bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The active centre of rabbit muscle triose phosphate isomerase. The site that is labelled by glycidol phosphate
Authors: Miller Janet C. , Waley S. G.
Published: August 2015

1. Glycidol (2,3-epoxypropanol) phosphate is a specific irreversible inhibitor of rabbit muscle triose phosphate isomerase (EC 5.3.1.1); the site of attachment has now been studied. 2. The labelled enzyme was digested with pepsin and a modified peptide isolated. The sequence of the peptide is: Ala-Tyr-Glu-Pro-Val-Trp. 3. It is the glutamic acid residue in this peptide that is labelled: the peptide is thus a γ-glutamyl ester derived from glycerol phosphoric acid. The same site is labelled by a mixture of glycidol and inorganic phosphate. 4. Kinetic and stereochemical features of these reactions are discussed.
Evidence for ethylation of rat liver deoxyribonucleic acid after administration of ethionine
Authors: Swann P. F. , Pegg A. E. , Hawks A. , Farber E. , Magee P. N.
Published: August 2015

1. Administration of a large dose (500mg/kg body wt.) of 3H-labelled l-ethionine to rats resulted in the incorporation of a small amount of radioactivity into the liver DNA. Considerable evidence that this radioactivity was not due to contamination of the isolated DNA with labelled protein, RNA, S-adenosyl-l-ethionine or l-ethionine was obtained. 2. After acidic hydrolysis of the DNA isolated from the livers of rats treated with labelled l-ethionine, virtually all of the radioactivity present in the DNA was found in a fraction with similar chromatographic properties to 7-ethylguanine. 3. Treatment of rats with comparable doses of l-methionine did not lead to the formation of 7-methylguanine in the liver DNA. 4. These results are discussed in relation to the induction of liver tumours by ethionine.
The molecular integrity of chloroplast ribosomal ribonucleic acid
Authors: Leaver C. J. , Ingle J.
Published: August 2015

Instability of chloroplast rRNA has been observed with essentially all chloroplast RNA preparations. This paper describes experiments that show that, under normal conditions of preparation and fractionation, only the heavy chloroplast component (mol.wt. 1.1×106) is unstable, the light chloroplast rRNA (mol.wt. 0.56×106) and the cytoplasmic rRNA species (mol.wt. 1.3×106 and 0.70×106) being stable. The stability of the 1.1×106-mol. wt. molecule varies with different plant species, as also does the size and the number of fragments produced. Cleavages in three particular regions of the molecule are very frequent within the range of tissues studied. The 1.1×106-mol.wt. rRNA is, however, stabilized by the presence of Mg2+ during the preparation and fractionation of the RNA.
Isoprenoid phenol and quinone precursors of ubiquinones and dihydroubiquinones [ubiquinones(H2)] in fungi
Authors: Law Ah , Threlfall D. R. , Whistance G. R.
Published: August 2015

1. Ten moulds and two yeasts were analysed for the presence of 2-polyprenylphenols, 2-polyprenyl(H2)phenols, 6-methoxy-2-polyprenylphenols, 6-methoxy-2-polyprenyl(H2)phenols, 6-methoxy-2-polyprenyl-1,4-benzoquinones, 6-methoxy-2-polyprenyl(H2)-1,4-benzoquinones, 5-demethoxyubiquinones, 5-demethoxyubiquinones(H2), ubiquinones and ubiquinones(H2). 2. The organisms were found to be of three types: (a) those that contained only ubiquinones (Aspergillus fumigatus and Penicillium brevi-compactum) or ubiquinones(H2) (Alternaria solani, Claviceps purpurae and Penicillium stipitatum); (b) those that contained 5-demethoxyubiquinones and ubiquinones (Agaricus campestris, Aspergillus niger, Phycomyces blakesleeanus, Rhodotorula glutinis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae) or 5-demethoxyubiquinones(H2) and ubiquinones(H2) (Aspergillus quadrilineatus and Neurospora crassa); (c) one that contained 2-decaprenyl(H2)phenol, 6-methoxy-2-decaprenyl(H2)phenol, 6-methoxy-2-decaprenyl(X-H2)-1,4-benzoquinone, 5-demethoxyubiquinone-10(X-H2) and ubiquinones(H2) (Aspergillus flavus). 3. Studies were made on the biosynthesis of ubiquinones and ubiquinones(H2) by Asp. flavus, Phyc. blakesleeanus and S. cerevisiae. These provided evidence that in Phyc. blakesleeanus 5-demethoxyubiquinone-9 is a precursor of ubiquinone-9 and that in S. cerevisiae 5-demethoxyubiquinone-6 is a precursor of ubiquinone-6. In addition they yielded results that may be interpreted as providing evidence that in Asp. flavus 6-methoxy-2-decaprenyl(X-H2)-1,4-benzoquinone and 5-demethoxyubiquinone-10(X-H2) are precursors of ubiquinone-10(X-H2).
Biosynthesis in vitro of tryptophanase by polyribosomes from induced cultures of Escherichia coli
Authors: Bashar S. A. M. Khairul , Parish J. H. , Brown Marjorie
Published: August 2015

