Purification and characterization of two forms of rat interleukin-2

Rat IL-2 produced by spleen cells in culture with concanavalin A was purified using gel filtration, hydrophobic chromatography, and ion-exchange chromatography. At least two forms of rat IL-2 were found to be separable by ion-exchange chromatography. These two forms have been designated form I and form II. Form I of rat IL-2 was purified by a factor of 1297 and found to have a pI of 6.4. Form II was purified by a factor of 669 and found to have a pI between 5.4 and 6.1. Lectin chromatography was used to demonstrate that these two forms most likely differ in the extent of glycosylation. In the presence of tunicamycin the production of form II was significantly reduced. The two forms of rat IL-2 differ in their abilities to promote a mixed-lymphocyte reaction. Their differences in glycosylation may be the reason for these differences in activity.     

Isolation and properties of multiple forms of histidine decarboxylase from rat gastric mucosa.

The heterogeneity of histidine decarboxylase from rat gastric mucosa was studied. The partially purified enzyme was fractionated by preparative isoelectric focusing on a flat-gel bed by using narrow pH-range carrier ampholytes and a short focusing time. The activity was resolved, with about 95% recovery, into three forms, designated I, II and III, with pI values of 5.90, 5.60 and 5.35 respectively. These three forms exhibited similar molecular weights, indicating that the forms were not the result of different degrees of polymerization. By preparative refocusing each form refocused as a single peak of enzyme activity with reproducible pI, but a high loss of activity occurred with repeated focusing. Forms I, II and III were purified by the combined use of preparative isoelectric focusing and gel chromatography and other fractionation methods. The active forms could be distinguished by electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing on polyacrylamide gels and displayed protein heterogeneity. These forms were found in the crude extract and in the partially purified preparations in the presence or absence of proteinase inhibitors. Form II had the highest specific activity, but all three forms had the same optimum pH and Km value for histidine.     

Properties of two molecular forms of beta-glucuronidase from the mollusc Littorina littorea L.

The occurrence of the two molecular forms, I and II, in the beta-glucuronidase of the liver (hepatopancreas) from the marine mollusc Littorina littorea L. has been demonstrated for the first time. The two forms have been purified 355-fold and 1262-fold, respectively. Form I and II of beta-glucuronidase behave differently on DEAE-cellulose chromatography, polyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing (pH 5.5 and 4.2, respectively), optimum pH (4.4 and 3.4--4.1, respectively), thermal stability, Km (1.2 mM and 0.5 mM with p-nitrophenyl beta-D-glucuronide, 0.3 mM and 0.15 mM with phenolphthalein beta-D-glucuronide as substrates for form I and II, respectively) and V. Their molecular weight, estimated by gel filtration through Sephadex G-200, was about 250000 for both forms. Several subunits were separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate. This beta-glucuronidase is a glycoprotein, but sialic acid(s) were not detected. The enzyme was very active on synthetic substrates and also on hexasaccharides and tetrasaccharides containing glucuronic acid residues with beta 1 leads to 3 linkages; it had practially no activity on certain glycosaminoglycans. Hg2+ and glucaro-1,4-lactone were very effective inhibitors of this enzyme; the latter by a competitive mechanism.     

Purification and characterization of acid beta-D-galactosidase from rabbit spleen

beta-D-Galactosidase has been purified to apparent homogeneity from rabbit spleen. The purification steps involved ammonium sulphate precipitation, DEAE-cellulose, concanavalin A-Sepharose, Sephadex G-200, and Sepharose 4B-(epsilon-aminocaproyl)-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucosylamine affinity chromatographies. In the DEAE-cellulose step, the beta-D-galactosidase was separated into two molecular forms, designated I and II, with similar pH optimum, Km, substrate specificity, and sensitivity to substrate analogues and other substances. Form I was purified 1,800-fold with a yield of about 2% of the total activity. This form is heat-labile, it has an acid optimal pH (4.0), an isoelectric point of 6.7 and a molecular weight of 75,000 daltons. Form II has an optimal pH of 3.6 and three different pI values (5.3, 5.7, and 6.7) whose relative proportions can be modified by treatment with neuraminidase. Form II appeared to be a multimeric form (IIA) of about 600,000 daltons at pH 4.0, which was reversibly dissociated to an oligomeric form (IIB) with an apparent molecular weight of 120,000 at neutral pH values. Both IIA and IIB were purified separately and showed an acid pH optimum and an heterogeneous pI (from 4.6 to 7.2). The dissociation of IIA into IIB can be generated spontaneously, but is increased by the presence of urea in the elution buffer, suggesting that both are aggregates of a common subunit.     

