bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Human serum amyloid P component, a circulating lectin with specificity for the cyclic 4,6-pyruvate acetal of galactose. Interactions with various bacteria
Authors: Hind C R K , Collins P M , Baltz M L , Pepys M B
Published: August 2015

Serum amyloid P component (SAP), a normal plasma glycoprotein, has recently been shown to have Ca2+-dependent binding specificity for methyl 4,6-O-(1-carboxyethylidene)-beta-D-galactopyranoside (MO beta DG) [Hind, Collins, Renn, Cook, Caspi, Baltz & Pepys (1984) J. Exp. Med. 159, 1058-1069]. SAP was found to bind in vitro to Klebsiella rhinoscleromatis, the cell wall of which is known to contain this particular cyclic pyruvate acetal of galactose. SAP also bound in similar amounts (approx. 6000 molecules per organism) to group A Streptococcus pyogenes, but very much less was taken up on Xanthomonas campestris, which contains the 4,6-cyclic pyruvate acetal of mannose. No SAP bound to Escherichia coli, which contains the 4,6-cyclic pyruvate acetal of glucose, or to Streptococcus pneumoniae type 4, which contains the 2,3-cyclic pyruvate acetal of alpha- rather than beta-galactopyranoside, or to other organisms (Streptococcus agalactiae, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis), the carbohydrate structures of which are less well characterized. Binding of SAP to those organisms which it did recognize was completely inhibited or reversed by millimolar concentrations of free MO beta DG. SAP, a human plasma protein, thus behaves as a lectin and may be a useful probe for its particular specific ligand in the cell walls of bacteria and other organisms.
Identification of three antigens in human brain associated with similar antigens on human leukaemic cells
Authors: Quackenbush E J , Cruz T F , Moscarello M A , Letarte M
Published: August 2015

Monoclonal antibodies prepared against a non-T and non-B acute-lymphocytic-leukaemia cell line were tested for reactivity against human brain tissue. Several of the monoclonal antibodies were found to react specifically with brain fractions. Three antigens, 44H4, 44D7 and 44D10, were identified in white matter. Although 44D10 was absent from grey matter, the levels of 44H4 and 44D7 antigens present in grey matter were 2- and 4-fold higher respectively than in white matter. Fractionation of white matter indicated that all three antigens were absent from the multilamellar compact myelin, but associated with a membrane fraction of higher density. All three antigens, which required detergent for solubilization from the membranes, were purified by affinity to monoclonal antibodies and/or were analysed by immunoblotting. The 44H4 and 44D10 antigens were single polypeptide chains with Mr 94000 and 80000 respectively when resolved by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Monoclonal antibody 44D7 reacted with a complex of a Mr greater than 120000 under non-reducing conditions in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate. This complex dissociated on reduction into four bands with Mr values of 80000, 57000, 47000 and 41000. The brain antigens are present on proteins similar to, or identical with, those isolated from acute-lymphocytic-leukaemia cells.
Glutathione S-transferases of human brain. Evidence for two immunologically distinct types of 26500-Mr subunits
Authors: Theodore C , Singh S V , Hong T D , Awasthi Y C
Published: August 2015

Human brain contains one cationic (pI8.3) and two anionic (pI5.5 and 4.6) forms of glutathione S-transferase. The cationic form (pI8.3) and the less-anionic form (pI5.5) do not correspond to any of the glutathione S-transferases previously characterized in human tissues. Both of these forms are dimers of 26500-Mr subunits; however, immunological and catalytic properties indicate that these two enzyme forms are different from each other. The cationic form (pI8.3) cross-reacts with antibodies raised against cationic glutathione S-transferases of human liver, whereas the anionic form (pI5.5) does not. Additionally, only the cationic form expresses glutathione peroxidase activity. The other anionic form (pI4.6) is a dimer of 24500-Mr and 22500-Mr subunits. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis demonstrates that there are three types of 26500-Mr subunits, two types of 24500-Mr subunits and two types of 22500-Mr subunits present in the glutathione S-transferases of human brain.
The methane mono-oxygenase reaction system studied in vivo by membrane-inlet mass spectrometry
Authors: Joergensen L
Published: August 2015

A membrane-inlet mass spectrometer connected to an open-system cuvette was used for direct measurement of dissolved methane and O2 in bacterial samples of strain OU-4-1, a type II methanotrophic bacterium. A technique was applied for keeping the concentration of dissolved methane or O2 in the sample constant while the concentration of the other dissolved gas was varied. This allowed the reaction mechanism of methane mono-oxygenase to be studied in vivo. The enzyme was found to follow a random bi-reactant mechanism with respect to binding of methane and O2. Binding of one substrate decreased the affinity for the other. The true binding constants were 1 microM for methane and 0.14 microM for O2. Studies of HCN inhibition confirmed the random bi-reactant mechanism. HCN was found to be a non-exclusive inhibitor with a binding constant of 0.4 microM.
Increased loss and decreased synthesis of hepatic glutathione after acute ethanol administration. Turnover studies
Authors: Speisky H , MacDonald A , Giles G , Orrego H , Israel Y
Published: August 2015

