Aldolase Isoenzymes Research Articles

Adaptive Evolution of the Streptococcus pyogenes Regulatory Aldolase LacD.1

In the human-pathogenic bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes, the tagatose bisphosphate aldolase LacD.1 likely originated through a gene duplication event and was adapted to a role as a metabolic sensor for regulation of virulence gene transcription. Although LacD.1 retains enzymatic activity, its ancestral metabolic function resides in the LacD.2 aldolase, which is required for the catabolism of galactose. In this study, we compared these paralogous proteins to identify characteristics correlated with divergence and novel function. Surprisingly, despite the fact that these proteins have identical active sites and 82% similarity in amino acid sequence, LacD.1 was less efficient at cleaving both fructose and tagatose bisphosphates. Analysis of kinetic properties revealed that LacD.1's adaptation was associated with a decrease in k(cat) and an increase in K(m). Construction and analysis of enzyme chimeras indicated that non-active-site residues previously associated with the variable activities of human aldolase isoenzymes modulated LacD.1's affinity for substrate. Mutant LacD.1 proteins engineered to have LacD.2-like levels of enzymatic efficiency lost the ability to function as regulators, suggesting that an alteration in efficiency was required for adaptation. In competition under growth conditions that mimic a deep-tissue environment, LacD.1 conferred a significant gain in fitness that was associated with its regulatory activity. Taken together, these data suggest that LacD.1's adaptation represents a form of neofunctionalization in which duplication facilitated the gain of regulatory function important for growth in tissue and pathogenesis.

The aldolase and pyruvate kinase isoenzyme patterns in a malignant testicular tumor from a 27 year old male.

On the basis of performed tests, we observed the change of pattern of pyruvate kinase isoenzyme in a malignant testicular tumor (only isoenzyme K) and the same isoenzyme in the tissue of other testis not being tumorously changed. In control group pyruvate kinase isoenzyme K and M was observed. Similarly, another pattern of aldolase isoenzymes in tumorous tissue was stated (AC) comparing with control group (arrangement AC, BC). The changes referred also to the activity of both examined enzymes in tumorous tissue and in the tissue of testis not being tumorously changed. The authors suggest the existence of a factor with depressor characteristics, which is produced by neoplasm and changes the function of genes that are responsible for synthesis examined isoenzymes in the tissue not being tumorously changed.

The peculiar distribution of class I and class II aldolases in diatoms and in red algae

Diatom plastids probably evolved by secondary endocytobiosis from a red alga that was up by a eukaryotic host cell. Apparently, this process increased the complexity of the intracellular distribution of metabolic enzymes. We identified genes encoding fructose-bisphosphate aldolases (FBA) in two centric (Odontella sinensis, Thalassiosira pseudonana) and one pennate (Phaeodactylum tricornutum) diatoms and found that four different aldolases are present in both groups: two plastid targeted class II enzymes (FBAC1 and FBAC2), one cytosolic class II (FBA3) and one cytosolic class I (FBA4) enzyme. The pennate Phaeodactylum possesses an additional plastidic class I enzyme (FBAC5). We verified the classification of the different aldolases in the diatoms by enzymatic characterization of isolated plastids and whole cell extracts. Interestingly, our results imply that in plastids of centric and pennate diatoms mainly either class I or class II aldolases are active. We also identified genes for both class I and class II aldolases in red algal EST databases, thus presenting a fascinating example of the reutilization and recompartmentalization of different aldolase isoenzymes during secondary endocytobiosis but as well demonstrating the limited use of metabolic enzymes as markers for the interpretation of phylogenetic histories in algae.

Different involvement for aldolase isoenzymes in kidney glucose metabolism: aldolase B but not aldolase A colocalizes and forms a complex with FBPase.

The expression of aldolase A and B isoenzyme transcripts was confirmed by RT-PCR in rat kidney and their cell distribution was compared with characteristic enzymes of the gluconeogenic and glycolytic metabolic pathway: fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase), phosphoenol pyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), and pyruvate kinase (PK). We detected aldolase A isoenzyme in the thin limb and collecting ducts of the medulla and in the distal tubules and glomerula of the cortex. The same pattern of distribution was found for PK, but not for aldolase B, PEPCK, and FBPase. In addition, co-localization studies confirmed that aldolase B, FBPase, and PEPCK are expressed in the same proximal cells. This segregated cell distribution of aldolase A and B with key glycolytic and gluconeogenic enzymes, respectively, suggests that these aldolase isoenzymes participate in different metabolic pathways. In order to test if FBPase interacts with aldolase B, FBPase was immobilized on agarose and subjected to binding experiments. The results show that only aldolase B is specifically bound to FBPase and that this interaction was specifically disrupted by 60 microM Fru-1,6-P2. These data indicate the presence of a modulated enzyme-enzyme interaction between FBPase and isoenzyme B. They affirm that in kidney, aldolase B specifically participates, along the gluconeogenic pathway and aldolase A in glycolysis.

