bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cell-surface radioiodination with the sparingly soluble catalyst Iodogen. Difference between the dividing and non-dividing populations of rodent thymocytes
Authors: Salisbury J G , Graham J M
Published: August 2015

The surface proteins of dividing and non-dividing subpopulations of rat and mouse thymocytes have been labelled by using a new method of radioiodination. Sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and autoradiography of the labelled proteins shows distinct differences in labelling between the mouse and rat cells and also, in the case of the rat, between the dividing and non-dividing populations.
Alternative substrates for triacylglycerol synthesis in isolated adipocytes of different size from the rat
Authors: Francendese A A , Digirolamo M
Published: August 2015

The metabolic utilization of 14C-labelled acetate, pyruvate, lactate and glucose by isolated epididymal fat-cells was compared in two groups of rats fed ad libitum, one group young and lean (150-200 g body wt.), the other older and spontaneously obese (500-650 g body wt.). The influence of unlabelled glucose (6 mM) and insulin on substrate utilization by adipocytes was also studied. (1) Pyruvate and lactate were found to be good precursors for fatty-acid synthesis in small fat-cells, but not in larger fat-cells. On the other hand, lactate conversion into CO2 and the glycerol moiety of acylglycerols proceeded activity in both types of cells, and in some cases, it even exceeded the rates of glucose utilization. (2) The addition of glucose or glucose plus insulin, but not insulin alone, enhanced the metabolism of acetate, pyruvate and lactate in both types of fat-cells. (3) Fatty-acid synthesis de novo in large fat-cells was markedly decreased regardless of the substrate utilized. These findings point to lactate as a significant precursor for triacylglycerol synthesis in adipocytes. Furthermore, decreased fatty-acid synthesis de novo appears to be an acquired metabolic deficiency of enlarging adipocytes, independent of precursor substrate availability.
Non-involvement of nucleolytic activities in the early effect of dimethylnitrosamine on the content of free mRNA in mouse liver
Authors: Nygård O , Hultin T
Published: August 2015

1. After dimethylnitrosamine (DMNA) administration to mice, the content of poly(A)-containing RNA decreases rapidly in the postmicrosomal fraction of the liver. We report here that the loss of free mRNA is not a result of increased nucleolytic activity. On the contrary, a decreased activity of microsomal endonuclease, assayed by its effect on polyribosomal mRNA, was demonstrated already 15 min after the administration of DMNA at 37.5 mg/kg body wt. The loss of activity was more pronounced in the rough than in the smooth membranes. Total detergent-released microsomal nucleases, as assayed by use of labelled poly(U) as substrate, showed a less rapid decline. No corresponding increase in enzyme activities was observed in the postmicrosomal fraction. 2. The dimethylnitrosamine effect on the microsomal endonuclease was not accounted for by altered lysosomal contamination of the microsomal fraction. 3. No early effect of dimethylnitrosamine administration was found on the cytoplasmic ribonuclease inhibitor.
Reconstruction of the smaller subparticle of rabbit ribosomes from core-particle and split-protein fractions
Authors: Cox R A
Published: August 2015

The smaller subparticle of rabbit reticulocyte ribosomes was shown to yield core-particle and split-protein fractions on treatment with 2.5 M-NH4Cl/61 mM-MgCl2. The core-particle fraction was inactive in poly(U)-directed polyphenylalanine synthesis, but activity was restored after recombination with the split-protein fraction. Optimum ionic conditions for the reconstruction of active subparticles were found to be 0.75 M-NH4Cl/19 mM-MgCl2 at 0 degrees C. Improved extents of reconstruction were obtained when the core-particles were isolated by methods that avoided pelleting. Core-particles isolated from subparticles pretreated with either proteinases or ribonucleases had diminished capacity to become re-activated.
Human erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase in relation to cell age
Authors: Galbraith D A , Watts D C
Published: August 2015

Acetylcholinesterase was studied in human red cells that had been fractionated on Ficoll/Triosil density gradients into classes representing different ages in vivo. Reticulocytes have negligible acetylcholinesterase activity; this is rapidly acquired on maturation to the erythrocyte. The activity per cell reaches a maximum and then, after a constant period, declines again towards the end of cell life. The maximum activity and the rates of activity gain and loss per cell are quantitatively different in adults and children. Kinetic studies showed that Vmax. follows the same age/activity profile but Km is unaffected by cell age. The acetylcholinesterase protein content, determined by quantitative crossed immunoelectrophoresis, also shows a profile of increase and then decrease with cell age but the specific activity calculated from the protein estimate shows a reverse picture in which there is a slight decrease from young to mid-age cells followed by an increase again in older cells. These results are interpreted to indicate a complex developmental picture in which the overall cell age against enzyme activity profile is determined partly by the amount of enzyme protein present and partly from the modifying effect on the enzyme activity, of interactions with an aging cell membrane.
Transbilayer distribution of lipids in a population of sarcoplasmic-reticulum vesicles sealed with their cytoplasmic side outwards
Authors: McGill K A , Bennett J P , Smith G A , Plumb R W , Warren G B
Published: August 2015

