bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phosphatase synthesis in Klebsiella (Aerobacter) aerogenes growing in continuous culture
Authors: Bolton P. G. , Dean A. C. R.
Published: August 2015

1. Phosphatase synthesis was studied in Klebsiella aerogenes grown in a wide range of continuous-culture systems. 2. Maximum acid phosphatase synthesis was associated with nutrient-limited, particularly carbohydrate-limited, growth at a relatively low rate, glucose-limited cells exhibiting the highest activity. Compared with glucose as the carbon-limiting growth material, other sugars not only altered the activity but also changed the pH–activity profile of the enzyme(s). 3. The affinity of the acid phosphatase in glucose-limited cells towards p-nitrophenyl phosphate (Km 0.25–0.43mm) was similar to that of staphylococcal acid phosphatase but was ten times greater than that of the Escherichia coli enzyme. 4. PO43−-limitation derepressed alkaline phosphatase synthesis but the amounts of activity were largely independent of the carbon source used for growth. 5. The enzymes were further differentiated by the effect of adding inhibitors (F−, PO43−) and sugars to the reaction mixture during the assays. In particular, it was shown that adding glucose, but not other sugars, stimulated the rate of hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl phosphate by the acid phosphatase in carbohydrate-limited cells at low pH values (<4.6) but inhibited it at high pH values (>4.6). Alkaline phosphatase activity was unaffected. 6. The function of phosphatases in general is discussed and possible mechanisms for the glucose effect are outlined.
Magnesium protoporphyrin chelatase activity in Rhodopseudomonas spheroides. Studies with whole cells
Authors: Gorchein A.
Published: August 2015

1. Whole cells of Rhodopseudomonas spheroides grown under semi-anaerobic conditions in the light incorporated magnesium into exogenous protoporphyrin when incubated with EDTA or the related chelators EGTA, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-ethylenediamine-NN′N′- triacetate and trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexanetetra-acetate. 2. The reaction was demonstrated under anaerobic conditions in the light or at low oxygen partial pressure in the dark. Partial pressures of oxygen greater than 15% inhibited the reaction. 3. Cells grown under pure oxygen were completely inactive, but on adaptation to growth under low oxygen partial pressure (O2+N2, 5:95) the development of activity paralleled the synthesis of bacteriochlorophyll. 4. The reaction with normal cells did not require protein synthesis, but cells that had lost their activity by being illuminated in Mg2+-deficient medium did not recover it in the absence of protein synthesis. 5. The product of the reaction was magnesium protoporphyrin monomethyl ester. 6. Evidence is presented that insertion of magnesium is obligatorily coupled with methylation and it is concluded that the reaction is dependent on a multienzyme complex.
d-myoInositol 1:2-cyclic phosphate 2-phosphohydrolase
Authors: Dawson R. M. C. , Clarke N.
Published: August 2015

1. An enzyme in extracts of mammalian tissues catalyses the hydrolysis of d-myoinositol 1:2-cyclic phosphate (an intermediary in the enzymic degradation of phosphatidylinositol) to produce d-myoinositol 1-phosphate. 2. The enantiomorph of the substrate is not attacked. 3. The pH optimum is about 8.1–8.3 and the reaction is stimulated by Mg2+ ions. 4. Extracts from rat kidney cortex and medulla are very rich sources of the enzyme; brain, testis and small intestine contain intermediary activities, and other tissues contain very small amounts.
Metabolism of hydroanthracenones in rabbits
Authors: Robertson J. S. , Dunstan P. J.
Published: August 2015

1. The metabolism of 1-oxo-octahydro- and 2- and 9-oxoperhydro-anthracenes was investigated in rabbits. All compounds increased the urinary glucuronide content. 2. The 1-oxo and 2-oxo compounds were reduced to the corresponding alcohols whereas the 9-oxo compound was hydroxylated. 3. The reduction in vitro of these compounds and related ketones was investigated with three different enzyme systems (liver alcohol dehydrogenase, hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase, aromatic aldehyde–ketone reductase) in an attempt to explain the results in vivo. 4. Successful reduction of many ketones with aromatic aldehyde–ketone reductase suggests that the kidney may be of importance in the reduction in vivo of certain cyclic carbonyl compounds.
The diffusion coefficient of caffeine through agar gels containing a hyaluronic acid–protein complex. A model system for the study of the permeability of connective tissues
Authors: McCabe M.
Published: August 2015

A hyaluronic acid–protein complex was embedded into agar gel. This gel complex resembles in some respects the physiological situation in connective tissue, but still permits precise physicochemical measurements to be made. The diffusion coefficient of caffeine into and from such gels has been measured as a function of both agar and hyaluronate concentration. The value for the diffusion coefficient of caffeine was also measured by using a Gouy type diffusiometer. From both types of measurement the value for D (Fick) for caffeine when extrapolated to zero caffeine and agar concentrations agreed at (6.79±0.01)×10−6cm2·s−1 at 25°C. Although agar concentration had only a small effect on caffeine diffusion, hyaluronic acid caused a large decrease in caffeine diffusion co-efficient. The presence of the hyaluronic acid–protein complex within the gel tended to oppose gel syneresis, a concentration of 1.7mg/ml abolishing the effect and higher concentrations reversing it. The possible physiological implications of these results are discussed.
Inhibition of the β-lactamases of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella aerogenes by semi-synthetic penicillins
Authors: Cole M. , Elson S. , Fullbrook P. D.
Published: August 2015

