bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A re-assessment of the role of protein kinase C in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion
Authors: Hii C S T , Jones P M , Persaud S J , Howell S L
Published: August 2015

Isolated rat islets of Langerhans which had been pretreated with 200 nM-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) for 20-24 h, a treatment reported in other cell types to deplete cells of protein kinase C activity, were found not to contain detectable Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase activity. These islets did not secrete insulin in response to a subsequent exposure to PMA (0.1 or 1 microM) during a 30 min incubation, although insulin secretion could be stimulated by 20 mM-glucose, a response which was enhanced by 20 microM-forskolin. PMA-pretreated islets that had been permeabilized by high-voltage discharge showed unimpaired secretory responses to an increase in Ca2+ concentration, cyclic AMP and forskolin. These results suggest that (i) pretreatment of islets with tumour-promoting phorbol esters may be a useful means of investigating the role of protein kinase C in stimulus-secretion coupling in the pancreatic beta-cell and (ii) protein kinase C may not play an essential role in glucose-induced insulin secretion.
Purification and characterization of pyruvate: ferredoxin oxidoreductase from the anaerobic protozoon Trichomonas vaginalis
Authors: Williams K , Lowe P N , Leadlay P F
Published: August 2015

The pyruvate: ferredoxin oxidoreductase from the anaerobic protozoon Trichomonas vaginalis is an extrinsic protein bound to the hydrogenosomal membrane. It has been solubilized and purified to homogeneity, principally by salting-out chromatography on Sepharose 4B. Low recoveries of active enzyme were caused by inactivation by O2 and the irreversible loss of thiamin pyrophosphate. It is a dimeric enzyme of overall Mr 240,000 and subunit Mr 120,000. The enzyme contains, per mol of dimer, 7.3 +/- 0.3 mol of iron and 5.9 +/- 0.9 mol of acid-labile sulphur, suggesting the presence of two [4Fe-4S] centres, and 0.47 mol of thiamin pyrophosphate. The absorption spectrum of the enzyme is characteristic of a non-haem iron protein. The pyruvate: ferredoxin oxidoreductase from T. vaginalis is therefore broadly similar to the 2-oxo acid: ferredoxin (flavodoxin) oxidoreductases purified from bacterial sources, except that it is membrane-bound.
Effects of forskolin on contractile responses and protein phosphorylation in the isolated perfused rat heart
Authors: England P J , Shahid M
Published: August 2015

Continuous perfusion of rat hearts with concentrations of forskolin between 0.1 and 12 microM resulted in transient increases in tension after 45 s, followed by a return to the control value after 5 min. In contrast, the content of cyclic AMP increased linearly with time over this period, reaching values up to 35 times control after 5 min. Increases in contractile force, intracellular cyclic AMP concentration and the proportion of phosphorylase in the a form were dependent on the concentration of forskolin when measured 45 s and 120 s after initiation of perfusion. In hearts perfused for 45 s with various concentrations of forskolin, the measured cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratio and phosphorylase a content for a given measured intracellular cyclic AMP concentration were both much less than the corresponding values in hearts perfused for 30 s with various concentrations of isoprenaline. The phosphorylation of the contractile proteins troponin-I and C-protein also showed a concentration-dependent increase in hearts perfused with forskolin. There was a strong correlation between the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratios and the phosphorylation of the contractile proteins under all perfusion conditions. These results suggest that cyclic AMP is compartmented in perfused rat heart, and that much of the cyclic AMP produced in response to forskolin is unavailable to activate cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase.
Stimulation of phospholipid hydrolysis and arachidonic acid mobilization in human uterine decidua cells by phorbol ester
Authors: Schrey M P , Read A M , Steer P J
Published: August 2015

Vasopressin and oxytocin both stimulated inositol phosphate accumulation in isolated uterine decidua cells. Pretreatment of cells with the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) prevented this agonist-induced phosphoinositide hydrolysis. TPA (0.1 microM) alone had no effect on basal inositol phosphate accumulation, but stimulated phosphoinositide deacylation, as indicated by a 2-fold increase in lysophosphatidylinositol and glycerophosphoinositol. TPA also stimulated a dose-related release of arachidonic acid from decidua-cell phospholipid [phosphatidylcholine (PC) much greater than phosphatidylinositol (PI) greater than phosphatidylethanolamine]. The phorbol ester 4 beta-phorbol 12,13-diacetate (PDA) at 0.1 microM had no effect on arachidonic acid mobilization. The TPA-stimulated increase in arachidonic acid release was apparent by 2 1/2 min (116% of control), maximal after 20 min (283% of control), and remained around this value (306% of control) after 120 min incubation. TPA also stimulated significant increases in 1,2-diacylglycerol and monoacylglycerol production at 20 and 120 min. Although the temporal increases in arachidonic acid and monoacylglycerol accumulation in the presence of TPA continued up to 120 min, that of 1,2-diacylglycerol declined after 20 min. In decidua cells prelabelled with [3H]choline, TPA also stimulated a significant decrease in radiolabelled PC after 20 min, which was accompanied by an increased release of water-soluble metabolites into the medium. Most of the radioactivity in the extracellular pool was associated with choline, whereas the main cellular water-soluble metabolite was phosphorylcholine. TPA stimulated extracellular choline accumulation to 183% and 351% of basal release after 5 and 20 min respectively and cellular phosphorylcholine production to 136% of basal values after 20 min. These results are consistent with a model in which protein kinase C activation by TPA leads to arachidonic acid mobilization from decidua-cell phospholipid by a mechanism involving phospholipase A-mediated PI hydrolysis and phospholipase C-mediated PC hydrolysis, coupled with further hydrolysis of the 1,2-diacylglycerol product.
High-performance liquid chromatography of type-III heptocarboxylic porphyrinogen isomers
Authors: Lim C K , Li F , Peters T J
Published: August 2015

