Purification of a new glutathione S-transferase (transferase μ) from human liver having high activity with benzo(α)pyrene-4,5-oxide

A new glutathione $\text{S}$-transferase from human liver has been purified to homogeneity in good yield by use of ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, affinity chromatography on $\text{S}$-hexylglutathione coupled to epoxy-activated Sepharose 6B, and chromatography on hydroxyapatite. This new enzyme, transferase μ, is present in high concentration, but only in some individuals. It has an isoelectric point at about pH 6 to 6.5 and a different substrate specificity than the previously described alkaline transferases α-ε from human liver. Especially noteworthy is the finding of high activity against benzo(α)pyrene-4,5-oxide. Glutathione $\text{S}$-transferase μ has about 20-fold higher activity with this substrate than have the alkaline transferases. The most pronounced difference was found with $\text{trans}$-4-phenyl-3-buten-2-one which was >100-fold better as substrate for transferase μ than for the previously described transferases.     

Interdependence of glucose and arginine catabolism in Streptococcus faecalis R. ATCC 8043

The growth of $\text{Streptococcus faecalis}$ R.ATCC 8043 was found to be dependent on the simultaneous presence of both glucose and arginine, the molar ratio of utilization of these nutrients being 1:1. The growth coefficient (Y-glucose or Y-arginine) was near about 30 during exponential phase suggesting the generation of 3 moles of ATP during glycolysis. Glycolytic activity in cells was directly proportional to the intracellular pool of either arginine or citrulline and in aged cells the loet glycolytic activity could be restored by the addition of arginine to thecell suspension. Cell free extract of $\text{S}$. $\text{faecalis}$ was found to transfer phosphate group from carbamyl phosphate (a catabolic product of arginine) to glucose.     

Evidence for an essential lysine residue on the phosphoribosyl transferase subunit of the anthranilate synthetase-anthranilate 5-phosphoribosyl-pyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase enzyme complex from Salmonella typhimurium.

Pyridoxal 5′-phosphate reacts with the anthranilate synthetase-phosphoribosyltransferase enzyme complex of $\text{Salmonella typhimurium}$ to inhibit PR transferase activity. Glutamine-dependent anthranilate synthetase is not affected. Spectral and kinetic data suggest that the inactivation results from the modification of an essential lysine residue which interacts with 5-phosphoribosyl 1-pyrophosphate.     

Serum glutathione S-transferases: Perinatal development,sex difference,and effect of carbon tetrachloride administration on enzyme activity in the rat

Glutathione $\text{S}$-transferase activity was determined in rat, rabbit, and guinea pig serum using styrene 7,8-oxide (SO) and benzo (a) pyrene 4,5-oxide (4,5-BPO) as substrates. Of the species tested, rat had the highest transferase activity (62.5 and 3.2 nmol/min/ml serum for SO and 4,5-BPO, respectively) and rabbit had the lowest activity. Glutathione $\text{S}$-transferase activity was 60% higher in serum from male rats than in female rats. In rats, serum enzyme specific activities (nmol/min/mg protein) were less than 1% of hepatic enzyme activities with SO, 4,5-BPO, 1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene (DCNB), and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB). Glutathione $\text{S}$-transferase activity was also determined in rat serum during perinatal development. Serum from rats at 18 days of gestation or from 1- and 4-day-old animals had barely detectable transferase activity. Activity increased with age and reached a maximum in 140-day-old animals. The intraperitoneal administration of diethyl maleate (DEM) (0.8 ml/kg) or L-methionine-DL-sulfoximine (MS) (200 mg/kg) to male rats had no effect on serum or hepatic glutathione $\text{S}$-transferase activities 2 or 26 hr after dosing. Treatment with carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) (1 m1/kg) caused an 11-fold increase in serum transferase activity and a 40% decrease in liver specific activities 24 hr after administration.     

