bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of muscle epimysium, perimysium and endomysium collagens
Authors: Light N , Champion A E
Published: August 2015

In the past it has been proven difficult to separate and characterize collagen from muscle because of its relative paucity in this tissue. The present report presents a comprehensive methodology, combining methods previously described by McCollester [(1962) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 57, 427-437] and Laurent, Cockerill, McAnulty & Hastings [(1981) Anal. Biochem. 113, 301-312], in which the three major tracts of muscle connective tissue, the epimysium, perimysium and endomysium, may be prepared and separated from the bulk of muscle protein. Connective tissue thus prepared may be washed with salt and treated with pepsin to liberate soluble native collagen, or can be washed with sodium dodecyl sulphate to produce a very clean insoluble collagenous product. This latter type of preparation may be used for quantification of the ratio of the major genetic forms of collagen or for measurement of reducible cross-link content to give reproducible results. It was shown that both the epimysium and perimysium contain type I collagen as the major component and type III collagen as a minor component; perimysium also contained traces of type V collagen. The endomysium, the sheaths of individual muscle fibres, was shown to contain both type I and type III collagen as major components. Type V collagen was also present in small amounts, and type IV collagen, the collagenous component of basement membranes, was purified from endomysial preparations. This is the first biochemical demonstration of the presence of type IV collagen in muscle endomysium. The preparation was shown to be very similar to other type IV collagens from other basement membranes on sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and was indistinguishable from EHS sarcoma collagen and placenta type IV collagen in the electron microscope after rotary shadowing.
On the presence of two non-specific nucleotide-sugar-hydrolysing enzymes in rat liver
Authors: Muilerman H G , Lasthuis A M , Hooghwinkel G J M , Van Dijk W
Published: August 2015

Evidence is presented for the occurrence of two different non-specific nucleotide-sugar hydrolases in rat liver and other rat tissues. These two enzymes (I and II) were separated by chromatography on a 5′-AMP-aminohexyl-Sepharose column. Enzyme I is most probably identical with phosphodiesterase I (EC 3.1.4.1). Enzyme II appeared to be identical with an enzyme described in literature as ‘CMP-sialic acid hydrolase’ [Kean & Bighouse (1974) J. Biol. Chem. 249, 7813-7823], since almost all activity with CMP-N-acetylneuraminate as substrate was recovered in this enzyme fraction. CMP-N-acetylneuraminate was a poor substrate for Enzyme I, whereas deoxythymidine-5′-p-nitrophenyl phosphate and all nucleoside-diphosphosugars tested were good substrates for both Enzyme I and II. Therefore it is suggested that CMP-N-acetylneuraminate is used as an additional substrate to discriminate between the activities of Enzyme I and II in homogenates or membrane preparations. The various substrates appeared to be competitive inhibitors of each other, suggesting that, in each enzyme preparation, only one enzyme is responsible for the hydrolysis of the various substrates. The dissimilar properties of the two enzymes are substantiated by studying the subunit molecular masses (Enzyme I, 125 kDa; Enzyme II, 50-55 kDa), the sensitivity towards Triton X-100, Sarkosyl and sodium dodecyl sulphate and towards trypsin treatment. It is discussed whether the alpha-N-acetylglucosamine phosphodiesterase described by Varki & Kornfeld [(1981) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 9937-9943] is identical with one of the nucleotide-sugar hydrolases described here.
Phosphorylated adenosine derivatives as low-affinity adenosine-receptor agonists. Methodological implications for the adenylate cyclase assay
Authors: Schütz W , Steurer G , Tuisl E , Plass H
Published: August 2015

In cellular systems provided with activatory (Ra-site) receptors for adenosine, such as rat cerebral microvessels and rat liver plasma membranes, the adenosine-receptor antagonist 8-phenyltheophylline (10 microM) significantly decreased adenylate cyclase activity if ATP was the substrate and only if GTP was present. With dATP as substrate, adenylate cyclase activities in both preparations remained unaffected by 8-phenyltheophylline. In rat cerebral-cortical membranes, with inhibitory (Ri-site) receptors for adenosine, 8-phenyltheophylline significantly enhanced adenylate cyclase activity only in the presence of GTP and if ATP was the substrate. In rat cardiac ventricular membranes, which are devoid of any adenylate cyclase-coupled adenosine receptor, the methylxanthine had no GTP-dependent effect, irrespective of the substrate used. All assay systems contained sufficiently high amounts of adenosine deaminase (2.5 units/ml), since no endogenous adenosine, formed from ATP, was found chromatographically. In order to demonstrate a direct influence of phosphorylated adenosine derivatives on adenylate cyclase activity, we investigated AMP in a dATP assay system. AMP was verified chromatographically to remain reasonably stable under the adenylate cyclase assay conditions. In the microvessels, AMP increased enzyme activity in the range 0.03-1.0 mM, an effect competitively antagonized by 8-phenyltheophylline. In the cortical membranes, 0.1 mM-AMP inhibited adenylate cyclase, which was partially reversed by the methylxanthine. The presence of GTP was again necessary for all observations. In the ventricular membranes, AMP had no effect. Since the efficacy of adenosine-receptor agonists and, probably, that of other hormones on adenylate cyclase activity can be more efficiently measured with dATP as the enzyme substrate, this nucleotide seems preferable for adenylate cyclase measurements in systems susceptible to modulation by adenosine.
Studies on rat parotid-cell actomyosin
Authors: Kealey T , Randle P J
Published: August 2015

