bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors affecting the binding of [3H]adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate to protein kinase from bovine adrenal cortex
Authors: Døskeland S O , Ueland P M , Haga H J
Published: August 2015

Inorganic salts, several proteins and traces of protein precipitants were tested to find out by what mechanisms they modulate the binding of cyclic [3H]AMP to protein kinase (ATP-protein phosphotransferase; EC 2.7.1.37). The separation of free and bound cyclic AMP by (NH4)2SO4 precipitation was unaffected by the above agents and was more reliable than the Millipore filtration technique. Several binding sites for cyclic AMP were revealed in adrenal-cortex extract. When this extract was used as binding reagent in an assay for cyclic AMP, the standard curve was distorted in the presence of KCl because the salt affected the different binding sites to a varying extent. At high ionic strenth the protein kinase isoenzyme I dissociated and showed an extraordinarily high affinity for cyclic AMP. Trichloroacetate and perchlorate at very low concentrations were able to dissociate the protein kinase and modulate its binding characteristics as well. A progressive decrease in the cyclic AMP-binding capacity occurred on prolonged incubations. The binding protein was protected against inactivation by 2-mercaptoethanol, EDTA and several proteins. It was more resistant to denaturation when complexed to cyclic AMP. The enhancement of cyclic AMP binding by bovine serum albumin was investigated in some detail and appeared to be a pure stabilizing effect. It is proposed that the competitive-binding assays for cyclic AMP based on protein kinase be conducted at high ionic strength and in the presence of stabilizers (protein, EDTA, 2-mercaptoethanol). The interference from agents that may dissociate the protein kinase or influence its stability will thus be decreased.
Effects of prostaglandin on substrate uptake and cell division in human diploid fibroblasts
Authors: Polgar P , Taylor L
Published: August 2015

PG (prostaglandin) E1 inhibits the uptake of iridine, thymidine, 2-deoxy-D-glucose and L-isoleucine into human diploid WI38 fibroblasts. The inhibition occurs within seconds of the addition of the prostaglandin to the culture. PGE2, PGF1alpha and PGF2alpha behave similarly. Arachidonic acid and 8,11,14-eicosatrienoic acid also decrease uptake in the presence or absence of indomethacin. Other unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid, linoleic acid and linolenic acid are essentially inactive. Ricinoleic acid (the 9-hydroxyoleic acid), however, inhibits uptake to about the same degree, at concentrations similar to those of the prostaglandins. Results indicate that this rapid blockage by the prostaglandins and certain fatty acids is not cyclic AMP-mediated. For example, although PGF1alpha and PGF2alpha are much poorer stimulators of cyclic AMP formation than are PGE1 and PGE2, they are nevertheless effective inhibitors of substrate uptake. Adrenaline, a very effective stimulator of cyclic AMP formation in the cells, is not inhibitory. Also, the addition of 8-methylthioadenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate (methylthio cyclic AMP) to the culture, methylthio cyclic AMP decreases the uptake of nucleotides into cultures undergoing active cell division, approximately to values found in quiescent cultures. PGE1 also has this effect on cells undergoing active growth. This gradual decrease is substrate uptake caused by PGE1 appears to be a separate event from its initial rapid inhibition of uptake.
Hormonal and ionic control of the glycogenolytic cascade in rat liver
Authors: van de Werve G , Hue L , Hers H G
Published: August 2015

1. A parallel dose-dependent activation of histone kinase, phosphorylase kinase and phosphorylase was observed in isolated hepatocytes incubated in the presence of glucagon; the effect of suboptimal concentrations of glucagon was antagonized by insulin. 2. An activation of phosphorylase which was not accompanied by a stable change in the activity of phosphorylase kinase was observed in hepatocytes incubated with phenylephrine, isoproterenol or vasopressin as well as on decapitation of unanesthetized animals. A dissociation of the two enzymic activities was also observed in hepatocytes incubated in the presence of a high concentration of glucose, in which phosphorylase was strongly inactivated with no change in the activity of phosphorylase kinase. 3. The activation of phosphorylase by phenylephrine in isolated hepatocytes was counteracted by insulin, greatly decreased by the absence of Ca2+ from the incubation medium, and completely suppressed by the replacement of Na+ by K+. 4. In a liver extract, phosphorylase kinase could also be activated by trypsin. Control, glucagon-activated or trypsin-activated phosphorylase kinase was inhibited by about 70% by EGTA and the activity was restored by the addition of Ca2+. 5. The mechanisms that control the activity of phosphorylase kinase and of phosphorylase are discussed.
Phosphorylation of rat thymus histones, its control and the effects thereon of γ-irradiation
Authors: Fónagy A , Ord M G , Stocken L A
Published: August 2015

The phosphate content of rat thymus histones was determined. As expected for a replicating tissue, histones 1 and 2B were more phosphorylated and had higher 32P uptakes than did histones from resting liver nuclei; the other histones all showed 32P uptake, but the phosphate content and uptake of histone 2A was about half that for liver histone 2A. When thymus nuclei were incubated in a slightly hypo-osmotic medium, non-histone proteins and phosphorylated histones were released into solution; this was enhanced if ATP was present in the medium. [gamma-32P]ATP was incorporated into non-histone proteins, including protein P1, and into the ADP-ribosylated form of histone 1; negligible 32P was incprporated into the other, bound, histones. Histones 1 and 2B added to the incubation medium were extensively, and histones 2A and 4 slightly, phosphorylated. Histones released by increasing the ionic strength of the medium were phosphorylated. Added lysozyme and cytochrome c were neither bound nor phosphorylated, but added non-histone protein P1 was phosphorylated, causing other histones to be released from the nuclei, especially histones 2A and 3. The released histones were phosphorylated. gamma-Irradiation decreased 32P uptake into the non-ADP-ribosylated histones 1 and 4; phosphorylation of histone 1 in vitro was unaffected. The importance of non-histone proteins, ATP availability and nuclear protein kinases to the control of histone phosphorylation in vivo is discussed.
Age-related changes in protein turnover and ribonucleic acid of the diaphragm muscle of normal and dystrophic hamsters
Authors: Goldspink D F , Goldspink G
Published: August 2015

