bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Accumulation of the inositol phosphates in thrombin-stimulated, washed rabbit platelets in the presence of lithium
Authors: Vickers J D , Kinlough-Rathbone R L , Mustard J F
Published: August 2015

Experiments with washed rabbit platelets demonstrate that stimulation with a low concentration of thrombin (0.1 unit/ml), that causes maximal aggregation and partial release of amine granule contents, also causes increased accumulation of [3H]inositol-labelled inositol trisphosphate (InsP3) in the presence of 20 mM-Li+. This concentration of Li+ was found to inhibit the degradation of inositol phosphates by phosphomonoesterases. This result indicates that phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2] is degraded early after platelet stimulation with thrombin, although in a previous study we had found no decrease in amount. In the absence of Li+, the labelling of inositol bisphosphate (InsP2) increased more rapidly than that of InsP3, consistent with rapid degradation of InsP3 by phosphomonoesterase. After 30s the increase in InsP2 was augmented by Li+. This increase in InsP2 could have been due to increased degradation of phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate or inhibition of breakdown of InsP2 to InsP with a lesser inhibition of breakdown of InsP3 to InsP2. The effect on InsP3 and InsP2 of stimulation of the platelets with 1.0 unit of thrombin/ml was comparable with the effect of the lower concentration of thrombin. Inositol phosphate (InsP) labelling did not increase in response to 0.1 unit of thrombin/ml, but increased when the platelets were stimulated with 1.0 unit of thrombin/ml. Whether the increase in InsP was due to increased degradation of phosphatidylinositol or a greater rate of breakdown of InsP2 to InsP than InsP to inositol cannot be determined in these experiments. These results indicate that degradation of PtdIns(4,5)P2 is an early event in platelet activation by thrombin and that formation of inositol phosphates and 1,2-diacylglycerol rather than a decrease in PtdIns(4,5)P2 may be the important change.
Glucose metabolism in the extreme thermoacidophilic archaebacterium Sulfolobus solfataricus
Authors: De Rosa M , Gambacorta A , Nicolaus B , Giardina P , Poerio E , Buonocore V
Published: August 2015

Sulfolobus solfataricus is a thermophilic archaebacterium able to grow at 87 degrees C and pH 3.5 on glucose as sole carbon source. The organism metabolizes glucose by two main routes. The first route involves an ATP-dependent phosphorylation to give glucose 6-phosphate, which readily isomerizes to fructose 6-phosphate. In the second route, glucose is converted into gluconate by an NAD+-dependent dehydrogenation; gluconate is then dehydrated to 2-keto-3-deoxygluconate, which, in turn, is cleaved to pyruvate and glyceraldehyde. Each metabolic step has been tested in vitro at 70 degrees C on dialysed homogenates or partially purified fractions; minimal requirements of single enzymes have been evaluated. Identification of the intermediates is based on chromatographic, spectroscopic and/or synthetic evidence and on specific enzymic assays. The oxidative breakdown of glucose to pyruvate occurring in S. solfataricus differs from the Entner-Doudoroff pattern in that there is an absence of any phosphorylation step.
Purification and some kinetic properties of rat liver ATP citrate lyase
Authors: Houston B , Nimmo H G
Published: August 2015

A new purification procedure for rat liver ATP citrate lyase is described. The method reproducibly gives homogenous undegraded enzyme. Steady-state kinetic analysis of ATP citrate lyase was complicated by the presence of ADP, a product of the reaction, in solutions of ATP. The kinetic patterns observed were dependent on whether ADP was removed by the assay system. When assays were performed with a method in which ADP was removed, the results showed that the enzyme obeys a double-displacement mechanism with a phosphoenzyme intermediate. This resolves a controversy between the results of previous kinetic studies and those of isotope-exchange and enzyme-labelling experiments.
Binding in vitro to rat liver receptors does not correlate with activities in vivo of bovine somatotropin. Use of chemically modified derivatives as probes
Authors: Roguin L P , Delfino J M , Vita N , Paladini A C
Published: August 2015

Bovine somatotropin with an increasing number of its carboxylate groups modified by reaction with glycine methyl ester in the presence of a water-soluble carbodi-imide was tested for its activity in different bioassays. Only those derivatives which were known to be active in the body-weight-increase bioassay were able to compete with 125I-labelled bovine somatotropin for their specific binding sites in vivo. No difference was found in the rate of clearance of a poorly active derivative as compared with that of native somatotropin. In contrast, both active and inactive derivatives were found to be equally effective in displacing the tracer from its binding sites present in isolated cells and membrane preparations from rat liver. These results suggest that the liver somatogenic receptors studied in vitro are less discriminating than those detected in vivo.
Drug-induced accumulation of uroporphyrin in chicken hepatocyte cultures. Structural requirements for the effect and role of exogenous iron
Authors: Ferioli A , Harvey C , De Matteis F
Published: August 2015

The ability of drugs to cause uroporphyria in hepatocytes from 17-day-old chick embryos has been investigated and the response of the cells in culture compared with that of the intact liver of the embryos in ovo. In this chick-embryo system, drugs that cause accumulation of uroporphyrin within 19-24 h can only do so in culture; in contrast, 2-allyl-2-isopropylacetamide and 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine, which stimulate production of protoporphyrin, are effective both in culture and in ovo. A role of exogenous iron in worsening drug-induced uroporphyria was demonstrated in cultures of hepatocytes; iron also caused preferential accumulation of uroporphyrin from added 5-aminolaevulinate in the absence of a porphyrogenic chemical. Uroporphyria was induced in cultures of hepatocytes by drugs of widely different structures, suggesting that the primary molecular target with which they interact may be relatively aspecific in its binding characteristics. These results are briefly discussed, and two alternative hypotheses for the drug-induced effect in uroporphyrinogen metabolism are considered.
Substrate specificities of the enzymes of the oleate desaturase system from photosynthetic tissue
Authors: Murphy D J , Woodrow I E , Mukherjee K D
Published: August 2015

