Partial purification and properties of a non-ligandin (3H) 3-methylcholanthrene binding protein from liver cytosol

(³H) 3-Methylcholanthrene binds $\text{in vivo}$ to a macromolecule in addition to the previously reported binding to ligandin in liver cytosol. The properties of this second molecule are identical to those of the glucocorticosteroid receptor (Binder II) through 400 fold purification over the cytosol proteins (elution position from DEAE-Sephadex A-50 columns, molecular weight by gel filtration and pI value by isoelectrofocusing). The carcinogen, probably a metabolite, binds very strongly or covalently to the macromolecule $\text{in vivo}$, but non-covalently $\text{in vitro}$ in the absence of microsomes. Large amounts of unlabeled carcinogen administered $\text{in vivo}$ do not compete significantly with subsequent (³H) dexamethasone binding to the hormone receptor fraction $\text{in vitro}$. Methylcholanthrene and dexamethasone do not compete for binding sites $\text{in vitro}$ on isolated unlabeled Binder II leading to the conclusion that the glucocorticosteroid receptor and the methylcholanthrene binding protein are distinct entities.     

Simultaneous inhibition of guinea pig brain 2′, 3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphohydrolase and myelin protein synthesis by 2′-adenosine monophosphate

Although the function of 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphohydrolase (CNPase) in myelin is unknown, the enzyme has been implicated in the metabolism of myelin proteins. Using 2′-AMP to inhibit CNPase, we examined the effect of reduced enzyme activity on the $\text{in vitro}$ incorporation of ¹⁴C-leucine into brain proteins. The results of this study revealed that (1) guinea pig brain homogenates incorporate leucine into protein from a sucrose medium in a linear fashion, (2) all brain fractions (cytosol, myelin, and microsomes) are labelled within 1 hr, (3) 2′-AMP inhibition of CNPase by 50% results in a similar inhibition of brain protein synthesis, and (4) the reduced protein synthesis is accompanied by a shift in label from myelin proteins to those found in the microsomes. These results are consistent with a role for CNPase in myelin protein synthesis.     

Increase of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase type II as an early event in hormone-dependent mammary tumor regression.

Primary, 7,12-dimethylbenz(α)anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary carcinoma in the rat contains cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent and -independent forms of protein kinase. When growth of DMBA-induced tumors was arrested by either ovariectomy or N⁶,O²′-dibutyryl cAMP treatment of the host, the activity of cAMP-dependent protein kinase type II markedly increased in the tumor cytosol, as shown by DEAE-cellulose chromatography and autophosphorylation. The increase in activity of cAMP-dependent protein kinase was also demonstrable in the tumor cytosol and nuclei following $\text{in}$$\text{vitro}$ incubation of tumor slices with cAMP. These results suggest that protein kinase type II is involved in the regression of hormone-dependent mammary tumors.     

Differences in macromolecular binding between cyclic AMP and its dibutyryl derivative in vitro

Rat liver cytosol binds ³H-cAMP and ³H-DBcAMP $\text{in vitro}$. Fractionation of bound radioactivity by DEAE-Sephadex chromatography shows that ³H-cAMP is associated with a different cytosolic protein than is ³H-DBcAMP. The pI's of the cAMP-protein and the ³H-DBcAMP-protein complexes are 6.7 and 3.9, respectively. Competition studies between ³H-cAMP and its structural analogues have shown the following order of effectiveness in competing for binding sites in rat liver cytosol: cAMP > N⁶-MBcAMP > O²′-MBcAMP. No inhibition of ³H-cAMP binding was observed with 5′-AMP, adenosine, cGMP or DBcAMP. $\text{In vitro}$ binding experiments with rat serum has shown that only ³H-DBcAMP binds to any significant extent.     

