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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1990

Cloning of a chicken liver cDNA encoding 5-aminoimidazole ribonucleotide carboxylase and 5-aminoimidazole-4-N-succinocarboxamide ribonucleotide synthetase by functional complementation of Escherichia coli pur mutants.

We have used functional complementation of Escherichia coli pur mutants to clone avian cDNA encoding 5-aminoimidazole ribonucleotide (AIR) carboxylase-5-aminoimidazole-4-N-succinocarboxamide ribonucleotide (SAICAR) synthetase, the bifunctional enzyme catalyzing steps 6 and 7 in the pathway for de novo purine nucleotide synthesis. Mutational analyses have been used to establish the structure-function relationship: NH2-SAICAR synthetase-AIR carboxylase-COOH. The amino acid sequence of the SAICAR synthetase domain is homologous to that of bacterial purC-encoded enzymes, and the sequence of the following AIR carboxylase domain is homologous to that of bacterial purE-encoded enzymes. In E. coli, AIR carboxylase is the product of genes purEK with the purK subunit postulated to have a role in CO2 binding. The avian enzyme lacks sequences corresponding to purK yet functions in E. coli. Functional complementation of E. coli pur mutants can be used to clone additional avian cDNAs for de novo purine nucleotide synthesis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2026

Fluorescent reporter assay reveals ribonucleotides promote mismatch correction in vivo.

Ribonucleotides can serve as a strand discrimination signal in reconstituted in vitro biochemical mismatch repair (MMR) assays, but the influence of ribonucleotides on mismatch correction has not been measured directly in vivo. We have developed a fluorescence-based host cell reactivation assay that reports correction of a mismatch in proximity of a site-specifically incorporated ribonucleotide. A ribonucleotide leads to enhanced mismatch correction. While neither inactivation of a single allele nor knockdown of RNaseH2 is sufficient to suppress ribonucleotide directed MMR, a modest but statistically significant impairment for repair of mismatches in the presence of an embedded ribonucleotide is observed in RNaseH2 knockout cell lines. Reporter plasmids with ribonucleotides located in either the 3' or 5' orientation are robustly repaired in MMR-proficient cells but are weakly repaired in MMR-deficient cells, underscoring their utility as effective MMR reporters. Significant ribonucleotide-enhanced mismatch correction was consistently observed in MMR-deficient cells when the ribonucleotide is in the 3' orientation. The presence of a ribonucleotide led to enhanced MMR even in RNaseH2 knockout cells, suggesting that other enzymes may promote ribonucleotide-directed MMR. Loss of RNaseH2 was not sufficient to confer significant resistance to the alkylating agent, temozolomide, in support of a model in which ribonucleotide-directed repair events make minor contributions to the canonical MMR pathway in mammalian cells. We propose a model in which MMR-independent ribonucleotide enhanced correction of mismatches can proceed by ribonucleotide excision repair when the ribonucleotide is in the 5' direction, and proceeds by an unknown mechanism when the ribonucleotide is in the 3' direction.

DNA Mismatch Repair↗

PubMed1992

Alterations in the activity and regulation of mammalian ribonucleotide reductase by chlorambucil, a DNA damaging agent.

Ribonucleotide reductase provides the four deoxyribonucleotides required for the synthesis of DNA. In this study, we examined the hypothesis that alterations in the regulation of ribonucleotide reductase activity may be necessary to provide the deoxyribonucleotides required for DNA repair, following exposure of mammalian cells to DNA damaging agents such as the antitumor agent chlorambucil. We observed a marked transient increase in ribonucleotide reductase activity within 2 h of exposing BALB/c 3T3 mouse cells to DNA damaging concentrations of chlorambucil. Northern blot analysis showed that elevations in activity were accompanied by transient increases in the mRNA levels of both genes (R1 and R2) that code for ribonucleotide reductase. Western blot analysis indicated that only the protein for the limiting component for enzyme activity, R2, was significantly elevated in chlorambucil treated cultures. The chlorambucil effects upon activity and regulation of ribonucleotide reductase occurred without any detectable changes in the rate of DNA synthesis, as would be expected if the elevation in enzyme activity is required for DNA repair. The chlorambucil-induced elevations in R1 and R2 message levels were blocked by treatment of cells with actinomycin D or the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, indicating the importance of the reductase transcriptional process in responding to the action of chlorambucil and providing evidence for the involvement of a protein kinase C pathway in the regulation of mammalian ribonucleotide reductase. In addition to the chlorambucil-induced elevations in enzyme activity, message, and protein levels, the drug was also shown to be an inhibitor of ribonucleotide reductase activity in cell-free preparations. Separation of ribonucleotide components on an affinity column followed by selective exposure of the protein components to chlorambucil showed that both R1 and R2 proteins were targets for chlorambucil, in keeping with the known alkylating abilities of the drug. These observations provide the first direct demonstration of a link between the regulation of mammalian ribonucleotide reductase and the process of DNA repair and contribute to our understanding of the mode of action of a class of drugs represented by chlorambucil, in which chemotherapeutic activity has been attributed to DNA damaging effects.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed1978

