An artificial redox coenzyme based on a triazine dye template

A series of nicotinamide-containing compounds based on the structure of a triazine dye, C.I. Reactive Blue 2, which is known to interact at the coenzyme-binding sites of several NAD(P)(H)-dependent dehydrogenases,^1,2 were designed, synthesized, and characterized. The preparation of these compounds is described. Reduction of the coenzyme mimics with sodium borohydride led to an increase in absorption at 356 nm, analogous to the behavior of the natural coenzyme, NAD⁺.³ When incubated with horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase and ethanol at 25°C and pH 9.0, one of the mimics, Blue N-3, was converted into a new compound with an increased absorption at 356 nm and an R_f value on thin-layer chromatography identical to that of the reduced form produced by treatment with sodium borohydride. The oxidized and reduced forms of Blue N-3 could be separated by reverse-phase ion pair high-performance liquid chromatography. This technique could be used to measure the extent of Blue N-3 reduction: Approximately 90 turnovers were calculated for each enzyme active site over a 48-h period. Gas chromatography analysis suggested that ethanol was simultaneously converted to acetaldehyde. Blue N-3 represents the first example of a new generation of potentially inexpensive, stable, and active biomimetic redox coenzymes.     

Influence de l'oxygene sur les transferts d'electrons de la photosynthese. II. Influence de tres faibles concentrations en oxygene sur la reduction du NADP par les chloroplastes isoles

Influence of oxygen on the electron transfers of photosynthesis. II. Influence of very low oxygen concentration on the NADP⁺ reduction by isolated chloroplasts

The influence of very low O₂ concentration on the NADP⁺ reduction by isolated spinach chloroplasts has been studied.

The results show that in the presence of very low O₂ concentration (< 0.3%) NADP⁺ reduction is partially inhibited. This inhibition may be partially reversed under some conditions, especially when, in spite of the presence of an O₂ trap (glucose plus glucose oxidase (EC 1.1.3.4)) an O₂ evolution is observed.     

Affinity chromatography of serine proteases on the triazine dye ligand Cibacron Blue F3G-A

The interaction between complement component factor B and the triazine dye ligand Cibacron Blue F3G-A coupled to a cross-linked agarose matrix (Blue Sepharose) was found to involve the Bb part of the molecule, and to be inhibited by benzamidine. Human, chicken and rainbow trout factor B which had bound to Blue Sepharose could subsequently be eluted with benzamidine. Other serine proteases (C2, factor II, factor IX, trypsin, chymotrypsin, proteinase 3) also bound to Blue Sepharose but only those belonging to the trypsin family could be eluted with benzamidine. Trypsin treated with the active-site inhibitor phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride did not bind to Blue Sepharose and pretreatment of Blue Sepharose with benzamidine did not influence binding of proteases. We conclude that trypsin-like serine proteases can be purified on Blue Sepharose and that the interaction of these serine proteases with Blue Sepharose involves the active site of the enzyme.     

The use of various immobilized-triazine affinity dyes for the purification of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase from Bacillus stearothermophilus.

1. 6-Phosphogluconate dehydrogenase from Bacillus stearothermophilus was purified approximately 260-fold on triazine-immobilized dye columns to a final specific activity of 54 mumol of NADP+ reduced/min per mg of protein and an overall yield of 62%. 2. An investigation of the capacities of different triazine dyes that inhibit 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase was carried out. Cibacron Blue F3G-A and Procion Red HE-3B strongly inhibited the enzyme in free solution and were therefore chosen as the ligands in the purification scheme. 3. KCl was found to be the most suitable agent for eluting 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase from Procion Red HE-3B-Sepharose 6B. NADP+ could specifically elute 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase from Cibacron Blue F3G-A-Sepharose 6B. 4. A study of the effect of temperature on the binding of pure 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase to both Cibacron Blue-Sepharose and Procion Red-Sepharose showed that the binding increased with an increase in temperature.     

