bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differential effects of non-ionic detergents on microsomal and sarcolemmal adenylate cyclase in cardiac muscle
Authors: Sulakhe Prakash V. , Narayanan Njanoor
Published: August 2015

1. About 4 and 23% of the homogenate adenylate cyclase activity was recovered in the microsomal and sarcolemmal fractions isolated from guinea-pig heart ventricles. 2. Cardiac microsomal adenylate cyclase activity [basal as well as p[NH]ppG (guanyl-5′-yl imidodiphosphate)- and NaF-stimulated] was increased over 2-fold in the presence of Lubrol-PX (0.01–0.1%). 3. The sarcolemmal enzyme, however, showed concentration-dependent inhibition caused by the detergent under all assay conditions, except when p[NH]ppG was included in the assay. In the latter case, the detergent (0.01–0.02%) caused a modest increase (30–45%) in enzyme activity. 4. Another non-ionic detergent, Triton X-100, also stimulated the microsomal cyclase and inhibited the sarcolemmal enzyme. 5. With either membrane fraction, Lubrol-PX solubilized the enzyme when the detergent/membrane protein ratio was 2.5 (μmol of detergent/mg of protein). 6. The findings with homogenate and a washed particulate fraction resembled those obtained with sarcolemma, and those with isolated sarcoplasmic reticulum resembled those with microsomal preparations. 7. p[NH]ppG, and to some extent NaF, protected the detergent-induced inactivation of the enzyme observed at higher detergent concentrations (0.5% Lubrol-PX and 0.05–0.5% Triton X-100). 8. In the absence of detergents, p[NH]ppG increased the basal enzyme activity about 2-fold in microsomal fractions, but did not appreciably stimulate the sarcolemmal enzyme. Isoproterenol, on the other hand, increased the sarcolemmal enzyme activity (>2-fold) in the presence of p[NH]ppG and caused only moderate stimulation (31%) of the microsomal enzyme under these conditions. 9. These findings support the view that, although the bulk of adenylate cyclase resides in heart sarcolemma (plasma membrane), the microsomal activity cannot be accounted for solely by contamination of the microsomal fraction with sarcolemma, as has been suggested by others [Besch, Jones & Watanabe (1976) Circ. Res.39, 586–595; Engelhard, Plut & Storm (1976) Biochim. Biophys. Acta451, 48–61]. Further, the results of this study show that cardiac sarcoplasmic-reticulum membranes possess this enzyme.
The specific interaction of Cibacron and related dyes with cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase and lactate dehydrogenase
Authors: Ashton Anthony R. , Polya Gideon M.
Published: August 2015

1. Reactive Blue 2 (Cibacron Blue 3G-A) is a competitive inhibitor of bovine heart cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (Ki 0.3μm). The Ki increases with increasing temperature, suggesting that hydrophobic interactions are not largely responsible for the binding of the dye. Another 25 sulphonated aromatic dyes are also competitive inhibitors of the cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (Ki values in the range of 0.06–13.6μm). 2. These dyes (covalently linked to Dextran 40) inhibit bovine heart cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase. Reactive Blue 2 (covalently linked to Dextran 40) is a competitive inhibitor of the phosphodiesterase (Ki 0.4μm). 3. Bovine heart cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase is retained on a column of Reactive Blue 2-Sephacryl S-200 and can be eluted from the column by 3′:5′-cyclic AMP. 4. A variety of the dyes (either free or covalently linked to Dextran 40) are competitive inhibitors of rabbit muscle lactate dehydrogenase. 5. The effectiveness of a wide range of structurally dissimilar dyes as competitive inhibitors of lactate dehydrogenase and cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase compromises proposals for the use of Reactive Blue 2 as a specific probe for the dinucleotide-binding structural domain present in many dehydrogenases and kinases. Detailed information of the various dyes used has been deposited as Supplementary Publication SUP 50089 (7 pages) at the British Library Lending Division, Boston Spa, Wetherby, West Yorkshire LS23 7BQ, U.K., from whom copies can be obtained on the terms indicated in Biochem. J. (1978) 169, 5.
Subcellular localization of γ-glutamyltransferase in calf thymocytes
Authors: Suter D , Brunner G , Ferber E
Published: August 2015

The subcellular localization of gamma-glutamyltransferase in calf thymocytes was investigated and compared with that of alkaline phosphodiesterase I, alkaline nitrophenyl phosphatase, succinate-tetrazolium oxidoreductase (succinate-INT reductase) and lactate dehydrogenase after two different methods of cell disruption and differential centrifugation. Most of the activity was recovered in the crude membrane fractions (43.0%), but significant amounts co-pelleted with the large-granule (mitochondria) fractions (31%). The specific activity of the gamma-glutamyltransferase in the purified plasma membrane was 30-50 times that of the enzyme in the cell homogenate and had a similar subcellular distribution to the plasma-membrane markers, alkaline phosphodiesterase I and alkaline nitrophenyl phosphatase. It was concluded that gamma-glutamyltransferase was primary a plasma-membrane-bound enzyme, and that its location in other subcellular fractions was probably due to their contamination with plasma-membrane vesicles.
An enzyme degrading reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide in Proteus vulgaris
Authors: Davies R , King H K
Published: August 2015

