Purification and characterization of two human erythrocyte arylamidases preferentially hydrolysing N-terminal arginine or lysine residues.

Two arylamidases (I and II) were purified from human erythrocytes by a procedure that comprised removal of haemoglobin from disrupted cells with CM-Sephadex D-50, followed by treatment of the haemoglobin-free preparation subsequently with DEAE-cellulose, gel-permeation chromatography on Sephadex G-200, gradient solubilization on Celite, isoelectric focusing in a pH gradient from 4 to 6, gel-permeation chromatography on Sephadex G-100 (superfine), and finally affinity chromatography on Sepharose 4B covalently coupled to L-arginine. In preparative-scale purifications, enzymes I and II were separated at the second gel-permeation chromatography. Enzyme II was obtained as a homogeneous protein, as shown by several criteria. Enzyme I hydrolysed, with decreasing rates, the L-amino acid 2-naphtylamides of lysine, arginine, alanine, methionine, phenylalanine and leucine, and the reactions were slightly inhibited by 0.2 M-NaCl. Enzyme II hydrolysed most rapidly the corresponding derivatives of arginine, leucine, valine, methionine, proline and alanine, in that order, and the hydrolyses were strongly dependent on Cl-. The hydrolysis of these substrates proceeded rapidly at physiological Cl- concentration (0.15 M). The molecular weights (by gel filtration) of enzymes I and II were 85 000 and 52 500 respectively. The pH optimum was approx. 7.2 for both enzymes. The isoelectric point of enzyme II was approx. 4.8. Enzyme I was activated by Co2+, which did not affect enzyme II to any noticeable extent. The kinetics of reactions catalysed by enzyme I were characterized by strong substrate inhibition, but enzyme II was not inhibited by high substrate concentrations. The Cl- activated enzyme II also showed endopeptidase activity in hydrolysing bradykinin.     

Purification and characterization of the androgen receptor from rat ventral prostate

The androgen receptor has been purified from rat ventral prostate cytosol by a combination of differential DNA-Sepharose 4B chromatography and testosterone 17 beta-hemisuccinyl-3,3'-diaminodipropylamine-Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography. Approximately 8 micrograms of protein was obtained from 38 g of rat ventral prostate, with a yield of 24%. The receptor was purified approximately 120 000-fold. Silver nitrate staining of a sodium dodecyl sulfate (NaDodSO4)-polyacrylamide gel revealed a major polypeptide band migrating at 86 000 daltons. Affinity labeling of a partially purified receptor preparation with either 17-hydroxy-17 alpha-[3H]methyl-4,9,11-estratrien-3-one or 17 beta-hydroxy-[1,2,4,5,6,7,16,17-3H8]-5 alpha-androstan-3-one 17-(2-bromoacetate) produced a major band of radioactivity migrating at 86 000 daltons on a NaDodSO4 gel. Under nondenaturing conditions, a Mr of 85 000 was determined by gel filtration (42 A) and sucrose gradient sedimentation analysis (4.5 S). The purified receptor had an isoelectric point of 6.3 [3H]-4,5 alpha-Dihydrotestosterone, bound to the purified receptor, was displaced with 4,5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone greater than testosterone much greater than progesterone greater than 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol greater than 17 beta-estradiol greater than cortisol. A number of physicochemical properties of the purified receptor were similar to those of the receptor in crude cytosol.     

Purification of Synechocystis sp. strain PCC6308 cyanophycin synthetase and its characterization with respect to substrate and primer specificity

