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J M Denu

Publications and source records attributed to J M Denu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Calcium-mediated inactivation of the MAP kinase pathway in sea urchin eggs at fertilization.

We have evaluated the regulation of a 43-kDa MAP kinase in sea urchin eggs. Both MAP kinase and MEK (MAP kinase kinase) are phosphorylated and active in unfertilized eggs while both are dephosphorylated and inactivated after fertilization, although with distinct kinetics. Reactivation of MEK or the 43-kDa MAP kinase prior to or during the first cell division was not detected. Confocal immunolocalization microscopy revealed that phosphorylated (active) MAP kinase is present primarily in the nucleus of the unfertilized egg, with some of the phosphorylated form in the cytoplasm as well. Incubation of unfertilized eggs in the MEK inhibitor U0126 (0.5 microM) resulted in the inactivation of MEK and MAP kinase within 30 min. Incubation in low concentrations of U0126 (sufficient to inactivate MEK and MAP kinase) after fertilization had no effect on progression through the embryonic cell cycle. Microinjection of active mammalian MAP kinase phosphatase (MKP-3) resulted in inactivation of MAP kinase in unfertilized eggs, as did addition of MKP-3 to lysates of unfertilized eggs. Incubation of unfertilized eggs in the Ca(2+) ionophore A23187 led to inactivation of MEK and MAP kinase with the same kinetics as observed with sperm-induced egg activation. This suggests that calcium may be deactivating MEK and/or activating a MAP kinase-directed phosphatase. A cell-free system was used to evaluate the activation of phosphatase separately from MEK inactivation. Unfertilized egg lysates were treated with U0126 to inactivate MEK and then Ca(2+) was added. This resulted in increased MAP kinase phosphatase activity. Therefore, MAP kinase inactivation at fertilization in sea urchin eggs likely is the result of a combination of MEK inactivation and phosphatase activation that are directly or indirectly responsive to Ca(2+).

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Mutational analysis of conserved residues in the GCN5 family of histone acetyltransferases.

GCN5 is a critical transcriptional co-activator and is the defining member of a large superfamily of N-acetyltransferases. GCN5 catalyzes the transfer of an acetyl group from acetyl-CoA to the epsilon-amino of lysine 14 within the core H3 histone protein. Previous biochemical analyses have indicated a fully ordered kinetic mechanism. Recent structural studies have implicated several conserved residues in catalysis and substrate binding. Here the roles of Glu-173, His-145, and Asp-214 in yeast GCN5 have been evaluated using site-directed mutagenesis, steady state and pre-steady state kinetics, pH analysis, isotope partitioning, and equilibrium binding studies. The results with wild type and E173Q, H145A, and D214A mutants are consistent with chemical catalysis being rate-determining in turnover. All mutants exhibited K(d) values (3.5-8.5 microm) for AcCoA that were similar to wild type enzyme, indicating no functional role for these residues in AcCoA binding. The E173Q mutant demonstrated a approximately 500-600-fold decreases in k(cat) and k(cat)/K(m),(H3), consistent with Glu-173 acting as the general base catalyst as proposed previously. No significant effect was observed on substrate binding steps. His-145 was identified as a residue in the peptide binding cleft that must be unprotonated (pK(a) = 5.8) for peptide binding and likely hydrogen-bonds to the Ser-10 hydroxyl of histone H3. His-145 also contributes to lowering the pK(a) value (by 0.8 units) of general base Glu-173 through a water-mediated hydrogen bond to the carboxylate side chain. Analysis of D214A revealed an obligate protein isomerization step that occurs after AcCoA binding and permits efficient peptide binding. Asp-214 is part of a conformationally flexible loop that mediates the isomerization by stabilizing distinct conformers of the protein.

Acetyltransferases↗
PubMed2001

Transition state analysis and requirement of Asp-262 general acid/base catalyst for full activation of dual-specificity phosphatase MKP3 by extracellular regulated kinase.

