bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Partial purification and characterization of human erythrocyte phosphoglycollate phosphatase
Authors: Zecher R , Wolf H U
Published: August 2015

Human erythrocytes contain a phosphatase that is highly specific for phosphoglycollate. It shows optimum pH of 6.7 and has Km 1 mM for phosphoglycollate. The molecular weight appears to be about 72000. The enzyme is a dimeric molecule having subunits of mol. wt. about 35000. It could be purified approx. 4000-fold up to a specific activity of 5.98 units/mg of protein. The activity of the enzyme is Mg2+-dependent. Co2+, and to a smaller extent Mn2+, may substitute for Mg2+. Half-maximum inhibition of the phosphatase by 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoate), EDTA and NaF is obtained at 0.5 microM, 1 mM and 4 mM respectively. Moreover, it needs a univalent cation for optimum activity. Phosphoglycollate phosphatase is a cytoplasmic enzyme. Approx. 5% of its total activity is membrane-associated. This part of activity can be approx. 70% solubilized by freezing, thawing and treatment with 0.25% Triton X-100.
Purification and partial characterization of high-molecular-weight forms of ectopic calcitonin from a human bronchial carcinoma cell line
Authors: Lumsden J , Ham J , Ellison M L
Published: August 2015

Studies on the high-molecular-weight immunoreactive calcitonin produced ectopically in culture by an epidermoid bronchial carcinoma cell line are reported. In cell-exposed medium, the principal component has a molecular weight of 40000 and molecules of mol.wts. 13000 and 10000 also occur. Only a trace amount of material co-eluting with 35000-mol.wt. human calcitonin is detectable. None of the calcitonins show cross-reactivity with anti-corticotropin serum. The 40000-mol.wt. immunoreactive calcitonin is readily proteolysed to the 13000- and 10000-mol.wt. components, but the 10000-mol.wt. component behaves as a comparatively stable ‘core’ molecule. By using immunoprecipitation and high-pressure liquid chromatography (h.p.l.c.), it is possible to prepare radiochemically homogeneous 10000-mol.wt. immunoreactive calcitonin from cells grown in the presence of individual 35S- or 3H-labelled amino acids. Peptide mapping of enzymic digests of this material by h.p.l.c. shows that it contains peptides in common with synthetic human calcitonin.
Fluorescence-polarization studies on binding of 4-methylumbelliferyl β-d-galactopyranoside to Ricinus communis (castor-bean) agglutinin
Authors: Khan M I , Mathew M K , Balaram P , Surolia A
Published: August 2015

The binding of Ricinus communis (castor-bean) agglutinin 1 to saccharides was studied by equilibrium dialysis and fluorescence polarization by using the fluorescently labelled sugar 4-methylumbelliferyl beta-D-galactopyranoside. No appreciable change in ligand fluorescence of 4-methylumbelliferyl beta-D-galactopyranoside was considerably polarized on its binding to the lectin. The association constants obtained by Scatchard analysis of equilibrium-dialysis and fluorescence-polarization data do not differ much from each other, and at 25 degrees C, Ka = 2.4 (+/- 0.2) X 10(4)M-1. These values agree reasonably well with that reported in the literature for Ricinus agglutinin 1. The number of binding sites obtained by the different experimental procedures is 1.94 +/- 0.1 per molecule of 120 000 daltons and is equal to the reported value of 2. The consistency in the values of Ka and number of binding sites indicate the absence of additional subsites on Ricinus agglutinin 1 for its specific sugars. In addition, the excellent agreement between the binding parameters obtained by equilibrium dialysis and fluorescence polarization indicate the potential of ligand-fluorescence-polarization measurements in the investigation of lectin-sugar interactions.
On the sensitivity of metallothioneins to oxidation during isolation
Authors: Minkel D T , Poulsen K , Wielgus S , Shaw C F , Petering D H
Published: August 2015

It is demonstrated that the distribution of metals among the Sephadex G-75 fractions of rat liver and horse kidney supernatant is altered by exposure to oxidizing conditions. In particular, the metals bound to metallothionein are displaced into high-molecular-weight fractions and, to a lesser extent, into the low-molecular-weight forms, under aerobic conditions. In this process, metallothionein zinc is much more labile than cadmium. An appreciable proportion of the thionein is also found in the high-molecular-weight fractions and can be recovered along with the metals by treatment with mercaptoethanol. This result shows that the distributions obtained aerobically with large cadmium content in the high-molecular-weight fractions are an artefact due to metallothionein oxidation and suggests that ‘spillage’ of metals such as cadmium may be due in large part to oxidative processes rather than saturation effects. Evidence is presented that disulphide-bond formation occurs as thionein becomes bound in the high-molecular-weight region and that chemical reduction is necessary to restore its normal elution behaviour. Mercaptoethanol added to the homogenates maintains the reducing conditions normally found in the cellular milieu and prevents the oxidation of the metallothionein redistribution of the metals during isolation. Under these conditions the rat liver metallothionein isolated from animals exposed to chronic low concentrations of cadmium in drinking water contains appreciable quantities of copper as well as zinc and contains much of the zinc that is present in horse kidney supernatants. Metallothionein can also be extracted from a 40 000g pellet after sonication of the pellet. Thus careful analytical studies of the sites of cadmium deposition in rat liver indicate that greater than 95% is bound to metallothionein.
A neutral endopeptidase in the microvillar membrane of pig intestine. Partial purification and properties
Authors: Danielsen E M , Vyas J P , Kenny A J
Published: August 2015

An enzyme hydrolysing [125I]iodo-insulin B chain was enriched in preparations of intestinal microvilli. The activity could be solubilized by Triton X-100 and was partially (76-fold) purified. It was very sensitive to inhibition by phosphoramidon and was also inhibited by chelating agents. In its enzymic, molecular and immunological properties the intestinal enzyme closely resembled kidney microvillar neutral endopeptidase (kidney-brush-border neutral proteinase, EC 3.4.24.11).
Procollagen type III N-terminal endopeptidase in fibroblast culture
Authors: Nusgens B V , Goebels Y , Shinkai H , Lapière C M
Published: August 2015

A peptidase activity capable of excising in a single fragment the N-terminal extension of the precursor of collagen type III (p-N-collagen type III) was observed in calf tendon fibroblast culture medium. A new procedure was developed for detecting this peptidase (p-N-collagen type III peptidase). It is based on the use of 14C-labelled p-N-collagen type III obtained by carboxymethylation of the half-cystine residues with iodo-[14C]acetamide. The released labelled N-terminal extension is soluble in 27% (v/v) ethanol, whereas the uncleaved substrate and the collagen are precipitated under these conditions. The endopeptidase nature of p-N-collagen type III peptidase is supported by the similarity in molecular weight of the product of cleavage of p-N-collagen III by the enzyme to those obtained by cleavage with bacterial collagenase. An apparent Km of 0.3 × 10(-6)M was established. The pH optimum of p-N-collagen type III peptidase is similar to that of p-N-collagen type I peptidase, i.e. about 7.5. Both peptidases are inhibited by dithiothreitol and by Cu2+ and Zn2+, but not by other bivalent ions. p-N-collagen type III peptidase does not cleave p-N-collagen I or p-N-gelatin I. Partial purification of p-N-collagen type III peptidase from fibroblast culture medium was performed by sieve chromatography on Ultrogel AcA-34 to yield two peaks of activity, of mol.wts. 170000 and 100000. Part of the activity was retained on affinity chromatography on concanavalin A–Sepharose. Studied as a function of the age of the culture, p-N-collagen type III peptidase activity produced by tendon fibroblasts parallels that of p-N-collagen type I peptidase and collagen synthesis.
Phosphorylase kinase phosphorylation of skeletal-muscle troponin T
Authors: Risnik V V , Dobrovolskii A B , Gusev N B , Severin S E
Published: August 2015

Rabbit skeletal-muscle troponin T was phosphorylated by a standard preparation of phosphorylase kinase [Cohen (1973) Eur. J. Biochem. 34, 1–14] and by fractions obtained after chromatography of phosphorylase kinase on phosphocellulose. The original preparation of phosphorylase kinase phosphorylated at least two sites, one of which was serine-1. The second and probably the third sites were presumably located in the peptide flanked by amino-acid residues 147 and 161 of troponin T. Fractions of phosphorylase kinase was adsorbed on phosphocellulose phosphorylated only the second site. Tightly adsorbed fractions possessed high troponin T kinase and phosvitin kinase activities and phosphorylated only serine-1 of troponin T. The results suggest that standard preparations of phosphorylase kinase are contaminated by troponin T kinase, which can phosphorylate serine-1 of troponin T.
The use of tritiated water to measure absolute rates of hepatic glycogen synthesis
Authors: Postle A D , Bloxham D P
Published: August 2015

Glucogen synthesis in rat liver in vivo was measured by the incorporation of 3H from 3H2O into glycogen. In meal-fed rats incorporation and the incorporation of 3H into glycogen was linear up to 100 min. Before feeding glycogen concentration and the incorporation of 3H were both low; and both rose on feeding to give maximal values after 2-3h. The glycogen concentration was maintained for a further 5h but the incorporation of 3H rapidly declined to pre-feeding values. This shows that glycogen turnover was low in the post-prandial rat. Streptozotocin diabetes decreased the rise in glycogen concentration on feeding and had a similar effect on 3H2O incorporation. Both effects were reversed by insulin administration. The number of 3H atoms incorporated per glycogen glucose moiety formed in biosynthetic experiments (2.84 +/- 0.47) was relatively constant and allowed absolute biosynthetic rates to be calculated. Degradation of glucose from glycogen labelled by 3H2O showed that most of the 3H was located at C-2 and C-5. The incorporation would arise by rapid equilibration of hexose phosphates through phosphoglucose isomerase, transaldolase and triose phosphate isomerase.
Effects of ionophores and metabolic inhibitors on the mitochondrial membrane potential within isolated hepatocytes as measured with the safranine method
Authors: Akerman K E , Järvisalo J O
Published: August 2015

A difference spectrum with a peak of absorbance at 526nm appears slowly upon addition of valinomycin or KCN in combination with oligomycin to a hepatocyte suspension in the presence of safranine. When the cells are incubated at 37 degrees C in a medium containing safranine, a slow decrease in the absorbance occurs at the wavelength pair 524-484 nm. The change in absorbance is completed within 20-30 min after additions of cells to a medium containing safranine. At this time the safranine concentration of the outer medium is considerably decreased. The safranine signal is completely reversed by valinomycin, carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenyl-hydrazone or KCN in combination with oligomycin. None of these treatments have any immediate effect on cellular ATP concentrations or the 36Cl- equilibrium potential across the plasma membrane. In the presence of iodoacetate a slow reversal of the trace can be induced upon addition of KCN, but not of oligomycin alone. Rotenone, in combination with oligomycin, does not reverse the safranine signal except when both KF and iodoacetate are present, in which case a slow reversal is seen. A subsequent addition of duroquinone brings back the signal to the same level as in the presence of rotenone alone. The results indicate that the spectral response of safranine in the presence of isolated hepatocytes is a result of a slow penetration of safranine into intracellular mitochondria, where aggregation of safranine molecules occurs as a response to the mitochondrial membrane potential.
Changes in cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP concentrations during the action of 5-hydroxytryptamine on an insect salivary gland
Authors: Heslop J P , Berridge M J
Published: August 2015

Salivary glands from adult blowflies (Calliphora erythrocephala Meigen) were studied in vitro. The time course of changes in cyclic AMP content of the glands was followed at different concentration of 5-hydroxytryptamine. There was an immediate biphasic rise and fall in cyclic AMP content, following by a slower rise and subsequent gradual decline. The initial rise preceded the onset of fluid secretion by the glands. Rises in cyclic AMP content were inhibited by compound RMI 12330 A (an adenylate cyclase inhibitor) and were halted after about 15-20s if the glands were deprived of Ca2+. Theophylline (a phosphodiesterase inhibitor) abolished the decline phase of the fast response, Losses of cyclic AMP from the glands either to the bathing medium or to the saliva were small and could not account for the rapid fall found. Evidence is presented that cyclic GMP is not involved in the process of initiating secretion in the blowfly salivary gland.
Study of the fructose 6-phosphate/fructose 1,6-bi-phosphate cycle in the liver in vivo
Authors: Van Schaftingen E , Hue L , Hers H G
Published: August 2015

1. The method proposed by Rognstad & Katz [(1976) Arch, Biochem, Biophys, 177, 337-345] for the determination of the fructose 6-phosphate/fructose 1,6-bisphosphate cycle by the randomization of carbon between C-1 and C-6 of glucose glucose formed from [1-14C] galactose was applied to anaesthetized rats and conscious mice. 2. It was checked that the hydrolysis of fructose 6-phosphate by glucose 6-phosphatase is too weak to invalidate the method. The participation of the Cori cycle in the randomization was negligible within the short experimental period used (2-4 min). 3. No detectable randomization of carbon was observed in starved animals, indicating that phosphofructokinase is inactive in this experimental condition. 4. Randomization of carbon was detected as soon as 1 min after administration of [1-14C] galactose to fed animals and was maximal at about 3-4 min. It was calculated that on average 15% of the glucose formed by the liver to fed rats was recycled through the triose phosphates. The extent of cycling was quite variable. Recycling was also observed in starved rats in which glucose had been administered intravenously 10 min previously. In these animals, recycling was completely inhibited by glucagon. 5. The main factors that appear to be responsible for the very large changes in recycling observed in various experimental conditions are the concentrations of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and of fructose 6-phosphate and also the affinity of phosphofructokinase for fructose 6-phosphate. The concentration of nucleotides does not seem to play a role.
The effect of cycloheximide on the glycosylation of lactating-rabbit mammary glycoproteins
Authors: White D A , Speake B K
Published: August 2015

1. Cycloheximide inhibited immediately the incorporation of L-[4,5-3H]leucine and D-]2-3H]mannose into mammary proteins, suggesting that the mannosylation of mammary glycoproteins requires the continued supply of newly synthesized polypeptides. 2. The incorporation of radioactivity from N-acetyl-D-[1-14C] glucosamine into protein was not inhibited until approx. 30 min after cycloheximide addition. Much (greater than 90%) of this radioactivity was present as N-acetylgalactosamine. 3. N-Glycosylation appears to be inhibited immediately by cycloheximide due to a lack of newly synthesized acceptor polypeptides, whereas O-glycosylation continues for 30 min, the time taken for acceptor peptides to move from their site of synthesis to the Golgi region and for completion of glycosylation. 4. There was a transient increase in the incorporation of mannose into lipid-linked oligosaccharide in the presence of cycloheximide, followed by a decrease in the radioactivity in this fraction. 5. The major lipid-linked oligosaccharide extracted from explants incubated for 2h in the presence of cycloheximide (6-7 monosaccharide units) was smaller than that extracted from control explants (10-12 monosaccharide units).
Hydroperoxide-induced chemiluminescence of the perfused lung
Authors: Cadenas E , Arad I D , Fisher A B , Boveris A , Chance B
Published: August 2015

Light-emission of the perfused lung is induced by t-butyl hydroperoxide, giving chemiluminescence yields that oscillate between 800 and 1500 counts/s depending on the site and position of the lung. The response of the perfused lung to infusion with different hydroperoxides gives a pattern similar to that observed with the liver microsomal fraction; ethyl hydroperoxide shows a much higher chemiluminescence yield than the tertiary (t-butyl and cumene)hydroperoxides. Alveolar oedema affected the light-emission of the perfused lung depending on the time at which oedema developed, decreasing light emission on infusion of hydroperoxide in the oedematous lung and increasing it when oedema appeared after the maximal chemiluminescence yield was already achieved. Paraquat, administered in vivo, augmented light-emission by approximately 2-fold. The effect of paraquat was a time-dependent process. Lung chemiluminescence, compared with liver chemiluminescence, needed higher hydroperoxide concentration to induce light-emission.
Androgens regulate mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase and lysosomal hydrolases in mouse skeletal muscle
Authors: Koenig H , Goldstone A , Lu C Y
Published: August 2015

The gastrocnemius, a fast-twitch white muscle, and the soleus, a slow-twitch red muscle, were studied in A/J mice. The specific activities of the lysosomal hydrolases, beta-D-glucuronidase, hexosaminidase, beta-D-galactosidase and arylsulphatase, the inner-mitochondrial-membrane enzyme cytochrome c oxidase, and the outer-mitochondrial-membrane enzyme monoamine oxidase, were greater in the soleus than in the gastrocnemius. The specific activities of the lysosomal hydrolases and cytochrome c oxidase in the gastrocnemius and soleus were substantially higher in male mice than in female mice. Orchiectomy abolished this sex difference. Testosterone increased the activities of the lysosomal hydrolases and cytochrome c oxidase and coincidentally induced muscle hypertrophy and an accretion of protein and RNA, but total DNA remained constant. Monoamine oxidase was unaffected by sex, orchiectomy and testosterone. These findings indicate that endogenous androgens regulate the activity of enzymes associated with lysosomes and the inner mitochondrial membrane, as well as muscle fibre growth in mouse skeletal muscle.
Rat embryonic and foetal erythrocytes. High 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate and ATP and low oxygen affinity in vitro for nucleated embryonic cells
Authors: Gilman J G
Published: August 2015