Cell-free extracts of a strain of Proteus vulgaris degrade NADH to reduced nicotinamide riboside, adenosine and two molecules of phosphate. The system is weakly active in fresh cell extracts, but activity is increased about 10-fold on rapid heating to 70-100 degrees C. On returning to room temperature, the activity returns rapidly to its initial low value but can be re-activated by again heating to 70-100 degrees C. Reversible activation can also be effected by extremes of pH or by teatment with 8M-urea. Activation appears to be due to reversible changes in conformation of the protein of the enzyme rather than to combination of the enzyme with a heat-labile inhibitor. The active form can be stabilized by addition of PPi. The system, which also possesses 5′-nucleotidase activity not separable from the NADH pyrophosphatase, requires Co2+ (0.4mM) for maximum activity. Although activated at relatively high temperatures, it is not enzymically active until cooled to 50-60 degrees C. It may be purified by affinity chromatography (with NAD+ as ligand) to an activity over 400 times that of the crude cell extract, and yields only one major band on polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis.
Further characterization of galactosylhydroxylysyl glucosyltransferase from chick embryos. Amino acid composition and acceptor specificity
Authors: Anttinen H , Myllylä R , Kivirikko K I
Published: August 2015

A modified purification procedure, consisting of affinity chromatographies on concanavalin A-agarose, collagen-agarose and UDP-glucose-derivative-agarose and one gel filtration, is reported for galactosylhydroxylysyl glucosyltransferase. The enzyme obtained is entirely pure when studied by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. The enzyme protein was rich in glutamic acid + glutamine, aspartic acid + asparagine, glycine and alanine. The enzyme catalysed no significant glucose transfer to any of the glycoproteins tested, except for collagens. This included all the glycoproteins that have previously served as glucosyl acceptors for impure enzyme preparations, thus indicating a high degree of specificity of the enzyme for galactosylhydroxylysine. Galactosylsphingosine would act as a glucosyl acceptor, however. This compound has a close structural similarity to galactosylhydroxylysine in that they both have an unsubstituted amino group next to the hydroxy group to which the galactose is attached.
The separation of the mycobactins from Mycobacterium smegmatis by using high-pressure liquid chromatography
Authors: Ratledge C , Ewing D F
Published: August 2015

The family of mycobactins from Mycobacterium smegmatis were resolved into seven fractions by high-pressure liquid chromatography. This separation was by virtue of the differences in length and character of the long acyl substituents as shown by g.l.c. of the methyl esters of the isolated fatty acids from the fractions. As t.l.c. could also resolve the individual mycobactin fractions, it too must rely on the same differences to effect separation. As the lengths of the acyl chains were modulated by the growth conditions, a specific range of acyl groups may not be needed for mycobactin to function. This technique provides a simple means of rapidly characterizing crude mycobactins from all mycobacteria.
pH-jump studies at subzero temperatures on an intermediate in the reaction of xanthine oxidase with xanthine
Authors: Tsopanakis A D , Tanner S J , Bray R C
Published: August 2015

Xanthine oxidase is stable and active in aqueous dimethyl sulphoxide solutions of up to at least 57% (w/w). Simple techniques are described for mixing the enzyme in this solvent at–82 degrees C, with its substrate, xanthine. When working at high pH values under such conditions, no reaction occurred, as judged by the absence of e.p.r. signals. On warming to–60 degrees C, for 10 min, however, the Very Rapid molybdenum(V) e.p.r. signal was obtained. This signal did not change on decreasing the pH, while maintaining the sample in liquid nitrate reductase, caused its molybdenum(V) e.p.r. signal to change from the high-pH to the low-pH form. These findings are not compatible with the conclusions of Edmondson, Ballou, Van Heuvelen, Palmer & Massey [J. Biol. Chem. (1973) 248, 6135-6144], that the Very Rapid signal is in prototropic equilibrium with the Rapid signal, and should be important in understanding the mechanism of action of the enzyme. They emphasize the unique nature of the intermediate represented by the Very Rapid e.p.r. signal. The possible value of the pK for loss of an exchangeable proton from the Rapid signal is discussed.
Cartilage proteoglycan aggregates. Electronmicroscopic studies of native and fragmented molecules
Authors: Heinegård Dick , Lohmander Stefan , Thyberg Johan
Published: August 2015

1. Proteoglycan aggregates from bovine nasal cartilage were studied by using electron microscopy of proteoglycan/cytochrome c monolayers. 2. The aggregates contained a variably long central filament of hyaluronic acid with an average length of 1037nm. The proteoglycan monomers attached to the hyaluronic acid appeared as side chain filaments varying in length (averaging 249nm). They were distributed along the central filament at an average distance of about 36nm. 3. Chondroitin sulphate side chains were removed from the proteoglycan monomers of the aggregates by partial chondroitinase digestion. The molecules obtained had the same general appearance as intact aggregates. 4. Proteoglycan aggregates were treated with trypsin and the largest fragment, which contains the hyaluronic acid, link protein and hyaluronic acid-binding region, was recovered and studied with electron microscopy. Filaments that lacked the side chain extensions and had the same length as the central filament in the intact aggregate were observed. 5. Hyaluronic acid isolated after papain digestion of cartilage extracts gave filaments with similar length and size distribution as observed for the central filament both in the intact aggregate and in the trypsin digests. 6. Umbilical-cord hyaluronic acid was also studied and gave electron micrographs similar to those described for hyaluronic acid from cartilage. However, the length of the filament was somewhat shorter. 7. The electron micrographs of both intact and selectively degraded proteoglycans corroborate the current model of cartilage proteoglycan structure.
Synthesis of chloromethyl ketone derivatives of fatty acids. Their use as specific inhibitors of acetoacetyl-coenzyme A thiolase, cholesterol biosynthesis and fatty acid synthesis
Authors: Bloxham D P , Chalkley R A , Coghlin S J , Salam W
Published: August 2015

