The phosphoryl-transfer mechanism of Escherichia coli phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase from the use of AlF(3).

The mechanism of reversible transfer of the gamma-phosphate group of ATP by Escherichia coli phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK) on to its substrate is of great interest. It is known that metallofluorides are accurate analogs of the transition state in the context of kinase mechanisms. Therefore, two complexes of PCK, one with AlF(3), Mg(2+) and ADP (complex I), the other with AlF(3), Mg(2+), ADP and pyruvate (complex II) were crystallized. The X-ray crystal structures of these two complexes were determined at 2.0 A resolution. The Al atom has trigonal bipyramidal geometry that mimics the transition state of phosphoryl transfer. The Al atom is at a distance of 2.8 A and 2.9 A from an oxygen atom of the beta-phosphoryl group of ADP in complex I and II, respectively. A water molecule in complex I and an oxygen atom of the pyruvate in complex II are located along the axis of the trigonal bipyramid on the side opposite to the beta-phosphoryl oxygen with respect to the equatorial plane, suggesting that the complexes are close mimics of the transition state. Along with the presence of positively charged species around the AlF(3) moiety, these results indicate that phosphoryl transfer occurs via a direct displacement mechanism with associative qualities.

Stability of Escherichia coli phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase against urea-induced unfolding and ligand effects.

The urea-induced unfolding at pH 7.5 of Escherichia coli phosphoenolpyruvate (P-pyruvate) carboxykinase was studied by monitoring the enzyme activity, intrinsic protein fluorescence, circular dichroism spectra, and 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulfonate binding. These studies were performed in the absence and presence of substrates and ligands. ATP or P-pyruvate plus MnCl2, or of the combined presence of ATP plus MnCl2 and oxalate, conferred great protection against urea-induced denaturation. The unfolding process showed the presence of at least one stable intermediate which is notably shifted to higher urea concentrations in the presence of substrates. This intermediate protein structure was inactive, contained less tertiary structure than the native protein and retained most of the original secondary structure. Hydrophobic surfaces were more exposed in the intermediate than in the native or unfolded species. Refolding experiments indicated that the secondary structure was completely recovered. Total recovery of tertiary structure and activity was obtained only from samples denatured at urea concentrations lower than those where the intermediate accumulates.

Identification of reactive conserved histidines in phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinases from Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae phospho enol pyruvate (PEP) carboxykinases are inactivated by diethylpyrocarbonate (DEP). Inactivation follows pseudo-first-order kinetics and exhibits a second order rate constant of 0.8 M-1 s-1 for the bacterial enzyme and of 3.3 M-1 s-1 for the yeast carboxykinase. A mixture of ADP + PEP + MnCl2 protects against inactivation by DEP, suggesting that residues within the active site are being modified. After digestion of the modified proteins with trypsin, the labeled peptides were isolated by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and sequenced by Edman degradation. His-271 of E. coli carboxykinase and His-273 of the yeast enzyme were identified as the reactive amino-acid residues. The modified histidine residues occupy equivalent positions in these enzymes, and they are located in a highly conserved region of all ATP-dependent phospho enol pyruvate carboxykinases described so far.

Woodward's reagent K reacts with histidine and cysteine residues in Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinases.

The reaction of Woordward's reagent K (WRK) with model amino acids and proteins has been analyzed. Our results indicate that WRK forms 340-nm-absorbing adducts with sulfhydryl- and imidazol-containing compounds, but not with carboxylic acid derivatives, in agreement with Liamas et al. [(1986), J. Am. Chem. Soc. 108, 5543-5548], but not with Sinha and Brewer [(1985), Anal. Biochem. 151, 327-333]. The chemical modification of Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinases with WRK leads to an increase in the absorption at 340 nm, and we have demonstrated its reaction with His and Cys residues in these proteins. These results caution against claims of glutamic or aspartic acid modification by WRK based on the absorption at 340 nm of protein- WRK adducts.

Snapshot of an enzyme reaction intermediate in the structure of the ATP-Mg2+-oxalate ternary complex of Escherichia coli PEP carboxykinase.

We report the 1.8 A crystal structure of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-magnesium-oxalate bound phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK) from Escherichia coli. ATP binding induces a 20 degree hinge-like rotation of the N- and C-terminal domains which closes the active-site cleft. PCK possesses a novel nucleotide-binding fold, particularly in the adenine-binding region, where the formation of a cis backbone torsion angle in a loop glycine residue promotes intimate contacts between the adenine-binding loop and adenine, while stabilizing a syn conformation of the base. This complex represents a reaction intermediate analogue along the pathway of the conversion of oxaloacetate to phosphoenolpyruvate, and provides insight into the mechanistic details of the chemical reaction catalysed by this enzyme.

