Enzymic Mechanism of Starch Breakdown in Germinating Rice Seeds II. Scutellum as the Site of Sucrose Synthesis

In a close parallel to the developmental pattern of α-amylase activity, a rapid increase of maltase activity occurred in the endosperm tissue of germinating rice seeds after about 4 days of the seed imbibition. The overall pattern of the 2 hydrolytic enzyme activities strongly suggest that amylolytic breakdown is the major metabolic route of starch utilization in the germinating rice seeds. Results of the chemical analyses of sugar constituents as well as the measurements of sucrose synthetase activity show that the scutellum is the site of sucrose synthesis in the germinating rice seeds. It is thus supported that glucose derived from the reserve starch in endosperm is transported to scutellum, where it is converted to sucrose. Sucrose is further mobilized to the growing tissues, shoots and roots.     

Interaction of Colicins with Bacterial Cells III. Colicin-tolerant Mutations in Escherichia coli

Mutants that adsorb certain colicins without being killed, i.e., tolerant mutants (tol), were isolated from Escherichia coli K-12 strains. Selection was done either with colicin K or E2. Several groups of mutants showing different phenotypes were found, and some of them showed tolerance to both K and E colicins, which have different receptors. Many of these mutants mapped near gal. Typical mutants from group II, III, and IV were studied in more detail. The mutant loci were contransducible with gal by phage P1. The linkage order was deduced to be tol-gal-λ. In partially diploid strains, these mutant loci are recessive to wild-type alleles. Temperature-dependent conditionally tolerant mutants were also isolated. Two groups were found: the first was tolerant to E2 and E3 at 40 C, but sensitive at 30 C; the second was tolerant to E2 at 30 C, but sensitive at 40 C. Experiments done with these mutants suggest that these mutations affect the heat lability of some protein that is necessary for the response of cells to colicins. Conditionally lethal tolerant mutants were isolated which at 40 C were tolerant to E2 and E3 and could not grow, but which at 30 C were fully sensitive and grew normally. The mutation mapped near malA. The tolerance at 40 C is not due to a consequence of an inactivation of general cellular metabolism, but presumably is a cause of the subsequent inhibition of cellular growth. The results suggest that some protein components involved in the response to colicin are also vital to normal cellular growth.     

Serotonin Stimulates Both Cytosolic and Membrane-Bound Guanylate Cyclase in NG108–15 Cells

The cyclic GMP (cGMP) content was rapidly (greater than 30 s) increased by serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)] (EC50 = 10 microM), and the increase lasted for greater than 10 min in NG108-15 cells. The 5-HT-induced elevation of cGMP level (EC50 = 10 microM) at 20 s ("fast" elevation) was inhibited by ICS 205-930 or MDL 72,222 and by Ca2+ deficiency in the reaction medium but not by organic Ca2+ antagonists. The 5-HT effect at 10 min ("slow" elevation) was not inhibited by several antagonists for 5-HT receptors of the 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 2, and 3 subtypes and was independent from external Ca2+ concentration. The fast and slow effects of 5-HT were similar to the effects of bradykinin and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), respectively, in aspects of both Ca2+ dependency and time course of the effects. Bradykinin transiently stimulated formation of inositol phosphates as well as accumulation of cGMP, a finding suggesting that intracellular Ca2+ is involved in bradykinin-induced cGMP accumulation as shown in the fast response to 5-HT. ANP, an activator of membrane-associated guanylate cyclase (mGC), slowly (approximately 60 s) increased the cGMP content (EC50 = 10 nM), a result lasting for greater than 10 min, and the effects were independent from external Ca2+, as shown in the slow response to 5-HT. 5-HT and ANP did not induce formation of inositol phosphates.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Ontogenesis of α2-Adrenoceptor Coupling with GTP-Binding Proteins in the Rat Telencephalon

The ontogenesis of alpha 2-adrenoceptors and GTP-binding proteins and their coupling activity were investigated in telencephalon membranes of developing rats. The manganese-induced elevation of [3H]clonidine binding was increased in an age-dependent manner but the guanosine 5'-O-(3-thio)triphosphate-induced decrease in binding did not change. The extent of the binding of [3H]clonidine at 15 nM (saturable concentration) increased in an age-dependent manner and reached the adult level at 4 days after birth. Cholera toxin and pertussis toxin catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of proteins of 46 and 41/39 kilodaltons (kDa) in solubilized cholate extracts of the membranes. The 41/39-kDa proteins ADP-ribosylated by pertussis toxin (Gi alpha + Go alpha) were increased with age and reached the adult level at day 12, whereas the 46-kDa protein (Gs alpha) reached its peak on day 12 and then decreased to the fetal level at the adult stage. The immunoblot experiments of the homogenates with antiserum (specific antibody against alpha- and beta-subunit of GTP-binding proteins) demonstrated that the 39-kDa alpha-subunit of (Go alpha) and the 36-kDa beta-subunit of GTP-binding protein (beta 36) increased with postnatal age. In contrast, 35-kDa beta-subunit (beta 35) did not change. From these results, it is suggested that the coupling activity of alpha 2-adrenoceptor with GTP-binding protein gradually develops in a manner parallel with the increase of alpha 2-adrenoceptor and pertussis toxin sensitive GTP-binding proteins, Gi, and that alpha 39 beta 36 gamma may be related to the differentiation and/or growth of nerve cells in rat telencephalon.     

