On porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase action: kinetic evidence for the binding of two maltooligosaccharide molecules (maltose, maltotriose and o-nitrophenylmaltoside) by inhibition studies. Correlation with the five-subsite energy profile

Enzyme kinetic approach for mechanistic insight and predictions of in vivo starch digestibility and the glycaemic index of foods

Background

Starch is a principal dietary source of digestible carbohydrate and energy. Glycaemic and insulinaemic responses to foods containing starch vary considerably and glucose responses to starchy foods are often described by the glycaemic index (GI) and/or glycaemic load (GL). Low GI/GL foods are beneficial in the management of cardiometabolic disorders (e.g., type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease). Differences in rates and extents of digestion of starch-containing foods will affect postprandial glycaemia.

Scope and approach

Amylolysis kinetics are influenced by structural properties of the food matrix and of starch itself. Native (raw) semi-crystalline starch is digested slowly but hydrothermal processing (cooking) gelatinises the starch and greatly increases its digestibility. In plants, starch granules are contained within cells and intact cell walls can limit accessibility of water and digestive enzymes hindering gelatinisation and digestibility. In vitro studies of starch digestion by α-amylase model early stages in digestion and can suggest likely rates of digestion in vivo and expected glycaemic responses. Reports that metabolic responses to dietary starch are influenced by α-amylase gene copy number, heightens interest in amylolysis.

Key findings and conclusions

This review shows how enzyme kinetic strategies can provide explanations for differences in digestion rate of different starchy foods. Michaelis-Menten and Log of Slope analyses provide kinetic parameters (e.g., K_m and k_cat/K_m) for evaluating catalytic efficiency and ease of digestibility of starch by α-amylase. Suitable kinetic methods maximise the information that can be obtained from in vitro work for predictions of starch digestion and glycaemic responses in vivo.

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Michaelis-Menten kinetics determines catalytic efficiency of amylase action on starch.

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Kinetic parameters K_m and k_cat/K_m are useful for estimating ease of digestibility.

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Log of slope analysis can quantify starch fractions digested at different rates.

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Categorisation of Resistant Starch can be based on types of interaction with amylase.

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Enzyme kinetic studies of amylolysis are useful for predicting postprandial glycaemia.

Modeling cereal starch hydrolysis during simultaneous saccharification and lactic acid fermentation; case of a sorghum-based fermented beverage, gowé

Gowé is an acidic beverage obtained after simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) of sorghum. A previous paper focused on modeling the growth of lactic acid bacteria during gowé processing. This paper focuses on modeling starch amylolysis to build an aggregated SSF model. The activity of α-amylase was modeled as a function of temperature and pH, and the hydrolysis rates of both native and soluble starch were modeled via a Michaelis-Menten equation taking into account the maltose and glucose inhibition constants. The robustness of the parameter estimators was ensured by step by step identification in sets of experiments conducted with different proportions of native and gelatinized starch by modifying the pre-cooking temperature. The aggregated model was validated on experimental data and showed that both the pre-cooking and fermentation parameters, particularly temperature, are significant levers for controlling not only acid and sugar contents but also the expected viscosity of the final product. This generic approach could be used as a tool to optimize the sanitary and sensory quality of fermentation of other starchy products.

The interplay of α-amylase and amyloglucosidase activities on the digestion of starch in in vitro enzymic systems

In vitro hydrolysis assays are a key tool in understanding differences in rate and extent of digestion of starchy foods. They offer a greater degree of simplicity and flexibility than dynamic in vitro models or in vivo experiments for quantifiable, mechanistic exploration of starch digestion. In the present work the influence of α-amylase and amyloglucosidase activities on the digestion of maize and potato starch granules was measured using both glucose and reducing sugar assays. Data were analysed through initial rates of digestion, and by 1st order kinetics, utilising logarithm of slope (LOS) plots. The rate and extent of starch digestion was dependent on the activities of both enzymes and the type of starch used. Potato required more enzyme than maize to achieve logarithmic reaction curves, and complete digestion. The results allow targeted design of starch digestion experiments through a thorough understanding of the contributions of α-amylase and amyloglucosidase to digestion rates.

