Essential Sulfhydryl Groups Research Articles

Cyanylation of 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase. The "essential" sulfhydryl group is not involved in catalysis.

3-Hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase is a lipid-requiring enzyme with an absolute requirement of lecithin for function. The enzyme contains two sulfhydryl groups per monomer. Modification of the more reactive sulfhydryl group with N-ethylmaleimide resulted in inactivation of the enzyme and modification of coenzyme-binding characteristics [McIntyre, J. O., Fleer, E. A. M. and Fleischer, S. (1984) Biochemistry 23, 5135-5141]. The present study further investigates the function of the sulfhydryl groups by utilizing chemical derivatization techniques. The reactive sulfhydryl was derivatized first with 3,3'-dithiobis(6-nitrobenzoic acid) (Ellman's reagent) to form the S-(carboxynitrophenylthio) derivative which could then be replaced with cyanide to form the S-cyanylated enzyme. We find that derivatizing the essential sulfhydryl group leads to some loss of activity. The effect appears to be steric since a larger derivatizing group gives greater loss of activity. The normal enzyme is inhibited approximately 50% in excess substrate. Derivatization of the reactive sulfhydryl group results in loss of this substrate inhibition, the modified enzyme being at least three-fold more active at high substrate concentrations; the activity increases from 18% to 54% and from 1% to 4% of maximal activity for the S-cyanylated and S-(carboxynitrophenylthio) enzyme derivatives, respectively. Cyanylation results in complete loss of fluorescence energy transfer from tryptophan to NADH at low salt concentration but is normal in the presence of 100mM NaCl. However, the binding constant of the coenzyme is decreased only several-fold in the cyanylated enzyme as studied by fluorescence quenching. The cyanylated enzyme formed tight ternary complexes (spin-labeled NADH-monomethylmalonate) (spin-labeled NAD-sulfite) similar to that formed by the normal enzyme. The spin label is highly immobilized, but the hyperfine splitting values differ somewhat from the normal enzyme. We conclude that the reactive sulfhydryl is close to the active site of 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase but is not involved in the catalytic mechanism.

Spin label studies of the essential sulfhydryl group environment in chicken liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase

The local environment of the essential sulfhydryl groups in chicken liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase has been investigated by ESR techniques using a series of iodoacetamide spin labels, varying in chain length between the iodoacetate and nitroxide free radical group. The ESR spectrum of spin-labeled chicken liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase showed that the sites of labeling were highly immobilized when the enzyme was chemically modified by spin label iodoacetate, suggesting that the sulfhydryl groups of the protein are in a small, confined environment. From the change in the ESR spectra of these nitroxides as a function of chain length, we conclude that the sulfhydryl group is located in a cleft approx. 10.5 Å in depth.

Covalent chromatography by thiol-disulfide interchange of the highly-purified non-transformed rat liver glucocorticoid-receptor

Highly-purified non-transformed rat liver [ 3H]triamcinolone acetonide-receptor complex was shown to be covalently adsorbed on activated tbiol sepharose 4B, a reactive sulfhydryl matrice. Elution by mercaptoethanol in excess and inhibition of binding by previous treatment of the complex with N-ethylmaleimide clearly demonstrated the specificity of the binding by tbiol disulfide interchange. The transformed [ 3H]triamcinolone acetonide-receptor complex, partially purified by DNA-cellulose chromatography, was also retained on activated thiol sepharose 4B. The physicochemical characteristics of both the transformed and non-transformed glucocorticoid receptor complexes eluted from the covalent chromatography column were studied by HP size exclusion chromatography on a TSK G 3000 SW column and were found to be identical to those of the starting complexes. These results provide direct evidence for accessible sulfhydryl groups on the glucocorticoid receptor complex surface, probably distinct from the steroid binding essential sulfhydryl group.

Studies on the reactivity of the essential sulfhydryl groups as a conformational probe for the fatty acid synthetase of chicken liver. Inactivation by 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) and intersubunit cross-linking of the inactivated enzyme.

