Carbonic anhydrase II deficiency: diagnosis and carrier detection using differential enzyme inhibition and inactivation.

Carbonic anhydrase (CA) I and II are soluble isozymes that represent the major nonhemoglobin proteins in the erythrocyte. We recently identified a deficiency of CA II as the enzymatic basis for the autosomal recessive syndrome of osteopetrosis with renal tubular acidosis and cerebral calcification. Virtual absence of the CA II peak on high-performance liquid chromatography, of CA II esterase activity, and of immunoprecipitable CA II were demonstrated on extracts of red cell lysates from all patients studied. Reduced levels of CA II were found in obligate heterozygotes. Here, we present evidence that CA II in red cell lysates can be quantitated by measuring CO2 hydratase activity in the presence of inhibitors that selectively inhibit the activity of CA I to a much greater extent than that of CA II. This was done with iodide (anion binding) and bromopyruvic acid (alkylation), and the respective assays evaluated as diagnostic tools for CA II deficiency in human red cells. These techniques greatly simplify the quantitation of CA II in hemolysates and should make genetic diagnosis and counseling for the newly described inborn error of metabolism due to CA II deficiency generally available. They also allow quantitation of CA I in red cell lysates.     

Nature of the Complementation Products Formed by a Complementing Mutant of Neurospora crassa

The mutant am-14 produces no active nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-linked glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) and no protein showing immunological cross-reaction with the enzyme. Nevertheless, it shows complementation with several other am mutants in heterokaryons. Active GDH can be extracted from heterokaryons formed from am-14 and other mutants which, by themselves, produce more or less inactive varieties of the enzyme. The enzyme from am-14 + am-3 heterokaryons can be partially separated from am-3 mutant GDH on a diethylaminoethyl cellulose column. It is characterized by abnormally high thermolability and by a capacity for activation by glutamate. By the same procedure as brings about hybridization between mutant GDH proteins, it has been possible to recover enzyme with the properties of pure am-3 GDH from a partially purified am-14 + am-3 GDH preparation which was initially substantially free of unhybridized am-3 enzyme. This is interpreted as evidence that the active complementation product is a hybrid oligomer containing am-3 monomers and also am-14 monomers, the latter being unable to aggregate by themselves. Heterokaryons formed from am-14 and wild type produce GDH of abnormally high thermolability, presumably due to the formation of am-14 + am(+) hybrids.     

Suppressors of a Lin-12 Hypomorph Define Genes That Interact with Both Lin-12 and Glp-1 in Caenorhabditis Elegans

The lin-12 gene of Caenorhabditis elegans is thought to encode a receptor which mediates cell-cell interactions required to specify certain cell fates. Reversion of the egg-laying defective phenotype caused by a hypomorphic lin-12 allele identified rare extragenic suppressor mutations in five genes, sel-1, sel-9, sel-10, sel-11 and sel(ar40) (sel = suppressor and/or enhancer of lin-12). Mutations in each of these sel genes suppress defects associated with reduced lin-12 activity, and enhance at least one defect associated with elevated lin-12 activity. None of the sel mutations cause any obvious phenotype in a wild-type background. Gene dosage experiments suggest that sel-1 and sel(ar40) mutations are reduction-of-function mutations, while sel-9 and sel-11 mutations are gain-of-function mutations. sel-1, sel-9, sel-11 and sel(ar40) mutations do not suppress amorphic lin-12 alleles, while sel-10 mutations are able to bypass partially the requirement for lin-12 activity in at least one cell fate decision. sel-1, sel-9, sel-10, sel-11 and sel(ar40) mutations are also able to suppress the maternal-effect lethality caused by a partial loss-of-function allele of glp-1, a gene that is both structurally and functionally related to lin-12. These sel genes may therefore function in both lin-12 and glp-1 mediated cell fate decisions.     

mtDNA diversity in rhesus monkeys reveals overestimates of divergence time and paraphyly with neighboring species

Reconstructions of the human-African great ape phylogeny by using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have been subject to considerable debate. One confounding factor may be the lack of data on intraspecific variation. To test this hypothesis, we examined the effect of intraspecific mtDNA diversity on the phylogenetic reconstruction of another Plio- Pleistocene radiation of higher primates, the fascicularis group of macaque (Macaca) monkey species. Fifteen endonucleases were used to identify 10 haplotypes of 40-47 restriction sites in M. mulatta, which were compared with similar data for the other members of this species group. Interpopulational, intraspecific mtDNA diversity was large (0.5%- 4.5%), and estimates of divergence time and branching order incorporating this variation were substantially different from those based on single representatives of each species. We conclude that intraspecific mtDNA diversity is substantial in at least some primate species. Consequently, without prior information on the extent of genetic diversity within a particular species, intraspecific variation must be assessed and accounted for when reconstructing primate phylogenies. Further, we question the reliability of hominoid mtDNA phylogenies, based as they are on one or a few representatives of each species, in an already depauperate superfamily of primates.      

