Intrahepatic Transcriptional Signature Associated with Response to Interferon-α Treatment in the Woodchuck Model of Chronic Hepatitis B

Recombinant interferon-alpha (IFN-α) is an approved therapy for chronic hepatitis B (CHB), but the molecular basis of treatment response remains to be determined. The woodchuck model of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection displays many characteristics of human disease and has been extensively used to evaluate antiviral therapeutics. In this study, woodchucks with chronic woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) infection were treated with recombinant woodchuck IFN-α (wIFN-α) or placebo (n = 12/group) for 15 weeks. Treatment with wIFN-α strongly reduced viral markers in the serum and liver in a subset of animals, with viral rebound typically being observed following cessation of treatment. To define the intrahepatic cellular and molecular characteristics of the antiviral response to wIFN-α, we characterized the transcriptional profiles of liver biopsies taken from animals (n = 8-12/group) at various times during the study. Unexpectedly, this revealed that the antiviral response to treatment did not correlate with intrahepatic induction of the majority of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) by wIFN-α. Instead, treatment response was associated with the induction of an NK/T cell signature in the liver, as well as an intrahepatic IFN-γ transcriptional response and elevation of liver injury biomarkers. Collectively, these data suggest that NK/T cell cytolytic and non-cytolytic mechanisms mediate the antiviral response to wIFN-α treatment. In summary, by studying recombinant IFN-α in a fully immunocompetent animal model of CHB, we determined that the immunomodulatory effects, but not the direct antiviral activity, of this pleiotropic cytokine are most closely correlated with treatment response. This has important implications for the rational design of new therapeutics for the treatment of CHB.

Development of bispecific molecules for the in situ detection of protein-protein interactions and protein phosphorylation

Investigation of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) and protein phosphorylation in clinical tissue samples can offer valuable information about the activation status and function of proteins involved in disease progression. However, existing antibody-based methods for phosphorylation detection have been found to lack specificity, and methods developed for examining PPIs in vitro cannot be easily adapted for tissues samples. In this study, we eliminated some of these limitations by developing a specific immunohistochemical staining method that uses "dual binders" (DBs), which are bispecific detection agents consisting of two Fab fragment molecules joined by a flexible linker, to detect PPIs and protein phosphorylation. We engineered DBs by selecting Fab fragments with fast off-rate kinetics, which allowed us to demonstrate that stable target binding was achieved only upon simultaneous, cooperative binding to both epitopes. We show that DBs specifically detect the activated HER2/HER3 complex in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded cancer cells and exhibit superior detection specificity for phospho-HER3 compared to the corresponding monoclonal antibody. Overall, the performance of DBs makes them attractive tools for future development for clinical applications.

A robust high throughput platform to generate functional recombinant monoclonal antibodies using rabbit B cells from peripheral blood

We have developed a robust platform to generate and functionally characterize rabbit-derived antibodies using B cells from peripheral blood. The rapid high throughput procedure generates a diverse set of antibodies, yet requires only few animals to be immunized without the need to sacrifice them. The workflow includes (i) the identification and isolation of single B cells from rabbit blood expressing IgG antibodies, (ii) an elaborate short term B-cell cultivation to produce sufficient monoclonal antigen specific IgG for comprehensive phenotype screens, (iii) the isolation of VH and VL coding regions via PCR from B-cell clones producing antigen specific and functional antibodies followed by the sequence determination, and (iv) the recombinant expression and purification of IgG antibodies. The fully integrated and to a large degree automated platform (demonstrated in this paper using IL1RL1 immunized rabbits) yielded clonal and very diverse IL1RL1-specific and functional IL1RL1-inhibiting rabbit antibodies. These functional IgGs from individual animals were obtained at a short time range after immunization and could be identified already during primary screening, thus substantially lowering the workload for the subsequent B-cell PCR workflow. Early availability of sequence information permits one to select early-on function- and sequence-diverse antibodies for further characterization. In summary, this powerful technology platform has proven to be an efficient and robust method for the rapid generation of antigen specific and functional monoclonal rabbit antibodies without sacrificing the immunized animal.