1. A new automated micro-iodometric method is described for screening compounds for inhibitory action against β-lactamase enzymes. 2. Over 1000 semi-synthetic penicillins were tested for inhibitory activity against the β-lactamase of Escherichia coli B11 and 18 showed a fractional inhibition similar to or higher than that of methicillin. 3. The best inhibitors were alkoxy- and halogen-substituted phenyl-, naphthyl- or quinolyl-penicillins. 2-Isopropoxy-1-naphthylpenicillin (BRL 1437) was clearly the best and had a Ki value about 1% of that of methicillin. 4. The inhibition of the β-lactamase of E. coli B11 by BRL 1437 was shown to be reversible and competitive. The Ki was 0.004μm and Ki/Km with ampicillin and p-hydroxyampicillin (BRL 2333) was about 0.0001. The Km and Vmax. values were determined for the β-lactamases of E. coli B11 and Klebsiella aerogenes A against a variety of penicillins. Cell-bound and solubilized enzymes gave similar Ki and Km values. 5. BRL 1437 was superior to cloxacillin and methicillin for inhibition of the β-lactamase of live, fully grown cultures of several strains of E. coli and K. aerogenes. Of a group of inhibitors BRL 1437 was the most stable to the β-lactamase of E. coli B11.
The stereospecificity of nicotinamide–adenine dinucleotide-dependent oxidoreductases from plants
Authors: Davies D. D. , Teixeira A. , Kenworthy P.
Published: August 2015

1. The stereospecificity of 20 enzymes from plants is reported. 2. The stereospecificity of all known forms of malate dehydrogenase in plants and animals has been shown to be A-specific. 3. The generalization that ‘the stereospecificity of a particular reaction is independent of the source of the enzyme’ is confirmed for a total of 12 plant enzymes. 4. A new generalization is proposed: ‘When a metabolic sequence involves consecutive nicotinamide–adenine dinucleotide-dependent reactions, the dehydrogenases have the same stereospecificity.’
Hypoxia and the energy charge of the cerebral adenylate pool
Authors: Ridge J. W.
Published: August 2015

A brief period of anoxia in vivo causes a transitory decrease in the size of the adenylate pool in the rat brain. This is probably caused by feedback inhibition by AMP of adenine nucleotide synthesis. Exposing rats to various degrees of hypoxia suggests that the sensitivity of the brain to lack of O2 results from the brain's limited ability to maintain an adequate energy charge in unfavourable circumstances.
Effect of hypobaric stress on enzymes of tryptophan metabolism
Authors: Inamdar A. R. , Kurup C. K. Ramakrishna , Ramasarma T.
Published: August 2015

1. On exposure of rats to hypobaric stress the tryptophan pyrrolase and tyrosine aminotransferase activities of the liver increased about threefold in 4h. 2. The tryptophan hydroxylase activity increased about 50% on exposure for 24h or more. 3. The increased activities reverted to the basal value on removal of the stress. 4. Treatment with cycloheximide inhibited the increase in the enzyme activities when the time of exposure was short (4h). However, the inhibitor-treated animals showed paradoxically high tyrosine aminotransferase activity on prolonged exposure (24h). 5. The pattern of haematin saturation indicated that the increase in pyrrolase activity under low pressure resembled that obtained with cortisol and not with tryptophan. 6. Repeated administration of cortisol or tryptophan did not have any effect on the activity of tryptophan hydroxylase. 7. The stress-induced increase in hydroxylase activity was not eliminated by the prior administration of 5-hydroxytryptophan to the animals.
Biosynthesis of N-(purin-6-ylcarbamoyl)-l-threonine riboside. Incorporation of l-threonine in vivo into modified nucleoside of transfer ribonucleic acid
Authors: Chheda Girish B. , Hong Chung Il , Piskorz Conrad F. , Harmon G. A.
Published: August 2015

l-[U-14C]Threonine is incorporated into N-(purin-6-ylcarbamoyl)-l-threonine riboside of rat liver and Escherichia coli tRNA. A pathway is suggested for the biosynthesis of this nucleoside.
A procedure for the isolation and determination of deoxyribose derivatives
Authors: Pestell R. Q. W. , Woodland H. R.
Published: August 2015

A method of determining deoxyribose derivatives in biological material is described. It has high sensitivity, and is particularly useful in that it can be applied to a large range of tissues for which the other available assays are unsuitable. This is because the method is applicable to complex mixtures of nucleotides in which such substances as ribonucleotides are present in very large excess over deoxyribonucleotides, and it is not necessary to equilibrate the nucleotide-precursor pool with radioactive phosphate. The method has mainly been developed with the object of determining deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates, but it can be used to assay ribonucleoside triphosphates, as well as the mono- and diphosphates of both types of nucleoside. The procedure used involves three basic techniques: (1) periodate oxidation and methylamine-induced cleavage of the sugar ring to destroy 2′- and 3′-unsubstituted ribonucleosides; (2) column chromatography to separate the deoxyribonucleotides from each other and from other substances, such as the products of the periodate oxidation; (3) fluorimetric determination of deoxyribose after labilization of the pyrimidine–glycosidic bond by bromination of the heterocyclic ring. Each of these three procedures can be used independently, in conjunction with other analytical procedures.
Determination of the nucleoside triphosphate contents of eggs and oocytes of Xenopus laevis
Authors: Woodland H. R. , Pestell R. Q. W.
Published: August 2015

