bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reversible and irreversible effects of nitric oxide on the soluble hydrogenase from Alcaligenes eutrophus H16
Authors: Hyman M R , Arp D J
Published: August 2015

The effects of NO on the H2-oxidizing and diaphorase activities of the soluble hydrogenase from Alcaligenes eutrophus H16 were investigated. With fully activated enzyme, NO (8-150 nM in solution) inhibited H2 oxidation in a time- and NO-concentration-dependent process. Neither H2 nor NAD+ appeared to protect the enzyme against the inhibition. Loss of activity in the absence of an electron acceptor was about 10 times slower than under turnover conditions. The inhibition was partially reversible; approx. 50% of full activity was recoverable after removal of the NO. Recovery was slower in the absence of an electron acceptor than in the presence of H2 plus an electron acceptor. The diaphorase activity of the unactivated hydrogenase was not affected by NO concentrations of up to 200 microM in solution. Exposure of the unactivated hydrogenase to NO irreversibly inhibited the ability of the enzyme to be fully activated for H2-oxidizing activity. The enzyme also lost its ability to respond to H2 during activation in the presence of NADH. The results are interpreted in terms of a complex inhibition that displays elements of (1) a reversible slow-binding inhibition of H2-oxidizing activity, (2) an irreversible effect on H2-oxidizing activity and (30 an irreversible inhibition of a regulatory component of the enzyme. Possible sites of action for NO are discussed.
Fatty acids stimulate phosphatidylcholine synthesis and CTP:choline-phosphate cytidylyltransferase in type II pneumocytes isolated from adult rat lung
Authors: Burkhardt R , Von Wichert P , Batenburg J J , Van Golde L M G
Published: August 2015

The regulation by cyclic AMP and fatty acids of phosphatidylcholine (PC) synthesis in rat alveolar type II cells was studied. In contrast with results with hepatocytes, cyclic AMP and its potent chlorophenylthio analogue had no inhibitory effect on [Me-14C]choline incorporation into PC in pulse-chase studies with alveolar type II cells. The inclusion of the fatty acids palmitate, oleate or linoleate in the chase incubation medium stimulated the incorporation of [Me-14C]choline into PC by type II cells. The effect of palmitate, which was more pronounced than that of the other fatty acids, appeared to be concentration-dependent. Increased [Me-14C]choline incorporation into PC was paralleled by an accelerated disappearance of the radiolabel from choline phosphate, which is consistent with an activation of CTP:choline-phosphate cytidylyltransferase. This enzyme is considered to be rate-limiting in the synthesis of PC de novo by type II cells. As fatty acids are also substrate for PC synthesis, their effect could also be due to compensation for a fatty acid deficiency. To test this possibility, fatty acid synthesis in the type II cells was stimulated by addition of lactate. Even then, an additional stimulation of PC synthesis by palmitate was observed, which supports the regulatory influence of exogenous fatty acids. Incubation of type II cells in the presence of 0.2 mM-palmitate resulted in a 45% increase in the membrane-bound CTP:choline-phosphate cytidylyltransferase activity, whereas the soluble activity remained unchanged. Choline kinase activity in the soluble fraction increased by 48%. However, the increase in choline kinase is unlikely to be responsible for the increased metabolic flux through the choline phosphate pathway, because there is a relatively large pool of choline phosphate in type II cells. Therefore it is suggested that the microsomal CTP:choline-phosphate cytidylyltransferase is the form of this enzyme which is active in surfactant PC synthesis, and possibly has a regulatory role in this pathway.
Nucleotide sequence of the phosphoglycerate kinase gene from the extreme thermophile Thermus thermophilus. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence with that of the mesophilic yeast phosphoglycerate kinase
Authors: Bowen D , Littlechild J A , Fothergill J E , Watson H C , Hall L
Published: August 2015

Using oligonucleotide probes derived from amino acid sequencing information, the structural gene for phosphoglycerate kinase from the extreme thermophile, Thermus thermophilus, was cloned in Escherichia coli and its complete nucleotide sequence determined. The gene consists of an open reading frame corresponding to a protein of 390 amino acid residues (calculated Mr 41,791) with an extreme bias for G or C (93.1%) in the codon third base position. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence with that of the corresponding mesophilic yeast enzyme indicated a number of significant differences. These are discussed in terms of the unusual codon bias and their possible role in enhanced protein thermal stability.
Mitochondria contain a proteolytic system which can recognize and degrade oxidatively-denatured proteins
Authors: Marcillat O , Zhang Y , Lin S W , Davies K J
Published: August 2015

When incubated with mitochondria in an air atmosphere, menadione and doxorubicin (which redox cycle with the respiratory chain to produce oxygen radicals), as well as xanthine oxidase plus xanthine (which generate superoxide and H2O2), stimulated the degradation of newly-synthesized [(3H]leucine-labelled) mitochondrial polypeptides. No stimulation was observed in an N2 atmosphere, ATP was not required, and xanthine oxidase was not effective without xanthine. Various forms of oxidative stress induced varying degrees of protein cross-linking, protein fragmentation and proteolysis, as judged by gel electrophoresis and amino acid analysis. To learn more about the proteolytic enzymes involved in degradation, we undertook studies with purified protein substrates which had been exposed to oxidative stress (OH or H2O2) in vitro. Despite mitochondrial contamination with acid proteases of lysosomal (and other) origin, pH profiles revealed distinct proteolytic activities at both pH 4 and pH 8. The pH 8 activity preferentially degraded the oxidatively-denatured forms of haemoglobin, albumin and superoxide dismutase; was unaffected by digitonin; and exhibited a several-fold increase in activity upon mitochondrial disruption (highest activity being found in the matrix). In contrast, the pH 4 activity was dramatically decreased by digitonin treatment (to reduce lysosomal contamination); was unaffected by mitochondrial disruption; and showed no preference for oxidatively-denatured proteins. The pH 8 activity was not stimulated by ATP, but was inhibited by EDTA, haemin and phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride. In contrast, the contaminating pH 4 activity was only inhibited by pepstatin and leupeptin. Thus, our experiments reveal a distinct mitochondrial (matrix) proteolytic pathway which can preferentially degrade oxidatively-denatured proteins.
Modification of the glyoxalase system in human red blood cells by glucose in vitro
Authors: Thornalley P J
Published: August 2015