Ribonucleotide reductase from wild type and hydroxyurea-resistant chinese hamster ovary cells.

The kinetic properties of partially purified ribonucleotide reductase from Chinese hamster ovary cells have been investigated. Double reciprocal plots of velocity against substrate concentration were found to be linear for three the substrates tested, and yielded apparent Km values of 0.12 mM for CDP, 0.14 mM for ADP and 0.026 mM for GDP. Hydroxyurea, a potent inhibitor of ribonucleotide reduction, was tested against varying concentrations of ribonucleotide substrates and inhibited the enzyme activity in an uncompetitive fashion. Intercept replots were linear and exhibited Ki values for hydroxyurea of 0.08 mM for CDP reduction, 0.13 mM for ADP reduction and 0.07 mM for GDP reduction. Guanazole, another inhibitor of ribonucleotide reductase, interacted with the enzyme in a similar manner to hydroxyurea showing an uncompetitive pattern of inhibition with CDP reduction and yielding a Ki value of 0.57 mM. Partially purified ribonucleotide reductase from hydroxyurea-resistant cells was compared to enzyme activity from wild type cells. Significant differences were observed in the hydroxyurea Ki values with the three ribonucleotide substrates that were tested. Also, CDP reductase activity from the drug-resistant cells yielded a significantly higher Ki value for guanazole inhibition than the wild type activity. The properties of partially purified ribonucleotide reductase from a somatic cell hybrid constructed from wild type and hydroxyurea-resistant cells was also examined. The Ki value for hydroxyurea inhibition of CDP reductase was intermediate between the Ki values of the parental lines and indicated a codominant expression of hydroxyurea-resistance at the enzyme level. The most logical explanation for these results is that the mutant cells contain a structurally altered ribonucleotide reductase whose activity is less sensitive to inhibition by hydroxyurea or guanazole.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Transforming growth factor-beta 1 mediated alterations in ribonucleotide reductase gene expression in BALB/c 3T3 fibroblasts.

Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) stimulated DNA synthesis (3-fold) in BALBc/3T3 fibroblasts following 24 hours of growth factor exposure. Since ribonucleotide reductase is important for the coordination of DNA synthesis and cell proliferation, we investigated the hypothesis that cells like BALB/c 3T3, which are TGF-beta 1 responsive, would exhibit modifications in expression of the gene for ribonucleotide reductase following growth factor treatment. We observed 2.6, 4.1, and 4.8-fold increases in ribonucleotide reductase activity following TGF-beta 1 exposure for 6, 12, and 24 hours, respectively. Increased ribonucleotide reductase R2 gene expression (3, 3.7, and 4.5-fold) and R1 gene expression (2,2.5, and 2.6-fold) were observed following 6, 12, and 24 hours of TGF-beta 1 treatment, respectively. Western blots indicated 2.2, 3.1, and 4.1-fold increases in protein R2 levels at 6, 12, and 24 hours exposure to TGF-beta 1, whereas 2.6 and 3.3-fold elevations in R1 protein levels were observed at 12 and 24 hours post-TGF-beta 1 exposure. These TGF-beta 1 mediated modifications in ribonucleotide reductase gene expression occurred, in part, prior to any detectable changes in the rate of DNA synthesis, demonstrating alterations in the normal regulation of ribonucleotide reductase. Furthermore, these alterations could be markedly reduced by prolonged pretreatment with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (R2 gene expression increased by only 1.3, 1.5 and 2.3-fold after 6, 12, and 24 hours of TGF-beta 1 treatment, respectively), suggesting a role for a protein kinase C pathway in the TGF-beta 1 regulated changes in ribonucleotide reductase gene expression. These results indicate for the first time that TGF-beta 1 can regulate the expression of the two genes for ribonucleotide reductase in BALB/c 3T3 fibroblasts, and suggest that regulation of these genes plays an important role in critical events involved in growth factor modulation of normal and transformed cell proliferation.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed1992