The effect of acute ethanol administration on rates of synthesis and utilization of hepatic glutathione (GSH) was studied in rats after a pulse of [35S]cysteine. A 35% decrease in hepatic GSH content 5h after administration of 4 g of ethanol/kg body wt. was accompanied by a 33% increase in the rate of GSH utilization. The decrease occurred without increases in hepatic oxidized glutathione (GSSG) or in the GSH/GSSG ratio. The rate of non-enzymic condensation of GSH with acetaldehyde could account for only 6% of the rate of hepatic GSH disappearance. The increased loss of [35S]GSH induced by ethanol was not accompanied by an increased turnover; rather, a 30% inhibition of GSH synthesis balanced the increased rate of loss, leaving the turnover rate unchanged. The rate of acetaldehyde condensation with cysteine in vitro occurred at about one-third of the rate of GSH loss in ethanol-treated animals. However, ethanol induced only a minor decrease in liver cysteine content, which did not precede, but followed, the decrease in GSH. The characteristics of 2-methylthiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid, the condensation product between acetaldehyde and cysteine, were studied and methodologies were developed to determine its presence in tissues. It was not found in the liver of ethanol-treated animals. Ethanol administration led to a marked increase (47%) in plasma GSH in the post-hepatic inferior vena cava, but not in its pre-hepatic segment. Data suggest that an increased loss of GSH from the liver constitutes an important mechanism for the decrease in GSH induced by ethanol. In addition, an inhibition of GSH synthesis is observed.
Redistribution of membrane-bound and cytosolic action in rabbit polymorphonuclear leucocytes during phagocytosis
Authors: Stewart D I H , Crawford N
Published: August 2015

In the analysis of highly purified surface membrane from both resting and phagocytosing neutrophils an increase in the surface membrane associated actin has been demonstrated. This change at the cell periphery is associated with a coincident increase in the F-actin content of the cells following stimulation of the cells by exposure to opsonized Oil Red O droplets. The actin which is newly associated with the surface membrane of the phagocytosing cells was more susceptible to removal by detergent than the membrane-associated actin in resting cells and it was also noted that the F-actin associated with phagosomes was readily disrupted by detergent. A redistribution of the surface membrane glycoprotein 5′-nucleotidase was observed during phagocytosis, but no change in distribution of a 125I-labelled Lens culinaris lectin was observed during the entire phagocytic process.
Properties and activities of aminopeptidases in normal and mitogen-stimulated human lymphocytes
Authors: Kohno H , Kanno T
Published: August 2015

Human peripheral lymphocytes were found to contain at least two distinct aminopeptidases, designated cytosol aminopeptidase and microsomal aminopeptidase, which differed from one another with respect to intracellular localization, substrate specificity, metal-ion activation, Km value and electrophoretic mobility. No change in these aminopeptidase activities was observed in cultured lymphocytes in the absence of mitogen throughout the cultivation period. The addition of phytohaemagglutinin or concanavalin A to the culture medium caused, in dose-dependent manner, a significant increase in cytosol aminopeptidase activity in lymphocytes. On the other hand, no increase in microsomal aminopeptidase activity was observed under the same conditions. The biochemical properties of aminopeptidases in stimulated cultured lymphocytes were identical with those of the enzymes in peripheral lymphocytes and unstimulated cultured lymphocyte. The phytohaemagglutinin dose-response curves for lymphocyte activation as measured by the DNA synthesis rate and for cytosol aminopeptidase activity were observed to be similar. However, when DNA synthesis was temporarily blocked by hydroxyurea, the rate of increase of aminopeptidase activity was unaffected. Pokeweed mitogen only slightly increased the cytosol aminopeptidase activity in cultured lymphocytes, although the lymphocytes were highly activated.
Calcium efflux and cycling across the synaptosomal plasma membrane
Authors: Snelling R , Nicholls D
Published: August 2015

Ca2+ efflux from intact synaptosomes is investigated. Net efflux can be induced by returning synaptosomes from media with elevated Ca2+ or high pH to a normal medium. Net Ca2+ efflux is accelerated when the Na+ electrochemical potential gradient is collapsed by veratridine plus ouabain. Under steady-state conditions at 30 degrees C, Ca2+ cycles across the plasma membrane at 0.38 nmol . min-1 . mg-1 of protein. Exchange is increased by 145% by veratridine plus ouabain, both influx and efflux being increased. Increased influx is probably due to activation of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, since it is abolished by verapamil. The results indicate that, at least under conditions of low Na+ electrochemical gradient, some pathway other than a Na+/Ca2+ exchange must operate in the plasma membrane to expel Ca2+.
Binding of active and inactive forms of lipoprotein lipase to heparin. Effects of pH
Authors: Bengtsson-Olivecrona G , Olivecrona T
Published: August 2015

Lipoprotein lipase has been shown to bind to, be internalized by, and perhaps be transferred through, a variety of cells. These processes may involve a heparin-like cell-surface receptor and passage through acidified cell compartments. We have therefore studied effects of low pH on the binding of the lipase to heparin and on its catalytic activity. The rate of inactivation of the lipase in solution was found to increase as the pH was lowered. Addition of heparin stabilized the enzyme. Binding of active lipoprotein lipase to heparin-Sepharose could be demonstrated at pH down to 6.5. At pH below 6, binding could not be studied directly because the lipase was too unstable in solution. Lipase bound to heparin-Sepharose could, however, be exposed to pH 4.5 at 10 degrees C with little loss of activity. Binding to heparin-Sepharose also stabilized under physiological conditions (37 degrees C, 0.15 M-NaCl, pH 5.5-7.4). Catalytically inactive lipoprotein lipase retained the ability to bind to heparin-Sepharose. Higher concentrations of salt were needed to displace both active and inactive lipase from heparin-Sepharose at lower pH, indicating that the affinity increased as pH was lowered. The inactive lipase was, however, displaced by lower concentrations of salt than was active lipase.
Quin 2: the dissociation constants of its Ca2+ and Mg2+ complexes and its use in a fluorimetric method for determining the dissociation of Ca2+-protein complexes
Authors: Bryant D T W
Published: August 2015

