bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disruption of the processing α-mannosidase gene does not prevent outer chain synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Puccia R , Grondin B , Herscovics A
Published: August 2015

Processing of N-linked oligosaccharides in Saccharomyces cerevisiae begins with the removal of glucose and mannose residues from Glc3Man9GlcNAc2 to form a single isomer of Man8GlcNAc2. The importance of mannose removal for subsequent outer chain synthesis was examined in strains of S. cerevisiae disrupted in the MNS1 gene encoding a specific alpha 1,2-mannosidase responsible for Man8GlcNAc2 synthesis [Camirand, Heysen, Grondin and Herscovics (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 15120-15127]. Both MNS1 transcripts of 1.85 kb and 1.7 kb were not observed in Northern blots of mns1 cells (i.e. cells containing the disrupted gene). Analysis on Bio-Gel P-6 of endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase-H-sensitive oligosaccharides following a 10 min pulse with [2-3H]mannose revealed similar amounts of labelled outer chains excluded from the gel in both control and mns1 cells. H.p.l.c. of the included oligosaccharides showed that a Man9GlcNAc, rather than a Man8GlcNAc, intermediate was formed in mns1 cells. Analysis of [3H]mannose-labelled core oligosaccharides from immunoprecipitated CPY and invertase by h.p.l.c. showed a similar size distribution in mns1 and control cells. Invertase immunoprecipitated from [35S]methionine-labelled mns1 cells was highly glycosylated, but migrated slightly faster than that from control cells on denaturing PAGE, indicating a small difference in glycosylation. A similar difference in mobility was observed for invertase activity stain following non-denaturing gel electrophoresis. It is concluded that the alpha-mannosidase encoded by MNS1 is the only enzyme responsible for mannose removal in vivo, and that this processing step is not essential for outer chain synthesis.
Angiotensin I-converting enzyme in human circulating mononuclear cells: genetic polymorphism of expression in T-lymphocytes
Authors: Costerousse O , Allegrini J , Lopez M , Alhenc-Gelas F
Published: August 2015

The expression of angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE; EC 3.4.15.1) in human circulating mononuclear cells was studied. T-lymphocytes contained the highest level of enzyme, approx. 28 times more per cell than monocytes. No activity was detected in B-lymphocytes. ACE was present mainly in the microsomal fraction, where it was found to be the major membrane-bound bradykinin-inactivating enzyme. An mRNA for ACE was detected and characterized after reverse transcription and amplification by PCR in T-lymphocytes and several T-cell leukaemia cell lines. We have previously observed that the interindividual variability in the levels of ACE in plasma is, in part, genetically determined and influenced by an insertion/deletion polymorphism of the ACE gene. To investigate the mechanisms involved in the regulation of ACE biosynthesis, the ACE levels of T-lymphocytes from 35 healthy subjects having different ACE genotypes were studied. These levels varied widely between individuals but were highly reproducible and influenced by the polymorphism of the ACE gene. T-lymphocyte levels of ACE were significantly higher in subjects who were homozygote for the deletion than in the other subjects. These results show that ACE is expressed in T-lymphocytes and indicate that the level of ACE expression in cells synthesizing the enzyme is genetically determined.
Kinetics of inhibition of purified and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase by psychosine (β-galactosylsphingosine)
Authors: Cooper C E , Markus M , Seetulsingh S P , Wrigglesworth J M
Published: August 2015

1. Psychosine (beta-galactosylsphingosine) is the toxic agent in Krabbe's disease (globoid cells leukodystrophy). It inhibits purified bovine heart mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase; there is a rapid phase of inhibition (complete within 10-15 s) and a slower phase (complete within 10-15 min). Both phases are also seen in rat liver mitochondria. IC50 is about 200 microM psychosine in the purified enzyme and less than 20 microM in mitochondria. Psychosine inhibition is due to binding to cytochrome oxidase, not cytochrome c. 2. Bovine heart submitochondrial particles show inhibition similar to rat liver mitochondria. However, although proteoliposomes containing bovine heart cytochrome oxidase show an identical fast phase, they have no noticeable slow phase of inhibition. Addition of phospholipid liposomes to submitochondrial particles relieved the majority of psychosine inhibition, consistent with the removal of those molecules binding in the slow phase. Psychosine can inhibit cytochrome oxidase molecules facing in either direction in proteoliposomes and submitochondrial particles, suggesting that it can rapidly interact with both sides of a membrane when added externally. 3. At high ionic strength, the presence of psychosine decreases the Vmax. of cytochrome oxidase with little effect on the Km for cytochrome c. This non-competitive inhibition suggests that the psychosine-enzyme complex is kinetically inactive and not labile over the time course of the assay. Psychosine does not inhibit the reduction of haem a or haem a3 by artificial electron donors, but does inhibit the reduction of haem a by cytochrome c.
Specific activity of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase is increased by insulin stimulation
Authors: Okamoto M , Hayashi T , Kono S , Inoue G , Kubota M , Okamoto M , Kuzuya H , Imura H
Published: August 2015