The ribonucleotide and deoxyribonucleotide contents of eggs and oocytes of Xenopus laevis were measured. Eggs contained most deoxyribonucleotide in the form of triphosphates. dCTP, dTTP, dATP and dGTP were present in similar amounts. The egg contained sufficient deoxynucleotide triphosphate to make approximately 2500 nuclei. Oocytes contained less pyrimidine deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates than did eggs, and purine deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates were not detected. These differences may be correlated with the ability of eggs to induce nuclear DNA synthesis, a property not shown by oocytes. Both oocytes and eggs seem to contain non-phosphorylated, α-unsubstituted aldehydes, which may be deoxyribose derivatives. Eggs and oocytes contain similar amounts of ribonucleoside triphosphates. The low rate of RNA synthesis found in eggs, but not in oocytes, is therefore not caused by simple precursor control.
Replacement of asparagine by aspartic acid in hen ovalbumin and a difference in immunochemical reactivity
Authors: Wiseman R. L. , Fothergill J. E. , Fothergill L. A.
Published: August 2015

Two forms of hen ovalbumin that exist as genetic variants were compared by physical and immunochemical techniques. The two ovalbumins could be distinguished by electrophoretic mobility and by antisera that had been pretreated with heterologous antigen. Peptide `maps' of chymotrypsin digests of the two ovalbumins revealed that three of the peptides were different. These were isolated and analysed. One form of ovalbumin (type B) contains the sequence: -Ser-Ser-Ala-Asp-Leu-Ser-Gly-Ile-Ala-Glu-Ser(Ser,Leu)- whereas the other form (type A) contains an asparagine residue in place of the aspartic acid residue. The -Asn-Leu-Ser- sequence of type A is not glycosylated. Chymotrypsin readily cleaved the leucine–serine bond in the asparagine-containing peptide, but not in the aspartic acid-containing variant.
Mercaptan-induced fragmentation of a subunit-like proteolytic fragment of immunoglobulin M
Authors: Butchko G. M. , Inman F. P.
Published: August 2015

Limited papain hydrolysis of immunoglobulin M (IgM) produces a subunit-like proteolytic fragment designated IgMp (Inman & Hazen, 1968). In the presence of mercaptans, IgMp partially dissociated into Fcμ-like and Fabμ fragments. Treatment of residual IgM (that remaining after a papain digestion) with 2mm-mercaptoethylamine resulted in fragmentation of the same type that occurs in a routine limited digestion of IgM with papain, although exogenous enzyme was not added to the mixture. When IgM was hydrolysed with 14C-labelled papain, a small quantity of the enzyme was found to be associated with the residual IgM and IgMp fractions. IgM and IgM 7S subunit (IgMs) that had been exposed to papain in the absence of activating mercaptan and separated from the enzyme by gel filtration also fragmented when subsequently treated with 2mm-mercaptoethylamine. The fragments resembled those produced during a typical limited papain digestion of IgM. It was concluded that mercaptoethylamine induced fragmentation of IgMp by activating adsorbed papain.
The bacterial oxidation of picolinamide, a photolytic product of Diquat
Authors: Orpin C. G. , Knight M. , Evans W. C.
Published: August 2015

The pathway of oxidation of picolinamide (pyridine-2-carboxamide) by a Gram-negative rod has been elucidated. Under conditions of high pH, restricted aeration and high substrate concentration, whole cells released 2,5-dihydroxypyridine into culture supernatants. Sodium arsenite at 5mm caused whole cells to accumulate 6-hydroxypicolinate, and, at 1mm, pyruvate, in culture media. Whole cells oxidized picolinamide, picolinate, 6-hydroxypicolinate, maleamate and maleate without lag. Cell-free extracts converted picolinamide into picolinate, and hydroxylated picolinate to 6-hydroxypicolinate. The hydroxylase was particulate, but could be solubilized by ultrasonic treatment; it required NAD+ for activity, and did not require molecular oxygen. 2,5-Dihydroxypyridine was converted into maleamate and formate by an oxygenase requiring GSH and Fe2+. Maleamate was deamidated to maleate, and maleate isomerized to fumarate, by unsupplemented extracts.
Folate metabolism in Streptococcus faecalis
Authors: McElwee P. G. , Scott J. M.
Published: August 2015

The possibility that the inability of Streptococcus faecalis to utilize 5-methyltetrahydropteroylglutamate or pteroyltriglutamate might be due to permeability was investigated. Whereas the former was taken up by S. faecalis cells growing on pteroylglutamic acid, the latter was not. No subsequent conversion of the 5-methyltetrahydropteroylglutamate took place and accumulation, which was against a considerable concentration gradient, was inhibited by fluoride. It would thus appear to be an active process.
Electron-paramagnetic-resonance studies on a photochemically produced species of horseradish peroxidase compound I
Authors: McIntosh A R , Stillman M J
Published: August 2015

Strong electron-paramagnetic-resonance signals in the g = 2.00 region were detected after irradiation of horseradish peroxidase Compound I at temperatures of 10 and 100 K. These signals establish the presence of new free-radical species in the peroxidase system. The new species are interpreted in terms of a haem-photosensitized oxidation of the protein's peptide groups close to the Compound I radical site. On warming to room temperature, the radicals decayed irreversibly to a species having a weak asymmetric electron-paramagnetic-resonance signal at 100 K, which could still be observed after incubation at room temperature for more than 1 h.
The state of aggregation of red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) β-lactoglobulin preparations near neutral pH
Authors: McDougall E I , Stewart J C
Published: August 2015