Fatty acid synthetase of chicken liver is rapidly and reversibly inactivated by 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) at a rate (k2 = 132 mM-1 S-1 in 3 mM EDTA, 1% (v/v) glycerol, pH 7.0, at 25 degrees C) up to 2200 times higher than the reaction of this reagent with simple thiol compounds. The inactivation is caused by the reaction of the phosphopantetheine SH group, since it is protected competitively by either acetyl- or malonyl-CoA, and since the inactivated enzyme is unreactive with the phosphopantetheine label chloroacetyl-CoA but reactive with the cysteine reagent 1,3-dibromopropanone. Moreover, chloroacetyl-CoA prevents the modification of the rapidly reacting essential SH group by DTNB. The number of SH groups involved in inactivation was determined by correlating activity loss with the extent of reaction and by stopped-flow analysis of substrate (or chloroacetyl-CoA) protection. Values between 0.91 and 1.15 SH groups/dimer were obtained, indicating the presence of substoichiometric amounts of the prosthetic group in the fatty acid synthetase preparations used in this study. Inactivation of the synthetase by DTNB is strongly inhibited by increasing salt concentration and protected noncompetitively by NADP+ and NADPH. Treatment of the enzyme inactivated at low salt by salt, NADP+, or NADPH also effectively reduced cross-linking between enzyme subunits. The parallel effects of these treatments on the reaction with DTNB and subsequent dimerization are consistent with a minimum model of two discreet conformation states for fatty acid synthetase. In the low salt conformer, the phosphopantetheine and cysteine SH groups are juxtaposed, and the DTNB reaction (k2 approximately 132 mM-1 S-1) and dimerization are both facilitated. Transition to the high salt conformer by the above treatments is accompanied by an approximately 20-fold reduction of reactivity with DTNB (k2 = 6.8 mM-1 S-1) and reduced dimerization, due to spatial separation of the SH groups. During palmitate synthesis, the enzyme may oscillate between these conformation states to permit the reaction of intermediates at different active sites. Results obtained by studies on the effect of pH on DTNB inactivation implicate a pK of 5.9-6.1 for the essential SH group independent of salt concentration. This value is 1.5-1.8 pH units lower than the pK of 7.6-7.7 for CoA and may explain the 23-fold increase of the rate constant from a value of 0.3 mM-1 S-1 for CoA to that of the high salt conformer.

The role of sulfhydryl groups in the regulation of spinach leaf sucrose phosphate synthase

The activation of spinach leaf sucrose phosphate synthase by glucose 6-phosphate (Glc6 P) was labile in the absence of dithiothreitol, whereas enzyme activity in the absence of activator remained stable. The loss of regulation by Glc6 P proceeded more rapidly by treatment with 24 mM H 2O 2 and was reversible by 2.5 mM dithiothreitol. Titration of the enzyme with the sulfhydryl reagents N-ethylmaleimide or p-chloromercuribenzenesulfonic acid (0–50 μM) also resulted in elimination of Glc6 P activation and most of the inorganic phosphate inhibition without eliminating catalytic activity. The results suggested that Glc6 P and phosphate bind to a modifier site that is distinct from the catalytic site. The modifier site apparently contains essential and accessible sulfhydryl groups, while the catalytic site does not. Even though sulfhydryl reagents did not eliminate catalysis, changes in substrate affinities occurred. Treatment with 50 μM p-chloromercuribenzenesulfonic acid lowered the K m (fructose 6-phosphate) from 3.0 to 1.0 mM and increased the K m (uridine diphosphate glucose) from 3.0 to 8.9 mM without affecting the V max. Spinach leaf sucrose phosphate synthase extracted in the absence of reductant from leaves in the light (at 15:00 h) or in the dark (at 03:00 h) exhibited similar Glc6 P activation, suggesting that the light/dark status of leaves does not affect the redox status of essential sulfhydryl groups of the modifier site.

