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P M Jordan

Publications and source records attributed to P M Jordan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Heat conduction paradox involving second-sound propagation in moving media.

In this Letter, we revisit the Maxwell-Cattaneo law of finite-speed heat conduction. We point out that the usual form of this law, which involves a partial time derivative, leads to a paradoxical result if the body is in motion. We then show that by using the material derivative of the thermal flux, in lieu of the local one, the paradox is completely resolved. Specifically, that using the material derivative yields a constitutive relation that is Galilean invariant. Finally, we show that under this invariant reformulation, the system of governing equations, while still hyperbolic, cannot be reduced to a single transport equation in the multidimensional case.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

Subcellular location of the tetrapyrrole synthesis enzyme porphobilinogen deaminase in higher plants: an immunological investigation.

A recombinant plasmid, pArab8, harbouring the cDNA encoding the mature form of the tetrapyrrole synthesis enzyme porphobilinogen deaminase (EC 4.3.1.8; also known as hydroxymethylbilane synthase) from Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. has been constructed, and used to transform Escherichia coli. The porphobilinogen deaminase protein from Arabidopsis was overexpressed in this strain, and purified to homogeneity (3000-fold) with a yield of 20%. Antibodies were raised against the purified plant enzyme, and used in Western blot analysis, immunoprecipitation of enzyme activity and immuno-gold electron microscopy. The results indicate that the enzyme is confined to plastids in both leaves and roots. The implications of this finding for plant tetrapyrrole synthesis are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Characterization of the two 5-aminolaevulinic acid binding sites, the A- and P-sites, of 5-aminolaevulinic acid dehydratase from Escherichia coli.

Experiments are described in which the individual properties of the two 5-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) binding sites, the A-site and the P-site, of 5-aminolaevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) have been investigated. The ALA binding affinity at the A-site is greatly enhanced (at least 10-fold) on the binding of the catalytic metal ion (bound at the alpha-site). The nature of the catalytic metal ion, Mg2+ or Zn2+, also gave major variations in the substrate Km, P-site affinity for ALA, the effect of potassium and phosphate ions and the pH-dependence of substrate binding. Modification of the P-site by reaction of the enzyme-substrate Schiff base with NaBH4 and analysis of the reduced adduct by electro-spray mass spectrometry indicated a maximum of 1 mol of substrate incorporated/mol of subunit, correlating with a linear loss of enzyme activity. The reduced Schiff-base adduct was used to investigate substrate binding at the A-site by using rate-of-dialysis analysis. The affinity for ALA at the A-site of Mg alpha Zn beta ALAD was found to determine the Km for the reaction and was pH-dependent, with its affinity increasing from 1 mM at pH 6 to 70 microM at pH 8.5. The affinity of ALA at the P-site of Zn alpha An beta ALAD is proposed to limit the Km at pH values above 7, since the measured Kd for ALA at the A-site in 45 microM Tris, pH 8, was well below the observed Km (600 microM) under the same conditions. The amino group of the ALA molecule bound at the P-site was identified as a critical binding component for the A-site, explaining why ALA binding to ALAD is ordered, with the P-site ALA binding first. Structural requirements for ALA binding at the A- and P-sites have been identified: the P-site requires the carbonyl and carboxylate groups, whereas the A-site requires the amino, carbonyl and carboxylate groups of the substrate.

Alanine↗
PubMed1994

Investigation of the nature of the two metal-binding sites in 5-aminolaevulinic acid dehydratase from Escherichia coli.

Two distinct metal-binding sites, termed alpha and beta, have been characterized in 5-aminolaevulinic acid dehydratase from Escherichia coli. The alpha-site binds a Zn2+ ion that is essential for catalytic activity. This site can also utilize other metal ions able to function as a Lewis acid in the reaction mechanism, such as Mg2+ or Co2+. The beta-site is exclusively a transition-metal-ion-binding site thought to be involved in protein conformation, although a metal bound at this site only appears to be essential for activity if Mg2+ is to be bound at the alpha-site. The alpha- and beta-sites may be distinguished from one another by their different abilities to bind divalent-metal ions at different pH values. The occupancy of the beta-site with Zn2+ results in a decrease of protein fluorescence at pH 6. Occupancy of the alpha- and beta-sites with Co2+ results in u.v.-visible spectral changes. Spectroscopic studies with Co2+ have tentatively identified three cysteine residues at the beta-site and one at the alpha-site. Reaction with N-ethyl[14C]maleimide preferentially labels cysteine-130 at the alpha-site when Co2+ occupies the beta-site.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Purification and properties of porphobilinogen deaminase from Arabidopsis thaliana.

