Two low Km hydrolytic activities on dinucleoside 5‘,5“‘-P1,P4-tetraphosphates in rat liver. Characterization as the specific dinucleoside tetraphosphatase and a phosphodiesterase I-like enzyme

Mn2+-dependent ADP-ribose/CDP-alcohol pyrophosphatase: a novel metallophosphoesterase family preferentially expressed in rodent immune cells

ADPRibase-Mn (Mn2+-dependent ADP-ribose/CDP-alcohol pyrophosphatase) was earlier isolated from rat liver supernatants after separation from ADPRibase-I and ADPRibase-II (Mg2+-activated ADP-ribose pyrophosphatases devoid of CDP-alcohol pyrophosphatase activity). The last mentioned are putative Nudix hydrolases, whereas the molecular identity of ADPRibase-Mn is unknown. MALDI (matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization) MS data from rat ADPRibase-Mn pointed to a hypothetical protein that was cloned and expressed and showed the expected specificity. It is encoded by the RGD1309906 rat gene, which so far has been annotated simply as 'hydrolase'. ADPRibase-Mn is not a Nudix hydrolase, but it shows the sequence and structural features typical of the metallophosphoesterase superfamily. It may constitute a protein family of its own, the members of which appear to be specific to vertebrates, plants and algae. ADP-ribose was successfully docked to a model of rat ADPRibase-Mn, revealing its putative active centre. Microarray data from the GEO (Gene Expression Omnibus) database indicated that the mouse gene 2310004I24Rik, an orthologue of RGD1309906, is preferentially expressed in immune cells. This was confirmed by Northern-blot and activity assay of ADPRibase-Mn in rat tissues. A possible role of ADPRibase-Mn in immune cell signalling is suggested by the second-messenger role of ADP-ribose, which activates TRPM2 (transient receptor potential melastatin channel-2) ion channels as a mediator of oxidative/nitrosative stress, and by the signalling function assigned to many of the microarray profile neighbours of 2310004I24Rik. Furthermore, the influence of ADPRibase-Mn on the CDP-choline or CDP-ethanolamine pathways of phospholipid biosynthesis cannot be discounted.

Biochemical analysis of ecto-nucleotide pyrophosphatase phosphodiesterase activity in brain membranes indicates involvement of NPP1 isoenzyme in extracellular hydrolysis of diadenosine polyphosphates in central nervous system

Synaptosomes and plasma membranes obtained from rat brain display ectoenzymatic hydrolytic activity responsible for hydrolysis of the neurotransmitter/neuroregulatory nucleotides diadenosine polyphosphates. Intact synaptosomes and plasma and synaptic membranes isolated by sucrose-gradient ultracentrifugation from several brain regions (hypothalamus, hippocampus, temporal cortex, frontal cortex striatum and cerebellum) degraded the fluorogenic substrates diethenoadenosine polyphosphates up to ethenoadenosine as by-product. Purified ectoenzyme cleaved substrates always releasing the mononucleotide moieties ethenoadenosine 5'-monophosphate and the corresponding ethenoadenosine (n-1) 5'-phosphate. Ectoenzymatic hydrolysis reached maximal activity at pH 9.0 (pH range 6.5-9.0) and was activated by Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) ions, with maximal effects around 2.0 mM cation. EDTA drastically reduced activity and Zn(2+) was required for enzyme reactivation. Hydrolysis of substrates followed hyperbolic kinetics with K(m) values in the 3-10 microM range. Diadenosine polyphosphates and heparin behaved as competitive inhibitors in the enzymatic hydrolysis of diethenoadenosine polyphosphates and AMP, ATP, alpha,beta-methyleneADP, ADPbetaS ATPgammaS, beta,gamma-methyleneATP, suramin and diethyl pyrocarbonate were also inhibitors. Ectoenzymatic activity shared the typical characteristics of members of the ecto-nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase (E-NPP) family and inhibition data suggest that NPP1 ectoenzyme is involved in the cleavage of extracellular diadenosine polyphosphates in brain. Synaptic membranes from cerebellum, hypothalamus and hippocampus presented the highest activities and no activity differences were observed between young and aged animals. However, plasma membranes showed a more homogeneous distribution of ectoenzymatic activity but a general increase was detected in aged animals. Enhancement of ectoenzymatic diadenosine polyphosphate cleaving activity found in plasma membranes from old animals could play a deleterious role in aged brain by limiting neuroprotective effects reported for extracellular diadenosine tetraphosphate.

Hydrolysis of diadenosine polyphosphates by nucleotide pyrophosphatases/phosphodiesterases

Diadenosine polyphosphates (ApnAs) act as extracellular signaling molecules in a broad variety of tissues. They were shown to be hydrolyzed by surface-located enzymes in an asymmetric manner, generating AMP and Apn-1 from ApnA. The molecular identity of the enzymes responsible remains unclear. We analyzed the potential of NPP1, NPP2, and NPP3, the three members of the ecto-nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase family, to hydrolyze the diadenosine polyphosphates diadenosine 5',5"'-P1,P3-triphosphate (Ap3A), diadenosine 5',5"'-P1,P4-tetraphosphate (Ap4A), and diadenosine 5',5"'-P1,P5-pentaphosphate, (Ap5A), and the diguanosine polyphosphate, diguanosine 5',5"'-P1,P4-tetraphosphate (Gp4G). Each of the three enzymes hydrolyzed Ap3A, Ap4A, and Ap5A at comparable rates. Gp4G was hydrolyzed by NPP1 and NPP2 at rates similar to Ap4A, but only at half this rate by NPP3. Hydrolysis was asymmetric, involving the alpha,beta-pyrophosphate bond. ApnA hydrolysis had a very alkaline pH optimum and was inhibited by EDTA. Michaelis constant (Km) values for Ap3A were 5.1 micro m, 8.0 micro m, and 49.5 micro m for NPP1, NPP2, and NPP3, respectively. Our results suggest that NPP1, NPP2, and NPP3 are major enzyme candidates for the hydrolysis of extracellular diadenosine polyphosphates in vertebrate tissues.

