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E E Conn

Publications and source records attributed to E E Conn.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Properties of a microsomal enzyme system from Linum usitatissimum (linen flax) which oxidizes valine to acetone cyanohydrin and isoleucine to 2-methylbutanone cyanohydrin.

Microsomal preparations from flax seedlings have recently been shown to convert L-valine to acetone cyanohydrin, the precursor of the cyanogenic glucoside linamarin [A. J. Cutler and E. E. Conn (1981) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 212, 468-474]. Further details of this four-step biosynthetic sequence and also details of the analogous reactions in lotaustralin biosynthesis have been obtained. The lotaustralin precursor, 2-methylbutyraldoxime, is the best substrate for cyanide production (Vmax = 413 nmol h-1 g fresh wt-1) and inhibits the conversion of valine and isoleucine into products. Similarly, the linamarin precursor isobutyraldoxime is an excellent substrate (Vmax = 400 nmol h-1 g fresh wt-1) and also inhibits oxidation of the amino acids. The substrate specificity of the oxime-metabolizing step is low and a variety of aliphatic oximes are converted to cyanide. On the other hand, the activity of the microsomal extract is highly selective with regard to the amino acid substrate since, of the aliphatic amino acids tested, only valine and isoleucine are metabolized. We were unable to demonstrate product formation from isobutyronitrile (a linamarin precursor) but did observe detectable cyanide formation from 2-methylcyanobutane, the corresponding precursor of lotaustralin. Competition experiments showed that the biosynthesis of linamarin and lotaustralin is not likely to be catalyzed by separate enzyme systems.

Chromatography, Gas↗
PubMed1985

Isolation and characterization of two cyanogenic beta-glucosidases from flax seeds.

Two cyanogenic beta-glucosidases, linustatinase and linamarase, were isolated and purified from flax seeds (Linum ussitatissimum). They catalyze the sequential hydrolysis of linustatin and neolinustatin to yield acetone and methylethyl ketone cyanohydrins, respectively. The purification procedure for linustatinase involved acetone extraction, precipitation by polyethyleneimine and ammonium sulfate (40-80% saturation), and Red A gel, concanavalin A-Sepharose, and PBE 94 column chromatography; that for linamarase was similar except that polyethyleneimine precipitation was eliminated and DE-52 and Sepharose CL-6B replaced Red A gel column chromatography. The native substrates neolinustatin and linamarin were used for the assay during purification. Both proteins were purified to electrophoretic homogeneity. Linustatinase is an alpha beta dimer (molecular weights of alpha and beta = 39,000 and 19,000, respectively) while linamarase appears to be an alpha 5 beta 5 decamer (molecular weights of alpha and beta = 62,500 and 65,000, respectively). Both enzymes contain mannose or glucose. Linustatinase exists in five different isozymic forms (isoelectric points between 7 and 8) whereas linamarase occurs in one major form (isoelectric point 4 to 5). The kinetic parameters of the two enzymes are similar: acidic pH optima, Km's in the millimolar range, and competitive inhibition by delta-gluconolactone, a transition state analog. The presence of an aglycone structure in the substrates is important for both enzyme activities. In addition, both enzymes are specific towards the beta-glycosidic linkage; linustatinase (a beta-bis-glucosidase) readily hydrolyzes beta-bis-glucosides with 1,6 and 1,3 linkages whereas linamarase (a beta-monoglucosidase) exhibits little activity towards these substrates.

Amygdalin↗
PubMed1985

Chorismate mutase isoenzymes from Sorghum bicolor: purification and properties.

Two forms of chorismate mutase (EC 5.4.99.5), designated as CM-1 and CM-2, have been detected in etiolated seedlings of Sorghum bicolor after DEAE-cellulose chromatography. CM-1 and CM-2 contained 44 and 56%, respectively, of the total activity measured after DEAE-cellulose chromatography. CM-1 was activated by tryptophan and inhibited by phenylalanine and tyrosine. In contrast, CM-2 was insensitive to all three aromatic amino acids. CM-1 and CM-2 were purified 1389- and 1018-fold, respectively, by anion exchange, hydrophobic, and dye matrix chromatography. The molecular weights estimated by gel filtration on Sephacryl S-200 were 56,000 for CM-1 and 48,000 for CM-2. Subunit molecular weights of the two forms were estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis at 36,000 and 51,000 for CM-1 and CM-2, respectively. Tryptophan was required for the stability of CM-1 at all stages of purification. Both isoenzymes were stable at 0 or -20 degrees C and had broad pH optima (6-10 for CM-1 and 7.5-9.5 for CM-2).

