Purification,properties and regulation of the level of bovine S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase during lymphocyte mitogenesis

S-Adenosylmethionine decarboxylase was purified from the livers of calves treated with methylglyoxal bis (guanylhydrazone) to elevate the level of the enzyme. Purified bovine S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase was similar in specific activity and subunit molecular weight (32 000) to the enzymes previously isolated from rat and mouse. The bovine liver enzyme immunologically crossreacted with S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase from resting and mitogenically activated bovine lymphocytes. The rate of enzyme synthesis in activated lymphocytes was determined by labeling the cells with [³H]leucine and isolating the radioactive decarboxylase by affinity chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis. The rate of enzyme syntheis was increased 10-fold by 9 h after mitogen treatment, which accounts for the initial increase in cellular enzymatic. There was no further incraese in the rate of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase synthesis that correlated with a second elevation of activity occuring at approx. 24 h after mitogenic activation. It was concluded that the second increase in enzyme activity was due to lengthening the intracellular half-life of the enzyme by 2-fold.     

Mung bean nuclease I. Physical, chemical, and catalytic properties.

A simplified purification procedure for mung bean nuclease has been developed yielding a stable enzyme that is homogeneous in regards to shape and size. The nuclease is a glycoprotein consisting of 29% carbohydrate by weight. It has a molecular weight of 39 000 as determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. The enzyme contains 1 sulfhydryl group and 3 disulfide bonds per molecule. It has a high content (12.6 mol %) of aromatic residues. Approximately 70% of the enzyme molecules contain a peptide bond cleavage at a single region in the protein. The two polypeptides, 25 000 and 15 000 daltons, are covalently linked by a disulfide bond(s). Both the cleaved and intact forms of the enzyme are equally active in the hydrolysis of the phosphate ester linkages in either DNA, RNA, or adenosine 3'-monophophate. The enzymatic activity of mung bean nuclease can be stabilized at pH 5 in the presence of 0.1 mM zinc acetate, 1.0 mM cysteine, and 0.001% Triton X-100. The enzyme can be inactivated and reactivated by the removal and readdition of Zn2+ or sulfhydryl compounds.     

Guanidoacetate methyltransferase. Purification and molecular properties.

Guanidoacetate methyltransferase has been purified about 140-fold from pig liver. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified enzyme showed four protein bands, each of which is associated with guanidoacetate methyltransferase activity. During gel electrophoresis at pH 3 in 8 M urea, guanidoacetate methyltransferase migrated as a single component. The molecular weight of the purified guanidoacetate methyltransferase was estimated to be 31,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis, which also showed only one protein component with guanidoacetate methyltransferase activity. This molecular weight is in agreement with that estimated by Sephadex G-75 chromatography. Guanidoacetate methyltransferase is inhibited by adenosylhomocysteine, 3-deazaadenosylhomocysteine, and sinefungin with Ki values of 16 microM, 39 microM, and 18 microM, respectively.     

Identification of fifteen neighboring protein pairs in the Escherichia coli 50 S ribosomal subunit crosslinked with 2-iminothiolane.

The 50 S ribosomal subunit of Escherichia coli was allowed to react with 2-iminothiolane under conditions in which amidine-linked sulfhydryl derivatives were formed between lysine ?-amino groups in ribosomal proteins and the heterocyclic thioimidate. Crosslinking between sulfhydryl groups close enough to form intermolecular disulfide bonds was promoted by oxidation of the modified ribosomal subunits. Disulfide-linked dimers were partially purified by extraction of the oxidized subunits with lithium chloride and electrophoresis of the salt-extracted fractions in polyacrylamide/urea gels at pH 5.5. Crosslinked protein dimers were separated by polyacrylamide/sodium dodecyl sulfate diagonal gel electrophoresis. Fifteen protein dimers were identified. Many of them involve proteins implicated in functional sites of the 50 S subunit and in ribosome assembly. The crosslinking results show the proximity of many of these proteins at these active centers, and extend the neighborhood by demonstrating the presence of additional proteins.     

Creatine amidinohydrolase of Pseudomonas putida: crystallization and some properties.

Creatine amidinohydrolase (EC 3.5.3.3, creatinase) of Pseudomonas putida var. naraensis C-83 was purified by column chromatography on sarcosine-hexamethylenediamine-Sepharose and Sephadex G-200 and then crystallized in the presence of ammonium sulfate. The purified preparation appeared homogeneous on disc gel electrophoresis and ultracentrifugal analysis. It was most active at pH 8 and showed a K_m value of 1.33 mm for creatine. Estimation of the molecular weight by the meniscus depletion method yielded a value of 94,000. A value of 47,000 was obtained, however, by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate, suggesting that the enzyme is composed of two subunits. Inhibition experiments suggested that a sulfhydryl group is closely related to the creatinase activity.     

Purification and Properties of Arginase from Soybean, Glycine max, Axes

Arginase (EC 3.5.3.1) was purified to homogeneity from cytosol of soybean, Glycine max, axes by chromatographic separations on Sephadex G-200, DEAE-sephacel, hydroxyapatite, and arginine-affinity columns. The molecular weight of the enzyme estimated by pore gradient gel electrophoresis was 240,000, while sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gave a single band at the molecular weight of 60,000. The optimal pH for activity was 9.5 and the K_m value was 83 millimolar. The enzyme was stimulated by polyamines such as putrescine.     

Induction and Repression in the S-Adenosylmethionine and Methionine Biosynthetic Systems of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Two methionine biosynthetic enzymes and the methionine adenosyltransferase are repressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae when grown under conditions where the intracellular levels of S-adenosylmethionine are high. The nature of the co-repressor molecule of this repression was investigated by following the intracellular levels of methionine, S-adenosylmethionine, and S-adenosylhomocysteine, as well as enzyme activities, after growth under various conditions. Under all of the conditions found to repress these enzymes, there is an accompanying induction of the S-adenosylmethionine-homocysteine methyltransferase which suggests that this enzyme may play a key role in the regulation of S-adenosylmethionine and methionine balance and synthesis. S-methylmethionine also induces the methyltransferase, but unlike S-adenosylmethionine, it does not repress the methionine adenosyltransferase or other methionine biosynthetic enzymes tested.     

Assay for S-adenosylmethionine: methionine methyltransferase

A quantitative assay for S-adenosylmethionine: methionine methyltransferase in phosphate buffer extracts has been developed. This enzyme catalyzes the biosynthesis of S-methylmethionine from methionine and S-adenosylmethionine. The radioactively labeled product, S-methylmethionine, is first separated from the radioactively labeled substrate, l-methionine, by means of ion-exchange chromatography. Once separated thusly, the amount present can then be directly determined by the use of a liquid scintillation spectrometer.     

A rapid method for the purification of S-adenosylmethionine: Protein-carboxyl O-methyltransferase by affinity chromatography

A simple method to purify S-adenosylmethionine: protein-carboxyl O-methyltransferase (protein methylase II, EC 2.1.1.24) from calf brain has been developed using affinity chromatography. The product of the reaction, S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine, which is a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme, was covalently linked to Sepharose beads. This gel proved to be an effective binder for protein methylase II at pH 6.2 and allowed for specific removal of the enzyme by the addition of the methyl donor substrate, S-adenosyl-l-methionine to the elution buffer. One step using this affinity chromatography column resulted in 377-fold purification of the enzyme and 71% recovery of the activity. Subsequent Sephadex G-100 chromatography enabled the enzyme to be purified 3000-fold from the calf brain whole homogenate. The purified enzyme showed a number of protein methylase II activity peaks following preparative gel electrophoresis with one major enzyme peak.     

Purification and partial characterization of rat kidney histamine-N-methyltransferase

Histamine-N-methyltransferase (EC 2.1.1.8) was purified 1700-fold with a yield of 9% from rat kidney. Purification included ammonium sulfate precipitation, linear gradient DEAE-cellulose chromotography and S-adenosylhomocysteine affinity chromotography. The purified enzyme preparation showed a single protein band in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with a molecular weight of 35 000. The isoelectric point of the enzyme was at pH 5.2. The purified enzyme preparation did not contain detectable amounts of histamine. The purified enzyme was totally inhibited in 100 μM parahydroxymercuric benzoate and in 10 μM iodoacetamide, and it was found to be stabilized with dithiothreitol (1 mM), suggesting that the enzyme has an SH-group in the active center. The K_m values for histamine and S-adenosylmethionine were 6.0 and 7.1 μM, respectively. 50% inhibition of histamine-N-methyltransferase was obtained at 28 μM S-adenosylhomocysteine and 100 μM methylhistamine. The purified enzyme was slightly inhibited in 1 mM methylthioadenosine. Histamine in concentrations higher than 25 μM caused substrate inhibition.     