Slowly digestible starch: concept, mechanism, and proposed extended glycemic index

Starch is the major glycemic carbohydrate in foods, and its nutritional property is related to its rate and extent of digestion and absorption in the small intestine. A classification of starch into rapidly digestible starch (RDS), slowly digestible starch (SDS), and resistant starch (RS) based on the in vitro Englyst test is used to specify the nutritional quality of starch. Both the RDS and RS fractions have been extensively studied while there are only limited studies on the intermediate starch fraction of SDS, particularly regarding its structural basis and slow digestion mechanism. The current understanding of SDS including its concept, measurement method, structural basis and mechanism, physiological consequences, and approaches to make SDS is reviewed. An in vivo method of extended glycemic index (EGI) is proposed to evaluate its metabolic effect and related health consequences.

Kinetics and energetics of ligand binding determined by microcalorimetry: insights into active site mobility in a psychrophilic alpha-amylase

A new microcalorimetric method for recording the kinetic parameters k(cat), K(m) and K(i) of alpha-amylases using polysaccharides and oligosaccharides as substrates is described. This method is based on the heat released by glycosidic bond hydrolysis. The method has been developed to study the active site properties of the cold-active alpha-amylase produced by an Antarctic psychrophilic bacterium in comparison with its closest structural homolog from pig pancreas. It is shown that the psychrophilic alpha-amylase is more active on large macromolecular substrates and that the higher rate constants k(cat) are gained at the expense of a lower affinity for the substrate. The active site is able to accommodate larger inhibitory complexes, resulting in a mixed-type inhibition of starch hydrolysis by maltose. A method for recording the binding enthalpies by isothermal titration calorimetry in a low-affinity system has been developed, allowing analysis of the energetics of weak ligand binding using the allosteric activator chloride. It is shown that the low affinity of the psychrophilic alpha-amylase for chloride is entropically driven. The high enthalpic and entropic contributions of activator binding suggest large structural fluctuations between the free and the bound states of the cold-active enzyme. The kinetic and thermodynamic data for the psychrophilic alpha-amylase indicate that the strictly conserved side-chains involved in substrate binding and catalysis possess an improved mobility, responsible for activity in the cold, and resulting from the disappearance of stabilizing interactions far from the active site.

Correlation of LUMO localization with the α-amylase inhibition constant in a Tendamistat-based series of linear and cyclic peptides

The glycosidase alpha-amylase is responsible for the hydrolysis of alpha(1-->4) glycosidic linkages found in dietary starch as one means for controlling blood sugar level. The effect of alpha-amylase is detrimental, however, in the disease state diabetes mellitus, where blood glucose levels are elevated due to a biochemical defect. Inhibition of the enzyme's activity would reduce glucose absorption by the small intestine. Our objective was to develop small peptides based on essential binding elements of the natural protein inhibitor, Tendamistat. These smaller analogs may be better studied structurally and conformationally to help us understand molecular-level interactions. In addition, we have been able to correlate the activity of our compounds with the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) localization in energy-minimized conformations. The positive charge/LUMO of most active inhibitors is localized on the central Arg residue of the required triplet. This provides a predictive model for the design of active molecules.

Kinetic properties of chitinase-1 from the fungal pathogen Coccidioides immitis

The endochitinase from Coccidioides immitis (CiX1) is a member of the class 18 chitinase family. Here we show the enzyme functions by a retaining catalytic mechanism; that is, the beta-conformation of the chitin substrate linkages is preserved after hydrolysis. The pattern of cleavage of N-acetyglucosamine (GlcNAc) oligosaccharide substrates has been determined. (GlcNAc)6 is predominantly cleaved into (GlcNAc)2 and (GlcNAc)4, where the (GlcNAc)2 group arises from the nonreducing end of the substrate and is formed as the beta-anomer. With time, transglycosylation occurs, generating (GlcNAc)8 from the product dimer and fresh hexamer. Similar patterns are seen for the cleavage of (GlcNAc)5 and (GlcNAc)4 where dimers cleaved from the nonreducing end reflect the most common binding and hydrolysis pattern. Intrinsic fluorescence measurements suggest the dissociation constant for (GlcNAc)4 is 50 microM. Synthetic substrates with fluorescent leaving groups exhibit complicated profiles in the relationship between initial velocity and substrate concentration, making it difficult to obtain the values of kinetic constants. An improved theoretical analysis of the time-course of (GlcNAc)6 degradation allows the unitary free energy of binding of the individual subsites of the enzyme to be estimated. The free energy values obtained are consistent with the dissociation constant obtained by fluorescence measurements, and generate a model of substrate interaction that can be tested against the crystal structure of the enzyme.

