bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activities in Neurospora crassa
Authors: Téllez-I ñón M T , Glikin G C , Torres H N
Published: August 2015

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activities in soluble Neurospora crassa mycelial extracts were resolved into two peaks, phosphodiesterase I and II, by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose columns. Phosphodiesterase I hydrolysed cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP equally well. Phosphodiesterase II was active on cyclic GMP but scarcely active on cyclic AMP. Phosphodiesterase I was resolved by gel filtration and sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation into three peaks having molecular weights of about 57 000, 125 000 and 225 000. This suggests that this enzyme activity has at least three aggregation forms, tentatively defined as monomeric, dimeric and tetrameric. Similarly, phosphodiesterase II was resolved into two forms, having molecular weights of about 170 000 and 320 000. Evidence on the interconversion between phosphodiesterase I forms was obtained.
Chromatography of plasma proteins on immobilized Cibacron Blue F3-GA. Mechanism of the molecular interaction
Authors: Gianazza E , Arnaud P
Published: August 2015

Fractionation of plasma proteins on immobilized Cibacron Blue F3-GA (Affi-gel Blue) under different conditions of pH, ionic strength and temperature was studied. At acidic pH the unbound proteins were eluted in order of increasing pI (the Affi-gel Blue behaving as ion-exchanger); at basic pH and at low ionic strength they were eluted in order of decreasing molecular weight (separation by diffusion-exclusion). For the proteins that were either retarded in comparison with substances of similar molecular characteristics, or that were bound to the resin, pseudo-ligand affinity or hydrophobic interactions were also implicated.
Different characteristics of solubilized lactogen receptors from livers of pregnant and non-pregnant female rats
Authors: Sasaki Norio , Tanaka Yuko , Imai Yasuo , Tsushima Toshio , Matsuzaki Fukashi
Published: August 2015

Receptors specific for lactogenic hormones were solubilized by 1% (v/v) Triton X-100 from the crude particulate membrane fraction of livers of pregnant and non-pregnant female rats and the characteristics of both preparations were compared. Human 125I-labelled somatotropin was used for binding studies of lactogenic hormone. The solubilized receptor retained most of the characteristics noted in the particulate fraction. The binding of human 125I-labelled somatotropin to the solubilized receptor is a saturable process, depending on temperature and time. Scatchard analysis of displacement curves revealed similar affinity constants ranging from 1.02 × 109 to 1.20 × 109 1/mol, while the binding capacity was 4.5 times greater in the pregnant rat livers than in the non-pregnant female rat livers. The receptors for human 125I-labelled somatotropin from livers of non-pregnant and pregnant female rats were equally adsorbed onto a concanavalin-A-Sepharose column and were dissociated from the column with α-methyl-d-glucoside or α-methyl-d-mannoside in the same manner. By gel filtration on Sepharose 6B, however, the molecular sizes of the hepatic receptors were found to be different. The apparent Mr value was approx. 270000 with a Stokes‘ radius of 5.5nm in the non-pregnant female rats and approx. 330000 with a Stokes’ radius of 5.5nm in the pregnant rats. Furthermore, isoelectric-focusing experiments showed that a major part of the receptor from the non-pregnant female rat livers had a neutral pI (7.0—8.5), whereas that from pregnant-rat livers had an acidic pI (4.2—4.7). These data suggest that the increase in the lactogenic binding capacity in rat liver membranes during pregnancy may be associated with marked changes of the physicochemical properties of the receptors.
Interaction of soluble and membrane proteins with monolayers of glycosphingolipids
Authors: Fidelio G D , Maggio B , Cumar F A
Published: August 2015

1. The interactions of four proteins (albumin, myelin basic protein, melittin and glycophorin) with eight neutral or acidic glycosphingolipids, including sulphatides and gangliosides, five zwitterionic or anionic phospholipids and some of their mixtures, were studied in lipid monolayers at the air/145 mM-NaCl interface. 2. In lipid-free interfaces, the surface pressure and surface potential reached by either soluble or integral membrane proteins did not reveal marked differences. 3. All the proteins studied showed interactions with each of the lipids but the maximal interactions were found for basic proteins with acidic glycosphingolipids. 4. Surface-potential measurements indicated that different dipolar organizations at the interface can be adopted by lipid-protein interactions showing the same value for surface free energy. 5. The individual surface properties of either the lipid of protein component are modified as a consequence of the lipid-protein interaction. 6. In mixed-lipid monolayers, the composition of the interface may affect the lipid-protein interactions in a non-proportional manner with respect to the relative amount of the individual lipid components.
Inhibition of murine leukaemia virus reverse transcriptase by 2-halogenated polyadenylic acids
Authors: Fukui T , De Clercq E
Published: August 2015

Several new analogues of polyadenylic acid [(A)n], i.e. poly(2-fluoroadenylic acid) [(fl2A)n], poly(2-chloroadenylic acid [(cl2A)n], poly(2-bromoadenylic acid) [(br2A)n] and poly(2-iodoadenylic acid) [(io2A)n] have been synthesized and evaluated for their effects on the RNA-directed DNA polymerase (reverse transcriptase) activity of Moloney murine leukaemia virus. All (A)n analogues were found to be potent inhibitors of reverse transcriptase, the order of (decreasing) potency being (fl2A)n greater than (io2A)n greater than (br2A)n greater than (cl2A)n. For all four (A)n analogues the inhibition of reverse transcriptase was competitive with respect to the template-primer. (A)n . oligo(dT). The K1 values were 0.02 microgram/ml for (fl2A)n, 0.1 microgram/ml for (io2A)n, 0.5 microgram/ml for (br2A)n and 8 microgram/ml for (cl2A)n. With a Ki of 0.02 microgram/ml (approx. 0.04 microM), (fl2A)n can be considered as one of the most, if not the most, potent polynucleotide inhibitor of reverse transcriptase that has been described so far.
Decrease in hepatic cytochrome P-450 by cobalt. Evidence for a role of cobalt protoporphyrin
Authors: Sinclair J F , Sinclair P R , Healey J F , Smith E L , Bonkowsky H L
Published: August 2015

