Nucleotide Specificity Research Articles

Structural prototypes for an extended family of flavoprotein reductases: Comparison of phthalate dioxygenase reductase with ferredoxin reductase and ferredoxin

The structure of phthalate dioxygenase reductase (PDR), a monomeric iron-sulfur flavoprotein that delivers electrons from NADH to phthalate dioxygenase, is compared to ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase (FNR) and ferredoxin, the proteins that reduce NADP+ in the final reaction of photosystem I. The folding patterns of the domains that bind flavin, NAD(P), and [2Fe-2S] are very similar in the two systems. Alignment of the X-ray structures of PDR and FNR substantiates the assignment of features that characterize a family of flavoprotein reductases whose members include cytochrome P-450 reductase, sulfite and nitrate reductases, and nitric oxide synthase. Hallmarks of this subfamily of flavoproteins, here termed the FNR family, are an antiparallel beta-barrel that binds the flavin prosthetic group, and a characteristic variant of the classic pyridine nucleotide-binding fold. Despite the similarities between FNR and PDR, attempts to model the structure of a dissociable FNR:ferredoxin complex by analogy with PDR reveal features that are at odds with chemical crosslinking studies (Zanetti, G., Morelli, D., Ronchi, S., Negri, A., Aliverti, A., & Curti, B., 1988, Biochemistry 27, 3753-3759). Differences in the binding sites for flavin and pyridine nucleotides determine the nucleotide specificities of FNR and PDR. The specificity of FNR for NADP+ arises primarily from substitutions in FNR that favor interactions with the 2' phosphate of NADP+. Variations in the conformation and sequences of the loop adjoining the flavin phosphate affect the selectivity for FAD versus FMN. The midpoint potentials for reduction of the flavin and [2Fe-2S] groups in PDR are higher than their counterparts in FNR and spinach ferredoxin, by about 120 mV and 260 mV, respectively. Comparisons of the structure of PDR with spinach FNR and with ferredoxin from Anabaena 7120, along with calculations of electrostatic potentials, suggest that local interactions, including hydrogen bonds, are the dominant contributors to these differences in potential.

3-D contour diagrams for displaying free energy changes of ATP hydrolysis

A procedure in which three sequential enzymes of cholesterol biosynthesis, mevalonate kinase (ATP:(R)-mevalonate) 5-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.36), phosphomevalonate kinase (ATP:(R)-5-phosphomevalonate) phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.4.2) and mevalonate-5-diphosphate decarboxylase (ATP:(R)-5-diphosphomevalonate) carboxy-lyase (dehydrating), EC 4.1.1.33), from pig liver, could be purified in the one operation is described. Mevalonate kinase and phosphomevalonate kinase were utilized for the enzymic synthesis of mevalonate 5-diphosphate (both 1-14C-labelled and unlabelled), the substrate for mevalonate-5-diphosphate decarboxylase, using excess free ATP4−). A radioactive assay for the enzyme, based on the release of 14CO2 from [1-14C]mevalonate-5-diphosphate, was developed. The assay allowed reassessment of the metal and nucleotide specificity of the decarboxylase. ATP could be partially replaced by GTP and ITP, but no activity was observed with CTP, UTP or TTP. Apparent activation of the enzyme by ATP4− was observed as found for mevalonate kinase (C.S. Lee and W.J. O'Sullivan (1983) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 747, 215–224) and phosphomevalonate kinase (C.S. Lee and W.J. O'Sullivan (1985) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 839, 83–89). The presence of 1 mM excess free ATP4−, above that complexed as the substrate MgATP2−, decreased the Km for MgATP2− from 0.45 mM to 0.15 mM. MgADP− was shown to act as a competitive inhibitor with respect to MgATP2−.

Refolding of yeast enolase in the presence of the chaperonin GroE. The nucleotide specificity of GroE and the role of GroES.

GroE, a chaperonin protein from Escherichia coli, facilitates the folding of numerous proteins by binding to protein-folding intermediates and suppressing aggregation (Gething, M., and Sambrook, J. (1992) Nature 355, 33-45). The specific mechanism of GroE-facilitated folding involves numerous interactions between GroEL, GroES, the refolding protein, and ATP. In the present study, we have probed the molecular characteristics of the refolding reaction of yeast enolase in the presence of GroE. We have found that (a) GroEL interacts specifically with enolase during the folding reaction, resulting in folding arrest; (b) the release of partially folded molecules of enolase from the GroE complex may be mediated by the addition of nucleotides other than ATP (ADP, CTP, and UTP); and (c) GroES is required for enolase to be released from GroEL in the presence of ADP, CTP, and UTP but not required in the presence of ATP. The nucleotide binding mechanism of GroEL and the specific role of GroES during the refolding reaction are discussed in detail.

