bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High concentrations of aldehydes slow the reaction of cytoplasmic aldehyde dehydrogenase with thiol-group modifiers
Authors: Kitson T M
Published: August 2015

High concentrations of aldehydes slow the inactivation of cytoplasmic aldehyde dehydrogenase by disulfiram and also slow the reaction of the enzyme with 2,2'-dithiodipyridine. It is concluded that a low-affinity aldehyde-binding site is probably the site at which thiol-group modifiers react with aldehyde dehydrogenase, as well as being the active site for hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenyl acetate.
The apparent Km of ammonia for carbamoyl phosphate synthetase (ammonia) in situ
Authors: Cohen N S , Kyan F S , Kyan S S , Cheung C W , Raijman L
Published: August 2015

Experiments with carbamoyl phosphate synthetase (ammonia) in solution and in isolated mitochondria are reported which show the following. NH3 rather than NH4+ is the substrate of the enzyme. The apparent Km of NH3 for the purified enzyme is about 38 microM. The apparent Km for NH3 measured in intact isolated mitochondria is about 13 microM. This value was obtained for both coupled and uncoupled mitochondria and was unchanged when the rate of carbamoyl phosphate synthesis was increased 2-fold by incubating uncoupled mitochondria in the presence of 5 mM-N-acetylglutamate. According to the literature, the concentration of NH3 in liver is well below the measured apparent Km. On the basis of this and previous work we conclude that, quantitatively, changes in liver [NH3] and [ornithine] are likely to be the most important factors in the fast regulation of synthesis of carbamoyl phosphate and urea. This conclusion is consistent with all available evidence obtained with isolated mitochondria, isolated hepatocytes, perfused liver and whole animals.
Incorporation of the 1-pro-R and 1-pro-S hydrogen atoms of ethanol in the reduction of acids in the liver of intact rats and in isolated hepatocytes
Authors: Cronholm T
Published: August 2015

Ethanol oxidation causes redox effects. The coupling of this oxidation via NADH to intermediary metabolism was studied in order to reveal the underlying mechanisms. Isolated rat hepatocytes were incubated with [1,1-2H2]-, (1R)-[1-2H]- and (1S)-[1-2H]-ethanol and the 2H incorporation was measured in lactate, beta-hydroxybutyrate, fumarate, malate, succinate, alpha-oxoglutarate and citrate. The results differed in the following ways from results obtained in intact rats. Lactate became labelled to an increasing extent, and in more than one position, indicating labelling of pyruvate. A small and constant fraction of malate and fumarate was formed without access to [2H]coenzyme. Addition of aspartate increased this fraction, which was concluded to be formed in the mitochondria. Citrate was essentially unlabelled. The 2H from (1R)-[1-2H]ethanol contributed to malate to a larger extent and to beta-hydroxybutyrate to a smaller extent, and 2H from (1S)-[1-2H]ethanol contributed to lactate to a smaller extent. These results indicate that the exchange via shuttle system was less efficient in isolated hepatocytes than in intact rats. The 2H incorporation was independent of concentration of [1,1-2H2]ethanol when this was above 5mM. Additions known to increase ethanol elimination, and cyanamide, which decreases it, had no marked effect on the 2H incorporation. This indicates equilibration of the NADH bound to alcohol dehydrogenase with free NADH. Disulfiram and cyanamide caused a decrease in the relative incorporation from (1S)-[1-2H]ethanol into malate in liver of intact rats. Addition of cyanamide to incubations with hepatocytes resulted in a decrease of the contribution of 2H from (1S)-[1-2H]ethanol in lactate, beta-hydroxybutyrate and malate. This indicates that acetaldehyde was only oxidized in the mitochondrial compartment.
Comparison of the phosphate-dependent glutaminase obtained from rat brain and kidney
Authors: Haser W G , Shapiro R A , Curthoys N P
Published: August 2015

A phosphate-dependent glutaminase was purified 1200-fold from rat brain. In the absence of a polyvalent anion, the glutaminase exists as an inactive protomer which has an estimated Mr of 126000. The addition of 100mM-phosphate causes maximal activation and a dimerization (Mr 249000) of the glutaminase. The phosphate activation is sigmoidal, with a K0.5 of 25mM and a Hill coefficient (h) of 1.5 Glutamate inhibition is competitive with respect to glutamine and is decreased by increasing the concentration of phosphate. Phosphate also decreases the Km for glutamine. The purified glutaminase contains a predominant peptide (Mr 65000) and a minor peptide (Mr 68000) that are present in an approximate ratio of 4:1 respectively. The glutaminase immunoprecipitated from freshly solubilized brain tissue or from synaptosomal and non-synaptosomal brain mitochondria contains the same distribution of the two peptides. In contrast, the glutaminase purified from rat kidney contains five to seven peptides that range in Mr value from 59000 to 48000, and immunoprecipitates derived from freshly solubilized renal tissue contain only the Mr-65000 peptide. Partial proteolysis and size fractionation of the three immunoprecipitated peptides indicate that they are structurally related. The series of peptides characteristic of the purified renal glutaminase is generated on storage of the solubilized extract of kidney tissue. The glutaminase contained in the solubilized brain extract is not degraded unless a renal extract is added. Thus the difference in the pattern of peptides associated with the two purified enzymes is due to an endogenous renal proteinase that is not present in brain.
Metabolism of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate in rat parotid glands
Authors: Irvine R F , Anggård E E , Letcher A J , Downes C P
Published: August 2015

