bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Protein stability and interaction of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor with cholinergic ligands studied by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Fernandez-Ballester G , Castresana J , Arrondo J L R , Ferragut J A , Gonzalez-Ros J M
Published: August 2015

Based on the conformational dependence of the amide-I i.r. band, this paper explores the use of Fourier-transform i.r. spectroscopy methods to probe structural features of proteins present in native membranes from Torpedo highly enriched in acetylcholine receptor (AcChR). The interference of water absorbance on the amide-I spectral region has been eliminated through isotopic exchange by freeze-drying the membranes in the presence of trehalose to avoid protein denaturation induced by drying, followed by resuspension in deuterated water. AcChR-rich membrane samples prepared in such a way maintained an ability to undergo affinity-state transitions and to promote cation translocation in response to cholinergic agonists, which are functional characteristics of native untreated samples. The temperature-dependence of the i.r. spectrum indicates a massive loss of ordered protein structure, occurring at temperatures similar to those reported for thermal denaturation of the AcChR by differential scanning calorimetry and by thermal inactivation of alpha-bungarotoxin-binding sites on the AcChR [Artigues, Villar, Ferragut & Gonzalez-Ros (1987) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 258, 33-41], thus suggesting that the observed i.r. spectral changes correspond to alterations in the structure of the AcChR protein. Furthermore, the presence of detergents as well as cholinergic agonists and antagonists produces spectral changes that are also consistent with the alterations in AcChR protein structure expected from previous calorimetric studies. In contrast with the information obtained by calorimetry, i.r. spectroscopy allows the contribution of secondary structural changes to be distinguished from the overall change in protein structure. Thus prolonged exposure to cholinergic agonists, which drives the AcChR protein into the desensitized state, produces only negligible alterations in the amide-I band shape, but increases substantially the thermal stability of the protein. This suggests that rearrangements in the tertiary or quaternary structure of the protein are more likely to occur than extensive changes in secondary structure as a consequence of AcChR desensitization.
Zymosan-triggered tyrosine phosphorylation in mouse bone-marrow-derived macrophages is enhanced by respiratory-burst priming agents
Authors: Green S P , Hamilton J A , Phillips W A
Published: August 2015

We have investigated the relationship between tyrosine phosphorylation and respiratory-burst activity in mouse bone-marrow-derived macrophages (BMM). We demonstrate that zymosan, an agent known to trigger the macrophage respiratory burst, also triggers the activation of tyrosine kinase activity, resulting in rapid tyrosine phosphorylation on numerous proteins, and provide evidence for the role of tyrosine phosphorylation in the triggering of the BMM respiratory burst. Agents, such as tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which prime the macrophage for an enhanced zymosan-triggered respiratory burst, increase tyrosine phosphorylation triggered by zymosan. The zymosan-triggered tyrosine phosphorylation and respiratory-burst activity were partially suppressed by the tyrosine kinase inhibitors alpha-cyano-3-ethoxy-4-hydroxy-5-phenylmethylcinnamide (ST638) and herbimycin A. In addition, pre-exposure of BMM to vanadate, a phosphotyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, greatly enhanced the ability of zymosan to induce tyrosine phosphorylation and trigger the respiratory burst. These data highlight the importance of the balance between tyrosine kinase and phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity in determining the ultimate level of tyrosine phosphorylation in BMM and suggest that zymosan-triggered tyrosine phosphorylation is an important biochemical signal for triggering of the respiratory burst.
Uptake and accumulation of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium by rat liver mitochondria measured using an ion-selective electrode
Authors: Davey G P , Tipton K F , Murphy M P
Published: August 2015

The compound 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) causes selective destruction of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons in primates, giving rise to a condition resembling Parkinson's disease. The toxicity of MPTP is believed to be due to its metabolite 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+). MPP+ is an inhibitor of mitochondrial respiration at the NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase site and this, together with its selective transport into dopaminergic nerve terminals, accounts for its neurotoxicity. In this paper an electrode selective for MPP+ was developed and used to measure the rate of uptake and the steady-state accumulation of MPP+ in rat liver mitochondria. The initial rates of MPP+ uptake were not saturable, confirming previous work that the transport of MPP+ is not carrier-mediated. The membrane potential of mitochondria respiring on succinate was decreased by MPP+ and the steady-state accumulation ratio of MPP+ did not come to equilibrium with the mitochondrial transmembrane potential gradient (delta psi). The effect of the cation exchanger tetraphenylboron (5 microM) was to increase the initial rate of MPP+ uptake by about 20-fold and the steady-state accumulation by about 2-fold. This suggests that there may be a mechanism of efflux of MPP+ from mitochondria which allows MPP+ to cycle across the membrane and thus decrease delta psi. These data indicate that MPP+ interacts with mitochondria independently of its inhibition of NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase, and these alternative interactions may be of relevance for its mechanism of neurotoxicity.
Regulation of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase activity by alterations in the intracellular polyamine content
Authors: Shantz L M , Holm I , Jänne O A , Pegg A E
Published: August 2015

