Electron transport-linked nitrous oxide synthesis and reduction by Paracoccusdenitrificans monitored with an electrode

The nitrous oxide reductase activity of $\text{Paracoccus}\text{denitrificans}$ can be conveniently measured using an electrochemical method for determining N₂O. Introduction of this procedure has shown that (i) N₂O reductase activity is reversibly inhibited by oxygen; (ii) antimycin strongly inhibits electron flow to N₂O and that the inhibition is bypassed by tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine; (iii) ascorbate plus tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine, presumably by donating electrons to cytochrome c, is an effective reductant for nitrous oxide reductase; (iv) in the presence of the nitrous oxide reductase inhibitor, acetylene, N₂O is promptly produced from nitrite, consistent with the product of nitrite reductase being N₂O.     

The role of dietary nitrate and nitrite in the reductive deamination of sulfadiazine by the rat,guinea pig,and neonatal calf

Previous metabolic depletion studies of ¹⁴C-sulfadiazine (SDZ) in the neonatal calf led to identification of two novel metabolites, 2-benzenesulfonamidopyrimidine (desNH₂SDZ) and 2-benzenesulfonamido-4-hydroxypyrimidine. The novelty of the biotransformation prompted examination of mechanisms for the reductive deamination of SDZ $\text{in}$$\text{vivo}$. In subsequent work, it was found that neonatal calves did not consistently convert SDZ to desNH₂SDZ; however, calves that were treated simultaneously with nitrite did. Further, when SDZ was given orally to guinea pigs, whose diet is high in nitrate and who demonstrate the capacity to reduce nitrate to nitrite in the oral cavity, SDZ was transformed to desNH₂SDZ. Rats did not reductively deaminate SDZ even if they consumed a diet high in nitrate for two weeks prior to treatment with SDZ. However, they did so when nitrite was added to their diet. These observations strongly suggest that reductive deamination of sulfonamides is dependent on the ingestion of nitrite or the reduction of dietary nitrate to nitrite. This reduction of nitrate to nitrite proceeds in the oral cavity, presumably $\text{via}$ microflora residing there.     

Crystal data, molecular dimensions and molecular symmetry in cytochrome oxidase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa cytochrome oxidase (nitrite reductase, cytochrome cd) has been crystallized in space group P2₁2₁2 with cell dimensions $\text{a = 122.8}\text{A}\text{?}\text{, b = 87.2}\text{A}\text{?}\text{, c = 73.4}\text{A}\text{?}$. Density measurements suggest that the asymmetric unit contains one 63,000 molecular weight subunit of the dimeric molecule. Crystal data agree well with electron microscopy of single molecules. The X-ray pattern extends beyond 2.5 Å resolution, and structure analysis is in progress.     

On the purification of nitrite reductase from Thiobacillus denitrificans and its reaction with nitrite under reducing conditions.

Nitrite reductase (cytochrome $\text{cd}$) from $\text{T. denitrificans}$ has been crystallized in high yield in three simple and rapid steps. The spectral absorption ratio at 408 to 280 nm was 1.52. Light absorption spectra in the oxidized and reduced states were virtually identical to those of nitrite reductase from $\text{P. aeruginosa}$. EPR spectroscopy of nitrite reductase at 12° showed a low-spin ferric heme resonance with g-values at 2.52, 2.45 and 1.73 assigned to the d-heme. Reaction of nitrite reductase with nitrite in the presence of the reducing systems [(ascorbate + PMS) or sulfide] resulted in the formation of nitric oxide (confirmed by gas chromatography) which reacted with both $\text{c}$- and $\text{d}$-hemes of nitrite reductase yielding an EPR-detectable enzyme-NO complex with g-values at 2.07, 2.04 and 1.99 and a ¹⁴N hyperfine splitting constant of 22.5 gauss. The amount of nitric oxide produced enzymatically with sulfide as electron donor was only 5% of that found when ascorbate plus PMS served as reductant.To our knowledge the detection of the unique enzyme-NO complex is the first definitive EPR evidence for the mandatory liganding of nitric oxide with pure nitrite reductase during nitrite reduction.     

Preliminary crystallographic data for lysozyme produced by Streptomyces erythraeus.

Crystals of lysozyme from Streptomyces erythraeus are orthorhombic, space group P2₁2₁2₁ with unit cell dimensions: $\text{a = 50.01}\text{A}\text{?}\text{, b = 61.98}\text{A}\text{?}$ and $\text{c = 67.85}\text{A}\text{?}$; and one molecule, of molecular weight about 18,500, per asymmetric unit.     

Interaction between the nitrate respiratory system of Escherichia coli K12 and the nitrogen fixation genes of Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Hybrids were constructed between $\text{E. coli}$ K12 $\text{chl}$^? mutants defective in nitrate respiration and an F′ plasmid carrying nitrogen fixation genes from $\text{K. pneumoniae}$. Examination of these hybrids showed that expression of $\text{nif}$_Kp⁺ genes does not require a functional nitrate respiratory system, but that nitrate reductase and nitrogenase do share some Mo-processing functions. For nitrate repression of nitrogenase activity, reduction of nitrate to nitrite is not necessary, but the Mo-X cofactor encoded by $\text{chl}$ genes is essential. Nitrate probably inhibits nitrogen fixation by affecting the membrane relationship of the nitrate and fumarate reduction systems such that the membrane cannot be energized for nitrogenase activity.     

Nonelectrolyte substitution for water in phosphatidylcholine bilayers

Glycerol substitutes for water in multilamellar phosphatidylcholine liposomes in that the fluid spaces between bilayers, as well as their main transition temperatures, heat capacities, and ethalpies are very similar in water and in pure glycerol. One major difference is that the gel state phase of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) in glycerol consists of bilayers with fully interdigitated hydrocarbon chains. Interdigitated DPPC phases are also formed in ethylene glycol or in methanol (at low methanol content). In solutions of glycerol and water, the fluid spacing between bilayers is a function of mole fraction of glycerol X_g, reaching maximum values at $\text{X}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>g</mtext>}}\text{≌ 0.1}$ for lipid in the liquid crystalline phase and at $\text{X}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>g</mtext>}}\text{≌ 0.3}$ for the gel phase. These changes are explained in terms of a modification of the long-range Van der Waals attractive forces by glycerol.     

Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic data for cytochrome c551.5 (c7) from Desulfuromonas acetoxidans.

Cytochrome c₇, a low potential, three heme-containing protein (molecular weight 9800) was isolated from Desulfuromonas acetoxidans and crystallized from polyethylene glycol solutions. The crystals belong to the orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁, with unit-cell dimensions $\text{a = 44·10}\text{A}\text{?}\text{, b = 37·55}\text{A}\text{?}$ and $\text{c = 45·08}\text{A}\text{?}$ and have one molecule of protein per asymmetric unit.     

Hydrophobic channels in crystals of an α-aminoisobutyric acid pentapeptide

The crystal structure of the pentapeptide p-toluene-sulfonyl-(α-aminoisobutyryl)₅-methyl ester (Tosyl-(Aib)₅-OMe) has been determined in the space group P$\text{I}$. Pentapeptide molecules are folded in the 3₁₀ helical conformation and packed together, so as to yield a hydrophobic channel with a minimim diameter of 5.2 Å. The channel contains crystallographically disordered material. This structure provides a model for channel formation by hydrophobic peptide aggregates and should prove useful in studies of alamethicin, suzukacillin and related Aib containing membrane channels. Triclinic (P$\text{I}$) crystals of the pentapeptide are obtained in the presence of LiClO₄ in aqueous methanol, whereas crystallization from methanol alone yields crystals in the space group Pbca. The conformations of the peptide in the two crystal forms are very similar and only the molecular packing is dramatically different.     

Spectral properties of a cyanobacterial cytochrome c oxidase: Evidence for cytochrome a.a3

Membranes isolated from $\text{Nostoc}$ sp. strain Mac oxidised NAD(P)H and horse heart ferrocytochrome c in dark reactions inhibited by KCN, NaN₃, CO, and by anaerobiosis. Reduced $\text{minus}$ oxidised difference spectra revealed peaks at 603 and 445 nm which shifted to 590 and 430 nm, respectively, in reduced $\text{plus}\text{CO}\text{minus}$ reduced spectra. In presence of suitable electron mediators the pigment could be reduced also with NAD(P)H or ascorbate; KCN prevented this reduction. Photoaction spectra of CO-inhibited membranes showed peaks at 590 and 430 nm. From the results it is concluded that cytochrome a.a₃ is a functional respiratory oxidase in $\text{Nostoc}$ sp. strain Mac.     

Cytochrome C553 from Desulfovibrio,vulgaris: Potentiometric characterization by optical and EPR studies

Cytochrome c₅₅₃ is a monohaemic c type cytochrome isolated from the sulfate reducing bacteria $\text{Desulfovibrio}$,$\text{vulgaris}$. Its midpoint potential value, determined by optical, EPR and polarographic studies is significantly lower than the midpoint potentials reported for other monohaemic cytochromes c (+ 10 mV instead of + 290 mV). In an attempt to study correlations between amino acid sequence, haem iron coordination and haem exposure in cytochromes c, cytochrome c₅₅₃ is compared with mitochondrial and bacterial c type cytochromes.     

Preliminary crystallographic data for a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase from Escherichia coli.

A type I chloramphenicol acetyltransferase from Escherichia coli has been crystallized as trigonal prisms, in a form suitable for diffraction studies. The space group is P3₁, or P3₂, cell dimensions $\text{a = b = 116.3, c = 147}\text{A}\text{?}$.     

Gibberellin biosynthesis in a cell-free system from immature seeds of Pisum sativum

A cell-free system from immature pea seeds converts ¹⁴C-labelled $\text{ent}$-kaurene to $\text{ent}$-kaurenol, $\text{ent}$-kaurenal, $\text{ent}$-kaurenoic acid, $\text{ent}$-7α-hydroxykaurenoic acid, and gibberellin A₁₂-aldehyde. The latter becomes converted further to 13-hydroxygibberellin A₁₂, gibberellin A44, gibberellin A₁₂-alcohol, and several unidentified products. Thus the biosynthesis of gibberellins $\text{via ent}$-kaurene is now established for a member of the $\text{Leguminosae}$. It is the first time that 13-hydroxylation of gibberellins has been observed in a cell-free system and that gibberellin A₁₂-alcohol has been obtained in any biological system.     

Acetamidodeoxycellulose and its digestibility by chitinase and lysozyme

$\text{6-O-}\text{Tritlycellulose}$ (d.s. 0.86 for trityl) was oxidized with dimethyl sulphoxide-phosphorus pentoxide in $\text{N,N-}\text{dimethylformamide}$ to give an oxidized product, which was converted to its oxime (d.s. 0.91 for oxime). Hydrogenation of the oxime with lithium aluminium hydride in tetrahydrofuran, followed by detritylation with hydrochloric acid in methanol gave an aminodeoxycellulose (d.s. 0.5 for amino group) in a 46% yield. 2-Amino-2-deoxy-d-glucose and 2-amino-2-deoxy-d-mannose, d-glucose and d-mannose (4:1:4:1), which were detected by g.l.c. and p.c. in the acid hydrolysate of the acetamidodeoxy derivative. Neither the acetamidodeoxy nor aminodeoxy celluloses were hydrolysed by chitinase from Streptomyces griseus and lysozyme from hen egg-white.     

Crystallographic analysis of the phytoagglutinin from Abrus precatorius by X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy

The lectin from the seeds of Abrus precatorius has been crystallized and the crystals subjected to study by X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. Three closely related crystal forms were obtained, of orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁ with $\text{a = 138}\text{A}\text{?}$, $\text{b = 142}\text{A}\text{?}$, and $\text{c = 173}\text{A}\text{?}$, of tetragonal space group P4₁2₁2 with $\text{a = b = 136}\text{A}\text{?}$, $\text{c = 176}\text{A}\text{?}$, and a twinned intermediate of the first two. From electron microscopy and two-dimensional spatial filtering of electron micrographs of the crystals, the molecule appears to consist of four similar domains grouped in a roughly planar diamond-shaped arrangement having a local intramolecular dyad axis. The average diameter of the Abrus lectin molecule is 50 to 60 Å and the individual domains appear to have a diameter of about 25 Å.     

