Green crab (Scylla serrata) alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1) is a metalloenzyme, each active site in which contains a tight cluster of two zinc ions and one magnesium ion. Unfolding and inactivation of the enzyme during denaturation in guanidinium chloride (GuHCl) solutions of different concentrations have been compared. The kinetic theory of the substrate reaction during irreversible inhibition of enzyme activity previously described by Tsou [(1988), Adv. Enzymol. Related Areas Mol. Biol. 61, 381-436] has been applied to a study on the kinetics of the course of inactivation of the enzyme during denaturation by GuHCl. The rate constants of unfolding and inactivation have been determined. The results show that inactivation occurs before noticeable conformational change can be detected. It is suggested that the active site of green crab alkaline phosphatase containing multiple metal ions is also situated in a limited region of the enzyme molecule that is more fragile to denaturants than the protein as a whole.

The inactivation of alkaline phosphatase from green crab (Scylla serrata) by N-bromosuccinimide has been studied using the kinetic method of the substrate reaction during modification of enzyme activity previously described by Tsou [(1988), Adv. Enzymol. Related Areas Mol. Biol. 61, 381-436]. The results show that inactivation of the enzyme is a slow, reversible reaction. The microscopic rate constants for the reaction of the inactivator with free enzyme and the enzyme-substrate complex were determined. Comparison of these rate constants indicates that the presence of substrate offers marked protection of this enzyme against inactivation by N-bromosuccinimide. The above results suggest that the tryptophan residue is essential for activity and is situated at the active site of the enzyme.

Under conditions of low pH, the conformational states of holo-YADH and apo-YADH were examined by protein intrinsic fluorescence, ANS fluorescence, and far-UV CD measurements. The results obtained show that a low ionic strength, with the addition of HCl, the holo- and apo- YADH denatured gradually to reach the ultimate unfolded conformation in the vicinity of pH 2.0 and 2.5, respectively. With the decrease of pH from 7.0 to 2.0, the fluorescence emission decreased markedly, with its emission maximum red-shifting from 335 to 355 nm, indicating complete exposure of the buried tryptophan residues to the solvent. The far-UV CD spectra show the loss of the arrayed secondary structure, though the acid-denatured enzyme still maintained a partially arrayed secondary structure. A further decrease in pH by increasing the concentration of HClO4 induced a cooperative folding of the denatured enzyme to a compact conformation with the properties of a molten globule, described previously by Goto et al. [Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87, 573-577 (1990)]. More extensive studies showed that although apo-YADH and holo-YADH exhibited similar behavior, the folding cooperative ability of apo-YADH was lower than that of the holo-enzyme. From the above results, it is suggested that the zinc ion plays an important role in the proper folding of YADH and in stabilizing its native conformation.

The conformational changes of yeast alcohol dehydrogenase during unfolding at alkaline pH have been followed by fluorescence emission and circular dichroism spectra. A result of comparison of inactivation and conformational changes shows that much lower values of alkaline pH are required to bring about inactivation than significant conformational change of the enzyme molecule. At pH 9.5, although the enzyme has been completely inactivated, no marked conformational changes can be observed. Even at pH 12, the apparently fully unfolded enzyme retains some ordered secondary structure. After removal of Zn2+ from the enzyme molecule, the conformational stability decreased. At pH 12 by adding the salt. the relatively unfolded state of denatured enzyme changes into a compact conformational state by hydrophobic collapsing. Folded states induced by salt bound ANS strongly, indicating the existence of increased hydrophobic surface. More extensive studies showed that although apo-YADH and holo-YADH exhibited similar behavior. the folding cooperative ability of apo-enzyme was lower than that of holo-enzyme. The above results suggest that the zinc ion plays an important role in helping the folding of YADH and in stabilizing its native conformation. 0 Munksgaard 1996.

The kinetics of thermal inactivation of alkaline phosphatase from green crab (Scylla Serrata) has been studied using the kinetic method relating to the substrate reaction during irreversible inhibition of enzyme activity previously described by Tsou. The results show that the thermal inactivation of the enzyme is an irreversible reaction. Comparison of the microscopic rate constants for thermal inactivation of free enzyme and the enzyme-substrate complex shows that the presence of substrate has a certain protective effect against thermal inactivation.