Characterization and partial amino acid sequence of human plasma glutathione peroxidase

Human plasma glutathione peroxidase was purified to homogeneity and partially sequenced. Overlapping peptide fragments from three endopeptidase digests permitted the determination of one sequence of 32 contiguous amino acids and one sequence of 23 contiguous amino acids. Five additional unique peptide sequences without obvious overlaps were obtained. The sequence of 32 amino acid residues aligns with positions 82-113 of human cytosolic glutathione peroxidase with nine mismatches without gaps or insertions. The sequence of 23 amino acid residues aligns with positions 157-178 with six mismatches and an insertion of one residue. Three additional peptide sequences with no obvious sequence homology to glutathione peroxidase can be aligned based on the sequence of a cDNA clone encoding plasma glutathione peroxidase that was isolated from a human placental library. The plasma enzyme is a homotetramer composed of 21-kDa subunits which cannot reduce phospholipid hydroperoxides. These results indicate that the plasma glutathione peroxidase is distinct from both the classical cytosolic enzyme and the monomeric phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase. Only a negligible amount of glutathione peroxidase activity was detected in bile, indicating that the liver exports plasma glutathione peroxidase exclusively to the circulation.     

Characterization of cDNA clones encoding rabbit and human serum paraoxonase: the mature protein retains its signal sequence.

Serum paraoxonase hydrolyzes the toxic metabolites of a variety of organophosphorus insecticides. High serum paraoxonase levels appear to protect against the neurotoxic effects of organophosphorus substrates of this enzyme [Costa et al. (1990) Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 103, 66-76]. The amino acid sequence accounting for 42% of rabbit paraoxonase was determined by (1) gas-phase sequencing of the intact protein and (2) peptide fragments from lysine and arginine digests. From these data, two oligonucleotide probes were synthesized and used to screen a rabbit liver cDNA library. A clone was isolated and sequenced, and contained a 1294-bp insert encoding an open reading frame of 359 amino acids. Northern blot hybridization with RNA isolated from various rabbit tissues indicated that paraoxonase mRNA is synthesized predominately, if not exclusively, in the liver. Southern blot experiments suggested that rabbit paraoxonase is coded by a single gene and is not a family member of closely related genes. Human paraoxonase clones were isolated from a liver cDNA library by using the rabbit cDNA as a hybridization probe. Inserts from three of the longest clones were sequenced, and one full-length clone contained an open reading frame encoding 355 amino acids, four less than the rabbit paraoxonase protein. Each of the human clones appeared to be polyadenylated at a different site, consistent with the absence of the canonical polyadenylation signal sequence. Of potential significance with respect to the paraoxonase polymorphism, the derived amino acid sequence from one of the partial human cDNA clones differed at two positions from the full-length clone. Amino-terminal sequences derived from purified rabbit and human paraoxonase proteins suggested that the signal sequence is retained, with the exception of the initiator methionine residue [Furlong et al. (1991) Biochemistry (preceding paper in this issue)]. Characterization of the rabbit and human paraoxonase cDNA clones confirms that the signal sequences are not processed, except for the N-terminal methionine residue. The rabbit and human cDNA clones demonstrate striking nucleotide and deduced amino acid similarities (greater than 85%), suggesting an important metabolic role and constraints on the evolution of this protein.     

The N-terminal amino acid sequences of the heavy and light chains of human cathepsin L. Relationship to a cDNA clone for a major cysteine proteinase from a mouse macrophage cell line.

Human liver cathepsin L consists of a heavy chain and a light chain with Mr values of 25,000 and 5000 respectively. The chains have been purified and their N-terminal amino acid sequences have been determined. The 40 amino acids determined from the heavy chain and 42 amino acids sequenced in the light chain are homologous with the N-terminal and C-terminal regions respectively of the superfamily of cysteine proteinases. Therefore it is likely that the two chains of cathepsin L are derived by proteolysis of a single polypeptide precursor. Of the amino acids sequenced, 81% are identical with the homologous portions of a protein sequence for a major cysteine proteinase predicted from a cDNA clone from a mouse macrophage cell line. This is the closest relative amongst the known sequences in the superfamily and strongly indicates that the protein encoded by this mRNA is cathepsin L. The mouse protein is also probably the major excreted protein of a transformed cell line [Gal & Gottesman (1986) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 139, 156-162]. The heavy chain is identical in only 71% of its residues with the sequence of ox cathepsin S, providing further evidence that this latter enzyme is probably not a species variant of cathepsin L. The relationship with a second unidentified cathepsin cDNA clone from a bovine library is much weaker (41% identity), and so this clone remains unidentified.     

