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Biomedical subjects

T Wallimann

Publications and source records attributed to T Wallimann.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Activation of sea-urchin sperm motility is accompanied by an increase in the creatine kinase exchange flux.

The kinetics of the creatine kinase (CK) reaction were studied in suspensions of quiescent and active, intact sea-urchin spermatozoa in artificial seawater, using 31P-NMR magnetization transfer. In inactive sperm, no CK-mediated exchange flux was detected, whereas in activated motile sperm, the forward pseudo-first-order rate constant was 0.13+/-0.04 s-1 at 10 degrees C, corresponding to a steady-state CK flux of 3.1+/-0.5 mM.s-1. Intracellular pH shifted from 6.6+/-0.1 to 7.6+/-0.1 upon activation. The phosphocreatine (PCr)/ATP and PCr/Pi ratios were only marginally reduced in activated sperm, whereas the estimated cytosolic free ADP concentration increased remarkably from 9 microM in quiescent, to 114 microM in activated spermatozoa. The elevation of CK flux upon sperm activation is discussed in the light of the proposition that in sea-urchin spermatozoa, which are fuelled entirely by oxidative phosphorylation, high-energy phosphate transport is mediated by a 'CK/PCr shuttle'.

Adenosine Diphosphate

The active site histidines of creatine kinase. A critical role of His 61 situated on a flexible loop.

A histidine residue with a pKa of 7 has been inferred to act as a general acid-base catalyst for the reaction of creatine kinase (CK), catalyzing the reversible phosphorylation of creatine by ATP. The chicken sarcomeric muscle mitochondrial isoenzyme Mib-CK contains several histidine residues that are conserved throughout the family of creatine kinases. By X-ray crystal structure analysis, three of them (His 61, His 92, and His 186) were recently shown to be located close to the active site of the enzyme. These residues were exchanged against alanine or aspartate by in vitro mutagenesis, and the six mutant proteins were expressed in E. coli and purified. Structural integrity of the mutant proteins was checked by small-angle X-ray scattering. Kinetic analysis showed the mutant His 61 Asp to be completely inactive in the direction of ATP consumption while exhibiting a residual activity of 1.7% of the wild-type (wt) activity in the reverse direction. The respective His to Ala mutant of residue 61 showed approximately 1% wt activity in the forward and 10% wt activity in the reverse reaction. All other mutants showed near wt activities. Changes in the kinetic parameters K(m) or Vmax, as well as a significant loss of synergism in substrate binding, could be observed with all active mutants. These effects were most pronounced for the binding of creatine and phosphocreatine, whereas ATP or ADP binding were less severely affected. Based on our results, we assume that His 92 and His 186 are involved in the binding of creatine and ATP in the active site, whereas His 61 is of importance for the catalytic reaction but does not serve as an acid-base catalyst in the transphosphorylation of creatine and ATP. In addition, our data support the idea that the flexible loop bearing His 61 is able to move towards the active site and to participate in catalysis.

Animals

Metabolic support of Na+ pump in apically permeabilized A6 kidney cell epithelia: role of creatine kinase.

The contribution of ATP-generating systems to Na+ pump (Na+-K+-ATPase) function was studied in Xenopus laevis A6 kidney epithelia apically permeabilized with digitonin. The ouabain-inhibitable Na+ pump current (I(P)) was measured in the presence of otherwise impermeant inhibitors and/or substrates at Na+ and K+ concentrations that allowed near-maximal pump function. Confocal fluorescence microscopy after apical addition of sulfosuccinimidobiotin (molecular weight of 443) showed that all cells were permeabilized. Less than 15% of the endogenous lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase (CK) were released into the apical medium. The I(P) was approximately 5 microA/cm2 in the presence of D-glucose. Blocking glycolysis with 2-deoxy-D-glucose or oxidative phosphorylation with antimycin A decreased it by > or = 50%. Exogenously added ATP prevented these decreases fully or partially, respectively. Two CK isoforms were detected, one likely being mitochondrial and the other corresponding to mammalian B isoform of CK. Phosphocreatine partially restored Na+ pump activity during inhibition of either ATP synthesis pathway. In conclusion, the ATP used by Na+ pumps of apically digitonin-permeabilized A6 epithelia is generated to a similar extent by glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation. The CK system can partially support the ATP supply to the Na+ pumps.

