Cloning, expression, and sequence homologies of cDNA for human carbonic anhydrase II

Carbonic anhydrase II deficiency

Carbonic anhydrase II deficiency (OMIM # 259730), initially called "osteopetrosis with renal tubular acidosis and cerebral calcification syndrome", reveals an important role for the enzyme carbonic anhydrase II (CA II) in osteoclast and renal tubule function. Discovered in 1972 and subsequently given various names, CA II deficiency now describes >100 affected individuals encountered predominantly from the Middle East and Mediterranean region. In 1983, CA II deficiency emerged as the first osteopetrosis (OPT) understood metabolically, and in 1991 the first understood molecularly. CA II deficiency is the paradigm OPT featuring failure of osteoclasts to resorb bone due to inability to acidify their pericellular milieu. The disorder presents late in infancy or early in childhood with fracturing, developmental delay, weakness, short stature, and/or cranial nerve compression and palsy. Mental retardation is common. The skeletal findings may improve by adult life, and CA II deficiency can be associated with a normal life-span. Therefore, it has been considered an "intermediate" type of OPT. In CA II deficiency, OPT is uniquely accompanied by renal tubular acidosis (RTA) of proximal, distal, or combined type featuring hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis, rarely with hypokalemia and paralysis. Cerebral calcification uniquely appears in early childhood. The etiology is bi-allelic loss-of-function mutations of CA2 that encodes CA II. Prenatal diagnosis requires mutational analysis of CA2. Although this enzymopathy reveals how CA II is important for the skeleton and kidney tubule, the pathogenesis of the mental subnormality and cerebral calcification is less well understood. Several mouse models of CA II deficiency have shown growth hormone deficiency, yet currently there is no standard pharmacologic therapy for patients. Treatment of the systemic acidosis is often begun when growth is complete. Although CA II deficiency is an "osteoclast-rich" OPT, and therefore transplantation of healthy osteoclasts can improve the skeletal disease, the RTA and central nervous system difficulties persist.

Staphylococcus aureus Genomes Harbor Only MpsAB-Like Bicarbonate Transporter but Not Carbonic Anhydrase as Dissolved Inorganic Carbon Supply System

In recent years, it became apparent that not only autotrophic but also most other bacteria require CO₂ or bicarbonate for growth. Two systems are available for the acquisition of dissolved inorganic carbon supply (DICS): the cytoplasmic localized carbonic anhydrase (CA) and the more recently described bicarbonate transporter MpsAB (membrane potential generating system). In the pathogenic species Staphylococcus aureus, there are contradictions in the literature regarding the presence of a CA or MpsAB. Here, we address these contradictions in detail. We could demonstrate by careful BLASTp analyses with 259 finished and 4,590 unfinished S. aureus genomes that S. aureus does not contain CA and that the bicarbonate transporter MpsAB is the only DICS system in this species. This finding is further supported by two further pieces of evidence: (i) mpsAB deletion mutants in four different S. aureus strains failed to grow under atmospheric air, which should not be the case if they possess CAs, since we have previously shown that both CA and MpsAB can substitute for each other, and (ii) S. aureus is completely resistant to CA inhibitors, whereas Staphylococcus carnosus, which has been shown to have only CA, was inhibited by ethoxyzolamide (EZA). Taken together, we demonstrate beyond doubt that the species S. aureus possesses only the bicarbonate transporter MpsAB as its sole DICS system.

IMPORTANCE The discrepancies in the current literature and even in NCBI database, which listed some protein sequences annotated as Staphylococcus aureus carbonic anhydrase (CA), are misleading. One of the existing problems in publicly available sequence databases is the presence of incorrectly annotated genes, especially if they originated from unfinished genomes. Here, we demonstrate that some of these unfinished genomes are of poor quality and should be interpreted with caution. In the present study, we aimed to address these discrepancies and correct the current literature about S. aureus CA, considering the medical relevance of S. aureus. If left unchecked, these misleading studies and wrongly annotated genes might lead to a continual propagation of wrong annotation and, consequently, wrong interpretations and wasted time. In addition, we also show that bicarbonate transporter MpsAB-harboring bacteria are resistant to CA inhibitor, suggesting that pathogens possessing both MpsAB and CA are not treatable with CA inhibitors.

