Regulation of phospholipid synthesis in yeast by zinc

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has the ability to cope with a variety of stress conditions (e.g. zinc deficiency) by regulating the expression of enzyme activities including those involved with phospholipid synthesis. Zinc is an essential mineral required for the growth and metabolism of S. cerevisiae. Depletion of zinc from the growth medium of wild-type cells results in alterations in phospholipid composition including an increase in PI (phosphatidylinositol) and a decrease in phosphatidylethanolamine. These changes can be attributed to an increase in PIS1-encoded PI synthase activity and a decrease in the activities of several CDP-diacylglycerol pathway enzymes including the CHO1-encoded PS (phosphatidylserine) synthase. The reduction in PS synthase in response to zinc depletion is due to a repression mechanism that involves the UAS(INO) (inositol upstream activating sequence) element in the CHO1 promoter and the negative transcription factor Opi1p. These factors are also responsible for the inositol-mediated repression of CHO1. This regulation may play an important role in allowing cells to adapt to zinc deficiency given the essential roles that phospholipids play in the structure and function of cellular membranes.

The CWH8 gene encodes a dolichyl pyrophosphate phosphatase with a luminally oriented active site in the endoplasmic reticulum of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Mutations in the CWH8 gene, which encodes an ER transmembrane protein with a phosphate binding pocket in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, result in a deficiency in dolichyl pyrophosphate (Dol-P-P)-linked oligosaccharide intermediate synthesis and protein N-glycosylation (van Berkel, M. A., Rieger, M., te Heesen, S., Ram, A. F., van den Ende, H., Aebi, M., and Klis, F. M. (1999) Glycobiology 9, 243-253). Genetic, enzymological, and topological approaches were taken to investigate the potential role of Cwh8p in Dol-P-P/Dol-P metabolism. Overexpression of Cwh8p in the yeast double mutant strain, lacking LPP1/DPP1, resulted in an impressive increase in Dol-P-P phosphatase activity, a relatively small increase in Dol-P phosphatase activity, but no change in phosphatidate (PA) phosphatase activity in microsomal fractions. The Dol-P-P phosphatase encoded by CWH8 is optimally active in the presence of 0.5% octyl glucoside and relatively unstable in Triton X-100, distinguishing this activity from the lipid phosphatases encoded by LPP1 and DPP1. Stoichiometric amounts of P(i) and Dol-P are formed during the enzymatic reaction indicating that Cwh8p cleaves the anhydride linkage in Dol-P-P. Membrane fractions from Sf-9 cells expressing Cwh8p contained a 30-fold higher level of Dol-P-P phosphatase activity, a slight increase in Dol-P phosphatase activity, but no increase in PA phosphatase relative to controls. This is the first report of a lipid phosphatase that hydrolyzes Dol-P-P/Dol-P but not PA. In accord with this enzymatic function, Dol-P-P accumulated in cells lacking the Dol-P-P phosphatase. Topological studies using different approaches indicate that Cwh8p is a transmembrane protein with a luminally oriented active site. The specificity, subcellular location, and topological orientation of this novel enzyme are consistent with a role in the re-utilization of the glycosyl carrier lipid for additional rounds of lipid intermediate biosynthesis after its release during protein N-glycosylation reactions.

Phosphorylation of the yeast phospholipid synthesis regulatory protein Opi1p by protein kinase C

Opi1p is a negative regulator of expression of phospholipid-synthesizing enzymes in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In this work, we examined the phosphorylation of Opi1p by protein kinase C. Using a purified maltose-binding protein-Opi1p fusion protein as a substrate, protein kinase C activity was time- and dose-dependent, and dependent on the concentrations of Opi1p and ATP. Protein kinase C phosphorylated Opi1p on a serine residue. The Opi1p synthetic peptide GVLKQSCRQK, which contained a protein kinase C sequence motif at Ser(26), was a substrate for protein kinase C. Phosphorylation of a purified S26A mutant maltose-binding protein-Opi1p fusion protein by the kinase was reduced when compared with the wild-type protein. A major phosphopeptide present in purified wild-type Opi1p was absent from the purified S26A mutant protein. In vivo labeling experiments showed that the phosphorylation of Opi1p was physiologically relevant, and that the extent of phosphorylation of the S26A mutant protein was reduced by 50% when compared with the wild-type protein. The physiological consequence of the phosphorylation of Opi1p at Ser(26) was examined by measuring the effect of the S26A mutation on the expression of the phospholipid synthesis gene INO1. The beta-galactosidase activity driven by an INO1-CYC-lacI'Z reporter gene in opi1Delta mutant cells expressing the S26A mutant Opi1p was about 50% lower than that of cells expressing the wild-type Opi1p protein. These data supported the conclusion that phosphorylation of Opi1p at Ser(26) mediated the attenuation of the negative regulatory function of Opi1p on the expression of the INO1 gene.

Purification and characterization of the maize amyloplast stromal 112-kDa starch phosphorylase

A plastidic 112-kDa starch phosphorylase (SP) has been identified in the amyloplast stromal fraction of maize. This starch phosphorylase was purified 310-fold from maize endosperm and characterized with respect to its enzymological and kinetic properties. The purification procedure included ammonium sulfate fractionation, Sephacryl 300 HR chromatography, affinity starch adsorption, Q-Sepharose, and Mono Q chromatography. The procedure resulted in a nearly homogeneous enzyme preparation as determined by native and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Anti-SP antibodies recognized the purified 112-kDa SP enzyme and N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis confirmed that the purified enzyme is the amyloplast stromal 112-kDa SP. Analysis of the purified enzyme by Superose 6 gel filtration chromatography indicated that the native enzyme consisted of two identical subunits. The pH optimum for the enzyme was 6.0 in the synthetic direction and 5.5 in the phosphorolytic direction. SP activity was inhibited by thioreactive agents, diethyl pyrocarbonate, phenylglyoxal, and ADP-glucose. The activation energies for the synthetic and phosphorolytic reactions were 11.1 and 16.9 kcal/mol, respectively, and the enzyme was thermally labile above 50 degrees C. Results of kinetic experiments indicated that the enzyme catalyzes its reaction via a sequential Bi Bi mechanism. The Km value for amylopectin was eight-fold lower than that of glycogen. A kinetic analysis indicated that the phosphorolytic reaction was favored over the synthetic reaction when malto-oligosaccharides (4 to 7 units) were used as substrates. The specificity constants (Vmax/Km) of the enzyme measured in either the synthetic or the phosphorolytic directions increased with increasing chain length.

Lipid phosphate phosphatases in Arabidopsis. Regulation of the AtLPP1 gene in response to stress

An Arabidopsis thaliana gene (AtLPP1) was isolated on the basis that it was transiently induced by ionizing radiation. The putative AtLPP1 gene product showed homology to the yeast and mammalian lipid phosphate phosphatase enzymes and possessed a phosphatase signature sequence motif. Heterologous expression and biochemical characterization of the AtLPP1 gene in yeast showed that it encoded an enzyme (AtLpp1p) that exhibited both diacylglycerol pyrophosphate phosphatase and phosphatidate phosphatase activities. Kinetic analysis indicated that diacylglycerol pyrophosphate was the preferred substrate for AtLpp1p in vitro. A second Arabidopsis gene (AtLPP2) was identified based on sequence homology to AtLPP1 that was also heterologously expressed in yeast. The AtLpp2p enzyme also utilized diacylglycerol pyrophosphate and phosphatidate but with no preference for either substrate. The AtLpp1p and AtLpp2p enzymes showed differences in their apparent affinities for diacylglycerol pyrophosphate and phosphatidate as well as other enzymological properties. Northern blot analyses showed that the AtLPP1 gene was preferentially expressed in leaves and roots, whereas the AtLPP2 gene was expressed in all tissues examined. AtLPP1, but not AtLPP2, was regulated in response to various stress conditions. The AtLPP1 gene was transiently induced by genotoxic stress (gamma ray or UV-B) and elicitor treatments with mastoparan and harpin. The regulation of the AtLPP1 gene in response to stress was consistent with the hypothesis that its encoded lipid phosphate phosphatase enzyme may attenuate the signaling functions of phosphatidate and/or diacylglycerol pyrophosphate that form in response to stress in plants.

Regulation of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae DPP1-encoded diacylglycerol pyrophosphate phosphatase by zinc

The DPP1 gene, encoding diacylglycerol pyrophosphate (DGPP) phosphatase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has recently been identified as a zinc-regulated gene, and it contains a putative zinc-responsive element (UAS(ZRE)) in its promoter. In this work we examined the hypothesis that expression of DGPP phosphatase was regulated by zinc availability. The deprivation of zinc from the growth medium resulted in a time- and dose-dependent induction of beta-galactosidase activity driven by a P(DPP1)-lacZ reporter gene. This regulation was dependent on the UAS(ZRE) in the DPP1 promoter and was mediated by the Zap1p transcriptional activator. Induction of the DGPP phosphatase protein and activity by zinc deprivation was demonstrated by immunoblot analysis and measurement of the dephosphorylation of DGPP. The regulation pattern of DGPP phosphatase in mutants defective in plasma membrane (Zrt1p and Zrt2p) and vacuolar membrane (Zrt3p) zinc transporters indicated that enzyme expression was sensitive to the cytoplasmic levels of zinc. DGPP phosphatase activity was inhibited by zinc by a mechanism that involved formation of DGPP-zinc complexes. Studies with well characterized subcellular fractions and by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that the DGPP phosphatase enzyme was localized to the vacuolar membrane.

