Biomedical subjects

W C Plaxton

Publications and source records attributed to W C Plaxton.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1995

Purification and characterization of a novel phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase from banana fruit.

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) from ripened banana (Musa cavendishii L.) fruits has been purified 127-fold to apparent homogeneity and a final specific activity of 32 mumol of oxaloacetate produced/min per mg of protein. Non-denaturing PAGE of the final preparation resolved a single protein-staining band that co-migrated with PEPC activity. Polypeptides of 103 (alpha-subunit) and 100 (beta-subunit) kDa, which stain for protein with equal intensity and cross-react strongly with anti-(maize leaf PEPC) immune serum, were observed following SDS/PAGE of the final preparation. CNBr cleavage patterns of the two subunits were similar, but not identical, suggesting that these polypeptides are related, but distinct, proteins. The enzyme's native molecular mass was estimated to be about 425 kDa. These data indicate that in contrast to the homotetrameric PEPC from most other sources, the banana fruit enzyme exists as an alpha 2 beta 2 heterotetramer. Monospecific rabbit anti-(banana PEPC) immune serum effectively immunoprecipitated the activity of the purified enzyme. Immunoblotting studies established that the 100 kDa subunit did not arise via proteolysis of the 103 kDa subunit after tissue extraction, and that the subunit composition of banana PEPC remains uniform throughout the ripening process. PEPC displayed a typical pH activity profile with an alkaline optimum and activity rapidly decreasing below pH 7.0. Enzymic activity was absolutely dependent on the presence of a bivalent metal cation, with Mg2+ or Mn2+ fulfilling this requirement. The response of the PEPC activity to PEP concentration and to various effectors was greatly influenced by pH and glycerol addition to the assay. The enzyme was activated by hexose-monophosphates and potently inhibited by malate, succinate, aspartate and glutamate at pH 7.0, whereas the effect of these metabolites was considerably diminished or completely abolished at pH 8.0. The significance of metabolite regulation of PEPC is discussed in relation to possible functions of this enzyme in banana fruit metabolism.

Carbohydrate Metabolism↗

PubMed1994

Potato tuber pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinase: effect of thiols and polyalcohols on its intrinsic fluorescence, oligomeric structure, and activity in dilute solutions.

The effect of dilution of homogeneous potato tuber pyrophosphate:fructose-6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase (EC 2.7.1.90; PFP) on the enzyme's intrinsic fluorescence, activity, and oligomeric structure has been examined. A rapid decrease in PFP's intrinsic fluorescence occurred in response to dilution. The decay follows double-exponential kinetics and was accompanied by a reduction in catalytic activity (measured in the glycolytic direction). Gel filtration-HPLC indicated a concomitant deaggregation of the native alpha 4 beta 4 heterooctamer into the inactive free alpha- and beta-subunits, followed by random aggregation of the subunits into an inactive, high M(r) conglomerate. The addition of 2 mM dithiothreitol, 2 mM 2-mercaptoethanol, or 5% (w/v) polyethylene glycol, but not any of the substrates, Mg2+, or fructose 2,6-bisphosphate, prevented this process. When purified PFP was stored for 1 week at -20 degrees C in the presence of 50% (v/v) glycerol partial degradation of its alpha-subunit occurred. This resulted in a labile enzyme that was more susceptible to subunit dissociation. The intrinsic fluorescence of the degraded PFP could be stabilized by 5% (w/v) polyethylene glycol, but not by 2 mM dithiothreitol or 2-mercaptoethanol. It is proposed that the current assay procedures for PFP, which normally involve considerable dilution in the absence of added sulfhydryl reducing agents or polyhydroxy compounds, may underestimate the actual activity of the enzyme. This has important implications for the assessment of the functions and regulation of PFP in vivo.

Alcohols↗

PubMed1994

Copurification of cytosolic fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase and cytosolic aldolase from endosperm of germinating castor oil seeds.

