Interactions of native and modified human low density lipoproteins with human skin fibroblasts.

125I-labeled low density lipoprotein (LDL) covalently bonded to Sepharose beads was not degraded by normal human fibroblasts nor did it trigger inhibition of sterol synthesis. The Sepharose beads loaded with LDL bound very tightly to the surface both of normal fibroblasts and fibroblasts from a subject with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia; control Sepharose beads (activated sites covered with glycine) did not adhere to either cell type. LDL was extracted by a modification of the method of Gustafson (Gustafson, A. (1965) J. Lipid Res. 6, 512-517), so as to remove essentially all cholesterol, cholesterol ester and triglyceride. This modified LDL was bound, internalized and degraded as well as or better than native LDL. However, it failed to suppress sterol synthesis. These results provide additional evidence that the sterol moiety of the LDL is the key component affecting sterol synthesis. They also imply that the neutral lipids of LDL play a minor role in the binding of LDL to cell membranes and that the apoprotein rather than molecular size and shape is the critical factor.     

Affinity labeling of a subsite of Taka-amylase A by the fluorescent reagent o-phthalaldehyde

A cross-linked modification of Lys residue located at the subsite of the enzyme active site of Taka-amylase A was attained by the use of the fluorescent reagent of o-phthalaldehyde (OPA). The fluorescence and uv absorption at 337 nm derived from the isoindole ring, which was produced by cross-linking through the epsilon-amino group of Lys and the thiol group of the Cys residue, provided the evidence for the OPA-mediated inactivation of Taka-amylase A. Kinetic analysis showed that 1 mol of OPA per mole of enzyme was incorporated, which corresponded closely with the value obtained by the uv absorption. Because the OPA inactivation was retarded by the substrate analog of alpha-cyclodextrin, OPA modification was classified as a type of affinity labeling reaction. A remarkable increase in the pI value from 4.0 to 5.6 upon the modification led to clear separation of the modified enzyme from the native Taka-amylase A by a DEAE-Sephacel column and led to the charge isomer pattern on gel electrophoresis performed according to the method of Hedrick and Smith. Moreover, the affinity gel electrophoresis showed that the modified enzyme completely lost the affinity for the substrate soluble starch, which indicated that the subsite modification occurred.     

Molecular weights of apoprotein B obtained from human low-density lipoprotein (apoprotein B-PI) and from rat very low density lipoprotein (apoprotein B-PIII)

Human low-density lipoproteins (LDL) were isolated from single donors by differential centrifugation between densities of 1.020 and 1.050 g/mL. The LDL were reduced and alkylated in 7 M guanidine hydrochloride, and the lipid was removed by multiple extractions in the cold with a mixture of diethyl ether and ethanol. Sedimentation studies on the resultant human apoprotein B (apoprotein B-PI) at low concentrations in 6.00 M guanidine hydrochloride showed a single sharp boundary with a sedimentation coefficient of 2.15 +/- 0.04 S at 25 degrees C, uncorrected for viscosity or density. Diffusion experiments performed in the same solvent at low speeds in the analytical ultracentrifuge gave a D25 = 0.694 +/- 0.043 Fick. Combining these values with an apparent specific volume of 0.703 mL/g yielded a molecular weight of 387 000, indistinguishable from that obtained by sedimentation equilibrium analysis in 7 M guanidine hydrochloride. Similar values were also obtained by calibrated sedimentation analysis, by Sepharose 2B chromatography in guanidine hydrochloride, and by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Rat very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), isolated from sera of Triton WR1339 treated animals, were used as the source of rat apoprotein B-PIII. The delipidated VLDL were solubilized in sodium dodecyl sulfate, and apoprotein B-PIII was isolated by Sepharose 4B chromatography. With appropriate corrections for density and viscosity, the behavior of rat apoprotein B-PIII was identical, upon analytical ultracentrifugation, in 6 and 7.7 M guanidine hydrochloride, corresponding to sedimentation and diffusion coefficients of 1.47 S and 0.92 Fick, respectively, in 6 M guanidine hydrochloride. These data may be combined to yield a molecular weight of 210 000. Similar values were obtained by calibrated sedimentation analysis, by Sepharose 2B chromatography in guanidine hydrochloride, and by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate.     

Modification of subsite Lys residue induced a large increase in maltosidase activity of Taka-amylase A.