Embryonic nucleated red cells of the rat have high ATP and 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate and relatively low oxygen affinity. During foetal life they are replaced by large non-nucleated red cells with high ATP, low bisphosphoglycerate and high oxygen affinity. After birth, small non-nucleated red cells with high bisphosphoglycerate and low oxygen affinity rapidly predominate.
Inhibition of bone resorption in culture by inhibitors of thiol proteinases
Authors: Delaissé J M , Eeckhout Y , Vaes G
Published: August 2015

Leupeptin, antipain, tosyl-lysylchloromethane (Tos-Lys-CH2Cl) and benzyloxy-carbonylphenylalanylalanyldiazomethane (Z-Phe-Ala-CHN2) inhibit reversibly the resorption induced by parathyroid hormone or heparin in cultured mouse bones. Leupeptin and antipain do not affect collagenase production and activity or the enhanced secretion of beta-glucuronidase induced by the bone-resorbing agents. They might thus act by a direct (extracellular?) inhibition of lysosomal thiol proteinases.
Biosynthesis of rat liver pyruvate kinase. Measurement of enzyme lifetime and the rate of synthesis at weaning
Authors: Hopkirk T J , Bloxham D P
Published: August 2015

Sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis of immunoprecipitates of liver cytosol with anti-(L-type pyruvate kinase) serum revealed proteins of mol.wt. 56 000 and 42 000 in addition to the heavy and light chains. The ratio of the 56 000 mol.wt. to the 42 000 mol.wt. protein increased under dietary conditions that resulted in an increase in the apparent specific activity of hepatic pyruvate kinase. The 42 000 mol.wt. protein was removed from immunoprecipitates if the liver cytosol was partially purified by pH precipitation and (NH4)2SO4 fractionation before addition of the antiserum. This technique may be used to analyse the formation of pure L-type pyruvate kinase in liver. By using H14CO3-labelling, the t1/2 of L-type pyruvate kinase was estimated as 75 +/- 1.7 h in post-weaned high-carbohydrate-diet-fed rats. Before weaning there was little immunoreactive pyruvate kinase in rat liver cytosol. Induction began between 6 and 24 h after weaning and reached a maximum value 120 h after weaning. When clearly enhanced total pyruvate kinase activity was first observed at 24 h post-weaning, the apparent specific activity of hepatic pyruvate kinase was considerably lower than the specific activity of the pure isolated enzyme. When the induction of L-type pyruvate kinase was monitored by the incorporation of L-[4,5-3H]leucine, the maximum rate of synthesis occurred 24–48 h after weaning. After this period synthesis declined, indicating a relatively slow turnover of the enzyme once the enzyme concentration was established in the liver.
Subcellular localization and properties of rat liver adenosine diphosphatase
Authors: Smith G P , Smith G D , Peters T J
Published: August 2015

ADPase (adenosine diphosphatase) was assayed in rat liver homogenates with [beta-32P]ADP as substrate. The activity had a pH optimum of 8.0 and was strongly activated by Mg2+. The intracellular localization was determined by analytical subcellular fractionation with single-step sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation. Selective membrane perturbants were used to enhance the resolution of the various organelles. ADPase was localized to the mitochondria. Mitochondria were isolated by differential centrifugation and subfractionated by selective disruption of the inner and outer membranes. The intramitochondrial localization of ADPase was compared with various marker enzymes and was shown to be concentrated in the outer-membrane fractions. The effects of various inhibitors on the ADPase activity were determined and the possibility that the activity could be due to known enzyme systems was considered. It is concluded that ADP degradation is due to a hitherto unrecognized mitochondrial enzyme.
Metal ion interactions in the control of haem oxygenase induction in liver and kidney
Authors: Drummond G S , Kappas A
Published: August 2015

Mn2+ and Zn2+ exhibit a striking ability to block the induction by Sn2+ and Ni2+ of haem oxygenase (EC 1.14.99.3) in kidney. The blocking effects of Mn2+ and Zn2+ were found to be greatest on simultaneous administration, time-dependent when administered up to 8 h before the inducing metal ions, and ineffective when administered as little as 10 min after the inducing metal ions. The decreases in cytochrome P-450 and haem contents and the sequential changes in delta-aminolaevulinate synthase (EC 2.3.1.37) activity that occur concomitant with haem oxygenase induction were largely eliminated with simultaneous or prior treatment with Mn2+ or Zn2+, but not when Mn2+ or Zn2+ was administered after Sn2+ or Ni2+. Mn2+ and Zn2+ did not increase the catabolism of the enzyme in vivo. Zn2+ on simultaneous administration was also able substantially to block the induction of haem oxygenase by Co2+, Cd2+ and Ni2+ in liver. The Zn2+ blockade of Cd2+ induction was examined in detail, and prior or simultaneous administration of Zn2+ was found to be effective in blocking the induction of haem oxygenase and the concomitant decreases in cytochrome P-450 and haem contents, ethylmorphine demethylase activity and the sequential changes in delta-aminolaevulinate synthase activity. Zn2+ administration 10 min or more after Cd2+ was ineffective in preventing the occurrence of these perturbations in haem metabolism. These findings describe a new and striking biological property of Mn2+ and Zn2+, and indicate the existence of significant metal ion interactions in the control of haem metabolism.
Nucleocytoplasmic transport of RNA. The effect of 3′-deoxyadenosine triphosphate on RNA release from isolated nuclei
Authors: Kletzien R F
Published: August 2015