A complete separation of myo-inositol 1,4,5-[4,5-(32)P]trisphosphate prepared from human erythrocytes, and myo-[2-3H]inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate prepared from carbachol-stimulated rat parotid glands [Irvine, Letcher, Lander & Downes (1984) Biochem. J. 223, 237-243], was achieved by anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography. This separation technique was then used to study the metabolism of these two isomers of inositol trisphosphate in carbachol-stimulated rat parotid glands. Fragments of glands were pre-labelled with myo-[2-3H]inositol, washed, and then stimulated with carbachol. At 5s after stimulation a clear increase in inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate was detected, with no significant increase in inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate. After this initial lag however, inositol 1,3,4-phosphate rose rapidly; by 15s it predominated over inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, and continued to rise so that after 15 min it was at 10-20 times the radiolabelling level of the 1,4,5-isomer. In contrast, after the initial rapid rise (maximal within 15s), inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate levels declined to near control levels after 1 min and then rose again very gradually over the next 15 min. When a muscarinic blocker (atropine) was added after 15 min of carbachol stimulation, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate levels dropped to control levels within 2-3 min, whereas inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate levels took at least 15 min to fall, consistent with the kinetics observed earlier for total parotid inositol trisphosphates [Downes & Wusteman (1983) Biochem. J. 216, 633-640]. Phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate (PtdInsP2) from stimulated and control cells were degraded chemically to inositol trisphosphate to seek evidence for 3H-labelled PtdIns(3,4)P2. No evidence could be obtained that a significant proportion of PtdInsP2 was this isomer; in control tissues it must be less than 5% of the total PtdInsP2 radiolabelled by myo-[2-3H]inositol. These data indicate that, provided that inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate is studied independently of inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate, the former shows metabolic characteristics consistent with its proposed role as a second messenger for calcium mobilization. The metabolic profile of inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate is entirely different, and its function and source remain unclear.
Metabolism of glycine- and hydroxyproline-containing peptides by the isolated perfused rat kidney
Authors: Lowry M , Hall D E , Brosnan J T
Published: August 2015

Isolated perfused rat kidneys removed considerable quantities of glycyltyrosine, glycylhydroxyproline, tetraglycine and prolylhydroxyproline from the perfusate. The component amino acids are released into the perfusate and, in the case of the glycine-containing peptides, there is increased synthesis of serine. Removal of peptides was more than could be accounted for on the basis of filtration, so antiluminal metabolism is indicated. Metabolism of such peptides by the kidney may contribute to renal serine synthesis in vivo.
The effect of excess mevalonic acid on ubiquinone and tetrahymanol biosynthesis in Tetrahymena pyriformis
Authors: Wilton D C
Published: August 2015

When T. pyriformis is grown in the presence of 10(-2)M-mevalonic acid, the uptake exceeds the cell's requirement for this biosynthetic intermediate. The majority of the excess mevalonic acid is diverted into ubiquinone-8 biosynthesis whereas the biosynthesis of tetrahymanol, the major product of the mevalonic acid pathway, is unchanged. In the presence of excess external mevalonic acid, the biosynthesis of mevalonic acid by the cell is inhibited. It is proposed that ubiquinone biosynthesis is normally regulated by mevalonic acid availability, whereas tetrahymanol biosynthesis is regulated primarily at a later point in the pathway.
Tumourigenicity, cell-surface glycoprotein changes and ornithine decarboxylase gene pattern in Ehrlich ascites-carcinoma cells
Authors: Alhonen-Hongisto L , Kallio A , Sinervirta R , Jänne O A , Gahmberg C G , Jänne J
Published: August 2015

We selected a 2-difluoromethylornithine-resistant Ehrlich ascites-carcinoma cell line that grows in the presence of 20 mM-difluoromethylornithine. These cells contain 10-20 times the normal amount of hybridizable sequences for ornithine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.17) in their genomic DNA. We used these gene-amplified cells, their revertant counterparts (grown in the absence of the drug after an established gene amplification) and tumour cells grown in the presence of putrescine to investigate the changes of ornithine decarboxylase gene pattern and simultaneously occurring phenotypic changes, such as tumourigenicity and the expression of cell-surface glycoproteins. In the tumour cells reverted back to the normal gene frequency, not only did the amplified sequences disappear, but there were also signs of gene re-arrangements seen as a ‘gene jump’, when a signal evidently moved to a heavier restriction fragment. Similar gene re-arrangement likewise occurred in cells exposed to putrescine. Although the wild-type tumour cells and the gene-amplified cells readily grew in the peritoneal cavity of mice, the revertant cells and the putrescine-treated cells had lost their tumourigenicity in mice. Gene-amplified tumour cells and the revertant cells showed distinct changes in their surface glycoprotein pattern in comparison with the parental cell line. These findings indicate that alterations of ornithine decarboxylase gene pattern/dosage may be associated with phenotypic changes possibly related to the tumourigenicity of these carcinoma cells.
Mast-cell products and heparin stimulate the production of mononuclear-cell factor by cultured human monocyte/macrophages
Authors: Yoffe J R , Taylor D J , Woolley D E
Published: August 2015