The human red-blood-cell glyoxalase system was modified by incubation with high concentrations of glucose in vitro. Red-blood-cell suspensions (50%, v/v) were incubated with 5 mM- and 25 mM-glucose to model normal and hyperglycaemic glucose metabolism. There was an increase in the flux of methylglyoxal metabolized to D-lactic acid via the glyoxalase pathway with high glucose concentration. The increase was approximately proportional to initial glucose concentration over the range studied (5-100 mM). The activities of glyoxalase I and glyoxalase II were not significantly changed, but the concentrations of the glyoxalase substrates, methylglyoxal and S-D-lactoylglutathione, and the percentage of glucotriose metabolized via the glyoxalase pathway, were significantly increased. The increase in the flux of intermediates metabolized via the glyoxalase pathway during periodic hyperglycaemia may be a biochemical factor involved in the development of chronic clinical complications associated with diabetes mellitus.
Identification of the aspartic proteinases from human erythrocyte membranes and gastric mucosa (slow-moving proteinase) as catalytically equivalent to cathepsin E
Authors: Jupp R A , Richards A D , Kay J , Dunn B M , Wyckoff J B , Samloff I M , Yamamoto K
Published: August 2015

Three aspartic proteinases with similar Mr values (approx. 80,000) but from distinct sources (human gastric mucosa, human erythrocyte membranes and rat spleen) were shown to have immunological cross-reactivity and comparable mobilities when subjected to polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis under non-denaturing conditions. Kinetic parameters (kcat, Km and Ki) were determined for the interactions of the three enzymes with two synthetic chromogenic substrates and five inhibitors (naturally occurring and synthetic). On this basis it would appear that all of the enzymes should be considered equivalent to cathepsin E. pH-activity measurements indicated that the aspartic proteinase that originated from the erythrocyte membranes retained activity at a higher pH value than either of its readily soluble counterparts.
One-proton catalysis by the α-l-arabinofuranosidase III of Monilinia fructigena
Authors: Selwood T , Sinnott M L
Published: August 2015

1. Michaelis-Menten parameters for the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl alpha-L-arabinofuranoside were measured as a function of pL (pH or pD) in both 1H2O and 2H2O. 2. The variation of both Vmax. and Vmax./Km with pL is sigmoid, the pK governing Vmax. shifting from 6.34 +/- 0.05 in 1H2O to 6.84 +/- 0.07 in 2H2O, and that governing Vmax./Km from 5.89 +/- 0.03 in 1H2O to 6.38 +/- 0.05 in 2H2O. 3. In the plateau regions there is a small inverse solvent isotope effect on Vmax./Km (0.92), and one of 1.45 on Vmax. 4. The variation of Vmax. with isotopic composition is strictly linear, indicating that the isotope effect arises from the transfer of a single proton.
Reaction of a tumour-associated trypsin inhibitor with serine proteinases associated with coagulation and tumour invasion
Authors: Turpeinen U , Koivunen E , Stenman U H
Published: August 2015

The inhibition of six serine proteinases by a tumour-associated trypsin inhibitor (TATI) was studied using synthetic peptide substrates. Physiological concentrations of TATI inhibited the amidolytic activities of trypsin, plasmin, urokinase and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). Chymotrypsin, kallikrein and thrombin were also inhibited, but by much higher concentrations of TATI. The ability of TATI to inhibit trypsin, plasmin, urokinase and tPA suggests that it has a role in proteolytic processes in vivo involving these enzymes.
Kinetic characterization of the acyl-enzyme mechanism for β-lactamase I
Authors: Martin M T , Waley S G
Published: August 2015

beta-Lactamase I catalyses the hydrolysis of penicillins by an acyl-enzyme mechanism. A procedure was developed for determining the rate constants for the acylation and deacylation steps for the good substrates benzylpenicillin and phenoxymethylpenicillin; this depends on determining the fraction of enzyme that is present as acyl-enzyme in the steady state.
Evidence that agonists stimulate bivalent-cation influx into human endothelial cells
Authors: Hallam T J , Jacob R , Merritt J E
Published: August 2015

Human umbilical-vein endothelial cells stimulated with thrombin or histamine show an increase in [Ca2+]i (cytoplasmic free calcium concn.) that is maintained well above the basal pre-stimulated value as long as agonist and a source of extracellular Ca2+ are present. These results provide circumstantial evidence that agonists stimulate influx of Ca2+ across the plasma membrane and into the cytoplasm. Here, we have used Mn2+ as the extracellular bivalent cation which can bind to the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator fura-2 to quench its fluorescence completely. Human umbilical-vein endothelial cells were loaded with fura-2 and, in the presence of extracellular Mn2+, thrombin and histamine were shown to cause quenching of the intracellular dye. This result demonstrates conclusively that agonists can stimulate the influx of bivalent cations. Stimulated discharge of Ca2+ from intracellular stores and influx of Mn2+ were temporally resolved in the same cells to show that release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores clearly precedes influx. Influx of Mn2+ was also demonstrated when extracellular Mn2+ was added after agonist at a time when [Ca2+]i had fallen back to the basal value, showing that influx is not dependent on elevated [Ca2+]i.
Veratryl alcohol oxidases from the lignin-degrading basidiomycete Pleurotus sajor-caju
Authors: Bourbonnais R , Paice M G
Published: August 2015

