Inorganic Pyrophosphatase Activity Research Articles

The primary structure of rubrerythrin, a protein with inorganic pyrophosphatase activity from Desulfovibrio vulgaris. Comparison with hemerythrin and rubredoxin.

The complete polypeptide chain of rubrerythrin from the sulfate reducing bacterium Desulfovibrio vulgaris, strain Hildenborough NCIB 8303, was found by protein chemical techniques to consist of 191 residues and to have the amino acid sequence [sequence: see text] The C-terminal part of the protein (position 153----191) shows the typical sequence features of rubredoxin, a protein with a nonheme iron center also present in the same and other Desulfovibrio species. Based on the known three-dimensional structure of D. desulfuricans rubredoxin, we propose that the C-terminal part of rubrerythrin is folded in a similar way and suggest that the deletion of the extra 10 residues is compatible with the same basic rubredoxin-fold. After characterization of the C-terminal region, and in contrast to what could be expected from previously published spectroscopic analyses, the N-terminal region 1-152 of rubrerythrin appears to have no sequence similarity with the eukaryotic protein hemerythrin which is known to contain a binuclear iron center bound by 5 histidine ligands. However, the N-terminal region of rubrerythrin does contain 5 histidine residues but they are differently spaced along the peptide chain. We suggest that at least one of the 3 histidine residues located in the rubredoxin-like center of rubrerythrin may be liganded to one iron atom of the hemerythrin-like center. This paper is the first sequence report of a protein with pyrophosphatase activity although the physiological substrate for the rubrerythrin may be not inorganic pyrophosphate.

Effect of L(+)-tartrate on liver enzymes in rats fed with calculi producing diet

The influence of L(+)-tartrate on liver cell constituents were investigated, during experimental stone formation in rats. A significant increase in the liver glycollate oxidase activity was observed in the calculogenic group. Tartrate administration had a considerable lowering effect on the liver glycollate oxidase activity and it also lowered the urinary excretion pattern of oxalate. The rats fed with calculi producing diet also exhibited moderately enhanced LDH, (Na+, K+)—and (Ca2+)—ATPase activities. The activities of inorganic pyrophosphatase and aminotransferases were slightly reduced. Acid phosphatase activity was significantly reduced with tartrate treatment. The use of tartrate in urolithiasis as a prophylactic measure to prevent recurrence may be beneficial.

Inorganic pyrophosphatase of Trichomonas vaginalis

Trichomonas vaginalis homogenates were found to have an acid inorganic pyrophosphatase activity with a specific activity at pH 4.8 of about 7 nmol min-1 (mg protein)-1. This activity was localized predominantly in hydrolase containing particles, showed structure-bound latency and was tightly membrane-bound. The activity showed no magnesium dependence, a Km of about 2 mM inorganic pyrophosphate, a pH optimum of 5.2 and was inhibited by fluoride at millimolar levels. No evidence was obtained for the existence of a cytosolic magnesium-dependent activity but the existence of a low level of magnesium-independent cytosolic activity cannot be excluded. These observations correlate with the importance of cytosolic inorganic pyrophosphate in the carbohydrate catabolism in T. vaginalis.

Senescence of rice leaves XXIII. Changes of Zn 2+-dependent acid inorganic pyrophosphatase

The changes of Zn 2+ -dependent acid inorganic pyrophosphatase (Zn 2+ -IPPase) activity in detached and intact leaves of rice seedlings ( Oryza sativa L. cv. Taichung Native 1) during senescence were investigated. Zn 2+ -IPPase activities in freshly excised leaves and excised leaves that had been incubated in darkness for 4 days were monitored with a pH optimum of 6.2. Calcium significantly inhibited Zn 2+ -IPPase activity. Zn 2+ -IPPase was present in detached and intact leaves throughout senescence. There seems to be a direct correlation between senescence and decrease of Zn 2+ -IPPase activity in detached leaves, but not in intact leaves. It seems unlikely that Zn 2+ -IPPase and Mg 2+ -IPPase activities are due to the same enzyme protein.

