bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acetylene, a mammalian metabolite of 1,1,1-trichloroethane
Authors: Dürk H , Poyer J L , Klessen C , Frank H
Published: August 2015

1,1,1-Trichloroethane (TCE) is a widely used industrial solvent of low acute toxicity. It is slowly oxidized to trichloroethanol and trichloroacetic acid by cytochrome P-450-dependent mono-oxygenases. Increased inhalative uptake by rats under hypoxia and spin-trapping experiments indicate that TCE is also reductively metabolized to a radical intermediate. Acetylene is formed as a metabolite, suggesting transfer of an additional electron to form the corresponding carbene. Hypoxia and induction of mixed-function mono-oxygenases accelerate the formation of acetylene. Experiments performed in vitro with rat liver microsomal fractions yield analogous results.
Isolation and partial purification of a melanocyte-stimulating hormone receptor from B16 murine melanoma cells. A novel approach using a cleavable biotinylated photoactivated ligand and streptavidin-coated magnetic beads
Authors: Ahmed A R H , Olivier G W J , Adams G , Erskine M E , Kinsman R G , Branch S K , Moss S H , Notarianni L J , Pouton C W
Published: August 2015

The alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) receptor of B16 mouse melanoma cells was characterized by photoaffinity labelling using radiolabelled photoactive derivatives of alpha-MSH. A doublet band of 43-46 kDa representing a ligand-receptor complex was identified. A novel adaptation of the streptovadin/biotin-based affinity system was used to isolate the alpha-MSH receptor. A probe was synthesized which contained biotin connected to a photolabelled alpha-MSH analogue via a cleavable disulphide linker and which displayed high affinity for the alpha-MSH receptor. Streptavidin-coated magnetic beads were used as a solid support instead of an affinity column. Covalently linked probe-receptor complexes solubilized in Triton X-100 were equilibrated with the beads, and after magnetic separation and washing, specifically bound complexes were treated with dithiothreitol to cleave the disulphide bridge in the biotin-peptide spacer arm and so release the receptor-ligand complex. The identity of the isolated protein was established by SDS/PAGE analysis. Methods to achieve purification to homogeneity and to allow quantitative isolation of the receptor are discussed.
Fusion between rat pancreatic zymogen granules and plasma membranes. Modulation by a GTP-binding protein
Authors: MacLean C M , Edwardson J M
Published: August 2015

At the moment, little is known about the molecular characteristics of the final step in the process of regulated exocytosis, i.e. the fusion of the membrane of a secretory vesicle with the plasma membrane. We have reconstituted this fusion event in vitro, using zymogen granules and plasma membranes from the exocrine pancreas of the rat. The membranes of zymogen granules were loaded with the lipid-soluble fluorescent probe octadecylrhodamine B, at a concentration that resulted in self-quenching of its fluorescence. The granules were then incubated with pancreatic plasma membranes at 37 degrees C, and fusion was measured through the dilution-dependent de-quenching of the fluorescence of the probe. Zymogen granules fused with pancreatic plasma membranes, but not with plasma membranes from liver or chromaffin cells; granules also fused with unlabelled granule membranes. The fusion of granules with plasma membranes was unaffected by variation of the Ca2+ concentration over a wide range, but fusion of granules with both plasma membranes and zymogen granule membranes was stimulated by GTP and, more potently, by guanosine 5′-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]). The effect of GTP[S] was to increase the extent of fusion occurring at low concentrations of plasma membranes, without affecting the maximum signal obtained at high membrane concentrations. Pre-incubation of the plasma membranes with GTP[S] also enhanced their ability to fuse with zymogen granules. Our results indicate that membrane fusion during exocytosis may be under the direct control of a GTP-binding protein.
Characterization and identification of an epidermal-growth-factor-activated phospholipase A2
Authors: Spaargaren M , Wissink S , Defize L H K , de Laat S W , Boonstra J
Published: August 2015

The production of arachidonic acid (AA), which is involved in mitogenic signalling by epidermal growth factor (EGF), is most directly accomplished by the action of phospholipase A2 (PLA2). We demonstrate that EGF treatment of intact NEF cells rapidly activates a cytosolic PLA2, as measured in cell-free extracts by the release of radiolabelled AA from exogenously added 1-stearoyl-2-[1-14C]arachidonoyl phosphatidylcholine. Activation of PLA2 by EGF resulted in an enhanced Vmax. and no change in Km. The PLA2 activity was eluted in a single peak at 0.4 M-NaCl from a Mono Q anion-exchange column, and migrated with an approximate molecular mass of 70 kDa on a Superose 12 gel-filtration column. The EGF-activated PLA2 activity co-migrated with the basal PLA2 activity upon gel filtration, and persisted after partial purification, which indicates that the activation is due to a stable modification of the enzyme. The EGF-stimulated PLA2 is Ca(2+)-dependent, with maximal activity at micromolar concentrations of Ca2+, has a pH optimum at 9, associates with the particulate cell fraction in a Ca(2+)-dependent fashion, and is selective for arachidonoyl at the sn-2 position. These data demonstrate the EGF-induced activation of a PLA2, which is similar to a recently cloned high-molecular-mass AA-selective cytosolic PLA2, thus providing a link between EGF-receptor tyrosine kinase activation and AA metabolism.
Estimation of the rate constants associated with the inhibitory effect of okadaic acid on type 2A protein phosphatase by time-course analysis
Authors: Takai A , Ohno Y , Yasumoto T , Mieskes G
Published: August 2015

