Quantitative description of the absorption spectra of the coenzyme in glycogen phosphorylases based on log-normal distribution curves.

The absorption spectra of the coenzyme [pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP)] in glycogen phosphorylase a (GPha), glycogen phosphorylase b (GPhb) and of the latter bound to various effectors and substrates were analysed on the basis of log-normal distribution curves. The results obtained showed that the ionization state of the PLP and GPha environment differs from that of GPhb. This divergence was interpreted in terms of tautomeric equilibria between some forms of the Schiff base of PLP and enzymic Lys-679. The ionic forms are slightly more predominant in GPha than they are in GPhb, so ionic and/or hydrogen-bonding interactions between the aromatic ring of PLP and GPha must be stronger than with GPhb. This confirms the purely structural role of the aromatic ring of the coenzyme. Binding of GPhb to AMP and Mg2+ results in the coenzyme adopting a similar state as in GPha. On the other hand, binding to IMP gives rise to no detectable changes in the tautomeric equilibrium of the coenzyme.