Purification and characterization of two proteins with inorganic pyrophosphatase activity from [formula omitted]: Rubrerythrin and a new, highly active, enzyme

The inorganic pyrophosphatase activity of a soluble extract from the strict anaerobe, sulfate-reducing, Desulfovibrio vulgaris , is readily resolved into two peaks. After purification, two active proteins with very dissimilar properties are obtained. One is the non-heme iron-containing rubrerythrin, with a specific activity of 350 pyrophosphate hydrolyzed, min −1, mg protein −1. The other, a protein of Mr = 39,000, with a specific activity of 12,000.

Diphosphatase Related to Lipid Metabolism and Gluconeogenesis in Cucumber Cotyledons: Localization in Plasma Membrane and Etioplasts but not in Glyoxysomes

Abstract Diphosphatase (inorganic pyrophosphatase) activity was localized within compartments of cotyledons of germinating cucumber seeds during the stage of maximal conversion of fat into carbohydrates. At this stage, almost 2 mol pyrophosphate are produced during the formation of one mole sucrose from 0.28 mol triglyceride. When organelles of the 2000 x g pellet or 10,000 x g pellet were separated by density gradient centrifugation and gradient flotation, the diphosphatase activity paralleled the profiles of markers of the plastid stroma but was virtually absent from the glyoxysomes. Within the fraction of small vesicles and membranes, diphosphatase was attributed to the plasma membrane. The main portion of diphosphatase, contained in the plastids, was partially purified by chromatography on anion exchange resin and molecular sieving, leading to a 75-fold enrichment compared to the stroma fraction. Trace amounts of diphosphatase observed in the glyoxysomal fraction were analyzed in the same way. Comparison of the isoelectric points and the activity profile at different pH values and the inhibitory effect of the various cations indicated that the trace amounts of diphosphatase activity in the glyoxysome fraction represented contaminations originating from the plastids. The plasma membrane form of diphosphatase is an integral membrane protein which was solubilized with octylglucoside. It was shown to differ from the plastid form in pH optimum and sensitivity towards bivalent cations. All forms of diphosphatase were clearly distinguished from other phosphohydrolytic activities.

Regulation of enzymatic activity by kinase-free phosphorylation

Inorganic pyrophosphatase activity is regulated by kinase-free phosphorylation. Phosphorylation by ATP activates the enzyme and that by P i eliminates the activating effect of ATP. Acyl phosphate formed in the reaction with ATP is a covalent intermediate of ATP hydrolysis in the regulatory site of the enzyme. Therefore, kinase-free phosphorylation shares the properties of both regulatory and catalytic phosphorylations.

The effects of cadmium on the p-nitrophenyl phosphatase and inorganic pyrophosphatase activities of alkaline phosphatase in developing hamster tooth germs

p-Nitrophenyl phosphatase ( p-NPP-ase) and inorganic pyrophosphatase (PP i-ase) activities originate from the same alkaline phosphatase enzyme. Only the PP i-ase site has zinc (Zn 2+) as a cofactor. Cadmium (Cd 2+) in concentrations from 10 −5 mol/l upwards inhibited the PP i-ase activity, but did not inhibit the p-NPP-ase activity at all. In mineralizing tooth germs Cd 2+ may replace Zn 2+, thereby changing the specific stereoconfiguration in the active centre needed for PP i-ase activity, but not that for p-NPP-ase activity.

Inorganic pyrophosphate synthesis during methanogenesis from methylcoenzyme M by cell‐free extracts of Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum (strain ΔH)

Cell-free extracts of Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum (strain delta H) were found to contain high concentrations of inorganic pyrophosphate (up to 40 mM). The compound was accumulated by the organism despite high activity of inorganic pyrophosphatase which was found to be present in the cell extracts (1-2 mumol min-1 mg protein-1). This activity was strongly inhibited at [PPi] greater than 1.0 mM. It was demonstrated that PPi synthesis occurred during methylcoenzyme M reduction under hydrogen atmosphere: in the first stage of the reaction for each mole of methane formed one mole of PPi was produced. Inhibition of the methylcoenzyme M reduction by 2-bromoethanesulfonic acid or by high concentrations (greater than 3 microM) of tetrachlorosalicylanilide also inhibited PPi synthesis. In contrast, low concentrations (1.3 microM) of tetrachlorosalicylanilide only inhibited PPi synthesis to the same extent as the methylcoenzyme M reduction was affected. In a later stage of the methylcoenzyme M reduction, PPi synthesis dropped and a second, as yet unidentified, unstable compound was formed. Synthesis of this compound also paralleled methane formation in a stoichiometric way and was affected by the inhibiting substances in a similar way as PPi synthesis.

