bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of pulmonary prostaglandin metabolism by exposure of animals to oxygen or nitrogen dioxide
Authors: Chaudhari A , Sivarajah K , Warnock R , Eling T E , Anderson M W
Published: August 2015

The effects of exposure of animals to 100% O2 and NO2 on the rate of prostaglandin metabolism by lung and kidney were studied in vitro. Exposure of guinea pigs to 100% O2 for 48 h inhibited the metabolism of prostaglandin F2 alpha by both NAD+- and NADP+-dependent prostaglandin dehydrogenase in lung, but had no effect on the metabolism in kidney. Succinate dehydrogenase, but not glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, in guinea-pig lung was inhibited by exposure to 100% O2. Exposure to 46 p.p.m. but not 16 or 29 p.p.m. NO2 for 6 h inhibited guinea-pig lung prostaglandin dehydrogenase in vitro. The inhibition of pulmonary prostaglandin dehydrogenase by exposure to 100% O2 or to 49 p.p.m. NO2 was dependent on the duration of exposure, but returned to control values within 7 days after cessation of the exposure. The pulmonary transport system responsible for removing circulating prostaglandins from the blood was not affected by exposure to 100% O2 as measured by using the isolated perfused lung. Kinetic analysis of the inhibition of pulmonary prostaglandin dehydrogenase activity in guinea pig exposed to 100% O2 showed non-competitive inhibition with respect to both prostaglandin F2 alpha and NAD+, which suggests destruction or inactivation of the enzyme. Pulmonary prostaglandin dehydrogenase appears to be inhibited by exposure to oxidant gases, which may lead to elevated prostaglandin concentrations in the lungs or in the systemic circulation.
The reaction of cytochrome o in Escherichia coli with oxygen. Low-temperature kinetic and spectral studies
Authors: Poole R K , Waring A J , Chance B
Published: August 2015

1. The reactions of cytochrome omicron in intact cells of aerobically grown Escherichia coli with O2 and CO have been studied at low temperature. 2. Flash photolysis of CO-liganded cells in the presence of O2 and at temperatures between −79 and −102 degrees C results in the oxidation of kinetically heterogeneous beta-type cytochromes (including cytochrome omicron), but not of cytochrome d. 3. The reaction of reduced cytochrome omicron with O2 involves O2 binding to give intermediate(s) with spectral characteristics similar to that of the reduced oxidase-CO complex. Observation in the alpha-region suggests that unexplained ligand dissociation accompanies the initial O2 binding. 4. At temperatures below −98 degrees C, an ‘end point’ in the reaction is reached; further reaction and oxidation of cytochrome omicron occurs on raising the temperature. 5. There is a linear relationship between the rate of formation of the oxygen compound and the O2 concentration up to 0.5 mM. The second-order constant for its formation (k+1) is 0.91 M−1.S−1 at −101 degrees C. The reaction is not readily reversible, the value of k−1 being 1.4 × 10(-5) S−1 and the kd 1.5 × 10(-5) M. 6. The energy of activation for this reaction at low temperatures is 29.9kJ (7.1 kcal)/mol. 7. The reaction with O2 is distinguished from that with CO by the markedly lower velocity and high photolytic reversibility of the latter. 8. Comparisons are drawn between the intermediate(s) in the O2 reaction of cytochrome omicron in E. coli and those identified in other bacteria and in the reaction of cytochrome aa3 with O2.
Inhibition of the iron-catalysed formation of hydroxyl radicals from superoxide and of lipid peroxidation by desferrioxamine
Authors: Gutteridge J M C , Richmond R , Halliwell B
Published: August 2015

The peroxidation of membrane phospholipids induced in vitro by ascorbic acid or by dialuric acid (hydroxybarbituric acid) does not occur in the absence of traces of metal ions. Peroxidation induced by adding iron salts to phospholipids can either be promoted or inhibited by the chelators EDTA, diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid and bathophenanthrolinesulphonate, depending on the ratio [chelator]/[iron salt]. The iron chelator desferrioxamine inhibits peroxidation at all concentrations tested, and it also inhibits the iron-catalysed formation of hydroxyl radicals (OH.) from superoxide (O2-.). Since desferrioxamine is approved for clinical use, it might prove a valuable tool in the treatment of inflammation, poisoning by autoxidizable molecules and radiation damage.
Linoleate and α-linolenate synthesis by isolated spinach (Spinacia oleracea) chloroplasts
Authors: Roughan P G , Mudd J B , McManus T T , Slack C R
Published: August 2015

Diacylgalactosylglycerol synthesis was a prerequisite for the incorporation of [1-14C]-acetate into linoleate and alpha-linolenate of isolated spinach (Spinacia oleracea) chloroplasts. Oleate at position 1 of diacylgalactosylglycerol was desaturated to linoleate and alpha-linolenate both in the light and in the dark. Some desaturation of palmitate was also observed after prolonged incubations.
Macrophage-fibroblast interactions in collagenase production and cartilage degradation
Authors: Huybrechts-Godin G , Hauser P , Vaes G
Published: August 2015

