The binding of decomposition products of UDP-galactose to the microsomes and polyribosomes isolated from rat liver

UDP-D-[U-14C]galactose is decomposed to [U-14C]galactose-1-phosphate and [U-14C]galactose by rat liver microsomal and crude polyribosomal fractions, under conditions commonly used to assay of glycosyltransferase activities. UDP-D-[U-14C]galactose, at neutral pH, is also chemically degraded to the [U-14C]galactose-1,2-cyclic phosphate. The 1,2-cyclic phosphate derivative of galactose also exists in the commercial UDP-D-[U-14C]galactose. It is a very important finding that products of the UDP-D-[U-14C]galactose decomposition are tightly, although nonenzymatically, bound to tested subcellular fractions and may create a false impression of protein glycosylation. The application of controls containing all radioactive substances present in suitable samples is recommended in order to avoid incorrect interpretations of the results.     

Changes in enzymic activities of nucleoside diphosphate sugar interconversions during differentiation of cambium to xylem in sycamore and poplar.

During the transition from primary wall formation to secondary thickening there is a marked shift in the synthesis of pectin, hemicellulose and cellulose. The activities of the enzymes [UDP-D-galactose 4-epimerase (EC 5.1.3.2)8 UDP-l-arabinose 4-epimerase (EC 5.1.3.5), UDP-D-glucose dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.22) and UDP-D--glucuronate decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.35)] were measured in cambial cells, differentiating xylem cells and differentiated xylem cells isolated from sycamore and poplar trees, and phloem cells from poplar. At the final stage of the differentiation of cambium to xylem there was a decrease in activity of the enzymes directly involved in producing the soluble precursors of pectin (DUP-D-galactose 4-epimerase and UDP-L-arabinose 4-epimerase and an increase in those producing the precursors of hemicellulose (UDP-D-glucose dehydrogenase and UDP-D-glucuronate decarboxylase). These results strongly suggest ahat the changes were correlated with the differences observed in the chemical composition of the wall during development. The changes found in the catalytic activity of the enzymes of nucleoside diphosphate sugar interconversion exert a coarse control over the synthesis of pectin and hemicelluloses. The tissues at all stages of development contained the necessary enzyme activities to produce all the precursors of pectin and hemicellulose, even at the final stage of differentiation when no pectin was formed.     

A glucuronyltransferase involved in glucuronoxylan synthesis in pea (Pisum sativum) epicotyls.

A particulate enzyme preparation made from epicotyls of 1-week-old etiolated pea (Pisum sativum) seedlings was shown to incorporate glucuronic acid from UDP-D-[U-14C]glucuronic acid into a hemicellulosic polysaccharide. Optimum conditions for the incorporation include the presence of Mn2+ ions at between 4 and 10 mmol/litre and a pH between 5 and 6. UDP-D-xylose at 1 mmol/litre allows incorporation to continue for at least 8 h. In its absence, the reaction stops within 30 min. Analysis of the product by partial and total acid hydrolysis, followed by paper chromatography or electrophoresis, indicates that the polysaccharide produced is a glucuronoxylan.     

Xylan synthetase activity in differentiated xylem cells of sycamore trees (Acer pseudoplatanus)

