Separation of the poly(glycerophosphate) lipoteichoic acids of Enterococcus faecalis Kiel 27738, Enterococcus hirae ATCC 9790 and Leuconostoc mesenteroides DSM 20343 into molecular species by affinity chromatography on concanavalin A

This study shows for the first time microheterogeneity of 1,3-linked poly(glycerophosphate) lipoteichoic acids. The lipoteichoic acids investigated were those of Enterococcus faecalis Kiel 27738 (I), Enterococcus hirae (Streptococcus faecium) ATCC 9790 (II), and Leuconostoc mesenteroides DMS 20343 (III). Lipoteichoic acids II and III are partially substituted by mono-, di-, tri-, and tetra-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl residues with (1----2) interglycosidic linkages. Lipoteichoic acid I is substituted with alpha-kojibiosyl residues only. Lipoteichoic acids I and III additionally carry D-alanine ester. Lipoteichoic acids were separated on columns of concanavalin-A-Sepharose according to their increasing number of glycosyl substituents per chain. It was evident that all molecular species are usually glycosylated and that alanine ester and glycosyl residues occur on the same chains. The chain lengths of lipoteichoic acid I and II vary between 9-40 glycerophosphate residues, whereas those of lipoteichoic acid III appear to be uniform (33 +/- 2 residues). Molecular species differ in the extent of glycosylation but their content of alanyl residues is fairly constant. All lipoteichoic acids contain a small fraction (5-15%) different in composition from the bulk and most likely reflecting an early stage of biosynthesis. Two procedures for chain length determination of poly(glycerophosphate) lipoteichoic acids are described.     

Cleavage of type I and type II procollagens by type I/II procollagen N-proteinase. Correlation of kinetic constants with the predicted conformations of procollagen substrates

The kinetic constants were examined for the cleavage of several types of procollagen by type I/II procollagen N-proteinase. The Km values were essentially the same (0.2 microM) for chick type I procollagen, human type I procollagen, and chick type II procollagen. However, the Vmax values differed over a 14-fold range. As reported previously, the enzyme did not cleave denatured type I or II procollagen. Also, it did not cleave human type III procollagen which contains the same scissle -Pro-Gln- bond as the pro-alpha 1(I) chain of type I procollagen. To explain the observations, Chou-Fasman rules were used to compare the secondary structures of the cleavage sites in the procollagens. The results supported a previous suggestion (Helseth, D. L., Jr., Lechner, J. L., and Veis, A. (1979) Biopolymers 18, 3005-3014) that the region carboxyl-terminal to cleavage site in the pro-alpha 1(I) chain of type I procollagen was in a hairpin conformation consisting of a beta-sheet, beta-turn, and beta-sheet. In both chick and human type I procollagen, the hairpin loop in the pro-alpha 1(I) chain consisted of about 18 amino acids. The cleavage site itself was in a short alpha-helical structure of four or five amino acids. The pro-alpha 2(I) chains had a similar hairpin loop of about 14 amino acids and alpha-helix of four or five amino acids containing the cleavage site. Chick type II procollagen, which had the highest Vmax value, had a longer hairpin structure of 22 amino acids, and the cleavage site was in a longer alpha-helical domain of 10 amino acids. In contrast, type III procollagen had a random-coil conformation in the same region. The results help to explain the unusual substrate requirements of type I/II N-proteinase. They also help explain why mutations that produce in-frame deletions of amino acids 84 or more residues carboxyl-terminal to the cleavage site make the protein resistant to the enzyme.     

Mutational analysis of domain I of Pseudomonas exotoxin. Mutations in domain I of Pseudomonas exotoxin which reduce cell binding and animal toxicity