Human placenta hydrolases active on free ADP-ribose: an ADP-sugar pyrophosphatase and a specific ADP-ribose pyrophosphatase

Free ADP-ribose has a reducing ribose moiety and it is hazardous due to its nonenzymic reactivity toward protein side chains. ADP-ribose hydrolases are putative protective agents to avoid the intracellular accumulation of ADP-ribose. In mammalian sources, two types of enzymes with ADP-ribose hydrolase activity are known: (i) highly specific ADP-ribose pyrophosphatases, which in a Mg(2+)-dependent fashion hydrolyse only ADP-ribose and the nonphysiological analogue IDP-ribose, and (ii) less specific nucleoside diphosphosugar or diphosphoalcohol (NDP-X) pyrophosphatases, which besides A(I)DP-ribose hydrolyse also some nonreducing NDP-X substrates. So far, of these two enzyme types only the less specific one has been reported in human sources: an ADP-sugar pyrophosphatase purified from erythrocytes or expressed from cDNA clones. Here we report that human placenta extracts contain two ADP-ribose hydrolases, which were characterised after a near 1000-fold purification. One is an ADP-sugar pyrophosphatase: it hydrolysed ADP-ribose, ADP-glucose and ADP-mannose, but not e.g. UDP-glucose, at similar rates. It resembles the erythrocyte and recombinant enzyme(s), but showed a 5-20-fold lower K(m) for ADP-ribose (7 microM). The other enzyme is a highly specific ADP-ribose pyrophosphatase (the first of this kind to be reported in humans): it hydrolysed only ADP-ribose and IDP-ribose at similar rates, with a very low, 0.4 microM K(m) for the former. This is a major candidate to control the accumulation of free ADP-ribose in humans. It remains to be seen whether it belongs to the 'nudix' protein family, which includes several ADP-ribose hydrolases and other 'housecleaning' enzymes (M.J. Bessman, D.N. Frick, S.F. O'Handley, J. Biol. Chem. 271 (1996) 25059-25062).

Biochemical evidence for an ecto alkaline phosphodiesterase I in human airways

Because dinucleotides are signaling molecules that can interact with cell surface receptors and regulate the rate of mucociliary clearance in lungs, we studied their metabolism by using human airway epithelial cells. A membrane-bound enzyme was detected on the mucosal surface of polarized epithelia that metabolized dinucleotides with a broad substrate specificity (diadenosine polyphosphates and diuridine polyphosphates [Up(n)U], n = 2 to 6). The enzymatic reaction yielded nucleoside monophosphates (NMP) and Np(n)(-)(1) (N = A or U), and was inhibited by nucleoside 5'-triphosphates (alpha,betamet adenosine triphosphate [ATP] > ATP >/= uridine triphosphate > guanidine triphosphate > cytidine triphosphate). The apparent Michaelis constant (K(m,app)) and apparent maximal velocity (V(max,app)) for [(3)H]Up(4)U were 22 +/- 4 microM and 0.24 +/- 0.05 nmoles. min(-)(1). cm(-)(2), respectively. Thymidine 5'-monophosphate p-nitrophenyl ester and adenosine diphosphate (ADP)- ribose, substrates of ecto alkaline phosphodiesterase I (PDE I) activities, were also hydrolyzed by the apical surface of airway epithelia. ADP-ribose competed with [(3)H]Up(4)U, with a K(i) of 23 +/- 3 microM. The metabolism of ADP-ribose and Ap(4)A was not affected by inhibitors of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, Ro 20-1724, and 1,3-dipropyl-8-p-sulfophenylxanthine), but similarly inhibited by fluoride and N-ethylmaleimide. These results suggest that a PDE I is responsible for the hydrolysis of extracellular dinucleotides in human airways. The wide substrate specificity of PDE I suggests that it may be involved in several signaling events on the luminal surface of airway epithelia, including purinoceptor activation and cell surface protein ribosylation.

Specific and nonspecific enzymes involved in the catabolism of mononucleoside and dinucleoside polyphosphates

This review concerns enzymes that can degrade nucleoside 5'-tetra- and pentaphosphates (p(4)N and p(5)N) and those that can degrade various dinucleoside polyphosphates (Np(3-6)N'). Most of these enzymes are hydrolases, and they occur in all types of organisms. Certain fungi and protozoa also possess specific Np(n)N' phosphorylases. Specific p(4)N hydrolases have been demonstrated in mammals and in plants. In yeast, p(4)N and p(5)N are hydrolyzed by exopolyphosphatases. Among other hydrolases that can degrade these minor mononucleotides are phosphatases, apyrase, and (asymmetrical) Np(4)N' hydrolase, as well as the nonspecific adenylate deaminase. Np(n)N's are good substrates for Type I phosphodiesterases and nucleotide pyrophosphatases, and diadenosine polyphosphates are easily deaminated to diinosine polyphosphates by nonspecific adenylate deaminases. Specific Np(3)N' hydrolases occur in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Interestingly, the human fragile histidine triad (Fhit) tumor suppressor protein appears to be a typical Np(3)N' hydrolase. Among the specific Np(4)N' hydrolases are asymmetrically cleaving ones, which are typical of higher eukaryotes, and symmetrically cleaving enzymes found in Physarum polycephalum and in many bacteria. An enzyme that hydrolyzes both diadenosine tetraphosphate and diadenosine triphosphate has been found in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Its amino acid sequence is similar to that of the human Fhit/Np(3)N' hydrolase. Very recently, a typical (asymmetrical) Np(4)N' hydrolase has been demonstrated for the first time in a bacterium-the pathogenic Bartonella bacilliformis. Another novelty is the discovery of diadenosine 5', 5"'-P(1),P 6-hexaphosphate hydrolases in budding and fission yeasts and in mammalian cells. These enzymes and the (asymmetrical) Np(4)N' hydrolases have the amino acid motif typical of the MutT (or Nudix hydrolase) family. In contrast, the Schizosaccharomyces pombe Ap(4)A/Ap(3)A hydrolase, the human Fhit protein, and the yeast Np(n)N' phosphorylases belong to a superfamily GAFH, which includes the histidine triad proteins.

