Selective inactivation of the exonuclease activity of bacteriophage T7 DNA polymerase by in vitro mutagenesis

The 3' to 5' exonuclease activity of bacteriophage T7 DNA polymerase (gene 5 protein) can be inactivated selectively by reactive oxygen species. Differences in the enzymatic properties between the two forms are exploited to show by a chemical screen that modification of a histidine residue reduces selectively the exonuclease activity. In vitro mutagenesis of the histidine at residue 123, and of the neighboring residues, results in varying reduction of the exonuclease activity, including mutant enzymes that have no detectable exonuclease activity; as a consequence their polymerase activity is increased up to 9-fold. T7 phage containing the mutant genes have a greatly reduced burst size and demonstrate up to a 14-fold increase in the spontaneous mutation rate.     

Selective inactivation of heterokaryons of Candida albicans by anaerobiosis

Heterokaryons (hets), but not monokaryons of Candida albicans die when grown anaerobically on minimal medium. Their rates of inactivation increase with decreases in growth temperatures from 37°C to 25°C. At 10°C, however, anaerobiosis is not lethal and suppresses the inactivation which normally occurs among hets cultured aerobically at that temperature. Killing of hets by anaerobiosis can be altered significantly by certain exogenously provided amino acids or intermediates of oxidative respiration. Aspartic acid alone promotes inactivation whereas alanine, glutamic acid or lysine individually have no effects. However, glutamate and lysine combined afford slight protection against inactivation while aspartate and glutamate combined, with or without lysine, are highly protective: the activity of the aspartate-glutamate combination is completely negated by the addition of alanine. Other common amino acids have no effects on het responses to anaerobiosis other than the ability, when combined, to relieve the antagonism of alanine for the aspartate-glutamate combination. Anaerobic survivals are also enhanced by oxalacetic acid or -ketoglutaric acid, and even more so by a combination of these two intermediates. The resistances to inactivation elicited by the oxalacetate -ketoglutarate or aspartate-glutamate combinations are not additive. These relationships are interpreted to signify that inactivation of hets by anaerobic growth is largely, if not exclusively, due to depletion of their oxalacetic acid and -ketoglutaric acid contents for amino acid biosyntheses, and the unique inability of het cells to replenish those keto acids upon subsequent return to aerobic conditions. The observations are consistent with previous indications that mitochondria formed by hets are functionally abnormal.     

Selective inactivation of glutaredoxin by sporidesmin and other epidithiopiperazinediones

Glutaredoxin (thioltransferase) is a thiol-disulfide oxidoreductase that displays efficient and specific catalysis of protein-SSG deglutathionylation and is thereby implicated in homeostatic regulation of the thiol-disulfide status of cellular proteins. Sporidesmin is an epidithiopiperazine-2,5-dione (ETP) fungal toxin that disrupts cellular functions likely via oxidative alteration of cysteine residues on key proteins. In the current study sporidesmin inactivated human glutaredoxin in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Under comparable conditions other thiol-disulfide oxidoreductase enzymes, glutathione reductase, thioredoxin, and thioredoxin reductase, were unaffected by sporidesmin. Inactivation of glutaredoxin required the reduced (dithiol) form of the enzyme, the oxidized (intramolecular disulfide) form of sporidesmin, and molecular oxygen. The inactivated glutaredoxin could be reactivated by dithiothreitol only in the presence of urea, followed by removal of the denaturant, indicating that inactivation of the enzyme involves a conformationally inaccessible disulfide bond(s). Various cysteine-to-serine mutants of glutaredoxin were resistant to inactivation by sporidesmin, suggesting that the inactivation reaction specifically involves at least two of the five cysteine residues in human glutaredoxin. The relative ability of various epidithiopiperazine-2,5-diones to inactivate glutaredoxin indicated that at least one phenyl substituent was required in addition to the epidithiodioxopiperazine moiety for inhibitory activity. Mass spectrometry of the modified protein is consistent with formation of intermolecular disulfides, containing one adducted toxin per glutaredoxin but with elimination of two sulfur atoms from the detected product. We suggest that the initial reaction is between the toxin sulfurs and cysteine 22 in the glutaredoxin active site. This study implicates selective modification of sulfhydryls of target proteins in some of the cytotoxic effects of the ETP fungal toxins and their synthetic analogues.     

Substance P inactivation by transglutaminase in vitro.