Dual-specificity phosphatase MKP3 down-regulates mitogenic signaling through dephosphorylation of extracellular regulated kinase (ERK). Unlike a simple substrate-enzyme interaction, the noncatalytic, amino-terminal domain of MKP3 can bind efficiently to ERK, leading to activation of the phosphatase catalytic domain by as much as 100-fold toward exogenous substrates. It has been suggested that ERK activates MKP3 through the stabilization of the active phosphatase conformation, enabling general acid catalysis. Here, we investigated whether Asp-262 of MKP3 is the bona fide general acid and evaluated its contribution to the catalytic steps activated by ERK. Using site-directed mutagenesis, pH rate and Brönsted analyses, kinetic isotope effects, and steady-state and rapid reaction kinetics, Asp-262 was identified as the authentic general acid catalyst, donating a proton to the leaving group oxygen during P-O bond cleavage. Kinetic isotope effects [(18)(V/K)(bridge), (18)(V/K)(nonbridge), and (15)(V/K)] were evaluated for the effect of ERK and of the D262N mutation on the transition state of the phosphoryl transfer reaction. The patterns of the three isotope effects for the reaction with native MKP3 in the presence of ERK are indicative of a reaction where the leaving group is protonated in the transition state, whereas in the D262N mutant, the leaving group departs as the anion. Even without general acid catalysis, the D262N mutant reaction is activated by ERK through increased phosphate affinity ( approximately 8-fold) and the partial stabilization of the transition state for phospho-enzyme intermediate formation ( approximately 4-fold). Based on these analyses, we estimate that dephosphorylation of phosphorylated ERK by the D262N mutant is >1000-fold lower than by native, activated MKP3. Also, the kinetic results suggest that Asp-262 functions as a general base during thiol-phosphate intermediate hydrolysis.

Amino Acid Substitution↗
PubMed2001

Histone acetyltransferases.

Transcriptional regulation in eukaryotes occurs within a chromatin setting and is strongly influenced by nucleosomal barriers imposed by histone proteins. Among the well-known covalent modifications of histones, the reversible acetylation of internal lysine residues in histone amino-terminal domains has long been positively linked to transcriptional activation. Recent biochemical and genetic studies have identified several large, multisubunit enzyme complexes responsible for bringing about the targeted acetylation of histones and other factors. This review discusses our current understanding of histone acetyltransferases (HATs) or acetyltransferases (ATs): their discovery, substrate specificity, catalytic mechanism, regulation, and functional links to transcription, as well as to other chromatin-modifying activities. Recent studies underscore unexpected connections to both cellular regulatory processes underlying normal development and differentiation, as well as abnormal processes that lead to oncogenesis. Although the functions of HATs and the mechanisms by which they are regulated are only beginning to be understood, these fundamental processes are likely to have far-reaching implications for human biology and disease.

Acetyltransferases↗
PubMed2000

Silent information regulator 2 family of NAD- dependent histone/protein deacetylases generates a unique product, 1-O-acetyl-ADP-ribose.

Conflicting reports have suggested that the silent information regulator 2 (SIR2) protein family employs NAD(+) to ADP-ribosylate histones [Tanny, J. C., Dowd, G. J., Huang, J., Hilz, H. & Moazed, D. (1999) Cell 99, 735-745; Frye, R. A. (1999) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 260, 273-279], deacetylate histones [Landry, J., Sutton, A., Tafrov, S. T., Heller, R. C., Stebbins, J., Pillus, L. & Sternglanz, R. (2000) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97, 5807-5811; Smith, J. S., Brachmann, C. B., Celic, I., Kenna, M. A., Muhammad, S., Starai, V. J., Avalos, J. L., Escalante-Semerena, J. C., Grubmeyer, C., Wolberger, C. & Boeke, J. D. (2000) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97, 6658-6663], or both [Imai, S., Armstrong, C. M., Kaeberlein, M. & Guarente, L. (2000) Nature (London) 403, 795-800]. Uncovering the true enzymatic function of SIR2 is critical to the basic understanding of its cellular function. Therefore, we set out to authenticate the reaction products and to determine the intrinsic catalytic mechanism. We provide direct evidence that the efficient histone/protein deacetylase reaction is tightly coupled to the formation of a previously unidentified acetyl-ADP-ribose product (1-O-acetyl-ADP ribose). One molecule of NAD(+) and one molecule of acetyl-lysine are readily catalyzed to one molecule of deacetylated lysine, nicotinamide, and 1-O-acetyl-ADP-ribose. A unique reaction mechanism involving the attack of enzyme-bound acetate or the direct attack of acetyl-lysine on an oxocarbenium ADP-ribose intermediate is proposed. We suggest that the reported histone/protein ADP-ribosyltransferase activity is a low-efficiency side reaction that can be explained through the partial uncoupling of the intrinsic deacetylation and acetate transfer to ADP-ribose.

Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose↗
PubMed2000

Kinetic mechanism of human histone acetyltransferase P/CAF.

Human transcriptional coactivator P/CAF (p300/CBP-associating factor) is a histone acetyltransferase (HAT) and is a member of the GNAT (GCN5 related N-acetyltransferases) superfamily. P/CAF was originally identified by its ability to activate transcription of a variety of genes through its interaction with p300/CBP. Though Lys-14 of histone H3 appears to be the preferred substrate, other nonhistone proteins can also serve as substrates for P/CAF. However, few studies have addressed the catalytic and kinetic mechanisms of histone/protein acetylation by P/CAF. In this study, we have systematically determined the kinetic mechanism for P/CAF, identified the critical ionizations for binding/catalysis, and established the rate-limiting step in turnover. This was accomplished by a variety of approaches including pH-dependent activity measurements, Bi-substrate kinetic analysis, authentic product inhibition by coenzyme A (CoA) and acetylated H3 (Ac-Lys-14) peptide, direct measurements of substrate/product binding affinities (equilibrium dialysis), and a pre-steady-state quench-flow analysis. The results are consistent with a fully ordered Bi-Bi kinetic mechanism, where chemical catalysis is rate-determining. Acetyl-CoA (AcCoA) binds with high affinity (K(d) = 0.64 +/- 0.12 microM) to the free form of the enzyme. Histone H3 peptide binds (apparent K(d) = 116 +/- 17 microM) only after AcCoA is bound. No H3 peptide binding to the free enzyme was detectable. In the ternary complex, the epsilon-amino of Lys-14 (H3 peptide substrate) directly attacks the carbonyl carbon of AcCoA, transferring the acetyl group to the acceptor peptide substrate (rate-limiting step). Products are released in an ordered fashion, with Ac-Lys-14 H3 released first followed by release of CoA. The pH dependency of the k(cat)/K(m) parameter revealed two P/CAF ionizable groups (pK(a) values of 6.9 and 7.5) that must be unprotonated for activity. The group with a pK(a) value 7.5 was assigned to Glu-570, which is the proposed general base catalyst, abstracting a proton from the epsilon-amino group and facilitating nucleophilic attack.

Acetyltransferases↗
PubMed2000

Kinetic mechanism of the histone acetyltransferase GCN5 from yeast.

The transcriptional coactivator GCN5 from yeast (yGCN5) is a histone acetyltransferase that is essential for activation of target genes. GCN5 is a member of a large family of histone acetyltransferases that are conserved between yeast and humans. To understand the molecular mechanisms of histone/protein acetylation, a detailed kinetic analysis was performed. Bi-substrate kinetic analysis using acetyl-coenzyme A (AcCoA) and an H3 histone synthetic peptide indicated that both substrates must bind to form a ternary complex before catalysis. Product inhibition studies revealed that the product CoA was a competitive inhibitor versus AcCoA. Desulfo-CoA, a dead-end inhibitor, also demonstrated simple competitive inhibition versus AcCoA. Acetylated (Lys14Ac) H3 peptide displayed noncompetitive inhibition against both H3 peptide and AcCoA. These results support a sequential ternary complex (ordered Bi-Bi) kinetic mechanism, where AcCoA binds first, followed by H3 histone. Acetylated (Lys14Ac) H3 product is released first, and CoA is the last product to leave. Also, two methods were developed to measure the binding affinities of AcCoA/CoA for GCN5. Employing the fluorescent CoA analog etheno-CoA (epsilonCoA, 1-N(6)-etheno-CoA), a K(d) for epsilonCoA of 5.1 +/- 1.1 microm was determined by fluorescence anisotropy. This value was similar to the K(d) value of 8.5 +/- 2.6 microm for AcCoA obtained using equilibrium dialysis and to the K(i) (inhibition constant) of 6.7 microm for CoA obtained from steady-state kinetic assays. Together, these data suggest that the acetyl moiety of AcCoA contributes little to the binding energy.

Acetyltransferases↗
PubMed2000

A continuous, nonradioactive assay for histone acetyltransferases.

