粗毛栓菌诱变菌株SAH-12漆酶基因的克隆与序列分析

粗毛栓菌Trametes gallica诱变菌株SAH-12是通过紫外诱变选育得到的漆酶高产菌株。为了对其漆酶基因进行研究和利用,采用cDNA末端快速扩增(Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends,RACE)技术,从T.gallica诱变菌株SAH-12分离得到漆酶基因全长cDNA Lacc1(GenBank accession No.DQ431716)及其对应的结构基因Lac1(DQ431715)。该基因属于真菌漆酶基因家族,与来自出发菌T.gallica漆酶基因lacA(AY875867)在成熟肽编码区的同源性最高(一致性为98%)。Lacc1全长1891bp,由40bp的5'-UTR、1554bp的完整ORF和297bp的3'-UTR构成,具有polyA加尾信号AATACA和59bp的polyA结构;其完整ORF可编码21个氨基酸残基组成的信号肽和496个氨基酸残基组成的成熟蛋白。在Lacc1基因的推导氨基酸序列中有4个潜在的N-糖基化位点和4个参与二硫键形成的Cys残基,且含有真菌漆酶Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ型铜离子结合区的4个高度保守序列。结构基因Lac1全长2338bp,含10个内含子和11个外显子,各内含子长度在51bp~76bp之间,且其序列均符合5'-gt…ag-3'规则。     

粗毛栓菌诱变菌株SAH-12漆酶基因的克隆与序列分析

粗毛栓菌Trametes gallica诱变菌株SAH-12是通过紫外诱变选育得到的漆酶高产菌株。为了对其漆酶基因进行研究和利用,采用cDNA末端快速扩增(Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends,RACE)技术,从T.gallica诱变菌株SAH-12分离得到漆酶基因全长cDNA Lacc1(GenBank accession No.DQ431716)及其对应的结构基因Lac1(DQ431715)。该基因属于真菌漆酶基因家族,与来自出发菌T.gallica漆酶基因lacA(AY875867)在成熟肽编码区的同源性最高(一致性为98%)。Lacc1全长1891bp,由40bp的5'-UTR、1554bp的完整ORF和297bp的3'-UTR构成,具有polyA加尾信号AATACA和59bp的polyA结构;其完整ORF可编码21个氨基酸残基组成的信号肽和496个氨基酸残基组成的成熟蛋白。在Lacc1基因的推导氨基酸序列中有4个潜在的N-糖基化位点和4个参与二硫键形成的Cys残基,且含有真菌漆酶Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ型铜离子结合区的4个高度保守序列。结构基因Lac1全长2338bp,含10个内含子和11个外显子,各内含子长度在51bp～76bp之间,且其序列均符合5'-gt……ag-3'规则。     

龟裂链霉菌中zwf基因的克隆及其生物信息学分析

利用RT-PCR技术、巢式PCR技术、3′-RACE和5′-RACE技术从龟裂链霉菌K-16菌株中克隆获得zwf基因的全长cDNA序列。测序结果表明：经软件Vector NTI 11.0拼接zwf基因全长cDNA序列为1 679 bp,并带有一段很短的poly(A)尾巴,包含1 347 bp的开放读码框(ORF),编码一个含449个氨基酸残基的蛋白质。Blast2go生物信息学分析结果表明：该基因编码的酶为葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶,通过KEGG代谢途径注释明确该基因编码的酶是参与谷胱甘肽代谢和磷酸戊糖途径代谢的关键酶。     

苏云金芽孢杆菌chiA,chiB全基因的克隆、表达及其序列分析

以苏云金芽孢杆菌科默尔亚种15A3菌株基因组DNA为模版,用touchdown PCR方法扩增几丁质酶ChiA和ChiB的全基因序列(GenBank登录号:EF103273和DQ512474)。将PCR产物连接pUCm-T克隆载体,获得重组质粒pUCm-chiA和pUCm-chiB,分别转化E.coliXL-Blue。克隆的几丁质酶基因可以利用本身的启动子异源表达各自的蛋白,不需要几丁质作为诱导物。表达的几丁质酶能够分泌到胞外。证明15A3菌株可组成型表达2种几丁质酶。经核苷酸及氨基酸序列分析证明,chiA基因全长1426bp,含有343bp的上游非编码区和1083bp的ORF,编码360个氨基酸。推测成熟蛋白分子量为36kD,只有一个几丁质酶催化域。chiB基因全长2279bp,含有248bp的上游非编码区和2031bp的ORF,编码676个氨基酸。推测成熟蛋白分子量约为70.6kD,具有三个功能域。核苷酸序列分析显示chiA和chiB的启动子所处的位置及转录起始碱基都不相同,-35区相同,而-10区有两个碱基不同,SD序列也不完全一致。     

