bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of two proteolytically derived soluble polypeptides from the neurofilament triplet components NFM and NFH
Authors: Chin T K , Harding S E , Eagles P A M
Published: August 2015

We have purified to homogeneity the regions derived by chymotryptic digestion of the ox neurofilament polypeptides NFH and NFM; the regions, called M1 and M2, are thought to form part of the projecting sidearms of mammalian neurofilaments [Chin, Eagles & Maggs (1983) Biochem. J. 215, 239-252]. They were isolated and purified under non-denaturing conditions and showed no tendency to interact with each other in solution. The Mr values obtained by sedimentation are approx. 61,000 for M1 and 42,000 for M2, considerably lower than the values obtained by SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. These Mr values were unchanged in the presence of 6 M-guanidine hydrochloride, suggesting that the regions exist as monomers in solution. Both M1 and M2 are highly phosphorylated, and there is only a slight change in the sedimentation value upon dephosphorylation. Dephosphorylation of M1 with alkaline phosphatase was more than 90% efficient but was never absolute. Dephosphorylation of M2 was complete. Both M1 and M2 bind Ca2+; in the case of M1, this binding is phosphorylation-dependent. M1 also binds cytochrome c, and dephosphorylation affects binding. In similar conditions, neurofilaments bind at least twice their own mass of cytochrome c, owing to their opposite net charges. No interactions were observed between native or dephosphorylated M1 and M2, and intact neurofilaments under a wide variety of conditions. These results are discussed in terms of the possible roles that neurofilament sidearms might play and throw doubt upon their supposed function of rigidly cross-linking neurofilaments together within the axoplasm of neurons.
Purification and immunological quantification of rat liver lysosomal glycosidases
Authors: de Groen P C , LeSage G D , Tietz P S , LaRusso N F
Published: August 2015

Although lysosomal enzyme activities are known to vary in response to numerous physiological and pharmacological stimuli, the relationship between lysosomal enzyme activity and enzyme concentration has not been systematically studied. Therefore we developed radioimmunoassays for two lysosomal glycosidases in order to determine lysosomal enzyme concentration. beta-Galactosidase and beta-glucuronidase were purified from rat liver 2780-fold and 1280-fold respectively, by using differential centrifugation, affinity chromatography, ion-exchange chromatography and molecular-sieve chromatography. Polyclonal antibodies to these enzymes were raised in rabbits, and two radioimmunoassays were established. Antibody specificity was shown by: (i) selective immunoprecipitation of enzyme activity; (ii) identical bands of purified enzyme on SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and immunoelectrophoresis; (iii) single immunoreactive peaks in molecular-sieve chromatography experiments. Sensitivities of the assays were such that 15 ng of beta-galactosidase and 45 ng of beta-glucuronidase decreased the ratio of bound to free radiolabel by 50%; minimal detectable amounts of immunoreactive enzymes were 2 ng and 10 ng respectively. The assays were initially used to assess the effects of physiological perturbations (i.e. fasting and age) on enzyme concentrations in rat liver; these experiments showed that changes in enzyme concentrations do not always correlate with changes in enzyme activities. This represents the first report of radioimmunoassays for lysosomal glycosidases. The results suggest that these radioimmunoassays provide useful technology for the study of regulatory control mechanisms of the concentrations of lysosomal glycosidases in mammalian tissues.
Cloning and expression in Escherichia coli of a rat hepatoma cell cDNA coding for 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase
Authors: Crepin K M , Darville M I , Michel A , Hue L , Rousseau G G
Published: August 2015

In liver, the 470-residue bifunctional enzyme 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase (PFK-2/FBPase-2) catalyses the synthesis and degradation of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate, a potent stimulator of glycolysis. In rat hepatoma (HTC) cells, this enzyme has kinetic, antigenic, and regulatory properties, such as insensitivity to cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and lack of associated FBPase-2 activity, that differ from those in liver. To compare the sequence of the HTC enzyme with that of the liver enzyme, we have cloned the corresponding fully-coding cDNA from HTC cells. This cDNA predicts a protein of 448 residues in which the first 32 residues of liver PFK-2/FBPase-2 including the cyclic AMP target sequence have been replaced by a unique N-terminal decapeptide. The rest of the protein is identical with the liver enzyme. An N-terminally truncated recombinant peptide of 380 residues containing the PFK-2 and FBPase-2 domains was expressed in Escherichia coli as a beta-galactosidase fusion protein. It was recognized by anti-PFK-2 antibodies but its enzymic activities were barely detectable. In contrast, a cDNA fully-coding for the HTC enzyme could be expressed in E. coli as a beta-galactosidase-free peptide that exhibited both PFK-2 and FBPase-2 activities. This peptide had those PFK-2 kinetic properties of the HTC enzyme that differ from the liver enzyme. These data, together with immunoblot experiments, suggest that the lack of associated FBPase-2 activity in HTC cells results from a post-translational modification of the enzyme rather than from the difference in amino acid sequence. As well as this peculiar type of PFK-2/FBPase-2 mRNA, HTC cells also contained low concentrations of the liver-type mRNA. Unlike in liver, neither mRNA was induced by dexamethasone in these cells.
Characterization of sodium-dependent and sodium-independent nucleoside transport systems in rabbit brush-border and basolateral plasma-membrane vesicles from the renal outer cortex
Authors: Williams T C , Doherty A J , Griffith D A , Jarvis S M
Published: August 2015

