bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stimulation of the pathway of porphyrin synthesis in the liver of rats and mice by griseofulvin, 3,5-Diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine and related drugs: evidence for two basically different mechanisms
Authors: De Matteis F , Gibbs A H
Published: August 2015

Griseofulvin and isogriseofulvin cause, like 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine, a fall in the activity of the hepatic enzyme porphyrin-metal chelatase and accumulation of protoporphyrin in the liver. Analogues of either griseofulvin or 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine which do not decrease the chelatase activity are not porphyrogenic on their own, but can potentiate the porphyria caused by 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine. This suggests the existence of two basically different mechanisms by which drugs stimulate the pathway of porphyrin synthesis in the liver.
Phospholipid biosynthesis in the anaerobic protozoon Entodinium caudatum
Authors: Broad T E , Dawson R M
Published: August 2015

1. The anaerobic rumen protozoon Entodinium caudatum was incubated either intact or with various radioactive precursors of phospholipids after ultrasonication. 2. Pulse-chase experiments showed a rapid turnover of phosphatidylinositol and much slower turnovers of phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine. 3. E. caudatum imbibed choline very rapidly; this was immediately and exclusively converted into phosphatidylcholine which was shown by radioautography after 10 min to be distributed throughout the cell membranes. 4. Phosphatidylcholine was synthesized through a phosphorylcholine-CDP-choline pathway, the methylation or base-exchange pathways not being present. 5. Under suitable conditions [Me-14C]choline can be substantially (50-60%) converted into CDP-choline by sonicated E. caudatum and this provides an excellent method of preparing this biosynthetic intermediary. 6. [2-14C]Ethanolamine was taken up much less readily than choline. The former was incorporated into phosphatidylethanolamine by the CDP-ethanolamine pathway. 7. Doubly labelled [32P]phosphatidyl[2-3H]ethanolamine was converted into ceramide phosphorylethanolamine and N-(1-carboxyethyl)phosphatidyl-ethanolamine, without change in the isotopic ratio. Ceramide phosphoryl [2-14C]-ethanolamine was converted into phsophatidylethanolamine. 8. Palmitic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid were taken by E. caudatum cells and incorporated into phospholipids. By contrast, although stearic acid was taken up it was hardly incorporated into phospholipids.
Transfer of serine into polypeptides and myosin by chromatographic species of seryl-transfer ribonucleic acid
Authors: Nwagwu M
Published: August 2015

The efficiencies of two chromatographic species of [3-H]seryl-tRNA, namely peaks I and II, in cell-free amino acid incorporation were investigated. The maximum yield of polypeptide seems to be the same for the reaction mixtures containing either peak I or peak II, suggesting that the efficiency of both peaks in total protein synthesis is the same. The efficiency of transfer of serine into myosin heavy subunit (myosin H) by peaks I and II was also investigated. Peak II of [3-H]seryl-tRNA transfers three times as much serine into myosin H as peak I.
Metabolite transport in mutants of Escherichia coli K12 defective in electron transport and coupled phosphorylation
Authors: Rosenberg H , Cox G B , Butlin J D , Gutowski S J
Published: August 2015

1. The uptakes of Pi and serine by whole cells of mutant strains of Escherichia coli K12, grown under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions, were studied. 2. Uptake by aerobic cells was low in a ubiquinone-less mutant but normal in two mutant strains unable to couple phosphorylation to electron transport. 3. One of these uncoupled strains, carrying the unc-405 allele, does not form a membrane-bound Mg2+-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase aggregate, and it is concluded that the Mg2+-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase does not serve a structural role in the aerobic active transport of Pi or serine. 4. The other uncoupled strain, in which aerobic uptake is unaffected, carries a mutation in the uncB gene, thus distinguishing this gene from the etc gene, previously shown to be concerned with the coupling of electron transport to active transport. 5. The uptakes of Pi and serine by anaerobic cells were normal in the ubiquinone-less mutant, but defective in both the uncoupled strains. 6. The uptake of Pi and serine by anaerobic cells of the uncB mutant could be increased by the addition of fumarate to the uptake medium. The unc-405 mutant, however, required the addition of fumarate for growth and for uptake. 7. The uncB mutant, unlike the unc-405 mutant, is able to grow anaerobically in a minimal medium with glucose as sole source of carbon. Similarly a strain carrying a mutation in the frd gene, which is the structural gene for the enzyme fumarate reductase, is able to grow anaerobically in a glucose-minimal medium. However, a mutant strain carrying mutations in both the uncB and frd genes resembles the unc-405 mutant in not being able to grow under these conditions.
Properties of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (guanosine triphosphate) synthesized in hepatoma cells in the presence of amino acid analogues
Authors: Knowles S E , Gunn J M , Reshef L , Hanson R W , Ballard F J
Published: August 2015

1. Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP) was induced by a combination of dibutyryl cyclic AMP, theophyline and dexamethasone in Reuber H35 hepatoma cells under conditions where an amino acid in the medium was replaced by an appropriate analogue. 2. With canavanine replacing arginine or with 5-fluorotryptophan or 6-fluorotryptophan replacing tryptophan the induced enzyme had a lower catalytic activity-relative to antibody reactivity. 3. These aberrant enzyme molecules were heat-labile in vitro. 4. Measurements of enzyme degradation in vivo indicated that the canavanine-containing enzyme and the 6-fluorotryptophan-containing enzyme were degraded more rapidly than the enzyme containing all natural amino acids.
The composition and proposed subunit structure of egg-white β-ovomucin. The isolation of an unreduced soluble ovomucin
Authors: Robinson D S , Monsey J B
Published: August 2015