Actomyosin was partially purified from rat parotid cells dispersed by collagenase digestion and found to possess different solubility characteristics from that from (undispersed) rat parotid tissue. This is attributed to the decrease in vascular contamination effected by the isolation of parotid cells, yielding a non-muscle actomyosin [Adelstein, Conti, Johnson, Pastan & Pollard (1972) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 69, 3693-3697]. Myosin light-chain kinase was partially purified from dispersed rat parotid cells by calmodulin affinity chromatography and shown to be activated by Ca2+-calmodulin. The calmodulin content of dispersed rat parotid cells was shown to be 6.50 +/- 0.59 ng of calmodulin/micrograms of rat parotid-cell protein (mean +/- S.E.M.), as determined by the activation of purified bovine brain phosphodiesterase by heat-treated extracts of dispersed rat parotid cells.
Interactive effects of insulin and corticosterone on myofibrillar protein turnover in rats as determined by Nτ-methylhistidine excretion
Authors: Tomas F M , Murray A J , Jones L M
Published: August 2015

The effects of graded doses of insulin and corticosterone on myofibrillar protein turnover were investigated in growing diabetic rats in order to assess their counteractive roles in the control of protein accretion. N tau-Methylhistidine excretion and carcass protein accretion were measured over 6 days in streptozotocin-diabetic rats receiving either a constant catabolic dose of corticosterone accompanied by graded doses of insulin or a constant dose of insulin accompanied by graded doses of corticosterone. The high corticosterone dose decreased the rate of protein accretion by both increasing the rate of degradation and decreasing the rate of synthesis. Increasing insulin dosage counteracted these effects, but could not restore positive accretion rates. Direct measurement of protein-synthesis rates gave results comparable with those obtained from use of N tau-methylhistidine excretion. At constant insulin dosage, increased corticosterone to 45 mg/kg body wt. per day caused a dose-related linear decrease in protein accretion rates from +4.5 to −3.2% per day. Growth ceased at 28 mg of corticosterone/kg body wt. per day, largely owing to a fall in synthesis rates (−3.5%/day) rather than the increase in degradation rates (+1.0%/day). However, at steroid doses greater than 30 mg/kg body wt. per day the degradation rate increased markedly and accounted for most of the additional fall in accretion. These results show that insulin antagonizes the action of glucocorticoids on both the synthesis and degradative pathways of myofibrillar protein turnover. The changes in fractional degradation rates appear relatively more attenuated by insulin than are those of synthesis.
Biosynthesis and secretion of dermatan sulphate proteoglycans in cultures of human skin fibroblasts
Authors: Cöster L , Carlstedt I , Malmström A , Särnstrand B
Published: August 2015

Fibroblasts in culture were incubated with [3H]leucine and [35S]sulphate for 1-24 h. A large glucuronic acid-rich and a small iduronic acid-rich dermatan sulphate proteoglycan were isolated with the use of isopycnic density-gradient centrifugation, ion-exchange and gel chromatography. After 3 h the accumulation in the cell layer of the small proteoglycan reached a steady state, whereas the large one continued to increase, albeit more slowly. In the medium both proteoglycans accumulated ‘linearly’, although the large one appeared somewhat later than the small one. The composition of the polysaccharide chains and the size of the protein cores did not vary during the experiment. The two proteoglycans were synthesized at approximately similar rates, but were distributed differently in the culture. The small proteoglycan was mainly confined to the medium, whereas the large one was found in the medium as well as in a cell-associated pool. There was an intracellular accumulation of iduronic acid-rich dermatan sulphate as free polysaccharides.
High-affinity binding of Ca2+ to bovine α-lactalbumin in the absence and presence of EGTA
Authors: Bryant D T W , Andrews P
Published: August 2015

Literature values for the Kd for Ca2+ in bovine alpha-lactalbumin range over 3 orders of magnitude. There is a difference between two results obtained with EGTA as a metal-ion buffer, partly because different values for the Kd of Ca2+-EGTA were used in the calculations, and a much wider difference between results obtained in the presence and absence of EGTA, which has been attributed to an interaction between EGTA and the protein. Titrations in a flow-dialysis cell showed that Mn2+ competed with Ca2+ for the high-affinity site on the protein, and the results, combined with a Kd for Mn2+ of 2.1 +/- 0.1 microM, which was determined fluorimetrically, gave a Kd for Ca2+ of 1.3 +/- 0.1 nM. When alpha-lactalbumin containing 45Ca2+ was titrated with EGTA in a flow-dialysis cell, and widely accepted metal-chelation data for EGTA were used in the calculations, a Kd for Ca2+ of 1.10 +/- 0.03 nM was obtained. The results from the two methods are so similar as to indicate that the affinity for Ca2+ was unaffected by the presence of EGTA.
Phosphorylation of ovine rhodopsin. Identification of the phosphorylated sites
Authors: Thompson P , Findlay J B C
Published: August 2015

Light-dependent phosphorylation of sheep opsin was obtained in purified discs to which was added a partially purified preparation of rhodopsin kinase. A maximum ratio of 1.8 mol of phosphate/mol of rhodopsin bleached was obtained. Perturbing the lipid bilayer did not alter the phosphorylation ratio. Dephosphorylation in both segments and discs was only achieved when the supernatant fraction from a retina homogenate was added. Complete dephosphorylation required the presence of the detergent dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide in the incubation medium. Treatment of phosphorylated disc membranes with Staphylococcal aureus V8 proteinase generated two membrane-bound fragments, only one of which (V8-S, Mr 12 000) was labelled, together with a soluble seven-residue peptide that contained [32P]phosphoserine. Peptide sequencing, together with subdigestion procedures, localized the phosphorylation sites to serine residues at positions 334, 338 and 343 in the whole sequence and threonine residues at positions 335 and 336.
Characterization of the homologous and heterologous desensitization of rat Leydig-tumour-cell adenylate cyclase
Authors: Dix C J , Habberfield A D , Cooke B A
Published: August 2015