A cross-linked modification of Taka-amylase A (TAA) by o-phthalaldehyde gave two enzymes, M1- and M2-TAA, which had optimum pH lower than that of native TAA by 0.5 to 1.0 pH units. The modified enzymes showed higher maltosidase activity, and produced glucose even at the initial period of hydrolysis, in contrast to the native TAA. The modification caused more than a 500-fold decrease in the k0 value of native TAA for alpha-amylase activity, but a definite increase in k0 value of 109. 1 min-1 (native TAA) to 460.0 min-1 (M1-TAA) and 147.1 min-1 (M2-TAA) for maltotriose was evidence for improvement of maltosidase activity of modified enzymes.     

Analysis of N-linked oligosaccharide chains of glycoproteins on nitrocellulose sheets using lectin-peroxidase reagents

A rapid and convenient method was established for analysis of the N-linked carbohydrate chains of glycoproteins on nitrocellulose sheets. Proteins were separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, transferred to nitrocellulose sheets, reacted with peroxidase-coupled lectins, and detected by color development of the enzyme reaction. Four glycoproteins having N-linked oligosaccharide chains were used as test materials: Taka-amylase A (which has a high-mannose-type chain), ovalbumin (high-mannose-type chains and hybrid-type chains), transferrin (biantennary chains of complex type), and fetuin (triantennary chains of complex type and O-linked-type chains). Concanavalin A interacted with Taka-amylase A, transferrin, and ovalbumin but barely interacted with fetuin. After treatment of the glycoproteins on a nitrocellulose sheet with endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H, transferrin reacted with concanavalin A but Taka-amylase A and ovalbumin did not. Wheat germ agglutinin interacted with Taka-amylase A but not ovalbumin; therefore, they were distinguishable from each other. Fetuin and transferrin were detected by Ricinus communis agglutinin or peanut agglutinin after removal of sialic acid by treatment with neuraminidase or by weak-acid hydrolysis. Erythroagglutinating Phaseolus vulgaris agglutinin detected fetuin and transferrin. Thus, the combined use of these procedures distinguished the four different types of N-linked glycoproteins. This method was also applied to the analysis of membrane glycoproteins from sheep red blood cells. The terminally positioned sugars of sialic acid, alpha-fucose, alpha-galactose, and alpha-N-acetylgalactosamine were also detected with lectins from Limulus polyphemus, Lotus tetragonolobus, Maclura pomifera, and Dolichos biflorus, respectively.     

HDL-induced cardiac prostacyclin synthesis: relative contribution of HDL apoprotein and lipid

The objective of this study was to determine if the apoprotein or lipid constituents of high density lipoproteins (HDL) mediate HDL-induced prostacyclin synthesis in the Langendorff-perfused rabbit heart. Acetylation, acetoacetylation, or partial removal by trypsin digestion of HDL apoprotein did not reduce the ability of the lipoprotein to stimulate cardiac prostacyclin synthesis. Delipidated apoproteins were less effective in stimulating cardiac prostacyclin synthesis in comparison to intact HDL. In contrast, protein-free lipid vesicles, made from HDL lipids, caused a pronounced stimulation of cardiac prostacyclin synthesis. These results suggest that HDL apoproteins, in their native state, are not essential for HDL-induced cardiac prostacyclin synthesis. The stimulation of cardiac prostacyclin synthesis by HDL may depend on the lipoprotein's lipid rather than on its apoprotein constituents.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of an alpha-amylase from Pichia burtonii 15-1

An alpha-amylase secreted by Pichia burtonii 15-1 isolated from a traditional starter murcha of Nepal, named Pichia burtonii alpha-amylase (PBA), was studied. The gene was cloned and its nucleotide sequence was determined. PBA was deduced to consist of 494 amino acid residues. It shared certain degrees of amino acid sequence identity with other homologous proteins: 60% with Schwanniomyces occidentalis alpha-amylase, 58% with Saccharomycopsis sp. alpha-amylase, and 47% with Taka-amylase A from Aspergillus oryzae. A three-dimensional structural model of PBA generated using the known three-dimensional structure of Taka-amylase A as a template suggested high structural similarity between them. Kinetic analysis revealed that the K(m) values of PBA were lower than those of Taka-amylase A for the oligosaccharides. Although the k(cat) values of PBA were lower than those of Taka-amylase A for the oligosaccharide substrates, the k(cat)/K(m) values of PBA were higher.     