Purification, crystallisation and preliminary X-ray study of haemoglobin from Crocodilis palustris and Crocodilis porosus

The unsolved three-dimensional structure of crocodile haemoglobin and its prospects as a blood substitute have led us to initiate the purification and crystallisation of haemoglobin molecules from crocodile species (Crocodilis palustris or mugger and Crocodilis porosus or salt water crocodile). The work has resulted in the prevention of polymerisation of naked haemoglobin molecules using N-ethylmaleimide or iodoacetamide. The purified monomeric haemoglobin molecule of C. porosus was crystallised in two different forms and X-ray diffraction data were collected up to 2 A resolution for both forms. Form I: a=53.62, b=53.55, c=103.77 A; beta=93.35 degrees, space group P2(1), Z=2. Form II: a=71.30, b=54.70, c=80.00 A; beta=106.4 degrees, space group P2(1), Z=2. Structure solution and rigid body refinement of form I data resulted in a model with R(free)=0.42 and R=0.35.     

Autolysis of glycoproteins in rat kidney lysosomes in vitro. Effects on the isoelectric focusing behaviour of glycoproteins, arylsulphatase and β-glucuronidase

1. Rat kidney lysosomal glycoproteins, prelabelled in the N-acetylneuraminic acid and polypeptide portions with N-acetyl[(3)H]mannosamine and [(14)C]lysine, or with N-acetyl-[(14)C]glucosamine, were incubated under various conditions. Autolytic cleavage of labelled N-acetylneuraminic acid and peptide was maximum at pH5.0. 2. N-Acetylneuraminic acid was released more rapidly than peptide during incubation at 37 degrees or 4 degrees C at pH5. p-Nitrophenyloxamic acid, an inhibitor of bacterial neuraminidase (Edmond et al., 1966), inhibited the cleavage of N-acetylneuraminic acid and peptide, and also inhibited cathepsin D activity. 3. Galactono-, mannono-, and glucono-lactone, inhibitors of the corresponding glycosidases, blocked the autolytic cleavage of N-acetyl[(14)C]glucosamine and protein without inhibiting beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase or cathepsin D activity. These findings suggest that the carbohydrate side chains protect the polypeptide portion of the lysosomal glycoproteins against proteolytic attack by lysosomal cathepsins. 4. In electrofocusing experiments, autolysis was minimized by adding 0.1% p-nitrophenyloxamic acid to the media used for extraction and electrofocusing, and by maintaining an alkaline pH (pH8.8-9) during extraction and dialysis. Arylsulphatase occurred in two forms with pI values of 4.4 and 6.4-6.7, and beta-glucuronidase in two forms with pI values of 4.4 and 6.1. When [(14)C]lysine and N-acetyl[(3)H]mannosamine were given to rats 1.5 and 1 h before killing, (14)C and (3)H were largely restricted to highly acidic glycoprotein species with pI values of 2.1-5.1. 5. When a lysosomal extract was adjusted to pH5 and incubated at 20 degrees C for 16h and then at 37 degrees C for 1 h before electrofocusing, 32 and 58% of the labelled peptide and N-acetylneuraminic acid was cleaved and the pI values of the labelled glycoproteins were markedly increased. About 80% of the acidic form of arylsulphatase and beta-glucuronidase was recovered with the basic form, and the pI of the basic form of both enzymes rose to 7.0. Similar, though less marked changes, were observed when a lysosomal extract was kept at pH5 for 2h at 4 degrees C before electrofocusing. 6. When an acidic lysosomal fraction (pI4.2-4.6) was incubated at pH5 for 2.5h and refocused, 80% of the arylsulphatase now occurred in two forms with pI values of 5 and 6.4. When a basic lysosomal fraction (pI5.8-6.4) was similarly incubated, the pI of arylsulphatase increased from 6.4 to 7.2. The relative increase in pI of arylsulphatases was accompanied by a proportional loss of N-acetylneuraminic acid from the glycoprotein associated with these forms. 7. These experiments show that lysosomal glycoproteins and two representative hydrolases, when exposed to a mildly acidic pH, readily undergo autolytic degradation and their pI values increase. These observations may have a bearing on the origin of the molecular heterogeneity of the lysosomal enzymes.     

