Non-competitive inhibition of ornithine decarboxylase by a phosphopeptide and phosphoamino acids.

In Tetrahymena pyriformis the cytosolic ornithine decarboxylase (L-ornithine carboxy-lyase, EC 4.1.1.17) activity is considerably inhibited by the presence of polyamines in the growth medium, while the nuclear ornithine decarboxylase is only slightly affected. Experimental evidence suggests that the presence of putrescine and/or spermidine elicits the appearance of non-competitive inhibitors of ornithine decarboxylase. One of the inhibitors has a molecular weight of 25,000 and properties of antizyme. In addition, two other low molecular weight inhibitors are extracted, one which is a phosphoserine oligopeptide, and the other which is phosphotyrosine. All inhibit non-competitively the homologous and heterologous (Escherichia coli and rat liver) ornithine decarboxylases. Similarly, non-competitive inhibition was obtained when the commercially available phosphoamino acids were tested against the already mentioned ornithine decarboxylases.

In vitro alterations of L-asparaginase activity of Tetrahymena pyriformis by lipids.

A membrane-bound L-asparaginase (EC 3.5.1.1) of Tetrahymena pyriformis was purified to homogeneity. The purified enzyme is a lipoprotein, since it is inactivated by phospholipase C and its activity is restored by the addition of naturally occurring lipids, such as phosphatidylcholine, triolein and oleyl acetate. The relative effectiveness of a variety of phospholipids, free saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, or neutral lipids, such as esters of fatty acids and glycerides, with respect to the activation of purified L-asparaginase is compared. Enzyme activity is reconstituted in the presence of lipids and evidence for the formation of an enzyme-phospholipid complex is presented. The data of this report suggest that L-asparaginase may have a requirement for lipids that reconstitute a physiological hydrophobic environment, similar to the one existing in vivo.

A model for the regulation of the activity of L-asparaginase/ kinase enzyme of Tetrahymena pyriformis.

L-Asparaginase of Tetrahymena pyriformis is a lipoprotein with relative M(r) approximately 200 kDa and one subunit size of 39 kDa. This enzyme also exhibits protein kinase activity and it is autophosphorylated in tyrosine residues. Phosphorylation-dephosphorylation of L-asparaginase resulted in complete loss or activation by more than 10-fold of its catalytic activity. Both native and dephosphorylated forms of L-asparaginase are inactivated by phospholipase C and this inactivation can be reversed by the addition of lipids. Based on these results a working hypothesis is suggested that L-asparaginase of T. pyriformis exists in four interconvertible forms: Form A, phosphorylated complexed with lipids, form HA, dephosphorylated (highly active), form I, free of lipids, (inactive) and form B, free of lipids and phosphate.

L-asparaginase of Tetrahymena pyriformis is associated with a kinase activity.

Most of L-asparaginase activity of Tetrahymena pyriformis was found to be present in microsomal membranes from which it has been purified to homogeneity (Tsirka, S.A.E. and Kyriakidis, D.A. Mol. Cell. Biochem. 83: 147-155, 1988). The native enzyme has a relative molecular weight of approximately 200 kDa, while under denaturing conditions the enzyme exhibits a subunit size of 39 kDa. Aminoacid analysis and an oligopeptide from N-terminal sequence have been determined. Dephosphorylation of L-asparaginase by alkaline phosphatase results in an activation of its catalytic activity. This enzyme also exhibits intrinsic phosphorylation activity with a Km value for ATP of 0.5 mM. Autophosphorylation with [gamma-32P] ATP of purified L-asparaginase results in the phosphorylation of tyrosine residues as well as in loss of its activity. Mg2+ and Ca2+ added together act synergistically to stimulate the kinase activity by more than 160%. The polyamines putrescine, spermidine and spermine activate the kinase approximately 100%, while neither cAMP or cGMP have any effect. These results indicate that this membrane protein with dual L-asparaginase/kinase activity must play an important role in regulating the intracellular levels of L-asparagine in Tetrahymena pyriformis.

Antiproliferative activity of L-asparaginase of Tetrahymena pyriformis on human breast cancer cell lines.

Purified L-asparaginase of Tetrahymena pyriformis is a multi-subunit enzyme exhibiting protein kinase activity as well. The enzyme's L-asparaginase activity is affected by its phosphorylation state. Both native and dephosphorylated L-asparaginase show antiproliferative activity on three breast cancer cell lines (T47D, BT20 and MCF-7) and on Walker 256 cells. These cells do not possess measurable L-asparaginase or L-asparagine synthetase activity. When T47D cells are treated for different times with L-asparaginase and then placed in fresh medium, the growth of cells treated for 1, 3, or 6 hours is initiated and parallels control curve, while the growth of cells treated for 24 or 48 hours with L-asparaginase stays at the same inhibitory level (24 h treatment) or continues to drop (48 h treatment). Addition of D-asparagine, a competitive inhibitor of T. pyriformis L-asparaginase, counteracts the antiproliferative activity of L-asparaginase, indicating that L-asparaginase and not the kinase activity is responsible for that effect.