Diaphragm muscles of dystrophic hamsters were found to be larger than those of control animals at two of three ages studied. The additional growth of these afflicted muscles correlated with large increases in protein synthesis and concentrations of RNA. Protein breakdown was also increased in the dystrophic muscles, but to a smaller extent than synthesis.
The phosphorylation of an acidic protein of the large ribosomal subunit of Krebs II ascites cells
Authors: Leader D P , Coia A A
Published: August 2015

The ribosomes of Krebs II ascites cells contain an acidic protein, apparently analogous to proteins L7/12 of Escherichia coli. When ascites cells were incubated with [32P]Pi, this protein became labelled, indicating that it is a phosphoprotein.
The effect of β-d-xylosides on chondroitin sulphate biosynthesis in embryonic chicken cartilage in the absence of protein synthesis inhibitors
Authors: Gibson K D , Segen B J , Audhya T K
Published: August 2015

Incorporation of [35S]]sulphate, [3H]glucose and [3H]serine into glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans of embryonic-chicken sternum was measured in vitro in incubation medium containing 4-methylumbelliferyl beta-D-xyloside or p-nitrophenyl beta-D-xyloside at low concentrations, and in the absence of inhibitors of protein synthesis. Incorporation of sulphate was decreased by 80% in incubations in which 1mM-4-methylumbelliferyl beta-xyloside or 2.5 mM-p-nitrophenyl beta-xyloside was present; under these conditions, serum factors stimulated incorporation to only a small extent. When the concentration of the xyloside was decreased tenfold, incorporation of sulphate was inhibited by 60-70%, but when normal human serum or L-3,3′,5-tri-iodothyronine or both were also added to the incubation medium, incorporation was markedly stimulated. Experiments in which [35S]sulphate and [3H]glucose were incorporated simultaneously, and enzymic analysis of glycosaminoglycans formed in such experiments, indicated that chondroitin sulphate formed in the presence of 0.1 mM-4-methylumbelliferyl beta-xyloside contained 30-40% less sulphate than did chondrotin sulphate synthesized in the absence of xylosides. Similar experiments, with [3H]serine instead of [3H]glucose, suggested also a 20-30% decrease in chain length of the chondroitin sulphate; this was confirmed by direct gel filtration of labelled glycosaminoglycans on a calibrated column. Incorporation of [3H]glucose or [3H]serine was stimulated by serum and tri-iodothyronine in parallel with incorporation of sulphate. The changes seen in the total chondroitin sulphate were mirrored in the major proteoglycan fraction, purified by isopycnic centrifugation of salt-extracted proteoglycans. The labelling pattern of chondroitin sulphate from this proteoglycan indicated that decreased sulphation of chondroitin sulphate was largely due to the inferior ability of short polysaccharide chains to accept sulphate, with some direct interference with transfer of sulphate to all chains. The results also suggested that the action of serum factors on synthesis of proteochondroitin sulphate is exercised at the level of either protein synthesis or transport to the sites of initiation of polysaccharide synthesis.
Modification of erythrocyte membranes by a purified phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (Staphylococcus aureus)
Authors: Low M G , Finean J B
Published: August 2015

A phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C from Staphylococcus aureus was purified by a three-step procedure. The specific activity of the purified enzyme was approx. 6000 times that of the culture supernatant, with an overall recovery of approx. 10%. Estimation of the molecular weight by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and by gel filtration gave values of 33000 and 20000 respectively. A thiol group appears to be necessary for the activity of the enzyme. The purified enzyme had no detectable delta-haemolytic activity and was unable to hydrolyse S. aureus phospholipids. Phosphatidyl-inositol in erythrocyte ‘ghosts’ was readily hydrolysed by the purified phospholipase C. However, in contrast with our previous preliminary observations, phosphatidylinositol in intact erythrocytes was not significantly hydrolysed. These results suggest that at least 75-80% of the phosphatidylinositol is located at the inner leaflet of the membrane.
Surface components involved in virally mediated membrane changes
Authors: Micklem K J , Pasternak C A
Published: August 2015

1. Virally mediated permeability changes are not brought about by neuraminidase or other enzyme. They are not mimicked by local anaesthetics such as benzyl alcohol or dibucaine. 2. Virus induces an increase in the exchange rate of membrane-bound Ca2+. The temperature-dependence, and sensitivity to concanavalin A, of the permeability change and of Ca2+ exchange are similar. 3. It is concluded that an increase in the exchangeability of membrane-bound Ca2+ constitutes an early and specific event after the attachment of Sendai virus to cultured cells.
Regulation of mammalian protein synthesis in vivo. Stimulated protein synthesis in liver in vivo after cycloheximide treatment
Authors: Ch'ih J J , Procyk R , Devlin T M
Published: August 2015

Protein synthesis in rat liver in vivo was measured between 0 and 72 h after administration of a non-lethal dose of cycloheximide. There was a period of inhibition of [3H]leucine incorporation into both intra- and extra-cellular proteins at 2 h after administration of the drug, which was followed by a recovery phase in which amino acid incorporation varied significantly among the various proteins evaluated. At 12 h there was a marked stimulation of incorporation into nascent polypeptides released from polyribosomes and plasma fibrinogen, but incorporation into ribosomal proteins as well as albumin was still inhibited. Between 12 and 48 h, nascent-polypeptide synthesis remained elevated, but ribosomal-protein synthesis recovered slowly from the inhibition to normal rates only, and plasma-albumin synthesis increased slowly to above control values up to 48 h before returning to normal. A differential pattern of incorporation was also observed for incorporation into free and membrane-bound polyribosomes.
The absorption of protons with α-methyl glucoside and α-thioethyl glucoside by the yeast N.C.Y.C. 240. Evidence against the phosphorylation hypothesis
Authors: Brocklehurst R , Gardner D , Eddy A A
Published: August 2015