Acyl-CoA synthetase catalyzes the synthesis of diadenosine hexaphosphate (Ap6A)

The synthesis of diadenosine hexaphosphate (Ap6A), a potent vasoconstrictor, is catalyzed by acyl-CoA synthetase from Pseudomonas fragi. In a first step AMP is transferred from ATP to tetrapolyphosphate (P4) originating adenosine pentaphosphate (p5A) which, subsequently, is the acceptor of another AMP moiety from ATP generating diadenosine hexaphosphate (Ap6A). Diadenosine pentaphosphate (Ap5A) and diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap4A) were also synthesized in the course of the reaction. In view of the variety of biological effects described for these compounds the potential capacity of synthesis of diadenosine polyphosphates by the mammalian acyl-CoA synthetases may be relevant.

The hydrolytic activity of bovine adrenal medullary plasma membranes towards diadenosine polyphosphates is due to alkaline phosphodiesterase-I

A hydrolase activity directed against diadenosine 5',5"'-P1, P4-tetraphosphate (Ap4A) has been solubilised and partially purified from the plasma membrane fraction of bovine adrenal medullary chromaffin tissue in order to determine its relationship to alkaline phosphodiesterase-I/nucleotide pyrophosphatase (PDase-I, EC 3.1.4.1). Activity with the specific dinucleoside tetraphosphatase (EC 3.6.1. 17) substrate Ap4A and with the non-specific PDase-I substrate thymidine 5'-monophosphate p-nitrophenyl ester had Km and Vmax values of 2.0 microM and 600 pmol/min/mg protein and 0.2 mM and 26 nmol/min/mg protein respectively and co-chromatographed upon gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography. Activity with the fluorescent substrates etheno-Ap4A and 4-methylumbelliferyl phenylphosphonate co-electrophoresed on native polyacrylamide gels. No activity was detected which exclusively hydrolysed Ap4A. Immunoblotting of the most purified fraction with an antibody against mouse PC-1, one of the major PDase-I family members, detected bands of 240, 120 and 62 kDa corresponding to PC-1 dimer, monomer and proteolytic fragment. Therefore, the activity previously described as bovine adrenal chromaffin cell ecto(diadenosine polyphosphate hydrolase) (ecto-ApnAase) is a PDase-I, probably bovine PC-1.

Acyl coenzyme A synthetase from Pseudomonas fragi catalyzes the synthesis of adenosine 5'-polyphosphates and dinucleoside polyphosphates

Acyl coenzyme A (CoA) synthetase (EC 6.2.1.8) from Pseudomonas fragi catalyzes the synthesis of adenosine 5'-tetraphosphate (p4A) and adenosine 5'-pentaphosphate (p5A) from ATP and tri- or tetrapolyphosphate, respectively. dATP, adenosine-5'-O-[gamma-thiotriphosphate] (ATP gamma S), adenosine(5')tetraphospho(5')adenosine (Ap4A), and adenosine(5')pentaphospho(5')adenosine (Ap5A) are also substrates of the reaction yielding p4(d)A in the presence of tripolyphosphate (P3). UTP, CTP, and AMP are not substrates of the reaction. The K(m) values for ATP and P3 are 0.015 and 1.3 mM, respectively. Maximum velocity was obtained in the presence of MgCl2 or CoCl2 equimolecular with the sum of ATP and P3. The relative rates of synthesis of p4A with divalent cations were Mg = Co > Mn = Zn >> Ca. In the pH range used, maximum and minimum activities were measured at pH values of 5.5 and 8.2, respectively; the opposite was observed for the synthesis of palmitoyl-CoA, with maximum activity in the alkaline range. The relative rates of synthesis of palmitoyl-CoA and p4A are around 10 (at pH 5.5) and around 200 (at pH 8.2). The synthesis of p4A is inhibited by CoA, and the inhibitory effect of CoA can be counteracted by fatty acids. To a lesser extent, the enzyme catalyzes the synthesis also of Ap4A (from ATP), Ap5A (from p4A), and adenosine(5')tetraphospho(5')nucleoside (Ap4N) from adequate adenylyl donors (ATP, ATP gamma S, or octanoyl-AMP) and adequate adenylyl acceptors (nucleoside triphosphates).

Glycine-enhanced inhibition of rat liver nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase-I by EDTA: a full account of the reported inhibition by commercial preparations of acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-1)

The earlier reported inhibition of rat liver nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase I (EC 3.1.6.9/EC 3.1.4.1; NPP/PDE) by culture-grade acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-1) correlates with a low-Mr contaminant. 1H-NMR analyses revealed EDTA in the total-volume fractions of a gel-filtration experiment, where all the inhibitory activity of the FGF-1 preparation was recovered. NPP/PDE inhibition by EDTA (and by unfractionated FGF-1 or the EDTA-containing fractions) was time-dependent, blocked by the substrate p-nitrophenyl-dTMP, and strongly enhanced by glycine. The use of glycine buffers in earlier work was critical to the apparent inhibition by FGF-1. The results point to a conformational change favored by glycine that may be relevant to the biological role of NPP/PDE.

Rat liver ADP-ribose pyrophosphatase-I as an in vitro target of the acetaminophen metabolite N-acetyl-p-benzoquinoneimine

N-acetyl-p-benzoquinoneimine (NAPQI) is the metabolite responsible for acetaminophen hepatotoxicity. ADP-ribose pyrophosphatase-I (ADPRibase-I; EC 3.6.1.13) hydrolyzes protein-glycating ADP-ribose. The results show NAPQI-dependent alterations of ADPRibase-I leading to strong inhibition: a fast Km increase produced by low concentrations, and a time-dependent Vmax decrease by higher NAPQI concentrations. Both effects were prevented by thiols, but not reverted by them, nor by gel filtration of NAPQI-treated enzyme. Liver ADPRibase-I can be a target of NAPQI-dependent arylation. The inhibition or inactivation of the enzyme would contribute to increasing the free ADP-ribose concentration and nonenzymatic ADP-ribosylation, which is coherent with results linking free ADP-ribose-producing pathways to acetaminophen toxicity.