Identification of the maize amyloplast stromal 112-kD protein as a plastidic starch phosphorylase

Amyloplast is the site of starch synthesis in the storage tissue of maize (Zea mays). The amyloplast stroma contains an enriched group of proteins when compared with the whole endosperm. Proteins with molecular masses of 76 and 85 kD have been identified as starch synthase I and starch branching enzyme IIb, respectively. A 112-kD protein was isolated from the stromal fraction by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and subjected to tryptic digestion and amino acid sequence analysis. Three peptide sequences showed high identity to plastidic forms of starch phosphorylase (SP) from sweet potato, potato, and spinach. SP activity was identified in the amyloplast stromal fraction and was enriched 4-fold when compared with the activity in the whole endosperm fraction. Native and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analyses showed that SP activity was associated with the amyloplast stromal 112-kD protein. In addition, antibodies raised against the potato plastidic SP recognized the amyloplast stromal 112-kD protein. The amyloplast stromal 112-kD SP was expressed in whole endosperm isolated from maize harvested 9 to 24 d after pollination. Results of affinity electrophoresis and enzyme kinetic analyses showed that the amyloplast stromal 112-kD SP preferred amylopectin over glycogen as a substrate in the synthetic reaction. The maize shrunken-4 mutant had reduced SP activity due to a decrease of the amyloplast stromal 112-kD enzyme.

Regulation of the DPP1-encoded diacylglycerol pyrophosphate (DGPP) phosphatase by inositol and growth phase. Inhibition of DGPP phosphatase activity by CDP-diacylglyceron and activation of phosphatidylserine synthase activity by DGPP

The regulation of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae DPP1-encoded diacylglycerol pyrophosphate (DGPP) phosphatase by inositol supplementation and growth phase was examined. Addition of inositol to the growth medium resulted in a dose-dependent increase in the level of DGPP phosphatase activity in both exponential and stationary phase cells. Activity was greater in stationary phase cells when compared with exponential phase cells, and the inositol- and growth phase-dependent regulations of DGPP phosphatase were additive. Analyses of DGPP phosphatase mRNA and protein levels, and expression of beta-galactosidase activity driven by a P(DPP1)-lacZ reporter gene, indicated that a transcriptional mechanism was responsible for this regulation. Regulation of DGPP phosphatase by inositol and growth phase occurred in a manner that was opposite that of many phospholipid biosynthetic enzymes. Regulation of DGPP phosphatase expression by inositol supplementation, but not growth phase, was altered in opi1Delta, ino2Delta, and ino4Delta phospholipid synthesis regulatory mutants. CDP-diacylglycerol, a phospholipid pathway intermediate used for the synthesis of phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol, inhibited DGPP phosphatase activity by a mixed mechanism that caused an increase in K(m) and a decrease in V(max). DGPP stimulated the activity of pure phosphatidylserine synthase by a mechanism that increased the affinity of the enzyme for its substrate CDP-diacylglycerol. Phospholipid composition analysis of a dpp1Delta mutant showed that DGPP phosphatase played a role in the regulation of phospholipid metabolism by inositol, as well as regulating the cellular levels of phosphatidylinositol.

Enzymological properties of the LPP1-encoded lipid phosphatase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The product of the LPP1 gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a membrane-associated enzyme that catalyzes the Mg(2+)-independent dephosphorylation of phosphatidate (PA), diacylglycerol pyrophosphate (DGPP), and lysophosphatidate (LPA). The LPP1-encoded lipid phosphatase was overexpressed 681-fold in Sf-9 insect cells and used to examine the enzymological properties of the enzyme using PA, DGPP, and LPA as substrates. The optimum pH values for PA phosphatase, DGPP phosphatase, and LPA phosphatase activities were 7. 5, 7.0, and 7.0, respectively. Divalent cations (Mn(2+), Co(2+), and Ca(2+)), NaF, heavy metals, propranolol, phenylglyoxal, and N-ethylmaleimide inhibited the PA phosphatase, DGPP phosphatase, and LPA phosphatase activities of the enzyme. The inhibitory effects of N-ethylmaleimide and phenylglyoxal on the LPP1-encoded enzyme were novel properties when compared with other Mg(2+)-independent lipid phosphate phosphatases from S. cerevisiae and mammalian cells. The LPP1-encoded enzyme exhibited saturation kinetics with respect to the surface concentrations of PA (K(m)=0.05 mol%), DGPP (K(m)=0.07 mol%), and LPA (K(m)=0.08 mol%). Based on specificity constants (V(max)/K(m)LPA (1.3 units/mg/mol%). DGPP (K(i)=0.12 mol%) was a competitive inhibitor with respect to PA, and PA (K(i)=0.12 mol%) was a competitive inhibitor with respect to DGPP. This suggested that the binding sites for these substrates were the same. The enzymological properties of the LPP1-encoded enzyme differed significantly from those of the S. cerevisiae DPP1-encoded lipid phosphatase, a related enzyme that also utilizes PA, DGPP, and LPA as substrates.

Characterization of a novel dUTP-dependent activity of CTP synthetase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

CTP synthetase [EC 6.3.4.2, UTP:ammonia ligase (ADP-forming)] from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae catalyzes the ATP-dependent transfer of the amide nitrogen from glutamine to the C-4 position of UTP to form CTP. In this work, we demonstrated that CTP synthetase utilized dUTP as a substrate to synthesize dCTP. The dUTP-dependent activity was linear with time and with enzyme concentration. Maximum dUTP-dependent activity was dependent on MgCl(2) (4 mM) and GTP (K(a) = 14 microM) at a pH optimum of 8.0. The apparent K(m) values for dUTP, ATP, and glutamine were 0.18, 0.25, and 0.41 mM, respectively. dUTP promoted the tetramerization of CTP synthetase, and the extent of enzyme tetramerization correlated with dUTP-dependent activity. dCTP was a poor inhibitor of dUTP-dependent activity, whereas CTP was a potent inhibitor of this activity. The enzyme catalyzed the synthesis of dCTP and CTP when dUTP and UTP were used as substrates together. CTP was the major product synthesized when dUTP and UTP were present at saturating concentrations. When dUTP and UTP were present at concentrations near their K(m) values, the synthesis of dCTP increased relative to that of CTP. The synthesis of dCTP was favored over the synthesis of CTP when UTP was present at a concentration near its K(m) value and dUTP was varied from subsaturating to saturating concentrations. These data suggested that the dUTP-dependent synthesis of dCTP by CTP synthetase activity may be physiologically relevant.

Mutagenesis of the phosphatase sequence motif in diacylglycerol pyrophosphate phosphatase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Diacylglycerol pyrophosphate (DGPP) phosphatase, encoded by the DPP1 gene, is a membrane-associated enzyme in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The enzyme removes the beta phosphate from DGPP to form phosphatidate. The substrate and product of the DGPP phosphatase reaction play roles in lipid signaling and in cell metabolism. The deduced primary structure of the DGPP phosphatase protein contains a three-domain phosphatase sequence motif. In this work, we examined the hypothesis that the phosphatase sequence motif in the enzyme is involved in the DGPP phosphatase reaction. The amino acid residues Arg(125), His(169), and His(223) in domains 1, 2, and 3, respectively, of the phosphatase sequence motif were changed to alanine residues by site-directed mutagenesis. The mutant DPP1(R125A), DPP1(H169A), and DPP1(H223A) alleles were cloned into a yeast shuttle vector and then expressed in a dpp1Delta lpp1Delta double mutant that lacks DGPP phosphatase activity. Northern blot and immunoblot analyses showed that the mutations in the phosphatase sequence motif did not affect the expression of the enzyme. The DGPP phosphatase activities of the R125A, the H169A, and the H223A mutant enzymes were 0.05, 9, and 0.03%, respectively, of the DGPP phosphatase activity of the wild-type enzyme. Enzymes with mutations in more than one domain of the phosphatase sequence motif had no measurable DGPP phosphatase activity. The R125A and H233A mutant DGPP phosphatase enzymes had reduced V(max) and elevated K(m) values for DGPP when compared with the wild-type enzyme. The H169A mutant enzyme had reduced V(max) and K(m) values when compared with the control. The specificity constants (V(max)/K(m)()) for DGPP of the R125A mutant and H233A mutant enzymes were 4610-fold and 15 367-fold lower, respectively, when compared to the wild-type enzyme. The studies reported here indicated that the phosphatase sequence motif played an important role in the reaction catalyzed by the S. cerevisiae DGPP phosphatase.