In the microsomal fraction from young pea (Pisum sativum L.) leaves, the oleoyl moieties from oleoyl-CoA are principally transferred to the sn-2 position of phosphatidylcholine by oleoyl-CoA:1-acyl-lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase. The major product of this acyl transfer is 1-palmitoyl(stearoyl)-2-oleoyl phosphatidylcholine. The 1-palmitoyl(stearoyl)-2-oleoyl phosphatidylcholine is subsequently converted into 1-palmitoyl(stearoyl)-2-linoleoyl phosphatidylcholine by the oleate desaturase complex without equilibrating with the bulk membrane phosphatidylcholine pool. Hence, both the acyl transfer to phosphatidylcholine and the subsequent desaturation of oleoyl moieties occur on the sn-2 position of phosphatidylcholine, and there is also a functional coupling of the acyltransferase and oleate desaturase.
Regional variation and differential sensitivity of rat heart protein synthesis in vivo and in vitro
Authors: Preedy V R , Smith D M , Kearney N F , Sugden P H
Published: August 2015

In vivo, fractional rates of protein synthesis in atrial muscle of hearts taken from fed rats were 70% greater than in ventricular muscle. After 3 days starvation, atrial protein synthesis is inhibited, but the inhibition is less than in ventricles. A crude subcellular fractionation of the aqueous homogenates by centrifugation at 32000g showed that the supernatant and precipitate proteins were synthesized at the same rate in the ventricles. The fractional rates of protein synthesis and RNA/protein ratios in the right ventricle were 10% greater than in the left ventricle. Protein synthesis in both of these regions was inhibited equally by starvation. In vitro, rates of protein synthesis in atria and ventricles of anterogradely perfused rat hearts were stimulated by saturating insulin concentrations and were inhibited by starvation, but the effects in atria were smaller than in ventricles. Rates of protein synthesis in atria in vitro were 80-95% of rates in vivo. The heart therefore shows considerable regional variation in rates of protein synthesis in vivo and in vitro, and the sensitivity of protein synthesis in the various regions to interventions such as insulin and starvation differs.
Increased dihydrofolate reductase activity in methotrexate-resistant human promyelocytic-leukaemia (HL-60) cells. Lack of correlation between increased activity and overproduction
Authors: Dedhar S , Hartley D , Goldie J H
Published: August 2015

Methotrexate(MTX)-resistant human promyelocytic-leukaemia cells (HL-60) derived from MTX-sensitive cells have a 20-fold increase in dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) activity as compared with the sensitive cells. This increase is not associated with a concomitant increase in DHFR protein as determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and by immunological methods using mouse anti-DHFR antibody. The rate of DHFR synthesis is similar in both cell lines. Furthermore, both the sensitive and resistant cells have similar amounts of RNA hybridizing to a DHFR complementary-DNA probe, correlating well with the lack of increase in DHFR protein. DHFR-gene dosages were similar in both types of cells. We conclude that the 20-fold increase in DHFR activity present in these MTX-resistant cells is not due to the overproduction of DHFR but due to the expression of a more active form of the enzyme.
Translocation of mycobacillin synthetase in Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Mukhopadhyay N K , Ghosh S K , Majumder S , Bose S K
Published: August 2015

The extracellular release of mycobacillin from Bacillus subtilis first occurred in the medium at the onset of stationary phase and continued at a high rate even after 6 days. Mycobacillin synthetase activity appeared earlier than late-exponential phase in the cytosol of producer cells and was not sedimentable even at 105 000 g. The activity then quickly reached the maximum late in the stationary phase. With further increase in the age of the culture, the activity gradually disappeared from the cytosol, to reappear concomitantly in the membrane in an insoluble particulate form, even in absence of protein synthesis. The membrane-bound synthetase activity was sedimentable at 10 000 g and was fairly active even after 5 days.
Contribution of different protein phosphatases to the dephosphorylation of 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase and 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase in rat liver
Authors: Mieskes G , Söling H D
Published: August 2015

The nature of rat liver protein phosphatases involved in the dephosphorylation of the glycolytic key enzyme 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase and the regulatory enzyme 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase was investigated. In terms of the classification system proposed by Ingebritsen & Cohen [(1983) Eur. J. Biochem. 132, 255-261], only the type-2 protein phosphatases 2A (which can be separated into 2A1 and 2A2) and 2C act on these substrates. Fractionation of rat liver extracts by anion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration revealed that protein phosphatase 2A is responsible for most of the 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase phosphatase activity (activity ratio 2A/2C = 4:1). On the other hand, 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase phosphatase activity is equally distributed between protein phosphatases 2A (2A1 plus 2A2) and 2C. In addition, the possible role of low-Mr compounds for the control of purified protein phosphatase 2C was examined. At near-physiological concentrations, none of the metabolites studied significantly affected the rate of dephosphorylation of 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase, 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase, pyruvate kinase or fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase.
Molecular cloning of a bovine cathepsin
Authors: Gay N J , Walker J E
Published: August 2015

