Isolation and characterization of dermatan sulphate proteoglycans from bovine sclera.

1. Proteoglycans were extracted from sclera with 4 M-guanidine hydrochloride in the presence of proteinase inhibitors and purified by ion-exchange chromatography and density-gradient centrifugation. 2. The entire proteoglycan pool was characterized by compositional analyses and by specific chemical (periodate oxidation) and enzymic (chondroitinases) degradations. The glycan moieties of the molecules were exclusively galactosaminoglycans (dermatan sulphate-chondroitin sulphate co-polymers). In addition, the preparations contained small amounts of oligosaccharides. 3. The scleral proteodermatan sulphates were fractionated into one larger (I) and one smaller (II) component by gel chromatography. Proteoglycan I was eluted in a more excluded position on gel chromatography in 0.5 M-sodium acetate than in 4.0 M-guanidine hydrochloride. Reduced and alkylated proteoglycan I was eluted in the same position (in 0.5 M-sodium acetate) as was the starting material (in 4.0 M-guanidine hydrochloride). The elution position of proteoglycan II was the same in both solvents. Proteoglycans I and II had s0 20,w values of 2.8 x 10(-13) and 2.2 x 10(-13) s respectively in 6.0 M-guanidine hydrochloride. 4. The two proteoglycans differed with respect to the nature of the protein core and the co-polymeric structure of their side chains. Also proteoglycan I contained more side chains than did proteoglycan II. The dermatan sulphate side chains of proteoglycan I were D-glucuronic acid-rich (80%), whereas those of proteoglycan II contained equal amounts of D-glucuronic acid and L-iduronic acid. Furthermore, the co-polymeric features of the side chains of proteoglycans I and II were different. The protein core of proteoglycan I was of larger size than that of proteoglycan II. The latter had an apparent molecular weight of 46 000 (estimated by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis), whereas the former was greater than 100 000. In addition, the amino-acid composition of the two core preparations was different. 5. As proteoglycan I altered its elution position on gel chromatography in 4 M-guanidine hydrochloride compared with 0.5 M-sodium acetate it is proposed that a change in conformation or a disaggregation took place. If the latter hypothesis is favoured, aggregation may be due to self-association or mediated by an extrinsic molecule, e.g. hyaluronic acid.     

Self-association of dermatan sulphate proteoglycans from bovine sclera.

1. Two proteodermatan sulphate fractions (I and II) from bovine sclera were studied by gel chromatography, light-scattering and ultracentrifugation under various conditions. 2. Gel chromatography of proteoglycans in the absence or presence of hyaluronate was performed under associative conditions. No effect on the elution profile was noted. 3. Ultracentrifugation experiments (sedimentation-velocity and sedimentation-equilibrium) with proteoglycan I and II in 6 M-guanidine hydrochloride gave molecular weights (Mw) of 160000-220000 and 70000-100000 respectively. As the protein contents were 45% and 60% respectively, it may be calculated that proteoglycan I contained four to five side chains, whereas proteoglycan II contained one or two. Sedimentation-equilibrium runs performed in 0.15 M-NaCl gave an apparent molecular weight (Mw) of 500000-800000 for proteoglycan I and 90000-110000 for proteoglycan II. 4. In light-scattering experiments both proteoglycans I and II yielded high particle weights in 0.15 M-NaCl (3.1 X 10(6) and 3.4 X 10(6) daltons respectively). In the presence of 6 M-guanidine hydrochloride the molecular weights decreased to 410000 and 130000 respectively. The particle weights in 0.15 M-NaCl were not altered by the addition of hyaluronate or hyaluronate oligosaccharides. 5. The dermatan sulphate side chains of scleral proteoglycans (L-iduronate/D-glucuronate ratio 7:13) gave a particle weight of 100000 daltons in 0.15 M-NaCl. In 1.00 M-KCl/0.02M-EDTA the molecular weight was 24000. Addition of free scleral dermatan sulphate chains to a solution of proteoglycan II promoted further multimerization of the macromolecule.     

