphorylated on histidine residues. In addition, we present evidence that the presence of phosphoserine after strong acid hydrolysis of the histidine autophosphorylated enzyme is in fact a nonenzymatic transphosphorylation from phosphohistidine due to the harsh acid treatment. This methodology was also applied to in vivo phosphorylation studies of C. albicans NDP kinase. We believe that the technique will be generally useful in histidine phosphorylation screenings.

Reassessment of the effect of glucagon and nucleotides on Candida albicans germ tube formation.

The role of cyclic AMP in the process of germ tube formation in Candida albicans was investigated. The exogenous supply of the nucleotide or of agents that raise its intracellular levels stimulated germination induced by N-acetyl-D-glucosamine; glucagon showed this same stimulatory effect on yeast cell transition to the hyphal form. Compounds, included glucagon, that stimulated hyphal formation, also notably enhanced the development of hyphae. The stimulatory effect of glucagon on germination was blocked by the specific antagonist des His1 [Glu9] glucagon amide, probably indicating an interaction of the hormone with a glucagon-like receptor on the membrane of the cells. Indirect immunofluorescence experiments showed that glucagon binds to the yeast cell surface. When N-acetyl-D-glucosamine was replaced by serum as inducing agent of germination, the stimulatory effect of glucagon was substantially augmented, the resulting of germination being more than 2.5-fold greater than that attained in the presence of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine; moreover, the glucagon concentration needed for half maximal stimulatory activity with serum as inducing agent was at least 50-fold lower than with N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. Monoclonal and polyclonal anti-glucagon antibodies blocked the effect of the hormone. An interesting result observed during these experiments was the fact that a definite period of incubation of C. albicans yeast cells with N-acetyl-D-glucosamine as inducer commits them to hyphal development. When serum was used as inducer, only yeast cells evaginated during the initial incubation period evolved to the hyphal form upon further incubation in the absence of serum.

Peptide degradation: effect of substrate phosphorylation on aminopeptidasic hydrolysis.

The effect of substrate phosphorylation on the susceptibility to exopeptidasic attack by leucyl aminopeptidase of swine kidney, alanyl aminopeptidase from human liver and aminopeptidase N of Escherichia coli was investigated using a synthetic heptapeptide (L-R-R-A-S-L-G) and its phosphorylated derivative. The enzyme-catalyzed products were analyzed by thin layer chromatography and electrophoresis. The sensitivities of peptide and phosphopeptide to leucyl aminopeptidase digestion were then compared. Data obtained indicated that when phosphopeptide was used as substrate one main product accumulated, which corresponded to the fragment A-S(P)-L-G, while unphosphorylated peptide was completely degraded to its constituent amino acids. Identical results were obtained using aminopeptidase N of E. coli. Using alanyl aminopeptidase as enzyme, the results obtained were essentially similar, since the exopeptidasic activity on the phosphorylated peptide was strongly hampered in the vicinity of phosphoseryl residue leading to accumulation of the same phosphorylated product, although this enzyme could not completely degrade the unphosphorylated peptide. It was concluded that phosphorylation of substrates does effect enzymic degradation of proteins.

Candida albicans nucleoside-diphosphate kinase: purification and characterization.

Soluble nucleoside-diphosphate kinase (NDP kinase) from Candida albicans was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity and a partial sequence was determined. The enzyme was kinetically and physically characterized. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified enzyme revealed a single polypeptide of 17 kDa upon staining, by immunodetection with heterologous and homologous antibodies, and by autoradiography of the phosphorylated enzyme. Furthermore, isoelectric focusing of the purified native enzyme showed a single acidic band (pI 4.5). These results together with a native molecular mass of 98 kDa suggest a hexameric native enzyme composed of identical subunits. Like NDP kinases from other sources, the catalysis involves a phosphoenzyme intermediate that is rapidly formed upon incubation of the enzyme with ATP. The transfer of phosphate from phosphoprotein intermediate to nucleoside diphosphates is equally fast. Kinetic experiments indicated that GTP and ATP had the lowest Km compared to UTP, dTTP, and CTP. GDP acted as a preferred acceptor as assessed by kinetic measurements as well as by competition experiments. Experimental data are presented indicating the existence of a membrane-associated NDP kinase. Preliminary characterization of this enzyme suggests that cytosolic and membrane-associated NDP kinases are similar proteins.