Metal-ion-promoted binding of triazine dyes to proteins. The interaction of Cibacron Blue F3G-A with yeast hexokinase.

Bivalent metal ions, particularly Zn2+ and other members of the first-row transition series, promote irreversible inactivation of yeast hexokinase by Cibacron Blue F3G-A at a site competitive with both ATP and D-glucose. Difference spectroscopy indicates that the protein-dye dissociation constant is decreased from 250 micrometers in the absence of metal ions to less than 100 micrometers in the presence of appropriate concentrations of metal ions, with specificity displayed in the sequence of Zn2+ greater than Cu2+ greater than Ni2+ greater than Mn2+. Quantitative inactivation of yeast hexokinase leads to the incorporation of approx. 1 mol of Cibacron Blue F3G-A/mol of subunit of mol. wt. 51 000 in both the presence and the absence of metal ion. These results suggest the formation of a highly specific ternary complex involving enzyme, dye and metal ion at the active-site region of the enzyme, and correlate well with the known effects of metal ions in promoting the binding of hexokinase to immobilized Cibacron Blue F3G-A.     

Interaction of ferredoxin-NADP+ oxidoreductase with triazine dyes. A rapid purification method by affinity chromatography

The triazine dyes, Cibacron blue F3GA and Procion red HE3B inhibited diaphorase activity of ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase, in a competitive manner with respect to NADPH. The Ki values were 1.5 and 0.2 microM, respectively. Binding of the dyes to the flavoprotein, as measured by difference spectroscopy, indicated an apparent stoichiometry of 1 mol dye/mol reductase and was prevented by NADP+ or high ionic strength. Chemical modification of a lysine residue and a carboxyl group at the NADP(H) binding site of the enzyme prevented complex formation with Procion red. Procion red showed a higher affinity for ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase than Cibacron blue. The Kd values were 1.9 and 5 microM, respectively. Once covalently linked to a Sepharose matrix, the triazine compounds specifically bind the flavoprotein. The interaction is partially electrostatic and partially hydrophobic. The enzyme can be eluted by high concentrations of salt or low concentrations of the corresponding coenzyme. The use of this affinity column allows the rapid purification of ferredoxin-NADP+ oxidoreductase from spinach leaves with good yields.     

New mutations in cloned Escherichia coli umuDC genes: novel phenotypes of strains carrying a umuC125 plasmid

The umuDC locus of Escherichia coli is required for most mutagenesis by UV and many chemicals. Mutations in E. coli umuDC genes cloned on pBR322-derived plasmids wer e isolated by two methods. First, spontaneously-arising mutant umuDC plasmids that failed to confe cold-sensitive growth on a lexA51(Def) strain were isolated by selection. Second, mutant umuDC plasmids that affected apparent mutant yield after UV-irradiation in a strain carrying umuD⁺C⁺ in the chromosome were isolated by screening hydroxylamine-mutagenized umuD⁺C⁺ plasmids. pBR322-derived umuD⁺C⁺ plasmids inhibited the induction of the SOS response of lexA⁺ strains as measured by expression of din::Mu dl(lac) Ap) fusionsbut most mutant plasmids did not. Mutant plasmids defective in complementation of chromosomal umuD44, umuC36, or both were found among those selected for failure to confer cold-sensitivity, whereas those identified by the screening procedure yielded mostly mutant plasmids with more complex phenotypes. We studied in greater detail a plasmid pLM109, carrying the umuC125 mutation. This plasmid increased the sensitivity of lexA⁺ strainsto killing by UV-irradiation but was able to complement the deficiencies of umuC mutants in UV mutagenesis. pLM109 failed to confer cold-sensitive growth on lexA(Def) strains but inhibited SOS induction in lexA⁺ strains. The effect of pLM109 on the UV sensitivity of lexA(Def)strains was similar to that of the parental umuD⁺C⁺ plasmid. The mutation responsible for the phenotypes of pLM109 was localized to a 615-bp fragment. DNA sequencing revealed that the umuC125 mutation was a G:C → A:T transition that changed codon 39 of umuC from GCC → GTC thus changing Ala39 to Val39. The implications of the umuC125 mutation for umuDC-dependent effects on UV-mutagenesis and cell survival after UV damage are discussed.     