The cytosolic isozymes of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPasec) and aldolase (ALDc) from germinating castor oil seed endosperm (COS) (Ricinus communis L.; cv Hale) were purified to homogeneity and final specific activities 49 and 2.8 (mumol product produced/min)/mg protein, respectively. Nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the final FBPasec preparation resolved a single protein-staining band which comigrated with FBPase activity. Two protein-staining bands of 41 and 39 kDa that occurred in an approximate 1:1 ratio were observed following sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the final FBPasec preparation. Rabbit anti-(FBPasec) immune serum immunoprecipitated the activities of FBPasec, but not that of the plastidic isozyme of FBPase from germinated COS. Immunoblot analysis utilizing affinity purified anti-(COS FBPasec) immunoglobulin G established that the 39-kDa subunit of FBP-asec did not arise via proteolytic cleavage of the 41-kDa subunit during tissue extraction and enzyme purification. However, FBPasec was susceptible to degradation by endogenous protease(s) during incubation of an acidic (pH 5.9) clarified COS extract at 25 degrees C. This proteolysis caused the production of a 32-kDa antigenic polypeptide and resulted in FBPase inactivation. Gel filtration indicated that purified FBPasec exists in at least 8 different oligomeric forms ranging in size from > 2 million to < 34 kDa. The majority of FBPasec, however, eluted as a 143-kDa heterotetramer. Sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis of the final ALDc preparation yielded a single 40-kDa protein-staining polypeptide that cross-reacted with anti-(carrot ALDc) IgG. FBPasec copurified with ALDc through polyethylene glycol fractionation, Q-Sepharose, and phosphocellulose chromatographies, and the intensity of the fluorescence emission spectrum of ALDc was greatly reduced in the presence of COS FBPasec, but not rabbit muscle FBPase. These findings suggest that these two metabolically sequential enzymes might specifically interact in the cytosol of the highly gluconeogenic germinating COS. Our results also demonstrate that endogenous nonspecific acid phosphatase activity can interfere with the spectrophotometric assay for FBPase and can thus result in overestimations of FBPase activity in impure plant extracts.

Ricinus communis↗

PubMed1992

Evidence for an interaction between cytosolic aldolase and the ATP-and pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinases in carrot storage roots.

Immunoaffinity chromatography was employed to identify potential plant cytosolic aldolase (ALDc) binding proteins. A clarified homogenate of carrot storage root was chromatographed on a column of protein-A-Sepharose that had been covalently coupled to anti-(carrot root ALDc) immunoglobulin G. The column was washed with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), followed by step-wise elution with increasing concentrations of NaCl in PBS. Several proteins were eluted following application of the salt gradient. Western blotting identified the major eluting proteins to be the PPi-dependent phosphofructokinase (PFP) and the cytosolic form of the ATP-dependent phosphofructokinase (PFKc), enzymes that are metabolically sequential to ALDc. The results suggest that ALDc may specifically interact with PFP and PFKc in carrots.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed1992

Plant cytosolic pyruvate kinase: a kinetic study.

The kinetic properties of cytosolic pyruvate kinase (PKc) from germinating castor oil seeds (COS) have been investigated. From experiments in which the free Mg2+ concentration was varied at constant levels of either the complexed or free forms of the substrates it was determined that the true substrates are the free forms of both phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) and ADP. This conclusion is corroborated by the quenching of intrinsic PKC tryptophan fluorescence by free PEP and ADP. Mg2+ is bound as the free bivalent cation but is likely released as MgATP. The fluorescence data, substrate interaction kinetics, and pattern of inhibition by products and substrate analogues (adenosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) for ADP and phenyl phosphate for PEP) are compatible with a sequential, compulsory-ordered, Tri-Bi type kinetic reaction mechanism. PEP is the leading substrate, and pyruvate the last product to abandon the enzyme. The dissociation constant and limiting Km for free PEP (8.2 to 22 and 38 microM, respectively) and the limiting Km for free ADP (2.9 microM) are considerably lower than those reported for the non-plant enzyme. The results indicate that COS PKc exists naturally in an activated state, similar to the fructose 1,6-bisphosphate-activated yeast enzyme. This deduction is consistent with a previous study (F.E. Podestá and W.C. Plaxton (1991) Biochem. J. 279, 495-501) that failed to identify any allosteric activators for the COS PKc, but which proposed a regulatory mechanism based upon ATP levels and pH-dependent alterations in the enzyme's response to various metabolite inhibitors. As plant phosphofructokinases display potent inhibition by PEP, the overall rate of glycolytic flux from hexose 6-phosphate to pyruvate in the plant cytosol will ultimately depend upon variations in PEP levels brought about by the regulation of PKc.