1. When yeast N.C.Y.C. 240 was grown with maltose in a complex medium based on yeast extract and peptone, washed cell preparations fermented alpha-methyl glucoside much more slowly than maltose. 2. The yeast absorbed alpha-methyl[14C]glucoside from a 10mM solution in the presence of antimycin and iodoacetamide, producing [14C]glucose, which accumulated outside the cells. The yeast itself contained hexose phosphates, trehalose, alpha-methyl glucoside and other products labelled with 14C, but no alpha-methyl glucoside phosphate. 3. About 1 equiv. of protons was absorbed with each equivalent of alpha-methylglucoside, and 1 equiv. of K+ ions left the yeast. 4. alpha-Thioethyl glucoside was also absorbed along with protons. Studies by g.l.c. showed that the yeast concentrated the compound without metabolizing it. 5. The presence of trehalose, sucrose, maltose, L-sorbose, glucose or alpha-phenyl glucoside in each case immediately stimulated proton uptake, whereas fructose, 3-O-methylglucose and 2-deoxyglucose failed to do so. 6. The observations support the conclusion that alpha-thioethyl glucoside, alpha-methyl glucoside and maltose are substrates of one or more proton symports, whereas they seem inconsistent with the notion that the absorption of alpha-methyl glucoside involves the phosphorylation of the carbohydrate [Van Stevenick (1970) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 203, 376-384].
Studies on the cell-free biosynthesis of β-lactam antibiotics
Authors: Bost P E , Demain A L
Published: August 2015

Cell walls of Cephalosporium acremonium mycelia were lysed by enzyme preparations from either Helix pomatia (snail) digestive juice or Cytophaga. The yield of protoplasts depended on the lytic-enzyme preparation and the age of the culture, and it increased after the mycelia were pretreated with dithiothreitol. A cell-free preparation, obtained by osmotic lysis of protoplasts, synthesized labelled penicillin N from L-[14C]valine. Approx. 0.03-0.06% of the amino acid was incorporated into penicillin N. Under conditions of penicillin N synthesis, the broken-protoplast preparation failed to produce significant amounts of cephalosporin C or its precursors, deacetylcephalosporin C and deacetoxycephalosporin C.
The preparation and characterization of bile pigments
Authors: Stoll M S , Gray C H
Published: August 2015

Brief reduction of bilirubin with dilute sodium amalgam was shown to give chromogens containing both vinyl and ethylidene beta-substituents. Acid-catalysed rearrangement of these chromogens with bilirubin or mesobilirubin and subsequent dehydrogenation gave a range of new violins containing unconjugated ethylidene and vinyl substitutents. Rearrangements between mesobilirubinogen, bilirubin and mesobilirubin gave dihydrobiliviolins, mesobiliviolins, biliverdins, dihydrobiliverdins and mesobiliverdins of the IIIalpha, IXalpha and XIIIalpha series. In this way 30 compounds were prepared, purified by t.l.c. as dimethyl esters, and characterized by n.m.r., mass and electronic spectroscopy, and by chemical interconversion and degradation.
Proteoglycan populations of baboon (Papio papio) articular cartilage. Gel-electrophoretic analysis of fractions obtained by densitygradient centrifugation and by sequential extraction
Authors: Stanescu V , Maroteaux P , Sobczak E
Published: August 2015

1. Gel electrophoresis of proteoglycans extracted with use of 4 M-guanidinium chloride from baboon (Papio papio) articular cartilage and purified on DEAE-cellulose in 8 M-urea yielded three bands on electrophoresis in polyacrylamide/agarose gels: two wide bands close together (I and II) and a third, thinner and more rapidly moving band (III). 2. Gel electrophoresis of fractions from direct ‘dissociative’ gradients showed that these bands were partially separated (buoyant density of I greater than II greater than III). 3. Reduction and alkylation of proteoglycans did not alter either the gel-electrophoretic pattern or the distribution of the bands in the fractions of the gradient. 4. Band III was found in the upper third of ‘associative’ gradients but not in the bottom fraction, which yielded after dissociation only bands I and II. 5. The third band was completely extracted for 24h with an iso-osmotic solution, but was contaminated with bands I and II. The second extraction step with 4M-guanidinium chloride yielded only bands I and II. 6. The data strongly suggest the presence in the articular cartilage of several populations of dissociated proteoglycans differing in gel-electrophoretic migration, buoyant density and aggregation capacity.
The kinetics of the recombination reaction between apomyoglobin and alkaline haematin
Authors: Adams P A
Published: August 2015

Apomyoglobin was prepared by an extremely mild modification of the acid/butanone technique, and the kinetics of the recombination reaction between this preparation and alkaline haematin were studied. The recombination has been shown to be precisely second-order and mono-phasic. Rate constants obtained from the study are in good agreement with values obtained previously by an indirect technique not involving separation of haem and apoprotein.
Oxidation--reduction potentials of turkey liver xanthine dehydrogenase and the origins of oxidase and dehydrogenase behaviour in molybdenum-containing hydroxylases
Authors: Barber M J , Bray R C , Cammack R , Coughlan M P
Published: August 2015

