alpha-chymotrypsin and sapropterin

Phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) is activated by its substrate phenylalanine and inhibited by its cofactor tetrahydrobiopterin (BH(4)). The crystal structure of PAH revealed that the N-terminal sequence of the enzyme (residues 19-29) partially covered the enzyme active site, and suggested its involvement in regulation. We show that the protein lacking this N-terminal sequence does not require activation by phenylalanine, shows an altered structural response to phenylalanine, and is not inhibited by BH(4). Our data support the model where the N-terminal sequence of PAH acts as an intrasteric autoregulatory sequence, responsible for transmitting the effect of phenylalanine activation to the active site.

Topics: Binding Sites; Biopterins; Chymotrypsin; Enzyme Activation; Models, Molecular; Phenylalanine; Phenylalanine Hydroxylase; Phosphorylation; Protein Conformation; Recombinant Proteins; Sequence Deletion

Nitric oxide synthase (EC 1.14.13.39) binds arginine and NADPH as substrates, and FAD, FMN, tetrahydrobiopterin, haem and calmodulin as cofactors. The protein consists of a central calmodulin-binding sequence flanked on the N-terminal side by a haem-binding region, analogous to cytochrome P-450, and on the C-terminal side by a region homologous with NADPH:cytochrome P-450 reductase. The structure of recombinant rat brain nitric oxide synthase was analysed by limited proteolyis. The products were identified by using antibodies to defined sequences, and by N-terminal sequencing. Low concentrations of trypsin produced three fragments, similar to those in a previous report [Sheta, McMillan and Masters (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 15147-15153]: that of Mr approx. 135000 (N-terminus Gly-221) resulted from loss of the N-terminal extension (residues 1-220) unique to neuronal nitric oxide synthase. The fragments of Mr 90000 (haem region) and 80000 (reductase region, N-terminus Ala-728) were produced by cleavage within the calmodulin-binding region. With more extensive trypsin treatment, these species were shown to be transient, and three smaller, highly stable fragments of Mr 14000 (N-terminus Leu-744 within the calmodulin region), 60000 (N-terminus Gly-221) and 63000 (N-terminus Lys-856 within the FMN domain) were formed. The species of Mr approx. 60000 represents a domain retaining haem and nitroarginine binding. The two species of Mr 63000 and 14000 remain associated as a complex. This complex retains cytochrome c reductase activity, and thus is the complete reductase region, yet cleaved at Lys-856. This cleavage occurs within a sequence insertion relative to the FMN domain present in inducible nitric oxide synthase. Prolonged proteolysis treatment led to the production of a protein of Mr approx. 53000 (N-terminus Ala-953), corresponding to a cleavage between the FMN and FAD domains. The major products after chymotryptic digestion were similar to those with trypsin, although the pathway of intermediates differed. The haem domain was smaller, starting at residue 275, yet still retained the arginine binding site. These data have allowed us to identify stable domains representing both the arginine/haem-binding and the reductase regions.

Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Arginine; Binding Sites; Biopterins; Blotting, Western; Brain; Calmodulin; Chymotrypsin; Cytochrome c Group; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Flavin Mononucleotide; Heme; Humans; Molecular Sequence Data; Molecular Weight; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Nitroarginine; Peptide Fragments; Rabbits; Rats; Recombinant Proteins; Trypsin

Activation of rat liver phenylalanine hydroxylase by limited proteolysis catalyzed by chymotrypsin was investigated with the use of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and high pressure gel filtration. Both activation and proteolysis were decreased by the addition of the natural cofactor, (6R)-tetrahydrobiopterin. From chymotryptic digests of the hydroxylase carried out in the presence and absence of (6R)-tetrahydrobiopterin, several different enzyme species were isolated by high pressure gel filtration. One species (subunit Mr = 47,000) with unchanged hydroxylase activity was isolated from the chymotryptic digest in the presence of (6R)-tetrahydrobiopterin; it was derived from the native enzyme (Mr = 52,000) by cleavage of the COOH-terminal Mr = 5,000 portion of the native enzyme. In the absence of (6R)-tetrahydrobiopterin, another species (subunit Mr = 36,000) was isolated. In addition to modification at the COOH-terminal end of the molecule, this species also had lost a Mr = 11,000 fragment from the NH2-terminal end of the hydroxylase. The Mr = 11,000 fragment was shown to include the phosphorylation site of the enzyme. This Mr = 36,000 species was 30-fold more active than the native phenylalanine hydroxylase when assayed in the presence of tetrahydrobiopterin. These results suggest that the regulatory domain that inhibits hydroxylase activity in the basal state may be located at the NH2 terminus of the phenylalanine hydroxylase subunit.

Topics: Animals; Biopterins; Chromatography, Gel; Chymotrypsin; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Enzyme Activation; Kinetics; Liver; Male; Peptide Fragments; Phenylalanine Hydroxylase; Phosphorylation; Protein Kinases; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains

The effects of phenylalanine and tetrahydrobiopterin on the limited proteolysis of rat liver phenylalanine hydroxylase by chymotrypsin have been examined. The presence of tetrahydrobiopterin inhibits the proteolytic activation of native phenylalanine hydroxylase. In contrast, phenylalanine causes a stimulation of proteolytic activation under these conditions. Neither phenylalanine nor tetrahydrobiopterin affect the rate of hydrolysis of a synthetic substrate by chymotrypsin. Both tetrahydrobiopterin and phenylalanine inhibit the release of soluble radioactivity from [32P]phosphorylated phenylalanine hydroxylase. These results confirm the existence of multiple conformational states of phenylalanine hydroxylase.

Topics: Animals; Binding Sites; Biopterins; Chymotrypsin; Kinetics; Liver; Male; Phenylalanine; Phenylalanine Hydroxylase; Protein Binding; Protein Conformation; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains