Proteolytic digestion of α-lactalbumin: Physiological implications

The kinetics of the partial digestion of bovine -lactalbumin (-LA) by trypsin, -chymotrypsin, and pepsin was monitored by lactose synthase activity, HPLC, and difference spectrophotometry. The relative stabilities of the various metal-bound states of -LA to trypsin and chymotrypsin at 37 and 5°C decrease in the following order: Ca(II)--LA>Zn(II), Ca(II)--LA>apo--LA. The HPLC digestion patterns of Ca(II)--LA and Zn(II), Ca(II)--LA at 5 and 37°C were similar, while the corresponding digestion patterns for apo--LA were quite different, reflecting the existence of the thermally induced denaturation states of apo--LA within this temperature region. Occupation of the first Zn(II)-binding site in Ca(II)-loaded -LA slightly alters the HPLC digestion patterns at both temperatures and accelerates the digestion at 37°C due to Zn(II)-induced shift of the thermal transition of -LA, exposing some portion of thermally denatured protein. The results suggest that the binding of Zn(II) to the first Zn(II)- (or Cu(II))-specific site does not cause any drastic changes in the overall structure of -LA. The acidic form of -LA (atpH 2.2 and 37°C) was digested by pepsin at rates similar to that for the apo- or Cu(II), Ca(II)-loaded forms by trypsin or -chymotrypsin at neutralpH. Complexation of -LA with bis-ANS affords protection against pepsin cleavage. It is suggested that the protective effects of similar small lipophilic compounds to -LA may have physiological significance (e.g., for nutritional transport).On leave from the Institute of Biological Physics, USSR Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142292, USSR.     

Nucleotide sequence of a DNA region comprising the gene for elongation factor 1α (EF-1α) from the ultrathermophilic archaeotePyrococcus woesei: Phylogenetic implications

Summary The gene encoding elongation factor 1 (EF-1, 1290 bp) of the ultrathermophilic, sulfur-reducing archaeotePyrococcus woesei was localized within aBglII fragment of chromosomal DNA. Sequence analysis showed that the EF-1 gene is the upstream unit of a three-gene cluster comprising the genes for ribosomal protein S10 (306 bp) and transfer RNA_ser (GGA). The three genes follow each other immediately in the order EF-1·S10·tRNA_ser after a putative promoter located 55 bp upstream of the EF-1 gene. Alignment of the derived EF-1 sequence with the corresponding sequences from Eukarya, Bacteria/organelles, and with available archaeal sequences (Sulfolobus, Thermococcus, Methanococcus, Halobacterium) showed thatPyrococcus EF-1 is highly homologous (89% identity) toThermococcus celer EF-1, both being strikingly more similar to eukaryotic EF-1 than to bacterial EF-Tu. Unrooted dendrograms computed from aligned sequences by distance matrix and DNA parsimony methods, including evolutionary parsimony, showed the Archaea to be a monophyletic-holophyletic cluster closer to Eukarya than to Bacteria. Both distance matrix and DNA parsimony-although not evolutionary parsimony-support the partition of the known archaeal lineages between the kingdoms Crenarchaeota and Euryarchaeota, and the affiliation of thePyrococcus-Thermococcus lineage to the Euryarchaeota, of which it is the most primitive offspring. A closer relation ofPyrococcus to Euryarchaeota than to Crenarchaeota was also inferred from sequence analysis of S10 ribosomal proteins.     

Peptide modification by incorporation ofα-trifluoromethyl substituted amino acids

Summary Metabolic stabilization of pharmacologically active peptides can be achieved by incorporation of sterically hindered non-natural amino acids, e.g. C ^, -disubstituted amino acids.-Trifluoromethyl substituted amino acids, a subclass of C ^, -disubstituted amino acids, also fulfil this requirement while featuring additional properties based on the electronic influence of the fluorine substituents.This review summarizes the results concerning the stability of peptides containing-TFM amino acids towards proteolysis by-chymotrypsin. Furthermore, configurational effects of-TFMAla on the proteolytic stability of peptides are explained using empirical force field calculations. The influence of-TFMAla incorporation on the secondary structure of selected tripeptide amides is compared to the effects exerted by its fluorine-free analogue, aminoisobutyric acid.Finally, results on metabolic stabilization and biological activity of modified thyrotropin releasing hormone are interpreted.     

