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Biosynthesis in Escherichia coli of sn-glycerol 3-phosphate, a precursor of phospholipid. Kinetic characterization of wild type and feedback-resistant forms of the biosynthetic sn-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.

Homogeneous wild type and feedback-resistant forms of the biosynthetic sn-glycerol 3-phosphate (glycerol-P) dehydrogenase of Escherichia coli (EC1.1.1.8) were subjected to two-substrate kinetic analysis. The kinetics of the NADPH-dependent reduction of dihydroxyacetone phosphate (dihydroxyacetone-P) and of the NADP-dependent oxidation of glycerol-P indicate that these reactions proceed by a sequential mechanism. Glycerol-P was a competitive inhibitor with respect to dihydroxyacetone-P for both enzymes. The wild type and feedback-resistant glycerol-P dehydrogenases had Ki values for glycerol-P of 4.4 micrometer and 43 micrometer, respectively. Therefore, the sensitivity of the wild type activity and reduced sensitivity of the feedback-resistant activity, both noted previously in crude extracts, were inherent properties of the enzymes. The patterns of product inhibition for both enzymes were identical, and the difference in the inhibition constants for glycerol-P occurred without significant alteration of any other kinetic constant determined. Kinetic mechanisms consistent with the patterns of product inhibition violated Haldane relationships and other kinetic relationships. These discrepancies suggest that glycerol-P inhibition occurs at a site distinct from the active site. The pH dependencies of the Km for dihydroxyacetone-P and the Ki for glycerol-P were markedly different suggesting the existence of an allosteric site. The addition of glycerol-P in the presence of NADPH stabilized both enzymes against thermal inactivation. Half-maximal stabilization was provided by 5 micrometer and 50 micrometer glycerol-P for the wild type and feedback-resistant enzymes, respectively. These kinetic data, considered in conjunction with previous physiologic and genetic data, indicate that the synthesis of glycerol-P is regulated in vivo by glycerol-P inhibition of the glycerol-P dehydrogenase. The data suggest that glycerol-P inhibition occurs at an allosteric, regulatory site.

Dihydroxyacetone Phosphate

Triacylglycerol synthesis in isolated fat cells. Evidence that the sn-glycerol-3-phosphate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate acyltransferase activities are dual catalytic functions of a single microsomal enzyme.

The acyl-CoA:sn-glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.15) (glycerol-P acyltransferase) and acyl-CoA:dihydroxyacetone phosphate acyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.42) (DHAP acyltransferase) activities were investigated in vitro in order to evaluate the quantitative contribution of the glycerol-P and DHAP pathways for the synthesis of triacylglycerols in isolated fat cells and to test the hypothesis that these two activities may be dual catalytic functions of a single enzyme. More than 85% of both acyltransferase activities was associated with the microsomal subcellular fraction. The microsomal glycerol-P acyltransferase activity showed an apparent Km of 8 muM for glycerol-P with a Vmax of 15.6 nmol/min/mg, while the DHAP acyltransferase activity showed an apparent Km of 40 muM for DHAP with a Vmax of 9.7 nmol/min/mg. Glycerol-P was a competitive inhibitor (Ki = 7.2 muM) of the DHAP acyltransferase, and DHAP was a competitive inhibitor (Ki = 92 muM) of the glycerol-P acyltransferase. The two acyltransferase activities showed virtual identity in their pH dependence, acyl-CoA chain length dependence, thermolability, and inactivation by N-ethylmaleimide. Trypsin, detergents, collagenase, phospholipases, and various salts and organic solvents also had similar effects on both activities. Taken as a whole, the data strongly suggest that the microsomal glycerol-P and DHAP acyltransferase activities actually represent dual functions of a single enzyme. Calculations based on the above kinetic constants and previously reported glycerol-P and DHAP pools in adipocytes suggest that the in vivo ratio of glycerol-P to DHAP acylation should be greater than 24:1.

Acyltransferases

Glycerol transport in human red cells.