The homologous and heterologous desensitization of rat Leydig-tumour-cell adenylate cyclase induced by lutropin (LH) was characterized with the aid of forskolin and cholera toxin. Forskolin stimulated cyclic AMP production in a dose-dependent manner, with linear kinetics up to 2h. Forskolin also potentiated the action of LH on cyclic AMP production, but was only additive with cholera toxin. Preincubation of rat Leydig tumour cells with LH (1.0 micrograms/ml) for 1 h produced a desensitization of the subsequent LH (1.0 micrograms/ml)-stimulated cyclic AMP production, whereas the responses to cholera toxin (5.0 micrograms/ml), forskolin (100 microM), LH plus forskolin or cholera toxin plus forskolin were unaltered. In contrast, preincubation with LH for 20h produced a desensitization to all the stimuli tested. When rat Leydig tumour cells were preincubated for 1h with forskolin or dibutyryl cyclic AMP, the only subsequent response that was significantly altered was that to LH plus forskolin after preincubation with forskolin. However, preincubation for 20h with forskolin or dibutyryl cyclic AMP induced a desensitization to all stimuli subsequently tested. LH produced a rapid (0-1h) homologous desensitization, which was followed by a slower (2-8h)-onset heterologous desensitization. Forskolin and dibutyryl cyclic AMP were only able to induce heterologous desensitization. The rate of desensitization induced by either forskolin or dibutyryl cyclic AMP was similar to the rate of heterologous desensitization induced by LH. These results demonstrate that in purified rat Leydig tumour cells LH produces an initial homologous desensitization of adenylate cyclase that involves a cyclic AMP-independent lesion at or proximal to the guanine nucleotide regulatory protein (G-protein). This is followed by heterologous desensitization, which can also be induced by forskolin or dibutyryl cyclic AMP, thus indicating that LH-induced heterologous desensitization of rat Leydig-tumour-cell adenylate cyclase involves a cyclic AMP-dependent lesion that is after the G-protein.
Ferrochelatase activity in the photosynthetic alga Cyanidium caldarium. Development of the enzyme during biosynthesis of photosynthetic pigments
Authors: Brown S B , Holroyd J A , Vernon D I , Jones O T G
Published: August 2015

Dark-grown cells of the photosynthetic alga Cyanidium caldarium were shown to contain ferrochelatase activity, which increased markedly when the cells were induced to form pigments by exposure to light. Km values for the crude enzyme preparation were 14.8 microM and 6.5 microM for binding of Co2+ and deuteroporphyrin IX respectively.
Expression of myosin isoenzymes in cardiac-muscle cells in culture
Authors: Nag A C , Cheng M
Published: August 2015

Myosin isoenzyme profiles of rat and chicken embryonic cardiac myocytes were studied during differentiation and growth in vitro by native-gel electrophoresis and assay of Ca2+-activated ATPase. The electrophoretic pattern of myosin extracted from 18-day-embryonic-rat myocytes after 7 days in culture exhibits three isoenzyme bands, V1, V2 and V3, of which the slow-migrating V3 is predominant. This resembles the isoenzyme profiles from 18-20-day-embryonic ventricles in vivo. However, the isoenzyme profile of the 7-day-old culture differs from that of its counterpart in vivo, as well as from that of the young and adult rat ventricles, the last two containing the predominant fast-migrating component, V1. When embryonic cardiac myocytes were grown in vitro for 7 days in a medium containing a physiological concentration of L-thyroxine (T4), myosin isoenzyme profiles of these cells shifted to the adult form, with isoenzyme V1 predominating after day 4 of culture. The 7-day-old intact embryonic-chicken ventricles and isolated myocytes showed a single myosin isoenzyme band after 7 days of culture that resembles the pattern seen for the adult chicken. T4 had no effect on the electrophoretic mobility of this isoenzyme pattern. ATPase activity of isoenzyme V1 in cultured rat myocytes treated with T4 was comparable with that of V1 in the untreated adult heart. This study demonstrates that ATPase activity of the chicken myosin isoenzyme is significantly lower than that of isoenzyme V1, but is comparable with that of rat V3. This study shows that the expression of myosin isoenzyme profiles in cultured rat cardiac myocytes does not fully represent the situation in vivo. Physiological concentrations of T4 can modulate the predominant foetal-type isoenzyme V3 to the adult type V1 in cultured embryonic-rat cardiac myocytes within a brief period.
A lectin from elder (Sambucus nigra L.) bark
Authors: Broekaert W F , Nsimba-Lubaki M , Peeters B , Peumans W J
Published: August 2015

A lectin was isolated from elder (Sambucus nigra) bark by affinity chromatography on fetuin-agarose. It is a tetrameric molecule (Mr 140000) composed of two different subunits of Mr 34500 and 37500 respectively, held together by intramolecular disulphide bridges. The lectin is a glycoprotein and is especially rich in asparagine/aspartic acid, glutamine/glutamic acid, valine and leucine. It is also the first lectin isolated from a species belonging to the plant family Caprifoliaceae.
Implication of a peroxisomal enzyme in the catabolism of glutaryl-CoA
Authors: Vamecq J , Van Hoof F
Published: August 2015