Phospholipid biosynthesis in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and interrelationship with other metabolic processes

In this review, we have discussed recent progress in the study of the regulation that controls phospholipid metabolism in S. cerevisiae. This regulation occurs on multiple levels and is tightly integrated with a large number of other cellular processes and related metabolic and signal transduction pathways. Progress in deciphering this complex regulation has been very rapid in the last few years, aided by the availability of the sequence of the entire Saccharomyces genome. The assignment of functions to the remaining unassigned open reading frames, as well as ascertainment of remaining gene-enzyme relationships in phospholipid biosynthesis in yeast, promises to provide detailed understanding of the genetic regulation of a crucial area of metabolism in a key eukaryotic model system. Since the processes of lipid metabolism, secretion, and signal transduction show fundamental similarities in all eukaryotes, the dissection of this regulation in yeast promises to have wide application to our understanding of metabolic control in all eukaryotes.

Identification of Ser424 as the protein kinase A phosphorylation site in CTP synthetase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The URA7-encoded CTP synthetase [EC 6.3.4.2, UTP:ammonia ligase (ADP-forming)] in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is phosphorylated on a serine residue and stimulated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase A) in vitro. In vivo, the phosphorylation of CTP synthetase is mediated by the RAS/cAMP pathway. In this work, we examined the hypothesis that amino acid residue Ser424 contained in a protein kinase A sequence motif in the URA7-encoded CTP synthetase is the target site for protein kinase A. A CTP synthetase synthetic peptide (SLGRKDSHSA) containing the protein kinase A motif was a substrate (Km = 30 microM) for protein kinase A. This peptide also inhibited (IC50 = 45 microM) the phosphorylation of purified wild-type CTP synthetase by protein kinase A. CTP synthetase with a Ser424 --> Ala (S424A) mutation was constructed by site-directed mutagenesis. The mutated enzyme was not phosphorylated in response to the activation of protein kinase A activity in vivo. Purified S424A mutant CTP synthetase was not phosphorylated and stimulated by protein kinase A. The S424A mutant CTP synthetase had reduced Vmax and elevated Km values for ATP and UTP when compared with the protein kinase A-phosphorylated wild-type enzyme. The specificity constants for ATP and UTP for the S424A mutant CTP synthetase were 4.2- and 2.9-fold lower, respectively, when compared with that of the phosphorylated enzyme. In addition, the S424A mutant enzyme was 2.7-fold more sensitive to CTP product inhibition when compared with the phosphorylated wild-type enzyme. These data indicated that the protein kinase A target site in CTP synthetase was Ser424 and that the phosphorylation of this site played a role in the regulation of CTP synthetase activity.

Lipid phosphate phosphohydrolase-1 degrades exogenous glycerolipid and sphingolipid phosphate esters

Lipid phosphate phosphohydrolase (LPP)-1 cDNA was cloned from a rat liver cDNA library. It codes for a 32-kDa protein that shares 87 and 82% amino acid sequence identities with putative products of murine and human LPP-1 cDNAs, respectively. Membrane fractions of rat2 fibroblasts that stably expressed mouse or rat LPP-1 exhibited 3.1-3. 6-fold higher specific activities for phosphatidate dephosphorylation compared with vector controls. Increases in the dephosphorylation of lysophosphatidate, ceramide 1-phosphate, sphingosine 1-phosphate and diacylglycerol pyrophosphate were similar to those for phosphatidate. Rat2 fibroblasts expressing mouse LPP-1 cDNA showed 1.6-2.3-fold increases in the hydrolysis of exogenous lysophosphatidate, phosphatidate and ceramide 1-phosphate compared with vector control cells. Recombinant LPP-1 was located partially in plasma membranes with its C-terminus on the cytosolic surface. Lysophosphatidate dephosphorylation was inhibited by extracellular Ca2+ and this inhibition was diminished by extracellular Mg2+. Changing intracellular Ca2+ concentrations did not alter exogenous lysophosphatidate dephosphorylation significantly. Permeabilized fibroblasts showed relatively little latency for the dephosphorylation of exogenous lysophosphatidate. LPP-1 expression decreased the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and DNA synthesis by exogenous lysophosphatidate. The product of LPP-1 cDNA is concluded to act partly to degrade exogenous lysophosphatidate and thereby regulate its effects on cell signalling.

The LPP1 and DPP1 gene products account for most of the isoprenoid phosphate phosphatase activities in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Two genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, LPP1 and DPP1, with homology to a mammalian phosphatidic acid (PA) phosphatase were identified and disrupted. Neither single nor combined deletions resulted in growth or secretion phenotypes. As observed previously (Toke, D. A., Bennett, W. L., Dillon, D. A., Wu, W.-I., Chen, X., Ostrander, D. B., Oshiro, J., Cremesti, A., Voelker, D. R., Fischl, A. S., and Carman, G. M. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 3278-3284; Toke, D. A., Bennett, W. L., Oshiro, J., Wu, W.-I., Voelker, D. R., and Carman, G. M. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 14331-14338), the disruption of DPP1 and LPP1 produced profound losses of Mg2+-independent PA phosphatase activity. The coincident attenuation of hydrolytic activity against diacylglycerol pyrophosphate prompted an examination of the effects of these disruptions on hydrolysis of isoprenoid pyrophosphates. Disruption of either LPP1 or DPP1 caused respective decreases of about 25 and 75% in Mg2+-independent hydrolysis of several isoprenoid phosphates by particulate fractions isolated from these cells. The particulate and cytosolic fractions from the double disruption (lpp1Delta dpp1Delta) showed essentially complete loss of Mg2+-independent hydrolytic activity toward dolichyl phosphate (dolichyl-P), dolichyl pyrophosphate (dolichyl-P-P), farnesyl pyrophosphate (farnesyl-P-P), and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (geranylgeranyl-P-P). However, a modest Mg2+-stimulated activity toward PA and dolichyl-P was retained in cytosol from lpp1Delta dpp1Delta cells. The action of Dpp1p on isoprenyl pyrophosphates was confirmed by characterization of the hydrolysis of geranylgeranyl-P-P by the purified protein. These results indicate that LPP1 and DPP1 account for most of the hydrolytic activities toward dolichyl-P-P, dolichyl-P, farnesyl-P-P, and geranylgeranyl-P-P but also suggest that yeast contain other enzymes capable of dephosphorylating these essential isoprenoid intermediates.

Isolation and characterization of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae EKI1 gene encoding ethanolamine kinase

Ethanolamine kinase (ATP:ethanolamine O-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1. 82) catalyzes the committed step of phosphatidylethanolamine synthesis via the CDP-ethanolamine pathway. The gene encoding ethanolamine kinase (EKI1) was identified from the Saccharomyces Genome Data Base (locus YDR147W) based on its homology to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae CKI1-encoded choline kinase, which also exhibits ethanolamine kinase activity. The EKI1 gene was isolated and used to construct eki1Delta and eki1Delta cki1Delta mutants. A multicopy plasmid containing the EKI1 gene directed the overexpression of ethanolamine kinase activity in wild-type, eki1Delta mutant, cki1Delta mutant, and eki1Delta cki1Delta double mutant cells. The heterologous expression of the S. cerevisiae EKI1 gene in Sf-9 insect cells resulted in a 165,500-fold overexpression of ethanolamine kinase activity relative to control insect cells. The EKI1 gene product also exhibited choline kinase activity. Biochemical analyses of the enzyme expressed in insect cells, in eki1Delta mutants, and in cki1Delta mutants indicated that ethanolamine was the preferred substrate. The eki1Delta mutant did not exhibit a growth phenotype. Biochemical analyses of eki1Delta, cki1Delta, and eki1Delta cki1Delta mutants showed that the EKI1 and CKI1 gene products encoded all of the ethanolamine kinase and choline kinase activities in S. cerevisiae. In vivo labeling experiments showed that the EKI1 and CKI1 gene products had overlapping functions with respect to phospholipid synthesis. Whereas the EKI1 gene product was primarily responsible for phosphatidylethanolamine synthesis via the CDP-ethanolamine pathway, the CKI1 gene product was primarily responsible for phosphatidylcholine synthesis via the CDP-choline pathway. Unlike cki1Delta mutants, eki1Delta mutants did not suppress the essential function of Sec14p.

Phosphorylation and regulation of choline kinase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae by protein kinase A

The CKI1-encoded choline kinase (ATP:choline phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.32) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was phosphorylated in vivo on multiple serine residues. Activation of protein kinase A activity in vivo resulted in a transient increase in the phosphorylation of choline kinase. This phosphorylation was accompanied by a stimulation in choline kinase activity. In vitro, protein kinase A phosphorylated choline kinase on a serine residue with a stoichiometry (0.44 mol of phosphate/mol of choline kinase) consistent with one phosphorylation site/choline kinase subunit. The major phosphopeptide derived from the enzyme phosphorylated in vitro by protein kinase A was common to one of the major phosphopeptides derived from the enzyme phosphorylated in vivo. Protein kinase A activity was dose- and time-dependent and dependent on the concentrations of ATP (Km 2.1 microM) and choline kinase (Km 0.12 microM). Phosphorylation of choline kinase with protein kinase A resulted in a stimulation (1.9-fold) in choline kinase activity whereas alkaline phosphatase treatment of choline kinase resulted in a 60% decrease in choline kinase activity. The mechanism of the protein kinase A-mediated stimulation in choline kinase activity involved an increase in the apparent Vmax values with respect to ATP (2.6-fold) and choline (2.7-fold). Overall, the results reported here were consistent with the conclusion that choline kinase was regulated by protein kinase A phosphorylation.

