bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fatty acid signals in Bacillus megaterium are attenuated by cytochromeP-450-mediated hydroxylation
Authors: ENGLISH Neil , PALMER N. A. Colin , ALWORTH L. William , KANG Lan , HUGHES Valerie , WOLF C. Roland
Published: August 2015

In previous publications [English, Hughes and Wolf (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 26836-26841; English, Hughes and Wolf (1996) Biochem. J. 316, 279-283], we have demonstrated that peroxisome proliferators and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are inducers of the cytochrome P-450BM-3 gene in Bacillus megaterium ATCC14581. Their mechanism of action involves binding to and subsequent displacement of the transcriptional repressor, Bm3R1, from its operator site, which results in the activation of cytochrome P-450BM-3 gene transcription. We now present evidence that the branched-chain fatty acid, phytanic acid, is a potent inducer of cytochrome P-450BM-3. We have also observed that phytanic acid and peroxisome proliferators are inducers of Bm3R1 protein accumulation and associated DNA-binding activity. In contrast, several barbiturates, although capable of inducing cytochrome P-450BM-3 and Bm3R1 gene transcription, were unable to induce the Bm3R1 protein. We also demonstrate that cytochrome P-450BM-3 readily oxidizes phytanic acid, and provide evidence that, although the ω-1 hydroxy acid derivatives of phytanic acid can associate with Bm3R1, they do so with an affinity two orders of magnitude lower than the unmodified fatty acid. As a consequence, the ability of the hydroxylated product to induce cytochrome P-450BM-3 gene expression in vivo is markedly reduced. These data collectively suggest that metabolism of fatty acids by cytochrome P-450BM-3 leads to an attenuation of their ability to activate the transcription of the BM-3 operon. This work places the action of bacterial fatty acid hydroxylases in an autoregulatory loop where they may be responsible for the inactivation or clearance of the inducing fatty acid signal.
Phosphorylation of erythropoietin receptors in the endoplasmic reticulum by pervanadate-mediated inhibition of tyrosine phosphatases
Authors: COHEN Jacob , ALTARATZ Hanna , ZICK Yehiel , KLINGMÜLLER Ursula , NEUMANN Drorit
Published: August 2015

Erythropoietin (EPO) is the major hormone regulating the proliferation of erythroid precursors and their differentiation into erythrocytes. Ligand binding to the erythropoietin receptor (EPO-R), a member of the cytokine receptor family, triggers Tyr phosphorylation of the surface form of the receptor, presumably mediated by the Janus kinase (JAK) 2. To study whether non-surface EPO-R can be phosphorylated, Ba/F3 cells stably transfected with EPO-R were treated with pervanadate (PV), which is widely used as a potent tool to inhibit cellular protein Tyr phosphatases, thus resulting in enhanced Tyr phosphorylation of cellular proteins. PV treatment caused the EPO-R to undergo Tyr phosphorylation in a time-dependent and dose-dependent manner. PV-mediated Tyr phosphorylation of EPO-R occurred at several intracellular sites including the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), because both endoglycosidase H (endo H)-resistant EPO-R and the ER-retained EPO-R mutant (ΔWS1 EPO-R) were Tyr phosphorylated in response to PV. Moreover, in metabolic labelling experiments, endo H-sensitive EPO-R was also phosphorylated. The phosphorylated fraction accounted for only 30-50% of the newly synthesized EPO-R, the fraction that normally exits from the ER. Tyr phosphorylation could not be detected on proteolytic fragments of the EPO-R, suggesting that this is a highly regulated process. Unlike the wild-type (wt) EPO-R, which was phosphorylated both on EPO binding and after inhibition of Tyr phosphatases by PV treatment, an EPO-R mutant (W282R EPO-R) that does not activate JAK2 was phosphorylated after PV treatment but not by EPO binding. Both EPO-R and JAK2 were phosphorylated with similar kinetics by PV treatment, suggesting that JAK2, as well as protein Tyr kinases different from JAK2, might mediate PV-dependent EPO-R phosphorylation. Furthermore the Tyr-phosphorylated ER-retained EPO-R mutant ΔWS1 co-immunoprecipitated with JAK2 kinase, indicating that the EPO-R might interact with JAK2 while in the ER.
Recombinant expression of rat glycine N-methyltransferase and evidence for contribution of N-terminal acetylation to co-operative binding of S-adenosylmethionine
Authors: OGAWA Hirofumi , GOMI Tomoharu , TAKATA Yoshimi , DATE Takayasu , FUJIOKA Motoji
Published: August 2015

An expression vector was constructed that produced rat glycine N-methyltransferase in Escherichia coli. Recombinant glycine N-methyltransferase was purified to homogeneity by DEAE-cellulose and gel-filtration chromatography, with a yield of more than 80 mg of pure enzyme from a 1 litre culture. HPLC of tryptic peptides and analysis of isolated peptides showed that the recombinant enzyme was structurally identical with the liver enzyme except for the absence of N-terminal blocking. The α-amino group of rat glycine N-methyltransferase is blocked by acetylation [Ogawa, Konishi, Takata, Nakashima and Fujioka (1987) Eur. J. Biochem. 168, 141-151]. In contrast with the liver enzyme, which shows sigmoidal kinetics toward S-adenosylmethionine at all pH values tested [Ogawa and Fujioka (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 3447-3452], the recombinant enzyme exhibited hyperbolic kinetics at low pH and sigmoidal rate behaviour at high pH. The Hill coefficient increased with increasing pH and a pKa of 8.11 was obtained in this transition. The values of Vmax and Km for glycine were not different between the two enzymes. These results suggest that elimination of the positive charge at the N-terminal end either by acetylation or deprotonation is required for co-operative behaviour.
Lipoprotein lipase activity in rat cardiomyocytes is stimulated by insulin and dexamethasone
Authors: EWART H. Stephen , CARROLL Rogayah , SEVERSON L. David
Published: August 2015

