Chemistry of the inactivation of cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase by serine O-sulfate

Synthesis of 3-arsonoalanine and its action on aspartate aminotransferase and aspartate ammonia-lyase. Comparison with arsenical analogues of malate and fumarate

DL-3-Arsonoalanine has been synthesized by the Strecker synthesis from the unstable compound arsonoacetaldehyde. It inactivates pig heart cytosolic aspartate aminotransferase and inhibits aspartate ammonia-lyase by competing with aspartate (Ki/Km 0.23). The fumarate analogue (E)-3-arsonoacrylic acid and the malate analogue (RS)-3-arsonolactate also inhibit fumarate hydratase, competing with fumarate (Ki/Km 1.8) and malate (Ki/Km 1.6) respectively. Attempted non-enzymic transamination of 3-arsonoalanine gave elimination of arsenite, in contrast with the transamination of 3-phosphonoalanine, which is either successful or leads to loss of phosphate.

Indole protects tryptophan indole-lyase, but not tryptophan synthase, from inactivation by trifluoroalanine

Trifluoroalanine is a mechanism-based inactivator of Escherichia coli tryptophan indole-lyase (tryptophanase) and E. coli tryptophan synthase (R. B. Silverman and R. H. Abeles, 1976, Biochemistry 15, 4718-4723). We have found that indole is able to prevent inactivation of tryptophan indole-lyase by trifluoroalanine. The protection of tryptophan indole-lyase by indole exhibits saturation kinetics, with a KD of 0.03 mM, which is comparable to the KI for inhibition of pyruvate ion formation (0.01 mM) and the Km for L-tryptophan synthesis. Fluoride electrode measurements indicate the formation of 28 mol of fluoride ion per mole of enzyme during inactivation of tryptophan indole-lyase, and 121 mol of fluoride ion are formed per mole of enzyme in the presence of 2 mM indole during the same incubation period. 19F NMR spectra of reaction mixtures of tryptophan indole-lyase and trifluoroalanine showed evidence only for fluoride ion formation, in either the absence or the presence of indole, and difluoropyruvic acid was not detected. The partition ratio, kcat/kinact, is estimated to be 9. Tryptophan indole-lyase in the presence of trifluoroalanine exhibits visible absorption peaks at 446 and 478 nm, which decay at the same rate as inactivation. However, in the presence of 1 mM indole and trifluoralanine, tryptophan indole-lyase exhibits a peak only at 420 nm, and the spectra show a gradual increase at 300-310 nm with incubation. In contrast, tryptophan synthase is not protected by indole from inactivation by trifluoroalanine, and the absorption peak at 408 nm for the tryptophan synthase-trifluoroalanine complex is unaffected by indole. These results demonstrate that inactivation of tryptophan indole-lyase occurs via a catalytically competent species, probably the beta,beta-difluoro-alpha-aminoacrylate intermediate, which can be partitioned from inactivation to products by a reactive aromatic nucleophile, indole.

Mechanism of inactivation and identification of sites of modification of ornithine aminotransferase by 4-aminohex-5-ynoate

The inactivation of ornithine aminotransferase by an enzyme-activated irreversible inhibitor 4-aminohex-5-ynoate was accompanied by stoichiometric binding of the radiolabeled compound. Distribution of radiolabel among separated tryptic peptides indicated that more than one amino acid residue had reacted. Lys-292 and Cys-388 were positively identified. Reduction with borohydride was necessary to stabilize the adduct formed with Lys-292, and the relevant peptide prepared after this treatment contained equimolar amounts of inhibitor and coenzyme. The coenzyme chromophore in this peptide showed strong negative circular dichroism. A mechanism consistent with these observations is proposed.

DL-canaline and 5-fluoromethylornithine. Comparison of two inactivators of ornithine aminotransferase

5-Fluoromethylornithine (5FMOrn) is an enzyme-activated irreversible inhibitor or ornithine aminotransferase (L-ornithine:2-oxo-acid 5-aminotransferase, OAT). For purified rat liver OAT, Ki(app.) was found to be 30 microM. and tau 1/2 = 4 min. Of the four stereomers of 5FMOrn only one reacts with OAT. The formation of a chromophore with an absorption maximum at 458 nm after inactivation of OAT by 5FMOrn suggests the formation of an enamine intermediate, which is slowly hydrolysed to release an unsaturated ketone. L-Canaline [(S)-2-amino-4-amino-oxybutyric acid] is a well-known irreversible inhibitor of OAT. Not only the natural L-enantiomer but also the D-enantiomer reacts by oxime formation with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate in the active site of the enzyme, although considerably more slowly. This demonstrates that the stereochemistry at C-2 of ornithine is not absolutely stringent. In vitro, canaline reacted faster than 5FMOrn with OAT. In vivo, however, only incomplete OAT inhibition was observed with canaline. Whereas intraperitoneal administration of 10 mg of 5FMOrn/kg body wt. to mice was sufficient to inactivate OAT in brain and liver by 90% for 24 h, 500 mg of DL-canaline/kg body wt. only produced a transient inhibition of 65-70%. The accumulation of ornithine in these tissues was considerably slower and the maximum concentrations lower than were achieved with 5FMOrn. It appears that DL-canaline, in contrast with 5FMOrn, is not useful as a tool in studies of biological consequences of OAT inhibition.