Redox potentials for the various centres in the enzyme xanthine dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.37) from turkey liver determined by potentiometric titration in the presence of mediator dyes, with low-temperature electron-paramagnetic-resonance spectroscopy. Values at 25 degrees C in pyrophosphate buffer, pH 8.2, are: Mo(VI)/Mo(V)(Rapid),-350 +/- 20mV; Mo(V) (Rapid)/Mo(IV), -362 +/- 20mV; Fe-S Iox./Fe-S Ired., -295 +/- 15mV; Fe-S IIox./Fe-S IIred., -292 +/- 15mV; FAD/FADH,-359+-20mV; FADH/FADH2, -366 +/- 20mV. This value of the FADH/FADH2 potential, which is 130mV lower than the corresponding one for milk xanthine oxidase [Cammack, Barber & Bray (1976) Biochem. J. 157, 469-478], accounts for many of the differences between the two enzymes. When allowance is made for some interference by desulpho enzyme, then differences in the enzymes' behaviour in titration with xanthine [Barber, Bray, Lowe & Coughlan (1976) Biochem. J. 153, 297-307] are accounted for by the potentials. Increases in the molybdenum potentials of the enzymes caused by the binding of uric acid are discussed. Though the potential of uric acid/xanthine (-440mV) is favourable for full reduction of the dehydrogenase, nevertheless, during turnover, for kinetic reasons, only FADH and very little FADH2 is produced from it. Since only FADH2 is expected to react with O2, lack of oxidase activity by the dehydrogenase is explained. Reactivity of the two enzymes with NAD+ as electron acceptor is discussed in relation to the potentials.
The subunit structure of rabbit skeletal-muscle phosphofructokinase and the amino acid sequence of the tryptic peptide containing the highly reactive thiol group
Authors: Simpson I A , Hollaway M R , Beard J
Published: August 2015

1. The single highly reactive (class I) thiol group per 80000-mol.wt. subunit of skeletal-muscle phosphofructokinase was specifically carboxymethylated with iodo[2-14C]acetate, and after denaturation the remaining thiol groups were carboxymethylated with bromo[2-3H]acetate. After tryptic digestion and peptide ‘mapping’ it was found that the 14C radioactivity was in a spot that did not contain significant amounts of 3H radioactivity, so it is concluded that there is not a second, ‘buried’ cysteine residue within a sequence identical with that of the class-I cysteine peptide. 2. The total number of tryptic peptides as well as the number of those containing cysteine, histidine or tryptophan were inconsistent with the smallest polypeptide chain of phosphofructokinase (mol.wt. about 80000) being composed of two identical amino acid sequences. 3. The amino acid sequence of the tryptic peptide containing the class-I thiol group was shown to be Cys-Lys-Asp-Phe-Arg. This sequence is compared with part of the sequence containing the highly reactive thiol group of phosphorylase.
A simple method for purification of epoxide hydratase from rat liver
Authors: Knowles R G , Burchell B
Published: August 2015

Rat liver epoxide hydratase was purified 460-fold to homogeneity by detergent solubilization and ion-exchange chromatography. The enzyme obtained in high yield (36%) exhibited a specific activity of 479nmol of styrene glycol formed/min per mg of protein, with styrene oxide as substrate. Only one polypeptide-staining band, mol.wt. 49500, was visible after sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis.
Different reactivities of free and bound amino groups in deoxy-and liganded haemoglobin
Authors: Bresciani D
Published: August 2015

The technique of competitive double-labelling [H. Kaplan, K.J. Stevenson & B.S. Hartley, (1971) Biochem. J. 124, 289-299; L.P. Visentin & H. Kaplan (1975) Biochemistry 14, 463-468] was used to determine the reactivity of some amino groups towards acetic anhydride in deoxy-and liganded haemoglobin. Only those amino groups known to form salt bridges in deoxy-but not in liganded haemoglobin (i.e. the alpha-amino group of valine-1 alpha and the xi-amino group of lysine-40 alpha and lysine-127 alpha [M. F. Perutz (1970) Nature (London) 228, 726-739]) and different reactivities in the two structures.
The molecular weight of, and evidence for two types of subunits in, the molybdenum-iron protein of Azotobacter vinelandii nitrogenase
Authors: Swisher R H , Landt M L , Reithel F J
Published: August 2015

The weight-average molecular weight of the Mo-Fe protein isolated from Azotobacter vinelandii has been determined by sedimentation-equilibrium techniques. In buffer, the value is 245000+/-5000; in 8M-urea, the value is 61000+/-1000. The protein was separated into two components by chromatography on CM-cellulose in 7M-urea, pH 4.5. These components have similar molecular weights but were shown to differ in charge, amino acid content and arginine-containing peptides. It is proposed that the tetramer has the subunit composition (nalpha2nbeta2).
Characterization of an adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate phosphodiesterase from baker's yeast. Its binding to subcellular particles, catalytic properties and gel-filtration behaviour
Authors: Londesborough J
Published: August 2015

