bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dipeptidyl peptidase IV of human lymphocytes. Evidence for specific hydrolysis of glycylproline p-nitroanilide in T-lymphocytes
Authors: Schön E , Demuth H U , Barth A , Ansorge S
Published: August 2015

Glycylproline p-nitroanilide is hydrolysed in lymphocytes from human blood exclusively by dipeptidyl peptidase IV. This was demonstrated by specific inhibition with N-alanylprolyl-O-(4-nitrobenzoyl)hydroxylamine and di-isopropyl phosphorofluoridate and by studying the membrane localization of dipeptidyl peptidase IV and determining specific dipeptidyl peptidase II activity. Additional evidence that dipeptidyl peptidase IV is a marker for T-lymphocytes, obtained from determinations of biochemical activity on intact lymphocyte preparations and correlation studies with other T-cell markers, is also presented.
α-tocopherol and phylloquinone as non-competitive inhibitors of retinyl ester hydrolysis
Authors: Napoli J L , Beck C D
Published: August 2015

Inhibition of rat intestinal retinyl ester hydrolase by alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) and phylloquinone (vitamin K1) was non-competitive. Maximum inhibition occurred within 10 min, and, particularly with alpha-tocopherol, was substantially reversible. Consequently, increasing tissue concentrations of retinyl esters, which might occur with advancing age or changes in diet, would not diminish the effects of the inhibitors. These data further support the notion that alpha-tocopherol may, at physiological concentrations, influence the concentration of vitamin A and its ester in tissues.
The evolution of enzyme kinetic power
Authors: Keleti T , Welch G R
Published: August 2015

Evolution of the kinetic potential of enzyme reactions is discussed. Quantitative assessment of the evolution of enzyme action has usually focused on optimization of the parametric ratio kcat./Km, which is the apparent second-order rate constant for the reaction of free substrate with free enzyme to give product. We propose that the general form kcat.[E]T/Km (where [E]T is total enzyme concentration), which is designated the ‘kinetic power’, is the real measure of kinetic/catalytic potential in situ. The standard paradigm of ‘perfection’ dictates the evolutionary maximum of ‘kinetic power’ to be k+s[E]T/2, where k+s is the diffusion-controlled rate constant for formation of the ES complex (and, hence, for the overall enzyme reaction). We discuss the role of protein conformational mobility in determining this state of ‘perfection’, via gating of substrate binding and determination of the catalytic configuration. Going beyond the level of the individual enzyme, we indicate the manner by which the organizational features of enzyme action in vivo may enhance the ‘kinetic power’. Through evolutionary ‘perfection’ of the microenvironment, one finds that the ‘kinetic power’ of enzymes can be affected by alteration of [E]T as well as the unitary rate constants. At this level of complexity, we begin to realize that the ‘kinetic’ description of cell metabolism must be supplemented with thermodynamic concepts.
Increased cathepsin D-like activity in cortex, tubules, and glomeruli isolated from rats with experimental nephrotic syndrome
Authors: Baricos W H , Shah S V
Published: August 2015

We have examined the activity and distribution of cathepsin D (EC 3.4.23.5), a major renal lysosomal endoproteinase, in the various anatomical and functional areas of normal rat kidney. Cathepsin D-like activities (delta A280/h per mg of protein) in normal rat tissues were: cortex, 0.78 +/- 0.05, n = 37; medulla, 0.62 +/- 0.03, n = 12; papilla, 0.63 +/- 0.04, n = 12; tubules, 0.74 +/- 0.04, n = 28; glomeruli, 0.59 +/- 0.03, n = 28; and liver, 0.41 +/- 0.02, n = 28. Enzyme activity was maximal at pH 3.0-3.5 and inhibited more than 90% by pepstatin (6.7 micrograms/ml), suggesting that the enzyme is cathepsin D. In subsequent experiments we measured cathepsin D-like activity in cortex, tubules and glomeruli isolated from rats with puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN)-induced nephrotic syndrome. Treated animals (15 mg of PAN/100g body wt., intraperitoneally) developed proteinuria beginning 4 days after injection and exceeding 900 mg/24h on day 9. In two separate experiments involving 52 animals we observed a significant increase in cathepsin D-like activity in cortex (+82.7%), tubules (+109.6%) and glomeruli (+54.7%) isolated from PAN-treated rats killed during marked proteinuria (day 9, mean total urinary protein excretion: 937 +/- 94 mg/24h). This increase was observed whether the activity was expressed per mg of DNA or per mg of protein. Increased cathepsin D-like activity was first observed in cortex and tubules coincident with the onset of proteinurea (day 4, mean total urinary protein excretion: 112 +/- 23 mg/24h). In contrast with the significant elevation of renal cathepsin D-like activity, the activity (nmol/h per mg of protein) of alpha-L-fucosidase (EC 3.2.1.51), a non-proteolytic enzyme, was markedly decreased in the identical samples used for the measurement of cathepsin D-like activity: cortex (-46.4%); tubules (-46.1%); and glomeruli (-38.5%). In addition to changes in renal enzyme activities, PAN-treated rats excreted large amounts of cathepsin D-like activity in their urine (beginning on day 3) compared with nearly undetectable cathepsin D-like activity in the urine from control rats. The significant increases in glomerular and tubular cathepsin D activity may reflect an important role for this enzyme in the pathophysiology associated with PAN-induced nephrotic syndrome.
Biliary excretion of metallothionein and a possible degradation product in rats injected with copper and zinc
Authors: Sato M , Bremner I
Published: August 2015