A population of sarcoplasmic-reticulum vesicles, all of which were sealed with their cytoplasmic side outwards, was obtained by density-gradient centrifugation after loading the vesicles with calcium oxalate. The calcium oxalate could subsequently be removed from the vesicles by the reverse action of the calcium-transport system. Measurements of the catalysed exchange of the phosphatidylcholine in the sarcoplasmic-reticulum cytoplasmic monolayer with an exogenous phosphatidylcholine pool suggested that phosphatidylcholine is symmetrically distributed across the sarcoplasmic-reticulum membrane. A similar result was obtained for phosphatidylethanolamine when sarcoplasmic-reticulum lipids were labelled with trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid. Further catalysed lipid-exchange reactions showed that the transverse movement of phosphatidylcholine across the membrane was exceedingly slow (t 1/2 greater than 15 days).
The effect of membrane phospholipid acyl-chain composition on the activity of brain-β-N-acetyl-d-glucosaminidase
Authors: Orlacchio A , Maffei C , Binaglia L , Porcellati G
Published: August 2015

The phospholipid acyl-chain dependence of the membrane-bound lysosomal beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase has been examined on control membranes from rat brain primary cell cultures and on membrane modified by culturing the cells in media supplemented with polyunsaturated fatty acids. The relationship between beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase activity and the membrane phospholipid acyl-chain composition has been evaluated. An increase in the unsaturation level of phosphatidyl ethanolamines and phosphatidylcholines, the most abundant phospholipids in this membrane fraction, is related to the rate of the enzymic reaction. The Arrhenius plot of the enzyme activity in modified membranes shows break-temperatures, starting from approximately 15 degrees C. The apparent activation energy below and above the break-temperature is not correlated with phospholipid acyl-chain unsaturation.
Further characterization of the covalent linking reaction of α2-macroglobulin
Authors: Salvesen G S , Sayers C A , Barrett A J
Published: August 2015

It is shown that non-proteolytic proteins can become covalently linked to alpha 2M (alpha 2-macroglobulin) during its reaction with proteinases, and that this probably occurs by the mechanism that leads to the covalent linking of proteinases described previously [Salvesen & Barrett (1980) Biochem. J. 187, 695-701]. The covalent linking of trypsin was at least partly dependent on the presence of unblocked lysine side chains on the protein. The covalent linking of proteinases was inhibited by nucleophiles of low Mr, and these compounds were themselves linked to alpha 2M in a molar ratio approaching one per quarter subunit. Peptide “mapping” indicated that the site of proteinase-mediated incorporation of the amines was the same as that at which methylamine is incorporated in the absence of a proteinase. The nucleophile-reactive site revealed in alpha 2M after reaction with a proteinase was shown to decay with a t1/2 of 112 s, at pH 7.5. After the reaction with a proteinase or with methylamine, a free thiol group was detectable on each subunit of alpha 2M. We propose that the site for incorporation of methylamine in each subunit is a thiol ester, which in S-alpha 2M (the electrophoretically “slow” form) is sterically shielded from reaction with large nucleophiles, but is revealed as a highly reactive group, free from steric hindrance, after the proteolytic cleavage. We have designated the activated species of the molecule “lpha 2M”.
Isolation and properties of three lectins from mistletoe (Viscum album L.)
Authors: Franz H , Ziska P , Kindt A
Published: August 2015

Three lectins have been isolated from an extract of mistletoe (Viscum album) by affinity chromatography on partially hydrolysed Sepharose and human immunoglobulin- Sepharose. The lectins differ in molecular weight and sugar specificity (lectin I, mol.wt. 11500, D-galactose-specific; lectin II, mol.wt. 60000, both D-galactose- and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine-specific; lectin III, mol. wt. 50000, N-acetyl-D-galactosamine-specific). All three lectins react with human erythrocytes without specificity for the A, B, and O blood groups. In contrast with abrin and ricin the mistletoe lectins cannot be divided into “toxins” and “haemagglutinins”.
Characterization of gastric-mucosal membranes. Distribution of lipid- and protein-associated amino groups across pig gastric microsomes
Authors: Sen P C , Ray T K
Published: August 2015

Two NH2-reactive probes (2,4,6-trinitrobenzesulphonic acid and 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene) were used to study the vectorial orientation of the membrane-associated free NH2 groups across pig gastric microsomal vesicles. Unlike 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid is ordinarily an impermeant probe that becomes permeant in the presence of K+ and valinomycin. Although 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid alone reacts with about 28% of the total microsomal phosphatidylethanolamine, 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid in the presence of valinomycin plus K+ or 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene alone reacted with 75% of the phosphatidyl- ethanolamine. Under similar conditions the free NH2 groups associated with the microsomal proteins also exhibited an asymmetric labeling pattern, the intra- and extravesicular orientation being 74 and 26% respectively.
Proteoglycan-collagen arrangements in developing rat tail tendon. An electron microscopical and biochemical investigation
Authors: Scott J E , Orford C R , Hughes E W
Published: August 2015

