Purification and properties of 3-hexulose phosphate synthase and phospho-3-hexuloisomerase from Methylococcus capsulatus

3-Hexulose phosphate synthase and phospho-3-hexuloisomerase were purified 40- and 150-fold respectively from methane-grown Methylococcus capsulatus. The molecular weights of the enzymes were approximately 310000 and 67000 respectively, as determined by gel filtration. Dissociation of 3-hexulose phosphate synthase into subunits of molecular weight approx. 49000 under conditions of low pH or low ionic strength was observed. Within the range of compounds tested, 3-hexulose phosphate synthase is specific for formaldehyde and d-ribulose 5-phosphate (forward reaction) and d-arabino-3-hexulose 6-phosphate (reverse reaction), and phospho-3-hexuloisomerase is specific for d-arabino-3-hexulose 6-phosphate (forward reaction) and d-fructose 6-phosphate (reverse reaction). A bivalent cation is essential for activity and stability of 3-hexulose phosphate synthase; phospho-3-hexuloisomerase is inhibited by many bivalent cations. The pH optima of the two enzymes are 7.0 and 8.3 respectively and the equilibrium constants are 4.0x10(-5)m and 1.9x10(2)m respectively. The apparent Michaelis constants for 3-hexulose phosphate synthase are: d-ribulose 5-phosphate, 8.3x10(-5)m; formaldehyde, 4.9x10(-4)m; d-arabino-3-hexulose 6-phosphate, 7.5x10(-5)m. The apparent Michaelis constants for phospho-3-hexuloisomerase are: d-arabino-3-hexulose 6-phosphate, 1.0x10(-4)m; d-fructose 6-phosphate, 1.1x10(-3)m.

INDUCTION AND REPRESSION OF L-ARABINOSE ISOMERASE IN PEDIOCOCCUS PENTOSACEUS

Dobrogosz, Walter J. (University of Illinois, Urbana) and Ralph D. DeMoss. Induction and repression of l-arabinose isomerase in Pediococcus pentosaceus. J. Bacteriol. 85:1350-1355. 1963.-The inducible l-arabinose isomerase of Pediococcus pentosaceus can be rapidly and conveniently measured in whole-cell preparations by use of a standard colorimetric procedure originally developed for studies with cell-free enzyme preparations. The enzyme is measured by its ability to catalyze the isomerization of l-arabinose to l-ribulose. Whole cells suspended in a suitable buffer and pretreated with toluene were shown to exhibit this isomerase activity at a level comparable with that observed in cell-free enzyme preparations. Conditions for optimal induction of l-arabinose isomerase are described. In addition, it was determined that the formation of this enzyme is subject to repression by glucose, i.e., via catabolite repression.

Metabolism of L-rhamnose by Escherichia coli. I. L-rhamnose isomerase

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Inhibition of the xylose isomerase of Pseudomonas hydrophila by sulphydryl reagents and the effect of glutathione

Xylose isomerase of Pseudomonas hydrophila has been found to be strongly inhibited by substances known to combine with or oxidize sulphydryl groups of proteins. Considerable variation exists in the effectiveness of these inhibitors. Complete enzyme inhibition was observed with 2 × 10−4 M p-chloromercuribenzoate and with p-quinone, with 3.3 × 10−2 M N-ethylmaleimide and with 0.3 if iodoacetate. Glutathione, added after the enzyme and the inhibitors had been in solution, reversed only the inhibition caused by p-chloromercuribenzoate. Xylose isomerase, therefore, depends for its activity upon the integrity of sulphydryl groups.