The concentrations of metallothionein-I (MT-I) and related immunoreactive products in bile from adult female rats were measured by radioimmunoassay. Concentrations in normal animals were 20-30 ng/ml, but increased to 600 and 75 ng/ml after injection of Cu2+ and Zn2+ respectively (3 mg of metal/kg body wt.). However, only 1-2% of the biliary Cu was bound to MT, and less than 1% of the total liver MT in control or Cu2+-injected rats appeared to be secreted in intact form into bile. Other major immunoreactive components in bile from Cu2+-injected rats included an aggregated form of MT-I and a possible degradation product of the isoprotein.
Phosphorylation of the human asialoglycoprotein receptor
Authors: Schwartz A L
Published: August 2015

The human asialoglycoprotein receptor was isolated via immune precipitation from hepatoma Hep G2 cells following incubation with [32P]Pi. Analysis on sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis revealed incorporation of 32P into both the 46 000 Da mature form of the receptor as well as the 40 000 Da precursor. The incorporated 32P was associated with phosphoserine. The degree of 32P incorporation was not substantially altered in cells endocytosing asialoglycoprotein ligand at maximal rates nor in cells in which receptor recycling was abolished by incubation with primaquine. That endocytosis and phosphorylation can be dissociated is supported by the observation that 32P is incorporated from [gamma-32P]ATP into the asialoglycoprotein receptor in isolated plasma membranes of Hep G2 cells.
Photochemical cross-linking of protein and DNA in chromatin. Synthesis and application of a photosensitive cleavable derivative of 9-aminoacridine with two photoprobes connected through a disulphide-containing linker
Authors: Nielsen P E , Hansen J B , Buchardt O
Published: August 2015

A novel cleavable photo-cross-linking reagent, N-(2-methoxy-6-azidoacridin-9-yl)-N'-(4-azidobenzoyl)cystamine, for analysis of protein-nucleic acid interactions, has been synthesized. The reagent contains two photosensitive groups that can be activated sequentially. The azidoacridinyl moiety is sensitive to u.v. and visible light (lambda less than or equal to 450 nm), whereas the azidobenzoyl part needs higher-energy light (lambda less than or equal to 350 nm). Furthermore, the disulphide bridge connecting the two photoactive groups can be cleaved by reduction with mercaptans. The reagent is shown to induce cleavable cross-links between all five major histones and DNA in chromatin from Ehrlich ascites cells on activation with long-wavelength u.v. light (lambda greater than 300 nm) at an efficiency of approximately 3% of the added reagent.
Effect of starvation and exercise on actual and total activity of the branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complex in rat tissues
Authors: Wagenmakers A J M , Schepens J T G , Veerkamp J H
Published: August 2015

Starvation does not change the actual activity per g of tissue of the branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase in skeletal muscles, but affects the total activity to a different extent, depending on the muscle type. The activity state (proportion of the enzyme present in the active state) does not change in diaphragm and decreases in quadriceps muscle. Liver and kidney show an increase of both activities, without a change of the activity state. In heart and brain no changes were observed. Related to organ wet weights, the actual activity present in the whole-body muscle mass decreases on starvation, whereas the activities present in liver and kidney do not change, or increase slightly. Exercise (treadmill-running) of untrained rats for 15 and 60 min causes a small increase of the actual activity and the activity state of the branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complex in heart and skeletal muscle. Exercise for 1 h, furthermore, increased the actual and the total activity in liver and kidney, without a change of the activity state. In brain no changes were observed. The actual activity per g of tissue in skeletal muscle was less than 2% of that in liver and kidney, both before and after exercise and starvation. Our data indicate that the degradation of branched-chain 2-oxo acids predominantly occurs in liver and to a smaller extent in kidney and skeletal muscle in fed, starved and exercised rats.
Measurement of the rate of substrate cycling between fructose 6-phosphate and fructose 1,6-bisphosphate in skeletal muscle by using a single-isotope technique
Authors: Challiss R A J , Arch J R S , Crabtree B , Newsholme E A
Published: August 2015

The effects of several agents on the rates of the fructose 6-phosphate/fructose 1,6-bisphosphate substrate cycle were measured in incubated epitrochlearis muscles of the rat by monitoring the transfer of radiolabel from [6-14C]glucose to the 1-position of glucose residues in glycogen. The cycling rates observed were almost identical with those previously obtained by using the well-established dual-isotope technique. In particular, it was found that the beta-adrenoceptor agonist isoprenaline increased the cycling rate about 12-fold.
The mechanism of the attachment of esterifying alcohol in bacteriochlorophyll a biosynthesis
Authors: Akhtar M , Ajaz A A , Corina D L
Published: August 2015

