带3蛋白转运吡啶二羧酸根离子的动力学研究

利用ＤＰＡ使Ｔｂ３＋的荧先强度显著增强的原理进行带３蛋白活性的测定,方法简便、灵敏、重复性好,而且能够进行连续荧光扫描测量．应用连续荧光扫描法测定了带３蛋白介导的ＤＰＡ与Ｃｌ－交换的动力学特征参数．结果表明,带３蛋白介导的ＤＰＡ与Ｃｌ－的交换对ＤＩＤＳ非常敏感,受ＤＩＤＳ的强烈抑制,抑制程度大于９０％;ＤＰＡ由内向外转运的米氏常Ｋｍ＝２８．１—３１．２ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ;带３蛋白的天然底物Ｃｌ－从内侧竞争性抑制ＤＰＡ向外转运,抑制常数ｋｉ＝６０．４±６．９ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ;膜内侧ＤＰＡ与外侧Ｃｌ－交换的活化能,在４—２５℃范围内为５．８±０．５ｋＣａｌ／ｍｏｌ２５—３７℃范围内为１９．８±１．５ｋＣａｌ／ｍｏｌ;膜内侧ＤＰＡ与外侧Ｃｌ－交换受转运介质ｐＨ（膜内外对称改变）的显著影响,ｐＨ＜７．４时,交换速度显著升高．本实验证明ＤＰＡ确是经带３蛋白而转运的,但转运机制可能与无机离子转运有所不同。     

SNP抑制5-HT诱导的胞内游离钙浓度升高和内钙释放

用Ｆｕｒａ － ２／ＡＭ 荧光测量技术研究了５ － 羟色胺（５－ ＨＴ） 诱导的大鼠尾动脉平滑肌细胞胞内钙升高和一氧化氮（ＮＯ） 的抑制效应。实验表明, 胞外０ｍ ｍｏｌ／ Ｌ Ｃａ２ ＋ 时胞内静息［Ｃａ２ ＋ ］ ｉ 为２０ ．２±８ ．６ｎｍｏｌ／Ｌ（ｎ ＝ ８） 。１０μｍｏｌ／Ｌ ５－ ＨＴ 可诱导出胞内钙库释放引起的瞬态［Ｃａ２ ＋］ｉ 升高,其峰值达２４５ ．７ ±７１．６ｎｍｏｌ／ Ｌ（ｎ ＝ ６） 。１０ － ７ ｍｏｌ／Ｌ 硝普钠（ＳＮＰ） 可抑制５－ ＨＴ 诱导的［Ｃａ２ ＋］ｉ 升高,其峰值浓度降为７５．１±３５ ．９ｎｍｏｌ／Ｌ（ｎ ＝ ５） 。当细胞浴液含２．５ｍ ｍｏｌ／Ｌ Ｃａ２ ＋ 时,静息［Ｃａ２ ＋］ｉ为１１２ ．８ ±１０ ．３ｎｍｏｌ／ Ｌ（ｎ ＝ ５） , 这时１０μｍｏｌ／ Ｌ ５ － ＨＴ 可诱导［Ｃａ２ ＋ ］ ｉ 的峰值为２５２ ．３ ±８０ ．６ｎｍｏｌ／Ｌ（ｎ ＝ ４） ,以及其后平台浓度为１４３ ．０ ±３７ ．６ｎｍｏｌ／Ｌ（ｎ ＝ ４） ,略大于［Ｃａ２ ＋］ｉ 为１１２．８ ±１０ ．３ｎｍｏｌ／Ｌ 的静息浓度,为外钙内流引起。１０ － ７ ｍｏｌ／Ｌ ＳＮＰ 也可抑制５－ ＨＴ 诱导［Ｃａ２ ＋ ］ｉ 平台相浓度。平台浓度由１４３ ±４７     