As is often the case with tightly binding inhibitors, okadaic acid produces its inhibitory effect on type 2A protein phosphatase (PP2A) in a time-dependent manner. We measured the rate constants associated with the binding of okadaic acid to PP2A by analysing the time-course of the reduction of the p-nitrophenyl phosphate (pNPP) phosphatase activity of the enzyme after application of okadaic acid. The rate constants for dissociation of okadaic acid from PP2A were also estimated from the time-course of the recovery of the activity from inhibition by okadaic acid after addition of a mouse IgG1 monoclonal antibody raised against the inhibitor. Our results show that the rate constants for the binding of okadaic acid and PP2A are of the order of 10(7) M-1.s-1, a typical value for reactions involving relatively large molecules, whereas those for their dissociation are in the range 10(-4)-10(-3) s-1. The very low values of the latter seems to be the determining factor for the exceedingly high affinity of okadaic acid for PP2A. The dissociation constants for the interaction of okadaic acid with the free enzyme and the enzyme-substrate complex, estimated as the ratio of the rate constants, are both in the range 30-40 pM, in agreement with the results of previous dose-inhibition analyses.
Plasma clearance and net uptake of α-tocopherol and low-density lipoprotein by tissues in WHHL and control rabbits
Authors: Cohn W , Goss-Sampson M A , Grun H , Muller D P R
Published: August 2015

The mechanism(s) of uptake of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) by tissues is poorly understood. It has, however, been suggested from studies in vitro that the apolipoprotein B/E (apo B/E) receptor pathway for low-density lipoprotein (LDL) may be involved. To investigate the role of the apo B/E receptor pathway in vivo, we have studied the transport and uptake of alpha-tocopherol by tissues in Watanabe Heritable Hyperlipidaemic (WHHL) rabbits, which lack functional LDL (apo B/E) receptors, and controls. [3H]alpha-Tocopherol incorporated within LDL labelled with [14C]sucrose was used in these studies, as this enabled the uptake of both alpha-tocopherol and LDL to be studied independently. The principal findings were as follows. (1) Concentrations of the circulating lipids (including alpha-tocopherol) and LDL were increased and the plasma fractional disappearance rates of alpha-tocopherol and LDL decreased in the WHHL rabbits. (2) The WHHL rabbits clear more LDL and alpha-tocopherol from the circulation than controls do, because of their increased pool sizes of alpha-tocopherol and LDL. (3) The lipoprotein composition of the WHHL rabbits differed from that of the controls, and there was exchange of alpha-tocopherol between the lipoprotein fractions in vivo and in vitro. (4) High-affinity apo B/E receptors were not essential for the uptake of alpha-tocopherol by tissues. (5) Evidence from the plasma-clearance and tissue data suggest that alpha-tocopherol can be taken up by tissues in association with, and also independent of, LDL. We conclude that there are several different mechanisms for the uptake of alpha-tocopherol by tissues, which include receptor-dependent and receptor-independent pathways, independent transport and co-transport of alpha-tocopherol and LDL, and uptake from a number of different lipoproteins.
A strategy for increasing an in vivo flux by genetic manipulations. The tryptophan system of yeast
Authors: Niederberger P , Prasad R , Miozzari G , Kacser H
Published: August 2015

Decreases in enzyme activity often have little effect on the flux carried by the pathway. Similarly, up-modulation of single genes, and hence of the dependent enzyme concentrations, is frequently found to be ineffective in increasing the flux in the pathway in which the enzyme occurs. This insensitivity to enzyme variation is demonstrated experimentally for five separate enzymes in the tryptophan synthesis system of yeast, first by down-modulation of the gene dose and secondly by increasing the dose using multi-copy vectors. Such a lack of response is discussed in terms of the concepts of metabolic control analysis. When these five enzymes, however, were simultaneously increased by a multi-copy vector carrying all five genes, a substantial elevation of the flux to tryptophan was observed. These findings revealed a new phenomenon, namely the more than additive effects on the flux of simultaneous elevations of several enzyme activities.
Iron and aluminium in relation to brain ferritin in normal individuals and Alzheimer's-disease and chronic renal-dialysis patients
Authors: Dedman D J , Treffry A , Candy J M , Taylor G A A , Morris C M , Bloxham C A , Perry R H , Edwardson J A , Harrison P M
Published: August 2015

Ferritin has been isolated and its subunit composition, iron and aluminium content determined in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum of normal individuals and in the cerebral cortex of Alzheimer's-disease and renal-dialysis patients. An e.l.i.s.a. for ferritin has been developed and the ferritin, non-haem iron and aluminium content of the parietal cortex were determined in normal individuals and Alzheimer's-disease patients. It was found that ferritin from the cerebral cortex and cerebellum of normal individuals had a high H-subunit content, similar to that of heart ferritin. The subunit composition of ferritin isolated from the cerebral cortex was not significantly altered in Alzheimer's-disease or renal-dialysis patients. Ferritin from the cerebral cortex of normal individuals had only approx. 1500 atoms of iron per molecule and the iron content of ferritin was not significantly changed in Alzheimer's-disease or renal-dialysis patients. Ferritin isolated from the cerebral cortex of normal, Alzheimer's-disease and renal-dialysis patients had less than 9 atoms of aluminium per molecule. The failure to find increased concentrations of aluminium associated with ferritin in dialysis patients, who had markedly increased concentrations of aluminium in the cerebral cortex, shows that aluminium does not accumulate in ferritin in vivo. This has important implications for the toxicity of aluminium, since it implies that cells are unable to detoxify aluminium by the same mechanism as that available for iron. Comparison of the concentrations of ferritin, aluminium and iron in the parietal cortex from normal and Alzheimer's-disease patients showed that, whereas the concentration of aluminium was not increased, both ferritin and iron were significantly increased in Alzheimer's disease.
Purification and characterization of a diptericin homologue from Sarcophaga peregrina (flesh fly)
Authors: Ishikawa M , Kubo T , Natori S
Published: August 2015