A cDNA clone for a thiol endoproteinase has been isolated from a bovine heart cDNA library by using a mixture of 32 synthetic oligonucleotides as a hybridization probe. The inserted region is 672 base pairs in length. It contains a sequence encoding the C-terminal region of a protein that is homologous to rat liver cathepsins B and H and to plant thiol proteinases. In addition, it contains the sequence of 442 bases corresponding to the 3′ untranslated region of the mRNA. The inserted region was used as a specific probe in RNA transfer analysis; the size of the mRNA encoding the thiol endoproteinase is estimated to be approx. 1.7 kilobases. Thus, the maximum size of the encoded protein is about 350-400 amino acids.
Gangliosides and sialosylglycoproteins in coated vesicles from bovine brain
Authors: Gravotta D , Maccioni H J F
Published: August 2015

The content of gangliosides and sialosylglycoproteins was investigated in a coated-vesicle-enriched fraction prepared from bovine brain by the method of Pearse [(1975) J. Mol. Biol. 97, 93-98] and further purified by g.p.c. (glass-permeation chromatography) [Pfeffer & Kelly (1981) J. Cell Biol. 91, 385-391]. From morphological criteria and from the analysis of the polypeptide pattern on sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis the coated-vesicle fraction (CV-fraction) appeared more than 95% pure. The ganglioside-NeuAc (N-acetylneuraminate), glycoprotein-NeuAc, phospholipid and cholesterol contents of CV-fraction were compared with those of bovine brain synaptic plasma membranes (SPM). The cholesterol to phospholipid molar ratio was 0.47 +/- 0.07 in CV-fraction and 1.06 +/- 0.08 in SPM. The ganglioside-NeuAc and glycoprotein-NeuAc to phospholipid molar ratios were 0.047 and 0.020 respectively in CV-fraction and 0.039 and 0.016 respectively in SPM. The (Na+ + K+)-dependent ATPase activity sensitive to ouabain (in mumol of Pi/h per nmol of phospholipid) was 1.04 in CV-fraction and 0.63 in SPM; the ratio between this activity and the activity resistant to ouabain was 2 in CV-fraction and 1.4 in SPM. A t.l.c. analysis of the ganglioside fractions showed that most of the ganglioside species present in SPM were present in CV-fraction. In a rat brain coated-vesicle preparation not subjected to g.p.c., the activities [as sugar-radioactivity (c.p.m.) transferred/h per mumol of phospholipid] of the enzymes CMP-NeuAc:sialosyl-lactosylceramide (GM3) sialosyl-, UDP-Gal:N-acetylgalactosaminyl(sialosyl)lactosylceramide (GM2) galactosyl- and UDP-GalNAc:sialosyl-lactosylceramide (GM3) N-acetylgalactosaminyl-transferases, which were considered Golgi-apparatus markers, were about 19, 16 and 10% respectively of those determined in rat brain neuronal perikaryon-enriched fractions. Taken together, the results indicate that most of the major gangliosides are constituents of coated vesicles.
Purification of F1-ATPase from cuckoo-pint (Arum maculatum) mitochondria. A comparison of subunit composition with that of rat liver F1-ATPase
Authors: Dunn P P J , Slabas A R , Moore A L
Published: August 2015

Plant mitochondrial ATPase has been chloroform-solubilized and purified by gel filtration from spadices of cuckoo-pint (Arum maculatum). The subunit composition of purified plant and rat liver ATPase were compared by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. The delta- and epsilon-subunits of the plant enzyme are larger than their supposed rat liver counterparts and, as such, A. maculatum mitochondrial ATPase shows structural homologies with the enzyme from Escherichia coli [Futai, Sternweis & Heppel (1974) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 71, 2725-2729] rather than with the rat liver enzyme.
Monoacetoacetin and protein metabolism during parenteral nutrition in burned rats
Authors: Maiz A , Moldawer L L , Bistrian B R , Birkhahn R H , Long C L , Blackburn G L
Published: August 2015

The effect of intravenous infusion of monoacetoacetin (glycerol monoacetoacetate) as a non-protein energy source was evaluated in burned rats. During 3 days of parenteral nutrition, in which animals received 14 g of amino acids/kg body wt. per day exclusively (group I) or with the addition of isoenergetic amounts (523 kJ/kg per day) of dextrose (group II), a 1:1 mixture of dextrose and monoacetoacetin (group III) or monoacetoacetin (group IV), significant decreases in urinary nitrogen excretion and whole-body leucine oxidation were observed in the three groups given additional non-protein energy as compared with group I. Serum ketone bodies (acetoacetate and 3-hydroxybutyrate) were decreased in rats given dextrose, whereas glucose and insulin increased significantly. Monoacetoacetin-infused animals (group IV) had high concentrations of ketone bodies without changes in glucose and insulin, whereas animals infused with both monoacetoacetin and glucose (group III) showed intermediate values. On day 4 of nutritional support, whole-body L-leucine kinetics were measured by using a constant infusion of L-[1-14C]leucine. In comparison with group I, the addition of dextrose or monoacetoacetin produced a significant decrease in plasma leucine appearance and release from whole-body protein breakdown. Gastrocnemius-muscle protein-synthesis rates were also higher in the three groups receiving additional non-protein energy. These findings suggest that monoacetoacetin can effectively replace dextrose as an intravenous energy source in stressed rats. Both fuels are similar in decreasing weight loss, nitrogen excretion, leucine release from whole-body protein breakdown and oxidation, in spite of differences in energy substrate and insulin concentrations.
Low immunogenicity of the common lipoamide dehydrogenase subunit (E3) of mammalian pyruvate dehydrogenase and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase multienzyme complexes
Authors: De Marcucci O L , Hunter A , Lindsay J G
Published: August 2015