In vitro capacitation and induction of acrosomal exocytosis in ram spermatozoa as assessed by the chlortetracycline assay

We have described the different patterns of chlortetracycline (CTC) binding to ram spermatozoa, immediately after ejaculation and upon in vitro capacitation and calcium ionophore-induced acrosomal exocytosis. Four different forms of CTC distribution were found. Form I showed an even distribution of fluorescence over the entire head, with a brighter band in the equatorial region. In Form II, uniform fluorescence was observed without equatorial band. Form III consisted of fluorescence in the anterior portion of the head. Form IV showed no fluorescence over the head. In all cases, fluorescence in the middle piece of the flagellum was observed as well. Immediately after ejaculation, Form I was the most abundant one (78%) in fresh semen with Forms II and III being relatively scarce (less than 15%). Form IV was virtually absent or appeared only occasionally. Incubation under in vitro capacitating conditions led to a significant decrease in Form I and to a significant increase in Forms II and III. Form II was mainly associated to intact acrosomes, while most spermatozoa in Form III showed intermediate forms of acrosomal status. Incubation of spermatozoa with the calcium ionophore A23187 resulted in 55% of spermatozoa showing Form IV, suggesting that it represents the acrosome-reacted stage. Form I was abruptly decreased at 30 min of incubation and was neglectible after 60 min. In contrast, Forms II and III increased at 30 min but decreased later on, suggesting that both forms represent intermediate stages before the acrosomal exocytosis. Analysis of acrosomal status in spermatozoa from individual CTC forms revealed that all spermatozoa that remained in Form II after incubation had intact acrosomes. Intermediate stages were predominant in Form III-spermatozoa, while most Form IV-spermatozoa underwent full acrosomal exocytosis. These results show that CTC binding can be used to monitor changes in ram spermatozoa during capacitation and acrosome-reaction.     

Expression of variant forms of proopiomelanocortin, the common precursor to corticotropin and beta-lipotropin in the rat pars intermedia

Proopiomelanocortin, the common glycoprotein precursor to adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH), is the most abundant protein synthesized in rat neurointermediate lobes. It represents 30% of the total amount of radioactive proteins obtained after a 1-h pulse incubation with [3H]phenylalanine. Several forms of this protein can be separated by a high-resolution two-dimensional gel electrophoresis technique. The three most abundant species which can be reproducibly characterized by their apparent molecular weights (Mr) and isoelectric points (pI) were called form I (Mr 34 000; pI 8.2), form II (Mr 36 000; pI 8.2), and form III (Mr 35 000; pI 7.3). Additional minor forms, representing together approximately 30% of the total forms I, II, and III combined, are also observed. They have very close molecular weights but differ by their isoelectric points. When glycosylation is prevented by tunicamycin, forms I and II are replaced by a new molecule with the same pI of 8.2 but a slightly lower Mr (32 000). This form is referred to as form T1. Similarly, form III is replaced by form T2 (Mr 33 000; pI 7.3). Forms T1 and T2 are supposed to be nonglycoslyated peptides. They were further characterized by microsequencing and peptide mapping. They both have the same N-terminal amino acid sequence with leucine residues in positions 3 and 11, and they both contain identical [3H]phenylalanine-labeled tryptic fragments, two of them corresponding to the sequences 1-8 of ACTH and 61-69 of beta-LPH. However, a limited digestion with the Staphylococcus aureus (V8 strain) protease generates a collection of peptides different for each form. These results suggest the presence of at least two different gene products corresponding to the major forms of proopiomelanocortin in the rat pars intermedia.     

Evidence for two activated forms of pyruvate kinase from Bacillus stearothermophilus in the presence of ribose 5-phosphate

Allosteric activation of pyruvate kinase from a thermophilic bacterium, Bacillus stearothermophilus, by ribose 5-phosphate (R5P) was kinetically examined. Two activated forms of this enzyme could be distinguished, depending on the R5P concentration. One form (Form I) was observed at about 10(-5) M R5P. It showed a slightly negative cooperativity for phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP). The other form (Form II) was observed at more than 10(-3) M R5P and showed Michaelis-Menten kinetics for PEP. The PEP and ADP concentrations that yield half-maximal velocity were essentially identical for the two forms (about 0.1 and about 0.5 mM, respectively), but Form I had a larger Vmax value than Form II. In the absence of R5P, the enzyme showed a homotropic positive cooperativity for PEP; the concentration required for the half-maximal velocity was about 2 mM and that of ADP was about 1.6 mM. The enzyme was more susceptible to protease digestion in the presence of R5P than in the absence of it. The concentration of R5P required for the enzyme to be susceptible to protease digestion was approximately identical with that required to generate Form I. With more than 10(-3) M R5P, the thermostability of the enzyme was greatly increased. The concentration of R5P required for the enzyme to be thermostable was in good agreement with that required to generate Form II. These results indicate that the two activated forms distinguished kinetically differ in their conformations, too. The saturating level of PEP did not cause such a change in the thermostability or the susceptibility to protease.     