The transport of uridine into rabbit renal outer-cortical brush-border and basolateral membrane vesicles was compared at 22 degrees C. Uridine was taken up into an osmotically active space in the absence of metabolism for both types of membrane vesicles. Uridine influx by brush-border membrane vesicles was stimulated by Na+, and in the presence of inwardly directed gradients of Na+ a transient overshoot phenomenon was observed, indicating active transport. Kinetic analysis of the saturable Na+-dependent component of uridine flux indicated that it was consistent with Michaelis-Menten kinetics (Km 12 +/- 3 microM, Vmax. 3.9 +/- 0.9 pmol/s per mg of protein). The sodium:uridine coupling stoichiometry was found to be consistent with 1:1 and involved the net transfer of positive charge. In contrast, uridine influx by basolateral membrane vesicles was not dependent on the cation present and was inhibited by nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR). NBMPR-sensitive uridine transport was saturable (Km 137 +/- 20 microM, Vmax. 5.2 +/- 0.6 pmol/s per mg of protein). Inhibition of uridine flux by NBMPR was associated with high-affinity binding of NBMPR to the basolateral membrane (Kd 0.74 +/- 0.46 nM). Binding of NBMPR to these sites was competitively blocked by adenosine and uridine. These results indicate that uridine crosses the brush-border surface of rabbit proximal renal tubule cells by Na+-dependent pathways, but permeates the basolateral surface by NBMPR-sensitive facilitated-diffusion carriers.
The solubilization of a glucuronyltransferase involved in pea (Pisum sativum var. Alaska) glucuronoxylan synthesis
Authors: Waldron K W , Baydoun E A H , Brett C T
Published: August 2015

A glucuronyltransferase involved in glucuronoxylan biosynthesis was obtained from the epicotyls of 1-week-old etiolated pea (Pisum sativum var. Alaska) seedlings and was solubilized in Triton X-100, a non-ionic detergent. The enzyme was inactivated by SDS and inhibited by Derriphat 160 and cholic acid. The enzyme was active in the presence of NN-dimethyldodecylanium-N-oxide, but was not solubilized by it. The stimulatory effect of UDP-D-xylose on the particulate and solubilized enzymes was the same, but the optimum Mn2+ concentration was lower for the solubilized enzyme, and the product formed by the solubilized enzyme has altered structure and solubility properties. Gel filtration of the solubilized enzyme on Sepharose CL-6B permitted partial separation of the stimulatory effect of UDP-D-xylose from the activity in the absence of UDP-D-xylose. The solubilized enzyme was more stable than the particulate enzyme and could be stored for 2 weeks at -20 degrees C without loss of activity.
Reappraisal of the e.p.r. signals in (post)-ischaemic cardiac tissue
Authors: van der Kraaij A M , Koster J F , Hagen W R
Published: August 2015

The present study was designed to measure directly, using e.p.r. spectroscopy, oxygen-derived free radicals in (post)-ischaemic or (post)-anoxic rat hearts. Rat hearts were rapidly freeze-clamped at 77 K under normoxic, anoxic, ischaemic or reperfusion conditions. The samples were measured at three different temperatures (13, 77 and 115 K) and at several microwave power levels, and were compared with isolated rat heart mitochondria. Samples were prepared both by grinding and as tissue cuts. The two preparation techniques gave identical e.p.r. results, which excludes the occurrence of grinding artifacts. No free radical signals linked to reperfusion injury were detected. Several electron transfer centres known in the mitochondrial respiratory chain were measured. The signals previously assigned to post-ischaemic reperfusion injury were found to originate from electron transfer centres of the respiratory chain, predominantly the iron-sulphur cluster S-1 in succinate dehydrogenase. The differences in signal intensity between normoxic, ischaemic and reperfused hearts were found to result from the different redox stages of these centres under the various conditions tested. These findings do not necessarily imply that oxygen-derived free radicals are not formed in cardiac tissue during (post)-ischaemic reperfusion. The constitutive background of paramagnetism from the respiratory chain, however, seriously hampers the direct detection of comparatively low concentrations of free radicals in cardiac tissue. It is therefore expedient to focus future experiments in this field on the use of spin-trapping agents.
Isolation and sequence analysis of a cDNA encoding rat liver α-l-fucosidase
Authors: Fisher K J , Aronson N N
Published: August 2015

cDNA clones for alpha-L-fucosidase were isolated from a rat liver lambda gt11 expression library by using both monospecific polyclonal antibodies against the affinity-purified enzyme and biotinylated rat liver fucosidase cDNA sequences as probes. The largest clone, lambda FC9, contained a 1522 bp full-length cDNA insert (FC9) that encoded the 434-amino acid-residue subunit (Mr 50439) of rat liver alpha-L-fucosidase. A putative signal peptide 28 amino acid residues in length preceded the sequence for the mature protein. In addition, FC9 specified for 11 nucleotide residues of 5′ untranslated sequence, 78 nucleotide residues of 3′ untranslated sequence and a poly(A) tail. The deduced amino acid sequence from FC9 in conjunction with the experimentally determined N-terminus of the mature enzyme suggested that rat liver fucosidase did not contain a pro-segment. However, there was the possibility of limited N-terminal processing (one to five amino acid residues) having occurred after removal of the predicted signal peptide. Amino acid sequences deduced from FC9 were co-linear with amino acid sequences measured at the N-terminus of purified fucosidase and on two of its CNBr-cleavage peptides. An unusual aspect of rat liver alpha-L-fucosidase protein structure obtained from the FC9 data was its high content of tryptophan (6%). The coding sequence from FC9 showed 82% sequence identity with that from a previously reported incomplete human fucosidase sequence [O'Brien, Willems, Fukushima, de Wet, Darby, DiCioccio, Fowler & Shows, (1987) Enzyme 38, 45-53].
The distribution, induction and isoenzyme profile of glutathione S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase in isolated rat liver parenchymal, Kupffer and endothelial cells
Authors: Steinberg P , Schramm H , Schladt L , Robertson L W , Thomas H , Oesch F
Published: August 2015