Adenosine Triphosphate

In vivo brain phosphocreatine and ATP regulation in mice fed a creatine analog.

Mitochondrial and cytosolic creatine kinase (CK) isozymes are active in cells with high and variable ATP metabolic rates. beta-Guanidinopropionic acid (GPA), a competitive inhibitor of creatine transport, was used to study the hypothesis that the creatine-CK-phosphocreatine (PCr) system is important in regulating brain ATP metabolism. The CK-catalyzed reaction rate and reactant concentrations were measured in vivo with 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy during energy deficit (hypoxia) or high-energy turnover (seizures) states in urethane-anesthetized mice fed GPA, creatine, or standard chow (controls). Brain phosphagen (i.e., cellular energy reserves) or PCr plus phosphorylated GPA (GPAP) concentrations were equal. The phosphagen-to-NTP ratio was lower than in controls. In vivo CK reaction rate decreased fourfold, whereas ex vivo CK activity that was biochemically measured was doubled. During seizures, CK-catalyzed fluxes increased only in GPA-fed mice. Phosphagen increased in GPA-fed mice, whereas PCr decreased in controls. Survival was higher and brain phosphagen and ATP losses were less for hypoxic GPA-fed mice than for controls. In contrast to mice fed GPA, hypoxic survival and CK reactant concentrations during hypoxia and seizures were the same in creatine-fed mice and controls. Thus GPA, GPAP, or adaptive changes in ATP metabolism stabilize brain ATP and enhance survival during hypoxia in mice.

Adenosine Triphosphate

Crystalline mitochondrial inclusion bodies isolated from creatine depleted rat soleus muscle.

Rats were fed a 2% guanidino propionic acid diet for up to 18 weeks to induce cellular creatine depletion by inhibition of creatine uptake by this creatine analogue. Ultrastructural analysis of creatine depleted tissues showed that mitochondrial intermembrane inclusion bodies appeared in all skeletal muscles analysed, after 11 weeks of feeding. Heart had relatively few even after 18 weeks of analogue feeding and none were evident in kidney, brain or liver. These structures were strongly immuno-positive for sarcomeric mitochondrial creatine kinase and upon removal from mitochondria, the inclusion bodies were shown to diffract to a resolution of 2.5 nm. Two-dimensional image analysis and three-dimensional reconstruction revealed arrays of creatine kinase octamers with additional components between the octameric structures. The same mitochondria had a 3-fold higher extractable specific creatine kinase activity than controls. Molecular mass gel filtration of inclusion body containing mitochondrial extracts from analogue fed rat solei revealed mitochondrial creatine kinase eluting as an aggregate of an apparent molecular mass > or = 2,000 kDa. Mitochondrial creatine kinase of control soleus mitochondrial extract eluted as an octamer, with a molecular mass of 340 kDa. Respiration measurements of control solei mitochondria displayed creatine mediated stimulation of oxidative phosphorylation that was absent in analogue-fed rat solei mitochondria. The latter also had 19% and 14% slower rates of state 4 and maximal state 3 respiration, respectively, than control mitochondria. These results indicate that mitochondrial creatine kinase co-crystallises with another component within the inter membrane space of select mitochondria in creatine depleted skeletal muscle, and is inactive in situ.

Adenylate Kinase

Membrane-binding and lipid vesicle cross-linking kinetics of the mitochondrial creatine kinase octamer.