The mechanism through which the C-17(3) carboxy group of bacteriochlorophyllide a is esterified to produce bacteriochlorophyll aphytyl of Rhodopseudomonas spheroides and bacteriochlorophyll ageranylgeranyl of Rhodospirillum rubrum was studied by using 5-aminolaevulinate labelled with 18O at its C-1 carboxy oxygen atoms. The latter species was prepared by an exchange reaction in which 5-aminolaevulinate hydrochloride was heated in H218O in an autoclave. A method for the determination of the 18O content of the C-1 oxygen atoms of 5-aminolaevulinate was developed. As a prelude to the mechanistic work, a systematic study was undertaken to establish the optimal conditions under which a significant proportion of the bacteriochlorophyll a of the two photosynthetic organisms originated from the exogenously added 5-aminolaevulinate. It was found that, when Rps. spheroides and Rsp. rubrum were grown in the presence of about 0.15mM- and 1.2mM-5-aminolaevulinate respectively, 30-40% of their chlorophyll was derived from the added precursor. In these conditions, 5-amino[1,4-18O3]laevulinate was incorporated into bacteriochlorophyll aphytyl and bacteriochlorophyll ageranylgeranyl by the relevant organisms. The samples of chlorophylls were then hydrolysed with alkali to obtain phytol and geranylgeraniol, which were converted into the corresponding trimethylsilyl derivatives and analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The data were used to deduce that the alcohols contained 90-95% of the 18O originally present at each of the C-1 oxygen atoms of the precursor 5-aminolaevulinate. In the light of these results it is suggested that the ester bond at C-17(3) is formed, not by a chlorophyllase type of enzymic reaction, but by a process involving the nucleophilic attack by the C-17(3) carboxylate group of the chlorophyllide on the activated form of an isoprenyl alcohol.
Cycloheximide blocks changes in rat liver carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 activity in starvation
Authors: Saggerson E D , Bird M I , Carpenter C A , Winter K A , Wright J J
Published: August 2015

Starvation (24h) increased the maximum activity of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 in rat liver and increased the concentration of malonyl-CoA required to cause 50% inhibition of the enzyme (I50). Re-feeding (24h) with a standard cube diet or a high-carbohydrate diet reversed both of these changes, whereas re-feeding with a high-fat diet did not. Administration of cycloheximide (200 micrograms/100 g body wt.) blocked the increases in carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 activity and I50 on starvation. It is suggested that increase in carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 activity in starvation may involve synthesis of new enzyme.
Biosynthesis of a disulphide-bonded short-chain collagen by calf growth-plate cartilage
Authors: Remington M C , Bashey R I , Brighton C T , Jimenez S A
Published: August 2015

Collagen biosynthesis by organ cultures of the hypertrophic zone of calf growth-plate cartilage was studied. It was found that this tissue devotes a large portion of its biosynthetic commitment towards production of a collagen molecule comprising short collagen chains. This collagen is similar to short-chain collagens synthesized by chick-embryo tibiotarsus, rabbit growth-plate cartilage and chick chondrocytes grown in three-dimensional gels. However, in contrast with the collagen synthesized in these three systems, the short-chain collagen synthesized by calf growth-plate hypertrophic cartilage is stabilized by disulphide bonds localized within the pepsin-resistant triple-helical collagenous domains of these molecules.
Intralumenal pool and transport of CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid, GDP-fucose and UDP-galactose. Study with plasma-membrane-permeabilized mouse thymocytes
Authors: Cacan R , Cecchelli R , Hoflack B , Verbert A
Published: August 2015

Treatment with NH4Cl of mouse thymocytes renders their plasma membrane permeable to sugar nucleotides both inwards and outwards. Using this model, we studied the entry and utilization of CMP-NeuAc, GDP-Fuc and UDP-Gal into intracellular vesicles in situ. It is shown that CMP-NeuAc and GDP-Fuc enter the vesicles in a manner indicating a carrier-mediated transport (substrate saturation curve, inhibition by substrate analogues, temperature dependence) and are entrapped in their uncleaved form. This leads to the formation of an intralumenal pool of these precursors which can be further utilized by the sialyltransferases and fucosyltransferases. The occurrence of an endogenous pool of CMP-NeuAc and GDP-Fuc is demonstrated by the fact that, when the vesicles are disrupted by detergent, the release of the endogenous sugar nucleotides causes an isotopic dilution of the labelled precursors added to measure the glycosyltransferase activities. In contrast, no accumulation of UDP-Gal has been detected, suggesting that transport and transfer reaction are simultaneous events. However, experiments with UDP 2′,3′-dialdehyde indicate that UDP-Gal is not transported through the membrane by galactosyltransferase action but by a distinct carrier molecule.
Design and synthesis of a consensus signal sequence that inhibits protein translocation into rough microsomal vesicles
Authors: Austen B M , Hermon-Taylor J , Kaderbhai M A , Ridd D H
Published: August 2015

Most signal sequences are found to vary considerably in length and primary sequence, but possess some common structural features. Analysis of known signal sequences has led to the design of a 19-residue sequence that, although not a naturally occurring signal, possesses the structural features that commonly occur in pre-proteins. This peptide has been synthesized by solid-phase methods, and has been shown to inhibit, in a concentration-dependent manner, the processing in vitro of nascent pre-prolactin, pre-forms of pancreatic digestive enzymes, and pre-placental lactogen. The peptide acts at the cytoplasmic surface of microsomal vesicles added to the protein translation system, preventing translocation of the nascent chains to the lumenal space of vesicles where signal peptidase normally cleaves to remove the signal from nascent pre-proteins.
Phorbol ester stimulation of insulin release and secretory-granule protein phosphorylation in a transplantable rat insulinoma
Authors: Hutton J C , Peshavaria M , Brocklehurst K W
Published: August 2015

