bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characteristics of the transport of alanine, serine and glutamine across the plasma membrane of isolated rat liver cells
Authors: Joseph S K , Bradford N M , McGivan J D
Published: August 2015

1. Alanine, glutamine and serine were actively accumulated in liver cells isolated from starved rats. 2. This accumulation was inhibited when either Na+ or HCO3- ions were omitted from the incubation medium. In general the degree of dependence on Na+ was quantitatively similar to that on HCO3-. 3. The apparent Km values for the transport of all three amino acids were in the range 3–5mM with Vmax. values in the range 15–25nmol/min per mg of cell protein at 37 degrees C. 4. Alanine and serine transport were mutually competitive; glutamine inhibited the transport of alanine and serine non-competitively. 5. The initial rate of transport of these amino acids was inhibited when the intracellular content of ATP was decreased. 6. Ouabain inhibited the rate of alanine transport without inhibiting the rate of alanine metabolism. 7. It is concluded that a minimum of three transport systems must be postulated to exist in the liver cell plasma membrane to account for the transport of alanine, serine and glutamine. The rate of transport of these amino acids in isolated hepatocytes is unlikely to limit the rate at which they are metabolized.
The effects of ammonium chloride and bicarbonate on the activity of glutaminase in isolated liver mitochondria
Authors: Joseph S K , McGivan J D
Published: August 2015

1. Glutamine hydrolysis in liver mitochondria was studied by measuring the production of glutamate under conditions where this compound could not be further metabolized. 2. Glutaminase activity in intact mitochondria was very low in the absence of activators. 3. Glutamine hydrolysis was markedly stimulated by NH4Cl and also by HCO3- ions. 4. The stimulation by each of these compounds was much decreased if the mitochondria were uncoupled. 5. Maximum rates of glutamine hydrolysis required the addition of phosphate. A correlation was observed between the activity of glutaminase in the presence of NH4Cl plus HCO3- and the intramitochondrial content of ATP. 6. In disrupted mitochondria, NH4Cl stimulated glutaminase to a much smaller extent than in intact mitochondria. The NH4Cl stimulation in disrupted mitochondria was much increased by the addition of ATP. KHCO3 also stimulated glutaminase activity in disrupted mitochondria, and ATP increased the magnitude of this stimulation. 7. It was concluded that maximum rates of glutaminase activity in liver mitochondria require the presence of phosphate, ATP and either HCO3- or NH4+. A comparison of the results obtained on intact and broken mitochondria indicates that these effectors have a direct effect on the glutaminase enzyme system rather than an indirect effect mediated by changes in transmembrane ion gradients or in the concentrations of intramitochondrial metabolites.
Choice of precursors for the measurement of protein turnover by the double-isotope method. Application to the study of mitochondrial proteins
Authors: Burgess R J , Walker J H , Mayer R J
Published: August 2015

1. The double-isotope concept [Arias, Doyle & Schimke (1969) J. Biol. Chem. 224, 3303–3315] for the measurement of protein turnover was used to estimate the turnover of proteins in subcellular and submitochondrial fractions prepared from rat liver. 2. Double-isotope experiments with [3H]leucine as first precursor and [14C]leucine as second precursor were used to measure the turnover rates of proteins in subcellular and submitochondrial fractions. Solvent extraction procedures designed to remove lipids and nucleic acids from trichloroacetic acid precipitates only changed the isotope ratio of the microsomal fraction. It was not possible to measure turnover of proteins in mitochondrial and submitochondrial fractions with these precursors. 3. Double-isotope experiments were designed to minimize first-precursor reutilization by employing NaH14CO3. [3H]Arginine was used as second precursor. The turnover rates of protein in subcellular and submitochondrial fractions was measured. Solvent extraction procedures designed to remove lipids and nucleic acids showed changes in the isotope ratio for all subcellular fractions, especially in microsomal and detergent-soluble mitochondrial fractions. Isotope ratios of precipitates after solvent extraction indicate that, whereas considerable heterogeneity exists for the average rates of protein turnover in subcellular fractions, little heterogeneity is observed in the average rates of protein turnover in submitochondrial fractions.
Proteinase and proteinase-inhibitor activities of rat uterine myometrium during pregnancy and involution
Authors: Afting E G , Becker M L , Elce J S
Published: August 2015

A supernatant fraction was prepared from rat uterine myometrium by homogenization, sonication and centrifugation. In this supernatant the protein concentration and the activities of an acid proteinase, an acid phosphatase and a proteinase inhibitor were measured. From the fibrous sediment, after washing with 0.5% Triton X-100 and with water, an actomyosin-containing solution was obtained by extraction with 0.6M-NaCl, and in this extract the protein concentration and a neutral proteinase activity were measured. The myometrial wet weight and the activities of the acid proteinase, acid phosphatase and proteinase inhibitor increased by factors of 3-15 during pregnancy and decreased to the same or a greater extent during involution. The amount of protein extracted with 0.6M-NaCl increased by a factor of only 2.3 and the neutral proteinase activity remained essentially constant during pregnancy and involution. The pH optimum of the neutral proteinase, and its pattern of activity compared with those of the lysosomal enzymes, show that the neutral proteinase is not of lysosomal origin. Actomyosin is degraded by the neutral proteinase activity in vitro. Since actomyosin is rapidly broken down only after parturition, the action of the neutral proteinase activity on actomyosin, if this occurs in vivo, must be regulated in some way. The proteinase-inhibitor activity measured in the first supernatant varied in a manner which suggested that it could be involved in this control.
Measurement in vivo of hydrogenase-catalysed hydrogen evolution in the presence of nitrogenase enzyme in cyanobacteria
Authors: Daday A , Lambert G R , Smith G D
Published: August 2015

