Limited proteolysis of the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase — A membranal regulatory device?

Brush border membranes isolated from rat small intestine were found to possess a cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity. Upon addition of cAMP, a rapid, time-dependent inactivation of this enzyme occurs, which was found to be due to a proteolytic activity identified in the membranes. This activity could not be assigned to previously known brush border proteases. The inactivation and the proteolytic degradation of the kinase could be reproduced also with the pure catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (C) from rabbit skeletal muscle (M.W. 40000) which was cleaved by the membranal proteolytic activity with concomitant quantitative appearance of a degradation product (M.W. 30000) devoid of kinase activity. The membranal proteolytic activity appears to be specific for C since: (1) it does not degrade the other endogenous proteins in the membrane preparation; (2) it does not degrade any of six arbitrarily chosen proteins from other sources; (3) it catalyzes a limited proteolysis of C which could not be simulated by other proteolytic enzymes such as trypsin, clostripain, chymotrypsin and papain. The attack of C by the membranal protease is blocked by the presence of the nucleotide substrate of the kinase (MgATP). In addition, the undissociated and inactive form of the enzyme (R₂C₂) does not lose its potential enzymatic activity, and neither its catalytic nor its regulatory subunits are digested by the protease. The specific, restricted and limited action of the protease, together with the prevention of its action by the substrate and the regulatory protein (R) of the kinase raise the possibility that the membranal protease may have a distinct physiological (possibly regulatory) assignment.     

Distinct conformational changes in the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase around physiological conditions. Do these changes reflect an ability to assume different specificities?

The free catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase readily undergoes a pronounced, salt-induced conformational change at neutral pH and around physiological values of ionic strength. This change, which is fully reversible, can be monitored directly by the relative chemical reactivity of two SH groups in the enzyme. Upon increasing the ionic strength of the medium from 0.03 to 0.22, one sulfhydryl becomes more reactive towards 5,5′-dithiobis[2-nitrobenzoic acid] while the other sulfhydryl becomes less reactive towards the same reagent. In parallel, the enzyme undergoes a salt-induced inactivation when histone H2b is used as a substrate. Though not reflected in the V_max, this conformational change considerably increases the K_m of the enzyme for histone H2b as well as for MgATP. This intrinsic malleability of the enzyme can account for the well-known salt inhibition of the enzyme for certain substrates and ion-dependent activation towards other substrates. It is suggested that this malleability might constitute the molecular basis for modulating the specificity of the enzyme and channeling its activity from one substrate to another in response to intracellular specifier signals.     

Polyphosphate anions increase the activity of bovine spleen cathepsin D

Bovine spleen cathepsin D is activated by polyphosphate anions when bovine serum albumin is used as substrate at pH 4.6. In the presence of ATP at 10 mM, the catheptic activity at this pH is enhanced as high as 17 times over the control. Similar activating effects were observed, though to varying degrees, with sodium tripolyphosphate, nucleotides, nucleotide analogues, CoA, polyU and yeast RNA. The possible mechanism and biological significance of the activation were discussed with regard to the intralysosomal polyanionic substance.     

Preparation and characterization of total,rough and smooth microsomes from the lung of control and methylcholanthrene-treated rats

Optimal conditions for the preparation of relatively pure microsomes and microsomal subfractions from rat lung have been determined. The most important of these conditions is homogenization of a 20% (w/v) suspension of lung tissue in 0.44 M sucrose/1% (w/v) bovine serum albumin with four up-and-down strokes at 440 rev./min in a Potter-Elvehjem homogenizer. The 10 000 × g supernatant prepared from this homogenate can be centrifuged at 105 000 × g to obtain total microsomes or subfractionated into rough and smooth microsomes on a Cs⁺-containing discontinuous sucrose gradient. The total, rough and smooth microsomes have been characterized in terms of their chemical composition, enzymatic activity, and morphology. These preparations should prove useful in studies of various enzymes in lung (e.g. benzpyrene monooxygenase, epoxide hydrase, enzymes of phospholipid and ascorbic acid synthesis) and in subfractionations designed to reveal heterogeneites in the lateral plane of the lung endoplasmic reticulum.     