Synechocystis sp. strain PCC6308 cyanophycin synthetase was purified 72-fold in three steps by anion exchange chromatography on Q Sepharose, affinity chromatography on the triazine dye matrix Procion Blue HE-RD Sepharose, and gel filtration on Superdex 200 HR from recombinant cells of Escherichia coli. The native enzyme, which catalyzed the incorporation of arginine and aspartic acid into cyanophycin, has an apparent molecular mass of 240 +/- 30 kDa and consists of identical subunits of 85 +/- 5 kDa. The K(m) values for arginine (49 microM), aspartic acid (0.45 mM), and ATP (0.20 mM) indicated that the enzyme had a high affinity towards these substrates. During in vitro cyanophycin synthesis, 1.3 +/- 0.1 mol of ATP per mol of incorporated amino acid was converted to ADP. The optima for the enzyme-catalyzed reactions were pH 8.2 and 50 degrees C, respectively. Arginine methyl ester (99.5 and 97% inhibition), argininamide (99 and 96%), S-(2-aminoethyl) cysteine (43 and 42%), beta-hydroxy aspartic acid (35 and 37%), aspartic acid beta-methyl ester (38 and 40%), norvaline (0 and 3%), citrulline (9 and 7%), and asparagine (2 and 0%) exhibited an almost equal inhibitory effect on the incorporation of both arginine and aspartic acid, respectively, when these compounds were added to the complete reaction mixture. In contrast, the incorporation of arginine was diminished to a greater extent than that of aspartic acid, respectively, with canavanine (82 and 53%), lysine (36 and 19%), agmatine (33 and 25%), D-aspartic acid (37 and 30%), L-glutamic acid (13 and 5%), and ornithine (23 and 11%). On the other hand, canavanine (45% of maximum activity) and lysine (13%) stimulated the incorporation of aspartic acid, whereas aspartic acid beta-methyl ester (53%) and asparagine (9%) stimulated the incorporation of arginine. [(3)H]lysine (15% of maximum activity) and [(3)H]canavanine (13%) were incorporated into the polymer, when they were either used instead of arginine or added to the complete reaction mixture, whereas L-glutamic acid was not incorporated. No effect on arginine incorporation was obtained by the addition of other amino acids (i.e., alanine, histidine, leucine, proline, tryptophan, and glycine). Various samples of chemically synthesized poly-alpha,beta-D,L-aspartic acid served as primers for in vitro synthesis of cyanophycin, whereas poly-alpha-L-aspartic acid was almost inactive.     

草地藏系绵羊乳游离氨基酸质量分数及蛋白遗传多态性研究

用反相高效液相色谱法检测草地藏系绵羊乳游离氨基酸质量分数,用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳法研究乳蛋白组分及其遗传多态性。结果表明:草地藏系绵羊乳中检测到17种游离氨基酸,其中质量分数最高的为Arg;与金堂黑山羊乳比较17种游离氨基酸中,甲硫氨酸的质量分数极显著高于金堂黑山羊(p<0.01),而天冬氨酸、甘氨酸、赖氨酸、谷氨酸、苏氨酸、丙氨酸和缬氨酸的质量分数均显著低于金堂黑山羊(p<0.05),其余9种游离氨基酸质量分数未发现明显差异,但两种羊乳中的必需氨基酸总量基本相同,差异不明显(p>0.05)。草地藏系绵羊乳蛋白组分主要包括α-La、β-Lg、CN、IgG等,CN的相对质量分数约50%~52%;研究还发现4种分子量类型的乳上皮粘蛋白MUC1,分子量分别为214kD、209kD、207kD、205kD;CN、β-Lg均未检测到多态性,说明草地藏系绵羊乳蛋白遗传多态性较为贫乏。     

Envelope glycoproteins of Rauscher murine leukemia virus: isolation and chemical characterization.

The envelope glycoproteins (designated gp70 and gp45) of the Rauscher strain of murine leukemia virus were solubilized by osmotic shock and freeze-thawing in chaotropic solutions. The viral glycoproteins were then purified by phosphocellulose chromatography and gel permeation chromatography on Bio-Gel A-1.5m. Yields by this procedure were 6.2% for gp70 and 1.3% for gp45 on a protein input basis. The apparent molecular weights were respectively 67 500 and 47 500 with a polypeptide chain molecular weight of approximately 45 000 for both glycoproteins. Amino acid analysis showed a high degree of similarity for both components, with some differences subject to further evaluation. The total carbohydrate content was approximately 32% for gp70 and 6-9% for gp45. In keeping with the amino acid compositional similarity suggesting relationships, alanine was found to ba the amino-terminal amino acid of both glycoproteins, and cross-reactivity was demonstrated by immunologic tests. The data suggest that the chief difference between gp70 and gp45 lies in the carbohydrate content.     

alpha-D-galactosidase from soybeans destroying blood-group B antigens. Purification by affinity chromatography and properties.

alpha-D-Galactosidase was isolated from untoasted soybean meal and purified to homogeneity by affinity chromatography on N-epsilon-aminoacaproyl alpha-D-galactopyranosylamine-Sepharose. The purified enzyme destroyed the B-specificity of human ovarian cyst B-glycoprotein with an accompanying increase in H-specificity, and converted human type-B erythrocytes to type O. The enzyme consists primarily of a tetramer, molecular weight 150 000 +/- 5 000 at pH 4.0 and of a monomer, molecular weight 40 000 +/- 3 000 at pH 8.0. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in dodecyl sulfate at pH 7.2 distinguished between two types of monomeric unit of similar molecular weight. N-terminal alanine was identified as the sole N-terminal amino acid residue. The enzyme was shown to be devoid of carbohydrate.     

