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F M Menger

Publications and source records attributed to F M Menger.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Analysis of ground-state and transition-state effects in enzyme catalysis.

"The entire and sole source of catalytic power is the stabilization of the transition state; reactant-state interactions are by nature inhibitory and only waste catalytic power". So reads a literature quote expressing the current view on enzyme catalysis proposed by Pauling over 40 years ago. Its validity is now examined by means of a "split-site" model in which an active site is subdivided into a region of binding and a region of reaction. Analysis of the resulting free energy levels clarifies several points of confusion regarding the nature of enzyme catalysis, including why enzyme/substrate complexes form if, indeed, they only "waste catalytic power". Circumstances are defined in which an evolving enzyme can both lower Km (i.e., enhance substrate binding) and improve the forward catalytic rate while never meddling with the transition structure at the reactive site. It is argued that this process is most advantageously viewed as a substrate destabilization embodying "conserved" interactions at the binding region. Classical transition-state stabilization and an "anti-Pauling" effect are both capable of inducing rate accelerations. In certain circumstances, the latter can predominate as it does with many enzyme-like intramolecular reactions. Behavioral modes discussed herein are applicable to the chemistry of catalytic host/guest and enzyme systems.

Catalysis↗
PubMed1991

Evidence for the regulation of the activity of protein kinase C through changes in membrane properties.

We measured the effects of two branched-chain analogs of distearoyl-phosphatidylcholine, containing either a methyl or an n-butyl group at the 8 position, on the bilayer to hexagonal phase transition temperature of dielaidoylphosphatidylethanolamine. The former compound raised the bilayer to hexagonal phase transition temperature while the latter compound lowered it. The opposite effects of these amphiphiles on protein kinase C activity (inhibition and activation, respectively) correlated with their effects on lipid polymorphism. Because of the similarity of the structures of these two compounds, it seems likely that their opposite effects on the activity of protein kinase C is a result of their alteration of the lipid environment of the membrane rather than to binding to a specific site on the protein. We also compared the effects of hexachlorophene on lipid polymorphism and protein kinase C activity at high and at low calcium concentrations. We also found that the effect of hexachlorophene forming a complex with Ca2+ is to increase both the hexagonal phase forming propensity of the membrane as well as to increase the activity of protein kinase C, again demonstrating the correlation between lipid phase propensity and effects on protein kinase C activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Structure-activity relationship of synthetic branched-chain distearoylglycerol (distearin) as protein kinase C activators.

Several representative branched-chain analogues of distearin (DS) were synthesized and tested for their abilities to activate protein kinase C (PKC) and to compete for the binding of [3H]phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) to the enzyme. Substitutions of stearoyl moieties at sn-1 and sn-2 with 8-methylstearate decreased activities on these parameters, relative to those of the parental diacylglycerol DS, a weak PKC activator. Substitutions with 8-butyl, 4-butyl, or 8-phenyl derivatives, on the other hand, increased activities of the resulting analogues to levels comparable to those seen for diolein (DO), a diacylglycerol prototype shown to be a potent PKC activator. Kinetic analysis indicated that 8-methyldistearin (8-MeDS) acted by decreasing, whereas 8-butyldistearin (8-BuDS) and 8-phenyldistearin (8-PhDS) acted by increasing, the affinities of PKC for phosphatidylserine (PS, a phospholipid cofactor) and Ca2+ compared to the values seen in the absence or presence of DS. The stimulatory effect of 8-BuDS and 8-PhDS on PKC, as DO, was additive to that of 1,2-(8-butyl)distearoylphosphatidylcholine [1,2(8-Bu)DSPC] and, moreover, they abolished the marked inhibition of the enzyme activity caused by high concentrations of 1,2(8-Bu)DSPC. The present findings demonstrated a structure-activity relationship of the branched-chain DS analogues in the regulation of PKC, perhaps related to their abilities to specifically modify interactions of PKC with PS and/or Ca2+ critically involved in enzyme activation/inactivation.

Binding, Competitive↗
PubMed1988

Synthetic branched-chain analogues of distearoylphosphatidylcholine: structure-activity relationship in inhibiting and activating protein kinase C.

A series of distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC) analogues having various branched alkyl chains were synthesized and tested for their abilities to regulate protein kinase C (PKC). The greatest improvement (about 3-fold) in the PKC inhibitory activity over that seen for the parental lipid (i.e., DSPC) was accomplished by substitution of 8-methylstearate at sn-2 and 16-methylstearate at both sn-1 and sn-2 positions of glycerol; substitutions at both sn-1 and sn-2 with 8-methylstearate, on the other hand, caused a decrease (about 4-fold) in its inhibitory activity. Introduction of butyl, phenyl, or keto functions to various positions in the fatty alkyl chain substituted at both sn-1- and sn-2 positions imparted upon the DSPC analogues an ability to potently stimulate PKC to an extent comparable to those attainable by diacylglycerol or phorbol ester; the analogues having substitution only at the sn-2 position, in comparison, had no or reduced stimulatory activity. The butyl, phenyl, and keto analogues of DSPC, as with DSPC itself and its methyl analogues, inhibited PKC at high concentrations. Kinetic analysis indicated that the methyl DSPC analogues inhibited the enzyme competitively with respect to phosphatidylserine (PS; a phospholipid cofactor) and Ca2+. The butyl analogues activated the enzyme without affecting its affinity for PS or Ca2+, indicating a mechanism different from that seen for diacylglycerol or phorbol ester. The inhibitory activity of the methyl DSPC analogues and the stimulatory activity of the butyl DSPC analogues were reduced when PKC was activated by phorbol ester. Both classes of the analogues were unable to compete for the binding of [3H]phorbol dibutyrate to PKC.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Calcium Chloride↗