Multiple attack and polarity of action of porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase

Purification and characterization of an endo-1,3-beta-glucanase from Aspergillus fumigatus

An endo-1,3-beta-glucanase was purified from a cell wall autolysate of Aspergillus fumigatus. This beta-glucanase activity was associated with a glycosylated 74-kDa protein. Using a sensitive colorimetric assay and a high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with a pulsed electrochemical detector for product analysis, it was shown that the endoglucanase hydrolysed exclusively linear 1,3-beta-glucan chains, had an optimum pH of 7.0 and an optimum temperature of 60 degrees C. A substrate kinetic study gave a Km value of 0.3 mg/ml for soluble (laminarin and laminari-oligosaccharides) and 1.18 mg/ml for insoluble (curdlan) 1,3-beta-glucan. Laminari-oligosaccharide degradation, analysed by HPLC, showed that the endoglucanase bind to the subtrate at several positions and suggested that the active site of the enzyme recognized five glucose units linked by a 1,3-beta bond. The association of the present endo-1,3-beta-glucanase with the cell wall of A. fumigatus suggests a putative role for this enzyme during cell-wall morphogenesis.

What is the best biochemical test to diagnose acute pancreatitis? A prospective clinical study

OBJECTIVE

To determine which biochemical test is best to distinguish acute pancreatitis from other pancreatic and nonpancreatic diseases associated with hyperamylasemia.

DESIGN

We conducted a prospective clinical study of 836 consecutive patients who had a total serum amylase test requested by a physician during a 7-month period.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Radioimmunoassay and enzymatic activity methods were used to measure pancreas-specific proteins of varied size, charge, and stability. In addition, scoring systems were used for the diagnosis of pancreatitis, and statistical analyses were done to determine sensitivity and specificity.

RESULTS

We found minor differences in sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of acute pancreatitis among pancreatic isoamylase, phospholipase A2, colipase, lipase, and carboxylester lipase. Of these tests, the combination of isoamylase and phospholipase A2 had a small but statistically significant increased sensitivity (90%; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 74 to 98%) and specificity (93%; 95% CI = 91 to 95%) over isoamylase (90% and 92%, respectively; 95% CI = 90 to 94%) and phospholipase A2 (90% and 75%, respectively; 95% CI = 72 to 78%) alone for the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis.

CONCLUSION

Pancreas-specific proteins are satisfactory for diagnosing acute pancreatitis if the test is validated by the laboratory. Clinically, the slight advantage of using both isoamylase and phospholipase A2 does not outweigh the expense of performing two assays; we recommend using isoamylase to diagnose acute pancreatitis.

Monte Carlo simulation of multiple attack mechanism of alpha-amylase

Porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) produces short maltooligosaccharides from a single enzyme-substrate complex without dissociation by multiple or repetitive attack. Multiple attack is caused by relative sliding of the enzyme along the product chain of the enzyme-product complex without dissociation to form another productive complex. The Monte Carlo method was applied to the multiple attack mechanism to predict product distribution from amylose and amylopectin molecules of arbitrary sizes. The position of the initial attack to make the enzyme-substrate complex and branched reaction paths from the enzyme-product complex were selected by random numbers and probabilities. A simulated product distribution from 100,000 samples of amylose of chain length greater than 80 agreed completely with experimental data at the early stage of hydrolysis of amylose of mean chain length 90. On the other hand, the simulated product distribution from amylopectin agreed with experimental data of potato amylopectin when the effective chain length of the A chain was 9. Since the mean chain length of the A chain of potato amylopectin is 15, it is possible that amylopectin is partially compact in solution, so that the enzyme can recognize and act only on the outer side of the A chain at the early stage of digestion.

Carbohydrate binding sites in a pancreatic alpha-amylase-substrate complex, derived from X-ray structure analysis at 2.1 A resolution

The X-ray structure analysis of a crystal of pig pancreatic alpha-amylase (PPA, EC 3.2.1.1.) that was soaked with the substrate maltopentaose showed electron density corresponding to two independent carbohydrate recognition sites on the surface of the molecule. Both binding sites are distinct from the active site described in detail in our previous high-resolution study of a complex between PPA and a carbohydrate inhibitor (Qian M, Buisson G, Duée E, Haser H, Payan F, 1994, Biochemistry 33:6284-6294). One of the binding sites previously identified in a 5-A-resolution electron density map, lies at a distance of 20 A from the active site cleft and can accommodate two glucose units. The second affinity site for sugar units is located close to the calcium binding site. The crystal structure of the maltopentaose complex was refined at 2.1 A resolution, to an R-factor of 17.5%, with an RMS deviation in bond distances of 0.007 A. The model includes all 496 residues of the enzyme, 1 calcium ion, 1 chloride ion, 425 water molecules, and 3 bound sugar rings. The binding sites are characterized and described in detail. The present complex structure provides the evidence of an increased stability of the structure upon interaction with the substrate and allows identification of an N-terminal pyrrolidonecarboxylic acid in PPA.

