Protein acyltransferase function of purified calreticulin. Part 1: characterization of propionylation of protein utilizing propoxycoumarin as the propionyl group donor.

We have earlier reported that an endoplasmic reticulum luminal protein calreticulin (CR) mediated the acetylation of certain receptor proteins such as glutathione S-transferase (GST) by polyphenolic acetates, leading to irreversible inhibition. This function of calreticulin was termed calreticulin transacetylase. In this communication, we have demonstrated for the first time the ability of the purified recombinant calreticulin of a parasitic nematode Haemonchus contortus to transfer propionyl group from 7,8-Dipropoxy-4-methylcoumarin (DPMC) to recombinant Schistosoma japonicum glutathione S-transferase (rGST). Calreticulin transacetylase exhibited hyperbolic kinetics and yielded K(m) (140 microM) and V(max) (105 units) when the concentration of DPMC was varied keeping the concentration of rGST constant. rGST thus propionylated was found to positively interact with anti-acetyl lysine antibody. Also, the nanoscale LC-MS/MS analysis identified the propionylation sites on three lysine residues: Lys-11, -180 and -181 of rGST. These results highlight the transacylase function of calreticulin (CRTAase).

Establishment of glutamine synthetase of Mycobacterium smegmatis as a protein acetyltransferase utilizing polyphenolic acetates as the acetyl group donors.

Acetoxy Drug: Protein Transacetylase (TAase) mediating the transfer of acetyl group(s) from polyphenolic acetates (PA) to certain functional proteins in mammalian cells was identified by our earlier investigations. TAase activity was characterized in the cell lysates of Mycobacterium smegmatis and the purified protein was found to have M(r) 58,000. TAase catalysed protein acetylation by a model acetoxy drug 7,8-diacetoxy-4-methylcoumarin (DAMC) was established by the demonstration of immunoreactivity of the acetylated target protein with an anti-acetyllysine antibody. The specificity of the TAase of M. smegmatis (MTAase) to various acetoxycoumarins was found to be in the order DAMC > 7-AMC > 6-AMC > 4-AC > 3-AC > ABP. Also, the N-terminal sequence of purified MTAase was found to perfectly match with glutamine synthetase (GS) of M. smegmatis. The identity of MTAase with GS was confirmed by the observation that the purified MTAase as well as the purified recombinant GS exhibited all the properties of GS. The finding that purified Escherichia coli GS was found to have substantial TAase activity highlighted the TAase function of GS in other bacteria. These results conclusively established for the first time the protein acetyltransferase function of GS of M. smegmatis.