Chemical modification of horseradish peroxidase. Preparation and characterization of tracer enzymes with different isoelectric points.

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP), a plant glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 40,000 D and a molecular radius (ae) of 30 A, has been modified chemically to prepare tracer molecules with different molecular charge. Modification of free carboxyl groups on the enzyme is achieved by carbodiimide activation and subsequent reaction of activated carboxyl groups with a nucleophile; uncharged groups or radicals containing additional positively charged moieties are introduced into the protein molecule resulting in an increased net positive charge of the tracer. Amino groups in the protein molecule are modified by acetylation or succinylation; this reaction will increase the net negative charge of the enzyme by either introducing an uncharged group or an additional carboxyl radical. The tracer molecules so obtained are then characterized in terms of molecular size and charge by column chromatography and isoelectric focusing respectively. The enzymatic activity as measured by 3,3'-diaminobenzidine reaction, the pH optimum and the absorption spectra for the modified enzymes remain virtually unchanged.     

Analysis of the peroxidatic mode of action of catalase

Catalase is an enzyme which can function either in the catabolism of hydrogen peroxide or in the peroxidatic oxidation of small substrates such as ethanol, methanol, or elemental mercury (Hg0). It has been reported that native catalase can peroxidatically oxidize larger organic molecules (e.g. L-dopa) and that catalase maintained at alkaline pH for various lengths of time demonstrates an increase in peroxidase activity using guaiacol as substrate. We have shown, by using two distinct methods of H2O2 introduction for measuring peroxidase activity, that native catalase shows no peroxidatic activity toward these larger organic molecules. We have also shown, through the use of these peroxidase assays and by enzyme absorption spectra, that the peroxidase activity attributed to catalase maintained at alkaline pH is a catalytic but not enzymatic activity associated with a hematin group attached to a denatured catalase monomer. Possible mechanisms for the catalytic and peroxidatic modes of action of catalase involving hydride-ion transfer are discussed.     

Cytochemical detection systems for in situ hybridization, and the combination with immunocytochemistry. ‘Who is still afraid of red, green and blue?’

Summary An overview is given of the different non-radioactive cytochemical detection methodologies that are currently utilized to localize nucleic acid sequences in chromosomes, cells and tissue sections. Dependent on the reporter molecule (fluorochrome, enzyme or hapten) that is used to modify the appropriate nucleic acid probe, and the sensitivity that is required, the in situ hybridized sequences can be detected either directly after hybridization or indirectly, using cytochemical detection and amplification layers. These may then contain antibody and/or avidin molecules conjugated to fluorochromes, enzymes or colloidial gold particles. Since the choice of a suitable probe-labelling method in combination with a fluorescence, enzyme cytochemical or immunogold-silver detection procedure is often determined by the user's own practical experience and applications, the different detection methodologies are compared with each other in detail with respect to sensitivity, resolution, applicability for multiple probe detection, and signal evaluation. Furthermore, procedures are reviewed for the combination of in situ hybridization with immunocytochemical detection of proteins and/or incorporated bromodeoxyuridine, which allow the simultaneous visualization of genomic phenotypic and/or cell cycle parameters in the same sample. Possible improvements with respect to sensitivity, specificity and multiplicity of the detection methods, which may be interesting for one's own experimental design, are finally being discussed.     

Spectral and enzymatic properties of human recombinant myeloperoxidase: comparison with the mature enzyme.