Induction of ribonucleotide reductase activity in cells infected with African swine fever virus.

Infection of Vero cells with African swine fever virus (ASFV) resulted in a marked increase in ribonucleotide reductase activity. The induction of ribonucleotide reductase was detected early after infection and was proportional to the multiplicity of infection. Inhibition of viral DNA replication did not affect the induction of the enzyme. Several characteristics could distinguish the virus-induced from the normal cell enzyme. ASFV-induced ribonucleotide reductase was inhibited by magnesium, was more strongly inhibited by hydroxyurea, and had a fourfold lower Km. The virus-induced enzyme was inhibited by deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates and by ATP. The isolation of hydroxyurea-resistant ASFV mutants provided genetic evidence for the viral origin of the induced ribonucleotide reductase. The resistance to hydroxyurea was due to a threefold overproduction of ribonucleotide reductase, as compared to enzyme induction by wild-type ASFV. Hydroxyurea had similar effect in vitro on ribonucleotide reductases induced by wild-type or mutant virus. The gene for the small subunit of the viral enzyme was mapped within a 2.3-kb fragment by hybridization with an oligonucleotide probe designed from a conserved aminoacid sequence of eukaryotic and viral ribonucleotide reductases.

African Swine Fever Virus↗

PubMed1992

Inhibition of mammalian ribonucleotide reductase by cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II).

Ribonucleotide reductase is a highly regulated, rate-limiting activity in the synthesis of DNA. A previous study has shown that the Escherichia coli enzyme is inhibited by the clinically important antitumor agent cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (DDP), and this has led to the hypothesis that ribonucleotide reductase is an important site of action for this chemotherapeutic agent. This hypothesis has been directly tested in this investigation. We observed that DDP inhibits the mammalian ribonucleotide reductase, with 50% inhibition occurring at 0.3 mM. Unlike the E. coli enzyme where only one of the two protein components is targeted by DDP, we observed that both of the mammalian proteins (R1 and R2) were sites for the inhibitory activity of the drug. Colony-forming experiments, enzyme activity studies, and analyses of R1 and R2 message levels in mutant cell lines containing either high levels of ribonucleotide reductase activity or exhibiting resistance to the cytotoxic effects of DDP were used to further investigate the potential role of ribonucleotide reductase in DDP cytotoxic action and drug resistance. These studies did not support a hypothesis formulated in the earlier investigation that inhibition of ribonucleotide reductase is an important component of DDP cytotoxic activity or that it is a major participant in DDP resistance mechanisms. From a biological point of view, DDP is a very active drug, and in addition to its cytotoxic effects it is capable of inducing a variety of cellular changes. Whether or not the inhibition of mammalian ribonucleotide reductase activity that we have described in this study plays a role in mediating any of these other effects remains to be determined.

Animals↗

PubMed1978

Allosteric regulation of calf thymus ribonucleotide reductase.

Ribonucleotide reductase was purified 3400-fold from calf thymus. The enzyme preparation was essentially free of kinases and phosphatases and therefore allowed a conclusive study of the allosteric regulation of a eukaryotic ribonucleotide reductase to be made for the first time. Comparable maximal activities were obtained for the reduction of all four ribonucleotide substrates in the presence of their optimal stimulatory effectors. These and other results strongly argue for the existence of only one ribonucleotide reductase in mammalian cells. No reduction was observed in the absence of effector. The reduction of CDP and UDP both required ATP, with no stimulatory effect of any other nucleoside triphosphate. The only activator of GDP reduction was dTTP and the only activator of ADP reduction was dGTP. Reduction of the purine ribonucleotides was further stimulated by ATP but only in combination with dTTP or dGTP. The reduction of all four ribonucleotides was strongly inhibited by dATP, the inhibition being partly released by ATP. The data can be integrated into a scheme which links ribonucleotide reduction to DNA synthesis.