Rabbit bone-marrow macrophages and fibroblasts were cultured, independently or together, with pieces of 35S-labelled cartilage or at the surface of dried [14C]collagen gels. Each type of cell, cultivated alone, rapidly degraded the proteoglycan of cartilage, but only the fibroblasts degraded collagen. The co-culture of both types of cell had no consistent effect on the rate of proteoglycan degradation, but it stimulated the rate of collagen degradation. In parallel, the accumulation of collagenase in the culture fluid was enhanced but not that of neutral proteinase. Coinditioned media from macrophage cultures added to cultures of fibroblasts had the same effect as the living macrophages in stimulating the production of collagenase. Their action was itself enhanced when the macrophages had been activated by concanavalin A-stimulated spleen-cell factors. These data suggest that fibroblasts may act as effector cells in producing collagenase and degrading collagen in response to soluble factors released by macrophages under the control of lymphocyte factors.
Subcellular distribution of the different platelet proteins phosphorylated on exposure of intact platelets to ionophore A23187 or to prostaglandin E1. Possible role of a membrane phosphopolypeptide in the regulation of calcium-ion transport
Authors: Fox J E B , Say A K , Haslam R J
Published: August 2015

Exposure of 32P-labelled human platelets to ionophore A23187 results in an increased incorporation of 32P into polypeptides with apparent mol.wts. of 47 000 (P47) and 20 000 (P20), whereas exposure to prostaglandin E1 results in increased labelling of polypeptides with apparent mol.wts. of 24 000 (P24) and 22 000 (P22) [Haslam, Lynham & Fox (1979) Biochem. J. 178, 397-406]. Labelled platelets that had been incubated with ionophore A23187 or prostaglandin E1 were sonicated and rapidly separated into three fractions by differential centrifugation. Electron microscopy and measurement of marker enzymes indicated that the 1300-19 000 gav. particulate fraction was enriched in granules, mitochondria and plasma membranes, that the 19 000-90 000 gav. particulate fraction was enriched in both intracellular and plasma membranes and that the 90 000 gav. supernatant contained only soluble proteins. 32P-labelled phosphopolypeptide P47 was present almost exclusively in the 90 000 gav. supernatant, whereas phosphopolypeptide P20 was largely dephosphorylated under fractionation conditions that protected other phosphopolypeptides. 32P-labelled phosphopolypeptide P24 was enriched in both particulate fractions, but particularly in the 19 000-90 000 gav. fraction, and may therefore be present in both the intracellular and plasma membranes. Phosphopolypeptide P22 appeared to be similarly distributed. Both particulate fractions were capable of the ATP-dependent oxalate-stimulated uptake of Ca2+. When the 19 000-90000 gav. membrane fraction was prepared from platelets that had been incubated with ionophore A23187, active uptake of Ca2+ did not occur, but when this fraction was isolated from platelets that had been exposed to prostaglandin E1, uptake of Ca2+ was significantly greater than observed with the corresponding membranes from control platelets. It is suggested that phosphorylation of polypeptide P24 (or P22) by a cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase may promote the active transport of Ca2+ out of the platelet cytosol.
Measurement of the protein-synthetic activity in vivo of various tissues in rats by using [3H]Puromycin
Authors: Nakano K , Hara H
Published: August 2015

The validity of a new technique was examined for estimating the protein-synthetic activity of various tissues in vivo. The basic assumption underlying the method is that the number of peptide chains growing on each active ribosome would increase as the protein-synthetic activity of each tissue increases. The principle of the procedure, which was devised originally by Wool & Kurihara [(1967) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 58, 2401-2407] to determine in vitro the number of functional ribosomes in skeletal muscle, is as follows. Puromycin is known to bind easily to the C-terminal end of the growing peptide on ribosomes and thus stop further chain elongation. Hence, if the number of puromycin molecules attached to the nascent peptide is determined by using radioactive puromycin as a tracer, one can estimate the number of growing peptides, i.e. the activity of tissue protein synthesis. By using this technique, it is shown that both starvation and the feeding of a protein-free diet caused marked decreases in the relative rate of formation of peptidyl-puromycin, i.e. activity of protein synthesis in liver, skeletal muscle, heart, spleen, testis, lung, kidney and intestine.
Purification and properties of the P2 primary alkylsulphohydrolase of the detergent-degrading bacterium pseudomonas C12B
Authors: Cloves J M , Dodgson K S , White G F , Fitzgerald J W
Published: August 2015

The P2 primary alkylsulphohydrolase of the soil bacterium Pseudomonas C12B was purified to homogeneity (200-250-fold) by column chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, Sephadex G-100 and butyl-agarose. The intact protein is a dimer with a mol. wt. of 160 000. Activity towards primary alkyl sulphate esters was maximal at pH 8.3, varied little in the range pH 7.8-8.7, but decreased sharply at higher pH. For a homologous series of primary alkyl sulphate substrates (C6-C12), logKm decreased linearly with increasing chain length, corresponding to a contribution to the free energy of association between enzyme and substrate of ‒2.5kJ/mol for each additional CH2 group in the alkyl chain. logKi for the competitive inhibition by secondary alkyl 2-sulphate esters followed a similar pattern (-2.4kJ/mol for each additional CH2 group) except that only n-1 carbon atoms effectively participate in hydrophobic bonding, implying that the C-1 methyl group is not involved. logKi values for inhibition primary alkanesulphonates also depended linearly on chain length but with a diminished gradient, indicating a free-energy increment of ‒1.2kJ/mol per additional CH2 group. The collective results showed the presence of a hydrophobic site on the enzyme capable of accomodating an alkyl chain of considerable length. Cationic structures (in the form of arginine, lysine or histidine), whose presence might be expected for binding the anionic sulphate group, were not detectable at the active site.
The relationship between acetyl content and sugar composition in expanding leaves of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.)
Authors: Bacon J S
Published: August 2015