A general route for the synthesis of chloromethyl ketone derivatives of fatty acids is described. 5-Chloro-4-oxopentanoic acid, 7-chloro-6-oxoheptanoic acid, 9-chloro-8-oxononanoic acid and 11-chloro-10-oxoundecanoic acid were synthesized by this method and tested as covalent inhibitors of pig heart acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase. The K1 decreased by approx. 20-fold for each pair of methylenes added to the chain length, showing that the initial stage in inhibitor binding occurs at a non-polar region of the protein. This region is probably located at the enzyme active site, since inhibition was prevented by acetoacetyl-CoA or acetyl-CoA but not by CoA. The site of modification by chloromethyl ketone derivatives of fatty acids is restricted to a thiol group, since inactivation of the enzyme was prevented by reversible thiomethylation of the active-site thiol. In contrast, an amino-directed reagent, citraconic anhydride, still inactivated the enzyme, even when the active-site thiol was protected. Evidence that the enzyme thiol was particularly reactive came from studies on the pH-dependence of the alkylation reaction and thiol-competition experiments. Inhibition of the enzyme proceeded suprisingly well at acidic pH values and a 10(5) molar excess of external thiol over active-site thiol was required to prevent inhibition by 0.3 mM-9-chloro-8-oxononanoic acid. In addition to inhibiting isolated acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase, in hepatocytes the chloromethyl ketone derivatives of fatty acids also inhibited chloresterol synthesis, which uses this enzyme as an early step in the biosynthetic pathway. In isolated cells, the chloromethyl ketone derivatives of fatty acids were considerably less specific in their inhibitory action compared with 3-acetylenic derivatives of fatty acids, which act as suicide inhibitors of acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase. However, 9-chloro-8-oxononanoic acid was also an effective inhibitor of both hepatic cholesterol and fatty acid synthesis in mice in vivo, whereas the acetylenic fatty acid derivative, dec-3-ynoic acid, was completely ineffective. The effective inhibitory dose of 9-chloro-8-oxononanoic acid (2.5-5 mg/kg) was substantially lower than the estimated LD50 for the inhibitor (100 mg/kg).
Purification and properties of β-mannanases I and II from the germinated seeds of Trifolium repens. Mode of galactomannan degradation in vitro
Authors: Villarroya H , Williams J , Dey P , Villarroya S , Petek F
Published: August 2015

Two beta-mannanases (beta-mannosidases, EC 3.2.1.25) purified from the germinated seeds of Trifolium repens by a procedure that included chromatography on hydroxyapatite, gel filtration on acrylamide/agarose (Ultragel 5/4) and preparative polyacrylamide-gel-electrophoresis. The final purification step completely resolved two beta-mannanases with distinct specificities, which were termed beta-mannanase I and beta-mannanase II. beta-Mannanase I was purified 1400-fold and beta-mannanase II 1000-fold. The purified enzymes showed a single protein band when examined by polyacrylamide-gel disc electrophoresis. beta-Mannanase I, apparent mol.wt. 43 000, accounted for 49% of the total activity recovered from the final step of purification. beta-Mannanase II, apparent mol.wt. 38 000, accounted for the remaining 51% of activity. Molecular-weight determinations were by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and by the electrophoretic method of Hendrick & Smith [(1968) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 126, 155-164]. The substrate specificities of both enzymes were examined with the galactomannans of T. repens and of Medicago sativa, as well as with manno-oligosaccharides. The pH optimum was between pH 5.1 and 5.6 for both enzymes.
Effects of C apoproteins on the activity of endothelium-bound lipoprotein lipase
Authors: Lukens T W , Borensztajn J
Published: August 2015

Rat apoprotein C-II activated the hydrolysis of triacylglycerol in apoprotein-depleted chylomicrons by lipoprotein lipase in vitro and in the perfused rat heart. Apoproteins C-I and C-III-3 inhibited the hydrolysis of the triacylglycerol moiety in intact and apoprotein C-II-re-activated chylomicrons in vitro, but had no effect on the hydrolysis in situ.
Effect of glutamine on the degradation of glutamine synthetase in hepatoma tissue-culture cells
Authors: Crook R B , Tomkins G M
Published: August 2015

In certain lines of hepatoma tissue-culture cells, the extracellular glutamine concentration regulates the specific activity of glutamine synthetase. By quantifying the radioactivity in immunoprecipitated glutamine synthetase on polyacrylamide gels, we found that the rate of degradation, but not of synthesis, of glutamine synthetase is a sensitive function of extracellular glutamine. The activiy that degrades this enzyme appears to be labile.
Studies on the assembly of the rat lens capsule. Biosynthesis and partial characterization of the collagenous components
Authors: Heathcote J G , Sear C H J , Grant M E
Published: August 2015

1. Isolated rat lens capsules synthesized hydroxy[3H]proline-containing polypeptides when incubated with [3H]proline. 2. The collagenous polypeptides synthesized during a 2 h incubation were analyzed by both gel-filtration chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and shown to have an apparent mol.wt. of approx. 180,000. 3. No evidence was obtained for conversion of these polypeptides into a lower-molecular-weight species in experiments where capsules were labelled for 2 h and chased with non-radioactive proline for up to 22 h. However, a time-dependent incorporation of the 180,000-mol.wt. species into a larger collagenous component was observed and this could be prevented by the inclusion of beta-aminopropionitrile in the incubation medium. 4. The radioactive components synthesized by the capsules correspond to subunits of the intact lens capsule and the direct incorporation of the polypeptide of mol.wt. 180,000 into deoxycholate-insoluble basement membrane was demonstrated.
Stimulation of anterior pituitary prostaglandin E content and somatotropin (growth hormone) synthesis by phospholipase A
Authors: Betteridge A , Wallis M
Published: August 2015