Isolation and characterization of tryase, a serine proteinase from rat liver.

1. A new serine proteinase, tryase, was isolated from the membrane fraction of a post-nuclear supernatant of rat liver homogenate. The enzyme was solubilized with 1 M-MgCl2 and purified to homogeneity by DEAE-cellulose chromatography and affinity chromatography with soya-bean trypsin inhibitor linked to Sepharose 4B. 2. The enzyme was identified on sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide gels by reaction with radiolabelled di-isopropyl phosphorofluoridate. Unreduced its molecular weight was 32 500, reduced it was 28 000. 3. The enzyme readily hydrolysed azocasein and tripeptide nitroanilide substrates with an arginine or lysine residue adjacent to the leaving group. D-Pro-Phe-Arg-NPhNO2 was used routinely (Km = 0.25 mM). Tryase showed little activity on blocked arginine esters or amides. 4. It was inhibited by di-isopropyl phosphorofluoridate, benzamidine, aprotinin, soya-bean and lima-bean trypsin inhibitors, Ile-Leu-Arg-CH2Cl and Phe-Ala-Arg-CH2Cl. It was not inhibited by Tos-Lys-CH2Cl. 5. Subcellular-fractionation studies showed that tryase was associated with particles similar in their sedimentation properties to lysosomes, but, since it was not present in tritosomes, it was not in the classical lysosome. 6. Rat liver contained other neutral proteinases; one of these was a serine proteinase with an apparent molecular weight of 90 000 on gel chromatography.     

Properties of proteolytic enzymes isolated from a thermophilic strain of Micromonospora vulgaris 42.

Two proteolytic enzymes, protease A and protease B, were isolated in homogeneous state from the cultural broth of the thermophilic actinomycete Micromonospora vulgaris 42. Their physicochemical properties were studied, i.e., molecular weight (50 000 for protease A and 30 000 for protease B), amino acid composition, N-terminal amino acids (phenylalanine for protease A and alanine for protease B). The specificity of the action of these enzymes was assayed by splitting the B chain of oxidized insulin. Both enzymes are neutral proteases of the thermolysine type.     

Nitrogen limitation and amino-acid metabolism of Chlorella symbiotic with green hydra

Chlorella algae symbiotic in the digestive cells of Hydra viridissima Pallas (green hydra) were found to contain less amino-N and smaller pools of free amino acids than their cultured counterparts, indicating that growth in symbiosis was nitrogen-limiting. This difference was reflected in uptake of amino acids and subsequent incorporation into protein; symbiotic algae incorporated a greater proportion of sequestered radioactivity, supplied as ¹⁴C-labelled alanine, glycine or arginine, than algae from nitrogen-sufficient culture, presumably because smaller internal pools diluted sequestered amino acids to a lesser extent. Further experiments with symbiotic algae showed that metabolism of the neutral amino acid alanine differed from that of the basic amino acid arginine. Alanine but not arginine continued to be incorporated into protein after uptake ceased, and while internal pools of alanine were exchangeable with alanine in the medium, those of arginine were not exchangeable with external arginine. Thin-layer chromatography of ethanol-soluble extracts of algae incubated with [¹⁴C]alanine or [¹⁴C]arginine showed that both were precursors of other amino acids. The significance of nitrogen-limiting growth of symbiotic algae is discussed in terms of host-cell regulation of algal cell growth and division.     