Cytosolic aldolase is a ripening related enzyme in strawberry fruits ( Fragaria × ananassa)

Two aldolase isoenzymes have been isolated from ripe strawberry fruits ( Fragaria × ananassa cv. Camarosa and Elsanta) and partially purified by DEAE anion exchange and Sephacryl size exclusion chromatography. The isoenzymes were identified as class I cytosol and plastid aldolase on the basis of their chromatographic behavior on DEAE–cellulose columns, native molecular weight, pH optimum pattern, K m value for d-fructose-1,6-bisphosphate, tendency to be inactivated by lower pH values and SDS–PAGE subunit determination of 40 and 38 kDa, respectively. Total aldolase activity and distribution of both aldolase isoenzymes was also investigated at different stages of strawberry fruit ripening. Strawberries in the green and white ripening stage showed the same ratio of the two isoenzymes as green leaves with 15 and 8% cytosol aldolase activity, respectively. During strawberry fruit development the overall total aldolase activity decreased until the pink ripening stage and then increased due to a rise of cytosol aldolase yielding up to 75% in red strawberries. A cDNA putatively encoding the cytosolic form of aldolase in strawberry was cloned during the course of this study. Both microarray and RNA gel blot analyses showed that the cytosolic aldolase gene expression is induced during ripening as detected for the cytosolic aldolase enzyme. We suggest that induction of the cytosolic aldolase both at the levels of transcription and translation might be part of a ripening related stress response in the receptacle tissue.

Subcellular localization of aldolase B

The localization of the aldolase B isozyme was determined immunohistochemically in rat kidney and liver using a polyclonal antibody. Aldolase B was preferentially localized in a nuclear region of hepatocytes from the periportal region and was absent in those from the perivenous region. Aldolase B was also preferentially localized in the proximal tubules and was absent in other structures of the renal cortex as well as in the renal medulla. Using reflection confocal microscopy, the enzyme was preferentially localized in a nuclear position in liver and renal cells, which was similar to the cellular and intracellular location found for the gluconeogenic enzyme fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (Sáez et al. [1996] J. Cell. Biochem. 63:453–462). Subcellular fractionation studies followed by enzyme activity assays revealed that aldolase activity was associated with subcellular particulate structures. Overall, the data suggest that different aldolase isoenzymes are needed in the glycolytic and gluconeogenic pathways. J. Cell. Biochem. 78:62–72, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Subcellular localization of aldolase B.

The localization of the aldolase B isozyme was determined immunohistochemically in rat kidney and liver using a polyclonal antibody. Aldolase B was preferentially localized in a nuclear region of hepatocytes from the periportal region and was absent in those from the perivenous region. Aldolase B was also preferentially localized in the proximal tubules and was absent in other structures of the renal cortex as well as in the renal medulla. Using reflection confocal microscopy, the enzyme was preferentially localized in a nuclear position in liver and renal cells, which was similar to the cellular and intracellular location found for the gluconeogenic enzyme fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (Sáez et al. [1996] J. Cell. Biochem. 63:453-462). Subcellular fractionation studies followed by enzyme activity assays revealed that aldolase activity was associated with subcellular particulate structures. Overall, the data suggest that different aldolase isoenzymes are needed in the glycolytic and gluconeogenic pathways.

Novel six-nucleotide deletion in the hepatic fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase gene in a patient with hereditary fructose intolerance and enzyme structure-function implications

Hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI) is an autosomal recessive human disease that results from the deficiency of the hepatic aldolase isoenzyme. Affected individuals will succumb to the disease unless it is readily diagnosed and fructose eliminated from the diet. Simple and non-invasive diagnosis is now possible by direct DNA analysis that scans for known and unknown mutations. Using a combination of several PCR-based methods (restriction enzyme digestion, allele specific oligonucleotide hybridisation, single strand conformation analysis and direct sequencing) we identified a novel six-nucleotide deletion in exon 6 of the aldolase B gene (delta 6ex6) that leads to the elimination of two amino acid residues (Leu182 and Val183) leaving the message inframe. The three-dimensional structural alterations induced in the enzyme by delta 6ex6 have been elucidated by molecular graphics analysis using the crystal structure of the rabbit muscle aldolase as reference model. These studies showed that the elimination of Leu182 and Val183 perturbs the correct orientation of adjacent catalytic residues such as Lys146 and Glu187.