P物质对大鼠DRG神经元胞体膜的作用

本文在大鼠ＤＲＧ神经元标本上应用细胞内记录,以确定ＳＰ对ＤＲＧ细胞的膜反应及其可能的离子机制。实验所测ＤＲＧ细胞静息膜电位为－５８．９±８．２ｍＶ（Ｘ±ＳＥ,ｎ＝８１）。传导速度：Ａ_（α／β）细胞为２０．４±４．８ｍ／ｓ（Ｘ±ＳＥ）,范围１４．１－２８．７ｍ／ｓ（４７／６０）;Ａδ及Ｃ类细胞为９．８±５．２ｍ／ｓ,范围１．２－１３．７ｍ／ｓ（１３／６０）。浴槽滴加ＳＰ（１０￣（－７）－３×１０￣（－４）ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）在大多数细胞可引起明显的膜去极化反应（５６／６０）。少数细胞对ＳＰ无反应（４／６０）。在ＳＰ去极化期间膜电导值有所增加,从平均值２．７２×１０￣（－８）ｍｈｏ增加２４．６％（ｎ＝３）。所测逆转电位值在＋４０－＋５０ｍＶ之间（ｎ＝３）。浊流平衡液（ＢＳＳ）中ＮａＣｌ以氯化胆碱置代,或用含ＴＴＸ（１０￣（－５）ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）的ＢＳＳ灌流,可使ＳＰ－去极化幅值大大减小但不能完全消除。而高（２０ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ）和低（０ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ）Ｃａ￣（２＋）的ＢＳＳ灌流时,使ＳＰ－去极化幅值相应的增加和降低。用含１０￣（－４）ｍｏｌ／ＬＣｄ￣（２＋）及１０￣（－２）ｍｏｌ／ＬＴＥＡ的ＢＳＳ灌流,均使ＳＰ－去极化明显减小。     

皖南尖吻蝮蛇蛇毒纤溶组分中结合态钙的生化特性

利用原子吸收法和荧光探针法了皖南尖吻蝮蛇蛇毒纤溶组分每分子中含有一个含,以Ｔｂ＾３＋作荧光探针测得Ｔｂ＾３＋与ＦＰ中色氨酸残基之间的距离约为０．３７５ｎｍ。     

血管紧张素Ⅱ对大鼠心肌肌浆网Ca~(2+),Mg~(2+)-ATPase基因转录调节的影响

观察血管紧张素Ⅱ（ＡｎｇⅡ）对心肌肌浆网Ｃａ２＋,Ｍｇ２＋－ＡＴＰａｓｅ基因（ＳＥＲＣＡ２ａ）转录调节的影响,评价ＤＭＰ８１１对此效应的干预作用．６周龄雄性ＳＤ大鼠随机分为３组,每组６只．组１：生理盐水输注;组２：ＡｎｇⅡ输注＋ＤＭＰ８１１管饲（３ｍｇ·ｄ－１·ｋｇ－１）;组３：ＡｎｇⅡ输注（２００ｎｇ·ｍｉｎ－１·ｋｇ－１．１周后称其体重,取心脏并称重,提取心脏总ＲＮＡ后采用Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎｂｌｏｔ的方法检测ＳＥＲ－ＣＡ２ａ的转录水平,采用ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ检测ＡｎｇⅡ１型受体（ＡＴ１）ｍＲＮＡ水平．实验后,组３心重（ＣＷ）、心重／体重（Ｃ／Ｂ）、ＡＴ１受体转录水平均高于组１（分别增加４．７±０．４％,４．９±０．９％和２４．７±３．５％;Ｐ＜０．０１）,而ＳＥＲＣＡ２ａ基因转录水平显著低于组１（降低２０．１±３．０％,Ｐ＜０．０１）,并且ＳＥＲＣＡ２ａｍＲＮＡ水平与ＡＴ１受体ｍＲＮＡ水平呈负相关（ｒ＝－０．７４,Ｐ＜０．０１）．ＡｎｇⅡ导致的上述改变能被ＤＭＰ８１１完全阻断．ＡｎｇⅡ通过其Ⅰ型受体的介导,诱导了ＳＥＲＣＡ２ａ的转录下调     