1. New preparations of reduced carboxymethylated β-ovomucin (S-carboxymethyl-β-ovomucin) were homogeneous by sedimentation analysis, analytical sedimentation to equilibrium in CsCl gradients, and disc electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulphate. 2. Degradation of S-carboxymethyl-β-ovomucin with either CNBr or trypsin indicated the presence of a subunit (approx. mol. wt. 112300). 3. Electron microscopy showed that S-carboxymethyl-β-ovomucin consisted of chains of globular units (approx. mol. wt. 103 000). IN 6M-guanidinium chloride S-carboxymethyl-β-ovomucin existed mainly as an aggregate (mol. wt. 720 000). 4. S-Carboxymethyl-β-ovomucin contained ester sulphate (4.24%, W/W) and carbohydrate (60%, W/W), which consisted of large amounts of galactose (22%, W/W), galactosamine (8.9%, W/W) and sialic acid (10.6%, W/W). 5. An unreduced soluble fibrous component (component SGH) extracted from crude ovomucin precipitate with 5M-guanidinium chloride contained β-ovomucin (approx. 70%, W/W). By using the Scheraga-Mandelkern equation the molecular weight of component SGH was calculated to be 11.5 times 10(6).
Chemical modification of amino groups and guanidino groups of trypsin. Preparation of stable and soluble derivatives
Authors: Nureddin A , Inagami T
Published: August 2015

1. Isoionic chemical modification of amino groups of trypsin (EC 3.4.21.4) was studied for the purpose of obtaining a well-defined modified trypsin with minimum changes in physicochemical properties and with sufficient stability at neutral pH. Acetamidination with methyl acetimidate hydrochloride proceeded very rapidly at pH9.8 and 5degrees C and all 14 epsilon-amino groups were modified in 2h. The reaction was limited to epsilon-amino groups. The α-amino group of N-terminal isoleucine was modified only by repeated reactions in the presence of 5.5 M-guanidine or 8 M-urea. 2. The epsilon-acetamidinated derivative of β-trypsin retained enzymic activity at values comparable with those of native enzyme tested with α-N-benzoyl-L-arginine ethyl ester and α-N-benzoyl-L-arginine p-nitroanilide as substrates; it also showed substrate activation comparable with that of native enzyme. The acetamidination of α-trypsin resulted in approx. 50% decrease in its esterolytic activity. 3. The epsilon-acetamidinated β-trypsin was very stable at pH8 and 25degrees C in the absence of Ca2+. The activity of 0.04% (W/V) enzyme solution remained practically unchanged for 10h, and after 24h 90% of the activity was still retained. Possible autolytic cleavage of peptide bonds of acetamidinated enzymes was followed by N-terminal analysis by using automated Edman degradation. Only the Arg(105)-Val(106) bond was found to be cleaved to an appreciable extent. Thus β-trypsin can be stabilized simply by complete acetamidination of epsilon-amino groups without modifying guanidino groups of arginine residues. Acetamidinated α-trypsin was unstable, but its inactivation at a neutral pH could not be attributed to the cleavage of a single specific peptide bond. 4. The acetamidination of the α-amino group of the N-terminal isoleucine results in the inactivation of esterolytic activity. However, this enzyme retained the ability to react with p-nitrophenyl p'-guanidinobenzoate. 5. It was concluded that acetamidination of β-trypsin is a convenient method for preparing a well-defined stable and soluble trypsin derivative without appreciable change in its physical properties.
The effects of oestradiol-17β on the ribonucleic acid polymerases of immature rabbit uterus
Authors: Borthwick N M , Smellie R M
Published: August 2015

Measurements of the endogenous RNA polymerase activities of nuclei isolated from immature rabbit uteri have shown that prior treatment of the animals with oestradiol-17β has a profound effect on the apparent activities of both RNA polymerases A and B. Within 1 h of hormone treatment, the activity of RNA polymerase A is increased and continues to rise until about 4h when it reaches a plateau and remains steady until at least 8h. The activity of RNA polymerase B increases sharply after oestradiol treatment reaching an early maximum at 30-45 min. Thereafter this activity declines until by 1-2h it approaches control values but a second increase in activity then occurs with a maximum at 3-4h. Treatment of the rabbits with α-amanitin before the administration of oestradiol inhibits the hormone-induced stimulation of RNA polymerase A activity in isolated nuclei but when the administration of α-amanitin is delayed until after the early rise of RNA polymerase B activity, the oestradiol-induced stimulation of RNA polymerase A is retained. Similar results have been obtained in experiments with cycloheximide suggesting that the stimulation of RNA polymerase A activity by oestradiol is dependent on the hormone-induced stimulation of RNA polymerase B and the subsequent synthesis of protein using the RNA product of the early increase in RNA polymerase B activity. Measurement of the activities of RNA polymerases A and B after isolation of the enzymes from immature rabbit uterine nuclei before and after oestradiol treatment failed to show any differences. Therefore it would appear that the changes in the observed activities of RNA polymerases A and B in isolated nuclei are consequences of changes in the structure and function of chromatin rather than the results of modifications in the RNA polymerases themselves.
Kinetic studies on the reaction between cytochrome c oxidase and ferrocytochrome c
Authors: Wilson M T , Greenwood C , Brunori M , Antonini E
Published: August 2015