Purification and properties of rat adrenal phenylethanolamine-N-methyl transferase

A procedure has been developed for the purification of phenylethanolamine-Nmethyl transferase (PNMT) (EC 2.1.1) from adrenal glands of rats. Ninety percent of the enzyme activity was in the 105,000g supernatant fraction. After chromatography on Sephadex G-150 and DEAE-cellulose, the PNMT showed two molecular species but the same specific activity on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The final product was enriched nearly 100-fold. The methylation reaction is linear with increasing enzyme concentration, and the enzyme pH optimum was 8.0. The enzyme is relatively stable at 40 °C, but activity is partially destroyed by incubation at 60 °C. Several substrates were tested: octopamine, norepinephrine, tyramine, phenylethanolamine. Greatest affinity was for octopamine. All these substrates and the methyl group donor, S-adenosylmethionine, were inhibitory at high concentrations. Preincubation of the enzyme with norepinephrine accelerated the initial rate of the methylation reaction, while preincubation with S-adenosylmethionine had no such effect. A specific antibody against this purified enzyme was prepared. This antibody inhibited the enzyme activity and also precipitated it. Various immunological studies using this antibody are described.     

Purification of Sulfated Fucoglucuronomannan Lyase from Bacterial Strain of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fucobacter marina</Emphasis> and Study of Appropriate Conditions for Its Enzyme Digestion

A marine bacterial strain, Fucobacter marina, produced extracellular sulfated fucoglucuronomannan (SFGM) lyase when cultivated in the presence of crude SFGM obtained from fucoidan of Kjellmaniella crassifolia (brown algae) by cetyl pyridinium chloride fractionation. For the SFGM lyase assay, SFGM fraction separated from K. crassifolia fucoidan by anion exchange column chromatography was used as the substrate. The extracellular SFGM lyase was purified to homogeneity on an electrophoresis gel with 4240-fold purity at 13.8% yield. The enzyme proved to be a monomer, since gel filtration and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gave the same relative molecular mass of 67,000. The enzyme specifically digested SFGM but did not digest any other uronic-acid-containing polysaccharides tested. The optimum conditions for the enzyme reaction were around pH 7.5, 43°C, and 0.4 M NaCl concentration. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by CuCl₂ and ZnCl₂, and also by some sulfhydryl reagents.     

Separation and Characterization of Two Endopeptidases from Cotyledons of Germinating Vigna mungo Seeds

Two major endopeptidases were present in cotyledons of germinating Vigna mungo seeds, as detected by the zymogram after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. They were not detectable in cotyledons of dry seeds, but their intensities on the zymogram increased during germination. During incubation of detached cotyledons, however, the activities showed only a slight increase for 5 days. These two endopeptidases could be separated by Sephacryl S-200 column chromatography. One of them was found to be a serine-endopeptidase as judged by phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride and diisopropyl fluorophosphate inhibition. The other was a sulfhydryl-endopeptidase because of its dependency on 2-mercaptoethanol and inhibition by leupeptin, chymostatin, and antipain. Analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicatd that the two endopeptidases digested the Vigna mungo seed globulin subunits at different rates. The serine enzyme digested the 56 kilodalton subunit at first, but the sulfhydryl enzyme digested the 54 kilodalton peptide more efficiently than the 56 kilodalton peptide. The pattern of digestion of globulin by the combination of the serine- and sulfhydryl-endopeptidases was similar to that using crude enzyme extracts.     

Microbial production of methyl ketones. Purification and properties of a secondary alcohol dehydrogenase from yeast.

