Biochemical and immunological studies of angiotensin converting enzymes from human, bovine, dog, hog, rabbit, rat and sheep kidneys

1. Molecular and kinetic properties of angiotensin converting enzymes from seven different species' kidneys were similar concerning apparent molecular weight, heat sensitivity, Km value, optimum pH, activation by chloride ion, and inhibition by specific converting enzyme inhibitors (captopril and SA 446). 2. Rabbit antibody against pure human kidney enzyme cross-reacted partially with each animal kidney enzyme except for the rabbit enzyme. Antigenic determinants of animal enzymes were variable from species to species and differed from those of the human enzyme in extent and specificity.     

A menadione-stimulated pyridine nucleotide oxidase from resting bovine neutrophil membranes. Purification, properties, and immunochemical cross-reactivity with the human neutrophil NADPH oxidase

A menadione-stimulated, superoxide-generating enzyme was purified 127-fold from resting bovine polymorphonuclear leukocyte (neutrophil) membranes with a yield of 34%. The enzyme was extracted with Triton X-100 and purified by chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B, NAD-agarose, and Sephacryl S-200. The purified enzyme contained FAD and had an apparent molecular mass of 93 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis. In a nondenaturing gel electrophoresis system, the enzyme was multimeric (Mr greater than 400,000). The oxidase showed 3-4-fold higher activity (Vm) with NADH compared with NADPH, but the Km for both pyridine nucleotides was similar (39 and 47 microM, respectively). The enzyme transferred electrons to cytochrome c, dichlorophenolindophenol, and nitro blue tetrazolium. Cytochrome c reduction was stimulated 4-fold by menadione and was inhibited 70% by superoxide dismutase. Cytochrome c reduction was not inhibited by several mitochondrial respiratory chain inhibitors (azide, cyanide, and rotenone) but was sensitive to thiol-reactive agents (p-chloromercuribenzoate and monoiodo acetate). The catalytic properties of this enzyme distinguish it from the NADPH-dependent superoxide-generating respiratory burst oxidase (NADPH-oxidase) of human neutrophils. Nevertheless, antibodies to this enzyme inhibited not only the purified menadione-stimulated oxidase, but also the respiratory burst oxidase in membranes isolated from activated human neutrophils, indicating similar antigenic determinants are shared by these enzymes. Western blots of human neutrophil membranes visualized a plasma membrane protein of molecular mass 67 kDa, corresponding in size to a protein previously reported in preparations of the human respiratory burst oxidase.     

Comparative studies on the primary structure of acetylcholinesterases from bovine caudate nucleus and bovine erythrocytes

1. Comparison of partial amino acid sequences of G2-acetylcholinesterase (AChE) from bovine erythrocytes and G4-AChE from bovine caudate nucleus revealed no differences in primary structure between the two enzymes. The first 33 residues of the N-terminal sequences were identical. 2. In addition, the amino acid sequences of four peptides generated by tryptic and cyanogen bromide cleavage were identical for bovine erythrocyte and brain AChE, suggesting one identical major coding exon for the adult bovine AChE forms. Comparison of these sequences with that of fetal bovine serum AChE (Doctor et al., 1988), showed differences in residues 16, 181, 212, and 216. 3. Deglycosylation studies of the two adult enzyme forms revealed that the core protein of erythrocyte AChE has an approximately 4 kDa lower molecular mass than brain AChE. This most probably reflects differences in the C-terminal sequences of the two enzymes.     

Characterization of human, bovine, and horse antithrombin III.

A comparison of the physical-chemical properties of human, bovine, and horse antithrombin III has been made. These three plasma proteins are strong inhibitors of bovine factor Xa and form a 1:1 molar complex with this coagulation enzyme. Human, bovine, and horse antithrombin III are glycoproteins containing hexose, hexosamine, and neuraminic acid. The total carbohydrate was 9, 12, and 16% for human, bovine, and horse antithrombin III, respectively. These proteins have a similar amino acid composition, although some monor variations were noted. Each antithrombin III is composed of a single polypeptide chain with an amino-terminal histidine residue. Of the first 17 amino-terminal residues, only three differences were noted between the three proteins. These occur in position 2 which is occupied by Gly, Arg, and Trp in human, bovine, and horse, respectively; position 6 which has a deletion in human antithrombin III; and position 8 where Ile in human and horse antithrombin III has been replaced by Val in the bovine preparation. The remainder of the first 17 residues is the same in all three proteins. The molecular weights for the bovine and horse preparation were 56 600 and 52 500, respectively, as determined by sedimentation equilibrium in the presence of guanidine hydrochloride. Some immunological cross-reactivity was also observed between the three different proteins.     

Comparative immunochemical and physicochemical study of the neurospecific antigen 10-40-4 from human and rat brains

Immunological non-identity of neurospecific protein 10-40-4 from various mammalian species has been demonstrated. Significant immunochemical differences were found between the protein 10-40-4 from the brain of rat, guinea pig and man. With respect to their physicochemical properties, no significant differences were found between individual neurospecific proteins 10-40-4 from the brain of man and rat. Therefore, immunological differences in the structure of a neurospecific determinant together with identical physicochemical properties of the proteins investigated imply that the latter are presented by species variations of the same protein.     