螺旋藻（Spirulina platensis）藻胆体在解离过程中荧光发射光谱和光能传递的研究

对螺旋藻（Ｓｐｉｒｕｌｉｎａｐｌａｔｅｎｓｉｓ）藻胆体在室温和７７Ｋ处于不同浓度磷缓冲溶液和不同解离时间的荧光发射光谱进行了研究。藻胆体在０．９ｍｏｌ／Ｌ磷酸缓冲溶液中,由于没有发生解离,光能传递效率高,在７７Ｋ荧光发射光谱中只有一个峰,位于６８７ｎｍ,属于别藻蓝蛋白－Ｂ。当藻胆体悬浮在０．３ｍｏｌ／Ｌ磷酸缓冲溶液中１分钟,７７Ｋ荧光光谱的主峰出现在６８４ｎｍ．又出现６５５ｎｍ和６６６ｎｍ荧光峰,它们依次属子Ｃ－藻蓝蛋白和别藻蓝蛋白。在２小时;６５５ｎｍ荧先峰成为主峰,６８４ｎｍ荧光峰为次峰,６６６ｎｍ荧光肩消失。这表明Ｃ－藻蓝蛋白所捕获的先能已不能传递给别藻蓝蛋白,但能传给别藻蓝蛋白－Ｂ。我们提出在螺旋藻藻胆体中存在两类Ｃ－藻蓝蛋白,一是与别藻蓝蛋白相连接,另一是与别藻蓝蛋白－Ｂ相连接。     

螺旋藻（Spirulina platensis）藻胆体在解离过程中荧光发射光谱和光能传递的研究

对螺旋藻（Ｓｐｉｒｕｌｉｎａｐｌａｔｅｎｓｉｓ）藻胆体在室温和７７Ｋ处于不同浓度磷缓冲溶液和不同解离时间的荧光发射光谱进行了研究。藻胆体在０．９ｍｏｌ／Ｌ磷酸缓冲溶液中,由于没有发生解离,光能传递效率高,在７７Ｋ荧光发射光谱中只有一个峰,位于６８７ｎｍ,属于别藻蓝蛋白－Ｂ。当藻胆体悬浮在０．３ｍｏｌ／Ｌ磷酸缓冲溶液中１分钟,７７Ｋ荧光光谱的主峰出现在６８４ｎｍ．又出现６５５ｎｍ和６６６ｎｍ荧光峰,它们依次属子Ｃ－藻蓝蛋白和别藻蓝蛋白。在２小时;６５５ｎｍ荧先峰成为主峰,６８４ｎｍ荧光峰为次峰,６６６ｎｍ荧光肩消失。这表明Ｃ－藻蓝蛋白所捕获的先能已不能传递给别藻蓝蛋白,但能传给别藻蓝蛋白－Ｂ。我们提出在螺旋藻藻胆体中存在两类Ｃ－藻蓝蛋白,一是与别藻蓝蛋白相连接,另一是与别藻蓝蛋白－Ｂ相连接。     

α受体激动对绵羊心肌瞬时性内向离子流的影响

用乙酰毒毛旋花子甙元（ＡＳ）０．０５μｍｏｌ／Ｌ诱发绵羊心浦肯野纤维产生稳定的瞬时性内向离子流（Ｉｔｉ）,用普萘洛尔０．５μｍｏｌ／Ｌ阻断β受体,观察α受体激动剂苯肾上腺素（ＰＥ）０．３,１．０μｍｏｌ／Ｌ对Ｉｔｉ幅值与时程的影响。ＰＥ１．０μｍｏｌ／Ｌ灌流２０,５０ｍｉｎ时Ｉｔｉ幅值分别由对照值１２．８±１．９ｎＡ减小至１０．７±１．２ｎＡ（ｎ＝５,Ｐ＜０．０５）与９．６±１．９ｎＡ（ｎ＝５,Ｐ＜０．０１）;ＩｔｉＤ５０时程分别由对照值１４５±２４．４ｍｓ延长至１８３．３±２８．１ｍｓ（ｎ＝５,Ｐ＜０．０５）与２０７．５±３４．２ｍｓ（ｎ＝５,Ｐ＜０．０１）,ＰＥ对Ｉｔｉ的抑制作用呈剂量依赖性与时间依赖性。Ｉｔｉ到达峰值的时间和回复到基线的时间都延长,提示ＰＥ作用下Ｉｔｉ通道动力学发生了变化。如果在β受体激动剂异丙肾上腺素（ＩＳＯ）１．０μｍｏｌ／Ｌ增强Ｉｔｉ的基础上,ＰＥ１．０μｍｏｌ／Ｌ灌流１０ｍｉｎ,对Ｉｔｉ幅值的抑制及时程的延长作用更显著,Ｉｔｉ幅值由对照值１５．６±３．２ｎＡ减小到１０．３±２．２ｎＡ;ＩｔｉＤ５０由９２．５±１４．３ｍｓ延长到１３２．５±３６．０ｍｓ（ｎ＝５,Ｐ＜０．０１）。     