The effects of tumour-promoting phorbol esters on protein-phosphorylation reactions and secretion in rat insulinoma tissue were investigated with the objective of assessing the possible role of Ca2+- and phospholipid-dependent protein kinases (protein kinase C) in insulin release. 4 beta-Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (TPA) was a potent secretagogue at concentrations above 0.1 microM. TPA-induced release was inhibited by adrenaline or omission of Ca2+ from the extracellular medium and was augmented by theophylline. These findings suggested that TPA activated an exocytotic process. TPA enhanced the Ca2+- and phospholipid-dependent phosphorylation of histone III-S by a soluble protein fraction of the tissue. Endogenous phosphorylation reactions involving soluble and secretory-granule membrane proteins were also stimulated by TPA in tissue homogenates and reconstituted subcellular fractions. Histone phosphorylation and the granule-protein phosphorylation reactions showed similar concentration-dependencies for activation by both Ca2+ and TPA, thus indicating that the same enzyme was involved. It is concluded that the phosphorylation of cytosolic and membrane protein substrates by protein kinase C may be important in the stimulus-secretion coupling mechanism of insulin release.
Quantification of liver and kidney phosphofructokinase by radioimmunoassay in fed, starved and alloxan-diabetic rats
Authors: Donofrio J C , Thompson R S , Reinhart G D , Veneziale C M
Published: August 2015

A newly developed specific radioimmunoassay was used to quantify phosphofructokinase protein directly and independently of assayable activity in liver and kidney cytosol of normal fed, starved and alloxan-diabetic rats. In the fed state, liver phosphofructokinase concentration was 0.096 microM and the kidney enzyme was 0.086 microM (mumol/kg of tissue). In the starved state (24h), liver and kidney phosphofructokinase concentrations decreased by 30%. Prolonged starvation up to 72h did not further decrease enzyme concentration. In liver, total enzyme content during starvation declined by more than 50%, secondary also to a decrease in liver weight. In the alloxan-diabetic rats, there was a 22% decrease in enzyme protein concentration in liver and kidney. Total enzyme content per liver actually decreased much more (46%), because diabetes also resulted in a decrease in liver size. In conjunction with assayable activity measurements, the results of the radioimmunoassay allowed us to calculate the apparent specific activity of the enzyme. The specific activity of the kidney enzyme was 2-3 times that of the liver. Little or no change in specific activity of the liver or kidney enzyme occurred as a result of starvation or chemically induced diabetes. Tissue enzyme concentrations of phosphofructokinase unequivocally reconcile the ultimate results of changing rates of synthesis and degradation and are useful data in the design of spectrophotometric, kinetic, aggregation-disaggregation and other studies.
Proteins of the kidney microvillar membrane. Biosynthesis of endopeptidase-24.11, dipeptidylpeptidase IV and aminopeptidases N and A in pig kidney slices
Authors: Stewart J R , Kenny A J
Published: August 2015

An organ culture employing slices of renal-cortex tissue from piglets of the Yucatan strain was used to study the biogenesis of four microvillar peptidases: endopeptidase-24.11 (EC 3.4.24.11), dipeptidyl peptidase IV (EC 3.4.14.5), aminopeptidase N (EC 3.4.11.2) and aminopeptidase A (EC 3.4.11.7). The viability of the culture system was confirmed by the preservation of ultrastructural integrity and by an unchanged uptake of [3H]alanine into cells during the period of the experiments. After labelling with [35S]methionine, treatment with Mg2+ yielded two fractions, one containing microvilli and another, the Mg2+ pellet, containing intracellular and basolateral membranes. The labelled forms of the peptidases, isolated by immunoprecipitation, were analysed by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and fluorography. The Mg2+ pellet contained the earliest detectable forms of the enzymes. In each case, a polypeptide of lower Mr than the mature form and sensitive to treatment with endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H was the first form to be detected. These high-mannose forms were followed, about 30 min after the pulse, by a complex glycosylated form of higher Mr. Only the latter form was observed in microvilli and then only after 90 min of the chase period. A quantitative study of dipeptidyl peptidase IV showed that the forms observed in the Mg2+ pellet were precursors of those in the microvillar fraction. No labelled forms were observed in the cytosol. All four peptidases were thus synthesized within membrane compartments and glycosylated in two steps before assembly in microvilli.
Phosphorylation of the microtubule-associated protein MAP2 by GTP
Authors: Burns R G , Islam K
Published: August 2015

The chick brain microtubule-associated protein MAP2 can be phosphorylated in vitro to the extent of 12 mol/mol with GTP at the same sites as can be labelled by the cyclic AMP-independent protein kinase utilizing [gamma-32P]ATP as the phosphoryl donor. Consequently, the microtubule protein is chemically modified by the conditions usually employed for studies of microtubule assembly, so that the derived kinetic parameters may not relate to steady-state conditions.
Identification of active-site residues of sheep liver serine hydroxymethyltransferase
Authors: Manohar R , Appaji Rao N
Published: August 2015

Chemical modification of amino acid residues with phenylglyoxal, N-ethylmaleimide and diethyl pyrocarbonate indicated that at least one residue each of arginine, cysteine and histidine were essential for the activity of sheep liver serine hydroxymethyltransferase. The second-order rate constants for inactivation were calculated to be 0.016 mM-1 X min-1 for phenylglyoxal, 0.52 mM-1 X min-1 for N-ethylmaleimide and 0.06 mM-1 X min-1 for diethyl pyrocarbonate. Different rates of modification of these residues in the presence and in the absence of substrates and the cofactor pyridoxal 5′-phosphate as well as the spectra of the modified protein suggested that these residues might occur at the active site of the enzyme.
Characterization of prolactin receptors in pig mammary gland
Authors: Sakai S , Katoh M , Berthon P , Kelly P A
Published: August 2015

