Carotenoid synthesis in Streptomyces setonii ISP5395 is induced by the gene crtS, whose product is similar to a sigma factor

In many species of actinomycetes, carotenogenesis can be photoinduced. The capacity to respond to photoinduction is, however unstable and, in various strains of Streptomyces, is lost at a relatively high frequency. In Streptomyces setonii ISP5395, which normally produces no carotenoids, carotenoid-producing mutants can be obtained following protoplast regeneration. We report here the characterization of a gene, crtS, which was isolated from one such mutant and can confer on wild-type S. setonii ISP5395 cells the capacity to synthesize carotenoids. Sequence analysis of crtS reveals an open reading frame, which shows homology to genes that encode alternative sigma factors in Bacillus subtilis. We propose that crtS encodes a sigma factor which is necessary for the expression of a cryptic gene(s) for carotenoid biosynthesis in S. setonii ISP5395.     

Editing of Multidimensional NMR Spectra of Partially Deuterated Proteins. Measurement of Amide Deuterium Isotope Effects on the Chemical Shifts of Protein Backbone Nuclei

Novel multidimensional NMR pulse sequences are presented for determination of amide deuterium isotope effects on the 13C chemical shifts of the backbone in proteins. The sequences edit heteronuclear triple resonance spectra into two subspectra according to whether a deuterium or a proton is attached to 15N for the pertinent correlations. The new experiments are demonstrated using 13C, 15N-labeled RAP 17-112 (N-terminal domain of 2-macroglobulin receptor associated protein).     

Redox potential of the Rieske iron-sulfur protein: Quantum-chemical and electrostatic study

Quantum-chemical study of structures, energies, and effective partial charge distribution for several models of the Rieske protein redox center is performed in terms of the B3LYP density functional method in combination with the broken symmetry approach using three different atomic basis sets. The structure of the redox complex optimized in vacuum differs markedly from that inside the protein. This means that the protein matrix imposes some stress on the active site resulting in distortion of its structure. The redox potentials calculated for the real active site structure are in a substantially better agreement with the experiment than those calculated for the idealized structure. This shows an important role of the active site distortion in tuning its redox potential. The reference absolute electrode potential of the standard hydrogen electrode is used that accounts for the correction caused by the water surface potential. Electrostatic calculations are performed in the framework of the polarizable solute model. Two dielectric permittivities of the protein are employed: the optical permittivity for calculation of the intraprotein electric field, and the static permittivity for calculation of the dielectric response energy. Only this approach results in a reasonable agreement of the calculated and experimental redox potentials.     

Acoustic-resonance spectrometry as a process analytical technology for rapid and accurate tablet identification

This research was performed to test the hypothesis that acoustic-resonance spectrometry (ARS) is able to rapidly and accurately differentiate tablets of similar size and shape. The US Food and Drug Administration frequently orders recalls of tablets because of labeling problems (eg, the wrong tablet appears in a bottle). A high-throughput, nondestructive method of online analysis and label comparison before shipping could obviate the need for recall or disposal of a batch of mislabeled drugs, thus saving a company considerable expense and preventing a major safety risk. ARS is accurate and precise as well as inexpensive and nondestructive, and the sensor, is constructed from readily available parts, suggesting utility as a process analytical technology (PAT). To test the classification ability of ARS, 5 common household tablets of similar size and shape were chosen for analysis (aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, vitamin C, and vitamin B12). The measures of successful tablet identification were intertablet distances in nonparametric multidimensional standard deviations (MSDs) greater than, 3 and intratablet MSDs less than 3, as calculated from an extended bootstrap erroradjusted single sample technique. The average intertablet MSD was 65.64, while the average intratablet MSD from cross-validation was 1.91. Tablet mass (r²=0.977), thickness (r²=0.977), and density (r²=0.900) were measured very accurately from the AR spectra, each with less than 10% error. Tablets were identified correctly with only 250 ms data collection time. These results demonstrate that ARS effectively identified and characterized the 5 types of tablets and could potentially serve as a rapid high-throughput online pharmaceutical sensor. Published: March 17, 2006     

