Allosteric regulation of the GTP activated and CTP inhibited uracil phosphoribosyltransferase from the thermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus

TY - JOUR

T1 - Allosteric regulation of the GTP activated and CTP inhibited uracil phosphoribosyltransferase from the thermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus

AU - Jensen, Kaj Frank

AU - Arent, Susan

AU - Larsen, Sine

AU - Schack, Lise

N1 - KEYWORDS extremophiles • phosphoribosyl diphosphate • pyrimidine nucleotide biosynthesis • pyrimidine salvage • thermostable enzymes

PY - 2005

Y1 - 2005

N2 - The upp gene, encoding uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (UPRTase) from the thermoacidophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus, was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity. It behaved as a tetramer in solution and showed optimal activity at pH 5.5 when assayed at 60 °C. Enzyme activity was strongly stimulated by GTP and inhibited by CTP. GTP caused an approximately 20-fold increase in the turnover number kcat and raised the Km values for 5-phosphoribosyl-1-diphosphate (PRPP) and uracil by two- and >10-fold, respectively. The inhibition by CTP was complex as it depended on the presence of the reaction product UMP. Neither CTP nor UMP were strong inhibitors of the enzyme, but when present in combination their inhibition was extremely powerful. Ligand binding analyses showed that GTP and PRPP bind cooperatively to the enzyme and that the inhibitors CTP and UMP can be bound simultaneously (KD equal to 2 and 0.5 µm, respectively). The binding of each of the inhibitors was incompatible with binding of PRPP or GTP. The data indicate that UPRTase undergoes a transition from a weakly active or inactive T-state, favored by binding of UMP and CTP, to an active R-state, favored by binding of GTP and PRPP.

AB - The upp gene, encoding uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (UPRTase) from the thermoacidophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus, was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity. It behaved as a tetramer in solution and showed optimal activity at pH 5.5 when assayed at 60 °C. Enzyme activity was strongly stimulated by GTP and inhibited by CTP. GTP caused an approximately 20-fold increase in the turnover number kcat and raised the Km values for 5-phosphoribosyl-1-diphosphate (PRPP) and uracil by two- and >10-fold, respectively. The inhibition by CTP was complex as it depended on the presence of the reaction product UMP. Neither CTP nor UMP were strong inhibitors of the enzyme, but when present in combination their inhibition was extremely powerful. Ligand binding analyses showed that GTP and PRPP bind cooperatively to the enzyme and that the inhibitors CTP and UMP can be bound simultaneously (KD equal to 2 and 0.5 µm, respectively). The binding of each of the inhibitors was incompatible with binding of PRPP or GTP. The data indicate that UPRTase undergoes a transition from a weakly active or inactive T-state, favored by binding of UMP and CTP, to an active R-state, favored by binding of GTP and PRPP.

U2 - 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2005.04576.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2005.04576.x

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 15752360

SN - 1742-464X

VL - 272

SP - 1440

EP - 1453

JO - FEBS Journal

JF - FEBS Journal

IS - 6

ER -