bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Purification and properties of adenylyl sulphate:ammonia adenylyltransferase from Chlorella catalysing the formation of adenosine 5′-phosphoramidate from adenosine 5′-phosphosulphate and ammonia
Authors: Fankhauser Heinz , Schiff Jerome A. , Garber Leonard J.
Published: August 2015

Extracts of Chlorella pyrenoidosa, Euglena gracilis var. bacillaris, spinach, barley, Dictyostelium discoideum and Escherichia coli form an unknown compound enzymically from adenosine 5′-phosphosulphate in the presence of ammonia. This unknown compound shares the following properties with adenosine 5′-phosphoramidate: molar proportions of constituent parts (1 adenine:1 ribose:1 phosphate:1 ammonia released at low pH), co-electrophoresis in all buffers tested including borate, formation of AMP at low pH through release of ammonia, mass and i.r. spectra and conversion into 5′-AMP by phosphodiesterase. This unknown compound therefore appears to be identical with adenosine 5′-phosphoramidate. The enzyme that catalyses the formation of adenosine 5′-phosphoramidate from ammonia and adenosine 5′-phosphosulphate was purified 1800-fold (to homogeneity) from Chlorella by using (NH4)2SO4 precipitation and DEAE-cellulose, Sephadex and Reactive Blue 2–agarose chromatography. The purified enzyme shows one band of protein, coincident with activity, at a position corresponding to 60000–65000 molecular weight, on polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, and yields three subunits on sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis of 26000, 21000 and 17000 molecular weight, consistent with a molecular weight of 64000 for the native enzyme. Isoelectrofocusing yields one band of pI4.2. The pH optimum of the enzyme-catalysed reaction is 8.8. ATP, ADP or adenosine 3′-phosphate 5′-phosphosulphate will not replace adenosine 5′-phosphosulphate, and the apparent Km for the last-mentioned compound is 0.82mm. The apparent Km for ammonia (assuming NH3 to be the active species) is about 10mm. A large variety of primary, secondary and tertiary amines or amides will not replace ammonia. One mol.prop. of adenosine 5′-phosphosulphate reacts with 1 mol.prop. of ammonia to yield 1 mol.prop. each of adenosine 5′-phosphoramidate and sulphate; no AMP is found. The highly purified enzyme does not catalyse any of the known reactions of adenosine 5′-phosphosulphate, including those catalysed by ATP sulphurylase, adenosine 5′-phosphosulphate kinase, adenosine 5′-phosphosulphate sulphotransferase or ADP sulphurylase. Adenosine 5′-phosphoramidate is found in old samples of the ammonium salt of adenosine 5′-phosphosulphate and can be formed non-enzymically if adenosine 5′-phosphosulphate and ammonia are boiled. In the non-enzymic reaction both adenosine 5′-phosphoramidate and AMP are formed. Thus the enzyme forms adenosine 5′-phosphoramidate by selectively speeding up an already favoured reaction.
Characterization of the phosphorylated form of the insulin-stimulated cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase from rat liver plasma membranes
Authors: Marchmont R J , Houslay M D
Published: August 2015

Incubation of intact purified rat liver plasma membranes with insulin, cyclic AMP and ATP led to the activation of the peripheral “low-Km” cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase. When (gamma-32P]ATP was included in the incubation mixture, after purification of this enzyme to homogeneity it was found to contain 1 mol of alkali-labile 32P/mol of enzyme. Treatment of the homogeneous phosphorylated enzyme with alkaline phosphatase released all of the 32P from the protein while restoring its activity to the native state. The reversibility of the activation that is achieved by the phosphorylation of this enzyme could also be demonstrated with a high-speed supernatant from rat liver. This restored the activity of the activated membrane-bound enzyme to its native state. The Ka for the cyclic AMP-dependence of this process (1.6 micrometer) was unaffected by a range of ATP concentrations (1-10 mM) and by a range of membrane protein concentrations (0.2-2 mg/ml). Adenylyl imidodiphosphate could not substitute for ATP, and concanavalin A could not substitute for insulin, as essential ligands in the activation process. The purified activated enzyme exhibited Km 0.6 microM, Vmax 10.9 units/mg of protein and Hill coefficient (h) 0.47. The Vmax. for this activated enzyme was much higher than that of the native enzyme, yet h was much lower.
Structure of carbohydrate unit A or porcine thyroglobulin
Authors: Tsuji T , Yamamoto K , Irimura T , Osawa T
Published: August 2015

The unit A-type glycopeptides were purified from porcine thyroglobulin by Pronase digestion followed by chromatography on a DEAE-Sephadex A-25 column. These glycopeptides were separated into five fractions (UA-I, -II, -IV and -V) by Dowex 50W (X2) column chromatography. Fractions UA-I, -II, -III, -IV and -V were found to have the compositions (Man)9(GlcNAc)2-Asn, (Man)8(GlcNAc)2-Asn, (Man)7(GlcNAc)2-Asn, (Man)6(GlcNAc)2-Asn and (Man)5(GlcNAc)2-Asn respectively. The structures of these five fractions were investigated by the combination of exo- and endo-glycosidase digestions, methylation analysis. Smith periodate degradation and acetolysis. The results showed that fraction UA-V had the simplest structure: see formula in text. The larger glycopeptides (fractions UA-I, -II, -III and -IV) contained additional mannose residues alpha (1 leads to 2)-linked to the terminal mannose residues in the above core structure. These unit A-type glycopeptides appear to be biosynthetic intermediates that are to be processed to form complex-type glycopeptides (unit B-type sugar chains).
Autocatalytic alkylation of the cytochrome P-450 prosthetic haem group by 1-aminobenzotriazole. Isolation of an NN-bridged benzyne-protoporphyrin IX adduct
Authors: Ortiz de Montellano P R , Mathews J M
Published: August 2015

Destruction of hepatic cytochrome P-450 during catalytic processing of 1-amino-benzotriazole is accompanied by an equal loss of microsomal haem but not by loss of cytochrome b5, or stimulation of lipid peroxidation. An abnormal porphyrin, tentatively identified as an NN-bridged benzyne-protoporphyrin IX adduct, appears to be formed by the addition of catalytically generated benzyne to prosthetic haem.
Stimulation by glucocorticoids of protein degradation in hepatocyte monolayers
Authors: Hopgood M F , Clark M G , Ballard F J
Published: August 2015

1. Protein degradation in rat hepatocytes in stationary monolayer culture was measured as release of radioactive trichloroacetic acid-soluble material from intracellular proteins labelled with [3H]leucine. 2. Glucocorticoids, but not other steroids, stimulated protein breakdown in the hepatocyte monolayers. The effects observed were greater when the cells were preincubated with the hormones, indicating that the stimulation was not immediate. In addition, the stimulation by glucocorticoids persisted for up to 4 h after hormone removal. 3. Cycloheximide and the lysosomotropic agents leupeptin and ammonia effectively blocked glucocorticoid stimulation of protein degradation. 4. Insulin blocked dexamethasone stimulation when added at the same time as the steroid, but not when added 3 h later. 5. Stimulation of protein breakdown by dexamethasone was additive with that by glucagon or dibutyryl cyclic AMP, suggesting that its mechanism of action is different from that of the latter two agents. 6. Total activities of several lysosomal enzymes were unaffected under conditions where protein breakdown was stimulated by either glucagon or dexamethasone. 7. It is suggested that, whereas glucagon, dibutyryl cyclic AMP and insulin modulate protein breakdown in these cells via changes in autophagocytosis, the stimulation by glucocorticoids is exerted independently, perhaps by stimulating the synthesis of membrane proteins essential to the autophagic process.
Iron and the liver Acute and long-term effects of iron-loading on hepatic haem metabolism
Authors: Bonkowsky H L , Healey J F , Sinclair P R , Sinclair J F , Pomeroy J S
Published: August 2015

We have determined the dose-response curves (100-900 mg of Fe/kg body wt.) and the time course over 84 days for the effects of a single injection of iron-dextran on rat hepatic 5-aminolaevulinate synthetase, cytochrome P-450, iron content, and GSH (reduced glutathione). Porphyrins in liver and urine have also been measured. (1) At 2 days after treatment, a dose of 500 mg of Fe/kg produced a 20-fold increase in iron concentration, which was maintained for 14 days. Total hepatic iron remained constant over 63 days, falling slightly by 84 days. (2) The activity of 5-aminolaevulinate synthetase was maximally increased (6-fold) 12-24 h after iron treatment. By 48 h the activity fell to less than twice the control value and thereafter remained slightly above the control value (1.1-1.5-fold) until 84 days after iron treatment. Liver GSH concentrations were unaffected by iron. Porphyrins in liver and urine were either unchanged or decreased. (3) Hepatic cytochrome P-450 decreased after iron treatment to a minimum (63% of control) at 48 h after iron administration and gradually returned to the control value by 28 days. (4) Iron-dextran potentiated 2 allyl-2-isopropyl-acetamide-induced synthesis of hepatic 5-aminolaevulinate. Potentiation occurred if the drug was given at the same time or 36 h after iron administration, but did not occur if the drug was given 14 or 64 days after iron administration. (5) The results are discussed in relation to proposed mechanisms for the effects of iron on hepatic haem metabolism.
Possible involvement of the enhanced tryptophan pyrrolase activity in the corticosterone- and starvation-induced increases in concentrations of nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotides (phosphates) in rat liver
Authors: Badawy A A
Published: August 2015

1. Deoxycorticosterone, which does not enhance tryptophan pyrrolase activity, also fails to alter the concentrations of the NAD(P) couples in livers of fed rats, whereas corticosterone increases both pyrrolase activity and dinucleotide concentrations. 2. Starvation of rats increases serum corticosterone concentration, lipolysis, tryptophan availability to the liver, tryptophan pyrrolase activity and liver [NADP(H)]. Glucose prevents all these changes. 3. The beta-adrenoceptor-blocking agent propranolol prevents the starvation-induced lipolysis and the consequent increase in tryptophan availability to the liver, but does not influence the increase in serum corticosterone concentration, liver pyrrolase activity and [NADP(H)]. 4. Actinomycin D, which prevents the starvation-induced increases in liver pyrrolase activity and [NADP(H)], does not affect those in serum corticosterone concentration and tryptophan availability to the liver. 5. Allopurinol, which blocks the starvation-induced enhancement of pyrrolase activity, also abolishes the increases in liver [NADP(H)], but not those in serum corticosterone concentration or tryptophan availability to the liver. 6. It is suggested that liver tryptophan pyrrolase activity plays an important role in NAD+ synthesis from tryptophan in the rat.
Light control of fatty acid synthesis and diurnal fluctuations of fatty acid composition in leaves
Authors: Browse J , Roughan P G , Slack C R
Published: August 2015

