Solubilization, purification, and characterization of succinate dehydrogenase from membranes of Mycobacterium phlei.

Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) was solubilized from membranes of Mycobacterium phlei by Triton X-100 with a recovery of about 90%. The solubilized SDH was purified about 90-fold by Sephacryl S-300, DEAE-cellulose, hydroxylapatite, and isoelectric focusing in the presence of Triton X-100 with a 20% recovery. SDH was homogeneous, as determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in nondenaturing gels containing Triton X-100. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the enzyme revealed two subunits with molecular weights of 62,000 and 26,000. SDH is a flavoprotein containing 1 mol of flavin adenine dinucleotide, 7 to 8 mol of nonheme iron, and 7 to 8 mol of acid-labile sulfide per mol of protein. Using phenazine methosulfate and 2,6-dichloroindophenol as electron acceptors, the enzyme had an apparent Km of 0.12 mM succinate. SDH exhibited a sigmoidal relationship of rate to succinate concentration, indicating cooperativity. The enzyme was competitively inhibited by fumarate with a Ki of 0.15 mM. In the absence of Triton X-100, the enzyme aggregated, retained 50% of the activity, and could be resolubilized with Triton X-100 with full restoration of activity. Cardiolipin had no effect on the enzyme activity in the absence of Triton X-100, but it stimulated the activity by about 30% in the presence of 0.1% Triton X-100 in the assay mixture. Menaquinone-9(2H), isolated from M. phlei, had no effect on the enzyme activity either in the presence or absence of Triton X-100.     

Hydrolysis of lipid mixtures by rat hepatic lipase

The hydrolysis of phospholipid mixtures by purified rat hepatic lipase, also known as hepatic triglyceride lipase, was studied in a Triton X-100/lipid mixed micellar system. Column chromatography of the mixed micelles showed elution of Triton X-100 and binary lipid mixtures of phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine as a single peak. This indicated that the mixed micelles were homogenous and contained all components in the designated molar ratios. The molar ratio of Triton X-100 to lipid was kept constant at 4 to 1. Labeling one lipid with 3H and the other lipid with 14C enabled us to determine the hydrolysis of both components of these binary lipid mixed micelles. We found that the hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine was activated by the inclusion of small amounts of phosphatidic acid (2.5-fold), phosphatidylethanolamine (1.5-fold) or phosphatidylserine (1.4-fold). The maximal activation of phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis was observed when 5 mol% of phosphatidylethanolamine, 7.5 mol% phosphatidic acid or 5 mol% phosphatidylserine was added to Triton X-100 mixed micelles. The hydrolysis of phosphatidic acid was activated 30%, and that of phosphatidylserine was inhibited 30% when the molar proportion of phosphatidylcholine was less than 50 mol%. The hydrolysis of phosphatidylethanolamine was slightly activated when the mol% of phosphatidylcholine was below 5. The hydrolysis of phosphatidylserine was inhibited by phosphatidylethanolamine when the mol% of the latter was 50 or less whereas phosphatidylethanolamine hydrolysis was not affected by phosphatidylserine. Under the conditions used sphingomyelin and cholesterol did not have a significant effect on the hydrolysis of the phospholipids studied. In agreement with our previous study (Kucera et al. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 1920-1928) these studies show that the phospholipid polar head group is an important factor which influences the action of hepatic lipase and that the interfacial properties of the substrate play a role in the expression of the activity of this enzyme. The molar ratios of phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine which activated phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis correspond closely to the molar ratios of these lipids found in the surface lipid film of lipoproteins e.g., high density lipoproteins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Purification and chemical modification of a phosphatidylinositol kinase from sheep brain.