Inorganic pyrophosphatase activity in cell-free extracts of Ureaplasma urealyticum.

Cell-free extracts of Ureaplasma urealyticum strains Pi and T960 (CX8) (serovars 6 and 8, respectively) metabolized inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi). The inorganic pyrophosphatase (PPase) activity was greatest with Mg2+ as cofactor, but Mn2+ acted as a poor substitute. The PPases of the two serovars differed electrophoretically. Although the highest PPase activity was obtained using PPi as substrate, the enzyme could also utilize to a lesser degree both tripolyphosphate and trimetaphosphate. No activity was observed against beta-glycerophosphate, naphthyl phosphates, glucose 6-phosphate, fructose 6-phosphate, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, thiamin pyrophosphate, phosphoribosylpyrophosphate, ADP or ATP. Acid- and alkaline-phosphatase activities were observed with naphthyl phosphates as substrates, but they did not have the same electrophoretic mobility on gels as the PPase activity. U. urealyticum PPase was inhibited by oxidized glutathione, 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide, phenylglyoxal, p-chloromercuribenzoic acid, Mn2+, Zn2+ and Ca2+. Neither reduced glutathione, L-cysteine nor Co2+ enhanced activity. PPi can act as a substrate or regulator of certain metabolic reactions, and PPi metabolism can function in bacterial bioenergetics; its role in ureaplasmas is presently unclear.

Nucleotide phosphotransferase, nucleotide kinase and inorganic pyrophosphatase activities of killer virions of yeast.

The intracellular killer virions of yeast co-purify with an RNA polymerase activity which catalyzes the synthesis of full-length transcripts of the two viral genomic double-stranded RNA segments. This polymerase utilizes ribonucleoside diphosphates or triphosphates as substrates. The virions have other associated nucleotide-metabolizing enzyme activities, including nucleoside diphosphate kinase, adenosine monophosphate kinase, and nucleoside triphosphate phosphotransferase, an activity which catalyzes the exchange of gamma-phosphate from any ribonucleoside triphosphate with any ribonucleoside or deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate. The purified virions also contain an inorganic pyrophosphatase activity. These enzymes may allow the virus to utilize nucleotide pools distinct from those utilized in host cell transcription.

Glutamic acid-149 is important for enzymatic activity of yeast inorganic pyrophosphatase.

Modification of Saccharomyces cerevisiae inorganic pyrophosphatase (PPase) with 1-ethyl-3-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]carbodiimide is known to lead to a loss of enzymatic activity, the rate of which is decreased in the presence of ligands binding to the active site [Cooperman, B. S., & Chiu, N. Y. (1973) Biochemistry 12, 1676-1682; Heitman, P., & Uhlig, H. J. (1974) Acta Biol. Med. Ger. 32, 565-594]. In this work we show that, when such inactivation is carried out in the presence of [14C]glycine ethyl ester (GEE), GEE is covalently incorporated into PPase, incorporation into the most highly labeled tryptic peptide is site-specific, as evidenced by the reduction of such incorporation in the presence of the active site ligands Zn2+ and Pi, the extent of formation of this specifically labeled peptide correlates with the fractional loss of PPase activity, and the specifically labeled peptide corresponds to residues 145-153 and the position of incorporation within this peptide is Glu-149. The significance of our findings for the location of the active site and for the catalytic mechanism of PPase is briefly considered in the light of the 3-A X-ray crystallographic structure of Arutyunyun and his colleagues [Arutyunyun, E. G., et al. (1981) Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR 258, 1481-1485; Kuranova, I. P., et al. (1983) Bioorg. Khim. 9, 1611-1919; Terzyan, S. S., et al. (1984) Bioorg. Khim. 10, 1469-1482].

Tripolyphosphate is an alternative phosphodonor of the selective protein phosphorylation of liver microsomal membrane.