Allosteric Regulation↗

PubMed1978

Localization of the ribonucleotide sites in rat liver mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid.

Supercoiled rat liver mitochondrial DNA is relaxed by treatment with ribonucleases A, T1 or H. All the supercoiled mitochondrial DNA is sensitive to ribonuclease H and ribonuclease A, but only 35% of the supercoiled population is sensitive to ribonuclease T1. Removal of the ribonucleotides with calf thymus ribonuclease H, followed by denaturation of the mitochondrial DNA and analysis of the single-strand fragment lengths in the electron microscope, showed that the ribonucleotides were randomly located on both strands of the DNA. Endonuclease-S1 digestion of mitochondrial DNA after removal of the ribonucleotides reveals that no unique fragments are produced and ribonucleotides are randomly distributed with respect to one another. The average number of ribonucleotide sites per molecule was estimated to be between 8 and 13. Two possible mechanisms for the origin of ribonucleotide sites are discussed.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Comparison of the effects of mizoribine with those of azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, and mycophenolic acid on T lymphocyte proliferation and purine ribonucleotide metabolism.

The immunosuppressive drug mizoribine has been demonstrated to inhibit T lymphocyte proliferation by depleting these cells of guanine ribonucleotides as a consequence of inhibiting the enzyme inosine monophosphate (IMP) dehydrogenase. Because the immunosuppressive agents azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine (6MP) are both converted to the IMP analog 6-thio-IMP, we postulated that these drugs might inhibit T cell activation and/or proliferation by a similar mechanism. Incubation of isolated peripheral blood T cells with either mizoribine or the selective IMP dehydrogenase inhibitor mycophenolic acid caused a dose-dependent inhibition of T cell proliferation, which was reversible with the addition of 50 microM guanosine to replete guanine ribonucleotide pools. In contrast, guanosine exacerbated the inhibition of proliferation induced by azathioprine and restored proliferation at IC50 concentrations of 6MP by only 10%. Complete restoration of proliferation in the presence of 6MP, but not azathioprine, was achieved with the addition of adenine. The inhibitory effects of azathioprine, as well as those of mizoribine, 6MP, and mycophenolic acid, were identical in cells stimulated with antibody to the T cell receptor and in cells stimulated with phorbol ester and ionomycin. We conclude from these studies that mizoribine selectively inhibits guanine ribonucleotide formation in purified T cells, whereas the effect of 6MP appears to be more dependent on adenine ribonucleotide depletion. Azathioprine, on the other hand, inhibits proliferation by a mechanism independent of purine ribonucleotide depletion. None of these agents inhibits T cell proliferation by interfering with signal transduction mediated by the T cell receptor. Inhibition of guanine ribonucleotide biosynthesis appears to be a novel and perhaps more selective mechanism of inhibiting T cell proliferative responses after T cell activation.

Azathioprine↗

PubMed1991

Herpes and human ribonucleotide reductases. Inhibition by 2-acetylpyridine 5-[(2-chloroanilino)-thiocarbonyl]-thiocarbonohydrazone (348U87).