A protein with a molecular mass of 8 kDa was found to be synthesized specifically when the fat-body from injured Sarcophaga peregrina larvae was cultured in vitro. This protein was purified from the haemolymph of the injured larvae to near-homogeneity. Partial amino acid sequencing revealed that this protein is a diptericin homologue. It showed bactericidal activity on growing, but not resting Escherichia coli cells. E. coli cells become elongated on treatment with this protein.
Involvement of caldesmon at the actin-myosin interface
Authors: Harricane M C , Fabbrizio E , Arpin C , Mornet D
Published: August 2015

Addition of myosin subfragment 1 (S-1) to the actin-caldesmon binary complex, which forms bundles of actin filaments resulted in the formation of actin/caldesmon-decorated filaments [Harricane, Bonet-Kerrache, Cavadore & Mornet (1991) Eur. J. Biochem. 196, 219-224]. The present data provide further evidence that caldesmon and S-1 compete for a common actin-binding region and demonstrate that a change occurs in the actin-myosin interface induced by caldesmon. S-1 digested by trypsin, which has an actin affinity 100-fold weaker than that of native S-1, was efficiently removed from actin by caldesmon, but not completely dissociated. This particular ternary complex was stabilized by chemical cross-linking with carbodi-imide, which does not have any spacer arm, and revealed contact interfaces between the different protein components. Cross-linking experiments showed that the presence of caldesmon had no effect on stabilization of actin-(20 kDa domain), whereas the actin-(50 kDa domain) covalent association was significantly decreased, to the point of being virtually abolished.
Kinetics of activation of the P4 promoter of pBR322 by the Escherichia coli cyclic AMP receptor protein
Authors: Hoggett J G , Brierley I
Published: August 2015

The activation of transcription initiation from the P4 promoter of pBR322 by the Escherichia coli cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP) has been investigated using a fluorescence abortive initiation assay. The effect of the cyclic-AMP/CRP complex on the linear P4 promoter was to increase the initial binding (KB) of RNA polymerase to the promoter by about a factor of 10, but the rate of isomerization of closed to open complex (kf) was unaffected. One molecule of CRP per promoter was required for activation, and the concentration of cyclic AMP producing half-maximal stimulation was about 7-8 microM. Supercoiling caused a 2-3-fold increase in the rate of isomerization of the CRP-activated promoter, but weakened the initial binding of polymerase by about one order of magnitude. The unactivated supercoiled promoter was too weak to allow reliable assessment of kinetic parameters against the high background rate originating from the rest of the plasmid.
Purification and properties of DNA polymerase from Bacillus caldotenax
Authors: Burrows J A , Goward C R
Published: August 2015

A thermostable DNA polymerase was prepared from Bacillus caldotenax by using a four-step chromatography procedure. The protein exists as a monomer of M(r) 94,000, has a pI of 4.9 and has no associated 3′-5′ or 5′-3′-exonuclease activities or endonuclease activity. The temperature optimum of the enzyme was about 70 degrees C and the pH for maximum activity was about 7.5. The enzyme has an absolute requirement for a bivalent cation, and maximum activity was obtained at the unusually high concentration of 70 mM-MgCl2. Mg2+ could be replaced by MnCl2 or CoCl2, with decreased activity, at the lower optimal concentrations of 1 mM and 2.5 mM respectively. Enzyme activity was inhibited in the presence of 2′,3′-dideoxy-TTP, arabinosyl-CTP and aphidicolin. Enzyme activity was stimulated with KCl concentrations of about 100 mM, and concentrations of univalent salts above about 150 mM inhibited activity. The enzyme could use activated calf thymus DNA, poly(dA).p(dT)10 or primed single-stranded phage M13 DNA as a template and maximum activity was obtained with poly(dA).p(dT)10. The enzyme was inactive on unprimed single-stranded DNA, double-stranded DNA and polyribonucleotide template/primer. The apparent Km values for individual dNTPs, determined with the other dNTPs at saturating concentrations, were 5.7 microM (dCTP), 6.3 microM (dATP, dGTP) and 6.4 microM (dTTP). The Km value for the overall incorporation of each dNTP from an equimolar mixture of all four dNTPs was 24.7 microM. The kcat. value was about 1.05 s-1. The kcat./Km value was 0.16-0.18 M-1.s-1 for individual dNTPs and 0.04 for the incorporation of an equimolar mixture of all four dNTPs. Some of the properties of the enzyme show it may be classified as an alpha-Type DNA polymerase.
Uracil-DNA glycosylases preferentially excise mispaired uracil
Authors: Verri A , Mazzarello P , Spadari S , Focher F
Published: August 2015

We have investigated the substrate specificity of human, viral and bacterial uracil-DNA glycosylases employing as substrate double-stranded oligonucleotides containing in the same position of the 5′-32P-labelled strand an uracil residue facing, on the complementary strand, guanine (mimicking cytosine deamination) or adenine (mimicking dUTP misincorporation). The enzyme removal of uracil was monitored and quantified by the generation of alkali-sensitive apyrimidinic sites. All three uracil-DNA glycosylases excise uracil from mispaired oligonucleotides (U/G) more efficiently than from paired oligonucleotides (U/A). The enzymes also remove uracil from single-stranded oligonucleotide with an efficiency similar to that observed with U/A paired oligonucleotide. The efficient recognition of U/G mispair by uracil-DNA glycosylase is important in minimizing miscoding transcripts and C/G-->T/A transitions in proliferating cells.
Evidence for dissociation of gluconeogenesis stimulated by non-esterified fatty acids and changes in fructose 2,6-bisphosphate in cultured rat hepatocytes
Authors: Clore J N , Stillman J S , Helm S T , Blackard W G
Published: August 2015