The effects of addition of exogenous spermidine and spermine and of two inhibitors of polyamine biosynthesis, alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), which decreases spermidine concentrations, and n-butyl-1,3-diaminopropane, which depletes spermine, on the expression of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (AdoMetDC) activity were studied in mammalian cell lines (HT29, CHO and COS-7). AdoMetDC levels were inversely related to the polyamine content, and spermine was the more potent repressor of AdoMetDC activity, but only spermidine affected the amount of AdoMetDC mRNA. Transfection of COS-7 cells or CHO cells with plasmid constructs containing a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene driven by portions of the AdoMetDC promoter region indicated that CAT expression was altered by spermidine, but not by spermine, suggesting that there is a spermidine-responsive element in this promoter. Transient transfection of COS-7 cells with pSAMh1, a plasmid containing the AdoMetDC cDNA in a vector with the SV40 promoter and origin of replication, led to a large increase in AdoMetDC expression. Although treatment of COS-7 cells with n-butyl-1,3-diaminopropane greatly increased endogenous AdoMetDC activity, the spermine depletion brought about by this inhibitor did not stimulate AdoMetDC expression from pSAMh1. The pSAMh1 cDNA is missing 72 nucleotides from the 5′ end of the AdoMetDC mRNA, and it is possible that translational regulation by spermine involves this region. The expression of AdoMetDC from pSAMh1 in COS-7 cells was greatly inhibited by DFMO treatment, although endogenous AdoMetDC activity was increased. The expression of other plasmids containing the SV40 origin of replication was also inhibited by DFMO in COS-7 cells, but not in CHO cells. DFMO treatment did not interfere with the expression of plasmids driven by the RSV promoter. These results suggest that low spermidine levels interfere with the replication of plasmids containing the SV40 origin of replication.
Active-site characterization of S1 nuclease. II. Involvement of histidine in catalysis
Authors: Gite S , Reddy G , Shankar V
Published: August 2015

Modification of the histidine residues of purified S1 nuclease resulted in loss of its single-stranded (ss)DNAase, RNAase and phosphomonoesterase activities. Kinetics of inactivation indicated the involvement of a single histidine residue in the catalytic activity of the enzyme. Furthermore, histidine modification was accompanied by the concomitant loss of all the activities of the enzyme, indicating the presence of a common catalytic site responsible for the hydrolysis of ssDNA, RNA and 3′-AMP. Substrate protection was not observed against Methylene Blue- and diethyl pyrocarbonate (DEP)-mediated inactivation. The histidine (DEP)-modified enzyme could effectively bind 5′-AMP, a competitive inhibitor of S1 nuclease, whereas the lysine (2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid)-modified enzyme showed a significant decrease in its ability to bind 5′-AMP. The inability of the substrates to protect the enzyme against DEP-mediated inactivation, coupled with the ability of the modified enzyme to bind 5′-AMP effectively, suggests the involvement of histidine in catalysis.
Demonstration of cathepsins B, H and L in xenografts of normal and Duchenne-muscular-dystrophy muscles transplanted into nude mice
Authors: Takeda A , Jimi T , Wakayama Y , Misugi N , Miyake S , Kumagai T
Published: August 2015

The activities and contents of the lysosomal cysteine proteinases cathepsins B, H and L were examined in xenografts of biopsied muscles transplanted from age-matched normal subjects and Duchenne-muscular-dystrophy (DMD) patients into nude mice. The activity of cathepsin B increased 9-fold and that of B-plus-L increased 24-fold in the first week after transplantation in normal muscle xenografts. By the third week, the activity of cathepsin B increased a total of 20-fold and B-plus-L increased to 36-fold the original level. The activity levels of cathepsin B, B-plus-L, H and D, and acid phosphatase in normal and DMD xenografts were not significantly different when compared 2 weeks after transplantation. However, the protein content of cathepsin B in DMD muscle xenografts was more than 3-fold that of normal xenografts at 2 weeks. The profile of cathepsin H activity in normal muscle xenografts was different than those of cathepsins B and B-plus-L. In the first week, the cathepsin H diminished sharply to about one-third of the biopsied muscle level and then, by 3 weeks after transplantation, it had increased slightly to about half the original level. The amount of endogenous cysteine-proteinase inhibitor changed in parallel with the activity of cathepsins B and B-plus-L. Cathepsins B and H, but not cathepsin L, were found immunohistochemically in regenerating muscle fibres of normal and DMD xenografts 2 weeks after transplantation. Staining of cathepsin B in DMD xenografts was slightly stronger than that in normal subjects. There was no immunostaining in degenerating or necrotic muscle fibres 2 weeks after transplantation. Western-blot analysis revealed that the cathepsin B band at 29 kDa was increased in normal xenografts 2 and 3 weeks after transplantation. Also, 2 weeks after transplantation the staining intensity of this band was slightly stronger in DMD xenografts than in normal xenografts. These results suggest that cathepsin B participates in the regeneration of transplanted muscle, both normal and DMD, and in the DMD muscle fibre-wasting processes, during regeneration.
Cell volume and bile acid excretion
Authors: Häussinger D , Hallbrucker C , Saha N , Lang F , Gerok W
Published: August 2015

