Steric factors involved in the action of glycosidases and galactose oxidase

α-(1→2)-$\text{L}\text{=}$-Fucosidase, β-$\text{D}\text{=}$-galactosidase and galactose oxidase are sterically hindered by certain types of branching in the oligosaccharide chains. 1) β-$\text{D}\text{=}$-Galactosidase will not cleave galactose when the penultimate sugar carries a sialic acid residue as in I. 2) Galactose Oxidase will not oxidize the galactose residue in trisaccharide I but will in II. Moreover, neither galactose nor $\text{N}$-acetylgalactosamine, glycosidically bound as in III, is susceptible to oxidation with galactose oxidase until the α-(1→2) linkage between them is cleaved by $\text{α-}\text{N}\text{-acetylgalactosaminidase}$. 3) α-(1→2)-$\text{L}\text{=}$-Fucosidase action is inhibited by $\text{α-(1→3)-}\text{N}\text{-acetylgalactosaminyl}$ or galactosyl residue, as in III and IV. Removal of the terminal sugars makes the fucosyl residue susceptible to fucosidase action.

     

Mannosyltransfer reactions in rabbit liver microsomes

Rabbit liver microsomes catalyzed mannosyltransfer from GDP-[14C]mannose to free $\text{D}$-mannose resulting in the synthesis of α-1,2-, α-1,3-, and α-1,6-mannosyl-mannose. Whereas formation of α-1,2-mannosyl-mannose was stimulated by the addition of manganese chloride or nickel chloride and was inhibited by EDTA, synthesis of α-1,3-mannosyl-mannose was unaffected by manganese or EDTA and was inhibited by nickel. Formation of α-1,6-mannosyl-mannose appeared to be stimulated by manganese and inhibited by nickel. These results suggest that three different mannosyltransferases were involved in the synthesis of mannosyl-mannose glycosidic linkages in rabbit liver.     

Specificity of gentamicin accumulation by rat renal cortex.

The accumulation of gentamicin by rat renal cortex $\text{in}$$\text{vivo}$ and $\text{in}$$\text{vitro}$ was not inhibited by probenecid, tetraethylammonium, cephalosporins nor α-aminoisobutyric acid, but was significantly blocked by other aminoglycosides (neomycin, tobramycin and kanamycin). The data suggest that specific binding sites for aminoglycosides are present on the surface or in cells of the renal proximal tubule.     

An antiovulatory decapeptide of higher potency which has an L-amino acid (Ac-Pro) in position 1.

Ac-[Pro¹, $\text{D}\text{-}\text{Phe}{}^2$, $\text{D}$-Trp³, $\text{D}$-Trp⁶]-LH-RH completely inhibited ovulation in cycling rats at 200μg/rat and is comparable in activity to the corresponding D-1-analogue. This Ac-Pro¹-analogue is the most potent antiovulatory peptide yet known having an $\text{L}$-amino acid residue in position 1. This result shows that for the design of potent inhibitors of ovulation, a $\text{D}$-amino acid residue is not essential in position 1. The corresponding Ac-$\text{D}$-Pro¹- and Kic¹-analogues completely inhibited ovulation at 750μg/rat, but not at 200μg/rat, and the Cpc¹-analogue was inactive at these dosages.     

The nature of mannose-containing material which accumulates in cultured fibroblasts from patients with mannosidosis