In order to examine the role of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate (Fru-2,6-P2) in non-esterified-fatty-acid-stimulated gluconeogenesis, Fru-2,6-P2 levels were measured in cultured rat hepatocytes under conditions mimicking the fasted state. After addition of either 1.5 mM-palmitate or 10 nM-glucagon, [U-14C]lactate incorporation into glucose increased 2-fold, but only glucagon suppressed Fru-2,6-P2. Prevention of palmitate oxidation with a carnitine palmitoyltransferase-I inhibitor (2-bromopalmitate) diminished glucose production and Fru-2,6-P2 levels. Addition of exogenous glucose to the media increased Fru-2,6-P2 in a dose-related manner, which was further augmented by addition of palmitate. When Fru-2,6-P2 levels were examined in cells cultured under conditions mimicking the fed state (significantly higher basal Fru-2,6-P2 levels and lower glucose production), palmitate oxidation was associated with a significant fall in Fru-2,6-P2. In conclusion, the present studies have demonstrated a dissociation between fatty-acid-stimulated gluconeogenesis and changes in Fru-2,6-P2 in cultured rat hepatocytes. Further experiments suggest that the accumulation of intracellular hexose 6-phosphate as a result of fatty-acid-stimulated gluconeogenesis masks a putative inhibitory effect of fatty acids on Fru-2,6-P2 concentrations.
Structural comparison between the mitochondrial aralkyl-CoA and arylacetyl-CoA N-acyltransferases
Authors: Kelley M , Vessey D A
Published: August 2015

The aralkyl and arylacetyl transferases were purified to homogeneity from bovine kidney by a slight modification of a previous procedure. The M(r) of the arylacetyl transferase was estimated to be 33,500 by SDS/PAGE and that of the aralkyl transferase to be 33,750 by a combination of SDS/PAGE and gel-filtration analysis. N-Terminal-sequence analysis indicated a blocked N-terminus for the arylacetyl transferase and gave the following sequence for the aralkyl transferase: M-F-L-L-Q-G-A-Q-M-L-Q-M-L-E-K. Amino acid analysis revealed differences in composition between the two enzymes. Most notable was the fact that the aralkyl transferase had more methionine and leucine. This difference could be partially accounted for by assuming that the methionine-and-leucine-rich N-terminus was missing from the arylacetyl transferase. Chemical cleavage of the two enzymes at methionine residues using CNBr gave rise to several peptides for each enzyme. N-Terminal-sequence analysis of the 8000-M(r) peptide from the arylacetyl transferase gave a sequence with 69% similarity to the 9000-M(r) peptide from the aralkyl transferase. This was taken to indicate a common origin for the two enzymes.
Photoaffinity labelling of steroid-hormone-binding glutathione S-transferases with [3H]methyltrienolone. Inhibition of steroid-binding activity by the anticarcinogen indole-3-carbinol
Authors: Danger D P , Baldwin W S , LeBlanc G A
Published: August 2015

The identification and characterization of steroid-hormone-binding glutathione S-transferases (GST) were undertaken using photoaffinity-labelling techniques. Irradiation of mouse liver cytosol, in the presence of 50 nM-[3H]methyltrienolone, resulted in the specific affinity labelling of five proteins. One of these proteins, designated MBP27, had an approximate molecular mass of 27 kDa under denaturing conditions and was induced by treatment of mice with either 2(3)-t-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (BHA) or phenobarbital (PB). An additional affinity-labelled protein, MBP25, which was not detected in untreated mouse cytosol, was induced in the liver cytosols from BHA- and PB-treated mice. The molecular masses of these proteins and their induction by BHA and PB suggested that they may be steroid-hormone-binding GST subunits. Irradiation of mouse liver cytosol in the presence of [3H]methyltrienolone, followed by immunoprecipitation using GST-specific antibodies established that both GST mu and GST alpha bind [3H]methyltrienolone and both contribute to the affinity-labelled protein designated MBP27. GST Ya1 Ya1, an alpha class GST that is not expressed in untreated mouse liver but is induced by BHA and PB, was also found to bind [3H]methyltrienolone and is identical with the affinity-labelled protein designated MBP25. Experiments were undertaken next to assess the effects of the anticarcinogenic plant compound indole-3-carbinol (I3C) on GST-mediated steroid hormone-binding using the photoaffinity labelling techniques. Treatment of mice with I3C resulted in the induction of immunoreactive GST mu and GST Ya1 Ya1. However, the steroid-binding activity of these proteins in vitro was severely inhibited by the acid-condensation products of I3C that are generated in the stomach after ingestion. These results suggest that I3C may inhibit GST-mediated steroid-binding activity which could contribute to the anticarcinogenic activity of this compound.
Purification and properties of oestradiol 17β-dehydrogenase extracted from cytoplasmic vesicles of porcine endometrial cells
Authors: Adamski J , Husen B , Marks F , Jungblut P W
Published: August 2015