Human red-blood-cell Ca2+-antagonist binding sites. Evidence for an unusual receptor coupled to the nucleoside transporter.

The human red blood cell ghost Ca2+-antagonist binding sites were characterized with (+/-)-[3H]nimodipine. The labelled 1,4-dihydropyridine bound in a non-cooperative, reversible manner with a Kd of 52 nM at 25 degrees C to 9.65 pmol sites/mg ghost protein. The stereochemistry of the binding domain was evaluated with the optically pure enantiomers of chiral 1,4-dihydropyridines. In contrast to the 1,4-dihydropyridine-selective receptors on Ca2+ channels in electrically excitable tissues, the (+) enantiomer of nimodipine and the (-) enantiomer of the benzoxadiazol 1,4-dihydropyridine (PN 200-110) were bound with higher affinity than the respective optical antipodes. The human red blood cell ghost [3H]nimodipine-labelled sites also interacted with the inorganic Ca2+-antagonist La3+ (increase in the number of binding sites), and were allosterically regulated by the optical enantiomers of the phenylalkylamine-type Ca2+-antagonists (e.g. verapamil, desmethoxyverapamil, methoxyverapamil). The benzothiazepines d- or l-cis-diltiazem were without effect. Nucleosides (adenosine approximately equal to inosine greater than cytidine) were inhibitory at the nimodipine-labelled site, as were the nucleoside uptake inhibitors dipyridamole, hexobendine, dilazep, nitrobenzylthioinosine and nitrobenzylthioguanosine. The binding sites have essential sulfhydryl groups, show trypsin sensitivity, but are relatively heat stable. When nitrobenzylthioinosine was employed as a covalent probe to inactivate the red blood cell ghost nucleoside carrier, [3H]nimodipine binding was irreversibly lost. (+)-Nimodipine greater than (-)-nimodipine inhibited [14C]adenosine transport into human red blood cells. A good correlation between IC50 values for inhibition of [3H]nimodipine binding and IC50 values for inhibition of [14C]adenosine uptake was found for 18 compounds. Sheep red blood cells (which lack the nucleoside transporter) had no detectable [3H]nimodipine binding sites. It is concluded that the Ca2+-antagonist receptor sites of the human erythrocyte are coupled to the nucleoside transporter.

Activation of nonspecific lipase (EC 3.1.1.-) by bile salts

The enzyme nonspecific lipase (EC 3.1.1.-) from rat pancreas has been isolated and its amino acid composition determined. The amino acid composition confirms more indirect evidence that nonspecific lipase is not the same enzyme as cholesteryl ester hydrolase. Activation of the enzymatic activity by bile salts has been studied by equilibrium dialysis, gel filtration, light scattering, circular dichroism and fluorescence polarization. The binding of bile salt by the enzyme is saturable and is associated with a conformational change. Upon binding cholate, the protein experiences a decrease in β-structure with no significant change in α-helix content, an increase in apparent Stokes radius, a decrease in light scattering properties, and a slight decrease in polarization of the intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence. Attachment of bile salt is associated with decreased reactivity of essential sulfhydryl groups, but no detectable change in reactivity of amino groups. A change to a more nearly spherical shape upon binding bile salt would be consistent with the experimental observations, but the exact sites of binding remain uncertain.

Accessibility of sulfhydryl residues induced by cytochalasin B binding and conformational dynamics in the human erythrocyte glucose transporter