Purification and characterization of native and proteolytic forms of rabbit liver phosphorylase kinase

1. Two forms of phosphorylase kinase having mol. wt of 1,260,000 (form I) and 205,000 (form II) have been identified by gel filtration chromatography of rabbit liver crude extracts. 2. Form I was the majority when the homogenization buffer was supplemented with a mixture of proteinase inhibitors. This form has been purified through a protocol including ultracentrifugation, gel filtration and affinity chromatography on Sepharose-heparin. 3. Form II was purified by a combination of chromatographic procedures including ion exchange, gel filtration and affinity chromatography on Sepharose-Blue Dextran and Sepharose-histone. 4. Upon electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate two subunits of 69,000 and 44,000 were identified for this low molecular weight enzyme. Thus, a tetrameric structure comprising two subunits of each kind can be proposed. 5. Treatment of form I with either trypsin or chymotrypsin gave an active fragment having a molecular weight similar to that of form II. On the contrary, other dissociating treatments with salts, thiols and detergents failed in producing forms of lower molecular weight. 6. The similarities between proteolyzed forms I and II were stressed by their behavior in front of antibodies raised against the muscle isoenzyme of phosphorylase kinase. 7. The study of the effect of magnesium and fluoride ions on the activity of both forms showed an inhibitory effect of magnesium when its concentration exceeded that of ATP. 8. The inhibition could nevertheless be reverted by including 50 mM NaF in the reaction mixture. 9. Form I and form II could be distinguished by their pH dependence in the presence of an excess of magnesium ions over ATP, whereas the affinity for both substrates was not significantly different.     

Properties of acid beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase from cock semen.

Two forms (I and II) of beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase from cock seminal plasma and one form (III) from spermatozoa were separated by chromatofocusing. The active enzyme forms I and II had pI values of 6.6 and 6.3, respectively, while form III had two subforms with pI values of 6.3 and 6.1, as determined by polyacrylamide gel electrofocusing. The molecular weights were 76,000 for forms I and III and 32,000 for form II. The optimum pH of enzyme forms I and III ranged from 3.6 to 4.0. In contrast, form II showed one distinct maximum at pH 3.7. The Km values obtained with p-nitrophenyl-beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminide as substrate were 0.35, 0.28, and 0.39 mM for forms I, II, and III, respectively. It is assumed that both cock spermatozoa and cock seminal plasma contain a common, enzymatically active beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase subunit with M(r) about 32,000 and pI 6.3.     

Two forms of the DNA polymerase of bacteriophage T7

The DNA polymerase induced by bacteriophage T7 can be isolated in two different forms. The distinguishing properties are: 1) the specific activities of the associated 3' to 5' single- and double-stranded DNA exonuclease activities, 2) the ability to catalyze DNA synthesis and strand displacement at nicks, and 3) the degree of stimulation of DNA synthesis on nicked, duplex DNAs by the gene 4 protein of phage T7. Form I is obtained when purification is carried out in the absence of EDTA while Form II is obtained if all purification steps are carried out in the presence of 0.1 mM EDTA. Form I has low levels of both exonuclease activities, less than 5% of those of Form II. Form I can initiate DNA synthesis at nicks leading to strand displacement, a consequence of which is its ability to be stimulated manyfold by the helicase activity of gene 4 protein on nicked, duplex templates. On the other hand, Form II cannot initiate synthesis at nicks even in the presence of gene 4 protein. In keeping with its higher exonuclease activities, Form II of T7 DNA polymerase has higher turnover of nucleotides activity (5-fold higher than Form I) and exhibits greater fidelity of nucleotide incorporation, as indicated by the rate of incorporation of 2-aminopurine deoxynucleoside monophosphate. Both forms of T7 DNA polymerase exhibit higher fidelity of nucleotide incorporation than bacteriophage T4 DNA polymerase. In the absence of EDTA or in the presence of FeSO4 or CaCl2, Form II irreversibly converts to Form I. The physical difference between the two forms is not known. No difference in molecular weight can be detected between the corresponding subunits of each form of T7 DNA polymerase as measured by gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate.     

