Activation of Polynucleotide Phosphorylase by Salts

Abstract

IN the course of purification studies of polynucleotide phosphorylase (polyase) from M. lysodeikticus we have on several occasions noticed that, after dialysis against buffers at low ionic strength or distilled water, considerable loss of enzyme activity occurred. With the addition of a salt such as sodium acetate or potassium chloride the activity of the enzyme was restored. The activation by potassium chloride of the polymerization of adenylic acid from adenosine diphosphate, determined by rate of release of orthophosphate at pH 9.5, is shown in Fig. 1. The optimum salt concentration is 0.2 M potassium chloride. Higher concentrations of the salt become inhibitory. Parallel studies based on the determination of polymer concentrations yielded identical results¹. The following salts activate in the order: KCl > NaCl > Na₂SO₄ = HCOONa > CH₃COONa > LiCl.