1. The 3′:5′-cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase in the microsomal fraction of baker's yeast is highly specific for cyclic AMP, and not inhibited by cyclic GMP, cyclic IMP or cyclic UMP. Catalytic activity is abolished by 30 micrometer-EDTA. At 30 degrees C and pH8.1, the Km is 0.17 micrometer, and theophylline is a simple competitive inhibitor with Ki 0.7 micrometer. The pH optimum is about 7.8 at 0.25 micrometer-cyclic AMP, so that over the physiological range of pH in yeast the activity changes in the opposite direction to that of adenylate cyclase [PH optimum about 6.2; Londesborough & Nurminen (1972) Acta Chem. Scand. 26, 3396-3398].2. At pH 7.2, dissociation of the enzyme from dilute microsomal suspensions increased with ionic strength and was almost complete at 0.3 M-KCl. MgCl2 caused more dissociation than did KCl or NaCl at the same ionic strength, but at low KCl concentrations binding required small amounts of free bivalent metal ions. In 0.1 M-KCl the binding decreased between pH 4.7 and 9.3. At pH 7.2 the binding was independent of temperature between 5 and 20 degrees C. These observations suggest that the binding is electrostatic rather than hydrophobic. 3. The proportion of bound activity increased with the concentration of the microsomal fraction, and at 22 mg of protein/ml and pH 7.2 was 70% at I0.18, and 35% at I0.26. Presumably a substantial amount of the enzyme is particle-bound in vivo. 4. At 5 degrees C in 10 mM-potassium phosphate, pH 7.2, the apparent molecular weight of KCl-solubilized enzyme decreased with enzyme concentration from about 200 000 to 40 000. In the presence of 0.5M-KCl, a constant mol.wt. of about 55 000 was observed over a 20-fold range of enzyme concentrations.
Adenosine triphosphate-activated adenylate deaminase from marine invertebrate animals. Properties of the enzyme from lugworm (Arenicola cristata) body-wall muscle
Authors: Gibbs K L , Bishop S H
Published: August 2015

Adenylate deaminase (AMP aminohydrolase, EC 3.5.4.6) from lugworm (Arenicola cristata) body-wall muscle was partially purified by extraction in KCl solutions and chromatography on phosphocellulose. Enzyme activity was eluted from the column at two salt concentrations. Both forms show co-operative binding of AMP (Hill coefficient, h, 2.85) with s0.5 values of 20 mM and 15.6 mM. ATP and ADP act as positive effectors lowering h to 1.07 and s0.5 to 2mM. The apparent Ka (activation) for ATP was 1.5mM. GTP is an inhibitor with an apparent Ki of 0.12 mM. In vivo the ATP-activated adenylate deaminase is in the active form and may be regulated by changes in GTP concentrations. Adenylate deaminase may act as a primary ammonia-forming enzyme in ammonotelic marine invertebrates with the purine nucleotide cycle.
High-sensitivity sequence analysis of peptides and proteins by 4-NN-dimethylaminoazobenzene 4′-isothiocyanate
Authors: Chang J Y
Published: August 2015

A manual high-sensitivity sequencing method is described, in which 4-NN-dimethylaminoazobenzene 4′-isothiocyanate is used for the stepwise degradation of amino acid residues from the peptides. The 4-NN-dimethylaminoazobenzene 4′-thiazolinones of amino acids that were released, after conversion into their thiohydantoin derivatives, were identified by t.l.c. on polyamide sheets. This new method is simple and sensitive, and requires only 2-10nmol of peptides or proteins for extended sequence analysis. The method was tested on the sequence analysis of a hexapeptide (Leu-Trp-Met-Arg-Phe-Ala), bradykinin, glucagon and native lysozyme. Results show that the proposed procedure is a sensitive method for the sequence determination of short peptides as well as for the partial sequence determination of intact proteins.
Isolation and characterization of membrane proteins responsible for attachment of polyribosomes to rough microsomal fraction of rat liver
Authors: Fujita S , Ogata F , Nakamura J , Omata S , Sugano H
Published: August 2015

A protein fraction which has a high affinity for polyribosomes was isolated from rough microsomal membranes of rat liver. The mode of polyribosome binding to this fraction (R-fraction) was studied by using CsCl equilibrium centrifugation and compared with that for stripped rough microsomal membranes. The following were found. (1) The polyribosome-binding cpacity of the R-fraction was heat-labile and sensitive to trypsin, and was suppressed by increasing KCl concentration and addition of 0.1 mM-aurintricarboxylic acid. (2) Of the four subfractions obtained by gel filtration of the R-fraction on a Sephadex G-200, only the R1-fraction, eluted at the void volume, showed a high affinity for polyribosomes. The polyribosome-binding capacity of the R1-fraction decreased with time on storage at 4 degrees C. (3) The R1-fraction contained three major proteins with mol. wts. 108,000, 99,000 and 65,000.
Studies on the mode of oestrogenic inhibition of hepatic synthesis of α2u-globulin and its corresponding messenger ribonucleic acid in rat liver
Authors: Roy A K , Dowbenko D J , Schiop M J
Published: August 2015

1. The possible mechanism of the oestrogenic inhibition of the androgen-dependent synthesis of alpha2u-globulin in rat liver was explored by a correlative study of the amounts of alpha2u-globulin, its corresponding mRNA and circulating testosterone in oestrogen-treated male rats. 2. Daily treatments of mature male rats with oestradiol-17beta (10 microgram/100g body wt.) decreased and ultimately stopped the hepatic synthesis of alpha2u-globulin as determined by both hepatic and urinary concentrations of the protein. The oestrogen-mediated decrease in the hepatic synthesis of alpha2u-globulin was correlated with a decrease in the mRNA for this protein. 3. Withdrawal of oestrogen resulted in the recovery of alpha2u-globulin synthesis and an increase in mRNA for alpha2u-globulin. 4. At higher doses of oestradiol-17beta (50 microgram/100g body wt.), synthesis of alpha2u-globulin was totally suppressed. In addition, this treatment resulted in an extended period of androgen-insensitivity during which treatment with androgens induced synthesis of neither alpha2u-globulin nor its corresponding mtrna. 5. it is concluded that the oestrogenic inhibition of alpha2u-globulin synthesis is mediated by an oestrogen-dependent decrease in the hepatic content of translatable mRNA for alpha2u-globulin.
Effects of adenine nucleotides and phosphate on adenosine triphosphate sulphurylase from Anabaena cylindrica
Authors: Sawhney S K , Nicholas D J D
Published: August 2015