The effects of anion transport inhibitors on structural transitions in erythrocyte membranes

Red blood cell membranes have been labeled with several covalent and non-covalent inhibitors of anion transport and their heat capacity profiles determined as a function of temperature. Covalent inhibitors include the amino reactive agents 4,4′-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid, 4-acetamido-4′-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid, pyridoxal phosphate and 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitro benzene. The non-covalent inhibitors include several well known local anesthetics. The study was undertaken in order to identify regions of the membrane involved in anion transport. Covalent modification in all cases resulted in a large upward shift of the C transition, which is believed to involved a localized phospholipid region. Evidence is presented which indicates that Band III protein and this phospholipid region are in close physical proximity on the membrane. Addition of non-covalent inhibitors affects the membrane in either or both of two ways. In some cases, a lowering and broadening of the C transition occurs; in other the B₁ and B₂ transitions are altered. These latter transitions are believed to involve both phospholipid and protein, including Band III. These results may indicate that the non-covalent inhibitors produce their inhibitory effect on anion transport at least in part by interacting with membrane phospholipid.     

The effect of temperature of the rate of photosynthetic electron transfer in chloroplasts of chilling-sensitive and chilling-resistant plants

1. Photochemical activities as a function of temperature have been compared in chloroplasts isolated from chilling-sensitive (below approximately 12 °C) and chilling-resistant plants.2. An Arrhenius plot of the photoreduction of NADP⁺ from water by chloroplasts isolated from tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum var. Gross Lisse), a chilling-sensitive plant, shows a change in slope at about 12 °C. Between 25 and 14 °C the activation energy for this reaction is 8.3 kcal·mole^?1. Between 11 and 3 °C the activation energy increases to 22 kcal·mole^?1. Photoreduction of NADP⁺ by chloroplasts from another chilling-sensitive plant, bean (Phaseolus vulgaris var. brown beauty), shows an increase in activation energy from 5.9 to 17.5 kcal·mole^?1 below about 12 °C.3. The photoreduction of NADP⁺ by chloroplasts isolated from two chilling-resistant plants, lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. winter lake) and pea (Pisum sativum var. greenfeast), shows constant activation energies of 5.4 and 8.0 kcal·mole^?1, respectively, over the temperature range 3–25 °C.4. The effect of temperature on photosynthetic electron transfer in the chloroplasts of chilling-sensitive plants is localized in Photosystem I region of photosynthesis. Both the photoreduction of NADP⁺ from reduced 2,6-dichlorophenol-indophenol and the ferredoxin-NADP⁺ reductase (EC 1.6.99.4) activity of choroplasts of chilling-sensitive plants show increases in activation energies at approximately 12 °C whereas Photosystem II activity of chloroplasts of chilling-sensitive plants shows a constant activation energy over the temperature range 3–25 °C. The photoreduction of Diquat (1,1′-ethylene-2,2′-dipyridylium dibromide) from water by bean chloroplasts, however, does not show a change in activation energy over the same temperature range. The activation energies of each of these reactions in chilling-resistant plants is constant between 3 and 25 °C.5. The effect of temperature on the activation energy of these reactions in chloroplasts from chilling-sensitive plants is reversible.6. In chilling-sensitive plants, the increased activation energies below approximately 12 °C, with consequent decreased rates of reaction for the photoreduction of NADP⁺, would result in impaired photosynthetic activity at chilling temperatures. This could explain the changes in chloroplast structure and function when chilling-sensitive plants are exposed to chilling temperatures.     

An evaluation of techniques for labelling the surface proteins of cultured mammalian cells

We have evaluated four techniques for labelling the surface proteins of cultured mammalian cells. The techniques are: (a) the lactoperoxide system; (b) the pyridoxal phosphate-[³H]borohydride system; (c) the [³H]4,4′-diisothiocyano-2,2′-dihydrostilbene disulfonate system and (d) the galactose oxidase-[³H]borohydride system. The subcellular distribution of radiolabel produced by these techniques has been evaluated by authoradiography at the light microscope level and by cellular fractionation. We find that while all four systems label the surface membranes in the majority of the cell population, they also heavily label internal sites in a small subpopulation of nonviable cells. The contribution of the internally labelled cells to further biochemical analysis may represent a severe problem in investigations which rely solely on surface labels for the study of plasma membrane organization     

