scholarly journals Regulatory kinetics of wheat-germ aspartate transcarbamoylase. Adaptation of the concerted model to account for complex kinetic effects of uridine 5′-monophosphate

1984 ◽  
Vol 221 (2) ◽  
pp. 281-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
R J Yon

The kinetic effects of the end-product inhibitor UMP on aspartate transcarbamoylase (EC 2.1.3.2) purified to homogeneity from wheat germ were studied. In agreement with an earlier study of the relatively crude enzyme [Yon (1972) Biochem. J. 128, 311-320], the half-saturating concentrations of UMP and of the first substrate, carbamoyl phosphate (but not of the second, L-aspartate), were found to be strongly interdependent. However, the kinetic behaviour of the pure enzyme differed from that of the crude enzyme in several important respects, namely: (a) the apparent affinity for UMP was lower with the pure enzyme; (b) sigmoidicity was absent from plots of initial rate versus carbamoyl phosphate concentration, each at a fixed UMP concentration; (c) sigmoidicity was greatly exaggerated in plots of initial rate versus UMP concentration, each at a fixed carbamoyl phosphate concentration, owing to the occurrence of a slight but definite maximum in each plot at low UMP concentration; (d) there was a relative increase in this maximum in the presence of N-phosphonacetyl-L-aspartate, an inhibitor competitive with carbamoyl phosphate. It is shown that a modified two-conformation concerted-transition model can be used to account for most of these features of the pure enzyme. The model treats carbamoyl phosphate and UMP as antagonistic allosteric ligands binding to alternative conformational states [Monod, Wyman & Changeux (1965) J. Mol. Biol. 12, 88-118], carbamoyl phosphate binding non-exclusively (dissociation constants 20 microM and 85 microM respectively) and UMP binding exclusively (dissociation constant 2.5 microM). The model postulates further that the conformation with lower affinity for carbamoyl phosphate has the higher value of kcat., and that it binds UMP in competition with carbamoyl phosphate. Parameters giving the best fit of experimental data to this model were found by a non-linear least-squares search procedure.

1972 ◽  
Vol 128 (2) ◽  
pp. 311-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Yon

1. Some kinetic properties of aspartate transcarbamoylase (EC 2.1.3.2), that had been purified approx. 20-fold from wheat germ, were studied. 2. A plot of enzyme activity against pH showed a low maximum at pH8.4 and a second, higher, maximum at pH10.5. A plot of percentage inhibition by 0.2mm-UMP against pH was approximately parallel to the plot of activity against pH, except that between pH6.5 and 7.5 the enzyme was insensitive to 0.2mm-UMP. 3. Kinetics were studied in detail at pH10.0 and 25°C. In the absence of UMP, initial-rate plots were hyperbolic when the concentration of either substrate was varied. UMP decreased both Vmax. and Km in plots of initial rate against l-aspartate concentration, but the plots remained hyperbolic. However, UMP converted plots of initial rate against carbamoyl phosphate concentration into a sigmoidal shape, without significantly affecting Vmax.. Plots of initial rate against UMP concentration were also sigmoidal. 4. The theoretical model proposed by Monod et al. (1965) gave a partial explanation of these results. When quasi-equilibrium conditions were assumed analysis in terms of this model suggested a trimeric enzyme binding the allosteric ligands, carbamoyl phosphate and UMP, nearly exclusively to the R and T conformational states respectively, and existing predominantly in the R state when ligands were absent. However, the values of the Hill coefficients for the co-operativity of each allosteric ligand were somewhat less than those predicted by the theory. 5. Some of the implications of these results are discussed, and the enzyme is contrasted with the well-known aspartate transcarbamoylase of Escherichia coli.


1996 ◽  
Vol 313 (2) ◽  
pp. 669-673 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashan KHAN ◽  
Babur Z. CHOWDHRY ◽  
Robert J. YON

Wheat-germ aspartate transcarbamoylase, a monofunctional trimer, is strongly inhibited by uridine 5ʹ-monophosphate (UMP), which shows kinetic interactions with the substrate, carbamoyl phosphate, suggesting a classical allosteric mechanism of regulation. Inhibition of the purified enzyme by UMP was amplified in the presence of a variety of ionic lipids at concentrations low enough to preclude denaturation. In the absence of UMP, most of these compounds had no kinetic effect or were slightly activating. Two phospholipids did not show the effect. In a homologous series of fatty acids (C6-C16), the potentiating effect was only seen with homologues greater than C8, reaching a maximum at C12. The effect of dodecanoate (C12) on kinetic cooperativity (UMP as variable ligand) was studied. At each of several fixed concentrations of carbamoyl phosphate, dodecanoate had a pronounced effect on the half-saturating concentration of UMP, which was reduced by about half in every case, indicating substantially tighter binding of UMP. However, dodecanoate had relatively little effect on the kinetic Hill coefficient for the cooperativity of UMP. The possible metabolic significance of these effects is discussed.