The interaction between cell volume and taurocholate excretion into bile was studied in isolated perfused rat liver. Cell swelling due to hypo-osmotic exposure, addition of amino acids or insulin stimulated taurocholate excretion into bile and bile flow, whereas hyperosmotic cell shrinkage inhibited these. These effects were explained by changes in Vmax of taurocholate excretion into bile: Vmax. increased from about 300 to 700 nmol/min per g after cell swelling by 12-15% caused by either hypo-osmotic exposure or addition of amino acids under normo-osmotic conditions. Steady-state taurocholate excretion into bile was not affected when the influent K+ concentration was increased from 6 to 46 mM or decreased to 1 mM with iso-osmoticity being maintained by corresponding changes in the influent Na+ concentration. Replacement of 40 mM-NaCl by 80 mM-sucrose decreased taurocholate excretion into bile by about 70%; subsequent hypo-osmotic exposure by omission of sucrose increased taurocholate excretion to 160%. Only minor, statistically insignificant, effects of aniso-osmotic cell volume changes on the appearance of bolus-injected horseradish peroxidase in bile were observed. Taurocholate (400 microM) exhibited a cholestatic effect during hyperosmotic cell shrinkage, but not during hypo-osmotic cell swelling. Both taurocholate and tauroursodeoxycholate increased liver cell volume. Tauroursodeoxycholate stimulated taurocholate (100 microM) excretion into bile. This stimulatory effect was strongly dependent on the extent of tauroursodeoxycholate-induced cell swelling. During continuous infusion of taurocholate (100 microM) further addition of tauroursodeoxycholate at concentrations of 20, 50 and 100 microM increased cell volume by 10, 8 and 2% respectively, in parallel with a stimulation of taurocholate excretion into bile by 29, 27 and 9% respectively. There was a close relationship between the extent of cell volume changes and taurocholate excretion into bile, regardless of whether cell volume was modified by tauroursodeoxycholate, amino acids or aniso-osmotic exposure. The data suggest that: (i) liver cell volume is one important factor determining bile flow and biliary taurocholate excretion; (ii) swelling-induced stimulation of taurocholate excretion into bile is probably not explained by alterations of the membrane potential; (iii) bile acids modulate liver cell volume; (iv) taurocholate-induced cholestasis may depend on cell volume; (v) stimulation of taurocholate excretion into bile by tauroursodeoxycholate can largely be explained by tauroursodeoxycholate-induced cell swelling.
Alteration in proportions of histone H1 variants during the differentiation of murine erythroleukaemic cells
Authors: Helliger W , Lindner H , Grübl-Knosp O , Puschendorf B
Published: August 2015

We have investigated the changes in the relative amounts of histone H1 zero and all five H1 variants during the differentiation in vitro of Friend erythroleukaemic cells. Three different agents were used as inducers of differentiation: dimethyl sulphoxide, hexamethylenebisacetamide and sodium butyrate. By applying a combination of reverse-phase h.p.l.c. and one-dimensional gel electrophoresis we observed that, during differentiation in vitro, (1) the relative amount of each subtype changes upon induction and that (2) dimethyl sulphoxide and hexamethylenebisacetamide produce a similar histone H1 pattern with a strong increase in histones H1 zero and H1c, a modest increase in histone H1e and a decrease in the relative amounts of histone H1a, H1b and H1d, whereas butyrate induces a different pattern, particularly with respect to both histones H1c and H1e: H1c increased slightly, and H1e strongly, during differentiation. These results are compared with changes in the histone H1 pattern during differentiation in vivo in the mouse [Lennox & Cohen (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 262-268] and in the rat [Pina, Martinez & Suau (1987) Eur. J. Biochem. 164, 71-76], and similarities and deviations are discussed.
Agonist-induced inhibition of phosphatidylserine synthesis is secondary to the emptying of intracellular Ca2+ stores in Jurkat T-cells
Authors: Pelassy C , Breittmayer J P , Aussel C
Published: August 2015

The biosynthesis of phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) by the serine base-exchange enzyme system, in Jurkat T-lymphocytes, was inhibited in intact cells maintained in low-Ca(2+)-containing buffer (< 10 microM-Ca2+) by using Ca2+ ionophores (A23187 or ionomycin). The rise in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration under these experimental conditions was only due to the release of Ca2+ from intracellular compartments, suggesting that the inhibition of PtdSer synthesis was correlated with the emptying of intracellular Ca2+ pools. This was further studied in saponin-permeabilized cells, in which PtdSer synthesis was found to be inhibited by EGTA, Ca2+ ionophores (A23187 or ionomycin) and Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitors [thapsigargin or 2,5-di-(t-butyl)-benzohydroquinone]. Since Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitors impaired refilling of the Ca2+ stores with Ca2+, and since in CD3-activated Jurkat T-cells the Ca2+ stores remained empty after 1 h of treatment with anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies, we suggest that PtdSer synthesis is mainly regulated by the level of Ca2+ in the intracellular compartments and that the Ca(2+)-dependent serine base-exchange system responsible for PtdSer synthesis is probably located within or close to a Ca(2+)-storage organelle.
Modulation of the low-density-lipoprotein-receptor-related protein and its relevance to chylomicron-remnant metabolism
Authors: Szanto A , Balasubramaniam S , Roach P D , Nestel P J
Published: August 2015

Hepatic levels of the low-density-lipoprotein (LDL)-receptor-related protein (LRP) and the LDL receptor were measured in rats subjected to treatments known to affect the expression of the LDL receptor. Propylthiouracil decreased both hepatic LRP and LDL receptor expression by 30-40%. Thyroxine treatment increased LDL receptor levels by 3-fold without altering LRP levels. In contrast, 17 alpha-ethinyloestradiol decreased LRP by 50%, whereas the LDL receptor was increased 5-fold. Plasma chylomicrons and their remnants were decreased to insignificant levels with this treatment. In rats fed with cholesterol there was a significant increase in these particles in plasma (1.21 +/- 0.4 versus 5.71 +/- 0.4 mg/dl), whereas the expression of LRP was unaltered. In Watanabe heritable hyperlipidaemic and cholesterol-fed rabbits, in which the LDL receptor expression is absent or decreased, the expression of LRP was not significantly different from that in normal rabbits. These results suggest that the expression of hepatic LRP can be modulated by changes in the hormonal status of the rat and that this modulation is not tightly co-ordinated with that of the LDL receptor. Moreover, LRP does not appear to have a significant role in chylomicron-remnant clearance, whereas the LDL receptor is actively involved in this process.
Somatostatin inhibits vasopressin-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis and influx of extracellular calcium in clonal hamster β (HIT) cells
Authors: Richardson S B , Laya T , Gibson M , Eyler N , Van Ooy M
Published: August 2015