Carbonic Anhydrase in Pacific Abalone Haliotis discus hannai: Characterization, Expression, and Role in Biomineralization

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are universal zinc ion containing metalloenzymes that play a pivotal role in various physiological processes. In this study, a CA I (designated as Hdh CA I) was isolated and characterized from the mantle tissue of Pacific abalone, Haliotis discus hannai. The full-length cDNA sequence of Hdh CA I was 1,417-bp in length, encoding a protein of 337 amino acids with molecular weight of 37.58 kDa. Hdh CA I sequence possessed a putative signal peptide of 22 amino acids and a CA catalytic function domain. The predicted protein shared 94 and 78% sequence identities with Haliotis gigantea and Haliotis tuberculata CA I, respectively. Results of phylogenetic analysis indicated that Hdh CA I was evolutionarily close to CA I of H. gigantea and H. tuberculata with high bootstrap values. Significantly higher levels of Hdh CA I mRNA transcript were found in mantle than other examined tissues. In situ hybridization results showed strong hybridization signals in epithelial cells of the dorsal mantle pallial, an area known to synthesize and secrete proteins responsible for the nacreous layer formation of shell. This is the first study on Hdh CA I in H. discus hannai and the results may contribute to further study its physiological functions in shell biomineralization of abalone.

Carbonic anhydrases and their biotechnological applications

The carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are mostly zinc-containing metalloenzymes which catalyze the reversible hydration/dehydration of carbon dioxide/bicarbonate. The CAs have been extensively studied because of their broad physiological importance in all kingdoms of life and clinical relevance as drug targets. In particular, human CA isoform II (HCA II) has a catalytic efficiency of 108 M-1 s-1, approaching the diffusion limit. The high catalytic rate, relatively simple procedure of expression and purification, relative stability and extensive biophysical studies of HCA II has made it an exciting candidate to be incorporated into various biomedical applications such as artificial lungs, biosensors and CO2 sequestration systems, among others. This review highlights the current state of these applications, lists their advantages and limitations, and discusses their future development.

Synthesis and carbonic anhydrase inhibitory properties of sulfamides structurally related to dopamine

A series of novel sulfamides incorporating the dopamine scaffold were synthesized. Reaction of amines and tert-butyl-alcohol/benzyl alcohol in the presence of chlorosulfonyl isocyanate (CSI) afforded sulfamoyl carbamates, which were converted to the title compounds by treatment with trifluoroacetic acid or by palladium-catalyzed hydrogenolysis. Inhibition of six α-carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1), that is, CA I, CA II, CA VA, CA IX, CA XII and CA XIV, and two β-CAs from Candida glabrata (CgCA) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Rv3588) with these sulfamides was investigated. All CA isozymes were inhibited in the low micromolar to nanomolar range by the dopamine sulfamide analogues. K(i)s were in the range of 0.061-1.822 μM for CA I, 1.47-2.94 nM for CA II, 2.25-3.34 μM for CA VA, 0.041-0.37 μM for CA IX, 0.021-1.52 μM for CA XII, 0.007-0.219 μM for CA XIV, 0.35-5.31 μM for CgCA and 0.465-4.29 μM for Rv3588. The synthesized sulfamides may lead to inhibitors targeting medicinally relevant CA isoforms with potential applications as antiepileptic, antiobesity antitumor agents or anti-infective.

Suppression of adjuvant-induced arthritic bone destruction by cyclooxygenase-2 selective agents with and without inhibitory potency against carbonic anhydrase II

In vitro assays revealed that COX-2 inhibitors with CA II inhibitory potency suppressed both differentiation and activity of osteoclasts, whereas that without the potency reduced only osteoclast differentiation. However, all COX-2 inhibitors similarly suppressed bone destruction in adjuvant-induced arthritic rats, indicating that suppression of osteoclast differentiation is more effective than that of osteoclast activity for the treatment.