1. Polyribosomes were isolated from Escherichia coli grown in media in which tryptophanase is induced and in which it is repressed. The polyribosomes from the induced bacteria had a small amount of tryptophanase activity associated with them. 2. A portion of the enzyme activity remained bound to polyribosomes during centrifuging in sucrose gradients. 3. Incubation of tryptophanase-containing polyribosomes with puromycin released enzyme activity. 4. The binding of the enzyme to the polyribosomes did not depend on the presence of DNA. 5. When the polyribosomes were incubated under conditions of protein synthesis with supernatant fraction obtained from repressed bacteria, a small but statistically significant increase in enzyme activity was produced. 6. When a radioactive amino acid was included in the incubation mixture for the tryptophanase system a radioactive protein was obtained whose chromatographic, electrophoretic and sedimentation properties were identical with those of tryptophanase. 7. The amount of incorporation was consistent with the amount of new enzyme synthesis predicted by the increase in enzyme activity. Both radioactive incorporation and increase in enzyme activity were shown to be energy-dependent and also negative controls were obtained by using zero-time incubations or polyribosomes isolated from either repressed cells or a mutant lacking the ability to produce tryptophanase. 8. The distribution of radioactive leucine in the carboxyl region of the newly labelled tryptophanase was examined by digesting the labelled protein with carboxypeptidases. It was shown that the radioactivity was more highly concentrated towards the carboxyl terminus when the incubation times for protein synthesis were shorter (implying that, with longer incubation times, longer lengths of polypeptide chain contained radioactive amino acid residues).
The regulatory proteins of the myofibril. Characterization and properties of the inhibitory factor (troponin B)
Authors: Schaub M. C. , Perry S. V.
Published: August 2015

1. Gel-filtration results indicate that the major component of inhibitory-factor preparations isolated by dissociation of the troponin complex consisted of a protein of subunit weight 23000 daltons. By the same procedure a molecular weight of 18000 was obtained for the calcium-sensitizing factor. 2. The inhibitory factor is specific for the actomyosin type of ATPase and ITPase. It is effective on desensitized actomyosin, natural actomyosin and intact myofibrils. 3. For inhibition, the actomyosin ATPase must be stimulated by Mg2+, Ca2+ or Mn2+. The Co2+-, Cd2+- or Zn2+-stimulated ATPases are not affected. 4. Biological activity is stable to treatment with dissociating agents, heat, pH11, pH1 and carboxymethylation. 5. Increasing amounts of actin, but not myosin or tropomyosin, progressively neutralize the inhibitory activity when added to desensitized actomyosin or myofibrils.
Isolation and fractionation of glycopeptides from porcine thyroglobulin
Authors: Fukuda Minoru , Egami Fujio
Published: August 2015

1. Glycopeptides were isolated by gel filtration on Sephadex G-25 and Sephadex G-50 from a Pronase digest of porcine thyroglobulin. 2. Isolated glycopeptides were separated into five main fractions on a column of DEAE-Sephadex A-25. Of these fractions I to III were further purified by SE-Sephadex C-25 or DEAE-Sephadex A-25 column chromatography. Several of the purified glycopeptides were homogeneous on paper electrophoresis. 3. Based on the chemical composition and molecular weight of the fractionated glycopeptides, two distinct types of heterosaccharide chain were demonstrated. 4. One type of the heterosaccharide unit consisted of four to eight residues of mannose and two residues of glucosamine and had a molecular weight of 1000–1700. The other type of unit contained sialic acid, fucose and galactose in addition to mannose and glucosamine and had a molecular weight of about 3600. 5. Mild alkaline treatment of the glycopeptide did not result in the destruction of threonine and serine. 2-Acetamido-1-N-(4-l-aspartyl)-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosylamine was isolated from partial acid hydrolysates.
The structure of a glycopeptide purified from porcine thyroglobulin
Authors: Fukuda Minoru , Egami Fujio
Published: August 2015

1. The structure of a purified glycopeptide isolated from porcine thyroglobulin was studied by sequential hydrolysis with specific glycosidases, by periodate oxidation and by treatment with galactose oxidase. 2. Sequential hydrolysis with several combinations of neuraminidase, α-l-fucosidase, β-d-galactosidase, β-N-acetyl-d-glucosaminidase and α-d-mannosidase presented the evidence for the following structure. 3. The monosaccharide sequence of the peripheral moiety of the heteropolysaccharide chain was sialic acid→galactose→N-acetylglucosamine. Some of the galactose residues were non-reducing end-groups with the sequence galactose→N-acetylglucosamine. 4. After removal of the peripheral moiety composed of sialic acid, fucose, galactose and N-acetylglucosamine, α-mannosidase released 1.4mol of mannose/mol of glycopeptide, indicating that two of the three mannose residues were located between peripheral N-acetylglucosamine and internal N-acetylglucosamine or mannose. 5. Periodate oxidation and sodium borohydride reduction confirmed the results obtained by enzymic degradation and gave information concerning the position of substitution. 6. Based on the results obtained by enzymic hydrolysis and periodate oxidation together with the treatment with galactose oxidase, a structure is proposed for the glycopeptide.
Purification and partial characterization of four proteins from human parotid saliva
Authors: Bennick Anders , Connell George E.
Published: August 2015

Four proteins, which have been designated A, B, C and D, have been purified from human parotid saliva. These proteins are the major constituents of parotid saliva which migrate rapidly to the anode in polyacrylamide electrophoresis at pH9.5. Gel filtration and polyacrylamide electrophoresis were employed in the purification procedures. After purification all four preparations were tested for homogeneity by electrophoresis at pH2.8 and 9.5, by isoelectric focusing in the pH range 3–10, by immunodiffusion, and by sedimentation in the analytical ultracentrifuge. None of the proteins showed significant activity in assays for amylase, acid and alkaline phosphatase, protease, lysozyme, ribonuclease, peroxidase, β-glucuronidase, β-galactosidase, iron-binding activity and esterase. No cross-reactions were detected with antisera specific for lactoferrin and 15 serum proteins. All four proteins were rich in glutamic acid, proline and glycine and were lacking completely the sulphur-containing amino acids. Proteins A and C contained no threonine or tyrosine. Carbohydrate could be demonstrated only in protein A at a concentration of 4% of the total protein.
Biosynthesis of peptides containing α-aminoadipic acid and cysteine in extracts of a Cephalosporium sp
Authors: Loder P. Bronwen , Abraham E. P.
Published: August 2015