1. Developing tail tendons from rats (19-day foetal to 126 days post partum) were examined by electron microscopy after staining for proteoglycan with a cationic copper phthalocyanin dye. Cuprolinic Blue, in a “critical electrolyte concentration” method. Hydroxyproline was measured on papain digests of tendons, from which glycosaminoglycuronans were isolated, characterized and quantified. 2. Mean collagen fibril diameters increased more than 10-fold with age according to a sigmoid curve, the rapid growth phase 2 being during 30-90 days after conception. Fibril periodicities were considerably smaller (50-55 nm) in phases 1 and 2 than in phase 3 (greater than 62 nm). 3. Dermatan sulphate is the main glycosaminoglycuronan in mature tendon. Chondroitin sulphate and hyaluronate preponderate in foetal tissue. 4. Proteoglycan was seen around but not inside collagen fibrils. Proteoglycan and collagen were quantified from electron micrographs. Their ratios behaved similarly to uronic acid/hydroxyproline and hyaluronate/hydroxyproline ratios, which decreased rapidly around birth, and then levelled off to a low plateau coincident with the onset of rapid growth in collagen fibril diameter. 5. Dermatan sulphate/hydroxyproline ratios suggest that the proteoglycan orthogonal array around the fibril is largely dermatan sulphate. In the foetus hyaluronate and chondroitin sulphate exceed that expected to be bound to collagen. 6. An inhibiting action of chondroitin sulphate-rich proteoglycan on fibril diameter growth is suggested. 7. The distributions of hyaluronate, chondroitin sulphate and dermatan sulphate are discussed in the light of secondary structures suggested to be present in hyaluronate and chondroitin sulphate, but not in dermatan sulphate.
Effects of microbial proteinase inhibitors on the degradation of endogenous and internalized proteins by rat yolk sacs
Authors: Knowles S E , Ballard F J , Livesey G , Williams K E
Published: August 2015

1. The effects of leupeptin and other microbial proteinase inhibitors were measured in rat yolk sacs on the uptake and degradation of formaldehyde-denatured 125I-labelled bovine serum albumin as well as on the degradation of 3H-labelled endogenous protein. 2. Leupeptin, at concentrations between 1 and 100 micrograms/ml, inhibits the degradation of added albumin without affecting pinocytic uptake. Accordingly large amounts of undegraded albumin accumulate within the tissue. 3. Removal of leupeptin produces a rapid recovery of the capacity to degrade albumin. 4. Endogenous protein degradation is rapidly inhibited by leupeptin, but to a far lesser extent than the breakdown of albumin. However, the inhibition is only slightly reversed on removal of leupeptin. 5. Degradation of both albumin and endogenous protein in intact yolk sacs is inhibited by the microbial proteinase inhibitors in the order: leupeptin greater than antipain greater than chymostatin; elastatinal, pepstatin and bestatin are ineffective. 6. Similar results are found when albumin is incubated in yolk-sac homogenates at pH 4 with the inhibitors. 7. The marked inhibitory effects of leupeptin, antipain and chymostatin suggest that cathepsin B and possibly cathepsin L participate in the degradation of 125I-labelled albumin in yolk sacs. By comparison, the smaller inhibitory effects of the proteinase inhibitors on endogenous protein breakdown imply a minor role of lysosomal cathepsins in this process.
Effects of high-fat diets on hepatic fatty acid oxidation in the rat Isolation of rat liver peroxisomes by vertical-rotor centrifugation by using a self-generated, iso-osmotic, Percoll gradient
Authors: Neat C E , Thomassen M S , Osmundsen H
Published: August 2015

1. Rat liver peroxisomal fractions were isolated in iso-osmotic Percoll gradients by using vertical-rotor centrifugation. The fractions obtained with rats given various dietary treatments were characterized. 2. The effect on peroxisomal beta-oxidation of feeding 15% by wt. of dietary fat for 3 weeks was investigated. High-fat diets caused induction of peroxisomal beta-oxidation, but diets rich in very-long-chain mono-unsaturated fatty acids produced a more marked induction. 3. Peroxisomal beta-oxidation induced by diets rich in very-long-chain mono-unsaturated fatty acids can oxidize such acids. Trans-isomers of mono-unsaturated fatty acids are oxidized at rates that are faster than, or similar to, those obtained with corresponding cis-isomers. 4. Rates of oxidation of [14-14C]erucic acid by isolated rat hepatocytes isolated from rats fed on high-fat diets increased with the time on those diets in a fashion very similar to that previously reported for peroxisomal beta-oxidation [see Neat, Thomassen & Osmundsen (1980) Biochem, J. 186, 369-371]. 5. Total liver capacities for peroxisomal beta-oxidation (expressed as acetyl groups produced per min) were estimated to range from 10 to 30% of mitochondrial capacities, depending on dietary treatment and fatty acid substrate. A role is proposed for peroxisomal beta-oxidation in relation to the metabolism of fatty acids that are poorly oxidized by mitochondrial beta-oxidation, and, in general, as regards oxidation of fatty acids during periods of sustained high hepatic influx of fatty acids.
Developmental changes in the composition of polyadenylated RNA isolated from free and membrane-bound polyribosomes of the rat forebrain, analysed by translation in vitro
Authors: Hall C , Lim L
Published: August 2015

Free and membrane-bound polyribosomes were isolated from the rat forebrain during its development. Polyadenylated RNA [poly(A)+ RNA] was isolated from both fractions, by using oligo(dT)-cellulose chromatography, and its composition studied by translating the poly(A)+ RNA in vitro in reticulocyte lysates. Electrophoretic analysis of the translation products showed that both free and membrane-bound polyribosomal poly(A)+ RNA gave many common components, but that there were also distinct differences in the protein composition of the products of the two fractions. Several proteins, of mol.wts. 39 000, 37 000, 31 000, 27 000 and 17 000, appeared to be products predominantly of free polyribosomal poly(A)+ RNA, whereas others, of mol.wt. 47 000, 33 000, 24 000 and 21 000 were specific to the membrane-bound polyribosomal poly(A)+ RNA fraction. More developmental changes were observed in the translational products of the membrane-bound poly(A)+ RNA fraction. Proteins of mol.wts. 33 000 and 21 000, which were predominant components of the translational products of this fraction when isolated from 10-day and older rats, were not present in translational products derived from preparations isolated from 3-day-old rats. The developmental appearance of these proteins as translational products of the membrane-bound poly(A)+ RNA suggests the appearance of new mRNA species. These transcriptional changes are discussed in relation to processes involved in brain differentiation, including myelination.
The distribution and metabolism of glycerol in the rabbit
Authors: Wade A J
Published: August 2015