Exposure of cultured chick-embryo hepatocytes to increasing concentrations of CoCl2 in the presence of allylisopropylacetamide results in formation of cobalt protoporphyrin, with a reciprocal decrease in haem and cytochrome P-450. Treatment of rats with CoCl2 (84 mumol/kg) and 5-aminolaevulinate (0.2 mmol/kg) also results in formation of cobalt protoporphyrin and a decrease in cytochrome P-450 in the liver. Hepatic microsomal fractions from rats treated with phenobarbital, CoCl2 and 5-aminolaevulinate were analysed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Cobalt protoporphyrin was associated mainly with proteins of 50000-53000 mol.wt. The results suggest that the formation of cobalt protoporphyrin occurred at the expense of the synthesis of haem, leading to a decrease in cytochrome P-450. Furthermore, the cobalt protoporphyrin that was formed may itself have been incorporated into apocytochrome P-450.
Studies on the interaction of staphylococcal δ-haemolysin with isolated islets of Langerhans
Authors: Morgan N G , Montague W
Published: August 2015

delta-Haemolysin, a small surface-active polypeptide purified from the culture media of Staphylococcus aureus, was observed to stimulate the release of insulin from isolated rat islets of Langerhans. This effect was dose-dependent and saturable, with the half-maximal response elicited by a delta-haemolysin concentration of 10 micrograms/ml. Stimulation of insulin release by delta-haemolysin (10 micrograms/ml) was not dependent on the presence of glucose in the incubation medium, but was augmented by increasing concentrations of the sugar. The release of insulin in response to delta-haemolysin could be inhibited by depletion of extracellular Ca2+ or by adrenaline (epinephrine) (10 microM) and was readily reversible when delta-haemolysin was removed from the medium. In addition, the response was potentiated by incubation with the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (0.2 mM). These observations suggest that delta-haemolysin induced a true activation of the beta-cell secretory mechanism. Stimulation of islets of Langerhans with delta-haemolysin was found to be associated with a modest increase in intracellular cyclic AMP levels, although the adenylate cyclase activity of islet homogenates was not increased by delta-haemolysin. delta-Haemolysin was observed to induce a dose-dependent net accumulation of 45Ca2+ by islet cells and to stimulate the efflux of 45Ca2+ from preloaded islets. The efflux of 45Ca2+ was modest in size and short-lived, but dramatically increased in medium depleted fo 40Ca2+. Incubation in the presence of verapamil augmented delta-haemolysin-induced 45Ca2+ efflux and insulin secretion. delta-Haemolysin was found to be a potent 45Ca2+-translocating ionophore in an artificial system. This response was dose-dependent and could be augmented by verapamil. In addition, phosphatidylcholine (25 micrograms/ml) was found to inhibit both delta-haemolysin induced 45Ca2+ translocation and insulin release in a precisely parallel manner. These studies suggest that the ability of delta-haemolysin to stimulate insulin release may be due, in part, to the facilitation of Ca2+ entry into the beta-cells of islets of Langerhans, mediated directly by an ionophoretic mechanism.
The hydrolysis of nicotinamide adenine nucleotide by brush border membranes of rat intestine
Authors: Baum C L , Selhub J , Rosenberg I H
Published: August 2015

The hydrolysis of NAD by rat intestine was studied to determine the subcellular site of this hydrolysis and to identify the niacin-containing products that are formed. Using [nicotinamide-14C]NAD as substrate, and high pressure liquid chromatography for identification and quantification of products, the present study demonstrates two independent reactions for the hydrolysis of NAD; one that forms nicotinamide through hydrolysis of the ribosyl-pyridinium bond and one that forms nicotinamide mononucleotide through the hydrolysis of the pyrophosphate bond. The nicotinamide mononucleotide is subsequently dephosphorylated to nicotinamide riboside. Enzymes which release nicotinamide mononucleotide and nicotinamide riboside are associated with the brush border membrane as determined by analysis of fractionated intestinal homogenates. The enzyme activity which releases nicotinamide from NAD is associated with the brush border membrane fraction and also with a second cellular particulate fraction. Between pH5 and pH6 NAD is hydrolysed principally to nicotinamide. At pH 7.0 rates of nicotinamide and nicotinamide mononucleotide formation are the same. Above pH 7.0 the formation of nicotinamide mononucleotide is preferred.
Role of glycerol 3-phosphate and glycerophosphate acyltransferase in the nutritional control of hepatic triacylglycerol synthesis
Authors: Declercq Peter E. , Debeer Luc J. , Mannaerts Guy P.
Published: August 2015

