Biosynthesis of the Diguanosine Nucleotides. I. Purification and Properties of an Enzyme from Yolk Platelets of Brine Shrimp Embryos
An enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of P1P4-diguanosine 5′-tetraphosphate (Gp4G) has been isolated and purified from yolk platelets of encysted embryos of the brine shrimp, Artemia salina. The enzyme GTP:GTP guanylyltransferase (Gp4G synthetase) utilizes GTP as substrate, has a pH optimum of 5.9–6.0, a temperature optimum of 40–42 °C, and requires Mg2+ and dithiothreitol for optimal activity. The synthesis of Gp4G is inhibited markedly by pyrophosphate, whereas orthophosphate has no effect on the reaction. In the presence of GDP the enzyme also catalyzes the synthesis of P1,P3-diguanosine 5′-triphosphate (Gp3G), but the rate of synthesis is low compared with Gp4G synthesis and dependent upon other small molecular weight components of yolk platelets.