The reaction of iodine with glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase from Bacillus stearothermophilus was investigated. The active-site thiol group of the cysteine residue homologous with cysteine-149 in the pig muscle enzyme was protected by reaction with tetrathionate. The apoenzyme was readily inhibited by KI3 solution at pH8, but the coenzyme, NAD+, protected the enzyme against inhibition and decreased the extent of iodination. At pH 9.5, ready inhibition of both apo- and holo-enzyme was observed. Tryptic peptides containing residues iodinated at pH 8 were isolated and characterized. One of the most reactive residues in both holo- and apo-enzymes was a tyrosine homologous with tyrosine-46 in the pig muscle enzyme, and this residue was iodinated without loss of enzymic activity. Other reactive tyrosine residues in the apoenzyme were in positions homologous with residues 178, 273, 283 and 311 in the pig muscle enzyme, but they were not readily iodinated in the holoenzyme. Histidine residues in both holo- and apo-enzymes were iodinated at pH 8 in sequence positions homologous with residues 50, 162 and 190 in the pig muscle enzyme. The inhibition of the enzyme was not correlated with the iodination of a particular residue. The results are discussed in relation to a three-dimensional model based on the structure of the lobster muscle enzyme and demonstrate that conformational changes affecting the reactivity of several tyrosine residues most probably occur on binding of the coenzyme.

A comparison of the product-inhibition patterns during cleavage of D-fructose 1,6-diphosphate by aldolases from yeast, rabbit muscle and Bacillus stearothermophilus shows an ordered reaction sequence for all three enzymes, with dihydroxyacetone phosphate the last-leaving product. Addition of Zn2+, Co2+, Fe2+, Mn2+ or Cd2+ ions to the inactive apo-(Bacillus stearothermophilus aldolase) restores activity to different extents, whereas Ni2+, Mg2+ or Cu2+ ions have no effect. The cleavage activity of this aldolase is not enhanced by added K+ ion. The effects of metal replacement on thermal stability, Km and Vmax. are given and the possible role of the metal is discussed in the light of these results.

The binding of NAD + to glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.12) from Bacillus stearothermophilus has been studied by measurement of protein fluorescence quenching. Slight negative co-operativity was observed in the binding of the third and fourth coenzyme molecules to the tetrameric enzyme. The first two coenzyme molecules were tightly bound. In this respect the enzyme resembles that from sturgeon muscle rather than that from yeast.

1. Maleic anhydride was shown to react rapidly and specifically with amino groups of proteins and peptides. Complete substitution of chymotrypsinogen was achieved under mild conditions and the extent of reaction could be readily determined from the spectrum of the maleyl-protein. 2. Maleyl-proteins are generally soluble and disaggregated at neutral pH. Trypsin splits the blocked proteins only at arginine residues and there is frequently selectivity in this cleavage, e.g. in yeast alcohol dehydrogenase and pig glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase. 3. The group is removed by intramolecular catalysis at acid pH. The half-time was 11–12hr. at 37° at pH3·5 in ∈-maleyl-lysine or in maleyl-chymotrypsinogen. 4. The unblocking reaction can be used as the basis for a ‘diagonal’-electrophoretic separation of lysine peptides and N -terminal peptides, as shown by studies with β-melanocyte-stimulating hormone.