Studies with intact cells have implicated essential sulfhydryl groups in the carrier-mediated glucose transport of human erythrocytes. In an attempt to identify and characterize such essential sulfhydryl residues we have studied the interaction of p-chloromercuribenzoate (PCMB) with a purified glucose transporter preparation (band 4.5) from human erythrocytes, in the presence and absence of its ligands, and the effects of this interaction on the binding of cytochalasin B (CB) to the transporter. At least 3 mol of PCMB reacted per mol of this preparation. A portion of the reaction was significantly enhanced in the presence of cytochalasin B. This enhancement was a saturable function of CB concentration, and was half-maximal at a CB concentration equal to the dissociation constant for the CB binding to the preparation. This CB-sensitive, PCMB reaction product comigrated with the band 4.5 on lithium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. An excess of d-glucose did not affect the PCMB reaction by itself in the absence of CB, but totally abolished the CB-induced enhancement of the PCMB reaction. PCMB inhibited the CB binding activity of the transporter preparation, and this inhibition was also enhanced in the presence of CB. These results suggest that CB binding perturbs the conformational dynamics of the glucose transporter resulting in an exposure of at least two sulfhydryl residues to PCMB reaction, and that some of these CB-sensitive sulfhydryl groups are essential for CB binding to the transporter.

Post-irradiation inactivation, protection, and repair of the sulfhydryl enzyme malate synthase. Effects of formate, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and dithiothreitol.

Malate synthase from baker's yeast, a trimeric sulfhydryl enzyme with one essential sulfhydryl group per subunit, was inactivated by 2 kGy X-irradiation in air-saturated aqueous solution (enzyme concentration: 0.5 mg/ml). The radiation induced changes of enzymic activity were registered at about 0, 30, 60 h after irradiation. To elucidate the role of OH., O-.2, and H2O2 in the X-ray inactivation of the enzyme, experiments were performed in the absence or presence of different concentrations of specific additives (formate, superoxide dismutase, catalase). These additives were added to malate synthase solutions before or after X-irradiation. Moreover, repairs of inactivated malate synthase were initiated at about 0 or 30 h after irradiation by means of the sulfhydryl agent dithiothreitol. Experiments yielded the following results: Irradiation of malate synthase in the absence of additives inactivated the enzyme immediately to a residual activity Ar = 3% (corresponding to a D37 = 0.6 kGy), and led to further slow inactivation in the post-irradiation phase. Repairs, initiated at different times after irradiation, restored enzymic activity considerably. The repair initiated at t = 0 led to Ar = 21%; repairs started later on resulted in somewhat lower activities. The decay of repairability, however, was found to progress more slowly than post-irradiation inactivation itself. After completion of repair the activities of repaired samples did not decrease significantly. The presence of specific additives during irradiation caused significant protective effects against primary inactivation. The protection by formate was very pronounced (e.g., Ar = 72% and D37 = 6 kGy for 100 mM formate). The presence of catalytic amounts of superoxide dismutase and/or catalase exhibited only minor effects, depending on the presence and concentration of formate. Both the presence of specific additives during irradiation and the addition of additives after irradiation may alter the post-irradiation inactivation. Catalase turned out to be the most potent inhibitor of post-irradiation inactivation; superoxide dismutase showed an ambivalent behaviour, it accelerated or impeded post-irradiation inactivation; formate, when added after irradiation, exhibited a moderate protective effect. The presence of specific additives, added before and/or after irradiation, influenced the repair behaviour to some extent. The highest activity achieved by repair amounted to about 90% of the activity of the corresponding unirradiated sample. The percentual gain of activity was found to be the greater the lower the residual activity of the enzyme was before initiation of repair.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adenine nucleotide and phosphate transport systems of mitochondria. Relative location of sulfhydryl groups based on the use of the novel fluorescent probe eosin-5-maleimide.