Fluorimetric or spectrophotometric titrations with the appropriate cations gave Kd values of 2.9 +/- 0.2 nM and 89 +/- 5 microM respectively for the Ca2+ and Mg2+ complexes of quin 2 at pH 7.5. Mixtures of quin 2 and vitamin D-dependent Ca2+-binding protein from pig duodenum were titrated fluorimetrically with Ca2+ in the absence or presence of Mg2+. These measurements were used with the Kd values of the Ca2+ and Mg2+ complexes of quin 2 to obtain Kd or apparent Kd values for Ca2+-protein complexes ranging from 5 nM to 5 microM with good accuracy.
Human tissue-type plasminogen activator. Production in continuous serum-free cell culture and rapid purification
Authors: Kruithof E K O , Schleuning W D , Bachmann F
Published: August 2015

A simplified procedure for the production and purification of human tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) is described. Bowes-melanoma cells were maintained in continuous serum-free culture. The cell nutrient consisted of Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) supplemented with insulin (5 mg/litre), transferrin (5 mg/litre), progesterone (1 nM), cortisol (10 nM), aprotinin (2 X 10(4) units/litre) and a mixture of trace elements. t-PA accumulated in the culture medium at a rate of 40 units/day per ml and was harvested every third day. Cell losses during each harvest, leading to a steady decline of enzyme yields, were compensated for by treating the cells with 5% (v/v) fetal-bovine serum in DMEM every 6-8 weeks. t-PA was rapidly purified by a combination of cation-exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The procedure yielded mainly single-chain t-PA of a specific activity of 80 000 to 100 000 units/mg.
Vitamin A and bone formation. Effect of an excess of retinol on bone collagen synthesis in vitro
Authors: Dickson I , Walls J
Published: August 2015

The influence of an excess of retinol on bone formation was studied by using cultures of embryonic-chick calvaria. Retinol decreased collagen synthesis in a dose-dependent manner, non-collagenous protein synthesis being relatively unaffected. Collagen synthesis was significantly inhibited after 24 h of culture with retinol and was progressively decreased, compared with control cultures containing no retinol, as the period of culture was increased. The effect of retinol on collagen synthesis could be reversed by incubation of calvaria for further periods in retinol-free medium. Incorporation of [3H]thymidine and [3H]uridine into DNA and RNA respectively was not altered by culturing calvaria with retinol for 22 h. These latter findings, and the selectivity for collagen synthesis, all suggested that the effect observed was not a cell-toxicity phenomenon. The effect of retinol on collagen synthesis by chick calvarial osteoblasts was probably direct and not mediated by osteoclasts, since a negligible number of the latter cells is present in chick calvaria. In cultures of neonatal murine calvaria, which contain many osteoclasts, retinol similarly inhibited synthesis of collagen, but not of non-collagenous protein; the concentrations of retinol necessary to produce the response were similar to those required to stimulate bone resorption in vitro.
Identification of functional insulin receptors on membranes from an insulin-producing cell line (RINm5F)
Authors: Gazzano H , Halban P , Prentki M , Ballotti R , Brandenburg D , Fehlmann M , Van Obberghen E
Published: August 2015

Insulin receptors on RINm5F cell membranes (an insulin-producing rat pancreatic cell line) were studied. To study the insulin receptor alpha-subunit, 125I-labelled photoreactive insulin was covalently bound to the membranes in the absence or presence of unlabelled insulin. Sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions showed specific labelling of an Mr 130 000 protein. The receptor beta-subunit was studied by using a cell-free phosphorylation assay. Analysis under reducing conditions showed a phosphoprotein of Mr 95 000 whose level of phosphorylation was selectively increased by insulin, and which was specifically immunoprecipitated by antibodies to the insulin receptor. Further, covalent hormone-receptor complexes purified with anti-insulin antibodies were able to undergo autophosphorylation, indicating the existence of operational receptor subunit arrangements. RINm5F cell insulin receptors (and, by analogy, possibly those of native B-cells) thus display structural and functional integrity comparable with those of conventional insulin target cells.
Effects of phorbol esters on α1-adrenergic-mediated and glucagon-mediated actions in isolated rat hepatocytes
Authors: García-Sáinz J A , Mendlovic F , Martínez-Olmedo M A
Published: August 2015

Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) inhibited the stimulation of ureogenesis produced by adrenaline, but produced a minimal displacement to the right of the dose-response curve for glucagon. However, PMA diminished the accumulation of cyclic AMP induced by glucagon. Dissociation between the cyclic AMP concentrations and the metabolic effects induced by glucagon is evidenced in the presence of phorbol esters.
Decreased ovalbumin-gene response to oestrogen in the prenatally diethylstilboestrol-exposed chick oviduct
Authors: Teng C S , Teng C T
Published: August 2015

Prenatal exposure of the female chick-embryo Müllerian duct to diethylstilboestrol (DES) decreases its future capacity for epithelial tubular-gland-cell differentiation and oviduct ovalbumin-gene expression. Chick Müllerian ducts after prenatal exposure to different concentrations of DES were tested after birth to determine the response of the oviduct toward the oestrogen induction. The quantity of DNA was biochemically determined, the differentiation of tubular-gland cells in the oviduct was studied by light microscopy, and the expression of the ovalbumin gene was detected by hybridization of the total RNA with radioactive ovalbumin cDNA. Comparisons among these three parameters revealed that the expression of the ovalbumin gene was affected most by DES exposure. Exposure to high doses of DES suppressed ovalbumin-gene expression by 75-78%, and inhibited tubular-gland-cell differentiation and thus decreased the DNA content by 29 and 32% respectively. Exposure to low doses of DES caused suppression of ovalbumin-gene expression by 47-53%, but it did not affect the other two parameters. Prenatal DES exposure has strong inhibitory effects on the Müllerian duct at the age (5-8-day-old embryos) when the organ is undifferentiated. Less inhibition is observed when the organ becomes differentiated (15-day-old embryos and older).
The stoichiometry of the exchange catalysed by the mitochondrial calcium/sodium antiporter
Authors: Brand M D
Published: August 2015