The basidiomycete Pleurotus sajor-caju mineralizes ring-14C-labelled lignin (dehydrogenative polymer) when grown in mycological broth. Under these conditions, two veratryl alcohol oxidase (VAO) enzymes were found in the culture medium. They oxidized a number of aromatic alcohols to aldehydes and reduced O2 to H2O2. The enzymes were purified by ion-exchange and gel-permeation chromatography. The final step of purification on Mono Q resolved the activity into two peaks (VAO I and VAO II). Both enzymes had the same Mr, approx. 71,000, but their isoelectric points differed slightly, 3.8 for VAO I and 4.0 for VAO II. Their amino acid compositions were similar except for aspartic acid/asparagine and glycine. Both enzymes are glycoproteins and contain flavin prosthetic groups. Their pH optima were around 5, and kinetic constants and specificities were similar. 4-Methoxybenzyl alcohol was oxidized the most rapidly, followed by veratryl alcohol. Not all aromatic alcohols were oxidized, neither were non-aromatic alcohols. Cinnamyl alcohol was oxidized at the gamma position. The VAO enzymes thus represent a significantly different route for veratryl alcohol oxidation from that catalysed by the previously found lignin peroxidases from Phanerochaete chrysosporium. The role of the oxidases in biodegradation might be to produce H2O2 during oxidation of lignin fragments.
Formation of native insulin from the scrambled molecule by protein disulphide-isomerase
Authors: Tang J G , Wang C C , Tsou C L
Published: August 2015

The formation of native insulin either from scrambled insulin or from the separated A chain and B chain S-sulphonates by protein disulphide-isomerase was demonstrated with yields of 20-30% as measured by h.p.l.c. analysis, receptor binding and stimulation of lipogenesis. The h.p.l.c. profile of the reaction products shows that, among all the possible isomers containing both chains, the native hormone is by far the predominating product and consequently the most stable under certain conditions.
Second-messenger control of catecholamine release from PC12 cells. Role of muscarinic receptors and nerve-growth-factor-induced cell differentiation
Authors: Meldolesi J , Gatti G , Ambrosini A , Pozzan T , Westhead E W
Published: August 2015

The role of various intracellular signals and of their possible interactions in the control of neurotransmitter release was investigated in PC12 cells. To this purpose, agents that affect primarily the cytosolic concentration of Ca2+, [Ca2+]i (ionomycin, high K+), agents that affect cyclic AMP concentrations (forskolin; the adenosine analogue phenylisopropyladenosine; clonidine) and activators of protein kinase C (phorbol esters) were applied alone or in combination to either growing chromaffin-like PC12-cells, or to neuron-like PC12+ cells differentiated by treatment with NGF (nerve growth factor). In addition, the release effects of muscarinic-receptor stimulation (which causes increase in [Ca2+]i, activation of protein kinase C and decrease in cyclic AMP) were investigated. Two techniques were employed to measure catecholamine release: static incubation of [3H]dopamine-loaded cells, and perfusion incubation of unlabelled cells coupled to highly sensitive electrochemical detection of released catecholamines. The results obtained demonstrate that: (1) release from PC12 cells can be elicited by both raising [Ca2+]i and activating protein kinases (protein kinase C and, although to a much smaller extent, cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase); and (2) these various control pathways interact extensively. Activation of muscarinic receptors by carbachol induced appreciable release responses, which appeared to be due to a synergistic interplay between [Ca2+]i and protein kinase C activation. The muscarinic-induced release responses tended to become inactivated rapidly, possibly by feedback desensitization of the receptor mediated by protein kinase C. Muscarinic inactivation was prevented (or reversed) by agents that increase, and accelerated by agents that decrease, cyclic AMP. Agents that stimulate release primarily through the Ca2+ pathway (ionomycin and high K+) were found to be equipotent in both PC12- and PC12+ cells, whereas the protein kinase C activator 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol 13-acetate was approx. 10-fold less potent in PC12+ cells, when administered either alone or in combination with ionomycin. In contrast, the cell binding of phorbol esters was not greatly modified by NGF treatment. Thus control of neurotransmitter release from PC12 cells is changed by differentiation, with a diminished role of the mechanism mediated by protein kinase C.
Subcellular localization of the enzymes that dephosphorylate myo-inositol polyphosphates in human platelets
Authors: Molina Y Vedia L , Nolan R D , Lapetina E G
Published: August 2015

The phosphatase-induced hydrolysis of [3H]inositol 1,4-bisphosphate [Ins(1,4)P2)] and [3H]inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3] was studied in platelet subcellular fractions. The activity that hydrolyses Ins(1,4)P2 is cytosolic, whereas the activity that hydrolyses Ins(1,4,5)P3 is present in both particulate and cytosolic fractions. The cytosolic Ins(1,4)P2 phosphatase hydrolyses the 1-phosphate of Ins(1,4)P2, whereas the cytosolic and membrane-bound Ins(1,4,5)P3 phosphatases hydrolyse the 5-phosphate of Ins(1,4,5)P3. In the presence of ATP, it is possible to observe a cytosolic Ins(1,4,5)P3 3-kinase that phosphorylates Ins(1,4,5)P3 to inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate. Apparent Km values for the particulate and the cytosolic Ins(1,4,5)P3 phosphatases are 100 microM and 40 microM respectively. A large proportion of the membrane-associated Ins(1,4,5)P3 phosphatase can be extracted with 1 M-NaCl, and the Mr of this enzyme, as determined by hydrodynamic studies, is 49,000, whereas that of the cytosolic enzyme is 59,000. The Km values for the cytosolic Ins(1,4)P2 phosphatase is 40 microM; this enzyme has an Mr of 49,000. The highest specific activity of the Ins(1,4,5)P3 phosphatase is present in a highly purified plasma-membrane fraction.
Polyamines inhibit phospholipase C-catalysed polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis. Studies with permeabilized GH3 cells
Authors: Wojcikiewicz R J H , Fain J N
Published: August 2015

