牛血清白蛋白水溶液的闪光光解

本文用闪光光解方法测定了BSA原初光解瞬态产物在300～600nm波长范围较完整的吸收光谱。在N_2气饱和及激发光波长<370nm条件下,BSA光解瞬态产物有五个吸收峰,位置分别在270、310、390、410和460nm,而在有氧或激发闪光中含有370nm以上光时,色氨酸三线态在460nm附近的吸收峰消失了,表征色氮酸中性自由基的510nm吸收峰却显现出来。光解瞬态吸收谱的测量表明:BSA光解主要发生在酪氨酸和色氨酸残基上,原初光解瞬态产物有对位α-氨基丙酸苯氧自由基Tyr(λ_(max)=410、390nm),色氨酸中性自由基(λ_(max)=510、310nm),色氨酸三线态(λ_(max)=460nm)和另一种未鉴定的自由基(λ=270nm)。本工作还用闪光光解方法测定了BSA分子中酪氨酸残基光解产生Tyr的ΔO.D._(410)对pH的依赖关系,该pH曲线有两个转折点(pH4.2和pH11),通过BSA分子里的酪氨酸残基光易变程度随溶液pH的变化证明:在中性和弱酸性条件下,BSA分子中大部分酪氨酸残基埋藏在分子的内部,不能或不易光解,但随着pH改变,光易变的酪氨酸残基数也改变。这和其他方法所测BSA构象转变结果基本一致,说明闪光光解方法有可能为构象研究提供某种信息。     

酸性茚三酮法测定非水解食物和饲料中的色氨酸

本文报导了直接测定大豆粉、小麦、玉米、大麦、黑麦、向日葵、鱼粉和肉粉中色氨酸的最佳条件。酸性茚三酮溶液可直接与样品中蛋白质反应,而无需进行蛋白质的预分离或预分解。再现性和回收率的研究表明:测定其色氨酸含量为10—100μg的蛋白质,标准误差为2.7%或2.7%以下。处理过的大豆中色氨酸的减少量是一个不可缺少的应用参数函数。保留的色氨酸含量,以未处理样品中色氨酸含量的百分率表示,结果如下:81%HCl+H_3PO_4(pH～1.8),中和;79%HCL+H_3PO_4(pH～2.0),中和;67%HCl+H_3PO_4(pH～2.0),未中和;63%微波炉5分钟;57%HCl(PH～2.0),未中和。     

胰岛素及其类似物缔合行为及酪氨酸微环境的比较研究

用三种紫外差光谱技术对Ins、DPI、DOI 分子缔合行为及酪氨酸微环境进行了比较研究。结果显示DPI、DOI 与Ins 一样,存在着随pH 与浓度的缔合。表明与β-折迭结构相比,疏水相互作用在分子缔合中起主要作用。但从Ins 的缔合能力较DPI、DOI 强,可认为β-折迭对维持二体的稳定仍有重要作用。溶剂微扰结果显示,在1mg/ml 所研究的三个pH(1.8,3.5,7.5),Ins 存在的最小单位是二体,而DPI、DOI 在pH 1.8,7.5主要以单体形式存在,但在pH 3.5则呈现强烈缔合并导致一个酪氨酸由暴露到埋藏的变化。DPI 有一个位于缝隙中的酪氨酸残基,它仅能为重水微扰,而不能被DMSO 微扰,推测它是A_19酪氨酸。微扰研究还表明Ins 与DPI 和DOI 在缔合及pH、浓度差光谱产生的机理上有所不同。在所研究的条件下,Ins 缔合是从二体到六体的过程,这一过程仅导致二体间A_(14)酪氨酸氢键形成,并不涉及酪氨酸暴露与埋藏的变化。而DPI 和DOI 则是从单体到二体(或更高聚体)的过程,这一过程涉及酪氨酸由暴露到埋藏的变化。pH 滴定的结果未发现Ins、DPI、DOI 酪氨酸滴定行为的不同。     

