Effect of bases noncomplementary to the template on the effectiveness of primer interaction with DNA-polymerase alpha from the human placenta

The comparison of the Km and Vmax values for the various primers was carried out. The primers were either completely complementary to the template or contained the non-complementary bases in different positions from the 3'-end. The number of the bases from the 3'-end to the noncomplementary nucleotide but not the primers length was supposed to determine the efficiency of the interaction of the primers containing noncomplementary bases with the enzyme. The Km values for d[(pC) (pT)7] (1.2 microM), d[(pC)3(pT)7] (2.5 microM, d[(pT)2pC(pT)7] (1.4 microM)d[(pT)4pC(pT)5(4.3 microM); d[(pT)7pC(pT)2] (11 microM) are comparable with the Km values for d(pT)7 (1.4 microM); d(pT)5 (4.2 microM) and d(pT)3 (15 mkM), respectively, but not for the decathymidilate d[(Tp)9T] (0.23 microM). The complementary interaction between the first nucleotide from the 3'-end of the primer and the template appear to play the particular role in the interaction of the enzyme with the primer. The Km values for d[(pT)10pC] and d[(pA)9pC] (with the corresponding templates) are 38 and 6 times the ones for d[(Tp)10T] and d(pA)10. However, the Km values for d[(pA)9p(rib)] (0.56 microM) which contains the deoxyribozylurea residue at the 3'-end is practically equal to the Km for d(pA)9 (0.56 microM). The Vmax values for d[(pT)10pC] and d[(pA)9pC] are 1.7 and 2.3 times the values for d[(Tp)10T] and d(pA)10, respectively. The primer affinity decreases, just as its conversion rate increases when the noncomplementary base in the primer is transferred from the 5'-to 3'-end; that results in the rate of primers elongation decrease in total.     

E. coli DNA polymerase. A study of the mechanism of primer binding using oligothymidylate analogs with ethylated internucleotide phosphate groups

The following individual diastereomers of oligothymidylate ethyl esters (the alkyl phosphodiester group is asymmetric with R or S configuration) have been prepared: d[(Tr)8Tp'(Et)T] (I), d[(Tp)8Tp'(Et)T] (II), d[(Tp)8Tp'(Et)TpT] (III), d[(Tp)8Tp' X (Et)TpT] (IV). A totally esterified analogue d[[(Tp(Et)7]T] (V) was obtained as a diastereomeric mixture. All oligothymidylate derivatives revealed substrate activity as primers of DNA polymerase with poly(dA) as a template. The values of the maximal reaction rates were equal to 14; 2,6; 68; 24 and 0,1% for oligothymidylates (I)-(V) with respect to Vm value (100%) for (Tp)9T. Km values of oligothymidylates (I)-(V), 2,7; 2,5; 0,51; 7,2 microM, were obtained in relation to Km for d[(Tp)9T] (0,4 microM). Diastereomers (I) and (II) were not destroyed by Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I which has only 3'----5' exonuclease activity. However, these derivatives were hydrolyzed by complete DNA polymerase I due to its 5'----3' exonuclease activity, the reaction rate being 3-10 times lower than in case of d[(Tp)9T]. The data suggest an essential contribution to the primer binding from the positive enzyme group interaction with the 3'-end negatively charged phosphate group of oligonucleotide, together with the primer complementary interaction with the template. At least two phosphodiester groups of the oligonucleotide primer are essential for the reaction of polymerization following the correct binding.     

The effect of bases non-complementary to the template on the efficacy of primer interaction with the Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I from Escherichia coli