1. Although isolated spinach chloroplasts were almost entirely (greater than 99%) dependent on light for fatty acid synthesis, leaf discs were capable of fatty acid synthesis in the dark (up to 500nmol of 3H/h per mg of chlorophyll equivalent to approx. 400nmol of carbon/h per mg of chlorophyll), which represented 12-20% of the corresponding ‘light rates’. 2. Net fatty acid accumulation by greening maize leaves occurred largely or entirely during the light period. 3. There was a diurnal fluctuation in the proportions of C18 unsaturated fatty acids in the lipids of developing spinach leaves, where an increase in the concentration of oleate during the day and a subsequent decline at night was observed; a complementary change occurred in the concentration of alpha-linolenate. The rhythm is interpreted as reflecting the continuation of oleate and linoleate desaturation at high rates when oleate synthesis is markedly decreased at night. 4. Changes in the fatty acid composition of 3-sn-phosphatidylcholine accounted for at least 60% of the total decrease in oleate over the dark period. This result is consistent with suggestions that this lipid is the substrate for the leaf microsomal oleate desaturase and an intermediate in leaf glycerolipid biosynthesis.
Mono- and poly-ADP-ribosylation of proteins in mouse kidney after castration and testosterone treatment
Authors: Gartemann A , Bredehorst R , Wielckens K , Strätling W H , Hilz H
Published: August 2015

Protein-bound mono(ADP-ribose) and poly(ADP-ribose) residues were determined in mouse kidney after castration and testosterone substitution. After these treatments, the mouse kidney undergoes significant alterations in the extent and pattern of transcription without changes in the amount of DNA and nuclear protein. The amount of mono(ADP-ribose)-protein conjugates (the hydroxylamine-sensitive and -resistant subfractions) decreased by 40% after castration, and returned to normal within 1 week after daily testosterone injections. Polymeric ADP-ribose residues, which amounted to less than 0.3% of the total protein-bound monomeric ADP-ribose, increased after castration and rapidly decreased on testosterone administration. The magnitude of these effects indicates that the decrease in mono(ADP-ribose) was not caused by a shift of monomeric residues into the polymer form. Nuclear ADP-ribosyltransferase activity showed a retarded decrease after castration, reaching 60% of the control value by day 20. After testosterone injections, enzyme activity rose to normal within 3-4 days. The amounts of the substrate NAD+ as well as of NAD+ + NADH also declined after castration, and rapidly returned to values slightly above normal when the androgen was substituted. The differential response of monomeric and polymeric ADP-ribose residues to castration and testosterone treatment suggests that the two modifications serve different functions.
Commitment of bacterial spores to germinate A measure of the trigger reaction
Authors: Stewart G S , Johnstone K , Hagelberg E , Ellar D J
Published: August 2015

The rate of commitment of bacterial spores to germinate after short exposure to L-alanine increases exponentially from the time of addition of L-alanine. This absence of a lag facilitates kinetic analysis and allows the dependence of commitment on temperature and pH to be determined. The pH profile of commitment has been compared with that obtained from measurements of absorbance decreases during germination, and the two profiles exhibit differing pK values. It is suggested that because the decrease in A600 of spore suspensions is a late event in germination, it is an unsuitable parameter for studying germination-triggering reactions. Commitment has been shown to be temperature-dependent, with an optimum at approx. 37 degrees C and an activation energy (mu) of 1.08 × 10(5) J/mol. The data obtained from the present studies have been used to develop a model for the triggering of germination.
Hydroxyl radical production in body fluids Roles of metal ions, ascorbate and superoxide
Authors: Winterbourn C C
Published: August 2015

Hydroxyl radical production, detected by ethylene formation from methional, has been investigated in plasma, lymph and synovial fluid. In the presence of added iron-EDTA, addition of either H2O2 or xanthine and xanthine oxidase gave rise to hydroxyl radical formation that in most cases was not superoxide-dependent. The ascorbate already present in the fluid appeared to participate in the reaction. In the absence of added catalyst, the reaction was hardly detectable, the rate being less than 5% of that observed with 1 microM-iron-EDTA added. This implies that the fluids had little if any capacity to catalyse hydroxyl radical production via this mechanism.
Re-activation by glutamate or aspartate of amino-oxyacetate-inhibited aspartate aminotransferase in vitro and in isolated hepatocytes
Authors: Cornell Neal W. , Crow Kathryn E. , Whitefoot Richard P.
Published: August 2015

Experiments with isolated rat hepatocytes and with cell extracts indicate, in contrast with previous reports, that pyruvate does not block or reverse the inhibition of aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1) by amino-oxyacetate. That inhibition, however, is partially overcome by glutamate or aspartate either in cell extracts or in whole cells incubated with substrate combinations that cause accumulation of those amino acids.
Glutathione utilization by lactating bovine mammary secretory tissue in vitro
Authors: Baumrucker C R , Pocius P A , Riss T L
Published: August 2015

gamma-Glutamyltransferase (D-glutamyl transpeptidase, EC 2.3.2.2) activity has been shown to be located predominantly on the extracellular surface of the plasma membrane of lactating bovine mammary cells. Radioactive label from both oxidized ([14C]-gamma-glutamyl) and reduced ([35S]cysteinyl) glutathione was taken up and incorporated into acid-precipitable proteins of mammary tissue. Uptake was shown to involve the transport of free amino acids, and incorporation was shown to involve the action of gamma-=glutamyltransferase. These results indicate that lactating mammary tissue utilizes the constituent amino acids of glutathione for milk-protein synthesis.
Prolyl-tRNA-based rates of protein and collagen synthesis in human lung fibroblasts
Authors: Hildebran J N , Airhart J , Stirewalt W S , Low R B
Published: August 2015