INTRODUCTION

Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and carbonic anhydrase II (CA II) are known to play important roles in the differentiation of osteoclasts and the activity of mature osteoclasts, respectively. Because several COX-2 selective agents were recently found to possess an inhibitory potency against CA II, this study compared the bone sparing effects of COX-2 selective agents with and without the CA II inhibitory potency.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Osteoclast differentiation was determined by the mouse co-culture system of osteoblasts and bone marrow cells, and mature osteoclast activity was measured by the pit area on a dentine slice resorbed by osteoclasts generated and isolated from bone marrow cells. In vivo effects on arthritic bone destruction were determined by radiological and histological analyses of hind-paws of adjuvant-induced arthritic (AIA) rats.

RESULTS

CA II was expressed predominantly in mature osteoclasts, but not in the precursors. CA II activity was inhibited by sulfonamide-type COX-2 selective agents celecoxib and JTE-522 similarly to a CA II inhibitor acetazolamide, but not by a methylsulfone-type COX-2 inhibitor rofecoxib. In vitro assays clearly revealed that celecoxib and JTE-522 suppressed both differentiation and activity of osteoclasts, whereas rofecoxib and acetazolamide suppressed only osteoclast differentiation and activation, respectively. However, bone destruction in AIA rats was potently and similarly suppressed by all COX-2 selective agents whether with or without CA II inhibitory potency, although only moderately by acetazolamide.

CONCLUSIONS

Suppression of osteoclast differentiation by COX-2 inhibition is more effective than suppression of mature osteoclast activity by CA II inhibition for the treatment of arthritic bone destruction.

cDNA sequence of human carbonic anhydrase-related protein, CA-RP X: mRNA expressions of CA-RP X and XI in human brain

A full-length cDNA clone of human carbonic anhydrase-related protein (CA-RP) X was obtained and sequenced. The 2720 bp long cDNA sequence was predicted to encode a 328 amino acid polypeptide. The deduced amino acid sequence showed an overall similarity of 25-57% to other CA isozymes and the highest % similarity to a CA-RP XI. Similar to CA-RP XI, CA-RP X lacked two out of three zinc-liganded histidine residues, suggesting no biological activity of CA. Northern blot analysis demonstrated an approx. 2.8 kb transcript in the human brain and kidney. RNA dot blotting showed significant signals for CA-RP X and XI mRNA expressions in the adult total brain and almost all parts of the central nervous system, but no expression in the fetal brain. These results suggest that CA-RP X and XI play some role in human brain, especially in brain development.

Red blood cell enzymes and their clinical application

Red blood cell enzyme activities are measured mainly to diagnose hereditary nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia associated with enzyme anomalies. At least 15 enzyme anomalies associated with hereditary hemolytic anemia have been reported. Some nonhematologic disease can also be diagnosed by the measurement of red blood cell enzyme activities in the case in which enzymes of red blood cells and the other organs are under the same genetic control. Progress in molecular biology has provided a new perspective. Techniques such as the polymerase chain reaction and single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis have greatly facilitated the molecular analysis of erythroenzymopathies. These studies have clarified the correlation between the functional and structural abnormalities of the variant enzymes. In general, the mutations that induce an alteration of substrate binding site and/or enzyme instability might result in markedly altered enzyme properties and severe clinical symptoms.

Characterization of the rat carbonic anhydrase II gene structure: sequence analysis of the 5' flanking region and 3' UTR

The rat carbonic anhydrase II gene was characterized and found to be approximately 15.5 kb in length and to contain 7 exons and 6 introns. All intron/exon junction and branch point sequences conform to consensus sequences, and the overall rat CA II genomic structure appears to be conserved upon comparison with mouse, human, and chicken CA II genes. The putative cis-acting elements within the analyzed 1014 bp 5' flanking region include: TATA box, 4 Sp1 binding sites, 2 AP2 sites and putative tissue-specific beta-globin-like repeat elements. A CpG island of approximately 800 bp was identified that begins about 600 bp upstream of exon 1 and extends about 200 bp into intron 1. In the 3' UTR, two polyadenylation signals (AATAAA) are present, the second of which is believed to be utilized. Northern blot analysis reveals that the 1.7 kb rat CA II mRNA is abundantly expressed in adult male brain and kidney, while negligible amounts are detected in heart and liver.