Enzymatic degradation of glycosaminoglycans

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) play an intricate role in the extracellular matrix (ECM), not only as soluble components and polyelectrolytes, but also by specific interactions with growth factors and other transient components of the ECM. Modifications of GAG chains, such as isomerization, sulfation, and acetylation, generate the chemical specificity of GAGs. GAGs can be depolymerized enzymatically either by eliminative cleavage with lyases (EC 4.2.2.-) or by hydrolytic cleavage with hydrolases (EC 3.2.1.-). Often, these enzymes are specific for residues in the polysaccharide chain with certain modifications. As such, the enzymes can serve as tools for studying the physiological effect of residue modifications and as models at the molecular level of protein-GAG recognition. This review examines the structure of the substrates, the properties of enzymatic degradation, and the enzyme substrate-interactions at a molecular level. The primary structure of several GAGs is organized macroscopically by segregation into alternating blocks of specific sulfation patterns and microscopically by formation of oligosaccharide sequences with specific binding functions. Among GAGs, considerable dermatan sulfate, heparin and heparan sulfate show conformational flexibility in solution. They elicit sequence-specific interactions with enzymes that degrade them, as well as with other proteins, however, the effect of conformational flexibility on protein-GAG interactions is not clear. Recent findings have established empirical rules of substrate specificity and elucidated molecular mechanisms of enzyme-substrate interactions for enzymes that degrade GAGs. Here we propose that local formation of polysaccharide secondary structure is determined by the immediate sequence environment within the GAG polymer, and that this secondary structure, in turn, governs the binding and catalytic interactions between proteins and GAGs.

The active center of a mammalian alpha-amylase. Structure of the complex of a pancreatic alpha-amylase with a carbohydrate inhibitor refined to 2.2-A resolution

An X-ray structure analysis of a crystal of pig pancreatic alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) that was soaked with acarbose (a pseudotetrasaccharide alpha-amylase inhibitor) showed electron density corresponding to five fully occupied subsites in the active site. The crystal structure was refined to an R-factor of 15.3%, with a root mean square deviation in bond distances of 0.015 A. The model includes all 496 residues of the enzyme, one calcium ion, one chloride ion, 393 water molecules, and five bound sugar rings. The pseudodisaccharide acarviosine that is the essential structural unit responsible for the activity of all inhibitors of the acarbose type was located at the catalytic center. The carboxylic oxygens of the catalytically competent residues Glu233 and Asp300 form hydrogen bonds with the "glycosidic" NH group of the acarviosine group. The third residue of the catalytic triad Asp197 is located on the opposite side of the inhibitor binding cleft with one of its carbonyl oxygens at a 3.3-A distance from the anomeric carbon C-1 of the inhibitor center. Binding of inhibitor induces structural changes at the active site of the enzyme. A loop region between residues 304 and 309 moves in toward the bound saccharide, the resulting maximal mainchain movement being 5 A for His305. The side chain of residue Asp300 rotates upon inhibitor binding and makes strong van der Waals contacts with the imidazole ring of His299. Four histidine residues (His101, His201, His299, and His305) are found to be hydrogen-bonded with the inhibitor. Many protein-inhibitor hydrogen bond interactions are observed in the complex structure, as is clear hydrophobic stacking of aromatic residues with the inhibitor surface. The chloride activator ion and structural calcium ion are hydrogen-bonded via their ligands and water molecules to the catalytic residues.