A linear rate of H2O2 production is found when glutaryl-CoA is incubated with liver homogenates. We term this enzyme activity glutaryl-CoA oxidase. Its main characteristics are described and compared with those of glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase (EC 1.3.99.7) and palmitoyl-CoA oxidase (EC 1.1.3.-). The latter enzyme catalyses the first step of peroxisomal beta-oxidation. Glutaryl-CoA oxidase shares several properties with palmitoyl-CoA oxidase. The activities of both enzymes in mouse liver are increased by feeding the animals with a clofibrate-containing diet. Subcellular fractionation of the liver homogenates on a linear sucrose gradient indicates that glutaryl-CoA oxidase is a peroxisomal enzyme.
Molecular forms of aconitase and their interconversions
Authors: Ramsay R R , Singer T P
Published: August 2015

Aconitase, as isolated from mammalian mitochondria by traditional methods, is virtually inactive and contains an oxidized [3Fe-4S]+ cluster. The activation of the enzyme and attendant conformational change have been studied by monitoring the changes in activity, in tryptophan fluorescence, and in the electron paramagnetic resonance of the cluster on incubation with dithionite, with and without added Fe2+. Restoration of the full activity is achieved with one electron per 3Fe cluster and at least 0.6 g-atoms of Fe2+ per mol. The process involves building up of [4Fe-4S]2+ clusters. Other metal ions do not substitute for Fe2+. Reduction alone, in the absence of added Fe2+, yields up to 70% of the maximum activity, but requires approx. 1.8 electrons of reductant per cluster. The results presented are consistent with the view that activation without added Fe2+ involves the destruction of some of the [3Fe-4S] clusters and the incorporation of the Fe so liberated into other clusters to yield a tetra-nuclear one. In particular, the effect of EDTA and of other iron chelators in inhibiting activation by dithionite alone is in accord with this view, although recent magnetic-circular-dichroism studies do not support this interpretation. The rates of increase in activity and tryptophan fluorescence are the same when Fe2+ is present, but in its absence, activation is very much slower than the increase in fluorescence, suggesting that the protein conformational change triggered by reduction of the Fe-S clusters precedes the insertion of the iron. Consistent with this view is the observation that iron chelators inhibit activation by dithionite, but not the increase in fluorescence and, hence, the conformational change. The results are discussed in light of data in the literature on the forms of the cluster and its possible function in catalysis.
A simple, rapid and efficient isolation of erythrocyte Cu2Zn2-superoxide dismutase
Authors: Gärtner A , Hartmann H J , Weser U
Published: August 2015

On the basis of the thermal stability of erythrocuprein (Cu2Zn2-superoxide dismutase) a rapid preparation technique was devised and successfully employed to isolate this protein. Partial heat-deterioration of the haemolysate and subsequent chromatography of the supernatant on DEAE-Sephacel and Sephadex G-75 yielded an electrophoretically homogeneous protein within a few days. The physicochemical properties and biochemical function were identical with those reported for Cu2Zn2-superoxide dismutases prepared by established methods.
Binding of a spin-labelled chlorpromazine analogue to calmodulin
Authors: Rainteau D , Wolf C , Bereziat G , Polonovski J
Published: August 2015

The binding of a spin-labelled derivative of chlorpromazine to calmodulin was investigated by e.s.r. spectrometry. The completion of the spectroscopic changes requires the presence of 4 Ca2+ ions per calmodulin molecule. The influences of various physicochemical factors (pH, ionic strength) are discussed in relation to the nature (hydrophobic and polar) of the interactions that hold the drug-calmodulin complex together.
Extraction, purification and identification of cytidine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate from rat tissues
Authors: Newton R P , Salih S G , Salvage B J , Kingston E E
Published: August 2015

The large-scale extraction and purification to homogeneity of cyclic CMP and its unequivocal identification are described. Rat liver, kidney, heart, spleen and lung tissues were subjected to a sequential purification procedure involving freeze-clamping, perchlorate extraction, alumina and boronate column chromatography, polyacrylamide-gel column electrophoresis and high-voltage paper electrophoresis. The purified sample co-chromatographed with authentic cyclic CMP on t.l.c. and high-pressure liquid chromatography and was positive in a cyclic CMP radio-immunoassay. The u.v., i.r. and p.m.r. spectra were each essentially identical with those of authentic cyclic CMP. Fast-atom bombardment of authentic cyclic CMP yielded a mass spectrum containing a molecular protonated ion: mass-ion-kinetic-energy scanning of this ion produced a spectrum unique to 3′,5′-cyclic CMP. The extracted nucleotide produced an identical mass-ion-kinetic-energy spectrum.
Quantification of energy consumption in platelets during thrombin-induced aggregation and secretion. Tight coupling between platelet responses and the increment in energy consumption
Authors: Verhoeven A J , Mommersteeg M E , Akkerman J W N
Published: August 2015