1. The state of aggregation of four red-deer (Cervus elaphus L.) beta-lactoglobulin preparations and a control ox beta-lactoglobulin A preparation was studied by sedimentation-equilibrium experiments at pH 6.5 and 20 degrees C. 2. Three of the deer preparations and the ox control each behaved as a monomer-dimer system, with a value of log K (where K is the association constant in litres/mol) in the range 5.4-5.5. 3. When one of these deer preparations was examined in the presence of dithiothreitol, log K appeared to decrease to 4.5.4. One deer preparation, comprising recovered material, appeared to have undergone irreversible changes and to behave like a non-equilibrating system containing monomer, dimer and trimer. 5. The sedimentation-equilibrium properties of the deer monomer was studied in 6M-guanidine hydrochloride at pH 7.0; the mol.wt. was 17600, the second virial coefficient was 3.4 × 10(-3) ml - mol - g-2, and the apparent partial specific volume 0.724 ml/g, a value indicating an appreciable decrease in volume on dissociation and denaturation.
Synthesis and use of bifunctional chloromethylalkanedione derivatives of variable chain length for cross-linking thiol groups in oligomeric proteins. Specific cross-linking in glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase
Authors: Bloxham David P.
Published: August 2015

Bischloromethylpentanedione, bischloromethylhexanedione, bischloromethyloctanedione and bischloromethyldecanedione were synthesized from their corresponding dicarboxylic acids via the bis-acyl chloride and the bisdiazomethylketone derivatives. These compounds proved to be highly specific cross-linking reagents for rabbit skeletal-muscle glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Incubation of the enzyme with cross-linking reagents resulted in both a time- and concentration-dependent formation of covalently linked oligomeric structures. The major cross-linked product detected by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis was the dimer (mol. wt. 72000). Sepharose 6B chromatography of the cross-linked enzyme showed that it still existed as the tetramer. Cross-linking was dependent on the native structure of the enzyme, since it was abolished on denaturation of the enzyme. The actual covalently linked product depends on the conditions of modification and the chain length of the reagent. The maximum yield of dimer (70–80%) was obtained with bischloromethylhexanedione, and the yield decreased with either shorter- or longer-chain compounds. The calculated distance between the two reactive points in bischloromethylhexanedione is 1.21–1.45nm. Bischloromethylhexanedione modified at least two thiol groups per monomer. Modification of the active-site thiol, cysteine-149, was not essential for cross-linking, since glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase carboxymethylated on cysteine-149 still reacted to form the dimer. The rate of chemical cross-linking was markedly decreased by increasing the NAD+occupancy of the enzyme active sites. These experiments are discussed in terms of the asymmetry of the enzyme structure in solution.
The reactions of 1,10-phenanthroline with yeast alcohol dehydrogenase
Authors: Dickinson F M , Berrieman S
Published: August 2015

Freshly prepared samples of yeast alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.1) were inhibited by 1,10-phenanthroline at pH 7.0 and 0 degrees C in a two-stage process. The first step appeared to be slowly established, but was rendered reversible by removal of reagent or by addition of excess Zn2+ ions. The second step was irreversible and was associated with the dissociation of the tetrameric enzyme. The presence of saturating concentrations of NAD+ or NADH promoted and enhanced inhibition by the slowly established reversible process, but prevented dissociation of the enzyme. For the incubation mixtures containing NAD+, removal of the 1,10-phenanthroline resulted in virtually complete recovery of activity, whereas, for the incubation mixtures containing NADH, removal of the reagent gave only partial re-activation. The presence of NAD+ and pyrazole, or NADH and acetamide, in incubation mixtures with the enzyme gave rise to ternary complexes that gave protection against both forms of inactivation by 1,10-phenanthroline. The results support the view that at least some of the Zn2+ ions associated with yeast alcohol dehydrogenase have a catalytic, as opposed to a purely structural, role.
Chemical differences between thyrotropin isohormones
Authors: Davy K M M , Fawcett J S , Morris C J O R
Published: August 2015

Amide determinations have been carried out, with a newly developed g.l.c. method, on thyrotropin hormones prepared by isoelectric focusing. The observed differences in amide content fully account for the differences in the electrochemical properties of the isohormones.
Release of alkaline phosphatase from membranes by a phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C.
Authors: Low M G , Finean J B
Published: August 2015

Purified phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C from Staphylococcus aureus released a substantial proportion of the total alkaline phosphatase activity from a wide range of tissues from several mammalian species. Co-purification of the phospholipase C and alkaline phosphatase-releasing activities and the inhibition of both these activities by iso-osmotic salt solutions suggested that the releasing effect was unlikely to be due to a contaminant.
Characterization and serology of the matrix protein from a nuclear-polyhedrosis virus of Trichoplusia ni before and after degradation by an endogenous proteinase
Authors: Eppstein D A , Thoma J A
Published: August 2015

The intact matrix protein from a nuclear-polyhedrosis virus of the cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni), isolated after inhibition of an endogenous serine-type proteinase, was further purified by molecular-sieve chromatography. The matrix protein was associated with carbohydrate moieties, and the carbohydrate content was determined for the two major peptides isolated after proteolysis by the endogenous proteinase. The association-dissociation interactions of the intact and proteinase-hydrolysed monomer units were characterized at high and low pH. At pH1.9, proteinase-degraded matrix protein dissociated into two different peptide fractions, FI and FII. Fraction FII, a single peptide of 9400 daltons, comprised one-third of the monomer unit of 28 000 daltons. At pH9.5, the degraded peptides were tightly associated in units equivalent to the intact monomer. These monomer equivalents associated to form a series of interconverting aggregates. The predominant aggregate sedimented at 11S and had a mol.wt greater than or equal to 200 000. Two non-cross-reacting antigens were present in the aggregate mixture. The presence of these two antigens does not reflect the presence of two different matrix proteins; rather, the expression of the antigens correlates with the degree of aggregation of the matrix protein.
A quantitative analysis of histone H1 in rabbit thymus nuclei
Authors: Goodwin G H , Nicolas R H , Johns E W
Published: August 2015