1. Glycerol 3-phosphate content of isolated hepatocytes from starved rats and of glycogen-depleted hepatocytes from fed rats was low and severely limited triacylglycerol synthesis. 2. Raising the glycerol 3-phosphate content by addition of precursors to the cells resulted in a hyperbolic-like relationship between triacylglycerol synthesis and cellular glycerol 3-phosphate content. Statistical analysis of the curves showed no significant differences between the nutritional states either at saturating or at subsaturating glycerol 3-phosphate content. 3. Vmax. of glycerophosphate acyltransferase measured in homogenized hepatocytes was decreased by 30–40% in starvation. There was no change in apparent Km for glycerol 3-phosphate. Since at saturating glycerol 3-phosphate content esterification rates in hepatocytes of both nutritional states were identical, the enzyme is not limiting esterification under this condition. 4. At subsaturating glycerol 3-phosphate content the flux through glycerophosphate acyltransferase necessarily limits esterification. Therefore one would expect a decrease in esterification in starvation under this condition. This was the case when triacylglycerol synthesis was plotted against intracellular glycerol 3-phosphate concentration, calculated from the cellular glycerol 3-phosphate content and the intracellular water space, which was smaller in hepatocytes from starved rats. 5. The data obtained in hepatocytes were extrapolated to the intact liver by using the number of parenchymal cells per g of liver as determined from marker-enzyme analysis and the liver weight per 100g body weight. The extrapolation suggested that glycerol 3-phosphate is limiting esterification in vivo for contents below 0.3–0.4 and 0.5–0.65μmol/g for livers from fed and starved animals respectively. Also for a given fatty acid load and a glycerol 3-phosphate content below 0.3μmol/g the liver may esterify less in the starved state. However, at the glycerol 3-phosphate contents measured in freeze-clamped livers (0.30 and 0.44μmol/g for the fed and starved state respectively), livers in both nutritional states seemed capable of esterifying similar amounts of fatty acids.
Effect of 4-hydroxypyrazole on tryptophan and formate metabolism in isolated rat liver cells
Authors: Cook J S , Pogson C I
Published: August 2015

1. 4-Hydroxypyrazole inhibits flux through tryptophan 2.3-dioxygenase in cells. The inhibition is apparently non-competitive with Ki = 0.15 mM. 2. Hydroxypyrazole inhibits the oxidation of formate to CO2 in liver cells. 3. Glycollate, which generates H2O2, stimulates formate oxidation. This process is inhibited by 4-hydroxypyrazole. 4. Methionine stimulates formate oxidation in cells and this stimulation is insensitive to 4-hydroxypyrazole. 5. It is concluded that, in freshly isolated liver cells, formate oxidation proceeds by a pathway involving catalase. In vivo, or when methionine is added to cell incubations, the pathway of oxidation involves tetrahydrofolate, and is insensitive to catalase inhibitors. 6. Methionine at physiological concentrations inhibits the activity of tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase in isolated liver cells.
Glycine metabolism in rat kidney cortex slices
Authors: Rowsell E V , Al-Naama M M , Rowsell K V
Published: August 2015

When rat kidney cortex slices were incubated with glycine or [1-14C]glycine, after correcting for metabolite changes with control slices, product formation and glycine utilization fitted the requirements of the equation: 2 Glycine leads to ammonia + CO2 + serine. Evidence is presented that degradation via glyoxylate, by oxidation or transamination, is unlikely to have any significant role in kidney glycine catabolism. It is concluded that glycine metabolism in rat kidney is largely via glycine cleavage closely coupled with serine formation. 1-C decarboxylation and urea formation with glycine in rat hepatocyte suspensions were somewhat greater than decarboxylation or ammonia formation in kidney slices, showing that in the rat, potentially, the liver is quantitatively the more important organ in glycine catabolism. There was no evidence of ammonia formation from glycine with rat brain cortex, heart, spleen or diaphragm and 1-C decarboxylation was very weak.
Effect of chelating agents on hydrogenase in Azotobacter chroococcum. Evidence that nickel is required for hydrogenase synthesis
Authors: Partridge C D P , Yates M G
Published: August 2015

The chelating agents EDTA, o-phenanthroline, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), ethylenediamine-bis(o-hydroxyphenylacetic acid) (EDDA) or dimethylglyoxime prevented the expression of hydrogenase activity in batch cultures of nitrogen-fixing Azotobacter chroococcum, but did not inhibit preformed enzyme. The inhibition was reversed either by adding a mixture of trace elements (Cu2+, Mn2+, Zn2+, Co2+) or Ni2+ or, to a lesser degree, Co2+ alone. Ni2+ or Ni2+ + Fe2+ also enhanced the rate of hydrogenase derepression in A. chroococcum in the absence of any added chelator, if the medium was first extracted with 8-hydroxyquinoline. A. chroococcum accumulated 63Ni2+ by an energy-independent mechanism. Both, Ni2+ uptake and hydrogenase synthesis were equally inhibited by either NTA, EDTA, EDDA or dimethylglyoxime. The evidence suggests a role for Ni2+ in hydrogenase synthesis.
Characterization of the membrane proteins of rat liver lysosomes. Composition, enzyme activities and turnover
Authors: Burnside J , Schneider D L
Published: August 2015

