Multifunctional Enzyme, Bisphosphoglyceromutase/2,3‐Bisphosphoglycerate Phosphatase/Phosphoglyceromutase, from Human Erythrocytes

Bisphosphoglyceromutase and 2,3‐bisphosphoglycerate phosphatase activities responsible for 2,3‐bisphosphoglycerate metabolism in human red cells are displayed by the same enzyme protein which has phosphoglyceromutase activity [Sasaki, R., et al . (1975) Eur. J. Biochem . 50, 581–593]. This enzyme was subjected to chemical modification by trinitrobenzenesulfonate. The three enzyme activities were inactivated by trinitrobenzenesulfonate at the same rate. The sulfhydryl content of the enzyme was unchanged during trinitrophenylation, indicating that derivatization was through the amino group. Trinitrophenylation of about one amino group per mole of the enzyme resulted in complete loss of the three activities. Both 2,3‐bisphosphoglycerate and 1,3‐bisphosphoglycerate inhibited trinitrophenylation and effectively protected the enzyme from inactivation. Although monophosphoglycerates did not show any protective effect at concentrations which should be adequate based upon their kinetic constants, they were protective at higher concentrations. Inactivation by trinitrophenylation was an apparent first‐order reaction. The dissociation constant of the enzyme 2,3‐bisphosphoglycerate complex was determined by analyzing the first‐order reaction on the assumption that the protective effect of 2,3‐bisphosphoglycerate was due to competition with trinitrobenzenesulfonate. The dissociation constant was in good agreement with kinetic constants of 2,3‐bisphosphoglycerate in the enzyme reactions, which indicated that 2,3‐bisphosphoglycerate did indeed exert its protective effect through competition with trinitrobenzenesulfonate for an amino group of the enzyme. The protective effect of monophosphoglycerates could be rationalized with kinetic evidence that 2‐phosphoglycerate at high concentrations interacts with the 2,3‐bisphosphoglycerate binding site. These results indicate that the enzyme exhibits the three enzyme activities at a common active site at which one amino group essential for binding of bisphosphoglycerates is located. Based on the multifunctional properties of this enzyme, a possible mechanism was discussed for regulation of 2,3‐bisphosphoglycerate metabolism in human red.