Particulate enzymic preparations obtained from homogenates of differentiated xylem cells isolated from sycamore trees, catalyzed the formation of a radioactive xylan in the presence of UDP-D-[U-¹⁴C]xylose as substrate. The synthesized xylan was not dialyzable through Visking cellophane tubing. Successive extraction with cold water, hot water and 5% NaOH dissolved respectively 15, 5 and 80% of the radioactive polymer. Complete acid hydrolysis of the water-insoluble polysaccharide synthesized from UDP-D-[U-¹⁴C]xylose released all the radioactivity as xylose. -1,4-Xylodextrins, degree of polymerization 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, were obtained by partial acid hydrolysis (fuming HCl or 0.1 M HCl) of radioactive xylan. The polymer was hydrolysed to xylose, xylobiose and xylotriose by Driselase which contains 1,4- xylanase activities. Methylation and then hydrolysis of the xylan released two methylated sugars which were identified as di-O-methyl[¹⁴C]xylose and tri-O-methyl-[¹⁴C]xylose, suggesting a 14-linked polymer. The linkage was confirmed by periodate oxidation studies. The apparent K_m value of the synthetase for UDP-D-xylose was 0.4 mM. Xylan synthetase activity was not potentiated in the presence of a detergent. The enzymic activity was stimulated by Mg²⁺ and Mn²⁺ ions, although EDTA in the range of concentrations between 0.01 and 1 mM did not affect the reaction rate. It appears that the xylan synthetase system associated with membranes obtained from differentiated xylem cells of sycamore trees may serve for catalyzing the in vivo synthesis of the xylan main chain during the biogenesis of the plant cell wall.     

Changes in enzyme activities involved in formation and interconversion of UDP-sugars during the cell cycle in a synchronous culture of Catharanthus roseus

Changes in the activities of enzymes involved in UDP-sugar formation [UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (EC 2.7.7.9), sucrose synthase (EC 2.4.1.13) and UDP-glucuronic acid pyrophosphorylase (EC 2.7.7.44)], and interconversion [UDP-glucuse 4-epimerase (EC 5.1.3.2), UDP-glucose dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.22), UDP-glucuronic acid decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.35) and UDP-xylose 4-epimerase (EC 5.1.3.5)] were investigated during the cell cycle in a synchronous culture of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don. The specific activities of UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase and UDP-glucose 4-epimerase increased in the G2 phase before the first cell division, and those of sucrose synthase, UDP-glucose dehydrogenase and UDP-glucuronic acid pyrophosphorylase increased in the G1 phase after the first cell division. However, during the cell cycle, UDP-glucuronic acid decarboxylase and UDP-xylose 4-epimerase did not change significantly in their specific activities. Changes in enzyme activities are discussed in relation to those reported previously for cell wall composition (S. Amino et al. 1984. Physiologia Plantarum 60: 326–332).     

A xylosyltransferase involved in the synthesis of a protein-associated xyloglucan in suspension-cultured dwarf-French-bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) cells and its interaction with a glucosyltransferase.

A particulate enzyme preparation made from suspension-cultured dwarf-French-bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) cv. Canadian Wonder cells was shown to incorporate xylose from UDP-D-[14C]xylose into polysaccharide. The reaction was dependent upon the presence of UDP-D-glucose and was stimulated, and apparently protected, by GDP-D-glucose and GDP-D-mannose, though neither was able to replace UDP-D-glucose as a glycosyl donor. The product of the reaction was identified as xyloglucan by analysis of products of enzyme breakdown and acid hydrolysis. Mr determination after proteinase K digestion indicated that the nascent xyloglucan is closely associated with protein. Preincubation of the enzyme with UDP-D-glucose stimulated incorporation from UDP-D-[14C]xylose, suggesting an 'imprecise' mechanism of biosynthesis, as defined by Waldron & Brett [(1985) in Biochemistry of Plant Cell Walls (Brett, C. T. & Hillman, J. R., eds.) (SEB Semin. Ser. 28), pp. 79-97, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge].     

The interaction of xylosyltransferase and glucuronyltransferase involved in glucuronoxylan synthesis in pea (Pisum sativum) epicotyls.

A particulate enzyme preparation from etiolated pea (Pisum sativum) epicotyls was found to incorporate xylose from UDP-D-xylose into beta-(1----4)-xylan. The ability of this xylan to act as an acceptor for incorporation of [14C]glucuronic acid from UDP-D-[14C]glucuronic acid in a subsequent incubation was very limited, even though glucuronic acid incorporation was greatly prolonged when UDP-D-xylose was present in the same incubation as UDP-D-[14C]glucuronic acid. This indicated that glucuronic acid could not be added to preformed xylan. However, the presence of UDP-D-glucuronic acid inhibited incorporation of [14C]xylose from UDP-D-[14C]xylose into beta-(1----4)-xylan, and neither S-adenosylmethionine nor acetyl-CoA stimulated either the xylosyltransferase or the glucuronyltransferase.     