Lysosomes prepared from the livers of untreated rats and from the livers of rats injected with either Triton WR-1339 or dextran yielded membranes that were similar in both polypeptide composition and activities of ATPase and acid 5'-nucleotidase. The administration of Triton WR-1339 (and dextran) resulted in an increase in ATPase activity of liver homogenates that was associated with a parallel increase in the ATPase activity of the lysosomal membrane. On the other hand, plasma membranes appear to be different from lysosomal membranes with respect to polypeptide composition and enzyme activities. The ATPase activity of lysosomal membranes is not affected by ouabain and suramin, inhibitors of the plasma-membrane ATPase. The plasma-membrane alkaline 5'-nucleotidase has little activity at acid pH. Pulse-labelling of lysosomal membranes with [3H]fucose and with [3H]- and [14C]-leucine occurred rapidly, faster than labelling of plasma membranes. The labelling kinetics indicate that lysosomal membranes may be assembled independently of plasma membranes. These data suggest that, in liver, little bulk transport of plasma membrane to lysosomes takes place, and lysosomal-membrane proteins may not be derived from those of plasma membranes.
Degradation by cultured monocyte-derived macrophages from normal and familial hypercholesterolaemic subjects of modified and unmodified low-density lipoproteins
Authors: Soutar A K , Knight B L
Published: August 2015

Human blood monocyte-derived macrophages that had been cultured for 7 days in the presence of 20% whole human serum exhibited saturable degradation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). This degradation could be abolished by pre-incubating the cells with a high concentration of LDL in the medium and increased by pre-incubating the cells in medium containing lipoprotein-deficient serum. Cells obtained from the blood of homozygous familial-hypercholesterolaemic (FH) patients only exhibited a low rate of non-saturable degradation of LDL, even when pre-incubated without lipoproteins. Thus the saturable degradation of LDL by normal cells was mediated by the LDL receptors that are defective in FH patients and little LDL was taken up and degraded through any of the other endocytotic processes present in macrophages. Degradation by normal cells pre-incubated with lipoprotein-deficient serum had a higher apparent affinity for LDL than that of cells maintained in whole serum, which suggests that incubation with lipoprotein-deficient serum may not only induce the formation of LDL receptors but may also have a direct effect on the receptors themselves. Monocyte-derived macrophages from normal and FH subjects showed similar saturable degradation of acetylated LDL and also of LDL complexed with dextran sulphate. Maximal degradation of each was in the same range as the degradation of unmodified LDL by normal cells, and was not increased if the cells were pre-incubated with lipoprotein-deficient serum.
Labelling of prolyl hydroxylase tetrameric subunits in freshly isolated chick-embryo tendon cells and in certain chick-embryo tissues in vivo
Authors: Majamaa K , Oikarinen J
Published: August 2015

The labelling of the subunits of prolyl 4-hydroxylase tetramers was studied in freshly isolated chick-embryo tendon cells and in chick-embryo tissues. In the former both the alpha- and beta-subunits of the tetramer were labelled during a 4 h labelling and 2 h chase period, although the radioactivity in the beta-subunit was much lower than in the alpha-subunit. The corresponding subunits of the enzyme from 12-day chick-embryo cartilaginous bone and heart were labelled in 7 h, again the beta-subunit much less than the alpha-subunit, the ratio of radioactivity in the beta-subunit to that in the alpha-subunit (beta/alpha-radioactivity) being 0.20 and 0.32 respectively. The beta/alpha-radioactivity then increased almost linearily with time between 7 and 24 h, by 9.5-fold in the cartilaginous bone and 3-fold in the heart, and beta/alpha-radioactivity values above 1.0 were reached. The free beta-subunit-size protein (the beta'-protein), which is also present in cells, had been labelled quite heavily by 7 h. The beta/alpha-radioactivity at 7h, determined in four tissues with different ratios of prolyl hydroxylase tetramers to total immunoreactive protein (tetramer percentage), was low in tissues with a high tetramer percentage. It is thus proposed that only a minor fraction of the beta'-protein must be processed to the tetrameric beta-subunit and utilized in the synthesis of the prolyl 4-hydroxylase tetramers.
Localization of testis-variant histones in rat testis chromatin
Authors: Rao M R S , Rao B J , Ganguly J
Published: August 2015

Nucleosome core particles and oligonucleosomes were isolated by digesting rat testis nuclei with micrococcal nuclease to 20% acid-solubility, followed by fractionation of the digest on a Bio-Gel A-5m column. The core particles thus isolated were characterized on the basis of their DNA length of 151 +/- 5 base-pairs and sedimentation coefficient of 11.4S. Analysis of the acid-soluble proteins of the core particles indicated that histones TH2B and X2 are constituents of the core particles, in addition to the somatic histones H2A, H2B, H3 and H4. The acid-soluble proteins of the oligonucleosomes comprised all the histones, including both the somatic (H1, H2A, H2B, H3, H4 and X2) and the testis-specific ones (TH1 and TH2B). It was also observed that histones TH1 and H1 are absent from the core particles and were readily extracted from the chromatin by 0.6 M-NaCl, which indicated that both of them are bound to the linker DNA.
The chymotrypsin-catalysed activation of bovine liver glutamate dehydrogenase
Authors: Place G A , Beynon R J
Published: August 2015

1. Ox liver glutamate dehydrogenase is activated by bovine pancreatic alpha-chymotrypsin, but the extent of activation is dependent on the age of the dehydrogenase preparation. 2. The degree of activation is constant and the pseudo-first-order rate constant of activation is directly proportional to the concentration of proteinase used. 3. Commercial preparations of alpha-chymotrypsin differ in their ability to produce a secondary inactivation phase, and this was shown to be due to low tryptic contamination. The ‘superactive’ form of glutamate dehydrogenase has an increased sensitivity to tryptic inactivation as compared with the native enzyme. 4. Analysis of the activation by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis revealed that the subunit molecular weight of ‘superactive’ glutamate dehydrogenase differs by less than 5% from that of the native subunit.
Glutathione S-transferases of the bovine retina. Evidence that glutathione peroxidase activity is the result of glutathione S-transferase
Authors: Saneto R P , Awasthi Y C , Srivastava S K
Published: August 2015