牛樟芝非核糖体多肽合成酶基因(ＡcNRPS)的克隆与鉴定

胶霉毒素属于真菌天然次生代谢产物epipolythiodioxopiperazine (ETP)家族,具有免疫抑制剂、抗真菌等多种生物活性,是由非核糖体多肽合成酶(NRPSs)催化合成。从牛樟芝(Antrodia camphorata)基因组中挖掘出非核糖体多肽合成酶基因(AcNRPS,NCBI登录号为KX430967),克隆获取其全长cDNA,并对其进行生物信息学分析和表达谱分析。结果显示AcNRPS基因cDNA全长6 687 bp;与其DNA序列比对发现AcNRPS基因含有12 个内含子;其开放阅读框编码2 229 个氨基酸残基,BLAST比对发现其含有2 个A-C-T结构域,底物需2个氨基酸;系统发育树结果显示AcNRPS与其他合成产物为胶霉毒素的NRPS基因聚为一类,其可合成胶霉毒素类化合物;表达谱分析显示,以葡萄糖和土豆蛋白胨作为碳、氮源的培养基能够有效促进牛樟芝NRPS基因的表达。     

毛木耳漆酶基因的克隆、序列分析及其鉴定

本文利用PCR和RACE技术首次从毛木耳AP4菌株中获得编码漆酶基因的cDNA及其基因组全长序列,基因组大小为2514 bp.通过比较该漆酶基因的cDNA和基因组DNA的全长序列,发现该基因包含14个外显子和13个内含子.cDNA序列的全长为1972 bp,其包含一个完整的ORE长度为1860 bp,编码619氨基酸,推测的分子量大小为68 kD,等电点pI为5.15.在氨基酸序列的氨基末端存在一个信号肽序列,同时该基因还包括含铜氧化酶的三个功能结构域KOG1263、SufI和pfam00394.氨基酸序列与GenBank中登录的真菌漆酶蛋白序列比对表明:该氨基酸序列与其它真菌漆酶蛋白序列有较高的同源性,氨基酸序列相同性最高达41%,相似性为58%,并且含有真菌漆酶的四个保守的Cu-bind结构域.将获得的漆酶基因lacl与毕赤酵母表达载体pPIC9K连接,构建重组质粒pYH3660,将其转化到毕赤酵母中,经甲醇诱导该基因在第10天产酶高达123 IU/L,并通过Native SDS-PAGE电泳获得预期大小的漆酶蛋白条带.结构分析和功能验证均表明:本研究获得的基因lacl为漆酶基因.     

茶树CsCCD1和CsCCD4基因的克隆和表达分析

该研究以‘铁观音’茶树为材料,同源克隆了茶树类胡萝卜素裂解双加氧酶基因CsCCD1和CsCCD4 (NCBI登录号分别为MH119136和MH119137)全长cDNA。序列分析结果显示,CsCCD1序列全长1 766 bp,包含1 641 bp开放阅读框(ORF),编码545个氨基酸,定位于细胞质中,不存在跨膜结构和信号肽;CsCCD4序列全长1 942 bp,包含1 842 bp ORF,编码612个氨基酸,不存在跨膜结构,但在N端具有叶绿体转运肽,定位于质体中。进化树分析显示,CsCCD1和CsCCD4与杜鹃聚为一类。荧光定量检测显示,CsCCD1和CsCCD4在叶、茎和花中表达量较高。在乌龙茶做青过程中,CsCCD1和CsCCD4基因都是从鲜叶到晒青表达量下调,而CsCCD1在一摇和二摇显著上调表达,在三摇后下降;CsCCD4只在一摇后上调表达,之后表达量迅速降低。推测CsCCD1和CsCCD4基因可能与乌龙茶做青香气品质形成关系密切。     