Chorismate Mutase↗
PubMed1985

Subcellular and Developmental Distribution of beta-Cyanoalanine Synthase in Barley Leaves.

The subcellular and developmental distribution of beta-cyanoalanine synthase (EC 4.4.1.9), which catalyzes the reaction between cysteine and HCN to form beta-cyanoalanine and H(2)S, were investigated in barley (Hordeum vulgare) leaves. Total leaf activity was 1.1 micromoles per minute per gram fresh weight. Sucrose density gradients of lysed mesophyll protoplasts of barley revealed the exclusive or predominant localization of beta-cyanoalanine synthase in the mitochondria. The enzyme was absent from both vacuole and chloroplast fractions.beta-Cyanoalanine synthase activity was distributed over the entire length of the barley leaf. Activity was dependent on the developmental stage, with a 3.5-fold higher activity in the oldest (apical) compared to the youngest (basal) parts of the leaf. The corresponding difference in activity for mesophyll protoplasts isolated from these parts was 7.5-fold. In younger leaf seagments, the nonchlorophyllous tissues accounted for up to 70% of the total beta-cyanoalanine synthase activity. These results are discussed with reference to the formation of HCN as a substrate in barley leaves.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1984

Tissue Distribution of beta-Cyanoalanine Synthase in Leaves.

beta-Cyanoalanine synthase, which catalyzes the reaction between cysteine and HCN to form beta-cyanoalanine and H(2)S, was assayed in leaf tissues from cyanogenic (Sorghum bicolor x Sorghum sudanense [sorghum]) and noncyanogenic (Pisum sativum [pea], Zea mays [maize], and Allium porrum [leek]) plants. The activity in whole leaf extracts ranged from 33 nanomoles per gram fresh weight per minute in leeks, to 1940 nanomoles per gram fresh weight per minute in sorghum. The specific activities of beta-cyanoalanine synthase in epidermal protoplasts from maize and sorghum and in epidermal tissues from peas were in each case greater than the corresponding values for mesophyll protoplasts or tissues, or for strands of bundle sheath cells.THE TISSUE DISTRIBUTIONS FOR THIS ENZYME WERE DETERMINED FOR PEA, LEEK, AND SORGHUM: the mesophyll protoplasts and tissues in these three plants contained 65% to 78% of the enzyme, while epidermal protoplasts and tissues contained 10% to 35% of the total leaf activity. In sorghum, the bundle sheath strands contained 13% of the leaf activity. The presence of beta-cyanoalanine synthase in all tissues and species studied suggests a fundamental role for this enzyme in plant metabolism.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1982

Tissue Distributions of Chlorogenic Acid and of Enzymes Involved in Its Metabolism in Leaves of Sorghum bicolor.

The tissue distributions of cholorgenic acid, chlorogenic acid oxidase, and three other enzymes involved in the metabolism of this secondary (natural) product have been investigated in leaf-blades of light-grown seedlings of Sorghum bicolor. Cholorogenic acid was found only in epidermal and mesophyll protoplasts isolated from the leaf; 60% of the chlorogenic was contained in the epidermal fraction. Nearly all (90%) of the chlorogenic acid oxidase was found in the mesophyll protoplasts. The bundle-sheath strands, on the other hand, contained no chlorogenic acid and essentially none of the oxidase. Three other enzymes required for the synthesis of chlorogenic acid, but also for other plant products, were found in all three tissue fractions.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1982

Subcellular Localization of a UDP-Glucose:Aldehyde Cyanohydrin beta-Glucosyl Transferase in Epidermal Plastids of Sorghum Leaf Blades.