The mode of inactivation of herpes simplex virus type 1 and human ribonucleotide reductases by 2-acetylpyridine 5-[(2-chloroanilino)-thiocarbonyl]-thiocarbonohydrazone++ + (348U87) was determined and compared to that described previously [Porter et al. Biochem Pharmacol 39: 639-646, 1990] for 2-acetylpyridine 5-[(dimethylamino)thiocarbonyl]-thiocarbonohydrazone (A1110U). 348U87 inactivated herpes ribonucleotide reductase faster than did A1110U. Moreover, iron-complexed 348U87 was a considerably more potent inactivator than iron-complexed A1110U. It appeared to efficiently form an initial complex with the viral enzyme prior to rapid enzyme inactivation. The combination of 348U87 and iron-complexed 348U87 inactivated with a rate constant that was slightly greater than the sum of their individual rate constants of inactivation. The corresponding combination of A1110U species inactivated with a rate constant that was much greater than the sum of the individual rate constants of inactivation. Herpes ribonucleotide reductase that had been inactivated by either species of 348U87 was reactivated by diluting the enzyme and inactivators into assay medium containing excess iron. 348U87 was also an effective inactivator of herpes simplex virus type 2 and varicella zoster virus ribonucleotide reductases. The iron-complexed forms of 348U87 and A1110U exhibited very different modes of inactivation of human ribonucleotide reductase. Iron-complexed 348U87 was a tight-binding inactivator, whereas iron-complexed A1110U was only a weak, non-inactivating, inhibitor. Furthermore, the inactivation by iron-complexed 348U87 was not stimulated by either 348U87 or A1110U, whereas the weak inhibition by iron-complexed A1110U was converted to rapid inactivation by A1110U. Excess iron prevented the inactivation by iron-complexed 348U87. Uncomplexed 348U87 was similar to uncomplexed A1110U in that it was not an inhibitor of the human enzyme.

Antiviral Agents↗

PubMed1992

Iron deprivation decreases ribonucleotide reductase activity and DNA synthesis.

The effects of the iron-chelator, desferrioxamine, and monoclonal antibodies against transferrin receptors on DNA synthesis and ribonucleotide reductase activity were examined in human leukemia K562 cells. Treatment of the cells with desferrioxamine resulted in decreases of ribonucleotide reductase activity, DNA synthesis, and cell growth. Exposure of the cells to anti-transferrin receptor antibody, 42/6, which blocks iron supplement into cells caused decreases of ribonucleotide reductase activity and DNA synthesis, in a parallel fashion. Decreases of ribonucleotide reductase activity and DNA synthesis by 42/6 were restored by the addition of ferric nitriloacetate. These results indicate that ribonucleotide reductase activity is dependent on the iron-supply and also regulates cell proliferation.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed1975

An affinity adsorbent containing deoxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate linked to sepharose and its use for large scale preparation of ribonucleotide reductase of Lactobacillus leichmannii.

P3-(6-(N-Trifluoracetyl)aminohex-1-yl) deoxyguanosine triphosphate has been prepared by the reaction of N-trifluoroacetyl-6-aminohexanol 1-pyrophosphate with the imidazolide of dGMP and has been characterized. This compound and the corresponding free amine, obtained by removal of the protective trigluoroacetyl group, are activators of ribonucleotide reductase of Lactobacillus leichmannii. An affinity adsorbent for the reductase, prepared by reaction of the amine derivative with CNBr-activated Sepharose, contains dGTP covalently attached through the gamma-phosphate via a six-carbon chain to the matrix. The method of synthesis of the dGTP derivative is generally applicable to the synthesis of P3-(omega-aminoalk-1-yl)nucleoside triphosphate esters for the preparation of analogous affinity adsorbents. Ribonucleotide reductase can be rapidly purified to homogeneity, on a large scale, by use of dGTP-Sepharose and conditions for optimum recovery of the enzyme have been determined. The affinity of ribonucleotide reductase and other proteins for dGTP-Sepharose is increased by either raising the ionic strength or lowering the temperature of the eluent. Elution of the enzyme from the adsorbent can be achieved between pH 5.8 and 7.3, whereas at pH 5.3 the reductase is bound extremely tightly and cannot be recovered. Ribonucleotide reductase can be eluted from the adsorbent with dGTP or urea. Elution with urea is carried out at pH 6.3, where the enzyme is stable and maximum recovery is obtained. Affinity chromatography consistently produces ribonucleotide reductase of high specific activity (170-180 units/mg). In the presence of 0.1 to 1.2 M urea or hydroxyurea, the enzyme is inhibited, but allosteric activation is unchanged. No alteration in the structure or function of the reductase was detected when the enzyme was exposed to 2.0 M urea during elution from the affinity adsorbent, but exposure for longer periods causes some inactivation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1992

Escherichia coli ribonucleotide reductase expression is cell cycle regulated.