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity was studied in rat cardiomyocytes after overnight culture (16 h) in the presence of insulin (100 nM) and/or dexamethasone (100 nM). Insulin in combination with dexamethasone (INS/DEX) increased heparin-releasable LPL activity by 71% over the control level (566±85 versus 331±48 nmol/h·mg cell protein). This was accompanied by a 61% increase in total cellular LPL activity (914±89 versus 567±64 nmol/h·mg cell protein). The increase in LPL activity occurred at sub-nanomolar concentrations of the hormones, but neither hormone was effective alone. LPL protein mass, quantified by ELISA, was the same in both control and INS/DEX-treated cells (27.7 versus 28.6 ng/mg cell protein, respectively), thus LPL specific activity in cardiomyocytes was increased by INS/DEX treatment (0.113 versus 0.069 mU/ng LPL protein). These findings emphasize the importance of hormonal interactions in the regulation of LPL in heart tissue.
Engineering the substrate specificity of Bacillus megaterium cytochrome P-450 BM3: hydroxylation of alkyl trimethylammonium compounds
Authors: OLIVER F. Catherine , MODI Sandeep , PRIMROSE U. William , LIAN Lu-Yun , ROBERTS C. K. Gordon
Published: August 2015

Oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis has been used to replace arginine-47 with glutamate in cytochrome P-450 BM3 from Bacillus megaterium and in its haem domain. The mutant has been characterized by sequencing, mass spectrometry, steady-state kinetics and by optical and NMR measurements of substrate binding. The mutant retains significant catalytic activity towards C12-C16 fatty acids, catalysing hydroxylation in the same (ω-1, ω-2, ω-3) positions with kcat/Km values a factor of 14-21 lower. C12-C16 alkyl trimethylammonium compounds are relatively poor substrates for the wild-type enzyme, but are efficiently hydroxylated by the arginine-47 → glutamate mutant at the ω-1, ω-2 and ω-3 positions, with kcat values of up to 19 s-1. Optical spectroscopy shows that the binding of the C14 and C16 alkyl trimethylammonium compounds to the mutant is similar to that of the corresponding fatty acids to the wild-type enzyme. Paramagnetic relaxation measurements show that laurate binds to the ferric state of the mutant in a significantly different position, 1.5 Å closer to the iron, than seen in the wild-type, although this difference is much smaller (~ 0.2 Å) in the ferrous state of the complex. The binding of a substrate having the same charge as residue 47 to the ferric state of the enzyme is roughly ten times weaker than that of a substrate having the opposite charge (and thus is able to make an ion-pair interaction with this residue). The results are discussed in the light of the three-dimensional structure of the enzyme.
Cloning and characterization of a complementary DNA for a thyroid hormone-responsive protein in mature rat cerebral tissue
Authors: SHAH N. Gul , LI Jianping , SCHNEIDERJOHN Patricia , MOORADIAN D. Arshag
Published: August 2015

A gene responsive to thyroid hormone (TH) has been identified in the adult rat brain cerebral tissue. A cDNA probe differentially expressed in euthyroid, hypothyroid and hyperthyroid rat cerebral tissue, generated by reverse transcriptase-PCR differential display of mRNA, was used to screen the rat brain cDNA library. A 3.4 kb positive clone hybridized in Northern blots with a 3.8 kb mRNA that proved to be TH responsive (THR). The remaining coding sequence and a part of the 5ʹ untranslated region of this cDNA were obtained by 5ʹ rapid amplification of cDNA ends. The deduced amino acid sequence revealed that THR protein (THRP), a 68 kDa moiety, has 83% sequence similarity with c-Abl interactor protein (Abi-2), which is a substrate for tyrosine kinase activity of c-Abl. The extensive similarity between the two proteins suggests a potential role for THRP as a substrate for c-Abl. Northern analysis showed that the expression of THR mRNA in hyperthyroid rats is 6-fold that in euthyroid rats. There is also a 4-6-fold increase in the concentration of THRP, as analysed by Western analysis. Owing to the extensive similarity between rat THRP and human Abi-2, a polyclonal anti- (human Abi-2) antibody was successfully used for Western analysis of proteins from the rat tissues. The observed increase in both the mRNA and the protein did not decline after β-adrenergic system blockade with propranolol, suggesting that the action of TH on the expression of this gene is not mediated through the β-adrenergic system. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that neuronal cells were particularly rich in THRP. Both THR mRNA and THRP are rapidly induced in vivo after intravenous administration of thyroxine. Tissue distribution studies indicated that the cerebral tissue was particularly enriched with THR mRNA and 68 kDa THRP. A cDNA clone for a THR gene could provide a useful tool to study the molecular mechanisms of TH effects on cerebral tissue in adult animals.
14-3-3 Proteins interact with the insulin-like growth factor receptor but not the insulin receptor1
Authors: FURLANETTO W. Richard , DEY R. Bhakta , LOPACZYNSKI Wiodzimierz , NISSLEY S. Peter
Published: August 2015