Bovine hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase. Significant sequence revision.

Hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase (HIOMT) catalyzes the final step in melatonin synthesis. The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of bovine HIOMT have been reported. Our laboratory recently isolated a cDNA clone encoding human HIOMT. Comparison of the human and bovine nucleotide sequences revealed several discrepancies which prevented perfect alignment and produced defined regions of virtually no homology in the deduced amino acid sequence. Consequently, we repeated sequence analysis of the original bovine HIOMT cDNA clone, the results of which are reported here. The revised nucleotide sequence includes 23 differences from the published sequence. This completely changes the deduced amino acid sequence in two regions, encompassing a total of 96 residues, or 28% of the protein. The revised deduced amino acid sequence predicts different post-translational modifications as compared to that of the original deduced sequence. This information will make it possible in future investigations of HIOMT to design improved polymerase chain reaction primers, peptides for the generation of antisera, and probes for various types of analysis and screening of libraries.     

Purification of bovine cholecystokinin-58 and sequencing of its N-terminus

Molecular cloning of cholecystokinin (CCK) mRNA from porcine brain and gut has demonstrated that CCK is synthesized as an identical precursor in both tissues. The sequence for porcine CCK-58 predicted from CCK cDNA was identical with the amino acid sequence of the peptide purified from different lots of animals. However one group did report that there were differences in the N-terminus of CCK-58 purified from the intestines of two different lots of mongrel dogs. In the current report it is demonstrated that the amino acid sequences of CCK-58 purified separately from three bovine brains are identical through the first 19 N-terminal amino acid residues. The peptides were sequenced for ten additional steps and were shown to be identical with the previously reported sequences for the N-terminus of CCK-39. The N-terminus of bovine CCK-58 has the following sequence: AVPRVDDEPRAQLGALLAR.     

Human skeletal-muscle aldolase: N-terminal sequence analysis of CNBr- and o-iodosobenzoic acid-cleavage fragments

Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase was purified from human skeletal-muscle by affinity elution chromatography. Four CNBr-cleavage fragments were purified by gel filtration, and their N-terminal amino acid sequences were determined. Cleavage with o-iodosobenzoic acid at the three tryptophan residues also yielded fragments suitable for N-terminal sequence analysis. Thus, the sequence of 272 of the 363 residues was established. These sequence results allow many of the discrepancies between the two published rabbit skeletal-muscle aldolase sequences to be resolved. The human aldolase sequence reported here is 96% identical to a "consensus" rabbit aldolase sequence. A comparison with a partial sequence of Drosophila aldolase (103 residues) shows 80% identity. The determination of the amino acid sequence of human aldolase is important for the interpretation of the crystal structure of this enzyme.     

Changes in ascorbic acid content and ascorbate peroxidase activity during the development of Acetabularia mediterranea

We cloned ras-related sequences from goldfish genomic libraries constructed as recombinants using the lambda phage. Restriction enzyme mapping of the clones obtained revealed three kinds of ras-related sequences among approximately 350,000 genomic clones. One of these clones was partially sequenced. Comparison with the nucleotide sequences of mammalian ras genes showed that the determined sequences covered the predicted amino acid coding regions and parts of the intervening regions. The predicted amino acid sequences of the cloned ras-related goldfish gene suggested that the coding region is localized separately in DNA, and that its exon-intron boundaries are exactly the same as those of corresponding mammalian genes. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the goldfish ras-related gene may have extensive homologies to mammalian p 21 protein. Among the three mammalian ras proteins, the predicted amino acid sequence of the sequenced ras-related goldfish clone is most closely homologous (96%) to the Kirsten ras protein. Differences in the predicted amino acid sequence were greatest in the sequence predicted from the fourth exon; fewer differences were found in the sequence from the third exon, and only slight or no differences were found in the sequence predicted for the first and second exons. The 12th and 61st amino acids from the N-terminal of the protein, which are thought to be critical positions for GTP binding and catalysis, are both conserved in the goldfish protein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Nucleotide sequence encoding the precursor of the small subunit of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase from Lemna gibba L.G-3

