Publications

• Pyruvate kinase from Chlamydia trachomatis is activated by fructose-2,6-bisphosphate.

  Iliffe-Lee E.R., McClarty G.

  Pyruvate kinase is the final regulatory point in the catabolic Embden-Meyerhoff-Parnas pathway, which controls the carbon flux of glycolytic intermediates and regulates the level of ATP in the cell. In a previous study, we identified, cloned and sequenced pyruvate kinase from the obligate intracel ... >> More

  Pyruvate kinase is the final regulatory point in the catabolic Embden-Meyerhoff-Parnas pathway, which controls the carbon flux of glycolytic intermediates and regulates the level of ATP in the cell. In a previous study, we identified, cloned and sequenced pyruvate kinase from the obligate intracellular bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and demonstrated that the enzyme was active in crude extract. Here, we report the kinetic properties of highly purified C. trachomatis pyruvate kinase. The results indicate that C. trachomatis pyruvate kinase is 53.5 kDa with a pH optima of 7.3. Kinetic studies show that C. trachomatis pyruvate kinase requires both K+ and Mg2+ ions for activity, exhibits sigmoidal kinetics with respect to phosphoenolpyruvate and Michaelis-Menten kinetics with respect to ADP. In addition, C. trachomatis pyruvate kinase is able to use alternative nucleoside diphosphates as phosphate acceptors, although it shows the greatest activity with ADP. In contrast to other bacterial pyruvate kinases that are activated by AMP, our data show that AMP, in addition to ATP and GTP, inhibits C. trachomatis pyruvate kinase. Surprisingly, unlike any other known bacterial pyruvate kinase, C. trachomatis pyruvate kinase was allosterically activated by fructose-2,6-bisphosphate, an important regulatory metabolite that has only been reported in eukaryotes. << Less

  Mol Microbiol 44:819-828(2002) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 2 other entries.

• Mutagenesis of the active site lysine 221 of the pyruvate kinase from Bacillus stearothermophilus.

  Sakai H.

  Lysine 221 of the pyruvate kinase from Bacillus stearothermophilus was mutated to arginine, leucine, asparatic acid and cysteine. All the mutated enzymes were 10(4) to 10(5) times less active than the wild-type enzyme. The cysteine-free enzyme C9S/C268S, and the enzyme C9S/C268S/K221C, which posse ... >> More

  Lysine 221 of the pyruvate kinase from Bacillus stearothermophilus was mutated to arginine, leucine, asparatic acid and cysteine. All the mutated enzymes were 10(4) to 10(5) times less active than the wild-type enzyme. The cysteine-free enzyme C9S/C268S, and the enzyme C9S/C268S/K221C, which possessed a unique sulfhydryl group at position 221, were prepared. The former had comparable activity to the wild-type enzyme and the latter was 10(4) times less active. These enzymes were denatured and renatured after aminoethylation. The C9S/C268S/K221C enzyme failed to regain its activity when renatured without aminoethylation; but when it was renatured after aminoethylation, it regained 4.5% of the activity of the C9S/C268S enzyme. This evidence suggests the importance of the Lys221 for the pyruvate kinase activity. The kinetic parameters of the S-aminoethylated C9S/C268S/K221C enzyme suggest that it has decreased affinity for phosphoenolpyruvate. << Less

  J. Biochem. 137:141-145(2005) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

• Enzymic synthesis of guanosine and cytidine triphosphates: a note on the nucleotide specificity of the pyruvate phosphokinase reaction.

  STROMINGER J.L.

  Biochim Biophys Acta 16:616-618(1955) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 5 other entries.

• Role of lysine 240 in the mechanism of yeast pyruvate kinase catalysis.

  Bollenbach T.J., Mesecar A.D., Nowak T.