A membrane-bound phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) kinase has been purified approximately 9500-fold to apparent homogeneity from sheep brains. The purification procedure involves: solubilisation of the membrane fraction with Triton X-100, ammonium sulphate fractionation and a number of ion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography steps. The purified enzyme exhibited a final specific activity of 1149 nmol.min-1.mg-1. The molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be 55 kDa by SDS/PAGE and 150 +/- 10 kDa by HPLC gel filtration in the presence of Triton X-100. Kinetic measurements have shown that the apparent Km value of PtdIns kinase for the utilisation of PtdIns is 22 microM and for ATP 67 microM. Mg2+ was the most effective divalent cation activator of PtdIns kinase, with maximal enzymatic activity reached at a concentration of 10 mM Mg2+. In addition to adenosine and ADP, the 2'(3')-O-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl) derivative of ATP was found to be a strong competitive inhibitor of the enzyme, with a Ki of 32 microM. Enzymatic activity was found to be stimulated by Triton X-100 but inhibited by deoxycholate.     

Purification and characterization of a membrane-bound nonlysosomal ceramidase from rat brain.

We have purified a membrane bound ceramidase 22,300-fold to apparent homogeneity. The purification scheme included Triton X-100 extraction of membranes followed by Q-Sepharose, blue Sepharose, phenyl-Sepharose, and MonoS column chromatography. The purified enzyme showed an apparent molecular mass of 90 kDa as estimated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions and 95 kDa by chromatography on Superose 12. Using C(16)-ceramide as substrate, the enzyme showed a broad pH optimum in the neutral to alkaline range. A mixed micelle assay was developed, and using Triton X-100/ceramide mixed micelles, the enzyme exhibited classical Michaelis-Menten kinetics, with a K(m) of 1.29 mol % and a V(max) of 4.4 micromol/min/mg. When dihydroceramide was used as substrate, these values were 3.84 mol % and 1.2 micromol/min/mg, respectively, indicating that the enzyme hydrolyzes ceramides preferentially. The activity of the purified ceramidase did not require cations, and it was inhibited by reducing agents. Phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin were without effect on the enzyme activity, whereas phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylserine stimulated the activity 3-fold. Sphingosine acted as a competitive inhibitor with an IC(50) of 5-10 microM. These results indicate that the purified enzyme is a novel ceramidase.     

Extraction and detergent/lipid activation of dolichol kinase

The CTP-dependent dolichol kinase from bovine liver microsomes was optimally extracted using either 0.5% sodium deoxycholate or 0.5% Triton X-100 containing 0.5 M NH4Cl. All activity was found in the supernatant fraction following high-speed centrifugation. This fraction was depleted of phospholipid (phospholipid remaining, less than 5% of total) by gel chromatography of the 0.5% deoxycholate extract. This partially purified enzyme was maximally activated 9- or 53-fold over controls in the presence of 0.1% deoxycholate or 0.1% Triton X-100, respectively. Stimulation of the kinase was also observed with mixtures of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine and deoxycholate. The level of stimulation by these mixtures was up to 20-fold higher than that observed in controls having deoxycholate alone. Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine alone was not stimulatory. A 1:1 molar ratio of Triton X-100 or deoxycholate to dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine was optimal for enzyme activation. The half-maximum velocity of the dephospholipidated enzyme at 1:1 molar ratio of detergent to dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine was obtained at 150 or 550 microM CTP in the presence of deoxycholate or Triton X-100, respectively. It has been observed, therefore, that dolichol kinase may be extracted from liver microsomes, depleted of endogenous phospholipids and activated by specific molar ratios of detergent to phospholipid.     

Purification of lysophospholipase of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and its properties.

Lysophospholipase [EC 3.1.1.5] was solubilized from the cells of Vibrio parahaemolyticus with Triton X-100 and purified by the following procedure; precipitation with ammonium sulfate, acid treatment and ion exchange column chromatography using DEAE-cellulose, DEAE-Sephadex A-50, and CM-cellulose, successively. The purified preparation was shown to be homogeneous by polyacrylamide gel disk electrophoresis. The isoelectric point of the enzyme was found to be around pH 3.64 by isoelectric focusing electrophoresis, and its molecular weight was estimated to be 89,000 at pH 7.6 by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. The minimal molecular weight (15,000) was found at pH 3 by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 and also by SDS-polyacrylamide disk electrophoresis. The enzyme hydrolyzed 1-acyl-GPC, 1-acyl-GPE, 2-acyl-GPE, and lysocardiolipin but did not attack monoacylglycerol, triacylglycerol, or phosphatidylcholine at all. The enzyme activity required no bivalent cations, and was unaffected by reagents specific to SH-groups, although it was inhibited by Hg2+. The enzyme activity was completely inhibited by preincubation with diisopropylfluorophosphate. The enzyme lost its activity on preincubation with either 1% SDS or 8 M urea at 37 degrees C for 30 min, but the activity lost with urea was recovered by dialysis against distilled water.     

