bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evidence that a secondary binding and protecting site for factor VIII on von Willebrand factor is highly unlikely
Authors: Layet S , Girma J P , Obert B , Peynaud-Debayle E , Bihoreau N , Meyer D
Published: August 2015

A binding domain for Factor VIII (F.VIII) has been previously identified on the N-terminal portion of human von Willebrand Factor (vWF) subunit [amino acids (AA) 1-272]. In order to characterize other possible structures of vWF involved in its capacity to bind and to protect F.VIII against human activated protein C (APC), we used a series of purified vWF fragments overlapping the whole sequence of the subunit. Among those were fragments SpIII (dimer; AA 1-1365), SpII (dimer; AA 1366-2050) and SpI (monomer; AA 911-1365) generated by Staphylococcus aureus V8 proteinase, a P34 species (monomer; AA 1-272) obtained with plasmin, a monomeric 39/34 kDa dispase fragment (AA 480-718) and a tetrameric III-T2 fragment (AA 273-511/674-728) produced from SpIII by trypsin. Three other fragments without precise extremities were located using selected monoclonal antibodies to vWF. Two C-terminal fragments of 270 and 260 kDa, overlapping SpI and SpII, were respectively generated from vWF with trypsin and protease 1 from Crotalus atrox venom. An N-terminal 120 kDa fragment, overlapping P34 and 39/34 kDa fragments, was produced by protease 1. Our results show that vWF bound to F.VIII and protected it from degradation by APC in a dose-dependent way. Among the C-terminal and central vWF fragments (SpII, tryptic 270 kDa, 260 kDa, SpI, 39/34 kDa and III-T2), none had the capacity to bind or to protect F.VIII, even at high concentrations. The three N-terminal fragments (SpIII, 120 kDa and P34) bound to F.VIII in a dose-dependent and saturable fashion. SpIII and the 120 kDa fragment had the capacity to protect F.VIII in a dose-dependent way. In contrast, the P34 species did not significantly protect F.VIII, even when using high concentrations of the fragment. In conclusion, the N-terminal end of vWF subunit (AA 1-272) plays a crucial role in binding to F.VIII, but requires additional structures of the 120 kDa fragment to protect it against APC. In addition, the presence of a secondary binding and/or protecting domain on other portions of the vWF subunit (potentially destroyed during the proteolysis of vWF) is highly unlikely.
Phosphorylation of the C-terminal domain of the Na+/H+ exchanger by Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II
Authors: Fliegel L , Walsh M P , Singh D , Wong C , Barr A
Published: August 2015

The Na+/H+ exchanger is a pH-regulatory protein that extrudes one H+ ion in exchange for one Na+ ion when intracellular pH declines. A number of studies have shown phorbol ester stimulation of activity in intact cells, leading to the idea that the exchanger is regulated by protein kinase C-mediated phosphorylation in vivo. cDNA encoding the protein has been cloned, and a recent model suggests a large internal cytoplasmic C-terminal domain that may be a site of regulation of the exchanger [Sardet, Franchi & Pouyssegur (1989) Cell 56, 271-280]. We examined this region of the protein using a rabbit cardiac Na+/H+ exchanger cDNA clone. cDNA of the Na+/H+ exchanger, coding for the C-terminal 178 amino acid residues, was cloned into the expression vector pEX-1 and expressed as a fusion protein with beta-galactosidase. The fusion protein reacted with an antibody produced against a synthetic peptide of the C-terminal 13 amino acid residues of the Na+/H+ exchanger, confirming the identity of the expressed protein. Control and experimental pEX-1-Na+/H+ exchanger protein was purified on a p-aminophenyl beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside-agarose column. Purified Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II readily phosphorylated the Na+/H+ exchanger protein in a Ca(2+)- and calmodulin-dependent manner in vitro, but this region of the protein was not a substrate for purified protein kinase C or for the catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. Control-expressed beta-galactosidase was phosphorylated to a maximal level of 0.77 +/- 0.17 mol of Pi/mol (mean +/- S.E.M., n = 6) whereas the fusion protein was phosphorylated to a maximal level of 4.09 +/- 0.39 mol of Pi/mol (n = 6), suggesting one site of phosphorylation in beta-galactosidase and three in the C-terminal domain of the Na+/H+ exchanger. Examination of the deduced amino acid sequence of this part of the exchanger reveals three consensus sequences for Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II. These results suggest that the exchanger may be directly regulated in vivo by calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II but not by protein kinase C or cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase.
Purification and characterization of protein kinase C from the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Sassa T , Miwa J
Published: August 2015

Protein kinase C (PKC) of Caenorhabditis elegans was identified by enzymatic activity and [3H]phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate binding after DEAE-Sephacel column chromatography of a crude cytosolic extract. Ca(2+)-dependent activation of nematode PKC was observed in the presence of phosphatidylserine. The enzyme was maximally activated by 1,2-dioleoylglycerol or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate in the presence of phosphatidylserine and Ca2+. Hydroxyapatite column chromatography showed only one peak of PKC activity with histone H1 and myelin basic protein as substrates. The enzyme was purified to near homogeneity by sequential chromatography on polylysine-agarose and phosphatidylserine affinity columns. The purified protein showed a molecular mass of 79 kDa on SDS/PAGE. The substrate specificity of the C. elegans enzyme was shown to be different from that of mammalian PKCs. Here we describe some of the properties of the nematode enzyme.
Aldehyde dehydrogenase. Covalent intermediate in aldehyde dehydrogenation and ester hydrolysis
Authors: Blatter E E , Abriola D P , Pietruszko R
Published: August 2015