The comparison of the Km and Vmax values for the primers was carried out. The primers were either completely complementary to the template or contained non-complementary bases at different positions with respect to the 3'-end. The addition of NaF, selectively inhibiting 3'----5'-exonuclease activity of the enzyme, was shown to result in the increase of Vmax values by 10% and 30% for complementary and partially complementary primers, respectively, Km values of the latters being unchanged. Km values for d[(pT)10pC] is about 146-fold greater than that for d[(pT)11]. Km values for d[(pT)7pC(pT)2] (20 microM) and d[[(pT)2pC]3pT] (20 microM); d[(pT)4pC(pT)5] (5.0 microM); d[(pC)(pT)7] (1.3 microM) and d[(pT)2pC(pT)7] (1.2 microM) are comparable with those for d[(pT)2] (22 microM), d[(pT)5] (4.1 microM) and d[(pT)7] (1.2 microM), respectively, but not with the decathymidylate d[(pT)10] (0.2 microM). We suggest that it is not the length of the primers but the number of bases in the fragment beginning with the first nucleotide from the 3'-end and ending in the non-complementary base, that determines the efficiency of interaction of the primers containing non-complementary bases with the enzyme. The addition of one link to d(pT)n (n less than or equal to 10) resulted in a 1.8-fold increase in the affinity. When 11 less than n less than 25 the affinity is decreased so that d(pT)22-23 have minimal affinity to the enzyme. The primers containing more than 50 units were found to have about the same affinity (calculated on base concentration) as d(pT)10-11.     

Syntheses and properties of fluorescent labeled oligonucleotides containing deoxyethenoadenosine at 5' end.

The fluorescent labeled oligodeoxyribonucleotides which contain deoxyethenoadenosione (d epsilon A) at their 5' end were prepared by treating CPG bound oligonucleotides with 5'-DMTr-deoxyethenoadenosine-3'-H-phosphonate. The hybrid formation of d epsilon A-oligonucleotide with its complementary DNA was studied by fluorescence spectroscopy. The fluorescence of d epsilon A in a single strand was largely quenched by stacking interaction with the base at 3' position. When d epsilon A-oligonucleotides hybridized with their complementary strands, relative fluorescence quantum yields (Qrel) against d epsilon A changed in specific manners. These results suggest that d epsilon A-oligonucleotides are applicable to study the local structure of DNA in solution.     

Continuous assay for VanX, the D-alanyl-D-alanine dipeptidase required for high-level vancomycin resistance.

The reaction of L-alanine-p-nitroanilide with VanX was studied in an effort to develop a continuous assay for VanX activity for future kinetic and inhibition studies. VanX, containing Zn(II), Co(II), Fe(II), or Ni(II), catalyzes the hydrolysis of L-alanine-p-nitroanilide producing L-alanine and p-nitroaniline as products; the formation of the latter product (epsilon(404nm) = 10, 700 M(-1) cm(-1)) can be continuously monitored using UV-VIS spectrophotometry. Zn(II)-, Co(II)-, Fe(II)-, and Ni(II)-containing VanX exhibit saturation kinetics when L-alanine-p-nitroanilide is used as the substrate with K(m) and k(cat) values ranging from 300 to 700 microM and 0.028 to 0.080 s(-1), respectively. Inhibition studies using O-[(1S)-aminoethylhydroxyphosphinyl]-D-lactic acid as the inhibitor and L-alanine-p-nitroanilide as the substrate yielded a K(i) of 400 +/- 8 microM at pH 7.0. These studies reveal a continuous assay of VanX activity which could be used to further study the kinetic mechanism of VanX and to allow for the development of high-throughput screening for inhibitors of VanX.     

p10 single-stranded nucleic acid binding protein from murine leukemia virus binds metal ions via the peptide sequence Cys26-X2-Cys29-X4-His34-X4-Cys39

The RNA binding protein of 56 residues encoded by the extreme 3' region of the gag gene of Rauscher murine leukemia virus (MuLV) has been chemically synthesized by a solid-phase synthesis approach. Since the peptide contains a Cys26-X2-Cys29-X4-His34-X2-Cys39 sequence that is shared by all retroviral gag polyproteins which has been proposed to be a metal binding region, it was of considerable interest to examine the metal binding properties of the complete p10 protein. As postulated, p10 binds the metal ions Cd(II), Co(II), and Zn(II). The Co(II) protein shows a set of d-d absorption bands typical of a tetrahedral Co(II) complex at 695 (epsilon = 565 M-1 cm-1), 642 (epsilon = 655 M-1 cm-1), and 615 nm (epsilon = 510 M-1 cm-1) and two intense bands at 349 (epsilon = 2460 M-1 cm-1) and 314 nm (epsilon = 4240 M-1 cm-1) typical of Co(II)----(-)S- charge transfer. The ultraviolet absorption spectrum also indicates Cd(II) binding by the appearance of a Cd(II)----(-)S- charge-transfer band at 255 nm. The 113Cd NMR spectrum of 113Cd(II)-p10 reveals one signal at delta = 648 ppm. This chemical shift correlates well with that predicted for ligation of 113Cd(II) to three -S- from the three Cys residues of p10. The chemical shift of 113Cd(II)-p10 changes by only 4 ppm upon binding of d(pA)6, indicating that the chelate complex is little changed by oligonucleotide binding.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Comparison of the effectiveness of the interaction of ribo- and deoxyriboprimers with DNA-polymerase from the human placenta