1. The effective volume of distribution of labelled glycerol was studied in conscious young adult rabbits provided with in-dwelling cannulae in the femoral blood vessels. This could be estimated after sampling arterial blood throughout an intravenous infusion of [2-3H]glycerol. The volume was calculated by using an algebraic method of graphical area analysis over 100 min of equilibration, and is symbolized 100V e or 100V e%. It occupied 34.1 +/- 2.2% (mean +/- S.E.M.; n = 13) of the body weight. The pool of endogenous glycerol occupying this space is distinguished in the present paper by calling it the transit pool, symbolized 100Me. 2. The median time of transit of glycerol through this pool was approx. 6 min in these conscious rabbits with normal (less than 0.2 mM) blood glycerol concentrations. 3. The metabolism of glycerol was also studied in rabbits while anaesthetized with urethane or while conscious. On average, half of the change in glycerol concentration that occurred on overnight starvation could be attributed to a decrease in clearance, whereas half was due to an increase in lipolysis. 4. The correlation between the reciprocal of glycerol concentration and clearance showed that in these animals about a quarter of the variation in concentration was due to an association with clearance. The remainder of the variation was attributed to variations in the rate of glycerol formation (lipolysis). 5. The regression of glycerol turnover rate on concentration implied that turnover was positive at zero glycerol concentration. This confirms previous findings from studies on other species. The explanation offered for this phenomenon is that the well-known physiological changes induced by feeding (decreased lipolysis, increased splanchnic blood flow) may independently decrease the glycerol concentration by both decreasing its release into the blood and simultaneously increasing its clearance.
The relationship of the oestrogen and progestin receptors in the abnormal uterus of the adult anovulatory rat. Effects of neonatal treatment with testosterone propionate or clomiphene citrate
Authors: White J O , Moore P A , Elder M G , Lim L
Published: August 2015

The neonatal administration of testosterone propionate to Wistar rats resulted in anovulatory adults in persistent vaginal oestrus. Clomiphene citrate had a similar effect. In both groups of adults, hyperplasia of the uterine epithelium and occasional metaplasia was observed. The uterine nuclear and cytosol oestrogen and progestin receptors of these anovulatory rats were found to have affinities for their respective ligands similar to those of normal females. The nuclear oestrogen receptor comprised occupied and unoccupied components, as in normal females. The content of the nuclear oestrogen receptor was comparable with that of females in the late dioestrous or pro-oestrous phase. This content was higher in the clomiphene-treated group. Despite the relatively high nuclear oestrogen receptor content the content of progestin receptors, a putative index of the oestrogenic response, was lower in the treated rats than in normal adult females throughout the cycle. Administration of oestradiol to both treatment groups resulted in depletion of cytosol oestrogen receptor content 1 h later, which, however, was not reflected by an increase in the content of nuclear oestrogen receptors. There was no measurable increase in progesterone receptor content in treated rats after daily administration of oestrogen (5 microgram/rat) for 3 days. These changes in sex-hormone-receptor interactions involving an impairment of the normal oestrogenic response may be associated with the abnormal differentiation of the uterus in these sterile, anovulatory animals.
Metabolism of sitosterol by a Pseudomonas species
Authors: Mahato S B , Banerjee S , Mukherjee A , Kumar R
Published: August 2015

Fermentation of sitosterol by a Pseudomonas species (SK-25) resulted in the formation of 5-stigmastene-3 beta, 7 alpha-diol; 5,6 alpha-epoxy-5 alpha-stigmastan-3 beta-ol; 5,6 beta-epoxy-5 beta-stigmastan-3 beta-ol and 5 alpha-stigmastan-3 beta, 5,6 beta-triol. The metabolites were characterized by a variety of conventional chemical and spectrometric techniques.
Light-dependent cytochrome P-450 changes in mung beans (Phaseolus aureus)
Authors: Hendry G A F , Houghton J D , Jones O T G
Published: August 2015

Maximum concentrations of microsomal cytochrome P-450 are present in 3-4 day-old mung beans (Phaseolus aureus). On illumination of dark-grown seedlings, cytochrome P-450 and later cytochrome P-450 undergo a rapid decrease in concentration in vivo, with an apparent half-time of about 6 h. Conversely light-grown seedlings, transferred to darkness, show a slow accumulation of cytochrome P-450, doubling time of about 30 h, with a later accumulation of cytochrome P-420. Microsomal cytochromes b559, b560.5 and b562.5 do not significantly alter on light-dark transitions. Possible functions for dark-induced cytochrome P-450 are discussed.
O-(4-Diazo-3,5-di[125I]iodobenzoyl)sucrose, a novel radioactive label for determining organ sites of catabolism of plasma proteins
Authors: De Jong A S , Bouma J M , Gruber M
Published: August 2015

