Preparation and properties of 2'(or 3')-O-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl) adenosine 5'-triphosphate, an analog of adenosine triphosphate

Thermophilic F1-ATPase is activated without dissociation of an endogenous inhibitor, epsilon subunit

Subunit complexes (alpha3beta3gamma, alpha3beta3gammadelta, alpha3beta3gammaepsilon, and alpha3beta3gammadeltaepsilon) of thermophilic F1-ATPase were prepared, and their catalytic properties were compared to know the role of delta and epsilon subunits in catalysis. The presence of delta subunit in the complexes had slight inhibitory effect on the ATPase activity. The effect of epsilon subunit was more profound. The (-epsilon) complexes, alpha3beta3gamma and alpha3beta3gammadelta, initiated ATP hydrolysis without a lag. In contrast, the (+epsilon) complexes, alpha3beta3gammaepsilon and alpha3beta3gammadeltaepsilon, started hydrolysis of ATP (<700 microM) with a lag phase that was gradually activated during catalytic turnover. As ATP concentration increased, the lag phase of the (+epsilon) complexes became shorter, and it was not observed above 1 mM ATP. Analysis of binding and hydrolysis of the ATP analog, 2',3'-O-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)-ATP, suggested that the (+epsilon) complexes bound substrate only slowly. Differing from Escherichia coli F1-ATPase, the activation of the (+epsilon) complexes from the lag phase was not due to dissociation of epsilon subunit since the re-isolated activated complex retained epsilon subunit. This indicates that there are two alternative forms of the (+epsilon) complex, inhibited form and activated form, and the inhibited one is converted to the activated one during catalytic turnover.

Binding of TNP-ATP and TNP-ADP to the non-catalytic sites of Escherichia coli F1-ATPase

Using site-directed-tryptophan fluorescence, parameters for equilibrium binding of (Mg)TNP-ATP and (Mg)TNP-ADP to non-catalytic sites of Escherichia coli F1-ATPase were determined. All three non-catalytic sites showed the same affinity for MgTNP-ATP (Kd = 0.2 microM) or MgTNP-ADP (Kd = 6.5 microM) whereas even at concentrations of 100 microM no binding of uncomplexed TNP-ATP or TNP-ADP was observed. The results demonstrate that the three non-catalytic sites bind TNP-nucleotides non-cooperatively, and emphasize the importance of Mg2+ for non-catalytic-site nucleotide binding. Parameters for binding of (Mg)TNP-ADP to the three catalytic sites were also determined, and showed marked cooperativity. This work completes the set of thermodynamic parameters for equilibrium binding of (Mg)TNP-ATP and (Mg)TNP-ADP to all six nucleotide sites of F1, providing essential information to fully exploit the potential of these nucleotide analogs in studies of F1-ATPase.

Monitoring the myosin ATPase reaction using a sensitive fluorescent probe: pyrene-labeled ATP

A pyrene-labeled ATP (Pyr-ATP) in which a pyrene fluorophore is linked to the ribose moiety of ATP with a butyryl chain has been synthesized, together with the corresponding analog of ADP. The spectroscopic properties of two fluorescent analogs were found to be similar to those of 1-pyrenebutyric acid, making them photostable and highly sensitive probes for detecting changes in conformations around the nucleotide binding sites of proteins. Binding of Pyr-ADP to myosin subfragment-1 (S-1) resulted in a fluorescence quenching of about 70%. This binding was tight, with a dissociation constant (0.9 microM) similar to that of ADP itself. Formation of the stable ternary complex of Pyr-ADP with S-1 and orthovanadate could be monitored from the quench in pyrene fluorescence with a rate constant of 0.01 s-1. The final fluorescence intensity was about 20% of that for Pyr-ADP alone. Pyr-ATP was hydrolyzed by S-1 1.3 times faster than was ATP. Hydrolysis of Pyr-ATP was accompanied by an initial quenching of pyrene fluorescence with a subsequent recovery of the fluorescence. The fluorescence changes could be used to monitor the hydrolysis reaction continuously and measure the turnover rates of the analog. The fluorescence assay was sensitive, particularly under single turnover conditions, allowing hydrolysis reactions to be monitored at concentrations of S-1 and the analog as low as 50 nM.