The prostaglandin E content of dispersed rat anterior pituitary glands was found to increase in the presence of phospholipase A or arachidonic acid. The increases were abolished by the addition of indomethacin. Similarly, the rate of somatotropin (growth hormone) synthesis was increased by these two agents, and the increases were again abolished by indomethacin. Phospholipase A also stimulated somatotropin release. The stimulation of prostaglandin E accumulation was a specific response to those fatty acids that are precursors for prostaglandin synthesis. One such precursor, [3H]arachidonic acid, was incorporated by rat anterior pituitary glands in vitro, and found to be associated mainly with phosphatidylethanolamine-like material. It is concluded that the intracellular concentration of prostaglandin E is limited by the availability of precursor fatty acids and that this can be increased by the addition of exogenous precursors or by the action of exogenous phospholipase A on the cellular phospholipid. Factors that increased prostaglandin E concentrations also increase the rate of synthesis of somatotropin, providing further evidence for the concept that prostaglandin E is involved in modulation of the rate of synthesis of this hormone.
Studies on the fate of pulmonary surfactant in the lung
Authors: Desai R , Tetley T D , Curtis C G , Powell G M , Richards R J
Published: August 2015

1. Radioactively labelled pulmonary surfactant was prepared in an isolated perfused lung system provided with [14C]hexadecanoate. 2. After intratracheal administration of pulmonary surfactant radioactively labelled components were rapidly distributed into different lung fractions, including macrophages (free cells), but most of the radioactive label was accumulated by the lung tissue. 3. Alveolar macrophages, maintained in a variety of culture media in the presence and absence of mineral particles, incorporated a low percentage (11%) of radioactively labelled components when incubated with the surfactant, although evolution of labelled CO2 (6% of the original total activity) suggested that some breakdown of the components had taken place. 4. In similar cultures little intracellular accumulation or extracellular release of non-esterified fatty acids was demonstrated, indicating minimal catabolism of the high-molecular-weight lipid components of surfactant (particularly phosphatidylcholine). 5. However, experiments in vitro designed to simulate the lysosomal degradation of endocytosed surfactant indicated that the macrophage had enzymes capable of releasing non-esterified fatty acids, particularly hexadecanoate, from the lipoprotein complex. 6. It is argued that lung cells, other than alveolar macrophages, may also have a role in surfactant turnover.
Calcium-activated hydrolysis of phosphatidyl-myo-inositol 4-phosphate and phosphatidyl-myo-inositol 4,5-bisphosphate in guinea-pig synaptosomes
Authors: Griffin Harry D. , Hawthorne John N.
Published: August 2015

1. Addition of the bivalent ionophore A23187 to synaptosomes isolated from guinea-pig brain cortex and labelled with [32P]phosphate in vitro or in vivo caused a marked loss of radioactivity from phosphatidyl-myo-inositol 4-phosphate (diphosphoinositide) and phosphatidyl-myo-inositol 4,5-bisphosphate (triphosphoinositide) and stimulated labelling of phosphatidate. No change occurred in the labelling of other phospholipids. 2. In conditions that minimized changes in internal Mg2+ concentrations, the effect of ionophore A23187 on labelling of synaptosomal di- and tri-phosphoinositide was dependent on Ca2+ and was apparent at Ca2+ concentrations in the medium as low as 10−5m. 3. An increase in internal Mg2+ concentration stimulated incorporation of [32P]phosphate into di- and tri-phosphoinositide, whereas lowering internal Mg2+ decreased labelling. 4. Increased labelling of phosphatidate was independent of medium Mg2+ concentration and apparently only partly dependent on medium Ca2+ concentration. 5. The loss of label from di- and tri-phosphoinositide caused by ionophore A23187 was accompanied by losses in the amounts of both lipids. 6. Addition of excess of EGTA to synaptosomes treated with ionophore A23187 in the presence of Ca2+ caused a rapid resynthesis of di- and tri-phosphoinositide and a further stimulation of phosphatidate labelling. 7. Addition of ionophore A23187 to synaptosomes labelled in vivo with [3H]inositol caused a significant loss of label from di- and tri-phosphoinositide, but not from phosphatidylinositol. There was a considerable rise in labelling of inositol diphosphate, a small increase in that of inositol phosphate, but no significant production of inositol triphosphate. 8. 32P-labelled di- and tri-phosphoinositides appeared to be located in the synaptosomal plasma membrane. 9. The results indicate that increased Ca2+ influx into synaptosomes markedly activates triphosphoinositide phosphatase and diphosphoinositide phosphodiesterase, but has little or no effect on phosphatidylinositol phosphodiesterase.
Recognition of the Beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin and sub-determinants by target tissue receptors
Authors: Ramakrishnan S , Das C , Talwar G P
Published: August 2015

The beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin, purified immunochemically to eliminate undissociated human chorionic gonadotropin, induced testosterone production by mouse Leydig cells at concentrations 400-fold higher than human chorionic gonadotropin. Steroidogenesis was also stimulated by a synthetic fragment of the beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin conforming to the peptide sequence residues 39–71, whereas peptide sequence residues 39–56 and three C-terminal fragments (residues 115–145, 111–145 and 101–145) failed to cause steroidogenesis. These studies suggest the presence in the beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin of determinants recognized by the tissue receptors, a part of these determinants residing between amino acid residues 57–71.
Rat adipose-tissue glycerol phosphate acyltransferase can be inactivated by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase
Authors: Nimmo H G , Houston B
Published: August 2015