The production of high-titre monospecific polyclonal antibodies against the purified pyruvate dehydrogenase and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase multienzyme complexes from ox heart is described. The specificity of these antisera and their precise reactivities with the individual components of the complexes were examined by immunoblotting techniques. All the subunits of the pyruvate dehydrogenase and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complexes were strongly antigenic, with the exception of the common lipoamide dehydrogenase component (E3). The titre of antibodies raised against E3 was, in both cases, less than 2% of that of the other subunits. Specific immunoprecipitation of the dissociated N-[3H]ethylmaleimide-labelled enzymes also revealed that E3 alone was absent from the final immune complexes. Strong cross-reactivity with the enzyme present in rat liver (BRL) and ox kidney (NBL-1) cell lines was observed when the antibody against ox heart pyruvate dehydrogenase was utilized to challenge crude subcellular extracts. The immunoblotting patterns again lacked the lipoamide dehydrogenase band, also revealing differences in the apparent Mr of the lipoate acetyltransferase subunit (E2) from ox kidney and rat liver. The additional 50 000-Mr polypeptide, previously found to be associated with the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, was apparently not a proteolytic fragment of E2 or E3, since it could be detected as a normal component in boiled sodium dodecyl sulphate extracts of whole cells. The low immunogenicity of the lipoamide dehydrogenase polypeptide may be attributed to a high degree of conservation of its primary sequence and hence tertiary structure during evolution.
Changes in glycan branching and sialylation of the Thy-1 antigen during normal differentiation of mouse T-lymphocytes
Authors: Carlsson S R
Published: August 2015

The glycans of the Thy-1 antigen present on thymocytes and lymph-node T-lymphocytes were investigated after external labelling of the cells. Neuraminidase, endoglycosidase H and endoglycosidase F were used in combination with sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing in order to characterize the nature of the glycans on 125I-labelled and immunoprecipitated Thy-1. Glycopeptides were prepared from Thy-1 obtained from cells labelled by periodate/boro[3H]hydride treatment. The glycopeptides were separated by affinity chromatography on concanavalin A-Sepharose and analysed by gel filtration. The results show that both types of cells possess Thy-1 molecules with three N-linked carbohydrate chains, of which one is of ‘high-mannose’ type and the other two of triantennary and biantennary ‘complex’ type. The ratio of triantennary/biantennary chains was decreased on Thy-1 of mature cells compared with that of immature cells, but instead more sialic acid was present on these chains. Deglycosylated Thy-1 appeared to be of the same size regardless of origin, indicating that only the carbohydrate moiety differs between Thy-1 molecules of the two cell types.
Hepatic thiol and glutathione efflux under the influence of vasopressin, phenylephrine and adrenaline
Authors: Sies H , Graf P
Published: August 2015

Thiol and glutathione (GSH) efflux across the sinusoidal plasma membrane in isolated perfused rat liver was stimulated by addition of hormones such as vasopressin, phenylephrine and adrenaline, whereas glucagon or dibutyryl cyclic AMP were without effect. Phenylephrine and adrenaline effects were sensitive to prazosin and phentolamine, respectively. The increase in thiol efflux was largely accounted for by an increase in GSH efflux. Thiol efflux and the hormone effects were abolished in GSH-depleted liver. Biliary GSH efflux was diminished upon hormone addition. The newly discovered hormone-dependence of GSH release across the sinusoidal plasma membrane may explain the known loss of GSH during conditions of experimental shock (traumatic or endotoxin) and stress and peripheral inflammation.
Molecular modelling of human complement subcomponent C1q and its complex with C1r2C1s2 derived from neutron-scattering curves and hydrodynamic properties
Authors: Perkins S J
Published: August 2015

Models for the structures of subcomponent C1q of first component C1 of human complement and its complex with subunit C1r2C1s2 are compared with experimental neutron-scattering curves. The length of the C1q collagenous arm is closer to 14.5 nm than to 11.5 nm proposed from electron microscopy, and this is consistent with the primary sequence of C1q. The mean C1q base-arm angle is 40-45 degrees and C1q is found to be flexible: the base-arm angle can vary up to 30 degrees from equilibrium at any moment. The complex of C1r2C1s2 and C1q requires a large shape change in C1r2C1s2. Ring-like models for C1r2C1s2 are not as successful at rationalizing the scattering data as are models that involve C1r2C1s2 binding to one side of C1q. Hydrodynamic calculations of the sedimentation coefficients for C1q and C1 are generally consistent with these neutron models.
Multiple proteins related to the soluble galactose-binding animal lectin revealed by a monoclonal anti-lectin antibody
Authors: Carding S R , Childs R A , Thorpe R , Spitz M , Feizi T
Published: August 2015

A monoclonal antibody (NIBy 142-36/8) raised against the soluble galactose-binding lectin of bovine heart muscle has been tested by solid-phase vinyl-plate radiobinding and nitrocellulose immunoblotting with homogenates of various bovine tissues, and the muscle tissues of pig, rabbit, chicken and rat. Muscle lectins of chicken, rabbit and rat differed from those of man and pig in their lack of reactivity with the 36/8 antibody. There was a good correlation of haemagglutinating activities and immunoreactivities of the bovine tissue homogenates, suggesting that the soluble galactose-binding protein is a major haemagglutinin in various tissues. Immunoblotting experiments revealed an array of antigenically active components in the homogenates in addition to the 13 and 26kDa proteins that were previously detected in preparations of purified lectin. These were in the range 36kDa to more than 200kDa, and a different spectrum of immunoreactive components was found in various cell types. Galactose-binding activity was demonstrable in 13, 26 and 36kDa components in certain bovine tissues, suggesting that the immunoreactive components of higher Mr may be inactive precursor forms of the lectin.
Specific antibodies to PAS IV, a glycoprotein of bovine milk-fat-globule membrane, bind to a similar protein in cardiac endothelial cells and epithelial cells of lung bronchioles
Authors: Greenwalt D E , Johnson V G , Mather I H
Published: August 2015

