Flavin Binding Site Research Articles

1H and 15N resonance assignments and solution secondary structure of oxidized Desulfovibrio vulgaris flavodoxin determined by heteronuclear three-dimensional NMR spectroscopy

Sequence-specific 1H and 15N resonance assignments have been made for all 145 non-prolyl residues and for the flavin cofactor in oxidized Desulfovibrio vulgaris flavodoxin. Assignments were obtained by recording and analyzing 1H-15N heteronuclear three-dimensional NMR experiments on uniformly 15N-enriched protein, pH 6.5, at 300 K. Many of the side-chain resonances have also been assigned. Observed medium-and long-range NOEs, in combination with 3JNH alpha coupling constants and 1HN exchange data, indicate that the secondary structure consists of a five-stranded parallel beta-sheet and four alpha-helices, with a topology identical to that determined previously by X-ray crystallographic methods. One helix, which is distorted in the X-ray structure, is non-regular in solution as well. Several protein-flavin NOEs, which serve to dock the flavin ligand to its binding site, have also been identified. Based on fast-exchange into 2H2O, the 1HN3 proton of the isoalloxazine ring is solvent accessible and not strongly hydrogen-bonded in the flavin binding site, in contrast to what has been observed in several other flavodoxins. The resonance assignments presented here can form the basis for assigning single-site mutant flavodoxins and for correlating structural differences between wild-type and mutant flavodoxins with altered redox potentials.

The primary structures of the flavodoxins from two strains of Desulfovibrio gigas: Cloning and nucleotide sequence of the structural genes

The structural genes coding for the flavodoxin proteins from two different strains of the sulfate-reducing bacteria Desulfovibrio gigas (ATCC 19364/NCIB 9332 and ATCC 29494/DSM 496) have been identified, cloned and the nucleotide sequence established. The protein sequences derived from the gene from each strain share a sequence identity of 66% with regions directly involved in binding the flavin mononucleotide cofactor being the most homologous. Both aromatic residues that flank the flavin isoalloxazine ring in the crystal structure of the flavodoxin from D. vulgaris, i.e., Trp-60 and Tyr-98, are also present in these flavodoxin proteins. These observations stand in contrast to reports that the flavodoxin from Desulfovibrio gigas contains a single tryptophan residue which is located distant from the flavin binding site. Therefore, the FMN binding site of this flavodoxin is not distinct from the other Desulfovibrio flavodoxins in this regard.

Nitric oxide synthase regulatory sites. Phosphorylation by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, protein kinase C, and calcium/calmodulin protein kinase; identification of flavin and calmodulin binding sites.

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important molecular messenger accounting for endothelial-derived relaxing activity in blood vessels, mediating cytotoxic actions of macrophages, and functioning as a neurotransmitter in the brain and periphery. NO synthase (NOS) from brain has been purified to homogeneity and molecularly cloned. We now report that NOS is stoichiometrically phosphorylated by cAMP dependent protein kinase, protein kinase C, and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase, with each kinase phosphorylating a different serine site on NOS. Activation of PKC in transfected cells reduces NOS enzyme activity by approximately 77% in intact cells and by 50% in protein homogenates from these cells. Utilizing fluorescence spectroscopy we find that purified monomer NOS contains 1 molar equivalent of both FMN and FAD. This stoichiometry is supported by enzymatic digestion of the flavins with phosphodiesterase, and titration of the FMN with a specific FMN binding protein. We demonstrate that purified NOS is labeled by a photoaffinity derivative of calmodulin. These recognition sites on NOS provide multiple means for regulation of NO levels and "cross-talk" between second messenger systems.