Kinetic analysis of the reaction catalyzed by chitinase A1 from Bacillus circulans WL-12 toward the novel substrates, partially N-deacetylated 4-methylumbelliferyl chitobiosides

The kinetic behavior of chitinase A1 from Bacillus circulans WL-12 was investigated using the novel fluorogenic substrates, N-deacetylated 4-methylumbelliferyl chitobiosides [GlcN-GlcNAc-UMB (2), GlcNAc-GlcN-UMB (3), and (GlcN)(2)-UMB (4)], and the results were compared with those obtained using 4-methylumbelliferyl N, N'-diacetylchitobiose [(GlcNAc)(2)-UMB (1)] as the substrate. The chitinase did not release the UMB moiety from compound 4, but successfully released UMB from the other substrates. k(cat)/K(m) values determined from the releasing rate of the UMB moiety were: 145.3 for 1, 8.3 for 2, and 0.1 s(-1) M(-1) for 3. The lack of an N-acetyl group at subsite (-1) reduced the activity to a level 0.1% of that obtained with compound 1, while the absence of the N-acetyl group at subsite (-2) reduced the relative activity to 5.7%. These observations strongly support the theory that chitinase A1 catalysis occurs via a 'substrate-assisted' mechanism. Using these novel fluorogenic substrates, we were able to quantitatively evaluate the recognition specificity of subsite (-2) toward the N-acetyl group of the substrate sugar residue. The (-2) subsite of chitinase A1 was found to specifically recognize an N-acetylated sugar residue, but this specificity was not as strict as that found in subsite (-1).

Amylose chain behavior in an interacting context. III. Complete occupancy of the AMY2 barley alpha-amylase cleft and comparison with biochemical data

In the first two papers of this series, the tools necessary to evaluate substrate ring deformations were developed, and then the modeling of short amylose fragments (maltotriose and maltopentaose) inside the catalytic site of barley alpha-amylase was performed. In this third paper, this docking has been extended to the whole catalytic cleft. A systematic approach to extend the substrate was used on the reducing side from the previous enzyme/pentasaccharide complex. However, due to the lack of an obvious subsite at the nonreducing side, an alternate protocol has been chosen that incorporates biochemical information on the enzyme and features on the substrate shape as well. As a net result, ten subsites have been located consistent with the distribution of Ajandouz et al. (E. H. Ajandouz, J. Abe, B. Svensson, and G. Marchis-Mouren, Biochimica Biophysica Acta, 1992, Vol. 1159, pp. 193-202) and corresponding binding energies were estimated. Among them, two extreme subsites (-6) and (+4), with stacking residues Y104 and Y211, respectively, have strong affinities with glucose rings added to the substrate. No other deformation has been found for the new glucose rings added to the substrate; therefore, only ring A of the DP 10 fragment has a flexible form when interacting with the inner stacking residues Y51. Global conservation of the helical shape of the substrate can be postulated in spite of its significant distortion at subsite (-1).

Study of the action of human salivary alpha-amylase on 2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl alpha-maltotrioside in the presence of potassium thiocyanate