球孢白僵菌Pr1蛋白酶基因cDNA克隆与序列分析

从球孢白僵菌菌株Bb202中克隆了昆虫蛋白酶Pr1的基因。使用特异性引物,分别以基因组DNA和mRNA为模板进行PCR反应,得到了球孢白僵菌的Pr1蛋白酶基因cDNA和结构基因序列。测序结果表明球孢白僵菌Pr1蛋白酶结构基因全长大小为1606bp,含有3个内含子,分别为69、61和68bp。其ORF全长1140bp,预测编码379个氨基酸残基。成熟蛋白理论分子量为38.8kD,理论等电点为8.06。为进一步研究球孢白僵菌Pr1基因,并构建高毒力工程菌株提供了理论基础。     

血红密孔菌(Pycnoporussanguineus)漆酶基因的克隆与序列分析

为克隆血红密孔菌 (Pycnoporussanguineus)漆酶基因 ,根据真菌漆酶氨基酸序列保守区设计了 1对简并引物 .以血红密孔菌基因组DNA为模板 ,PCR扩增出长 12 2 7bp的漆酶基因片段 .以此序列为基础 ,通过 5′及 3′RACE技术克隆出漆酶全长cDNA序列 ,序列长为 190 2bp ,其 5′端和 3′端非编码区长分别为 5 1bp和 2 97bp ,开放阅读框长 15 5 4bp ,编码 5 18个氨基酸的蛋白 .该蛋白具有 4个铜离子结合区域 ,预测其相对分子量为 5 6 313 2 ,等电点为 5 5 9,其氨基酸序列与Pycnoporuscinnabarinus漆酶 (lcc3 2 )的同源性最高 ,为 96 % .以该cDNA编码区的两端序列为引物 ,PCR扩增得到漆酶的长度为 2 15 4bp的全长DNA序列 ,序列中包括 10个内含子序列 ,长为 5 2～ 70bp     

独一味苯丙氨酸解氨酶基因的克隆与表达分析

以独一味叶片为材料,采用RT-PCR和RACE方法克隆了独一味苯丙氨酸解氨酶基因（PAL）的全长cDNA,命名为LrPAL基因。测序结果表明,LrPA L基因全长2 298 bp,含有1个2 145 bp的完整开放阅读框（ORF）,编码714个氨基酸。蛋白序列分析表明,其包含典型的PAL活性中心序列（GTITASGDLVPLSYIA）,与其他植物的PAL蛋白有很高的同源性。系统进化树分析表明,独一味LrPAL与唇形科植物的PAL蛋白聚为一类,说明两者的亲缘关系较近。用 Real-Time PCR方法检测发现,LrPAL基因在独一味的叶中表达量最高,茎中表达量最少。研究结果推测,从独一味中克隆获得的苯丙氨酸解氨酶基因（LrPAL）是典型的PAL家族成员,在独一味各组织发育过程中具有重要功能。     

ATP/ADP exchange activity of gastric (H+ + K+)-ATPase

The ATP/ADP exchange is shown to be a partial reaction of the $\text{(}\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ by the absence of measurable nucleoside diphosphokinase activity and the insensitivity of the reaction to $\text{P}{}^1$, $\text{P}{}^5$ -di(adenosine-5′) pentaphosphate, a myokinase inhibitor. The exchange demonstrates an absolute requirement for Mg²⁺ and is optimal at an ADP/ATP ratio of 2. The high ATP concentration ($\text{K}{}_{0.5}\text{= 116 μ}\text{M}$) required for maximal exchange is interpreted as evidence for the involvement of a low affinity form of nucleotide site. The ATP/ADP exchange is regarded as evidence for an ADP-sensitive form of the phosphoenzyme. In native enzyme, pre-steady state kinetics show that the formation of the phosphoenzyme is partially sensitive to ADP while modification of the enzyme by pretreatment with 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) in the absence of Mg²⁺ results in a steady-state phosphoenzyme population, a component of which is ADP sensitive. The ATP/ADP exchange reaction can be either stimulated or inhibited by the presence of K⁺ as a function of pH and Mg²⁺.     