BLUE AND ULTRAVIOLET‐B LIGHT PHOTORECEPTORS IN PARSLEY CELLS

Abstract— Ultraviolet‐B (UV‐B) and blue light photoreceptors have been shown to regulate chalcone synthase and flavonoid synthesis in parsley cell cultures. These photoreceptors have not yet been identified. In the present work, we studied UV‐B photoreception with physiological experiments involving temperature shifts and examined the possible role of flavin in blue and UV‐B light photoreception. Cells irradiated with UV‐B light (0.5–15 min) at 2°C have the same fluence requirement for chalcone synthase and flavonoid induction as controls irradiated at 25°C. This is indicative of a purely photochemical reaction. Cells fed with riboflavin and irradiated with 6 h of UV‐containing white light synthesize higher levels of chalcone synthase and flavonoid than unfed controls. This effect did not occur with blue light. These results indicate that flavin‐sensitization requires excitation of flavin and the UV‐B light photoreceptor. The in vivo kinetics of flavin uptake and bleaching indicate that the added flavin may act at the surface of the plasma membrane. In view of the likely role of membrane‐associated flavin in photoreception, we measured in vitro flavin binding to microsomal membranes. At least one microsomal flavin binding site was solubilized by resuspension of a microsomal pellet in buffer with high KPi and NaCl concentrations and centrifugation at 38000 g. The 38000 g insoluble fraction had much greater flavin binding and contained a receptor with an apparent KD of about 3.6 μM and an estimated in vivo concentration of at least 6.7 × 10–8M. Flavin mononucleotide, roseoflavin, and flavin adenine dinucleotide can compete with riboflavin for this binding site(s), although each has lower affinity than riboflavin. Most microsomal protein was solubilized by resuspension of the microsomal pellet in non‐denaturing detergents and centrifugation at 38 000 g; however, this inhibited flavin binding, presumably because of disruption of the environment of the flavin receptor. The parsley microsomal flavin binding receptor(s) have a possible role in physiological photoreception.

Identification of chromophore binding domains of yeast DNA photolyase.

Photolyases contain two chromophores, flavin plus either methenyltetrahydrofolate (MTHF) or 8-OH-5-deazaflavin (HDF). Amino acid sequence comparison reveals that all photolyases sequenced to date have extensive sequence homology in the carboxyl-terminal half; in the amino-terminal region the folate and deazaflavin class enzymes are more homologous to other members of the same class. This modular arrangement of sequence homologies suggests that the amino-terminal half of photolyase is involved in MTHF or HDF binding whereas the carboxyl-terminal half carries the flavin binding site. In this study we attempted to identify such structural domains of yeast photolyase by partial proteolysis and gene fusion techniques. Partial digestion with chymotrypsin yielded an amino-terminal 34-kDa fragment containing tightly bound MTHF and a carboxyl-terminal 20-kDa polypeptide which lacked chromophore or DNA binding activity. However, a fusion protein carrying the carboxyl-terminal 275 amino acids of yeast photolyase bound specifically to FAD but not to MTHF or DNA. We conclude that the amino-terminal half of yeast photolyase constitutes the folate binding domain and that the carboxyl-terminal half carries the flavin binding site.

Effect of flavin structure and redox state on catalysis by and flavin-pterin energy transfer in Escherichia coli DNA photolyase

