Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate, sugar phosphates and adenine nucleotides in the regulation of glucose metabolism in the lactating rat mammary gland

Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate is present in the rat mammary gland, rising from a value of 1.4 nmol/g in pregnancy to 4.3 nmol/g tissue at 14 days lactation; the equivalent values calculated/ml intracellular water are 5.2 and 11.6 nmol, respectively. The tissue content of fructose 6-phosphate, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, ATP and phosphoenolpyruvate remain relatively constant in the transition from pregnancy to the height of lactation. The changes in AMP, cyclic AMP, and citrate content of the mammary gland during lactation are such as to promote an increase in fructose 2,6-bisphosphate formation and flux through phosphofructokinase.     

Monovalent carboxylic ionophores inhibit transport of carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase I into mitochondria in Reuber hepatoma H-35 cells and cause accumulation of enzyme precursor

Transport of the precursor for carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase I into mitochondria in Reuber hepatoma H-35 cells was inhibited by adding monensin or nigericin to the culture medium at a concentration of 0.5 microM, and the enzyme precursor accumulated, mainly in the cytosolic fraction. Accumulated precursor was degraded slowly with a half-life of more than 16 min. Valinomycin, nonactin, A23187, X-537A (lasalocid), bromo-lasalocid, and carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone did not exhibit these effects at concentrations at which they did not inhibit protein synthesis of the cells.     

Conservation of interphase chromatin nonhistone antigens as components of metaphase chromosomes

The degree of conservation of HeLa interphase chromatin nonhistone antigens among the nonhistones of isolated metaphase chromosomes was determined with immunological procedures. Proteins were separated on SDS-polyacrylamide gels and electrophoretically transferred to diazophenylthioether (DPT)-paper, which was then overlaid with antiserum to chromatin from interphase nuclei. The bound antibodies were detected with 125I-labeled protein A. Alternatively, polyacrylamide gels were directly overlaid with antiserum and with 125I-protein A. Densitometry of autoradiograms and stained gels revealed the degree of conservation of nonhistone antigenic determinants from interphase to metaphase to be over 90% for chromatin.     

The enzymatic malonylation of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid in homogenates of mung-bean hypocotyls

Homogenates of hypocotyls of light-grown mung-bean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) seedlings catalyzed the formation of 1-(malonylamino)cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (MACC) from the ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) and malonyl-coenzyme A. Apparent K_m values for ACC and malonyl-CoA were found to be 0.17 mM and 0.25 mM, respectively. Free coenzyme A was an uncompetitive inhibitor with respect to malonyl-CoA (apparent K_i=0.3 mM). Only malonyl-CoA served as an effective acyl donor in the reaction. The d-enantiomers of unpolar amino acids inhibited the malonylation of ACC. Inhibition by d-phenylalanine was competitive with respect to ACC (apparent K_i=1.2 mM). d-Phenylalanine and d-alanine were malonylated by the preparation, and their malonylation was inhibited by ACC. When hypocotyl segments were administered ACC in the presence of certain unpolar d-amino acids, the malonylation of ACC was inhibited while the production of ethylene was enhanced. Thus, a close-relationship appears to exist between the malonylation of ACC and d-amino acids. The cis- as well as the trans-diastereoisomers of 2-methyl- or 2-ethyl-substituted ACC were potent inhibitors of the malonyltransferase. Treatment of hypocotyl segments with indole-3-acetic acid or CdCl₂ greatly increased their content of ACC and MACC, as well as their release of ethylene, but had little, or no, effect on their extractable ACC-malonylating activity.Abbreviations ACC 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid - MACC 1-(malonylamino)-cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid Dedicated to Professor Dr. Hubert Ziegler on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Systemic effects of chronically administered methyl prednisolonate and methyl 17-deoxyprednisolonate

The systemic activities of methyl prednisolonate and methyl 17-deoxyprednisolonate (1) were studied in rats. Methyl 17-deoxyprednisolonate produced significant changes in the amount of sodium ion (decreased) and potassium ion (increased) in urine; however, methyl prednisolonate had no effect on electrolyte balance. Both methyl prednisolonate and methyl 17-deoxyprednisolonate had no effect on liver glycogen content, plasma corticosterone level and relative adrenal weight. In contrast, the parent compound prednisolone caused a significant decrease in liver glycogen content, plasma corticosterone level and relative adrenal weight.     