The involvement of metabolic energy in platelet responses was investigated by measuring the energy consumption during aggregation and secretion from dense, alpha- and acid-hydrolase-containing granules. Gel-filtered human platelets were stimulated with different amounts of thrombin (0.05-5.0 units X ml-1). At various stages during aggregation and secretion the energy consumption was measured from the changes in metabolic ATP and ADP following abrupt arrest of ATP resynthesis. Stimulation with 5 units of thrombin X ml-1 increased the energy consumption from 6.2 +/- 0.9 to 17.8 +/- 0.4 mumol of ATPeq. X min-1 X (10(11) platelets)-1 during the first 15 s. It decreased thereafter and returned to values found in resting cells after about 30 s. With 0.05 unit of thrombin X ml-1, the energy consumption accelerated more slowly and took at least 3 min before it normalized. A strong positive correlation was found between the velocities of the three secretion responses and the concurrent energy consumption (a) at different stages of the responses induced by a given dose of thrombin, and (b) at different secretion velocities initiated by different amounts of thrombin. When, at different stages of the responses, the extent of secretion was compared with the amount of energy that had been consumed, a strong linear correlation was found with the increment in energy consumption but not with the total energy consumption. This correlation was independent of the concentration of thrombin and indicated that complete secretion from dense, alpha- and acid-hydrolase-containing granules was paralleled by an increment of 4.0, 6.5 and 6.7 mumol of ATPeq. X (10(11) platelets)-1, respectively. An energy cost of 0.7 mumol of ATPeq. X (10(11) platelets)-1 was calculated for separate dense-granule secretion, whereas the combined alpha- and acid-hydrolase granule secretion required 5.3 mumol of ATPeq. X (10(11) platelets)-1. There was no correlation between energy consumption and optical aggregation. In contrast, the rate of single platelet disappearance, which is a measure for the early formation of small aggregates, correlated closely with the rate of energy consumption. Compared with secretion, however, the energy requirement of single platelet disappearance was minor, since 2mM-EDTA completely prevented this response but decreased the energy consumption only slightly. An increase of 0.5-1.0 mumol of ATPeq. X (10(11) platelets)-1 was seen before single platelet disappearance and the three secretion responses were initiated, indicating an increase in energy consuming processes that preceded these responses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Multiple forms of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C of different relative molecular masses in animal tissues. Evidence for modification of the platelet enzyme by Ca2+-dependent proteinase
Authors: Low M G , Carroll R C , Weglicki W B
Published: August 2015

The Mr distribution of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C in the supernatants isolated from a variety of animal tissues was analysed by high-performance gel-filtration chromatography. In most tissues, at least four peaks of activity were resolved. However, different tissues showed quite marked differences in the distribution of activity between these peaks. In rat heart, lung and kidney, the predominant form had Mr approx. 90000, whereas the predominant form in brain had Mr approx. 290000. In liver, the Mr-90000 form predominated, but this tissue also contained relatively large amounts of a form of Mr approx. 150000. Phospholipase C in these tissues from other animal species gave similar distributions of activity between the peaks. In supernatants prepared from platelets sonicated in the presence of leupeptin (0.5 mM) or EGTA (20 mM), the Mr-290000 form predominated. However, when leupeptin or EGTA (inhibitors of Ca2+-dependent proteinase) was omitted from the sonication buffer, the Mr-290000 form appeared to be replaced by a form of Mr 100000. Similar changes in Mr were not demonstrated with the other tissues. These results may be relevant to the intracellular regulation of phospholipase C, since Ca2+-dependent proteolysis has been reported to occur during platelet activation.
Amino acid sequence homology between rat and human C-reactive protein
Authors: Taylor J A , Bruton C J , Anderson J K , Mole J E , De Beer F C , Baltz M L , Pepys M B
Published: August 2015

The rat serum protein that undergoes Ca2+-dependent binding to pneumococcal C-polysaccharide and to phosphocholine residues, and that is evidently a member of the pentraxin family of proteins by virtue of its appearance under the electron microscope, has been variously designated as rat C-reactive protein (CRP) [de Beer, Baltz, Munn, Feinstein, Taylor, Bruton, Clamp & Pepys (1982) Immunology 45, 55-70], ‘phosphoryl choline-binding protein’ [Nagpurkar & Mookerjea (1981) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 7440-7448] and rat serum amyloid P component (SAP) [Pontet, D'Asnieres, Gache, Escaig & Engler (1981) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 671, 202-210]. The partial amino acid sequence (45 residues) towards the C-terminus of this protein was determined, and it showed 71.7% identity with the known sequence of human CRP but only 54.3% identity with human SAP. Since human CRP and SAP are themselves approximately 50% homologous, the level of identity between the rat protein and human SAP is evidence only of membership of the pentraxin family. In contrast, the much greater resemblance to human CRP confirms that the rat C-polysaccharide-binding/phosphocholine-binding protein is in fact rat CRP.
Copper(I) transfer into apo-stellacyanin using copper(I)-thiourea as a copper-thionein model
Authors: Morpurgo L , Rotilio G , Hartmann H J , Weser U
Published: August 2015

The direct incorporation of Cu(I) from [Cu(I)(thiourea)3]Cl, a structural analogue of Cu-thionein, into apo-stellacyanin, was successful both aerobically and anaerobically. A characteristic c.d. band of Cu(I)-stellacyanin at 270 nm (0 = −12.5×10(3) degrees X cm2 X dmol-1) was seen. On oxidation with hexacyanoferrate(III) or by air, the correct Cu(II) binding into the active centre of this ‘Type 1’ Cu-protein was deduced from chiroptical measurements which were supported by e.p.r. data. Thus Cu-thiourea turned out to be an excellent Cu(I)-donor in aqueous systems for the complete reconstitution of mononuclear Blue copper proteins.
Multiple forms of γ-butyrobetaine hydroxylase (EC 1.14.11.1)
Authors: Lindstedt S , Nordin I
Published: August 2015