Inhibition of protein biosynthesis: The first active sparsomycin analog

A (dl) $\text{S}$-deoxo-$\text{S}$-propyl sparsomycin analog has been prepared and examined as an inhibitor of the peptidyl transferase reaction with bacterial ribosomes. A double reciprocal plot and Dixon analysis indicate that the sparsomycin analogy is a competitive inhibitor of phenylalanyl-puromycin formation. The inactivity of the L-isomer has established that the chiral carbon of sparsomycin analogs must be identical with the chirality of D-cysteinol for ribosomal binding.     

Modification of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase by 2,3-butadione

D-ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylases purified from barley or formate-grown $\text{Pseudomonas oxalaticus}$ were inactivated by 2,3-butadione. Pseudo first-order inactivation depended on the presence of borate and was reduced by product 3-phosphoglycerate. The half-times at 30°C and pH 8.3 in the presence of 2 mM 2,3-butadione are 10 and 60 minutes for the enzymes from $\text{P. oxalaticus}$ and barley, respectively. Saturation kinetics and arginine modification were demonstrated for the enzyme from $\text{P. oxalaticus}$.     

S-acylated residues of the acyl-carrier protein subunit of Klebsiella, aerogenes citrate lyase

Oxidation of the isolated deacetyl acyl-carrier protein subunit of citrate lyase from $\text{Klebsiella}\text{,}\text{aerogenes}$ with Cu²⁺-$\text{o}$-phenanthroline complex leads exclusively to intrapeptide disulfide bridge formation indicating that the cysteamine and the cysteine residues are located in close proximity. The S-acetylation of the cysteine residue in deacetyl acyl-carrier protein subunit is catalysed by a citrate lyase ligase preparation in presence of acetate and ATP. Reaction-inactivation of citrate lyase results in deacetylation of the S-acetyl cysteamine residue of the prosthetic group but not of the S-acylated cysteine residue in the acyl-carrier protein.     

Fatty acid hydroperoxide lyase in tobacco cells cultured in vitro

Fatty acid hydroperoxide lyase (HPO lyase) was found in green and non-green tobacco cells cultured in vitro. The HPO lyase activity in non-green cells was $\text{1}\text{3}$-$\text{1}\text{2}$ of that in green cells. When the cells were transferred from the light to dark conditions or vice versa, cells turned non-green or green according to the light conditions. The HPO lyase activity also changed according to the light conditions, but the changes in HPO lyase activities were not proportional to the changes in chlorophyll contents. These results suggest that at least two types of HPO lyases are present in the green cells. One type of HPO lyase is perhaps common both to the green and non-green cells; another one is chloroplastic. The fatty acid compositions of cells and substrate specificities of HPO lyase differed between green and non-green cells.     

Oxygen poisoning of NAD biosynthesis: a proposed site of cellular oxygen toxicity.

Quinolinate phosphoribosyl transferase was rapidly inactivated in $\text{Escherichia}\text{coli}$ exposed to hyperbaric oxygen. The enzyme is essential for de novo biosynthesis of NAD in $\text{E.}\text{coli}$ and man. Because of its sensitivity and essentiality, inactivation of this enzyme is proposed as a significant mechanism of cellular oxygen toxicity. Niacin which enters the NAD biosynthetic pathway below the oxygen-poisoned enzyme provided significant protection against the decrease in pyridine nucleotides and the growth inhibition from hyperoxia in $\text{E.}\text{coli}$ and could be useful in cases of human oxygen poisoning.     

Identification of a new glutathione S-transferase from rat liver cytosol

A new glutathione $\text{S}$-transferase has been purified to homogeneity from 105,000 × g supernatant of Sprague-Dawley rat liver homogenates. The purified enzyme exhibited specific activities of approximately 1.8, and 0.12 μmoles. min^?1. mg^?1 toward 1-chloro 2,4-dinitrobenzene and cumene hydroperoxide respectively. The SDS gel electrophoresis data on subunit composition revealed that the new transferase is composed of two subunits with an identical M_r of 24,400 (Y_α Family). Our $\text{in}\text{vitro}$ translation experiments with rat liver poly(A) RNAs and substrate specificity data suggest that this subunit is different from the previously reported Ya, Yb and Yc subunits of rat liver glutathione $\text{S}$-transferases. Comparatively, the new isozyme showed significant activity toward 1,2 epoxy-3-(P-nitrophenoxy)-propane, ethacrynic acid and P-nitrophenyl acetate, 0.4, 0.34 and 0.18 μ moles. min^?1. mg^?1 respectively.     