[3H]Inositol-labelled GH3 rat anterior pituitary tumour cells were permeabilized with digitonin and were incubated at 37 degrees C in the presence of ATP and Mg2+. [3H]Polyphosphoinositide breakdown and [3H]inositol phosphate production were stimulated by hydrolysis-resistant GTP analogues and by Ca2+. Of the nucleotides tested, guanosine 5′-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP gamma S) was the most effective stimulus. Activation by GTP gamma S appeared to be mediated by a guanine nucleotide-binding (G) protein as GTP gamma S-stimulated [3H]inositol phosphate production was inhibited by other nucleotides with a potency order of GTP = GDP = guanosine 5′-[beta-thio]diphosphate greater than ITP greater than GMP greater than UTP = CTP = adenosine 5′-[gamma-thio]triphosphate. The stimulatory effects of 10 microM-GTP gamma S on [3H]inositol phosphate levels were reversed by spermine and spermidine with IC50 values of approx. 0.25 and 2 mM respectively. Putrescine was inhibitory only at higher concentrations. Similarly, GTP gamma S-induced decreases in [3H]polyphosphoinositide levels were reversed by 2.5 mM-spermine. The inhibitory effects of spermine were not overcome by supramaximal concentrations of GTP gamma S. In contrast, [3H]inositol phosphate production stimulated by addition of 0.3-0.6 mM-Ca2+ to incubation media was only partially inhibited by spermine (5 mM), and spermine was not inhibitory when added Ca2+ was increased to 1 mM. These data show that polyamines, particularly spermine, inhibit phospholipase C-catalysed polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis with a marked selectivity towards the stimulatory effects of GTP gamma S.
Cholesterol metabolism. Effect of 26-thiacholesterol and 26-aminocholesterol, analogues of 26-hydroxycholesterol, on cholesterol synthesis and low-density-lipoprotein-receptor binding
Authors: Miao E , Wilson S R , Javitt N B
Published: August 2015

1. The effects of 26-aminocholesterol and 26-thiacholesterol on cholesterol synthesis and LDL (low-density lipoprotein)-receptor activity were compared with naturally occurring 26-hydroxycholesterol utilizing both human fibroblasts and hepatoma (Hep G2) cells. 2. At equimolar concentrations (0.625 microM), down-regulation of LDL-receptor activity and cholesterol synthesis was greater with human fibroblasts than with Hep G2 cells. 3. At much higher concentrations (5-20 microM) the 26-thia analogue had little effect on either cholesterol synthesis or LDL-receptor activity.
Kinetic studies on the broad-specificity β-d-glucosidase from pig kidney
Authors: Pócsi I , Kiss L
Published: August 2015

A broad-specificity beta-D-glucosidase from pig kidney cortex was isolated and purified to homogeneity by a rapid purification procedure. The pI (5.14 +/- 0.05), Mr (59,000 +/- 2000) and specific activities with several p-nitrophenyl glycosides (galactopyranoside, glucopyranoside, arabinopyranoside, xylopyranoside) were comparable with those published previously for cytoplasmic beta-D-glucosidase from other sources and organs. Mixed-substrate experiments and inhibition studies with glucono-(1----5)-lactone revealed that a single active centre, containing one catalytic site and one saccharide-binding site, was responsible for the splitting of all four synthetic substrates. Inhibition experiments with substrate analogues demonstrated that (i) the major binding determinant of the glycosides was the aglycone moiety, (ii) an anionic side chain of the enzyme (probably a carboxy group) interacted with the glycosidic linkages and (iii) the properties of the aglycone significantly influenced the binding of the carbohydrate moiety. The inhibition constants of the p-nitrothiophenyl derivatives were in good agreement with the Km values of the corresponding substrates. Therefore the Michaelis constants could be regarded as true equilibrium constants (Ks). The ‘three-point-attachment model’ of the substrate splitting, proposed by Daniels [(1983) Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh] for the analogous liver enzyme, was applicable for beta-D-glucosidase from pig kidney too. The possible nature of the ‘attachments’ is discussed.
The nature of the phosphate complex of sulphite oxidase from electron-paramagnetic-resonance studies
Authors: George G N , Prince R C , Kipke C A , Sunde R A , Enemark J H
Published: August 2015

The phosphate complex of sulphite oxidase in the Mo(V) oxidation state was investigated by e.p.r. spectroscopy. Third-derivative spectra reveal a wealth of structural detail previously unobserved in this spectrum. Most notable is the presence of hyperfine coupling from two inequivalent I = 1/2 nuclei, which we tentatively attribute to two 31P nuclei. Unresolved hyperfine interactions from at least one exchangeable 1H nucleus are also present.
Regulation of glucose carrier activity by AlCl3 and phospholipase C in fat-cells
Authors: Obermaier-Kusser B , Mühlbacher C , Mushack J , Rattenhuber E , Fehlmann M , Haring H U
Published: August 2015