Production of adenosine 5'-[35S]sulphatophosphate by a partially purified ATP sulphurylase from Anabaena cylindrica was inhibited by AMP, ADP and P1. Decreases in enzyme activity in the presence of these inhibitors were reversed by increasing the concentrations of ATP. The adenine nucleotides inhibited the enzyme competitively with respect to ATP. In the presence of P1, ATP showed a positive co-operative effect on enzyme activity. The inhibition by P1 was enhanced by increasing concentrations of MG2+. The effects of the adenine nucleotides and the interaction of P1 and Mg2+ on ATP sulphurylase activity are discussed in relation to the regulation of sulphate assimilation via the energy metabolism of the alga.
A mutation affecting a second component of the F0 portion of the magnesium ion-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase of Escherichia coli K12. The uncC424 allele
Authors: Gibson F , Cox G B , Downie J A , Radik J
Published: August 2015

A new mutant strain of Escherichia coli in which phosphorylation is uncoupled from electron transport was isolated. The new mutant strain has a similar phenotype to the uncB mutant described previously; results from reconstitution experiments in vitro indicate that the new mutation also affects a component of the F0 portion of the Mg2+-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase. A method was developed to incorporate mutant unc alleles into plasmids. Partial diploid strains were prepared in which the uncB402 allele was incorporated into the plasmid and the new unc mutation into the chromosome, or vice versa. Complementation between the mutant unc alleles was indicated by growth on succinate, growth yields on glucose, ATP-dependent transhydrogenase activities, ATP-induced atebrin-fluorescence quenching and oxidative-phosphorylation measurements. The gene in which the new mutation occurs is therefore distinct from the uncB gene, and the mutant allele was designated uncC424.
Preparation of plasma-membrane subfractions from isolated rat hepatocytes
Authors: Wisher M H , Evans W H
Published: August 2015

1. Rat livers were dissociated into their constituent cells by perfusion through the portal vein with a medium containing collagenase, and hepatocytes separated from non-parenchymal cells. 2. It is shown that the procedure described by Wisher & Evans [(1975) Biochem. J. 146, 375-388] for preparation of plasma membranes from liver tissue when applied to isolated hepatocytes also yielded subfractions of similar morphology and marker-enzyme distribution. 3. Thus the distribution of alkaline phosphodiesterase, 5'-nucleotidase and the basal and glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase among two ‘light’ vesicular and one ‘heavy’ junction-containing plasma-membrane subfractions paralleled that reported for tissue-derived plasma-membrane subfractions. 4. Increased recoveries and specific activities of plasma-membrane marker enzymes were obtained when soya-bean trypsin inhibitor was included in the collagenase-containing perfusion media used to dissociate the liver. 5. Polyacrylamide-gel-electrophoretic analysis of the corresponding plasma-membrane subfractions prepared from liver tissue and isolated hepatocytes were generally similar. 6. The results indicate that the functional polarity of the hepatocyte's plasma membrane is retained after tissue dissociation. The damage occurring to plasma-membrane ectoenzymes by the collagenase-perfusion procedure is discussed.
Effect of cortisol acetate on collagen biosynthesis and on the activities of prolyl hydroxylase, lysyl hydroxylase, collagen galactosyltransferase and collagen glucosyltransferase in chick-embryo tendon cells
Authors: Oikarinen A
Published: August 2015

Collagen synthesis and the activities of prolyl hydroxylase, lysyl hydroxylase, collagen galactosyltransferase and collagen glucosyltransferase were studied in isolated chick-embryo tendon cells after the administration of cortisol acetate to the chick embryos. When the steroid was injected 1 day before isolation of the tendon cells, collagen synthesis was decreased, even though the enzyme activities were not changed. When cortisol acetate was given as repeated injections over a period of 4 days, both collagen synthesis and the enzyme activities decreased. The hydroxylase activities decreased even more than the two collagen glycosyltransferase activities, both in isolated cells and in whole chick embryos. The amount of prolyl hydroxylase protein diminished to the same extent as the enzyme activity, indicating that cortisol acetate inhibits enzyme synthesis. The inhibitory effect of cortisol acetate on collagen synthesis and on the enzyme activities was partially reversible in 3 days. Total protein synthesis was completely restored within this time. Only massive doses of cortisol acetate inhibited collagen synthesis in vitro. Additional experiments indicated that cortisol acetate did not decrease the rate of the enzyme reactions when added directly to the enzyme incubation mixtures. The results suggest that cortisol acetate decreases collagen synthesis both by its direct effect on collagen polypeptide-chain synthesis and by decreasing the activities of enzymes involved in post-translational modifications.
The effect of chemical treatments of albumin and orosomucoid on rate of clearance from the rat bloodstream and rate of pinocytic capture of rat yolk sac cultured in vitro
Authors: Moore A T , Williams K E , Lloyd J B
Published: August 2015

Portions of a 125I-iodinated bovine serum albumin preparation were exposed to freezing, acetic acid (pH 3.5, 3.0 or 2.5), urea or formaldehyde, and the effect of these treatments on the rates of pinocytic uptake by yolk sacs from 17.5-day-pregnant rats cultured in vitro and of clearance from the rat bloodstream were studied. Uptake of albumin by the yolk sac was followed by rapid release of [125I]iodo-L-tyrosine into the culture medium. Similarly clearance of albumin in vivo was accompanied by the appearance of trichloroacetic acid-soluble radioactivity in the bloodstream. In both systems the rates of uptake of modified albumin preparations formed a series: formaldehyde or urea greater than acetic acid greater than freezing. The increased rates of uptake of modified albumin preparations could not be ascribed to the formation of aggregates nor, in the yolk-sac system, to an increase in the rate of pinosome formation. It is concluded that the various treatments to which the albumin was subjected increase to varying degrees the affinity of the albumin molecule for binding sites on that region of the plasma membrane from which pinocytic vesicles are formed. Some comparable experiments with native and desialylated human orosomucoid indicate that the rat yolk-sac epithelial cells do not possess the recognition system for uptake of asialoglycoproteins that exists on the surface of hepatic parenchymal cells.
5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine-stimulated calcium ion- or magnesium ion-dependent ecto-(adenosine triphosphatase) activity of cultured hamster cardiac cells
Authors: Coetzee G A , Gevers W
Published: August 2015

