The folding intermediate of reversibly denatured human prostatic acid phosphatase

Human prostatic acid phosphatase (hPAP) [EC 3.1.3.2], a homodimer of ca. 50 kDa subunit molecular weight, shows reversible denaturation in 6 M urea at pH 2.5. Rapid dilution of the denatured enzyme allowed partial renaturation of hPAP, as measured by enzyme activity, to a level which depended on the composition of the dilution solution employed and time of the reaction. The renaturation reaction of hPAP was examined using spectral analysis (circular dichroism and fluorometry), fast size-exclusion chromatography and proteolysis by trypsin. The observed results are in agreement with the concentration-dependent kinetics of hPAP reactivation, assuming that the reconstitution of the active enzyme requires the association of subunits in dimeric form. Moreover, it suggests formation of an inactive intermediate during refolding of the denatured PAP. A mechanism of renaturation of the active enzyme from denatured PAP is proposed.