玉米根细胞膜铁氰化钾还原酶

玉米根细胞膜制剂具有明显的ＮＡＤＨ一铁氰Ｊ也钾还原酶（ＦＣＲ）活性。铁氰化钾被还原的同时伴有质子跨膜运输,所形成的△μＨ＋既不受Ｈ＋－ＡＴＰａｓｅ抑制剂的影响,也不需要ＡＴＰ的存在,反应最适ＰＨ为６．５。ＦＣＲ对ＮＡＤＨ和铁氰化钾具有较高的活性反应,（Ｋｍ分别为４２和７０μｍｏｌ／Ｌ,Ｖｍａｘ分别为１．８４和２．１０μｍｏｌ／ｍｇｐｒｏｔｅｉｎｍｉｎ）。而对ＮＡＤＰＨ．只有微弱的反应活性（Ｖｍａｘ为０．０４２μｍｏｌ／ｍｇｐｒｏｔｅｉｎｍｉｎ）。用ＦＣＲ的潜在活性证实在膜的胞质一侧存在底物结合部位。Ｍｇ２＋、Ｍｎ２＋、Ｃａ２＋、Ｋ＋、Ｎａ＋对酶均有一定的激活作用,以Ｍｎ２＋最强、其次为Ｍｇ２＋。     

表皮生长因子对离体大鼠肺动脉及肺动脉平滑肌细胞作用的研究

本研究着重探讨表皮生长因子（ＥＧＦ）对大鼠肺动脉的收缩作用及对肺动脉平滑肌细胞分裂增殖的影响。浓度为１×１０－９－１×１０－７ｍｏｌ／Ｌ的ＥＧＦ可引起大鼠肺动脉剂量依赖性收缩（ｒ＝０．９６８,Ｐ＜０,００１）,其Ｅｍａｘ为１００．６ｍｇ,ＥＣ５０为１１．９６ｎｍｏｌ／Ｌ。在同时存在０．５％胎牛血清（ＦＣＳ）时,ＥＧＦ能促进平滑肌细胞的３Ｈ－ＴｄＲ参入率,该作用与剂量呈正相关（ｒ＝０．８２３,Ｐ＜０．０５）,其ＥＣ５０为６．５×１Ｏ－１２ｍｏｌ／Ｌ。１×１０－９ｍｏｌ／Ｌ的ＥＧＦ＋０．５％ＦＣＳ能产生与１０％ＦＣＳ相当的促细胞分裂增殖能力（在培养的第１,３,５,７天,二者促分裂增殖能力相差不明显,Ｐ均＞０．０５,第９天时,前者大于后者,Ｐ＜０．０５）。１×１０－９ｍｏｌ／ＬＥＧＦ单独存在时对平滑肌细胞未显示出明显的致分裂活性。上述作用提示ＥＣＦ在某些肺血管病变如缺氧性肺动脉高压中可能有一定意义。     

Thermodynamic studies on anion binding to apotransferrin and to recombinant transferrin N-lobe half molecules

Equilibrium constants for the binding of anions to apotransferrin, to the recombinant N-lobe half transferrin molecule (Tf/2N), and to a series of mutants of Tf/2N have been determined by difference UV titrations of samples in 0.1 M Hepes buffer at pH 7.4 and 25 degrees C. The anions included in this study are phosphate, sulfate, bicarbonate, pyrophosphate, methylenediphosphonic acid, and ethylenediphosphonic acid. There are no significant differences between anion binding to Tf/2N and anion binding to the N-lobe of apotransferrin. The binding of simple anions like phosphate appears to be essentially equivalent for the two apotransferrin binding sites. The binding of pyrophosphate and the diphosphonates is inequivalent, and the studies on the recombinant Tf/2N show that the stronger binding is associated with the N-terminal site. Anion binding constants for phosphate, pyrophosphate, and the diphosphonates with the N-lobe mutants K206A, K296A, and R124A have been determined. Anion binding tends to be weakest for the K296A mutant, but the variation in log K values among the three mutants is surprisingly small. It appears that the side chains of K206, K296, and R124 all make comparable contributions to anion binding. There are significant variations in the intensities of the peaks in the difference UV spectra that are generated by the titrations of the mutant apoproteins with these anions. These differences appear to be related more to variations in the molar extinction coefficients of the anion-protein complexes rather than to differences in binding constants.     