1. Treatment of hamster heart cells in primary culture with 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine resulted in the greatly increased activity of a particulate Ca2+- or Mg2+-dependent ATPase (adenosine triphosphatase). 2. 5-Bromo-2'-deoxyuridine exerted these effects only when it was incorporated into cellular DNA, and then in a concentration-dependent manner. 3. Serially replated cells contained less of the activity (expressed as a function of total cell protein) than did the primary cultures, but the stimulation caused by 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine addition was much greater. 4. The affected enzyme was apparently localized in the plasma membrane of the cells with its active centre exposed to the outer environment [ecto-(ATPase) dependent on Ca2+ or Mg2+].5. The activity was unaffected by treatment with p-chloromercuriphenylsulphonate, ouabain andverapamil. 6. Ecto (5'-nucleotidase) activity was not increased by 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine treatment of cells, and ecto-(p-nitrophenyl phosphatase) activity was only slightly enhanced.
Purification of rat liver particulate neutral ribonuclease and comparison of properties with pancreas and serum ribonucleases
Authors: Bartholeyns J , Baudhuin P
Published: August 2015

Rat liver particulate neutral ribonuclease (EC 3.1.4.22) was extensively purified (up to 40000-fold). It is shown to be an endonuclease, specific for pyrimidine bases, hydrolysing 5'-phosphate ester bonds. The enzyme specificity, Km, pH optimum, stability in acid medium and thermal stability at high temperature are the same as those of rat pancreatic and serum ribonucleases. Like pancreatic and serum neutral ribonucleases, the hepatic enzyme is sensitive to the liver natural inhibitor. This inhibitor was purified 8000-fold; its association with ribonuclease follows zero-order kinetics. These identical properties for ribonuclease of rat liver, pancreas and serum support the hypothesis [Bartholeyns, Peeters-Joris & Baudhuin (1975) Eur. J. Biochem. 60, 385-393] of an extrahepatic origin for the liver enzyme, the plasma ribonuclease of pancreatic origin being taken up by endocytosis in the liver. Neutral ribonuclease activity was detected in all rat organs investigated; its distribution among tissues is different from the distribution of the natural ribonuclear inhibitor.
Microbiological degradation of bile acids. Metabolites formed from 3-(3a α-hexahydro-7a β-methyl-1,5-dioxoindan-4 α-yl) propionic acid by Streptomyces rubescens
Authors: Hashimoto S , Hayakawa S
Published: August 2015

1. The metabolism of 3-(3a alpha-hexahydro-7a beta-methyl-1,5-dioxoindan-4 alpha-yl)propionic acid (III), which is a possible precursor of 2,3,4,6,6a beta, 7,8,9,9a alpha,9b beta-decahydro-6a beta-methyl-1H-cyclopenta[f]quinoline-3,7-dione (II) formed from cholic acid (I) by streptomyces rubescens, was investigated by using the same organism. 2. This organism effected amide bond formation, reduction of the carbonyl groups, trans alpha beta-desaturation and R-oriented beta-hydroxylation of the propionic acid side chain and skeleton cleavage, and the following metabolites were isolated as these forms or their derivatives: compound (II), 1,2,3,4 a beta,-5,6,6a beta,7,8,9a alpha,9b beta-dodecahydro-6a beta -methylcyclopental[f][1]benzopyran-3,7-dione (IVa), (1R)-1,2,3,4a beta,5,6,6a beta,7,8,9.9a alpha,9b beta-dodecahydro-1-hydroxy-6a beta-methylcyclopenta[f][1]benzopyran-3,7-dione (IVb), (E)-3-(3aalpha-hexahydro-5 alpha-hydroxy-7a beta-methyl-l-oxo-indan-4 alpha-yl)prop-2-enoic acid (V), (+)-(5R)-5-methyl-4-oxo-octane-1,8-dioic acid (VI), 3-(4-hydroxy-5-methyl-2-oxo-2H-pyran-6-yl)propionic acid (VII) and 3-(3a alpha-hexahydro-1 beta-hydroxy-7a beta-methyl-5-oxoindan-4 alpha-yl)propionic acid (VIII). The metabolites (IVb), (V), (VI) and (VII) were new compounds, and their structures were established by chemical synthesis. 3. The question of whether these metabolites are true degradative intermediates is discussed, and a degradative pathway of compound (III) to the possible precursor of compound (VII), 7-carboxy-4-methyl-3,5-dioxoheptanoyl-CoA (IX), is tentatively proposed. The further degradation of compound (IX) to small fragments is also considered.
The use of non-aqueous chloroform/methanol extraction for the delipidation of brain with minimal loss of enzyme activities
Authors: Kurihara T , Nishizawa Y , Takahashi Y
Published: August 2015

When freeze-dried brain was extracted at −4-0degrees C with dry chloroform/methanol (2:1 v/v), four of the five enzymes examined were recovered in the diethyl ether-washed residue without inactivation. By contrast, extraction with chloroform/methanol (2:1 v/v) in the presence of water destroyed activities of all the enzymes examined. The amounts of major lipids extracted were similar whether extraction was done in the absence or presence of water. The study was carried out with special interest in 2′:3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.37), which is firmly bound to the membrane structures of brain white matter.
Specificity of interactions of hapten side chains with the combining site of the myeloma protein MOPC 315
Authors: Wain-Hobson S , Dower S K , Gettins P , Givol D , McLaughlin A C , Pecht I , Sunderland C A , Dwek R A
Published: August 2015

