NADP-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase of Escherichia coli. IV. Purification by chromatography on Affi-Gel Blue

Two Different Isocitrate Dehydrogenases from Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Enzymology and Coenzyme-Evolutionary Implications

Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1, as an experimental model for Gram-negative bacteria, harbors two NADP+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenases (NADP-IDHs) that were evolved from its ancient counterpart NAD-IDHs. For a better understanding of PaIDH1 and PaIDH2, we cloned the genes, overexpressed them in Escherichia coli and purified them to homogeneity. PaIDH1 displayed higher affinity to NADP+ and isocitrate, with lower Km values when compared to PaIDH2. Moreover, PaIDH1 possessed higher temperature tolerance (50 °C) and wider pH range tolerance (7.2-8.5) and could be phosphorylated. After treatment with the bifunctional PaIDH kinase/phosphatase (PaIDH K/P), PaIDH1 lost 80% of its enzymatic activity in one hour due to the phosphorylation of Ser115. Small-molecule compounds like glyoxylic acid and oxaloacetate can effectively inhibit the activity of PaIDHs. The mutant PaIDH1-D346I347A353K393 exhibited enhanced affinity for NAD+ while it lost activity towards NADP+, and the Km value (7770.67 μM) of the mutant PaIDH2-L589 I600 for NADP+ was higher than that observed for NAD+ (5824.33 μM), indicating a shift in coenzyme specificity from NADP+ to NAD+ for both PaIDHs. The experiments demonstrated that the mutation did not alter the oligomeric state of either protein. This study provides a foundation for the elucidation of the evolution and function of two NADP-IDHs in the pathogenic bacterium P. aeruginosa.

Citrate as Cost-Efficient NADPH Regenerating Agent

The economically efficient utilization of NAD(P)H-dependent enzymes requires the regeneration of consumed reduction equivalents. Classically, this is done by substrate supplementation, and if necessary by addition of one or more enzymes. The simplest method thereof is whole cell NADPH regeneration. In this context we now present an easy-to-apply whole cell cofactor regeneration approach, which can especially be used in screening applications. Simply by applying citrate to a buffer or directly using citrate/-phosphate buffer NADPH can be regenerated by native enzymes of the TCA cycle, practically present in all aerobic living organisms. Apart from viable-culturable cells, this regeneration approach can also be applied with lyophilized cells and even crude cell extracts. This is exemplarily shown for the synthesis of 1-phenylethanol from acetophenone with several oxidoreductases. The mechanism of NADPH regeneration by TCA cycle enzymes was further investigated by a transient isotopic labeling experiment feeding [1,5-¹³C]citrate. This revealed that the regeneration mechanism can further be optimized by genetic modification of two competing internal citrate metabolism pathways, the glyoxylate shunt, and the glutamate dehydrogenase.

Characterizing Lysine Acetylation of Isocitrate Dehydrogenase in Escherichia coli

The Escherichia coli isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH) is one of the tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes, playing key roles in energy production and carbon flux regulation. E. coli ICDH was the first bacterial enzyme shown to be regulated by reversible phosphorylation. However, the effect of lysine acetylation on E. coli ICDH, which has no sequence similarity with its counterparts in eukaryotes, is still unclear. Based on previous studies of E. coli acetylome and ICDH crystal structures, eight lysine residues were selected for mutational and kinetic analyses. They were replaced with acetyllysine by the genetic code expansion strategy or substituted with glutamine as a classic approach. Although acetylation decreased the overall ICDH activity, its effects were different site by site. Deacetylation tests demonstrated that the CobB deacetylase could deacetylate ICDH both in vivo and in vitro, but CobB was only specific for lysine residues at the protein surface. On the other hand, ICDH could be acetylated by acetyl-phosphate chemically in vitro. And in vivo acetylation tests indicated that the acetylation level of ICDH was correlated with the amounts of intracellular acetyl-phosphate. This study nicely complements previous proteomic studies to provide direct biochemical evidence for ICDH acetylation.