ATP-induced potentiation of G-protein-dependent phospholipase D activity in a cell-free system from U937 promonocytic leukocytes.

Although G-protein- and protein kinase-mediated pathways have been reported to activate phospholipase D (PLD) following cell stimulation, the relation between these activation pathways and the mechanistic details of lipase stimulation remain unknown. We have studied activation of PLD by GTP gamma S (guanosine 5'-O-(thiotriphosphate)), and its potentiation by ATP, in a cell-free system derived from U937 human promonocytic leukocytes. ATP, in the micromolar to millimolar range, significantly augmented GTP gamma S-stimulated PLD activity (2.6-fold) and the combination resulted in a 15-fold increase in PLD activity compared to control. ATP alone did not stimulate PLD activity. Measurement of endogenous cytosolic ATP levels and nucleotide depletion with activated charcoal demonstrated that stimulation of PLD by GTP gamma S proceeds by both ATP-dependent and -independent pathways. Nucleotide specificity data suggested that the ATP-dependent pathway involves kinase activity. The tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor vanadate augmented PLD activity stimulated by GTP gamma S/ATP by 41% (p < 0.01). Conversely, the tyrosine kinase inhibitors genistein and herbimycin A decreased PLD activity stimulated by GTP gamma S/ATP by 58 and 35%, respectively (p < 0.001 for each). Mixing experiments utilizing subcellular fractions from herbimycin A-treated cells suggested that the relevant tyrosine kinase activity is membrane-associated. Despite its role in ATP-induced potentiation, tyrosine kinase activity is neither necessary nor sufficient for activation of PLD in this system. Protein kinase C (PKC) is unlikely to play a role in potentiation by ATP as PKC activity is not stimulated under conditions of maximal PLD activation.

Multifunctional RNA polymerase II initiation factor delta from rat liver. Relationship between carboxyl-terminal domain kinase, ATPase, and DNA helicase activities

RNA polymerase II initiation factor delta was previously purified from rat liver and found to possess a closely associated DNA-dependent ATPase activity and a protein kinase activity capable of phosphorylating the carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD) of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (Serizawa, H., Conaway, R.C., and Conaway, J.W. (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 89, 7476-7480). In addition, delta's human homolog, BTF2(TFIIH), was recently shown to have an associated DNA helicase activity (Schaeffer, L., Roy, R., Humbert, S., Moncollin, V., Vermeulen, W., Hoeijmakers, J.H.J., Chambon, P., and Egly, J.-M. (1993) Science 259, 58-63). Here we demonstrate that initiation factor delta also possesses DNA helicase activity. In addition, we compare the properties of delta's associated CTD kinase, ATPase, and DNA helicase activities. Whereas the enzymatic properties of ATPase and DNA helicase are similar and consistent with the possibility that they could function in ATP-dependent activation of the preinitiation complex, ATPase and CTD kinase exhibit significant differences in their nucleotide specificities, responses to DNA effectors, and sensitivities to inhibitors.

Archaebacterial Adenylate Kinase from the Thermoacidophile Sulfolobus acidocaldarius: Purification, Characterization, and Partial Sequence

For the first time an adenylate kinase of archaebacterial origin has been purified to homogeneity. The enzyme from the extreme thermoacidophile Sulfolobus acidocaidarius (DSM 639) has been found to consist of a 23-to 24-kDa polypeptide likely to form a dimer under in vitro conditions. Its temperature optimum is about 90°C; the pH optimum is 5.3-6.0, depending on the observed direction of the reaction. The K M values for ATP, AMP, and ADP are almost equal (0.6-0.7 mM). The enzyme is absolutely specific for AMP as phosphate aceptor but has a broad specificity for nucleotide triphisphates as donors. It requires divalent metals for activity with Mg 2+ > Mn 2+ > Ca 2+ > Zn 2+ in the order of decreasing potency. Distinct from mammalian enzymes the sensitivity toward the typical inhibitor diadenosine-5,5′-pentaphosphate is extremely low; >300 μM is required for 50% inhibition, suggesting an altered distance between the AMP-/ATPbinding sites. The thermostability of the protein decreases sharply at room temperatures above 90°C. It exhibits unusual stability, however, toward acidic pH. A 41-residue N-terminal sequence has been determined which allowed us to construct probes for the genetic approach. From residue 8-15 the protein contains the typical glycine rich P-loop as well as another conserved sequence stretch 21 residues further. Isolation of the gene is in progress.