Inheritance of alleles for Cgy1 and Gy4 storage protein genes in soybean

Summary A cultivar lacking the glycinin subunit A₅A₄B₃ (Raiden) was crossed with one lacking the -subunit of -conglycinin (Keburi). Analysis of F₂ and F₃ progeny indicated that the missing bands of the A₅A₄B₃ and the -subunit were each controlled by a recessive allele of two independently segregating genes. Gene symbols Gy ₄/gy ₄ and Cgy ₁/cgy ₁ were proposed for the genes which confer the presence or absence of the glycinin and conglycinin subunits, respectively.Cooperative research of USDA-ARS and the Indiana Agric. Exp. Stn., Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. Indiana Agric. Exp. Stn. Journal Article 9675. Financial support from the American Soybean Association Research Foundation is gratefully acknowledged     

Regulatory properties of rabbit red blood cell hexokinase at conditions close to physiological

The true level of hexokinase in rabbit erythrocytes was determined by three different methods, including the spectrophotometric glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase coupled assay and a new radioisotopic assay. The value found at 37°C (pH 7.2) was 10.23±1.90 μmol/h per ml red blood cells, which is lower than previously reported values. More than 40 cellular components of the rabbit erythrocytes were tested for their effects on the enzyme. Their intracellular concentrations were also determined. Several of these compounds were found to be competitive inhibitors of the enzyme with respect to Mg·ATP^2?. Furthermore, reduced glutathione at a concentration of 1 mM was able to maintain hexokinase in the reduced state with full catalytic activity. The ability of orthophosphate to remove the inhibition of some phosphorylated compounds was examined under conditions similar to cellular (pH 7.2 and 50 μM of orthophosphate) and found to be of no practical interest. In contrast, the binding of ATP^4? and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate to the rabbit hemoglobin significantly modifies their intracellular concentrations and the formation of the respective Mg complexes. The pH-dependence of the reaction velocity and of the kinetic properties of the enzyme in different buffer systems were also considered. This information was computerized, and the rate of glucose phosphorylation in the presence of the mentioned compounds was determined. The value obtained, 1.94±0.02 μmol/h per ml red blood cells, is practically identical to the measured rate of glucose utilization by intact rabbit erythrocytes (1.92±0.3 μmol/h per ml red blood cells). These results provide further evidence for the central role of hexokinase in the regulation of red blood cell glycolysis.     

Author index

Properties of strand breakage in duplex and single-stranded DNA by the wheat germ type 1 DNA topoisomerase were investigated. Strand breakage in duplex DNA is dependent upon the use of denaturing conditions to inactivate the enzyme and terminate the reaction, whereas breakage of single-stranded DNA occurs under the normal reaction conditions and is not dependent upon denaturation. Breakage generates a free 5′ hydroxyl group and enzyme bound to the 3′ side of the break, presumably via the 3′ phosphate group. The location of sites of breakage with both duplex and single-stranded DNA is not random. In all these respects the wheat germ enzyme closely resembles the rat liver type 1 topoisomerase. A comparison of the locations of the sites of breakage in duplex DNA generated by the topoisomerases from wheat germ and rat liver indicates a number of common sites, although the patterns of breakage are not identical.     

ATP and the processivity of Xenopus laevis DNA polymerase α

We use specific restriction fragments as defined primers for DNA synthesis on single-stranded circular phage fd DNA. These structures are relatively poor templates for a highly purified DNA polymerase α from Xenopus laevis eggs. However, DNA synthesis is stimulated about 5-fold by addition of ATP to the reaction mixture. We show that the deoxynucleotide polymers, synthesized in the presence of ATP, are significantly longer than those produced in the absence of ATP. We also show that this effect is due to a more tenacious binding of DNA polymerase α to DNA and conclude that ATP increases the processivity of the enzyme.     

Regulation of human leukocyte microsomal hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase activity by a phosphorylation and dephosphorylation mechanism

The activity of microsomal 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (EC 1.1.1.34), obtained from cultured human IM-9 lymphoid cells or freshly isolated human peripheral blood leukocytes, is modulated by a phosphorylation/dephosphorylation mechanism. Addition of MgATP + ADP to IM-9 cell microsomal reductase leads to a time-dependent loss of enzyme activity. Inactivated reductase is reactivated by rat liver reductase phosphatase. Kinase-dependent IM-9 cell microsomal reductase, prepared by heating IM-9 microsomes for 15 min at 50°C, is inactivated in the presence of MgATP and ADP only after addition of cytosolic reductase kinase from either IM-9 cells, freshly isolated leukocytes or rat liver. Inactivation is time-dependent and dependent on the cytosolic protein concentration. Inactivated reductase is reactivated by rat liver reductase phosphatase. For cultured IM-9 cells and freshly isolated leukocytes incubated with culture medium for 2 h, the ratios of active (unphosphorylated) to total (phosphorylated + unphosphorylated) reductase activity are 0.22 and 0.43, respectively. Thus, in addition to its regulation by changes in the amount of total enzyme protein, human leukocyte reductase activity is also modulated by a phosphorylation/dephosphorylation mechanism.