The Km and Vmax values for primers d(pA)n, d(pT)n, r(pA)n, r(pU)n where n = 1-16, were compared. The Km values for minimal primers dTMP, dAMP, rUMP, rAMP were found to be 48, 71, 602 and 602 microM, respectively. The Vmax value for any NMP made up approximately 7% of that for (pN)10. The lengthening of any primer per one mononucleotide unit for n from 1 to 10 resulted in the decrease of the Km value 1.8-fold and the increase of the Vmax value 1.35-fold. The ratios of the Km values for primers r(pA)n-d(pA)n and r(pU)n-d(pT)n were 7.5 and 12.5, respectively, for any n. The Km value for [d[pT)8]r(pU) primer was the same as for r(pU)9, but not for d(pT)9. Decanucleotide [d(Tp)9]ddT interacted with the polymerase competitively to the template, but not to the primer. The primer's 3'-OH group was supposed to form the hydrogen bond with the enzyme. The absence of 3'-hydroxygroup in [d(Tp)9]ddT resulted in its inability to compete effectively with the primer. The difference of the affinity of ribo- and deoxyriboprimers is due, apparently, to the existence of the different conformation of the furanose rings in the ribose and deoxyribose.     

Spectroscopic properties, catalytic activities and mechanism studies of [(TpPh)Co(X)(CH3OH)m] . nCH3OH: bicarbonate dehydration in the presence of inhibitors

Two inhibitor-containing 'half-sandwich' cobalt(II) complexes [(TpPh)Co(X)(CH3OH)m] x nCH3OH ((TpPh) = hydrotris (3-phenylpyrazolyl)borate; 1: X- = N3-, m = 1, n = 2; 2: X- = NCS-, m = 0, n = 0) have been synthesized and used as the catalysts in the bicarbonate dehydration reaction. The structures of 1 and 2 were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis, which shows that N3- and NCS- coordinate to the Co(II) ions of 1 and 2, respectively, with the Co-N bond lengths of 1.992(6) A and 1.901(3) A. The coordination geometries of the Co(II) complexes in solution are five-coordinated trigonal bipyramid as revealed by the spectroscopic measurements. The dehydration kinetic measurements of HCO3- are performed by the stopped-flow techniques at pH < 7.9. The apparent dehydration rate constant k(obs) varies linearly with Co(II) complex and H+ concentrations, respectively, and the catalytic activity of 2 is lower than that of 1. The aqua Co(II) complex must be the reactive catalytic species in the catalyzed dehydration reaction and the rate-determining step is the substitution of the labile water molecule by HCO3-. The k(obs) values increase with increasing reaction temperature, and the large negative entropy of activation also indicates the associative activation mode. The inhibition ability of NCS- is stronger than that of N3-, which can be rationalized by the decreases in the Co-N(N3-/NCS-) bond lengths and effective atomic charges of the Co(II) ions based on the X-ray crystallographic data and theoretical calculations in this work.     

Physicochemical properties of cloned nucleocapsid protein from HIV. Interactions with metal ions