We have sequenced a cDNA clone, pLgSSU, which encodes the small subunit of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase of Lemna gibba L.G-3 a monocot plant. This clone contains a 832 basepair insert which encodes the entire 120 amino acids of the mature small subunit polypeptide (Mr = 14,127). In addition this clone encodes 53 amino acids of the amino terminal transit peptide of the precursor polypeptide and 242 nucleotides of the 3' non-coding region. Comparison of the nucleotide sequence of pLgSSU with Lemna gibba genomic sequences homologous to the 5' end of the cDNA clone suggests that nucleotides encoding four amino-terminal amino acids of the transit peptide are not included in the cDNA clone. The deduced amino acid sequence of the Lemna gibba mature small subunit polypeptide shows 70-75% homology to the reported sequences of other species. The transit peptide amino acid sequence shows less homology to other species. There is 50% homology to the reported soybean sequence and only 25% homology to the transit sequence of another monocot, wheat.     

Characterization of cloned cDNA representing rat myelin basic protein: absence of expression in brain of shiverer mutant mice

A cDNA library was constructed from mRNA isolated from the brains of 18-day-old rats, the age at which myelin biosynthesis is maximal. A synthetic DNA probe synthesized based on reverse translation of the amino acid sequence of rat myelin basic protein (MBP) was used to select two cDNA clones encoding MBP. A 1.5 kb Eco RI fragment from one clone was completely sequenced. When translated, a portion of this sequence was identical at 126 of 127 positions with the reported amino acid sequence for small MBP from the rat. Brains from mice of the homozygous shiverer genotype contained neatly reduced amounts of MBP mRNA relative to wild type. A deletion of MBP sequences in the genome of shiverer mice was also demonstrated. cDNAs for MBP will allow molecular investigation of the role this gene plays in both dysmyelinating and demyelinating diseases, as well as questions of MBP biosynthesis.     

Nucleotide sequence of the B1-hordein gene of barley Hordeum vulgare L

The gene encoding B1 hordein of Hordeum vulgare (cv. Donetsky 4) was cloned and entirely sequenced. It contains no introns and codes for of 293 amino acids long polypeptide with molecular weight 33418. Our clone differs from the previously sequenced B1 hordein genes in some positions within the coding region (there are 4 nucleotide changes and a 12 bp deletion, as compared with the pB11 cDNA clone, and 5 nucleotide changes, as compared with the pBHP184 genomic clone). These changes result in polymorphism of amino acid sequences at 5 positions. 5'-flanking region contains putative regulatory and promoter sequences and differs from that of the pBHP184 clone in 3 positions.     

The heterogeneity of the polymeric intracellular hemoglobin of Glycera dibranchiata and the cDNA-derived amino acid sequence of one component

The erythrocytes of the marine polychaete Glycera dibranchiata contain a number of different, single-chain hemoglobins, some of which self-associate into a 'polymeric' fraction. An oligodeoxynucleotide probe was synthesized based on partial amino acid sequences determined by chemical methods, and used to screen a cDNA library constructed from the poly(A+)mRNA of Glycera erythrocytes (Simons, P.C. and Satterlee, J.D. (1989) Biochemistry 28, 8525-8530). The longest positive inserts found were sequenced using the dideoxy nucleotide chain termination method. One complete clone was obtained: clone 5A, 816 bases long, contained 59 bases of 5'-untranslated RNA, an open reading frame of 441 bases coding for 147 amino acids and a 3'-untranslated region of 316 bases. The derived amino acid sequence of Glycera globin P1 was in agreement with the partial amino acid sequences obtained by chemical methods. Three additional inserts obtained in the screening were also sequenced: the inferred amino acid sequences proved to be partial globin sequences which were different from each other and from the sequence of P1. Thus, the 'polymeric' fraction of the intracellular hemoglobin of Glycera probably consists of at least four different globin chains much like the 'monomeric' fraction. Comparison of the 'polymeric' sequence with the two known 'monomeric' sequences, M-II and M-IV, shows that they share 54 identical residues. At 74 positions, the identical residues in M-II and M-IV differ from the corresponding residue in P1, including at E-7, where P1 has a distal His, in contrast to Leu in M-II and M-IV. The alignment of Bashford et al. ((1987) J. Mol. Biol. 196, 199-216) and their templates were used to examine the principal differences between the two types of Glycera globin sequences. They appear to consist of uncommon surface amino acid residues at positions C6 (Phe vs. Ala), E10 (Val vs. Lys), E17 (Lys vs. Val), G1 (Arg vs. Lys), G10 (Met vs. Ala) and H5 (Arg vs. Lys). One or more of these residues could be responsible for the self-association exhibited by the 'polymeric' Glycera globins.     