5-DeazaFAD bound to a hydrophobic site in apophotolyase and formed a stable reconstituted enzyme, similar to that observed with FAD. Although stoichiometric incorporation was observed, the flavin ring modification in 1-deazaFAD interfered with normal binding, decreased protein stability, and prevented formation of a stable flavin radical, unlike that observed with FAD. The results suggest that an important hydrogen bond is formed between the protein and N (1) in FAD, but not N (5), and that there is sufficient space at the normal flavin binding site near N (5) to accommodate an additional hydrogen but not near N (1). Catalytic activity was observed with enzyme containing 5-deazaFADH2 (42% of native enzyme) or 1-deazaFADH2 (11% of native enzyme) as its only chromophore, but no activity was observed with the corresponding oxidized flavins, similar to that observed with FAD and consistent with a mechanism where dimer cleavage is initiated by electron donation from excited reduced flavin to substrate. The protein environment in photolyase selectively enhanced photochemical reactivity in the fully reduced state, as evidenced by comparison with results obtained in model studies with the corresponding free flavins. Phosphorescence was observed with free or photolyase-bound 5-deazaFADH2, providing the first example of a flavin that exhibits phosphorescence in the fully reduced state. Formation of an enzyme-substrate complex resulted in a nearly identical extent of quenching of 5-deazaFADH2 phosphorescence (85.1%) and fluorescence (87.5%). The data are consistent with a mechanism involving exclusive reaction of substrate with the excited singlet state of 5-deazaFADH2, analogous to that proposed for FADH2 in native enzyme. Direct evidence for singlet-singlet energy transfer from enzyme-bound 5-deazaFADH2 to 5,10-CH(+)-H4folate was provided by the fact that pterin fluorescence was observed upon excitation of 5-deazaFADH2, accompanied by a decrease in 5-deazaFADH2 fluorescence. On the other hand, the fluorescence of enzyme-bound pterin was quenched by 5-deazaFADox, consistent with energy transfer from pterin to 5-deazaFADox. In each case, the spectral properties of the chromophores were consistent with the observed direction of energy transfer and indicated that transfer in the opposite direction was energetically unlikely. Unlike 5-deazaFAD, energy transfer from pterin to FAD is energetically feasible with FADH2 or FADox. The results indicate that the direction of flavin-pterin energy transfer at the active site of photolyase can be manipulated by changes in the flavin ring or redox state which alter the energy level of the flavin singlet.

Hydrogen-1, carbon-13, and nitrogen-15 NMR spectroscopy of Anabaena 7120 flavodoxin: assignment of .beta.-sheet and flavin binding site resonances and analysis of protein-flavin interactions

Sequence-specific 1H and 13C NMR assignments have been made for residues that form the five-stranded parallel beta-sheet and the flavin mononucleotide (FMN) binding site of oxidized Anabaena 7120 flavodoxin. Interstrand nuclear Overhauser enhancements (NOEs) indicate that the beta-sheet arrangement is similar to that observed in the crystal structure of the 70% homologous long-chain flavodoxin from Anacystis nidulans [Smith et al. (1983) J. Mol. Biol. 165, 737-755]. A total of 62 NOEs were identified: 8 between protons of bound FMN, 29 between protons of the protein in the flavin binding site, and 25 between protons of bound FMN and protons of the protein. These constraints were used to determine the localized solution structure of the FMN binding site. The electronic environment and conformation of the protein-bound flavin isoalloxazine ring were investigated by determining 13C chemical shifts, one-bond 13C-13C and 15N-1H coupling constants, and three-bond 13C-1H coupling constants. The carbonyl edge of the flavin ring was found to be slightly polarized. The xylene ring was found to be nonplanar. Tyrosine 94, located adjacent to the flavin isoalloxazine ring, was shown to have a hindered aromatic ring flip rate.

Secondary and tertiary structure characteristics of Megasphaera elsdenii flavodoxin in the reduced state as determined by two‐dimensional 1H NMR

The secondary structure of two-electron-reduced Megasphaera elsdenii flavodoxin has been determined by visual, qualitative inspection of the sequential connectivities involving C alpha H, C beta H and NH protons observed in NOESY (two-dimensional nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy) spectra. Results from an amide proton exchange experiment were used to confirm the secondary structure assignment and to demonstrate the compactness and stability of the protein. After the secondary structure elements were established, the global fold of the protein and the flavin binding site have been determined using nonsequential interresidual NOE connectivities as primary source of information. The secondary structure and the global fold of M. elsdenii and Clostridium MP flavodoxin appeared to be very similar, differences are observed however. M. elsdenii flavodoxin consists of a central parallel beta-sheet including five strands surrounded on both sides by a pair of alpha-helices.

