Mating reaction in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A diffusible sex-specific substance called substance-I (S-I) was isolated from culture filtrate of type strains of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The isolated S-I, an oligopeptide, induced sexual cell agglutinability in inducible a type strains and enhanced the agglutinability in constitutive a type strains. The induction of sexual agglutinability was detected in 30 min and reached maximum in 90 min, when 0.2 g/ml of S-I was added to inducible a type cells. The a type-specific factor responsible for sexual cell agglutination, called a type agglutination factor (aAF), was shown to be produced during the induction or the enhancement of agglutinability of a type cells by S-I. The aAF produced in response to S-I was not different in the susceptibility to proteolytic enzymes and disulfide-cleaving agents from those produced constitutively in the absence of S-I.     

Expression of Bacillus macerans cyclodextrin glucanotransferase gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Cyclodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase) gene of Bacillus macerans was subcloned down-stream of yeast ADH1 promoter and expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Most of the CGTase expressed was in the extracellular medium with a maximum activity of about 0.28 unit ml^–1 after 48 h cultivation. The recombinant CGTase was secreted as an N-linked-glycosylated form and predominantly produced -cyclodextrin from starch.     

Characterization of active barley alpha-amylase 1 expressed and secreted by Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Recombinant barley -amylase 1 isozyme was constitutively secreted by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity by ultrafiltration and affinity chromatography. The protein had a correct N-terminal sequence of His-Gln-Val-Leu-Phe-Gln-Gly-Phe-Asn-Trp, indicating that the signal peptide was efficiently processed. The purified -amylase had an enzyme activity of 1.9 mmol maltose/mg protein/min, equivalent to that observed for the native seed enzyme. The k _cat/K _m was 2.7 × 10² mM^–1.s^–1, consistent with those of -amylases from plants and other sources.     

New syntheses of α-methyl- and α,α′-dimethylspermine

-Methylspermine and ,-dimethylspermine were synthesized in high overall yields starting from N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-3-aminobutanol in order to study polyamine biochemistry in vitro and in vivo.__________Translated from Bioorganicheskaya Khimiya, Vol. 31, No. 2, 2005, pp. 200–205.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Grigorenko, Vepsalainen, Jarvinen, Keinanen, Alhonen, Janne, Khomutov.     

Interactions between esterified whey proteins (alpha-lactalbumin and beta-lactoglobulin) and DNA studied by differential spectroscopy

Spectroscopic study of interactions between esterified whey proteins and nucleic acids, at neutral pH, showed positive differential spectra over a range of wavelength between 210 and 340 nm. In contrast, native forms of whey proteins added to DNA did not produce any differential spectra. The positive difference in UV absorption was observed after addition of amounts of proteins as low as 138 molar ratio (MR) of protein/DNA, indicating high sensitivity of the applied method to detect interactions between basic proteins and DNA. UV-absorption differences increased with MR of added whey protein up to saturation. The saturation points were reached at relatively lower MR in the case of methylated forms of the esterified protein as compared to its ethylated form. Saturation of nucleic acid (2996 bp long) was achieved using 850 and 1100 MR of methylated -lactoglobulin and of methylated -lactalbumin, respectively. Saturation with ethylated forms of the proteins was reached at MR of 3160 and 2750. Lysozyme, a native basic protein, showed a behavior similar to what was observed in the case of methylated forms of the dairy proteins studied. However, in the case of lysozyme, saturation was achieved at relatively lower MR (700). Methylated -casein failed to give positive spectra at pH 7 in the presence of DNA. It interacted with DNA only when the pH of the medium was lowered to 6.5, below its pI. Generally, amounts of proteins needed to saturate nucleic acid were much higher than those needed to neutralize it only electrostatically, demonstrating the presence on DNA of protein-binding sites other than the negative charges on the sugar-phosphate DNA backbones. Addition of 0.1% SDS to the medium suppressed totally all spectral differences between 210–340 nm. The presence of 5 M urea in the medium reduced only the spectral differences between 210–340 nm, pointing to the role played by hydrophobic interactions. Peptic hydrolysates of esterified and native proteins or their cationic fractions (pH > 7) produced negative differential spectra when mixed with DNA. The negative differences in UV absorption spectra were the most important in the case of peptic hydrolysates of methylated derivatives of whey proteins.     