Activity of purified NIFA, a transcriptional activator of nitrogen fixation genes.

The NIFA protein activates transcription of nitrogen fixation (nif) operons by the sigma 54-holoenzyme form of RNA polymerase. We purified active NIFA from Klebsiella pneumoniae in the form of a maltose-binding protein (MBP)-NIFA fusion; proteolytic release of MBP yielded inactive and insoluble NIFA. MBP-NIFA activated transcription from the nifHDK promoter in a purified transcription system. Like the related transcriptional activator NTRC, MBP-NIFA catalyzed the ATP-dependent isomerization of closed complexes between sigma 54-holoenzyme and a promoter to open complexes. MBP-NIFA had a broader nucleotide specificity than NTRC, being able to utilize pyrimidine in addition to purine nucleoside triphosphates. Both MBP-NIFA and a purified C-terminal fragment of NIFA bound to the upstream activation sequence for the nifHDK promoter, as assessed by DNAse I footprinting. When assays were performed at 37 degrees C instead of the usual 30 degrees C, transcriptional activation, open complex formation, and DNA binding by MBP-NIFA were all abolished, consistent with the known heat lability of NIFA. However, the purified C-terminal fragment of NIFA still bound the upstream activation sequence at 37 degrees C, indicating that the function of the helix-turn-helix DNA-binding motif is not inherently heat-labile.

Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase activity associated with the 26 S protease complex.

In the ubiquitin (Ub) system for protein degradation, proteins ligated to Ub are degraded by an ATP-dependent 26 S protease complex. During or after proteolysis, free Ub is regenerated, but the mechanisms of Ub release remained unknown. It was previously observed that free Ub is released from a Ub-histone conjugate by an ATP-dependent activity present in partially purified preparations of 26 S complex, but the relationship of this activity to protein breakdown was not established. We now show that purified preparations of 26 S complex release free Ub from conjugates that are good substrates for proteolysis, such as conjugates of lysozyme with reductively methylated Ub. The activity that releases free Ub co-migrates with the 26 S protease complex in glycerol density gradient centrifugation, indicating that the responsible Ub C-terminal hydrolase is an integral part of the 26 S complex. Complex-associated hydrolase can also act on adducts in which a single Ub unit is attached to protein, such as a bacterially expressed construct in which the C terminus of Ub is fused to the alpha-NH2 group of a fragment of Ub that contains 60% of its N-terminal region. In all cases, Ub release is insensitive to Ub-aldehyde (an inhibitor of some Ub C-terminal hydrolases) and is stimulated by MgATP. ATP cannot be replaced by beta, gamma-nonhydrolyzable analogs, but it can be substituted by CTP and GTP. The nucleotide specificity of Ub release by the 26 S complex is similar to that observed previously for conjugate proteolysis and nucleotide hydrolysis. It thus seems that the activity of the Ub C-terminal hydrolase associated with the 26 S complex is tightly coupled to the proteolytic action of the complex, and it may have a role in the release of Ub from linkage to amino groups of the protein substrate at the final stages of the Ub proteolytic pathway.

Interaction with arginine 597 of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 oxidoreductase is a primary source of the uniform binding energy used to discriminate between NADPH and NADH.