The kinetics of 14C-glycerol exchange was studied in human red cells. Glycerol appeared to be transported by two mechanisms: (i) by facilitated diffusion with permeability depending on glycerol concentration, and (ii) by an unspecific pathway, presumably representing the diffusion of individual glycerol molecules through the membrane with permeability independent of glycerol concentration. The latter permeability was 8 X 10(-8) cm/s at 20 degrees C, it was independent of pH, and had an activation energy of 25 kcal/mol. The facilitated transport of glycerol was completely inhibited by Cu++, and the activation energy was low, about 10 kcal/mol. The transport system was competitively inhibited by H+, reacting with at least three hydrogen analogue, as well as dimethylsulfoxide (a hydrogen bonding molecule with no structural resemblance to glycerol), inhibited glycerol transport competitively. Steins "dimerizer hypothesis" was revised according to our findings. A kinetic scheme describing the reactions of a transport controlling site with glycerol is presented in the Appendix. It is demonstrated in the article that the scheme accounts for out experimental results.

Biological Transport

Glycerolipid biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: sn-glycerol-3-phosphate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate acyltransferase activities.

Yeast acyl-coenzyme A:dihydroxyacetone-phosphate O-acyltransferase (DHAP acyltransferase; EC 2.3.1.42) was investigated to (i) determine whether its activity and that of acyl-coenzyme A:sn-glycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase (glycerol-P acyltransferase; EC 2.3.1.15) represent dual catalytic functions of a single membranous enzyme, (ii) estimate the relative contributions of the glycerol-P and DHAP pathways for yeast glycerolipid synthesis, and (iii) evaluate the suitability of yeast for future genetic investigations of the eucaryotic glycerol-P and DHAP acyltransferase activities. The membranous DHAP acyltransferase activity showed an apparent Km of 0.79 mM for DHAP, with a Vmax of 5.3 nmol/min per mg, whereas the glycerol-P acyltransferase activity showed an apparent Km of 0.05 mM for glycerol-P, with a Vmax of 3.4 nmol/min per mg. Glycerol-P was a competitive inhibitor (Ki, 0.07 mM) of the DHAP acyltransferase activity, and DHAP was a competitive inhibitor (Ki, 0.91 mM) of the glycerol-P acyltransferase activity. The two acyltransferase activities exhibited marked similarities in their pH dependence, acyl-coenzyme A chain length preference and substrate concentration dependencies, thermolability, and patterns of inactivation by N-ethylmaleimide, trypsin, and detergents. Thus, the data strongly suggest that yeast glycerol-P and DHAP acyltransferase activities represent dual catalytic functions of a single membrane-bound enzyme. Furthermore, since no acyl-DHAP oxidoreductase activity could be detected in yeast membranes, the DHAP pathway for glycerolipid synthesis may not operate in yeast.

Acyl Coenzyme A

Glycerol teichoic acid as an antigenic determinant in a Gram-negative bacterium Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens.

An antigenic determinant isolated from a strain of the Gram-negative bacterium Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens reacted with specific antisera to the polyglycerophosphate backbone of membrane teichoic acids of lactobacilli. It gave a reaction of identity with membrane glycerol lipoteichoic acid and glycerol teichoic acid preparations from lactobacilli, and with phenol extracts of other Gram-positive bacteria. The antigen-antibody reactions was strongly inhibited by glycerol-phosphoryl-glycerol-phosphoryl-glycerol and the chemical composition was consistent with glycerol teichoic acid. It was concluded that this Gram-negative bacterium contained a glycerol teichoic acid whose polyglycerophospate backbone was acting as antigenic determinant. Extracts of 33 out of 52 other strains of butyrivibrios examined gave similar reactions.

Antibodies, Bacterial

The salt relations of Dunaliella. Further observations on glycerol production and its regulation.

Dunaliella tertiolecta (marine) and D. viridis (halophilic) were each trained by serial transfer to grow at salt concentrations previously regarded as the other's domain. D. viridis then had a salt optimum at 1.0-1.5 M sodium chloride whereas that for D. tertiolecta was less than 0-2 M. Nevertheless D. tertiolecta grew faster than the halophil at all salt concentrations up to 3.5 M, the highest at which they were compared. Both species accumulate glycerol, which is necessary for growth at elevated salinities and which responds in its content to water activity (aw) rather than specifically to salt concentration. Variation in glycerol content is a metabolic process which occurs in the dark from accumulated starch as well as photosynthetically. Regulation of glycerol content by aw does not require protein synthesis. The NADP-specific glycerol dehydrogenase of each of the algae is likely to be directly involved in the regulation of glycerol content. Kinetic studies, together with those described in an earlier publication, show that the enzyme has regulatory properties and that both glycerol and dihydroxyacetone act as effectors as well as reactants. A mechanism of the reaction is tentatively proposed.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases

Purification and properties of a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-linked dehydrogenase that serves an Escherichia coli mutant for glycerol catabolism.

