Purification and characterization of 3-hydroxyisobutyrate dehydrogenase from rabbit liver

3-Hydroxyisobutyrate dehydrogenase (3-hydroxy-2-methyl propanoate: NAD+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.31) was purified 1800-fold from rabbit liver by detergent extraction, differential solubility in polyethylene glycol and (NH4)2SO4, and column chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel, phenyl-Sepharose, CM(carboxymethyl)-Sepharose, Affi-Gel Blue, and Ultrogel AcA-34. The enzyme had a native Mr of 74,000 and appeared to be a homodimer with subunit Mr = 34,000. The enzyme was specific for NAD+. It oxidized both S-3-hydroxyisobutyrate and R-3-hydroxyisobutyrate, but the kcat/Km was approximately 350-fold higher for the S-isomer. Steady state kinetic analysis indicates an ordered Bi Bi reaction mechanism with NAD+ binding before 3-hydroxyisobutyrate. The enzyme catalyzed oxidation of S-3-hydroxyisobutyrate between pH 7.0 and 11.5 with optimal activity between pH 9.0 and 11.0. The enzyme apparently does not have a metal ion requirement. Essential sulfhydryl groups may be present at both the 3-hydroxyisobutyrate and NAD+ binding sites since inhibition by sulfhydryl-binding agents was differentially blocked by each substrate. The enzyme is highly sensitive to product inhibition by NADH which may play an important physiological role in regulating the complete oxidation of valine beyond the formation of 3-hydroxyisobutyrate.     

Methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase, methenyltetrahydrofolate cyclohydrolase and formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase from porcine liver. Isolation of a dehydrogenase-cyclohydrolase fragment from the multifunctional enzyme

Tryptic digestion of a multifunctional enzyme from porcine liver containing methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate: NADP+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.5.1.5), methenyltetrahydrofolate cyclohydrolase (5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate 5-hydrolase, EC 3.5.4.9) and formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase (formate:tetrahydrofolate ligase, EC 6.3.4.3) activities destroys the synthetase. A fragment containing both dehydrogenase and cyclohydrolase activities has been isolated by affinity chromatography on an NADP+-Sepharose affinity column. The purified fragment is homogeneous on dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis where its molecular weight was determined as 33 000 +/- 1200 compared with 100 000 for the undigested protein. The cyclohydrolase activity retains sensitivity to inhibition by NADP+, MgATP and ATP.     

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase in silkworm. Separation and characterization of multiple forms of the enzyme.

The existence of two forms of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase (3',5'-cyclic AMP 5'-nucleotidohydrolase, EC 3.1.4.17) was demonstrated in silkworm larvae by kinetic analysis and DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. The two forms of the enzyme (phosphodiesterase II and III) differ apparently in their characteristics from the previously reported cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (phosphodiesterase I) of silkworm. The higher K-m form (phosphodiesterase II) has a molecular weight of approx. 50 000 and optimum pH of 7.8, and requires Mn-2-+ for maximum activity. The lower K-m form (phosphodiesterase III) has a molecular weight of approx. 97 000 and optimum pH of 7.2, and requires Mg-2-+ for maximum activity. Phosphodiesterase II and probably phosphodiesterase III are specific enzymes for the hydrolysis of cyclic AMP.     

Purification and characterization of two soluble acid invertase isozymes from Japanese pear fruit

Two isozymes (AIV I and AIV II) of soluble acid invertase (EC 3.2.1.26) were purified from Japanese pear fruit through procedures including (NH(4))(2)SO(4) precipitating, DEAE-Sephacel column chromatography, Concanavalin A (ConA)-Sepharose affinity chromatography, hydroxyapatite column chromatography and Mono Q HR 5/5 column chromatography. The specific activities of purified AIV I and AIV II were 2670 and 2340 (nkat/mg protein), respectively. AIV I was a monomeric enzyme of 80 kDa, while AIV II may be also a monomeric enzyme, which is easy to be cleaved to 52 kDa and 34 kDa polypeptide during preparation by SDS-PAGE. The Km values for sucrose of AIV I and AIV II were 3.33 and 4.58 mM, respectively, and optimum pH of both enzyme activities was pH 4.5.     

