Search

Novel erythrocyte pyruvate kinase gene defects were found in a patient without a family history of consanguinity. The polymerase chain reaction products of the R-type pyruvate kinase cDNA from the propositus contained two point mutations of Ser80 (TCC)-->Pro (CCC) and Arg490 (CGG)-->Trp (TGG). Allele-specific polymerase chain reaction of the genomic DNA revealed that this patient was a compound heterozygote. The mobilities of the patient's L- and R-type pyruvate kinase by thin-layer polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were abnormal. The results are consistent with the fact that these mutations are within exons common to the hepatic and erythrocyte isozymes.

In a 2-yr old girl a hemolytic anemia was present since birth requiring multiple blood transfusions. Pyruvate kinase deficiency was suspected on the basis of a marginal enzyme activity, but could not be established due to the presence of massive numbers of donor cells in her peripheral blood. However, by density fractionation we succeeded in the isolation of a small fraction of the patient's own cells, in which a severe pyruvate kinase deficiency could be detected. In contrast hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities were extremely high, which is indicative that a very immature cell population is present in this fraction. In immunofluorescence studies a clear crossreaction was apparent with anti M2-type pyruvate kinase antibodies, whereas only a faint reaction with anti L-type could be detected. Despite the presence of a slight amount of L-type immunoreactive material, the residual activity in the patient's cell fraction could only be attributed to M2-type pyruvate kinase as was shown by cellulose acetate electrophoresis.

An one-step-purification of native pyruvate kinase from human erythrocytes by immunoaffinity chromatography with monoclonal antibodies coupled on CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B is described. The recoveries of PK amounted up to 83%, with a 2400 fold purification of PK-R from human stroma free hemolysate.

Pyruvate kinase of Rana ridibunda erythrocytes is one of the regulatory enzymes of glycolysis. PK was purified about 7800-fold. The purified enzyme showed on SDS-electrophoresis three protein bands with an apparent molecular weight of between 60 and 65 kD. The enzyme is subject to activation by FDP and to inhibition by ATP. It showed Km values for PEP and ADP of 0.095 and 0.98 mM respectively. It was activated by K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions whereas it was inhibited by Na+ ions. The role of PK of Rana ridibunda erythrocytes, as a key and rate controlling enzyme of the glycolytic flux is discussed.

L-type pyruvate kinase from several tissues was purified by a micro-method of immunaffinity chromatography and the subunit structure analysed by SDS-electrophoresis (1-3). Whereas in adult human kidney L as well as L' seem to be present in the normal erythrocyte only L' subunits could be identified.

Human erythrocyte pyruvate kinase (ATP: pyruvate phosphotransferase, E.C.2.7.1.40) is purified 30,000-fold, using a method which includes ammonium sulfate precipitation, Sephadex G-75 filtration, and Blue Dextran-Sepharose 4B chromatography. The enzyme is resolved into two peaks on Blue Dextran-Sepharose 4B. The first peak with sp act of 300 corresponds to the mature form (R4) whereas the second peak with sp act of 180 corresponds to R2R'2. Peaks I and II give one band on 10% polyacrylamide gel without SDS. Peak II gives two bands on 10% SDS gel with molecular weights 60,000 (R') and 57,500 (R). On the other hand, peak I gives only one band on 10% SDS gel having a molecular weight of 57,500. Both the R4 and R2R'2 forms of the enzyme have the same pH optimum of 7.2.

R2-type pyruvate kinase purified monogeneously from human red cells catalyzes the phosphorylation of glycolate (glycolate kinase). Maximum activation of glycolate kinase was observed at 100 microM fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (Fru-1,6-P2) and at 2 mM glucose-1,6-bisphosphate (Glc-1,6-P2). The Km for ATP was 1.1 mM in the absence of Fru-1,6-P2 and 1.5 mM in the presence of 1 mM Fru-1,6-P2. The Km for glycolate was 20 mM in the absence of Fru-1,6-P2 and 5 mM in the presence of 1.0 mM Fru-1,6-P2. The optimum pH was over 10.5. At the physiological concentrations of Fru-1,6-P2, Glc-1,6-P2 and ATP, the glycolate kinase activity is too low to maintain the reported level of phosphoglycolate (approx. 2-5 microM). It is demonstrated that phosphorylation of glycolate by R2-type pyruvate kinase which is predominant in mature red cells plays no physiological role. The questions whether an unknown pathway for phosphoglycolate synthesis exists or whether there is actually phosphoglycolate in red cells are raised.