We recently described the tissue distribution of PAS IV (periodic acid/Schiff-positive Band IV), a hydrophobic glycoprotein isolated from bovine milk-fat-globule membrane [Greenwalt & Mather (1985) J. Cell Biol. 100, 397-408]. By using immunofluorescence techniques, PAS IV was detected in mammary epithelial cells, the bronchiolar epithelium of lung, and the capillary endothelium of several tissues, including heart, salivary gland, pancreas, spleen and intestine. In the present paper we describe the specificity of the antibodies used for these studies. Two monoclonal antibodies, E-1 and E-3, were shown by solid-phase immunoassay and immunoaffinity chromatography to be specific for PAS IV (of Mr 76000) in milk-fat-globule membrane and recognize a glycoprotein of slightly higher Mr (85000) in heart. Affinity-purified rabbit antibodies to PAS IV were also shown to recognize components of Mr 76000 and 85000 in fat-globule membrane and heart respectively, by using immunoblotting procedures after sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Additionally, an immunoreactive protein in lung of Mr 85000 was detected. Despite these differences in molecular size, the fat-globule membrane and heart forms of PAS IV were shown to be very similar by peptide-mapping techniques. The possible significance of the expression of similar forms of PAS IV in both epithelial and capillary endothelial cells is briefly discussed.
Solubilization of the alternative oxidase of cuckoo-pint (Arum maculatum) mitochondria. Stimulation by high concentrations of ions and effects of specific inhibitors
Authors: Kay C J , Palmer J M
Published: August 2015

Selective solubilization of cyanide- and antimycin-insensitive duroquinol oxidase activity from cuckoo-pint (Arum maculatum) mitochondria was achieved using taurocholate. Inhibitor-sensitivities and water-forming DQH2 (tetramethyl-p-hydroquinone, reduced form): O2 stoichiometry were the same for the alternative oxidase of intact Arum mitochondria. Cyanide-insensitive oxidation of DQH2 by intact and solubilized mitochondria was stimulated by up to four-fold by high concentrations of anions high in the Hofmeister series, such as phosphate, sulphate or citrate. Optimal (0.7 M) sodium citrate increased Vmax. for DQH2 oxidation by the solubilized preparation from 450 to 2400 nmol of O2 X min-1 X mg of protein-1 and decreased the apparent Km for DQH2 from 0.53 to 0.38 mM. Inhibition of solubilized DQH2 oxidase activity by CLAM (m-chlorobenzhydroxamic acid) and SHAM (salicylhydroxamic acid) was mixed competitive/non-competitive, with apparent inhibition constants for CLAM of 25 microM (Ki) and 81 microM (KI) and for SHAM of 53 microM (Ki) and 490 microM (KI). Propyl gallate and UHDBT were non-competitive inhibitors with respect to DQH2 (apparent Ki = 0.3 microM and 12 nM respectively). Low concentrations of C18 fatty acids selectively inhibited cyanide-insensitive oxidation by intact and solubilized mitochondria, and inhibition was reversed by 1% (w/v) bovine serum albumin. Inhibition was competitive with DQH2, suggesting that fatty acids interfere reversably with the binding of DQH2 to the oxidase. These results tend to support the view that quinol oxidation by the alternative pathway of Arum maculatum mitochondria is catalysed by a quinol oxidase protein, rather than by a non-enzymic mechanism involving fatty acid peroxidative reaction. [Rustin, Dupont & Lance (1983) Trends Biochem. Sci. 8, 155-157; (1983) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 225, 630-639].
Glutamine and glucose metabolism during thymocyte proliferation. Pathways of glutamine and glutamate metabolism
Authors: Brand K
Published: August 2015

