8-azidoguanosine-triphosphate and 8-azidoadenosine-5--triphosphate

The 8-azidopurine analogs of adenosine and guanine nucleotides have proved to be very useful probes for nucleotide-binding sites. In most systems they have proved to be effective mimics of the natural compounds with 1) both 8-azidoadenosine-3',5'-monophosphate and 8-azidoguanosine-3',5'-monophosphate activating their respective kinases, 2) 8-azidoguanosine-5'-triphosphate effecting tubulin polymerization and activation of adenylate cyclase, and 3) 8-azidoadenosine-5'-triphosphate appearing to be a substrate for a large number of ATPases and several kinases. As photoprobes they have been used to 1) isolate and study active site peptides; 2) determine the membrane sidedness and cellular location of binding sites; 3) detect the availability of various nucleotide-binding sites as cells progress through development, maturation, infectious stages, etc.; 4) study membrane-soluble partitioning of binding sites relative to nucleotide regulation of a biochemical process; 5) detect nucleotide-binding sites exposed by small molecules such as Ca2+ and calmodulin; and 6) detect potential catalytic and regulatory subunits of protein kinases found in preparations that actively phosphorylate endogenous substrates. The difference between the gamma-32P-labeled 8-azidopurine nucleotide triphosphate and the alpha-32P-labeled species has been used to study the in situ hydrolysis of the nucleotides on specific protein receptors and determine the fate of the produced nucleotide diphosphate. Such factors are important in studying the molecular dynamics of such systems as tubulin polymerization, G-actin to F-actin conversions, and GTP activation of adenylate cyclase. A review of techniques used and data obtained with these probes is presented.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Adenylyl Cyclases; Affinity Labels; Animals; Azides; Calcium; Cyclic AMP; Cyclic GMP; Guanosine Triphosphate; Nucleotides; Phosphorylation; Photochemistry; Receptors, Cyclic AMP

Elongation factor 2 (eEF-2) can interact not only with guanylic nucleotides but also with adenylic ones, as was shown by intrinsic fluorescence quenching studies [Sontag, B., Reboud, A.M., Divita, G., Di Pietro, A., Guillot, D. & Reboud, J.P. (1993) Biochemistry 32, 1976-1980]. Here we studied sites of these interactions by using photoactivable 8-azido-[gamma-32P]GTP and 8-azido-[gamma-32P]ATP. Photoincorporation of the radioactive GTP derivative into eEF-2 was prevented by the previous addition of GTP and GDP. The addition of adenylic nucleotides (ATP, ADP) and some adenylic derivatives [NAD+, NADH,poly(A)] decreased the photoincorporation by only 40% at most. However, photoincorporation of the radioactive ATP derivative was prevented by the previous addition not only of adenylic compounds [ATP, ADP, NAD+, NADH, poly(A)] but also of GTP and GDP. Photoincorporation of radioactive nucleotide derivatives was not decreased by the addition of other nucleotidic compounds [UTP, poly(U), ITP, NADP+, NADPH]. ATP and GTP acted as non-competitive inhibitors of the photoincorporation of 8-azido-[gamma-32P]GTP and 8-azido-[gamma-32P]ATP, respectively. eEF-2 photolabeled with these radioactive nucleotide derivatives was submitted to trypsin digestion under different conditions and the labeled peptidic fragments identified after HPLC purification and gel electrophoresis by N-terminal sequencing. An octapeptide, Y264FDPANGK271, was the only peptide photolabeled with 8-azido-[gamma-32P]GTP whereas a N-terminal fragment of about 7 kDa was the only one photolabeled with 8-azido-[gamma-32P]ATP. The different results support the hypothesis that guanylic and adenylic nucleotides do not interact with the same site of eEF-2.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Affinity Labels; Amino Acid Sequence; Azides; Binding Sites; Binding, Competitive; Guanosine Triphosphate; Light; Molecular Sequence Data; Peptide Elongation Factor 2; Peptide Elongation Factors; Peptide Fragments