Isolation of L-dynurenine 3-hydroxylase from the mitochondrial outer membrane of rat liver.

Outer membrane preparations of rat liver mitochondria were isolated, after the mitochondria had been prepared by mild digitonin treatment under isotonic conditions. L-Kynurenine 3-hydroxylase [EC 1.14.13.9] was solubilized on a large scale from outer membrane by mixing with 1% digitonin or 1% Triton X-100, followed by fractionation into a minor fraction I and a major fraction II by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. The distribution of total L-Dynurenine 3-hydroxylase was roughly 20 and 80% in fraction I and II, respectively. Fraction I consisted of crude enzyme loosely bound to anion exchanger. In the present investigation, fraction I was not used because of its low activity and rapid inactivation. In contrast, fraction II consisted of crude enzyme with high activity, excluded from DEAE-cellulose column chromatography in the presence of 1 M KC1. In addition, fraction II was purified by Sephadex G-200 gel filtration and DEAE-Sephadex A-50 column chromatography with linear gradient elution, adding 1 M KC1 and 1% Triton X-100 to 0.05 M Tris-acetate buffer, pH 8.1. After isoelectric focusing, the purified enzyme preparation was proved to be homogeneous, since the L-kynurenine 3-hydroxylase fraction gave a single band on disc gel electrophoresis. The molecular weight of this enzyme was estimated to be approximately 200,000 or more by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and from the elution pattern on Sephadex G-200 gel filtration. A 16-Fold increase of the enzyme activity was obtained compared with that of the mitochondrial outer membrane. The isoelectric point of the enzyme was determined to be pH 5.4 by Ampholine isoelectric focusing.     

Partial purification and characterization of phosphatidic acid-specific phospholipase A(1) in porcine platelet membranes

We have shown previously that the phospholipase A (PLA) activity specific for phosphatidic acid (PA) in porcine platelet membranes is of the A(1) type (PA-PLA(1)) [J. Biol. Chem. 259 (1984) 5083]. In the present study, the PA-PLA(1) was solubilized in Triton X-100 from membranes pre-treated with 1 M NaCl, and purified 280-fold from platelet homogenates by sequential chromatography on blue-Toyopearl, red-Toyopearl, DEAE-Toyopearl, green-agarose, brown-agarose, polylysine-agarose, palmitoyl-CoA-agarose and blue-5PW columns. In the presence of 0.1% Triton X-100 in the assay mixture, the partially purified enzyme hydrolyzed the acyl group from the sn-1 position of PA independently of Ca(2+) and was highly specific for PA; phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylserine (PS), and phosphatidylinositol (PI) were poor substrates. The enzyme exhibited lysophospholipase activity for l-acyl-lysoPA at 7% of the activity for PA hydrolysis but no lipase activity was observed for triacylglycerol (TG) and diacylglycerol (DG). At 0.025% Triton X-100, the enzyme exhibited the highest activity, and PA was the best substrate, but PE was also hydrolyzed substantially. The partially purified PA-PLA(1) in porcine platelet membranes was shown to be different from previously purified and cloned phospholipases and lipases by comparing the sensitivities to a reducing agent, a serine-esterase inhibitor, a PLA(2) inhibitor, a Ca(2+)-independent phospholipase A(2) inhibitor, and a DG lipase inhibitor.     

Multiple molecular forms of purified human erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase.