Models for the action of barley alpha-amylase isozymes on linear substrates

The formation of maltodextrins, G1 to G12, during the hydrolysis of amylose by alpha-amylases 1 and 2 from barley malt was followed by HPLC. Similar, but not identical, distributions of products were obtained with the two alpha-amylase components. Maltose, G6, and G7 were major products, but G7 was degraded as hydrolysis proceeded. alpha-Amylase 1 produced more G1 and G3 than did alpha-amylase 2 at all stages of hydrolysis. Products formed during the hydrolysis of G9, G10, G11, and G12 by the two alpha-amylases were also determined. A different spectrum of products was observed with each substrate and small differences were observed in the action pattern of the two alpha-amylases, e.g., G3 and G7 were the major products formed during the hydrolysis of G10 by alpha-amylase 1, whereas G2 and G8 were the major products formed by alpha-amylase 2 on the same substrate. These results were used to develop a model of the active site of barley malt alpha-amylases. This site contains ten contiguous subsites with the catalytic site situated between subsites 7 and 8. The model can be used to predict hydrolysis patterns of amylose and maltodextrins by cereal alpha-amylases.

Action patterns of amylolytic enzymes as determined by the [1-14C]malto-oligosaccharide mapping method

A valuable technique for oligosaccharide mapping, utilizing radioactive malto-oligosaccharides, multiple-ascent p.c., and radioautography, has been developed for identifying the action patterns of the glucoamylase isozymes, alpha-amylases, beta-amylase, glucosyltransferase, and glucanosyltransferase. The glucoamylase isozymes act by multi-chain mechanisms on malto-oligosaccharides and most likely on starch and glycogen. The alpha-amylases act endo-wise and randomly hydrolyze alpha-(1----4)- but not alpha-(1----6)-glucosidic bonds. These amylases may act by single-chain and/or multi-chain mechanisms, depending on the number of hydrolytic attacks per single encounter of the enzyme and the substrate. The beta-amylases hydrolyze malto-oligosaccharides by a multi-chain mechanism. A fungal glucosyltransferase from Aspergillus niger transfers glucose units by a single-chain mechanism from maltose to glucosyl acceptors to yield new gluco-oligosaccharides with alpha-(1----4) and alpha-(1----6) linkages. A novel type of transferase isolated from Bacillus subtilis acts by a multi-chain mechanism and transfers segments of 2 to 5 glucose residues from malto-oligosaccharides to acceptor co-substrates. An alpha-amylase from the same organism removes maltotriose units from the non-reducing ends of oligosaccharides by a multi-chain mechanism.

Structural determination of alginic acid and the effects of calcium binding as determined by high-field n.m.r

The nature of the solution conformations of the alginic acid components D-mannuronan (poly-ManA) and L-guluronan (poly-GulA) from Azotobacter vinelandii were investigated by both one- and two-dimensional n.m.r. methods. Unequivocal proton assignments for both polymers as well as their constituent monomer units were made based on chemical-shift theory, coupling constant analysis, and nuclear Overhauser enhancement measurements. These data were used to investigate the interactions of poly-GulA and poly-ManA with Ca2+ ion in aqueous medium. Based on relative crosspeak integrals measured in two-dimensional phase-sensitive NOESY spectra of free and calcium-bound polymer, a model for calcium binding is proposed.

Enzyme catalysis as a chain reaction

A new type of enzyme kinetic mechanism is suggested by which catalysis may be viewed as a chain reaction. A simple type of one-substrate/one-product reaction mechanism has been analysed from this point of view, and the kinetics, in both the transient and the steady-state phases, has been reconsidered. This analysis, as well as literature data and theoretical considerations, shows that the proposed model is a generalization of the classical ones. As a consequence of the suggested mechanism, the expressions, and in some cases even the significance of classical constants (Km and Vmax.), are altered. Moreover, this mechanism suggests that, between two successive enzyme-binding steps, more than one catalytic act could be accomplished. The reaction catalysed by alcohol dehydrogenase was analysed, and it was shown that this chain-reaction mechanism has a real contribution to the catalytic process, which could become exclusive under particular conditions. Similarly, the mechanism of glycogen phosphorylase is considered, and two partly modified versions of the classical mechanism are proposed. They account for both the existing experimental facts and suggest the possibility of chain-reaction pathways for any polymerase.

Effect of maltotriitol on the action pattern of porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase using amylose as a substrate

The effect of the oligosaccharide analog maltotriitol (G3OH) on the action pattern of porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase (PPA) was examined using amylose as a substrate. Fluorescence titration indicated that two molecules of G3OH can bind to one molecule of PPA. The slope in the blue value versus extent-of-reaction plot was shifted by G3OH from that for multiple attack in the direction of that for random attack as the G3OH concentration increased. From these it is inferred that at least one molecule of G3OH can bind at the active site of the enzyme so as to inhibit the sliding of the retained-product fragment after the initial cleavage of an amylose molecule.