Human recombinant myeloperoxidase (recMPO), purified from an engineered Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line, has been characterized and compared to the mature enzyme isolated from polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Both molecules appear essentially similar in physicochemical enzymatic terms according to the following observations. 1. The unprocessed recombinant protein displays the characteristic light absorption spectra of ferric mature MPO and exhibits its typical spectral changes in the presence of dithionite or hydrogen peroxide. 2. The addition of 14C-labeled 5-aminolevulinic acid, a heme precursor, to the culture medium of recombinant CHO cells yields labeled recMPO, indicating the presence of a heme-like structure in the molecule. 3. Like mature MPO, recMPO has a peroxidatic activity and catalyzes the oxidation of chloride ions in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, producing hypochlorous acid as measured by the monochlorodimedon assay. For both enzymes, the chlorinating activity optimally occurs around pH 5.0 at about 100 microM of hydrogen peroxide and is strongly inhibited by methimazole. 4. Diethylpyrocarbonate significantly reduces the enzymatic activity of both molecules, suggesting that histidine residues may be of prime importance in the active site of the enzymes. 5. According to infrared spectroscopy data, both enzymes present a very similar secondary structure organization. In conclusion, the data suggest that the processing of the precursor enzyme (recMPO) into the mature form occurs without major structural and functional consequences.     

Detection of diaminobenzidine reactions using scanning laser confocal reflectance microscopy

We used scanning laser confocal microscopy to visualize sites of peroxidatic activity as detected by the diaminobenzidine (DAB) reaction. Imaging was achieved by employing the reflectance mode of this instrument. Intense reflectance was detected after DAB localization of endogenous granule-associated myeloperoxidase in neutrophils and of the exogenous tracer horseradish peroxidase in mouse oocytes. Detection of DAB reaction products with confocal reflectance microscopy will probably be an important addition to the utility of this cytochemical technique.     

Characterization of the interaction between surfactants and enzymes by fluorescence probe

In order to investigate the mechanism of the different stimulatory effects of the biosurfactant rhamnolipid and the chemical surfactant Tween 80 on enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulose, the interaction between surfactants and enzymes was analyzed by the fluorescence probe method using pyrene as probe. Based on the evolution law of pyrene fluorescence spectroscopy in the “surfactants-enzymes” systems, the interaction relationship between surfactants and enzymes was analyzed and discussed in this paper. The results show that enzyme molecules bind with rhamnolipid molecules, participate in the formation of rhamnolipid micelles, and increase the inner hydrophobic polarity of micelles, but do not change the properties of rhamnolipid micelles above the CMC (Critical Micelle Concentration). Nevertheless, for Tween 80, enzyme molecules also participate in the forming of micelles, however, they exhibit a stronger interaction with enzymes above the CMC. Both rhamnolipid and Tween 80 bind more strongly with xylanase than cellulase. Considering also previous experimental results, it can be concluded that the interaction between surfactants and enzymes improve enzyme stability and activity, and, therefore, the efficiency of enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulose is enhanced. The findings further provide theoretical knowledge about the mechanism of the stimulative effects of surfactants on enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulose.     

3-Aminotriazole is a substrate for lactoperoxidase but not for catalase

Rapid scan spectrophotometry has been applied to investigate the reaction of 3-aminotriazole with mammalian heme enzymes, represented by lactoperoxidase and bovine liver catalase. The results clearly indicate that 3-aminotriazole is a substrate for lactoperoxidase compounds I, II and III, but it does not convert catalase compound I to II under conditions favoring peroxidatic activity of the enzyme. The possible physiological significance of these findings is discussed.     

Enzymatic detection of native and derivatized horseradish peroxidase in sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels

We developed procedures for the restoration of peroxidatic activity in native horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and HRP conjugated to wheat germ agglutinin (WGA-HRP) following electrophoresis in SDS-polyacrylamide gels (SDS-PAGE). After extraction of SDS with isopropanol from gels containing HRP and WGA-HRP, the peroxidatic activity in these probes could be demonstrated by tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) chemistry. This procedure also showed HRP enzyme activity in electrophoresed tissue homogenates containing HRP. Both free HRP as well as WGA-HRP preparations contain several molecular weight species that display peroxidatic activity. These findings are important for cell biological studies utilizing these substances as molecular probes. The procedures described here should be useful for the analysis of the enzymatically active molecular forms of these frequently used markers in vitro and in vivo.     

Cytochemistry of human catalase. The demonstration of hepatic and renal peroxisomes by a high temperature procedure.