Vasopressin (VP) stimulates insulin secretion and inositol phosphate (InsP) production in clonal hamster beta cells (HIT) via a cyclic AMP-independent V1-receptor-mediated signal-transduction pathway. Somatostatin (SRIF) inhibited VP-stimulated insulin secretion, and the effects of SRIF were abolished by pretreatment with pertussis toxin. The Ca(2+)-channel blockers verapamil and nifedipine also inhibited VP-stimulated insulin secretion during 20 min incubations, but verapamil was ineffective at 2 min, and the effects of SRIF and nifedipine together were not addictive. SRIF failed to inhibit further the attenuated insulin response to VP in Ca(2+)-free medium. VP-stimulated InsP production was also inhibited by SRIF in a pertussis-toxin-sensitive manner. Whereas VP-stimulated insulin secretion was almost completely inhibited by SRIF at an equimolar concentration, VP-stimulated InsP production was much less sensitive to inhibition by SRIF, even at a 100-fold excess concentration. VP increased cytosolic Ca2+ in HIT cells loaded with fura 2, the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator. The increase was biphasic, with an initial rapid spike increase followed by a prolonged second phase. Both SRIF, at a concentration which inhibited VP-stimulated insulin secretion but not InsP production, and verapamil failed to inhibit the rapid spike increase in intracellular Ca2+, but did inhibit the second phase. We conclude that VP induces biphasic changes in cytosolic Ca2+, secondary to mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ and influx of extracellular Ca2+. SRIF inhibits insulin secretion by interrupting influx of extracellular Ca2+, likely by inhibiting Gi-subunit activity. Inhibition of VP-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis, which is also pertussis-toxin-sensitive, may represent an additional mechanism of action of SRIF.
Characterization of the functional domain of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2)
Authors: DeClerck Y A , Yean T D , Lee Y , Tomich J M , Langley K E
Published: August 2015

Analysis of the functional domain of tissue inhibitor of metallo-proteinases-2 (TIMP-2) was performed using limited proteolytic degradation with trypsin. This treatment generated a 13.5 kDa fragment which was purified and shown to consist of an uncleaved N-terminal region extending from residue 1 to residue 132. The fragment retains the ability to inhibit activated interstitial collagenase and to block the autocatalytic activation of procollagenase.
Structural analysis of the human insulin-like growth factor-II P3 promoter
Authors: Raizis A M , Eccles M R , Reeve A E
Published: August 2015

The expression of insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) has been observed previously in many human cancers. The human IGF-II P3 promoter has been shown by others to give rise to abundant 6.0 kb and 2.2 kb fetal transcripts which are expressed in a variety of both paediatric and adult tumours. In order to determine the mechanism by which the P3 promoter is controlled, the promoter was analysed in cell lines using chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) assay and DNAase I footprinting techniques. The data indicated that P3 is a complex promoter involving at least nine transcription factor binding sites. Furthermore, high levels of 5-methylcytosine detected in the P3 promoter of HeLa genomic DNA suggest that IGF-II gene expression may also be influenced by DNA methylation.
Arthrobacter
d-xylose isomerase: partial proteolysis with thermolysin
Authors: Siddiqui K S , Rangarajan M , Hartley B S , Kitmitto A , Panico M , Blench I P , Morris H R
Published: August 2015

The pattern and kinetics of partial proteolysis of Arthrobacter D-xylose isomerase tetramer was studied in order to determine the flexibility of surface loops that may control its stability. It was completely resistant to trypsin, chymotrypsin and elastase at 37 degrees C, but thermolysin cleaved specifically and quantitatively at Thr-347-Leu-348 between helices 10 and 11 to remove 47 residues from the C-terminus of each 43.3 kDa subunit. At high temperatures, helices 9 and 10 were removed from each 38 kDa subunit to give a 36 kDa tetramer. The kinetics of nicking by thermolysin indicated that the Thr-347-Leu-348 loop is locked at low temperatures, but ‘melts’ at 25 degrees C and is fully flexible above 34 degrees C. The flexibility appears to be associated with binding of Ca2+ ions at the active site, since Co2+, Mg2+ and xylitol protect in proportion to their ability to displace Ca2+. The missing C-terminal helices make many intersubunit contacts that appear in the structure to stabilize the tetramer, but the properties of the purified nicked proteins are almost indistinguishable from the native enzyme. Both the 38 kDa tetramer and the 36 kDa tetramer are identically active and dissociate similarly in urea or SDS to fully active dimers, but the nicked dimers are slightly less stable to urea at 62 degrees C. In the Mg2+ form the thermostability of the 38 kDa tetramer is identical with that of the native enzyme, but the 36 kDa tetramer has a slightly lower ‘melting point’ (70 degrees C versus 80 degrees C), which may be due to unravelling from the end of helix 8. Since elimination of all the C-terminal helices and many intersubunit contacts has so little effect, one can conclude that the ‘weak point’ that controls the protein's thermostability lies within the N-terminal beta-barrel domain.
Differential activation of p44mapk (ERK1) by α-thrombin and thrombin-receptor peptide agonist
Authors: Vouret-Craviari V , Van Obberghen-Schilling E , Scimeca J C , Van Obberghen E , Pouysségur J
Published: August 2015

