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In the present study, we examined the ability of the phosphatase inhibitors p-nitrophenyl phosphate and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG) to inhibit phospholipase D (PLD) activation in the rabbit peritoneal neutrophil. Also assessed were choline, a product of PLD-catalyzed hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine, and its metabolite phosphocholine. PLD activity was determined by measuring the accumulation, in the presence of ethanol, of [3H]phosphatidylethanol ([3H]PEt) in neutrophils prelabeled with 1-O-[3H]octadecyl-2-lyso-snglycero-3-phosphocholine. Of the compounds tested, only DPG interfered with PLD activation by N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP) in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In contrast, it augmented fMLP-stimulated levels of [3H]inositol phosphates in myo-[3H]inositol-labeled neutrophils. DPG also prevented PLD activation by the calcium ionophore ionomycin and by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. The suppression of PLD activation by DPG appeared to arise from direct interaction with the enzyme, as evidenced by a DPG competitive pattern of inhibition (Ki = 9.0 +/- 1.5 mM) for PLD from Streptomyces chromofuscus. These results suggest that DPG may be a useful tool for investigating the role of PLD in physiological function in a wide variety of cell types. Interestingly, DPG inhibited fMLP-induced N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase release and O2- generation by the cytochalasin B-primed neutrophils in a dose-dependent manner, whereas it had minimal effect (at concentrations up to 5 mM) on O2- generation induced by fMLP in nonprimed cells. These results suggest that PLD plays an important role in fMLP stimulation of both N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase release and O2- generation in the primed neutrophils, but that a PLD-independent pathway plays the primary role in O2- generation by the nonprimed neutrophils.

In addition to reducing hemoglobin-O2 affinity, 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG) is known to modulate the mechanical properties of the erythrocyte membrane. By fluorescence spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry, we demonstrate that DPG binds the cytoplasmic domain of erythrocyte membrane band 3 in two stages characterized by apparent KD values of approximately approximately 2 and 12 mM. DPG was also shown to perturb the stability of ankyrin, protein 4.1, and protein 4.2 in situ and to directly bind to protein 4.1. In studies of membrane-skeleton interactions, DPG was observed to inhibit the fast and slow phases of ankyrin binding to band 3 and to reduce both the number of ankyrin sites and affinity of ankyrin for each class of site. The inhibition was biphasic, similar to the band 3-DPG binding isotherm; however, at physiological DPG concentrations a reduction in only 15% of the ankyrin sites was observed. In contrast, inhibition of protein 4.1 binding to the membrane reached 65% at physiological DPG concentrations (approximately approximately 5.9 mM); at more elevated concentrations, blockade was nearly quantitative, affecting glycophorin and band 3 sites alike. Taken together with previous observations, these data suggest that DPG's effect on O2 delivery may extend beyond its well recognized impact on hemoglobin-O2 affinity.

D-myo-Inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate ((1,4,5)IP3)-induced Ca2+ release and subsequent Ca2+ reuptake were investigated in saponin-permeabilized rat parotid acinar cells. Following the rapid release of Ca2+ by (1,4,5)IP3, Ca2+ was resequestered. The sequential addition of submaximal concentrations of (1,4,5)IP3 resulted in sequential Ca2+ release. However, when the cells were challenged with the poorly metabolized (1,4,5)IP3 analogues, (1,4,5)IPS3 or (2,4,5)IP3, or under conditions where the metabolism of authentic (1,4,5)IP3 was reduced, Ca2+ reuptake again occurred, but sequestered Ca2+ was not released by subsequent additions of (1,4,5)IP3. The sequestered Ca2+ was, however, released by thapsigargin, an agent which inhibits active Ca2+ uptake into the (1,4,5)IP3-sensitive pool. Furthermore, the rate of thapsigargin-induced release was significantly increased in the continued presence of an (1,4,5)IP3 stimulus. Thus, Ca2+ reuptake apparently occurred into the (1,4,5)IP3- and thapsigargin-sensitive Ca2+ store and (1,4,5)IP3 continued to influence the permeability of this pool to Ca2+ during Ca2+ reuptake. In contrast to the findings in permeabilized cells, Ca2+ reuptake did not occur in the sustained presence of (1,4,5)IP3 in intact parotid cells. We conclude that cell permeabilization reveals a kinetic, and presumably structural, separation of Ca2+ uptake and release sites within the (1,4,5)IP3-regulated intracellular organelle.