Rat adipose-tissue glycerol phosphate acyltransferase can be inactivated in a phosphorylation reaction catalysed by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and reactivated by treatment with alkaline phosphatase. These results suggest that phosphorylation of glycerol phosphate acyltransferase may be involved in the hormonal control of esterification.
Stable enhancement of calcium retention in mitochondria isolated from rat liver after the administration of glucagon to the intact animal
Authors: Prpić Veronica , Spencer Terry L. , Bygrave Fyfe L.
Published: August 2015

1. Mitochondria isolated from rat liver by centrifugation of the homogenate in buffered iso-osmotic sucrose at between 4000 and 8000g-min, 1h after the administration in vivo of 30μg of glucagon/100g body wt., retain Ca2+ for over 45min after its addition at 100nmol/mg of mitochondrial protein in the presence of 2mm-Pi. In similar experiments, but after the administration of saline (0.9% NaCl) in place of glucagon, Ca2+ is retained for 6–8min. The ability of glucagon to enhance Ca2+ retention is completely prevented by co-administration of 4.2mg of puromycin/100g body wt. 2. The resting rate of respiration after Ca2+ accumulation by mitochondria from glucagon-treated rats remains low by contrast with that from saline-treated rats. Respiration in the latter mitochondria increased markedly after the Ca2+ accumulation, reflecting the uncoupling action of the ion. 3. Concomitant with the enhanced retention of Ca2+ and low rates of resting respiration by mitochondria from glucagon-treated rats was an increased ability to retain endogenous adenine nucleotides. 4. An investigation of properties of mitochondria known to influence Ca2+ transport revealed a significantly higher concentration of adenine nucleotides but not of Pi in those from glucagon-treated rats. The membrane potential remained unchanged, but the transmembrane pH gradient increased by approx. 10mV, indicating increased alkalinity of the matrix space. 5. Depletion of endogenous adenine nucleotides by Pi treatment in mitochondria from both glucagon-treated and saline-treated rats led to a marked diminution in ability to retain Ca2+. The activity of the adenine nucleotide translocase was unaffected by glucagon treatment of rats in vivo. 6. Although the data are consistent with the argument that the Ca2+-translocation cycle in rat liver mitochondria is a target for glucagon action in vivo, they do not permit conclusions to be drawn about the molecular mechanisms involved in the glucagon-induced alteration to this cycle.
Microbial metabolism of amino alcohols. Formation of coenzyme B12-dependent ethanolamine ammonia-lyase and its concerted induction in Escherichia coli
Authors: Blackwell C M , Turner J M
Published: August 2015

1. Kinetic studies of ethanolamine ammonia-lyase formation by Escherichia coli suggested that coenzyme B12 (5′-deoxyadenosylcobalamin), with ethanolamine, is a co-inducer. 2. Enzymic and immunological tests failed to show the formation of complementary enzyme components induced separately by ethanolamine and cobalamin respectively. 3. Although specific for ethanolamine as the substrate, enzyme formation was induced by certain analogues, e.g. 2-aminopropan-1-ol. 4. Experiments with cyano[57Co]-cobalamin suggested that neither coenzyme B12 nor some more tightly bound coenzymically inactive cobamide was necessary for enzyme stability in vitro. 5. Mutants of E. coli were obtained which formed ethanolamine ammonia-lyase apoenzyme constitutively, showing that neither ethanolamine nor cobalamin was required for assembly or post-transcriptional stability of the enzyme in vivo. Constitutive enzyme formation was subject to catabolite repression, particularly by glucose. 6. It appears likely that ethanolamine and coenzyme B12, acting in concert, induce ethanolamine ammonia-lyase formation. The term ‘concerted’ induction is proposed for this phenomenon.
Differential effects of tryptophan on glucose synthesis in rats and guinea pigs
Authors: Smith S A , Elliott K R F , Pogson C I
Published: August 2015

1. Tryptophan inhibition of gluconeogenesis in isolated rat liver cells is characterized by a 20 min lag period before linear rates of glucose output are attained. 2. Half-maximal inhibition of gluconeogenesis in isolated rat hepatocytes is produced by approx. 0.1 mM-tryptophan. 3. Tryptophan inhibits gluconeogenesis from all substrates giving rise to oxaloacetate, but stimulates glycerol-fuelled glucose production. 4. Gluconeogenesis in guinea-pig hepatocytes is insensitive to tryptophan. 5. Changes in metabolite concentrations in rat liver cells are consistent with a locus of inhibition at the step catalysed by phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. 6. Inhibition of gluconeogenesis persists in cells from rats pretreated with tryptophan in vivo. 7. Tryptophan has no effect on urea production from alanine, but decreases [1-14C]palmitate oxidation to 14CO2 and is associated with an increased [hydroxybutyrate]/[acetoacetate] ratio. 8. These results are discussed with reference to the control of gluconeogenesis in various species.
Anion/calcium ion ratios and proton production in some mitochondrial calcium ion uptakes
Authors: Harris E J
Published: August 2015

