title: Phosphate starvation-inducible synthesis of the alpha-subunit of the pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinase in black mustard suspension cells.
abstract: PP(i)-dependent phosphofructokinase (PFP) activity, measured in the forward direction, increased approximately 19-fold when suspension cell cultures of black mustard (Brassica nigra) were subjected to 18 days of P(i) deprivation. Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate (2 microM) elicited a 10-fold activation of PFP from P(i)-deficient cells, compared to only a 2-fold activation of the enzyme from nutrient-sufficient cells. Also, PFP from P(i)-starved cells exhibited a greater affinity for the activator (Ka = 0.09 microM) than the enzyme from nutrient-sufficient cells (Ka = 0.32 microM). Western blots of extracts from P(i)-deficient cells were probed with rabbit anti-(potato tuber PFP) immune serum and revealed equal intensity staining immunoreactive polypeptides of M(r) 66,000 (alpha-subunit) and 60,000 (beta-subunit) that co-migrated with the alpha- and beta-subunits of homogeneous potato tuber PFP. By contrast, only the M(r) 60,000 beta-subunit was observed on immunoblots of extracts prepared from nutrient-sufficient cells. Quantification of immunoblots indicated that in black mustard cells experiencing transition from P(i) sufficiency to deficiency or vice versa, the relative amount of immunoreactive alpha-subunit correlated with the degree of activation of PFP by fructose 2,6-bisphosphate. These observations provide additional evidence that (i) plant PFP is an adaptive enzyme that may function in glycolysis during P(i) deprivation, and (ii) the alpha-subunit acts as a regulatory protein in controlling the catalytic activity of the beta-subunit and its regulation by fructose 2,6-bisphosphate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Theodorou
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Cornel
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Duff
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Plaxton
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D001937:Brassica; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004790:Enzyme Induction; D005635:Fructosediphosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism*; D010770:Phosphotransferases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D011233:Precipitin Tests
chemical_list: D005635:Fructosediphosphates; D010710:Phosphates; C027652:fructose 2,6-diphosphate; D010770:Phosphotransferases; C022502:pyrophosphate-fructose 6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase