Purification of (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase from rat liver plasma membranes

The Ca2+-stimulated, Mg2+-dependent ATPase from rat liver plasma membranes was solubilized using the detergent polyoxyethylene 9 lauryl ether and purified by column chromatography using Polybuffer Exchanger 94, concanavalin A-Sepharose 4B, and Sephadex G-200. The molecular weight of the enzyme, estimated by gel filtration in the presence of the detergent on a Sephadex G-200 column, was 200,000 +/- 15,000. The enzyme was purified at least 300-fold from rat liver plasma membranes and had a specific activity of 19.7 mumol/mg/min. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under nondenaturing conditions of the purified enzyme indicated that the enzymatic activity correlated with the major protein band. In sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, one major band in the molecular weight range of 70,000 +/- 5,000 was seen. The isoelectric point of the purified enzyme was 6.9 +/- 0.2 as determined by analytical isoelectric focusing. The enzyme was activated by Ca2+ with an apparent half-saturation constant of 87 +/- 2 nM for Ca2+. Calmodulin and trifluoperazine at the concentration of 1 microgram/ml and 100 microM, respectively, had no effect on the enzymatic activity.     

Solubilization of angiotensin I-coverting enzyme from rabbit lung using trypsin treatment.

The solubilization of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (peptidyldipeptide hydrolase, EC 3.4.15.1) from rabbit lung was carried out using trypsin treatment. A good recovery of 76% was obtained. The enzyme from solubilized fraction was purified using colums of Sephadex G-200, hydroxyapatite and DEAE-cellulose. The purified enzyme was shown to convert angiotensin I to angiotensin II and also to inactivate bradykinin. The specific activity of the enzyme was 24.3 units/mg protein for hippurylhistidylleucyl hydroxide and 0.182 mumol/min per mg protein for angiotensin I. The enzymic activity obtained after trypsin treatment for 5 h could be divided into two components: (i) an enzyme of molecular weight 300 000 (peak II) and (ii) an enzyme of molecular weight 145 000 (peak III), by Sephadex G-200 gel filtration. The molecular weight of the denatured enzyme was found to be 155 000 by disc gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. Km values of peak II and peak III fraction for Hippuryl-His Leu-OH were 2.6 mM.     

Purification of a Ca2+-activatable cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase from bovine heart by specific interaction with its Ca2+-dependent modulator protein.

A Ca2+-activatable cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase from bovine heart can be eluted from a DEAE-cellulose column either in the free form by buffers containing 0.1 mM ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)N-N,N'N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) or as a complex of the enzyme with its protein modulator by buffers containing 0.01 mM CaCl2. A purification procedure based primarily on the significantly different affinity of the two forms of the enzyme for DEAE-cellulose was developed for the purification of the enzyme from bovine heart. The procedure involves ammonium sulfate fractionation, three chromatographic steps on DEAE-cellulose, and gel filtration on Sephadex G-200 with a 5000-fold purification over the crude extract. The purified enzyme has a specific activity of 120 mumol of cAMP/mg/min, can be activated 5-fold by Ca2+, but is only 80% pure as judged by analytical disc gel electrophoresis. The purified enzyme is unstable but can be stabilized by addition of Ca2+ and the protein modulator; this is in contrast to the less pure preparations of Ca2+-activatable phosphodiesterase which are destabilized by the protein modulator in the presence of Ca2+.     

Mycobacteriocins produced by rapidly growing mycobacteria are Tween-hydrolyzing esterases.

Smegmatocin, a protein produced by Mycobacterium smegmatis ATCC 14468, was found to have an esterase activity, hydrolyzing Tween 80, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate, added to the assay medium for various "bacteriocins" from mycobacteria. Because M. diernhoferi ATCC 19340 (indicator strain for smegmatocin) is highly susceptible to oleic acid and smegmatocin requires Tween 80 for manifestation of its anti-M. diernhoferi activity, it is likely that smegmatocin-mediated antimicrobial action is caused by oleic acid generated by hydrolysis of Tween 80 by the inherent esterase action of smegmatocin. Other mycobacteriocins from rapidly growing mycobacteria also have inherent esterase activity against Tween 80 and require Tween 80 for expression of antimycobacterial action. Smegmatocin was found to hydrolyze various polyoxyethylene (sorbitan) fatty acyl esters but not sorbitan monooleate and glyceryl esters.     

Purification and properties of a second enzyme catalyzing the splitting of carbon-mercury linkages from mercury-resistant Pseudomonas K-62.

