1. Glucosamine synthetase (l-glutamine-d-fructose 6-phosphate aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.16) was purified about 300-fold from rat liver by two techniques. One procedure utilized the protective action of fructose 6-phosphate and gave a relatively stable preparation, the other yielded an unstable enzyme (half-life of about 20h), free of contaminant activities, on which kinetic experiments were performed. Although the properties of the two preparations showed slight differences, the unstabilized form could be converted into the stabilized form. 2. During preparation the enzyme retained its sensitivity to the feedback inhibitor, UDP-N-acetylglucosamine. 3. The reversibility of the enzyme-catalysed reaction could not be demonstrated. There was no apparent requirement for a cofactor. 4. The pH optimum was at 7.5, at which pH the reaction obeyed a Ping Pong Bi Bi rate equation. At pH values outside the range 6.9-7.6 and at temperatures below 29 degrees C the velocity was described by an ordered Bi Bi rate equation. 5. The molecular weight of the enzyme, determined by two procedures, was 360000-400000. 6. The aminotransferase was unable to utilize ammonia as a substrate.
1. The nature of the feedback inhibition of hexosamine biosynthesis on rat liver glucosamine synthetase (l-glutamine-d-fructose 6-phosphate aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.16) by UDP-N-acetylglucosamine was investigated in detail. 2. Further modifiers of physiological importance are described. Glucose 6-phosphate and AMP potentiated the UDP-N-acetylglucosamine inhibition, and UTP behaved as an activator. These three compounds only exerted their action when the feedback inhibitor was bound to the enzyme. 3. ATP also inhibited the enzyme. 4. The actions of these various effectors are discussed in kinetic terms. 5. An interpretation of these findings with reference to the regulation of hexosamine biosynthesis is presented.
1. The binding of substrates and effectors to glucosamine synthetase (l-glutamine-d-fructose 6-phosphate aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.16) was studied by using the ligand to alter the denaturation rate of the enzyme. The free enzyme bound fructose 6-phosphate, glucose 6-phosphate and UDP-N-acetylglucosamine, but not glutamine, AMP or UTP. Glucose 6-phosphate and AMP increased the binding of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine whereas UTP decreased the interaction between the enzyme and the feedback inhibitor. UDP-N-acetylglucosamine induced a glutamine-binding site on the enzyme. 2. Selective thermal or chemical denaturation revealed that the UDP-N-acetylglucosamine-binding site was not located at the catalytic site. The UTP site could not be distinguished from that for the nucleotide sugar. The AMP- and glucose 6-phosphate-binding sites were distinct from the catalytic and feedback-inhibitor-binding sites. 3. The specificity of the glutamine-binding site was investigated by using a series of potential analogues. 4. A model is proposed for the action of the effectors and the mechanism of the reaction discussed in kinetic and chemical terms.
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