1. Three intracellular peptides found in small amount in a Cephalosporium sp. were rapidly labelled when dl-[14C]valine was added to a shaken suspension of the organism. More 14C was incorporated into peptide P3, δ-(l-α-aminoadipyl)-l-cysteinyl-d-valine, than into peptide P2 (containing α-aminoadipic acid, cysteine, valine and glycine) or peptide P1 (containing β-hydroxyvaline in place of the valine in peptide P2). 2. Peptides P3 and P2, but not peptide P1 were formed in a broken-cell system from the Cephalosporium sp. in the presence of δ-(l-α-aminoadipyl)-l-cysteine and dl-[14C]valine. No synthesis was observed in the presence of δ-(d-α-aminoadipyl)-l-cysteine or of dl-α-amino[14C]adipic acid and l-cysteinyl-l-valine or l-cysteinyl-d-valine. 3. The biosynthesis of these peptides was catalysed by the particulate fraction of the broken-cell system, whereas that of glutathione was catalysed by the supernatant fraction. 4. These results are discussed in relation to penicillin N and cephalosporin C biosynthesis.
The purification and properties of the β-lactamase specified by the resistance factor R-1818 in Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis
Authors: Dale J. W. , Smith J. T.
Published: August 2015

1. The β-lactamase specified by the R-1818 resistance factor in Escherichia coli was purified 300-fold; the resulting preparation gave a single peak on Sephadex G-100 and a single band on polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. 2. The β-lactamase specified by the same R-factor in Proteus mirabilis was purified over 2000-fold, but was still far from pure. The specific activity of this preparation was one-fifth that of the purified enzyme from E. coli. 3. The two enzymes were shown to be identical as regards substrate specificity, pH optimum, Km values and molecular weight. 4. It is suggested that the low β-lactamase activity of extracts of P. mirabilis (R-1818), about 5% of that from E. coli (R-1818) in crude extracts, could be due to inefficient transcription of the R-factor DNA by Proteus RNA polymerase.
Characterization of the β-lactamase specified by the resistance factor R-1818 in Escherichia coli K12 and other Gram-negative bacteria
Authors: Dale J. W.
Published: August 2015

1. The amino acid composition of the β-lactamase from E. coli (R-1818) was determined. 2. The R-1818 β-lactamase is inhibited by formaldehyde, hydroxylamine, sodium azide, iodoacetamide, iodine and sodium chloride. 3. The Km values for benzylpenicillin, ampicillin and oxacillin have been determined by using the R-factor enzyme from different host species. The same values were obtained, irrespective of the host bacterium. 4. The molecular weight of the enzyme was found to be 44600, and was the same for all host species. 5. The relationship of R-1818 and R-GN238 β-lactamases is discussed.
The limitation of glycolysis in adenine-deficient Escherichia coli
Authors: Burton K.
Published: August 2015

1. In many instances, there was no change in the rate of oxygen consumption per cell when adenine was withdrawn from purine auxotrophs of Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. 2. However, adenine deficiency inhibited the metabolism of glucose, mannitol or glycerol in a purA−strain, in purB−or purH−strains in the absence of histidine and in purB−mutants supplied with hypoxanthine. These are all instances where reactions occur to consume adenine nucleotides. 3. The inhibition of glucose oxidation is accompanied by the accumulation of fructose 1,6-diphosphate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate. 4. Insufficiency of ADP for phosphoglycerate kinase is the most probable cause of the inhibition.
Chromatography of nucleic acid digests on thin layers of cellulose impregnated with polyethyleneimine
Authors: Southern E. M. , Mitchell A. R.
Published: August 2015

Methods are described for the separation of oligodeoxyribonucleotides and oligoribonucleotides by chromatography on thin layers of cellulose impregnated with polyethyleneimine.
Biosynthesis of Rat serum albumin
Authors: Judah J. D. , Nicholls Marion R.
Published: August 2015

1. The labelling of intracellular and extracellular serum albumin was studied in liver slices and in whole rats by using new methods for the purification of the protein. 2. The results suggest that a polypeptide precursor is formed that is converted relatively slowly into serum albumin. 3. The effect of liver cell K+has been examined by a double-label method and it is shown that K+accelerates the rate of conversion of ‘precursor’ into albumin. The rate of transit of albumin across the cell membrane appears to be unrelated to the concentration of K+within the cell. 4. The time-course of incorporation of radioactive amino acid into albumin follows a sigmoidal mode. There is a pronounced time-lag before label starts to appear in intracellular albumin, and a further time-lag before it appears in extracellular albumin. 5. In slices the sum of intra- and extra-cellular label rises steadily from 30min after the start of labelling with a pulse of labelled leucine or valine and continues to rise for at least another 60min. This occurs whether labelling is stopped by addition of excess of carrier amino acid or with cycloheximide (100μm) or both. 6. The intracellular albumin content remains constant whether slices are maintained with low or normal intracellular K+concentrations. 7. Specific radioactivities of intracellular albumin (and fractions thereof) and of extracellular albumin were determined in vitro and in vivo. The results show that the intracellular albumin cannot be a precursor of extracellular albumin, unless a very small compartment is turning over much more rapidly than the bulk of the liver albumin or even of the microsomal albumin.
The turnover of myelin phospholipids in the adult and developing rat brain
Authors: Jungalwala F. B. , Dawson R. M. C.
Published: August 2015