In stopped-flow experiments in which oxidized cytochrome c oxidase was mixed with ferrocytochrome c in the presence of a range of oxygen concentrations and in the absence and presence of cyanide, a fast phase, reflecting a rapid approach to an equilibrium, was observed. Within this phase, one or two molecules of ferrocytochrome were oxidized per haem group of cytochrome a, depending on the concentration of ferrocytochrome c used. The reasons for this are discussed in terms of a mechanism in which all electrons enter through cytochrome a, which, in turn, is in rapid equilibrium with a second site, identified with ‘visible’ copper (830 nm-absorbing) Cud (Beinert et al., 1971). The value of the bimolecular rate constant for the reaction between cytochromes c2+ and a3+ was between 10(6) and 10(7) M(-1)-S(-1); some variability from preparation to preparation was observed. At high ferrocytochrome c concentrations, the initial reaction of cytochrome c2+ with cytochrome a3+ could be isolated from the reaction involving the ‘visible’ copper and the stoicheiometry was found to approach one molecule of cytochrome c2+ oxidized for each molecule of cytochrome a3+ reduced. At low ferrocytochrome c concentrations, however, both sites (i.e. cytochrome a and Cud) were reduced simultaneously and the stoicheiometry of the initial reaction was closer to two molecules of cytochrome c2+ oxidized per molecule of cytochrome a reduced. The bleaching of the 830 nm band lagged behind or was simultaneous with the formation of the 605 nm band and does not depend on the cytochrome c concentration, whereas the extinction at the steady-state does. The time-course of the return of the 830 nm-absorbing species is much faster than the bleaching of the 605 nm-absorbing component, and parallels that of the turnover phase of cytochrome c2+ oxidation. Additions of cyanide to the oxidase preparations had no effect on the observed stoicheiometry or kinetics of the reduction of cytochrome a and ‘visible’ copper, but inhibited electron transfer to the other two sites, cytochrome a3 and the undetectable copper, Cuu.
Effect of allylisopropylacetamide on Nuclear Ribonucleic Acid synthesis in rat liver
Authors: Sardana M K , Satyanarayana Rao M R , Padmanaban G
Published: August 2015

The porphyrogenic drug allylisopropylacetamide, a potent inducer of delta-aminolaevulinate synthetase, specifically increases nucleoplasmic RNA synthesis in rat liver. The drug-mediated increase in nucleoplasmic RNA synthesis is blocked by cycloheximide and haemin, which also inhibit the enzyme induction.
Ethylenediamine-NN′-tetra-acetate-dependent amino acid-stimulated inactivation of mouse ovarian alkaline phosphatase activity
Authors: Bramley T A
Published: August 2015

1. Preincubation of partially purified preparations of mouse ovarian alkaline phosphatase in the presence of both EDTA and glycine at alkaline pH resulted in a pronounced inactivation of alkaline phosphatase activity. Inactivation did not occur on preincubation with EDTA or glycine alone. 2. The rate of inactivation was first-order with respect to the concentration of enzyme, and was independent of EDTA concentration above a threshold value. 3. The process was pH-dependent with a pK at 9.85, and inactivation was not dependent on the stereochemistry of the amino acid. A free alpha-amino group and a free carboxyl group at a specific spatial separation were essential for inactivation. 4. Inactivation involved the formation of an enzyme--metal ion--amino acid complex, the amount formed being dependent on both the nature and concentration of the amino acid. This complex then decayed to a derivative that was then acted on by EDTA, yielding an inactive form of the enzyme.
The equilibrium position of the reaction of bovine liver glutamate dehydrogenase with pyridoxal 5′-phosphate. A demonstration that covalent modification with this reagent completely abolishes catalytic activity
Authors: Chen S S , Engel P C
Published: August 2015

1. The activity of bovine liver glutamate dehydrogenase incubated with pyridoxal 5′-phosphate declined to a steady value reached within 30--60 min. The residual activity depended on the concentration of modifier up to about 5 mM. Above this concentration, however, no further inactivation was produced. The minimum activity obtainable in such incubations was 6–7% of the initial value. 2. Km values of the modified enzyme were unaltered, whereas Vmax. was decreased. 3. Activity was fully regained on dialysis against 0.1 M-potassium phosphate buffer. 4. Reduction with borohydride rendered the inactivation permanent but did not alter its extent. 5. Enzyme permanently inactivated in this way to the extent of 90% and dialysed was re-treated with pyridoxal 5′-phosphate. In this second cycle activity declined from 10 to 1% of the original activity. 6. This strongly suggests that the failure to achieve complete inactivation in a single cycle reflects a reversible equilibrium between inactive Schiff base, i.e. covalently modified enzyme, and a non-covalent complex. 7. The re-inactivation reaction occurring on dilution was demonstrated directly and a first-order rate constant obtained (0.048 min-1). This, in conjunction with an estimate of the forward rate constant for Schiff-base formation, obtained by approximate pseudo-first-order analysis of inactivation at varied modifier concentrations, gives a predicted minimum activity very close to that actually obtained in a single cycle of treatment. 8. The dissociation constant of the non-covalent complex is given by two methods as 0.90 and 1.59mM. 9. The results indicate that covalent modification with pyridoxal 5′-phosphate completely abolishes the activity of glutamate dehydrogenase.
Co-operative binding of oxytocin to bovine neurophysin II
Authors: Hope D B , Wälti M , Winzor D J
Published: August 2015

The interaction of oxytocin with bovine neurophysin II in 0.1 M-sodium phosphate, pH 5.8, was investigated by equilibrium-dialysis and sedimentation studies. Sigmoidality of the binding curve is attributed to isomerization, either hormone-induced or pre-existing, with preferential binding of oxytocin to one isomeric state. Results are consistent with a binding equation of the form r = (2P[S]+2PQ[S]2)/(1+2P[S]+PQ[S]2) and values of 0.7 X 10(5)M-1 and 1.3 X 10(5)M-1 for P and Q respectively. The significance of these two parameters in relation to current theories of allostery is also discussed.
Purification and properties of S-alkyl-L-cysteine lyase from seedlings of Acacia farnesiana Willd.
Authors: Mazelis M , Creveling R K
Published: August 2015