Ion-pair reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Application to the study of chicken liver NAD+ kinase

An ion-pair, reverse-phase, high-performance liquid chromatography method of assay was developed and used in a series of rate studies carried out with the enzyme chicken liver NAD+ kinase (ATP:NAD+ 2'-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.23). Complete separation of all products and reactants was achieved within 15 min. ATP, NAD+, ADP, and NADP+ were monitored at 260 nm as they eluted from a Zorbax (Dupont) ODS (4.6 X 250-mm) column using an acetonitrile and 0.01 mM NH4(H2PO4)/0.005 M tetrabutylammonium phosphate (pH 7.0) gradient. The enzyme shows a marked preference for ATP (and dATP) and Mg2+ (or Mn2+) relative to other trinucleotides and divalent metal ions. It exhibits residual adenylate kinase and ATPase activity, but no NADH kinase activity. When polyphosphate replaced ATP, NADP+ production dropped to 2.5%. The addition of Ca2+ and/or bovine brain calmodulin did not significantly enhance the rate of NADP+ production.     

Cyclic 3',5'-AMP phosphodiesterase of rabbit aorta.

Cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase activities (3' : 5'-cyclic AMP 5'-nucleotidohydrolase, EC 3.1.4.17) were demonstrated in the isolated intima, media, and adventitia of rabbit aorta. The activity for cyclic AMP hydrolysis in the intima was 2.7-fold higher than that for cyclic GMP hydrolysis. The activity for cyclic AMP hydrolysis in the media was approximately equal to that for cyclic GMP hydrolysis, but in the adventitia, cyclic GMP hydrolytic activity was 2.1-fold higher than cyclic AMP hydrolytic activity. Distribution of the activator of the phosphodiesterase was studied in the three layers. Each layer contained the activator. The activator was predominantly localized in the smooth muscle layer (the media). The effect of the activator and Ca2+ on the media cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase was also briefly studied. The activity of the cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase was stimulated by micromolar concentration of Ca2+ in the presence of the activator. However, the activity of the cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase was not significantly stimulated by Ca2+ up to 100 muM in the presence of the activator. Above 90% of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity in the whole aorta was found to be derived from the media. A major portion (60-70%) of the media enzyme was found in 105 000 times g supernatant. Cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase in the supernatant was partially purified through Sepharose 6B column chromatography and partially separated from cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase. Using a partially purified preparation from the 105 000 times g supernatant the main kinetic parameters were specified as follows: 1) The pH optimum was found to be about 9.0 using Tris-maleate buffer. The maximum stimulation of the enzyme by Mg2+ was achieved at 4mM of MgC12. 2) High concentration of cyclic GMP (0.1 mM) inhibited noncompetitively the enzyme activity, and the activity was not stimulated at any tested concentration of cyclic GMP. 3) Activity-substrate concentration relationship revealed a high affinity (Km equals 1.0 muM) and low affinity (Km equals 45 muM) for cyclic AMP. The homogenate and 105 000 times g supernatant of the media also showed non-linear kinetics similar to the Sepharose 6B preparation and their apparent Km values for cyclic AMP hydrolysis were 1.2 muM and 36-40 muM and an enzyme extracted by sonication from 105 000 times g precipitate also exhibited non-linear kinetics (Km equals 5.1 muM and 70 muM). 4) Papaverine exhibited much stronger inhibition on the aorta cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase (50% inhibition of the intima enzyme, I5 o at 0.62 muM, I5 o of the media at 0.62 muM and I5 o of the adventitia at 1.0 muM) than on the brain (I5 o at 8.5 muM) and serum (I5 o at 20 muM) cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase, while theophylline inhibited these enzymes similarly. However, cyclic GMP phosphodiesterases in all tissues examined were inhibited similarly, not only by theophylline but also by papaverine.     