A reversed-phase h.p.l.c. system is described for the separation of the four type-III heptacarboxylic porphyrinogen isomers. The effects of buffer concentration, pH and type and proportion of organic modifier in the mobile phase on retention and resolution of isomers were studied. Optimum separation on an ODS-Hypersil column was by elution with a ternary mobile phase of acetonitrile, methanol and 1 M-ammonium acetate, pH 5.16 (7:3:90, by vol.). Isomer identification was based on a comparison of their retention times with those of authentic standards, and was further confirmed by h.p.l.c. analysis of the characteristic mixture of three pentacarboxylic porphyrins formed after partial decarboxylation of individual isomers in 0.3 M-HCl at 160 degrees C.
Nucleotide sequence of the Klebsiella pneumoniae nifD gene and predicted amino acid sequence of the α-subunit of nitrogenase MoFe protein
Authors: Ioannidis I , Buck M
Published: August 2015

The nucleotide sequence of the Klebsiella pneumoniae nifD gene is presented and together with the accompanying paper [Holland, Zilberstein, Zamir & Sussman (1987) Biochem. J. 247, 277-285] completes the sequence of the nifHDK genes encoding the nitrogenase polypeptides. The K. pneumoniae nifD gene encodes the 483-amino acid-residue nitrogenase alpha-subunit polypeptide of Mr 54156. The alpha-subunit has five strongly conserved cysteine residues at positions 63, 89, 155, 184 and 275, some occurring in a region showing both primary sequence and potential structural homology to the K. pneumoniae nitrogenase beta-subunit. A comparison with six other alpha-subunit amino acid sequences has been made, which indicates a number of potentially important domains within alpha-subunits.
ADP-ribosylation of a 21-24 kDa eukaryotic protein(s) by C3, a novel botulinum ADP-ribosyltransferase, is regulated by guanine nucleotide
Authors: Aktories K , Frevert J
Published: August 2015

Besides botulinum C2 toxin, Clostridium botulinum type C produces another ADP-ribosyltransferase, which we termed ‘C3’. ADP-ribosyltransferase C3 has a molecular mass of 25 kDa and modifies 21-24 kDa protein(s) in platelet and brain membranes. C3 was about 1000 times more potent than botulinum C1 toxin in ADP-ribosylation of membrane proteins. C3-catalysed ADP-ribosylation of the 21-24 kDa protein(s) was decreased by stable guanosine triphosphates, with the potency order GTP[S] much greater than p[NH]ppG greater than p[CH2]ppG. GTP[S] inhibited the ADP-ribosylation caused by C3 by maximally 70-80%, with half-maximal and maximal effects occurring at 0.3 and 10 microM-GTP[S] respectively. The concomitant addition of GTP decreased the inhibitory effect of GTP[S]. GTP[S]-induced inhibition of ADP-ribosylation was resistant to washing of pretreated platelet membranes. The data suggest that the novel botulinum ADP-ribosyltransferase C3 modifies eukaryotic 21-24 kDa guanine nucleotide-binding protein(s).
The interaction of streptokinase.plasminogen activator complex, tissue-type plasminogen activator, urokinase and their acylated derivatives with fibrin and cyanogen bromide digest of fibrinogen. Relationship to fibrinolytic potency in vitro
Authors: Cassels R , Fears R , Smith R A
Published: August 2015

The effects of purified soluble fibrin and of fibrinogen fragments (fibrin mimic) on the activation of Lys-plasminogen (i.e. plasminogen residues 77-790) to plasmin by streptokinase.plasminogen activator complex and by tissue-type plasminogen activator were studied. Dissociation constants of both activators were estimated to lie in the range 90-160 nM (fibrin) and 16-60 nM (CNBr-cleavage fragments of fibrinogen). The kinetic mechanism for both types of activator comprised non-essential enzyme activation via a Rapid Equilibrium Ordered Bireactant sequence. In order to relate the fibrin affinity of plasminogen activators to their fibrinolytic potency, the rate of lysis of supported human plasma clots formed in the presence of unmodified or active-centre-acylated precursors of plasminogen activators was studied as a function of the concentration of enzyme derivative. The concentrations of unmodified enzyme giving 50% lysis/h in this assay were 0.9, 2.0 and 11.0 nM for tissue-type plasminogen activator, streptokinase.plasmin(ogen) and urokinase respectively. However, the potencies of active-centre-acylated derivatives of these enzymes suggested that acylated-tissue plasminogen activator and streptokinase.plasminogen complexes of comparable hydrolytic stability were of comparable potency. Both types of acyl-enzyme were significantly more potent than acyl-urokinases.
Purification and properties of a novel Ca2+-binding protein (10.5 kDa) from Ehrlich-ascites-tumour cells
Authors: Kuźnicki J , Filipek A
Published: August 2015

A novel Ca2+-binding protein (CaBP) was identified in Ehrlich-ascites-tumour cells and purified to homogeneity. The molecular mass of this protein is about 10.5 kDa as estimated by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis in the presence of SDS. CaBP has two Ca2+-binding sites that bind Ca2+ with a dissociation constant of about 3 × 10(-6)M. Ca2+ binding to CaBP decreases its electrophoretic mobility in urea/polyacrylamide gels, changes its u.v. spectrum, increases the intrinsic tyrosine fluorescence intensity and strengthens hydrophobic interaction with the phenyl-Sepharose matrix.
The effects of recombinant tumour necrosis factor (cachectin) on metabolism in isolated rat adipocyte, hepatocyte and muscle preparations
Authors: Rofe A M , Conyers R A J , Bais R , Gamble J R , Vadas M A
Published: August 2015