A method was devised that allows measurement in vivo of hydrogenase-catalysed H2 evolution from the cyanobacterium Anabaena cylindrica, independent of nitrogenase activity, which is also present. Addition of low concentrations of reduced Methyl Viologen (1-10mM) to intact heterocystous filaments of the organism resulted in H2 evolution, but produced conditions giving total inhibition of nitrogenase (acetylene-reducing and H2-evolving) activity. That the H2 formed under these conditions was not contributed to by nitrogenase was also supported by the observation that its rate of formation was similar in the dark or with Ar replaced by N2 in the gas phase, and also in view of the pattern of H2 evolution at very low Methyl Viologen concentrations. Conclusive evidence that the H2 formed in the presence of Methyl Viologen was solely hydrogenase-mediated was its evolution even from nitrogenase-free (non-heterocystous) cultures; by contrast ‘uptake’ hydrogenase activity in such cultures was greatly decreased. The hydrogenase activity was inhibited by CO and little affected by acetylene. Finally the hydrogenase activity was shown to be relatively constant at different stages during the batch growth of the organism, as opposed to nitrogenase activity, which varied.
The identification of distinctive forms of human α2-macroglobulin by using the numerical relationship between trypsin binding in α- and β-modes
Authors: Topping R M , Craven A H
Published: August 2015

Interactions between the serine proteinase trypsin and the protein proteinase inhibitors in human blood were expressed in terms of a coupled set of non-linear differential equations, which has been solved for each of 110 samples of serum obtained from colleagues and from a variety of hospital sources. Optimization of nine unknown theoretical parameters and 21 experimental rate measurements of the hydrolytic activity of trypsin in free and bound states after admixture with various amounts of a given serum was achieved by an iterative procedure using initial estimates of the parameters derived from the “four-straight-line” model described in the preceding paper [Topping & Seilman (1979) Biochem. J. 177, 493–499.] Such a procedure yielded the following information for each sample of serum examined: (a) the concentrations of alpha 1-antitrypsin and alpha 2-macroglobulin; (b) the unequivocal assignment of alpha 2-macroglobulin into one of seven categories on the basis of trypsin binding in two kinetically differentiated modes (alpha and beta); (c) the hydrolytic activities of trypsin (versus Bz-Arg-OEt) when bound to alpha 1-antitrypsin, and to alpha 2-macroglobulin in the alpha- and beta-modes. Molecular interpretations of the binding of trypsin to alpha 2-macroglobulin are discussed and the potential clinical value of recognizing the nature of such binding is reported.
The assay of xylosyltransferase in cartilage extracts. A modified procedure for preparation of Smith-degraded proteoglycan
Authors: Sandy J D
Published: August 2015

A modification of the published method [Baker, Rodén & Stoolmiller (1972) J. Biol. Chem. 247, 3838–3847] for preparation of Smith-degraded proteoglycan is described. The new method is based on the finding that most of the chondroitin sulphate is cleaved from proteoglycan core protein by periodate oxidation. The borohydride reduction procedure was modified because the periodate-oxidized core protein is extensively degraded under the highly alkaline conditions previously used. The new method involves the separation of periodate-oxidized core protein from chondroitin sulphate by gel filtration on Sepharose 6B, and the reduction of the former in H3BO3/NaBH4 at pH 8.5 to produce the reduced species. Smith-degraded proteoglycan prepared by this method exhibited high acceptor activity for xylosyltransferase from embryonic-chick cartilage and had an apparent Km of 160 microgram/ml or 45 micrometer on a serine basis. In this assay system an apparent Km of 19 micrometer was obtained for UDP-xylose. The intermediate products periodate-oxidized core protein and reduced proteoglycen were inactive as xylosyltransferase acceptor substrates.
Comparison of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase variants in staphylococci. Purification, inhibitor studies and N-terminal sequences
Authors: Fitton J E , Shaw W V
Published: August 2015

Four electrophoretic variants of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (types A, B, C and D) found in chloramphenicol-resistant staphylococci were purified by affinity chromatography. Michaelis constants and the kinetics of inactivation with a variety of reagents for the four variants are virtually identical. Their similar amino acid compositions and near identical N-terminal sequences suggest a high degree of overall sequence homology. The thiol-specific reagents 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid), 2-nitro-5-thiocyanobenzoic acid and 2,2′-dithiopyridine are without significant effect on enzyme activity, whereas 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, N-ethylmaleimide, p-chloromercuribenzoic acid, iodoacetamide, and, particularly, bromoacetyl-CoA and diethyl pyrocarbonate are potent inhibitors. Iodoacetate is not an inhibitor. The results of chemical modification studies on the four enzyme variants and the identification of 3-carboxymethylhistidine in acid hydrolysates of one variant (type C) after inactivation with iodoacetamide suggest that a unique histidine residue may be involved in the mechanism of catalysis.
Nucleotide metabolism by microsomal UDP-glucuronyltransferase and nucleoside diphosphatase as determine by 31P nuclear-magnetic-resonance spectroscopy
Authors: Finch S A , Slater T F , Stier A
Published: August 2015