An enzyme (splitting enzyme 2) which catalyzes the splitting of carbon-mercury linkage of arylmercury compounds was found in extracts of mercury-resistant Pseudomonas K-62. This enzyme was purified about 725-fold by treatment with streptomycin, precipitation with ammonium sulfate, and successive chromatography on Sephadex G-75 and diethylaminoethyl-cellulose. A purified preparation of the enzyme showed a single band in electrophoresis either on polyacrylamide or sodium dodecyl sulfate-containing polyacrylamide gels. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 20,000 (determined by Sephadex G-75 gel filtration) 17,000 (determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis). The enzyme showed a Km of 180 micron and a Vmax of 3.1 mumol/min per mg for p-chloromercuribenzoic acid and a Km of 250 micron and a Vmax of 20 mumol/min per mg for phenylmercuric acetate. The optimum temperature and pH for the reaction were 40 degrees C and 5.0, respectively.     

Purification of rat renal renin from crude kidney extracts by diaminohexamethylene-Sepharose chromatography

Renin from rat kidney extracts was adsorbed to diaminohexamethylene-sepharose columns at extremely low ionic strength and neutral pH. Renin was retarded while the column was developed in 1 mM sodiumpyrophosphate and extraneous proteins were removed. Elution of renin was performed using a linear gradient of sodiumpyrophosphate, 1 – 17 mM at pH 6.8. Renin was purified in a yield up to approx. 60 per cent of the applied activity and a purification factor between 5 – 122 depending on the specific activity of the applied sample. The specific activity after this single chromatography of crude rat kidney homogenate on diaminohexamethylene-sepharose showed a median of 11.3 Goldblatt units per mg protein in a range of 5.3 – 42.0 Goldblatt units per mg protein. The renin binding capacity of the column was 1 Goldblatt unit per ml wet gel. The purified renin was subjected to G-100 Sephadex chromatography demonstrating two molecular weight forms of 44000 and 50000 dalton. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated three separate fractions of renin.     

Purification and properties of the polypeptide chain release factor (RF-4) from an extreme thermophile, Thermus thermophilus HB8.

The polypeptide chain release factor 1 (RF-1) has been purified from an extreme thermophile, Thermus thermophilus HB8. The purification procedure included steps of aqueous two-phase partition, ammonium sulfate fractionation, and column chromatographies on DEAE-Sephadex, Sephadex G-150, and CM-Sephadex. The preparation was more than 90% pure as judged by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The specific activity was about 3.3 pmol of formyl-[3H]-methionine released in 1 min at 25 degrees C per microgram of protein under the standard assay conditions using 4 pmol of the initiation complex and 1 nmol of UpApG. The molecular weight as determined by gel filtration on Sephadex G-150 and by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate, was 58,000 and 45,000, respectively. As expected, the factor was extremely heat-stable, 50% of its activity remaining after incubation for 5 min at 84 degrees C. Several properties of the reaction catalyzed by RF-1 are also described.     

The predominant protein of canine seminal plasma is an enzyme

One protein in canine seminal plasma accounts for over 90% of the total protein and is present at the high concentration of approximately 10 mg/ml. We demonstrate that this predominant protein is a proteolytic enzyme. The enzyme has been purified and migrates as a single symmetrical peak of apparent molecular mass of 29,000 daltons on a column of Sephadex G-75 and as a single band of approximately 30,000 daltons when analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under nonreducing conditions. Under reducing conditions, the enzyme dissociates into subunits of 15,000 and 12,000-14,000 daltons. The 15,000-dalton subunit contains the enzyme active site as determined by labeling with [3H]diisopropyl fluorophosphate. The enzyme hydrolyzed the synthetic ester substrates N alpha-benzoyl-L-arginine ethyl ester and N alpha-tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester with maximum specific activities at 25 degrees C of 105 mumol/min/mg and 33 mumol/min/mg, and Km values of 7.4 and 9.1 mM, respectively. The enzyme exhibited a pH optimum of 8.0. The metal ions, Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, and Co2+ were reversible inhibitors and diisopropyl fluorophosphate and phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride irreversible inhibitors of enzymatic activity. By immunofluorescence, the enzyme can be detected on the tail and postacrosomal regions of washed ejaculated canine sperm, but it is absent from epididymal sperm.     