Steroidogenesis in immature chicken ovary. Hormonal stimulation of adenylyl cyclase system by luteinizing hormone and beta-adrenergic agonists.

The presence of a hormonally responsive adenylyl cyclase in the immature chicken ovary was investigated. We found that there was a highly significant difference (P < 0.05) between basal and LH and catecholamine activatable activities. In addition, the basal activity was stimulated by NaF, forskolin and the non-hydrolyzable GTP analogue guanosine-5'-(beta,gamma-imido)-triphosphate (GMP-P(NH)P. The action of catecholamines on cyclic AMP and progesterone production was also investigated and compared to that of LH. The stimulatory effect of isoproterenol on cyclic AMP and progesterone production was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of LH. The beta-adrenergic antagonist propranolol caused complete inhibition of the stimulatory action of catecholamines. Progesterone accumulation induced by LH or isoproterenol was synergistically augmented by the simultaneous presence of both inducers.

Enzymatic and immunological detection of G protein alpha-subunits in the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans.

GTP stimulation of adenylyl cyclase from the dimorphic pathogenic fungus Candida albicans is greatly enhanced by preincubation of membrane proteins with cholera toxin, NAD and ATP. In the presence of [32P]NAD the toxin catalyzes the covalent incorporation of radioactivity into a membrane protein of 40 kDa. Pertussis toxin catalyzes the transference of the radioactivity from [32P]NAD to a 32 kDa protein. Two major proteins of 40-42 and 30-32 kDa can also be recognized in Western blots by an anti G alpha-common antibody. The results support the idea that G proteins are part of the hormone sensory transduction chain of Candida [(1990) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 167, 1177-1183].

Activation of the cAMP cascade by steroidogenic hormones and glucagon in the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans.

Incubation of Candida albicans yeast cells with human luteinizing hormone (hLH), human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) or glucagon produced a significant rise in cAMP total levels. The effect of these hormones in permeabilized cells of the fungus produced a 2-3 fold increase in the Mg2+, GTP-dependent adenylyl cyclase activity as well as full activation of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) activity. These results indicate that the interaction of the mammalian hormones with the fungus triggered the cAMP activation cascade in a similar way to that found in higher eukaryotic organisms.

Isolation and characterization of a dimeric cAMP-dependent protein kinase from the fungus Saccobolus platensis.

A cAMP-dependent protein kinase from mycelia of Saccobolus platensis was characterized. The holoenzyme seems to be a dimer (i.e., regulatory subunit--catalytic subunit) of 78,000 Da, slightly activated by cAMP but susceptible to dissociation into its subunits by cAMP, or by kemptide and protamine, the best substrates for Saccobolus protein kinase. The regulatory subunit was purified to homogeneity by affinity chromatography. It is highly specific for cAMP and has two types of binding sites but failed to inhibit the phosphotransferase activity of the homologous or the heterologous (bovine heart) catalytic components. The activity of the catalytic subunit was completely abolished by the regulatory component of the bovine heart protein kinase as well as by a synthetic peptide corresponding to the active site of the mammalian protein kinase inhibitor. The data suggest that interaction between the subunits of the S. platensis protein kinase is different than that found in cAMP-dependent protein kinases from other sources. Similarities and differences between the Saccobolus protein kinase and enzymes from low eucaryotes and mammalian tissues are discussed.

A guanine nucleotide-sensitive, glucagon-stimulated adenylyl cyclase in Candida albicans: effect of glucagon on cell morphology.

GTP, GTP-gamma-S and Gpp(NH)p produced a significant activation of Mg2(+)-dependent adenylyl cyclase in permeabilized cells of Candida albicans. This activation was inhibited by GDP-beta-S. Maximal stimulation (4-6 fold) was obtained when Mg2+ and GTP-gamma-S were added during permeabilization. The guanine nucleotide-stimulated activity could be further activated by glucagon in a dose dependent manner being the maximal stimulation (4-5 fold) attained at 10(-6) M glucagon. Addition of the hormone to yeast cells incubated under conditions conducive to produce germ tubes blocked hyphal development and promoted multibudded cell morphology.

cAMP levels and in situ measurement of cAMP related enzymes during yeast-to-hyphae transition in Candida albicans.