1. Inorganic [32P]phosphate, [U-14C]glycerol and [2-14C]ethanolamine were injected into the lateral ventricles in the brains of adult rats, and the labelling of individual phospholipids was followed over 2–4 months in both a microsomal and a highly purified myelin fraction. 2. All the phospholipids in myelin became appreciably labelled, although initially the specific radioactivities of the microsomal phospholipids were somewhat higher. Eventually the specific radioactivities in microsomal and myelin phospholipids fell rapidly at a rate corresponding to the decline of radioactivity in the acid-soluble pools. 3. Equivalent experiments carried out in developing rats with [32P]phosphate administered at the start of myelination showed some persistence of phospholipid labelling in the myelin, but this could partly be attributed to the greater retention of 32P in the acid-soluble phosphorus pool and recycling. 4. It is concluded that a substantial part of the phospholipid molecules in adult myelin membranes is readily exchangeable, although a small pool of slowly exchangeable material also exists. 5. A slow incorporation into or loss of labelled precursor from myelin phospholipids does not necessarily give a good indication of the rate of renewal of the molecules in the membrane. As presumably such labelled molecules originate by exchange with those in another membrane site (not necessarily where synthesis occurs) it is only possible to calculate the turnover rate in the myelin membrane if the behaviour of the specific radioactivity with time of the phospholipid molecules in the immediate precursor pool is known.
Heterogeneity of protein–polysaccharides of porcine articular cartilage. The chondroitin–sulphate proteins associated with collagen
Authors: Brandt K. D. , Muir Helen
Published: August 2015

Pig articular cartilage, from which protein–polysaccharides soluble in iso-osmotic sodium acetate had been removed, was extracted in three further stages with 8m-urea in 2m-sodium acetate and with tris–HCl buffer after bacterial collagenase digestion, followed by the same urea–sodium acetate solution, thus leaving only 2% of the original uronic acid in the tissue. The histological appearance of the cartilage was unaltered until after collagenase digestion. The collagenase used did not affect the viscosity or molecular size of a protein–polysaccharide preparation obtained previously. The protein–polysaccharides in each extract differed in size, amino acid composition and protein content, but protein and keratan sulphate contents were not related to hydrodynamic size, in contrast with protein–polysaccharides extracted previously before collagenase digestion. Hydroxyproline could not be removed from those obtained by the first urea–sodium acetate extraction until degraded by heat. The galactosamine/pentose molar ratio agreed closely with the galactosamine/serine molar ratio that was destroyed on treatment with 0.5m-sodium hydroxide, showing that chondroitin sulphate was attached only to serine residues. From these molar ratios the chondroitin sulphate chains were calculated to be of the same average length in protein–polysaccharides in all three extracts although somewhat shorter than in protein–polysaccharides extracted previously. Some threonine residues were also destroyed on alkali treatment suggesting that keratan sulphate may be attached to threonine. These findings together with previous results show that differences in size, composition and physical state extend to all the protein–polysaccharides in cartilage.
Microbial oxidation of amines. Spectral and kinetic properties of the primary amine dehydrogenase of Pseudomonas AM 1
Authors: Eady R. R. , Large P. J.
Published: August 2015

1. An improved procedure is reported for purification of the amine dehydrogenase from methylamine-grown Pseudomonas AM1 which yielded a product homogeneous by sedimentation and disc-electrophoretic analysis, with molecular weight of 133000. 2. The purified enzyme had absorption maxima at 280 and 430nm. On aging, a third peak appeared at 325nm, and the 430nm peak decreased in intensity. This spectrum was independent of pH. 3. Addition of 2.5mm-semicarbazide, phenylhydrazine, hydrazine or hydroxylamine produced modified spectra with maxima respectively at 400, 440, 395 and 425nm. 4. Aerobic addition of methylamine resulted in a bleaching of the 430nm peak and the appearance of a new one at 325nm. This spectral change was retained after removal of the methylamine by dialysis. The original spectrum could be restored on addition of phenazine methosulphate. 5. Addition of borohydride partially inactivated the enzyme and produced spectral changes similar to those observed with methylamine. Pre-treatment with methylamine prevented the inactivation by borohydride. The degree of inactivation could be increased by alternate phenazine methosulphate and borohydride treatments. 6. The addition of methylamine or borohydride each caused shifts in the fluorescence emission maximum from 348 to 380nm. 7. Lineweaver–Burk plots of reciprocal activity against reciprocal concentration of either of the substrates n-butylamine or phenazine methosulphate were consistent with a mechanism that involves interconversion of two free forms of the enzyme by the two substrates. 8. The enzyme, although spectrally modified, was not inactivated by dialysis against diethyldithiocarbamate, and contained about 0.27 g-atom of copper/mol, with small traces of cobalt, iron and zinc. 9. Conventional methods of resolution did not release the prosthetic group. Heat denaturation after treatment of the enzyme with methylamine liberated a yellow chromophore which did not reactivate resolved aspartate aminotransferase, and whose spectral, electrophoretic and fluorescence properties did not agree with any recognizable pyridoxal derivatives. 10. Despite the inconclusive results with the isolated chromophore, the observations on the enzyme suggest that it may contain a pyridoxal derivative bound as a Schiff's base which is converted into the pyridoxamine form on aerobic treatment with methylamine and reconverted into the pyridoxal form with phenazine methosulphate. 11. The copper detected is probably not involved in the enzyme mechanism, since most copper-chelating agents are not inhibitory, and since the enzyme does not react with oxygen.
Modifications of the acyl-d-alanyl-d-alanine terminus affecting complex-formation with vancomycin
Authors: Nieto M. , Perkins H. R.
Published: August 2015