Cost-effective whole-cell assay for laboratory evolution of hydroxylases in Escherichia coli

Cytochrome P450 BM-3 from Bacillus megaterium catalyzes the subterminal hydroxylation of medium- and longchain fatty acids at the omega-1, omega-2, and omega-3 positions. A continuous spectrophotometric assay for P450 BM-3 based on the conversion of p-nitrophenoxycarboxylic acids (pNCA) to omega-oxycarboxylic acids and the chromophore p-nitrophenolate was reported recently. However, this pNCA assay procedure contained steps that limited its application in high throughput screening, including expression of P450 BM-3 variant F87A in 4-ml cultures, centrifugation, resuspension of the cell pellet, and cell lysis. We have shown that permeabilization of the outer membrane of Escherichia coli DH5alpha with polymyxin B sulfate, EDTA, polyethylenimine, or sodium hexametaphosphate results in rapid conversion of 12-pNCA. A NADPH-generating system consisting of NADP(+), D/L-isocitric acid, and the D/L-isocitrate dehydrogenase of E. coli DH5alpha reduced the cofactor expense more than 10-fold. By avoiding cell lysis, resuspension, and centrifugation, the high throughput protocol allows screening of thousands of samples per day.

Regulation of acetate metabolism by protein phosphorylation in enteric bacteria

Growth of enteric bacteria on acetate as the sole source of carbon and energy requires operation of a particular anaplerotic pathway known as the glyoxylate bypass. In this pathway, two specific enzymes, isocitrate lyase and malate synthase, are activated to divert isocitrate from the tricarboxylic acid cycle and prevent the quantitative loss of acetate carbons as carbon dioxide. Bacteria are thus supplied with the metabolic intermediates they need for synthesizing their cellular components. The channeling of isocitrate through the glyoxylate bypass is regulated via the phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of isocitrate dehydrogenase, the enzyme of the tricarboxylic acid cycle which competes for a common substrate with isocitrate lyase. When bacteria are grown on acetate, isocitrate dehydrogenase is phosphorylated and, concomitantly, its activity declines drastically. Conversely, when cells are cultured on a preferred carbon source, such as glucose, the enzyme is dephosphorylated and recovers full activity. Such reversible phosphorylation is mediated by an unusual bifunctional enzyme, isocitrate dehydrogenase kinase/phosphatase, which contains both modifying and demodifying activities on the same polypeptide. The genes coding for malate synthase, isocitrate lyase, and isocitrate dehydrogenase kinase/phosphatase are located in the same operon. Their expression is controlled by a complex dual mechanism that involves several transcriptional repressors and activators. Recent developments have brought new insights into the nature and mode of action of these different regulators. Also, significant advances have been made lately in our understanding of the control of enzyme activity by reversible phosphorylation. In general, analyzing the physiological behavior of bacteria on acetate provides a valuable approach for deciphering at the molecular level the mechanisms of cell adaptation to the environment.

Novel NADP-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase present in peroxisomes of n-alkane-utilizing yeast, Candida tropicalis: comparison with mitochondrial NAD-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase

Peroxisomal NADP-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase (Ps-NADP-IDH) was purified for the first time from Candida tropicalis cells grown on n-alkane as a carbon source, which was effective in proliferation of peroxisomes. The properties of Ps-NADP-IDH were compared with those of mitochondrial NAD-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase (Mt-NAD-IDH) purified from the cells grown on acetate, in which peroxisomes did not proliferate. Ps-NADP-IDH was a homodimer of identical subunits (45 kDa), while Mt-NAD-IDH was suggested to be a heterooctamer composed of two types of subunits with different molecular masses (41 and 38 kDa). Kinetic studies revealed that Ps-NADP-IDH gave Michaelis-Menten saturation curves against isocitrate and NADP concentrations, whereas Mt-NAD-IDH was an allosteric enzyme regulated by ATP, AMP, and citrate. Inhibition by 2-oxoglutarate, a precursor of glutamate, was observed only for Ps-NADP-IDH. Both enzymes were inhibited by concomitant addition of oxalacetate and glyoxylate. The function of Ps-NADP-IDH seems to be completely discriminated from that of Mt-NAD-IDH as reflected by their distinct subcellular localizations. Furthermore, the properties of Ps-NADP-IDH were also compared with those of other mitochondrial and cytosolic IDHs from sources reported previously.

