Conformational features of a hexapeptide model Ac-TGAAKA-NH2 corresponding to a hydrated alpha helical segment from glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase: implications for the role of turns in helix folding.

Recent analysis of alpha helices in protein crystal structures, available in literature, revealed hydrated alpha helical segments in which, water molecule breaks open helix 5-->1 hydrogen bond by inserting itself, hydrogen bonds to both C=O and NH groups of helix hydrogen bond without disrupting the helix hydrogen bond, and hydrogen bonds to either C=O or NH of helix hydrogen bond. These hydrated segments display a variety of turn conformations and are thought to be 'folding intermediates' trapped during folding-unfolding of alpha helices. A role for reverse turns is implicated in the folding of alpha helices. We considered a hexapeptide model Ac-1TGAAKA6-NH2 from glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, corresponding to a hydrated helical segment to assess its role in helix folding. The sequence is a site for two 'folding intermediates'. The conformational features of the model peptide have been investigated by 1H 2D NMR techniques and quantum mechanical perturbative configuration interaction over localized orbitals (PCILO) method. Theoretical modeling largely correlates with experimental observations. Based upon the amide proton temperature coefficients, the observed d alpha n(i, i + 1), d alpha n(i, i + 2), dnn(i, i + 1), d beta n(i, i + 1) NOEs and the results from theoretical modeling, we conclude that the residues of the peptide sample alpha helical and neck regions of the Ramachandran phi, psi map with reduced conformational entropy and there is a potential for turn conformations at N and C terminal ends of the peptide. The role of reduced conformational entropy and turn potential in helix formation have been discussed. We conclude that the peptide sequence can serve as a 'folding intermediate' in the helix folding of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase.

Effect of coenzymes on the quaternary structure conformation of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenases of mung beans and rabbit muscle.

Kinetics of thermal inactivation of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenases of mung beans and rabbit muscle have been studied under different pH conditions in the absence and presence of various concentrations of NAD+ and NADH. The data have been discussed with respect to the effect of the coenzymes on the quaternary structure symmetry of the two enzymes and their binding isotherms. Both the (homo-tetrameric) apo-enzymes exhibit biphasic kinetics of thermal inactivation, characteristic of C2 symmetry, at lower pH values and a single exponential decay of enzyme activity, characteristic of D2 symmetry, at higher pHs. In each case, NAD+ has no effect on the biphasic kinetic pattern of thermal inactivation at lower pH values, but NADH brings about a change to single exponential decay. At higher pH values, NADH does not affect the kinetic pattern (single exponential decay) of any enzyme, but NAD+ alters it to biphasic kinetics in each case. The data suggest that NAD+ and NADH have higher affinity for the C2 and D2 symmetry conformation, respectively. With mung beans enzyme, the effect of NAD+ on the two rate constants of biphasic inactivation at pH 7.3 is consistent with a Kdiss equal to 110 microM. The NAD(+)-dependent changes in the kinetic pattern of thermal inactivation of this enzyme at pH 8.6 suggest a positive cooperativity in the coenzyme binding (nH = 3.0). In the binding of NADH to the mung beans enzyme, a weak positive cooperativity is observed at pH 7.3.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Differential binding of NAD+ to acyl glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and its role in the acyl group transfer reaction.

Enzyme protein fluorescence of di-furylacryloyl-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (di-FA-GPDH:lambda max.excitation 290 nm, lambda max.emission 338 nm) is quenched about 28% on saturation with NAD+. Results of fluorometric titration of di-FA-GPDH with NAD+ suggest the presence of two tight and two loose coenzyme binding sites (Kdiss. 0.1 and 6.0 microM, respectively). Initial rates of the NAD(+)-dependent reaction of di-FA-GPDH with arsenate and phosphate and of mono-FA-GPDH with phosphate have been determined at varying coenzyme concentrations. The data suggest that binding of NAD+ at the tight sites does not activate the acyl group for its reaction with the acceptor (phosphate or arsenate). The group transfer reaction is dependent only on NAD+ binding to the loose sites, which carry the acyl group. The large difference in the NAD+ binding affinity to the two types of sites and their different effects on the group transfer reaction impart a sigmoidal shape to the rate versus [NAD+] plots. The sigmoidicity is abolished if the reactive SH groups at the unacylated sites are blocked by carboxymethylation.

Kinetics of thermal inactivation and quaternary structure symmetry of rabbit muscle glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase.

Kinetics of thermal inactivation of apo-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase have been investigated under various conditions. At most pH values, the loss of enzyme activity takes place in two phases, a fast and a slow phase. The data correspond to the rate equation A = Afast.e-kfast.t + Aslow.e-kslow, where A is the observed residual activity (expressed as % of initial activity) at time t, Afast and Aslow are amplitudes (expressed as % of initial activity, so that Afast + Aslow = 100) and kfast and kslow the rate constants of the fast and slow phases, respectively. At pH 9 or below, Afast = Aslow = 50%. As pH is increased above 9, Afast increases gradually till at pH 10 or above when it accounts for the entire initial activity (single exponential decay). The rate constants of the two phases are strongly affected by the nature of the buffer, temperature and pH, but the amplitudes depend on pH alone. It has been suggested that the tetrameric enzyme exists in two conformations of different molecular symmetry, namely C2 (two pairs of sites of unequal stability, predominating at pH 9 or below) and D2 symmetry (four equivalent sites, predominating at pH 10 or above). The C2 in equilibrium D2 transformation is found to be highly cooperative with midpoint at pH 9.6.