Samples of beech (Fagus sylvatica) leaves were taken from the time of leaf emergence until leaf fall. They were extracted with boiling aqueous ethanol and the residues analysed for their acetyl-group content and their content of sugars released by acid hydrolysis. The accumulation of acetyl groups closely paralled that of xylose, and the two were present in approximately equimolecular proportions, except during the period of leaf expansion, when the acetyl-group/xylose ratio exceeded 3:2. The galactose present in each leaf reached a maximum as leaf expansion ceased and then declined during the period of rapid xylose accumulation. The results are discussed in relation to the known association of acetyl groups with xylans and pectic substancesand to the disappearance of constituents during cell-wall maturation.
Validity of the jack-knife technique for analysing enzyme kinetic data
Authors: Cornish-Bowden A , Wong J T
Published: August 2015

An observation by Duggleby [Biochem. J. (1979) 181, 255-256] that estimates of kinetic parameters by the jack-knife technique [Cornish-Bowden & Wong (1978) Biochem. J. 175, 969-976] are sometimes outside the range of estimates from which they are calculated has been examined. No significant correlation has been found between the occurrence of this behaviour and the actual quality of the estimates.
Pathways in the activation of human coagulation factor X
Authors: Mertens K , Bertina R M
Published: August 2015

Purified human Factor X (apparent mol.wt. 72000), which consists of two polypeptide chains (mol.wt. 55000 and 19000), was activated by both Russell's-viper venom and the purified physiological activators (Factor VII/tissue factor and Factor IXa/Factor VIII). They all convert Factor X to catalytically active Factor Xa (mol.wt. 54000) by cleaving the heavy chain at a site on the N-terminal region. In the presence of Ca2+ and phospholipid, the Factor Xa formed catalyses (a) the cleavage of a small peptide (mol.wt. 4000) from the C-terminal region of the heavy chain of Factor Xa, resulting in a second active form (mol.wt. 50000), and (b) the cleavage of a peptide containing the active-site serine residue (mol.wt. 13000) from the C-terminal region of the heavy chain of Factor X, resulting in an inactivatable component (mol.wt. 59000). A nomenclature for the various products is proposed.
Alkylation by 1,2:5,6-dianhydrogalactitol of deoxyribonucleic acid and guanosine
Authors: Institóris E , Tamás J
Published: August 2015

DNA was alkylated in neutral solution at 37 degrees C with 1,2:5,6-dianhydrogalactitol and hydrolysed to yield two principal products, identified as 7-galactitylguanine and 1,6-dideoxy-1,6-di(guanin-7-yl)galactitol. The reaction products were separated by chromatography on Sephadex G-10 and Dowex 50 (H+ form). The two compounds were also obtained by reaction between dianhydrogalactitol and guanosine in acetic acid. The products were characterized from their u.v.-spectral data by comparison with those of the 7-alkylguanines and were also identified by mass spectrometry.
Extraction and characterization of proteoglycan from human meniscus
Authors: McNicol D , Roughley P J
Published: August 2015

This study consists of (1) the extraction of proteoglycan from the human meniscus under dissociative conditions, (2) an investigation of the changes that occur in the abundance and structure of this proteoglycan with age and (3) a comparison of these findings with those for human articular-cartilage proteoglycan. Adult meniscus was found to possess proteoglycan molecules of similar size and glycosaminoglycan content to those present in cartilage, although tissue concentrations were considerably lower. In addition, age-related changes, with respect to the occurrence of keratan sulphate and the sulphation of chondroitin sulphate chains, were common to both tissues. The presence of aggregated proteoglycan was demonstrated, although specific interaction with hyaluronic acid was not conclusively shown biochemically. Differences were, however, noted in the structure of the proteoglycan between the two tissues: dermatan sulphate was found in the meniscus proteoglycan preparation and the core proteins exhibited some dissimilarities. A proteoglycan structure of this type would be compatible with its participation in meniscus elasticity, especially as the material is localized in a specific area.
Respiration-dependent calcium ion uptake by two preparations of cardiac mitochondria. Effects of palmitoyl-coenzyme A and palmitoylcarnitine on calcium ion cycling and nicotinamide nucleotide reduction state
Authors: Wolkowicz Paul E. , McMillin-Wood Jeanie
Published: August 2015

Ca2+ uptake and the effect of the uptake inhibitors palmitoyl-CoA and palmitoylcarnitine were examined in two preparations of dog cardiac mitochondria. Mitochondria prepared by using the Nagarse technique was 2.5-fold more active in respiration-dependent Ca2+ uptake than were mitochondria isolated by using the Polytron procedure. Palmitoyl-CoA and palmitoylcarnitine inhibited Ca2+ uptake in both preparations uncompetitively, with Ki,app 0.4 and 20μm. Ca2+-uptake rates were related to, or influenced by, the concentration of mitochondrial reduced nicotinamide nucleotides, with uptake slowing as this concentration decreased. When most of the nicotinamide nucleotides was oxidized, Ca2+ release and respiratory stimulation were observed. In the presence of Ruthenium Red and palmitoyl-CoA, oxidation of nicotinamide nucleotides was abolished and the time to Ca2+ release was shortened corresponding to the time of onset of nicotinamide nucleotide oxidation in the absence of Ruthenium Red. The results suggest that NAD(P)H oxidation in the presence of rotenone was a consequence of Ca2+ re-uptake and that net Ca2+ release could be observed as reduced nicotinamide nucleotide concentrations declined. Although nicotinamide nucleotide oxidation occurred in the presence of rotenone, it was not linked in an apparent manner to acyl-group metabolism (palmitoylcarnitine was less effective than palmitoyl-CoA). Therefore either a by-pass of the rotenone block or a direct interaction of NAD(P)H with the Ca2+-uptake process was possible. Loss of NADH occurred before respiratory stimulation, and this loss may relate to decreased coupling efficiency at sites 2 and 3 of the respiratory chain, as suggested by others [Bhuvaneswaran & Wadkins (1978) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.82, 648–654].
Glucosylation of phosphorylpolyisoprenol and sterol at the plasma membrane of soya-bean (Glycine max) protoplasts
Authors: Chadwick C M , Northcote D H
Published: August 2015