An enzymic analysis of a nuclear envelope fraction

A rat liver nuclear envelope fraction isolated essentially by the technique of Monneron et al. (J. Cell Biol. 55, 104–125 (1972)) is characterized by high levels of glucose-6-phosphatase and 5′-nucleotidase. A broadly specific nucleoside triphosphatase activity is present. Cytochromes $\text{b}{}_5$ and $\text{P-450}$ as well as NADPH- and NADH-cytochrome $\text{c}$ reductase activities are present but at lower levels than found in microsomes. Cytochrome $\text{c}$ oxidase activity is low. RNA polymerase activity is absent from the nuclear envelope fraction. Cytochemistry shows that glucose-6-phosphatase activity is strong and restricted to the nuclear envelope of nuclei. 5′-Nucleotidase shows weak reaction deposit in whole nuclei but in contrast gives clear reaction deposit in isolated nuclear envelopes. Cytochemical reaction deposit due to nucleoside trisphosphatase activity is not restricted to the nuclear envelope but is found to a larger extent within the nucleus.     

Tissue and subcellular distribution of 3H-dioxane in the rat and apparent lack of microsome-catalyzed covalent binding in the target tissue

Using ³H-dioxane, the distribution of dioxane among a number of tissues and various subcellular fractions of rat liver was studied. At various times after i.p. injection, dioxane was found to distribute more or less uniformly among various tissues (liver, kidney, spleen, lung, colon and skeletal muscle), consistent with its polar/nonpolar nature. Studies of the nature of dioxane binding, however, revealed that the extent of “covalent” binding (as measured by incorporation into lipid-free, acid-insoluble tissue residues) was significantly higher in the liver (the main carcinogenesis target tissue), spleen and colon than that in other tissues. Investigations of the subcellular distribution in liver indicated that most of the radioactivity was in the cytosol, followed by the microsomal, mitochondrial and nuclear fractions. The binding of dioxane to the macromolecules in the cytosol was mainly noncovalent. The percent covalent binding was highest in the nuclear fraction, followed by mitochondrial and microsomal fractions and the whole homogenate. Pretreatment of rats with inducers of microsomal mixed-function oxidases had no significant effect on the covalent binding of dioxane to the various subcellular fractions of the liver. There was no microsome-catalyzed $\text{in}$$\text{vitro}$ binding of ³H- or ¹⁴C-dioxane to DNA under conditions which brought about substantial binding of ³H-benzo[a]pyrene.     

Evidence for binding of metabolically activated 1,2-dibromoethane to chromatin of forestomach and liver

The covalent binding of metabolically activated 1,2-dibromoethane (DBE), a potent carcinogen, to chromatin constituents of forestomach and liver was examined $\text{in vitro}$. Chromatin was prepared from forestomach and liver of B6C3F1 mice and characterized. In order to activate DBE, microsomes and cytosol were isolated from mouse forestomach and liver and incubated with [¹⁴C]-DBE in the presence of a NADPH regenerating system. Results demonstrate that DBE bound covalently to the same extent to protein of microsomes and chromatin isolated from forestomach and liver. On the contrary, DBE bound significantly more to chromatin DNA of forestomach or liver than it did to salmon sperm DNA. It appears from these results that the metabolically activated DBE is more reactive to homologous DNA than exogenous DNA. Fractionation of DBE-bound chromatin protein into histone and nonhistone proteins resulted in higher binding of DBE to non-histone than to histone proteins isolated from forestomach and liver.     

Complex formation by 3 H-aldosterone in rat kidney and liver

Low molecular weight polar complexes were shown to be formed $\text{in vivo}$ from ³H-aldosterone in both kidney and liver subcellular fractions, the majority being present in the cytosol fractions. Significant differences were observed between the quantities of polar complexes present in kidney subcellular fractions from intact and adrenalectomized male rats and also between the quantities of these kidney polar complexes from spironolactone treated male rats. ³H-aldosterone macro-molecule complexes were shown to exist in appreciable quantities only in the kidney cytosol fractions of adrenalectomized male rats. These gel filtration studies also showed the ³H-aldosterone labeled macromolecule complexes to consist of two protein peaks; one of high molecular weight and the other of lower molecular weight (～50,000 mol. wt.). The amount of ³H-aldosterone labeled protein complexes in kidney cytosol was greatly reduced when adrenalectomized rats were pretreated $\text{in vivo}$ with spironolactone.     