Further search for small molecular inactivants capable of eliciting respiratory mucosal immunogenicity by modifying Sendai virus core RNA

Five groups of 32 chemicals were examined regarding their immunological functions as modifier inactivants to make inactivated Sendai nasal vaccine using a contact exposure experiment, direct immunofluorescent method, and serum HI titer. (1) Five of the nine reactive groups of reactive dyes (2-chloropyridine, 2, 4, 6-trichloropyrimidine, vinylsulfonic acid, epichlorohydrin and beta-chloroethylamine) induced complete or almost complete defense in the entire respiratory tract, and the four other vaccines brought about slight infection in the respiratory tracts. There was no marked rise in serum HI titers post-exposure, despite uneven development. (2) Of the four sizable substituted AS naphthol vaccines, naphthol AS-IRG and AS-G vaccines elicited nearly complete defense, but the two other vaccines, inactivated with more elongated molecules, invited rare and successive infections. The three immune groups produced invariably high serum HI titers. (3) Of the six naphthalene derivative vaccines, two (3-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid methylester and 2-naphthol-6-sulfonic acid) induced complete or almost complete protection. But two vaccines brought about less protection, and the remaining two vaccines caused heavy infections. (4) Of the six benzene derivative vaccines, both m-nitrobenzenesulfonic acid and isatoic anhydride induced complete protection. Three vaccines permitted slight infections but 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid vaccine caused severe infection. (5) Of the seven food dye vaccines, only orange I induced complete or nearly complete defense, while the other dye vaccines were inferior. In effect, twelve inactivated Sendai nasal vaccines modified the ribose and/or phosphate groups of the virus core RNA through five groups of small-sized molecules with specially fixed side chains, and elicited complete or almost complete respiratory mucosal defense. The viral stabilization requiring the least alteration of the configuration will be involved in the chemical modification.

Catalytic activities of alpha3beta3gamma complexes of F1-ATPase with 1, 2, or 3 incompetent catalytic sites

In order to know how many functional catalytic sites are necessary for ATPase activity of F1-ATPase from a thermophilic Bacillus PS3, a new method of isolating homogeneous preparations of the alpha3beta3gamma complex with 1, 2, or 3 incompetent catalytic sites was developed. Ten glutamic acids (Glu.Tag) were linked to the C terminus of the catalytically incompetent beta(E190Q) subunit. The Glu.Tag itself did not affect ATPase activity of the complexes. Two kinds of alpha3beta3gamma complexes, one containing beta(wild-type) and the other Glu.Tag-linked beta(E190Q), were mixed, urea-denatured, and dialyzed, and alpha3beta3gamma complexes were reconstituted. Each of the complexes containing a different number of Glu.Tag-linked beta(E190Q) was separated by anion-exchange chromatography and analyzed. The results were as follows. 1) Normal steady-state ATPase activity requires three intact catalytic sites. 2) Chase-acceleration, a catalytic cooperativity, requires at least two intact catalytic sites. 3) Single-site catalysis can be mediated by a single intact catalytic site alone. Rescrambling of subunits between complexes could occur when the complex was aged under certain conditions, and this might be one of the reasons for previous contradictory results (Miwa, K., Ohtsubo, M., Denda, K., Hisabori, T., Date, T., and Yoshida, M.(1989) J. Biochem. (Tokyo) 106, 730-734).

Binding and hydrolysis of TNP-ATP by Escherichia coli F1-ATPase

It had previously been suggested that Vmax hydrolysis rate of 2', 3'-O-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)adenosine 5'-triphosphate (TNP-ATP) by F1-ATPase required filling of only two catalytic sites on the enzyme (Grubmeyer, C., and Penefsky, H. S. (1981) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 3718-3727), whereas recently it was shown that Vmax rate of ATP hydrolysis requires that all three catalytic sites are filled (Weber, J., Wilke-Mounts, S., Lee, R. S. F., Grell, E., and Senior, A. E. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 20126-20133). To resolve this apparent discrepancy, we measured equilibrium binding and hydrolysis of MgTNP-ATP under identical conditions, using betaY331W mutant Escherichia coli F1-ATPase, in which the genetically engineered tryptophan provides a direct fluorescent probe of catalytic site occupancy. We found that MgTNP-ATP hydrolysis at Vmax rate did require filling of all three catalytic sites, but in contrast to the situation with MgATP, "bisite hydrolysis" of MgTNP-ATP amounted to a substantial fraction (approximately 40%) of Vmax. Binding of MgTNP-ATP to the three catalytic sites showed strong binding cooperativity (Kd1 < 1 nm, Kd2 = 23 nm, Kd3 = 1.4 microM). Free TNP-ATP (i.e. in presence of EDTA) bound to all three catalytic sites with lower affinity but was not hydrolyzed. These data emphasize that the presence of Mg2+ is critical for cooperativity of substrate binding, formation of the very high affinity first catalytic site, and hydrolytic activity in F1-ATPases and that these three properties are strongly correlated.