1. An S-alkyl-L-cysteine lyase (EC 4.4.1.6) was purified to apparent homogeneity from extracts of acetone-dried powders of the hypocotyls of etiolated 5-day-old seedlings of Acacia farnesiana Willd. 2. The enzyme catalyses a beta-elimination reaction and will utilize both the thioether and sulphoxide form of the substrate. 3. There is a braod specificity with regard to the alkyl substituent, but cystathionine is utilized very poorly. 4. The pH optimum is 7.8 and the Km value for the probable natural substrate L-djenkolate is 0.3 mM. 5. Both sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and ultracentirfugal analysis give a molecular weight of about 144000. 6. One mol of pyridoxal phosphate is bound/mol of enzyme. 7. The energy of activation with L-djenkolate as the substrate is 53.1 kJ/mol. 8. The enzyme has a partial specific volume of 0.56 and S20,w 7.26S.
Quantitative interpretation of concentration-dependent migration in gel chromatography of reversibly polymerizing solutes.
Authors: Baghurst P A , Nichol L W , Ogston A G , Winzor D J
Published: August 2015

A theoretical expression is derived for concentration dependence of elution volume in the gel chromatography of a non-interacting solute. Experimental results for bovine serum albumin on Sephadex G-100 are shown to be in good agreement with the predicted gel-chromatographic behaviour. The theoretical treatment of concentration dependence is extended to include a solute undergoing rapid reversible polymerization (nA in equilibrium C). Computer simulation of gel-chromatographic data for monomer-dimer systems on Sephadex G-100 is used to illustrate the deficiencies of earlier empirical approaches, and also the potential of the present treatment, of allowing for non-chemical concentration dependence in gel chromatography of polymerizing solutes.
The formation of oligoglucans linked to lipid during synthesis of β-glucan by characterized membrane fractions isolated from peas
Authors: Brett C T , Northcote D H
Published: August 2015

Membrane fractions were obtained from peas roots by using a method that permitted the isolation of a fraction rich in relatively intact dictyosome stacks. No chemical fixatives were used. The method involved incubation of the roots with cellulase, followed by gentle homogenization and sucrose-density-gradient fractionation of the homogenate. The fractions were characterized by electron microscopy. All fractions were enzymically active in incorporating glucose from UDP-glucose into water-insoluble glycolipids containing both single glucose residues and glucose oligosaccharides. Some or all of the linkages of glucose to lipid were through phosphate esters. A substance containing glucose oligosaccharides attached to or very strongly adsorbed on to protein was also formed. The membrane fractions also incorporated glucose from UDP-glucose into alkali-soluble and alkali-insoluble β-glucans, which like the oligosaccharides contained β(1leads to 3) and β-(1leads to4) linkages. The distribution of the enzymic activities and the chemical properties of the lipid-linked and protein-linked oligosaccharides suggest that they may be intermediates in β-glucan synthesis. The synthetic activity is associated with smooth-membrane vesicles which may be derived from the plasma membrane.
Synthesis and sideedness of membrane-bound respiratory nitrate reductase (EC1.7.99.4) in Escherichia coli lacking cytochromes
Authors: Kemp M B , Haddock B A , Garland P B
Published: August 2015

The synthesis of nitrate reductase and its incorporation into the cytoplasmic membrane of Escherichia coli strain A1004a (5-aminolaevulinic acid auxotroph) does not require synthesis of cytochrome b. The synthesis of the apoprotein(s) of the cytochrome b of the respiratory pathway from NADH to nitrate appears to be inhibited by the absence of haem. No member of the respiratory pathway from NADH to oxygen is capable of reducing nitrate reductase directly. The site on nitrate reductase that oxidizes FMNH2 is located on the cytoplasmic aspect of the cytoplasmic membrane.
Drugs affecting the synthesis of glycerides and phospholipids in rat liver. The effects of clofibrate, halofenate, fenfluramine, amphetamine, cinchocaine, chlorpromazine, demethylimipramine, mepyramine and some of their derivatives
Authors: Brindley D N , Bowley M
Published: August 2015

The effects on glycerolipid synthesis of a series of compounds including many drugs were investigated in cell-free preparations and slices of rat liver. p-Chlorobenzoate, p-chlorophenoxyisobutyrate, halofenate, D-amphetamine, adrenaline, procaine and N-[2-(4-chloro-3-sulphamoylbenzoyloxy)ethyl]norfenfluramine had little inhibitory effect on any of the systems investigated. Two amphiphilic anions, clofenapate and 2-(p-chlorophenyl)-2-(m-trifluoromethylphenoxy)acetate, both inhibited glycerol phosphate acyltransferase and diacylglycerol acyltransferase at approx. 1.6 and 0.7 mm respectively. Clofenapate (1 mm) also inhibited the incorporation of glycerol into lipids by rat liver slices without altering the relative proportions of the different lipids synthesized. The amphilic amines, mepyramine, fenfluramine, norfenfluramine, hydroxyethylnorfenfluramine, N-(2-benzoyloxyethyl)norfenfluramine, cinchocaine, chlorpromazine and demethylimipramine inhibited phosphatidate phosphohydrolase by 50% at concentrations between 0.2 and 0.9 mm. The last four compounds inhibited glycerol phosphate acyltransferase by 50% at concentrations between 1 and 2.6 mm. None of the amines examined appeared to be an effective inhibitor of diacylglycerol acyltransferase. Norfenfluramine, hydroxyethylnorfenfluramine and N-(2-benzoyloxyethyl)norfenfluramine produced less inhibition of glycerol incorporation into total lipids than was observed with equimolar clofenapate. The major effect of these amines in liver slices was to inhibit triacylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine synthesis and to produce a marked accumulation of phosphatidate. The results are discussed in terms of the control of glycerolipid synthesis. They partly explain the observed effects of the various drugs on lipid metabolism. The possible use of these compounds as biochemical tools with which to investigate the reactions of glycerolipid synthesis is considered.
Studies on ram acrosin. Isolation from spermatozoa, activation by cations and organic solvents, and influence of cations on its reaction with inhibitors
Authors: Brown Colin R. , Andani Zarina , Hartree Edward F.
Published: August 2015