Purified mast cells derived from rat peritoneal fluids and dog mastocytomas were extracted with 1 M-NaCl and sonication techniques. The mast-cell products increased the production of mononuclear cell factor from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells in culture, as judged by the enhanced stimulation of prostaglandin E (2-5 fold) and collagenase (3-11-fold) production by cultured adherent synovial cells. Heparin alone (1-10 micrograms/ml) induced a similar stimulation of mononuclear-cell-factor production by monocyte cultures, whereas histamine (1-10 micrograms/ml) had no effect. The stimulatory effect of mast-cell products and heparin represented a direct effect on mononuclear cells; they did not potentiate the effect of monokine on the synovial cells. These results suggest that mast-cell-macrophage interactions may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of inflammation and connective-tissue degradation.
Dihydro-orotase from Clostridium oroticum. Purification and reversible removal of essential zinc
Authors: Pettigrew D W , Bidigare R R , Mehta B J , Williams M I , Sander E G
Published: August 2015

A new purification procedure involving five column-chromatography steps is described for dihydro-orotase (L-5,6-dihydro-orotate amidohydrolase, EC 3.5.2.3) from Clostridium oroticum (A.T.C.C. 25750). The native purified enzyme is a dimer of Mr 102 000 and contains 4.0 +/- 0.3 g-atoms of zinc/mol of dimer. These observations agree with those reported previously [Taylor, Taylor, Balch & Gilchrist (1976) J. Bacteriol. 127, 863-873]. It is conclusively demonstrated that dihydro-orotase is a zinc metalloenzyme. Zinc is reversibly removed by treatment with chelators in phosphate buffer at pH 6.5, as demonstrated by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and decrease of enzyme activity. The specific activity is linearly dependent on zinc content. Addition of ZnSO4 to the chelator-treated enzyme results in regain of the normal complement of zinc and enzyme activity. Kinetic properties of the reconstituted enzyme are indistinguishable from those of the native enzyme. The amino acid composition of the homogeneous enzyme suggests that the zinc atoms occupy different environments.
Redox-linked spin-state changes in the di-haem cytochrome c-551 peroxidase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Foote N , Peterson J , Gadsby P M , Greenwood C , Thomson A J
Published: August 2015

Magnetic-c.d., e.p.r. and optical-absorption spectra are reported for the half-reduced form of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cytochrome c-551 peroxidase, a di-haem protein, and its fluoride derivative. Comparison of this enzyme species with oxidized peroxidase shows the occurrence of spin-state changes at both haem sites. The high-potential haem changes its state from partially high-spin to low-spin upon reduction. This is linked to a structural alteration at the ferric low-potential haem group, causing it to change from low-spin to high-spin. Low-temperature spectra demonstrate photolysis of an endogenous ligand of the high-potential haem. In addition, an inactive form of enzyme is examined in which the structural change at the ferric low-potential haem does not occur on reduction of the high-potential haem.
Failure of highly purified lysyl hydroxylase to hydroxylate lysyl residues in the non-helical regions of collagen
Authors: Royce P M , Barnes M J
Published: August 2015

The activity of highly purified lysyl hydroxylase towards lysyl residues within both the helical and the N-terminal non-helical telopeptide regions of chick type I collagen has been examined. The peptides alpha 1(I)-CB1 and alpha 2(I)-CB1, isolated from protocollagen following CNBr digestion and containing the N-terminal telopeptidyl lysyl residues, failed themselves to act as substrates. With protocollagen as substrate, analysis of products obtained following bacterial collagenase digestion of the reaction mixture showed that overall 37% hydroxylation of lysyl residues within the helical region of collagen had been obtained, which may be maximal. No hydroxylation, however, of the single lysyl residue in either alpha 1(I)-CB1 or alpha 2(I)-CB1, isolated following CNBr digestion of the reaction mixture, was observed, despite the known susceptibility of these residues to hydroxylation. These findings provide strong circumstantial evidence for the suggestion that a lysyl hydroxylase specific for the telopeptidyl residues and distinct from that active towards lysyl residues in the helical portion of the molecule may exist [Barnes, Constable, Morton & Royce (1974) Biochem. J. 139, 461-468].
Isoenzymes of glutathione transferase in rat kidney cytosol
Authors: Guthenberg C , Jensson H , Nyström L , Österlund E , Tahir M K , Mannervik B
Published: August 2015

Glutathione transferases from rat kidney cytosol were purified about 40-fold by chromatography on S-hexylglutathione linked to epoxy-activated Sepharose 6B. Further purification by fast protein liquid chromatography with chromatofocusing in the pH interval 10.6-7.6 resolved five major peaks of activity with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene as the second substrate. Four of the peaks were identified with rat liver transferases 1-1, 1-2, 2-2 and 4-4 respectively. The criteria used for identification included physical properties, reactions with specific antibodies, substrate specificities and sensitivities to several inhibitors. The fourth major peak is a ‘new’ form of transferase, which has not been found in rat liver. This isoenzyme, glutathione transferase 7-7, has a lower apparent subunit Mr than any of the transferases isolated from rat liver cytosol, and does not react with antibodies raised against the liver enzymes. Glutathione transferases 3-3 and 3-4, which are abundant in liver, were only present in very small amounts. In a separate chromatofocusing separation in a lower pH interval, an additional peak was eluted at pH 6.3. This isoenzyme is characterized by its high activity with ethacrynic acid.
Characterization of Na+-dependent phosphate uptake in cultured kidney cells (JTC-12) from monkey
Authors: Takuwa Y , Ogata E
Published: August 2015

