Platelets express three different splice variants of ApoER2 that are all involved in signaling.

BACKGROUND: beta2-Glycoprotein I is the most relevant antigen in antiphospholipid syndrome. We have shown that binding of dimerized beta2-GPI to platelets via ApoER2' sensitizes platelets for second activating stimuli. OBJECTIVE: Determine the region of ApoER2 involved in the binding of dimeric beta2-GPI. METHODS: Cultured human megakaryocytes (MK) and three different human megakaryocytic cell lines were used for mRNA isolation to clone and express recombinant soluble platelet ApoER2. Domain deletion mutants of ApoER2 were constructed to identify the binding site for dimeric beta2-GPI. The presence of ApoER2 splice variants in platelets was demonstrated by immuno-blotting. RESULTS: Three different mRNA splice variants were isolated from all four types of megakaryocytic cells used. Sequence analysis identified the splice variants: (i) shApoER2Delta5 lacking low-density lipoprotein (LDL) binding domains 4, 5 and 6; (ii) shApoER2Delta4-5 lacking LDL binding domains 3, 4, 5, 6 and (iii) shApoER2Delta3-4-5 lacking LDL binding domains 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. The presence of three splice variants of ApoER2 on platelets was confirmed by immuno-blotting, with ApoER2Delta4-5 being the most abundantly expressed splice variant. Upon stimulation with dimeric beta2-GPI, all three splice variants were translocated to the cytosol; however, ApoER2Delta4-5 translocation was most prominent. Dimeric beta2-GPI binds platelet ApoER2 variants via LDL-binding domain 1. CONCLUSIONS: Three different ApoER2 mRNA splice variants were isolated from MK and platelets express all three splice variants. All splice variants were shown to be functional by translocation upon stimulation with dimeric beta2-GPI. All three splice variants express LDL-binding domain 1.

Peroxidase and phosphatase activity of active-site mutants of vanadium chloroperoxidase from the fungus Curvularia inaequalis. Implications for the catalytic mechanisms.

Mutation studies were performed on active-site residues of vanadium chloroperoxidase from the fungus Curvularia inaequalis, an enzyme which exhibits both haloperoxidase and phosphatase activity and is related to glucose-6-phosphatase. The effects of mutation to alanine on haloperoxidase activity were studied for the proposed catalytic residue His-404 and for residue Asp-292, which is located close to the vanadate cofactor. The mutants were strongly impaired in their ability to oxidize chloride but still oxidized bromide, although they inactivate during turnover. The effects on the optical absorption spectrum of vanadium chloroperoxidase indicate that mutant H404A has a reduced affinity for the cofactor, whereas this affinity is unchanged in mutant D292A. The effect on the phosphatase activity of the apoenzyme was investigated for six mutants of putative catalytic residues. Effects of mutation of His-496, Arg-490, Arg-360, Lys-353, and His-404 to alanine are in line with their proposed roles in nucleophilic attack, transition-state stabilization, and leaving-group protonation. Asp-292 is excluded as the group that protonates the leaving group. A model based on the mutagenesis studies is presented and may serve as a template for glucose-6-phosphatase and other related phosphatases. Hydrolysis of a phospho-histidine intermediate is the rate-determining step in the phosphatase activity of apochloroperoxidase, as shown by burst kinetics.

Cofactor and substrate binding to vanadium chloroperoxidase determined by UV-VIS spectroscopy and evidence for high affinity for pervanadate.

The vanadate cofactor in vanadium chloroperoxidase has been studied using UV-VIS absorption spectroscopy. A band is present in the near-UV that is red-shifted as compared to free vanadate and shifts in both position and intensity upon change in pH. Mutation of vanadate binding residues has a clear effect on the spectrum. Substrate-induced spectral effects allow direct measurement of separate kinetics steps for the first time for vanadium haloperoxidases. A peroxo intermediate is formed upon addition of H(2)O(2), which causes a decrease in the absorption spectrum at 315 nm, as well as an increase at 384 nm. This peroxo form is very stable at pH 8.3, whereas it is less stable at pH 5.0, which is the optimal pH for activity. Upon addition of halides to the peroxo form, the native spectrum is re-formed as a result of halide oxidation. Stopped-flow experiments show that H(2)O(2) binding and Cl(-) oxidation occur on the millisecond to second time scale. These data suggest that the oxidation of Cl(-) to HOCl occurs in at least two steps. In the presence of H(2)O(2), the affinity for the vanadate cofactor was found to be much higher than previously reported for vanadate in the absence of H(2)O(2). This is attributed to the uptake of pervanadate by the apo-enzyme. Human glucose-6-phosphatase, which is evolutionarily related to vanadium chloroperoxidase, is also likely to have a higher affinity for pervanadate than vanadate. This could explain the enhanced insulin mimetic effect of pervanadate as compared to vanadate.