The addition of 3′-deoxyadenosine (cordycepin) to cells in culture results in the inhibition of the appearance of mRNA in the cytoplasm through a mechanism thought to involve the inhibition of polyadenylate synthesis. I studied the effect of 3′-deoxyadenosine triphosphate, the physiologically active form of 3′-deoxyadenosine, on RNA release from isolated nuclei. Nuclei were isolated from baby-hamster kidney (BHK) fibroblasts that had been given a short pulse of radioactive uridine or adenosine in the presence of a low concentration of actinomycin D before harvest. RNA release from the isolated nuclei under the appropriate incubation conditions was time-, temperature- and ATP-dependent. 3′-Deoxyadenosine triphosphate inhibited RNA release from the isolated nuclei. However, RNA that was restricted to the nuclei during incubation with the drug could be chased out of the nuclei if the incubation medium was replaced with medium containing only ATP. The chased poly(A)+ (polyadenylated) RNA had shortened poly(A) tracts, indicating that poly(A)+ RNA with shortened poly(A) tracts can be transported out of the nucleus. An experiment was designed to test the effect of 3′-deoxyadenosine triphosphate on the release of poly(A)+ RNA at drug concentrations which caused 33 or 64% inhibition of RNA release. The release of poly(A)+ RNA and poly(A)- RNA (not polyadenylated) was equally inhibited by the drug. Thus, although 3′-deoxyadenosine triphosphate does inhibit release of RNA from the nucleus, it would appear that the drug does so through a mechanism independent of the inhibition of polyadenylation. The process that is inhibited must be one that is common to both poly(A)+ and poly(A)- RNA. The possibility that 3′-deoxyadenosine triphosphate inhibits a reaction at the nuclear membrane or nuclear pore complex is considered.
Identification of the quinone species in cyanide-sensitive and cyanide-insensitive mitochondria of Moniliella tomentosa
Authors: Vanderleyden J , Meyers M , Verachtert H
Published: August 2015

Moniliella tomentosa was investigated for the presence of different quinones that might be involved in the cyanide-sensitive and/or cyanide-insensitive electron-transport pathways. The naturally occurring quinone in Moniliella tomentosa was found to be ubiquinone-45. Other quinone species could not be detected. The concentration of ubiquinone-45 in mitochondria is not related to the presence or absence of the alternative oxidase activity.
Biogenesis of hepatocyte plasma-membrane domains. Incorporation of (3H)fucose into plasma-membrane and golgi-apparatus glycoproteins
Authors: Evans W H , Flint N A , Vischer P
Published: August 2015

1. Rats were injected intracaudally with [3H]fucose and its rate of incorporation into the fucoproteins of serum, Golgi and plasma-membrane subfractions was followed for up tp 2h. 2. Incorporation into the Golgi dictyosome and secretory-vesicular fractions reached a maximum at 15 min or less, but most of the radioactivity was associated with classes of secretory glycoproteins. Incorporation into sinusoidal plasma-membrane fractions reached a maximum at 30 min, coinciding with the maximum release of fucoproteins into the serum. Contiguous and canalicular plasma-membrane fractions were labelled slightly later and at a lower rate and specific radioactivity. 3. Fluorography of fucoproteins separated by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis helped to distinguish between the major secretory and membrane-bound glycoproteins. The results show that a major biogenetic sequence is probably from Golgi dictyosomes to Golgi secretory elements to a sinusoidal plasma membrane. 4. The kinetics of incorporation make it unlikely that there is rapid and direct insertion of glycoproteins into the bile-canalicular plasma membrane. A route involving direct transfer of glycoproteins via a membrane-mediated intracellular path from the blood sinusoidal to the bile-canalicular plasma membranes is proposed.
Contraction in intact pig aortic strips is not always associated with phosphorylation of myosin light chains
Authors: Murray K J , England P J
Published: August 2015

Intact pig aortic strips were incubated in medium containing [32P]P1 and various Ca2+ concentrations. The 32P content of the myosin P-light chain was determined by radioautography after electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate. Although treatment of the strips with noradrenaline always caused a rise in tension, this was not necessarily accompanied by increased phosphorylation of the P-light chain. These results indicate that, in aortic smooth muscle, phosphorylation of the P-light chain is not obligatory for contraction.
The exocellular β-lactamase of Streptomyces albus G. Purification, properties and comparison with the exocellular dd-carboxypeptidase
Authors: Duez C , Frère J M , Klein D , Noël M , Ghuysen J M , Delcambe L , Dierickx L
Published: August 2015

The exocellular beta-lactamase of Streptomyces albus G has been purified to near protein homogeneity. It consists of one single polypeptide chain of mol.wt. 30 000-31 000, has a rather low isoelectric point (at pH 6.0) and contains less lysine (2.1%) and more half-cystine residues than most beta-lactamases from other Gram-positive bacteria. Penicillins are much better substrates than delta 3-cephalosporins; the catalytic-centre activity of good penicillin substrates is 333-500 s-1. The exocellular, mol.wt. 17 000 DD-carboxypeptidase of S. albus G [previously purified to protein homogeneity; Duez, Frère, Geurts, Ghuysen, Dierickx & Delcambe (1978) Biochem. J. 175, 793-800] behaves as an exceedingly poor beta-lactamase, hydrolysing benzylpenicillin into benzylpenicilloate 5 × 10(-6)-fold less rapidly than does the exocellular beta-lactamase. To all appearances, the beta-lactamase has no bivalent cation requirement whereas, as shown elsewhere [Dideberg, Charlier, Dupont, Vermeire, Frère & Ghuysen (1980) FEBS Lett. 117, 212-214, and Dideberg, Joris, Frère, Ghuysen, Weber, Robaye, Delbrouck & Roelands (1980) FEBS Lett. 117, 215-218], the DD-carboxypeptidase possesses one essential Zn2+ ion per molecule. Peptide ‘mapping’ and immunological studies suggest that the two Streptomyces enzymes probably have very different structural and mechanistic properties.
The preparation and characterization of locust vitellogenin messenger RNA and the synthesis of its complementary DNA
Authors: Applebaum S W , James T C , Wreschner D H , Tata J R
Published: August 2015