Cell-free extracts derived from yeasts Candida utilis ATCC 26387, Hansenula polymorpha ATCC 26012, Pichia sp. NRRL-Y-11328 Torulopsis sp. strain A1 and Kloeckera sp. strain A2 catalyzed an NAD+-dependent oxidation of secondary alcohols (2-propanol, 2-butanol, 2-pentanol, 2-hexanol) to the corresponding methyl ketones (acetone, 2-butanone, 2-pentanone, 2-hexanone). We have purified a NAD+-specific secondary alcohol dehydrogenase from methanol-grown yeast, Pichia sp. The purified enzyme is homogenous as judged by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The purified enzyme catalyzed the oxidation of secondary alcohols to the corresponding methyl ketones in the presence of NAD+ as an electron acceptor. Primary alcohols were not oxidized by the purified enzyme. The optimum pH for oxidation of secondary alcohols by the purified enzyme is 8.0. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme as determined by gel filtration is 98 000 and subunit size as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis is 48 000. The activity of the purified secondary alcohol dehydrogenase was inhibited by sulfhydryl inhibitors and metal-binding agents.     

Ribonuclease isolated from yeast (Saccharomyces carlsbergensis): Characterization and properties

The homogeneity of a purified ribonuclease from brewers' yeast was determined by velocity sedimentation and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis techniques. The velocity sedimentation pattern gave a single peak with a S_app 3.46 and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed one major band. The absorption spectrum of the enzyme showed maximum absorption at 277–278 nm and minimum at 252 nm. The enzyme was relatively stable to extreme pH values and high temperature. Both NaCl and KCl increased the enzyme activity whereas enzyme was inhibited by divalent metal ions. The inhibition of the enzyme was increased in the order of Ca²⁺ > Mg²⁺ > Fe²⁺Cu²⁺. Chemical modification studies of the enzyme showed that tryptophan residues and disulfide bonds were required for enzyme activity.     

Biochemical characteristics ofS-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase from carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) petals

We have partially purified S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.50, SAMDC) from carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) petals and generated polyclonal antibodies against CSDC 16 protein (Leeet al., 1996) overexpressed inE. coli. The protein has been purified approximately 126.8 fold through the steps involving ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-Sepharose column chromatography and Sephacryl S-300 gel filtration. Its molecular mass was 42 kDa in native form and we could also detect a band of 32 kDa molecular mass on SDS-PAGE in western blot analysis using the polyclonal antibodies. The Km value of this enzyme forS-adenosylmethionine was 26.3 μM. The optimum temperature and pH forS-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase activity were 35°C and pH 8.0, respectively. Putrescine and Mg²⁺ had no effects on the activation of the enzyme activity. Mg²⁺ did not have any significant effects on the enzyme activity. SAMDC activity was inhibited by putrescine, spermidine and spermine. Methylglyoxal bis-(guanylhydrazone) (MGBG), carbonyl reagents such as hydroxylamine and phenylhydrazine, and sulfhydryl reagent such as 5,5′dithio-bis (2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) were effective inhibitors of the enzyme. However, isonicotinic acid hydrazide known as an inhibitor of 5′-pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) dependent enzyme activity had no significant effect on the enzyme activity. These results and our previously reported results (Leeet al., 1997b) suggest thatS-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase is a heterodimer, αβ, and some carbonyl group and sulfhydryl group are involved in the catalytic activity.     

Characterization of 3-Guanidinopropionate Amidinohydrolase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and a Comparative Study with 4-Guanidinobutyrate Amidinohydrolase from another Pseudomonas

3-Guanidinopropionate amidinohydrolase, a new enzyme (EC class 3.5.3), was purified 220-fold from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO 1 grown on 3-guanidinopropionate. The enzyme was found to be essentially homogeneous on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weight of the native enzyme was estimated to be 195,000-215,000. The subunit molecular weight was estimated to be 36,000. The optimal pH was 9.0. The Km value for 3-guanidinopropionate was 45 mm. Incubation of the enzyme with EDTA in potassium phosphate buffer, pH 7.0, at 40°C resulted in almost complete inactivation, and the inactive enzyme was specifically reactivated by Mn²⁺. Taurocyamine (11%) and 4-guanidinobutyrate (3%) were hydrolyzed as fast as 3-guanidinopropionate at the relative rates indicated. The enzyme was inactivated by p-chloromercuribenzoic acid and the inactive enzyme was reactivated by incubation with 2-mercaptoethanol. Coelectrophoresis of the enzyme with 4-guanidinobutyrate amidinohydrolase purified from Pseudomonas sp. ATCC 14676 in polyacrylamide gels in the presence and absence of sodium dodecyl sulfate demonstrated their close mobilities. 4-Aminobutyrate, propionate, and n-butyrate were common competitive inhibitors of these enzymes. The evolutionary relationship between the two enzymes was discussed.     

