Ribose-5-phosphate biosynthesis in Methanocaldococcus jannaschii occurs in the absence of a pentose-phosphate pathway.

Recent work has raised a question as to the involvement of erythrose-4-phosphate, a product of the pentose phosphate pathway, in the metabolism of the methanogenic archaea (R. H. White, Biochemistry 43:7618-7627, 2004). To address the possible absence of erythrose-4-phosphate in Methanocaldococcus jannaschii, we have assayed cell extracts of this methanogen for the presence of this and other intermediates in the pentose phosphate pathway and have determined and compared the labeling patterns of sugar phosphates derived metabolically from [6,6-2H2]- and [U-13C]-labeled glucose-6-phosphate incubated with cell extracts. The results of this work have established the absence of pentose phosphate pathway intermediates erythrose-4-phosphate, xylose-5-phosphate, and sedoheptulose-7-phosphate in these cells and the presence of D-arabino-3-hexulose-6-phosphate, an intermediate in the ribulose monophosphate pathway. The labeling of the D-ara-bino-3-hexulose-6-phosphate, as well as the other sugar-Ps, indicates that this hexose-6-phosphate was the precursor to ribulose-5-phosphate that in turn was converted into ribose-5-phosphate by ribose-5-phosphate isomerase. Additional work has demonstrated that ribulose-5-phosphate is derived by the loss of formaldehyde from D-arabino-3-hexulose-6-phosphate, catalyzed by the protein product of the MJ1447 gene.

Cleanup and analysis of sugar phosphates in biological extracts by using solid-phase extraction and anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection.

A cleanup method based on anion-exchange solid-phase extraction (SPE) was developed to render biological extracts suitable for the analysis of hexose phosphates with a modified anion-exchange chromatography method and pulsed amperometric detection. The method was applied to cell extracts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae obtained by using cold methanol as quenching agent and chloroform as extraction solvent. It was shown that pretreatment of the cell extract with SPE markedly improved the quality of the liquid chromatography analysis with recoveries of the sugar phosphates close to 100%. Furthermore, the method allowed for sample enrichment and the original extraction procedure could be simplified by implementing SPE early in the extraction protocol.

Identification of D-sorbitol 3-phosphate in the normal and diabetic mammalian lens.

The 31P NMR spectra of mammalian lenses show, in addition to previously identified compounds such as ATP, Pi, glycerophosphorylcholine, and alpha-glycerophosphate, an unusual phosphorylated metabolite resonating at 6.5 ppm. The concentration of this compound increases manyfold in the lenses of diabetic rats concomitant with activation of the aldose reductase pathway. We have purified this material and have identified it as D-sorbitol 3-phosphate. It appears likely that this unusual metabolite of sorbitol may reflect or be part of the metabolic aberration of diabetes in the lens.

Presence of mannose phosphate on the epidermal growth factor receptor in A-431 cells.

In this report, we demonstrate a novel post-translational modification of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor. This modification involves the presence of phosphate, previously thought to exist only on amino acid residues in the EGF receptor, on oligosaccharides of the receptor. We have utilized several independent approaches to determine that mannose phosphate is present on the EGF receptor in A-431 cells. Following metabolic labeling with 32P, immunoisolation of the EGF receptor, and digestion with Pronase radioactivity was determined to be present on high mannose type oligosaccharides by concanavalin A chromatography. Also, after acid hydrolysis of in vivo 32P-labeled EGF receptor, radioactivity was detected that co-migrated with mannose 6-phosphate on two-dimensional thin layer electrophoresis. This radiolabeled material co-eluted with a mannose 6-phosphate standard from a high pressure liquid chromatography anion exchange column. Last, an acid hydrolysate of [3H]mannose-labeled EGF receptor contained two radiolabeled fractions, as analyzed by thin layer electrophoresis, and the radioactivity in one of these fractions was substantially reduced by alkaline phosphatase treatment prior to electrophoresis. These experiments indicate that the mature EGF receptor in A-431 cells contains mannose phosphate. This is a novel modification for membrane receptors and has only been reported previously for lysosomal enzymes and a few secreted proteins.

Formation of sorbitol 6-phosphate by bovine and human lens aldose reductase, sorbitol dehydrogenase and sorbitol kinase.

Formation of sorbitol 6-phosphate by bovine and human lens aldose reductase and sorbitol dehydrogenase by the reduction of glucose 6-phosphate and fructose 6-phosphate, respectively, has been demonstrated. The reaction product has been identified by Dowex-formate column chromatography, gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Sorbitol 6-phosphate can also be formed by the phosphorylation of sorbitol by lens sorbitol kinase in the presence of ATP.

Multiplicity of 3-hexulosephosphate synthase from bacterium MB 58. 2. Generation of complex kinetic characteristics.

3-hexulosephosphate synthase (HPS) from the facultative methanol-utilizing Bacterium MB 58 exhibits a complex kinetic behaviour characterized by intermediary plateau regions. This feature could be related to the existence of multiple enzyme forms. With the aid of gel chromatography or isoelectric focusing purified HPS has partially been separated into at least four fractions. The individual enzyme forms are characterized by different kinetic properties exhibiting either hyperbolic or sigmoidal response to substrate saturation. In the sum of their action these forms generate the complex shape of the kinetic characteristics. Furthermore, these forms were found to be interconvertible. After partial separation a new equilibrium between the conformers is established in each case. The multiplicity of HPS can be demonstrated in qualitatively the same manner with the purified enzyme and with freshly prepared crude extracts. Proteolytic modifications on the enzyme as a cause for the multiplicity could be ruled out. The multiple character of the enzyme is also evident at different pH-values showing two optima. At different temperatures, anomalies in the Arrhenius plot depending on the substrate concentration were observed. From the present data a qualitative model of regulating HPS in the methylotrophic metabolism is proposed. Accordingly, several stable states of the metabolism should be realized.

Lactose and D-galactose metabolism in Staphylococcus aureus. III. Purification and properties of D-tagatose-6-phosphate kinase.

D-Tagatose-6-phosphate kinase, an inducible enzyme that functions in the metabolism of lactose and D-galactose in Staphylococcus aureus, was purified about 300-fold from an extract of D-galactose-grown cells. The enzyme catalyzed the nucleoside triphosphate-dependent phosphorylation of both D-tagatose 6-phosphate and D-fructose 6-phosphate. Although the Vmax values were equal for these two substrates, the apparent Km values differed by 10,000-fold, being 16 micro M for D-tagatose 6-phosphate and 150 mM for D-fructose 6-phosphate. The purified enzyme was free from the constitutive D-fructose-6-phosphate kinase. Phosphoryl donors used by D-tagatose-6-phosphate kinse, listed in order of decreasing rates at saturating concentrations were GTP, UTP ITP ATP, CTP, and TTP; the Km values were 0.38, 0.91, 0.17, 0.16, 18, and 20 mM, respectively. The enzyme appeared to be nonallosteric; it exhibited Michaelis-Menten kinetics and was not inhibited by high concentrations of MgATP. However, it was activated 3- to 4-fold by 33.3 mM K+, NH4+, Rb+, and Cs+, and was inhibited 31 to 65% by 33.3 mM Na+ and Li+. It was inactivated reversibly by the thiol reagent, N-ethylmaleimide. The subunit molecular weight was estimated to be 52,000, and the native enzyme appeared to be a dimer with a sedimentation coefficient of 6.8 S. Data on stability, pH optimum, and inducibility of the enzyme are also presented.