Gamma(glutamyl5)spermine derivative of substance P (Spm-SP) was synthesized in vitro in the presence of purified guinea pig liver transglutaminase and Ca2+. The spermine adduct of the neuropeptide was purified by HPLC on a reversed-phase column and characterized by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. The biological activities of Spm-SP were tested by assaying, in comparison with substance P, its ability to induce both the contractions of smooth muscle in vitro and the edema formation in vivo. Spm-SP was shown not to elicit contractile responses in the isolated rat stomach strip and duodenum and not to antagonize the spasmogenic effect evoked by the native neuropeptide. Furthermore, Spm-SP was unable, when administered into rats by plantar injection, either to provoke an acute inflammatory response in the hind limb or to antagonize the edema formation induced by a concurrent administration of substance P. These results indicate that the introduction of a large size hydrophilic moiety at the glutamine5 level negatively affects the ability of the neuropeptide to bind to its receptor(s), thus supporting the view that the hydrophobic middle portion of substance P plays a key role in receptor recognition.     

Selective inactivation of cytochrome P-450 isozymes by suicide substrates

The autocatalytic destruction of cytochrome P-450 by the following six substrates has been investigated in vivo and in vitro with microsomal and purified, reconstituted rat liver enzymes: 2-isopropyl-4-pentenamide (AIA), 1-ethinylcyclopentanol, 17α-propadienyl-19-nortestosterone, fluroxene, 5,6-dichloro-1,2,3-benzothiadiazole (DCBT), and 1-aminobenzotriazole (ABT). Administration of the first three substrates to rats pretreated with either phenobarbital (Pb) or 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC), or their incubation with hepatic microsomes from such rats, produced a larger decrease in cytochrome P-450 levels in the membranes from Pb- than 3-MC-treated rats. Comparable losses, however, were observed in microsomes from rats pretreated with both Pb and 3-MC when the last three agents were used. Similar experiments were carried out using the major cytochrome P-450 isozymes purified from liver microsomes of Pb- or 3-MC-treated rats. The Pb isozyme was inactivated during catalytic turnover of all six substrates while only three substrates (DCBT, ABT, and fluroxene) were found to inactivate the 3-MC isozyme. Oxygen consumption studies with purified enzymes have shown that AIA is not a measurable substrate for the 3-MC isozyme, a fact which explains its failure to inactivate this isozyme. Similar studies with the Pb isozyme establish that one enzyme molecule is inactivated for approximately every 230–320 AIA molecules processed by the enzyme.     

Selective inactivation of muscarinic receptor subtypes

Muscarinic receptors exist in multiple subtypes, denoted as M₁, M₂ M₃ and M₄, encoded by four distinct but related genes. A fifth gene product, m5, has also been predicted although this sequence awaits a pharmacological equivalent. Many tissues express more than one muscarinic receptor subtype, which may couple to different intracellular effectors and thus have different physiological roles. One way to characterize the role of each receptor is to selectively inactivate one receptor population, thus pharmacologically ‘isolating’ the muscarinic receptor subtype of interest. Selective receptor inactivation can be achieved using either a selective, irreversible antagonist, or protection using a selective, reversible antagonist against a non-selective irreversible antagonist. Therefore, combination of these two approaches may provide optimal selective inactivation. Several muscarinic alkylating agents have been identified, including phenoxybenzamine, EEDQ (N-Ethoxycarbonyl-1-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline) and propylbenzilylcholine mustard. These irreversible antagonists do not, in general, discriminate between muscarinic receptor subtypes and are frequently used to estimate the affinity and relative efficacy of muscarinic agonists. Consequently, use of these irreversible antagonists provides estimations of the ‘receptor reserve’ associated with a response mediated by muscarinic receptor activation. In contrast, 4-DAMP mustard (4-diphenylacetoxy-N-(2-chloroethyl)piperidine) selectively inactivates M₃ receptors, but will not discriminate between M₁ M ₂ or M₄ receptors. In the absence of highly selective alkylating agents, receptor protection by reversible antagonists may be used. Thus, reversible antagonists, such as pirenzepine, methoctramine or para-fluorohexahydrosiladifenidol, at appropriate fractional receptor occupancies, may protect M₁ M₂ or M₃ receptors against alkylation by phenoxybenzamine. Selective alkylation of M₃ receptors by 4-DAMP mustard is enhanced with concurrent M₂ protection. This approach has been applied to defining the role of these muscarinic receptor subtypes in the control of ileal smooth muscle tone. These data suggest that, in ileum, M₂ receptors may act to inhibit β-adrenoceptor activation, thereby offsetting relaxation, while M₃ receptors directly mediate contraction.     