The distribution and inducibility of cytosolic glutathione S-transferase (EC 2.5.1.18) and glutathione peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.19) activities in rat liver parenchymal, Kupffer and endothelial cells were studied. In untreated rats glutathione S-transferase activity with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and 4-hydroxynon-2-trans-enal as substrates was 1.7-2.2-fold higher in parenchymal cells than in Kupffer and endothelial cells, whereas total, selenium-dependent and non-selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase activities were similar in all three cell types. Glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes in parenchymal and non-parenchymal cells isolated from untreated rats were separated by chromatofocusing in an f.p.l.c. system: all glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes observed in the sinusoidal lining cells were also detected in the parenchymal cells, whereas Kupffer and endothelial cells lacked several glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes present in parenchymal cells. At 5 days after administration of Arocolor 1254 glutathione S-transferase activity was only enhanced in parenchymal cells; furthermore, selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase activity decreased in parenchymal and non-parenchymal cells. At 13 days after a single injection of Aroclor 1254 a strong induction of glutathione S-transferase had taken place in all three cell types, whereas selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase activity remained unchanged (endothelial cells) or was depressed (parenchymal and Kupffer cells). Hence these results clearly establish that glutathione S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase are differentially regulated in rat liver parenchymal as well as non-parenchymal cells. The presence of glutathione peroxidase and several glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes capable of detoxifying a variety of compounds in Kupffer and endothelial cells might be crucial to protect the liver from damage by potentially hepatotoxic substances.
A monoclonal antibody to bovine brain inositol monophosphatase. Immunoaffinity purification of the brain and kidney enzymes and evidence for their structural identity
Authors: Gee N S , Howell S , Ryan G , Ragan C I
Published: August 2015

A monoclonal IgG2b(K) antibody, G-2A4, has been generated against bovine brain myo-inositol monophosphatase (EC 3.1.3.25). The identity of the antigen recognized by the antibody was established by using e.l.i.s.a. and Western blotting procedures, and by immunoprecipitation of enzyme activity from crude brain supernatant. In addition, the hydrolysis of Ins1P by crude brain extract was inhibited by up to 83% by the pure antibody. Under identical conditions, the hydrolysis of Ins(1,4)P2 was unaffected. An immunoadsorbent column containing monoclonal antibody G-2A4 covalently attached to CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B has been used for rapid purification of the brain enzyme. Elution conditions have been optimized to allow isolation of the enzyme in high yield (54%) with full retention of column-binding capacity. The enzyme was electrophoretically homogeneous, Mr 30,000 and of higher specific activity than that purified conventionally. Chromatography of the pure enzyme on high resolution ion-exchange columns revealed some charge heterogeneity, possibly indicative of some type of post-translational modification. The immunoadsorbent column has also been used to purify the bovine kidney cortex enzyme to homogeneity. Partial proteolytic fragmentation patterns of the brain and kidney enzymes using endoprotease glu-C were identical, suggesting that they are almost certainly products of the same gene.
Non-invasive detection of protein metabolism in vivo by n.m.r. spectroscopy. Application of a novel 19F-containing residualizing label
Authors: Daugherty A , Becker N N , Scherrer L A , Sobel B E , Ackerman J J H , Baynes J W , Thorpe S R
Published: August 2015

Protein residualizing labels facilitate localization of tissue sites of protein catabolism and the quantification of protein accumulation because of their prolonged intracellular retention of protein accumulation because of their prolonged intracellular retention times. Radioiodinated residualizing labels have been used to define the metabolism of a wide variety of proteins, but this has necessitated destructive analysis. Here we describe the implementation and validation of a novel 19F-containing residualizing label for protein, NN-dilactitol-3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzylamine (DLBA), that permits the non-invasive assessment of protein accumulation and catabolism by n.m.r. spectroscopy in vivo. DLBA comprises a reporter molecule containing six equivalent 19F atoms. 19F is strongly n.m.r.-active, has 100% natural abundance, and is present in minimal background concentrations in soft tissues. We validated the use of DLBA as a protein-labelling compound by coupling to asialofetuin (ASF), a protein that is recognized exclusively by hepatic tissue via a saturable receptor-mediated process. Coupling of DLBA to ASF by reductive amination had no effect on the physiological receptor-mediated uptake of the protein in rat liver in vivo. The 19F-n.m.r. spectrum of DLBA exhibited a single peak that was subject to a small chemical-shift change and broadening after coupling to ASF. Pronase digestion of DLBA-ASF was performed to simulate intracellular degradation products, and resulted in a narrower set of resonances, with chemical shifts intermediate between those of uncoupled DLBA and DLBA-ASF. Intravenous administration of DLBA-ASF to rats followed by quantification of 19F in homogenates of liver tissue indicated that the half-life of residence time of degradation products from DLBA-ASF in liver was approx. 2 days. This intracellular half-life was comparable with that described for similar residualizing labels that contain radioiodide as a reporter. Similar results for the half-life of retention were obtained non-destructively and non-invasively in situ with the use of a whole-body radio-frequency antenna to acquire sequential spectra over 80 h after intravenous administration of DLBA-ASF. Quantification of these spectra demonstrated an initial accumulation of DLBA-ASF in liver followed by an expected gradual loss of 19F-labelled degradation products. The approach developed offers promise for the sequential and longitudinal characterization of metabolism of specific proteins in individual experimental animals and ultimately in human subjects.
Benzoate stimulates glutamate release from perfused rat liver
Authors: Häussinger D , Stehle T , Colombo J P
Published: August 2015