Knowledge of the dynamics of collagen turnover requires information regarding rates of synthesis of this group of connective-tissue proteins. The relationship of various amino acid pools to the tRNA precursor pool used for protein synthesis is known to vary between different cell types and tissues, even for essential amino acids. We studied extracellular, intracellular and tRNA-proline pools in cultured human lung IMR-90 fibroblasts to determine the relationship between them as candidate proline precursor pools for total protein and collagen synthesis. Time-course experiments showed that the three proline pools attained distinctly different steady-state specific radioactivities (extracellular greater than intracellular greater than tRNA) at the extracellular proline concentration of 0.2 mM. The kinetics of radioisotope incorporation into cell protein and collagenase-digestible protein indicated that the intracellular free proline pool could not be used reliably as a precursor for calculating synthetic rates. However, tRNA-proline behaved isotopically as if it were the precursor and provided synthesis rates 2-3-fold higher than those calculated by using either free proline pool. The incorporation of labelled lysine and leucine was constant over a wide range of extracellular proline concentrations. Fractional rates of protein synthesis based on tRNA-amino acid were the same with [3H]phenylalanine as with [3H]proline. The specific radioactivity of cell-associated hydroxyproline reached a steady-state value 8-10h after radioisotope administration which matched the mean tRNA-proline specific radioactivity, suggesting that tRNA-proline is not isotopically compartmentalized. A model of cellular proline-pool relationship is presented and discussed.
Very-low-density-lipoprotein secretion by isolated hepatocytes of fat-fed rats
Authors: Kalopissis A D , Griglio S , Malewiak M I , Rozen R , Liepvre X L
Published: August 2015

The very-low-density-lipoprotein secretion rate of isolated hepatocytes obtained from rats fed a high-fat diet was half that of cells from control animals. In fat-fed rats, the initial cellular uptake of [l-14C]oleate in vitro was decreased by 25%, its esterification to triacylglycerols and phospholipids by 50% and its incorporation into very-low-density-lipoprotein triacylglycerols by 70%. Exogenous oleate was not the main precursor of very-low-density lipoproteins in these animals. Lipogenesis, a minor source of very-low-density lipoproteins with the control diet in our experimental conditions, was inhibited by 84% after fat-feeding. A short-term inhibition of lipogenesis in vitro did not result in a decrease in very-low-density-lipoprotein secretion rate. The results suggest that fat-feeding decreased availability of exogenous as well as endogenous fatty acids for synthesis of very-low-density lipoproteins.
The nuclear oestrogen receptor in the female rat. Effects of oestradiol administration during the oestrous cycle on the uterus and contrasting effects of progesterone on the uterus and hypothalamus
Authors: Thrower S , Lim L
Published: August 2015

Oestradiol administration to immature or ovariectomized rats has been reported to increase the uterine content of long-term nuclear oestrogen receptors. However, in the intact adult female rat, oestradiol administration did not increase the concentration of long-term nuclear oestrogen receptors at all phases of the oestrous cycle. Progesterone administration to rats in late dioestrus did not affect the concentration of uterine nuclear oestrogen receptors 24 h later, although it did prevent the normal cyclic increase at pro-oestrus in the concentration of hypothalamic nuclear oestrogen receptors. Our results therefore show that in the intact adult rat, factors other than the concentration of progesterone or oestradiol determine the nuclear concentration of oestrogen receptors in the uterus. They also demonstrate differences between neural and non-neural tissues in the regulation of oestrogen-receptor interactions.
Ca2+-induced biochemical changes in human erythrocytes and their relation to microvesiculation
Authors: Allan D , Thomas P
Published: August 2015

1. Human erythrocytes were treated with Ca2+ and ionophore A23187 and measurements were made of K+ efflux, polyphosphoinositide breakdown, 1,2-diacylglycerol accumulation, phosphatidate synthesis, changes in membrane polypeptide pattern and release of microvesicles. 2. It was shown that neither transamidase-mediated protein cross-linking, proteolysis of polypeptides 2.1 (ankyrin) or 4.1, nor accumulation of diacylglycerol or phosphatidate appeared to be necessary for microvesiculation to occur. 3. Microvesicles were released only under conditions where KCl efflux leading to cell shrinkage occurred and where polyphosphoinositides were broken down. These circumstances were sufficient to cause microvesiculation only in the presence of increased intracellular concentrations of Ca2+.
Properties of a series of tegumental membrane-bound phosphohydrolase activities of Schistosoma mansoni
Authors: Cesari I M , Simpson A J G , Evans W H
Published: August 2015