Targeted delivery of interferon-α to hepatitis B virus-infected cells using T-cell receptor-like antibodies

During antiviral therapy, specific delivery of interferon-α (IFNα) to infected cells may increase its antiviral efficacy, trigger a localized immune reaction, and reduce the side effects caused by systemic administration. Two T-cell receptor-like antibodies (TCR-L) able to selectively bind hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected hepatocytes of chronic hepatitis B patients and recognize core (HBc18-27) and surface (HBs183-91) HBV epitopes associated with different human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A*02 alleles (A*02:01, A*02:02, A*02:07, A*02:11) were generated. Each antibody was genetically linked to two IFNα molecules to produce TCR-L/IFNα fusion proteins. We demonstrate that the fusion proteins triggered an IFNα response preferentially on the hepatocytes presenting the correct HBV-peptide HLA-complex and that the mechanism of the targeted IFNα response was dependent on the specific binding of the fusion proteins to the HLA/HBV peptide complexes through the TCR-like variable regions of the antibodies.

CONCLUSION

TCR-L antibodies can be used to target cytokines to HBV-infected hepatocytes in vitro. Fusion of IFNα to TCR-L decreased the intrinsic biological activity of IFNα but preserved the overall specificity of the protein for the cognate HBV peptide/HLA complexes. This induction of an effective IFNα response selectively in HBV-infected cells might have a therapeutic advantage in comparison to the currently used native or pegylated IFNα.

Isolation and characterisation of antibodies which specifically recognise the peptide encoded by exon 7 (v2) of the human CD44 gene

Aims-Exon 7 of the human CD44 gene is overexpressed in many commonly occurring carcinomas. The aim of the study was to explore the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of this frequent abnormality.Methods-A new monoclonal antibody (mAb, M-23.6.1) and a polyclonal antibody (pAb,S-6127) to the corresponding antigen were raised by immunising mice and sheep, respectively, with a specially constructed fusion protein HIV2 (gp32)-CD44 exon 7.Results-Characterisation of mAb, M-23.6.1 by ELISA, western blotting, immunocytochemistry, and FACS analysis confirmed that it specifically recognises an epitope in the region between amino acids 19 and 33 of the peptide encoded by this exon. Western blotting experiments with two cell lines, RT112 and ZR75-1, known from RT-PCR data to be overtranscribing the exon, yielded a monospecific band of approximately 220 kDa, and immunocytochemistry showed discrete membrane staining on the same cell lines. Fluorescent antibody cell sorting (FACS) revealed binding to greater than 90% of the cells of each of these lines. Specificity of recognition of the antigen was shown by inhibition of the precise immunoreactivity typically seen in ELISA and Western blots, by pre-incubation with synthetic exon 7 peptide or fragments of it.Conclusions-The new antibodies will be useful tools for the further analysis of abnormal CD44 isoforms and their clinical implications.

CD4-BFFI: a novel, bifunctional HIV-1 entry inhibitor with high and broad antiviral potency

Resistance to antiretroviral drugs is a common problem in the treatment of HIV-1-infected patients. To overcome resistance, we generated a novel, bifunctional HIV-1 entry inhibitor by combining the anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody (mAb) 6314 with a fusion inhibitor similar to T-651 (anti-CD4 mAb based BiFunctional Fusion Inhibitor, CD4-BFFI). CD4-BFFI has potent antiviral activity against a multitude of HIV-1 isolates independent of their co-receptor usage and genetic background. It has higher antiviral potency compared to the fusion inhibitor T-651 or the anti-CD4 mAb 6314 used independently. More importantly, every HIV-1 strain tested was fully inhibited by CD4-BFFI while many strains were only partially inhibited by 6314. CD4-BFFI also retained antiviral potency against virus strains resistant to two fusion inhibitors, a CCR5 antagonist and an anti-CCR5 mAb. Pre-incubation of cells with a saturating concentration of anti-CD4 mAbs reduced the antiviral potency of CD4-BFFI, suggesting that binding of CD4-BFFI to the cell surface via its CD4 mAb portion is required for the antiviral potency of its fusion inhibitor moiety. Collectively, we present a novel HIV-1 inhibitor with a dual mode of action and excellent antiviral potency against wildtype and entry-inhibitor resistant virus strains suggesting that CD4-BFFI may have a high barrier to resistance.