A carbonic anhydrase from the nacreous layer in oyster pearls

It is believed that the polymorphism observed in calcium carbonate crystals, such as aragonite and calcite in mollusk shells, is controlled by organic matrix proteins secreted from the mantle epithelia. However, the fine structures of these proteins are still unknown, and to understand the molecular mechanisms of mineralization process, detailed structural analyses of the organic matrix proteins are essential. For this, we have carried out purification, characterization, and cDNA cloning of nacrein, which is a soluble organic matrix protein in the nacreous layer of oyster pearls. Northern blot analysis showed that the nacrein transcript was specifically expressed in mantle pallial. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence revealed that the protein contained two functional domains: one was a carbonic anhydrase and another was a Gly-Xaa-Asn (Xaa = Asp, Asn, or Glu) repeat domain; however, the carbonic anhydrase domain was split into two subdomains with insertion of the Gly-Xaa-Asn repeat domain between them. Our findings suggest that nacrein actually functions as a matrix protein whose repeated Gly-Xaa-Asn domain possibly binds calcium and as a carbonic anhydrase that catalyzes the HCO3- formation, thus participating in calcium carbonate crystal formation of the nacreous layer.

Carbonic anhydrase IV: role of removal of C-terminal domain in glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchoring and realization of enzyme activity

Carbonic anhydrase IV (CA IV) is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored membrane protein expressed on the plasma membrane of specific epithelial and endothelial cells. The human cDNA encodes a 312-amino-acid precursor which includes an NH2-terminal signal sequence (residues -18 to -1) that is removed and a C-terminal hydrophobic domain which is cleaved to permit transfer to the GPI anchor. Using biochemical methods, we established that Ser266 is the site of attachment of the GPI anchor to CA IV from human lung. Based on this result, we constructed missense mutants S266F and G267F and a truncation mutant, G267X, and investigated the role of removal of the C-terminal hydrophobic domain on the synthesis and processing of CA IV in transfected COS cells. The G267F mutation had no effect on CA IV expression. By contrast, the S266F mutation prevented removal of the C-terminal domain and the S266F CA IV was inactive, not GPI-anchored, and not expressed on the cell surface. The G267X C-terminal deletion mutation resulted in secretion of an amount of CA IV severalfold higher than the amounts found in cells transfected with wild type cDNA. These results demonstrate that removal of the C-terminal hydrophobic domain is necessary both for GPI anchoring and for realization of CA IV activity. They further show that bypassing C-terminal processing by deletion of the hydrophobic domain leads to secretion of a fully active CA IV in amounts far greater than those which accumulate in cells expressing the wild type, GPI-anchored CA IV.

Partial rescue of human carbonic anhydrase II frameshift mutation by ribosomal frameshift

A single-base-pair deletion in exon 7 of the human carbonic anhydrase II gene was found to be the molecular defect in a group of independently ascertained, clinically heterogeneous, Hispanic carbonic anhydrase II-deficient patients, all of whom had ancestors from the Caribbean islands. This mutation predicts a +1 frameshift at codon 227 and incorporation of 12 missense amino acids before an early stop codon at position 239 produces a 27-kDa truncated carbonic anhydrase II. Expression of the Hispanic mutant cDNA in bacteria produced predominantly the 27-kDa protein, which was inactive. However, a minor 29-kDa polypeptide species was also produced that had 10% the specific activity of the wild-type enzyme after affinity purification. Amino acid sequencing showed that the 29-kDa mutant protein was produced by two frameshift events: a +1 frameshift at codon 227 due to the single-base deletion and a -1 ribosomal frameshift at codon 237 that restored the original reading frame after 11 missense amino acids were incorporated. Antibody against the 11-amino acid frameshift peptide detected the 29-kDa mutant protein in lysates of transfected COS cells. These results indicate that ribosomal frameshift can partially rescue the human carbonic anhydrase II frameshift mutation and suggest a mechanism whereby a compensatory ribosomal frameshift can ameliorate the consequences of certain frameshift mutations. Whether individual differences in efficiency of ribosomal frameshift contribute to clinical heterogeneity in patients with such mutations deserves further study.