The relative quantity of histone H1 in rabbit thymus whole histone was determined to be 17.2% (w/w). This implies that there is, on average, one histone H1 molecule per nucleosome.
A cystine-rich protein fraction from oxidized α-keratin
Authors: Buchanan J H
Published: August 2015

A soluble fraction of alpha-keratin was obtained on fission of disulphide bonds. The fraction was soluble in the oxidizing solution and would normally be lost when such procedures are used for isolating keratose fractions. This fraction, which constituted 6% by weight of keratin, was rich in cystine, and about 30% of the fraction had a mol.wt. of less than 20 000.
Electrochemical analysis of the carboxy-14C-labelled aliphatic carboxylic acid metabolites resulting from tracer studies
Authors: Walker G H , Hathway D E
Published: August 2015

14C02 output from carboxy-14C-labelled aliphatic carboxylic acids is measured in the micro-scale Kolbe reaction. Irrespective of whether rats were dosed with 1,1-dichloro[1-14C]ethylene or with chloro[1-14C]acetic acid, 1 mol.equiv. of the resulting thio[14C]diglycollic acid yields by electrolysis approx. 0.7 equiv. of 14CO2, which is interpreted in terms of the labelling of one of the carboxylic acid groups of thiodiglycollic acid. This observation provides important evidence concerning thiodiglycollic acid biosynthesis from 1.1-dichloroethylene.
The molecular size of N-methylglutamate dehydrogenase of Pseudomonas aminovorans
Authors: Bamforth C W , Large P J
Published: August 2015

N-Methylglutamate dehydrogenase, purified to a specific activity of 0.29 unit/mg of protein, gave one band on sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, corresponding to a molecular weight of 130 000. Enzyme-Triton complexes were found to have a partial specific volume of 0.73 cm3/g, suggesting that the protein binds less than 0.1 g of Triton/g of protein. A molecular weight for the intact enzyme in the presence of 1% (w/v) Triton X-100 of 550 000 suggested that the enzyme may be a tetramer.
Enzymic and immunochemical properties of lysozyme. Accurate definition of the antigenic site around the disulphide bridge 30-115 (site 3) by ‘surface simulation’ synthesis
Authors: Lee Ching-Li , Atassi M. Zouhair
Published: August 2015

1. Previous reports from this laboratory have shown that both Lys-33 and Lys-116 are parts of an antigenic site in native lysozyme. Similar studies of tyrosine derivatives indicated that one or both of Tyr-20 and Tyr-23 are located in or very close to an antigenic site in lysozyme. The site, which was located around the disulphide bridge 30–115, was recently shown unequivocally to include the residues Tyr-20, Arg-21, Lys-116, Asn-113, Arg-114, Phe-34 and Lys-33. This was confirmed by the ‘surface-simulation’ synthetic approach that we have recently developed, in which the foregoing eight surface residues were directly linked via peptide bonds, with intervening spacers where appropriate, into a single peptide. The peptide does not exist in native lysozyme, but simulates a surface region of it. 2. In the present work several surface-simulation peptides were synthesized representing various parts of the region, to determine the minimum structural feature that retains full antigenic reactivity and to investigate if the spatially constructed antigenic site has a preferred direction. 3. The peptide Lys-Asn-Arg-Gly-Phe-Lys exhibited a remarkable inhibitory activity towards the immune reaction of lysozyme and accounted entirely for the maximum expected reactivity of the site in the native protein (i.e. about one-third of the total lysozyme reactivity). An immunoadsorbent of the peptide bound about one-third of the total antibody to lysozyme. 4. The residues Tyr-20 and Arg-21 are not part of the site. The previously reported immunochemical effect observed on nitration of Tyr-20 was due to a deleterious ionic effect exerted by the modified tyrosine residue on the adjacent Lys-96, which is in an entirely different antigenic site of lysozyme. Thus the modification of Tyr-20 impairs the reactivity of an adjacent antigenic site, even though the residue itself is not part of a site. The conformational and immunochemical implications of this finding are discussed. 5. The antigenic site therefore comprises the five spatially adjacent residues Lys-116, Asn-113, Arg-114, Phe-34, Lys-33. The antigenic site exhibited a preferred direction (Lys-116 to Lys-33), since the reverse surface-simulation synthetic sequence was immunochemically inefficient. The site describes a line which circumscribes part [2.1nm in C(α)–C(α) distance from Lys-116 to Lys-33] of the surface of the molecule.
The properties of a carboxylesterase from the peach-potato aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulz.), and its role in conferring insecticide resistance
Authors: Devonshire Alan L.
Published: August 2015