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) did not stimulate lipolysis in isolated rat adipocytes, though preincubation with TNF increased adrenaline-stimulated fatty acid release. Glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis and ketogenesis in isolated rat hepatocytes were not influenced by TNF in short-term (30-60 min) incubations. TNF stimulated 14CO2 production from [U-14C]glucose in rat hemidiaphragm preparations, but lactate production and alanine release were not significantly altered. It is concluded that TNF does not regulate short-term metabolism in adipocytes, hepatocytes and muscle preparations in the manner of a catabolic hormone.
Interaction of bilirubin with human erythrocyte membranes. Bilirubin binding to neuraminidase- and phospholipase-treated membranes
Authors: Sato H , Aono S , Semba R , Kashiwamata S
Published: August 2015

Saturable bilirubin binding to human erythrocyte membranes was measured before and after digestion with neuraminidase and phospholipases. Neuraminidase-treated erythrocyte membranes did not show any change in their binding properties, indicating that gangliosides could be excluded as candidates for saturable bilirubin-binding sites on erythrocyte membranes. Although bilirubin-binding properties of the membranes did not change after phospholipase D digestion, either, phospholipase C treatment greatly enhanced bilirubin binding. Thus it is suggested that a negatively charged phosphoric acid moiety of phospholipids on the membrane surface may play a role to prevent a large amount of bilirubin from binding to the membranes. Further saturable bilirubin binding to inside-out sealed erythrocyte membrane vesicles showed values comparable with those of the right-side-out sealed membranes, suggesting that the bilirubin-binding sites may be distributed on both outer and inner surfaces of the membranes, or may exist in the membranes where bilirubin may be accessible from either side.
Purification and characterization of a high-Mr proteinase inhibitor of pro-phenol oxidase activation from crayfish plasma
Authors: Hergenhahn H G , Aspan A , Söderhäll K
Published: August 2015

Crayfish plasma was found to contain a proteinase inhibitor, which was purified to apparent homogeneity by acid precipitation, affinity chromatography on concanavalin A-Sepharose and hydrophobic-interaction chromatography. The inhibitor is a monomeric protein with an Mr of about 155,000 and a pI in the range 4.6-4.8. It is heat-stable and tolerant to low pH. It inhibits the serine proteinases trypsin and chymotrypsin, but not thrombin or subtilisin. Furthermore, it is efficient in decreasing the activity of a proteinase from crayfish haemolymph that is involved in the activation cascade of pro-phenol oxidase and can also block pro-phenol oxidase activation by this serine proteinase. This cascade is believed to play a central role in the recognition mechanism of non-self material in crustaceans and insects. The data presented give some evidence that the new proteinase inhibitor is involved in the regulation of this system.
Induction of synthesis of components of the hydrogen peroxide-generating oxidase during activation of the human monocytic cell line U937 by interferon-γ
Authors: Andrew P W , Robertson A K , Lowrie D B , Cross A R , Jones O T G
Published: August 2015

Increased amounts of cytochrome b-245 and a 45 kDa polypeptide component of the hydrogen peroxide-generating oxidase were detected in the human monocytic cell line U937 after incubation in interferon-gamma. The time course of increase in cytochrome b-245 paralleled the induction of oxidase activity. Induction of the 45 kDa component had a different time course, having a greater lag before increased amounts were seen.
Inhibition of catalase-dependent ethanol metabolism in alcohol dehydrogenase-deficient deermice by fructose
Authors: Handler J A , Bradford B U , Glassman E B , Forman D T , Thurman R G
Published: August 2015

Hepatic microsomal fractions from ADH (alcohol dehydrogenase)-negative deermice incubated with an NADPH-generating system metabolized butanol and ethanol at rates around 10 nmol/min per mg. In contrast, cytosolic catalase from ADH-negative deermouse liver oxidized ethanol, but not butanol, when incubated with an H2O2-generating system. Thus butanol is oxidized by cytochrome P-450 in microsomal fractions, but not by cytosolic catalase, in tissues from ADH-negative deermice. In perfused livers from ADH-negative deermice, rates of ethanol uptake at low concentrations of ethanol (1.5 mM) were about 60 mumol/h per g, yet butanol (1.5 mM) uptake was undetectable (less than 4 mumol/h per g). At higher concentrations of alcohol (25-30 mM), rates of ethanol uptake were about 80 mumol/h per g, whereas rates of butanol uptake were only about 9 mumol/h per g. Because rates of butanol metabolism via cytochrome P-450 in deermice were more than an order of magnitude lower than rates of ethanol uptake in livers from ADH-negative deermice, it is concluded that ethanol uptake by perfused livers from ADH-negative deermice is catalysed predominantly via catalase-H2O2. In support of this conclusion, rates of H2O2 generation, which are rate-limiting for the peroxidation of ethanol by catalase, were about 65 mumol/h per g in livers from ADH-negative deermice, values similar to rates of ethanol uptake of about 60 mumol/h per g measured under identical conditions. Rates of ethanol uptake by perfused livers from ADH-positive, but not from ADH-negative, deermice were increased by about 50% by infusion of fructose. Thus it is concluded that the stimulation of hepatic ethanol uptake by fructose is dependent on the presence of ADH. Unexpectedly, fructose decreased rates of ethanol metabolism and H2O2 generation by about 60% in perfused livers from ADH-negative deermice, probably by decreasing activation of fatty acids and thus diminishing rates of peroxisomal beta-oxidation.
β-lactamase I from Bacillus cereus. Structure and site-directed mutagenesis
Authors: Madgwick P J , Waley S G
Published: August 2015