Preliminary crystallographic data for adenylosuccinate synthetase from rabbit skeletal muscle

Single crystals of adenylosuccinate synthetase, an essential component of purine biosynthesis, extracted from rabbit skeletal muscle were prepared as suitable specimens for X-ray structure analysis. The crystal belongs to the space group P4₃2₁2 or P4₁2₁2 with unit cell dimensions $\text{a = b = 71.2}\text{A}\text{?}\text{, c = 194.8}\text{A}\text{?}$. The asymmetric unit contains one protein molecule of 54,000 molecular weight.     

The involvement of cytochrome P-450 in the NADH-dependent O-demethylation of p-nitroanisole in phenobarbital-treated rabbit liver microsomes.

Addition of $\text{p}$-nitroanisole to a reaction mixture containing phenobarbital-pretreated rabbit liver microsomes brings about an increase the reoxidation rate of NADH-reduced cytochrome b₅. Addition of partially purified cytochrome b₅ to a solution containing microsomes results in a marked increase in both NADH- and NADPH-dependent O-demethylation of $\text{p}$-nitroanisole. $\text{p}$-Nitroanisole also increases the rate of NADH mediated cytochrome P-450 reduction. From these and other results described in the Discussion section, we confirm that electrons required for NADH-dependent O-demethylation of $\text{p}$-nitroanisole is transfered from NADH to cytochrome P-450 via cytochrome b₅ and that cytochrome P-450 is the enzyme which catalyzes $\text{p}$-nitroanisole O-demethylation.     

Proton and carbon magnetic resonance studies of the synthetic polypentapeptide of elastin.

Proton and ¹³C magnetic resonance studies are reported on the synthetic polypentapeptide of elastin, HCO-(Val₍₁₎-Pro₍₂₎-Gly₍₃₎-Val₍₄₎-Gly₍₅₎)_n-Val-OMe, where n ∼- 18. Temperature and solvent dependence of peptide N$\text{H}$ chemical shift and solvent dependence of peptide carbonyl chemical shift were used to delineate these moieties preliminary to identification of secondary structure.Based on these studies it is proposed, for the organic solvents of dimethyl sulfoxide, methanol, and low-temperature trifluoroethanol, that dynamic hydrogen bonds form in order of decreasing frequency of occurrence between the Val₍₁₎$\text{C}$O and the Val₍₄₎ N$\text{H}$ (a β-turn), between the Gly₍₃₎ N$\text{H}$ and the Gly₍₅₎$\text{C}$O (an 11-atom, hydrogen-bonded ring), and a more limited interaction between the Gly₍₃₎$\text{C}$O and the Gly₍₅₎ N$\text{H}$ (a γ-turn).Arguments are presented that relate the conformational features proposed above to the coacervate, which is a filamentous state.     

Crystallography of Bacillus subtilis levansucrase

Levansucrase, an exocellular enzyme, has been isolated from a high producer mutant, the BS5C4 constitutive strain, of Bacillus subtilis. Three crystalline forms have been obtained, all three belonging to the orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁. The most suitable form for a three-dimensional structure investigation has cell dimensions, $\text{a = 68}\text{A}\text{?}$, $\text{b = 125}\text{A}\text{?}$, $\text{c = 54}\text{A}\text{?}$. There is one molecule in the asymmetric unit.     

Crystallographic data for the DD-carboxypeptidase-endopeptidase of low penicillin sensitivity excreted by Streptomyces albus g.

The dd-carboxypeptidase-endopeptidase of low penicillin sensitivity that is excreted by Streptomyces albus G has been crystallized from a polyethylene glycol (M_r 6000 to 7500) solution at pH 8.0. X-ray examination of the prismatic crystals shows that the space group is P2₁ with unit cell dimensions $\text{a = 51.1}\text{A}\text{?}\text{, b = 49.7}\text{A}\text{?}\text{, c = 38.7}\text{A}\text{?}\text{, β = 100.6 °}$ and one molecule in the asymmetric unit. A crystal suspension made in 50 mm-Tris · HCl buffer (pH 8.0) supplemented with 5 mm-MgCl₂ and 16% ($\text{w}\text{v}$) polyethylene glycol exhibits enzyme activity on the substrate Ac₂-l-Lys-d-Ala-d-Ala.