Crystallization and preliminary X-ray study of pig lens aldose reductase

Crystals of pig lens aldose reductase have been grown from polyethylene glycol solutions at pH 6.2 and analysed by X-ray diffraction. Two crystal forms were obtained. The first belongs to space group P1 with unit cell dimensions a = 81.3 A, b = 85.9 A, c = 56.6 A, alpha = 102.3 degrees, beta = 103.3 degrees, gamma = 79.0 degrees, with four molecules in the unit cell related by a 222 non-crystallographic symmetry. The second crystal form is hexagonal. The space group is P6(2)22 with a = b = 101 A, c = 257 A and two molecules in the asymmetric unit. Both forms are suitable for X-ray structure analysis to better than 3 A resolution.

Enzymatic fluorometric assay for myo-inositol trisphosphate

The determination of myo-inositol trisphosphate by an enzymatic fluorometric assay is presented. The method involves the acid extraction of water-soluble inositol polyphosphates followed by separation by anion-exchange chromatography. Samples are subsequently neutralized by passage over a Dowex Cl- resin and elution with lithium chloride. Samples are then desalted with ethanol. Following dephosphorylation with alkaline phosphatase, free myo-inositol is measured enzymatically via the NAD-dependent oxidation to scyllo-inosose with myo-inositol dehydrogenase. The efficiency of recovery, assay specificity, and an application to the measurement of inositol polyphosphates in hormone-stimulated tissue are discussed.

A sensitive bioluminescence assay for myo-inositol

A specific, sensitive bioluminescence assay for myo-inositol is described employing myo-inositol dehydrogenase linked to a commercial NADH bioluminescence kit. Optimum conditions providing a linear response over 4 orders of magnitude are presented with reproducibility of 6% CV and a sensitivity of 1 pmol. The assay is suitable for the measurement of inositol at low concentrations or in small volumes.

Methods for enzymatic and colorimetric determinations of D-erythrulose (D-tetrulose)

The specific determinations of D-erythrulose by enzymatic assay or colorimetric method, which permit the quantitative determination of between 20 and 400 nmol of the sugar, are described. Enzymatic determination of D-erythrulose made use of the D-erythrulose reductase purified from beef or chicken liver, which catalyzes specifically the reduction of D-erythrulose with concomitant conversion of NADH to NAD+. The colorimetric microdetermination of erythrulose could be carried out by utilizing the phenol-sulfuric acid reaction under low temperature. These methods are simple, rapid, and sensitive, and give reproducible results.

An enzymatic fluorimetric assay for myo-inositol

An enzymatic assay for myo-inositol (MI) is described. The method is based on the oxidation of MI by NAD+-dependent myo-inositol dehydrogenase, coupled to reoxidation of NADH with oxalacetate and malate dehydrogenase. The resultant malate is measured fluorimetrically. Several variations of the assay are described for measuring MI in serum and in tissues in amounts ranging from 0.2 pmol to 8 nmol. Highest sensitivity is achieved by applying an oil-well technique for handling small droplets, and by using the principle of enzymatic cycling. The potential of the technique is illustrated by MI measurements in several tissues of normal and diabetic rats and Chinese hamsters.

Enzymatic isomerization and epimerization of d-erythrose 4-phosphate and its quantitative analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

An enzyme preparation from beef liver catalyzed the isomerization and epimerization of D-erythrose 4-phosphate to D-erythrulose 4-phosphate and D-threose 4-phosphate. The presence of D-erythrulose 4-phosphate and D-threose 4-phosphate was demonstrated by several analytical methods. After dephosphorylation, the presence of D-erythrulose and D-threose was confirmed by thin-layer chromatography, gas-liquid chromatography and an enzymatic method depending upon D-erythrulose reductase. The enzymatic products were also identified and simultaneously quantitated by a new procedure using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Each of three tetroses was distinguished by the combination of the reduction with sodium borodeuteride and the determination of relative intensities of the ion pairs m/z 379 and 380 of sugar tetritol trifluoroacetate. By gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, we observed that D-threose 4-phosphate was also converted into D-erythrulose 4-phosphate and D-erythrose 4-phosphate. At the equilibrium, about 90% of the tetrose 4-phosphate existed in the form of D-erythrulose 4-phosphate. On the basis of gas chromatography/mass spectrometric evidence together with gas chromatographic and thin-layer chromatographic patterns, it is suggested that the single enzyme of the beef liver catalyzed both reactions of isomerization and epimerization of aldotetrose 4-phosphate.