Substrate specificity of a nucleotide pyrophosphatase responsible for the breakdown of 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS) from human placenta

The membrane-bound enzyme responsible for the breakdown of 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS) has been purified 1,900-fold from detergent-solubilized human placenta, using chromatographies on Con A-Sepharose, Blue Sepharose, AMP-Agarose, and Sepharose CL-6B, and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The enzyme required Mg2+ and showed the optimum activity at pH 9.4. The preparation was free of alkaline phosphatase [EC 3.1.3.1], phosphodiesterase [EC 3.1.4.1], and 5'-nucleotidase [EC 3.1.3.5] activities, which enabled investigation of the substrate specificity and kinetic properties of the enzyme without interference by secondary reactions due to the above activities. The enzyme cleaved the pyrophosphate linkages of NAD and various sugar nucleotides and the phosphodiester linkage of p-nitrophenyl-thymidine 5'-monophosphate (PNTP), as well as the phosphosulfate linkages of PAPS and its biosynthetic precursor, adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (APS), with apparent Km values of 0.12-0.33 mM. Relative activities towards PNTP and PAPS did not change during the purification procedures starting from the homogenate. This, together with the data of kinetic studies using two substrates simultaneously, led us to conclude that the activities towards all the substrates tested were due to one and the same nucleotide pyrophosphatase.     

Calmodulin-Like Activity Associated with Chromatin from Pea Buds

NAD kinase and cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase were activated bya factor prepared from pea chromatin. About 62% of the originalamount of the factor in the purified chromatin was recoveredin the reassociated chromatin. The NAD kinase- and cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase-activatingfactor was released from the chromatin by heat treatment withethylene glycol-bis(ß-aminoethyl ether)- N,N,N',N'-tetraaceticacid (EGTA) then adsorbed on an affinity gel of phenothiazineagarosederivatives in the presence of excess Ca²⁺ over EGTA, afterwhich it was eluted by a flush of EGTA. Activation of NAD kinaseand cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase by this factor depended onthe presence of Ca²⁺. The NAD kinase-activating factor and chromatin were coelutedwhen soluble chromatin was applied to a Bio-Gel A50 column.When chromatin was chromatographed on the same column afterdigestion by DNase I, the factor was eluted in association withthe digested products of the chromatin. The activation propertiesof this factor indicate that a calmodulin-like activity existsin association with pea chromatin. The activation curves of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase with thepea bud factor and with bovine brain calmodulin were compared.The amount of the factor in the chromatin fraction that correspondedto authentic calmodulin was calculated as 5.7 µg per mgDNA. (Received August 6, 1982; Accepted February 17, 1983)     

Activation of phosphodiesterase in frog rod outer segment by an intermediate of rhodopsin photolysis. I.

Guanosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.1) in frog rod outer segment prepared by a sucrose stepwise density gradient method was activated by light in the presence of GTP. Rhodopsin in rod outer segment was solubilized with sucrose laurylmonoester and then purified by concavanalin A-Sepharose column. Addition of photo-bleached preparation of the purified rhodopsin to the rod outer segment, which had been prepared by 43% (w/w) sucrose floatation, caused the activation of phosphodiesterase in the dark, while each component of the photo-product eluted from the column (all-trans retinal and opsin) did not. Regenerated rhodopsin prepared from 11-cis retinal and purified opsin activated phosphosdiesterase when it was bleached. From these facts it is suggested that an intermediate or a process of photolysis of rhodopsin causes activation of phosphodiesterase.     

Effect of NADH on hypoxanthine hydroxylation by native NAD+-dependent xanthine oxidoreductase of rat liver, and the possible biological role of this effect.

The course of the reaction sequence hypoxanthine leads to xanthine leads to uric acid, catalysed by the NAD+-dependent activity of xanthine oxidoreductase, was investigated under conditions either of immediate oxidation of the NADH formed or of NADH accumulation. The enzymic preparation was obtained from rat liver, and purified 75-fold (as compared with the 25000 g supernatant) on a 5'-AMP-Sepharose 4B column; in this preparation the NAD+-dependent activity accounted for 100% of total xanthine oxidoreductase activity. A spectrophotometric method was developed for continuous measurements of changes in the concentrations of the three purines involved. The time course as well as the effects of the concentrations of enzyme and of hypoxanthine were examined. NADH produced by the enzyme lowered its activity by 50%, resulting in xanthine accumulation and in decreases of uric acid formation and of hypoxanthine utilization. The inhibition of the Xanthine oxidoreductase NAD+-dependent activity by NADH is discussed as a possible factor in the regulation of IMP biosynthesis by the 'de novo' pathway or (from unchanged hypoxanthine) by ther salvage pathway.     