1984 ◽  
Vol 221 (2) ◽  
pp. 289-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
S C J Cole ◽  
R J Yon

Ligand-mediated effects on the inactivation of pure wheat-germ aspartate transcarbamoylase by trypsin were examined. Inactivation was apparently first-order in all cases, and the effects of ligand concentration on the pseudo-first-order rate constant, k, were studied. Increase in k (labilization) was effected by carbamoyl phosphate, phosphate and the putative transition-state analogue, N-phosphonoacetyl-L-aspartate. Decrease in k (protection) was effected by the end-product inhibitor, UMP, and by the ligand pairs aspartate/phosphate and succinate/carbamoyl phosphate, but not by aspartate or succinate alone up to 10 mM. Except for protection by the latter ligand pairs, all other ligand-mediated effects were also observed on inactivation of the enzyme by Pronase and chymotrypsin. Ligand-mediated effects on the fragmentation of the polypeptide chain by trypsin were examined electrophoretically. Slight labilization of the chain was observed in the presence of carbamoyl phosphate, phosphate and N-phosphonoacetyl-L-aspartate. An extensive protection by UMP was observed, which apparently included all trypsin-sensitive peptide bonds. No significant effect by the ligand pair succinate/carbamoyl phosphate was noted. It is concluded from these observations that UMP triggers an extensive, probably co-operative, transition to a proteinase-resistant conformation, and that carbamoyl phosphate similarly triggers a transition to an alternative, proteinase-sensitive, conformation. These antagonistic conformational changes may account for the regulatory kinetic effects reported elsewhere [Yon (1984) Biochem. J. 221, 281-287]. The protective effect by the ligand pairs aspartate/phosphate and succinate/carbamoyl phosphate, which operates only against trypsin, is concluded to be due to local shielding of essential lysine or arginine residues in the aspartate-binding pocket of the active site, to which aspartate (or its analogue, succinate) can only bind as part of a ternary complex.


1972 ◽  
Vol 129 (3) ◽  
pp. 571-581 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. L. Ong ◽  
J. F. Jackson

1. Aspartate transcarbamoylase from 4-day-old radicles of Phaseolus aureus was purified 190-fold by (NH4)2SO4 fractionation, DEAE-cellulose and DEAE-Sephadex chromatography and Sephadex-gel filtration. The partially purified enzyme, which required Pi for maximum stability, had an apparent molecular weight of 83000±5000. 2. Uridine nucleotides were found to inhibit the activity; UMP was the most potent inhibitor, followed by UDP and UTP. No other nucleotide was found to affect the enzyme, nor could UMP inhibition be overcome by adding another nucleotide. Aspartate gives a hyperbolic substrate-saturation curve, both with and without UMP. The nucleotide inhibitor is non-competitive with respect to this substrate. Carbamoyl phosphate also yields a hyperbolic substrate-saturation curve in the absence of feedback inhibitor, but when UMP is added a sigmoidal pattern results, and the inhibition is competitive with carbamoyl phosphate. 3. The degree of inhibition by UMP is not affected by p-chloromercuribenzoate, urea, mild heat pretreatment or change in pH over the range 8.5–10.5, but is affected by temperature. 4. The aspartate analogue, succinate, both activates and inhibits the reaction, depending on the concentrations of aspartate and succinate used. 5. Kinetic studies with the partially purified enzyme showed that the Km for carbamoyl phosphate (0.091 mm) is much lower than that for aspartate (1.7mm). A sequential reaction mechanism was inferred from product-inhibition kinetics, with carbamoyl phosphate binding to the enzyme before aspartate, and the product, carbamoylaspartate, being released ahead of Pi. Initial-velocity studies gave a set of parallel reciprocal plots, compatible with an essentially irreversible step occurring before the binding of aspartate.


1973 ◽  
Vol 131 (4) ◽  
pp. 699-706 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Yon

In the absence of added ligands aspartate transcarbamoylase (EC 2.1.3.2) from wheat germ is inactivated fairly rapidly by trypsin, by heat (60°C), by highly alkaline conditions (pH11.3) and by sodium dodecyl sulphate. Addition of UMP alone, at low concentrations, decreases the rate of inactivation by each of these agents significantly. Carbamoyl phosphate alone does not alter the rate of inactivation by trypsin and by the detergent, but it antagonizes the effect of UMP in protecting the enzyme against these agents. These results have been interpreted to mean that two conformational states are reversibly accessible to the enzyme, namely an easily inactivated state favoured in the presence of carbamoyl phosphate and a more resistant state favoured in the presence of UMP. In the absence of ligands the enzyme is in the easily inactivated conformation. At very high concentrations l-aspartate also protects the enzyme but to a smaller extent than UMP. Some implications of these results are discussed.