Energy metabolism in proliferating cultured rat thymocytes was compared with that of freshly prepared non-proliferating resting cells. Cultured rat thymocytes enter a proliferative cycle after stimulation by concanavalin A and Lymphocult T (interleukin-2), with maximal rates of DNA synthesis at 60 h. Compared with incubated resting thymocytes, glucose metabolism by incubated proliferating thymocytes was 53-fold increased; 90% of the amount of glucose utilized was converted into lactate, whereas resting cells metabolized only 56% to lactate. However, the latter oxidized 27% of glucose to CO2, as opposed to 1.1% by the proliferating cells. Activities of hexokinase, 6-phosphofructokinase, pyruvate kinase and aldolase in proliferating thymocytes were increased 12-, 17-, 30- and 24-fold respectively, whereas the rate of pyruvate oxidation was enhanced only 3-fold. The relatively low capacity of pyruvate degradation in proliferating thymocytes might be the reason for almost complete conversion of glucose into lactate by these cells. Glutamine utilization by rat thymocytes was 8-fold increased during proliferation. The major end products of glutamine metabolism are glutamate, aspartate, CO2 and ammonia. A complete recovery of glutamine carbon and nitrogen in the products was obtained. The amount of glutamate formed by phosphate-dependent glutaminase which entered the citric acid cycle was enhanced 5-fold in the proliferating cells: 76% was converted into 2-oxoglutarate by aspartate aminotransferase, present in high activity, and the remaining 24% by glutamate dehydrogenase. With resting cells the same percentages were obtained (75 and 25). Maximal activities of glutaminase, glutamate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase were increased 3-, 12- and 6-fold respectively in proliferating cells; 32% of the glutamate metabolized in the citric acid cycle was recovered in CO2 and 61% in aspartate. In resting cells this proportion was 41% and 59% and in mitogen-stimulated cells 39% and 65% respectively. Addition of glucose (4 mM) or malate (2 mM) strongly decreased the rates of glutamine utilization and glutamate conversion into 2-oxoglutarate by proliferating thymocytes and also affected the pathways of further glutamate metabolism. Addition of 2 mM-pyruvate did not alter the rate of glutamine utilization by proliferating thymocytes, but decreased the rate of metabolism beyond the stage of glutamate significantly. Formation of acetyl-CoA in the presence of pyruvate might explain the relatively enhanced oxidation of glutamate to CO2 (56%) by proliferating thymocytes.
Simultaneous purification and characterization of glucokinase, fructokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase from Zymomonas mobilis
Authors: Scopes R K , Testolin V , Stoter A , Griffiths-Smith K , Algar E M
Published: August 2015

The three enzymes glucokinase (EC 2.7.1.2), fructokinase (EC 2.7.1.4) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49) were isolated in high yield from extracts of Zymomonas mobilis. The principal steps in the isolation procedures involved the use of selected dye-ligand adsorbent columns, with affinity elution of two of the three enzymes. Glucokinase and fructokinase are dimeric proteins (2 × 33000 Da and 2 × 28000 Da respectively) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase is a tetramer (4 × 52000 Da). Some similarities in the structural and kinetic parameters of the two kinases were noted, but they have absolute specificity for their substrates. Fructokinase is strongly inhibited by glucose; otherwise non-substrate sugars had little effect on any of the three enzymes.
Phosphatidylglycerol as biosynthetic precursor for the poly(glycerol phosphate) backbone of bifidobacterial lipoteichoic acid
Authors: Op den Camp H J , Oosterhof A , Veerkamp J H
Published: August 2015

Phosphatidylglycerol functions as donor of the sn-glycerol 1-phosphate units in the synthesis in vitro of the 1,2-phosphodiester-linked glycerol phosphate backbone of the lipoteichoic acids of Bifidobacterium bifidum subsp. pennsylvanicum. The incorporation was catalysed by a membrane-bound enzyme system. After addition of chloroform/methanol the product formed coprecipitated with protein. The material was phenol-extractable and was co-eluted with purified lipoteichoic acid on Sepharose 6B. The reaction was stimulated by Triton X-100, UDP-glucose and UDP-galactose, but Mg2+ ions had no effect. The apparent values for Km and Vmax. of the phosphatidylglycerol incorporation were 1.4 mM and 3.1 nmol/h per mg of membrane protein, respectively. Labelled UDP-glucose and UDP-galactose were not incorporated into the lipoteichoic acid fraction by the particulate membrane preparation.
Evidence that the stimulation of lipogenesis in the mammary glands of starved lactating rats re-fed with a chow diet is dependent on continued hepatic gluconeogenesis during the absorptive period. Effects of a gluconeogenic inhibitory, mercaptopicolinic acid, in vivo
Authors: Williamson D H , Ilic V , Jones R G
Published: August 2015

The rapid stimulation of lipogenesis in mammary gland that occurs on re-feeding starved lactating rats with a chow diet was decreased (60%) by injection of mercaptopicolinic acid, an inhibitor of hepatic gluconeogenesis at the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase step. Mercaptopicolinate had no effect on lipogenesis in mammary glands of fed lactating rats. The inhibition of lipogenesis persisted in vitro when acini from mammary glands of re-fed rats treated with mercaptopicolinate were incubated with [1-14C]glucose. Mercaptopicolinate added in vitro had no significant effect on lipogenesis in acini from starved-re-fed lactating rats. Mercaptopicolinate prevented the deposition of glycogen and increased the rate of lipogenesis in livers of starved-re-fed lactating rats, whereas it had no significant effect on livers of fed lactating rats. Administration of intraperitoneal glucose restored the rate of mammary-gland lipogenesis in re-fed rats treated with mercaptopicolinate to the values for re-fed rats. Hepatic glycogen deposition was also restored, and the rate of hepatic lipogenesis was stimulated 5-fold. It is concluded that stimulation of mammary-gland lipogenesis on re-feeding with a chow diet after a period of starvation is in part dependent on continued hepatic gluconeogenesis during the absorptive period. Possible sources of the glucose precursors are discussed.
Evidence that noradrenaline increases pyruvate dehydrogenase activity and decreases acetyl-CoA carboxylase activity in rat interscapular brown adipose tissue in vivo
Authors: Gibbins J M , Denton R M , McCormack J G
Published: August 2015

The rate of fatty acid synthesis in interscapular brown adipose tissue of female cold-adapted rats, as measured by the incorporation of 3H from 3H2O into tissue lipid, was decreased by about 70% after injection of noradrenaline. There was a similar decrease in the activity of acetyl-CoA carboxylase. In contrast, the proportion of pyruvate dehydrogenase in its active non-phosphorylated form was greatly increased after injection of noradrenaline. This finding suggests that the oxidation of glucose may be important in noradrenaline-induced thermogenesis in rat brown adipose tissue.
Amino acid metabolism by perfused rat hindquarter. Effects of insulin, leucine and 2-chloro-4-methylvalerate
Authors: Davis E J , Lee S H
Published: August 2015