1. Human erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase was solubilized by Triton X-100 and purified by affinity chromatography to a specific activity of 3800 IU/mg of protein. The yield of the purified enzyme was 25--45%. 2. Gel filtration on Sepharose 4-B in the presence of Triton X-100 revealed one peak of enzyme activity with a Stokes' radius of 8.7 nm. Density gradient centrifugation in 0.1% Triton X-100 showed one peak of enzyme activity with an S4 value of 6.3S. 3. Isoelectric focusing in Triton X-100 resolved the enzyme into five molecular forms with isoelectric points of 4.55, 4.68, 4.81, 4.98 and 5.18. Upon incubation with neuraminidase the enzyme activity in the first four forms was decreased with a concommitant increase in activity in the form with the higher isoelectric point. 4. After removal of excess Triton X-100 on Bio-Gel HTP, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed seven bands of protein and corresponding bands of enzyme activity. Density gradient centrifugation of the detergent-depleted enzyme at high ionic strength revealed five multiple molecular forms with S4 values of 6.3 S, 10.2 S, 12.2 S, 14.2 S and 16.3 S. At low ionic strength, higher aggregates were observed in addition to the other forms. Dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gave one subunit only with an apparent molecular weight of 80 000. 5. These results suggest that human erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase, solubilized by Triton X-100, exists in various forms differing in net charge but of apparently similar molecular dimensions. After removal of the detergent, forms with different molecular sizes are observed.     

Purification and characterization of an arginine-specific carboxypeptidase from Mycoplasma salivarium.

The carboxypeptidase which had been shown to be present exclusively in nonfermentative mycoplasmas was found to be associated with cell membranes of Mycoplasma salivarium. The enzyme was released from the membranes with Triton X-100 and purified by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel, affinity chromatography on arginine-Sepharose 4B, and chromatofocusing. The purified enzyme had a molecular mass of 218 kilodaltons, as estimated by gel filtration through Sepharose CL-6B, and yielded one band of activity in analytical disc-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis performed in the presence of 0.5% (wt/vol) Triton X-100. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified enzyme treated in the presence or absence of 2-mercaptoethanol revealed one band with a molecular mass of 87 kilodaltons. The enzyme catalyzed selectively the cleavage of the C-terminal arginine residue of peptides such as N-benzoylglycyl-L-arginine, tuftsin, and bradykinin and was inhibited considerably by o-phenanthroline and EDTA but only slightly by NiCl2. The inhibition of the enzyme by EDTA was fully reversed by the addition of ZnCl2, whereas the addition of CoCl2 activated the enzyme.     

Partial purification and characterization of phosphatidic acid-specific phospholipase A1 in porcine platelet membranes

We have shown previously that the phospholipase A (PLA) activity specific for phosphatidic acid (PA) in porcine platelet membranes is of the A₁ type (PA-PLA₁) [J. Biol. Chem. 259 (1984) 5083]. In the present study, the PA-PLA₁ was solubilized in Triton X-100 from membranes pre-treated with 1 M NaCl, and purified 280-fold from platelet homogenates by sequential chromatography on blue-Toyopearl, red-Toyopearl, DEAE-Toyopearl, green-agarose, brown-agarose, polylysine-agarose, palmitoyl-CoA-agarose and blue-5PW columns. In the presence of 0.1% Triton X-100 in the assay mixture, the partially purified enzyme hydrolyzed the acyl group from the sn-1 position of PA independently of Ca²⁺ and was highly specific for PA; phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylserine (PS), and phosphatidylinositol (PI) were poor substrates. The enzyme exhibited lysophospholipase activity for l-acyl-lysoPA at 7% of the activity for PA hydrolysis but no lipase activity was observed for triacylglycerol (TG) and diacylglycerol (DG). At 0.025% Triton X-100, the enzyme exhibited the highest activity, and PA was the best substrate, but PE was also hydrolyzed substantially. The partially purified PA-PLA₁ in porcine platelet membranes was shown to be different from previously purified and cloned phospholipases and lipases by comparing the sensitivities to a reducing agent, a serine-esterase inhibitor, a PLA₂ inhibitor, a Ca²⁺-independent phospholipase A₂ inhibitor, and a DG lipase inhibitor.     