A method is described for radiolabelling proteins with O-(4-diazo-3,5-di[125I]iodobenzoyl)sucrose (DD125IBS). When proteins so labelled were degraded within lysosomes, the radioactive fragments were largely retained within the organelle. High specific radioactivities were obtained without changing the properties of the protein. The validity of the method was demonstrated in vivo in rats using the short-lived protein lactate dehydrogenase, isoenzyme M4, and the long-lived protein bovine serum albumin. Derivatization with DD125IBS did not alter the clearance of either protein. Uptake of DD125IBS-labelled lactate dehydrogenase, isoenzyme M4, by liver and spleen of rats was determined. Radioactivity in these tissues increased up to about 2 h after injection (at this time the protein has been almost completely cleared from the blood) and subsequently declined with a half-life of approx. 20 h. After differential fractionation of liver, radioactivity was largely found in the mitochondrial and lysosomal fraction. The results of these studies establish that DD125IBS covalently coupled to plasma proteins should be a useful radioactive tracer for identifying the tissue and cellular sites of catabolism of relatively long-lived circulating proteins.
Protein turnover in pulmonary macrophages Utilization of amino acids derived from protein degradation
Authors: Hammer J A , Rannels D E
Published: August 2015

Conditions were defined under which rates of protein synthesis and degradation could be estimated in alveolar macrophages isolated from rabbits by pulmonary lavage and incubated in the presence of plasma concentrations of amino acids and 5.6 mM-glucose. Phenylalanine was validated as suitable precursor for use in these studies: it was not metabolized appreciably, except in the pathways of protein synthesis and degradation; it entered the cells rapidly; it maintained a stable intracellular concentration; and it was incorporated into protein at measurable rates. When extracellular phenylalanine was raised to a concentration sufficient to minimize dilution of the specific radioactivity of the precursor for protein synthesis with amino acid derived from protein degradation, the specific radioactivity of phenylalanyl-tRNA was only 60% of that of the extracellular amino acid. This relationship was unchanged in cells where proteolysis increased 2.5-fold after uptake and degradation of exogenous bovine serum albumin. In contrast, albumin prevented the decrease in phenylalanine incorporation observed in macrophages deprived of an exogenous source of amino acids. These observations suggested that macrophages preferentially re-utilized amino acids derived from the degradation of endogenous, but not from exogenous (albumin), protein. However, when the extracellular supply of amino acids was restricted, substrates derived from albumin catabolism could support the protein-synthetic pathway.
Induction, immunochemical identity and immunofluorescence localization of an 80000-molecular-weight peroxisome-proliferation-associated polypeptide (polypeptide PPA-80) and peroxisomal enoyl-CoA hydratase of mouse liver and renal cortex
Authors: Lalwani Narendra D. , Reddy M. Kumudavalli , Mangkornkanok-Mark Mai , Reddy Janardan K.
Published: August 2015

The hypolipidaemic drugs methyl clofenapate, BR-931, Wy-14643 and procetofen induced a marked proliferation of peroxisomes in the parenchymal cells of liver and the proximal-convoluted-tubular epithelium of mouse kidney. The proliferation of peroxisomes was associated with 6–12-fold increase in the peroxisomal palmitoyl-CoA oxidizing capacity of the mouse liver. Enhanced activity of the peroxisomal palmitoyl-CoA oxidation system was also found in the renal-cortical homogenates of hypolipidaemic-drug-treated mice. The activity of enoyl-CoA hydratase in the mouse liver increased 30–50-fold and in the kidney cortex 3–5-fold with hypolipidaemic-drug-induced peroxisome proliferation in these tissues, and over 95% of this induced activity was found to be heat-labile peroxisomal enzyme in both organs. Sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel-electrophoretic analysis of large-particle and microsomal fractions obtained from the liver and kidney cortex of mice treated with hypolipidaemic peroxisome proliferators demonstrated a substantial increase in the quantity of an 80000-mol.wt. peroxisome-proliferation-associated polypeptide (polypeptide PPA-80). The heat-labile peroxisomal enoyl-CoA hydratase was purified from the livers of mice treated with the hypolipidaemic drug methyl clofenapate; the antibodies raised against this electrophoretically homogeneous protein yielded a single immunoprecipitin band with purified mouse liver enoyl-CoA hydratase and with liver and kidney cortical extracts of normal and hypolipidaemic-drug-treated mice. These anti-(mouse liver enoyl-CoA hydratase) antibodies also cross-reacted with purified rat liver enoyl-CoA hydratase and with the polypeptide PPA-80 obtained from rat and mouse liver. Immunofluorescence studies with anti-(polypeptide PPA-80) and anti-(peroxisomal enoyl-CoA hydratase) provided visual evidence for the localization and induction of polypeptide PPA-80 and peroxisomal enoyl-CoA hydratase in the liver and kidney respectively of normal and hypolipidaemic-drug-treated mice. In the kidney, the distribution of these two proteins is identical and limited exclusively to the cytoplasm of proximal-convoluted-tubular epithelium. The immunofluorescence studies clearly complement the biochemical and ultrastructural observations of peroxisome induction in the liver and kidney cortex of mice fed on hypolipidaemic drugs. In addition, preliminary ultrastructural studies with the protein-A–gold-complex technique demonstrate that the heat-labile hepatic enoyl-CoA hydratase is localized in the peroxisome matrix.
Initiation of lipogenic enzyme activities in rat mammary glands
Authors: Martyn P , Hansen I A
Published: August 2015