Isolation and characterization of isocitrate lyase from a thermophilic Bacillus sp.

Isocitrate lyase was isolated in homogeneous state from a thermophilic Bacillus. The enzyme has a mol.wt. of 180000 and a pI of 4.5 and contains threonine as the N-terminal residue. It resembles in size the cognate enzyme from the mesophilic bacterium Pseudomonas indigofera, but is smaller than the enzyme from the eukaryotic fungus Neurospora crassa. All three lyases are tetramers and similar in amino acid composition, but the thermophile enzyme is distinctive from its mesophilic coutnerparts in possessing a lower catalytic-centre activity, greater resistance to chemical and thermal denaturation and fewer thiol groups and in being strongly activated by salts. Salt activation, by 0.4M-KCl, is about 3-fold at 30 degrees C and pH 6.8 and weakens progressively as the temperature or pH is raised. The activation is probably due to a change in the enzyme conformation caused by the electrolyte modifying the interaction between charged groups or between hydrophobic groups in protein. The possible significance of the salt activation, of the relative paucity of thiol groups and of the greater resistance to chemical denaturants is discussed. Besides its effect on the Vmax., KCl produces large increases in the magnitude of several kinetic parameters. A rise in reaction temperature from 30 to 55 degrees C produces a somewhat similar result. In view of these peculiar features, the patterns of inhibition of enzyme activity by compounds such as succinate and phosphoenolpyruvate were examined at 30 and 55 degrees C in the presence and absence of KCl.     

Tryptophan uptake by Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv--inhibition by isoniazid.

The effect of various sub-inhibitory concentrations of isoniazid on tryptophan uptake by $\text{Mycobacterium tuberculosis}$ H₃₇Rv grown $\text{in vitro}$ and $\text{in vivo}$ was studied. Uptake, measured after 3 minutes of drug exposure was inhibited mildly by 0.1 μg/ml and 0.2 μg/ml concentration and completely by 0.3 μg/ml. However, with the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC)⁷ of 0.5 μg/ml, not only inhibition but also a strong efflux of the preformed tryptophan pool were observed. The results are discussed in the light of the theory that isoniazid interferes with the cell wall mycolate synthesis.     

Pyruvate carboxylase from a thermophilic Bacillus. Studies on the specificity of activation by acyl derivatives of coenzyme A and on the properties of catalysis in the absence of activator

1. Oxaloacetate synthesis catalysed by pyruvate carboxylase from a thermophilic Bacillus in the absence of acetyl-CoA required addition of high concentrations of pyruvate, MgATP(2-) and HCO(3) (-), and at 45 degrees C occurred at a maximum rate approx. 20% of that in the presence of a saturating concentration of acetyl-CoA. The apparent K(m) for HCO(3) (-) at pH7.8 was 400mm without acetyl-CoA, and 16mm with a saturating activator concentration. The relationship between reciprocal initial rate and reciprocal MgATP(2-) concentration was non-linear (convex-down) in the absence of acetyl-CoA, but the extent of deviation decreased as the activator concentration was increased. The relationship between reciprocal initial rate and reciprocal pyruvate concentration was non-linear (convex-down) in the presence or absence of acetyl-CoA. 2. The optimum pH for catalysis of oxaloacetate synthesis was similar in the presence or absence of acetyl-CoA. The variation with pH of apparent K(m) for HCO(3) (-) implicated residue(s) with pK(a) 8.6 in catalysis of the activator-independent oxaloacetate synthesis. 3. Linear Arrhenius and van't Hoff plots were observed for the temperature-dependence of oxaloacetate synthesis in the absence of acetyl-CoA over the range 25-55 degrees C. E(a) (activation energy) was 56.3kJ/mol and DeltaH(double dagger) (HCO(3) (-)) (enthalpy of activation) was -38.6kJ/mol. In the presence of acetyl-CoA, biphasic Arrhenius and van't Hoff plots are observed with a change of slope at 30 degrees C in each case. E(a) was 43.7 and 106.3kJ/mol above and below 30 degrees C respectively. 4. Incubation of Bacillus pyruvate carboxylase with trinitrobenzenesulphonate caused specific inactivation of acetyl-CoA-dependent catalytic activity associated with the incorporation of 1.3+/-0.2 trinitrophenyl residues per subunit. Activator-independent catalysis and regulatory inhibition by l-aspartate were unaffected. The rate of inactivation of acetyl-CoA-dependent catalysis by trinitrobenzenesulphonate was specifically decreased by addition of acetyl-CoA and other acetyl-CoA and other acyl-CoA species, but complete protection was not obtained. 5. All alkylacyl derivatives of CoA tested activated Bacillus pyruvate carboxylase; acetyl-CoA was the most effective. The apparent K(a) exhibited a biphasic relationship with acyl-chain length for the straight-chain homologues. Certain long-chain acyl-CoA species showed additional activation at a high concentration. Weak activation occurred on addition of CoA or adenosine 3',5'-bisphosphate, but carboxyacyl-CoA species and derivatives containing a modified phosphoadenosyl group were inhibitory. Thioesters of CoA with non-carboxylic acids, e.g. methanesulphonyl-CoA, serve as activators of the thermophilic Bacillus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae pyruvate carboxylases, but as inhibitors of pyruvate carboxylases obtained from chicken and rat liver. 6. alpha-Oxoglutarate mimics the effect of l-aspartate as a regulatory inhibitor of the pyruvate carboxylases from both the thermophilic Bacillus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. l-Glutamate was ineffective in both cases.     