Two forms of α-glucosidase from sugar-beet seeds

Two forms of -glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.20), designated as I and II, have been isolated from sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) seeds by a procedure including fractionation with ammonium sulfate and ethanol, carboxymethyl-cellulose column chromatography, and preparative disc gel electrophoresis. The two enzymes were homogeneous by polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis. Their molecular weights were 98,000 (I) and 60,000 (II). -Glucosidase I readily hydrolyzed maltose, isomaltose, kojibiose, maltotriose, panose, amylose, soluble starch, amylopectin and glycogen. -Glucosidase II also hydrolyzed maltose, kojibiose and maltotriose but hydrolyzed the other substrates only very weakly or not at all. -Glucosidase I hydrolyzed soluble starch at a faster rate than maltose. It produced isomaltose and panose as the main -glucosyltransfer products from maltose, whereas maltotriose was the main product of -glucosidase II. -Glucosidase I hydrolyzed amylose liberating -glucose. The neutral-sugar content was calculated to be 2.7% for -glucosidase I and 8.8% for -glucosidase II. The main neutral sugar was mannose in -glucosidase I, and glucose in -glucosidase II.     

α-Isopropylmalate synthase from Alcaligenes eutrophus H 16

The purified isopropylmalate synthase of Alcaligenes eutrophus H 16 reacted with the following -keto acids and acyl-coenzyme A derivatives (in the sequence of decreasing affinities): -ketoisovalerate, -keto-n-valerate, -ketobutyrate and pyruvate; acetyl-CoA, propionyl-CoA, butyryl-CoA. malonyl-CoA, valeryl-CoA, and crotonyl-CoA. -Ketoisocaproate, however, is a strong inhibitor of the enzyme. All reactions catalyzed by isopropylmalate synthase were inhibited to the same extent by the endproduct l-leucine. the substrate saturation curves of -ketoisovalerate or other -keto acids and of acetyl-coenzyme A or other acyl-CoA derivatives had intermediary plateau regions; the Hill coefficient alternated between n _H -values higher and lower than 1.0, indicating changes from positive to negative and from negative to positive cooperativity for the substrates. The products, isopropylmalate and free coenzyme A, showed competitive inhibition patterns against both substrates (-ketoisovalerate and acetyl-CoA). Free coenzyme A (1 M) inactivated the enzyme irreversibly. The 3-phosphate of coenzyme A and the free carboxyl group of -ketoisovalerate were involved in optimal binding of these substrates, but 3-dephospho-acetyl-coenzyme A and the methylester of -ketoisovalerate were also converted by this enzyme. A CH₃–CH₂-grouping of the -keto acids seemed to be necessary for binding this substrate.Abbreviations Used CoA Coenzyme A - Tris Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane hydrochloride - DTNB 5,5-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) - IPM -Isopropylmalate - KIV -Ketoisovalerate Prepared from doctoral thesis of the University of Göttingen 1973     

Control of formation of active soluble or inactive insoluble baker''s yeast α-glucosidase PI in Escherichia coli by induction and growth conditions

Summary Using standard growth conditions (LB medium, 37°C, induction with 5 mM IPTG) yeast -glucosidase PI expressed under the control of the regulated tac-hybrid promoter results in the synthesis of insoluble aggregated -glucosidase granules in Escherichia coli. Under these conditions active soluble -glucosidase amounts to less than 1% of the heterologously produced protein. However, the amount of soluble active -glucosidase was dramatically increased when the strong tac-hybrid promoter was to a limited extent induced. This was achieved at concentrations of 0.01 mM IPTG or of 1% lactose or lower in a lactosepermease deficient host strain containing the lacI ^qrepressor gene on an R-plasmid. The formation of active soluble -glucosidase was almost 100% when E. coli cells induced in this manner were cultivated under conditions that reduced growth rate, i.e. at decreased temperature, extreme pH values or in minimal and complete media supplemented with different carbon sources.Abbreviations IPTG isopropyl--D-thiogalactopyranoside - RB refractile body - t-PA tissue type plasminogen activator - IFN interferon - X--glucoside 5-bromo-4-chloro-indolyl--D-glucopyranoside     

