Isolation and Characterization of Two Enzymes Capable of Hydrolyzing Fructose-1,6-Bisphosphatase from the Lichen Peltigera rufescens

Two enzymes capable of hydrolyzing fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) have been isolated from the foliose lichen Peltigera rufescens (Weis) Mudd. These enzymes can be separated using Sephadex G-100 and DEAE Sephacel chromatography. One enzyme has a pH optimum of 6.5, and a substrate affinity of 228 micromolar FBP. This enzyme does not require MgCl(2) for activity, and is inhibited by AMP. The second enzyme has a pH optimum of 9.0, with no activity below pH 7.5. This enzyme responds sigmoidally to Mg(2+), with half-saturation concentration of 2.0 millimolar MgCl(2), and demonstrates hyperbolic kinetics for FBP (K(m) = 39 micromolar). This enzyme is activated by 20 millimolar dithiothreitol, is inhibited by AMP, but is not affected by fructose-2-6-bisphosphate. It is hypothesized that the latter enzyme is involved in the photosynthetic process, while the former enzyme is a nonspecific acid phosphatase.