Affinity chromatography on immobilised triazine dyes. Studies on the interaction with multinucleotide-dependent enzymes

A systematic investigation into the interaction of several triazinyl dyes with two enzymes from purine metabolism, IMP dehydrogenase (IMP: NAD+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.2.1.14( and adenylosuccinate synthetase (IMP: L-aspartate ligase (GDP-forming), EC 6.3.4.4) has been conducted. Evidence from kinetic inhibition studies, enzyme inactivation with specific affinity labels and specific elution techniques from agarose-immobilised dyes indicate that triazine dyes such as Procion Blue H-B (Cibacron Blue F3G-A), Red HE-3B and Red H-3B are able to differentiate between the nucleotide-binding sites of these enzymes. This information has been exploited to design specific elution techniques for the purification of these enzymes by affinity chromatography.     

Activation of the skeletal muscle Ca2+ release channel by the triazine dyes cibacron blue F3A-G and reactive red 120

Vesicle-45Ca2+ ion flux and planar lipid bilayer single-channel measurements have shown that the Ca2+ release channel of skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) is activated by micromolar concentrations of Cibacron Blue F3A-G (Reactive Blue 2) and Reactive Red 120. Cibacron Blue increased the 45Ca2+ efflux rate from heavy SR vesicles by apparently interacting with both the adenine nucleotide and caffeine activating sites of the channel. Dye-induced 45Ca2+ release was inhibited by Mg2+ and ruthenium red. In single channel recordings with the purified channel protein complex, Cibacron Blue increased the open time of the Ca2+ release channel without an apparent change in the conductance of the main and subconductance states of the channel.     

The effect of ligand presaturation on the interaction of serum albumins with an immobilized Cibacron Blue 3G-A studied by affinity gel electrophoresis.

The interaction of the immobilized triazine dye Cibacron Blue 3G-A with rat, rabbit, sheep, goat, bovine and human serum albumins was studied by affinity gel electrophoresis. Dissociation constants were estimated in each instance and showed human serum albumin to have a significantly higher affinity for the dye than did albumin from any other species. Pretreatment of the defatted proteins with bilirubin (3 mol of bilirubin/mol of protein) did not increase the dissociation constants of the serum albumins, whereas pretreatment with palmitate (7 mol of palmitate/mol of protein) increased the dissociation constant in all cases: 3-fold for human serum albumin, 15-fold for other serum albumins. Increasing the bilirubin/albumin ratio (to 7:1) did not affect the dissociation constant of the albumins studied. Decreasing the palmitate/albumin ratio decreased the dissociation constant for human serum albumin, but did not affect those of bovine and rat albumins. Altering the chain length of the presaturating fatty acid dramatically changed the dissociation constant of both human and bovine serum albumins. Butyrate, hexanoate, octanoate and decanoate did not significantly influence the dissociation constants of bovine and human serum albumins for Cibacron Blue, whereas laurate, myristate and palmitate greatly increased the dissociation constant. These data are discussed in relationship to the behaviour of albumins during dye--agarose column chromatography. In Addendum the effect of nucleotide presaturation on the interaction between Bacillus stearothermophilus 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and the immobilized triazine dyes Cibacron Blue 3G-A and Procion Red HE-3B was examined, and the implications for dye--ligand chromatography are discussed.     

Specific inhibition of L-type pyruvate kinase by the triazine dye Procion Blue MX-R.