Poly(A)+ (polyadenylated) RNA was isolated from vitellogenic female-locus fat-body by LiCl/urea extraction and poly(U)-Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography. Agarose-gel electrophoresis of this poly(A)+ RNA under denaturing conditions shows the presence of a high-molecular-weight species (greater than 31 S, 7100 nucleotides) as the major species, which is absent from the RNA prepared from male-locust fat-body. Inclusion of this poly(A)+ RNA in a mRNA-dependent reticulocyte-lysate system directs the synthesis of polypeptides that could be immunoprecipitated with monospecific antibodies against locust egg vitellin. DNA complementary (cDNA) to the poly(A)+ RNA was synthesized, and back-hybridization of the cDNA to its template reveals a major abundant species comprising about 45% of the total poly(A)+ RNA hybridizing with R0t 1/2 of 2 × 10(-2) mol . litre-1 . s. Abundant cDNA isolated from the total cDNA hybridizes to poly(A)+ RNA with a R0t 1/2 of 9 × 10(-3) mol . litre-1 . s. There are 9.1 × 10(3) copies of vitellogenin mRNA per cell of vitellogenic female-locust fat-body, comprising 55% of the poly(A)+ RNA and equivalent to 0.7% of total cellular RNA.
Inactivation of Δ5-3-oxo steroid isomerase with active-site-directed acetylenic steroids
Authors: Penning T M , Covey D F , Talalay P
Published: August 2015

Several steroid analogues containing conjugated acetylenic ketone groups as part of a seco-ring structure or as substituents on the intact steroid system are irreversible inhibitors of delta 5-3-oxo steroid isomerase (EC 5.3.3.1) from Pseudomonas testosteroni. Thus 10 beta-(1-oxoprop-2-ynyl)oestr-4-ene-3,17-dione (I), 5,10-seco-oestr-4-yne-3,10,17-trione (II), 17 beta-hydroxy-5,10-seco-oestr-4-yne-3,10-dione (III) and 17 beta-(1-oxoprop-2-ynyl)androst-4-en-3-one (IV) irreversibly inactivate isomerase in a time-dependent manner. In all cases saturation kinetics are observed. Protection against inactivation is afforded by the powerful competitive inhibitor 19-nortestosterone. The inhibition constants (Ki) for 19-nortestosterone obtained from such experiments are in good agreement with those determined from conventional competitive-inhibition studies of enzyme activity. These compounds thus appear to be active-site directed. In every case the inactivated enzyme could be dialysed without return of activity, indicating that a stable covalent bond probably had formed between the steroid and enzyme. Compound (I) is a very potent inhibitor of isomerase [Ki = 66.0 microM and k+2 = 12.5 × 10(-3) s-1 (where Ki is the dissociation constant of the reversible enzyme-inhibitor complex and k+2 is the rate constant for the inactivation reaction of the enzyme-inhibitor complex)] giving half-lives of inactivation of 30-45 s at saturation. It is argued that the basic-amino-acid residue that abstracts the intramolecularly transferred 4 beta-proton in the reaction mechanism could form a Michael-addition product with compound (I). In contrast, although compound (IV) has a lower inhibition constant (Ki = 14.5 microM), it is a relatively poor alkylating agent (k+2 = 0.13 × 10(-3) s-1). If the conjugated acetylenic ketone groups are replaced by alpha-hydroxyacetylene groups, the resultant analogues of steroids (I)-(IV) are reversible competitive inhibitors with Ki values in the range 27-350 microM. The enzyme binds steroids in the C19 series with functionalized acetylenic substituents at C-17 in preference to steroids in the C18 series bearing similar groups in the ring structure or as C-10 substituents. In the 5,10-seco-steroid series the presence of hydroxy groups at both C-3 and C-17 is deleterious to binding by the enzyme.
Thermal stabilization of glucose oxidase and glucoamylase by physical entrapment
Authors: Basaveswara Rao V , Sastri N V S , Subba Rao P V
Published: August 2015

Physical entrapment was used as an approach to achieve thermal stabilization of enzymes. The t 1/2 values for the thermoinactivation of glucose oxidase and glucoamylase were increased several-fold by their entrapment in polyacrylamide gels. In polyacrylate gels the individual enzymes behaved differently, probably owing to microenvironmental effects arising by the polyelectrolyte nature of the carrier.
Studies of pyruvate-water isotope exchange catalysed by erythrocytes and proteins
Authors: Simpson R J , Brindle K M , Brown F F , Campbell I D , Foxall D L
Published: August 2015

Erythrocyte suspensions in buffer made with 2H2O catalyse the exchange of pyruvate protons. This process can be easly observed by spin-echo proton magnetic resonance. The dominant exchange process is shown to be due to the formation of Schiff-base links between pyruvate and amino groups of haemoglobin. Other proteins with free alpha-amino groups also catalyse the exchange. The pH*-dependence of the exchange rate due to hen-egg-white-lysozyme reflects the dissociation of the alpha-amino group.
Glucose 6-phosphate activation of pyruvate kinase from Mycobacterium smegmatis
Authors: Kapoor R , Venkitasubramanian T A
Published: August 2015