Protoplasts were prepared from cells of soya-bean (Glycine max) suspension cultures and the plasma membrane was labelled with diazotized [G-3H]sulphanilic acid. Homogenates were fractionated by differential and isopycnic centrifugation, and membrane fractions in a density gradient were characterized by enzymic markers and the radioactive label. When fractions containing a large amount of protein were incubated with UDP-[U-14C]glucose, radioactive material soluble in chloroform/methanol was formed and this separated into acidic and neutral fractions on ion-exchange chromatograms of DEAE-cellulose. The acidic fraction was shown to consist of dolichol phosphate glucose, and the neutral fraction sterol glucosides and acylsterol glucosides. Optimum conditions for glucosylation of dolichol phosphate were established as 5 mM-MgCl2, pH 6.0, and the enzyme had a Michaelis constant of 1.5 × 10(-5) m-UDP-glucose. Optimum conditions for glucosylation of sterol were 5 mM-MgCl2, pH 8.0 GDP-[U-14C]glucose was a poor substrate for the synthesis of both acidic and neutral lipids. Although the synthesis of dolichol phosphate glucose and sterol glucosides occurred throughout the sucrose gradient, the specific activities of both glucosyltransferases were greatest in a fraction coincident with the radioactively labelled plasma membrane. Results are discussed in relation to the likely role fo these transglucosylase activities.
Capillaries of the adrenal cortex possess aminopeptidase A and angiotensin-converting-enzyme activities
Authors: Del Vecchio P J , Ryan J W , Chung A , Ryan U S
Published: August 2015

The enzymes required to convert the prohormone angiotensin I into angiotensins II and III, secretagogues of aldosterone, are enriched in association with capillary endothelium isolated from rat adrenal cortex. Thus the secretion of aldosterone may be controlled, in part, by processing of peptides occurring within the adrenal gland itself.
The effect of premature and delayed birth on the development of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activities towards bilirubin, morphine and testosterone in the rat
Authors: Campbell M T , Wishart G J
Published: August 2015

In the rat, UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activities towards bilirubin, morphine and testosterone increase markedly after normal or premature birth. This rapid development is superimposed upon a much slower maturation of activity which occurs in utero during the last 2 days of normal gestation and gestation when birth is delayed. Development of all three activities is similar under these different conditions, suggesting a common developmenpal regulatory mechanism.
The kinetics of antibody binding to membrane antigens in solution and at the cell surface
Authors: Mason D W , Williams A F
Published: August 2015

The reaction kinetics of 125I-labelled mouse monoclonal antibodies binding to three cell-surface antigens of rat thymocytes (Thy-1.1, W3/25) were studied. The differences between bivalent and univalent interactions were determined by using antibody in the F(ab′)2 or Fab′ form and by using antigen in polymeric or monomeric forms. Association rate constants (k+1), dissociation rate constants (k-1) and equilibrium constants were determined. Also, the dissociation kinetics of rabbit antibodies against rat Thy-1 antigen were studied. The major findings were as follows. (i) With F(ab′)2 antibody there was no simple relationship between antigen density at the cell surface and extent of bivalent binding. Extensive univalent binding was observed unless the antibody had a high k-1 for the univalent interaction, in which case all binding was bivalent. (ii) k+1 values were similar for F(ab′)2 or Fab′ antibody, and for the different antibodies were in the range 0.8 × 10(5)–1.1 × 10(6) M-1.s-1. These differences were sufficient to affect the interpretation of serological assays with the different antibodies. (iii) Antibody bound bivalently dissociated much more slowly than that bound univalently. However, the k-1 values for the univalently bound antibody were sufficiently low in most cases that the lifetime of the univalent complex was similar to or greater than the time needed for the assay. Thus the results could be interpreted on the basis of irreversible reactions. The overall conclusion from the study is that for an understanding of the binding of antibody to cell-surface antigens the kinetics of the interaction are of major importance and theories based on equilibrium binding are inappropriate.
Sequence organization in nuclear deoxyribonucleic acid from Physarum polycephalum. Physical properties of foldback sequences
Authors: Jack P L , Hardman N
Published: August 2015

An investigation was performed with the use of physical techniques, to determine the nature and organization of inverted repeat sequences in nuclear DNA fragments from Physarum polycephalum. From the average size of foldback duplexes (550 nucleotide pairs), and the foldback duplex yield as determined by treatment of DNA with S1 deoxyribonuclease followed by hydroxyapatite chromatography, it is estimated that there are at least 25000 foldback sequences in the Physarum genome. Foldback DNA molecules exhibit properties intermediate between single-stranded DNA and native duplexes on elution from hydroxyapatite with a salt gradient. In addition, thermal-elution chromatography of foldback DNA from hydroxyapatite crystals shows that foldback duplexes are less stable than native DNA. These properties can be explained on the basis that inverted repeat sequences are mismatched when in the foldback configuration. The results of experiments in which the binding of foldback DNA molecules to hydroxyapatite was determined, by using fragments of different single-chain size, agree with previous studies indicating that inverted repeat sequences are located, on average, every 7000 residues throughout the Physarum genome. The inverted repeats are derived from both the repetitive and single-copy components in Physarum nuclear DNA.
Glycerol vic-cyclic phosphate in rat tissues
Authors: Clarke N G , Dawson R M
Published: August 2015