4-trans-(NN-Dimethylamino)cinnamaldehyde (an aldehyde, DACA) and 4-trans-(NN-dimethylamino)cinnamoylimidazole (an amide, DACI) have been shown to be substrates for human aldehyde dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.3) which form chromophoric covalent intermediates. The spectra of covalent intermediates from both the cytoplasmic (E1) and mitochondrial (E2) isoenzymes derived from DACA and DACI were compared. The spectra were similar when either substrate was used, and also when the two isoenzymes were compared, and resembled that obtained for 4-trnas-(NN-dimethylamino)cinnamoyl-N-acetylcysteine, but differed from the spectrum of 4-trans-(NN-dimethylamino)cinnamoyl ethyl ester. After extensive digestion of the covalent intermediates from both 3H-labelled DACA and DACI with Pronase and purification, the labelled amino acid was identified as cysteine. Covalent intermediates from both DACA and DACI were also digested with trypsin, and labelled peptides were purified by ion-exchange and reverse-phase chromatography. Amino acid sequence analysis showed that the peptide comprising residues 273-307 was labelled by both DACA and DACI. The radioactive label at cysteine residues 301-303 of the primary structure could be unequivocally identified by employing the DACA derivative. Assignment of label to cysteine-302 was achieved by employing iodoacetamide-labelled E1 isoenzyme (iodoacetamide specifically labels cysteine-302), in which case there was no formation of the covalent intermediate from either DACA or DACI. In addition, cysteine-302 is the only cysteine residue conserved in all aldehyde dehydrogenases sequenced. Thus cysteine-302 is the amino acid residue that forms a covalent intermediate with both aldehyde and ester substrates.
Structure analysis of purified histone H5 and of H5 in nuclei by limited proteolysis
Authors: Hallupp M , Buck F , Strätling W H
Published: August 2015

The structure of purified histone H5 in 1 M-NaClO4 and of H5 in nuclei was analysed by digestion with either one of three endoproteinases, papain, subtilisin or elastase, which preferentially cleave unstructured protein regions (and additionally with trypsin). Digestion with papain and subtilisin produced ‘limiting’ resistant peptides (p1 and s1) that contain the central region between residues 18-20 and residue 114. Digestion of purified H5 with elastase generated resistant peptides e1 and e2, and that of H5 in nuclei, peptide e2. Peptides e1 and e2 contain the region from residues 22 to 114 and 109 respectively. These results show that a central region of H5 encompassing the sequence between residues 18-22 and residue 114 is folded into a compact structure. A central structured ‘core’ domain ranging from residues 22 to 100 is defined by the limit trypsin peptide t3, which is identical to the previously described fragment GH5 [Aviles et al. (1978) Eur. J. Biochem. 88, 363-371]. Generation of peptides e2 and t3, as well as of resistant peptides of lower abundance, shows that the sites near Lys-100 and Lys-109 exhibit some proteolytic sensitivity, which may result either from an exposed location or from a locally less compact conformation. Significantly, all these structural features of H5 are manifested in the purified form as well as in nuclei. A role of the structured region from residues 101 to 114 for the interaction with linker DNA and the determination of its path is discussed.
Human glucosamine-6-sulphatase deficiency. Diagnostic enzymology towards heparin-derived trisaccharide substrates
Authors: Freeman C , Hopwood J J
Published: August 2015

Glucosamine-6-sulphatase (6S) activity towards a series of radiolabelled heparin-derived trisaccharide substrates was determined in cultured human skin fibroblast and leucocyte homogenates, and in urine supernatants of normal individuals and patients affected with 6S deficiency [Sanfilippo D syndrome; mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) type IIID]. The N-sulphated and N-acetylated derivatives of the trisaccharide substrate O-(alpha-glucosamine 6-sulphate)-(1----4)-L-O-(alpha-iduronic acid 2-sulphate)-(1----4)-D-O-2,5-anhydro[1-3H]mannitol 6-sulphate (GlcNH6S-IdoA2S-anM6S) were prepared by enzymic digestion of a pentasulphated tetrasaccharide isolated following the HNO2 deamination of heparin. Purified lysosomal enzymes and MPS-patient skin fibroblasts were used along with chemical degradation to confirm the structure of each of the substrates that were utilized to study the interaction of the enzyme activities required to degrade the highly sulphated regions of heparan sulphate. Human liver, skin fibroblast and urine 6S activities were separated by chromatofocusing into at least four and possibly up to six individual activities. 6S activities present in each of the tissues generally had similar catalytic properties, including Km values, pH optima and inhibition with NaCl, Na2SO4 and NaH2PO4. Leucocyte and skin fibroblast 6S activities towards GlcNAc6S-IdoA2S-anM6S were maximal at pH 4.1 and 3.9 respectively, with Km values of 2.8 microM and 0.9-1.7 microM respectively. Urine 6S activity towards GlcNAc6S-IdoA2S-anM6S was stimulated 30-fold by BSA at pH 3.9, which shifted the pH optimum from 5.1 to 4.2 and decreased the Km value at pH 4.2 from 4.0 microM to 0.5 microM. Residual 6S activity present in the skin fibroblast homogenates from MPS IIID patients was characterized for activity towards GlcNAc6S-IdoA2S-anM6S and observed to have similar pH optima and Km values to normal skin fibroblast 6S activities, although the residual 6S activity was less than 1% of the normal control range.
Long-lived reactive species on free-radical-damaged proteins
Authors: Simpson J A , Narita S , Gieseg S , Gebicki S , Gebicki J M , Dean R T
Published: August 2015

We have demonstrated two novel reactive species on radical-modified proteins which are relatively long-lived, one oxidizing and one reducing. The two species are reactive with critical biological components, and so may be of physiological and pathological importance. The oxidizing species, which have been identified as protein hydroperoxides, can consume key cellular reductants, such as ascorbate and glutathione. The reducing species can act on both free and metalloprotein forms of copper and iron ions, which participate in radical generation. These findings suggest that proteins may act as traps for the chemical energy released by free radicals, with the capacity to pass it on to other molecules. The long-lived nature of both the reactive moieties indicates that they may be able to diffuse and transfer damaging reactions to distant sites.
Pro-oxidant effects of lipoxygenase-derived peroxides on the copper-initiated oxidation of low-density lipoprotein
Authors: O'Leary V J , Darley-Usmar V M , Russell L J , Stone D
Published: August 2015