Subunit interaction in mammalian aldolases

Enzyme inactivation was utilized to study subunit interaction in the homotetrameric glycolytic enzyme, aldolase. Isoenzymes from rabbit liver and skeletal muscle were inactivated in the presence of Pi and d-glyceraldehyde-P to a maximum stoichiometry of one modification per aldolase subunit. Subunit modification increased net negative charge on each subunit surface and was used to resolve modified aldolase isoenzymes into various chromatographic species. A combination of anion-(Mono Q) and cation- (Mono S) exchange chromatography separated the modified aldolase homotetramers into three distinct enzyme populations: unchanged enzyme, fully modified enzyme corresponding to one ligand molecule incorporated per subunit and partially modified enzyme in which only one subunit out of four is modified. Both fully and partially modified species were devoid of catalytic activity. Activity loss through modification of a single subunit in both aldolase isoenzymes indicates tightly coupled communication between subunit active sites and suggests simple functional regulation of aldolases.

Evidence for a common cell of origin for primitive epithelial cells isolated from rat liver and pancreas

The appearance of differentiated hepatocytes in the adult rat pancreas as well as pancreatic-type tissue in the adult rat liver can be experimentally induced (Reddy et al.: J. Cell Biol., 98:2082-2090, 1984; Rao et al., J. Histochem. Cytochem., 34:197-201, 1986). These observations suggest a lineage relationship between cell compartments present in rat liver and pancreas. The present data demonstrate that epithelial cell lines with almost identical phenotypes can be established from adult rat liver and pancreas. The established cell lines showed similar morphologies as established by light- and electron-microscopic studies. The cell lines showed a unique expression pattern of intermediate filament proteins. Vimentin, actin, and beta-tubulin were present in all cell lines. In addition, simple epithelial type II cytokeratins 7 and 8 were found to be coexpressed with the type I cytokeratin 14 in several of the cell lines. Neither the type I cytokeratins 18 and 19, which are the normal partners for cytokeratins 8 and 7 in filament formation, nor the type II cytokeratin 5 could be detected despite the fact that filaments were formed by both cytokeratins 8 and 14. This suggests that cytokeratin 14 acts as an indiscriminate type I cytokeratin in filament formation in the established cell lines. The cell lines expressed the same sets of LDH and aldolase isoenzymes and identical sets of glutathione transferase subunits. In addition, the epithelial cell lines from liver and pancreas were equally sensitive to the growth-inhibitory effects of TGF-beta 1. No expression of tissue- or cell-specific proteins such as alpha-fetoprotein, albumin, amylase, elastase, or gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase were detected. The almost identical phenotypes of the hepatic and pancreatic cell lines suggest that they may be derived from a common primitive epithelial cell type present in both rat liver and pancreas. In contrast to parenchymal cells, these cells have an extended capacity for proliferation in vitro and may represent a progeny from a "precursor" or "stem" cell compartment in vivo.

Analysis of isoenzymes in normal and carcinogen-treated human endometrial stromal cells in culture.

The isoenzyme patterns of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), hexokinase, phosphofructokinase, and aldolase were investigated in cultured normal and carcinogen-treated human endometrial stromal cells. Both normal and carcinogen-treated cells had similar phosphofructokinase and aldolase isoenzymes. Distinctive changes in hexokinase and LDH isoenzyme patterns were found in the carcinogen-treated stromal cells. The LDH isoenzyme patterns of the carcinogen-treated stromal cells were shifted toward the muscle LDH forms. This is comparable to the alteration of LDH isoenzyme profiles observed in cell lines established from human uterine sarcomas. The two tissue culture media used affected the LDH isoenzyme patterns of endometrial stromal cells but differences between the LDH isoenzyme patterns of control and carcinogen-treated cells were detected regardless of the growth medium used. Total LDH activity was not significantly different in control and carcinogen-treated stromal cells. The hexokinase isoenzyme patterns expressed by the carcinogen-treated stromal cells were distinctly different from the normal hexokinase patterns. The treated stromal cells contained both hexokinase I and II, whereas the normal cells contained only hexokinase I. Hexokinase and LDH isoenzyme patterns may serve as markers with which to evaluate carcinogen-induced neoplastic changes in cultured endometrial stromal cells.

Stability of quaternary structure and mode of dissociation of fructosediphosphate aldolase isoenzymes.