Fungal thermostable α-dialkylamino acid aminotransferase: occurrence,purification and characterization

-Dialkylamino acid aminotransferase was found in various fungi; this is the first evidence for the occurrence of the enzyme in eukaryotes. The enzyme was purified from Fusarium solani and shown to be composed of four subunits with an identical molecular weight of 42,000. -Aminoisobutyrate and cycloleucine served as amino donors, and pyruvate, -ketobutyrate, -ketovalerate, -ketoisovalerate, and glyoxylate as amino acceptors. The K _m values for -aminoisobutyrate and -ketobutyrate were 28 and 0.3 mM, respectively. -Ketobutyrate inhibited the enzyme noncompetitively with -aminoisobutyrate, and showed K _i value of 8 mM. The significant inhibitory effect of l-cycloserine was observed, but d-cycloserine did not inhibit the enzyme. The pH and temperature optima for transamination of -aminoisobutyrate with pyruvate were about 8.0 and 60°C, respectively. Despite the production of this enzyme by the mesophile, the enzyme was thermostable; it retained its full activity upon heating at 60°C for 30 min.Abbreviations ACPC 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid - AIB -aminoisobutyrate - PLP pyridoxal 5-phosphate     

α-Amylase structural genes in rye

Summary Rye -Amy1, -Amy2, and -Amy3 genes were studied in the cross between inbred lines using wheat -amylase cDNA probes. The -Amy1 and -Amy2 probes uncovered considerable restriction fragment length polymorphism, whereas the -Amy3 region was much more conserved. The numbers of restriction fragments found and the F₂ segregation data suggest that there are three -Amy1 genes, two or three -Amy2 genes, and three -Amy3 genes in rye. These conclusions were supported by a simultaneous study of -amylase isozyme polymorphism. The F₂ data showed the three individual -Amy1 genes to span a distance of 3cM at the locus on chromosome 6RL. The genes were mapped relative to other RFLP markers on 6RL. On chromosome 7RL two -Amy2 genes were shown to be separated by 5 cM. Linkage data within -Amy3 on 5RL were not obtained since RFLP could be detected at only one of the genes.     

Sequence analysis of 22 kDa-like α-coixin genes and their comparison with homologous zein and kafirin genes reveals highly conserved protein structure and regulatory elements

Several genomic and cDNA clones encoding the 22 kDa-like -coixin, the -prolamin of Coix seeds, were isolated and sequenced. Three contiguous 22 kDa-like -coixin genes designated -3A, -3B and -3C were found in the 15 kb -3 genomic clone. The -3A and -3C genes presented in-frame stop codons at position +652. The two genes with truncated ORFs are flanking the -3B gene, suggesting that the three -coixin genes may have arisen by tandem duplication and that the stop codon was introduced before the duplication.Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences of -coixin clones with the published sequences of 22 kDa -zein and 22 kDa-like -kafirin revealed a highly conserved protein structure. The protein consists of an N-terminus, containing the signal peptide, followed by ten highly conserved tandem repeats of 15–20 amino acids flanked by polyglutamines, and a short C-terminus. The difference between the 22 kDa-like -prolamins and the 19 kDa -zein lies in the fact that the 19 kDa protein is exactly one repeat motif shorter than the 22 kDa proteins.Several putative regulatory sequences common to the zein and kafirin genes were identified within both the 5 and 3 flanking regions of -3B. Nucleotide sequences that match the consensus TATA, CATC and the ca. –300 prolamin box are present at conserved positions in -3B relative to zein and kafirin genes. Two putative Opaque-2 boxes are present in -3B that occupies approximately the same positions as those identified for the 22 kDa -zein and -kafirin genes. Southern hybridization, using a fragment of a maize Opaque-2 cDNA clone as a probe, confirmed the presence of Opaque-2 homologous sequences in the Coix and sorghum genomes.The overall results suggest that the structural and regulatory genes involved in the expression of the 22 kDa-like -prolamin genes of Coix, sorghum and maize, originated from a common ancestor, and that variations were introduced in the structural and regulatory sequences after species separation.     

