GTPase-mediated activation of ATP sulfurylase

GTP stimulates the synthesis of APS (adenosine 5′-phosphosulfate) by the enzyme ATP sulfurylase (ATP:sulfate adenylyltransferase, EC 2.7.7.4) via a GTPase mechanism. The activation of the enzyme, purified from Eacherichia coli, is titratable with GTP. The initial rate of APS formation is increased 116-fold at a saturating concentration of GTP. The enzyme exhibits a GTPase activity that is stimulated by ATP and further enhanced by SO₄; however, SO₄ alone does not significantly stimulate GTP hydrolysis. The larger subunit of ATP sulfurylase, encoded by cysN, contains a GTP-binding consensus sequence common to other known GTP-binding proteins. This is the first evidence that the sulfate activation pathway is a metabolic target for regulation by a GTPase.