31P n.m.r. spectroscopy was used to study the nucleotide kinetics of UDP-glucuronyltransferase and associated reactions in the liver microsomal fraction. The effects of Mg2+ and EDTA on these reactions were investigated qualitatively. It was found that the rabbit microsomal fraction has no nucleoside pyrophosphatase activity, that UDP was immediately hydrolysed and that it was released from the microsomal surface. Reverse glucuronyltransferase could be demonstrated. The results are discussed with reference to functional coupling of UDP-glucuronyltransferase to other enzymes and the effects of Mg2+ and EDTA on the system.
Inhibition of phosphatidylinositol synthesis and the inactivation of calcium entry after prolonged exposure of the blowfly salivary gland to 5-hydroxytryptamine
Authors: Berridge M J , Fain J N
Published: August 2015

The incorporation of [32P]Pi into all salivary-gland phospholipids except phosphatidic acid was inhibited by 5-hydroxytryptamine. The accumulation of [32P]Pi into phosphatidic acid was actually enhanced by 5-hydroxytryptamine. There was an inhibition of labelled inositol incorporation into phosphatidylinositol by 5-hydroxytryptamine, which seems to be mediated by calcium because it was mimicked by the ionophore A23187, but was prevented if glands were stimulated with 5-hydroxytryptamine in the absence of external calcium. Inhibition of synthesis together with stimulation of breakdown will decrease the concentration of phosphatidylinositol, which could account for the inactivation of calcium transport observed at high 5-hydroxytryptamine concentrations. When salivary glands were stimulated with 1 micrometer-5-hydroxytryptamine, there was a rapid increase in the transfer of 45Ca2+ from the medium into the saliva, but with time this transport declined to a low value. If the glands were washed free of 5-hydroxytryptamine and incubated in the presence of 2mM-inositol for 1 h, the increase in calcium transport caused by 5-hydroxytryptamine was restored. There was little recovery in the absence of inositol. If glands were stimulated with 5-hydroxytryptamine in the absence of external calcium, a condition which prevents the inhibition of phosphatidylinositol synthesis, calcium transport in response to 5-hydroxytryptamine was greater than in glands preincubated with 5-hydroxytryptamine in the presence of calcium. The inactivation of calcium transport may result from a decrease in phosphatidylinositol concentration. These results support the hypothesis that the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol plays some role in either the opening or closing of calcium ‘gates’.
Effect of glucocorticoid administration on the rate of muscle protein breakdown in vivo in rats, as measured by urinary excretion of Nτ-methylhistidine
Authors: Tomas Frank M. , Munro Hamish N. , Young Vernon R.
Published: August 2015

The role of glucocorticoids in regulating the rate of muscle protein breakdown was evaluated by measuring excretion of Nτ-methylhistidine during administration of various doses of corticosterone to adrenalectomized rats. Groups of rats received daily subcutaneous injections of 0, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 5.0 or 10.0mg of corticosterone/day per 100g body wt. for 7 days, followed by 3 days without hormone treatment, after which they were killed. A group with intact adrenal glands served as an additional control. All animals were pair-fed with the untreated adrenalectomized group. No significant differences were noted in growth rate or Nτ-methylhistidine excretion between the intact or adrenalectomized control groups, or those given 0.2, 0.5 and 1.0mg of corticosterone, whereas growth ceased and Nτ-methylhistidine excretion rose markedly in the groups receiving 5 and 10mg of corticosterone. After these two high doses of corticosterone, but not after lower doses, there was a loss of weight of the gastrocnemius muscle per 100g of final body wt., but not of the soleus and extensor digitorum longus muscles. The two highest doses of corticosterone also resulted in an increase in liver weight per 100g of final body wt. Lower doses of corticosterone did not cause these changes. Plasma corticosterone concentrations, measured on the final day of injection and again at the time of killing, were decreased to near zero by adrenalectomy and were little raised by doses of 0.2 and 0.5mg daily, but were increased to within the normal range by the 1mg dose. At 5 and 10mg doses, plasma corticosterone concentrations were sustained at 2–3 times those of intact rats, and thus in the range reported for rats exposed to severe stress. Rats given 5 and 10mg doses of corticosterone had glycosuria, and showed considerably elevated concentrations of insulin in the plasma. It is concluded that plasma concentrations of glucocorticoids within the normal range do not regulate the rate of muscle protein breakdown, whereas excessive plasma concentrations of corticosteroids, equivalent to those observed in severe stress, can accelerate muscle protein breakdown.
Ricin and modeccin do not inhibit the elongation factor 1-dependent binding of aminoacyl-tRNA to ribosomes
Authors: Sperti S , Montanaro L
Published: August 2015

Ricin and modeccin do not affect the total number of ribosomes to which phenylalanyl-tRNA becomes bound in the EF 1-dependent reaction. Previous inconsistencies resulted from the use of the nitrocellulose-filter technique, which overestimates the number of control ribosomes engaged in the binding reaction if trace amounts of EF 2 contaminate the ribosomal preparations.
Sodium ion-coupled uptake of taurocholate by intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles
Authors: Beesley R C , Faust R G
Published: August 2015