1. Activation of glucose 6-phosphate is one of the unique properties of pyruvate kinase from Mycobacterium smegmatis. 2. Pyruvate kinase, partially purified from ultrasonic extracts of the mycobacteria by (NH4)2SO4 fractionation, exhibited sigmoidal kinetics at various concentrations of phosphoenolpyruvate, with a high degree of co-operativity (Hill coefficient, h = 3.7) and S0.5 value of 1.0 mM. 3. In the presence of glucose 6-phosphate, the degree of co-operativity shown by the phosphoenolpyruvate saturation curve was decreased to h = 2.33 and the S0.5 value was lowered to 0.47 mM. 4. The enzyme was activated by AMP and ribose 5-phosphate also, but the activation constant was lowest with glucose 6-phosphate (0.24 mM). 5. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by ATP at all phosphoenolpyruvate concentrations. The concentrations of ATP required to produce half-maximal inhibition of enzyme activity at non-saturating (0.2 mM) and saturating (2 mM) phosphoenolpyruvate concentrations were 1.1 mM and 3 mM respectively. 6. The inhibition of ATP was partially relieved by glucose 6-phosphate. 7. The enzyme exhibited Michaelis-Menten kinetics with ADP as the variable substrate, with an apparent Km of 0.66 mM. 8. The enzyme required Mg2+ or Mn2+ ions for activity. It was not activated by univalent cations. 9. The kinetic data indicate that under physiological conditions glucose 6-phosphate probably plays a significant role in the regulation of pyruvate kinase activity.
Kinetic studies of the mechanism of pig kidney aldehyde reductase
Authors: Morpeth F F , Dickinson F M
Published: August 2015

Initial-rate measurements were made of the oxidations of pyridine-3-methanol and glycerol by NADP+ and of the reduction of the corresponding aldehydes by NADPH catalysed by pig kidney aldehyde reductase. In addition, a brief survey of the specificity of the enzyme towards aldehyde substrates and its sensitivity to the inhibitors ethacrynic acid, sodium barbitone and warfarin was made. The detailed kinetic work indicates a compulsory mechanism for aldehyde reduction, with NADPH binding before aldehyde. For alcohol oxidation, however, it is necessary to postulate the formation of kinetically significant amounts of binary complexes of the type enzyme-alcohol to explain the results. Thus, for alcohol oxidation random-order addition of substrates may occur. Inhibition studies of the kinetics of aldehyde reduction in the presence of the corresponding alcohol product provide further evidence for the existence of enzyme-alcohol complexes. Finally, detailed kinetic studies were made of the inhibition of pyridine-3-aldehyde reduction by sodium barbitone. The mechanism of the inhibition is discussed.
Isolation of an actin-binding fragment of fibronectin
Authors: Keski-Oja J , Yamada K M
Published: August 2015

We have identified a specific actin-binding site in the adhesive glycoprotein fibronectin, isolated from chicken fibroblasts. Affinity chromatography of fragments, released from fibronectin by limited proteolysis with trypsin, chymotrypsin and subtilisin, on actin-Sepharose and other protein-Sepharose columns was used to locate the binding site. A 27 000-mol.wt. subtilisin-digest fragment bound efficiently to actin. The results suggest that the actin-binding site is close to, but not identical with, the reported collagen-binding site.
Conformational changes in rat liver chromatin after liver regeneration
Authors: Simpkins H , Thompson L M , Waldeck N , Gross D S , Mooney D
Published: August 2015

N-Pyrenemaleimide, a fluorescent probe that specifically labels histone H3 of rat liver chromatin in situ, was used to monitor the accessibility of histone H3 in chromatin isolated from rat liver at different times during degeneration. At times of maximum DNA synthesis (18–24 h after hepatectomy), the accessibility of the probe was found to be markedly (40–50%) increased. This increase is abolished, however, by treatment of the chromatin fibres with high salt (2 M-NaCl) or detergent. Tryptophan fluorescence was also enhanced at points of maximum DNA synthesis, suggesting that some non-histone tryptophan-containing protein was being synthesized. The polarization of the labelled histone H3 is not markedly altered, suggesting that fibre aggregation or dissociation does not occur. Mononucleosomes extracted from sham-operated and hepatectomized animals did not exhibit any difference in binding to the probe. Also, analysis of the chromatin protein by electrophoresis on detergent- and acid/urea/ Triton-X-100-containing polyacrylamide gels showed no detectable difference in histone H3 : 1, H3 : 2 or H3 : 3 subclasses.
A study of the magnetic properties of haem a3 in cytochrome c oxidase by using magnetic-circular-dichroism spectroscopy
Authors: Thomson A J , Johnson M K , Greenwood C , Gooding P E
Published: August 2015