Labeled adenosine(5')tetraphospho(5')adenosine (Ap4A) and adenosine(5')tetraphospho(5')nucleoside (Ap4N). Synthesis with firefly luciferase

Labeled dinucleoside polyphosphates are not commercially available, in spite of being important molecules in metabolic regulation. Firefly luciferase (EC 1.13.12.7) is a useful enzyme for the synthesis of adenosine(5')tetraphospho(5')adenosine (Ap4A). As luciferase behaves as a nucleotidase at low ATP concentration, adequate concentrations (higher than 0.1 mM ATP) should be used to obtain a good yield of labeled Ap4A. [32P]Ap4A has also been synthesized from ATP and [32P]PPi. In a first step, [beta, gamma-32P]ATP is generated in a ATP-[32P]PPi exchange reaction catalyzed by luciferase. In a second step, the reaction is supplemented with pyrophosphatase and 32P labeled Ap4A is obtained. Radioactive adenosine(5')tetraphospho(5')nucleoside (Ap4N) can also be synthesized from ATP gamma S and labeled NTP or from low concentrations of labeled ATP and high concentrations of cold NTP. The syntheses of radioactive ApnA and pnA (n > 4) can also be approached with luciferase.

Rat liver nucleoside diphosphosugar or diphosphoalcohol pyrophosphatases different from nucleotide pyrophosphatase or phosphodiesterase I: substrate specificities of Mg(2+)-and/or Mn(2+)-dependent hydrolases acting on ADP-ribose

Three rat liver nucleotides(5') diphosphosugar (NDP-sugar) or nucleoside(5') diphosphoalcohol pyrophosphatases are described: two were previously identified in experiments measuring Mg(2+)-dependent ADP-ribose pyrophosphatase activity (Miró et al. (1989) FEBS Lett. 244, 123-126), and the other is a new, Mn(2+)-dependent ADP-ribose pyrophosphatase. They are resolved by ion-exchange chromatography, and differ by their substrate and cation specificities, KM values for ADP-ribose, pH-activity profiles, molecular weights and isoelectric points. The enzymes were tested for activity towards: reducing (ADP-ribose, IDP-ribose) and non-reducing NDP-sugars (ADP-glucose, ADP-mannose, GDP-mannose, UDP-mannose, UDP-glucose, UDP-xylose, CDP-glucose), CDP-alcohols (CDP-glycerol, CDP-ethanolamine, CDP-choline), dinucleotides (diadenosine pyrophosphate, NADH, NAD+, FAD), nucleoside(5') mono- and diphosphates (AMP, CMP, GMP, ADP, CDP) and dTMP p-nitrophenyl ester. Since the enzymes have not been purified to homogeneity, more than three pyrophosphatases may be present, but the co-purification of activities, thermal co-inactivation, and inhibition experiments give support to: (i) and ADP-ribose pyrophosphatase highly specific for ADP(IDP)-ribose in the presence of Mg2+, but active also on non-reducing ADP-hexoses and dinucleotides (not on NAD+) when Mg2+ was replaced with Mn2+; (ii) a Mn(2+)-dependent pyrophosphatase active on ADP(IDP)-ribose, dinucleotides and CDP-alcohols; (iii) a rather unspecific pyrophosphatase that, with Mg2+, was active on AMP(IMP)-containing NDP-sugars and dinucleotides (not on NAD+), and with Mn2+, was also active on non-adenine NDP-sugars and CDP-alcohols. The enzymes differ from nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase-I (NPPase/PDEaseI) by their substrate specificities and by their cytosolic location and solubility in the absence of detergents. Although NPPase/PDEaseI is much more active in rat liver, its known location in the non-cytoplasmic sides of plasma and endoplasmic reticulum membranes, together with the known cytoplasmic synthesis of NDP-sugars and CDP-alcohols, permit the speculation that the pyrophosphatases studied in this work may have a cellular role.

Adenosine 5'-tetraphosphate and adenosine 5'-pentaphosphate are synthesized by yeast acetyl coenzyme A synthetase

Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) acetyl coenzyme A (CoA) synthetase (EC 6.2.1.1) catalyzes the synthesis of adenosine 5'-tetraphosphate (P4A) and adenosine 5'-pentaphosphate (p5A) from ATP and tri- or tetrapolyphosphate (P3 or P4), with relative velocities of 7:1, respectively. Of 12 nucleotides tested as potential donors of nucleotidyl moiety, only ATP, adenosine-5'-O-[3-thiotriphosphate], and acetyl-AMP were substrates, with relative velocities of 100, 62, and 80, respectively. The Km values for ATP, P3, and acetyl-AMP were 0.16, 4.7, and 1.8 mM, respectively. The synthesis of p4A could proceed in the absence of exogenous acetate but was stimulated twofold by acetate, with an apparent Km value of 0.065 mM. CoA did not participate in the synthesis of p4A (p5A) and inhibited the reaction (50% inhibitory concentration of 0.015 mM). At pH 6.3, which was optimum for formation of p4A (p5A), the rate of acetyl-CoA synthesis (1.84 mumol mg-1 min-1) was 245 times faster than the rate of synthesis of p4A measured in the presence of acetate. The known formation of p4A (p5A) in yeast sporulation and the role of acetate may therefore be related to acetyl-CoA synthetase.