Studies of the structure of fructose-6-phosphate 2-kinase:fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase

Some physicochemical properties of a homogeneous preparation of a bifunctional enzyme, fructose-6-phosphate 2-kinase:fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase, were determined. The molecular weight of the enzyme is 101 000 as determined by high-speed sedimentation equilibrium. The molecular weight of dissociated enzyme is 55 000 in 6 M guanidinium chloride by sedimentation equilibrium and in sodium dodecyl sulfate by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A value of 4.7 was observed for the isoelectric point. Tryptic peptide maps and high-performance liquid chromatography of the trypsin-digested enzyme revealed approximately 60 peptides. Amino acid analysis of the enzyme shows that it contains 27 lysine and 36 arginine residues per 55 000 daltons. No free N-terminal amino acid residue was detectable, suggesting that it is blocked. Hydrolysis of the enzyme by carboxypeptidases A and B releases tyrosine followed by histidine and arginine, indicating that the amino acid sequence at the carboxyl terminus is probably -Arg-His-Tyr. Tryptic digestion of [32P]phosphofructose-6-phosphate 2-kinase:fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase yields a 32P-labeled peptide detected by tryptic peptide mapping and high-performance liquid chromatography. Thermolysin digestion of CNBr-cleaved 32P-enzyme also yields a single 32P-peptide. These results indicate that fructose-6-phosphate 2-kinase:fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase is a dimer of 55 000 daltons and the subunits are very similar, if not identical.     

Effect of temperature conditioning on chilling injury of cucumber cotyledons: possible role of abscisic Acid and heat shock proteins

Endogenous abscisic acid levels and induced heat shock proteins were measured in tissue exposed for 6 hours to temperatures that reduced their subsequent chilling sensitivity. One-centimeter discs excised from fully expanded cotyledons of 11-day-old seedlings of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L., cv Poinsett 76) were exposed to 12.5 or 37°C for 6 hours followed by 4 days at 2.5 or 12.5°C. Ion leakage, a qualitative indicator of chilling injury, increased after 2 to 3 day exposure to 2.5°C, but not to 12.5°C, a nonchilling temperature. Exposure to 37°C before chilling significantly reduced the rate of ion leakage by about 60% compared to tissue exposed to 12.5°C before chilling, but slightly increased leakage compared to tissue exposed to 12.5 or 37°C and held at the nonchilling temperature of 12.5°C. There was no relationship between abscisic acid content following exposure to 12.5 or 37°C and chilling tolerance. Five heat shock proteins, with apparent molecular mass of 25, 38, 50, 70, and 80 kilodaltons, were induced by exposure to 37 or 42°C for 6 hours, and their appearance coincided with increased chilling resistance. Heat shock treatments reduced the synthesis of three proteins with apparent molecular mass of 14, 17, and 43 kilodaltons. Induction of heat shock proteins could be a possible cause of reduced chilling injury in tissue exposed to 37 or 42°C.     

DNA-binding proteins in young and senescent normal human fibroblasts

DNA-binding proteins (DBP) from normal human diploid cells, strain WI38, were isolated by DNA-cellulose chromatography using undenatured calf thymus DNA. The DBP in the 0.15 M NaCl eluate were fractionated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Comparisons of the amounts of the DBP in different cell populations were made by labelling the cells with either ³H- or ¹⁴C-amino acid precursors for 40 h prior to pooling the cells for co-isolation of their DBP. When WI38 cells in the replicative and stationary phases were compared, five proteins, P5b (87 000 D), P6a (50 000 D), P8 (33 000 D), P9 (28 000 D) and P10 (25 000 D) were labelled to a greater extent in the replicating cells and two proteins, P5c (72 000 D) and P12 (18 000 D) were labelled to a greater extent in the stationary phase cells. In addition, several high molecular weight DBP, partially characterized as collagen and protocollagen, were preferentially labelled in the stationary phase cells. Stationary phase senescent WI38 cells at or near the end of their in vitro lifespan characteristically showed an increased proportion of protein component P8 (33 000 D) relative to stationary phase WI38 cells at early population doubling levels. Further characterization of WI38-P8 showed that it binds preferentially to single-stranded DNA and amounts to greater than 1% of the total soluble protein in young cells in growth phase. Thus WI38-P8 appears to be comparable to the P8 protein studied by Tsai & Green [27] in mouse 3T6 and human SB cells. The component which is increased in senescent or terminal phase non-dividing cell populations is judged to be the P8 protein by its position in SDS-gels and its preferential binding to single-stranded DNA.     