gamma-Butyrobetaine hydroxylase [4-trimethylaminobutyrate, 2-oxoglutarate:oxygen oxidoreductase (3-hydroxylating), EC 1.14.11.1] from human kidney was resolved into three forms by chromatofocusing. After further chromatography on an anion-exchanger, each form appeared as a single band on electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel containing sodium dodecyl sulphate. The isoelectric points of isoenzymes 1, 2 and 3 were 5.6, 5.7 and 5.8 respectively, as estimated by isoelectric focusing. Their specific activities were 17-29 mu kat/g of protein. The concentrations of the three isoenzymes were about equal, possibly slightly lower for isoenzyme 1. The requirement for Fe2+ and the Km values for gamma-butyrobetaine and 2-oxoglutarate were about the same for the different enzyme forms. L- and D-Carnitine caused decarboxylation of 2-oxoglutarate to the same extent (8 and 29%) with the three forms. The enzyme forms had the same mass, 64 kDa, as determined by gel filtration in nondenaturing media. The same subunit mass, 42 kDa, was obtained for the multiple forms by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels containing sodium dodecyl sulphate. Isoenzyme 2 was resolved into two protein bands by isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gels containing urea. Isoenzyme 1 contained only one of these bands and isoenzyme 3 the other. The three enzyme forms of gamma-butyrobetaine hydroxylase thus appear to be dimeric combinations of two subunits differing in charge but not in size. gamma-Butyrobetaine hydroxylase from crude extracts of human, rat and calf liver was also separated into multiple forms by a chromatofocusing technique. The isoenzyme pattern was the same in human liver and kidney. The technique used to resolve the mammalian enzymes gave no evidence for the presence of multiple forms of the bacterial enzyme from Pseudomonas sp. AK 1.
Conformational changes induced in bovine lens α-crystallin by carbamylation. Relevance to cataract
Authors: Beswick H T , Harding J J
Published: August 2015

Carbamylation of lens proteins may contribute to cataractogenesis in certain medical conditions where blood urea is elevated for prolonged periods. This paper reports on the effects of carbamylation on the physicochemical properties of one of the major lens structural proteins, alpha-crystallin. In particular it is shown that carbamylation alters the tertiary and secondary structure of the protein, leading to an increased reactivity of protein thiols, resulting in interchain disulphide bonding.
γ-glutamyltransferase activity in mammary gland of pregnant rats and its regulation by ovarian hormones, prolactin and placental lactogen
Authors: Bussmann L E , Deis R P
Published: August 2015

Ovariectomy and ovariectomy plus hysterectomy on day 18 of pregnancy increased gamma-glutamyltransferase activity in the mammary gland. The withdrawal of progesterone and the subsequent release of prolactin are responsible for the rise in enzyme activity. Rat placental lactogen in the absence of prolactin and progesterone is able to induce gamma-glutamyltransferase activity.
Differential interaction of porphyrins used in photoradiation therapy with ferrochelatase
Authors: Dailey H A , Smith A
Published: August 2015

The mechanism of porphyrin accumulation by tumours is not yet established. If metabolism aids porphyrin elimination, tumours, unlike normal tissues, may not metabolize porphyrins used clinically, such as proto-, haemato-, OO'-diacetyl-haemato- and monohydroxyethyl-monovinyl-deutero-porphyrin. Proto-, haemato- and monohydroxyethyl-monovinyl-deutero-porphyrin are substrates for the mitochondrial enzyme ferrochelatase (EC 4.99.1.1), which can form haem analogues from exogenous porphyrins. The Km values for proto-, haemato- and monohydroxyethyl-monovinyl-deutero-porphyrin are 11, 22 and 23 microM respectively. However, OO'-diacetyl-haematoporphyrin is an effective competitive inhibitor with Ki of 11 microM. Hepatic ferrochelatase specific activity is 5.9 and 5.5 nmol of haem/h per mg of protein respectively in normal Buffalo rat and in those bearing the extrahepatic Morris 7288C hepatoma, and is only 0.13 nmol/h per mg in the hepatomas. Therefore low ferrochelatase activity in cancerous cells may provide one means whereby some porphyrins accumulate in tumours, and the ability of certain porphyrins to act as ferrochelatase inhibitors may provide another.
Hexose metabolism in pancreatic islets. Inhibition of hexokinase
Authors: Giroix M H , Sener A , Pipeleers D G , Malaisse W J
Published: August 2015

In islet homogenates, hexokinase-like activity (Km 0.05 mM; Vmax. 1.5 pmol/min per islet) accounts for the major fraction of glucose phosphorylation. Yet the rate of glycolysis in intact islets incubated at low glucose concentrations (e.g. 1.7 mM) sufficient to saturate hexokinase only represents a minor fraction of the glycolytic rate observed at higher glucose concentrations. This apparent discrepancy between enzymic and metabolic data may be attributable, in part at least, to inhibition of hexokinase in intact islets. Hexokinase, which is present in both islet and purified B-cell homogenates, is indeed inhibited by glucose 6-phosphate (Ki 0.13 mM) and glucose 1,6-bisphosphate (Ki approx. 0.2 mM), but not by fructose 2,6-bisphosphate. In intact islets, the steady-state content of glucose 6-phosphate (0.26-0.79 pmol/islet) and glucose 1,6-bisphosphate (5-48 fmol/islet) increases, in a biphasic manner, at increasing concentrations of extracellular glucose (up to 27.8 mM). From these measurements and the intracellular space of the islets, it was estimated that the rate of glucose phosphorylation as catalysed by hexokinase represents, in intact islets, no more than 12-24% of its value in islet homogenates.
Investigation of phospholipids of the pulmonary extracellular lining by electron paramagnetic resonance. The effects of phosphatidylglycerol and unsaturated phosphatidylcholines on the fluidity of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine
Authors: Hook G E R , Spalding J W , Ortner M J , Tombropoulos E G , Chignell C F
Published: August 2015