X-ray crystal structures of active site mutants of the vanadium-containing chloroperoxidase from the fungus Curvularia inaequalis.

The X-ray structures of the chloroperoxidase from Curvularia inaequalis, heterologously expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, have been determined both in its apo and in its holo forms at 1.66 and 2.11 A resolution, respectively. The crystal structures reveal that the overall structure of this enzyme remains nearly unaltered, particularly at the metal binding site. At the active site of the apo-chloroperoxidase structure a clearly defined sulfate ion was found, partially stabilised through electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonds with positively charged residues involved in the interactions with the vanadate in the native protein. The vanadate binding pocket seems to form a very rigid frame stabilising oxyanion binding. The rigidity of this active site matrix is the result of a large number of hydrogen bonding interactions involving side chains and the main chain of residues lining the active site. The structures of single site mutants to alanine of the catalytic residue His404 and the vanadium protein ligand His496 have also been analysed. Additionally we determined the structural effects of mutations to alanine of residue Arg360, directly involved in the compensation of the negative charge of the vanadate group, and of residue Asp292 involved in forming a salt bridge with Arg490 which also interacts with the vanadate. The enzymatic chlorinating activity is drastically reduced to approximately 1% in mutants D292A, H404A and H496A. The structures of the mutants confirm the view of the active site of this chloroperoxidase as a rigid matrix providing an oxyanion binding site. No large changes are observed at the active site for any of the analysed mutants. The empty space left by replacement of large side chains by alanines is usually occupied by a new solvent molecule which partially replaces the hydrogen bonding interactions to the vanadate. The new solvent molecules additionally replace part of the interactions the mutated side chains were making to other residues lining the active site frame. When this is not possible, another side chain in the proximity of the mutated residue moves in order to satisfy the hydrogen bonding potential of the residues located at the active site frame.

Heterologous expression of the vanadium-containing chloroperoxidase from Curvularia inaequalis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and site-directed mutagenesis of the active site residues His(496), Lys(353), Arg(360), and Arg(490).

The vanadium-containing chloroperoxidase from the fungus Curvularia inaequalis is heterologously expressed to high levels in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Characterization of the recombinant enzyme reveals that this behaves very similar to the native chloroperoxidase. Site-directed mutagenesis is performed on four highly conserved active site residues to examine their role in catalysis. When the vanadate-binding residue His(496) is changed into an alanine, the mutant enzyme loses the ability to bind vanadate covalently resulting in an inactive enzyme. The negative charges on the vanadate oxygens are compensated by hydrogen bonds with the residues Arg(360), Arg(490), and Lys(353). When these residues are changed into alanines the mutant enzymes lose the ability to effectively oxidize chloride but can still function as bromoperoxidases. A general mechanism for haloperoxidase catalysis is proposed that also correlates the kinetic properties of the mutants with the charge and the hydrogen-bonding network in the vanadate-binding site.

Isolation, characterization, and primary structure of the vanadium chloroperoxidase from the fungus Embellisia didymospora.

Here we describe the isolation, purification, and basic kinetic parameters of a vanadium type chloroperoxidase from the hyphomycete fungus Embellisia didymospora. The enzyme proved to possess similar high substrate affinities, a Km of 5 microM for a bromide, 1.2 mM for a chloride, and 60 microM for a hydrogen peroxide, as those of the vanadium chloroperoxidase from Curvularia inaequalis, although with lower turnover rates for both Cl- and Br-. Substrate bromide was also found to inhibit the enzyme, a feature subsequently also noted for the chloroperoxidase from C. inaequalis. The gene encoding this enzyme was identified using DNA Southern blotting techniques and subsequently isolated and sequenced. A comparison is made between this vanadium chloroperoxidase and that of the fungus C. inaequalis both kinetically and at the sequence level. At the primary structural level the two chloroperoxidases share 68% identity, with conservation of all active site residues.

Transmembrane topology of glucose-6-phosphatase.

Deficiency of microsomal glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase), the key enzyme in glucose homeostasis, causes glycogen storage disease type 1a, an autosomal recessive disorder. Characterization of the transmembrane topology of G6Pase should facilitate the identification of amino acid residues contributing to the active site and broaden our understanding of the effects of mutations that cause glycogen storage disease type 1a. Using N- and C-terminal tagged G6Pase, we show that in intact microsomes, the N terminus is resistant to protease digestion, whereas the C terminus is sensitive to such treatment. Our results demonstrate that G6Pase possesses an odd number of transmembrane helices, with its N and C termini facing the endoplasmic reticulum lumen and the cytoplasm, respectively. During catalysis, a phosphoryl-enzyme intermediate is formed, and the phosphoryl acceptor in G6Pase is a His residue. Sequence alignment suggests that mammalian G6Pases, lipid phosphatases, acid phosphatases, and a vanadium-containing chloroperoxidase (whose tertiary structure is known) share a conserved phosphatase motif. Active-site alignment of the vanadium-containing chloroperoxidase and G6Pases predicts that Arg-83, His-119, and His-176 in G6Pase contribute to the active site and that His-176 is the residue that covalently binds the phosphoryl moiety during catalysis. This alignment also predicts that Arg-83, His-119, and His-176 reside on the same side of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, which is supported by the recently predicted nine-transmembrane helical model for G6Pase. We have previously shown that Arg-83 is involved in positioning the phosphate during catalysis and that His-119 is essential for G6Pase activity. Here we demonstrate that substitution of His-176 with structurally similar or dissimilar amino acids inactivates the enzyme, suggesting that His-176 could be the phosphoryl acceptor in G6Pase during catalysis.

A new model for the membrane topology of glucose-6-phosphatase: the enzyme involved in von Gierke disease.

Very recently we have proposed [Hemrika et al. (1997) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94, 2145-2149] that the active site of the vanadate-containing chloroperoxidase from the fungus Curvularia inaequalis, of which the tertiary structure is known, is structurally very similar to that of the membrane-bound mammalian glucose-6-phosphatases for which no structural data are available. The proposed active site of glucose-6-phosphatase, however, is incompatible with the six transmembrane-helix topology model that is currently used. Here we present a new topology model for glucose-6-phosphatase which is in agreement with all available data.

The regulation of the vanadium chloroperoxidase from Curvularia inaequalis.

The effects of carbon and nitrogen source on the regulation of the vanadium chloroperoxidase secreted by the fungus Curnularia inaequalis were investigated. The addition of glucose showed a repressing effect on both the observed messenger RNA level and the measured enzyme activities, whereas the addition of glutamate as nitrogen source and the addition of both glutamate and glycerol had no effect. Addition of vanadate had no effect on the level of mRNA. Eight hundred base pairs of the upstream promoter region of vCPO were sequenced and various features of interest are highlighted. Closer inspection of the mycelium revealed that once secreted, vCPO probably remains tightly associated with the hyphae in two forms, one of which may be a proform of the enzyme. A possible cleavage event at the C-terminus may lower its potential for hyphal association and permit its disassociation into the growth medium. A putative role for the vanadium chloroperoxidase is put forward.

From phosphatases to vanadium peroxidases: a similar architecture of the active site.

We show here that the amino acid residues contributing to the active sites of the vanadate containing haloperoxidases are conserved within three families of acid phosphatases; this suggests that the active sites of these enzymes are very similar. This is confirmed by activity measurements showing that apochloroperoxidase exhibits phosphatase activity. These observations not only reveal interesting evolutionary relationships between these groups of enzymes but may also have important implications for the research on acid phosphatases, especially glucose-6-phosphatase-the enzyme affected in von Gierke disease-of which the predicted membrane topology may have to be reconsidered.

The aromatic nature of residue 66 of the 11-kDa subunit of ubiquinol-cytochrome c oxidoreductase of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is important for the assembly of a functional enzyme.