beta-D-glucuronidase is associated with goat sperm cytoskeleton

Glycosidase activities were detected as detergent-insoluble after sequential extractions of goat sperm with Triton X-100. Seventy percent of total beta-glucuronidase activity was found in the detergent-insoluble fraction. This portion of beta-glucuronidase was resistant to extractions in the presence of 1 M KCl, chaotropic agents, colchicine, or cytochalasin B, being only partially solubilized by 3 M KCl or DNAse I treatment. The treatment with 0.1% sodium deoxycholate was effective, releasing 73% of the enzyme activity. Treating the deoxycholate extract with DNAse I resulted in a change in the elution profile of beta-glucuronidase as judged by gel filtration chromatography. A polyclonal antibody was developed against pancreatic beta-glucuronidase, and the sperm enzyme was strongly inhibited by the IgG fraction of this antibody. Western blot analysis showed that the same protein correspond to both Triton-soluble and insoluble enzyme. Results demonstrate that beta-glucuronidase is tightly bound to the Triton X-100 resistant fraction, suggesting that the enzyme is associated to sperm cytoskeleton. J. Exp. Zool. 289:146-152, 2001.     

Isolation and partial characterization of an amphiphilic 56-kDa fatty acid binding protein from rat renal basolateral membrane

We have identified a 56-kDa fatty acid binding protein in rat renal basolateral membrane and purified it by extraction in nonionic detergent (Triton X-100), followed by gel filtration, DEAE-cellulose chromatography, and affinity chromatography. The purified protein was homogeneous on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of Triton X-100 or SDS. It showed amphiphilic properties on gel filtration, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and oleate-Sepharose 4B chromatography. Its molecular mass was estimated to be 56 kDa by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The protein showed optimal binding activity at pH 7.5 and 37 degrees C. The apparent Kd for palmitic acid was 0.79 microM. It was immunologically clearly distinct from renal cytosolic fatty acid binding protein.     

Phosphatidate Kinase,A Novel Enzyme in Phospholipid Metabolism (Characterization of the Enzyme from Suspension-Cultured Catharanthus roseus Cells)

Phosphatidate kinase (adenosine 5[prime]-triphosphate:phosphatidic acid phosphotransferase), a novel enzyme of phospholipid metabolism, was detected recently in the plasma membranes of suspension-cultured Catharanthus roseus cells and purified (J.B. Wissing, H. Behrbohm [1993] Plant Physiol 102: 1243-1249). In the present work the properties of phosphatidate kinase are described. The enzyme showed a pH optimum of 6.1 and an isoelectric point of 4.8, and was rather stable in the presence of its substrates. Although the kinase accepted both ATP and GTP, with Km values of about 12 and 18 [mu]M, respectively, the only lipid substrate was phosphatidic acid; neither lysophosphatidic acid nor any other lipid tested was phosphorylated. With 32P- and 14C-labeled diacylglycerol pyrophosphate, the product of the enzyme, it was shown that the kinase catalyzes a reversible reaction. The activity of the extracted enzyme depended on the presence of surfactants such as Triton X-100 or [beta]-octylglucoside, whereas deoxycholate was strongly inhibitory. Kinetic analysis with Triton X-100/phosphatidate mixed micelles performed according to the "surface dilution" kinetic model showed saturation kinetics with respect to both bulk and surface concentration of phosphatidate. The interfacial Michaelis constant for phosphatidate was determined as 0.6 mol %.     