Eosin-5-maleimide is impermeable to the inner mitochondrial membrane, exhibiting essentially no reactivity with matrix glutathione or with beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase located on the matrix surface of the inner membrane. In intact mitochondria, eosin-5-maleimide is unreactive with the ADP/ATP antiporter even under conditions which promote maximal labeling by N-[3H]ethylmaleimide (i.e., ADP present). However, eosin-5-maleimide readily labels the ADP/ATP antiporter in "inverted" inner membrane vesicles even in the presence of N-ethylmaleimide. Labeling is prevented if the vesicles are prepared from mitochondria pretreated with carboxyatractyloside. In contrast to the ADP/ATP antiporter, essential sulfhydryl groups of the Pi/H+ symporter are accessible to eosin-5-maleimide in intact mitochondria with optimal inhibition of phosphate transport being observed at 25 degrees C. Eosin-5-maleimide also prevents labeling of the Pi/H+ symporter by N-[3H]ethylmaleimide. These results show that essential sulfhydryl groups of the ADP/ATP antiporter and the Pi/H+ symporter have differing reactivities and locations in functionally intact mitochondria. With respect to eosin-5-maleimide, sulfhydryl groups of the ADP/ATP carrier occur in two distinct classes, both of which are inaccessible in intact mitochondria. Only one class, depending on conditions, can be exposed in submitochondrial particles. In contrast, sulfhydryl group(s) of the Pi/H+ symporter behave as a single reactive class which is readily accessible in mitochondria at 25 degrees C.

Omeprazole, a specific inhibitor of gastric (H+-K+)-ATPase, is a H+-activated oxidizing agent of sulfhydryl groups.

Omeprazole (5-methoxy-2-[[(4-methoxy-3,5- dimethylpyridinyl)methyl]sulfinyl]-1H-benzimidazole) appeared to inhibit gastric (H+-K+)-ATPase by oxidizing its essential sulfhydryl groups, since the gastric ATPase inactivated by the drug in vivo or in vitro recovered its K+-dependent ATP hydrolyzing activity upon incubation with mercaptoethanol. Biological reducing agents like cysteine or glutathione, however, were unable to reverse the inhibitory effect of omeprazole. Moreover, acidic environments enhanced the potency of omeprazole. For example, in vivo pretreatment of rats with carbachol, a secretagogue, enhanced the activity of omeprazole to inhibit gastric (H+-K+)-ATPase, while pretreatment with cimetidine, an antisecretory agent, reduced its potency. In vitro, lowering pH of incubation media from 7.4 to 5.0 improved the ability of omeprazole to inhibit hog gastric (H+-K+)-ATPase almost 60-fold. The inhibitory effect of the drug was accompanied by a dose-dependently decreased amount of free sulfhydryl groups in the isolated hog gastric membranes. The chemical reactivity of omeprazole with mercaptans is also consistent with the biological action of omeprazole. The drug, only under acidic conditions, reacted with a stoichiometric amount of ethyl mercaptan (or beta-mercaptoethanol) to produce regio-isomers of N-sulfenylated omeprazole sulfide (5-methoxy-2[[(4-methoxy-3,5- dimethyl-2-pyridinyl)methyl]thio]-1- or 3-(ethylthio)benzimidazole). The N-sulfenylated compound reacted at neutral pH with another stoichiometric amount of ethyl mercaptan to produce omeprazole sulfide quantitatively. The gastric polypeptides of 100 kilodaltons representing (H+-K+)-ATPase in the rat gastric mucosa or isolated hog gastric membranes were covalently labeled with [14C]omeprazole. The radioactive label bound to the ATPase, however, could not be displaced by mercaptoethanol under the identical conditions where the ATPase activity was fully restored. These observations suggest that the essential sulfhydryl groups which reacted with omeprazole did not form a stable covalent bond with the drug, but rather that they further reacted with adjacent sulfhydryl groups to form disulfides which could be reduced by mercaptoethanol.

Characterization of fumarate reductase from baker's yeast: essential sulfhydryl group for binding of FAD.