Diadenosine 5',5"-P1,P4-tetraphosphate (Ap4A), ATP and catecholamine content in bovine adrenal medulla, chromaffin granules and chromaffin cells

The level of diadenosine 5',5"-P1-P4-tetraphosphate (diadenosine tetraphosphate or Ap4A), catecholamines, ATP and other nucleotides has been investigated in perchloric acid extracts of bovine adrenal medulla, chromaffin granules and cultured chromaffin cells. As a control, the amount of Ap4A and ATP has also been measured in human blood platelets. The following values (nmol/mg protein) were found in adrenal medulla: Ap4A, 0.019 +/- 0.004; ATP, 109 +/- 11; ADP, 23.8 +/- 5.8; AMP, 11.3 +/- 1.5; p4A, 0.18 +/- 0.08; catecholamines, 460 +/- 57. The level of Ap4A, catecholamines and ATP (nmol/mg protein) found in chromaffin granules and in chromaffin cells were, respectively: (0.15 +/- 0.07; 2175 +/- 99; 531 +/- 66) and (0.22 +/- 0.14; 1143 +/- 277; 222 +/- 53). In all the cases investigated, the ratio catecholamines/ATP and catecholamines/Ap4A were around 5 and in the order of 10(3), respectively. The amount of Ap4A found here, in bovine adrenal medulla, chromaffin granules and chromaffin cells, is two orders of magnitude lower than previously reported.

Diadenosine tetraphosphate is co-released with ATP and catecholamines from bovine adrenal medulla

Secretion of adenosine(5')tetraphospho(5')adenosine (Ap4A) and ATP from perfused bovine adrenal glands stimulated with acetylcholine or elevated potassium levels was measured and compared with that of catecholamines. We have found a close correlation between the release of Ap4A and catecholamines elicited with all the secretagogues used in the presence of either Ca2+ or Ba2+, suggesting co-release of both constituents from the chromaffin granules. By contrast, ATP secretion, as measured with luciferase, showed a significantly different time course regardless of the secretagogue used. ATP secretion consistently decreased after 1-2 min of stimulation at a time when Ap4A and catecholamine secretions were still increasing. Measures of degradation of injected [3H]ATP to the gland during stimulation showed little difference in the level of uptake or decomposition of ATP throughout the pulse. However, a reexamination of ATP secretion by monitoring its products of degradation (AMP, adenosine, and inosine) by HPLC techniques showed that Ap4A, ATP, and catecholamines are indeed secreted in parallel from the perfused adrenal gland.

Dinucleoside tetraphosphatase from human blood cells. Purification and characterization as a high specific activity enzyme recognized by an anti-rat tetraphosphatase antibody

Dinucleoside tetraphosphatase (Np4Nase; EC 3.6.1.17) has been purified 170,000-fold from a 30-60% ammonium sulfate fraction of a human blood cell extract. Purification included a dye-ligand affinity elution step using the inhibitor adenosine 5'-tetraphosphate. Human blood Np4Nase resembled rat liver Np4Nase, including recognition by anti-rat Np4Nase, but differed from homogeneous human leukemia Np4Nase in the 1000-fold lower specific activity of the latter. The results are discussed in relation to the potential role of diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap4A) in the control of cell division and the turnover of Ap4A in blood.

Location of dinucleoside triphosphatase in the matrix space of rat liver mitochondria

The submitochondrial location of dinucleoside triphosphatase (EC 3.6.1.29), previously shown to be in part associated with mitochondria, has been studied in rat liver. The precipitability and latency of activity in organelle suspensions, and the profile of solubilization by digitonin, were like those of the matrix space marker glutamate dehydrogenase, and differed from those of other submitochondrial fractions. This, and the synthesis of diadenosine polyphosphates by mitochondrial aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, suggest the occurrence of a pathway for the intramitochondrial turnover of diadenosine 5',5'''-P1,P3-triphosphate (Ap3A).

Di(1,N6-ethenoadenosine)5', 5'''-P1,P4-tetraphosphate, a fluorescent enzymatically active derivative of Ap4A

Di(1,N6-ethenoadenosine)5',5'''-P1,P4-tetraphosphate, epsilon-(Ap4A), a fluorescent analog of Ap4A has been synthesized by reaction of 2-chloroacetaldehyde with Ap4A. At neutral pH this Ap4A analog presents characteristics maxima at 265 and 274 nm, shoulders at ca 260 and 310 nm and moderate fluorescence (lambda exc 307 nm, lambda em 410 nm). Enzymatic hydrolysis of the phosphate backbone produced a slight hyperchromic effect but a notorious increase of the fluorescence emission. Cytosolic extracts from adrenochromaffin tissue as well as cultured chromaffin cells were able to split epsilon(Ap4A) and catabolize the resulting epsilon-nucleotide moieties up to epsilon-Ado.

Methanol esterification reactions catalyzed by snake venom and bovine intestinal 5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterases. Formation of nucleoside 5'-monophosphate methyl esters from guanosine 5'-triphosphate and other nucleoside 5'-polyphosphates

It is not known whether the enzymes 5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterase/nucleotide pyrophosphatase (EC 3.1.4.1/EC 3.6.1.9) catalyze the transfer of nucleotides to acceptors other than water. We have investigated the action of snake venom and bovine intestinal mucosa phosphodiesterases on nucleoside 5'-polyphosphates in the presence of methanol. In those conditions, GTP was converted by snake venom phosphodiesterase to a mixture of GMP and another compound with a different retention time in reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. That compound, by ultraviolet, 1H- and 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic analysis, and by enzyme analysis, was characterized as the methyl ester of GMP (GMP-OMe). The molar fraction [GMP-OMe]/[GMP + GMP-OMe] formed was higher than the molar fraction of methanol as a solvent in reaction mixtures. Similar reactions took place at comparable rates with snake venom and bovine intestinal mucosa phosphodiesterases using several nucleoside 5'-polyphosphates as substrates. The ability of 5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterases to catalyze transfer reactions to a non-water acceptor is relevant to the mechanism of the enzymes, to their use as analytical tools, and to their possible use/role in the preparative/in vivo synthesis of nucleotide esters.

