Yellow lupin (Lupinus luteus) aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. Isolation and some properties of enzyme-bound valyl adenylate and seryl adenylate

Abstract

As a continuation of our studies on plant (yellow lupin, Lupinus luteus) aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases we describe here formation and some properties of valyl-tRNA synthetase-bound valyl adenylate (EVal(Val-AMP)) and seryl-tRNA synthetase-bound seryl adenylate (ESer(Ser-AMP)). Valyl-tRNA synthetase-bound valyl adenylate was detected and isolated by several approaches in the pH range 6--10. In that range inorganic pyrophosphatase increases the amount of valyl adenylate by factor 1.8 regardless of pH. 50% of valine from the EVal(Val-AMP) complex isolated by Sephadex G-100 gel filtration was transferred to tRNA with a rate constant greater than 4 min-1 (pH 6.2, 10 degrees C). The ratio of valine to AMP in the enzyme-bound valyl adenylate is 1 : 1 and it is not changed by the presence of periodate-oxidized tRNA. In contrast to enzyme-bound valyl adenylate, formation of ESer(Ser-AMP) is very sensitive to pH. Inorganic pyrophosphatase increases the amount of seryl adenylate by a factor 6 at pH 8.0 and 30 at pH 6.9 60% of serine from the ESer(Ser-AMP) complex was transferred to tRNA with a rate constant greater than 4 min-1 (pH 8.0, 0 degrees C). The ratio of serine to AMP in the enzyme-bound seryl adenylate is 1 : 1. The rate of synthesis of the enzyme-bound aminoacyl adenylates was measured by ATP-PPi exchange. Michaelis constants for the substrates of valyl-tRNA and seryl-tRNA synthetases in ATP-PPi exchange were determined. Effects of pH, MgCl2 and KCl on the initial velocity of aminoacyl adenylate formation are described. For comparison, catalytic indices in the aminoacylation reactions catalyzed by both lupin enzymes are given and effects of pH, MgCl2 and KCl on tRNA aminoacylation are presented as well. Under some conditions, e.g. at low pH or high salt concentration, lupin valyl-tRNA and seryl-tRNA synthetase are active exclusively in ATP-PPi exchange reaction.