Epidermal and mesophyll protoplasts, prepared from leaf blades of 6-day-old light-grown Sorghum bicolor seedlings were separated by differential sedimentation and assayed for a number of enzymes. The epidermal protoplasts contained higher levels of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase (EC 1.6.2.4), triose phosphate isomerase (EC 5.3.1.1), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (EC 4.1.1.31), and a UDP-glucose:cyanohydrin beta-glucosyl transferase (EC 2.4.1.85), but lower levels of NADP(+) triosephosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.13) than did mesophyll protoplasts. When protoplast preparations were lysed and applied to linear sucrose density gradients, triosephosphate isomerase was found to be present in epidermal plastids. A significant fraction (41%) of the glucosyl transferase activity was also associated with the epidermal plastids.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1981

The in vitro biosynthesis of taxiphyllin and the channeling of intermediates in Triglochin maritima.

The in vitro biosynthesis of the cyanogenic glucoside taxiphyllin has recently been demonstrated in Triglochin maritima (Hösel, W., and Nahrstedt, A. (1980) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 203, 753-757). We have now studied in more detail the multistep conversion of tyrosine into p-hydroxymandelonitrile, the immediate precursor of taxiphyllin, catalyzed by microsomes isolated from dark-grown seedlings. The biosynthetic pathway involves N-hydroxytyrosine, p-hydroxyphenylacetaldoxime, and p-hydroxyphenylacetonitrile. In marked contrast to an analogous pathway in Sorghum bicolor, p-hydroxyphenylacetonitrile is the best substrate for cyanide production (Vmax = 224 nmol/h/g, fresh wt) and the physiological substrate tyrosine is the poorest (Vmax = 18.8 nmol/h/g, fresh wt). The substrates exhibit alkaline pH optima between 7.5 and 9, and all except tyrosine show pronounced substrate inhibition. We have found that p-hydroxyphenylacetonitrile generated in situ from tyrosine is free to equilibrate by diffusion with exogenous material. On the other hand, neither N-hydroxytyrosine nor p-hydroxyphenylacetaldoxime will readily exchange with exogenous intermediates. We consider both N-hydroxytyrosine and p-hydroxyphenylacetaldoxime to be channeled in T. maritima, whereas in S. bicolor N-hydroxytyrosine and p-hydroxyphenylacetonitrile are channeled and the aldoxime is freely exchangeable.

Carbon Radioisotopes↗
PubMed1981

Subcellular Localization of Dhurrin beta-Glucosidase and Hydroxynitrile Lyase in the Mesophyll Cells of Sorghum Leaf Blades.

Studies with purified mesophyll and epidermal protoplasts and bundle sheath strands have shown that the cyanogenic glucoside dhurrin (p-hydroxy-(S)-mandelonitrile-beta-d-glucoside) is localized in the epidermis of sorghum leaves whereas the enzymes involved in its degradation (dhurrin beta-glucosidase and hydroxynitrile lyase) are localized in the mesophyll tissue (Kojima M, JE Poulton, SS Thayer, EE Conn 1979 Plant Physiol 63: 1022-1028). The subcellular localization of these enzymes has now been examined using linear 30 to 55% (w/w) sucrose gradients by fractionation of mesophyll protoplast components. The hydroxynitrile lyase is found in the supernatant fractions suggesting a cytoplasmic (soluble cytoplasm, microsomal or vacuolar location). The dhurrin beta-glucosidase (dhurrinase) is particulate and mostly chloroplast-associated. The dhurrinase activity peak has a shoulder of activity more dense than that of the intact chloroplasts. This shoulder does not coincide with markers of any other cell fraction.In studies of chloroplasts isolated from ruptured mesophyll protoplasts by differential, low-speed centrifugation, the dhurrinase partitions in the same manner as the chloroplast marker triose phosphate dehydrogenase. Chloroplast localization of the beta-glucosidase has also been shown in histochemical studies using 6-bromo-2-naphthyl-beta-d-glucoside substrate coupled with fast Blue B.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1981

Subcellular Localization of 2-(beta-d-Glucosyloxy)-Cinnamic Acids and the Related beta-glucosidase in Leaves of Melilotus alba Desr.

The distribution of the glucosides of trans- and cis-2-hydroxy cinnamic acid and of the beta-glucosidase which hydrolyzes the latter glucoside was examined in preparations of epidermal and mesophyll tissue obtained from leaves of sweet clover (Melilotus alba Desr.). The concentrations of glucosides in the two tissues were about equal when compared on the basis of fresh or dry weight. Inasmuch as the epidermal layers account for no more than 10% of the leaf volume, the mesophyll tissue contains 90% or more of the glucosides. Vacuoles isolated from mesophyll protoplasts contained all of the glucosides present initially in the protoplasts.The specific activities of the beta-glucosidase in the two tissues were also similar; thus, most of the enzyme is contained in mesophyll tissue. However, the amount of enzyme in mesophyll protoplast extracts amounts to only 1 to 2% of the activity present in leaf homogenates when chlorophyll was the basis for comparison. (This small amount of coumarin-beta-glucosidase present in protoplasts is not associated with chlorophyll-containing fractions.) In contrast, 90% of the uridine diphosphate glucose-o-coumaric acid glucosyl transferase activity present in leaf homogenate was recoverable in protoplasts prepared from intact leaves. Such results indicate that most of the coumarin-beta-glucosidase in M. alba leaves is located in the extracytoplasmic space. Only a small fraction (7%) of this extra cytoplasmic beta-glucosidase was associated with individual cells or cell clusters isolated from clover leaves.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1980

The biosynthesis of cyanogenic glucosides in higher plants. Channeling of intermediates in dhurrin biosynthesis by a microsomal system from Sorghum bicolor (linn) Moench.

The biosynthetic pathway for the cyanogenic glucoside, dhurrin, involves the following intermediates: L-tyrosine, N-hydroxytyrosine, p-hydroxyphenylacetaldoxime, p-hydroxyphenylacetonitrile, and p-hydroxymandelonitrile. N-Hydroxytyrosine and p-hydroxy-phenylacetonitrile produced from L-tyrosine by microsomes from seedlings of Sorghum bicolor are utilized more effectively as substrates than exogenously added N-hydroxytyrosine and p-hydroxyphenylacetonitrile. The minimum values for the channeling ratios are 25 for N-hydroxytyrosine and 115 for p-hydroxyphenylacetonitrile. On the other hand, p-hydroxyphenylacetaldoxime produced internally exchanges readily with exogenously added p-hydroxyphenylacetaldoxime. These results indicate that the biosynthetic pathway is catalyzed by two mutienzyme complexes or by two multifunctional proteins and explain why the rate of the overall sequential reaction starting from L-tyrosine is greater than the rates of reaction initiated later in the sequence with the known intermediates N-hydroxytyrosine and p-hydroxyphenylacetonitrile. Attempts to cross-link chemically the last enzyme in the pathway, a soluble UDP-glucose glucosyl-transferase, to the microsomal system were unsuccesful.

Carbon Radioisotopes↗
PubMed1980

Intracellular Localization of Two Enzymes Involved in Coumarin Biosynthesis in Melilotus alba.

The localization of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase [EC 4.3.1.5] within sweet clover (Melilotus alba) leaves was investigated. Apical buds and axillary leaves contained 15 to 30 times more enzyme activity than did mature leaves. Mesophyll protoplasts were prepared by digesting young leaves with Cellulysin and Macerase and were gently ruptured yielding intact chloroplasts. These chloroplast preparations exhibited neither phenylalanine ammonia-lyase nor o-coumaric acid O-glucosyltransferase activities. The general enzymic properties of sweet clover leaf phenylalanine ammonia-lyase were similar to those described for this enzyme isolated from other plant species. The conversion of l-phenylalanine to trans-cinnamic acid, which occurred at an optimum pH of about 8.7, was strongly inhibited by the metabolites trans-cinnamic and o-coumaric acids. In contrast, o-coumaric acid glucoside, coumarin, p-coumaric acid, and melilotic acid had no significant effect on the reaction rate.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1980

Metabolism of hydrogen cyanide by higher plants.