1. Incubation of Schistosoma mansoni for 5 min in a phosphate-buffered medium, pH 7.4, released tegumental material containing the following phosphohydrolase activities: alkaline phosphatase, 5′-nucleotidase, glycerol-2-phosphatase, glucose 6-phosphatase, phosphodiesterase and ATPase. 2. Maximum activity of these enzymes was measured at pH 9.5; however, the phosphodiesterase and ATPase activities were also appreciable at pH 7.0. 3. Solubilization of the released tegumental material in 1% Triton X-100 followed by gel filtration distinguished three peaks of enzyme activity: an ATPase (mol.wt. greater than 1000 000), a phosphodiesterase (mol.wt. 1 000 000) and an alkaline phosphomonoesterase with broad specificity (mol.wt. 232 000). 4. The ATPase activity was highly activated by 10 mM-Mg2+ or 1 mM-Ca2+ and was inhibited by chelating agents. Ouabain, Na+ and K+ had little effect on enzyme activity, whereas activity was increased by 50% in the presence of calmodulin. The phosphodiesterase activity was highest in the presence of 100 mM-Na+ or -K+, and 10 mM-Mg2+ or -Ca2+. Alkaline phosphatase activity was also stimulated by 100 mM-Na+ or -K+, and 10 mM-Mg2+; however Ca2+ inhibited at greater than 1 mM. 5. Surface iodination of parasites followed by detergent solubilization and gel filtration of the released tegumental membranes indicated that these enzymes were not accessible. A major surface component, apparent mol.wt. 80 000, was iodinated. 6. Rabbit anti-(mouse liver 5′-nucleotidase) antibodies did not inhibit the phosphohydrolase activities. However, an immunoglobulin G fraction from sera of mice chronically infected with S. mansoni partially inhibited alkaline phosphatase activity, but was without effect on the phosphodiesterase and ATPase activities. 7. The location of the enzymes in the double membrane of the tegument and their significance in host-parasite interactions is discussed.
Increase of l-serine dehydratase activity under gluconeogenic conditions in adult-rat hepatocytes cultured on collagen gel/nylon mesh
Authors: Mak W W N , Pitot H C
Published: August 2015

Hormonal regulation of L-serine dehydratase [L-serine hydro-lyase (deaminating), EC 4.2.1.13] was studied in primary cultures of adult-rat hepatocytes. The hepatocytes were isolated by collagenase perfusion and maintained in culture on collagen-gel/nylon-mesh substrata. L-Serine dehydratase activity was measured with [14C]threonine as substrate. The enzyme activity in hepatocytes of normal adult rats was low and declined rapidly in culture in L-15 medium containing 0.1 micro M-insulin and even more in the presence of glucose. L-Serine dehydratase activity in hepatocytes of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes was initially 20-fold higher than that of normal rats, but fell rapidly to a low value by 4 days in culture. Hormonal regulation of the enzyme activity was manifested by treatment of the cultured hepatocytes with insulin (0.1 micro M), glucagon (0.3 micro M), dexamethasone (10 micro M) and combinations of these hormones. Either glucagon or dexamethasone in the absence of insulin enhanced the activity of L-serine dehydratase, but failed to do so in the presence of insulin. Treatment with both hormones resulted in a 2-3-fold increase in enzyme activity in culture on days 3 and 4. Under conditions in which the enzyme activity was enhanced, glucose production by the cultured hepatocytes was concomitantly increased. Glucose production resulted in part from gluconeogenesis from pyruvate and not entirely from glycogenolysis. The gluconeogenic conditions of culture resulted in a decrease in cellular lipids in the cultured hepatocytes, as evidenced by ultrastructural studies.
An investigation of sites that bind human somatotropin (growth hormone) in the liver of the pregnant rabbit
Authors: Cadman H F , Wallis M
Published: August 2015

The binding of 125I-labelled human somatotropin (growth hormone) to a crude membrane preparation from the liver of pregnant rabbit, and to receptors solubilized from this fraction by Triton X-100, was dependent on time, temperature and receptor concentration. At 4 degrees C a steady state was reached after 20 h, and maximum specific binding (as a percentage of total tracer added) was approx. 50% for both membrane-bound and solubilized receptors. Solubilization did not significantly affect the binding properties of the receptor at low concentrations of Triton X-100 (less than 0.05%, v/v, in the assay tube). However, at higher concentrations (approx. 0.1%, v/v), the detergent lowered the ability of some hormones, for example ovine prolactin, to displace 125I-labelled human somatotropin, but did not affect other hormones such as bovine somatotropin. Some somatogenic hormones, such as bovine somatotropin, and some lactogenic hormones, such as ovine prolactin, displaced 125I-labelled human somatotropin from membrane-bound and solubilized receptor preparations. Furthermore, 85% of 125I-labelled bovine somatotropin was displaced from membrane-bound receptors by ovine prolactin, and 125I-labelled ovine prolactin was almost completely displaced by bovine somatotropin. Scatchard analysis of the binding data for human somatotropin suggested a single class of binding sites in the membrane-bound receptor preparation, with an affinity (Ka) of 1.9 X 10(9) M-1 and a capacity of 1726 fmol/mg of protein; these values were slightly increased by solubilization (Ka = 3.2 X 10(9) M-1, capacity = 2103 fmol/mg of protein). Scatchard analysis of binding to membrane-bound receptors also indicated a single class of high-affinity binding sites for bovine somatotropin (Ka = 4.8 X 10(9) M-1, capacity = 769 fmol/mg) and for ovine prolactin (Ka = 6.1 X 10(9) M-1, capacity = 187 fmol/mg).
The role of potassium transport in the generation of a pH gradient in Escherichia coli
Authors: Kroll R G , Booth I R
Published: August 2015

The role of K+ transport in the generation of a pH gradient in Escherichia coli has been investigated. In K+-depleted cells, net K+ uptake dissipated delta psi (membrane potential) and led to an increase in delta pH (pH gradient). The magnitude of the delta pH formed bore a simple relationship to the net K+ uptake and was substantially independent of the respiratory rate. In K+-replete cells, generation of a pH gradient was again K+-dependent, although no net uptake of this cation occurred. The results are discussed in terms of K+ cycling, and it is suggested that delta pH is in part a function of the rate of cycling and independent of the respiratory rate.
Some kinetic properties of the tryptophan-sensitive 3-deoxy-d-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate synthase from Neurospora crassa
Authors: Nimmo G A , Coggins J R
Published: August 2015