Differences in Protein Structure of Xanthine Dehydrogenase and Xanthine Oxidase Revealed by Reconstitution with Flavin Active Site Probes

The native flavin, FAD, was removed from chicken liver xanthine dehydrogenase and milk xanthine oxidase by incubation with CaCl2. The deflavoenzymes, still retaining their molybdopterin and iron-sulfur prosthetic groups, were reconstituted with a series of FAD derivatives containing chemically reactive or environmentally sensitive substituents in the isoalloxazine ring system. The reconstituted enzymes containing these artificial flavins were all catalytically active. With both the chicken liver dehydrogenase and the milk oxidase, the flavin 8-position was found to be freely accessible to solvent. The flavin 6-position was also freely accessible to solvent in milk xanthine oxidase, but was significantly less exposed to solvent in the chicken liver dehydrogenase. Pronounced differences in protein structure surrounding the bound flavin were indicated by the spectral properties of the two enzymes reconstituted with flavins containing ionizable -OH or -SH substituents at the flavin 6- or 8-positions. Milk xanthine oxidase either displayed no preference for binding of the neutral or anionic flavin (8-OH-FAD) or a slight preference for the anionic form of the flavin (6-hydroxy-FAD, 6-mercapto-FAD, and possibly 8-mercapto-FAD). On the other hand, the chicken liver dehydrogenase had a dramatic preference for binding the neutral (protonated) forms of all four flavins, perturbing the pK of the ionizable substituent greater than or equal to 4 pH units. These results imply the existence of a strong negative charge in the flavin binding site of the dehydrogenase, which is absent in the oxidase.

Structural interpretation of the binding of 9-azidoacridine to D-amino acid oxidase.

D-Amino acid oxidase (EC 1.4.3.3) forms an inhibited complex with the nucleotide- and aromatic-binding-site affinity reagent 9-azido[3H]acridine. Tryptic digestion of the photolysed complex yielded two radioactive peptides, 222-265 (T23) and 298-328 (T29), which core and secondary structure analysis revealed to be exposed, but which also comprised the propargylglycine-binding residues. This suggests that at least parts of the peptides containing these residues are in the active centre and that they are spatially close to the flavin-binding site.

Acinetobacter cyclohexanone monooxygenase: gene cloning and sequence determination.

The gene coding for cyclohexanone monooxygenase from Acinetobacter sp. strain NCIB 9871 was isolated by immunological screening methods. We located and determined the nucleotide sequence of the gene. The structural gene is 1,626 nucleotides long and codes for a polypeptide of 542 amino acids; 389 nucleotides 5' and 108 nucleotides 3' of the coding region are also reported. The complete amino acid sequence of the enzyme was derived by translation of the nucleotide sequence. From a comparison of the amino acid sequence with consensus sequences of nucleotide-binding folds, we identified a potential flavin-binding site at the NH2 terminus of the enzyme (residues 6 to 18) and a potential nicotinamide-binding site extending from residue 176 to residue 208 of the protein. An overproduction system for the gene to facilitate genetic manipulations was also constructed by using the tac promoter vector pKK223-3 in Escherichia coli.

Immunological characterization of riboflavin carrier proteins using monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies to chicken riboflavin carrier protein have been produced by fusing immunized mouse spleen cells with myeloma SP 2/O-Ag 14. The three different monoclonal antibodies specifically bound 125I-labelled chicken riboflavin carrier protein and were characterized with respect to their affinities to bind the antigen, subclass and isotype. These three monoclonal antibodies had similar affinities for holo-, apo- and SDS-denatured riboflavin carrier protein but were unable to recognize the reduced and carboxymethylated protein indicating that they were directed to specific conformational epitopes on the native avian protein. Succinylation of the vitamin carrier protein while still retaining flavin binding characteristics totally abolished the cross-reactivity with all the three monoclonal antibodies indicating that lysine residues were involved at the antigenic sites of the protein. This shows that the antigenic loci may be distinct from the flavin binding sites in the protein. All three antibodies were able to recognize riboflavin carrier protein present in the sera of pregnant rats, monkeys and humans indicating that the epitopes to which they are directed are conserved throughout evolution. These antibodies can therefore be effectively used for radioimmunoassays and further studies on the functional aspects of this protein in higher mammals.

