guanosine-triphosphate and acetyl-phosphate

Acetyl phosphate, the intermediate of the AckA-Pta pathway, acts as a global signal in Escherichia coli. Although acetyl phosphate clearly signals through two-component response regulators, it remains unclear whether acetyl phosphate acts as a direct phospho donor or functions through an indirect mechanism. We used two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography to measure the relative concentrations of acetyl phosphate, acetyl coenzyme A, ATP, and GTP over the course of the entire growth curve. We estimated that the intracellular concentration of acetyl phosphate in wild-type cells reaches at least 3 mM, a concentration sufficient to activate two-component response regulators via direct phosphoryl transfer.

Topics: Acetyl Coenzyme A; Adenosine Triphosphate; Chromatography, Thin Layer; Cytoplasm; Escherichia coli; Guanosine Triphosphate; Organophosphates; Phosphorylation; Signal Transduction

Intrinsic GTPase activity of GTP-binding proteins plays the vital role in regulating the downstream activation pathway. We examined the GTP and ATP hydrolyzing (NTPase) abilities of various bacterial and human GTP-binding proteins under different metabolic conditions. Two metabolic components, acetate and 3-phosphoglyceric acid (3-PG), have shown significant stimulatory action on NTPase activity of G-protein preparations. Acetyl phosphate and 2,3-bisphosphoglyceric acid (2,3-BPG) blocked these stimulations. From gel filtration analyses, we have determined two fractions containing metabolite-inducible NTPase activities which are independent of GTP-binding protein enzymatic actions. Therefore, one should be cautious when NTPase activity is examined in a buffer containing acetate often used for NTPase assay.

Topics: Acetates; Adenosine Triphosphate; Buffers; Diphosphoglyceric Acids; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli Proteins; GTP-Binding Proteins; Guanosine Triphosphate; Humans; Organophosphates; Organophosphorus Compounds; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; ras Proteins; RNA-Binding Proteins

The Ca(2+) binding sites of the Ca(2+)-ATPase of skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) have been identified as two high-affinity sites orientated towards the cytoplasm, two sites of low affinity facing the lumen, and a transient occluded species that is isolated from both membrane surfaces. Binding and release studies, using (45)Ca(2+), have invoked models with sequential binding and release from high- and low-affinity sites in a channel-like structure. We have characterised turnover conditions in isolated SR vesicles with oxalate in a Ca(2+)-limited state, [Ca(2)](lim), where both high- and low-affinity sites are vacant in the absence of chelators (Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1418 (1999) 48-60). Thapsigargin (TG), a high-affinity specific inhibitor of the Ca(2+)-ATPase, released a fraction of total Ca(2+) at [Ca(2+)](lim) that accumulated during active transport. Maximal Ca(2+) release was at 2:1 TG/ATPase. Ionophore, A23187, and Triton X-100 released the rest of Ca(2+) resistant to TG. The amount of Ca(2+) released depended on the incubation time at [Ca(2+)](lim), being 3.0 nmol/mg at 20 s and 0.42 nmol/mg at 1000 s. Rate constants for release declined from 0. 13 to 0.03 s(-1). The rapidly released early fraction declined with time and k=0.13 min(-1). Release was not due to reversal of the pump cycle since ADP had no effect; neither was release impaired with substrates acetyl phosphate or GTP. A phase of reuptake of Ca(2+) followed release, being greater with shorter delay (up to 200 s) following active transport. Reuptake was minimal with GTP, with delays more than 300 s, and was abolished by vanadate and at higher [TG], >5 microM. Ruthenium red had no effect on efflux, indicating that ryanodine-sensitive efflux channels in terminal cisternal membranes are not involved in the Ca(2+) release mechanism. It is concluded that the Ca(2+) released by TG is from the occluded Ca(2+) fraction. The Ca(2+) occlusion sites appear to be independent of both high-affinity cytoplasmic and low-affinity lumenal sites, supporting a multisite 'in line' sequential binding mechanism for Ca(2+) transport.

Topics: Aniline Compounds; Animals; Binding Sites; Biological Transport, Active; Calcimycin; Calcium; Calcium Oxalate; Calcium-Transporting ATPases; Enzyme Inhibitors; Guanosine Triphosphate; Hindlimb; Models, Chemical; Octoxynol; Organophosphates; Rabbits; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum; Thapsigargin; Time Factors; Xanthenes

Enzymes entrapped in reverse micelles can be studied in low-water environments that have the potential of restricting conformational mobility in specific steps of the reaction cycle. Sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase was incorporated into a reverse-micelle system (TPT) composed of toluene, phospholipids, Triton X-100 and varying amounts of water (0.5-7%, v/v). Phosphorylation of the Ca2+-ATPase by ATP required the presence of both water and Ca2+ in the micelles. No phosphoenzyme (EP) was detected in the presence of EGTA. Phosphorylation by Pi (inorganic phosphate) in the absence of Ca2+ was observed at water content below that necessary for phosphorylation by ATP. In contrast to what is observed in a totally aqueous medium, EP formed by Pi was partially resistant to dephosphorylation by Ca2+. However, the addition of non-radioactive Pi to the EP already formed caused a rapid decrease in radiolabelled enzymes, as expected for the isotopic dilution, indicating the existence of an equilibrium (E+Pi<-->EP). Phosphorylation by Pi also occurred in TPT containing millimolar Ca2+ concentrations in a range of water concentrations (2-5% v/v). The substrates p-nitrophenyl phosphate, acetyl phosphate, ATP and GTP increased the EP level under these conditions. These results suggest that: (1) the rate of conversion of the ATPase conformer E2 into E1 is greatly reduced at low water content, so that E2-->E1 becomes the rate-limiting step of the catalytic cycle; and (2) in media of low water content, Pi can phosphorylate both E1Ca and E2. Thus, the effect of enzyme hydration is complex and involves changes in the phosphorylation reaction at the catalytic site, in the equilibrium between E2 and E1 conformers, and in their specificity for substrates.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Animals; Calcium; Calcium-Transporting ATPases; Guanosine Triphosphate; Micelles; Nitrophenols; Organophosphates; Organophosphorus Compounds; Phosphates; Phosphorylation; Rabbits; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum; Water

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Bacterial Proteins; Energy Metabolism; Escherichia coli; Guanosine Triphosphate; Organophosphates; Phosphoenolpyruvate; Protein Biosynthesis; Pyruvate Kinase