We have used a yeast two-hybrid system to identify proteins which bind to the cytosolic portion of the type 1 insulin-like growth factor (IGF) receptor (IGFIR) but not the insulin receptor (IR). This analysis identified 14-3-3β and ζ proteins. 14-3-3β also binds to the IGFIR but not the IR in vitro and 14-3-3-IGFIR complexes are present in insect cells overexpressing the IGFIR cytoplasmic domain. 14-3-3 proteins are substrates of the IGFIR in the yeast system and in vitro. The interaction of 14-3-3 with the IGFIR requires receptor-kinase activity and maps to the C-terminus of the receptor, but does not depend on tyrosine residues in this or the juxtamembrane regions. Instead, the binding maps to serine residue 1283 and requires phosphorylation of this residue. 14-3-3 proteins are phosphoserine-binding proteins which have been shown to interact directly with components of the mitogenic and apoptotic signalling pathways, suggesting that they participate in growth regulation. Our findings suggest that 14-3-3 proteins may play a role in IGFIR signal transduction and may contribute to the differences in IGF and IR signalling capabilities.
Uncoupling of Ca2+ transport ATPase in muscle and blood platelets by diacylglycerol analogues and cyclosporin A antagonism
Authors: CARDOSO M. Cristiana , RUMJANEK M. Vivian , MEIS Leopoldo DE
Published: August 2015

The possibility that diacylglycerol analogues might have a wider spectrum of intracellular targets than the well-known protein kinase C was investigated with vesicles containing the Ca2+-ATPase derived from the dense tubular system in platelets and from the sarcoplasmic reticulum of skeletal muscle. The diacylglycerol analogues PMA and 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-rac-glycerol (OAG) inhibited Ca2+ accumulation by these vesicles, an effect that was antagonized by cyclosporin A. The inhibitory activity of PMA and OAG resulted from the uncoupling of the Ca2+-ATPase, characterized by a pronounced inhibition of Ca2+ uptake accompanied by a discrete decrease in ATPase activity and by the inhibition of the enzyme's phosphorylation by Pi, leading to both a decrease in ATP synthesis and an enhancement of Ca2+ efflux. The inhibition of Ca2+ uptake by PMA was found to decrease as the Ca2+ concentration in the medium was raised from 0.1 to 10.0 μM. This was observed with muscle, but not with platelet vesicles. In contrast, the ability of cyclosporin A to antagonize the inhibition of Ca2+ uptake by PMA also increased when the Ca2+ concentration in the medium was raised from 0.1 to 10.0 μM, but this was observed with both muscle and platelet vesicles. The fact that phospholipase C activity and products from the inositol metabolism have been described as localized in regions of the sarcoplasmic reticulum where Ca2+-ATPase and Ca2+ channels are found suggests a possible physiological role for these products in the regulation of cytosolic Ca2+ levels.
The 46 kDa mannose-6-phosphate receptor contains a signal for basolateral sorting within the 19 juxtamembrane cytosolic residues
Authors: BRESCIANI Roberto , DENZER Kristin , POHLMANN Regina , FIGURA Kurt VON
Published: August 2015

The cytosolic domain of the 46 kDa mannose-6-phosphate receptor (MPR 46) contains a signal that mediates sorting of the receptor and of a reporter protein to the basolateral surface domain of Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. Progressive truncation of the 67 cytosolic residues indicated that the 19 juxtamembrane residues are sufficient for basolateral sorting. Alanine/glycine-scanning mutagenesis identified Glu-11 and Ala-17 as the critical residues between residues 7 and 19. Glu-11 is also of critical importance for the one of the three internalization signals in the cytosolic tail of the receptor [Denzer, Weber, Hille-Rehfeld, von Figura and Pohlmann (1997) Biochem. J. 326, 497-505]. Although overlapping, the signals for basolateral sorting and internalization depend on different residues. The basolateral sorting signal of MPR 46 is distinct from tyrosine- or dileucine-based basolateral sorting signals and also lacks similarity to the few other basolateral signals that do not fall into these two classes.
RNA minihelices as model substrates for ATP/CTP:tRNA nucleotidyltransferase
Authors: LI Zengji , SUN Yue , THURLOW L. David
Published: August 2015

Twenty-one RNA minihelices, resembling the coaxially stacked acceptor- /T-stems and T-loop found along the top of a tRNA's three-dimensional structure, were synthesized and used as substrates for ATP/CTP:tRNA nucleotidyltransferases from Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The sequence of nucleotides in the loop varied at positions corresponding to residues 56, 57 and 58 in the T-loop of a tRNA. All minihelices were substrates for both enzymes, and the identity of bases in the loop affected the interaction. In general, RNAs with purines in the loop were better substrates than those with pyrimidines, although no single base identity absolutely determined the effectiveness of the RNA as substrate. RNAs lacking bases near the 5ʹ-end were good substrates for the E. coli enzyme, but were poor substrates for that from yeast. The apparent Km values for selected minihelices were 2-3 times that for natural tRNA, and values for apparent Vmax were lowered 5-10-fold.
Purification of Escherichia coli acetohydroxyacid synthase isoenzyme II and reconstitution of active enzyme from its individual pure subunits
Authors: HILL M. Craig , PANG Siew Siew , DUGGLEBY G. Ronald
Published: August 2015

The first step in the biosynthesis of branched-chain amino acids is catalysed by acetohydroxyacid synthase (EC 4.1.3.18). The reaction involves the decarboxylation of pyruvate followed by condensation with either a second molecule of pyruvate or with 2-oxobutyrate. The enzyme requires as cofactors thiamine diphosphate, a divalent metal ion and, usually, FAD. In most bacteria the enzyme is a heterotetramer of two large and two small subunits. Escherichia coli contains three active isoenzymes and the present study concerns isoenzyme II, whose large and small subunits are encoded by the ilvG and ilvM genes respectively. Cloning these genes into a plasmid vector and overexpression in E. coli allowed a two-step purification procedure for the native enzyme to be developed. The level of expression is considerably higher from a vector that introduces a 50 residue N-terminal fusion containing an oligohistidine sequence on the large subunit. Purification to homogeneity was achieved in a single step by immobilized-metal-affinity chromatography. The kinetic properties of the native and fusion enzyme are indistinguishable with respect to the substrate pyruvate and the inhibitor chlorsulfuron. The individual subunits were expressed as oligohistidine-tagged fusion proteins and each was purified in a single step. Neither subunit alone has significant enzymic activity but, on mixing, the enzyme is reconstituted. The kinetic properties of the reconstituted enzyme are very similar to those of the fusion enzyme. It is proposed that the reconstitution pathway involves successive, and highly co-operative, binding of two small subunit monomers to a large subunit dimer. None of the cofactors is needed for subunit association although they are necessary for the restoration of enzymic activity.
Protein kinase C-dependent and Ca2+-dependent mechanisms of secretion from streptolysin O-permeabilized platelets: effects of leakage of cytosolic proteins
Authors: SLOAN C. Denis , HASLAM J. Richard
Published: August 2015

Human platelets containing dense granules labelled with 5-hydroxy[14C]tryptamine ([14C]5-HT) were permeabilized by exposure to streptolysin O (SLO) in the presence of 4 mM [γ-32P]ATP. Addition of either 100 nM phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or of Ca2+ (pCa 5) at the same time as SLO induced secretion of dense-granule [14C]5-HT and the phosphorylation of pleckstrin by protein kinase C (PKC). Ca2+ also induced phosphorylation of myosin P-light chains. Guanosine 5ʹ-[γ-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S], 100 μM) did not stimulate secretion from SLO-permeabilized platelets in the absence of Ca2+ (pCa > 9), but greatly potentiated secretion in the presence of low PMA (10 nM) or low Ca2+ (pCa 6). However, GTP[S] did stimulate myosin P-light-chain phosphorylation in the absence of Ca2+, an effect that was associated with morphological changes, including granule centralization. Inhibition of PKC and of pleckstrin phosphorylation by Ro 31-8220 blocked secretion induced by PMA or by GTP[S] and PMA in the absence of Ca2+, but did not prevent the GTP[S]-induced phosphorylation of myosin P-light chains or secretion induced by Ca2+ at pCa 5. When the time period between exposure of platelets to SLO and challenge at pCa > 9 with PMA or with GTP[S] and PMA was increased, there were rapid and parallel decreases in the secretion and pleckstrin phosphorylation responses, which were lost after 3-5 min. In contrast, the responsiveness of secretion to Ca2+ (pCa 5) or to GTP[S] and Ca2+ (pCa 6) persisted for at least 10 min after exposure of platelets to SLO, although the ability of pleckstrin to undergo phosphorylation was still lost after 3-5 min. Both PKC and pleckstrin were undetectable within platelets after 5 min exposure to SLO. The results suggest that the loss of responsiveness to PMA or to GTP[S] and PMA is attributable to the leakage of PKC (and possibly pleckstrin) from the platelets, whereas secretion stimulated by Ca2+ or by GTP[S] and Ca2+ utilizes membrane-associated Ca2+- and GTP-binding proteins and occurs independently of PKC activation.
Cloning and overexpression of rat kidney biliverdin IXα reductase as a fusion protein with glutathione S-transferase: stereochemistry of NADH oxidation and evidence that the presence of the glutathione S-transferase domain does not effect BVR-A activity
Authors: ENNIS Orla , MAYTUM Robin , MANTLE J. Timothy
Published: August 2015

Native biliverdin IXα reductase (BVR-A) is a monomer of molecular mass 34 kDa. We have developed an expression vector that allows the isolation of 40 mg of a glutathione S-transferase (GST)-BVR-A fusion protein from 1 litre of culture. The fusion protein (60 kDa) behaves as a dimer on gel filtration (120 kDa), so that we have artificially created a BVR-A dimer. The recombinant rat kidney enzyme exhibits pre-steady-state ‘burst’ kinetics that show a pH dependence similar to that already described for ox kidney BVR-A. Similar behaviour was obtained in the presence and absence of the GST domain both for the burst kinetics and during initial-rate studies in the presence and absence of albumin. The stereospecificity of the BVR-A-catalysed oxidation of [4-3H]NADH, labelled at the A and B faces, was shown to occur exclusively via the B face.
Recombinant two-iron rubredoxin of Pseudomonas oleovorans: overexpression, purification and characterization by optical, CD and 113Cd NMR spectroscopies
Authors: LEE Ho Joon , LIAN Lu-Yun , SCRUTTON S. Nigel
Published: August 2015

The gene (alk G) encoding the two-iron rubredoxin of Pseudomonas oleovorans was amplified from genomic DNA by PCR and subcloned into the expression vector pKK223-3. The vector directed the high-level production of rubredoxin in Escherichia coli. A simple three-step procedure was used to purify recombinant rubredoxin in the 1Fe form. 1Fe-rubredoxin was readily converted to the 2Fe, apoprotein and cadmium forms after precipitation with trichloroacetic acid and resolubilization in the presence or absence of ferrous ammonium sulphate or CdCl2 respectively. Recombinant 1Fe and 2Fe rubredoxins are redox-active and able to transfer electrons from reduced spinach ferredoxin reductase to cytochrome c. The absorption spectrum and dichroic features of the CD spectrum for the cadmium-substituted protein are similar to those reported for cadmium-substituted Desulfovibrio gigas rubredoxin [Henehan, Poutney, Zerbe and Vasak (1993) Protein Sci. 2, 1756-1764]. Difference absorption spectroscopy of cadmium-substituted rubredoxin revealed the presence of four Gaussian-resolved maxima at 207, 228, 241 and 280 nm; the 241 nm band is attributable, from J⊘rgensen's electronegativity theory, to a CysS-CdII charge-transfer excitation. The 113Cd NMR spectrum of the 113Cd-substituted rubredoxin contains two 113Cd resonances with chemical shifts located at 732.3 and 730 p.p.m. The broader linewidth and high frequency shift of the resonance at 730 p.p.m. indicates that the Cd2+ ion is undergoing chemical exchange and, consistent with the difference absorption spectra, is bound less tightly than the Cd2+ ion, giving rise to the chemical shift at 732.3 p.p.m.
Species-specific alternative splicing generates a catalytically inactive form of human hormone-sensitive lipase
Authors: LAURELL Henrik , GROBER Jacques , VINDIS Cécile , LACOMBE Thierry , DAUZATS Michèle , HOLM Cecilia , LANGIN Dominique
Published: August 2015

Hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) catalyses the rate-limiting step of adipose tissue lipolysis. The enzyme is also expressed in steroidogenic tissues, mammary gland, muscle tissues and macrophages. A novel HSL mRNA termed hHSL-S, 228 bp shorter than the full-length HSL mRNA, was detected in human adipocytes. hHSL-S mRNA results from the in-frame skipping of exon 6, which encodes the serine residue of the catalytic triad. The corresponding 80 kDa protein was identified in human adipocytes after immunoprecipitation. The truncated protein expressed in COS cells showed neither lipase nor esterase activity but was phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase. hHSL-S mRNA was found in all human tissues expressing HSL, except brown adipose tissue from newborns. It represented approx. 20% of total HSL transcripts in human subcutaneous adipocytes. No alternative splicing was detected in other mammals. Human and mouse three-exon HSL minigenes transfected into primate and rodent cell lines reproduced the splicing pattern of the endogenous HSL genes. Analysis of hybrid human/mouse minigenes transfected into human cell lines showed that cis-acting elements responsible for the skipping of human exon 6 were restricted to a 247 bp region including exon 6 and the first 19 nt of intron 6. Moreover, divergence in exonic splicing elements between mouse and human was shown to be critical for the species-specific alternative splicing.
Thioredoxin from Bacillus acidocaldarius: characterization, high-level expression in Escherichia coli and molecular modelling
Authors: BARTOLUCCI Simonetta , GUAGLIARDI Annamaria , PEDONE Emilia , PASCALE Donatella DE , CANNIO Raffaele , CAMARDELLA Laura , ROSSI Mosè , NICASTRO Giuseppe , CHIARA Cesira de , FACCI Paolo , MASCETTI Giancarlo , NICOLINI Claudio
Published: August 2015

The thioredoxin (Trx) from Bacillus acidocaldarius (BacTrx) was purified to homogeneity by anion-exchange chromatography and gel-filtration chromatography, based on its ability to catalyse the dithiothreitol-dependent reduction of bovine insulin disulphides. The protein has a molecular mass of 11577 Da, determined by electrospray mass spectrometry, a pI of 4.2, and its primary structure was obtained by automated Edman degradation after cleavage with trypsin and cyanogen bromide. The sequences of known bacterial Trxs were aligned at the active site: BacTrx has an identity ranging from 45 to 53% with all sequences except that of the unusual Anabaena strain 7120 Trx (37% identity). The gene coding for BacTrx was isolated by a strategy based on PCR gene amplification and cloned in a plasmid downstream of a lac-derived promoter sequence; the recombinant clone was used as the expression vector for Escherichia coli. The expression was optimized by varying both the time of cell growth and the time of exposure to the inducer isopropyl β-D-thiogalactoside; expressed BacTrx represents approx. 5% of the total cytosolic protein. CD spectra and differential scanning calorimetry measurements demonstrated that BacTrx is endowed with a higher conformational heat stability than the Trx from E. coli. Nanogravimetry experiments showed a lower content of bound water in BacTrx than in E. coli Trx, and a transition temperature approx. 10 °C higher for BacTrx. The three-dimensional model of the oxidized form of BacTrx was constructed by a comparative molecular modelling technique, using E. coli Trx and Anabaena strain 7120 Trx as reference proteins. Increased networks of ion-pairs and shorter loops emerged as major features of the BacTrx structure compared with those of the template proteins. The findings are discussed in the light of the current knowledge about molecular determinants of protein stability.
Detection of free radicals produced from the reaction of cytochrome P-450 with linoleic acid hydroperoxide
Authors: ROTA Cristina , BARR P. David , MARTIN V. Martha , GUENGERICH F. Peter , TOMASI Aldo , MASON P. Ronald
Published: August 2015

The ESR spin-trapping technique was employed to investigate the reaction of rabbit cytochrome P-450 1A2 (P450) with linoleic acid hydroperoxide. This system was compared with chemical systems where FeSO4 or FeCl3 was used in place of P450. The spin trap 5,5ʹ-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) was employed to detect and identify radical species. The DMPO adducts of hydroxyl, O2-•, peroxyl, methyl and acyl radicals were detected in the P450 system. The reaction did not require NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase or NADPH. The same DMPO-radical adducts were detected in the FeSO4 system. Only DMPO-•OH radical adduct and carbon-centred radical adducts were detected in the FeCl3 system. Peroxyl radical production was completely O2-dependent. We propose that polyunsaturated fatty acids are initially reduced to form alkoxyl radicals, which then undergo intramolecular rearrangement to form epoxyalkyl radicals. Each epoxyalkyl radical reacts with O2, forming a peroxyl radical. Subsequent unimolecular decomposition of this peroxyl radical eliminates O2-• radical.
Phosphorylation of complement component C3 after synthesis in U937 cells by a putative protein kinase, casein kinase 2, which is regulated by CD11b: evidence that membrane-bound proteases preferentially cleave phosphorylated C3
Authors: EKDAHL Kristina NILSSON , NILSSON Bo
Published: August 2015

It was our aim in this study to investigate the possibility that the third component of complement (C3) is phosphorylated during synthesis and secretion in U937 cells. Labelling of U937 cells with [32P]Pi, followed by immunoprecipitation of C3 from cell lysates and culture supernatants at different time points, showed that C3 was phosphorylated intracellularly immediately before release into the medium, which initiated cleavage of the protein into an iC3b-like fragment. Stimulation of CD11b/CD18 increased phosphorylation 7-fold, from a basal level of 2%. The phosphorylation sites in C3 did not resemble those described previously for casein kinase (CK) 1, cAMP-dependent protein kinase A or calcium- and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C. Instead, protein kinase CK2 was suggested inasmuch as: (1) CK2 was detected both on the cell surface and on shed microparticles; (2) phosphorylation of purified C3 by microparticles was abolished by a monoclonal antibody, anti-CK2; (3) the [32P]Pi tag of both phosphorylated C3 (secreted from U937 cells) and of microparticle-phosphorylated C3, which was cleaved either by membrane proteases or by leucocyte elastase, was found in a 40 and a 70 kDa polypeptide; (4) both secreted C3 and C3 phosphorylated in vitro were much more susceptible to cleavage by proteases. Generation of C3 fragments provides a means by which U937 cells can stimulate nearby cells which are expressing complement receptors. The present study demonstrates that the cleavage of C3 is controlled by an intracellular phosphorylation event regulated by CD11b/CD18.
Molecular cloning, characterization and localization of PfPK4, an eIF-2α kinase-related enzyme from the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum
Authors: MÖHRLE Jörg J. , ZHAO Yi , WERNLI Barbara , FRANKLIN M. Richard , KAPPES Barbara
Published: August 2015

PfPK4, a protein kinase gene from the human malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum, has been cloned utilizing oligonucleotide probing. The gene encodes a protein of a predicted length of 1123 amino acids, and within this amino acid sequence all the conserved regions characteristic of protein kinases can be identified. The catalytic kinase domain possesses highest identities (34-37%) with eukaryotic initiation factor-2α (eIF-2α) kinases, especially haem-regulated inhibitory (HRI) protein kinases. There are two kinase inserts in PfPK4, located at positions common to eIF-2α kinases. The first insert separates kinase subdomains IV and VI by 559 amino acids, and the second subdomains VII and VIII by 41 amino acids. Both inserts are larger than their homologues in eIF-2α kinases. The sequence of PfPK4 has one putative haemin-binding site. The recombinant protein, expressed in Escherichia coli, phosphorylates a synthetic peptide representing a substrate of eIF-2α kinases. Autophosphorylation and substrate phosphorylation are inhibited by haemin. Thus PfPK4 appears to be the first protozoan protein kinase related to eIF-2α kinases and might be the first non-mammalian HRI kinase. Western blots indicated that the protein is expressed as major forms of 80 and 90 kDa. Whereas the 80 kDa form is present throughout the intraerythrocytic development and in merozoites, the two 90 kDa forms are only found in mature parasites. One of the latter is also present in the membrane fraction of erythrocytes harbouring segmenters. Confocal microscopy detected the protein distributed throughout the trophozoite, whereas it was found in discrete foci (punctate distribution) in segmenters. PfPK4 co-localizes with P. falciparum 83 kDa antigen/apical membrane antigen-1 at the apical complex in segmenters and merozoites, but does not co-localize with rhoptry-associated protein-1.
Dependence of the anti-chaperone activity of protein disulphide isomerase on its chaperone activity
Authors: SONG Jiu-li , QUAN Hui , WANG Chih-chen
Published: August 2015

Protein disulphide isomerase (PDI) shows chaperone and anti-chaperone activities in assisting refolding of denatured and reduced lysozyme in redox Hepes buffer, but only chaperone activity in phosphate buffer and redox Hepes buffer containing 0.1 M NaCl. In non-redox Hepes buffer its anti-chaperone activity is very weak. PDI displays its anti-chaperone activity only for those substrates showing relatively low aggregation during refolding, and is strongly dependent on refolding conditions, of which ionic strength appears to be an important factor. The S-methylated PDI, fully active as a chaperone but devoid of isomerase activity, by itself shows only anti-chaperone activity, but reinforces rather than suppresses the chaperone activity of native PDI in the refolding of lysozyme. A fragment of PDI with the C-terminal peptide-binding sequence removed and devoid of chaperone activity does not show anti-chaperone activity in lysozyme refolding. It appears that the anti-chaperone activity of PDI is dependent on its chaperone activity.
Role of non-compatible osmolytes in the stabilization of proteins during heat stress
Authors: RISHI Vikas , ANJUM Farah , AHMAD Faizan , PFEIL Wolfgang
Published: August 2015

This study is a systematic attempt to understand the roles of non-compatible osmolytes, i.e. solutes that have inhibitory effects on enzymes, in the stabilization of proteins against denaturing stress. Thermal denaturation of RNase A, holo-α-lactalbumin, apo-α-lactalbumin, lysozyme and metmyoglobin in the absence and presence of various concentrations of free basic amino acids was studied by observing changes in the absorption coefficients of these proteins. It has been observed that arginine and histidine destabilize all proteins in terms of the midpoint of the transition curve and Gibbs energy change on denaturation. Study of the heat-induced denaturation of the proteins in the presence of various concentrations of arginine at different pH values demonstrated that arginine binds to the denatured molecules. In contrast with the effect of arginine and histidine on protein stability, it was observed that the effect of lysine on proteins stability is unpredictable, i.e. it may have a stabilizing effect, no effect or a destabilizing effect on proteins during denaturing stress. The results of this study are considered from an evolutionary perspective.
Low toxicity of nitric oxide against endothelial cells under physiological oxygen partial pressures
Authors: IOANNIDIS Iosif , BÄTZ Michael , KORTH Michael KIRSCH Hans-Gert , SUSTMANN Reiner , GROOT Herbert DE
Published: August 2015

Cultured rat liver endothelial cells were incubated with 1 and 2 mM spermineNONOate at different O2 concentrations in the incubation atmosphere. (Z)-1-{N-[3-Aminopropyl]-N-[4-(3-aminopropylammonio)butyl]-amino}diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate (spermineNONOate), at 2 mM, was highly cytotoxic at 21% and 95% O2 (as measured by lactate dehydrogenase release); more than 80% of the cells were damaged after 6 h of incubation. Cytotoxicity induced by 2 mM spermineNONOate was significantly decreased at 10%, 5% and 0% O2; cell death was 54%, 36% and 25% respectively after 6 h of incubation. In contrast, 1 mM spermineNONOate was almost non-toxic towards the cells. Only at 95% O2 was a slight damaging effect, of 25%, observed. The nitric oxide (•NO) concentrations released from 1 and 2 mM spermineNONOate were determined as varying between 5 and 12 μM and between 12 and 22 μM respectively as measured by the oxyhaemoglobin and the NO cheletropic spin-trapping methods. The decomposition rate of spermineNONOate and the resulting •NO concentrations were independent of O2 at all applied concentrations. Likewise, the steady-state concentrations of H2O2 remained at approx. 1 nM at all O2 concentrations, as measured with the fluorescent dye scopoletin. L-Tyrosine and L-ascorbate, both of which are known to scavenge reactive nitrogen species, markedly diminished spermineNONOate-induced cytotoxicity at 95% O2. The formation of 3-nitrotyrosine, indicating the reaction of L-tyrosine with nitrogen dioxide (•NO2) and/or peroxynitrite anions, was enhanced in incubations with spermineNONOate at 21% and 95% O2. The results demonstrate that at O2 partial pressures typically found under physiological conditions and at •NO concentrations that can occur in vivo, •NO alone is almost non-toxic towards cultured rat liver endothelial cells. •NO at these concentrations in vivo, however, exerts toxic effects at supraphysiological O2 partial pressures, owing to its oxidation to reactive nitrogen species such as •NO2.
Cloning and expression of the gene for the active PPi-dependent phosphofructokinase of Entamoeba histolytica
Authors: DENG Zhihong , HUANG Min , SINGH Kuber , ALBACH A. Richard , LATSHAW P. Steven , CHANG Kwang-Poo , KEMP G. Robert
Published: August 2015

Pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinase (PPi-PFK) from Entamoeba histolytica (HM-1) was purified from trophozoites. Oligonucleotide probes based on partial amino acid sequence were used to clone and sequence the gene and the cDNA of the enzyme. The molecular mass of the subunit was greater than, and the derived sequence significantly different from, that of the product of the PPi-PFK gene previously cloned from E. histolytica [Huang, Albach, Chang, Tripathi and Kemp (1995) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1260, 215-217; Bruchhaus, Jacobs, Denart and Tannich (1996) Biochem. J. 316, 57-63]. The sequence identity between the two proteins was 17%. The sequence bore greater identity with the more phylogenetically advanced plant PPi-PFKs than with bacterial PPi-PFKs. The cloned cDNA was expressed and the protein purified. The kinetic properties were identical with those of the enzyme isolated from the organism. Furthermore, the specific activity was more than three orders of magnitude higher than that described for the product of the previously cloned E. histolytica PFK gene [Bruchhaus et al. (1996)]. The pH-dependence and apparent substrate affinities of the cloned enzyme were identical with those of the PPi-PFK in trophozoite extracts, indicating that the product of the cloned gene accounts for most if not all of the PFK activity in E. histolytica trophozoites.
Purification and characterization of N-glycanase, a concanavalin A binding protein from jackbean (Canavalia ensiformis)
Authors: SHELDON S. Philip , KEEN N. Jeffrey , BOWLES J. Dianna
Published: August 2015

Removal of the N-glycan from the concanavalin A (Con A) glycoprotein precursor is a key step in its conversion into an active lectin. N-Glycanase (EC 3.5.1.52), the enzyme from jackbean catalysing this process, has been purified to homogeneity as judged by native PAGE. One of the purification steps is binding of the enzymic activity to Con A-Sepharose and its elution by methyl α-mannoside. On SDS/PAGE the principal components were found to be 78 kDa, 74 kDa, 54 kDa, 32 kDa and 30 kDa polypeptides. These did not react with Con A on an affinity blot. Cleveland mapping indicated that some of these polypeptides had related primary structures. The enzyme has a broad pH optimum in the region of 5.0.
Mutagenesis of the aspartic acid ligands in human serum transferrin: lobe–lobe interaction and conformation as revealed by antibody, receptor-binding and iron-release studies
Authors: MASON B. Anne , HE Qing-Yu , TAM M. Beatrice , MacGILLIVRAY T. A. Ross , WOODWORTH C. Robert
Published: August 2015

Recombinant non-glycosylated human serum transferrin and mutants in which the liganding aspartic acid (D) in one or both lobes was changed to a serine residue (S) were produced in a mammalian cell system and purified from the tissue culture media. Significant downfield shifts of 20, 30, and 45 nm in the absorption maxima were found for the D63S-hTF, D392S-hTF and the double mutant, D63S/D392S-hTF when compared to wild-type hTF. A monoclonal antibody to a sequential epitope in the C-lobe of hTF reported affinity differences between the apo- and iron-forms of each mutant and the control. Cell-binding studies performed under the same buffer conditions used for the antibody work clearly showed that the mutated lobe(s) had an open cleft. It is not clear whether the receptor itself may play a role in promoting the open conformation or whether the iron remains in the cleft.
Substrate-binding domains of glycanases from Streptomyces lividans: characterization of a new family of xylan-binding domains
Authors: DUPONT Claude , ROBERGE Martin , SHARECK François , MOROSOLI Rolf , KLUEPFEL Dieter
Published: August 2015