Patterns of polysaccharide biosynthesis in differentiating cells of maize root-tips

1. The patterns of incorporation of radioactivity from d-[6-(3)H]-, d-[1-(14)C]-, d-[U-(14)C]- and d-[6-(14)C]-glucose and [U-(14)C]myoinositol into the neutral sugars and uronic acids of the polysaccharides synthesized in different regions of the root-tip of maize were determined. 2. The root-cap tissue synthesized a slime in which a polysaccharide that contained a high proportion of fucose (32%) and galactose (21%) was found. This polysaccharide is synthesized only by the root-cap cells, and very little polysaccharide containing fucose is synthesized in adjacent tissues. Part of the meristematic tissue of the root is surrounded by the cap cells. A section of the root that contains both these tissues can be analysed, and the polysaccharide synthesized by the meristematic region can be obtained since the contribution of the root-cap cells can be found by the amount of fucose formed. 3. It was shown that there is very little difference in the polysaccharide synthesis of the meristematic region from that of the cells immediately behind it. In the more mature cells, however, the amount of xylose synthesized relative to that of arabinose is increased, and the proportion of xylose and arabinose formed in the matrix polysaccharides is increased whereas that of galactose is decreased. 4. The effect of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) on polysaccharide synthesis was to bring about a decrease in the relative amount of galactose synthesized in the matrix polysaccharides of cells immediately adjacent to the meristematic region and also in the more mature tissue. The growth factor also increased the amount of xylose synthesized relative to that of arabinose in the more mature tissue. These metabolic effects were related to a very obvious change in the morphological appearance of the root-tips. 5. Radioactivity from [U-(14)C]myoinositol was incorporated mainly into xylose, arabinose and galacturonic acid rather than into the hexoses, although small amounts of these sugars were formed.     

The formation of a β-(1→4)-d-galactan chain catalysed by a Phaseolus aureus enzyme

With a particulate enzyme preparation from Phaseolus aureus hypocotyls, UDP-alpha-d-[U-(14)C]galactose served as a precursor for a number of products. One of these products was characterized as a beta-(1-->4)-linked galactan. The ADP-, GDP-, TDP- and CDP- derivatives of alpha-d-galactose did not serve as biosynthetic precursors for any products insoluble in 70% ethanol, nor as substrates for a sugar nucleotide 4-epimerase which is present in the particulate enzyme preparation. The (14)C-labelled beta-(1-->4)-galactan is alkali-insoluble and was characterized by analysis of partial acetolysis products. The labelling pattern of the [(14)C]oligosaccharides derived from acetolysis indicates that (1) only slightly more than two [(14)C]galactose moieties are added to the growing polysaccharide chain on average, and (2) these additions take place at the reducing end of the polysaccharide chain. The radioactive beta-(1-->4)-linked galactan chain represented 8.5% of the radioactivity initially added, and 20% of the water- and butanol-insoluble products derived from UDP-alpha-d-[(14)C]galactose. Total hydrolysis of the alkali-insoluble fraction of Phaseolus aureus hypocotyl yielded d-glucose and d-mannose in a 5:1 ratio but no detectable quantities of d-galactose. A trace quantity of a radioactive disaccharide, identified as (1-->3)-linked galactobiose, was isolated from the partial acetolysate of the alkali-insoluble [(14)C]polysaccharide material. Also isolated from this partial acetolysate was a C-1 derivative of [(14)C]galactose, which could not be identified. An alkali-soluble galactose-containing polysaccharide was also synthesized in this enzymic reaction, and represented 20% of the water- and butanol-insoluble products derived from UDP-alpha-d-[(14)C]galactose. The spectrum of radioactive oligosaccharides produced by partial acetolysis of this alkali-soluble polysaccharide material was different from that obtained from the alkali-insoluble polysaccharide, indicating a different structure.     

