Two forms of the nucleoside diphosphate kinase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa 8830: altered specificity of nucleoside triphosphate synthesis by the cell membrane-associated form of the truncated enzyme

An intracellular protease was found to cleave the 16-kDa form of nucleoside diphosphate kinase (Ndk) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa to a 12-kDa form that undergoes autophosphorylation with an efficiency almost similar to that of the 16-kDa form. The 12 kDa-form of Ndk synthesizes GTP in preference to other nucleoside triphosphates. The generation of the 12-kDa form of Ndk and its association with the cell membrane are linked to the growth stage of P. aeruginosa.