The degradation mechanism of a synthetic substrate, 2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl alpha-maltotrioside (CNP-G3), by human salivary alpha-amylase (HSA) was investigated by kinetic and product analyses. It was observed that the enzyme attacked the various CNP-maltooligosaccharides (CNP-G3 to CNP-G6) releasing free CNP. Addition of 500 mM potassium thiocyanate (KSCN) was also found to greatly increase the rates of CNP-release. It was the fastest with CNP-G3, and, in the presence of KSCN, was almost comparable to that of degradation of maltopentaose (G5). On the other hand, addition of KSCN decreased the rate of cleavage between glucan-glucan bonds in maltopentaose. Product analysis showed that KSCN addition altered the cleavage distribution which occurred 100% at the bond between CNP and G3, and that product distribution of free CNP was largely dependent on substrate concentration. Formation of CNP-G6, a larger product than the original substrate CNP-G3, was found to be present in the digest at high concentrations of substrate and in the presence of KSCN. Based on these results, a degradation pathway for CNP-G3 involving transglycosylation besides direct hydrolysis is proposed. The increase of the CNP-release by the addition of KSCN would result from a corresponding increase in the interaction between the CNP moiety and the corresponding subsite near the catalytic site, as well as the enhancement of the catalytic efficiency.

The mechanism of porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase. Kinetic evidence for two additional carbohydrate-binding sites

Kinetics of inhibition of the two porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase components (PPA I and PPA II) by acarbose were performed using reduced DP18-maltodextrin and amylose as substrates. Similar Line-weaver-Burk primary plots were obtained. Two mixed non-competitive models are proposed. X-ray crystallographic data [Qian, M., Buisson, G., Duée. E., Haser, R. & Payan, F. (1994) Biochemistry 33, 6284-6294] are in support of the mixed non-competitive inhibition model which involves abortive complexes. Secondary plots are different; inhibition of reduced DP18-maltodextrin hydrolysis gives straight-lines plots while amylose gives parabolic curves. These results, confirmed by Dixon-plot analyses, allow us to postulate that, in inhibition of reduced DP18-maltodextrin hydrolysis, one molecule of acarbose is bound/ amylase molecule. In contrast, using amylose as a substrate, two molecules of acarbose are bound. These kinetically determined binding sites might correspond to surface sites found by X-ray crystallography [Qian, M., Haser, R. & Payan, F. (1995) Protein Sci. 4, 747-755]; the glucose site close to the active site and the maltose site, 2 nm away. In conclusion, no significant difference between PPA I and PPA II has been observed, either from molecular mass or from kinetic behaviours; this suggests multiple forms of the enzyme. A general mechanism of PPA action is proposed; in addition to the active site, long-chain substrate hydrolysis requires the glucose-binding site and the maltose-binding site, while only one site is necessary for the hydrolysis of short chain substrate.

A specific chromophoric substrate for activity assays of 1,3-1,4-beta-D-glucan 4-glucanohydrolases

The synthesis of 4-methylumbelliferyl 3-beta-O-cellobiosyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3a) and its use as specific substrate to monitor enzyme activity of 1,3-1,4-beta-D-glucan 4-glucanohydrolases are described. The chromophoric substrate 3a is prepared by a chemoenzymatic approach starting from barley grain, whose beta-D-glucan polysaccharide is degraded down to a tri- and tetrasaccharide by an extracellular extract of recombinant E. coli expressing and secreting Bacillus licheniformis 1,3-1,4-beta-glucanase. The trisaccharide 1 is further chemically transformed into the title compound. Its use as substrate for an enzyme activity assay, the specificity of cleavage, and kinetic parameters are reported. As it undergoes a single glycosidic bond hydrolysis with release of 4-methylumbelliferone, direct UV monitoring of the reaction provides a sensitive kinetic assay of the enzyme action.

Subsite mapping of porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase I and II using 4-nitrophenyl-alpha-maltooligosaccharides

The catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) and the cleaved bond distribution for the nitrophenylated maltooligosaccharides, p-NPGlcn (2 < or = n < or = 7) hydrolysed by porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase isozymes I and II were determined. The subsite affinities (Ai) were calculated from the p-NPGlcn (4 < or = n < or = 7) hydrolysis data. Five subsites (-3 to 2) bind glucosidic residues with a positive affinity. No additional subsites could be detected both at the reducing end (3, 4, 5) and at the nonreducing end (-4, -5, -6). The energetic profiles of both isozymes are similar. The energetic profile of PPA differs from other alpha-amylases by having both a small number of subsites, and a catalytic subsite with a high positive affinity. Excellent agreement was found between observed catalytic efficiency values and those calculated from the subsite affinities.