Carboxylesterases from different strains of Myzus persicae were examined to try to understand their contribution to insecticide resistance. Preliminary evidence that they are involved comes from the good correlation between the degree of resistance and the carboxylesterase and paraoxon-degrading activity in aphid homogenates. Furthermore the carboxylesterase associated with resistance could not be separated from the insecticide-degrading enzyme by electrophoresis or ion-exchange chromatography. Homogenates of resistant aphids hydrolysed paraoxon 60 times faster than did those of susceptible aphids, yet the purified enzymes from both sources had identical catalytic-centre activities towards this substrate and also towards naphth-1-yl acetate, the latter being hydrolysed by both 2×106 times faster than paraoxon. These observations provide evidence that the enzyme from both sources is identical, and that one enzyme hydrolyses both substrates. This was confirmed by relating the rate of paraoxon hydrolysis to the rate at which paraoxon-inhibited carboxylesterase re-activated. Both had the same first-order rate constant (0.01min−1), showing clearly that the hydrolysis of both substrates is brought about by the same enzyme. Its Km for naphth-1-yl acetate was 0.131mm, and for paraoxon 75pm. The latter very small value could not be measured directly, but was calculated from substrate-competition studies coupled with measurements of re-activation of the diethyl phosphorylated enzyme. Since the purified enzymes from resistant and susceptible aphids had the same catalytic-centre activity, the 60-fold difference between strains must be caused by different amounts of the same enzyme resulting from mutations of the regulator gene(s) rather than of the structural gene.
Fungal degradation of aromatic nitriles. Enzymology of C-N cleavage by Fusarium solani
Authors: Harper David B.
Published: August 2015

1. A strain of the fungus Fusarium solani able to use benzonitrile as sole source of carbon and nitrogen was isolated by elective culture. 2. Respiration studies indicate that the nitrile, after degradation to benzoate, is catabolized via catechol or alternatively via p-hydroxybenzoate and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate. 3. Cell-free extracts of benzonitrile-grown cells contain an enzyme mediating the conversion of benzonitrile into benzoate and ammonia. 4. The nitrilase enzyme was purified by DEAE-cellulose chromatography, (NH4)2SO4 precipitation and gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. The homogeneity of the purified enzyme preparation was confirmed by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing on polyacrylamide gel. 5. The enzyme showed a broad pH optimum between pH7.8 and 9.1 and a Km with benzonitrile as substrate of 0.039mm. The activation energy of the reaction deduced from an Arrhenius plot was 48.4kJ/mol. 6. The enzyme was susceptible to inhibition by thiol-specific reagents and certain heavy metal ions. 7. Gel filtration gave a value of 620000 for the molecular weight of the intact enzyme. Sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis demonstrated that the enzyme was composed of eight subunits of mol.wt. 76000. 8. Rates of enzymic attack on various substrates indicated that the nitrilase has a fairly broad specificity and that the fungus probably plays an important role in the biodegradation of certain nitrilic herbicides in the environment.
Benzofuroxan as a thiol-specific reactivity probe. Kinetics of its reactions with papain, ficin, bromelain and low-molecular-weight thiols
Authors: Shipton M , Brocklehurst K
Published: August 2015

1. The characteristics of benzofuroxan (benzofurazan 1-oxide, benzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole N-oxide) that relate to its application as a reactivity probe for the study of environments of thiol groups are discussed. 2. To establish a kinetic and mechanistic basis for its use as a probe, a kinetic study of its reaction with 2-mercaptoethanol was carried out. 3. This reaction appears to proceed by a rate-determining attack of the thiolate ion on one of the electrophilic centres of benzofuroxan (possibly C-6) to provide a low steady-state concentration of an intermediate adduct; rapid reaction of this adduct with a second molecule of thiol gives the disulphide and o-benzoquinone dioxime. 4. The effects of the different types of environment that proteins can provide on the kinetic characteristics of reactions of thiol groups with benzofuroxan are delineated. 5. Benzofuroxan was used as a thiolspecific reactivity probe to investigate the active centres of papain (EC 3.4.22.2), ficin (EC 3.4.22.3) and bromelain (EC 3.4.22.4). The results support the concept that the active centres of all three enzymes either contain a nucleophilic thiolate ion whose formation is characterized by a pKa of 3-4 and whose reaction with an electrophile can be assisted by interaction of a site of high electron density in the electrophile with active-centre imidazolium ion of pKa 8-9, or can provide such ions by protonic redistribution in enzyme-reagent or enzyme-substrate complexes.
The arrangement of substrate and organophosphorus-inhibitor leaving groups in acetylcholinesterase active site
Authors: Järv J , Aaviksaar A , Godovikov N , Lobanov D
Published: August 2015

The leaving groups of serine esterase substrates and organophosphorus inhibitors bind to different loci at the enzyme active site. Kinetic proof of this general conclusion is presented in the case of acetylcholinesterase reactions. The proposed model for acetylcholinesterase active site provides a new stereochemical mechanism for the phosphorylated enzyme reactivation.
Isolation and characterization of dihydropteridine reductase from human liver
Authors: Firgaira F A , Cotton R G , Danks D M
Published: August 2015

Dihydropteridine reductase (EC 1.6.99.7) was purified from human liver obtained at autopsy by a three-step chromatographic procedure with the use of (1) a naphthoquinone affinity adsorbent, (2) DEAE-Sephadex and (3) CM-Sephadex. The enzyme was typically purified 1000-fold with a yield of 25%. It gave a single band on non-denaturing and sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, and showed one spot on two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The molecular weight of the enzyme was determined to be 50000 by sedimentation-equilibrium analysis and 47500 by gel filtration. On sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, a single subunit with mol.wt. 26000 was observed. A complex of dihydropteridine reductase with NADH was observed on gel electrophoresis. The isoelectric point of the enzyme was estimated to be pH 7.0. Amino acid analysis showed a residue composition similar to that seen for the sheep and bovine liver enzymes. The enzyme showed anomalous migration in polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. A Ferguson plot indicated that this behaviour is due to a low net charge/size ratio of the enzyme under the electrophoretic conditions used. The kinetic properties of the enzyme with tetrahydrobiopterin, 2-amino-4-hydroxy-6,7-dimethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydropteridine, NADH and NADPH are compared, and the effects of pH, temperature and a number of different compounds on catalytic activity are presented.
Denaturation of proteins and nucleic acids by thermal-gradient electrophoresis
Authors: Thatcher D R , Hodson B
Published: August 2015