Soluble and membrane-bound neutral alpha-glucosidase from the human kidney

In human kidney cortex neutral alpha-glucosidases 1 and 2 are represented by two forms, soluble (cytosolic) and membrane-bound (brush border) ones. It has been shown that the soluble enzyme preexists in human kidney but does not derive from the membrane-bound form. Similar to the membrane-bound enzyme the soluble form is a glycoprotein. Both enzyme forms possess identical electrophoretic mobility, pH-optimum, heat sensibility and Km values for maltose (0.7 mM) and 4-methylumbelliferyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (0.57 mM), but differ by molecular weights as determined by gel filtration chromatography. The molecular weights of the soluble neutral alpha-glucosidases 1 and 2 are lower than those of the comparable brush border enzymes (470 000, 360 000, 520 000 and 440 000, correspondingly). Neutral membrane-bound alpha-glucosidase 1 is a sialylated enzyme with a pI of 4.10 +/- 0.02. The soluble enzyme contains no or only traces of neuraminic acid and has a pI 4.40 +/- 0.03. The soluble and membrane-bound neutral alpha-glucosidases are apparently independent forms of the enzyme, differing by the degree of sialylation and by the presence of an "anchor" in the membrane-bound enzyme. The synthesis of both forms is presumably coded by the same structural gene.     

alpha-D-mannosidase forms in chicken liver

Two forms (I and II) of alpha-D-mannosidase have been separated by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose from embryonic chicken liver. A third form (III), which is absent in embryos, was also separated from 4-day-old chickens. The optimum pH of form I is at pH 5.0. Form II is named "neutral" because it shows maximal activity at pH 6.5. The optimum pH of form III is 4.5. Forms I and III are heat-stable at 50 degrees C for 1 hr, whereas form II is very unstable under these conditions. Zn2+ and Mg2+ have been found to increase the alpha-D-mannosidase activity of forms I and II. In contrast, Co2+ increases mannosidase I activity and inhibits form II from 18-day-old embryos. alpha-Methyl-D-mannoside, N-acetyl-D-mannosamine and D-mannosamine were found to be inhibitors of both forms I and II. "Neutral" mannosidase was also inhibited by chloride. Competitive inhibition by D-mannose was also studied and Ki values are given.     

ATP promotes the appearance of two DNA-binding forms of the Ah receptor.

Following the binding of a specific ligand such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, mild heating has previously been shown to convert cytosolic aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor to two DNA-binding forms: peak I, which appears to be an Ah receptor monomer; and peak II, which is larger and resembles nuclear Ah receptor. In rat liver cytosol pretreated with charcoal-dextran, and heated briefly at 22 degrees C, the addition of a physiological (3 mM) concentration of ATP substantially increases the formation of both peak I and peak II receptor. On more extended incubation in the presence of ATP most of the Ah receptor converts to the tighter binding peak II form. The ATP analog 5'-adenylylmethylene diphosphonate (AMPPCP) stimulates the appearance of both DNA-binding forms as effectively as ATP does. In cytosol separated from low molecular weight components by gel filtration prior to incubation, ATP substantially stimulates the appearance of peak II receptor. ATP also increases the amount of peak II receptor formed when peak I receptor is incubated with unlabeled charcoal-treated cytosol. Thus, ATP promotes both the release of Ah receptor monomer from the 9 S complex which cannot bind DNA and the subsequent conversion of that monomer to a form similar or identical to nuclear Ah receptor.     

Bovine cathepsins S and L: isolation and amino acid sequences.

The purification procedure of cathepsin S includes acid activation of spleen homogenate, incubation at 37 degrees C, precipitation with (NH4)2SO4 in H2O/tert-butanol medium, gel chromatography, chromatofocusing, covalent chromatography and cation chromatography of FPLC system. Cathepsin S has a M(r) of about 24,000 Da with pI of 6.5 and 6.8. The mixture of both forms gave a single sequence. Cathepsin L was purified from bovine kidney by acid treatment and incubation of 37 degrees C, precipitation by (NH4)2SO4, two ion exchange chromatographies on CM-Sephadex, gel chromatography and ion exchange chromatography on FPLC system. Cathepsin L exists in multiple forms with pI 5.3-5.7 and M(r) of about 29,000 Da. N-terminal amino acid sequence confirms that cathepsin L and cathepsin S are different enzymes.     