The expression of the genes encoding ribonucleotide reductase in Escherichia coli was investigated in cultures synchronized by obtaining the smallest cells in a population after sucrose gradient centrifugation. Specific activity of ribonucleotide reductase and DNA initiation were found to increase in parallel, periodically as a function of the cell cycle. The expression of nrd was also determined in cells synchronized by periodic repeated doubling in a phosphate limited medium. Antibodies directed against the B2 subunit of ribonucleotide reductase were raised in a rabbit and purified. Immunoprecipitation of the B2 subunit and RNA-DNA dot blot hybridization assays were developed and employed to determine the expression of ribonucleotide reductase translational and transcriptional products during the cell cycle. Both of nrd-mRNA and B2 subunit expression were found to increase each generation at approximately the same time DNA synthesis was initiated and then to decrease back to the basal level shortly after DNA initiation. These results provided evidence of cell cycle dependent regulation of ribonucleotide reductase in E. coli. When the upstream regulatory region of nrd was fused to a promoterless lacZ gene on a single copy plasmid, lac-mRNA and beta-galactosidase were found to be synthesized in parallel to nrd expression from the chromosomal operon. When nrd sequences surrounding the promoter were removed from this construct, lac-mRNA and beta-galactosidase synthesis were no longer cell cycle regulated.

Cell Cycle↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Regulation of mammalian ribonucleotide reductase by the tumor promoters and protein phosphatase inhibitors okadaic acid and calyculin A.

A rapid elevation of ribonucleotide reductase activity was observed with BALB c/3T3 fibroblasts treated with 10 nM okadaic acid, a nonphorbol ester tumor promoter and protein phosphatase inhibitor. Northern blot analysis of the two components of ribonucleotide reductase (R1 and R2) showed a marked elevation of R1 and R2 mRNA expression. Western blot analysis with R1 and R2 specific monoclonal antibodies indicated that the increase in ribonucleotide reductase activity was primarily due to the elevation of the R2 rather than the R1 protein during treatment with okadaic acid. The okadaic acid induced elevations in R1 and R2 message levels occurred without a detectable change in the proportion of cells in S phase and were blocked by treatment of cells with actinomycin D, indicating the importance of the reductase transcriptional process in responding to the action of okadaic acid. Furthermore, down-regulation of protein kinase C with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate pretreatment abrogated the okadaic acid mediated elevation of ribonucleotide reductase mRNAs, consistent with the involvement of this signal pathway in the regulation of ribonucleotide reductase and the effects of okadaic acid. Treatment of cells with 2.5 nM calyculin A, another non-phorbol ester tumor promoter and protein phosphatase inhibitor, resulted in a rapid elevation of both R1 and R2 mRNA levels within 10 min of treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed1975

Studies on mammalian ribonucleotide reductase inhibition by pyridoxal phosphate and the dialdehyde derivatives of adenosine, adenosine 5'-monophosphate, and adenosine 5'-triphosphate.

Ribonucleotide reductase activity in a partially purified enzyme preparation from Ehrilich tumor cells was inhibited by the dialdehyde derivatives of adenosine, 5-adenylic acid, and adenosine 5-triphosphate (prepared by the periodate oxidation of adenosine 5-adenylic acid, and adenosine 5-triphosphate). The borohydride-reduced derivative of periodate-oxidized adenosine was not inhibitory to the ribonucleotide reductase activity, showing that the aldehyde moiety was important in the inhibitory interactions of these compounds. This suggested the formation of a Schiff base between the dialdehyde derivative and an amino group (presumably, the epsilon-amino group of lysine). Pyridoxal phosphate, which is known to inhibit enzymes that have lysyl residues in the catalytic or allosteric sites, was an inhibitor of ribonucleotide reductase. Pyridoxal, pyridoxamine phosphate, pyridoxamine, and pyridoxine were not inhibitors. Borohydride reduction of the enzyme in the presence of pyridoxal phosphate produced a protein fraction that had little reductase activity remaining. The inhibition by pyridoxal phosphate was not influenced by increasing the substrate concentration (cytidine 5-diphosphate or adenosine 5-diphosphate), but was diminished by increasing the ratio of allosteric effector to pyridoxal phosphate concentrations, suggesting an interaction of pyridoxal phosphate at the regulatory site of ribonucleotide reductase. The addition of adenosine 5-triphosphate to the pyridoxal phosphate-enzyme mixture, which was subsequently treated with borohydride, partially prevented the inhibition by pyridoxal phosphate. Heat treatment of the ribonucleotide reductase enzyme preparation in the presence of pyridoxal phosphate protected the enzyme against loss of cytidine 5-diphosphate and adenosine 5-diphosphate reductase activities.