A protein of M(r) 59,000 (p59) was recently cloned and identified as a Heat shock protein Binding Immunophilin (p59/HBI). It participates to the heterooligomeric, non-DNA binding form of steroid receptors, in association with the heat shock protein of M(r) 90,000 (hsp90). It binds the immunosuppressants FK506 and rapamycin and possesses three FKBP-12 (FK506 binding protein of M(r) 12,000)--like domains (I to III), plus a tail containing a putative calmodulin binding site (domain IV). Following expression in E. Coli and purification on Glutathione-Sepharose of either the full-length recombinant p59/HBI, or the recombinant FKBP-like domains, we demonstrate by autoradiography of [alpha 32P]-8-azido ATP and of [alpha 32P]-8-azido GTP photoaffinity labeled complexes, that an ATP (GTP) binding site is located in the domain II. This nucleotide binding property is also found with the highly purified rabbit uterus p59/HBI. The latter, but not the recombinant protein, can be phosphorylated in vitro in the presence of Mn++ and/or of Ca++/Calmodulin in an ATP but not GTP dependent manner, suggesting copurification of a CaM kinase II-like enzyme. Thus it appears that p59/HBI is a multifunctional immunophilin which may be at the crossroad of the endocrine and immunological systems.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Animals; Autoradiography; Azides; Carrier Proteins; Cloning, Molecular; Cytosol; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Female; GTP-Binding Proteins; Guanosine Triphosphate; Heat-Shock Proteins; Kinetics; Molecular Weight; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Phosphorylation; Rabbits; Recombinant Fusion Proteins; Restriction Mapping; Tacrolimus Binding Proteins; Uterus

An ATPase was isolated from synaptosomal plasma membranes derived from bovine cerebral cortex. The protein has an apparent molecular mass of 50 kDa and a pI of 5.3 to 5.9. It can be labelled by incubation of intact synaptosomes with azido-GTP or azido-ATP. The isolated ATPase can be activated to a similar extent in the presence of millimolar concentrations of Mg2+ or Ca2+. It does not hydrolyze ADP. Maximal activity is obtained between pH 7.5 and 8.5. Typical inhibitors of cytoplasmic ATPases do not affect enzyme activity. The enzyme is specifically inhibited after previous incubation of intact synaptosomes in the presence of the slowly membrane-permeable enzyme inhibitor diazotized sulfanilic acid. Incubation of intact synaptosomes with diazotized sulfanilic acid results in a small increase in the apparent molecular mass of the enzyme. Our results suggest that the active site of the membrane bound enzyme faces the extracellular medium. It thus would represent an ecto-ATPase.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphatases; Adenosine Triphosphate; Affinity Labels; Animals; Azides; Brain; Ca(2+) Mg(2+)-ATPase; Cattle; Diazonium Compounds; Guanosine Triphosphate; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Substrate Specificity; Sulfanilic Acids; Synaptic Membranes; Synaptosomes

We have covalently modified rabbit reticulocyte polypeptide chain initiation factor 2 (eIF-2) and the guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) with the 8-azido analogs of GTP (8-N3GTP) and ATP (8-N3ATP). Of the five subunits of GEF, the Mr 40,000 polypeptide binds 8-[gamma-32P]N3GTP, and the Mr 55,000 and 65,000 polypeptides bind 8-[gamma-32P]N3ATP. Both 8-N3GTP and 8-N3ATP specifically label the beta-subunit of eIF-2. Covalent binding of 8-azidopurine analogs to the eukaryotic initiation factors is dependent on UV irradiation. Binding of 8-N3GTP and 8-N3ATP is specific for the guanine- and adenine-binding sites on the protein, respectively. GDP and GTP, but not ATP, inhibit the photoinsertion of 8-N3GTP to the protein. Similarly, ATP, but not GTP, inhibits the photoinsertion of 8-N3ATP. The inclusion of NADP+ in the reaction mixtures also interferes with the binding of 8-N3ATP to GEF. Mg2+ inhibits the binding of the 8-azido analogs of GTP and ATP to both eIF-2 and GEF, whereas EDTA stimulates the photoinsertion of these nucleotides. Identical results are obtained when the binding of GTP and ATP to these proteins, in the presence of Mg2+ or EDTA, is estimated by nitrocellulose membranes. In enzymatic assays, 8-N3GTP supports the activity of eIF-2 and GEF, indicating that the interaction of 8-N3GTP is catalytically relevant.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Affinity Labels; Animals; Azides; Binding Sites; Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2; Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors; Guanosine Triphosphate; Kinetics; Proteins; Rabbits; Reticulocytes

The rod photoreceptor outer segment maintains a remarkable morphology. Two of the proteins which have been implicated in the maintenance of this structure are the 240 kDa spectrin-like protein, and the 220 kDa glycoprotein often referred to as the rim protein. We have probed rat rod outer segment proteins with light-activated (azido-labeled) radioactive nucleotides and found a nucleotide binding site(s) on the rim protein which has a preference for guanine nucleotides. Binding to this site is stimulated by the divalent cations zinc, manganese and magnesium, but not calcium. This site is under investigation and may play a role in stabilizing protein structure.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Animals; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; Azides; Binding Sites; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Eye Proteins; Guanosine Triphosphate; Magnesium; Manganese; Membrane Proteins; Molecular Weight; Photoreceptor Cells; Rats; Rod Cell Outer Segment; Zinc