Arginyl-tRNA-protein transferase in eucaryotic protists

Soluble extracts of $\text{Saccharomyces cerevisiae}$ and $\text{Blastocladiella emersonii}$ were found to catalyze the specific transfer of arginine from a mixture of [¹⁴C] aminoacyl-tRNAs into protein. Arginine transfer was stimulated by bovine serum albumin. Glu-Ala, Asp-Ala and cystinyl-$\text{bis}$-Ala inhibited incorporation into protein, whereas dipeptides with other NH₂-terminal residues linked to alanine did not. These results indicate the presence of an enzyme in eucaryotic protists with the same donor and acceptor specificity as mammalian arginyl-tRNA-protein transferase.     

Modulation by the ratio S-adenosylmethionineS-adenosylhomocysteine of cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylation of the 50 kDa protein of rat liver phospholipid methyltransferase

The present results show that the catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylates the 50 kDa protein of rat liver phospholipid methyltransferase at one single site on a serine residue. Phosphorylation of this site is stimulated 2- to 3-fold by S-adenosylmethionine. S-adenosylmethionine-dependent protein phosphorylation is time- and dose-dependent and occurs at physiological concentrations. S-adenosylhomocysteine has no effect on protein phosphorylation but inhibits S-adenosylmethionine-dependent protein phosphorylation. $\text{S-}\text{Adenosylmethionine}\text{S-}\text{adenosylhomocysteine}$ ratios varying from 0 to 5 produce a dose-dependent stimulation of the phosphorylation of the 50 kDa protein. In conclusion, these results show, for the first time, that the ratio $\text{S-}\text{adenosylmethionine}\text{S-}\text{adenosylhomocysteine}$ can modulate phosphorylation of a specific protein.     

Functional arginine residues involved in coenzyme binding by dihydrofolate reductase

Reaction of dihydrofolate reductase from amethopterin-resistant $\text{Lactobacillus}\text{casei}$ with phenylglyoxal results in a complete loss of enzyme activity. This inactivation is concomitant with the modification of five of a total of eight arginine residues per mole of enzyme. In the presence of the reduced coenzyme, NADPH, two of the five reactive arginines are protected from chemical modification with complete retention of enzyme activity. The results suggest the involvement of essential arginine residues at or near the coenzyme binding site and thus at or near the active center of the enzyme.     

The reduction of the oxygen-evolving system in chloroplasts by thylakoid components

Using thoroughly dark-adapted thylakoids and an unmodulated Joliot-type oxygen electrode, the following results were obtained. (i) At high flash frequency (4 Hz), the oxygen yield at the fourth flash (Y₄) is lower compared to Y₃ than at lower flash frequency. At 4 Hz, the calculated S₀ concentration after thorough dark adaptation is found to approach zero, whereas at 0.5 Hz the apparent $\text{S}{}_0\text{(}\text{S}{}_0\text{+}\text{S}{}_1\text{)}$ ratio increases to about 0.2. This is explained by a relatively fast donation ($\text{t}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{= 1.0–1.5}\text{s}$) of one electron by an electron donor to S₂ and S₃ in 15–25% of the Photosystem II reaction chains. The one-electron donor to S₂ and S₃ appears to be rereduced very slowly, and may be identical to the component that, after oxidation, gives rise to ESR signal II_s. (ii) The probability for the fast one-electron donation to S₂ and S₃ has nearly been the same in triazine-resistant and triazine-susceptible thylakoids. However, most of the slow phase of the S₂ decay becomes 10-fold faster ($\text{t}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{= 5–6}\text{s}$) in the triazine-resistant ones. In a small part of the Photosystem II reaction chains, the S₂ decay was extremely slow. The S₃ decay in the triazine-resistant thylakoids was not significantly different from that in triazine-susceptible thylakoids. This supports the hypothesis that S₂ is reduced mainly by Q^?_A, whereas S₃ is not. (iii) In the absence of CO₂/HCO^?_A and in the presence of formate, the fast one-electron donation to S₂ and S₃ does not occur. Addition of HCO^?₃ restores the fast decay of part of S₂ and S₃ to almost the same extent as in control thylakoids. The slow phase of S₂ and S₃ decay is not influenced significantly by CO₂/HCO^?₃. The chlorophyll a fluorescence decay kinetics in the presence of DCMU, however, monitoring the Q^?_A oxidation without interference of Q_B, were 2.3-fold slower in the absence of CO₂/HCO^?₃ than in its presence. (iv) An almost 3-fold decrease in decay rate of S₂ is observed upon lowering the pH from 7.6 to 6.0. The kinetics of chlorophyll a fluorescence decay in the presence of DCMU are slightly accelerated by a pH change from 7.6 to 6.0. This indicates that the equilibrium Q^?_A concentration after one flash is decreased (by about a factor of 4) upon changing the pH from 7.6 to 6.0. When direct or indirect protonation of Q^?_B is responsible for this shift of equilibrium Q^?_A concentration, these data would suggest that the pK_a value for Q^?_B protonation is somewhat higher than 7.6, assuming that the protonated form of Q^?_B cannot reduce Q_A.     