Fibroblasts from a patient with mannosidosis were grown in a medium containing a radioactive monosaccharide (D[U-¹⁴C]mannose or $\text{N-}\text{acetyl}\text{-}\text{D}\text{-[1-14}\text{C}\text{]-}\text{glucosamine}$). An accumulation of radioactive material was observed. It was possible to prevent the accumulation to a certain degree by the addition of human liver α-D-mannosidase to the fibroblast medium. After six days of fibroblast culture the majority of the accumulated material had a molecular weight in the oligosaccharide range and was stationary during high-voltage electropresis. Paper chromatography of the stationary material separated three radioactive compounds with the same chromatographic mobilities as the oligosaccharides $\text{α-}\text{D}\text{-}\text{Man}\text{-(1 → 3)-β-}\text{D}\text{-}\text{Man}\text{-(1 → 4)-}\text{D}\text{-}\text{GlcNAc}\text{(I), α-}\text{D}\text{-}\text{Man}\text{-(1 → 2)- α-}\text{D}\text{-}\text{Man}\text{-(1 → 3)-β-}\text{D}\text{-}\text{Man}\text{-(1 → 4)-}\text{GlcNAc}$ (II), and $\text{α-}\text{D}\text{-}\text{Man}\text{-(1 → 2)-α-}\text{D}\text{-}\text{Man}\text{- (1 → 2)-α-}\text{D}\text{-}\text{Man}\text{-(1 → 3)-β-}\text{D}\text{-}\text{Man}\text{-(1 → 4)-}\text{GlcNAc}$ (III) previously isolated from the urine of patients with mannosidosis. Degradation of the three radioactive compounds with jack bean α-mannosidase gave D-mannose and a disaccharide (containing D-mannose and $\text{N-}\text{acetyl}\text{-}\text{D}\text{-}\text{glucosamine}$). Thus the three main compounds observed in the fibroblast from patients with mannosidosis are most probably identical to the oligosaccharides I–III.     

Comparative analysis of the sequences of the three collagen chains α1(I), α2 and α1(III): Functional and genetic aspects

The amino acid sequences of type I collagen containing α1(I) and α2 chains at a ratio of 2:1, and of type III collagen consisting of α1 (III) chains are known. A statistical analysis of the sequences of these α chains is presented. The inter-chain comparison showed a high level of homology between the three α chains. The interactive amino acids, such as the polar charged and part of the hydrophobic residues responsible for the assembly of the molecules, are strongly conserved. The intra-chain analysis revealed that the α chains are divided into four related D units, each with a length of 234 residues. Between the D units within a chain the polar residues show a higher variability than the hydrophobic amino acids.Besides the D units, other periodicities such as $\text{D}\text{3}$ (78 residues), $\text{D}\text{6}$ (39 residues), $\text{solD}\text{11}$ (21 residues) and $\text{solD}\text{13}$ (18 residues) were observed, particularly in α1 (I) and α1 (III). The D unit is a functional repeat that is formed by the interactive polar charged and hydrophobic residues and which determines the aggregation of the molecules. The $\text{solD}\text{3}$ unit is mainly pronounced by the non-interactive residues such as proline and alanine and appears to be a reminiscence of a primordial gene. The smaller periodic repeating units may be considered as additional genetic units or as structural units, which determine the triplehelical pitch and thus the lateral aggregation of the molecules.In contrast to α1 (I) and α1 (III), the α2 chain shows less regularity in its internal structure.     

Chemical modification of opiate receptors with ethoxyformic anhydride and photo-oxidation: evidence for essential histidyl residues

In the presence of $\text{D}\text{=}$-carnitine significant decarboxylation of 2-oxoglutarate occurs with γ-butyrobetaine hydroxylase (EC 1.14.11.1) both from $\text{Pseudomonas}$ sp AK 1 and from human kidney. No product was formed from carnitine when $\text{D}\text{=}\text{L}\text{=}$-carnitine was incubated with either enzyme but succinate was formed in 1:1 stoichiometry to decarboxylation using $\text{D}\text{=}$-carnitine and the human enzyme. $\text{L}\text{=}$-Carnitine is also an uncoupler for the human enzyme. There is no significant decarboxylation of 2-oxoglutarate in the absence of a substrate, but during normal catalysis in the presence of γ-butyrobetaine the formation of CO₂ from 2-oxoglutarate exceeds carnitine formation with 20% for the human enzyme.     

Thiol reactivity and the molecular individuality of α- and β-adrenoreceptors in rat liver plasma membranes