Oxalic acid biosynthesis and oxalacetate acetylhydrolase activity in Streptomyces cattleya

In addition to producing the antibiotic thienamycin, Streptomyces cattleya accumulates large amounts of oxalic acid during the course of a fermentation. Washed cell suspensions were utilized to determine the specific incorporation of carbon-14 into oxalate from a number of labeled organic and amino acids. L-[U-14C]aspartate proved to be the best precursor, whereas only a small percentage of label from [1,5-14C]citrate was found in oxalate. Cell-free extracts catalyzed the formation of [14C]oxalate and [14C]acetate from L-[U-14C]aspartate. When L-[4-14C]aspartate was the substrate only [14C]acetate was formed. The cell-free extracts were found to contain oxalacetate acetylhydrolase (EC 3.7.1.1), the enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of oxalacetate to oxalate and acetate. The enzyme is constitutive and is analogous to enzymes in fungi that produce oxalate from oxalacetate. Properties of the crude enzyme were examined.     

Induction of capsular polysaccharide synthesis by rho-fluorophenylalanine in Escherichia coli wild type and strains with altered phenylalanyl soluble ribonucleic acid synthetase

Escherichia coli K-12 strain AB259 can be induced to form capsular polysaccharide (mucoid clones) by dl-p-fluorophenylalanine (FPA; 5 x 10(-6)m on agar plates at 37 C or 8 x 10(-5)m in liquid medium at 30 C). The change was shown to be phenotypic. An increase in enzymes probably involved in capsular polysaccharide synthesis [phosphomannose isomerase (3.3-fold), uridine diphosphate-d-galactose-4-epimerase (2.5-fold), and guanine diphosphate-l-fucose synthetase] was demonstrated as a result of growth in FPA. These increases appear sufficient to account for the increased synthesis of capsular polysaccharide due to growth in FPA. FPA-resistant derivatives of strain AB259 were obtained by selecting mutants on FPA-containing agar or by transducing in an altered phenylalanyl soluble ribonucleic acid synthetase that activates FPA poorly. Mucoid clones were formed by these strains only in the presence of 30 to 1,000 times as much FPA. Among these strains, there was a close correlation between incorporation of FPA-C(14) and induction of capsular polysaccharide synthesis. The results are thus consistent with the following model: FPA is incorporated into the protein product of the R(1) gene (repressor) and alters it sufficiently to allow derepression of several enzymes.     

Subcellular Compartmentation of the 4-Aminobutyrate Shunt in Protoplasts from Developing Soybean Cotyledons

The subcellular localization of enzymes involved in the 4-ami-nobutyrate shunt was investigated in protoplasts prepared from developing soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill cv Maple Arrow] cotyledons. Protoplast lysate was fractionated by differential and continuous Percoll-gradient centrifugation to separate organelle fractions. Glutamate decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.15) was found exclusively in the cytosol, whereas 4-aminobutyrate:pyruvate transami-nase (EC 2.6.1.19) and succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.16) were associated exclusively with the mitochondrial fractions. Mitochondrial fractions also catabolized [U-14C]4-aminobu-tyrate to labeled succinate.     

Metabolism of sialic acid in regenerating rat liver.