The steady-state kinetic properties of purified tryptophan-sensitive 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate synthase from Neurospora crassa were examined. The results suggest that the enzyme obeys a Rapid-Equilibrium Ordered mechanism, in which phosphoenolpyruvate is the first substrate to bind and 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate is the second product to be released, rather than a Ping Pong mechanism as has been reported previously. The inhibition by tryptophan was found to be parabolic competitive with respect to D-erythrose 4-phosphate and parabolic non-competitive with respect to phosphoenolpyruvate. The enzyme was inactivated by EDTA, and could be protected against this inactivation by phosphoenolpyruvate or 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate but not by D-erythrose 4-phosphate, tryptophan or Pi. This suggests that the enzyme may be a metalloenzyme.
The inhibition of β-lactamases from Gram-negative bacteria by clavulanic acid
Authors: Reading Christopher , Farmer Tony
Published: August 2015

The β-lactamase from Klebsiella pneumoniae E70 behaved in a similar fashion to the TEM-2 plasmid mediated enzyme on reaction with clavulanic acid. Both enzymes produced two types of enzyme–clavulanate complex, a transiently stable species (t½=4min at pH7.3 and 37°C) and irreversibly inhibited enzyme. In the initial rapid reaction (2.5min) the enzymes partitioned between the transient and irreversible complexes in the ratios 3:1 for TEM-2 β-lactamase and 1:1 for Klebsiella β-lactamase. Biphasic inactivation was observed for both enzymes and the slower second phase was rate limited by the decay of the transiently stable complex. This decay released free enzyme for further reaction with fresh clavulanic acid, the products again partitioning between transiently stable and irreversibly inhibited enzyme. This cycle continued until all the enzyme had been irreversibly inhibited. A 115 molar excess of inhibitor was required to achieve complete inactivation of TEM-2 β-lactamase. Hydrolysis of clavulanic acid with product release appeared to occur with the inhibition reaction, which explained this degree of clavulanic acid turnover. The stoichiometry of the interaction with Klebsiella β-lactamase was not examined. The penicillinase from Proteus mirabilis C889 was rapidly inhibited by low concentrations of clavulanic acid. The major product was a moderately stable complex (t½=40min at pH7.3 and 37°C); the proportion of the enzyme that was irreversibly inactivated was small. The cephalosporinase from Enterobacter cloacae P99 had low affinity for the inhibitor and only reacted with high concentrations of clavulanic acid (k=4.0m−1·s−1) to produce a relatively stable complex (t½=180min at pH7.3 and 37°C). No irreversible inactivation of this enzyme was detected. The rates of decay of the clavulanate–enzyme complexes produced in reactions with Proteus and Enterobacter enzymes were markedly increased at acid pH.
NAD+, ADP-ribosylation and transcription in permeabilized mammalian cells
Authors: Walker J , Pearson C K
Published: August 2015

When permeabilized hamster fibroblasts were incubated with 4 mM-NAD+, the substrate for poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, RNA polymerase I activity was inhibited by about 85%. This inhibition was not relieved by prior incubation of cells with 3-aminobenzamide, a potent inhibitor of the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Digestion of cells with pancreatic deoxyribonuclease I resulted in the inhibition of RNA polymerase I by 80% and the activation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase by up to 300%; prior incubation with 3-aminobenzamide did not prevent the inhibition of the RNA polymerase activity. No radioactivity was found associated with RNA polymerase I during later stages of purification of this enzyme from permeabilized cells previously incubated with [14C]NAD+. The inhibitory effect of NAD+ on RNA polymerase I was not specific for NAD+, as other small, negatively charged molecules with a nuclear location also inhibited the enzyme. The results do not support the concept of a role for ADP-ribosylation in transcription catalysed by RNA polymerase I.
Secondary structures of hyaluronate and chondroitin sulphates. A 1H n.m.r. study of NH signals in dimethyl sulphoxide solution
Authors: Scott J E , Heatley F , Moorcroft D , Olavesen A H
Published: August 2015

1H n.m.r. spectra in [2H6]dimethyl sulphoxide of dodecyltrimethylammonium salts of chondroitin sulphates and hyaluronate, or sodium salts of oligomers from hyaluronate, showed unambiguous NH signals. The acetamido NH occurs in two different environments: environment I (‘normal’) in simple sugars, and environment II (hydrogen-bonded NH) appearing in tri- or tetrasaccharides, indicating a secondary structure in hyaluronate (and some chondroitin sulphates) involving a hydrogen-bonded acetamido NH.
Insulin-induced proteins in the toad urinary bladder
Authors: Cobb M H , Skipski I A , Reich I M , Slatin S L , Scott W N
Published: August 2015

Insulin increases active sodium transport by the toad urinary bladder within 15 min, an effect which persists for an least 20 h. In tissues pre-treated with inhibitors of transcription or translation, sodium transport briefly increases after insulin addition but returns to basal levels within 60-90 min. We have studied the effects of insulin on the incorporation of radioactive amino acids into mucosal cell proteins. Insulin had no detectable effect on the uptake of amino acids nor on their incorporation into total protein; however, using a dual label technique, we found that insulin increases the incorporation of amino acids into specific soluble and plasma membrane proteins of the granular mucosal cell. The time course and dose-response relationship of the induction of protein synthesis by insulin suggest that these proteins may play a role in the sustained elevation of sodium transport by insulin.
Cytosolic androgen receptor in regenerating rat levator ani muscle
Authors: Max S R , Mufti S , Carlson B M
Published: August 2015