The sequence of the gene for beta-lactamase I from Bacillus cereus 569/H has been redetermined. Oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis has been carried out, and the effects of the changes on the ampicillin-resistance of Escherichia coli TG1 expressing the mutant genes have been studied. Lysine-73, close to the active-site serine-70 and a highly-conserved residue, has been converted into arginine. This change had a large effect on activity, but did not abolish it. An even larger effect was found in the mutant in which glutamate-166 had been converted into glutamine; this had little or no activity. On the other hand, the conversion of glutamate-168 into aspartate gave fully active enzyme. Glutamate-166 is an invariant residue, but glutamate-168 is not. Alanine-123 has been replaced by cysteine, to give active enzyme; this change forms part of the plan to introduce a disulphide bond into the enzyme.
A stopped-flow calorimeter for biochemical applications
Authors: Howarth J V , Millar N C , Gutfreund H
Published: August 2015

A rapid-response stopped-flow calorimeter for small samples of reagents is described. The construction, performance characteristics and operational limitations are described, along with an example of its ability to resolve the kinetics of an enzyme-catalysed hydrolysis. It is thought likely that the method would find useful application in a variety of chemical and biochemical investigations.
Inhibition of the GTPase activity of transducin by an NAD+:arginine ADP-ribosyltransferase from turkey erythrocytes
Authors: Watkins P A , Kanaho Y , Moss J
Published: August 2015

The bacterial toxins, choleragen and pertussis toxin, inhibit the light-stimulated GTPase activity of bovine retinal rod outer segments by catalysing the ADP-ribosylation of the alpha-subunit (T alpha) of transducin [Abood, Hurley, Pappone, Bourne & Stryer (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 10540-10543; Van Dop, Yamanaka, Steinberg, Sekura, Manclark, Stryer & Bourne (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 23-26]. Incubation of retinal rod outer segments with NAD+ and a purified NAD+:arginine ADP-ribosyltransferase from turkey erythrocytes resulted in approx. 60% inhibition of GTPase activity. Inhibition was dependent on both enzyme and NAD+, and was potentiated by the non-hydrolysable GTP analogues guanosine 5′-[beta gamma-imido]triphosphate (p[NH]ppG) and guanosine 5′-[beta gamma-methylene]triphosphate (p[CH2]ppG). The transferase ADP-ribosylated both the T alpha and T beta subunits of purified transducin. T alpha (39 kDa), after ADP-ribosylation, migrated as two distinct peptides with molecular masses of 42 kDa and 46 kDa on SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. T beta (36 kDa), after ADP-ribosylation, migrated as a 38 kDa peptide. With purified transducin subunits, it was observed that the GTPase activity of ADP-ribosylated T alpha, reconstituted with unmodified T beta gamma and photolysed rhodopsin, was decreased by 80%; conversely, reconstitution of T alpha with ADP-ribosyl-T beta gamma resulted in only a 19% inhibition of GTPase. Thus ADP-ribosylation of T alpha, the transducin subunit that contains the guanine nucleotide-binding site, has more dramatic effects on GTPase activity than does modification of the critical ‘helper subunits’ T beta gamma. To elucidate the mechanism of GTPase inhibition by transferase, we studied the effect of ADP-ribosylation on p[NH]pp[3H]G binding to transducin. It was shown previously that modification of transducin by choleragen, which like transferase ADP-ribosylates arginine residues, did not affect guanine nucleotide binding. ADP-ribosylation by the transferase, however, decreased p[NH]pp[3H]G binding, consistent with the hypothesis that choleragen and transferase inhibit GTPase by different mechanisms.
Purification and characterization of a high-Mr carbonic anhydrase from sheep parotid gland
Authors: Fernley R T , Coghlan J P , Wright R D
Published: August 2015

Approximately half the carbonic anhydrase activity of sheep parotid-gland homogenate is derived from a high-Mr protein [Fernley, Wright & Coghlan (1979) FEBS Lett. 105, 299-302]. This enzyme has now been purified to homogeneity, and its properties were compared with those of the well-characterized sheep carbonic anhydrase II. The protein has an apparent Mr of 540,000 as measured by gel filtration under non-denaturing conditions and an apparent subunit Mr of 45,000 as measured by SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. After deglycosylation with the enzyme N-glycanase the protein migrates with an apparent Mr of 36,000 on SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. The CO2-hydrating activity was 340 units/mg compared with 488 units/mg for sheep carbonic anhydrase II measured under identical conditions. This enzyme does not, however, hydrolyse p-nitrophenyl acetate. The enzyme contains 0.8 g-atom of zinc/mol of protein subunit. The peptide maps of the two carbonic anhydrases differ significantly from one another, indicating they are not related closely structurally. Unlike the carbonic anhydrase II isoenzyme, which has a blocked N-terminus, the high-Mr enzyme has a free glycine residue at its N-terminus.
l-myo-inositol 1,4,5,6-tetrakisphosphate is present in both mammalian and avian cells
Authors: Stephens L , Hawkins P T , Carter N , Chahwala S B , Morris A J , Whetton A D , Downes P C
Published: August 2015