Flavin binding site differences between lipoamide dehydrogenase and glutathione reductase as revealed by static and time-resolved flavin fluorescence

Subnanosecond-resolved fluorescence measurements of the FAD bound in glutathione reductase and lipoamide dehydrogenase revealed characteristic differences in dynamic properties of both enzymes, which are considered to have common structural features. The flavin fluorescence in glutathione reductase is quenched mainly via a dynamic mechanism, in agreement with enhanced flexibility of the flavin as inferred from rapid depolarization of the fluorescence.

6-Thiocyanatoflavins and 6-mercaptoflavins as active-site probes of flavoproteins.

6-Thiocyanatoflavins have been found to be susceptible to nucleophilic displacement reactions with sulfite and thiols, yielding respectively the 6-S-SO3--flavin and 6-mercaptoflavin, with rate constants at pH 7.0, 20 degrees C, of 55 M-1 min-1 for sulfite and 1000 M-1 min-1 for dithiothreitol. The 6-SCN-flavin binds tightly to riboflavin-binding protein as the riboflavin derivative, to apoflavodoxin, apo-lactate oxidase, and apo-Old Yellow Enzyme as the FMN derivative, and to apo-D-amino acid oxidase as the FAD derivative. The riboflavin-binding protein derivative is inaccessible to dithiothreitol attack, and the lactate oxidase and D-amino acid oxidase derivatives show only limited accessibility. However, the flavodoxin and Old Yellow Enzyme derivatives react readily with dithiothreitol, indicating that the flavin 6-position is exposed to solvent in these proteins. The lactate oxidase and D-amino acid oxidase derivatives convert slowly but spontaneously to the 6-mercaptoflavin enzyme forms in the absence of any added thiol, indicating the presence of a thiol residue in the flavin binding site of these proteins. The reaction rates have been investigated of 6-mercaptoflavins with iodoacetamide, N-ethylmaleimide, methyl methanethiosulfonate, H2O2, and m-chloroperbenzoate, in both the free and protein-bound state. The results confirm the conclusions drawn from the studies with 6-SCN-flavins described above and from 6-N3-flavins [Massey, V., Ghisla, S., & Yagi, K. (1986) Biochemistry (preceding paper in this issue)]. The spectral properties of the protein-bound 6-mercaptoflavin vary widely among the five proteins studied and show stabilization of the neutral flavin with flavodoxin and riboflavin-binding protein and of the anionic species by Old Yellow Enzyme, lactate oxidase, and D-amino acid oxidase. In the case of the latter two enzymes, the stabilization appears to be due to interaction of the negatively charged flavin with a positively charged protein residue located near the flavin pyrimidine ring. This positively charged residue appears to be responsible also for the strong stabilization of the two-electron oxidation state of the mercaptoflavin as the 6-S-oxide. With the other flavoproteins studied this oxidation level is stabilized as the 6-sulfenic acid or 6-sulfenate.

Spectroscopic studies of pyruvate oxidase flavoprotein from Escherichia coli trapped in the lipid-activated form by cross-linking.

Pyruvate oxidase is a flavoprotein dehydrogenase isolated from Escherichia coli which catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate to acetate plus CO2. The maximal turnover of the enzyme, measured using a ferricyanide reductase assay, is increased 20-to 30-fold by either of two methods. Proteolysis in the presence of the substrate (pyruvate) and cofactor (Mg2+-thiamin pyrophosphate) results in cleavage at a single locus near the carboxyl terminus and concomitant activation. Phospholipids and detergents can bind to the enzyme and result in a similar activation, which is presumed to be physiologically relevant, since the enzyme functions as a peripheral membrane enzyme. Previous studies showed that proteolytic activation of pyruvate oxidase results in substantial changes in the absorption spectrum of the oxidized form of the bound flavin. Up to this time, similar studies of the lipid-activated form of the enzyme have not been feasible, since it is necessary to reduce the flavoprotein in order to induce binding to the lipids. In this paper, glutaraldehyde cross-linking of the lipid-activated enzyme is used to trap the enzyme in this form. Spectroscopic studies show alterations of the flavin spectrum similar to those observed upon proteolytic activation. This alteration in the flavin binding site is consistent with kinetic studies which suggest that activation results from an acceleration in the rates of electron transfer both into and out of the bound flavin, which appears to be more "accessible" in the activated forms of the enzyme.