Incubation of the triazine dye Procion Blue MX-R with L- and M-type pyruvate kinase resulted in rapid time- and dye-concentration-dependent loss of activity. L-type pyruvate kinase was protected only by a low concentration of Mg2+; this was not the case with the M-type enzyme. Modification of the L-type form resulted in the incorporation of 1.54 +/- 0.057 mol of dye/mol of enzyme subunit in the absence of Mg2+, but only 0.73 +/- 0.024 mol of dye/mol of enzyme subunit in the presence of Mg2+. Tryptic peptide mapping of L-type pyruvate kinase modified in the presence and in the absence of Mg2+ further indicated that there were two sites modified in the enzyme, one of which was protected by Mg2+. The pKa of the nucleophile involved in the modification was calculated to be 7.1, implicating the possible involvement of a histidine residue. L-type enzyme was bound to Sepharose-immobilized Procion Blue MX-R specifically in the presence of Mg2+, whereas binding of the M-type enzyme was Mg2+-independent. The specific interaction of L-type pyruvate kinase with the dye was exploited in the large-scale purification of the enzyme and in the isolation of the phosphorylated enzyme.     

A chlorophyll b-less mutant of Chlamydomonas reinhardii lacking in the light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b-protein complex but not in its apoproteins

The mutant pg 113, derived from Chlamydomonas reinhardii, arg₂⁻ mt⁺ (parent strain), completely lacks chlorophyll (Chl) b but is still able to grow under autotrophic conditions. The light-harvesting Chl a/b-protein complex (LHCP) is absent. This is shown (a) by the lack of the corresponding signal in the CD spectrum of thylakoids and (b) by the absence of the band of the LHCP after electrophoresis of partially solubilized thylakoid membranes on lithium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels. All the other chlorophyll-protein complexes are present. In spite of the absence of the LHCP, all the polypeptide components of this complex are present in the mutant in the same ratios as in the parent strain, although in slightly reduced amounts. The LHC apoproteins are synthesized, processed and transported into the thylakoid membrane of the mutant. Moreover, the phosphorylation of thylakoid membrane polypeptides, which is related to the regulation of the energy distribution between Photosystem I and II, is the same in the mutant and in the parent strain, indicating that phosphorylation is not dependent on the presence of Chl b. Electron micrographs of thin sections of whole cells show that there are stacked regions of thylakoids in both the mutant and the parent strain chloroplasts. However, in the mutant, stacks are located near the chloroplast envelope, while long stretches or sometimes circles of unstacked membranes are found in the interior, mostly around the pyrenoid.     

Novel cationic triazine dyes for protein purification

The effectiveness of a new immobilized cationic triazine dye was investigated alongside two new amphoteric triazine dyes and two well known anionic triazine dyes, Procion Red H-3B and Procion Blue H-B, as chromatographic media for binding four familiar proteases-trypsin, chymotrypsin, thrombin and carboxypeptidase-B-as well as a typical oxidoreductase, lactate dehydrogenase, and human serum albumin. The new affinity adsorbent, CL-Sepharose-immobilized Cationic Dye, specifically binds trypsin-like proteases such as trypsin, thrombin, and carboxypeptidase-B, but none of the other proteins tested. In contrast, the amphoteric and anionic immobilized dyes bind all the other proteins tested in a similar fashion. The specificity of the cationic dye was exploited in the resolution of trypsin and chymotrypsin from a crude activated bovine pancreatic extract. The procedure described here affords trypsin with specific activity of 7400 units/mg with a 79% overall yield in a single step. The immobilized cationic dye, unlike previously reported adsorbents for trypsin, is inexpensive, readily synthesized, and displays a workable capacity of 4000 trypsin units or 0.55 mg protein/g moist weight gel (1.2 mumol dye/g moist weight gel) from a crude bovine pancreatic extract and, thus, is potentially amenable to process-scale operations.     