Mitochondrial creatine kinase (Mi-CK; EC 2.7.3.2) is a positively charged enzyme located between the mitochondrial inner and outer membrane as well as along the cristae membranes. The octameric form of Mi-CK is able to cross-link membranes to form contact sites. The process of Mi-CK membrane binding and Mi-CK-induced cross-linking of model membrane vesicles containing different amounts of cardiolipin (CL) was investigated in vitro. First, the direct binding of octameric Mi-CK to immobilized lipid vesicles containing cardiolipin was monitored by plasmon resonance (BiaCore). The analysis of the pseudo-first-order on- and off-rate constants indicates that there are two binding sites with different affinity for Mi-CK on the membrane. The association equilibrium constants obtained at 25 degrees C were 813.7 (for 100% CL) and 343.6 (for 16% CL), respectively, for the high-affinity binding mode. Second, the Mi-CK-induced vesicle cross-linking kinetics were analyzed by fixed-angle light scattering. Only octameric Mi-CK induced bridged vesicle/protein complexes, whereas dimeric Mi-CK failed to induce vesicle cross-linking. For vesicles containing 100% cardiolipin, the pseudo-first-order association rate constant was 2.55 x 10(-3) s-1, while for membranes containing 16% cardiolipin and 84% PC a constant of 6.25 x 10(-3) s-1 was found. The examined kinetic properties of the system suggest a two-step model for Mi-CK-induced vesicle cross-linking which consists of a fast binding step of the enzyme to the membrane, followed by a remarkably slower cross-linking reaction between Mi-CK-covered vesicles. The data obtained by in vitro biophysical methods agree with earlier experiments done with mitoplasts and isolated mitochondrial membranes and explain the in vivo accumulation of Mi-CK at contact sites between the inner and outer mitochondrial membrane and the formation of Mi-CK-rich intramitochondrial inclusions observed in creatine-depleted animals as well as in patients with mitochondrial cytopathies.

Animals

Differential effects of creatine depletion on the regulation of enzyme activities and on creatine-stimulated mitochondrial respiration in skeletal muscle, heart, and brain.

Guanidinopropionic acid (GPA), an analogue of creatine (Cr), is known to inhibit Cr uptake by cells. The metabolic effects of chronic Cr depletion on brain, heart and soleus muscle of rats were studied. In GPA hearts and soleus muscle, total specific creatine kinase (CK) activity was decreased by approx. 40% compared to controls, whereas in brain this same activity was elevated by a factor of two. Immunoblot analysis of soleus mitochondria from GPA rats showed an approximate 4-fold increase in Mi-CK protein and a concomitant 3-fold increase in adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT) protein, when compared to control. In GPA-fed rats, the specific activities of adenylate kinase (ADK) and succinate dehydrogenase were significantly higher in brain and soleus (2-fold), but heart remained the same. However, hexokinase (HK) decreased by approx. 50% both in heart and soleus, indicating that muscle and brain follow different strategies to compensate the energy deficit caused by creatine depletion. Skinned muscle fibres from Cr-depleted soleus attained approx. only 70% maximum state 3 respiration with 0.1 M ADP in the presence of 10 mM Cr compared to 100% in control fibres. This defect in Cr stimulated respiration was also seen in isolated heart mitochondria, but was normal in those from brain. The observed deficit of Cr-stimulated respiration, the significant accumulation of Mib-CK and ANT, concomitant with the formation of Mib-CK rich intra-mitochondrial inclusions shown by electron microscopy, indicate that Mib-CK function and coupling to oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), is impaired in these abnormal mitochondria. In addition, our results show tissue-specific metabolic compensations to Cr depletion.

Adaptation, Physiological

Structure of mitochondrial creatine kinase.

Creatine kinase (CK, EC 2.7.3.2), an enzyme important for energy metabolism in cells of high and fluctuating energy requirements, catalyses the reversible transfer of a phosphoryl goup from phosphocreatine to ADP. We have solved the structure of the octameric mitochondrial isoform, Mib-CK, which is located in the intermembrane compartment and along the cristae membranes. Mib-CK consumes ATP produced in the mitochondria for the production of phosphocreatine, which is then exported into the cytosol for fast regeneration of ATP by the cytosolic CK isoforms. The octamer has 422 point-group symmetry, and appears as a cube of side length 93 angstrom with a channel 20 angstrom wide extending along the four-fold axis. Positively charged amino acids at the four-fold faces of the octamer possibly interact with negatively charged mitochondrial membranes. Each monomer consists of a small alpha-helical domain and a large domain containing an eight-stranded antiparallel beta-sheet flanked by seven alpha-helices. The conserved residues of the CK family form a compact cluster that covers the active site between the domains.

Amino Acid Sequence

The in vitro kinetics of mitochondrial and cytosolic creatine kinase determined by saturation transfer 31P-NMR.