Assay of brain aldehyde dehydrogenase activity using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

A method has been developed for assay of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) in brain tissue or in other tissues containing low ALDH-activity. The aldehyde of dopamine was used as the substrate, and the 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid formed was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection. The aldehyde was prepared enzymatically by incubating dopamine with a monoamine-oxidase preparation from rat liver mitochondria in the presence of Na+-bisulfite in 10 mM K+-phosphate buffer (pH 7.5). Rat brain homogenates were incubated in 50 mM Na+-pyrophosphate buffer (pH 8.8) containing 0.5 mM NAD+ and 5 microM aldehyde. The reaction was terminated with perchloric acid containing Na+-bisulfite to trap excess of the aldehyde. The acid supernatants were injected on a reverse-phase HPLC column and elution was performed with citrate buffer, pH 2.50. The method permits assay with 1-10 mg of brain tissue with an overall precision of 3%. The assay rate was 5-6 samples per hour.     

New coenzymically-active soluble and insoluble macromolecular NAD+ derivatives.

Reaction in dimethyl sulfoxide of nicotinamide 8-bromoadenine dinucleotide with the disodium salt of 3-mercaptopropionic acid afforded nicotinamide-8-(2-carboxyethylthio)adenine dinucleotide, a new NAD+ analogue functionalized at the adenine C-8 position by an omega-carboxylic side chain. Carbodimide coupling of the latter derivative to high-molecular-weight water-soluble (polyethyleneimine, polylysine) and insoluble (aminohexy)-Sepharose) polymers gave the corresponding macromolecular NAD+ analogues. These derivatives have been shown to be enzymically reducible. The polyethyleneimine analogue showed a substantial degree of efficiency relative to free NAD+ with yeast alcohol dehydrogenase (47%) but a considerably lower one with rabbit muscle lactate dehydrogenase (3%); the polylysine analogue showed a low degree of efficiency with both enzymes (5-6%).     

Increased activity of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase from frozen-thawed rat liver. A role of lysosomal protease in enzyme activation.

The activity of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase (3':5'-cyclic-nucleotide 5'-nucleotidohydrolase, EC 3.1.4.17) in 105 000 X g supernatant fraction from frozen-thawed rat liver was 2.5 times higher than the corresponding preparation from fresh liver. This increased activity of frozen liver enzyme was accompanied by a decreased sensitivity of the enzyme to known activators such as alpha-tocopheryl phosphate and trypsin. Neither membrane-bound cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase, nor supernatant cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase increased in frozen liver preparation. It is unlikely that the activator protein of phosphodiesterase participated in the observed change of enzyme activity. Among rat tissues so far tested, the increased level of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase was noted only in tissues rich in lysosome content. In the recombination experiment where phosphodiesterase from fresh liver was incubated with lysosomal fraction, stimulation of the enzyme activity was observed with a concomitant loss of sensitivity to above-mentioned activators. Since the stimulation by lysosomal fraction was effectively inhibited by cathepsin B1 inhibitors, leupeptin and antipain, it was deduced cathepsin-B1 (EC 3.4.12.3) type protease(s) was the main causative of activating the cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase. The freezing-thawing process of rat liver made the lysosomal membrane more permeable, and hence lysosomal proteases were released into soluble fraction during phosphodiesterase preparation. These results provide a warning not to use frozen liver for phosphodiesterase preparation, otherwise altered properties of the enzymes will be seen.     

Fundamental differences in bioaffinity of amino acid dehydrogenases for N6- and S6-linked immobilized cofactors using kinetic-based enzyme-capture strategies

Five different immobilized NAD+ derivatives were employed to compare the behavior of four amino acid dehydrogenases chromatographed using kinetic-based enzyme capture strategies (KBECS): S6-, N6-, N1-, 8'-azo-, and pyrophosphate-linked immobilized NAD+. The amino acid dehydrogenases were NAD+-dependent phenylalanine (EC 1.4.1.20), alanine (EC 1.4.1.1), and leucine (EC 1.4.1.9) dehydrogenases from various microbial species and NAD(P)+-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase from bovine liver (GDH; EC 1.4.1.3). KBECS for bovine heart L-lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27) and yeast alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.1) were also applied to assist in a preliminary assessment of the immobilized cofactor derivatives. Results confirm that the majority of the enzymes studied retained affinity for NAD+ immobilized through an N6 linkage, as opposed to an N1 linkage, replacement of the nitrogen with sulfur to produce an S6 linkage, or attachment of the cofactor through the C8 position or the pyrophosphate group of the cofactor. The one exception to this was the dual-cofactor-specific GDH from bovine liver, which showed no affinity for N6-linked NAD+ but was biospecifically adsorbed to S6-linked NAD+ derivatives in the presence of its soluble KBEC ligand. The molecular basis for this is discussed together with the implications for future development and application of KBECS.     