  Site-directed mutagenesis was used to change Lys 240 of yeast pyruvate kinase (Lys 269 in muscle PK) to Met. K240M has an absolute requirement for FBP for catalysis. K240M is 100- and 1000-fold less active than wild-type YPK in the presence of Mn(2+) and Mg(2+), respectively. Steady-state fluoresc ... >> More

  Site-directed mutagenesis was used to change Lys 240 of yeast pyruvate kinase (Lys 269 in muscle PK) to Met. K240M has an absolute requirement for FBP for catalysis. K240M is 100- and 1000-fold less active than wild-type YPK in the presence of Mn(2+) and Mg(2+), respectively. Steady-state fluorescence titration data suggest that the substrate PEP binds to K240M with the same affinity as it does to wild-type YPK. The rate of phosphoryl transfer in K240M has been decreased >1000-fold compared to wild-type YPK. The detritiation of 3-[(3)H]pyruvate catalyzed by YPK occurs at a rate significantly greater than the spontaneous rate. Detritiation of pyruvate by wild-type YPK occurs as a divalent metal- and FBP-dependent process requiring ATP. There is no detectable detritiation of pyruvate catalyzed by K240M. The solvent deuterium isotope effect on k(cat) is 2.7 +/- 0.2 and 1.6 +/-0.1 for the wild type and for K240M YPK, respectively. This suggests that the isotope sensitive step in the PK reaction does not involve Lys 240 and that the enolpyruvate intermediate is still protonated by K240M. Isotope trapping was used to characterize enolpyruvate protonation by K240M. While there was enrichment of the methyl protons of pyruvate from labeled solvent formed by catalysis with muscle PK and wild-type YPK, only background levels of tritium were trapped with K240M. In K240M, the proton donor exchanges protons with the solvent at a higher rate relative to turnover than does the proton donor in wild-type YPK. The pH-rate profile of K240M exhibits the loss of a pK(a) value of 8. 8 observed with wild-type YPK. The above data and recent crystal structure data suggest that Lys 240 interacts with the phosphoryl group of phosphoenolpyruvate and helps to stabilize the pentavalent phosphate transition state during phosphoryl transfer. Phosphoryl transfer is highly coupled to proton transfer, or Lys 240 also affects enolate protonation. << Less

  Biochemistry 38:9137-9145(1999) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

• An in vitro novel mechanism of regulating the activity of pyruvate kinase M2 by thyroid hormone and fructose 1, 6-bisphosphate.

  Ashizawa K., McPhie P., Lin K.-H., Cheng S.-Y.

  We have recently shown that the cytosolic thyroid hormone binding protein (p58-M2) in human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells is a monomer of pyruvate kinase, subtype M2 (PKM2). To characterize further the molecular properties of p58-M2, we overexpressed p58-M2 in Escherichia coli and purified it to ... >> More

  We have recently shown that the cytosolic thyroid hormone binding protein (p58-M2) in human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells is a monomer of pyruvate kinase, subtype M2 (PKM2). To characterize further the molecular properties of p58-M2, we overexpressed p58-M2 in Escherichia coli and purified it to homogeneity. At 22 degrees C, the monomeric p58-M2, exhibited kinase activity with an apparent Vmax of 22 +/-9 units/mg. The Km for adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) are 3.85 +/- 2.4 and 1.55 +/-0.73 mM, respectively. Upon activation by fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (Fru-1,6-P2), Vmax and Km for ADP and PEP were changed to 490 +/-27 units/mg and 0.63 +/- 0.09 and 0.13 +/-0.01 mM, respectively. These results indicated that p58-M2 has intrinsic kinase activity. Analysis of the molecular size indicated that the activation of p58-M2, by Fru-1,6-P2 resulted in the association of the monomeric p58-M2 to the tetrameric PKM2. p58-M2 bound to 3,3',5-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3) (Ka = 1.7 x 10(7) M-1) and exhibited analogue specificity, whereas PKM2 did not bind thyroid hormone. The order of binding affinity was L-T3 greater than L-thyroxine greater than 3,3',5-triiodothyropropionic acid greater than 3'-isopropyl-3,5-triiodo-L-thyronine greater than 3'5',3-triiodo-L-thyronine. Binding of T3 and its analogues resulted in the inhibition of the kinase activity of p58-M2. The order of kinase inhibitory activity and preventing its association to tetrameric PKM2 was parallel to that of binding activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) << Less

  Biochemistry 30:7105-7111(1991) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

• Fluorokinase and pyruvic kinase.