Physiological fIXa activation involves a cooperative conformational rearrangement of the 99-loop

Coagulation factor IXa (fIXa) plays a central role in the coagulation cascade. Enzymatically, fIXa is characterized by its very low amidolytic activity that is not improved in the presence of cofactor, factor VIIIa (fVIIIa), distinguishing fIXa from all other coagulation factors. Activation of the fIXa-fVIIIa complex requires its macromolecular substrate, factor X (fX). The 99-loop positioned near the active site partly accounts for the poor activity of fIXa because it adopts a conformation that interferes with canonical substrate binding in S2-S4. Here we show that residues Lys-98 and Tyr-99 are critically linked to the amidolytic properties of fIXa. Exchange of Tyr-99 with smaller residues resulted not only in an overall decreased activity but also in impaired binding in S1. Replacement of Lys-98 with smaller and uncharged residues increased activity. Simultaneous mutagenesis of Lys-98, Tyr-177, and Tyr-94 produced an enzyme with 7000-fold increased activity and altered specificity. This triple mutant probably mimics the conformational changes that are physiologically induced by cofactor and substrate binding. It therefore provides a cooperative two-step activation model for fIXa. Tyr-177 locks the 99-loop in an inactive conformation which, in the physiologic complex, is released by cofactor fVIIIa. FX is then able to rearrange the unlocked 99-loop and subsequently binds to the active site cleft.

The influence of residue 190 in the S1 site of trypsin-like serine proteases on substrate selectivity is universally conserved

We examined the influence of Ser/Ala190 in the S1 site on P1 substrate selectivity in several serine proteases. The impact of residue 190 on the selectivity was constant, regardless of differences in original selectivity or reactivity. Substrate binding in S1 was optimised in all wild-type enzymes, while the effects on k(cat) depended on the combination of residue 190 and substrate. Mutagenesis of residue 190 did not affect the S2-S4 sites. Pronounced selectivity for arginine residues was coupled with low enzymatic activity, in particular in recombinant factor IXa. This is due to the dominance of the S1-P1 interaction over substrate binding in the S2-S4 sites.

Crystal structures of uninhibited factor VIIa link its cofactor and substrate-assisted activation to specific interactions

Factor VIIa initiates the extrinsic coagulation cascade; this event requires a delicately balanced regulation that is implemented on different levels, including a sophisticated multi-step activation mechanism of factor VII. Its central role in hemostasis and thrombosis makes factor VIIa a key target of pharmaceutical research. We succeeded, for the first time, in recombinantly producing N-terminally truncated factor VII (rf7) in an Escherichia coli expression system by employing an oxidative, in vitro, folding protocol, which depends critically on the presence of ethylene glycol. Activated recombinant factor VIIa (rf7a) was crystallised in the presence of the reversible S1-site inhibitor benzamidine. Comparison of this 1.69A crystal structure with that of an inhibitor-free and sulphate-free, but isomorphous crystal form identified structural details of factor VIIa stimulation. The stabilisation of Asp189-Ser190 by benzamidine and the capping of the intermediate helix by a sulphate ion appear to be sufficient to mimic the disorder-order transition conferred by the cofactor tissue factor (TF) and the substrate factor X. Factor VIIa shares with the homologous factor IXa, but not factor Xa, a bell-shaped activity modulation dependent on ethylene glycol. The ethylene glycol-binding site of rf7a was identified in the vicinity of the 60 loop. Ethylene glycol binding induces a significant conformational rearrangement of the 60 loop. This region serves as a recognition site of the physiologic substrate, factor X, which is common to both factor VIIa and factor IXa. These results provide a mechanistic framework of substrate-assisted catalysis of both factor VIIa and factor IXa.

Structural basis of the adaptive molecular recognition by MMP9

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) are critical for the degradation of extracellular matrix components and, therefore, need to be regulated tightly. Almost all MMPs share a homologous C-terminal haemopexin-like domain (PEX). Besides its role in macromolecular substrate processing, the PEX domains appear to play a major role in regulating MMP activation, localisation and inhibition. One intriguing property of MMP9 is its competence to bind different proteins, involved in these regulatory processes, with high affinity at an overlapping recognition site on its PEX domain. With the crystal structure of the PEX9 dimer, we present the first example of how PEX domains accomplish these diverse roles. Blade IV of PEX9 mediates the non-covalent and predominantly hydrophobic dimerisation contact. Large shifts of blade III and, in particular, blade IV, accompany the dimerisation, resulting in a remarkably asymmetric homodimeric structure. The asymmetry provides a novel mechanism of adaptive protein recognition, where different proteins (PEX9, PEX1, and TIMP1) can bind with high affinity to PEX9 at an overlapping site. Finally, the structure illustrates how the dimerisation generates new properties on both a physico-chemical and functional level.