Vancomycin forms complexes with peptides terminating in d-alanyl-d-alanine that are analogous to the biosynthetic precursors of bacterial mucopeptides. The specificity of complex-formation has been studied by means of many synthetic peptides, prepared by both solid-phase and conventional methods. The following conclusions can be drawn: (a) three amide linkages are required to form a stable complex; (b) the terminal carboxyl group must be free; (c) the carboxyl terminal and subterminal residues must be either glycine or of the d-configuration; (d) the size of the side chain in these residues greatly influences the affinity for vancomycin, a methyl group being the optimum in each case; (e) the nature of the side chain in the third and fourth residues has a smaller effect on complex-formation, but an l-configuration was somewhat better than a d-configuration in the third position. In addition to acyl-d-alanyl-d-alanine, other peptides that occur in bacterial cell walls will combine with vancomycin, although less strongly, e.g. acyl-d-alanyl-d-α-amino acid (where the terminal d-residue may form the cross-link in mucopeptide structure) and acyl-l-alanyl-d-glutamylglycine (a sequence found in the mucopeptide of Micrococcus lysodeikticus and related organisms). These results throw some light on the specificity of the uptake of vancomycin by living bacteria.
The role of the plasma membrane in fatty acid uptake by rat liver parenchymal cells
Authors: Wright J. D. , Green C.
Published: August 2015

1. Suspensions of isolated rat liver parenchymal cells incorporate [14C]palmitic acid into glycerides at about 40% of the rate obtained with liver slices. 2. At short time-intervals most of the incorporation is into phosphatidylcholine and this is recovered mainly in the plasma-membrane fraction. 3. At later times (5min to 2h) the [14C]palmitic acid is mainly found in triglyceride, but this is not recovered in the plasma-membrane fraction. 4. Addition of lysophosphatidylcholine increases incorporation of palmitic acid into both phosphatidylcholine and triglyceride, with maximum effect at about 0.1mm. 5. In vivo, 1min after injection of [14C]palmitic acid, radioactive phosphatidylcholine is concentrated in the plasma-membrane fraction, but the proportion present in this fraction declines rapidly. 6. The phosphatidylcholine of the plasma-membrane fraction has, at 1min after injection, a specific radioactivity 30-fold greater than that of the whole tissue. 7. This phosphatidylcholine reaches its maximum specific radioactivity before the tissue phosphatidic acid or diglyceride. 8. The phosphatidylcholine of the plasma-membrane fraction has a very rapid turnover. 9. It is proposed that the rapid formation of phospholipids in the plasma membrane is by acylation of their lyso-derivatives and the role of this process in fatty acid uptake is discussed.
Solubilization of pig lymphocyte plasma membrane and fractionation of some of the components
Authors: Allan D. , Crumpton M. J.
Published: August 2015

The degree of solubilization of pig lymphocyte plasma membrane by sodium deoxycholate was determined at a variety of temperatures and detergent concentrations. Approx. 95% of the membrane protein was soluble in 2% deoxycholate at 23°C. Some of the biological activities of the membrane survived this treatment. The leucine β-naphthylamidase activity was more readily soluble than the 5′-nucleotidase and these enzymes could be separated by extraction with 0.5% deoxycholate at 0°C. Membrane solubilized in 2% deoxycholate at 23°C was fractionated by sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation in 1% deoxycholate. The phospholipid was separated from the protein, which formed a fairly symmetrical peak that sedimented slightly slower than ovalbumin; the leucine naphthylamidase and 5′-nucleotidase activities were resolved from each other and from the main protein peak. Similar separations were achieved by elution from Sephadex G-200 and Sepharose 6B in 1% deoxycholate. The main proteins, however, appeared to possess much higher molecular weights than those indicated by sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation. This disparity suggests that many of the membrane proteins have a rod-like shape, especially since the results of experiments with [14C]deoxycholate revealed that the proteins did not bind significant amounts of deoxycholate. In contrast, 5′-nucleotidase and leucine naphthylamidase appeared to be globular. Polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis of membrane solubilized in sodium dodecyl sulphate gave a similar distribution of protein to that achieved by sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation. Trace amounts only of polypeptides of molecular weight less than 10000 were detected.
Characterization of cytoplasmic and chloroplast 5S ribosomal ribonucleic acid from broad-bean leaves
Authors: Payne P. I. , Dyer T. A.
Published: August 2015

Green leaves of the broad bean (Vicia faba) contain two 5S RNA components that can be separated from each other by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. The major component is located in the larger subunit of cytoplasmic ribosomes, whereas the minor component occurs in the larger subunit of chloroplast ribosomes. Their electrophoretic mobilities relative to those of Escherichia coli 5S RNA (120 nucleotides) and plant 4S RNA (78 nucleotides) suggest that they consist of 118 and 122 nucleotide residues respectively. Thermal ‘melting‘ profiles of plant cytoplasmic and chloroplast 5S RNA species at 260nm indicate the similarity of their secondary structures, not only to each other, but also to those of E. coli and mammalian 5S RNA species. The base compositions of the two plant 5S RNA species have more in common with each other than with the corresponding molecules from either E. coli or mammalian cells.
A comparison of mitochondria from Torulopsis utilis grown in continous culture with glycerol, iron, ammonium, magnesium or phosphate as the growth-limiting nutrient
Authors: Light P. A , Garland P. B.
Published: August 2015

