Characterization of the hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA lyase precursor, a protein targeted to peroxisomes and mitochondria

We previously showed that human liver hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) lyase (HL; EC 4.1.3.4) is found in both mitochondria and peroxisomes. HL contains a 27-residue N-terminal mitochondrial targeting sequence which is cleaved on mitochondrial entry, as well as a C-terminal Cys-Lys-Leu peroxisomal targeting motif. Because peroxisomal HL has a greater molecular mass and more basic pI value than mitochondrial HL, we predicted that peroxisomal HL retains the mitochondrial leader. To test this hypothesis, we expressed both the precursor (pHL) and mature (mHL) peptides in Escherichia coli and studied their properties. pHL purified by ion-exchange and hydrophobic chromatography had a pI of 7.6 on FPLC chromatofocusing and a molecular mass of 34.5 kDa on SDS/PAGE, similar to our findings for peroxisomal HL. For purified mHL, pI (6.2) and molecular mass (32 kDa) values resemble those of mitochondrial HL. Purified pHL is similar to mHL in Km for HMG-CoA (44.8 μM), kcat (6.3 min-1) and pH optimum (9.0–9.5). However, the quaternary structures of pHL and mHL differ. On Superose 12 FPLC gel filtration and also on ultrafiltration, both in the presence and in the absence of HMG-CoA, pHL behaves as a monomer whereas mHL migrates as a dimer. We conclude that the HL precursor is probably identical to peroxisomal HL, that its catalytic properties resemble those of mature mitochondrial HL, and that the mitochondrial leader peptide prevents dimerization of pHL.

Influence of adrenalectomy and steroid replacement on heart citrate synthase levels

Aldosterone-dependent changes in citrate synthase (CS) activity have been used as an index of mineralocorticoid target sites. However, adrenalectomy (ADX) resulted in a fall in activity of CS and several other enzymes in rabbit heart, a tissue with glucocorticoid-but not mineralocorticoid-specific receptors. The enzymes included CS (2.03-1.36 U/mg protein, normal----ADX, P less than 0.001), isocitrate dehydrogenase-NADP+ (1.10-0.80 U/mg, P less than 0.002), isocitrate dehydrogenase-NAD+ (0.034-0.020 U/mg, P less than 0.01), and hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA lyase (0.072 to 0.035 U/mg, P less than 0.001); in contrast, mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase levels were not significantly reduced by adrenal loss. There was also a decrease after surgery in sarcolemmal Na-K-(17.30-12.31 mumol Pi . mg protein-1 . h-1, P less than 0.002) and Mg-ATPase activities (14.16-12.11 mumol Pi . mg protein-1 . h-1, P less than 0.05). However, ADX did not result in a significant change in heart weight per kilogram body weight or recovery of mitochondrial protein per gram heart. CS was also assayed in hearts from ADX animals following acute (90 min) and chronic (3 day) steroid replacement. Although neither acute intravenous aldosterone (10 micrograms/kg) nor dexamethasone (100 micrograms/kg) increased activity, exposure to multiple subcutaneous injections of either steroid over a 3-day period significantly elevated CS above ADX values. The coordinate changes in the levels of several myocardial enzymes associated with energy metabolism is discussed in terms of an adaptation to chronic alterations in energy demands as opposed to specific mineralocorticoid or glucocorticoid receptor-mediated processes.

Enzymes involved in acetoacetate formation in various bovine tissues

1. The activities of acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase, hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA synthase and lyase and acetoacetyl-CoA deacylase were measured in homogenates of samples of liver, rumen epithelium (long papillae), kidney and lactating mammary gland derived from slaughtered cows. 2. The activities of the four enzymes in bovine liver were similar to the activities previously reported for the corresponding enzymes in rat liver. 3. Acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase and hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA synthase and lyase were present in rumen epithelium. The activities of the enzymes were all lower on a wet weight basis than in liver. Only very slight deacylase activity was detected. 4. Kidney contained acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase, hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA lyase and acetoacetyl-CoA deacylase, but only trace amounts of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA synthase. 5. Mammary gland contained acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase and some hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA lyase, but virtually no hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA synthase or acetoacetyl-CoA deacylase. 6. Since physiologically significant ketogenesis probably occurs solely via the hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA pathway, it is evident that, of the four tissues examined, such ketogenesis must be restricted to the liver and the rumen epithelium. 7. All the enzymes except hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA lyase were also assayed in the four tissues derived from cows suffering from bovine lactational ketosis. Ketosis did not cause a statistically significant change in the activity of any of the enzymes measured. 8. Hepatic hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA synthase and lyase were found to be associated mainly with the particulate fraction, as in the rat. A considerably greater proportion of these enzymes was found to be present in the cytoplasmic fraction from rumen epithelium, although it was not excluded that this was due to mitochondrial damage during homogenization. 9. Appreciable hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA synthase was also present in epithelium from the dorsal region of the rumen, from the reticulum and from the omasum, but not from the abomasum.

Activity and intracellular distribution of enzymes of ketone-body metabolism in rat liver

1. The activities of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA synthase and lyase in rat liver were found to be two- to 15-fold greater than those reported by other authors under similar conditions. 2. When expressed on the basis of body weight, no appreciable differences were found between the activities of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA synthase in whole homogenates of livers from normal and starved rats. The synthase activity increased by 70% and 140% in livers of alloxan-diabetic rats and rats fed on a high-fat diet respectively. 3. Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA lyase activity showed no significant increases in starvation or alloxan-diabetes, but a 40% increase was found in fat-fed rats. 4. Less than 12% of the activities of both enzymes were found in the cytoplasmic fraction of normal liver. The cytoplasmic activity doubled in alloxan-diabetes and starvation; on feeding with a high-fat diet the increase, though significant, was less marked. 6. The intracellular distribution of glutamate dehydrogenase indicated that the changes in the cytoplasmic activities observed were not due to leakage from the mitochondria. 7. Feeding with a normal or high-fat diet after 48hr. starvation caused within 24hr. a decrease in the cytoplasmic activity of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA synthase to values lower than those found in rats fed on a corresponding diet for a longer period of time. 8. Acetoacetyl-CoA deacylase activity in liver was about 20% of that of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA synthase and was primarily located in the cytoplasm. Starvation or alloxan-diabetes did not alter the acetoacetyl-CoA deacylase activity. 9. It is concluded that variations in the concentrations of enzymes involved in acetoacetate synthesis play no major role in the regulation of ketone-body formation in starvation and alloxan-diabetes. The changes in the cytoplasmic activities of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA synthase and lyase suggest that acetoacetate synthesis can occur in the cytoplasm. This may play a role in the disposal of surplus acetyl-CoA arising in the cytoplasm when lipogenesis is inhibited.