Abstract
The enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase has been purified from chicken liver mitochondria. This purification includes a pseudo-affinity column step utilizing Sepharose 4B-blue dextran which binds the enzyme. The enzyme elutes with ITP to yield protein which is greater than 98% pure. The enzyme has Mr = 75,400 +/- 200 estimated by high speed sedimentation equilibrium and 70,500 +/- 500 estimated by reduced sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. The enzyme is abnormally retarded on molecular exclusion resins yielding low apparent molecular weight values. The amino acid analysis indicates that the enzyme has a high proline content and a high tryptophan content and contains 9 mol of cysteine/mol of enzyme. No disulfide bonds were detected. The extinction coefficient (epsilon 1% 280 = 16.5 +/- 0.1) reflects the high tryptophan content. The Svedberg coefficient (s20,w = 4.63 +/- 0.03 S) is consistent with a globular protein of Mr = 70,500-75,400. The activation of the enzyme was investigated by steady state kinetics. The carboxylation reaction has an activation energy of 17.6 kcal/mol. There is no requirement of a monovalent cation for activity. A thiol is necessary for maximal activity, although apparently not to reduce disulfide bonds within the enzyme. Incubation with dithiothreitol stabilizes enzymatic activity but beta-mercaptoethanol facilitates loss of activity. The kinetics of activation by Mn2+ was performed. The Ks value for phosphoenolpyruvate (300 microM) decreases to an apparent Km of 67 microM with increasing concentrations of Mn2+. The concentration of Mn2+ does not affect the interaction of HCO-3 with the enzyme, however. Analysis of data in terms of free IDP indicates that increasing Mn2+ decreases the Km of IDP but analysis as MnIDP indicates the Km,app of MnIDP is independent of the Mn2+ concentration. The enzyme interacts with Mn2+ with a KA = 67 microM and the Km,app decreases to a value of 8 microM with saturating substrates. The substrate analogue (Z)-3-fluorophosphoenolpyruvate is a good substrate for the reaction (Km = 30 microM) with 27% Vmax compared to P-enolpyruvate (Km = 180 microM). Except for 3-bromophosphoenolpyruvate, other analogues have shown weak competitive or noncompetitive inhibition. Potential analogues of oxalacetate (succinate, citrate, isocitrate, malate, and alpha-ketoglutarate) all elicit weak (greater than 15 mM) inhibition.
Highlights
The enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase has been purified from chicken liver mitochondria
The amino acid analysis indicates that the enzyme has a high proline content and a high tryptophan content and contains 9 mol of cysteine/mol of enzyme
A thiol is necessary for maximal activity, apparently not to reduce disulfide bonds within the enzyme
Summary
Thisprocedure includesa pseudo-affinity column separation step and yields pure enzymeof high specific activity. The enzyme lacks artifactual lag times observed with enzymeobtained by the previouslypublished procedure (Noce and Utter, 1975). In order to further study this enzyme, the protein was characterized in terms of several of its physical properties. Kinetic experiments were performed to describe the requirements necessary for maximal enzymatic activity. The activation of the enzyme by the divalent cation activator was investigated. The results demonstrate the kinetic interactions which occurbetween Mn2’ and the substratesin eliciting activation of P-enolpyruvate carboxykinase activity. The standard assay is utilized except for 100 pmol of NaHC03 and variable concentrations of IDP and MnC12. The calculation of IDP as free IDP was performed as described under “Materials and Methods.”
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