Steric restrictions on the binding of large metal ions to serum transferrin

Apotransferrin in 0.1 M N-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid at 25 degrees C and pH 7.4 was titrated with acidic solutions of Lu3+, Tb3+, and Eu3+. Metal binding at the two specific metal-binding sites of transferrin was followed from changes in the difference UV spectra at 245 nm. The binding of Tb3+ was also followed from changes in the fluorescence emission spectrum at 549 nm. Apotransferrin was titrated with solutions containing varying ratios of the metal ion and the competitive chelating agent nitrilotriacetic acid, and metal-transferrin binding constants were calculated by nonlinear least-squares fits of the absorbance as a function of titrant added. The sequential carbonate-independent equilibrium constants for the binding of two metal ions are log KM1 = 11.08 and log KM2 = 7.93 for Lu3+, log KM1 = 11.20 and log KM2 = 7.61 for Tb3+, and log KM1 = 9.66 and log KM2 = 7.27 for Eu3+. Titrations of both C-terminal and N-terminal monoferric transferrins indicate that all of these metal ions bind more strongly to the C-terminal binding site. The trend in log K values as a function of the lanthanide ionic radius has been evaluated both by plots of log K versus the metal ion charge/radius ratio and by linear free-energy relationships in which binding constants for complexes of the larger lanthanides are plotted versus the binding constants for complexes with the smallest lanthanide, Lu3+. Both methods indicate that there is a sharp drop in the binding constants for the C-terminal binding site for metals larger than Tb3+. This decrease is attributed to a steric hindrance to the binding of the larger cations. The steric effect is not as strong for metal binding at the N-terminal site. As a result, the selectivity for binding to the C-terminal site, which is quite high for the smaller lanthanides, drops sharply on going from Tb3+ to Nd3+.     

NMR structure of the calflagin Tb24 flagellar calcium binding protein of Trypanosoma brucei

Flagellar calcium binding proteins are expressed in a variety of trypanosomes and are potential drug targets for Chagas disease and African sleeping sickness. The flagellar calcium binding protein calflagin of Trypanosoma brucei (called Tb24) is a myristoylated and palmitoylated EF‐hand protein that is targeted to the inner leaflet of the flagellar membrane. The Tb24 protein may also interact with proteins on the membrane surface that may be different from those bound to flagellar calcium binding proteins (FCaBPs) in T. cruzi. We report here the NMR structure of Tb24 that contains four EF‐hand motifs bundled in a compact arrangement, similar to the overall fold of T. cruzi FCaBP (RMSD = 1.0 Å). A cluster of basic residues (K22, K25, K31, R36, and R38) located on a surface near the N‐terminal myristoyl group may be important for membrane binding. Non‐conserved residues on the surface of a hydrophobic groove formed by EF2 (P91, Q95, D103, and V108) and EF4 (C194, T198, K199, Q202, and V203) may serve as a target protein binding site and could have implications for membrane target recognition.     

Role of arginine 177 in the MnII binding site of manganese peroxidase. Studies with R177D, R177E, R177N, and R177Q mutants.

Previously, we reported that Arg177 is involved in MnII binding at the MnII binding site of manganese peroxidase isozyme 1 (MnP1) of Phanerochaete chrysosporium by examining two mutants: R177A and R177K. We now report on additional mutants: R177D, R177E, R177N, and R177Q. These new mutant enzymes were produced by homologous expression in P. chrysosporium and were purified to homogeneity. The molecular mass and the UV/visible spectra of the ferric and oxidized intermediates of the mutant enzymes were similar to those of the wild-type enzyme, suggesting proper folding, heme insertion, and preservation of the heme environment. However, steady-state and transient-state kinetic analyses demonstrate significantly altered characteristics of MnII oxidation by these new mutant enzymes. Increased dissociation constants (Kd) and apparent Km values for MnII suggest that these mutations at Arg177 decrease binding of MnII to the enzyme. These lowered binding efficiencies, as observed with the R177A and R177K mutants, suggest that the salt-bridge between Arg177 and the MnII binding ligand Glu35 is disrupted in these new mutants. Decreased kcat values for MnII oxidation, decreased second-order rate constants for compound I reduction (k2app), and decreased first-order rate constants for compound II reduction (k3) indicate that these new mutations also decrease the electron-transfer rate. This decrease in rate constants for compounds I and II reduction was not observed in our previous study on the R177A and R177K mutations. The lower rate constants suggest that, even with high MnII concentrations, the MnII binding geometries may be altered in the MnII binding site of these new mutants. These new results, combined with the results from our previous study, clearly indicate a role for Arg177 in promoting efficient MnII binding and oxidation by MnP.     