The uptake of taurocholate was studied in membrane vesicles isolated from brush borders of hamster jejunum and ileum. When an extra- to intra-vesicular gradient of Na+ ions was present ileal vesicles took up 10 times more taurocholate than did jejunal vesicles. Accumulation of taurocholate by ileal vesicles was transient and was due to transport of this bile salt into an osmotically active intravesicular space rather than simple binding. Uptake of taurocholate was specifically dependent on Na+ ions; NaCl and Na2SO4 were capable of supporting accumulation, whereas KCl, LiCl and mannitol were not. Na+-coupled uptake of taurocholate into ileal vesicles was inhibited by other trihydroxy bile salts, by preloading the vesicles with Na+ and by simultaneous flow of glucose into the vesicles. Similarly, vesicular uptake of glucose was inhibited by simultaneous uptake of taurocholate. These results demonstrated that brush-border membrane vesicles prepared from ileum possess an Na+-coupled co-transport system for taurocholate that is similar to the active bile-salt transport system present in the intact ileum.
Electron-transport pathway of the NADH-dependent haem oxygenase system of rat liver microsomal fraction induced by cobalt chloride
Authors: Hino Y , Minakami S
Published: August 2015

The hepatic microsomal haem oxygenase activity of rats treated with CoCl2 was studied kinetically by measuring biliverdin, the immediate product of the reaction. Biliverdin was extracted with diethyl ether/ethanol mixture, and was determined by the difference between A690 and A800. The apparent Km value for NADPH (at 50 microM-haematin) was about 0.2 microM when an NADPH-generating system was used, whereas that for NADH was about 630 microM. Essentially the same Vmax. values were obtained for both the NADH- and NADPH-dependent haem oxygenase reactions. No synergism was observed with NADH and NADPH. The NADH-dependent reaction was competitively inhibited by NADP+, with a Ki of about 10 microM. The inhibitoin of the NADH-dependent reaction by the antibody against rat liver microsomal NADPH-cytochrome c reductase was essentially complete, with a pattern similar to that of the NADPH-dependent reaction. The immunochemical experiment and the comparison of the kinetic values with the reported data on isolated NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase and NADPH–cytochrome c reductase indicated the involvement of the latter enzyme in NADH-dependent haem oxygenation by microsomal fraction in situ.
Interaction of cations with phosphate uptake by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Effects of surface potential
Authors: Roomans G M , Borst-Pauwels G W F H
Published: August 2015

The effect of bivalent cations on phosphate uptake by Saccharomyces cerevisiae was investigated. Phosphate uptake via the Na+-dependent transport system at pH 7.2 is stimulated by bivalent cations. The apparent affinity of phosphate for the transport mechanism is increased, but the apparent affinity for Na+ is decreased. Uptake of phosphate via the Na+-independent transport system is accompanied by a net proton influx of 2H+ and an efflux of 1 K+ for each phosphate ion taken up. At pH 4.5 phosphate uptake via the Na+-independent system is stimulated by bivalent cations, whereas at pH 7.2 uptake is inhibited. The effect of bivalent cations on phosphate uptake can be ascribed to a decrease in the surface potential.
Formation of cobalt protoporphyrin in the liver of rats. A mechanism for the inhibition of liver haem biosynthesis by inorganic cobalt
Authors: Sinclair P , Gibbs A H , Sinclair J F , de Matteis F
Published: August 2015

1. Treatment of rats with small doses of CoCl2 decreases liver 5-aminolaevulinate synthase (EC 2.3.1.37) activity and impairs incorporation of 5-amino[14C]laevulinate into liver haem. Salts of other metals (cadmium, nickel, manganese and zinc) are all relatively inactive. 2. The dose-response curves obtained for both these effects closely mirror the accumulation in the liver of a compound that is labelled by 5-amino[14C]laevulinate and is unextractable by acetone/HCl. 3. Incorporation of 5-amino[14C]laevulinate into unextractable compound is also obtained in vitro by incubating liver homogenates with label in the presence of cobalt:isotope-dilution experiments show that the radioactivity passes through pools of porphobilinogen and protoporphyrin, but not of haem. 4. The unextractable compound is not covalently bound to protein and possesses the same extraction and spectral properties as authentic cobalt protoporphyrin. 5. It is concluded (a) that cobalt protoporphyrin is readily formed not only in vitro, but also in vivo, and (b) that its formation accounts for the impaired incorporation of 5-aminolaevulinate into haem and may also be responsible for the action of cobalt on 5-aminolaevulinate synthase.
Changes in Harderian gland activity in the female golden hamster during the oestrous cycle, pregnancy and lactation
Authors: Payne A P , McGadey J , Moore M H , Thompson G G
Published: August 2015

The Harderian gland, which is situated within the bony orbit, is usually thought of as a source of lubrication for the eye. However, recent studies have suggested links with reproductive function. In the male golden hamster, both gland histology and activity are known to be under hormonal influence, and the present experiment was undertaken to examine gland weight and activity (as measured by the production of porphyrins) over the oestrous cycle and during pregnancy and early lactation in the female hamster. Gland weight, the number of solid intraluminal porphyrin accretions, and concentrations of copro- and proto-porphyrin were all maximal on day 1 of the cycle (oestrous) and at their lowest on day 2 (or jointly on days 2 and 3), rising gradually thereafter. Porphyrin concentrations are considerably higher during pregnancy and early lactation than during the cycle, and the solid porphyrin accretions, although diminished in number, are larger. Although there is no indication of either the function or the physiological basis of these changes during the cycle or pregnancy, these findings do suggest that in the female golden hamster, as in the male, there is a link between Harderian gland activity and reproductive function.
Effect of drugs on deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis in isolated mammalian cell nuclei. Comparison with partially purified deoxyribonucleic acid polymerases
Authors: Burke J F , Duff P M , Pearson C K
Published: August 2015