Fatty acid synthetase complex: Selective inactivation by phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride

Reaction of pigeon and rat liver fatty acid synthetases with phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride at pH 7.0 results in rapid and complete loss of activity for fatty acid synthesis. Acetyl and malonyl transacylation, two reductions, dehydration and condensation-CO₂ exchange reactions are not appreciably altered in the modified enzyme. However, the deacylation of palmityl CoA is completely inhibited. Complete inactivation results in the incorporation of about 1.9 moles of ¹⁴C-phenylmethylsulphonyl groups/mole of the enzyme complex. These results suggest that either two moles of a fatty acyl deacylase or two deacylases with different fatty acyl chain length specificities may be functional in the enzyme complex.     

Selective inactivation of the infectivity of freeze-dried Sendai virus by heat

The infectivity of freeze-dried Sendai virus was destroyed after heating at 100 ° C for 20 min while the hemagglutinin (HA) titer and the hemolytic (HL) activity were not affected. The HA titer was unaltered after heating at up to 140 ° C for 30 min. The HL activity was increased after freeze-drying, further increased after heating of freeze-dried virus at 115 ° C for 20 min, but was destroyed after heating for 30 min at 140 ° C.The selective heat inactivation of freeze-dried Sendai virus could be of use in the production of myxovirus vaccines and inactivated virus for cell-fusion studies.     

Taenia taeniaeformis: inactivation of metacestodes by gossypol in vitro

Gossypol, a natural biphenyl compound inhibits Taenia taeniaeformis metacestode development in vivo. In this paper, the direct effect of gossypol on metacestodes was examined. Within 24 hr of incubation at 37 degrees C in greater than or equal to 10(-5) M gossypol, shedding of the tegument from the surface of the metacestodes was observed. There was a significant decrease in [3H]thymidine uptake by T. taeniaeformis in greater than or equal to 10(-5)M gossypol. In addition, NADH lactate dehydrogenase activity of metacestodes was significantly inhibited in greater than or equal to 10(-5) M gossypol. Thus, gossypol has a direct inhibitory effect on T. taeniaeformis metacestodes in vitro.     

Selective inactivation of rabbit reticulocyte initiation factor eIF-3 by helenalin

Helenalin, a sesquiterpene lactone which reacts primarily with exposed sulfhydryl groups, was shown to be an effective inhibitor of protein synthesis in rabbit reticulocyte lysates. Optimal inhibition required a 30 min preincubation in the absence of any added thiol compound. β-Mercaptoethanol was more effective than reduced glutathione in protecting enzyme sulfhydryl groups from inactivation by helenalin. Using partially fractionated systems, it was possible to show that helenalin had no effect on the elongation reactions or on the formation of the ternary initiation complex. However, the conversion of the ternary complex to the 48 S initiation complex was strongly inhibited. In this assay, only the initiation factor(s) were sensitive to helenalin. Using an assay system which requires all the initiation factors for optimal activity it was possible to show that the 0–40% ammonium sulfate cut of intiation factors (containing eIF-3 and eIF-4B) was sensitive to helenalin, while the 40–50% ammonium sulfate cut (containing eIF-2 and eIF-5) was not. Both ammonium sulfate cuts were equally sensitive to inhibition by the sulfhydryl reagent N-ethylmaleimide. Three purified rabbit reticulocyte initiation factors were then tested in the same assay system. Only eIF-3 showed appreciable sensitivity to helenalin, while eIF-2, eIF-3 and eIF-4B were all sensitive to inactivation by N-ethylmaleimide. These data suggest that helenalin may possess a relatively high degree of specificity as a sulfhydryl reagent.     

Selective inactivation of various acyl-CoA dehydrogenases by (methylenecyclopropyl)acetyl-CoA