The pKa values of the three histidine residues in the Fv fragment (variable region of the heavy and light chains) of the mouse myeloma protein MOPC 315, measured by high resolution n.m.r. (nuclear magnetic resonance), are 5.9, 6.9 and 8.2. The perturbation of the pKa of one of the histidines (pKa 6.9) on the addition of hapten and the narrow linewidth of its proton resonances suggests that it is at the edge of the combining site. References to the model of the Fv fragment [Padlan, Davies, Pecht, Givol & Wright (1976) Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol. 41, in the press] allows assignment of the three histidine residues, histidine-102H, histidine-97L and histidine-44L. The determination of the pKa of the phosphorus group, by 31P n.m.r., of a homologous series of Dnp- and Tnp- (di- and tri-nitrophenyl) haptens has located a positively charged residue. Molecular-model studies on the conformations of these haptens show that the residue is at the edge of the site. The model suggests that the positively charged residue is either arginine-95L or lysine-52H.
Kinetics of nitrogenase of Klebsiella pneumoniae. Heterotropic interactions between magnesium-adenosine 5′-diphosphate and magnesium-adenosine 5′-triphosphate
Authors: Thorneley R N F , Cornish-Bowden A
Published: August 2015

The effects of MgADP and MgATP on the kinetics of a pre-steady-state electron-transfer reaction and on the steady-state kinetics of H2 evulution for nitrogenase proteins of K. pneumoniae were studied. MgADP was a competitive inhibitor of MgATP in the MgATP-induced electron transfer from the Fe-protein to the Mo-Fe-protein. A dissociation constant K′i = 20 micron was determined for MgADP. The release of MgADP or a coupled conformation change in the Fe-protein of K.pneumoniae occurred with a rate comparable with that of electron transfer, k approximately 2 × 10(2)S-1. Neither homotropic nor heterotropic interactions involving MgATP and MgADP were observed for this reaction. Steady-state kinetic data for H2 evolution exhibited heterotropic effects between MgADP and MgATP. The data have been fitted to symmetry and sequential-type models involving conformation changes in two identical subunits. The data suggest that the enzyme can bind up to molecules of either MgATP or MgADP, but is unable to bind both nucleotides simultaneously. The control of H2 evolution by the MgATP/MgADP ratio is not at the level of electron transfer between the Fe- and Mo-Fe-proteins.
Microbial metabolism of aromatic nitriles. Enzymology of C–N cleavage by Nocardia sp. (Rhodochrous group) N.C.I.B. 11216
Authors: Harper David B.
Published: August 2015

1. An organism utilizing benzonitrile as sole carbon and nitrogen source was isolated by the enrichment-culture technique and identified as a Nocardia sp. of the rhodochrous group. 2. Respiration studies indicate that nitrile degradation proceeds through benzoic acid and catechol. 3. Cell-free extracts of benzonitrile-grown cells contain an enzyme that catalyses the conversion of benzonitrile directly into benzoic acid without intermediate formation of benzamide. 4. This nitrilase enzyme was purified by DEAE-cellulose chromatography and gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 in the presence and absence of substrate. The purity of the enzyme was confirmed by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing on polyacrylamide gel. 5. The enzyme shows a time-dependent substrate-activation process in which the substrate catalyses the association of inactive subunits of mol.wt. 45000 to form the polymeric 12-unit active enzyme of mol.wt. 560000. The time required for complete association is highly dependent on the concentration of the enzyme, temperature and pH. 6. The associated enzyme has a pH optimum of 8.0 and Km with benzonitrile as substrate of 4mm. The activation energy of the reaction as deduced from the Arrhenius plot is 51.8kJ/mol. 7. Enzyme activity is inhibited by thiol-specific reagents and several metal ions. 8. Studies with different substrates indicate that the nitrilase is specific for nitrile groups directly attached to the benzene ring. Various substituents in the ring are compatible with activity, though ortho-substitution, except by fluorine, renders the nitrile invulnerable to attack. 9. The environmental implications of these findings and the possible significance of the enzyme in the regulation of metabolism are discussed.
Modification of lactate oxidase with diethyl pyrocarbonate. Evidence for an active-site histidine residue
Authors: Soon Choong Yee , Shepherd Maxwell G. , Sullivan Patrick A.
Published: August 2015

1. Diethyl pyrocarbonate inactivated l-lactate oxidase from Mycobacterium smegmatis. 2. Two histidine residues underwent ethoxycarbonylation when the enzyme was treated with sufficient reagent to abolish more than 90% of the enzyme activity, but analyses of the inactivation showed that the modification of one histidine residue was sufficient to cause the loss of enzyme activity. The rates of enzyme inactivation and histidine modification were the same. 3. Substrate and competitive inhibitors decreased the maximum extent of inactivation to a 50% loss of enzyme activity and modification was decreased from 1.9 to 0.75–1.2 histidine residues modified/molecule of FMN. 4. Treatment of the enzyme with diethyl [14C]pyrocarbonate (labelled in the carbonyl groups) confirmed that only histidine residues were modified under the conditions used and that deacylation of the ethoxycarbonylhistidine residues by hydroxylamine was concomitant with the removal of the14C label and the re-activation of the enzyme. 5. No evidence was found for modification of tryptophan, tyrosine or cysteine residues, and no difference was detected between the conformation and subunit structure of the modified and native enzyme. 6. Modification of the enzyme with diethyl pyrocarbonate did not alter the following properties: the binding of competitive inhibitors, bisulphite and substrate or the chemical reduction of the flavin group to the semiquinone or fully reduced states. The normal reduction of the flavin by lactate was, however, abolished.