Purification and characterization of aminopeptidase N from human plasma

Human plasma aminopeptidase N (EC 3.4.11.2) was homogeneously purified from outdated bank plasma. Purification procedures included ammonium sulfate fractionation, immunoaffinity chromatography, DEAE-cellulose column chromatography, hydroxyapatite column chromatography and Sephadex G-200 gel filtration. The final recovery of the enzyme was 18% and its specific activity was 71.6 mumol/min/mg protein. SDS-polyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis and analytical ultracentrifugation showed the homogeneity of the enzyme. Equilibrium ultracentrifugation showed a molecular weight of 210,800. SDS-polyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis indicated that the enzyme was a dimer consisting of two identical subunits. The isoelectric point of the enzyme was 3.9 at 4 degrees C. The amino acid composition of the enzyme was very similar to those of aminopeptidase N from human kidney, small intestine, and placenta which we have reported previously. Neutral sugar accounted for 11.6%. The Km, Vmax and Kcat values and hydrolytic coefficient (Kcat/Km) of the enzyme with L-alanyl-beta-naphthylamide as substrate were 8.7 X 10(-5) mol/l, 85.9 mumol/min/mg protein, 303/s and 3,483/mmol/l/s, respectively. The enzyme was activated by cobalt ions and markedly inhibited by amastatin. Plasma aminopeptidase N was immunologically indistinguishable from kidney aminopeptidase N.     

Isolation and characterization of angiotensin converting enzyme from human kidney

Angiotensin converting enzyme [EC 3.4.15.1] was solubilized from the membrane fraction of human kidney cortex using trypsin and purified to homogeneity by DEAE-cellulose, hydroxylapatite and DEAE-Sephadex A-50 column chromatographies, preparative isoelectric focusing, and Sephadex G-200 gel filtration. The final recovery of the enzyme was 13.9%. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 199,000 by a sedimentation equilibrium method. A value of 170,000 was obtained for the reduced and denatured enzyme by dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme was a glycoprotein consisting of a single polypeptide chain with an isoelectric point of 5.10. Neutral sugar accounted for 13% per weight of the enzyme. The purified enzyme had a specific activity of 96.9 mumol/min/mg protein for hippurylhistidylleucine. The Km value, Kcat value and hydrolytic coefficient (Kcat/Km) of the enzyme for hippurylhistidylleucine were 2.0 mM, 545 s-1 and 273 mM-1 . s-1, respectively. Rabbit antibody against the human kidney converting enzyme inhibited the activities of the enzymes from human lung and serum as equally as that from human kidney, but not those from sheep, dog, or rat sera. The human kidney and lung converting enzymes were immunologically identical on double immunodiffusion analysis.     

Purification and characterization of ATP:AMP phosphotransferase from Mycobacterium marinum

ATP:AMP phosphotransferase (EC 2.7.4.3) (adenylate kinase) has been purified 1746-fold from Mycobacterium marinum (ATCC 927) by successive column chromatography on DEAE-cellulose (DE-53), Reactive Blue agarose, Sephadex G-75, hydroxyapatite and, finally, DEAE-Sephadex A-50. The final enzyme preparation had a specific activity of 576 mumol/min per mg protein with an overall yield of 51%. The preparation was homogeneous by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme was estimated to have an Mr of 29500 and an isoelectric point of 6.7, properties which generally resemble those of the mitochondrial enzyme. Indeed, the two enzymes failed to separate when subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions. The extinction coefficient (at 276 nm) was calculated to be 3.114 X 10(4) M-1 X cm-1 and E1%1cm = 10.556. Adenylate kinase was present at a concentration of 0.06 mg/g (wet weight) bacteria. Enzyme was stable for months in 60% glycerol in the freezer; at 4 degrees C, less than 5% of the activity was lost over a 7 day period.     

Purification and properties of 3 alpha-hydroxyglycyrrhetinate dehydrogenase of Clostridium innocuum from human intestine

3 alpha-Hydroxyglycyrrhetinate dehydrogenase of Clostridium innocuum, isolated from human intestinal bacteria, was capable of converting 3-ketoglycyrrhetic acid to 3 alpha-hydroxyglycyrrhetic acid. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity by means of butyl-Toyopearl 650M, Sephadex G-150, Matrex Red A, Toyopearl HW-55S, and isoelectric focusing column chromatographies. The purified enzyme showed a specific activity of 156 mumol/min.mg toward 3 alpha-hydroxyglycyrrhetic acid, and showed a single band on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The apparent molecular weight was 53,000, as estimated by gel filtration, and 30,000, as judged by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Its isoelectric point was 5.2. The enzyme showed absolute specificity for the 3 alpha-hydroxyl and 3-ketonic groups of 18 alpha- or 18 beta-glycyrrhetic acid and required NADP+ and NADPH as cosubstrates. The enzyme did not act on any 3 alpha-hydroxyl or 3-ketonic group of steroids or bile acids. The enzyme is a novel type of enzyme, defined as 3 alpha-hydroxy-glycyrrhetinate dehydrogenase, being quite different from 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase [EC 1.1.1.50].     

