Fatty acyl amidases from Dictyostelium discoideum that act on lipopolysaccharide and derivatives. II. Aspects of substrate specificity.

Abstract

The substrate specificities of two fatty acyl amidases partially purified from the slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum have been studied. The amidase act on lipopolysaccharide derivatives, such as (4'-O-phosphoryl-N-beta-hydroxymyristyl-D-glucosaminyl)-beta-(1 leads to 6)-N-beta-hydroxymyristyl-D-glucosamine-1-phosphate (III) in a sequential manner. Amidase-I removes the beta-hydroxymyristyl residue present on the amino group adjacent to the 1-phosphate and the product formed is a substrate for amidase-II; the latter removes the remaining beta-hydroxymyristyl residue from the distal amino group. Compound III itself is resistant to amidase-II. Removal of the C-1 or C-4 phosphate groups does not influence recognition by the amidases or their sequential action. Both amidases are specific for long chain fatty amide linkages. Thus, a formyl group on the glucosamine amino group adjacent to the C-1 phosphate is not hydrolyzed by amidase-I; however, this substituent does not hinder the action of amidase-II on the distal fatty acyl amide. The presence of the beta-hydroxyl group in myristyl-amide residues is not required for hydrolysis. Further, while amidase-I requires disaccharide structures for its action, amidase-II acts on monosaccharides as well. Finally, the effects of a variety of substrate analogs and divalent ions on the activity of the enzymes are reported.