Coagulation factor IXa: the relaxed conformation of Tyr99 blocks substrate binding

BACKGROUND

Among the S1 family of serine proteinases, the blood coagulation factor IXa (fIXa) is uniquely inefficient against synthetic peptide substrates. Mutagenesis studies show that a loop of residues at the S2-S4 substrate-binding cleft (the 99-loop) contributes to the low efficiency. The crystal structure of porcine fIXa in complex with the inhibitor D-Phe-Pro-Arg-chloromethylketone (PPACK) was unable to directly clarify the role of the 99-loop, as the doubly covalent inhibitor induced an active conformation of fIXa.

RESULTS

The crystal structure of a recombinant two-domain construct of human fIXa in complex with p-aminobenzamidine shows that the Tyr99 sidechain adopts an atypical conformation in the absence of substrate interactions. In this conformation, the hydroxyl group occupies the volume corresponding to the mainchain of a canonically bound substrate P2 residue. To accommodate substrate binding, Tyr99 must adopt a higher energy conformation that creates the S2 pocket and restricts the S4 pocket, as in fIXa-PPACK. The energy cost may contribute significantly to the poor K(M) values of fIXa for chromogenic substrates. In homologs, such as factor Xa and tissue plasminogen activator, the different conformation of the 99-loop leaves Tyr99 in low-energy conformations in both bound and unbound states.

CONCLUSIONS

Molecular recognition of substrates by fIXa seems to be determined by the action of the 99-loop on Tyr99. This is in contrast to other coagulation enzymes where, in general, the chemical nature of residue 99 determines molecular recognition in S2 and S3-S4. This dominant role on substrate interaction suggests that the 99-loop may be rearranged in the physiological fX activation complex of fIXa, fVIIIa, and fX.

New enzyme lineages by subdomain shuffling

Protein functions have evolved in part via domain recombination events. Such events, for example, recombine structurally independent functional domains and shuffle targeting, regulatory, and/or catalytic functions. Domain recombination, however, can generate new functions, as implied by the observation of catalytic sites at interfaces of distinct folding domains. If useful to an evolving organism, such initially rudimentary functions would likely acquire greater efficiency and diversity, whereas the initially distinct folding domains would likely develop into single functional domains. This represents the probable evolution of the S1 serine protease family, whose two homologous beta-barrel subdomains assemble to form the binding sites and the catalytic machinery. Among S1 family members, the contact interface and catalytic residues are highly conserved whereas surrounding surfaces are highly variable. This observation suggests a new strategy to engineer viable proteins with novel properties, by swapping folding subdomains chosen from among protein family members. Such hybrid proteins would retain properties conserved throughout the family, including folding stability as single domain proteins, while providing new surfaces amenable to directed evolution or engineering of specific new properties. We show here that recombining the N-terminal subdomain from coagulation factor X with the C-terminal subdomain from trypsin creates a potent enzyme (fXYa) with novel properties, in particular a broad substrate specificity. As shown by the 2.15-A crystal structure, plasticity at the hydrophobic subdomain interface maintains activity, while surface loops are displaced compared with the parent subdomains. fXYa thus represents a new serine proteinase lineage with hybrid fX, trypsin, and novel properties.

Converting blood coagulation factor IXa into factor Xa: dramatic increase in amidolytic activity identifies important active site determinants

The coagulation factors IXa (fIXa) and Xa (fXa) share extensive structural and functional homology; both cleave natural substrates effectively only with a cofactor at a phospholipid surface. However, the amidolytic activity of fIXa is 10(4)-fold lower than that of fXa. To identify determinants of this poor reactivity, we expressed variants of truncated fIXa (rf9a) and fXa (rf10a) in Escherichia coli. The crystal structures of fIXa and fXa revealed four characteristic active site components which were subsequently exchanged between rf9a and rf10a. Exchanging Glu219 by Gly or exchanging the 148 loop did not increase activity of rf9a, whereas corresponding mutations abolished reactivity of rf10a. Exchanging Ile213 by Val only moderately increased reactivity of rf9a. Exchanging the 99 loop, however, dramatically increased reactivity. Furthermore, combining all four mutations essentially introduced fXa properties into rf9a: the amidolytic activity was increased 130-fold with fXa substrate selectivity. The results suggest a 2-fold origin of fIXa's poor reactivity. A narrowed S3/S4 subsite disfavours interaction with substrate P3/P4 residues, while a distorted S1 subsite disfavours effective cleavage of the scissile bond. Both defects could be repaired by introducing fXa residues. Such engineered coagulation enzymes will be useful in diagnostics and in the development of therapeutics.

