Estimation of binding constants for the substrate and activator of Rhodobacter sphaeroides adenosine 5'-diphosphate-glucose pyrophosphorylase using affinity capillary electrophoresis.

Binding constants were determined for the activator fructose-6-phosphate (F6P) and substrate adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) (in the presence and absence of F6P) to the recombinant wild-type (WT) Rhodobacter sphaeroides adenosine 5'-diphosphate-(ADP)-glucose pyrophosphorylase (ADPGlc PPase) using affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE). In these binding studies, the capillary is initially injected with a plug of sample containing ADPGlc PPase and noninteracting standards. The sample is then subjected to increasing concentrations of F6P or ATP in the running buffer and electrophoresed. Analysis of the change in the migration times of ADPGlc PPase, relative to those of the noninteracting standards, as a function of the varying concentration of F6P or ATP yields a binding constant. The values obtained were in good agreement with kinetic parameters obtained from steady state activity assays. The method was extended to examine the F6P binding constants for the R33A and R22A enzymes and the ATP binding constants for the R8A enzyme in the presence and absence of F6P. The R33A enzyme has been shown by activity assays to be insensitive to F6P activation, indicating a defect in binding or in downstream transmission of the allosteric signal required for full activation. ACE indicated no apparent binding of F6P, supporting the former hypothesis. The R22A enzyme was shown by activity assays to have a approximately 15-fold decrease in apparent affinity for F6P compared to that of WT while ACE indicated an affinity comparable to that of WT; potential reasons for this discrepancy are discussed. The R8A enzyme as measured by activity assays exhibits reduced fold-activation by F6P compared to that of WT but increased apparent affinity for ATP in the presence of F6P. The ACE results were in good agreement with the activity assay data, confirming the increased affinity for ATP in the presence of F6P. This method demonstrates the quantitative ability of ACE to study different binding sites/ligand interactions in allosteric enzymes.