Transformation of multi- and single-copy plasmids carrying a mutated version (LTN2, region 66-YWYWW-70 replaced by SASAA) of QCR8, the gene encoding the 11-kDa subunit ubiquinol-cytochrome c oxidoreductase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, to a QCR8(0) strain indicated the importance of this aromatic region for the assembly of a functional enzyme. Sequencing of plasmids giving spontaneous restoration of growth to some colonies among the single-copy LTN2 transformants showed that changing the sequence SASAA into the sequence FASAA could, to a large extent, overcome the observed assembly defect, indicating the importance of the aromatic nature of residue 66.

The C-terminus of the 14-kDa subunit of ubiquinol-cytochrome-c oxidoreductase of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is involved in the assembly of a functional enzyme.

Disruption of QCR7, the gene encoding the 14-kDa subunit of ubiquinol-cytochrome-c oxido-reductase of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, results in an inactive enzyme which lacks holo-cytochrome b and has severely reduced levels of apo-cytochrome b, the Rieske Fe-S protein and the 11-kDa subunit [Schoppink, P. J., Berden, J. A. & Grivell, L. A. (1989) Eur. J. Biochem. 181, 475-483]. An episomal system was developed to study the effect on complex III of transformation of in vitro mutagenised QCR7 genes to a QCR7(0) mutant. Transformation of a gene (TNT1) in which the 12 C-terminal residues are replaced by 3 amino acids encoded by an oligonucleotide containing a stop codon in all three reading frames (STOP-oligonucleotide), only leads to partial complementation of the respiratory capacity of the yeast strain. The amounts of apo-cytochrome b, the Rieske Fe-S protein and the 11-kDa subunit are reduced and enzymic activity, together with the amount of holo-cytochrome b, is lowered to about 40% of that of the wild type, indicating a normal turnover number of the mutant enzyme. Transformation of the QCR7(0) mutant with another gene (TNT2) encoding the first 96 residues of the 14-kDa subunit fused to 9 amino acids encoded by the STOP-oligonucleotide, leads to a phenotype almost indistinguishable from that of the QCR7(0) mutant. The role of the charged C-terminus of the 14-kDa (and the 11-kDa) subunit in the assembly of a functional complex III is discussed.

Sequence of the PAS8 gene, the product of which is essential for biogenesis of peroxisomes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

In a genetic screen for mutants disturbed in peroxisomal functions we found that the laboratory 'wild type' strain YP102 behaved like a typical peroxisome assembly mutant. Here, we report the sequence of the complementing gene (PAS8), coding for a protein of 1030 amino acids that appears to be a novel member of the AAA-protein family which also includes NSFp and PAS1p.

A region of the C-terminal part of the 11-kDa subunit of ubiquinol-cytochrome-c oxidoreductase of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae contributes to the structure of the Qout reaction domain.

QCR8, the gene encoding the 11-kDa subunit of ubiquinol-cytochrome-c oxidoreductase of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been resequenced in the course of a search for mutants disturbed in subunit function. Resequencing shows that the previously published sequence [Maarse A.C. & Grivell L.A. (1987) Eur. J. Biochem 155, 419-425] lacks a C at position 185 of the coding sequence. As a result of this extra nucleotide, the reading frame now contains 285 base pairs and it codes for a protein of 94 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 11.0 kDa. Despite the altered C-terminus, similarity to the corresponding beef heart subunit is not significantly altered. One mutant (LTN1), arising from hydroxylamine mutagenesis, has been studied in detail: Assembly of the enzyme appears to be normal, as judged from the levels of the subunits observed in Western blots, while spectral analysis showed that only holo-cytochrome b was lowered to 70% of that of the wildtype. Measurement of the specific activity and calculation of the turnover number of the enzyme showed that these were 45% and 56% of that of the wild type, respectively. Further analysis of the mutant showed that the affinity for the inhibitor myxothiazol was decreased, that the 11-kDa subunit stabilises the enzyme once assembly has occurred, and that the reduction of cytochrome b via the Qout site is impaired. Sequence analysis showed that this mutant carries a deletion of 12 nucleotides at position 206-217 of the coding sequence, resulting in the replacement of residues 69-73 (WWKNG) by a cysteine. These results are discussed in terms of the 11-kDa subunit contributing to the conformation of the Qout binding domain.

