Phosphorylation of an actin.tropomyosin.troponin complex from human skeletal muscle.

A human skeletal actin.tropomyosin.troponin complex was phosphorylated in the presence of [gamma-32 P]ATP, Mg2+, adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase). Phosphorylation was not observed when the actin complex was incubated in the absence of protein kinase or 1 microM cyclic AMP. In the presence of 10(-7) M Ca2+ and protein kinase 0.1 mole of [32P]phosphate per 196 000 g of protein was incorporated. This was two-fold higher than the [32P]phosphate content of a rabbit skeletal actin complex but two-fold lower than that of a bovine cardiac actin complex. At high Ca2+, 5.10(-5) M, little change in the phosphorylation of a human skeletal actin complex occurred. Phosphoserine and phosphothreonine were identified in the [32P]phosphorylated actin complex. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate showed that 60% of the label was associated with the tropomyosin binding component of troponin. The inhibitory component of troponin contained 16% of the bound [32P]phosphate. Increasing the Ca2+ concentration did not significantly decrease the [32P]phosphate content of the phosphorylated proteins in the actin complex. No change in the distribution of phosphoserine or phosphothreonine was observed. Half maximal calcium activation of the ATPase activity of reconstitute human skeletal actomyosin made with the [32P] phosphorylated human skeletal actin complex was the same as a reconstituted actomyosin made with an actin complex incubated in the absence of protein kinase at low or high Ca2+.     

Architecture of the active DNA polymerase delta.proliferating cell nuclear antigen.template-primer complex.

The relative positions of components of the DNA-dependent DNA polymerase delta (pol delta).proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA).DNA complex were studied. We have shown that pol delta incorporates nucleotides close to a template biotin-streptavidin complex located 5' (downstream) to the replicating complex in the presence or absence of PCNA. PCNA-dependent synthesis catalyzed by pol delta was nearly totally (95%) inhibited by a biotin. streptavidin complex located at the 3'-end of a template with a 15-mer primer (upstream of the replicating complex), but was only partially inhibited with a 19-mer primer. With either primer, PCNA-independent synthesis was not affected by the biotin. streptavidin complex. Quantification of results with primers of varying length suggested that pol delta interacts with between 8 and 10 nucleotides of duplex DNA immediately proximal to the 3'-OH primer terminus. Using UV photocross-linking, we determined that the 125-kDa subunit of pol delta, but not the 50-kDa subunit, interacted with a photosensitive residue of a substrate oligonucleotide. Interaction apparently takes place through the C terminus of p125. Based on these results, we conclude that PCNA is located "behind" pol delta in the polymerization complex during DNA synthesis and that only the large subunit of pol delta (two-subunit form) interacts directly with DNA. A detailed model of the enzymatically active complex is proposed.     

Characterization of the Escherichia coli uracil-DNA glycosylase.inhibitor protein complex.

The Bacillus subtilis bacteriophage PBS2 uracil-DNA glycosylase inhibitor (Ugi) protein was characterized and shown to form a stable complex with Escherichia coli uracil-DNA glycosylase (Ung). As determined by mass spectrometry, the Ugi protein had a molecular weight of 9,474. We confirmed this value by sedimentation equilibrium centrifugation and determined that Ugi exists as a monomeric protein in solution. Amino acid analysis performed on both Ugi and Ung proteins was in excellent agreement with the amino acid composition predicted from the respective nucleotide sequence of each gene. The Ung.Ugi complex was resolved from its constitutive components by nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and shown to possess a 1:1 stoichiometry. Analytical ultracentrifugation studies revealed that the Ung.Ugi complex had a molecular weight of 35,400, consistent with the complex containing one molecule each of Ung and Ugi. The acidic isoelectric points of the protein species were 6.6 (Ung) and 4.2 (Ugi), whereas the Ung.Ugi complex had an isoelectric point of 4.9. Dissociation of the Ung.Ugi complex by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed no apparent alteration in the molecular weight of either polypeptide subsequent to binding. Furthermore, when the Ung.Ugi complex was treated with urea and resolved by urea-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, both uracil-DNA glycosylase and inhibitor activities were recovered from the dissociated complex. Thus, the complex seems to be reversible. In addition, we demonstrated that the Ugi interaction with Ung prevents enzyme binding to DNA and dissociates uracil-DNA glycosylase from a preformed DNA complex.     

DNA chain length dependence of formation and dynamics of hMutSalpha.hMutLalpha.heteroduplex complexes.