Hindquarters from starved rats were perfused without substrates but in the presence of an O2- and CO2-carrying perfluorocarbon emulsion to evaluate principally the metabolism of individual endogenous and protein-derived amino acids by this muscle preparation. This experimental model was shown, by a battery of metabolite measurements, to maintain cellular homoeostasis for at least 2h. The net appearance of most amino acids closely approximated their frequency of occurrence in muscle proteins, showing that they are not significantly metabolized. Exceptions were the branched-chain amino acids, methionine and those amino acids that are interconvertible with intermediates of the citrate cycle and pyruvate through coupled transaminations. The evidence indicates that only valine, isoleucine, aspartate and probably methionine can be catabolized by skeletal muscle to provide carbon precursors for glutamate/glutamine and alanine that are formed de novo by protein-catabolic muscle. The protein-sparing effects of insulin and leucine were confirmed. Although each decreased proteolysis and the net appearance of free amino acids, they were generally without effect on the ratios of amino acids formed. 2-Chloro-4-methylvalerate selectively stimulated the removal rate for the branched-chain amino acids, confirming the idea that the branched-chain oxo acid dehydrogenase normally limits the rate of their oxidation by muscle. It is also concluded that, since alanine was not formed in excess of that found in muscle proteins when no glucose was added as substrate, the excess of alanine (carbon) released from muscles in other studies is derived to a large extent, but not exclusively, from preformed carbohydrate.
Effect of vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine) deficiency on lung elastin cross-linking in perinatal and weanling rat pups
Authors: Myers B A , Dubick M A , Reynolds R D , Rucker R B
Published: August 2015

Weanling and perinatal rats were rendered vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine)-deficient. The rat pups were nursed from vitamin B-6-deficient or -sufficient dams and were killed at day 15 after parturition. The weanling rats were fed vitamin B-6-deficient or -sufficient diets and were killed after 5 weeks of treatment. Lung elastin from the groups of rats was then studied with respect to its content of lysine-derived cross-linking amino acids. Lung lysyl oxidase activity was also measured. B-6 deficiency decreased the number of lysine residues in elastin that were converted into the cross-linking amino acid precursor allysine. However, a more significant defect in cross-link formation was an apparent block in the condensation steps leading to the formation of desmosine. Desmosine was decreased, with an increase in the amounts of aldol condensation products (aldol CP) in elastin. It is proposed that the elevation in aldol CP results from the formation of thiazines, which are produced from the reaction between aldehyde and homocysteine. The concentration of homocysteine is significantly elevated in vitamin B-6-deficient rats.
Inactivation of rabbit muscle phosphoglycerate mutase by limited proteolysis with thermolysin
Authors: Price N C , Duncan D , McAlister J W
Published: August 2015

Rabbit muscle phosphoglycerate mutase is inactivated by proteolysis with thermolysin. Inactivation is correlated with the breakage of one (or a few) bond(s) near one end of the polypeptide chain. There is no change in the overall conformation, quaternary structure or binding to Cibacron Blue on proteolysis. The possible analogy with the existence of a flexible tail in the yeast enzyme is discussed.
Construction and identification of a cDNA clone for human type II procollagen mRNA
Authors: Elima K , Mäkelä J K , Vuorio T , Kauppinen S , Knowles J , Vuorio E
Published: August 2015

Double-stranded cDNA was constructed for poly(A)-containing RNA isolated from foetal human articular cartilage known to contain small amounts of pro alpha 1 (II) collagen mRNA. A 585 base pair PstI-EcoRI cDNA fragment was isolated and cloned into plasmid pBR322. A resulting recombinant plasmid pHCAR1 was shown to hybridize specifically to a 5.4 kilobase mRNA in cartilage but not in calvarial RNA. Definite identification of clone pHCAR1 was based on sequence analysis; marked homology with the corresponding chick gene and complete agreement with the human gene sequences available were observed.
Primary structure of the telopeptide and a portion of the helical domain of chicken type II procollagen as determined by DNA sequence analysis
Authors: Deák F , Argraves W S , Kiss I , Sparks K J , Goetinck P F
Published: August 2015

A comparison of the nucleotide sequences of three new cDNA clones for chicken type II procollagen with the sequences of the other three types of chicken fibrillar procollagens reveals that the most conserved regions correlate with the positions of hydroxyproline, hydroxylysine, cysteine and lysine residues. On the basis of replacement-site-divergence calculations it is concluded that alpha 1(II) and alpha 1(I) procollagens diverged later than alpha 1(I) and alpha 2(I) procollagens.
Several dehydrogenases and kinases compete for endocytosis from plasma by rat tissues
Authors: Bijsterbosch M K , Duursma A M , Smit M J , Bos O J , Bouma J M , Gruber M
Published: August 2015