Using a highly sensitive "subunit exchange" assay, we have studied the relative strengths of interactions between different subunit types (A and C) of fructosediphosphate aldolase and have determined the mode of dissociation of aldolase tetramers in vitro. Interactions between C subunits within C4 tetramers were found to be considerably more resistant to disruption than were interactions between A subunits in A4 tetramers with regard to increasing concentrations of H+, OH-, or urea. Slight dissociation of A4 was also observed in 1.2 M magnesium chloride. These observations suggest that the quaternary structure of aldolase C4 is inherently more stable than that of aldolase A4. Also, the symmetrical heterotetramer A2C2 was found to be more resistant to urea-mediated dissociation than was the aldolase A4 homotetramer; this observation suggests that, even when in heteromeric combination, C subunits have a stabilizing influence on the quaternary structure of aldolase tetramers. In no case did we find evidence for a stable dimeric intermediate in the dissociation of aldolase tetramers to monomers. These observations are considered in terms of the tetrahedral arrangement of subunits in the aldolase tetramer. The general applicability of the subunit exchange assay described here for studying the subunit structure and mode of dissociation of oligomeric enzymes is discussed.

Investigations of the enzymes involved in the fructose breakdown in the cattle lens.

By introducing fructose into the glycolysis, it is possible to stimulate ATP formation. As is the case in animal experiments, in human lenses, too, the first step in the phosphorylation to fructose-1-phosphate via the enzyme ketohexokinase. The present investigation deals with the question whether enzymes present in the lens are responsible for the further steps in fructose degradation. Particularly the aldolase isoenzyme C splits fructose-1-phosphate into glyceraldehyde and dihydroxyacetone phosphate in the same way as in glucose catabolism. Dihydroxyacetone phosphate can further be directly degraded and thus utilized to ATP formation. From glyceraldehyde, glycerol (aldose reductase) or glycerate (aldehyde dehydrogenase) can be formed. The presence of triosekinase, which phosphorylates glyceraldehyde directly to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate, could only be determined in the lens tissue of young animals. The presence of glycerokinase (glycerol leads to glycerophosphate) could not be verified. Thus, in the lens tissue 1 ATP molecule net per fructose molecule can be formed. In older age, the glucose breakdown is limited by hexokinase and phosphofructokinase, so that the glucose, after transformation via the sorbitol pathway to fructose, can also be utilized for the energy metabolism.

Serum aldolase isoenzymes in athletes at rest and after long-lasting exercise.

Athletes in training have significantly higher levels of serum aldolase activity at rest when compared to nonathletes. This is due to the higher level (and higher proportion) of aldolase isoenzyme A, predominant in muscle. At rest, athletes with a history of infectious hepatitis show significantly higher proportional and absolute levels of aldolase B, predominant in liver. Long-lasting exercise leads to a rise in serum aldolase activity, which must be ascribed to the increase in isoenzyme A. Significant post-exercise changes in isoenzyme B were not observed. There was no correlation between changes in serum hemoglobin, as reflecting intravascular hemolysis, and changes in serum aldolase activity. The data are discussed in regard to the existing hypotheses regarding increases in serum enzyme activity after physical exercise.

Immunologic detection of inactive enzyme molecules in the aging lens

The specific activity of nearly all enzymes of the carbohydrate metabolism declines during aging. In rat lenses, this decrease is accompanied by a loss in the heat-unstable portions of the aldolase isoenzymes A and C. By means of the quantitative immunologic titration and the use of enzymespecific antibodies, inactive aldolase molecules, the so-called cross-reacting material, could be determined in 2-year-old rat lenses. The cross-reacting material could also be determined for phosphofructokinase in the nucleus of 6-year-old rabbit lenses.

Aldolase Isoenzyme Patterns during Human Ontogeny and in Lung, Kidney and Breast Cancer

Enzyme patterns characteristic of fetal tissue have been noted in some experimental tumor models, particularly in hepatomas. In this study we undertook to determine whether biochemical evidence of a similar reversion could be detected in tumors of other human organs. As marker, we chose to use the aldolase isoenzymes A, B and C, for which distinct adult and fetal tissue patterns have been described. Using monospecific antibodies, we determined the aldolase isoenzyme pattern in a variety of human organs ranging in age from 14 to 40 weeks of gestation, in the 2- to 3-month postnatal period and in adults. In addition, 19 breast cancers, 19 primary lung cancers and 8 kidney cancers were examined. Our studies on breast cancer revealed three apparently distinct groups -- one showing primarily the A isoenzyme type (6 cases), a second containing mainly A with considerable quantities of B and C isoenzymes (9 cases) and a third group (4 cases) which may contain a different isoenzyme altogether since the combined activity of the three known forms was less than 100% in each case. In lung cancer, fetal characteristics could be substantiated since in fetal and adult lung tissue, the isoenzyme pattern is almost identical; 3 out of 19 cases showed substantial quantities of the B isoenzyme. In kidney tumors, a reversion to the A form with an appreciable fraction of the C form was found, which is similar to the fetal pattern.