A model for cleavage ofO-glycosidic bonds in glycoproteins

The present work investigated the possibility of cleavage of -linkages between mannose or galactose and serine/threonine residues by -mannosidase and -galactosidase. The study was carried out initially with model synthetic compounds imitating theO-glycosidic bond in glycoproteins, and further with glucoamylase. It was shown that -mannosidase and -galactosidase can hydrolyse these linkages after proteolytic digestion of glucosamylase.     

Labdane diterpene derivatives from Holwaya mucida

Clumps of white crystals present in 40-day-old malt agar cultures of Holwaya mucida were isolated as long white needles by crystallization from ethanol following short extraction with chloroform. The levorotary compound ([] ₂₈₉ ²¹ =-193.8°) was recognized as a -lactone (C₁₇H₂₀O₅) by infrared and mass spectrometry. It was identified as 7-methoxy-3a, 10b-dimethyl-1, 2, 3, 3a, 5a, 7, 10b, 10c-octahydro-4H, 9H-furo[2, 3, 4 : 4, 5]naphtho[2, 1-c]pyran-4, 9-dione, a labdane-derived compound known as antibiotic LL-Z1271. Preparative thin-layer chromatography of the mother liquor afforded 2 minor metabolites. One was identified as LL-Z1271, the demethylated analogue of LL-Z1271. The other one named LL-Z1271, was recognized as a compound related to and : its structure could not be fully elucidated. H. mucida (anamorph: Crinula calciiformis) has no taxonomic relationship with two other LL-Z1271 producing species viz. Acrostalagmus sp. (= Acremonium cf. atrogriseum) and Oidiodendron truncatum.     

Identification of a locality in snake venomα-neurotoxins with a singificant compositional similarity to marine snailα-conotoxins: Implications for evolution and structure/activity

Summary -neurotoxins from elapid snake venoms and-conotoxins from marine snails bind specifically and with high affinity to nicotinic cholinoceptors. Although both types of toxin are polypeptides, there is more than a fourfold difference in size between the two and no clear sequence homology is evident. A systematic computer search of the three-dimensional structure of erabutoxin b (an-neurotoxin from the false sea snakeLaticauda semifasciata) was performed to identify the locality that most closely matched the amino acid compositions of the smaller-conotoxins (from the marine snailsConus magus andConus geographus). The area of greatest similarity centered on residue position 25 of erabutoxin b, a locale that is conserved throughout the snake-neurotoxins and their homologues. Six Proteins unrelated to erabutoxin b were compared to the-conotoxins to show that the extent of the erabutoxin b/-conotoxin match was too high to be coincidental. Homologues of erabutoxin b, namely-cobratoxin fromNaja naja siamensis and cytotoxin V^II4 fromNaja mossambica mossambica, were also analyzed. The extent of the matching with the-conotoxins decreased in the series erabutoxin b>-cobratoxin>cytotoxin V^II4, and this also relates the order of similarity to the pharmacological properties of the-conotoxins.The-conotoxin-like area of the snake-neurotoxins is peripheral to the site previously considered important for binding to the cholinoceptor, even though it seems to represent the focus of evolutionary convergence between the two types of neurotoxin. The area of resemblance does, however, have strong associations with the conformational behavior of the snake toxins. Hence, the outcome of this study has important consequences for the current ideas on snake-neurotoxin structure/activity relationships and the evolutionary origins of neurotoxicity.     