In isolated perfused rat liver, benzoate addition to the influent perfusate led to a dose-dependent, rapid and reversible stimulation of glutamate output from the liver. This was accompanied by a decrease in glutamate and 2-oxoglutarate tissue levels and a net K+ release from the liver; withdrawal of benzoate was followed by re-uptake of K+. Benzoate-induced glutamate efflux from the liver was not dependent on the concentration (0-1 mM) of ammonia (NH3 + NH4+) in the influent perfusate, but was significantly increased after inhibition of glutamine synthetase by methionine sulphoximine or during the metabolism of added glutamine (5 mM). Maximal rates of benzoate-stimulated glutamate efflux were 0.8-0.9 mumol/min per g, and the effect of benzoate was half-maximal (K0.5) at 0.8 mM. Similar Vmax. values of glutamate efflux were obtained with 4-methyl-2-oxopentanoate, ketomethionine (4-methylthio-2-oxobutyrate) and phenylpyruvate; their respective K0.5 values were 1.2 mM, 3.0 mM and 3.8 mM. Benzoate decreased hepatic net ammonia uptake and synthesis of both urea and glutamine from added NH4Cl. Accordingly, the benzoate-induced shift of detoxication from urea and glutamine synthesis to glutamate formation and release was accompanied by a decreased hepatic ammonia uptake. The data show that benzoate exerts profound effects on hepatic glutamate and ammonia metabolism, providing a new insight into benzoate action in the treatment of hyperammonaemic syndromes.
The ε-subunit of ATP synthase from bovine heart mitochondria. Complementary DNA sequence, expression in bovine tissues and evidence of homologous sequences in man and rat
Authors: Viñas O , Powell S J , Runswick M J , Iacobazzi V , Walker J E
Published: August 2015

The epsilon-subunit of ATP synthase from bovine heart mitochondria is assembled into the extrinsic membrane sector, F1-ATPase. The mature protein is 50 amino acid residues in length and its function is unknown. It is a nuclear gene product that is imported into the organelle. A mixture of 64 oligonucleotides 17 bases long, designed on the basis of the known protein sequence, was synthesized and used as a hybridization probe to isolate a cognate cDNA clone from a bovine library. The DNA sequence of this clone was determined, and the protein sequence of the epsilon-subunit deduced from it agrees exactly with that determined by direct sequence analysis of the protein isolated from bovine hearts. The bovine cDNA was used as a hybridization probe to examine the expression of the epsilon-subunit in various bovine tissues. mRNAs related to the cDNA are found in all of these tissues, and no evidence was obtained of the presence of mRNAs for the epsilon-subunit with similar coding sequences and dissimilar 3′ non-coding regions. By hybridization experiments with digests of DNA from cow, man and rat it has been shown that sequences related to the bovine cDNA are present in the genomes of all three species. More than one related sequence was detected in all cases, indicating the presence in all three genomes of more than one gene and/or pseudogenes.
Selective overexpression of the QUTE gene encoding catabolic 3-dehydroquinase in multicopy transformants of Aspergillus nidulans
Authors: Beri R K , Grant S , Roberts C F , Smith M , Hawkins A R
Published: August 2015

The three enzymes necessary to catabolize quinate to protocatechuate are inducible by quinic acid, and transcription of their corresponding genes is controlled by the action of a positively acting activator gene and a negatively acting repressor gene. Transformed strains of Aspergillus nidulans containing multiple copies of the activator gene (QUTA) but single copies of the other QUT genes retain normal regulation of the gene cluster and do not show any overexpression of the three quinic acid catabolic enzymes. Transformed strains containing equal multiple copies of the activator gene (QUTA) and QUTE (encoding catabolic 3-dehydroquinase), but single copies of the other QUT genes, retain normal regulation of the QUT gene cluster, but selectively overexpress the QUTE gene upon quinic acid induction. Data are presented that strongly suggested that the gene QUTG, which is physically located within the QUT gene cluster and for which no function has been identified, is not required for expression of the gene cluster and does not encode a chlorogenic acid esterase.
Post-translational modification of apolipoprotein B by transglutaminases
Authors: Cocuzzi E , Piacentini M , Beninati S , Chung S I
Published: August 2015

The major form of cross-link found in apolipoprotein B was identified as N1N12-bis-(gamma-glutamyl)spermine, a product known to be formed through the catalytic action of transglutaminases (EC 2.3.2.13). N1-(gamma-Glutamyl)spermine was present in a trace amount but epsilon-(gamma-glutamyl)lysine cross-links, which are formed during fibrin formation in plasma, were not detected. In the presence of catalytic amounts of plasma Factor XIIIa (a thrombin-dependent extracellular transglutaminase) or cellular transglutaminase (a cytosolic enzyme), apolipoprotein B and other plasma apolipoproteins (A-I, A-II and C) underwent covalently bridged polymerization and served as amine acceptor substrates. These results suggests that transglutaminases may participate in the covalent modification of apolipoproteins, either in the physiological state or during pathogenesis.
Phosphorylated dolichols in aging
Authors: Pullarkat R K , Pullarkat P S , Morris G N
Published: August 2015