The substrate-binding domains of six glycanases from Streptomyces lividans were investigated to determine their specificity towards cellulose and xylan. Based upon amino acid sequence similarities, four of the six domains could be assigned to existing cellulose-binding domain families. However, the binding domains of xylanase A and arabinofuranosidase B could not be classified in any of the known families and should therefore be classified as members of a new family. Evidence is also presented that this new family is one of true xylan-binding domains.
Evidence that the E4 and FE4 esterase genes responsible for insecticide resistance in the aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer) are part of a gene family
Authors: FIELD M. Linda , DEVONSHIRE L. Alan
Published: August 2015

The amplification of genes encoding the esterases E4 and FE4 is a widespread mechanism of insecticide resistance in the peach-potato aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer). We present evidence that in susceptible aphids the two genes are adjacent to each other in a head-to-tail arrangement with E4 upstream of FE4 and with approx. 19 kb of intervening sequence. There are also at least two other closely related sequences which might come from other members of an esterase gene family, in line with reports of other insect gene families encoding detoxifying enzymes. The close identity between E4 and FE4 genes indicates a recent duplication and divergence. The subsequent amplifications giving multiple copies of either E4 or FE4 must have involved two separate events, each probably occurring once and then being selected by insecticide exposure and spread by migration. The cloning of sequences upstream of the FE4 gene suggest, by comparison with E4, that the two genes are regulated in different ways. FE4 has sequences corresponding to a conventional promoter (TATA box and CAP site) that are not present in E4; on the other hand, FE4 lacks the CpG island present 5ʹ of E4 genes that may control expression through changes in DNA methylation. The differences are likely to have occurred by the duplication event that gave rise to E4 and FE4 leading to different 5ʹ sequences.
Cholecystokinin octapeptide inhibits Ca2+-dependent amylase secretion from permeabilized pancreatic acini by blocking the MgATP-dependent priming of exocytosis
Authors: PADFIELD J. Philip , PANESAR Ninder
Published: August 2015

At present little is known about how the low-affinity cholecystokinin receptor inhibits secretagogue-stimulated amylase secretion from pancreatic acinar cells. To examine this question we have determined how cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK8) influences Ca2+-dependent amylase secretion from α-toxin-permeabilized pancreatic acini. CCK8 significantly inhibited Ca2+-stimulated amylase secretion. The inhibitory actions of CCK8 were completely blocked by the addition of JMV-180, a specific antagonist for the low-affinity CCK8 receptor. Previous studies have shown that Ca2+-dependent amylase secretion from α-toxin-permeabilized acini has two distinct phases [Padfield and Panesar (1997) Am. J. Physiol. 36, G655-660]. There is an initial rapid phase of secretion which represents release from exocytotic sites primed by MgATP prior to permeabilization. This is followed by a slower sustained phase of secretion which, in part, reflects the MgATP-dependent repriming of the exocytotic machinery. CCK8 did not influence the initial rapid phase of the Ca2+-dependent secretory response, but inhibited the second slower sustained phase. Moreover, CCK8 was shown to inhibit the MgATP-dependent priming of exocytosis in the acini. These results indicate that the low-affinity CCK receptor blocks stimulated amylase secretion by inhibiting the MgATP-dependent repriming of exocytosis.
Effects of noradrenaline on the cell-surface glucose transporters in cultured brown adipocytes: novel mechanism for selective activation of GLUT1 glucose transporters
Authors: SHIMIZU Yasutake , SATOH Shinobu , YANO Hajime , MINOKOSHI Yasuhiko , CUSHMAN W. Samuel , SHIMAZU Takashi
Published: August 2015

Glucose transport into rat brown adipocytes has been shown to be stimulated directly by the sympathetic neurotransmitter, noradrenaline, without a significant increase in the protein content of either GLUT1 or GLUT4 glucose transporter in the plasma membrane [Shimizu, Kielar, Minokoshi and Shimazu (1996) Biochem. J.314, 485-490]. In the present study, we labelled the exofacial glucose-binding sites of GLUT1 and GLUT4 with a membrane-impermeant photoaffinity reagent, 2-N-[4-(1-azitrifluoroethyl)benzoyl]-[2-3H]1,3-bis-(D-mannos-4-yloxy)-2-propylamine (ATB-[3H]BMPA), to determine which isoform is responsible for the noradrenaline-induced increase in glucose transport into intact brown adipocytes in culture. Insulin stimulated the rate of hexose transport by increasing ATB-[3H]BMPA-labelled cell-surface GLUT4. In contrast, the noradrenaline-induced increase in glucose transport was not accompanied by an increased ATB-[3H]BMPA labelling of GLUT4, nor with an increased amount of GLUT4 in the plasma membrane fraction as assessed by Western blotting, indicating that noradrenaline does not promote the translocation of GLUT4. However, noradrenaline induced an increase in photoaffinity labelling of cell-surface GLUT1 without an apparent increase in the immunoreactive GLUT1 protein in the plasma membrane. This is suggestive of an increased affinity of GLUT1 for the ligand. In fact, the Ki value of non-radioactive ATB-BMPA for 2-deoxy-d-glucose uptake was significantly decreased after treatment of the cells with noradrenaline. The increased photoaffinity labelling of GLUT1 and increased glucose transport caused by noradrenaline were inhibited by a cAMP antagonist, cAMP-S Rp-isomer. These results demonstrate that noradrenaline stimulates glucose transport in brown adipocytes by enhancing the functional activity of GLUT1 through a cAMP-dependent mechanism.