The development of the cytosolic androgen receptor was studied after degeneration and regeneration of the rat levator ani muscle after a crush lesion. Muscle regeneration appears to recapitulate myogenesis in many respects. It therefore provides a model tissue in sufficiently in large quantity for investigating the ontogenesis of the androgen receptor. The receptor in the cytosol of the normal levator ani muscle has binding characteristics similar to those of the cytosolic receptor in other androgen-sensitive tissues. By day 3 after a crush lesion of the levator ani muscle, androgen binding decreased to 25% of control values. This decrease was followed by a 4-5 fold increase in hormone binding, which attained control values by day 7 after crush. Androgen binding remained stable at the control value up to day 60 after crushing. These results were correlated with the morphological development of the regenerating muscle after crushing. It is concluded that there is little, if any, androgen receptor present in the early myoblastic stages of regeneration; rather, synthesis of the receptor may occur after the fusion of myoblasts and during the differentiation of myotubes into cross-striated muscle fibres.
Turnover of β-galactosidase in fibroblasts from patients with genetically different types of β-galactosidase deficiency
Authors: Van Diggelen O P , Schram A W , Sinnott M L , Smith P J , Robinson D , Galjaard H
Published: August 2015

The turnover of lysosomal beta-galactosidase was studied in fibroblast cultures from patients with Gm1-gangliosidosis and combined beta-galactosidase and neuraminidase deficiency, which had 5-10% residual beta-galactosidase activity. beta-Galactosidase was specifically inactivated with the suicide substrate beta-D-galactopyranosylmethyl-p-nitro-phenyltriazene (beta-Gal-MNT) and from the subsequent restoration of enzyme activity in cell cultures turnover times were calculated. By using [3H]beta-Gal-MNT, the hydrolytic activity per molecule of beta-galactosidase was determined. 3H-labelled beta-D-galactopyranosylmethylamine, the precursor of [3H]beta-gal-MNT, was obtained by Raney-nickel-catalysed exchange with 3H2O. The rate of synthesis of beta-galactosidase in normal and all mutant cells tested was found to be 0.4-0.5 pmol/day per mg of cellular protein. The GM1-gangliosidosis cells tested contain the normal amount of 0.5 pmol of beta-galactosidase/mg of protein with a normal turnover time of about 10 days, but only 10% of beta-galactosidase activity per enzyme molecule. Cells with combined beta-galactosidase and neuraminidase deficiency contain only 0.3 pmol of beta-galactosidase/mg of protein with a decreased turnover time of 1 day and normal hydrolytic properties (200 nmol of 4-methylumbelliferyl galactoside/h pmol of beta-galactosidase).
The measurement of membrane potential during photosynthesis and during respiration in intact cells of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata by both electrochromism and by permeant ion redistribution
Authors: Clark A J , Jackson J B
Published: August 2015

1. The membrane potential in intact cells of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata during photosynthesis and during dark respiration has been measured by two independent methods. 2. The light-induced and O2-induced shifts in the carotenoid absorption spectrum were measured in the intact cells. The shift was calibrated with K+-diffusion potentials in chromatophores derived from those cells. The light-induced and O2-induced membrane potentials were -290 mV and -230 mV respectively. 3. The energized uptake of butyltriphenylphosphonium ions was measured in the same batch of cells. The light-induced and O2-induced membrane potentials calculated from the Nernst equation were -160 mV and -120 mV respectively. 4. It is concluded that the two kinds of probe measure the electric potentials across different domains of the cytoplasmic membrane, but it is difficult to reconcile the existence of such domains with simple electrical analogues of the membrane and aqueous phases.
Quantitative importance of non-skeletal-muscle Nτ-methylhistidine and creatine in human urine
Authors: Afting E G , Bernhardt W , Janzen R W C , Röthig H J
Published: August 2015

The excretion of N tau-methylhistidine and creatinine was determined in a totally paralysed patient wih neither macroscopic nor microscopic detectable skeletal-muscle tissue. In this subject, it was possible for the first time to measure the basal non-skeletal-muscle-dependent excretion of N tau-methylhistidine and creatinine per 24 h and per kg of non-muscular body weight, 1.15 mumol (N tau-methylhistidine) and 35 mumol (creatinine) respectively. For the calculation of myofibrillar protein breakdown and skeletal-muscle mass on the basis of N tau-methylhistidine and creatinine excretion, the values have to be corrected for non-muscular sources. Our data show that skeletal-muscle tissue is the major contributor of N tau-methylhistidine in urine, since it contributes as much as 75% to the urinary excretion.
The dependence on Ca2+ of phosphatidylinositol breakdown and enzyme secretion in rabbit neutrophils stimulated by formylmethionyl-leucylphenylalanine or ionomycin
Authors: Cockcroft S , Bennett J P , Gomperts B D
Published: August 2015