Histone acetyltransferases (HATs) catalyze the acetyl-group transfer from acetyl-CoA to the epsilon-amino group of specific lysine residues within core histone proteins. HATs and other chromatin-remodeling enzymes have been recently shown to regulate gene activation within specific loci. To facilitate mechanistic studies, we have developed two continuous, nonradioactive assays for the prototypical GCN5 HAT. The CoASH generated in the HAT reactions was continuously measured by using a coupled enzyme system with either alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase or pyruvate dehydrogenase. The CoASH-dependent oxidation of alpha-ketoglutarate or pyruvate is accompanied by the reduction of NAD to NADH, which was measured spectrophotometrically at 340 nm. The steady-state rate constants with substrates acetyl-CoA and a synthetic peptide (corresponding to the first 20 amino acids of H3 histone) were determined. The resulting rate constants were not significantly different between the two coupled assays, providing strong validation of these methods. Rate constants were also determined using the commonly employed radioactive filter-binding assay and compared. The 1.5- to 5-fold lower values obtained in the radioactive end-point assay are discussed in terms of the technical problems and limitations of this assay. The coupled assays should be widely applicable since the production of CoASH is common to all HAT enzymes, regardless of protein substrate.

Acetyl Coenzyme A↗
PubMed2000

Mechanistic basis for catalytic activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase 3 by extracellular signal-regulated kinase.

The dual specificity mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase MKP3 has been shown to down-regulate mitogenic signaling through dephosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Camps et al. (Camps, M., Nichols, A., Gillieron, C., Antonsson, B., Muda, M., Chabert, C., Boschert, U., and Arkinstall, S. (1998) Science 280, 1262-1265) had demonstrated that ERK binding to the noncatalytic amino-terminal domain of MKP3 can dramatically activate the phosphatase catalytic domain. The physical basis for this activation has not been established. Here, we provide detailed biochemical evidence that ERK activates MKP3 through the stabilization of the active phosphatase conformation, inducing closure of the catalytic "general acid" loop. In the closed conformation, this loop structure can participate efficiently in general acid/base catalysis, substrate binding, and transition-state stabilization. The pH activity profiles of ERK-activated MKP3 clearly indicated the involvement of general acid catalysis, a hallmark of protein-tyrosine phosphatase catalysis. In contrast, unactivated MKP3 did not display this enzymatic group as critical for the low activity form of the enzyme. Using a combination of Brönsted analyses, pre-steady-state and steady-state kinetics, we have isolated all catalytic steps in the reaction and have quantified the specific rate enhancement. Through protonation of the leaving group and transition-state stabilization, activated MKP3 catalyzes formation of the phosphoenzyme intermediate approximately 100-fold faster than unactivated enzyme. In addition, ERK-activated MKP3 catalyzes intermediate hydrolysis 5-6-fold more efficiently and binds ligands up to 19-fold more tightly. Consistent with ERK stabilizing the active conformation of MKP3, the chemical chaperone dimethyl sulfoxide was able to mimic this activation. A general protein-tyrosine phosphatase regulatory mechanism involving the flexible general acid loop is discussed.

Catalysis↗
PubMed2000

Synergistic coupling of histone H3 phosphorylation and acetylation in response to epidermal growth factor stimulation.

Histone acetylation and phosphorylation have separately been suggested to affect chromatin structure and gene expression. Here we report that these two modifications are synergistic. Stimulation of mammalian cells by epidermal growth factor (EGF) results in rapid and sequential phosphorylation and acetylation of H3, and these dimodified H3 molecules are preferentially associated with the EGF-activated c-fos promoter in a MAP kinase-dependent manner. In addition, the prototypical histone acetyltransferase Gcn5 displays an up to 10-fold preference for phosphorylated (Ser-10) H3 over nonphosphorylated H3 as substrate in vitro, suggesting that H3 phosphorylation can affect the efficiency of subsequent acetylation reactions. Together, these results illustrate how the addition of multiple histone modifications may be coupled during the process of gene expression.

Acetylation↗
PubMed1999

Kinetic analysis of human serine/threonine protein phosphatase 2Calpha.