Particulate diadenosine 5',5"'-P1,P3-triphosphate hydrolases in rat brain: two specific dinucleoside triphosphatases and two phosphodiesterase I-like hydrolases

Rat liver and brain differ in the distribution pattern of the total hydrolytic activity on diadenosine 5',5"'-P1,P3-triphosphate (Ap3A) between the soluble and particulate fractions. The Ap3A-hydrolase activity in both the soluble and particulate liver fractions and in the brain soluble fraction had been previously studied in detail. We report now on the brain particulate fraction which, unlike liver, showed a low unspecific phosphodiesterase I-like (PDEaseI, EC 3.1.4.1) activity relative to the specific dinucleoside triphosphatase (Ap3Aase, EC 3.6.1.29). Two PDEaseI-like forms (PDEaseI-A and PDEaseI-B), with different apparent Mrs and kinetic properties, and two Ap3Aases (Ap3Aase-alpha and Ap3Aase-beta) were solubilized with 0.5% Triton X-100 from the particulate fraction. Ap3Aase-alpha resembled the cytosolic Ap3Aase (Ap3Aase-c), a known situation in liver. Comparative to Ap3Aase-alpha, Ap3Aase-beta showed a slightly higher Km (35 vs. 15 micron) and lower isoelectric point (5.25 vs. 5.45); Ap3Aase-beta was absent from the soluble fraction, and its recovery was unaffected by proteinase inhibitors, strongly arguing for distinct soluble and particulate turnover pathways for dinucleoside polyphosphates.

Firefly luciferase synthesizes P1,P4-bis(5'-adenosyl)tetraphosphate (Ap4A) and other dinucleoside polyphosphates

The synthesis of P1,P4-bis(5'-adenosyl)tetraphosphate (Ap4A) has been considered, for a long time, to be catalyzed mainly by some aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases [Brevet et al. (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86, 8275-8279]. Recently, yeast Ap4A phosphorylase, acting in reverse (Guranowski et al. (1988) Biochemistry 27, 2959-2964), was shown to synthesize Ap4A, too. In the case of the synthetases, the intermediate complex E-aminoacyl-AMP may serve as donor of AMP to ATP, yielding Ap4A. Here we demonstrate that firefly luciferase (EC 1.13.12.7) which forms the E-luciferin-AMP intermediate also synthesizes Ap4A as well as other dinucleoside polyphosphates. We suggest moreover that: other enzymes (mainly synthetases and some transferases), which catalyze the transfer of a nucleotidyl moiety, via nucleotidyl-containing intermediates and releasing PPi may produce dinucleoside polyphosphates.

Purification to homogeneity of rat liver dinucleoside tetraphosphatase by affinity elution with adenosine 5'-tetraphosphate

Starting from a partially purified dinucleoside tetraphosphatase (Np4Nase; EC 3.6.1.17), we developed an affinity elution purification protocol involving the strong competitive inhibitor adenosine 5'-tetraphosphate. Np4Nase bound to Cibacron Blue F3G-A-Sepharose 4B or to Reactive Blue 2-Sepharose CL-6B was specifically eluted with 10 microM adenosine 5'-tetraphosphate and 5 mM MgCl2, but not by either of them separately. The final Np4Nase preparation was homogeneous by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by Coomassie blue or silver staining. The protein band showed an apparent 18 kDa molecular mass. The specific activity of the homogeneous Np4Nase was about 150 units/mg, meaning a 45,000-fold increase and a 10% recovery with respect to the crude extract. After preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, protein visualization with KCl, fragmentation of the gel lane, and extraction, all the renatured Np4Nase activity was found associated to the 18 kDa band. The renatured enzyme showed the same Km value for diadenosine 5',5"'-P1,P4-tetraphosphate as the partially purified or the native homogeneous Np4Nase.

Hydrolysis of bis(5'-nucleosidyl) polyphosphates by Escherichia coli 5'-nucleotidase

Two enzymatic activities that split diadenosine triphosphate have been reported in Escherichia coli: a specific Mg-dependent bis(5'-adenosyl) triphosphatase (EC 3.6.1.29) and the bis(5'-adenosyl) tetraphosphatase (EC 3.6.1.41). In addition to the activities of these two enzymes, a different enzyme activity that hydrolyzes dinucleoside polyphosphates is described. After purification and study of its molecular and kinetic properties, we concluded that it corresponded to the 5'-nucleotidase (EC 3.1.3.5) that has been described in E. coli. The enzyme was purified from sonic extracts and osmotic shock fluid. From sonic extracts, two isoforms were isolated by chromatography on ion-exchange Mono Q columns; they had a molecular mass of about 100 kilodaltons (kDa). From the osmotic shock fluid, a unique form of 52 kDa was recovered. Mild heating transformed the 100-kDa isoform to a 52-kDa form, with an increase in activity of about threefold. The existence of a 5'-nucleotidase inhibitor described previously, which associates with the enzyme and is not liberated in the osmotic shock fluid, may have been responsible for these results. The kinetic properties and substrate specificities of both forms (52 and 100 kDa) were almost identical. The enzyme, which is known to hydrolyze AMP and uridine-(5')-diphospho-(1)-alpha-D-glucose, but not adenosine-(5')-diphospho-(1)-alpha-D-glucose, was also able to split adenosine-(5')-diphospho-(5)-beta-D-ribose, ribose-5-phosphate, and dinucleoside polyphosphates [diadenosine 5',5'''-P1,P2-diphosphate,diadenosine 5',5'''-P1,P3-triphosphate, diadenosine 5',5'''-P1,P4-tetraphosphate, and bis(5'-guanosyl) triphosphate]. The effects of divalent cations and pH on the rate of the reaction with different substrates were studied.