Formation of a ternary complex between human MutSalpha, MutLalpha, and heteroduplex DNA has been demonstrated by surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy and electrophoretic gel shift methods. Formation of the hMutLalpha.hMutSalpha.heteroduplex complex requires a mismatch and ATP hydrolysis, and depends on DNA chain length. Ternary complex formation was supported by a 200-base pair G-T heteroduplex, a 100-base pair substrate was somewhat less effective, and a 41-base pair heteroduplex was inactive. As judged by surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy, ternary complexes produced with the 200-base pair G-T DNA contained approximately 0.8 mol of hMutLalpha/mol of heteroduplex-bound hMutSalpha. Although the steady-state levels of the hMutLalpha.hMutSalpha. heteroduplex were substantial, this complex was found to turn over, as judged by surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy and electrophoretic gel shift analysis. With the former method, the majority of the complexes dissociated rapidly upon termination of protein flow, and dissociation occurred in the latter case upon challenge with competitor DNA. However, ternary complex dissociation as monitored by gel shift assay was prevented if both ends of the heteroduplex were physically blocked with streptavidin.biotin complexes. This observation suggests that, like hMutSalpha, the hMutLalpha.hMutSalpha complex can migrate along the helix contour to dissociate at DNA ends.     

Biosynthesis of edeine: II. Localization of edeine synthetase within Bacillus brevis Vm4.

Edeine-synthesizing polyenzymes, associated with a complex of sytoplasmic membrane and DNA, were obtained from gently lysed cells of Bacillus brevis Vm4. The polyenzymes-membrane-DNA complex, isolated from dells intensively synthesizing edeines (18--20 h culture) contained edeine B. Edeine B was found to be bound covalently t o the edeine synthetase. The amount of edeine bound to polyenzymes was 0.1--0.3 mumol/mg protein, depending on the age of cells. Detachment of deeine synthetase with a covalently bound edeine B from the membrane-DNA complex was accomplished by a treatment with (NH4)2-SO4 at 45--55% saturation or by DEAE-cellulose column fractionation. In contrast to other components of the complex, the edeine-polyenzymes fragment was not adsorbed to the DEAE-cellulose. Sephadex G-200 column chromatography separated the edeine-polyenzymes complex into 3 fractions. Edeine-polyenzymes complex, obtained from lysozyme-Brij-58-DNAase treated cells, contained edeine B bound to two protein fractions of mol. wt 210 000 and 160 000. Edeine-polyenzymes complex detached from the complex with the membrane and DNA contained edeine B, bound only to protein fraction of mol. wt 210 000. Edeine A was not found in the edeine-polyenzymes complex. No accumulation of free antibiotics within 16--22 h old cells of B. brevis Vm4 was detected. The edeine-polyenzymes complex associated with the DNA-membrane complex has shown no antimicrobial activity. By treating of above with alkali, edeine B of specific activity: 80 units/mjmol was released. The complex of DNA-membrane associated with edeine-polyenzymes complex was able to synthesize DNA, under the conditions described for synthesis, directed by a DNA-membrane complex. Edeine when associated with this complex did not effect the DNA-synthesizing activity.     

The pyruvate-dehydrogenase complex from Azotobacter vinelandii. 3. Stoichiometry and function of the individual components.

Labelling studies with N-ETHYLMALEIMIDE SHOW THAT EITHER IN THE PRESENCE OF Mg2+, thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) and pyruvate or in the presence of NADH the overall activity of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from Azotobacter vinelandii is inhibited without much inhibition of the partial reactions. The complex undergoes a conformational change upon incubation with NADH. The inhibition by bromopyruvate is less specific. Specific incorporation of a fluorescent maleimide derivative was observed on the two transacetylase isoenzymes. Binding studies with a similar spin label analogue show that 3 molecules/FAD are incorporated by incubation of pyruvate, Mg2+ and TPP, whereas 2 molecules/FAD are incorporated via incubation with NADH. The spin label spectra support the idea that in the complex the active centres of the component enzymes are connected by rapid rotation of the lipoyl moiety. Three acetyl groups are incorporated in the complex by incubation with [2-14C]pyruvate. Time-dependent incorporation supports the view that the two transacetylase isoenzymes react in non-identical ways with the pyruvate dehydrogenase components of the complex. The results show that the complex contains 2 low-molecular-weight transacetylase molecules and 4 molecules of the high-molecular-weight isoenzyme. Mn2+-binding studies show that the complex binds 10 ions, with different affinities. 2 Mn2+ ions are bound with a 20-fold higher affinity than the remaining 8 Mn2+ ions. The latter 8 ions bind with equal affinities and are thought to reflect binding to the pyruvate dehydrogenase components of the complex. It is concluded that the complex contains 8 pyruvate dehydrogenase molecules, 4 high-molecular-weight transacetylase molecules, 2 low-molecular-weight transacetylase molecules and 1 dimeric (2-FAD-containing) symmetric molecule of lipoamide dehydrogenase. Evidence comes from pyruvate-dependent inactivation and labelling studies that the pyruvate dehydrogenase components contain either an - SH group or an S-S bridge which participates in the hydroxyethyl transfer to the transacetylase components.     