Carbonic anhydrase II mRNA expression in individual osteoclasts under "resorbing" and "nonresorbing" conditions

Rabbit osteoclasts can be transformed from a nonresorbing state to a resorbing state by transferring them from culture medium at pH 7.5 to one at pH 6.5. We evaluated whether expression of mRNA for carbonic anhydrase (CA-II) could be used as an indicator of the state of activity of individual osteoclasts. A cDNA probe to rabbit carbonic anhydrase II (CA-II) was prepared and used for in situ hybridization analysis of osteoclasts isolated from neonatal rabbit long bones. Quantitation by grain counting revealed heterogeneity within the osteoclast population: osteoclasts with a "compact" (rounded, less spread) morphology expressed higher levels of CA-II mRNA than "spread" osteoclasts with similar numbers of nuclei. When maintained at pH 6.5 for 6 h, the level of CA-II mRNA was increased significantly in osteoclasts of both morphologies compared with those in parallel cultures maintained at pH 7.5. These results were confirmed by quantitating CA-II mRNA using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Oligonucleotide primers specific for rabbit CA-II were synthesized and used to amplify CA-II cDNA transcribed from mRNA prepared from single or small numbers (one to eight cells) of osteoclasts that were collected with a micromanipulator. This generated a approximately 510 bp PCR product, corresponding to the predicted size of the CA-II fragment encompassed by the primers. For quantitation, CA-II mRNA levels were compared with the levels of a approximately 900 bp actin fragment that was coamplified in the same reaction mixture or amplified separately in a duplicate sample of the reaction mixture.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Human mitochondrial carbonic anhydrase: cDNA cloning, expression, subcellular localization, and mapping to chromosome 16

A full-length cDNA clone encoding human mitochondrial carbonic anhydrase (CA), CA V, was isolated from a human liver cDNA library. The 1123-bp cDNA includes a 55-bp 5' untranslated region, a 915-bp open reading frame, and a 153-bp 3' untranslated region. Expression of the cDNA in COS cells produced active enzyme. The 34-kDa precursor and 30-kDa mature form of CA V were identified on Western blots of COS-cell homogenates by a CA V-specific antibody raised to a synthetic peptide corresponding to the C-terminal 17 aa of CA V. Both 34-kDa and 30-kDa bands were also present in mitochondria isolated from transfected COS cells, whereas only the 30-kDa band was present in mitochondria isolated from normal human liver. The N-terminal sequence determined directly on the 30-kDa soluble CA purified from transfected COS cells indicated that processing of the precursor to mature human CA V involves removal of a 38-aa mitochondrial leader sequence. The 267-aa sequence deduced for mature human CA V shows 30-49% similarity to amino acid sequences of previously characterized human CAs (CA I-CA VII) and 76% similarity to the corresponding amino acid sequence deduced from the mouse cDNA. PCR analysis of DNAs from human-rodent somatic cell hybrids localized the gene for CA V to human chromosome 16, the same chromosome to which CA VII has previously been mapped.