Structural asymmetry of F1-ATPase caused by the gamma subunit generates a high affinity nucleotide binding site

The alpha 3 beta 3 gamma and alpha 3 beta 3 complexes of F1-ATPase from a thermophilic Bacillus PS3 were compared in terms of interaction with trinitrophenyl analogs of ATP and ADP (TNP-ATP and TNP-ADP) that differed from ATP and ADP and did not destabilize the alpha 3 beta 3 complex. The results of equilibrium dialysis show that the alpha 3 beta 3 gamma complex has a high affinity nucleotide binding site and several low affinity sites, whereas the alpha 3 beta 2 complex has only low affinity sites. This is also supported from analysis of spectral change induced by TNP-ADP, which in addition indicates that this high affinity site is located on the beta subunit. Single-site hydrolysis of substoichiometric amounts of TNP-ATP by the alpha 3 beta 3 gamma complex is accelerated by the chase addition of excess ATP, whereas that by the alpha 3 beta 3 complex is not. We further examined the complexes containing mutant beta subunits (Y341L, Y341A, and Y341C). Surprisingly, in spite of very weak affinity of the isolated mutant beta subunits to nucleotides (Odaka, M., Kaibara, C., Amano, T., Matsui, T., Muneyuki, E., Ogasawara, K, Yutani, K., and Yoshida, M. (1994) J. Biochem. (Tokyo) 115, 789-796), a high affinity TNP-ADP binding site is generated on the beta subunit in the mutant alpha 3 beta 3 gamma complexes where single-site TNP-ATP hydrolysis can occur. ATP concentrations required for the chase acceleration of the mutant complexes are higher than that of the wild-type complex. The mutant alpha 3 beta 3 complexes, on the contrary, catalyze single-site hydrolysis of TNP-ATP rather slowly, and there is no chase acceleration. Thus, the gamma subunit is responsible for the generation of a high affinity nucleotide binding site on the beta subunit in F1-ATPase where cooperative catalysis can proceed.

Interaction of mitochondrial F1-ATPase with trinitrophenyl derivatives of ATP. Photoaffinity labeling of binding sites with 2-azido-2',3'-O-(4,6-trinitrophenyl)adenosine 5'-triphosphate

It was shown recently that ATP present at near saturating concentrations did not prevent binding and hydrolysis of submicromolar concentration of trinitrophenyl adenosine triphosphate (Tnp-ATP) by F1-ATPase [Murataliev, M. B. & Boyer, P. O. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 15431-15439]. To explore F1-ATPase binding sites that bind Tnp-ATP a new photoreactive analog of ATP, 2-azido-trinitrophenyl adenosine triphosphate (2-N3-Tnp-ATP) has been synthesized and used for photoaffinity labeling of mitochondrial F1-ATPase. The analog shares many properties of the parent non-azido Tnp-ATP as shown from spectral characteristics, binding with F1-ATPase, and kinetic and inhibition studies. 500 microM ATP does not prevent binding and hydrolysis of low concentrations of 2-N3-Tnp-ATP by F1-ATPase. Photoirradiation of the enzyme-analog complex formed under such conditions results in the labeling of the catalytic-site peptide. This shows that in the presence of near saturating ATP, Tnp-ATP can enter the catalytic cycle and inhibit ATP hydrolysis by initial binding at a third catalytic site. The results give strong evidence that only two catalytic sites need to have bound substrate for near maximal turnover rate, and that three catalytic sites of F1-ATPase participate equally in catalysis. When F1-ATPase binds substoichiometric 2-N3-Tnp-ATP in the presence of Mg2+, illumination of the inactive complex formed results in the covalent labeling of a catalytic site. This shows that F1-ATPase forms similar inactive complexes when ADP or Tnp-ADP is bound at a catalytic site in the presence of Mg2+. Exposure of the nucleotide-depleted F1-ATPase to 20 microM 2-N3-Tnp-ATP followed by a short incubation with excess of Tnp-ATP results in binding, and, upon illumination, in a covalent labeling of a non-catalytic-site peptide.