5'-Nucleotide phosphodiesterase and alkaline phosphatase in tumor cells: evidence for existence of novel species in the cytosol

Characteristics of 5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterase (phosphodiesterase I, EC 3.1.4.1) and alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1) activities in tumor cell lines of human and murine origin were examined. Of the 15 cell lines tested, 5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity in 13 cell lines and alkaline phosphatase activity in 10 cell lines were inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide and activated by dithiothreitol (N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive), and suggested to be SH-enzymes. In contrast, the two phosphohydrolases from normal tissues were inactivated by dithiothreitol, but not by N-ethylmaleimide (dithiothreitol-sensitive). There was only one tumor cell line in which both activities were dithiothreitol-sensitive. Human hepatoma PLC/PRF/5 cells appear to possess both types of 5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterase and alkaline phosphatase, and the subcellular distribution of these enzymes in this cell line was investigated. Dithiothreitol-sensitive 5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterase and alkaline phosphatase of PLC/PRF/5 cells were localized in the plasma membrane as in normal tissues, but N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive phosphohydrolases were soluble cytosolic proteins. N-Ethylmaleimide-sensitive 5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterase and alkaline phosphatase activities from other cell lines were also recovered in the cytosol. Molecular masses of cytosolic N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive phosphohydrolases were apparently smaller than their membrane-bound dithiothreitol-sensitive counterparts, as judged from gel filtration. It was concluded that many tumor cell lines lack plasma membrane 5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterase and alkaline phosphatase, but express enzymes with similar activities in the cytosol, with properties clearly distinguishable from enzymes so far characterized.

Catalytic activity concentrations of diadenosine tetraphosphate hydrolase in normal and pathological sera

The levels of diadenosine tetraphosphate hydrolase, a nucleotide pyrophosphatase (EC 3.6.1.9), were measured in human sera with a bioluminescence method. 40 sera of healthy donors and 207 samples obtained from inpatients of a medical clinic were analysed. About two thirds of the patients showed increased hydrolase levels, as compared to the normal donors. Elevated levels were not specific for a certain disease, and they were found in quite different disorders. There was no indication for a dependency of enzyme activity on age or sex of the patients. The comparison of diadenosine tetraphosphate hydrolase with seven other laboratory parameters revealed a highly significant correlation with gamma-glutamyl transferase, suggesting that the liver may be a source of elevated serum activities. There was evidence that the gastrointestinal tract and the pancreas may also be regarded as possible organ sources of the hydrolase.

Binding of zinc(II) to beta-D-fructose 2,6-bisphosphate

The formation of a complex between Zn(II) and beta-D-fructose 2,6-bisphosphate was shown because the latter compound: activated bis(5'-guanosyl)tetraphosphatase (EC 3.6.1.17) and dinucleoside triphosphatase (EC 3.6.1.29) only to the extent that they could be inhibited by Zn(II); increased the consumption of Zn(II) necessary to titrate to an end point a solution of the metallochromic indicator eriochrome black T; coeluted with Zn(II) in a gel filtration column capable of resolving them if unbound. Neither of those effects was shown by D-fructose 1,6-bisphosphate under the same conditions.

Higher eukaryotic aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in physiologic and pathologic states

The aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases play a dual role in cell metabolism by synthesizing aminoacyl-tRNAs and an odd dinucleotide diadenosine-5', 5''-P1, P4-tetraphosphate which appears to be involved in DNA replication and the control of cell proliferation. This review is a synthesis of recent results on the structure, genetics, cell biology, physiology, role in neoplasia, and role in autoimmune myositis of the higher eukaryotic aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases.

Three diadenosine 5',5''-P1,P4-tetraphosphate hydrolytic enzymes from Physarum polycephalum with differential effects by calcium: a specific dinucleoside polyphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase, a nucleotide pyrophosphatase, and a phosphodiesterase

Two new enzymes that hydrolyze diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap4A) have been isolated from the acellular slime mold Physarum polycephalum. Both enzymes are different from the Physarum Ap4A symmetrical pyrophosphohydrolase previously described on the basis of their substrate specificities, reaction products, molecular weights, and divalent cation requirements. One enzyme is a nucleotide pyrophosphatase that asymmetrically hydrolyzes Ap4A to AMP and ATP. This enzyme hydrolyzes several mono- and dinucleotides with the corresponding nucleotide monophosphate as one of the products. The percentage hydrolysis of NAD+, Ap4A, and Ap4G, each at 10 microM, was 100, 56, and 51, respectively. A divalent cation is required for activity, with Ca2+ yielding 20-30 times greater activity than Mg2+ or Mn2+. Values of Km for Ap4A and Vmax are similar to the corresponding values for Ap4A symmetrical pyrophosphohydrolase. The second enzyme is a phosphodiesterase I with broad substrate reactivity. This enzyme also asymmetrically hydrolyzes Ap4A, but it does not hydrolyze NAD+. Activity of the phosphodiesterase I is stimulated by divalent cations, with Ca2+ being 50-60 times more stimulatory than Mg2+ or Mn2+. The apparent molecular weights of the nucleotide pyrophosphatase and phosphodiesterase are 184,000 and 45,000, respectively. In contrast, the Ap4A pyrophosphohydrolase hydrolyzes Ap4A to ADP, is inhibited by Ca2+ and other divalent cations, and has an apparent molecular weight of 26,000 as previously reported.

Occurrence of adenosine 2',5'-bisphosphate in rat liver

Adenosine 2',5'-bisphosphate (pAp) is present in liver from 2-day-fasted rats, at a concentration of around 1 microM. pAp was obtained through perchloric acid extraction of the liver followed by two successive DEAE-cellulose chromatographies and an ion-pair high-pressure liquid chromatography. Both pAp extracted from liver and that obtained from a commercial source showed the same pattern of hydrolysis by alkaline phosphatase, i.e., more 5'-AMP than 2'-AMP was obtained as an intermediate of the reaction.