When myo-[3H]inositol-prelabelled primary-cultured murine bone-marrow-derived macrophages were challenged with platelet-activating factor (PAF; 200 ng/ml), there was a rapid (2.5-fold at 10 s) rise in the intracellular concentration of D-myo-[3H]inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, followed by a rise in myo-[3H]inositol tetrakisphosphate. myo-[3H]Inositol tetrakisphosphate fractions were isolated by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography from myo-[3H]inositol-prelabelled chick erythrocytes and primary-cultured macrophages. In both cases [3H]iditol and [3H]inositol were the only significant products (greater than 90% of recovered radioactivity) after oxidation to completion with periodic acid, reduction with NaBH4 and dephosphorylation with alkaline phosphatase. The presence of [3H]inositol after this procedure is consistent with the occurrence of [3H]inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate in the cell extracts, whereas [3H]iditol could only be derived from D- or L-inositol 1,4,5,6-tetrakisphosphate. When [3H]inositol tetrakisphosphate fractions obtained from (A) unstimulated macrophages, (B) macrophages that had been stimulated with PAF for 40s or (C) chick erythrocytes were subjected to the above procedure, radioactivity was recovered in these polyols in the following proportions: A, 60-90% in iditol, with 10-40% in inositol; B, total radioactivity increased by a factor of 9.8, 94% being recovered in inositol and 8% in iditol; C, 70-80% in iditol and 20-30% in inositol. [3H]Iditol derived from myo-[3H]inositol tetrakisphosphate fractions from macrophages and chick erythrocytes was oxidized to sorbose by L-iditol dehydrogenase (L-iditol:NAD+2-oxidoreductase, 1.1.1.14) at the same rate as authentic L-iditol. D-[14C]Iditol, derived from D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, was not oxidized by L-iditol dehydrogenase. This result indicates that the [3H]iditol was derived from L-myo-inositol inositol 1,4,5,6-tetrakisphosphate. The data are consistent with rapid PAF-sensitive synthesis of D-myo-[3H]inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate in macrophages, and demonstrate that L-myo-inositol 1,4,5,6-tetrakisphosphate is synthesized in both mammalian and avian cells. The levels of L-myo-[3H]inositol 1,4,5,6-tetrakisphosphate in primary-cultured macrophages are not acutely sensitive to PAF.
Lactotransferrin receptor of mouse small-intestinal brush border. Binding characteristics of membrane-bound and triton X-100-solubilized forms
Authors: Hu W L , Mazurier J , Sawatzki G , Montreuil J , Spik G
Published: August 2015

A specific lactotransferrin receptor was identified in the mouse small-intestinal brush-border membrane and the binding features were investigated in homologous and heterologous systems. The receptor was found to be specific for lactotransferrins isolated from milk of various species, but the affinity was higher toward the homologous ligand (Ka = 3.5 x 10(6) M-1 compared with 2.6 x 10(6) M-1 for both human and bovine lactotransferrins). However, the number of binding sites (n) was the same for the three lactotransferrins, namely 0.53 x 10(12)/micrograms of membrane protein. The binding of mouse lactotransferrin to its receptor was found to be pH-dependent, with an optimal binding at pH 5.5, and seemed unlikely to be carbohydrate-mediated. The receptor was demonstrated to be devoid of any affinity for human and mouse serotransferrins or for a ‘serotransferrin-like’ protein isolated from mouse milk. The receptor was solubilized with 1% Triton X-100 with good yield. The solubilized receptor was found to retain lactotransferrin-binding activity and sensitivity to pH.
Amino acid metabolism in tumour-bearing mice
Authors: Rivera S , Azcón-Bieto J , López-Soriano F J , Miralpeix M , Argilés J M
Published: August 2015

Mice bearing the Lewis lung carcinoma showed a high tumour glutaminase activity and significantly higher concentrations of most amino acids than in both the liver and the skeletal muscle of the host. Tumour tissue slices showed a marked preference for glutamine, especially for oxidation of its skeleton to CO2. It is proposed that the metabolism of this particular carcinoma is focused on amino acid degradation, glutamine being its preferred substrate.
Epidermal growth factor is synergistic with phorbol esters and vasopressin in stimulating arachidonate release and prostaglandin production in renal glomerular mesangial cells
Authors: Margolis B L , Bonventre J V , Kremer S G , Kudlow J E , Skorecki K L
Published: August 2015

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is produced in large quantities by the kidney. We identified EGF-binding sites on cultured rat renal glomerular mesangial cells. These cells serve as a model system for the investigation of renal prostaglandin biosynthesis. Since EGF has been shown to modulate phospholipase activity in other cell lines, we studied the ability of EGF to increase arachidonate release and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production in mesangial cells. We found that EGF stimulated arachidonate release and PGE2 production in the presence of the Ca2+ ionophore A23187. This stimulation was markedly potentiated by the addition of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), which activates protein kinase C. However, down-regulation of protein kinase C by prolonged PMA treatment did not block the ability of EGF to stimulate PGE2 production in the presence of A23187. EGF also markedly potentiated the stimulation of PGE2 production by vasopressin, which increases intracellular Ca2+ and activates protein kinase C in these cells. The stimulatory effects of EGF were not the result of prolongation or enhancement of an increase in intracellular Ca2+ produced by ionophore or vasopressin. Furthermore, the synergistic interaction of EGF with PMA and vasopressin occurred despite the fact that these agents markedly decreased EGF binding in mesangial cells, presumably owing to protein-kinase-C-mediated phosphorylation of the EGF receptor. We conclude that there exists a distinct pathway for EGF-stimulated arachidonate release and PGE2 production in rat renal glomerular mesangial cells, which is synergistic with, but not dependent on, activation of protein kinase C. In contrast with long-term mitogenic responses to EGF, this rapid response may allow delineation of the membrane phospholipid changes and signalling steps involved in this aspect of EGF action.
The complete amino acid sequence of human complement factor H
Authors: Ripoche J , Day A J , Harris T J R , Sim R B
Published: August 2015