Membrane topography of the subunits of ubiquinol-cytochrome-c oxidoreductase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The 14-kDa and the 11-kDa subunits face opposite sides of the mitochondrial inner membrane.

The topology of the subunits of ubiquinol-cytochrome-c oxidoreductase of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been determined using a digitonin/proteinase K assay. With this assay we were able selectively to disrupt the mitochondrial membranes and to identify the subunits which became proteinase-K sensitive after disruption of either the outer or both outer and inner membranes. This approach confirmed previous indications for the localization of the core I protein, cytochrome c1, cytochrome b, the FeS protein and the 17-kDa subunit, while it also provided direct evidence for the site of accessibility to proteinase K of the 14-kDa and 11-kDa subunits. The 14-kDa subunit faces the mitochondrial matrix and the 11-kDa subunit faces the intermembrane space.

The effect of deletion of the genes encoding the 40 kDa subunit II or the 17 kDa subunit VI on the steady-state kinetics of yeast ubiquinol-cytochrome-c oxidoreductase.

Yeast ubiquinol-cytochrome c oxidoreductase is still active after inactivation of the genes encoding the 40 kDa Core II protein or the 17 kDa subunit VI (Oudshoorn et al. (1987) Eur. J. Biochem. 163, 97-103 and Schoppink et al. (1988) Eur. J. Biochem. 173, 115-122). The steady-state levels of several other subunits of Complex III are severely reduced in the 40 kDa0 mutant. The level of spectrally detectable Complex III cytochrome b in the mutant submitochondrial particles is about 5% of that of the wild type. However, when the steady-state activity of Complex III with respect to the cytochrome c reduction was examined, similar maximal turnover numbers and Km values were found for the mutated and the wild-type complexes, both when yeast cytochrome c and when horse-heart cytochrome c was used as electron acceptor. We therefore conclude that the Core II subunit of yeast Complex III plays no role in the binding of cytochrome c and that it has no major influence of the overall electron transport and on the binding of ubiquinol by the enzyme. Absence of the 17 kDa subunit VI of yeast Complex III, the homologous counterpart of the hinge protein of the bovine heart enzyme, resulted in a decrease in the rate of reduction of both horse-heart cytochrome c and yeast cytochrome c by Complex III under conditions of relatively high ionic strength. However, under conditions of optimal ionic strength, no difference could be seen in the maximal turnover numbers and Km values, neither with horse-heart cytochrome c nor with yeast cytochrome c between Complex III deficient in the 17 kDa protein and the wild-type complex. Binding of ATP to ferricytochrome c inhibits its reduction by Complex III under conditions of relatively high ionic strength. But when the 17 kDa protein is absent, this inhibition is also observed under optimal ionic-strength conditions. These results can be explained by assuming a stimulating role for the acidic 17 kDa protein in the association of basic cytochrome c with Complex III. This association is (part of) the rate-limiting step in the reduction of cytochrome c by Complex III under conditions of relatively high ionic strength or when this association is hindered, for instance, by binding of ATP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Yeast ubiquinol: cytochrome c oxidoreductase is still active after inactivation of the gene encoding the 17-kDa subunit VI.

The single nuclear gene encoding the 17-kDa subunit VI of yeast ubiquinol: cytochrome c oxidoreductase has been inactivated by one-step gene disruption. Disruption was verified by Southern blot analysis of nuclear DNA and immunoblotting. Cells lacking the 17-kDa protein are still capable of growth on glycerol and they contain all other subunits of complex III at wild-type levels, implying that the 17-kDa subunit is not essential for either assembly of complex III, or its function. In vitro, electron transport activity of complex III of mutant cells is about 40% of the wild-type complex, but for the total respiratory chain no significant differences in activity was measured between mutant and wild type. The energy-transducing capacity of the complex is not reduced in the absence of the 17-kDa protein. In a relatively high proportion of the transformants, disruption of the 17-kDa gene was accompanied by the appearance of a second mutation causing a petite phenotype. In these cells which lack cytochrome b, the presence of the 17-kDa protein (after complementation) results in stabilization of cytochrome c1.