It has been proposed that lipoxygenases, specifically 15-lipoxygenase, may play an important role in promoting the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in the artery wall. It is well known that peroxides are unstable in the presence of transition metals, decomposing to form the alkoxy and peroxy radicals, and so initiating lipid peroxidation. To test whether lipoxygenase-derived peroxides may promote the oxidation of LDL in the presence of copper, the lipoprotein was enriched with lipid peroxides derived from the enzymic action of 5- and 15-lipoxygenases on either linoleic or arachidonic acid. All of these products were found to promote oxidation, whereas the related hydroxy fatty acids had no effect. This suggests that lipoxygenase-derived peroxides associated with the LDL particle may promote peroxidation in the presence of a suitable transition metal catalyst. This result has implications both for the mechanism of the potential pro-oxidant action of lipoxygenases in vivo and for the ex vivo assessment of the oxidizability of LDL samples isolated from different donors.
Zone-specific inducibility of cytochrome P450 2B1/2 is retained in isolated perivenous hepatocytes
Authors: Bars R G , Bell D R , Elcombe C R , Oinonen T , Jalava T , Lindros K O
Published: August 2015

The expression and induction of the cytochrome P450 2B1/2 isoenzyme is heterogeneous, exhibiting a regional pattern in the intact liver and a varied response to phenobarbital in isolated cultured hepatocytes. We report that P450 2B1/2 immunostaining of hepatocytes isolated from the perivenous liver region and cultured in the presence of phenobarbital is much stronger than that of cells identically treated but isolated from the periportal region. P450 2B1 mRNA, quantified by a sensitive and specific RNAase protection assay, is also preferentially induced in perivenous hepatocytes, demonstrating that the difference in induced expression is at the pretranslational level. Our results suggest that perivenous and periportal hepatocytes are differentially imprinted to retain regiospecific factors governing their inducibility after isolation.
Bacterial metabolism of 5-aminosalicylic acid. Initial ring cleavage
Authors: Stolz A , Nörtemann B , Knackmuss H J
Published: August 2015

The metabolism of 5-aminosalicylate (5AS) by a bacterial strain, Pseudomonas sp. BN9, was studied. Intact cells of Pseudomonas sp. BN9 grown with 5AS oxidized 5AS and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoate (gentisate), whereas cells grown with gentisate oxidized only the growth substrate of all substituted salicylates tested. Cell extracts from Pseudomonas sp. BN9 catalysed the stoichiometric reaction of 1 mol of oxygen with 1 mol of 5AS to a metabolite with an intense u.v.-absorption maximum at 352 nm (pH 8.0). This metabolite was accumulated under neutral conditions, but was rapidly destroyed at acid pH. It was identified by m.s. and acid-catalysed deamination to fumarylpyruvate (trans-2,4-dioxohept-5-enedioic acid) as cis-4-amino-6-carboxy-2-oxohexa-3,5-dienoate, thus demonstrating direct cleavage of the monohydroxylated substrate 5AS to a non-aromatic ring-fission product. The enzyme responsible for conversion of 5AS was shown to be Fe(II)-dependent and to be distinct from gentisate 1,2-dioxygenase in strain BN9.
Aldosterone antagonists destabilize the mineralocorticosteroid receptor
Authors: Couette B , Lombes M , Baulieu E E , Rafestin-Oblin M E
Published: August 2015

To elucidate the mechanism of action of aldosterone antagonists, we studied the interaction of spironolactone with the chick mineralocorticosteroid receptor (MR). Intestinal cytosol contains specific spironolactone-binding sites (Kd approximately 3 nM; max. no. of binding sites approximately 100 fmol/mg of protein) that have been identified as MRs by competition experiments with steroid ligands and with the monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody H10E that interacts with aldosterone-binding domain of the MR. Binding studies indicate that aldosterone and spironolactone bind to the MR through a common site that encompasses the epitope recognized by H10E. At 4 degrees C, spironolactone dissociates much more rapidly from the cytosol 8-9 S form of MR (t1/2 38 min) than does aldosterone (t1/2 3240 min). A high dissociation rate was also observed for progesterone, a natural aldosterone antagonist (t1/2 84 min). The covalent linkage of the 90 kDa heat shock protein (hsp90) to the ligand-binding subunit of MR with dimethyl pimelimidate did not notably modify the rate of dissociation of spironolactone from the receptor (t1/2 96 min), excluding the possibility that the rapid dissociation rate of the antagonist was related to hsp90 release. The effects of aldosterone and the two anti-mineralocorticosteroids on the 8-9 S heterooligomeric structure of the MR differed strikingly. Using low-salt density-gradient centrifugation analysis, aldosterone-labelled receptors were recovered as 8-9S complexes, whereas 4 S entities were detected after spironolactone and progesterone binding. This indicated that, under the experimental conditions used, aldosterone antagonists facilitate hsp90 release and thus do not stabilize the non-DNA-binding 8-9S form of MR. We propose that the combination of rapid dissociation of the ligand and a weakened hsp90-receptor interaction is involved in the anti-mineralococorticosteroid activity of aldosterone antagonists.
Human α-l-iduronidase. Catalytic properties and an integrated role in the lysosomal degradation of heparan sulphate
Authors: Freeman C , Hopwood J J
Published: August 2015