Site-directed mutagenesis has been used in conjunction with pH and alternate substrate/inhibitor studies to characterize the interactions between NADPH-cytochrome P-450 oxidoreductase (P-450R) and the 2'-phosphate of NADP(H) that provide P-450R with its strong nicotinamide nucleotide specificity. It is known that the 2'-phosphate of NADP(H) is bound to P-450R as the dianion and that interactions between it and residues on P-450R provide 5 kcal/mol of essentially uniform binding energy (preceding paper in this issue). In order to probe these interactions further, Arg597 of P-450R, which is homologous to Arg235 of ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase that forms a salt bridge with the 2'-phosphate of 2'-phospho-AMP in the crystal structure of that complex [Karplus, P. A., Daniels, M. J., & Herriott, J. R. (1991) Science 251, 60], was mutated to methionine. The mutant protein, P-450R (R597M), does not appear to have a grossly perturbed tertiary structure on the basis of the observation of similar 31P-NMR chemical shifts for FAD (pyrophosphate) bound to it and wild-type (WT) P-450R, although it is more unstable to urea denaturation. P-450R (R597M) has a Km for NADPH that is 150 times that of P-450R (WT) and a Ki for NADP+ that is 240 times that of P-450R (WT). In contrast, the R597M mutation has only a modest effect on the Km for NADH (0.8 WT) and the Ki for NAD+ (2.9 WT), indicating that Arg597 must have been interacting specifically with the 2'-phosphate of NADP(H). The R597M mutation has relatively little effect on kcat for NADPH (1.2 WT) or NADH (0.6 WT), indicating that the mutation is affecting ground and transition states to essentially the same degree, by removing 3 kcal/mol of uniform binding energy. The NADP+ pKi profile for P-450R (R597M) shows a pKa of 5.78 for the 2'-phosphate of NADP+, which is bound to P-450R (R597M) as the dianion, but the pKa of 9.5 for the preferentially protonated enzymic group observed in the P-450R (WT) profile is no longer present. It is argued then that the 2'-phosphate binding pocket of P-450R (WT) has a high positive charge density (> + 2) and that Arg597, which is in this binding pocket, has a highly perturbed pKa of 9.5. Finally, a general theoretical treatment of the thermodynamic consequences of individual and combined perturbations to complementary interacting groups on enzyme and substrate is presented (see Appendix).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

A conformational rearrangement in the spliceosome is dependent on PRP16 and ATP hydrolysis.

PRP16 is an RNA-dependent ATPase that is required for the second catalytic step of pre-mRNA splicing. We have previously shown that PRP16 protein binds stably to spliceosomes that have completed 5' splice site cleavage and lariat formation. PRP16 then promotes 3' splice site cleavage and exon ligation in an ATP-dependent fashion. We now demonstrate that PRP16 can hydrolyse all nucleoside triphosphates and corresponding deoxynucleotides; complementation of the second catalytic step shows the same broad nucleotide specificity. These results link the nucleotide requirement of step 2 to PRP16. Interestingly, we find that PRP16 promotes a conformational change in the spliceosome which results in the protection of the 3' splice site against oligo-directed RNase H cleavage. This structural rearrangement is dependent on the hydrolysis of ATP, since ATP gamma S, a competitive inhibitor of the PRP16 ATPase activity, does not promote the protection of the 3' splice site and formation of mRNA.

The α3β3 and α1β1 Complexes of ATP Synthase

Two catalytic structures of H(+)-motive ATP synthase (Fig. 1), the alpha 3 beta 3 oligomer (M(r) = 319,581) and alpha 1 beta 1 promoter (M(r) = 106,527) (Fig. 2), were isolated using high pressure liquid chromatography (Fig. 3) and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (Figs. 4 and 5). These were reconstituted from the alpha and beta subunits of thermophilic F1 (TF1), and the alpha 3 beta 3 oligomer was also crystallized. Common to both F1 and the alpha 3 beta 3 oligomer were the nucleotide specificity, the two Km values, the presence of protomer-oligomer activities, and the one-hit--one-kill phenomenon. A synchrotron experiment on the ATP hydrolysis cycle revealed the dynamic shrinkage and expansion of F1(44) that correspond, respectively, to the ATP-induced association and ADP-induced dissociation of the alpha 3 beta 3 oligomer. The oligomer, like mitochondrial F1 and TF1, exhibited two kinds of ATPase activity: one was cooperative and was inhibited by only one inhibitor per hexamer, and the other was inhibited by three inhibitors per hexamer.