Michaelis- and dissociation constants of sarcomeric mitochondrial creatine kinase (Mi(b)-CK) in solution were determined by enzyme assay and compared to those of cytosolic MM-CK under identical conditions at pH 7.4 and 25 degrees C. Saturation transfer 31P-NMR was used to determine the steady state fluxes mediated by Mi-CK and MM-CK in solution. The NMR detected fluxes of both Mi-CK and MM-CK exhibited, as expected, a linear dependence on Vmax (Vmax range 0-9 mM.s-1). Interestingly, the oligomeric state of Mi-CK, with the Mi-CK octamer/dimer ratio ranging from 2 to 9, did not have a significant effect on the flux/Vmax ratio. Furthermore, the flux/Vmax ratio of Mi-CK was twice as high as that of MM-CK under similar conditions (flux/Vmax for Mi-CK was 0.31 and for MM-CK was 0.15). This difference was primarily due to a 4-fold higher apparent affinity for MgADP of Mi-CK compared to MM-CK (K(m)(MgADP) = 22 +/- 9 microM and 80 +/- 17 microM, resp.). The NMR observed fluxes were in agreement with the fluxes as calculated from the rate equation, using the appropriate metabolite concentrations and the kinetic constants from the spectrophotometric assays. Thus we conclude, that Mi-CK and MM-CK, when in solution, catalyse an exchange-reaction, the flux of which is fully observable by saturation transfer 31P-NMR.

Adenosine Diphosphate

Reconstitution of active octameric mitochondrial creatine kinase from two genetically engineered fragments.

Creatine kinase (CK) has been postulated to consist of two flexibly hinged domains. A previously demonstrated protease-sensitive site in M-CK (Morris & Jackson, 1991) has directed our attempts to dissect mitochondrial CK (Mi-CK) into two protein fragments encompassing amino acids [1-167] and [168-380]. When expressed separately in Escherichia coli, the two fragments yielded large amounts of insoluble inclusion bodies, from which the respective polypeptides could be purified by a simple two-step procedure. In contrast, co-expression of the two fragments yielded a soluble, active, and correctly oligomerizing enzyme. This discontinuous CK showed nearly full specific activity and was virtually indistinguishable from native Mi-CK by far- and near-UV CD. However, the positive cooperativity of substrate binding was abolished, suggesting a role of the covalent domain linkage in the crosstalk between the substrate binding sites for ATP and creatine. The isolated C-terminal fragment refolded into a native-like conformation in vitro, whereas the N-terminal fragment was largely unfolded. Prefolded [168-380] interacted in vitro with [1-167] to form an active enzyme. Kinetic analysis indicated that the fragments associate rapidly and with high affinity (1/K1 = 17 microM) and then isomerize slowly to an active enzyme (k2 = 0.12 min-1; k-2 = 0.03 min-1). Our data suggest that the C-terminal fragment of Mi-CK represents an autonomous folding unit, and that the folding of the C-terminal part might precede the conformational stabilization of the N-terminal moiety in vivo.

Adenosine Triphosphate

'Hot spots' of creatine kinase localization in brain: cerebellum, hippocampus and choroid plexus.

Creatine kinase (CK) isoenzymes, with emphasis on the mitochondrial CK isoenzymes, were characterized and localized in chicken cerebellum. Chicken cerebellum extracts analyzed by two-dimensional gels, using antipeptide antibodies specific for sarcomeric muscle-type mitochondrial CK (Mib-CK) and revealed the presence of a Mib-CK variant in avian cerebellum. This CK isoform was localized by immunofluorescence staining exclusively in the Purkinje neurons. The co-expression of this Mib-CK together with cytosolic muscle-type MM-CK, as observed in the same Purkinje neurons, may reflect the specific energy requirements associated with highly fluctuating Ca2+ levels (Ca2+ spiking) in these specialized neurons. Ubiquitous brain-type mitochondrial Mia-CK was found together with cytosolic BB-CK mainly in the glomeruli structures of the cerebellar granular layer. BB-CK, but much less so Mia-CK however, was also very prominent in Bergmann glial cells of the two mitochondrial Mi-CK isoenzymes in the chicken cerebellum is demonstrated. Other hot spots of CK localization were the granule and pyramidal cells of the hippocampus in rat. There, a developmental stage-dependent immunofluorescence staining, especially with antibodies against Mia-CK was noted. Epithelial cells of the choroid plexus were also highly enriched in CK. The possible implications of a CK/PCr circuit at these various cellular locations of the brain are discussed with respect to normal brain physiology and pathology.