We investigated whether phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) is phosphorylated and whether its specific activity is increased by insulin stimulation in vivo using Fao cells and antibodies raised against the 85 kDa subunit of PI3K, insulin-receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), and phosphotyrosine (pTyr). PI3K activity was detected in the immunoprecipitate produced with anti-PI3K at a basal state. The activity was increased 2-3-fold by insulin stimulation, although the protein concentration of kinase in the anti-PI3K immunoprecipitates was the same before and after insulin stimulation. Both anti-pTyr and anti-IRS-1 antibodies immunoprecipitated the kinase activity only after insulin stimulation. After the first immunoprecipitation with anti-pTyr, the supernatant was immunoprecipitated once more with anti-PI3K. PI3K activity in the second immunoprecipitate revealed little difference between the basal and insulin-stimulated states, suggesting that most of the insulin-activated portion of PI3K was precipitated by anti-pTyr. Both IRS-1 and the insulin-receptor beta-subunit (95 kDa) were phosphorylated on tyrosine residues by insulin stimulation and immunoprecipitated with anti-pTyr. However, phosphorylation of neither subunit of PI3K (85 kDa or 110 kDa) was detectable in the immunoprecipitate produced with anti-pTyr. The 185 kDa pTyr-containing protein was immunoprecipitated with anti-PI3K after insulin stimulation, although there was little phosphorylation of the 85 kDa protein. pTyr in the 110 kDa protein immunoprecipitated with anti-PI3K was below detectable levels. These results indicate that the specific activity of PI3K is increased by insulin stimulation without detectable tyrosine phosphorylation of PI3K itself in Fao cells. The majority of the insulin-activated portion of PI3K is associated with pTyr-containing proteins including IRS-1, which suggests that this is important for activation of PI3K by insulin.
Further observations on the Mg-protoporphyrin IX monomethyl ester (oxidative) cyclase system
Authors: Whyte B J , Castelfranco P A
Published: August 2015

The Mg-protoporphyrin IX monomethyl ester (oxidative) cyclase was strongly inhibited by CN- and N3- in a reconstituted system, but was inhibited slightly or not at all by the same reagents in intact developing chloroplasts. Known inhibitors of cytochrome P-450 processes showed no consistent effect. Benzoquinone and quinol, which can give rise to the same semiquinone by one-electron redox events, were strong inhibitors of the cyclase. It was previously shown that O2 and a source of electrons are required in the cyclization process. The substrates for the dehydrogenases of the pentose phosphate pathway (glucose 6-phosphate and 6-phosphogluconate) were effective reductants in the reconstituted system with supernatant that had been dialysed or passed through Sephadex G-50, in the absence of added NADP+. However, inhibitor studies suggested that the electrons from these sugar phosphates reached the cyclase system via NADPH. Therefore we infer the presence of protein-bound NADP+ that can be reduced by glucose 6-phosphate and 6-phosphogluconate and donate reducing equivalents to the cyclase system. This bound NADPH pool may be particularly effective in the cyclization process, owing to channeling. These findings are discussed in relation to the results of a companion paper [Whyte and Castelfranco (1993) Biochem. J. 290, 361-367] on the breakdown of chloroplast pigments in the same reconstituted system.
Purification and partial sequencing of myristoyl-CoA:protein N-myristoyltransferase from bovine brain
Authors: McIlhinney R A J , McGlone K , Willis A C
Published: August 2015

The enzyme myristoyl-CoA:protein N-myristoyltransferase (NMT; EC 2.3.1.97) catalyses the transfer of myristic acid to the N-terminal glycine residue of cell and viral proteins. In this report the purification and partial sequencing of this enzyme from bovine brain is described. Using a combination of ammonium sulphate precipitation, chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose and affinity chromatography on CoA-agarose the enzyme was purified some 40-fold. Size-exclusion chromatography of this material in the presence of myristoyl-CoA yielded two peaks of enzyme activity with apparent molecular masses of 66 kDa and 43 kDa. Chromatography of the CoA-affinity-purified material on MONO-S followed by size-exclusion chromatography in the presence of myristoyl-CoA resulted in the isolation of the large form of the enzyme purified 3000-fold. Analysis by SDS/PAGE of this material showed a major 60 kDa silver-stained band. Similar analysis of the 43 kDa enzyme fraction from the same separation showed that this fraction contained several proteins including a major component with an apparent molecular mass of 49 kDa. Attempts at N-terminal sequencing of the 66 kDa form of the enzyme were unsuccessful and therefore this material was digested with trypsin and the resulting peptides separated by reverse-phase h.p.l.c. N-terminal protein sequencing of these peptides yielded sequences which show sequence similarity to those of yeast N-myristoyl-transferase.
The chemotactic factor N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine activates microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP) kinase and a MAP kinase kinase in polymorphonuclear leucocytes
Authors: Thompson H L , Shiroo M , Saklatvala J
Published: August 2015

Incubation of human polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) with either the chemotactic factor N-formylmethionyl-leucylphenylalanine (FMLP) or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) activates a kinase with phosphorylating activity towards a known microtubule-associated protein-2 (MAP) kinase substrate, the epidermal growth factor receptor peptide (T669). Activation of this enzyme by FMLP was maximal at 1 min, decreasing by 10 min. Activation by PMA was slightly slower than that by FMLP, but more prolonged (maximal at 5 min, with no significant decrease by 20 min). The enzyme induced by either stimulant bound strongly to phenyl-Sepharose, had a molecular mass of 40 kDa on gel filtration and phosphorylated three MAP kinase substrates, i.e. MAP, myelin basic protein and the T669 peptide. By use of antibodies to MAP kinases and phosphotyrosine, the enzyme was identified as the 42 kDa MAP kinase (also known as extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 2, ERK2). Stimulation of PMN with FMLP or PMA was also found to induce a kinase kinase which phosphorylated human recombinant MAP kinase on threonine and tyrosine, with concomitant activation. These results suggest that MAP kinase and the kinase kinase are involved in the activation of PMN by chemotactic factors such as FMLP.
Characterization of the bacterial metalloendopeptidase pitrilysin by use of a continuous fluorescence assay
Authors: Anastasi A , Knight C G , Barrett A J
Published: August 2015

