[Properties of turkey (Meleagris gallopavo L.) liver L-amino acid oxidase]

IL-4-Induced Gene-1 Is a Leukocyte l-Amino Acid Oxidase with an Unusual Acidic pH Preference and Lysosomal Localization

IL-4-induced gene-1 (Il4i1 or Fig1) initially isolated as a gene of unknown function from mouse B lymphocytes, is limited in expression to primarily immune tissues and genetically maps to a region of susceptibility to autoimmune disease. The predicted Il4i1 protein (IL4I1) sequence is most similar to apoptosis-inducing protein and Apoxin I, both l-amino acid oxidases (LAAO; Enzyme Commission 1.4.3.2). We demonstrate that IL4I1 has unique LAAO properties. IL4I1 has preference for aromatic amino acid substrates, having highest specific activity with phenylalanine. In support of this selectivity, IL4I1 is inhibited by aromatic competitors (benzoic acid and para-aminobenzoic acid), but not by nonaromatic LAAO inhibitors. Il4i1 protein and enzyme activity is found in the insoluble fraction of transient transfections, implying an association with cell membrane and possibly intracellular organelles. Indeed, IL4I1 has the unique property of being most active at acidic pH (pH 4), suggesting it may reside preferentially in lysosomes. IL4I1 is N-linked glycosylated, a requirement for lysosomal localization. Confocal microscopy of cells expressing IL4I1 translationally fused to red fluorescent protein demonstrated that IL4I1 colocalized with GFP targeted to lysosomes and with acriflavine, a green fluorescent dye that is taken up into lysosomes. Thus, IL4I1 is a unique mammalian LAAO targeted to lysosomes, an important subcellular compartment involved in Ag processing.

Purification and characterization of L-amino acid oxidase from the venom of Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus (Taiwan habu snake)

L-Amino acid oxidase (EC.1.4.3.2) was purified to homogeneity via four steps consisting of Sephadex G-100, CM-Toyopearl 650M, and first and second granulated hydroxyapatite column chromatographies. The mol. wt of the enzyme was 140,000 when estimated by analytical gel filtration and was 70,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, suggesting that the enzyme is composed of two identical subunits. The enzyme has an absorption spectrum characteristic of flavoprotein, contains 2 moles of FMN per mole of enzyme and has an isoelectric point of 5.4. The enzyme oxidatively deaminated hydrophobic amino acids such as Leu, Met, Phe, and Tyr while basic amino acids except for Lys were also oxidized though at slower rates. This specificity was generally similar, with some exceptions, to that of the enzyme from Trimeresurus flavoviridis venom. For oxidative deamination of Leu, Km and maximum velocity of the enzyme were 1.17 mM and 9.9 units/mg, respectively, at pH 7.6. The activity was inhibited almost completely by heavy metal ions, some aromatic benzoates and sulfhydryl reagents but not by metal-chelating agents.