The effects of temperature on the kinetics and stability of mesophilic and thermophilic 3-phosphoglycerate kinases.

The effects of temperature on the kinetic parameters kcat and Km, for three isolates of the highly conserved monomeric enzyme 3-phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK), were investigated in detail using a rapid automated kinetics apparatus. PGK was purified from the thermophilic bacterium Thermoanaerobacter sp. Rt8.G4 (optimum growth temperature 68 degrees C), the mesophile Zymomonas mobilis (optimum growth temperature 32 degrees C) and a second, unidentified, soil mesophile designated unid A (optimum growth temperature 27 degrees C). The kinetic behaviour with temperature of each PGK preparation was distinct, despite the conserved nature of the enzyme. The kcat values increased with temperature, but not as rapidly exponentially, as might be expected from the Arrhenius equation. Maximum kcat values were at much higher temperatures than the optimum growth temperatures for the mesophiles, but for the thermophile the temperature of maximum kcat was close to its optimum growth temperature. Km values were in general nearly constant through the lower temperature ranges, but increased substantially as the optimum temperature (highest kcat) was passed. Thermal irreversible denaturation of the PGK proteins was also investigated by measuring loss of activity over time. In a dilute buffer, Arrhenius plots for denaturation were linear, and the calculated apparent energy of activation (Eact) for denaturation for the thermophilic PGK was 600 kJ.mol-1, whereas for the mesophilic enzymes the values were 200-250 kJ.mol-1. In the presence of substrates, a considerable stabilization occurred, and in the case of the Z. mobilis enzyme, the apparent Eact was increased to 480 kJ.mol-1. A theoretical explanation for these observations is presented. Comparing the kinetics data with irreversible denaturation rates determined at relevant temperatures, it was clear that kcat values reached a maximum, and then decreased with higher temperature before irreversible denaturation had any significant influence.