Purification and characterization of an endoglucanase (1,4-beta-D-glucan glucanohydrolase) from Clostridium thermocellum.

An endoglucanase (1,4-beta-D-glucan glucanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.4) was purified from Clostridium thermocellum by procedures that included centrifugation, ultrafiltration, selective precipitation, ion-exchange Sephadex chromatography and preparative gel electrophoresis. The 22-fold-purified enzyme behaved as a homogeneous protein under non-denaturing conditions. The enzyme represented a significant component (greater than 25%) of total extracellular endoglucanase activity, but was purified in low yield by the procedures employed. The native molecular weight of the endoglucanase was determined by ultracentrifugational analysis, amino acid composition and polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, and varied between 83000 and 94000. The enzyme contained 11.2% carbohydrate and was isoelectric at pH 6.72. The pH and temperature optima of the endoglucanase were 5.2 and 62 degrees C respectively. The enzyme lacked cysteine and was low in sulphur-containing amino acids. The purified endoglucanase displayed: high activity towards carboxymethylcellulose, celloheptaose, cellohexaose and cellopentaose; low activity towards Avicel microcrystalline cellulose and cellotetraose; no detectable activity towards cellotriose or cellobiose; increased activity towards cello-oligosaccharides with increasing degree of polymerization. The internal glycosidic bonds of cello-oligosaccharides were cleaved by the enzyme in preference to external linkages. The apparent Michaelis constant ([S]0.5V) and Vmax. for cellopentaose and cellohexaose hydrolysis were 2.30 mM and 39.3 mumol/min per mg of protein, and 0.56 mM and 58.7 mumol/min per mg of protein, respectively.     

Isolation and characterization of a fatty acyl esterase from rat lung

In an effort to facilitate studies of the reaction involved in the removal of fatty acids from acyl proteins, we have synthesized an octanoic acid ester of doubly blocked serine, specifically octanoyl N-carbobenzoxy-L-serine-benzyl ester (octanoyl boc-serine), and used it as a substrate to guide the purification of an esterase from rat lung. The esterase was purified 228-fold by column chromatography on DE-52 cellulose, hydroxylapatite, octyl-Sepharose, and concanavalin A-Sepharose and by HPLC gel filtration. The final enzyme preparation ran as a single 77,000-Da band when subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and exhibited a single symmetrical peak (sedimentation coefficient, 4.5 S) when centrifuged through a sucrose density gradient (empirical Mr, 63,000). The esterase is an acidic protein, pI 4.1, and is very active against p-nitrophenyl esters comprised of C4-C14 fatty acids; the highest specific activity (26.5 mumol/min/mg) was obtained using p-nitrophenyl caprylate as substrate. The pH optimum of the lung esterase is near 8.0 and the activity on octanoyl boc-serine is maximum when 0.3% (w/v) Myrj-52 is included in the assay medium. The activity of the esterase is not dependent on calcium ions. The enzyme does not remove acyl groups from the G-protein of vesicular stomatitis virus or the proteolipid of bovine brain. The possible role of the esterase in the metabolism of acylated proteins is considered.     

Inhibitors of sterol synthesis. Oleate ester of 5 alpha-cholest-8(14)-en-3 beta-ol-15-one as a substrate for pancreatic cholesterol esterase

5 alpha-Cholest-8(14)-en-3 beta-yl-15-one oleate (15-ketosteryl oleate), the oleate ester of a compound with the capacity to lower serum cholesterol, was effectively hydrolyzed by partially purified porcine pancreatic cholesterol esterase with an apparent Km of 0.28 +/- 0.01 mM and a Vmax of 0.62 +/- 0.01 mumol/min per mg protein compared to an apparent Km of 0.19 +/- 0.02 mM and a Vmax of 0.37 +/- 0.02 mumol/min per mg protein for cholesteryl oleate. The 15-ketosteryl oleate was also hydrolyzed by highly purified rat pancreatic cholesterol esterase with an apparent Km of 0.20 +/- 0.01 mM and a Vmax of 86.7 +/- 3.0 mumol/min per mg protein compared to an apparent Km of 0.43 +/- 0.01 mM and a Vmax of 119.8 +/- 2.6 mumol/min per mg protein for cholesteryl oleate. 15-Ketosteryl oleate is, therefore, a good substrate for pancreatic cholesterol esterase from either source. The 15-ketosterol is a weak competitive inhibitor of partially purified porcine pancreatic cholesterol esterase when cholesteryl oleate is the substrate.     

Purification and characterization of a Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase from adult Paragonimus westermani.

