Reactivity of sulphydryl groups of cytosolic and mitochondrial bovine aspartate aminotransferases

Summary Reactivity of sulphydryl groups of cytosolic and mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferases from ox heart has been studied. A total of 5 and 7 cysteine residues per monomer are present in cAATo and mAATo, respectively. In native conditions only a single sulphydryl group can be titrated by Nbs₂ while the catalytic activity remains unchanged, however in the mitochondrial isozyme the reactivity depends on the functional state of the enzyme. Reactivity toward NEM reveals the existence of a syncatalytic sulphydryl group in the cytosolic isozyme. Titration of cAATo with pMB at pH 8 and pH 5 confirms the existence of two exposed sulphydryl groups with a different reactivity. The results compared with those reported on the corresponding isozymes from pig and chicken heart show that syncatalytic sulphydryl groups are of general occurrence in these enzymes.     

The generation of the proton electrochemical potential and its role in energy transduction

Summary The evidence that all energy transducing membranes can generate a proton electrochemical potential difference, _H, across the membrane and that this potential can be used to transfer energy among energy transducing units and to generate ATP, has increased the interest for the view that _H plays an obligatory role in energy transduction and ATP synthesis. In the present article we shall concentrate on two experimental questions related with the generation and role of _H: (a) the charge/site ratio; (b) the relation between the proton electrochemical potential on one side and the cation electrochemical potential, the phosphate potential and the redox potential on the other. We shall then discuss the view that energy transduction corresponds to a molecular energy machine rather than to a fuel cell.     

Analytical review enzymatic defects of hereditary porphyrias: An explanation of dominance at the molecular level

Summary In four of the five autosomal dominant porphyrias four different partial enzymatic defects of the porphyrin biosynthetic pathway have been discovered in the last few years. With the exception of protoporphyria, the residual enzymatic activity in carriers of these defects is approximately equal to 50% of that found in controls. In each case the pattern of excretion of porphyrin and/or porphyrin precursors reflects the site of the partial metabolic block. There are indications, at least in intermittent acute porphyria, that the degree of penetrance of the disorder varies according to the level of phenotypic expression, being highest for the enzyme deficiency, lower for the excretion of precursors and lowest for the clinical symptoms. It is proposed that environmental factors, and probably also gene interaction, are the cause of the different degrees of penetrance.On leave from the University of Naples, Italy     

MK-801 Prevents 1-Methyl-4-Phenyl-1,2,3,6-Tetrahydropyridine-Induced Parkinsonism in Primates

In cynomologus monkeys, systemic administration of MK-801, a noncompetitive antagonist for the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, prevented the development of the parkinsonian syndrome induced by the neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). MK-801 also attenuated dopamine depletion in the caudate and putamen and protected dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra from the degeneration induced by the neurotoxin. Nevertheless, 7 days after MPTP administration in the caudate and putamen of monkeys also receiving MK-801, the levels of toxic 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium were even higher than those measured in monkeys receiving MPTP alone. This indicates that the protective action of MK-801 is not related to MPTP metabolism and strongly suggests that, in primates, the excitatory amino acids could play a crucial role in the mechanism of the selective neuronal death induced by MPTP.     

High molecular weight RNA containing histone messenger in the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus

Sea urchin RNA extracted from early and mesenchyme blastula embryos and oocytes and fractionated on denaturing sucrose density gradients, was hybridized with histone DNA recombinants of Psammechinus miliaris (clone λh22) and of Paracentrotus lividus (clone pPH70). Histone sequences are found in the 9 S and larger than 9 S regions of the formamide/sucrose density gradients. The melting of the RNA-DNA duplexes obtained by hybridization of polysomal and high molecular weight RNA of embryos of P. lividus at the stage of early blastula, suggests a degree of heterogeneity in the high M_r RNA. The high M_r RNA contains at least four of the five histone gene sequences covalently linked.     

Stimulation of poly(dT) transcription by Bacillussubtilis RNA polymerase in the presence of adenosine monophosphate

The rate of synthesis of poly(A) on a ply(dT) template by $\text{Bacillus}\text{subtilis}$ RNA polymerase is a function of ATP concentration and is expressed as a sigmoidal curve. The addition of millimolar concentration of AMP to low concentrations of ATP stimulates synthesis of poly(A) twenty fold and raises the rate of synthesis to the levels obtained at high ATP concentrations. The reaction is completely dependent upon the presence of poly(dT) and requires the complementary mononucleotide. Stimulation of poly(A) synthesis by AMP is more evident with the holoenzyme. Analysis of poly(A) products by acrylamide gels showed that the poly(A) synthesized in the presence of AMP has an higher molecular weight than poly(A) synthesized in the absence of AMP.     

On the identity of dnaP and dnaF genes of Bacillus subtilis

Summary The dnaP strains of Bacillus subtilis are altered in the initiation of DNA replication at high temperature (Riva et al., 1975). Fine mapping of the gene shows that it is located very close to the dnaF gene, described by Karamata and Gross (1970) and mapped by Love et al. (1976) in the polC region. The phenotype of both mutants is indistinguishable: the DNA synthesis stops at non permissive temperature after synthesizing an amount of DNA equivalent to the completion of the rounds of replication already initiated; at permissive temperature they are abnormally sensitive to MMS and are reduced in the ability to be transformed. Both mutants are to be considered as belonging to the dnaF locus.The dnaF gene is very close to the polC gene, which specifies the DNA polymerase III of B. subtilis. The DNA polymerase III of the dnaF mutants is not temperature sensitive in vitro, however, the level of this enzyme is lower by a factor of 4 or 5 in the dnaF mutants, at the permissive temperature. Following shift of dnaF cultures to the non permissive temperature, the level of DNA polymerase III activity specifically decreases further by a factor of at least 10 in the mutant, whereas the DNA polymerase I level is unaffected.The possible roles of the dnaF gene in the control of the cellular level of the DNA polymerase III, and the possibility of a regulatory role of DNA polymerase III in the initiation of DNA replication in bacteria are discussed.Abbreviations and symbols HPUra 6-(p-hydroxyphenylazo)-uracil; mic, minimum inhibitory concentration - MMS methyl-methanesufonate - Pol I Pol II and Pol III: DNA polymerase I, II and III respectively - PCMB parachloro-mercuri-benzoate     

Sesquiterpenes from Lactarius blennius

Six sesquiterpene lactones were isolated from Lactarius blennius. The structures of two new sesquiterpenes, blennin A and blennin B were determinated by spectroscopic methods and the structure of the seco-compound, blennin C, is revised. The two known furan sesquiterpenes and lactarorufin A were also identified.     

NADH: Nitrate reductase activity restoration by rhodanese

The NADH: nitrate reductase from durum wheat leaves was inactivated by cyanide and its activity restored by thiosulphate and beef kidney rhodanese. Rhodanese and thiosulphate, added to NADH-nitrate reductase before cyanide treatment protected NADH-nitrate reductase activity. No oxidizing agent was required for the protection or restoration of cyanide treated NADH-nitrate reductase.