The nucleocapsid (NC) protein (p15) of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been cloned and overproduced (under the control of a phage T7 promoter) in soluble form in an Escherichia coli host. The soluble NC protein is a fusion protein containing 15 amino acids from the T7 gene 10 and 7 amino acids from the HIV p24 protein at the N-terminus to make a protein of 171 amino acids. The plasmid containing the fusion gene is designated p15DF. A homogeneous product has been isolated from the induced cells and, when isolated under aerobic conditions, contains 0.3-0.5 mol of Zn/mol of protein and has only 2 titratable SH groups. Reduction and refolding in the presence of Zn(II) yields a protein containing 2.0 mol of Zn/mol of protein and 6 titratable SH groups. On the other hand, if the cells are sonicated in 2 mM CdCl2 and purified at pH 5.0, an unoxidized protein containing 2 mol of Cd/mol of protein is obtained. The Cd(II) ions can be exchanged with Zn(II), Co(II), or 113Cd(II). The Co(II)2 NC protein shows d-d electronic transitions at 695 nm [epsilon = 675 M-1 cm-1 per Co(II)] and 640 nm [epsilon = 825 M-1 cm-1 per Co(II)] compatible with regular tetrahedral geometry around both Co(II) ions. The Co(II)2 and Cd(II)2 NC proteins show intense charge-transfer bands in the near-UV, at 355 nm (epsilon = approximately 4000 M-1 cm-1) and 310 nm (epsilon = approximately 8000 M-1 cm-1) for the Co(II) protein and 255 nm (epsilon = approximately 10(4) M-1 cm-1) for the Cd(II)2 NC protein, compatible with -S- coordination. 113Cd NMR of the 113Cd(II)2 NC protein shows two 113Cd NMR signals at 659 and 640 ppm, respectively, each integrating to approximately 1 Cd(II) ion. The downfield chemical shifts suggest coordination of each 113Cd(II) ion to 3 sulfur donor atoms. The spectroscopic data fully support the prediction that the NC protein binds metal ions to each of the tandem repeats of the -Cys-X2-Cys-X4-His-X4-Cys- sequence contained in the N-terminal half of the molecule. 113Cd NMR shows, however, that the sites are not identical. Isolation of the NC protein under standard aerobic conditions results in oxidation of the sulfhydryl groups and loss of the coordinated Zn(II) ions, while preparation of the NC protein as the Cd(II) derivative at low pH protects the sulfhydryl groups from oxidation.     

DNA-polymerase alpha from human placenta. Effectiveness of interaction between oligothymidylates of different lengths and the template-binding site

Modification of human placenta DNA polymerase alpha by (pT)2pC[Pt2 + (NH3)2OH].(pT)7 was investigated. The linear time dependence of the enzyme activity logarithm suggested a pseudo-first order for modification. Kd value of enzyme-affinity reagent complex (0.5 microM) was estimated. The enzyme inactivation by the affinity reagent and protection from inactivation in the presence of oligonucleotides of varying length were used for determining Kd values of the enzyme-ligand complexes. Oligonucleotide d(pT)2pC(pT)7 (Kd 0.15 microM), d(Tp)9T (Kd 0.15 microM) and [d(Tp)9]ddT (Kd 0.15 microM) protected the enzyme from inactivation with equal efficiency. The protective action of oligothymidylates d(Tp)nT (where n changes from 3 to 14) strongly depended on the chain length, the Kd values diminishing from 5.3 to 0.0091 microM in the geometrical progression. The addition of one link to the oligothymidylate chain resulted in 1.71-fold increase in the oligonucleotide affinity for the enzyme specific site. Such a change corresponds to Gibbs energy change of about 0.32 kcal/mole. It is supposed that the monomer units of pentadecathymidylate (at least beginning with the third one) in d(Tp)14T-enzyme complex form neither hydrogen bonds nor electrostatic linkages with the enzyme. Kd values of oligonucleotides as templates are shown to reflect quite well the true affinity of template for the enzyme. This affinity increases in the presence of a primer. However, the ratio of the affinity for different oligonucleotides does not change in the presence or absence of a complementary primer.     

Klenow fragment of DNA-polymerase I from E. coli. III. The role of internucleotide phosphate groups of the matrix in its binding with the enzyme