alpha-Thrombin (thrombin), a potent mitogen for CCL39 hamster lung fibroblasts, stimulates phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) and inhibits adenylate cyclase via cleavage of a specific G-protein-coupled receptor (TH-R), recently cloned from human and hamster cells. This action can be entirely mimicked by the synthetic peptide SFFLRNP, referred to here as TMP (thrombin-mimicking peptide). TMP corresponds to the first seven amino acids of the new N-terminus generated by thrombin cleavage of the hamster TH-R. Although thrombin and TMP apparently generate identical early transmembrane signals, only thrombin is mitogenic on its own. TMP needs to be associated with fibroblast growth factor (FGF), a tyrosine kinase-activating growth factor, to induce cell-cycle re-entry. Here, we have examined the early and late phase of p44 MAP kinase (p44mapk) activation in G0-arrested CCL39 cells after stimulation by thrombin, TMP, FGF or TMP+FGF. We found that: (i) both thrombin and TMP rapidly activate p44mapk in a dose-dependent manner with maximum activation at around 5 min, (ii) after the initial burst of activation, a second and long-lasting wave of activation is observed in response to thrombin (10-100 nM) but not to TMP (up to 300 microM), (iii) FGF alone (25 ng/ml), like thrombin, rapidly and persistently activates p44mapk (20-fold at 5 min and about 3-fold after 2 h), (iv) TMP added together with FGF strongly potentiates the second and sustained phase of p44mapk activation. From these results we propose that: (1) thrombin-induced mitogenesis is mediated only in part by the TH-R recently cloned and (2) activation of p44mapk, in particular the long-lasting phase that correlates with DNA synthesis, is an obligatory event for cell-cycle re-entry.
Deglycosylation and fragmentation of purified rat liver angiotensin II receptor: application to the mapping of hormone-binding domains
Authors: Desarnaud F , Marie J , Lombard C , Larguier R , Seyer R , Lorca T , Jard S , Bonnafous J C
Published: August 2015

We report new structural data about the rat liver angiotensin II receptor, which belongs to the AT1 subclass. This receptor has been purified at analytical or semi-preparative levels by a previously described strategy involving its photolabelling with a biotinylated azido probe and selective adsorption of the covalent probe-receptor complexes to immobilized streptavidin [Marie, Seyer, Lombard, Desarnaud, Aumelas, Jard and Bonnafous (1990) Biochemistry 29, 8943-8950]. Chemical or enzymic deglycosylation of the purified receptor has shown a shift in its molecular mass from 65 kDa to 40 kDa. Fragmentation of the purified receptor was carried out with V8 protease from Staphylococcus aureus, CNBr and trypsin. It was possible to find trypsin-treatment conditions which allowed production of a 6 kDa probe-fragment complex with a satisfactory yield. Attempts to localize this small fragment (5 kDa after subtraction of the probe contribution) in the recently published rat AT1 receptor sequence are reported. As expected, this fragment is not glycosylated; moreover, its further fragmentation by CNBr induces a very slight decrease in its size. These data support the hypothesis that a receptor sequence comprising the third transmembrane domain and adjacent portions of extra- and intracellular loops is involved in photolabelling by the C-terminal azidophenylalanine of the angiotensin-derived probe. These preliminary results are discussed in terms of future prospects for the characterization of hormone-binding domains of angiotensin II receptors.
Purification and characterization of the assimilatory nitrate reductase of Azotobacter vinelandii
Authors: Gangeswaran R , Lowe D J , Eady R R
Published: August 2015

1. A soluble reduced Methyl Viologen-dependent assimilatory nitrate reductase from Azotobacter vinelandii strain UW136 grown aerobically on nitrate was purified to homogeneity by the criteria of nitrate reductase activity staining, and coincidence of a Coomassie Blue-staining protein band on polyacrylamide gels run under non-denaturing conditions. The specific activity was 3 mumol of NO2- formed/min per mg of protein. 2. Gel filtration on Superose-12 and SDS/PAGE showed that the enzyme had an M(r) of 105,000 and was monomeric. The enzyme contained 1 Mo atom, 4 Fe atoms and 4 acid-labile sulphide atoms per molecule; no evidence for the presence of cytochrome or FAD was found. 3. Mo was present in a molybdenum cofactor, which on extraction was capable of activating apo-(nit-1) nitrate reductase present in crude extracts of nit-1 mutants of Neurospora crassa. 4. As isolated, the enzyme had e.p.r. signals assigned to Mo(V) with g-values g1 = 2.023; g2 = 1.998; g3 = 1.993 and with gav. = 2.004 indicating an unusual environment of Mo in this enzyme. 5. Reduction with S2O4(2-) bleached the e.p.r. signals which, on reoxidation after the addition of NO3(2-) to initiate enzyme turnover, exhibited at short times Mo(V) signals similar to those of dissimilatory nitrate reductases, with g1 = 1.998; g2 = 1.989; g3 = 1.981 and gav. = 1.989. Prolonged incubation subsequently gave a mixture of both e.p.r. species. 6. Neither NADH nor NADPH was effective as an electron donor, but reduced Methyl Viologen (apparent Km 998 microM) and reduced Bromophenol Blue (apparent Km 158 microM) were effective. With these donors the apparent Km values for nitrate were 70 microM and 217 microM respectively.
Evidence for novel binding sites on the platelet glycoprotein IIb and IIIa subunits and immobilized fibrinogen
Authors: Parise L V , Steiner B , Nannizzi L , Criss A B , Phillips D R
Published: August 2015