Whether or not α- and β-adrenoreceptors are non-identical binding sites on the same protein is still an open question. We investigated the effects of sulfhydryl reagents and dithiothreitol on the binding of [³H]dihydroalprenolol and [³H]dihydroergocryptine to β- and α-adrenoreceptors of rat liver plasma membranes. Dithiothreitol inhibited the binding of [³H]dihydroalprenolol to the β-adrenoreceptor, whereas it had no effect on the specific binding of [³H]dihydroergocryptine to the α-adrenoreceptor. In contrast, mersalyl, a mercurial SH reagent, readily blocked the α-adrenoreceptor and, although to a lesser extent, the β-adrenoreceptor. The interaction of mersalyl with the α-adrenoreceptors was almost instantaneous. In contrast, under the same experimental conditions, the inactivation of the β-adrenoreceptors was much slower ($\text{t}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{:7}\text{min}$). Finally, a marked difference in the accessibility of the SH groups to mersalyl was observed between the α- and β-adrenoceptors. The presence of 15 μM (?)-epinephrine or 1.5 μM phentolamine was sufficient to prevent the blockade of the α-adrenoreceptor by mersalyl, but inactivation of the β-adrenoreceptor by mersalyl was not modified by 500 μM (?)-epinephrine and was only slightly decreased by 50 μM (?)-propranolol. Thus, the α- and β-adrenoreceptors from rat liver plasma membranes exhibited biochemical differences which may be interpreted in favor of their molecular individuality.     

Sequence regularities and packing of collagen molecules

Fourier analysis of sequences along edges of the type I collagen molecule constructed from two α1(I) and one α2 chains shows that the molecule is two-sided if the supercoil pitch of the α chains along the molecular axis, P, is 39 residues ($\text{D}\text{6}$, where D = 234 residues or 67 nm). One side has alternating charged and hydrophobic regions with spacings of $\text{D}\text{6}$, while the other side has an excess of hydrophobic residues with a spacing of $\text{D}\text{11}$. These characteristics arise from sequence regularities in the α chains and the geometric relationship between the chains. The pattern is marginally strongest with α2 as chain 1. The $\text{D}\text{6}$ sides could form the inside of a helical microfibril where contacts between molecules would fall P apart along the α chains. The $\text{D}\text{11}$ sides could form the outside of the microfibril where contacts between microfibrils would be spaced apart by the α chain supercoil along the microfibril axis, P′. If the microfibril is a 5₄ helix of D-staggered collagen molecules with a left-handed supercoil of pitch $\text{20D}\text{11}$, P′ is close to $\text{2D}\text{11}$ (43 residues). $\text{2D}\text{11}$ subsets in the α chains give rise to the $\text{D}\text{11}$ spacing along the molecule. The microfibril has 4₁ screw symmetry satisfying X-ray diffraction evidence that microfibrils pack in a tetragonal unit cell.This model is the same as proposed previously by us (Trus & Piez, 1976: Piez & Trus, 1977) except that P = 39 rather than 30 residues. Contrary to our earlier assumption, P = 39 residues is within the range allowed by X-ray diffraction measurements. The present results favor P = 39 since it relates regularities in the α chain sequences to helical parameters in a direct way. Furthermore, model studies show that geometric arguments which support P = 30 are equally strong at P = 39 residues.     

Accumulation of α- and β-globin messenger RNAs in mouse erythroleukemia cells

The accumulation of α- and β-globin mRNA sequences in murine erythroleukemia cells (MELC) treated with various inducers has been studied using specific α- and β-globin complementary DNAs (cDNAs). In cells cultured with dimethylsulfoxide (Me₂SO), hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA) or butyric acid, accumulation of α-globin mRNA is detectable after 16, 12 and 8 hr of culture, respectively. An increase in β-globin mRNA sequences is not detected until 20–24 hr after culture. In cells exposed to hemin, both α- and β-globin mRNAs are detectable by 6 hr of culture, and a constant ratio of $\text{α}\text{β}\text{-}\text{mRNA}$ is maintained during induction. In maximally induced cells, the $\text{α}\text{β}\text{-}\text{globin}$ mRNA ratios are approximately 1 in cells induced by Me₂SO and HMBA, and 0.66 and 0.3–0.50 in cells induced by butyric acid and hemin, respectively. Thus different inducers of erythroid differentiation in MELC lead to different times of onset of the expression of α- and β-like genes. In addition, the relative accumulation of α- and β-globin mRNAs in induced cells differs with various types of inducers.     