The uptake of Ca2+ by liver mitochondria, when phosphate movement is inhibited, occurs when Co2 is present and not in its absence. Uptake of Ca2+ to form CaCO3 yields 2H+/Ca2+. Heart mitochondria, when phosphate movement is inhibited, will take up Ca2+ with the exact equivalent of hydroxybutyrate, lactate or acetate. By providing a carrier for Cl- with tributyltin, a stoicheiometric uptake of Cl- with the Ca2+ takes place. The uptakes appear to occur without significant pH change; there appears to be no CO2-dependent uptake into heart mitochondria. Oxygenation of anaerobic heart mitochondria, in the presence of an inhibitor of phosphate movement and of generation of phosphate from internal ATP, does not yield significant change of external acidity in relation to the amount of O2 added. Use of Bromothymol Blue as an indicator of the distribution of a weak acid anion confirms that the transient nature of the response of the dye distribution to Ca2+ is connected with movement of endogenous phosphate. Bromothymol Blue accumulated in response to Ca2+ is discharged when entry of the Ca2+ (in the presence of mersalyl) is mediated with nigericin. It is concluded that Ca2+ uptakes will occur alternatively with the equivalent of anions or in exchange for endogenous K+ and that proton production is connected with the changes of ionization of phosphate (unless phosphate movement is inhibited) and in liver mitochondria with the hydration of CO2.
The isolation and properties of pig submandibular kallikrein
Authors: Lemon Marius , Fiedler Franz , Förg-Brey Bruni , Hirschauer Christa , Leysath Gisela , Fritz Hans
Published: August 2015

The kallikrein from pig submandibular glands was highly purified, with an overall yield of 31%. Affinity chromatography on bovine basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor linked to Sepharose 4B was an especially effective step in the purification procedure, giving a purification factor of 80. The enzyme is a single-chain molecule, occurring, as does pig urinary kallikrein, as a major B-form of apparent mol.wt. 39600 and minor amounts of an A-form of apparent mol.wt. 35900; the two forms can be separated by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. The amino acid composition of pig submandibular kallikrein is very similar to, but not quite identical with, that of the two-chain β-kallikrein isolated from pig pancreatic autolysates. Submandibular kallikrein contains notably more glucosamine and hexoses than does pancreatic β-kallikrein. Submandibular kallikrein, and also urinary kallikrein, exhibit an unusual biphasic hydrolysis of substrate esters that is not shared by pancreatic β-kallikrein. For the submandibular enzyme, the Km for the initial reaction phase of the hydrolysis of α-N-benzoyl-l-arginine ethyl ester is 0.15±0.01mm (mean±s.e.m.), but rises to 0.69±0.04mm (mean±s.e.m.) in the stationary reaction phase; the Vmax. does not differ significantly between the two phases. The esterolytic activities of submandibular and urinary kallikreins on a number of esters of different amino acids resemble each other much more closely than those of pancreatic β-kallikrein.
Binding of human liver hydrolases by immobilized lectins
Authors: Fiddler M B , Ben-Yoseph Y , Nadler H L
Published: August 2015

The binding of 22 human liver hydrolase activities by immobilized lectins of six different carbohydrate specificities, namely alpha-D-mannose (glucose), D-N-acetylglucosamine, D-N-acetylgalactosamine, L-fucose, alpha-D-galactose and beta-D-galactose, were examined. Differences in binding among these enzymes and within specific enzymes were observed. For example, the neutral forms of alpha-mannosidase and beta-xylosidase were bound by the Ulex europaeus lectin I (specific for L-fucose), whereas the acidic forms were not. Bandierea simplicifolia lectin (specific for alpha-galactose) bound 65% of beta-glucuronidase activity; recycling experiments demonstrated complete binding of the enzyme that had been eluted with the competitor D-galactose and no binding of the fraction that was not initially bound. These results suggested the presence of two forms of this enzyme. Similar data were obtained for acidic beta-galactosidase activity. These experiments may provide the basis for the expanded use of immobilized lectins for purification and characterization of hydrolases and other glycoproteins.
Utilization of endogenous and exogenous sources of substrate for cholesterol biosynthesis by isolated hepatocytes
Authors: Gibbons Geoffrey F. , Pullinger Clive R.
Published: August 2015

The rates of cholesterol biosynthesis in isolated rat hepatocytes were determined by using a method based on measurement of the rate of formation of desmosterol (cholesta-5,24-dien-3β-ol), which accumulates during inhibition of cholesterogenesis by the drug triparanol. Incubation of cells from normal or 24h-starved animals in a medium containing albumin, glucose, amino acids and acetate as the only organic constituents led to an accelerating rate of sterol formation during the earlier stages of a 6h incubation period. The contribution of exogenously added acetate (initial concentration 3.34mm) to sterol synthesis in both types of cells reached an early maximum and then continually declined. Exogenously added pyruvate and lactate were more efficient sources of sterol carbon than was acetate. Exogenous glucose even at relatively high concentrations (11.1mm) was incapable of providing more than 6% of the total sterol carbon. Although the proportion of total sterol carbon supplied from exogenous acetate increased with increasing concentrations of the extracellular substrate, the rates of total sterol synthesis in both types of cell remained unchanged. Similar observations were made when lactate or pyruvate was the cholesterogenic precursor in normal cells. These studies suggest that, although exogenous substrates were capable of expanding an intracellular pool of cholesterol precursor, the normal supply of intermediary metabolites was not rate-limiting for cholesterogenesis.
The multiple forms and kinetic properties of the N-acetyl-β-d-hexosaminidases from colonic tumours and mucosa of rats treated with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine
Authors: Mian N , Herries D G , Cowen D M , Batte E A
Published: August 2015