Phosphate uptake was studied in confluent monolayers of an epithelial-cell line (JTC-12) derived from monkey kidney. Phosphate uptake consisted of a saturable, Na+-dependent, component, which accounted for about 80% of the uptake, and a nonsaturable, Na+-independent, component. The saturable component was specifically dependent on the presence of extracellular Na+ and has an apparent Km value for phosphate of 0.12 mM at 137-mM-Na+, which is close to those reported in the brush-border membranes in mammalian kidneys. The presence of Na+ in the uptake solution decreased the Km for phosphate without affecting the Vmax. Phosphate uptake was inhibited by carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone and ouabain, suggesting that phosphate transport is an active, energy-dependent, process and is dependent on an Na+ gradient across cell membranes. With respect to the effect of external Na+ concentration, a sigmoid relation was seen between the initial velocity of phosphate uptake and Na+ concentrations, and Hill analysis gave a Hill coefficient of 1.8. In the pH range 6.6-7.4, phosphate uptake declined with increasing pH. Phosphate uptake was stimulated when cells were cultured in the presence of insulin, and was also affected by changes in phosphate concentrations in cultured medium. These results indicate that JTC-12 cells have an Na+-dependent phosphate-transport system with many of the features of phosphate transport in the proximal tubule.
The study of conformational states of proteins by nuclear magnetic resonance
Authors: Campbell I D , Dobson C M , Williams R J P
Published: August 2015

By the use of examples, mainly of rather rigid proteins, we hope to have shown that conformational analysis of proteins is a problem that is not simply related to the conformational analysis of small molecules. The primary difficulties with proteins are (1) the multitude of possible conformers, (2) the complex dynamical behaviour and (3) the degree of co-operativity within the molecules. Any experimentally derived structural description of a protein is an attempt to represent some average of a complex time dependence. N.m.r. techniques have now reached the point where it is possible to use them to describe many detailed structural features of small globular proteins in solution and to detect and to describe conformational changes in such proteins. In addition, analysis is becoming possible of much less ordered regions of polypeptides, such as are found in less compact proteins, of for example myosin, histones and virus coat proteins, or in denatured states. The limits to the detailed conformational analysis of such proteins are likely to be ones of reality rather than method but the description of the properties shown in Table 1 is by its very nature an extremely important problem in conformational analysis of dynamic macromolecules.
Propanediol oxidoreductases of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella typhimurium. Aspects of interspecies structural and regulatory differentiation
Authors: Ros J , Aguilar J
Published: August 2015

The enzyme propanediol oxidoreductase, which converts the lactaldehyde formed in the metabolism of fucose and rhamnose into propane-1,2-diol under anaerobic conditions, was investigated in Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella typhimurium. Structural analysis indicated that the enzymes of E. coli and K. pneumoniae have the same Mr and pI, whereas that of Salm. typhimurium also has the same Mr but a slightly different pI. One-dimensional peptide mapping showed identity between the E. coli and K. pneumoniae enzymes when digested with α-chymotrypsin, Staphylococcus aureus V8 proteinase or subtilisin. In the case of Salm. typhimurium, this held only for the subtilisin-digested enzymes, indicating that the hydrophobic regions were preserved to a considerable extent. Anaerobically, the three species induced an active propanediol oxidoreductase when grown on fucose or rhamnose. An inactive propanediol oxidoreductase was induced in Salm. typhimurium by either fucose or rhamnose under aerobic conditions, and this was activated once anaerobiosis was established. An inactive propanediol oxidoreductase was also induced in E. coli under aerobic conditions, but only by growth on fucose. The inactive enzyme was not induced by either of the sugars in K. pneumoniae.
Formation of positive supercoiled DNA by a nuclear factor from myeloma cells
Authors: Lazo P A
Published: August 2015

The formation of positive supercoiled DNA by an activity from a hypermutating myeloma line is reported. This activity forms positive supercoils from negative supercoiled DNA, it does not use positive supercoils to form negative ones and does not require an exogenous source of energy. The linking number changes by steps of 1, suggesting a type-I mechanism of action, and there seems to be an upper limit to the degree of positive supercoiling that can be achieved. Positive supercoiled DNA has to be taken into account as a possible structure of DNA in vivo for those functions where torsional stress is involved.
The recovery of human polymorphonuclear leucocytes from sublytic complement attack is mediated by changes in intracellular free calcium
Authors: Morgan B P , Campbell A K
Published: August 2015

Using polymorphonuclear leucocyte-erythrocyte ghost hybrids entrapping the calcium-activated photoprotein obelin, we have demonstrated that sublytic amounts of the complement membrane attack complex induce a rapid but transient increase in intracellular free calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+]i). This increase in [Ca2+]i occurs prior to, and is required for, rapid removal of membrane attack complexes from the cell surface. The increase in [Ca2+]i is not only due to increased influx from outside the cell, but also results from mobilization of intracellular stores. The possible mechanism of mobilization of calcium, and the importance of an increase in [Ca2+]i as a mediator of recovery processes in nucleated cells, are discussed.
Ketone-body metabolism after partial hepatectomy in the rat
Authors: Schofield P S , McLees D J , Myles D D , Sugden M C
Published: August 2015