Calculation of subsite affinities of human small intestinal glucoamylase-maltase

Several years ago, Hiromi et al. (1973) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 302, 362-375 proposed a theory for the action patterns of glucoamylases, based on data from steady-state kinetics. The Michaelis-Menten constants (Km) and the turnover number for maltooligosaccharides were used to evaluate the subsite affinities. We have now used this method for evaluating the subsite affinities for glucoamylases(EC 3.2.1.3)-maltase (EC 3.2.1.20) from human intestinal mucosa. For calculation of the subsite affinities, A1 and A2, and the intrinsic rate constant kint, we use a modified algorithm and a computer program for nonlinear least square fitting. Considerable substrate inhibition was shown by maltotriose, minor inhibition by maltotetraose, and no inhibition by maltose and the other maltooligosaccharides. This indicates a more complex kinetic behaviour of the enzyme with respect to maltotriose. Evaluation of the subsites reveals that A2 is the main binding site (18.1 kJ/mol), whereas the other affinities, with the exception of A1, are lower than 2.5 kJ/mol.

Barley malt-alpha-amylase. Purification, action pattern, and subsite mapping of isozyme 1 and two members of the isozyme 2 subfamily using p-nitrophenylated maltooligosaccharide substrates

Isoforms AMY1, AMY2-1 and AMY2-2 of barley alpha-amylase were purified from malt. AMY2-1 and AMY2-2 are both susceptible to barley alpha-amylase/subtilisin inhibitor. The action of these isoforms is compared using substrates ranging from p-nitrophenylmaltoside through p-nitrophenylmaltoheptaoside. The kcat/Km values are calculated from the substrate consumption. The relative cleavage frequency of different substrate bonds is given by the product distribution. AMY2-1 is 3-8-fold more active than AMY1 toward p-nitrophenylmaltotrioside through p-nitrophenylmaltopentaoside. AMY2-2 is 10-50% more active than AMY2-1. The individual subsite affinities are obtained from these data. The resulting subsite maps of the isoforms are quite similar. They comprise four and six glucosyl-binding subsites towards the reducing and the non-reducing end, respectively. Towards the non-reducing end, the sixth and second subsites have a high affinity, the third has very low or even lack of affinity and the first (catalytic subsite) has a large negative affinity. The affinity declines from moderate to low for subsites 1 through 4 toward the reducing end. AMY1 has clearly a more negative affinity at the catalytic subsite, but larger affinities at both the fourth subsites, compared to AMY2. AMY2-1 has lower affinity than AMY2-2 at subsites adjacent to the catalytic site, and otherwise mostly higher affinities than AMY2-2. Theoretical kcat/Km values show excellent agreement with experimental values.

Effect of limited proteolysis in the 8th loop of the barrel and of antibodies on porcine pancreas amylase activity

The porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase is a (beta/alpha)8-barrel protein, containing domains A and B (peptide sequence 1-403) and a distinct C-domain (peptide sequence 404-496). Separation of the terminal C-domain from the A and B domains has been attempted by limited proteolysis in the hinge region. Subtilisin was found to hydrolyse amylase between residues 369 and 370 situated in the loop between the eighth beta-strand and alpha-helix. The cleaved amylase was isolated by chromatofocusing and found to retain about 60% of the activity of the native enzyme, while the isolated fragments were inactive. Antigen binding fragments prepared from polyclonal antibodies to native amylase and the CNBr-fragment P1 (peptide sequence 395-496) respectively, were tested for influence on the enzyme activity. Antibodies directed against P1 had no effect whereas antibodies against the peptide sequence 1-394 and amylase respectively inhibited hydrolysis of substrates having four or more glucose residues but not of shorter oligomaltosides. Crystallographic analysis revealed that changes in the region of residue 369 might affect the conformation of the active site as well as of a second binding site. This site, located on the enzyme surface, is proposed to be required for the hydrolysis of larger substrates.