Structural studies on the extracellular polysaccharide of the red alga, Porphyridium cruentum

Partial acid hydrolyzates of the extracellular polysaccharide from Porphyridiunm cruentum yield three disaccharides and two uronic acids. These constitute all of the uronic acid in the polymer. The novel disaccharides are 3-O-(α-$\text{D}$-glucopyranosyl- uronic acid)-$\text{L}$-galactose, 3-O-(2-O-methyl-ca-glucopyranosyluronic acid)-$\text{D}$- galactose, and 3-0-(2-0-methyl-a-$\text{D}$-glucopyranosyluronic acid)-$\text{D}$-glucose. The polyanion of high molecular weight contains $\text{D}$- and $\text{L}$-galactose, xylose, $\text{D}$-glucose, $\text{D}$-glucuronic acid and 2-O-methyl-D-glucuronic acid, and sulfate in molar ratio (relative to $\text{D}$-glucose) of 2.12:2.42:1.00:1.22:2.61. Preliminary periodate-oxidation studies suggest that the hexose and uronic acids are joined to other residues by ( 1→3) glycosidic linkages. About one-half of the xylose residues are (1→3)-linked.     

Solvent and substrate deuterium isotope effects on a transamination reaction catalyzed by pig heart aspartate aminotransferase.

Transamination of erythro-β-hydroxy-l-aspartate catalyzed by pig heart aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1) was studied with both normal and α-deuterated substrate in $\text{H}{}_2\text{O}\text{D}{}_2\text{O}$. The overall transamination reaction, with α-ketoglutarate as amino group acceptor, showed no primary substrate isotope effect. However, one of the elementary reactions between two enzyme-substrate complexes was found to exhibit large primary isotope effects in both the forward and the reverse directions. This same reaction also showed a twofold solvent isotope effect in the reverse direction, but D₂O had only a negligible effect in the forward direction. These data were interpreted to indicate that the substrate α-hydrogen arises from a Bronsted acid with two equivalent hydrogens. Another elementary reaction, which is 100-fold slower, was also studied since it appeared to be one of the principal rate-determining steps in the overall reaction. This step was not affected by substrate deuteration but exhibited large solvent isotope effects in both directions.     

Somatostatin analogs which inhibit glucagon and growth hormone more than insulin release

Three analogs of somatostatin, [$\text{D}$-Cys¹⁴] -, [Ala², $\text{D}$-Cys¹⁴] - and [$\text{D}$-Trp⁸, $\text{D}$-Cys¹⁴] - somatostatin, were synthesized by the solid phase method, characterized by several means, and tested for their effects on the release of insulin, glucagon, and growth hormone. The peptides sharply suppressed the release of growth hormone $\text{in vitro}$ and glucagon $\text{in vivo}$, but had less effect on insulin secretion $\text{in vivo}$. These analogs, particularly [$\text{D}$-Trp⁸, $\text{D}$-Cys¹⁴] - somatostatin, could possibly be useful for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.     

Effect of aphidicolin on viral and human DNA polymerases.

DNA polymerases induced by Herpes simplex and Vaccinia viruses are inhibited by aphidicolin and this inhibition is probably the basis of its antiviral activity $\text{in vivo}$. Its possible clinical use is however hampered by the concomitant effect on human replicative DNA polymerase α. The inhibition of human α-polymerase is reversible both $\text{in}$$\text{vitro}$ and $\text{in vivo}$ and the changes in the rate of incorporation of thymidine into DNA, following treatment with aphidicolin for a generation time, indicate the likely synchronization of the cells due to this agent. DNA polymerase β, which has recently been shown to carry out repair synthesis of damaged nuclear DNA, is not inhibited by aphidicolin either $\text{in vitro}$ on $\text{in vivo}$ suggesting that the drug could allow a rapid and simple evaluation of DNA repair synthesis due to DNA polymerase β.     

Differentiation by cholinergic stimulation of positive inotropic actions mediated via alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors in the rabbit heart.

In the isolated rabbit papillary muscle, experiments were carried out in order to elucidate whether or not cholinergic stimulation produces a differential antagonistic action on the positive inotropic effects mediated $\text{via}$ β- and α-adrenoceptor stimulation. Carbachol (0.1–30 μM) alone scarcely affected the basal tension developed. The postive inotropic effects of phenylephrine (30 μM) in the presence of phentolamine and of isoprenaline, which were mediated $\text{via}$ β-adrenoceptors, were markedly inhibited by carbachol. Carbachol (3 μM) shifted the dose-response curve for isoprenaline in a parallel manner, and that for phenylephrine with phentolamine to the right and downwards. Carbachol administered during induction of the positive inotropic effects $\text{via}$ α-adrenoceptors by phenylephrine (30 μM) with pindolol or by methoxamine failed to inhibit these effects and increased further the tension developed. The dose-response curve for phenylephrine determined in the presence of pindolol was not affected by carbachol. The present results indicate that the cholinergic antagonism of the adrenergic action on the contractility of the mammalian ventricular myocardium is exerted specifically to the β-adrenoceptor-mediated action, but not to the α-adrenoceptor-mediated one.     