Rat heart mitochondria respiring on succinate in the presence of Ruthenium Red (to inhibit uptake on the Ca2+ uniporter) released Ca2+ on the calcium/sodium antiporter until a steady state was reached. Addition of the ionophore A23187 (which catalyses Ca2+/2H+ exchange) did not perturb this steady state. Thermodynamic analysis showed that if a Ca2+/nNa+ exchange with any value of n other than 2 was at equilibrium, addition of A23187 would cause an obvious change in extramitochondrial free [Ca2+]. Therefore the endogenous calcium/sodium antiporter of mitochondria catalyses electroneutral Ca2+/2Na+ exchange.
Action of intact AP (apurinic/apyrimidinic) sites and AP sites associated with breaks on the transcription of T7 coliphage DNA by Escherichia coli RNA polymerase
Authors: Flamée P A , Verly W G
Published: August 2015

The effect of apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites in DNA on RNA and protein synthesis was studied in vitro using T7 coliphage DNA. Initiation of RNA synthesis by Escherichia coli RNA polymerase was synchronized and heparin was used to prevent reinitiation. When the T7 DNA contained AP sites, the rate of RNA synthesis was decreased but it remained higher than the values calculated on the assumption that an AP site in the transcribed strand is a complete block to the enzyme progression. Moreover, after the time taken by an unimpeded enzyme to go from promoter to terminator, the rate of RNA synthesis remained elevated and the number of complete RNA molecules (7000 nucleotides) continued to increase for some time. These results suggest that, if the E. coli RNA polymerase is stopped by an AP site, most often, after a pause, the enzyme resumes elongation of the RNA chain which is continuous over the AP site. Sometimes however, RNA synthesis is definitively interrupted during the pause; the probability of interruption has been estimated to be 0.3 in our experimental conditions. When a nick is placed 5′ to the AP site by an AP endonuclease, the results are similar: most often, the RNA chain is synthesized without interruption past the nick in the template strand. The pause of the E. coli RNA polymerase at this combined lesion appears to be shorter than when the AP site is intact. To investigate whether a nucleotide is placed in the RNA chain in front of the AP site in the template strand by E. coli RNA polymerase, RNA synthesis was taken to completion before using this RNA for protein synthesis and measuring the activity of gene-1 product, T7 RNA polymerase. The result suggests that, after pausing, the E. coli RNA polymerase places a nucleotide in the RNA chain when passing over an AP site. The mechanism of the delayed lethality of T7 coliphages treated with monofunctional alkylating agents, which is due to the appearance of AP sites, is discussed.
Transcytosis and paracellular movements of horseradish peroxidase across liver parenchymal tissue from blood to bile. Effects of alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate and colchicine
Authors: Lowe P J , Kan K S , Barnwell S G , Sharma R K , Coleman R
Published: August 2015

The pathways for the entry of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) into bile have been investigated using the isolated perfused rat liver operating under one-pass conditions. Following a 1 min one-pass infusion of HRP, two peaks of HRP activity were noted in the bile. The first, at 5-7 min post-infusion, correlated with the biliary secretion of the [3H]methoxyinulin which was infused simultaneously with the HRP. The second peak of HRP activity occurred at 20-25 min, and correlated with the biliary secretion of 125I-IgA, which was also infused simultaneously with the HRP. If the isolated livers were perfused with a medium containing 2.5 microM-colchicine, the biliary secretion of IgA and the second secretion peak of HRP were inhibited by 60%. If rats were pretreated for 12h with alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (25mg/100g body wt.) prior to liver isolation, the biliary secretion of [3H]methoxyinulin and the first secretion peak of HRP were increased. Taken together, these results suggest that HRP enters the bile via two routes. The faster route, which was increased by alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate and correlated with [3H]methoxyinulin entry into bile, was probably paracellular, involving diffusion across tight junctions. The slower route, which was inhibited by colchicine and correlated with the secretion of IgA, was probably due to transcytosis, possibly within IgA and other transport vesicles.
α-fucosidase-ganglioside interactions. Action of α-L-fucosidase from the hepatopancreas of Octopus vulgaris on a fucose-containing ganglioside (Fuc-GM1)
Authors: Masserini M , Giuliani A , Venerando B , Fiorilli A , D'Aniello A , Tettamanti G
Published: August 2015

alpha-L-Fucosidase, prepared in highly purified form (Mr 70 000-74 000) from Octopus hepatopancreas, was able to hydrolyse a fucose-containing ganglioside, namely Fuc-GM1 (II3NeuAc, IV2Fuc-GgOse4-Cer). The enzyme showed an irregular kinetic behaviour (v/[S] and v/[E] relationships following sigmoidal curves) when working on micellar Fuc-GM1 (Mr of the micelle 500 000), but obeyed regular hyperbolic kinetics when acting on low-Mr substances. It was observed that, on incubation with micellar Fuc-GM1 under the conditions used for the enzyme assay, Octopus alpha-L-fucosidase produced a ganglioside-enzyme complex that was catalytically inactive. This complex had an Mr exceeding 500 000 and a ganglioside/protein ratio of 4:1 (w/w), which is consistent with a stoichiometric combination of one ganglioside micelle with two enzyme molecules. Inactivation of alpha-L-fucosidase by formation of the corresponding complexes was also obtained with micellar gangliosides GM1 (II3NeuAc-GgOse4-Cer), GD1a (II3NeuAc, IV3NeuAc-GgOse4-Cer) and GT1b [II3(NeuAc)2,IV3-NeuAc-GgOse4-Cer], which are not substrates for the enzyme, indicating that the ganglioside micelles per se act as enzyme inhibitors. However, alpha-L-fucosidase easily forms a Fuc-GM1-alpha-L-fucosidase complex, displaying regular Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Therefore the anomalous behaviour exhibited by alpha-L-fucosidase on micellar Fuc-GM1 is likely due to formation of the complex, which separates the fucosyl linkage from the active site of the complexed enzyme, but makes it available to the enzyme in the free form.
Differences in fragmentation between bound and unbound bovine secretory component suggest a model for its interaction with polymeric immunoglobulin
Authors: Beale D
Published: August 2015

