L1210 dihydrofolate reductase: activation and enhancement of methotrexate sensitivity

Dihydrofolate reductase, purified to homogeneity from a subline of L1210 murine leukemia cells resistant to 10(-6) M Methotrexate, was resolved into two principal forms (1 and 2) by isoelectric focusing. These forms had pI values of 7.4 and 8.2, respectively; both stained for protein and catalytic activity. Form 1 was a single component, comprising ca. 10% of the total protein, but multiple components of 2 were observed by narrowing the pH range in the electrophoretic procedure. Urea-denatured enzyme exhibited two bands of approximately equal intensity upon isoelectric focusing. These results were interpreted to mean that the enzyme consists of a set of conformationally different forms, arising from two primary structures. Inhibition of the native enzyme by Methotrexate was polyphasic, and appreciable activity remained when the drug was present at an equimolar concentration. Various agents (KCl, H+, urea, and SH-modifiers), known to "activate" dihydrofolate reductases, produced a monophasic, stoichiometric inhibition. Activating agents appear to induce a more open (and labile) conformation of the enzyme. This leads to increased affinity for MTX accompanied, in some instances, by increased catalytic activity.