Porphobilinogen deaminase (EC 4.3.1.8) has been purified to homogeneity (16,000-fold) from the plant Arabidopsis thaliana in yields of 8%. The deaminase is a monomer of M(r) 35,000, as shown by SDS/PAGE, and 31,000, using gel-filtration chromatography. The pure enzyme has a Vmax. of 4.5 mumol/h per mg and a Km of 17 +/- 4 microM. Determination of the pI and pH optimum revealed values of 5.2 and 8.0 respectively. The sequence of the N-terminus was found to be NH2-XVAVEQKTRTAI. The deaminase is heat-stable up to 70 degrees C and is inhibited by NH3 and hydroxylamine. The enzyme is inactivated by arginine-, histidine- and lysine-specific reagents. Incubation with the substrate analogue and suicide inhibitor, 2-bromoporphobilinogen, results in chain termination and in inactivation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Evidence for participation of aspartate-84 as a catalytic group at the active site of porphobilinogen deaminase obtained by site-directed mutagenesis of the hemC gene from Escherichia coli.

The role of aspartate-84, an invariant residue in the active site cleft of Escherichia coli porphobilinogen deaminase, has been investigated by site-directed mutagenesis. Substitution of aspartate-84 by glutamate results in an enzyme that retains less than 1% of its activity and which can form highly stable enzyme-intermediate complexes. Substitution of aspartate-84 by either alanine or asparagine, however, results in proteins unable to catalyze the formation of preuroporphyrinogen but which, nevertheless, appear able to assemble the dipyrromethane cofactor. The mechanisms of the tetramerization reaction and cofactor assembly are discussed.

Aspartic Acid↗
PubMed1994

5-Aminolaevulinic acid dehydratase: characterization of the alpha and beta metal-binding sites of the Escherichia coli enzyme.

The alpha and beta metal-binding sites of 5-aminolaevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) (porphobilinogen synthase, EC 4.2.1.24) from Escherichia coli were investigated to determine the function of each metal ion and the role of the reactive cysteines in metal binding. Occupancy of the alpha site by Zn2+ restored virtually all catalytic activity to the inactive metal-depleted ALAD (apoALAD). Occupancy of the alpha site by Co2+ also yielded an active enzyme and resulted in a charge-transfer band indicative of a single cysteine amongst the metal ligands. Subsequent labelling of this cysteine residue with 14C-labelled N-ethylmaleimide, followed by peptide analysis, indicated the involvement of Cys-130. The metal ion at the alpha site is thought to be essential for binding of the second molecule of substrate at the A substrate-binding site that forms the acetic acid side of the product, porphobilinogen. Binding of Zn2+ to the beta site restored little activity if the alpha site was unfilled. Metal ion binding to the beta site could be monitored by following the change in protein fluorescence with Zn2+ titration of apoALAD at pH 6. A conformational change upon beta site occupancy may explain why binding of Mg2+ at the alpha site can occur only if Zn2+ is bound at the beta site. The binding of Co2+ at the beta site produced an inactive enzyme that exhibited a charge-transfer band indicative of at least three cysteine ligands.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

The biosynthesis of uroporphyrinogen III: mechanism of action of porphobilinogen deaminase.

The biosynthesis of the uroporphyrinogen III macrocycle from porphobilinogen requires the sequential participation of two enzymes--porphobilinogen deaminase (1-hydroxymethylbilane synthase, EC 4.3.1.8) and uroporphyrinogen III synthase (cosynthase, EC 4.2.1.75). The product of the deaminase-catalysed reaction is a highly unstable 1-hydroxymethylbilane called preuroporphyrinogen which acts as the substrate for the uroporphyrinogen III synthase, resulting in the exclusive formation of uroporphyrinogen III. In the absence of the synthase, preuroporphyrinogen cyclizes spontaneously to give uroporphyrinogen I. Porphobilinogen deaminase contains a dipyrromethane cofactor that acts as a primer onto which the tetrapyrrole chain is built. The assembly process occurs in stages through enzyme-intermediate complexes, ES, ES2, ES3 and ES4. The negatively charged carboxylates of the cofactor, substrate and intermediate complexes interact with positively charged amino acid side chains in the catalytic cleft. Mutagenesis of conserved arginines has dramatic effects on the assembly of the dipyrromethane cofactor and on the tetrapolymerization process. During the polymerization, the enzyme changes conformation to accommodate the elongating pyrrole chain. The structure of the deaminase from Escherichia coli has been determined by X-ray crystallography at 1.9A resolution and gives important insight into the enzymic mechanism. Aspartate 84 plays a key role in catalysis and its substitution by glutamate reduces kcat by two orders of magnitude.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Structural studies on porphobilinogen deaminase.