Dramatic enhancement of the catalytic activity of coagulation factor IXa by alcohols

The coagulation factor IXa (FIXa) exhibits a very weak proteolytic activity towards natural or synthetic substrates. Upon complex formation with its cofactor FVIIIa and Ca2+-mediated binding to phospholipid membranes, FIXa becomes a very potent activator of FX. The presence of FVIIIa has no effect on the cleavage of peptide substrates by FIXa, however. We found that several alcohols dramatically enhance the catalytic activity of human FIXa towards synthetic substrates. Substrates with the tripeptidyl moiety R-D-Xxx-Gly-Arg are especially susceptible to the enhanced FIXa catalysis. Maximal increase up to 20-fold has been measured in the presence of ethylene glycol. We suggest that alcohols modify the conformation of FIXa rendering the active-site cleft more easily accessible to tripeptide substrates with a hydrophobic residue in the P3-position.

A fusion protein designed for noncovalent immobilization: stability, enzymatic activity, and use in an enzyme reactor

We have designed a new method for enzyme immobilization using a fusion protein of yeast alpha-glucosidase containing at its C-terminus a polycationic hexa-arginine fusion peptide. This fusion protein can be directly adsorbed from crude cell extracts on polyanionic matrices in a specific, oriented fashion. Upon noncovalent immobilization by polyionic interactions, the stability of the fusion protein is not affected by pH-, urea-, or thermal-denaturation. Furthermore, the enzymatic properties (specific activity at increasing enzyme concentration, Michaelis constant, or activation energy of the enzymatic reaction) are not influenced by this noncovalent coupling. The operational stability of the coupled enzyme under conditions of continuous substrate conversion is, however, increased significantly compared to the soluble form. Fusion proteins containing polyionic peptide sequences are proposed as versatile tools for the production of immobilized enzyme catalysts.

Glycoprotein biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: ngd29, an N-glycosylation mutant allelic to och1 having a defect in the initiation of outer chain formation

Outer chain glycosylation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae leads to heterogeneous and immunogenic asparagine-linked saccharide chains containing more than 50 mannose residues on secreted glycoproteins. Using a [3H]mannose suicide selection procedure a collection of N-glycosylation defective mutants (designated ngd) was isolated. One mutant, ngd29, was found to have a defect in the initiation of the outer chain and displayed a temperature growth sensitivity at 37 degrees C allowing the isolation of the corresponding gene by complementation. Cloning, sequencing and disruption of NGD29 showed that it is a non lethal gene and identical to OCH1. It complemented both the glycosylation and growth defect. Membranes isolated from an ngd29 disruptant or an ngd29mnn1 double mutant were no longer able, in contrast to membranes from wild type cells, to transfer mannose from GDPmannose to Man8GlcNAc2, the in vivo acceptor for building up the outer chain. Heterologous expression of glucose oxidase from Aspergillus niger in an ngd29mnn1 double mutant produced a secreted uniform glycoprotein with exclusively Man8GlcNAc2 structure that in wild type yeast is heavily hyperglycosylated. The data indicate that this mutant strain is a suitable host for the expression of recombinant glycoproteins from different origin in S. cerevisiae to obtain mammalian oligomannosidic type N-linked carbohydrate chains.

Enzymes in diagnostics: achievements and possibilities of recombinant DNA technology

We discuss, from an industrial point of view, the scope and possibilities of recombinant DNA technology for "diagnostic enzyme" production and application. We describe the construction of enzyme-overproducing strains and show how to simplify downstream processing, increase product quality and process profitability, improve diagnostic enzyme properties, and adjust enzymes to harsh assay conditions. We also consider some safety and environmental aspects of enzyme production. Other aspects of diagnostic enzymes that we cover are the facilitation of enzyme purification by attachment of short amino acid tails, the introduction of tails or tags for site-specific conjugation or oriented immobilization, the construction of bi- or multifunctional enzymes, and the production of enzyme-based diagnostic tests as demonstrated by the homogeneous immunoassay system of CEDIA tests. We use as examples of diagnostic enzymes glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49), glucose oxidase (EC 1.1.3.4), alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1), alpha-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.20), pyruvate oxidase (EC 1.2.3.3), creatinase (EC 3.5.3.3), and beta-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23).