Crystal structure of Escherichia coli phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase: a new structural family with the P-loop nucleoside triphosphate hydrolase fold.

The crystal structure of ATP-dependent phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (ATP-oxaloacetate carboxy-lyase, (transphosphorylating), E.C. 4.1.1.49; PCK) from Escherichia coli strain K12 has been determined using a combination of multiple isomorphous replacement, density modification, and partial model phase combination, and refined to a conventional R-index of 0.204 (Rfree = 0.244) at 1.9 A resolution. Each PCK molecule consists of a 275 residue N-terminal domain and 265 residue C-terminal or mononucleotide-binding domain, with the active site postulated to be within a cleft between the two domains. PCK is an open-faced, mixed alpha/beta protein, with each domain having an alpha/beta folding topology as found in several other mononucleoside-binding enzymes. The putative phosphate-binding site of ATP adopts the P-loop motif common to many ATP and GTP-binding proteins, and is similar in structure to that found within adenylate kinase. However, the beta-sheet topology within the mononucleotide-binding fold of PCK differs from all other families within the P-loop containing nucleoside triphosphate hydrolase superfamily, therefore suggesting it represents the first member in a new family of such proteins. The mononucleotide-binding domain is also different in structure compared to the classical mononucleotide-binding fold (CMBF) common to adenylate kinase, p21ras, and elongation factor-Tu. Several amino acid residues, including R65, K212, K213, H232, K254, D269, K288 and R333 appear to make up the active site of the enzyme, and are found to be absolutely conserved among known members of the ATP-dependent PCK family. A cysteine residue is located near the active-site, as has been suggested for other PCKs, although in the E. coli enzyme C233 is buried and so is most likely not involved in substrate binding or catalysis. Two binding sites of the calcium-analog TB3+ have been determined, one within the active site coordinating to the side-chain of D269, and the other within the C-terminal domain coordinating to the side-chains of E508 and E511.

Circular dichroism and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic studies on the secondary structure of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli phospho enolpyruvate carboxykinases.

The secondary structure of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli phospho enolpyruvate (PEP) carboxykinases was quantitatively examined using circular dichroism (CD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies. From CD analyses, values of 24% alpha-helix and 38% beta-sheet were obtained for the E. coli enzyme, while the corresponding values for the S. cerevisiae PEP carboxykinase were 20% and 36%. Analysis of the amide I' infrared band indicated 20% alpha-helix and 36% beta-sheet for the S. cerevisiae enzyme, while for the E. coli protein values of 40% beta-sheet and between 9 and 36% alpha-helix could be inferred. It is concluded that the bacterial enzyme has more secondary structure elements than the yeast protein. No alteration of the CD or FTIR spectra was detected upon substrate or metal ion binding to any enzyme.

Identification of reactive lysines in phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinases from Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinases (PEPCKs), were inactivated by pyridoxal 5'-phosphate followed by reduction with sodium borohydride. Concomitantly with the inactivation, one pyridoxyl group was incorporated in each enzyme monomer. The modification and loss of activity was prevented in the presence of ADP plus Mn2+. After digestion of the modified protein with trypsin plus protease V-8, the labeled peptides were isolated by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and sequenced by gas-phase automatic Edman degradation. Lys286 of bacterial PEPCK and Lys289 of the yeast enzyme were identified as the reactive amino acid residues. The modified lysine residues are conserved in all ATP-dependent phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinases described so far.

Reactivity of cysteinyl, arginyl, and lysyl residues of Escherichia coli phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase against group-specific chemical reagents.

Calcium-activated phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase from Escherichia coli is not inactivated by a number of sulfhydryl-directed reagents [5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate), iodoacetate, N-ethylmaleimide, N-(1-pyrenyl)maleimide or N-(iodoacetyl)-N'-(5-sulfo-1-naphthylethylenediamine)], unlike phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase from other organisms. On the other hand, the enzyme is rapidly inactivated by the arginyl-directed reagents 2,3-butanedione and 1-pyrenylglyoxal. The substrates, ADP plus PEP in the presence of Mn2+, protect the enzyme against inactivation by the diones. Quantitation of pyrenylglyoxal incorporation indicates that complete inactivation correlates with the binding of one inactivator molecule per mole of enzyme. Chemical modification by pyridoxal 5'-phosphate also produces inactivation of the enzyme, and the labeled protein shows a difference spectrum with a peak at 325 nm, characteristic of a pyridoxyl derivative of lysine. The inactivation by this reagent is also prevented by the substrates. Binding stoichiometries of 1.25 and 0.30 mol of reagent incorporated per mole of enzyme were found in the absence and presence of substrates, respectively. The results suggest the presence of functional arginyl and lysyl residues in or near the active site of the enzyme, and indicate lack of reactive functional sulfhydryl groups.