The activities of acetyl-CoA carboxylase, ATP citrate-lyase and fatty acid synthetase remained low until parturition at 22 days of gestation and increased significantly within 1 day post partum. Administration of progesterone on days 20 and 21 and at parturition abolished the increases for at least 48 h after parturition. Removal of the pups of normal rats prevented the increases in activities of acetyl-CoA carboxylase and ATP citrate-lyase, but not of fatty acid synthetase, and administration of prolactin corticosterone or insulin did not stimulate activity. Tissue from suckled glands in which the ducts had been ligated at parturition showed no increase in the activities of acetyl-CoA carboxylase and ATP citrate-lyase within 24 h, whereas fatty acid synthetase activity was similar to that in the sham-operated contralateral glands. Foetoplacentectomy on day 18 increased the activity of fatty acid synthetase but not of acetyl-CoA carboxylase and ATP citrate-lyase; suckling of these dams by foster pups increased both acetyl-CoA carboxylase and ATP citrate-lyase.
Tryptophan pyrrolase in haem regulation. The mechanism of the opposite effects of tryptophan on rat liver 5-aminolaevulinate synthase activity and the haem saturation of tryptophan pyrrolase
Authors: Badawy A A B , Welch A N , Morgan C J
Published: August 2015

1. Administration of tryptophan to starved rats causes a rapid decrease in liver 5-aminolaevulinate synthase activity associated with an increase in the haem saturation of tryptophan pyrrolase. Both effects are maximally produced at 30 min by a 100 mg/kg body wt. dose of tryptophan. 2. Pb2+ prevents both effects. 3. Prevention by allopurinol or benserazide of the tryptophan-induced increase in the haem saturation of tryptophan pyrrolase renders this haem available for further repression of synthase synthesis. 4. The opposite effects on synthase activity and pyrrolase saturation with haem caused by administration of 5-aminolaevulinate, but not those by that of haematin, are potentiated by tryptophan. 5. It is suggested that tryptophan decreases 5-aminolaevulinate synthase activity and causes the initial increase in the haem saturation of tryptophan pyrrolase by enhancing the conversion of 5-aminolaevulinate into haem by a process requiring protein synthesis.
α1-Adrenergic stimulation of Ca2+ mobilization without phosphorylase activation in hepatocytes from phosphorylase b kinase-deficient gsd/gsd rats
Authors: Blackmore P F , Exton J H
Published: August 2015

Phenylephrine, vasopressin and the bivalent cation ionophore A23187 mobilized Ca2+ normally, but failed to activate phosphorylase, in hepatocytes from gsd/gsd rats with a deficiency of liver phosphorylase b kinase. These data provide strong evidence that phosphorylase b kinase is the site of action of the Ca2+ mobilized intracellularly during alpha 1-adrenergic activation of phosphorylase in liver cells.
Amino acid transport and rubidium-ion uptake in monolayer cultures of hepatocytes from neonatal rats
Authors: Bellemann Peter
Published: August 2015

Amino acid and K+ transport during development has been investigated in hepatocyte monolayer cultures with either α-amino[1-14C]isobutyrate or 86Rb+ used as a tracer for K+. Parenchymal cells from neo- and post-natal rat livers have been isolated by an improved non-perfusion technique [Bellemann, Gebhardt & Mecke (1977) Anal.Biochem.81, 408–415], and the resulting hepatocyte suspensions purified from non-hepatocytes before inoculation. In the presence of Na+ (Na+-dependent component), the rates of amino acid uptake in neonatal hepatocytes were markedly enhanced compared with cells from 30-day-old rats. When Na+ was replaced by choline (Na+-independent component) the accumulation of α-aminoisobutyrate was decreased and it was not affected by the age of the animals. Kinetic analysis of Na+-dependent α-aminoisobutyrate transport revealed the existence of a high-affinity low-Km component (Km0.91mm) with a Vmax. of 2.44nmol/mg of protein per 4min, which later declined gradually with progressive development. Rates of Rb+ transport were concomitantly enhanced in neonatal hepatocytes and thereafter declined with postnatal age. The increased Rb+ influx was effectively inhibited by ouabain and reflected elevated activity of the electrogenic Na+/K+-pump during early stages of development. Kinetic evaluation of the enhanced rates of Rb+ uptake indicates multiple and co-operative binding sites of the enzyme involved in the Rb+ uptake, and the transport system is positively co-operative (the Hill coefficient h is >1.0). In short, amino acid transport in neonatal rat hepatocytes is increased as a result of an existing low-Km component for the Na+-dependent α-aminoisobutyrate uptake, which endows the hepatocytes with a high capability for concentrating amino acids at low ambient values. The concomitant enhancement of K+ transport reflects changes in the electrochemical gradient for Na+ across the hepatocellular membrane and, along with this, presumably alterations in the membrane potential; the latter might be the driving force for the enhanced α-aminoisobutyrate transport in the alanine-preferring system during postnatal age.
The effect of cholesterol feeding on gallbladder bile acids of the rabbit. Evidence that lithocholic acid is a primary bile acid in the rabbit
Authors: Taylor W , Ellis W R , Bell G D
Published: August 2015

The bile acid in gallbladder bile of rabbits fed a normal diet or one containing 2% (w/w) cholesterol have been determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The predominant bile acids in normally fed rabbits were 3 alpha, 7 alpha, 12 alpha-trihydroxy-5 beta-cholan-24-oic acid (cholic acid), 3 alpha, 12 alpha-dihydroxy-5 alpha-cholan-24-oic acid (allodeoxycholic acid) and 3 alpha, 12 alpha-dihydroxy-5 beta-cholan-24-oic acid (deoxycholic acid) with very much smaller amounts of 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 beta-cholan-24-oic acid (lithocholic acid) and 3 alpha, 12 beta-dihydroxy-5 beta-cholan-24-oic acid. In the cholesterol-fed animals the lithocholate became a predominant bile acid. Sulphated bile acids accounted for less than 1% of the total bile acids. It is proposed that lithocholic acid may be a primary bile acid in the cholesterol-fed rabbit, formed by an alternative pathway of biosynthesis involving hepatic mitochondria.
Dephosphorylation of oestradiol nuclear receptor in vitro. A hypothesis on the mechanism of action of non-steroidal anti-oestrogens
Authors: Auricchio F , Migliaccio A , Castoria G
Published: August 2015

We show that a mouse uterus nuclear phosphatase exists that is capable of inactivating nuclear oestrogen receptor complexed to oestradiol-17 beta in vitro but is ineffective when the receptor is complexed with the two non-steroidal anti-oestrogens, nafoxidine and tamoxifen. We suggest that the long half-life of the tamoxifen-receptor complex versus the short half-life of the oestradiol-receptor complex in uterine nuclei in vivo is the result of the ineffectiveness of the phosphatase in dephosphorylating the anti-oestrogen-receptor complex.
Separation of rat lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme C4 from other isoenzymes by affinity and ion-exchange chromatography
Authors: Ansari A A
Published: August 2015

Lactate dehydrogenase C, an isoenzyme composed of C polypeptide subunits and found only in mature testes and spermatozoa, differs kinetically, chemically and immunologically from the five common isoenzymes of lactate dehydrogenase, each of which is a tetramer of A and/or B subunits. In the rat lactate dehydrogenase C exists in two molecular forms, isoenzymes C4 and A1C3. In addition to these two forms of lactate dehydrogenase C, rat testicular homogenate contains all the five isoenzymes of A and B type. Purification of isoenzyme C4 requires its separation from the other six isoenzymes, of which isoenzymes A1C3 and A3B1 are the most difficult ones to separate. In the present study isoenzyme A3B1, along with other enzymes, was separated from isoenzyme C4 by AMP-Sepharose chromatography by using a gradient of increasing concentration of NAD+-pyruvate adduct. In the next step, isoenzyme A1C3 was separated from isoenzyme C4 by DEAD-cellulose chromatography, resulting in a pure lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme C4 preparation.
Can multiple low-density immunoadsorbents and ‘negative’ distance matrices help predict the three-dimensional structure of any globular protein?
Authors: Pillai S
Published: August 2015

Chemical cross-linking of a protein immobilized on multiple, site-specific, monoclonal, chemically modified antibody matrices combined with analysis of data on a distance matrix is likely to yield sufficient positive and ‘negative’ long-range distance information to help predict the three dimensional structure of any single-chain globular protein.
Characterization of a high-molecular-weight form of human acrosin. Comparison with human pancreatic trypsin
Authors: Anderson R A , Beyler S A , Mack S R , Zaneveld L J D
Published: August 2015

A high-molecular-weight form of acrosin (alpha-acrosin, EC 3.4.21.10) was extracted from spermatozoa obtained from frozen semen and purified over 300-fold. Purification was effected by sequential use of Sephadex G-150, CM-cellulose and DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Properties of human acrosin were compared with those of human pancreatic trypsin. The molecular weight (Mr) of acrosin (70000) was greater than that of trypsin (Mr 21000). Isoelectric points for acrosin (pI = 9.0) and trypsin (pI = 8.2) were also different. alpha-N-Benzoyl-L-arginine ethyl ester was hydrolysed 50% more rapidly by acrosin than by trypsin. Acrosin had similar kcat. values for the hydrolysis of esters with different acylating groups (i.e. benzoyl-L-arginine and p-tosyl-L-arginine esters). In contrast, trypsin had dissimilar kcat. values for the hydrolysis of esters with different acylating groups. Kinetic data argue against deacylation as the rate-limiting step in ester hydrolysis by acrosin. Acrosin was less sensitive than trypsin to inhibition by 7-amino-1-chloro-3-L-tosylamidoheptan-2-one (‘TLCK’), di-isopropyl fluorophosphate and soya-bean trypsin inhibitor. D-Fructose and D-arabinose inhibited acrosin, but had no effect on trypsin. The data indicate that definite differences exist between human acrosin and trypsin.
Amino acid sequence around the thiol and reactive acyl groups of human complement component C4
Authors: Campbell R D , Gagnon J , Porter R R
Published: August 2015

Activation of the fourth component of complement (C4) by C1s results in the generation of a reactive acyl group, able to react with putrescine, and in the release of a free thiol group that cannot be detected in the native haemolytically active molecule. Both the reactive acyl group and the free thiol group have been shown to reside in C4d, a fragment of the alpha′-chain of C4b derived from digestion of the molecule with the control proteins C3b inactivator and C4-binding protein. Peptides derived from CNBr digestion of [1,4-14C]putrescine-labelled and iodo(2-14C]acetic acid-labelled C4d have been obtained and used to establish a continuous sequence of 88 residues from the N-terminus of the molecule. The thiol and reactive acyl groups are contained in an octapeptide that shows near identity with the equivalent sequences reported for alpha 2-macroglobulin and C3. Other adjacent short sections also show homology of sequence between the three proteins, and it is highly likely that they contribute to the overall structure that gives a unique reactivity to the thiol ester bond postulated to exist in the native forms of the three proteins.
Studies on the chemical modification of potato (Solanum tuberosum) lectin and its effect on haemagglutinating activity
Authors: Ashford David , Menon Rajeev , Allen Anthony K. , Neuberger Albert
Published: August 2015