We have purified two isoenzymes of glutathione S-transferase from bovine retina to apparent homogeneity through a combination of gel-filtration chromatography, affinity chromatography and isoelectric focusing. The more anionic (pI = 6.34) and less anionic (pI = 6.87) isoenzymes were comparable with respect to kinetic and structural parameters. The Km for both substrates, reduced glutathione and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, bilirubin inhibition of glutathione conjugation to 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene inactivation of enzyme activity and molecular weight were similar. However, pH optimum and energy of activation were found to differ considerably. Retina was found to have no selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase activity. The total glutathione peroxidase activity fractionated with the transferases in the gel-filtration range of mol.wt. 49000 and expressed activity with only organic hydroperoxides as substrate. Only the more anionic isoenzyme expressed both transferase and peroxidase activity.
Effect of physiological reducing compounds on the inactivation of tyrosine aminotransferase from guinea-pig liver*
Authors: Di Cola D , Federici G
Published: August 2015

1. Tyrosine aminotransferase from guinea-pig liver is inactivated at neutral pH by a factor localized in the microsomal fraction. The inactivation, independent of exogenous L-cysteine, is rapidly reversed by addition of dithiothreitol. 2. The effects of physiological reducing agents on the enzyme inactivation were investigated. L-Cysteine and L-cysteamine enhance the inactivation rate of the enzyme in the presence of microsomal membranes, and also they are able to bring about the loss in enzyme activity independently of microsomal action. Reduced glutathione, at physiological concentration, and NADPH decrease the inactivation rate. Other physiological reducing compounds, as well as oxidized glutathione and NADP+, are without effect. 3. Neither reduced glutathione nor NADPH, unlike dithiothreitol and mercaptoethanol, is able to restore the activity of partially inactivated tyrosine aminotransferase. 4. It is proposed that the intracellular concentration of reduced glutathione might modulate the rate of inactivation of the enzyme in vivo.
Substrate-specificities of acid and alkaline ceramidases in fibroblasts from patients with Farber disease and controls
Authors: Momoi Toru , Ben-Yoseph Yoav , Nadler Henry L.
Published: August 2015

The specific activity of acid ceramidase (N-acylsphingosine deacylase, EC 3.5.1.23) was measured at pH4.5 in normal fibroblasts and in fibroblasts from patients with Farber disease and obligate heterozygotes. Greater activity was found when the synthetically made ceramide substrates contained shorter-chain fatty acids or higher content of double bonds. Acid ceramidase activities towards N-lauroyl- (C12:0), N-myristoyl- (C14:0) and N-palmitoyl- (C16:0) sphingosine (C18:1) were respectively about 38, 26 and 6 times higher than the activity towards the N-stearoyl (C18:0) substrate. The activity towards N-linolenoylsphingosine (C18:3/C18:1), N-linoleoylsphingosine (C18:2/C18:1) and N-oleoylsphingosine (C18:1/C18:1) were respectively about 5, 4 and 3 times higher than the activity towards N-stearoylsphingosine (C18:0/C18:1). The activity towards N-stearoyldihydrosphingosine (C18:0/C18:0) was about 40% of that towards N-stearoylsphingosine. Fibroblast alkaline ceramidase possessed significant activity only towards ceramides of unsaturated fatty acids, with a pH optimum of about 9.0. Deficiency of acid ceramidase activity in fibroblasts from patients with Farber disease and intermediate activities in obligate heterozygotes were demonstrated with all ceramides examined except for N-hexanoylsphingosine (C6:0/C18:1), whereas alkaline ceramidase activity was unaffected. Comparative kinetic studies of acid ceramidase activity with N-lauroylsphingosine and N-oleoylsphingosine demonstrated about 5 (2–12)-fold and 7 (4–17)-fold higher Km values in fibroblasts from patients with Farber disease as compared with normal controls. N-Lauroylsphingosine, towards which acid ceramidase activity in control fibroblasts was about 10 times higher than that towards N-oleoylsphingosine, may serve as a better substrate for enzymic diagnosis of Farber disease as well as for further characterization of the catalytically defective acid ceramidase.
On the mechanism by which hormones induce the release of Ca2+ from mitochondria in the liver cell
Authors: Whiting J A , Barritt G J
Published: August 2015

1. The abilities of dinitrophenol, NaCl, Ruthenium Red and the Ca2+-selective ionophore A23187 to release 45 Ca2+ from isolated hepatocytes and liver mitochondria (incubated at 37 degrees C in the presence of 0.1 microM-free Ca2+, Mg2+, ATP and phosphate ions) were compared with the action of adrenaline on 45Ca2+ release from isolated hepatocytes. The effects of adrenaline were most closely described by those of the ionophore A23187. 2. In isolated hepatocytes, a release of 45Ca2+ and stimulation of O2 utilization similar to that induced by adrenaline was observed in the presence of 500 and 20 microM-arachidonic acid respectively. The effect of arachidonic acid on 45Ca2+ release was not specific for this unsaturated fatty acid. 3. Inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolism, including indomethacin and eicosa-5,811,14-tetraynoic acid, did not block the effects of adrenaline on 45Ca2+ or glucose release from isolated hepatocytes. 4. The ability of adrenaline to stimulate 45Ca2+ release from isolated hepatocytes was rapidly reversed after the subsequent addition of phenoxybenzamine to the cell suspension, and was completely blocked by 0.5 mM-dibucaine. 5. The results are consistent with the action of a Ca2+-selective ionophore in the mechanism by which adrenaline induces the release of Ca2+ from mitochondria in the liver cell and indicate that it is unlikely that arachidonic acid or a metabolite of arachidonic acid is involved in this process.
Specific binding of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol in human medullary thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Freake H C , MacIntyre I
Published: August 2015