In regenerating rat liver slices 24 h after partial hepatectomy, the incorporation of [1-14C]glucosamine into 'free sialic acid' (N-acetylneuraminic acid + CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid) decreased to below 50% of the control values and the incorporation into protein-bound sialic acid decreased to the same extent. The incorporation of [14C]glucosamine into 'free sialic acid' decreased during the period from 6 to 47 h after hepatectomy, showing a minimum at 12 h, and recovered to the control value by 96 h. At 12 h, the activities of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 2-epimerase (UDP-2-acetoamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose 2-epimerase, EC 5.1.3.14) and N-acyl-D-mannosamine kinase (ATP: 2-acylamino-2-deoxy-D-mannose 6-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.60) in the liver were significantly decreased. The amount of protein-bound sialic acid in the liver was not changed after partial hepatectomy, but the amount in plasma was changed, with a similar pattern to that of the incorporation of [14C]glucosamine into slice 'free sialic acid'. These results indicate that the synthesis of sialic acid in the liver much decreases in the early stage of regeneration and that this may be correlated with the decreased synthesis of plasma sialoglycoproteins.     

Changes in the activity of enzymes involved in purine "salvage" and nucleic acid degradation during the growth of Catharanthus roseus cells in suspension culture

Changes during growth in the activity of several enzymes involved in purine "salvage", adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (EC 2.4.2.7), guanine phosphoribosyl-transferase (EC 2.4.2.8), hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (EC 2.4.2.8) and adenosine kinase (EC 2.7.1.20), the enzymes which catalyze the conversion of nucleoside monophosphate to triphosphate, nucleoside monophosphate kinase (EC 2.7.4.4) and nucleoside diphosphate kinase (EC 2.7.4.6), and several degradation enzymes, deoxyribonucleae(s), ribonuclease(s). phosphatase(s), nucleosidase (EC 3.2.2.1), 3'-nucleotidase (EC 3.1.3.6) and 5'-nucleotidase (EC 3.1.3.5) were examined in cells of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don cultured in suspension. In addition, the incorporation of [8-¹⁴C] adenine, [8-¹⁴C] adenine, [8-¹⁴C]hypoxanthine. [8-¹⁴C] adenosine and [8-¹⁴C]inosine into nucleotides and nucleic acids was also determined using intact cells.
The activities of all purine "salvage" enzymes examined and those of nucleoside monophosphate and diphosphate kinases increased rapidly during the lag phase and decreased during the following cell division and cell expansion phases. The rate of incorporation of adenine, guanine, hypoxanthine, and adenosine into nucleotides and nucleic acids was higher in the lag phase cells than during the following three phases. The highest rate of [8-¹⁴C]inosine incorporation was observed in the stationary phase cells. The activity of all degradation enzymes examined decreased when the stationary phase cells were transferred to a new medium.
These results indicated that the increased activity of purine "salvage" enzymes observed in the lag phase cells may contribute to an active purine "salvage" which is required to initiate a subsequent cell division.     

Phospholipid biosynthesis in mature human erythrocytes

Mature human erythrocytes were tested for their ability to synthetize membrane phospholipids from simple precursors: [32P]-orthophosphate (32Pi), [U-14C] glycerol, [U-14C] glucose, [U-14C] serine, and [U-14C] choline. The incorporation of these labels into phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidic acid (PA), lysophosphatidylcholine (lyso-PC), phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PIP), and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) was measured. All the phospholipids tested incorporated 32Pi, glycerol, and glucose in a time dependent manner. According to the rate of 32Pi incorporation, three groups of phospholipids could be distinguished: 1) PA, PIP2, PIP, lyso-PC; 2) PI and PS; 3) PC and PE, which incorporated 5 x 10(3), 40, and 6 nmol 32Pi/mmol phospholipid per 1 h, respectively. Moreover, [U-14C] serine and [U14C] choline were found to incorporate into phospholipids, and PS-decarboxylase activity could be measured. The possibility that the observed incorporation was due to contamination with bacteria or other blood cells could be ruled out. Our results bring evidence for de novo phospholipid synthesis of human red blood cells.     

Biosynthesis of dermatan sulphate. Loss of C-5 hydrogen during conversion of D-glucuronate to L-iduronate.