Enhancement of adenosine A2 and prostaglandin E1 receptor-mediated cAMP generation by prior exposure of Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts to Ca2+-mobilizing receptor agonists or phorbol ester. Activation of protein kinase C triggers increases in the receptor density in cell membranes

Production of cAMP in response to adenosine A2 or prostaglandin E1 receptor stimulation was, but the production induced by a beta-adrenergic agonist or forskolin was not, enhanced by prior exposure of Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts to agonists of Ca2+-mobilizing receptors or phorbol ester for 3 h. The enhancement reflected potentiation of the receptor-coupled activation of adenylate cyclase and the 2-fold increase in the adenosine A2 receptor number in membranes under these conditions. No enhancement was observed, however, when the medium used for the prior exposure was further supplemented with 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7) or staurosporin, inhibitors of protein kinase C, neither of which affected the cAMP responses of the nonexposed cells. It is very likely, therefore, that activation of protein kinase C triggers the increase in certain receptor density in membranes, thereby enhancing the receptor-coupled cAMP-generating responses. The physiological significance of such cross-talk between cellular signaling systems is discussed in comparison with similar previous observations.     

Pertussis Toxin Attenuates 5-Hydroxytryptamine1A Receptor-Mediated Inhibition of Forskolin-Stimulated Adenylate Cyclase Activity in Rat Hippocampal Membranes

The inhibition of forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptor agonists was measured in rat hippocampal membranes isolated from animals treated with vehicle or islet-activating protein (IAP; pertussis toxin). In vehicle-treated animals, 5-HT, 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin, buspirone, and gepirone were potent in inhibiting forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity with EC50 values of 60, 76, 376, and 530 nM, respectively. IAP treatment reduced by 30-55% the 5-HT1A agonist inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity via 5-HT1A receptors. The data indicate that the inhibitory guanine nucleotide-binding protein or Go (a similar GTP-binding protein of unknown function purified from brain) mediates the 5-HT1A agonist inhibition of hippocampal adenylate cyclase.     

Site-specific dephosphorylation of smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase by protein phosphatases 1 and 2A.

Smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase is phosphorylated at two sites (A and B) by different protein kinases. Phosphorylation at site A increases the concentration of Ca2+/calmodulin required for kinase activation. Diphosphorylated myosin light chain kinase was used to determine the site-specificity of several forms of protein serine/threonine phosphatase. These phosphatases readily dephosphorylated myosin light chain kinase in vitro and displayed differing specificities for the two phosphorylation sites. Type 2A protein phosphatase specifically dephosphorylated site A, and binding of Ca2+/calmodulin to the kinase had no effect on dephosphorylation. The purified catalytic subunit of type 1 protein phosphatase dephosphorylated both sites in the absence of Ca2+/calmodulin but only dephosphorylated site A in the presence of Ca2+/calmodulin. A protein phosphatase fraction was prepared from smooth muscle actomyosin by extraction with 80 mM MgCl2. On the basis of sensitivity to okadaic acid and inhibitor 2, this activity was composed of multiple protein phosphatases including type 1 activity. This phosphatase fraction dephosphorylated both sites in the absence of Ca2+/calmodulin. However, dephosphorylation of both sites A and B was completely blocked in the presence of Ca2+/calmodulin. These results indicate that two phosphorylation sites of myosin light chain kinase are dephosphorylated by multiple protein serine/threonine phosphatases with unique catalytic specificities.     

Membrane enzyme reactor with simultaneous separation using electrophoresis

A membrane enzyme reactor with simultaneous separation was investigated. Enzymes, urease and aspartase, were immobilized by a porous polytetrafluoroethylene membrane. Electrical field was applied in the medium while the reaction was carried out. Products with electrical charge could be separated through the membrane from the reaction medium as they were formed. Reaction behavior was analyzed by a simple model considering both pore-migration and reaction in the skelton of the membrane. According to the analysis the inherent reaction rate of the immobilized enzymes decreases significantly. This is probably caused by the structural variation of enzymes. For the case of urease, the change of pH inside the membrane may also cause the decrease of the reaction rate. The model analysis showed that the enzyme content in the membrane and the residence time of the substrate in the membrane governed overall extent of reaction.List of Symbols e g (dm³)^–1 enzyme concentration in the membrane - L cm membrane thickness - K _m mM Michaelis constant - Rate mmol · min^–1 · g^–1 rate of product formation per unit weight of enzyme - S mM substrate concentration - S _in mM inlet substrate concentration - S _out mM outlet substrate concentration - u cm · min^–1 migration rate - V V voltage between the electrodes - V _m mmol · min^–1 · g^–1 maximum reaction rate - X conversion - z cm distance from the surface inside the membrane - void fraction of the porous membrane - tortuosity of the membrane - min space time