Cloning and expression of the bioluminescent photoprotein pholasin from the bivalve mollusc Pholas dactylus

Pholasin is the photoprotein responsible for luminescence in the bivalve Pholas dactylus and consists of a luciferin tightly bound to a glycosylated protein. It is a sensitive indicator of reactive oxygen species. A full-length clone encoding apopholasin was isolated from a P. dactylus light organ cDNA library. The unprocessed apoprotein contained 225 amino acids, starting with a signal peptide of 20 amino acids, 3 predicted N-linked glycosylation sites, 1 O-linked site, no histidines, and 7 cysteines. The recombinant apoprotein was expressed in cell extracts and insect cells. The size of the apoprotein expressed in cell extracts and the cytosol of insect cells was 26 kDa but that of the fully processed protein was 34 kDa, as was native pholasin. Both the processed and unprocessed recombinant apoproteins were recognized by a polyclonal antibody raised against native pholasin. Acid methanol extracts from Pholas added to recombinant apoprotein resulted in chemiluminescence triggered by sodium hypochlorite but not photoprotein formation. These results have important implications in understanding the molecular evolution of bioluminescence and will allow the development of recombinant pholasin as an intracellular indicator of reactive oxygen species.     

Resolution and reconstitution of spinach ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase

The apoprotein from spinach ferredoxin-NADP⁺ reductase was prepared by treatment with 3 M calcium chloride. This procedure caused complete removal of the FAD prosthetic group together with considerable denaturation of the apoprotein. Thus, the recovery of total activity upon reconstitution with FAD was only 30%. More importantly, however, both transhydrogenase and diaphorase activities were 70% of that native enzyme based on bound flavin. The visible spectrum and properties of the reconstituted reductase were undiscernible from those of the native protein.     

Turnover of catalase heme and apoprotein moieties in cotyledons of sunflower seedlings

The turnover of catalase apoprotein and catalase heme was studied in cotyledons of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) seedlings by density labeling of apoprotein and radioactive labeling of heme moieties. The heavy isotope (50% ²H₂O) and the radioactive isotope ([¹⁴C]5-aminolevulinic acid) were applied either during growth in the dark (day 0-2.5) or in the light (day 2.5 and 5). Following isopycnic centrifugation of catalase purified from cotyledons of 5-day-old seedlings, superimposition curve fitting was used to determine the amounts of radioactive heme moieties in native and density-labeled catalase. Data from these determinations indicated that turnover of catalase heme and apoprotein essentially was coordinate. Only small amounts of heme groups were recycled into newly synthesized apoprotein during growth in the light, and no evidence was found for an exchange of heme groups in apoprotein moieties. It followed from these observations that degradation of catalase apoprotein was slightly faster than that of catalase heme. A degradation constant for catalase apoprotein of 0.263 per day was determined from the data on heme recycling and the degradation constant of catalase heme determined previously to be 0.205 per day (R Eising, B Gerhardt [1987] Plant Physiol 84: 225-232).     

Effect of antibody on interaction between vitamin B2 and riboflavin apoprotein.

1. Dissociation of riboflavin from flavoprotein and from the flavoprotein-antibody complex occurs under the same conditions. 2. The precipitated apoprotein-antibody complex retains 15% of the apoprotein capacity to bind riboflavin. After solubilization of the complex in 0.3 M-KCl or 1 M-urea, the binding of riboflavin amounts to 80 - 90% of its capacity. 3. The apoprotein modified by oxidation of 50% of tryptophan residues loses the ability to bind riboflavin but its immunological reactivity with the anti-flavoprotein antibody is similar to that of native apoprotein. The apoprotein with all tryptophan residues oxidized shows much lower immunoreactivity. 4. The obtained results suggest that in riboflavin flavoprotein the region around the riboflavin-binding site does not show the properties of an antigenic determinant.     

Evidence that cleavage of the precursor enzyme by autocatalysis caused secretion of multiple amylases by Aspergillus niger

The observation that a mutant strain of Aspergillus niger isolated for protease overproduction accumulated Taka-amylase supported an earlier report that processing of the precursor amylase by protease resulted in the secretion of multiple amylases. Studies using a mutant strain revealed that such processing was not due to aspergillopepsin but to autocatalysis by an inherent protease activity of the precursor and glucoamylase. Alignment of protease sequences with glucoamylase showed regions of consensus with serine carboxypeptidase of A. niger. Thus point mutations in this region due to ultraviolet radiation apparently caused the mutant to evolve with enhanced protease activity that degraded the precursor and accumulated Taka-amylase.     

Fluorescence depolarization studies and phase transition in human apoprotein . phospholipid complexes.