In vitro action of human and porcine alpha-amylases on cyclomalto-oligosaccharides

The vitro action of human and porcine pancreatic alpha-amylases on cyclomalto-oligosaccharides (cyclodextrins) was investigated both by a high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis and a quantitative analysis of the reducing power of cyclodextrin hydrolyzates. Cyclomalto-octaose (gamma-cyclodextrin) was hydrolyzed to produce mainly maltose, but cyclomalto-hexaose and -heptaose were little affected both by human and porcine alpha-amylases. Quantitative analysis of reducing power revealed that the ring-opening rate of gamma-cyclodextrin catalyzed by human pancreatic alpha-amylase was 2.8 times slower than that catalyzed by the porcine enzyme. The number of multiple attacks on gamma-cyclodextrin and its inhibitor constants for human pancreatic alpha-amylase and porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase were almost the same.

Enzymatic degradation of cell wall and related plant polysaccharides

Polysaccharides such as starch, cellulose and other glucans, pectins, xylans, mannans, and fructans are present as major structural and storage materials in plants. These constituents may be degraded and modified by endogenous enzymes during plant growth and development. In plant pathogenesis by microorganisms, extracellular enzymes secreted by infected strains play a major role in plant tissue degradation and invasion of the host. Many of these polysaccharide-degrading enzymes are also produced by microorganisms widely used in industrial enzyme production. Most commerical enzyme preparations contain an array of secondary activities in addition to the one or two principal components which have standardized activities. In the processing of unpurified carbohydrate materials such as cereals, fruits, and tubers, these secondary enzyme activities offer major potential for improving process efficiency. Use of more defined combinations of industrial polysaccharases should allow final control of existing enzyme processes and should also lead to the development of novel enzymatic applications.

Separation and characterization of four different amylases of Entamoeba histolytica. II. Characterization of amylases

Purified E. histolytica amylases III to VI were characterized by their hydrolytic behaviour towards 4-nitrophenyl alpha-malto-oligosaccharides, malto-oligosaccharides, amylose, amylopectin, glycogen and Y-cyclodextrin. The influence of specific inhibitors on the amylase activity of E. histolytica was examined and compared with typical alpha- and beta-amylases. Amylases III and IV showed alpha-glucosidase and glucosyltransferase activity by cleaving terminal non-reducing glucose from pNPG1 (III, IV) and pNPG2 to pNPG7 (III). Both enzymes were able to cleave malto-oligosaccharides and glucopolysaccharides to a large number of malto-oligosaccharides. Also transglucosidation reactions were observed, but maltose was not hydrolysed. Amylase V showed exoamylase-like properties by preferentially cleaving maltose units from the non-reducing end of synthetic and biogenic malto-oligosaccharides by a multiple-attack mechanism. Amylase VI was characterized as an alpha-amylase, showing great similarities with porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase in the hydrolysis pattern of 4-nitrophenyl alpha-malto-oligosaccharides and glucopolysaccharides. With biogenic malto-oligosaccharides amylase VI showed a transglucosidation reaction.

Metabolism of exogenous androgens in rams and wethers: differential clearance rates

The effect of the presence of the testes on the clearance rates of 5 and 50 mg of testosterone and androstenedione was examined in 8-month old rams and wethers. Castration did not affect (P greater than 0.10) the clearance of androstenedione or testosterone at the 5 mg dosage. Castration had an effect (P less than 0.05) on the clearance of 50 mg of androstenedione and testosterone. These data indicate that reproductive status has a differential effect on the metabolism of exogenously administered steroids.

Starch digestion in fowl

Starch is usually the largest single nutrient in feed and provides the greatest proportion of metabolizable energy. Amylose and amylopectin comprise starch and are packed by plants in granular form. Granule stability is a function of the proportions of each polymer and the manner in which they are crystallized. Plant source determines granule size and stability. Grains generally have granules that are smaller and less stable than tuber or legume sources. Pancreatic alpha-amylase is the only enzyme elaborated by fowl that digests starch. Avian and mammalian sources are very similar, and inhibitors would not ordinarily be encountered in practice. The primary products of amylose digestion are maltose and maltotriose which further include alpha-limit dextrins when amylopectin is the substrate. Having starch in granule form reduces polymer access by the enzyme, and digestion difficulties occur in proportion to stability of structure. Moisture combined with heat destabilize granule structure and their use at one time or another in the manufacture of most feeds alleviates digestibility problems. Large amounts of the enzyme are present with the chick at hatch, and the pancreas is more than capable of synthesis commensurate with need. Gelatinization, enzyme adequacy, predominance of starch from grain, and lack of inhibitors account for the relative absence of practical problems involving this nutrient.