Affinity chromatography of 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas testosteroni. Use of N,N-dimethylformamide to prevent hydrophobic interactions between the enzyme and the ligand.

1. The 3alpha-hydroxysteroid: NAD+-oxidoreductase (EC 1.1.1.50) from Pseudomonas testosteroni (ATCC 11996) has been purified by affinity chromatography on Sepharose 4B using glycocholic acid as ligand covalently bound through its carboxyl group to the ethylenediamine spacer. 2. The attachment of the enzyme to the substrate-containing matrix is greatly enhanced by the presence of NAD+ suggesting that this enzyme has a compulsory ordered mechanism where NAD+ binds to the enzyme before the steroid. 3. A NAD+-independent interaction between the enzyme and the ligand was also found. This interaction was mainly hydrophobic and interfered with the NAD+-dependent binding. The NAD+-independent interaction was reduced by N,N-dimethylformamide. 4. By using the affinity column in the presence of 10% N,N-dimethylformamide, highly purified enzyme, as judged from polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, could be obtained in one step from crude bacterial extracts.     

A "stripping" ligand tactic for use with the kinetic locking-on strategy: its use in the resolution and bioaffinity chromatographic purification of NAD(+)-dependent dehydrogenases.

The kinetic locking-on strategy utilizes soluble analogues of the target enzymes' specific substrate to promote selective adsorption of individual NAD(+)-dependent dehydrogenases on their complementary immobilized cofactor derivative. Application of this strategy to the purification of NAD(+)-dependent dehydrogenases from crude extracts has proven that it can yield bioaffinity systems capable of producing one-chromatographic-step purifications with yields approaching 100%. However, in some cases the purified enzyme preparation was found to be contaminated with other proteins weakly bound to the immobilized cofactor derivative through binary complex formation and/or nonspecific interactions, which continuously "dribbled" off the matrix during the chromatographic procedure. The fact that this problem can be overcome by including a short pulse of 5'-AMP (stripping ligand) in the irrigant a couple of column volumes prior to the discontinuation of the specific substrate analogue (locking-on ligand) is clear from the results presented in this report. The general effectiveness of this auxiliary tactic has been assessed using model studies and through incorporation into an actual purification from a crude cellular extract. The results confirm the usefulness of the stripping-ligand tactic for the resolution and purification of NAD(+)-dependent dehydrogenases when using the locking-on strategy. These studies have been carried out using bovine liver glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH, EC 1.4.1.3), yeast alcohol dehydrogenase (YADH, EC 1.1.1.1), porcine heart mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase (mMDH, EC 1.1.1.37), and bovine heart L-lactate dehydrogenase (l-LDH, EC 1.1.1.27).     

Rat intestinal phosphodiesterase II. Properties of the highly purified enzyme and its inactivation by iodoacetic acid.

A highly purifed preparation of rat intestinal phosphodiesterase II (oligonucleate 3'-nucleotidohydrolase, EC 3.1.4.18) has been studied using a synthetic substrate, thymidine 3'(2,4-dinitrophenyl) phosphate. The enzyme was most active between pH 6.1 and pH 6.7 and was inhibited by Cu2+ and Zn2+ but unaffected by EDTA, Mg2+, Co2+, and Ni2+. The reaction rate decreased at high levels of enzyme because of competitive inhibition by deoxythymidine 3'-phosphate, a reaction product, which showed a Ki of 2-10(-5) M. The molecular weight of the enzyme by gel-filtration was 150 000-170 000. In electrofocusing experiments multiple peaks of activity were found at pH 3.4, 4.2-4.5and 7.2. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of freshly purified phosphodiesterase II showed up to 10 protein bands in the gels. If the preparations were stored at 4 degrees C for some time only one or two bands appeared. Investigation of the reaction of rat intestinal phosphodiesterase II with a number of possible phosphodiesterase substrates indicated that the enzyme required a nucleoside 3'-phosphoryl residue for the initiation of hydrolysis. Thus compounds such as NAD, ATP, bis-(p-nitrophenyl)phosphate, thymidine 5'-(p-nitrophenyl)phosphate, glycerylphosphorylcholine, guanylyl-(2' leads to 5')-adenosine and 3',5'-cyclic AMP which contain phosphodiester bonds, nevertheless were not substrates for the enzyme. The enzyme was inhibited reverisbly by p-chloromercuribenzoate and p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonate and inactivated irreversibly by iodoacetic acid. Activity of the phosphodiesterase II was reduced to 50% by incubation with 2.0-10(-3)--5.0-10(-3) M iodoacetate for 20--30 min at 24 degrees C at pH 5.0--6.1. Iodoacetamide had no effect. The degree of inactivation by iodoacetate was reduced by the presence of a substrate for the enzyme or, more effectively by deoxythymidine 3'-phosphate, a competitive inhibitor. It is concluded that iodoacetic acid alkylates an essential residue at the active centre of the enzyme.     