Pseudomonas exotoxin (PE) is a single polypeptide chain that contains 613 amino acids and is arranged into three structural domains. Domain I is responsible for cell recognition, II for translocation of PE across membranes and III for ADP ribosylation of elongation factor 2. Treatment of PE with reagents that react with lysine residues has been shown to lead to a reduction in cytotoxic activity apparently due to a modification of domain I (Pirker, R., FitzGerald, D. J. P., Hamilton, T. C., Ozols, R. F., Willingham, M. C., and Pastan, S. (1985) Cancer Res. 45, 751-757). To determine which lysine residues are important in cell recognition, all 12 lysines in domain I were converted to glutamates by site-directed mutagenesis. Also, two deletion mutants encompassing almost all of domain I (amino acids 4-252) or most of domain I (amino acids 4-224) were studied. The mutant proteins were produced in Escherichia coli, purified, and tested for their cytotoxic activity against Swiss 3T3 cells and in mice. The data indicate that conversion of lysine 57 to glutamate reduces cytotoxic activity towards 3T3 cells 50-100-fold and in mice about 5-fold. Deletion of amino acids 4-224 causes a similar reduction in toxicity towards cells and mice. Deletion of most of the rest of domain I (amino acids 4-252) causes a further reduction in toxicity toward cells and mice indicating this second region between amino acids 225 and 252 of domain I is also important in the toxicity of PE. Competition assays indicated that the ability of PEGlu57 to bind to 3T3 cells was greatly diminished, accounting for its diminished cytotoxic activity.     

Fluorometric assay of secondary amino acids

A method is described for the conversion of secondary amino acids to primary amines which can be assayed with fluorescamine (I). Secondary amino acids undergo oxidative decar?ylation when reacted with halogenating agents. The resulting imines are hydrolyzed to primary amines, which are subsequently allowed to react with fluorescamine (I) to yield fluorescent pyrrolinones (II). This reaction sequence provides an efficient fluorometric assay for secondary amino acids. Thus, the fluorescamine procedure is now applicable to the full array of natural amino acids.     

Free amino acids in basal and vagally stimulated gastric secretion

The concentrations of the individual free amino acids were determined in one hour fraction of basal secretion and peak hydrogen ion secretion following stimulation with 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) (group I) or insulin (group II). Group I consisted of 9 patients with duodenal ulcer having hypersecretion of gastric acid as determined by histamine test; 7 patients with duodenal ulcer who underwent truncal vagotomy and had insulin test performed two weeks after the operation formed group II. The total concentration of free amino acids was similar in basal and in stimulated gastric juice in both groups. Also the concentrations of the individual amino acids did not change significantly after stimulation. There was, however, a significant increase following stimulation in the output of amino acids both in group I and in group II. This increase was parallel to that in the volume of gastric juice, which suggests that a definite amount of free amino acids is always present in the gastric juice, and that the secretion of these acids is not under vagal control.     

Molecular cloning and determination of the nucleotide sequence of raw starch digesting alpha-amylase from Aspergillus awamori KT-11

Complementary DNAs encoding alpha-amylases (Amyl I, Amyl III) and glucoamylase (GA I) were cloned from Aspergillus awamori KT-11 and their nucleotide sequences were determined. The sequence of Amyl III that was a raw starch digesting alpha-amylase was found to consist of a 1,902 bp open reading frame encoding 634 amino acids. The signal peptide of the enzyme was composed of 21 amino acids. On the other hand, the sequence of Amyl I, which cannot act on raw starch, consisted of a 1,500 bp ORF encoding 499 amino acids. The signal peptide of the enzyme was composed of 21 amino acids. The sequence of GA I consisted of a 1,920 bp ORF that encoded 639 amino acids. The signal peptide was composed of 24 amino acids. The amino acid sequence of Amyl III from the N-terminus to the amino acid number 499 showed 63.3% homology with Amyl I. However, the amino acid sequence from the amino acid number 501 to C-terminus, including the raw-starch-affinity site and the TS region rich in threonine and serine, showed 66.9% homology with GA I.     

Identification of interaction site of propeptide toward mature carboxypeptidase Y (mCPY) based on the similarity between propeptide and CPY inhibitor (IC)

Both the propeptide in the precursor carboxypeptidase Y (proCPY) and the mature CPY (mCPY)-specific endogenous inhibitor (I(C)) inhibit CPY activity. The N-terminal inhibitory reactive site of I(C) (the N-terminal seven amino acids of I(C)) binds to the substrate-binding site of mCPY and is essential for mCPY inhibition, but the mechanism of mCPY inhibition by the propeptide is poorly understood. In this study, sequence alignment between I(C) and proCPY indicated that a sequence similar to the N-terminal region of I(C) was present in proCPY. In particular, a region including the C-terminus of the propeptide was similar to the N-terminal seven amino acids of I(C). In the presence of peptides identical to the N-terminus of I(C) and the C-terminus of the propeptide, CPY activity was competitively inhibited. The C-terminal region of the propeptide might bind to the substrate-binding site of mCPY.     