A specific 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol-binding protein has been detected in high-salt cytosols prepared from human medullary thyroid carcinomas. The binding protein had the same equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd = 0.17 +/- 0.05 nM; n = 4) and sedimentation coefficient on sucrose gradients (3.7S) as than seen in established vitamin D target tissues. This protein was not detected in normal thyroid cytosols, which may reflect the low proportion of C-cells within the gland.
Early events in the response of fast skeletal muscle to chronic low-frequency stimulation. Polyamine biosynthesis and protein phosphorylation
Authors: Mastri C , Salmons S , Thomas G H
Published: August 2015

The concentrations of putrescine, spermidine and spermine and the activities of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and S-adenosyl-L-methionine decarboxylase (SAM-D) were investigated in fast muscle subjected to chronic low-frequency electrical stimulation. Both ODC and SAM-D activities increased markedly between 18 and 48 h of stimulation. Changes in enzyme activities were followed by phasic elevations in the concentrations of putrescine, spermidine and spermine. Peak levels were reached first by putrescine at 3-4 days, followed by spermidine at about 9 days and then by spermine at about 11 days. A possible relationship was sought between these events and changes produced in vitro in the phosphorylation pattern of cytoplasmic proteins and the total activity of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. However, during the early stages of stimulation, no prominent changes were seen either in the phosphorylation pattern or in the activity of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. These characteristics changed significantly at a later stage (by 12 days of stimulation) and became indistinguishable from those of slow muscle by 3 to 4 weeks of stimulation.
Measurement of the number of ornithine decarboxylase molecules in rat and mouse tissues under various physiological conditions by binding of radiolabelled α-difluoromethylornithine
Authors: Seely James E. , Pösö Hannu , Pegg Anthony E.
Published: August 2015

The binding of α-difluoromethylornithine, an irreversible inhibitor, to ornithine decarboxylase was used to investigate the amount of enzyme present in rat liver under various conditions and in mouse kidney after treatment with androgens. Maximal binding of the drug occurred on incubation of the tissue extract for 60min with 3μm-difluoromethyl[5-14C]ornithine in the presence of pyridoxal phosphate. Under these conditions, only one protein became labelled, and this corresponded to ornithine decarboxylase, having Mr about 100000 and subunit Mr about 55000. Treatment of rats with thioacetamide or carbon tetrachloride or by partial hepatectomy produced substantial increases in ornithine decarboxylase activity and parallel increases in the amount of enzyme protein as determined by the extent of binding of difluoromethyl[5-14C]ornithine. Similarly, treatment with cycloheximide or 1,3-diaminopropane greatly decreased both the enzyme activity and the amount of difluoromethyl-[5-14C]ornithine bound to protein. In all cases, the ratio of drug bound to activity was 26fmol/unit, where 1 unit corresponds to 1nmol of substrate decarboxylated in 30min. These results indicate that even after maximal induction of the enzyme in rat liver there is only about 1ng of enzyme present per mg of protein. When mice were treated with androgens there was a substantial increase in renal ornithine decarboxylase activity, the magnitude of which depended on the strain. There was an excellent correspondence between the amount of activity present and the capacity to bind labelled α-difluoromethylornithine in the mouse kidney extracts, but in this case the ratio of drug bound to activity was 14fmol/unit, suggesting that the mouse enzyme has a higher catalytic-centre activity. After androgen induction, the mouse kidney extracts contain about 170ng of enzyme/mg of protein. These results indicate that titration with α-difluoromethylornithine provides a valuable method by which to quantify the amount of active ornithine decarboxylase present in mammalian tissues, and that the androgen-treated mouse kidney is a much better source for purification of the enzyme than is rat liver.
Regulation of 3-hydroxybutyrate formation and secretion of very-low-density-lipoprotein triacylglycerol by perfused livers from fed and starved rats
Authors: Laker M E , Mayes P A
Published: August 2015

Acetoacetate was the sole ketone body formed when livers from starved rats were perfused with minimal concentrations of non-esterified fatty acid. Absence of 3-hydroxybutyrate was related to a low substrate potential, which caused a more oxidized redox state and a decreased [ATP]/[ADP] ratio. Only under conditions of comparable non-esterified fatty acid uptake was lipoprotein triacylglycerol production inversely related to ketogenesis.
Influence of cell density on collagen biosynthesis in fibroblast cultures
Authors: Aumailley M , Krieg T , Razaka G , Müller P K , Bricaud H
Published: August 2015

Characteristic features of collagen metabolism in human skin fibroblasts were studied in relation to cell density. Measuring peptide-bound hydroxyproline we found that collagen synthesis per cell decreased when cultures approached confluency. On the other hand, the relative rate of collagen synthesis (collagen/total protein) was higher in quiescent than in proliferating cultures. With increasing cell density the proportion of type III collagen in comparison with type I was found to be slightly increased. In addition, in low-density cultures [alpha I(I)]3 collagen trimers were produced in considerable amounts, whereas they were no longer detected in cultures with a high cell density. Although hydroxylation of proline residues was normal in all cell stages, conversion of procollagen into collagen was found to depend strongly on the density at which the cells were investigated. Almost no cleavage of procollagen peptides was observed in rapidly growing cells, whereas highly confluent cell cultures converted most of the newly synthesized procollagen molecules.
The storage and synthetic pools of heparin-releasable lipoprotein lipase and hepatic triacylglycerol lipase in the growing puppy
Authors: Das J B , Joshi I D , Philippart A I
Published: August 2015