NADPH-dependent reductase solubilized from microsomes by peroxidation and its activity

Isolated rat liver microsomes were subjected to enzymatic or non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation $\text{in vitro}$. NADPH-dependent cytochrome $\text{c}$ reductase activity was released from the microsomes into the media during peroxidation. This activity could be recovered from the media by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. The recovered enzyme retained high activity for the reduction of cytochrome $\text{c}$ and a lower level of activity for the reduction of cytochrome P-450. The active fractions were capable of enzymatically supporting the peroxidation of isolated mitochondria in the presence of organically complexed Fe⁺³ and NADPH, and in this respect the specific activity was found to be about ten times higher than in microsomes.     

Adenosine 3',5' cyclic monophosphate in Euglena gracilis

$\text{Euglena gracilis}$ contains in high concentration the enzymes for the synthesis and degradation of cyclic AMP. The synthetic enzyme, adenyl cyclase is mainly associated with a particulate fraction which sediments at 7,000–30,000xg whereas the degradative enzyme, 3′5′ nucleotide phosphodiesterase, is soluble (does not sediment at 78,000xg). The adenyl cyclase activity is stimulated somewhat by prostaglandins and by catecholamines, agents which markedly stimulate cyclase in appropriate mammalian tissues. There is no detectable activity of guanyl cyclase, the enzyme which synthesizes cyclic GMP. $\text{Euglena}$ also contains a cyclic AMP stimulated protein kinase which is associated with a particulate fraction sedimenting at 30,000xg.     

In vitro binding of 3H-benzo(a)pyrene to chromatin DNA

Chromatin was prepared from mouse liver and incubated in an $\text{in}$$\text{vitro}$ binding assay containing ³H-benzo(a)pyrene and a NADPH-generating system. Binding to chromatin DNA was stimulated by the presence of microsomes from 3-methylcholanthrene pretreated mice. This incubation system represents an improvement over previous studies in which purified DNA is employed as the target macromolecule in that aralkylation is being investigated under conditions which better approximate those present in the cell, i.e., the genetic material is “coated” with nuclear protein.     

Induction of different species of cytochrome P-450 by coplanar and noncoplanar isomers of hexachlorobiphenyl

The effects of coplanar⁺ 3,4,5,3′,4′,5′-hexachlorobiphenyl (HCB) and noncoplanar 2,4,5,2′,4′,5′-HCB, 2,3,5,2′,3′,5′-HCB, phenobarbitone (PB) and 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) on drug metabolizing enzymes have been studied 72 hr after dosing in male rat liver. 3-MC and 3,4,5,3′,4′,5′-HCB induced the activity of ethoxyresorufin deethylase dramatically. NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase and benzphetamine $\text{N}$-demethylase were induced by PB and noncoplanar isomers and not by 3-MC or 3,4,5,3′,4′,5′-HCB. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the microsomes obtained from various groups showed that 3-MC and 3,4,5,3′,4′,5′-HCB induced the synthesis of a polypeptide of approximate 54,500 daltons which was absent in the microsomes obtained from control, PB or noncoplanar isomer treated animals. Noncoplanar isomers and PB induced the synthesis of a polypeptide of approximate 51,000 daltons. These results, along with the reduced, CO difference spectra, demonstrate that 3,4,5,3′,4′,5′-HCB induces the synthesis of cytochrome P-448 and resembled 3-MC in its mechanism of action, while noncoplanar isomers induced the synthesis of cytochrome P-450 and resembled PB in its mechanism of action. Further administration of various doses of 3,4,5,3′,4′,5′-HCB to genetically responsive mice (C57BL/6J), induced cytochrome P-450, caused one nm shift in the difference spectrum of reduced microsomes and induced the activity of ethoxyresorufin deethylase, whereas it did not induce the activity of ethoxyresorufin deethylase in non-responsive mice (DBA/2J) even at the highest dose studied. These studies indicate the fact that coplanar and noncoplanar isomers have differential interaction with $\text{Ah locus}$.     