Cytosol↗

PubMed1992

Phosphate starvation-inducible synthesis of the alpha-subunit of the pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinase in black mustard suspension cells.

PP(i)-dependent phosphofructokinase (PFP) activity, measured in the forward direction, increased approximately 19-fold when suspension cell cultures of black mustard (Brassica nigra) were subjected to 18 days of P(i) deprivation. Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate (2 microM) elicited a 10-fold activation of PFP from P(i)-deficient cells, compared to only a 2-fold activation of the enzyme from nutrient-sufficient cells. Also, PFP from P(i)-starved cells exhibited a greater affinity for the activator (Ka = 0.09 microM) than the enzyme from nutrient-sufficient cells (Ka = 0.32 microM). Western blots of extracts from P(i)-deficient cells were probed with rabbit anti-(potato tuber PFP) immune serum and revealed equal intensity staining immunoreactive polypeptides of M(r) 66,000 (alpha-subunit) and 60,000 (beta-subunit) that co-migrated with the alpha- and beta-subunits of homogeneous potato tuber PFP. By contrast, only the M(r) 60,000 beta-subunit was observed on immunoblots of extracts prepared from nutrient-sufficient cells. Quantification of immunoblots indicated that in black mustard cells experiencing transition from P(i) sufficiency to deficiency or vice versa, the relative amount of immunoreactive alpha-subunit correlated with the degree of activation of PFP by fructose 2,6-bisphosphate. These observations provide additional evidence that (i) plant PFP is an adaptive enzyme that may function in glycolysis during P(i) deprivation, and (ii) the alpha-subunit acts as a regulatory protein in controlling the catalytic activity of the beta-subunit and its regulation by fructose 2,6-bisphosphate.

Blotting, Western↗

PubMed1992

Isolation and characterization of a cDNA clone encoding a cognate 70-kDa heat shock protein of the chloroplast envelope.

The translocation of proteins into the endoplasmic reticulum, the mitochondrion, and the chloroplast has recently been shown to involve homologues of the highly conserved 70-kDa heat shock protein (HSP70) family. In this study, we have isolated and sequenced a full-length cDNA clone encoding a cognate 70-kDa heat shock protein of the spinach chloroplast envelope (SCE70). The cDNA insert is 2,535 base pairs long and codes for 653 amino acid residues of a protein with a predicted molecular mass of 71,731 daltons. The deduced amino acid sequence shows a high degree of homology with HSP70 proteins from other organisms. Southern genomic and RNA analyses reveal different hybridization patterns than that observed for a heat-inducible 70-kDa protein gene. The protein synthesized from the SCE70 cDNA insert co-migrates with a 70-kDa polypeptide of the chloroplast envelope following sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Western blot analysis and import studies indicate that SCE70 is associated with the chloroplast outer envelope. The import data suggest that SCE70 is targeted to the envelope membrane via a pathway different from other plastidic precursors but similar to that recently reported for outer envelope proteins SOE1 and OM14.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1992

Normal growth of transgenic tobacco plants in the absence of cytosolic pyruvate kinase.

The coding sequence of the cytosolic isozyme of potato tuber pyruvate kinase (PK) was attached to the transit peptide of the small subunit of pea ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase and placed under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter. This construct was transformed into Nicotiana tabacum. Unexpectedly, two primary transformants were recovered in which PK activity in leaves was greatly reduced. The reduction in PK activity appeared to result from the complete absence of the cytosolic form of the enzyme (PK(c)). In addition, no PK(c) could be detected on western blots of leaf extracts. Metabolite analyses indicated that the levels of phosphoenolpyruvate are substantially higher in PK(c)-deficient leaves than in wild-type leaves, consistent with a block in glycolysis at the step catalyzed by PK. PK(c) deficiency in the leaves does not appear to adversely affect plant growth. Analysis of progeny indicates that PK(c) deficiency is a heritable trait. The leaves of PK(c)-deficient transformants have normal rates of photosynthetic O(2) evolution and respiratory O(2) consumption, indicating that these plants are using alternative pathways to bypass PK.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1992

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity and concentration in the endosperm of developing and germinating castor oil seeds.