Structural consequences of sequence patterns in the fingerprint region of the nucleotide binding fold: Implications for nucleotide specificity

The dinucleotide binding βαβ motif in the crystal structures of seven different enzymes has been analysed in terms of their three-dimensional structures and primary sequences. We have identified that the hydrogen bonding of the adenine ribose to the glycine-rich turn containing the fingerprint sequence GXGXXG/A occurs via a direct or indirect mechanism, depending on the nature of the fingerprint sequence but independent of coenzyme specificity. The major determinant of the type of interaction is the nature of the residue occupying the last position of the above fingerprint. In the NAD +-linked dehydrogenases, an acidic residue is commonly used to form important hydrogen bonds to the adenine ribose hydroxyls and, hitherto, this residue has been thought to be an indicator of NAD + specificity. However, on the basis of the three-dimensional structure of the NAD +-linked glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) from Clostridium symbiosum we have demonstrated that this residue is not a universal requirement for the construction of an NAD + binding site. Furthermore, considerations of sequence homology unambiguously identify an equivalent acidic residue in both NADP + and dual specificity glutamate dehydrogenases. The conservation of this residue in these enzymes, coupled to its close proximity to the 2′ phosphate implied by the necessary similarity in three-dimensional structure to C. symbiosum GDH, implicates this residue in the recognition of the 2′ phosphate either via water-mediated or direct hydrogen-bonding schemes. Analysis of the latter has led us to suggest that two patterns of recognition for the 2′ phosphate group of NADP +-binding enzymes may exist, which are distinguished by the ionization state of the 2′ phosphate.

Asn177 in Escherichia coli thymidylate synthase is a major determinant of pyrimidine specificity.

The substrate preference of recombinant Escherichia coli thymidylate synthase (TS) has been altered from 2'-deoxyuridylate (dUMP) to 2'-deoxycytidylate (dCMP) by site-directed mutagenesis of the codon for Asn177, which was changed to aspartic acid. The side-chain amide of Asn177 forms hydrogen bonds with O4 and N3 of dUMP bound to the crystalline enzyme [Montfort, W. R., Perry, K. M., Fauman, E. B., Finer-Moore, J. S., Maley, G. F., Hardy, L., Maley, F. & Stroud, R. M. (1990) Biochemistry 29, 6964-6977]. This Asn is invariant in all natural sequences for TS known. The values of kcat for the mutant enzyme, TS(N177D), with dCMP and dUMP are, respectively, 0.09 and 0.002 times the value of kcat of wild-type TS with dUMP as substrate. TS(N177D) turns over dCMP at 35 times its rate of dUMP turnover, whereas wild-type TS turns over dCMP at < 10(-5) of its rate of dUMP turnover. Thus Asn177 is a major determinant of the pyrimidine nucleotide specificity of TS. The mutant enzyme, like wild-type TS, forms a covalent complex with 5-fluoro-dUMP in the presence of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate. TS(N177D) also has a newly acquired ability to be transiently inactivated by dUMP. This time-dependent inactivation requires the presence of methylenetetrahydrofolate and may be due to the accumulation of the enzyme in the form of a catalytic intermediate. The likely mechanistic basis for discrimination by TS between dUMP and dCMP is their differing requirements for charge stabilization during covalent catalysis.

GTP-stimulated carboxyl methylation of a soluble form of the GTP-binding protein G25K in brain.

The GTP-stimulated carboxyl methylation of an M(r) 23,000 protein was investigated in brain homogenates. An M(r) 23,000 methylation substrate was purified from brain homogenates, using an assay for protein methyl-acceptor activity in the presence of a membrane-bound methyltransferase. The M(r) 23,000 methyl-acceptor protein was identified as a soluble form of the GTP-binding protein G25K, based on antibody reactivity and amino acid sequences of tryptic peptides. Two forms of methylated G25K, differing in isoelectric points, were isolated. The soluble G25K could be methylated with a stoichiometry approaching 1 mol of methyl group per mol of G25K, and guanosine 5'-O-3-(thio)triphosphate stimulated the methylation by decreasing the Km for G25K from 0.79 to 0.17 microM. After methylation, the G25K was associated with the membrane fraction. The soluble G25K was isolated as a heterodimer of G25K and an M(r) 28,000 protein. The G25K and M(r) 28,000 protein complex was dissociated with 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate detergent, and the subunits were separated by Mono-Q chromatography. The association of the M(r) 28,000 protein with G25K decreased the methylation of G25K and altered the guanine nucleotide specificity, indicating that the M(r) 28,000 protein may regulate the methylation of G25K.

A 68-kD GTP-binding protein associated with the T cell receptor complex.