Localization of a fibrinogen calcium binding site between gamma-subunit positions 311 and 336 by terbium fluorescence

Calcium is required for effective fibrin polymerization. The high affinity Ca2+ binding capacity of fibrinogen was directly localized to the gamma-chain by autoradiography of nitrocellulose membrane blots of fibrinogen subunits incubated with 45Ca2+. Terbium (Tb3+) competitively inhibited 45Ca2+ binding to fibrinogen during equilibrium dialysis, accelerated fibrin polymerization, and limited fibrinogen fragment D digestion by plasmin. The intrinsic fluorescence of Ca2+-depleted fibrinogen was maximally enhanced by Ca2+ and Tb3+, but not by Mg2+, at about 3 mol of cation/mol of fibrinogen. Protein-bound Tb3+ fluorescence at 545 nm was maximally enhanced by resonance energy transfer from tryptophan (excitation at 290 nm) at about 2 mol of Tb3+mol of fibrinogen and about 1 mol of Tb3+/mol of plasmic fragment D94 (Mr 94,000). Fibrinogen fragments D78 (Mr 78,000) and E did not show effective enhancement of Tb3+ fluorescence, suggesting that the Ca2+ site is located within gamma 303 to gamma 411, the peptide which is absent in fragment D78 but present in D94. When CNBr fragments of the carboxyamidated gamma-subunit were assayed for enhancement of Tb3+ fluorescence, peptide CBi (gamma 311-336) bound 1 mol of Tb3+/mol of CBi. Thus, the Ca2+ site is located within this peptide. The sequence between gamma 315 and gamma 329 is homologous to the calmodulin and parvalbumin Ca2+ binding sites.     

His-tag的人胞浆磷脂酶A_2的C2结构域的表达、纯化及性质

带有His tag的人胞浆磷脂酶A2 的C2结构域高效表达 ,用内源荧光的变化测定了其稳定性和其与钙离子结合的结合常数 .结果表明 ,带有His tag的C2结构域仍可有效用于研究其折叠及其与钙离子的协同性结合 ,温度从 2 2℃升高到 35℃时 ,C2结构域和钙离子结合的协同性程度显著增强 .     

Estimation of the ferrous-transferrin binding constants based on thermodynamic studies of nickel(II)-transferrin

The equilibrium constants for the binding of Ni2+ to human serum transferrin in 0.01 M hepes containing 5 mM sodium bicarbonate at 25 degrees C and pH 7.4 have been measured. The effective binding constants are log K1 = 4.10 +/- 0.15 and log K2 = 3.23 +/- 0.31 for the reactions Ni2+ + apoTr (K1) in equilibrium Ni2+-Tr. Ni2+ + Ni2+-Tr (K2) in equilibrium Ni2+-Tr-Ni2+ where the explicit terms for bicarbonate and hydrogen ion have been incorporated into the effective binding constants. Titration of both forms of mono(ferric)transferrin indicates that unlike other metal ions, Ni2+ binds preferentially to the N-terminal binding site, but that the site preference is rather small. A linear-free-energy relationship (LFER) for the complexation of Ni2+ and Fe2+ has been prepared. This LFER has been used to estimate effective binding constants of log K1 = 3.2 and log K2 = 2.5 for the ferrous-transferrin complex. These ferrous constants have been combined with the literature binding constants for ferric-transferrin to estimate formal reduction potentials of -340 mV vs. NHE for the C-terminal site and -280 mV for the N-terminal site.     