In order to ascertain the identity of the DNA-dependent DNA polymerase responsible for the observed DNA synthesis in nuclei isolated from baby-hamster kidney (BHK-21/C13) cells a comparative study was carried out on the effects of some drugs, reported to influence DNA synthesis, on DNA synthesis catalysed by these nuclei and by partially purified DNA polymerase-alpha and -beta. In all cases DNA synthesis by isolated nuclei and polymerase-alpha was inhibited to similar extents by N-ethylmaleimide, p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, novobiocin, heparin and phosphonoacetic acid; polymerase-beta was much less affected by these compounds. Ethidium bromide inhibited all DNA synthesis to similar extents, although at low concentrations (about 2 microgram/ml) synthesis in isolated nuclei was stimulated. The results are discussed in relation to the proposal that DNA polymerase-alpha catalyses the covalent extension of Okazaki fragments that these nuclei carry out in vitro.
Glucose metabolism in perfused skeletal muscle. Demonstration of insulin resistance in the obese Zucker rat
Authors: Kemmer F W , Berger M , Herberg L , Gries F A , Wirdeier A , Becker K
Published: August 2015

1. The effect of insulin (0.5, 10 and 50 munits/ml of perfusate) on glucose uptake and disposal in skeletal muscle was studied in the isolated perfused hindquarter of obese (fa/fa) and lean (Fa/Fa) Zucker rats and Osborne-Mendel rats. 2. A concentration of 0.5 munit of insulin/ml induced a significant increase in glucose uptake (approx. 2.5 mumol/min per 30 g of muscle) in lean Zucker rats and in Osborne-Mendel rats, and 10 munits of insulin/ml caused a further increase to approx. 6 mumol/min per 30 g of muscle; but 50 munits of insulin/ml had no additional stimulatory effect. In contrast, in obese Zucker rats only 10 and 50 munits of insulin/ml had a stimulatory effect on glucose uptake, the magnitude of which was decreased by 50-70% when compared with either lean control group. Since under no experimental condition tested was an accumulation of free glucose in muscle-cell water observed, the data suggest an impairment of insulin-stimulated glucose transport across the muscle-cell membrane in obese Zucker rats. 3. The intracellular disposal of glucose in skeletal muscle of obese Zucker rats was also insulin-insensitive: even at insulin concentrations that clearly stimulated glucose uptake, no effect of insulin on lactate oxidation (nor an inhibitory effect on alanine release) was observed; [14C]glucose incorporation into skeletal-muscle lipids was stimulated by 50 munits of insulin/ml, but the rate was still only 10% of that observed in lean Zucker rats. 4. The data indicate that the skeletal muscle of obese Zucker rats is insulin-resistant with respect to both glucose-transport mechanisms and intracellular pathways of glucose metabolism, such as lactate oxidation. The excessive degree of insulin-insensitivity in skeletal muscle of obese Zucker rats may represent a causal factor in the development of the glucose intolerance in this species.
Sequential degradation of a chondroitin sulphate trisaccharide by lysosomal enzymes from embryonic-chick epiphysial cartilage
Authors: Ingmar B , Wasteson A
Published: August 2015

The disulphated trisaccharide D-N-acetylgalactosamine sulphate-beta-D-glucuronic acid-beta-D-N-acetylgalactosamine sulphate prepared from 35S- or 14C-labelled chondroitin sulphate was incubated with a preparation of lysosomal enzymes from embryonic-chick epiphysial cartilage. Degradation was demonstrated by analysis of the reaction products. By use of the appropriate intermediate products as substrates, in conjunction with specific enzyme inhibitors, it was shown that the degradation proceeded sequentially from the non-reducing end. It was initiated by sulphatase (preferentially hydrolysing sulphate ester groups at the 6-position), followed by beta-N-acetylgalactosaminidase and beta-glucuronidase, converting the substrate into monosaccharides and inorganic sulphate. The latter enzyme preferentially attacked disaccharides carrying their sulphate ester group at C-4 of the hexosamine residue. Generation of chondroitin sulphate oligosaccharides may occur by the action of an endoglycosidase, previously demonstrated in embryonic-chick cartilage. Endo- and exo-enzymes may thus form a functional unit in lysosomal degradation of chondroitin sulphate.
Rabbit erythrocyte purine nucleoside phosphorylase. Differential-inactivation studies
Authors: Savage B , Spencer N
Published: August 2015

1. Qualitative studies on the stability of rabbit erythrocyte purine nucleoside phosphorylase showed a marked decrease in the susceptibility of the enzyme to thermal inactivation and digestion by proteinases of different specificities in response to certain of its substrates. 2. The extent to which inosine stabilizes the enzyme against thermal and proteolytic inactivation is related in a quantitative manner to the concentration of this substrate; it is proposed that differences in the rates of inactivation of the enzyme may reflect substrate-induced conformational changes in the enzyme structure that could alter the binding properties of the enzyme in a kinetically significant way. 3. A synergistic effect in the stabilization of the enzyme is observed in response to both substrates, inosine and phosphate, when the enzyme is inactivated with Pronase. 4. In the presence of substrate an increased rate of inactivation after reaction with 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) is reported. 5. Differential-inactivation studies were also carried out with calf spleen purine nucleoside phosphorylase, and the results are discussed in relation to the kinetic properties displayed by this enzyme.
A 1,4-β-glucan glucanohydrolase from the cellulolytic fungus Trichoderma viride QM 9414. Purification, characterization and preparation of an immunoadsorbent for the enzyme
Authors: Håkansson U , Fägerstam L G , Pettersson L G , Andersson L
Published: August 2015