Catalytic cooperativity of beef heart mitochondrial F1-ATPase revealed by using 2',3'-O-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)-ATP as a substrate; an indication of mutually activating catalytic sites

The interaction of 2',3'-O-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)ATP (TNP-ATP) with bovine mitochondrial F1-ATPase (MF1) was examined under substoichiometric and stoichiometric conditions to investigate the relationship between the amount of bound TNP-AT(D)P and extent of inhibition on steady state ATP hydrolysis. The hydrolysis of bound TNP-ATP under substoichiometric condition proceeded slowly, with a first order rate constant of 0.014 s-1. However, hydrolysis was greatly accelerated by addition of excess ATP. The hydrolyzed product, TNP-ADP, did not dissociate from the enzyme even after the addition of excess ATP. These properties were the same for both native and nucleotide depleted enzyme. The difference spectrum induced by binding TNP-ATP to MF1 had a distinct peak at 410 nm and a deep trough at 395 nm, which were similar to those induced when TNP-ATP bound to the isolated beta subunit of the thermophilic F1-ATPase. The magnitude of difference spectra as a function of TNP-ATP concentration suggested the presence of at least two types of binding sites on the MF1 molecule. The first site, where substoichiometric TNP-ATP was hydrolyzed, had a very high affinity for TNP-ATP. TNP-AT(D)P bound to this site did not dissociate even in the presence of excess ATP. TNP-AT(D)P bound to the second site dissociated slowly when excess ATP was added. The steady state ATPase activity at 100 microM ATP was linearly suppressed as pre-loaded TNP-ATP increased. The binding of 2 mol of TNP-ATP per mol of MF1 was required to abolish ATPase activity. A model which assumes mutually-activating two catalytic sites is presented to explain these results.

Regulation of cytochrome c oxidase by interaction of ATP at two binding sites, one on subunit VIa

Cytochrome c oxidase isolated from a wild-type yeast strain and a mutant in which the gene for subunit VIa had been disrupted were used to study the interaction of adenine nucleotides with the enzyme complex. At low ionic strength (25 mM potassium phosphate), in the absence of nucleotides, the cytochrome c oxidase activity of the mutant enzyme lacking subunit VIa was higher than that of the wild-type enzyme. Increasing concentrations of ATP, in the physiological range, enhanced the cytochrome c oxidase activity of the mutant much more than the activity of the wild-type strain, whereas ADP, in the same concentration range, had no significant effect on the activity of the cytochrome c oxidase of either strain. These results indicate an interaction of ATP with subunit VIa in the wild-type enzyme that prevents the stimulation of the activity observed in the mutant enzyme. The stimulation of the mutant enzyme implies the presence of a second ATP binding site on the enzyme. Quantitative titrations with the fluorescent adenine nucleotide analogues 2'(or 3')-O-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)adenosine 5'-triphosphate (TNP-ATP) and 2'(or 3')-O-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)adenosine 5'-diphosphate (TNP-ADP) confirmed the presence of two binding sites for adenine nucleotides per monomer of wild-type cytochrome c oxidase and one binding site per monomer of mutant enzyme. Covalent photolabeling of yeast cytochrome c oxidase with radioactive 2-azido-ATP further confirmed the presence of an ATP binding site on subunit VIa.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antagonistic binding of substrates to 3-phosphoglycerate kinase monitored by the fluorescent analogue 2'(3')-O-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)adenosine 5'-triphosphate