Pitrilysin (EC 3.4.99.44) has been purified from an over-expressing strain of Escherichia coli. A 13-residue quenched-fluorescent-peptide substrate for the enzyme has been synthesized, and found also to be cleaved by the homologous enzyme, insulinase (EC 3.4.99.45). The action of pitrilysin on peptides and proteins was studied: insulin B chain was the most rapidly degraded, small peptides down to 10 residues in length were cleaved more slowly, intact insulin was cleaved very slowly but with a very low Km, and there was no action on the larger proteins tested. Since the activity of pitrilysin is confined to substrates smaller than proteins, it can be described as an endopeptidase of the ‘oligopeptidase’ type, and like other such enzymes, it did not interact with alpha 2-macroglobulin. The metal-dependence of pitrilysin was confirmed, and it was found to be inhibited by bacitracin, especially in the presence of zinc.
Intracellular calcium mobilization and activation of the Na+/H+ exchanger in platelets
Authors: Poch E , Botey A , Gaya J , Cases A , Rivera F , Revert L
Published: August 2015

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the regulatory relationship between the cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i and cytosolic pH (pHi). [Ca2+]i and pHi were measured using the fluorescent dyes fura-2 and BCECF [2′,7′-bis-(carboxyethyl)-5,6-carboxyfluorescein] respectively. In a medium with 1 mmol/l extracellular calcium, thrombin (2.5 units/ml) induced an increment in [Ca2+]i of 638 +/- 31 nmol/l (n = 5) and an intracellular alkalinization of 0.14 +/- 0.01 pH units (n = 8). Both responses were dependent on the concentration of thrombin, displaying a sigmoidal dose-response pattern. The intracellular alkalinization was dependent upon extracellular Na+ and was amiloride-sensitive, indicating that it was mediated by activation of the Na+/H+ exchanger. When extracellular calcium was chelated with EGTA prior to the addition of thrombin, the intracellular alkalinization was not affected (0.15 +/- 0.02 at 2.5 units/ml thrombin, n = 8). Under these circumstances, the [Ca2+]i increment represents mobilization from internal stores, reaching 157 +/- 42 nmol/l at 2.5 units/ml thrombin. When platelets were preloaded with the intracellular calcium chelator MAPTAM (1,2-bis-5-methylaminophenoxylethane-NNN'-tetraacetoxymethyl acetate) to block the increase in [Ca2+]i induced by thrombin, no increment in pHi was observed. Moreover, MAPTAM-loaded calcium-depleted platelets had a basal pHi that was more acidic than in the presence of 1 mmol/l extracellular calcium (6.93 +/- 0.09 versus 7.14 +/- 0.01, n = 26, P < 0.001). Ionomycin induced an elevation of [Ca2+]i that was accompanied by a concomitant increase in pHi, which was Na(+)-dependent and amiloride-sensitive. [Ca2+]i and pHi increases induced by ionomycin were both dependent on the concentration of ionomycin. In conclusion, an increase in [Ca2+]i is necessary for the agonist-induced activation of the Na+/H+ exchanger in platelets. Non-agonist-induced increases in [Ca2+]i seems to prompt activation of the exchanger. In addition, Ca(2+)-depleted platelets have a more acidic basal pHi, indicating that the basal level of [Ca2+]i is also important for maintaining the basal pHi.
Phenobarbital induction of AP-1 binding activity mediates activation of glutathione S-transferase and quinone reductase gene expression
Authors: Pinkus R , Bergelson S , Daniel V
Published: August 2015

Phenobarbital is an inducer of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes, such as cytochrome P-450, glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and NAD(P)H:quinone reductase, as well as being a promoter of hepatocarcinogenesis. The molecular mechanisms regulating these biological activities are, however, unknown. In this paper we show that induction by phenobarbital of GST Ya and quinone reductase gene expression is mediated by regulatory elements, EpRE and ARE respectively, which are composed of two adjacent AP-1-like binding sites. EpRE was recently found to be activated by a Fos/Jun heterodimeric complex (AP-1). Here we show that phenobarbital induces an increase in AP-1 binding activity in nuclear extracts of cultured hepatoma cells. Furthermore, we observe that the induction of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) activity from an EpRE Ya-cat gene construct and of AP-1 binding activity by phenobarbital is inhibited by the thiol compounds N-acetyl-L-cysteine and glutathione. These results suggest that the phenobarbital induction of AP-1 activity, leading to the AP-1-mediated transcriptional activation of the GST Ya and quinone reductase genes, may involve production of reactive oxygen species and an increase in intracellular oxidant levels, which is prevented by thiol compounds. In view of the involvement of AP-1 in the control of cell proliferation and transformation, the induction by phenobarbital of AP-1 binding activity observed here provides a possible molecular mechanism for the tumour-promoting activity of this drug.
Iron release and uptake by plant ferritin: effects of pH, reduction and chelation
Authors: Laulhere J P , Briat J F
Published: August 2015