Fumarate reductase apoenzyme having the ability to reconstitute active enzyme was obtained by dialyzing the holoenzyme against 1 M KBr. The dissociation constant of the FAD-apoenzyme complex was 2.3 X 10(-8) M. The denatured holoenzyme and apoenzyme possessed seven sulfhydryl (SH) groups as determined with 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB). In the native apoenzyme, five SH-groups reacted with DTNB, and four of them were completely protected by the addition of FAD, while in the native holoenzyme, one was modified without inactivation. These results indicate that one SH-group is located on the surface of the enzyme molecule, four at or near the FAD-binding site, and two deeply embedded in the molecule. The modification of the apoenzyme caused inhibition of binding of FAD, resulting in loss of the ability to reconstitute enzymatic activity. Analyses of the data by statistical and kinetic methods suggested that a reactive SH-group is involved among the four SH-groups in the binding of FAD to the apoenzyme.

Dual mechanism of inhibition of rat liver uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity by ferrous iron: Its potential role in the genesis of porphyria cutanea tarda

Hepatic iron overload amplifies the uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase enzyme defect in human porphyria cutanea tarda. To understand its mechanism, we studied the effects of iron on the enzyme activity from rat liver cytosol. Enzyme activity was inhibited about 50% by 0.10 mM Fe2+ or by 0.16 mM Zn2+ directly regardless of whether the cations were added immediateJy, or were first preincubated for 2 h at 37 °C in the absence or presence of oxygen. Cysteine (6.7 mM) protected the enzyme from inhibition by Fe2+ under strictly anaerobic preincubation conditions; cysteine also protected enzyme inhibition by Zn2+ even in the presence of oxygen. Under aerobic conditions, cysteine enhanced the inhibition by Fe2+ to about 70%. This additional 20% inhibition was reversed by vitamin E, an antioxidant. The results suggest dual inhibitory effects of iron (a) by direct interaction of Fe2+, as well as Zn2+, with the essential sulfhydryl group(s) of the enzyme and (b), indirectly, due to generation of free radicals in the presence of oxygen and an electron donor such as cysteine. These radicals might interact directly with the enzyme and/or oxidize the porphyrinogen substrates to nonmetabolizable porphyrins, which accumulate in porphyric patients.

Use of the heterobifunctional cross-linker m-maleimidobenzoyl N-hydroxysuccinimide ester to affinity label cholecystokinin binding proteins on rat pancreatic plasma membranes.

The binding of 125I-cholecystokinin-33 (125I-CCK-33) to its receptors on rat pancreatic membranes was decreased by modification of membrane protein sulfhydryl groups. Sulfhydryl modifying reagents also caused an accelerated release of bound 125I-CCK-33 from its receptor. Because of the presence of an essential sulfhydryl group(s) in CCK receptor binding we studied the application of the heterobifunctional (SH,NH2) cross-linker, m-maleimidobenzoyl N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (MBS), to affinity label 125I-CCK-33 binding proteins on rat pancreatic plasma membranes. Analysis of the cross-linked products by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography revealed that this heterobifunctional cross-linker affinity labeled a major Mr = 80,000-95,000 protein previously identified as part of the CCK receptor on the basis of affinity labeling using homobifunctional and heterobifunctional photoreactive cross-linkers. Additional proteins of Mr greater than 200,000, and Mr = 130,000-140,000 were affinity labeled using MBS. The efficiency of the cross-linking reaction between 125I-CCK-33 and its membrane binding proteins with MBS was significantly greater than that obtained with NH2-directed homobifunctional reagents such as disuccinimidyl suberate. The efficiency of cross-linking could be dramatically improved by reduction of membrane proteins with low-molecular weight thiols prior to binding and cross-linking. The differential labeling patterns of the CCK binding proteins obtained with chemical cross-linkers of similar length but different chemical reactivity underscores the need for caution in predicting native receptor structure from affinity labeling data alone. Using the same pancreatic plasma membrane preparation and 125I-insulin, the Mr = 125,000 alpha-subunit of the insulin receptor was affinity labeled using MBS as cross-linker, demonstrating its utility in identifying other peptide hormone receptors.

Affinity labeling of the aldehyde site of bacterial luciferase.