A survey has been made of the occurrence and distribution of three enzymes which metabolize cyanide in a variety of higher plants including both cyanogenic and non-cyanogenic species. The enzymes investigated were beta-cyanoalanine synthase, rhodanese and formamide hydrolyase. beta-Cyanoalanine synthase was found to be present in every higher plant tested whereas rhodanese was found to occur far less commonly in plants. Formamide hydrolyase activity was not detected in any of the higher plants tested.In addition, quantitative analyses have been made of the potential hydrogen cyanide content of each plant investigated. A general trend was apparent between the hydrogen cyanide potential and cyanide metabolizing activity, in that the higher the hydrogen cyanide potential, in general, the higher the cyanide metabolizing activity.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1979

The biosynthesis of cyanogenic glucosides in higher plants. N-Hydroxytyrosine as an intermediate in the biosynthesis of dhurrin by Sorghum bicolor (Linn) Moench.

The following compounds were tested as early intermediates in the conversion of tyrosine to p-hydroxymandelonitrile by a microsomal preparation from dark grown sorghum seedlings: p-hydroxyphenylacetamide, 1-nitro-2-p-hydroxyphenylethane, p-hydroxyphenyl-pyruvic acid oxime, tyramine, N-hydroxytyramine, and N-hydroxytyrosine. Of these, only N-hydroxytyrosine was metabolized to p-hydroxymandelonitrile. N-Hydroxytyrosine was produced from L-[U-14C]tyrosine in tracer experiments when unlabeled N-hydroxytyrosine was added as a trap. These data indicate N-hydroxytyrosine as the first intermediate in the biosynthesis of dhurrin, the cyanogenic glucoside of sorghum, and represent the first demonstration of the formation of an alpha-N-hydroxy-amino acid in a biological system. The enzyme system involved in this reaction was partially characterized with respect to substrate specificity and the effect of various inhibitors. The enzyme was shown to have properties different than those reported for the mammalian enzyme system(s) involved in the N-hydroxylation of amine drugs. The possible involvement of N-hydroxyamino acids in the biosynthesis of other secondary plant products is discussed.

Glucosides↗
PubMed1979

Biosynthesis of cyanogenic glycosides.

Cyanogenic glycosides are secondary plant compounds that occur widely in the plant kingdom. They are the source of HCN which can render the plant toxic if it is taken as food. The enzymes responsible for production of the HCN have long been known. More recent biosynthetic studies have established certain protein amino acids as precursors of the aglycones, and indicate N-hydroxyamino acids, aldoximes, nitriles and alpha-hydroxynitriles as intermediates. In sorghum the several biosynthetic enzymes catalyzing the flow of carbon atoms from L-tyrosine through such nitrogenous intermediates are located in a membrane fraction and may be capable of metabolic channeling.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1979

Tissue Distributions of Dhurrin and of Enzymes Involved in Its Metabolism in Leaves of Sorghum bicolor.

The tissue distributions of dhurrin [p-hydroxy-(S)-mandelonitrile-beta-d-glucoside] and of enzymes involved in its metabolism have been investigated in leaf blades of light-grown Sorghum bicolor seedlings. Enzymic digestion of these leaves using cellulase has enabled preparations of epidermal and mesophyll protoplasts and bundle sheath strands to be isolated with only minor cross-contamination. Dhurrin was located entirely in the epidermal layers of the leaf blade, whereas the two enzymes responsible for its catabolism, namely dhurrin beta-glucosidase and hydroxynitrile lyase, resided almost exclusively in the mesophyll tissue. The final enzyme of dhurrin biosynthesis, uridine diphosphate glucose:p-hydroxymandelonitrile glucosyltransferase, was found in both mesophyll (32% of the total activity of the leaf blade) and epidermal (68%) tissues. The bundle sheath strands did not contain significant amounts of dhurrin or of these enzymes. It was concluded that the separation of dhurrin and its catabolic enzymes in different tissues prevents its large scale hydrolysis under normal physiological conditions. The well documented production of HCN (cyanogenesis), which occurs rapidly on crushing Sorghum leaves, would be expected to proceed when the contents of the ruptured epidermal and mesophyll cells are allowed to mix.

Journal Article↗