Animals

Identification of two distinctly localized mitochondrial creatine kinase isoenzymes in spermatozoa.

The creatine kinase (CK) isoenzyme system is essential for motility in rooster and sea urchin sperm. In the present study, biochemical characterization as well as immunofluorescence and confocal laser microscopy with highly specific antibodies against various chicken CK isoenzymes revealed that cytosolic brain-type CK isoenzyme (B-CK) is the only CK isoenzyme in rooster seminal plasma, while three isoenzymes, cytosolic B-CK, sarcomeric mitochondrial CK (Mib-CK), and a variant of ubiquitous Mi-CK ('Mia-CK variant'), are found in rooster spermatozoa. These three isoenzymes are localized in different regions of the sperm cell. B-CK and Mib-CK were localized along the entire sperm tail and in the mitochondria-rich midpiece, respectively. The 'Mia-CK variant', on the other hand, was found predominantly at the head-midpiece boundary, in a non-uniform manner in the midpiece itself and, surprisingly, at the distal end of the sperm tail as well as at the acrosome. Several lines of evidence show that the 'Mia-CK variant' shares some characteristics with purified Mia-CK from chicken brain, but also displays distinctive features. This is the first evidence for two different Mi-CK isoenzymes occurring in one cell and, additionally, for the co-expression of Mib-CK and cytosolic brain-type B-CK in the same cell. The relevance of these findings for sperm physiology and energetics is discussed.

Animals

Autophosphorylation of creatine kinase: characterization and identification of a specifically phosphorylated peptide.

We report that several different chicken and rabbit creatine kinase (CK)1 isoenzymes showed an incorporation of 32P when incubated with [gamma-32P]ATP in an autophosphorylation assay. This modification was was shown to be of covalent nature and resulted from an intramolecular phosphorylation reaction that was not dependent on the CK enzymatic activity. By limited proteolysis and sequence analysis of the resulting peptides, the autophosphorylation sites of chicken brain-type CK could be localized within the primary sequence of the enzyme to a 4.5 kDa peptide, spanning a region that is very likely an essential part of the active site of creatine kinase. Homologous peptides were found to be autophosphorylated in chicken muscle-type CK and a mitochondrial CK isoform. Phosphopeptide as well as mutant enzyme analysis provided evidence that threonine-282(2), threonine-289 and serine-285 are involved in the autophosphorylation of CK. Thr-282 and Ser-285 are located close to the reactive cysteine-283. Thr-289 is located within a conserved glycine-rich region highly homologous to the glycine-rich loop of protein kinases, which is known to be important for ATP binding. Thus, it seems likely that the described region constitutes an essential part of the active site of CK.

Amino Acid Sequence

Multiple-state equilibrium unfolding of guanidino kinases.

The denaturant-induced equilibrium unfolding of octameric mitochondrial creatine kinase, dimeric cytosolic muscle-type creatine kinase, and monomeric arginine kinase was investigated. Stable unfolding intermediates for all three enzymes were manifested by a strongly biphasic red shift of intrinsic protein fluorescence upon increasing denaturant concentrations. In the intermediate state, all proteins were monomeric and enzymatically inactive, but still retained a globular shape. Native tertiary structure interactions were largely disrupted, while at least 50% of the secondary structures were conserved, as suggested by near- and far-UV circular dichroism, respectively. A significantly increased surface hydrophobicity of the intermediate conformation, compared to both the native and the fully unfolded states, was observed by the binding of the hydrophobic fluorescent dye ANS. The observed properties agree formally with the definition of the molten globule state, but can be alternatively explained by a sequential unfolding of individual domains, involving a transient exposure of domain interfaces. Very similar unfolding profiles for all three proteins suggest that the formation of stable unfolding intermediates is not a consequence of the specific oligomeric structures of the CKs but rather due to a common, probably two-domain architecture of the guanidino kinase protomers.

Animals

Re-evaluation of the structure and physiological function of guanidino kinases in fruitfly (Drosophila), sea urchin (Psammechinus miliaris) and man.