胰岛素及其类似物缔合行为及酪氨酸微环境的比较研究

用三种紫外差光谱技术对Ins、DPI、DOI分子缔合行为及酪氨酸微环境进行了比较研究。结果显示DPI、DOI与Ins一样,存在着随pH与浓度的缔合。表明与β-折迭结构相比,疏水相互作用在分子缔合中起主要作用。但从Ins的缔合能力较DPI、DOI强,可认为β-折迭对维持二体的稳定仍有重要作用。溶剂微扰结果显示,在1 mg/ml所研究的三个pH(1.8,3.5,7.5),Ins存在的最小单位是二体,而DPI、DOI在pH 1.8,7.5主要以单体形式存在,但在pH 3.5则呈现强烈缔合并导致一个酪氨酸由暴露到埋藏的变化。DPI有一个位于缝隙中的酪氨酸残基,它仅能为重水微扰,而不能被DMSO微扰,推测它是A_(19)酪氨酸。微扰研究还表明Ins与DPI和DOI在缔合及pH、浓度差光谱产生的机理上有所不同。在所研究的条件下,Ins缔合是从二体到六体的过程,这一过程仅导致二体间A_(14)酪氨酸氢键形成,并不涉及酪氨酸暴露与埋藏的变化。而DPI和DOI则是从单体到二体(或更高聚体)的过程,这一过程涉及酪氨酸由暴露到埋藏的变化。pH滴定的结果未发现Ins、DPI、DOI酪氨酸滴定行为的不同。     

红曲霉葡萄糖淀粉酶的紫外差光谱的研究

红曲霉葡萄糖淀粉酶(EC3 2．1．3)在凝胶电泳上呈现3--5个极为接近均具有酶活性的区带,测定了其中主要的两个分子型E,和E．的紫外吸收特性,它们在水,pH5．0酷酸缓冲液,pH7．0柠檬酸缓冲液中吸收光谱十分接近,吸收峰均在Z80am。 E,在水溶液中280am时8=11．3 x104,A==20．4,E．在水溶液中280rim时8=11．0×104Ai==20．0,E3和E4在0.1NNaOH中吸收均增强且峰位红移,在0.1N HCI中吸收峰略为蓝移。测定了E,和E．在pH 3．1和pH 3．6时的温度差光谱,在pH 3.1 E,和E. AA变化极小,在pH 3.6,E,比E．△A变化大,但转变温度E,和E．都在56℃左右。E,和E．酪氨酸光谱滴定行为极为接近,其pK值在11．5左右。测定了E,pH差光谱和变性差光谱,以pH 2．66为参比溶液,在pH 3.55、4.65、7.14及7．84可以见到酪氨酸和色氨酸的差吸收峰。8M尿素和6M盐酸胍均能使E,出现酪氨酸和色氢酸的负的差吸收峰。     

兔肌醛缩酶中色氨酸残基的分布及其作用

在不同条件下,用NBS修饰兔肌醛缩酶的色氨酸残基。pH4.0时测定到全酶分子的总色氨酸残基数为12,用邹氏图解法求得其中2个色氨酸残基为表现活性所必需。而在pH7.5条件下,仅鉴定出2个色氨酸残基。这些实验表明此2个色氨酸残基很可能就位于分子表面。此外,紫外光谱和萤光光谱指出,pH4.0时,NBS引起酶构型的较大的变化,而在pH7.5时仅引起较轻微变化。这些结果认为:醛缩酶的四个亚基对整个分子构象的贡献是不完全相同的,同时醛缩酶整个分子也是不对称的。     

兔肌醛缩酶中色氨酸残基的分布及其作用

在不同条件下,用NBS修饰兔肌醛缩酶的色氮酸残基。pH4.0时测定到全酶分子的总色氨酸残基数为12,用邹氏图解法求得其中2个色氨酸残基为表现活性所必需。而在pH7.5条件下,仅鉴定出2个色氨酸残基。这些实验表明此2个色氨酸残基很可能就位于分子表面。此外,紫外光谱和萤光光谱指出,pH4.0时,NBS 引起酶构型的较大的变化,而在pH7.5时仅引起较轻微变化。这些结果认为:醛缩酶的四个亚基对整个分子构象的贡献是不完全相同的,同时醛缩酶整个分子也是不对称的。     