On labelling rat tissues with 32P, a radioactive phosphate ester can be isolated with the same chromatographic and ionophoretic properties and susceptibility towards a specific phosphodiesterase and acid as glycerol vic-cyclic phosphate. By comparison with precursor phosphoglycero-derivatives in the same tissues it is calculated that the concentration in liver, kidney and brain is in the order of 0.7–4.0 nmol/g wet wt.
Human FAD-dependent NAD(P)H diaphorase
Authors: Edwards Y H , Potter J , Hopkinson D A
Published: August 2015

A newly discovered human diaphorase, designated diaphorase-4, which accounts for a major part of the diaphorase activity of most tissues but does not occur in erythrocytes, is described. In contrast with other human diaphorases, it is dependent on FAD for activity after electrophoresis, inhibited by low concentrations of dicoumarol and shows a marked affinity for Cibacron Blue. The molecular weight was estimated to be 49000 +/- 1800 by gel filtration. Diaphorase-4 appears to show person-to-person quantitative variation, so that about 4% of the population lack appreciable enzyme activity, but it is not yet clear whether this variation is of genetic or non-genetic origin.
Reduction and activity of cytochrome c in the cytochrome c-cytochrome aa3 complex
Authors: Hill B C , Nicholls P
Published: August 2015

Uncharged reductants, such as NNN‘N’-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine and diaminodurene, reduce cytochrome c at both high and low ionic strength, unlike ascorbate, which is effective only at low ionic strength. The ‘tightly bound’ cytochrome c-cytochrome c oxidase complex, with 1 equiv. of cytochrome c per cytochrome aa3, can be prepared by simple mixing of the two component species. Its properties are not affected by co-sonication of the mixture. Bound cytochrome c is more rapidly reduced by NNN‘N’-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine and diaminodurene than is free cytochrome c. At high ionic strength, when the complex is largely dissociated, addition of reductant under aerobic conditions in the presence of cyanide, or under anaerobic conditions, induces a rapid reduction of cytochrome c followed by the reduction of cytochrome a. At low ionic strength, addition of reductant induces a rapid reduction of cytochrome a while cytochrome c remains largely oxidized, the rate-limiting step now being the reduction of cytochrome c. The results are interpreted in terms of direct reduction of cytochrome c in its tight complex with the oxidase, followed by rapid intramolecular electron transfer to both cytochrome a and the associated e.p.r.-detectable Cu atom.
Mechanistic studies of carboxypeptidase Y from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. pH and pD profiles and inactivation at low pH (pD) values
Authors: Chang W T , Douglas K T
Published: August 2015

Steady-state kinetics of carboxypeptidase Y, a proteinase from yeast, were studied by using the reaction of 4-nitrophenyl trimethylacetate as a probe. The pH profile of kcat. is sigmoidal in H2O-based buffers for the carboxypeptidase Y-catalysed hydrolysis of this ester (kcat. referring to the rate of deacylation of trimethylacetyl-carboxypeptidase Y). The corresponding pD profile in 2H2O is doubly sigmoidal, with inflexions at pD approximately 3.8 and approximately 6.8. The ionization of pKDapp. approximately 3.8 is caused by a rapid inactivation in 2H2O media by a process that is only slowly reversed on transfer to pH 7.00 phosphate buffer in H2O. The corresponding inactivation in H2O-based buffers of low pH is considerably slower (approximately 30-fold), follows a first-order rate-dependence and is very strongly pH-dependent, indicating some form of co-operative change in enzyme tertiary structure.
Free pyrimidine nucleotide pool of Ehrlich ascites-tumour cells. Compartmentation with respect to the synthesis of heterogeneous nuclear RNA and precursors to ribosomal RNA
Authors: Genchev D D , Kermekchiev M B , Hadjiolov A A
Published: August 2015

The incorporation of [14C]orotate and [14C]uridine into UMP residues of hnRNA (heterogeneous nuclear RNA) and pre-rRNA (precursors to rRNA) of Eharlich ascites-tumour cells was compared: orotate was incorporated at a markedly higher rate into hnRNA. On the other hand, the rate of incorporation of uridine into pre-rRTNA was even somewhat higher than into hnRNA. The ratio of specific radioactivities of CMP to UMP residues in pre-rRNA and hnRNA was studied. At all times of labelling this ratio was similar for both RNA species independently of the precursor used. On addition of excess unlabelled uridine, the CMP/UMP labelling ratio in both pre-rRNA and hnRNA rose. However, this increase was much more pronounced with hnRNA. It is concluded that nuclear pyrimidine nucleotide pool for RNA synthesis is compartmentalized. The synthesis of hnRNa is supplied preferentially by the large and the small compartment, respectively. A detailed model for the cellular compartmentation of uridine nucleotide precursors to RNA is proposed.
The nature of the calcium ion efflux induced in rat liver mitochondria by the oxidation of endogenous nicotinamide nucleotides
Authors: Nicholls D G , Brand M D
Published: August 2015

Ca2+ efflux from rat liver mitochondria can occur when endogenous nicotinamide nucleotides are oxidized. It is suggested that nicotinamide nucleotide induced by acetoacetate sensitizes the mitochondria to damaage resulting from the accumulation of Ca2+ in the presence of Pi. Thus, acetoacetate-induced Ca2+ efflux is associated with a loss of respiratory control. Both the effluxes induced by acetoacetate and by high Ca2+ accumulation are prevented by ATP plus oligomycin, although these agents do not prevent the endoagenous nicotinamide nucleotides from becoming oxidized on addition of acetoacetate. Acetoacetate addition only results in Ca2+ release if the Ca2+ and Pi concentration are above a critical value. The acetoacetate-induced Ca2+ effflux is exactly paralled by the virtually complete collapse of the membrane potential. The presence of acetoacetate decreases the concentration of total Ca2+ necessary to induced mitochondrial damage by about 130 nmol of Ca2+/mg of protein. It is concluded that acetoacetate-induced efflux occurs by reversal of the Ca2+ uniporter after the collapse of the membrane potential.
Some factors affecting phosphate transport in a perfused rat heart preparation
Authors: Medina G , Illingworth J
Published: August 2015