Ferritins are iron-storage proteins that accumulate in plastids during seed formation, and also in leaves during senescence or iron overload. Iron release from ferritins occurs during growth of seedlings and greening of plastids. Depending on the concentration of the reducing agent ascorbate, either an overall iron release or uptake by ferritins from iron(III) citrate may occur. We have designed methods to measure these simultaneous and independent uptake and release fluxes. Each individual step of the exchange was studied using different iron chelates and an excess of ligand. It is shown that: (i) the chelated form of iron, and not ionic Fe3+, is the substrate for iron reduction, which controls the subsequent uptake by ferritin; (ii) iron uptake by ferritins is faster at pH 8.4 than at pH 7 or 6 and is inhibited by an excess of strongly binding free ligands; and (iii) strongly binding free ligands are inhibitory during iron release by ascorbate. When reactions are allowed to proceed simultaneously, the iron chelating power is shown to be a key factor in the overall exchange. The interactions of iron chelating power, reducing capacity and pH are discussed with regard to their influence on the biochemical mobilization of iron.
Expression, purification and characterization of B72.3 Fv fragments
Authors: King D J , Byron O D , Mountain A , Weir N , Harvey A , Lawson A D G , Proudfoot K A , Baldock D , Harding S E , Yarranton G T , Owens R J
Published: August 2015

The Fv fragment of the antibody B72.3 has been produced by expression in both a mammalian and microbial system, namely Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and Escherichia coli. In both cases secretion of the Fv into the culture medium was achieved, with equivalent amounts of Vh and Vl produced. The yield of Fv from CHO cells was 4 mg/l in roller-bottle culture. E. coli proved to be a more productive system with yields of 40 mg/l in shake flasks rising to 450 mg/l in fermentations. B72.3 Fv from both sources was capable of binding to antigen with similar binding ability to the Fab' fragment. A detailed sedimentation analysis, both by velocity and equilibrium techniques, revealed that the two domains of Fv are associated at high concentrations at pH values close to neutral, but dissociate at concentrations lower than approx. 0.5 mg/ml. Individual Vh or Vl polypeptides are not able to bind to the antigen and thus these results suggest that the antigen promotes assembly of Fv at the low concentrations used in the antigen-binding assays. At a pH value of 1.9, Vh and Vl are completely dissociated even at very high concentrations and are apparently unfolded at low solute concentrations. Small-angle X-ray scattering was used to measure a radius of gyration of 1.75 +/- 0.2 nm (17.5 +/- 2 A) for Fv.
The structural basis of the inhibition of human α-mannosidases by azafuranose analogues of mannose
Authors: Winchester B , al Daher S , Carpenter N C , Cenci di Bello I , Choi S S , Fairbanks A J , Fleet G W J
Published: August 2015

Eight pyrrolidine, five pyrrolizidine and one indolizidine analogue(s) of the known alpha-mannosidase inhibitor, the azafuranose, 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-D-mannitol (DIM), have been tested for inhibition of the multiple forms of alpha-mannosidase in human liver in vitro. Substitution of the ring nitrogen markedly decreased or abolished inhibition, but loss of the C-6 hydroxy group, as in 6-deoxy-DIM and 6-deoxy-6-fluoro-DIM, enhanced inhibition, particularly of the lysosomal alpha-mannosidase. Addition of the anomeric substituent-CH2OH decreased inhibition. To be a potent inhibitor of the lysosomal, Golgi II and neutral alpha-mannosidases, a polyhydroxylated pyrrolidine must have the same substituents and chirality as mannofuranose at C-2, C-3, C-4 and C-5. These four chiral centres can also be part of a polyhydroxylated indolizidine, e.g. swainsonine, but not of a pyrrolizidine, e.g. cyclized DIM, ring-contracted swainsonine or 1,7-diepi-australine. DIM did not inhibit lysosomal alpha-mannosidase intracellularly, but both 6-deoxy-DIM and 6-deoxy-6-fluoro-DIM caused accumulation of partially catabolized glycans in normal human fibroblasts. Analysis of these induced storage products by h.p.l.c. showed that both compounds also inhibited Golgi alpha-mannosidase II and that 6-deoxy-6-fluoro-DIM was also a good inhibitor of the endoplasmic reticulum alpha-mannosidase and specific lysosomal alpha (1-6)-mannosidase. None of the mannofuranose analogues appeared to inhibit Golgi alpha-mannosidase I.
Clearance from plasma of triacylglycerol and cholesteryl ester after intravenous injection of chylomicron-like lipid emulsions in rats and man
Authors: Redgrave T G , Ly H L , Quintao E C R , Ramberg C F , Boston R C
Published: August 2015

Chylomicrons transport fat and cholesterol via lymphatic vessels from the intestine into the bloodstream. The understanding of the metabolism of chylomicrons in man has been slowed by the difficulty of obtaining lymph chylomicrons for experimental studies. Acceptable methods for the study of chylomicron clearance in man are required, because the metabolism of chylomicrons may be abnormal in diseases such as diabetes mellitus. Metabolism of chylomicrons may also play a role in the development of atherosclerosis. In the present work, lipid emulsions were used as a physical model of chylomicrons. Triacylglycerol-rich lipid emulsions labelled with tracer amounts of radioactive triolein and cholesteryl oleate were prepared by sonication and purified by density gradient ultracentrifugation, then injected into unanaesthetized rats and normal human subjects. Plasma radioactivities were measured for 30 min in rats and 90 min in human subjects. Rat lymph chylomicrons were also injected into rats for comparison with the clearance of the lipid emulsions. The plasma clearance data for triacylglycerols and cholesteryl esters were fitted with a kinetic model using the SAAM/CONSAM programs. Multiple studies analysis of the individual studies in each group was used to obtain estimates of the parameter average values and variabilities. The plasma residence times of the lipid labels were obtained from the fitted clearance data. Our results suggest that information about chylomicron metabolism in man can be obtained by analysis of the plasma clearance data following the injection of suitably labelled chylomicron-like lipid emulsions. Our data provide a baseline for comparisons with individuals having abnormalities of lipid metabolism or risk factors for arteriosclerosis.
Genetic variation of iron-induced uroporphyria in mice
Authors: Smith A G , Francis J E
Published: August 2015