大白鼠糖致白内障的激光喇曼光谱研究

作者用激光喇曼光谱法分析半乳糖导致大白鼠晶状体混浊过程中构象的变化。通过SPEX 1403型激光喇曼光谱仪得到了正常及不同混浊度晶状体的喇曼光谱。结果表明晶状体可溶性蛋白质二级结构的光谱未见异常,其残基酪氨酸及色氨酸微环境起了变化。随着晶状体混浊度的增加,SH谱峰强度变小而S-S键谱峰增强,同时观察到荧光背景逐渐加强。经分析认为晶状体混浊是与蛋白质分子的聚集有关。     

诺卡氏菌形放线菌β-甘露聚糖酶的化学修饰及活性中心的研究

分别用 PCMB、NEM、N- AI、NBS等对诺卡氏菌形放线菌β- D-甘露聚糖酶进行化学修饰 ,证明蛋白上的巯基、酪氨酸残基及色氨酸残基是维持酶活性的必需基团 .在加入少量底物后 ,β- D-甘露聚糖酶的最大荧光发射峰从天然状态下的 336nm处蓝移至 332 nm,且峰强度有所增大 .这表明其色氨酸残基隐藏在蛋白内部的疏水区域 .通过对该酶圆二色性扫描光谱的分析 ,表明蛋白内部有二硫键的存在 ;通过巯基乙醇化学修饰的研究 ,表明二硫键是影响该酶热稳定性的一个重要因素 .在蛋白的各种二级结构中 ,α-螺旋、β-折叠、β-转角、自由卷曲的比例分别为 1 6.6%、2 5.4%、2 0 .5%和 37.5% .     

高效液相色谱法快速直接测定酪氨酸、苯丙氨酸和色氨酸

利用酪氨酸、苯丙氨酸和色氨酸具有紫外吸收这一特征 ,选用 2 3 0 nm、2 1 0 nm和 2 78nm的检测波长 ,在 7min内分别检测了酪氨酸、苯丙氨酸和色氨酸。三种氨基酸在 0 .0 1～ 1 .0 μmol/ ml浓度范围内呈显著的直线线性关系 ,相关系数均在 0 .9998以上。该方法不需衍生 ,直接测定 ,灵敏快速 ,结果准确可靠 ,适用于氨基酸注射液中低含量的酪氨酸和色氨酸准确检测 ,以及该三种氨基酸原料药纯度检测。     

Periodate oxidation of sperm-whale myoglobin and the role of the methionine residues in the antigen–antibody reaction

1. Oxidation of sperm-whale metmyoglobin and its apoprotein with periodate has been investigated under various conditions of pH and temperature to find those under which the reagent acted with specificity. 2. At pH6.8 and 22 degrees consumption of periodate ceased in 3(1/2)hr. at 43 moles of periodate/mole of myoglobin. The two methionine residues, the two tryptophan residues, the three tyrosine residues and two histidine residues were oxidized; serine increased in the hydrolysates from 6 to 9 residues/mol. 3. At pH5.0 and 22 degrees , consumption levelled off in 4(1/2)hr. at 26 moles of periodate/mole of myoglobin and resulted in the modification of the two methionine residues, the two tryptophan residues, the three tyrosine residues and two histidine residues; serine increased from 6 to 7 residues/mol. and, also, ferrihaem suffered considerable oxidation. 4. Oxidation at pH5.0 and 0 degrees resulted at completion (4hr.) in the consumption of 22 moles of periodate/mole of myoglobin and in the modification of the methionine, tyrosine and tryptophan residues. Spectral studies indicated oxidation of the haem group. This derivative reacted very poorly with rabbit antisera to MbX (the major component no. 10 obtained by CM-cellulose chromatography; Atassi, 1964). 5. Oxidation of apomyoglobin at pH5.0 and 0 degrees was complete in 4hr. with the consumption of 7.23 moles of periodate/mole of apoprotein. The rate of oxidation in decreasing order was: methionine; tryptophan; tyrosine; and after 7hr. of reaction the following residues/mol. were oxidized: methionine, 2.0; tryptophan, 1.6; tyrosine, 0.99. No peptide bonds were cleaved. Metmyoglobin prepared from the 7hr.-oxidized apoprotein showed that the reactivity with antisera to MbX had diminished considerably. 6. Milder oxidation of apoprotein (2 molar excess of periodate, pH5.0, 0 degrees , 2hr.) resulted in the modification of 1.66 residues of methionine/mol. Metmyoglobin prepared from this apoprotein was identical with native MbX spectrally, electrophoretically and immunochemically. It was concluded that the methionine residues at positions 55 and 131 were not essential parts of the antigenic sites of metmyoglobin.     