Age-related changes in the activities of extrahepatic lipoprotein lipase and hepatic triacylglycerol lipase were determined during a primed/constant-rate infusion of heparin for 2 h in puppies between birth and 18 weeks of age. The early (storage) and late (synthetic) phases were measured. Both phases of hepatic triacylglycerol lipase activity were well developed in the first week, reflecting the metabolic maturity of the liver at birth. During the 18 weeks of study, the activity remained relatively unchanged except for a sharp peak at 12 weeks. Extrahepatic lipoprotein lipase activity was low in the first 4 weeks of suckling. Its storage pool increased 6-fold in the next 14 weeks, with a less marked rise in its late (synthetic) pool. Sustained increases in the activity of this enzyme were first noticed during weaning, when the insulin-secretory response matured. Endogenous insulin-secretory capacity rather than the fat content of the feed appeared significant in the postnatal development of lipoprotein lipase (Clearing-factor lipase) activity.
Effects of high-carbohydrate diets on lipogenesis in rat interscapular brown adipose tissue
Authors: Weaire P. John , Kanagasabai Tazeen F.
Published: August 2015

Cycloplasmic preparations from brown and white adipose tissues were assayed for three lipogenic enzymes throughout a programme of starvation followed by refeeding on either a normal or a white-bread diet. In the brown adipose tissue of rats fed on a white-bread diet the three enzymes were elevated to levels significantly higher than those in white adipose tissue.
Submitochondrial localization and asymmetric disposition of two peripheral cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases
Authors: Cercek B , Houslay M D
Published: August 2015

There are two distinct cyclic AMP phosphodiesterases associated with the liver mitochondrion: one with the outer membrane and one with the inner membrane. No activity is associated with the lysosomal fraction. Both of the enzymes are peripheral proteins and can be released from the membranes by high-ionic-strength treatment. Treatment of intact mitochondria with trypsin and insoluble trypsin localizes these enzymes to the cytosol-facing surface of their respective membranes. The enzymes differ in regard to sedimentation coefficient, thermostability and susceptibility to inactivation by trypsin. Both enzymes degrade cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP. Whereas the outer-membrane enzyme displays Michaelis kinetics and appears to be a low-affinity enzyme, the inner-membrane enzyme displays kinetics indicative of apparent negative co-operativity.
The acyl-enzyme mechanism of β-lactamase action. The evidence for class C β-lactamases
Authors: Knott-Hunziker V , Petursson S , Waley S G , Jaurin B , Grundström T
Published: August 2015

Methanol or ethanol can replace water in the action of certain chromosomal beta-lactamases on benzylpenicillin: the products are alpha-methyl or alpha-ethyl benzylpenicilloate. The beta-lactamases were from a mutant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa 18S that produces the enzyme constitutively [Flett, Curtis & Richmond (1976) J. Bacteriol. 127, 1585-1586; Berks, Redhead & Abraham (1982) J. Gen. Microbiol. 128, 155-159] and from Escherichia coli K12 (the ampC beta-lactamase) [Lindström, Boman & Steele (1970) J. Bacteriol. 101, 218-231]. The variation of the rates of alcoholysis and hydrolysis with concentration of alcohol show that the rate-determining step is breakdown of an intermediate. This intermediate is likely to be the acyl-enzyme. The esters, alpha-methyl or alpha-ethyl benzylpenicilloate, are themselves substrates for the Pseudomonas beta-lactamase, benzylpenicilloic acid being formed. Thus this beta-lactamase can be an esterase. The kinetics for the hydrolysis of cloxacillin by the Pseudomonas beta-lactamase are consistent with the acyl-enzyme, formed by acylation of serine-80, being an intermediate in the overall hydrolysis.
Purification and characterization of three forms of glutathione S-transferase A. A comparative study of the major YaYa-, YbYb- and YcYc-containing glutathione S-transferases
Authors: Hayes J D , Clarkson G H D
Published: August 2015

Rat liver glutathione S-transferases have previously been defined by their elution behaviour from DEAE-cellulose and CM-cellulose as M, E, D, C, B, A and AA. These enzymes are dimeric proteins which comprise subunits of mol.wt. 22 000 (Ya), 23 500 (Yb) or 25 000 (Yc). Evidence is presented that YaYa protein, one of two previously described lithocholate-binding proteins which exhibit transferase activity, is an additional enzyme which is not included in the M, E, D, C, B, A and AA nomenclature. We therefore propose that this enzyme is designated transferase YaYa. Transferases YaYa, C, A and AA have molecular weights of 44 000, 47 000, 47 000 and 50 000 respectively and each comprises two subunits of identical size. These enzymes were purified to allow a study of their structural and functional relationships. In addition, transferase A was further resolved into three forms (A1, A2 and A3) which possess identical activities and structures and appear to be the product of a single gene. Transferases YaYa, C, A and AA each had distinct enzymic properties and were inhibited by cholate. The recently proposed proteolytic model, which attributes the presence of multiple forms of glutathione S-transferase activity to partial proteolysis of transferase AA, was tested and shown to be highly improbable. Peptide maps showed significant differences between transferases YaYa, C, A and AA. Immunotitration studies demonstrated that antisera raised against transferases YaYa and C did not precipitate transferase AA.
Purification and characterization of a cholesterol-binding protein from human pancreas
Authors: Sziegoleit A
Published: August 2015