A 1,4-beta-glucan glucanohydrolase (EC 3.2.1.4) was isolated from culture filtrates of the fungus Trichoderma viride QM 9414 by molecular-sieve chromatography on Bio-Gel P-30, ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-50 and isoelectric focusing in a density gradient. Polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis at two different pH values, analytical isoelectric focusing in a polyacrylamide-gel slab and molecular-sieve chromatography of the reduced and alkylated enzyme in a denaturing medium indicated a homogeneous protein. The enzyme has a mol.wt. of 51,000 and is not a glycoprotein. The pI was found to be 4.66 at 23 degrees C. Antiserum against the purified enzyme was prepared and the amount of enzyme in the original filtrate was determined by rocket immunoelectrophoresis to be about 50mg/liter. An immunoadsorbent made from CNBr-activated sepharose 4B and antiserum affords a rapid and highly specific purification of the enzyme.
The effect of restricted hydration on the rate of reaction of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, phosphoglucose isomerase, hexokinase and fumarase. Relevance for metabolism in xeric (near-dry) conditions
Authors: Stevens Evelyn , Stevens Lewis
Published: August 2015

A method is described for the measurement of enzyme activity under xeric conditions. The reaction mixtures had water contents ranging between 0.1 and 0.6g/g of reaction mixture. For glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, hexokinase and fumarase, enzyme activity became detectable (about 0.05% of the fully hydrated rate) when the water content was about 0.2g/g of reaction mixture, and for phosphoglucose isomerase, around 0.15g/g of reaction mixture. With the water content raised to 0.3g/g of reaction mixture the reaction rates were only increased to 0.1–3% of the fully hydrated rate. When the combined rates for phosphoglucose isomerase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase were measured, reasonable agreement was found between the experimental data and those calculated from the individual experimentally determined rates on the assumption that diffusion was not further limiting. A method was devised for measuring the diffusion coefficients of low-molecular-weight substances in solutions having low water contents. The diffusion coefficients of riboflavin in sorbitol solution decreased by about 100-fold when the water content of the latter was reduced from 3 to 0.25g/g of sorbitol. It is concluded that to detect enzyme activity a certain minimal amount of water is required and that above this minimum the rate is still restricted by diffusion limitation. The relevance of the results to the physical state of water in reaction mixtures and to metabolism in seeds and spores in xeric conditions is discussed.
Action of human pepsins 1,2,3 and 5 on the oxidized B-chain of insulin
Authors: Roberts N B , Taylor W H
Published: August 2015

Human pepsins 1 and 2 attack the B-chain of oxidized insulin at pH 1.7 at the same bonds as does human pepsin 3. At pH 3.5, pepsins 1 and 2 attack insulin B-chain at essentially the same bonds as at pH 1.7, but more slowly. For all three enzymes, the first bond to be hydrolysed is Phe(25)-Tyr(26), followed simultaneously by Glu(13)-Ala(14), Leu(15)-Tyr(16) and Tyr(16)-Leu(17). Human pepsin 5, however, attacks Phe(24)-Phe(25) first of all, followed by Leu(15)-Tyr(16) and Tyr(16)-Leu(17). The results suggest that each pepsin has only one active site. Acid hydrolysis indicates that the sites of enzymic cleavage are not bonds with an inherent instability at low pH.
Effects of modification of the tyrosine residues of bacteriorhodopsin with tetranitromethane
Authors: Campos-Cavieres M , Moore T A , Perham R N
Published: August 2015

Treatment of the purple membrane of Halobacterium halobium with tetranitromethane led to modification of tyrosine residues. Modification of more than 3-4 tyrosine residues per bacteriorhodopsin monomer caused a decrease in the light-induced proton-pumping ability of purple membrane in synthetic lipid vesicles, loss of the sharp X-ray-diffraction patterns characteristic of the crystal lattice, loss of the absorbance maximum at 560 nm, and change in the buoyant density of the membrane. No modification of lipid was detected. These changes were interpreted as a gradual denaturation of the protein component such that when 8-9 tyrosine residues are modified, no proton pumping is observed. Modification of less than 3-4 tyrosine residues with tetranitromethane caused an increse in light-induced proton pumping. It was possible to generate partly modified purple membrane which had completely lost the property of diffracting X-rays into the sharp pattern observed with native purple membrane, but which still retained the ability to pump protons in a vectorial manner. Retention of crystal lattice is not essential for proton pumping.
Thiamin biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Origin of carbon-2 of the thiazole moiety
Authors: White R L , Spenser I D
Published: August 2015

Radioactivity from [2-14C]glycine enters C-2 of the thiazole moiety of thiamin and no other site, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (strains A.T.C.C. 24903 and 39916, H.J. Bunker). Radioactivity from L-[Me-14C]methionine or from DL-[2-14C]tyrosine does not enter thiamin.
The partial purification of sodium-plus-potassium ion-dependent adenosine triphosphatase from the gills of Anguilla anguilla and its inhibition by orthovanadate
Authors: Bell M V , Sargent J R
Published: August 2015