The identity of the guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein) involved in T cell activation pathways remains unclear. We identified a 68-kD GTP-binding protein associated with the T cell receptor (TCR)/CD3 complex using immunoprecipitation and GTP-affinity labeling techniques. Proteins coimmunoprecipitated with the TCR/CD3 complex in digitonin lysate of a human leukemic T cell line, MOLT 16, were incubated with alpha-[32P]GTP and irradiated with ultraviolet rays to covalently link the labeled GTP to GTP-binding proteins. They were then analyzed by electrophoresis. The 68-kD protein exhibited nucleotide specificity for GTP-binding and was insensitive to cholera and pertussis toxins. The 68-kD GTP-binding protein could be coimmunoprecipitated with the TCR/CD3 complex but not with other surface molecules such as major histocompatibility complex class I and lymphocyte function associated-1, which do not cause rapid Ca2+ mobilization. These suggest that the 68-kD GTP-binding protein is specifically associated with the TCR/CD3 complex.

Dissociation and Reassembly of the Vacuolar H+-ATPase Complex from Oat Roots

Conditions for the dissociation and reassembly of the multi-subunit vacuolar proton-translocating ATPase (H(+)-ATPase) from oat roots (Avena sativa var Lang) were investigated. The peripheral sector of the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase is dissociated from the membrane integral sector by chaotropic anions. Membranes treated with 0.5 molar KI lost 90% of membrane-bound ATP hydrolytic activity; however, in the presence of Mg(2+) and ATP, only 0.1 molar KI was required for complete inactivation of ATPase and H(+)-pumping activities. A high-affinity binding site for MgATP (dissociation constant = 34 micromolar) was involved in this destabilization. The relative loss of ATPase activity induced by KI, KNO(3), or KCl was accompanied by a corresponding increase in the peripheral subunits in the supernatant, including the nucleotide-binding polypeptides of 70 and 60 kilodaltons. The order of effectiveness of the various ions in reducing ATPase activity was: KSCN > KI > KNO(3) > KBr > K-acetate > K(2)SO(4) > KCl. The specificity of nucleotides (ATP > GTP > ITP) in dissociating the ATPase is consistent with the participation of a catalytic site in destabilizing the enzyme complex. Following KI-induced dissociation of the H(+)-ATPase, the removal of KI and MgATP by dialysis resulted in restoration of activity. During dialysis for 24 hours, ATP hydrolysis activity increased to about 50% of the control. Hydrolysis of ATP was coupled to H(+) pumping as seen from the recovery of H(+) transport following 6 hours of dialysis. Loss of the 70 and 60 kilodalton subunits from the supernatant as probed by monoclonal antibodies further confirmed that the H(+)-ATPase complex had reassembled during dialysis. These data demonstrate that removal of KI and MgATP resulted in reassociation of the peripheral sector with the membrane integral sector of the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase to form a functional H(+) pump. The ability to dissociate and reassociate in vitro may have implications for the regulation, biosynthesis, and assembly of the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase in vivo.

Isolation and characterization of nuclear proteins that bind to T cell receptor V beta decamer motif.

TCR V beta promoter contains a highly conserved decamer homologous to cAMP response element (CRE). Recent studies have identified this CRE decamer as the dominant transcription-activating element within the TCR V beta promoter. We have isolated cDNA clones, TCR-ATF1 and TCR-ATF2, encoding DNA-binding proteins that recognize this CRE motif. The nucleotide sequence of TCR-ATF1 has not previously been reported, whereas that of TCR-ATF2 was homologous to CRE-BP1, ATF-2, and mXBP. Both TCR-ATF1 and TCR-ATF2 shared a conserved leucine zipper and DNA binding motif with other CRE-binding proteins. TCR-ATF1 and TCR-ATF2 were expressed in all cell lines examined and in mouse embryos as early as 12.5 days. Despite binding to the same CRE motif, TCR-ATF1 and TCR-ATF2 were different from CREB in the fine nucleotide specificity. TCR-ATF bound methylated CRE and CRE mutant M4 (4C----G) that were not recognized by CREB. Additionally, TCR-ATF1 weakly recognized two other single nucleotide mutants of V beta-CRE that were not bound by TCR-ATF2 and CREB. We have further demonstrated that TCR beta-chain expression was immediately activated by cAMP. Such induction is likely mediated through V beta-CRE sequence, because the inclusion of V beta-CRE in a vector with minimum promoter (pBLCAT2) conferred the cAMP inducibility of CAT activity.

P2 purinergic receptors and cellular calcium metabolism in A 431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells.