Regulation of chemoautotrophic metabolism

Summary Incorporation of ¹⁴C-phenylalanine by T. neapolitanus was inhibited competitively by relatively low concentrations of glycine, serine, alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, tryptophan, tyrosine, histidine, threonine, and methionine (Group I amino acids), but not greatly depressed by aspartate, glutamate, lysine, arginine, cysteine (Group II amino acids) and proline at similar concentrations. Group I acids competed with each other for incorporation but were little affected by Group II acids. Similarly Group I acids little depressed the incorporation of Group II acids, among which, however, some mutual inhibition occurred. Incorporation of proline was depressed by both Group I and II acids. Two main permeation mechanisms are proposed, one transporting Group I acids, the other Group II acids, but some overlapping of function probably occurs. Proline may be transported by a third permease, which is subject to inhibition by both Group I and II acids. T. concretivorus also has a common transport mechanism for some amino acids. Less interaction between amino acids was found using two heterotrophic pseudomonads.Exogenous phenylalanine inhibited both the biosynthesis and the uptake of tyrosine and tryptophan by T. neapolitanus. High phenylalanine concentrations depressed the assimilation of ¹⁴C-labelled tyrosine and tryptophan less than low ones, suggesting that the bacteria developed a requirement for external tyrosine and tryptophan when exposed to highly inhibitory concentrations of phenylalanine.     

Interaction of E. coli single-stranded DNA binding protein (SSB) with exonuclease I. The carboxy-terminus of SSB is the recognition site for the nuclease

The 3'-5' single-stranded DNA(ssDNA) degrading exonuclease I of E. coli directly interacts with the E. coli ssDNA binding protein (EcoSSB). Analytical ultracentrifugation shows that all 4 carboxy-termini of an EcoSSB tetramer bind exonuclease I. Binding is weakened by increasing salt concentrations, indicating the involvement of the negatively charged amino acids of the carboxy-terminus of SSB. Mutant SSB proteins EcoSSBP176S (ssb-113) and EcoSSBF177C do not bindtoexonuclease I while EcoSSBG15D (ssb-3) does bind. In a co-precipitation assay we show that the absence of the lastten amino acids (PMDFDDDIPF) completely abolishes binding of EcoSSB to exonuclease I. The interaction does not depend on the presence of the correct amino-terminal DNA binding domain or the amino acid sequences between the DNA binding domain and the last ten amino acids. A synthetic peptide (WMDFDDDIPF), corresponding to the last nine amino acids of EcoSSB, specifically inhibits the interaction. Both EcoSSBP176S and EcoSSBF177C SSBs bind DNA similar to wild-type EcoSSB, indicating that the phenotype of ssb-113 is not an indication of altered DNA binding. The repair deficiency of either ssb-3 or ssb-113 strain can be complemented by overexpression of the respective other mutant.     

Validation of a new procedure to determine plasma fatty acid concentration and isotopic enrichment.

Assessment of free fatty acid (FFA) concentration and isotopic enrichment is useful for studies of FFA kinetics in vivo. A new procedure to recover the major FFA from plasma for concentration and isotopic enrichment measurements is described and validated. The procedure involves extraction of plasma lipids with hexane, methylation with iodomethane (CH(3)I) to form fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), and subsequent purification of FAME by solid phase extraction (SPE) chromatography. The new method was compared with a traditional method using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) to recover plasma FFA, with subsequent methylation by BF(3)/methanol. The TLC method was found to be less reliable than the new CH(3)I method because of contamination with extraneous fatty acids, chemical fractionation of FFA species, and incomplete recovery of FFA associated with TLC. In contrast, the CH(3)I/SPE method was free of contamination, did not exhibit chemical fractionation, and had higher recovery. The iodomethane reaction was specific for free fatty acids; no FAME were formed when esterified fatty acids (triglycerides, cholesteryl esters, phospholipids) were subjected to the methylation reaction.We conclude that the CH(3)I/SPE method provides rapid and convenient recovery of plasma fatty acids for quantification or GC/MS analysis as methyl esters, and is not subject to the problems of contamination, reduced recovery, and chemical fractionation associated with recovery of FFA by TLC.     