The cytochemical demonstration of marker enzymes for subcellular organelles permits light microscopic analysis of their structure and function in normal and diseased tissues. Currently available staining procedures for the peroxidatic activity of catalase in peroxisomes of plant and animal cells yield weak and inconsistent light microscopic staining when applied to human tissues. We have developed a simple and sensitive high temperature procedure that clearly and reproducibly stains these abundant, but poorly understood, organelles in biopsy specimens of human liver and kidney. This method utilizes formaldehyde fixation, a modified diaminobenzidine (DAB) medium, incubation at 45 degrees C and postosmication for both light and electron microscopy.     

Horseradish peroxidase in plasma studied by gel filtration

Summary The problem whether the molecular size of horseradish peroxidase is significantly altered when the enzyme is injected into the blood stream in tracer studies, has been studied by molecular sieve chromatography (gel filtration). The results obtained rule out the possibility that the horseradish peroxidase molecule (containing about 20% carbohydrates) is significantly degraded by carbohydrate-splitting enzymes or by proteases in the circulation into a smaller active unit. Furthermore, significant binding of peroxidase to plasma proteins or polymerization of the enzyme, has not been detected. It is concluded, therefore, that conclusions about the size of functional pores based on the known molecular weight (40000 daltons) are permitted, when the enzyme is used in permeability studies.     

Molecular mechanisms for antibody-mediated modulation of peptide-displaying enzyme sensors

The generation of molecular sensors based on peptide-displaying enzymes for the detection of antibodies or antigens represents an innovative field of protein engineering. The knowledge of the underlying molecular mechanisms of enzymatic modulation in such sensors would be of great importance for the rational construction and improvement of responsiveness of new peptide-enzyme molecules. Here we analyze the enzymatic characteristics of three different kinds of sensors based in engineered beta-galactosidase, alkaline phosphatase and beta-lactamase, to explore a common activation basis. We describe two different categories of enzyme sensors. In one of them, including only some modified beta-lactamases, the enzymatic activity is inhibited upon ligand binding and it seems to be caused by the steric coverage of the active site by the bound antibody. In a second group, embracing members of the three studied enzymes, the ability to be modulated upon effector binding depends on the ratio between the k(cat) of the engineered enzyme and the k(cat) of the intact enzyme. This proves a common mechanism for enzymatic modulation of enzyme biosensors that is probably caused by conformational effects induced by the bound antibody on the enzyme.     

Enzyme layers on glass as a new model for the quantitative study of capture reactions in cytochemistry,with special attention to acid phosphatase

Summary A model system is described for the study of capture reactions for diffusable compounds in enzyme cytochemistry. The model, which allows the investigation of the influence of the composition of the cytochemical medium, the enzymatic activity, and the dimensions of the enzymatic site on the capture reaction, consists of very thin homogeneous layers of enzyme (0.01–0.1 m thick) on glass, which are incubated in the cytochemical medium. The fraction of the total amount of liberated product precipitated in the enzyme layer is dependent not only on the trapping efficiency of the cytochemical medium but also on the concentration of the primary reaction product that can be built up in the enzyme layer. Calculations were performed to determine the steady-state concentration of the primary reaction product that can be built up in the enzyme layer. Acid phosphatase was used as enzyme. The problems associated with the model and its applicability to other types of cytochemical reactions are discussed.     

Ultrastructural localization of endogenous mammary gland peroxidase during lactogenesis in the rat results after tannic acid-formaldehyde-glutaraldehyde fixation.

Endogenous mannary gland peroxidase in acinar cells of prelactating and lactating rats is revealed in tannic acid-formaldehyde-glutaraldehyde-fixed tissue by means of the standard diaminobenzidine procedure. Diaminobenzidine cytochemical reaction product is present in perinuclear cisternae, in the granular endoplasmic reticulum and in Golgi apparatus of functionally differentiated secretory cells. The mammary gland peroxidase is thought to represent lactoperoxidase. Peroxidase staining is diminished or absent in acinar cells of hypophysectomized and ovariectomized rats, in normal rats during early pregnancy and in nonpregnant mature females. Endogenous peroxidase or a heme protein with peroxidatic activity may be considered an ultracytochemical marker enzyme for acinar cells actively engaged in lactogenesis.     