Inactivation of five distinct acyl-CoA dehydrogenases by (methylenecyclopropyl)acetyl-CoA (MCPA-CoA), the toxic metabolite of hypoglycin from unripe ackee fruit, was investigated using purified enzyme preparations. Short-chain acyl-CoA (SCADH), medium-chain acyl-CoA (MCADH) and isovaleryl-CoA (IVDH) dehydrogenases were severely and irreversibly inactivated by MCPA-CoA, while 2-methyl-branched chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (2-meBCADH) was only slowly and mildly inactivated. Long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCADH) was not significantly inactivated, even after prolonged incubation with MCPA-CoA. Inactivation of SCADH, MCADH and IVDH was effectively prevented by the addition of substrate. This mode of inactivation by MCPA-CoA explains the urinary metabolite profile in hypoglycin treated-rats, which includes large amounts of metabolites from fatty acids and leucine, and relatively small amounts of those from valine and isoleucine. Spectrophotometric titration of SCADH and MCADH with MCPA-CoA, together with the protective effects of substrate, indicates that MCPA-CoA is acted upon by, and exerts in turn irreversible inactivation of, SCADH and MCADH, confirming that MCPA-CoA is a suicide inhibitor (Wenz et al. (1981) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 9809-9812). Spectrophotometric titration data of LCADH and MCPA-CoA is typical of non-reacting CoA ester.     

Oxygen-dependent inactivation of glutamine phosphoribosylpyrophosphate amidotransferase in vitro inactivation.

The oxygen-dependent inactivation of glutamine phosphoribosylpyrophosphate amidotransferase (ATase) is demonstrated in cell extracts of Bacillus subtilis. The rate of inactivation of ATase in vitro is apparently first order with respect to oxygen concentration and ATase activity. ATase inactivation in vitro (or in vivo) cannot be reactivated by a variety of reductants. ATase is significantly stabilized to oxygen-dependent inactivation in vitro in the presence of tetrasodium phosphoribosylpyrophosphate and glutamine together. The effects of the end product inhibitors, adenosine 5-monophosphate (AMP) and guanosine 5-monophosphate (GMP), on the stability of ATase are antagonistic. AMP stabilizes ATase, whereas GMP destabilizes the enzyme. The stability of ATase can be manipulated over wide ranges by variations in the AMP/GM ratio. The effects of AMP and GMP on the inactivation of ATase in vitro are very specific. ATase is partially inhibited by 1,10-phenanthroline, suggesting that the enzyme contains iron (or some other chelatable metal ion). The inactivation of ATase in vitro is proposed to present a model for the reconstruction of the inactivation of ATase in stationary-phase cells of B. subtilis.     

In vitro inactivation of methionine synthase by nitrous oxide

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is commonly used as an anesthetic agent. Prolonged exposure to N2O leads to megaloblastic anemia in humans and to loss of methionine synthase activity in vertebrates. We now report that purified preparations of cobalamin-dependent methionine synthase (5-methyltetrahydrofolate-homocysteine methyltransferase, EC 2.1.1.13) from both Escherichia coli and pig liver are irreversibly inactivated during turnover in buffers saturated with N2O. Inactivation by N2O occurs only in the presence of all components required for turnover: homocysteine, methyltetrahydrofolate, adenosylmethionine, and a reducing system. Reisolation of the inactivated E. coli enzyme after turnover in the presence of N2O resulted in significant losses of bound cobalamin and of protein as compared to controls where the enzyme was subjected to turnover in N2-equilibrated buffers before reisolation. However, N2O inactivation was not associated with major changes in the visible absorbance spectrum of the remaining enzyme-bound cobalamin. We postulate that N2O acts by one-electron oxidation of the cob(I)alamin form of the enzyme which is generated transiently during turnover with the formation of cob(II)alamin, N2, and hydroxyl radical. Generation of hydroxyl radical at the active site of the enzyme could explain the observed irreversible loss of enzyme activity.     

Selective inactivation of lactate dehydrogenase of rat tissues by sodium deoxycholate.

Soluble lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27) extracted from brain, skeletal and cardiac muscle and liver of rats, and purified isoenzymes LDH-1 and LDH-5, were incubated with sodium deoxycholate. Deoxycholate almost totally inactivated isoenzyme LDH-5 (A4), whereas it left isoenzyme LDH-1 (B4) unaffected. Tissue lactate dehydrogenase was inactivated to different degrees depending on the origin of the enzyme. Electrophoretic isoenzyme studies of tissue lactate dehydrogenase showed the loss of activity to be quantitatively related to the overall percentage of subunit A distributed among the homotetramer LDH-5 and the heterotetramers LDH-2, LDH-3 and LDH-4. It was concluded that subunit A of lactate dehydrogenase interacts selectively with deoxycholate, irrespective of its association with subunit B. Distinct changes in electrophoretic mobilities of deoxycholate-treated isoenzymes strongly indicated an indiscriminate binding of deoxycholate by all LDH isoenzymes, probably through hydrophobic interactions. The results suggest that the inactivation of the enzyme is non-competitive, but the basis of the selectivity of deoxycholate towards subunit A is not known at present.