Production and Characterization of a Pressure-induced Gel from Freeze-concentrated Milk

A process was developed to produce a characteristic milk gel. Raw and market milk samples were freeze-concentrated using bacterial ice nuclei. The concentrates were kept at 5°C and compressed at 300–600 MPa for 5 min. The combination of the freeze concentration and the pressurization gave a milk gel without adding any gelling agents. The addition of sugar at 10% to the concentrated milk improved its gel strength and viscoelasticity. The gel was characterized by a phase transition at about 62–75°C.     

Estimations of membrane potentials in Streptococcus faecalis by means of a fluorescent probe

Membrane potentials in $\text{Streptococcus faecalis (faecium)}$ were estimated by means of the fluorescent probe, 1,1′-dihexyl-2,2′-oxycarbocyanine. In the absence of D-glucose the potential was ?60 to ?70 mV for normal cells suspended in 0.09 M NaCl + 0.01 M Tris-HCl at pH 7.5. When metabolism was initiated by the addition of D-glucose the cells became hyperpolarized (internal becomes more negative). The new potential, ?130 to ?140 mV, was fully manifested 35 seconds after the glucose was added. N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, a membrane ATPase inhibitor prevented the hyperpolarization seen upon the addition glucose. The results are consistent with the view that glycolyzing cells generate a considerasble electrical potential across the cell membrane.     

Preparation of renal cortex basal-lateral and brush border membranes. Localization of adenylate cyclase and guanylate cyclase activities

Luminal brush border and contraluminal basal-lateral segments of the plasma membrane from the same kidney cortex were prepared. The brush border membrane preparation was enriched in trehalase and γ-glutamyltranspeptidase, whereas the basal-lateral membrane preparation was enriched in (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase. However, the specific activity of (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase in brush border membranes also increased relative to that in the crude plasma membrane fraction, suggesting that (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase may be an intrinsic constituent of the renal brush border membrane in addition to being prevalent in the basal-lateral membrane. Adenylate cyclase had the same distribution pattern as (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase, i.e. higher specific activity in basal-lateral membranes and present in brush border membranes. Adenylate cyclase in both membrane preparations was stimulated by parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, epinephrine, prostaglandins and 5′-guanylylimidodiphosphate. When the agonists were used in combination enhancements were additive. In contrast to the distribution of adenylate cyclase, guanylate cyclase was found in the cytosol and in basal-lateral membranes with a maximal specific activity (NaN₃ plus Triton X-100) 10-fold that in brush border membranes. ATP enhanced guanylate cyclase activity only in basal-lateral membranes. It is proposed that guanylate cyclase, in addition to (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase, be used as an enzyme “marker” for the renal basal-lateral membrane.     

Carotenoids of Anacystis nidulans,structures of caloxanthin and nostoxanthin

Reinvestigation of the carotenoids of Anacystis nidulans has confirmed the occurrence of β,β-carotene (β-carotene), β,β-caroten-3-ol (cryptoxanthin), β,β-carotene-3,3′-diol (zeaxanthin) and 2R,3R,3′R-β,β-carotene-2,3,3′-triol (absolute configuration assigned in the present work). In addition the previously unknown 2R,3R,2′R,3′R-β,β-carotene-2,3,2′,3′-tetrol has been isolated. The triol and the tetrol are considered identical with caloxanthin and nostoxanthin, respectively, for which allenic structures have been suggested by others. The chirality of these compounds followed from CD and ¹H NMR considerations.     

Triplex Formation Involving 2′-O,4′-C-Methylene Bridged Nucleic Acid (2′,4′-BNA) with 2-Pyridone Base Analogue: Efficient and Selective Recognition of C:G Interruption

Abstract

For the effective recognition of C:G interruption in homopurine-homopyrimidine duplex DNA, we examined triplex-forming ability and sequence-selectivity of a triplex-forming oligonucleotide (TFO) involving of 2′-O,4′-C-methylene bridged nucleic acid with 2-pyridone base analogue. We found that the modified TFO formed stable triplex with high binding affinity and sequence-selectivity.     