Iron overload causes inhibition of hepatic uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (UROD) and uroporphyria in C57BL/10ScSn but not DBA/2 mice [Smith, Cabral, Carthew, Francis and Manson (1989) Int. J. Cancer 43, 492-496]. We have investigated the induction of uroporphyria in 12 inbred strains of mice 25 weeks after iron treatment (600 mg/kg) to determine if there was any correlation with the Ah locus. Under these conditions, inhibition of UROD occurred to varying degrees in Ahd mice (SWR and AKR) as well as nominally Ahb-1 (C57BL/6J, C57BL/10ScSn and C57BL/10-cc) and Ahb-2 strains (BALB/c and C3H/HeJ). Five other Ahb or Ahd strains (C57BL/Ks, A/J, CBA/J, LP and DBA/2) were unaffected. Thus there appeared to be no correlation with the Ah phenotype and this illustrated that some other variable inherited factors are involved. Comparisons between another susceptible strain, A2G, and the congenic A2G-hr/+strain (carrying the recessive hr gene) showed a modulating influence associated with the hr locus. In contrast with individual mice of inbred strains, which showed consistent responses to iron, those of the outbred MF1 strain showed a spectrum of sensitivities as might be expected for a heterogeneic stock. The rate of porphyria development was accelerated by administration of 5-aminolaevulinic acid (5-ALA) in the drinking water, but this did not overcome strain differences. Among four strains the order of susceptibility was SWR > C57BL/10ScSn > C57B1/6J > DBA/2 (the last strain was completely resistant). With degrees of iron loading greater than 600 mg of Fe/kg (1200-1800 mg of Fe/kg) C57BL/10ScSn mice (after 20 weeks) and SWR mice (after 5 weeks which included 4 weeks of 5-ALA treatment) had less inhibition of UROD and a lower uroporphyric response, showing that there was an optimum level of liver iron concentration. Studies on selected microsomal enzyme activities associated with cytochrome P-450 showed no correlation with the propensities of strains to develop porphyria. These activities included the NADPH-dependent oxidation of uroporphyrinogen I to uroporphyrin I.
An overview of the kinetic parameters of class B β-lactamases
Authors: Felici A , Amicosante G , Oratore A , Strom R , Ledent P , Joris B , Fanuel L , Frère J M
Published: August 2015

The catalytic properties of three class B beta-lactamases (from Pseudomonas maltophilia, Aeromonas hydrophila and Bacillus cereus) were studied and compared with those of the Bacteroides fragilis enzyme. The A. hydrophila beta-lactamase exhibited a unique specificity profile and could be considered as a rather specific ‘carbapenemase’. No relationships were found between sequence similarities and catalytic properties. The problem of the repartition of class B beta-lactamases into sub-classes is discussed. Improved purification methods were devised for the P. maltophilia and A. hydrophila beta-lactamases including, for the latter enzyme, a very efficient affinity chromatography step on a Zn(2+)-chelate column.
Rapid switch of hepatic fatty acid metabolism from oxidation to esterification during diurnal feeding of meal-fed rats correlates with changes in the properties of acetyl-CoA carboxylase, but not of carnitine palmitoyltransferase I
Authors: Moir A M B , Zammit V A
Published: August 2015

The effects of the ingestion of a meal on the partitioning of hepatic fatty acids between oxidation and esterification were studied in vivo for meal-fed rats. The time course for the reversal of the starved state was extremely rapid and the process was complete within 2 h, in marked contrast with the reversal of the effects of starvation in rats fed ad libitum [A. M. B. Moir and V. A. Zammit (1993) Biochem. J. 289, 49-55]. This rapid reversal occurred in spite of the fact that, in the liver of the meal-fed animals before feeding, a similar degree of partitioning of fatty acids in favour of oxidation was observed as in 24 h-starved rats (previously fed ad libitum). This suggested that the lower degree of ketonaemia observed in meal-fed rats before a meal is not due to the inability of acylcarnitine formation to compete successfully with esterification of fatty acids to the glycerol moiety. Investigation of the possible mechanisms that could contribute towards the rapid switching-off of fatty acid oxidation revealed that this was correlated with a very rapid rise and overshoot in hepatic malonyl-CoA concentration, but not with any change in the activity, or sensitivity to malonyl-CoA, of the mitochondrial overt carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT I). The role of these two parameters in the reversal of fasting-induced hepatic fatty acid oxidation was thus the inverse of that observed previously for refed 24 h-starved rats. The rapid increase in [malonyl-CoA] was accompanied by an immediate and complete reversion of the kinetic characteristics (Ka for citrate, expressed/total activity ratio) of acetyl-CoA carboxylase to those found in the post-meal animals, again in contrast with the time course observed in refed 24 h-starved rats [A. M. B. Moir and V. A. Zammit (1990) Biochem. J. 272, 511-517]. The rapidity with which these changes occurred was specific to the partitioning of acyl-CoA; the meal-induced diversion of glycerolipids towards phospholipid synthesis and the acute inhibition of the fractional rate of triacylglycerol secretion occurred with very similar time courses to those observed upon refeeding of 24 h-starved rats. The results confirm the central role played by differences in the dynamics of changes in hepatic malonyl-CoA concentration, and CPT I sensitivity to it, in determining the route through which ingested glucose is converted into hepatic glycogen upon refeeding of starved rats which had previously been meal-fed or fed ad libitum.
Homology cloning of rat 72 kDa type IV collagenase: cytokine and second-messenger inducibility in glomerular mesangial cells
Authors: Marti H P , McNeil L , Davies M , Martin J , Lovett D H
Published: August 2015