The membranous structures of the pulmonary extracellular lining were removed from the lungs of rabbits by pulmonary lavage and isolated by differential centrifugation. This membranous fraction contained 93% of the total extracellular phospholipids present in lavage effluents and consisted of membranous vesicles, membrane fragments, tubular myelin and secreted lamellar bodies. The fraction was rich in phosphatidylcholine (79.4%) containing 85.2% palmitic acid in the 1-position and 57.4% palmitic acid in the 2-position. Phosphatidylglycerol was the next most abundant phospholipid, accounting for 9.4% of the total. E.p.r. spectra, obtained by using 5-doxylmethylstearate as a probe, showed that the extracellular phospholipids of the pulmonary lining were organized into structures which were much more fluid than erythrocyte-ghost membranes. The fluidity of phosphatidylcholine isolated from the membranous fraction was similar to that of the fraction itself, indicating that the minor phospholipids had very little influence on the fluidity of the major phospholipid. At physiological temperature, the fluidity of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine was relatively low, but could be markedly increased by the presence of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl phosphatidylcholine or phosphatidylglycerol (10%). Protein present in the extracellular phospholipid fraction did not affect the fluidity of the fraction. These studies indicate that the unsaturated phosphatidylcholines could play a major role in determining the fluidity of the important surface-tension-lowering phospholipids such as dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine.
The concentration of the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier in rat liver and heart mitochondria determined with α-cyano-β-(1-phenylindol-3-yl)acrylate
Authors: Shearman M S , Halestrap A P
Published: August 2015

alpha-Cyano-beta-(1-phenylindol-3-yl)acrylate inhibited pyruvate transport into both liver and heart mitochondria approximately linearly with respect to its concentration until 65% inhibition was achieved. The extent of inhibition was dependent on the mitochondrial protein concentration. By extrapolation of plots of inhibition versus inhibitor concentration to total inhibition, or by mathematical analysis of the plots, the concentration of pyruvate transporter molecules per mg of protein was calculated to be approximately 100 pmol/mg for both heart and liver mitochondria, and the Ki about 7 nM. The data also suggest that pyruvate transport is rate-limiting for pyruvate oxidation by heart mitochondria in State 3, but not by liver mitochondria.
Quantitative role of parenchymal and non-parenchymal liver cells in the uptake of [14C]sucrose-labelled low-density lipoprotein in vivo
Authors: Harkes L , Van Berkel J C
Published: August 2015

In order to assess the relative importance of the receptor for low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (apo-B,E receptor) in the various liver cell types for the catabolism of lipoproteins in vivo, human LDL was labelled with [14C]sucrose. Up to 4.5h after intravenous injection, [14C]sucrose becomes associated with liver almost linearly with time. During this time the liver is responsible for 70-80% of the removal of LDL from blood. A comparison of the uptake of [14C]sucrose-labelled LDL and reductive-methylated [14C]sucrose-labelled LDL ([14C]sucrose-labelled Me-LDL) by the liver shows that methylation leads to a 65% decrease of the LDL uptake. This indicated that 65% of the LDL uptake by liver is mediated by a specific apo-B,E receptor. Parenchymal and non-parenchymal liver cells were isolated at various times after intravenous injection of [14C]sucrose-labelled LDL and [14C]sucrose-labelled Me-LDL. Non-parenchymal liver cells accumulate at least 60 times as much [14C]sucrose-labelled LDL than do parenchymal cells accumulate at least 60 times as much [14C]sucrose-labelled LDL than do parenchymal cells when expressed per mg of cell protein. This factor is independent of the time after injection of LDL. Taking into account the relative protein contribution of the various liver cell types to the total liver, it can be calculated that non-parenchymal cells are responsible for 71% of the total liver uptake of [14C]sucrose-labelled LDL. A comparison of the cellular uptake of [14C]sucrose-labelled LDL and [14C]sucrose-labelled Me-LDL after 4.5h circulation indicates that 79% of the uptake of LDL by non-parenchymal cells is receptor-dependent. With parenchymal cells no significant difference in uptake between [14C]sucrose-labelled LDL and [14C]sucrose-labelled Me-LDL was found. A further separation of the nonparenchymal cells into Kupffer and endothelial cells by centrifugal elutriation shows that within the non-parenchymal-cell preparation solely the Kupffer cells are responsible for the receptor-dependent uptake of LDL. It is concluded that in rats the Kupffer cell is the main cell type responsible for the receptor-dependent catabolism of lipoproteins containing only apolipoprotein B.
Hormonal control of pyruvate dehydrogenase activity in rat liver
Authors: Oviasu O A , Whitton P D
Published: August 2015

A detailed study of the control of liver pyruvate dehydrogenase activity by various hormones was carried out with perfused liver and isolated hepatocytes. Vasopressin produced a significant increase in the enzyme activity in fed rats, and the time course and sensitivity of the response was similar to that of glycogen phosphorylase a. The enzyme from starved animals was resistant to hormonal activation. The possible factors involved in the above effects are discussed. Angiotensin and phenylephrine also increased pyruvate dehydrogenase activity, and the magnitude of the response was of the same order as that to vasopressin by the liver enzyme. The effects of these hormones on pyruvate dehydrogenase activity were critically dependent on extracellular Ca2+, thus suggesting a role for this ion in the mechanism of action of the hormones. Insulin did not appear to have a role in the control of the enzyme activity, as shown by its lack of effect on the enzyme. Glucagon, in contrast with previous reports, produced a rapid, transient and significant increase in pyruvate dehydrogenase activity. The physiological importance of the above effects is discussed.
The relationship between pertussis-toxin-induced ADP-ribosylation of a plasma-membrane protein and reversal of muscarinic inhibition of prolactin secretion in GH3 cells
Authors: Wojcikiewicz R J , Dobson P R , Irons L I , Robinson A , Brown B L
Published: August 2015