The effect of avidin-biotin interactions in detection systems for in situ hybridization.

The effect of avidin-biotin interactions in several detection systems for the non-radioactive in situ hybridization (ISH) technique was studied in a model system using a transitional cell carcinoma line and a biotinylated DNA probe. We performed fluorescence ISH to unravel the individual steps in a sensitive and frequently used amplification method which makes use of the alternating cytochemical detection layers of fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated avidin (AvFITC) and biotinylated goat anti-avidin (BioGAA) antibodies to detect the hybridized and biotinylated probe. Our experiments revealed that BioGAA antibodies bind with their antigen binding sites and not with their biotin moieties to avidin molecules that have already interacted with the DNA probe. The probable working mechanism of this amplification method is presented in a model. Furthermore, we used a peroxidase staining technique to compare with each other the sensitivity of several other detection systems in which avidin-biotin interactions play an important role, e.g., the avidin-biotinylated peroxidase complex (ABC) system. The experiments show that avidin molecules can not be efficiently used to interconnect two biotinylated molecular layers, since their introduction leads to firmly closed cytochemical networks. Such a closed network is already formed between the hybridized and biotinylated DNA probe and a first detection layer of avidin molecules, as appears from the finding that biotinylated molecules could hardly be coupled to these avidin molecules in a following detection layer. Therefore, the results presented here provide us with new insight into the molecular basis of cytochemical network formation. This will enable us to choose the proper procedures for increasing the sensitivity of ISH detection systems.     

Cytochemical studies of the vascular endothelium

Cytochemical methods have been used to examine the vascular endothelium. With hemeproteins and immunocytochemistry, investigators have demonstrated the pathways that blood-borne molecules can take to gain access to the extravascular space (Ghitescu et al. 1986; Milici et al. 1987; Schneeberger and Karnovsky 1971; Simionescu et al. 1975). These same cytochemical methods have also provided evidence that morphologically similar endothelia may have different permeability properties (Hart and Pino 1985b, 1986; Pino 1985; Pino and Essner 1980, 1981). Differences in the location and chemical composition of cell surface moieties have been ascertained with enzyme digestion methods, lectins, and cationic ferritin (De Bruyn and Michelson 1978; Pino 1984c, 1986a, b; Simionescu et al. 1981a). The author hopes that he has provided the reader with representative examples of how investigators have used these cytochemical methods for their studies. As new methods are developed and applications are found for existing techniques such as ultracryomicrotomy (Milici et al. 1987) and colloidal gold markers (Pino 1987b), cytochemistry will remain a fundamental tool for the study of the structure and function of the vascular endothelium.     

Pulmonary angiotensin-converting enzyme substrate hydrolysis during exercise.

We examined exercise-induced changes in indicator-dilution estimates of the angiotensin-converting enzyme first-order kinetic parameter, the ratio of a normalized maximal enzymatic conversion rate to the Michaelis constant (Amax/Km), which, under stable enzymatic conditions, will vary with the pulmonary vascular surface area accessible to vascular substrate, the extravascular lung water (an index of the proportion of lung tissue perfused), and the central blood volume (from pulmonary trunk to aorta). Experiments were performed in 10 mongrel dogs at rest and through two increasing levels of treadmill exercise, with the use of two vascular space tracers (labeled erythrocytes and albumin), a water space tracer ([1,8-14C]-octanediol), and a vascular endothelium surface area marker, benzoyl-Phe-Gly-Pro ([3H]BPGP), which is a pharmacologically inactive angiotensin-converting enzyme substrate. The exercise-induced increase in cardiac output was accompanied by a linear increase in central blood volume, and dilutional extravascular lung water rapidly increased to an asymptotic proportion close to 100% of postmortem vascular lung water. There was an average 55% [3H]BPGP hydrolysis, which did not vary with flow, and the computed Amax/Km increased linearly with exercise. We conclude that exercise results in complete lung tissue recruitment and increases the pulmonary vascular surface area available for BPGP hydrolysis linearly with flow, so that pulmonary vascular recruitment continues after full tissue recruitment.     