1. Modification of potato (Solanum tuberosum) lectin with acetic anhydride blocked 5.1 amino and 2.7 tyrosyl groups per molecule of lectin and decreased the haemagglutinating activity of the lectin. De-O-acetylation regenerated 2.0 of the tyrosyl groups and resulted in a recovery of activity. 2. Modification with citraconic anhydride or cyclohexane-1,2-dione did not greatly affect activity, although modification of amino and arginyl groups could be demonstrated. 3. Treatment with tetranitromethane nitrated 3.7 tyrosine residues per molecule of lectin with concomitant loss of activity. The presence of 0.1m-NN′N″-triacetylchitotriose (a potent inhibitor of the lectin) in the reaction medium protected all the tyrosyl residues from nitration and the lectin was fully active. 4. Modification of tryptophyl groups with 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl bromide and 2,3-dioxoindoline-5-sulphonic acid modified 0.9 and 2.6 residues per molecule of lectin respectively with a loss of activity in each case. Reaction of potato lectin with 2,3-dioxoindoline-5-sulphonic acid in the presence of inhibitor protected 2.4 residues of tryptophan from the reagent. Loss of haemagglutination activity was prevented under these conditions. 5. Reaction of carboxy groups, activated with carbodi-imide, with α-aminobutyric acid methyl ester led to the incorporation of 5.3 residues of the ester per molecule of lectin. Presence of inhibitor in this case, although protecting activity, did not prevent modification of carboxy groups; in fact an increase in the number of modified residues was seen. This effect could be imitated by performing the reaction in 8m-urea. In both cases the number of carboxy groups modified was close to the total number of free carboxy groups as determined by the method of Hoare & Koshland [(1967) J. Biol. Chem.242, 2447–2453]. Guanidination of lysine residues after carboxy-group modification gave less homoarginine than did the unmodified lectin under the same conditions, suggesting the formation of intramolecular cross-links during carbodi-imide activation. 6. It is suggested from the results presented that amino, arginyl, methionyl, histidyl and carboxyl groups are not involved in the activity of the lectin and that tyrosyl and tryptophyl groups are very closely involved. These findings are similar to those reported for other proteins that bind N-acetylglucosamine oligomers and also fit the general trend in other lectins.
Comparative studies of four monoclonal antibodies to phenylalanine hydroxylase exhibiting different properties with respect to substrate-dependence, species-specificity and a range of effects on enzyme activity
Authors: Choo K H , Jennings I G , Cotton R G H
Published: August 2015

Four monoclonal antibodies to phenylalanine hydroxylase are described. Two are inhibitory (PH alpha 1-1 and PH alpha 2-1-1 antibodies), one is stimulatory (B5-1 antibody) and one has no effect on enzyme activity (PH alpha 3-0 antibody). Their properties are compared. Two antibodies (PH alpha 1-1 and B5-1 antibodies) bind primate and rodent phenylalanine hydroxylase, whereas the other two (PH alpha 2-1-1 and PH alpha 3-0 antibodies) bind only the primate enzyme. The binding of PH alpha 1-1 antibody to phenylalanine hydroxylase is dependent on substrate phenylalanine, whereas the binding of the others is not influenced by phenylalanine. Affinity adsorbents prepared from the four antibodies purified phenylalanine hydroxylase substantially (greater than 80% purity) in one step, except for a PH alpha 3-0 antibody--Sepharose column, which behaved anomalously. Two previous publications described the isolation and preliminary characterization of B5 and PH alpha 1-1 antibodies. PH alpha 2-1-1 and PH alpha 3-0 antibodies are reported for the first time.
Purification and properties of bovine caeruloplasmin
Authors: Calabrese L , Malatesta F , Barra D
Published: August 2015

A novel method is reported for isolation of bovine caeruloplasmin from plasma; it involves a rapid and mild procedure, namely two column chromatographies with stepwise elution and one (NH4)2SO4 precipitation, and results in a proteolytically undegraded homogeneous protein. The general structure of the protein, as evaluated by molecular-weight determination and amino acid composition, is very similar to that established for human and rat caeruloplasmin. Copper determination and e.p.r. spectral analysis on the native and NO-treated protein gave a metal-to-protein stoichiometry of six atoms of copper per molecule. Three copper atoms were detectable by e.p.r., with Type 2/Type 1 ratio = 1 : 3 in most samples. The protein is very sensitive to storage and/or handling. A component was isolated from aged samples, which was found to contain approximately four copper atoms per 125000 daltons, two of which were detectable by e.p.r. with the characters of Type 2 copper. However, the same component was found to be present, although to a lesser extent, in the fresh preparation and does not seem to be related to proteolytic degradation. This component has no oxidase activity. On the basis of these results it is suggested that caeruloplasmin molecules are intrinsically heterogeneous with respect to both copper content and copper type, and this can explain the intriguing stoichiometry regarding the different types of copper centres.