1. (Na+ +K+)-dependent ATPase was partially purified from eel gills by a procedure in which the microsomal fraction of crude preparations of chloride cells was selectively extracted with sodium dodecyl sulphate. 2. The microsomal specific activity was increased 2-fold during optimal treatment with detergent. 3. The final preparation (56% pure) had a specific activity of 341 mumol of ATP hydrolysed/h per mg of protein and a turnover number of 3560 min-1. The number of ouabain-binding sties equalled the number of sites phosphorylated by ATP. 4. Both sodium orthovanadate and ouabain inhibited the purified preparation more than the microsomal fraction, vanadate being more effective on an equimolar basis than ouabain. 5. Inhibition by orthovanadate was not enhanced at 28 mM-as compared with 1mM-MgCl2 and was not reversed by beta-adrenergic agonists (cf. Josephson & Cantley (1977) Biochemistry 16, 4572–4578). 6. Of various other metallic oxyanions tested only niobate proved an effective inhibitor of the enzyme although this anion was less effective than orthovanadate. 7. Orthovanadate partially inhibited phosphorylation of the enzyme by ATP in the presence of 28 mM-MgCl2.
Immobilized-enzyme pipette. Scope and limitations of a simple device
Authors: Sundaram P V
Published: August 2015

Disposable pipette tips made of polymeric nylon tube with enzymes bound covalently to their inside surface and fixed to the stem of an automatic, adjustable-volume pipette holder together constitutes an immobilized enzyme pipette or ‘Impette’. The present paper describes the application in research laboratories and clinics of this new development, with urease as an example in the determination of blood urea.
Purification of alcohol dehydrogenase from Drosophila by general-ligand affinity chromatography
Authors: Brown A J , Lee C Y
Published: August 2015

A method for the purification of alcohol dehydrogenase from Drosophila melanogaster is described. The method makes use of 8-(6-aminohexyl)amino-5′-AMP, immobilized on Sepharose 4B, as an affinity ligand. Since alcohol dehydrogenase from Drosophila shows weak affinity for this column, a novel technique was developed to separate alcohol dehydrogenase from both unbound proteins and more strongly bound enzymes. The purification procedure is simple to operate and give a homogeneous preparation in good yield after only three steps.
Enzymes of myo-inositol and inositol lipid metabolism in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes
Authors: Whiting P H , Palmano K P , Hawthorne J N
Published: August 2015

Diabetes, with only mild ketosis, was induced in male rats by a single injection of streptozotocin. After 12 weeks the specific activities of enzymes concerned with the metabolism of inositol and of inositol lipids were measured in various tissues. Inositol 1-phosphate synthase (EC 5.5.1.4) was most active in testis and the activity was significantly less in diabetic rats than in controls on a similar diet. Inositol oxygenase (EC 1.13.99.1), which converts myo-inositol into glucuronic acid, was also less active in kidney from diabetic animals. CDP-diacylglycerol-inositol phosphatidyltransferase (EC 2.7.8.11) and phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate kinase (EC 2.7.1.68) showed decreased specific activities in brain and sciatic nerve of diabetic rats. By contrast the diabetic state did not affect the specific activities of phosphatidylinositol kinase (EC 2.7.1.67) or phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.36) in these tissues. The results are discussed in relation to diabetic neuropathy.
Proteoglycans of the intervertebral disc. Homology of structure with laryngeal proteoglycans
Authors: Stevens R L , Ewins R J , Revell P A , Muir H
Published: August 2015

The structure of the proteoglycans from normal pig nucleus pulposus and relatively normal human annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus was investigated in detail and the results were compared with the current structural model of proteoglycans of hyaline cartilage. Like proteoglycans of cartilage, those of intervertebral disc contain keratan sulphate and chondroitin sulphate attached to a protein core; they are able to aggregate to hyaluronic acid; the protein core likewise has three regions, one lacking glycosaminoglycans, another rich in keratan sulphate and a third region rich in chondroitin sulphate. However, disc proteoglycans contain more keratan sulphate and protein and less chondroitin sulphate and are also considerably smaller than cartilage proteoglycans. In proteoglycans of human discs, these differences appeared to be due principally to a shorter region of the core protein bearing the chondroitin sulphate chains, whereas in proteoglycans of pig discs their smaller size and relatively low uronic acid content were due to shorter chondroitin sulphate chains. There were subtle differences between proteoglycans from the nucleus and annulus of human discs. In the latter a higher proportion of proteoglycans was capable of binding to hyaluronate.
Co-ordinate regulation of ethanolamine kinase and phosphoethanolamine cytidylyltransferase in the biosynthesis of phosphatidylethanolamine in rat liver
Authors: Infante J P , Kinsella J E
Published: August 2015

Essential-fatty acid deficiency produces a 52% increase in the rate of phosphatidyl-ethanolamine synthesis in rat liver as calculated from results obtained in vivo [Trewhella & Collins (1973) Biochem. Biophys. Acta 296, 34–50]. This flux change was used to test the possible regulatory roles of ethanolamine kinase and of phosphoethanolamine cytidylyltransferase, which are rate-limiting enzymes of the cytidine pathway for the synthesis of phosphatidylethanolamine [Infante (1977) Biochem. J. 167, 847–849]. The results show that essential-fatty acid deficiency produces 50% and 53% increases respectively in the specific activity of these enzymes, accounting for the increased rate of phosphatidylethanolamine synthesis produced by this dietary insufficiency. This evidence leads to the conclusion that ethanolamine kinase and phosphoethanolamine cytidylyl-transferase have co-ordinated regulatory roles in the flux control of the cytidine pathway, and its sphinganine 1-phosphate lyase branch reaction, for the synthesis of phosphatidylethanolamine.
The isolation and partial characterization of the plasma membrane from Trypanosoma brucei
Authors: Voorheis H P , Gale J S , Owen M J , Edwards W
Published: August 2015