Structure and characterisation of a duplicated human alpha 1 acid glycoprotein gene

Human alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), also known as orosomucoid, is a major acute-phase plasma protein. The amino acid sequence of AGP, which was determined by sequencing from protein isolated from pooled plasma, contained amino acid substitutions in 21 different positions. Genomic and cDNA clones which correspond to one of the possible amino acid sequences have been previously reported. In this paper we present the complete nucleotide sequence of a second gene, AGP2 which is located approx. 3.3 kb downstream from AGP1. The derived amino acid sequence of AGP2 contains 19 of the possible alternative amino acid substitutions as well as two additional differences. It is clear from the results presented here that the AGP in human plasma is the product of two separate gene loci.     

Purification of rabbit and human serum paraoxonase.

Rabbit serum paraoxonase/arylesterase has been purified to homogeneity by Cibacron Blue-agarose chromatography, gel filtration, DEAE-Trisacryl M chromatography, and preparative SDS gel electrophoresis. Renaturation (Copeland et al., 1982) and activity staining of the enzyme resolved by SDS gel electrophoresis allowed for identification and purification of paraoxonase. Two bands of active enzyme were purified by this procedure (35,000 and 38,000). Enzyme electroeluted from the preparative gels was reanalyzed by analytical SDS gel electrophoresis, and two higher molecular weight bands (43,000 and 48,000) were observed in addition to the original bands. This suggested that repeat electrophoresis resulted in an unfolding or other modification and slower migration of some of the purified protein. The lower mobility bands stained weakly for paraoxonase activity in preparative gels. Bands of each molecular weight species were electroblotted onto PVDF membranes and sequenced. The gas-phase sequence analysis showed that both the active bands and apparent molecular weight bands had identical amino-terminal sequences. Amino acid analysis of the four electrophoretic components from PVDF membranes also indicated compositional similarity. The amino-terminal sequences are typical of the leader sequences of secreted proteins. Human serum paraoxonase was purified by a similar procedure, and ten residues of the amino terminus were sequenced by gas-phase procedures. One amino acid difference between the first ten residues of human and rabbit was observed.     

Isolation and characterization of cDNA encoding rabbit reticulocyte 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate synthase

We have isolated and sequenced a cDNA clone containing the entire coding region of rabbit reticulocyte 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate (DPG) synthase. The cDNA was verified by translation of the hybridization-selected RNA and by demonstrating identity of the deduced amino acid (aa) sequence to the sequences of CNBr peptides of the purified enzyme. The aa sequence of the enzyme was homologous to the reported sequence of the human enzyme [Haggarty et al., EMBO J. 2 (1983) 1213-1220], especially in the N-terminal half (aa 1-142). Northern blot analysis of rabbit reticulocyte poly(A)+ RNA revealed a single species of mRNA with about 1700 nucleotides.     