Monospecific polyclonal antibodies against maize leaf phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC, EC 4.1.1.31) were utilized to examine the subunit composition and developmental profile of endosperm PEPC in developing and germinating castor oil seeds (Ricinus communis L. cv Baker 296). PEPC from developing endosperm consists of a single type of 100-kilodalton subunit, whereas the enzyme from 2- to 5-day germinated endosperm appears to contain equal proportions of immunologically related 103- and 108-kilodalton subunits. The maximal activity of PEPC in developing endosperms (2.67 micromoles oxaloacetate produced per minute per gram fresh weight) is approximately 20-fold and threefold greater than that of fully mature (dry seed) and germinating endosperms, respectively. The most significant increase in the activity and concentration of endosperm PEPC occurs during the middle cotyledon to full cotyledon stage of seed development; this period coincides with the most active phase of storage oil accumulation by ripening castor oil seeds. The data are compatible with the recent proposal (RG Smith, DA Gauthier, DT Dennis, DH Turpin [1992] Plant Physiol 1233-1238) that PEPC plays a fundamental role in vivo in the cytosolic production of an important substrate (malate) for fatty acid biosynthesis by developing castor oil seed leucoplasts. Immediately following seed imbibition, PEPC activity and concentration increase in parallel, with the greatest levels attained by the third day of germination. It is suggested that during this early phase of seed germination PEPC has a critical function to build up cellular dicarboxylic acid pools required to initiate significant activities of both the tricarboxylic acid and glyoxylate cycles.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1991

Phosphate-starvation response in plant cells: de novo synthesis and degradation of acid phosphatases.

Induction of phosphatase activity is an important component of the plant cell response to phosphate deficiency. Suspension cell cultures of Brassica nigra contain two major inducible acid phosphatase (APase) isozymes; vacuolar phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) APase and cell wall nonspecific APase. Polyclonal antibodies raised against purified PEP-APase crossreacted specifically with both isozymes. Furthermore, anti-(PEP-APase) IgG detected proteins from a wide range of higher plants, suggesting that the major plant APase isozymes have diverged from a common ancestral form. Quantification on immunoblots indicated that in B. nigra suspension cells experiencing transition from Pi sufficiency to deficiency or vice versa, the amount of total antigenic APase protein correlated closely with total enzyme activity. This was also shown in intact plant roots. Therefore, the activity was governed by the synthesis and degradation of APases. Increases in the amounts of both major APase isozymes occurred simultaneously following Pi deprivation of B. nigra suspension cells, suggesting the involvement of a common regulatory mechanism.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1991

Kinetic and regulatory properties of cytosolic pyruvate kinase from germinating castor oil seeds.

The kinetic and regulatory properties of cytosolic pyruvate kinase (PKc) isolated from endosperm of germinating castor oil seeds (Ricinus communis L.) have been studied. Optimal efficiency in substrate utilization (in terms of Vmax/Km for phosphoenolpyruvate or ADP) occurred between pH 6.7 and 7.4. Enzyme activity was absolutely dependent on the presence of a bivalent and a univalent metal cation, with Mg2+ and K+ fulfilling this requirement. Mg2+ binding showed positive and negative co-operativity at pH 6.5 (h = 1.6) and pH 7.2 (h = 0.69) respectively. Hyperbolic saturation kinetics were observed with phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) and K+, whereas ADP acted as a mixed-type inhibitor over 1 mM. Glycerol (10%, v/v) increased the S0.5(ADP) 2.3-fold and altered the pattern of nucleotide binding from hyperbolic (h = 1.0) to sigmoidal (h = 1.79) without modifying PEP saturation kinetics. No activators were identified. ATP, AMP, isocitrate, 2-oxoglutarate, malate, 2-phosphoglycerate, 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate, 3-phosphoglycerate, glycerol 3-phosphate and phosphoglycolate were the most effective inhibitors. These metabolites yielded additive inhibition when tested in pairs. ATP and 3-phosphoglycerate were mixed-type inhibitors with respect to PEP, whereas competitive inhibition was observed for other inhibitors. Inhibition by malate, 2-oxoglutarate, phosphorylated triose sugars or phosphoglycolate was far more pronounced at pH 7.2 than at pH 6.5. Although 32P-labelling studies revealed that extensive phosphorylation in vivo of soluble endosperm proteins occurred between days 3 and 5 of seed germination, no alteration in the 32P-labelling pattern of 5-day-germinated endosperm was observed after 30 min of anaerobiosis. Moreover, no evidence was obtained that PKc was a phosphoprotein in aerobic or anoxic endosperms. It is proposed that endosperm PKc activity of germinating castor seeds is enhanced after anaerobiosis through concerted decreases in ATP levels, cytosolic pH and concentrations of several key inhibitors.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