Fed or 24 h-starved rats were subjected to two-thirds partial hepatectomy or sham-operation and subsequently starved for 4, 14 or 24 h. Despite high plasma fatty acid concentrations, the partially hepatectomized rats failed to respond to post-operative starvation with increased blood and liver ketone-body concentrations or to maintain the high ketone-body concentrations associated with pre-operative starvation. Hypoglycaemia and hyperlactaemia were observed within 30 min of functional hepatectomy, but not partial hepatectomy, of 24 h-starved rats, and, even after a further 24 h starvation of partially hepatectomized rats, blood glucose concentrations were only slightly decreased. The results are discussed with reference to fat oxidation and gluconeogenesis in the liver remaining after partial hepatectomy.
Kinetic independence of the subunits of cytosolic glutathione transferase from the rat
Authors: Danielson U H , Mannervik B
Published: August 2015

The steady-state kinetics of the dimeric glutathione transferases deviate from Michaelis-Menten kinetics, but have hyperbolic binding isotherms for substrates and products of the enzymic reaction. The possibility of subunit interactions during catalysis as an explanation for the rate behaviour was investigated by use of rat isoenzymes composed of subunits 1, 2, 3 and 4, which have distinct substrate specificities. The kinetic parameter kcat./Km was determined with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, 4-hydroxyalk-2-enals, ethacrynic acid and trans-4-phenylbut-3-en-2-one as electrophilic substrates for six isoenzymes: rat glutathione transferases 1-1, 1-2, 2-2, 3-3, 3-4 and 4-4. It was found that the kcat./Km values for the heterodimeric transferases 1-2 and 3-4 could be predicted from the kcat./Km values of the corresponding homodimers. Likewise, the initial velocities determined with transferases 3-3, 3-4 and 4-4 at different degrees of saturation with glutathione and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene demonstrated that the kinetic properties of the subunits are additive. These results show that the subunits of glutathione transferase are kinetically independent.
Kinetics of the reaction of thrombin and α2-macroglobulin
Authors: Feinman R D , Yuan A I , Windwer S R , Wang D
Published: August 2015

The kinetics of the reaction of alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) with human thrombin were studied by recording the appearance of thiol groups spectrophotometrically and by measuring the distribution of protein species by denaturing non-reducing gel electrophoresis. The goals were to study the relation between the formation of various covalent enzyme-inhibitor complex species and the appearance of free thiol, and from the kinetic analysis, to try to characterize the chemical nature of the protein complexes. The kinetics of thiol-group release were observed to be biphasic, the early phase showing second-order behaviour, results consistent with previous reports in the literature. The observed second-order rate constant for thiol-group release was found to be faster than the second-order rate constant for the disappearance of the band corresponding to native alpha 2M on gel electrophoresis. This may be a reflection of the multiple products formed from the thioester. Alternatively, it is possible that covalent-bond formation is slower than some enzyme-induced change in the thioester centre, and this may be suggestive evidence for a reactive alpha 2M centre that does not contain an intact thioester. The kinetics of covalent-bond formation were found to be consistent with the internal cross-link of several alpha 2M chains by the bound proteinase, providing further evidence that the very-high-Mr species seen on gels may arise from dimers of the alpha 2M molecule held together by covalent bonds to the enzyme.
Comparative kinetic studies on the two interconvertible forms of Streptococcus faecalis inorganic pyrophosphatase
Authors: Lahti R , Lönnberg H
Published: August 2015

In this work the two interconvertible forms of inorganic pyrophosphatase (EC 3.6.1.1) of Streptococcus faecalis were shown to differ in kinetics. The highly active form of the enzyme was more sensitive to the changes in the Mg2+ concentration, and thus also more sensitive to the inhibition caused by ATP, which competes with PPi for the chelation of Mg2+ ions. We have previously described a kinetic model for the less-active form of S. faecalis inorganic pyrophosphatase [Lahti & Jokinen (1985) Biochemistry 24, 3526-3530]. The kinetic model of the highly active enzyme form is proposed to be a modification of the model of the less-active form in which enzyme activation by free Mg2+ is necessary for the reaction to occur. In this model the enzyme exists in two states, referred to as R- and T-states. In the absence of ligands the enzyme is in the T-state. R-state, i.e. the catalytically active state, exists only in the presence of free Mg2+. Mg1PPi2- is the primary substrate, and free pyrophosphate is a weak inhibitor that cannot serve as a substrate for the highly active form of S. faecalis inorganic pyrophosphatase. This model closely resembles that previously presented for yeast inorganic pyrophosphatase.
Dependence on Ca2+ of the activities of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate phosphodiesterase and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate phosphatase in smooth muscles of the porcine coronary artery
Authors: Sasaguri T , Hirata M , Kuriyama H
Published: August 2015

The activities of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) phosphodiesterase (PDE) and inositol 1,4,5,-trisphosphate (IP3) phosphatase in the particulate and cytosol fractions prepared from porcine coronary artery smooth muscles were examined using 32P-labelled PIP2 and IP3 as substrates, respectively. The activity of PIP2 PDE, as assessed from the production of IP3, in the cytosol fraction was about 10-fold higher than that in the particulate fraction. In the absence of MgCl2, the activity of PIP2 PDE in both fractions showed no causal relation to the free Ca2+ concentration in the physiological range of 10(-7)-10(-5) M, but was enhanced remarkably by 10(-4) M free Ca2+. The addition of 1 mM-MgCl2 to the assay medium markedly inhibited the activity of PIP2 PDE in both fractions in the presence of free Ca2+ (10(-8)-10(-5) M). In the absence of MgCl2, 10(-5)M-acetylcholine (ACh) produced IP3, and this action was blocked by 3 × 10(-6) M-atropine. The ACh-induced activation of PIP2 PDE ceased in the presence of 1 mM-MgCl2; however, the reactivation occurring on the addition of 10 microM-guanosine 5′-[γ-thio]triphosphate did not depend on the free Ca2+ concentrations (10(-7)-10(-5)M). The activities of IP3 phosphatase, determined from decrease in the amount of IP3 in the particulate and cytosol fractions, had much the same potency in both fractions. The activity of IP3 phosphatase in the cytosol fraction was enhanced by MgCl2 in a concentration-dependent manner, the maximal value occurring at 1 mM-MgCl2, and was also enhanced in the presence of physiological concentrations of free Ca2+ (10(-7)-10(-6) M). These findings suggest that the activation of PIP2 PDE which occurs with application of ACh in the presence of guanine nucleotides and 1 mM-MgCl2 is independent of the free Ca2+ concentration, and that the hydrolysis of IP3 by phosphatase increases, depending on the concentration of free Ca2+.
Isolation of ATPase I, the proton pump of chromaffin-granule membranes
Authors: Percy J M , Pryde J G , Apps D K
Published: August 2015