The formation of L-iduronic acid during biosynthesis of dermatan sulphate has been studied in culture human fibroblasts and in microsomes from the same cells. The cells were incubated with D-[14C]glucose and D-[5-3H]glucose for 72 h. The [14C,3H]dermatan sulphate was hydrolysed and the disaccharides obtained were acetylated and separated by ion-exchange chromatography. The ratio of 3H/14C was 0.36 for N-acetyldermosine and 1.36 N-acetylchondrosine. A microsomal preparation from the fibroblasts was incubated with UDP-D-[5-3H]glucuronic acid, UDP-D-[14C]glucuronic acid, UDP-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine and 3'-phospho-5'-adenylyl sulphate. The polymeric products were separated into nonsulphated and sulphated components which had 3H/14C ratios of 0.51 and 0.20 and contained 9% and 70% of their uronosyl residues in the L-ido-configuration, respectively. Chondroitinase-AC digestion of these polymers liberated all of the remaining 3H activity. Hydrolysis and N-acetylation followed by paper chromatography showed that the L-iduronic acid-containing products were devoid of 3H. The data obtained indicate that the epimerization of D-glucuronosyl to L-iduronosyl residues during biosynthesis of dermatan sulphate involves an abstraction of the C-5 hydrogen of the uronosyl residue.     

Arginine metabolism in insects. Role of arginase in proline formation during silkmoth development

1. Ornithine delta-transaminase (l-ornithine-2-oxo acid aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.13) and Delta(1)-pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase [l-proline-NAD(P) 5-oxidoreductase, EC 1.5.1.2] were demonstrated in fat-body and flight-muscle tissues of the silkmoth Hyalophora gloveri. Arginase (l-arginine ureohydrolase, EC 3.5.3.1) is also present in these tissues. 2. Arginase, ornithine transaminase and pyrroline-carboxylate reductase are generally considered to make up the catabolic pathway for the conversion of arginine into proline. The conversion of l-[U-(14)C]arginine into [(14)C]proline by intact fat-body tissue was used to show that the enzymes in insect fat body also function in this capacity. 3. Of the three enzymes of the catabolic pathway, only arginase increased during adult development and the increase coincided with the emergence of the winged adult moth. Since proline appears to be a major substrate utilized in insect flight metabolism, the increase in arginase activity at this stage suggests a major role for arginase in proline formation.     

Pancreatic fate of 14C-labelled hexoses

In order to assess the respective contribution of the exocrine and endocrine moieties of the pancreas to the overall net uptake of selected monosaccharides by the pancreatic gland, the apparent distribution space of L-[1-14C]glucose, 3-O-[14C-methyl]-D-glucose, D-[U-14C]glucose, D-[U-14C]mannose and D-[U-14C]fructose was measured in pieces of pancreas obtained from either control rats or animals injected with streptozotocin. Although the time course for the uptake of 3-O-[14C-methyl]-D-glucose, D-[U-14C]glucose, D-[U-14C]mannose and D-[U-14C]fructose was much slower in the pieces of pancreas than that previously documented in isolated pancreatic islets, no significant difference could, as a rule, be detected between the results obtained in pancreatic pieces of control and streptozotocin rats. A comparable situation prevailed in the pancreas of animals examined 3 min after the intravenous injection of 3-O-[14C-methyl]-D-glucose. D-Glucose inhibited the uptake of 3-O-[14C-methyl]-D-glucose and that of D-[U-14C]fructose. Likewise, 3-O-methyl-D-glucose inhibited the uptake of D-[U-14C]glucose. Cytochalasin B (20 microm) also inhibited the uptake of 3-O-[14C-methyl]-D-glucose and D-[U-14C]glucose, but not that of D-[U-14C]fructose. D-Mannoheptulose hexaacetate, but not the unesterified heptose, inhibited the metabolism of tritiated and 14C-labelled D-glucose, as well as the net uptake of D-[U-14C]glucose and D-[U-14C]mannose and, to a lesser extent, that of D-[U-14C]fructose. These findings indicate that despite marked differences between endocrine and exocrine pancreatic cells in terms of both the time course for the uptake of several hexoses and the inhibition of their phosphorylation by D-mannoheptulose, little or no preferential labelling of the endocrine moiety of the pancreas by the 14C-labelled hexoses is observed, at least when judged from their distribution space in pancreatic pieces or the whole pancreatic gland. Nevertheless, the findings made with D-mannoheptulose and its hexaacetate ester raise the view that this heptose could conceivably be used to achieve a sizeable preferential labelling of the endocrine pancreas under the present experimental conditions.     