Binding of [3H]methyltrienolone to androgen receptor in rat liver

The synthetic androgen methyltrienolone is superior to testosterone and androstenedione for the measurement of androgen receptor in tissues where the native ligands are metabolized into inactive derivatives. [³H]Methyltrienolone binds with a high affinity to androgen receptor in cytosol prepared from male rat livers, as the Scatchard analysis revealed that the K_d value was 3.3 · 10^?8 M and the number of binding sites was 35.5 fmol/mg protein. Since methyltrienolone also binds glucocorticoid receptor which exists in rat liver, the apparent binding of androgen receptor is faulty when measured in the presence of glucocorticoid receptor. The binding of methyltrienolone to glucocorticoid receptor can be blocked by the presence of a 100-fold molar excess of unlabeled synthetic glucocorticoid, triamcinolone acetonide, without interfering in its binding to androgen receptor, because triamcinolone does not bind to androgen receptor. Triamcinolone-blocked cytosol exhibited that the K_d value was 2.5 · 10^?8 M and the number of binding sites was 26.3 fmol/mg protein, indicating a reduction to $\text{3}\text{4}$ of that in the untreated cytosol. The profile of glycerol gradient centrifiguration indicated that [³H]methyltriemolone-bound receptor migrated in the 8–9 S region in both untreated and triamcinolone-blocked cytosols, but the 8–9 S peak in triamcinolone-blocked cytosol was reduced to about $\text{3}\text{4}$ of that of untreated cytosol.     

Reconstituted hamster liver microsomal enzyme system for N-hydroxylation of the carcinogen 2-acetylaminofluorene

A procedure is described for the isolation of cytochrome P-450 fraction from hamster liver microsomes. It involves removal of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity by treatment with bacterial protease before solubilization with Triton X-100 and precipitation with ammonium sulfate. Reconstitution studies indicate that 2-acetylaminofluorene $\text{N}$-and ring-hydroxylation require both cytochrome P-450 fraction and the reductase fraction. $\text{N}$-hydroxylation activity of cytochrome P-450 fraction from 3-methylcholanthrene pretreated hamsters is different and severalfold greater than that of cytochrome P-450 fraction from controls. These results demonstrate for the first time an activation of a chemical carcinogen by a reconstituted cytochrome P-450 enzyme system.     

Preliminary characterization of a small intestinal binding component for retinol and fatty acids in the rat

A component which can bind retinol and fatty acids was detected in the rat's intestinal cell cytosol following intestinal perfusion $\text{in}$$\text{vivo}$ with ³H-all-trans retinol. Following Sephadex G-100 filtration of the cytosol, the void volume concentrate was treated with 2-mercaptoethanol and SDS. Sephadex G-100 filtration of the concentrate disclosed the presence of a cytosol binder of an approximate molecular weight of 12,000–17,000. The binder contained most of the ³H-retinol eluted off the column. $\text{In}$$\text{vitro}$ incubation experiments disclosed that ³H-retinol could be displaced from its bindinf cytosol fraction by the addition of nonradioactive retinol, retinyl acetate, and the fatty acids octanoic, linoleic, and linolenic. Butyric acid addition did not displace ³H-retinol from its binding fraction. The intestinal cytosol binding fraction may be involved in the trans-cytosol transport of lipid compounds from the lipid cell membrane to the intracellular organelles.     

The role of cAMP on neoplastic cell growth and regression. III. Altered cAMP-binding in DBcAMP-unresponsive Walker 256 mammary carcinoma.

An exogenous supply of N⁶,O^2′-dibutyryl cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (DBcAMP) $\text{in vivo}$ produces regression of one type of Walker 256 mammary carcinoma cell population (DBcAMP-responsive); a second type of cell population continues to grow despite DBcAMP treatment (DBcAMP-unresponsive). A correlation was found between altered cAMP-binding of the tumor cytosol and DBcAMP-unresponsiveness. It was found that there was: a) a higher apparent dissociation constant (Kd) for cAMP-binding in unresponsive tumor cytosol $\text{in vitro}$, and b) unsaturability of cAMP-binding by unresponsive tumor cytosol in response to elevated cAMP levels $\text{in vivo}$. Cycloheximide abolished the saturation of cAMP binding $\text{in vivo}$ as well as tumor regression produced by DBcAMP.     