Cloning and Characterization of the cDNA Encoding a Novel Brain-Specific 14-kDa Protein

A new acidic protein with a molecular weight of 14,000 was purified from rat brain, in which it was specifically expressed, and partially sequenced by protein sequencing. On the basis of results obtained from the amino acid sequences, mixed oligonucleotides were synthesized and used as probes to clone a cDNA from a rat brain cDNA library. The cloned cDNA provided the full-length sequence of the 14-kDa protein. Northern blot hybridization using total RNA from several tissues of the rat provided evidence that the 14-kDa protein was expressed specifically in rat brain. Transfection of this cDNA into mammalian cells resulted in expression of the 14-kDa protein. The amino acid sequence predicted from the cDNA of the rat brain 14-kDa protein contained 137 amino acid residues. A hydropathy profile revealed a hydrophobic domain (amino acids 60-80) flanked by highly hydrophilic stretches on both sides. Whereas the N-terminal region of the 14-kDa protein contained four repeating motifs, EKTKEGV, the C-terminal domain was rich in glutamic acid and proline. A computer search of the amino acid sequence of the 14-kDa protein indicated no homology to any other protein reported so far.     

The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of porcine liver proline- beta-naphthylamidase. Evidence for the identity with carboxylesterase

A cDNA clone for porcine liver proline-beta-naphthylamidase was isolated and sequenced. The deduced amino acid sequence of 567 residues was highly homologous with those of carboxylesterases (EC 3.1.1.1) previously reported for other species. In addition, proline-beta-naphthylamidase purified from porcine liver was shown to have strong activity towards p-nitrophenylacetate, a representative substrate for carboxylesterases. These results suggest that proline-beta-naphthylamidase is identical with carboxylesterase.     

cDNA sequence for rat dermatan sulfate proteoglycan-II (decorin).

A cDNA clone for dermatan sulfate proteoglycan-II, or decorin, has been isolated from a rat uterus library and sequenced. The cDNA and deduced amino acid sequences are 79 and 77% identical to the previously reported human and bovine sequences, respectively. The rat protein contains potential attachment sites for two glycosaminoglycan chains and four N-linked oligosaccharides, six conserved cysteine residues and multiple repeats of a leucine-rich sequence, LXXLXLXXNXL/I. Overlapping the C-end of one of these repeats is an NKISK sequence, which has been implicated in binding to fibronectin.     

Mouse liver cytochrome P-450 (P-450IIIAM1): its cDNA cloning and inducibility by dexamethasone.

A full-length cDNA complementary to mouse liver mRNA coding for one of the cytochromes P-450 (P-450) in the P-450IIIA family, namely P-450IIIM1, was isolated and completely sequenced. The sequence of this cDNA clone, pMDex13, revealed that it encoded a polypeptide of 504 deduced amino acid residues (Mr = 57,853). The deduced amino acid sequence showed 87.3 and 84.9% identity with rat P-450IIIA1 and P-450IIIA2, respectively. The NH2-terminal 24 amino acid sequences of P-450IIIAM1 were completely identical with purified mouse P-450UT protein. RNA blot analysis showed that mRNA content of hepatic P-450IIIAM1 was remarkably increased by treatment of mice with dexamethasone.     

Antigenic structure of the influenza B virus hemagglutinin: nucleotide sequence analysis of antigenic variants selected with monoclonal antibodies.

We report here the complete nucleotide sequence of the hemagglutinin (HA) gene of influenza B virus B/Oregon/5/80 and, through comparative sequence analysis, identify amino acid substitutions in the HA1 polypeptide responsible for the antigenic alterations in laboratory-selected antigenic variants of this virus. The complete nucleotide sequence of the B/Oregon/5/80 HA gene was established by a combination of chemical sequencing of a full-length cDNA clone and dideoxy sequencing of the virion RNA. The nucleotide sequence is very similar to previously reported influenza B virus HA gene sequences and differs at only nine nucleotide positions from the B/Singapore/222/79 HA gene (Verhoeyen et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 11:4703-4712, 1983). The nucleotide sequences of the HA1 portions of the HA genes of 18 laboratory-selected antigenic variants were determined by the dideoxy method. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences of the parental and variant HA1 polypeptides revealed 16 different amino acid substitutions at nine positions. All amino acid substitutions resulted from single-point mutations, and no double mutants were detected, demonstrating that as in the influenza A viruses, single amino acid substitutions are sufficient to alter the antigenicity of the HA molecule. Many of the amino acid substitutions in the variants occurred at positions also observed to change in natural drift strains. The substitutions appear to identify at least two immunodominant regions which correspond to proposed antigenic sites A and B on the influenza A virus H3 HA.