RNA polymerase type II from human term placenta has been isolated and characterized with respect to its template, ammonium sulfate, divalent cation, and buffer preferences. In addition, the apparent Michaelis constants for AMP and UMP incorporation have been determined. The enzyme was also analyzed by native and denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and evidence is presented that a single polypeptide is radiolabeled with azido purine nucleoside triphosphate photoprobes.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Azides; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Female; Guanosine Triphosphate; Humans; Kinetics; Macromolecular Substances; Molecular Weight; Placenta; Pregnancy; RNA Polymerase II; Uridine Triphosphate

We have used the photoaffinity analogs 8-azidoadenosine 5'-triphosphate (8-N3ATP) and 8-azidoguanosine 5'-triphosphate (8-N3GTP) to investigate the relationship between a viral induced protein (Mr = 120,000) in tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)-infected tobacco and the TMV-induced RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity. When the radioactive analogs [gamma-32P]8-N3ATP and [gamma-32P]8-N3GTP were incubated with the tobacco tissue homogenate from TMV-infected plants, incorporation of label occurred into the viral induced protein in the presence of UV light. The incorporation was found to be totally dependent on UV-illumination and greatly enhanced by Mg2+. Saturation of photoincorporated label indicates an apparent Kd of 16 microM (+/- 3 microM) and 12 microM (+/- 3 microM) for 8-N3ATP and 8-N3GTP, respectively. Protection against photolabeling by [gamma-32P]8-N3ATP and [gamma-32P]8-N3GTP with various nonradioactive nucleotides and nucleosides suggests that the photolabeled site is protected best by nucleoside triphosphates. At 200 microM both deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates and ribonucleoside triphosphates were very effective at protecting the site from photolabeling. These data suggest that the photolabeled protein may be part of an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. The utility of nucleotide photoaffinity analogs as a method to study viral induced nucleotide-binding proteins is discussed.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Affinity Labels; Azides; Guanosine Triphosphate; Kinetics; Molecular Weight; Nicotiana; Plants; Plants, Toxic; Ribonucleotides; Tobacco Mosaic Virus; Viral Proteins

It has been clearly shown that the action of several hormones is differentially mediated intracellularly by nucleotides containing either adenosine or guanosine base units. To study the protein-nucleotide interactions involved in several complex biological systems our laboratory has synthesized several 8-azido-adenosine (8-N3 A) and 8-azidoguanosine (8-N3 G) derivatives of naturally occurring nucleotides. Modification of the nucleotides in the 8-position of the purine ring was done because: a) 8-substituted derivatives of cAMP and cGMP activated their respective protein kinases at physiological concentrations and were much less susceptible to hydrolysis by specific phosphodiesterases (PDE's) and b) substitution at the 8-position was much less likely to disturb the preferential and selective binding of adenosine versus guanosine nucleotides by enzymes that are specifically regulated by such interactions. This would allow studies of guanosine nucleotide specific binding in the presence of both adenosine nucleotides and adenosine nucleotide binding proteins, and vice-versa. In general, such has been the case and [32P] 8-N3 cAMP and [32P] 8-N3 cGMP have been used effectively to study their respectively activated protein kinases in several systems. Also, [32P] 8-N3 ATP has been used to study several ATPases and kinases while [gamma 32P] 8-N3 GTP has been shown effective for studies on tubulin and the G-regulatory protein (G/N) of adenylyl cyclase (A.C.). Several observations suggest that there must be important physical and energetic tie-ins between external hormone binding and the loading and unloading of specific internal nucleotide binding sites. These binding sites may be activator signals for protein kinases (e.g., cAMP protein kinase regulatory subunit), or cyclases (e.g., G/N proteins of A.C.) or catalytic sites involved in the production or hydrolysis of cyclic nucleotides. The thrust of this article is to detail the use of 8-azidopurine photoaffinity analogs of ATP, GTP, cAMP and cGMP as they may be used to study hormone-mediated events which may or may not involve cyclic nucleotides as a second messenger.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Adenylyl Cyclases; Affinity Labels; Animals; Azides; Binding Sites; Cyclic AMP; Guanosine Triphosphate; Hormones; In Vitro Techniques; Nucleotides; Photochemistry; Protein Kinases