The X-ray crystallographic analysis of porphobilinogen deaminase (hydroxymethylbilane synthase, EC 4.3.1.8) shows the polypeptide chain folded into three domains, (1) N-terminal, (2) central and (3) C-terminal, of approximately equal size. Domains 1 and 2 have a similar overall topology, a modified doubly wound parallel beta-sheet. Domain 3 is an open-faced three-stranded antiparallel beta-sheet, with one face covered by three alpha-helices. The active site is located between domains 1 and 2. The dipyrromethane cofactor linked to cysteine 242 protrudes from domain 3 into the mouth of the cleft. Flexible segments between domains 1 and 2 are thought to have a role in a hinge mechanism, facilitating conformational changes. The cleft is lined with positively charged, highly conserved, arginine residues which form ion pairs with the acidic side chains of the cofactor. Aspartic acid 84 has been identified as a critical catalytic residue both by its proximity to the cofactor pyrrole ring nitrogen and by structural and kinetic studies of the Asp-84-->Glu mutant protein. The active site arginine residues have been altered by site-directed mutagenesis to histidine residues. The mutant proteins have been studied crystallographically in order to reconcile the functional changes in the polymerization reaction with structural changes in the enzyme.

Crystallography, X-Ray↗
PubMed1994

The three-dimensional structures of mutants of porphobilinogen deaminase: toward an understanding of the structural basis of acute intermittent porphyria.

Mutations in the human gene for the enzyme porphobilinogen deaminase give rise to an inherited disease of heme biosynthesis, acute intermittent porphyria. Knowledge of the 3-dimensional structure of human porphobilinogen deaminase, based on the structure of the bacterial enzyme, allows correlation of structure with gene organization and leads to an understanding of the relationship between mutations in the gene, structural and functional changes of the enzyme, and the symptoms of the disease. Most mutations occur in exons 10 and 12, often changing amino acids in the active site. Several of these are shown to be involved in binding the primer or substrate; none modifies Asp 84, which is essential for catalytic activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Highlights in haem biosynthesis.

The haem biosynthesis pathway continues to provide surprises, from the first enzyme, 5-aminolaevulinic acid synthase, the mRNA of which contains an iron-responsive element, to the last, ferrochelatase, that contains an iron sulphur cluster. 5-Aminolaevulinate dehydratase from animals are zinc-dependent enzymes while those from plants require magnesium. The first X-ray structure of a haem synthesis enzyme, porphobilinogen deaminase, has not only yielded clues about the mechanism of tetrapyrrole assembly but has also provided insight into the molecular basis of the human disease acute intermittent porphyria. Evidence is growing to suggest that a previously unsuspected alternative haem pathway may exist.

5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase↗
PubMed1993

Purification and properties of the uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase from Rhodobacter sphaeroides.

Uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.37) was purified 600-fold from Rhodobacter sphaeroides grown anaerobically in the light. The enzyme, under both denaturing and non-denaturing conditions, is a monomer of M(r) 41,000. The Km values are 1.8 microM and 6.0 microM for the conversion of uroporphyrinogen I and III to coproporphyrinogen I and III respectively. The enzyme is susceptible to inhibition by both uroporphyrinogen and uroporphyrin. The pH optimum is 6.8 and the isoelectric point is 4.4. The importance of cysteine and arginine residues is implicated from studies with inhibitors. The sequence of the first 29 amino acids of the N-terminus shows a high degree of similarity to the primary structures of other uroporphyrinogen decarboxylases. Studies on the order of decarboxylation of the four acetic acid side chains of uroporphyrinogen III suggest that at high substrate levels a random route is preferred.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Purification and characterization of 5-aminolaevulinic acid dehydratase from Escherichia coli and a study of the reactive thiols at the metal-binding domain.

5-Aminolaevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) from a recombinant strain of Escherichia coli was purified to homogeneity. The enzyme is a homo-octamer of subunit M(r) 36554 +/- 17. Enzyme activity was dependent on the presence of Zn2+ ions and an exogenous thiol. Two molar equivalents of Zn2+ are bound/mol of subunit under reducing conditions. On exposure to the metal chelator EDTA, the two Zn2+ ions are removed, giving an inactive metal-depleted apo-ALAD. On oxidation of holo-ALAD, two disulphide bonds are formed with the loss of 1 mol of Zn2+/mol of subunit. The formation of the first disulphide led to the loss of catalytic activity. Replacement of the two bound Zn2+ ions with Co2+ resulted in the formation of a green protein with a spectrum indicative of the presence of charge-transfer bands from one or more cysteine-Co2+ ligands. While Mg2+ could not activate apo-ALAD alone, it was able to substitute for the second molar equivalent of bound Zn2+, leading to a further 4-fold stimulation in activity. The four cysteine residues involved in the formation of the two disulphide bonds were identified by protein-chemistry studies and were all located in a region of the protein extending from amino acid residues 120-134. Protein sequence data obtained in the present study has permitted the resolution of several differences between the published gene-derived protein sequences for ALAD from E. coli.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Purification and properties of 6-methylsalicylic acid synthase from Penicillium patulum.