1. Mitochondria prepared from Torulopsis utilis grown in a chemostat with iron-limited growth were found to lack energy conservation but not electron flow in that segment of the respiratory chain leading from intramitochondrial NADH to the cytochromes [i.e. the site 1 segment (Lehninger, 1964)]. 2. Site 1 energy conservation was present in mitochondria prepared from cells grown under conditions of limitation by glycerol, ammonium and magnesium. Phosphate-limited growth resulted in mitochondrial preparations without respiratory control. 3. Mitochondria from cells grown under conditions of iron limitation were insensitive to the respiratory inhibitor piericidin A, whereas sensitivity was present in mitochondria prepared from glycerol-, ammonium-, magnesium- or phosphate-limited cells. 4. These observations are considered to provide indirect evidence for a role of non-haem iron in the mechanism of energy conservation and also piericidin A sensitivity in T. utilis mitochondria. 5. A readily constructed and inexpensive pH-measuring and -controlling circuit is described for use with continuous-culture apparatus.
Effect of sulphate-limited growth on mitochondrial electron transfer and energy conservation between reduced nicotinamide–adenine dinucleotide and the cytochromes in Torulopsis utilis
Authors: Haddock B. A. , Garland P. B.
Published: August 2015

1. Conditions have been established for the sulphate-limited growth of Torulopsis utilis in continuous culture. 2. Mitochondria prepared from sulphate-limited cells lack both piericidin A sensitivity and the first energy-conservation site (site 1). Sensitivity to antimycin A or cyanide and the second and third energy-conservation sites were apparently unaffected by sulphate-limited growth. 3. Aerobic incubation for 8h of sulphate-limited cells with a low concentration of sulphate (50μm or less) resulted in the recovery of mitochondrial piericidin A sensitivity and site 1. The use of higher concentrations of sulphate (250μm or more) still resulted in the recovery of mitochondrial piericidin A sensitivity and site 1, but also resulted in the appearance of a non-phosphorylating oxidase, which mediated oxidation of the respiratory chain at about the level of cytochrome b in an antimycin A- and cyanide-insensitive manner. Both this alternative route and the conventional normal route of respiration were shown to coexist and to intercommunicate at the level of cytochrome b. 4. Low-temperature spectroscopy failed to identify any new respiratory component to explain the alternative route. 5. The apparent affinity of the alternative route for oxygen was similar to that for the conventional route through cytochrome oxidase, namely half-maximal activity at 0.1μm-oxygen or less. 6. The non-haem iron concentration of submitochondrial particles was unaffected by sulphate limitation, whereas the acid-labile sulphide concentration was lowered tenfold. Marked increases (between four- and 30-fold) in the acid-labile sulphide concentration of submitochondrial particles were observed in sulphate-limited cells after aerobic incubation with various concentrations of sulphate. The lowest increase (fourfold) was observed without added sulphate, the highest (30-fold) with 1.0mm added sulphate. 7. The ratio of non-haem iron to acid-labile sulphide in submitochondrial particles varied with different growth conditions from a maximum of 15.0 to a minimum of 0.72. It is suggested that analytical measurements of non-haem iron are an inadequate guide to the concentration of iron–sulphur protein in complex systems. 8. The effects of sulphate-limited growth on site 1 and piericidin sensitivity are interpreted to indicate a role for iron–sulphur protein in these properties. 9. The aerobic incubation of sulphate-limited cells with cycloheximide resulted in the recovery by mitochondria of site 1 but not of piericidin sensitivity. 10. The appearance of the alternative route for cyanide- and antimycin-A (but not piericidin A-) insensitive respiration on incubating sulphate-limited cells with sulphate concentrations higher than 250μm indicates that the alternative route involves an iron–sulphur protein.
Spectroscopic studies of flavoproteins and non-haem iron proteins of submitochondrial particles of Torulopsis utilis modified by iron- and sulphate-limited growth in continuous culture
Authors: Ragan C. I. , Garland P. B.
Published: August 2015

1. A spectroscopic resolution has been made of the components contributing to the ‘iron-flavoprotein’ trough extending from 450 to 520nm in the reduced-minus-oxidized difference spectrum of submitochondrial particles of Torulopsis utilis. 2. Seven components were identified other than cytochrome b, ubiquinone and succinate dehydrogenase. On the basis of the effects of iron- and sulphate-limited growth of cells on their subsequently derived electron-transport particles, and also by consideration of analytical measurements of the concentration of FMN, FAD, non-haem iron and acid-labile sulphide in the electron-transport particles in relation to the magnitude of the spectroscopic changes, it was possible to identify five of these components as follows: species 1a, the flavin of NADH dehydrogenase ferroflavoprotein; species 1b, the iron–sulphur component of NADH dehydrogenase ferroflavoprotein; species 1′, the flavin of an NADPH dehydrogenase; species 2, an iron–sulphur or ferroflavoprotein component; species 3, the flavin of l-3-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase. Two additional components were a fluorescent flavoprotein, probably lipoamide dehydrogenase, and a b-type cytochrome reducible by NADH or NADPH but not reoxidizable by the respiratory chain. 3. Species 1b and 2 were undetectable in electron-transport particles from iron- or sulphate-limited cells, but could be recovered in vivo under non-growing conditions. 4. The recovery in vivo of species 2 but not species 1b was inhibited by cycloheximide. 5. The recovery of species 1b correlates with the recovery of site 1 conservation. 6. The recovery of species 1b with species 2 correlates with the recovery of piericidin A sensitivity. 7. Evidence is presented for an NADPH dehydrogenase distinct from NADH dehydrogenase. The oxidation of NADH and NADPH by the respiratory chain is sensitive to piericidin A, and an iron–sulphur protein common to both pathways (species 2) is suggested as the piericidin A-sensitive component. 8. The approximate E′0 (pH7.0) values of species 1 (a and b, low potential) and species 2 (high potential) indicate that site 1 energy conservation occurs between the levels of species 1 (a and b) and species 2.
The course of ketosis and the activity of key enzymes of ketogenesis and ketone-body utilization during development of the postnatal rat
Authors: Lockwood Elizabeth A. , Bailey E.
Published: August 2015