NADP-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase from the simian malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi: partial purification and characterization

Cell-free schizonts of Plasmodium knowlesi, a simian malaria parasite, possess significant isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) activity, about 90% of which is contributed by the NADP-specific enzyme that is localized in the cytosolic fraction. The enzyme has been partially purified by affinity chromatography using Blue sepharose CL-6B. Although unstable in nature, it is stabilized by citrate and glycerol. Kinetic studies with DL-isocitrate and NADP yielded hyperbolic curves with Michaelis constants of 0.210 and 0.038 mM, respectively. Manganous or magnesium ions are essential for activity. The enzyme is thermosensitive, shows maximum activity at pH 8.0, and has a molecular mass of about 48.5 kDa. It is strongly inhibited by thiol-blocking agents but protected against them by thiol-providing agents. Cupric and argentic ions also have a marked inhibitory effect on its activity. The enzyme is significantly inhibited by chloroquine and oxytetracycline in vitro, but to a lesser degree by tetracycline.

Purification and properties of NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase from the unicellular cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803

NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase activity has been screened in several cyanobacteria grown on different nitrogen sources; in all the strains tested isocitrate dehydrogenase activity levels were similar in cells grown either on ammonium or nitrate. The enzyme from the unicellular cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 has been purified to electrophoretic homogeneity by a procedure that includes Reactive-Red-120-agarose affinity chromatography and phenyl-Sepharose chromatography as main steps. The enzyme was purified about 600-fold, with a yield of 38% and a specific activity of 15.7 U/mg protein. The native enzyme (108 kDa) is composed of two identical subunits with an apparent molecular mass of 57 kDa. Synechocystis isocitrate dehydrogenase was absolutely specific for NADP as electron acceptor. Apparent Km values were 125, 59 and 12 microM for Mg2+, D,L-isocitrate and NADP, respectively, using Mg2+ as divalent cation and 4, 5.7 and 6 microM for Mn2+, D,L-isocitrate and NADP, respectively, using Mn2+ as a cofactor. The enzyme was inhibited non-competitively by ADP (Ki, 6.4 mM) and 2-oxoglutarate, (Ki, 6 mM) with respect to isocitrate and in a competitive manner by NADPH (Ki, 0.6 mM). The circular-dichroism spectrum showed a protein with a secondary structure consisting of about 30% alpha-helix and 36% beta-pleated sheet. The enzyme is an acidic protein with an isoelectric point of 4.4 and analysis of the NH2-terminal sequence revealed 45% identity with the same region of Escherichia coli isocitrate dehydrogenase. The aforementioned data indicate that NADP isocitrate dehydrogenase from Synechocystis resembles isocitrate dehydrogenase from prokaryotes and shows similar molecular and structural properties to the well-known E. coli enzyme.

Cellular concentrations of enzymes and their substrates

The activity of crude and pure enzyme preparations as well as the molecular weight of these enzymes were obtained from the literature for several organisms. From these data enzyme concentrations were calculated and compared to the concentration(s) of their substrates in the same organism. The data are expressed as molar ratios of metabolite concentration to enzyme site concentration. Of the 140 ratios calculated, 88% were one or greater, indicating that in general substrates exceed their cognate enzyme concentrations. Of the 17 cases where enzyme exceeds metabolite concentration, 16 were in glycolysis. The data in general justify the use of enzyme kinetic mechanisms determined in vitro in the construction of dynamic models which simulate in vivo metabolism.