Interactions among pathways for phosphatidylcholine metabolism, CTP synthesis and secretion through the Golgi apparatus

Phosphatidylcholine is the major phospholipid in eukaryotic cells. It serves as a structural component of cell membranes and a reservoir of several lipid messengers. Recent studies in yeast and mammalian systems have revealed interrelationships between the two pathways of phosphatidylcholine metabolism, and between these pathways and those for CTP synthesis and secretion via the Golgi. These processes involve the regulation of the CDP-choline and phosphatidylethanolamine-methylation pathways of phosphatidylcholine synthesis, CTP synthetase, phospholipase D and the phospholipid-transfer protein Sec14p.

Proinflammatory macrophage-activating properties of the novel phospholipid diacylglycerol pyrophosphate

We have found that the novel phospholipid diacylglycerol pyrophosphate (DGPP), identified in bacteria, yeast, and plants, but not in mammalian cells, is able to potently activate macrophages for enhanced secretion of arachidonate metabolites, a key event in the immunoinflammatory response of leukocytes. Macrophage responses to DGPP are specific and are not mediated by its conversion into other putative lipid mediators such as phosphatidic acid, lysophosphatidic acid, or diacylglycerol. The responses to DGPP are compatible with a receptor-recognition event because they are blocked by suramin. Intracellular signaling initiated by DGPP includes phosphorylation and activation of the Group IV cytosolic phospholipase A2 and of the extracellular-signal regulated p42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and p44 MAPK, and membrane translocation of the protein kinase C isoenzymes alpha, epsilon, delta. These results establish DGPP as a novel macrophage-activating factor and suggest a potential role for this compound in triggering homeostatic cellular responses.

Effect of CTP synthetase regulation by CTP on phospholipid synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

CTP synthetase (EC 6.3.4.2, UTP:ammonia ligase (ADP-forming)) activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is allosterically regulated by CTP product inhibition. Amino acid residue Glu161 in the URA7-encoded and URA8-encoded CTP synthetases was identified as being involved in the regulation of these enzymes by CTP product inhibition. The specific activities of the URA7-encoded and URA8-encoded enzymes with a Glu161 --> Lys (E161K) mutation were 2-fold greater when compared with the wild-type enzymes. The E161K mutant URA7-encoded and URA8-encoded CTP synthetases were less sensitive to CTP product inhibition with inhibitor constants for CTP of 8.4- and 5-fold greater, respectively, than those of their wild-type counterparts. Cells expressing the E161K mutant enzymes on a multicopy plasmid exhibited an increase in resistance to the pyrimidine poison and cancer therapeutic drug cyclopentenylcytosine and accumulated elevated (6-15-fold) levels of CTP when compared with cells expressing the wild-type enzymes. Cells expressing the E161K mutation in the URA7-encoded CTP synthetase exhibited an increase (1.5-fold) in the utilization of the Kennedy pathway for phosphatidylcholine synthesis when compared with control cells. Cells bearing the mutation also exhibited an increase in the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine (1.5-fold), phosphatidylethanolamine (1.3-fold), and phosphatidate (2-fold) and a decrease in the synthesis of phosphatidylserine (1.7-fold). These alterations were accompanied by an inositol excretion phenotype due to the misregulation of the INO1 gene. Moreover, cells bearing the E161K mutation exhibited an increase (1.6-fold) in the ratio of total neutral lipids to phospholipids, an increase in triacylglycerol (1.4-fold), free fatty acids (1.7-fold), and ergosterol ester (1.8-fold), and a decrease in diacylglycerol (1. 3-fold) when compared with control cells. These data indicated that the regulation of CTP synthetase activity by CTP plays an important role in the regulation of phospholipid synthesis.

Nucleotide-dependent tetramerization of CTP synthetase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The nucleotide-dependent tetramerization of purified native URA7-encoded CTP synthetase (EC 6.3.4.2, UTP: ammonia ligase (ADP-forming)) from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was characterized. CTP synthetase existed as a dimer in the absence of ATP and UTP. In the presence of saturating concentrations of ATP and UTP, the CTP synthetase protein existed as a tetramer. Increasing concentrations of ATP and UTP caused a dose-dependent conversion of the dimeric species to a tetramer. The kinetics of enzyme tetramerization correlates with the kinetics of enzyme activity. The tetramerization of CTP synthetase was dependent on UTP and Mg2+ ions. ATP facilitated the UTP-dependent tetramerization of CTP synthetase by a mechanism that involved the ATP-dependent phosphorylation of UTP catalyzed by the enzyme. The glutaminase reaction that is catalyzed by the enzyme was not required for enzyme tetramerization. CTP, a potent inhibitor of CTP synthetase activity, did not inhibit the ATP/UTP-dependent tetramerization of the enzyme. Phosphorylation of the purified native CTP synthetase with protein kinase A and protein kinase C facilitated the nucleotide-dependent tetramerization. Dephosphorylation of native CTP synthetase with alkaline phosphatase prevented the nucleotide-dependent tetramerization of the enzyme. This correlated with the inactivation of CTP synthetase activity. Rephosphorylation of the dephosphorylated enzyme with protein kinase A and protein kinase C resulted in a partial restoration of the nucleotide-dependent tetramerization of the enzyme. This tetramerization correlated with the partial restoration of CTP synthetase activity. Taken together, these results indicated that enzyme tetramerization was required for CTP synthetase activity and that enzyme phosphorylation played an important role in the tetramerization and regulation of the enzyme.

Isolation and characterization of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae LPP1 gene encoding a Mg2+-independent phosphatidate phosphatase

The DPP1-encoded diacylglycerol pyrophosphate (DGPP) phosphatase enzyme accounts for half of the Mg2+-independent phosphatidate (PA) phosphatase activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The LPP1 (lipid phosphate phosphatase) gene encodes a protein that contains a novel phosphatase sequence motif found in DGPP phosphatase and in the mouse Mg2+-independent PA phosphatase. A genomic copy of the S. cerevisiae LPP1 gene was isolated and was used to construct lpp1Delta and lpp1Delta dpp1Delta mutants. A multicopy plasmid containing the LPP1 gene directed a 12.9-fold overexpression of Mg2+-independent PA phosphatase activity in the S. cerevisiae lpp1Delta dpp1Delta double mutant. The heterologous expression of the S. cerevisiae LPP1 gene in Sf-9 insect cells resulted in a 715-fold overexpression of Mg2+-independent PA phosphatase activity relative to control insect cells. The Mg2+-independent PA phosphatase activity encoded by the LPP1 gene was associated with the membrane fraction of the cell. The LPP1 gene product also exhibited lyso-PA phosphatase and DGPP phosphatase activities. The order of substrate preference was PA > lyso-PA > DGPP. Like the dpp1Delta mutant, the lpp1Delta mutant and the lpp1Delta dpp1Delta double mutant were viable and did not exhibit obvious growth defects. Biochemical analyses of lpp1Delta, dpp1Delta, and lpp1Delta dpp1Delta mutants showed that the LPP1 and DPP1 gene products encoded nearly all of the Mg2+-independent PA phosphatase and lyso-PA phosphatase activities and all of the DGPP phosphatase activity in S. cerevisiae. Moreover, the analyses of the mutants showed that the LPP1 and DPP1 gene products played a role in the regulation of phospholipid metabolism and the cellular levels of phosphatidylinositol and PA.

Expression, purification, and characterization of choline kinase, product of the CKI gene from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, choline kinase (ATP:choline phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.32) is the product of the CKI gene. Choline kinase catalyzes the committed step in the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine by the CDP-choline pathway. The yeast enzyme was overexpressed 106-fold in Sf-9 insect cells and purified 71.2-fold to homogeneity from the cytosolic fraction by chromatography with concanavalin A, Affi-Gel Blue, and Mono Q. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of purified choline kinase matched perfectly with the deduced sequence of the CKI gene. The minimum subunit molecular mass (73 kDa) of purified choline kinase was in good agreement with the predicted size (66.3 kDa) of the CKI gene product. Native choline kinase existed in oligomeric structures of dimers, tetramers, and octomers. The amounts of the tetrameric and octomeric forms increased in the presence of the substrate ATP. Antibodies were raised against the purified enzyme and were used to identify choline kinase in insect cells and in S. cerevisiae. Maximum choline kinase activity was dependent on Mg2+ ions (10 mM) at pH 9.5 and at 30 degrees C. The equilibrium constant (0.2) for the reaction indicated that the reverse reaction was favored in vitro. The activation energy for the reaction was 6.26 kcal/mol, and the enzyme was labile above 30 degrees C. Choline kinase exhibited saturation kinetics with respect to choline and positive cooperative kinetics with respect to ATP (n = 1.4-2.3). Results of the kinetic experiments indicated that the enzyme catalyzes a sequential Bi Bi reaction. The Vmax for the reaction was 138.7 micromol/min/mg, and the Km values for choline and ATP were 0.27 mM and 90 microM, respectively. The turnover number per choline kinase subunit was 153 s-1. Ethanolamine was a poor substrate for the purified choline kinase, and it was also poor inhibitor of choline kinase activity. ADP inhibited choline kinase activity (IC50 = 0.32 mM) in a positive cooperative manner (n = 1.5), and the mechanism of inhibition with respect to ATP and choline was complex. The regulation of choline kinase activity by ATP and ADP may be physiologically relevant.