On the reaction of papain and succinylpapin with diazo-1-H-tetrazole.

1. The reaction of papain and succinylpapain with diazo-1-H-tetrazole was investigated under different conditions. The extent of modification of the amino acids histidine, tyrosine, tryptophan and lysine was determined spectrophotometrically and/or by amino acid analysis. 2. Only one of the two histidine residues present in the enzyme reacts with diazo-1-H-tetrazole forming a monoazo derivative. The pH dependence of the coupling reaction reveals a normal pK of this reactive histidine. There are several arguments suggesting that this may be histidine 159 near the essential SH-group of papain. 3. All five tryptophan residues of the protein react with the diazonium ion below pH 7 forming a monoazo derivative with an absorption maximum at 370 nm, above pH 7 only four residues couple with diazo-1-H-tetrazole. The reaction of one tryptophan and one histidine are correlated as can be concluded from the pH dependence of the coupling rate of both amino acids and the parallel impairment of the catalytic acitivity. 4. 10-11 tyrosine residues out of 19 react with diazo-1-H-tetrazole to give bisazo compounds. 5 residues involved in hydrogen bridges form monoazo compounds. Only 12 tyrosines can be acylated by acetylimidazole. A relationship between the extent of modification of tyrosine and the activity of the enzyme could not be found.     

Chemical modification studies on Abrus agglutinin. Involvement of tryptophan residues in sugar binding.

The galactose-binding lectin from the seeds of the jequirity plant (Abrus precatorius) was subjected to various chemical modifications in order to detect the amino acid residues involved in its binding activity. Modification of lysine, tyrosine, arginine, histidine, glutamic acid and aspartic acid residues did not affect the carbohydrate-binding activity of the agglutinin. However, modification of tryptophan residues carried out in native and denaturing conditions with N-bromosuccinimide and 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl bromide led to a complete loss of its carbohydrate-binding activity. Under denaturing conditions 30 tryptophan residues/molecule were modified by both reagents, whereas only 16 and 18 residues/molecule were available for modification by N-bromosuccinimide and 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl bromide respectively under native conditions. The relative loss in haemagglutinating activity after the modification of tryptophan residues indicates that two residues/molecule are required for the carbohydrate-binding activity of the agglutinin. A partial protection was observed in the presence of saturating concentrations of lactose (0.15 M). The decrease in fluorescence intensity of Abrus agglutinin on modification of tryptophan residues is linear in the absence of lactose and shows a biphasic pattern in the presence of lactose, indicating that tryptophan residues go from a similar to a different molecular environment on saccharide binding. The secondary structure of the protein remains practically unchanged upon modification of tryptophan residues, as indicated by c.d. and immunodiffusion studies, confirming that the loss in activity is due to modification only.     

Tryptophan fluorescence studies of plasma fibronectin: effects of environmental factors

Steady state fluorescence measurements have been used to study tryptophan fluorescence of plasma fibronectin. The native protein has an emission maximum at 337 nm with a quantum yield of 0.03. A red shift of emission maximum was observed in 3–5M urea and a further red shift in 7–8M urea. The emission maximum shifted from 337 to 345 nm when the temperature was changed from 30 to 80°C, with a midpoint of thermal denaturation at 58°C. Similarly, the emission maximum shifted from 337 to 345 nm when the solution pH was increased from 9 to 12, with a midpoint of pH transition at 10.6. The results obtained from difference absorption spectroscopy studies suggest that the unfolding of fibronectin at alkaline pH is related at least in part to ionization of tyrosine residues. Since most of the tryptophan residues are in invariant positions in homology sequences, it is suggested here that tryptophan residues are useful intrinsic probes for elucidating fibronectin structure in solution.     

Chemical modification of two tryptophan residues abolishes the catalytic activity of aminoacylase.

1) The reaction of 1 H-diazotetrazole and N-bromosuccinimide with aminoacylase was studied under different conditions. A tenfold molar excess of 1 H-diazotetrazole (2 X 10(-4) M) at pH 5.5 abolishes the catalytic activity of the enzyme while modifying only two tryptophan residues. No other amino acid reacted under these conditions as tested by amino acid analysis. 2) With a 40-fold molar excess of N-bromosuccinimide (8 X 10(-4)M) at pH 5.0, two tryptophan residues of the enzyme were oxidized with complete loss of activity. Under these conditions no significant cleavage of the polypeptide chain was observed. Neither tyrosine nor histidine was modified by this reagent, up to a 100-fold molar excess. 3) Substrates and reversible (N-tosylalanine) and irreversible (TosPheCH2Cl) inhibitors of the enzyme do not protect the two reactive tryptophans against the modification reagents. Under more drastic conditions, lysine, tyrosine and histidine residues are also modified by the reagents.     

Towards structural determination of the ComX pheromone: synthetic studies on peptides containing geranyltryptophan

Bacteria produce and respond to signal molecules depending on their cell density. This process is called "quorum sensing". The ComX pheromone, controlled by quorum sensing, activates natural genetic competence in Bacillus subtilis. ComX is an oligopeptide with a posttranslational modification. It has been suggested that ComX pheromone is modified with an isoprenoid at its tryptophan residue, but the complete chemical structure is unknown. We first determined the molecular formula of ComX(RO-E-2), a competence factor for B. subtilis strain RO-E-2. Then we synthesized putative pheromones with 1-, 2-, 4-, 5-, 6-, or 7-geranyl substituted tryptophan residues. The regio- and stereo-selective synthesis of the geranyl tryptophans was successful, and we prepared the six peptides with modified tryptophan residues. These peptides had the same molecular formula and showed similar hydrophobicity to the natural ComX(RO-E-2) in LC-MS analysis. But, none of them showed the same retention time as the natural pheromone and none exhibited its biological activity. These results suggest that the isoprenoid modification pattern of the tryptophan residue is more complex than postulated.     

pH-dependent changes in the in vitro ligand-binding properties and structure of human clusterin

Clusterin is a glycoprotein which is locally overexpressed at sites of tissue damage or stress, leading to the proposal that it may be a cytoprotective protein. It has been shown that clusterin has chaperone-like activity, being able to protect proteins against precipitation under stress conditions. It has also been shown that local acidosis is common at sites of tissue damage or stress. We asked whether acidic pH induces structural changes in clusterin and enhances its ability to bind to other proteins. We found by affinity chromatography and ELISA that the binding of clusterin to glutathione-S-transferase, IgG, apolipoprotein A-I, and complement protein C9 was enhanced at mildly acidic compared to physiological pH. Analytical ultracentrifugation and gel filtration studies revealed that clusterin exists in different polymerization states with monomer occurring preferentially at pH 5.5 and multimeric species at pH 7.5. Although circular dichroism showed little difference in the alpha-helical and beta-sheet contents of clusterin at pH 5 compared to pH 7.5, evidence for pH-dependent structural changes in clusterin was obtained from fluorescence experiments. pH titrations showed reversible changes in the fluorescence of tryptophan residues in clusterin. There was a reversible 2-fold increase in the fluorescence of the extrinsic probe 4, 4'-bis(1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonate) bound to clusterin at pH 5. 5 compared to pH 7.5. There was also a 3.5-fold increase in fluorescence resonance energy transfer from tryptophan residues in clusterin to 4,4'-bis(1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonate) at pH 5.5 compared to pH 7.5. These data suggest that pH-induced changes in the structure of clusterin are responsible for its enhanced ability to bind protein ligands at mildly acidic pH.     