PubMed1991

Purification, characterization, and subcellular localization of an acid phosphatase from black mustard cell-suspension cultures: comparison with phosphoenolpyruvate phosphatase.

An acid phosphatase from Brassica nigra (black mustard) leaf petiole cell-suspension cultures has been purified 1633-fold to a final specific activity of 1225 (mumols orthophosphate produced/min)/mg protein and near homogeneity. The native protein was a glycosylated monomer having a molecular mass of 60 kDa and a pI of 4.5. The enzyme displayed a broad pH optimum of about pH 5.6 and was heat stable. The final preparation hydrolyzed a wide variety of phosphate esters. The highest specificity constants were obtained with 3-phosphoglycerate, 2,3-diphosphoglycerate, PPi, and phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP). The enzyme was activated 1.4-fold by 4 mM Mg2+ or Mn2+, but was strongly inhibited by Mo, Pi, F, and several phosphorylated compounds. Subcellular localization experiments revealed that this nonspecific acid phosphatase is probably a secreted enzyme, localized in the cell wall. By contrast, B. nigra PEP phosphatase appeared to be localized in the cell vacuole. Peptide mapping via CNBr fragmentation was employed to investigate the structural relatedness of the two phosphatases. Their respective CNBr cleavage patterns were dissimilar, suggesting that B. nigra acid and PEP phosphatases are distinct polypeptides. Putative metabolic functions of these two phosphatases are discussed in relation to the biochemical adaptations of B. nigra cell-suspension cultures to nutritional phosphate deprivation.

Acid Phosphatase↗

PubMed1991

High-yield purification of potato tuber pyrophosphate: fructose-6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase.

The procedure of Yuan et al. (1988, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 154, 111-117) for the isolation of potato pyrophosphate:fructose-6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase (PFP) has been modified so that a high yield of homogeneous enzyme could be obtained. Modifications included a lower temperature heat step, a lower percentage initial polyethylene glycol fractionation step (0 to 4%, w/v), stepwise elution following an increase from 30 to 50 mM pyrophosphate during affinity chromatography on Whatman P11 phosphocellulose, anion-exchange chromatography using Q-Sepharose "Fast Flow," and gel filtration chromatography with Superose 6 "Prep grade." Our procedure resulted in an overall 42% yield and a final specific activity of 87 mumol fructose 1,6-bisphosphate produced per minute per milligram protein. Rabbit anti-(potato PFP) polyclonal antibodies effectively immunoprecipitated the activity of both the pure enzyme and the enzyme from a crude extract. Western blot analysis demonstrated that the antibodies were monospecific for PFP. A survey of various potato cultivars demonstrated significant differences in PFP activity with respect to fresh weight. This observation should be taken into consideration before any purification of potato PFP is undertaken.

Chromatography, Affinity↗

PubMed1991

Effects of Phosphorus Limitation on Respiratory Metabolism in the Green Alga Selenastrum minutum.