Recently it was speculated that activation of GTP-binding proteins and of phospholipase is involved in the transmission of a signal from the insulin-receptor kinase to effector systems in the cell. To confirm this hypothesis, we have tested the effect of AlCl3, which has been recently used as an experimental tool to activate GTP-binding proteins, on glucose transport in fat-cells. We found that AlCl3 has a partial insulin-like effect on glucose transport activity (3-O-methylglucose uptake, expressed as % of equilibrium value per 4 s: basal 9.6 +/- 2, AlCl3 29.6 +/- 4, insulin 74.0 +/- 3). The AlCl3 effect is totally blocked by pertussis toxin, whereas the insulin effect was not altered. The effect starts at [AlCl3] greater than 1 fM and reaches its maximum at 0.1 nM. Addition of phospholipase C (PLC; 50 munits/ml) also stimulated glucose transport (maximal 53.0 +/- 5%). Both substances acted faster than insulin itself (maximal values within 1 min for PLC, 2 min for AlCl3 and 5-10 min for insulin). Using the cytochalasin-B-binding assay to determine the effects of AlCl3 and PLC on the distribution of glucose carrier sites in subcellular fractions, we found that their glucose-transport-stimulating effect does not occur through an increase in glucose carrier sites in the plasma-membrane fraction. When PLC was combined with the phorbol ester TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate), which increases glucose carrier sites in the plasma membrane, an additive effect on glucose transport was found [PLC (50 munits/ml), 53.0 +/- 5%, TPA (1 nM), 17.3 +/- 2%; PLC + TPA, 68.0 +/- 3%]. In conclusion: (1) the data show that AlCl3, probably through activation of a pertussis-toxin-inhibitable G protein, and PLC are able to modulate the intrinsic glucose carrier activity; (2) as pertussis toxin did not modify the effect of insulin, it seems unlikely that the insulin signal on glucose transport involves activation of this specific G protein.
Microcoulometric analysis of trimethylamine dehydrogenase
Authors: Barber M J , Pollock V , Spence J T
Published: August 2015

Trimethylamine dehydrogenase, which contains one covalently bound 6-S-cysteinyl-FMN and one Fe4S4 cluster per subunit of molecular mass 83,000 Da, was purified to homogeneity from the methylotrophic bacterium W3A1. Microcoulometry at pH 7 in 50 mM-Mops buffer containing 0.1 mM-EDTA and 0.1 M-KCl revealed that the native enzyme required the addition of 3 reducing equivalents per subunit for complete reduction. In contrast, under identical conditions the phenylhydrazine-inhibited enzyme required the addition of 0.9 reducing equivalent per subunit with a midpoint potential of +110 mV. Least-squares analysis of the microcoulometric data obtained for the native enzyme, assuming uptake of 1 electron by Fe4S4 and 2 electrons by FMN, indicated midpoint potentials of +44 mV and +36 mV for the FMN/FMN.- and FMN.-/FMNH2 couples respectively and +102 mV for reduction of the Fe4S4 cluster.
The complete amino acid sequence of the human erythrocyte membrane anion-transport protein deduced from the cDNA sequence
Authors: Tanner M J A , Martin P G , High S
Published: August 2015

1. We have isolated cDNA clones corresponding to the red cell membrane anion-transport protein (Band 3). 2. The cDNA clones cover 3475 bases of the mRNA and contain the entire protein-coding region, 150 bases of the 5′ untranslated region and part of the 3′ non-coding region, but do not extend to the 3′ end of the mRNA. 3. The translated protein sequence predicts that the human red cell anion transporter contains 911 amino acids. 4. The availability of the amino acid sequence allows the interpretation of some of the many studies on the chemical and proteolytic modification of the human protein aimed at examining the structure and mechanism of this membrane transport protein.
Respective influences of age and weaning on skeletal and visceral muscle protein synthesis in the lamb
Authors: Attaix D , Aurousseau E , Bayle G , Rosolowska-Huszcz D , Arnal M
Published: August 2015

1. The influences of age and weaning on muscle protein synthesis were studied in vivo, by injecting a large dose of [3H]valine into 1-, 5- and 8-week-old suckling or 8-week-old weaned lambs. 2. The fractional rates of protein synthesis, in red- and white-fibre-type skeletal muscles or striated and smooth visceral muscles, were in 8-week-old suckling animals 24-37% of their values at 1 week of age. This developmental decline was related to decreased capacities for protein synthesis, i.e. RNA/protein ratios. 3. At 8 weeks of age, suckling and weaned lambs had similar fractional synthesis rates, capacities for protein synthesis and efficiencies of protein synthesis (i.e. rates of protein synthesis relative to RNA) in skeletal muscles. 4. In contrast, visceral-muscle fractional synthesis rates were lower in 8-week-old suckling lambs than in weaned animals, owing to decreased efficiencies of protein synthesis. It was concluded that developmental factors and the change to a solid diet, or weaning in itself, or both, affect differently skeletal and visceral muscle protein synthesis in the immature lamb.
The heparin-catalysed inhibition of human factor XIa by antithrombin III is dependent on the heparin type
Authors: Soons H , Tans G , Hemker H C
Published: August 2015

The effect of various well-characterized heparin preparations on the inactivation of human Factor XIa by human antithrombin III was studied. The heparin preparations used were unfractionated heparin and four heparin fractions obtained after anion-exchange chromatography. Inactivation of Factor XIa was monitored with S2366 as chromogenic substrate and followed pseudo-first-order reaction kinetics under all reaction conditions tested. Enhancement of the rate of inhibition of Factor XIa in the presence of unfractionated heparin correlated to the binding of antithrombin III to heparin. From the kinetic data a binding constant of 0.1 microM was inferred. The maximum rate enhancement, achieved at saturating heparin concentrations, was 30-fold. The rate enhancement achieved in the presence of each of the heparin fractions could also be correlated to the binding of antithrombin III to the heparin. The binding constant inferred from the kinetic data varied from 0.10 to 0.28 microM and the number of binding sites for antithrombin III varied from 0.06 to 0.74 site per heparin molecule. The maximum rate enhancements, achieved at saturating heparin concentrations, were strongly dependent on the type of heparin used and varied from 7-fold for fraction A to 41-fold for fraction D. Therefore, although the stimulation of Factor XIa inactivation by antithrombin III could be quantitatively correlated to the binding of antithrombin III to heparin, the heparin-catalysed inhibition of Factor XIa is dependent not only upon the degree of binding of antithrombin III to heparin but also upon the type of heparin to which antithrombin III is bound.
Roles of insulin and growth hormone in the adaptations of fatty acid synthesis in white adipose tissue during the lactation cycle in sheep
Authors: Vernon R G , Finley E
Published: August 2015