Pi uptake by a perfused rat heart preparation did not require the presence of any other permeant anion, but was markedly dependent on the extracellular Na+ concentration and accelerated when tissue oxygenation was inadequate. Pi efflux was also independent of other permeant anions, but apparently varied with the intracellular Na+ concentration. Cardiac Pi efflux was not sensitive to a number of inhibitors that clock Cl- movement in heart and other tissues. Both uptake and efflux apparently proceed via a reversible electroneutral co-transport system linked to the transmembrane Na+ gradient. Pi uptake was independent of cardiac work load, but the efflux rate was sharply accelerated after an increase in aortic pressure development, with a slow return towards basal values during sustained periods of high work output. An inverted biphasic effect on the efflux rate was observed after a reduction in cardiac work load. Mild hypoxia and respiratory and metabolic acidosis each resulted in a transient acceleration of Pi efflux followed by a return towards basal values during prolonged exposure to the stimulus, whereas respiratory and metabolic alkalosis produced a similar but inverted response. The origin of these phasic effects on Pi efflux remains to be identified at present.
Facilitated transport of amino acids across organic phases and the human erythrocyte membrane
Authors: Hider R C , McCormack W
Published: August 2015

1. An artificial facilitated amino-acid-transfer process operating across a chloroform phase is reported. 2. This process utilizes a family of bis(salicylamidato)copper(II) complexes. 3. A mechanism is proposed for this process and for its sensitivity towards cyanide and bathophenanthroline sulphonate. 4. Facilitated transfer of L-leucine in human erythrocytes has been shown to be inhibited by bathophenanthroline sulphonate.
Effect of streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus on the turnover of rat liver pyruvate carboxylase and pyruvate dehydrogenase
Authors: Weinberg M B , Utter M F
Published: August 2015

Immunochemical techniques were used to study the effect of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on the amounts of pyruvate carboxylase and pyruvate dehydrogenase and on their rates of synthesis and degradation. Livers from diabetic rats had twice the pyruvate carboxylase activity of livers from normal rats when expressed in terms of DNA or body weight. The changes in catalytic activity closely paralleled changes in immunoprecipitable enzyme protein. Relative rates of synthesis determined by pulse-labelling studies showed that the ratio of synthesis of pyruvate carboxylase to that of average mitochondrial protein was increased 2.0-2.5 times in diabetic animals over that of control animals. Other radioisotopic studies indicated that the rate of degradation of this enzyme was not altered significantly in diabetic rats, suggesting that the increase in this enzyme was due to an increased rate of synthesis. Similar experiments with pyruvate dehydrogenase, the first component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, showed that livers from diabetic rats had approximately the same amount of immunoprecipitable enzyme protein as the control animals, but a larger proportion of the enzyme was in its inactive state. The rates of synthesis and degradation of pyruvate dehydrogenase were not affected significantly by diabetes.
Effects of weak bases on the degradation of endogenous and exogenous proteins by rat yolk sacs
Authors: Livesey G , Williams K E , Knowles S E , Ballard F J
Published: August 2015

In rat yolk sacs incubated in vitro, the rates of degradation of endogenous [3H]leucine-labelled proteins and of pinocytically ingested 125I-labelled bovine serum albumin were both decreased in the presence of either ammonium, methylammonium or ethylammonium ions (0-20 mM) or much lower concentrations of chloroquine (0-500 microM). These effects were also accompanied by an inhibition of pinocytosis, as measured by the rate of uptake of 125I-labelled polyvinylpyrrolidone, and by a fall in the [ATP]/[ADP] ratio within the tissue. Re-incubation in inhibitor-free medium of yolk sacs previously exposed to a weak base restored pinocytic and proteolytic capacities, except for tissues exposed to chloroquine at concentrations above 0.1 mM (these appeared to be cytotoxic); an attendent rise in [ATP]/[ADP] ratios to near normal values was also observed. Weak bases, at concentrations that fully arrested the breakdown of 125I-labelled albumin, failed to inhibit by more than 45% the degradation of [3H]leucine-labelled endogenous proteins. Since 125I-labelled bovine serum albumin has been shown to be degraded entirely intralysosomally by yolk sacs, this suggests either that the hydrolysis of endogenous proteins is shared between lysosomes and some other site or that, unlike 125I-labelled albumin, some endogenous proteins can be degraded within lysosomes at abnormally high pH.
The rate of ATP synthesis by submitochondrial particles can be independent of the magnitude of the protonmotive force
Authors: Sorgato M C , Branca D , Ferguson S J
Published: August 2015

The problem of whether the rate of ATP synthesis is proportional to the magnitude of the protonmotive force has been studied in submitochondrial particles. It was found that the rate of ATP synthesis can decrease at constant protonmotive force and is more closely related to the rate of substrate oxidation.
The combination of the viscosity increment with the harmonic mean rotational relaxation time for determining the conformation of biological macromolecules in solution
Authors: Harding S E
Published: August 2015

A new hydrodynamic shape function, lambda, is derived for determining the conformation of biological macromolecules in solution, adding to the increasing number of shape parameters whose experimental determination does not require a knowledge of the particle swelling due to solvation in solution. lambda can be found from a knowledge of the molecular weight, intrinsic viscosity and the harmonic mean rotational relaxation time. A table of values and a plot of lambda as a function of axial ratio for both oblate and prolate ellipsoids of revolution are given.
A rapid method for the isolation of ribonuclease from yeast (Saccharomyces carlsbergensis)
Authors: Shetty J K , Weaver R C , Kinsella J E
Published: August 2015