The kinetic parameters (Km and kcat) of human liver alpha-L-iduronidase were determined with a variety of heparin-derived disaccharide and tetrasaccharide substrates. More structurally complex substrates, in which several aspects of the aglycone structure of the natural substrates heparin and heparan sulphate were maintained, were hydrolysed with catalytic efficiencies up to 255 times that observed for the simplest disaccharide substrate to be hydrolysed. The major aglycone structure that influenced both substrate binding and enzyme activity was the presence of a C-6 sulphate ester on the residue adjacent to the iduronic acid residue being hydrolysed. Sulphate ions and a number of substrate and product analogues were potent inhibitors of enzyme activity. Human liver alpha-L-iduronidase activity towards 4-methylumbelliferyl alpha-L-iduronide at pH 4.8 had two Km values of 37 microM and 1.92 mM with corresponding kcat. values of 299 and 650 mol of product formed/min per mol of enzyme respectively, which may explain the wide range of Km values previously reported for alpha-L-iduronidase activity toward its substrate. Skin fibroblast alpha-L-iduronidase activity towards the heparin-derived oligosaccharides was influenced by the same substrate aglycone structural features as was observed for the human liver enzyme. A comparison was made of the effect of substrate aglycone structure upon catalytic activities of the enzymes which act to degrade the highly sulphated regions of heparan sulphate. A model was proposed whereby the substrate is directed from alpha-L-iduronidase to subsequent enzyme activities to ensure the efficient degradation of heparan sulphate.
Molecular cloning and expression of a new rat liver cell-CAM105 isoform. Differential phosphorylation of isoforms
Authors: Culic O , Huang Q H , Flanagan D , Hixson D , Lin S H
Published: August 2015

An hepatocyte cell-adhesion molecule (cell-CAM105) was recently shown to be identical with the liver plasma-membrane ecto-ATPase. This protein has structural features of the immunoglobulin superfamily and is homologous with carcinoembryonic antigen proteins. We have cloned a cDNA encoding a new form of the cell-CAM105 which is a variant of the previously isolated clone. In addition to having a shorter cytoplasmic domain, the new isoform also has substitutions clustered in the first 130 amino acids of the extracellular domain. Both of these isoforms are expressed on the surface of hepatocytes with the shorter variant being the predominant form. The previously isolated cell-CAM105 (long form) has more potential phosphorylation sites than does the new isoform (short form). Both isoforms are found to be phosphorylated after incubation with [32P]phosphate in vitro, with the long form being phosphorylated to a significantly higher extent. This observed differential phosphorylation could be one of the mechanisms for the regulation of isoform functions. Using antipeptide antibodies specific for the long form and antibodies that are reactive with both isoforms, we have shown that both isoforms are localized in the canalicular domain of hepatocytes. The sequence differences between these two isoforms suggest that they are probably derived from different genes rather than from alternative splicing.
Homology modelling of integrin EF-hands. Evidence for widespread use of a conserved cation-binding site
Authors: Tuckwell D S , Brass A , Humphries M J
Published: August 2015

Integrin alpha-subunits contain three or four peptide sequences that are similar to the EF-hand, a 13-residue bivalent cation-binding motif found in calmodulin and parvalbumin. The integrin sequences differ from classical EF-hands in that they lack a co-ordinating residue at position 12. One hypothesis to explain integrin-ligand binding is that aspartate-containing recognition sequences in integrin ligands, which bind at or near to the EF-hand-like sequences, may take the place of the missing residue and co-ordinate directly to the bound cation. In this report, homology modelling of integrin EF-hand-like sequences has been performed using the X-ray structure of calmodulin as a template in order to assess the functional activity of the integrin sequences. In the calmodulin-integrin hybrid structures, integrin EF-hand-like sequences were able to retain cations whereas control sequences did not. Structural analyses demonstrated that the integrin sequences in the hybrid proteins closely resembled conventional EF-hands. The integrin sequences are therefore highly likely to bind Ca2+ ions in vivo, a prerequisite for the ligand-binding model. Database searching with a matrix derived from known integrin EF-hand-like sequences has been used to identify other proteins containing the integrin EF-hand-like motif. Annexin V (anchorin CII), atrial natriuretic peptide receptors and the 70 kDa heat-shock protein were identified by the matrix; the functions of these proteins are known from previous studies to be bivalent cation-dependent. These findings suggest that the integrin EF-hand-like sequence may be a more common motif than originally thought.
Phosphorylation of the spliced variant forms of the recombinant stimulatory guanine-nucleotide-binding regulatory protein (Gsα) by protein kinase C
Authors: Pyne N J , Freissmuth M , Palmer S
Published: August 2015

Recombinant forms of Gs alpha-1 and Gs alpha-4 were shown to act as substrates for a purified preparation of brain protein kinase C. Both forms of Gs alpha were thermally denatured during the incubation such that phosphorylation was virtually complete (greater than 90%) after 30 min. The quantity of phosphate incorporated into approximately equivalent starting amounts of the two forms of Gs alpha (4.8 pmol of Gs alpha-1 and 5.5 pmol of Gs alpha-4) at maximal phosphorylation were 0.23 +/- 0.08 pmol for Gs alpha-1 and 0.56 +/- 0.12 pmol for Gs alpha-4. Since both forms of Gs alpha were thermally denatured to the same extent after 30 min, the increased phosphorylation state of Gs alpha-4 provides evidence that Gs alpha-4 contains an additional phosphorylation site. Bray and co-workers [Bray, Carter, Simmons, Guo, Puckett, Kamhollz, Spiegel & Nirenberg (1986) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 83, 8893-8897] proposed that an additional phosphorylation site may exist at the splice junction in Gs alpha-4. The guanine-nucleotide-free form of Gs alpha appears to be the preferred substrate for phosphorylation. This interpretation is based upon the following observations. (i) Guanosine 5′-[beta-thio]diphosphate at micromolar concentrations inhibits the susceptibility of Gs alpha to phosphorylation; (ii) beta gamma-subunits, which inhibit GDP release from Gs alpha-GDP at millimolar Mg2+ concentrations, also inhibit the susceptibility of Gs alpha to phosphorylation; and (iii) guanosine 5′[beta gamma-imido]triphosphate inhibits the susceptibility of Gs alpha to act as a substrate for phosphorylation. These studies suggest that there is potential for cross-talk between receptors which trigger PtdIns(4,5)P2 hydrolysis and subsequently protein kinase C activation, and receptors which stimulate adenylate cyclase via Gs.
Reconstitution in vitro of a membrane-fusion event involved in constitutive exocytosis. A role for cytosolic proteins and a GTP-binding protein, but not for Ca2+
Authors: Edwardson J M , Daniels-Holgate P U
Published: August 2015