The separation and purification of the N-acetyl-beta-D-hexosaminidase activities from tumours induced by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine in the rat colon and from colonic mucosa of tumour-bearing animals are reported. Mucosa contained N-acetylhexosaminidases A and B, as well as a third form whose properties with regard to electrophoretic mobility and thermostability lay between those of A and B. Tumours contained only N-acetylhexosaminidase A and B activities. Each form possessed both N-acetylglucosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.30) and N-acetylgalactosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.53) activities, which could not be separated by a variety of techniques. The alteration of the ratio of the two specific activities in each form during purification, together with differences in the kinetic inhibition constants and behaviour during inactivation by various reagents or a temperature of 50 degrees C, supported the belief that each form contains the two enzyme activities, glucosaminidase and galactosaminidase, at separate active sites. This model is in contrast with that reported for these activities from a number of other sources. A variety of treatments reported to cause the conversion of form A into a form resembling B failed to produce such an effect on the rat colonic hexosaminidases.
Activation of cathepsin D by glycine ethyl ester
Authors: Dionyssiou-Asteriou A , Rakitzis E T
Published: August 2015

Cathepsin D purified from bovine spleen is activated by glycine ethyl ester. A maximum of 70% activation was observed at a glycine ethyl ester concentration of 0.1 M and at pH 4.5. The activation effect appears to be reversible.
The preparation of stable enzyme-coenzyme complexes with endogenous catalytic activity
Authors: Gacesa P , Venn R F
Published: August 2015

N6-(6-Aminohexylcarbamoylmethyl)-NAD+ was coupled to lactate dehydrogenase by using glutaraldehyde to form an active complex. The stability of this complex could be considerably improved by reduction with KBH4, although this treatment caused a partial decrease in specific activity. NAD+ was also coupled directly to the enzyme by this method. All of these complexes exhibited an intrinsic activity in the absence of exogenous NAD+.
The synthesis of phenyl(2-3H)glyoxal
Authors: Augustus B W , Hutchinson D W
Published: August 2015

A simple inexpensive method has been developed for the synthesis of [2-3H]acetophenone, which has been converted into phenyl[2-3H]glyoxal. The latter compound has been used to modify arginine residues in alkaline phosphatase from two sources, and also a sialidase.
Triethyltin binding to cat haemoglobin. Evidence for two chemically distinct sites and a role for both histidine and cysteine residues
Authors: Elliott B M , Aldridge W N , Bridges J W
Published: August 2015

Triethyltin binding to cat haemoglobin was measured after pretreatment of the protein with diethyl pyrocarbonate at pH 6.0,iodoacetamide or phenylmercuric acetate or by photo-oxidation in the presence of Methylene Blue. The pentaco-ordinate nature of the binding of triethyltin to cat haemoglobin is confirmed by the inability of intramolecularly pentaco-ordinate tin compounds to compete. Consideration of the symmetry of the haemoglobin molecule in the light of the above results suggests that a unique arrangement of histidine and cysteine residues is required for the binding of triethyltin. The effects of treatment with diethyl pyrocarbonate of other preparations which bind triethyltin (rat liver supernatant, a fraction from rat liver mitochondria and rat brain myelin) were determined and shown to be complex.
Enzyme activity in partly dissociated fragments of rat intestinal maltase/glucoamylase
Authors: Flanagan P R , Forstner G G
Published: August 2015

Pure rat intestinal maltase/glucoamylase was partially inactivated in 1% sodium dodecyl sulphage by heating at 40–70 degree C for 5 min at pH 7.5, or by lowering the pH to 5.4–6.6 at 24 degree C. When partially active preparations were electrophoresed in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate, a complicated protein band pattern of incompletely dissociated fragments of the enzyme was observed. Complete dissociation of the enzyme in sodium dodecyl sulphate, induced by boiling or by pH values below 5.4, was accompanied by total loss of enzyme activity and simplification of the protein pattern to five major species. Although the original enzyme band was absent from some partially dissociated preparations, enzyme activity was present and was associated with several transient protein bands on the gels. Maltase and alpha-glucosidase activities were detected in these bands, but glucoamylase activity was absent.
The mechanism of reduction of single-site redox proteins by ascorbic acid
Authors: Al-Ayash A I , Wilson M T
Published: August 2015

The reduction of single-site haem and copper redox proteins by ascorbic acid was studied as a function of pH. Evidence is presented that indicates that the double-deprotonated ascorbate anion, ascorbate2-, is the reducing agent, and the pH-independent second-order rate constants for reduction by this species are given. Investigation of the temperature dependences of these rate constants have yielded the values of the activation parameters (delta H++ and delta S++) for reduction. These values, together with ligand-replacement studies, suggest that ascorbate2- acts as an outer-sphere reductant for these proteins. Reasons to account for the apparent inability of ascorbic acid to reduce the alkaline conformer of mammalian ferricytochrome c are suggested.
Control of 5-aminolaevulinate synthetase activity in Rhodopseudomonas spheroides. Purification and properties of the high-activity form of the enzyme
Authors: Davies R C , Neuberger A
Published: August 2015