Purification and characterization of membrane-bound phosphatidylinositol kinase from rat brain

A membrane-bound phosphatidylinositol (PI) kinase was purified from rat brain. The enzyme was solubilized with Triton X-100 from salt-washed membrane and purified 11,183-fold, with a final specific activity of 150 nmol/min/mg of protein. Purification steps included several chromatography using Q-Sepharose Fast Flow, cellulose phosphate, Toyopearl HW 55 and Affi-Gel Blue. The purified PI kinase had an estimated molecular weight of 80,000 by gel filtration and 76,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The purified kinase phosphorylated only PI and did not phosphorylate phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate or diacylglycerol. Km values for PI and ATP were found to be 115 and 150 microM, respectively. The enzyme required Mg2+ (5-20 mM) or Mn2+ (1-2 mM) for activity, was stimulated by 0.1-1.0% (w/v) Triton X-100, and completely inhibited by 0.05% sodium dodecyl sulfate. The enzyme activity showed a broad pH optimum at around 7.4. The enzyme utilized ATP and not GTP as phosphate donor. Nucleoside triphosphates other than ATP and diphosphates significantly inhibited the kinase activity. However, inhibitory effects of adenosine, cAMP, and quercetin were weak.     

CTP:phosphorylcholine cytidylyltransferase from rat liver. Isolation and characterization of the catalytic subunit

We reported previously the purification of CTP:phosphorylcholine cytidylyltransferase from rat liver (Weinhold, P. A., Rounsifer, M. E., and Feldman, D. A. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 5104-5110). The purified enzyme appeared to contain equal amounts of two nonidentical proteins, with Mr of about 38,000 and 45,000. We have now separated and purified these proteins. Polyacrylamide electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate indicated that each protein was homogeneous. The 45,000 protein contained the catalytic activity. Analysis by gel filtration chromatography and glycerol gradient centrifugation indicated that the 38,000 and 45,000 proteins in the purified cytidylyltransferase were independently associated with Triton X-100 micelles. The apparent Mr of the complexes suggested that a tetramer of each protein was bound to one Triton X-100 micelle. The isolated 45,000 catalytic protein had the same lipid requirement and kinetic properties as the purified cytidylyltransferase containing both proteins. Enzyme activity was stimulated to maximal values by phosphatidylcholine vesicles containing 9 mol % of either oleic acid, phosphatidylinositol, or phosphatidylglycerol. The amino acid compositions of the isolated 38,000 and 45,000 proteins were distinctly different. Overall, the results suggested that a tetramer of the 45,000 protein possessed nearly optimal catalytic activity. A functional role of the 38,000 protein as part of a cytidylyltransferase enzyme complex could not be documented. However, the need for stabilizing concentrations of Triton X-100 in the purified enzyme preparation may have prevented the association of the two proteins.     

Human erythrocyte cytosol phosphatidyl-inositol-bisphosphate phosphatase

A phosphatidyl-myoinositol-4,5-bisphosphate phosphohydrolase (phosphatidyl-inositol-bisphosphate phosphatase, EC 3.1.3.36) was detected in human erythrocytes and partially purified from the cytosol. Hemoglobin was removed by (NH4)2SO4 fractionation and chromatography on CM-Sepharose CL-6B. A 27,000-fold purification was achieved following gel filtration,, ion-exchange chromatography and hydrophobic chromatography. Although the preparation was not homogeneous, the molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be 105,000 by gel filtration. The activity was stabilized by a non-ionic detergent (Triton X-100). The enzyme was active with PI-P2 and, to a lesser extent, myo-inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate but not with PI-P nor a variety of other lipid and non-lipid phosphate esters. In the presence of both cationic and non-ionic detergents, the effects of divalent cations were independent of substrate concentration. Mg2+ was required ('apparent' Km = 12 muM). The 'apparent' Km for the substrate was 0.27 mM and the specific activity was 765 +/- 191 (S.D.) nmol/min per mg protein. Inhibition by Ca2+ ('apparent' Ki = 50 microM) was competitive with Mg2+. Neomycin was an inhibitor at 10(-6) - 10(-4) M but only in the absence of Triton X-100. The phosphatase was inhibited by hemoglobin at concentrations higher that 1% (w/v) and by agents which react with sulfhydryl groups, but was unaffected by dithioerythritol and F-.     

Characterization of dolichol and dolichyl phosphate phosphatase from soya beans (Glycine max).