Interaction of Cibacron Blue F3G-A and Procion Red HE-3B with sheep liver 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase

Cibacron Blue F3G-A, a probe used to monitor nucleotide binding domains in enzymes, inhibited sheep liver 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase competitively with respect to 5-methyltetrahydrofolate and NADPH. TheK _i values obtained by kinetic methods and theK _d value for the binding of the dye to the enzyme estimated by protein fluorescence quenching were in the range 0.9–1.2 μM. Another triazine dye, Procion Red HE-3B interacted with the enzyme in an essentially similar manner to that observed with Cibacron Blue F3G-A. These results as well as the interaction of the dye with the enzyme monitored by difference spectroscopy and intrinsic protein fluorescence quenching methods indicated that the dye was probably interacting at the active site of the enzyme by binding at a hydrophobic region.     

Stimulation of bovine sperm motility and respiration by the triazine dye cibacron blue F3GA

Bovine sperm motility and respiration were stimulated by the triazine dye Cibacron Blue F3GA (CB), which may operate as a nucleotide mimic. CB stimulation of respiration was half-maximal at about 35 μM and respiration reached maximal levels about 1.5 minutes after CB addition. Respiratory stimulation was preceded by a transient increase in cytosolic cAMP. Sperm cAMP titers were elevated from 5 to 10 pmoles/10⁸ cells within 30 seconds of CB addition, but rapidly dropped to a stable level of about 7.5 pmoles/10⁸ cells. CB was a potent inhibitor of sperm membrane adenylyl cyclase and inhibited respiration in permeabilized cells. Taken together, the data indicated that CB stimulation was not manifested via the cytosol. In addition, a nonpermeant blue dextran preparation synthesized with CB also stimulated sperm respiration and motility. CB inhibited sperm membrane phosphodiesterase activity, suggesting that the transient pulse of cAMP resulted from CB interaction with this enzyme in the sperm membrane. © 1995 wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Development of the magnetic beads for dye ligand affinity chromatography and application to magnetically stabilized fluidized bed system

Magnetic poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate) [mPHEMA] beads were prepared by suspension polymerization of HEMA in the presence of Fe₃O₄ nano-powder. Cibacron Blue F3GA was covalently immobilized to the mPHEMA beads via nucleophilic substitution reaction between chloride of its triazine ring and hydroxyl groups of HEMA under alkaline conditions. The mPHEMA/Cibacron Blue F3GA beads (100–140 μm in diameter) carrying 68.3 μmol Cibacron Blue F3GA per gram polymer were used for β-casein adsorption studies. Adsorption studies were performed under different conditions in a batch system (i.e., pH, β-casein initial concentration, temperature, and ionic strength) and then in a magnetically stabilized fluidized bed (MSFB) system. The swelling ratio of the mPHEMA was 62.1%. The maximum adsorption capacity for batch system was 20.2% lower as compared to the value obtained in MSFB. The mPHEMA/Cibacron Blue F3GA beads could be repeatedly applied for β-casein adsorption without significant losses in the adsorption capacity.     

New sorbent for bilirubin removal from human plasma: Cibacron Blue F3GA-immobilized poly(EGDMA–HEMA) microbeads

Cibacron Blue F3GA-immobilized poly(EGDMA–HEMA) microbeads were investigated as a specific sorbent for bilirubin removal from human plasma. The poly(EGDMA–HEMA) microbeads were prepared by a modified suspension copolymerization technique. Cibacron Blue F3GA was covalently coupled to the poly(EGDMA–HEMA) microbeads via the nucleophilic reaction between the chloride of its triazine ring and the hydroxyl groups of the HEMA molecule, under alkaline conditions. Bilirubin adsorption was investigated from hyperbilirubinemic human plasma on the poly(EGDMA–HEMA) microbeads containing different amounts of immobilized Cibacron Blue F3GA, (between 5.0–16.5 μmol/g). The non-specific bilirubin adsorption on the unmodified poly(EGDMA–HEMA) microbeads were 0.32 mg/g from human plasma. Higher bilirubin adsorption values, up to 14.8 mg/g, were obtained with the Cibacron Blue F3GA-immobilized microbeads. Bilirubin molecules interacted with these sorbents directly. Contribution of albumin adsorption on the bilirubin adsorption was pronounced. Bilirubin adsorption increased with increasing temperature.     