Unbound bovine secretory component was cleaved into two-domain and one-domain fragments by trypsin within 1 h. Bovine secretory component covalently bound to bovine IgA dimer, as in secretory IgA, was much more resistant to fragmentation, which did not proceed beyond the three-domain stage even after 5 h. Bovine secretory component non-covalently bound to bovine IgM or to human IgM or IgA polymer was also relatively resistant to fragmentation, which again was largely arrested at the three-domain stage. A model for the binding of secretory component to polymeric immunoglobulin is proposed.
Human platelets stimulated by thrombin produce platelet-activating factor (1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) when the degrading enzyme acetyl hydrolase is blocked
Authors: Touqui L , Hatmi M , Vargaftig B B
Published: August 2015

It has been shown [Touqui, Jacquemin & Vargaftig (1983) Thromb. Haemostasis 50, 163; Touqui, Jacquemin & Vargaftig (1983) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 110, 890-893; Alam, Smith & Melvin (1983) Lipids 18, 534-538; Pieroni & Hanahan (1983) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 224, 485-493] that rabbit platelets inactivate exogenous PAF (platelet-activating factor, PAF-acether) by a deacetylation-reacylation mechanism. The deacetylation step is catalysed by an acetyl hydrolase sensitive to the serine-hydrolase inhibitor PMSF (phenylmethanesulphonyl fluoride) [Touqui, Jacquemin, Dumarey & Vargaftig (1985) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 833, 111-118]. We report here that human platelets can produce PAF on thrombin stimulation. This production is marginal and transient, reaching a maximum at 10 min and decreasing thereafter. In contrast, 10-12 times more PAF is produced when platelets are treated with PMSF and stimulated with thrombin. Under these conditions, the maximum formation is observed at 30 min and no decline occurs for up to 60 min after stimulation. In addition, these platelets (treated with PMSF and stimulated with thrombin) incorporate exogenous labelled acetate in the 2-position of PAF, probably by an acetyltransferase-dependent mechanism. Production of PAF by human platelets during physiological stimulation can be demonstrated when PAF degradation is suppressed by the acetyl-hydrolase inhibitor PMSF.
Stabilization of glucose-6-phosphatase activity by a 21 000-dalton hepatic microsomal protein
Authors: Burchell A , Burchell B , Monaco M , Walls H E , Arion W J
Published: August 2015

Hepatic microsomal glucose-6-phosphatase activity was rendered extremely unstable by a variety of techniques: (a) incubation at pH 5.0; (b) extraction of the microsomal fraction in the presence of 1% Lubrol; (c) various purification procedures. These techniques all result in the removal of a 21 kDa polypeptide from the fraction containing glucose-6-phosphatase activity. The 21 kDa protein was purified to apparent homogeneity by solubilization in the detergent Lubrol 12A-9 and chromatography on Fractogel TSK DEAE-650(S) and centrifugation at 105 000 g. The 21 kDa protein stabilizes glucose-6-phosphatase activity, whereas other purified hepatic microsomal proteins do not. The 21 kDa protein appears to be a potential regulator of glucose-6-phosphatase activity.
Evidence for adrenergic control of transcellular calcium distribution in liver
Authors: Hill C E , Dawson A P , Pryor J S
Published: August 2015

Free Ca2+ concentration and 45Ca flux were measured in the perfusate and bile of the perfused rat liver. With a perfusate Ca2+ concentration of 1 mM, the bile concentration was 0.35 mM. The ratio of 45Ca in bile to that in blood increased from 0.3 to 0.6 over 90 min of perfusion. Both verapamil and adrenaline (via α-adrenergic receptors) increased the 45Ca bile/perfusate ratio to 0.8. Adrenaline infusion increased the bile Ca2+ concentration to 0.8 mM. This decreased to 0.35 mM after the infusion was stopped.
Proteins of the kidney microvillar membrane. The 130 kDa protein in pig kidney, recognized by monoclonal antibody GK5C1, is an ectoenzyme with aminopeptidase activity
Authors: Gee N S , Kenny A J
Published: August 2015