Molecular basis of human carbonic anhydrase II deficiency

Deficiency of carbonic anhydrase II (carbonate hydro-lyase, EC 4.2.1.1) is the primary defect in the syndrome of osteopetrosis, renal tubular acidosis, and cerebral calcification. In this report we describe the molecular basis for carbonic anhydrase II deficiency in the American family in which the association of carbonic anhydrase II deficiency with this syndrome was first recognized. The three affected siblings from this family are compound heterozygotes, each having inherited two different mutations in the structural gene for carbonic anhydrase II. The paternal mutation is a splice acceptor site mutation at the 3' end of intron 5. The maternal mutation is a missense mutation in exon 3 that substitutes a tyrosine for histidine-107. We show that the mutant enzyme expressed in bacteria from the cDNA containing the His-107----Tyr mutation has detectable, though greatly reduced, activity. We suggest that residual activity of the His-107----Tyr mutant enzyme may explain the absence of mental retardation and the relatively mild phenotype of carbonic anhydrase II deficiency in affected members of this family.

Human carbonic anhydrase IV: cDNA cloning, sequence comparison, and expression in COS cell membranes

We have isolated a full-length cDNA for human carbonic anhydrase IV (CA IV) from a lambda gt10 human kidney cDNA library. The 1105-base-pair (bp) cDNA contains a 47-bp 5' untranslated region, a 936-bp open reading frame, and a 122-bp 3' untranslated region. The deduced amino acid sequence is colinear with the N-terminal sequence and the sequence of several tryptic peptides of human lung CA IV. It includes an 18-amino acid signal sequence, a 260-amino acid region that shows 30-36% similarity with the 29-kDa cytoplasmic CAs (CA I, CA II, and CA III), and an additional 27-amino acid C-terminal sequence that ends in a 21-amino acid hydrophobic domain. Of the 17 "active site" residues that are highly conserved in other human CAs, 16 are also present in CA IV. Expression of the cDNA in COS cells produced a 35-kDa enzyme that was membrane associated, resistant to inactivation by SDS, contained no carbohydrate, and reacted on Western blots with antiserum to the 35-kDa CA IV from human lung. Treatment of membranes from transfected COS cells with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C released 20-30% of the expressed enzyme from membranes, indicating that at least 20-30% of the expressed enzyme was anchored to membranes by a glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol linkage.

Nucleotide sequence of a cDNA encoding rat brain carbonic anhydrase II and its deduced amino acid sequence

A carbonic anhydrase II (CAII)-encoding cDNA clone was isolated from a rat brain lambda gt11 library. The 1459-bp cDNA codes for 260 amino acids with sequence similarity to mouse and human CAII and hybridizes to a single 1.7-kb mRNA.

Some properties of site-specific mutants of human carbonic anhydrase II having active-site residues characterizing carbonic anhydrase III

Four amino acid residues, His64, Asn67, Leu198 and Val207, in the active site of human carbonic anhydrase II, have been replaced by Lys64, Arg67, Phe198 and Ile207, which are characteristic for the muscle-specific, low-activity isoenzyme form, carbonic anhydrase III. The aim of the investigation has been to test if any of these residues, or a combination of them, is important for the low CO2 hydration activity, low esterase activity, low pKa for the pH/rate profile and low affinity for sulfonamide inhibitors characterizing carbonic anhydrases III. However, no evidence for such critical roles was found. A combination of Lys64 and Arg67 appears to result in a decrease in CO2 hydration activity, but even the quadruple mutant having all four changes is only eight times less active (kcat/Km) than unmodified isoenzyme II, in contrast to isoenzyme III which is nearly 300 times less active than isoenzyme II. The 4-nitrophenyl acetate hydrolase activity of the quadruple mutant is sevenfold lower than that of unmodified isoenzyme II, while the active site of isoenzyme III hardly catalyzes the hydrolysis of this ester at all. The pKa controlling the esterase activity of the quadruple mutant is 6.2, which should be compared to a value of 6.8 for unmodified isoenzyme II, and about 5 for isoenzyme III. While isoenzyme III binds sulfonamide inhibitors 10(3)-10(4) times less strongly than isoenzyme II, only [Asn-67----Arg]isoenzyme II shows a weaker binding of the investigated sulfonamide, dansylamide, but only by a factor of two. Some of the other mutants show enhanced affinities, up to nearly fourfold for the double mutant with Phe198 and Ile207. It is speculated that additional differences between the active sites of isoenzyme II and III might be important for the precise orientations and interactions of the side chains of isoenzyme-III-specific amino acid residues.