Extensive variations and basic features in the alcohol dehydrogenase-sorbitol dehydrogenase family

Structural comparisons of sorbitol dehydrogenase with zinc-containing 'long' alcohol dehydrogenases reveal distant but clear relationships. An alignment suggests 93 positional identities with horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase (25% of 374 positions) and 73 identities with yeast alcohol dehydrogenase (20%). Sorbitol dehydrogenase forms a link between these distantly related alcohol dehydrogenases and is in some regions more similar to one of them that they are to each other. 43 residues (11%) are common to all three enzymes and include a heavy over-representation of glycine (half of all glycine residues in sorbitol dehydrogenase), showing the importance of space restrictions in protein structures. Four regions are well conserved, two in each domain of horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase. They are two segments close to the active-site zinc atom of the catalytic domain, and two in the central beta-pleated sheet strands of the coenzyme-binding domain. These similarities demonstrate the general importance of internal and central building units in proteins. Large variations affect a region adjacent to the third protein ligand to the active-site zinc atom in horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase. Such changes at active sites of related enzymes are unusual. Other large differences concern the segment around the non-catalytic zinc atom of horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase; three of its four cysteine ligands are absent from sorbitol dehydrogenase. Three segments with several exchanges correspond to a continuous region with superficial areas, inter-domain contacts and inter-subunit interactions in the catalytic domain of alcohol dehydrogenase. They may correlate with the altered quaternary structure of sorbitol dehydrogenase. Regions corresponding to top and bottom beta-strands in the coenzyme-binding domain of the alcohol dehydrogenase are also little conserved. Within sorbitol dehydrogenase, a large segment shows an internal similarity. The two distantly related alcohol dehydrogenases and sorbitol dehydrogenase form a triplet of enzymes illustrating basic protein relationships. They are ancestrally close enough to establish similarities, yet sufficiently divergent to illustrate changes in all but fundamental properties.

An unusual conformation of NAD+ bound to sorbitol dehydrogenase? A time-dependent transferred nuclear Overhauser effect study

The conformation of NAD+ in the sheep liver sorbitol dehydrogenase-NAD+ binary complex has been investigated using time-dependent proton-proton transferred nuclear Overhauser enhancement measurements to determine interproton distance ratios and distances between bound NAD+ protons. The conformation about both the adenosine and nicotinamide riboside glycosidic bonds is anti, the conformations of the adenosine and nicotinamide ribose rings are C3'-endo and C1'-exo, respectively, and the conformations about the adenosine and nicotinamide riboside C4'-C5' bonds are g+ and t, respectively, similar to those found in complexes of NAD+ with other A type dehydrogenases. In addition, however, the distance data are indicative of an unusual overall conformation of NAD+ in the sorbitol dehydrogenase-NAD+ binary complex, with the planes of the nicotinamide and adenine rings separated by 6 to 8 A and at approximately 120 degrees to each other. This overall conformation differs from the concensus extended conformation found in the NAD+-dehydrogenase complexes crystallized to date, where the planes of the nicotinamide and adenine rings are 12 to 14 A apart and nearly perpendicular to each other.