1. The high-activity form of aminolaevulinate synthetase has been prepared from extracts of semi-anaerobically grown cells of Rhodopseudomonas spheroides, which were allowed to become activated in air. Specific activity was 130 000–170 000 nmol of aminolaevulinate/h per mg of protein at 37 degree C. 2. Enzyme fraction Ia prepared on DEAE-Sephadex was a mixture of four active enzymes, pI5.55, 5.45, 5.35 and 5.2, when prepared in either Tris or phosphate buffers and when extracts were activated by air or by cystine trisulphide. 3. The enzyme was further purified by preparative polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis in imidazole/veronal buffer, pH 7.6, followed by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 and concentration with DEAE-Sephadex. 4. The most active enzyme, pI 5.55, ran as a single protein band, mol.wt. 49 000, in sodium dodecyl sulphate and 2-mercaptoethanol. The apparent molecular weight under non-denaturing conditions was 62 000–68 000 on Sephadex G-100 or G-200, pH 7.5, and on polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, pH 8.5, at enzyme concentrations below 10 000 units/ml, i.e. less than 60 microgram of protein/ml, and the enzyme was mainly monomeric. 5. The enzyme was homogeneous by gel disc electrophoresis at pH 8.9 and 7.6, but a slightly more diffuse band of protein was obtained during electrophoresis in glycine buffer, pH 7.4. 6. Enzyme samples possessed an intrinsic yellow fluorescence when viewed under u.v. light and this fluorescence coincided exactly with enzymic activity on gel electrophoresis. Fluorescence maxima were 420 nm (excitation) and 495 nm (emission). 7. Radioactive 35S-labelled enzyme had 14 atoms of sulphur/mol of protein (or/40 leucine residues) of which 5–6 residues were cyst(e)ine and 8–9 residues were methionine. 8. Mo carbohydrate was detected apart from glucose, which prevented accurate determination of tryptophan with methanesulphonic acid and tryptamine.
Inhibitory effects of histidine and their reversal. The roles of pyruvate carboxylase and N10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase
Authors: Scrutton M C , Beis I
Published: August 2015

1. N10-Formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase was purified to homogeneity from rat liver with a specific activity of 0.7–0.8 unit/mg at 25 degrees C. The enzyme is a tetramer (Mw = 413,000) composed of four similar, if not identical, substrate addition and give the Km values as 4.5 micron [(-)-N10-formyltetrahydrofolate] and 0.92 micron (NADP+) at pH 7.0. Tetrahydrofolate acts as a potent product inhibitor [Ki = 7 micron for the (-)-isomer] which is competitive with respect to N10-formyltetrahydrofolate and non-competitive with respect to NADP+. 3. Product inhibition by NADPH could not be demonstrated. This coenzyme activates N10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase when added at concentrations, and in a ratio with NADP+, consistent with those present in rat liver in vivo. No effect of methionine, ethionine or their S-adenosyl derivatives could be demonstrated on the activity of the enzyme. 4. Hydrolysis of N10-formyltetrahydrofolate is catalysed by rat liver N10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase at 21% of the rate of CO2 formation based on comparison of apparent Vmax. values. The Km for (-)-N10-folate is a non-competitive inhibitor of this reaction with respect to N10-formyltetrahydrofolate, with a mean Ki of 21.5 micron for the (-)-isomer. NAD+ increases the maximal rate of N10-formyltetrahydrofolate hydrolysis without affecting the Km for this substrate and decreases inhibition by tetrahydrofolate. The activator constant for NAD+ is obtained as 0.35 mM. 5. Formiminoglutamate, a product of liver histidine metabolism which accumulates in conditions of excess histidine load, is a potent inhibitor of rat liver pyruvate carboxylase, with 50% inhibition being observed at a concentration of 2.8 mM, but has no detectable effect on the activity of rat liver cytosol phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase measured in the direction of oxaloacetate synthesis. We propose that the observed inhibition of pyruvate carboxylase by formiminoglutamate may account in part for the toxic effect of excess histidine.
The effects of calcium ions and pH on bovine prothrombin fragment 1. Intrinsic fluroescence studies
Authors: Scott M E , Koehler K A , Hiskey R G
Published: August 2015

The effects of pH and Ca2+ on the intrinsic fluorescence of bovine prothrombin fragment 1 were investigated to deduce the nature of protein functional groups involved in Ca2+ binding to fragment 1. From pH values of 9 to 3, increasing the H3O+ concentration results in quenching of the fluorescence of fragment 1. Reversible pH-titration curves are obtained which appear to consist of two regions. From pH 4 to pH6.5 a broad titration curve is obtained, whereas from pH6.5 to 9 a more pronounced titration behaviour is evidenced by a group or groups on fragment 1 with an apparent pKa of approx. 7.5. In contrast, the apparent association constant for Ca2+ and fragment 1 shows a sharp pH-dependence in the region between pH7 and 8 with tighter Ca2+ binding at higher pH values. A PKa of approx. 7.5 can be estimated for the group or groups on fragment 1 linked to the tight binding of Ca2+. Both H3O+ and Ca2+ result in blue-shifts in the wave-lengths of fragment-1 emission. These results are interpreted in terms of H+ - and Ca2+ - induced changes in the conformation of fragment 1 as a result of surface-charge neutralization.
Comparison of endogenous and exogenous RNA primers of poly(U) polymerase in rat hepatic ribosomes
Authors: Hayashi T T , MacFarlane K
Published: August 2015

The present work indicates that RNA primer requirements for poly(U) polymerase in the free ribosomes of the rat liver depend upon the degree of enzyme purification. The poly(U) polymerase activity obtained from a crude free ribosomal preparation was compared with the enzymic activity of a partially purified enzyme. After preliminary purification, the enzyme was fractionated by chromatography on Sephadex G-150 and CM-cellulose. Our results demonstrate the presence of several forms of poly(U) polymerase activities, some requiring exogenous RNA and others possessing their own endogenous primer RNA.