Phosphoribulokinase

Phosphoribulokinase (PRK) (EC 2.7.1.19) is an essential photosynthetic enzyme that catalyzes the ATP-dependent phosphorylation of ribulose 5-phosphate (RuP) into ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP), both intermediates in the Calvin Cycle. Its main function is to regenerate RuBP, which is the initial substrate and CO2-acceptor molecule of the Calvin Cycle. PRK belongs to the family of transferase enzymes, specifically those transferring phosphorus-containing groups (phosphotransferases) to an alcohol group acceptor. Along with ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCo), phosphoribulokinase is unique to the Calvin Cycle. Therefore, PRK activity often determines the metabolic rate in organisms for which carbon fixation is key to survival. Much initial work on PRK was done with spinach leaf extracts in the 1950s; subsequent studies of PRK in other photosynthetic prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms have followed. The possibility that PRK might exist was first recognized by Weissbach et al. in 1954; for example, the group noted that carbon dioxide fixation in crude spinach extracts was enhanced by the addition of ATP. The first purification of PRK was conducted by Hurwitz and colleagues in 1956.

ATP + Mg2+ - D-ribulose 5-phosphate ⇌ {\displaystyle \rightleftharpoons } ADP + D-ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate

The two substrates of PRK are ATP and D-ribulose 5-phosphate, whereas its two products are ADP and D-ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate. PRK activity requires the presence of a divalent metal cation like Mg2+, as indicated in the reaction above.

Structure The structure of PRK is different in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Prokaryotic PRK's typically exist as octamers of 32 kDa subunits, while eukaryotic PRK's are often dimers of 40 kDa subunits. Structural determinations for eukaryotic PRK have yet to be conducted, but prokaryotic PRK structures are still useful for rationalizing the regulation and mechanism of PRK. As of 2018, only two crystal structures have been resolved for this class of enzymes in Rhodobacter sphaeroides and Methanospirillum hungatei, with the respective PDB accession codes PDB: 1A7J​ and 5B3F.

Rhodobacter sphaeroides In Rhodobacter sphaeroides, PRK (or RsPRK) exists as a homooctomer with protomers composed of seven-stranded mixed β-sheets, seven α-helices, and an auxiliary pair of anti-parallel β-strands. The RsPRK subunit exhibits a protein folding analogous to the folding of nucleotide monophosphate (NMP) kinases. Mutagenesis studies suggest that either Asp 42 or Asp 169 acts as the catalytic base that deprotonates the O1 hydroxyl oxygen on RuP for nucleophilic attack of ATP, while the other acts a ligand for a metal cation like Mg2+ (read mechanism below for more details). Other residues present at the active site for RsPRK include His 45, Arg 49, Arg 168, and Arg 173, which are purportedly involved in RuP binding. (See image at right).

Methanospirillum hungatei In archaeal PRK of Methanospirillum hungatei, PRK (or MhPRK) exists as a homodimer of two protomers, each consisting of eight-stranded mixed β-sheets surrounded by α-helices and β-strands—similar to the structure of bacterial PRK from R. sphaeroides (see info. box above). Although their quaternary structures differ and they have low amino acid sequence identity, MhPRK and RsPRK have structurally similar N-terminal domains as well as sequentially conserved residues like His 55, Lys 151, and Arg 154.

Mechanism and Activity PRK catalyzes the phosphorylation of RuP into RuBP. A catalytic residue in the enzyme (i.e. aspartate in RsPRK) deprotonates the O1 hydroxyl oxygen on RuP and activates it for nucleophilic attack of the γ-phosphoryl group of ATP. As the γ-phosphoryl group is transferred from ATP to RuP, its stereochemistry inverts. To allow for such inversion, the catalytic mechanism of PRK must not involve a phosphoryl-enzyme intermediate. Some studies suggest that both substrates (ATP and RuP) bind simultaneously to PRK and form a ternary complex. Others suggest that the substrate addition is sequential; the particular order by which substrates are added is still disputed, and may in fact, vary for different organisms. In addition to binding its substrates, PRK also requires ligation to divalent metal cations like Mg2+ or Mn2+ for activity; Hg2+ has been demonstrated to inactivate the enzyme.

Enzyme specificity PRK shows high specificity for ribulose 5-phosphate. It does not act on any of the following substrates: D-xylulose 5-phosphate, fructose 6-phosphate, and sedoheptulose 7-phosphate. However, at high concentrations, PRK may sometimes phosphorylate ribose 5-phosphate, a compound upstream the RuBP regeneration step in the Calvin Cycle. Furthermore, PRK isolated from Alcaligenes eutrophus has been shown to use uridine triphosphate (UTP) and guanosine triphosphate (GTP) as alternative substrates to ATP.

pH effects The phosphorylation reaction proceeds with maximal velocity at pH 7.9, with no detectable activity at pH's below 5.5 or above 9.0.

Regulation The mechanisms by which prokaryotic and eukaryotic PRK's are regulated vary. Prokaryotic PRK's are typically subject to allosteric regulation while eukaryotic PRK's are often regulated by reversible thiol/disulfide exchange. These differences are likely due to structural differences in their C-terminal domains

Allosteric regulation of prokaryotic PRK NADH is known to stimulate PRK activity, while AMP and phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) are known to inhibit activity. AMP has been shown to be involved in competitive inhibition in Thiobacillus ferrooxidans PRK. On the other hand, PEP acts as a non-competitive inhibitor of PRK.

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