Prolactin receptors present in the particulate fraction of lactating pig mammary gland were solubilized by 7.5mM-3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propane-su lph onic acid (Chaps) and purified by affinity chromatography on prolactin coupled to Affi-Gel 10. Nearly 30% of the particulate receptors were solubilized by the detergent and over a 1000-fold purification from homogenates was achieved. A water-soluble fraction rich in receptors was observed during the preparation of membranes, although this fraction has not yet been purified. Prolactin binding to the receptors was a time-dependent, reversible and saturable reaction in particulate, Chaps-solubilized and purified receptors. In all forms, receptors showed the same specificity to peptide hormones. Prolactin and human growth hormone bound to the same receptors, whereas bovine growth hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone and insulin failed to bind. After solubilization, the dissociation constant (Kd) for prolactin was decreased 5-fold from 9.8 × 10(-11) M in the particulate receptors to 1.8 × 10(-11) M in solubilized and purified receptors, being due principally to an increase in the association rate constant from 1.0 × 10(9)M-1 × h-1 to (3.9-4.6) × 10(9)M-1 × h-1, respectively, with the dissociation rate constant remaining unchanged at (1.1-1.3) × 10(-2)h-1. Isoelectric focusing of the prolactin-receptor complex revealed two peaks, one at a pI of 5.5-5.6 and the other at 5.2-5.3. Microsomal receptors were covalently cross-linked to 125I-labelled ovine prolactin with ethylene glycol bis(succinimidyl succinate) and analysed by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Autoradiography of the gel revealed a major subunit of Mr 28 000-35 000 and a minor one of Mr 67 000-69 000. Anti-(prolactin receptor) antibodies raised against rabbit mammary gland prolactin receptors were equally effective in inhibiting prolactin binding to particulate, solubilized and affinity-purified receptors, suggesting that purified prolactin receptors have a structure indistinguishable immunologically from particulate receptors and rabbit mammary gland prolactin receptors. The present demonstration shows that particulate prolactin receptors from a domestic animal can be solubilized and purified without losing the original properties of high affinity and binding specificity for hormones.
Topology of UDP-galactose cleavage in relation to N-acetyl-lactosamine formation in Golgi vesicles. Translocation of activated galactose
Authors: Barthelson R , Roth S
Published: August 2015

UDP-galactose appears to be produced on one side of a membrane barrier, opposite the galactosyltransferases that use it as a sugar donor. The translocation of activated galactose across membranes was studied in rat submaxillary-gland microsomal vesicles and in rat liver Golgi vesicles. When these intact vesicles containing the acceptor, N-acetylglucosamine, were incubated in the presence of UDP-galactose and two inhibitors of galactosyltransferase activity, the product, N-acetyl-lactosamine, formed within the vesicles. Thus at least the galactose moiety of UDP-galactose crossed the membranes. When intact Golgi vesicles were incubated with UDP-galactose labelled in both the uridine and the galactose moieties, labelled N-acetyllactosamine was again produced in the vesicles, but less than stoichiometric amounts of the uridine label was found there. Calculation of internal and external concentrations of UMP, a major product released from the cleaved uridine moiety, showed that the vesicles were actually enriched in UMP. When free UMP was incubated with the vesicles, this enrichment did not occur. This result was direct evidence for facilitated transport of UDP-galactose into the Golgi for use by galactosyltransferase.
Pretranslational regulation of tyrosine aminotransferase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP) synthesis by glucagon and dexamethasone in adult rat hepatocytes
Authors: Iynedjian P B , Auberger P , Guigoz Y , Le Cam A
Published: August 2015

The regulation of synthesis of the gluconeogenic cytosolic enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and of tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) by glucagon and glucocorticoid hormones was studied in hepatocytes maintained in suspension culture for 7 h. Specific antibodies were used to measure relative rates of enzyme synthesis after pulse-labelling of the cells with [3H]leucine or [35S]methionine. Concomitantly, amounts of mRNA were quantified after translation in vitro in a reticulocyte lysate and specific immunoprecipitation of the proteins. Glucagon stimulated the rate of synthesis of PEPCK by 4-6-fold and that of TAT by 6-8-fold in 2h. In contrast, dexamethasone had little effect on PEPCK synthesis, whereas it increased TAT synthesis by 5-9-fold. When used in combination, the two hormones displayed additive effects on TAT synthesis, whereas the glucocorticoid hormone strongly potentiated stimulation of PEPCK synthesis by glucagon. In every instance, changes in rates of synthesis of the two enzymes were totally accounted for by increases in amounts of the corresponding functional mRNA, suggesting a pretranslational site of action for both glucagon and dexamethasone.
Separation and characterization of two populations of aggregating proteoglycans from cartilage
Authors: Heinegård D , Wieslander J , Sheehan J , Paulsson M , Sommarin Y
Published: August 2015