Domain movement of iron sulfur protein in cytochrome bc1 complex is facilitated by the electron transfer from cytochrome b(L) to b(H)

The key step of the "protonmotive Q-cycle" mechanism for cytochrome bc1 complex is the bifurcated oxidation of ubiquinol at the Qp site. ISP is reduced when its head domain is at the b-position and subsequent move to the c1 position, to reduce cytochrome c1, upon protein conformational changes caused by the electron transfer from cytochrome b(L) to b(H). Results of analyses of the inhibitory efficacy and the binding affinity, determined by isothermal titration calorimetry, of Pm and Pf, on different redox states of cytochrome bc1 complexes, confirm this speculation. Pm inhibitor has a higher affinity and better efficacy with the cytochrome b(H) reduced complex and Pf binds better and has a higher efficacy with the ISP reduced complex.     

Adenylate cyclase-mediated modulation of interaction between excitatory and inhibitory synaptic influences on smooth muscles

We found that nonadrenergic inhibitory synaptic potentials (ISP) induced by intramural stimulation in atropine-treated smooth muscles of the guinea-pig large intestine demonstrated no changes upon the influence of an activator of adenylate cyclase, forskolin. This indicates that cAMP-dependent pathways are not involved in the generation of ISP. However, in these muscles with no atropine pretreatment ISP were suppressed by forskolin; intramural stimulation evoked in these smooth muscle cells M-cholinergic excitatory synaptic potentials (ESP) instead of ISP. An increase in the intracellular cAMP concentration due to application of its membrane-penetrating form, dibutyryl-cAMP, did not mimic the above-described effect of forskolin. Hence, it can be supposed that the effect of forskolin on inhibitory synaptic transmission in the atropine-untreated smooth muscles is not related to changes in the intracellular cAMP level; this effect is determined by other mechanisms. The above differences between the effects of forskolin on ISP in the atropine-treated and atropine-untreated smooth muscle strips indicate that the interaction of intracellular signal pathways (probably, through protein G_q/11), which is observed with activation of adenylate cyclase, occurs under conditions of simultaneous activation of M cholinoreceptors and purinoreceptors. The pattern of adenylate cyclase-mediated modulation of inhibitory effects of purinergic neurons on smooth muscles does not allow us to rule out the possibility of involvement of interstitial cells of Cajal as a relay link providing this synaptic effect. Transmission of excitation from cholinergic nerve terminals to smooth muscles is realized without the participation of the interstitial cells of Cajal.Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology, Vol. 36, Nos. 5/6, pp. 438–445, September–December, 2004.This revised version was published online in April 2005 with a corrected cover date and copyright year.     

Formation of engineered intersubunit disulfide bond in cytochrome bc1 complex disrupts electron transfer activity in the complex

Protein domain movement of the Rieske iron-sulfur protein has been speculated to play an essential role in the bifurcated oxidation of ubiquinol catalyzed by the cytochrome bc₁ complex. To better understand the electron transfer mechanism of the bifurcated ubiquinol oxidation at Qp site, we fixed the head domain of ISP at the cyt c₁ position by creating an intersubunit disulfide bond between two genetically engineered cysteine residues: one at position 141 of ISP and the other at position 180 of the cyt c₁ [S141C(ISP)/G180C(cyt c₁)]. The formation of a disulfide bond between ISP and cyt c₁ in this mutant complex is confirmed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot. In this mutant complex, the disulfide bond formation is concurrent with the loss of the electron transfer activity of the complex. When the disulfide bond is released by treatment with β-mercaptoethanol, the activity is restored. These results further support the hypothesis that the mobility of the head domain of ISP is functionally important in the cytochrome bc₁ complex. Formation of the disulfide bond between ISP and cyt c₁ shortens the distance between the [2Fe-2S] cluster and heme c₁, hence the rate of intersubunit electron transfer between these two redox prosthetic groups induced by pH change is increased. The intersubunit disulfide bond formation also decreases the rate of stigmatellin induced reduction of ISP in the fully oxidized complex, suggesting that an endogenous electron donor comes from the vicinity of the b position in the cytochrome b.     