Characterization of cytochrome P-450SCC-containing liposomes

Purified cytochrome $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$ from bovine adrenocortical mitochondria was incorporated into liposomes by the cholate-dilution method utilizing either dialysis or Sephadex gel filtration. Among synthetic phospholipids tested, dioleoylglycerophosphocholine showed the best stability during the incorporation of $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$ into liposomes. A maximum amount of heme was incorporated into liposomes at a molar ratio of phospholipid to the cytochrome of approx. 200. When $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$ was incorporated into the dioleoylglycerophosphocholine liposomes by the cholate-filtration method, the $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}\text{-}\text{containing liposomes}$ showed two major populations on the elution pattern of the Sepharose 4B gel filtration, and were seen at a diameter of 200–600 Å and its aggregated forms. When the cytochrome was incorporated into dioleoylglycerophosphocholine liposomes or cholesterol-free adrenocortical mitochondrial liposomes, $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$ was less stable than $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$ in aqueous solution. Cholesterol or adrenodoxin markedly stabilized the liposomal $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$. Liposomal $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$ required cholesterol for its optimum reduction with adrenodoxin, adrenodoxin reductase, and NADPH in the presence of CO. About 70% of the total heme in the dioleoylglycerophosphocholine liposomes was reduced by the enzymatic reduction in the presence of cholesterol, indicating that 70% of the total molecules are exposed to the surface of the outer monolayer. In order to see the location of the heme in membrane, the dioleoylglycerophosphocholine-liposomal $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$ was subjected to $\text{p-}\text{chloromercuriphenyl sulfonic acid}$ treatment. This reagent destroyed the liposomal $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$. These results suggest that the heme is located in the proximity of the $\text{p-}\text{chloromercuriphenyl sulfonic acid}$ reacting sites which are exposed to the surface, or located on the vincinity of polar heads of the membrane.     

Comparison of parameters estimated from A/Ci and A/Cc curve analysis

The parameters estimated from traditional A/C _i curve analysis are dependent upon some underlying assumptions that substomatal CO₂ concentration (C _i) equals the chloroplast CO₂ concentration (C _c) and the C _i value at which the A/C _i curve switches between Rubisco- and electron transport-limited portions of the curve (C _i-t) is set to a constant. However, the assumptions reduced the accuracy of parameter estimation significantly without taking the influence of C _i-t value and mesophyll conductance (g _m) on parameters into account. Based on the analysis of Larix gmelinii’s A/C _i curves, it showed the C _i-t value varied significantly, ranging from 24 Pa to 72 Pa and averaging 38 Pa. t-test demonstrated there were significant differences in parameters respectively estimated from A/C _i and A/C _c curve analysis (p<0.01). Compared with the maximum ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) carboxylation rate (V_cmax), the maximum electron transport rate (J_max) and J_max/V_cmax estimated from A/C _c curve analysis which considers the effects of g _m limit and simultaneously fits parameters with the whole A/C _c curve, mean V_cmax estimated from A/C _i curve analysis (V_cmax-C _i) was underestimated by 37.49%; mean Jmax estimated from A/C _i curve analysis (J_max-C _i) was overestimated by 17.8% and (J_max-C _i)/(V_cmax-C _i) was overestimated by 24.2%. However, there was a significant linear relationship between V_cmax estimated from A/C _i curve analysis and V_cmax estimated from A/C _c curve analysis, so was it J_max (p<0.05).     

Occurrence of N-malonyl-D-alanine in pea seedlings

One of the ninhydrin-negative alanine conjugates isolated from pea seedlings was identified as $\text{N-}\text{malonyl}\text{-}\text{D}\text{-}\text{alanine}$.The identification of this conjugate was carried out by a comparison of its gas-liquid chromatographic and mass spectrometric properties, and its nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectra with those of synthetic $\text{N-}\text{malonyl}\text{-}\text{D}\text{-}\text{alanine}$. The alanine in the conjugate was shown to be present as the D-isomer by enzymatic and chromatographic analyses.     