The age-associated changes in the levels and synthesis of dolichyl phosphate and dolichyl diphosphate derivatives were investigated in brain and liver of 057B1/NNia mice. The total chloroform/methanol (2:1, v/v)-extractable phosphorylated dolichols of brain increased from 1.01 micrograms/g at 3 months to 5.22 micrograms/g at 28 months of age. The long-chain dolichyl diphosphate oligosaccharide (Dol-PP-oligo) levels of brain increased from 0.82 microgram/g in 3 months to 2.8 micrograms/g in 28-month-old animals. However, in liver and in kidney, the levels of these components were unaffected by age. Incorporation of labelled glucose from UDP-glucose into dolichyl phosphate glucose and Dol-PP-oligo in brain microsomes was unaffected by age, whereas, in liver microsomes, the rates of synthesis of both components increased by 50-150%. The increased rate of synthesis and lack of accumulation of Dol-PP-oligo in liver suggest an active utilization and/or catabolism of these glycoprotein precursors. The accumulation of Dol-PP-oligo in aging brain may reflect its decreased utilization for N-glycosylation and/or reduced catabolism.
Inositol is a constituent of detergent-solubilized immunoaffinity-purified rat liver 5′-nucleotidase
Authors: Bailyes E M , Ferguson M A J , Colaco C A , Luzio J P
Published: August 2015

myo-Inositol analysis of detergent-solubilized immunoaffinity-purified rat liver 5′-nucleotidase showed the presence of 1 mol of myo-inositol/mol of enzyme monomer. This provides unequivocal evidence that the ectoenzyme 5′-nucleotidase is attached to liver membranes by a glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol lipid anchor.
Alternative ligands as probes for the carotenoid-binding site of lobster carapace crustacyanin
Authors: Clarke J B , Eliopoulos E E , Findlay J B C , Zagalsky P F
Published: August 2015

The apoproteins of the lobster carotenoprotein, crustacyanin, show single high-affinity binding sites for the hydrophobic fluorescence probes 8-anilo-1-naphthalenesulphonic acid and cis-parinaric acid, and exhibit fluorescence transfer from tryptophan to the ligands. These results, together with information from the amino acid sequences, infer that the native carotenoid, astaxanthin, is bound to each apoprotein within an internal hydrophobic pocket, or calyx.
Transport of the yeast ATP synthase β-subunit into mitochondria. Effects of amino acid substitutions on targeting
Authors: Walker M E , Valentin E , Reid G A
Published: August 2015

We have isolated the yeast ATP2 gene encoding the beta-subunit of mitochondrial ATP synthase and determined its nucleotide sequence. A fusion between the N-terminal 15 amino acid residues of beta-subunit and the mouse cytosolic protein dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) was transcribed and translated in vitro and found to be transported into isolated yeast mitochondria. A fusion with the first 35 amino acid residues of beta-subunit attached to DHFR was not only transported but also proteolytically processed by a mitochondrial protease. Amino acid substitutions were introduced into the N-terminal presequence of the beta-subunit by bisulphite mutagenesis of the corresponding DNA. The effects of these mutations on mitochondrial targeting were assessed by transport experiments in vitro using DHFR fusion proteins. All of the mutants, harbourin from one to six amino acid substitutions in the first 14 residues of the presequence, were transported into mitochondria, though at least one of them (I8) was transported and proteolytically processed at a much reduced rate. The I8 mutant beta-subunit also exhibited poor transport and processing in vivo, and expression of this mutant polypeptide failed to complement the glycerol- phenotype of a yeast ATP2 mutant. More remarkably, the expression of I8 beta-subunit induced a more general growth defect in yeast, possibly due to interference with the transport of other, essential, mitochondrial proteins.
The δ-subunit of ATP synthase from bovine heart mitochondria. Complementary DNA sequence of its import precursor cloned with the aid of the polymerase chain reaction
Authors: Runswick M J , Medd S M , Walker J E
Published: August 2015

The delta-subunit of ATP synthase from bovine heart mitochondria is part of the extrinsic membrane domain, F1-ATPase. The mature protein is 146 amino acids in length and its function is obscure. It is encoded by a nuclear gene and is imported into the organelle. Two mixtures of oligonucleotides 17 bases long, designed on the basis of the known protein sequence, have been synthesized and employed as primers on bovine cDNA in the polymerase chain reaction. By this means a segment of bovine cDNA encoding part of the delta-subunit has been amplified, and this DNA segment has been employed to identify related cDNA clones in a library. These clones encode the mitochondrial import precursor of the delta-subunit; the protein sequence of the mature protein deduced from it is exactly the same as that determined earlier by direct sequence analysis. The clones have also been used to show that both the bovine and human genomes seem to contain a single gene for the delta-subunit.
Lipoamidase (lipoyl-X hydrolase) from pig brain
Authors: Oizumi J , Hayakawa K
Published: August 2015

