Sequence and structure of D-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase from Bacillus stearothermophilus.

The glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydogenase holoenzyme of Bacillus stearothermophilus possesses precise 222 symmetry: in this respect it differs from the reported structure of the lobster muscle enzyme. Pairs of active sites are linked through a flexible polypeptide loop which probably mediates the structural changes giving rise to cooperative effects. Three additional salt bridges made by each subunit to others would make a major contribution to thermostability of the tetramer.     

Amino-acid sequence of a Ca2+ + Mg2+-dependent ATPase from rabbit muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum, deduced from its complementary DNA sequence

We have cloned and sequenced complementary DNA encoding a Ca2+-ATPase of rabbit muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum. We propose a model of the protein which has 3 cytoplasmic domains joined to a set of 10 transmembrane helices by a narrow, penta-helical stalk. In this model, ATP bound to one cytoplasmic domain would phosphorylate an aspartate in an adjoining cytoplasmic domain, inducing translocation of Ca2+ from binding sites on the stalk.     

Intron-dependent evolution of chicken glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase gene

The function of introns in the evolution of genes can be explained in at least two ways: either introns appeared late in evolution and therefore could not have participated in the construction of primordial genes, or RNA splicing and introns existed in the earliest organisms but were lost during the evolution of the modern prokaryotes. The latter alternative allows the possibility of intron participation in the formation of primordial genes before the divergence of modern prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Blake suggested that evidence for intron-facilitated evolution of a gene might be found by comparing the borders of functional protein domains with the placement of introns. We therefore examined glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), a glycolytic enzyme, because it is the first protein for which the following data are available: X-ray crystallographic studies demonstrating structurally independent protein 'domains' which were highly conserved during the divergence of prokaryotes and eukaryotes; and a study of genomic organization which mapped introns in the gene. Sequencing of the chicken GAPDH gene revealed 11 introns. We report here that sites of three of the introns (IV, VI and XI) correspond closely with the borders of the NAD-binding, catalytic and helical tail domains of the enzyme, supporting the hypothesis that introns did have a role in the evolution of primitive genes. In addition, other biochemical and structural data were used to construct a model of the intron-mediated assembly of the GAPDH gene that explains the existence of 10 introns.     

Crystallographic studies on the binding of coenzyme analogs to D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase from Palinurus versicolor

In contrast with the coezyme, two coenzyme analogs, ADP-ribose and SNAD, bind non-cooperatively to D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). Palinurus versicolor (PV) GAPDH complexed with ADP-ribose and SNAD has been crystallized by the method of sitting-drop vapor diffusion. X-ray diffraction data analysis reveals that both crystals belong to the same space group (C2), and have similar cell dimensions: a =152.80(A), b =100.35(A), c =128.31(A), b =110.28° and a =153.41(A), b =100.51(A), c =128.44(A), b =110.48° , respectively. It is estimated that the asymmetric unit in each crystal contains 4 subunits. This is a novel crystal form which is quite different from that previously reported for holo- and apo-GAPDH from the same source. The result suggests that the binding of the two coenzyme analogs to GAPDH may lead to some significant conformational changes, which are different from those induced by the coenzyme binding. The self-rotation function indicates that the tetramer of these two GAPDH complexes also has good 222 symmetry. The structural analysis and the comparison with holo- and apo-GAPDH may give a clue to the cooperative mechanism of the enzyme.     

A homolog of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase from Riemerella anatipestifer is an extracellular protein and exhibits biological activity

Riemerella anatipestifer is the causative agent of septicemia anserum exsudativa in ducks. Its pathogenesis and virulence factors are still unclear. The glycelytic enzyme, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase （GAPDH）, an anchorless and multifunctional protein on the surface of several pathogenic microorganisms, is involved in virulence and adhesion. Whether homologs of GAPDH exist, and display similar characteristics in R. anatipestifer （RaGAPDH） has not been determined. In our research, the RaGAPDH activity from various R. anatipestifer isolates was confirmed. Twenty-two gapdh genes from genornic DNA of R. anatipestifer isolates were cloned and sequenced for phylogenetic analysis. The distribution of RaGAPDH in R. anatipestifer CZ2 strain was confirmed by antisera to recombinant RaGAPDH. The ability of purified RaGAPDH to bind host proteins was analyzed by solid-phase ligandbinding assay. Results revealed that all R. anatipestifer isolates showed different levels of GAPDH activity except four strains, which contained a gapdh-like gene. The gapdh of R. anatipestifer, which is located phylogenetically in the same branch as enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coil （EHEC）, belonged to class I GAPDH, and encoded a 36.7-kDa protein. All RaGAPDH-encoding gene sequences from field isolates of R. anatipestiferdisplayed 100% homology. The RaGAPDH localized on the extracellular membrane of several R. anatipestifer strains. Further, it was released into the culture medium, and exhibited GAPDH enzyme activity. We also confirmed the binding of RaGAPDH to plasminogen and fibrinogen. These results demonstrated that GAPDH was present in R. anatipestifer, although not in all strains, and that RaGAPDH might contribute to the microorganism＇s virulence.     

Amino-acid sequence of the beta-subunit of the (Na+ + K+)ATPase deduced from a cDNA

The sodium/potassium-dependent ATPase [(Na+ + K+)ATPase], which establishes and maintains the Na+ and K+ gradients across the plasma membrane of animal cells, consists of two subunits, alpha and beta. Complementary DNA clones encoding the catalytic (alpha) subunit of sheep kidney and Torpedo californica electroplax enzymes have previously been isolated and characterized. However, there is little information concerning the primary structure of the beta-subunit, a glycoprotein of unknown function and relative molecular mass (Mr) approximately 55,000 (ref. 3). Here we describe the isolation and characterization of a cDNA clone containing the entire coding region of the beta-subunit of the sheep kidney (Na+ + K+)ATPase. We also discuss structural aspects of the protein and present evidence for a possible evolutionary relationship with the KdpC subunit of the Escherichia coli K+-ATPase.     

Crystallographic studies on the binding of coenzyme analogs to D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase fromPalinurus versicolor

In contrast with the coezyme, two coenzyme analogs, ADP-ribose and SNAD, bind non-cooperatively to D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH).Palinurus versicolor (PV) GAPDH complexed with ADP-ribose and SNAD has been crystallized by the method of sitting-drop vapor diffusion. X-ray diffraction data analysis reveals that both crystals belong to the same space group (C2), and have similar cell dimensions: a =152.80 Å,b =100.35 Å, c =128.31 Å,β =110.28° and a =153.41 Å,b =100.51 Å,c =128.44 Å,β =110.48°, respectively. It is estimated that the asymmetric unit in each crystal contains 4 subunits. This is a novel crystal form which is quite different from that previously reported for holoand apo-GAPDH from the same source. The result suggests that the binding of the two coenzyme analogs to GAPDH may lead to some significant conformational changes, which are different from those induced by the coenzyme binding. The self-rotation function indicates that the tetramer of these two GAPDH complexes also has good 222 symmetry. The structural analysis and the comparison with holoand apo-GAPDH may give a clue to the cooperative mechanism of the enzyme.