Comparative study of Bifidobacteriumanimalis, Escherichiacoli, Lactobacilluscasei and Saccharomycesboulardii probiotic properties

The present work investigates some probiotic properties of four different microorganisms (Bifidobacterium animalis var. lactis BB-12, Escherichia coli EMO, Lactobacillus casei and Saccharomyces boulardii). In vitro and in vivo tests were carried out to compare cell wall hydrophobicity, production of antagonistic substances, survival capacity in the gastrointestinal tract of germ-free mice without pathological consequence, and immune modulation by stimulation of Küpffer cells, intestinal sIgA and IL-10 levels. In vitro antagonism against pathogenic bacteria and yeast was only observed for the probiotic bacteria B. animalis and L. casei. The hydrophobic property of the cell wall was higher for B. animalis and E. coli EMO, and this property could be responsible for a better ability to colonize the gastrointestinal tract of germ-free mice. Higher levels of sIgA were observed mainly for S. boulardii, followed by E. coli EMO and B. animalis, and only S. boulardii induced a significant higher level of IL-10. In conclusion, for a probiotic use, S. boulardii presented better characteristics in terms of immunomodulation, and B. animalis and L. casei for antagonistic substance production. The knowledge of the different probiotic properties could be used to choice the better microorganism depending on the therapeutic or prophylactic application.     

Ligand-dependent reactivity of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase with showdomycin

Showdomycin inhibited pig brain ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ with pseudo first-order kinetics. The rate of inhibition by showdomycin was examined in the presence of 16 combinations of four ligands, i.e., Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺ and ATP, and was found to depend on the ligands added. Combinations of ligands were divided into five groups in terms of the magnitude of the rate constant; in the order of decreasing rate constants these were: (1)$\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{+}\text{ATP}$, (2) $\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}$, $\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$, $\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ and none, (3) $\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{,}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$, $\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ and $\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}$, (4) $\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{ATP}\text{,}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{ATP}$ and $\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{+}\text{ATP}\text{, (5)}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{ATP}$, $\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{ATP}$, $\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{ATP}$, $\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{+}\text{ATP}$ and ATP. The highest rate was obtained in the presence of Na⁺, Mg²⁺ and ATP. The apparent concentrations of Na⁺, Mg²⁺ and ATP for half-maximum stimulation of inhibition ($\text{K}{}_{0.5}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>s</mtext>}}$) were 3 mM, 0.13 mM and 4μM, respectively. The rate was unchanged upon further increase in Na⁺ concentration from 140 to 1000 mM. The rates of inhibition could be explained on the basis of the enzyme forms present, including E₁, E₂, ES, E₁-P and E₂-P, i.e., E₂ has higher reactivity with showdomycin than E₁, while E₂-P has almost the same reactivity as E₁-P. We conclude that the reaction of ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ proceeds via at least four kinds of enzyme form (E₁, E₂, E₁ · nucleotide and EP), which all have different conformations.     

The effects of multiple features of alternatively spliced exons on the KA/KSratio test

Background  

The evolution of alternatively spliced exons (ASEs) is of primary interest because these exons are suggested to be a major source of functional diversity of proteins. Many exon features have been suggested to affect the evolution of ASEs. However, previous studies have relied on the K _A /K _S ratio test without taking into consideration information sufficiency (i.e., exon length > 75 bp, cross-species divergence > 5%) of the studied exons, leading to potentially biased interpretations. Furthermore, which exon feature dominates the results of the K _A /K _S ratio test and whether multiple exon features have additive effects have remained unexplored.     

Characterization of partially purified (Na+ + K+)-ATPase from porcine lens

The partial purification of $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ from pig lens has been achieved by treatment with deoxycholate followed by density gradient centrifugation. The specific activity of the final preparation, ranging from 300 to 500 nmol/h per mg protein, is increased approx. 100-fold compared to the homogenate. A parallel increase in $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenylphosphatase}$ activity is also observed. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) gel electrophoresis reveals six major protein bands, one of which is the 93 kDa α subunit of $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ which can be phosphorylated by reaction with [γ-³²P]ATP. A second band contains a glycoprotein which displays an apparent molecular weight of 51 000 and thus appears to be the β subunit of the enzyme. The enzyme is sensitive to ouabain with the $\text{I}{}_{50}$ for $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ and $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenylphosphatase}$ inhibition being 1.2 and 1.3 μM, respectively. Several agents which inhibit $\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ from other tissues such as oligomycin, Ca²⁺, vanadate, $\text{N-}\text{ethylmaleimide}$, $\text{p-}\text{chloromercuribenzenesulfonic acid}$ (PCMBS) and 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) also inhibit the lens enzyme. Monovalent cations other than K⁺ are partially effective in activating the ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$)-ATPase and $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenylphosphatase}$ activities. The K⁺ congeners were relatively more effective in supporting $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ compared to $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenylphosphatase}$ activity. Other kinetic properties of the lens enzyme are also comparable to those of the enzyme from other tissues. Utilizing the partially purified membrane bound enzyme, discontinuities in Arrhenius plots of $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ activity, $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenylphosphatase}$ activity and fluoresence polarization of the fluidity probe, 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH), are observed near the physiological temperature of lens. The possible significance of these observations for the mechanism of cataract formation are discussed.     