Human red cells manifest glycolate kinase activity. This activity copurifies with pyruvate kinase and is decreased in the red cells of subjects with hereditary pyruvate kinase deficiency. Glycolate kinase activity was detected in the presence of FDP or glucose-1,6-P2. In the presence of 1 mmol/L FDP, the Km for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) was 0.28 mmol/L and a half maximum velocity for glycolate was obtained at 40 mmol/L. The pH optimum of the reaction was over 10.5 With 10 mumol/L FDP, 500 mumol/L glucose-1,6-P2, 2 mmol/L ATP, 5 mmol/L MgCl2, and 50 mmol/L glycolate at pH 7.5, glycolate kinase activity was calculated to be approximately 0.0013 U/mL RBC. In view of this low activity even in the presence of massive amounts of glycolate, the glycolate kinase reaction cannot account for the maintenance of the reported phosphoglycolate level in human red cells.

M2-type pyruvate kinases (M2-PK) have been isolated from human leukocytes and from the erythrocytes of a patient with erythrocyte PK hyperactivity. The kinetic characteristics of the patient erythrocyte M2-PK were similar to those of leukocyte M2-PK except for the Hill coefficient of phosphoenol pyruvate kinetics that showed little difference in the values. The patient erythrocyte M2-PK displayed complete immunological identity with leukocyte M2-PK in immunodiffusion, immunoblotting and immunoneutralization. The sensitivity to proteolysis by trypsin and the electrophoretic migration in different conditions were similar for the M2-PK of both origins. These results suggest an identity between this M2-PK abnormally present in erythrocytes and the M2-PK from leukocytes.

Erythrocyte pyruvate kinase (ATP:pyruvate 2-0-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.40) has been purified 40 000 times from human erythrocytes, according to an original method. The whole purification procedure included toluene extraction, ammonium sulphate fractionation, DEAE-Sephadex batchwise chromatography and affinity chromatography on a Dextran Blue-Sepharose column with specific elution by fructose 1,6-diphosphate. The final preparation had specific activity of 290 I.U./mg of proteins and the overall yield was about 30%. Pyruvate kinase showed only one protein band as judged by sodium dodecyl sulphate acrylamide gel electrophoresis. Pure enzyme was injected into rabbits and monospecific antiserum was obtained able to neutralize, per ml, 150 I.U. of erythocyte-type pyruvate kinase as well as of L-type enzyme. L-type and erythrocyte-type pyruvate kinases showed reactions of complete identity when tested in immunodiffusion against anti-erythrocyte type pyruvate kinase sera; in all cases a single precipitation line could be detected. L-type pyruvate kinase when mixed with anti-erythocyte pyruvate kinase serum suppressed all ability of that antiserum to react immunological with erythocyte enzyme. Finally the microcomplement fixation curves using anti-erythrocyte pyruvate kinase serum were identical for erythrocyte and L-type enzymes. From these results it appeared that no antigenic difference between L-type and erythocyte enzyme could be detected. Consequently the most likely hypothesis is that both these enzymes are coded by the same single gene, the slight electrophoretic differences between them being due to post-synthetic tissue-specific changes.

A qualitative variant of erythrocyte and liver pyruvate kinases (PK Osaka) was detected in a family in which two siblings have extremely low PK activity by semipurification with DEAE cellulose chromatography and subsequent concentration of the enzyme solutions. This was previously reported to be a quantitative variant based on studies of crude tissue preparations. The molecular aberrations were characterized by slow mobility upon electrophoresis, abnormal kinetics for phosphoenolpyruvate, and low affinity for anti-human erythrocyte PK serum. The mutant PK L was similar both electrophoretically and immunologically to PK R.

The electrophoretic mobility and the immunologic specificity of erythrocyte pyruvate kinase (PK) of the homozygous Basenji dog with PK deficiency were identical to those of normal M2-type PK isozyme seen in the white cell but not to those of the erythrocyte PK isozyme. Kinetic properties and stability were also consistent with the M2-type PK isozyme. Defective PK in the homozygous red cell was due to the absence of the erythrocyte PK isozyme and the compensatory presence of M2-type PK isozyme, as seen in the severe classical type PK deficiency in man.

1. Pigeon erythrocyte pyruvate kinase (PK) was purified 22,000 fold by successive column chromatography on Sephadex DEAE A-50 and Red Agarose. The resulting enzyme preparation had a specific activity of 815.3 U/mg protein and an overall yield of 18.5%. 2. The molecular weight, as determined by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200 was 152,000. 3. Isoelectric focusing in the pH range of 3-10 showed that pigeon erythrocyte contained at least 3 PK isozymes with isoelectric points of 5, 5.7 and 6. 4. The variation of activity of PK at various ADP and phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) concentrations was studied. The Km values for ADP and PEP were 0.40 and 0.46 mM respectively. 5. The enzyme was activated by FDP, and inhibited by ATP, highly phosphorylated inositol derivatives and 2,3-DPG: 6. It was activated by K+ and Mg2+ ions. 7. Phosphorylated hexoses and Pi stimulated the activity of PK. 8. The regulatory role of PK of pigeon erythrocytes, which lack the typical 2,3-DPG bypass, is discussed.