Isolation and characterization of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae DPP1 gene encoding diacylglycerol pyrophosphate phosphatase

Diacylglycerol pyrophosphate (DGPP) is involved in a putative novel lipid signaling pathway. DGPP phosphatase (DGPP phosphohydrolase) is a membrane-associated 34-kDa enzyme from Saccharomyces cerevisiae which catalyzes the dephosphorylation of DGPP to yield phosphatidate (PA) and then catalyzes the dephosphorylation of PA to yield diacylglycerol. Amino acid sequence information derived from DGPP phosphatase was used to identify and isolate the DPP1 (diacylglycerol pyrophosphate phosphatase) gene encoding the enzyme. Multicopy plasmids containing the DPP1 gene directed a 10-fold overexpression of DGPP phosphatase activity in S. cerevisiae. The heterologous expression of the S. cerevisiae DPP1 gene in Sf-9 insect cells resulted in a 500-fold overexpression of DGPP phosphatase activity over that expressed in wild-type S. cerevisiae. DGPP phosphatase possesses a Mg2+-independent PA phosphatase activity, and its expression correlated with the overexpression of DGPP phosphatase activity in S. cerevisiae and in insect cells. DGPP phosphatase was predicted to be an integral membrane protein with six transmembrane-spanning domains. The enzyme contains a novel phosphatase sequence motif found in a superfamily of phosphatases. A dpp1Delta mutant was constructed by deletion of the chromosomal copy of the DPP1 gene. The dpp1Delta mutant was viable and did not exhibit any obvious growth defects. The mutant was devoid of DGPP phosphatase activity and accumulated (4-fold) DGPP. Analysis of the mutant showed that the DPP1 gene was not responsible for all of the Mg2+-independent PA phosphatase activity in S. cerevisiae.

Phosphatidate phosphatases and diacylglycerol pyrophosphate phosphatases in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli

Phosphatidate phosphatase plays a major role in the synthesis of phospholipids and triacylglycerols in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Membrane- and cytosolic-associated forms of the enzyme have been isolated and characterized. These enzymes are Mg2+-dependent and N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive. The expression of a membrane-associated form of phosphatidate phosphatase is regulated by growth phase and inositol supplementation, whereas enzyme activity is regulated by lipids, nucleotides, and by phosphorylation. Phosphatidate phosphatase is coordinately regulated with other phospholipid biosynthetic enzymes including phosphatidylserine synthase. Diacylglycerol pyrophosphate phosphatase is a novel enzyme of phospholipid metabolism which is present in S. cerevisiae, Escherichia coli, and mammalian cells. This enzyme possesses a phosphatidate phosphatase activity which is Mg2+-independent and N-ethylmaleimide-insensitive and is distinct from the Mg2+-dependent and N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive form of phosphatidate phosphatase. Genes encoding for diacylglycerol pyrophosphate phosphatase have been isolated from S. cerevisiae and E. coli. The deduced protein sequences of these genes show homology to the sequence of the mouse PAP2 (Mg2+-independent and N-ethylmaleimide-insensitive phosphatidate phosphatase) protein, especially in a novel phosphatase sequence motif. Rat liver PAP2 displays diacylglycerol pyrophosphate phosphatase activity.

Mammalian Mg2+-independent phosphatidate phosphatase (PAP2) displays diacylglycerol pyrophosphate phosphatase activity

Recent studies indicate that the metabolism of diacylglycerol pyrophosphate (DGPP) is involved in a novel lipid signaling pathway. DGPP phosphatases (DGPP phosphohydrolase) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli catalyze the dephosphorylation of DGPP to yield phosphatidate (PA) and then catalyze the dephosphorylation of PA to yield diacylglycerol. We demonstrated that the Mg2+-independent form of PA phosphatase (PA phosphohydrolase, PAP2) purified from rat liver catalyzed the dephosphorylation of DGPP. This reaction was Mg2+-independent, insensitive to inhibition by N-ethylmaleimide and bromoenol lactone, and inhibited by Mn2+ ions. PAP2 exhibited a high affinity for DGPP (Km = 0.04 mol %). The specificity constant (Vmax/Km) for DGPP was 1. 3-fold higher than that of PA. DGPP inhibited the ability of PAP2 to dephosphorylate PA, and PA inhibited the dephosphorylation of DGPP. Like rat liver PAP2, the Mg2+-independent PA phosphatase activity of DGPP phosphatase purified from S. cerevisiae was inhibited by lyso-PA, sphingosine 1-phosphate, and ceramide 1-phosphate. Mouse PAP2 showed homology to DGPP phosphatases from S. cerevisiae and E. coli, especially in localized regions that constitute a novel phosphatase sequence motif. Collectively, our work indicated that rat liver PAP2 is a member of a phosphatase family that includes DGPP phosphatases from S. cerevisiae and E. coli. We propose a model in which the phosphatase activities of rat liver PAP2 and the DGPP phosphatase of S. cerevisiae regulate the cellular levels of DGPP, PA, and diacylglycerol.

Identification of a novel phosphatase sequence motif

We have identified a novel, conserved phosphatase sequence motif, KXXXXXXRP-(X12-54)-PSGH-(X31-54)-SRXXXXX HXXXD, that is shared among several lipid phosphatases, the mammalian glucose-6-phosphatases, and a collection of bacterial nonspecific acid phosphatases. This sequence was also found in the vanadium-containing chloroperoxidase of Curvularia inaequalis. Several lines of evidence support this phosphatase motif identification. Crystal structure data on chloroperoxidase revealed that all three domains are in close proximity and several of the conserved residues are involved in the binding of the cofactor, vanadate, a compound structurally similar to phosphate. Structure-function analysis of the human glucose-6-phosphatase has shown that two of the conserved residues (the first domain arginine and the central domain histidine) are essential for enzyme activity. This conserved sequence motif was used to identify nine additional putative phosphatases from sequence databases, one of which has been determined to be a lipid phosphatase in yeast.

The Escherichia coli pgpB gene encodes for a diacylglycerol pyrophosphate phosphatase activity

We provided genetic and biochemical evidence that supported the conclusion that the product of pgpB gene of Escherichia coli exhibited diacylglycerol pyrophosphate (DGPP) phosphatase activity. DGPP phosphatase activity was absent in pgpB mutant cells and was expressed at high levels in cells carrying the wild-type pgpB gene on a runaway replication plasmid. The pgpB mutant has been primarily characterized by a defect in phosphatidate (PA) phosphatase activity and also exhibits defects in lyso-PA phosphatase and phosphatidylglycerophosphate phosphatase activities. The defective PA phosphatase in the pgpB mutant was shown to be a Mg2+-independent PA phosphatase activity of the DGPP phosphatase enzyme. We characterized DGPP phosphatase activity in membranes from cells overproducing the pgpB gene product. DGPP phosphatase catalyzed the dephosphorylation of the beta phosphate of DGPP to form PA followed by the dephosphorylation of PA to form diacylglycerol. The specificity constant (Vmax/Km) for DGPP was 9.3-fold greater than that for PA. The pH optimum for the DGPP phosphatase reaction was 6. 5. Activity was independent of a divalent cation requirement, was potently inhibited by Mn2+ ions, and was insensitive to inhibition by N-ethylmaleimide. Pure DGPP phosphatase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was shown to be similar to the E. coli DGPP phosphatase in its ability to utilize lyso-PA and phosphatidylglycerophosphate as substrates in vitro.

Phosphorylation and regulation of CTP synthetase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae by protein kinase A

The phosphorylation and regulation of the URA7-encoded CTP synthetase (EC 6.3.4.2, UTP:ammonia ligase (ADP-forming)) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase A) were examined. Protein kinase A is the principal mediator of signals transmitted through the RAS/cAMP pathway in S. cerevisiae. The results of labeling experiments indicated that the phosphorylation of CTP synthetase was mediated by the RAS/cAMP pathway in vivo. In vitro, protein kinase A phosphorylated CTP synthetase at a serine residue with a stoichiometry consistent with one phosphorylation site per CTP synthetase subunit. Protein kinase A activity was dose- and time-dependent using CTP synthetase as a substrate. The dependence of protein kinase A activity on CTP synthetase was cooperative (n = 1.8) and the Km value for CTP synthetase was 73 nM. Phosphorylation of CTP synthetase with protein kinase A resulted in the stimulation (190%) of activity. The mechanism of this stimulation included an increase in the Vmax of the reaction with respect to UTP and ATP, a decrease in the Km for ATP, and a decrease in the cooperative kinetic behavior of the enzyme. Phosphorylated CTP synthetase was less sensitive to product inhibition by CTP. Protein kinase C also phosphorylates and activates CTP synthetase. Phosphorylation of CTP synthetase with protein kinases A and C together resulted in an increase in CTP synthetase activity that was slightly greater than that obtained when the enzyme was phosphorylated with either protein kinase alone.