Suppression of a sialyltransferase by antisense DNA reduces invasiveness of human colon cancer cells in vitro

Transfer of terminal alpha 2,6-linked sialic acids to N-glycans is catalyzed by beta-galactoside alpha 2,6-sialyltransferase (ST6Gal I). Expression of ST6Gal I and its products is reportedly increased in colon cancers. To investigate directly the functional effects of ST6Gal I expression, human colon cancer (HT29) cells were transfected with specific antisense DNA. ST6Gal I mRNA and protein were virtually undetectable in six strains of transfected HT29 cells. ST6Gal activity was reduced to 14% of control (P<0.005) in transfected cells. Expression of terminal alpha 2,6- and alpha 2,3-linked sialic acids, and unmasked N-acetyllactosamine oligosaccharides, respectively, was assessed using flow cytometry and fluoresceinated Sambucus nigra, Maackia amurensis and Erythrina cristagalli lectins. Results indicated a major reduction in expression of alpha 2,6-linked sialic acids and counterbalancing increase in unmasked N-acetyllactosamines in antisense DNA-transfected cells, without altered expression of alpha 2,3-linked sialic acids or ganglioside profiles. The ability of transfected cells to form colonies in soft agar and to invade extracellular matrix material (Matrigel), respectively, in vitro was reduced by approx. 98% (P<0.0001) and more than 3-fold (P<0.005) compared to parental HT29 cells. These results indicate that N-glycans bearing terminal alpha 2,6-linked sialic acids may enhance the invasive potential of colon cancer cells.     

Newly identified bile acid binders in rat liver cytosol. Purification and comparison with glutathione S-transferases

Gel filtration of male rat liver cytosol preincubated with radiolabeled lithocholic, chenodeoxycholic, and glycochenodeoxycholic acids, and taurocholic acid revealed two major peaks of radioactivity, one co-eluting with the glutathione S-transferases and the other with a separate fraction, respectively. Chromatofocusing of the pooled fractions containing the new bile acid binding activity resulted in a separation of bile acid binding from the previously described organic anion binding activity in this fraction. Two binding peaks for lithocholic acid (pI 5.6, Binder I, and pI 5.5, Binder II) were identified on chromatofocusing and were further purified to apparent homogeneity by hydroxyapatite chromatography. The two Binders were monomers having identical molecular weight (33,000) and similar amino acid compositions. Bile acid binding to purified Binders I and II and glutathione S-transferases A, B, and C was studied by inhibition of the fluorescence of bound 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulfonate (ANS). Confirmatory experiments using equilibrium dialysis produced comparable results. Glutathione S-transferase B had greater affinity for bile acids than transferases A or C. Binder II, which had greater affinity than Binder I for most bile acids, had greater affinity for chenodeoxycholic acid than transferase B but comparable or lower affinities for the other bile acids. All bile acids studied diminished ANS fluorescence with Binder II. Taurocholic and cholic acids increased ANS fluorescence with Binder I without affecting KANS, whereas lithocholic and chenodeoxycholic acids diminished ANS fluorescence with Binder I. In summary, we have identified and isolated two proteins (Binders I and II) which, along with glutathione S-transferase B, are the major hepatic cytosol bile acid binding proteins; these proteins have overlapping but distinct specificities for various bile acids.     

The amino-acid sequence of three proteins of photosystem I of the cyanobacterium Fremyella diplosiphon (Calothrix sp PCC 7601)

Three proteins containing 138 amino acids (psaD protein), 80 amino acids (psaC protein) and 66 amino acids (psaE protein) of the photosystem I (PS I) complex of the cyanobacterium Fremyella diplosiphon (Calothrix sp PCC 7601) were isolated and sequenced. Comparison with previously known sequences showed a close relationship to homologous proteins of Nostoc, another filamentous cyanobacterium.     