Porcine endometrial oestradiol-17 beta dehydrogenase was solubilized from the particulate fraction of homogenates sedimenting between 1200 g and 10,000 g by treatment with 0.4% Brij 35 in neutral buffers. The extracts were processed by successive passage through DEAE-Sepharose, Amberlyte XAD-2 and Blue-Sepharose, and the enzyme was collected from the washed affinity matrix at 0.8 M of a 0-2 M-KCl gradient. A genuine oestrone reductase was eluted at 1.9 M-KCl. The dehydrogenase pool was resolved by butyl-Sepharose chromatography into a major (80%) peak (EDHM) eluted at 0.8 M-(NH4)2SO4 and a very hydrophobic fraction (VHF) recovered at 0.1 M. EDHM was further purified by filtration through Sephadex G-200 and cation-exchange chromatography on Mono S. Sephacryl 300 was used for VHF followed by Mono S. Enrichments from the homogenate amounted to 1074-fold for EDHM and 632-fold for VHF. A single silver-stained band at 32 kDa is seen on SDS/PAGE of EDHM, and VHF contains additional bands at 45 and 80 kDa. Polyclonal antibodies (G436) raised against EDHM and the monoclonal antibody F1 raised against VHF recognize the single 32 kDa band in EDHM and both the 32 kDa and 80 kDa bands in composite VHF. The 45 kDa band of VHF reacts with neither. Monoclonal antibody W1 raised against EDHM only recognizes the 32 kDa peptide of EDHM and VHF. The specific activity for oestradiol oxidation amounts to 4081 mu-units/mg for EDHM and to 2402 mu-units/mg for VHF. Both possess a minimal (1/260) endogenous reductase activity and are devoid of 3 beta, 3 alpha- and 20 alpha-dehydrogenases. We consider EDHM to be authentic oestradiol-17 beta dehydrogenase of porcine endometrium. The composite VHF could reflect the situation of the enzyme in vivo or result from aggregations occurring during processing.
Control of plasma-membrane Ca2+ entry by the intracellular Ca2+ stores. Kinetic evidence for a short-lived mediator
Authors: Montero M , Alvarez J , García-Sancho J
Published: August 2015

We have studied the correlation between the degree of filling of the intracellular Ca2+ stores and the plasma-membrane permeability to Mn2+, a Ca2+ surrogate for plasma-membrane Ca2+ channels, in human neutrophils loaded with fura-2. Refilling of the stores of cells previously depleted of Ca2+ decreased the entry of Mn2+, but the magnitude of this effect depended on the refilling protocol. When refilling was allowed to proceed to steady-state levels by a 3 min incubation with different external Ca2+ concentrations (0.05-1 mM), almost complete inhibition of Mn2+ entry was observed at 40% of maximum refilling. In contrast, when different degrees of store refilling were attained by incubation with 1 mM-Ca2+ for short periods (10-40 s), inhibition of Mn2+ entry was smaller at comparable degrees of refilling. When quick refilling was allowed to proceed up to 40% (about 20 s at 37 degrees C) and then stopped at this level by removal of external Ca2+, the rate of Mn2+ uptake was high just after refilling and then decreased with time within the next few seconds (half-times approximately 7 s at 37 degrees C and approximately 20 s at 25 degrees C). We have proposed previously that the Ca2+ stores, when emptied of Ca2+, may generate a second messenger able to open the plasma-membrane Ca2+ channels by a mechanism involving cytochrome P-450. The results here are consistent with the existence of such a messenger and suggest that it is cleared from the cytoplasm with a half-time of about 7 s at 37 degrees C. In addition, inhibition of Mn2+ entry in cells with empty Ca2+ stores by cytochrome P-450 inhibitors showed a time lag consistent with the clearance kinetics proposed above.
Amino-acid sequence and predicted three-dimensional structure of pea seed (Pisum sativum) ferritin
Authors: Lobreaux S , Yewdall S J , Briat J F , Harrison P M
Published: August 2015

The iron storage protein, ferritin, is widely distributed in the living kingdom. Here the complete cDNA and derived amino-acid sequence of pea seed ferritin are described, together with its predicted secondary structure, namely a four-helix-bundle fold similar to those of mammalian ferritins, with a fifth short helix at the C-terminus. An N-terminal extension of 71 residues contains a transit peptide (first 47 residues) responsible for plastid targetting as in other plant ferritins, and this is cleaved before assembly. The second part of the extension (24 residues) belongs to the mature subunit; it is cleaved during germination. The amino-acid sequence of pea seed ferritin is aligned with those of other ferritins (49% amino-acid identity with H-chains and 40% with L-chains of human liver ferritin in the aligned region). A three-dimensional model has been constructed by fitting the aligned sequence to the coordinates of human H-chains, with appropriate modifications. A folded conformation with an 11-residue helix is predicted for the N-terminal extension. As in mammalian ferritins, 24 subunits assemble into a hollow shell. In pea seed ferritin, its N-terminal extension is exposed on the outside surface of the shell. Within each pea subunit is a ferroxidase centre resembling those of human ferritin H-chains except for a replacement of Glu-62 by His. The channel at the 4-fold-symmetry axes defined by E-helices, is predicted to be hydrophilic in plant ferritins, whereas it is hydrophobic in mammalian ferritins.
Calf chymosin as a catalyst of peptide synthesis
Authors: Abdel Malak C A
Published: August 2015

Calf chymosin was shown to catalyse peptide synthesis optimally over the range pH 4-5, giving satisfactory yields of methyl esters or p-nitroanilides of benzyloxycarbonyl tetra- to hexa-peptides, provided that hydrophobic amino-acid residues form the new peptide bonds. The effectiveness of the enzyme depends also on the nature of adjacent amino-acid residues. As an aspartate-proteinase with a characteristic specificity pattern chymosin would be useful for the synthesis of middle-length peptides.
Cell-shape-associated transcriptional activation of the p52(PAI-1) gene in rat kidney cells
Authors: Higgins P J , Ryan M P , Ahmed A
Published: August 2015