The analogue of ATP, 2'(3')-O-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)adenosine 5'-triphosphate (TNP-ATP), binds tightly to pig muscle 3-phosphoglycerate kinase. A dissociation constant Kd of 0.0095 +/- 0.0015 mM was determined by fluorimetric titration on the basis of 1:1 stoichiometry. TNP-ATP is a strong competitive inhibitor towards MgATP and MgADP with a Ki of 0.008 +/- 0.001 mM for both substrates. It is also a mixed-type inhibitor towards 3-phosphoglycerate with similar inhibition constants. Binding of TNP-ATP to 3-phosphoglycerate kinase is accompanied by a tenfold intensity increase and a blue shift of about 20 nm in its fluorescence emission spectrum and a shift of the pK of its trinitrophenyl group towards a more acidic pH. These findings suggest that the negatively charged trinitrophenyl group of TNP-ATP significantly contributes to the binding of the analogue. By stepwise replacement of the fluorescent TNP-ATP, the dissociation constants (Kd) for ADP and MgADP binding were determined and found to be 0.78 +/- 0.08 and 0.048 +/- 0.006 mM respectively, which are consistent with the values previously determined by equilibrium dialysis [Molnár and Vas (1993) Biochem J. 293, 595-599]. In similar competitive-titration experiments, ATP and MgATP did not completely substitute for TNP-ATP. For the fraction of the analogue that could be substituted, the dissociation constants for MgATP and ATP were estimated to be 0.27 +/- 0.09 and 0.33 +/- 0.15 mM respectively, close to the values determined by equilibrium dialysis. Using the same method, a significant weakening of binding of both (Mg)ADP and (Mg)ATP could be detected in the presence of 3-phosphoglycerate: their respective Kd values became 0.34 +/- 0.04 and 0.51 +/- 0.22 mM. The reciprocal effect, i.e. weakening of 3-phosphoglycerate binding in the presence of the nucleotide substrates, has been observed previously [Vas and Batke (1984) Eur. J. Biochem. 139, 115-123]. Similarly, a much weaker binding of (Mg)ATP could be observed in the presence of 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate (Kd = 2.30 +/- 0.68 mM). The possible reason for the mutual weakening of substrate binding is discussed in the light of the available structural data.

Structural characteristics of the nucleotide-binding site of Escherichia coli primary replicative helicase DnaB protein. Studies with ribose and base-modified fluorescent nucleotide analogs

Structural characteristics of the base- and ribose-binding regions of the high-affinity noninteracting nucleotide-binding site of Escherichia coli primary replicative helicase DnaB protein have been studied, using the base-modified fluorescent nucleotide analog 1, N6-ethenoadenosine diphosphate (epsilon ADP) and the ribose-modified fluorescent analogs 3'(2')-O-(N-methylantraniloyl)adenosine 5'-diphosphate (MANT-ADP), 3'-O-(N-methylantraniloyl)deoxyadenosine 5'-diphosphate (MANT-dADP), 3'-O-(N-methylantraniloyl)-deoxyadenosine 5'-triphosphate (MANT-dATP), and 2'(3')-O-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)adenosine 5'-diphosphate (TNP-ADP). The obtained data indicate contrasting differences between these two regions. Binding of epsilon ADP to the DnaB helicase causes only approximately 21% increase of the nucleotide fluorescence intensity and no shift of the emission spectrum maximum. The fluorescence of bound epsilon ADP is characterized by a single lifetime of 24.2 +/- 0.6 ns, only slightly shorter than the fluorescent lifetime of the free epsilon ADP in solution (25.5 +/- 0.6 ns). Solute-quenching studies of bound epsilon ADP, using different quenchers, acrylamide, I-, and Tl+, indicate limited accessibility of ethenoadenosine to the solvent. These results strongly suggest that the base-binding region of the DnaB nucleotide-binding site is located in the polar cleft on the enzyme's surface. Moreover, the limiting emission anisotropy of bound epsilon ADP is 0.21 +/- 0.02, compared to the anisotropy of 0.3 of completely immobilized epsilon ADP at the same excitation wavelength (lambda ex = 325 nm, lambda em = 410 nm), indicating that the adenine preserves substantial mobility when bound in the base-binding site. In contrast, fluorescence intensity at the emission maximum of TNP-ADP and MANT-ADP, which has modifying groups attached to the 2' and/or 3' oxygens of the ribose, increases upon binding to DnaB by factors of approximately 4.7 (lambda ex = 408 nm) and approximately 2.6 (lambda ex = 356 nm), respectively. Moreover, the maximum of emission spectrum of bound TNP-ADP is blue-shifted by approximately 11 nm and that of MANT-ADP by approximately 12 nm. Comparisons between spectral properties of TNP-ADP and MANT-ADP bound to DnaB and in different solvents suggest that the ribose-binding region of the DnaB nucleotide-binding site has relatively low polarity. Solute quenching studies of MANT-ADP fluorescence, using acrylamide, I-, and Tl+, indicate that the MANT group has very little accessibility to the solvent when bound to DnaB. Taken together, these results suggest that the ribose-binding region constitutes a hydrophobic cleft, or pocket, with very limited, if any, contact with the solvent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Trinitrophenyl-ATP blocks colonic Cl- channels in planar phospholipid bilayers. Evidence for two nucleotide binding sites