The complete amino acid sequence of the human complement system regulatory protein, factor H, has been derived from sequencing three overlapping cDNA clones. The sequence consists of 1213 amino acids arranged in 20 homologous units, each about 60 amino acids long, and an 18-residue leader sequence. The 60-amino-acid-long repetitive units are homologous with those found in a large number of other complement and non-complement proteins. Two basic C-terminal residues, deduced from the cDNA sequence, are absent from factor H isolated from outdated plasma. A tyrosine/histidine polymorphism was observed within the seventh homologous repeat unit of factor H. This is likely to represent a difference between the two major allelic variants of factor H. The nature of the cDNA clones indicates that there is likely to be an alternative splicing mechanism, resulting in the formation of at least two species of factor H mRNA.
Characterization of lipases from the lipid bodies and microsomal membranes of erucic acid-free oilseed-rape (Brassica napus) cotyledons
Authors: Hills M J , Murphy D J
Published: August 2015

Lipase (triacylglycerol lipase, EC 3.1.1.3) activities have been reported previously in the lipid body and microsomal membranes of oilseed-rape (Brassica napus cv. Andor) seedlings, but conflicting data made it unclear whether there was one lipase in the lipid bodies, with the microsomal activity being attributable to fragments of lipid-body membrane, or if there were two separate lipase activities. In the present study, simultaneous characterization of the lipases under identical conditions showed they differed substantially in their pH-activity curves, kinetics and substrate specificities. (1) The kinetics of the microsomal lipase showed that the rate of lipolysis reached a plateau at concentrations above 5 mM, whereas the lipid-body lipase showed a linear increase in activity with substrate concentration up to 20 mM. (2) The pH optimum of the microsomal lipase was 7.5, whereas that of the lipid-body lipase was 9.0. The microsomal lipase was greatly inhibited at higher pH values, whereas the lipid-body lipase was much less affected. (3) Activity of the microsomal lipase was greatly diminished when substrates with longer chain length were used, and enhanced 4-fold if the substrates contained a single double bond. The lipid-body lipase was relatively unaffected by the type of fatty acid in the triacylglycerol. (4) SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis showed little or no cross-contamination of the lipid-body and microsomal fractions. (5) The microsomal lipase activity comprised 75-80% of the total extracted.
The purification and properties of myo-inositol monophosphatase from bovine brain
Authors: Gee N S , Ragan C I , Watling K J , Aspley S , Jackson R G , Reid G G , Gani D , Shute J K
Published: August 2015

1. An inositol monophosphatase was purified to homogeneity from bovine brain. 2. The enzyme is a dimer of subunit Mr 29,000. 3. The enzyme hydrolyses both enantiomers of myo-inositol 1-phosphate and both enantiomers of myo-inositol 4-phosphate, but has no activity towards inositol bisphosphates, inositol trisphosphates or inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate. 4. Several non-inositol-containing monophosphates are also substrates. 5. The enzyme requires Mg2+ for activity, and Zn2+ supports activity to a small extent. 6. Other bivalent cations (including Zn2+) are inhibitors, competitive with Mg2+. 7. Phosphate, but not inositol, is an inhibitor competitive with substrate. 8. Li+ inhibits hydrolysis of inositol 1-phosphate and inositol 4-phosphate uncompetitively with different apparent Ki values (1.0 mM and 0.26 mM respectively).
Structure elucidation of two differentiation inducing factors (DIF-2 and DIF-3) from the cellular slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum
Authors: Morris H R , Masento M S , Taylor G W , Jermyn K A , Kay R R
Published: August 2015

Two endogenous differentiation-inducing factors (DIF-2 and DIF-3), which induce stalk-cell differentiation in the cellular slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum, have been identified as the pentan-1-one and monochloro analogues respectively of (1-[(3,5-dichloro-2,6-dihydroxy-4-methoxy)phenyl]hexan-1-one). These compounds represent a new chemical class of effector molecules.
Two genes encoding ‘minor’ legumin polypeptides in pea (Pisum sativum L.). Characterization and complete sequence of the LegJ gene
Authors: Gatehouse J A , Bown D , Gilroy J , Levasseur M , Castleton J , Ellis T H N
Published: August 2015

A genomic clone from pea (Pisum sativum L.) contains all of one gene encoding a ‘minor’ (B-type) legumin polypeptide, and most of a second very similar gene. The two genes, designated LegJ and LegK, are arranged in tandem, separated by approx. 6 kb. A complete sequence of gene LegJ and its flanking sequences is given, with as much of the sequence of gene LegK as is present on the genomic clone. Hybridization of 3′ flanking sequence probes to seed mRNA, and sequence comparisons with cDNA species, suggested that gene LegJ, and probably gene LegK, was expressed. The partial amino acid sequences of ‘minor’ legumin α- and beta-polypeptides were used to confirm the identity of these genes. The transciption start in gene LegJ was mapped. The 5′ flanking sequence of gene LegJ contains a sequence conserved in legumin genes from pea and other species, which is likely to have functional significance in control of gene expression. Sequence comparisons with legumin genes and cDNA species from Vicia faba and soya bean show that separation of legumin genes into A- and B-type subfamilies occurred before separation of the Viciae and Glycinae tribes.
Relationship between membrane sterol composition and responsiveness to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate in HL-60 human promyelocytic leukaemia cell lines
Authors: Malvoisin E , Wild F , Zwingelstein G
Published: August 2015

