[Angiotensin-converting enzyme stability in the presence of zinc-ions different concentrations].

Stability of angiotensin-converting enzyme was studied as a dependence on the zinc-ions concentrations brining in the apo-enzyme. Our data were discussed in the terms of a set of initial permissible conformation conditions of a protein (conformation distribution). Apo-enzyme was shown to be able to the radiation activation that is disappearing in the presence of even 10(-6 )mol/l of the zinc-ions.

[Energizing of F1-ATPase after irradiation with visible light]. / Energizatsiia F1-ATFazy pri obluchenii vidimym svetom.

It was shown that ATP synthesis by F1-ATPase sensitized by visible light was combined with oxidation of SH groups and decrease of initial flavin fluorescence in the F1-ATPase preparation. It was suggested that it was an endogenous flavin group that regulated redox transitions between SH-S-S groups which was essential for the catalysis in vivo.

The riboflavin-sensitized photooxidation of horseradish apoperoxidase.

Native horseradish peroxidase, as well as its reduced and carboxymethylated form, and the apoenzyme, showed resistance to photodynamic action. Sensitivity to this action was detected only in reduced and carboxymethylated apoenzyme, when the photooxidation of its histidine residues was observed. When analyzing the bulk hydrophobic character (Hf) and the accessibility coefficients (Br) in those amino acid residues which can be subjected to photooxidation in horseradish peroxidase, it was found that all of them are situated in hydrophobic zones with low accessibility coefficients. This could justify the high resistance of this enzyme to photodynamic action. The only exception is tryptophan-117, which has low values of Hf and Br, and therefore its resistance to photodynamic action can only be explained in terms of its location and environment. Tryptophan-117 would be situated in a zone of antiparallel beta-structure, according to Chou and Fasman's predictive method for protein conformation.

Photodynamic properties of pyridoxal phosphate bound to cystathionase-gamma-lyase.

The cofactor pyridoxal phosphate bound through an aldimine linkage to lysine residues of the enzyme cystathionase (L-Cystathione cysteine-lyase (deaminating), EC 4.4.1.1) is very stable to irradiation with light of 420 nm. The catalytic function of the enzyme remains unaffected indicating that the cofactor is not an efficient photosensitizer of essential amino acid residues. This unusual stability of the cofactor to irradiation can be ascribed to the presence of aldimine linkages as demonstrated by studies conducted on model compounds. The binding of a reversible inhibitor (L-allylglycine) to the catalytic site of the enzyme does not facilitate photooxidation of the cofactor. On the contrary, irradiation of the cofactor in the presence of the inhibitor results in photodestruction of the inhibitor.

Critical residues in D-amino acid oxidase. A pulse-radiolysis and inactivation study.

The enzyme D-amino acid oxidase and its apoenzyme have been irradiated at pH 5.5--10 under conditions designed to assess the inactivating effect of OH radicals and the selective free radicals Br2- and (SCN)2-. Near neutral pH, removal of the coenzyme FAD from the enzyme results in greater inactivation by selective free-radical attack. From pulse-radiolysis spectra, this increase is associated with attack on tyrosine and tryptophan residues in the protein. A large increase in inactivation of both the haloenzyme and apoenzyme by selective free-radical attack is seen with increasing alkalinity. This is consistent with attack on tyrosine being of major importance.