M.c.d. (magnetic-circular-dichroism) spectroscopy was used to study the magnetization properties of the haem centres in cytochrome c oxidase with magnetic fields of between 0 and 5.3 T over the temperature range 1.5–200 K. The oxidized, oxidized cyanide and partially reduced cyanide forms of the enzyme were studied. In the oxidized state only cytochrome a3+ is detectable by m.c.d. spectroscopy, and its magnetization characteristics show it to be a low-spin ferric haem. In the partially reduced cyanide form of the enzyme cytochrome a is in the diamagnetic low-spin ferrous form, whereas cytochrome a3–CN is e.p.r.-detectable and gives an m.c.d.-magnetization curve typical of a low-spin ferric haem. In the oxidized cyanide form of the enzyme both cytochrome a and cytochrome a3–CN are detectable by m.c.d. spectroscopy, although only cytochrome a gives an e.p.r. signal. The magnetization characteristics of haem a3–CN show clearly that its ground state is an electronic doublet and that another state, probably a spin singlet, lies greater than 10 cm-1 above this. These features are well accounted for by an electronic state of spin S = 1 with a predominantly axial distortion, which leaves the doublet, Ms = +/- 1, as the ground state and the component Ms = 0 as the excited state. This state would not give an e.p.r. signal. Such an electronic state could arise either from a ferromagnetic coupling between haem a3+(3)-CN and the cupric ion, Cua3, or form a haem in the Fe(IV) state.
Evidence that the lack of high catalytic activity of thiolsubtilisin towards specific substrates may be due to an inappropriately located proton-distribution system. Demonstration of highly nucleophilic character of the thiol group of thiolsubtilisin in the catalytically relevant ionization state of the active centre by use of a two-protonic-state reactivity probe
Authors: Brocklehurst K , Malthouse J P G
Published: August 2015

The active centre of the semi-synthetic enzyme thiolsubtilisin was investigated by studying the kinetics of the reaction of the thiol group of cysteine-221 with the thiol-specific two-protonic-state reactivity probe 2,2′-dipyridyl disulphide. The three-states criterion [Brocklehurst (1974) Tetrahedron 30, 2397-2407] was used to provide definitive evidence of the existence of a thiol–imidazole interactive system in acidic media in which the sulphur atom possesses highly nucleophilic character. The lack of catalytic competence of thiolsubtilisin despite its possession of the requisite nucleophilic capability is discussed. The exceedingly high rate of reaction of thiolsubtilisin with 2,2′-dipyridyl disulphide at pH 4–5 is shown to constitute a rapid and convenient active-site titration in which intact thiol–imidazole interaction is detected even in the presence of other thiols.
Studies in vitro on the involvement of O-sulphate esters in the formation of O-methylated 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid by rat liver
Authors: Pennings E J M , Van Kempen G M J
Published: August 2015

The involvement of O-sulphate esters in the directed O-methylation was investigated in vitro with a dialysed ‘high-speed’ supernatant from rat liver as the enzyme preparation and the catechol compound 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid as the substrate. The enzyme reactions involved were studied separately with the O-methylated and O-sulphated derivatives. The rate of hydrolysis by arylsulphatase was 14.5 nmol/min per mg of protein for 3-methoxy-4-sulphonyloxybenzoic acid and 10.1 nmol/min per mg of protein for 4-methoxy-3-sulphonyloxybenzoic acid. The sulphotransferase activity towards the guaiacols 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid and 3-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzoic acid was 570pmol of 4-O-sulphated and 350pmol of 3-O-sulphated product formed/min per mg of protein. The 3-O- and 4-O-sulphate esters of 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid could not serve as substrates for the catechol O-methyltransferase reaction. When either ester was incubated in the presence of S-adenosyl-L-methionine, but without the arylsulphatase inhibitor KH2PO4, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid was formed, which was subsequently O-methylated in a meta/para ratio of 4.6. It is concluded that O-methylation can precede O-sulphation but that O-sulphation prevents further metabolism by O-methylation. Also O-sulphate esters do not have a directing effect on O-methylation. From the study of the simultaneous action of sulphotransferase and catechol O-methyltransferase on 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid we conclude that O-sulphation and O-methylation proceed independently of each other under the assay conditions used, both directed preferentially to the 3-hydroxy group.
An easy method for the determination of initial rates
Authors: Waley S G
Published: August 2015

When the Michaelis-Menten equation is obeyed, the rate near the beginning of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction (or of an experiment on transport) can be found accurately from the slope of a chord joining two points on the progress curve. This slope gives the rate at an intermediate concentration. Exact values of this intermediate concentration are easily calculated from equations in the text, and a number of values have also been tabulated. Methods of using two chords to find the initial rate are given. A mid-point formula for numerical differentiation is advocated when the Michaelis-Menten equation does not hold.
Sex differences in hepatic oestrogen-binding proteins
Authors: Thompson Claudia , Powell-Jones Wendy , Lucier George W.
Published: August 2015

Gel-filtration (Sephadex G-75) analysis of hepatic cytosol reveals both qualitative and quantitative sex differences in oestrogen-binding proteins. The elution profile of [3H]oestradiol-labelled cytosol shows four species of oestrogen-binding proteins (peaks I, II, IV and V) common to both sexes. The amount of [3H]oestradiol binding in peak I is equivalent in both males and females and corresponds quantitatively to the specific oestrogen receptor. The amount of binding in the remaining three peaks is greater in males than females. In addition, an oestrogen-binding protein (peak III) is present that is unique to male cytosol. Proteinase-inhibition studies demonstrate that the observed multiplicity of oestrogen-binding proteins is not an artefact of proteolytic breakdown. Sex differences in oestrogen-binding proteins are absent in immature male and female animals; the oestrogen-binding protein profile in immature rats resembles that of an adult female. Gonadectomy of adult animals does not affect the oestrogen-binding-protein profile. In contrast, neonatal (day 1) castration results in partial feminization of the characteristic oestrogen-binding protein profile seen in the adult male; the appearance of Peak III is suppressed and marked decreases in the amount of oestradiol binding occurs in the remaining peaks. Hypophysectomy of adult animals results in near abolishment of the observed sex differences; the male oestrogen-binding protein profile is partially feminized and the female profile is partially masculinized, as characterized by the appearance of [3H]oestradiol binding in the region of peak III and increased amounts of binding in peaks IV and V. The present studies demonstrate a multiplicity of oestrogen-binding proteins in liver cytosol and raise the possibility that the presence of some of these proteins may be imprinted at birth through the hypothalamic–pituitary axis, by a mechanism requiring neonatal androgen exposure.