The hybridoma GK5C1, secreting a monoclonal IgG1 antibody, was generated after immunizing a mouse with pig kidney microvillar membranes. An immunoradiometric assay showed that only kidney and intestine contained detectable amounts of the antigen recognized by the antibody, the highest concentration being observed in the ileum. Immunocytochemistry confirmed this observation and revealed that the antigen was associated with renal and intestinal brush borders. By ‘Western’ blotting, the antigen in kidney microvilli was shown to be a 130 kDa polypeptide. Papain treatment of the membrane before blotting converted the antigen to a 125 kDa polypeptide, no longer associated with membrane. Immunoaffinity chromatography of detergent-solubilized kidney membranes yielded a pure 130 kDa protein. When one purification was monitored by the immunoradiometric assay, the yield was 3.5% and the purification factor was 1000-fold. The antigen constituted about 0.8% of the microvillar membrane protein. The protein could be reconstituted into liposomes, where electron microscopy revealed an asymmetric orientation, similar to that of ectoenzymes in this membrane. The stalk length was about 3 nm. In electron micrographs the purified protein appeared to be dimeric. A search for enzymic activity was rewarded when L-leucyl-L-tryptophan was observed to be hydrolysed. Failure to hydrolyse N-blocked peptides and the ability to release the N-terminal residue from extended peptides, including Leu-Trp-Leu and Leu-Trp-Met-Arg, showed that the activity was that of an aminopeptidase. The enzyme was maximally active at pH 7.5 and irreversibly inactivated outside the range pH 6-10. This activity could not be attributed to trace contamination with aminopeptidase N. The best substrates so far identified for the 130 kDa protein were those with tryptophan in the P1′, position. This protein is a new microvillar enzyme and it is proposed that it be called aminopeptidase W.
Inhibition of squalene epoxidase by allylamine antimycotic compounds. A comparative study of the fungal and mammalian enzymes
Authors: Ryder N S , Dupont M C
Published: August 2015

The inhibition of squalene epoxidase by the allylamine antimycotic agents naftifine and compound SF 86-327 was investigated, with particulate enzyme preparations from the pathogenic yeasts Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis and from rat liver. Both naftifine and compound SF 86-327 were potent inhibitors of the Candida epoxidases and showed apparently non-competitive kinetics with respect to the substrate squalene. The Ki values for naftifine and compound SF 86-327 in the C. albicans system were 1.1 microM and 0.03 microM respectively. The C. parapsilosis enzyme was slightly more sensitive to inhibition. Varying the concentrations of cofactors or the soluble cytoplasmic fraction (S200) had no effect on the inhibition. The epoxidase from rat liver was much less sensitive (Ki for compound SF 86-327 was 77 microM). The inhibition was also qualitatively different from that in Candida, being competitive with respect to squalene and also with respect to the S200 fraction. S200 fraction derived from C. albicans also antagonized the inhibition of the epoxidase from liver, but the liver S200 fraction did not affect inhibition of the Candida enzyme by compound SF 86-327. There was no evidence for an irreversible or mechanism-based inhibition of either the fungal or the mammalian epoxidase. The selective inhibition of squalene epoxidase was sufficient to account for the known antimycotic action of the compounds.
Gluconeogenesis from acetone in starved rats
Authors: Hetenyi G , Ferrarotto C
Published: August 2015

To non-anaesthetized rats starved for 3 days, [U-14C]acetone, NaH14CO3, L-[U-14C]lactate, [2-14C]acetate or D-[U-14C]- plus D-[3-3H]-glucose was injected intravenously. From the change in the plasma concentration of labelled acetone versus time after the injection, the metabolic clearance rate of acetone was calculated as 2.25 ml/min per kg body wt., and its rate of turnover as 0.74 mumol/min per kg. The extent and time course of the labelling of plasma glucose, lactate, urea and acetoacetate were followed and compared with those observed after the injection of labelled lactate, acetate and NaHCO3. The labelling of plasma lactate was rapid and extensive. Some 1.37% of the 14C atoms of circulating glucose originated from plasma acetone, compared with 44% originating from lactate. By deconvolution of the Unit Impulse Response Function of glucose, it was shown that the flux of C atoms from acetone to glucose reached a peak at about 100 min after injection of labelled acetone. In comparable experiments the transfer from lactate reached a peak at 14 min after the injection of labelled lactate. It was concluded that acetone is converted into lactate to a degree sufficient to account for the labelling of plasma glucose and is thus a true, albeit minor, substrate of glucose synthesis in starved rats.
Irreversible inhibition of putrescine-stimulated S-adenosyl-l-methionine decarboxylase by berenil and pentamidine
Authors: Karvonen E , Kauppinen L , Partanen T , Pösö H
Published: August 2015

The putrescine-stimulated S-adenosyl-L-methionine decarboxylases from rat liver and yeast were strongly inhibited by Berenil and to a lesser extent by Pentamidine. Ten times greater drug concentrations were needed to achieve a similar level of inhibition of a Mg2+-stimulated bacterial enzyme. The inhibition was irreversible in that extensive dialyses or precipitation with (NH4)2SO4 did not restore enzyme activity. Putrescine did not protect the enzyme against Berenil, but adenosylmethionine either alone or with putrescine partially protected the irreversible action of Berenil. The compound 4,4′-diamidinodiphenylamine, which differs from Berenil only in lacking the azo group between benzene rings, was a weaker inhibitor than Berenil, and its inhibition was reversible. Berenil also inhibited the activity of adenosylmethionine decarboxylase in vivo, by depressing the activity of the enzyme in normal rat liver, for at least 24 h after a single injection (50 mg/kg body wt.) of the drug.
A new site-specific endonuclease, ScaI, from Streptomyces caespitosus
Authors: Takahashi H , Kojima H , Saito H
Published: August 2015

A new site-specific endonuclease has been isolated from Streptomyces caespitosus and named ScaI. Based on analysis of sequences around the restriction sites in pBR322 and pBR325, the recognition sequence of ScaI endonuclease was deduced to be a new hexanucleotide 5′-AGTACT-3′. The cleavage site was determined by comparing the ScaI-cleaved product of a primer-extended M13mp18-SCA DNA, which contains an AGTACT sequence, with dideoxy chain terminator ladders of the same DNA. ScaI was found to cleave the recognition sequence between the internal T and A, leaving flush ends to the cleaved fragments.
Developmental regulation of galactoglycerolipid and galactosphingolipid sulphation during mammalian spermatogenesis. Evidence for a substrate-selective inhibitor of testicular sulphotransferase activity in the rat
Authors: Lingwood C A
Published: August 2015