A polyacrylamide-gel-electrophoresis method has been developed that permits the analysis of conformational changes that occur during the thermal denaturation of macromolecules. A stable transverse temperature gradient was produced in an aluminium heating jacket clamped around a vertical polyacrylamide slab gel. After temperature equilibration, gels were loaded with either a layer of protein solution (20-200 micrograms/gel) or a solution of double-stranded DNA (20 micrograms/gel) and electrophoresis begun. At the end of the run the gels were stained and the effect of temperature on mobility observed. The technique proved informative both for the irreversible unfolding of proteins (Drosophila alcohol dehydrogenase and lactic acid dehydrogenase) and for a protein that was reversibly denatured by heat (beta-lactamase). In the latter case a clear transition between the native enzyme and a slower-migrating denatured state was observed. The patterns obtained were analogous to the type produced by the transverse-urea-gradient-electrophoretic method of Creighton [(1979) J. Mol. Biol. 129, 253-264]. The method also resolved a complex mixture of double-stranded-DNA restriction-digest fragments.
Phosphorylation of the calcium ion-regulated thin filaments from vascular smooth muscle A new regulatory mechanism?
Authors: Walters M , Marston S B
Published: August 2015

The thin filaments of vascular smooth muscle (pig aorta) contain a Ca2+-sensitive regulatory system that resembles troponin-tropomyosin [Marston, Trevett & Walters (1980) Biochem. J. 185, 355-365]. Our thin-filament preparations also contain enzymes that phosphorylate and dephosphorylate a specific protein. Initial rate of phosphorylation was 0.42 +/- 0.10 (95% confidence limits) mumol of Pi/min per g of thin filaments; half-maximal incorporation was obtained in 4 1/2 min, and a maximum of 1.8 +/- 0.1 mumol of Pi/g of thin filaments was incorporated after 40 min (conditions: 1 mM-MgATP, 60 mM-MgATP, 60 mM-KCl, 10 mM-imidazole, pH 7.0, 5 mM-MgCl2, 10 mM-NaN3, 0.5 mM-dithiothreitol, 0.1 mM-CaCl2, 25 degrees C). On gel electrophoresis in polyacrylamide (4-30% gradient)/0.25% sodium dodecyl sulphate gel over 75% of protein-bound phosphate was in a single protein of mol.wt. 21000. On electrophoresis in polyacrylamide (8%)/6 M-urea (pH 8.6) gel the phosphoprotein remained at the origin. Phosphorylation was associated with an increase in the concentration of high-affinity (K congruent to 10(6) M-1) Ca2+-binding sites from 0.8-1.5 to 6.3 mumol of Ca2+/g of thin filaments. Phosphorylation also changed the regulatory properties of the skeletal-muscle myosin-aorta thin-filament MgATPase; maximum activity was unaltered, but the phosphorylated thin filaments required only 0.36 microM-Ca2+ for half-activation compared with 2.7 microM-Ca2+ for unphosphorylated thin filaments. The possible regulatory role of thin-filament phosphorylation is discussed.
The composition and the structure of bacterioferritin of Escherichia coli
Authors: Yariv J , Kalb A J , Sperling R , Bauminger E R , Cohen S G , Ofer S
Published: August 2015

Bacterioferritin isolated from Escherichia coli is of two kinds: a protein containing a polynuclear iron compound, the bacterioferritin proper and a protein free of the polynuclear iron compound, the apo-bacterioferritin. Bacterioferritin of both kinds is characterized by absorption maxima at 417,530 and 560 nm, contributed by protohaem IX. Single crystals of bacterioferritin of the space group I432 suggest that the molecule is made up of 24 identical subunits related by a cubic point symmetry. The molecular weight of the protein subunit, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, is 15000. In the electron microscope the bacterioferritin molecule appears to be a sphere of 9.5 nm (95 A) diameter composed of a negatively staining outer shell and an inner electron-dense core of 6 nm (60 A) diameter.
The effect of adrenaline on the phosphorylation of the P light chain of myosin and troponin I in the perfused rabbit heart
Authors: Westwood S A , Perry S V
Published: August 2015

1. Two-dimensional electrophoresis has been used to study the extent of phosphorylation of the P light chain of myosin and troponin I in the rabbit beating heart. 2. A procedure has been developed that eliminates endogenous protein phosphatase activity during homogenization and sample preparation for electrophoresis. 3. Evidence has been obtained for two unphosphorylated forms of the P light chain in myosin from the ventricle of the rabbit, guinea pig and cow. 4. In vivo and in the rabbit perfused beating heart about 25% of the P light-chain fraction is in the phosphorylated form. 5. Intervention with adrenaline produced a slight increase in the extent of phosphorylation that reached a maximum after the peak in inotropic response. A similar increase was obtained with ischaemia in the absence of adrenaline. 6. The changes in phosphorylation of the major forms of troponin I identified by electrophoresis occurred after the peak of response to adrenaline and were compatible with previous results.
Sequential hydrolysis of hyaluronate by β-glucuronidase and β-N-acetylhexosaminidase
Authors: Longas M O , Meyer K
Published: August 2015