The molecular weight and thiol residues of acetyl-coenzyme A synthetase from ox heart mitochondria

1. A constant molecular weight of 57000 was obtained by gel filtration of highly purified acetyl-CoA synthetase over a 1000-fold range of enzyme concentrations. The amino acid analysis is reported. 2. With native enzyme at 20 degrees C the relatively rapid reaction of four thiol residues with p-hydroxymercuribenzoate caused an immediate inhibition reversible by either CoA or mercaptoethanol. Other substrates did not protect against this rapid inhibition. 3. The much slower reaction of the remaining four thiol residues was independent of the concentration of the mercurial, first-order with respect to enzyme, and had a large energy of activation (+136kJ/mol), suggesting that a conformation change in the protein was rate-limiting. This slow phase of the reaction was accompanied by an irreversible inactivation of the enzyme. 4. The effects of substrates on this irreversible inactivation at pH7.0 in 5 mm-MgCl(2) indicated strong binding of ATP and pyrophosphate by the enzyme (concentrations for half-maximal effects, K((1/2)), were <30mum and <10mum respectively) and weaker binding of acetyl-CoA (K((1/2)) about 1 mm), AMP (K((1/2)) about 2mm) and acetate. In the presence of acetate, MgCl(2) and p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, titration of the enzyme with ATP revealed at least two ATP binding sites/mol. 5. The experiments suggest that reaction of the thiol residues with mercurial causes loss of enzymic activity by altering the structure of the enzyme, rather than that the thiol residues play a direct role in the catalysis.     

The purification and properties of urocanase from Pseudomonas testosteroni.

Urocanase (urocanate hydratase, EC 4.2.1.49) purified from Pseudomonas testosteroni has a mol.wt. of 118000 determined by sedimentation-equilibrium analysis. Ultracentrifugation in 6M-guanidine hydrochloride and polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulphate show that the enzyme consists of two identical or very similar subunits. It is, like urocanase isolated from other sources, inhibited by reagents that react with carbonyl groups. Although urocanase from Ps. testosteroni is strongly inhibited by NaBH4, no evidence could be obtained for the presence of covalently bound 2-oxobutyrate as a prosthetic group; this is in contrast with findings elsewhere for urocanase from Pseudomonas putida. Urocanase from Ps. testosteroni does not contain pyridoxal 5'-phosphate as a coenzyme and in this respect is similar to all urocanases studied in purified form.     

Purification and characterization of zinc-binding protein from the liver of the partially hepatectomized rat.

Zn-binding protein in liver of the partially hepatectomized rat was purified by column chromatography on Sephadex G-75 and DEAE-cellulose. Homogeneity was judged by polyacrylamide-disc-gel electrophoresis. The molecular weight determined by gel-permeation chromatography in 6 M-guanidine hydrochloride was 6700. This value is in good agreement with the molecular weight calculated from the amino acid composition, which was 6073. Zn-binding protein was composed of 61 amino acid residues, and the distinctive features include an extremely high content of cysteine, which accounted for one-third of the total amino acid residues, and an absolute absence of aromatic amino acids as well as of histidine, leucine and arginine. The amino acid composition was similar to that of the metallothioneins previously isolated from rat liver and mouse liver. These observations suggest that the Zn-binding protein can be classified as a type of metallothionein. Zn-binding protein contained 8.2g-atoms of zinc per mol and traces of copper, but no cadmium. The molar ratio of thiol groups to zinc was calculated to be 2.5:1. Possible roles of this Zn-binding protein in the transport and storage of zinc in the liver are discussed.     

Acceptor sites for the oestrogen receptor in hen oviduct chromatin.