1. The highest blood concentrations of ketone bodies were found at 5 days of age, after which time the concentration fell to reach the adult value by 30 days of age. 2. Both mitochondrial and cytoplasmic hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA synthase activities were detected, with highest activities being found in the mitochondria at all stages of development. Activity of the mitochondrial enzyme increases rapidly immediately after birth, showing a maximum at 15 days of age, thereafter falling to adult values. The cytoplasmic enzyme, on the other hand, increased steadily in activity after birth to reach a maximum at 40 days of age, after which time activity fell to adult values. 3. Both mitochondrial and cytoplasmic aceto-acetyl-CoA thiolase activities were detected, with the mitochondrial enzyme having considerably higher activities at all stages of development. The developmental patterns for both enzymes were very similar to those for the corresponding hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA synthases. 4. The activity of heart acetoacetyl-CoA transferase remains constant from late foetal life until the end of the suckling period, after which time there is a gradual threefold increase in activity to reach the adult values. The activity of brain 3-oxo acid CoA-transferase increases steadily after birth, reaching a maximum at 30 days of age, thereafter decreasing to adult values, which are similar to foetal activities. Although at all stages of development the specific activity of the heart enzyme is higher than that of brain, the total enzymic capacity of the brain is higher than that of the heart during the suckling period.
Cellular injury and carcinogenesis. The effect of a protein-free high-carbohydrate diet on the metabolism of dimethylnitrosamine in the rat
Authors: Swann P. F. , McLean A. E. M.
Published: August 2015

1. Rats fed on a protein-free high-carbohydrate diet for 7 days metabolized dimethylnitrosamine at only 55% the rate of rats fed on a commercial diet. 2. Dimethylnitrosamine was metabolized by liver slices from rats fed on the protein-free diet at less than half the rate attained by slices from rats fed on a commercial diet. But kidney slices from these rats metabolized dimethylnitrosamine at the same rate as kidney slices from rats on a commercial diet. 3. Methylation by dimethylnitrosamine (70mg/kg body wt.) of N-7 of guanine of the liver RNA and DNA of rats fed on a protein-free diet was only slightly higher than in rats fed on a normal diet given 27mg/kg body wt. In contrast, the methylation by dimethylnitrosamine of guanine in kidney nucleic acids of these rats was three times that in the rats fed on a normal diet. 4. In rats fed on a protein-free diet the incidence of kidney tumours produced by a single dose of dimethylnitrosamine is increased.
Competitive labelling, a method for determining the reactivity of individual groups in proteins. The amino groups of porcine elastase
Authors: Kaplan H. , Stevenson K. J. , Hartley B. S.
Published: August 2015

1. A method is described for determining the ionization constants and reactivities of individual amino groups in proteins. The principle is that in the presence of a trace amount of radioactive label, the various reactive groups in a protein molecule will compete for the label and the amount incorporated into any one group will be determined by its nucleophilicity, pK and micro-environment. The relative amounts of label incorporated into various groups will be proportional to their second-order rate constants and by comparing these rate constants with those expected on the basis of a linear free-energy relationship obtained with a series of standard compounds, the micro-environment can be defined for a particular amino group. 2. The method consists of treating a protein and an internal standard with a limiting amount of radioactive reagent and then with an excess of unlabelled reagent to yield a chemically homogeneous but heterogeneously labelled compound. After appropriate enzymic digestion peptides containing each labelled group are isolated and their rates of reaction, relative to the internal standard, are determined from their specific radioactivities. The entire procedure is repeated at several pH values. 3. When the method was applied to the amino groups of porcine elastase by using tritiated acetic anhydride as the labelling reagent, the N-terminus was found to have pKa 9.7 and a much lower than normal reactivity. Lysine-87 and lysine-224 were found to have pKa 10.3 and normal reactivities. At pH values greater than 10.5 there are discontinuities in all the titration curves, indicating that the entire molecule is undergoing a structural reorganization.
Protein synthesis by brain-cortex mitochondria. Characterization of a 55S mitochondrial ribosome as the functional unit in protein synthesis by cortex mitochondria and its distinction from a contaminant cytoplasmic protein-synthesizing system
Authors: Hernandez A. , Burdett I. , Work T. S.
Published: August 2015

