Stereochemical and kinetic investigation of 32P-labeled inorganic phosphate exchange reaction catalyzed by primer-independent and primer-dependent polynucleotide phosphorylase from Micrococcus luteus.

The SP diastereomer of adenosine 5'-O-(1-thiodiphosphate) (ADP alpha S) is a substrate for the 32P-labeled inorganic phosphate exchange reaction catalyzed by the T and I forms of polynucleotide phosphorylase. The exchange reaction occurs with retention of configuration. This exchange reaction is very slow when only ADP alpha S(SP) is presented but is greatly activated by dinucleotide primers and ADP alpha S(RP), although the latter is not a substrate for the exchange reaction. Ap(S)A(RP) is an approximately 50% better activator of the exchange than the SP diastereomer. Furthermore, high levels of the ADP alpha S(SP) eliminate the activation by primers and by ADP alpha S(RP). A phosphatase activity is present with the I form of the enzyme which converts ADP alpha S(RP) to AMPS. This activity may be responsible for the formation of the 5'-phosphate end group for de novo polymerization or for the processivity of this reaction.