A ribonuclease (RNAase; EC 3.1.14.1) from brewer's yeast was purified 90-fold. Crude RNAase was initially separated from other proteins by precipitation at pH 4.0 after incubation of the mechanically disrupted yeast cells at pH 6.0 and 52 degrees C for 30 min. The RNAase was purified from the supernatant by ultrafiltration with a PM-30 membrane and adsorption chromatography on hydroxyapatite. RNAase preparation was free of phosphatase, deoxyribonuclease and phosphodiesterase activities. It showed maximum activity at pH 6.0 and a temperature optimum of 52 degrees C with yeast RNA as substrate. This RNAase hydrolysed yeast RNA to nucleoside 3′-phosphates and showed no evidence of base specificity.
The separation and purification of rat liver UDP-glucuronyltransferase activities towards testosterone and oestrone
Authors: Weatherill P J , Burchell B
Published: August 2015

1. Reconstitution of UDP-glucuronyltransferase preparations with phosphataidylcholine liposomes facilitated the purification of testosterone UDP-glucuronyltransferase. 2. Transferase activity towards testosterone co-purifies with that towards 4-nitrophenol. 3. UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity towards oestrone was separated from that towards testosterone. 4. These results suggest that testosterone and 4-nitrophenol may be glucuronidated by a different form of UDP-glucuronyltransferase from the one glucuronidating oestrone.
The electrophoresis of transferrins in urea/polyacrylamide gels
Authors: Evans R W , Williams J
Published: August 2015

The denaturation of transferrin by urea has been studied by (a) electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels incorporating a urea gradient, (b) measurements of the loss of iron-binding capacity and (c) u.v. difference spectrometry. In human serum transferrin and hen ovotransferrin the N-terminal and C-terminal domains of the iron-free protein were found to denature at different urea concentrations.
Oxygen consumption in perfused skeletal muscle. Effect of perfusion with aged, fresh and aged-rejuvenated erythrocytes on oxygen consumption, tissue metabolites and inhibition of glucose utilization by acetoacetate
Authors: Ruderman N B , Kemmer F W , Goodman M N , Berger M
Published: August 2015

1. O2 consumption, glucose metabolism and the energy status of skeletal muscle were compared in isolated rat hindquarters perfused with aged (21–35 days), fresh and aged-rejuvenated human erythrocytes. 2. The age of the erythrocytes did not affect O2 consumption, glucose utilization or lactate release either at rest or during exercise. The concentrations of ATP, phosphocreatine and lactate within the muscle were also unaffected by the use of aged erythrocytes. 3. Perfusion with acetoacetate did not inhibit glucose utilization; but, it caused a marked increase in the tissue concentration of citrate in the soleus, a slow-twitch red muscle, and a smaller increase in the gastrocnemius, which contains fast-twitch red and white fibres. Results were similar in hindquarters perfused with aged and aged-rejuvenated erythrocytes. 4. These findings suggest that perfusion with aged human erythrocytes does not cause major alterations in the metabolic performance of the isolated rat hindquarter.
Influence of starvation and clofibrate administration on oxidative phosphorylation by rat liver mitochondria
Authors: Rasheed B K A , Chhabra S , Kurup C K R
Published: August 2015

Whole cells, homogenates and mitochondrial obtained from the livers of albino rats which were starved for 6 days or more showed a 50% decrease in oxidative activity. The decrease could be corrected by the addition of cytochrome c in vitro. The phosphorylative activity of mitochondria remained unaffected. The decrease in oxidative rate was not observed when starving animals were given the anti-hypercholesterolaemic drug clofibrate. The total cellular concentration of cytochrome c was not affected by starvation. However, the concentration of the pigment in hepatic mitochondria isolated from starving animals was less than half that in normal mitochondria. Clofibrate-treated animals did not show a decreased concentration of cytochrome c in hepatic mitochondria. Mitochondria isolated from starving animals, though deficient in cytochrome c, did not show any decrease in succinate dehydrogenase activity or in the rate of substrate-dependent reduction of potassium ferricyanide or attendant phosphorylation. In coupled mitochondria, ferricyanide may not accept electrons from the cytochrome c in the respiratory chain. Starvation decreases the concentration of high-affinity binding sites for cytochrome c on the mitochondrial membrane. The dissociation constant increases in magnitude.
Partial characterization of the polyisoprenoid carrier of N-acetylglucosamine in Glycine max (soya bean)
Authors: Chadwick C M , Northcote D H
Published: August 2015

Dolichyl phosphate (C55) and dolichyl phosphate prepared from liver were incubated with an enzyme prepared from soya-bean protoplasts. They both stimulated the transfer of radioactivity from UDP-D-glucose to lipid, but the stimulation was greater with liver dolichyl phosphate. Liver dolichyl phosphate with the soya-bean enzyme stimulated the transfer of radioactivity from UDP-N-acetyl-D-[U-14C]glucosamine to acidic lipid. UDP-D-[U-14C]glucose and UDP-N-acetyl-D-[U-14C]glucosamine were used with the soya-bean enzyme to prepare the glycosylated-acid-lipid acceptor of each sugar. Mild acid hydrolysis revealed that the radioactivity in the lipid glucosylated from UDP-glucose was present exclusively as glucose. That in the lipid glycosylated from UDP-N-acetylglucosamine was present mostly as N-acetylglucosamine. The soya-bean acidic-lipid acceptors of glucose and N-acetylglucosamine were stable to both catalytic hydrogenation and treatment with hot aqueous phenol; they behaved in a similar way as authentic alpha-saturated glucosylated polyisoprenyl phosphates. The soya-bean acidic-lipid acceptors of glucose and N-acetylglucosamine were eluted as deoxycholate complexes from a Sephadex column. In comparison with glucosylated polyisoprenyl phosphates of known size, the patterns of elution indicated that both soya-bean lipids contained a polyisoprenoid chain of 18 isoprene units.
Diurnal response in endogenous amino acid oxidation of meal-fed rats
Authors: Wannemacher R W , Dinterman R E
Published: August 2015