1. Lactation results in a substantial fall in the rate of fatty acid synthesis in sheep adipose tissue. 2. Maintenance of adipose tissue from non-lactating sheep in tissue culture for 24 or 48 h with insulin increased the rate of fatty acid synthesis. Dexamethasone, a glucocorticoid analogue, alone inhibited the rate of fatty acid synthesis, but enhanced the stimulatory effect of insulin. Growth hormone (somatotropin) antagonized the increase in the rate of fatty acid synthesis induced by insulin or insulin plus dexamethasone. 3. Maintenance of adipose tissue from lactating sheep in tissue culture resulted in a small increase in the rate of fatty acid synthesis after 24 h, and then a large increase in rate between 24 and 48 h of culture. The increase during the second 24 h period was dependent on the presence of insulin; this effect was enhanced by dexamethasone and inhibited by growth hormone. 4. The increase in the rate of fatty acid synthesis in tissue from non-lactating sheep and in tissue from lactating sheep during the major increase in rate was prevented by actinomycin D, an inhibitor of transcription. 5. Effects of insulin and growth hormone were observed with physiological concentrations of the hormones. 6. The study suggests that known changes in the serum concentrations of insulin and growth hormone are the primary causes of the changes in fatty acid synthesis in adipose tissue during the lactation cycle in sheep. 7. During lactation, adipose tissue becomes refractory to insulin in sheep; responsiveness is partly restored by tissue culture in the presence of insulin and dexamethasone.
Minimum requirements for inhibition of smooth-muscle myosin light-chain kinase by synthetic peptides
Authors: Hunt J T , Floyd D M , Lee V G , Little D K , Moreland S
Published: August 2015

Although the amino acid residues that are important for peptide substrates of myosin light-chain kinase have been reported, those that are important for peptide inhibitors of this enzyme have not previously been investigated. Synthetic peptides based on the sequence Lys11-Lys12-Arg13-Ala-Ala-Arg16-Ala-Thr-Ser19 -Asn-Val21-Phe22-Ala of the chicken gizzard myosin light chain were tested as inhibitors of pig carotid-artery myosin light-chain kinase. The basic amino acid residues of the known myosin light-chain kinase inhibitor Lys-Lys-Arg-Ala-Ala-Arg-Ala-Thr-Ser-NH2 (IC50 = 14 microM) [Pearson, Misconi & Kemp (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 25-27] were shown to be the important residues that contribute to inhibitor potency, as evidence by the finding that the hexapeptide Lys-Lys-Arg-Ala-Ala-Arg-NH2 had an IC50 value of 22 microM. This indicates that binding of the phosphorylatable serine residue to myosin light-chain kinase, which is of obvious importance for a substrate, does not enhance the potency of an inhibitor. With the aim of preparing more potent inhibitors, peptides Lys-Lys-Arg-Ala-Ala-Arg-Ala-Ala-Xaa-NH2 were prepared with a variety of amino acids substituted for the phosphorylatable serine residue. None of these peptides was a more potent inhibitor than the serine peptide.
Activation of the Na+/H+ antiport is not required for epidermal growth factor-dependent gene expression, growth inhibition or proliferation in human breast cancer cells
Authors: Church J G , Mills G B , Buick R N
Published: August 2015

Mitogen interaction with specific receptors in many cell types leads to activation of the Na+/H+ antiport and a resultant cytoplasmic alkalinization. Since amiloride inhibits both Na+/H+ exchange and cell proliferation, it has been hypothesized that activation of the antiport is an obligatory requirement for mitogenesis. However, concentrations of amiloride which inhibit the antiport also inhibit other cellular processes, including protein synthesis and phosphorylation. We have used an epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor gene-amplified human breast cancer cell line, the growth of which is inhibited by high levels of EGF in culture (MDA-468) and a variant, the growth of which is stimulated by EGF (MDA-468-S4), along with two potent amiloride analogues to examine whether activation of the Na+/H+ antiport and cytoplasmic alkalinization is necessary for both EGF-dependent effects to occur. At concentrations of the amiloride analogues which block Na+/H+ exchange in both cell types by 76-98%, the EGF-dependent alterations in [3H]thymidine incorporation or induction in c-myc or c-fos gene transcription were unaltered. These results were confirmed by a lack of effect of the amiloride analogues on both the growth-stimulatory and growth-inhibitory effects on EGF in an anchorage-independent growth assay. Similarly, in pH-altered media that prevented normal cytoplasmic alkalinization, the response of both MDA-468 and MDA-468-S4 to EGF activation was unaltered. In addition, activation of the Na+/H+ antiport alone was not sufficient to induce c-myc and c-fos transcription in either cell type. Taken together, these data suggest that neither the Na+/H+ antiport nor cytoplasmic alkalinization are necessary or sufficient for either EGF-dependent growth stimulation or growth inhibition in MDA-468 human breast cancer cells.
Subcellular distribution and characteristics of trihydroxycoprostanoyl-CoA synthetase in rat liver
Authors: Schepers L , Casteels M , Verheyden K , Parmentier G , Asselberghs S , Eyssen H J , Mannaerts G P
Published: August 2015