Plasma contains many enzymes that are probably derived from damaged cells. These enzymes are cleared at characteristic rates. We showed previously that in rats the rapid clearance of alcohol dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase M4 and the mitochondrial and cytosolic isoenzymes of malate dehydrogenase is largely due to endocytosis by macrophages in liver, spleen and bone marrow. We now demonstrate that uptake of each of the enzymes by these tissues is in general decreased by simultaneous injection of a high dose of one of the other dehydrogenases or a high dose of adenylate kinase or creatine kinase. A similar dose of colloidal albumin did not significantly decrease uptake of the four dehydrogenases. Nor was uptake of colloidal albumin, apo-peroxidase from horseradish or multilamellar liposomes influenced by a high dose of mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase. These results indicate that the four dehydrogenases and the two kinases are specifically endocytosed via the same receptor. We suggest that this receptor contains a group, possibly a nucleotide, with affinity for the nucleotide-binding sites of the enzymes.
Preparative isolation of the two forms of pig pancreatic pro-(carboxypeptidase A) and their monomeric carboxypeptidases A
Authors: Vilanova M , Vendrell J , López M T , Cuchillo C M , Avilés F X
Published: August 2015

A method is reported for the preparative isolation of the two forms of pro-(carboxypeptidase A) from pig pancreas: the monomer and the binary complex with pro-(proteinase E). This method, which is mainly based on chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose at pH 5.7, allows these proenzymes to be prepared more quickly and in safer conditions than with other reported methods. Undegraded and homogeneous carboxypeptidase A1 and A2 species (peptidyl-L-amino acid hydrolase, EC 3.4.17.1), in monomeric forms with high specific activity, are also obtained in high yield by controlled trypsin activation of either of the pro-(carboxypeptidases A) followed by chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose at pH 5.8 under dissociating conditions (7 M-urea).
Bioenergetic actions of β-bungarotoxin, dendrotoxin and bee-venom phospholipase A2 on guinea-pig synaptosomes
Authors: Nicholls D , Snelling R , Dolly O
Published: August 2015

Low concentrations of beta-bungarotoxin or bee-venom phospholipase A2 cause a progressive Ca2+-dependent increase in the proton permeability of the mitochondria within the synaptosomal cytosol, manifested as an increase in oligomycin-insensitive respiration and a partial depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential. This uncoupling appears to be a consequence of fatty acids liberated by phospholipase A2 activity at the plasma membrane, since it can be mimicked by the addition of oleate-albumin complexes, in which case there is no requirement for external Ca2+. Dendrotoxin does not affect the mitochondrial proton permeability in situ, but protects partially against the uncoupling action of beta-bungarotoxin. In contrast, this effect of bee-venom phospholipase A2 is unaffected by dendrotoxin. beta-Bungarotoxin, but not bee-venom phospholipase A2, induces a slow progressive depolarization of the plasma membrane. The action of beta-bungarotoxin at the plasma membrane appears not to be related to fatty acid production, since it is augmented rather than inhibited by raising albumin concentrations in the medium. It is concluded that beta-bungarotoxin has at least two actions on intact synaptosomes, both of which may involve interaction at the plasma membrane with a site common to dendrotoxin: first, a mitochondrial uncoupling mediated by fatty acids and, secondly, a depolarization at the plasma membrane.
Solubilization and characterization of pellet-associated human brain α-L-fucosidase activity
Authors: Hopfer R L , Alhadeff J A
Published: August 2015

The pellet-associated portion of human brain alpha-L-fucosidase (which represents approx. 20% of the homogenate activity) was solubilized with 0.5% (w/v) Triton X-100, characterized with regard to several properties and compared with the corresponding properties of the soluble supernatant-fluid enzyme in an attempt to find a second alpha-L-fucosidase in human brain. The solubilized and soluble alpha-L-fucosidase activities exhibited complete stability after storage at 2-4 degrees C for up to 29 days, comparable thermostability after preincubation at 50 degrees C, comparable apparent Km values (0.07-0.08 mM) for 4-methylumbelliferyl alpha-L-fucopyranoside, comparable hydrophobicity, comparable isoelectric-focusing profiles (six major forms, with pI values between 4.5 and 5.8) and comparable immunoprecipitation curves (with the IgG fraction of antisera prepared against human liver alpha-L-fucosidase). Differences in three properties were found between solubilized and soluble alpha-L-fucosidase activities: the solubilized activity was less stable to storage at −20 degrees C, had a 0.5-pH-unit neutral shift in its pH optimum (6.0) and had smaller Mr forms after gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. The overall results indicate that the pellet-associated and soluble portions of human brain alpha-L-fucosidase are quite similar in most of their properties. Thus there is still no compelling evidence for the existence of a second mammalian alpha-L-fucosidase.
NAD-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase from bovine heart. Interaction with Ca2+ chelators
Authors: Gabriel J L , Plaut G W E
Published: August 2015

The activity of NAD-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase was inhibited by EDTA, EGTA and other nitrogen-containing polycarboxylate Ca2+ chelators in the absence and in the presence of ADP by a mechanism that could not be attributed solely to the removal of free Ca2+. Carboxymethyltartronate (2-oxapropane-1,1,3-tricarboxylate), an oxygen ether polycarboxylate chelator, did not inhibit when ADP was absent. The activation by ADP, a positive effector of the enzyme, decreased with increasing concentration of carboxymethyltartronate, paralleling the removal of free Ca2+ by this chelator. The following were found when free Ca2+ was decreased to negligible concentrations (5-50 nM) with carboxymethyltartronate. (1) Free Ca2+ enhanced, but was not absolutely required for, activation by ADP. (2) Activation of enzyme activity by magnesium citrate neither required nor was increased by Ca2+ when ADP was absent. However, the potentiation of citrate activation by ADP was facilitated by free Ca2+. (3) The reversal of NADPH inhibition of enzyme activity by ADP did not absolutely require Ca2+, but it was enhanced by free Ca2+. (4) The inhibition of enzyme activity by NADH was not reversed by ADP either with or without Ca2+.