Partially purified hen oviduct oestrogen receptors, charged with [3H]oestradiol, were shown to specifically bind in vitro to purified hen oviduct chromatin. Maximal binding occurred within 60min at 0 degrees C in a Tris buffer containing 0.1 M-KCl and 0.5 mM-phenylmethanesulphonyl fluoride. The binding of the [3H]oestradiol-receptor complexes to intact purified chromatin was saturable, whereas the receptor binding to hen DNA remained linear. Saturation was further demonstrated by the minimal acceptor binding of receptor charged with [3H]oestradiol plus 200-fold oestradiol compared with [3H]oestradiol receptors at equal [3H]oestradiol concentrations. Scatchard analysis of [3H]oestradiol-receptor binding to chromatin above DNA levels gave indications of high-affinity binding with a low capacity. Further, the nuclear binding was tissue-specific since the binding to hen spleen chromatin was negligible. To further uncover the specific acceptor sites, proteins were removed from hen oviduct chromatin by increasing concentrations of guanidine hydrochloride (1-7M). Those residual fractions extracted with 3-7 M-guanidine hydrochloride had the highest acceptor activity (above DNA levels) with the peak activity uncovered by 5 M-guanidine hydrochloride. To further characterize the oestrogen-receptor acceptor sites, oviduct chromatin was bound to hydroxyapatite in the presence of 3 M-NaCl and then protein fractions were extracted sequentially with 1-7 M-guanidine hydrochloride. Each fraction was then reconstituted to pure hen DNA by reverse gradient dialysis. [3H]Oestradiol receptors were found to bind to the greatest degree to the fraction reconstituted from the 5 M-guanidine hydrochloride protein extract. Reconstituted nucleoacidic proteins (NAP) from combined 4-7 M-guanidine hydrochloride protein extracts showed saturable binding by [3H]-oestradiol receptors, whereas binding to hen DNA did not saturate. The high affinity, low capacity, and specificity of binding of oestrogen receptors to NAP was similar to that found in intact chromatin. Thus, chromatin acceptor proteins for the oestrogen receptor have been partially isolated and characterized in the hen oviduct and display properties similar to that reported for the acceptor proteins of the progesterone receptor.     

Behavior of mouse placental and uterine estrogen sulfotransferase during chromatography and other procedures

The estrogen sulfotransferase activity of high-speed supernatants of mouse placenta and uterus behaves on conventional and high-performance liquid chromatographic gel filtration as an enzyme species with a molecular weight of the order of 30 000. This is so whether the cytosols are freshly prepared or have been stored at -20 degrees C before chromatography. The presence of thiol groups or EDTA has no effect on the elution pattern. The partially purified enzyme is extremely unstable and is poorly recovered by (NH4)2SO4 fractionation. Some stabilization can be achieved in the presence of 0.1 microM estradiol. Chromatofocusing of cytosols results in the elution of one or two sulfotransferase peaks, depending upon experimental conditions such as the presence or absence of thiol groups. These peaks act upon both estrone and estradiol as substrates. Chromatofocusing by fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) in the absence of thiol groups results in the elution of one sulfotransferase peak whose activity can be detected only when thiol groups are present during enzyme assay.     

1, 4-alpha-Glucan phosphorylase from Klebsiella pneumoniae purification, subunit structure and amino acid composition.

1. A 1,4-alpha-glucan phosphorylase from Klebsiella pneumoniae has been purified about 80-fold with an over-all yield greater than 35%. The purified enzyme has been shown to be homogeneous by gel electrophoresis at different pH-values, by isoelectric focusing, by dodecylsulfate electrophoresis and by ultracentrifugation. 2. The molecular weight of the native enzyme has been determined to be 180 000 by ultra-centrifugation studies, in good agreement with the value of 189 000 estimated by gel permeation chromatography. 3. The enzyme dissociates in the presence of 0.1% dodecylsulfate or 5 M guanidine hydrochloride into polypeptide chains. The molecular weight of these polypeptide chains has been found to be 88 000 by dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and 99 000 by sedimentation equilibrium studies, indicating that the native enzyme is composed of two polypeptide chains. 4. The enzyme contains pyridoxalphosphate with a stoichiometry of two moles per 180 000 g protein, confirming that the 1,4-alpha-glucan phosphorylase from Klebsiella pneumoniae is a dimeric enzyme. 5. The amino acid composition of the enzyme has been determined, and its correspondence to that of 1,4-alpha-glucan phosphorylases from other sources is discussed. 6. The pI of the enzyme has been shown to be 5.3 and its pH-optimum to be about pH 5.9. The enzyme is stable in the range from pH 5.9 to 10.5.     