Synthesis ofα-triazolylα-amino acid derivatives

Summary We report the synthesis of-triazolyl-amino esters by 1,3 dipolar cycloaddition of acetylenic compounds and-azido-amino esters.     

C-Terminal exchange between Gα o and Gα i3 proteins differently modulates α2A-adrenoceptor activation

Chimeric G proteins, obtained by exchanging their C-terminal portion for that of a G protein from an unrelated class, drive the receptor selectivity to that corresponding to the introduced G protein domain. The _2A-adrenoceptor (_2AAR), which yielded an efficacious and weak [³⁵S]GTPS binding response by respectively G _o and G _i3 protein, was investigated in CHO-K1 cells co-expressing chimeric G proteins for which the six last C-terminal amino acids between G _o and G _i3 proteins, and reciprocally, were permuted. Activation of the chimeric G _{o / i3} protein was highly efficient whereas the G _{i3 / o} protein yielded a weak stimulation. These [³⁵S]GTPS binding responses were not different from their parental wild-type G _o and G _i3 proteins. Similar results were obtained with an _2AAR carrying a facilitating Thr³⁷³Lys mutation in a putative G protein interaction domain. These data indicate that the six terminal G _o protein amino acids do not constitute a major _2AAR interaction domain for G protein activation.     

The sensitivity of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas to tumor necrosis factor-α

Sensitivities to recombinant human tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) and chemotherapeutic agents (cisplatin, peplomycin, methotrexate) were evaluated in 20 tumor cells of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, using a dye uptake method. Also, numbers of TNF receptors of these tumor cells were measured by Scatchard plot analysis. There was no relationship between the number of TNF- receptors and the sensitivity to TNF-. Furthermore, there was no correlation between the sensitivity to TNF- and that to chemotherapeutic drugs, nor between the sensitivity to TNF- and the clinical response to chemotherapy including of cisplatin and peplomycin. The sensitivity to TNF- was higher in poorly differentiated carcinomas than in well differentiated ones.Abbreviations BSA Bovine serum albumin - CDDP Cisplatin - 5-Fu 5-fluorouracil - IC50 Inhibition concentration 50 - MTX Methotrexate - PLM Peplomycin - TNF- Tumor necrosis factor-     

Variation of seed α-amylase inhibitors in the common bean

Variation of seed -amylase inhibitors was investigated in 1 154 cultivated and 726 non-cultivated (wild and weedy) accessions of the common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L. Four -amylase inhibitor types were recognized based on the inhibtion by seed extracts of the activities of porcine pancreatic -amylase and larval -amylase and larval -amylase of the Mexican bean weevil, Zabrotes subfasciatus Boheman. Of the 1 880 accessions examined most (1 734) were able to inhibit porcine pancreatic -amylase activity, but were inactive against the Z. subfasciatus larval -amylase; 41 inhibited only the larval -amylase activity, 52 inhibited the activities of the two -amylases, and 53 did not inhibit the activity of either of the -amylases. The four different inhibitor types were designated as AI-1, AI2, AI-3, and AI-0, respectively. These four inhibitor types were identified by the banding patterns of seed glycoproteins in the range of 14–20 kDa by using SDSpolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Additionally, four different banding patterns were recognized in accessions with AI-1, and were designated as AI-1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d. Two different patterns of the accessions lacking an -amylase inhibitory activity were identified and designated as AI-0a and AI-0b. The largest diversity for seed -amylase inhibitors was observed in non-cultivated accessions collected from Mexico where all eight inhibitor types were detected. The possible relationships between the variation of seed -amylase inhibitors and bruchid resistance are discussed.     