Homogenates of rat brain cortex were fractionated by conventional methods of velocity sedimentation and separated into a microsomal and a washed mitochondrial fraction. By electron microscopy the mitochondrial fraction was shown to be rich in synaptosomes. The mitochondria–synaptosome fraction synthesized protein in vitro by a route that was partially inhibited by cycloheximide and partly by chloramphenicol. The relative effectiveness of the two inhibitors varied greatly with the medium used. In the mitochondria–synaptosome fraction active 80S cytoplasmic ribosomes and active 55S mitochondrial ribosomes were detected; these were also seen in the electron microscope. Mild osmotic shock of the mitochondria–synaptosome fraction followed by velocity sedimentation in sucrose–EDTA allowed isolation of a mitochondrial fraction free of synaptosomes. Protein synthesis in this fraction was entirely inhibited by chloramphenicol, but was completely resistant to cycloheximide both in a medium promoting oxidative phosphorylation and in ATP-generating medium. Ouabain had no inhibitory effect on protein synthesis in a purified mitochondrial preparation. It is concluded that brain-cortex mitochondria synthesize protein entirely on 55S mitochondrial ribosomes.
Induction of cyst coat protein synthesis by starvation in the ciliate Colpoda steinii
Authors: Tibbs J.
Published: August 2015

1. At 28°C, synthesis of protein cyst coat in ciliates of Colpoda steinii is induced by washing with water and, as judged by glutamic acid assays and incorporation studies with l-[U-14C]leucine, starts about 30min after the cells have stopped swimming and is largely complete 90min later. During this time up to 70% of the protein synthesized by the cell is coat protein. 2. When cells were placed in l-[U-14C]leucine at low concentrations (0.25–0.76mm) during the period of coat synthesis there was no lag in uptake. Only a small proportion of the leucine incorporated into the coat was from the external substrate, implying that the rate of radioactive isotope incorporation measured the rate of transport of amino acid into the cell. Transport of l-[U-14C]leucine into the cell was markedly stimulated by l-glutamic acid and l-lysine. 3. When cells were placed in l-[U-14C]leucine at high concentrations (38mm) the rate of incorporation was considered to measure the rate of protein synthesis, but because the latter may have been affected by substrate it is concluded that such measurements are of doubtful value.
Mechanism of inhibition of microsomal mixed-function oxidation by the gut-contents inhibitor of the southern armyworm (Prodenia eridania)
Authors: Orrenius S. , Berggren M. , Moldéus P. , Krieger R. I.
Published: August 2015

A potent inhibitor of microsomal mixed-function oxidation reactions in insects had previously been isolated and partially purified from the gut contents of Prodenia eridania and shown to be associated with proteinase activity. Incubation of rat liver microsomal fraction with low concentrations of this inhibitor led to solubilization of NADPH–cytochrome c reductase, which was paralleled by the inactivation of reduction of cytochrome P-450 by NADPH and by the inhibition of NADPH-linked benzo[3,4]pyrene hydroxylation and aminopyrine demethylation. There was little or no effect on cytochromes b5 and P-450, nor was the capacity of the latter catalyst to combine with exogenous substrates decreased. Contrary to the findings with NADPH, preincubation of microsomal fraction with the inhibitor did not cause a significant decrease in the rate of cytochrome P-450 reduction by NADH, supporting the assumption that different catalysts are involved in the electron transfer from NADH and NADPH to cytochrome P-450. The findings indicate the importance of taking the possible presence of endogenous inhibitors into consideration when evaluating low or absent mixed-function oxidation activities found in insect systems in vitro.
Lipoxygenase from potato tubers. Partial purification and properties of an enzyme that specifically oxygenates the 9-position of linoleic acid
Authors: Galliard T. , Phillips D. R.
Published: August 2015

A lipoxygenase (EC 1.13.1.13) was partially purified from potato tubers and was shown to differ from previously characterized soya-bean lipoxygenases in the positional specificity and pH characteristics of the oxygenation reaction. The potato enzyme converted linoleic acid almost exclusively (95%) into 9-d-hydroperoxyoctadeca-trans-10,cis-12-dienoic acid. The 13-hydroperoxy isomer was only a minor product (5%). Linolenic acid was an equally effective substrate, which was also oxygenated specifically at the 9-position. The enzyme had a pH optimum at 5.5–6.0 and was inactive at pH9.0. A half-maximal velocity was obtained at a linoleic acid concentration of 0.1mm. No inhibition was observed with EDTA (1mm) and cyanide (1mm) or with p-chloromercuribenzoate (0.2mm). Haemoproteins were not involved in the lipoxygenase activity. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated from gel filtration to be approx. 105. Preliminary evidence suggested that the enzyme oxygenated the n–10 position of fatty acids containing a penta(n–3, n–6)diene structure.
The wall teichoic acids of Lactobacillus plantarum N.I.R.D. C106. Location of the phosphodiester groups and separation of the chains
Authors: Archibald A. R. , Coapes Hilary E.
Published: August 2015

1. The identities of the component glycerol glucosides of the wall teichoic acids of Lactobacillus plantarum N.I.R.D. C106 have been confirmed by methylation analysis. These glucosides are α-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→1)-l-glycerol, α-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→1)-l-glycerol and α-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→1)-l-glycerol. 2. These units are connected by phosphodiester groups attached to the 3(l)-hydroxyl group of glycerol and the 6-hydroxyl group of the non-reducing terminal glucose residues in the adjacent unit. 3. Concanavalin A forms a precipitate with the teichoic acid and the material so precipitated contains only the α-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-d-glucopyranosyl -(1→1)-l-glycerol component. This unit is therefore present in a homogeneous polymer so that the teichoic acid is a mixture of this and of other possibly homogeneous chains containing the other two components.