The interaction of riboflavin with a protein isolated from hen's egg white: a spectrofluorimetric study.

The interaction of riboflavin with a protein isolated from egg white has been studied spectrofluorimetrically at different pH values. In 0.1 M phosphate buffer pH 7.0; 1:1 complex formation occurs with the association constant Ka = 7.7-10(7) M-1. In the presence of 0.033% sodium dodecyl sulphate, the complex dissociated with a rate constant of 4-10(-2) sec-1 at 29 degrees C. The binding was sensitive to pH and to the antibodies produced against the protein. On lowering the pH from 7 to 4 the binding affinity decreased approximately 100-fold and below pH 4, the binding could not be detected at all. These data, together with those obtained by measuring the fluorescence intensities of riboflavin in presence of N-bromosuccinimide oxidized- and disulphide reduced apoprotein, suggest that carboxyl functions, 1-2 tryptophan residues and 2-3 disulphide bridges are essential for binding. The emission spectra of the protein under different conditions upon excitation at 280 and 295 nm were analyzed to calculate the quantum yield (Q) and the efficiency of energy transfer (e) from tyrosine to tryptophan residues. From these data it was concluded that the energy transfer did not occur with equal efficiency under all conditions and that the tryptophan residues responsible for the riboflavin binding are more accessible to N-bromosuccinimide oxidation than others.     

Double-headed protease inhibitors from black-eyed peas. II. Structural studies by optical absorption and circular dichroism.

Two new double-headed protease inhibitors from black-eyed peas have amino acid compositions typical of the low molecular weight protease inhibitors from legume seeds. Black-eyed pea chymotrypsin and trypsin inhibitor (BEPCI) contains no tryptophan, 1 tyrosine, and 14 half-cystines out of 83 amino acid residues per monomer. Black-eyed pea trypsin inhibitor (BEPTI) contains no tryptophan, 1 tyrosine, and 14 half-cystines out of 75 residues per monomer. The molar extinctions at 280 nm are 2770 for BEPCI and 3440 for BEPTI. The single tyrosyl residue is very inaccessible to solvent in native BEPCI and BEPTI at neutral pH and titrates anomalously with an apparent pK = 12. Ionization of tyrosine is complete in 13 hours above pH 12. No heterogeneity of the local environment of the tyrosyl residues in different subunits can be detected spectrophotometrically. The large number of cystine residues leads to an intense and complex near-ultraviolet CD spectrum with cystine contributions in the regions of 248 and 280 nm and tyrosine contributions at 233 and 280 nm. An intact disulfide structure is required for appearance of the tyrosyl CD bands. The inhibitors are unusually resistant to denaturation when compared with similar low molecular weight proteins of high disulfide content. All observations are consistent with a far more rigid structure for BEPCI and BEPTI than for a typical protein.     

Conformational aspects of the acid-induced fusion mechanism of influenza virus hemagglutinin. Circular dichroism and fluorescence studies

Circular dichroism and tryptophan fluorescence spectroscopy have been used to investigate the structures of the influenza virus membrane glycoprotein hemagglutinin, acid-treated hemagglutinin, and fragments of hemagglutinin derived by proteolysis. The conformational change in hemagglutinin which occurs at the pH of membrane fusion (pH 5-6) was associated with a significant change of the environment of tyrosine residues, a change in the environment of tryptophan residues, but no changes in secondary structure. Tryptic digestion of the hemagglutinin in its low pH conformation which releases one of the subunit polypeptides (HA1) caused minimal changes in tyrosine and tryptophan environments but a small secondary structural change in HA1. The secondary structure of the remainder of the molecule (HA2) was very similar to that predicted from the known x-ray crystallographic structure of the native molecule. However, fluorescence spectroscopy indicated a tertiary change in structure in the coiled coil of alpha-helices which form the fibrous central stem of the molecule. These results are consistent with a conformational change required for membrane fusion which involves a decrease of HA1/HA1, HA1/HA2 interactions and changes in tertiary structure not accompanied by changes in secondary structure.