A highly stable NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase from Thermus thermophilus HB8: purification and general properties

NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.42) was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity from an extremely thermophilic bacterium, Thermus thermophilus HB8, and shown to be a dimeric protein of molecular weight 115,000, with a pI of 5.5. The amino acid composition of the present enzyme was similar to that reported for other bacterial counterparts, except for a high Arg/Lys ratio and a low Cys content. Divalent cations, such as Mn2+ and Mg2+, were essential for activity. The optimal pH was 7.8 at 55 degrees C. The Km values for NADP and D-isocitrate were 6.3 and 8.8 microM, respectively, with a Vmax of 77.6 mumol/min per mg at 55 degrees C. NAD was able to replace NADP with low efficiency. Backward reaction at 40 degrees C indicated that the Km value for 2-oxoglutarate was 63 microM with a Vmax of 4% that of the forward reaction at that temperature. The enzyme was highly stable against high temperature and denaturing reagents.

Isocitrate dehydrogenase from thermophilic and mesophilic bacteria. Isolation and some characteristics

1. Simple methods incorporating the principle of selective enzyme elution from a triazinyl dye adsorbent with a mixture of NADP+ and isocitrate are described for isolating NADP+-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase in pure state from several mesophilic and thermophilic bacteria. 2. Several characteristics of the isocitrate dehydrogenases have been examined, viz. molecular size, amino acid composition including the content of sulphydryl groups, thermostability and structural homology by the criterion of immunological cross-section.

Purification and comparative properties of the cytosolic isocitrate dehydrogenases (NADP) from pea (Pisum sativum) roots and green leaves

The cytosolic isocitrate dehydrogenases (NADP-IDH) were purified to homogeneity from pea roots and green leaves with a high yield by ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE-cellulose chromatography, Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration, Matrex red-A affinity chromatography and phenyl-Superose HR 5/5 HPLC. Both isoenzymes were dimeric proteins, consisting of two apparently identical 41-kDa subunits, having similar secondary structures with an alpha-helical content of 20% and a beta-pleated sheet content of 43%. Similarly immunoassays suggested that the two isoenzymes were closely related in terms of antigenic determinants. However, the two proteins were distinguishable by their electrophoretic mobilities and amino acid compositions. The profiles of the two isoenzymes as a function of pH were similar and exhibited a broad pH optimum from 8.5 to 9.0 with Mg2+ as cofactor and 8.0 to 8.5 when Mn2+ was used. Compared to the root isoenzyme, the leaf NADP-IDH appeared to be more heat-labile. However, these isoenzymes exhibited similar behavior for thermal denaturation in the presence of bovine serum albumin and were stabilized upon addition of substrate, metal and coenzyme. Their values of activation energy were estimated as 47 kJ/mol. When using Mn2+ as cofactor, the two isoenzymes displayed identical Km(Mn2+), Km(DL-isocitrate) and Km(NADP) values, which were calculated to be 2.1 microM, 5.7 microM and 2.7 microM respectively. With Mg2+ as cofactor, their Km(Mg2+) K(DL-isocitrate)m and Km(NADP) values were also not statistically different, being 34.0 microM, 15.2 microM and 2.6 microM for the root NADP-IDH, and 29.0 microM, 20.3 microM and 3.1 microM for the leaf isoenzyme. From the above data it can be concluded that although the cytosolic NADP-IDH in pea roots and leaves are organ-specific isozymes, their similar physicochemical and kinetic properties suggest that the two isozymes might be involved in identical metabolic functions.

Purification and characterization of NADP+-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase from an alkalophilic Bacillus

We have succeeded in purifying to homogeneity a very labile NADP+-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase (isocitrate: NADP+ oxidoreductase (decarboxylating), EC 1.1.1.42) from a strain of alkalophilic Bacillus, by a simple method, with an overall yield over 76% of the original activity. The molecular weight on Sephadex G-200 was around 90,000; and that by electrophoresis on SDS-polyacrylamide gels was about 44,000. The sedimentation coefficient (s020,w) and isoelectric point of the enzyme were determined to be 3.22 S and pH 4.7, respectively. The enzyme required Mn2+ for the reaction and for stability. The optimum pH for the reaction was in the range 7.8-8.4 at 30 degrees C; the optimum temperature at pH 8.0 was 75 degrees C; the activation energy of the reaction was 6.2 kcal/mol. The Km values for threo-Ds-isocitrate, DL-isocitrate, and NADP+ were 5.4 microM, 9.9 microM, and 7.3 microM, respectively. This enzyme was inhibited by NADPH, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate, 3-phosphoglycerate, phosphoenol pyruvate, cis-aconitate, alpha-ketoglutarate, and oxaloacetate. In addition, it was subject to a concerted inhibition by a combination of glyoxylate and oxaloacetate, and also to a cumulative inhibition by nucleoside triphosphates.