Enzymes in diagnostics: achievements and possibilities of recombinant DNA technology

We discuss, from an industrial point of view, the scope and possibilities of recombinant DNA technology for "diagnostic enzyme" production and application. We describe the construction of enzyme-overproducing strains and show how to simplify downstream processing, increase product quality and process profitability, improve diagnostic enzyme properties, and adjust enzymes to harsh assay conditions. We also consider some safety and environmental aspects of enzyme production. Other aspects of diagnostic enzymes that we cover are the facilitation of enzyme purification by attachment of short amino acid tails, the introduction of tails or tags for site-specific conjugation or oriented immobilization, the construction of bi- or multifunctional enzymes, and the production of enzyme-based diagnostic tests as demonstrated by the homogeneous immunoassay system of CEDIA tests. We use as examples of diagnostic enzymes glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49), glucose oxidase (EC 1.1.3.4), alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1), alpha-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.20), pyruvate oxidase (EC 1.2.3.3), creatinase (EC 3.5.3.3), and beta-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23).

Control of formation of active soluble or inactive insoluble baker's yeast alpha-glucosidase PI in Escherichia coli by induction and growth conditions

Using standard growth conditions (LB medium, 37 degrees C, induction with 5 mM IPTG) yeast alpha-glucosidase PI expressed under the control of the regulated tac-hybrid promoter results in the synthesis of insoluble aggregated alpha-glucosidase granules in Escherichia coli. Under these conditions active soluble alpha-glucosidase amounts to less than 1% of the heterologously produced protein. However, the amount of soluble active alpha-glucosidase was dramatically increased when the strong tac-hybrid promoter was to a limited extent induced. This was achieved at concentrations of 0.01 mM IPTG or of 1% lactose or lower in a lactose-permease deficient host strain containing the lacIq repressor gene on an R-plasmid. The formation of active soluble alpha-glucosidase was almost 100% when E. coli cells induced in this manner were cultivated under conditions that reduced growth rate, i.e. at decreased temperature, extreme pH values or in minimal and complete media supplemented with different carbon sources.

Cloning and characterization of baker's yeast alpha-glucosidase: over-expression in a yeast strain devoid of vacuolar proteinases

Two alpha-glucosidase (maltase) genes, designated GLUCPI and GLUCPII, have been cloned from an industrial strain of baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) by complementation of a maltase-negative mutant strain. The different genes were identified according to their alternatively expressed isoenzymes PI and PII in transformants after isoelectric focusing and activity staining in separated cell lysates. The gene encoding alpha-glucosidase PI (GLUCPI), which was not present in laboratory strains of S. carlsbergensis with a defined MAL1, 2, 3, 4 or 6 locus, was sequenced and compared with the recently published MAL6S gene. This comparison revealed single amino acid deviations at three positions in the predicted polypeptide sequence. In addition, the divergent promoter region of GLUCPI differed from MAL6S by a triple repeated 147-bp DNA segment. Maltose induction and glucose repression of alpha-glucosidase PI were not affected by the deletion of the repeated DNA segment. However, the absolute expression of alpha-glucosidase PI increased two- to four-fold. In addition, a two-fold increase in the maltase synthesis occurred when the cloned positive regulator gene MAL2-8ep was on the same plasmid. Furthermore, stability of the alpha-glucosidase in cultures in the stationary growth phase was greatly enhanced using a host strain lacking the proteinases A and B and the carboxypeptidases Y and S. Promoter trimming, MAL2-8cp stimulation and the use of a host strain deficient in four vacuolar proteinases resulted in alpha-glucosidase PI expression of about 13% of the soluble protein.