The synthesis of sulphatoxygalactosylacylalkylglycerol (SGG) is a differentiation marker of mammalian spermatogenesis. Maximal sulphation is observed in rat testis at about 20 days after birth and rapidly declines to low levels as the testis matures. The present data show that this decline in SGG synthesis is due to the appearance of an inhibitor of galactolipid sulphation. The inhibitor is a soluble testicular factor which is first detected at about 25 days after birth. Testicular homogenate can sulphate exogenous galactosylacylalkylglycerol (GG), galactosylceramide (GC) and lactosylceramide (LC) in vitro. The testicular inhibitor is most effective in preventing GG sulphation and inhibits GC and LC sulphation to a lesser extent; this correlates with the finding that glycolipid sulphation shifts from SGG production in 20-day-old testis to GC and LC sulphation at later stages of testicular development. The effect of the inhibitor on sulphotransferase activity from brain and kidney was also determined. The inhibitor decreased the sulphation of GG in vitro by both testis and kidney, inhibited testicular sulphation of GC less effectively and had no effect on GC sulphation by kidney and brain homogenates. A 9500-fold purification of the inhibitory activity has been obtained in a fraction isolated by h.p.l.c.
Membrane-bound lactate dehydrogenases and mandelate dehydrogenases of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus. Purification and properties
Authors: Allison N , O'Donnell M J , Fewson C A
Published: August 2015

Procedures were developed for the optimal solubilization of D-lactate dehydrogenase, D-mandelate dehydrogenase, L-lactate dehydrogenase and L-mandelate dehydrogenase from wall + membrane fractions of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus. D-Lactate dehydrogenase and D-mandelate dehydrogenase were co-eluted on gel filtration, as were L-lactate dehydrogenase and L-mandelate dehydrogenase. All four enzymes could be separated by ion-exchange chromatography. D-Lactate dehydrogenase and D-mandelate dehydrogenase were purified by cholate extraction, (NH4)2SO4 fractionation, gel filtration, ion-exchange chromatography and chromatofocusing. The properties of D-lactate dehydrogenase and D-mandelate dehydrogenase were similar in several respects: they had relative molecular masses of 62 800 and 59 700 respectively, pI values of 5.8 and 5.5, considerable sensitivity to p-chloromercuribenzoate, little or no inhibition by chelating agents, and similar responses to pH. Both enzymes appeared to contain non-covalently bound FAD as cofactor.
β-Adrenergic stimulation alters oligosaccharide pyrophosphoryl dolichol metabolism in rat parotid acinar cells
Authors: Grant S R , Kousvelari E E , Banerjee D K , Baum B J
Published: August 2015

beta-Adrenergic stimulation of rat parotid acinar cells markedly increases [3H]mannose incorporation into N-linked glycoproteins [Kousvelari, Grant, Banerjee, Newby & Baum (1984) Biochem. J. 222, 17-24]. More than 90% of this protein-bound [3H]mannose was preferentially incorporated into four secretory glycoproteins. The ratio of [3H]mannose/[14C]leucine present in these individual proteins was 1.7-4-fold greater with isoproterenol-treated cells than with untreated controls. In isoproterenol-stimulated cells, [3H]mannose incorporation into mannosylphosphoryl dolichol and oligosaccharide-PP-dolichol was increased 2-3-fold over that observed in unstimulated cells. Similarly, formation of mannosylated oligosaccharide-PP-dolichol was increased approx. 4-fold in microsomes prepared from isoproterenol-treated cells. Also, turnover of oligosaccharide-PP-dolichol was significantly increased (5-fold) by β-adrenergic stimulation; the half-life for oligosaccharide-PP-dolichol decreased from 6 min in control cells to 1.2 min in isoproterenol-stimulated cells. By 15 min after isoproterenol addition to acinar cells, the specific radioactivity of parotid oligosaccharide moieties increased about 3-fold over the value observed in the absence of the agonist. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that elevation of N-linked protein glycosylation in rat parotid acinar cells after β-adrenoreceptor stimulation resulted from significant enhancement in the synthesis of mannosylphosphoryl dolichol and oligosaccharide-PP-dolichol and the turnover of oligosaccharide-PP-dolichol.
The metabolism of neuropeptides. Phase separation of synaptic membrane preparations with Triton X-114 reveals the presence of aminopeptidase N
Authors: Matsas R , Stephenson S L , Hryszko J , Kenny A J , Turner A J
Published: August 2015