1. A simple method is given for isolating from ram spermatozoa a water-soluble form of acrosin (a trypsin-like enzyme) which is about 25% pure. It is free from an acrosin inhibitor which is located in the spermatozoa. 2. In the hydrolysis of N-α-benzoyl-l-arginine ethyl ester the degree of activation of acrosin by Ca2+, and by some other cations, is dependent on the extent of contamination by the inhibitor. In 50mm-Tris–HCl buffer (pH8.2) activation by Ca2+ did not exceed 40%, but acrosin that is partially inhibited may be activated by up to 300%: this is due to cation-mediated protection of acrosin against the inhibitor. 3. Increasing concentrations of buffers (e.g. Tris) also activate acrosin but at above certain buffer concentrations Ca2+ no longer exerts an activating effect and may become inhibitory. Ca2+ is also inhibitory when added to assay systems involving anionic buffers with chelating properties. This is due to a fall in pH. 4. The above results suggest reasons for conflicting conclusions in papers dealing with the effects of Ca2+ on acrosin activity. 5. Inhibition of acrosin by the Kunitz pancreatic trypsin inhibitor is increased on addition of Ca2+. Inhibitions of trypsin by the acrosin inhibitor and by the Kunitz inhibitor are insensitive to Ca2+. 6. Like trypsin, acrosin is activated, up to 60%, by 2-methyl-propan-2-ol, dimethyl sulphoxide, and some other water-miscible solvents. Effects of cations and solvents tend to be additive and a common maximum acrosin activity can be achieved with various concentrations of solvent, salts and buffer in the assay system. Activation by solvents is increased when low concentrations of the acrosin inhibitor are present. 7. Activations of acrosin by salts and by solvents are more pronounced when the substrate is N-α-benzoyl-dl-arginine 2-naphthylamide. 8. Km values for ram acrosin (about 0.2mm) are much higher than those for trypsin, and kcat. values are slightly higher than those for trypsin. Considerations of the influences of ions and dimethyl sulphoxide on the activities and kinetic constants of acrosin and trypsin suggest that conformational changes are the factors mainly responsible for the reported activations of acrosin. 9. The following conclusions are reached. (a) Acrosin plays a role in the penetration of the sperm cell into the egg without becoming detached from the acrosomal membrane. (b) The enzyme is a peripheral membrane protein which may be classed as a cathepsin. (c) The susceptibility of the activity of soluble acrosin to cations and solvents points to a flexible molecule, i.e. one lacking conformational restraints imposed by association (presumably ionic) with the acrosomal membrane.
Physicochemical properties of two atypical cytochromes c, Crithidia cytochrome c-557 and Euglena cytochrome c-558
Authors: Pettigrew G W , Aviram I , Schejter A
Published: August 2015

Cytochrome c-557 from Crithidia oncopelti and cytochrome c-558 from Euglena gracilis are mitochondrial cytochromes c that have an atypical haem-binding site. It was of interest to know whether the loss of one thioether bond affected the physicochemical properties of these cytochromes. The thermodynamic parameters of the redox potential were measured. The reaction with imidazole, the kinetics and thermodynamics of the alkaline isomerization and the effect of heating on the visible spectrum are described for the ferricytochromes. The kinetics of the loss of cyanide, the spectral changes occurring on reduction with dithionite at alkaline pH values and the reactivity with CO are described for the ferrocytochromes. In many respects the cytochromes of the two protozoans are very similar to the cytochromes of horse and yeast. The ferricytochromes do, however, undergo a reversible transition to high-spin species on heating, which may be due to the more flexible attachment of the prosthetic group. Similarly the alkaline isomers of cytochromes c-557 and c-558 give rise to high-spin proteins above pH 11. The alkaline isomerization of cytochrome c-558, involves a pKobs. of 10 and kinetics which do not obey the model of Davis et al. [(1974) J. Biol. Chem.249, 2624-2632] for horse cytochrome c. It is proposed that a model involving two ionizations, followed by a conformation change, may fit the data. Both cytochromes c-557 and c-558 combine slowly with CO at neutral pH values.
The mechanism of C-4 demethylation during cholesterol biosynthesis. Evidence for a decarboxylation mechanism not involving a Schiff-base intermediate
Authors: Wilton D. C. , Akhtar M.
Published: August 2015

The conversion of 4,4-dimethylcholest-7-enol into 4α-methylcholest-7-enol by rat liver microsomal preparations involves the decarboxylation of a sterol 3-oxo-4α-carboxylic acid. By using an 18O-labelled substrate it was shown that this decarboxylation does not involve a Schiff-base intermediate.
Higher-plant cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases. Resolution, partial purification and properties of three phosphodiesterases from potato tuber
Authors: Ashton A R , Polya G M
Published: August 2015

