Carbohydrate-linked asparagine-101 of prothrombin contains a metal ion protected acetylation site. Acetylation of this site causes loss of metal ion induced protein fluorescence change

Prothrombin fragment 1 (prothrombin residues 1-156) contains two acetylation sites that are protected from derivatization by calcium. The first site was protected by only calcium [Welsch, D. J., & Nelsestuen, G. L. (1988) Biochemistry (second of three papers in this issue)] while the second site was protected by magnesium as well. To identify this second acetylation site, fragment 1 was first acetylated with unlabeled reagent in the presence of magnesium. Metal ions were removed, and the protein was acetylated with radiolabeled reagent. The incorporated radiolabel was stable over long periods of time and at acidic or basic pH as long as elevated temperatures were avoided. The radiolabel was removed by treatment of the protein at pH 10 and 50°C or with 0.2 M hydroxylamine at 50°C for at least 30 min. Proteolytic degradation of the protein showed that the radioactivity appeared in a tryptic peptide corresponding to residues 94-111 of prothrombin. The Lys-97 in this peptide was acetylated but did not contain radiolabel. Amino acid sequence analysis revealed that the radiolabel was associated with an unextracted sequence product. Aglycofragment 1, produced by treatment of fragment 1 with HF, was radiolabeled by this procedure; peptide 94-111 was isolated and was further digested with protease. The major radiolabeled product contained Asn¹⁰¹-Ser¹⁰² along with the expected chitobiose attached to Asn-101. NMR analysis revealed the presence of three acetate groups which would correspond to two from the chitobiose plus the incorporated acetate residue. Mass spectral analysis showed the correct mass for this glycopeptide plus a single added acetyl group. Amide ¹H NMR analysis showed only three amide protons rather than the anticipated four. The acetate was not located on either of the α-amino groups of the amino acids. On the basis of these several observations, it is postulated that the site of acetylation is the β-amide nitrogen of Asn-101. The other asparagine-linked carbohydrate site of fragment 1, Asn-77, was not acetylated. Consequently, these studies showed an unusual chemical reactivity in prothrombin fragment 1. They further show that metal ion binding to prothrombin fragment 1 and subsequent protein fluorescence quenching involve sites on the kringle region of the protein.