Although the optimum substrate for lipoamidase (lipoyl-X hydrolase) has not yet been determined, it is known that lipoamidase activity, as determined by hydrolysis of the synthetic substrate lipoyl 4-aminobenzoate (LPAB), is widely distributed in pig brain tissues, i.e. in the cerebrum, cerebellum and medulla. Over 95% of the enzyme activity is present in the membrane subfractions, indicating that brain lipoamidase is an integral membrane protein enzyme. To elucidate the chemical nature and the optimum substrate of the abundant lipoamidase in the brain, we isolated it from the membrane subfractions. After an 8-step purification procedure, brain lipoamidase was purified 601-fold and identified as a 140 kDa glycoprotein by SDS/PAGE. A mechanistic study to determine Km and Vmax, values was carried out using various synthetic compounds. Lipoyl-lysine, which is generally believed to be a naturally occurring substrate of lipoamidase, was first compared with biotinyl-lysine, because these two vitamins have reactive sulphur atoms and are similar in molecular mass and structure. The Km for lipoyl-lysine was 333 microM, whereas biotinyl-lysine was not hydrolysed. Stringent specificity for the lipoyl moiety is demonstrated, as expected. Dipeptides of amino acid-lysine structures were studied, and dipeptides of aspartyl- and glutamyl-lysine hydrolysis occurred at high Km (3 mM) values. Thus lysine in the moiety is not very effective as an optimum substrate. The chemical bond structures of the amide bond (lipoyl-lysine) and peptide bond (aspartyl-lysine) were hydrolysed. Next, the ester bond compound was tested, and it was observed that lipolylmethyl ester was hydrolysed at high specificity. These findings indicate that this enzyme has broad specificities with respect to bond structure; it therefore is a unique hydrolase having stringent specificity for lipoic acid and relatively broad specificity for the chemical bond and the X moiety. Various inhibitors were tested; a few reagents, such as organic mercurials, di-isopropylfluorophosphate, 1,10-phenanthroline, sodium azide and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor exhibited some inhibition (not more than 60%). Thus the active centre of this enzyme is a complex type. Although ATP is not hydrolysed and the lowest Km value is exhibited by the synthetic substrate reduced from LPAB (12 microM), some other compounds may still be expected to be hydrolysed by this unique and abundant brain lipoamidase.
Inosine/pyruvate/phosphate medium but not adenosine/pyruvate/phosphate medium introduces millimolar amounts of 5-phosphoribosyl 1-pyrophosphate in human erythrocytes. A 31P-n.m.r. study
Authors: Petersen A , Quistorff B
Published: August 2015

Incubation of human erythrocytes in medium containing inosine (10 mM), pyruvate (10 mM), phosphate (50 mM) and NaCl (75 mM) at pH 6.6 leads to a more than 1000-fold increase in the concentration of 5-phosphoribosyl 1-pyrophosphate (PRPP), as identified and quantified by 31P-n.m.r. spectroscopy. The accumulation is highly pH-dependent, with a maximum at extracellular pH 6.60, and the maximum value of 1.3-1.6 mmol/l of erythrocytes is attained within 1 h at 37 degrees C. PRPP was accumulated despite high concentrations of 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate (2,3-BPG), an inhibitor of PRPP synthetase. The concentration of PRPP correlated with the intracellular concentration of inorganic phosphate (Pi). Substitution of either adenosine or adenosine plus inosine for inosine in the medium did not lead to 31P-n.m.r.-detectable accumulation of PRPP. These results show that neither 2,3-BPG nor PRPP itself inhibits the synthesis of PRPP in the human erythrocyte. Adenosine, however, prevents the inosine-stimulated accumulation of PRPP.
Rat spleen glutathione transferases. A new acidic form belonging to the Alpha class
Authors: Tsuchida S , Sato K
Published: August 2015

Cytosolic glutathione transferases (GSTs) were purified from the rat spleen by S-hexyl-GSH-Sepharose chromatography, and two major forms were identified as GSTs 2-2 and 7-7 (GST P). Besides these forms an acidic form (pI 5.8) was purified by chromatofocusing at pH 7-4 and it accounted for about 1% of the total GST activity bound to S-hexyl-GSH-Sepharose. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis revealed that it is a homodimer (subunit Mr 26,000 with pI 5.8). Immunoblot analysis demonstrated that it was immunologically related to GSTs 2-2 and 1-1, and its N-terminal amino acid was apparently blocked, similarly to other forms of the class Alpha. This form had a low activity towards cumene hydroperoxide or 4-hydroxynon-2-enal, indicating that this form differed from GSTs 10-10 and 8-8 as well as from GSTs 1-1 and 2-2. These results suggest that it is a new form of GST belonging to the class Alpha.
NADP+-dependent d-xylose dehydrogenase from pig liver. Purification and properties
Authors: Zepeda S , Monasterio O , Ureta T
Published: August 2015

An NADP(+)-dependent D-xylose dehydrogenase from pig liver cytosol was purified about 2000-fold to apparent homogeneity with a yield of 15% and specific activity of 6 units/mg of protein. An Mr value of 62,000 was obtained by gel filtration. PAGE in the presence of SDS gave an Mr value of 32,000, suggesting that the native enzyme is a dimer of similar or identical subunits. D-Xylose, D-ribose, L-arabinose, 2-deoxy-D-glucose, D-glucose and D-mannose were substrates in the presence of NADP+ but the specificity constant (ratio kcat./Km(app.)) is, by far, much higher for D-xylose than for the other sugars. The enzyme is specific for NADP+; NAD+ is not reduced in the presence of D-xylose or other sugars. Initial-velocity studies for the forward direction with xylose or NADP+ concentrations varied at fixed concentrations of the nucleotide or the sugar respectively revealed a pattern of parallel lines in double-reciprocal plots. Km values for D-xylose and NADP+ were 8.8 mM and 0.99 mM respectively. Dead-end inhibition studies to confirm a ping-pong mechanism showed that NAD+ acted as an uncompetitive inhibitor versus NADP+ (Ki 5.8 mM) and as a competitive inhibitor versus xylose. D-Lyxose was a competitive inhibitor versus xylose and uncompetitive versus NADP+. These results fit better to a sequential compulsory ordered mechanism with NADP+ as the first substrate, but a ping-pong mechanism with xylose as the first substrate has not been ruled out. The presence of D-xylose dehydrogenase suggests that in mammalian liver D-xylose is utilized by a pathway other than the pentose phosphate pathway.
The supramolecular organization of ovomucin. Biophysical and morphological studies
Authors: Rabouille C , Aon M A , Muller G , Cartaud J , Thomas D
Published: August 2015