2-Bromo[1-14C]1-decanal was synthesized as an affinity labeling probe for the aliphatic aldehyde site of Vibrio harveyi luciferase. In the presence of excess amounts of this probe, the inactivation of bacterial luciferase occurred following apparent first order kinetics. This inactivation was markedly retarded in the presence of decanal but neither butanal (a very poor aldehyde substrate) nor FMN (a reaction product derived from reduced FMN) showed any significant protective effect. Upon mixing luciferase with the affinity labeling probe, a noncovalent complex was formed prior to the covalent attachment. At pH 6 and 23 degrees C, the dissociation constant for the binding step and the rate constant for the covalent modification step were determined to be 23 microM and 1 min-1, respectively. The displacement of a bound aldehyde substrate by this probe added secondarily was also demonstrated. The inactivation of luciferase was correlated with both the incorporation of about 1.2 molecules of the probe and the loss of 0.8 to 1.1 cysteinyl residues/luciferase alpha beta dimer. The presence of an essential sulfhydryl group at the aldehyde site of luciferase has thus been demonstrated. This sulfhydryl group was a constituent residue of the alpha subunit and was near the alpha beta subunit interface. This residue appears to be the same essential cysteinyl group previously identified by chemical modification (Nicoli, M.Z., Meighen, E.A., and Hastings, J.W. (1974) J. Biol. Chem. 249, 2385-2392). The labeled luciferase did not exhibit any significant binding for the reduced FMN substrate.

Solubilized adrenal angiotensin II receptors: studies on the site of action of sodium and calcium ions, and on the role of disulfide bridges

The zwitterionic detergent, 3[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio)-1 -propane sulfonate (CHAPS), was used to extract angiotensin receptors from the adrenal zona glomerulosa of two species, the rat and beef. The solubilized receptors retained the different properties displayed by particulate receptors in these two species, as well as a preserved affinity and specificity. Moreover, the adrenal receptors lost their ability to be affected by sodium and calcium ions, and by guanyl nucleotides, indicating that the site of action of these modulators is distinct from the receptor itself. Dithiothreitol treatment enhanced the binding of agonist ([ 125I]angiotensin II) and antagonist ([ 125I](Sar 1Ala 8-angiotensin II) to particulate and solubilized rat adrenal receptors, an effect attributable to inhibition of tracer degradation. In contrast, agonist and antagonist binding to particulate bovine receptors was decreased by dithiothreitol, but agonist binding to soluble receptors was increased. In addition to showing important species differences in angiotensin-degrading activity of adrenal receptor preparations, this work suggests that bovine receptors may contain essential sulfhydryl groups for binding and recognition of angiotensin peptides as agonists or antagonists.

Affinity labelling of 5-aminolevulinic acid dehyratase with 2-bromo-3-(5-imidazolyl)propionic acid

2-Bromo-3-(5-imidazolyl)propionic acid, a zinc-directed thiol reagent, inactivates the enzyme 5-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase from bovine liver (5-aminolevulinate hydro-layse (adding 5-aminolevulinate and cyclizing, EC 4.2.1.24). The substrate, 5-aminolevulinic acid, completely protects against inactivation. The reagent inhibits the zinc-containing enzyme to a greater extent than the zinc-deprived enzyme; and it competes with the zinc chelator 1,10-phenanthroline. The reagent alkylates essential sulfhydryl groups of the enzyme, since the extent of the inactivation depends on the reduction of the enzyme protein by thiol compounds. It is concluded that the zinc site, the substrate site and the essential sulfhydryl groups are in close proximity in the active site.