Glycerol:NAD+2-OXIDOREDUCTASE (EC 1.1.1.6) was purified to homogeneity from a mutant of Escherichia coli K12 that uses this enzyme, instead of ATP:glycerol 3-phosphotransferase (EC 2.7.1.30), as the first enzyme for the dissimilation of glycerol. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate shows a subunit of 39,000 daltons. During electrophoresis under nondenaturing conditions, the protein migrates as two bands. These two forms, both of which are enzymatically active, appear to be dimers and octomers of the same subunit. The optimal pH for the oxidation of glycerol is about 10, and that for the reduction of dihydroxyacetone is about 6. Glycerol dehydrogenation is highly activated by NH4+, K+, or Rb+, but strongly inhibited by N-ethylmalemide, 8-hydroxyquinoline, 1,10-phenanthroline, Cu2+, and Ca2+. The enzyme exhibits a broad substrate specificity. In addition to glycerol, it act on 1,2-propanediol and several of its analogs.

Cations, Monovalent

The maximum activities of hexokinase, phosphorylase, phosphofructokinase, glycerol phosphate dehydrogenases, lactate dehydrogenase, octopine dehydrogenase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, nucleoside diphosphatekinase, glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase and arginine kinase in relation to carbohydrate utilization in muscles from marine invertebrates.

Comparison of the activities of hexokinase, phosphorylase and phosphofructokinase in muscles from marine invertebrates indicates that they can be divided into three groups. First, the activities of the three enzymes are low in coelenterate muscles, catch muscles of molluscs and muscles of echinoderms; this indicates a low rate of carbohydrate (and energy) utilization by these muscles. Secondly, high activities of phosphorylase and phosphofructokinase relative to those of hexokinase are found in, for example, lobster abdominal and scallop snap muscles; this indicates that these muscles depend largely on anaerobic degradation of glycogen for energy production. Thirdly, high activities of hexokinase are found in the radular muscles of prosobranch molluscs and the fin muscles of squids; this indicates a high capacity for glucose utilization, which is consistent with the high activities of enzymes of the tricarboxylic acid cycle in these muscles [Alp, Newsholme & Zammit (1976) Biochem. J. 154, 689-700]. 2. The activities of lactate dehydrogenase, octopine dehydrogenase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, cytosolic and mitochondrial glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase and glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase were measured in order to provide a qualitative indication of the importance of different processes for oxidation of glycolytically formed NADH. The muscles are divided into four groups: those that have a high activity of lactate dehydrogenase relative to the activities of phosphofructokinase (e.g. crustacean muscles); those that have high activities of octopine dehydrogenase but low activities of lactate dehydrogenase (e.g. scallop snap muscle); those that have moderate activities of both lactate dehydrogenase and octopine dehydrogenase (radular muscles of prosobranchs), and those that have low activities of both lactate dehydrogenase and octopine dehydrogenase, but which possess activities of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (oyster adductor muscles). It is suggested that, under anaerobic conditions, muscles of marine invertebrates form lactate and/or octopine or succinate (or similar end product) according to the activities of the enzymes present in the muscles (see above). The muscles investigated possess low activities of cytosolic glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, which indicates that glycerol phosphate formation is quantitatively unimportant under anaerobic conditions, and low activities of mitochondrial glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase, which indicates that the glycerol phosphate cycle is unimportant in the re-oxidation of glycolytically produced NADH in these muscles under aerobic conditions. Conversely, high activities of glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase are present in some muscles, which indicates that the malate-aspartate cycle may be important in oxidation of glycolytically produced NADH under aerobic conditions. 3. High activities of nucleoside diphosphate kinase were found in muscles that function for prolonged periods under anaerobic conditions (e.g...

Adenosine Triphosphate

Controlled trial of glycerol versus dexamethasone in the treatment of cerebral oedema in acute cerebral infarction.

10 percent glycerol was given for 6 days to 30 patients who had had acute ischaemic cerebral infarction, and the results were compared with those obtained after treating 31 similar patients with dexamethasone (16 mg. per 24 hours for 6 days). 1 patient treated with glycerol died of haemoglobinuria and acute renal failure. 6 patients treated with dexamethasone died--3 from cerebral oedema and 3 from non-neurological complications (pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, and aspiration pneumonia). Improvement was significantly greater in the glycerol group after 8 and 15 days. No improvement was noted using either glycerol or dexamethasone in 7 patients with spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage.