Bacterial luciferase: demonstration of a catalytically competent altered conformational state following a single turnover

Ziegler-Nicoli et al. [Ziegler-Nicoli, M., Meighen, E. A., & Hastings, J. W. (1974) J. Biol. Chem. 249, 2385-2392] reported that a highly reactive cysteinyl residue on the alpha subunit of bacterial luciferase resides in or near the flavin binding site such that the enzyme-flavin complex is protected from inactivation by alkylating reagents. These authors also observed that injection of reduced flavin mononucleotide (FMNH2) into an air-equilibrated solution of enzyme protected the enzyme from alkylation for much longer than the lifetime of the 4a-peroxydihydroflavin intermediate resulting from reaction of enzyme-bound FMNH2 with O2. Two related explanations were offered: either the product flavin mononucleotide dissociated from the enzyme much more slowly following a catalytic cycle than would be predicted from the Kd measured by equilibrium binding or the enzyme itself, without bound flavin, was in an altered conformational state in which the thiol was less reactive following a catalytic cycle. Either explanation involves a slow return of the enzyme to its initial state following a catalytic cycle. We have investigated this phenomenon in more detail and found that rapid removal of the flavin from the enzyme by chromatography following catalytic turnover did not return the enzyme to its original state of susceptibility to either alkylating reagents or proteolytic enzymes. The flavin-free enzyme returned to the susceptible conformation with a half-time of ca. 25 min at 0 degree C. Inactivation of the enzyme at intermediate times of relaxation by either a proteolytic enzyme or an alkylating reagent showed biphasic kinetics, indicative of a mixture of the protected and susceptible forms.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

8-Azidoflavins as photoaffinity labels for flavoproteins.

8-Azidoflavins have been synthesized and their potential as photoaffinity labels for flavoproteins has been explored. They are very photolabile, and in aqueous media they react with solvent to yield 8-aminoflavins and 8-hydroxlaminoflavins as the main products. They fulfill the criteria expected of a good photoaffinity label, since they bind stoichiometrically at the flavin-binding site of flavoproteins, thus minimizing problems of nonspecific labeling. Second, they absorb strongly in the visible, so that the reactive nitrene can be generated without short wavelength light, minimizing the possibility of light-induced damage of the protein. Third, in the absence of light, 8-N3-flavins are stable, permitting a study of their binding to apoproteins. 8-Azidoflavins have been bound to hen egg white riboflavin-binding protein, Megasphera elsdenii flavodoxin, yeast Old Yellow Enzyme, Aspergillus niger, glucose oxidase, and pig kidney D-amino acid oxidase, and the effect of exposure to visible light has been determined. Only small extents of covalent attachment of the flavin to the protein were found with flavodoxin, D-amino acid oxidase, and Old Yellow Enzyme; much more extensive labeling was obtained with glucose oxidase and riboflavin-binding protein. In addition to their photoreactivity, 8-azidoflavins have been found to be converted to 8-aminoflavins by reaction with sulfite or upon reduction. Similar reactions occur with 8-hydroxylamino-, 8-(O-methyl)hydroxylamino-, and 8-hydrazinoflavins, which serve as models for possible flavin-protein covalent linkages which could be formed in the photolabeling procedure. Some of the properties of these flavins, which were obtained by reaction of 8-F-flavin with the corresponding nucleophiles, are also described.