外切葡聚糖纤维二糖水解酶的分离纯化和部分性质研究

纤维素酶系包括内切葡聚糖酶,外切葡聚糖纤维二糖水解酶和葡萄糖昔酶三类酶．近年纤维素酶的结构与功能方面的研究有了很大进展[1～3]．目前,已有百余个不同菌种来源的纤维素酶的基因得到了克隆和表达,但主要为Trichodermareesei和Trichndermaviride产生的纤维素酶．TrichodemapseudokiningiiS-38是我们分离得到并易于培养的高产酶菌株[4]．我们采用固态发酵方法培养了该菌株,从发酵液中提纯了两个外切酶（cellobiohydrolase,EC3．21．91,CBH）组分,并测定了它们的部分酶学性质．1材料和方法1．1对硝基酚纤维二糖（P-nitrophenyl…     

Artepillin C,a Major Ingredient of Brazilian Propolis,Induces a Pungent Taste by Activating TRPA1 Channels

Brazilian green propolis is a popular health supplement because of its various biological properties. The ethanol extract of Brazilian green propolis (EEBP) is characteristic for its herb-like smell and unique pungent taste. However, the ingredients responsible for its pungency have not yet been identified. This study provides the first evidence that artepillin C is the main pungent ingredient in EEBP and that it potently activates human transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) channels. EEBP was fractionated using column chromatography with a step gradient elution of an ethanol-water solution, and the fractions having the pungent taste were determined by sensory tests. HPLC analysis revealed that the pungent fraction was composed primarily of artepillin C, a prenylated derivative of cinnamic acid. Artepillin C was also identified as the pungent compound of EEBP by organoleptic examiners. Furthermore, the effects of artepillin C and other cinnamic acids found in EEBP on TRPA1 channels were examined by calcium imaging and plate reader-based assays in human TRPA1-expressing cells to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying their pungent tastes. Artepillin C and baccharin activated the TRPA1 channel strongly, whereas drupanin caused a slight activation and p-coumaric acid showed no activation. Because the EC₅₀ values of artepillin C, baccharin, and allyl isothiocyanate were 1.8 µM, 15.5 µM, and 6.2 µM, respectively, artepillin C was more potent than the typical TRPA1 agonist allyl isothiocyanate. These findings strongly indicate that artepillin C is the main pungent ingredient in EEBP and stimulates a pungent taste by activating TRPA1 channels.     

Insights into the transport side of the human SLC38A9 transceptor

The lysosomal amino acid transporter SLC38A9 is referred to as transceptor, i.e. a transporter with a receptor function. The protein is responsible for coupling amino acid transport across the lysosomal membrane according to the substrate availability to mTORC1 signal transduction. This process allows cells to sense amino acid level responding to growth stimuli in physiological and pathological conditions triggering mTOR regulation. The main substrates underlying this function are glutamine and arginine. The functional and kinetic characterization of glutamine and arginine transport was performed using human SLC38A9 produced in E. coli, purified by affinity chromatography and reconstituted in liposomes. A cooperative behaviour for the wild type protein was revealed for both the substrates. A novel Na⁺ binding site, namely T453, was described by combined approaches of bioinformatics, site-directed mutagenesis and transport assay. Stimulation by cholesterol of glutamine and arginine transport was observed. The biological function of SLC38A9 relies on the interaction between its N-terminus and components of the mTOR complex; a deletion mutant of the N-terminus tail was produced and transport of glutamine was assayed revealing that this portion does not play any role in the intrinsic transport function of the human SLC38A9. Different features for glutamine and arginine transport were revealed: human SLC38A9 is competent for glutamine efflux, while that of arginine is negligible. In line with these results, imposed ?pH stimulated glutamine, not arginine transport. Arginine plays, on the contrary, a modulatory function and is able to stimulate glutamine efflux. Interestingly, reciprocal inhibition experiments also supported by bioinformatics, suggested that glutamine and arginine may bind to different sites in the human SLC38A9 transporter.     

Rhipicephalus sanguineus: amino acid composition of egg shell

Acid hydrolysis of the protein fraction of a batch of egg shells of Rhipicephalus sanguineus was followed by determination of the amino acids in the hydrolysate. Using thin layer chromatography, the amino acids—lysine, arginine, aspartic acid, serine, glycine, glutamic acid, alanine, threonine, valine, tyrosine, isoleucine, and leucine were identified. Alkaline hydrolysis of the fraction followed by TLC revealed the presence of tryptophane. Chitin was revealed utilizing a chitosan test.     