The subcellular distribution and characteristics of trihydroxycoprostanoyl-CoA synthetase were studied in rat liver and were compared with those of palmitoyl-CoA synthetase and choloyl-CoA synthetase. Trihydroxycoprostanoyl-CoA synthetase and choloyl-CoA synthetase were localized almost completely in the endoplasmic reticulum. A quantitatively insignificant part of trihydroxycoprostanoyl-CoA synthetase was perhaps present in mitochondria. Peroxisomes, which convert trihydroxycoprostanoyl-CoA into choloyl-CoA, were devoid of trihydroxycoprostanoyl-CoA synthetase. As already known, palmitoyl-CoA synthetase was distributed among mitochondria, peroxisomes and endoplasmic reticulum. Substrate- and cofactor- (ATP, CoASH) dependence of the three synthesis activities were also studied. Cholic acid and trihydroxycoprostanic acid did not inhibit palmitoyl-CoA synthetase; palmitate inhibited the other synthetases non-competitively. Likewise, cholic acid inhibited trihydroxycoprostanic acid activation non-competitively and vice versa. The pH curves of the synthetases did not coincide. Triton X-100 affected the activity of each of the synthetases differently. Trihydroxycoprostanoyl-CoA synthetase was less sensitive towards inhibition by pyrophosphate than choloyl-CoA synthetase. The synthetases could not be solubilized from microsomal membranes by treatment with 1 M-NaCl, but could be solubilized with Triton X-100 or Triton X-100 plus NaCl. The detergent-solubilized trihydroxycoprostanoyl-CoA synthetase could be separated from the solubilized choloyl-CoA synthetase and palmitoyl-CoA synthetase by affinity chromatograpy on Sepharose to which trihydroxycoprostanic acid was bound. Choloyl-CoA synthetase and trihydroxycoprostanoyl-CoA synthetase could not be detected in homogenates from kidney or intestinal mucosa. The results indicate that long-chain fatty acids, cholic acid and trihydroxycoprostanic acid are activated by three separate enzymes.
Involvement of d-amino acid oxidase in elimination of free d-amino acids in mice
Authors: Nagata Y , Konno R , Yasumura Y , Akino T
Published: August 2015

The physiological role of D-amino acid oxidase was investigated by using mutant ddY/DAO- mice lacking the enzyme. Free D-amino acid concentrations in the mutant mice were significantly higher than those of control ddY/DAO+ mice in kidney, liver, lung, heart, brain, erythrocytes, serum and urine. The results suggest that the enzyme is involved in the catabolism of free D-amino acids in the body, and that free D-amino acids are also excreted into urine.
Synthesis and processing of cathepsin L, an elastase, by human alveolar macrophages
Authors: Reilly J J , Mason R W , Chen P , Joseph L J , Sukhatme V P , Yee R , Chapman H A
Published: August 2015

Cathepsin L was partially purified from lysates of freshly isolated macrophages lavaged from lungs of apparently healthy adults and found to be chromatographically and catalytically identical with liver cathepsin L. Western-blotting analysis showed that lung macrophages contain significant levels of a precursor of cathepsin L (43 kDa) in addition to mature enzyme (25 kDa). After culturing for a further 24 h, the precursor disappeared and a new band, corresponding to 34 kDa, appeared, suggesting that the precursor had been processed to an intermediate form of cathepsin L. Biosynthetic labelling of macrophages in vitro with [35S]methionine followed by immunoprecipitation with the cathepsin L antibody confirmed that the cells synthesize cathepsin L as a 43 kDa precursor that is then processed to the mature form (25 kDa) via a 34 kDa intermediate. The precursor, but not the processed forms, was released into the culture medium. During culture in vitro the 34 kDa intermediate accumulated, and little enzyme was processed to the 24 kDa form, consistent with the immunoblot data. Human lung macrophages contain a 1.5 kb transcript of cathepsin L mRNA, whereas none is detectable in human monocytes. These results establish that differentiation of human macrophages within the lung is accompanied by synthesis and expression of an elastinolytic enzyme, cathepsin L. The altered processing of cathepsin L observed during cultivation in vitro suggests caution in the assessment of the elastinolytic potential of human macrophages based on assay in vitro.
Purification and N-terminal partial sequence of anti-epilepsy peptide from venom of the scorpion Buthus martensii Karsch
Authors: Zhou X H , Yang D , Zhang J H , Liu C M , Lei K J
Published: August 2015

An anti-epilepsy peptide (AEP) was isolated and purified from venom of the scorpion Buthus martensii Karsch. The purification procedure included CM-Sephadex C-50 chromatography, gel filtration on Sephadex G-50 and DEAE-Sephadex A-50 chromatography. Its homogeneity was demonstrated by pH 4.3 polyacrylamide-disc-gel electrophoresis, focusing electrophoresis and SDS/polyacrylamide-disc-gel electrophoresis. The Mr of this peptide, calculated from measurements in SDS/15%-polyacrylamide-disc-gel and SDS/20%-polyacrylamide-disc-gel electrophoresis, is 8300. The isoelectric point is 8.52 by pH 8-9.5-range isoelectric focusing. No haemorrhagic or toxic activities were found. No toxicity was found even after the dose reached 28 mg/kg. The pharmacological tests showed that the AEP had no effect on heart rate, blood pressure or electrocardiogram, but strongly inhibited epilepsy induced by coriaria lactone and cephaloridine. The fluorescence spectrum showed that the peptide has a strong emission peak at 337 nm. Amino acid analysis suggested that the AEP is composed of 66 residues from 18 amino acids and has an Mr of 8290. The sequence of the first 50 N-terminal residues is as follows: Asp-Gly-Tyr-Ile-Arg-Gly-Ser-Asp-Asn-Cys-Lys-Val-Ser-Cys-Leu-Leu-Gly-Asn- Glu-Gly - Cys-Asn-Lys-Glu-Cys-Arg-Ala-Tyr-Gly-Ala-Ser-Tyr-Gly-Tyr-Cys-Trp-Thr-Val- Lys-Leu - Ala-Gln-Asp-Cys-Glu-Gly-Leu-Pro-Asp-Thr-.
The thermodynamically stable state of myelin basic protein in aqueous solution is a flexible coil
Authors: Gow A , Smith R
Published: August 2015