Purification procedure and N-terminal amino acid sequence of yeast malate dehydrogenase isoenzymes

A method has been devised for the rapid isolation of malate dehydrogenase isoenzymes. First, anionic proteins were precipitated with polyethyleneimine, whilst hydrophobic malate dehydrogenase remained in the supernatant fluid. Secondly, the supernatant was 30% saturated with ammonium sulfate and the two isoenzymes were separated by hydrophobic phenyl-Sepharose CL-4B chromatography. For further purification the enzymes were chromatofocused, and polybuffer was removed by hydrophobic chromatography. Affinity chromatography with blue Sepharose CL-6B [1] was used as final purification step. The purified isoenzymes were homogeneous as shown by isoelectric focusing and could be used for N-terminal sequencing. 34 amino acid residues could be identified for the cytoplasmic isoenzyme and 56 amino acid residues for the mitochondrial isoenzyme. Although there are regions of strong homology between both isoenzymes, the sequence differences clearly showed support that both isoenzymes are coded by different genes. Sequence comparison clearly indicated that the N-terminus of the cytoplasmic enzyme extended that of the mitochondrial enzyme by 12 amino acid residues. The amino acid sequence of the extending sequence resembled that of leading sequences known for enzymes which are transported into the mitochondria. The assumed leading sequence is discussed with respect to its possible role in glucose inactivation.

Glucose repression and hexokinase isoenzymes in yeast. Isolation and characterization of a modified hexokinase PII isoenzyme

Hexokinase PII, but not isoenzyme PI, has a unique role in glucose repression in yeasts [Entian, K.-D. (1980) Mol. Gen. Genet. 178, 633-637; Entian, K.-D. and Mecke, D. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 870-874; Entian, K.-D. and Fröhlich, K.-U. (1984) J. Bacteriol. 158, 29-35]. The number of hexokinase isoenzymes in crude extracts was re-examined by chromatofocusing. In addition to the known isoenzymes PI and PII, a third isoenzyme, PIIM, was detected. The activity of this enzyme was only about 5-10% of that of hexokinase PII and was independent of growth conditions. Experiments with hexokinase transformants and purified hexokinase isoenzymes clearly indicated that the PIIM form is also present in vivo. Fingerprint mapping of purified hexokinases showed that hexokinase PIIM is closely related to PII. Hybridization experiments between totally restricted yeast DNA and the previously isolated PII gene clearly indicated that PIIM is also coded by one of the two known hexokinase genes. No mRNA specific for hexokinase PIIM was detected after hybridization experiments with the previously cloned hexokinase PII gene [Fröhlich et al. (1984) Mol. Gen. Genet. 194, 144-148]. Hexokinase PIIM appears to be derived from hexokinase PII by a posttranslational event. The Km values of each of the purified isoenzymes, PII and PIIM, were identical for glucose, fructose and ATP. Both isoenzymes were strongly inhibited by high physiological concentrations for ATP; such inhibition has not been described previously. The possible role of hexokinase PIIM in glucose repression is discussed.

Complete nucleotide sequence of the hexokinase PI gene (HXK1) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The nucleotide sequence of the yeast glycolytic hexokinase isoenzyme PI-gene, HXK1, has been determined by sequencing the yeast DNA insert of the previously isolated plasmid HXK1 clone [Entian et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 198 (1984) 50-54]. The structural gene sequence included 1452 bp coding for 484 amino acid (aa) residues corresponding to the Mr of 153 605 for the HXK1 monomer. Several initiation regions and termination points were located using nuclease S1 mapping. The HXK1 sequence was 76% homologous with that of HXK2, which is responsible for triggering glucose repression in yeasts. Since HXK1 is not involved in this regulatory system, the regulatory function of HXK2 must correspond to one or more of the differences between both isoenzymes. Most changes in the amino acid sequence were statistically distributed; however, four clustered regions with more than five altered aa residues were identified.

Cloning of hexokinase isoenzyme PI from Saccharomyces cerevisiae: PI transformants confirm the unique role of hexokinase isoenzyme PII for glucose repression in yeasts

Hexokinase isoenzyme PI was cloned using a gene pool obtained from a yeast strain having only one functional hexokinase, isoenzyme PI. The gene was characterized using 20 restriction enzymes and located within a region of 2.0 kbp. The PI plasmid strongly hybridized with the PII plasmids isolated previously (Fröhlich et al. 1984). Hence there was a close relationship between the two genes, one of which must have been derived from the other by gene duplication. In contrast, glucose repression was restored only in hexokinase PII transformants; PI transformants remained non-repressible. This observation provided additional evidence for the hypothesis of Entian (1980) that only hexokinase PII is necessary for glucose repression. Furthermore, glucose phosphorylating activity in PI transformants exceeded that of wild-type cells, giving clear evidence that the phosphorylating capacity is not important for glucose repression.