Organization of α-chain genes among Hb G-Philadelphia heterozygotes in association with Hb S, β-thalassemia,and α-thalassemia-2

The percentages of the -chain variant Hb G-Philadelphia (Hb G) or ₂ 68 AsnLys₂ were evaluated in 84 adult and 18 newborn heterozygotes. These included members of three families who were studied in more detail by nucleic acid hybridization techniques. The adult heterozygotes fell in two categories, one with a higher proportion of Hb G [46.5±1.0% (SD), N=21] and another with lower values (33.9±3.4%, N=63). Among the newborn heterozygotes, two babies fell in the category with the higher proportion of Hb G while 16 babies gave values between 25 and 34%. Studies of -chain gene organization on the parents of one neonate with a Hb G level of 27% at birth and 37% at 8 months excluded the presence of chromosomes with triplicated -chain genes which could lead to the ^0G/ genotype. Rather, these studies on five Hb G heterozygotes from three families confirmed the linkage between Hb G and a specific type of -thalassemia-2 associated with the presence of a 16-kbp Bgl II fragment which most probably carries the ^G locus since it has been found in 19 Hb G heterozygotes studied to date. The presence of an -thal-2 heterozygosity and three -chain genes (^0G/) was confirmed among Hb G heterozygotes with lower proportions of this variant. It is likely that the even lower values found in some newborn could arise through defective assembly of ^G- dimers. The presence of an -thal-2 homozygosity and two active -chain genes, one on each chromosome (^0G/⁰), was confirmed among heterozygotes with the higher proportion of Hb G. One of each of these categories was present in each of the three families investigated. This type of variability in the number of active -chain genes due to a heterozygosity or a homozygosity for -thalassemia-2 explains the trimodality of Hb S percentages among heterozygotes and the atypical hematological or biosynthetic features among patients with -thalassemia and sickle-cell syndromes.This research was supported by USPHS Research Grants HLB-05168 and HLB-15158 and by designated research funds of the Veterans Administration. This is Contribution No. 0693 of the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta.     

Conformational stability of α-lactalbumin missing a peptide bond between Asp66 and Pro67

The peptide bond between Asp⁶⁶-Pro67 of -lactalbumin was cleaved with formic acid (cleaved-lactalbumin). Secondary structural changes of the cleaved-lactalbumin, in which the two separated polypeptides were joined by disulfide bridges, were examined in solutions of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), urea, and guanidine hydrochloride. The structural changes of the cleaved-lactalbumin were compared with those of the intact protein. The relative proportions of secondary structures were determined by curve fitting of the circular dichroism spectrum. The cleaved-lactalbumin contained 29%-helical structure as against 34% for the intact protein. Some helices of the cleaved-lactalbumin which had been disrupted by the cleavage appeared to be reformed upon the addition of SDS of very low concentration (0.5mM). In the SDS solution, the helicities of both the intact and cleaved proteins increased, attaining 44% at 4mM SDS. On the other hand, the helical structures of the cleaved-lactalbumin began to be disrupted at low concentrations of guanidine hydrochloride and urea compared with that of the intact protein. However, no diffrence was observed in the thermal denaturations of the intact and cleaved proteins, except for the difference in the original helicities. The helicities of both proteins decreased with an increase of temperature up to 65°C and recovered upon cooling.     

Studies of α- and βL-Crystallin Complex Formation in Solution at 60°C

Studies of molecular mechanisms of chaperone-like activity of -crystallin became an active field of research over last years. However, fine interactions between -crystallin and the damaged protein and their complex organization remain largely uncovered. Complexation between - and _L-crystallins was studied during thermal denaturation of _L-crystallin at 60°C using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), light scattering, gel-permeation chromatography, and electrophoresis. A mixed solution of - and _L-crystallins at concentrations about 10 mg/ml incubated at 60°C was found to contain their soluble complexes with a mean radius of gyration 14 nm, mean molecular mass 4 MDa and maximal size over 40 nm. In pure _L-crystallin solution, no complexes were observed at 60°C. In SAXS studies, transitions in the -crystallin quaternary structure at 60°C were shown to occur and result in doubling of the molecular weight. This suggests that during the temperature-induced denaturation of _L-crystallin it binds with modified -crystallin or, alternatively, _L-crystallin complexation and -crystallin modifications are concurrent. Estimates of the -_L-crystallin complex size and relative contents of - and -_L-crystallins in the complex suggest that several -crystallin molecules are involved in complex formation.