The reactivity of thiol groups in bovine heart cytochrome c oxidase towards 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid)

Bovine heart cytochrome c oxidase consists of 12 stoicheiometric polypeptide chains of at least 11 different types. The enzyme contains 14--16 cysteine residues; the distribution of nearly all cysteine residues over the subunits has been established. In native cytochrome c oxidase two thiol groups reacted rapidly and stoicheiometrically with 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB). These thiol groups are located in subunits I and III, respectively. This implies that subunit I is not fully buried in the hydrophobic core of the enzyme. After dissociation of the enzyme by sodium dodecyl sulphate more thiol groups became available to DTNB, in addition to those in subunits I and III, at least one in subunit II, two in fraction V/VI and one to two in the smallest subunit fraction. It is shown that separation of the subunits of cytochrome c oxidase by gel permeation chromatography in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate depends on the pH of the elution medium. The elution volume of subunits I, III and VII is dependent on pH, that of the others independent.     

Evidence for polymorphonuclear-leucocyte-derived proteinases in arthritic cartilage.

1. An enzyme that degrades proteoglycan at neutral pH was extracted with 4 M-guanidine hydrochloride from the articular cartilage of rabbits with antigen-induced arthritis. 2. The enzyme had an apparent molecular weight on Ultrogel AcA 54 of about 8000 and was optimally active at pH 7.5 in Tris/HCl buffer containing 0.2 M-NaCl. The partially purified preparation was totally inhibited by 0.01 mM-N-acetyldialanylprolylvalylchloromethane, severely inhibited by 2 mM-phenylmethanesulphonyl fluoride and soya-bean trypsin inhibitor (200 microgram/ml) and slightly inhibited by 10 mM-EDTA. Marked inhibition was also obtained with a cytosolic fraction prepared from rabbit polymorphonuclear leucocytes. 3. All properties of the enzyme were virtually identical with those of an 'elastase-like' proteinase that was isolated from rabbit polymorphonuclear-leucocyte granules. 4. The results are consistent with the idea that cartilage proteoglycan degradation in acute joint inflammation is due at least partly to the diffusion into the cartilage of proteinases derived from synovial-fluid polymorphonuclear leucocytes.     

NADP-malate dehydrogenase from Zea mays leaves: Amino acid composition and thiol content of active and inactive forms

NADP-malate dehydrogenase (L-malate: NADP⁺ oxidoreductase, E.C. 1.1.1.82) was purified from the leaves of Zea mays L. and its subunit molecular weight, amino acid composition and the changes in number of thiol groups during activation were determined. The amino acid composition we found differed from that reported earlier for the Z. mays enzyme but was very similar to that reported for the enzyme isolated from pea leaves. The maize enzyme contains fewer methionine residues (3 compared to 5 in pea) but a greater total number of cysteine residues (6 compared to 3 in pea). In its inactive form (oxidised) the enzyme contained 2 thiols per subunit of which only 1 reacts with 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) when the enzyme is in its native form. During activation by dithiothreitol two disulphide bonds are reduced per subunit to give 4 new thiol groups. We conclude that NADP-malate dehydrogenase from leaves of the C₄ plant Z. mays is very similar to the enzyme from the C₃ plant pea. However, apparently two disulphide bonds are reduced during the reductive activation of the Z. mays enzyme in vitro compared with 1 disulphide bond for the pea enzyme.     

Reduced apo-fumarate nitrate reductase regulator (apoFNR) as the major form of FNR in aerobically growing Escherichia coli

Under anoxic conditions, the Escherichia coli oxygen sensor FNR (fumarate nitrate reductase regulator) is in the active state and contains a [4Fe-4S] cluster. Oxygen converts [4Fe-4S]FNR to inactive [2Fe-2S]FNR. After prolonged exposure to air in vitro, apoFNR lacking a Fe-S cluster is formed. ApoFNR can be differentiated from Fe-S-containing forms by the accessibility of the five Cys thiol residues, four of which serve as ligands for the Fe-S cluster. The presence of apoFNR in aerobically and anaerobically grown E. coli was analyzed in situ using thiol reagents. In anaerobically and aerobically grown cells, the membrane-permeable monobromobimane labeled one to two and four Cys residues, respectively; the same labeling pattern was found with impermeable thiol reagents after cell permeabilization. Alkylation of FNR in aerobic bacteria and counting the labeled residues by mass spectrometry showed a form of FNR with five accessible Cys residues, corresponding to apoFNR with all Cys residues in the thiol state. Therefore, aerobically growing cells contain apoFNR, whereas a significant amount of Fe-S-containing FNR was not detected under these conditions. Exposure of anaerobic bacteria to oxygen caused conversion of Fe-S-containing FNR to apoFNR within 6 min. ApoFNR from aerobic bacteria contained no disulfide, in contrast to apoFNR formed in vitro by air inactivation, and all Cys residues were in the thiol form.     