Regulation of yeast CTP synthetase activity by protein kinase C

CTP synthetase (EC 6.3.4.2, UTP:ammonia ligase (ADP-forming)) is an allosterically regulated enzyme in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In this work we examined the regulation of CTP synthetase activity by S. cerevisiae protein kinase C (Pkc1p) phosphorylation. The results of labeling experiments with S. cerevisiae mutants expressing different levels of the PKC1 gene indicated that phosphorylation of CTP synthetase was mediated by Pkc1p in vivo. In vitro, Pkc1p phosphorylated purified CTP synthetase on serine and threonine residues, which resulted in the activation (3-fold) of enzyme activity. The mechanism of this activation involved an increase in the apparent Vmax of the reaction and an increase in the enzyme's affinity for ATP. In vitro phosphorylated CTP synthetase also exhibited a decrease in its positive cooperative kinetic behavior with respect to UTP and ATP. Phosphorylation of CTP synthetase did not have a significant effect on the kinetic properties of the enzyme with respect to glutamine and GTP. Phosphorylation of CTP synthetase resulted in a decrease in the enzyme's sensitivity to product inhibition by CTP. Phosphorylation did not affect the mechanism by which CTP inhibits CTP synthetase activity.

Regulation of phosphatidate phosphatase activity from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae by phospholipids

Regulation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae membrane-associated phosphatidate phosphatase (3-sn-phosphatidate phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.3.4) activity by phospholipids was examined using purified enzyme and Triton X-100/phospholipid-mixed micelles. Anionic phospholipids activated phosphatidate phosphatase activity whereas zwitterionic phospholipids had a slight inhibitory effect on activity. Cardiolipin (A0.5 = 1.9 mol %), CDP-diacylglycerol (A0.5 = 2.6 mol %), and phosphatidylinositol (A0.5 = 5.5 mol %) were the most potent anionic phospholipid activators. Enzyme activation by cardiolipin (n=2.8), CDP-diacylglycerol (n=2.1), and phosphatidylinositol (n=3.3) followed positive cooperative kinetics. A kinetic analysis was performed to determine the mechanism of phosphatidate phosphatase activation by anionic phospholipids. The dependence of phosphatidate phosphatase on phosphatidate was cooperative (n approximately 2.2) in the absence and presence of phospholipid activators. Cardiolipin, CDP-diacylglycerol, and phosphatidylinositol were mixed competitive activators of phosphatidate phosphatase activity. The major effect of the activators was to cause a decrease in the Km for phosphatidate. Sphinganine, a positively charged sphingoid base, inhibited phosphatidate phosphatase activity and antagonized the activation of the enzyme by cardiolipin and phosphatidylinositol. Sphinganine caused an increase in the cooperativity of cardiolipin activation, but had little effect on the A0.5 value for cardiolipin. On the other hand, sphinganine had little effect on the cooperativity of phosphatidylinositol activation, but caused an increase in the A0.5 value for phosphatidylinositol. The activation constants for cardiolipin, CDP-diacylglycerol, and phosphatidylinositol were within the range of their cellular concentrations. These results suggested that the activation of phosphatidate phosphatase activity by anionic phospholipids may be physiologically relevant.

Purification and characterization of diacylglycerol pyrophosphate phosphatase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Diacylglycerol pyrophosphate (DGPP) phosphatase is a novel membrane-associated enzyme that catalyzes the dephosphorylation of the beta phosphate of DGPP to yield phosphatidate and Pi. DGPP phosphatase was purified 33,333-fold from Saccharomyces cerevisiae by a procedure that included Triton X-100 solubilization of microsomal membranes followed by chromatography with DE53, Affi-Gel Blue, hydroxylapatite, and Mono Q. The procedure resulted in the isolation of an apparent homogeneous protein with a subunit molecular mass of 34 kDa. DGPP phosphatase activity was associated with the 34-kDa protein. DGPP phosphatase had a broad pH optimum between 6.0 and 8.5 and was dependent on Triton X-100 for maximum activity. The enzyme was inhibited by divalent cations, NaF, and pyrophosphate and was relatively insensitive to thioreactive agents. The turnover number (molecular activity) for the enzyme was 5.8 x 10(3) min-1 at pH 6.5 and 30 degrees C. DGPP phosphatase exhibited typical saturation kinetics with respect to DGPP (Km = 0.55 mol %). The Km value for DGPP was 3-fold greater than its cellular concentration (0.18 mol %). DGPP phosphatase also catalyzed the dephosphorylation of phosphatidate, but this dephosphorylation was subsequent to the dephosphorylation of the beta phosphate of DGPP. The dependence of activity on phosphatidate (Km = 2.2 mol %) was cooperative (Hill number = 2.0). DGPP was the preferred substrate for the enzyme with a specificity constant (Vmax/Km) 10-fold greater than that for phosphatidate. In addition, DGPP potently inhibited (Ki = 0.35 mol %) the dephosphorylation of phosphatidate by a competitive mechanism whereas phosphatidate did not inhibit the dephosphorylation of DGPP. DGPP was neither a substrate nor an inhibitor of pure phosphatidate phosphatase from S. cerevisiae. DGPP was synthesized from phosphatidate via the phosphatidate kinase reaction.

Regulation of profilin localization in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by phosphoinositide metabolism

Profilin is an actin- and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate-binding protein that plays a role in the organization of the cytoskeleton and may be involved in growth factor signaling pathways. The subcellular localization of profilin was examined in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Immunoblot analysis showed that profilin was localized in both the plasma membrane and cytosolic fractions of the cell. Actin was bound to the profilin localized in the cytosol. The association of profilin with the membrane was peripheral and mediated through interaction with phospholipid. The phospholipid dependence of profilin for membrane binding was examined in vitro using pure profilin and defined unilamellar phospholipid vesicles. The presence of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate in phospholipid vesicles was required for maximum profilin binding. Moreover, the binding of profilin to phospholipid vesicles was dependent on the surface concentration of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. The subcellular localization of profilin was examined in vivo under growth conditions (i.e. inositol starvation of ino1 cells and glucose starvation of respiratory deficient cells) where plasma membrane levels of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate were depleted. Depletion of plasma membrane phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate levels resulted in a translocation of profilin from the plasma membrane to the cytosolic fraction. Profilin translocated back to the membrane fraction from the cytosol under growth conditions where plasma membrane levels of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate were replenished. These results suggested that phosphoinositide metabolism played a role in the localization of profilin.

Differential biochemical regulation of the URA7- and URA8-encoded CTP synthetases from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The URA7- and URA8-encoded CTP synthetases (EC 6.3.4.2, UTP:ammonia ligase (ADP-forming) are functionally overlapping enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of CTP in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. URA8-encoded CTP synthetase was purified to apparent homogeneity by ammonium sulfate fractionation of the cytosolic fraction followed by chromatography with Q-Sepharose, Affi-Gel Blue, Mono Q, and Superose 6. The subunit molecular mass (67 kDa) of purified URA8-encoded CTP synthetase was in good agreement with the predicted size of the URA8 gene product. Antibodies raised against a fusion protein constructed from the coding sequences of the URA8 gene and expressed in Escherichia coli reacted with purified URA8-encoded CTP synthetase. Native URA8-encoded CTP synthetase existed as a dimer which oligomerized to a tetramer in the presence of its substrates UTP and ATP. Maximum URA8-encoded CTP synthetase activity was dependent on Mg2+ ions (Ka = 2.4 mM) and 2-mercaptoethanol at the pH optimum of 7.5. The enzyme followed saturation kinetics toward UTP (Km = 74 microM), ATP (Km = 22 microM), and glutamine (Km = 0.14 mM). GTP stimulated (Ka = 26 microM) URA8-encoded CTP synthetase activity 12-fold. CTP potently inhibited (IC50 = 85 microM) URA8-encoded CTP synthetase activity and, in addition, caused the dependence of activity toward UTP to become cooperative. The URA8-encoded CTP synthetase and the previously purified URA7-encoded CTP synthetase differed significantly with respect to several biochemical properties including turnover number, pH optimum, substrate dependences, and sensitivity to inhibition by CTP. The URA7-encoded CTP synthetase mRNA was 2-fold more abundant when compared with URA8-encoded CTP synthetase mRNA. Both CTP synthetase isoforms were maximally expressed in the exponential phase of growth.

Regulation of phospholipid biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by CTP

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the major membrane phospholipid phosphatidylcholine is synthesized by the CDP-diacylglycerol and CDP-choline pathways. We examined the regulation of phosphatidylcholine synthesis by CTP. The cellular concentration of CTP was elevated (2.4-fold) by overexpressing CTP synthetase, the enzyme responsible for the synthesis of CTP. The overexpression of CTP synthetase resulted in a 2-fold increase in the utilization of the CDP-choline pathway for phosphatidylcholine synthesis. The increase in CDP-choline pathway usage was not due to an increase in the expression of any of the enzymes in this pathway. CDP-choline, the product of the phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase reaction, was the limiting intermediate in the CDP-choline pathway. The apparent Km of CTP (1.4 mM) for phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase was 2-fold higher than the cellular concentration of CTP (0.7 mM) in control cells. This provided an explanation of why the overexpression of CTP synthetase caused an increase in the cellular concentration of CDP-choline. Phosphatidylserine synthase activity was reduced in cells overexpressing CTP synthetase. This was not due to a transcriptional repression mechanism. Instead, the decrease in phosphatidylserine synthase activity was due, at least in part, to a direct inhibition of activity by CTP. These results show that CTP plays a role in the regulation of the pathways by which phosphatidylcholine is synthesized. This regulation includes the supple of CTP for the phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase reaction in the CDP-choline pathway and the inhibition of the phosphatidylserine synthase reaction in the CDP-diacylglycerol pathway.