Ovomucin participates in the ovomucin-gel-forming properties because of its shape and its ability to interact in a specific spatial organization. Purified from chicken egg-white by exclusion chromatography with Sephacryl S-300 and Sepharose CL-2B and analysed by light-scattering, it exhibited an Mr of about 40 x 10(6). This large Mr can be explained by the aggregation of polymers that can be degraded into 3 x 10(6)-Mr fragments by reduction with dithiothreitol. The values for hydrodynamic parameters such as Mr, radius of gyration, hydrodynamic radius, mass per unit length and combinations of them suggested that ovomucin is a linear and highly flexible molecule conferring upon it a random-coil-like structure in 0.2 M-NaCl solution. Analysis of the ovomucin molecules by electron microscopy revealed its linear character but also indicated a lower Mr than that obtained in the light-scattering experiments. By temperature-induced non-specific aggregation of an ovomucin solution containing other globular egg proteins, an attempt was made to find out what conditions are required for gel formation and to examine the quality of aggregation that is obtained under these conditions. Results show that the viscosity of the solution did not increase after heat treatment. Apparently, in the ovomucin gel, specific spatial organization of the ovomucin molecules is required for hydrogel formation.
Purification and characterization of a new xylanase (xylanase B) produced by Streptomyces lividans 66
Authors: Kluepfel D , Vats-Mehta S , Aumont F , Shareck F , Morosoli R
Published: August 2015

A new extracellular xylanase produced by Streptomyces lividans 66 was isolated from a genetically engineered clone of that strain. This enzyme, named xylanase B, has an Mr of 31,000 and acts specifically on xylan as an endo-type xylanase producing short-chain xylo-oligosaccharides. The activity is optimal at pH 6.5 and at a temperature of 55 degrees C, which is similar to that of the previously characterized xylanase A. Xylanase B is glycosylated and has a pI of 8.4; its Km and Vmax. values are 3.71 mg/ml and 1.96 mmol/mg of enzyme respectively. Specific antibodies raised against xylanase A show no cross-reaction with xylanase B; however, the anti-(xylanase B) antibodies react slightly with xylanase A. A comparison of the hydrolysis products obtained from oat-spelts xylan with both enzymes show that xylanase A preferentially degrades short-chain oligo-xylosides, whereas xylanase B acts on the longer, water-insoluble, molecules.
Characterization of peptide fluxes into human erythrocytes. A proton-n.m.r. study
Authors: Odoom J E , Campbell I D , Ellory J C , King G F
Published: August 2015

A new protocol for measuring cellular uptake of dipeptides was developed in which the problem of peptide hydrolysis is obviated by introduction into the cell suspension of a membrane-permeant peptidase inhibitor. The uptake of unlabelled dipeptide is readily monitored so long as some analytical technique is available for measuring the intracellular peptide concentration; in this study we used n.m.r. spectroscopy. Using this protocol, we demonstrated that dipeptide uptake by human erythrocytes occurs by simple diffusion through the lipid bilayer and not via a high-capacity protein-mediated transport system. Substantiating evidence includes demonstration that: (a) the fluxes are slow compared with known protein-mediated transport processes in human erythrocytes; (b) the uptake is not stereospecific; (c) the uptake does not display saturation kinetics; (d) the fluxes are significantly enhanced by butanol; (e) a distinct correlation exists between the size-corrected permeability coefficients of the dipeptides and their calculated n-octanol/water partition coefficients. It is calculated that under normal physiological conditions the diffusive fluxes of circulating plasma peptides into human erythrocytes are too small for these cells to play a significant role in dipeptide catabolism.
The occurrence and receptor specificity of endogenous opioid peptides within the pancreas and liver of the rat. Comparison with brain
Authors: Khawaja X Z , Green I C , Thorpe J R , Titheradge M A
Published: August 2015