We have examined the sterol composition and metabolism of promyelocytic leukaemia cell lines (HL-60) after treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA). A variant cell line (Blast II cells) which is resistant to TPA was used as control. Analysis of the sterols of TPA-sensitive cells radiolabelled with [3H]leucine, [14C]acetate or [14C]pyruvate showed a high incorporation into cholesterol and a low incorporation in lanosterol + dihydrolanosterol. The inverse relationship was observed in TPA-resistant cells. Experiments with other cellular variants representing TPA-sensitive and TPA-resistant classes gave similar results. Analysis of the cellular sterol composition by gas chromatography confirmed that TPA-resistant cells are particularly rich in lanosterol/dihydrolanosterol. TPA treatment enhanced the incorporation of [14C]pyruvate into the sterol fraction of both cell types. This was accompanied by an alteration of incorporation into several lipids, particularly phospholipids. Pulse-chase studies with [14C]acetate revealed that TPA induced the release of radioactive lipids into the medium from HL-60 and Blast II cells. However this treatment released phospholipids from the TPA-sensitive cells and sterols and fatty acids from the TPA-resistant cells. We conclude that the sterol composition can regulate specific biochemical processes in the membrane and can be considered as a factor that plays a role in the responsiveness of HL-60 cells to TPA.
A novel assay for 5′-nucleotidase using 1,N6-etheno-AMP as substrate, and comments on the properties of the reaction product, ethenoadenosine
Authors: Jamal Z , Afkham-Ebrahimi A , Saggerson E D
Published: August 2015

A novel assay for 5′-nucleotidase is described in which 1,N6-etheno-AMP is converted into ethenoadenosine. The product ethenoadenosine is neither a substrate for nor an inhibitor of adenosine deaminase. Ethenoadenosine appears to have little effect at adenosine receptors on adipose-tissue cells.
Guanine nucleotides stimulate polyphosphoinositide phosphodiesterase and exocytotic secretion from HL60 cells permeabilized with streptolysin O
Authors: Stutchfield J , Cockcroft S
Published: August 2015

The non-differentiated HL60 cell can be stimulated to secrete when Ca2+ and guanosine 5′-[gamma-thio]-triphosphate (GTP gamma S) are introduced into streptolysin-O-permeabilized cells. Secretion is accompanied by activation of polyphosphoinositide phosphodiesterase (PPI-pde). Both responses show a concentration-dependence on Ca2+ between pCa 8 and pCa 5. The half-maximal requirements for Ca2+ for PPI-pde activation and secretion are pCa 6.4 +/- 0.1 and pCa 6.2 +/- 0.2 respectively. The rank order of potency of the GTP analogues to stimulate PPI-pde activation and secretion is similar; GTP gamma S greater than guanosine 5′-[beta gamma-imido]-triphosphate greater than guanosine 5′-[beta gamma-methylene]triphosphate greater than XTP approximately equal to ITP, but the maximal response achieved by each compound compared with GTP gamma S is much greater for secretion than for PPI-pde activation. A dissociation of the two responses is obtained with 10 mM-XTP and -ITP; secretion is always observed but not inositol trisphosphate formation at this concentration. GTP, dGTP, UTP and CTP are inactive for both secretion and PPI-pde activation. Both GDP and dGDP are competitive inhibitors of both GTP gamma S-induced secretion and PPI-pde activation. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate could not fully substitute for GTP gamma S in stimulating secretion, suggesting that the effect of GTP gamma S cannot result simply from the generation of diacylglycerol. In the absence of MgATP, secretion and PPI-pde activation is still evident, albeit at a reduced level. This also supports the hypothesis that protein kinase C-dependent phosphorylation is not essential for secretion. The effect of MgATP is to enhance secretion, and to reduce both the Ca2+ and GTP gamma S requirement for secretion. In conclusion, two roles for guanine nucleotides can be identified; one for activating PPI-pde (GP) and the other for activating exocytosis (GE), acting in series.
Genetic variants of human red-cell membrane sialoglycoprotein β. Study of the alterations occurring in the sialoglycoprotein-β gene
Authors: Tanner M J , High S , Martin P G , Anstee D J , Judson P A , Jones T J
Published: August 2015

We have studied the DNA of individuals who express an altered sialoglycoprotein beta on their red cells by using Southern blotting with sialoglycoprotein-beta cDNA probes. Individuals of the Leach phenotype do not express any beta (sialoglycoprotein beta) or gamma (sialoglycoprotein gamma) on their red cells, and we show that about 7 kb of DNA, including the 3′ end of the beta gene, is deleted in this DNA. Any protein product of this gene is likely to lack the membrane-associating domain of beta. We have also examined the DNA of two types of other individuals (Yus-type and Gerbich-type) who have red cells that lack beta and gamma, but contain abnormal sialoglycoproteins related to beta. These two types of DNA contain different internal deletions of about 6 kb in the beta gene. We suggest that these deletions result from the presence of two different sets of internal homology in the beta gene, and on this basis we propose structures for the abnormal Yus-type and Gerbich-type sialoglycoproteins which are consistent with the other evidence that is available. We provide evidence that beta and gamma are products of the same gene and suggest a possible mechanism for the origin of gamma based on leaky initiation of translation of beta mRNA.
Purification and characterization of a heat-stable esterase from the thermoacidophilic archaebacterium Sulfolobus acidocaldarius
Authors: Sobek H , Görisch H
Published: August 2015

