Inactivation of yeast inorganic pyrophosphatase by organic solvents

Várias aplicações para a catálise enzimática em solventes orgânicos têm sido desenvolvidas visando processos químicos, industria alimentícia e métodos analíticos. Entretanto, o único problema ainda não resolvido para estas aplicações é o fato que estes catalisadores são bem menos ativos nestas condições que em meio aquoso. Assim, estudos dos mecanismos pelos quais as enzimas são inativadas em solventes orgânicos podem facilitar a compreensão da interrelação estrutura/função da interação entre os catalisadores e o solvente. Neste trabalho, nós analisamos os efeitos de uma série de álcoois (metanol, etanol, 1-propanol e 2-propanol) e de acetona na atividade catalítica da pirofosfatase inorgânica de leveduras. Foi observado que os solventes inativaram a enzima de uma maneira que dependia da concentração do solvente no meio. Além disso, a inativação dependia da hidrofobicidade do solvente. O I para a inativação promovida pelos álcoois primários foi 5.9±0.4, 2.7±0.1 e 2.5±0.1 M para metanol, etanol e 1-propanol, respectivamente. A inativação foi menos efetiva a 37ºC do que a 5ºC, onde o I para a inativação por metanol, etanol and 1-propanol foi 4.5±0.2, 2.1±0.2 e 1.7±0.1 M, respectivamente. Nossa proposta é que o solvente liga-se à estrutura proteica, promovendo a inativação, e que esta ligação se dá através da região hidrofóbica do solvente e da proteína.

Purification and kinetic characterization of chicken liver inorganic pyrophosphatase.

Soluble inorganic pyrophosphatase (EC 3.6.1.1) was isolated from chicken liver, RIR breed, to apparent homogeneity. The enzyme showed a molecular mass of 100 kDa as estimated by gel filtration and a subunit mass of 49 kDa on SDS-PAGE. The enzyme was very specific for pyrophosphate (PPi) and magnesium, and there was no measurable activity on replacing Mg2+ with Zn2+. At optimal conditions of assay, 50% of the enzyme activity was inhibited at 42 microM Ca2+, 70 microM fluoride and 0.91 mM Cd2+. There was a 50% inactivation of enzyme activity at 0.1 M guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl). Kinetic analysis of GuHCl inactivation revealed 2 essential binding sites for this ligand. The enzyme showed allosteric behaviour with the substrate PPi and Mg2+. The apparent Hill coefficient of 1.47 and 1.48 for PPi and Mg2+, respectively indicate positive cooperatively. Hill plots also gave [S]0.5 of 0.177 mM and 2.5 microM for Mg2+ and PPi, respectively.

Circadian rhythmometric analysis of hepatic phosphohydrolases with special reference to glucose-6-phosphatase and inorganic pyrophosphatase.

Rhythmometric analysis of a group of phosphohydrolases in mouse liver has been performed along a single 24 hr time scale. The presence of the rhythm was conducted by F test. Statistically significant circadian rhythm was detected in glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) and inorganic pyrophosphatase (InPPase) activity expressed on fresh weight and protein basis. Both G6Pase and InPPase oscillated with a high amplitude of 0.44 U and 1.15 U respectively across the mean value (mesor) of 0.40 +/- 0.42 U and 2.81 +/- 1.14 U per mg protein and with a phase shift of 80 degrees (5.34 hr) among them. On the other hand, alkaline phosphatase (AlPase) did not show any rhythm whereas adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) showed rhythmic activity on protein basis and oscillated across mesor of 1.84 +/- 0.5 U with an amplitude of 0.52. Acrophase (time for peak activity/mg protein) of G6Pase, InPPase and ATPase was found at 194.2 degrees (13.34 hr), 114.1 degrees (8.0 hr) and at 306.1 degrees (20.4 hr) respectively. AlPase, though did not show significant rhythm, had peak value at 231.8 degrees. Since hepatic G6Pase is a multicomponent and multifunctional enzyme with several overlapping activities (viz. InPPase), coordinated action of G6Pase and InPPase in the regulation of hepatic cell functions has been suggested.