The fusion of post-Golgi transport vesicles with the plasma membrane is perhaps the least well understood step in the network of intracellular membrane traffic. We have used an ‘in vitro’ system to study this membrane-fusion event. We show here that fusion requires the presence of cytosolic proteins, but not Ca2+, and is inhibited by the non-hydrolysable GTP analogue guanosine 5′-[gamma-thio]triphosphate, which indicates the involvement of a GTP-binding protein.
Inhibition of steroid 5α-reductase by specific aliphatic unsaturated fatty acids
Authors: Liang T , Liao S
Published: August 2015

Human or rat microsomal 5 alpha-reductase activity, as measured by enzymic conversion of testosterone into 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone or by binding of a competitive inhibitor, [3H]17 beta-NN-diethulcarbamoyl-4-methyl-4-aza-5 alpha-androstan-3-one ([3H]4-MA) to the reductase, is inhibited by low concentrations (less than 10 microM) of certain polyunsaturated fatty acids. The relative inhibitory potencies of unsaturated fatty acids are, in decreasing order: gamma-linolenic acid greater than cis-4,7,10,13,16,19-docosahexaenoic acid = cis-6,9,12,15-octatetraenoic acid = arachidonic acid = alpha-linolenic acid greater than linoleic acid greater than palmitoleic acid greater than oleic acid greater than myristoleic acid. Other unsaturated fatty acids such as undecylenic acid, erucic acid and nervonic acid, are inactive. The methyl esters and alcohol analogues of these compounds, glycerols, phospholipids, saturated fatty acids, retinoids and carotenes were inactive even at 0.2 mM. The results of the binding assay and the enzymic assay correlated well except for elaidic acid and linolelaidic acid, the trans isomers of oleic acid and linoleic acid respectively, which were much less active than their cis isomers in the binding assay but were as potent in the enzymic assay. gamma-Linolenic acid had no effect on the activities of two other rat liver microsomal enzymes: NADH:menadione reductase and glucuronosyl transferase. gamma-Linolenic acid, the most potent inhibitor tested, decreased the Vmax. and increased Km values of substrates, NADPH and testosterone, and promoted dissociation of [3H]4-MA from the microsomal reductase. gamma-Linolenic acid, but not the corresponding saturated fatty acid (stearic acid), inhibited the 5 alpha-reductase activity, but not the 17 beta-dehydrogenase activity, of human prostate cancer cells in culture. These results suggest that unsaturated fatty acids may play an important role in regulating androgen action in target cells.
Decreased urokinase receptor expression by overexpression of the plasminogen activator in a colon cancer cell line
Authors: Hollas W , Soravia E , Mazar A , Henkin J , Blasi F , Boyd D
Published: August 2015

There is now ample evidence that the proteolytic action of urokinase (UK) is potentiated by a specific cell surface receptor. The present study was undertaken to determine the role of UK as a modulator of its binding site. GEO colonic cells, which secrete low levels of UK (approximately 2.5 ng/ml per 72 h per 10(6) cells) and display approx. 10(4) receptors per cell, the majority of which are vacant, were transfected with an exogenous UK gene driven by the RSV long terminal repeat (LTR) promoter (pRSVUK). Several UK-overexpressing pRSVUK clones were identified by an e.l.i.s.a., Northern blotting and Southern blotting, and analysed for receptor numbers after an acid pretreatment which dissociates receptor-bound UK. pRSVUK GEO clones, expressing high levels of UK, consistently bound 50-75% less radioactive di-isopropylfluorophosphate (DFP)-UK than clones harbouring the selectable marker gene neo only or control GEO cells. Cross-linking experiments with a radioactive N-terminal fragment of UK which binds to the receptor showed a decreased amount of a binding protein of approx. 51 kDa in representative pRSVUK-transfected cells. Saturation and Scatchard analysis indicated that this reduction in radioligand binding reflected a 40-70% decrease in the number of UK receptors, rather than a change in the dissociation constant. The reduction in receptor display could be accounted for by a decrease in the amount of steady-state mRNA encoding the receptor. Radioactive DFP-UK binding to pRSVUK GEO clones, which display two-thirds less receptors than their neo counterparts, could be restored to control levels (untreated cells harbouring neo) by cultivating them in the presence of an antibody which inhibits the interaction of UK with its receptor. These data suggest that for one colonic cell line at least, UK reduces the expression of its own binding site via an autocrine stimulation of its cell surface receptor.
Selective oxidation of histidine residues in proteins or peptides through the copper(II)-catalysed autoxidation of glucosone
Authors: Cheng R Z , Uchida K , Kawakishi S
Published: August 2015