  TIETZ A., OCHOA S.

  Arch Biochem Biophys 78:477-493(1958) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 5 other entries.

• Understanding the role of PknJ in Mycobacterium tuberculosis: biochemical characterization and identification of novel substrate pyruvate kinase A.

  Arora G., Sajid A., Gupta M., Bhaduri A., Kumar P., Basu-Modak S., Singh Y.

  Reversible protein phosphorylation is a prevalent signaling mechanism which modulates cellular metabolism in response to changing environmental conditions. In this study, we focus on previously uncharacterized Mycobacterium tuberculosis Ser/Thr protein kinase (STPK) PknJ, a putative transmembrane ... >> More

  Reversible protein phosphorylation is a prevalent signaling mechanism which modulates cellular metabolism in response to changing environmental conditions. In this study, we focus on previously uncharacterized Mycobacterium tuberculosis Ser/Thr protein kinase (STPK) PknJ, a putative transmembrane protein. PknJ is shown to possess autophosphorylation activity and is also found to be capable of carrying out phosphorylation on the artificial substrate myelin basic protein (MyBP). Previous studies have shown that the autophosphorylation activity of M. tuberculosis STPKs is dependent on the conserved residues in the activation loop. However, our results show that apart from the conventional conserved residues, additional residues in the activation loop may also play a crucial role in kinase activation. Further characterization of PknJ reveals that the kinase utilizes unusual ions (Ni(2+), Co(2+)) as cofactors, thus hinting at a novel mechanism for PknJ activation. Additionally, as shown for other STPKs, we observe that PknJ possesses the capability to dimerize. In order to elucidate the signal transduction cascade emanating from PknJ, the M. tuberculosis membrane-associated protein fraction is treated with the active kinase and glycolytic enzyme Pyruvate kinase A (mtPykA) is identified as one of the potential substrates of PknJ. The phospholabel is found to be localized on serine and threonine residue(s), with Ser(37) identified as one of the sites of phosphorylation. Since Pyk is known to catalyze the last step of glycolysis, our study shows that the fundamental pathways such as glycolysis can also be governed by STPK-mediated signaling. << Less

  PLoS ONE 5:E10772-E10772(2010) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

• Enzymatic phosphorylation of adenosine and 2,6-diaminopurine riboside.

  KORNBERG A., PRICER W.E. Jr.

  J Biol Chem 193:481-495(1951) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 6 other entries.

• Purification and properties of pyruvate kinase from Bacillus stearothermophilus.

  Sakai H., Suzuki K., Imahori K.

  Pyruvate kinase was purified to homogeneity from a moderate thermophile, Bacillus stearothermophilus. The molecular weight of the enzyme was found to be 250,000 on gel filtration and 242,000 on sedimentation analysis. The enzyme consisted of four identical subunits of a molecular weight of 62,000- ... >> More

  Pyruvate kinase was purified to homogeneity from a moderate thermophile, Bacillus stearothermophilus. The molecular weight of the enzyme was found to be 250,000 on gel filtration and 242,000 on sedimentation analysis. The enzyme consisted of four identical subunits of a molecular weight of 62,000-64,000. There were no remarkable differences between the thermophilic enzyme and mesophilic enzymes in amino acid composition, secondary structure, mono- and di-valent cation requirements for activity or specificity for nucleoside diphosphates. But the thermophilic enzyme was stable at high temperature and for a longer period of storage at lower temperature. Its specific activity was relatively high even at a low temperature (30 degrees C). The enzyme exhibited homotropic positive cooperativity for phosphoenol-pyruvate, but not for ADP. It was allosterically activated by AMP, ribose 5-phosphate and nucleoside monophosphates, but not by fructose 1,6-bisphosphate. Activation by AMP and ribose 5-phosphate, and inhibition by inorganic phosphate were also observed even at the physiological temperature (60 degrees C) for the thermophile. << Less

  J. Biochem. 99:1157-1167(1986) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

• Structural Basis of Nucleotide Selectivity in Pyruvate Kinase.