Cooperativity between Photosystem II centers at the level of primary electron transfer

1. Spinach chloroplasts, but not whole Chlorella cells, show an acceleration of the Photosystem II turnover time when excited by non-saturating flashes (exciting 25 % of centers) or when excited by saturating flashes for 85–95 % inhibition by 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea. Following dark adaptation, the turnover is accelerated after a non-saturating flash, preceded by none or several saturating flashes, and primarily after a first saturating flash for 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea inhibition. A rapid phase ($\text{t}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ approx. 0.75 s) is observed for the deactivation of State S₂ in the presence of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea.2. These accelerated relaxations suggest that centers of Photosystem II are interconnected at the level of the primary electron transfer and compete for primary oxidizing equivalents in a saturating flash. The model in best agreement with the experimental data consists of a paired interconnection of centers.3. Under the conditions mentioned above, an accelerated turnover may be observed following a flash for centers in S₀, S₁ or S₂ prior to the flash. This acceleration is interpreted in terms of a shift of the rate-limiting steps of Photosystem II turnover from the acceptor to the donor side.     

Glutathione S-transferase activities in rat and mouse sperm and human semen

Glutathione $\text{S}$-transferase activity was found in sperm of the rat and $\text{DBA}\text{2J}$ and C57 $\text{BL}\text{6J}$ mice. In rat sperm activities with benzo(a)pyrene 4,5-oxide, styrene 7,8-oxide, and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene were 0.88, 1.07, and 26.1 nmoles/min/mg protein, respectively. Δ⁵-3-Ketosteroid isomerase activity of rat sperm was 4.9 nmoles/min/mg protein. These specific glutathione $\text{S}$-transferase and Δ⁵-3-ketosteroid isomerase activities in sperm represent 0.4–4.1% of rat liver cytosol values. Human semen also contained significant glutathione $\text{S}$-transferase activity. It is postulated that these enzymes could function in the metabolism and detoxification of certain electrophilic xenobiotics, if present in sperm.     

Binding properties of 23S,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3: an in vivo metabolite of vitamin D3

23$\text{S}$,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D₃ was isolated from the plasma of vitamin D₃-toxic pigs. An ultraviolet absorbance spectrum confirmed its purity. The configuration of the 23-hydroxyl group was determined to be S by comparison of the natural product with synthetic 23$\text{R}$,25- and 23$\text{S}$,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ by high-pressure liquid chromatography. The affinity of both 23$\text{S}$,25- and 23$\text{R}$,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ for the plasma vitamin D binding protein was similar to vitamin D₃. Thus, with respect to the plasma vitamin D binding protein, 23$\text{S}$,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ is the least potent, naturally-occurring, dihydroxylated vitamin D₃ metabolite known.