Intermediary gel immunoelectrophoresis was used to show that purified aggregating cartilage proteoglycans from 2-year-old steers contain two distinct populations of molecules and that only one of these is immunologically related to non-aggregating cartilage proteoglycans. The two types of aggregating proteoglycans were purified by density-gradient centrifugation in 3.5M-CsCl/4M-guanidinium chloride and separated by zonal rate centrifugation in sucrose gradients. The higher-buoyant-density faster-sedimenting proteoglycan represented 43% of the proteoglycans in the extract. It had a weight-average Mr of 3.5 × 10(6), did not contain a well-defined keratan sulphate-rich region, had a quantitatively dominant chondroitin sulphate-rich region and contained 5.9% protein and 23% hexosamine. The lower-buoyant-density, more slowly sedimenting, proteoglycan represented 15% of the proteoglycans in the extract. It had a weight-average Mr of 1.3 × 10(6), contained both the keratan sulphate-rich and the chondroitin sulphate-rich regions and contained 7.3% protein and 23% hexosamine. Each of the proteoglycan preparations showed only one band on agarose/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. The larger proteoglycan had a lower mobility than the smaller. The distribution of chondroitin sulphate chains along the chondroitin sulphate-rich region was similar for the two types of proteoglycans. The somewhat larger chondroitin sulphate chains of the larger proteoglycan could not alone account for the larger size of the proteoglycan. Peptide patterns after trypsin digestion of the proteoglycans showed great similarities, although the presence of a few peptides not shared by both populations indicates that the core proteins are partially different.
Interspecies conservation of retinal guanosine 5′-triphosphatase. Characterization by photoaffinity labelling and tryptic-peptide mapping
Authors: McMurray M M , Hansen J S , Haley B E , Takemoto D J , Takemoto L J
Published: August 2015

Light-activated hydrolysis of cyclic GMP is achieved through the photoexcitation of rhodopsin, a process which then triggers the replacement of GDP for GTP by a retinal guanosine 5′-triphosphatase referred to as ‘transducin’. The transducin-GTP complex then switches on the phosphodiesterase [Fung, Hurley & Stryer (1981) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 78, 152-156]. The bovine transducin consists of an alpha-subunit (39000 Mr), which is a GTP-binding component, together with a beta-(37000 Mr) and a gamma-subunit (10000 Mr). We have purified retinal transducin from cow, pig, chick and frog. The enzyme specific activities and sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel-electrophoretic profiles indicate that this enzyme is similar in all species except the frog. Whereas the bovine, pig and chick transducins consist of major 37000- and 39000-Mr components, that of the frog consists of a single 75000-Mr component. Labelling of the GTP-binding components with the photoaffinity label 8-azidoguanosine [gamma-32P]triphosphate demonstrated that the 37000-Mr components of the cow, pig and chick and the 75000-Mr component of the frog were major GTP-binding components. In addition, peptide maps of radioiodinated tryptic peptides indicate that the frog 75000-Mr protein is highly related to the pig transducin. These results demonstrate evolutionary conservation of retinal transducin and the presence of a higher-Mr, but nonetheless highly conserved form, of transducin in the frog. The relationship of this component to the recently reported rod-outer-segment inhibitor protein [Yamazaki, Stein, Chernoff & Bitensky (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 8188-8194] is discussed.
Purification, properties and amino acid sequence of a low-Mr abundant seed protein from pea (Pisum sativum L.)
Authors: Gatehouse J A , Gilroy J , Hoque M S , Croy R R D
Published: August 2015

The seeds of pea (Pisum sativum L.) contain several proteins in the albumin solubility fraction that are significant components of total cotyledonary protein (5-10%) and are accumulated in developing seeds concurrently with storage-protein synthesis. One of these proteins, of low Mr and designated ‘Psa LA’, has been purified, characterized and sequenced. Psa LA has an Mr of 11000 and contains polypeptides of Mr 6000, suggesting that the protein molecules are dimeric. The amino acid sequence contains 54 residues, with a high content (10/54) of asparagine/aspartate. It has no inhibitory action towards trypsin or chymotrypsin, and is distinct from the inhibitors of those enzymes found in pea seeds, nor does it inhibit hog pancreatic alpha-amylase. The protein contains no methionine, but significant amounts of cysteine (four residues per polypeptide), suggesting a possible role as a sulphur storage protein. However, its sequence is not homologous with low-Mr (2S) storage proteins from castor bean (Ricinus communis) or rape (Brassica napus). Psa LA therefore represents a new type of low-Mr seed protein.
Role of dexamethasone and insulin on the development of the five urea-cycle enzymes in cultured rat foetal hepatocytes
Authors: Husson A , Bouazza M , Buquet C , Vaillant R
Published: August 2015

The activity changes of the urea-cycle enzymes were monitored in cultured foetal hepatocytes after dexamethasone and insulin treatments. Addition of dexamethasone induced the development of carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase, argininosuccinate synthetase, argininosuccinase and arginase activities as soon as day 16.5 of gestation. When insulin was added together with dexamethasone, it markedly inhibited the steroid-induced increase in carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase, argininosuccinate synthetase and argininosuccinase activities.
Chain-shortening of erucic acid and microperoxisomal β-oxidation in rat small intestine
Authors: Thomassen M S , Helgerud P , Norum K R
Published: August 2015