Pertussis toxin (PT) caused the ADP-ribosylation of a Mr-41 000 protein in GH3-cell plasma-membrane preparations. This effect, and muscarinic inhibition of prolactin release, were reversed at similar rates by pretreatment of intact cells with PT. These results suggest that the Mr-41 000 protein is modified in intact GH3 cells, and that this protein (a component of the putative Ni unit of adenylate cyclase) is involved in the expression of muscarinic inhibition.
The acute-phase response of cultured rat hepatocytes. System characterization and the effect of human cytokines
Authors: Koj A , Gauldie J , Regoeczi E , Sauder D N , Sweeney G D
Published: August 2015

Hepatocytes were isolated from adult livers and cultured for periods of up to 5 days as monolayers at an initial density of 10(6) cells/10cm2 in Williams E medium containing insulin, dexamethasone and 5% foetal-calf serum. The daily production of 11 plasma proteins was measured by electroimmunoassay and compared with the concentrations of the same proteins in the plasma of normal rats and of those with experimental inflammation. Hepatocytes from normal rats synthesized proteins in relative amounts which were similar to the relative proportions of the same proteins in the plasma of turpentine-injected animals. The pattern changed only slowly during 5 days in culture, but it did so profoundly either when the medium was devoid of dexamethasone or when human cytokines (from endotoxin-stimulated monocytes or unstimulated human squamous-carcinoma cell line COLO-16) were added. The cytokines consistently increased the synthesis of alpha 2-macroglobulin and fibrinogen and depressed that of albumin; variable increases in the synthesis of alpha 1-acute-phase globulin, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, haptoglobin and alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor, and variable decreases in transferrin synthesis, were seen, whereas the synthesis of antithrombin III, alpha 1-macroglobulin and prothrombin remained virtually unaffected. The cytokine effects on protein synthesis required the presence of dexamethasone. The hepatocyte-stimulating activity derived from monocytes chromatographed on Sephadex G-100 corresponding to 30 000 Da, as opposed to the lymphocyte-activating factor, which was eluted as a molecule of approx. 15 000 Da. This suggests that both activities probably reside with distinct molecular species in the preparations of human cytokines.
Cyclic AMP inhibition of fMet-Leu-Phe-dependent metabolic responses in human neutrophils is not due to its effects on cytosolic Ca2+
Authors: De Togni P , Cabrini G , Di Virgilio F
Published: August 2015

Cyclic AMP powerfully inhibits the fMet-Leu-Phe-dependent respiratory burst and exocytosis of azurophilic and specific granules without affecting Ca2+ release from intracellular stores. The elevation of [Ca2+]i induced by fMet-Leu-Phe is short-lived in cyclic AMP-treated cells and similar to that of untreated cells stimulated in the absence of external Ca2+. Nevertheless, in these latter cells fMet-Leu-Phe induces metabolic activation. We therefore suggest that the inhibitory action of cyclic AMP on neutrophil responses is not due to its effects on [Ca2+]i homoeostasis.
Glycerolipid labelling kinetics in isolated intact chloroplasts
Authors: Gardiner S E , Roughan P G , Browse J
Published: August 2015

Glycerolipid synthesis was studied in intact chloroplasts isolated from three different plant species. The sequential acylation of sn-glycerol 3-phosphate and lysophosphatidate (1-acyl-sn-glycerol 3-phosphate) was confirmed by monitoring the incorporation of oleate synthesized in situ into lysophosphatidate, phosphatidate and diacylglycerol. Lysophosphatidate was not only readily detected in these experiments, but was also present in the chloroplasts at the beginning of the time courses. The rate of glycerolipid synthesis depended primarily on sn-glycerol 3-phosphate supply, and given adequate sn-glycerol 3-phosphate, the proportion of newly synthesized fatty acids diverted into glycerolipids appeared to be determined by differing acyltransferase activities in the chloroplasts isolated from different plant species.
Carnitine acyltransferase and acyl-coenzyme A hydrolase activities in human liver. Quantitative analysis of their subcellular localization
Authors: Bronfman M , Leighton F
Published: August 2015

The subcellular localizations of carnitine acyltransferase and acyl-CoA hydrolase activities with different chain-length substrates were quantitatively evaluated in human liver by fractionation of total homogenates in metrizamide density gradients and by differential centrifugation. Peroxisomes were found to contain 8-37% of the liver acyltransferase activity, the relative amount depending on the chain length of the substrate. The remaining activity was ascribed to mitochondria, except for carnitine octanoyltransferase, for which 25% of the activity was present in microsomal fractions. In contrast with rat liver, where the activity in peroxisomes is very low or absent, human liver peroxisomes contain about 20% of the carnitine palmitoyltransferase. Short-chain acyl-CoA hydrolase activity was found to be localized mainly in the mitochondrial and soluble compartments, whereas the long-chain activity was present in both microsomal fractions and the soluble compartment. Particle-bound acyl-CoA hydrolase activity for medium-chain substrates exhibited an intermediate distribution, in mitochondria and microsomal fractions, with 30-40% of the activity in the soluble fraction. No acyl-CoA hydrolase activity appears to be present in human liver peroxisomes.