Aged

Subunit dissociation in the allosteric regulation of Glycerol kinase from Escherichia coli. 3. Role in desensitization.

The mechanism of desensitization of glycerol kinase to allosteric inhibition by fructose 1,6-bisphosphate caused by salt, urea, and high pH has been examined in the light of the model proposed in an earlier paper [de Riel, J. K., and Paulus H. (1978), Biochemistry 17] relating subunit dissociation and ligand binding. KCl (0.4 M) causes a tenfold decrease in the affinity of tetrameric glycerol kinase for fructose, 1,6-bisphosphate but has no significant effect on the dissociation process itself. Urea (2 M) causes a large increase in the equilibrium constant for the dissociation of the glycerol kinase tetramer to dimer but has no effect on the affinity of the tetramer for the allosteric inhibitor. High pH (9--10) has only a small effect on the subunit dissociation constant but greatly reduces the rates of subunit association and dissociation. Desensitization of glycerol kinase to allosteric inhibition can thus occur by three different mechanisms, two of which are directly related to the polysteric nature of the enzyme.

Allosteric Regulation

Decoupling of the excitation-contraction link by glycerol procedure in volume-clamped muscle fibers.

The role of "osmotic shock" and vesiculation in the mechanism of disconnection of the T-system tubules by the glycerol procedure was studied in volume-clamped muscle fibres of the crayfish. The transient dilatation of fibres during the wash-out of glycerol was prevented by application of hypertonic sucrose solutions of decreasing osmolarity to hold the fibre volume constant. Under these conditions the fibres were decoupled only partially; the twitch tension was decreased to a steady level of about 40% of the control tension. The decay in tension developed without the transient potentiation observed in fibres allowed to dilate. The decoupling could not be reversed by reapplication of glycerol saline. The structure of volume-clamped fibres differs from the dilated ones in two respects; the vesicles appear smaller and are absent in continuous layers (about 4 micrometer in width) just under the surface and the cleft membranes. Electron microscopy of these regions has revealed the presence of normal T-system tubules communicating with the fibre exterior. The results provide evidence for the secondary role of the osmotic factor and the essential role of the vesiculation in the induction of the detubulation by glycerol procedure.

Animals

Quantitative effects of salycylhydroxamic acid and glycerol on Trypanosoma brucei glycolysis in vitro and in vivo.

During anaerobic glycolysis in vitro in the presence of salicylhydroxamic acid, Trypanosoma brucei brucei converts glucose to equimolar amounts of glycerol and pyruvate as end products. Glycerol, whether generated endogenously and pyruvate as end products. Glycerol, whether generated endogenously or added exogenously, can inhibit anaerobic glycolysis sufficiently in vitro to result in cell death. The concomitant administration of salicylhydroxamic acid and glycerol to rats infected with T. brucei brucei results in a rapid clearance of parasitemia. Our results clearly demonstrate a new and approachable chemotherapeutic target for African trypanosomes.

Animals

Stimulation of immune reactivity by methoxy-substituted glycerol ethers incorporated into the feed.

In mice, the plaque-forming cell response to sheep red blood cells was stimulated by a mixture of methoxy-substituted glycerol ethers isolated from Greenland shark liver oil and by synthetic 1-0-(2-methoxyhexadecyl)-glycerol, given in the diet. In preliminary experiments, this synthetic compound also increased the ability of parental spleen cells to induce graft-vs.-host reactions in F1 hybrid mice. Glycerol ethers occur in the bone marrow fat of mammals and in the membrane phospholipids. It is postulated that the methoxy-substituted glycerol ethers supplied in the diet may stimulate the bone marrow and/or may be incorporated into membrane lipids, thereby changing the structure and function of the membranes.

Animals

L-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase from the insect Ceratitis capitata. Purfication, physicochemical and enzymic properties.