Substrate inhibition of xanthine oxidase and its influence on superoxide radical production

The influence of substrate inhibition on xanthine oxidase-intramolecular electron transport was studied by steady-state kinetic analysis. Experiments with hypoxanthine and xanthine up to 900 microM indicated an inhibition pattern which fitted an equation of the general form nu 0 = nu max . [S]/(Km + a[S] + b[S]2/Ki). Univalent electron flux to oxygen was favored at substrate concentrations above 50 microM. This augmentation of univalent flux percentage that appeared at a high substrate concentration was greater for hypoxanthine that xanthine and at pH 8.3 than at 9.5. Our results support a mechanism of inhibition in which a substrate-reduced enzyme, non-productive Michaelis complex was formed. It is possible that this non-productive complex favored the univalent pathway of enzyme reoxidation (superoxide production) by increasing the midpoint redox potential of the molybdenum active site.

Porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase: a model for structure--function studies of homodepolymerases

The amino acid sequence of the porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase chain (496 residues) contains four regions (96-101, 193-201, 233-236 and 295-300) which are highly homologous in amylases of different origins. These regions all belong to the N-terminal domain of the enzyme. Limited proteolysis by subtilisin allows a cut to be made at bond 369-370. Purified fragments indicate that both N- and C-terminal domains are required for amylolytic activity. Kinetic studies and reaction product analysis using oligomaltosides, their nitrophenylated derivatives and amylose as the substrate allowed us to establish: 1) the energy profile of the 5 subsites and, especially, that subsite number 3 is catalytic; 2) that 2 molecules of either maltotriose or its o-nitrophenylated analog or maltose bind to the active site at high substrate concentration. Such a subsite occupancy was confirmed by fluorescence quenching studies. Finally the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenylmaltoside was studied as a function of pH. In contrast to starch hydrolysis, the initial velocity plots for nitrophenol and p-nitrophenylglucoside liberation both gave a narrow pH-activity peak with a maximum value around pH 5.5. All data provide strong evidence for the participation of 2 carboxylic residues in the catalysis.

Selective inhibition of histidine-modified pancreatic alpha-amylase by proteinaceous inhibitor from Phaseolus vulgaris

Chemical modification of two histidine residues of porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) by diethyl pyrocarbonate in the presence of a high concentration of maltotriose caused a decrease of amylase activity and an increase of maltosidase activity (hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl-alpha-maltoside). By binding a proteinaceous inhibitor from Phaseolus vulgaris (white kidney bean) with the modified enzyme, the amylase activity was further decreased but the maltosidase activity was retained to about 100% that of the native enzyme. Both amylase and maltosidase activities of the native enzyme were almost completely inhibited by the proteinaceous inhibitor. The increase of maltosidase activity by histidine modification was due to an increase of kcat, whereas the Km value was not changed; but binding of the proteinous inhibitor affected mainly the Km value of the modified enzyme.

The determination of subsite binding energies of porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase by comparing hydrolytic activity towards substrates

The active centre of porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase contains five subsites. Their occupancy has been studied using as a substrate maltooligosaccharide of various chain lengths (maltose up to maltoheptaose), some of their p- and o-nitrophenylated derivatives, and 412-residue amylose. Quantitative analysis of the digestion products allowed the determination of the subsite occupancy for the various productive complexes, the bond cleavage frequency and respective kcati (where i is the binding mode). The catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) increases with chain length from maltose (2 M-1 X S-1) up to amylose (1.06 X 10(7) M-1 X S-1). The kinetic parameters of p-nitrophenylmaltoside hydrolysis are quite close to those of maltose, and the ortho compound behaves as maltotriose. Determination of binding energy of glucose residue at the various subsites calculated according to the method of Hiromi et al. (Hiromi, K., Nitta, Y., Numata, C. and Ono, S. (1973) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 302, 362-375) did not give consistent results. A method is proposed based on certain properties of porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase, especially the non-interaction of the p-nitrophenyl moiety of the maltose derivative with subsites 1 and 2, and the o-nitrophenyl group which interacts in a similar way to a glucose residue at the reducing end, and on the grounds that the amylase-amylose complexes are of the productive type. In addition, binding energy differences were calculated from substrates with the same chain length. The subsite energy profile is characterized by a low value at subsite 3 which confirms this subsite as the catalytic one. Another consequence is that the hydrolysis rate constant of productive complexes (kintn) (where n is the number of glucose or glucose equivalent residues for a given substrate) varies with chain length which is in conflict with the hypothesis of Hiromi et al.