A subclass of cell surface carbohydrates revealed by a CHO mutant with two glycosylation mutations

A novel lectin-resistance phenotype was displayed by a LEC10 Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell mutant that was selected for resistance to the erythroagglutinin, E-PHA. Biochemical and genetic analyses revealed that the phenotype results from the expression of two glycosylation mutations, LEC10 and lec8. The LEC10 mutation causes the appearance of N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III (GlcNAc-TIII) activity and the production of N-linked carbohydrates with a bisecting GlcNAc residue. The lec8 mutation inhibits translocation of UDP-Gal into the Golgi lumen and thereby dramatically reduces galactosylation of all glycoconjugates. This reduction in galactose addition does not, however, cause Lec8 mutants to be very resistant to the galactose-binding lectin, ricin. By contrast, the double mutant LEC10.Lec8 behaved like a LEC10 mutant and was highly resistant to ricin. Based on structural studies of cellular glycopeptides as well as glycopeptides of the G glycoprotein of vesicular stomatitis virus grown in mutant cells, it appears that the ricin resistance of LEC10.Lec8 cells is due to the presence of a small number of Gal residues on branched, N-linked carbohydrates that also carry the bisecting GlcNAc residue. Labelling of N-linked cellular carbohydrates with [3H]galactose was found to occur at a low level for a wide spectrum of cellular glycoproteins in independent Lec8 mutants. Studies of the LEC10.Lec8 mutant have, therefore, led to the identification of a subset of structures that are acceptors for Gal when intra-Golgi UDP-Gal levels are limiting. This mutant also illustrates the potential for regulating cell surface recognition by carbohydrate-binding proteins by altering the expression of a single glycosyltransferase such as GlcNAc-TIII.     

The role of formate metabolism in nitrogen fixation in Rhizobium Spp.

Formate metabolism supported nitrogen-fixation activity in free-living cultures of Rhizobium japonicum. However, formate0dependent nitrogense activity was observed only in the presence of carbon sources such as glutamate, ribose or aspartate which by themselves were unable to support nitrogenase activity. Formate-dependent nitrogenase activity was not detected in the presence of carbon sources such as malate, gluconate or glycerol which by themselves supported nitrogenase activity. A mutant strain of R. japonicum was isolated that was unable to utilise formate and was shown to lack formate dehydrogenase activity. This mutant strain exhibited no formate-dependent nitrogenase activity. Both the wild-type and mutant strains nodulated soybean plants effectively and there were no significant differences in the plant dry weight or total nitrogen content of the respective plants. Furthermore pea bacteroids lacked formate dehydrogenase activity and exogenously added formate had no stimulatory effect on the endogenous oxygen uptake rate. The role of formate metabolism in symbiotic nitrogen fixation is discussed.Abbreviation FDH formate dehydrogenase     

Simple efficient methods for the isolation of malate dehydrogenase from thermophilic and mesophilic bacteria.

Malate dehydrogenase from a number of bacteria drawn from several genera and representing the mesophilic, moderately thermophilic and extremely thermophilic classes was isolated by procedures which involve only a small number of steps (in most cases only two), of which the key one is affinity chromatography on 5'-AMP--Sepharose and/or on NAD+--hexane--agarose. Electrophoretic analysis of the native enzymes in polyacrylamide gel and of the denaturated enzymes in sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide gel revealed no significant protein impurity in the purified preparations. The yields ranged from about 40% to over 80%. The malate dehydrogenases from the extreme thermophiles and from some of the moderate thermophiles are appreciably less efficient catalytically than their mesophilic homologues.