The presence of essential arginine residues at the NADPH-binding sites of β-ketoacyl reductase and enoyl reductase domains of the multifunctional fatty acid synthetase of chicken liver

Treatment of chicken liver fatty acid synthetase with the arginine-specific reagent phenylglyoxal resulted in the pseudo-first-order loss of synthetase β-ketoacyl reductase and enoyl reductase activities. The sum of the second-order rate constants for the two reductase reactions equalled that for the synthetase reaction, suggesting that inactivation of either reductase was responsible for the loss of fatty acid synthetase activity. Double-log plots of pseudo-first-order rate constant versus reagent concentration yielded straight lines with slopes of unity for all three activities tested, suggesting the reaction of one reagent molecule in the inactivation process. In parallel experiments, complete inactivation of synthetase activity was accompanied by the incorporation of 4.5 [ 14C]phenylglyoxal, and the loss of 2.3 arginine residues per subunit. Reaction of essential sulfhydryl groups was not involved, since inactivation by phenylglyoxal was unaffected by reversible protection of these groups with 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid). Inactivation of all three activities by phenylglyoxal was prevented by saturating amounts of the coenzyme NADPH, or its analogs 2′,5′-ADP and 2′-AMP, but not by the corresponding nucleotides containing only 5′-phosphate. Conversely, the ability of this enzyme to bind NADPH was abolished upon inactivation. These results are consistent with the presence of an essential arginine residue at the binding site for the 2′-phosphate group of NADPH at each of the two reductase domains of the multifunctional fatty acid synthetase subunit.

Protective effect of dimercaptosuccinic acid on methylmercury and mercuric chloride inhibition of rat brain muscarinic acetylcholine receptors

The reactivation of the rat brain muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mACh-R) binding with dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) after in vitro and in vivo inhibition by mercuric chloride (HgCl 2) and methylmercuric chloride (MeHg) was investigated. Receptor binding was estimated by the potent and specific antagonist l-[ 3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate ([ 3H]QNB). Rat brain synaptosomal membranes were exposed to HgCl 2 and MeHg. At 1 × 10 −4 M. HgCl 2 caused complete inhibition of the [ 3H]QNB binding. The inhibition of [ 3H]QNB binding by HgCl 2 was still higher than 50% at 1 × 10 −8 M. MeHg caused less inhibition of [ 3H]QNB binding than HgCl 2. The inhibited receptors showed a significant degree of reactivation when treated with DMSA. The recovery was almost complete after MeHg inhibition or with the lower HgCl 2 concentrations. Generally, the reactivation was dependent on the concentration of DMSA. When rats injected with either early or delayed doses of DMSA following administration with five consecutive daily doses (8 mg/kg body wt, Gavage method) of MeHg or HgCl 2, the inhibition of [ 3H]QNB binding was less than untreated ones. The early treatment with DMSA decreased the inhibition of [ 3H]QNB binding due to MeHg or HgCl 2 intoxication. However, DMSA was more effective in reducing HgCl 2 inhibition than MeHg either in vitro or in vivo treatment. The ability of DMSA to reactivate the mACh-R after inhibition with the mercurials emphasizes the involvement of essential sulfhydryl groups in [ 3H]QNB binding sites, and also shows that these sulfhydryl groups are the primary target for the MeHg and HgCl 2 inhibition of the rat brain muscarinic receptors.

Sulfhydryl enzyme inactivation by nicotinoylacrylates

Nicotinoylacrylic acid and the corresponding methyl, ethyl, propyl and benzyl esters were studied with respect to selective inactivation of dehydrogenases through covalent modification of essential sulfhydryl groups. An effective inactivation of yeast alcohol dehydrogenase, yeast glutathione reductase and yeast 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase was observed with methyl and ethyl nicotinoylacrylates, with nicotinoylacrylic acid and the larger propyl and benzyl esters being considerably less effective. Fluorescein mercuric acetate titration studies of inactivated yeast alcohol dehydrogenase and studies of the oxidized (disulfide) form of yeast glutathione reductase were consistent with inactivation processes involving sulfhydryl modification. Protection against nicotinoylacrylate inactivation was afforded by the binding of ligands to either the coenzyme or substrate binding sites. Inactivation of yeast alcohol dehydrogenase by ethyl nicotinoylacrylate exhibited an unexpected greater selectivity, resulting in the covalent modification of only one of the two reactive sulfhydryl groups at the catalytic site.