Conformational studies of myelin basic protein (MBP) in solution generally have used protein purified in organic solvents and acid. The use of such conditions raises the possibility that the secondary structure reported for the basic protein represents a denatured state. Therefore we have purified this protein by using a procedure that avoids denaturants. Bovine myelin was extracted with 0.2 M-CaCl2 and the protein was purified from the supernatant by chromatography on Sephadex G-75. The conformation of the basic protein was characterized by using c.d. and 1H-n.m.r. spectroscopy. In solution, it appeared to be predominantly randomly coiled, with only small segments of persistent structure. However, in the presence of myristoyl lysophosphatidylcholine the secondary structure of MBP became more ordered, and sedimentation-velocity experiments showed that MBP aggregated. Comparison of our results with published data indicates that Ca2+-extracted basic protein behaves similarly to the protein purified by traditional methods with respect to its ordered conformation in solution in the absence and in the presence of lipid and with respect to its self-association. Thus its thermodynamically stable structure in aqueous solution appears to be a highly flexible coil.
Characterization of a salt-extractable phosphatidylinositol synthase from rat pituitary-tumour membranes
Authors: Cubitt A B , Gershengorn M C
Published: August 2015

Solubilization of phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) synthase (CDP-diacylglycerol: myo-inositol 3-phosphatidyltransferase, EC 2.7.8.11) from rat pituitary (GH3) tumours was investigated. PtdIns synthase activity was partially extracted from crude membranes by 3 M-KCl. Prior separation of membranes revealed that a greater proportion of plasma-membrane PtdIns synthase activity was salt-extractable than was endoplasmic reticulum activity. The activity of the salt-extracted enzyme was maximized by low concentrations of 3-(3-cholamidopropyl) dimethylammonio-1-propanesulphonate (CHAPS; 0.5 mM), Triton X-100 (0.1 mM) or a phospholipid mixture (0.05 mg/ml), but higher concentrations of detergents were inhibitory. The activity of salt-extracted PtdIns synthase was 0.25 +/- 0.08 nmol/min per mg of protein. Salt-extracted PtdIns synthase activity was dependent on Mg2+ (maximal at 0.1 mM) and Mn2+ (maximal at 5 mM), and its pH optimum was in the range 7.0-7.5. The apparent Km for myo-inositol (in the presence of 0.1 mM-CDP-diacylglycerol) was 0.06 mM, and that for CDP-diacylglycerol (at 0.1 mM-myo-inositol) was 0.21 mM. Salt-extracted PtdIns synthase activity was potently inhibited by Ca2+ (50% inhibition at 1 microM), with over 90% inhibition at 10 microM-Ca2+. These data imply the existence of two forms of membrane-associated PtdIns synthase, namely salt-extractable and salt-resistant, with different intracellular localizations. The salt-extractable form of this enzyme may be a useful preparation for further characterization and purification of mammalian PtdIns synthase.
Adipsin mRNA amounts are not decreased in the genetically obese Zucker rat
Authors: Dugail I , Le Liepvre X , Quignard-Boulangé A , Pairault J , Lavau M
Published: August 2015

Adipsin gene expression as assessed by mRNA amounts was examined in adipose tissue of genetically obese rats at the onset (16 days of age) or at later stages (30 and 60 days of age) of obesity. Amounts of mRNA were equivalent in obese and lean rats at 16 days of age. In adult rats, we observed a 2-fold decrease in adipsin mRNA in the obese rats compared with control lean rats, which was abolished by weaning the animals on a high-fat diet. Our data show that, in sharp contrast with genetically obese mice, adipsin mRNA is not suppressed in genetically obese Zucker rats.
Bombesin and platelet-derived growth factor stimulate formation of inositol phosphates and Ca2+ mobilization in Swiss 3T3 cells by different mechanisms
Authors: Blakeley D M , Corps A N , Brown K D
Published: August 2015

Highly purified platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) or recombinant PDGF stimulate DNA synthesis in quiescent Swiss 3T3 cells. The dose-response curves for the natural and recombinant factors were similar, with half-maximal responses at 2-3 ng/ml and maximal responses at approx. 10 ng/ml. Over this dose range, both natural and recombinant PDGF stimulated a pronounced accumulation of [3H]inositol phosphates in cells labelled for 72 h with [3H]inositol. In addition, mitogenic concentrations of PDGF stimulated the release of 45Ca2+ from cells prelabelled with the radioisotope. However, in comparison with the response to the peptide mitogens bombesin and vasopressin, a pronounced lag was evident in both the generation of inositol phosphates and the stimulation of 45Ca2+ efflux in response to PDGF. Furthermore, although the bombesin-stimulated efflux of 45Ca2+ was independent of extracellular Ca2+, the PDGF-stimulated efflux was markedly inhibited by chelation of external Ca2+ by using EGTA. Neither the stimulation of formation of inositol phosphates nor the stimulation of 45Ca2+ efflux in response to PDGF were affected by tumour-promoting phorbol esters such as 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA). In contrast, TPA inhibited phosphoinositide hydrolysis and 45Ca2+ efflux stimulated by either bombesin or vasopressin. Furthermore, whereas formation of inositol phosphates in response to both vasopressin and bombesin was increased in cells in which protein kinase C had been down-modulated by prolonged exposure to phorbol esters, the response to PDGF was decreased in these cells. These results suggest that, in Swiss 3T3 cells, PDGF receptors are coupled to phosphoinositidase activation by a mechanism that does not exhibit protein kinase C-mediated negative-feedback control and which appears to be fundamentally different from the coupling mechanism utilized by the receptors for bombesin and vasopressin.