1. Three phosphodiesterases that are capable of hydrolysing 3':5'-cyclic nucleotides were purified from potato tubers. 2. The phosphodiesterases were fractionated by (NH4)2SO4 precipitation and CM-cellulose chromatography. The phosphodiesterases were resolved from each other and further purified by gel filtration in high- and low-ionic-strength conditions. 3. All three enzymes lacked significant nucleotidase activity. 4. Enzymes I and II had mol. wts. 240,000 and 80,000 respectively, determined by gel filtration, whereas enzyme III showed anomalous behaviour on gel filtration, behaving as a high- or low-molecular-weight protein in high- or low-ionic-strength buffers respectively. 5. All enzymes hydrolysed 2':3'-cyclic nucleotides as well as 3':5'-cyclic nucleotides. The enzymes also had nucleotide pyrophosphatase activity, hydrolysing NAD+ and UDP-glucose to various extents. Enzymes I and II hydrolyse cyclic nucleotides at a greater rate than NAD+, whereas enzyme III hydrolyses NAD+ at a much greater rate than cyclic nucleotides. All three enzymes hydrolysed the artificial substrate bis-(p-nitro-phenyl) phosphate. 6. The enzymes do not require the addition of bivalent cations for activity. 7. Both enzymes I and II have optimum activity at pH6 with 3':5'-cyclic AMP and bis-(p-nitrophenyl) phosphate as substrates. The products of 3':5'-cyclic AMP hydrolysis were 3'-AMP and 5'-AMP, the ratio of the two products being different for each enzyme and varying with pH. 8. Theophylline inhibits enzymes I and II slightly, but other methyl xanthines have little effect. Enzymes I and II were competitively inhibited by many nucleotides containing phosphomonoester and phosphodiester bonds, as well as by Pi. 9. The possible significance of these phosphodiesterases in cyclic nucleotide metabolism in higher plants is discussed.
The mechanism of hydrolysis of β-glycerophosphate by kidney alkaline phosphatase
Authors: Ahlers J
Published: August 2015

1. To identify the functional groups that are involved in the conversion of β-glycerophosphate by alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1) from pig kidney, the kinetics of alkaline phosphatase were investigated in the pH range 6.6-10.3 at substrate concentrations of 3 μM-30 mM. From the plots of log ṼH+ against pH and log ṼH+/KH+m against pH one functional group with pK = 7.0 and two functional groups with pK = 9.1 were identified. These groups are involved in substrate binding. Another group with pK = 8.8 was found, which in its unprotonated form catalyses substrate conversion. 2. GSH inhibits the alkaline phosphatase reversibly and non-competitively by attacking the bound Zn(II). 3. The influence of the H+ concentration on the activation by Mg2+ ions of alkaline pig kidney phosphate was investigated between pH 8.4 and 10.0. The binding of substrate and activating Mg2+ ions occurs independently at all pH values between 8.4 and 10.0. The activation mechanism is not affected by the H+ concentration. The Mg2+ ions are bound by a functional group with a pK of 10.15. 4. A scheme is proposed for the reaction between enzyme, substrate, Mg2+ and H+ and the overall rate equation is derived. 5. The mechanism of substrate binding and splitting by the functional groups of the active centre is discussed on the basis of a model. Mg2+ seems to play a role as an autosteric effector.
Oxidase-peroxidase enzymes of Datura innoxia. Oxidation of formylphenylacetic acid ethyl ester
Authors: Kalyanaraman V S , Mahadevan S , Kumar S A
Published: August 2015

An enzyme system from Datura innoxia roots oxidizing formylphenylacetic acid ethyl ester was purified 38-fold by conventional methods such as (NH4)2SO4 fractionation, negative adsorption on alumina Cy gel and chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. The purified enzyme was shown to catalyse the stoicheiometric oxidation of formylphenylacetic acid ethyl ester to benzoylformic acid ethyl ester and formic acid, utilizing molecular O2. Substrate analogues such as phenylacetaldehyde and phenylpyruvate were oxidized at a very low rate, and formylphenylacetonitrile was an inhilating agents, cyanide, thiol compounds and ascorbic acid. This enzyme was identical with an oxidase-peroxidase isoenzyme. Another oxidase-peroxidase isoenzyme which separated on DEAE-chromatography also showed formylphenylacetic acid ethyl ester oxidase activity, albeit to a lesser extent. The properties of the two isoenzymes of the oxidase were compared and shown to differ in their oxidation and peroxidation properties. The oxidation of formylphenylacetic acid ethyl ester was also catalysed by horseradish peroxidase. The Datura isoenzymes exhibited typical haemoprotein spectra. The oxidation of formylphenylacetic acid ethyl ester was different from other peroxidase-catalysed reactions in not being activated by either Mn2+ or monophenols. The oxidation was inhibited by several mono- and poly-phenols and by catalase. A reaction mechanism for the oxidation is proposed.
Oxidase-peroxidase enzymes of Datura innoxia. Oxidation of reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide in the presence of formylphenylacetic acid ethyl ester
Authors: Kalyanaraman V S , Kumar S A , Mahadevan S
Published: August 2015