The modification of Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I E. coli was investigated by the affinity reagents d(Tp)2C[Pt2+(NH3)2OH](pT)7 and d(pT)2pC[Pt2+(NH3)2OH](pT)7. The template binding site of the enzyme was modified by these reagents in the presence of NaF (5 mM), which inhibits selectively the 3'----5'-exonuclease activity of the enzyme and therefore prevents the reagent from degradation. NaCN destroyed covalent bonds between reagents and enzyme, restoring activity of the Klenow fragment. The affinity of different ligands (inorganic phosphate, nucleoside monophosphates, oligonucleotides) to the template binding site of Klenow fragment was estimated. Minimal ligands capable to bind with the template site were shown to be triethylphosphate (Kd 290 microM) and phosphate (Kd 26 microM). Ligand affinity increases by the factor 1.76 per an added (monomer unit from phosphate to d(pT) and then for oligonucleotides d(Tp)nT (n 1 to 19-20). At n greater than 19-20, the ligand affinity remained constant. The complete ethylation of phosphodiester groups lowers affinity of the oligothymidylates to the enzyme by approximately 10 times, and comparable decrease of Pt2+-oligonucleotide affinity to polymerase is caused by the absence of Mn2+-ions. The data obtained led to suggestion that one Me2+-dependent electrostatic contact of the template phosphodiester group with the enzyme takes place (delta G = -1.45...-1.75 kcal/mole). Formation of a hydrogen bond with the oxygen atom of P = O group of the same template phosphate is also assumed (delta G = -4.8...-4.9 kcal/mole). Other template internucleotide phosphates do not interact with the enzyme but the bases of oligonucleotides take part in hydrophobic interactions with the template binding site. Gibbs energy changes by -0.34 kcal/mole when the template is lengthened by one unit.     

Synthesis,DNA Binding,and Photonuclease Activity of New Tetraaza Macrocyclic Constrained Isoxazole Rings as Subunit in Metal Complexes

The DNA-binding and photonuclease activity of newly synthesized tetra-azamacrocyclic ligand L (C₃₂H₃₂N₈O₄) and its complexes of type [MLCl₂] and [ML]Cl₂ (where M = Co(II), Fe(II) and Cu(II); L = N,N′-[3-(4-{5-[(2-amino-ethylamino)-methyl]-isoxazol-3yl}-phenyl)-isoxazol-5-yl methyl-ethane-1,2-diamine] are specified. An octahedral geometry has been proposed for Fe(II) and Co(II) complexes, while the Cu(II) complex has a square planar environment. The absorption spectral results indicate that the complexes bind with the base pairs of DNA, with an intrinsic binding constant K_b of Fe(II), Co(II), and Cu(II) complexes found to be 3.2 × 10⁴ M^?1, 5.3 × 10⁴ M^?1, and 4.2 × 10⁴ M^?1, respectively, in 5 mM Tris-HCl/50 mM NaCl buffer at pH 7.2. The large enhancement in the relative viscosity of DNA on binding to the complexes supports the proposed DNA binding modes. The viscosity and thermal denaturation studies sustain the effective intercalation with DNA. The DNA photocleavage studies demonstrated that compounds exhibit significant photonuclease activity by a concentration dependent on singlet oxygen mediated mechanism.     

Co(II) derivatives of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase with the cobalt bound in the place of copper. A new spectroscopic tool for the study of the active site

Co(II) derivatives of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase having cobalt substituted for the copper (Co,Zn-superoxide dismutase and Co,Co-superoxide dismutase) were studied by optical and EPR spectroscopy. EPR and electronic absorption spectra of Co,Zn-superoxide dismutase are sensitive to solvent perturbation, and in particular to the presence of phosphate. This behaviour suggests that cobalt in Co,Zn-superoxide dismutase is open to solvent access, at variance with the Co(II) of the Cu,Co-superoxide dismutase, which is substituted for the Zn. Phosphate binding as monitored by optical titration is dependent on pH with an apparent pKa = 8.2. The absorption spectrum of Co,Zn-superoxide dismutase in water has three weak bands in the visible region (epsilon = 75 M-1 X cm-1 at 456 nm; epsilon = 90 M-1 X cm-1 at 520 nm; epsilon = 70 M-1 X cm-1 at 600 nm) and three bands in the near infrared region, at 790 nm (epsilon = 18 M-1 X cm-1), 916 nm (epsilon = 27 M-1 X cm-1) and 1045 nm (epsilon = 25 M-1 X cm-1). This spectrum is indicative of five-coordinate geometry. In the presence of phosphate, three bands are still present in the visible region but they have higher intensity (epsilon = 225 M-1 X cm-1 at 544 nm; epsilon = 315 M-1 X cm-1 at 575 nm; epsilon = 330 M-1 X cm-1 at 603 nm), whilst the lowest wavelength band in the near infrared region is at much lower energy, 1060 nm (epsilon = 44 M-1 X cm-1). The latter property suggests a tetrahedral coordination around the Co(II) centre. Addition of 1 equivalent of CN- gives rise to a stable Co(II) low-spin intermediate, which is characterized by an EPR spectrum with a highly rhombic line shape. Formation of this CN- complex was found to require more cyanide equivalents in the case of the phosphate adduct, suggesting that binding of phosphate may inhibit binding of other anions. Titration of the Co,Co-derivative with CN- provided evidence for magnetic interaction between the two metal centres. These results substantiate the contention that Co(II) can replace the copper of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase in a way that reproduces the properties of the native copper-binding site.     