1. We have measured the breakdown of [3H]phosphatidylinositol in rabbit neutrophils prelabelled with [3H]glycerol by a pulse-chase procedure. With a view to defining a possible causal relationship between phosphatidylinositol breakdown and enzyme secretion in these cells, we have compared the characteristics of both these processes induced by either the receptor-directed agonist formylmethionyl-leucylphenylalanine (fMet-Leu-Phe) or the Ca2+-ionophore ionomycin. 2. The dependence on fMet-Leu-Phe concentration of phosphatidylinositol breakdown and secretion is identical (half-maximal at 0.3 nM). This is 30-fold less than that required for half-maximal occupation of receptors. 3. Both secretion and breakdown of phosphatidylinositol due to fMet-Leu-Phe are modulated by extracellular Ca2+. The sensitivity to Ca2+ of both processes is enhanced by pretreatment to deplete cell Ca2+. The concentration of Ca2+ required to cause half-maximal effects of both processes in Ca2+-depleted cells on stimulation with 1nM-fMet-Leu-Phe is 100 microM. Ionomycin-stimulated secretion and breakdown of phosphatidylinositol are completely dependent on extracellular Ca2+ over similar concentration ranges. 4. Both secretion and phosphatidylinositol breakdown due to fMet-Leu-Phe approach completion by 10s. With ionomycin these processes are slower, terminating by 2 min. 5. In the presence of [32P]Pi, labelling of [32P]phosphatidic acid reaches a maximum 15 min after stimulation with either fMet-Leu-Phe or ionomycin. This precedes the labelling of [32P]phosphatidylinositol and shows the expected precursor-product relationship. 6. We conclude from these results that in rabbit neutrophils a rise in cytosol [Ca2+] is both sufficient and necessary to cause secretion and phosphatidylinositol breakdown. In cells depleted of Ca2+, the occupation of receptors by fMet-Leu-Phe is without effect on these two processes.
Tricarboxylic acid cycle flux and enzyme activities in the isolated working rat heart
Authors: Cooney G J , Taegtmeyer H , Newsholme E A
Published: August 2015

Flux through the tricarboxylic acid cycle was calculated from oxygen consumption in hearts perfused near the physiological work load. Activities of citrate synthase, 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase and succinate dehydrogenase were measured in the same hearts. Only the activities of 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase correlated with calculated fluxes through the cycle.
Effect of premature weaning on amino acid uptake by the mammary gland of lactating rats
Authors: Viña J R , Puertes I R , Viña J
Published: August 2015

1. Arteriovenous differences of amino acids across the lactating mammary gland were measured in normal rats and weaned for 4, 5 and 24h. 2. Uptake of amino acids by mammary glands of rats weaned for 5h or more was significantly lower than that of controls. This was not reversed by injection of prolactin. 3. By using ‘unilaterally weaned’ rats we showed that milk accumulation plays an important role in amino acid uptake by mammary gland. 4. gamma-Glutamyltransferase activity was significantly lower in ‘weaned’ glands than in ‘normal’ glands. This provides further support for the hypothesis of the function of the gamma-glutamyl cycle in the mammary gland in vivo.
Polyamine-modulated factor 1 binds to the human homologue of the 7a subunit of the Arabidopsis COP9 signalosome: implications in gene expression
Authors: WANG Yanlin , DEVEREUX Wendy , STEWART Tracy M. , CASERO Robert A.
Published: August 2015

Polyamines have been identified to play a role in the transcription of various growth-related genes. The recently discovered polyamine responsive element and the associated trans-acting proteins involved in polyamine-regulated transcription have provided a model system for the study of the role of polyamines in transcription. Polyamine-modulated factor 1 (PMF-1) was identified as one of the transacting factors that binds to NF-E2 related factor-2 (Nrf-2) to regulate the transcription of spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase (SSAT). The possibility that PMF-1 also binds to other proteins involved in transcriptional regulation cannot be ruled out. Using a yeast two-hybrid strategy, it was found that PMF-1 binds to a human homologue of the Arabidopsis COP9 signalosome subunit 7a (CSN 7) protein. In the present study, we describe human CSN 7, a 275-amino-acid- containing protein that may have a direct role in regulating gene expression. CSN 7 and PMF-1 bind to each other, as well as compete with each other for binding to Nrf-2. This competition for Nrf-2 binding and interaction with each other is implicated in the regulation of SSAT transcription. CSN 7 possesses a C-terminal coiled-coil domain similar to the domain that mediates the interaction between PMF-1 and Nrf-2, suggesting that coiled-coil domains also mediate the interaction between CSN 7 and PMF-1. Since CSN 7 does not contain a DNA-binding domain, its effects on transcription must occur in conjunction with binding to other proteins. The results presented here demonstrate that PMF-1 and Nrf-2 can act as protein partners of CSN 7.
Dsk1p kinase phosphorylates SR proteins and regulates their cellular localization in fission yeast
Authors: Tang Zhaohua , Tsurumi Amy , Alaei Sarah , Wilson Christopher , Chiu Cathleen , Oya Jessica , Ngo Benson
Published: August 2015

Evolutionarily conserved SR proteins (serine/arginine-rich proteins) are important factors for alternative splicing and their activity is modulated by SRPKs (SR protein-specific kinases). We previously identified Dsk1p (dis1-suppressing protein kinase) as the orthologue of human SRPK1 in fission yeast. In addition to its similarity of gene structure to higher eukaryotes, fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe is a unicellular eukaryotic organism in which alternative splicing takes place. In the present study, we have revealed for the first time that SR proteins, Srp1p and Srp2p, are the in vivo substrates of Dsk1p in S. pombe. Moreover, the cellular localization of the SR proteins and Prp2p splicing factor is dependent on dsk1+: Dsk1p is required for the efficient nuclear localization of Srp2p and Prp2p, while it promotes the cytoplasmic distribution of Srp1p, thereby differentially influencing the destinations of these proteins in the cell. The present study offers the first biochemical and genetic evidence for the in vivo targets of the SRPK1 orthologue, Dsk1p, in S. pombe and the significant correlation between Dsk1p-mediated phosphorylation and the cellular localization of the SR proteins, providing information about the physiological functions of Dsk1p. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that the regulatory function of SRPKs in the nuclear targeting of SR proteins is conserved from fission yeast to human, indicating a general mechanism of reversible phosphorylation to control the activities of SR proteins in RNA metabolism through cellular partitioning.