The protein composition of human intestinal lavage fluids was analysed by electroimmunoassay. In addition to secretory immunoglobulin A and other components that were antigenically related to serum proteins, a number of gut-specific proteins were detected. One of these was found to exhibit the capacity of binding sodium deoxycholate and cholesterol. After isolation of this cholesterol-binding protein from intestinal fluids, immunohistochemical studies utilizing a specific antiserum indicated the pancreas to be the organ of its synthesis. The protein was subsequently purified from necrobiotic pancreas tissues and was found to be composed of a single polypeptide chain with a mol. wt. of 28 000 and an isoelectric point of pH4.9. The deoxycholate binding capacity determined by gel chromatography in the presence of [3H]deoxycholate was calculated to be approx. 24 mol of deoxycholate/mol of protein. In the intestinal fluids the protein appeared to be present in firm association with cholesterol, phospholipids, triacylglycerols and bile salts as a macromolecular protein-lipid complex. The possibility is raised that the pancreas-derived, cholesterol-binding protein may fulfil a function as an intestinal ‘lipoprotein’.
Influence of the state of ribosome association on the phosphorylation of ribosomal proteins in isolated ribosome-protein kinase systems from rat cerebral cortex
Authors: Francis T A , Roberts S
Published: August 2015

Ribosomal protein phosphorylation was investigated in isolated ribosomal subunits and polyribosomes from rat cerebral cortex in the presence of [gamma-32P]ATP and purified catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase from the same tissue. Ribosomal proteins that were most readily phosphorylated in isolated cerebral ribosomal subunits included proteins S2, S3a, S6 and S10 of the 40 S subunit and proteins L6, L13, L14, L19 and L29 of the 60 S subunit. These proteins were also phosphorylated in cellular preparations of rat cerebral cortex in situ or in vitro [Roberts & Ashby (1978) J. Biol. Chem. 253, 288-296; Roberts & Morelos (1979) Biochem. J. 184, 233-244]. However, several additional ribosomal proteins were phosphorylated when isolated 40 S or 60 S subunits were separately incubated in the reconstituted system. Analogous results were obtained with an equimolar mixture of cerebral 40 S and 60 S subunits under comparable conditions. In contrast, extensive exposure of purified cerebral polyribosomes to the catalytic subunit resulted in phosphorylation of only those ribosomal proteins of the 40 S subunit that were most highly labelled after the administration of [32P]Pi in vivo: proteins S2, S6 and S10. Ribosomal proteins of 60 S subunits that were readily phosphorylated in isolated cerebral polyribosomes included proteins L6, L13 and L29. These results indicate that polyribosome formation markedly decreases the number of ribosomal protein sites available for phosphorylation by the catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. Moreover, the findings suggest that, of the ribosomal protein phosphorylations observed in rat cerebral cortex in vivo, proteins S2, S6, S10, L6, L13 and L29 can be phosphorylated in polyribosomes, whereas proteins S3a, S5, L14 and L19 may become phosphorylated only in free ribosomal subunits.
A single mechanism for the stimulation of insulin release and 86Rb+ efflux from rat islets by cationic amino acids
Authors: Charles Stanislas , Tamagawa Tatsuo , Henquin Jean-Claude
Published: August 2015

The mechanisms by which cationic amino acids influence pancreatic B-cell function have been studied by monitoring simultaneously 86Rb+ efflux and insulin release from perifused rat islets. The effects of two reference amino acids arginine and lysine were compared with those of closely related substances to define the structural requirements for recognition of these molecules as secretagogues. Arginine accelerated 86Rb+ efflux and increased insulin release in the absence or in the presence of 7mm-glucose. Its effects on efflux did not require the presence of extracellular Ca2+ or Na+, but its insulinotropic effects were suppressed in a Ca2+-free medium and inhibited in an Na+-free medium. Among arginine derivatives, only 2-amino-3-guanidinopropionic acid mimicked its effects on 86Rb+ efflux and insulin release; citrulline, guanidinoacetic acid, 3-guanidinopropionic acid and guanidine were inactive. Norvaline and valine also increased 86Rb+ efflux, but their effect required the presence of extracellular Na+; they did not stimulate insulin release. Lysine as well as the shorter-chain cationic amino acids ornithine and 2,4-diaminobutyric acid accelerated 86Rb+ efflux in a Ca2+- and Na+-independent manner. Their stimulation of insulin release was suppressed by Ca2+ omission, but only partially inhibited in an Na+-free medium. The uncharged glutamine and norleucine increased the rate of 86Rb+ efflux in the presence of glucose, only if extracellular Na+ was present. Norleucine slightly increased release in a Ca2+- and Na+-dependent manner. The effects of lysine on efflux and release were not mimicked by other related substances such as 1,5-diaminopentane and 6-aminohexanoic acid. The results suggest that the depolarizing effect of cationic amino acids is due to accumulation of these positively charged molecules in B-cells. This causes acceleration of the efflux of K+ (86Rb+) and activation of the influx of Ca2+ (which triggers insulin release). The prerequisite for the stimulation of B-cells by this mechanism appears to be the presence of a positive charge on the side chain of the amino acid, rather than a specific group.