Glucosone has been identified as the main intermediate sugar moiety product of the copper(II)-catalysed autoxidation of the Amadori compound [Kawakishi, Tsunehiro & Uchida (1991) Carbohydr. Res. 211, 167-171]. Oxidative fragmentation of the model protein, especially selective degradation of the histidine residue in protein or peptides mediated by the copper(II)-catalysed autoxidation of glucosone, is discussed in this paper. The oxidative damage to protein could be retarded by catalase (EC 1.11.1.16) and EDTA, while superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1) and hydroxyradical scavengers showed little effect. Through the process of the oxidative degradation of N-benzoylhistidine and other histidine-containing peptides, the oxidation of the imidazole ring in histidine caused by the glucosone-copper(II) system was the same as that by the ascorbate-copper(II) system. These facts suggest that the copper-catalysed autoxidation of glucosone could generate some active-oxygen species causing oxidative damage to protein similar to that caused by the ascorbate-copper(II) system.
Identification of rab2 as a tubulovesicle-membrane-associated protein in rabbit gastric parietal cells
Authors: Tang L H , Stoch S A , Modlin I M , Goldenring J R
Published: August 2015

Rab proteins, which are ras-like low-molecular-mass GTP-binding proteins, are postulated to act as specific regulators of membrane trafficking in exocytosis and endocytosis. Previously, we reported a 23 kDa tubulovesicle-associated GTP-binding protein in rabbit gastric parietal cells [Basson, Goldenring, Tang, Lewis, Padfield, Jamieson & Modlin (1991) Biochem. J. 279, 43-48]. The major component of the 23 kDa protein is now identified as rab2. Rab2 was co-localized in tubulovesicle membranes from parietal cells. Consistent with GTP-binding activity (as documented before), upon maximal stimulation of parietal cells, rab2 immunoreactivity was redistributed from a 50,000 g to a 4000 g subcellular membrane fraction. The tubulovesicle-associated rab2 behaved as an integral membrane protein, since both 0.5 M-NaCl and 0.1 M-carbonate extraction failed to remove the protein from the tubulovesicle membrane. Utilizing a PCR the rab2 cDNA sequence from rabbit parietal cells was obtained, and it showed only one amino acid difference compared with the human sequence. The results of the present study provide strong evidence that parietal cells possess a rab2 protein which is tightly associated with tubulovesicle membranes.
Muller cells of chicken retina synthesize 11-cis-retinol
Authors: Das S R , Bhardwaj N , Kjeldbye H , Gouras P
Published: August 2015

The amounts of endogenous retinyl palmitate, retinol and retinaldehyde were measured in the neural retina and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) of predominantly cone (chicken), rod (rat) and more mixed (cat, human) retinae. The ratio of 11-cis to all-trans isomers of retinyl palmitate and retinol in the neural retina and the RPE increases progressively with the increase in diurnality of the species from rat to chicken. The membrane fractions of both chicken and bovine RPE enzymically isomerize all-trans retinol to 11-cis-retinol. Chicken neural retina membranes enzymically form 11-cis-retinol and all-trans-retinyl palmitate from all-trans-retinol. Light and electron microscopy revealed no contamination of chicken neural retina by RPE. Muller cells from chicken retina were isolated, cultured and characterized by immunocytochemical localization of cellular retinaldehyde-binding protein. Cultured chicken Muller cells form all-trans-retinyl palmitate, 11-cis-retinol and 11-cis-retinyl palmitate from all-trans-retinol and release most of the 11-cis-retinol into the medium. The results indicate that chicken neural retina and Muller cells in particular synthesize 11-cis-retinoids from all-trans-retinol.
Cloning, sequencing and characterization of the human Alpha glutathione S-transferase gene corresponding to the cDNA clone pGTH2
Authors: Klöne A , Hussnätter R , Sies H
Published: August 2015

The human Alpha glutathione S-transferase gene corresponding to the human liver cDNA clone pGTH2 was isolated from a cosmid genome library. The gene, represented by the clone cosGTH2, spans nearly 12 kb and contains seven exons. The intron/exon borders conform to the standard rules, and an open reading frame is present, starting at position 67 in exon 2, the double-stop codon being at position 733 in exon 7. Exons 1, 2 and 7 differ in length from the known rat gene coding for the Ya enzyme. A 209 bp 5′-upstream region contains TATA and CAT boxes and, in addition, motifs for Sp1-, NF1- and HNFI-binding factors. Clone cosGTH2 represents the less basic subunit, alpha y, of two Alpha glutathione S-transferase subunits (alpha x and alpha y) expressed in liver, which is identical with the kidney subunit alpha 2.
Maintenance of total cytochrome P-450 content in rat hepatocyte culture and the abundance of CYP1A2 and CYP2B1/2 mRNAs
Authors: Padgham C R W , Paine A J , Phillips I R , Shephard E A
Published: August 2015

mRNAs encoding cytochrome P-450s CYP1A2 and CYP2B1/2 have been quantified in rat hepatocytes cultured for periods up to 72 h under several different culture conditions that maintain total cytochrome P-450 content. When hepatocytes were cultured at either 37 or 30 degrees C in Williams E media, both CYP1A2 and CYP2B1/2 mRNAs declined dramatically. However, when cultured at 30 degrees C for 24 h, the decline in these mRNAs was not as great as that observed in cells grown at 37 degrees C. The addition of dimethyl sulphoxide to cells grown at 37 degrees C did not affect the rate of disappearance of the CYP1A2 or CYP2B1/2 mRNAs. These mRNAs also declined rapidly in cells grown in ‘P-450 medium’ i.e. RPMI 1640 medium without cyst(e)ine but supplemented with 0.1 mM-delta-aminolaevulinic acid. However, the levels of CYP2B1/2 mRNAs were maintained when hepatocytes were cultured in Williams E medium supplemented with 0.5 mM-metyrapone. These conditions did not, however, maintain the levels of CYP1A2 mRNA.
Purification and characterization of calponin phosphatase from smooth muscle. Effect of dephosphorylation on calponin function
Authors: Winder S J , Pato M D , Walsh M P
Published: August 2015