The effects of phosphorus nutrition on several physiological and biochemical parameters of the green alga, Selenastrum minutum, have been examined. Algal cells were cultured in chemostats under conditions of either Pi limitation or nutrient sufficiency. Pi limitation resulted in: (a) a 5-fold lower rate of respiration, (b) a 3-fold decline in rates of photosynthetic carbon dioxide fixation and oxygen evolution, (c) a 3-fold higher rate of dark carbon dioxide fixation, (d) significant increases in activities of phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylase and PEP phosphatase (128% and 158% of nutrient sufficient activities, respectively), (e) significant reductions in activities of nonphosphorylating NADP-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and NAD malic enzyme, and (f) no change in levels of ATP:fructose-6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase, phosphorylating NAD-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, 3-phosphoglycerate kinase, and pyruvate kinase. The intracellular concentrations of Pi, ATP, AMP, soluble protein, and chlorophyll were also significantly reduced in response to Pi limitation. As well, the level of ADP was about 11-fold lower in the Pi-limited cells as compared to the nutrient sufficient controls. It was predicted that because of this low level of ADP, pyruvate kinase catalyzed conversion of PEP to pyruvate may be restricted in Pi-limited cells. During Pi limitation, PEP carboxylase and PEP phosphatase may function to "bypass" the ADP dependent pyruvate kinase, as well as to recycle Pi for its reassimilation into cellular metabolism.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1991

Relationship between the Subunits of Leucoplast Pyruvate Kinase from Ricinus communis and a Comparison with the Enzyme from Other Sources.

Two cDNA clones, PK(p)alpha and PK(p)beta, for the leucoplast isozyme of pyruvate kinase have been isolated and characterized. A Southern blot of castor (Ricinus communis) DNA probed with PK(p)alpha indicates the presence of a single gene for PK(p). Most (1610 base pairs) of the sequence of both cDNAs is identical. These 1610 base pairs begin with an ATG translation initiation codon, and have 248 base pairs of 3'-untranslated and 1362 base pairs of coding sequence. The sequences of the two clones 5'- to the identical regions are different but both encode peptides with a high percentage of hydrophobic amino acids. The derived sequence of PK(p)alpha encodes eight amino acid residues which have been identified as the amino-terminus of one subunit of PK(p) from castor seed leucoplasts when the enzyme is purified in the absence of cysteine endopeptidase inhibitors. The sequence upstream of these amino acids is possibly the transit peptide for this protein. When PK(p) is extracted under conditions that eliminate its proteolytic degradation, its alpha-subunit has a relative molecular weight equal to the full-length coding sequence of PK(p)alpha. The data indicate that the transit peptide for the subunit of leucoplast pyruvate kinase encoded by PK(p)alpha is not cleaved until the protein is released from the plastid. The derived amino acid sequences of PK(p)alpha and PK(p)beta are most closely related to Escherichia coli pyruvate kinase. Although the residues involved in substrate binding are conserved in leucoplast pyruvate kinase, there is no phosphorylation site and only 5 of 15 amino acids in the E. coli fructose-1,6-bisphosphate binding site are conserved.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1991

Association of phosphoenolpyruvate phosphatase activity with the cytosolic pyruvate kinase of germinating mung beans.

The procedure of Malhotra and Kayastha ([1990] Plant Physiology 93: 194-200) for the purification to homogeneity of a phosphoenolpyruvate-specific alkaline phosphatase (PEP phosphatase) from germinating mung beans (Vigna radiata) was followed. Although a higher specific activity of 1.4 micromoles pyruvate produced per minute per milligram protein was obtained, the final preparation was less than 10% pure as judged by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Attempts to further purify the enzyme resulted in loss of activity. The partially purified enzyme contained significant pyruvate kinase activity (0.13 micromole pyruvate produced per minute per milligram protein) when assayed at pH 7.2, but not at pH 8.5. The PEP phosphatase activity of the final preparation exhibited hysteresis; a lag time of 5 to 6 minutes was required before a steady-state reaction rate was attained. A western blot of the final preparation revealed an immunoreactive 57 kilodalton polypeptide when probed with monospecific rabbit polyclonal antibodies prepared against germinating castor bean cytosolic pyruvate kinase. No antigenic cross-reaction of the final preparation was observed with antibodies against castor bean leucoplast pyruvate kinase, or black mustard PEP-specific acid phosphatase. Nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the final preparation resulted in a single PEP phosphatase activity band; when this band was excised and subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and western blotting, a 57 kilodalton silver-staining polypeptide was obtained that strongly cross-reacted with the anti-(cytosolic pyruvate kinase) immunoglobulin G. It is suggested that mung bean PEP-specific alkaline phosphatase activity is due to cytosolic pyruvate kinase, in which pyruvate and ortho-phosphate are formed in the absence of ADP.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1991

Leucoplast Pyruvate Kinase from Developing Castor Oil Seeds : Characterization of the Enzyme's Degradation by a Cysteine Endopeptidase.