Aminopeptidases in webbing clothes moth larvae. properties and specificities of enzymes of highest electrophoretic mobility.

The group of aminopeptidase bands from Tineola bisselliella larvae with highest electrophoretic mobility in polyacrylamide gels were purified further and partially separated by ion exchange chromatography. Three aminopeptidase bands were present in this material and were very similar with respect to their pH optima (7-7), their molecular weight of 94,000, their responses to metal ions and enzyme inhibitors and in their substrate specificity requirements. Kinetic constants were obtained for the hydrolysis of 17 different alpha-aminoacyl-beta-naphthylamides by these aminopeptidases, the most favoured substrates being the derivatives of alanine, methionine, proline, leucine, glycine, glutamic acid, lysine and arginine. The enzymes also hydrolyse amino acid amides, dipeptides, dipeptide amides, tripeptides and oligopeptides at the N-terminal end. These enzymes differ from the other aminopeptides in T. bisselliella in being able to hydrolyse bonds involving proline.     

Characterization of an alkaline subtilopeptidase type Pfizer.

The physiochemical properties, amino acid composition and profile of the the tryptic peptides for an alkaline subtilopeptidase type Pfizer have been determined. The enzyme is stable in the pH range from 5 to 10, has a pH optimum of 9.5 to 10, and is relatively stable for a period of 2 h up to a temperature of 50C. Homogeneity was demonstrated by electrophoretic techniques and the mobilities indicated on isoelectric point of 8.7. The molecular weight was found to be 25,000 by gel filtration. The amino acid composition was found to be Ala32, Arg4, Aspgamma8, Glu15, Gly29, His4, Ile9, Leu13, Lys11, Met5, Phe4, Pro14, Ser31, Thr17, Tyr9, Val22, a total of 247 amino acid residues. The enzyme does not contain either disulfide bonds or cysteine, and lacks tryptophan as well. The N-terminal end-group residue is alanine: the C-terminal amino acid is arginine. Tryptic hydrolysis of the enzyme produced 15 peptides which were separated by gradient elution on Dowex 50-X2. The amino acid composition of each appropriately purified tryptic peptide was established.     

Chemokinesis by tetrahymena in response to bacterial oligopeptides

The ciliate Tetrahymena responds very efficiently by chemoattraction to a group of trichloroacetic acid-soluble oligopeptides isolated from a commercial bioprotein from Methanococcus. When fractionated by reversed phase C18-high-pressure liquid chromatography, this group of very efficient chemoattractants turned out to consist of a heterogeneous group of oligopeptides with molecular weight ranging from 0.2 to 1.5 kDa. The peptides were very rich in the following amino acids: aspartic acid, alanine, glutamic acid, proline, glycine, lysine, and arginine. The term chemokinesis is used throughout to emphasise that chemoattraction does not necessarily include an element of orientation of cells.     

Compositional characteristics of a chloroform/methanol soluble protein fraction from spinach chloroplast membranes.

Extraction of an aqueous suspension of spinach chloroplast lamellae with a chloroform/methanol mixture leads to solubilization of about 1/3 of the total membrane protein. Amino acid analysis of the chloroform/methanol-soluble protein shows that this fraction is largely enriched in the hydrophobic residues proline, leucine, alanine and phenylalanine and considerably depleted in polar amino acids, namely lysine and arginine. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the solubilized material reveals the presence of a variety of low molecular weight polypeptides (molecular weight less than or equal to 25 000), with more than 50% of the total fraction being contributed by a 25 000 dalton band. This band, which accounts for about 25% of the total chloroplast lamellar protein, has recently been identified as the main component of the light-harvesting chlorophyll-protein complex. The physiological role of most of the chloroform/methanol-soluble protein fraction is not known at present. From its chemical properties and apparent biological inertness, we propose that it plays mainly a structural role in situ, interacting with the lipid moiety of the chloroplast membrane. The material insoluble in the aqueous chloroform/methanol mixture is largely enriched in manganese, iron, cytochrome and water-soluble proteins, such as chloroplast coupling factor and ribulose diphosphate carboxylase.