6-Methylsalicylic acid synthase has been isolated in homogeneous form from Penicillium patulum grown in liquid culture from a spore inoculum. The enzyme is highly susceptible to proteolytic degradation in vivo and in vitro, but may be stabilized during purification by incorporating proteinase inhibitors in the buffers. The enzyme exists as a homotetramer of M(r) 750,000, with a subunit M(r) of 180,000. 6-Methylsalicyclic acid synthase also accepts acetoacetyl-CoA as an alternative starter molecule to acetyl-CoA. The enzyme also catalyses the formation of small amounts of triacetic acid lactone as an oligatory by-product of the reaction. In the absence of NADPH, triacetic acid lactone is the exclusive enzymic product, being formed at 10% of the rate of 6-methylsalicylic acid. The enzyme is inactivated by 1,3-dibromopropan-2-one, leading to the formation of cross-linked dimers similar to that observed with type I fatty acid synthases. Acetyl-CoA protects the enzyme against the inactivation and inhibits dimer formation. An adaptation of the purification method for 6-methylsalicylic acid synthase may be used for the isolation of fatty acid sythase from Penicillium patulum.

Acetone↗
PubMed1992

Investigation of the mechanism and steric course of the reaction catalyzed by 6-methylsalicylic acid synthase from Penicillium patulum using (R)-[1-13C;2-2H]- and (S)-[1-13C;2-2H]malonates.

Chiral malonyl-CoA derivatives, enzymically synthesized from (R)- and (S)-[1-13C;2-2H]malonates using succinyl-CoA transferase, were incorporated into 6-methylsalicylic acid with homogeneous 6-methylsalicylic acid synthase isolated from Penicillium patulum. Analysis of the 6-methylsalicylic acid formed established that the hydrogen atoms at the 3- and 5-positions are derived from opposite absolute configurations in malonyl-CoA. When acetoacetyl-CoA was used as the starter molecule, a single hydrogen atom is incorporated from the chiral malonates into the 3-position of the 6-methylsalicylic acid. Mass spectrometric analysis of the 6-methylsalicylic acid indicates that this hydrogen atom originates from HRe of malonyl-CoA or HSi in the polyketide intermediate. It is thus concluded that the hydrogen atom at the 5-position of 6-methylsalicylic acid originates from HSi of malonyl-CoA or HRe in the polyketide intermediate. During the reaction the enzyme also catalyzes the stereospecific exchange of hydrogen atoms in the polyketide intermediates. The implications of the stereochemical information from these experiments are discussed in relation to the mechanism of the 6-methylsalicylic acid synthase reaction.

Acetyl Coenzyme A↗
PubMed1992

Structure of porphobilinogen deaminase reveals a flexible multidomain polymerase with a single catalytic site.

The three-domain structure of porphobilinogen deaminase, a key enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of tetrapyrroles, has been defined by X-ray analysis at 1.9 A resolution. Two of the domains structurally resemble the transferrins and periplasmic binding proteins. The dipyrromethane cofactor is covalently linked to domain 3 but is bound by extensive salt-bridges and hydrogen-bonds within the cleft between domains 1 and 2, at a position corresponding to the binding sites for small-molecule ligands in the analogous proteins. The X-ray structure and results from site-directed mutagenesis provide evidence for a single catalytic site. Interdomain flexibility may aid elongation of the polypyrrole product in the active-site cleft of the enzyme.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1992

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray investigation of Escherichia coli porphobilinogen deaminase.

Porphobilinogen deaminase, the polymerase that catalyses the synthesis of preuroporphyrinogen, the linear tetrapyrrole precursor of uroporphyrinogen III, has been crystallized from sodium acetate buffer with polyethylene glycol 6000 as precipitant. The crystals are orthorhombic and the space group is P2(1)2(1)2, with unit cell dimensions a = 88.01 A, b = 75.86 A, c = 50.53 A and alpha = beta = gamma = 90 degrees, indicating a single molecule of 34 kDa in the asymmetric unit. The crystals grow to dimensions of 1 mm x 2 mm x 0.5 mm within two weeks in the dark and are stable in the X-ray beam for at least 40 hours. Diffraction data beyond 1.7 A resolution, observed with a synchrotron radiation source, indicate that a high resolution structure analysis is feasible.

Crystallization↗