Atropine lowers blood pressure in normotensive rats through blockade of α-adrenergic receptors

Atropine sulfate elicited a dose-dependent decrease in blood pressure in normotensive rats at doses higher than needed to cause muscarinic blockade. This hypotensive effect was not altered by pretreatment with ganglionic or β-adrenergic blockers, but was fully abolished by α-adrenergic blockers. In addition, atropine inhibited the pressor response to α-agonists in a dose-dependent manner. The time course for hypotension and α-blockade were the same (onset < 1 minute; duration < 20 minutes). $\text{In vitro}$, atropine was found to be 200 times more potent in displacing the α₁-adrenergic receptor ligand ([³H] WB-4101) than the α₂-ligand ([³H] clonidine). Thus the observed hypotensive effect is apparently due to α-blockade as demonstrated $\text{in vivo}$ and $\text{in vitro}$.     

Interactions of lectins with (Na+ + K+)-ATPase of eel electric organ

Interaction of lectins with a detergent-solubilized ATPase from eel electric organ was studied. Concanavalin A, which binds to α-mannosides, altered the rate of enzyme migration in agar and inhibited the formation of an antigen-antibody precipitate; other lectins had no such effects. Concanavalin A similar amounts partially inhibited $\text{(Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-ATPase}$; this inhibition was reversible by α-methylglucoside. There was no corresponding effect of concanavalin A on the potassium $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenyl-phosphatase}$. Concanavalin A also did not interfere with ouabain binding. Thus, concanavalin A binds to an antigenic region also involved in Na⁺ and/or ATP binding, but does not interact with a K⁺ site.     

Cytotoxicity of pyocin S2 to tumor and normal cells and its interaction with cell surfaces

Cytotoxicity and adsorption of pyocin S2 produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa M47 (PAO 3047) to virally transformed mammalian cells, human malignant cells and normal cells in the same species were studied. Pyocin S2 inhibited the growth of not only tumor cells (XC, TSV-5, mKS-A TU-7, HeLa-S3 and AS-II cells) but also normal cells (BALB/3T3 and BHK 21 cells). The inhibitory effects on the cells increased with an increase of pyocin S2 activity. On the other hand, there were some tumor cells (155-4 T2 and HGC-27 cells) and normal cells (normal rat kidney and human embryo lung cells) which were resistant to pyocin S2. The pyosin S2 activity was neutralized by the cell membrane preparations from pyosin S2-sensitive cells, but not by those from pyocin-resistant cells. This neutralization ability was inhibited by high concentrations of D-galactose, $\text{N-}\text{acetyl-}\text{D}\text{-galactosamine and}\text{N-}\text{acetyl}$ neuraminic acid and completely destroyed by periodate and neuraminidase. The inhibition by the saccharides was concentration dependent. These results suggest that the toxicity of pyocin S2 to several mammalian cells is due to the presence of the binding site for pyocin S2 in the cell membrane and further, that the carbohydrate moiety, especially of D-galactose, $\text{N-}\text{acetyl-}\text{D}\text{-galactosamine}$ and sialic acid, may play an important role as an initial binding site for pyocin S2.     

Enzymatic cyclization of neryl pyrophosphate to -terpineol by cell-free extracts from peppermint

A cell-free system prepared from peppermint ($\text{Mentha piperita}$ L.) shoot tips catalyzed the cyclization of neryl pyrophosphate to α-terpineol. Cyclization could be demonstrated in the absence of added cofactors, but addition of NaF inhibited competing phosphatase/pyrophosphatase activity, resulting in much higher levels of α-terpineol formation. Under certain conditions cyclization was stimulated by Mg⁺⁺. Similar enzyme preparations were obtained from spearmint ($\text{Mentha spicata}$ L.) leaves and carrot ($\text{Daucus carota}$ L.) storage organ. The cyclization of neryl pyrophosphate to α-terpineol appears to be a key reaction in the biosynthesis of cyclohexanoid monoterpenes.