Calponin, a thin-filament protein of smooth muscle, has been implicated in the regulation of smooth-muscle contraction, since in vitro the isolated protein inhibits the actin-activated myosin MgATPase. This inhibitory effect, and the ability of calponin to bind to actin, is lost after its phosphorylation by protein kinase C or Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II [Winder & Walsh (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 10148-10155]. If this phosphorylation reaction is of physiological significance, there must be a protein phosphatase in smooth muscle capable of dephosphorylating calponin and restoring its inhibitory effect on the actomyosin MgATPase. We demonstrate here the presence, in chicken gizzard smooth muscle, of a single major phosphatase activity directed towards calponin. This phosphatase was purified from the soluble fraction of chicken gizzard by (NH4)2SO4 fractionation and sequential chromatography on Sephacryl S-300, DEAE-Sephacel, omega-amino-octyl-agarose and thiophosphorylated myosin 20 kDa light-chain-Sepharose columns. The purified phosphatase contained three polypeptide chains of 60, 55 and 38 kDa which were shown to be identical with the subunits of SMP-I, a smooth-muscle phosphatase capable of dephosphorylating the isolated 20 kDa light chain of myosin but not intact myosin [Pato & Adelstein (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 7047-7054]. Consistent with its identity with SMP-I, calponin phosphatase was classified as a type-2A protein phosphatase. Of several potential phosphoprotein substrates examined, calponin proved to be kinetically the best, suggesting that calponin may be a physiological substrate for this phosphatase. Finally, dephosphorylation of calponin which had been phosphorylated by protein kinase C restored completely its ability to inhibit the actin-activated MgATPase of smooth-muscle myosin. These observations support the hypothesis that calponin plays a role in regulating the contractile state of smooth muscle and that this function in turn is controlled by phosphorylation-dephosphorylation.
Insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of calmodulin
Authors: Sacks D B , Davis H W , Crimmins D L , McDonald J M
Published: August 2015

Calmodulin is phosphorylated in vitro by the insulin-receptor tyrosine kinase and a variety of serine/threonine kinases. Here we report that insulin stimulates the phosphorylation of calmodulin on average 3-fold in intact rat hepatocytes. Although calmodulin is constitutively phosphorylated, insulin increases phosphate incorporation into serine, threonine and tyrosine residues. We demonstrate that casein kinase II, an insulin-sensitive kinase, phosphorylates calmodulin in vitro on serine/thyronine residues (Thr-79, Ser-81, Ser-101 and Thr-117). The ability of the insulin receptor to phosphorylate calmodulin that has been pre-phosphorylated by casein kinase II is enhanced up to 35-fold, and the sites of phosphorylation on calmodulin are shifted from tyrosine to threonine and serine. These observations, obtained with a new specific monoclonal antibody to calmodulin, confirm that insulin stimulates calmodulin phosphorylation in intact cells. The observation that calmodulin is phosphorylated in vivo, coupled with the recent demonstration that phosphocalmodulin exhibits altered biological activity, strongly suggests that phosphorylation of calmodulin is a critical component of intracellular signalling.
Kinetic analysis of the type-1 proinsulin endopeptidase by a monoclonal antibody-based immunoadsorbent assay
Authors: Bailyes E M , Hutton J C
Published: August 2015

A simple, rapid and sensitive assay for the type-1 endopeptidase (Arg-Arg cleaving) was developed by using an antiproinsulin monoclonal immunoadsorbent to separate reaction products from the substrate. The values obtained by this assay were identical with those obtained by an h.p.l.c.-based procedure and yielded similar values for the pH optimum (5.6) and Ca2+ activation (K0.5 = 2 mM). It was shown that the type-1 endopeptidase was readily solubilized by Triton X-114 (87 +/- 3%, n = 12) and partitioned principally into the aqueous phase at 30 degrees C (90.1 +/- 2.6%, n = 12). Activity was lost on gel filtration, but could be restored by adenosine 5′-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (K0.5 = 6 microM), 50 microM-dithiothreitol or 50 microM-Ca(2+)-trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane-NNN'N'-tetra-acetic acid (CDTA), indicating that the enzyme was particularly sensitive to heavy metal ions. The Km obtained with proinsulin as substrate (13 +/- 1.7 microM) indicated that the enzyme works at close to its Vmax. in the nascent secretory granule. The Vmax. of the enzyme prepared from insulin granules (0.6% proinsulin converted/min) corresponded closely to the rate measured in vivo in rat islets. The type-1 endopeptidase also appears to be capable of binding to proinsulin in the region of the C-peptide/A-chain junction, since a peptide spanning this region was found to inhibit the 125I-proinsulin processing measured by this assay.
Effect of pyrazole, cobalt and phenobarbital on mouse liver cytochrome P-450 2a-4/5 (Cyp2a-4/5) expression
Authors: Hahnemann B , Salonpää P , Pasanen M , Mäenpää J , Honkakoski P , Juvonen R , Lang M A , Pelkonen O , Raunio H
Published: August 2015