The microfilament-disrupting agent cytochalasin D (CD) increased (by 10-22-fold) the synthesis de novo and extracellular matrix deposition of plasminogen-activator inhibitor type-1 [p52(PAI-1)] in normal rat kidney (NRK) cells. Transition from a flat to a round phenotype occurred concomitantly with, and may actually precede, p52(PAI-1) induction; both the morphological and p52(PAI-1) responses were dose-dependent. Augmented synthesis became evident between 4 and 5 h of treatment of NRK cells with 100 microM-CD, correlating with a transition from 25 to more than 60% rounded cells. CD-associated increases in p52(PAI-1) mRNA abundance and protein biosynthesis were maximal between 6 and 8 h of continuous CD exposure, declined by 50% thereafter, but remained elevated (by at least 6-21-fold respectively over control values) for 24 h. Changes in p52(PAI-1) mRNA abundance at this 24 h point reflected an approx. 5-fold increase in p52(PAI-1)-gene transcription. These data confirm previous suggestions, based on actinomycin D-sensitivity of the inductive response [Higgins & Ryan (1992) Biochem. J. 284, 433-439], that CD-mediated increases in p52(PAI-1) expression are at least partly due to transcription-level events. Since CD also augments specific cellular responses to growth factors or cytokines, the potential effectiveness of this inducer was evaluated both in the presence and absence of serum growth factors using quiescent NRK cells [a growth state in which p52(PAI-1) is not expressed] as a model system. Induction of p52(PAI-1) synthesis and matrix deposition in CD-stimulated quiescent NRK cells was as efficient under growth-factor-deficient conditions as when CD was added simultaneously with serum. CD alone is thus a complete inducer of p52(PAI-1) expression in NRK cells, an observation that supports the contention that cell shape is an important regulatory element in p52(PAI-1)-gene control.
Altered protein secretion and extracellular matrix deposition is associated with the proliferative phenotype induced by allylamine in aortic smooth muscle cells
Authors: Ramos K S , Weber T J , Liau G
Published: August 2015

Repeated cycles of allylamine-induced aortic injury in vivo modulate the proliferative potential of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) during serial propagation in vitro. This modulation may be partly mediated by disturbances in polyphosphoinositide metabolism which afford allylamine-treated cells a growth advantage over control cells [Cox, Murphy and Ramos (1990) Exp. Mol. Pathol. 53, 52-63]. The present studies were conducted to further evaluate the mechanisms which mediate the enhanced proliferative potential of allylamine cells. Cellular growth and/or [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA were evaluated in control and allylamine cells seeded on plastic culture dishes or glass coverslips in the presence of 0.1, 1 or 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). On either substrate, incubation in 0.1% FBS for 48 h inhibited DNA synthesis in cultures of both cell types, but the inhibitory response was more pronounced in allylamine cells. Subsequent challenge with 10% FBS increased thymidine incorporation to a greater extent in allylamine cells. Interestingly, enhanced DNA synthesis of allylamine cells was associated with increased cell numbers only when seeded on a glass surface. The enhanced growth rate on glass was not due to increased plating efficiency since comparable attachment rates were observed for both cell types. Reseeding of control cells on glass substrates pre-coated by allylamine cells afforded control cells a growth advantage comparable with that observed for allylamine cultures. Conditioned media from growth-arrested, as well as cycling cultures, of allylamine cells stimulated DNA synthesis in cultures of either cell type to a greater extent than conditioned media from control counterparts. In addition, the responsiveness of allylamine cells to secreted products was enhanced relative to that of control cells. Metabolic labelling studies revealed that the synthesis and/or secretion of 52, 46, 33 and 28 kDa proteins was enhanced in allylamine cultures relative to controls, and that the expression of two proteins of 30 and 31 kDa only occurred in allylamine cultures. We conclude that the enhanced growth response of allylamine cells is associated with both altered protein secretion and differential extracellular matrix deposition.
Cloning and expression of human liver dehydroepiandrosterone sulphotransferase
Authors: Comer K A , Falany J L , Falany C N
Published: August 2015

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphotransferase (DHEA-ST) catalyses the 3′-phosphoadenosine 5′-phosphosulphate-dependent sulphation of a wide variety of steroids in human liver and adrenal tissue and is responsible for most, if not all, of the sulphation of bile acids in human liver. This report describes the isolation, characterization and expression of a cDNA which encodes human liver DHEA-ST. The DHEA-ST cDNA, designated DHEA-ST8, was isolated from a Uni-Zap XR human liver cDNA library and is composed of 1060 bp and contains an open reading frame encoding a 285-amino-acid protein with a molecular mass of approx. 33765 Da. Translation of DHEA-ST8 in vitro generated a protein identical in molecular size with that of DHEA-ST. Expression of DHEA-ST8 in COS-7 cells produces an active DHEA-ST protein which is capable of sulphating DHEA, has the same molecular mass as human liver DHEA-ST and is recognized by rabbit anti-(human liver DHEA-ST) antibodies. Northern-blot analysis of human liver RNA detects the presence of three different size transcripts; however, Southern-blot analysis of human DNA suggests that only one gene may be present in the genome. These results describe the cloning of a human ST which has an important role in the sulphation of steroids and bile acids in human liver and adrenals.
A Drosophila gene encoding a protein with similarity to diacylglycerol kinase is expressed in specific neurons
Authors: Harden N , Yap S F , Chiam M A , Lim L
Published: August 2015