Outwardly rectifying 30-50-pS Cl- channels mediate cell volume regulation and transepithelial transport. Several recent reports indicate that rectifying Cl- channels are blocked after addition of ATP to the extracellular bath (Alton, E. W. F. W., S. D. Manning, P. J. Schlatter, D. M. Geddes, and A. J. Williams. 1991. Journal of Physiology. 443:137-159; Paulmichl, M., Y. Li, K. Wickman, M. Ackerman, E. Peralta, and D. Clapham. 1992. Nature. 356:238-241). Therefore, we decided to conduct a more detailed study of the ATP binding site using a higher affinity probe. We tested the ATP derivative, 2',3',O-(2,4,6-trinitrocyclohexadienylidene) adenosine 5'-triphosphate (TNP-ATP), which has a high affinity for certain nucleotide binding sites. Here we report that TNP-ATP blocked colonic Cl- channels when added to either bath and that blockade was consistent with the closed-open-blocked kinetic model. The TNP-ATP concentration required for a 50% decrease in open probability was 0.27 microM from the extracellular (cis) side and 20 microM from the cytoplasmic (trans) side. Comparison of the off rate constants revealed that TNP-ATP remained bound 28 times longer when added to the extracellular side compared with the cytoplasmic side. We performed competition studies to determine if TNP-ATP binds to the same sites as ATP. Addition of ATP to the same bath containing TNP-ATP reduced channel amplitude and increased the time the channel spent in the open and fast-blocked states (i.e., burst duration). This is the result expected if TNP-ATP and ATP compete for block, presumably by binding to common sites. In contrast, addition of ATP to the bath opposite to the side containing TNP-ATP reduced amplitude but did not alter burst duration. This is the result expected if opposite-sided TNP-ATP and ATP bind to different sites. In summary, we have identified an ATP derivative that has a nearly 10-fold higher affinity for reconstituted rectifying colonic Cl- channels than any previously reported blocker (Singh, A. K., G. B. Afink, C. J. Venglarik, R. Wang, and R. J. Bridges. 1991. American Journal of Physiology. 260 [Cell Physiology. 30]:C51-C63). Thus, TNP-ATP should be useful in future studies of ion channel nucleotide binding sites and possibly in preliminary steps of ion channel protein purification. In addition, we have obtained good evidence that there are at least two nucleotide binding sites located on opposite sides of the colonic Cl- channel and that occupancy of either site produces a blocked state.

The binding of the fluorescent ATP analogue 2'(3')-trinitrophenyladenosine-5'-triphosphate to rat liver fatty acid-binding protein

The less polar fluorescent analogue of ATP, 2'(3')-trinitrophenyl-5'-triphosphate bound to rat liver fatty acid-binding protein with high affinity (Kd 6.3 x 10(-6) M) and 1:1 molar stoichiometry. This probe bound to the fatty acid binding site of the protein and was displaced by oleic acid and oleoyl CoA. High concentrations of ATP did not cause significant displacement of the fluorescent ATP analogue. Since the anionic part of this molecule is the triphosphate group it is difficult to envisage this group being accommodated at an anion binding site within the non-polar core of this protein as is the case with other fatty acid binding proteins. Therefore it is anticipated that the ligand must bind to liver fatty acid-binding protein with this triphosphate group surface exposed. Caution must be exercised when using the more hydrophobic fluorescent analogue of ATP to investigate the ATP binding properties of proteins.

Stoichiometric binding of 2'(or 3')-O-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)adenosine 5'-triphosphate to bovine heart cytochrome c oxidase

The binding of 2'(or 3')-O-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)adenosine 5'-triphosphate (TNP-ATP) to isolated bovine heart cytochrome c oxidase (COX) was studied by following its specific spectral change at 510 nm. The quantitative titration revealed two binding sites for TNP-ATP per monomer COX with a Kd of 1.6 microM.

Over-expression and refolding of beta-subunit from the chloroplast ATP synthase

We established a bacterial system for high-level over-expression of the spinach chloroplast atpB gene which encodes the ATP synthase beta subunit. Upon induction, atpB was expressed as at least 50% to 70% of total cell protein. Although the over-expressed beta polypeptide formed insoluble inclusion bodies, more than fifty percent of it was restored to a functional form by solubilizing the inclusion bodies with 4 M urea and slowly removing the urea by stepwise dialysis. The resulting beta subunit exhibited specific and selective nucleotide binding properties identical to those of the native beta subunit.