The PPM family of Ser/Thr protein phosphatases have recently been shown to down-regulate the stress response pathways in eukaryotes. Within the stress pathway, key signaling kinases, which are activated by protein phosphorylation, have been proposed as the in vivo substrates of PP2C, the prototypical member of the PPM family. Although it is known that these phosphatases require metal cations for activity, the molecular details of these important reactions have not been established. Therefore, here we report a detailed biochemical study to elucidate the kinetic and chemical mechanism of PP2Calpha. Steady-state kinetic and product inhibition studies revealed that PP2Calpha employs an ordered sequential mechanism, where the metal cations bind before phosphorylated substrate, and phosphate is the last product to be released. The metal-dependent activity of PP2C (as reflected in kcat and kcat/Km), indicated that Fe2+ was 1000-fold better than Mg2+. The pH rate profiles revealed two ionizations critical for catalytic activity. An enzyme ionization with a pKa value of 7 must be unprotonated for catalysis, and an enzyme ionization with a pKa of 9 must be protonated for substrate binding. Brönsted analysis of substrate leaving group pKa indicated that phosphomonoester hydrolysis is rate-limiting at pH 7. 0, but not at pH 8.5 where a common step independent of the nature of the substrate and alcohol product limits turnover (kcat). Rapid reaction kinetics between phosphomonoester and PP2C yielded exponential "bursts" of product formation, consistent with phosphate release being the slow catalytic step at pH 8.5. Dephosphorylation of synthetic phosphopeptides corresponding to several protein kinases revealed that PP2C displays a strong preference for diphosphorylated peptides in which the phosphorylated residues are in close proximity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Catalytic mechanism and function of invariant glutamic acid 173 from the histone acetyltransferase GCN5 transcriptional coactivator.

Within chromatin, reversible acetylation of core histones is critical for transcriptional activation of eukaryotic target genes. The recent identification of intrinsic histone acetyltransferase (HAT) catalytic activity from a number of transcriptional co-activators (including yeast GCN5, p300/CBP, P/CAF, and TAFII250), has underscored the importance of protein acetylation in transcriptional control. The GCN5 family is the prototype for a diverse group of at least four distinct human HATs families. Although there is now a clear link between in vivo HAT catalytic activity and gene activation, little is known about the molecular mechanisms of histone acetylation. Herein, we report the first detailed biochemical study that probes the catalytic mechanism and the function of invariant glutamic acid 173 within the GCN5 family of HATs. Our results suggest that the HAT reaction involves the formation of a ternary complex (histones, acetyl-CoA, and enzyme) where the epsilon-amino group of histone lysine residues directly attacks the bound acetyl-CoA. The acetylation reaction requires deprotonation of the epsilon-amino group prior to nucleophilic attack. Employing site-directed mutagenesis, chemical modification, steady-state, and pH-dependent rate analysis, it is demonstrated that glutamic acid 173 is an essential catalytic residue, acting as a general base catalyst by deprotonating the histone substrate.

Acetyl Coenzyme A↗
PubMed1999

Extracellular regulated kinases (ERK) 1 and ERK2 are authentic substrates for the dual-specificity protein-tyrosine phosphatase VHR. A novel role in down-regulating the ERK pathway.

The mammalian dual-specificity protein-tyrosine phosphatase VHR (for VH1-related) has been identified as a novel regulator of extracellular regulated kinases (ERKs). To identify potential cellular substrates of VHR, covalently immobilized mutant VHR protein was employed as an affinity trap. A tyrosine-phosphorylated protein(s) of approximately 42 kDa was specifically adsorbed by the affinity column and identified as ERK1 and ERK2. Subsequent kinetic analyses and transfection studies demonstrated that VHR specifically dephosphorylates and inactivates ERK1 and ERK2 in vitro and in vivo. Only the native structure of phosphorylated ERK was recognized by VHR and was inactivated with a second-order rate constant of 40,000 M-1 s-1. VHR was found to dephosphorylate endogenous ERK, but not p38 and JNK. Immunodepletion of endogenous VHR eliminated the dephosphorylation of cellular ERK. Transfection studies in COS-1 cells demonstrated that in vivo phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor-stimulated ERK depended on VHR protein levels. Overexpression above endogenous levels of VHR led to accelerated ERK inactivation, but did not alter the normal activation of ERK. Unique among reported mitogen activated protein kinase phosphatases, VHR is constitutively expressed, localized to the nucleus, and tyrosine-specific. This study is the first to report the identification of authentic substrates of dual-specificity phosphatases utilizing affinity absorbents and is the first to identify a nuclear, constitutively expressed, and tyrosine-specific ERK phosphatase. The data strongly suggest that VHR is responsible for the rapid inactivation of ERK following stimulation and for its repression in quiescent cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

RNA molecules that bind to and inhibit the active site of a tyrosine phosphatase.

Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) are essential proteins in many cellular processes. In vitro selection was used to evolve high affinity RNA aptamers to the Yersinia PTPase from two random pools varying in length. Selected aptamers from the two different pools share a 21-residue conserved sequence. They bind to their target with dissociation constants of 18 and 28 nM and inhibit the enzyme with IC50 values of 10 and 35 nM, but do not bind a related PTPase. Modification of the PTPase's active site cysteine with the alkylating agent iodoacetate results in a loss of binding affinity. These experiments suggest that the selected aptamers act by binding at or near the active site and might therefore be useful in defining the interactions between PTPases and their targets.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Specific and reversible inactivation of protein tyrosine phosphatases by hydrogen peroxide: evidence for a sulfenic acid intermediate and implications for redox regulation.

Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) catalyze the hydrolysis of phosphotyrosine from specific signal-transducing proteins. Although regulatory mechanisms for protein kinases have been described, no general mechanism for controlling PTPs has been demonstrated. Numerous reports have shown that cellular redox status plays an important role in tyrosine phosphorylation-dependent signal transduction pathways. This study explores the proposal that PTPs may be regulated by reversible reduction/oxidation involving cellular oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Recent reports indicated that H2O2 is transiently generated during growth factor stimulation and that H2O2 production is concomitant with relevant tyrosine phosphorylation. By use of recombinant enzymes, the effects of H2O2 on three PTPs [PTP1, LAR (leukocyte antigen-related), and VHR (vaccinia H1-related)] and three distinct serine/threonine protein phosphatases (PPs: PP2Calpha, calcineurin, and lambda phosphatase) were determined. Hydrogen peroxide had no apparent effect on PP activity. In contrast, PTPs were rapidly inactivated (kinact = 10-20 M-1 s-1) with low micromolar concentrations of H2O2 but not with large alkyl hydroperoxides. PTP inactivation was fully reversible with glutathione and other thiols. Because of the slower rate of reduction, modification occurred even in the presence of physiological thiol concentrations. By utilization of a variety of biochemical techniques including chemical modification, pH kinetic studies, and mutagenesis, the catalytic cysteine thiolate of PTPs was determined to be the selective target of oxidation by H2O2. By use of the electrophilic reagent 7-chloro-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1, 3-diazole (NBD-Cl), it was shown that a cysteine sulfenic acid intermediate (Cys-SOH) is formed after attack of the catalytic thiolate on H2O2. A chemical mechanism for reversible inactivation involving a cysteine sulfenic acid intermediate is proposed.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Protein tyrosine phosphatases: mechanisms of catalysis and regulation.

Recent structural information suggests that the HC(X)5R active-site motif defines three distinct evolutionary families of phosphatases that employ a common catalytic mechanism. In two instances, regulation of phosphatase activity employs autoinhibitory mechanisms involving either intermolecular or intramolecular interactions, whereby inhibition is mediated by sterically blocking the active-site cleft.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1997

Roles of aspartic acid-181 and serine-222 in intermediate formation and hydrolysis of the mammalian protein-tyrosine-phosphatase PTP1.

Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) share a number of conserved amino acid residues, including the active site sequence HCXXGXXRS(T), which are strongly implicated in catalysis. The roles of two conserved active site residues, Asp-181 and Ser-222, were investigated using a combination of site-directed mutagenesis and kinetic analysis in the mammalian PTPase PTP1. The pH profiles for k(cat)/K(m) and k(cat) of the wild-type enzyme indicate that two ionizable groups, of pK(a) values 5.1 and 5.44, must be deprotonated and one group with a pK(a) value of 4.93 must be protonated for maximal activity. The group of pK(a) value 5.1 is the second ionization of the substrate phosphate moiety. Selective thiolate anion inactivation indicates the residue with pK(a) value of 5.44 is C215. The pH-dependent profiles of the D181N mutant during establish the residue with pK(a) value of 4.93 to be Asp-181 and suggest that it functions as a general acid phosphoryl transfer to the enzyme. Rapid reaction kinetics of wild-type and D181N mutant enzymes indicate that the formation of the phospho-enzyme intermediate is rate-limiting at pH 7.0 and 30 degrees C. Enzymes containing the S222A mutation exhibited rapid reaction burst kinetics, strongly suggesting that phospho-enzyme intermediate hydrolysis is fully rate-limiting. The role of the active site S222 is to accelerate the rate of phospho-enzyme intermediate hydrolysis. The kinetic analysis of a third mutant, containing both the D181N and S222A mutations, suggests that D181 also serves as a general base in the breakdown of the phospho-enzyme intermediate.

Amino Acid Sequence↗