Location and volume of the active site of chymotrypsin

The active site of chymotrypsin molecule (approximated by a sphere with radius of 20 A) was taken as the largest cavity on the enzyme surface. The volume inside the approximating sphere is sufficient for placement of 95% of non-hydrogen atoms of the enzyme. The active site cavity is localized in a spherical sector with solid angle of 80 degrees whose axis passes through the CB-atom of the Ser195 residue. The volume of the active site cavity is about 2700 A(3) (8% of the volume of the approximating sphere) as computed by the Monte-Carlo method from known X-ray data. The size and shape of the active site cavity is sufficient for entrance of significantly large fragments (more than 60 non-hydrogen atoms) of the substrate molecule. At the active site cavity bottom, there is a narrow compartment adjacent to an oxy-anion hollow and accessible to water but not to substrate molecules. The water molecules inside this narrow compartment can take part in heat exchange with the external medium during different steps of the enzymatic process.     

Myoglobin as an ultrastructural probe for studying permeability of the nephron.

Hemeproteins, like cytochrome c (12,500 M.W.; Karnovsky and Rice, 1969) and myoglobin (17,816 M.W.; Anderson, 1972; Simionescu et al., 1973) are advantageous over the true peroxidases with larger molecular weights (e.g. horseradish peroxidase, ca. 40,000 M.W) as ultrastructural probes in that they do not elicit vascular leakage in the inflammatory response (Cotran and Karnovsky, 1967) and are relatively nontoxic immunologically inert substances. The main disadvantage in using cytochrome c and myoglobin is that they have weak peroxidatic activity compared to the true peroxidases (Nakamura et al., 1960; Keilin, 1961; Kurozimi et al., 1961). These hemeproteins, however, offer the following advantages: 1) they retain sufficient peroxidatic activity after aldehyde-fixation to oxidize 3,3'-diaminobenzidine (DAB), 2) they may be localized by virtue of an insoluble reaction product (osmium black) deposited at the site of hemeprotein immobilization by fixation, and 3) they represent low molecular weight probes. This brief report emphasizes the advantages of myoglobin in the study of glomerular permeability, transport by endocytosis in proximal tubules and translocation of protein in the lower segments of the nephron.     

The volume and structure of the chymotrypsin active site

It was found that the chymotrypsin active site is located in the largest cleft on the enzyme surface approximated by a sphere with a radius of 20 angstroms. The active site cleft volume is about 2 nm3, as computed by the Monte-Carlo method. The size and shape of the active site cleft-- the intersection of two unequal spheres--are sufficient for large (about 1 nm3) fragments of substrate molecules to enter the active site. The active site bottom and the adjacent narrow section are about 600 angstroms3 in volume and may serve as a combustion chamber of a water-substrate mixture during the operation of the enzyme machinery. Intrinsic water molecules inside the combustion chamber can take part in heat exchange during different steps of the enzymatic process.     

Mechanism and size cutoff for steric exclusion from actin-rich cytoplasmic domains.

Subdomains of the cytoplasmic volume in tissue culture cells exclude large tracer particles relative to small. Evidence suggests that exclusion of the large particles is due to molecular sieving by the dense meshwork of microfilaments found in these compartments, but exclusion as a result of the close apposition of the dorsal and ventral plasma membrane of the cell in these regions has not been ruled out conclusively. In principle, these two mechanisms can be distinguished by the dependence of exclusion on tracer particle size. By fluorescence ratio imaging we have measured the partition coefficient (P/PO) into excluding compartments for tracer particles ranging in radius from 1 to 41 nm. The decay of P/PO as a function of particle radius is better fitted by three molecular sieving models than by a slit pore model. The sieving models predict a percolation cutoff radius of the order of 50 nm for partitioning into excluding compartments.