Phosphodiesterase I in human urine: purification and characterization of the enzyme

Phosphodiesterase I [EC 3.1.4.1] was purified from normal human urine in a highly purified state free from phosphodiesterase II, RNase, DNase I, DNase II, and phosphatase by column chromatographies of DEAE-Toyopearl, butyl-Toyopearl, Affi-Gel blue, and Sephadex G-150. The molecular weight of the enzyme was 1.9 x 10(5) and the pH optimum around 9.0 with p-nitrophenyl deoxythymidine 5'-phosphate as the substrate. The enzyme hydrolyzed the 3'-5' linkage of various dinucleoside monophosphates at approximately the same rate and the phosphodiester bonds of cyclic 3',5'-mononucleotides to produce mononucleoside 5'-phosphate. The enzyme also hydrolyzed ADP to 5'-AMP and Pi, ATP to 5'-AMP and PPi, and NAD+ to 5'-AMP and NMN. The enzyme activity was abolished by removal of metal ions with EDTA, and the metal-free enzyme was reactivated on the addition of Zn2+. The enzyme activity was also abolished by some reducing agents and the inhibition was reversed by Zn2+. The metal-free enzyme was less stable than the native enzyme, and Zn2+ and Co2+ restored the stability of the metal-free enzyme to the level of the native enzyme. The enzyme degraded oligonucleotides and high molecular nucleotides stepwise from the 3'-termini to give 5'-mononucleotides. The enzyme hydrolyzed single-stranded DNA more preferentially than double-stranded DNA. The enzyme also nicked superhelical covalently closed circular phi X174 DNA to yield first open circular DNA and then linear DNA.     

NADH production from NAD+ with a formate dehydrogenase system involving immobilized cells of a methylotrophic Arthrobacter strain.

A convenient and economical method of NADH production from NAD+ has been established using a formate dehydrogenase system involving immobilized cells of a methanol-utilizing bacterium. Arthrobacter sp, KM62. Four kinds of cell entrapment were studied. An immobilized cell preparation showing a high NADH production activity was obtained by entrapment in a kappa-carrageenan gel lattice. The NADH-producing activity of the immobilized cells was investigated under various conditions. The NADH-producing activity was evoked on the addition of Triton X-100 to the reaction mixture. The conditions for the continuous production of NADH with an immobilized cell column were also investigated. When a reaction mixture containing 10 mumol (6.63 mg) ml-1 NAD+ was passed through the column (1.2 x 20 cm) containing 1.62 g (as dry weight) of immobilized cells, at a space velocity of 0.125 at 35 degrees C, complete conversion was attained.     

The hydrolysis of glycerophosphocholine by rat brain microsomes: Activation and inhibition

Experiments with glycerophosphocholine phosphodiesterase (GPC diesterase, EC 3.1.4.2.) in rat brain microsomes suggest that, although its activity is inhibited by low concentrations of calmidazolium, its dependence on Ca²⁺ ions is not modulated by calmoulin. The activity of glycerophosphocholine choline phosphodiesterase (choline phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.4.38) was much lower than that of the GPC diesterase. A relatively inexpensive method for the preparation ofsn-glycero-3-phospho [Me-¹⁴C]choline is described.Special Issue Dedicated to Dr. Abel Lajtha.