The present study was designed to examine the interaction of the purified platelet glycoprotein IIb-IIIa complex (GP IIb-IIIa or integrin alpha IIb beta 3) and the individual subunits of the complex with immobilized fibrinogen. Although 125I-GP IIb-IIIa binding to fibrinogen immobilized on Sepharose was specific, this interaction exhibited properties distinct from those of reversible fibrinogen binding to platelets: 125I-GP IIb-IIIa binding appeared irreversible, but non-covalent, Ca(2+)-independent, and was inhibited only weakly, or not at all, by the anti-(GP IIb-IIIa) monoclonal antibodies 10E5 and 7E3 and synthetic peptides from known platelet-binding domains of fibrinogen. Reversibly dissociated GP IIb or GP IIIa subunits inhibited 125I-GP IIb-IIIa binding to immobilized fibrinogen and bound directly to the fibrinogen. However, these subunits did not bind to peptides derived from known platelet-binding domains within the fibrinogen alpha- and gamma-chains, although the GP IIb-IIIa complex did. These results show that the complexed form of full-length GP IIb and GP IIIa is required for binding to these synthetic peptides, but not necessarily for binding to immobilized fibrinogen. Thus GP IIb-IIIa can bind to immobilized fibrinogen by a distinct mechanism that appears to involve novel binding sites on each subunit of the GP IIb-IIIa complex and on fibrinogen.
The sulphonylurea drug, glimepiride, stimulates release of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored plasma-membrane proteins from 3T3 adipocytes
Authors: Müller G , Dearey E A , Pünter J
Published: August 2015

Sulphonylurea drugs stimulate glucose transport and metabolism in muscle and fat cells in vitro. The molecular basis for the insulin-mimetic extrapancreatic effects of these oral antidiabetic therapeutic agents is unknown at present. Here we demonstrate that incubation of 3T3 adipocytes with the novel sulphonylurea, glimepiride, causes a time- and concentration-dependent release of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored ecto-proteins, 5′-nucleotidase, lipoprotein lipase and a 62 kDa cyclic AMP (cAMP)-binding protein from the plasma membrane into the culture medium. The change in the localization is accompanied by conversion of the membrane-anchored amphiphilic proteins into their soluble hydrophilic versions, as judged by pulse-chase experiments and Triton X-114 partitioning, and by appearance of anti-cross-reacting determinant (CRD) immunoreactivity of the released proteins as shown by Western blotting. Metabolic labelling of cells with myo-[14C]inositol demonstrates that inositol is retained in the major portion of released lipoprotein lipase and cAMP-binding ectoprotein. The identification of inositol phosphate after deamination of these proteins with nitrous acid suggests cleavage of their GPI membrane anchor by a GPI-specific phospholipase C. However, after longer incubation with glimepiride the amount of soluble versions of the GPI-proteins lacking inositol and anti-CRD immunoreactivity increases, which may be caused by additional drug-stimulated hydrolytic events within their GPI structure or C-termini. Since insulin also stimulates membrane release of these GPI-modified proteins, and in combination with glimepiride in a synergistic manner, sulphonylurea drugs may exert their peripheral actions in adipose tissue by using (part of) the insulin postreceptor signalling cascade at the step of activation of a GPI-specific phospholipase C.
Sequence-specific binding of [N-MeCys3,N-MeCys7]TANDEM to TpA
Authors: Lavesa M , Olsen R K , Fox K R
Published: August 2015

The sequence selective binding of [N-MeCys3,N-MeCys7]TANDEM to DNA has been studied by footprinting experiments on DNA fragments containing the self-complementary sequences CGCGATATCGCG, CGCGTATACGCG, CGCGTTAACGCG and CGCGAATTCGCG. DNAase I and micrococcal nuclease reveal drug-induced footprints with the central sequences ATAT, TATA and TTAA, but not AATT, suggesting that the ligand binds to the dinucleotide TpA. The ligand renders certain adenines hyper-reactive to diethyl pyrocarbonate. These are observed with ATAT, TATA and TTAA, but not AATT, and are located both within, and distal to, the TpA-binding sites.
A polylysine-induced aggregation of substrate accompanies the stimulation of casein kinase II by polylysine
Authors: Moreno F J , Lechuga C G , Collado M , Benítez M J , Jiménez J S
Published: August 2015

Casein kinase II (CK-II) activation by polylysine parallels an aggregation of substrates promoted by the polycation. CK-II is known to be stimulated by basic polypeptides and polyamines. The mechanism by which this stimulation takes place, however, is not yet fully understood. Here we show that, in the usual CK-II assay, polylysine induces the aggregation of casein. This aggregation has been monitored by turbidimetry, electron microscopy and gel filtration. The polylysine-concentration-dependence of the casein aggregation parallels the polylysine-concentration-dependence of the enzyme stimulation. In the presence of polylysine the enzyme is incorporated into the casein aggregates promoted by the polycation, thus supporting the view that this substrate aggregation is directly related to the mechanism of CK-II stimulation. Preliminary results show that a similar parallelism occurs with other natural substrates of the enzyme. The physiological meaning of this substrate aggregation, and its possible relation to other polylysine-stimulated enzymes and polylysine-aggregated proteins, are discussed.
Dihydropyridine binding and Ca2+-channel characterization in clonal calcitonin-secreting cells
Authors: Krautwurst D , Scherübl H , Kleppisch T , Hescheler J , Schultz G
Published: August 2015