Glomerular mesangial cells (MC) play a central role in the synthesis and turnover of the glomerular extracellular matrix. Prior studies [Davies, Thomas, Martin and Lovett (1988) Biochem. J. 251, 419-425; Martin, Davies, Thomas and Lovett (1989) Kidney Int. 36, 790-801] have characterized at the protein level a 72 kDa type IV collagenase that is secreted by cultured human and rat MC. While exposure of most cell types to interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) or phorbol ester has little or even an inhibitory effect on 72 kDa type IV collagenase secretion, these factors significantly increased the synthesis of this enzyme by rat MC. Given this divergent pattern of expression, a homology-based PCR cloning strategy using rat MC cDNA templates was employed to define at the molecular level the structure of the mesangial 72 kDa type IV collagenase. The nucleotide sequence within the open reading frame of the rat mesangial 72 kDa type IV collagenase cDNA diverges from the sequence of the human homologue by approx. 9%. The divergence in the 3′ untranslated region was much more extensive. Steady-state levels of the 3.1 kb transcript of the 72 kDa type IV collagenase were low or undetectable in resting MC, but were greatly stimulated following incubation with IL-beta, TNF-alpha or phorbol ester. None of these factors induced synthesis by MC of the closely related 92 kDa type IV collagenase. Synthesis by MC of the 72 kDa type IV collagenase was also induced by second-messenger analogues, including 8-bromo-cyclic AMP and forskolin. It is concluded that MC regulate the expression of this enzyme in an unusual, tissue-specific fashion. Cytokine and second-messenger inducibility may contribute to the enhanced expression of the enzyme during glomerular inflammatory disorders.
Intracellular Ca2+ pools in Jurkat T-lymphocytes
Authors: Guse A H , Roth E , Emmrich F
Published: August 2015

Jurkat T-lymphocytes comprise at least four intracellular Ca2+ pools. Pool I was agonist-sensitive and contained 23 +/- 8% (n = 18) of the total Ca(2+)-storage capacity, as shown in intact cells in the presence of EGTA. The time courses of the agonist-induced formation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 and of the Ca2+ release from pool I were nearly superimposable, indicating that the agonist-sensitive pool I is emptied by Ins(1,4,5)P3. Likewise, in permeabilized cells, the size of the Ins(1,4,5)P3-sensitive Ca2+ pool I was 27 +/- 11% (n = 14). Pool II contained 26 +/- 5% (n = 9) of intracellularly stored Ca2+ and was liberated by thapsigargin, an inhibitor of the endoplasmic-reticulum (ER) Ca(2+)-ATPase. Addition of thapsigargin before addition of agonist abolished the agonist-induced Ca2+ release in both intact and permeabilized cells, indicating that pool I is a subcompartment of the ER Ca2+ pool. The content of this ER Ca2+ pool (pools I and II) amounted to 51 +/- 15% (n = 9) in intact cells and 49 +/- 16% (n = 16) in permeabilized cells. Caffeine released Ca2+ even when the ER pool (pools I and II) was emptied by previous addition of thapsigargin, indicating the presence of a third pool independent of pools I and II. Pool III contained 23 +/- 6% (n = 8) in intact cells, but 41 +/- 8% (n = 5) in permeabilized cells. The remaining intracellularly stored Ca2+ was released by addition of the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin. This fourth pool contained 27 +/- 8% (n = 9) in intact cells, but less than 10% in permeabilized cells. The size of pool III was increased when pools I and II were emptied before addition of caffeine, whereas the size of pool IV was decreased under such conditions. In conclusion, this first comprehensive description of intracellular Ca2+ pools in Jurkat T-lymphocytes demonstrates the presence of four different Ca2+ pools, provides estimates of their sizes and describes relationships between each other. Release of Ca2+ from pool I [Ins(1,4,5)P3-sensitive] has previously been shown to play a major role in T-cell activation, whereas the physiological role of pools II-IV remains to be established.
A 1H/15N n.m.r. study of nitrogen metabolism in cultured mammalian cells
Authors: Street J C , Delort A M , Braddock P S H , Brindle K M
Published: August 2015

1. Heteronuclear 1H/15N n.m.r. experiments are described in which 15N labelling of cellular metabolites is detected via their proton resonances. 2. These n.m.r. experiments have been used to monitor label redistribution amongst extracellular metabolites in cultures of mammalian cells incubated with L-[2-15N]glutamine, L-[5-15N]glutamine and 15NH4Cl. Label redistribution was monitored in two HeLa cell lines and in two CHO cell lines which showed a range of extractable activities of glutamate dehydrogenase, glutaminase and glutamine synthetase. 3. In cells incubated with L-[2-15N]glutamine the 15N label was subsequently found in a number of metabolites including alanine, aspartate, glycine and pyrrolidone-5-carboxylic acid. There was no detectable production of 15NH4+, showing that most of the glutamate formed in the reaction catalysed by glutaminase was subsequently transaminated rather than oxidatively deaminated by glutamate dehydrogenase. 4. Incubation of cells with L-[5-15N]glutamine showed that the ammonia in the cultures was derived predominantly from the amide group of glutamine. 5. The rate of formation of L-[5-15N]glutamine in cells incubated with 15NH4Cl was used to estimate glutamine synthetase flux in vivo. Flux in this reaction was only observable in the two CHO cell lines which express relatively high levels of the enzyme.
Evidence for N-linked glycosylation in Toxoplasma gondii
Authors: Odenthal-Schnittler M , Tomavo S , Becker D , Dubremetz J F , Schwarz R T
Published: August 2015