Immune complex receptors on cell surface. I. Ultrastructural demonstration of macrophages.

A method is described for ultrastructural localization of immune complex receptors on the surface of viable peritoneal exudate cells. The technique entails incubation with a soluble complex of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and specific antibody to HRP at 4 degrees C followed by exposure to diaminobenzidine and processing for electron microscopy. The bound immune complexes were evident as focal deposits of HRP reaction product, adhering closely to the external surface of macrophages with an uninterrupted periodicity varying between 30 and 120 nm. Following incubation with an insoluble immune complex containing a higher proportion of antibody, receptor sites stained frequently, but large aggregates adhered to the cells. Rinsing cells after staining with soluble complexes partially displaced the bound immune complexes. Fixation prior to exposure to immune complexes largely eliminated the binding capacity of the immune complex receptors.     

Domain structure and 1H-n.m.r. spectroscopy of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex of Bacillus stearothermophilus.

The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex of Bacillus stearothermophilus was treated with Staphylococcus aureus V8 proteinase, causing cleavage of the dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase polypeptide chain (apparent Mr 57 000), inhibition of the enzymic activity and disassembly of the complex. Fragments of the dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase chains with apparent Mr 28 000, which contained the acetyltransferase activity, remained assembled as a particle ascribed the role of an inner core of the complex. The lipoic acid residue of each dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase chain was found as part of a small but stable domain that, unlike free lipoamide, was able still to function as a substrate for reductive acetylation by pyruvate in the presence of intact enzyme complex or isolated pyruvate dehydrogenase (lipoamide) component. The lipoyl domain was acidic and had an apparent Mr of 6500 (by sedimentation equilibrium), 7800 (by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis) and 10 000 and 20 400 (by gel filtration in the presence and in the absence respectively of 6M-guanidinium chloride). 1H-n.m.r. spectroscopy of the dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase inner core demonstrated that it did not contain the segments of highly mobile polypeptide chain found in the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. 1H-n.m.r. spectroscopy of the lipoyl domain demonstrated that it had a stable and defined tertiary structure. From these and other experiments, a model of the dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase chain is proposed in which the small, folded, lipoyl domain comprises the N-terminal region, and the large, folded, core-forming domain that contains the acetyltransferase active site comprises the C-terminal region. These two regions are separated by a third segment of the chain, which includes a substantial region of polypeptide chain that enjoys high conformational mobility and facilitates movement of the lipoyl domain between the various active sites in the enzyme complex.     

Mechanism of T5-induced DNA polymerase. II. Characterization of the dead-end complex.

We have shown that bacteriophage T5-induced DNA polymerase replicates short primer-templates (400 to 600 nucleotides long) at a rapid rate initially, followed by a slower rate sustained for much longer periods (Das, S. K., and Fujimura, R. K. (1977) J. Biol. Chem. 252, 8700-8707). In order to explain the slower steady rate and the results of polymer-challenge experiments, we conjectured the presence of a "dead-end complex" formed by the enzyme with the primer-template at the end of the primer elongation process. In this communication we present evidence which indicates that the presumed complex shows a first order kinetics of decay with a half-life of 3.5 min at 37 degrees. Energies of activation for the steady phase of synthesis and the decay of the dead-end complex were both found to be about 23 kcal/mol. This indicates that the dissociation of the aforesaid complex might be the rate-limiting step during the steady phase of synthesis. Correlation between the salt-induced reduction in the half-life of the complex and the increase in the steady rate of synthesis is in agreement with the above mentioned possibility.     

Studies on the product of antigenic recognition. III. Nature of PAR.

The product of antigenic recognition (PAR) is an antigen-antibody complex with granulotactic activity. The following results support his conclusion. PAR generated by cell-bound or shed T-cell RS or the recognizing structure of T alloantisera and alloantigen can be destroyed by heating at 56 degrees C for 30 min, because of inactivation of a heat-labile component supplied by alloantigen. Recognizing partners of these complexes are heat-stable. They form PAR anew when alloantigen is added or upon confrontation with anti-RS serum. They are also capable of inducing anti-RS sera. PAR preparations composed of these recognizing structures and antibodies to them are heat-inactivated at much higher temperatures, because both partners of the complex are relatively heat-stable. Heat-labile PAR complexes (recognizing structures and alloantigen) pass anti-mouse immunoglobulin immunosorbent, but are retained specifically by alloantiserum (via alloantigen of the complex) or by anti-RS serum (via RS of the complex) bound to the column.