Phosphorylation of CTP synthetase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae by protein kinase C

Phosphorylation of CTP synthetase (EC 6.3.4.2, UTP:ammonia ligase (ADP-forming)) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae protein kinase C was examined. Using pure CTP by synthetase as a substrate, protein kinase C activity was dose- and time-dependent and required calcium, diacylglycerol, and phosphatidylserine for full activation. Protein kinase C activity was also dependent on the concentration of CTP synthetase. Protein kinase C phosphorylated CTP synthetase on serine and threonine residues in vitro whereas the enzyme was primarily phosphorylated on serine residues in vivo. Phosphopeptide mapping analysis of CTP synthetase phosphorylated in vitro and in vivo indicated that the enzyme was phosphorylated on more than one site. Most of the phosphopeptides derived from CTP synthetase phosphorylated in vivo were the same as those derived from CTP synthetase phosphorylated by protein kinase C in vitro. The stoichiometry of the phosphorylation of native CTP synthetase was 0.4 mol of phosphate/mol of enzyme whereas the stoichiometry of the phosphorylation of alkaline phosphatase-treated CTP synthetase was 2.2 mol of phosphate/mol of enzyme. This indicated that CTP synthetase was purified in a phosphorylated state. Phosphorylation of CTP synthetase resulted in a 3-fold activation in enzyme activity whereas alkaline phosphatase treatment of CTP synthetase resulted in a 5-fold decrease in enzyme activity. Overall, the results reported here were consistent with the conclusion that CTP synthetase was regulated by protein kinase C phosphorylation.

Regulation of lipid biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by fumonisin B1

The regulation of lipid biosynthesis in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae by fumonisin B1 was examined. Fumonisin B1 inhibited the growth of yeast cells. Cells supplemented with fumonisin B1 accumulated free sphinganine and phytosphingosine in a dose-dependent manner. The cellular concentration of ceramide was reduced in fumonisin B1-supplemented cells. Ceramide synthase activity was found in yeast cell membranes and was inhibited by fumonisin B1. Fumonisin B1 inhibited the synthesis of the inositol-containing sphingolipids inositol phosphorylceramide, mannosylinositol phosphorylceramide, and mannosyldiinositol phosphorylceramide. Fumonisin B1 also caused a decrease in the synthesis of the major phospholipids synthesized via the CDP-diacylglycerol-dependent pathway and the synthesis of neutral lipids. The effects of fumonisin B1 and sphingoid bases on the activities of enzymes in the pathways leading to the synthesis of sphingolipids, phospholipids, and neutral lipids were also examined. Other than ceramide synthase, fumonisin B1 did not affect the activities of any of the enzymes examined. However, sphinganine and phytosphingosine inhibited the activities of inositol phosphorylceramide synthase, phosphatidylserine synthase, and phosphatidate phosphatase. These are key enzymes responsible for the synthesis of lipids in yeast. The data reported here indicated that the biosynthesis of sphingolipids, phospholipids and neutral lipids was coordinately regulated by fumonisin B1 through the regulation of lipid biosynthetic enzymes by sphingoid bases.

Regulation of phosphatidate phosphatase activity from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae by nucleotides

Regulation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae membrane-associated phosphatidate phosphatase (3-sn-phosphatidate phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.3.4) activity by nucleotides was examined using pure enzyme and Triton X-100/phosphatidate-mixed micelles. Adenosine, guanosine, cytidine, and uridine nucleotides inhibited phosphatidate phosphatase activity in a dose-dependent manner. ATP and CTP were the most potent inhibitors of the enzyme. A kinetic analysis was performed to determine the mechanism of enzyme inhibition by nucleotides. The mechanism of inhibition by ATP and CTP with respect to phosphatidate (the substrate) was complex. The dependence of phosphatidate phosphatase activity on phosphatidate was cooperative, and nucleotides affected both Vmax and Km. ATP did not inhibit phosphatidate phosphatase activity by binding to the enzyme or to phosphatidate. Phosphatidate phosphatase dependence on Mg2+ ions (the cofactor) followed saturation kinetics, and the mechanism of nucleotide inhibition with respect to Mg2+ ions was competitive. Thus, the mechanism of enzyme inhibition by nucleotides was the chelation of Mg2+ ions. The inhibitor constant for ATP was lower than its cellular concentration in glucose-grown cells. However, the inhibitor constant for ATP was higher than its cellular concentration in glucose-starved cells. Changes in the cellular concentration of ATP affected the proportional synthesis of triacylglycerols and phospholipids. These results were consistent with the regulation of phosphatidate phosphatase activity by ATP through a Mg2+ ion chelation mechanism.

Purification and characterization of CTP synthetase, the product of the URA7 gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, CTP synthetase [EC 6.3.4.2; UTP:ammonia ligase (ADP-forming)] is the product of the URA7 gene. CTP synthetase was purified 503-fold to apparent homogeneity from cells bearing the URA7 gene on a multicopy plasmid that directed a 10-fold overproduction of the enzyme. The purification procedure included ammonium sulfate fractionation of the cytosolic fraction followed by chromatography with Sephacryl 300 HR, Q-Sepharose, Affi-Gel Blue, and Superose 6. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of purified CTP synthetase was identified and aligned perfectly with the deduced sequence of the URA7 gene. The minimum subunit molecular mass (68 kDa) of purified CTP synthetase was in good agreement with the size (64.7 kDa) of the URA7 gene product. Antibodies were raised against a maltose-binding protein-CTP synthetase fusion protein which immunoprecipitated CTP synthetase from wild-type cells. Immunoblot analysis was used to identify CTP synthetase in wild-type cells and cells bearing the URA7 gene on a multicopy plasmid. The results of gel filtration chromatography indicated that the size of native CTP synthetase was consistent with a dimeric structure for the enzyme. CTP synthetase oligomerized to a tetramer in the presence of its substrates UTP and ATP. Maximum CTP synthetase activity was dependent on magnesium ions (4 mM) and 2-mercaptoethanol at the pH optimum of 8.0. CTP synthetase exhibited positive cooperative kinetics with respect to UTP and ATP and negative cooperative kinetics with respect to glutamine and GTP. CTP synthetase was potently inhibited by the product CTP which also increased the positive cooperativity of the enzyme toward UTP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Regulation of phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae by CDP-diacylglycerol

Regulation of the 45- and 55-kDa forms of Saccharomyces cerevisiae membrane-associated phosphatidylinositol (PI) 4-kinase (ATP:phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphotransferase) by phospholipids was examined using Triton X-100/phospholipid-mixed micelles. CDP-diacylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol inhibited 45-kDa PI 4-kinase activity in a dose-dependent manner. Kinetic analyses of the 45-kDa PI 4-kinase showed that phosphatidylglycerol was a competitive inhibitor with respect to PI (Ki = 2 mol %), and CDP-diacylglycerol was a mixed type of inhibitor with respect to PI (Ki = 4 mol %) and MgATP (Ki = 5 mol %). 55-kDa PI 4-kinase activity was not significantly affected by phospholipids. The physiological relevance of CDP-diacylglycerol inhibition of 45-kDa PI 4-kinase activity was examined using plasma membranes from inositol auxotrophic (ino1) cells. Immunoblot analysis showed that 45-kDa PI 4-kinase expression in plasma membranes was not affected by inositol starvation of ino1 cells. However, both 45-kDa PI 4-kinase activity and its product PI 4-phosphate were reduced in plasma membranes from inositol-starved ino1 cells. The CDP-diacylglycerol concentration (9.6 mol %) in plasma membranes of inositol-starved ino1 cells was 12-fold higher than its concentration (0.8 mol %) in plasma membranes of inositol-supplemented cells. Plasma membranes of inositol-starved ino1 cells also had increased levels of phosphatidate, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and cardiolipin. However, these phospholipids did not affect pure 45-kDa PI 4-kinase activity. The concentration of CDP-diacylglycerol in plasma membranes of inositol-starved ino1 cells was in the range of the inhibitor constants determined for CDP-diacylglycerol by kinetic analyses using pure 45-kDa PI 4-kinase. These results raised the suggestion that 45-kDa PI 4-kinase activity may be regulated in vivo by CDP-diacylglycerol.

