Yeast hexokinase isoenzyme ScHxk2: stability of a two-domain protein with discontinuous domains.

The hexokinase isoenzyme 2 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ScHxk2) represents an archetype of a two-domain protein with the active site located in a cleft between the two domains. Binding of the substrate glucose results in a rigid body movement of the two domains leading to a cleft closure of the active site. Both domains of this enzyme are composed of discontinuous peptide sequences. This structural feature is reflected in the stability and folding of the ScHxk2 protein. Structural transitions induced by urea treatment resulted in the population of a thermodynamically stable folding intermediate, which, however, does not correspond to a molecule with one domain folded and the other unfolded. As demonstrated by different spectroscopic techniques, both domains are structurally affected by the partial denaturation. The intermediate possesses only 40% of the native secondary structural content and a substantial increase in the Stokes radius as judged by circular dichroism and dynamic light scattering analyses. One-dimensional ¹H NMR data prove that all tryptophan residues are in a non-native environment in the intermediate, indicating substantial changes in the tertiary structure. Still, the intermediate possesses quite a high stability for a transition intermediate of about ΔG = -22 kJ mol⁻¹.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of hexokinase KlHxk1 from Kluyveromyces lactis.

Glucose acts as both a carbon source and a hormone-like regulator of gene expression in eukaryotic organisms from yeast to man. Phosphorylation of glucose is executed by hexokinases, which represent a class of multifunctional enzymes that, in addition to their contribution to the uptake and initiation of metabolism of glucose, fructose and mannose, are involved in glucose signalling. The genome of the budding yeast Kluyveromyces lactis encodes a single hexokinase (KlHxk1) and a single glucokinase (KlGlk1). KlHxk1 exists in a monomer-homodimer equilibrium which is presumed to play a role in metabolic regulation. In order to evaluate the physiological significance of KlHxk1 dimerization on a molecular level, the enzyme was crystallized and subjected to X-ray structure analysis. Crystallization employing ammonium sulfate, diammonium phosphate or polyethylene glycol 6000 at pH values of 8.0-9.5 gave seven different crystal forms of KlHxk1. Crystallographic data to 1.66 A resolution were obtained using synchrotron radiation. Structure determination of KlHxk1 in various packing environments will reveal the full architecture of the homodimeric enzyme and complete our mechanistic understanding of the catalytic and regulatory functions of the enzyme.

The unique hexokinase of Kluyveromyces lactis. Molecular and functional characterization and evaluation of a role in glucose signaling.

The Crabtree-negative yeast Kluyveromyces lactis is capable of adjusting its glycolytic flux to the requirements of respiration by tightly regulating glucose uptake. RAG5 encoding the only glucose and fructose phosphorylating enzyme present in K. lactis is required for the up-regulation of glucose transport and also for glucose repression. To understand the significance of the molecular identity and specific function(s) of the corresponding kinase to glucose signaling, RAG5 was overexpressed and its gene product KlHxk1 (Rag5p) isolated and characterized. Stopped-flow kinetics and sedimentation analysis indicated a monomer-homodimer equilibrium of KlHxk1 in a condition of catalysis, i.e. in the presence of substrates and products. The kinetic constants of ATP-dependent glucose phosphorylation identified a 53-kDa monomer as the high affinity/high activity form of the novel enzyme for both glycolytic substrates suggesting a control of glucose phosphorylation at the level of dimer formation and dissociation. In contrast to the highly homologous hexokinase isoenzyme 2 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ScHxk2), KlHxk1 was not inhibited by free ATP in a physiological range of nucleotide concentration. Mass spectrometric sequencing of tryptic peptides of KlHxk1 identified unmodified serine at amino acid position 156. The corresponding amino acid in ScHxk2 is serine 157, which represents the autophosphorylation-inactivation site. KlHxk1 did not display, however, the typical pattern of inactivation under the respective in vitro conditions and maintained a high residual glucose phosphorylating activity. The biophysical and functional data are discussed with respect to a possible regulatory role of KlHxk1 in glucose metabolism and signaling in K. lactis.