Expression of bovine heart fructose 6-phosphate,2-kinase:fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase and determination of the role of the carboxyl terminus by mutagenesis.

Bovine heart fructose 6-P,2-kinase:fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase was expressed in Escherichia coli. In order to determine the role of the carboxyl-terminal peptide, 49 and 78 amino acids from the C-terminus were deleted using oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis. The expressed wild-type and mutant enzymes were purified to homogeneity, and the steady-state kinetics of the mutant enzymes were compared to those of the wild-type enzyme. Deletion of 49 residues (Del 49) resulted in a 35% decrease in KmFru6P, a 36% increase in Vmax, and a 2-fold increase in Kcat/Km of the kinase. There was no change in the kinetic properties of the phosphatase activity. Deletion of 78 residues (Del 78) resulted in a 4.5-fold decrease in KmFru6P, a 2.5-fold increase in Vmax, a 12-fold increase in kcat/Km of the kinase, and a 3-fold increase in kcat/Km of the phosphatase. Phosphorylation of the wild-type and Del 49 enzymes resulted in decreased KmFru6P and activation of the kinase without affecting the phosphatase activity. Thermal inactivation rates of the wild-type and Del 49 enzymes were similar, but the rate of Del 78 was more rapid. The phosphorylated wild-type and Del 49 enzymes were more sensitive to thermal inactivation than the dephospho forms. Urea inactivation of the kinase and phosphatase of wild-type and Del 49 were similar, but Del 78 was more sensitive to urea. All phosphorylated enzymes were more susceptible to urea inactivation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)