The ability of rat small intestine to chain-shorten C22:1 fatty acids was investigated. Radioactive chain-shortened products, mainly C18:1, were demonstrated in intestinal-lymph lipids after intraluminal injection of [14-14C]erucic acid. Chain-elongation to C24:1 was also observed. Adaptation to a diet containing C22:1 fatty acids (partially hydrogenated-marine-oil diet) slightly increased the percentage of chain-shortened products. Microperoxisomal beta-oxidation activity, measured as CN(-)-insensitive palmitoyl-CoA-dependent NAD+ reduction, was detected in a microperoxisome-enriched fraction from mucosal scrapings. This activity was increased 1.9-fold by a soya-bean-oil diet, and 2.7-fold by a diet containing partially hydrogenated marine oil.
Effect of starvation, diabetes and insulin on the casein kinase 2 from rat liver cytosol
Authors: Martos C , Plana M , Guasch M D , Itarte E
Published: August 2015

Starvation, diabetes and insulin did not alter the concentration of casein kinases in rat liver cytosol. However, the Km for casein of casein kinase 2 from diabetic rats was about 2-fold lower than that from control animals. Administration of insulin to control rats did not alter this parameter, but increased the Km for casein of casein kinase 2 in diabetic rats. Starvation did not affect the kinetic constants of casein kinases. The effect of diabetes on casein kinase 2 persisted after partial purification of the enzyme by glycerol-density-gradient centrifugation and affected also its activity on other protein substrates such as phosvitin, high-mobility-group protein 14 and glycogen synthase. The results indicate that rat liver cytosol casein kinase 2 is under physiological control.
A 17 β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase of female rabbit liver cytosol. Purification and characterization of multiple forms of the enzyme
Authors: Antoun G R , Brglez I , Williamson D G
Published: August 2015

Multiple forms of the soluble 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase of female rabbit liver were identified. NAD-dependent and NADP-dependent enzyme activities were separated by affinity chromatography on agarose-immobilized Procion Red HE3B, and three forms of the NADP-dependent enzyme activity were purified by chromatofocusing. These three enzyme forms are charge isomers and have no quaternary structure. The enzymes catalysed the C-17 oxidoreduction of oestrogens and androgens; with all enzyme forms the activity towards androgens was higher than that toward oestrogens. The enzymes also exhibited 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity towards androgens of the 5 beta-androstane series. Comparison of the relative activities of the enzymes towards a number of oestrogen and androgen substrates revealed differences among the enzyme forms for both the oxidative and the reductive reactions. In particular, one enzyme form had a significantly lower Km for the 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid substrate and a higher 3 alpha-/17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity ratio than the other two enzyme forms.
Age-dependent changes in the multiple forms of the soluble 17 β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase of female rabbit liver
Authors: Antoun G R , Williamson D G
Published: August 2015

The soluble NADP-dependent 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity of female rabbit liver increases with the age of the animal, the specific activity of the enzyme in the 56-day-old rabbit being 3 times that of the 28-day-old animal. The increase in activity is accompanied by a change in the molecular heterogeneity of the enzyme. Three forms (enzymes I, II and III) were identified in the liver cytosol of the 56-day-old female rabbit, whereas only one major form (enzyme IIIY) was present in the 28-day-old animal. Peptide maps of the four purified enzymes showed that there were minor differences in structure. The enzyme present in the liver of the 28-day-old rabbit was distinct from the three enzymes of the 56-day-old animal. All of the enzymes exhibited bifunctional activity, having 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity towards androgen and oestrogen substrates and 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity towards androgens of the 5 beta-androstane series. The differences in substrate specificity of the enzymes paralleled their differences in structure. The data suggest that one enzyme (enzyme III) may have a special role in steroid metabolism during development in the female rabbit.
Inhibition of class C β-lactamases by (1′R,6R)-6-(1′-hydroxy)benzylpenicillanic acid SS-dioxide
Authors: Knight G C , Waley S G
Published: August 2015

beta-Lactamases, enzymes that catalyse the hydrolysis of the beta-lactam ring in beta-lactam antibiotics, are divided into three classes, A, B and C, on the basis of the structures so far determined. There are relatively few effective inhibitors of class C beta-lactamases. A beta-lactam sulphone with a hydroxybenzyl side chain, namely (1′R,6R)-6-(1′-hydroxy)benzylpenicillanic acid SS-dioxide (I), has now been studied. The sulphone is a good mechanism-based inhibitor of class C beta-lactamases. At pH8, the inhibition of a Pseudomonas beta-lactamase is irreversible, and proceeds at a rate that is about one-tenth the rate of concurrent hydrolysis. The labelled enzyme has enhanced u.v. absorption and is probably an enamine. At a lower pH, however, inhibition is transitory.
Effects of cyclic AMP, glucocorticoids and insulin on the activities of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase, tyrosine aminotransferase and glycerol kinase in isolated rat hepatocytes in relation to the control of triacylglycerol synthesis and gluconeogenesis
Authors: Pittner R A , Fears R , Brindley D N
Published: August 2015