Stimulation of P2 purinergic receptors on A 431 human epidermoid cells with ATP rapidly mobilized intracellular calcium and increased cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i). Incorporation of 45Ca2+ was also stimulated by ATP at a rate less than that of [Ca2+]i elevation. Among a number of nucleosides, nucleotides, and their analogues examined, ATP, GTP, UTP, ADP, UDP, adenosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (ATP gamma S), and 5'-adenylylimidodiphosphate (AMP-PNP) increased both [Ca2+]i and 45Ca2+ influx, whereas others did not; these latter two analogues (ATP gamma S and AMP-PNP) blocked the ATP-stimulated 45Ca2+ influx only very slightly, suggesting that they are not prominent antagonists but rather agonists. A high correlation between [Ca2+]i increase and 45Ca2+ influx, in terms of nucleotide specificity, suggests the involvement of [Ca2+]i in influx of 45Ca2+. It appeared that [Ca2+]i elevated by several nucleotides or nucleotide analogues opened a calcium gate, thus allowing the influx of 45Ca2+. P2 purinergic receptors on these cells had such a characteristic that they were rapidly desensitized. These nucleotides or analogues also affected epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors by inhibiting the EGF binding. The differences of ligand or substrate specificities between P2 purinergic receptors and ecto-nucleotidases indicates that the two components are different molecules involved in different systems.

The cyclic nucleotide specificity of three cAMP receptors in Dictyostelium.

cAMP receptors mediate signal transduction pathways during development in Dictyostelium. A cAMP receptor (cAR1) has been cloned and sequenced (Klein, P., Sun, T. J., Saxe, C. L., Kimmel, A. R., Johnson, R. L., and Devreotes, P. N. (1988) Science 241, 1467-1472) and recently several other cAR genes have been identified (Saxe, C. L., Johnson, R., Devreotes, P. N., and Kimmel, A. R. (1991a) Dev. Genet. 12, 6-13; Saxe, C. L., Johnson, R. L., Devreotes, P. N., and Kimmel, A. R. (1991b) Genes Dev. 5, 1-8). We have expressed three receptor subtypes, cAR1, cAR2, and cAR3, in growing cells and have investigated their affinity and pharmacological specificity in a series of [3H]cAMP binding studies. In phosphate buffer, there were two affinity states of about 30 and 300 nM for cAR1 and 20 and 500 nM for cAR3 but no detectable affinity for cAR2. In the presence of 3 M ammonium sulfate, there was one affinity state of 4 nM for cAR1 and 11 nM for cAR2 and two affinity states of approximately 4 and 200 nM for cAR3. The relative affinities of 14 cyclic nucleotide derivatives were tested for each cAR in ammonium sulfate. These studies suggest a model (Van Haastert, P. J. M., and Kien, E. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 9636-9642) in which cAMP binds to all three receptor subtypes by maintaining hydrogen bond interactions at the N6 and O3' positions. Interactions at the exocyclic oxygens of cAMP varied between the receptors; cAR2 and cAR3 lacked a stereoselective interaction at the axial oxygen which was present in cAR1. The cleft, which binds the adenine ring of cAMP, was hydrophobic in cAR1 and cAR3 but relatively polar in cAR2. The analog specificity of cAR1 and cAR3 in phosphate buffer was similar to that measured in ammonium sulfate though the derivatives' relative affinity to cAMP was reduced. We conclude that these cAMP receptor subtypes can be distinguished by distinct pharmacological properties which will allow selective activation of each cAR during development.

Studies on phosphoribosylpyrophosphate synthetase from Giardia intestinalis

A substantial degree of purification, up to 3200-fold, with recoveries of 8–11% of phosphoribosylpyrophosphate (P-Rib-PP) synthetase from Giardia intestinalis extracts was achieved by the high resolution techniques of anion exchange chromatography and chromatofocusing columns on a fast protein liquid chromatography system. A Mono P chromatofocusing column gave rise to an enzyme peak eluting from the column at pH 4.5, indicating that the enzyme has an isoelectric point (pI) at approximately this value. The molecular weight of the enzyme was found to be 150,000 from a Sephacryl S-200 column. Sodium dodecyl sulphatepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified enzyme gave a single protein band with a subunit molecular weight of 38,000, indicating that the enzyme existed as a tetramer. The properties of G. intestinalis P-Rib-PP synthetase in terms of pH optimum, isoelectric point, subunit structure, phosphate requirement, metal and nucleotide specificity, appear to be very similar to those of the enzyme from other sources.