Extended superfamily of short alcohol-polyol-sugar dehydrogenases: structural similarities between glucose and ribitol dehydrogenases

The recently determined primary structure of glucose dehydrogenase from Bacillus megaterium was scanned by computerized comparisons for similarities with known polyol and alcohol dehydrogenases. The results revealed a highly significant similarity between this glucose dehydrogenase and ribitol dehydrogenase from Klebsiella aerogenes. Sixty-one positions of the 262 in glucose dehydrogenase are identical between these two proteins (23% identity), fitting into a homology alignment for the complete polypeptide chains. The extent of similarity is equivalent to that between other highly divergent but clearly related dehydrogenases (two zinc-containing alcohol dehydrogenases, 25%; sorbitol and zinc-containing alcohol dehydrogenases, 25%; ribitol and non-zinc-containing alcohol dehydrogenases, 20%), and suggests an ancestral relationship between glucose and ribitol dehydrogenases from different bacteria . The similarities fit into a previously suggested evolutionary scheme comprising short and long alcohol and polyol dehydrogenases, and greatly extend the former group to one composed of non-zinc-containing alcohol-polyol-glucose dehydrogenases.

Alcohol and polyol dehydrogenases are both divided into two protein types, and structural properties cross-relate the different enzyme activities within each type

Sorbitol dehydrogenase from sheep liver shows similarities to mammalian and yeast alcohol dehydrogenases. Comparisons based on peptides from segments of sorbitol dehydrogenase reveal that homologous regions with 38% identity include two ligands to the active site zinc atom in liver alcohol dehydrogenase, as well as further important residues. Similarities in in other regions are less extensive, exactly as they are between different alcohol dehydrogenases. In all aspects, sorbitol dehydrogenase appears as a typical member of the alcohol dehydrogenase family. On the other hand, alcohol dehydrogenase from Drosophila, which has a shorter subunit, is not closely related to either of these enzymes, except for a region that probably corresponds to the first part of the coenzyme binding domain in many dehydrogenases. Instead, Drosophila alcohol dehydrogenase in its supposed catalytic region shows similarities toward Klebsiella ribitol dehydrogenase, which also has a small subunit. It may be concluded that both alcohol and polyol dehydrogenases show two types of protein subunit, reflecting an early subdivision of polypeptide types into "long" and "short" subunits rather than into different enzymatic specificities or quaternary structures. The relationships explain known properties of all these enzymes and provide insight into functional mechanisms and evolutionary interpretations.

[Enzymatic determination of dihydroxyacetone in the presence of glycerol (author's transl)]

Dihydroxyacetone, the oxidation product of glycerol by acetic acid bacteria can be determined by Glyceroldehydrogenase and NADH. The reaction is not influenced by high concentrations of glycerol. Other substances in fermentation products are not converted by the diluted enzyme.

The use of an immobilized glycerol dehydrogenase nylon-tube reactor in the determination of glycerol

A continuous-flow system is described that utilizes an immobilized glycerol dehydrogenase nylon-tube reactor integrated into the flow system of a Technicon AutoAnalyzer II for the routine estimation of glycerol in serum and various beverages. Results are compared with determinations made by the solution method that uses the three enzymes glycerokinase, pyruvate kinase and lactate dehydrogenase. These routine trials give reliable and reproducible results with high precision and economy. The glycerol dehydrogenase reactor is stable during intermittent or continuous use for a least 3500 tests. Stored at 4 degrees C when not in use, the reactor is quite stable for several months.

Fully enzymic method of plasma triglyceride determination using an immobilized glycerol dehydrogenase nylon-tube reactor

A new, enzymic method of triglyceride determination in serum and plasma by use of an immobilized glycerol dehydrogenase nylon-tube reactor, integrated into the flow system of an AutoAnalyzer II (Technicon) is described. The combination of this reactor, stable for 1500--2000 tests, with the lipolytic enzymes which are added in solution yields a reliable and reproducible assay, which correlates well with the commonly used fully enzymic triglyceride determination. Using this new method, the cost can be reduced to about one-third of that of the other method.