The microviscosity of unilamellar vesicles of dimyristoyl-3-sn-phosphatidylcholine and that of phosphatidylcholine . apoprotein complexes was followed by fluorescence depolarization after labeling with 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene. The transition temperature from gel-crystalline to liquid-crystalline phase in 24 degrees C for the dimyristoyl-phosphatidylcholine vesicles and is shifted to around 30 degrees C in the complexes between phosphatidylcholine and apoA-I, apoA-II, apoC-I, apoC-III proteins while the cooperativity of the transition is decreased. At temperatures below the transition of the phospholipid, the microviscosity of the complexes of phosphatidylcholine with apoA-I, apoA-II and apoC-I proteins is lower than that of the phosphatidylcholine, while the opposite effect is observed above 30 degrees C. The phosphatidylcholine . apoprotein complexes isolated on a Sepharose 6B column have a molecular weight around 100 000 and a phosphatidylcholine/apoprotein ratio of 2--2.6 (w/w). The microviscosity measurments at 35 degrees C performed after elution of the column enable the complex to be detected. The size and microviscosity of the apoprotein . phosphatidylcholine complex is compatible with a model where the vesicular structure has disappeared and the amino acid side chains present hydrophobic interaction with the phosphatidylcholine acyl chains.     

Pseudo-native motifs in the noncovalent heme-apocytochrome c complex. Evidence from antibody binding studies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and microcalorimetry.

When beef heart apocytochrome c is unfolded, it folds upon noncovalent heme binding (Dumont, M. E., Corin, A. F., and Campbell, G.A. (1994) Biochemistry, 33, 7368-7378). Here, the conformation of the heme-apocytochrome noncovalent complex is compared with that of holocytochrome c. A purification method was designed for obtaining in large amounts apocytochrome c that was shown by amino acid analysis and mass spectroscopy to be chemically intact. The apoprotein and its noncovalent complex were characterized by absorption, fluorescence, circular dichroism, and sedimentation velocity, confirming previous reports. Sedimentation-diffusion equilibrium showed that the apoprotein and its noncovalent complex with heme were monomeric. Surprisingly, whereas apocytochrome c was quite soluble, the noncovalent complex slowly formed heavy aggregates, thus precluding experiments at the concentrations needed for structural studies. Two monoclonal antibodies that bind strongly to distinct antigenic sites on native holocytochrome were used to probe the noncovalent complex conformation. For both antibodies, the affinity for the noncovalent complex was only about 5-10-fold smaller than that for native holocytochrome c, and about 50-100-fold larger than that for apocytochrome c. These results indicate that the noncovalent complex, although not entirely native, carries some pseudo-native structural motifs.     

Phospholipid binding and self-association of the major apoprotein of human and baboon high-density lipoproteins.

The purpose of this study was to establish a relationship between self-association and phospholipid binding of the human and the baboon apoA-I protein. The enthalpy changes on binding dimyristoyl lecithin and lysolecithin to either the human or the baboon native apoA-I protein were measured in a microcalorimeter. An endothermal process, most pronounced for the human apoprotein, was observed at low phospholipid levels. At higher phospholipid to protein ratios the binding was exothermal. Gel filtration experiments on Sephadex G-200 showed that the native apoprotein of both species consists of dimers and tetramers. The baboon native apoA-I protein contained a higher amount of dimers. After preincubation of the apoA-I protein with lysolecithin, the enthalpy changes measured on subsequent binding of dimyristoyl lecithin were shifted towards more exothermal values compared to the curve for the native apoprotein. The amplitude of this shift corresponds to that of the endothermal process observed on binding dimyristoyl lecithin to the native apoprotein. This process was attributed to a phospholipid-induced disaggregation of the apoA-I protein. Gel filtration data showed a decreased extent of aggregation in the apoA-I protein preincubated with lysolecithin. This sample consisted exclusively of dimers. Ultracentrifugal flotation of the complexes formed between the apoA-I protein, and respectively dimyristoyl lecithin and sphingomyelin indicated that preincubation with lysolecithin increased the extent of complex formation. These results suggest that the dimeric form of the apoA-I protein possesses the highest affinity for phospholipids. Any dissociation of higher polymers enhances the phospholipid-binding capacity of the human and the baboon apoA-I protein.     

Studies on heterogeneity of Taka-amylase A: isolation of an amylase having one N-acetylglucosamine residue as the sugar chain

Crystalline Taka-amylase A, prepared from Takadiastase, was fractionated into four fractions by DEAE-Sephacel and Concanavalin A-Sepharose column chromatography. The relative weight ratio of the fractions was 90 : 4 : 4 : 2. They had similar molecular weights (51,000), amino acid compositions, and hydrolytic activity against soluble starch, but different phenyl maltosidase activities and electrophoretic mobilities on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Three of the fractions mainly had the high mannose type sugar chain with the sugar composition of Man5-GlcNAc2, but the other fraction had only one N-acetylglucosamine residue as the sugar chain. These results suggested that Taka-amylase A was heterogeneous both in the sugar portions and in the polypeptide portions.     