1,4-Dihydropyridine-sensitive voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels play a crucial role in the extracellular Ca(2+)-sensing of calcitonin-secreting parafollicular cells of the thyroid (C-cells). To characterize the Ca2+ channels in C-cells, we studied 1,4-dihydropyridine binding and performed electrophysiological experiments with Ca(2+)-sensitive C-cells (rat C-cell line rMTC 44-2) in comparison with ‘defective’ Ca(2+)-insensitive C-cells (human C-cell line TT). In membranes of rMTC cells, we detected a high-affinity, stereoselective and Ca(2+)-dependent binding site for the Ca(2+)-channel-blocking 1,4-dihydropyridine, (+)-[3H]PN 200-110. Radioligand binding was saturable (Bmax. = 18 +/- 2 fmol/mg of protein), reversible [Ki for (+)-PN 200-110 = 37 +/- 1 pM) and allosterically modulated by the phenylalkylamine (-)-desmethoxyverapamil [(-)-D888] as well as the bis-benzylisoquinoline alkaloid (+)-tetrandrine. Thus the 1,4-dihydropyridine binding in rMTC cells featured all characteristics of binding to the alpha 1-subunit of L-type Ca2+ channels. In contrast, in membranes of TT cells, which are known to lack Ca(2+)-sensitivity, no Ca(2+)-channel-specific (+)-[3H]PN 200-110 binding was detected. In voltage-clamp experiments, rMTC cells exhibited slowly inactivating Ca2+ currents which proved sensitive to (+)-PN 200-110, (-)-D888 and (+)-tetrandrine. These L-type Ca(2+)-channel blockers did not affect the Ca2+ currents in TT cells. The numbers of 1,4-dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca2+ channels in rMTC cells as calculated from both the binding studies and the whole-cell/single-channel recordings were 2000 and 7000/cell respectively. Thus qualitative and quantitative detection of 1,4-dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca2+ channels by radioligand-binding in Ca(2+)-sensitive rMTC cells, but not in Ca(2+)-insensitive TT cells, reflects the electrophysiological detection of functional Ca2+ channel in rMTC cells, but not in TT cells.
Purification and immunochemical characterization of a male-specific rat liver oestrogen sulphotransferase
Authors: Borthwick E B , Burchell A , Coughtrie M W
Published: August 2015

Sulphation of oestrogens represents an important regulatory mechanism for these biologically active compounds. We have characterized and purified a form of rat liver sulphotransferase (ST), existing as a 32,500 Da monomer, which sulphates oestrogens, and have used this preparation to produce antibodies against oestrogen ST. The enzyme was active against oestrone, oestriol and beta-oestradiol, but not towards androgens. Using the antibody as a probe for immunoblotting, it was determined that the enzyme is expressed solely in male rats, and predominantly in the liver. Of the tissues examined, the only major extrahepatic tissue found to have any oestrogen ST was the brain (although the levels were very low), indicating that there might be a role for the sulphation of oestrogens in the brain. Examination of human liver and platelet cytosols by immunoblotting showed that the antibody recognized two major proteins of 32 and 34 kDa, which were presumed to correspond to the two principal phenol ST isoenzymes present in man.
Mouse synexin (annexin VII) polymorphisms and a phylogenetic comparison with other synexins
Authors: Zhang-Keck Z Y , Burns A L , Pollard H B
Published: August 2015

Two sets of cDNAs encoding mouse synexin were isolated from a liver cDNA library and sequenced. The coding regions of synexin clones show 99% identity. By contrast, the two mouse synexin cDNAs differ in a number of ways in both 5′ and 3′ non-coding regions. The two sets of cDNA encode a polypeptide of 463 amino acid residues which has a deduced molecular mass of 50 kDa. The amino acid sequence of mouse synexin shows a high degree of similarity to both the unique N-terminal domain and the highly conserved C-terminal domain of previously cloned human synexin. Northern-blot analysis using mouse liver polyadenylated RNA revealed two transcripts of 1.8 kb and 2.6 kb, corresponding to group I and group II respectively. Further hybridization analysis using specific sequences from each set of clones showed that the two sizes of mRNAs differ in the length of the 3′ non-coding region which corresponded to the cDNAs. Both mouse liver synexin and recombinant mouse synexin expressed in Escherichia coli reacted after Western-blot analysis with a goat antibody against bovine synexin. Only in the larger group-II cDNAs do we find point mutations leading to amino acid replacements of Ser to Ala at residue 145 in the unique N-terminal domain, and of Ala to Gly at residue 304 in the transition zone between repeats II and III. We conclude from a comparison of mouse, human and Dictyostelium synexins that changes occur predominantly in the hydrophobic N-terminal domain, or, in the C-terminal region at the ends of some predicted alpha-helices, on the hydrophobic face of the amphipathic C-helices, and within a lengthy non-helical domain connecting major repeats II and III.
Differential control of free calcium and free zinc levels in isolated bovine liver nuclei
Authors: Hechtenberg S , Beyersmann D
Published: August 2015