1. Hyaluronate extracted from rooster comb was digested by a mixture of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase and beta-glucuronidase with simultaneous dialysis for 96 h. 2. The produjct, yielding 99.6% of a mixture of mono- and oligo-saccharides, was purified by gel chromatography and analysed for glucuronic acid, N-acetylglucosamine and other sugars. 3. The oligosaccharide portion was chromatographed on DEAE-cellulose, and the effluent fractions were analysed for glucuronic acid and N-acetylglucosamine, reduced with NaBH4, digested by beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase and subjected to acid hydrolysis and glucosamine determination. 4. GlcNAc-GlcA-GlcNAc, GlcA-GlcA-GlcNAc and GlcA-GlcA-GlcA-GlcNAc were the oligosaccharides obtained, which resulted from the transferase activity of the enzymes and represented 57% of the digestion products. The results demonstrate that this hyaluronate is an unbranched polymer of approximatey equal amounts of glucuronic acid and N-acetylglucosamine. The data also indicate that if this glycosaminoglycan contains any of the neutral sugars for which it was analysed, their concentration must be less than 0.020% of the sum of the known components.
Analysis of the heterogeneity of human collagens by two-dimensional polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis
Authors: Cole W G , Chan D
Published: August 2015

The heterogeneity of the CNBr-cleavage peptides of human types I, II, III and V collagens were studied by using two-dimensional electrophoresis combining non-equilibrium pH-gradient-gel electrophoresis and sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Specific ‘maps’ were produced by the peptides obtained from the chains of each type of collagen, and most peptides had at least three charged forms of the same molecular weight. Specific ‘maps’ were also produced by the peptides of types I, III and V collagens from insoluble dermis and the peptides of types I and V collagens from decalcified bone. The alpha 1(I) CB7 and alpha 1(I) CB8 and the alpha 2 CB4 peptides obtained from the type I collagens of these tissues contained the same number of charged components, but there was a relative increase in the more basic components in bone. Some aspects of the involvement of the alpha 1(I) CB6 and the alpha 1(III) CB9 peptides in cross-linkages were also studied. The recovery of the alpha 1(I) CB6 peptide from bone and dermis was decreased and the alpha 1(III) CB9 peptide was not detected in dermis. Additional peptides, which were probably cross-linked peptides involving the alpha 1(I) CB6 peptide, were also observed.
Fast-atom-bombardment mass spectra of enkephalins
Authors: Barber M , Bordoli R S , Garner G V , Gordon D B , Sedgwick R D , Tetler L W , Tyler A N
Published: August 2015

The positive- and negative-ion mass spectra of [methionine]enkephalin and [leucine]enkephalin have been obtained by using a fast-atom-bombardment source described previously by Barber, Bordoli, Sedgwick & Tyler [(1981) J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Commun., in the press]. This technique has allowed the spectra to be obtained without conversion of the enkephalins into volatile derivatives. The fast-atom-bombardment spectra show good pseudo-molecular-ion sensitivity and fragmentation that can be interpreted on the basis of the known molecular structure.
The definitive identification of the lignans trans-2,3-bis(3-hydroxybenzyl)-γ-butyrolactone and 2,3-bis(3-hydroxybenzyl)butane-1,4-diol in human and animal urine
Authors: Setchell K D , Lawson A M , Conway E , Taylor N F , Kirk D N , Cooley G , Farrant R D , Wynn S , Axelson M
Published: August 2015

The definitive identification of the first lignans to be found in humans and animals is described. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, n.m.r. spectroscopy, i.r. spectroscopy and chemical techniques were employed to establish the structures of two lignans as trans-2,3-bis(3-hydroxybenzyl)-gamma-butyrolactone and 2,3-bis(3-hydroxybenzyl)butane-1,4-diol. Both compounds are essetially racemic. Evidence was also found for several methoxy analogues of these lignans in the vervet monkey.
Self-association of dermatan sulphate proteoglycans from bovine sclera
Authors: Cöster L , Fransson L A , Sheehan J , Nieduszynski I A , Phelps C F
Published: August 2015

1. Two proteodermatan sulphate fractions (I and II) from bovine sclera were studied by gel chromatography, light-scattering and ultracentrifugation under various conditions. 2. Gel chromatography of proteoglycans in the absence or presence of hyaluronate was performed under associative conditions. No effect on the elution profile was noted. 3. Ultracentrifugation experiments (sedimentation-velocity and sedimentation-equilibrium) with proteoglycan I and II in 6 M-guanidine hydrochloride gave molecular weights (Mw) of 160000-220000 and 70000-100000 respectively. As the protein contents were 45% and 60% respectively, it may be calculated that proteoglycan I contained four to five side chains, whereas proteoglycan II contained one or two. Sedimentation-equilibrium runs performed in 0.15 M-NaCl gave an apparent molecular weight (Mw) of 500000-800000 for proteoglycan I and 90000-110000 for proteoglycan II. 4. In light-scattering experiments both proteoglycans I and II yielded high particle weights in 0.15 M-NaCl (3.1 × 10(6) and 3.4 × 10(6) daltons respectively). In the presence of 6 M-guanidine hydrochloride the molecular weights decreased to 410000 and 130000 respectively. The particle weights in 0.15 M-NaCl were not altered by the addition of hyaluronate or hyaluronate oligosaccharides. 5. The dermatan sulphate side chains of scleral proteoglycans (L-iduronate/D-glucuronate ratio 7:13) gave a particle weight of 100000 daltons in 0.15 M-NaCl. In 1.00 M-KCl/0.02M-EDTA the molecular weight was 24000. Addition of free scleral dermatan sulphate chains to a solution of proteoglycan II promoted further multimerization of the macromolecule.