Measurement of renin and prorenin in cattle, hog and horse.

1. Species specific problems complicating the measurement of prorenin and renin concentrations were studied in bovine, hog and horse plasma. 2. In contrast to horse renin, bovine and hog renin reacted with rat angiotensinogen, allowing measurement of the plasma renin concentration in cattle and hog with rat angiotensinogen as exogenous substrate. 3. Trypsin treatment of plasma in order to activate prorenin generated an interfering angiotensin I immunoreactive material in all three species, most extensively in horse plasma. 4. This material could be removed in bovine and hog plasma by a cation-exchange resin, allowing an assay of the plasma prorenin concentration to be constructed in these species. 5. Another strategy has to be followed in order to measure prorenin and renin concentrations in horse plasma.     

The pharmacological characteristics, immunochemical identification and study of the location of quisqualate receptors in the rat and human brains]

The kinetics of [3H]-L-glutamate binding to brain synaptic membranes (SM) and to glutamate-binding proteins (GBP) was determined with agonist and monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). It was revealed, that rat and human brain GBP have individual protein components with M(r) from 14 to 92 kDa. Quisqualate inhibited [3H]-L-glutamate binding to solubilized and to purified 68 kDa protein component. MAbs have the most activity, and NMDA was failure. It has been shown that 68 kDa component antigen determinants are similar to those of bovine, frog and rat brain synaptic membranes. Anti-GBP monoclonal antibodies blocked functional non-NMDA receptors in isolated frog spinal cord. Immunocytochemistry was done on rat and human brain sections. Distribution of quisqualate receptors was determined with light and electron microscopy. Some properties of vertebrate CNS non-NMDA receptors are discussed.     

Comparison of the lipoprotein profiles obtained from rat, bovine, horse, dog, rabbit and pig serum by a new two-step ultracentrifugal gradient procedure

A new two-step gradient technique has been used in the separation of the different classes of lipoproteins from the serum of cows, horses, dogs, pigs, rabbits and rats. Total lipoproteins were first isolated at d 1.21 then floated through a d 1.006 to d 1.21 gradient. Collection by mean of a gradient fractionator provided directly comparable lipoprotein profiles, allowed the determination of the exact density range of each lipoprotein class and the fraction by fraction analysis of composition. Cholesterol and apo AI recoveries were high. Horse, dog, rabbit and pig exhibited three distinct lipoprotein classes: VLDL, LDL and HDL. LDL were polydisperse in the pig (three components), light in the rabbit and scarce in the horse. In the Sprague-Dawley rat, LDL could not be individualized from HDL. In the bovine, LDL overlapped with a light form of HDL. Although AI was the main apoprotein in the HDL of all species, it ranged in proportion from 35% in the rat to 75% in the bovine. Apo AII was dimeric in the dog, as already known, but also in the horse, rabbit and bovine (MW:17,000) and in the pig MW:13,000). Apo AIV was present in the heavier HDL of all species. Rabbit, horse and pig HDL contained only one species of apo C which, in the pig was identified as apo CII.     

Secretion and immunochemical properties of the trypsin inhibitor from bovine colostrum.

A trypsin inhibitor was isolated from bovine colostrum by affinity chromatography. Immunoelectrophoresis detected two immunogenic components in the isolated inhibitor, but only one of these was specific for the inhibitor; the other one was identical with an antigen present in liver, kidney, spleen, adrenal, thyroid, thymus, brain, ovarian, testicular and udder tissue and in bull seminal plasma. Using immunoabsorption and immunofluorescence it was shown that the antigens specific for the trypsin inhibitor of colostrum could be demonstrated only in the tissue of an udder that is secreting colostrum. The inhibitor is secreted by the secretory epithelium of the milk alveoli of the udder, during the period when the latter secretes colostrum. This inhibitor was not detected in the milk. Cross-reaction between antisera to colostral inhibitor and basic pancreatic inhibitor or seminal plasma inhibitors yielded negative results. Antiserum to bovine colostral inhibitor showed a positive reaction with inhibitor isolated from porcine colostrum.     

Occurrence of 2-O-acyl galactosyl ceramide in human and bovine brains

Ester cerebrosides isolated from whale brain were demonstrated to be a mixture of 6-O-acyl, 2-O-acyl, 4-O-acyl, and 3-O-acyl galactosyl ceramides in that order of content (Yasugi, E., et al. (1982) J. Biochem. 91, 1121-1127). However, the existence of 2-O-acyl and 4-O-acyl galactosyl ceramides has not been reported for other mammalian brains. In the present work, ester cerebrosides isolated from bovine and human brains were examined in order to determine whether the above-mentioned substitution is only present in whale brain or also present in other mammalian brains. For determining the substituted positions of the acyl group on the galactose moiety, free hydroxyl groups of ester cerebrosides were protected with dihydropyran, deacylated by mild alkali treatment, and then subjected to permethylation. Finally, the methylated galactitol acetates obtained by hydrolysis and reduction were analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. By these procedures, ester cerebrosides obtained from bovine and human brains were demonstrated to be not only 6-O-acyl and 3-O-acyl galactosyl ceramides but also 2-O-acyl and 4-O-acyl galactosyl ceramides similar to those of whale brain.     