Molecular cloning of the Escherichia coli gene for diadenosine 5',5'''-P1,P4-tetraphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase

A clone overproducing diadenosine tetraphosphatase (diadenosine 5', 5'''-P1, P4-tetraphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase) activity was isolated from an Escherichia coli cosmid library. Localization of the DNA region responsible for stimulation of this activity was achieved by deletion mapping and subcloning in various vectors. Maxicell experiments and immunological assays demonstrated that a 3.5-kilobase-pair DNA fragment carried the structural gene apaH encoding the E. coli diadenosine tetraphosphatase. The DNA coding strand was determined by cloning this fragment in both orientations in pUC plasmids. It was also shown that the overproduction of diadenosine tetraphosphatase decreased the dinucleoside tetraphosphate concentration in E. coli by a factor of 10.

A novel tumor-associated molecular species of 5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterase

5'-Nucleotide phosphodiesterase (5'-NPDase) was partially purified from plasma membranes of murine lymphoma L5178Y. The enzyme was inactivated by N-ethylmaleimide and Zn2+, but stabilized by dithiothreitol, suggesting that it is an SH enzyme. The enzyme, Km 1.54 mM, pI 5.8 and MW 23k, differs from liver 5'-NPDase in MW, Km and sensitivity to some inhibitors. On the contrary, 5'-NPDase, derived from normal mouse organs, is similar to the liver enzyme. The results suggest that tumor cells possess a novel molecular species of 5'-NPDase.

Catabolism of Ap3A and Ap4A in human plasma. Purification and characterization of a glycoprotein complex with 5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity

A hydrolase splitting adenosine(5')triphospho(5')adenosine (Ap3A) to AMP and ADP has recently been detected in human plasma [Lüthje, J. and Ogilvie, A. (1984) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 118, 704-709]. The enzyme has been purified to apparent homogeneity, as stained in a native polyacrylamide gel. From gel filtration data a Stokes radius of 5.9 nm was calculated, suggesting a molecular mass of about 230 kDa. The presence of the non-ionic detergent Triton X-100 did not change the molecular mass. The hydrolase dissociated to three major protein components (66 kDa; 45 kDa; 16 kDa) during polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and mercaptoethanol. Binding of the native enzyme to concanavalin-A--Sepharose and specific inhibition of binding by methyl mannoside indicated that the hydrolase is a glycoprotein. Two of the subunits (66 kDa; 45 kDa) could be affinity-labeled with radioiodinated concanavalin A. Active hydrolase could be prepared in buffers without added metal ions. Treatment with EDTA, however, completely abolished the hydrolytic activity. The enzyme could be reactivated by incubation with Ca2+, Co2+ and, at best, with Zn2+, whereas Mg2+ was ineffective. The affinity of the enzyme for Ap3A was high (Km = 1 microM), with normal Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The homolog dinucleotide Ap4A was also substrate (Km = 0.6 microM) yielding AMP and ATP as products after the asymmetric split. Other dinucleotides, such as NAD, and also mononucleotides (ATP,UTP) were degraded to nucleoside monophosphates indicating a broad specificity of the enzyme. The synthetic compound thymidine 5'-monophosphate p-nitrophenyl ester was substrate with low affinity whereas its 3'-homolog was not hydrolyzed. Optimal activity of the hydrolase was found at pH 8.5.

Catabolism of bis(5'-nucleosidyl) oligophosphates in Escherichia coli: metal requirements and substrate specificity of homogeneous diadenosine-5',5'''-P1,P4-tetraphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase

Diadenosine-5',5'''-P1,P4-tetraphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase (diadenosinetetraphosphatase) from Escherichia coli strain EM20031 has been purified 5000-fold from 4 kg of wet cells. It produces 2.4 mg of homogeneous enzyme with a yield of 3.1%. The enzyme activity in the reaction of ADP production from Ap4A is 250 s-1 [37 degrees C, 50 mM tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane, pH 7.8, 50 microM Ap4A, 0.5 microM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and 50 microM CoCl2]. The enzyme is a single polypeptide chain of Mr 33K, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis and high-performance gel permeation chromatography. Dinucleoside polyphosphates are substrates provided they contain more than two phosphates (Ap4A, Ap4G, Ap4C, Gp4G, Ap3A, Ap3G, Ap3C, Gp3G, Gp3C, Ap5A, Ap6A, and dAp4dA are substrates; Ap2A, NAD, and NADP are not). Among the products, a nucleoside diphosphate is always formed. ATP, GTP, CTP, UTP, dATP, dGTP, dCTP, and dTTP are not substrates; Ap4 is. Addition of Co2+ (50 microM) to the reaction buffer containing 0.5 microM EDTA strongly stimulates Ap4A hydrolysis (stimulation 2500-fold). With 50 microM MnCl2, the stimulation is 900-fold. Ca2+, Fe2+, and Mg2+ have no effect. The Km for Ap4A is 22 microM with Co2+ and 12 microM with Mn2+. The added metals have similar effects on the hydrolysis of Ap3A into ADP + AMP. However, in the latter case, the stimulation by Co2+ is small, and the maximum stimulation brought by Mn2+ is 9 times that brought by Co2+. Exposure of the enzyme to Zn2+ (5 microM), prior to the assay or within the reaction mixture containing Co2+, causes a marked inhibition of Ap4A hydrolysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Occurrence of dinucleosidetriphosphatase in the cytosol and particulate fractions from rat liver

Dinucleosidetriphosphatase (EC 3.6.1.29) is present in both the 37,000 g rat liver supernatant and precipitate (50 mU/g each fraction). These two activities show matching molecular weights, isoelectric points, substrate specificities, Km values, bivalent cation requirements and inhibition by zinc (II). The particulate triphosphatase and a residual dinucleosidetetraphosphatase (EC 3.6.1.17) are solubilized by freeze-thawing or by Triton X-100. Detergent treatment also extracts an unspecific phosphodiesterase I activity (EC 3.1.4.1) which also splits dinucleoside polyphosphates. The above findings suggest the occurrence of cytosolic and particulate degradative pathways for dinucleoside polyphosphates.