Comparative steady-state fluorescence studies of cytosolic rat liver (GTP), Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ATP) and Escherichia coli (ATP) phospho enol pyruvate carboxykinases.

Two members of the ATP-dependent class of phospho enol pyruvate (PEP) carboxykinases (Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli PEP carboxykinase), and one member of the GTP-dependent class (the cytosolic rat liver enzyme) have been comparatively analyzed by taking advantage of their intrinsic fluorescence. The S. cerevisiae and the rat liver enzymes show intrinsic fluorescence with a maximum emission characteristic of moderately buried tryptophan residues, while the E. coli carboxykinase shows somewhat more average exposure for these fluorophores. The fluorescence of the three proteins was similarly quenched by the polar compound acrylamide, but differences were observed for the ionic quencher iodide. For the ATP-dependent enzymes, these last experiments indicate more exposure to the aqueous media of the tryptophan population of the E. coli than of the S. cerevisiae enzyme. The effect of nucleotides on the emission intensities and quenching efficiencies revealed substrate-induced conformational changes in the E. coli and cytosolic rat liver PEP carboxykinases. The addition of Mn2+ or of the adenosine nucleotides in the presence of Mg2+ induced an enhancement in the fluorescence of the E. coli enzyme. The addition of guanosine or inosine nucleotides to the rat liver enzyme quenched its fluorescence. From the ligand-induced fluorescence changes, dissociation constants of 40 +/- 6 microM, 10 +/- 0.8 microM, and 15 +/- 1 microM were obtained for Mn2+, MgATP and MgADP binding to the E. coli enzyme, respectively. For the cytosolic rat liver PEP carboxykinase, the respective values for GDP, IDP and ITP binding are 6 +/- 0.5 microM, 6.7 +/- 0.4 microM and 10.1 +/- 1.7 microM. A comparison of the dissociation constants obtained in this work with those reported for other PEP carboxykinases is presented.

Crystallization of the calcium-activated phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase from Escherichia coli K12.

Single crystals of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase from Escherichia coli K12 have been grown in the orthorhombic crystal system. Single crystals developed to a maximum size of 0.25 mm x 0.25 mm x 1.5 mm by the technique of washing and reseeding. The space group is P2(1)2(1)2(1), with a = 77.24 A, b = 89.18 A, c = 93.24 A and Z = 4; there is one enzyme molecule per crystallographic asymmetric unit and the solvent content is estimated to be 59%. The crystals diffract to at least 2.8 A d spacings and decompose in the X-ray beam after approximately two days of exposure.

Sequence of the pckA gene of Escherichia coli K-12: relevance to genetic and allosteric regulation and homology of E. coli phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase with the enzymes from Trypanosoma brucei and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The sequence of the pckA gene coding for phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in Escherichia coli K-12 and previous molecular weight determinations indicate that this allosteric enzyme is a monomer of Mr 51,316. The protein is homologous to ATP-dependent phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinases from Trypanosoma brucei and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A potential ATP binding site was conserved in all three sequences. A potential binding site for the allosteric activator, calcium, identified in the E. coli enzyme, was only partially conserved in T. brucei and S. cerevisiae, consistent with the observation that the enzymes from the latter organisms were not activated by calcium. The published sequence of the ompR and envZ genes from Salmonella typhimurium is followed by a partial sequence that is highly homologous to pckA from E. coli. The order of these genes and the direction of transcription of the presumptive S. typhimurium pckA gene are the same as those in E. coli. The potential calcium binding site of the E. coli enzyme is conserved in the partial predicted sequence of the S. typhimurium phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, consistent with the observation that calcium activation of the S. typhimurium phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase is very similar to that observed for the E. coli enzyme. A pckA mRNA transcript was observed in stationary-phase cells but not in logarithmically growing cells. The mRNA start site was mapped relative to the sequence of the pckA structural gene.

Cloning and characterization of the N-acetylglucosamine operon of Escherichia coli.