The reactivity of thiol groups in bovine heart cytochrome c oxidase towards 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid)

Bovine heart cytochrome c oxidase consists of 12 stoicheiometric polypeptide chains of at least 11 different types. The enzyme contains 14–16 cysteine residues; the distribution of nearly all cysteine residues over the subunits has been established. In native cytochrome c oxidase two thiol groups reacted rapidly and stoicheiometrically with 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB). These thiol groups are located in subunits I and III, respectively. This implies that subunit I is not fully buried in the hydrophobic core of the enzyme. After dissociation of the enzyme by sodium dodecyl sulphate more thiol groups became available to DTNB, in addition to those in subunits I and III, at least one in subunit II, two in fraction V/VI and one to two in the smallest subunit fraction. It is shown that separation of the subunits of cytochrome c oxidase by gel permeation chromatography in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate depends on the pH of the elution medium. The elution volume of subunits I, III and VII is dependent on pH, that of the others independent.     

Mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase of Escherichia coli. Chemical properties and binding of substrates.

Mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase was purified to homogeneity, and some chemical and physical properties were examined. The isoelectric point is 4.19. Amino acid analysis and polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis in presence of SDS indicate a subunit Mr of about 22,000, whereas gel filtration and electrophoresis of the native enzyme indicate an Mr of 45,000. Thus the enzyme is a dimer. Amino acid analysis showed cysteine, tyrosine, histidine and tryptophan to be present in low quantities, one, three, four and four residues per subunit respectively. The zinc content is not significant to activity. The enzyme is inactivated (greater than 99%) by reaction of 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoate) with the single thiol group; the inactivation rate depends hyperbolically on reagent concentration, indicating non-covalent binding of the reagent before covalent modification. The pH-dependence indicated a pKa greater than 10.5 for the thiol group. Coenzymes (NAD+ and NADH) at saturating concentrations protect completely against reaction with 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoate), and substrates (mannitol 1-phosphate, fructose 6-phosphate) protect strongly but not completely. These results suggest that the thiol group is near the catalytic site, and indicate that substrates as well as coenzymes bind to free enzyme. Dissociation constants were determined from these protective effects: 0.6 +/- 0.1 microM for NADH, 0.2 +/- 0.03 mM for NAD+, 9 +/- 3 microM for mannitol 1-phosphate, 0.06 +/- 0.03 mM for fructose 6-phosphate. The binding order for reaction thus may be random for mannitol 1-phosphate oxidation, though ordered for fructose 6-phosphate reduction. Coenzyme and substrate binding in the E X NADH-mannitol 1-phosphate complex is weaker than in the binary complexes, though in the E X NADH+-fructose 6-phosphate complex binding is stronger.     

Isolation, amino acid analyses and refolding of subunits of pig heart succinyl-CoA synthetase.