Evaluation of carbonic anhydrase isozymes in disorders involving osteopetrosis and/or renal tubular acidosis

Carbonic anhydrase II (CA II) deficiency in man is an autosomal recessive disorder manifest by osteopetrosis, renal tubular acidosis, and cerebral calcification. Other features include growth failure and mental retardation. Complications of the osteopetrosis include frequent bone fractures, cranial nerve compression symptoms, and dental malocclusion. The anemia and leukopenia seen in the recessive, lethal infantile form of osteopetrosis are not seen in CA II deficient patients. The renal tubular acidosis usually includes both proximal and distal components. Symptoms of metabolic acidosis respond to therapy, but no specific treatment is available for the osteopetrosis or cerebral calcification. We review here the role of carbonic anhydrases in bone resorption and renal acidification, and discuss clinical features and laboratory findings which distinguish CA II deficiency from other disorders producing osteopetrosis, renal tubular acidosis, or brain calcification. Methods to evaluate patients with pure proximal renal tubular acidosis for deficiency of CA IV are also discussed.

Structural and functional differences between carbonic anhydrase isoenzymes I and II as studied by site-directed mutagenesis

Site-specific mutagenesis has been used to replace amino acid residues in the active site of human carbonic anhydrase II with residues characterizing carbonic anhydrases I. Previous studies of [Thr200----His]isoenzyme II [Behravan, G., Jonsson, B.-H. & Lindskog, S. (1990) Eur. J. Biochem. 190, 351-357] showed that His200 is important for the specific catalytic properties of isoenzymes I. In this paper some properties of two single mutants, Asn62----Val and Asn67----His, as well as a double mutant, Asn67----His/Thr200----His, are described. The results show that neither Val62 nor His67 give rise to isoenzyme-I-like properties, while the double mutant behaves like the single mutant with His200. At pH 8.9, the variant with Val62 has a higher value of kcat/Km for CO2 hydration than unmodified isoenzyme II, whereas the variant with His67 has an enhanced kcat value. The replacement of Asn62 with Val results in a 20% increase of the 4-nitrophenyl acetate hydrolase activity. For the double mutant, the esterase activity is quite close to that calculated on the assumption that the effects of the two single mutations on the free energy of activation are additive.

Fine tuning of the catalytic properties of human carbonic anhydrase II. Effects of varying active-site residue 200

The active-site residue Thr200 in human carbonic anhydrase II has been replaced by several different amino acids by site-directed mutagenesis. The CO2 hydration and 4-nitrophenyl acetate hydrolase activities of these variants have been measured, as well as inhibition by the monovalent anion, SCN-. The results show that the replacement of Thr200 with Ser or Ala has no significant effect on the catalyzed rates of CO2 hydration. Also, variants with Asn200 and Gly200 have high activities, whereas the activities of variants with Val, Ile or Arg at position 200 are reduced by factors of 2-3 compared to the unmodified enzyme. The variant with Asp200 has a very low activity in both reactions studied, while most of the other variants have enhanced esterase activities, Thr200----Arg isoenzyme II as much as sevenfold. The Asp200 variant has a low affinity for SCN- as well as for a sulfonamide inhibitor, whereas all the other variants bind SCN- more strongly than unmodified enzyme. While His200 characterizes carbonic anhydrases I, the presence of Arg, Val or Ile as well as His at position 200 in human isoenzyme II seems to result in isoenzyme-I-like functional properties.

Human chromosome 8

The role of human chromosome 8 in genetic disease together with the current status of the genetic linkage map for this chromosome is reviewed. Both hereditary genetic disease attributed to mutant alleles at gene loci on chromosome 8 and neoplastic disease owing to somatic mutation, particularly chromosomal translocations, are discussed.