In this paper we report experiments demonstrating the presence of N-linked oligosaccharide structures in Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites, providing the first direct biochemical evidence that this sporozoan parasite is capable of synthesizing N-linked glycans. The tachyzoite surface glycoprotein gp23 was metabolically labelled with [3H]glucosamine and [3H]mannose. Gel-filtration chromatography on Bio-Gel P4 columns produced four radiolabelled N-linked glycopeptides which were sensitive to peptidase-N-glycanase F, but resistant to endoglycosidases H and F. Using chemical analysis and exoglycosidase digestions followed by Dionex-high-pH anion-exchange chromatography and size fractionation on Bio-Gel P4 we show that gp23 has N-linked glycans in the hybrid- or complex-type structure composed of N-acetylgalactosamine, N-acetylglucosamine and mannose and devoid of sialic acid and fucose residues. In addition, the sensitivity of glycopeptides from glycoprotein extracts to endoglycosidases H and F revealed the in vivo synthesis of oligomannose-type structures by T. gondii tachyzoites. We have extended these findings by demonstrating the ability of T. gondii microsomes to synthesize in vitro a glucosylated lipid-bound high-mannose structure (Glc3Man9GlcNAc2) that is assumed to be identical with the common precursor for N-glycosylation in eukaryotes.
Characterization of neutral endopeptidase 24.11 in dog glomeruli
Authors: Landry C , Santagata P , Bawab W , Fournié-Zaluski M C , Roques B P , Vinay P , Crine P
Published: August 2015

Neutral endopeptidase (NEP; also known as neprilysin and enkephalinase; EC 3.4.24.11) is a cell-surface metallopeptidase that is present in many mammalian tissues. It is particularly abundant on the brush-border membranes of the kidney proximal tubule. In this paper, the presence of NEP in purified glomeruli from dog kidney was assessed by measuring phosphoramidon- and thiorphan-sensitive [D-Ala2,Leu5]enkephalin-degrading activity. Using this assay, the Km and kcat. of the glomerular enzyme were found to be identical to those of the tubular enzyme. By Western blotting the apparent M(r) of the glomerular enzyme was found to be 104,000, compared with 94,000 for the tubular enzyme. This might be due to a different glycosylation pattern, since endoglycosidase F treatment of NEP obtained from both tissues yielded deglycosylated enzymes with similar electrophoretic mobilities. The glomerular enzyme also appears to be membrane-bound, since it was retained in the detergent-rich phase after phase separation with Triton X-114. Autoradiography experiments performed with RB104, a new highly selective and potent NEP inhibitor, showed that NEP was expressed in both glomeruli and proximal tubules. The presence in glomeruli of NEP and some other brush-border peptidases (dipeptidyl-dipeptidase IV, aminopeptidase N and angiotensin I-converting enzyme) suggests that cell-surface peptidases might play an important role as regulators of plasma-derived peptides in this part of the nephron.
N.m.r. spectroscopic studies of fucose-containing oligosaccharides derived from keratanase digestion of articular cartilage keratan sulphates. Influence of fucose residues on keratanase cleavage
Authors: Tai G H , Huckerby T N , Nieduszynski I A
Published: August 2015

Keratan sulphate chains from bovine articular cartilage were fully digested with keratanase from Pseudomonas sp. and the products were reduced with alkaline borohydride. The resultant fragments were fractionated on a Nucleosil 5SB column and the earliest eluting fucose-containing oligosaccharides were isolated. Structural analysis using 1H n.m.r. spectroscopy (600 MHz) showed the two least-charged species to have the following structure: GlcNAc(6S) beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4(Fuc alpha 1-3)GlcNAc(6S) beta 1- 3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc(6S) beta 1-3Gal-ol and GlcNAc(6S) beta 1-3Gal beta 1- 4(Fuc alpha 1-3)GlcNAc(6S) beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc(6S) beta 1-6(Gal beta 1- 3)GalNAc-ol. Both galactoses adjacent to the fucosylated N-acetylglucosamine residue are unsulphated. Therefore, it can be deduced from these structures that the presence of fucose on N-acetylglucosamine residues in keratan sulphates protects both of the adjacent unsulphated galactose residues from keratanase cleavage. This result has implications for the interpretation of keratanase fingerprints, because in articular cartilage keratan sulphates the keratanase-resistant blocks are not solely those with fully sulphated galactose residues, but also include the fucosylated sequences, which have unsulphated galactoses. It is, therefore, not possible to estimate their galactose sulphation or the size of the fully sulphated disaccharide-repeat sequences from keratan sulphates that contain fucose.
Structural requirements for the interaction between tissue factor and factor VII: characterization of chymotrypsin-derived tissue factor polypeptides
Authors: O'Brien D P , Anderson J S , Martin D M A , Byfield P G H , Tuddenham E G D
Published: August 2015