Protein inhibitors of cysteine proteinases. III. Amino-acid sequence of cystatin from chicken egg white

Cystatin, the protein inhibitor of cysteine proteinases from chicken egg white was purified by a new method. The two major forms with pI 6.5 (Peak I) and 5.6 (Peak II) were separated. Molecular masses of both forms are approx. 12700 Da as determined by gel chromatography; Form A from Peak I has a molecular mass of 12191 Da as calculated from its amino-acid sequence. The complete amino-acid sequence of Form A was determined by automated solid-phase Edman degradation of the whole inhibitor and its cyanogen bromide fragments. It contains 108 amino-acid residues. Form B from Peak II represents an elongation of Form A by 8 amino-acid residues at the N-terminus. Cystatin contains four cysteine residues, presumably forming two disulphide bridges. Comparison of the amino-acid sequences and near ultraviolet circular dichroism spectra of stefin, the cysteine proteinase inhibitor from human granulocytes, and cystatin shows that the two proteins are entirely different. According to the primary structures, probably neither proteinase inhibitor is involved in a thiol-disulphide exchange mechanism in the interaction with its target enzyme.     

A new dinuclear biphenylene bridged copper(II) complex: DNA cleavage under hydrolytic conditions

The dinucleating ligand, tpbpd (tetrapyridyl biphenylenediamine) forms a dicopper complex with practically no electronic coupling between the two copper (II) centres. The EPR spectrum of the complex is consistent with coordination of each copper ion to two nitrogens of the binuclear ligand. Cyclic voltammogram of the complex also reveals that the two copper (II) centres have identical ligating environment. This dimeric copper (II) complex is found to be a very efficient catalyst for the cleavage of plasmid DNA in the absence of any added cofactor. The amount of conversion of supercoiled form (Form I) of plasmid to the open circular form (Form II) depends on the concentration of the complex as well as the duration of incubation of the complex with DNA. The maximum rate of conversion of the supercoiled form to the nicked circular form at pH 7.5 in the presence of 150 microM of the complex is found to be 1.8 x 10(-3) s(-1).     

An accessory protein identical to mouse egasyn is complexed with rat microsomal beta-glucuronidase and is identical to rat esterase-3

We report biochemical, immunological, and genetic studies which demonstrate that an accessory protein with the essential features of mouse egasyn is complexed with and stabilizes a portion of beta-glucuronidase in microsomes of rat liver. The accessory protein exists as a complex with beta-glucuronidase since it coprecipitates with beta-glucuronidase after treatment of extracts with a specific beta-glucuronidase antibody. The two proteins are associated by noncovalent bonds since they are easily dissociated at elevated temperatures. Only 20-25% of total liver accessory protein is complexed with microsomal beta-glucuronidase. The remainder exists as a free form. The molecular weight of the accessory protein is 61 to 63 kDa depending upon the rat strain of origin. This protein, like mouse egasyn, has esterase catalytic activity and is concentrated in microsomes. The accessory protein is genetically polymorphic with at least four alleles. Combined biochemical and genetic evidence indicates it is identical with esterase-3 of the rat. Also, both mouse egasyn and rat esterase-3 react with antisera to egasyn and to rat esterase-3, indicating they are homologous proteins. Several inbred rat strains lack microsomal beta-glucuronidase. The same strains lack the accessory protein, suggesting that stabilization of beta-glucuronidase in rat microsomes requires egasyn.     

Biochemical characterization of HgCl2-inducible polypeptides encoded by the mer operon of plasmid R100.

Minicells carrying the subcloned mer operon from plasmid R100 were pulse-labeled with [35S]methionine, and the labeled polypeptides were analyzed at various subsequent times by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The Hg(II) reductase monomer encoded by plasmid R100 occurred as two proteins of 69 and 66 kilodaltons (kd). The minor 66-kd protein is a modified form of the 69-kd protein. This modification occurs in vivo. Both of these mer proteins are found in the soluble fraction of the cell; however, the 66-kd protein appears to have a slight affinity for the cellular envelope. Both the 69- and 66-kd mer proteins have pI values greater (pI = 5.8) than that reported (pI = 5.3) for the analogous monomer encoded by plasmid R831. The 15.1- and 14-kd mer proteins are localized in the inner membrane and are probably elements of the mer-determined Hg(II) uptake system. These two mer membrane proteins, which are antigenically unrelated to the Hg(II) reductase monomer, are quite basic (pI values greater than 7.8). The 12-kd mer protein is also a basic polypeptide that is present in the soluble fraction of the cell. Unlike the two membrane-bound mer proteins, the 12-kd mer protein is processed from a 13-kd precursor.