Leucoplast pyruvate kinase (PK(p); EC 2.7.1.40) from endosperm of developing castor oil seeds (Ricinus communis L. cv Baker 296) appears to be highly susceptible to limited degradation by a cysteine endopeptidase during the purification of the enzyme or incubation of clarified homogenates at 4 degrees C. Purified castor seed PK(p) was previously reported to consist of immunologically related 57.5 and 44 kilodalton subunits (Plaxton WC, Dennis DT, Knowles VL [1990] Plant Physiol 94: 1528-1534). By contrast, immunoreactive polypeptides of about 63.5 and 54 kilodaltons were observed when a western blot of an extract prepared under denaturing conditions was probed with affinity purified rabbit anti-(castor seed PK(p)) immunoglobulin G. Proteolytic activity against PK(p) was estimated by the disappearance of the 63.5 and 54 kilodalton subunits and the concomitant appearance of lower molecular mass immunoreactive degradation products during the incubation of clarified homogenates at 4 degrees C. The presence of 2 millimolar dithiothreitol accelerated the degradation of PK(p). The conservation of the 63.5 and 54 kilodalton subunits was observed after extraction of the enzyme in the presence of 1 millimolar p-hydroxymecuribenzoate, or 1 millimolar Nalpha-p-tosyl-l-lysine chloromethyl ketone, or 10 millimolar iodoacetate. These results reveal that a cysteine endopeptidase was responsible for the in vitro proteolysis of PK(p). This endopeptidase is present throughout all stages of endosperm development. Its PK(p)-degrading activity, however, appears to be most pronounced in preparations from older endosperm. When lysates of purified leucoplasts were incubated at 4 degrees C for up to 21 hours, no degradation of PK(p) was observed; this indicated an extra-leucoplastic localization for the cysteine endopeptidase. Although the in vivo subunit structure of PK(p) remains uniform throughout all stages of endosperm development, the large decrease in PK activity that accompanies castor seed maturation coincides with a marked reduction in the concentration of PK(p).

Journal Article↗

PubMed1990

Purification and characterization of cytosolic aldolase from carrot storage root.

A single fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) aldolase has been detected in extracts from carrot storage roots (Daucus carota L.). The enzyme was purified 850-fold to electrophoretic homogeneity and a final specific activity of 26.3 mumols of FBP utilized/min per mg of protein. SDS/PAGE of the final preparation revealed a single protein-staining band of 40 kDa. The native molecular mass was determined by analytical gel filtration to be 159 kDa, indicating that the enzyme is a homotetramer. Denaturing isoelectric focusing revealed two predominant protein-staining bands, with pI values of 5.6 and 5.7. The enzyme is a class I aldolase, since EDTA or metal ions had no effect on its activity. The enzyme was relatively heat-stable, had an activation energy (Ea) of 68.3 kJ.mol-1, and had an absorption coefficient of 8.08 x 10(4) M-1.cm-1 at 280 nm. Km values for FBP and sedoheptulose 1,7-bisphosphate (SBP) were both determined to be 6 microM (pH optima 7.4). The specificity constant with FBP was 2.6 times that obtained with SBP. Ribose 5-phosphate, 6-phosphogluconate, MgAMP, glucose 1-phosphate and phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) were inhibitors. PEP was a mixed-type inhibitor with respect to FBP (Ki = 3.2 mM, K'i = 5.1 mM). No activators were found. Rabbit anti-(carrot aldolase) polyclonal antibodies immunoprecipitated the activity of both carrot root aldolase and spinach leaf cytosolic aldolase, but not that of spinach leaf plastid aldolase. Western-blot analysis also revealed cross-reactivity with cytosolic, but not plastid, spinach leaf aldolase, indicating that the single carrot root aldolase is cytosolic.

Amino Acids↗