Fluorometric and colorimetric enzymic determination of triglycerides (triacylglycerols) in serum

We describe two fully enzymic methods, fluorometric and colorimetric, for determination of triglycerides (triacylglycerols) in serum. Samples are incubated with microbial lipase for 10 min, and the glycerol released from the triglycerides is oxidized by NAD+ in the presence of glycerol dehydrogenase. In the fluorometric method, the resulting NADH is in turn oxidized by resazurin as catalyzed by diaphorase to form resorufin, a highly fluorescent compound. In the colorimetric method, the NADH is oxidized by coupling with a tetrazolium salt/diaphorase system to form formazan, a highly colored compound. Calibration curves, constructed by plotting change in fluorescence or absorbance vs concentration of triglycerides, were linear up to 6 and 5 g of triglycerides per liter of serum for the fluorometric and colorimetric methods, respectively. The assays require only 5 and 15 microL of serum for fluorometry and colorimetry, respectively. The CV was 0.59% for the fluorometric method, 0.91% for the colorimetric procedure. The time for analysis for either method is less than 15 min. The results correlate well with those obtained by the Dow Diagnostic Kit method, a colorimetric method in which glycerol kinase and glycerol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase form NADH from ATP and NAD+ in the presence of glycerol and glycerol 1-phosphate.

Biosynthesis of streptomycin. dTDP-dihydrostreptose synthase from Streptomyces griseus and dTDP-4-keto-L-rhamnose 3,5-epimerase from S. griseus and Escherichia coli Y10

dTDP-dihydrostreptose synthase from Streptomyces griseus was purfied about 50-fold by removal of protein with polyethyleneimine, (NH4)2SO4 fractionation and gel filtration on Ultrogel AcA44. The synthase preparation was free of dTDP-4-keto-L-rhamnose 3,5-epimerase (dTDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-D-glucose 3,5-epimerase, EC 5.1.3.13) activity. A new enzyme assay using Escherichia coli Y10 as source for the epimerase and dTDP-glucose 4,6-dehydratase (dTDP-glucose 4,6-hydro-lyase, EC 4.2.1.46) was developed. In the presence of excess epimerase the apparent Km for dTDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-D-glucose was determined to be 25 microM. The molecular weight of epimerase and synthase were determined by their elution volumes from a Sephadex G-100 column to be approx. 67,000 and 32,000, respectively. The pH optimum for the epimerase was between 7.5 and 8.5. The intermediate formation of dTDP-4-keto-L-rhamnose in the epimerase reaction could be shown by detection of 6-deoxy-[3H]talose after NaB3H4 reduction. Results which indicate the existence of dTDP-4-keto-6-rhamnose as a free intermediate in the epimerase reaction are reported.

An enzymic determination for serum phospholipid

A new colorimetric determination for serum phospholipid is described. Firstly, serum phospholipid is incubated with phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus, and then the released diglyceride and triglyceride are hydrolyzed completely to fatty acid and glycerol by lipoprotein lipase from Pseudomonas fluorescens. Secondly, the glycerol produced is enzymatically determined by glycerol dehydrogenase in the presence of NAD+, using phenazine methosulfate-nitro blue tetrazolium as color reagents. The absorbance at 570 nm is recorded. The amount of the glycerol from phospholipid is calculated by subtracting the amount of glycerol from triglyceride from the amount of total glycerol. The present method requires only 20 microliter of serum and a 40 min incubation and is highly reproducible. The results obtained show good correlation with those obtained by a chemical method (correlation coefficient, 0.925) or the phospholipase D-choline oxidase method (correlation coefficient, 0.936). These results strongly suggest that the proposed method can be utilized as a routine clinical test.

Histochemical demonstration of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, D-sorbitol dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase in human ampulla ductus deferentis

A cytochemical study on the localization of the enzymes glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, sorbitol dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase was carried out in human ampullary glands. Although the former two enzymes showed a marked reactivity, alkaline phosphatase was absent from epithelial cells. On the basis of these results it is concluded that, as in the human seminal vesicle, in the ampullary gland fructose is probably secreted via the oxidative mechanism proposed by Hers (Le Metabolisme du Fructose. Bruxelles, Arscia, 1957).