A Drosophila gene encoding a protein with similarity to diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) was isolated by screening a genomic DNA library with a human DGK cDNA under low-stringency hybridization conditions. This putative Drosophila DGK gene (dDGK) maps to 43E on the right arm of chromosome 2. A dDGK cDNA with an open reading frame encoding a 517 amino acid protein was obtained in a screen of a 3-12-h embryonic cDNA library. In a 236-amino-acid overlap at their C-termini there is an identity of 52.5% between the dDGK protein and human DGK. The N-terminus of the Drosophila protein is not similar to human DGK, and contains clusters of polar amino acids. dDGK is transcribed in the embryonic, pupal and adult stages, with little expression during the larval stages. Transcripts of 1.7-2.2 kb, 3.5 kb, 3.7 kb and 6.6 kb are seen, although most of the smaller transcripts may be from genes with similarity to dDGK. In stage-16 and stage-17 embryos, dDGK transcripts are limited to the central nervous system and head. There is a particularly high level of expression in the cell bodies of the larval photoreceptor organ, and in the cell bodies of the ventral unpaired median neurons. The dDGK protein may be involved in regulating signal transduction in these specific neurons.
Site-directed mutation studies of human liver cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes in the CYP2C subfamily
Authors: Veronese M E , Doecke C J , Mackenzie P I , McManus M E , Miners J O , Rees D L , Gasser R , Meyer U A , Birkett D J
Published: August 2015

Evidence from human studies in vivo and in vitro strongly suggests that the methylhydroxylation of tolbutamide and the 4-hydroxylation of phenytoin, the major pathways in the elimination of these two drugs, are catalysed by the same cytochrome P-450 isoenzyme(s). In the present study we used site-directed mutagenesis and cDNA expression in COS cells to characterize in detail the kinetics of tolbutamide and phenytoin hydroxylations by seven CYP2C proteins (2C8, 2C9 and variants, and 2C10) in order to define the effects of small changes in amino acid sequences and the likely proteins responsible in the metabolism of these two drugs in man. Tolbutamide was hydroxylated to varying extents by all expressed cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes, although activity was much lower for the expressed 2C8 protein. While the apparent Km values for the 2C9/10 isoenzymes (71.6-131.7 microM) were comparable with the range of apparent Km values previously observed in human liver microsomes, the apparent Km for 2C8 (650.5 microM) was appreciably higher. The 2C8 enzyme also showed quite different sulphaphenazole inhibition characteristics. The 4-hydroxylation of phenytoin was also more efficiently catalysed by the 2C9/10 enzymes. These enzymes showed similarities in kinetics of phenytoin hydroxylation and sulphaphenazole inhibition compared with human liver phenytoin hydroxylase. Also of interest was the observation that, among the 2C9 variants, small differences in amino acid composition could appreciably affect both tolbutamide and phenytoin hydroxylations. The amino acid substitution Cys-144->Arg increased both the rates of tolbutamide and phenytoin hydroxylations, while the Leu-359->Ile change had a greater effect on phenytoin hydroxylation. We conclude that: (1) although 2C8 and 2C9/10 proteins metabolize tolbutamide. only 2C9/10 proteins play a major role in human liver; (2) 2C9/10 proteins also appear to be chiefly responsible for phenytoin hydroxylation; and (3) subtle differences in the amino acid composition of these 2C9/10 proteins can affect the functional specificities towards both tolbutamide and phenytoin.
Multiple regulation of ornithine decarboxylase in enzyme-overproducing cells
Authors: Kameji T , Hayashi S , Hoshino K , Kakinuma Y , Igarashi K
Published: August 2015

We have isolated from mouse FM3A cells a variant cell line, termed EXOD-1, that overproduces ornithine decarboxylase (ODC). The cells were resistant to alpha-difluoromethylornithine, an irreversible inhibitor of the enzyme, and produced the enzyme protein to the extent of approx. 3-6% of total cytosolic protein. The rate of ODC synthesis in this cell line accounted for 25-50% of the rate of total protein synthesis. The amounts of the ODC gene and its mRNA in the variant cells were both about 60 times as much as those in wild-type FM3A cells. Upon removal of the inhibitor, the growth of the ODC-overproducing cells was stimulated approx. 2-fold. Under these conditions, the rate of ODC synthesis increased about 4-fold on day 1 and then decreased to near the original level by day 3. The amount of ODC mRNA increased about 1.7-fold on day 1 and 2.5-fold on day 3. No correlation was observed between changes in ODC synthesis rate and in ODC mRNA content, suggesting a translational repression of ODC mRNA due to accumulation of polyamines. In fact, the cellular contents of putrescine and spermidine markedly increased and that of spermine inversely decreased during the same period. Pulse-chase experiments showed that the accumulation of putrescine and spermidine also elicited a rapid degradation of ODC. Excess amounts of newly synthesized putrescine and cadaverine were excreted into the medium, whereas spermidine, spermine and acetylated polyamines were undetectable there. We conclude that ODC regulation upon removal of the inhibitor is dependent on at least three steps, namely the level of mRNA, the translational efficiency of mRNA and the stability of the enzyme, the last two of which are involved in cellular polyamines.
The competition plot: a simple test of whether two reactions occur at the same active site
Authors: Chevillard C , Cárdenas M L , Cornish-Bowden A
Published: August 2015