Isolation of active and inactive forms of isocitrate dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli ML 308

In Escherichia coli ML308 isocitrate dehydrogenase is partially inactivated during growth on acetate [Bennett, P.M. and Holms, W.H. (1975) J. Gen. Microbiol. 87, 37-51]. The active form of isocitrate dehydrogenase was purified to homogeneity from cells grown on glycerol. The key step in the procedure was chromatography on procion-red-Sepharose, from which the enzyme was specifically eluted with NADP+. Two forms of isocitrate dehydrogenase were purified to homogeneity from cells grown on acetate. One form did not bind to procion-red-Sepharose and was essentially inactive; this form could be resolved from the active form by non-denaturing gel electrophoresis. The other form was specifically eluted from procion-red-Sepharose and was partially active; analysis of this form by non-denaturing gel electrophoresis suggested that it was a mixture of the active and inactive forms. The three forms comigrated on denaturing gel electrophoresis and were identical by the criterion of one-dimensional peptide mapping. Analysis of the active and inactive forms by sedimentation equilibrium centrifugation and non-denaturing gel electrophoresis showed that they differed in charge but not in size. Amino acid analysis and two-dimensional peptide mapping showed that both forms were dimers of identical subunits. The active form of the enzyme contained no detectable alkali-labile phosphate, the inactive form contained 0.8 molecule/subunit and the partially active form contained an intermediate amount. The data suggest that the active and inactive forms of isocitrate dehydrogenase differ only in the presence of one phosphate group per subunit in the latter form; this is consistent with our results from phosphorylation of isocitrate dehydrogenase in vitro (Following paper in this journal). The nature of the partially active form of isocitrate dehydrogenase and the significance of the results are discussed.

NADP-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli. V. Multiple forms of the enzyme

Two forms of NADP-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase (threo-DS-isocitrate: NADP+ oxidoreductase (decarboxylating), EC 1.1.1.42) in Escherichia coli have been resolved by polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing and electrophoresis. Incubation of the enzyme with Mn2+ plus isocitrate prior to focusing resulted in the formation of an additional form of the enzyme, presumably the enzyme-manganese-isocitrate complex. Glycerol, a cryoprotectant used to stabilize the enzyme during purification and storage, also stabilized in during focusing, but was not necessary during electrophoresis. Thin-layer gel filtration did not reveal any differences in molecular weight between the different species of isocitrate dehydrogenase.

Binding of Cibacron blue F3GA to the flavin and NADH sites in cytochrome b5 reductase

The behaviour of cytochrome b5 reductase holoenzyme and apoenzyme toward blue-dextran--Sepharose has been studied. Holoenzyme was adsorbed at low ionic strength and could be eluted with 100 microM NADH or NAD+. Flavin-free enzyme was even more strongly bound and could be eluted with 1 M NaCl, or 100 microM NADH + 10 microM FAD. Separately the cofactors were without effect. FMN was less effective than FAD. ADP and AMP eluted nothing. Cibacron blue F3GA was found to exert a mixed inhibition on NADH oxidation. Dye binding to holoenzyme elicited a characteristic red shift in its spectrum. Comparison of the difference spectrum amplitude at 680 and 585 nm showed the presence of a second binding mode at higher dye concentrations. These results point to the existence for cytochrome b5 reductase of two binding sites with high affinity for blue-dextran--Sepharose: the NADH binding site and flavin binding site. For the latter it is clear that isoalloxazine pocket must play a role in dye binding. Cytochrome b5 reductase is the second flavoenzyme which has been shown to have affinity for immobilized dye at the flavin site, the first one being flavocytochrome b2, and FMN-dependent enzyme [D. Pompon and F. Lederer (1978) Eur. J. Biochem. 90, 563--569].