For the first time, pig heart succinyl-CoA synthetase has been refolded from its isolated subunits after denaturation. Amino acid analyses of pig heart succinyl-CoA synthetase and its subunits were performed. Subunits were isolated by gel filtration in neutral 6 M-urea. The amino acid composition of the native enzyme bears a strong resemblance to that of the Escherichia coli enzyme. Application of the various methods for comparing amino acid compositions [Cornish-Bowden (1983) Methods Enzymol. 91, 60-75] shows that the degree of relatedness between the alpha-subunits of the pig heart and E. coli enzymes and between the beta-subunits of the two synthetases is intermediate between 'strong' and 'weak'. As for the E. coli synthetase, it is unlikely that the alpha-subunit arises from the larger beta-subunit by post-translational modification. The pig heart enzyme contains a single tryptophan residue, which is located in the beta-subunit. Excitation of the enzyme at 295 nm resulted in a typical tryptophan emission spectrum. Refolding of enzyme denatured in 6 M-guanidine hydrochloride or of alpha- and beta-subunits isolated in this solvent required the presence of either ethylene glycol or glycerol, optimally at 20-25% (v/v). GTP-Mg2+ did not stimulate reactivation of the enzyme, in contrast with the result obtained with ATP-Mg2+ in the reconstitution of the enzyme from E. coli. Yields of 60% and 40% were obtained in the refolding of denatured enzyme and isolated subunits respectively. The fluorescence spectrum of the refolded protein was essentially the same as that of native enzyme. Unrecovered activity could not be accounted for in the form of protein aggregates. The specific activity of refolded enzyme that had been separated from inactive protein on a Bio-Sil TSK 250 column was the same as that of native enzyme. Km values for GTP of 27 microM and 14 microM were determined for native and refolded enzyme respectively.     

Purification and some properties of carbonic anhydrase from bovine skeletal muscle

Procedures for the purification of bovine muscle carbonic anhydrase (isoenzyme III) are described. The purified enzyme has a molecular weight near 29,000 and contains one Zn2+ ion per molecule. The sedimentation coefficient, s(0)20,w, is 2.8 X 10(-13) s, the isoelectric pH is 8.5, and A280(0.1%) = 2.07 cm-1. The CO2 hydration activity, expressed as kcat/Km, is about 1.5% of that of human isoenzyme I (or B) and about 0.3% of that of human isoenzyme II (or C) at pH 8 and 25 degrees C. The activity is nearly independent of pH between pH 6.0 and 8.6. The muscle enzyme is weakly inhibited by the sulfonamide inhibitor, acetazolamide, whereas some anions, particularly sulfide and cyanate, are efficient inhibitors. Bovine carbonic anhydrase III contains five thiol groups, two of which react readily with Ellman's reagent without effect on the catalytic activity. A reinvestigation of the amino acid sequences of cysteine-containing tryptic peptides has shown that cysteine residues occur at sequence positions 66, 183, 188, 203, and 206.     

Studies on thyroid hormone-binding proteins. I. The subunit structure of human thyroxine-binding globulin and its interaction with ligands.

Thyroxine-binding globulin was isolated from human plasma by ammonium sulfate fractionation, chromatographic separations on diethylaminoethyl-Sephadex, gel chromatography, and two different electrophoretic procedures. The highly purified was homogeneous when subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, ultracentrifugation analyses, and immunochemical determinations. The weight average molecular weight as determined by sedimentation equilibrium ultracentrifugations was 54,000 and by sedimentation diffusion data 55,000. Amino acid analyses indicated a minimum of 110 amino acid residues per molecule. By determination of the minimum in the curve for the fraction of maximum deviation from the amino acid analyses it was found that the minimum molecular weight for the polypeptide was 12,200. Carbohydrate analyses demonstrated the presence f equimolar amounts of amnnose, galactose, and glucosamine, and the carbohydrate portion constituted 7.5% of the total weight. The amino acid analyses suggested that thyroxine-binding globulin is composed of 4 subunits. Molecular weight determinations by gel chromatography in 6 M guanidine hydrochloride indicated the presence of three species of globulin with apparent molecular weights 52,000, 25,000, and 13,500, respectively. Prolonged storage in guanidine hydrochloride promoted a more than 60% yield of the monomeric species. Moreover, a half-molecule of thyroxine-binding globulin was isolated and shown to consist of two polypeptide chains of similar molecular weight...     

Isolation and partial characterization of ascites sialoglycoprotein-2 of the cell surface sialomucin complex of 13762 rat mammary adenocarcinoma cells.