Possible involvement of putrescine in nucleolar formation in early embryos

Summary Continuous treatment of developing eggs of the polychete Ophryotrocha labronica with -methylornithine, which inhibits synthesis of putrescine, led to arrest of development at gastrulation. The present ultrastructural analysis suggests that the arrest of development is due to failure to form nuclei, and thus reveals a possible role for putrescine in nucleolar formation. Further support for this contention was provided by means of electron-microscopical autoradiography. It was found that newly synthesized putrescine, derived from administered ³H-ornithine, labeled the nucleoli intensely at the time of their normal appearance during gastrulation, the time at which the rate of endogenous putrescine synthesis is maximal. These observations have led to the conclusion that putrescine synthesis may be directly involved in formation of nucleoli.We thank Mrs Lena Olsson and Mrs Annagreta Petersen for excellent technical assistance. This investigation was supported by the Swedish Natural Science Research Council     

Purification and characterization of GDP L -Fuc: N-acetyl β D -glucosaminide α1→6fucosyltransferase from human blood platelets

-6 L -Fucosyltransferase (1,6FucT; EC 2.4.1.68) from human platelets, the enzyme that is released into serum during coagulation of blood, was purified 100,000-fold. The purification required three sequential chromatographic steps: chromatofocusing, affinity column chromatography on GnGn-Gp(asialo-aglacto-transferrin glycopeptide)-CH-Sepharose, and gel filtration of Sephadex G-200. The final preparation contained a protein that migrated as a single discrete band Mr of 58,000 in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) under non-reducing conditions, and as a single enzymatically active peak Mr of 58,000 in gel filtration. Although the purified enzyme utilized the biantennary GnGn-Gp as substrate, it was twice as active with the triantennary oligosaccharide when the Man 1,3 antenna was substituted with GlcNac1,4. On the other hand the tetraantennary oligosaccharide was not a preferred substrate. The Km values for the substrate asialo-agalactotransferrin-glycopeptide, and GDP L -fucose were 29 and 28 M, respectively. The optimum pH of the enzyme was 6.0. The activity of 1,6FucT was abolished in the presence of -mercaptoethanol. Divalent cations such as Mg2+ and Ca2+ activated, but Cu2+, Zn2+ and Ni2+ strongly inhibited the activity.     

Genetic analysis of inducible sexual agglutination ability in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Genetic regulation of the inducibility of sexual agglutination ability in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was studied. Detailed analysis of the degree of sexual agglutination was carried out; it showed that a greater number of genes are involved in the regulation of inducible sexual agglutination in strain H1-0 than previously assumed. Although dominancy of inducible phenotype over constitutive was confirmed, the effectiveness of one gene changing the constitutive phenotype to the inducible seemed to be somewhat low. Quantity per cell of agglutination substances responsible for sexual agglutination increased as the agglutination ability became greater.     

Structure of α-α-Hairpins with Short Connections in Globular Proteins

The analysis of conformations of more than 100 --hairpins with closely packed helical segments and connections up to four amino acid residues in length was carried out. Five types of the connections were revealed, and their and values on the Ramachandran map were found. Each type of --hairpins was shown to have a unique sequence pattern for hydrophobic and hydrophilic residues.     

Lysosomal α-D-mannosidase

-mannosidosis in the human is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disease caused by a deficiency of lysosomal -D-mannosidasea actvity. Lysosomal -D-mannosidase is involved in the catabolism of N-linked glycoproteins through the sequential degradation of high-mannose, hybrid and complex oligosaccharides. This review is focused on human, mouse, bovine and feline genes coding for lysosomal -D-mannosidase. In particular the exon-intron structure of the genes, their promoters, and the identification of mutations causing the disease have been examined. The construction, by homologous recombination, of a mouse model of -mannosidosis is reported.     

Evidence for a non-antioxidant,dose-dependent role of α -lipoic acid in caspase-3 and ERK2 activation in endothelial cells

Endothelial cell apoptosis contributes to atherosclerosis and may be exacerbated by oxidative stress. Results from clinical trials using antioxidant supplementation are equivocal and could be enhanced by antioxidants with additional non-antioxidant properties such as -lipoic acid and -tocopherol. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of these antioxidants on cytoprotective pathways and endothelial apoptosis. Endothelial cells were incubated with -lipoic acid and -tocopherol, alone or in combination, prior to incubation with H₂O₂ or staurosporine. -lipoic acid pre-treatment alone increased caspase-3 activity in a dose-dependent manner. Both H₂O₂ and staurosporine increased DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 activity and pre-treatment of cells with -lipoic acid and/or -tocopherol failed to prevent stress-induced apoptosis. Neither antioxidant treatments nor apoptotic inducers alone altered expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, HSP70 or pERK1/2 or pJNK. -lipoic decreased pERK2 in staurosporine-treated cells in a dose-dependent manner. These findings indicate that pre-incubation with -lipoic acid and -tocopherol, alone or in combination, does not protect against oxidative- or non-oxidative-induced apoptosis in endothelial cells. Moreover, we have demonstrated a non-antioxidant, dose-dependent role of -lipoic acid in caspase-3 and ERK2 activation. These data provide an insight and indicate caution in the use of high doses of -lipoic acid as an antioxidant.     