Amylases: enzymatic mechanisms

Many types of amylases are found throughout the animal, vegetable and microbial kingdoms. They have evolved along different pathways to enable the organism to convert insoluble starch (or glycogen) into low molecular weight, water soluble dextrins and sugars. Alpha amylases are dextrinogenic and can attack the interior of starch molecules. The products retain the alpha anomeric configuration. Beta amylases act only at the non-reducing chain ends and liberate only beta maltose. Both alpha and beta amylases exhibit multiple (repetitive) attack, that is, after the initial catalytic cleavage, the enzyme may remain attached to the substrate and lead to several more cleavages before dissociation of the enzyme-substrate complex. Amylases have extended substrate binding sites, in the range 4-9 glucose units. This enables the enzyme to stress the substrate and lower the activation energy for hydrolysis. Similarly the enzyme exerts a torsion on the glucose unit at the catalytic site, inducing a transition state conformation (oxycarbonium ion). Alpha and beta amylases differ in the stereospecific hydration of the oxycarbonium ion, in the sequence of liberation of the right-hand vs the left-hand product, and the direction of motion of the retained substrate to give multiple attack.

Repetitive attack by Aspergillus oryzae alpha amylase

The action of Aspergillus oryzae alpha amylase on reducing-end, and uniformly radiolabeled maltotriose through maltodecaose has been studied. The enzyme is found to hydrolyze more than a single glycosidic bond during enzyme-substrate encounters. The extent of this repetitive attack is quantitated.

Mathematical models for the action of alpha-amylase on amylose

Mathematical treatments have been developed to describe the action of alpha-amylases on amylose. The treatments are based on the unique properties of the exponential (or most-probable) distribution of molecular weights of the substrate, namely, that (a) the principal averages are invariant to chain-end attack if the product molecules are ignored, and (b) the ratio of the principal averages is invariant to random attack. The relations so developed allow published, qualitative data for the alpha-amylolysis of amylose to be interpreted in a quantitative manner. As a result, it appears that multiple attack is of little or no significance in the action patterns of alpha-amylases, with the exception of those derived from the pancreas.

Models for depolymerizing enzymes: criteria for discrimination of models

Several models for the action of alpha amylase have been proposed to account for the nonrandom distribution of oligosaccharides in the amylase digests of polysaccharides. The preferred-attack model attempts to account for the nonrandom distribution by assuming that the probability for bond cleavage depends upon the position of the bond in the chain. The repetitive, or multiple-attack, model suggests that the nonrandom distribution of oligosaccharides arises because an amylase can form a cage-like complex with a substrate and attack it several times during a single encounter. The multiple-enzyme or dual-site model suggests that the nonrandom yield of oligosaccharides arises from the combined action of exo- and endo-enzymes. The effects of pH, inhibitors, and substrate chain-length on enzyme action have been studied in several laboratories to determine which of the three action-patterns best describes the action of alpha amylase. The influence of these variables on product distributions or enzyme action-patterns are mathematically modeled in the Appendix. The experimental data on porcine-pancreatic alpha amylase are discussed in the light of the derivations.

Biochemical genetics of alpha-amylase isozymes of the chicken pancreas

In the chicken population at large, three electrophoretically distinct pancreatic alpha-amylase isozymes were discovered. The isozymes were designated Pa 1, Pa 2, and Pa 3. The local population of chickens, however, possessed only isozymes Pa 2 and Pa 3 present as three phenotypes: Amy-2 B, consisting of isozyme Pa2; Amy2 BC, consisting of isozymes Pa 2 plus Pa 3; and Amy2 C, consisting of isozyme Pa 3. Pancreatic biopsy permitted the establishment of a breeding flock with defined amylase phenotypes. Matings of this flock established that amylases are inherited as codominant alleles at a single genetic locus. Further, there was no evidence of ontogenetic modification of the amylase isozymes. It was observed that amylase isozymes Pa 2 and Pa 3 each generated a family of at least three faster-migrating amylolytic proteins. These post-translationally modified amylases were designated Pa Xa, Pa Xb, and Pa Xc, where X represents the number of the progenitor amylase. Structural analyses of purified amylases demonstrated that all amylase isozymes are nonglycosidated, monomeric molecules of molecular weight 55,000. In addition, the data are consistent with the hypothesis that the faster-migrating amylases are produced by deamidation of asparagine and/or glutamine residues.