Purification and biophysical characterization of mitochondrial creatine kinase (Mi-CK) from sperm of the sea urchin Psammechinus miliaris, as well as gel-permeation chromatography of human heart Mi-CK demonstrate that these two Mi-CK isoenzymes form highly symmetrical octameric molecules with an M(r) of approx. 350,000, a value similar to that found for all other Mi-CK isoenzymes investigated so far. The absolute evolutionary conservation of this oligomeric form from sea urchins to mammals points both to its essentiality for Mi-CK function and to an important role of octameric Mi-CK in the energy metabolism of tissues and cells with high and fluctuating energy demands. To investigate whether a similar physiological principle also operates in an even more distantly related animal phylum, the arginine kinase (ArgK) isoenzyme system of Drosophila flight muscle was investigated with two independent subcellular fractionation procedures and subsequent analysis of the fractions by SDS/PAGE, immunoblotting and native isoenzyme electrophoresis. In contrast with a previous report [Munneke and Collier (1988) Biochem. Genet. 26, 131-141], strong evidence against the occurrence of a Mi-ArgK isoenzyme in Drosophila was obtained. The findings of the present study are discussed in the context of CK and ArgK function in general and of structural and bioenergetic differences between vertebrate striated muscles and arthropod flight muscles.

Animals

Functional differences between dimeric and octameric mitochondrial creatine kinase.

Mitochondrial creatine kinase (Mi-CK) consists of octameric and dimeric molecules that are interconvertible. In the present study, the kinetic properties of purified chicken heart Mi-CK (Mib-CK) dimers and octamers were investigated separately under highly controlled conditions. Gel-permeation chromatography was performed before and after kinetic measurements in order to clearly define the proportions of octamers and dimers. 'Dimeric' Mi-CK solutions consisted of > or = 90% dimers throughout the experiment whereas 'octameric' Mi-CK solutions consisted in the beginning of 90% octamers, but upon measuring with the highest concentrations of creatine (Cr) and ATP approximately one-third of the octamers dissociated into dimers. These proper controls enabled us to pinpoint the observed kinetic differences between dimers and octamers solely to the oligomeric state of Mib-CK. Both dimeric and octameric Mi-CK displayed synergism in substrate binding (Kd values are higher than Km values), meaning that binding of the first substrate facilities subsequent binding of the second substrate. Most interestingly, Km(Cr) and Kd(Cr) values are both 2-3 times higher for octameric than for dimeric Mi-CK. Thus, at low Cr concentrations, the dimer is kinetically favoured for the forward direction of the reaction (phosphorylcreatine synthesis) compared with the octamer. The possible physiological significance of the lower Kd(Cr) value of dimeric versus octameric Mib-CK, as well as the apparent negative cooperativity of ATP binding at higher [Cr], are discussed within the context of a possible functional role for dimeric Mib-CK in vivo.

Animals

Dimer-dimer interactions in octameric mitochondrial creatine kinase.

Mitochondrial creatine kinase (Mi-CK) forms octamers and dimers, which are readily interconvertible in vitro. The kinetic and thermodynamic octamer stability of wild-type and two mutant, octamer-destabilized forms of chicken sarcomeric Mi-CK was investigated at varying temperatures, pHs, and salt and substrate concentrations, in order to identify parameters which might regulate the octamer/dimer ratio in vivo and to assess the nature of octamer-stabilizing interactions. For wild-type Mi-CK, the rate of the transition state analogue complex (TSAC)-induced octamer decay increased with increasing temperature up to 28 degrees C; increasing pH markedly accelerated the decay in a biphasic manner. The substrate-dependent decay data suggest that also the productive enzymatic transition state of Mi-CK induces an octamer-destabilizing conformation. Thermodynamically, the octamers are stabilized by a combination of hydrophobic and polar contributions. Van't Hoff analysis showed that hydrophobic interactions dominate both in the absence of substrates and in the TSAC conformation, since the equilibrium octamer fractions increased with increasing temperatures, in spite of the accelerated decay kinetics. For the Mi-CK mutant E4Q, a similar temperature dependence was found; in contrast, mutant W264C exhibited an inverted temperature dependence, suggesting that hydrophobic interactions might be largely abolished in this mutant. Both the kinetic and the thermodynamic data seem to suggest that the octamer-dimer transitions of Mi-CK might not play a major role in a fast regulation of mitochondrial energy metabolism, but could rather be involved in slow long-term modulations.

Adenosine Diphosphate