Pyrazole, cobalt and phenobarbital increase the activity of coumarin 7-hydroxylase (COH) in mouse liver. To study the mechanism of this increase, we measured the expression of the cytochrome P-450 2a-4/5 (Cyp2a-4/5) complex, which mediates testosterone 15 alpha-hydroxylase and COH activities, as a function of dose and time after the treatment of C57BL/6 (B6) and DBA/2 (D2) male mice with the inducers. COH activity and Cyp2a-4/5 steady-state mRNA levels were increased in both strains in response to the inducers. No marked effect occurred with testosterone 15 alpha-hydroxylase or activities associated with Cyp1a-1 or Cyp2e-1. A 2-7-fold increase in response to the inducers was seen in the amount of P-450Coh (cytochrome P-450 isoenzyme catalysing coumarin 7-hydroxylation) protein in Western immunoblots. PCR amplification of a 1 kb region in Cyp2a-4/5-mRNA-derived cDNA, followed by cutting at the diagnostic PstI site, showed that most of the steady-state mRNA consisted of Cyp2a-5, which is also the form most affected by pyrazole. Nuclear run-off analysis revealed no increase in the transcription rate of Cyp2a-4/5 after pyrazole or cobalt treatment, whereas a 2-3-fold increase occurred after phenobarbital pretreatment in B6 mice. Together with previous reports [Aida & Negishi (1991) Biochemistry 30, 8041-8045], the current data suggest that both pyrazole and cobalt increase COH catalytic activity by affecting Cyp2a-5 by post-transcriptional mechanisms in mice.
Studies on the active centre of Rhodotorula gracilis
d-amino acid oxidase and comparison with pig kidney enzyme
Authors: Pollegioni L , Ghisla S , Pilone M S
Published: August 2015

D-Amino acid oxidase (EC 1.4.3.3) from Rhodotorula gracilis has been reconstituted with 8-chloro-, 8-mercapto-, 6-hydroxy-, 2-thio-, 5-deaza- and 1-deaza-FAD, and the properties of the resulting complexes have been studied and compared with those of the correspondingly modified pig kidney D-amino acid oxidases. Binding appears to be tight for most analogues, at least as tight as for native FAD (approximately 10(-8) M). 8-Mercapto- and 6-hydroxy-FAD bind in their para- and ortho-quinoid forms respectively to yeast D-amino acid oxidase, inferring the presence of a positive charge near the flavin N(1) position, as in the case of the mammalian enzyme. On the other hand, important differences in active-site microenvironment emerge: solvent accessibility to flavin position 8 is drastically restricted in yeast D-amino acid oxidase as indicated by the unreactivity of 8-chloro- and 8-mercapto-FAD enzyme with thiolates and alkylating agents. Significantly different microenvironments are also likely to occur around the flavin positions N(1)-C(2) = 0, N(3)-H and N(5). This is deduced from the differences in interaction of the two proteins with 1-deaza-FAD, 5-deaza-FAD and 2-thio-FAD and from the properties of the respective complexes. The same re-side flavin stereospecificity as shown by the mammalian enzyme was determined for the yeast enzyme using 8-hydroxy-5-deaza-FAD. Thus we can deduce the presence of a similar pattern of functional groups at the active centres of the two enzymes, while the fine tuning of specificity and regulation correlate with environmental differences at specific flavin loci.
Accumulation of PtdIns(3,4)P2 and PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 in thrombin-stimulated platelets. Different sensitivities to Ca2+ or functional integrin
Authors: Sorisky A , King W G , Rittenhouse S E
Published: August 2015

Differences in regulation of the accumulation of PtdIns(3,4)P2 versus that of PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 were noted in thrombin-stimulated human platelets. The rapid (within 20 s) response of PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 contrasted with a distinct lag in the accumulation of PtdIns(3,4)P2 that was followed by a pronounced increase by 90 s. The presence of 2.5 mM-CaCl2 further elevated PtdIns(3,4)P2 by 50-120%, but only at a late stage (after 90 s). Tetrapeptide RGDS (Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser), which blocks the interaction of ligands such as fibrinogen with platelet integrin alpha IIb beta 3 (GPIIb-IIIa), inhibited only the late-phase PtdIns(3,4)P2 accumulation that was associated with added Ca2+. Although stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of platelet protein (total cell lysate) was altered by Ca2+ or RGDS, we could not identify any such proteins that were affected comparably to PtdIns(3,4)P2. In contrast to the PtdIns(3,4)P2 response, the accumulation of PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 was unaffected by Ca2+ or RGDS at any time.
Human aspartylglucosaminidase. A biochemical and immunocytochemical characterization of the enzyme in normal and aspartylglucosaminuria fibroblasts
Authors: Enomaa N , Heiskanen T , Halila R , Sormunen R , Seppälä R , Vihinen M , Peltonen L
Published: August 2015

Aspartylglucosaminidase (AGA, EC 3.5.1.26) is an essential enzyme in the degradation of asparagine-linked glycoproteins. In man, deficient activity of this enzyme leads to aspartylglucosaminuria (AGU), a recessively inherited lysosomal storage disease. Here we used affinity-purified polyclonal antibodies against the native AGA and its denatured subunits to establish the molecular structure and intracellular location of the enzyme in normal and AGU fibroblasts. Inactivation of the enzyme was found to coincide with the dissociation of the heterodimeric enzyme complex into subunits. Although the subunits were not linked by covalent forces, the intrapolypeptide disulphide bridges were found to be essential for the normal function of AGA. AGA was localized into lysosomes in control fibroblasts by both immunofluorescence microscopy and immuno-electron microscopy, whereas in AGU cells the location of antigen was different, suggesting that, owing to the mutation, a missing disulphide bridge, most of the enzyme molecules get retarded in the cis-Golgi region and most probably face intracellular degradation.
Evidence that adhesion of electrically permeabilized platelets to collagen is mediated by guanine nucleotide regulatory proteins
Authors: Daniel J L , Dangelmaier C , Smith J B
Published: August 2015

Adhesion of electrically permeabilized platelets to collagen was found to be essentially independent of free Ca2+ concentration in the medium. Addition of stable GTP analogues increased the proportion of adhering cells about 5-fold. This effect was inhibited by guanosine 5′-[beta-thio]diphosphate, cytochalasin D or monoclonal antibodies to glycoprotein Ia. In contrast, the protein kinase C inhibitor staurosporine had only a small effect on the GTP-analogue-enhanced adhesion of the permeabilized cells to collagen. These results suggest that a guanine nucleotide regulatory (G)-protein is directly linked to the collagen receptor and is involved in the actin-dependent recruitment of additional collagen receptors.