A series of polyprenols, ranging in length from 15 to 22 isoprene units, has been isolated from soya beans (Glycine max) and purified by high-pressure liquid chromatography. N.m.r., i.r. and mass spectra of the compounds indicated that they are alpha-saturated polyprenols of the dolichol type. The amount present in dry seeds was about 9 mg/100 g, whereas dolichyl phosphate (Dol-P) was present only in trace amounts. Dol-P phosphatase activity was detected in the microsomal fraction of 5-day-old germinating soya-bean cotyledons. The Dol-P phosphatase activity was linear with respect to time and protein concentration and exhibited a broad pH optimum (pH 7-9). Triton X-100 was necessary for significant enzyme activity. Enzyme activity was slightly enhanced by EDTA, whereas dithiothreitol was without effect. An apparent Km of 5 microM was determined for Dol-P. Bivalent metal ions were not required for enzyme activity. A number of phosphorylated compounds tested as enzyme substrates (including a number of nucleoside phosphates, glucose 6-phosphate, sodium beta-glycerophosphate and Na4P2O7) did not compete with [1-3H]Dol-P as substrate. A number of phospholipids were also tested for their ability to act as Dol-P phosphatase substrates. At 1 mM concentration, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidic acid and lysophosphatidic acid each inhibited enzymic activity. However, at 0.1 mM concentration, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine were slightly stimulatory, whereas phosphatidic acid and lysophosphatidic acid were still inhibitory. Phosphatidic acid showed competitive inhibition.     

Isolation of lysophosphatidic acid phosphatase from developing peanut cotyledons

The soluble fraction of immature peanut (Arachis hypogaea) was capable of dephosphorylating [(3)H]lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) to generate monoacylglycerol (MAG). The enzyme responsible for the generation of MAG, LPA phosphatase, has been identified in plants and purified by successive chromatography separations on octyl-Sepharose, Blue Sepharose, Superdex-75, and heparin-agarose to apparent homogeneity from developing peanuts. This enzyme was purified 5,048-fold to a final specific activity of 858 nmol min(-1) mg(-1). The enzyme has a native molecular mass of approximately 39 kD determined by gel filtration and migrates as a single band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with a subunit molecular mass of 39 +/- 1.5 kD. The K(m) values for oleoyl-, stearoyl-, and palmitoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphate were determined to be 28.6, 39.3, and 47.9 microM, respectively. The LPA phosphatase was specific to LPA and did not utilize any other substrate such as glycerol-3-phosphate, phosphatidic acid, or p-nitrophenylphosphate. The enzyme activity was stimulated by the low concentrations of detergents such as Triton X-100 and octylglucoside. Cations had no effect on the enzyme activity. Fatty acids, sphingosine, and sphingomyelin at low concentrations stimulated the enzyme activity. The identification of LPA phosphatase in plants demonstrates the existence of MAG biosynthetic machinery in plants.     

Purification and characterization of amphiphilic trehalase from rabbit small intestine

Rabbit intestinal trehalase (alpha,alpha-trehalose glucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.28) was solubilized with Triton X-100 and purified in the presence of EDTA. The purified enzyme was homogeneous on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of Triton X-100 or SDS. It showed amphiphilic properties on gel filtration. polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, charge-shift electrophoresis and phenyl-Sepharose chromatography. Its molecular weight was estimated to be about 330 000 by gel filtration under nondenaturing conditions and in the presence of Triton X-100, the value being in satisfactory agreement with the sum of the weight of one Triton X-100 micelle and twice the molecular weight (105 000) of purified hydrophilic trehalase which had been deprived of the anchor segment. The two purified trehalases gave almost the same molecular weights (about 75 000) on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These results suggest that intestinal trehalase consists of two subunits with a molecular weight of 75 000 and that its anchor segment is small (less than 5000). Triton X-100 extracts freshly prepared from intestinal microvilli essentially showed one form of trehalase, which behaved on phenyl-Sepharose and Con A-Sepharose chromatography in the same manner as purified amphiphilic trehalase.