Tissue Factor (TF) is the cellular receptor for coagulation Factor VII/VIIa (FVII/VIIa). TF binds to FVIIa and promotes the rapid activation of the zymogen substrates Factors IX and X (FIX and FX) to the respective serine proteinases. In order to probe structure-function relationships in TF, we have subjected the truncated membrane-bound variant, TF 1-243, to proteolytic digestion in SDS-containing gels. Three major polypeptide fragments were generated by proteolysis of TF 1-243 with chymotrypsin, producing cleavages C-terminal to residues 34, 76 and 103. All three polypeptides, TF 35-243, 77-243 and 104-243, bound biotinylated human FVII in a highly specific ligand blot assay. High-performance electrophoretic chromatography was used to isolated chymotrypsin-derived fragments of TF. These purified fragments bound FVII in ligand blots, and two of the three polypeptides exhibited much reduced, but significant, procoagulant activity in a chromogenic assay for the generation of Factor Xa in the presence of FVIIa and Ca2+. The smallest chymotrypsin-derived TF polypeptide, TF 104-243, showed reduced binding of FVII in ligand blot analyses, inhibited the activity of the full-length molecule, but had no procoagulant activity. These data suggest that a part of the binding site for FVII is contained within the TF sequence 104-243. The sequence TF 1-34 either contains a part of the FVII-binding domain or its removal leads to dysfunctional folding, disrupting binding sites elsewhere in the molecule.
Interaction of transcription factor Sp1 with the promoter of the gene for the multifunctional protein disulphide isomerase polypeptide
Authors: Tasanen K , Oikarinen J , Kivirikko K I , Pihlajaniemi T
Published: August 2015

Protein disulphide isomerase (PDI) is a unique polypeptide which resides in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum and also functions as the beta-subunit of prolyl 4-hydroxylase, as a cellular thyroid hormone-binding protein, as the smaller subunit of the microsomal triacylglycerol transfer protein complex, as a dehydroascorbate reductase and as a protein that binds various peptides in a specific manner. We have recently demonstrated that the promoter of the PDI gene contains six CCAAT boxes and other elements which are needed for efficient transcription. We now demonstrate that purified human recombinant transcription factor Sp1 interacts with two perfect GGGCGG sequences and three other GC-rich elements of the PDI promoter. Sp1 also appears to participate in the regulation of PDI gene expression, since overexpression of Sp1 stimulated PDI promoter activity in HeLa cells and mutations introduced into each of these Sp1-binding sites separately reduced the promoter strength, although even the largest decrease was only about 50%. These results support our view that expression of the gene for this polypeptide with multiple functions is secured by several regulatory elements, some of which are functionally redundant.
Determinants of oligomeric structure in the chicken liver glycoprotein receptor
Authors: Verrey F , Drickamer K
Published: August 2015

The oligomeric state of the chicken liver receptor (chicken hepatic lectin), which mediates endocytosis of glycoproteins terminating with N-acetylglucosamine, has been investigated using physical methods as well as chemical cross-linking. Receptor isolated from liver and from transfected rat fibroblasts expressing the full-length polypeptide is a homotrimer immediately following solubilization in non-ionic detergent, but forms the previously observed hexamer during purification. These results are most consistent with the presence of a trimer of receptor polypeptides in liver membranes and in transfected cells. Analysis of truncated receptors reveals that the C-terminal extracellular portion of this type-II transmembrane protein does not form stable oligomers when isolated from the membrane anchor and cytoplasmic tail. The behaviour of chimeric receptors, in which the cytoplasmic tail of the glycoprotein receptor is replaced with the corresponding segments of rat liver asialoglycoprotein receptor or the beta-subunit of Na+,K(+)-ATPase, or with unrelated sequences from globin, indicates that the cytoplasmic tail influences oligomer stability. Replacement of N-terminal portions of the receptor with corresponding segments of influenza virus neuraminidase results in formation of tetramers, suggesting that the membrane anchor and flanking sequences are important determinants of oligomer formation.
Sulphydryl agents modulate insulin- and epidermal growth factor (EGF)-receptor kinase via reaction with intracellular receptor domains: differential effects on basal versus activated receptors
Authors: Clark S , Konstantopoulos N
Published: August 2015

Sulphydryl reagents have been shown to produce a variety of effects on insulin-receptor structure and function. However, localization of these effects to specific receptor domains has not been attempted. We have investigated this question with insulin- and epidermal growth factor (EGF)-receptors (both are receptor tyrosine kinases but have different sulphydryl/disulphide structures within the external domain), and the insulin receptor kinase (IRK) protein consisting solely of the insulin-receptor cytoplasmic domain and exhibiting constitutive kinase activity. Results showed a differential response between basal and activated receptors. The physiological reductant GSH stimulated basal receptor autophosphorylation, but was either without effect (EGF) or inhibited (insulin) activated receptors, and occurred without visible reduction of receptor structure. These results contrast with those obtained with dithiothreitol which appears to activate phosphorylation in association with reduction of the extracellular insulin-receptor disulphides, but is without effect on the EGF receptor or the IRK protein. Alkylating agents N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) and iodoacetamide (IAM) had opposing effects on receptor autophosphorylation. However, only in the basal state was IAM able to protect receptors from the inhibitory effect of NEM. Our results suggest that complex sulphydryl interactions can occur within the cytoplasmic domain of insulin- and EGF-receptors to alter receptor kinase activity. The basal and activated state of receptors is not the same with respect to sulphydryl reagent action, possibly due to conformational change in the receptor induced by ligand (insulin, EGF) or constitutive (IRK) activation.