Three enzymes are required for N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) utilization in Escherichia coli: enzyme IInag (gene nagE), N-acetylglucosamine-6-phosphate deacetylase (gene nagA), and glucosamine-6-phosphate isomerase (gene nagB). The three genes are located near 16 min on the E. coli chromosome. A strain of E. coli, KPN9, incapable of utilizing N-acetylglucosamine, was used to screen a genomic library of E. coli for a complementing recombinant colicin E1 plasmid that allowed for growth on N-acetylglucosamine. Plasmid pLC5-21 was found to contain all three known nag genes on a 5.7-kilobase (5.7-kb) fragment of DNA. The products of these nag genes were identified by complementation of E. coli strains with mutations in nagA, nagB, and nagE. The gene products from the 5.7-kb fragment were identified by [35S]methionine-labelled maxicells and autoradiography of sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide electrophoresis gels. The gene products had the following relative masses (Mrs: nagE, 62,000; nagA, 45,000; nagB, 29,000. In addition, another product of Mr 44,000 was detected. The genes have been sequenced to reveal an additional open reading frame (nagC), a putative catabolite activator protein binding site that may control nagB and nagE, putative rho-independent terminator sites for nagB and nagE, and sequence homologies for RNA polymerase binding sites preceding each of the open reading frames, except for nagA. The calculated molecular weight (MWs) of the gene products derived from the sequence are as follows: nagA, 40,954; nagB, 29,657; nagC, 44,664; nagE, 68,356. No role is known for nagC, although a number of regulatory roles appear to be plausible. No obvious transcriptional termination site distal to nagC was found and another open reading frame begins after nagC. This gene, nagD, was isolated separately from pLC5-21, and the sequence revealed a protein with a calculated MW of 27,181. The nagD gene is followed by repetitive extragenic palindromic sequences. The nag genes appear to be organized in an operon: nagD nagC nagA nagB nagE.

Physical and genetic analysis of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (pckA) locus from Escherichia coli K12.

An 8 kb BamHI fragment of the Escherichia coli K12 chromosome has been cloned which complemented the pheotype of CRM+ pckA mutants with inactive phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxykinase. The pckA+ clones expressed levels of enzyme activity elevated up to 30-fold and produced a Mr 55,000 product in maxicells, which co-electrophoresed with purified PEP carboxykinase. The cloned fragment expressed the pckA, ompR and envZ gene products in maxicells. The order of genes on the chromosome inferred from restriction mapping, was (74 min)...pckA envZ ompR...(75 min). Transcription of the pckA gene cloned on multicopy plasmids increased in stationary phase and was also regulated by catabolite repression. The transcriptional control region has been located by genetic fusions to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (cat) gene and pckA was transcribed in the direction of envZ (clockwise direction on the chromosome).

Regulation of transcription of the Escherichia coli phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase locus: studies with pck-lacZ operon fusions.

Mutants of Escherichia coli containing genetic fusions of lacZ to the pck (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase) locus were isolated by using Mu d(lacZ Ampr) bacteriophage. Synthesis of beta-galactosidase in these strains is regulated by cyclic AMP and glucose (catabolite repression). Synthesis of beta-galactosidase by pck-lacZ fusions was induced in log-phase cells growing on gluconeogenic media, was repressed by glucose, and was also induced up to 100-fold at the onset of stationary phase in LB medium. This stationary-phase induction required cyclic AMP and some other unknown regulatory signal.

Effects of glnL and other regulatory loci on regulation of transcription of glnA-lacZ fusions in Klebsiella aerogenes.

Mutants of Klebsiella aerogenes containing genetic fusions of glnA to lacZ were isolated by using Mu dl (lac, bla) bacteriophage and a Mu Kmr helper phage with the host range of bacteriophage P1. Synthesis of beta-galactosidase in these strains is regulated in response to nitrogen metabolites and regulatory gln loci and is rendered constitutive by a mutation in the linked glnL gene. Complementation studies indicated that glnL is a separate locus from glnA and glnG and that insertions in glnA are partially polar on glnL expression. These results support the hypothesis that glnA, glnL, and glnG are organized in an operon with multiple promoters.

Anaemia of pregnancy: the changing postwar pattern.

A popluation survey covering over a quarter of a century has shown clearly the improvement in haemoglobin levels in women attending antenatal clinics at the Glasgow Royal Maternity Hospital. Various influences have helped to bring this about, foremost among these being routine early prophylaxis with combined iron and folate supplements. Indeed, a time-space relationship between changes in prophylactic therapy, rates of improvement, and the incidence of megaloblastic anaemia can be shown. The women at risk are still essentially the same except for a new group of young, unmarried girls, who must be watched. In our view the withdrawal of routine prophylactic therapy in pregnancy would be retrograde step.