Chromaffin-granule membranes contain two ATPases, which can be separated by (NH4)2SO4 fractionation after solubilization with detergents, or by phase segregation in Triton X-114. ATPase I (Mr 400000) is inhibited by trialkyltin, quercetin and alkylating agents, and hydrolyses both ATP and ITP. It contains up to five types of subunit, including a low-Mr hydrophobic polypeptide that reacts with dicyclohexylcarbodi-imide; these subunits are unrelated to those of mitochondrial F1F0-ATPase, as judged by size and reaction with antibodies. ATPase II (Mr 140000) is inhibited by vanadate, and is specific for ATP; it has not been extensively purified. Proton translocation by resealed chromaffin-granule ‘ghosts’, measured by uptake of methylamine or by quenching of the fluorescence of 9-amino-6-chloro-2-methoxyacridine, is supported by the hydrolysis of ATP or ITP, and inhibited by quercetin or alkylating agents, but not by vanadate. ATPase I must therefore be the proton translocator involved in the uptake of catecholamines and possibly of other components of the chromaffin-granule matrix, whereas ATPase II does not translocate protons.
Studies on the activation of rat liver pyruvate dehydrogenase and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase by adrenaline and glucagon. Role of increases in intramitochondrial Ca2+ concentration
Authors: McCormack J G
Published: August 2015

The administration in vivo of either adrenaline or glucagon alone resulted in increases of about 2-fold in the amounts of active, non-phosphorylated, pyruvate dehydrogenase in the livers of fed male or female rats, whereas when administered together increases of about 4-fold were obtained. Ca2+-dependent increases in the amount of active enzyme of up to about 5-fold could be achieved in isolated rat liver mitochondria by incubating them with increasing extramitochondrial [Ca2+]; from this, two conditions of Ca loading were chosen which caused increases in active enzyme similar to those with the hormone treatments given above. The increases in enzyme activity owing to these Ca loads persisted through the ‘re-isolation’ of mitochondria and their incubation in Na+-free KCl-based media containing EGTA. Differences from values obtained with unloaded controls could be diminished by adding Na+ ions to cause the egress of Ca2+ from the mitochondria, or enough extramitochondrial Ca2+ to saturate the enzyme in its Ca2+-dependent activation; the effects of Na+ could be blocked by diltiazem, an inhibitor of mitochondrial Na+/Ca2+ exchange. The re-isolated, Ca-preloaded, mitochondria also exhibited enhanced activities of 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase when assayed at non-saturating [2-oxoglutarate] by two different methods; effects of Na+, Ca2+ or diltiazem on the persistent activations of this enzyme were similar to those for pyruvate dehydrogenase. Na+ caused a marked depletion, which could be blocked by diltiazem, of the 45Ca content of re-isolated mitochondria which had pre-loaded with Ca, containing 45Ca, to the same degrees as above. The activities of pyruvate dehydrogenase and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase in incubated liver mitochondria prepared from rats subjected to the hormone treatments given above were found to behave in a very similar manner to those exhibited in the re-isolated, Ca-preloaded, mitochondria. It is concluded that these hormones each bring about the activations of these rat liver enzymes by causing increases in intramitochondrial [Ca2+], and that their effects, as such, are additive.
Sterol biosynthesis de nova via cycloartenol by the soil amoeba Acanthamoeba polyphaga
Authors: Raederstorff D , Rohmer M
Published: August 2015

The soil amoeba Acanthamoeba polyphaga is capable of synthesizing its sterols de novo from acetate. The major sterols are ergosterol and poriferasta-5,7,22-trienol. Furthermore C28 and C29 sterols of still unknown structure with an aromatic B-ring are also synthesized by the amoeba. The first cyclic sterol precursor is cycloartenol, which is the sterol precursor in all photosynthetic phyla. No trace of lanosterol, which is the sterol precursor in animals and fungi, could be detected. These results show that at least some of the biochemical processes of Acanthamoeba polyphaga might be phylogenetically related to those of unicellular algae. Addition of exogenous sterols to the culture medium does not influence the sterol biosynthesis and the sterol composition of the cells.
Thermogenic and lipogenic activities in brown adipose tissue of I-strain mice
Authors: Bazin R , Ricquier D , Dupuy F , Hoover-Plow J , Lavau M
Published: August 2015