Isolation and immunochemical studies of dog trypsin

Dog trypsin (EC 3.4.4.4) was isolated from dog pancreatic juice on SP-Sephadex C-50. The preparation was homogeneous on disc electrophoresis at pH 4.3. On agarose gel electrophoresis at pH 8.6, dog pancreas trypsinogen had the mobility of an alpha 2-globulin and trypsin the mobility of a beta-globulin. On gel filtration on Sephadex G-75 at pH 4.0, dog trypsin was eluted in the same fractions as bovine trypsin. It was inhibited by soybean trypsin inhibitor. Rabbit anti-dog trypsin inhibited the caseinolytic activity of bovine trypsin by about 60%.     

Complete purification and immunochemical analysis of S-adenosylmethionine synthetase from bovine brain

We have purified S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) synthetase about 3000-fold from bovine brain extract. The Km values of the enzyme for L-methionine and ATP were 10 and 50 microM, respectively. An apparent molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be 160 kDa by gel filtration on a Sephacryl S-200 column. Sucrose density gradient centrifugation gave a sedimentation coefficient of 8 S. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified enzyme in native system revealed a single protein band, whereas two polypeptide bands with molecular masses of 48 kDa (p48) and 38 kDa (p38) were observed in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified enzyme. Antibody against bovine brain AdoMet synthetase was prepared by injecting the purified enzyme into a rabbit. Immunoblot analysis revealed that the antibody recognized both p48 and p38 in the impure enzyme preparations from bovine brain as well as in the purified enzyme. Specific antibodies against p48 and p38 were separated from the immunoglobulin fraction by an affinity purification, both of which inhibited the enzyme activity. These results indicate that AdoMet synthetase from bovine brain consists of two different polypeptides, p48 and p38.     

Molecular variants of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in dog, rat and hog

Molecular forms of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) have been examined in the gut and brain of dog, rat and hog. Fractionation of acid extracts on CM-Sephadex revealed three components cross-reacting in a radioimmunoassay using an amino-terminal specific antiserum. One of the components was compatible with standard porcine octacosapeptide VIP, the other two eluted earlier and are so likely to be less positively charged peptides. However, after gel filtration on Sephadex G50, the same peaks of activity eluted in a similar position to porcine VIP indicating similar molecular size. There were marked species differences in the distribution of the different molecular forms. For example, in both muscle and mucosal layers of the rat intestine 50–90% of total immunoreactive VIP was attributable to the molecular variants, while in hog colon the variants were found predominantly in the mucosa and accounted for about 50% of total immunoreactivity. In contrast a form of VIP compatible with the authentic peptide accounted for over 75% of activity in the brain of all three species. The biological activity of the VIP variants is not known but clearly caution needs to be exercised in interpreting the physiological significance of studies on the action, release and metabolism of VIP.     

Immunological cross-reactivity of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidases from human and rat kidney, liver, and bile

Antisera to purified gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (gamma GTP) from human and rat kidney were prepared, and their reactivities toward purified gamma GTP from kidney, liver, and bile were tested. The following results were obtained: 1. On double immunodiffusion, Triton-solubilized gamma GTP, and papain-solubilized gamma GTP from rat kidney gave single precipitin lines which fused completely against antiserum to the purified enzyme from rat kidney. 2. An antigen-antibody complex of human kidney gamma GTP retained about 50% of the catalytic activity of the antigen. 3. Double immunodiffusion showed that the enzymes from human liver, kidney, and bile were immunologically identical. 4. Antiserum to rat kidney gamma GTP partially cross reacted with human gamma GTP, but antiserum to human gamma GTP reacted only very weakly with rat gamma GTP. It is concluded that gamma GTP of human liver, kidney, and bile are immunologically identical and that rat gamma GTP and human gamma GTP have certain antigenic determinants in common.     

Antipeptide antibody against the human low-density-lipoprotein receptor. Characterization and cross-reactivity with bovine lymphocytes.

A dodecapeptide corresponding to the external N-terminal sequence of the human low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) receptor was synthesized. Antibodies raised in rabbits against the peptide were purified and were shown to react specifically with the peptide and with human LDL receptor of fibroblasts, HeLa cells and lymphocytes using binding studies and immunoblotting. By indirect immunogold analysis, antibodies bound to the LDL receptor of human lymphocytes could be revealed as clusters. Anti-receptor peptide immunoglobulins specifically bound to the human HeLa cell's LDL receptor with a lower affinity than LDL (Kd x 3). The anti-receptor peptide immunoglobulins and 125I-labelled-LDL competed with each other for the LDL-receptor sites. Antibodies failed to react with lymphocytes of subjects with the homozygous form of familial hypercholesterolaemia. Cross-reactivity with the dodecapeptide of the bovine LDL receptor was limited, but this cross-reactivity was confirmed by the binding of anti-receptor peptide immunoglobulins to the LDL receptor from bovine lymphocytes.