Effects of natural interferon α, natural tumor necrosis factor α and their combination on human mesothelioma xenografts in nude mice

Effects of human natural interferon (nIFN) alone, human natural tumor necrosis factor (nTNF) alone and their combination (OH-1) were tested on three human mesothelioma lines implanted in nude mice. Tumors were transplanted subcutaneously by trocar on treatment day –12. nIFN was given intraperitoneally (i.p.) at a dose of 2 × 10⁷ or 2 × 10⁸ IU kg^–1 day^–1, 5 days a week for 3 weeks. nTNF was given i.p. at a dose of 2 × 10⁷ or 2 × 10⁸ U kg^–1 day^–1 in the same schedule as that of nIFN. Tumor diameters were serially measured and tumor volumes were calculated. Antitumor effects were assessed by two methods: comparison of final tumor volumes in treated and control groups (T/C), and changes in median average total tumor volume. The treatment produced no clinically discernible toxicities. nIFN had strong inhibitory activity against all three human mesothelioma lines. nTNF alone had modest activity only at the high dose used. The combination of the two produced activity essentially similar to that produced by nIFN alone. High-dose nIFN may have a role as an active agent in the treatment of patients with mesothelioma.     

Saccharomyces cerevisiae DNA repair processes: an update

The effect of incubating T3-1 cells with phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) on the protein kinase C (PKC) isoform content (predominantly , and isoforms) was assessed by immunoblotting, enzyme activity assay and [³H]PDBu binding. After exposure to PDBu for 17 h the immunoreactivity detected for both PKC and PKC had disappeared from cytosol and had increased slightly in membranes. Immunoreactivity for PKC was present as two bands in cytosol; after PDBu treatment both bands decreased in intensity, the higher molecular weight band more than the lower. The lower molecular weight band corresponded with a component of constitutive PKC activity eluting from DEAE cellulose that was defined by inhibition of basal activity with GF 109203X or H7. Investigation of very short treatment times with PDBu using binding, immunoblot and activity measurements (in the presence/absence of Ca²⁺) indicated that translocation of PKC and was very rapid — detectable by 10 sec, maximal within minutes. Reduction of these isoforms in membranes took much longer, and was not apparent up to 150 min. The immunoblot data for PKC in cytosol showed no detectable effect of PDBu treatment on the low molecular weight band up to 150 min although it was reduced at 17 h. Translocation of the upper band was detectable at 10 sec but this band may have resulted from cross-reaction with other PKC isoforms. The constitutive activity and low molecular weight (authentic) PKC immunoreactivity were partially affected after long exposure only, suggesting an action of PDBu on PKC secondary to activation of the other PKC isoforms. An endogenous receptor agonist, luteinising hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH), was also used to assess by immunoblotting, translocation of the PKC isoforms. Although all the isoforms did translocate from cytosol to membrane fractions, they did so with distinctly different time courses: PKC moved more rapidly than PKC which appeared to translocate more quickly than PKC . After downregulation of the responsive PKC isoforms with PDBu, the remaining PKC was not translocated by LHRH. (Mol Cell Biochem 165: 65–75, 1996)     