The effect of bases noncomplementary to the template on the effectiveness of interaction between primers and avian myeloblastosis virus reverse transcriptase]

The comparison of the Km and vmax values for various primers was carried out. The primers were either completely complementary to the poly(A)-template or contained noncomplementary bases in different positions from the 3'-end. An increase of the Km and vmax values for primers containing noncomplementary bases was shown. The affinity of the AMV-revertase complex with poly(A)-template to d(pT)10 was shown to be higher by a factor of 93, 325, 338, 425, 95 and 15 than to d(pT)9(pC), d[(pT)2pC]3pT, d(pT)8pCpT, d(pT)7pC(pT)2, d(pT)4pC(pT)5 and d(pC)3(pT)7, respectively. The vmax values for the above primers were 1.2-1.5-fold higher than for d(pT)10. The decrease of the affinity of noncorrect primers to the enzyme was supposed to serve as a mechanism for mistakes correction when noncomplementary to the template mononucleotide units were added to the primer. More effective discrimination between right and wrong primers takes place if the noncomplementary base is in the second or third position from the 3'-end. The mistake correction is performed by dissociation of a wrong primer from the complexes with the enzyme and template. The data obtained for AMV-revertase are in accord with results for pro- and eukaryotic DNA polymerases and are in favour of a similar mechanism of mistake correction by all enzymes in the case of short primers.     

Myocardial function defined by strain rate and strain during alterations in inotropic states and heart rate

For porcine myocardium, ultrasonic regional deformation parameters, systolic strain (epsilon(sys)) and peak systolic strain rate (SR(sys)), were compared with stroke volume (SV) and contractility [contractility index (CI)] measured as the ratio of end-systolic strain to end-systolic wall stress. Heart rate (HR) and contractility were varied by atrial pacing (AP = 120-180 beats/min, n = 7), incremental dobutamine infusion (DI = 2.5-20 microg. kg(-1). min(-1), n = 7), or continuous esmolol infusion (0.5 mg. kg(-1). min(-1)) + subsequent pacing (120-180 beats/min) (EI group, n = 6). Baseline SR(sys) and epsilon(sys) averaged 5.0 +/- 0.4 s(-1) and 60 +/- 4%. SR(sys) and CI increased linearly with DI (20 microg. kg(-1). min(-1); SR(sys) = 9.9 +/- 0.7 s(-1), P < 0.0001) and decreased with EI (SR(sys) = 3.4 +/- 0.1 s(-1), P < 0.01). During pacing, SR(sys) and CI remained unchanged in the AP and EI groups. During DI, epsilon(sys) and SV initially increased (5 microg. kg(-1). min(-1); epsilon(sys) = 77 +/- 6%, P < 0.01) and then progressively returned to baseline. During EI, SV and epsilon(sys) decreased (epsilon(sys) = 38 +/- 2%, P < 0.001). Pacing also decreased SV and epsilon(sys) in the AP (180 beats/min; epsilon(sys) = 36 +/- 2%, P < 0.001) and EI groups (180 beats/min; epsilon(sys) = 25 +/- 3%, P < 0.001). Thus, for normal myocardium, SR(sys) reflects regional contractile function (being relatively independent of HR), whereas epsilon(sys) reflects changes in SV.     