In-vitro riboflavin binding and endogenous flavins in Phycomyces blakesleeanus

Several types of membrane-localized flavin binding sites were investigated in sporangiophores (spph) and mycelia of Phycomyces blakesleeanus. In-vitro binding of riboflavin, riboflavin-5'-phosphate, and flavin-adenine-dinucleotide was demonstrated with unfractionated membrane preparations by means of competition of [(14)C]riboflavin binding. Saturation of binding was only obtained with the highly water-soluble riboflavin-5'-phosphate, but by extrapolation it was shown that riboflavin showed the highest affinity towards the binding sites (KD about 4·10(-6)M). The number of binding sites was estimated to be 0.7 nmol g(-1) fresh-weight equivalent. Analysis of endogenous soluble flavin revealed that only riboflavin, riboflavin-5'-phosphate, and flavin-adenine-dinucleotide occurred in Phycomyces, and at a concentration of at least 1 nmol g(-1) fresh-weight equivalent in entire spph. Thus, the measured binding sites could reach saturation in-vivo. In the apical part of spph to which blue-light sensitivity is restricted, the amount of soluble flavin was three-fold higher. Exclusively in this zone, heat-labile riboflavin proteins were measured at a concentration of about 3 nmol g(-1) fresh-weight equivalent. The amount of covalently bound flavin was higher in spph tips than in intact spph (8 nmol and 3 nmol g(-1) fresh-weight equivalent, respectively). In either case, the concentrations of the flavin-membrane complexes were higher than the theoretical calculated concentration of (anisotropic) blue-light photoreceptor in Phycomyces (Bergman et al. 1969), and their involvement in blue-light photoreception is considered.

Studies of the flavin adenine dinucleotide binding region in Escherichia coli pyruvate oxidase.

Experiments have been performed to probe the flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) binding region in Escherichia coli pyruvate oxidase. This enzyme functions as a membrane-associated flavoprotein coupled to the aerobic E. coli respiratory chain. The FAD moiety is noncovalently bound to pyruvate oxidase and can be removed reversibly to form apopyruvate oxidase. The addition of free FAD to apoenzyme results in the stoichiometric re-formation of the active flavoprotein. Using this technique, synthetic analogs of FAD were substituted in the flavin binding site and used as structural probes. Spectral analysis indicates that the benzoquinoid forms of 8-mercapto-FAD and 6-hydroxy-FAD are stabilized in the enzyme-binding site. This is consistent with the fact that the native flavoprotein forms a red (anion) radical upon photoreduction. These data suggest that the isoalloxazine ring may be poised for reduction via position N-5 by a carbanionic intermediate. The alpha-carbanion of hydroxyethylthiamin pyrophosphate, formed following the decarboxylation of pyruvate, is a likely candidate. The highly resolved visible spectrum of the native flavoprotein suggests that the flavin is buried in a hydrophobic environment. Reactivity studies using 8-chloro-FAD-pyruvate oxidase and 2-thio-FAD-pyruvate oxidase suggest that the C-8 position and C-2 position of the isoalloxazine ring may not be accessible to the solvent. Spectral perturbations observed with 6-hydroxy-FAD-pyruvate oxidase indicate, however, that the isoalloxazine C-6 position may be located near the binding site for the cofactor thiamin pyrophosphate. Restrictions to the accessibility of the active site of the enzyme are suggested by the fact that sulfite does not form an adduct with the flavin in the native enzyme.

How the loss of several residues, at the level of one interglobule junction, modulates the lactate dehydrogenase activity of yeast flavocytochrome b2: A study of the nicked enzymes resulting from clostripain and trypsin action

The native chain of flavocytochrome b2 is folded into three globules linked together by two protease-sensitive bridges "a" and "cd". We show in this paper that zone "a" of H-flavocytochrome b2 is the first to be cleaved under clostripain action. The alpha c and beta c fragments thus formed are homologous to alpha T and beta'T trypsic fragments. The remaining activities of the resulting (alpha c beta c) and alpha T beta'T) forms are only 25 per cent and 4 per cent of the native flavocytochrome b2 one. The study of the catalytic properties of (alpha c beta'T) and (alpha T beta c) species resulting from the crossed reassociation of the isolated fragments show that the beta type fragment plays a critical role in the catalytic process. A dramatic activity decrease may be correlated with the loss of 6 amino acid residues at the N-terminal of beta c. Our best hypothesis is that these amino acids are involved in the active site, which may be located in the contact zone between alpha and beta. These results are in agreement with previous results obtained in this laboratory which showed the necessity of both alpha T and beta'T fragments for the correct conformation of the flavin binding site.