The competition plot is a method for determining whether or not two enzyme-catalysed reactions occur at the same active site. It is a plot of total rate against p, where p varies from 0 to 1 and specifies the concentrations (1-p)a0 and pb0 of two substrates in terms of reference concentrations a0 and b0 chosen so as to give the same rates at p = 0 and p = 1. If the two substrates react at the same site, the competition plot gives a horizontal straight line, i.e. the total rate is independent of p. Independent reactions at two separate sites give a curve with a maximum; separate reactions with cross-inhibition generate curves with either maxima or minima according to whether the Michaelis constants of the two substrates are smaller or larger than their inhibition constants in the other reactions. Although ambiguous results can sometimes arise, experimental strategies exist for avoiding them, for example working as close as possible to the lower of the two limiting rates. When tested with yeast hexokinase, the plot indicated phosphorylation of glucose and fructose at the same site. Conversely, with a mixture of yeast hexokinase and galactokinase it indicated phosphorylation of glucose and galactose at different sites. In both cases the observed behaviour agreed with the known properties of the enzymes. A slight modification to the definition of this plot allows it to be applied also to enzymes that deviate from Michaelis-Menten kinetics.
Antisera specific for D2 dopamine receptors
Authors: Chazot P L , Doherty A J , Strange P G
Published: August 2015

Antisera have been raised against two peptides from the sequence of D2 dopamine receptors: peptide 1 from the predicted second extracellular loop and peptide 2 from the predicted third intracellular loop. The antisera recognize specifically a 95 kDa band in Western blots of several bovine brain regions, which corresponds to the denatured D2 dopamine receptor, whereas in recombinant CHO cells expressing D2 dopamine receptors a 80 kDa band is seen. The antisera immunoprecipitate 10-20% of the D2 dopamine receptors from soluble preparations of bovine brain. The antisera recognize D2 dopamine receptors in immunofluorescence analyses of recombinant CHO cells bearing the receptor gene. The antisera directed against the third intracellular loop, but not those against the second extracellular loop, will interfere with the coupling of D2 dopamine receptors and G-proteins in bovine brain preparations.
Effect of thiol compounds on human complement component C4
Authors: Edmonds S , Gibb A , Sim E
Published: August 2015

Thiol compounds have been investigated as inhibitors of the covalent binding reaction of human complement protein C4 using Sepharose-C1s as a combined activating and binding surface. o- and p-substituted aminothiophenols are equally effective inhibitors, whereas the m-substituted compound is a less potent inhibitor. The anti-hypertensive drug captopril is also shown to inhibit the covalent binding reaction. A comparison of the effects of these compounds on the covalent binding reaction of isolated C4A and C4B has been made. Results suggest that a Pro-to-Leu substitution in C4B is likely to account for the differences in inhibitory potency of C4B compared with C4A observed with the aromatic inhibitors.
Mechanisms involved in the adaptations of the adipocyte adrenergic signal-transduction system and their modulation by growth hormone during the lactation cycle in the rat
Authors: Vernon R G , Piperova L , Watt P W , Finley E , Lindsay-Watt S
Published: August 2015

The mechanisms responsible for the diminished lipolytic response of adipocytes to catecholamines after litter removal from lactating rats and their modulation by growth hormone have been investigated. Lactation, litter removal and growth-hormone treatment did not alter the ability of noradrenaline to activate protein kinase A (A-kinase), showing that the defect in signal transduction in rats after litter removal is after A-kinase. Litter removal had no effect on hormone-sensitive lipase activity itself, but the proportion of the lipase associated with the fat droplet was decreased; growth-hormone treatment increased hormone-sensitive lipase activity and the proportion associated with the fat droplet. In addition, a number of other adaptations in the beta-adrenergic signal-transduction system occur during the lactation cycle and in response to growth hormone treatment, including changes in receptor number, adenylate cyclase activity and cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity, but a defect in the ability of hormone-sensitive lipase to associate with the lipid droplet appears to be the major reason for the diminished response to catecholamines on litter removal.
Studies on the inhibitory mechanism of iodonium compounds with special reference to neutrophil NADPH oxidase
Authors: O'Donnell V B , Tew D G , Jones O T G , England P J
Published: August 2015

Diphenyleneiodonium (DPI) and its analogues have been previously shown to react via a radical mechanism whereby an electron is abstracted from a nucleophile to form a radical, which then adds back to the nucleophile to form covalent adducts [Banks (1966) Chem. Rev. 66, 243-266]. We propose that the inhibition of neutrophil NADPH oxidase by DPI occurs via a similar mechanism. A reduced redox centre in the oxidase could serve as electron donor to DPI, and inhibition would occur after direct phenylation of the redox cofactor, or of adjacent amino acid groups by the DPI radical. In the absence of an activatory stimulus, human neutrophil NADPH-oxidase was not inhibited by DPI. The Ki for time-dependent inhibition by DPI of human neutrophil membrane NADPH oxidase was found to be 5.6 microM. Inhibitory potency of DPI was shown to be directly related to rate of enzyme turnover, indicating the need for a reduced redox centre. Adducts were formed between photoreduced flavin (FAD or FMN) and inhibitor (DPI or diphenyliodonium). These were separated by h.p.l.c. and characterized by absorbance spectroscopy, 1H-n.m.r. and fast-atom-bombardment m.s. and found to have properties consistent with substituted 4a,5-dihydroflavins. After incubation of pig neutrophil membranes with DPI, the quantity of recoverable intact flavin was greatly diminished when NADPH was present to initiate oxidase turnover, indicating that the flavin may be the site of DPI activation. These results may provide a common mechanism of action for iodonium compounds as inhibitors of other flavoenzymes.