A model has been developed to measure the effects of dietary protein on daily fluctuations in the rate of endogenous amino acid oxidation in meal-fed and starved rats. In addition, N tau-methylhistidine and hydroxyproline were utilized to determine changes in the rate of degradation of myofibrillar and collagen proteins. In rats meal-fed a normal diet of 18% (w/w) casein, a diurnal response was observed in rate of oxidation of radioactive amino acids contained in endogenous labelled body protein, with a nadir 16—20 h and maximum 4—8 h after beginning the feeding. This observation in part may be related to alterations in flux of amino acids from non-hepatic tissues to site of oxidation in liver, as well as alterations in rates of amino acid oxidation after a protein meal. When meal-fed a 70% protein diet, the maximal rates of endogenous amino acid oxidation were significantly increased by 4—8 h after meal-feeding, with no change in fractional rates of degradation of myofibrillar- or collagen-protein breakdown. This could suggest increases in activities of enzymes involved in amino acid oxidation, in rats meal-fed 70% compared with 18% dietary protein. In contrast, meal-feeding of a protein-free diet muted the diurnal response in the rate of oxidation of endogenously labelled amino acids, which correlated with a decrease in the fractional rate of degradation of myofibrillar or collagen protein. Thus dietary protein is apparently responsible for the observed diurnal rhythm rhythms in the rate of amino acid oxidation, whereas carbohydrates tend to mute the response.
Bile-salt inhibition of sodium ion-coupled D-glucose and L-alanine accumulation by brush-border-membrane vesicles from hamster jejunum
Authors: Beesley R C , Faust R G
Published: August 2015

The effects of bile salts on Na+-coupled accumulation of D-glucose and L-alanine by brush-border-membrane vesicles isolated from hamster jejunum were investigated. The approximate percentage inhibition of Na+-coupled D-glucose accumulation produced by various bile salts at a concentration of 1 mM were: deoxycholate and chenodeoxycholate, 60%; glycine and taurine conjugates of deoxycholate and chenodeoxycholate, 40—50%; lithocholate, 45%; cholate and its glycine and taurine conjugates, less than 10%. Inhibition of Na+-coupled accumulation of D-glucose was rapid, reversible and not due to dissolution of the vesicles. Na+-coupled accumulation of L-alanine was also inhibited by deoxycholate. Deoxycholate but not cholate enhanced (1) the rate of Na+ influx, (2) the rate of influx of D-glucose and L-alanine in the absence of a Na+ gradient and (3) the rate of efflux of D-glucose and L-alanine from vesicles preloaded with this sugar or amino acid. Deoxycholate-stimulated efflux of D-glucose was not blocked by phlorizin, which completely prevented efflux in the absence of this bile salt. These results suggest that selected bile salts inhibit Na+-coupled accumulation of D-glucose and L-alanine by enhancing the rate of dissipation of the Na+ gradient required for substrate accumulation. In addition, bile salts may also decrease D-glucose and L-alanine accumulation by increasing the rate of efflux of these substrates across the brush-border plasma membrane.
A reliable radiochromatographic assay technique for hepatic microsomal 16 α-hydroxylase activity towards oestrone 3-sulphate. Comparison between pigmented and non-pigmented mature guinea pigs
Authors: Tsoutsoulis C J , Hobkirk R
Published: August 2015

A reliable procedure for the assay of liver microsomal 16 alpha-hydroxylation of oestrone 3-sulphate has been developed for the guinea pig. It is based on the rapid, quantitative separation of oestradiol and oestriol by Sephadex LH-20 columns after the chemical reduction and enzymic hydrolysis of the incubation products. Microsomal preparations and incubation conditions that optimized 16 alpha-hydroxylation of oestrone 3-sulphate were employed. Under these circumstances, reduction of the substrate at C-17 and hydrolysis of the sulphate were minimized. Conditions were established that yielded reaction linearity with respect to time and microsomal concentration. This hydroxylation had an absolute requirement for NADPH, which could not be satisfied by NADH. Apparent Km values for oestrone 3-sulphate and NADPH, under the conditions used, were 14 microM and 0.17 mM respectively. 16 alpha-Hydroxylase activity was present in the liver microsomal fraction from heavily pigmented, female English Shorthaired guinea pigs. Much lower activity was detected in mature pigmented males and albino females. No activity could be demonstrated in mature, albino males.
Inhibition of lysosomal α-mannosidase by swainsonine, an indolizidine alkaloid isolated from Swainsona canescens
Authors: Dorling P R , Huxtable C R , Colegate S M
Published: August 2015

An indolizidine alkaloid (swainsonine) was isolated from the plant Swainsona canescens. Swainsonine is a specific and potent inhibitor of alpha-mannosidase (EC 3.2.1.24) and when administered to animals produces a phenocopy of the genetically based lysosomal storage disease, mannosidosis. Evidence is presented to suggest that swainsonine is a reversible active site-directed inhibitor of lysosomal alpha-mannosidase.