The thermogenic capacity of brown adipose tissue has been investigated in I-strain mice to determine whether this tissue could play a role in the lower efficiency of food utilization reported in this strain of mice. (1) As compared with C57BL mice (a control strain), interscapular-brown-adipose-tissue weight and lipid percentage were decreased by 40% and 13% respectively in I-strain mice. (2) Mitochondrial protein content and cytochrome c oxidase activity were similar in the two strains, but the number of mitochondrial GDP-binding sites and uncoupling-protein content were increased by 2-fold in I-strain mice. (3) Fatty acid synthetase and citrate-cleavage enzyme (units/mg of protein) were 3-fold higher in the brown adipose tissue of I-strain mice. These results indicate that I-strain mice possess a very active brown adipose tissue. This enhanced capacity of energy dissipation in brown adipose tissue could contribute to the decreased capacity of I-strain mice to store adipose tissue.
A peptide that inhibits the mitogenic stimulation of Swiss 3T3 cells by bombesin or vasopressin
Authors: Corps A N , Rees L H , Brown K D
Published: August 2015

The synthetic peptide [D-Arg1,D-Pro2,D-Trp7,9,Leu1]substance P inhibits the stimulation of DNA synthesis induced in Swiss 3T3 cells by bombesin or vasopressin, but not that induced by a wide range of other growth factors and mitogens. The stimulation induced by 10 pM-3 nM-bombesin is inhibited by 1-30 microM-antagonist in a manner consistent with competition at the bombesin receptor. The inhibition by the antagonist of the stimulation induced by vasopressin suggests a previously unrecognized interaction of the antagonist with vasopressin receptors. The antagonist should be useful in studies of cell proliferation both in vivo and in vitro.
Subfractionation of hepatic endosomes in Nycodenz gradients and by free-flow electrophoresis. Separation of ligand-transporting and receptor-enriched membranes
Authors: Evans W H , Flint N
Published: August 2015

The complexity of rat liver endosome fractions containing internalized radioiodinated asialotransferrin, asialo-(alkaline phosphatase), insulin and prolactin was investigated by using free-flow electrophoresis and isopycnic centrifugation in Nycodenz gradients. Two subfractions were separated by free-flow electrophoresis. Both subfractions contained receptors for asialoglycoprotein and insulin. Glycosyltransferase activities were associated with the more electronegative vesicles, whereas 5′-nucleotidase and alkaline phosphodiesterase activities were associated with the less electronegative vesicles. Three subfractions were separated on Nycodenz gradients. Two subfractions, previously shown to become acidified in vitro, contained the ligands. At short intervals after uptake (1-2 min), ligands were mainly in subfraction DN-2 (density 1.115 g/cm3), but movement into subfraction DN-1 (density 1.090 g/cm3) had occurred 10-15 min after internalization. Low amounts of glycosyltransferase activities were associated with subfraction DN-2, and 5′-nucleotidase and alkaline phosphodiesterase activities were mainly located in subfraction DN-1. The binding sites for asialoglycoproteins and insulin were distributed towards the higher density range in the Nycodenz gradients, thus indicating a segregation of receptor-enriched vesicles and those vesicles containing the various ligands 10-15 min after internalization. Electron microscopy of the subfractions separated on Nycodenz gradients indicated that whereas the ligand-transporting fractions consisted mainly of empty vesicles (average diameter 100-150 nm), the receptor-enriched component was more granular and smaller (average diameter 70-95 nm). The properties of the endosome subfraction are used to assign their origin to the regions of the endocytic compartment where ligand-receptor dissociation and separation occur.
Succinylation and inactivation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase by succinyl-CoA and its possible relevance to the control of ketogenesis
Authors: Lowe D M , Tubbs P K
Published: August 2015

Succinyl-CoA (3-carboxypropionyl-CoA) inactivates ox liver mitochondrial 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase (EC 4.1.3.5) in a time-dependent manner, which is partially prevented by the presence of substrates of the enzyme. The inactivation is due to the enzyme catalysing its own succinylation. Complete inactivation corresponds to about 0.5 mol of succinyl group bound/mol of enzyme dimer. The succinyl-enzyme linkage appears to be a thioester bond and is probably formed with the active-site cysteine residue that is normally acetylated by acetyl-CoA. Succinyl-CoA binds to 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase with a binding constant of 340 microM and succinylation occurs with a rate constant of 0.57 min-1. Succinyl-enzyme breaks down with a half-life of about 40 min (k = 0.017 min-1) at 30 degrees C and pH 7 and is destabilized by the presence of acetyl-CoA and succinyl-CoA. A control mechanism is postulated in which flux through the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA cycle of ketogenesis is regulated according to the extent of succinylation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase.
Mechanism of inhibitory action of TMB-8 [8-(NN-diethylamino)octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate] on aldosterone secretion in adrenal glomerulosa cells
Authors: Kojima I , Kojima K , Rasmussen H
Published: August 2015