  Taguchi A., Nakashima R., Nishino K.

  Nucleoside triphosphates are indispensable in numerous biological processes, with enzymes involved in their biogenesis playing pivotal roles in cell proliferation. Pyruvate kinase (PYK), commonly regarded as the terminal glycolytic enzyme that generates ATP in tandem with pyruvate, is also capable ... >> More

  Nucleoside triphosphates are indispensable in numerous biological processes, with enzymes involved in their biogenesis playing pivotal roles in cell proliferation. Pyruvate kinase (PYK), commonly regarded as the terminal glycolytic enzyme that generates ATP in tandem with pyruvate, is also capable of synthesizing a wide range of nucleoside triphosphates from their diphosphate precursors. Despite their substrate promiscuity, some PYKs show preference towards specific nucleotides, suggesting an underlying mechanism for differentiating nucleotide bases. However, the thorough characterization of this mechanism has been hindered by the paucity of nucleotide-bound PYK structures. Here, we present crystal structures of Streptococcus pneumoniae PYK in complex with four different nucleotides. These structures facilitate direct comparison of the protein-nucleotide interactions and offer structural insights into its pronounced selectivity for GTP synthesis. Notably, this selectivity is dependent on a sequence motif in the nucleotide recognition site that is widely present among prokaryotic PYKs, particularly in Firmicutes species. We show that pneumococcal cell growth is significantly impaired when expressing a PYK variant with compromised GTP and UTP synthesis activity, underscoring the importance of PYK in maintaining nucleotide homeostasis. Our findings collectively advance our understanding of PYK biochemistry and prokaryotic metabolism. << Less

  J Mol Biol 436:168708-168708(2024) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 5 other entries.

• Structural basis for tumor pyruvate kinase M2 allosteric regulation and catalysis.

  Dombrauckas J.D., Santarsiero B.D., Mesecar A.D.

  Four isozymes of pyruvate kinase are differentially expressed in human tissue. Human pyruvate kinase isozyme M2 (hPKM2) is expressed in early fetal tissues and is progressively replaced by the other three isozymes, M1, R, and L, immediately after birth. In most cancer cells, hPKM2 is once again ex ... >> More

  Four isozymes of pyruvate kinase are differentially expressed in human tissue. Human pyruvate kinase isozyme M2 (hPKM2) is expressed in early fetal tissues and is progressively replaced by the other three isozymes, M1, R, and L, immediately after birth. In most cancer cells, hPKM2 is once again expressed to promote tumor cell proliferation. Because of its almost ubiquitous presence in cancer cells, hPKM2 has been designated as tumor specific PK-M2, and its presence in human plasma is currently being used as a molecular marker for the diagnosis of various cancers. The X-ray structure of human hPKM2 complexed with Mg(2+), K(+), the inhibitor oxalate, and the allosteric activator fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) has been determined to a resolution of 2.82 A. The active site of hPKM2 is in a partially closed conformation most likely resulting from a ligand-induced domain closure promoted by the binding of FBP. In all four subunits of the enzyme tetramer, a conserved water molecule is observed on the 2-si face of the prospective enolate and supports the hypothesis that a proton-relay system is acting as the proton donor of the reaction (1). Significant structural differences among the human M2, rabbit muscle M1, and the human R isozymes are observed, especially in the orientation of the FBP-activating loop, which is in a closed conformation when FBP is bound. The structural differences observed between the PK isozymes could potentially be exploited as unique structural templates for the design of allosteric drugs against the disease states associated with the various PK isozymes, especially cancer and nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia. << Less

  Biochemistry 44:9417-9429(2005) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]