NAD biosynthesis in human placenta: purification and characterization of homogeneous NMN adenylyltransferase

Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) adenylyltransferase has been purified to homogeneity from human placenta. The purification procedure consists of several chromatographic steps, including dye-ligand, adsorption, and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The final enzyme preparation is homogeneous as judged by a single silver stainable band on both nondenaturating and denaturating polyacrylamide gels. The native enzyme shows a molecular weight of about 132,000, as determined by gel filtration on a Superose 12 HR 10/30 fast protein liquid chromatography column. The protein possesses a quaternary structure and is composed of four apparently identical M(r) 33,000 subunits. Isoelectrofocusing experiments give multiple pI values ranging from pH 4.7 to 6.6. Optimum pH study shows a plateau extending from pH 6.0 to pH 9.0. Km values for NMN, ATP, NAD+, and PPi are 38, 23, 67, and 125 microM, respectively. Kinetic analysis reveals a behavior consistent with an ordered sequential Bi-Bi mechanism. Among several metabolites tested only ADP-ribose and beta-NMNH were found to significantly inhibit the enzyme activity.