The property of solutions of Triton X-114 to separate into detergent-rich and detergent-poor phases at 30 degrees C has been exploited to investigate the identities of the aminopeptidases in synaptic membrane preparations from pig striatum. When titrated with an antiserum to aminopeptidase N (EC 3.4.11.2), synaptic membranes solubilized with Triton X-100 revealed that this enzyme apparently comprises no more than 5% of the activity releasing tyrosine from [Leu]enkephalin. When assayed in the presence of puromycin, this proportion increased to 20%. Three integral membrane proteins were fractionated by phase separation in Triton X-114. Aminopeptidase activity, endopeptidase-24.11 and peptidyl dipeptidase A partitioned predominantly into the detergent-rich phase when kidney microvillar membranes were so treated. However, only 5.5% of synaptic membrane aminopeptidase activity partitioned into this phase, although the other peptidases behaved predictably. About half of the aminopeptidase activity in the detergent-rich phase could now be titrated with the antiserum, showing that aminopeptidase N is an integral membrane protein of this preparation. Three aminopeptidase inhibitors were investigated for their ability to discriminate between the different activities revealed by these experiments. Although amastatin was the most potent (IC50 = 5 × 10(−7) M) it failed to discriminate between pure kidney aminopeptidase N, the total activity of solubilized synaptic membranes and that in the Triton X-114-rich phase. Bestatin was slightly more potent for total activity (IC50 = 6.3 × 10(−6) M) than for the other two forms (IC50 = 1.6 × 10(−5) M). Puromycin was a weak inhibitor, but was more selective. The activity of solubilized membranes was more sensitive (IC50 = 1.6 × 10(−5) M) than that of the pure enzyme or the Triton X-114-rich phase (IC50 = 4 × 10(−4) M). We suggest that the puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase activity that predominates in crude synaptic membrane preparations may be a cytosolic contaminant or peripheral membrane protein rather than an integral membrane component. Aminopeptidase N may contribute to the extracellular metabolism of enkephalin and other susceptible neuropeptides in the brain.
The effect of multivalent ions on the inactivation of bacteriophage φ X174 by lipopolysaccharide from Escherichia coli C
Authors: Rowatt E , Williams R J P
Published: August 2015

The inactivation of bacteriophage phi X174 by lipopolysaccharide from Escherichia coli C is promoted by multivalent metal ions and by polyamines. The effect of the two types of cation is similar, and the concentration causing 50% inactivation varies inversely with the charge on the cation, although quadrivalent amines are less active than expected. The increase in activity as the charge rises suggests that electrostatic binding is overwhelmingly important.
The selectivity of action of the aspartic-proteinase inhibitor IA3 from yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae)
Authors: Dreyer T , Valler M J , Kay J , Charlton P , Dunn B M
Published: August 2015

The ability of the aspartic-proteinase inhibitor IA3 from yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) to affect the activities of a range of mammalian and microbial aspartic proteinases was examined. The inhibitor appeared to be completely selective in that only the aspartic proteinase A from yeast was inhibited to any significant extent. IA3 thus represents the first example of a totally specific, naturally occurring, aspartic-proteinase inhibitor.
ADP-ribosyltransferase in isolated nuclei during the cell cycle of Physarum polycephalum
Authors: Gröbner P , Loidl P
Published: August 2015

ADP-ribosyltransferase was measured in isolated nuclei of Physarum polycephalum. Activity was determined with and without exogenous DNA and histones. During the synchronous cell cycle the activity measured with exogenous substrates exhibited a typical peak enzyme pattern with a maximum of activity in S-phase, whereas activity measured without exogenous substrates displayed a step enzyme pattern. Both activities doubled in each cell cycle.
Time-dependence of biological activity induced by covalent insulin-receptor complexes in rat adipocytes
Authors: Schüttler A , Diaconescu C , Saunders D J , Brandenburg D
Published: August 2015

Lipogenesis in isolated adipocyte preparations is stimulated when photosensitive insulin derivatives are attached covalently to specific receptors. This response was compared quantitatively with that to reversibly associated insulin, and it was shown that both covalent and reversible insulin-receptor complexes behave very similarly. The extent of stimulation of lipogenesis was studied as a function of time. Cells were incubated in buffer for various times before addition to vials containing 0 (basal) or 10 ng of monocomponent insulin/ml (maximal) and [U-3H]glucose. After 60 min, the toluene-soluble [3H]lipids were measured. The maximal stimulation induced by reversibly bound insulin was virtually constant over a period of 4 h. In contrast, adipocytes to which N alpha B2-(2-nitro-4-azidophenylacetyl)-des-PheB1-insulin had been covalently attached at the start of the experiment showed a loss of stimulation with time when incubated at 37 degrees C. This loss was decreased in the presence of lysosomotropic agents such as chloroquine at concentrations (approx. 200 microM) that had very little or no effect on the basal and maximal lipogenesis rates. A simple method was used to transform the measured rate of loss of stimulation into a rate of loss of effective units. A half-time of 80 min was calculated for the effective covalent insulin-receptor units in adipocytes at 37 degrees C at pH 7.4. This is very close to values reported by others for the internalization of covalent complexes in these cells, suggesting that this may be the causative event for the deactivation of the insulin-receptor unit. The inhibitory effect of chloroquine on the deactivation may indicate that the insulin-receptor complex can function even after internalization.
Purification and characterization of the N-terminal propeptide of human type III procollagen
Authors: Niemelä O , Risteli L , Parkkinen J , Risteli J
Published: August 2015

The N-terminal propeptide of type III procollagen was purified from human ascitic fluid by using (NH4)2SO4 precipitation, DEAE-Sephacel chromatography at pH 8.6, Sephacryl S-300 chromatography and another DEAE-Sephacel chromatography at pH 4.5. The Mr of the human peptide was about 42 000, which corresponds in size to the propeptide released by the specific N-proteinase during the extracellular processing of collagen. Bacterial-collagenase digestion of the human peptide produced three fragments, which could be separated on a Bio-Gel P-10 column. The human propeptide and its collagenase-derived fragments, an N-terminal non-collagenous domain Col 1, a C-terminal non-helical domain Col 2 and a collagenous domain Col 3, resembled those derived from the N-terminal segment of bovine type III procollagen in their amino acid composition. The human peptide was found to contain sulphate, which may explain its extremely low isoelectric point (3.1). Antibodies against the human N-terminal propeptide reacted similarly with both the purified human peptide and a corresponding segment of bovine type III procollagen. The human propeptide could be used in developing radioimmunoassays for monitoring fibrotic processes.