Whole sheets of plasma membrane, each with their attached flagellum, were purified from Trypanosoma brucei. The method devised for their isolation included a new technique of cell breakage that used a combination of osmotic stress followed by mechanical sheer and avoided the problem of extreme vesiculation as well as the trapping of organelles in cell ‘ghosts’. The purified membranes all contained the pellicular microtubular array. The antigenic surface coat was completely released from the plasma membrane during the isolation procedure. The membranes had a very high cholesterol/phospholipid ratio (1.54). A large proportion (42%) of the cellular DNA was recovered in the plasma-membrane fraction unless a step involving deoxyribonuclease treatment, which decreased the DNA content to less than 13%, was included before secrose-density gradient centrifugation. This step also aided the separation of plasma membranes from other cellular components. The ouabain-sensitive Na+ + K+-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase and adenylate cyclase co-purified with the plasma membranes. Although 5′-nucleotidase was thought to be a plasma-membrane component, it was easily detached from the membrane. The purified membranes were essentially free of L-alanine-alpha-oxoglutarate aminotransferase, L-asparte-alpha-oxoglutarate aminotransferase, malate dehydrogenase, oligomycin-sensitive adenosine triphosphatase, glucose 6-phosphatase, Mg2+-stimulated p-nitrophenyl phosphatase and catalase.
The involvement of glucocorticoids in regulating the activity of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase and the synthesis of triacylglycerols in the liver. Effects of feeding rats with glucose, sorbitol, fructose, glycerol and ethanol
Authors: Brindley D N , Cooling J , Burditt S L , Pritchard P H , Pawson S , Sturton R G
Published: August 2015

Feeding rats with sorbitol, fructose, glycerol and ethanol increases the concentration of serum corticosterone without significantly altering the concentration of insulin. This increase appears to be partly responsible for the increases in the hepatic activity of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase (compared with rats fed glucose or 0.9% NaCl) that has been reported [Sturton, Pritchard, Han & Brindley (1978) Biochem. J. 174, 667–670] and the enhanced capacity of the liver to synthesize triacylglycerols. The ethanol-induced increase in phosphohydrolase activity was largely, but not completely, prevented by adrenalectomy.
The rapid preparation of peroxisomes from rat liver by using a vertical rotor
Authors: Neat C E , Osmundsen H
Published: August 2015

A method is described for the rapid preparation of peroxisomes from rat liver by using sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation in a vertical rotor. The preparation, shown to be virtually free of mitochondrial and microsomal contamination, can be used to study fatty acid metabolism by isolated peroxisomes.
The vectorial orientation of human monoamine oxidase in the mitochondrial outer membrane
Authors: Russell S M , Davey J , Mayer R J
Published: August 2015

1. The localization of monoamine oxidase in the mitochondrial outer membrane was studied in preparations of human liver mitochondrial and brain-cortex non-synaptosomal and synaptosomal mitochondria. 2. Immunochemical accessibility in iso-osmotic and hypo-osmotic mitochondrial preparations was used to localize the enzyme. 3. It was shown that the immunochemically accessible tyramine-oxidizing activity was distributed approximately equally on both surfaces of the membrane in human liver and brain-cortex non-synaptosomal mitochondria. However, the immunochemically accessible beta-phenethylamine-oxidizing activity was situated predominantly on the outer surface, and the immunochemically accessible 5-hydroxytryptamine-oxidizing activity was situated predominantly on the inner surface of the mitochondrial outer membrane in liver and brain-cortex non-synaptosomal mitochondrial preparations. 4. Considerable variation in the distribution of the enzyme in preparations of synaptosomal mitochondria was seen. 5. The simplest model consistent with our observations is that, in liver and brain-cortex non-synaptosomal mitochondria, the tyramine-oxidizing activity is distributed on both sides of the mitochondrial outer membrane, the beta-phenethylamine-oxidizing activity is located on the outer surface of the outer membrane and the 5-hydroxytryptamine-oxidizing activity is located on the inner surface of the mitochondria outer membrane
Isolation and properties of cytochrome c peroxidase from Pseudomonas denitrificans
Authors: Coulson A F W , Oliver R I C
Published: August 2015

The isolation of cytochrome c peroxidase, cytochrome c4, cytochrome c-551 and azurin from Pseudomonas dentrificans is described. The peroxidase has a molecular weight of 63,000 and an isoelectric point of 5.6. Its absorption spectrum suggests that it contains two haem c groups/molecule. Preliminary steady-state kinetic data are reported with cytochromes c-551 and c4 and azurin as the second substrate.
Studies on the high-mobility-group non-histone proteins from hen oviduct
Authors: Teng C S , Andrews G K , Teng C T
Published: August 2015

Nuclear high-mobility-group (HMG) proteins were isolated from hen oviduct. These were proteins HMG-1, −2, −3, −14 and −17, which are equivalent to the classification of calf thymus HMG proteins. Hen oviduct proteins HMG-1 and −2 were individually isolated by HCIO4.extraction and CM-Sephadex chromatographic separation. Their mol.wts. were determined as 28 000 and 27 000, respectively. The proteins have a high content of acidic and basic amino acids. The association of proteins HMG-1 and −2 with the genome of hen oviduct nuclei was probed by a limited digestion with nucleases. Hen oviduct nuclei were incubated with deoxyribonuclease I or micrococcal nuclease until 10% of the DNA was digested. The nuclear suspension was centrifuged and the contents of proteins HMG-1 and −2 in the supernatant and sediment fractions were analysed by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. HMG proteins were found to be preferentially released by micrococcal-nuclease digestion rather than by deoxyribonuclease I.