Our observations that opioid peptides have direct effects on islet insulin secretion and liver glucose production prompted a search for endogenous opiates and their receptors in these peripheral tissues. Mu-, delta- and kappa-receptor-active opiates were demonstrated in brain, pancreas and liver extracts by displacement studies using selective ligands for the three opiate receptor subtypes [(3H][D-Ala2,MePhe4,Gly5-ol]enkephalin, [3H][D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkephalin and [3H]dynorphin respectively). Receptor-active opiates in brain extracts exhibited a stronger preference for delta-opiate-receptor sites than for mu and kappa sites. Pancreatic extract opiates demonstrated a similar activity at mu and delta sites, but substantially less at kappa sites. Liver extracts displayed similar selectivity for all three sites. The affinities of the receptor-active opiates for mu-, delta- and kappa-receptor subtypes displayed a rank order of potency: brain much greater than pancreas greater than liver. Total immunoreactive beta-endorphin and [Met5]enkephalin levels in liver and hepatocytes were greater than those in brain. Immunoreactive [Met5]enkephalin levels in pancreas were similar to, but beta-endorphin levels were substantially higher than, those in brain. Delta and kappa opiate-binding sites of high affinity were identified in crude membrane preparations of islets of Langerhans, but no specific opiate-binding sites could be demonstrated in liver membrane preparations. Immunoreactive dynorphin and beta-endorphin were demonstrated by immunogold labelling in rat pancreatic islet cells. No positive staining of liver sections for opioids was observed. These results suggest that the tissue content of opiate-receptor-active compounds in the pancreas and the liver is very significant and could contribute to the regulation of normal blood glucose levels.
Longer-term regulation of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase in cultured rat cardiac myocytes
Authors: Marchington D R , Kerbey A L , Randle P J
Published: August 2015

The increased activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) kinase induced in hearts of rats by starvation for 48 h was maintained following preparation of cardiac myocytes, and it was also maintained, though at a decreased level, after 25 h of culture in medium 199. This loss of PDH kinase activity was not prevented by n-octanoate, dibutyryl cyclic AMP or glucagon. The PDH kinase activity of myocytes from fed rats was increased to that of starved rats after 25 h of culture with n-octanoate, dibutyryl cyclic AMP or both agents together.
Phosphofructokinase from Plasmodium berghei. Influence of Mg2+, ATP and Mg2+-complexed ATP
Authors: Buckwitz D , Jacobasch G , Gerth C
Published: August 2015

The control enzyme phosphofructokinase is of regulatory significance in the metabolism of glucose by the malarial parasite Plasmodium berghei. (1) The enzyme was partially purified from erythrocytic stages of P. berghei by precipitation with poly(ethylene glycol) and chromatography on 2′,5′-bisphosphoadenosine-Sepharose 4B. (2) Similarly to various other phosphofructokinases, the enzyme from P. berghei shows an allosteric behaviour. It is activated by fructose 6-phosphate and inhibited by ATP. (3) The effects of Mg2(+)-complexed ATP, free ATP and Mg2+ were studied by keeping constant the concentration of one of these and varying the concentrations of the other two. (4) The enzyme is shown to be allosterically inhibited by free ATP and by higher concentrations of Mg2+. Compared with phosphofructokinase of erythrocytes, inhibition by ATP is weaker by two orders of magnitude. Mg2(+)-complexed ATP has no effect on allosteric regulation. (5) The proposed kinetic model provides an adequate description of the data.
Solubilization and separation of inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate- and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-binding proteins and metabolizing enzymes in rat brain
Authors: Theibert A B , Supattapone S , Ferris C D , Danoff S K , Evans R K , Snyder S H
Published: August 2015

The two inositol phosphate-binding proteins, the Ins(1,4,5)P3 (InsP3) and Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 (InsP4) receptors, and the two particulate InsP3-metabolizing enzymes, InsP3 5-phosphatase and InsP3 3-kinase, were solubilized with detergent from rat cerebellar membranes. These four activities are shown to be distinct molecular species by separation using a variety of protein chromatographic steps. The pharmacology of the partially purified InsP4-binding site indicates that the binding has a high affinity and selectivity for InsP4 over InsP3. These results suggest the existence of a distinct specific InsP4-binding protein which may represent the receptor for this putative second messenger.
A new recombinant DNA strategy for the molecular cloning of rare membrane proteins
Authors: Brake B , Braghetta P , Banting G , Bressan G , Luzio J P , Stanley K K
Published: August 2015

We have constructed a cDNA library in the plasmid expression vector pUEX enriched in sequences encoding membrane proteins. The procedure involved positive selection of sequences common to two different rat tissues (thus excluding tissue-specific mRNA) followed by positive selection between this material and RNA extracted from membrane bound polysomes (thus excluding cytoplasmic proteins). The resultant library prepared from rat kidney cDNA hybridized with rat liver poly(A)+ RNA, contained 30,000 clones and was shown to be enriched in cDNAs encoding membrane proteins. Seventeen clones selected because they encode large fusion proteins were shown to be single copy in the library, and not present in nucleotide data banks. Thus the strategy is particularly suitable for cloning low abundance cDNAs encoding membrane proteins.
Transferrin-gene expression in the rat mammary gland. Independence of maternal iron status
Authors: Grigor M R , McDonald F J , Latta N , Richardson C L , Tate W P
Published: August 2015

Transferrin mRNA concentrations were measured in total RNA isolated from liver and mammary tissue of lactating rats at different stages of lactation. The mammary transferrin mRNA concentration varied in a biphasic manner, increasing up to parturition and then decreasing to undetectable levels at days 5 and 10 of lactation before increasing again markedly in late lactation. The values obtained at day 20 of lactation were double those found in livers of lactating rats. The concentrations of total RNA and mRNA for alpha-casein and alpha-lactalbumin did not change between days 5 and 20 of lactation. Transferrin concentrations were measured in milk from rats fed on an iron-free, a control and an iron-supplemented diet. Although there was a 5-fold difference in the transferrin concentration of samples taken between day 5 and day 20 of lactation, the dietary treatments did not result in significant changes. Maternal serum transferrin concentrations were, however, elevated, and pup haemoglobin concentrations were suppressed for the rats receiving the iron-free diet, indicating an alteration of the iron status of these rats.