Modulation of intracellular signal transduction by Ca2+ and possibly Zn2+ is based on an effective homoeostatic control of the corresponding free ion concentrations. We used the fluorescent indicator fura-2 to monitor concentrations of free Ca2+ and free Zn2+ in nuclei isolated from bovine liver. The nuclei showed an ATP-stimulated accumulation of intranuclear free Ca2+, which was inhibited in the presence of the Ca(2+)-pump inhibitor thapsigargin. Furthermore, uptake and intranuclear levels of free Zn2+ were measured after incubation with different extranuclear Zn2+ concentrations. There was no stimulating effect of ATP on Zn2+ uptake. Our data suggest that the levels of intranuclear free Ca2+ and free Zn2+ are controlled differentially. A distinct regulation of free ion levels in the nucleus may contribute to the specific control of nuclear events associated with gene transcription and cell differentiation.
New patterns of diacylglycerol metabolism in intact cells
Authors: Florin-Christensen J , Florin-Christensen M , Delfino J M , Rasmussen H
Published: August 2015

The metabolism of di[1-14C]octanoylglycerol metabolism was examined in four cell lines: NIH 3T3 fibroblasts, BHK cells, Pam 212 keratinocytes and WEHI 3BD+ cells. We found the direct conversion of 1,2-di[1-14C]octanoyl-sn-glycerol ([14C]diC8) into dioctanoylphosphatidylcholine and dioctanoylacylglycerol, but no formation of phosphatidylinositol. The [14C]diC8 also underwent lipolytic breakdown. In contrast, 1-[1-14C]oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol was metabolized exclusively by lipolysis. Our findings support a new scheme for the metabolic termination of diacylglycerol signals.
A role for aminopeptidase N in Na+-dependent amino acid transport in bovine renal brush-border membranes
Authors: Plakidou-Dymock S , Tanner M J , McGivan J D
Published: August 2015

A monoclonal antibody FD19 which removes reconstitutable Na(+)-dependent amino acid transport activity from solubilized bovine renal brush-border membrane vesicles was found to react specifically with the enzyme aminopeptidase N. Cleavage of aminopeptidase N from the membranes with papain inhibited Na(+)-dependent amino acid transport activity without affecting that of alpha-methyl D-glucoside. Removal of aminopeptidase substantially increased the Km values for the Na(+)-dependent transport of alanine, glutamine, leucine and phenylalanine without affecting the Vmax. Both Na(+)-dependent amino acid transport and aminopeptidase activity in intact vesicles were competitively inhibited by amino acids with very similar specificity. These results suggest that the amino acid-binding sites of aminopeptidase N and the transporter interact in some way to increase the Km of the transport process for its substrates. However, independent direct inactivation of the transport system by papain cannot be ruled out.
l-mandelate dehydrogenase from Rhodotorula graminis: comparisons with the l-lactate dehydrogenase (flavocytochrome b2) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Smékal O , Yasin M , Fewson C A , Reid G A , Chapman S K
Published: August 2015

L-Lactate dehydrogenase (L-LDH) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and L-mandelate dehydrogenase (L-MDH) from Rhodotorula graminis are both flavocytochromes b2. The kinetic properties of these enzymes have been compared using steady-state kinetic methods. The most striking difference between the two enzymes is found by comparing their substrate specificities. L-LDH and L-MDH have mutually exclusive primary substrates, i.e. the substrate for one enzyme is a potent competitive inhibitor for the other. Molecular-modelling studies on the known three-dimensional structure of S. cerevisiae L-LDH suggest that this enzyme is unable to catalyse the oxidation of L-mandelate because productive binding is impeded by steric interference, particularly between the side chain of Leu-230 and the phenyl ring of mandelate. Another major difference between L-LDH and L-MDH lies in the rate-determining step. For S. cerevisiae L-LDH, the major rate-determining step is proton abstraction at C-2 of lactate, as previously shown by the 2H kinetic-isotope effect. However, in R. graminis L-MDH the kinetic-isotope effect seen with DL-[2-2H]mandelate is only 1.1 +/- 0.1, clearly showing that proton abstraction at C-2 of mandelate is not rate-limiting. The fact that the rate-determining step is different indicates that the transition states in each of these enzymes must also be different.
The hepatic acute-phase proteins α1-antitrypsin and α2-macroglobulin inhibit binding of transferrin to its receptor
Authors: Graziadei I , Kaserbacher R , Braunsteiner H , Vogel W
Published: August 2015

Transferrin binding to human placental sites was inhibited by the acute-phase proteins alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1-AT) and alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2-MG), whereas haptoglobin, C-reactive protein and ferritin displayed no such effect. In equilibrium saturation binding assays, the effective acute-phase proteins decreased the apparent affinity of the binding sites for transferrin, but the transferrin binding-site density Bmax. was not significantly changed. For instance, the addition of 30 microM alpha 1-AT increased the KD of transferrin from 8.46 +/- 1.51 nM to 21.6 +/- 3.04 nM; the Bmax. values were 1.17 +/- 0.18 pmol/mg of protein and 1.04 +/- 0.25 pmol/mg of protein respectively. In kinetic studies, alpha 1-AT decreased the association rate constant k+1 of the 125I-transferrin-binding-site complex from 2.18(+/- 0.21) x 10(7) M-1.min-1 to 3.99(+/- 0.18) x 10(6) M-1.min-1. In contrast, the dissociation rate constant k-1 was not changed (0.0948 +/- 0.002 min-1, 0.089 +/- 0.0017 min-1). On isoelectric focusing, no alteration in transferrin protein pattern or shift in isoelectric point was detected in the presence of alpha 1-AT. Inhibition of transferrin binding by the acute-phase proteins alpha 1-AT and alpha 2-MG is competitive. Interestingly, inhibition is already present at physiological concentrations. However, full inhibition is only achieved at concentrations above the normal range, which are attained in acute-phase reactions.