Synthesis, purification, and characterization of 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl-UDP-galactose: a fluorescent substrate for galactosyltransferase

Glycosyltransferases enzymatically transfer monosaccharides from sugar-nucleotides to complex oligosaccharide chains and, as cell surface molecules, exhibit receptor-like activity. We have modified the substate UDP-galactose to produce a compound that has useful absorbance and fluorescence properties upon binding to galactosyltransferase (GalTase). Using strategies similar to those for preparing fluorescent ATP analogs, we were able to synthesize 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl-5'-UDP-galactose (TUG). In solution, the absorbance properties of TUG are pH dependent, with absorbance maxima at 260, 408, and 453 nm and an isobestic point at 353 nm. In the presence of soluble GalTase extracted from bovine milk, TUG exhibited an excitation maximum at 368 nm with emission maxima at 436 and 533 nm; in the absence of GalTase only the 533-nm peak was present. Under enzymatic conditions, TUG acted as a competitive substrate of UDP-galactose with GalTase. Under noncatalytic conditions, the fluorescence emission of TUG at 436 nm increased monotonically with Gal-Tase concentration, with a half-maximal response at approximately 4 microM. This compound may be useful for quantifying GalTase function as both an enzyme and a cell adhesion molecule.

Binding of 2'(3')-O-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)-adenosine 5'-diphosphate opens the pathway for protons through the chloroplast ATPase complex

The effect of 2'(3')-O-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)-adenosine 5'-diphosphate (TNP-ADP) on photophosphorylation and on the proton conductivity of the thylakoid membrane has been investigated. The results show that TNP-ADP is a potent competitive inhibitor of photophosphorylation (Ki = 1-2 microM). Moreover, in the absence of ADP and Pi, TNP-ADP accelerates basal electron transport of chloroplasts. Addition of ADP, which promotes release of the analogue from CF1, completely reverses this effect of TNP-ADP; likewise Pi alone reverses stimulation of electron transport by TNP-ADP. Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide treatment, which is known to close CF0 to H+, completely abolishes the effect of TNP-ADP. The measurements of the alkalization of the medium and the acidification of the thylakoid lumen following single turnover flashes showed that binding of TNP-ADP to CF1 increased membrane permeability for H+. Further results suggest that binding of TNP-ADP to the catalytic site of CF1 opens the CF0-CF1 complex for H+. Since ADP, as well as Pi alone, reverses the effect, it is concluded that TNP-ADP induces a conformation of the CF0-CF1 complex similar to the one triggered by simultaneous binding of ADP plus Pi. This may be achieved by interaction of the TNP residue with the Pi binding site. Thus it seems that the status of the catalytic site(s) in CF1 can be transmitted to the CF0 part to control proton flux through the ATPase complex in an economically reasonable way.

Affinity of nucleotides for the active site of detergent-solubilized sarcoplasmic reticulum CaATPase

A dye displacement method was developed for determination of the affinities of compounds toward the active site of the detergent-solubilized sarcoplasmic reticulum CaATPase. Titration of the enzyme with 2',3'-O-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)-ADP resulted in a large absorbance difference in the visible spectrum. Subsequent addition of compounds which bind to the active site causes displacement of the dye; resulting absorbance changes were treated to gain dissociation constants for added ligands. The active site affinities of ATP, and nonhydrolyzable nucleotide analogues were determined. Both occupancy of the high affinity calcium site and added divalent cations have large influences on nucleotide affinity.

Fluorescence energy transfer between nucleotide binding sites in an F-actin filament

Fluorescence energy transfer between nucleotide binding sites in an F-actin filament was measured using 1-N6-ethenoadenosine diphosphate (epsilon-ADP) as a fluorescent donor and 2'(or 3')-O-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)adenosine 5'-diphosphate (TNP-ADP) as an acceptor, both of which were bound to F-actin. Taking into consideration the helical structure of the F-actin filament, the radial coordinate of the nucleotide binding site was calculated to be 25 A, which corresponds to a distance between these sites along the long-pitch helix of 56.3 A and along the genetic helix of 56.7 A.