Mitochondrial adenosine triphosphatase. Location of sulfhydryl groups and disulfide bonds in soluble enzyme from beef heart.

The soluble beef heart mitochondrial ATPase (F1) contains eight sulfhydryl groups and two disulfide bonds. N-Ethylmaleimide has been used to radioactively label the sulfhydryl groups before and after cleavage of the disulfide bonds by dithiothreitol. After subjecting the labeled protein to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate and measuring radioactivity in each of the separated subunits the location of all the sulfhydryl groups and the disulfide bonds may be specified. The conclusions are supported by direct examination of depolymerized, unreduced, enzyme by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The results also indicate that current ideas regarding the overall subunit structure of this enzyme may be incorrect, and this is discussed in light of new data presented here.     

Purification and Properties of an S-Adenosylmethionine: 2,4-Disubstituted Phenol O-Methyltransferase from Phanerochaete chrysosporium

An enzyme catalyzing the O-methylation of acetovanillone (3-methoxy-4-hydroxyacetophenone) by S-adeno-sylmethionine was isolated from Phanerochaete chrysosporium and purified 270-fold by ultrafiltration, anion-exchange chromatography, and gel filtration. The enzyme exhibited a pH optimum between 7 and 9 and was rapidly denatured at temperatures above 55°C. The K_m values for acetovanillone and S-adenosylmethionine were 34 and 99 μM, respectively. S-Adenosylhomocysteine acted as a powerful competitive inhibitor of S-adenosylmethionine, with a K_i of 41 μM. The enzyme was also susceptible to inhibition by thiol reagents and low concentrations of heavy metal ions. Gel filtration and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that the enzyme was monomeric and had a molecular weight of approximately 53,000. Substrate specificity studies showed that 3-methoxy- and 3,5-dimethoxy-substituted 4-hydroxy-benzaldehydes, -benzoic acids, and -acetophenones were the preferred substrates for the enzyme. The corresponding 3,4-dihydroxy compounds were methylated relatively slowly, while the 3-hydroxy-4-methoxy compounds were almost inactive as substrates. Substituents in both the 2 and 4 positions relative to the hydroxyl group appeared to be essential for significant enzyme attack of a substrate. Provided that certain steric criteria were satisfied, the nature of the substituent was not critical. Hence, xenobiotic compounds such as 2,4-dichlorophenol and 2,4-dibromophenol were methylated almost as readily as acetovanillone. However, an extended side chain in the 4 position was not compatible with activity as a substrate, and neither homovanillic, caffeic, nor ferulic acid was methylated. The substrate range of the O-methyltransferase tends to imply a role in the catabolism or detoxification of lignin degradation products such as vanillic and syringic acids.     

Purification and biochemical characterization of an extracellular serine peptidase from Aspergillus terreus

Peptidases are important because they play a central role in pharmaceutical, food, environmental, and other industrial processes. A serine peptidase from Aspergillus terreus was isolated after two chromatography steps that showed a yield of 15.5%. Its molecular mass was determined to be 43 kD, by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). This peptidase was active between pH 5.0 to 8.0 and had maximum activity at pH 7.0, at 45°C. When exposited with 1 M of urea, the enzyme maintained 100% activity and used azocasein as substrate. The N-terminal (first 15 residues) showed 33% identity with the serine peptidase of Aspergillus clavatus ES1. The kinetics assays showed that subsite S₂ did not bind polar basic amino acids (His and Arg) nonpolar acidic amino acids (Asp and Glu). The subsite S₁ showed higher catalytic efficiency than the S₂ and S₃ subsites.