Studies on Mitochondrial Proteins. II. Localization of Components in the inner membrane labelling with diazobenzenesulfonate,a non-penetrating probe

The topography of the inner membrane of rat liver mitochondria was studied using a probe, diazobenzenesulfonate, which interacts preferentially with surface components. Inner membranes were examined both in a native orientation as found in the intact mitochondrion or in an inverted state as found in isolated inner membranes prepared by sonication.Enzyme inactivation as a consequence of diazobenzenesulfonate labeling was employed to determine the localization of a number of inner membrane activities. In inner membranes labeled on the outer surface, NADH and succinate oxidation were strongly inhibited while ATPase and $\text{ascorbate}\text{-N,N,N′,N′-}\text{tetramethyl}\text{-p-}\text{phenylene-diamine}$ (TMPD) oxidase activities were unaffected. In inner membranes labeled on the inner surface. ATPase and succinate oxidation were inactivated while NADH oxidation and ascorbate-TMPD oxidase were unaffected. Succinate dehydrogenase was inhibited only by labeling the inner surface while NADH dehydrogenase was inhibited to a similar extent by treatment of either surface.Sodium dodecylsulfate-polypeptides (66 000 and 26 000) on the outer surface of the inner membrane and five polypeptides (80 000, 66 000, 51 000-48 000, and 26 000) on the inner surface. These results indicate a highly asymmetric localization of inner membrane components.     

Divergence of the mitochondrial electron transport chains from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and its colorless close relative Polytomella sp.

Compelling evidence exists that the colorless algae of the genus Polytomella arose from a green Chlamydomonas-like ancestor by losing its functional photosynthetic apparatus. Due to the close relationship between the colorless and the green chlorophyte, Polytomella sp. appeared as a useful indicative framework for structural studies of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii mitochondria. However, comparative studies reported here unexpectedly revealed significant differences between the mitochondrial respiratory systems of the two algae. Two-dimensional blue native/SDS-PAGE of isolated mitochondria indicated that cytochrome-containing respiratory complexes III and IV in the two chlorophytes contrast in size, subunit composition and relative abundance. Complex IV in Polytomella is smaller than its counterpart in C. reinhardtii and occurs in two forms that differ presumably in the presence of subunit COXIII. The cytochrome c and the iron-sulfur Rieske protein of both chlorophytes revealed structural differences on the amino acid sequence level. Under comparable culture conditions, the colorless alga exhibits lower levels of cytochrome c and complex IV but a higher respiratory activity than the green alga. Cytochrome c levels were also found to be differently regulated by the growth conditions in both algae. The divergence between the respiratory systems in the two related chlorophytes can be viewed as a consequence of the loss of photosynthetic activity and/or of the adaptation to the environment via the acquisition of a more flexible, heterotrophic metabolism. Our understanding of mitochondrial function and evolution is expected to be greatly enhanced via further parallel studies of photosynthetic/non-photosynthetic algae, for which this study forms an incentive.     

Taxonomic investigation of five streptomycete cultures belonging to ISP standards

The taxonomic investigation of five streptomycete cultures belonging to the International Streptomyces Project (ISP) standards was carried out using the methods of population analysis, DNA-DNA hybridization, and multilocus DNA fingerprinting. Two species with names considered to be synonymous,S. alboviridis ISP 5326 andS. oligocarbophilus ISP 5589, were found to be actually identical. Three other species investigated,S. krainskii ISP 5321,S. craterifer ISP 5296, and 5.anulatus ISP 5361, whose names are usually referred to as synonymous, were shown to be different species.