Glutathione S-transferase activities in rat and mouse sperm and human semen

Glutathione $\text{S}$-transferase activity was found in sperm of the rat and $\text{DBA}\text{2J}$ and C57 $\text{BL}\text{6J}$ mice. In rat sperm activities with benzo(a)pyrene 4,5-oxide, styrene 7,8-oxide, and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene were 0.88, 1.07, and 26.1 nmoles/min/mg protein, respectively. Δ⁵-3-Ketosteroid isomerase activity of rat sperm was 4.9 nmoles/min/mg protein. These specific glutathione $\text{S}$-transferase and Δ⁵-3-ketosteroid isomerase activities in sperm represent 0.4–4.1% of rat liver cytosol values. Human semen also contained significant glutathione $\text{S}$-transferase activity. It is postulated that these enzymes could function in the metabolism and detoxification of certain electrophilic xenobiotics, if present in sperm.     

Activation of guanylate cyclase and inhibition of adenylate cyclase by cytotoxic preparations from marine sponges of Haliclona genus.

Of seven marine sponges tested only two, $\text{Haliclona}\text{viridis}$ and $\text{Haliclona}\text{rubens}$, yielded preparations that activated rat heart microsomal guanylate cyclase and exhibited direct hemolytic activity. These two preparations also inhibited basal and fluoride-activated adenylate cyclase in rat heart microsomes and glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase in rat liver plasma membranes. Hemolytic activity co-purified with nucleotide cyclase-modulating activity during a standard lipid fractionation procedure. This fraction was cytotoxic to 3T3-4a Swiss mouse fibroblasts.     

Induction of hepatic microsomal propranolol N-desisopropylase activity by 3-methylcholanthrene and sudan III

Metabolism of propranolol in liver microsomes was markedly induced in rats and $\text{C57BL}\text{6J}$ mice treated with 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) or sudan III, inducers of cytochrome P-448. 7,8 Benzoflavone inhibited propranolol metabolism in microsomes from treated rats. 3-MC did not induce propranolol metabolism in genetically nonresponsive $\text{DBA}\text{2}$ mice. High-performance liquid chromatographical analysis of propranolol metabolites revealed a 6-fold increase in propranolol N-desisopropylase activities in liver microsomes from sudan III- or 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats. It is concluded that propranolol N-desisopropylation is predominantly catalyzed by cytochrome P-448.     

Influence of magnesium in the homogenization medium on the state of a divalent cation-stimulated,diethystilbestrol-sensitive adenylnucleotidyl phosphatase activity from pea stem microsomal preparations

The amount of divalent cation-activated, diethylstilbestrol-sensitive adenylnucleotidyl phosphatase activity recovered in the ‘microsomes’ ($\text{13 000–80 000 x g}\text{sediment}$) from pea stem tissue is strongly influenced by the concentration of Mg²⁺ in the homogenization medium. The absence of Mg²⁺ during homogenization results in a marked decrease of the activity found in the microsomal fraction, compensated by its increase in the soluble fraction. Part of the solubilized activity becomes sedimentable at $\text{80 000 × g}$ upon addition of 5–10 mM Mg²⁺ (or Mn²⁺, Ca²⁺, Zn²⁺) to the supernatant. This sediment shows a very high specific activity, and can be re-solubilized by treatment with either EDTA or 0.3 M monovalent salts, or deoxycholate. When the supernatant containing the solubilized activity is incubated together with low-adenylnucleotidyl phosphatase microsomes and with 10 mM MgCl₂ the activity recovered in the sediment is much larger than the sum of the activity of the microsomes plus that of the sediment obtained by incubating the same supernatant with Mg²⁺. Microsomes prepared with Mg²⁺ in the homogenization medium do not show this effect. The supernatant/microsomes saturation curves as well as a change of the temperature coefficient of the activity following combination of the soluble preparation with the microsomal particles suggest an at least partial reconstitution of the original enzyme-membrane structure.