Soluble L-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (sn-glycerol-3-phosphate: NAD+ 2-oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.8) from the mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata has been purified 130-fold with an overall yield of about 40%. The final preparation had a specific activity of about 200 mumol NADH/min/mg protein. The enzyme preparation has been shown to be homogeneous throughout disc gel electrophoresis, dodecyl sulphate gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing and ultracentrifugation. The Km values for dihydroxyacetone phosphate, NADH, L-glycerol-3-phosphate and NAD+ were respectively 0.33, 0.018, 0.74 and 0.26 mM. L-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase from the insect had a maximal activity around pH 6.6 for the oxidation of NADH and pH 10.0 for the reduction of NAD+. It was stable from pH 6.0 to pH 9.0 at 20 degrees C for 1 h and remained active after incubating at 30 degrees C for 30 min at pH 6.6. The enzyme was completely inactivated by incubating at 60 degrees C for 5 min. Enzyme stability versus ionic strength as well as the dependence of the reaction velocity on temperature are also reported. The active enzyme was found to have a minimum molecular weight of approx. 63 000. Molecular weight determinations by sodium dodecyl sulphate gel electrophoresis gave subunit weights of 33 500. The isoelectric point of the protein was determined by electrofocusing and found to be 5.75 +/- 0.05. The extinction coefficient at 278 nm was calculated by dry weight measurements to be E1cm 1mg/ml = 0.42 +/- 0.1. Sedimentation velocity studies on ultracentrifuge indicated a dependence of the sedimentation coefficient on the enzyme concentration. The amino acid composition of the enzyme was determined. The protein has no free N-terminal residue and the digestion with carboxypeptidases gave the C-terminal sequence: -ala-gly-ser. All these data are discussed in relation to the properties of the enzyme from other sources.

Amino Acids

Mutants of Myxococcus xanthus insensitive to glycerol-induced myxospore formation.

Mutants of Myxococcus xanthus FBt unable to form myxospores in response to 0.5 M glycerol arise spontaneously with a frequency of 1--3 X 10(-5). These mutants are designated glc. Ultraviolet mutagenesis increases the frequency to a maximum of 7% of the survivors. The reversion frequency following ultraviolet irradiation of spontaneous glc mutants is less than 10(-3). Of four glc mutants examined, none form myxospores in response to the alternative inducers, ethylene glycol and dimethyl sulphoxide. One glc mutant is induced by 1.5 M glycerol; strain FBt responds to this glycerol concentration with low efficiency myxospore formation. Strain FBt and glc mutants all produce myxospores with low efficiency in response to phenyl ethanol. Of 117 glc mutants tested, 109 form fruiting bodies containing mature myxospores; thus, mutations to the glc phenotype do not normally block myxospore formation within the fruiting cycle of the organism.

Dimethyl Sulfoxide

Comparison of methods to wash liquid-stored red blood cells and red blood cells frozen with high or low concentrations of glycerol.

The efficiency of washing liquid-stored red blood cells and red blood cells frozen with high or low glycerol concentrations was evaluated by measuring the recovery of red blood cells in vitro, supernatant hemoglobin, extracellular potassium and red blood cell potassium levels, supernatant osmolality, residual 125I albumin, glycerol, hypoxanthine, and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) levels. Four commercial washing systems were studied, three which used sodium chloride solutions with serial or continuous-flow centrifugation and one which used sugar solutions and dilution/agglomeration. Washing was most efficient using sodium chloride solutions in the IBM Blood Processor, an automated serial centrifugation procedure and in the Fenwal Elutramatic, a continuous-flow centrifugation procedure. Less efficient washing was achieved in the Haemonetics Processor 15, a continuous-flow centrifugation procedure and the least efficient washing occurred using the original and modified dilution/agglomeration procedures. To achieve the most efficient washing, three principles must be utilized: concentration of the red blood cells to hematocrit values of 90 per cent, prior to washing or freezing. Liquid-stored red blood cells concentrated to hematocrit values of 90V per cent should be diluted with hypertonic sodium chloride solutions prior to recovery and washing. Red blood cells containing 20 per cent or 40 per cent W/V glycerol should be diluted with hypertonic sodium chloride solutions before recovery and washing. Finally, on-line dilution should be achieved in the washing systems that use continuous-flow centrifugation.

Blood Preservation

Properties of sarcolemmal delayed rectification in glycerol-treated fibers of frog sartorius muscle.

Total current-voltage relations were analyzed on nine glycerol-treated surface fibers of frog sartorius muscles in tetrodotoxin-containing isotonic normal Ringer solution. The results indicate that delayed rectification occurs in the sarcolemma on large depolarization and that delayed rectification is only partially inactivated during 1 sec of depolarization and not converted into anomalous rectification. The time to peak, the time course of inactivation and the potassium activation potential determined in glycerol-treated fibers were comparable to those analyzed previously in intact fibers. The value of the conductance increase during delayed rectification in glycerol-treated fibers appeared to be smaller than that in intact fibers.

Animals