J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 261, Issue 24, 11189-11193, Aug, 1986
Purification and characterization of a novel 4-methyleneglutamine synthetase from germinated peanut cotyledons (Arachis hypogaea)
HC Winter and EE Dekker
A newly detected amide synthetase, designated 4-methyleneglutamine
synthetase, has been partially purified from extracts of 5- to 7-day
germinated peanut cotyledons (Arachis hypogaea). Purification steps include
fractionation with protamine sulfate and ammonium sulfate followed by
column chromatography on Bio-Gel and DEAE-cellulose; synthetase purified
over 300-fold is obtained. The enzyme has a molecular weight estimated to
be approximately 250,000 and a broad pH optimum with maximal activity at
approximately pH 7.5. Maximal rates of activity are obtained with NH+4 (Km
= 3.7 mM) as the amide donor and the enzyme is highly specific for
4-methylene-L-glutamic acid (Km = 2.7 mM) as the amide acceptor. Product
identification and stoichiometric studies establish the reaction catalyzed
to be: 4-methyleneglutamic acid + NH4+ + ATP Mg2+----4-methyleneglutamine +
AMP + PPi. PPi accumulates only when F- is added to inhibit pyrophosphatase
activity present in synthetase preparations. This enzymatic activity is
completely insensitive to the glutamine synthetase inhibitors,
tabtoxinine-beta-lactam and F-, and is only partially inhibited by
methionine sulfoximine. It is, however, inhibited by added pyrophosphate in
the presence of F- as well as by certain divalent metal ions (other than
Mg2+) including Hg2+, Ni2+, Mn2+, and Ca2+. All data obtained indicate that
this newly detected synthetase is distinct from the well-known glutamine
and asparagine synthetases.