Binding characteristics of endothelin ET(A) receptors in normal and post-mortem rat lung

In control lung homogenates, optimal specific binding of [(125)I]endothelin-1 and minimal filter binding was achieved using 50 microg/ml bacitracin, 30 microM phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride (PMSF) and 10 mM EDTA. In post-mortem tissue (8, 16, and 32 h), no significant changes were seen in ET(A) receptor affinity (K(d)) or number (B(max)): control and 32 h K(d) = 309 +/- 75, 225 +/- 32 pM and B(max) = 173 +/- 42, 185 +/- 17 fmol/mg protein, respectively. Autoradiographic binding sites for [(125)I]endothelin-1 were densely expressed on bronchiolar smooth muscle and parenchyma with moderate binding on epithelium and blood vessels. Histologic sections of post-mortem lung showed minimal deterioration of structures expressing ET(A) binding sites. Hence the ET(A) receptor is stable in the rat lung for up to 32 h post-mortem.     

Characterization of an inhibitory metal binding site in carboxypeptidase A

The specificity of metal ion inhibition of bovine carboxypeptidase A ([(CPD)Zn]) catalysis is examined under stopped-flow conditions with use of the fluorescent peptide substrate Dns-Gly-Ala-Phe. The enzyme is inhibited competitively by Zn(II), Pb(II), and Cd(II) with apparent KI values of 2.4 x 10(-5), 4.8 x 10(-5), and 1.1 x 10(-2) M in 0.5 M NaCl at pH 7.5 and 25 degrees C. The kcat/Km value, 7.3 x 10(6) M-1 s-1, is affected less than 10% at 1 x 10(-4) M Mn(II) or Cu(II) and at 1 x 10(-2) M Co(II), Ni(II), Hg(II), or Pt(IV). Zn(II) and Pb(II) are mutually exclusive inhibitors. Previous studies of the pH dependence of Zn(II) inhibition [Larsen, K. S., & Auld, D. S. (1989) Biochemistry 28, 9620] indicated that [(CPD)Zn] is selectively inhibited by a zinc monohydroxide complex, ZnOH+, and that ionization of a ligand, LH, in the enzyme's inhibitory site (pKLH 5.8) is obligatory for its binding. The present study allows further definition of this inhibitory zinc site. The ionizable ligand (LH) is assigned to Glu-270, since specific chemical modification of this residue decreases the binding affinity of [(CPD)Zn] for Zn(II) and Pb(II) by more than 60- and 200-fold, respectively. A bridging interaction between the Glu-270-coordinated metal hydroxide and the catalytic metal ion is implicated from the ability of Zn(II) and Pb(II) to induce a perturbation in the electronic absorption spectrum of cobalt carboxypeptidase A ([(CPD)Co]).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Oligothymidylate analogues having stereoregular, alternating methylphosphonate/phosphodiester backbones as primers for DNA polymerase

Oligothymidylate analogues having stereoregular, alternating methylphosphonate/phosphodiester backbones, d-Tp(TpTp)4T isomers I and II and d-Tp(TpTp)3T(pT)1-5 isomers I and II, were prepared by methods analogous to the phosphotriester synthetic technique. The designations isomer I nd isomer II refer to the configuration of the methylphosphonate linkage, which is the same through each isomer. Analogues with the type I methylphosphonate configuration form very stable duplexes with poly(dA) while those with the type II configuration form either 2T:1A triplexes or 1T:1A duplexes with poly(dA) of considerably lower stabilities. The oligothymidylate analogues were tested for their ability to initiate polymerizations catalyzed by Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I or calf thymus DNA polymerase alpha on a poly(dA) template. Neither d-Tp(TpTp)4T nor d-Tp(T]Tp)3TpT served as initiators of polymerization while d-Tp(TpTp)3T(pT)2-5 showed increasing priming ability as the length of the 3'-oligothymidylate tail increased. Analogues with type I methylphosphonate configuration were more effective initiators than the type II analogues at 37 degrees C. The apparent activation energies of polymerizations initiated by d-Tp(TpTp)3T-(pT)4 and 5 isomer I were greater than those for reactions initiated by isomer II or d-(Tp)11T. The results suggest that DNA polymerase interacts with the charged phosphodiester groups of the primer molecule and may help stabilize primer/template interaction. At least two contiguous phosphodiester groups are required at the 3' end of the analogue primers in order for polymerization to occur. Interactions between the polymerase and primer also appear to occur with phosphodiester groups located at sites remote from the 3'-OH polymerization site and may be influenced by the configuration of the methylphosphonate group.