In cytosolic fraction of adult Paragonimus westermani, superoxide dismutase activity was identified (4.3 units/mg of specific activity) using a xanthine-xanthine oxidase system. The enzyme was purified 150 fold in its activity using the ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE-Trisacryl M anion-exchange chromatography and Sephadex G-100 molecular sieve chromatography. The enzyme exhibited the enhanced activity at pH 10.0. The enzyme activity totally disappeared in 1.0mM cyanide while it remained 77.8% even in 10 mM azide. These findings indicated that the enzyme was Cu, Zn-SOD type. Molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be 34 kDa by gel filtration and 17 kDa on reducing SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis which indicated a dimer protein.     

Purification and characterization of alpha-toxin of Clostridium oedematiens type A

The alpha-toxin of Clostridium oedematiens type A was purified from culture filtrate by two steps of column chromatography and repeated gel filtration. The purified alpha-toxin proved homogeneous in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and agar gel double diffusion. The molecular weight of the alpha-toxin was estimated at 280,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and at 260,000 by gel filtration on a Sephadex G-200 column. The isoelectric point determined by isoelectric focusing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was 6.1. No dissociation of the purified alpha-toxin into subunits was demonstrated in sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The 50% lethal and edematizing doses per mg protein of the purified alpha-toxin were 5.9 X 10(4) and 5.9 X 10(5), respectively. The L +/50 doses per mg protein of the toxin was 4.6 X 10(3). The purified alpha-toxin, when injected intradermally into the rabbit skin, induced increased vascular permeability. The toxin contained little or no hemolytic or lecithinase activity. These results attest that the lethal, edematizing and vascular permeability-enhancing activities elicited by C. oedematiens type A culture reside on the same protein molecule.     

Pyruvate kinase in mussel foot (Mytilus edulis L.). Purification and general properties

The specific activity of pyruvate kinase in mussel foot is markedly higher than that from mantle and digestive gland. The foot enzyme shows maximum pH activity in the range between 7.0 and 7.5 and is stable (15 min, 37 degrees C) at pH values between 7.0 and 9.0. The activation energy value is 23 kJ/mol with a Q10 coefficient of 1.4. All of these experiments were carried out using partially purified extracts with (NH4)2SO4 treatment (30-60%) and posterior dialysis with EDTA 1.2 mM. No isoenzymatic forms could be detected using the column chromatography techniques with Sephadex G-150, DEAE Sephadex A-50 and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.     

Molecular properties of the Factor V-activating enzyme from Russell's viper venom.

The protease from Russell's viper venom that activates Factor V was purified by gel filtration on Sephadex G-150 and ion exchange column chromatography on sulfopropyl (SP)-Sephadex C-50. The purified enzyme is a glycoprotein containing 6% carbohydrate. It migrated as a single band in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with an apparent molecular weight of 29,000. A minimum molecular weight of 27,200 was determined by sedimentation equilibrium in the presence of 6 M guanidine hydrochloride. The enzyme is composed of a single polypeptide chain possessing an NH2-terminal sequence of Val-Val-Gly-Gly-Asp-Glu-Cys-Asn-Ile-Asn-Glu-His-Pro-Ile. The specific activity of the Factor V activator toward tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester and D-phenylalanyl-L-pipecolyl-L-arginyl-p-nitroanilide was 380 and 11 nmol/min/mg, respectively. The esterase and coagulant activities of the enzyme were readily inhibited by diisopropyl fluorophosphate. The enzyme was not inhibited by bovine antithrombin III in the presence or absence of heparin. The amino acid and carbohydrate compositions of the enzyme are also reported.     

The purification and characterization of human kidney L-arginine:glycine amidinotransferase

Human kidney L-arginine:glycine amidinotransferase (transamidinase) has been purified to a homogeneous state as defined by native and sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis and by ultracentrifugation (sedimentation equilibrium) experiments. The four steps in the isolation procedure were chromatography with DEAE-cellulose, gel filtration with Sephadex G-150, chromatography with phenyl Sepharose, and high-pressure liquid chromatography with hydroxylapatite. The final product represented a 90-fold purification of the enzyme. Human kidney transamidinase is a dimer with a molecular mass of 89,000 Da and subunit masses of 44,000 Da. The Km for arginine and glycine were both 2.5 mM and the Vmax was 0.5 mumol ornithine/min/mg protein. The ultraviolet absorption spectrum, specific activity, and isoelectric points were determined for human kidney transamidinase. Multiple forms of the enzyme were obtained by isoelectric focusing. Human kidney transamidinase cross-reacted with polyclonal antibodies raised to rat kidney transamidinase. All of the properties of human kidney transamidinase that we have examined were similar to those of rat kidney transamidinase. A close evolutionary relationship between the rat and human kidney transamidinase is suggested.