A single base mutation that converts glycine 907 of the alpha 2(I) chain of type I procollagen to aspartate in a lethal variant of osteogenesis imperfecta. The single amino acid substitution near the carboxyl terminus destabilizes the whole triple helix

Type I procollagen was examined in cultured skin fibroblasts from a patient with a lethal variant of osteogenesis imperfecta. About half of the pro-alpha chains were post-translationally overmodified and had a decreased thermal stability. The vertebrate collagenase A fragment had a normal thermal stability, but the B fragment had a decreased thermal stability. Therefore, there was a change in primary structure in amino acids 776-1014 of either the alpha 1(I) or alpha 2(I) chain. Three of five cDNA clones for the alpha 2(I) chain contained a single-base substitution of an A for a G that converted the codon for glycine at amino acid position 907 to aspartate. Complete nucleotide sequencing of bases coding for amino acids 776 to 1014 of the alpha 2(I) chain was carried out in one cDNA clone that contained the mutation in the glycine codon and in one that did not. Also, nucleotide sequencing was performed of bases coding for amino acids 776-1014 of the alpha 1(I) chain in seven independent cDNA clones. No other mutations were found. Therefore, the single base substitution that converts glycine 907 in the alpha 2(I) chain to aspartate is solely responsible for the decreased thermal stability of the type I procollagen synthesized by the proband's fibroblasts. Also, glycine 907 of the alpha 2(I) chain is an important component of a cooperative block that determines the melting temperature of the whole molecule.     

Nature and linkage type of fatty acids present in lipopolysaccharides of phase I and II Coxiella burnetii

The constituent fatty acids of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of Coxiella burnetii (phase I and II) were qualitatively and quantitatively analysed by combined gas-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. The total fatty acid content (per mg LPS) was determined as 90.0 nmol (2.3 wt%) for LPS of phase I cells (LPS I) and 179.1 nmol (4.8 wt%) for LPS of phase II cells (LPS II). Of the 24 different acyl residues characterized (12 to 18 carbon atoms), nine were 3-hydroxy fatty acids (normal, iso- and anteiso-branched) which quantitatively predominated. All 3-hydroxylated fatty acids were found to possess the (R)-configuration, to be exclusively amide-linked and to be acylated at their 3-hydroxyl group. Ester-linked nonhydroxylated fatty acids (normal, iso- and anteiso-branched) were present but ester-bound 3-hydroxy- or 3-acyloxyacyl residues were lacking from C. burnetii LPS I and LPS II. As the major acyl group (R)-3-(12-methyl-tetradecanoyloxy)-12-methyl-tetradecanoic acid was identified. Our results show that the complex fatty acid spectrum of C. burnetii differs considerably from that of LPS of other Gram-negative bacteria. They further suggest an enormous heterogeneity of the lipid A component of C. burnetii LPS I and LPS II.     

Isolation and characterization of N-long chain acyl aminoacylase from Pseudomonas diminuta

N-Long chain acyl aminoacylase II (Enzyme II) catalyzing the hydrolysis of N-long chain acyl amino acids was purified about 2,000-fold from the cell extracts of Pseudomonas diminuta with 1.8% of activity yield. The purified enzyme was homogeneous on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the molecular weight was 220,000. Enzyme II differed from N-long chain acyl aminoacylase I (Enzyme I) in molecular weight, in substrate specificity, and in behavior toward temperature and pH. Enzyme II showed broader substrate specificity than Enzyme I and catalyzed the hydrolysis of lipoamino acids containing various amino acid residues, although Enzyme I was almost specific to the lipoamino acids containing L-glutamate. The extent of hydrolysis by Enzyme II reaction varied depending on the kinds of lipoamino acids and were: 100% for palmitoyl-L-glutamate, 91% for myristoyl-L-glutamate, 85% for lauroyl-L-glutamate, 54% for lauroyl-L-aspartate, 28% for stearoyl-L-glutamate and 17.5% for lauroyl-glycine.     