A heat-stable esterase has been purified 1080-fold to electrophoretic homogeneity from Sulfolobus acidocaldarius, a thermoacidophilic archaebacterium; 20% of the starting activity is recovered. The purified enzyme shows a specific activity of 158 units/mg, based on the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl acetate. The esterase hydrolyses short-chain p-nitrophenyl esters, aliphatic esters and triacylglycerols. It is strongly inhibited by paraoxon and phenylmethanesulphonyl fluoride, but only weakly by eserine. From sedimentation-equilibrium data and molecular sieving in polyacrylamide gels, the Mr of the esterase is estimated to be 117000-128000. SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis reveals a single band of protein, of Mr 32000. The purified esterase crystallizes in the presence of poly(ethylene glycol) in short rods. The enzyme is inactivated only on prolonged storage at temperature above 90 degrees C.
Identification of vitamin K-dependent carboxylase activity in lung type II cells but not in lung macrophages
Authors: Wallin R , Rannels S R
Published: August 2015

Fluorography of 14C-labelled glutamic acid residues in vitamin K-dependent protein precursors in lung microsomes (microsomal fractions) shows that the lung has several substrates that are not found in the liver. These precursor proteins unique to the lung have apparent molecular masses of 65, 53, 50, 36, 31 and 13 kDa. Type II epithelial cells appear to synthesize most of the vitamin K-dependent proteins in the lung. The 36 and the 31 kDa precursors also found in Type-II-cell microsomes have a similar molecular mass to those of surfactant-associated proteins, and we have previously shown [Rannels, Gallaher, Wallin & Rannels (1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84, 5952-5956] that the 36 kDa protein is one of the precursors for these proteins. Immunoblotting of membrane fragments of Type-II-cell microsomes with plasma prothrombin antibodies identified two prothrombin-like antigens of apparent molecular masses 68 and 65 kDa. This raises the question as to whether Type II cells are also a potential site for synthesis of prothrombin and possibly other vitamin K-dependent clotting factors. Pulmonary macrophages appear to be devoid of vitamin K-dependent carboxylase activity. However, Type II epithelial cells have significant activity, and this activity was unaltered when these cells were maintained in primary culture for 3 days, suggesting that carboxylase activity is expressed in lung alveolar epithelium independently of culture-induced changes in cellular differentiation. Carboxylase activity in Type II cells was enhanced 2-fold when cells were cultured for 24 h in the presence of 50 microM-warfarin. Type II cells, therefore, resemble hepatocytes with regard to their response to coumarin anticoagulant drugs.
Effect of ovarian steroids on membrane ATPase activities in microsomes (microsomal fractions) from rat myometrium. Inhibition of a component of the Mg2+-activated ATPase by Ca2+-calmodulin and by oxytocin
Authors: Missiaen L , Wuytack F , Casteels R
Published: August 2015

The activities of Mg2+-ATPase (Mg2+-activated ATPase), (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-activated ATPase and (Na+ + K+)-activated ATPase have been determined in microsomes (microsomal fractions) obtained from rat myometrium under different hormonal conditions. Animals were either ovariectomized and treated for a prolonged period of time with 17 beta-oestradiol or progesterone, or myometria were obtained at day 21 of pregnancy. In each case the endometrium was carefully removed. The Mg2+-ATPase consists of two components: an inactivating labile component and a second constant component. The rate of ATP hydrolysis by the labile component of the Mg2+-ATPase declines exponentially as a function of time after adding the membranes to the assay medium; this inactivation is caused by the presence of ATP in the medium. This ATPase activity inhibited by ATP is catalysed by a labile enzyme and hence it gradually diminishes within a few hours, even when the microsomes are kept on ice. This labile component has the highest activity in microsomes from pregnant rats, a lower activity in progesterone-treated rats, and the lowest in 17 beta-oestradiol-treated rats. This component of the Mg2+-ATPase is not affected by 90 nM-oxytocin. The constant component of the Mg2+-ATPase must be ascribed to a different enzyme, which, in contrast with the labile component, is very stable and not affected by the hormonal status of the animal. This constant component of the Mg2+-ATPase is inhibited both by Ca2+-calmodulin, and by oxytocin in microsomes from pregnant and from progesterone-treated animals, whereas such inhibition does not occur in microsomes from 17 beta-oestradiol-treated animals. The activity of the (Na+ + K+)-activated ATPase is not dependent on the hormonal status of the animal. Myometrial microsomes present an ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport, irrespective of the hormonal condition, but only in microsomes obtained from rats treated with 17 beta-oestradiol, can a (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-activated ATPase activity be demonstrated. This activity can be stimulated by calmodulin.
Use of progress curves to estimate the co-substrate-to-substrate flow ratio of a symport mechanism. Application to the isoleucine-Na+ symport of mouse ascites-tumour cells and to the lactose-proton symport
Authors: Eddy A A , Hopkins P , Johnson E R
Published: August 2015

The model envisages two components in the process, whereby Ht equivalents of co-substrate and St equivalents of substrate accumulate in the cellular compartment in time t. The first is the flow through the symport, n equivalents of co-substrate entering or leaving with each substrate equivalent. The second is the basal flow of co-substrate outside the symport. In certain specific circumstances n can be derived by plotting Ht/t against St/t. The principal requirement is that, whereas the ratio of the component flows must change in the interval t, the magnitude of the basal flow must either be zero or constant. The procedure is applied to published observations [West & Mitchell (1973) Biochem. J. 132, 587-592] on the lactose-proton symport of Escherichia coli [n = 1.075 +/- 0.064(7)] and to new observations on the isoleucine-Na+ symport of mouse ascites-tumour cells [n = 1.136 +/- 0.120(18)].