The mechanism of 8-(NN-diethylamino)octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate (TMB-8) action was evaluated in isolated adrenal glomerulosa cells. TMB-8 inhibits both angiotensin II- and K+-stimulated aldosterone secretion in a dose-dependent manner. The ID50 for angiotensin II- and K+-stimulated aldosterone secretion is 46 and 28 microM, respectively. In spite of the fact that 100 microM-TMB-8 inhibits angiotensin II-stimulated aldosterone secretion almost completely, TMB-8 (100 microM) does not inhibit angiotensin II-induced 45Ca2+ efflux from prelabelled cells nor does it affect inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-induced calcium release from non-mitochondrial pool(s) in saponin-permeabilized cells. TMB-8 has no inhibitory effect on A23187-induced aldosterone secretion, but 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate-induced aldosterone secretion is completely abolished. TMB-8 effectively inhibits both angiotensin II- and K+-induced increases in calcium influx but has no effect on A23187-induced calcium influx. TMB-8 inhibits the activity of protein kinase C dose-dependently. These results indicate that TMB-8 inhibits aldosterone secretion without inhibiting mobilization of calcium from an intracellular pool. The inhibitory effect of TMB-8 is due largely to an inhibition of plasma membrane calcium influx, but this drug also inhibits the activity of protein kinase C directly.
The properties of proteoglycan prepared from human articular cartilage by using associative caesium chloride gradients of high and low starting densities
Authors: Bayliss M T , Roughley P J
Published: August 2015

Proteoglycan was extracted from adult human articular cartilage from both the knee and the hip, and A1 preparations were prepared by CsCl-density-gradient centrifugation at starting densities of 1.69 and 1.5 g/ml. Irrespective of whether the cartilage was diced to 1 mm cubes or sectioned to 20 micron slices there was always a lower proportion of both protein and proteoglycan aggregate in the A1 preparation prepared at 1.69 g/ml. Furthermore, the addition of exogenous hyaluronic acid to the extracts before centrifugation did not improve the yield of aggregate at 1.69 g/ml. These results were not affected by the presence of proteinase inhibitors in the extraction medium. It appears that adult human articular cartilage contains a high proportion of low-density proteoglycan subunits and hyaluronic acid-binding proteins that make most of the re-formed proteoglycan aggregates of a lower density than is usually encountered with younger human and mammalian hyaline cartilages.
Oxidation of arylcyclopropanes by rabbit liver cytochrome P-450. Mechanistic implications of a multiple oxidation
Authors: Suckling C J , Nonhebel D C , Brown L , Suckling K E , Seilman S , Wolf C R
Published: August 2015

The arylcyclopropanes (cyclopropylarenes) cyclopropylbenzene and diphenylcyclopropane are oxidized by rabbit liver microsomal cytochrome P-450, both by the microsomal fraction and by the purified cytochrome in a reconstituted system. The products formed, principally benzoic acid, are due to an unusual triple oxidation of the substrate, which probably remains attached to the active site during the several steps of the oxidation. Both substrates were found to be inhibitors of the cytochrome P-450-dependent O-de-ethylation of 7-ethoxycoumarin. Model oxidation studies with cumene hydroperoxide as oxidizing agent and rabbit liver microsomal fraction as source of enzyme gave similar products to the microsomal and reconstituted systems. The significance of these results in the mechanism of oxidation catalysed by cytochrome P-450 is discussed.
Inhibition of platelet-activating-factor-induced human platelet activation by prostaglandin D2. Differential sensitivity of platelet transduction processes and functional responses to inhibition by cyclic AMP
Authors: Bushfield M , McNicol A , MacIntyre D E
Published: August 2015

It has been proposed that cyclic AMP inhibits platelet reactivity: by preventing agonist-induced phosphoinositide hydrolysis and the resultant formation of 1,2-diacylglycerol and elevation of cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration [(Ca2+]i); by promoting Ca2+ sequestration and/or extrusion; and by suppressing reactions stimulated by (1,2-diacylglycerol-dependent) protein kinase C and/or Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase. We used the adenylate cyclase stimulant prostaglandin D2 to compare the sensitivity to cyclic AMP of the transduction processes (phosphoinositide hydrolysis and elevation of [Ca2+]i) and functional responses (shape change, aggregation and ATP secretion) that are initiated after agonist-receptor combination on human platelets. Prostaglandin D2 elicited a concentration-dependent elevation of platelet cyclic AMP content and inhibited platelet-activating-factor(PAF)-induced ATP secretion [I50 (concn. causing 50% inhibition) approximately 2 nM], aggregation (I50 approximately 3 nM), shape change (I50 approximately 30 nM), elevation of [Ca2+]i (I50 approximately 30 nM) and phosphoinositide hydrolysis (I50 approximately 10 nM). A 2-fold increase in cyclic AMP content resulted in abolition of PAF-induced aggregation and ATP secretion, whereas maximal inhibition of shape change, phosphoinositide hydrolysis and elevation of [Ca2+]i required a greater than 10-fold elevation of the cyclic AMP content. This differential sensitivity of the various responses to inhibition by cyclic AMP suggests that the mechanisms underlying PAF-induced aggregation and ATP secretion differ from those underlying shape change. Thus a major component of the cyclic AMP-dependent inhibition of PAF-induced platelet aggregation and ATP secretion is mediated by suppression of certain components of the activation process that occur distal to the formation of DAG or elevation of [Ca2+]i.
Isolation and amino acid sequence of a short-chain neurotoxin from an Australian elapid snake, Pseudechis australis
Authors: Takasaki C , Tamiya N
Published: August 2015

A short-chain neurotoxin Pseudechis australis a (toxin Pa a) was isolated from the venom of an Australian elapid snake Pseudechis australis (king brown snake) by sequential chromatography on CM-cellulose, Sephadex G-50 and CM-cellulose columns. Toxin Pa a has an LD50 (intravenous) value of 76 micrograms/kg body wt. in mice and consists of 62 amino acid residues. The amino acid sequence of Pa a shows considerable homology with those of short-chain neurotoxins of elapid snakes, especially of true sea snakes.