Terbium as a luminescent probe of metal-binding sites in protein kinase C

In the present report, we demonstrate that Tb3+ binds to protein kinase C and serves as a luminescent reporter of certain cationic metal-binding sites. Tb3+ titration of 50 nM protein kinase C results in a 20-fold enhancement of Tb3+ luminescence which is half-maximal at 12 microM Tb3+. A Kd of approximately 145 nM was determined for Tb3+ binding to the enzyme. The excitation spectrum of bound Tb3+ exhibits a peak at 280 nm characteristic of energy transfer from protein tryptophan or tyrosine residues. The luminescence of this complex can be markedly decreased by other metals, including Pb2+ (IC50 = 25 microM), La3+ (IC50 = 50 microM), Hg2+ (IC50 = 300 microM), Ca2+ (IC50 = 6 mM), and Zn2+ (IC50 greater than 10 mM), and chelation of Tb3+ by 2 mM EGTA. Tb3+ binding to protein kinase C is correlated with its inhibition of protein kinase activity (IC50 = 8 microM), r = 0.99) and phorbol ester binding (IC50 = 15 microM, r = 0.98). Tb3+ inhibition of protein kinase C activity cannot be overcome by excess Ca2+, but can be partially overcome with excess phosphatidylserine or by chelation of Tb3+ with EGTA. Tb3+ noncompetitively inhibits phorbol ester binding by decreasing the maximal extent of binding without significantly altering binding affinity. The results suggest that the Tb3(+)-binding site is at or allosterically related to the enzyme's phosphatidylserine-binding site, but is distinct from the phorbol ester-binding domain and the Ca2(+)-binding site that regulates enzyme activity.     

Complexation of ytterbium to human transferrin and its uptake by K562 cells.

There is an increasing interest in the use of lanthanides in medicine. However, the mechanism of their accumulation in cells is not well understood. Lanthanide cations are similar to ferric ions with regard to transferrin binding, suggesting transferrin-receptor mediated transport is possible; however, this has not yet been confirmed. In order to clarify this mechanism, we investigated the binding of Yb3+ to apotransferrin by UV-Vis spectroscopy and stopped-flow spectrophotometry, and found that Yb3+ binds to apotransferrin at the specific iron sites in the presence of bicarbonate. The apparent binding constants of these sites showed that the affinity of Yb3+ is lower than that of Fe3+and binding of Yb3+ in the N-lobe is kinetically favored while the C-lobe is thermodynamically favored. The first Yb3+ bound to the C-lobe quantitatively with a Yb/apotransferrin molar ratio of < 1, whereas the binding to the other site is weaker and approaches completeness by a higher molar ratio only. As demonstrated by 1H NMR spectra, Yb3+ binding disturbed the conformation of apotransferrin in a manner similar to Fe3+. Flow cytometric studies on the uptake of fluorescein isothiocyanate labeled Yb3+-bound transferrin species by K562 cells showed that they bind to the cell receptors. Laser scanning confocal microscopic studies with fluorescein isothiocyanate labeled Yb3+-bound transferrin and propidium iodide labeled DNA and RNA in cells indicated that the Yb3+ entered the cells. The Yb3+-transferrin complex inhibited the uptake of the fluorescein labeled ferric-saturated transferrin (Fe2-transferrin) complex into K562 cells. The results demonstrate that the complex of Yb3+-transferrin complex was recognized by the transferrin receptor and that the transferrin-receptor-mediated mechanism is a possible pathway for Yb3+ accumulation in cells.     

Cyanate binding to the ferric heme octapeptide from cytochrome c. A model for anion binding to high spin ferric hemoproteins

Equilibrium constants for the binding of cyanate to the ferric heme c octapeptide in 50% ethylene glycol, 50% aqueous buffer were measured spectrophotometrically. Equilibrium constants measured at several temperatures from -20 degrees C to 0 degrees C exhibited an apparent van't Hoff relationship yielding thermodynamic values of delta Ho = -1.3 X 10(3) +/- 0.9 X 10(3) J/mol (-3.1 X 10(2) +/- 2 X 10(2) cal/mol), delta So = -3 +/- 3 J/K X mol (-0.6 +/- 0.8 cal/K X mol). The equilibrium constant for cyanate binding at 25 degrees C and pH 7.4 is 1.21 which is approximately 2 to 3 orders of magnitude lower than that observed for cyanate binding to methemoglobin and metmyoglobin. Krel, the ratio of the hemoprotein to model heme octapeptide binding constants, for NCO- is smaller than Krel for N3- suggesting that hydrogen bonding between the terminal ligand atoms and the distal histidine in hemoglobin and myoglobin does not contribute to the increased protein ligand stabilization observed for these anions relative to the model. A donor-acceptor interaction between the distal histidine and the electrophilic middle atoms of these bound ligands is proposed.