Inhibition of NAD(P)H:(quinone-acceptor) oxidoreductase by cibacron blue and related anthraquinone dyes: a structure-activity study.

Cibacron Blue, a widely used ligand for affinity chromatography, is a potent inhibitor of NAD(P)H:(quinone-acceptor) oxidoreductase (EC 1.6.99.2) (quinone reductase). This property has been exploited to purify quinone reductase, to identify its nucleotide-binding site, and to obtain diffraction-grade crystals of this enzyme [Prochaska, H. J. (1988) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 267, 529-538; Ysern, X., & Prochaska, H. J. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 7765-7767]. To define the structural region(s) of the dye responsible for its inhibitory potency, Cibacron Blue was synthesized and the dye, its synthetic intermediates, and some analogues of these intermediates were crystallized as novel trialkylamine or choline salts. These compounds were characterized by proton NMR and mass spectrometry, and their inhibitory potencies were measured. Only two of the four ring systems of the Cibacron Blue molecule are required for potent inhibition. Acid Blue 25 [1-amino-4-(phenylamino)anthraquinone-2-sulfonic acid] is an inhibitor (Ki = 22 nM) almost as potent as Cibacron Blue (Ki = 6.2 nM). However, removal of any of the three substituents on the anthraquinone ring of Acid Blue 25 markedly reduced inhibitory potency. These results are consistent with the proposal that Cibacron Blue is primarily a mimic for the ADP fragment of mono- and dinucleotides. The difference absorption spectrum of the Acid Blue 25-quinone reductase complex was very different from that of the complex with Cibacron Blue. In contrast to other compounds tested, Procion Blue M-3GS, the electrophilic dichlorotriazine precursor of Cibacron Blue, was an irreversible inhibitor of quinone reductase (KD = 16 nM, k3 = 0.03 min-1), and the inactivation was blocked by Cibacron Blue, a monochlorotriazine.     

Cadmium removal from human plasma by Cibacron Blue F3GA and thionein incorporated into polymeric microspheres

Poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate–ethyleneglycoldimethacrylate) [poly(HEMA–EGDMA)] microspheres carrying Cibacron Blue F3GA and/or thionein were prepared and used for the removal of cadmium ions Cd(II) from human plasma. The poly(HEMA–EGDMA) microspheres, in the size range of 150–200 μm in diameter, were produced by a modified suspension copolymerization of HEMA and EGDMA. The reactive triazinyl dye-ligand Cibacron Blue F3GA was then covalently incorporated into the microspheres. The maximum dye incorporation was 16.5 μmol/g. Then, thionein was bound onto the Cibacron Blue F3GA-incorporated microspheres under different conditions. The maximum amount of thionein bound was 14.3 mg/g. The maximum amounts of Cd(II) ions removed from human plasma by poly(HEMA–EGDMA)–Cibacron Blue F3GA and poly(HEMA–EGDMA)–Cibacron Blue F3GA–thionein were of 17.5 mg/g and 38.0 mg/g, respectively. Cd(II) ions could be repeatedly adsorbed and desorbed with both types of microspheres without significant loss in their adsorption capacity.     

Induced circular dichroism as a probe of Cibacron Blue and Congo Red bound to dehydrogenases

We have investigated the circular dichroism induced in Cibacron Blue and Congo Red upon binding to several dehydrogenases to probe the conformation of the bound dyes. The circular dichroism spectra of Congo Red are quite similar when the dye is bound to lactic dehydrogenase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and alcohol dehydrogenase but has bands of opposite sign when bound to cytoplasmic malic dehydrogenase. The circular dichroism spectra of Cibacron Blue bound to these same dehydrogenases are quite different from one another. Since circular dichroism is sensitive to the conformation of bound dye, these differences argue for at least local changes in dye conformation or environment when bound to different dehydrogenases. Congo Red appears to be less sensitive to these effects than Cibacron Blue.