Two proteins (Mr = 145,000 and Mr = 130,000) of rat liver microsomal membrane are selectively phosphorylated in a characteristic biphasic time course by incubating the membrane with [gamma-32P]ATP in the absence of exogenously added Mg2+ (Lam, K. S., and Kasper, C. B. (1980) J. Biol. Chem. 255, 259-266). This endogenous phosphorylation system was solubilized with Triton X-100 and fractionated by chromatography with DEAE-cellulose and Sepharose 4B. The resulting preparation lacked both ATPase and inorganic pyrophosphatase activity, but retained its original character: the first phase occurred in the presence of ATP but the second phase was initiated after its depletion, implying the presence of a phosphodonor other than ATP. The putative phosphoryl donors were demonstrated to be ATP in the first phase and in the second phase tripolyphosphate, which is present in [gamma-32P]ATP preparations as a radioactive impurity. The latter conclusion was corroborated by results showing that tripolyphosphate purified from a commercial [gamma-32P]ATP and chemically synthesized [32P] tripolyphosphate were both capable of phosphorylating the two proteins and that the unlabeled tripolyphosphate competed effectively against the phosphodonor. A rapid dephosphorylation was observed in both phases upon removal of substrates during the reaction, indicating that there is a continuous turnover of the phosphoryl groups being transferred to the proteins. The second phase of phosphorylation maintained by the tripolyphosphate was shown to be reversibly inhibited by micromolar levels of ATP, ADP, and nonhydrolyzable analogues of these compounds. The implications of this unique phosphorylation system are discussed.

Salivary apyrase of Rhodnius prolixus. Kinetics and purification.

The salivary apyrase activity of the blood-sucking bug Rhodnius prolixus was found to reside in a true apyrase (ATP diphosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.5) enzyme. The crude saliva was devoid of 5'-nucleotidase, inorganic pyrophosphatase, phosphatase and adenylate kinase activities. ATP hydrolysis proceeded directly to AMP and Pi without significant accumulation of ADP. Km values for ATP and ADP hydrolysis were 229 and 291 microM respectively. Ki values for ATP and ADP inhibition of ADP and ATP hydrolysis were not different from the Km values, and these experiments indicated competitive inhibition. Activities were purified 126-fold by combined gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography procedures with a yield of 63%. The purified enzyme displayed specific activities of 580 and 335 mumol of Pi released/min per mg of protein for ATP and ADP hydrolysis respectively. The action of the purified enzyme on several phosphate esters indicates that Rhodnius apyrase is a non-specific nucleosidetriphosphate diphosphohydrolase.

An assay for inorganic pyrophosphate in chondrocyte culture using anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography and radioactive orthophosphate labeling

A method is described for determination of inorganic pyrophosphate ( PP i) in cell culture medium and in rabbit articular chondrocytes grown in the presence of radioactive orthophosphate ( 32 P i). Intra- and extracellular 32 PP i formed was measured using high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) separation of the PP i from orthophosphate ( P i) and other phosphate-containing compounds. The chromatographic separation on a weak anion-exchange column is based on the extent to which various phosphate compounds form complexes with Mg 2+ at low pH and the rate at which such formation occurs. These complexes are eluted more readily than the uncomplexed compounds. Best results were obtained using a simultaneous gradient of Mg 2+ ions and ionic strength. In this case separation of small amounts of PP i from a large excess of P i was possible without prior removal of P i or extraction of the PP i fraction. The assay is also useful for measurement of inorganic pyrophosphatase activity. The sensitivity of the assay depends on the specific activity of the added 32 P i and on the culture conditions, but is comparable with the most sensitive of the enzymatic assays. Sample preparation, particularly deproteinization, proved to be of importance. The losses of PP i which occur during procedures of this sort due to hydrolysis and coprecipitation were quantitated.

Inorganic pyrophosphatase activity of purified bovine pulp alkaline phosphatase at physiological pH.

At physiological pH, the hydrolytic activity of purified bovine pulp alkaline phosphatase toward phosphorus compounds was observed to be in the order of inorganic pyrophosphate greater than beta-glycerophosphate greater than phosphorylcholine greater than p-nitrophenylphosphate greater than glucose-6-phosphate. Optimum pH of the enzyme toward inorganic pyrophosphate was shown to be 8.5, with around 60% of the activity at pH 7.5. The activity was increased by the addition of Mg2+, but a different pattern of activation was observed between pH 7.5 and 8.5.

Adenosine triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase and neutral inorganic pyrophosphatase in pathologic joint fluids. Elevated pyrophosphohydrolase in calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease.