Synthesis of a Diastereomeric Mixture of 15, 19, 23-Trimethylheptatriacontane,the Most Active Component of the Sex Pheromone of the Female Tsetse Fly,Glossina morsitans morsitans

An α-amylase secreted by Pichia burtonii 15-1 isolated from a traditional starter murcha of Nepal, named Pichia burtonii α-amylase (PBA), was studied. The gene was cloned and its nucleotide sequence was determined. PBA was deduced to consist of 494 amino acid residues. It shared certain degrees of amino acid sequence identity with other homologous proteins: 60% with Schwanniomyces occidentalis α-amylase, 58% with Saccharomycopsis sp. α-amylase, and 47% with Taka-amylase A from Aspergillus oryzae. A three-dimensional structural model of PBA generated using the known three-dimensional structure of Taka-amylase A as a template suggested high structural similarity between them. Kinetic analysis revealed that the K_m values of PBA were lower than those of Taka-amylase A for the oligosaccharides. Although the k_cat values of PBA were lower than those of Taka-amylase A for the oligosaccharide substrates, the k_cat/K_m values of PBA were higher.     

Unfolding and refolding of hen egg-white riboflavin binding protein

The unfolding and refolding of riboflavin-binding protein (RfBP) from hen egg-white induced by addition of guanidinium chloride (GdnHCl), and its subsequent removal by dialysis have been studied by c.d. and fluorescence for both the native and reduced protein. The reduction of its nine disulphide bonds causes a reduction in the secondary structure (alpha-helix plus beta-sheet) from 63% to 33% of the amino acid residues. Unfolding of the native protein occurred in two phases; the first involving a substantial loss of tertiary structure, followed by a second phase involving loss of secondary structure at higher GdnHCl concentrations. By contrast this biphasic behaviour was not discernible in the reduced protein. The loss of ability to bind riboflavin occurred after the first phase of unfolding. Comparison of unfolding of the holoprotein and apoprotein suggested that riboflavin has only a small stabilizing effect on the unfolding process. After removal of GdnHCl, the holoprotein, apoprotein and reduced protein assumed their original conformation. The significance of the results in relation to various models for protein folding is discussed.     

Conformational stability of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase, the apoprotein, and its zinc-substituted derivatives: second-derivative spectroscopy of phenylalanine and tyrosine residues

The relative stabilities of bovine copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD), its apoprotein form, and zinc-substituted derivatives were investigated by denaturation in guanidine-HCl solutions. Analysis of the kinetics of changes in the second-derivative spectral bands of both phenylalanine and tyrosine residues was simultaneously performed. It was found that reduction of the cupric site increases the stability of the enzyme. The apoprotein appears to be the least stable form, while addition of zinc ions not only increases stability, but appears to induce a native-like conformation from a disordered form at pH 3.8. By perturbing the solvent with up to 20% ethylene glycol, at pH 6.8, it was determined that the only tyrosyl side chain appears to be about 50% solvent-exposed in the apoprotein, 65% exposed in the zinc derivative, and 75% exposed in the native copper-zinc form. In contrast, all four phenylalanine residues appear to be fully buried in all of these species in the mid-pH range. At pH 2.5, as the apoprotein unfolds, the apparent solvent-exposure of the tyrosyl side chain approaches 100%, while the phenylalanyl side chains become only 70% exposed. Substantial differences in the unfolding rate constants of tyrosine and phenylalanine residues of native and zinc-substituted SOD, but not the apoprotein, suggest the presence of metal-stabilized unfolding intermediates. Unfolding as monitored by the exposure of phenylalanine residues follows first-order kinetics, indicating that Phe 48 located at the interface between the two subunits is being exposed to the solvent simultaneously with the remaining three phenylalanine residues buried in the protein core.     

The 53-kDa proteolytic product of precursor starch-hydrolyzing enzyme of Aspergillus niger has Taka-amylase-like activity

The 53-kDa amylase secreted by Aspergillus niger due to proteolytic processing of the precursor starch-hydrolyzing enzyme was resistant to acarbose, a potent α-glucosidase inhibitor. The enzyme production was induced when A. niger was grown in starch medium containing the inhibitor. Antibodies against the precursor enzyme cross-reacted with the 54-kDa Taka-amylase protein of A. oryzae. It resembled Taka-amylase in most of its properties and also hydrolyzed starch to maltose of α-anomeric configuration. However, it did not degrade maltotriose formed during the reaction and was not inhibited by zinc ions.