Sialomucins are the dominant components of the cell surfaces of some carcinoma ascites cells and have been postulated to inhibit recognition of tumours by the immune system. The sialomucin ASGP-1 (ascites sialoglycoprotein-1) of the 13762 rat mammary adenocarcinoma is associated with the cell surface as a complex with a concanavalin-A-binding glycoprotein called ASGP-2. This sialomucin complex has been purified from ascites cell microvilli by extraction with Triton X-100 and CsCl density-gradient centrifugation. ASGP-1 (which has been purified previously) and ASGP-2 were dissociated in 6 M-guanidine hydrochloride and separated by gel filtration. The molecular mass of the undenatured detergent complex of ASGP-2, estimated by gel filtration and velocity sedimentation in Triton X-100, was 148 kDa. Since the apparent molecular mass by SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis was about 120 kDa, ASGP-2 must be a monomer as extracted from the membrane. Studies of its chemical composition indicate that it contains about 45% carbohydrate by weight, including both mannose and galactosamine. Alkaline borohydride treatment of ASGP-2 converted approx. half of the N-acetylgalactosamine to N-acetylgalactosaminitol, demonstrating the presence of O-linked oligosaccharides. Analyses of mannose-labelled Pronase glycopeptides from ASGP-2 by lectin-affinity chromatography on concanavalin A and leucocyte-agglutinating phytohaemagglutinin suggested that 40% of the label was present in high-mannose/hybrid oligosaccharides, 20% in triantennary oligosaccharides substituted on the C-2 and C-4 mannose positions and 40% in tri- or tetra-antennary oligosaccharides substituted on C-2 and C-6. The presence of polylactosamine sequences on these oligosaccharides was suggested by lectin blots and by precipitation from detergent extracts with tomato lectin. From chemical analyses and lectin-affinity studies, we estimate that ASGP-2 contains four high-mannose and 13 complex N-glycosylated oligosaccharides, plus small amounts of polylactosamine and O-linked oligosaccharides. The presence of four different classes of oligosaccharides on this glycoprotein suggests that it will be an interesting model system for biosynthetic comparisons of the different glycosylation pathways.     

The molecular weight of pig liver microsomal carboxylesterase

The enzyme carboxylesterase, isolated from the microsomes of pig liver, was found to have a molecular weight of 180,000 in dilute salt solutions as determined by the method of sedimentation equilibrium. In the presence of 6 m guanidine hydrochloride, 0.1 M β-mercaptoethanol, the molecular weight, uncorrected for preferential solvation, was found to be 61,000, also by the method of sedimentation equilibrium. The molecular weight determined for the enzyme (reduced and alkylated with acrylonitrile) in 6 m guanidine hydrochloride by the method of analytical gel chromatography was found to be 58,200. The method of disc gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate yielded a molecular weight of 62,000. The conclusion of the study is that the native carboxylesterase molecule is comprised of three subunits each with a molecular weight of approximately 60,000.     

Highly conserved cysteines of mouse core 2 beta1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I form a network of disulfide bonds and include a thiol that affects enzyme activity

Core 2 beta1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I (C2GnT-I) plays a pivotal role in the biosynthesis of mucin-type O-glycans that serve as ligands in cell adhesion. To elucidate the three-dimensional structure of the enzyme for use in computer-aided design of therapeutically relevant enzyme inhibitors, we investigated the participation of cysteine residues in disulfide linkages in a purified murine recombinant enzyme. The pattern of free and disulfide-bonded Cys residues was determined by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry in the absence and presence of dithiothreitol. Of nine highly conserved Cys residues, under both conditions, one (Cys217) is a free thiol, and eight are engaged in disulfide bonds, with pairs formed between Cys59-Cys413, Cys100-Cys172, Cys151-Cys199, and Cys372-Cys381. The only non-conserved residue within the beta1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase family, Cys235, is also a free thiol in the presence of dithiothreitol; however, in the absence of reductant, Cys235 forms an intermolecular disulfide linkage. Biochemical studies performed with thiolreactive agents demonstrated that at least one free cysteine affects enzyme activity and is proximal to the UDP-GlcNAc binding site. A Cys217 --> Ser mutant enzyme was insensitive to thiol reactants and displayed kinetic properties virtually identical to those of the wild-type enzyme, thereby showing that Cys217, although not required for activity per se, represents the only thiol that causes enzyme inactivation when modified. Based on the pattern of free and disulfide-linked Cys residues, and a method of fold recognition/threading and homology modeling, we have computed a three-dimensional model for this enzyme that was refined using the T4 bacteriophage beta-glucosyltransferase fold.