Synthesis of 2',3'-O-(2,4,6-trinitrocyclohexadienylidine)guanosine 5'-triphosphate and a study of its inhibitory properties with adenylate cyclase

A fluorescent GTP analog 2',3'-O-(2,4,6-trinitrocyclohexadienylidine) guanosine 5'-triphosphate (TNP-GTP) has been prepared and some of its physical properties characterized. TNP-GTP was found to be a potent inhibitor of chick embryo heart adenylate cyclase as activated by guanyl 5'-(beta,gamma-imido)triphosphate (GppNHp), F-, and forskolin with Ki values in the 8-15 microM range. It also appeared to inhibit substantially basal adenylate cyclase in this system. TNP-GTP demonstrated an effective competition with [3H]GppNHp, binding to membranes equivalently to GppNHp and about three times better than GTP. 8-Azidoguanosine 5'-triphosphate (8N3GTP) mimics GTP activation of chick embryo heart adenylate cyclase and [gamma-32P]8N3GTP is effectively photoincorporated into a 42,000- to 44,000-Mr doublet when proteins are separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. TNP-GTP effectively prevents this photoincorporation, as does GTP, at concentrations that agree with their respective apparent inhibition and activation binding constants. The data suggest that TNP-GTP could prove to be a valuable tool for studying the mechanisms of GTP regulation of adenylate cyclase and other GTP-regulated systems.

Binding stoichiometry and structural mapping of the epsilon polypeptide of chloroplast coupling factor 1

Fluorescent probes were attached to the single sulfhydryl residue on the isolated epsilon polypeptide of chloroplast coupling factor 1 (CF1), and the modified polypeptide was reconstituted with the epsilon-deficient enzyme. A binding stoichiometry of one epsilon polypeptide per CF1 was obtained. This stoichiometry corresponded to a maximum inhibition of the Ca2+-dependent ATPase activity of the enzyme induced by epsilon removal. Resonance energy transfer between the modified epsilon polypeptide and fluorescent probes attached to various other sites on the enzyme allowed distance measurements between these sites and the epsilon polypeptide. The epsilon-sulfhydryl is nearly equidistant from both the disulfide (23 A) and the dark-accessible sulfhydryl (26 A) of the gamma subunit. Measurement of the distance between epsilon and the light-accessible gamma-sulfhydryl was not possible due to an apparent exclusion of modified epsilon from epsilon-deficient enzyme after modification of the light-accessible site. The distances measured between epsilon and the nucleotide binding sites on the enzyme were 62, 66, and 49 A for sites 1, 2, and 3, respectively. These measurements place the epsilon subunit in close physical proximity to the sulfhydryl-containing domains of the gamma subunit and approximately 40 A from the membrane surface. Enzyme activity measurements also indicated a close association between the epsilon and gamma subunits: epsilon removal caused a marked increase in accessibility of the gamma-disulfide bond to thiol reagents and exposed a trypsin-sensitive site on the gamma subunit. Either disulfide bond reduction or trypsin cleavage of gamma significantly enhanced the Ca2+-ATPase activity of the epsilon-deficient enzyme. Thus, the epsilon and gamma polypeptides of coupling factor 1 are closely linked, both physically and functionally.

Further investigations on the inorganic phosphate binding site of beef heart mitochondrial F1-ATPase

The possibility that 4-azido-2-nitrophenyl phosphate (ANPP), a photoreactive derivative of inorganic phosphate (Pi) [Lauquin, G., Pougeois, R., & Vignais, P. V. (1980) Biochemistry 19, 4620-4626], could mimic ATP was investigated. ANPP was hydrolyzed in the dark by sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase in the presence of Ca2+ but not in the presence of ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid. ANPP was not hydrolyzed by purified mitochondrial F1-ATPase; however, ADP and ATP protected F1-ATPase against ANPP photoinactivation. On the other hand, the trinitrophenyl nucleotide analogues (TNP-ADP, TNP-ATP, and TNP-AMP-PNP), which bind specifically at the two catalytic sites of F1-ATPase [Grubmeyer, C., & Penefsky, H. (1981) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 3718-3727], abolished Pi binding on F1-ATPase; they do not protect F1-ATPase against ANPP photoinactivation. Furthermore, ANPP-photoinactivated F1-ATPase binds the TNP analogues in the same way as the native enzyme. The Pi binding site of F1-ATPase, which is shown to be photolabeled by ANPP, does not appear to be at the gamma-phosphate position of the catalytic sites.