The oxidase-peroxidase from Datura innoxia which catalyses the oxidation of formylphenylacetic acid ethyl ester to benzoylformic acid ethyl ester and formic acid was also found to catalyse the oxidation of NADH in the presence of Mn2+ and formylphenylacetic acid ethyl ester. NADH was not oxidized in the absence of formylphenylacetic acid ethyl ester, although formylphenylacetonitrile or phenylacetaldehyde could replace it in the reaction. The reaction appeared to be complex and for every mol of NADH oxidized 3-4 g-atoms of oxygen were utilized, with a concomitant formation of approx. 0.8 mol of H2O2, the latter being identified by the starch-iodide test and decomposition by catalase. Benzoylformic acid ethyl ester was also formed in the reaction, but in a nonlinear fashion, indicating a lag phase. In the absence of Mn2+, NADH oxidation was not only very low, but itself inhibited the formation of benzoylformic acid ethyl ester from formylphenylacetic acid ethyl ester. A reaction mechanism for the oxidation of NADH in the presence of formylphenylacetic acid ethyl ester is proposed.
The nature of the protein moieties of cartilage proteoglycans of pig and ox
Authors: Baxter E , Muir H
Published: August 2015

Proteoglycans extracted with 4M-guanidinium chloride from pig laryngeal cartilage and bovine nasal septum were purified by density-gradient centrifugation in CsCl under ‘associative’ followed by ‘dissociative’ conditions [Hascall & Sajdera (1969) J. Biol. Chem.244, 2384-2396]. Proteoglycans were then digested exhaustively with testicular hyaluronidase, which removed about 80% of the chondroitin sulphate. The hyaluronidase was purified until no proteolytic activity was detectable under the conditions used for digestion. The resulting ‘core’ proteins of both species were fractionated by a sequence of gel-chromatographic procedures which gave four major fractions of decreasing hydrodynamic size. Those that on electrophoresis penetrated 5.6% (w/v) polyacrylamide gels migrated as discrete bands whose mobility increased with decreasing hydrodynamic size. The unfractionated ‘core’ proteins had the same N-terminal amino acids as the intact proteoglycan, suggesting that no peptide bonds had been cleaved during hyaluronidase digestion. Alanine predominated as the N-terminal residue in all the fractions of both species. Fractions were analysed for amino acid, amino sugar, uronic acid and neutral sugar compositions. In pig ‘core’ proteins, the glutamic acid content increased significantly with hydrodynamic size, but in bovine ‘core’ proteins this trend was less marked. Significant differences in amino acid composition between fractions suggested that in each species there was more than one variety of proteoglycan. The molar proportions of xylose to serine destroyed on alkaline β-elimination were equivalent in most fractions, indicating that the serine residues destroyed were attached to the terminal xylose of chondroitin sulphate chains. The ratio of serine residues to threonine residues destroyed on β-elimination, was similar in all fractions of both species. Since the fractions of smallest hydrodynamic size contained less keratan sulphate than those of larger size, it implies that in the former the keratan sulphate chains were shorter than in the latter.
Determination of polyadenylate-rich ribonucleic acid in the nucleus and in the cytoplasm of plasmacytoma cells
Authors: Abraham K A , Eikhom T S
Published: August 2015

A number of parameters affecting the adsorption of rRNA and poly(A)-containing RNA to Millipore filters were investigated separately. Binding of both types of RNA to the filter was dependent on the concentration of RNA, pH and Mg2+ concentration of the reaction mixture. Both types of RNA bound to the filter optimally at slightly acid pH values. The binding of poly(A)-containing RNA to the filter exhibited a broad pH-dependence compared with that of rRNA. The ratio of poly(A)-rich RNA/rRNA retained by the filter was maximal between pH7 and 8. The presence of 1 mM-EDTA or a high concentration of NaCl (over 0.5M) decreased the affinity of RNA for the filter. The amount of poly(A)-containing RNA in the nucleus and in the cytoplasm of a plasmacytoma cell line (MPC-11) labelled with [32P]Pi was determined by the Millipore-filter technique under conditions that minimized contamination by rRNA. These data were compared with the estimations made by oligo(dT)-cellulose chromatography. The results obtained by these two methods were in good agreement for RNA labelled for short periods (up to 2h). In long labelling and pulse-chase experiments, however, contamination of the filter by rRNA of increasing specific radioactivity in the cytoplasm gave an erroneous value for poly(A)-containing RNA by the Millipore-filter technique. Determinations made on the nuclear fraction by these two methods did not show significant variation in short- and long-term labelling experiments.
The isolation of an o-diphenal oxidase from third-instar larvae of the blowfly Calliphora erythrocephala
Authors: Pau R N , Eagles P A M.
Published: August 2015

1. The isolation of an o-diphenol oxidase from an acetone-dried powder of late-third-instar larvae of Calliphora erythrocephala was investigated. An insoluble and micro-crystalline fraction containing the enzyme activity was obtained after fractionating extracts of the acetone-dried powder with (NH4)2SO4 and acetone. 2. This fraction can be solubilized in 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulphate without loss of activity. 3. Polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate shows that the o-diphenol oxidase is a minor component of the extracts from the acetone-dried powder. 4. The o-diphenol oxidase was purified by zonal centrifugation on a sucrose density gradient in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate. 5. The amino acid composition of the purified enzyme resembles that of some other o-diphenol oxidases. 6. The subunit composition of the o-diphenol oxidase is discussed.
The amino acid sequence of Neurospora NADP-specific glutamate dehydrogenase. The tryptic peptides
Authors: Wootton J C , Taylor J G , Jackson A A , Chambers G K , Fincham J R S.
Published: August 2015

The NADP-specific glutamate dehydrogenase of Neurospora crassa was digested with trypsin, and peptides accounting for 441 out of the 452 residues of the polypeptide chain were isolated and substantially sequenced. Additional experimental detail has been deposited as Supplementary Publication SUP 50052 (11 pages) with the British Library (Lending Division), Boston Spa, Wetherby, W. Yorkshire LS23 7BQ, U.K., from whom copies may be obtained under the terms given in Biochem J. (1975) 145, 5.
Comparison of the effects of zinc deprivation and actinomycin D on ribonucleic acid synthesis by stimulated lymphocytes
Authors: Chesters J K
Published: August 2015