The kinetics of phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF-2) by two cyclic nucleotide-independent protein kinases from rabbit reticulocytes have been studied. The hemin-controlled repressor (HCR) and casein kinase II phosphorylate the alpha and beta subunits of eIF-2, respectively. The apparent Km for eIF-2 with HCR and casein kinase II was determined to be in the range of 0.5-1.0 microM. Using fully dephosphorylated eIF-2, it was possible to show that the phosphorylation state of the beta subunit did not affect the apparent Km of either HCR or casein kinase II for eIF-2. The effects of two inhibitory compounds, hemin and 2,3-diphosphoglyceric acid (2,3-DPG), were studied also. Hemin acted as a noncompetitive inhibitor of HCR with respect to eIF-2 with an apparent Ki of 3 microM, while inhibition of casein kinase II by 2,3-DPG was competitive with respect to eIF-2. The apparent inhibitory constant was determined to be 1 mM, a concentration within the physiological range of 2,3-DPG in red blood cells. From the kinetic values obtained with hemin and 2,3-DPG, it appears that these compounds could directly regulate the respective protein kinases in vivo.

A cyclic AMP-independent protein kinase has been isolated from human erythrocyte cytosol and purified about 28,000-fold. The enzyme uses ATP as the phosphoryl donor and exhibits a high activity towards casein and phosvitin. The kinase has a molecular weight of about 30,000 to 32,000 as estimated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation and Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration. Upon isoelectrofocusing, two kinase activities are resolved. The major component, which comprises about 85% of the activities, focuses at a pH of about 9.6 and the minor component at about 4.6. The relationship between these two kinase activities is not clear. NaF, ADP and, to a lesser extent, AMP, all inhibit the kinase activity. 2,3-Diphosphoglyceric acid, on the other hand, has no effect. The kinase also catalyzes the phosphorylation of a number of erythrocyte membrane proteins, including spectrin, band 3, and the sialoglycoproteins.

Since ATP and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate cause an increase in the lateral mobility of integral membrane proteins in the erythrocyte (Schindler, M., Koppel, D., and Sheetz, M. P. (1980) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 77, 1457-1461), we have studied their effects on the membrane skeletal complex or shell (composed of spectrin, actin, and bands 4.1 (78,000 daltons) and 4.9 (50,000 daltons)) and its interaction with the erythrocyte membrane. Both phosphate compounds dissociated the delipidated shell complex, with half-maximal dissociation at 2.5 mM 2,3-diphosphoglycerate and 8 mM ATP, whereas equivalent concentrations of EDTA did not. Concomitant with complex dissociation, spectrin was solubilized but band 4.1 and actin remained in a complexed or polymeric form. When proteins which were involved in linking spectrin to the membrane were present on the shell, higher concentrations of the phosphate compounds still dissociated the complex but less spectrin was solubilized. Treatment of erythrocyte membranes with the same phosphate compounds caused membrane vesiculation but no proteins were solubilized. We suggest that ATP and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate, at concentrations which are normally present in erythrocytes, can weaken associations in the shell but will not dissociate the complex from membrane attachment sites.

The rate of methemoglobin reduction by ascorbic acid was accelerated in the presence of ATP,2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG), and inositol hexaphosphate (IHP). The acceleration was as much as three times, four times, and ten times in the presence of ATP, 2.3-DPG, and IHP at pH 7.0, respectively. The changes of the concentrations of methemoglobin and ascorbic acid during the methemoglobin reduction were determined, and the reaction was found to proceed stoichiometrically in the presence of IHP. The reduction rate of methemoglobin by ascorbic acid was compared at different concentrations of organic phosphates (ATP,2,3-DPG, and IHP) at various pH values (6.3, 7.0, 7.7). From the changes in the reduction rate under different concentrations of organic phosphates, the dissociation constants of ATP, 2,3-DPG, and IHP to methemoglobin could be determined and were estimated to be 3.3 X 10(-4) M, 2 X 10(-3) M, and 8 X 10(-6) M at pH 7.0, respectively. On the basis of these results, the acceleration mechanism of methemoglobin reduction by ascorbic acid due to the presence of organic phosphates was described. The physiological role of 2,3-DPG in human red cells was discussed in relation to the reduction of methemoglobin by ascorbic acid.

Saponin-permeabilized rat pancreatic islets degraded exogenously added inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3), and degradation was inhibited in the presence of either fructose 1,6-bisphosphate or diphosphoglycerate. The addition of either fructose-1,6-P2 or diphosphoglycerate to 45Ca2+-labeled permeabilized islets potentiated 45Ca2+ release caused by IP3 (by either exogenously added IP3 or IP3 generated endogenously in the presence of carbachol or guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate (GTP gamma S). The effect of diphosphoglycerate and fructose-1,6-P2 on 45Ca2+ release correlated well with the effects of these agents on the recovery of radioactivity in IP3. These results further support our previous proposal that in pancreatic islets intracellular calcium mobilization may be sustained in part via the inhibition of IP3 degradation by metabolites produced during stimulation with insulinotropic concentrations of glucose (Rana, R.S., Sekar, M.C., Hokin, L.E., and MacDonald, M.J. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 5237-5240).

Hemoglobin A hybrids with carboxymethyl groups at the alpha-NH2 termini of the alpha-chains or the beta-chains or at the termini of both chains have been prepared by reductive alkylation of the protein with glyoxylate and NaCNBH3 under controlled conditions. A hemoglobin derivative, which was selectively carboxymethylated at the NH2-terminal residues, was separated into its alpha- and beta-chains. These derivatized chains were recombined to yield alpha 2 Cm beta 2 Cm or were combined with unmodified beta- or alpha-chains, respectively, and purified to yield alpha 2 Cm beta 2 or alpha 2 beta 2 Cm. These hybrid tetramers retained their cooperativity and function (average n = 2.4). The hybrid alpha 2 Cm beta 2 had a lower oxygen affinity (p50 = 12 mm) than unmodified hemoglobin (p50 = 7 mm) and was reactive with 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (p50 = 48 mm). The oxygen affinity of the derivative alpha 2 beta 2 Cm was lower (p50 = 17 mm) than unmodified hemoglobin and was affected only slightly by 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (p50 = 25 mm). The tetramer carboxymethylated at all 4 NH2-terminal residues, alpha 2 Cm beta 2 Cm, exhibited a very low intrinsic oxygen affinity (p50 = 37 mm) that was further lowered to a limiting value of 50 mm by saturating amounts of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate. Each carboxymethyl tetramer, except alpha 2 Cm beta 2 Cm, was reactive with chloride to lead to a lower oxygen affinity. These carboxymethylated hybrids (Hb-NH-CH2COO-) may provide a useful model system for studies on the binding of anions to hemoglobin or on the interaction of CO2 with hemoglobin to form the carbamate Hb-NH-COO-.

The epsilon-amino group of Lys-40 alpha forms a salt bridge with the alpha-carboxyl group of beta chain in deoxyhemoglobin and is considered to impose a constraint upon hemoglobin tetramer, stabilizing the T quaternary structure. Hb Kariya, in which Lys-40 alpha is replaced by Glu, provides a unique opportunity to investigate the functional role of this salt bridge. Hb Kariya showed oxygen binding properties characterized by a high affinity, diminished cooperativity, a reduced alkaline Bohr effect, and a decreased effect of phosphates upon oxygen affinity. In deoxyHb Kariya the reactivity of the sulfhydryl groups of cysteins-93 beta with 4,4'-dipyridine disulfide was profoundly enhanced, being comparable to that for normal oxyhemoglobin (oxyHb A). The Soret band spectra, UV derivative spectra, and UV oxyminus-deoxy difference spectra indicated that oxyHb Kariya assumes a quaternary structure similar to that of oxyHb A whereas the T structure of deoxyHb Kariya is destabilized, and Hb Kariya remains predominantly in the R state upon deoxygenation. Resonance Raman scattering by deoxyHb Kariya showed that the Fe-N epsilon(proximal His) bond is less stretched than that of deoxyHb A. These experimental results provide structural basis for explaining the oxygen binding characteristics of Hb Kariya and further give direct evidence that the intersubunit salt bridge between Lys-40 alpha and the beta chain COOH terminus actually contributes to stabilization of the T quaternary structure, thereby playing a key role in cooperative oxygen binding by hemoglobin. The nature of another salt bridge between Asp-94 beta and the COOH-terminal His of beta chain was also discussed in comparison with the salt bridge involving Lys-40 alpha.

HbA1c is the most prevalent of the minor human hemoglobins. It is formed by the nonenzymatic addition of glucose to the alpha-amino group of the beta chain by an initial condensation reaction and a subsequent intermolecular Amadori rearrangement. We have developed a method of analysis which utilizes high performance liquid chromatography to follow the formation of HbA1c and greatly simplifies the determination of the kinetic parameters associated with this reaction. This has allowed us to study the effects of several Hb ligands, including the hydrogen ion, on the kinetics of this glycosylation reaction. Both the initial condensation reaction and the subsequent rearrangement are shown to exhibit acid catalysis, but the rate of the condensation step is limited by the extent of protonation of the alpha-amino group. The variation in kinetic parameters as a function of hydrogen ion concentration has allowed us to determine the probable reaction mechanism of HbA1c formation by comparison to previously reported model systems of Schiff base formation and Amadori rearrangement. The formation of pre-HbA1c from deoxy-Hb shows an increased forward rate when compared to oxy-Hb. The presence of physiologic concentrations of CO2 causes a proportional decrease in both k1 and k-1. 2,3-Diphosphoglycerate causes a significant increase in the keq of the formation reaction. The effects of CO and the substitution of L-glucose for D-glucose are not significant.

The effects of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG) and other allosteric polyanions of the phosphate or sulfate ester class (inositol hexaphosphate (IHP), ATP, pyridoxamine-5'-phosphate (PMP), and inositol hexasulfate (IHS] on the solubility of deoxyhemoglobin S, and the oxygen affinity of Hb A were evaluated. Their effects on the saturation concentration (csat) indicated promotion of gelation in each case, according to the following order of molar effectiveness: IHP greater than IHS greater than DPG greater than ATP much greater than PMP. Four polybasic carboxylic acids (benzenetricarboxylate (trimesic acid), benzenetetracarboxylate (BTC), benzenepentacarboxylate (BPC), and benzenehexacarboxylate (BHC] were evaluated as well. Their order of molar effectiveness was: BHC greater than BPC greater than BTC much greater than trimesic acid. Both classes of polyanions influenced oxygen affinity in the same order as solubility. Overall, a good correlation existed between the negative charges of these nine allosteric polyanions at neutral pH and their effects on solubility and oxygen affinity. Because of its possible role in the pathophysiology of sickle cell disease, the effect of DPG on csat was examined over the pH range 6.5-7.6. While a decrease in csat was observed for DPG-saturated deoxyhemoglobin S throughout this range, the decrement observed in the physiological pH range (1.8 g/dl) was somewhat lower than that below neutral pH (3.0 g/dl); in either case the sickling tendency of SS red cells would be enhanced. Inasmuch as the intracellular concentration of DPG in sickle cell anemia may be elevated as much as 2-fold, maneuvers aimed at its reduction could be therapeutically beneficial.

The steady state kinetics and effects of salts on chicken breast phosphoglycerate mutase have been examined. The enzyme can catalyze three phosphoryl transfer reactions: mutase, bisphosphoglycerate phosphatase, and bisphosphoglycerate synthase. The mutase rate was measured in the favorable direction (Keq = glycerate-3-P/glycerate-2-P approximately equal to 12) using [2T]glycerate-2-P as substrate. The bisphosphoglycerate phosphatase activity was studied in the presence of the activator, glycolate-2-P. The latter is an analog of the glycerate-P's and appears to act as an abortive mutase substrate. The kinetic pattern obtained with both activities is that of a ping-pong mechanism with inhibition by the second substrate occurring at a lower concentration than the Km value for that substrate. The kinetic parameters for the mutase determined in 50 mM N-[tris(hydroxymethyl)methyl-2-amino]ethanesulfonate (TES)/sodium buffer containing 0.1 M KCl, pH 7.5, 25 degrees C are: Km glycerate-2,3-P2, 0.069 micron; Km glycerate-2-P, 14 micron; Km glycerate-3-P approximately 200 micron; Ki glycerate-2-P, 4 micron. The kinetic parameters for the phosphatase reaction in 50 mM triethanolamine/Cl- buffer, pH 7.5, 25 degrees C are: Km glycerate-2,3-P2, 0.065 micron:Km glycolate-2P, 479 micron; Ki glycolate-2-P, 135 micron. The enzyme is sensitive to changes in the ionic environment. Increasing salt concentrations activate the phosphatase in the presence of glycolate-2-P by decreasing the apparent Km of glycerate-2,3-P2. The effects are due to the anionic component and Cl- greater than acetate greater than TES. The same salts are competitive inhibitors with respect to glycolate-2-P. With high levels of KCl that produce a 30-fold decrease in the apparent maximal velocity due to competition with glycolate-2-P, the Km of glycerate-2,3-P2 remains low. These observations lead us to postulate that each monophosphoglycerate substrate has a separate site on the enzyme and that glycerate-2,3-P2 can bind to either site. The binding of anions to one site of the nonphosphorylated enzyme allows an increase in the on and off rates of glycerate-2,3-P2 at the alternate site. Salts inhibit the mutase reaction. The Km of glycerate-2,3-P2 is increased as is that of glycerate-2-P. The effect on the Km of glycerate-2,3-P2 is attributed to an increase in the off rate/on rate ratio for glycerate-2,3-P2. The bisphosphoglycerate synthase reaction is shown to require added glycerate-3-P. The equilibrium between enzyme and glycerate-1,3-P2 is favorable (Kdiss less than or equal 7 X 10(-8) M) and suggests that in the absence of a separate synthase this reaction may have functional significance.

The hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl acetate (p-NPA) is catalyzed by many proteins. We have observed that oxyhemoglobin A also exhibits esterase activity with a rate intermediate between that of bovine albumin and carbonic anhydrase. Kinetic studies of this reaction revealed that the rate of hydrolysis of p-NPA in the presence of oxy Hb S was approximately 2 times slower than that of oxy Hb A. There is general agreement that the catalytic effect of peptides and proteins on the hydrolysis of p-NPA is mediated by histidines. Oxy Hb Deer Lodge (His beta 2 leads to Arg) hydrolyzes p-NPA at a rate approaching that of oxy Hb S. Oxy Hb F, in turn, exhibits a rate indistinguishable from that of oxy Hb A. The effect of 2,3-diphosphoglyceric acid on the reaction is consistent with the participation of His beta 2 in this catalytic effect. The pH dependence of the reaction and studies with free amino acids also lend support to the involvement of a histidine residue. These results point to subtle conformational differences between oxy Hb S and oxy Hb A in solution, probably involving His beta 2 and/or its microenvironment. The catalytic hydrolysis of p-NPA can be considered a useful probe of conformational states of macromolecules.

The hemoglobin regulator, 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate (glycerate-2,3-P2) has been shown to modulate the activity of casein kinase II from rabbit reticulocytes. Kinetic results were obtained with the exogenous substrate, beta-casein and the endogenous substrates, initiation factors (eIF-) 2 and 3. Experiments carried out to determine the interaction between glycerate-2,3-P2, Mg2+, substrate, and casein kinase II led to the following conclusions: 1) glycerate-2,3-P2 inhibition was competitive with respect to the protein substrate and noncompetitive with respect to ATP; 2) inhibition was not caused by depletion of ATP-Mg2+ as a consequence of Mg2+ complexation with glycerate-2,3-P2; 3) the response curve for glycerate-2,3-P2 was cooperative, but the cooperativity decreased as salt concentration increased; 4) glycerate-2,3-P2 inhibition was dependent on Mg2+ concentration up to about 5 mM MgCl2 but did not parallel glycerate-2,3-P2 X Mg2+ complex formation indicating that the Mg2+ dependence was not due to the formation of a glycerate-2,3-P2 X Mg2+ complex; 5) experiments with analogs of glycerate-2,3-P2 showed that the binary phosphate grouping was important in determining inhibition by glycerate-2,3-P2 while the presence of the carboxylate-phosphate pair was much less important; 6) low levels of glycerate-2,3-P2 stimulated phosphorylation of beta-casein, eIF-2, and eIF-3; the extent of stimulation was dependent on the affinity for casein kinase II and the level of the substrate. These effects were observed in the range of glycerate-2,3-P2 concentrations predicted for intracellular fluctuations in this metabolite. Therefore, it was concluded that glycerate-2,3-P2 could function both as an activator and an inhibitor of casein kinase II in the erythroid cell by binding at the substrate binding site.

We have previously shown that inositol trisphosphate (IP3) releases Ca2+ from a nonmitochondrial pool of permeabilized rat pancreatic acinar cells (Streb, H., Irvine, R. F., Berridge, M. J., and Schulz, I. (1984) Nature 306, 67-69). This pool was later identified as endoplasmic reticulum (Streb, H., Bayerdorffer, E., Haase, W., Irvine, R. F., and Schulz, I. (1984) J. Membr. Biol. 81, 241-253). As IP3 is produced by hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate on activation of many "Ca2+-mobilizing receptors," our observation supported the proposal that IP3 functions as a second messenger to release Ca2+ from the endoplasmic reticulum. We have here used the same preparation of permeabilized acinar cells to study the relationship of secretagogue-induced Ca2+ release and IP3 production. We show that: 1) secretagogue-induced Ca2+ release in permeabilized cells is accompanied by a parallel production of inositol trisphosphate. 2) When the secretagogue-induced increase in intracellular free Ca2+ concentration was abolished by ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid buffering, secretagogue-induced IP3 production was unimpaired. 3) When secretagogue-induced IP3 production was reduced by inhibiting phospholipase C with neomycin, secretagogue-induced Ca2+ release was also abolished. 4) When the IP3 breakdown was reduced either by lowering the free Mg2+ concentration of the incubation medium or by adding 2.3-diphosphoglyceric acid, the rise in IP3 and the release of Ca2+ induced by secretagogues were both increased. These results further support the role of IP3 as a second messenger to induce Ca2+ mobilization.

The glycation (nonenzymatic glycosylation) of several proteins was studied in various buffers in order to assess the effects of buffering ions on the kinetics and specificity of glycation of protein. Incubation of RNase with glucose in phosphate buffer resulted in inactivation of the enzyme because of preferential modification of lysine residues in or near the active site. In contrast, in the cationic buffers, 3-(N-morpholino)propane-sulfonic acid and 3-(N-tris(hydroxymethyl)methyl-amino)-2-hydroxypropanesulfonic acid, the kinetics of glycation of RNase were decreased 2- to 3-fold, there was a decrease in glycation of active site versus peripheral lysines, and the enzyme was resistant to inactivation by glucose. The extent of Schiff base formation on RNAse was comparable in the three buffers, suggesting that phosphate, bound in the active site of RNase, catalyzed the Amadori rearrangement at active site lysines, leading to the enhanced rate of inactivation of the enzyme. Phosphate catalysis of glycation was concentration-dependent and could be mimicked by arsenate. Phosphate also stimulated the rate of glycation of other proteins, such as lysozyme, cytochrome c, albumin, and hemoglobin. As with RNase, phosphate affected the specificity of glycation of hemoglobin, resulting in increased glycation of amino-terminal valine versus intrachain lysine residues. 2,3-Diphosphoglycerate exerted similar effects on the glycation of hemoglobin, suggesting that inorganic and organic phosphates may play an important role in determining the kinetics and specificity of glycation of hemoglobin in the red cell. Overall, these studies establish that buffering ions or ligands can exert significant effects on the kinetics and specificity of glycation of proteins.

The effect of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-P2-glycerate) on the phosphorylation of spectrin in solution by purified membrane cyclic AMP-independent protein kinase and in membrane preparations by the endogenous kinase was investigated. 2,3-P2-Glycerate inhibited spectrin phosphorylation both in solution and in the intact membrane. Kinetic analyses showed that 2,3-P2-glycerate had no effect on the Km for ATP but appeared to lower the Vmax of the reaction. When the effect of 2,3-P2-glycerate was examined in the presence of varying concentrations of spectrin, competitive inhibition kinetics were obtained. Interestingly, low concentrations of 2,3-P2-glycerate were found to effect the release of the membrane kinase from erythrocyte membranes. This release reaction may be related to the ability of 2,3-P2-glycerate to interfere with the interaction between the kinase and spectrin. The data suggest the possibility that the kinase may be bound to spectrin in the erythrocyte membrane. 2,3-P2-glycerate also caused the solubilization of 3-phosphoglyceraldehyde dehydrogenase, but not of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. Taken together, our data indicate that 2,3-P2-glycerate may have a regulatory role in membrane protein phosphorylation and also may regulate the extent of association of the kinase with the membrane.

The effect of 2,3-diphospho-D-glycerate on the sedimentation coefficient of carbon monoxide hemoglobin was correlated with the fraction of rapidly reacting hemoglobin observed subsequent to flash photolysis at 23 degrees C at pH 7.30 in buffers of 0.1 M ionic strength. Concentrations of the organic phosphate up to about 5 mM resulted in an increase in S20,w, consistent with an increase in the fraction of tetrameric hemoglobin. A decrease in rapidly reacting hemoglobin parallelled the increase in the sedimentation coefficient. Between 5 and 20 mM 2,3-diphosphoglycerate, S20,w decreased, suggesting that dissociation to dimers was enhanced. An increase in rapidly reacting hemoglobin was also observed in this concentration range. Similar sedimentation results were obtained with oxyhemoglobin at pH 7.00 and carbon monoxide hemoglobin at pH 7.06. Assuming single binding sites on each species, the dissociation constants for 2,3-diphosphoglycerate binding to tetrameric and dimeric HbCO are 0.2-0.3 mM and 2-5 mM at pH 7.30. This biphasic effect of this physiologically important organic phosphate on the state of aggregation of R state hemoglobin has not been previously reported, but it is similar to that previously noted with inositol hexaphosphate, which enhanced tetramer formation at low concentrations, while at higher concentrations it promoted hemoglobin dissociation to dimers (White, S. L. (1976) J. Biol. Chem. 251, 4763-4769; Gray, R. D. (1980) J. Biol. Chem. 255, 1812-1818).

Human and rabbit erythrocyte membranes prepared by hypotonic hemolysis contained 5 to 15% of the phosphofructokinase in the erythrocytes. The membrane-bound phosphofructokinase can be eluted by a saline wash. Human erythrocyte and rabbit muscle phosphofructokinase bind to the saline-washed membranes. This binding is specific for the inner surface of the membrane. The amount of phosphofructokinase bound is dependent on pH; at pH 7, 6 times more enzyme is bound than at pH 7.5. Unlike free phosphofructokinase, the membrane-bound phosphofructokinase is not inhibited by ATP or 2,3-diphosphoglycerate, and its fructose-6-P saturation curve is nonsigmoidal.

The effects of polyamines on the catalytic activity of casein kinase II have been studied. Of the three polyamines tested (putrescine, spermidine, and spermine), spermine was the most effective at stimulating the enzyme. When physiological concentrations of potassium and magnesium were utilized, 50% activation was observed at 0.28 mM spermine or 0.70 mM spermidine. With mixtures of spermine and spermidine at physiological concentrations for the reticulocyte (0.04 and 1.06 mM, respectively), a 2.5-fold stimulation of casein kinase II activity was observed. In general, stimulation of the enzyme was dependent on salt concentration and it was necessary to hold ionic strength constant in order to separate specific activation by the polyamines from general salt activation. Optimum activation by polyamines was observed at low ionic strength and physiological concentrations of Mg2+. When beta-casein and eukaryotic initiation factors 2 or 3 were used as substrates, up to 3.5-fold stimulation of casein kinase II was observed. In the absence of polyamine, half-saturation of the enzyme by Mg2+ was observed at 1-3 mM MgCl2, a concentration much higher than required for ATP-Mg2+ complex formation. This dependence of the enzyme on Mg2+ was greatly diminished in the presence of spermine. Spermine decreased the apparent Km for casein and increased the maximum velocity of the reaction. Spermidine and spermine also effectively reversed inhibition by 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate. The significant activation by polyamines observed under conditions similar to those measured for the red cell suggest that the polyamines, spermidine and to a lesser extent spermine, function to regulate casein kinase II in vivo.

Monophosphoglycerate mutase has been purified to homogeneity from outdated human erythrocytes as indicated by exclusion chromatography, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and equilibrium centrifugation. Occasionally, the recommended purification procedure yields a small amount (3% or less) of a single extraneous protein which can be deleted from the enzyme preparation by employing an additional purification step. The native enzyme has a molecular weight of 54,000 to 56,000 as determined by equilibrium centrifugation and exclusion chromatography. Disc gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate yields a single protein band with a molecular weight of 28,600, indicating that the native macromolecule is a dimer composed of subunits of similar mass. Homogeneous monophosphoglycerate mutase is free of diphosphoglycerate mutase, enolase, and nonspecific phosphatase activities; however, the enzyme manifests intrinsic 2,3-diphospho-D-glycerate phosphatase activity as shown by thermal denaturation studies. The diphosphatase activity is stimulated by PPi and glycolate-2-P, but is inhibited by Cl-, HSO3-, and Pi. The pH optimum for both the diphosphatase and the mutase is 6.8. The Km for 2,3-diphospho-D-glycerate in the phosphatase reaction is 82 muM at 37 degrees and pH 7.2. The amino acid composition of homogeneous monophosphoglycerate mutase is given.

Using the [3H]inositol-labeled plasma membranes isolated from the differentiated human leukemic (HL-60) cells, the mode of inhibitory action of the Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent enzyme protein kinase C in the chemotactic peptide, fMet-Leu-Phe (fMLP)-induced, phospholipase C-mediated hydrolysis of phosphoinositides was investigated. In this cell-free membrane system, fMLP in the presence of GTP plus Ca2+, GTP in the presence of Ca2+, or Ca2+ alone could induce the formation of inositol bis- and trisphosphate (IP2 and IP3, respectively). When the intact cells were pre-treated with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, the fMLP- and GTP-induced formation of IP2 and IP3 was markedly reduced but the Ca2+-induced reactions were not reduced in the isolated membranes. This result suggests that protein kinase C impairs the coupling of the GTP-binding protein to the phospholipase C. In another experiment, preincubation of the isolated membranes with pure rat brain protein kinase C inhibited the fMLP-induced formation of IP2, but did not inhibit the GTP- or Ca2+-induced reaction. Under the same conditions, protein kinase C did not inhibit the fMLP-, GTP-, or Ca2+-induced formation of IP3. This result suggests that protein kinase C impairs additionally the coupling of the fMLP receptor to the GTP-binding protein leading to the formation of IP2. The reason for the failure of protein kinase C to inhibit the fMLP-induced formation of IP3 in the cell-free membrane system is unknown, but several possible mechanisms are discussed.

Oxygen equilibrium curves of human hemoglobin Ao (HbAo) and human hemoglobin cross-linked between the alpha chains (alpha alpha Hb) by bis(3,5-dibromosalicyl) fumarate were measured as a function of pH and chloride or organic phosphate concentration. Compared to HbAo, the oxygen affinity of alpha alpha Hb was lower, cooperativity was maintained, although slightly reduced, and all heterotropic effects were diminished. The major effect of alpha alpha-cross-linking appears to be a reduction of the oxygen affinity of R-state hemoglobin under all conditions. However, while the oxygen affinity of T-state alpha alpha Hb was slightly reduced at physiologic chloride concentration and in the absence of organic phosphates, KT was the same for both hemoglobins in the presence of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (or high salt) and higher for alpha alpha Hb in the presence of inositol hexaphosphate. The reduced O2 affinity arises from smaller binding constants for both T- and R-state alpha alpha Hb rather than through stabilization of the low affinity conformation. All four Adair constants could be determined for alpha alpha Hb under most conditions, but a3 could not be resolved for HbAo without constraining a4, suggesting that the cross-link stabilizes triply ligated intermediates of hemoglobin.