A simple colorimetric method for determination of serum triglycerides with lipoprotein lipase and glycerol dehydrogenase

A simplified enzymic procedure to determine accurately serum triglycerides is described. Serum triglycerides are hydrolyzed completely to free fatty acids and glycerol by lipoprotein lipase from Pseudomonas fluorescens. The released glycerol is oxidized with glycerol dehydrogenase from Erwinia aroideae in the presence of NAD+, were the reduction of the enzyme-linked NAD+ is coupled to the reduction of nitro blue tetrazolium as a chromogenic indicator with phenazine methosulfate serving as an intermediate electron carrier of NADH. The absorbance at 570 nm is measured. The method requies only 20 microliter of serum and a 10-min incubation and is rapid and simple. The present method offers the measurement of a high concentration of triglyceride up to 1000 mg/dl serum. The results obtained by the present method show good correlation with those obtained by the glycerol kinase method (correlation coefficient, 0.989) or the acetylacetone method (correlation coefficient, 0.979). These results suggest that the proposed method will be utilized as a method or routine clinical test.

Dihydroxyacetone reductase from Mucor javanicus. 1. Isolation and properties

An NADPH-dependent oxidoreductase has been extracted from the mycelium of the fungus Mucor Javanicus (Wehmer) and enriched 1000-fold with respect to the protein contained in the crude extract after centrifugation at 2600 X g. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated by gel filtration to be about 100 000; electrophoresis under dissociating conditions indicates four subunits of molecular weight about 28 000. Data on stability and activity of the enzyme as a function of pH and temperature are reported. From a kinetic study and product analysis of the reduction of the two enantiomeric trans-1-decalones and also from a kinetic study of the oxidation of the two diastereomeric pairs of trans-1-decalols it follows that the enzymes is an e-Si oxidoreductase (according to the nomenclature proposed by Dutler et al., Eur. J. Biochem. 22 [1971]203-212 and Prelog and Helmchen, Helv. Chim. Acta, 55 [1972] 2581-2598). This classification is amply confirmed by the kinetic behaviour of a large number of alicyclic substrates. Using (4-2HSi-labelled coenzyme to reduce (9S)-trans-1,4-decalindione, it was shown that the enzyme is HSi (= HS = HB)-stereospecific with respect to the coenzyme. It is demonstrated that the oxidoreductase from Mucor javanicus can be used for the preparation of optically pure chiral alcohols and ketones. In the following paper evidence is presented that the natural substrate of the enzyme is dihydroxyacetone.

Chirality of the hydrogen transfer to the coenzyme catalyzed by ribitol dehydrogenase from Klebsiella pneumoniae and D-mannitol 1-phosphate dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli

The stereochemistry of the hydrogen transfer to NAD catalyzed by ribitol dehydrogenase (ribitol:NAD 2-oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.56) from Klebsiella pneumoniae and D-mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase (D-mannitol-1-phosphate:NAD 2-oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.17) from Escherichia coli was investigated. [4-3H]NAD was enzymatically reduced with nonlabelled ribitol in the presence of ribitol dehydrogenase and with nonlabelled D-mannitol 1-phosphate and D-mannitol 1-phosphate dehydrogenase, respectively. In both cases the [4-3H]-NADH produced was isolated and the chirality at the C-4 position determined. It was found that after the transfer of hydride, the label was in both reactions exclusively confined to the (4R) position of the newly formed [4-3H]NADH. In order to explain these results, the hydrogen transferred from the nonlabelled substrates to [4-3H]NAD must have entered the (4S) position of the nicotinamide ring. These data indicate for both investigated inducible dehydrogenases a classification as B or (S) type enzymes. Ribitol also can be dehydrogenated by the constitutive A-type L-iditol dehydrogenase (L-iditol:NAD 5-oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.14) from sheep liver. When L-iditol dehydrogenase utilizes ribitol as hydrogen donor, the same A-type classification for this oxidoreductase, as expected, holds true. For the first time, opposite chirality of hydrogen transfer to NAD in one organic reaction--ribitol + NAD = D-ribu + NADH + H--is observed when two different dehydrogenases, the inducible ribitol dehydrogenase from K. pneumoniae and the constitutive L-iditol dehydrogenase from sheep liver, are used as enzymes. This result contradicts the previous generalization that the chirality of hydrogen transfer to the coenzyme for the same reaction is independent of the source of the catalyzing enzyme.