Adenosine↗

PubMed1992

Cloning of the vaccinia virus ribonucleotide reductase small subunit gene. Characterization of the gene product expressed in Escherichia coli.

During its infectious cycle, vaccinia virus expresses a virus-encoded ribonucleotide reductase which is distinct from the host cellular enzyme (Slabaugh, M.B., and Mathews, C.K. (1984) J. Virol. 52, 501-506; Slabaugh, M.B., Johnson, T.L., and Mathews, C.K. (1984) J. Virol. 52, 507-514). We have cloned the gene for the small subunit of vaccinia virus ribonucleotide reductase (designated VVR2) into Escherichia coli and expressed the protein using a T7 RNA polymerase plasmid expression system. After isopropyl beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside induction, accumulation of a 37-kDa peptide was detected by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and this peptide reacted with polyclonal antiserum raised against a TrpE-VVR2 fusion protein. The 37-kDa protein was purified to homogeneity, and gel filtration of the purified protein revealed that the recombinant protein existed as a dimer in solution. Purified recombinant VVR2 protein was shown to complement the activity of purified recombinant ribonucleotide reductase large subunit, with a specific activity that was similar to native VVR2 from a virus-infected cell extract. A CD spectrum of the recombinant viral protein showed that like the mouse protein, the vaccinia virus protein has 50% alpha-helical structure. Like other iron-containing ribonucleotide reductase small subunits, recombinant VVR2 protein contained a stable organic free radical that was detectable by EPR spectroscopy. The EPR spectrum of purified recombinant VVR2 was identical to that of vaccinia virus-infected mammalian cells. Both the hyperfine splitting character and microwave saturation behavior of VVR2 were similar to those of mouse R2 and distinct from E. coli R2. By using amino acid analysis to determine the concentration of VVR2, we determined that approximately 0.6 radicals were present per R2 dimer. Our results indicate that vaccinia virus small subunit is similar to mammalian ribonucleotide reductases.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1976

Inhibition of ribonucleotide reductase activity and nucleic acid synthesis in tumor cells by the dialdehyde derivatives of inosine (NSC 118994) and inosinic acid.

Periodate-oxidized inosine (Inox; NSC 118994) and periodate-oxidized 5'-inosinic acid (PI-IMP) were prepared and studied for their effects on ribonucleotide reductase activity in partially purified extracts from Ehrlich tumor cells and on nucleic acid synthesis in intact tumor cells in culture. Ribonucleotide reductase activity in cell-free extracts from Ehrlich tumor cells was inhibited by Inox and PI-IMP. PI-IMP was more inhibitory to the reductase activity than was Inox. Furthermore, the inhibition of ribonucleotide reductase activity by Inox and PI-IMP was greater for cytidine-5'-diphosphate reductase activity than for adenosine-5'-diphosphate reductase activity. The ribonucleotide reductase activity in cell-free extracts prepared from Ehrlich tumor cells treated with Inox or PI-IMP in culture was decreased compared with the activity in the extracts from untreated cells. Incorporation of labeled cytidine into the RNA and DNA of Ehrlich tumor cells in culture was inhibited by both Inox and PI-IMP. The conversion of cytidine to deoxycytidine nucleotides in the acid-soluble pool was likewise inhibited. These data indicate that Inox and PI-IMP inhibit the ribonucleotide reductase step as one of the sites of action of these compounds. However, the inhibition of RNA synthesis indicates that there must be additional sites of action of these nucleoside analogs.

Aldehydes↗