1986 ◽  
Vol 233 (1) ◽  
pp. 303-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
S C Cole ◽  
P A Yaghmaie ◽  
P J Butterworth ◽  
R J Yon

Wheat-germ aspartate transcarbamoylase (EC 2.1.3.2) was inactivated by phenylglyoxal in a first-order process, provided that the inactivation time did not exceed 10 min. Apparent first-order rate constants were linearly dependent on phenylglyoxal concentration, indicating a bimolecular reaction between a single active-centre residue and phenylglyoxal, with second-order constant of 0.023 mM-1 X min-1. A plot of apparent first-order rate constant versus pH showed a steep rise above pH 9.5, indicating that the essential residue has a pKa value of 10.5 or higher, consistent with an arginine residue. Saturating concentrations of the following ligands provided a degree of protection (percentages in parentheses) against 1 mM-phenylglyoxal: N-phosphonoacetyl-L-aspartate, a bisubstrate analogue (94%); carbamoyl phosphate (75%); UMP, an end-product inhibitor (53%). Succinate (an analogue of L-aspartate) alone gave no protection, but in combination with carbamoyl phosphate raised the protection to 92%, in agreement with the known binding order of the two substrates. These results indicate that the essential arginine residue is close to the carbamoyl phosphate site, probably oriented towards the aspartate site. Attempts to desensitize the UMP-binding site by reaction with phenylglyoxal, while protecting the active centre, were unsuccessful. The essential active-centre arginine residue is compared with a similar residue in the Escherichia coli enzyme.


1987 ◽  
Vol 248 (2) ◽  
pp. 403-408 ◽  
Author(s):  
S C J Cole ◽  
R J Yon

Treatment of 1 microM wheat-germ aspartate transcarbamoylase with 1 mM-pyridoxal 5′-phosphate caused a rapid loss of activity, concomitant with the formation of a Schiff base. Complete loss of activity occurred within 10 min when the Schiff base was reduced with a 100-fold excess of NaBH4. Concomitantly, one amino group per chain was modified. No further residues were modified in the ensuing 30 min. The kinetics of inactivation were examined under conditions where the Schiff base was reduced before assay. Inactivation was apparently first-order. The pseudo-first-order rate constant, kapp., showed a hyperbolic dependence upon the concentration of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate, suggesting that the enzyme first formed a non-covalent complex with the reagent, modification of a lysine then proceeding within this complex. Inactivation of the enzyme by pyridoxal was 20 times slower than that by pyridoxal 5′-phosphate, indicating that the phosphate group was important in forming the initial complex. Partial protection against pyridoxal phosphate was provided by the leading substrate, carbamoyl phosphate, and nearly complete protection was provided by the bisubstrate analogue, N-phosphonoacetyl-L-aspartate, and the ligand-pair carbamoyl phosphate plus succinate. Steady-state kinetic studies, under conditions that minimized inactivation, showed that pyridoxal 5′-phosphate was also a competitive inhibitor with respect to the leading substrate, carbamoyl phosphate. Pyridoxal 5′-phosphate therefore appears to be an active-site-directed reagent. A sample of the enzyme containing one reduced pyridoxyl group per chain was digested with trypsin, and the labelled peptide was isolated and shown to contain a single pyridoxyl-lysine residue. Partial sequencing around the labelled lysine showed little homology with the sequence surrounding lysine-84, an active-centre residue of the catalytic subunit of aspartate transcarbamoylase from Escherichia coli, whose reaction with pyridoxal 5′-phosphate shows many similarities to the results described in the present paper. Arguably the reactive lysine is conserved between the two enzymes whereas the residues immediately surrounding the lysine are not. The same conclusion has been drawn in a comparison of reactive histidine residues in the two enzymes [Cole & Yon (1986) Biochemistry 25, 7168-7174].


1984 ◽  
Vol 224 (2) ◽  
pp. 379-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
M D Templeton ◽  
P A Sullivan ◽  
M G Shepherd

The mechanism of inhibition of ornithine transcarbamoylase by the bacterial toxin phaseolotoxin [N-delta-(phosphosulphamyl)ornithylalanylhomoarginine] was investigated. Ornithine transcarbamoylase was purified by affinity chromatography from Escherichia coli W argR- by using N-delta-(phosphonoacetyl)ornithine as the ligand. Under steady-state conditions phaseolotoxin inhibition was reversible and exhibited mixed kinetics with respect to carbamoyl phosphate. The apparent Ki and apparent K'i were 0.2 microM and 10 microM respectively. Inhibition with respect to ornithine was noncompetitive, with an apparent Ki of 0.9 microM. These data are consistent with competitive binding of phaseolotoxin to the carbamoyl phosphate-binding site of the enzyme. The toxin also appears to be able to bind to the enzyme-carbamoyl phosphate complex, although, since K'i is 50 times greater than Ki, this event is kinetically much less significant. In the presence of phaseolotoxin ornithine transcarbamoylase exhibited a transient phase of activity before a steady state. This is consistent with low rates of association and dissociation for the toxin with enzyme and the enzyme-toxin complex. Rate constants of 2.5 × 10(4)M−1 × s−1 and 5 × 10(−3)s−1 were estimated for the association and dissociation constants respectively.


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