Adenosine triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase (ATPPPH) and neutral inorganic pyrophosphatase activities were assayed in synovial fluids (SF) from 37 patients with a variety of arthropathies. ATPPPH activity was detected in all fluids, but was highest in patients with chronic chondrocalcinosis; its activity in patients with osteoarthritis was higher than that in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, gout, or pseudogout. ATPPPH activity correlated positively with SF pyrophosphate concentration and negatively with SF white blood cell count. Pyrophosphatase activity did not correlate with diagnosis, pyrophosphate level, or white blood cell count.

Isolation and subunit composition of membrane inoragnic pyrophosphatase from rat-liver mitochondria

The activity of inorganic pyrophosphatase (pyrophosphate phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.1) extracted from rat-liver mitochondria with sodium cholate is distributed between three enzyme forms (I–III) which originally reside in the matrix (I) or the inner membrane (II and III). The three forms of pyrophosphatase were separated by means of hydroxyapatite chromatography. The M r values for enzymes I–III, were 60 000, 120 000 and 210 000, respectively. Membrane pyrophosphatase II, which predominates, was purified to homogeneity. Its molecule consists of two subunits with M r of 28 000 and 35 000 giving different peptide maps upon BrCN cleavage and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The results suggest that pyrophosphatase II may represent a catalytic part of the membrane pyrophosphatase of these mitochondria.

Toxic proteins of snakes and scorpions

A chromatographic method utilising Sephadex C-25 as an ion exchanger and molecular sieve permits both small and large scale separation of the constituents of snake venom. Cross-contamination of peak materials is diminished when Triton X-100 is incorporated in eluting buffers. Two long neurotoxins and two cardiotoxins isolated fromNaja naja (cobra) venom differ from other such toxins, isolated earlier, in their amino acid composition. Inorganic pyrophosphatase activity is found in snake venoms, and the more basic of the two cardiotoxins (cardiotoxin II) of cobra venom possesses intrinsic enzyme activity. The properties of the latter toxin as an enzyme have been studied. Enzyme activity does not seem essential for the protein to display cardiotoxicity. Cardiotoxin II, as isolated, contains four magnesium atoms per mole, which do not appear to be essential for its function. At least two atoms of magnesium per mole are required for the pyrophosphatase action.

Characterization of the vacuolar ATPase activity of the crassulacean-acid-metabolism plant Kalanchoë daigremontiana. Receptor modulating.

Plants performing crassulacean acid metabolism show a large nocturnal accumulation of malic acid in the vacuole of the photosynthetic cells. It has been postulated that an H+-translocating ATPase energizes the transport of malic acid across the tonoplast into the vacuole. In the present work we have characterized the ATPase activity associated with vacuoles of the crassulacean-acid-metabolism plant Kalanchoë daigremontiana and compare it with other phosphohydrolases. Vacuoles were isolated by polybase-induced lysis of mesophyll-cell protoplasts. The vacuoles had a high activity of unspecific acid phosphatase (pH optimum 5.3). The acid phosphatase was strongly inhibited by ammonium molybdate (with 50% inhibition at about 0.5 mmol m-3), but was not completely inhibited even at much higher ammonium-molybdate concentrations. In contrast, the vacuolar ATPase activity, assayed in the presence of 100 mmol m-3 ammonium molybdate, had a pH optimum of 8.0. ATP was the preferred substrate, but GTP, ITP and ADP were hydrolyzed at appreciable rates. The mean ATPase activity at pH 8.0 was 14.5 nmol h-1 (10(3) vacuoles)-1, an average 13% of which was attributable to residual acid-phosphatase activity. Inorganic-pyrophosphatase activity could not be demonstrated unambiguously. The vacuolar ATPase activity was Mg2+-dependent, had an apparent Km for MgATP2- of 0.31 mol m-3, and was 32% stimulated by 50 mol m-3 KCl. Of the inhibitors tested, oligomycin slightly inhibited the vacuolar ATPase activity and diethylstilbestrol and NO-3 were both markedly inhibitory. Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and tributyltin were also strongly inhibitory. Tributyltin caused a 50% inhibition at about 0.3 mmol m-3. This is taken as evidence that the vacuolar ATPase might function as an H+-translocating ATPase. It is shown that the measured activity of the vacuolar ATPase would be of the right order to account for the observed rates of nocturnal malic-acid accumulation in K. daigremontiana.