Novel 2′-substituted flavonols from the farinose exudate of Notholaena affinis

The farinose exudate produced on the undersurface of fronds of Notholaena affinis consists of a variety of lipophilic flavonol aglycones. Four of these have been identified as novel interrelated compounds. They all bear methoxyl groups in positions 3,6,7,8 and hydroxyl and/or methoxyl groups at 2′,4′.     

Reconstitution of succinate-Q reductase.

Reconstitution of succinate-Q reductase is achieved by admixing soluble succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and ubiquinone-protein-S (QP-S), a new protein isolated from the soluble cytochrome $\text{b-c}{}_1$ complex. The reconstituted reductase catalyzes reduction of Q by succinate. The reaction is fully sensitive to thenoyltrifluoroacetone. The reconstituted reductase (same as succinate-cytochrome $\text{c}$ reductase or submitochondrial particles) does not show “low concentration ferricyanide reductase activity” as soluble dehydrogenase does. In other words, this enzymic site on SDH is occupied by QP-S. When an artificial dye, such as phenazine methosulfate or Wurster's Blue, is used as electron acceptor the rate of oxidation of succinate by SDH is not significantly changed regardless of whether the dehydrogenase is in the free or in the reconstituted succinate-Q reductase forms.     

Nature of the activation of succinate dehydrogenase by various effectors and in hypobaria and hypoxia

1. Hepatic mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase (succinate:(acceptor)oxidoreductase, EC 1.3.99.1) was activated by preincubation of mitochondria with four diverse classes of compounds, the dicarboxylic acids, nitrophenols, quinols (and ubiquinols) and pyrophosphates. Of the various compounds tested malonate, oxaloacetate and pyrophosphate, well-known competitive inhibitors of the enzyme, and also hydroquinone and ubiquinols were effective even at low concentrations and showed maximal stimulation in 2 min.2. Activation of succinate dehydrogenase by ubiquinol-9 and ubiquinol-10 was comparable to succinate activation in fresh mitochondria, and was much higher in the aged samples.3. Preincubation of mitochondria with succinate, 2,4-dinitrophenol, pyrophosphate and ATP also stimulated the succinate-2,2′,5,5′-tetraphenyl-3,3′-(4,4′-biphenylene) ditetrazolium chloride (NT) reductase activity, whereas malonate, hydroquinone and ubiquinol-9 were ineffective. A differential activation of the flavoprotein by the oxidized and reduced forms of ubiquinone-9 was observed, the former stimulating the reduction of NT and the latter of phenazine methosulphate-2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol.4. Repeated washing of the activated mitochondrial samples with the sucrose homogenizing medium, partially reversed the activation by effectors other than succinate. Further washing of the activated preparations after a second preincubation with succinate reverted the enzyme activity to the basal level in the case of malonate, ATP and pyrophosphate but not that of hydroquinone and ubiquinol-9.5. Increase in the activity of hepatic mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase, but not of succinate-NT reductase, known to occur in rats exposed to hypobaria was also observed in hypoxia indicating that it is an effect of lowered O₂ tension. The enzyme activity in these “partially activated” preparations was stable to washing with the sucrose homogenizing medium and could be fully activated to the same level as in the controls showing thereby the qualitative nature of the change. On washing these succinate-activated preparations further with the medium, the “hypobaric activation” was not reversed to the basal level, whereas the “hypoxic activation” was reversed. These results suggest that the effectors responsible for the activation of succinate dehydrogenase under hypobaric and hypoxic conditions are probably different; the former may be of the ubiquinol type and the latter of the malonate type.     

Localization of Cu and heme a on cytochrome c oxidase polypeptides.

After mild dissociation of cytochrome $\text{c}$ oxidase protomers, and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, copper was found predominantly in polypeptides of Bands V (m.w. 12,100) and VII (m.w. 3,400), and heme a predominantly in polypeptides of Bands I (m.w. 35,300) and II (m.w. 21,000). Some copper was found in Band II – III, and heme a in Band V.