Use of synthetic lethal mutants to clone and characterize a novel CTP synthetase gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In the pyrimidine biosynthetic pathway, CTP synthetase catalyses the conversion of uridine 5'-triphosphate (UTP) to cytidine 5'-triphosphate (CTP). In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the URA7 gene encoding this enzyme was previously shown to be nonessential for cell viability. The present paper describes the selection of synthetic lethal mutants in the CTP biosynthetic pathway that led us to clone a second gene, named URA8, which also encodes a CTP synthetase. Comparison of the predicted amino acid sequences of the products of URA7 and URA8 shows 78% identity. Deletion of the URA8 gene is viable in a haploid strain but simultaneous presence of null alleles both URA7 and URA8 is lethal. Based on the codon bias values for the two genes and the intracellular concentrations of CTP in strains deleted for one of the two genes, relative to the wild-type level, URA7 appears to be the major gene for CTP biosynthesis. Nevertheless, URA8 alone also allows yeast growth, at least under standard laboratory conditions.

Photoaffinity labeling of the 45-kDa and 55-kDa forms of phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The membrane-associated 45- and 55-kDa forms of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 4-kinase (ATP:phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.67) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae are inhibited by ADP by a competitive mechanism with respect to ATP. We initiated studies toward defining the ATP and ADP sites on the PI 4-kinases using azidonucleotide photoaffinity labeling probes. The photoprobe 8-azido-ATP fulfilled the criteria of a specific photoaffinity label for the 45- and 55-kDa PI 4-kinases. 8-Azido-ATP was a substrate and a competitive inhibitor of the PI 4-kinases with Ki values similar to the Km for ATP. 8-Azido-ATP photoinactivated the enzymes and was photoincorporated into the enzymes in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations similar to the Ki values for the photoprobe. ATP, the true substrate, provided specific protection against photoinactivation and photoincorporation of the PI 4-kinases with 8-azido-ATP, whereas GTP, a nonspecific nucleotide, provided no protection against photoinactivation and photoincorporation. Photoaffinity labeling of the PI 4-kinases with 8-azido-ATP was specifically prevented with ADP. The photoprobe 8-azido-ADP also fulfilled the criteria needed to validate its use as a specific photoprobe for the PI 4-kinases. Photoinactivation of the PI 4-kinases with 8-azido-ADP was prevented specifically with ATP. Taken together, these data supported the conclusion that the ATP and ADP sites on the membrane-associated 45- and 55-kDa PI 4-kinases from S. cerevisiae were the same.

Regulation of phosphatidate phosphatase activity from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae by sphingoid bases

The regulation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae membrane-associated phosphatidate phosphatase (3-sn-phosphatidate phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.3.4) activity by sphingoid bases was examined using Triton X-100/lipid-mixed micelles. Sphingosine, phytosphingosine, and sphinganine inhibited purified preparations of the 104- and 45-kDa forms of phosphatidate phosphatase in a dose-dependent manner. The structural requirements for the sphingoid base inhibition of phosphatidate phosphatase activity were a free amino group and a long chain hydrocarbon. A detailed kinetic analysis was performed to determine the mechanism of phosphatidate phosphatase inhibition by sphingoid bases. The phosphatidate phosphatase dependence on phosphatidate was cooperative (Hill numbers of approximately 2) in the absence and presence of sphingoid bases. Sphingosine, phytosphingosine, and sphinganine were parabolic competitive inhibitors of phosphatidate phosphatase activity. This indicated that more than one inhibitor molecule contributed to the exclusion of phosphatidate from the enzyme. The aKi values (inhibitor constants) for sphingosine, phytosphingosine, and sphinganine were 1.5, 0.4, and 0.2 mol %, respectively, and the Km value for phosphatidate was 2.2 mol %. The cellular concentrations of free phytosphingosine and sphinganine were 0.16 and 0.53 mol %, respectively, relative to the total phospholipids in S. cerevisiae. The cellular concentrations of phytosphingosine and sphinganine were in the range of the aKi values for these sphingoid bases. These results raised the suggestion that phosphatidate phosphatase activity may be regulated in vivo by sphingoid bases.

Regulation of the 45- and 55-kDa forms of phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae by nucleotides

The synthesis of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 4-phosphate and PI 4,5-bisphosphate in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is stimulated by glucose. PI 4-kinase (ATP:phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.67) catalyzes the committed step in the synthesis of these phosphoinositides. Previous studies have suggested that the glucose effect on phosphoinositide synthesis is mediated by cellular levels of ATP and ADP and by the RAS/cAMP pathway. Using purified preparations of the membrane-associated 45- and 55-kDa forms of PI 4-kinase, we examined the regulation of these activities by nucleotides and cAMP-dependent protein kinase. MgADP was a potent inhibitor of both forms of the enzyme. Detailed kinetic analyses of the 45- and 55-kDa enzymes using Triton X-100/PI-mixed micelles showed that MgADP was a competitive inhibitor (Ki = 0.14 and 0.25 mM, respectively) with respect to MgATP and a noncompetitive inhibitor (Ki = 1.3 and 0.9 mM, respectively) with respect to PI. The Ki values for MgADP were about 2-fold lower than the Km values the enzymes have for their substrate MgATP and about 2-fold lower than the cellular concentration of ADP. The 45- and 55-kDa forms of PI 4-kinase activity were regulated differentially by CTP, an important nucleotide involved in phospholipid biosynthesis. Whereas the 55-kDa PI 4-kinase was inhibited by CTP, the 45-kDa enzyme was unaffected by CTP. CTP was a mixed type of inhibitor (Ki = 1.5 mM) with respect to MgATP and a noncompetitive inhibitor (Ki = 4 mM) with respect to PI. The Ki value for CTP was 4-fold higher than the Km value for MgATP and 7-fold higher than the cellular concentration of CTP. The 45- and 55-kDa PI 4-kinases were neither phosphorylated nor regulated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase. These results did not support the previous conclusion that PI 4-phosphate synthesis was mediated by the RAS/cAMP pathway. Our kinetic studies supported the conclusion that the glucose effect on the synthesis of PI 4-phosphate was mediated by cellular levels of ATP and ADP through the regulation of membrane-associated PI 4-kinase activity.

The 45- and 104-kDa forms of phosphatidate phosphatase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae are regulated differentially by phosphorylation via cAMP-dependent protein kinase

Evidence is presented that demonstrated that the 45- and 104-kDa forms of phosphatidate phosphatase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Morlock, K. R., McLaughlin, J. J., Lin, Y.-P., and Carman, G. M. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 3586-3593) were regulated differentially by phosphorylation. Purified 45-kDa phosphatidate phosphatase was phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase whereas purified 104-kDa phosphatidate phosphatase was not phosphorylated. cAMP-dependent protein kinase catalyzed the phosphorylation of pure 45-kDa phosphatidate phosphatase at a serine residue which resulted in a stimulation (2.4-fold) of phosphatidate phosphatase activity. Alkaline phosphatase catalyzed the dephosphorylation of pure 45-kDa phosphatidate phosphatase which resulted in an inhibition (1.3-fold) of phosphatidate phosphatase activity. Results of studies using mutants (bcy1 and cyr1) defective in cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity corroborated the results of the phosphorylation studies using pure preparations of phosphatidate phosphatase. The 45-kDa phosphatidate phosphatase phosphorylated in vitro and in vivo had phosphopeptides in common. The activation of the GAL10-RAS2val19 allele in mutant cells resulted in an increase in the synthesis of diacylglycerols and triacylglycerols. These results were consistent with the phosphorylation and activation of 45-kDa phosphatidate phosphatase by cAMP-dependent protein kinase in vivo.

Purification, characterization, and kinetic analysis of a 55-kDa form of phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A 55-kDa form of membrane-associated phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase (ATP:phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.67) was purified 10,166-fold from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The purification procedure included solubilization of microsome membranes with 1% Triton X-100 followed by chromatography with DE52, hydroxylapatite I, Q-Sepharose, Mono Q, and hydroxylapatite II. The procedure resulted in a nearly homogeneous 55-kDa phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase preparation. The 55-kDa phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase and the previously purified 45-kDa phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase differed with respect to their amino acid composition, isoelectric points, and peptide maps. Furthermore, the two forms of phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase did not show an immunological relationship. Maximum 55-kDa phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase activity was dependent on magnesium (10 mM) or manganese (0.5 mM) ions and Triton X-100 at the pH optimum of 7.0. The activation energy for the reaction was 12 kcal/mol, and the enzyme was labile above 30 degrees C. The enzyme was inhibited by thioreactive agents, MgADP, and calcium ions. A detailed kinetic analysis of the purified enzyme was performed using Triton X-100/phosphatidylinositol-mixed micelles. 55-kDa phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase activity followed saturation kinetics with respect to the bulk and surface concentrations of phosphatidylinositol and followed surface dilution kinetics. The interfacial Michaelis constant (Km) and the dissociation constant (Ks) for phosphatidylinositol in the Triton X-100 micelle surface were 1.3 mol % and 0.035 mM, respectively. The Km for MgATP was 0.36 mM. 55-kDa phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase catalyzed a sequential reaction mechanism as indicated by the results of kinetic and isotopic exchange reactions. The enzyme bound to phosphatidylinositol before ATP and released phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate before ADP. The enzymological and kinetic properties of the 55-kDa phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase differed significantly from those of the 45-kDa phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase. This may suggest that the two forms of phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase from S. cerevisiae are regulated differentially in vivo.