1. EDTA inhibited incorporation of [3H]uridine into RNA of lymphocytes, but did not decrease uptake into the cold-acid-soluble fraction of the cells. The inhibition by EDTA was largely reversible by simultaneous addition of Zn2+. 2. Low concentrations pf actinomycin D (3 ng/ml) added at the time of stimulation of the cells inhibited [3H]uridine incorporation into RNA, but concentrations of 50-100 ng/ml were required to produce the same degree of inhibition if addition of actinomycin D was delayed until just before the incorporation was measured. This difference in sensitivity did not reg within the cells. 3. When added immediately before phytohaemagglutinin, actinomycin D (3 ng/ml) and EDTA produced similar time-courses of inhibition of uridine incorporation. 4. Uridine incorporation at 32h was inhibited when actinomycin D (3 ng/ml) or EDTA was added just before stimulation of the cells, but was only slightly affected when they were added at 32h. At intermediate times the incorporation of uridine remained sensitive to addition of EDTA for longer than it was sensitive to actinomycin D. 5. Polyacrylamide-gel separation of RNA synthesized in EDTA-treated cultures in the presence or absence of added Zn2+ showed that lower availability of Zn2+ resulted in a decreased rate of transfer of radioactivity from 32S to 28S rRNA and decreased survival of 28S rRNA relative to 18S rRNA. 6. Close similarities have been shown to exist between the effects of EDTA and low concentrations of actinomycin D. Not all the effects of EDTA could be explained by postulating that Zn2+ was a constituent of RNA polymerase I, nor were the effects of actinomycin D readily explained by previously suggested mechanisms of action of this antibiotic.
Amino acids attached to transfer ribonucleic acid in vivo
Authors: Butler M , Darbre A , Arnstein H R
Published: August 2015

1. tRNA was extracted from rabbit liver by both the phenol and diethyl pyrocarbonate methods under conditions preventing deacylation of the amino acids attached in vivo. 2. After deacylation 12 amino acids were determined by gas-liquid chromatography, by using the flame-ionization and nitrogen-sensitive thermionic detectors. 3. Comparison of the distribution of 12 amino acids attached to tRNA with those contained in total tissue protein and in the free pool showed little correlation. 4. Results for the enzymic charging assay for tRNA in vitro did not correlate satisfactorily with the analysis of amino acids attached to tRNA in vivo. Marked differences were ntoed in comparison made between our own and other published results.
Synthesis of proline and hydroxyproline in human lung (WI-38) fibroblasts
Authors: Shen T F , Strecker H J
Published: August 2015

Human lung fibroblasts (WI-38) in late exponential phase of growth, in stationary phase after confluency was reached, and at high or low number of population doublings were used to investigate the synthesis of proline and hydroxyproline from glutamate or arginine. Glutamate was from two to five times as effective a precursor as arginine; glutamine did not seem to be involved in these metabolic pathways. Accumulation of protein-bound hydroxyproline in cell layers was observed only after confluency. Confluent cells synthesized more proline from glutamate than did cells in late exponential growth. Conversion of glutamate into intracellular free proline was conducted also to a greater extent in confluent cells at a high number of population doublings. Conversion of glutamate into proline or hydroxyproline in cell-layer protein was not affected significantly by the number of population doublings. Less total protein as well as less hydroxyproline accumulated with cells at a high number of population doublings.
Intermolecular transacylation of phosphatidylethanolamine by a Butyrivibrio sp
Authors: Hazlewood G P , Dawson R M C
Published: August 2015

1. Washed cells and supernatant from a culture of a Butyrivibrio sp. carry out the intermolecular transacylation reaction 2 phosphatidylethanolamine leads to N-acylphosphatidyl-ethanolamine+lysophosphatidylethanolamine. 2. Washed cells can catalyse the intramolecular transacylation of N-(acyl)glycerylphosphorylethanolamine to lysophosphatidylethanolamine; the culture supernatant is largely devoid of activity.
Phosphomonoesterase hydrolysis of polyphosphoinositides in rat kidney: Properties and subcellular localization of the enzyme system
Authors: Cooper P H , Hawthorne J N
Published: August 2015

Tthe properties of diphosphoinositide and triphosphoinositide phosphatases from rat kidney homogenate were studied in an assay system in which non-specific phosphatase activity was eliminated. The enzymes were not completely metal-ion dependent and were activated by Mg2+. The detergent sodium deoxycholate, Triton X-100 and Cutscum inhibited the reaction; cetyltrimethylammonium bromide only activated when added with the subtrates and in the presence Mg2+. Both enzymes had a pH optimum of 7.5. Ca2+ and Li+ both activated triphosphoinositide phosphatase, but Ca2+ inhibited and L+ had little effect on diphosphoinositide phosphatase. Cyclic AMP had no effect on either enzyme. The enzymes were three times more active in kidney cortex than in the medulla. On subcellular fractionation of kidney-cortex homogenates by differential and density-gradient centrifugation, the distribution of the enzymes resembled that of thiamin pyrophosphatase (assayed in the absence of ATP), suggesting localization in the Golgi complex. However, the distribution differed from that of the liver Golgimarker galactosyltransferase. Activities of both diphosphoinositide and triphosphoinositide phosphatases and thiamin pyrophosphatase were low in purified brush-border fragments. Further experiments indicate that at least part of the phosphatase activity is soluble.