Rat hepatocytes were incubated in monolayer culture in modified Leibovitz L-15 medium containing either 10% (v/v) newborn-calf serum or 0.2% (w/v) fatty-acid-poor bovine serum albumin. The addition of 100 nM-dexamethasone increased the activities of both phosphatidate phosphohydrolase and tyrosine aminotransferase by about 3.5-fold after 8h, and these activities continued to rise until at least 24h. Incubating the hepatocytes in the albumin-containing medium with 10 microM- or 100 microM-8-(4-chlorophenylthio)adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate increased the activities of the phosphohydrolase and aminotransferase by 2.6- and 3.4-fold respectively after 8h. These increases were blocked by actinomycin D. The increases in the activities that were produced by the cyclic AMP analogue and dexamethasone were independent and approximately additive. Insulin when added alone did not alter the phosphohydrolase activity, but it increased the aminotransferase activity by 34%. The dexamethasone-induced increase in the phosphohydrolase activity was completely blocked by 7-144 microM-insulin, whereas that of the aminotransferase was only partly suppressed. Insulin had no significant Effects on the increases in the activities of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase and tyrosine aminotransferase that were produced by the cyclic AMP analogue, but this may be because the analogue is fairly resistant to degradation by the phosphodiesterase. The activity of glycerol kinase was not significantly changed by incubating the hepatocytes with insulin, dexamethasone and the cyclic AMP analogue alone or in combinations. It is proposed that high concentrations of cyclic AMP and glucocorticoids increase the total activity of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase in the liver and provide it with an increased capacity for synthesizing triacylglycerols and very-low-density lipoproteins, which is expressed when the availability of fatty acids is high. There appears to be a co-ordinated hormonal control of triacyglycerol synthesis and gluconeogenesis in diabetes and in metabolic stress to enable the liver to supply other organs with energy.
The lanthanide-enhanced affinity chromatography of clostridial collagenase
Authors: Evans C H
Published: August 2015

Clostridiopeptidase A (EC 3.4.24.3) did not bind to a collagen affinity column in the absence of Ca2+, but did so in the presence of lanthanide ions (Ln3+). The sequestered enzyme could be eluted with EGTA. For the four Ln3+ ions tested, the order of efficiency in promoting enzyme binding, Sm3+ greater than Lu3+ greater than Er3+ much greater than La3+, reflected their relative abilities to inhibit clostridiopeptidase A. By using Sm3+ as an adjunct, it proved possible to separate a highly active preparation of collagenase from crude clostridial collagenase. Sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel-electrophoretic analysis of the preparation revealed a major protein of Mr 95000 and a minor component of Mr 82000. As both were stained by periodic acid/Schiff reagent, they were probably glycoproteins.
Mechanism of depolarization of rat cortical synaptosomes at submicromolar external Ca2+ activity. The use of Ca2+ buffers to control the synaptosomal membrane potential
Authors: Schmalzing G
Published: August 2015

Rat cortical synaptosomes responded to a reduction of external Ca2+ from pCa 3.5 to pCa 4.8 in the absence of MgCl2 with a slight decrease of internal K+ and an increase of Na+. The effects were prevented by tetrodotoxin or millimolar concentrations of MgCl2. Further lowering of external pCa to 7.7 with N-hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetate evoked a rapid fall of internal K+, which was specifically blocked by Ruthenium Red; tetrodotoxin and nifedipine were ineffective. A linear relationship was established between K+ and methyltriphenylphosphonium cation distribution ratios by varying external pCa between 4.8 and 7.7, indicating that K+ efflux resulted from a depolarization of the plasma membrane. An increase of Na+ permeability was suggested by the synaptosomes' gain of Na+ and the disappearance of the depolarization in an Na+-free sucrose medium. According to the constant field equation, the permeability ratio PNa/PK increased from 0.029 at pCa4.8 to 0.090 at pCa 7.7 with plasma membrane potentials of −74mV and −47mV, respectively. Since the plasma membrane responded to variation of external Ca2+ activities in the micromolar range with a graded and sustained depolarization, the use of Ca2+ buffers to control membrane potentials is suggested.
Accumulation of ornithine decarboxylase-antizyme complex in HMOA cells
Authors: Murakami Y , Fujita K , Kameji T , Hayashi S
Published: August 2015

A new method was developed for the assay of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC)-antizyme complex, in which alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO)-inactivated ODC was used to release active ODC competitively from the complex. ODC-antizyme complex was present in the extracts of hepatoma tissue-culture (HTC) cells and of ODC-stabilized variant HMOA cells, in much larger amounts in the latter. Cellular amounts of the complex fluctuated after a change of medium in a similar manner in HTC and HMOA cells, increasing during the period of ODC decay. After treatment with cycloheximide, the decay of ODC-antizyme complex in HMOA cells was more rapid than the decay of free ODC, but it was much slower than the decay of free ODC or complexed ODC in HTC cells. Administration of putrescine caused a rapid increase in the amount of ODC-antizyme complex in both HTC and HMOA cells, but nevertheless the decay of total ODC (free ODC plus ODC-antizyme complex) was more rapid with putrescine than with cycloheximide. These results suggested the possibility that ODC is degraded through complex-formation with antizyme. In contrast with complexed antizyme, free antizyme was not stabilized in HMOA cells.
Resolution and reconstitution of bovine kidney branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complex
Authors: Cook K G , Bradford A P , Yeaman S J
Published: August 2015

Branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complex was resolved into component E1 and E2-kinase subcomplex by gel filtration in the presence of 1 M-NaC1. Essentially all the original activity of the complex can be regained after reconstitution of the component enzymes, reassociation being a rapid process. The specific activities of E1 and E2 were 25.1 and 19.0 units/mg respectively. Non-phosphorylated active E1 has an approx. 6-fold higher affinity for E2 than does phosphorylated E1. The components of the branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complex do not crossreact with the respective components from the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. The significance of these results and of the tight association of the kinase with E2 are discussed.