The Regulatory Properties of Purified Phaseolus aureus Sucrose Synthetase

Phaseolus aureus sucrose synthetase, purified to homogeneity, was assayed in the presence of a variety of biological compounds to test for possible regulatory effectors. The oxidized form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, as well as indoleacetic acid, gibberellic acid, and pyrophosphate were found to activate the forward reaction (sucrose degradation) and inhibit the reverse reaction (sucrose synthesis). The reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate antagonizes the effect of the oxidized form. Fructose 1-phosphate and divalent cations inhibit the forward and activate the reverse reaction. Pyrophosphate and fructose 1-phosphate are effective only in the presence of magnesium chloride. Uridine triphosphate inhibits both the forward and reverse reactions. All effectors except gibberellic acid are active only in the millimolar range of concentrations; maximal stimulation for any effector is approximately 2-fold. The effects of combinations of effectors are roughly additive. Using pyrophosphate in the presence of magnesium chloride as an effector, results of kinetic studies offer a model by which an effector can activate an enzymatic reaction in one direction and inhibit in the reverse direction.