The distribution of enzyme and isoenzyme activities between parenchymal and haematopoietic cells in the liver of the foetal guinea pig

The hepatocyte and haematopoietic cell contents of the liver of the foetal guinea pig were measured over the latter half of gestation. Hepatocytes represented about 30% of liver volume at mid-gestation and this increased to 70-80% by term; cell volume remained fairly constant until 5-7 days before term, then more than doubled. Haematopoietic cells represented about 5% of liver volume at mid-gestation and this progressively fell to <1% by term. At 75% of gestation hepatocytes and haematopoietic cells were prepared from perfused foetal livers by collagenase digestion. Enzyme activity of the hepatocyte was, without exception, similar to that of the whole liver. In general, enzyme activity in the haematopoietic cells was similar to that in erythrocytes, with relatively low values for aldolase, glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, phosphoglycerate mutase, enolase, lactate dehydrogenase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, ;malic' enzyme, glutamate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase. The haematopoietic cell contribution to total enzyme activity in the foetal liver was usually much less than 10% and could thus not account for the major changes in hepatic enzyme activity over the latter half of gestation. Hepatocytes contained hexokinase isoenzymes I and III, aldolase isoenzymes A and B and pyruvate kinase isoenzymes 1, 2 and 4. The haematopoietic cells contained hexokinase isoenzyme I and two additional bands of activity with slightly greater mobility, aldolase isoenzyme A and pyruvate kinase isoenzymes 2 and 4.

Biochemical markers of the progress of differentiation in cloned teratocarcinoma cell lines.

The progeny of single teratocarcinoma cells will give rise to several different cell types in vitro, and the latter were shown to be functionally differentiated by biochemical criteria. In all these studies, cloned lines of mouse teratocarcinoma cells were assayed during the course of differentiation for some biochemical products characteristic of the tissues formed. The carcinoembryonic protein, alpha-foetoprotein, was not synthesized by undifferentiated embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells, but was synthesized in increasing amounts during their differentiation to endoderm-type cells in suspension culture. alpha-Foetoprotein was shown to be a product of endoderm cells, but not all endoderm cells synthesized this protein. During the course of further differentiation when EC cells or aggregates were grown in tissue-culture dishes, other biochemical products appeared. In cultures containing predominantly nerve-type cells, there was a 30-fold increase in the specific activity of acetylcholinesterase, with concomitant appearance of the aldolase isoenzyme characteristic of mouse brain. In some cultures, a small amount of muscle-type cell formation was marked by the appearance of the MB isoenzyme of creatine phosphokinase. Generally, biochemical differentiation was immature.

The changes in aldolase isoenzyme pattern during development of the human kidney and small intestine--demonstrated in organ extracts and tissue sections.

Aldolases A, B and C were determined by immunotitration analysis in extracts of human kidney and small intestine and demonstrated immunohistochemically in tissue sections of the same organs at various stages of development. By both techniques a change of isoenzyme pattern during development of the kidney and the small intestine was observed, leading from the predominance of A-type towards the predominance of B-type aldolase. In the extracts of kidney and small intestine the specific activity of aldolase B--but not that of aldolase A--rises with age by about one order of magnitude. The histochemical investigation showed that the developmental change in aldolase pattern in the organ extracts is caused by the differentiation of proximal tubulus cells in the kidney and the differentiation of epithelial cells in the small intestine. Within these cells an increase in the concentration of aldolase B and a decrease in that of aldolase A takes place during development. The possible physiological role of this cellular change in aldolase isoenzyme pattern is discussed. Aldolase C was found only in low concentrations in fetal organs. Only in the kidney, a specific localization within the proximal tubules could be demonstrated.

Development of a Thermometric Assay for Cancer Differentiation Based on Aldolase Isozyme Patterns

Abstract A microcalorimetric assay for aldolase isoenzymes in serum, using a Tian-Calvet conduction calorimeter, has been investigated for measurement of activities of serum aldolase toward fructose-1, 6-diphosphate (FDP) and fructose-1-monophosphate (FMP), and of the ratios between these activities as a function of disease state, specifically cancer. Chart deflection measures were found to be proportional to total heat involved and to bear a linear relationship to the amount of aldolase activity toward either substrate in the sample. Differentiation of a cancerous from a noncancerous population was distinct and unambiguous. The ratios of activity toward FDP and FMP were 3. 73 ± 0. 22 and 13. 20 ± 0. 80 in noncancerous and cancerous sera, respectively. The ease and rapidity of assay suggests considerable potential utility as a routine screening method for certain forms of cancer.