Properties of the purified APS-kinase from Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Adenylylsulphate kinase (EC 2.7.1.25, ATP:adenylylsulphate 3-phosphotransferase) has been isolated from Escherichia coli and from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. As major steps of purification, affinity chromatography on Sepharose CL 6B (blue or red) and chromatofocusing on polybuffer PBE 94^tm were employed. The proteins were obtained in nearly homogeneous state after five chromatographic steps.The isolated enzymes from both sources appeared predominantly to exist as dimers. Upon reduction of the protein with dithiothreitol, it desintegrated into assumingly identical smaller subunits (E. coli rom M_r 90-85000 to 45-40000 and s. cerevisiae from 52-49500 to 28-29500). Both forms, dimer and monomer were found catalytically active.Preincubation of the isolated enzyme from either source in the presence of thioredoxin plus DTT, reduced glutathione or DTT increased the activity significantly. Treatment of the enzyme with SH-blocking reagents inactivated the enzyme irreversibly as compared to the inactivation caused by oxidants (2,6-dichlorophenol-indophenol, ferricyanide or oxydized glutathione). This oxidant induced inactivation was less pronounced for the fungal enzyme than for the bacterial protein. The enzyme from E. coli required thioredoxin in order to alleviate the GSSG-induced inactivation.Abbreviations APS adenylylsulphate - APS kinase - ATP adenylylsulphate 3-phosphotransferase - DCPIP 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol - DTT dithiothreitol - GSH reduced glutathione - GSSG oxidized glutathione - HPLC high performance liquid chromatography - -MSH -mercaptoethanol - PAPS 3-phosphoadenylylsulphate - TNBS 2,4,6 tri-nitrobenzenesulphonic acid     

Pore formation by Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin in lipid bilayers

Staphylococcus aureus -toxin forms ionic channels of large size in lipid bilayer membranes. We have developed two methods for studying the mechanism of pore formation. One is based on measurement of the ionic current flowing through a planar lipid membrane after exposure to the toxin; the other is based on measuring the release of the fluorescent complex Tb-Dipicolinic acid from large unilamellar vesicles under similar conditions.Both methods indicate that the pore formation process is complex, showing an initial delay followed by non-linear kinetics. The power dependence of the pore formation rate on the toxin concentration in planar bilayers indicates that an aggregation mechanism underlies the channel assembly. Arrhenius plots, obtained with both techniques, show no deviation from linearity up to 50°C and the derived activation energies are found to be comparable to those for the binding and the lysis of rabbit erythrocytes by the same toxin.The temperature dependence of the conductance induced in planar bilayers by a large number of toxin channels indicates that the pores are filled with aqueous solution. The analysis of single conductance events shows that a heterogeneous population of pores exist and that smaller channels are preferred at low temperature. We attribute this heterogeneity to the existence of pores resulting from the aggregation of different numbers of monomers.     

Random cloning of bent DNA segments from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and primary characterization of their structures

Summary Until recently it was assumed that any short segment of DNA could be approximated as a straight rod. Many instances, however, have been reported in which the helical axis is curved. We have devised a simple method for selective identification of DNA segments containing a sequence-directed bend (curvature), by means of a two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In order to gain general insights into the structural features and the functional significance of sequence-directed bends, a bank of plasmids carrying bent DNA inserts from the Saccharomyces cerevisiae total genomic DNA was constructed. Primary characterizations of a set of bent DNA segments randomly cloned from S. cerevisiae are presented. One of the cloned DNA segments appears to be derived from a yeast plasmid, the 2 m circle DNA.     

Properties and synthesis de novo of auxin-induced α-amylase in pea cotyledons

Analysis of starch-degrading enzymes in a crude extract of detached cotyledons of Pisum sativum L. by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) demonstrated the presence of one band of -amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) activity. The activity of only this amylase was promoted in cotyledons incubated with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). The auxin-induced -amylase from pea cotyledons was purified to homogeneity, as judged by the criterion of a single band after PAGE. The relative molecular mass (M_r), estimated by gel filtration, was approx. 42 000 and the enzyme contained no carbohydrate moiety. Sodium dodecylsulfate-PAGE yielded a single band that corresponded to an M_r of 41 000. The isoelectric point was 5.85 and the aminoacid composition was similar to that of -amylase from other plants. When [³H]leucine was fed to detached dry cotyledons prior to incubation, the radioactivity in -amylase from cotyledons incubated in the presence of 2,4-D was found to be approx. 10-fold higher than that from cotyledons incubated in distilled water. When -amylase from cotyledons incubated with ²H₂O that contained 2,4-D and the tritiated amylase were centrifuged together in a CsCl density gradient, the peak of enzymatic activity of deuterated -amylase was shifted to a denser fraction than the peak of radioactivity of the tritiated enzyme. These results show that auxin-induced -amylase in pea cotyledons is synthesized de novo.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - M_r relative molecular mass - PAGE polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - PAS periodic acid-Schiff - pI isoelectric point - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate We are very grateful to Mr. Kazuo Itoh and Mrs. Matsumi Doe for carrying out the analysis of amino-acid composition.