Parallel formation and synergism of hydrolytic enzymes and peptaibol antibiotics, molecular mechanisms involved in the antagonistic action of Trichoderma harzianum against phytopathogenic fungi.

Chitinase, beta-1,3-glucanase, and protease activities were formed when Trichoderma harzianum mycelia, grown on glucose as the sole carbon source, were transferred to fresh medium containing cell walls of Botrytis cinerea. Chitobiohydrolase, endochitinase, and beta-1,3-glucanase activities were immunologically detected in culture supernatants by Western blotting (immunoblotting), and the first two were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Under the same conditions, exogenously added [U-14C]valine was incorporated in acetone-soluble compounds with an apparent M(r) of < 2,000. These compounds comigrated with the peptaibols trichorzianines A1 and B1 in thin-layer chromatography and released [U-14C]valine after incubation in 6N HCl. Incorporation of radioactive valine into this material was stimulated by the exogenous supply of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid, a rare amino acid which is a major constituent of peptaibols. The obtained culture supernatants inhibited spore germination as well as hyphal elongation of B. cinerea. Culture supernatants from mycelia placed in fresh medium without cell walls of B. cinerea did not show hydrolase activities, incorporation of [U-14C]valine into peptaibol-like compounds, and inhibition of fungal growth. Purified trichorzianines A1 and B1 as well as purified chitobiohydrolase, endochitinase, or beta-1,3-glucanase inhibited spore germination and hyphal elongation, but at concentrations higher than those observed in the culture supernatants. However, when the enzymes and the peptaibols were tested together, an antifungal synergistic interaction was observed and the 50% effective dose values obtained were in the range of those determined in the culture supernatants. Therefore, the parallel formation and synergism of hydrolytic enzymes and antibiotics may have an important role in the antagonistic action of T. harzianum against fungal phytopathogens.     

Chemical and enzymic degradations of nucleoside mono- and diphosphate sugars: I. Determination of the degradation rate during the glycosyltransferase assays

In incorporation experiments used for the determination of glycosyltransferase activities, we demonstrated that the nucleoside diphosphate sugars are decomposed in three different ways: 1, transfer of the monosaccharide to acceptor molecule, catalyzed by glycosyltransferases; 2, degradation of the glycosyl nucleotides by nucleotide pyrophosphatase into monosaccharide 1-phosphates which are further hydrolyzed into free monosaccharides by phophatases; 3, chemical decomposition of UDP-D-[¹⁴C]Gal; UDP-D-[¹⁴C]Glc and UDP-D-[¹⁴C]GlcUA into 1,2-cyclic phosphate derivatives of the corresponding monosaccharide.All the breakdown products of the nucleoside mono- and diphosphate sugars which are obtained during the incorporation experiments may be separated by paper chromatography and their amounts may be determined.Galactosyltransferase assays on human and rat serum have shown that the three different ways of decomposition of the nucleoside diphosphate sugars are dependent mostly on the concentration of divalent cations (Mn²⁺, Mg²⁺). Inhibition of the nucleotide pyrophosphatase activity is obtained with low concentrations of UMP, but increasing concentrations of UMP inhibit also the galactosyltransferase activity and consequently enhance the formation of galactose 1,2-monophosphate.A partial elimination of the nucleotide pyrophosphatase activity was achieved by the addition of increasing concentrations of UDP-D-Gal. The results demonstrate that the determination of glycosyltransferase activities in tissues and in biological fluids is not possible without a concomitant determination of the nucleotide pyrophosphatase activity present in the assay.