Isolation and Characterization of a Proteolipid in Defatted Soybean Meals

A proteolipid was isolated from the chloroform–methanol (2:1, by vol.) extract of defatted soybean meals by a modified Folch method. The proteolipid gave a yield of 0.05% of the defatted meals, and the ratio of protein and lipid was neary 3:4. The complex gave a single band containing both protein and lipid on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. TLC analysis of the lipid moiety showed that the major components were glycolipids and phospholipids. The protein moiety contained more hydrophobic amino acids and less acidic amino acids in comparison with the amino acid composition of soybean globulin. The protein moiety contained two kinds of protein component (I and II) which have molecular weights of 13,000 (I) and 15,000 (II) on SDS-urea polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and N-terminal amino acids of alanine (I) and glutamic acid (II). The apoprotein is a new protein and different from the whey proteins or globulins of soybean.     

The involvement of carnitine intermediates in peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation: a study with 2-bromofatty acids

Metabolism-dependent inactivators of 3-ketothiolase I and carnitine acyltransferase I (CAT I) have been used to study the oxidation of fatty acids in intact hepatocytes. 2-Bromooctanoate inactivates mitochondrial and peroxisomal 3-ketothiolases I in a time-dependent manner. During the first 5 min of incubation, inactivation of 3-ketothiolase in mitochondria is five times faster than its inactivation in peroxisomes. Almost complete inactivation of 3-ketothiolase I in both types of organelle is achieved after incubation with 1 mM 2-bromooctanoate for 40 min. The inactivation is not affected by preincubating hepatocytes with 20 microM tetradecylglycidate (TDGA), an inactivator of CAT I, under conditions which cause greater than 95% inactivation of CAT I. 2-Bromododecanoate (1 mM) causes 60% inactivation of mitochondrial and peroxisomal 3-ketothiolases I in 40 min. These inactivations are greatly reduced by preincubating hepatocytes with 20 microM TDGA, demonstrating that 2-bromododecanoate enters both mitochondria and peroxisomes via its carnitine ester. 2-Bromopalmitate (1 mM) causes less than 5% inactivation of mitochondrial and peroxisomal 3-ketothiolases I in 40 min, but causes 95% inactivation of CAT I during this time. Incubation of hepatocytes with 10-200 microM 2-bromopalmitoyl-L-carnitine causes inactivation of mitochondrial and peroxisomal 3-ketothiolases I at similar rates. This inactivation is decreased by palmitoyl-D-carnitine during the first 5 min of incubation. Pretreating hepatocytes with 20 microM TDGA does not affect the inactivation of mitochondrial or peroxisomal 3-ketothiolase I by 2-bromopalmitoyl-L-carnitine. These results demonstrate that in intact hepatocytes, peroxisomes oxidize fatty acids of medium-chain length by a carnitine-independent mechanism, whereas they oxidize long-chain fatty acids by a carnitine-dependent mechanism.     

Composition of long-chain bases in sphingomyelin of the guinea pig Harderian gland

Sphingomyelin from the guinea pig Harderian gland was isolated and characterized. The purified sphingomyelin gave a broad spot on thin-layer chromatography. The fatty acid composition of the whole sphingomyelin was 71% nonhydroxy acids and 29% 2-hydroxy acids. Methyl-branched fatty acids were only 2% of the total acids. The long-chain bases were composed of straight-chain sphingenines (50%) and sphinganines (6%). Methyl-branched long-chain bases were 44% of the bases. The sphingomyelin was further separated into four fractions (I, II, III, IV) by high-performance liquid chromatography. The ratio of fractions I, II, III, and IV was approximately 2:5:2:1, respectively. The fatty acids of fractions I and II consisted of nonhydroxy acids and those of fractions III and IV were 2-hydroxy acids. The long-chain bases of fractions I and III were sphinganines including 10-, 9-, and 8-methylsphinganines and anteiso-sphinganines. These methyl-branched bases occupied about 70% of the total sphinganines. The long-chain bases of fractions II and IV consisted of sphingenines. The methyl-branched unsaturated bases were only 30% of the total sphingenines, all in the anteiso-form. Thus, the sphingomyelin obtained from guinea pig Harderian gland had complex compositions of fatty acids and long-chain bases, and half the number of long-chain bases had methyl branches. The methyl-branched fatty acids were only a minor component. These characteristics are similar to those of cerebrosides isolated from the same source.