Intracellular levels of cAMP and specific activities of adenylate cyclase, cAMP phosphodiesterase and cAMP-dependent protein kinase were measured during filamentation in the dimorphic fungus Candida albicans. Enzymatic assays were performed in permeabilized cells under conditions prevented endogenous proteolysis. The variations observed in cAMP levels were mainly accounted for by variations in the specific activities of adenylate cyclase and cAMP phosphodiesterase at different stages during germ tube formation. cAMP-dependent protein kinase, measured with kemptide as exogenous substrate, was developmental regulated. Some properties of the enzymatic activities from cell-free extracts are described.

Cyclic AMP as an intracellular messenger of gonadotrophin-induced steroidogenesis during the development of the embryonic chick ovary.

(1) Ovine luteinizing hormone (LH) stimulates cyclic AMP (cAMP) and progesterone production (P) throughout late ontogeny of the chick ovary and cAMP mimicks LH in stimulating P secretion but: (2) P/cAMP ratios are lower at the earliest stages than at hatching, LH enhancing this tendency. (3) Immediately before hatching, on day 19 time-courses of LH stimulations of cAMP and P are different. (4) cAMP and P respond differently to increasing doses of LH but similarly to increasing doses of forskolin. (5) 1.5 mM dibutyryl cAMP (I) and 100 ng LH (II) increase P maximally, 2.5- and 3.3-fold respectively, but a mixture (I + II) increases P 7.5-fold.

A radioactive method for the measurement of trypsin and trypsin-like activities.

A simple and highly sensitive method for the assay of trypsin has been developed by making use of the phosphorylated synthetic peptide Leu-Arg-Arg-Ala-Ser-(32P)-Leu-Gly as substrate. The technique has been adapted from the phosphocellulose method of R. Roskoski, Jr. (in Methods in Enzymology (Corbin, J., and Hardman, J., Eds.), Vol. 99, pp. 3-6, Academic Press, New York) used for measuring of protein kinases. In addition to measuring the activity of trypsin at the microgram level, the 32P-labeled peptide method can be used for measuring other trypsin-like enzymes. It has been successfully utilized for the identification of a new peptidase from the fungus Saccobolus platensis.

Two different intrachain cAMP sites in the cAMP-dependent protein kinase of the dimorphic fungus Mucor rouxii.

cAMP sites of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase from the fungus Mucor rouxii have been characterized through the study of the effects of cAMP and of cAMP analogs on the phosphotransferase activity and through binding kinetics. The tetrameric holoenzyme, which contains two regulatory (R) and two catalytic (C) subunits, exhibited positive cooperativity in activation by cAMP, suggesting multiple cAMP-binding sites. Several other results indicated that the Mucor kinase contained two different cooperative cAMP-binding sites on each R subunit, with properties similar to those of the mammalian cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Under optimum binding conditions, the [3H]cAMP dissociation behavior indicated equal amounts of two components which had dissociation rate constants of 0.09 min-1 (site 1) and 0.90 min-1 (site 2) at 30 degrees C. Two cAMP-binding sites could also be distinguished by C-8 cAMP analogs (site-1-selective) and C-6 cAMP analogs (site-2-selective); combinations of site-1- and site-2-selective analogs were synergistic in protein kinase activation. The two different cooperative binding sites were probably located on the same R subunit, since the proteolytically derived dimeric form of the enzyme, which contained one R and one C component, retained the salient properties of the untreated tetrameric enzyme. Unlike any of the mammalian cyclic-nucleotide-dependent isozymes described thus far, the Mucor kinase was much more potently activated by C-6 cAMP analogs than by C-8 cAMP analogs. In the ternary complex formed by the native Mucor tetramer and cAMP, only the two sites 1 contained bound cAMP, a feature which has also not yet been demonstrated for the mammalian cAMP-dependent protein kinase.