Decrease of apparent calmodulin affinity of erythrocyte (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase at low Ca2+ concentrations

The calmodulin activation of the ($\text{Ca}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{+}\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ (ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3) in human erythrocyte membranes was studied in the range of 1 nM to 40 μM of purified calmodulin. The apparent calmodulin-affinity of the ATPase was strongly dependent on Ca²⁺ and decreased approx. 1000-times when the Ca²⁺ concentration was reduced from 112 to 0.5 μM. The data of calmodulin (Z) activation were analyzed by the aid of a kinetic enzyme model which suggests that 1 molecule of calmodulin binds per ATPase unit and that the affinities of the calcium-calmodulin complexes (Ca_iZ) decreases in the order of $\text{Ca}{}_3\text{Z}\text{>}\text{Ca}{}_4\text{Z}\text{>}\text{Ca}{}_2\text{Z}\text{?}\text{CaZ}$. Furthermore, calmodulin dissociates from the calmodulin-saturated Ca²⁺-ATPase in the range of 10^?7–10^?6 M Ca²⁺, even at a calmodulin concentration of 5 μM. The apparent concentration of calmodulin in the erythrocyte cytosol was determined to be 3 to 5 μM, corresponding to 50–80-times the cellular concentration of Ca²⁺-ATPase, estimated to be approx. 10 nmol/g membrane protein. We therefore conclude that most of the calmodulin id dissociated from the Ca²⁺-transport ATPase in erythrocytes at the prevailing Ca²⁺ concentration (probably 10^?7 – 10^?8 M) in vivo, and that the calmodulin-binding and subsequent activation of the Ca²⁺-ATPase requires that the Ca²⁺ concentration rises to 10^?6 – 10^?5 M.     

Two-Electron Reactions S2QB → S0QB and S3QB → S1QB are Involved in Deactivation of Higher S States of the Oxygen-Evolving Complex of Photosystem II

The oxygen-evolving complex of Photosystem II cycles through five oxidation states (S₀-S₄), and dark incubation leads to 25% S₀ and 75% S₁. This distribution cannot be reached with charge recombination reactions between the higher S states and the electron acceptor Q_B⁻. We measured flash-induced oxygen evolution to understand how S₃ and S₂ are converted to lower S states when the electron required to reduce the manganese cluster does not come from Q_B⁻. Thylakoid samples preconditioned to make the concentration of the S₁ state 100% and to oxidize tyrosine Y_D were illuminated by one or two laser preflashes, and flash-induced oxygen evolution sequences were recorded at various time intervals after the preflashes. The distribution of the S states was calculated from the flash-induced oxygen evolution pattern using an extended Kok model. The results suggest that S₂ and S₃ are converted to lower S states via recombination from S₂Q_B⁻ and S₃Q_B⁻ and by a slow change of the state of oxygen-evolving complex from S₃ and S₂ to S₁ and S₀ in reactions with unspecified electron donors. The slow pathway appears to contain two-electron routes, S₂Q_B → S₀Q_B, and S₃Q_B → S₁Q_B. The two-electron reactions dominate in intact thylakoid preparations in the absence of chemical additives. The two-electron reaction was replaced by a one-electron-per-step pathway, S₃Q_B → S₂Q_B → S₁Q_B in PS II-enriched membrane fragments and in thylakoids measured in the presence of artificial electron acceptors. A catalase effect suggested that H₂O₂ acts as an electron donor for the reaction S₂Q_B → S₀Q_B but added H₂O₂ did not enhance this reaction.