Effects of D-serine on bacterial D-amino acid transaminase: accumulation of an intermediate and inactivation of the enzyme

Incubation of pure bacterial D-amino acid transaminase with D-serine or erythro-beta-hydroxy-DL-aspartic acid, which are relatively poor substrates, leads to generation of a new absorbance band at 493 nm that is probably the quinonoid intermediate. The 420-nm absorbance band (due to the pyridoxal phosphate coenzyme) decreases, and the 338-nm absorbance band (due to the pyridoxamine phosphate or some other form of the coenzyme) increases. A negative Cotton effect at 493 nm in the circular dichroism spectra is also generated. Closely related D amino acids do not lead to generation of this new absorption band, which has a half-life of the order of several hours. Treatment of the enzyme with the good substrate D-alanine leads to a small but detectable amount of the same absorbance band. D-Serine but not erythro-beta-hydroxyaspartate leads to inactivation of D-amino acid transaminase, and D-alanine affords partial protection. The results indicate that D-serine is a unique type of inhibitor in which the initial steps of the half-reaction of transamination are so slow that a quinonoid intermediate with a 493-nm absorption band accumulates. A derivative formed from this intermediate inactivates the enzyme.

Inactivation of gamma-aminobutyric acid aminotransferase by (Z)-4-amino-2-fluorobut-2-enoic acid

(Z)-4-Amino-2-fluorobut-2-enoic acid (1) is shown to be a mechanism-based inactivator of pig brain gamma-aminobutyric acid aminotransferase. Approximately 750 inactivator molecules are consumed prior to complete enzyme inactivation. Concurrent with enzyme inactivation is the release of 708 +/- 79 fluoride ions; transamination occurs 737 +/- 15 times per inactivation event. Inactivation of [3H]pyridoxal 5'-phosphate ([3H]PLP) reconstituted GABA aminotransferase by 1 followed by denaturation releases [3H]PMP with no radioactivity remaining attached to the protein. A similar experiment carried out with 4-amino-5-fluoropent-2-enoic acid [Silverman, R. B., Invergo, B. J., & Mathew, J. (1986) J. Med. Chem. 29, 1840-1846] as the inactivator produces no [3H]PMP; rather, another radioactive species is released. These results support an inactivation mechanism for 1 that involves normal catalytic isomerization followed by active site nucleophilic attack on the activated Michael acceptor. A general hypothesis for predicting the inactivation mechanism (Michael addition vs enamine addition) of GABA aminotransferase inactivators is proposed.

Mechanism of inactivation of gamma-aminobutyric acid aminotransferase by (S,E)-4-amino-5-fluoropent-2-enoic acid

Evidence for an enamine mechanism of inactivation of pig brain gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) aminotransferase by (S,E)-4-amino-5-fluoropent-2-enoic acid is presented. apo-GABA aminotransferase reconstituted with [3H]pyridoxal 5'-phosphate is inactivated by (S,E)-4-amino-5-fluoropent-2-enoic acid and the pH is raised to 12. All of the radioactivity is released from the enzyme as an adduct of the cofactor; no [3H]pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate is generated.

Mechanism-based inhibitors of dopamine beta-hydroxylase

The copper-containing monooxygenase dopamine beta-hydroxylase catalyzes the hydroxylation of dopamine at the benzylic position to form norepinephrine. Mechanism-based inhibitors for dopamine beta-hydroxylase have been used as probes of the mechanism of catalysis. The variety of such inhibitors that have been developed for this enzyme can be divided into three groups: (i) those in which the inactivating species is formed by abstraction of a hydrogen atom to form a radical intermediate; (ii) those in which the inactivating species is formed by abstraction of an electron to form an epoxide-like intermediate; and (iii) those in which the product is the inactivating species. A mechanism consistent with inactivation by all three groups of inhibitors which proposes that hydroxylation of dopamine by dopamine beta-hydroxylase involves formation of a benzylic radical has been developed. The benzylic radical is formed by abstraction of a hydrogen atom from the substrate by a high-potential copper-oxygen species.

Irreversible inhibition of GABA-T by halogenated analogues of beta-alanine

beta-Difluoromethyl-beta-alanine (3-amino-4,4-difluorobutanoic acid) is a potent in vitro and in vivo inhibitor of GABA-T. The rate of inhibition of GABA-T is concentration- and time-dependent. The inactivation is active-site directed. No reactive species escapes from the active site before reacting with the enzyme. The inhibition is irreversible and stereospecific. The use of beta-2H-beta-difluoromethyl-beta-alanine results in a marked primary isotope effect in vitro and in vivo. The use of differently substituted dihalogeno derivatives of beta-alanine suggests that the rate of inhibition is dependent on the nature and position of the leaving group. The mechanism of inhibition is discussed on the basis of spectral changes.

Mechanism of inactivation of gamma-aminobutyrate aminotransferase by 4-amino-5-fluoropentanoic acid. First example of an enamine mechanism for a gamma-amino acid with a partition ratio of 0

The mechanism of inactivation of pig brain gamma-aminobutyric acid aminotransferase (GABA-T) by (S)-4-amino-5-fluoropentanoic acid (1, R = CH2CH2COOH, X = F) previously proposed [Silverman, R. B., & Levy, M. A. (1981) Biochemistry 20, 1197-1203] is revised. apo-GABA-T is reconstituted with [4-3H]pyridoxal 5'-phosphate and inactivated with 1 (R = CH2CH2COOH, X = F). Treatment of inactivated enzyme with base followed by acid denaturation leads to the complete release of radioactivity as 6-[2-hydroxy-3-methyl-6-(phosphonoxymethyl)-4-pyridinyl]-4-oxo-5-+ ++hexenoic acid (4, R = CH2CH2COOH). Alkaline phosphatase treatment of this compound produces dephosphorylated 4 (R = CH2CH2COOH). These results support a mechanism that was suggested by Metzler and co-workers [Likos, J. J., Ueno, H., Feldhaus, R. W., & Metzler, D. E. (1982) Biochemistry 21, 4377-4386] for the inactivation of glutamate decarboxylase by serine O-sulfate (Scheme I, pathway b, R = COOH, X = OSO3-).

Interaction of L-threo and L-erythro isomers of 3-fluoroglutamate with glutamate decarboxylase from Escherichia coli

L-threo-3-Fluoroglutamate and L-erythro-3-fluoroglutamate were tested with glutamate decarboxylase from Escherichia coli. Both isomers were substrates: the threo isomer was decarboxylated into optically active 4-amino-3-fluorobutyrate, whereas the erythro isomer lost the fluorine atom during the reaction, yielding succinic semialdehyde after hydrolysis of the unstable intermediate enamine. The difference between the two isomers demonstrates that the glutamic acid-pyridoxal phosphate Schiff base is present at the active site under a rigid conformation. Furthermore, although the erythro isomer lost the fluorine atom, yielding a reactive aminoacrylic acid in the active site, no irreversible inactivation of E. coli glutamate decarboxylase was observed.

Detection of beta-carbanion formation during kynurenine hydrolysis catalyzed by Pseudomonas marginalis kynureninase

2-Amino-4-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyric acid has been shown to be formed during the Pseudomonas marginalis kynureninase-catalyzed hydrolysis of kynurenine in the presence of benzaldehyde and pyridoxal phosphate. The formation of 2-amino-4-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyric acid is the first demonstration, to our knowledge, of the controlled trapping of an amino acid beta-carbanion generated either chemically or enzymatically, and is perhaps the best empirical evidence to date that enzyme mechanisms can proceed through a beta-carbanionic intermediate. The lifetime of the beta-carbanionic alanyl intermediate generated by kynureninase is of sufficient duration to allow reaction with benzaldehyde. Other aromatic, but no aliphatic, aldehydes will undergo electrophilic addition with kynureninase-generated beta-carbanionic alanyl intermediates to form the corresponding amino acid.

Enzyme-activated inhibition of bacterial D-amino acid transaminase by beta-cyano-D-alanine

beta-Cyano-D-alanine is an efficient suicide substrate (Ki = 10 microM) of D-amino acid transaminase. This apparent inactivation is temperature dependent: it is irreversible at 10 degrees C or below and becomes progressively reversible at higher temperatures. Since at higher temperatures the apparent reactivation process predominates over the inactivation reaction, the reactivation process is considered to be endothermic. The nature of this reversibility suggests the formation of a heat labile bond between the inhibitor molecule and a nucleophilic group on the enzyme.

Measurement of aminotransferases: Part 1. Aspartate aminotransferase

Aminotransferases are ubiquitous enzymes of mammalian cells and several are of important diagnostic use. The application of aspartate aminotransferase activity measurements in serum from individuals suffering from myocardial infarction brought about a new dimension in clinical laboratory testing in the 1950s. This review focuses on measurement techniques for aspartate aminotransferase and their application (a subsequent article will review other aminotransferases). Assay techniques measuring enzyme activity are direct spectrophotometric measurements, manometric techniques, assays using dye substances, coupled enzyme techniques, and radiometric procedures. Of these procedures, the one employing malate dehydrogenase and NADH is the most important and is covered in particular detail. The estimation of the mitochondrial isoenzyme of aspartate aminotransferase is also of clinical interest, in particular for estimating severity of disease or in specific applications (e.g., chronic alcoholism). Methods reviewed for estimation of this enzyme are electrophoresis, chromatography, differential kinetic behavior, and immunochemical separation. Determination of the enzyme protein by techniques independent of its catalytic activity are also reviewed.